Thesis EVALUACIÓN TÉCNICA-ECONÓMICA DE LA IMPLEMENTACIÓN DE UN CENTRO DE TECNOLOGÍA EÓLICA EN PUNTA CURAUMILLA, SECTOR DE LAGUNA VERDE, V REGIÓN
Date
2018
Authors
ARRIAGADA PINOCHET, GUSTAVO GABRIEL
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Abstract
El clima energético global actual ha llevado a un auge en el desarrollo e instalación deplantas de generación eléctrica a partir de energías renovables, impulsado por políticasy objetivos tanto nacionales como internacionales de reducción de dependencia decombustibles fósiles, y consecuentemente la disminución de emisiones de gases deefecto invernadero. Adicionalmente, los avances que han tenido este tipo detecnologías, particularmente en el caso de los aerogeneradores, cuyas eficiencias hanaumentado gracias a la aplicación de mayores alturas de buje y diámetros de rotores,ha fomentado aún más el uso de estas energías.En este contexto, Chile aún se encuentra en etapas tempranas de adopción de este tipode energías, ejemplificado con la instalación de su primera planta eólica recién en elaño 2007, no así países como Dinamarca o España, quienes han sido pioneros en lainvestigación e implementación de energías renovables, demostrados a través de lacomposición actual de sus matrices energéticas, su industria la cual ha sido progenitorade importantes empresas del rubro (e.g. Vestas, Acciona), y sus centros deinvestigación como el Centro Nacional de Pruebas de Grandes Turbinas en Østerild yel Centro Nacional de Energías Renovables en Navarra, ambos cuyos aportes seconcentran tanto en la parte industrial como educacional.A pesar de su ingreso tardío, Chile se encuentra bien encaminado en el recambio de sumatriz energética por una más limpia, en donde herramientas de prospección, como elExplorador Eólico creado por la Universidad de Chile durante el 2008 y perfeccionadoel 2012, han facilitado a instituciones públicas y privadas el desarrollo de nuevosproyectos, aumentando en la actualidad la capacidad instalada en Chile de potenciaeólica en casi 80 veces a aquella del 2007.A fin de continuar este avance, se analiza la opción de instalación de un Centro deInvestigación de Energía Eólica en el sector de Punta Curaumilla, ubicado en lascercanías de Laguna Verde en la región de Valparaíso y que actualmente posee un suministro eléctrico extremadamente limitado y en ciertos sectores inexistente. Estazona ha sido analizada por su potencial eólico en múltiples ocasiones por distintasinstituciones públicas (i.e. UPLA, UCV, UTFSM) y privadas (i.e. Inversiones EW,Mainstream Renewable Power) todos concordando en el buen recurso de vientopresente en el lugar.Basado en los datos simulados por el Explorador Eólico, el análisis de 3 puntosdistintos ubicados en Punta Curaumilla indican que la procedencia de los vientos esmayoritariamente Sur, con velocidades de viento promedio que rondan entre los 5 y los9 m/s dependiendo de la altura, dándose las máximas velocidades alrededor de los 100m de altura, manteniéndose o incluso disminuyendo en alturas superiores, condicióndada por la aceleración que el terreno produce sobre el flujo proveniente desde el mar.Existe también marcado cambio estacional en las características del viento, dándosemínimos de velocidad durante junio/julio, y máximos en diciembre/enero.Tomando en cuenta supuestos de consumos locales de energía eléctrica dadosprincipalmente por la granja marina Marine Farms, y las viviendas de uso permanenteen la zona, se calcula una potencia máxima requerida de abastecimiento deaproximadamente 18 kW, la cual sería en principio provista por el Centro Tecnológico.Según cotizaciones de aerogeneradores de media/baja escala, de potencia no mayor a5 kW, se presume la instalación de 4 aerogeneradores del fabricante Aeolos de dichapotencia, completando una capacidad total instalada del centro de 20 kW.Los datos de viento se utilizan en el software de modelación eólica Openwind para lageneración de un modelo de flujo de viento, el que a su vez permite la optimización yestimación de producción energética del Centro Tecnológico, utilizando lascaracterísticas técnicas del aerogenerador provistas por Aeolos. Los resultadosobtenidos indican una potencial generación P50 de 90,1 MWh anuales, o bien un factorde planta de 51,4% tomando en cuenta una altura de buje de 25 m.Para que el Centro de Tecnología Eólica funcione correctamente, se prevé la instalaciónde distintos equipos además de los aerogeneradores mencionados, tal como un mástil de monitoreo meteorológico, un punto de control local compuesto por servidores,sistemas de transmisión de datos y otros equipos auxiliares albergados en un container,y un sistema de transmisión de energía a los consumos locales. Todos estoscomponentes se evalúan económicamente a fin de establecer el nivel de inversióninicial requerida para el centro, resultando en un CAPEX estimado de 238,9 kUSD.Con el CAPEX mencionado, y suponiendo un costo operacional de 2.000 USD anualesademás de una depreciación a 10 años, y una tasa de descuento de 4%, se realiza elcálculo del valor actual neto (VAN) del centro en un plazo de operación de 30 años,con distintos supuestos de venta de la energía producida, comparándola directamentecon el costo del mismo nivel de suministro mediante métodos convencionales, tal comolo son los generadores a combustible utilizados frecuentemente en la zona. Asimismo,se calcula también el costo nivelado de energía del centro, que supone un VAN igual a0, resultando en 0,19 USD/kWh, valor menor que el precio obtenido por métodosconvencionales.El excelente potencial eólico presente en la zona de Punta Curaumilla, en conjunto consus características físicas y socioambientales, provee condiciones propicias para lainstalación del Centro de Tecnología Eólica que generaría un conocimiento continuode la energía eólica en condiciones reales de operación. Sin embargo, para lograr lacorrecta simbiosis entre los objetivos educativos del centro y el aporte a lascomunidades cercanas, es importante tomar en cuenta el carácter estacional quepresenta el recurso en el lugar, haciendo vital encontrar una forma de almacenar elexceso de energía generada durante el periodo de verano para abastecer el déficit degeneración durante el invierno. Aun así, los resultados obtenidos, en conjunto con losesperados avances tecnológicos y continuas reducciones de costos de inversiónasociados, indican que existe una real viabilidad para este proyecto, que puede resultarbeneficiosa tanto para la universidad, como para la comunidad en general.
The current global energy climate has caused a boom in the development andinstallation of renewable-energy-based generation plants, driven by national as well asinternational fossil fuel dependency reduction policies and objectives, which alsomeans a consequent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally,technological advancements, particularly in the case of wind turbine generators, whoseefficiencies have improved thanks to application of higher hub heights and rotordiameters, have promoted even further the use of these types of energy.In this context, Chile is still in the early adoption stages of these, evidenced by thecommissioning of its first wind farm as recent as 2007, unlike countries like Denmarkor Spain, who have pioneered the research and implementation of renewable energies,demonstrated through their current energy matrices, their industry which has bredimportant companies (e.g. Vestas, Acciona), and their research centers such as theNational Test Center for Large Turbines in Østerild, and the National Center ofRenewable Energies in Navarra, whose contributions concentrate on both industrialand educational aspects.Despite their late ingress, Chile is well in its way in the replacement of its energy matrixfor a cleaner one, where prospection tools, like the Explorador Eólico, created on 2008by the University of Chile and perfected on 2012, have facilitated public and privateinstitutions in project development, increasing the country’s installed capacity almost80 times of that of 2007.To continue this advancement, the option of installing a Wind Energy Research Centerin Punta Curaumilla, near Laguna Verde in the Valparaíso region, is analyzed. Thissector is currently with very limited or in certain parts non-existent supply ofelectricity; the sector has also been analyzed multiple times for its wind energypotential by different public institutions (i.e. UPLA, UCV, UTFSM) as well as private institutions (i.e. Inversiones EW, Mainstream Renewable Power) all of which concurthat the area presents a very good wind resource.Based on the wind data obtained from the Explorador Eólico, an analysis of 3 differentpoints in the area indicate that wind flow direction is mostly south, presenting averagewind speeds between 5 and 9 m/s depending on height, with maximum speeds reachedat a height of approximately 100 m, steadying or even diminishing at superior heights,condition given by wind flow acceleration due to the flow’s transition from the sea toland. There is also an evident seasonal change of wind characteristics, presenting areduction of speed during June/July, and an increase during December/January.Considering local energy consumption assumptions, given primarily by the adyacentcompany Marine Farms, as well as the neighboring community, a maximum neededsupply capacity is estimated at 18 kW, which in principle would be provided by theTech Center. According to medium/low scale wind turbine generator quotations, ofsizes no larger than 5 kW, 4 generators of said capacity would be installed, supplied bythe manufacturer Aeolos, totaling an installed capacity of 20 kW.Wind data is input on the wind modelling software Openwind in order to generate awind flow model, which in turns allows the Tech Center’s optimization and estimationof energy production, by using the wind turbine generator’s technical characteristicsprovided by Aeolos. Results obtained indicate a potential P50 generation of 90,1 MWhper year, meaning a capacity factor of 51,4% at a hub height of 25 m.In order for the Wind Energy Research Center to work correctly, installation of severaladditional equipment and systems is considered, such as a meteorological monitoringmast, a local control point composed of servers, data transmission systems and otherauxiliary equipment held inside a container unit, and finally an energy transmissionsystem for local consumption. All these components are economically evaluated tostablish the initial investment needed for the center, resulting in a total estimatedCAPEX of 238,9 kUSD.With the aforementioned CAPEX, and assuming a annual operational cost of 2.000USD, as well as a 10 year depreciation, and a discount rate of 4%, a net present value(NPV) is calculated for an operating period of 30 years, supposing energy sales atdifferent price levels, comparing it directly with the energy supply cost of the sameenergy provided by conventional methods, such as fuel based generators frequentlyused in the area. The levelized cost of energy (LCOE), meaning an NPV equal to 0, isalso calculated, resulting in a value of 0,19 USD/kWh, which is a lower value than allother conventional methods considered.The excellent wind energy potential present in Punta Curaumilla, along with itsphysical and environmental characteristics, provide appropriate conditions for theinstallation of the Wind Energy Research Center, which would provide a continuallygrowing knowledge of wind energy in real world conditions. However, in order toachieve the correct symbiosis between the educational objectives and the contributionto local communities, it is very important to consider the seasonal behavior of the windresource, making it vital to find a way to store the excess generation produced insummer, so as to assist the generation deficit that occurs during winter. Even so, resultsobtained, together with the expected technological advancements and continuousinvestment cost reduction, indicate the project proves to be a real possibility, whichcould result beneficial to the university as well as to the community in general.
The current global energy climate has caused a boom in the development andinstallation of renewable-energy-based generation plants, driven by national as well asinternational fossil fuel dependency reduction policies and objectives, which alsomeans a consequent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally,technological advancements, particularly in the case of wind turbine generators, whoseefficiencies have improved thanks to application of higher hub heights and rotordiameters, have promoted even further the use of these types of energy.In this context, Chile is still in the early adoption stages of these, evidenced by thecommissioning of its first wind farm as recent as 2007, unlike countries like Denmarkor Spain, who have pioneered the research and implementation of renewable energies,demonstrated through their current energy matrices, their industry which has bredimportant companies (e.g. Vestas, Acciona), and their research centers such as theNational Test Center for Large Turbines in Østerild, and the National Center ofRenewable Energies in Navarra, whose contributions concentrate on both industrialand educational aspects.Despite their late ingress, Chile is well in its way in the replacement of its energy matrixfor a cleaner one, where prospection tools, like the Explorador Eólico, created on 2008by the University of Chile and perfected on 2012, have facilitated public and privateinstitutions in project development, increasing the country’s installed capacity almost80 times of that of 2007.To continue this advancement, the option of installing a Wind Energy Research Centerin Punta Curaumilla, near Laguna Verde in the Valparaíso region, is analyzed. Thissector is currently with very limited or in certain parts non-existent supply ofelectricity; the sector has also been analyzed multiple times for its wind energypotential by different public institutions (i.e. UPLA, UCV, UTFSM) as well as private institutions (i.e. Inversiones EW, Mainstream Renewable Power) all of which concurthat the area presents a very good wind resource.Based on the wind data obtained from the Explorador Eólico, an analysis of 3 differentpoints in the area indicate that wind flow direction is mostly south, presenting averagewind speeds between 5 and 9 m/s depending on height, with maximum speeds reachedat a height of approximately 100 m, steadying or even diminishing at superior heights,condition given by wind flow acceleration due to the flow’s transition from the sea toland. There is also an evident seasonal change of wind characteristics, presenting areduction of speed during June/July, and an increase during December/January.Considering local energy consumption assumptions, given primarily by the adyacentcompany Marine Farms, as well as the neighboring community, a maximum neededsupply capacity is estimated at 18 kW, which in principle would be provided by theTech Center. According to medium/low scale wind turbine generator quotations, ofsizes no larger than 5 kW, 4 generators of said capacity would be installed, supplied bythe manufacturer Aeolos, totaling an installed capacity of 20 kW.Wind data is input on the wind modelling software Openwind in order to generate awind flow model, which in turns allows the Tech Center’s optimization and estimationof energy production, by using the wind turbine generator’s technical characteristicsprovided by Aeolos. Results obtained indicate a potential P50 generation of 90,1 MWhper year, meaning a capacity factor of 51,4% at a hub height of 25 m.In order for the Wind Energy Research Center to work correctly, installation of severaladditional equipment and systems is considered, such as a meteorological monitoringmast, a local control point composed of servers, data transmission systems and otherauxiliary equipment held inside a container unit, and finally an energy transmissionsystem for local consumption. All these components are economically evaluated tostablish the initial investment needed for the center, resulting in a total estimatedCAPEX of 238,9 kUSD.With the aforementioned CAPEX, and assuming a annual operational cost of 2.000USD, as well as a 10 year depreciation, and a discount rate of 4%, a net present value(NPV) is calculated for an operating period of 30 years, supposing energy sales atdifferent price levels, comparing it directly with the energy supply cost of the sameenergy provided by conventional methods, such as fuel based generators frequentlyused in the area. The levelized cost of energy (LCOE), meaning an NPV equal to 0, isalso calculated, resulting in a value of 0,19 USD/kWh, which is a lower value than allother conventional methods considered.The excellent wind energy potential present in Punta Curaumilla, along with itsphysical and environmental characteristics, provide appropriate conditions for theinstallation of the Wind Energy Research Center, which would provide a continuallygrowing knowledge of wind energy in real world conditions. However, in order toachieve the correct symbiosis between the educational objectives and the contributionto local communities, it is very important to consider the seasonal behavior of the windresource, making it vital to find a way to store the excess generation produced insummer, so as to assist the generation deficit that occurs during winter. Even so, resultsobtained, together with the expected technological advancements and continuousinvestment cost reduction, indicate the project proves to be a real possibility, whichcould result beneficial to the university as well as to the community in general.
Description
Catalogado desde la version PDF de la tesis.
Keywords
EVALUACION TECNICA-ECONOMICA , LAGUNA VERDE, V REGION , PUNTA CURAUMILLA , TECNOLOGIA EOLICA
