This paper investigates the local complementarity of three types of renewable sources (solar, wind and tidal). One of the main drawbacks of non-conventional renewable energy sources is their ...intermittent nature. Wind energy depends on the wind speed, which varies throughout the day. The generation of photovoltaic solar energy is strongly affected by clouds, that cause an abrupt drop of power to less than 50% of its rated capacity. In contrast, tidal energy is characterized by a high degree of predictability. This article raises important features of local complementarity of these renewable sources. These properties can be exploited to improve the firm power of isolated microgrids, leading to a variety of beneficial operational consequences. The contributions and conclusions presented here are supported by case studies and real data measured in the coastal region of northern Brazil.
Renewable sources can provide a clean and smart solution to the increased demands. Thus, Photovoltaic (PV) system and Wind Turbine (WT) are considered here as sources of Distributed Generation (DG). ...Allocation and sizing of DG have greatly affected on the system losses. This paper aims to propose Ant Lion Optimization Algorithm (ALOA) for optimal allocation and sizing of renewable DG sources in various distribution networks. First the most candidate buses for installing DG are suggested using Loss Sensitivity Factors (LSFs). Then the proposed ALOA is employed to deduce the locations of DG and their sizing from the elected buses. The proposed algorithm is tested on 33 and 69 bus radial distribution systems. The obtained results via the proposed algorithm are compared with others to highlight its benefits in reducing total power losses and consequently maximizing the net saving. Moreover, the results are introduced to verify the superiority of the proposed algorithm to improve the voltage profiles for various loading conditions. Also, the Wilcoxon test is applied to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
•Optimal allocations and sizing of renewable DG is proposed via ALOA.•Multi-objective function is designed to improve system performance.•ALOA is applied successfully on various distribution systems and different loadings.•The superiority of ALOA is verified compared with other recent algorithms.•Wilcoxon test is performed to ensure the effectiveness of ALOA.
This study examines the impact of energy consumption and usage of fossil sources (e.g., oil, gas, coal), nuclear energy, and renewable energy on carbon dioxide (CO2) emission by considering the ...significance of the environmental degradation for countries as well as people. In this context, the top five countries that produce more than 50% of total CO2 in the world are examined. Besides, yearly data from 1965 to 2019 is used. Moreover, multivariate adaptive regression splines is applied for empirical analysis. The results indicate that (i) coefficients of determination (R2) of the best prediction models for the countries are above 99% that provide reliable results; (ii) energy consumption, coal consumption, nuclear energy, and renewable energy usage have an effect on the CO2 emission in some of these countries whereas not effective in some others; (iii) coal, oil, and natural gas consumption are the most significant indicators for the CO2 emission generally; (iv) the effects of the variables change according to different thresholds. Therefore, following a straightforward general approach for the countries in decreasing environmental degradation cannot be helpful. The results highlight the adverse effects of fossil fuels for the CO2 emission in high carbon producing countries. Policy proposals are also discussed.
Historically, technological advancements in rechargeable batteries have been accomplished through discoveries followed by development cycles and eventually through commercialisation. These scientific ...improvements have mainly been combination of unanticipated discoveries and experimental trial and error activities. However, with the increased complexity of rechargeable battery systems and diversification in ever-demanding new applications requires a strategical approaches to commercialise newly developed battery chemistries. This can only be achieved by fast-tracking the transfer of key finding from scientific laboratories to industrial collaborators in order to design commercially feasible devices. Despite the dominance of lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) commercially in current rechargeable battery market which ranges from small scale applications such as portable electronic devices to large scale applications including transportation to grid scale electrical energy storage. Scientific community is endeavouring to consolidate the global rechargeable battery portfolio with the alternative rechargeable battery systems based on cost-effective, safe, and environmentally friendly battery chemistries. This brief prospective will provide an update on the historical developments, current technological scenario and future expectations, current and potential applications, and challenges faced by current and future rechargeable battery technology.
•Brief overview working principle of different rechargeable battery systems.•Technological progression of rechargeable battery technology.•Challenges face by current battery technology.•Current and emerging applications of rechargeable batteries.
This research study aimed to design and optimise hybrid renewable energy systems at two optimisation objectives. The economic and environmental optimisation objectives of four hybrid power system ...scenarios were tested based on a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm. The selected optimisation objectives were used simultaneously and parallel to sensitivity analysis in order to determine optimum system configuration under specific criteria. The environmental objective targeted the reduction of CO2 emissions, which resulted in a system with high renewable energy fractions. The economic objective targeted the reduction of system cost (net percentage cost), which resulted in a system size that could meet desired electrical loads. The novelty of this work lay in determining the relationship between two different optimisation objectives i.e., environmental and economic. Result showed that the optimisation process under the economic objective recorded the lowest energy cost for all scenarios with and without storage units. By contrast, the optimisation process under the environmental objective demonstrated a higher system cost value compared with that in the case of the economic optimisation objective for all scenarios. The analysis also shows the CO2 emission with and without considering systems components manufacturing primary emissions.
•Micro-grid hybrid renewable system for household application.•Simulation-based multi-objective economic and environmental optimisation approach.•The utilisation of a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm.•Systems components manufacturing primary emissions.•Post-optimisation renewable hybrid system sensitivity analysis.
A smart city is a sustainable and efficient urban centre that provides a high quality of life to its inhabitants through optimal management of its resources. Energy management is one of the most ...demanding issues within such urban centres owing to the complexity of the energy systems and their vital role. Therefore, significant attention and effort need to be dedicated to this problem. Modelling and simulation are the major tools commonly used to assess the technological and policy impacts of smart solutions, as well as to plan the best ways of shifting from current cities to smarter ones.
This paper reviews energy-related work on planning and operation models within the smart city by classifying their scope into five main intervention areas: generation, storage, infrastructure, facilities, and transport. More-complex urban energy models integrating more than one intervention area are also reviewed, outlining their advantages and limitations, existing trends and challenges, and some relevant applications. Lastly, a methodology for developing an improved energy model in the smart-city context is proposed, along with some additional final recommendations.
Being declared a global emergency, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken many lives, threatened livelihoods and businesses around the world. The energy industry, in particular, has experienced tremendous ...pressure resulting from the pandemic. In response to such a challenge, the development of sustainable resources and renewable energy infrastructure has demonstrated its potential as a promising and effective strategy. To sufficiently address the effect of COVID-19 on renewable energy development strategies, short-term policy priorities should be identified, while mid-term and long-term action plans should be formulated in achieving the well-defined renewable energy targets and progress towards a more sustainable energy future. In this review, opportunities, challenges, and significant impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on current and future sustainable energy strategies were analyzed in detail; while drawing from experiences in identifying reasonable behaviors, orientating appropriate actions, and policy implications on the sustainable energy trajectory were also mentioned. Indeed, the question is that whether the COVID-19 pandemic will kill us or provide us with a precious lesson on future sustainable energy development.
•Two-faced impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on global energy system were evaluated.•Opportunities and challenges of the shift progress to clean energy were analyzed.•Drawn lessons, strategies for the future, and policy implications were mentioned.
The micro-generation of electricity arises as a clean and efficient alternative to provide electrical power. However, the unpredictability of wind and solar radiation poses a challenge to attend load ...demand, while maintaining a stable operation of the microgrids (MGs). This paper proposes the modeling and optimization, using a swarm-intelligent algorithm, of a hybrid MG system (HMGS) with a Net-Metering compensation policy. Using real industrial and residential data from a Spanish region, a HMGS with a generic ESS is used to analyze the influence of four different Net-Metering compensation levels regarding costs, percentage of renewable energy sources (RESs), and LOLP. Furthermore, the performance of two ESSs, Lithium Titanate Spinel (Li4Ti5O12 (LTO)) and Vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB), is assessed in terms of the final $/kWh costs provided by the MG. The results obtained indicate that the Net-Metering policy reduces the surplus from over 14% to less than 0.5% and increases RESs participation in the MG by more than 10%. Results also show that, in a yearly projection, a MG using a VRFB system with a 25% compensation policy can yield more than 100000$ dollars of savings, when compared to a MG using a LTO system without Net-Metering.
•A mathematical modeling to electric dispatch by use net-metering police is done.•The effectiveness of the Net-Metering approach in a Spanish scenario is carried out.•An in-depth performance assessment of two distinct storage systems are evaluated.•A economic projection has been done resulting in a profit with the approach proposed.
Biodiesel is an important alternative fuel as far as sustainability and environmental issues are concerned. The decarboxylation of bioderived fatty acids is receiving great attention for green diesel ...production, with resulting C1-shortened alkanes among the diesel-range alkanes typically existing in petroleum diesel. Alkane-containing green diesel possesses significant advantages including high caloric value, irreversibility of the production reaction and the existence in liquid form up to C17 alkanes. The decarboxylation approach has a significant potential in taking a central role in transformation of bioderived fatty acids into green diesel. In the present review, it aims at discussing the progress on both chemo- and bio-catalytic decarboxylation reactions and the pros and cons of their application for green fuel synthesis. Particularly, the mild biocatalytic decarboxylation reactions so far have not been included in reviews focusing on green diesel production.
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•Decarboxylation for converting bioderived fatty acids into green diesel.•Both chemical catalysts and enzymes explored for bio-alkanes production.•Decarboxylation approach shows superiority to trans-esterification.•Green diesel production via decarboxylation has high potential and less harmful environmental effects.