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In this work, an extended overview of the marine renewable energy in the Mediterranean Sea is provided as regards current status, potential problems, challenges, and perspectives of development. An integrated and holistic approach is necessary for the economic viability and sustainability of marine renewable energy projects; this approach comprises three different frameworks, not always aligned, i.e., geotechnical/engineering, socio-economic, and environmental/ecological frameworks. In this context, the geomorphological, climatological, socio-economic, and environmental/ecological particularities of the Mediterranean basin are discussed, as they constitute key issues of the spatial context in which marine renewable energy projects are to be implemented. General guidelines for the sustainable development of marine renewable energy in the Mediterranean are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a statistical analysis on wind and wave buoy measurements and wind and wave model forecasts obtained during a two-year period (1999-2001) is presented with reference to four characteristic near-shore sites of the Aegean Sea. The measurements are a main product of the "POSEIDON" system aiming at the monitoring and forecasting of the state of the Greek seas, operated by the National Centre for Marine Research (NCMR). Although the two-year period is rather short for a thorough analysis of the local wind and wave climate, yet the obtained results, presented herein for the first time, reveal some interesting features of the corresponding wave and wind characteristics. Comparisons between the measurements and the forecast results are also performed at the locations under consideration. It is found that (i) wind speeds obtained from the POSEIDON weather forecasting system are, in general, in agreement with the measurements, except for high wind speeds which are systematically underestimated, (ii) the WAM model can successfully follow the monthly and over year trend of the evolution of wind and wave characteristics, but face significant problems for efficient sea-state forecasting. Finally, the overall pattern of the wind/wave climate for the entire Aegean Sea as obtained from the models is presented by means of the spatial distribution of the mean annual wind and sea-state intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Operational Oceanography in Greece has become today a necessity, since it can provide the means and the solutions on societal, economic, environmental and scientific problems related with the coastal environment. A rational approach to these problems can be based on integrated coastal zone management, which, in turn, is supported by the systematic and continuous operation of marine monitoring systems. A real-time monitoring and forecasting system (called the "POSEIDON" system) is currently in operation in the Aegean Sea. The three main components of the POSEIDON system are: (a) an integrated marine monitoring network consisting of oceanographic and wave buoys (POSEIDON network), (b) a telecommunication system for real-time data transmission and (c) the Aegean Operational Forecasting System (AOFOS) including a meteorological model, an offshore wave model, a general circulation ocean model, a surface pollutant dispersion model and a shallow water wave model. Three years of experience has shown that the POSEIDON system is an essential and necessary tool for developing Operational Oceanography in Greece, being also the only integrated and multipurpose system of this nature in the whole Mediterranean Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]