Institutional Repository
Technical University of Crete
Technical University of Crete
EN
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| URI: | http://purl.tuc.gr/dl/dias/0F8FA599-0BFF-4C7D-8943-C5D639DB1100 | ||
| Year | 2025 | ||
| Type of Item | Diploma Work | ||
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| Bibliographic Citation | Dimitrios Cholidis, "Harnessing wave energy for the sustainable port development: a pathway to grid-independence, and air pollution minimization", Diploma Work, School of Production Engineering and Management, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece, 2025 https://doi.org/10.26233/heallink.tuc.102315 | ||
| Appears in Collections |
The sustainable development and energy enhancement of ports is a crucial objective for port authorities, driven by the need to maintain and improve commercial activity while reducing environmental impacts. This diploma thesis focuses on transforming a conventional port, reliant on outdated technologies, into a modern, energy-independent facility with zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The primary emphasis is on integrating wave energy systems as a key renewable energy source and exploring their potential to enhance port sustainability. Various scenarios are tested to assess the impact of wave energy systems alone and in combination with other Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems (HRES) on the port's environmental footprint and energy independence. The study evaluates the current energy infrastructure, existing energy sources, and strategies, proposing models that incorporate wave energy converters (WECs) and energy storage systems. The analysis employs single-objective optimization using a customized Genetic Algorithm (GA) to identify optimal configurations for energy systems. Additionally, the HOMER PRO software's capabilities were enhanced through the specially developed custom Python code, enabling advanced scenario modeling and analysis tailored to the study's requirements. The reduction in GHG emissions is achieved through the installation of HRES and ESS, which decrease reliance on conventional grid energy. Through simulation and optimization algorithms, the thesis models several distinct scenarios (19), demonstrating that the existing port infrastructure is insufficient for meeting modern technological and environmental standards. This Thesis reveals that the implementation of wave energy systems, either standalone or integrated with other renewable sources, significantly lowers the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE). The findings suggest that HRES and particularly WECs, offer a viable pathway for achieving port sustainability and energy independence. Future research should explore additional emerging technologies to further enhance the port's energy efficiency and environmental performance.
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