Search

The pulp and paper industry (PPI) has several opportunities to contribute to meeting prevailing climate targets. It can cut its own CO2 emissions, which currently account for 2% of global industrial fossil CO2 emissions, and it has an opportunity to produce renewable energy, fuels, and materials for other sectors. The purpose of this study is to improve understanding of the decarbonization prospects of the PPI. The study provides insights on the magnitude of needed annual renewal rates for several possible net-zero target years of industrial fossil CO2 emissions in the PPI and discusses decarbonization opportunities, namely, energy and material efficiency improvement, fuel switching, electrification, renewable energy production, carbon capture, and new products. The effects of climate policies on the decarbonization opportunities are critically evaluated to provide an overview of the current and future business environment of the European PPI. The focus is on Europe, but other regions are analyzed briefly to widen the view. The analysis shows that there are no major technical barriers to the fossil-free operation of the PPI, but the sector renovates slowly, and many new opportunities are not implemented on a large scale due to immature technology, poor economic feasibility, or unclear political environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy security is a main challenge in today's economies [[1]]. Bielowicz in the paper entitled "Petrographic Characteristics of Coal Gasification and Combustion By-Products from High Volatile Bituminous Coal" showed the benefits of coal gasification in a fluidized bed reactor with CO SB 2 sb as a gasifying agent at the temperature 889-980 °C [[18]]. Among the clean coal technologies, the new, innovative thermochemical conversion of coal technologies such a (combustion, gasification, pyrolysis, and hydrogenation) and co-gasification with biomass/biowaste/sewage sludge will be discussed. In this special issue "The effectiveness of clean coal technologies in global carbon dioxide mitigation", seven research papers were published as examples of recent developments in widely understand area of clean thermochemical conversion of fossil fuels with maximization of CO SB 2 sb emission reduction. [Extracted from the article]

In the context of power system decarbonization, the demand-side strategy for increasing the share of renewable energy is studied for two constrained energy systems. This strategy, which is currently widely suggested in policies on the energy transition, would impact consumer behavior. Despite the importance of studying the latter, the focus here is on decisions regarding the type, location, and timeframe of implementing the related measures. As such, solutions must be assessed in terms of cost and feasibility, technological learning, and by considering geographical and environmental constraints. Based on techno-economic optimization, in this paper we analyze the evolution of the power system and elaborate plausible long-term trajectories in the energy systems of two European islands. The case studies, Procida in Italy and Hinnøya in Norway, are both electrically connected to the mainland by submarine cables and present issues in their power systems, which are here understood as relatively isolated power systems. Renewable energy integration is encouraged by legislative measures in Italy. Although not modeled here, they serve as a backbone for the assumptions of increasing these investments. For Procida, rooftop photovoltaics (PV) coupled with energy storage are integrated in the residential, public, and tertiary sectors. A price-based strategy is also applied reflecting the Italian electricity tariff structure. At a certain price difference between peak and off-peak, the electricity supply mix changes, favoring storage technologies and hence decreasing imports by up to 10% during peak times in the year 2050. In Norway, renewable energy resources are abundant. The analysis for Hinnøya showcases possible cross-sectoral flexibilities through electrification, leading to decarbonization. By fine-tuning electric vehicle charging tactics and leveraging Norway's electricity pricing model, excess electricity demand peaks can be averted. The conclusions of this double-prospective study provide a comparative analysis that presents the lessons learnt and makes replicability recommendations for other territories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forests are a potentially carbon-negative energy source and function as carbon sinks. However, both of these functions have become threatened significantly by spruce bark beetle infestation in Czechia. This paper assesses how this ecological issue may affect the future energy mix, and in the process, affect carbon emission reduction targets and the available share of renewable energy sources (RESs). We assess several forest development scenarios with three policy incentives: subsidising wood pellet production, striving for climate neutrality, and adhering to ecological constraints. We build a spatially enriched energy system model, TIMES-CZ, based on Eurostat's NUTS3 regions. We find that the spruce bark beetle infestation may not exert a lasting influence on overall decarbonisation pathways, the energy mix, or system-wide costs in any forest scenario. The RESs share is affected only until 2030, and the effect is minimal, at <1.5 percentage points. Nevertheless, Czechia's RES contribution is far below the 45% 2030 EU target. Subsidising wood pellet production is a costly transition that does not contribute to meeting the target. Limiting forest biomass availability and adhering to ecological constraints increase the overall system costs and worsen the chances of meeting decarbonisation targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the context of global initiatives to address climate change, the shipping industry is facing increasingly intensified pressure to decarbonize. The industry is engaging in the exploration and implementation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction measures, including energy efficiency technologies and alternative fuels, with the objective of accelerating the progression towards greenhouse gas mitigation. The application of various GHG emission reduction measures usually requires different levels of investment costs, and economic feasibility is a key factor influencing policy formulation and investment decisions. In this regard, this paper developed a cost-effective model for energy efficiency measures and alternative fuels based on the marginal abatement cost (MAC) methodology. This model can distinguish the differences between energy efficiency measures and alternative fuels in terms of Tank-to-Wake emissions and Well-to-Wake emissions in the GHG emission evaluation system. By taking typical ship types with significant emission contributions as study cases, i.e., bulk carriers (61–63K DWT), container ships (8000 TEU), product tankers (115K DWT), crude oil tankers (315–320K DWT), and Ro-Ro passenger ferries (3500 DWT), the GHG abatement cost-effective performance of major categories of measures such as operational measures, technical measures, renewable energy sources, and alternative fuels were calculated. According to the MAC results, the marginal abatement cost curves were plotted based on the ranking of energy efficiency measures and alternative fuels, respectively. The impacts of bunker fuel prices and carbon market prices on the cost-effectiveness were analyzed. The research results provided the GHG abatement potential of the integrated application of cost-effective energy efficiency measures, the cost-effectiveness ranking of alternative fuels, and the carbon emission price expected to bridge the price gap between alternative fuels and conventional bunker fuel. The presented methodology and conclusions can be used to assist shipping companies in selecting emission reduction measures, and to support maritime authorities in developing market-based measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reach climate neutrality by 2050, a goal that the European Union set itself, it is necessary to change and modify the whole EU's energy system through deep decarbonization and reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions. The study presents a current insight into the global energy-transition pathway based on the hydrogen energy industry chain. The paper provides a critical analysis of the role of clean hydrogen based on renewable energy sources (green hydrogen) and fossil-fuels-based hydrogen (blue hydrogen) in the development of a new hydrogen-based economy and the reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions. The actual status, costs, future directions, and recommendations for low-carbon hydrogen development and commercial deployment are addressed. Additionally, the integration of hydrogen production with CCUS technologies is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The implementation of sustainability at universities means that they can also play a key role in the transition to a low carbon economy, and in assisting global efforts towards decarbonisation. Yet, not all of them have so far fully engaged in this area. This paper reviews the state of the art on trends in decarbonisation, and outlines the need for decarbonisation efforts at universities. It also reports on a survey aimed at ascertaining the extent to which universities in a sample of 40 countries across the various geographical regions are engaged in carbon reduction efforts, identifying the challenges faced. Results: The study has shown that the literature on the topic has been evolving over time and that increasing a given university's energy supply from renewable energy sources has been the cornerstone of university-based climate action plans. The study also indicates that even though several universities are concerned with their carbon footprint and actively seeking ways to reduce it, there are some institutional obstacles that need to be overcome. Conclusions: A first conclusion which can be drawn is that efforts on decarbonisation are becoming more popular, with a special focus being placed on the use of renewable energy. Also, the study has shown that, from the range of efforts being made towards decarbonisation, many universities are setting up a team with carbon management responsibilities, have Carbon Management Policy Statements, and review them. The paper points towards some measures which may be deployed, so as to allow universities to take better advantage of the many opportunities an engagement in decarbonisation initiatives offers to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel control strategy to manage the integration of a wind turbine (WT) and an energy storage unit to an existing stand-alone microgrid servicing an oil and gas (O&G) rig is the topic of this paper. The control strategy includes a primary and a secondary controller that, using the battery in tandem with the WT, does not require any dump load (A). The secondary controller includes an energy management system (EMS) which uses the estimated wind production and other specific local information to size the battery to avoid the curtailment of the WT (B) and simultaneously provide the framework for the economic analysis (C). Points A, B and C are the main novelties introduced with this work. Additionally, a primary controller operates the original microgrid source, a gas turbine (GT), at its maximum efficiency through an active power control strategy to lower fuel consumption, by prioritizing the exploitation of the renewable energy source through the combination EMS and battery sizing. The microgrid is simulated and the combined controller of the battery and GT bench-tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The freight sector is expected to keep, or even increase, its fundamental role for the major modern economies, and therefore actions to limit the growing pressure on the environment are urgent. The use of electricity is a major option for the decarbonization of transports; in the heavy-duty segment, it can be implemented in different ways: besides full electric-battery powertrains, electricity can be used to supply catenary roads, or can be chemically stored in liquid or gaseous fuels (e-fuels). While the current EU legislation adopts a tailpipe Tank-To-Wheels approach, which results in zero emissions for all direct uses of electricity, a Well-To-Wheels (WTW) method would allow accounting for the potential benefits of using sustainable fuels such as e-fuels. In this article, we have performed a WTW-based comparison and modelling of the options for using electricity to supply heavy-duty vehicles: e-fuels, eLNG, eDiesel, and liquid Hydrogen. Results showed that the direct use of electricity can provide high Greenhouse Gas (GHG) savings, and also in the case of the e-fuels when low-carbon-intensity electricity is used for their production. While most studies exclusively focus on absolute GHG savings potential, considerations of the need for new infrastructures, and the technological maturity of some options, are fundamental to compare the different technologies. In this paper, an assessment of such technological and non-technological barriers has been conducted, in order to compare alternative pathways for the heavy-duty sector. Among the available options, the flexibility of using drop-in, energy-dense liquid fuels represents a clear and substantial immediate advantage for decarbonization. Additionally, the novel approach adopted in this paper allows us to quantify the potential benefits of using e-fuels as chemical storage able to accumulate electricity from the production peaks of variable renewable energies, which would otherwise be wasted due to grid limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expansion of renewable energy infrastructure comes with increasing conflicts at local level that significantly impede the expansion of renewable energy in Germany and impact the realization of national and international climate goals. In some conflicts, rural communities are torn apart and social relations strained beyond the energy conflict. Other projects are realized with no or only minor disruption. To researchers, project developers and local politicians alike, it seems unpredictable as to which way local energy conflicts evolve. Thus, the paper aims to shed light on conflict dynamics and identifies a number of aspects that influence local energy conflicts. The paper applies a conflict theoretical perspective on local energy conflicts. Rather than identifying energy conflicts as a sign of dysfunctionality, conflicts are seen as an important element of a democratic society struggling to find the best way through the transformation towards decarbonization. Based on qualitative research on local energy conflicts in five German municipalities the paper analyzes aspects that encourage constructive conflicts and aspects that impede such developments. With reference to Dahrendorf's conditions of conflict the categories of energy conflicts are systematized within an analytical framework according to conditions of organization, conflict and change. These categories and aspects are embedded in specific local conditions, making conflicts on the one hand typical and on the other very specific. They are also entry points for dealing constructively with the conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of renewable energy has become an important means for the world to cope with climate change, ensure energy security, and protect the ecological environment. Using the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2013 to 2021, this study used the mediating effect model and the spatial Durbin model (SDM) to explore the mechanism and spatial effects of renewable energy development on China's regional carbon emission reduction. The results show that: (1) Renewable energy development can help to reduce carbon emission intensity. (2) The results of mechanism analysis show that renewable energy development reduces carbon intensity by improving energy structure, promoting industrial structure optimization, and industrial structure upgrading. (3) The development of renewable energy can not only reduce the local carbon intensity but also have a positive spillover effect on the carbon intensity of neighboring regions. (4) Further analysis shows that the long-term effect of renewable energy development on carbon emissions is greater than the short-term effect. At the same time, the heterogeneity analysis shows that compared with the Yellow River basin, the development of renewable energy has a significant carbon emission reduction effect in the Yangtze River Economic Belt region. Energy-rich areas fall into the "resource curse", which makes the carbon emission reduction effect of renewable energy development not significant. This paper has certain reference significance for promoting reasonable decomposition between regions and formulating renewable energy development policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The FIT policy are widely adopted in the world to promote the utilization of renewable energy technology (RET). Tariff rates, tariff regression mechanisms, contract term, and quota constraints are all components of the FIT policy. This policy has also been adopted by Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN countries to optimize their renewable energy (RE) potential. This paper examines the utilization of RET in power generation under the FIT policy from the perspective of the growth of renewable energy, environment, and investment which applied in five major ASEAN countries in term of the biggest generation capacity, such as: Indonesia Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. This study shows that the FIT has been successful in accelerating renewable energy growth compared to pre-FIT, where annual RE capacity growth was 7.52% in Thailand (2007-2021), 16.38% in Vietnam (2011-2021), 4.56% in Indonesia (2012-2021) 2021), 9.11% in Malaysia (2012-2021), and 5.21% in the Philippines (2012-2021). FIT also managed to keep CO2/kWh emissions production stable in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand while increasing RE production in their power systems. Otherwise, due to the low utilization of RET in Indonesia and the Philippines, CO2 emissions in them has increased significantly, 6.67% per year at Indonesia, and 15.25% per year at the Philippines after the introduction of the FIT. Generally, FIT has succeeded in increasing the value of international funding investments in RE sector in Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen‐based energy systems (HESs) have shown great potential to promote the process of decarbonization. Conventional studies mainly focus on the sizing and operation of HESs in a determined static situation, and the dynamic planning model of HESs considering large‐scale uncertain scenarios of future developments should be considered. This paper proposes a multi‐stage stochastic programming (MSP) long‐term planning model to find the optimal sequential planning results of the grid‐connected HES. The planning model considers the long‐term uncertainties of the investment cost decrease and the load increase. Additionally, the short‐term uncertainties of renewable energies are also considered to obtain robust results in each stage. The improved stochastic dual dynamic integer programming (SDDIP) is then employed to solve the MSP long‐term planning model with consideration of the realized uncertainties. Specifically, the sequential planning order is developed to improve the efficiency of the SDDIP. Numerical case studies are constructed to show the convergence process of the improved SDDIP and the planning results of the HES. Moreover, the improved SDDIP shows greater efficiency compared with the traditional SDDIP and the method which solves the model directly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of TECHNE: Journal of Technology for Architecture & Environment is the property of Firenze University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The reduction of carbon emissions in the power industry will play a vital role in global decarbonization. The power industry has three main strategies to achieve this reduction in emissions: to implement lean marketing strategies that effectively target users of power and encourage them to adopt decarbonizing technologies and services; to optimize the efficiency of these users of power; and to improve the efficiency of renewable energy sources. This paper establishes a comprehensive evaluation system of indexed data from power industry customers for the development of lean marketing strategies. This system evaluates indexes derived from customer data on renewable energy sources, carbon emissions, energy efficiency, and customer credit. It adopts the DEMATEL–CRITIC combination weight assignment and VIKOR method for system evaluation and conducts simulation experiments on customer data in a region of Northeastern China to give an example of how this method could be applied in practice to lean marketing. The results show that the evaluation system proposed in this paper can govern the lean marketing decision-making of power sales enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As environmental pollution deteriorates, the acceleration of decarbonization worldwide is underway. Several countries, including Korea, are incorporating new and renewable energy into existing systems, and various methods of decarbonization are being researched. With changes in the control environment, the expansion of the system linkage of new and renewable energy can cause system instability problems. This paper introduces an operation plan that uses the fast response characteristics of energy storage system(s) (ESS) to improve stability and review system stability as a result of the expansion of new and renewable energy on Jeju Island. Frequency stability was ensured through an analysis of frequency response characteristics in the event of a system accident, and an efficient ESS operation plan was simulated by changing the ESS parameters. Through this simulation, stable ESS operation and hunting in the frequency recovery process were minimized through cooperation between the existing and new ESS via a wide dead-band range and speed adjustment rate correction, and the lowest frequency was improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ten nations of Southeast Asia, collectively known as ASEAN, emitted 1.65 Gtpa CO2 in 2020, and are among the most vulnerable nations to climate change, which is partially caused by anthropogenic CO2 emission. This paper analyzes the history of ASEAN energy consumption and CO2 emission from both fossil and renewable energies in the last two decades. The results show that ASEAN's renewable energies resources range from low to moderate, are unevenly distributed geographically, and contributed to only 20% of total primary energy consumption (TPEC) in 2015. The dominant forms of renewable energies are hydropower, solar photovoltaic, and bioenergy. However, both hydropower and bioenergy have substantial sustainability issues. Fossil energies depend heavily on coal and oil and contribute to 80% of TPEC. More importantly, renewable energies' contribution to TPEC has been decreasing in the last two decades, despite the increasing installation capacity. This suggests that the current rate of the addition of renewable energy capacity is inadequate to allow ASEAN to reach net-zero by 2050. Therefore, fossil energies will continue to be an important part of ASEAN's energy mix. More tools, such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) and hydrogen, will be needed for decarbonization. CCS will be needed to decarbonize ASEAN's fossil power and industrial plants, while blue hydrogen will be needed to decarbonize hard-to-decarbonize industrial plants. Based on recent research into regional CO2 source-sink mapping, this paper proposes six large-scale CCS projects in four countries, which can mitigate up to 300 Mtpa CO2. Furthermore, this paper identifies common pathways for ASEAN decarbonization and their policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Republic of Korea has unique geographical characteristics similar to those of an island, resulting in an isolated power system. For this reason, securing sufficient operating reserves for the system's stability and reliability in the face of the intermittency of increasing variable renewable energy (VRE) is paramount, and this will pave the way to achieving the nation's decarbonization target and carbon neutrality. However, the current reserve-operation method in Republic of Korea does not take into account energy-system conditions, such as the intermittency of the VRE. Therefore, this paper presents an analysis of the impact of changes in reserve-operation methods on the electricity market in the future Republic of Korean power system, with the increased levels of VRE that are currently envisioned. Specifically, three reserve-operation methods, including Korea's current reserve-power-operation standards, were applied to the two power-system plans announced by the Korean government to analyze the annual generator operation and costs. The analysis results show that securing reserves proportional to the VRE would exert negative effects, such as increased power-generation costs and the curtailment of nuclear and VRE generation. These results can contribute to the estimation of operational reserves needed for high levels of VRE and to the design of new the Korean reserve market, to be introduced in 2025. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Islands face unique challenges on their journey towards achieving carbon neutrality by the mid-century, due to the lack of energy interconnections, limited domestic energy resources, extensive fossil fuel dependence, and high load variance requiring new technologies to balance demand and supply. At the same time, these challenges can be turned into a great opportunity for economic growth and the creation of jobs with non-interconnected islands having the potential to become transition frontrunners by adopting sustainable technologies and implementing innovative solutions. This paper uses an advanced energy–economy system modeling tool (IntE3-ISL) accompanied by plausible decarbonization scenarios to assess the medium- and long-term impacts of energy transition on the energy system, emissions, economy, and society of the island of Mayotte. The model-based analysis adequately captures the specificities of Mayotte and examines the complexity, challenges, and opportunities to decarbonize the island's non-interconnected energy system. The energy transition necessitates the adoption of ambitious climate policy measures and the extensive deployment of low- and zero-carbon technologies both in the demand and supply sides of the energy system, accounting for the unique characteristics of each individual sector, while sectoral integration is also important. To reduce emissions from hard-to-abate sectors, such as transportation and industry, the measures and technologies can include the installation and use of highly efficient equipment, the electrification of end uses (such as the widespread adoption of electric vehicles), the large roll-out of renewable energy sources, as well as the production and use of green hydrogen and synthetic fuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decarbonisation of the building sector is crucial for Portugal's goal of achieving economy-wide carbon neutrality by 2050. To mobilize communities towards energy efficiency measures, it is important to understand the primary drivers and barriers that must be overcome through policymaking. This paper aims to review existing Energy Policies and Actions (EPA) in Portugal and assess their effectiveness in improving Energy Efficiency (EE) and reducing CO2 emissions in the building sector. The Local Energy Planning Assistant (LEPA) tool was used to model, test, validate and compare the implementation of current and alternative EPAs in the North of Portugal, including the national EE plan. The results indicate that electrification of heating and cooling, EE measures, and the proliferation of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) are crucial for achieving climate neutrality. The study found that the modelling of alternative EPAs can be improved to reduce investment costs and increase Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions reduction. Among the alternatives assessed, the proposed one (Alternative 4) presents the best returns on investment in terms of cost savings and emissions reduction. It allows for 52% investment cost savings in the residential sector and 13% in the service sector when compared to the current national roadmap to carbon neutrality (Alternative 2). The estimated emission reduction in 2050 for Alternative 4 is 0.64% for the residential sector and 3.2% for the service sector when compared to Alternative 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes decarbonization pathways for Thailand based on a review of the status of renewable and fossil energies, technology evaluation and scenario studies. Results show that renewable electricity generation needs to grow at a 7.1% average annual growth rate (AAGR) between now and 2050 for the power sector to achieve net-zero by 2050. This would require it to reach 400 TWh, exceeding its technical potential. We propose a more achievable scenario of between 5% and 6% AAGR wherein renewable electricity will grow from 51 TWh to 217–291 TWh between 2020 and 2050. Gas-powered electricity will grow from 127 TWh to 185–111 TWh, requiring carbon capture and storage (CCS) to mitigate 75–45 Mtpa CO2 by 2050. For the transport sector, electric vehicles have the highest decarbonization potential, but they would add 45 TWh of electricity demand by 2050. For the industry sector, installing CCS in existing plants has the highest decarbonization potential. Overall, CCS is a key decarbonization technology and its large-scale implementation will be needed for Thailand to achieve net-zero by 2050. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decarbonization plans are leading to the decommissioning of conventional power plants, resulting in a deep transformation of power systems. Balearic Islands are not an exception and, in order to compensate this generation reduction and increase the security of supply, a second HVDC link is planned to interconnect the Balearic power system to the Spanish mainland. In this application paper, Modular Multilevel Converters (MMCs) have been assumed as the preferred technology for this HVDC link. A transient analysis has been presented to evaluate the system performance after the introduction of this new HVDC link. Grid-following and grid-forming control strategies have been implemented, comparing their impact on the system performance and stability. The transient events considered are the disconnections of the main synchronous generators of the islands and AC faults in several locations of the Balearic power system. A final case based on a penetration of 100% of converter-based resources has been also simulated to study the islanded operation of the MMC-HVDC link. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite their positive effects on the decarbonization of energy systems, renewable energy sources can dramatically influence the short-term scheduling of distributed energy resources (DER) in smart grids due to their intermittent and non-programmable nature. Renewables' uncertainties need to be properly considered in order to avoid DER operation strategies that may deviate from the optimal ones. This paper presents a comprehensive tool for the scenario generation of solar irradiance profiles by using historical data for a specific location. The tool is particularly useful for creating scenarios in the context of the stochastic operation optimization of DER systems. Making use of the Roulette Wheel mechanism for generating an initial set of scenarios, the tool applies a reduction process based on the Fast-Forward method, which allows the preservation of the most representative ones while reducing the computational efforts in the next potential stochastic optimization phase. From the application of the proposed tool to a numerical case study, it emerged that plausible scenarios are generated for solar irradiance profiles to be used as input for DER stochastic optimization purposes. Moreover, the high flexibility of the proposed tool allows the estimation of the behavior of the stochastic operation optimization of DER in the presence of more fluctuating but plausible solar irradiance patterns. A sensitivity analysis has also been carried out to evaluate the impact of key parameters, such as the number of regions, a metric, and a specific parameter used for the outlier removal process on the generated solar irradiance profiles, by showing their influence on their smoothness and variability. The results of this analysis are found to be particularly suitable to guide users in the definition of scenarios with specific characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using RES is one of the most important characteristics of the sustainable and resilient development. Nowadays, need to minimize CO2 emissions is obligatory, especially in the sector of urban and architectural planning, since in Serbia approximately 50% of produced energy is spent in buildings. The CO2 emission, in urban structures, can and must be reduced at the different levels: building level, block, and city level. For the city of Kragujevac, based on urban parameters defined in General Urban Plan, typical urban block was chosen and typical building structure developed. Calculation were made, based on recommendations developed by the Ministry of mining and energy and Serbian regulations, for the energy needed for domestic hot water preparation. In this paper, the influences of architectural and urban parameters on the use of solar thermal collectors at the typical building and urban block level is investigated. Recommendations are prepared for principles of urban and architectural design in order to enable the use of collectors for domestic hot water preparation and in that way CO2 emission reduction. Developed methodology for the city of Kragujevac can be applied in defining design principles in whole the country and Balkans region, not only for the use of solar thermal collectors but also for the use of other RES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union (EU) is committed to decarbonising its economy by 2050. To that end, significant reductions in greenhouse gases from the energy and agricultural sectors are of critical importance. However, while the EU member states each pursue a different climate strategy, all member states' emissions are regulated by EU climate law. This paper investigates the factors explaining carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the 27 member countries, using fully modified least squares (FMOLS) and quantile regression models. Before estimations, panel unit root and cointegration tests have been used for the period 1990-2018. The applied model examines the impact of economic growth, energy intensity, renewable energy consumption and agricultural trade on carbon dioxide emissions. Estimates have shown that the intensification of energy stimulates carbon emissions. Economic growth indicates an increase in carbon emissions. The results reveal that agricultural trade decreases carbon dioxide emissions in the EU, highlighting that intra EU trade is more environmentally friendly. Finally, the impact of renewable energy is limited to contributing to climate mitigation goals by reducing emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, one of the key postulates in the European Union's policy has become the development of renewable energy sources. In order to achieve the desired synergy effect, the idea of combining two selected sources of energy appeared. This article presents a technical and economic analysis of a hybrid connection of a ground source heat pump with a photovoltaic installation. Taking into account the heat demand of the building, a ground heat pump with a catalog nominal heating power of 25 kW was selected. This article presents the problem of the economic profitability of using a hybrid combination of a heat pump and photovoltaic panels in domestic hot water and central heating systems. The justification for the use of such heat sources in these installations is due to global trends and the gradual departure from conventional energy sources such as oil or gas boilers. This paper presents the economic and ecological results of using the pump heat connected together with photovoltaic panels. In the economic analysis, with the assumed installation costs related to the use of the considered heat pump and PV, two parameters commonly used in the investment analysis (static and dynamic) were used, namely, the simple payback period and the net present value of the investment. For the adopted assumptions, the usable area of the facility and the number of years of use were indicated, at which the investment in question is competitive with other alternative investment interest methods and will start to bring tangible benefits. The performed analysis also has measurable environmental benefits in the form of a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions at the level of 2893 kg/year into the atmosphere. The presented solution will help future investors understand the investment profitability mechanism for their households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decarbonization of the energy sector has been a subject of research and of political discussions for several decades, gaining significant attention in the last years. It is commonly acknowledged that the most obvious way to achieve decarbonization is the use of renewable energy sources. Within the context of the energy sector decarbonization, many mainly industrialized countries recently started developing national plans to establish a hydrogen-based economy in the very near future. The plans for green hydrogen initially try to (a) target sectors that are difficult to decarbonize and (b) address issues related to the storage and transportation of CO 2 -free energy. To achieve almost complete decarbonization, electric power must be generated exclusively from renewable sources. In so-called Power-to-X (PtX) technologies, green hydrogen is generated from electricity and subsequently converted to another energy carrier which can be further stored, transported and used. In PtX, X stands, for example, for liquid hydrogen, methanol or ammonia. The challenges associated with decarbonization include those associated with (a) the expansion of renewable energies (e.g., high capital demand, political and social issues), (b) the production, transportation, and storage of hydrogen and the energy carriers denoted by X in PtX (e.g., high cost and low overall efficiency), and (c) the expected significant increase in the demand for electrical energy. The paper discusses whether and under which conditions the current national and international hydrogen plans of many industrialized countries could lead to a maximization of decarbonization in the world. It concludes that, in general, as long as the conditions for generating large excess amounts of green electricity are not met, the quick establishment of a hydrogen economy could not only be very expensive, but also counterproductive to the worldwide decarbonization efforts. • The paper addresses the decarbonization of the energy sector. • Use of hydrogen in the very near future does not promote decarbonization. • Power-to-X technologies are inefficient and very costly. • Currently we must focus on the expansion of green electricity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a view to the expected increased data traffic volume and energy consumption of the fifth generation networks, the use of renewable energy (RE) sources and infrastructure sharing have been embraced as energy and cost-saving technologies. Aiming at reducing cost and grid energy consumption, in the present paper, we study RE exchange (REE) possibilities in late-trend network deployments of energy harvesting (EH) macrocell and small cell base stations (EH-MBSs, EH-SBSs) that use an EH system, an energy storage system, and the smart grid as energy procurement sources. On this basis, we study a two-tier network composed of EH-MBSs that are passively shared among a set of mobile network operators (MNOs), and EH-SBSs that are provided to MNOs by an infrastructure provider (InP). Taking into consideration the infrastructure location and the variety of stakeholders involved in the network deployment, we propose as REE approaches 1) a cooperative RE sharing, based on bankruptcy theory, for the shared EH-MBSs and 2) a non-cooperative, aggregator-assisted RE trading, which uses double auctions to describe the REE acts among the InP provided EH-SBSs managed by different MNOs, after an initial internal REE among the ones managed by a single MNO. Our results display that our proposals outperform baseline approaches, providing a considerable reduction in SG energy utilization and costs, with satisfaction of the participant parties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biogas represents a promising source for the production of clean energy. The objective of this paper was to quantify the potential for the reduction of emissions to the environment during the production of electricity from biogas in comparison with environmental effects of the production of the same amount of electricity from fossil resources (coal from Kolubara basin and natural gas). Basis for comparison of environmental impacts in this work was the annual production of electricity in biogas plants of the total capacity of 80 MW. This study has shown that the annual production of electricity from biogas power plants of 80 MW results in: substitution of up to 840 kt of coal from Kolubara basin and 123.2 million m3 of natural gas; reduction of greenhouse gases emissions in the range of 491.16 kt to 604.97 kt CO2eq, depending on the energy efficiency of the process of electricity production from biogas; reduction of greenhouse gases emissions up to 92.37 kt CO2eq compared to the use of natural gas for electricity generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydropower is a major power source in cold region countries. It is also the largest renewable energy source offering significant potential for reduction in carbon emissions. In Norway, hydropower accounts for nearly 99% of the total electricity production. To meet winter demand, storage schemes are implemented in tandem with run-of-river schemes to a large extent in cold region hydropower systems. In these systems, ice creates operational constraints during winter that can lead to reductions in power production. The problems occur in the various phases of the ice regime, mainly due to frazil ice, ice runs, and ice jams. Counteracting these ice problems is usually a difficult task that involves expensive measures and possibly lost production. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the effects of freshwater ice on hydropower systems. It has been shown that ice in freshwater systems poses a number of operational constraints on the various components of a hydropower system at a time when energy demand is at its peak. The literature review presents a useful baseline for operators of power plants as well as showing problem areas for future research. The trends in the northern areas toward warmer and unstable winters could both alleviate and exacerbate the current challenges for cold climate hydropower operation and the findings of this paper should provide useful background for assessments of future ice impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's power systems, performing demand response (DR) programs is considered a solution for sustainable operation, carbon reduction, and facilitating renewable energy integration. Currently in Iran, several DR programs are available to industrial customers. Moreover, the design of a market-based DR has recently been considered by the power system operator. In DR programs, customer baseline load (CBL) is used to determine the level of customers' demand reduction and is key to the billing process; thus, the CBL calculation methodology can directly affect the efficiency of these programs. This paper investigates the current CBL calculation method in Iran's power system and, as its main contribution, proposes some effective methods to reduce the probable incentives for CBL manipulation. In order to show the effectiveness of the methods, a real study case is considered based on the historical load data of the industries in the Khorasan region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By considering the weight penalty of batteries on payload and total vehicle weight, this paper shows that almost all forms of land-based transport may be served by battery electric vehicles (BEV) with acceptable cost and driving range. Only long-distance road freight is unsuitable for battery electrification. The paper models the future Indian electricity grid supplied entirely by low-carbon forms of generation to quantify the additional solar PV power required to supply energy for transport. Hydrogen produced by water electrolysis for use as a fuel for road freight provides an inter-seasonal energy store that accommodates variations in renewable energy supply. The advantages and disadvantages are considered of midday electric vehicle charging vs. overnight charging considering the temporal variations in supply of renewable energy and demand for transport services. There appears to be little to choose between these two options in terms of total system costs. The result is an energy scenario for decarbonized surface transport in India, based on renewable energy, that is possible, realistically achievable, and affordable in a time frame of year 2050. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper critically reviews the current requirement for a 10% offset of carbon emission that should be obtained from on-site renewable and other carbon-saving energy sources installed in new office buildings in London built environment. Carbon saving effects of several currently available renewable-based generation technologies for use in contemporary office developments are calculated and compared in the paper. In order to allow direct and transparent comparison, the paper proposes a new index, expressed as the ratio of the total carbon dioxide offset with the total cost of technology, calculated over the lifetime period of use. The presented results include sensitivity analysis of the following parameters and factors of influence: Capital costs of technologies, availability of primary energy sources, system efficiencies, and system losses. The paper also provides a discussion of the possible changes in the current carbon offset legislation and future carbon mitigation policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon neutrality is one of the main goals in current power system planning and operation. Many different actions and solutions are presented and implemented so far, incorporating renewable energy sources at all levels of the system. With the raising prices of natural gas and its negative impact on the environment, particularly emphasised over the past two years, new technologies and energy vectors are emerging as potential for its replacement. High importance of the hydrogen energy vector, especially in the decarbonisation of the industry sector, is being put forward due to its advantages of zero greenhouse gas emissions, its capacity for storing energy and capability to balance the production of renewable energy sources. This paper brings a detailed mathematical model of a price driven, demand responsive, multi-energy industry facility, as a logic first implementer of hydrogen technologies due to its high and multi-energy consumption nature. The systematic analyses are conducted over a set of scenarios of local production, considering different hydrogen technologies as well as range of natural gas and electricity prices. The findings of the paper conclude that hydrogen technology implementation into a realistic industrial consumers processes results in zero local emissions production, high level of autonomy and resistance from the market disturbances. When compared with classic industrial layouts, the overall CO 2 footprint is reduced from around 30% to around 85%, depending on the scenario. The sensitivity analysis has proven that hydrogen layouts are comparable to natural gas layouts in terms of total costs, showing that hydrogen options result in lower cost in the range from 25% to 58%, depending on the observed scenario. • Integration of renewables and hydrogen technologies in industrial plant. • Price sensitivity analysis showcasing economic benefits of different hydrogen technologies. • Carbon footprint reduction up to 80% from the business-as-usual approach. • Complete reduction in local GHG emissions using hydrogen technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In May 2019, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) recommended that the UK adopt a net-zero target, aiming to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 100% from the 1990s baseline by 2050. The government accepted the recommendation, and the UK became the first major economy to establish a net-zero emissions law. To progress towards its climate objectives, the government took several initiatives, such as increasing its reliance on renewable energy sources and investing in climate mitigation technologies, which are commonly referred to as process eco-innovation. This study examines the impact of eco-innovation, process eco-innovation, renewable energy consumption, and economic growth on CO 2 emissions in the UK using data from 1988 to 2020. We used the ARDL bound test with an error correction model (ECM) to examine the long-run and short-run cointegration between the variables of concern. We found that eco-innovation, process eco-innovation, and renewable energy consumption have significant roles in mitigating CO 2 emissions, while economic growth contributes to environmental degradation in the UK. We also found that the effect of eco-innovation on CO 2 emissions abatement is stronger than that of process eco-innovation in the short and long-run. Our robustness tests have confirmed the accuracy of those findings. In addition, the results from the Toda-Yamamoto causality revealed a one-way causality from process eco-innovation to CO 2 , renewable energy to CO 2 , and eco-innovation to CO 2 emissions. Further, a bidirectional causality was found between GDP and CO 2 emissions. The evidence presented in this paper provides great insight for shaping the energy policy in the UK and for establishing the climate budget in line with the country's net-zero target. • Process eco-innovation, eco-innovation and renewable energy consumption contribute to CO 2 emissions reduction in the UK. • Eco-innovation has a stronger CO 2 mitigation effect compared to process eco-innovation. • The Environmental Kuznets Curve is not valid for the UK. • There is a one-way causality from process eco-innovation to CO 2 , eco-innovation to CO 2 and renewable energy to CO 2. • There is a bidirectional causality between GDP and CO 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carbon emissions of the power industry account for over 50% of China's total carbon emissions, so achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality in the power sector is crucial. This study aims to simulate the impacts of three energy policies—carbon constraints, the development of a high proportion of renewable energy, and carbon trading—on China's energy transition, economic development, and the power sector's energy mix. Through the construction of a dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE) model for China and its integration with the SWITCH-China electricity model, the impact of diverse energy policies on China's energy transition, economic progress, and the power mix within the electricity industry has been simulated. The integration of the SWITCH-China model can address the limitations of the CGE model in providing a detailed understanding of the specific intricacies of the electricity sector. The results indicate that increasing the stringency of carbon restrictions compels a reduction in fossil energy use, controlling the output of coal-fired power units, and thereby reducing carbon emissions. The development of a high proportion of renewable energy enhances the cleanliness of the power sector's generation structure, further promoting the national energy transition. Implementing a carbon trading policy, where the entire industry shares the burden of carbon reduction costs, can effectively mitigate the economic losses of the power sector. Finally, the policies to further enhance the implementation of carbon trading policies, strengthen effective governmental regulation, and escalate the deployment of renewable energy sources are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for greater sustainability for the production of fuels and chemicals has spurred significant research to rethink the energy use in the chemical industry, and eventually substitute fossil fuel sources by renewable sources. Nowadays, the chemical industry is responsible for about one third of the total energy used - and the associated CO2 emissions - in the industrial sector. Most of the thermal energy used in the chemical industry is not fully recovered (by process-process stream heat exchange), but removed as low grade waste heat that ends up released into the environment. Moreover, there are certain energy intensive operations such as distillation which alone is responsible for about 40% of the energy used in the chemical process industry. This paper aims to provide an informative perspective on the energy use in the chemical industry. The scope of this mini-review includes: current energy use, eco-efficiency aspects in chemical process industry, Process Integration for heat recovery, thermal energy upgrade by heat pumps, and advanced distillation technologies (reactive distillation, dividing-wall column, cyclic distillation) that can significantly reduce the energy usage and the carbon footprint of the modern chemical plants. Based on the provided overview, several important new research directions are defined towards rethinking the energy use for a more sustainable chemical industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Linkage enables ETS sectors in EU and China to achieve 5% additional carbon reduction without increasing welfare losses. • Unlimited linking hinders the development of renewable energy in EU. • The international competitiveness of energy intensive sectors in China is adversely affected by linking. • Choosing the appropriate limit value a to restrict the tradable permits can reduce the negative impacts of linking. Abstract With the increasing popularity of emission trading system (ETS) worldwide and the necessity of international cooperation on climate change, the interest of linking various ETSs is growing. This paper adopts a multi-regional, general equilibrium model to simulate linkages between China's national ETS and the EU ETS and analyze the emissions, energy and economic impacts of such linkages. In order to study the role of linking in further increasing mitigation ambitions of China and the EU, and compare unlimited linkage with limited linkage, the paper further develops scenarios in which both China and the EU set higher ambition cap for their ETSs and unlimited or limited linkage is established between the two ETSs. The results indicate that unlimited linking can effectively promote the emission reduction ambitions of both China and the EU without inducing additional welfare losses to them. When both China and the EU set more intensified targets for ETS sectors and undertake additional 169 million tons carbon reductions, unlimited linking can make China's welfare remain basically unchanged and the EU's welfare increase by 0.29%, compared to implementing ETS independently under original reduction targets. However, unlimited linking has adverse effects on the competitiveness of China's energy intensive sectors and the development of EU's renewable energy. Compared to unlimited linking, limited linking effectively reduces these adverse effects. The paper concludes that China's national ETS and the EU ETS can establish a linkage to further increase their ambitions, while at the same time use import quotas to limit the permits that can be traded to reduce the negative impacts of linking on the two systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important issue in the cellular industry is the rising energy cost and carbon footprint due to the rapid expansion of the cellular infrastructure. Greening cellular networks has thus attracted attention. Among the promising green cellular network techniques, the renewable energy-powered cellular network has drawn increasing attention as a critical element towards reducing carbon emissions due to massive energy consumption in the base stations deployed in cellular networks. Game theory is a branch of mathematics that is used to evaluate and optimize systems with multiple players with conflicting objectives and has been successfully used to solve various problems in cellular networks. In this paper, we model the green energy utilization and power consumption optimization problem of a green cellular network as a pilot power selection strategic game and propose a novel distributed algorithm based on a strategic learning method. The simulation results indicate that the proposed algorithm achieves correlated equilibrium of the pilot power selection game, resulting in optimum green energy utilization and power consumption reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Introduction of new proposed indicators and consolidation of available ones. • Proposition of adaptable indicators to various Renewable Energy System modes. • A "cradle-to-grave" study of an integrated photovoltaic and storage system. • Introduction of Stakeholders' needs as part of the proposed Life Cycle Analysis. Abstract During the last years a variety of numerical tools and algorithms have been developed aiming at quantifying and measuring the environmental impact of multiple types of energy systems, as those based on Renewable Energy Sources. Plenty of studies have proposed the use of a Life Cycle Assessment methodology, to determine the environmental impact of renewable installations when coupled with storage solutions, based on a pre-selected repository of Key Performance Indicators. The main scope of this paper is to propose a limited number of best fitting, and at the same time easily adaptable to various configurations, list of Key Performance Indicators for the case of renewable energy systems. This is done by capitalizing on the environmental and energy performance indicators tracked in the open literature (e.g. "Global Warming Potential", "Energy Payback Time", "Battery Total Degradation", "Energy Stored on Invested", "Cumulative Energy Demand") and/or other proposing new simple, scalable and adaptable ones, (e.g. "Embodied Energy for Infrastructure of Materials and for the building system", "Life Cycle CO 2 Emissions", "Reduction of the Direct CO 2 emissions", "Avoided CO 2 Emissions", "CO 2 equivalent Payback Time"). Moreover, the proposed indicators are distributed according to the individual phases of the entire life-cycle of a related component of a renewable energy system, each time the environmental impact refers to, i.e. manufacturing, operational and end-of-life. Apart from that, the current paper presents a necessary base grounded approach, which can be followed for a holistic approach in environmental point of view of renewable-based technologies, by addressing the potential competing interests of the relevant stakeholders (e.g. profit for the market operator in contrast to low-cost services for the consumer). All in all, the scalar quantification of the environmental impact of multiple energy systems, through a list of proposed assessment criteria, being evaluated in terms of the selected repository of indicators, enables the comparison on a fair basis of the available energy systems, irrespective if they are fossil-fuel or renewable based ones. As a typical example, a simple standard model of a photovoltaic integrated with an electric battery is selected, for which indicative indicators are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the detailed theoretical investigation on absorption of carbon dioxide, from flue gas in coal based thermal power plants has been presented. For absorption studies, monoethanolamine solution is considered as a solvent. The mathematical model for the absorption column has been developed by considering thin film model approach. Unified method is used for an overall estimation of carbon dioxide absorption. The carbon dioxide concentration profile at a given stage, using the thin film layer model, has been predicted at 298 K and 318 K. From the results it is noted that carbon dioxide concentration decreases from interface concentration at equilibrium to a minimum of 0 kmol/m3 up to a distance of ±2 micrometers. Overall estimation of carbon dioxide absorption has been carried out using the unified model approach. The total amount of carbon dioxide absorbed in absorption column is estimated to be 95.60% of the inlet carbon dioxide with 30 trays, L/G ratio of 8.5 and carbon dioxide flow rate of 95.74 kmol/m3. The results revealed that reactive absorption is very effective in absorbing carbon dioxide into monoethanolamine solvent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the increasing emission of carbon dioxide (CO2), the development of fuels and chemicals based on renewable resources has attracted much attention. Bio-oil, as a carbon rich material, has been considered as a feedstock for biodiesel production. In conventional methanol-mediated transesterification of bio-oil for biodiesel production, significant amounts of glycerol are being generated as a byproduct. In order to overcome these issues, dimethyl carbonate (DMC) has been recently used as an alternative acyl acceptor to avoid the generation of glycerol. DMC is an environmentally-benign chemical reagent and reactive solvent due to safety, health, and environmental benefits. Moreover, DMC can be produced from CO2. Co-production of biodiesel and chemicals such as glycerol carbonate is possible as the concept of zero-waste utilization of bio-oil. Value-added chemicals can be synthesized using DMC as a reagent. This paper provides a review on the physical and chemical properties of DMC as a solvent, as well as the production methods for DMC. DMC-mediated production of various chemicals and fuels in both chemical and enzymatic processes are discussed together with their pros and cons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union (EU) has set a mandatory target for renewable fuels of 10% for each member state by 2020. Biomethane is a renewable energy representing an alternative to the use of fossil fuels in the transport sector. This resource is a solution to reach this target. Furthermore, it contributes to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, gives social benefits and increases the security supply. Sustainability is reached also when the economic opportunities are verified. This work studies the profitability of small plants of biomethane, which is sold as vehicle fuel using the Net Present Value (NPV) and Discounted Payback Time (DPBT). The paper shows in detail the method used for the economic assessment of two typologies of feedstock recovered: (i) municipal solid waste and (ii) agricultural waste. Detailed information about the various parameters that affect the profitability of biomethane is given, and several case studies are analyzed as a function of two variables: subsidies and selling price. The results support the commercialization of small-scale plants, reducing also several environmental issues. The role of subsidies is strategic, and the profitability is verified only in some case studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decarbonizing fossil-fuel usage is crucial in mitigating the impacts of climate change. The burning of fossil fuels in boilers during industrial process heating is one of the major sources of CO2 in the industry. Electrification is a promising solution for decarbonizing these boilers, as it enables renewable energy sources to generate electricity, which can then be used to power the electric boilers. This research develops a user-driven simulation model with realistic data and potential temperature data for a location to estimate boilers' current energy and fuel usage and determine the equivalent electrical boiler capacity and energy usage. A simulation model is developed using the Visual Basic Application (VBA)® and takes factors such as current boiler capacity, steam temperature and pressure, condensate, makeup water, blowdown, surface area, and flue gas information as input. Random numbers generate the hourly temperature variation for a year for discrete-event Monte Carlo Simulation. The simulation generates the hourly firing factor, energy usage, fuel usage, and CO2 emissions of boilers for a whole year, and the result compares fossil-fuel and electrical boilers. The simulated data are validated using real system data, and sensitivity analysis of the model is performed by varying the input data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper outlines energy management concepts and the smart grid evolution. The necessity of considering energy management as a crucial innovation in load supplying to permit a more powerful penetration of renewable energy usage at the building and city level and to perform energy savings and CO2 emissions reduction is pointed out. The driving factors to enhance the current power distribution are presented, and the benefits concerning smart grids are underlined. In the paper, a specific energy management analysis is reported by considering all the electric value chain, and the demand-side management and distributed on site control actions are described. To verify the benefit of energy management control actions, a house simulator and a grid simulator are here presented and the results discussed in three different scenarios. Moreover, in the paper, the evaluation of ecological benefits are reported, and a cost benefit analysis of the energy management system is performed. Results pointed out that with the standard control actions, the system is not economic for the end user, and only by using energy management systems with renewable energy, in site production remunerative energy savings can be reached. Finally the evolution of smart grids is presented, focusing on potential benefits and technical problems. The active grids, microgrids and virtual utility are described, and final consideration on hypothetical scenarios is presented in the conclusion [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This paper examines the cost and benefits, both financial and environmental, of two leading forms of solar power generation, grid-tied photovoltaic cells and Dish Stirling Systems, using conventional carbon-based fuel as a benchmark. Methods: First we define how these solar technologies will be implemented and why. Then we delineate a model city and its characteristics, which will be used to test the two methods of solar-powered electric distribution. Then we set the constraining assumptions for each technology, which serve as parameters for our calculations. Finally, we calculate the present value of the total cost of conventional energy needed to power our model city and use this as a benchmark when analyzing both solar models' benefits and costs. Results: The preeminent form of distributed electricity generation, grid-tied photovoltaic cells under net-metering, allow individual homeowners a degree of electric self-sufficiency while often turning a profit. However, substantial subsidies are required to make the investment sensible. Meanwhile, large dish Stirling engine installations have a significantly higher potential rate of return, but face a number of pragmatic limitations. Conclusions: This paper concludes that both technologies are a sensible investment for consumers, but given that the dish Stirling consumer receives 6.37 dollars per watt while the home photovoltaic system consumer receives between 0.9 and 1.70 dollars per watt, the former appears to be a superior option. Despite the large investment, this paper deduces that it is far more feasible to get few strong investors to develop a solar farm of this magnitude, than to get 150,000 households to install photovoltaic arrays in their roofs. Potential implications of the solar farm construction include an environmental impact given the size of land require for this endeavour. However, the positive aspects, which include a large CO2 emission reduction aggregated over the lifespan of the farm, outweigh any minor concerns or potential externalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearly one-third of the Scottish population is struggling to heat their home properly today. There is an urgent need for the delivery of low-energy affordable homes. However, the homebuilding industry has no systematic way to deliver such unconventional homes, although the UK government has set out a bold "green" target that all newly-built homes be carbon neutral by 2016. Accordingly, this paper explores the status quo of today's affordable homes being built in Scotland; and secondly, it extends the scope to the review of successfully commercialized low- to zero-energy affordable housing developments in Canada. This study emphasizes the significant impact of design choices on the delivery of low- to zero-energy affordable housing, including housing orientations and configurations; construction materials and systems, including renewable energy technologies; and internal planning, with due consideration to the time-related sun positions and the internal space day-lighting and heat gain potentials. In addition, the paper argues that the absence of clear definitions as to housing quality and affordability, and the lack of industry capacity for technical knowledge learning activities, are potential obstacles that limit the spread of sustainable zero-carbon homes in Scotland today. Moreover, the effect of the design charrette approach being practiced in Canada on the homebuilding decision making process was reviewed, with the aim of providing a base for further discussion on the applicability of Canadian low-energy affordable housing design techniques to sustainable zero carbon homes of the future in Scotland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

System inertia reduction, driven by the integration of renewables, imposes significant challenges on the primary frequency control. Electrification of road transport not only reduces carbon emission by shifting from fossil fuel consumption to cleaner electricity consumption, but also potentially provide flexibility to facilitate the integration of renewables, such as supporting primary frequency control. In this context, this paper develops a techno-economic evaluation framework to quantify the challenges on primary frequency control and assess the benefits of EVs in providing primary frequency response. A simplified GB power system dynamic model is used to analyze the impact of declining system inertia on the primary frequency control and the technical potential of primary frequency response provision from EVs. Furthermore, an advanced stochastic system scheduling tool with explicitly modeling of inertia reduction effect is applied to assess the cost and emission driven by primary frequency control as well as the benefits of EVs in providing primary frequency response under two representative GB 2030 system scenarios. This paper also identifies the synergy between PFR provision from EVs and “smart charging” strategy as well as the impact of synthetic inertia from wind turbines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses some possible means by which renewable power could be integrated into the steel manufacturing process, with techniques such as blast furnace gas recirculation (BF-GR), furnaces that utilize carbon capture, a higher share of electrical arc furnaces (EAFs) and the use of direct reduced iron with hydrogen as reduction agent (H-DR). It is demonstrated that these processes could lead to less dependence on--and ultimately complete independence from--coal. This opens the possibility of providing the steel industry with power and heat by coupling to renewable power generation (sector coupling). In this context, it is shown using the example of Germany that with these technologies, reductions of 47-95% of CO2 emissions against 1990 levels and 27-95% of primary energy demand against 2008 can be achieved through the integration of 12-274 TWh of renewable electrical power into the steel industry. Thereby, a substantial contribution to reducing CO2 emissions and fuel demand could be made (although it would fall short of realizing the German government's target of a 50% reduction in power consumption by 2050). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]