Somewhat similar to wind farms, commercial wave energy will be realized using farms of devices. However, for wave farms, both constructive and destructive interference may occur between individual devices; whereas, for wind farms, only destructive interference occurs. In order to maximize constructive interference, the layout of the wave farm must be optimized. In addition, power absorption may be improved by applying a control system technology to the farm of devices. As with many applications, there is a tendency in wave energy to separate the design of the array layout from the design of an energy maximizing control system. In this paper, we show that integrating the activities of optimal array layout design and control design are crucial if the full potential of the wave farm is to be realized. In particular, we show that a layout optimized without knowledge of the control system to be used can be inferior to the extent of recovering 40% less energy than a farm layout optimized with knowledge of the control system. This loss is significantly more than the difference in performance between a simple and a very complex control strategy.

This paper addresses the dynamic modeling and the energy storage analysis of a wave energy hyperbaric converter, which consists of a set of oscillating bodies (named as pumping modules) linked to hydropneumatic accumulators and an electric generating unit. A mathematical model of the accumulator is presented and a model for the generating unit is proposed, including a nonlinear model of a Pelton turbine. Then, the hydrodynamic, mechanical, and electrical characteristics of the subsystems that compose the converter are discussed. With the proposed model, it is possible to evaluate the dynamic behavior of the entire system. That is, for a given incident ocean wave, it is possible to evaluate all the system state variables and the generated electric power, including the quality (fluctuation, for example) of the generated voltage and frequency for islanded or power-grid-connected operation. Simulation results considering the proposed wave-to-wire model under the action of regular and irregular incident waves are presented to illustrate the performance of the system.

Wave energy converters (WECs) are traditionally designed independently of control systems. This usually involves matching the device frequency response to the predominant sea spectrum of a specific site. Energy maximizing control systems are subsequently employed to improve the energy conversion of the device for sea states other than the design sea state. It is well known that some control techniques have the ability to change the characteristics of a wave energy device, allowing it to improve the power absorption for frequencies other than the device natural frequency. However, while the controllers do their best to broaden the device frequency response, they can be limited in their capability to produce an overall optimal system. A different approach is studied in this paper, where iteration is performed between geometry optimization and control design. The aim is to investigate the implications of geometry optimization in the absence of control and the ultimate effect of incorporating the control design at the geometry optimization stage. Unconstrained control strategies are considered, namely, latching, declutching, and a model predictive control-like algorithm. It is shown that different optimal WEC geometries can be obtained depending on whether the device is controlled or not and the type of controller employed. The differences in overall power absorption characteristics of the optimized geometries are presented.

The energy cost for producing electricity via wave energy converters (WECs) is still not competitive with other renewable energy sources, especially wind energy. It is well known that energy maximising control plays an important role to improve the performance of WECs, allowing the energy conversion to be performed as economically as possible. The control strategies are usually subsequently employed on a device that was designed and optimized in the absence of control for the prevailing sea conditions in a particular location. If an optimal unconstrained control strategy, such as pseudo-spectral optimal control (PSOC), is adopted, an overall optimized system can be obtained no matter whether the control design is incorporated at the geometry optimization stage or not. Nonetheless, strategies, such as latching control (LC), must be incorporated at the optimization design stage of the WEC geometry if an overall optimized system is to be realised. In this paper, the impact of device motion and force constraints in the design of control-informed optimized WEC geometries is addressed. The aim is to verify to what extent the constraints modify the connection between the control and the optimal device design. Intuitively, one might expect that if the constraints are very tight, the optimal device shape is the same regardless of incorporating or not the constrained control at the geometry optimization stage. However, this paper tests the hypothesis that the imposition of constraints will limit the control influence on the optimal device shape. PSOC, LC and passive control (PC) are considered in this study. In addition, constrained versions of LC and PC are presented.

Wind farm control (WFC) allows coordinated operation of the wind turbines within a wind power plant (WPP). However, its development has traditionally been split into the distinct disciplines of power plant control and farm flow control. As variable renewable energies, in particular wind energy, increase their penetration into the power system, grid code requirements become stricter for WPPs and electricity markets necessarily evolve. In such a context, crossfertilization between the two categories of WFC, targeting an integrated approach where applicable, becomes a priority. An initial overview on how to further align wind farm flow control (WFFC) to grid and electricity markets participation is provided, including an analysis of capabilities and prospects. In addition, greater detail is given about an open‐access dataset serving as market showcases for value demonstration of price‐driven operation of WPPs by means of WFFC.