Integrated Analysis of Seasonal Swells, Wind-seas and associated Wave Energy along the major Indian Ports

Abstract

Abstract An in-depth comprehension and evaluation of the spatio-temporal progression of wind-induced gravity waves encompassing wind-seas and swells in coastal areas are crucial for optimizing the extraction of renewable energy efficiently and identifying ideal locations for planning renewable energy infrastructure. This research offers a thorough examination of the combined potential of average and extreme offshore winds, swells, and wind-seas derived energy along the Indian coastline, utilizing the ERA5 3-hourly reanalysis dataset spanning the past 44 years (1979–2022). The study employs the Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) method for extreme value analysis. Among the six major port locations, the most significant rise in swell and wind-sea wave power is identified at Kandla (1.33 kW/m dec-1) in the Arabian Sea (AS) and Mumbai (0.1 kW/m dec-1) during the June–August (JJA) period, and subsequently during September-November (SON). Likewise, the highest increase in decadal wind energy is observed at Mumbai (2.47 W/m2 dec-1) and Kochi (2.39 W/m2 dec-1). Results indicate that both mean and extreme wave and wind energy exhibit substantial swell wave power at Kandla, averaging around 21.05 kW/m (with peaks up to 66.84 kW/m) during the JJA season. Similarly, the peak mean (extreme) wave power generated from wind-seas per annum is recorded at Kandla and Mumbai, averaging approximately 5.81 kW/m (with peaks reaching 62 kW/m) during JJA. The highest mean (extreme) wind energy is observed at Kandla, averaging about 0.51 kW/m2 (with peaks up to 3.65 kW/m2) during JJA, followed by SON. Across the six principal port locations, the analysis exhibits the JJA season as the prime period for maximum energy production, followed by SON. This scrutiny also underscores the significance of considering seasonal fluctuations and local climatic conditions when developing renewable energy initiatives along the coastal regions of India.