Economic justification for the use of a vertical axis wind power plant in wind conditions of Russia

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to provide an economic justification of the application efficiency of vertical axis wind-driven power plants using the principle of differential blade drag under low natural wind speeds from 1 to 15 m/s. The estimated cost is determined by the resource-index method. Calculations are made in two stages: at the first stage a statement is compiled where the consumption of resources for the design volume of work is determined according to the state unit estimate standards collections; at the second stage a local resource estimate is made, and the resource consumption in natural units is converted to cost estimates (in the prices of 2000 year). Local estimates are made using the GRAND-SMETA software package. All costs of construction materials for the wind turbine and supporting structure were assumed at the commercial cost, which was translated to the budget cost of October 2019 using deflators. The transition indices from the prices of 2000 to the prices of 2019 are applied to the cost of materials and machinery operation (without remuneration of engine-drivers) as well as to the amount of labour remuneration for installers and engine-drivers. The cost of the installation set calculated by the strength at 20 m/s natural speed is 1643.591 thousand rubles. This allowed to determine the cost of 1 kWh, which depends on the service life and the average annual wind speed. At a wind speed of 4 m/s the cost is 7.12 rub/kWh; at a wind speed of 8 m/s it is 2.19 rub/kWh. At wind speeds from 5 m/s to 11 m/s with equal exposure time intervals, the average cost of 1 kWh will be within 3.14 rub/kWh. Conducted studies have confirmed the effective use of the proposed vertical axis wind power plant under conditions of low natural wind speeds in Russia. The installation is proved to be competitive in comparison with the traditional methods of energy generation.