Numerical Modeling and Experimental Testing of a Pendulum Wave Energy Converter (PeWEC)

The research activities described in the present work aims to develop a pendulum converter (PeWEC: Pendulum Wave Energy Converter) for the Mediterranean Sea, where waves are shorter, thus with a higher frequency. In particular, the Pantelleria Island site wave climate is assumed as reference. The research activities started from the preliminary investigation of the working principle validity in the case of the Mediterranean Sea wave characteristics, taking into account a 1:45 scale prototype. The numerical model reliability and the success of experimental tests motivated the design and development of a 1:12 scaled device, useful for a deeper investigation of the technology capabilities and performances. Globally, the technology readiness level (TRL) was increased from 1 to 4. Important effort were focused in the development of a reliable model-based design and optimization methodology for the investigation of a full scale configuration. The latter was widely used to identify a preliminary full scale configuration and to assess the economic viability of the PeWEC technology in the Mediterranean Sea context. Results were benchmarked against the ISWEC pilot plant, deployed in 2015, in Pantelleria Island. One of the major outcomes of this analysis is a detailed overview of the advantages and drawbacks of an active (ISWEC) and a passive (PeWEC) technology, together with some guidelines for the improvement of this technology.