Wave Energy Resources Assessment Offshore Benin from ERA Re-Analysis: Gulf of Guinea

Abstract

Wave energy recovery in coastal zones can provide mitigation of flooding and play a very important role in the protection of the coastline. Wave energy potential off the coast of Benin has been investigated from ECMWF ERA reanalysis (ERA40 + ERA-Interim). ERA data have been adjusted with in situ data coming from the buoy installed off Autonomous Port of Cotonou (Benin) over a period of 60 years. Next, wave energy resources have been evaluated using the Wang and Lu [1] model for medium water depths. The simulated results showed that in Benin's coastal area, wave energy is moderate and available. At a seasonal scale, wave energy increases from January to August, decreases until December with values ranging from 9.84 to 22.35 kW/m and an average of 15.64 kW/m. The maximum value has been observed in summer and autumn. At the inter-annual scale, an increasing trend of wave energy has been observed with a fluctuation of about of 2.47 kW/m. Wave energy resource available in Benin's coastal area has been evaluated to 144.99 kWh/m per wavefront. Wave energy resources would be an efficient supplemental source, and its exploitation would contribute to energy self-sufficiency and play an important role in the coastal protection of the country.