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Exploitation and Optimization of Ocean Energy Conversion Infrastructure
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Exploitation and Optimization of Ocean Energy Conversion Infrastructure

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (5 August 2026) | Viewed by 16263

Editors

Dr. Isabel Cristina Gil-Garcia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Engineering, Universidad a Distancia de Madrid, 28400 Madrid, Spain
Interests: renewable energies; multi-criteria decision-making; energy transition; climate change; optimal planning, ocean energy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ana Fernández-Guillamón

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department Applied Mechanics and Projects Engineering, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 02071 Albacete, Spain
Interests: renewable energies; power system stability; multi-criteria decision making; energyplanning
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The exploitation and optimization of ocean energy conversion infrastructure focuses on harnessing the energy potential of the world's oceans. This scientific and technological research area aims to develop efficient systems for converting kinetic, thermal, and marine current energy, as well as offshore wind energy, into useful forms of energy such as electricity. Various technologies are being explored, including tidal turbines, wave energy conversion systems, floating platforms for offshore wind turbines, and ocean thermal gradient technologies. The primary goal is to maximize the capture of renewable energy from the ocean in a sustainable and cost-effective manner, thereby contributing to the diversification of the energy matrix and the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. However, the development of this infrastructure faces technical, economic, and environmental challenges, such as corrosion resistance, impact on marine life, and integration with the terrestrial power grid. As the demand for renewable energy increases, ongoing research in this area is crucial for harnessing the vast energy potential of the oceans and advancing towards a more sustainable future.

Dr. Isabel Cristina Gil-Garcia
Dr. Ana Fernández-Guillamón
Guest Editors

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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-anonymized 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 semimonthly 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

  • ocean energy
  • conversion infrastructure
  • renewable energy
  • offshore wind

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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37 pages, 26009 KB  
Article
Effects of WEC Array Layout on Motion Suppression and Power Absorption of a Floating Tidal Platform Under Irregular Wave Excitation
by Qi An, Ling Wan, Jian Bao, Chi Zhang, Hui Liang and Wenhao Xu
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(14), 1310; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14141310 - 17 Jul 2026
Viewed by 324
Abstract
Floating tidal platforms provide a flexible solution for offshore tidal–stream energy exploitation, but their wave-induced motions may affect platform stability, turbine operation and power performance. Integrating wave energy converters (WECs) with a floating tidal platform provides a potential approach to absorb wave energy [...] Read more.
Floating tidal platforms provide a flexible solution for offshore tidal–stream energy exploitation, but their wave-induced motions may affect platform stability, turbine operation and power performance. Integrating wave energy converters (WECs) with a floating tidal platform provides a potential approach to absorb wave energy and modify platform motions. However, the dynamic role of a WEC array attached to a floating tidal platform remains insufficiently understood, especially with respect to array layouts, power take-off (PTO)-induced coupling and absorbed power. This study investigates the effects of WEC array layout on the motion response and absorbed power of a catamaran-type floating tidal platform under irregular wave excitation. Three representative WEC array layouts, namely longitudinal, transverse and hybrid arrangements, were compared with a baseline platform without WECs. A coupled numerical model was established by combining frequency-domain radiation-diffraction analysis and time-domain simulations of mooring system and PTO dynamics based on ANSYS AQWA 2023R2. The hydrodynamic model was verified through code-to-code comparisons with OrcaWave 11.6, and the PTO power model was checked against published numerical results. The results show that the WEC array layout has a significant influence on both platform response and power absorption. Among the investigated layouts, the transverse array provides the most effective overall motion suppression, with average reductions of 36.83% in heave responses and 52.62% in pitch responses compared with the baseline platform. Frequency-domain results indicate that pure multi-body hydrodynamic interaction has a limited influence on the platform response amplitude operators (RAOs) and wave-excited forces, whereas time-domain results reveal much stronger layout-dependent responses once PTO coupling was included. The WECs’ absorbed power was strongly affected by the geometric relationship between the PTO rotation plane and the dominant platform motion plane. When these two planes were aligned in coplanarity, platform motion enhances the relative PTO rotation and increases output power. These findings indicate that, for floating tidal platforms with relatively small displacement, WEC arrays should be treated as distributed dynamic subsystems rather than only as energy-harvesting add-ons. The results can provide useful guidance for the layout design and coupled dynamic assessment of floating hybrid tidal–wave energy converters (HTWEC). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exploitation and Optimization of Ocean Energy Conversion Infrastructure)
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29 pages, 11866 KB  
Article
Towards Optimised Oscillating Water Columns with Dielectric Elastomer Generators: A Parametric Analysis of Design Parameters and Functional Specifications
by Farhad Abad, Saeid Lotfian, Yang Huang, Saishuai Dai, Liu Yang, Qing Xiao and Feargal Brennan
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(12), 1136; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14121136 - 20 Jun 2026
Viewed by 369
Abstract
Oscillating water column (OWC) wave energy converters equipped with dielectric elastomer generators (DEGs) represent a promising technology for harnessing ocean wave energy. This study emphasises the critical role of functional specifications in guiding the development of these devices from initial concept to full-scale [...] Read more.
Oscillating water column (OWC) wave energy converters equipped with dielectric elastomer generators (DEGs) represent a promising technology for harnessing ocean wave energy. This study emphasises the critical role of functional specifications in guiding the development of these devices from initial concept to full-scale deployment. A comprehensive analysis of key design parameters that influence the performance and efficiency of flexible OWCs with DEG-based power take-off systems is presented. This investigation focuses on the effects of draft, membrane diameter, deformation characteristics, number of layers, and membrane thickness on power output. Utilising a combination of analytical tools, including Wave Venture software, MATLAB, and Abaqus, detailed simulations and analyses are conducted to optimise these parameters. Our results demonstrate that increasing the DEG diameter significantly enhances power output, with diameters between 5 and 12 m showing optimal efficiency. A critical strain threshold of approximately 32% is identified, beyond which power output efficiency diminishes. Furthermore, the study reveals that multi-layer DEG configurations can substantially increase energy production, with thinner membranes generally yielding higher outputs. These findings provide valuable insights for developing functional specifications that balance performance, manufacturability, and long-term reliability in marine environments. This research advances OWC technology by offering a parameter-screening framework to guide device design towards optimised configurations and to accelerate the path to commercial viability in the wave energy sector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exploitation and Optimization of Ocean Energy Conversion Infrastructure)
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27 pages, 16892 KB  
Article
A Novel Logistical Approach for the Installation of Floating Wind Turbines
by Mohamed Hassan and C. Guedes Soares
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(11), 1009; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14111009 - 29 May 2026
Viewed by 510
Abstract
This study presents a comparative assessment of two installation methodologies, i.e., a conventional towing-based approach and the Nordic Wind installation concept, where fully assembled wind turbine generators are transported and installed using a dedicated installation vessel. A simulation-based logistics framework is developed to [...] Read more.
This study presents a comparative assessment of two installation methodologies, i.e., a conventional towing-based approach and the Nordic Wind installation concept, where fully assembled wind turbine generators are transported and installed using a dedicated installation vessel. A simulation-based logistics framework is developed to evaluate installation performance under realistic metocean conditions, incorporating operational limits, weather downtime, and vessel utilisation. The methodology combines response-based operability criteria with long-term hindcast data to quantify installation duration across multiple percentiles (P20, P50, and P90). The results show that both methods are sensitive to weather variability, with installation duration increasing significantly from favourable to adverse conditions. The Nordic Wind method achieves a substantial reduction in installation duration, typically of the order of 40–60%, primarily due to reduced offshore exposure and more efficient utilisation of workable weather windows. Under more challenging environmental conditions, both methods exhibit increased variability; however, the Nordic Wind method maintains shorter overall campaign durations. A time-dependent cost model demonstrates that installation duration is the dominant cost driver. Accordingly, the reduced campaign duration achieved by the Nordic Wind method leads to lower installation costs in most scenarios, while remaining competitive under more severe conditions. The proposed framework enables a consistent comparison of installation strategies by integrating operability analysis, logistics simulation, and cost assessment, providing a basis for optimising installation approaches in floating offshore wind projects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exploitation and Optimization of Ocean Energy Conversion Infrastructure)
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23 pages, 5645 KB  
Article
A Theoretical Limit on Power Absorption in Variable-Shape Buoy Wave Energy Converters
by Mohammed Atallah and Ossama Abdelkhalik
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2026, 14(8), 737; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse14080737 - 16 Apr 2026
Viewed by 500
Abstract
Despite the significant potential of ocean wave energy, the high cost of the generated power remains a major challenge. This highlights the need for innovative conceptual designs that enhance energy conversion while maintaining comparable implementation and installation costs. Recently, the concept of Variable-Shape [...] Read more.
Despite the significant potential of ocean wave energy, the high cost of the generated power remains a major challenge. This highlights the need for innovative conceptual designs that enhance energy conversion while maintaining comparable implementation and installation costs. Recently, the concept of Variable-Shape Buoy Wave Energy Converters (VSB WECs) was introduced that uses flexible buoy material. While many studies have demonstrated the improved performance of VSB WECs compared to Fixed-Shape Buoy Wave Energy Converters (FSB WECs) through numerical simulations, analytical validation is essential to support these findings. This paper presents an analytical derivation of the theoretical limit of power absorption for VSB WECs using the complex-conjugate criteria for the heave motion. In this study, a multi-degree-of-freedom (multi-DoF) VSB WEC model is developed using a thin spherical shell representation, incorporating Rayleigh–Ritz and Love approximations under the assumptions of small deformations and axisymmetric vibration. Hydrodynamic coefficients are computed using a Boundary Element Method (BEM) software. The variation in the theoretical power absorption limit with Young’s modulus is analyzed across a range of elastic materials. As a validation step, the derived theoretical limit criterion is applied to the standard reduced-order single-DoF model of an FSBWEC, successfully yielding the exact theoretical limit reported in the literature. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exploitation and Optimization of Ocean Energy Conversion Infrastructure)
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18 pages, 990 KB  
Article
Reducing Emissions in the Maritime Sector: Offshore Wind Energy as a Key Factor
by Isabel C. Gil-García and Ana Fernández-Guillamón
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12(11), 1985; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12111985 - 3 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2352
Abstract
The maritime environment is the setting for a variety of economic activities, such as offshore wind energy, aquaculture, salt extraction, and oil and gas platforms. While some of these activities have a long-term presence, others require decarbonization as they head towards their demise. [...] Read more.
The maritime environment is the setting for a variety of economic activities, such as offshore wind energy, aquaculture, salt extraction, and oil and gas platforms. While some of these activities have a long-term presence, others require decarbonization as they head towards their demise. In this context, the aim of this study is to develop a methodology to replace the electrical energy from offshore high-emission industrial processes with clean electricity generated by offshore wind energy. The proposal is structured in three phases: initiation, which involves the collection of quantitative, technical, and geospatial information of the study area; indicators, where the main indicators are calculated, and the best alternative is selected using multi-criteria evaluation methods; and finally, short-, medium-, and long-term scenarios are proposed. The methodology is evaluated in Spain, and the best alternative, which has a nominal power of 225 MW, is capable of avoiding up to 1.44 MtCO2 by 2050. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exploitation and Optimization of Ocean Energy Conversion Infrastructure)
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34 pages, 4110 KB  
Article
Wave and Tidal Energy: A Patent Landscape Study
by Mohamadreza Pazhouhan, Amin Karimi Mazraeshahi, Mohammad Jahanbakht, Kourosh Rezanejad and Mohammad Hossein Rohban
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2024, 12(11), 1967; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12111967 - 1 Nov 2024
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 6414
Abstract
Wave and tidal energy, recognized as vital renewable resources, harness the ocean’s kinetic and potential power. This study aims to provide an in-depth patent analysis of the technological landscape within these sectors. We applied a dual approach: first, a descriptive analysis was conducted [...] Read more.
Wave and tidal energy, recognized as vital renewable resources, harness the ocean’s kinetic and potential power. This study aims to provide an in-depth patent analysis of the technological landscape within these sectors. We applied a dual approach: first, a descriptive analysis was conducted to explore patent publication trends, technology lifecycle stages, patent activity by country, top assignees, and IPC classifications. Our analysis provided a detailed overview of the sector’s growth and the key players involved. Second, we utilized topic modeling, specifically BERTopic enhanced with large language models, to identify and fine-tune key technological themes within the patent data. In this study, we identified seven distinct clusters each for wave and tidal energy using this approach. This method led to a novel categorization of the patents, revealing latent themes within the patent data. Although our categorization differs from traditional methods, it provides deeper insights into the thematic focus of the patents, highlighting emerging trends and areas of innovation within wave and tidal energy technologies to better exploit and optimize ocean energy conversion infrastructure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exploitation and Optimization of Ocean Energy Conversion Infrastructure)
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Review

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54 pages, 18421 KB  
Review
Innovations in Wave Energy: A Case Study of TALOS-WEC’s Multi-Axis Technology
by Fatemeh Nasr Esfahani, Wanan Sheng, Xiandong Ma, Carrie M. Hall and George Aggidis
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(2), 279; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13020279 - 31 Jan 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4097
Abstract
The technologically advanced learning ocean system—wave energy converter (TALOS-WEC) project addresses the urgent need for sustainable and efficient energy solutions by leveraging the vast potential of wave energy. This project presents a pioneering approach to wave energy capture through its unique multi-axis and [...] Read more.
The technologically advanced learning ocean system—wave energy converter (TALOS-WEC) project addresses the urgent need for sustainable and efficient energy solutions by leveraging the vast potential of wave energy. This project presents a pioneering approach to wave energy capture through its unique multi-axis and omnidirectional point absorber design. Featuring a fully enclosed power take-off (PTO) system, the TALOS-WEC harnesses energy across six degrees of freedom (DoFs) using an innovative internal reaction mass (IRM) mechanism. This configuration enables efficient energy extraction from the relative motion between the IRM and the hull, aiming for energy conversion efficiencies ranging between 75–80% under optimal conditions, while ensuring enhanced durability in harsh marine environments. The system’s adaptability is reflected in its versatile geometric configurations, including triangular, octagonal, and circular designs, customised for diverse marine conditions. Developed at Lancaster University, UK, and supported by international collaborations, the TALOS-WEC project emphasises cutting-edge advancements in hydrodynamic modelling, geometric optimisation, and control systems. Computational methodologies leverage hybrid frequency-time domain models and advanced panel codes (WAMIT, HAMS, and NEMOH) to address non-linearities in the PTO system, ensuring precise simulations and optimal performance. Structured work packages (WPs) guide the project, addressing critical aspects such as energy capture optimisation, reliability enhancement, and cost-effectiveness through innovative monitoring and control strategies. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the TALOS-WEC, detailing its conceptual design, development, and validation. Findings demonstrate TALOS’s potential to achieve scalable, efficient, and robust wave energy conversion, contributing to the broader advancement of renewable energy technologies. The results underscore the TALOS-WEC’s role as a cutting-edge solution for harnessing oceanic energy resources, offering perspectives into its commercial viability and future scalability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exploitation and Optimization of Ocean Energy Conversion Infrastructure)
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