Wave Energy Potential in the Med: Insights from High-Res Satellite Altimetry

As part of ESA's WAPOSAL (Wave Power & Satellite Altimetry) project, this study examines the wave energy potential in the Mediterranean Sea. We used the OCRE-EO high-resolution sea-state data from two satellite altimetry missions—Sentinel-3 A/B and CryoSat-2—reprocessed with the advanced SAMOSA+ coastal retracker. The enhanced resolution of the OCRE-EO data, which features an along-track resolution of approximately 300 meters, enables more precise estimates of the wave power density in coastal areas. We determined the wave periods necessary for accurate wave power estimation using satellite altimetry data. A novel mapping of the wave energy resource is presented, which can facilitate a posteriori analysis of locations with high wave power density. Furthermore, it is reported that the best places exhibit a positive trend and intermediate variability in the wave resource. Additionally, the influence of ocean currents on wave power density was analyzed, revealing a direct correlation under certain environmental conditions. The multi-year averaged wave power density revealed that the highest levels are found between the Balearic Islands (Spain) and Sardinia (Italy), reaching values of up to 14 kW/m. Along the African coast, the highest wave power density of 9.2 kW/m was found in Tunisia and Algeria. On a seasonal scale, high variability was observed throughout the different seasons of the year, with maximum values in the basin ranging from 15 to 25 kW/m in winter. The obtained results on wave energy potential at regional and local scales enable the identification of climate patterns, the quantification of wave resource availability, and the creation of the WAPOSAL database