Development of a Dual-Input Hybrid Wave-Current Ocean Energy System: Design, Fabrication, and Performance Evaluation

Hybrid ocean energy systems that combine wave and current energy sources offer im-proved reliability over standalone devices yet remain technically underexplored. This study presents the design, fabrication, and performance assessment of a small-scale (50–100 W) hybrid ocean energy system that captures energy from wave-induced heave mo-tion using a point-absorber buoy and from ocean currents via a vertical-axis water turbine (VAWT). A key innovation is a custom-built dual-input electromagnetic generator that ac-cepts independent mechanical input from both subsystems without requiring complex mechanical coupling. Numerical simulations using ANSYS AQWA and QBLADE guided the design optimization of the buoy and turbine, respectively. Wave resource assessment for the Khobar coastline, Saudi Arabia, was conducted using both historical data and field measurements. The prototype was fabricated using locally available off-the-shelf and 3D-printed components and tested in both laboratory and outdoor conditions. Results demonstrated stable energy output and system functionality under combined wave-current conditions. This work provides a validated pathway for low-cost, compact, and modular hybrid ocean energy systems suited for remote coastal applications or dis-tributed marine sensing platforms.