Site Sensitivity
The site sensitivity analysis is the result of a combination of all the data available: the wave resource of the selected sites, the outcomes of the financial calculations (found in the levelised cost of energy section), and the technical performance of the devices (in the power curves section). Through this analysis, an understanding of all the criteria involved in a wave energy project is achieved, allowing us to compare the results for each device.
For the attenuator device, we can see from our theoretical cost modeling (15 years for device's lifetime and discount rate of 12%), which where the best and worst locations considering the wave resource available. In North Uist, the levelised cost was the cheapest. This is due to the wave resource available and to the performance of the device, so this is why the capacity factor is so high (67%). The normal capacity factor for an attenuator device should be around 40%. For Tenerife, as there is less wave resource, the capacity factor decreases and so the levelised cost increase. From the power curves we see the optimal wave periods where the attenuator device operates.
For the attenuator device, we can see from our theoretical cost modeling (15 years for device's lifetime and discount rate of 12%), which where the best and worst locations considering the wave resource available. In North Uist, the levelised cost was the cheapest. This is due to the wave resource available and to the performance of the device, so this is why the capacity factor is so high (67%). The normal capacity factor for an attenuator device should be around 40%. For Tenerife, as there is less wave resource, the capacity factor decreases and so the levelised cost increase. From the power curves we see the optimal wave periods where the attenuator device operates.
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So, taking into account all the above mentioned, we have performed a summarising table:
We did the same for the case of having point absorber devices. Again, North Uist was the best site and Tenerife the worst, but this time the capacity factors are much more reduced (30% the highest for North Uist) than the ones for the attenuator device. This means that the levelised cost of energy is higher as the operating availability of the device is smaller. On the other hand, we can see from the power curves that the point absorber can work efficiently in more wave periods than the attenuator was capable of.
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The summarising table for the point absorber is shown below:
