Comparing offshore and onshore wind development considering acceptance costs

Abstract

Cost efficient deployment of wind energy is in focus for reaching ambitious targets for renewable energy and transforming the energy supply to one based on renewables. However, as more wind is being deployed the available sites onshore become less attractive in terms of wind conditions and capacity factor and more resistance from population groups affected in the deployment areas results in a reduction of areas that can be developed. We consider three different methods for estimating acceptance costs, one based on compensation and property purchase costs, one based on property value loss near wind turbines, and one based on willingness to pay calculated from a stated preference study. Utilising these methods, we provide an estimation of Levelised Cost of Energy (LCOE) for an expansion in Denmark of onshore and offshore wind capacity of 12 GW. We find that the three methods provide similar estimates for local acceptance, but that a high range of uncertainty exists in the upper bound of acceptance costs. Onshore does not have a clear-cut cost advantage over offshore when considering substantial amounts of wind capacity expansion and using high estimates for nationwide acceptance costs. Moderate onshore wind expansion considering only local acceptance has a cost advantage.

The role of sector coupling in the green transition: A least-cost energy system development in North Europe towards 2050

“…Local resistance and resulting policy constrain important technologies for the green transition such as onshore wind and electricity transmission and lead to increased costs and lower VRE penetration ( [13], [14], [15]). The local resistance to wind power has been demonstrated in a range of articles ( [16], [17], [18], [19], [20], [21]) with consequences ranging from lack of generalised support to delays and losses. Similarly, overhead transmission lines are experiencing local resistance resulting in barriers to network development [22].…”

Foundations in Offshore Wind Farms: Evolution, Characteristics and Range of Use. Analysis of Main Dimensional Parameters in Monopile Foundations

“…In 2016, it overtook coal as the second-largest form of generation capacity in Europe, only being overpassed by gas, and showing the highest development rate of every source considered [3]. Although the offshore wind energy sector is still far from the stage of maturity of its older brother (onshore wind) [4], the similarities between both have allowed offshore wind turbines [5] to become efficient and commercial-ready in a relatively short time [6]. During 2018, a total of 4496 MW were installed in six different countries [7].…”

The value of sector coupling for the development of offshore power grids

“…Alternative VRE technology assumptions, like the ones presented in [43] which foresee a faster decrease of offshore wind cost development compared to [18], would have increased investments in offshore wind, and probably, already in early years. In reality, onshore wind is experiencing public acceptance issues ( [44], [45]), which is one of the reasons why companies and countries are putting the focus on offshore development [46]. Including in the modelling behavioral aspects instead of just relying on economic rationality should be considered in future work, since it can influence considerably the development of offshore grids.…”