Search

Abstract Pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) is the most widespread and mature utility-scale storage technology currently available and it is likely to remain a competitive solution for modern energy systems based on high penetration of solar PV and wind energy. This study estimates the technical potential of PHES in Iran through automatised GIS-based models based on four topologies. Two topologies focus on the transformation of existing reservoirs while the third topology which is developed based on permanent rivers of the country offers more alternative sites. The fourth topology assesses the potential of seawater PHES plants as a potential solution for regions characterised by freshwater scarcity. The TOPSIS method is applied to the discovered feasible sites to integrate an economic sensitivity into the evaluation process. Results show that Iran has a favourable topography for PHES and the technical potential of the studied topologies reaches up to 5108 GWh from 250 discovered sites, compared to the existing 5.1 GWh PHES capacity, while a maximum distance of 20 km is considered between reservoirs of a PHES plant. Highlights • Comprehensive new methodology for PHES potential assessment developed. • Technical potential of PHES in Iran is 1000 times higher than the existing capacity. • Southwest of Iran provides the highest PHES potential and the most suitable sites. • Substantial potential for covering short-term storage demand in 2050. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a pathway for the transition to a 100% renewable energy (RE) system by 2050 for Iran. An hourly resolved model is simulated to investigate the total power capacity required from 2015 to 2050 in 5-year time steps to fulfil the electricity demand for Iran. In addition, shares of various RE resources and storage technologies have been estimated for the applied years, and all periods before in 5-year time steps. The model takes the 2015 installed power plant capacities, corresponding lifetimes and total electrical energy demand to compute and optimize the mix of RE plants needed to be installed to achieve a 100% RE power system by 2050. The optimization is carried out on the basis of assumed costs and technological status of all energy technologies involved. Moreover, the role of storage technologies in the energy system, and integration of the power sector with desalination and non-energetic industrial gas sectors are examined. Our results reveal that RE technologies can fulfil all electricity demand by the year 2050 at a price level of about 41 - 47 €/MWh el depending on the sectorial integration. Moreover, the combination of solar PV and battery storage is found as a least cost solution after 2030 for Iran. If the capacity in 2050 would have been invested for the cost assumptions of 2050 the cost would be 32 - 40 €/MWh el , depending on the sectorial integration, which can be expected for the time beyond 2050. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning is one of the most common causes of death in Iran. The present study investigated the indoor and outdoor CO concentrations at hospitals under the supervision of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences in Sari, Iran. Indoor and outdoor measured CO were conducted over a period of one month during the 2012 winter season in 4 hospital kitchens using a direct measurement device specialized for CO. The average concentrations of CO gas through gas measuring stations were considered at three stations both in and out of the kitchens. The highest and the lowest average concentrations of outdoor CO in Fatemeh Zahra Hospital (about 2 ppm) and Zare Hospital (about 0.33 ppm) were measured respectively. Besides, the highest and the lowest average concentrations of indoor CO were detected in Imam Hospital (as 9.66 ppm) and BuAli Hospital (as7.66 ppm). The highest ratios of I/O (approximately 10 ppm) have been conducted between 8:00 and 9:00a.m. The lowest median concentrations of CO (approximately 8 ppm) between 11:00 and 12:00 a.m. have been measured. Concentrations of CO in all hospitals in this study were significant. This fact shows poorly ventilation of kitchen due to lack of ventilation design engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]