Variability of wave power production of the M4 machine at two energetic open ocean locations: Off Albany, Western Australia and at EMEC, Orkney, UK

Since intermittent and highly variable power supply is undesirable, quantifying yield fluctuations of wave energy converters (WECs) aids with assessment potential deployment sites. This paper presents analysis 3-hourly, monthly, seasonal, inter-annual variability output the M4 WEC. We compare expected performance from at two hotspots: off Albany on south-western coast Australia European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) Orkney, UK. use multi-decadal hindcast data to predict that would have been generated by WEC machines. The machine, as a floating articulated device which extracts flexing motion about hinge, sized according characteristic wavelength local climate. Using probability distributions, production duration curves, coefficients variation we demonstrate larger 3-hourly Orkney compared Albany. At longer timescales, seasonal trends are highlighted through average monthly values. From continuity perspective, investigate occurrences low three different threshold levels calculate likelihood such events. found suffer more persistent lows, causing output. also consider effect machine size its performance. Smaller machines effectively smooth out stochastic nature underlying resource.