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This paper presents a novel energy management strategy (EMS) to control a wind-hydrogen microgrid which includes a wind turbine paired with a hydrogen-based energy storage system (HESS), i.e., hydrogen production, storage and re-electrification facilities, and a local load. This complies with the mini-grid use case as per the IEA-HIA Task 24 Final Report, where three different use cases and configurations of wind farms paired with HESS are proposed in order to promote the integration of wind energy into the grid. Hydrogen production surpluses by wind generation are stored and used to provide a demand-side management solution for energy supply to the local and contractual loads, both in the grid-islanded and connected modes, with corresponding different control objectives. The EMS is based on a hierarchical model predictive control (MPC) in which long-term and short-term operations are addressed. The long-term operations are managed by a high-level MPC, in which power production by wind generation and load demand forecasts are considered in combination with day-ahead market participation. Accordingly, the hydrogen production and re-electrification are scheduled so as to jointly track the load demand, maximize the revenue through electricity market participation and minimize the HESS operating costs. Instead, the management of the short-term operations is entrusted to a low-level MPC, which compensates for any deviations of the actual conditions from the forecasts and refines the power production so as to address the real-time market participation and the short time-scale equipment dynamics and constraints. Both levels also take into account operation requirements and devices' operating ranges through appropriate constraints. The mathematical modeling relies on the mixed-logic dynamic (MLD) framework so that the various logic states and corresponding continuous dynamics of the HESS are considered. This results in a mixed-integer linear program which is solved numerically. The effectiveness of the controller is analyzed by simulations which are carried out using wind forecasts and spot prices of a wind farm in center-south of Italy. • Design of control algorithms for islanded and grid-connected microgrids. • Development of hierarchical MPCs to target long-term and short-term operations. • Tracking the load demand and maximizing the revenue via electricity markets. • Minimization of the HESS operational costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the energy transition, focusing on the decisions to be taken about the change in the energy conversion capacity of specified portion of the universe, such as industrial or domestic districts, regions, countries, etc. Conversion capacity is intended here as the set of all energy conversion and storage units characterized by type, size and number, and interacting with the natural gas and electricity grids. The goal is to find guidelines for new installations, obtained by simulations of a model able to describe properly the behavior of each energy conversion technology and the interaction with grids. The model is based on a traditional MILNP approach, but contains unique features in the literature, which allow to obtain results of general validity for applications to very different geographical areas, or to countries including very different regions that transmit energy with each other or export/import it from abroad. The main novelty of this work is to identify the best planning for the decarbonisation of energy demand sectors, according to the criterion of minimum cost, both at global and at regional level. The results applied to the case of Italy allow identifying clearly the energy demand sectors to which new installations should be applied first to minimize the cost for the total energy system, and the units that must be foreseen to satisfy these energy demands, i.e. a precise strategy for the energy transition towards a 100% renewable system. • A multi-regional model is built to find the most convenient energy transition path. • General guidelines for Western countries are derived from the Italian case study. • Replacement of boilers with heat pumps allows increasing RES share from 20 to 30%. • For RES share >60%, PtG is the low-carbon strategy for high temperature heat demand. • Transportation is the last energy sector that should be decarbonized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an economic and energy feasibility analysis of a renewable energy system for a small city in southern Italy to convert it to zero greenhouse gas city by 2030. The proposed energy infrastructure utilises different technologies: wind turbine, photovoltaic panels and biogas cogeneration plants to produce electric energy, and thermal solar panels, cogeneration and heat pumps to meet the thermal energy demand of the city. The electrification of transport sector is also considered. The whole city energy system is analysed by the EnergyPLAN software to evaluate streams combination and potential synergies between the different sectors. In order to improve the analysis, PhotoVoltaic technology has been simulated in TRNSYS environment, to obtain detailed prediction of this component of the energy infrastructure. The system behaviour was analysed considering different time bases: daily, weekly and yearly. The EnergyPLAN outputs include the aggregated yearly production and demands of all modelled energy conversion systems, as well as hourly values useful to identify the measures to make Altavilla Silentina nearly zero carbon city. Every measure identified becomes a new input in EnergyPLAN to evaluate its effect on city energy balance. The economic analysis has been performed to evaluate the electricity and thermal energy costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Wind energy evaluation is an important goal in the conversion of energy systems to more environmentally friendly solutions. In this paper, we present a novel approach to wind speed spatial estimation on the isle of Sicily (Italy): an incremental self-organizing neural network (Generalized Mapping Regressor – GMR) is coupled with exploratory data analysis techniques in order to obtain a map of the spatial distribution of the average wind speed over the entire region. First, the topographic surface of the island was modelled using two different neural techniques and by exploiting the information extracted from a digital elevation model of the region. Then, GMR was used for automatic modelling of the terrain roughness. Afterwards, a statistical analysis of the wind data allowed for the estimation of the parameters of the Weibull wind probability distribution function. In the last sections of the paper, the expected values of the Weibull distributions were regionalized using the GMR neural network. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper describes an innovative process to increase superheated steam temperatures in waste-to-energy (WTE) plants. This solution is mainly characterised by a fluidised bed reactor in which hot flue gas is treated both chemically and mechanically. This approach, together with gas recirculation, increases the energy conversion efficiency, and raises the superheated steam temperature without decreasing the useful life of the superheater. This paper presents new experimental data obtained from the test facility installed at the Hera S.p.A. WTE plant in Forlì, Italy; discusses changes that can be implemented to increase the duration of experimental testing; offers suggestions for the design of an industrial solution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Energy conversion from hydrogen represents a viable contribution to sustainable development. For this reason several authors have investigated clean hydrogen production and its end uses. One end use is a hydrogen storage system with a fuel cell to mitigate grid instabilities inherent to renewable power generation or intermittent reactive loads. Another end use is burning hydrogen in internal combustion engines for motive transport or remote power generation. Blending hydrogen with traditional hydrocarbon fuels is also possible. The aim of this paper is to assess the opportunity for realizing a small-scale renewable hydro methane production system in Italy. The system is completely integrated in an electrical and thermal smart grid. For this reason, a techno-economic feasibility analysis on hybrid systems was carried out to quantify the carbon avoidance cost associated with blended hydrogen fuels. Twelve different scenarios were simulated with the HOMER software and the optimal system configuration was identified by applying the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) as evaluation criterion. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis was applied to explore potential fiscal policy scenarios. The simulation results show that the lowest LCOH (8.041 €/kg) was achieved with a 5 Nm3 electrolyser capability (operating for about 4000 h/yr) and a grid connected 160 kWp PV array when hydrogen was produced only during the winter season. Instead considering the same operating hours and modifying the hydrogen production daily and monthly profile (i.e. hydrogen production from May to September) the best results were obtained (LCOH = 0 €/kg). An analysis of carbon avoidance costs showed the optimal hydrogen mixture of approximately 23% by volume to provide the best economic and environmental trade-off. Finally, if the hydrogen cost is equal to 1.5587 €/kg a null over price for decarbonisation is achievable. To obtain this result a dedicated incentive scheme to encourage the hydrogen production should be developed by Italian Government. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Deep decarbonisation – i.e. the transition towards net-zero emissions energy systems – will be enabled by a high penetration of intermittent renewables, storage and sector-coupling technologies. In this paper, we present a novel modelling approach to capture the increasing complexity of such future energy systems and help policy makers choose among the different possible transition scenarios. Salient features of our model, consisting of an extended and regionalised version of EnergyScope (Limpens et al., 2019 [1]), are a low computational time and a concise formulation which make it suitable for uncertainty and what-if analyses. As a case study, the model is applied to devise scenarios for the Italian energy transition. Specifically, we develop the first open-source whole-energy system model of Italy and assess the feasibility of its decarbonisation strategy with respect to uncertainties in the deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and renewable technologies. Results show that emissions can be cut by 79%–97% vs. 1990 levels thanks to a radical electrification of the energy system coupled to a wide deployment of renewables and efficient energy conversion technologies. Finally, we discuss the synergies, advantages and disadvantages of our proposed approach with respect to alternative modelling approaches used across 88 recent deep decarbonisation studies. The analysis suggests that our model, thanks to its computational efficiency and a snapshot approach (i.e., modelling a target-year in the future), can complement more detailed and established energy models optimising the energy transition pathway (i.e., modelling the pathway from today to the target year). [Display omitted] • Novel open-source whole-energy system model for deep decarbonisation studies. • Key features: hourly resolution, target-year optimisation, computational efficiency. • Case study: deep decarbonisation of Italy in 2050 under uncertainty. • Results: 79%–97% CO 2 emission reduction is feasible and cost-effective. • Comparison with other models used in 88 recent deep decarbonisation studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) are very promising energy conversion devices, producing electricity and heat from a fuel directly via electrochemical reactions. The electrical efficiency of SOFCs is particularly high, so that such systems are very attractive for integration in complex polygeneration systems. In this paper, the integration of SOFC systems with solar thermal collector is investigated seeking to design a novel polygeneration system producing: electricity, space heating and cooling and domestic hot water, for a university building located in Naples (Italy), assumed as case study. The polygeneration system is based on the following main components: concentrating parabolic through solar collectors, a double-stage LiBr–H2O absorption chiller and an ambient pressure SOFC fuel cell. The system also includes a number of additional components required for the balance of plant, such as: storage tanks, heat exchangers, pumps, controllers, cooling tower, etc. The SOFC operates at full load, producing electric energy that is in part self-consumed for powering building lights and equipments, and in part is used for operating the system itself; the electric energy in excess is eventually released to the grid and sold to the public Company that operates the grid itself. The system was designed and then simulated by means of a zero-dimensional transient simulation model, developed using the TRNSYS software; the investigation of the dynamic behavior of the building is also included. The results of the case study were analyzed for different time bases, from both energetic and economic points of view. Finally, a thermoeconomic optimization is also presented aiming at determining the optimal set of system design parameters. The economic results show that the system under investigation may be profitable, provided that it is properly funded. However, the overall energetic and economic results are more encouraging than those claimed for other similar polygeneration systems in the recent literature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Solar energy is a fascinating promise for the future of world economies considering both the progressive depletion of natural fossil fuels and the environmental impact of their massive utilisation in energy conversion systems. After an outlook of more evident techno-economic, environmental and social issues related to photovoltaic (PV) sector, the paper proposes a financial appraisal of a real case concerning a private residential PV building-integrated plant in order to highlight its economic feasibility according to last supporting mechanism introduced by recent Italian legislation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The interest in solid oxide fuel cell systems comes from their capability of converting the chemical energy of traditional fuels into electricity, with high efficiency and low pollutant emissions. In this paper, a study of the design space of solid oxide fuel cell and gas turbine hybrids fed by methanol and kerosene is presented for stationary power generation in isolated areas (or transportation). A 500kW class hybrid system was analysed using WTEMP original software developed by the Thermochemical Power Group of the University of Genoa. The choice of fuel-processing strategy and the influence of the main design parameters on the thermoeconomic characteristics of hybrid systems were investigated. The low capital and fuel cost of methanol systems make them the most attractive solutions among those investigated here. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• A novel hybrid model used to forecast energy production in onshore wind farms. • Evaluation of wakes phenomena of wind turbines at different conditions. • Definition of an availability model of the wind turbine generator. • Comparison between corrective and preventive maintenance strategy for a real case study. • Conception of a novel key indicator for the preventive maintenance. The contribution of wind power systems to the reduction of the impact of fossil fuels sources has increased more and more during the last decades leading to a greater attention to the estimation of the performances of renewable power plants. However, forecast methods of productivity of onshore/offshore wind farms still suffer, in terms of accuracy, the innate variability of the energy resources and the effect of components failures. This paper proposes a novel "hybrid" approach for the estimation of the energy conversion of onshore wind farms. The model combines the Jensen wake mathematical theory with a stochastic dependability model, a Fault Tree, to better forecast the energy production. A new key index was conceived to optimize the preventive maintenance of wind turbines. This model was tested on a real case study, a wind farm (25.5 MW p) located in the south of Italy. Results were promising because the model achieved a twofold objective to improve the accuracy of the energy conversion forecast and to provide a support decision system for the activities of maintenance planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on discussions held at a workshop in Bra-Pollenzo, Italy, this paper elaborates upon 19 outstanding questions of plasma physics in the Earth's magnetosphere. The questions are grouped according to (a) driving processes, (b) radiation belt and ring current issues, (c) auroral physics, (d) internal plasma processes, and (e) magnetosphere-ionosphere mapping issues. Future needs for magnetospheric plasma physics (measurements, techniques, simulations, theories, studies) are outlined. • 19 magnetospheric plasma physics questions were discussed in Pollenzo Italy. • Phenomena include aurora, radiation belts, ring current, cold particle populations. • Processes include reconnection, nonlinear waves, energy conversion, turbulence. • The 19 questions are each elaborated upon. • Future needs to answer these 19 outstanding questions are collected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]