In the present paper, we investigate the feasibility of wave electricity production in Italian seas by the deployment of the Seabased wave energy converter (WEC). A numerical model of the coupled buoy-generator system is presented, which simulates the behavior of the wave energy converter under regular waves of different wave heights and periods. The hydrodynamic forces, including excitation force, radiation impedance and hydrostatic force, are calculated by linear potential wave theory, and an analytical model is used for the linear generator. Two buoys of different radii are considered to explore the effect of buoy dimension on energy conversion and device efficiency. The power output is maximized by adding a submerged object to the floating buoy, in order to bring the system into resonance with the typical wave frequencies of the sites. The simulation results show a very good agreement with the published data on the Seabased WEC. The model is used to estimate energy production at eight Italian offshore locations. The results indicate that the degree of utilization of the device is higher than 20% at the two most energetic Italian sites (Alghero and Mazara del Vallo) and that it can be considerably increased if the floating body is connected to a submerged object, thanks to the resonant behavior of the WEC. In this case, the degree of utilization of the device would be higher than 40% at most of the study sites, with the highest value at Mazara del Vallo. The work enlarges the perspective, to be confirmed by experimental tests and more accurate numerical modeling, on clean electric power production from ocean waves in the Italian seas.

Numerical modelling has become an essential component of today's coastal planning, decision support and risk assessment. High-resolution modelling offers an extensive range of capabilities regarding simulated conditions, works and practices and provides with a wide array of data regarding nearshore wave dynamics and hydrodynamics. In the present work, the open-source TELEMAC suite and the commercial software MIKE21 are applied to selected coastal areas of South Italy. Applications follow a scenario-based approach in order to study representative wave conditions in the coastal field; the models' results are intercompared in order to test both their performance and capabilities and are further evaluated on the basis of their operational use for coastal planning and design. A multiparametric approach for the rapid assessment of wave conditions in coastal areas is also presented and implemented in areas of the same region. The overall approach is deemed to provide useful insights on the tested models and the use of numerical models – in general – in the above context, especially considering that the design of harbours, coastal protection works and management practices in the coastal zone is based on scenario-based approaches as well.

The paper presents the preliminary design and modelling of a point absorber wave energy converter consisting of a floating buoy connected to a tubular linear generator fixed at the seabed. The behaviour of the device is described by the equation of motion of a single body system restricted to vertical motion. The model of the coupled buoy-generator system is used to simulate the behaviour of the wave energy converter under regular waves of different heights and periods. Then the electricity production of an hypothetical installation off the Alghero coast is estimated. The results show that the device capacity factor at the study site is around 15%. This is a very promising value considering that the studied device has not been specifically optimized for the Alghero wave climate. The work suggests that the presented technology could be very attractive for the Italian offshore.

A three degrees-of-freedom model based on the potential flow theory was implemented to represent the motion of a slender cylindrical buoy under waves. The model calibration was performed by means of the comparison between the model results and the experiments performed at the Laboratory of Hydraulic Engineering of the University of Bologna (Italy). The dynamics of the floating cylinder, placed at the mid-section of the wave flume and anchored at the bottom through a mooring system of four catenaries, were obtained through videography analysis, providing surge, heave and pitch motions. The implementation of the mathematical model consisted of two main parts: The first has been developed in the frequency domain by applying NEMOH to assess the hydrodynamic coefficients of the object, i.e., the excitation, radiation and added mass coefficients; then, the used mooring system was included in the time-domain model, solving the motion of the floating cylinder, by calibrating the mooring coefficients by comparing the results with the data. The simplicity of the implemented model is a very important feature, and it should be used as a preliminary study to understand the response of moored floating cylinders and others floating bodies under waves.