Wave energy generation and integration - the West Coast wave initiative

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Wave energy converters (WECs) are often cited as an important constituent in the array of renewable energy technologies that are to diversify Canada's energy generation portfolio and ensure the nation's energy systems are environmentally sustainable. However, seldom is any precision provided in the description of the Canadian wave energy conversion opportunity, and implementation of wave energy technologies is currently passed over in favour of other renewable options. For wave energy to emerge as a viable renewable energy source, regardless of the application scale, questions of the magnitude and distribution of the raw resource, the efficiency of wave energy technologies, and the manner in which converted wave energy can be exploited must be answered accurately and precisely. An informed leadership group is needed that can, for any WEC technology, expedite the detailed evaluation of the three fundamental questions for a near shore region of strategic importance to the Canadian WEC industry-the West Coast of Vancouver Island (WCVI).At UVic, a nationally unique collection of wave energy resource assessment, WEC dynamics modeling, and renewable energy integration expertise is located proximal to the world class wave energy resource of the WCVI. Through the proposed project, hereafter referred to as the West Coast Wave Initiative (WCWI), a team of UVic researchers will continue its development of a comprehensive numerical model of the WCVI region and a suite of WEC numerical dynamics models, and combine them with highly resolved field measurements in the WCWI numerical WEC test bed. The WCWI numerical WEC test bed will allow Canadian technology developers to evaluate design concepts in advance of the ocean deployment stage and thus span the chasm that currently exists between concept and ocean demonstration stages.