Coastal Flooding Analysis in the Presence of REWEC1 Farms: A Case Study in Southern Italy

Resonant Wave Energy Converter 1 (REWEC1) is a submerged caisson breakwater integrating a device designed to absorb incoming wave energy. Although the wave energy-extraction performance of this system and its hydraulic characteristics have been extensively investigated, its potential role in reducing coastal inundation, as an alternative to traditional rubble-mound breakwaters, has not yet been examined. In this context, the present study analyzes the mitigation effects on coastal flooding induced by the installation of REWEC1 barriers. The analysis focuses on the coast of Cetraro, located along the Tyrrhenian Sea in the province of Cosenza (Calabria, Southern Italy). The effectiveness of REWEC1 farms in reducing coastal flooding was assessed by considering fixed-air and no-air operation modes, as well as different spatial configurations. The input wave conditions were propagated in the nearshore using the SWAN model to simulate wave–structure interactions, while the XBeach model was employed to investigate coastal inundation processes based on the wave field behind the caissons, also accounting for Sea Level Rise (SLR). The results were evaluated in terms of maximum flooded areas and water penetration lengths along the emerged coast, as well as wave run-up and set-up along selected transects. To assess the robustness of the results, a sensitivity analysis was carried out by varying the transmission coefficients of the REWEC1 units within a plausible uncertainty range, and the corresponding variability in flooding indicators was quantified. The numerical results indicate a progressive reduction in these hydrodynamic response indicators as the spacing between adjacent REWEC1 devices decreases, and show that the relative mitigation performance of REWEC1 remains consistent when accounting for uncertainties in wave–structure interaction parameters. Further analyses were conducted to compare the effectiveness of REWEC1 farms with that of conventional rubble-mound breakwaters in reducing coastal flooding.