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This work aims to assess the impacts of climate change on photovoltaic (PV) electricity in two Italian cities, with different latitudes and Köppen–Geiger climate classifications. This was undertaken using the recent EURO-CORDEX set of high-resolution climate projections and PV power generation models, implemented on TRNSYS software. Data for two variables (surface air temperature and solar radiation) were analysed over a long period from 1971 to 2100. For future periods, two of the Representative Concentration Pathway scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) used in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fifth Assessment Report were considered. In both RCP scenarios and both locations, it is estimated that the yearly PV energy produced in the future period will not undergo significant variations on average given that the rate of decrease is foreseen almost constant; instead, a slight reduction in the PV energy was detected in the past period. It can be concluded that the PV market in Italy will grow in the next years considering that the reduction in the foreseen PV purchase costs will be also supported by the slight positive effect of climate change on PV manufacturability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel configuration of hybrid wind-solar PV based cascaded ammonia synthesis is proposed in this article. A comprehensive dynamic analysis is conducted in this study which is substantial to explore the system functionality under different atmospheric conditions as the power achieved by the wind farm source is dependent on the wind speed and power extracted from the solar PV source depends upon solar radiation intensities. The system is designed to supply the electrical output extracted from the wind-solar PV sources to the proton exchange membrane electrolyser after meeting the system work requirements for hydrogen production. The produced hydrogen reacts with nitrogen separated from pressure swing adsorption to synthesize ammonia. A cascaded ammonia synthesis system is employed in this study to achieve high fractional conversion and simulated using Aspen Plus V11. Toronto is chosen as the geographical location for the dynamic simulation. The minimum exergetic efficiency is found to be 19.21% during the month of December and maximum exergetic efficiency is determined as 26.06% during the month of April. Similarly, the minimum energetic efficiency is found to be 18% during December and maximum energetic efficiency was determined as 24.42% during the month of April. In addition, the results obtained from comprehensive dynamic analyses are presented and discussed. • A novel hybrid wind-solar PV based cascaded ammonia synthesis is proposed. • A comprehensive dynamic analysis is conducted to explore the system functionality. • Toronto is chosen as the geographical location for dynamic simulations. • The maximum efficiency is determined for the month of April. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition from fossil fuels to green renewable resources presents a key challenge: most renewables are intermittent and unpredictable in their nature. Energy storage has the potential to meet this challenge and enables large scale implementation of renewables. In this paper we investigated the dynamic performance of a specific Adiabatic Compressed Air Energy Storage (A-CAES) plant with packed bed thermal energy storage (TES). We developed for the first time a plant model that blends together algebraic and differential sub-models detailing the transient features of the thermal storage, the cavern, and the compression/expansion stages. The model allows us to link the performance of the components, in particular those of the thermal storage system, with the performance of the whole A-CAES plant. Our results indicate that an A-CAES efficiency in the range 60–70% is achievable when the TES system operates with a storage efficiency above 90%. Moreover, we show how the TES dynamic behaviour induces off-design conditions in the other components of the A-CAES plant. Such device-to-plant link of performance is crucial: only through integration of TES model in the whole A-CAES model is possible to assess the benefits and added value of thermal energy storage. To the authors’ knowledge the present study is the first of this kind for an A-CAES plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reversible solid oxide cell (rSOC) can flexibly switch between the electrolysis mode and the fuel cell mode for electrical energy storage and power generation. For practical application, sweeping gas is needed to bring in the reactants and take out the products timely. In this study, we use steam as anode sweeping gas in electrolysis to decrease the overpotential loss and collect pure O 2 , which is then used as the fuel cell cathode oxidant. The real fluctuating power generated from solar photovoltaic is used as the power supply, which allows rSOC to generate H 2 from 6:45 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. and produce electricity in the night. Compared with the conventional strategy, the proposed system can utilize more than 35% electricity in electrolysis, and its efficiency and total H 2 production can be increased by 8% and 50%, respectively. The total power generation and the power density are also increased by 290% and 160%, respectively. Overall, this new strategy results in a doubled round-trip voltage efficiency due to the much-decreased overpotential losses in the electrochemical processes. This study provides a guidance for the optimization of practical rSOC application with dynamic operating conditions. • 2D dynamic models for tubular SOEC and SOFC are developed. • Parametric studies on SOECs are conducted with fluctuating PV power supply. • H 2 O is used as sweeping gas in SOEC and pure O 2 is used as reactant in SOFC. • The production efficiency and rate of H 2 are increased by 8% and 50%, respectively. • Power generation and power density are increased by 2.9 and 1.6 times, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Proposition of heat-up efficiency to evaluate start-up procedures energetically. • Thermal parameters for electrolysis systems with up to 1 MW el are presented. • Efficiency when only using heating is always lower than partial-load heat-up. • Introduction of a new dimensionless heat-up number for electrolyzers. • Dimensionless heat-up number enables general estimation of time constants. Dynamically-operated water electrolyzers enable the production of green hydrogen for cross-sector applications while simultaneously stabilizing power grids. In this study, the start-up phase of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) water electrolyzers is investigated in the context of intermittent renewable energy sources. During the start-up of the electrolysis system, the temperature increases, which directly influences hydrogen production efficiency. Experiments on a 100 kW el electrolyzer, combined with simulations of electrolyzers with up to 1 MW el , were used to analyze the start-up phase and assess its implications for operators and system designers. It is shown that part-load start-up at intermediate cell voltages of 1.80 V yields the highest efficiencies of 74.0 % LHV compared to heat-up using resistive electrical heating elements, which reaches maximum efficiencies of 60.9 % LHV. The results further indicate that large-scale electrolyzers with electrical heaters may serve as flexible sinks in electrical grids for durations of up to 15 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an adiabatic compressed air energy storage process (A-CAES), heat storage tank operation is a key factor that determines the overall energy performance of the process. To highlight energy issues linked to a correct tank design in the specific case of an A-CAES system, a two-dimensional thermal numerical model was developed. Thermal efficiencies of the tank are presented with abacus defined from the four dimensionless numbers defining the thermal behavior of the reservoir. Cycling effects are explored with a realistic case study corresponding to an A-CAES system design to deliver an electrical power of 250 MWel for 4 h, the daily peak demand. Extended beyond the thermal reservoir, A-CAES thermodynamic analysis combined with the dynamic simulation makes it possible to generate a direct quantitative link between reservoir sizing and A-CAES global efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass combined heat and power plants (CHPPs) can operate target-specifically because of their controllability while supporting decarbonization in district heating. The transition from the German Renewable Energies Act funding, which has promoted biomass CHPPs but is now about to expire, to direct marketing, is a major economic challenge for many biomass-heating grids. To successfully accomplish it, the flexible operation of biomass CHPPs, compared to the previous baseline-operation, is becoming an increasingly important requirement if participation in the electricity markets is to remain profitable. This paper presents a techno-economic assessment of flexible CHPP operation in a modeled district heating system with a CHPP, a peak load boiler and a thermal heat storage. The simulation model compares two cases - a natural gas and a wood-chip gasifier CHPP. The analysis of the results investigates the parameters that need to be adapted to make biomass-fired CHPP heating grids more efficient compared to fossil-fired CHPP heating grids in a flexible operating scenario. It highlights the technical and economic superiority of a fossil-fired CHPP in flexible operation in comparison to the wood gasifier system. The introduction of a CO 2 -tax on natural gas as a fuel, currently under discussion in Germany, would increase the competitiveness of the wood gasifier. • Simulation model of a district heating system. • Model units are wood or natural CHP plant, peakload boiler and heat storage. • Three scenarios for CHP plant dispatch under consideration of electricity prices. • Focus on dynamic differences of the CHP plant operation strategy. • Results show limitations in operational flexibility of the wood gas CHP plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Baseboard heaters are a type of building heating systems that are placed along the base of the interior wall, instead of the traditional skirting. Baseboard heaters meet all the requirements of modern buildings such as thermal comfort, well-architected appearance, space-saving, efficient energy consumption, and fast thermal response. In the present study, we investigate the enhancement of the thermal output of hydronic baseboard heaters. For this purpose, several novel fin-tube arrays such as convector fins and fin-clips are proposed and the thermal performance of each array is evaluated experimentally. In addition, two different types of materials for the tubes, namely, copper and aluminum are examined during the experiment. The computational fluid dynamic simulations are used to carefully analyze the mechanism of the heat transfer enhancement in the baseboard heaters. The results indicate that the novel fins may considerably increase the performance. For instance, for low and high water temperatures, the convector fins can increase the performance by up to 42% and 94%, respectively, compared to the conventional fins. A baseboard heater with a convector fin and a copper tube exhibits the highest performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]