Optimal pattern of interacting wave power devices

The contribution of Wave Energy Converters (WECs) to the renewable energy supply is continuously rising. To produce a considerable amount of electricity, wave power devices or WECs need to be placed in a farm. In a farm WECs interact and the amount of produced electricity is affected to a certain extent, depending on the lay-out of the farm. In order to find the optimal lay-out WECs are studied in a numerical mild-slope type model, generally used for wave propagation in coastal applications. The existing model is adapted by simulating the energy extraction of a WEC through sponge layers. The adjusted model can be used to study the optimal lay-out and electricity production of a farm.