Wave Energy Assessment in Dumaran Island, Palawan, Philippines

Wave energy harvesting, if viable, is a potential energy resource for remote islands like Dumaran Island, Philippines. However, absence of high-resolution wave energy resource information in Dumaran waters hinders the development of Wave Energy Converter (WEC) to overcome current unsustainable means of supplying power, prolonging energy insecurity among its locals.  The focus of this study is to assess wave energy densities for Dumaran Island using high-resolution and validated wave data for the selected sites in Sulu Sea within ۱۰۰ km radius from the island by using statistical analysis. This was achieved by generating ۳-hourly hindcast wave data for ۴۰-year study period (۱۹۷۸ – ۲۰۱۸) in ۶ selected sites, using MetOcean Solutions Ltd WW۳ Tolman Chalikov (MSLWW۳TC) numerical wave model. The wave model was then validated with MIKE ۲۱ Spectral Wave Model FM (MIKE۲۱SW), which generated ۳-hourly wave energy data at ۱۴ sites for ۵-year study period. Subsequently, wave energy flux time-series was computed and statistically analysed. The validated wave model resulted in low RMSE and high CC results, which indicate good model performance. The study area has low wave energy content, with the average wave energy range less than ۴.۵ kW/m. High but unstable wave energy was observed during Northeast Monsoon across all sites, and reduction of wave energy near coastal areas due to sheltering effect of Palawan and offshore islands. The hotspot for wave energy is found in the northeast and southeast of Dumaran deep offshore waters, with average annual wave energy of ۴.۴۳ kW/m. As mean wave energy at the site is insufficient and grid connection is absent WEC implementation in Dumaran waters is not viable.

Keywords:

Dumaran , Palawan , MSLWW۳TC , wave energy , wave height