Determination of Favourable Conditions for Profitability of an Off-Shore Wind Farm in Mexico

This paper analyzes the conditions for profitability of an off-shore wind farm located off the coast at the municipality of Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, Mexico. Nearby this site there are onshore farms with the highest annual production in Mexico. For the analysis of the wind resource, two virtual stations which have recorded wind speeds at sea during a total period of 42 years are compared. With the wind resource data, Weibull parameters are calculated and then, two different wind turbines are chosen for analyzing and comparing the annual energy production as well as the wake and Joule losses on site. The selection and performance analysis of medium voltage submarine power cables is carried out through copper loss and voltage drop thresholds. An economic analysis is carried out to demonstrate whether the off-shore wind farm is economically viable by assuming an updated cost analysis for initial investment, operation and maintenance expenses, interest rates as well as electricity sell prices. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is carried out to show different scenarios, such as variable energy production and variable electricity sell prices, where the wind project might be economically viable.