Technical assessment of ocean energies exploitation in Andalucia (Spain)

A study of the potential for ocean energies in the southern Spanish region of Andalucia is reported, using state-of-the-art methods for characterization of the resources and a comprehensive analysis of the technology status in this emerging field. The study shows that the tidal/marine current potential in the Straits of Gibraltar is a world-class resource, with a theoretical power capacity of up to 7 Gigawatt, GW. Even if only a small fraction of the resource can be extracted, as is likely, it would still rank among the most important sites in the world for tidal/marine current energy. It is considered that this resource, combined with proximity to the grid and to major power consumers, could be large enough to attract companies to customize or develop novel technological solutions for the resource. Wave energy is also found to have significant potential in the region, at up to 2 GW, with interesting perspectives for being exploited in synergy with future possible off-shore wind energy developments on the Gulf of Cadiz (the Atlantic coast), especially if such developments can be situated at some distance from the shore.