A risk-informed multicriteria framework for ocean current energy site selection for Small Island Developing States

Scientific Reports

卷:16

Article

Hafeez O. Oladejo¹  Gaël Alory²  Rasheed B. Adesina³  Diana N. Bernstein¹  Jonathan Gula^4,5 

[1] Université de Toulouse, LEGOS (CNES/CNRS/IRD/UT), Toulouse, France

[2] The University of Southern Mississippi, Division of Marine Science, Stennis Space Center, Mississippi, USA

[3] Department of Marine Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, 340252, Akure, Nigeria

[4] Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France

[5] Univ Brest, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Laboratoire d’Océanographie Physique et Spatiale (LOPS), IUEM, Plouzané, France

关键词: Marine renewable energy;    Ocean current energy;    Cabo Verde;    Multicriteria decision analysis;    Tropical cyclone;   

DOI  :  10.1038/s41598-026-56952-1

 received in 2026-02-20, accepted in 2026-06-03,  发布年份 2026

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) such as Cabo Verde (CV) face persistent energy insecurity due to heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels and limited deployment of land-based renewables. This study develops a transferable, risk-informed multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) framework for ocean current energy site selection, integrating high-resolution hydrodynamic modeling, environmental constraints, techno-economic factors, and tropical cyclone (TC) exposure. Using a high-resolution ocean circulation model that resolves tidal and inter-island flow dynamics, we characterize the spatial and temporal variability of surface currents and associated power densities across CV. These resource layers are combined with depth, distance-to-coast, protected areas, shipping routes, and TC hazard fields within an MCDA structure supported by sensitivity analysis. Results show that the strongest and most persistent currents occur within the northwestern inter-island channels, where seasonal mean speeds exceed 0.7 m/s and power densities surpass 200 W/m2, with 95th-percentile speeds above 2 m/s. Several locations meet key feasibility thresholds with mean currents near or above 1 m/s, suitable depths (10–20 m), proximity to shore, and relatively low variability while also lying outside high-TC-risk zones, low wave conditions, and major maritime corridors. The proposed framework demonstrates how hazard-aware, multi-criteria evaluation can support resilient OCE planning in SIDS and is transferable to other cyclone-exposed coastal systems.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC-ND   
© The Author(s) 2026

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