Enhancement/soft capex

[dmulash]

Overview

This pull request introduces enhancements to the ORBIT software to increase flexibility in the calculation of soft capex. Currently, the 'dev' version calculates soft capex using default $ per kW values from the 2018 Cost of Wind Energy Review (COWER), unless overridden by user-provided $/kW values. With this update, users can now input additional factors affecting soft capex, allowing for a more nuanced and flexible calculation.

Key Changes

1. Updated Default Inputs:

   • config["project_parameters"] has been updated to include new default inputs for soft capex calculations based on the 2022 COWER. These inputs provide flexibility for users to influence the calculation with different factors.

2. New Methods Added:

   • capex_detailed_soft_capex_breakdown and capex_detailed_soft_capex_breakdown_per_kw: These methods offer detailed breakdowns of soft capex components, enhancing the granularity of capex reporting.

3. Enhanced Calculation Methods:

   • New methods based on ORCA model methodologies and default values from the 2022 COWER have been introduced and existing ones modified to support the calculation of various soft capex components, including:
     • construction_insurance_capex
     • decommissioning_capex
     • project_completion_capex
     • procurement_contingency_capex
     • installation_contingency_capex
     • construction_financing_factor
     • construction_financing_capex
     • soft_capex_breakdown (which integrates all the above methods)
   • Adjustments have been made to soft_capex and soft_capex_per_kw to align with the new calculation framework.

Impact

For the average user, these changes mean that the soft capex will now vary as a function of Balance of System (BOS) and turbine capex, rather than being a static $/kW value. This update aims to provide a more accurate and flexible representation of soft capex costs, reflecting a broader range of project-specific factors.

[nRiccobo]

This PR is still in progress. Because the proposed changes cover costs, there are several tests that are failing and need to be adjusted. Further, this falls under the cost update category and was moved to v1.2 milestone.