POWER-Net: Predictive Optimization and Wave Energy Regulation in Networked WEC Systems

This work presents a control framework for maximizing energy extraction in arrays of wave energy converters (WECs) operating in hydrodynamically coupled environments. Each WEC’s motion influences others through radiated wave interactions, making coordinated control essential. We model the coupled dynamics using Cummins’ equation and design a centralized controller that computes optimal control inputs for all WECs based on collective state information. To reduce communication burden, we investigate an event-triggered communication strategy where WECs transmit sensor data only when necessary. We analyze the impact of communication frequency on energy capture and quantify the trade-off between communication overhead and performance. Simulation results show that intermittent communication can achieve near-optimal power extraction while significantly reducing communication requirements.