Alternative Energy Development Research Articles

Economics of secondary renewable energy sources with hydrogen generation

Against the background of diminishing traditional energy sources, increasing negative impact on the environment, also due to some energy sectors, as well as the growing threat of extreme increase in the waste on a global scale, SRES have a serious potential to play the role of one of the key methods to achieve a sustainable balance, without any harm to the economic development. In practice, if assumed that the total population of the Earth is 7 billion people, at least 5 million tons of waste is generated on a daily basis (not counting the industrial ones). Of them, circa 2 million tons are non-recyclable, but these could be transformed into energy. Modern technologies offer up to 50% conversion of the source materials into useable free energy––i.e. there is a potential for the generation of approximately 1 million МW/h per day, or at least 300–350 TW/h per annum. This amounts to the whole electricity consumption of 5–10 small developed countries like Bulgaria, Slovenia, etc. The improvement and implementation of the SRES technologies will require significant expenses for scientific research and development. A part of these expenses can be covered by the general provision of incentives for alternative energy sources, another part should be provided by external sources, including funding from the central budgets, grants, as part of public-private partnerships, etc. The offered article examines the economics of the SRES, and all related factors, including their role and place in the energy sector, significance for the protection of the environment and for the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), adopted within the UN. An attempt is made to develop the existing and to offer new criteria for a more accurate and universal definition of the SRES. The objective of the article is not to claim to be an universal and exhaustive study of all aspects, related to the nature and use of the SRES, but it is rather an attempt to systematize and carry out a comparative analysis of the main problems, related to the SRES, as well as to draw the attention and stir a wider discussion on a topic, which––according to the authors––undeservedly fails to be sufficiently incorporated into the studies and research, related to the alternative energy development. Special attention is drawn to the opportunities provided by waste-to-hydrogen solutions alongside with other waste-to-energy approaches. Authors are also introducing for the first time the notion of “double-green-solution” as a specific feature of the waste-to-energy solutions. The article may be of interest to economists, investors and practitioners.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF ENTERPRISES AS A KEY FACTOR IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY'S ECONOMY

The transition to alternative energy sources requires a long period, attracting significant investments in the process of creating and developing environmentally friendly fuels. Creating an environmentally safe, energy-efficient economy is a prerequisite for sustainable development of each country. The above-mentioned factors determine the relevance of the study of the problems of the functioning and development of energy, which is mainly due to the economic expediency of renewable energy and the requirements of the country's energy independence. The objective of the article is to determine the features of ensuring the energy efficiency of the Ukrainian economy using alternative energy sources. Research shows that the development of alternative energy will allow us to move away from the use of traditional fuels and create the prerequisites for the energy independence of countries. Taking into account the natural factors and the significant dependence of Ukraine on imported primary energy sources, it is determined that solving the problem of increasing energy efficiency of the economy is possible only with the stimulation of the use of alternative energy sources. The most promising sources of energy are identified, namely: biofuels, wind energy, geothermal energy, solar energy, solar thermal, controlled thermonuclear fusion, energy of tides and effluents. The recommendations for realization of such directions of the policy of the state regulation in the energy sphere as energy security, energy efficiency, energy saving are given.

Unlocking the Potential of Biomass Energy in Pakistan

Being a developing economy, Pakistan is facing a severe energy crisis that limits its economic development. Pakistan relies heavily on energy resources like natural gas, oil, hydropower, nuclear, coal and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) which contribute to primary energy supplies as 48.3%, 32.1%, 11.3%, 7.6%, and 0.6% respectively. Because of the rapidly growing population and economy, Pakistan’s energy needs are huge; to accomplish these energy necessities, Pakistan is continually spending $7-9 billion on the import of fossil fuels. To resolve the serious issues of energy availability, Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) of Pakistan is currently exploring the development of renewable energy technologies in Pakistan that will be beneficial for the developing economy such as Pakistan to minimize the growing energy crisis. Out of all the renewable energy resources, biomass is considered the best and easily accessible source of energy with its unique environment-friendly nature, constant, wider availability and ease of integration into existing infrastructure. Despite the presence of an abundance of biomass energy resource, there is still a need for excellent work on the use of these sources to produce energy. This literature review explores the availability of biomass resource in Pakistan and its potential for addressing rapidly growing energy demand in the country that can assist in the stabilization of a country’s energy demand for challenged economic development. Furthermore, while producing energy a vast range of added value products can also be produced from biomass for use in domestic market and for export thus truly contributing to sustainable economic development of Pakistan.

A new quantitative life cycle sustainability assessment framework: Application to integrated energy systems

There are two dimensions to “sustainability” as it applies to an engineered system: (i) it needs to be designed, operated, and managed such that its environmental impacts and costs are minimal, and, (ii) it ought to be designed and configured in such a way that it is robust to extreme disruptions and shocks posed by natural, manmade, or random events, i.e. be resilient under extreme events. These somewhat conflicting attributes call for a multi-criteria analysis framework. This paper proposes such an assessment framework for engineered systems involving three new location and circumstance-specific sustainability indices that monetize the economic, environmental and resiliency characteristics throughout the lifecycle of the system components. The proposed framework, thus, allows translating sustainability goals into engineering practice, and is applicable to: (i) the design of new systems, (ii) assessing performance of an existing system, (iii) day-to-day scheduling and operation of the system, and (iv) future growth planning. A novel presentation method, called “Sustainability Compass”, is also proposed which allows decision-makers to visually track the direction and magnitude of changes in the individual sustainability indices of different scenarios; this would also allow easier communication with other stakeholders. The proposed methodology and the usefulness of the Sustainability Compass diagram have been illustrated using end-use monitored data for a whole year of operation of a university campus integrated energy system. The results of five alternative energy development scenarios involving a combined heat and power system and solar photovoltaic systems with different penetration levels have been investigated and are reported in this paper.

Prospective study of application the direct-biogas solid oxide fuel cell system to the biogas plant in Thailand

Abstract This research aims to study a potential of biogas in Thailand as a fueled for the Direct Biogas Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (DB-SOFC) system. The data from the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE) were used in the study. The primary study shows that total biogas production in the country is 1,405.58 million m3/yr, which generated by 1,788 biogas plants. The electrical characteristics of the DB-SOFC systems (ES-5700 model, 200 kW and ES-5710 model, 250 kW) by the Bloom Energy were used in the study. The proper biogas plant for the DB-SOFC system was characterized by compared the biogas flow rates supply and demand. The study result shows that the biogas plant with a potentially used in the DB-SOFC system is estimated by 275 plants, which generated by 1,091.65 million m3/yr of biogas. The total installation capacity is estimated by 152.60 and 147.55 MW for the 200 and 250 kW DB-SOFC systems respectively, which has potential to produces by 1,069.42 and 1,035.32 GWh/yr of electricity respectively. Moreover, the 200 kW DB-SOFC system provides possibility to generated electricity by 45.25% higher than the typical heat engine generator. However, the DB-SOFC system has low value for economics investment due to the high LCOE value. The DB-SOFC system has a technical prospect to application in biogas plant system in Thailand. The subsidization could be increased value for economics investment of the DB-SOFC project.

Assessment of wind energy potential using wind energy conversion system

Wind energy, as a renewable resource, is the most rapidly growing source that produces electrical energy using wind turbines. Such a wind energy conversion system is both economical and is environmental friendly. It requires understanding of wind conditions at the site under study. With this intent, wind characteristics of Jhampir (district Thatta Sindh, Pakistan) are investigated and wind energy potential is determined. The study is conducted using 10-min averaged wind speed data obtained from Alternate Energy Development Board of Pakistan for a period of three years (2007–2010). Monthly, seasonal, and yearly analysis is performed by fitting measured wind speed data to a Weibull distribution function. Weibull shape and scale parameters are determined numerically using Maximum Likelihood Method, Modified Maximum Likelihood Method, and Energy Pattern Factor Methods. The suitability of the fit is assessed using goodness-of-fit tests, such as, Root Mean Square Error, Coefficient of Determination (R2), and Chi-Square (χ2) tests. In all three data analysis periods, RMSE values varied between 10−2 and 10−4. Similarly, R2 values varied between 0.989 and 0.996 and χ2-test between 10−4 and 10−8. For entire data set, all the tests showed better performance of Maximum Likelihood and Modified Maximum Likelihood Methods compared to Energy Pattern Factor. In case of monthly analysis, Maximum Likelihood Method performed better compared to Modified Maximum Likelihood Method and Energy Pattern Factor according to root mean square error and χ2 tests results. Seasonal performance of all the methods is found to be similar with marginal superiority of MLM over other methods. A very good agreement is observed between standard deviation values for measured wind speed data distribution and fitted Weibull distribution using Maximum Likelihood Method estimator. Additionally, to understand the optimum directional efficiency, directional wind power densities are calculated. Finally, a wind turbine is used to the seasonal and yearly wind speed data to determine the actual wind energy potential of the site. Extracted wind energy values for four seasons are found to be 1691, 2851, 4572, and 916 kWh with an annual yield of 10054 kWh. Wind energy values obtained for different periods and directions suggest that Jhampir is a suitable site for developing the wind power plant.

ECONOMICS OF SECONDARY RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

Against the background of diminishing traditional energy sources, increasing negative impact on the environment, also due to some energy sectors, as well as the growing threat of extreme increase in the waste on a global scale, SRES have a serious potential to play the role of one of the key methods to achieve a sustainable balance, without any harm to the economic development. In practice, if assumed that the total population of the Earth is 7 billion people, at least 5 million tons of waste is generated on a daily basis (not counting the industrial ones). Of them, circa 2 million tons are non-recyclable, but these could be transformed into energy. Modern technologies offer up to 50% conversion of the source materials into usable free energy––i.e. there is a potential for the generation of approximately 1 million МW/h per day, or at least 300–350 TW/h per annum. This amounts to the whole electricity consumption of 5–10 small developed countries likeBulgaria,Slovenia, etc. The improvement and implementation of the SRES technologies will require significant expenses for scientific research and development. A part of these expenses can be covered by the general provision of incentives for alternative energy sources, another part should be provided by external sources, including funding from the central budgets, grants, as part of public-private partnerships, etc. The offered article examines the economics of the SRES, and all related factors, including their role and place in the energy sector, significance for the protection of the environment and for the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), adopted within the UN. An attempt is made to develop the existing and to offer new criteria for a more accurate and universal definition of the SRES. The objective of the article is not to claim to be an universal and exhaustive study of all aspects, related to the nature and use of the SRES, but it is rather an attempt to systematize and carry out a comparative analysis of the main problems, related to the SRES, as well as to draw the attention and stir a wider discussion on a topic, which––according to the authors––undeservedly fails to be sufficiently incorporated into the studies and research, related to the alternative energy development. Special attention is drawn to the opportunities provided by waste-to-hydrogen solutions alongside with other waste-to-energy approaches. Authors are also introducing for the first time the notion of “double-green-solution” as a specific feature of the waste-to-energy solutions. The article may be of interest to economists, investors and practitioners.

EXPO-2017: engine of alternative types of energy of the future

The relevance of the topic is the development of alternative energy and search for new sources of energy as the main world trend of the twenty-first century. Using the energy of earth, wind, water and sun, humanity will stop polluting the environment and save valuable fossil resources. The Republic of Kazakhstan is well known with its stability and successful development. It is quite important not only for the country, but for the whole Central Asian region. Nowadays it is necessary to improve the energy returned on investment, and to make producing it cheaper. Wind power will be nearly very important in coming years. Probably the most established renewable energy source, besides hydro, becomes as cheap as fossil fuels in many markets around the world. The different types of the renewable energy were examined in this article.

РОЗВИТОК ЗЕЛЕНОЇ ЕНЕРГЕТИКИ ЯК ШЛЯХ ДО ЕНЕРГЕТИЧНОЇ НЕЗАЛЕЖНОСТІ НАЦІОНАЛЬНОЇ ЕКОНОМІКИ: ДОСВІД КРАЇН ЄС

Urgency of the research. With a constant increase in prices and tariffs of energy resources consumption raises the urgent issue of spreading renewable energy and changes in the of the energy balance structure. Target setting. Adopted by the European vector of Ukraine determines synchronization energy policy. Therefore, the country needs to solve the problems caused by the imperfection of legal framework and the lack of effective mechanisms to encourage green energy. Actual scientific researches and issues analysis. The authors analyzed the scientific works of scientists who study the statistical significance between the development of alternative energy and the competitiveness of the national economy. Uninvestigated parts of general matters defining. Identified deficiencies in providing the legal regulation of renewable energy in the energy complex. The research objective. The article aims to systematize the benefits, barriers and prospects of development of green energy in Ukraine, and to identify effective mechanisms for dissemination of alternative energy given the experience of the EU. The statement of basic materials. The article systematizes the prospects and barriers to the spread of renewable energy in Ukraine. The authors analyze the forecast results of the National Action Plan for Renewable Energy until 2020 and the Energy Strategy of Ukraine for the period up to 2035. The paper systematizes the scientific achievements in the field of green energy and energy security. Conclusions. The analysis of the experience of green energy development by the EU countries provides an opportunity to form the main directions of ensuring Ukraine's energy independence through renewable energy sources. Considering the forecasted indicators of development of the carbon-neutral economy, the problem of adaptation of Ukrainian energy saving standards to EU requirements is relevant.

Development of alternative energy in the industrial region.

Development of alternative energy in the industrial region.

An innovative method for creating and using nanoparticles for gas extraction from gas hydrates

The growth of prices for traditional energy sources prompts Ukraine to seek new approaches to solving energy problems. Today, the country has intensified its work in this direction, in particular, legislative support is being developed and improved, and the investment climate for alternative energy projects is improving. In many countries of the world, it has long been understood how serious and necessary is the development of alternative energy. At present, in the face of various gas contradictions and unstable oil prices, the need for energy carriers is constantly increasing, which makes it necessary to seek the latest solutions to the energy problem. Many leading countries in the world are engaged in the search for alternative sources of energy, one of which is natural gas hydrates. This relatively new resource offers great opportunities both for economic growth and stability of states, and for the development of scientific institutions in this field. Flagships in the study and development of gas-hydrated deposits are the United States, China, Japan and Canada. Along with them should be noted the achievements of scientists in India, EU countries, Ukraine, Russia and Bulgaria.

THE PROSPECTS OF THE LEVEL INCREASE OF RURAL HOUSING ENERGY EFFICIENCY

The proposals to increase the energy efficiency level of housing have been further developed. For the first time, comprehensive research of the volume of the rural building in relation with the energy-saving potential in this sphere has been conducted, based on foreign experience and the proposals regarding alternative energy development. Trends and proportions of urban and rural development have been identified. Diagnostics of energy consumption indicators in rural houses in by Ukrainian regions have been made. Volumes and cost of energy consumption indicators in the city and in the countryside have been calculated. The mechanism of energy audit has been proposed. The role of energy consumptions actors at the state and local levels has been justified. Directions for level energy efficiency increase in rural houses have been suggested.

Social and economic efficiency of development and use of alternative power energy

Research has been performed on the state of development and trends for alternative energy sources. Advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy have been considered. Main types of the effects due to the implementation of renewable energy sources have been investigated. Main aspects of the actual effects upon society as a whole have been determined, in order to perform the objective assessment of the social efficiency of implementation of renewable energy sources. Methods to determine the social and economic efficiency of using the renewable energy sources have been suggested.

APPROACHES TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF SMART ENERGY NETWORKS

The article discusses two fundamentally different approaches to deploying smart, environmentally friendly energy networks. The key aspects of the formation of a market and administrative mechanism for stimulating the development of alternative energy and transformation of the traditional energy model with the systematic application of the principle of distributed energy generation are identified. The European Union's experience in developing an adaptive energy system combining traditional energy technologies and innovative developments aimed at improving the efficiency of energy system operation and integrating disparate energy systems of individual countries belonging to the European Union into a single pan-european energy system was used to achieve the objectives of the study, which entails widespread use of "smart" energy technologies that will allow not only to form an effective model of energy generation, and power consumption, and promote the development of the concept of "smart" cities, ensuring compliance with the necessary conditions for the use of power as a basic element of innovative development of society and the acceleration of technological progress. The article identifies two fundamental approaches to large-scale development of the energy system using smart energy networks: iterative approach and project approach. The iterative approach is to develop the energy system as a whole, with the gradual introduction of energy innovations, which creates corresponding iterations. Accordingly, this approach is characterized by the presence of separate logically ordered stages, where the next stage is possible only after the previous one is completed. The project approach is to implement local high-tech projects with the use of smart grids in a limited area and then integrate disparate projects into a single energy system. Keywords: "smart" grids, energy, energy strategy, distributed power generation.

Сучасні підходи до розвитку відновлювальної енергетики як складової інноваційної економіки України.

The necessity of alternative energy development for energy supply of Ukraine is considered. The structure of primary energy and renewable energy sources has been established. The calculations proved their insignificant share, dominated by biofuels and waste. On the basis of correlation-regression analysis, the opposite tendencies of change of primary energy volumes and renewable energy sources are determined. Approaches to the application and advantages of public-private partnerships and green bonds for the development of renewable energy as a component of innovative and energy-efficient economy of Ukraine are substantiated.

Macroeconomic modeling for assessing sustainability of bioethanol production in Thailand

The development of bioethanol can bring about socio-economic and environmental impacts. To support the sustainability analysis of bioethanol development and the decision-making on bioethanol promotion in Thailand, this study aims at assessing the socio-economic and environmental effects of bioethanol production using recursive dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE) modeling. The assessment is carried out based on the bioethanol production targets in Thailand’s Alternative Energy Development Plan (AEDP) 2015, capturing cassava ethanol and molasses ethanol. Simulation scenarios are set up to incorporate the role of bioethanol support policies, such as tax reduction, production efficiency improvement, and widening the price gap between gasoline and gasohol, into the analysis. The results show that increasing bioethanol production together with improving the efficiency of feedstock cultivation is the most efficient way to enhance economic growth. However, the higher production and consumption would also lead to more irrigation water demand and air emissions. The presentation of bioethanol support policies’ role in promoting bioethanol along with widespread socio-economic and environmental effects focus are novel. Not only are the results useful for the decision-making towards sustainable bioethanol development, the methods presented in this study should also be a guideline for other socio-economic and environmental impact assessment schemes.

Power plants of motor transport: development prospects

The analysis of the promising direction of development of energy installations of land transport is conducted. To date, in view of the emerging problems of depletion of oil resources and environmental safety in transport, in some popular science publications and in the media, the idea of the upcoming transition of motor vehicles to electric traction is actively awakening. However, in the opinion of the overwhelming majority of authoritative specialists in the automotive industry, this idea is premature and does not have a serious scientific substantiation. Currently, there is a large investigated potential of replacing oil with alternative energy products, the resource base of which, in some cases, significantly exceeds the traditional raw material base of oil fuels. Wide opportunities to solve the problem associated with the predicted depletion of oil resources are enclosed in the use of natural gases (primarily methane) and vegetable (biological) raw materials for the production of motor fuel. The development of alternative energy is universally considered one of the promising ways to solve the problems of energy supply, both in the field of constantly growing energy consumption in general, and in the direction of the future development of the energy balance of the transport complex. Thus, it is possible to assert with confidence that the domestic automobile transport is guaranteed to be provided with motor fuel for many decades. In addition, the current opinion about the high energy and environmental efficiency of electric motor transport is, in its essence, not unambiguous and for a number of indicators the electric vehicle is significantly inferior to a vehicle with a traditional internal combustion engine. In this article, on the basis of a reasoned analysis involving the opinions of a large number of authoritative specialists in the global automotive industry, this statement is proved.

EXPRESS ASSESSMENT OF HYDROPOWER POTENTIAL OF THE SMALL RIVERS IN UKRAINE WITH ACCOUNT OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESTRICTIONS

The article is devoted to the development of an express method for assessing the potential of hydropower resources of the small rivers in Ukraine, taking into account the requirements of the current regulatory framework in the environmental and energy sectors, which provides objective information for the development of small hydropower stations at the current stage of alternative energy development. The article determines the environmental restrictions of small hydropower based on the provisions of the current regulatory and legal framework of Ukraine, the criteria for the ecological value of the territory and the principles of preserving the diversity of wild fauna of rivers. Restrictions on the use of water for the production of small hydropower plants take into account the sanitary discharge, the continuous operation of fishers, low water, floods, operational measures to regulate the water flow through hydroconstructions, the regulation of hydroelectric power through the watercourse which allows practically no distortion of the natural hydrological regime and biological state of river below the station. Restrictions on the use of the territory for the construction of small hydropower stations take into account the presence of national natural parks, reserves, and natural monuments, places of deposits of minerals and mineral waters, historical and cultural heritage, special purpose land. Restrictions on the permissible bias of river sections have been introduced with regard to environmental restrictions. The article substantiates the significance of the technical potential of the hydropower resources of small rivers in Ukraine, taking into account environmental restrictions, at the level of 1270 million kWh/year (about 375 MW of installed capacity of small HPPs), and its distribution over the hydrological zones of the country. It is established that the volume of technically achievable potential of hydropower resources, even for the main deep-water small rivers of Ukraine, is within 3–15% of their natural potential. The results obtained are essential for the development of a modern concept of regional programs for the development of small hydropower and the Energy Strategy, implementation of the activities of the National Action Plan for Renewable Energy in Ukraine.

N. Ryazanova, Evaluation of the development of alternative energy on the principles of persistence.

The purpose of the article is to evaluate the strategic management of the development of alternative energy on the principles of persistence. The article considers a system for analyzing the indicators of the formation of a mechanism for the strategic management of the development of alternative energy, which consists of the economic, environmental and social effect of the studied processes. The method of evaluating the strategic management of the development of alternative energy based on the principles of ensuring the sustainable development of the industry in line with the rational use of resources and facilitating their re-establishment, improving the security status, and the level of logisation taking into account the energy component is substantiated. To build a model of sustainable development of alternative energy, information binary entropy was used as a function of state, the functioning of open dynamic multicomponent systems is reflected. The entropy of resource efficiency has been determined, the basis of which are the indicators of rational use and assistance in the reconstruction ofresources, the entropy of managerial efficiency, which is based on indicators of the state of security and the logisation of energy flows. Evaluation of the strategic management of the development of alternative energy on the principles of persistence is carried out according to a certain sequence, which consists of interrelated, systematized actions. Defined goals, subject and objectives of the corresponding analytical study. The methods for evaluating the strategic management of the development of alternative energy on the principles of persistence are substantiated. A star of reference points was built to evaluate the results of the study. Highlighted indicators stimulants and distimulatory, which reflect the direction of the impact of certain data on the state of system resistance. The level of consistency between environmental, social, and economic processes, which characterize the sustainable development of industry by determining the norm of the balance of star indicators, is substantiated.

The Problem of Providing Legal Groundwork for the Balance of Traditional and Alternative Energy Development in the Context of Kazakhstan’s Shift to Green Energy

This paper focuses on the problem of providing legal groundwork for the balance of traditional and alternative energy development in the context of the Republic of Kazakhstan’s shift to green energy. As it turns out, there is no comprehensive strategy for providing legal groundwork for the use of energy, both traditional and renewable. Today there are two major standpoints among both scientists and experts on the ground: for and against the renewable sources. Thus, the main task of lawyers is to develop an approach that makes both sides agree on the issue.
 The paper performs an analysis of Kazakhstan’s legislation on energy development, energy preservation and the use of renewable energy sources, identifying its shortcomings and gaps. The attained results provide a basis for recommendations to create a legal regulatory framework for the development of traditional and alternative energy in the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as to improve environmental legislation in terms of environmental protection during construction, location and use of traditional and alternative energy facilities.