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Conventional petrol vehicles emit a substantial quantity of greenhouse gases, leading to increasingly serious global warming problems. The expansion and development of renewable power generation technologies is conducive in promoting the use of electric vehicles, which are more environmentally friendly. This paper proposes a multi-objective power expansion model considering renewable energy policy objectives. The model regards the problem as a multi-period optimisation task, taking the newly installed capacity and the power generation capacity of each power generation technology as decision variables, and simulating the uncertain factors in the planning process using Geometric Brownian Motion and Monte Carlo approaches. The optimisation objective of the model is to minimise expected costs, reduce risk and environmental impacts, and incorporate changing policy objectives into the constraints to meet policy makers' expectations for renewable energy development. Then, a decentralised target search-based multi-objective evolutionary algorithm is proposed to solve the model. Its effectiveness is verified by a numerical example using real data from the Chinese power system. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm exhibits improved performance compared with benchmark algorithms and provides high quality and diverse Pareto-optimal solutions to decision makers. Finally, the optimal plans for power expansion and generation mix under different preferences and policy objectives are discussed and corresponding recommendations are made. [Display omitted] • Planning for the expansion of power generation under uncertainties is determined. • Strategies for the expansion of power generation towards renewable energy are optimised. • A novel multi-objective evolutionary algorithm with a constraint handling method is developed. • The impact of multiple renewable energy policies on power generation expansion planning is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract African countries are in a unique position to reap the socio-economic and environmental benefits of renewable resources as a means for meeting increasing energy demand in a sustainable way. A critical obstacle for the deployment of renewable energy technologies in Africa is the difficulty of attracting sufficient and affordable finance. This paper compares the impact of financial conditions on the cost of electricity generation across six renewable and three fossil-based technologies in 46 African countries. The results show large cost variations and highlight the extent to which renewables are disadvantaged by current financial practices. The energy-economy-environment model TIAM-ECN is used to show how lowering financing costs results in a much higher deployment of renewables. For example, solar PV could account for 10–15% of total electricity generation by 2050, even without explicit climate policy, thanks to financial de-risking programmes. The results demonstrate that changes in financing schemes could outweigh the impact of technology learning. This paper also demonstrates that, once ambitious climate policies are in place, reducing financing costs for renewables could be an efficient way to lower greenhouse gas emissions. Financial de-risking is thus a key ingredient for unlocking the renewable energy potential in Africa. Highlights • We show how renewables are disadvantaged by today's financial practices in Africa. • We show how lower financing costs result in a higher deployment of renewables. • PV can account for 10–15% of electricity generation by 2050 without climate policy. • Changes in financing schemes could outweigh the impact of technology learning. • Financial de-risking is key for unlocking the renewable energy potential in Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical energy becomes necessary for human being. Generation of electrical energy mostly depends on fossils fuel, they are limited in nature and also responsible for environmental pollution. Renewable energy resources provides a better alternative for future,In comparison to conventional energy resources economical aspect is a major issue of renewable energy sources with the feasibility and efficiency. These limitations are tried to overcome by deployment hybrid renewable energy resources. There are certain criteria to analyze and implement the sized, optimized and cost efficient system. This paper focus on hybrid energy systems based on solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind resources. This paper shed lights on various parameters of economic feasibility, sizing strategies with logical advancements to enhance their utilization, future prospects, and their arrangement. Strategies to develop an effective storage system is also presented here.A brief review on developments in optimization techniques, reliability index and cost analyzing techniques for hybrid renewable energy systems are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy situation of the African island states which include Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles are overwhelmingly dependent on fossil fuels with paradoxically high potential of renewable energy which are sparsely developed. This paper lay emphasis on the present electricity situation in these countries and highlights the potential of renewable energy resources on their territories. Among Africa islands, demographic and economic features are dissimilar and their power sector is complex by unique challenges. It is seen that there is a critical lack of electricity in Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar, which are 21% and 13% respectively, due to political instability and high spending on diesel. Moreover, the electricity consumption per capita is alarming in Guinea-Bissau, Comoros and Madagascar where it is below the average consumption for low income countries. Sustainable energy supply can be achieved by renewable energy sources, however, not all renewable resources are technically and economically feasible for development in these countries, for example wind in Comoros and hydro in Mauritius have little potential – which this paper elaborated further. Based on these analysis, a roadmap was developed, on to how to address some of the energy issues in these countries and accelerate the uptake of renewable energy. Through energy governance reform, political decision makers can drive change within their government, especially when a reform entails opening market opportunities and stimulating private participation and exerting pressure on existing government agencies to work efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bangladesh is a hugely populated country in South Asia. The country produces its electricity mainly from natural gas followed by liquid fuels. Although the installed electricity generation capacity of the country has been increased to 12,261 MW, there is scarcity of electricity in the hot summer season which is a barrier to industrial development as well as socio-economic development. Combustion of fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere which causes global warming. Bangladesh can be badly affected by greenhouse effect and global warming. These problems can be mitigated by incorporating renewable energy sources (e.g., solar, wind, hydro, biomass, etc.) to the country's electricity generation. Renewable energy resources are considered as clean and can serve the electricity demand in the remote areas where grid connection is not possible. The potential of solar energy and biomass is enormous in Bangladesh and people have already started to harness energy from these sources. The government and the policy makers should come forward to encourage the people of rural areas as well as urban areas to use renewable based electricity. The government of Bangladesh has set up a plan to generate 5% of the country's total electricity from renewable sources within 2015 and 10% within 2020. However, within 2015 the country has been able to generate only 3.5% of the total electricity from renewable sources. This paper presents a thorough review of the current status and future potentials of renewable energy sector in Bangladesh. In this paper the updated information is provided for the overall renewable energy sector of the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unit Commitment (UC) is an optimization problem used to determine the operation schedule of the generating units at every hour interval with varying loads and generations under different generational, environmental and technical constraints. With the significant increase of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) integration into the power networks, effects posed by these system changes to the UC are actively being studied and investigated by global researchers and operation engineers. To this end, this paper firstly provides a literature survey of UC concept, objectives and constraints. Different UC models developed for addressing RES impacts are also reviewed. Moreover, many algorithms have been proposed in the past few decades to optimize the UC problem. This work explores the necessity for alternative optimization approaches for UC solution. In doing that, the work uncovers the advantages and disadvantages of the existing methodologies so that future algorithms could be designed in retaining the advantages of the existing methodologies while avoiding the presented weaknesses. In addition, installation of energy storage devices to balance the fluctuation in power generation and their associated impacts on UC models are reviewed. The contents of this paper provide ready-to-refer and ready-to-use information for the researchers working in the field of UC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The penetration of photovoltaics (PV’s) in electric power generation is continually increasing. Tracking maximum power point in PV systems is an important task and represents a challenging problem. In maximum power point tracking (MPPT), the duty cycle of DC-DC converter is adjusted in a way that maximum achievable power is extracted from PV system. In this paper, the existing MPPT strategies are classified into two main categories and the strategies of each category are reviewed. Based on the conducted review, some directions for future research are recommended. The author strongly believes that this paper will be helpful for researchers and engineers in the field of PV systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variability and intermittency are some of the main features that characterize renewable energy sources. Intermittency usually includes both predictable and unpredictable variations. The many drawbacks of intermittency of renewable sources can be overcome by considering some special design considerations. Integrating more than one renewable energy source and including backup sources and storage systems are among the few measures to overcome these drawbacks. These additional design considerations usually increase the overall cost of the renewable system. Furthermore, the presence of more than one energy supply/storage system requires the control of energy flow among the various sources. Therefore, optimizing the size of the components and adopting an energy management strategy (EMS) are essential to decreasing the cost of the system and limiting its negative effects. The energy management strategy is commonly integrated with optimization to ensure the continuity of load supply and to decrease the cost of energy production. Therefore, energy management is a term that collects all the systematic procedures to control and minimize the quantity and the cost of energy used to provide a certain application with its requirements. The energy management strategy usually depends on the type of energy system and its components. Various approaches and techniques have been used to develop a successful energy management strategy. In this paper, a comprehensive review of the approaches proposed and used by authors of many papers is conducted. These approaches include both the standalone hybrid renewable energy systems and the grid-connected hybrid renewable systems. More attention is focused on popularly used techniques to address the features of each system. The selected papers in this review cover the various configurations of the hybrid renewable energy systems for electric power generation only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewables around the globe, provide fuel diversification, energy security and produce little or no emissions during the electricity generation. The unavailability of rotating masses prohibits on-grid renewable energy generation systems from providing inertia during a frequency disruption. This would be extremely unsettling and impactful when the proportion of energy in the grid due to renewables is high. India currently, has a 28.04% share of on-grid renewable energy. The grid infrastructure systems of India would face severe challenges when the share of on-grid renewables leaps past 50% in the future. Thus, this paper primarily addresses the repercussions of increasing share of on-grid renewables in terms of inertia and frequency response in India. The energy scenario of 2040 in India under 80% proliferation of on-grid renewables has been well reviewed in this paper. The novelty of this paper is the narrative literature review of the Indian Electricity Grid Code (IEGC) on frequency response which is unique and exclusive to this manuscript. It demonstrates the current strategies prevalent in the grid system of India towards frequency response and inertia support. This paper also explains the diverse control strategies and energy storage technologies required for adoption with the on-grid renewables in India for frequency response. The other novelty in this paper is the insight about the inertia lost due to an on-grid 100-kW p solar photovoltaic system to explain the readers about the impact when the integration is hundreds to thousands of kilowatts. • Share of renewables in the Indian grid network is 28.04% (113.226 GW) as of 2022. • India aspires to achieve 54% share of on-grid renewables by 2030 and 80% by 2040. • Indian Electricity Grid Code indicates need for expansion in active power reserves. • India requires diverse control strategies and energy storages for inertia support. • On-grid 100-kW p solar photovoltaic system loses inertia of 100-kW for 4.44 s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inertia of today׳s power system decreases as more and more converter connected generation units and load are integrated in the power system. This results in a power system which behaves differently from before which causes concerns for many grid operators. Therefore, a detailed study is needed to investigate the relevance of this inertia in the operation, control and stability of the system. Moreover, a new definition of the term system inertia is necessary since is it expected that in the future also the renewable electricity generation units will deliver the so-called virtual (synthetic) inertia. In this paper a review of the research related to inertia in a power system is given. Both the challenges as the solutions from an operator point of view to control a system with low inertia are discussed. Also a new definition of inertia is proposed to incorporate the different forms of inertia which are each described in more detail. From recent studies, it can be concluded that the influence of reduced inertia on frequency stability is generally considered as the main challenge for system operators, but with the additional measures listed in this paper, this impact can be mitigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A widespread adoption of distributed generation (DG) technologies in energy systems can play a key role in creating clean, reliable energy and support the targets of emission reduction. A transition from current modes of production to a significant deployment of renewable energy technologies can fundamentally affect the structure of the industry and change the way energy is produced, transmitted and sold. The current paper provides an extended review of the socio-technical configurations of micro-generation based on journal publications and reports during the 21st century. The paper analyses currently existing and missing configurations and discusses technology and policy implications to support proliferation of micro-generation technology and local energy production from renewable sources. The potential for new configurations can be found particularly in heat producing micro-generation with solar heat, heat pumps, and biomass. Developing further the operations and maintenance of distributed generation technologies and business models appears an area that calls for further innovation, and corresponding innovation policy measures. Third party service and community-driven deployment models can aide the proliferation of distributed generation and further innovation therein, justifying the introduction of feed-in-tariffs to attract such models during their early diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Hybrid energy systems are being utilized for supplying electrical energy in urban, rural and remote areas to overcome the intermittence of solar and wind resources. A hybrid renewable energy system incorporates two or more electricity generation options based on renewable energy or fossil fuel unit. The techno-economic analysis of the hybrid system is essential for the efficient utilization of renewable energy resources. Due to multiple generation systems, hybrid system analysis, is quite complex and requires to be analyzed thoroughly. This requires software tools for the design, analysis, optimization, and economic viability of the systems. In this paper, 19 softwares with their main features and current status are presented. The softwares studied are HOMER, Hybrid2, RETScreen, iHOGA, INSEL, TRNSYS, iGRHYSO, HYBRIDS, RAPSIM, SOMES, SOLSTOR, HySim, HybSim, IPSYS, HySys, Dymola/Modelica, ARES, SOLSIM, and HYBRID DESIGNER. The research work related to hybrid systems carried out using these softwares at different locations worldwide is also reviewed. The main objective of the paper is to provide the current status of these softwares to provide basic insight for a researcher to identify and utilize suitable tool for research and development studies of hybrid systems. The capabilities of different softwares are also highlighted. The limitations, availability and areas of further research have also been identified. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: With the support of national policies, China's renewable energy generation industry has experienced a rapid development period and entered the world forefront level, especially in the aspects of installed capacity and speed of newly installed capacity. However, with the rapid development of renewable energy, the power generation industry is facing more and more challenges, particularly in investment and financing. As for wind power industry, there are also some problems such as single financing channels, blindness of projects investment and so on, which will result in financing difficulties for some advanced projects. In addition, the problems for the investment of photovoltaic (PV) power generation leads to vicious competition and a tumble in international market, thus the overcapacity of China's entire PV industry emerges. Generally speaking, the renewable energy industry is facing a seemingly contradictory predicament of funding deficiencies and blind investment, which is derived from the government-centered renewable energy investment and financing. This government-centered mode has promoted the development of renewable energy industry in the early stage, but it cannot be adapted to the requirements of sustainable development. In view of these, the problems of renewable energy investment and financing are deeply studied in this paper. This paper proceeds as follows: Firstly, the overview of the development of China's renewable energy industry is briefly introduced. Secondly, the status quo of China's renewable energy investment and financing is explored in detail based on overview of the following five perspectives: investment situation; investment and financing bodies; investment and financing means; sources of funding and financing channels. Secondly, the patterns and characteristics of renewable energy financing are summarized and a comparative analysis of wind power and photovoltaic power generation financing means is carried out. Finally, renewable energy investment and financing issues are discussed and further feasible proposals are put forward. In all, this paper is of great significance in the sustainable and healthy development of China's renewable energy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Nowadays renewable sources are being used as clean sources to generate electricity and to reduce the dependency on fossil fuels. The uses of renewable sources are being increased in electricity generation and contributed to reduce the greenhouse gas emission. The function of any electrical power system is to connect everyone sufficiently, clean electric power anywhere and anytime of the country. This can be achieved through a modern power system by integrating electrical energy from clean renewable sources into the nation''s electric grid to enhance reliability, efficiency and security of the power system. The paper on the status of review the driving force of the generation of renewable energy and proposing electrical energy generation from renewable sources to be ensured at least 20% of total energy of Australia. This paper has been studied the existing electricity generation capacity of Australia from renewable and non-renewable sources. Optimal electricity generation from renewable sources has been examined. The environmental impact of electricity generation from renewable sources has been considered. Under this paper the yearly average wind data of past 20 years and above for some meteorological stations of Australia have been used. The prospective electricity generation from wind turbines and solar photovoltaic panels has been proposed in the paper that will increase electrical energy of the power grid of Australia. It was estimated the capital cost of prospective electricity generation farms from wind and solar PV sources. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents a review of reliability models and methods for estimating renewable energy resources influence on electrical generation availability. These models and methods may be used to evaluate the impacts on the distribution systems reliability of distributed generation integration, especially when they are based on renewable energy sources. For such, the paper presents the main characteristics of renewable resources models that have been developed for wind, small hydro, solar and biomass, and presents the main methods for reliability evaluation of distribution systems with such resources integrated. These evaluation methods may be based on analytical techniques, Monte Carlo simulation or hybrid approaches. The impact of distributed generation on the reliability of electric distribution systems depends mainly on the operational mode and the energy source in which it is based. The most uncertain case is related to generation based on renewable energy of intermittent nature where the generation availability depends on the availability of the energy source and the availability of the generating unit. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper attempts to review and discuss the status and future prospects of renewable energy in Oman. Renewable energy sources like solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass have been revised. The electricity shortages and the challenges to overcome the increase in electrical demands for the near future have been discussed. The investigations found that solar, shore-wind and geothermal could play an important role in the future of renewable energy in country. Also, it is found that there is need to investigate the potential of offshore-wind, biomass, and hydro (tide, wave and ocean thermal energy). The appearance and weight of renewable energy in the higher education programs and the Oman commitment toward renewable energy have been discussed. The paper finishes with some conclusions and recommendations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Due to the vast growth of development in the infrastructure and investment in energy, the electricity consumption in the GCC countries had increased at a fast rate; 12.4% from 2005 to 2009 (3.15%, annually). This rate is much larger than the world average, which is 2.2% for the same period, or USA (0.5%). In 2005, the average Watt per person in the GCC countries was 1149 which is much higher than the world average (297W per person) or the European Union (700W/person) – but less than USA (1460W/person). The GCC countries need to increase its electrical capacity by 60,000MW, which represents 80% of the current installed capacity, to meet demand in 2015. This means that there is a need to build 50 more gas fired power generator plant turbine (each rated 1400MW). The GCC countries have realized that depending on gas will not be the solution due to shortage of resource or environmental impact, particularly the GHG emissions. Therefore, they thought back of using renewable energy resources – after lifting it over in 1990s. They also thought of diversity in electricity production where nuclear energy comes to the picture. The power capacity in GCC countries is at around 75,000MW, a projected 9.5% growth in annual demand will require more electricity and energy projects; expected to invest USD 200 billion to 250 billion in between 14 and 20 energy projects by 2020. The paper lists the major renewable energy projects (mainly solar and wind) in each of the six GCC countries. The total capacity of these projects exceeds 600MW. Among these projects is the establishment of the first zero emission house (Green house) in the middle east (7kW solar, wind and fuel cell) constructed in Bapco residence town (Awali) in Bahrain and therefore, been highlighted more in this paper. Moreover, nearly all GCC countries are planning to construct PV plants with large capacity. Also, several projects in Building Integrated Photovoltaic and Building Integrated Wind Turbines are established in GCC countries. The projects made in the GCC countries allow researchers and investors to size the cost of kWh from thermal, PV and wind energy more precisely. For example, it was found that the cost of kWh from large grid connected solar thermal plant (20MW) – with cost of USD 72.5 million and energy – is US ¢ 12/kWh (assuming a life time of 40 years and a discount rate of 4%) while, the cost issue of kWh from PV Electricity (in the GCC countries) is ranging from US ¢ 27 (for ground mount) to US ¢ 35 (for roof mount) as it was deduced from two actually installed project PV in UAE – a GCC country member. Meanwhile, the cost of 1kWh from wind electricity in the GCC countries may be from US ¢10 (large turbine ≈2MW at 80m height with good wind speed) to US ¢ 15 (for large turbine ≈2MW at 80m height with modest wind speed) while the cost of kWh from grid connected Wind farm plant (20MW) – with a cost of USD 38.6 million and energy – is US ¢ 6.7/kWh to US ¢ 8.8/kWh, depending on the location of wind farm. This makes it very challengeable for investor, government (Feed-in-Tariff) and citizens because each citizen in GCC countries pays only (US cent 1 for each kWh, for consumption less than 3000kWh, or even nothing for citizens-like in Qatar). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Malaysia's framework for energy development was established in the early 1970s. Henceforth, many successive policies were introduced as potential resources for electricity generation and utilization. Currently, as a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Malaysia is sparing a number of effort to comply with the policy to meet the challenges of mitigating over-dependence on fossil fuels, reducing carbon levels, and achieving sustainable national development. This paper reviews the baseline studies on electrical energy policies and the measurement indicators used in Malaysia's electric power system. This research involves a comprehensive survey of electrical energy policies in Malaysia that focus on issues pertaining to energy supply, utilization, its environmental impact and considerations, renewable energy (RE) policies, production and consumption, energy efficiency, and feed-in tariffs. Fourteen energy indicators for sustainable development in Malaysia were investigated through the identification of energy policies in significant areas, such as reliability, safety, adequacy and cost-effectiveness of energy supply; increasing energy efficiency; minimizing environmental impact; and enhancing quality of life in terms of social well-being. The policies and the indicators are classified into different sustainable dimensions and summarized in tables along with the corresponding key references. In this study, future energy planning and options, especially in nuclear and RE programs, as well as the conflict between them, are illustrated through the overall performance relative to targets and benchmarks for past and future projections up to the year 2030. This review seeks to examine the past, present, and future policies and indicators to provide a sufficient overview of Malaysian energy policies for optimizing sustainable development. The goal is for this review to lead to increased efforts to accommodate the increasing demand for the management and utilization of RE, promote energy efficiency, and improve performance in achieving sustainable national development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable Energy Sources have been growing rapidly over the last few years. The spreading of renewables has become stronger due to the increased air pollution, which is largely believed to be irreversible for the environment. On the other hand, the penetration of renewable energy technologies causes major problems to the stability of the grid. Along with the fluctuations of the renewable energy technologies production, storage is important for power and voltage smoothing. Energy storage is also important for energy management, frequency regulation, peak shaving, load leveling, seasonal storage and standby generation during a fault. Thus, storage technologies have gained an increased attention and have become more than a necessity nowadays. This paper presents an up to date comprehensive overview of energy storage technologies. It incorporates characteristics and functionalities of each storage technology, as well as their advantages and disadvantages compared with other storage technologies. Comparison tables with several characteristics of each storage method are included, while different applications of energy storage technologies are described as well. Finally, several hybrid energy storage applications are analyzed and different combinations of energy storage technologies are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper evaluates the net effect of renewable energy policy in Spain from 2002 to 2017 and calculates its cost-effectiveness in terms of CO 2 emission reductions in the production of electricity. Our conclusions indicate that although the phasing out of Feed-in Tariffs reduced the regulatory costs, it also limited renewable participation in the electricity market, leading to an increased electricity price and higher emissions. According to our results, the joint effect of (i) the value of avoided emissions due to renewable energy participation and (ii) the merit order effect was able to compensate for the regulatory costs (subsidies) up until 2010, while the sign of the net effect was reversed from 2011 to 2017. Finally, we find that the economic implications of emission reductions are highly dependent on how the social cost of carbon is measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a set of policy recommendations for the market design of a future European electricity system characterized by a dominant share of renewable energy supply (RES), in line with the stated targets of European governments. We discuss the market failures that need to be addressed to accommodate RES in liberalized electricity markets, review the evolution of the EU's RES policy mechanisms, and summarize the key market impacts of variable RES to date. We then set out economic principles for wholesale market design and use these to develop our policy recommendations. Our analysis covers the value of interconnection and market integration, electricity storage, the design of RES support mechanisms, distributed generation and network tariffs, the pricing of electricity and flexibility as well as long-term contracting and risk management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper contributes a critical view of the development of grid-connected photovoltaic systems (GCPVS) in Spain during the period 1998–2008 by looking into the different actions that were intended to promote this technology. The Spanish photovoltaic (PV) sector has undergone bullish development in the recent years, but its underlying factors still lack systematic identification and analysis. Accordingly, this paper collects and presents detailed data for describing this evolution. It also makes a special case of the particular promotion of PV systems on roof and goes further to analyze how these actions have affected GCPVS evolution as well as the magnitude of their impact on its performance. The exponential growth of installed cumulative PV power at the end of this period, which largely exceeded the target set for 2008, is canvassed by building an analogy with feedback control systems. In this approach, market response or the PV power attained is considered as the system output, while the different regulation changes are regarded as control actions aimed at enabling GCPVS to hit the energy target. Such an analysis allows determining the most significant delays and control actions that explain the system''s performance. Hence, this study suggests an alternative framework to support the formulation and assessment of energy policy as it puts the emphasis not only on the evolution of the system per se but rather on the performance of the system against the energy target. In this regard, it might contribute to enhance the promotion mechanisms of green technologies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We use the model DIETER, introduced in a companion paper, to analyze the role of power storage in systems with high shares of variable renewable energy sources. The model captures multiple system values of power storage related to arbitrage, capacity, and reserve provision. We apply the model to a greenfield setting that is loosely calibrated to the German power system, but may be considered as a more generic case of a thermal power system with increasing shares of variable renewables. In a baseline scenario, we find that power storage requirements remain moderate up to a renewable share of around 80%, as other options on both the supply and demand side may also offer flexibility at low cost. Yet storage plays an important role in the provision of reserves. If the renewable share further increases to 100%, the need for power storage grows substantially. As long-run parameter assumptions are highly uncertain, we carry out a range of sensitivity analyses. As a general finding, storage requirements strongly depend on the costs and availabilities of other flexibility options, particularly regarding flexible power generation from biomass. We conclude that power storage becomes an increasingly important element of a transition toward a fully renewable-based power system, and gains further relevance if other potential sources of flexibility are limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decision-making process regarding the choice of alternative energy technologies is multidimensional, made up of a number of aspects at different levels, economic, technical, environmental and social. This paper uses a multicriteria decision making model, PROMETHEE II, to determine the best fuel mix for electricity generation in an isolated Greek island, Lesvos. Having analyzed the energy profile of the island, a set of 7 energy policy scenarios are determined and assessed against economic, technical, environmental and social criteria. The energy policy scenarios include the use of conventional fuels, wind energy and natural gas, in its liquid form, liquefied natural gas (LNG). Weighting of criteria is carried out according to three different perspectives, each one focusing on sustainability, economic and environmental/social benefits. Two sensitivity analyses are performed taking into account the fluctuations of the electricity demand and the fluctuations of the fuel prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is the greatest challenge of our time for development. Adaptation to this change combined with the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions can help to boost the economic transformation which stimulates growth, fills the energy gap and reduces poverty. This paper focuses on the potential of renewable energy sources (RES) for electricity generation in Madagascar which is a lower-income country. A large accessibility to electricity could be a driving force for the economic development of this fourth worldwide Island. The Electricity mix is currently heavily dependent to fossil fuel imports. Indeed, most of the electric demands are fulfilled by diesel power plants. An overview of the power situation and renewable energy potential of Madagascar is first presented, then different scenarios for the evolution its electricity mix are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Universal electricity access is an important development objective, and the focus of a number of key global UN initiatives. While robust electricity planning is widely believed to be a prerequisite for effective electrification, to date, no comprehensive overview of electricity planning research has been undertaken on sub-Saharan Africa, the world region with the lowest access rates. This paper reviews quantitative and qualitative electricity planning and related implementation research, considering each of the 49 sub-Saharan African countries, the four regional power pools and the sub-continent as a whole. Applying a broad understanding of electricity planning and a practical limit of 20 reviewed articles per country and region, 306 relevant peer-reviewed journal articles are included in this review. A general classification scheme is introduced that classifies the planning literature along the addressed value chain depth, number of different analysed criteria and number of evaluated decision alternatives. The literature is found to be strongly clustered in a few countries, with less than 5 identified relevant articles in 36 of the 49 countries. The total amount of articles per year is clearly increasing over time, addressing technology choice, operation, distribution and implementation analyses. Although including different high-level criteria in analysing electricity systems is common, the literature is only starting to use formalised multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) tools. The review indicates that 63% of relevant articles favour renewable energy technologies for their given problems. Frequently mentioned success factors for electrification in sub-Saharan Africa include adequate policy design, sufficient finance and favourable political conditions. While considerable regional and methodological literature gaps are apparent, the literature in this review identifies a rich and fruitful ground for future research to fill these gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Located in the Indian Ocean, Mauritius is among the Small Island Developing States (SIDS), entirely reliant on coal, petroleum and some locally available renewable energy sources to satisfy energy needs. 22.7% of the electricity is generated by biomass, solar, landfill gas and hydro and the remaining by fossil fuels. Even with continual oil price volatilities and specific economic, social and environmental vulnerabilities compared to continental areas, Mauritius has successfully provided 100% electricity to all its residents. However, with a growth in population and economy, Mauritius faces a crucial challenge to supply more electrical power to all requiring sectors. Renewable energy appears to be the most effective solution to cater for the increase in electricity demand but there are still huge challenges to overcome for massive deployment of more renewable energy. In this context, this paper reviews the current electricity industry and fuel sources for electricity production in Mauritius. It also describes future energy policies for more renewable energy integration within the energy mix by 2025. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incentivizing development and deployment of renewable energy sources (RES), but also other low carbon technologies (LCT), has been a successful way of promoting new technologies by creating a feasible investment case and making them competitive with traditional energy sources. Although different incentive mechanisms exist, feed-in tariffs have shown to be the best model for accelerating LCT development guaranteeing producers preferential prices for the produced electricity over a period of time and enabling them access to the power network to sell/inject produced electricity. Due to these benefits, feed-in tariff models are the most common model for stimulating RES integration in southeast Europe. The paper reviews the current state of preferential tariffs for RES in countries of southeast Europe. While some countries already have significant installed RES capacity, others are still in the planning stage. The review shows that the amount of installed capacity of a specific technology has a strong impact on the support for the future projects for same technology. This comprehensive review of legislative development supporting RES, as well as technologies preferred in different countries of the region, is supported with feasibility assessment of investing in RES using the example of two different technology projects, wind and photovoltaic, analysing the impact of the current tariffs on the return on investment for each country of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community energy projects have been one of the pillars of Denmark's remarkable renewable energy history. The island of Samsø has received worldwide attention as a model community in this regard, having been able to transform large parts of its energy system in a period of 10 years. Much of this attention is focused on the end-results of this transformation, on what Samsø has achieved to date, including the technical infrastructure and the fact that the local community participated actively. Little attention has so far been paid to how these results were achieved in practice. In this paper, we examine the concrete contextual conditions that made the success of the Samsø Renewable Energy Island project possible. As external contextual conditions, we identify guiding visions and plans, governmental technology support, governmental process support, and expert assistance . Internal contextual conditions include local traditions and history of cooperative projects, sense of locality and responsibility, community spirit, entrepreneurial individuals, networks, as well as guiding visions and plans . The results clearly show that the success of the REI project can be attributed to the combination of these varied contextual conditions, which in their entirety made the island's transformation possible. However, in order for these favourable contextual conditions to lead to a successful project, it required alignment through intermediaries between the external and internal context, as well as internally on Samsø. Most importantly this alignment entailed the integration of the Renewable Energy Island project into the structure and needs of the local community through intensive processes of sensing and priming linked to the local population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electricity is the basic tool that drives industrialization, technological advancement, engineering transformation and economic growth all over the world. The situation of Nigeria's electricity power sector is one that has defied virtually every effort made to resurrect it from its state of dilapidation. A major concern is “can there ever be stable and cost effective electricity in Nigeria?” The authors are positive this can be realised, but not without considering other forms of electricity energy resources available in Nigeria other than the conventional sources of electricity which is currently the mainstay. A deliberate transition from conventional sources of electricity energy to renewable and environmental friendly sources is critical for national development, even though recent development show the Nigerian government is backsliding in adopting renewable energy technologies. This paper will be used to highlight the different sources of renewable energy which is critical to solve the lingering problem of electricity generation in Nigeria. Hence, based on the literature, modeled scenarios and field experience, the authors discovered it is much easier for individuals to drive this transition to 100% renewable energy than to continue to depend on government forever. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the recent years, small scale power generation has been recognized as a suitable option for energy access in isolated rural areas due to uneconomical grid extension. A techno-economic feasibility study on the development of an Integrated Renewable Energy System (IRES) is carried out in the paper in order to meet the electrical and cooking energy demands of cluster of village hamlets of Chamoli district of Uttarakhand state (India). An attempt has been made to estimate the potential of locally available renewable energy resources and demands of the study area. The selection of small wind turbine model for the site specified is performed among the various models available in market. Further, nine different combinations of renewable energy resources have been investigated by considering economic, technical and social aspect criteria. Finally, a sensitivity analysis has also been carried out in order to determine the most sensitive parameter of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydropower is the backbone of the Brazilian electricity generation sector. Even though the use of this resource is advantaged in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, last years׳ severe droughts have exposed the country׳s huge dependency on hydroelectricity. Brazil׳s electricity supply system has shown to be vulnerable to electricity shortages and has demanded significant overhaul in order to address its challenges. The present paper provides a comprehensive review of the current status of the Brazilian electricity sector and discusses diversification of electricity generation mix as a strategy to improve electricity supply security in the country. An overview of the main features of the energy sources applied in Brazil is also presented through a review of the latest available generation data. The central section of this work is a discussion of the main causes of the current crisis and the future role of renewable energy sources in a 10-year perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colombia enacted its first legal framework for promoting alternative energies in 2001 and a second framework in 2014. Since the generation technology mix has not changed since 2000, there is a need to understand how regulation and market structure affect the adoption of technologies. In this paper we address the question of what has been the impact of the capacity mechanisms adopted during the 2000s on technology choices for power generation in Colombia. Our approach is to analyze the evolution of market structure and regulation. We found that regulatory uncertainty and low prices drove a surge of small hydro plants during the 2000s. During the 2010s, the new regulatory focus on reliability of supply has resulted in increased coal-fueled generation and large hydro. This increased reliance on hydro power can further delay the entry of renewable technologies and the diversification of the Colombian portfolio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper gives an overview of renewable energy production as impacted by external factors such as environmental concerns, regulations, sustainability, technology innovation etc., and internal factors such as employees׳ talent, performance stability, operations, processes etc., and provides a framework to address these influences. It first gives an overview of the various factors that have been studied in the literature, including externally and internally influenced factors. Although practitioners have analyzed external factors in various topics, both external and internal factors have not been validated in a quantitatively. The purpose of this study is to validate the highly influenced factors which impact the renewable energy business. We describe how a framework model can be used in the production process to address these factors. We conclude with an analysis of the results with findings and recommendations for managing both internal and external factors during operation by using the Supply-Chain Operation Reference Model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insular electricity grids are considered to have a more fragile structure than the mainland ones due to several factors such as the lower inertia because of lower number of generation facilities connected to the system, absence or insufficient interconnection with the main grid, etc. The recent trend of integrating large portions of environmentally sustainable power generation units that have a significantly volatile nature in the generation mix (such as wind and solar energy conversion systems) within this fragile structure, poses profound challenges that need deeper and specific analysis. This study aims to provide an overview of insular power system structures and operational requirements, especially under increasing penetration of renewable energy sources. Firstly, a general evaluation of insular power systems is presented. Then, potential challenges are thoroughly discussed together with opportunities to tackle them. Future technological developments, as well as innovative applications are also given special attention. Hence, this paper contributes to the scarce literature regarding insular power systems by providing a critical overview of issues regarding their operation and possible solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osmotic power generation is one of the cleaner and sustainable methods for energy generation. This paper presents a study on the optimal size and design of pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) power plant as a viable source of renewable energy in the selected site in Bahmanshir river of Iran. The optimal sizing and design problem is formulated as a Non-Linear Programming (NLP) optimization problem and solved using the standard optimization software titled generalized algebraic modeling system (GAMS). The objective function is minimizing the total cost while considering the technical and economic constraints. Optimization results show that the optimal capacity of the PRO osmotic power plant is 77.8 MW. Economic analysis is performed for the obtained results and it was observed that construction of this type of power plants will not be attractive for private sector investors with the market energy prices (i.e. 8 cents/kW h).The effect of the future development in power density of membrane and membrane unit price in economic feasibility of the osmotic power plant is studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydropower, large and small, remains by far the most important of the “renewable energy” for electrical power production worldwide, providing 19% of the planet׳s electricity. Small-scale hydro is in most cases “run-of-river”, with no dam or water storage, and is one of the most cost-effective and environmentally benign energy technologies to be considered for rural electrification in less developed countries. For development of such small hydro-power plants, simple and generally applicable procedures and methods for the design are lacking. The interest in small hydro-power resources is increasing but few published guidelines exist for project design. This study aims in providing a general guidance with regards to economical design and practical realization of the main components of small hydro-power plants and their interactions. There is abundant literature which has discussed various models and control techniques used for small hydro-power plants. We envisage that summarizing such literature and coming out with a review paper would greatly help the policy/decision makers and researchers in arriving at effective solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among novel technologies for producing electricity from renewable resources, a new class of wind energy converters has been conceived under the name of Airborne Wind Energy Systems (AWESs). This new generation of systems employs flying tethered wings or aircraft in order to reach winds blowing at atmosphere layers that are inaccessible by traditional wind turbines. Research on AWESs started in the mid seventies, with a rapid acceleration in the last decade. A number of systems based on radically different concepts have been analyzed and tested. Several prototypes have been developed all over the world and the results from early experiments are becoming available. This paper provides a review of the different technologies that have been conceived to harvest the energy of high-altitude winds, specifically including prototypes developed by universities and companies. A classification of such systems is proposed on the basis of their general layout and architecture. The focus is set on the hardware architecture of systems that have been demonstrated and tested in real scenarios. Promising solutions that are likely to be implemented in the close future are also considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to present the role of Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs) on GHG emission reduction in Turkey. Due to insufficient installed capacity, Turkey can only utilize 27% of its total economically viable renewable energy potential. To increase the share of the renewables, utilization of these sources has become a top priority in the overall energy agenda. Thus, new regulations and policies are introduced. These policies are expected to serve to increase installed capacities of renewable energy power plants, and reduce the CO 2 emissions intensities. Feed-in-Tariffs is considered as a promising policy to increase share of renewable energy and reduction of CO 2 . However, the CO 2 emission intensity in electricity generation has not changed after the FiTs were launched, indicating that additional policies, possibly including a revision of the current renewable energy support mechanism regime, should be reconsidered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to investigate the level of awareness and prevailing attitudes of the Oman government’s electrical sectors towards renewable energy. The geographical landscape of the Sultanate of Oman lends itself to energy generation from solar radiation, yet no decisive steps have been taken to initiate relevant projects that will reduce the country’s reliance on oil and gas in electricity production. This study is motivated by the need to better understand the obstacles that impede the implementation of renewable energy projects in Oman and the factors that cause delays in project initiation. To this end, we developed a questionnaire with sections intended for three government sectors: research groups, electrical companies and ministries, and regulatory bodies. Results indicate that ministries and regulatory bodies primarily support the increased exploitation of fossil fuels—a core reason for the slow adoption of renewable energy sources. Moreover, 82% of the respondents place priority on natural gas for use in power plants and more than 19% encourage the implementation of energy efficiency standards. All respondents consider renewable energy a viable future energy option and generally agree that the government should promote renewable energy and support relevant pilot projects. This study highlights the importance of immediately shifting to renewable energy and encouraging its development; a move necessary to alleviate the environmental risk posed by the use of fossil fuel-based energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ever increasing and continuously unpredictable fluctuating diesel prices that power electricity generation has detrimental impact on the business climate in an area that fights to move away from recovery of post-conflict situation to a relatively rapid economic development. In view of this, this paper aims to investigate the possibility of supplying electricity from a renewable energy-supplemented hybrid system to Hargeisa, Somaliland׳s major urban center. The city has yet to establish its own standard modern electricity grid. Because of the great need to reduce energy costs in Somaliland, a feasibility study has been carried out on how to supply electricity to a sampled residential load. The electric load consists of only a primary type that is in-line with the present electricity consumption in the area. A software tool, hybrid optimization model for electric renewables (HOMER) is used for the analysis. The results of the techno-economic analysis indicate the economic prospect of achieving a 58% of renewable energy (RE) penetration. This consequently reduces the cost of energy (COE) by 30% and the total net present cost (NPC) of the simulated system by a further 25% as compared to a current diesel-only microgrid. The deployment of a hybrid microgrid shows the viability of a better economic prospect than the current “business-as-usual” scenario in Somaliland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents two different scenarios for the energy system of the Netherlands that achieve the Dutch government's national target of near net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in 2050. Using the system optimisation model OPERA, the authors have analysed the technology, sector and cost implications of the assumptions underlying these scenarios. While the roles of a number of key energy technology and emission mitigation options are strongly dependent on the scenario and cost assumptions, the analysis yields several common elements that appear in both scenarios and that consistently appear under differing cost assumptions. For example, one of the main options for the decarbonisation of the Dutch energy system is electrification of energy use in end-use sectors and for the production of renewable hydrogen with electrolysers. As a result the level of electricity generation in 2050 will be three to four times higher than present generation levels. Ultimately, renewable energy – particularly from wind turbines and solar panels – is projected to account for the vast majority of electricity generation, around 99% in 2050. Imbalances between supply and demand resulting from this variable renewable electricity production can be managed via flexibility options, including demand response and energy storage. Hydrogen also becomes an important energy carrier, notably for transportation and in industry. If import prices are lower than costs of domestic production from natural gas with CCS or through electrolysis from renewable electricity (2.4–2.7 €/kgH 2), the use of hydrogen increases, especially in the built environment. • We explore two scenarios for a near climate-neutral energy system in the Netherlands. • With the OPERA model we determine their technology, sector and cost implications. • The electricity share in primary energy increases from 19% today to 41–71% in 2050. • Hydrogen becomes another important energy carrier, notably in transport and industry. • Biomass use increases, mostly as fuel in transport and industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents two different scenarios for the energy system of the Netherlands that achieve the Dutch government's national target of near net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in 2050. Using the system optimisation model OPERA, the authors have analysed the technology, sector and cost implications of the assumptions underlying these scenarios. While the roles of a number of key energy technology and emission mitigation options are strongly dependent on the scenario and cost assumptions, the analysis yields several common elements that appear in both scenarios and that consistently appear under differing cost assumptions. For example, one of the main options for the decarbonisation of the Dutch energy system is electrification of energy use in end-use sectors and for the production of renewable hydrogen with electrolysers. As a result the level of electricity generation in 2050 will be three to four times higher than present generation levels. Ultimately, renewable energy – particularly from wind turbines and solar panels – is projected to account for the vast majority of electricity generation, around 99% in 2050. Imbalances between supply and demand resulting from this variable renewable electricity production can be managed via flexibility options, including demand response and energy storage. Hydrogen also becomes an important energy carrier, notably for transportation and in industry. If import prices are lower than costs of domestic production from natural gas with CCS or through electrolysis from renewable electricity (2.4–2.7 €/kgH 2), the use of hydrogen increases, especially in the built environment. • We explore two scenarios for a near climate-neutral energy system in the Netherlands. • With the OPERA model we determine their technology, sector and cost implications. • The electricity share in primary energy increases from 19% today to 41–71% in 2050. • Hydrogen becomes another important energy carrier, notably in transport and industry. • Biomass use increases, mostly as fuel in transport and industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper reviews the production and consumption of traditional and renewable energy in Spain over the past two decades. It also presents an overview on the development of renewable energy, such as solar (photovoltaic and photothermal), wind, biomass, hydropower, marine and geothermal energies in Spain. A brief overview of the legislation regulating renewable energy in Spain is offered. It was shown that the installed renewable energy of 32,472MW represented 11.6% of the country׳s primary energy consumption. Furthermore, the installed renewable energy average of electric power in Spain was 0.7kW per capita and 59kW/km2. Wind energy continues to experience a good growth rate, and does not seem to be affected by regulations, which has made it the most sustainable renewable energy in Spain. Finally, an analysis of energy production and consumption, renewable and non-renewable energy by province is made. The data indicates that highly populated and industrialised provinces made more efficient use of their energy from an electrical consumption viewpoint. This uneven growth was not motivated solely by the existence or lack of renewable energy resources but by the autonomous community or province in their socio-economic context. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Global exploitation of renewable energy technologies is increasing rapidly due to the concern in global warming and dwindling supplies of fossil fuels. Most of the countries in the world are blessed with two or more renewable energy sources (RES) and hence have formulated policies to boost the utilization of RES for their electricity production. An assessment of renewable electricity scenario is essential for research and development related works in the field of renewable energy technologies in order to further develop the renewable energy industry. Recent developments in installation capacities, costs and reductions in electricity costs of major RES based electricity generation methods are discussed in this paper. It also includes the past growth and future expectations of renewable electricity production. The analysis shows that if the current developments in renewable industry continue, then a major share of global electricity production in the future could be supplied by renewable energy technologies. The analysis further shows that a significant amount of fuel cost and pollutants emission can be reduced by the increased use of RES based electrical power production technologies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The present study is an archival-statistical overview of the possibility of renewable energy production in five South East Asian countries and their economic capacity. The five South East Asian countries under review are the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, all of which have a combined population of 420 million. This number is a little less than the population of 25 European countries. These five countries have created a large market in the world and have enjoyed significant economic growth in recent years. Tropical climate in the region facilitates the potential for using clean and green energies. This article clarifies the effective relation between energy capacities and economic indices in these countries and analyzes the results. Using a survey, the paper shows that despite the shortage of energy in these countries brought by their fast economic growth, the share of renewable energy in energy production is constantly declining and more reliance is still placed on fossil fuels for energy production. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Present energy scenario, alternative energy resources and future prospect in Bangladesh have been reviewed comprehensively and presented in this paper. This work compiles latest literatures in terms of thesis, journal articles, conference proceedings, web materials, reports, books, handbooks on energy and renewable energy resources in Bangladesh. Deficiency in the energy sector is a major problem in Bangladesh, which hinders the smooth economic development workflows. Being the eighth most populated country in the world, Bangladesh is one of the most electricity deprived nations with a total electricity generation of only 5000MW. Thus, Bangladesh is facing difficulty to achieve an overall sustained progress in the economy due to the lack of a sound energy security. In this context, alternatives of conventional energy sources, renewable energy resources can be the sustainable solution for the energy security. This study has discovered the factors that are useful to lessen the existing power supply crisis and summarized the current energy scenario, lack of infrastructure and conventional energy sources to promote the renewable energy sources to fulfill the power demand in Bangladesh. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A looming energy supply crisis in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) raises concerns about a long-lasting energy shortage. This energy crisis is expected to persist for an indefinite period in the region unless immediate actions are taken to reverse the trend. Although global aspiration to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into the atmosphere is high, such desire is low in SSA. Regional stakeholders are more worried about increasing power generation capacity to enhance better access to different sorts of development. To progress in line with advanced patterns of energy development globally, to increase the availability of electrical energy and to sustain emissions reductions, exploitation of local renewable energy (RE) resources is inevitable. Consequently, this paper presents a comprehensive review of RE integration for expanding access to electricity in SSA. The review covers the sustainability of RE resources in SSA, the regional status of RE applications and the necessity of RE power generation integration planning from a management aspect. Finally, the benefits of RE integration into the power sector of SSA and some conceptual challenges affecting its integration in the region are highlighted. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels are one of the main causes of anthropogenic climate change. Large-scale deployment of renewable energy can play an immense role in transforming the global energy system and mitigating the emissions. This paper describes the development of a novel framework called MArket Penetration ModeLing of Renewable Energy Technologies in Electric Power Sector (MAPLET-PS). MAPLET-PS assesses the impacts of policy measures such as carbon price and financial incentives on the adoption of renewable energy technologies. The framework was used to develop a case study for the electric power sector of Alberta, a fossil-dominated province in Western Canada. The results show that implementing a carbon price on fossil fuel electric power sources and incentives for renewable energy, along with the phase-out of coal-fired electricity generation, can mitigate 29% of Alberta's electricity sector 2020 GHG emissions by 2050 and reduce GHG emissions from 46.5 Mt of CO 2 eq. in 2020 to 23.6 and 29.1 Mt of CO 2 eq. per year in 2030 and 2050, respectively, in Alberta. Moreover, these changes can increase the share of renewable energies from 12.5% in 2018 to 30% in 2050. These rates can be achieved by implementing a carbon price along with a 1000 $ incentive per kW new capacity development and 70 $ incentive per MWh electric power generation from renewable sources, from 2021 to 2025, primarily from wind turbines. • The analysis focuses on renewable electric power generation technologies. • A combined market penetration model is developed. • Electric power generation mix is modeled from 2020 to 2050. • Effects of carbon price and financial incentive on generation mix are analyzed. • Annual mitigation potential of greenhouse gases is evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Real options (RO) theory is well known for enhancing the value of projects under uncertainty. This is achieved by modelling the flexibility that managers possess to adjust the projects in response to changes in their environments. Based on this, RO theory could be used to tackle current energy and environmental issues by enhancing the value of electricity generation projects (EGP), especially renewable energy projects (REP). The potential of RO theory to increase the value of EGP and REP has been a driver for new research in the topic. However, existing literature is still scarce, diverse, and tends to neglect the state of the art of RO theory (e.g. RO in the design of projects). RO studies tend to ignore the use of RO in the design of projects as they are difficult to formulate without the help of experts on the projects'' designs. This paper aims to encourage novel research in the application of RO theory to EGP and REP. For this purpose, a critical review of RO theory, its state of the art, and its applications to EGP and REP is presented. This review identifies current areas of interest and gaps in knowledge in this research area. It is concluded that new and novel RO research should address the state of the art of RO theory, and uncertainties that are exclusive for specific types of projects. This future research will require the involvement of electrical engineers specialised in the design of EGP and REP. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]