Decommissioning of world’s first offshore wind farm offers an opportunity to see how industry costs have changed over the past 25 years.
Guest essay by T. A. “Ike” Kiefer, CAPT, USN (ret.)
Lifetime Performance of World’s First Offshore Wind Farm
The first offshore windfarm in the world has just been decommissioned and is now being torn down ( http://www.windpoweroffshore.com/article/1427436/dong-begins-vindeby-decommissioning-pictures ). Its lifetime performance specs are illuminating in comparison with recent wind industry data, and alternative generation options.
1991 Vindeby Offshore Wind Farm – Denmark
Years of Operation: 1991-2016 (25)
Capital Cost: 75M Kroner = $13M (1991USD) = $23M (2017USD)
Number of Turbines: 11 @ 450 kW
Lifetime Generation: 243 GWh
Nameplate Capacity: 4.9 MW
Average Power Output: 1.1 MW
Cost/Nampepate Capacity: $2.65/Watt (1991USD), $4.7/Watt (2017USD)
Lifetime Capacity Factor: 22%
Cost/Effective Output: $12/Watt (1991USD), $21/Watt (2017USD)
Levelized Capital Cost: $53/MWh (1991USD), $95/MWh (2017USD)
Levelized VOM Cost: $65/MWh (Estimated using $130/kw-hr industry figures for 2015)
Lower Bound of LCOE: $160/MWh (2017USD)
2015 Industry Performance Data for Offshore Wind(http://www.windpowermonthly.com/article/1380738/global-costs-analysis-year-offshore-wind-costs-fell ).
Cost/Nameplate Capacity: $5/Watt
Capacity Factor: 40%
Cost/Effective Output: $12.5/Watt
O&M Costs: $130/kW-yr
Lower bound of LCOE: $150/MWh (2015USD), $154/MWh (2017USD)
Conclusions:
1. While turbines are getting larger, able to operate at lower wind speeds, and improving their capacity factors, the total lifecycle cost per unit of energy provided from offshore wind has not perceptibly decreased from 1991 to 2015. Higher costs of O&M for larger turbines farther offshore seems to consume savings from higher capacity factors.
2. As it is uncontrollably variable and weather dependent, offshore wind generation remains uncompetitive with gas and coal which are half the cost (~ $70/MWh LCOE) while providing fully dispatchable and weather-independent power that is of much higher value to a power grid.
The turbine in Crisfield gets turned off periodically, even in good wind. The only reason I can think of to turn off free power is if the maintenance cost is greater than the power produced.
ReplyDeleteAdd in the cost of tearing the danged things down as well. Glad to see this report as Maryland is considering spending OUR money on the same fiasco off Ocean City. Buckle up, Ratepayers!
ReplyDeleteDon't forget that wherever a wind farm is located, tradition spinning ready power generation needs to be on standby unless you want what happens in Australia. Sudden changes in wind output cause the whole grid to crash
ReplyDeleteThere's a certain wastewater treatment plant purchased by a certain mayor and city council that was supposed to cost $65,000,000, but instead cost $150,000,000 to build and replace after somebody hoodwinked the public.
ReplyDelete9:01 You must be referring to Crisfield....the sewer system there is on borrowed time.
ReplyDeleteOff shore wind farms are a stupid idea so of course they make good sense to crooked politicians.
ReplyDeleteTerrible idea just more clean energy B.S. I say if it is going to be so expensive it isn't worth the trouble and cost to build it. Because we all know it will probably be trashed and not even used after all is said and done. We will be so tired of not being able to afford our electric bills we will go back to coal, oil and gas. Then you will have millions of wasted dollars just sitting in the ocean. They really ought to think this thing through and just trash the idea, that would save us a ton of money.
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