GIS Techno-Economic Tool Demonstration

In this working demonstration of the GIS Techno-Economic tool in use, the viewer can obtain a better overview of the tool’s capabilities. In this example, the tool is being used to determine and calculate the suitability and feasibility of a potential site for a wave energy project.

Firstly, the user enters some basic site selection inputs such as power, minimum depth, maximum depth and sea bed construction.  The tool then locates a site on these inputs.

The demo then shows how the tool can overlay GIS data at the site to reveal potential constraints and opportunities such as special areas of conservation, marine traffic, proximity to ports, nearest grid connection future hydrogen plants etc.

The video goes on to show how to verify the site selection checking parameters such as bathymetry, seabed substrate and excavating classification which indicates whether trenching to shore for cabling is possible.  

The measure tool is used to check and verify distances and areas.

Specific oceanographic data metrics are obtainable if necessary such as mean annual wave power, currents and velocities etc.

The tool runs through other various optional data checks and finally gives a forecasted calculation of CAPEX, OPEX,  and DECAX costs. The tool is then able to provide a Levelized Cost Of Energy (LCOE) calculation. 

LCOE is inherently spatial in nature, thus the location of a project has a resounding effect on the output. Combining GIS with Techno-Economics can address this.

If you are interested in using the tool please get in touch with ross.oconnell@ucc.ie