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Publications
Ponce de Leon, S., Orejanera, A., Panfilova, M., Restano, M., Benveniste, J. and Sabia, R. (2025), Wave Energy Potential in the Mediterranean: Insights from High-Resolution Satellite Altimetry, In-Situ Data and the ERA5, Proceedings of the European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference (EWTEC), L.C. Gato (Ed.), 7-11 September, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, paper: 732.
Marine renewable energy is pivotal in advancing the European Green Transition. Acquiring precise and detailed knowledge of resource distribution along European coasts and overseas islands is crucial to unlock its full potential. This study evaluates wave power potential using an empirical method to derive wave periods essential for wave power computations. High-resolution sea-state data were obtained from two satellite altimetry missions — Sentinel-3A/B and CryoSat-2 — reprocessed with the advanced SAMOSA+ retracker, supplemented by in situ measurements from wave buoy networks in Spain, France, Italy, and Greece. Using a collocation technique, we integrated altimeter-derived significant wave height and backscatter coefficients with buoy-measured wave periods. The 20 Hz data resolution from CryoSat-2 and Sentinel-3 radar altimetry missions, corresponding to an along-track resolution of approximately 300 meters, represents a significant improvement over existing altimetry datasets. This enhanced resolution enables more precise estimations of wave power density in coastal zones, where wave energy converters are typically deployed. Given the scarcity of wave buoy data along the North African coast, we validated our results by applying the Gommenginger et al. (2003)[1] method to all available buoy data distributed across the northern Mediterranean. Additionally, to achieve a more uniform distribution of wave buoys across the basin, ERA5 grid points were used as virtual buoys. Wave period and wave power estimates derived from altimeter data were then compared with those from ERA5 reanalysis data A thorough statistical analysis of the results identifies the most suitable approach. This approach provides a robust framework for assessing wave energy resources and supports the development of sustainable energy infrastructure in coastal regions.
This study, conducted as part of ESA's ongoing WAPOSAL, investigates the wave energy potential in the ©2025 European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference. This paper has been subjected to single-blind peer review. Sponsor and financial support acknowledgment: This work was supported by the European Space Agency under grant ESA Co. 4000144113/24/I-DT-bgh.
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