IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v12y2019i13p2464-d243094.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Increasing the Competitiveness of Tidal Systems by Means of the Improvement of Installation and Maintenance Maneuvers in First Generation Tidal Energy Converters—An Economic Argumentation

Author

Listed:
  • Eva Segura

    (Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales de Albacete, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 02071 Albacete, Spain)

  • Rafael Morales

    (Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales de Albacete, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 02071 Albacete, Spain)

  • José A. Somolinos

    (Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Navales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

The most important technological advances in tidal systems are currently taking place in first generation tidal energy converters (TECs), which are installed in areas in which the depth does not exceed 40 m. Some of these devices are fixed to the seabed and it is, therefore, necessary to have special high performance ships to transport them from the base port to the tidal farm and to subsequently recover the main units of these devices. These ships are very costly, thus making the installation costs very high and, in some cases, probably unfeasible. According to what has occurred to date, the costs of the installation and maintenance procedures depend, to a great extent, on the reliability and accessibility of the devices. One of the possible solutions as regards increasing system performance and decreasing the costs of the installation and maintenance procedures is the definition of automated maneuvers, which will consequently influence: (i) an increase in the competitiveness of these technologies; (ii) a reduction in the number and duration of installation and maintenance operations; (iii) less human intervention, or (iv) the possibility of using cheaper general purpose ships rather than high cost special vessels for maintenance purposes, among others. In this research, we propose a definition of the procedures required for the manual and automated installation and maintenance maneuvers of gravity-based first generation TECs. This definition will allow us to quantify the costs of both the manual and automated operations in a more accurate manner and enable us to determine the reduction in the cost of the automated installation and maintenance procedures. It will also enable us to demonstrate that the automation of these maneuvers may be an interesting solution by which to improve the competitiveness of tidal systems in the near future.

Suggested Citation

  • Eva Segura & Rafael Morales & José A. Somolinos, 2019. "Increasing the Competitiveness of Tidal Systems by Means of the Improvement of Installation and Maintenance Maneuvers in First Generation Tidal Energy Converters—An Economic Argumentation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-27, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:13:p:2464-:d:243094
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/13/2464/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/13/2464/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Castro-Santos, Laura & Martins, Elson & Guedes Soares, C., 2017. "Economic comparison of technological alternatives to harness offshore wind and wave energies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(P1), pages 1121-1130.
    2. Castro-Santos, Laura & Martins, Elson & Guedes Soares, C., 2016. "Cost assessment methodology for combined wind and wave floating offshore renewable energy systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 866-880.
    3. Segura, E. & Morales, R. & Somolinos, J.A., 2018. "Economic-financial modeling for marine current harnessing projects," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 859-880.
    4. Rafael Morales & Lorenzo Fernández & Eva Segura & José A. Somolinos, 2016. "Maintenance Maneuver Automation for an Adapted Cylindrical Shape TEC," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-16, September.
    5. Sinha, Avik & Shahbaz, Muhammad & Sengupta, Tuhin, 2018. "Renewable Energy Policies and Contradictions in Causality: A case of Next 11 Countries," MPRA Paper 87542, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 17 Jun 2018.
    6. Segura, E. & Morales, R. & Somolinos, J.A. & López, A., 2017. "Techno-economic challenges of tidal energy conversion systems: Current status and trends," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 536-550.
    7. Laura Castro-Santos & Dina Silva & A. Rute Bento & Nadia Salvação & C. Guedes Soares, 2018. "Economic Feasibility of Wave Energy Farms in Portugal," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-16, November.
    8. Eva Segura & Rafael Morales & José A. Somolinos, 2017. "Cost Assessment Methodology and Economic Viability of Tidal Energy Projects," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-27, November.
    9. Charlier, Roger H., 2003. "A "sleeper" awakes: tidal current power," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 7(6), pages 515-529, December.
    10. Fallon, D. & Hartnett, M. & Olbert, A. & Nash, S., 2014. "The effects of array configuration on the hydro-environmental impacts of tidal turbines," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 10-25.
    11. Bryden, Ian G. & Couch, Scott J., 2006. "ME1—marine energy extraction: tidal resource analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 31(2), pages 133-139.
    12. Somolinos, J.A. & López, A. & Núñez, L.R. & Morales, R., 2017. "Dynamic model and experimental validation for the control of emersion manoeuvers of devices for marine currents harnessing," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 333-345.
    13. Denny, Eleanor, 2009. "The economics of tidal energy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(5), pages 1914-1924, May.
    14. Jeffrey, Henry & Jay, Brighid & Winskel, Mark, 2013. "Accelerating the development of marine energy: Exploring the prospects, benefits and challenges," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 80(7), pages 1306-1316.
    15. Segura, E. & Morales, R. & Somolinos, J.A., 2018. "A strategic analysis of tidal current energy conversion systems in the European Union," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 527-551.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Eva Segura & Rafael Morales & José A. Somolinos, 2019. "Influence of Automated Maneuvers on the Economic Feasibility of Tidal Energy Farms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-22, October.
    2. Radosław Wolniak & Sebastian Saniuk & Sandra Grabowska & Bożena Gajdzik, 2020. "Identification of Energy Efficiency Trends in the Context of the Development of Industry 4.0 Using the Polish Steel Sector as an Example," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-16, June.
    3. Fouz, D.M. & Carballo, R. & López, I. & González, X.P. & Iglesias, G., 2023. "A methodology for cost-effective analysis of hydrokinetic energy projects," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    4. del Horno, L. & Segura, E. & Morales, R. & Somolinos, J.A., 2020. "Exhaustive closed loop behavior of an one degree of freedom first-generation device for harnessing energy from marine currents," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    5. Richardson, Riley Lindsay & Buckham, Bradley & McWhinnie, Lauren Helen, 2022. "Mapping a blue energy future for British Columbia: Creating a holistic framework for tidal stream energy development in remote coastal communities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Eva Segura & Rafael Morales & José A. Somolinos, 2019. "Influence of Automated Maneuvers on the Economic Feasibility of Tidal Energy Farms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-22, October.
    2. del Horno, L. & Segura, E. & Morales, R. & Somolinos, J.A., 2020. "Exhaustive closed loop behavior of an one degree of freedom first-generation device for harnessing energy from marine currents," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    3. Segura, E. & Morales, R. & Somolinos, J.A., 2018. "Economic-financial modeling for marine current harnessing projects," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 859-880.
    4. Segura, E. & Morales, R. & Somolinos, J.A. & López, A., 2017. "Techno-economic challenges of tidal energy conversion systems: Current status and trends," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 536-550.
    5. Segura, E. & Morales, R. & Somolinos, J.A., 2018. "A strategic analysis of tidal current energy conversion systems in the European Union," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 527-551.
    6. Eva Segura & Rafael Morales & José A. Somolinos, 2017. "Cost Assessment Methodology and Economic Viability of Tidal Energy Projects," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-27, November.
    7. López, A. & Morán, J.L. & Núñez, L.R. & Somolinos, J.A., 2020. "Study of a cost model of tidal energy farms in early design phases with parametrization and numerical values. Application to a second-generation device," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    8. Deng, Guizhong & Zhang, Zhaoru & Li, Ye & Liu, Hailong & Xu, Wentao & Pan, Yulin, 2020. "Prospective of development of large-scale tidal current turbine array: An example numerical investigation of Zhejiang, China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    9. O Rourke, Fergal & Boyle, Fergal & Reynolds, Anthony, 2010. "Tidal energy update 2009," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(2), pages 398-409, February.
    10. Yang, Zhixue & Ren, Zhouyang & Li, Zhenwen & Xu, Yan & Li, Hui & Li, Wenyuan & Hu, Xiuqiong, 2022. "A comprehensive analysis method for levelized cost of energy in tidal current power generation farms," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 982-991.
    11. Bianchi, Marco & Fernandez, Iratxe Fernandez, 2024. "A systematic methodology to assess local economic impacts of ocean renewable energy projects: Application to a tidal energy farm," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    12. Rourke, Fergal O. & Boyle, Fergal & Reynolds, Anthony, 2010. "Marine current energy devices: Current status and possible future applications in Ireland," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(3), pages 1026-1036, April.
    13. Ophelie Choupin & Michael Henriksen & Amir Etemad-Shahidi & Rodger Tomlinson, 2021. "Breaking-Down and Parameterising Wave Energy Converter Costs Using the CapEx and Similitude Methods," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-27, February.
    14. O'Rourke, Fergal & Boyle, Fergal & Reynolds, Anthony, 2010. "Tidal current energy resource assessment in Ireland: Current status and future update," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(9), pages 3206-3212, December.
    15. Li, Gang & Zhu, Weidong, 2023. "Tidal current energy harvesting technologies: A review of current status and life cycle assessment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    16. Fouz, D.M. & Carballo, R. & López, I. & González, X.P. & Iglesias, G., 2023. "A methodology for cost-effective analysis of hydrokinetic energy projects," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    17. Nash, S. & Phoenix, A., 2017. "A review of the current understanding of the hydro-environmental impacts of energy removal by tidal turbines," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 648-662.
    18. Liu, Zhen & Qu, Hengliang & Shi, Hongda, 2020. "Energy-harvesting performance of a coupled-pitching hydrofoil under the semi-passive mode," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 267(C).
    19. Liu, Zhen & Qu, Hengliang, 2022. "Numerical study on a coupled-pitching flexible hydrofoil under the semi-passive mode," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 339-358.
    20. Chenglong Guo & Wanan Sheng & Dakshina G. De Silva & George Aggidis, 2023. "A Review of the Levelized Cost of Wave Energy Based on a Techno-Economic Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-30, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:13:p:2464-:d:243094. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.