Alternative Electricity Generation Research Articles

To What Extent Do Alternative Energy Sources Displace Coal and Oil in Electricity Generation? A Mean-Group Panel Analysis

This paper determines by how much alternative electricity generation sources—natural gas, nuclear, hydro, and renewables—displace electricity generation from coal and oil. It does so by employing a first-difference model and a mean-group estimator applied to a panel that spans 1985–2019 for 27 high- and 13 middle-income countries. As such, our approach avoids/addresses several statistical issues common in long-macro panel analyses—heterogeneity, nonstationarity, and cross-sectional dependence—that have largely been ignored/unaddressed in previous displacement studies. Ultimately, we find that the displacement effect is small and only marginally significant for nuclear, and is significant though less than unity for natural gas and hydro, whereas intermittent renewables (solar and wind) have unitary displacement effect. These results suggest a substantially greater displacement potential for alternative generation sources than typically found by the previous literature. In other words, increasing hydro and wind and solar are all impactful ways to decarbonize the electricity system.

Marginal effect of electricity generation on CO2 emissions: Disaggregated level evidence from China by KRLS method and high-frequency daily data

The effect of energy use on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions has been frequently studied in the literature. These studies have mainly concluded that countries should decline (increase) the use of fossil fuel (clean) energy. However, the literature suffers from a significant shortcoming as it does not focus on the marginal effect of a 1 % increase for each energy generation source on sectoral CO2 emissions. Therefore, a detailed analysis is conducted in this study to examine the relationship between electricity generation (EG) and CO2 emissions at a disaggregated level. The focus is on China, the world's leading country in terms of CO2 emissions and energy use. Thus, the study considers source-based EG and sector-based CO2 emissions, uses high-frequency daily data between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2022, and applies the kernel-based regularized least squares (KRLS) method. The outcomes show that (i) the effects of EG sources on sectoral CO2 emissions follow a nonlinear structure, suggesting that the marginal effect varies by sector, EG sources, and estimation models (either incremental or degressive). Therefore, there are certain externalities among alternative EG sources for the effects of CO2 emissions in the sectors; (ii) the statistically significant effects of EG sources on CO2 emissions vary by sector and constructed models, showing that some EG sources are much more important for CO2 emissions in some sectors. For this reason, not all EG sources have the same importance for sectoral CO2 emissions; (iii) the KRLS method has a higher estimation ability of CO2 emissions, reaching ∼99.8 %, which provides novel outcomes and allows researchers to argue various policy options based on the obtained results. The study thus highlights varying marginal impacts of EG sources on sectoral CO2 emissions. The changing marginal influence is a crucial point that should be considered by Chinese policymakers when formulating energy-related environmental policies.

Assessment of Floating Photovoltaic (FPV) Systems as an Alternative Electricity Generation Source: A Case Study from Sudan

The deployment of large-scale photovoltaic (PV) systems has gained global attention due to technological advancements and cost reductions. Floating PV (FPV) is becoming a preferred alternative, offering efficiency and environmental benefits. It can be installed on dams lakes and reservoirs, generating clean energy without competing for land use. Despite the promising prospects of floating PV, there has been a lack of analysis on its implementation in Sudan. To fill this gap, the present study delves into the feasibility and potentiality of FPV at Merowe Dam and Khashm El Girba Dam in Sudan, providing crucial insights for the first time. The developed systems were evaluated using PVsyst. The results show that investing in FPV systems on dam reservoirs significantly improves power system reliability while generating additional clean energy, meeting the rising demand, and reducing carbon emissions. This highlights the potential of FPV systems as a promising solution for sustainable energy growth, mitigating environmental concerns, and ensuring a greener future.

Time, frequency, and quantile-based impacts of disaggregated electricity generation on carbon neutrality: evidence from leading European Union countries

ABSTRACT Due to increasing geopolitical tensions and disruption of gas supplies, European countries have been looking for alternatives for electricity generation (EG). As part of this process, one of the most important goals for long-term sustainability is to ensure carbon neutrality. Therefore, this study analyzes time, frequency, and quantile-based impacts of EG from different electricity generation sources (i.e., renewable, nuclear, and fossil fuels) on carbon neutrality, focusing on four leading European countries. The study applies the wavelet transform coherence (WC), quantile-on-quantile regression (QQ), and Granger causality in quantiles (GQ) to high-frequency daily data between January 2, 2019 and March 10, 2023. Results show that (i) there is a strong time and frequency dependence between EG and CO2 emissions across countries, while results vary by EG sources and countries; (ii) renewable EG dampens CO2 emissions. At higher quantiles, a higher share of renewable EG lowers CO2 emissions in Germany and Spain, while they increase in France; (iii) nuclear EG is beneficial only for the United Kingdom. (iv) Fossil EG increases CO2 emissions in all countries. Excessive fossil EG leads to more CO2 emissions at higher quantiles; (v) the impacts of EG on CO2 emissions have a time-, frequency-, quantile-, country-, and EG source-dependent structure. The outcomes of the study demonstrates that the ideal EG source for countries is mainly renewable EG, while in the case of the United Kingdom, nuclear EG could be an alternative for improving the environment while reducing fossil fuels.

Electrochemical Applications of Porous Materials Derived from Coal

As the world shifts from the use of coal to alternatives for electricity generation, including renewable energy, interest arises in developing alternative uses for coal. There are vast U.S. coal reserves, much of which are in historically underrepresented or economically depressed regions. This has created environmental concerns in these regions, especially related to legacy impoundments and other waste coal issues. Finding alternative uses for that coal could create new job opportunities in these regions while also addressing climate change. Currently, there are very few applications for coal outside of its traditional use for electricity production.This group has been developing alternative uses for coal, including uses in energy storage applications. This presentation will discuss the development of macroporous coal materials that then can be further processed into micron or nanometer size particles for porous materials. The characterization of these porous materials will be presented. Graphitized materials for use in lithium ion battery electrodes will be presented. Nanoscale materials such as graphene and carbon quantum dots derived from coal will be presented, along with their application in porous electrodes for batteries and capacitors.

Assessing the Electricity Production Capacities of Emerging Markets for the Sustainable Investments

It is essential to supply the necessary electricity for both the increase in the quality of life of the citizens and the stable growth of the country’s economy. For countries to have energy independence, they need to increase their electricity generation capacity. However, all alternatives required to increase electrical capacity have both advantages and disadvantages. Within this scope, it is not easy for countries to make the right investment decisions. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis is needed to determine the right investment policy. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the electricity production capacities of emerging markets. A new fuzzy decision-making model has been constructed to find a solution for this situation. The groups for the electricity production capacities are examined by the extension of DEMATEL with Quantum Spherical fuzzy sets and golden ratio. In the following stage, emerging seven economies are ranked by using QSF TOPSIS technique. This situation helps to understand which of these countries are more successful in generating electricity capacity effectively. The main novelty is to define the most significant electricity generation alternatives by a novel model that integrates DEMATEL and TOPSIS with QSFSs and golden ratio. The results demonstrate that solar photovoltaic is the most optimal way to increase electricity capacity of the countries. Additionally, China is the most successful emerging country to generate electricity in an efficient way. Countries should take some actions to increase their solar energy investments. First, it would be appropriate to provide tax exemptions to solar energy investors so that the costs of these projects can be decreased. Additionally, investments in solar energy technologies need to be further increased.

Environmental and energy impacts of battery electric and conventional vehicles: A study in Sweden under recycling scenarios

Electromobility is the future main system for Swedish road transport that encourage sustainable urban transportation. However, emission impacts of applying electric vehicles (EVs) are currently controversial. This study evaluates and compares internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) refer to both petrol and diesel-based engines and BEVs, focusing on environmental and energy impacts. The entire life cycle of vehicles production, fuel production and fuel use are considered and life cycle emissions impacts due to various electricity generation alternatives will be studied. LCA of BEV is also conducted under different recycling scenarios to determine what extent CO2 can be further reduced owing to car and battery recycling. The results show that BEVs charged by natural-gas, and renewable electricity produce less emissions of CO2, SO2, PM, VOCs, NOX and Sb than ICEVs but higher PO4 emissions and need more energy. The largest fraction of CO2 emissions for BEVs charged via renewable electricity is due to vehicle production (61-78% of BEV's life cycle CO2 emissions). CO2 emissions regarding to vehicle production for BEVs is 14.6 ton (60.8 gCO2/km) which is 132% and 123% of that for petrol and diesel ICEVs, respectively. Human toxicity and eutrophication impacts highlight as potentially important categories for transition from ICEVs to BEVs due to high toxicity and PO4 emissions in BEV production. By applying high scenario for car and battery recycling, CO2 emissions in BEVs lifespan charged by renewable electricity can be reduced 50% (83 gCO2/km); total PO4 emissions can be also decreased 56% with production of 79 mgPO4/km.

Specific Features of Applying Heat Recovery Equipment at Sewage Pumping Stations

The specific features relating to the operation of heat pumps in urban wastewater disposal system structures are considered. Specific examples of installing heat pumps at various sewerage system facilities in the Russian Federation are given. Alternative heat and electricity generation sources for wastewater treatment plants are studied. The possibilities of using the wastewater heat for various heat-consuming engineering systems serving to maintain the microclimate conditions in the wastewater disposal system buildings or structures are considered. Other possibilities of using the wastewater heat for other engineering systems of housing and municipal services are analyzed. The possibilities of installing heat pumps at a sewage pumping station are elaborated in an in-depth manner. Both positive and negative features of heat pump operation are pointed out, which depend on the potential layout of the heat pump condensing-and-evaporating unit equipment at a sewage pumping station. The specific features relating to the design of heat pumps installed at low-voltage and high-voltage sewage pumping stations in settlements and cities are outlined. The results from studying the main process-related problems encountered at real municipal service system facilities are presented. The main difficulties encountered during installation of heat pumps and in the course of their operation at sewage pumping stations are described. The survey the results of which are presented in the article was carried out in the period from 2019 to 2021 at the JSC Mosvodokanal sewage pumping stations in which heat pumps are used. The possibility of reducing the cost of heat pump equipment manufacture based on the existing energy sector branches (for example, geothermal energy) and the Russian economy industrial sector has been analyzed. The article may be of interest for designers and engineers working in the energy sector and urban housing and municipal services, in particular, in the urban wastewater disposal system.

Why is it so difficult to replace diesel in Nunavut, Canada?

Nunavut is a territory in Northern Canada partially within the Arctic Circle. Currently, diesel is the fuel of choice for both power and heating. Previous studies (Das & Cañizares, 2016; Hazelton, 2019) have shown that hybrid renewable energy models are feasible alternatives for electricity generation from economic, technical, and environmental perspectives. However, Marin (2015) shows that there is also a social perspective needed to build agreement among the diverse set of stakeholders, without which new energy solutions are unlikely to be implemented. This study examines the existing and potential low carbon energy sources in Nunavut that could possibly replace diesel; those available now (wind, solar), those not yet affordable (hydroelectric, geothermal) and those with hurdles still to be addressed (tidal, biomass, nuclear). The interplay of stakeholder acceptability criteria and roadblocks is highlighted in the context of one household in Iqaluit. Our findings show that the subsidized price of diesel-based electricity and the lack of grants for renewable options, offer little financial incentive for bottom-up change. While conflicting priorities between existing and potential power producers stall top-down change. The Government of Nunavut should remove the roadblocks that prevent individuals from participating in distributed energy generation, and lobby for the development of Nunavut's vast tidal energy potential as a critical component of Canada's net-zero emissions goal by 2050. In the meantime, given that there are currently no acceptable alternatives for diesel-based heating either, it becomes clear why it continues to be so difficult to replace diesel in Nunavut.

A multi-criteria approach for assessing the potential of renewable energy sources for electricity generation: Case Serbia

When assessing the potential of renewable energy alternatives for electricity generation, it is necessary to implement a multi-perspective approach that includes economic, technical, environmental, and socio-political criteria. For the evaluation of criteria and alternatives, the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) method is applied. The obtained weights are formed according to the values of energy indicators and expert judgments. The use of a fuzzy numerical value scale for the assessment of expert judgments and energy indicators provides a more sensitive scoring system for differences between values than the typical rank of absolute energy indicator values. This approach is implemented for assessment of the potential of renewable energy sources that could be utilized in the Serbian electricity sector. The results of the FAHP reveal that hydropower and biomass have the highest potential among available renewable energy sources.

Forest biomass as a viable pathway for sustainable energy supply in isolated villages of Amazonia

In the present study, we evaluate the potential of biomass residues from sustainable forest management for electricity generation in an isolated village in the Amazon rainforest. We compared the following alternatives for electricity generation: thermoelectric diesel plant, biomass gasification and Rankine cycle system and found that biomass fuel systems (gasification and Rankine cycle) may yield up enough energy to meet the demand of the studied village. A comparative analysis of the different electricity generation technologies shows that gasification and Rankine cycle have an implementation cost 1.2 times higher than that estimated for the diesel thermoelectric power plant. However, the annual operational and maintenance cost of the biomass fuel system is about 50% lower than that estimated for the diesel plant. That means that in less than two years of operation and maintenance, the gasification or Rankine cycle plants pay off the implementation cost, when compared to the diesel plant. Besides ensuring the supply of electricity from a clean, renewable source, the biomass fuel systems reduce community's dependence on external sources of energy. This leads to greater autonomy and involvement of residents in the management of the generation system, creates more local jobs and income generation, contributing to the sustainable development of the local economy.

Альтернативы мировой энергетики: трансформационные тренды и риски

The article contributes to the literature in three main areas. First, new tendencies and challenges of development of world economy and energy caused by the crisis induced by the COVID‑19 pandemic are revealed, including: the regionalization of markets that creates additional basis for development of multipolar world; the aggravating instability of the alternative energy; the rising risks of disruption of long-term stability of oil supplies due to the underinvestment and risks of sharp oil and gas shortage; the tendency to the consolidation and enlargement of producers in oil and gas sectors, what is also increasingly possible in the Russian oil and gas industry. Second, perspectives of “green” energy to become a basis for development of world economy are analyzed. Obstacles to continuing development of “green” energy are stressed, including: the necessity of extraordinary large investments in development of economically feasible technologies; the expected acute deficit of materials for energy transition, including lithium, nickel, cobalt and other metals as well as low economic efficiency of low carbon solutions placing additional burden on consumers. The thesis of urgent importance of balanced energy development and inadmissibility of relying exclusively on alternative electricity generation is advanced. Third, shifts in strategies of global investors who presently pay the increasing attention to ecological programs, investing into carbon neutrality, green rebranding and shares buyback schemes at the expense of the fundamental financial and operational indicators. Combined with cases of court interventions in corporate decision making that exerts pressure on public companies who are forced to abandon oil and gas projects. The article argues that such an optimization doesn’t solve the task of global reduction of greenhouse gases emissions and achieving carbon neutrality. A tendency for issuing of new instruments and emergence of new models of investment behavior which distort the share prices is discovered. Meantime companies with state participation and private companies are less dependent on the volatile expectations in the stock market. The article also considers the issue of ecological purity of oil and concludes that introduction of transparent system of evaluation and certification of goods and services, recognized by the whole world community is expedient.

Assessment of renewable energy transition pathways for a fossil fuel-dependent electricity-producing jurisdiction

This research assesses the transition of a fossil fuel-based electricity production jurisdiction to a renewable-based electricity jurisdiction through an extensive scenario analysis. This fills a knowledge gap where a wide-range of fossil-to-renewable electricity generation pathways is compared within a single analysis framework. To conduct this study, a novel data-intensive electricity system model was developed with the Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning system and applied to evaluate alternative electricity generation mix scenarios to the year 2050. A case study for Alberta, a fossil fuels-based province in Canada, was conducted. A total of 382 scenarios were analyzed considering different renewable pathways and varying key uncertain future conditions. The greenhouse gas emission abatement and marginal greenhouse gas abatement costs of each scenario were evaluated and compared. Several renewable-based scenarios resulted in significant greenhouse gas abatement at lower costs than the fossil-fuel based business-as-usual scenario. The maximum greenhouse gas abatement possible at a net cost reduction compared to the business-as-usual scenario was found through a specific combination of wind, hydro, and solar power which resulted in over a 90% reduction from 2005 emission levels at −$1.8/t of carbon dioxide equivalent abated. The results of this study provide policy insight for jurisdictions transitioning away from fossil fuel-based electricity to renewables.

Will electric vehicles (EVs) be less polluting than conventional automobiles under Indian city conditions?

This paper compares emission factors, for four criteria pollutants: PM2.5, NOx, CO and HC, and for CO2-eq., for conventional automobiles and electric vehicles (EVs) used for passenger transport in Indian city conditions. The emissions are estimated retrospectively and prospectively for a 45-year horizon (2005–2050). For conventional vehicles, emission factors are estimated based upon the data available on the vintage and emission standards for different vehicles. For EVs, the emission factors are estimated by considering alternative Indian electricity generation mix scenarios and the amount of electricity used by the EVs. The results show that not for all the vehicle classes, the EVs are the better alternative to conventional vehicles for mitigating the emissions as in business as usual scenario of the electricity generation, in 2030, CO2 emission will decrease by at least 29% in all vehicles classes except 47% increase in electric buses. Similarly, PM2.5 emission will decrease by at least 73% in all EVs except some increase for electric cars and buses as compared to their conventional counterparts. EVs will be the most effective in air pollution reduction if they operate on more efficient batteries charged from electricity generated from renewable sources. As compared to conventional automobiles, EVs could reduce CO2 emission by 14–100% in 2050 when electricity is significantly generated from renewables.

Energy Supply Preferences as Multicriteria Decision Problems: Developing a System of Criteria from Survey Data

Decision support techniques have a key role in investment and strategic decisions in the energy sector. As complex decision-making problems involve the simultaneous consideration of an extensive set of different factors, it is an essential part of the methodology to define, structure, and integrate the criteria. The main purpose of the study was to develop a system of criteria and weights that are suitable for general application in the energy sector and can best describe the decision-making mechanisms present in society and various social groups. When developing the system of criteria, we moved away from the hierarchical approach related to the three pillars of sustainability; therefore, a wide range of notions were assessed based on a population representative survey data collected in Hungary. We used algebraic methods to explore the internal structure of the set of criteria that had been previously defined by means of social sciences, while the importance weights were specified by applying the method of analytic network process. Furthermore, the ranking of heating and electricity generation alternatives were determined.

Grey wolf optimizer for optimal sizing of hybrid wind and solar renewable energy system

AbstractBy taking facts such as oil depletion, increasing number of population and energy demand into account, alternative electric generation scheme called renewable energy has entered into a new phase. These new energy sources are environmentally clean, exhaustible and friendly with affordable cost, and high reliability. Nowadays, energy generators such as photovoltaic (PV), wind turbine (WT), and geothermal energies are among the commonly used renewable sources. In this article, grey wolf optimization (GWO) methodology is proposed for minimizing the total annual cost of hybrid of wind and solar renewable energy system. Here, determining the optimal number of solar panels, WTs, and batteries which can satisfy the desired load is the main objective of this research. The obtained result shows that the proposed methodology finds optimal solution of sizing of the hybrid system with relatively lower total annual cost and fast convergence rate. To check whether the obtained result was feasible, GWO results are compared with the results of PSO, iteration method and by the work of other scholars in literature. Here the superior capabilities of GWO algorithm have been seen. It is hoped that this research would be beneficial and can be benchmark for researchers of the field.

Assessment of Electricity Decarbonization Scenarios for New Zealand and Great Britain using a Plant Dispatch and Electrical Energy Storage Modelling Framework

This paper proposes a methodology to assess the impact of alternative electricity generation and energy storage scenarios for meeting electricity demand on a national level. The method combines real and synthetic electricity generation and demand data to investigate different decarbonization strategies using solar and wind generation and electrical energy storage. This method is applied to provide relevant case studies for two geographically similar electricity systems in New Zealand and Great Britain. Newly available solar and wind data sets at hourly resolution are used within this method for these systems to assess the potential contribution of these technologies and as such, to refresh understanding of the impact of these technologies on decarbonization strategies against historical and future demand patterns. Although wind, solar and storage technologies are found to reduce the carbon emissions in both electricity systems, a key result is quantifying the impact this has on traditional generation as a backup resource. In New Zealand an investment in wind and solar equivalent to less than 15% of the wind/solar capacity in Great Britain is found to (i) reduce fossil fuel use to less than 2% of annual electricity generation requirements in the data assessed and (ii) remove the need for continuous operation of fossil fuel plants. Further, it is shown that existing hydro storage potential could be used to create near complete decarbonization of New Zealand electricity

Sustainability indicators of a naturally ventilated photovoltaic façade system

Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) systems have been increasingly used as a means to generate electricity on-site, and their diffusion will increase in the near future. The objective of this article is to carry out a sustainability assessment of a BIPV system installed in Turkey regarding the three pillars: environmental, economic and social potential impact, in order to develop different indicators. For the socioeconomic analysis, a Multiregional Input-Output (MRIO) method was used to estimate production of goods and services, value added creation and employment opportunities. For the environmental evaluation, an Environmental Footprint (EF) analysis was performed. The levelized electricity costs and the greenhouse gas emissions abatement costs were also calculated. Results showed that the socioeconomic effects are relevant, although only a 23% of these effects remain in Turkey. The environmental profile is also good in terms of climate change impacts, showing substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuel alternatives for electricity generation. Regarding the life cycle stages of the technology, the highest environmental impacts are produced in the PV manufacturing processes. The electricity produced is still more costly than fossil-based technologies and in the highest range of PV technologies, but greenhouse gases abatement costs are not so high when compared to other references.

Performa Model Tes Hidrolis untuk PLTMH Head Rendah dengan Menggunakan Tekanan Aliran dan Kecepatan Pusaran Air (Vortex)

Electricity is the main source of energy in human life. The development of human life is greatly influenced by the presence of electrical energy. Therefore it is necessary to conduct research related to the generation of electrical energy on a small scale (micro). One alternative electricity generation by changing the motion energy is done by utilizing the flow of water. Water flow with low discharge and head is easily found in several places, especially small rivers or irrigation channels. Utilization of low flow head and discharge is a great potential to be able to produce small-scale (micro) electrical energy. In this research, modeling of low flow and low head discharge will be carried out to find out how much potential the electrical energy can generate. There are 3 experiments namely water power, whirlpool, high fall. Experiment 1 with a head of 50 meters found 1,414 watts of water power with a discharge rate of 17.3 liters/minute on a 1 "diameter pipe. In experiment 2 the performance of the tool could not produce a vortex flow according to the plan, because the cross-sectional area was not comparable to the basin's outer hole and only produced vertices at a depth of 10 cm flow and produced a vortex radius of 1 cm. In Experiment 3 the performance of the tool can run well the stability of the discharge generated from the sedative bath shows that the measured flow velocity is in accordance with the theoretical flow rate conditions. Ie the speed of flow increases due to high fall.

Exploring electricity generation alternatives for Canadian Arctic communities using a multi-objective genetic algorithm approach

Indigenous peoples in the Northern communities of Canada are experiencing some of the worst catastrophic effects of climate change, given the Arctic region is warming twice as fast as the rest of the world. Paradoxically, this increasing temperature can be attributed to fossil fuel-based power generation on which the North is almost totally reliant. At the moment, diesel is the primary source of electricity for majority of Arctic communities. In addition to greenhouse gas and other airborne pollutants, this situation exposes risk of oil spills during fuel transport and storage. Moreover, shipping fuel is expensive and ice roads are harder to maintain as temperatures rise. As a result, Northern governments are burdened by rising fuel prices and increased supply volatility.In an effort to reduce diesel dependence, the multi-objective microgrid optimization model was built in this work to handle the complex trade-offs of designing energy system for an Arctic environment and other remote communities. The tool uses a genetic algorithm to simultaneously minimize levelised cost of energy and fuel consumption of the microgrid system through dynamic simulations. Component submodel simulation results were validated against an industry and academic accepted energy modeling tool. Compared to previous energy modeling platforms, proposed method is novel in considering Pareto front trade-offs between conflicting design objectives to better support practitioners and policy makers. The functionality of the method was demonstrated with a case study on Sachs Harbour, in the Northernmost region of the Northwest Territories. The algorithm selected a fully hybrid wind-solar-battery-diesel system as the most suited technically, economically and environmentally for the community. The robustness of the results was assessed by performing system failure analysis of the model results. Overall, the modeling framework can help decision makers in identifying trade-offs in energy policy to transition the Canadian Arctic and other remote communities towards more sustainable and clean sources of energy.