IntroductionThe present reflective essay is on the research done titled “An optimal model for the UKdecommissioning costs of offshore wind farms: A Case Study of Greater Gabbard wind farm”.The main aim of the project was to investigate ways of reducing decommissioning costs foroffshore wind farms. To achieve this aim, the study focused on providing a […]
To start, you canIntroduction
The present reflective essay is on the research done titled “An optimal model for the UK
decommissioning costs of offshore wind farms: A Case Study of Greater Gabbard wind farm”.
The main aim of the project was to investigate ways of reducing decommissioning costs for
offshore wind farms. To achieve this aim, the study focused on providing a critical review of the
decommissioning of offshore wind farms. In addition, the project focused on finding the best
strategy to minimise costs. The other specific objective of the project was to investigate the
minimisation of environmental impact strategy. Attaining these objectives revolved around a
number of aspects, activities, principles, and approaches. Throughout the project, a number of
aspects were learned as well as experienced enhanced. Taking an approach of the Kolb’s
experiential cycle (Kolb, 2014), this essay seeks to reflect on the entire project. Kolb’s
experiential cycle provides for a reflective essay to identified concentrate experience
(doing/having an experience), reflective observation (reviewing/reflecting on the experience),
abstract conceptualisation (concluding/learning from the experience), and active experimentation
(planning/trying out) identifying what has been learned. These aspects are used to come up with
the reflective essay on the project.
Concrete Experience
According to Kolb (2014), despite having an experiential cycle, the first step should always to
identify a new experience encountered when developing a reflective essay. In the present case,
the experience was about coming up with a project for creating an optimal model to lower
decommissioning costs of offshore wind farms. The focus was to identify a specific wind farm of
which the Greater Gabbard wind farm was identified as the most relevant. The project entailed a
number of processes, which culminated into a new experience when it comes to the development
of dissertations through conducting a research. The main steps involved in the project included
performing a critical review of literature, identifying the most relevant case study, doing the
methodology and developing a model, collecting data, performing the analysis, writing a
conclusion, and developing the introductory framework. One of the mistakes done was to
develop the introductory framework immediately after conducting the literature review. The
reason of terming that as a mistake is that at the end of the study, it was realised that some
aspects needed to have been included in the introductory chapter such as significance of the
study after the study; yet they had been developed earlier. The result was to redo the introductory
chapter again after doing the conclusion.
Of all the stages, critical review of literature proved to be tough especially in the gathering of
relevant materials to review while the methodology and data stage was the toughest. Despite the
fact that the study opted to adapt methodologies used in similar studies in the past, the most
challenging aspect was data collection. The study needed to have identified a case study. After a
review of numerous cases of offshore wind farms, the study picked on the Greater Gabbard wind
farm as the most relevant. The reasoning for picking the wind farm was influenced by
availability of data and information. Decommissioning, though ignored by a number of
practitioners and scholars alike, is considered as important as installation and commissioning.
The decommissioning process requires a lot of resources and activities; hence, the need to have
adequate information when developing an optimal model for its decommissioning. The analysis
part did not give much problem owing to the fact that Excel Solver add-in assisted. Coming up
with the final copy of the dissertation also yielded a lot of experience. The experienced ranged
from the idea of report writing to ensuring that the information was chronological. Indeed, the
entire project yielded significant experiences in all the stages.
Reflective Observation
Kolb (2014) then identifies reflective observation as the second stage. In this stage, the idea is for
researchers to provide any new experience or particular importance especially between any
inconsistencies between experience and understanding. The idea in this stage is to offer a review
or reflection on the experience (DeCoux, 2016; Kolb, et. al., 2001; and Kolb & Kolb, 2009). For
the case of the project, it was surprising that literature review was the first stage contrary to many
essays written in the past. The reason for starting from the literature review was to assist in
identification of research gaps. Research gaps are essential in providing the rationale for
conducting the project. Through the literature review, the project was able to identify a relevant
case study to assist in gathering data for purposes of creating an optimal model for its
decommissioning. The understanding here is that one should always start with introduction but
the experience established that introduction should actually be the last part in a project.
The other aspect that should be reflected upon was data collection. Having established the
number of resources such as turbines to be removed, there was a need to establish costs that
would have resulted into an optimal model. It was difficult to obtain such information on costs.
The understanding is that there was a need to find out individuals who had been involved in
decommissioning of wind farms before to offer cost estimates. However, the experience had it
that through already decommissioned projects as well as economic factors in the UK, it was
possible to estimate possible costs that can be occurred for each of the centres in terms of
decommissioning. Reflecting on the data collection, it was easier and close to accurate when
previous studies were used to make estimates. The experience was that one should always state
the assumptions used. The project also used information from economic variables such as
inflation rates to estimate current prices. In as much as it was seen as one of the most difficult
hurdles in the study, it was possible to gather data and information using the aforementioned
methods.
Abstract Conceptualisation
In the third step, Kolb (2014) calls for reflection that gives rise to a new idea or modification of
existing abstract concept. The idea is to identify what can be done if similar scenarios or
opportunities to conduct research are offered (Smith, 2016; McCarthy, 2016; and Falloon, 2019).
In the present case, the project, though identified data through assumptions based on previous
studies and prevailing macroeconomic variables, can be performed better with primary research.
The study relied mainly on secondary research and data, which in most cases are considered
outdated and not customised to the present scenario. In this case, there is a need to have a relook
into the idea of having primary research and data. Primary research and data should focus on
obtaining information relating to the various costs. In such a scenario, the idea would be to
interview a number of stakeholders or practitioners who have been involved in recent
decommissioning of projects. The interviews would form a good forum for obtaining accurate
and customised data relating to costing. At the end of the project, the optimal model developed
can be considered as not only reliable but also valid.
Active Experimentation
The last stage identified by Kolb (2014) in writing a reflective essay is on application of learned
aspects to the world around for purposes of establishing results. It is on this stage that a number
of aspects learned and enhanced are identified and applied to the real world (Tomkins & Ulus,
2016; Li & Armstrong, 2015; Botelho, et. al., 2016; and Schenck & Cruickshank, 2015). On the
basis of the project, it can be noted that a number of skills and aspects were learned. Other than
report writing, the project enhanced analytical and research skills. The other skill enhanced was
that of problem-solving. Collating these skills together makes me an experienced and expert in
matters of research, doing analysis, and writing reports. I believe that these skills have been
enhanced in order to prepare me for my future professions. In my future endeavours, especially
in working environments, I will be able to incorporate the aforementioned skills in promoting my
performances and productivity. I believe that through the skills acquired, I will be able to assist
my organisation(s) to achieve set goals and objectives. Organisations face a number of problems
especially with reference to optimisation. With the skills acquired throughout this project, I
believed that I will assist entities in solving such problems. It is also important to note that the
skills acquired will assist me in my daily life as an individual. Nonetheless, I intend, other than to
look for a job, to enrol in classes that assist in the analysis using different software tools. Even
though I was able to use Excel Solver add-in, it proved a bit challenging. Hence, the need to
undertake additional classes on use of different software tools. The idea is to enhance my
professional development portfolio.
Conclusion
In summary, the present reflective essay highlights concentrate experience (doing/having an
experience), reflective observation (reviewing/reflecting on the experience), abstract
conceptualisation (concluding/learning from the experience), and active experimentation
(planning/trying out) identifying what has been learned regarding the project on optimal
modelling for establishing decommissioning costs for the Greater Gabbard offshore windfarm
project. There is no doubt from the reflection that the projected culminated into a number of
experiences as well as skills, which do not only enhance personal development portfolio but also
the professional portfolio.
Reference
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