New Assessment of Wave Energy in Relation to Geomorphological and Demographic Characteristics on the Pacific Coast of Baja California, Mexico

The electrical grid of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico, operates separately from the National Interconnected System, with Baja California connected to the Western Electricity Coordinating Council of the USA; and Baja California Sur having an isolated, independent network. Based on the need for alternative renewable sources of electricity generation in the region, this work evaluates the wave energy power at specific locations on the Pacific coast of the peninsula, and identifies wave generation sites (WEGS). The WEGS were defined as rocky shore sites associated with a wave energy potential of over 10 kW/m (where the installation of oscillating water columns (OWC) is feasible) and the presence of coastal settlements that are less than 10 km from the shoreline. It was found that 370 km of the Pacific coast of the peninsula have characteristics suitable for the installation of OWC, and up to 1.4 million inhabitants could be benefited by this wave energy harvesting.