Life Cycle Costs of Stand-Alone Monitoring Systems in the Arctic

In this paper, we consider the approaches to configuring an off-grid renewable power supply for a gas production monitoring system in terms of life cycle cost minimization. Based on a real case operated for more than 15 years in Yamburg, Yamal-Nenets autonomous district, Russia, we have analyzed the power supply interruptions and operational expenditures (OPEX). We considered several alternative power supply layouts to improve both technical and economic performance. While solar panels have shown stunning reliability, wind turbines failures in harsh Arctic climate are driving power supply reliability decrease and OPEX increase. Fuel cells are suggested as a substitution for wind turbines. As a result, a possibility for TCO reduction by multifold has been shown.