Life cycle cost analysis of unmanned surface vehicle from ENDURUNS and MERLIN projects powered by renewable energies: A real case study

Isaac Segovia Ramirez; Fausto Pedro Garcia Marquez; Pedro Jose Bernalte Sanchez; Mayorkinos Papaelias

doi:10.1016/j.renene.2025.123083

Life cycle cost analysis of unmanned surface vehicle from ENDURUNS and MERLIN projects powered by renewable energies: A real case study

Isaac Segovia Ramirez
, Fausto Pedro Garcia Marquez^*
, Pedro Jose Bernalte Sanchez
, Mayorkinos Papaelias

^*Corresponding author for this work

Metallurgy and Materials

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

The deployment of unmanned surface vehicles is rising, with new technologies and monitoring systems to enhance seabed monitoring. This paper shows a comprehensive cost analysis of an unmanned surface vehicle designed and developed in the European projects called ENDURUNS and MERLIN, which is powered by renewable energies. The study implements the UNE-EN-60300 standard to examine the life cycle cost, considering key expenses and revenues over 10 years and estimating failure rates. Net Present Value is implemented for the economic viability analysis of the vehicle through the simulation of two financial scenarios: the company assumes the investment, or, in another case, it is used as a credit loan. The effect of the discount rate on net present value is studied for unmanned surface vehicles compared to conventional unmanned surface vehicles. The conclusions of this study determine the economic viability of the vehicle in all scenarios, reaching the million euros difference of the same scenario comparing the ENDURUNS/MERLIN vehicle with conventional vehicles.

Original language	English
Article number	123083
Number of pages	14
Journal	Renewable Energy
Volume	248
Early online date	8 Apr 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2025.123083
Publication status	Published - 1 Aug 2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

Unmanned surface vehicle
Renewable energies
Life cycle cost
Net present value
Economic feasibility

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10.1016/j.renene.2025.123083Licence: Creative Commons: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND)

RamírezI2025LifeFinal published version, 6.03 MBLicence: Creative Commons: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND)

1 Finished
1 Active

MERLIN: Demonstration of long-endurance intelligent multi-purpose autonomous vehicles for marine applications
Fernando, G. (Co-Investigator), Papaelias, M. (Principal Investigator) & Hayati, F. (Co-Investigator)
European Commission
1/11/24 → 31/10/28
Project: EU
H2020_RIA_ENDURUNS
Atkins, P. (Co-Investigator), Book, D. (Co-Investigator), Papaelias, M. (Principal Investigator) & Fernando, G. (Co-Investigator)
European Commission
1/11/18 → 31/07/23
Project: EU

Cite this

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title = "Life cycle cost analysis of unmanned surface vehicle from ENDURUNS and MERLIN projects powered by renewable energies: A real case study",

abstract = "The deployment of unmanned surface vehicles is rising, with new technologies and monitoring systems to enhance seabed monitoring. This paper shows a comprehensive cost analysis of an unmanned surface vehicle designed and developed in the European projects called ENDURUNS and MERLIN, which is powered by renewable energies. The study implements the UNE-EN-60300 standard to examine the life cycle cost, considering key expenses and revenues over 10 years and estimating failure rates. Net Present Value is implemented for the economic viability analysis of the vehicle through the simulation of two financial scenarios: the company assumes the investment, or, in another case, it is used as a credit loan. The effect of the discount rate on net present value is studied for unmanned surface vehicles compared to conventional unmanned surface vehicles. The conclusions of this study determine the economic viability of the vehicle in all scenarios, reaching the million euros difference of the same scenario comparing the ENDURUNS/MERLIN vehicle with conventional vehicles.",

keywords = "Unmanned surface vehicle, Renewable energies, Life cycle cost, Net present value, Economic feasibility",

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doi = "10.1016/j.renene.2025.123083",

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T2 - A real case study

AU - Ramirez, Isaac Segovia

AU - Garcia Marquez, Fausto Pedro

AU - Sanchez, Pedro Jose Bernalte

AU - Papaelias, Mayorkinos

PY - 2025/8/1

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AB - The deployment of unmanned surface vehicles is rising, with new technologies and monitoring systems to enhance seabed monitoring. This paper shows a comprehensive cost analysis of an unmanned surface vehicle designed and developed in the European projects called ENDURUNS and MERLIN, which is powered by renewable energies. The study implements the UNE-EN-60300 standard to examine the life cycle cost, considering key expenses and revenues over 10 years and estimating failure rates. Net Present Value is implemented for the economic viability analysis of the vehicle through the simulation of two financial scenarios: the company assumes the investment, or, in another case, it is used as a credit loan. The effect of the discount rate on net present value is studied for unmanned surface vehicles compared to conventional unmanned surface vehicles. The conclusions of this study determine the economic viability of the vehicle in all scenarios, reaching the million euros difference of the same scenario comparing the ENDURUNS/MERLIN vehicle with conventional vehicles.

KW - Unmanned surface vehicle

KW - Renewable energies

KW - Life cycle cost

KW - Net present value

KW - Economic feasibility

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DO - 10.1016/j.renene.2025.123083

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Life cycle cost analysis of unmanned surface vehicle from ENDURUNS and MERLIN projects powered by renewable energies: A real case study

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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Projects

MERLIN: Demonstration of long-endurance intelligent multi-purpose autonomous vehicles for marine applications

H2020_RIA_ENDURUNS

Cite this