IEC TS 62600-101:2024 PDF

Overview

IEC TS 62600-101:2024 - Marine energy - Wave, tidal and other water current converters - Part 101: Wave energy resource assessment and characterization - establishes a consistent, auditable system for estimating, analysing and reporting the wave energy resource at sites for Wave Energy Converters (WECs). Applicable from initial site screening through detailed project design, the technical specification defines procedures for metocean data handling, numerical modelling, validation, uncertainty analysis and reporting. It is explicitly intended to be used alongside IEC TS 62600-100 (WEC performance) to calculate mean annual energy production (AEP, Annex A). It is not intended for extreme-wave estimation.

Key Topics and Requirements

• Classes of resource assessment: guidance on study scope and depth depending on project stage.
• Study planning and data collection: selection of study area, bathymetry, wave measurements, wind, currents, water levels, ice and water density considerations.
• Wave measurement best practice: instrument selection, calibration, deployment and analysis to ensure reliable metocean datasets.
• Numerical modelling: selection of suitable wave models, boundary conditions, nearshore modelling and assessment of WEC-array effects.
• Validation and model tuning: minimum validation procedures and data requirements to demonstrate model performance and confidence.
• Measure–Correlate–Predict (MCP) methods: procedures to extend short-term measurements to long-term resource estimates.
• Data analysis: two-dimensional wave-spectral analysis, omni-directional and directionally resolved wave power, characteristic wave height/period, spectral partitioning and parameterized sea-state methods.
• Uncertainty and sensitivity: methods to quantify measurement, modelling and long-term climatic uncertainties (Annex B, C, D).
• Reporting and archiving: standardized reporting formats, digital databases, maps (wave power roses, scatter tables) and study-point presentation.

Applications and Who Uses It

IEC TS 62600-101:2024 is used by:

• Wave energy developers and project engineers for site selection and layout optimization.
• Resource assessors and metocean consultants conducting long-term wave resource characterization.
• Numerical modellers validating wave models for AEP prediction.
• Investors, permitting authorities and grid planners requiring consistent, auditable resource reports.
• WEC manufacturers linking device performance (IEC TS 62600-100) to site-specific AEP estimates.

Practical outputs include long-term AEP estimates, wave power maps, wave roses, scatter tables and documented uncertainty assessments to support design, financing and consenting.

Related Standards

• IEC TS 62600-100 - WEC performance (used to compute AEP with this TS).
• Other IEC 62600 series documents covering tidal/current converters and related testing and performance terminology.

Keywords: IEC TS 62600-101:2024, wave energy resource assessment, wave energy converters, WEC, metocean data, numerical modelling, MCP methods, AEP, resource characterization.