Presenter: Liam Joseph Ouellette

Faculty Sponsor: Krish Sharman

School: UMass Amherst

Research Area: Environmental Science and Sustainability

Session: Poster Session 4, 2:15 PM - 3:00 PM, Auditorium, A38

ABSTRACT

To harness the large reservoir of renewable energy potential in the world’s oceans, various marine technologies have been developed, including offshore wind, tidal, and wave energy systems. While offshore wind projects have advanced significantly in recent years, wave energy technology remains in earlier stages of development and requires further research to support implementation. A critical step in this process is identifying feasible and sustainable locations for wave energy converter (WEC) development. This study evaluates the suitability of a potential WEC pilot project site at the UMass-Amherst Marine Station in Gloucester, Massachusetts. A two-stage multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework is applied, consisting of an initial exclusion analysis to remove environmentally, technically, or operationally unsuitable areas, followed by a weighted suitability assessment of the remaining zones. Geospatial datasets representing ocean wave attributes, bathymetry, environmental constraints, infrastructure proximity, and existing human uses will be compiled and analyzed within GIS. All criteria will be normalized and weighted based on values drawn from existing literature and expert input. The resulting spatial analysis will aim to identify areas of suitability for WEC within the prescribed study area. Additionally, this study aims to build on a structured, reproducible framework for site characterization that could be applied in similar coastal regions.