Wave energy converters as offshore wind farm guardians: a pathway to resilient ocean systems

Maximizing the durability and reliability of offshore wind farms is essential for the clean energy transition. In this work, we demonstrate how wave energy converter (WEC) farms can shelter offshore wind farms from cyclic wave loading, resulting in significant reductions in wave-induced turbine fatigue damage. Using experimentally validated hydrodynamic models, we show that modeling WEC energy dissipation through fluid structure interactions rather than rated power provides an unbiased analysis of different architecture’s sheltering capabilities. Through the system-level model, we observe that even small reductions in wave height propagate to the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of the wind farm, resulting in a 4.94% decrease in LCOE with a 6% reduction in wave height. Additionally, WEC farms can benefit from this co-location by sharing siting costs, operation and maintenance teams, and mooring and transmission cables with the offshore wind farm. This work advances the design of integrated wind–wave systems, supporting resilient, cost-effective offshore renewables for global deployment.