Performance Comparison of Three Wave Energy Converters Types to Supply Electricity Required by a Village in Hybrid with Other Renewable Sources (A Case Study)

Supplying electricity to remote villages that do not have access to the electricity grid has always been a major challenge. Hybridization of renewable resources available in that rural area can be considered as a solution to this challenge.  In the present study, due to the proximity of the study area to Oman Sea and access to suitable wave power for supplying electricity, three types of Wave Energy Converters have been hybridized in Homer Software with solar systems, diesel generators, and batteries. Then, by comparing them, the superior Wave Energy Converter is selected. These Wave Energy Converters, including Pelamis, Wave Dragon, and AquaBuoy, were compared on a 4085 kW photovoltaic system, 9,000 kW diesel generator, and 197 100 kWh batteries to provide a certain amount of electrical load. Finally, the system including Wave Dragon with the energy production cost of 0.240 $ / kWh was chosen as a better economic system.