O&M Models for Ocean Energy Converters: Calibrating through Real Sea Data

Abstract

Of the cost centres that combine to result in Levelised Cost of Energy (LCOE), O&M costs play a significant part. Several developers have calculated component costs, demonstrating how they can become commercially competitive with other forms of renewable energy. However, there are uncertainties relating to the O&M figures that can only be reduced through lessons learned at sea. This work presents an O&M model calibrated with data from real sea experience of a wave energy device deployed at the Biscay Marine energy Platform (BiMEP): the OPERA O&M Model. Two additional case studies, utilising two other O&M calculation methodologies, are presented for comparison with the OPERA O&M Model. The second case study assumes the inexistence of an O&M model, utilising a Simplified Approach. The third case study applies DTOcean’s (a design tool for ocean energy arrays) O&M module. The results illustrate the potential advantages of utilising real sea data for the calibration and development of an O&M model. The Simplified Approach was observed to overestimate LCOE when compared to the OPERA O&M Model. This work also shows that O&M models can be used for the definition of optimal maintenance plans to assist with OPEX reduction.

A Review of the Levelized Cost of Wave Energy Based on a Techno-Economic Model

“…Because the DC in the CAPEX is small, estimated to be 0.5-1% [83], it is usually negligible to zero [84], assembled into the CAPEX [80], or grouped into the OPEX [85]. As a result, the LCOE can be described by Equation (10).…”

“…The AEP is an important adjustable parameter that determines the LCOE behavior. The AEP is considered as a function of the project capacity (or named power rating), device capacity (or named capture width ratio), and device availability [85,109,110], as shown in Equation ( 14). AEP = f(PCF, DCF, DAF, T) (14) where PCF is the project capacity factor, DCF is the device capacity factor, DAF is the device availability factor, and T is the number of hours in a year (which is equivalent to 8766 h).…”