SSG Breakwater

The SSG is a multilevel wave energy converter of the overtopping type. A promising application of the device is on breakwaters allowing sharing of costs with the civil structure, but also implementing the performance of it by active absorption and recirculation of water inside the harbor by the turbines outlets.



Harbors are usually built in little exposed areas with al the ranges of tidal variations; moreover geometrical restrictions due to the necessity of fitting in the device in the breakwater construction result in a challenging optimization for the power capture.



The Wave Energy Group at Aalborg University will optimize the geometry for the locations of Sines, Portugal and Swakopmund, Namibia(2 different water depths each). Evaluation of performance will be carried out, with particular attention to the effect of tide on the power production. Benefits on performance of an extra reservoir in case of consistent tidal ranges will also be investigated. The work is realized mainly utilizing the SSG Power simulation 2 from Aalborg University. Further considerations on benefits in terms of power production of other geometrical parameters will be made. The final work, in collaboration with Delta Marine Consultants, Gouda, the Netherlands will investigate the cost-effectiveness of the breakwater SSG application.