The Potential of Wave Energy Conversion to Mitigate Erosion in Coastal Regions of the United States

Coastal erosion is a global problem causing loss of coastal land and property. Most parts of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Coasts are reported as critically eroding by the environmental agencies. Domestically in the U.S., the average coastline recession rate is approximated as 25 feet per year for some barrier islands and this rate goes as high as 50 feet per year along the Great Lakes [1]. With the changing climate, rising sea level, and increasing wind and wave patterns, the vulnerability of coastal regions to erosion is growing. Various coastal management strategies have been employed to mitigate erosion. While these traditional strategies can mitigate the problem temporarily, they fall short on addressing the root causes and require extensive maintenance. In this study, we offer a green and sustainable way of mitigating coastal erosion through wave energy conversion. We investigate the potential use of wave energy conversion farms to mitigate erosion while generating renewable energy. A numerical model is used to simulate the impacts of wave energy converters on coastal erosion in Dauphin Island, AL as a test case. Results show that wave energy converters can impact coastal morphodynamics and have the potential to reduce erosion in some regions.

[1] Coastal Erosion | U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit [WWW Document], 2016. U.S. Clim. Resil. Toolkit. URL https://toolkit.climate.gov/topics/coastal-flood-risk/coastal-erosion (accessed 5.31.19).