Search

The targeted transition towards an electricity system with low or even negative greenhouse gas emissions affords a chance to address other environmental concerns as well, but may potentially have to adjust to the limited availability of assorted non-fossil resources. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is widely recognized as a method appropriate to assess and compare product systems taking into account a wide range of environmental impacts. Yet, LCA could not inform the latest assessment of co-benefits and trade-offs of climate change mitigation by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change due to the lack of comparative assessments of different electricity generation technologies addressing a wide range of environmental impacts and using a consistent set of methods. This paper contributes to filling this gap. A consistent set of life cycle inventories of a wide range of electricity generation technologies is assessed using the Recipe midpoint methods. The life-cycle inventory modeling addresses the production and deployment of the technologies in nine different regions. The analysis shows that even though low-carbon power requires a larger amount of metals than conventional fossil power, renewable and nuclear power leads to a reduction of a wide range of environmental impacts, while CO 2 capture and storage leads to increased non-GHG impacts. Biomass has relatively modest co-benefits, if at all. The manufacturing of low-carbon technologies is important compared to their operation, indicating that it is important to choose the most desirable technologies from the outset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Nowadays, the world is encountering severe challenges in the energy generation sector. Environmental issues like climate change, global warming and Green House Gases (GHGs) and also social issues like dramatic increase in global population and increasing energy demand are the main causes of global concerns about energy resource management. In this regard, Renewable Energy Sources (RESs) are the suitable substitution to replace the conventional generating units that emit GHGs due to the use of fossil fuels. Among all RESs, wind energy seems to be promising for generating emission-free electrical energy. However, it is naturally unpredictable due to its intermittency which leads to some technical problems such as generation imbalance as well as optimal reserve allocation. This paper investigates the solutions to compensate wind intermittency through introducing various technologies such as Pumped-Hydro Storage (PHS) units, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), solar energy and other electric storages like batteries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the last century, several climate changes have been observed in regions all over the world. The main cause of these climatic changes is the rise of fossil fuel uses, which is due to the important demographic and industrial development. These negative effects have forced scientists to draw attention to renewable energy sources, which are the most suitable solution in the future. In this paper, wind energy potential was estimated using the wind speed data collected by two meteorological stations installed in the Centre of Research and Technologies of Energy (CRTEn) in the Borj-Cedria area. The data collected at 30, 20 and 10m height during 2008 and 2009, have permitted us to estimate the seasonal mean wind speed, wind speed distribution and wind power density. The results have been used to estimate the net energy output of seven 1.5MW wind turbines with taken account the air density correction and the power losses in wind farm. This comparative simulation shows difference in wind generators production and allows us to choose the best wind turbine adapted to the site conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Climate change and limited primary energy resources require indigenous renewable electricity generation options to change the current coal-dominated power source matrix in China. The wind power is such a solution for the above challenges, and it still has large space for improvement in China. In this paper several critical factors related to Chinese wind power were studied in details, including the wind resources, the wind turbine industry and the policies from the Chinese government. Based on the study, the perspective of wind power in China was discussed. With outstanding advantages, the offshore wind power has a bright future in China, so its main characteristics are discussed. Based on the discussions, suggestions were given to improve the development of Chinese wind power, and the government''s further measures are also recommended. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]