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<p>Saudi Arabia’s extensive coastline provides nearshore wave and tidal resources that, while moderate in global terms, are technically suitable for infrastructure-integrated marine energy applications. This study presents a feasibility and performance assessment of nearshore wave and tidal energy systems at eleven representative sites across the Red Sea, Gulf of Aqaba, and Arabian Gulf. The methodology integrates geospatial site screening, long-term metocean resource characterization, and technology-site compatibility analysis, with pilot-scale performance modeling conducted using the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s System Advisor Model (SAM) and P10–P50–P90 uncertainty envelopes to represent resource and operational variability. Screening results indicate nearshore wave power densities of 0.4–1.2&#xa0;kW·m⁻<sup>1</sup> along the Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba, supporting infrastructure-integrated concepts including breakwater oscillating water columns, on-structure floaters, and oscillating surge converters. SAM-based modeling yields P50 capacity factors of 13–17.5%, corresponding to annual energy production of 150–400 MWh·yr⁻<sup>1</sup> for representative pilot-scale configurations, increasing beyond 530 MWh·yr⁻<sup>1</sup> under P90 conditions. Tidal-stream feasibility depends strongly on localized current amplification within narrow channels, while tidal-range concepts in the Arabian Gulf require basin-scale hydrodynamic modeling prior to defensible energy estimation. Benchmarking against Saudi photovoltaic (22–26% capacity factor) and wind (32–41%) systems confirms that ocean energy is not competitive for bulk electricity generation at current pilot scales. However, normalized multi-attribute analysis demonstrates higher scores for predictability and coastal infrastructure integration, supporting its role as a complementary nearshore generation option for desalination facilities, ports, and coastal load centers. The findings establish a reproducible national screening framework and realistic pilot-scale performance envelopes that can guide the progression from resource assessment toward targeted demonstration in moderate-energy coastal environments.</p>

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Feasibility and performance assessment of nearshore wave and tidal energy systems along the Saudi Arabian coast

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年8月3日

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  • Shayan Tariq Jan,
  • Abdulaziz Alanazi

摘要

Saudi Arabia’s extensive coastline provides nearshore wave and tidal resources that, while moderate in global terms, are technically suitable for infrastructure-integrated marine energy applications. This study presents a feasibility and performance assessment of nearshore wave and tidal energy systems at eleven representative sites across the Red Sea, Gulf of Aqaba, and Arabian Gulf. The methodology integrates geospatial site screening, long-term metocean resource characterization, and technology-site compatibility analysis, with pilot-scale performance modeling conducted using the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s System Advisor Model (SAM) and P10–P50–P90 uncertainty envelopes to represent resource and operational variability. Screening results indicate nearshore wave power densities of 0.4–1.2 kW·m⁻1 along the Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba, supporting infrastructure-integrated concepts including breakwater oscillating water columns, on-structure floaters, and oscillating surge converters. SAM-based modeling yields P50 capacity factors of 13–17.5%, corresponding to annual energy production of 150–400 MWh·yr⁻1 for representative pilot-scale configurations, increasing beyond 530 MWh·yr⁻1 under P90 conditions. Tidal-stream feasibility depends strongly on localized current amplification within narrow channels, while tidal-range concepts in the Arabian Gulf require basin-scale hydrodynamic modeling prior to defensible energy estimation. Benchmarking against Saudi photovoltaic (22–26% capacity factor) and wind (32–41%) systems confirms that ocean energy is not competitive for bulk electricity generation at current pilot scales. However, normalized multi-attribute analysis demonstrates higher scores for predictability and coastal infrastructure integration, supporting its role as a complementary nearshore generation option for desalination facilities, ports, and coastal load centers. The findings establish a reproducible national screening framework and realistic pilot-scale performance envelopes that can guide the progression from resource assessment toward targeted demonstration in moderate-energy coastal environments.