The sea currents within the Gozo channel : a preliminary study for harnessing underwater ocean current energy

Abstract

The dissertation presents a comprehensive investigation into the feasibility of implementing underwater sea current energy systems in the Gozo Channel Area between Malta, Comino, and Gozo, using the SHYFEM numerical model to assess the strength and viability of sea currents for renewable energy generation. As the global demand for sustainable energy solutions intensifies, harnessing the kinetic energy of sea currents has emerged as a promising option. The research methodology involved the utilization of the SHYFEM numerical model, a powerful tool which has been proven to be reliable in numerous other studies. By applying this model to four sub-areas within the Gozo Channel Area, the sea current velocities were rigorously analysed. Additionally, the potential power generation was calculated for each subarea by inputting the velocity values inside the potential power generation equation. The data was obtained from 11 different days of the year 2022, and the dataset used had a temporal interval of one hour, and thus a total of 24 instances of data per day. Various scripts written in the MATLAB language were utilised to better facilitate the analysis of such a large amount of data. The findings of this study indicate that the sea currents in the Gozo Channel Area do not possess the requisite strength and consistency to support the installation of underwater sea current energy systems at a commercially viable scale. The model simulations reveal that the available kinetic energy is insufficient for cost-effective energy generation.