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Abstract Despite a significant progress in electrification over the last decade, more than 1 billion people have no access to electricity, and about 3 billion use solid fuel or kerosene for cooking and heating purposes. More than 95 % of them live in sub-Saharan Africa or developing Asia, and around 80 % are situated in rural areas. Conventional approach to power supply such as transmission grid extension is not economical due to high investment and connection costs. Technological progress has shifted down capital costs of renewable off-grid solutions. However, in the most cases, it is not enough to reach feasibility of these solutions due to weak investment conditions and weak purchasing power of the local population in these areas. The choice of business model can have a vital role in bringing electrification and connectivity to rural areas, providing flexibility and adaptability of the technology to the market conditions. Analysis of existing literature on business models for off-grid solutions concludes that the model for rural areas in developing countries should be more service oriented, be scalable to various use case scenarios, should provide good risk balance between customer and provider, and should enable transparency and quality of service. This paper analyses recent developments in off-grid system solutions for sub-Saharan Africa and provides classification of business model innovations. Based on the analysis, the paper proposes an innovative business model for Fusion Grid project, scalable mini-grid integrated with connectivity solution. Feasibility of the project is tested for three different cases, depending on the type of the rural community. Results suggests that combining micro-grid based power supply and internet connection as one service can contribute to a viability of the project, and, furthermore, can contribute to achieving global electrification goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The results of an optimized design of grid-connected renewable energy system for University building are presented in this paper. Integrated modelling, simulation, optimization and control strategies are used to test the performance and select the best hybrid renewable power system. The main objective is to design a grid connected renewable energy system to meet the electric load of the building with high penetration of renewable energy, low greenhouse gas emissions, and low cost of energy. Hourly simulations, modelling and optimization were performed to determine the performance and cost of the hybrid power system configurations using load following and cycle charging control strategies. The results show that the grid-tied solar PV/fuel cell hybrid power system offers a good performance for the tested system architectures. With a solar PV capacity of 500 kW and fuel cell capacity of 100 kW integrated with the grid, the total energy generated from grid-tied renewable energy system to meet the desired load is 26% from the grid (purchase), 42% produced from the solar PV, and 32% from the fuel cell. From the total annual power produced, 95% is used to meet the AC primary load of the building and 5% is the sellback to the grid. The daily performance and electricity generation from the proposed grid-tied solar PV/Fuel cell power system is also presented in this paper. The proposed grid-tied solar PV/fuel Cell hybrid power system with the sale of electricity back to the grid has a high renewable fraction (40.4 %), low levelized cost of energy (71 $/MWh), and low carbon dioxide emissions (133 kg CO 2 /MWh). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Nowadays different kinds of renewable energy resources have got rapid development. For renewable energy planning, it is meaningful to assess the comprehensive performance of different candidate renewable energy schemes and distinguish the optimal. In view of this, based on data envelopment analysis(DEA), this paper presents a comprehensive evaluation method of renewable energy technical plans. Firstly, multiple indexes from different aspects are taken into consideration to establish the index system. And in the index processing stage, intuitionistic fuzzy number theory is adopted to describe the fuzziness and ambiguity in qualitative index and convert it into quantitative calculation. Then, super-efficiency DEA model is used to determine the relative ranking of different plans based on the concept of relative efficiency. Finally, a real case of renewable energy development in 2020 from a province in China is used to illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method in this paper. Results show that this proposed method can overcome the shortcoming of traditional basic DEA model and get more objective evaluation results and provide beneficial references for renewable energy planning and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Renewable energy can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by providing renewable electricity, heating, cooling and transportation. The main disadvantage of renewable energy supply is that once it reached a high share in electricity generation, the intermittency caused by renewable energy sources makes balancing of the energy system challenging. This study answers the question "What is the impact of renewable energy on public investment in R&D of energy storage technologies?" Empirical literature studying investments in renewable energy technologies is abundant, however empirical literature studying investments in energy storage technologies is highly limited. Using annual panel data from 28 OECD countries over the period 1990-2014 this paper provides an empirical evidence on the role of renewable energy deployment on public investments in energy storage technologies. The results of fixed effects estimation provide an empirical evidence that governments from countries with greater share of renewable energy invest more in energy storage technologies. Drawing from the empirical results, this paper provides policy recommendations on the need in investments in energy storage technologies due to a growing supply of renewable energy. Although this paper provides lessons from countries which experienced problems with high share of renewable energy and started to promote energy storage alongside with renewable energy, the results will be useful for policy-makers from developing countries with a growing share of renewable energy in total electricity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Rural areas in developing countries have constantly been plagued by poor sanitation and energy shortages. A key issue has been the decentralized nature of waste generation and energy consumption, leading to farmers burning crop stocks, lumber, and other agricultural waste. As 1.9 billion people lack access to waste collection services [1], untreated solid and liquid refuse hamper the health of many and irreversibly damage the local ecosystem. Considering the scattered nature of agricultural waste generation and centralized treatment difficulties, this study examines the feasibility of adopting decentralized blockchain system in trading biomass energy and agricultural products across the waste-to-energy ecosystem. A case study is conducted based on the Yitong system in Changzhi City, Shanxi Province, China. This plant collects and transports agricultural wastes (crop straw and animal residue), and converts them to clean energy and agricultural by-products like briquettes, fertilizer, and animal feedstock. This paper presents how a digital coupon or cryptocurrency can be introduced to trade the wastes, energy and by-products among the farmers and entrepreneurs. It argues that this system could maximize the use of agriculture wastes by incentivizing farmers and enterprises to work together. This paper covers three key areas: 1) Literature review, methodology preparation, and field assessment for introducing digital incentive mechanism to enhance rural wastes management. 2) Design of a prototype of blockchain-based model: (a) how the waste-to-energy plant managers collect the segregated waste from individual farmers through trucks connected to blockchain-based smart meters; (b) how systems on each of the trucks register the quantity of waste received onto a universal ledger when collecting. This quantity received will be translated into a certain amount of energy and products like fertilizer that the waste-to-energy plant owes each farm; and (c) how the farmers will receive digital coupons corresponding to the quantity of energy and agricultural products that they should receive. 3) Evaluation of the feasibility of blockchain-based model (technical and economic): (a) data collection on the total quantity of waste produced and the processing capabilities and availability of Waste to Energy plants; (b) assessing readiness of digital infrastructure (cyber-security and communications); and (c) economic evaluation of the incentives and responsibilities associated with the key stakeholders from the farmers to enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Climate change and global warming are currently the biggest threat to human society. In Iranian households, buildings expend 33% of the yearly energy consumption. The potential of renewable energy sources in Iran is high and Iranian government is taking steps to increase the use of renewable energy sources. This paper examines the use of renewable energy in two major city buildings in Iran. In this paper, solar radiation in two cities (Tehran and Yazd) is analysed. The average annual sum of solar irradiation in Yazd is 2200 kWh/m2 and in Tehran, the amount is 2000 kWh/m2 [1]. The major task in this paper is to quantify the impact of geographical region and to evaluate the viability of implementing renewable systems in buildings in Iran. To reach this end, the annual average solar radiation is calculated in each city. Hourly Analysis Program is used to design each building and calculate their respective heating and cooling loads. Photovoltaic solar systems and solar-thermal systems are designed for both of the buildings. It is seen that, although Yazd has hot and arid climate compared to Tehran, the cooling and heating load in the building in Tehran is higher, and the higher solar radiation in Yazd reduces the number of solar panels required for the designed building. However, the difference is not significant. It is assessed that in order to have more efficient systems, the grid infrastructure in Iran should be upgraded to enable applying large-scale renewable energy systems for buildings in a neighbourhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper a 2kWe small scale Organic Rankine Cycle system coupled with a concentrated solar linear Fresnel lens collector is investigated using a simulation analysis. Coupling small scale solar technologies with ORC system is a well-known solution in low temperature ranges. Efforts exist to achieve higher temperatures and overall efficiencies but at present such systems represent a challenge at small scale. This work is part of the EU funded Innova MicroSolar project about development and optimization of a solar linear Fresnel lens concentrator coupled with 2kWe Organic Rankine Cycle plant and with a PCM thermal storage system for residential applications. In this paper a preliminary assessment of the performance of two of the main components of such system (i.e. solar linear Fresnel lens collector and ORC) is presented. A dynamic analysis of the system is performed by varying the operating conditions. In particular the influence of the system configuration and working temperatures on the ORC overall efficiency is evaluated. The final aim of the work indeed is to assess the best working conditions for such micro-CHP to be integrated in residential buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper uses system dynamics modelling to analyse the development of bioenergy; economic system that uses biotechnology instead of conventional technology. The research is directed towards the use of biomass in the production of higher added value bioproducts in the forestry and agricultural sectors. This paper emphasizes and evaluates the energy sector, which uses low quality wood. The main aim for this research study was to build a framework to analyse the development options for wood pellet production. A system dynamics model was created of energy wood supply, processing and consumption. Production capacity, energy consumption, technology efficiency, required labour, the price of wood, energy and labour are all taken into account. Validation and verification tests with available data and information have been carried out. These indicate that the model constitutes a viable dynamic hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper links energy and climate change with disadvantage in Australia and explores the dual disadvantage of steeply rising electricity prices and increasing climate change impacts. It reviews the potential of energy policy and climate policy to alleviate disadvantage, over the short and longer term, and suggests that renewable energy in particular has a role to play. However, the prospect of renewable energy policy advances in Australia is constrained, it is found, by the politicised nature of climate policy more broadly, the influence of the fossil fuel lobby, and the predisposition of current governmental policy. Drawing upon the policy streams and advocacy coalition theories of policy change, the paper assesses the political and ideological bases of this constraint, and the prospects for improved policy that could alleviate energy disadvantage. It finds that, whilst renewable energy does have an important role to play in achieving energy affordability, it needs to be supported politically, and complemented, in practical terms, by a range of policies and measures at all levels of government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural electrification by using mini-grids has been the objective of many development policies over the past years. Most mini-grid projects turned out as failures because of poor suitability to user needs, local conditions and expectations of investors and several other risks. In order to shed light on the principles and processes involved in determining a mini-grid risk rating this paper develops and elaborates a risk rating model based on a standardized risk management procedure (SRMP). Five key criteria were outlined and explained in detail using an empirical case study on a mini-grid located in India. Ultimately, this paper aims to have shown how a methodology to achieve a risk rating for a mini-grid could be structured. In this sense a mini-grid rating is a decision supporting tool to enable sound investment decisions for debtholders and shareholders in a mini-grid and to contribute for de-risking renewable energy investments. The proposed standardized risk management procedure (SRMP) for mini grids should be considered as an educated, systematic attempt at measuring current and future development of a mini-grid's capability to fulfill future payment obligations and profitability expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]