Factors Influencing the Decision-Making Process at the End-of-Life Cycle of Onshore Wind Farms: A Systematic Review

João Agra Neto (), Mario Orestes Aguirre González, Rajiv Lucas Pereira de Castro, David Cassimiro de Melo, Kezauyn Miranda Aiquoc, Andressa Medeiros Santiso, Rafael Monteiro de Vasconcelos, Lucas Honorato de Souza and Eric Lucas dos Santos Cabral
Additional contact information
João Agra Neto: Creation Group, Graduate Program in Petroleum Science and Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Lagoa Nova University Campus, P.O. Box 1524, Natal 59078-900, RN, Brazil
Mario Orestes Aguirre González: Creation Group, Graduate Program in Petroleum Science and Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Lagoa Nova University Campus, P.O. Box 1524, Natal 59078-900, RN, Brazil
Rajiv Lucas Pereira de Castro: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Lagoa Nova University Campus, P.O. Box 1524, Natal 59078-900, RN, Brazil
David Cassimiro de Melo: Creation Group, Production Engineering Department, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Lagoa Nova University Campus, P.O. Box 1524, Natal 59078-900, RN, Brazil
Kezauyn Miranda Aiquoc: Postgraduate Program in Public Health, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Lagoa Nova University Campus, P.O. Box 1524, Natal 59078-900, RN, Brazil
Andressa Medeiros Santiso: Creation Group, Production Engineering Department, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Lagoa Nova University Campus, P.O. Box 1524, Natal 59078-900, RN, Brazil
Rafael Monteiro de Vasconcelos: Creation Group, Production Engineering Department, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Lagoa Nova University Campus, P.O. Box 1524, Natal 59078-900, RN, Brazil
Lucas Honorato de Souza: Creation Group, Production Engineering Department, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Lagoa Nova University Campus, P.O. Box 1524, Natal 59078-900, RN, Brazil
Eric Lucas dos Santos Cabral: Creation Group, Graduate Program in Petroleum Science and Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Lagoa Nova University Campus, P.O. Box 1524, Natal 59078-900, RN, Brazil

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 4, 1-42

Abstract: It is observed that the number of onshore wind farms that reach the end of their service life is continually increasing. The decision-making process that defines the future of the farm is a challenge for the owners. This systematic review aimed to identify which factors influence the decision-making process at the end-of-life cycle of onshore wind farms. In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol, a research strategy was developed and used the Scopus, Web of Science and EMBASE databases. Initially, 2767 articles were identified, but, after double-blind screening, 26 articles were analyzed in full. The scarcity of studies on this topic and little elucidation are limitations of this review. The results include (i) a systematization of six options for decision making, (ii) thirteen factors influencing the decision-making process associated with categories of external factors (logistics and infrastructure aspects, regulatory aspects and public policies, national energy guidelines, the technological development of the sector); and internal factors (economic/financial, operational and environmental aspects). It is concluded that most of the publications consist of simulations and theoretical studies highlighting a bottleneck in experiences and feasible data to support decisions at the end of service life. It is highlighted that most of the studies showed that partial decommissioning with partial repowering, as well as total decommissioning, were the most feasible options for the end-of-life cycle, with aspects related to public policies and regulatory aspects, as well as environmental, operational and economic/financial aspects, being the most influential, especially due to the wake effect, operation and maintenance costs (OPEX) and the protection of guarantees and incentives for operation in a new operating cycle.

Keywords: wind energy; onshore wind farm; end-of-life cycle; decommissioning; repowering; retrofitting; PRISMA; systematic review (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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