Search

Growing environmental concerns have driven the installation of renewable systems. Meanwhile, the continuous decline in the levelized cost of energy (LCOE), alongside the decreasing cost of photovoltaics (PVs), is compelling the power sector to accurately forecast the performance of energy plants to maximize plant profitability. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis and optimization of a hybrid power generation system for a remote community in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with a 10 MW peak power demand. The goal is to achieve 90 percent of annual load coverage from renewable energy. This study introduces a novel comparison between three different configurations: (i) concentrated solar power (parabolic troughs + thermal energy storage + steam Rankine cycle); (ii) fully electric (PVs + wind + batteries); and (iii) an energy mix that combines both solutions. The research demonstrates that the hybrid mix achieves the lowest levelized cost of energy (LCOE) at 0.1364 USD/kWh through the use of advanced transient simulation and load-following control strategies. The single-technology solutions were found to be oversized, resulting in higher costs and overproduction. This paper also explores a reduction in the economic scenario and provides insights into cost-effective renewable systems for isolated communities. The new minimum cost of 0.1153 USD/kWh underscores the importance of integrating CSP and PV technologies to meet the very stringent conditions of high renewable penetration and improved grid stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental impact of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) largely depends on the environmental profile of the national electric power grid that enables their operation. The purpose of this study is to analyze the environmental performance of BEV usage in Korea considering the changes and trajectory of the national power roadmap. We examined the environmental performance using a weighted environmental index, considering eight impact categories. The results showed that the weighted environmental impact of Korea's national power grid supply would increase overall by 66% from 2015 to 2029 using the plan laid out by the 7th Power Roadmap, and by only 33% from 2017 to 2031 using the 8th Power Roadmap plan. This change reflects the substantial amount of renewables in the more recent power mix plan. In 2016, BEV usage in Korea resulted in emissions reductions of about 37% compared with diesel passenger vehicles, and 41% compared with gasoline vehicles per kilometer driven (100 g CO2e/km versus 158 g and 170 g CO2e/km, respectively) related to transportation sector. By 2030, BEV usage in Korea is expected to achieve a greater emissions reduction of about 53% compared with diesel vehicles and 56% compared with gasoline vehicles. However, trade-offs are also expected because of increased particulate matter (PM) pollution, which we anticipate to increase by 84% compared with 2016 conditions. Despite these projected increases in PM emissions, increased BEV usage in Korea is expected to result in important global and local benefits through reductions of climate-changing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]