Analysis for the installation of an electric power generation site from ocean currents in Panama

Abstract

This research work explores the possibility of installing a power station for electricity generation by harnessing the power of marine currents in Panama considering the technical characteristics that the farm should possess, such as its turbine model and electrical architecture. Marine current intensity, bathymetry and distance to the shoreline were analyzed all over the Panamanian geography to choose the most adequate place for the farm. As a result, an 84 MW power station was proposed south off the Azuero Peninsula. For future research, it is recommended to obtain more accurate data and a methodology that could include an oceanographic perspective that would allow to reliably estimate the project's viability.