A preliminary benefit-cost study of a Sandia wind farm.

Ehlen, Mark Andrew ; Griffin, Taylor ; Loose, Verne W.

Sandia National Laboratories

关键词: Economics;    Cost Benefit Analysis;    Sensitivity Analysis;    Wind Power;    Life Cycle;   

DOI  :  10.2172/1048490
RP-ID  :  SAND2011-1572
RP-ID  :  AC04-94AL85000
RP-ID  :  1048490

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

In response to federal mandates and incentives for renewable energy, Sandia National Laboratories conducted a feasibility study of installing an on-site wind farm on Sandia National Laboratories and Kirtland Air Force Base property. This report describes this preliminary analysis of the costs and benefits of installing and operating a 15-turbine, 30-MW-capacity wind farm that delivers an estimated 16 percent of 2010 onsite demand. The report first describes market and non-market economic costs and benefits associated with operating a wind farm, and then uses a standard life-cycle costing and benefit-cost framework to estimate the costs and benefits of a wind farm. Based on these 'best-estimates' of costs and benefits and on factor, uncertainty and sensitivity analysis, the analysis results suggest that the benefits of a Sandia wind farm are greater than its costs. The analysis techniques used herein are applicable to the economic assessment of most if not all forms of renewable energy.