Estimation of the offshore wave energy potential of the northern Mediterranean Sea and propagation toward a nearshore area

This paper presents a study to quantify the availability of energy derived from wave motion in the North Western Mediterranean Sea. Monthly and annual average values of this power are provided for the years 2010 and 2011, related to deep waters, based on the elaboration of the data set of the model MENOR-4000M developed by IFREMER. Through numerical simulation (MIKE21-SW model), the offshore data set was propagated into depths of less than 100m, taking into account for the shoaling, refraction, diffraction, bottom friction and wave breaking processes. In this phase of the study, the methodology was applied only to the stretch of coast between Leghorn (Livorno) and the Gulf of La Spezia (Tuscany, Italy).