Search

The increase of Renewable Energy (RE) production to fight the climate crisis is posing new technological and financial challenges, due to the availability and variability of RE Sources (RES). These challenges can be addressed by selecting the most suitable mix of RES to optimise power production, to assure grid resilience and to promote local energy use. To facilitate the selection of such combination, this paper presents an original methodology that allows to compare mixing scenarios with different RES, also in presence of batteries and backup system. It simultaneously optimises the energy surplus with respect to the eventual external electrical load and the missing energy with respect to the same electrical load. This method, which can cope with isolated or plugged-to-grid systems, is here applied to a novel case study, an oil&gas platform under decommissioning, located in the Adriatic Sea (Italy). The RE production from wind, wave and solar panels is supposed to support other activities for the platform reuse, such as aquaculture, monitoring and mineral deposition. In this case, solar energy is providing the greatest contribution to the optimal mix in terms of production, while wave energy assures the most relevant contribution in terms of continuity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the connectedness among the climate change index, green financial assets, renewable energy markets, and geopolitical risk index from June 1, 2012 to June 13, 2022, using Quantile Vector Autoregressive (QVAR) and wavelet coherence (WC). The Total connectedness index (TCI) varies as long as the highest TCI originates in the upper quantile. We also note that the higher TCI decreases after the second wave of COVID-19 and increases during the first 100 days of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Moreover, the results show that Geopolitical risk (GPR) is a net transmitter of the climate change index during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The green bond and clean energy markets are negatively connected to the GPR at extreme 10 th and 90 th quantiles. The wavelet coherence confirms the QVAR results that the climate change market can be a safe haven against GPR during the Russian invasion. The climate change index, green financial assets, and clean energy are strong influencers in the financial markets and are vital to international peace, reducing geopolitical risk. The study reports a few novel conclusions and implications from a sustainable development perspective. • Connectedness among climate change index, green financial assets, renewable energy markets. • Daily data was used from June 1, 2012 to June 13, 2022. • Role of geopolitical risk for green financial assets and renewable energy market. • Climate change index, green financial assets, and clean energy are strong influencers in the financial markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the interactions among climate change, carbon emission allowance trading, crude oil and renewable energy stock markets, especially the role of climate change in this system is of great significance for policy makers, energy producers/consumers and relevant investors. The present paper aims to quantify the time-varying connectedness effects among the four factors by using the TVP-VAR based extensions of both time- and frequency-domain connectedness index measurements proposed by Antonakakis et al. (2020) and Ellington and Barunik (2021) [8,48]. The empirical results suggest that, firstly, the average total connectedness among climate change, carbon emission allowance trading, crude oil and renewable energy stock markets is not so strong for the heterogenous fundamentals underlying them. Nevertheless, the time-varying total connectedness fluctuates fiercely through May 2005 to September 2021, varying from about 8% to 30% and rocket to very high levels during the global subprime mortgage crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the total connectedness mainly centers on the short-term frequency, i.e., 1–3 months. Secondly, climate change is generally the leading information contributor among the four factors, although not particularly strong, and its leading role also performs mainly on the short-term frequency (1–3 months). Thirdly, renewable energy stock market and crude oil market show tight interactions between them and they are the two major bridges of information exchanges across various time frequencies (horizons) in this system. Finally, we confirm the evidence that the primary net connectedness contributor and receiver switch frequently across different time frequencies, implying that it is extremely essential for policy makers, energy producers/consumers and investors to make time-horizon-specific regulatory, production/purchasing or investment decisions when facing the uncertain effects of climate change on the interactions among carbon emission allowance, crude oil and renewable energy stock markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on climate change in Turkey caused by energy consumption using an Autoregressive Distributed Lag and Toda-Yamamoto causality analysis. The motivation and aim are: Finding evidence of causality for the relationship between energy consumption, growing economies and climate change depending on parameters that vary over time, which are observed and argued through political implications. Temperature and precipitation are the dependent variables for climate change; energy types and Gross Domestic Product per capita are the independent variables for economic determiners. Data was collected annually from various institutions between 1980 and 2019. According to the Toda-Yamamoto test, a negative relationship is determined between renewable energy consumption and temperature in both the short and long term. The results reveal that a 1% increase in renewable energy reduces the temperature by 0.031%. The increase of renewable energy may help in decreasing temperature. Precipitation and non-renewable energy consumption have a positive relationship in both the short and long term, with a 1% increase in non-renewable energy consumption causing a 0.175% increase in precipitation, indicating a negative effect on climate change. Encouraging renewable energy consumption through government incentives can be a powerful solution to decrease the negative effects of climate change in Turkey. • This study examines the relationships between climate change and energy consumption. • It conducts an ARDL analysis and Toda-Yamamoto causality tests in a growing economy. • Renewable energy consumption has a positive effect (reduces) temperature. • Non-renewable energy consumption has a negative effect (increases) precipitation. • Renewable energy consumption is critical mitigating global warming in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open Cycle - Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OC-OTEC) is one of the most important renewable energy sources that generate electricity and fresh water from seawater utilizing the temperature gradient between the warm surface seawater and the cold deep seawater. This paper aims to develop non-linear data-driven model-based adaptive Feedback Control (FBC) schemes for the OC-OTEC process to track the output power and a dynamic Feed-Forward Control (FFC) scheme to reject the effects of temperature disturbance on power caused by climate variations in OC-OTEC. The experiments are conducted on a laboratory-scale OC-OTEC experimental setup at the National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai. Firstly, linear data-driven models are developed using system identification techniques. Based on the developed models, gain scheduling-based adaptive control schemes are developed: Proportional Integral (PI) control and Model Predictive Control (MPC). Secondly, the closed-loop performances of the developed FBC schemes are analysed under servo and regulatory operations. Furthermore, it is observed from the sensitivity analysis results that the temperature disturbance highly influences output over the manipulated variable. Hence, a dynamic FFC scheme is implemented to reject known disturbance of 1 °C variation in temperature gradient from 18 °C to 19 °C due to Sea Surface Temperature (SST) changes in temperature gradient. The results show that the proposed MPC-based FBC-FF scheme effectively enhances the tracking and disturbance rejection performance compared to the PI-based FBC-FF control scheme with a minimum Integral Square Error (ISE) of 3.055 and Control Effort (CE) of 7.505. This experimental data-based, data-driven modelling and adaptive control research provides a new direction for automating OC-OTEC. Further, these studies will help to develop a rugged and automated upscaling OC-OTEC plant control system with proposed feasible control schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the influence of dust and extreme dust events in the renewable energy generation in the island of Tenerife has been studied. Two different models have been proposed: one model to estimate the influence of atmospheric Particulate Matter (PM) in the Photovoltaic (PV) generation, and a second model that captures the influence of a set of weather and temporal variables, including PM, in the renewable generation of the island. Additionally, the hypothetic situation of extreme dust events occurring in a future 100% renewable electric system in the island of Tenerife is analyzed. Results show the interconnections between PM2.5, PM10 and wind resources on the present and future power output in the Island, and how the future storage capabilities need to take into account these events for a necessary increase in resilience related to climate change and related extreme weather events. • Extreme dust events in renewable energy generation for islands is studied. • Models are based on the influence of atmospheric PM in the PV generation. • The hypothetic situation in a future 100% renewable electric system is analyzed. • Results show the interconnections between PM2.5, PM10 and wind resources. • Storage capabilities need to take into account for a necessary increase in resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, as a result of the rapid increase in population and industrial development, the need for energy has increased. Many investments are made especially for electrical energy which is an inevitable requirement for the industry. Most of these investments are made by using fossil resources in countries' lands. Fossil sources are known to be consumable as well as too poisonous gases they give to the atmosphere during energy production. This situation causes global climate change. To prevent climate change, the carbon emitted to the atmosphere has to be brought under a certain control mechanism. In this context, the first Kyoto Protocol and then Paris Climate Agreement was signed. Under these agreements, countries will be responsible for the level of their greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This situation led to the carbon trade among countries. This situation accelerated the transition of countries from fossil sources to renewable energy sources. In this study, the effect of hydroelectric power plants, one of the renewable energy sources, on carbon emissions was investigated. According to the results, based on fossil sources of 408,533.57 tCO 2 per year from Turkey Gökçekaya dam has been shown to reduce the carbon footprint. • The paper provides a comparison of carbon emissions between hydroelectric and fossil fuel energy sources. • The article examines carbon emission reduction from a perspective of carbon markets and the legal framework. • The study also provides an analysis based on the example of Gökçekaya HEPP in Turkey. • The study provides an economic analysis of the Gökçekaya HEPP with the feasibility analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The main goal in this paper is to supply a national load by multiple renewable power connections to utility grid at different geographic locations. The national load demand of the country of Jordan is supplied in this case study by finding the optimal configurations and locations (near cities). Cities of higher potential for wind and/or photovoltaic (PV) energy location are selected for connecting to renewable power. The annual system cost of energy (ASCE) for this optimized renewable energy system is shown to be 32.57% less than the conventional grid energy price. Further, the Carbon Dioxide (CO 2) emissions are reduced by 80.13%. These are excellent indications for the feasibility and environmental benefits of retrofitting conventional grid with renewable power in developing countries. Multi-figure of merits (MFOM) based on a Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithms (NSGA) optimization cases are investigated which include annual emission indicator (AEI), ASCE, levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and renewable penetration (RP). Results are either two dimensions (2D) or three dimensions (3D) Pareto frontier, where various competitive non-dominant solutions exist. A sweet spot selection (triple-S) procedure is proposed to help select the best point in the two (figure of merits) FOMs Pareto frontier to have both environmental and feasible solutions. Highlights • The contributions of this paper are multi-point connection to a national grid, holistic definition and modeling of the engineering and financial problems, optimal design tool solutions to the multi-point connection problem definition and model, suggesting this as a case study of the concept of "local solutions for a global problem." Such a holistic approach is recommended especially in the developing countries. • The importance of moving toward sustainable energy stems from global climate change and the need to provide access to affordable energy to all of humanity. The ultimate goal is to satisfy a country's national load demand by establishing multiple utility grid connections to various geographic locations of high wind or solar energy resources. This is done by building a new optimization design tool which investigates economic feasibility and environmental impacts. Then, Single figure of merit and multi-figure of merits optimizations have been investigated. • A mathematical modeling is developed for each component, and the optimal configuration is determined for each city. The annual system cost of energy (ASCE) is optimized to be 32.57% less than grid energy price, and the CO 2 emissions (AEI) are reduced by 80.13%. These are excellent indications for the economic feasibility and the environmental benefits of the designed system. The levelized cost of energy (LCOE), total net present cost, renewable penetration (RP) and AEI are 0.058212 $/kWh, $8.713857 billion, 59.49817% and 4.576 Megatonne/year respectively. • A new equation to calculate the salvage cost has been developed in this paper. Moreover, a new procedure in a multi-optimization problem was developed in this paper, which is the Sweet Spot Selection (triple-S) procedure. It is developed to help select the sweet point in the two FOMs Pareto frontier to have both environmental and economic feasible solutions. • Multi-figure of merits (MFOM) optimization cases based on a non-sorting genetic algorithm are investigated such as: AEI vs. ASCE, AEI vs. LCOE, AEI vs. RP and (RP, LCOE, AEI). The MFOM optimization results are either 2D or 3D Pareto frontier, where exists various competitive non-dominant solutions. The sweet spot selection (triple-S) procedure is proposed to help select the sweet spot in the two figure of merits Pareto frontier in order to have both environmental and feasible solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past few years, there has been a growing global consensus related to the importance of renewable energy to minimize the emission of greenhouse gases. The solution is an increase in the number of renewable power plants but unfortunately, this leads to a high dependence on climate variables which are already affected by climate change. Brazil is one of the largest producers of electricity by renewables through its hydro-dominant power generation system. However, hydro-generation depends on water inflows that are directly affected by climate change that consequently affect the electricity production. Therefore, these changes need to be considered in the operation and planning of a hydro-dominant power system. In this paper, we present the effects of different climate scenarios in the water inflows produced by the regional Eta climate model. Normally, studies use an optimization model to make decisions in case of a hydro-thermal scheduling problem and use the assured energy to evaluate the hydro-production. In this analysis, water inflows used in the optimization process consider different trends according to its associated climate scenario. Our paper shows that climate change may drastically impact the system assured energy and consequently, the system's capability to supply load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In order to mitigate climate change and reduce fossil fuel dependency in Iran, the government of the country has announced its renewable energy policies to increase the use of renewable energies, but the share of the energy generation mix of Iran is very low due to the lack of public acceptance. These challenges continue and can be hard to overcome at all levels. This paper investigates this problem at regional level by measuring public acceptance towards development of climate-friendly technologies in order to provide required feedbacks to policy-makers of the government for ushering changes in their policies already made or in their executing mechanism, possibly deducting future risks such as public opposition from their end and improving the level of acceptance. This study uses a mixed-methods analytical approach for quantitatively taking that level, including creativity techniques and fuzzy cognitive maps (FCMs). FCMs could directly map out policy-makers' cognitions on the problem. This study provides the mathematical formulation of the problem with its conceptual interpretation to import policy-makers' knowledge into FCMs when the knowledge is gained explicitly with creativity techniques. The authors focused on a case of Solar Water Heater adoption in the city of Behbahan in Khuzestan Province. Graphical abstract Image Highlights • A combinative method for measuring public acceptance of clean energy technologies is proposed. • It provides the mathematical formulation of the acceptance problem with its conceptual interpretation. • It focused on a case study of solar water heater adoption in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes large scale tests conducted on a novel unglazed solar air collector system. The proposed system, referred to as a back-pass solar collector (BPSC), has on-site installation and aesthetic advantages over conventional unglazed transpired solar collectors (UTSC) as it is fully integrated within a standard insulated wall panel. This paper presents the results obtained from monitoring a BPSC wall panel over one year. Measurements of temperature, wind velocity and solar irradiance were taken at multiple air mass flow rates. It is shown that the length of the collector cavities has a direct impact on the efficiency of the system. It is also shown that beyond a height-to-flow ratio of 0.023 m/m³/hr/m 2 , no additional heat output is obtained by increasing the collector height for the experimental setup in this study, but these numbers would obviously be different if the experimental setup or test environment (e.g. location and climate) change. An equation for predicting the temperature rise of the BPSC is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy generation through biorefineries is increasingly considered as more sustainable in comparison with fossil-based fuels as well as single-product renewable energy systems. However, biorefineries have many system variations, and therefore, the evaluation of their environmental performance and comparison with conventional systems before large-scale deployment is essential. In this paper, the sustainability of three different biorefiney scenarios (Sc-1, Sc-2, and Sc-3) based on Eruca sativa ( ES ) as feedstock were investigated using a life cycle assessment approach from energy balance and environmental point of views. Biodiesel, electricity, ethanol, heat, glycerol, and/or biomethane were the marketable products taken into account under the conditions of these scenarios. According to the results obtained, we argue that although biorefineries offer unique features as most effective alternatives for mitigating climate change and reducing dependence on fossil fuels, the selection of biomass processing options and management decisions can widely affect the final evaluation results. Overall, providing transportation fuel through Sc-2 in which biodiesel, electricity, ethanol, heat, and glycerol were produced could decrease GHG emissions by approximately 140% compared with the combustion of neat diesel while also offering a total net energy gain (NEG) of 4.94E+08 MJ/yr. Nevertheless, if biorefineries are to be used for future transportation fuel production, a great deal of efforts should still be made to achieve better environmental performance in the Human Health and Ecosystem quality damage categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to analyze the factors determining the choice of energy policy setting in favor of renewable energy sources. We investigate if such determinants are different between countries at different stage of development. Finally, we study if the adoption of green energy policies is characterized by complementary or substitution effects. Our analysis aims at responding at two research questions: what are the factors influencing a country's choice for a specific type of energy policy? Is it possible to identify either complementary or substitute policy interventions based on a country's level of economic development? Moreover, are developing systematically different from developed countries in manage public and private resources for renewable energies? The empirical analysis employs a panel probit model estimated over a sample of 56 countries observed between 2004 and 2011. The results show that while context variables have the same impact in developed and developing countries, public operational variables play a different role. Governments in richer countries are bound to play only a role of an arbiter. On the contrary, governments of developing countries are more directly involved in the management of energy policies. Hence, a greater impact is recognized to policies with direct involvement of the government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Typical Meteorological Years (TMY) provide a basis for modeling solar photovoltaics. Their use, however, assumes continued historical norms inconsistent with climate change. Modifying TMYs with Regional Climate Models (RCMs) responds to this issue and has applications in renewable energy evaluations. This paper provides perspective on using modified TMYs for solar resource assessments, offers methodological improvements, and analyzes the impacts of insolation and irradiation changes on photovoltaic performance. For Ahmedabad, India, a TMY is constructed from Indian Meteorological Department measurements and modified with two Regional Climate Models - REGCM4 and REMO 2009. For each modified TMY and baseline, the performances of three photovoltaic technologies (monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and double-junction amorphous silicon) are considered for 2015–2050. Increases in ambient temperature are found to have small (<1.0%) but increasing negative impacts on monocrystalline and polycrystalline performance through 2050. A less significant positive trend (<0.1%) was observed for double-junction amorphous silicon. Insolation adjustments for REGCM4 were excluded after an error analysis. Insolation changes from REMO 2009 projected a 4% decrease in photovoltaic output by 2050, but should be considered cautiously given concerns over cloud modeling. A sensitivity analysis of monthly insolation modifications on photovoltaic performance revealed the relative impact of insolation changes in different months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, significant attention has been given to renewable energy integration within the context of global climate change. In the meantime, the energy-water nexus literature has recognized that the electricity & water infrastructure that enables the production, distribution, and consumption of these two precious commodities is intertwined. While these two issues may seem unrelated, their resolution is potentially synergistic in that renewable energy technologies not only present low CO 2 emissions but also low water-intensities as well. Therefore, renewable energy integration has the potential to address both sustainability concerns. And yet, renewable energy integration studies have yet to methodologically consider an integrated energy-water infrastructure. Many of these works rely on a coupled unit commitment-economic dispatch simulation. Recently, a simultaneous co-optimization method has been contributed for the economic dispatch of networks that include water, power, and co-production facilities. This paper builds upon this foundation with the development of the corresponding unit commitment problem. It demonstrates the optimization on several case studies inspired by Singapore & the Middle East. It concludes that renewable energy simultaneously reduces CO 2 emissions and water withdrawals. Furthermore, it shows how water storage can help alleviate binding co-production constraints, flatten production profiles and reduce production cost levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Besides, they are some of the most dependent on imported petroleum products in the world, the use of renewable energy (RE) can help minimize the economic risk associated with the price volatility of fossil fuels. The region is increasingly adopting renewable energy (RE) targets and policies. Successful examples of RE deployment in the Pacific SIDS exist; however, many barriers persist and prevent the use of the region’s RE resources in a larger scale. Challenges for RE deployment in islands can be grouped in six categories: i) lack of RE data, ii) need for policy and regulatory frameworks, iii) scarcity of financial opportunities, iv) lack of human resources, v) costly infrastructure, and vi) socio-cultural impediments. Based on a survey conducted among main stakeholders in the region, within the framework of the Pacific Region Capacity Building Initiative of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) carried out in cooperation with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), this paper identifies the specific characteristics of these challenges in the context of the Pacific SIDS, provide a qualitative assessment and identifies recommendations to overcome these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar energy use in the UK is increasing dramatically, providing both heat energy and generation of electricity. This trend is expected to continue due to solar technologies becoming cheaper and more readily available along with low carbon government legislation such as the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and Feed in Tariffs (FiTs) supporting solar energy deployment. However, the effects of climate change on the solar resource remain largely unstudied. Climate change affects cloud cover characteristics and consequently directly affects the performance of solar energy technologies. This paper investigates the UK solar irradiation resource for both the present and future climates. The present solar irradiation level was assessed through the conversion of 30 years of observed historical monthly average sunshine duration data. The method and results are validated by comparing the converted solar irradiation levels to actual solar irradiance measurements at weather stations with significant historical records of solar irradiance data. The impact of climate change is investigated across different regions of the UK by using the UKCP09 probabilistic climate change projections. We find that the current average UK annual solar resource is 101.2 Wm −2 , ranging from 128.4 Wm −2 in the south of England to 71.8 Wm −2 in the northwest of Scotland. It seems likely that climate change will increase the average resource in the south of the UK, while marginally decreasing it in the Northwest. The overall effect is a mean increase of the UK solar resource, however it will have greater seasonal variability and discrepancies between geographical regions will be reinforced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to analyze the role of renewable energy technologies (RETs) such as biogas, improved cooking stoves (ICSs), micro hydro (MH) and solar power (SP) in helping rural communities in Nepal to adapt to climate change. The analysis considers the energy efficiency of different RETs as well as their socio-economic and environmental impacts. The efficient use of biomass in new technology, such as biogas and ICSs for cooking, has increased energy security and reduced the negative effects of traditional biomass usage. MH and SP systems are replacing candles and kerosene lamps, and are the most promising RET models for electricity generation in rural Nepal. The improved illumination from these technologies also produces better education, health, environments, and social harmony in rural communities. This study uses the Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning model (LEAP) model to develop a plan for long-term RETs use in Nepal, and specifically focuses on household energy use in rural areas. It assesses the role of biogas and ICSs in rural communities and climate change adaptation in Nepal, along with the potential role of MH and SP technologies. According to the LEAP analysis, the planned implementation of MH for 20-year long-term will result in the reduction of 2.553 million tons of CO2 emissions. Similarly SP, biogas, and ICSs will result in a reduction in CO2 emissions of 5.214 million tons, 35.880 million tons, and 7.452 million tons, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]