Yes / Reliability is critical to the design, operation, maintenance, and performance assessment and improvement of wind turbines (WTs). This paper systematically reviews publicly available reliability data for both onshore and offshore WTs and investigates the impacts of reliability on the cost of energy. WT failure rates and downtimes, broken down by subassembly, are collated from 18 publicly available databases including over 18 000 WTs, corresponding to over 90 000 turbine‐years. The data are classified based on the types of data collected (failure rate and stop rate) and by onshore and offshore populations. A comprehensive analysis is performed to investigate WT subassembly reliability data variations, identify critical subassemblies, compare onshore and offshore WT reliability, and understand possible sources of uncertainty. Large variations in both failure rates and downtimes are observed, and the skew in failure rate distribution implies that large databases with low failure rates, despite their diverse populations, are less uncertain than more targeted surveys, which are easily skewed by WT type failures. A model is presented to evaluate the levelised cost of energy as a function of WT failure rates and downtimes. A numerical study proves a strong and nonlinear relationship between WT reliability and operation and maintenance expenditure as well as annual energy production. Together with the cost analysis model, the findings can help WT operators identify the optimal degree of reliability improvement to minimise the levelised cost of energy. / UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). Grant Number: EP/P009743/1

The cost of energy and national power utility Eskom, is currently under heated debate after the cost of electricity has more than doubled over the past three years, with another five annual increases of 8% approved by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa. The state owned utility has a monopoly on electricity production in South Africa having sole ownership over the transmission and distribution of electricity. Eskom produces 95% of South Africa’s electricity, predominantly from coal fired power stations, which is one of the leading causes why the country is one of the highest carbon dioxide emitters in the world. The question of independent power production and the use of our abundant renewable resources for electricity generation have been at the forefront with critics arguing against the heavy increases absorbed by industry and consumers. Although the renewable energy space is a well discussed topic, it is not well scientifically documented from an economic standpoint. The primary objective is to determine if renewable energy is price competitive with Eskom, or non-renewable electricity generation, by not only looking at the current scenario but also the future price projection and point where renewable energy is on parity with the grid price. For this purpose the Levelised Cost of Energy calculation method was used. Four different measuring instruments were produced for each technology namely, biogas, biomass, solar and wind and a financial model developed to determine the levelised cost, taking into consideration more complex financial structures, tax incentives, revenues and costs associated with by-products. From the literature it is clear that wind and solar, on a large scale, are competitive with the levelised cost of Eskom’s new build coal power plants and particularly wind, is lower than the grid price in 2017. The empirical study focused on a smaller scale of 1 to 5 megawatt and concluded that the levelised cost of wind energy is lower than Medupi coal fired power plant, currently under construction. The study also determined that biogas and biomass, under certain conditions relating to feedstock costs, are able to compete with Medupi and offer real and sustainable benefits in long-term energy supply. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The cost of energy and national power utility Eskom, is currently under heated debate after the cost of electricity has more than doubled over the past three years, with another five annual increases of 8% approved by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa. The state owned utility has a monopoly on electricity production in South Africa having sole ownership over the transmission and distribution of electricity. Eskom produces 95% of South Africa’s electricity, predominantly from coal fired power stations, which is one of the leading causes why the country is one of the highest carbon dioxide emitters in the world. The question of independent power production and the use of our abundant renewable resources for electricity generation have been at the forefront with critics arguing against the heavy increases absorbed by industry and consumers. Although the renewable energy space is a well discussed topic, it is not well scientifically documented from an economic standpoint. The primary objective is to determine if renewable energy is price competitive with Eskom, or non-renewable electricity generation, by not only looking at the current scenario but also the future price projection and point where renewable energy is on parity with the grid price. For this purpose the Levelised Cost of Energy calculation method was used. Four different measuring instruments were produced for each technology namely, biogas, biomass, solar and wind and a financial model developed to determine the levelised cost, taking into consideration more complex financial structures, tax incentives, revenues and costs associated with by-products. From the literature it is clear that wind and solar, on a large scale, are competitive with the levelised cost of Eskom’s new build coal power plants and particularly wind, is lower than the grid price in 2017. The empirical study focused on a smaller scale of 1 to 5 megawatt and concluded that the levelised cost of wind energy is lower than Medupi coal fired power plant, currently under construction. The study also determined that biogas and biomass, under certain conditions relating to feedstock costs, are able to compete with Medupi and offer real and sustainable benefits in long-term energy supply. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Wind energy technologies are considered to be among the most promising types of renewable energy sources, which have since attracted broad considerations through recent years due to the soaring oil prices and the growing concerns over climate change and energy security. In Kuwait, rapid industrialisation, population growth and increasing water desalination are resulting in high energy demand growth, increasing the concern of oil diminishing as a main source of energy and the climate change caused by CO2 emissions from fossil fuel based energy. These demands and challenges compelled governments to embark on a diversification strategy to meet growing energy demand and support continued economic growth. Kuwait looked for alternative forms of energy by assessing potential renewable energy resources, including wind and sun. Kuwait is attempting to use and invest in renewable energy due to the fluctuating price of oil, diminishing reserves, the rapid increase in population, the high consumption of electricity and the environment protection. In this research, wind energy will be investigated as an attractive source of energy in Kuwait.

Energy is central to economic development. It has been established that there is a clear correlation between energy consumption and living standards. Nigeria is a country of very industrious and enterprising people. However, due to non availability of adequate energy in the country, especially in the remote, off grid locations, the entrepreneurial inclination of the average Nigerian living in these locations has been largely stunted. Over the years, successive governments in the country, in realisation of the pivotal role of energy in national development, have explored various options to improve energy supply and availability, but the situation has not experienced any remarkable improvement. This has forced many businesses and households to resort to self provision through generators, often at exorbitant costs. This research work addresses the challenge of energy in remote, off grid locations by appraising the techno economic potential of renewable energy, using Obudu Ranch as a case study. This ranch is the foremost tourism resort in Nigeria, and has played host to a number of international events over the years. Presently, electricity is being generated through the use of diesel powered generating sets. The adjoining communities are currently without electricity, although a few of the residents have acquired generators for self provision, mostly for their domestic use. Aside the high cost associated with this, the discharge of noxious contaminants into the atmosphere is undesirable. The research entailed a working collaboration with some notable Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that have done extensive ground work in the area for access to some secondary data, as well as a number of corporate and governmental agencies that are relevant to the study. Further, the ranch was visited to establish hands-on, the existing renewable energy sources. A trade-off of these sources was carried out with reference to a number of relevant evaluation parameters to identify the most suited option for addressing the energy challenge. A comparative analysis of this selected source was then made to establish its techno economic potential against the existing source of power generation- diesel powered generating sets, which currently costs R1.5 million annually in running expenses. The findings from this research have established that a Renewable Energy source (mini hydro) is a more cost effective option than the diesel powered gen set, providing a 43% reduction in cost of energy generation, and a 42% reduction in the life cycle cost over the five year of analysis, compared to the status quo. In addition, it is also more environmentally friendly. Conclusively, the findings and recommendations of this research effort, if well implemented, will be beneficial to the ranch, the adjoining communities and other relevant stakeholders. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Development and Management Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Energy is central to economic development. It has been established that there is a clear correlation between energy consumption and living standards. Nigeria is a country of very industrious and enterprising people. However, due to non availability of adequate energy in the country, especially in the remote, off grid locations, the entrepreneurial inclination of the average Nigerian living in these locations has been largely stunted. Over the years, successive governments in the country, in realisation of the pivotal role of energy in national development, have explored various options to improve energy supply and availability, but the situation has not experienced any remarkable improvement. This has forced many businesses and households to resort to self provision through generators, often at exorbitant costs. This research work addresses the challenge of energy in remote, off grid locations by appraising the techno economic potential of renewable energy, using Obudu Ranch as a case study. This ranch is the foremost tourism resort in Nigeria, and has played host to a number of international events over the years. Presently, electricity is being generated through the use of diesel powered generating sets. The adjoining communities are currently without electricity, although a few of the residents have acquired generators for self provision, mostly for their domestic use. Aside the high cost associated with this, the discharge of noxious contaminants into the atmosphere is undesirable. The research entailed a working collaboration with some notable Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that have done extensive ground work in the area for access to some secondary data, as well as a number of corporate and governmental agencies that are relevant to the study. Further, the ranch was visited to establish hands-on, the existing renewable energy sources. A trade-off of these sources was carried out with reference to a number of relevant evaluation parameters to identify the most suited option for addressing the energy challenge. A comparative analysis of this selected source was then made to establish its techno economic potential against the existing source of power generation- diesel powered generating sets, which currently costs R1.5 million annually in running expenses. The findings from this research have established that a Renewable Energy source (mini hydro) is a more cost effective option than the diesel powered gen set, providing a 43% reduction in cost of energy generation, and a 42% reduction in the life cycle cost over the five year of analysis, compared to the status quo. In addition, it is also more environmentally friendly. Conclusively, the findings and recommendations of this research effort, if well implemented, will be beneficial to the ranch, the adjoining communities and other relevant stakeholders. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Development and Management Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.