Interpolation techniques: A possible way to bypass offshore resource assessment limitations?

The offshore energy sector, focusing on wave and wind energies, has great potential but faces significant technical challenges, particularly in resource assessment. Traditional methods using measuring devices are impractical on a global scale, and numerical simulations are constrained by a trade-off between accuracy and computational time. Data-driven interpolation techniques offer a promising solution by expanding limited measurements and enhancing numerical simulations. Similar to Kriging in mining engineering and Data Assimilation in weather forecasting, these techniques can improve offshore energy resource assessment. This article discusses key parameters for wave and wind energy, explores the most common interpolation techniques in the offshore sector, and presents case studies demonstrating their application. Ultimately, the potential of these techniques to bridge gaps in offshore resource assessment is highlighted, paving the way for more efficient and accurate evaluations.