Grid integration (MW and GW Scale)

When investigating grid integration of wave energy on larger MW and GW scales, the WCWI team will be working with PICS researchers to integrate wave energy into the currently operating grid model using for wind energy integration. This model is a long term model and attempts to answer many energy related questions with regards to wind, coal, natural gas and hydroelectric power.

At the MW scale, Vancouver Island provides a unique opportunity to look at an almost isolated section of the BC electrical grid. Given that Vancouver Island is connected to the mainland via a submerged cable, which transfers power from the mainland to the island, it is less numerical computation to simply eliminate that source of power and investigate how wave energy may play a role on the MW scale.

Finally, on the GW Scale, the WCWI team is able to build on the wind integration work done by other Uvic researchers to begin to identify the opportunities and challenges associated with wave energy playing a role in a diversified clean energy portfolio for British Columbia/Alberta/Washington and further away.