Overview
IEC TS 62600-100:2012 - "Marine energy - Electricity producing wave energy converters - Power performance assessment" - defines a systematic method to assess the electrical power production of a Wave Energy Converter (WEC) based on field testing. The Technical Specification covers measurement and analysis steps needed to convert site and device measurements into a normalized power matrix and an estimate of mean annual energy production (MAEP). This copy includes the April 2017 corrigendum.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope: Applies to electricity‑producing WECs in all sea resource zones (near‑ and offshore, deep and shallow water) and to common mounting/mooring types (compliant, taut, bottom‑mounted, shore‑mounted).
- Measurement planning: Defines the sequence of work, required metocean characterization (waves, currents, tides), bathymetry and test‑site modelling.
- Wave and metocean data: Requirements for wave measurement instrumentation (WMI), calibration, instrument siting, spatial transfer modelling and corrections for WEC interference.
- Power measurement: Guidance on where and how to measure WEC electrical output, metering point options, instrumentation calibration and data recording practices.
- Power performance analysis:
- Development of a WEC power matrix (normalized power or capture length matrix) from paired wave and power measurements.
- Methods to calculate capture length and to structure/subdivide the normalized power matrix.
- Calculation methods for MAEP, including a standard methodology and alternatives.
- Data quality & uncertainty: Procedures for sampling duration/frequency, simultaneity of measurements, data retention and evaluation of uncertainty (normative annex).
- Annexes: Examples of normalized power matrix production, methods for power loss compensation (shore metering), uncertainty evaluation and error analysis for spatial transfer models.
Practical applications and users
This Technical Specification is practical for:
- WEC developers validating device performance at test sites.
- Investors and project developers assessing expected energy yield against claims.
- Surveyors and test teams conducting site trials and producing performance reports.
- Certification and consultancy bodies performing independent performance assessments and uncertainty analyses.
Using IEC TS 62600-100 helps produce consistent, transparent, and comparable power performance reports that support commercial deployment, investment decisions and grid‑connection planning.
Related standards
- Part of the IEC 62600 series (marine energy – wave, tidal and other water current converters). Consult other IEC 62600 parts for related guidance on tidal/current converters, resource assessment and complementary test methods.
- Users should ensure they have the latest editions and corrigenda from the IEC webstore.