Levelized cost analysis in fixed-bottom offshore wind farms in the Colombian Caribbean

The primary objective of this article is to estimate the levelized costs of fixed-bottom offshore wind energy in the Colombian Caribbean, particularly in the vicinity of La Guajira. Based on a review of existing literature, various mathematical models are evaluated to calculate the production costs of offshore wind projects, using a base case reported by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in the United States. The goal is to identify the model that most accurately reflects the costs estimated by other global entities. The production costs are calculated for areas designated by Colombia's Ministry of Mines and Energy as suitable for offshore wind energy generation. These areas, located in the Alta Guajira region, feature water depths of less than 50 meters. The levelized energy costs are found to range between 88 and 131 USD/MWh for capacity factors exceeding 54%. These capacity factors are higher than those typically recorded worldwide, which range from 33% to 50%. Additionally, part of the range of levelized energy costs obtained falls within the global range, which is from 49 to 155 USD/MWh.