IEC TS 62600-101-2024 PDF

Full title and description

St IEC TS 62600-101-2024 — Marine energy — Wave, tidal and other water current converters — Part 101: Wave energy resource assessment and characterization. This Technical Specification establishes methods and a reporting framework for estimating, analysing and reporting the wave energy resource at sites being considered for Wave Energy Converters (WECs), for use from initial site screening through to detailed project design and in conjunction with WEC performance standards.

Abstract

IEC TS 62600-101:2024 defines accepted practices for collecting and analysing metocean (wave) data, selecting and applying resource models, characterizing temporal and spatial attributes of wave energy, quantifying uncertainty, and reporting results in a consistent way so that mean annual energy production of devices or arrays can be estimated (in conjunction with IEC TS 62600-100). The document explicitly focuses on resource assessment and is not intended for estimating extreme wave conditions.

General information

• Status: Published (Technical Specification).
• Publication date: 17 December 2024.
• Publisher: International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
• ICS / categories: 27.140 (Hydraulic energy engineering).
• Edition / version: Edition 2.0 (2024).
• Number of pages: 61 pages (PDF edition).

Scope

This Technical Specification provides a system for estimating, analysing and reporting the wave energy resource at candidate sites for WEC deployment. It covers recommended data types and processing, model selection and validation, time‑series and spectral analysis approaches, site characterisation (temporal and spatial), uncertainty quantification, and standardised reporting formats to support energy yield estimates (when used alongside IEC TS 62600-100). It is applicable at all stages of site assessment from preliminary screening to detailed design, but it is not intended for the estimation of extreme wave conditions or for defining structural design extremes.

Key topics and requirements

• Framework for collecting and validating metocean (wave) observations and modelled data.
• Procedures for spectral and time‑series analysis to characterise available wave energy.
• Guidance on selecting and applying resource models and ensuring model adequacy for energy estimates.
• Methods to quantify temporal variability and spatial heterogeneity of the wave resource.
• Approach to uncertainty estimation and propagation when calculating mean annual energy production (used with IEC TS 62600-100).
• Standardised reporting templates and minimum information requirements for resource assessment deliverables.

Typical use and users

Primary users include wave energy device developers, resource assessment consultants, metocean modellers, test centres, certification bodies, project developers, investors, regulatory bodies and research organisations. Typical uses are site screening, pre‑feasibility and feasibility assessments, input to energy yield and array layout studies, and provision of consistent resource data and uncertainty estimates for permitting, financing and certification activities.

Related standards

IEC TS 62600-101 is part of the IEC 62600 series (marine energy). Closely related documents include IEC TS 62600-100 (Power performance assessment of electricity-producing WECs) and IEC TS 62600-103 (guidance for early-stage development and testing of wave energy converters). National adoptions and parallel documents (identical or modified) may exist; stakeholders have been invited to participate in national adoption processes for these parts.

Keywords

wave energy; resource assessment; metocean; wave spectra; WEC; site characterisation; energy yield; uncertainty analysis; IEC 62600; marine energy.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: IEC TS 62600-101:2024 is a Technical Specification that defines methods and reporting requirements for assessing and characterizing the wave energy resource at sites intended for Wave Energy Converter deployment.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers data collection and validation, spectral and time‑series analysis, model selection and application, temporal and spatial characterisation of the wave resource, uncertainty quantification, and standardised reporting to support energy‑yield estimates (used together with IEC TS 62600-100). It does not provide procedures for estimating extreme wave conditions for structural design.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Device developers, resource assessors and modellers, test centres, certification bodies, project developers, investors, regulators and research organisations engaged in marine energy projects.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: This is the current edition published 17 December 2024 (Edition 2.0). It revises and replaces the previous IEC TS 62600-101:2015 edition; the earlier 2015 edition has been withdrawn in favour of the 2024 revision.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is part of the IEC 62600 series for marine energy (wave, tidal and other water current converters), which includes related parts such as 62600-100 (WEC power performance) and 62600-103 (guidance for early-stage device testing), among others developed by IEC TC 114.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Wave energy, resource assessment, metocean, WEC, spectra, energy yield, site characterisation, uncertainty.