Yes / The offshore wind energy is increasingly becoming an attractive source of energy due to having lower environmental impact. Effective operation and maintenance that ensures the maximum availability of the energy generation process using offshore facilities and minimal production cost are two key factors to improve the competitiveness of this energy source over other traditional sources of energy. Condition monitoring systems are widely used for health management of offshore wind farms to have improved operation and maintenance. Reliability of the wind farms are increasingly being evaluated to aid in the maintenance process and thereby to improve the availability of the farms. However, much of the reliability analysis is performed offline based on statistical data. In this article, we propose a drone-assisted monitoring based method for online reliability evaluation of wind turbines. A blade system of a wind turbine is used as an illustrative example to demonstrate the proposed approach. / SURE Grant scheme. SESAME H2020 Project under Grant 101017258.

This thesis studies the optimization of a variable speed, three blade, horizontal-axis wind turbine. The design parameters considered are the rotor diameter, hub height and generator capacity. The levelized cost of energy and simple payback are the figures of merit being minimized. Blade element momentum theory is used to calculate the power produced by the wind turbine rotor. Increasing the rotor diameter increases the power delivered to the generator at all wind speeds up to the limit of generator capacity. Increasing the generator capacity raises the limit on maximum power output. Increasing the hub height of a wind turbine increases power output due to the higher wind speeds at increased heights. However, all of these design changes involve an increase in capital cost. Furthermore, wind characteristics vary between wind resources. Therefore, the optimal wind turbine design will change depending on the wind resource. The model developed in this thesis is used to minimize the levelized cost of energy for various wind resources. The results of this study provide a guideline for the optimum wind turbine design in various wind resources. The model is also used to compare the difference between minimizing the levelized cost of energy and minimizing simple payback of a wind turbine located off the coast of Georgia. Simple payback is calculated by considering not only the total annual electricity produced and capital cost of the turbine but also the revenue the turbine will generate. Revenue is calculated from a time-dependent valuation of electrical power. The results of this study show that minimizing levelized cost of energy and minimizing simple payback result in the same optimum design for this particular site. The results show, however, that using a time-dependent valuation of electricity results in a different simple payback than when an average value of electricity is used.

We propose making an empirical application of the temporal view of stakeholder management theory by applying it in the particular context of the Canadian wind industry. The temporal view builds on insights from the resource-based view (RBV), institutional theory, and stakeholder salience theory. We argue that both early stage competitive advantage and late stage sustained competitive advantage could be dependent on the use of salient stakeholders as a special network of resources. We contribute to the literature in various ways. First we determine an empirical list of five salient stakeholders specific to the wind industry. Second, we show that, at early stages, the moderating effects of firm size and market conditions determines stakeholder support or rejection. Lastly, we show that, at late stages, the sustainability equation must take into account the introduction of new salient stakeholders. Also, we make practical recommendations for industry players and policy makers. We reached theory refinement by adopting an exploratory qualitative methodology based on interviews with seven cases of large and small wind firms operating in different electricity market types and provinces across Canada.

Submitted by Priscilla Araujo (priscilla@ibict.br) on 2016-08-09T16:03:56Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) cassia costa rocha_mestrado_2014.pdf: 3735326 bytes, checksum: d3e67d743c134b69403ba23833a51cac (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-09T16:03:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) cassia costa rocha_mestrado_2014.pdf: 3735326 bytes, checksum: d3e67d743c134b69403ba23833a51cac (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-03-28 / No contexto da crise ecológica, aponta os principais impactos socioambientais, ocasionados pelo modelo de produção e consumo baseados no crescimento econômico. Aborda o escopo das propostas do desenvolvimento sustentável, economia verde e decrescimento, que por caminhos distintos visam conter o agravamento da crise ecológica. Denuncia o quadro de desinformação programada sobre os efeitos da exploração dos recursos naturais. Por esse motivo, ressalta a importância da informação ambiental para tomada de decisão e mobilização social em prol da preservação dos ecossistemas. Destaca o papel estratégico das energias renováveis, sobretudo, da energia eólica no cenário da crise ecológica. Identifica as propriedades da tecnologia eólica, bem como o panorama mundial em relação ao uso dessa fonte, com ênfase para sua participação na matriz elétrica brasileira. Discute as dinâmicas do processo de inovação, e evidencia sua relevância para a estruturação do setor eólico no Brasil. Associa as inovações promovidas no referido setor as eco-inovações. Evidencia a contribuição da PD&I ao aperfeiçoamento tecnológico referente ao aproveitamento da energia eólica. Realiza um mapeamento dos grupos de pesquisa que tratam sobre energia eólica no Diretório de Grupos de Pesquisa no Brasil do Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), e avalia as informações compiladas. Investiga se as pesquisas desenvolvidas pelos grupos contemplam as demandas tecnológicas do setor eólico, delineadas no estudo "Análises e percepções para o desenvolvimento de uma política de CT&I no fomento da energia eólica no Brasil", publicado pelo Centro de Gestão e Estudos Estratégicos (CGEE). Conclui, a partir da análise dos resultados do questionário aplicado, que existe um ambiente favorável ao avanço do setor eólico brasileiro, no que concerne as pesquisas científicas desenvolvidas em áreas consideras estratégicas / In the context of the ecological crisis, highlights the main environmental impacts caused by the production and consumption model based on economic growth. Discusses the scope of the proposed sustainable development, green economy and decrease, which in different ways seek to contain the worsening ecological crisis. Denounces the box programmed misinformation about the effects of the exploitation of natural resources. For this reason, emphasizes the importance of environmental information for decision making and social mobilization in favor of the preservation of ecosystems. Highlights the strategic role of renewable energy, especially wind power in scenario of ecological crisis. Identifies the properties of wind technology, as well as the world stage regarding the use of this source, with emphasis on its participation in the Brazilian energy matrix. Discusses the dynamics of the innovation process, and demonstrates its relevance to the structure of the wind industry in Brazil. Associates promoted innovations in that sector of eco-innovations. Evidence the contribution of PD&I to the technological improvement regarding the use of wind energy. Performs a mapping of research groups that deal with wind energy in the Research Groups Directory at Brazil 's National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), and evaluates the compiled information. Investigates if the research developed by the groups include the technological demands of the wind industry, outlined in the study "Analyzes and insights for the development of a policy of CT&I in promoting of wind energy in Brazil", published by the Center for Management and Strategic Studies (CGEE). Concludes, from the analysis of the results of the applied questionnaire, there is a favorable environment for the advancement of Brazilian wind industry, regarding the developed scientific research in strategic areas.