Operational Validation of SIMLOX as a Simulation Tool for Wind Energy Operations and Maintenance (O&M)

Abstract: This thesis validates SIMLOX as a simulation tool for wind energy operation and maintenance (O&M). SIMLOX have been used for modeling O&M in other sectors since 2002 but have recently begun to be used for simulating wind energy. This study validates SIMLOX for the newly introduced sector by creating a model of an existing offshore wind farm. The model used real historical data as input and the output was compared to real system response quantities (SRQs). Example of SRQs which were compared was time based availability, energy based availability, energy production, weather days, and item replacements. The study showed that SIMLOX is very well suited for this type of studies. It also showed that the major difficulty lies in obtaining proper input data. All models simulated the exact right number of major item replacements. The time based availability was considered to be the most important SRQ. The time based availability turned out to be between 0.11 - 0.66 percentage points too high compared to reference data. This most certainly depended on an overestimated work schedule for the technicians. Validation is the process of determining the degree to which a model is an accurate representation of the real world from the perspective of the intended uses of the model. This report presents all necessary knowledge to validate SIMLOX as a tool for wind energy simulations but it is thus up to the user to decide whether or not the output is accurate enough for their intended use.