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Life Cycle Assessment of Four Floating Wind Farms around Scotland Using a Site-Specific Operation and Maintenance Model with SOVs

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Listed:
  • Iain A. Struthers

    (School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FB, UK)

  • Nadezda Avanessova

    (Industrial CDT in Offshore Renewable Energy (IDCORE), University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XQ, UK)

  • Anthony Gray

    (Research and Disruptive Innovation, ORE Catapult, Glasgow G1 1RD, UK)

  • Miriam Noonan

    (Research and Disruptive Innovation, ORE Catapult, Glasgow G1 1RD, UK)

  • R. Camilla Thomson

    (School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FB, UK)

  • Gareth P. Harrison

    (School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FB, UK)

Abstract

This paper presents a life cycle assessment (LCA) of the International Energy Agency (IEA) 15 MW Reference Wind Turbine (RWT), on floating platforms, deployed in commercial-scale arrays at multiple locations around Scotland in the ScotWind leasing round. Site-specific energy production and vessel operations are provided by a dedicated offshore wind farm operations and maintenance (O&M) model, COMPASS, allowing service operation vessel (SOV) O&M impacts to be assessed with increased confidence. For climate change, the median global warming impact varied from 17.4 to 26.3 gCO 2 eq/kWh across the four sites within a 95% confidence interval using an uncertainty assessment of both foreground and background data. As is common with other offshore renewable energy systems, materials and manufacture account for 71% to 79% of global warming impact, while O&M comprise between 9% and 16% of the global warming impacts. High-voltage direct current (HVDC) export cables, floating platforms, and composite blades are significant contributors to the environmental impacts of these arrays (by mass and material choice), while the contributions from ballast, vessel transportation emissions, and power-train components are lower. The results suggest that material efficiencies, circularity, and decarbonizing material supply inventories should be a priority for the Scottish floating wind sector, followed by minimizing vessel operations and the decarbonization of vessel propulsion, while avoiding burden shifting to other impact categories.

Suggested Citation

  • Iain A. Struthers & Nadezda Avanessova & Anthony Gray & Miriam Noonan & R. Camilla Thomson & Gareth P. Harrison, 2023. "Life Cycle Assessment of Four Floating Wind Farms around Scotland Using a Site-Specific Operation and Maintenance Model with SOVs," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-24, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:23:p:7739-:d:1286523
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Raadal, Hanne Lerche & Vold, Bjørn Ivar & Myhr, Anders & Nygaard, Tor Anders, 2014. "GHG emissions and energy performance of offshore wind power," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 314-324.
    2. Liang Tsai & Jarod C. Kelly & Brett S. Simon & Rachel M. Chalat & Gregory A. Keoleian, 2016. "Life Cycle Assessment of Offshore Wind Farm Siting: Effects of Locational Factors, Lake Depth, and Distance from Shore," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 20(6), pages 1370-1383, December.
    3. Thomson, R. Camilla & Harrison, Gareth P. & Chick, John P., 2017. "Marginal greenhouse gas emissions displacement of wind power in Great Britain," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 201-210.
    4. Garcia-Teruel, Anna & Rinaldi, Giovanni & Thies, Philipp R. & Johanning, Lars & Jeffrey, Henry, 2022. "Life cycle assessment of floating offshore wind farms: An evaluation of operation and maintenance," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
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