Cost of Wind Energy Review: 2025 Edition Updates

[dmulash]

Description

This pull request updates key ORBIT data and parameters to align with the inputs used for the Cost of Wind Energy Review: 2025 Edition. The goal is to keep ORBIT consistent with the most recent industry benchmarks and data sources.

Key Updates

Array cables:

• Updated cost data for library/cables/XLPE_630mm_66kV.yaml and library/cables/XLPE_630mm_66kV_dynamic.yaml

• Added a new 220 kV, 400 MW dynamic cable option: library/cables/XLPE_1200mm_220kV_dynamic.yaml

Onshore substation:

• Modified ORBIT/manager.py to include a new “Onshore Substation” category in the CapEx breakdown.

• This category is now included under Balance of Station (BOS) costs, ensuring it is captured in soft cost calculations.

Soft costs and DevEx:

• Updated values to better reflect current industry benchmarks (based on recent subsidy analysis work).

Documentation

• Pending consultation with Nick Riccobono on the appropriate documentation approach.

Testing

• Pending consultation with Nick Riccobono on the appropriate testing/documentation approach.

PR Checklist

• Cable cost data refreshed and new dynamic cable added
• CapEx breakdown updated (including Onshore Substation)
• Soft cost and DevEx benchmarks aligned with industry data
• Documentation finalized (pending consultation)
• Testing plan finalized (pending consultation)

[nRiccobo]

All in all, looks good. I put a few comments on each file that stood out to me. When you solve those, then I'd ask you add information to the changelog like we discussed.

[nRiccobo]

Thanks for addressing those comments. Everything seems to look good. Ok to merge into dev. A future release will capture these changes. Note that if ORBIT is pip installed will not include these changes.