Marine Renewable Energy and the Transition to a Low Carbon Future

A special issue of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (ISSN 2077-1312). This special issue belongs to the section "Ocean Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 January 2024) | Viewed by 15840

Special Issue Editor

1. Department of Applied Mechanics, University Dunarea de Jos of Galati, Strada Domnească 47, Galați, Romania
2. CENTEC - Centre for Marine Technology and Ocean Engineering, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: marine renewable energy; offshore wind; waves; coastal processes; climate change; extreme events in marine environment; coastal hazards; wave and currents modeling; data assimilation
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We would like to invite submissions to this Special Issue on the subject of “Marine Renewable Energy and the Transition to a Low Carbon Future”.

Climate change, most probably induced by anthropogenic emissions, represents a reality that has to be considered, and effective actions should be taken very quickly. From this perspective, a drastic reduction in CO2 emissions represents an issue of highly increasing importance.

As we all know Marine Renewable Energy (MRE) is abundant, and there are large spaces in both offshore and coastal environments that can be considered for harvesting different kinds of energy. The technologies currently associated with marine renewable energy extraction are very significant for achieving the expected targets in energy efficiency and environmental protection. Research into offshore wind has experienced outstanding success in the last decade and advances are also expected for other MRE technologies. On the other hand, there are still important challenges related to the implementation of cost-effective technologies that could survive in the harsh marine environment.

From this perspective, the target of this Special Issue is to contribute to the renewable energy agenda through enhanced scientific and multi-disciplinary works, aiming to improve knowledge and performance in harvesting ocean energy. We strongly encourage papers providing innovative technical developments, reviews, case studies, and analytics, as well as assessments and manuscripts targeting different disciplines, which are relevant to harvesting ocean energy and to the associated advances and challenges. Expected climate change effects in ocean or coastal environments are as well topics of high interest for this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Eugen Rusu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • renewable energy
  • marine environment
  • climate change
  • sustainability
  • offshore wind
  • floating solar panels
  • wave and tide energy
  • emerging technologies
  • environmental impact

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Editorial

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2 pages, 138 KiB  
Editorial
Marine Renewable Energy and the Transition to a Low-Carbon Future
by Eugen Rusu
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12(4), 568; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12040568 - 27 Mar 2024
Viewed by 177
Abstract
The changes in the Earth’s climate have become more obvious in the last few decades, and research in recent years has indicated more severe impacts than initially expected [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Renewable Energy and the Transition to a Low Carbon Future)

Research

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21 pages, 8609 KiB  
Article
Wave Energy Assessment for the Atlantic Coast of Morocco
by Magnus Schneider, Mariana Bernardino, Marta Gonçalves and C. Guedes Soares
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11(11), 2159; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11112159 - 13 Nov 2023
Viewed by 980
Abstract
This study estimates wave energy for the Moroccan Atlantic coast using SWAN, a third-generation wave model, covering a period of 30 years, from 1991 to 2020. The model is forced by the wind from the ERA-5 reanalysis dataset and uses boundary conditions generated [...] Read more.
This study estimates wave energy for the Moroccan Atlantic coast using SWAN, a third-generation wave model, covering a period of 30 years, from 1991 to 2020. The model is forced by the wind from the ERA-5 reanalysis dataset and uses boundary conditions generated by the WAVEWATCH III model. The significant wave height and period are used to obtain wave energy, which is analyzed at a regional scale. The mean wave energy density within the domain is assessed to be about 20 kW/m. Five specific locations are evaluated along the coast in order to determine the most energetic ones. The most energetic area of the Moroccan Atlantic coast is located at the center, between the cities of Agadir and Essaouira. Finally, the performance of six different wave energy converters is assessed through their power matrix for each of the five locations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Renewable Energy and the Transition to a Low Carbon Future)
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19 pages, 1062 KiB  
Article
New Prospects of Waste Involvement in Marine Fuel Oil: Evolution of Composition and Requirements for Fuel with Sulfur Content up to 0.5%
by Dmitriy V. Nelyubov, Marat I. Fakhrutdinov, Alena A. Sarkisyan, Evgeniy A. Sharin, Mikhail A. Ershov, Ulyana A. Makhova, Alisa E. Makhmudova, Nikita A. Klimov, Marina Y. Rogova, Vsevolod D. Savelenko, Vladimir M. Kapustin, Marina M. Lobashova and Ekaterina O. Tikhomirova
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11(7), 1460; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11071460 - 22 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1602
Abstract
Research was carried out on the possibility of involving oil refining wastes and petrochemical by-products in marine fuel oil. It was shown that the properties of the studied products (VAT distillation residue of butyl alcohols, heavy pyrolysis tar, desalted phenol production tar, waste [...] Read more.
Research was carried out on the possibility of involving oil refining wastes and petrochemical by-products in marine fuel oil. It was shown that the properties of the studied products (VAT distillation residue of butyl alcohols, heavy pyrolysis tar, desalted phenol production tar, waste motor oil mixture) mainly differ from primary and secondary oil refining products used in this fuel with increased toxicity (hazard classes 2 and 3). A clear disadvantage of waste motor oils is an increased content of metals, particularly zinc, calcium and phosphorus, which leads to high ash content. Recommended concentrations for introducing components into marine fuels are given. The influences of the composition and sulfur content on operational properties and quality indexes of VLSFO were also studied. It is shown that the use of products of deep hydrotreatment of vacuum-distillate fractions of oil processing can worsen its protective (anticorrosive) properties and colloidal stability; therefore, a reduction of sulfur content below 0.1% in this fuel is inexpedient without the use of additives. The requirements for VLSFO quality indicators have been developed. Application of VLSFO corresponding to the developed requirements will provide an increase in performance of ship power plants and the stability of VLSFO quality, which will contribute to cost reduction of ship owners when using it. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Renewable Energy and the Transition to a Low Carbon Future)
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17 pages, 1426 KiB  
Article
Effects of the Carbon Intensity Index Rating System on the Development of the Northeast Passage
by Yuh-Ming Tsai and Cherng-Yuan Lin
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11(7), 1341; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11071341 - 30 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1095
Abstract
For many years, the Suez Canal (also known as the Suez Route) has been the main route connecting Europe and Asia. However, compared with the Suez Route, the Northeast Passage could save up to 41% of the journey. The ship carbon intensity index [...] Read more.
For many years, the Suez Canal (also known as the Suez Route) has been the main route connecting Europe and Asia. However, compared with the Suez Route, the Northeast Passage could save up to 41% of the journey. The ship carbon intensity index (CII) rating system of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) came into effect in 2023. This study took an existing bulk carrier on the Europe–Asia route as an example to calculate the attained CII values at different sailing speeds. It was found that, regardless of external factors, when the ship speed dropped from 14.4 knots (85% maximum continuous rating (MCR)) to 12.6 knots (55% MCR), the corresponding attained CII value decreased from 6.48 g/ton·nm to 5.19 g/ton·nm. Therefore, sailing speed was the key factor influencing the attained CII value, and it was independent of the shipping distance. In addition, when the ship’s sailing output power was between 85% MCR and 75% MCR, for every 5% decrease in MCR, its attained CII value would decrease by 0.13 g/ton·nm, and the fuel consumption amount would decrease by 1 ton/day. However, when the ship sailed at an output power of 75% MCR to 55% MCR, for every 5% decrease in MCR, the attained CII value would decrease even more, up to 0.26 g/ton·nm. In addition, the attained CII value would be reduced by up to 100% and fuel consumption amount would be reduced by up to 1.5 ton/day, resulting in a 50% fuel saving effect. Therefore, to obtain a better CII rating, the optimal ship speed should be set between 75% MCR and 55% MCR according to the wave and wind strengths. However, although slow-speed sailing is the most efficient factor, the number of sailing days would also be extended. Through the ratio created by dividing the distance of the Northeast Passage by the Suez Route, whether the Northeast Passage has the benefit of balancing shipping schedules could be judged. The outcome indicated that a ratio lower than 1 would result in a more balanced shipping schedule. Compared with 2019, the number of ships sailing through the Northeast Passage in 2021 increased significantly by 132%, and the average dead weight tonnage of the ships also rose from 18,846 tons to 23,736 tons. This study found that, with the implementation of the carbon reduction policy of the CII rating, ships sailing through the Northeast Passage could continue to develop toward the trend of large-sized vessels and steady increase in ship number. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Renewable Energy and the Transition to a Low Carbon Future)
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19 pages, 5619 KiB  
Article
Autonomous Shallow Water Hydrographic Survey Using a Proto-Type USV
by Laurențiu-Florin Constantinoiu, Mariana Bernardino and Eugen Rusu
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11(4), 799; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11040799 - 07 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1963
Abstract
Maritime unmanned systems (MUS) have gained widespread usage in a diverse range of hydrographic survey activities, including harbor/port surveys, beach and coastline monitoring, environmental assessment, and military operations. The present article explains a validated, rapid, and reliable technique for processing hydrographic data that [...] Read more.
Maritime unmanned systems (MUS) have gained widespread usage in a diverse range of hydrographic survey activities, including harbor/port surveys, beach and coastline monitoring, environmental assessment, and military operations. The present article explains a validated, rapid, and reliable technique for processing hydrographic data that was obtained via an autonomous hydrographic survey, and which was executed by a prototype unmanned surface vessel (USV) belonging to the Unmanned Survey Solutions (USS) corporation. The experimentation was part of the annual Multinational Exercise Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping that was augmented by Maritime Unmanned Systems 22 (REPMUS22), which was held in the national waters of Portugal. The main objective of this experimentation was to assess the underwater environment over an ocean beach for an amphibious landing exercise. Moreover, the integration of the multibeam system with the autonomous prototype vessel was assessed. A short comparison between the USV survey and a traditional vessel multibeam survey is presented, whereby the advantages of performing an autonomous survey operation near the coastline is emphasized. A correlation between a known multibeam processing technique and the dissemination of a rapid but consistent product for operational use is described, highlighting the applicability of the technique for the data collected from small experimental platforms. Moreover, this study outlines the relationship between the particular errors observed in autonomous small vehicles and in conventional data processing methods. The resultant cartographic outputs from the hydrographic survey are presented, emphasizing the specific inaccuracies within the raw data and the suitability of distinct hydrographic products for various user domains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Renewable Energy and the Transition to a Low Carbon Future)
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19 pages, 6519 KiB  
Article
Floating Solar Systems with Application to Nearshore Sites in the Greek Sea Region
by Alex Magkouris, Eugen Rusu, Liliana Rusu and Kostas Belibassakis
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11(4), 722; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11040722 - 27 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1653
Abstract
The increased availability of solar energy potential, especially in southern latitudes as in the Mediterranean Sea and the Aegean Sea regions, constitutes a strong motivation for the design and development of floating offshore solar energy platforms suitable for deployment and operation in the [...] Read more.
The increased availability of solar energy potential, especially in southern latitudes as in the Mediterranean Sea and the Aegean Sea regions, constitutes a strong motivation for the design and development of floating offshore solar energy platforms suitable for deployment and operation in the sea environment. In this work, a boundary element method is applied to the hydrodynamic analysis of pontoon-type floating structures carrying photovoltaic panels on the deck. Results are used to estimate the responses of the above floating structures, which are then exploited to calculate the effects of waves and motions on the energy performance of photovoltaics arranged on deck (FPVs). Using as an example a 100 kWp floating module located in the nearshore area of the Pagasitikos Gulf and Evia Island in the central Greece region, the time series of environmental parameters concerning wave, wind and solar data are used, in conjunction with the hydrodynamic responses of the floating structure, to illustrate the effects of waves on the floating PV performance. The results indicate significant variations in energy production due to the dynamic angle of solar incidence generated from the floating module’s responses depending on the sea state that should be taken into account in the design process. Additionally, it is shown that the particular concept could be a promising and economically viable alternative of marine renewables contributing to the European Green Deal policies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Renewable Energy and the Transition to a Low Carbon Future)
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17 pages, 7174 KiB  
Article
CFD Analysis and Wind Tunnel Experiment for Ventilation Ducts with Structural Elements Inside
by Victor Mihai and Liliana Rusu
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11(2), 371; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11020371 - 07 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1431
Abstract
Ventilation ducts with a high cross-sectional area are frequently built as structural ducts that include inside transversal structural beams. In this way, the cross-sectional area requested is respected, but the transverse structural elements will have a big impact on the airflow, with eventually [...] Read more.
Ventilation ducts with a high cross-sectional area are frequently built as structural ducts that include inside transversal structural beams. In this way, the cross-sectional area requested is respected, but the transverse structural elements will have a big impact on the airflow, with eventually additional noise and vibration and a high amount of energy wasted across the beams. From this perspective, the aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of the transversal beams inside the ventilation ducts, to analyze different alternatives for airflow improvement using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation, and to check the simulation results in the wind tunnel with an experimental model. The results of the experimental measurements have highlighted the high-pressure drop and, consequently, the high energy wasted across the transversal structural beams. It was found that the airflow downstream of the beam is changing the flow direction, and high turbulences and vortices are initiated in the shadow of the beam. According to the CFD analysis, the ventilation system can be improved by adding airflow deflectors in the beam area. In this way, the high turbulences are reduced, the vortices and backflow are canceled, and the pressure losses across the beam area of the ventilation duct are reduced by up to 90% compared with the beam without a deflector. Therefore, the energy wasted in the beam area can be reduced by up to 90%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Renewable Energy and the Transition to a Low Carbon Future)
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30 pages, 9509 KiB  
Article
A Robust and Efficient Computational Fluid Dynamics Approach for the Prediction of Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbine Performance
by Florin Popescu, Răzvan Mahu, Eugen Rusu and Ion V. Ion
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2022, 10(9), 1243; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10091243 - 04 Sep 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1738
Abstract
In spite of the tremendous advances in computing power and continuous improvements in simulation software made in recent decades, the accurate estimation of wind turbine performance using numerical methods remains challenging. Wind turbine aerodynamics, especially when operating outside of the design envelope, is [...] Read more.
In spite of the tremendous advances in computing power and continuous improvements in simulation software made in recent decades, the accurate estimation of wind turbine performance using numerical methods remains challenging. Wind turbine aerodynamics, especially when operating outside of the design envelope, is highly complex: blade stall, laminar-to-turbulent boundary layer transition, rotational effects (lift augmentation near blade root), and tip losses are present. The scope of this research is to show that the classic Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) modeling approach, although extensively tried and tested, is not yet exhausted. The NREL Phase VI rotor was used as a basis for numerical methodology development, verification and validation. The numerical model results are compared in detail with the available measured data, both globally (turbine torque and thrust, and blade bending moment) and locally (pressure coefficient distributions and aerodynamic force coefficients at several locations on the blade) over the entire experimental wind speed range. Stall initiation and spread over the blade span are well captured by the model, and rotor performance is predicted with good accuracy. RANS still presents significant value for wind turbine engineering, with a great balance between accuracy and computational cost. The present work brings potential impact on all applications of wind turbines, especially targeting offshore wind energy extraction for which great development is expected in the near future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Renewable Energy and the Transition to a Low Carbon Future)
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Review

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19 pages, 7724 KiB  
Review
The Expected Dynamics of the European Offshore Wind Sector in the Climate Change Context
by Eugen Rusu and Florin Onea
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11(10), 1967; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11101967 - 11 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 852
Abstract
The objective of this present work is to provide a more comprehensive picture of the wind conditions corresponding to some important European marine energy sites by considering both historical (1979–2020) and climatological data (2021–2100). As a first step, the wind energy profile of [...] Read more.
The objective of this present work is to provide a more comprehensive picture of the wind conditions corresponding to some important European marine energy sites by considering both historical (1979–2020) and climatological data (2021–2100). As a first step, the wind energy profile of each site is assessed using some statistical methods (e.g., Weibull parameters) and some relevant indicators for the wind sector, such as the downtime period (<3 m/s). Since the offshore industry evolves very quickly, another objective of this work was to assess the performances of some large-scale wind turbines defined via capacity productions in the range of 15–25 MW. In terms of the capacity factor, the estimated values frequently exceed 60%, reaching a maximum of 76% in some cases, in line with the expected outputs of the new wind generators. In the final part of this work, several aspects are discussed, among them being the accuracy of the RCPs datasets or the current trends involving the wind sector. The offshore wind sector represents an important pillar of the European green market, which means that the future generation of wind turbines will play an important role in the consolidation of this sector and, eventually, in the expansion to new coastal areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Renewable Energy and the Transition to a Low Carbon Future)
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18 pages, 18235 KiB  
Review
Solar Energy-Powered Boats: State of the Art and Perspectives
by Giangiacomo Minak
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11(8), 1519; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11081519 - 30 Jul 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3425
Abstract
This paper presents an examination of the primary applications of solar energy as the main power source in the maritime sector, focusing on recent developments. A comprehensive review of the existing literature, including journal articles, proceedings, and patents, is conducted to identify three [...] Read more.
This paper presents an examination of the primary applications of solar energy as the main power source in the maritime sector, focusing on recent developments. A comprehensive review of the existing literature, including journal articles, proceedings, and patents, is conducted to identify three prominent areas for advancing solar energy-powered boats: maritime drones, sporting boats, and short-range touristic vessels. Maritime drones primarily serve as small autonomous boats for research, conservation, or military operations. On the other hand, sporting boats include nautical and energy design competitions involving students and enthusiasts. In terms of commercial interest, there is a growing demand for environmentally friendly and low-noise boats suitable for tourist activities, particularly in protected areas. Furthermore, specific and illustrative cases are explored in a dedicated section. Lastly, potential future perspectives are discussed and elucidated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Renewable Energy and the Transition to a Low Carbon Future)
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