Equivalent Annual Cost Research Articles

A dual-standby power source configuration scheme for micro grid in Pelagic Island

Realizing clean energy supply is important for the sustainable development of pelagic island. The volatility and randomness features of renewable energy generation may reduce power supply reliability, thus backup units is necessary in micro-grid in pelagic island. This paper proposed a dual-standby configuration scheme based on Sequence Operation Theory to achieve reliable power standby. Firstly, characteristics of standby units, micro gas turbine and diesel generator, are analyzed. Next, the probability distribution function models of wind, photovoltaic and load demand in pelagic island are established, and the reliability index of power shortage probability is calculated by Sequence Operation Theory. Then, the two-stage dual-standby control scheme to make full use of the complementary standby units is introduced and object function to minimize equivalent annual cost on the premise of satisfying probabilistic reliability index is modeled. Hybrid integer particle swarm algorithm is used to solve the problem. Finally, the proposed model for dual-standby configuration is applied to a pelagic island. The simulation results show that the proposed method can meet the load demand in both daily and extreme weather and achieve superior economy.

Economic impact of extending reflexed cryptococcal antigenaemia CD4 threshold in South Africa.

Reflexed cryptococcal antigenaemia (CrAg) testing has been offered since 2016 in South Africa, on remnant CD4 specimens, for people with a count < 100 cells/μL. Local guidelines recommended extending testing to 200 cells/μL. This study assessed the cost per result and annual equivalent costs (AEC) for CD4 counts < 100 cells/μL and 100 to 200 cells/μL, as well as determining the cost to find one CrAg-positive case. An ingredients-based costing was used to determine the cost per result. The CrAg detection rate for < 100 cells/μL was obtained from operational reports of 2019. For 100 cells/μL to 200 cells/μL, a CrAg detection rate of 2% was assumed. One-way sensitivity analysis determined the impact of varying CrAg detection rates on the cost to find one case. Local data from the Western Cape province, which offers testing for counts of 100 cells/μL to 200 cells/μL, from September 2022 to January 2023, were interrogated to establish detection rates. There were 283 240 (AEC: $1 670 370) specimens with counts of < 100 cells/μL and 300 624 (AEC: $1 772 890) with counts of 100 cells/μL to 200 cells/μL. A cost per result of $5.897 was reported. The cost to find one CrAg case ranged from $589.74 to $73.72 for a detection rate of 1% to 8%. Local data for a count of 100 cells/μL to 200 cells/μL revealed a CrAg detection rate of 1.6%. The study findings reveal that extending reflexed CrAg testing to 200 cells/μL would double test volumes with fewer positive cases reported for those with a count of 100 cells/μL to 200 cells/μL.

Cost of operating a human milk bank in the UK: a microcosting analysis

ObjectiveGlobally, demand for donor human milk (DHM) is increasing with WHO guidelines recommending DHM as the first line nutrition for premature infants in the absence or shortfall of maternal milk....

A novel life-cycle analysis approach using pavement performance curves with cost and performance considerations

ABSTRACT The life-cycle duration (TLC) is typically assumed constant in pavement life-cycle analysis. The added scientific value of this paper is that (TLC) is considered a variable parameter to be estimated from the performance curve using a variable terminal condition rating. A variable (TLC) requires using the equivalent annual value (EAV) instead of the net present value for cost estimation. The life-cycle performance (LCP) curve is constructed using two routine maintenance cycles separated by one major rehabilitation action. The time parameters associated with LCP curve are estimated from the inverse performance function based on the initial, present and terminal condition ratings. The equivalent annual cost and performance associated with a particular LCP curve are used to compute cost/performance (C/P) ratio for optimal maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) plan selection. The EAV represents the costs of two routine maintenance cycles and one major rehabilitation action. Sample results obtained from three case studies have indicated the reliability of the proposed LCA approach in yielding optimal M&R plans. At the project-level, the optimal M&R plan associated with 7 m/km terminal IRI value resulted in (0.949) minimal (C/P) value. However, the optimal M&R plan with 3.25 terminal PSI yielded (1.50) minimal (C/P) value.

P-725 Automated follicular tracking with three-dimensional ultrasound and SonoAVC saves costs: debunking myths

Abstract Study question What is the incremental cost per patient and the budgetary impact of the SonoAVCTMfollicle technique compared to two-dimensional ultrasound in a private assisted reproduction center? Summary answer Our results support the implementation of follicular tracking with 3D ultrasound and SonoAVCTM from an economic point of view. What is known already Advantages of follicular tracking with 3D US and SonoAVC include increased precision and reproducibility, increased patient comfort, decreased ultrasonographer’s time and improved workflow. The main benefit of SonoAVC is that it allows quick measurements of follicular volume, which has been shown to be more precise than 2D diameters for estimation of follicular size. Until now, it has been assumed that 3D ultrasound represents an increase in costs, this being the main justification of professionals who refuse to implement it. Study design, size, duration Cost study and economic analysis. The costs associated with the adoption of the SonoAVC™follicle software and the 2D ultrasound were estimated as well as the cost of medical dedication time. Since the cost of the equipment represents an initial investment, we proceeded to annualize it. For the economic analysis we calculated a) cost for each patient included in the study and b) total annual cost for a private center to incorporate the SonoAVC™follicle program. Participants/materials, setting, methods Population: patients treated in our center in 2019 (N = 295). Budget impact analysis was performed from the perspective of a private assisted reproduction center with a 5-year time horizon. The analysis was adapted to three scenarios according to the size of the center: a private center with: a) 600 cycles/year including IVF/ICSI and oocyte donation b) 300 cycles/year and c) 100 cycles/year. Main results and the role of chance Equivalent annual cost of the ultrasound device and transvaginal probe after annualization was 3985.93 € for 2D and 4572.10 € for 3D. The corresponding cost per patient/cycle was 13,51€ for 2D and 15,50 € 3D. Medical dedication time cost was 5,6 € for 2D follicular monitoring and 3,3 € for 3D follicular monitoring. Total cost per patient/cycle for follicular monitoring, including hardware and medical dedication was 69,5€ for 2D and 48,5€ for 3D ultrasound. For the budget impact analysis, three different sizes of centers were considered: 600, 300 and 100 cycles/year. In all of them there was a saving with 3D ultrasound of 2101 €, 6303 € and 12606 € respectively. The net budgetary impact over 5 years, i.e., the difference between the current scenario (2D ultrasound) and the new scenario (3D ultrasound with SonoAVC™follicle) for a center with approximately 300 cycles/year, would be 31.515€. Therefore, the implementation of the new technique with SonoAVC™follicle would save costs. Limitations, reasons for caution In centers 600 cycles/year an extra ultrasound device may be included in the analysis. Wider implications of the findings Follicular monitoring with 3D ultrasound is cheaper than 2D ultrasound even in small centers and this saving is greater the larger the center is. Therefore, our results demonstrate that cost savings are another added advantage of follicular monitoring with 3D ultrasound and sonoAVC. Trial registration number not applicable

Optimal Allocation of Hybrid Energy Storage Capacity Based on ISSA-Optimized VMD Parameters

To address the issue where the grid integration of renewable energy field stations may exacerbate the power fluctuation in tie-line agreements and jeopardize safe grid operation, we propose a hybrid energy storage system (HESS) capacity allocation optimization method based on variational mode decomposition (VMD) and a multi-strategy improved salp swarm algorithm (ISSA). From typical wind load power and contact line agreement power, the HESS power is obtained. VMD decomposes this power into high- and low-frequency power, respectively, for the super capacitor and the Li-ion battery. Considering charging and discharging power and state of charge (SOC) constraints, an optimization model minimizing the system equivalent annual value cost is established. ISSA optimizes the best decomposition layer K and penalty coefficients α in VMD. The optimal cut-off point and corresponding energy storage allocation scheme are analyzed. A simulation and analysis on MATLAB show that the proposed ISSA-VMD HESS capacity allocation scheme saves 7.53% in costs compared to an empirical mode decomposition (EMD) scheme, proving the method’s effectiveness and superiority.

Multi-objective optimization method for medium and long-term power supply and demand balance considering the spatiotemporal correlation of source and load

The medium and long-term supply-demand imbalance of the power system in the context of the new power system is becoming more and more prominent due to the fluctuation and intermittency brought about by the high proportion of new energy sources connected to the grid. In this regard, a multi-objective power supply-demand balance optimization method considering the spatiotemporal correlation of source and load is proposed in this work. First, the autocorrelation and inter-correlation characteristics of source and load are analyzed. On this basis, a multi-dimensional scenario set construction method considering the spatiotemporal correlation of source and load is proposed. Then, the planning capacity of each regional power source and the system operation under each scenario are taken as the optimization variables. Renewable energy electricity curtailment, equivalent annual total cost, and inter-region transmission electricity are taken as the optimization objectives. Various constraints such as power source planning and operation, power balance, inter-region power transmission, and renewable energy power curtailment rate are considered comprehensively. The optimization method for the medium and long-term power supply and demand balance is proposed. Finally, the method is applied to Hunan Province, China to guide power planning. The results show that compared with traditional multi-dimensional correlation scene construction methods, the average probability density functions error of wind turbine output, photovoltaic output, and load constructed in this work decrease by 44.08 %, 73.64 %, and 57.54 %, respectively. It takes into account the regional, temporal, temporal autocorrelation, and inter-correlation of the source and load, and has similar characteristics to historical data. Compared with traditional planning that only considers economy, the optimization plan for power supply and demand balance in this work reduces electricity curtailment and inter-region transmission by 97.04 % and 72.71 %, respectively, balancing renewable energy consumption, economy, and regional independent balancing indicators.

ANÁLISIS ECONÓMICO DE LAS ALTERNATIVAS TRASVASE VS. DESALACIÓN

Transferring water has historically been a very viable way of making water available. However, despite its viability, nowadays it is considered to be synonymous with conflict. Due to the media coverage, the Tagus-Segura water transfer is well known, but on the Iberian Peninsula there are numerous large water diversions. In this paper the most important water transfers will be described and the cost between carrying out a water diversion and the implementation of a desalination plant will be compared by calculating the equivalent annual cost, which is the methodology used to determine the economic burdens of the River Basin Plans, in application of the Water Framework Directive.

Capacity Optimization Configuration for a Park-Level Hybrid Energy Storage System Based on an Improved Cuckoo Algorithm

To promote the development of green industries in the industrial park, a microgrid system consisting of wind power, photovoltaic, and hybrid energy storage (WT-PV-HES) was constructed. It effectively promotes the local consumption of wind and solar energy while reducing the burden on the grid infrastructure. In this study, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was used to decompose the multi-objective function into a single-objective function. The economic and environmental benefits of the system were taken as the objective function. Furthermore, the cuckoo search algorithm (CS) was used to solve the specific capacity of each distributed power source. Different scenarios were applied to study the specific capacity of microgrid systems. The results show that the equivalent annual cost of the WT-PV-HES microgrid system is reduced by 7.3 percent and 62.23 percent, respectively. The carbon disposal cost is reduced by 1.71 and 2.38 times, respectively. The carbon treatment cost is more sensitive to load changes. The solution iteration of the cuckoo algorithm is 18 times. Meanwhile, the system requires four updates of capacity allocation results for 20 years of operation. This result validates the effectiveness of the proposed model and methodology. It also provides a reference for the research and construction of capacity allocation of microgrid systems at the park level.

Investigation of an energy pile application and its economic analysis

In this study, the heating and cooling needs of an airplane hangar by integrating a heat pump system into bored piles were investigated. For this purpose, U-type pile heat exchangers were installed inside the piles. 600 bored piles were integrated with heat exchangers depending on the heating requirements of the hangar. Energy calculations were performed for a single pile, and the total amount of energy that could be extracted from the ground was determined. The main goal is to supply cooling and heating for the hangar throughout the year without the use of any additional conventional system. Thus, cost-analysis results for both the heat pump and traditional system using levelized cost method were presented. The study results showed that the annual operating cost (COM)PW, total operating cost (IOM)PW, equivalent annual operating cost (COM), and total annual cost (CT) for the present condition reduced by nearly 38.5%, 35%, 35%, and 34% against the conventional system, respectively. The simple payback period was calculated as 1.1 years. Finally, it was seen that using the energy piles can provide the heating and cooling requirements of the hangar throughout the year without any additional conventional system.

Optimising mixed-portfolio hybrid Renewable systems with no or constrained grid connectivity

We present a method to optimise a hybrid renewable energy system design under various grid constraints, from entirely off-grid to strongly interconnected. The optimisation procedure is a simplified downward gradient method, and the variable used as the objective function is the equivalent annual cost of the system installation and operation. The results show how a good interconnection provides the opportunity to use renewable energy technology as an income stream without a need for energy storage. A balance of energy storage and local backup generation emerges as the optimum if the grid is severely constrained or without grid connection. It is always a balance of storage and backup, as the storage is most cost effective to balance supply and demand over short time scales of less than a week while back-up generation is better able to meet longer periods of insufficient renewable generation. Another key results is that a combination of renewable technologies, PV and wind, is always better here than one technology alone.

Bi-level optimization configuration method for microgrids considering carbon trading and demand response

Under the background of the shortage of traditional energy and the increasingly serious environmental problems, this paper proposes a bi-level optimization configuration method for microgrids based on stepped carbon trading and price-based demand response. The stepped carbon trading mechanism is introduced into the planning model to clarify the impact of construction processes on land carbon emissions. Simultaneously, price-based demand response during system operation is introduced, guiding users to change the electricity consumption strategies to promote the consumption of renewable energy. Then, a bi-level optimal configuration framework is constructed. The upper level is optimized to allocate the capacity of the microgrid, with the lowest annual equivalent comprehensive cost as the objective function. The lower level is optimized for microgrid operation, with the minimum sum of the microgrid operation cost and carbon emission cost as the objective function. In view of the advantages of enhanced whale optimization algorithm (E-WOA) in solving multi-dimensional feature selection problems, E-WOA and CPLEX solver are combined to solve the bi-level optimization model for the first time. Simulation results show that after introducing a stepped carbon trading mechanism, the system carbon emissions decreased by 23.09%. Considering price-based demand response under the premise of introducing a stepped carbon trading mechanism, the total cost decreased by 3.57% and the carbon emissions decreased by 19.83%.

Wood heater smoke and mortality in the Australian Capital Territory: a rapid health impact assessment.

To estimate the number of deaths and the cost of deaths attributable to wood heater smoke in the Australian Capital Territory. Rapid health impact assessment, based on fine particulate matter (PM2.5 ) data from three outdoor air pollution monitors and published exposure-response functions for natural cause mortality attributed to PM2.5 exposure. Australian Capital Territory (population, 2021: 454 000), 2016-2018, 2021, and 2022 (2019 and 2020 excluded because of the impact of extreme bushfires on air quality). Proportion of PM2.5 exposure attributable to wood heaters; numbers of deaths and associated cost of deaths (based on the value of statistical life: $5.3 million) attributable to wood heater smoke. Wood heater emissions contributed an estimated 1.16-1.73 μg/m3 to the annual mean PM2.5 concentration during the three colder years (2017, 2018, 2021), or 17-25% of annual mean exposure, and 0.72 μg/m3 (15%) or 0.89 μg/m3 (13%) during the two milder years (2016, 2022). Using the most conservative exposure-response function, the estimated annual number of deaths attributable to wood heater smoke was 17-26 during the colder three years and 11-15 deaths during the milder two years. Using the least conservative exposure-response function, an estimated 43-63 deaths per year (colder years) and 26-36 deaths per year (milder years) were attributable to wood heater smoke. The estimated annual equivalent cost of deaths was $57-136 million (most conservative exposure-response function) and $140-333 million (least conservative exposure-response function). The estimated annual number of deaths in the ACT attributable to wood heater PM2.5 pollution is similar to that attributed to the extreme smoke of the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires. The number of wood heaters should be reduced by banning new installations and phasing out existing units in urban and suburban areas.

Feasibility of a medium-depth U-tube ground-source heat pump system in a severe cold zone in China

ABSTRACT In China, residential buildings have a high-volume ratio and density, which limit the amount of buried U-tube space available, thereby hindering the application of traditional ground-source heat pump systems (GSHPs). Due to the imbalance in heat transfer, the operating efficiency of GSHPs decreases annually in severe cold zones. To alleviate these issues, we assessed the feasibility of medium-depth U-tube GSHPs. An experimental platform in Fuxin City, China, was established, and a simulation model was designed with TRNSYS software. The area affected by the heating load was analyzed, and the proposed system was compared with solar-soil and medium-depth casing pipe GSHPs. The proposed system was found to be stable and efficient for long-term operations, delivering not only the lowest equivalent annual cost but also a 4.61% improvement in heating (compared to solar-soil GSHPs), an 81.54% improvement in cooling, and a 23.08% improvement in emission reductions (compared to medium-depth casing pipe GSHPs).The application of a special U-shaped pipe elbow and a dual-temperature switching valve allowed heat exchange conversion between the heating and cooling conditions. The results of the simulation model demonstrated that dual-temperature operation resulted in greater cooling performance and cheaper operating costs than did the single-temperature system.

Pavement preventive maintenance decision-making for high antiwear and optimized skid resistance performance

Insufficient pavement skid resistance due to traffic loads and environmental factors is a major cause of vehicular accidents. Hence, continually monitoring the pavement skid resistance has great theoretical significance and is crucial for practical maintenance. A pavement accelerated abrasion system developed by the research team, a high-precision 3D layer scanner, and a pendulum tribometer are used for lab testing. Forty-eight sets of asphalt pavement texture and friction coefficient data for 11 abrasion stages were collected, each comprising 20,000 abrasion cycles. Afterward, a model of asphalt pavement skid resistance deterioration was formulated by analyzing the downward trajectory of the asphalt pavement texture and friction coefficient indexes. The developed deterioration model had a high prediction accuracy with an R2 value of 91.64%, and the corresponding curve met engineering requirements. Subsequently, four pavement maintenance techniques, namely synchronous gravel sealing, microsurfacing, ultrathin overlaying, and thermal generation, were applied to rutted slab specimens after grinding to perform five additional stages of abrasion tests. Through comparisons with the established pavement skid resistance deterioration model, the optimal maintenance timing under the abrasion test conditions of this study was determined as 230,000 abrasion cycles, as determined via the time/pavement condition analysis approach. Cost-effectiveness analysis was performed for different surface treatment techniques, which yielded an equivalent annual cost of 6.7 for the SMA-5 ultra-thin overlay, which was identified as the most promising maintenance approach. This study provides a scientific basis for preventing traffic accidents and improving traffic safety by offering valuable insights into the evolution of pavement skid resistance and offers guidance on decision-making for the preventive maintenance of pavements for high-antiwear and optimized skid-resistance performance.

Multi-objective optimization of a hybrid energy system integrated with solar-wind-PEMFC and energy storage

The move towards achieving carbon neutrality has sparked interest in combining multiple energy sources to promote renewable penetration. This paper presents a proposition for a hybrid energy system that integrates solar, wind, electrolyzer, hydrogen storage, Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) and thermal storage to meet the electrical and heating demands of a student dormitory in Shanghai. The proposed system is optimized to simultaneously account for multiple objectives, including economy, environmental benefits, and grid interaction, measured by Equivalent Annual Cost (EAC) for the life cycle of 20 years, Primary Energy Saving Ratio (PESR) of the heating system and Grid Interaction Level (GIL) of the electrical system. The effectiveness of the optimization results from NSGA-II is verified and compared with MOPSO to determine the optimal installation configuration and operation strategies. The results highlight the significance of energy storage in enabling greater renewable integration and the potential of hydrogen to play a vital role in the transition to a low-carbon economy. The optimal design of the proposed hybrid system can meet the power and heat demand of a student dormitory with a floor area of 2679m2. The Pareto-optimal solutions of PESR and GIL for NSGA-II fall within the range of (89 %, 104 %) and (70 %, 88 %), respectively. A significant number of Pareto-optimal solutions cluster around an EAC of approximately 160 k RMB. The optimization by MOPSO exhibited the similar results. Additionally, the sensitivity analysis provides insights into the sensitivity of objectives to changes in optimal design parameters, facilitating the design and optimization of similar hybrid energy systems integrated with a closed loop for hydrogen production and utilization in the future.

Analyzing the Impact of Depreciation-Estimating Methods on State Transportation Agencies’ Equipment Replacement Decisions Using Dynamic Programming

Replacing equipment at the most economical time not only helps to save state transportation agencies (STAs) costs for operating the fleet but also keeps the fleet’s level of service at an optimal level. Prior research studies focused on developing alternative economic-oriented equipment replacement models rather than the equivalent annual cost (EAC) model to achieve better economic decisions. In addition, various optimization techniques were applied to equipment replacement problems with different objectives, constraints, and contexts. However, few studies examined the impact of depreciation estimation on the equipment replacement decision within STAs by minimizing total equipment cost over a finite study period using the dynamic programming optimization method. This study performed a case study of two class codes of equipment [1.5 m3 (2-yd) diesel engine front-end loaders and 0.453 t (half-ton) fleetside pickup trucks] to analyze the impact of different depreciation calculations on equipment replacement decisions. Using real-world data provided by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, the study showed that the double-declining balance depreciation method substantially reduces the number of pieces of equipment recommended for replacement compared with the result of the straight-line depreciation method. This study contributes to the understanding of the impact of depreciation methods on equipment replacement decisions as well as the importance of properly estimating equipment depreciation to minimize the equipment costs over a designated study period among STA communities. The demonstrated manual calculation procedures of dynamic programming for cost optimization potentially may facilitate STA’s adoption of dynamic programming for equipment economic decisions.

Economic and environmental assessment of a green pavement recycling solution using foamed asphalt binder based on LCA and LCCA

Cold-in-place recycling with foamed asphalt binders (CIR-F) has been considered as an environmentally sustainable option for asphalt pavement maintenance due to the low mixing temperature and the reuse of up to 100% of existing asphalt materials. However, the quantitative assessment of its economic and environmental performance from a life cycle perspective has rarely been addressed in the literature. To fill in the gap, this study conducted cradle-to-laid life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) to estimate the annual energy consumption, carbon emissions, and equivalent uniform annual cost (EUAC) of CIR-F and compared it with the traditional mill & fill (M&F). The considered life cycle stages include raw material production, construction, transportation, and work zone traffic management. The heat map visualization technique was employed to explore the influence of service life on the relative environmental and economic advantages of CIR-F. The results show that both economic and environmental impacts of CIR-F were significantly reduced compared to conventional M&F, with 66.45% less cost, 59.62% less energy consumption and 45.73% less carbon emissions. Reducing the service life of CIR-F will reduce, or even completely offset, its benefits over M&F. Assuming a service life of 15 years for conventional M&F, the service life of CIR-F needs to be greater than 8 years to maintain its environmental advantage. The results of this study provide a quantitative assessment of the economic and environmental benefits of CIR-F, providing evidence for its broader application.

Assessing the cost and utilization of SMS printers by primary health care facilities: lessons learned from South Africa.

Historically, paper-based laboratory reports were delivered by couriers to health facilities resulting in post-analytical delays. As a result, short message service (SMS) printers were deployed to fill this gap, with the global data service platform (GDSP) being primarily used to facilitate deployment. In addition, these printers generate binary and quantitative information that can be used to assess utilization. The objective of this study was to determine the costs and utilization of the SMS printer program in South Africa. A cost analysis for 2020 was undertaken. We determined annual equivalent costs (AEC) for staffing, printers, fixed costs related to the national coordinator, consumables, travel costs, database support/hosting/dashboard development, printer repairs, and results transmission. The main outcome of interest was the cost per SMS printer result delivered. Data were extracted to assess utilization as follows: i) months active (based on internet protocol data); ii) signal; iii) battery strength. There were 4,450,116 results delivered to printers that were situated at 2232 primary health care facilities. An AEC of $687,727 was reported, with a cost per result delivered of $0.1618. The SMS printers contributed 73.52% to the total AEC. Overall, 90% of the printers were GDSP based, of which only 69.5% were determined to be active. The majority of active printers reported a signal strength of ≥60% and a battery strength of ≥6 volts. Although the SMS printer program has the potential to reduce post-analytical delays, pathology services should migrate to an end-to-end electronic interface to improve patient care.

Assessing the Economic Performance of Multipurpose Collaborative Robots toward Skillful and Sustainable Viticultural Practices

The increased cost of labor in modern viticulture stemming from the nature of operations that require physical strength and precision, coupled with labor shortages, poses a significant constraint in facilitating and scheduling seasonal activities. Therefore, autonomous collaborative robots present a potential solution for achieving sustainable development objectives and decreasing operational expenditures in agricultural operations. The current paper presents an economic assessment of collaborative robots (or cobots for short) in comparison to conventional labor for four different cultivars in Greece in a lifecycle costing methodological framework. The selected cultivars are Asyrtiko, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Tempranillo, which are cultivated by two private wineries in the area of interest. All the relevant expenses of their annual production were distributed to agricultural operations, and eight scenarios were developed to compare conventional and cobot practices. The results indicate the great potential of cobots regarding specific viticultural operations such as weed control, pruning, herbiciding and topping. The adoption of cobots in these operations has the potential to contribute to sustainable agriculture by reducing labor costs and addressing labor shortages, while also increasing the efficiency and precision of these tasks. Nevertheless, the defoliation and tying operations appeared to be inefficient in most cases in comparison to conventional labor practices. Overall, the annual equivalent costs could be reduced by up to 11.53% using cobots, even though the projected lifetime of the cobots plays a significant role in the cost-effectiveness of autonomous robotic labor in viticulture. In conclusion, cobots could be instrumental in the Greek viticulture, integrating innovation and high-quality products toward sustainable agricultural development.