Lokalisering av vågkraftanläggningar
Metodutveckling med GIS och fallstudie Bohuskusten
In this thesis work a Geographical Information System (GIS) based methodology to identify locations suitable for the installation of wave energy converters has been developed. Parameters of importance have been identified and a GIS-database has been set up, containing data about the marine environment. In a case study of the Swedish west coast the methodology has been applied, resulting in a number of maps showing possible areas. The results show that large areas are suitable for installation of wave energy converters, from a technical and economical point of view. When consideration is taken to other interests in the area, such as navigation, fishing and environmental protection, the size of the suitable area diminishes considerably. However, the results should be interpreted with caution. Thorough investigations of the environmental impact of wave energy converters or detailed calculations of the costs and revenues have not yet been undertaken, because wave energy conversion is a quite new energy technology. The results of the study are therefore mainly based on assumptions. Before the results can be used as a support for decision-making, the methodology, the GIS-data and the knowledge about wave energy need further improvement.