Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Wind Power Station Costs
Wind power plant project costs include turbine hardware acquisition and installation,
site preparation, balance of station equipment and facilities (often called hard costs), and
costs to finance and legally structure the project (often called soft costs). The answer to the
question “How much does a wind turbine cost?” is quite different from the question “How
much does a wind power station cost?” Because the latter includes not only turbines but
many other costs, only the wind plant cost is relevant to answering the question, “How much
does wind-generated electricity cost?” In other words, “How much is the COE from a wind-
powered plant?”
Breakdown of Wind Plant Costs
Turbines and other capital equipment are the largest element in wind plant costs. Turbine
system costs are specified to include the following:
-
rotor assembly
- blades
- aerodynamic control system
- rotor hub
- miscellaneous costs, including labor for assembly of rotor components
-
nacelle assembly
- low-speed shaft, bearings, and couplings
- gearbox
- generator
- mechanical brake system
- mainframe (chassis)
- yaw system, including drives, dampers, brakes, and bearings
- nacelle cover
- work platform
- miscellaneous costs, including labor for factory assembly
-
tower (less on-site assembly costs included in “installation” below)
-
control and electrical systems, including labor for factory assembly
-
shipping costs, including permits and insurance
-
warranty costs, including insurance
-
markup, including royalties, profit, and overhead not included above
Balance-of-station cost is the other key element of project equipment costs that includes
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wind measurement anemometers and recorders
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site survey
-
site preparation, including roads, grading and fences
-
electrical collection system infrastructure
-
substation
-
foundations for the wind turbines
-
operation and maintenance (O&M) facilities and equipment
-
receiving, installation, checkout, and startup
-
System Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA)
-
initial spare parts inventory
-
permits and licenses
-
legal expenses
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