مجلة دراسات الإنسان و المجتمع

Wave energy is one of the most promising renewable energy sources. While less developed than other renewable energy sources, current models for estimating wave energy project costs are often overly simplistic. This results in fragmented economic assessments that undermine investor confidence and, consequently, hinder wave energy development. Understanding wave energy costs is a key area of research in offshore renewable energy. In this context, the main objective of this paper is to review all the factors that must be considered in the economic analysis of wave energy, including the lifecycle costs of the farm and the generated energy. Also, in this practical paper, we characterize the direct and indirect costs of a wave farm—initial costs, construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning costs. Each has a reference value, along with a general formula for calculating it. Furthermore, the levelized cost (the cost of producing a unit of energy (1 kWh) hence, compared among different energy sources, and on this basis, conclusions are drawn about the profitability and competitiveness of wave energy................. Keywords:............ Wave energy, renewable energies, wave energy economics, energy costs