WHaLE: Wind Heuristics and Lifecycle Estimator

Overview

Runs analyses for offshore wind projects by utilizing ORBIT (CapEx), WOMBAT (OpEx), and FLORIS (AEP) to estimate the lifecycle costs using NREL's flagship technoeconomic models.

Requirements

• Python 3.10

Environment Setup

Download the latest version of Miniconda for the appropriate OS. Follow the remaining steps for the appropriate OS version.

Using conda, create a new virtual environment:

conda create -n <environment_name> python=3.10 --no-default-packages

conda activate <environment_name>

conda install -c anaconda pip

# to deactivate

conda deactivate

General

This guide assumes that you have an environment that is already created and in use.

1. In the terminal/Anaconda Prompt, you should move to the directory where you want to put the project data/code:

   cd my_path/

2. Clone the project repository

   git clone https://github.nrel.gov/OffshoreAnalysis/WHaLE.git

3. Enter the directory

   cd WHaLE

4. Checkout the appropriate branch (most likely develop, unless working with a "release" version)

   git checkout analysis/COWER

5. Install WHaLE:

   pip install -e .

Custom installation for WOMBAT, ORBIT, and FLORIS updates

This is designed for working with in-progress updates to ORBIT and WOMBAT, and that the above steps have been completed. Please note that these repository version should not be updated unless the instructions are updated, nor should they be used for other work as this is to maintain a consistent workflow between users on this one project.

1. Uninstall ORBIT, WOMBAT and FLORIS

   pip uninstall orbit-nrel wombat floris

2. Clone ORBIT and WOMBAT to a separate working directory outside of the WHaLE repository folder like in step 2 above

   1. clone ORBIT

   git clone https://github.com/WISDEM/ORBIT.git

   2. clone WOMBAT

   git clone https://github.com/WISDEM/WOMBAT.git

   3. clone FLORIS

   git clone https://github.com/NREL/floris.git

3. Install the working version of ORBIT

   1. Enter the directory

   cd ORBIT

   2. Checkout the dev branch

   git checkout dev

   3. Install a local version that is able to be updated as the working branch changes or edits are made and downloaded

   pip install -e .

4. Install the working version of WOMBAT

   1. Enter the directory

   cd WOMBAT

   2. Checkout the develop branch

   git checkout develop

   3. Install a local version that is able to be updated as the working branch changes or edits are made and downloaded

   pip install -e .

5. Install the working version of FLORIS

   1. Enter the directory

   cd floris

   2. Checkout the main version of FLORIS

   git checkout main

   3. Install a local version that is able to be updated as the working branch changes or edits are made and downloaded

   pip install -e .

6. There is not enough space in GH for weather profiles, make sure you copy and paste the appropiate weather profile in examples/library/weather