Preliminary assessment of nearshore wave energy in Morotai for remote electrification in Indonesia

Preliminary assessment of nearshore wave energy in Morotai for remote electrification in Indonesia

As one of Indonesia’s outermost islands, North Morotai requires focused infrastructure development, particularly in the renewable energy sector, and this study presents an initial assessment of nearshore wave energy potential around Cape Sopi using numerical modeling. The analysis employed MIKE21 software (by DHI) and utilized 30 years of global wave and wind data from the validated ERA5 model to produce high-resolution annual wave climate data near the coast. Five key sites (Sopi, Totobako, Cape Sopi, Aru, and Loleo) were selected, each with two depth points (5 m and 40 m), to evaluate annual wave conditions and estimate wave energy resources. Results show that dominant wave energy periods across all locations range from 9 to 11 s, with wave heights varying by site: 0.4–0.8 m at Sopi 1; 0.8–1.2 m at Sopi 2 and both Totobako sites; 1.4–2.0 m at Aru and Loleo; and 1.6–2.2 m at Cape Sopi. Cape Sopi emerged as the most energetic site, offering up to 90 MWh/m of wave energy annually, while Sopi 1 (sheltered within Sopi Bay) recorded the lowest, at approximately 12 MWh/m. Seasonally, around 75% of annual wave energy is concentrated between October and March, with the remaining 25% during April to September. The findings provide both technical and strategic contributions to Indonesia’s renewable energy and electrification efforts. The study establishes a validated baseline for nearshore wave energy assessment under local conditions, offering essential input for Wave Energy Converter (WEC) design and supporting evidence-based planning for clean energy deployment in remote islands.