Techno-economic analysis of a hydraulic transmission for floating offshore wind turbines

Michael Roggenburg, Helber A. Esquivel-Puentes, Andrea Vacca, Humberto Bocanegra Evans, Jose M. Garcia-Bravo, David M. Warsinger, Monika Ivantysynova and Luciano Castillo

Renewable Energy, 2020, vol. 153, issue C, 1194-1204

Abstract: Mechanical gearboxes have one of the highest failure rates of wind turbine components while being one of the most expensive parts to replace or service. They are easily fatigued and have a low power rating relative to their size and mass. In this article, hydraulic transmissions are proposed as an alternative to mechanical drive trains and their feasibility has been established, particularly for offshore wind turbine applications. Here, we provide an in-depth analysis regarding the techno-economic benefits of replacing the mechanical gearbox with a hydraulic transmission in an offshore system. Our analysis shows that hydraulic transmissions are particularly beneficial for offshore applications: (i) relocating 35.3% of the nacelle mass to the base, thus moving the center of gravity toward the ground level, (ii) diminishing operation and maintenance costs, and (iii) replacing now-redundant power electronics. These three benefits contribute to saving between 3.92 and 18.8% on the Levelized Cost of Electricity for average cost offshore wind turbines.

Keywords: Hydraulic transmission; Offshore wind turbine; Levelized cost of electricity; Wind power; Techno-economic analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:153:y:2020:i:c:p:1194-1204

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2020.02.060

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