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Abstract: This paper aims to estimate the economic impacts of increasing the production capacity of the installed biofuel plants in Andalusia (southern Spain). A computable general equilibrium (CGE) approach is used to calculate the changes in the economic sectors' activity, in employment as well as in GDP and other macroeconomic variables relevant to biofuel plants in Andalusia under two distinct scenarios (i) based on an operating biodiesel plant (with 90ktoe/year of installed capacity); (ii) upgrading to 2174ktoe by 2013 in compliance with the regional ‘Plan Andaluz de Sostenibilidad Energética (PASENER) 2007–2013'. Results show that compliance with the PASENER goal would increase the activity level of the economic sectors considered by 3.04%, the total induced employment generated would reach 167,975 equivalent full-time jobs lasting one year and the GDP would increase by 9.82%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The use of vehicles powered by hydrogen from renewable sources can be a viable alternative for Andalusia, given its accessibility to renewable energies and the problems of energy dependence and pollution resulting from the current energy model. However, the introduction of this type of technology requires an initial infrastructure that solves the classical chicken and egg problem. Given that hydrogen fueling infrastructure will require significant initial capital investment, it is reasonable to assume that a possible strategy of introduction could be the establishment of a station network that is sparse to avoid redundancy and therefore minimize costs. In this paper, we utilize Analytic Hierarchy Process to rank, on the basis of several supply, demand and environmental criteria, the more than 750 municipalities of Andalusia according to their suitability for the establishment of hydrogen fueling stations. Subsequently, we incorporate these results into an optimization problem to achieve optimal planning of the number and location of hydrogen fueling stations to provide coverage for the region. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: As fossil fuels are not only a limited resource, but also contribute to global warming, a transition towards a more sustainable energy supply is urgently needed. Therefore, today''s environmental policies are largely devoted to fostering the development and implementation of renewable energy technologies. One important aspect of this transition is the increased use of biomass to generate renewable energy. Agricultural residues are produced in huge amounts worldwide, and most of this residue is composed of biomass that can be used for energy generation. Consequently, converting this residue into energy can increase the value of waste materials and reduce the environmental impact of waste disposal. This paper analyses the situation of biomass energy resources in Andalusia, an autonomous community in the south of Spain. More specifically, biomass is the renewable source which most contributes to Andalusian energy infrastructure. The residual biomass produced in the olive sector is the result of the large quantity of olive groves and olive oil manufacturers that generate byproducts with a potentially high energy content. The generation of agricultural and industrial residues from the olive sector produced in Andalusia is an important source of different types of residual biomass that are suitable for thermal and electric energy since they reduce the negative environmental effects of emissions from fossil fuels, such as the production of carbon dioxide. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Olive sector residues could contribute to increased use of renewable energies, especially in those areas where the olive crop is produced. This paper determines the maximum amount of electrical and thermal energy which could be obtained in Andalusia from olive sector residues, and the economic value that could be obtained from these energy uses. For this, the current data on installed power and electrical and thermal generation are compared with the calculated potential data which would be obtained at full capacity. The results show there is a 69.23% wastage of olive sector residues for energy purposes. Thus, using the resources at full capacity, 3.9 million tons of biomass per year could be obtained for energy purposes. Currently, only 2 million tons of biomass are used for energy purposes. This wastage translates into a below potential generation of electrical and thermal energy. The full use of these residues would allow 83.9% and 64.9% higher generation of electrical and thermal energy, respectively. The results obtained also show that the economic value of olive sector biomass is higher than the market price value, with the average values for each use being 248.20 €/t for domestic thermal use, 165.04 €/t for electrical use and 139.50 €/t for industrial thermal use. Thus, it is considered feasible that the olive sector biomass could be used to a greater degree than at present. In this sense, it is recommended that more electricity generation plants and thermal-generating systems be put into operation. • There is a 69.2% wastage of olive sector residues that could be used for energy purposes. • The full use of olive by-products would account for 6.2% of renewable electricity. • The full use of olive by-products would account for 26.7% of thermal generation. • Better use of residues would promote the start-up of 55 and 1762 electricity and thermal plants, respectively. • The economic value of olive sector biomass allows the value chain to be covered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to develop an integrated methodology using multi-criteria decision-making methods and geographical information systems for a renewable energy spatial planning model. This methodology has been applied to the province of Malaga (Southern Spain), which is characterised by high energy demand for both residential and touristic use. Criteria and restrictions are defined, weighed and combined in order to identify high potential areas for the construction of single- or combined wind power, solar power and biomass generation facilities. Finally, a cluster analysis is carried out in order to classify municipalities within the province according to the availability of medium and high potential land for the construction of these facilities. Results suggest that for the three types of energy analysed (wind, solar and biomass), single- or combined solar and wind power facilities are the best options in the province of Malaga. The breakdown of these results at the municipality level is of great interest from the point of view of spatial planning. For instance, in some municipalities less than 1 km2 is regarded as having a medium-to-high potential in terms of renewables. Some of these municipalities, situated on the Costa del Sol, must meet high current- and future energy demands, owing both to population density and the volume of touristic demand, which is the highest in the region of Andalusia. The methodology used can be applied to other regions and will be of interest for planners, managers and investors, all of whom can use this information for spatial- and energy planning, and the definition of targets and strategies, and, therefore, as and to aid decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]