The global distribution of wave energy is not homogeneous; wave climates vary considerably for different locations around the world. The annual wave climate characteristics at different geographic locations will feature different annual significant wave heights, periods, spectral distributions, energy transport and seasonal variations. Therefore, the wave climate characteristics at a proposed deployment site are primary design constraints. A WEC designed for one location may require basic shape, mass properties and/or PTO system modifications to extract the most energy per year at a second location. An example Wave Energy Converter (WEC) is being used for this work to demonstrate the differences in its shape optimization based on different worldwide locations. The main power capture body dimension of the WEC has its dimensions optimized, with a second dimension determined by limiting the maximum mooring force experienced in large waves.
In this paper we consider the effects of the wave climate at three different locations, on the East and West Coast of Canada, and in the South West of England.
