Wave energy at Azores islands

Abstract

This paper focus on the sea wave characterization (significant wave height, peak wave period, mean wave period, mean wave direction) at the Azores archipelago and the evaluation of the wave energy source. For the sea wave characterization, the numerical mode! SWAN, is applied for a period of 10 years in several points around each of the nine islands of Azores, at the 100 m CD bathymetric. Based on those results, average wave power maps considering whole 10 year period or the winter and the summer periods are constructed. An average sea wave climate is also presented. Moreover, sea wave characterization is also made for Porto Cachorro at Pico island, where a power pIant is constructed since 1990.