Development Of Energy Projects Research Articles

Sustainable Energy in Latin America: Regional Development Through the CDM

Objectives: In this paper, 1100 projects in Latin America are analysed as initiatives to mitigate climate change and increase sustainable energy production. Methods/Statistical Analysis: In our analysis, we have imported the data from the available databases about CDM projects. Projects have been grouped by region, country, and type of source. Findings: It was concluded that the region's hydro electrical projects have obtained relevant sustainable financing due to the region's rich capacity for generating power and its particular geographical conditions, which encourage the development of sustainable energy projects. However, many political, social and economic obstacles to this were also found. This paper is expected to contribute to the promotion of an alternative energy industry and the private participation in the development of sustainable energy projects in different sectors in the region. Improvements: This paper proposes several alternatives that could help improve the synergy among the development of sustainable energy projects, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), and the Kyoto Protocol leading to grow new sustainable projects based on carbon economy, considering the impacts on climate change. Financing mechanisms to develop sustainable energy projects should be both profitable and sustainable and this is why the CDM should play an essential role for increasing the offer of sustainable projects as a means to assess the Kyoto Protocol's efficacy.

The role of local private participation in China’s transition to domestically developed renewable energy technologies

China’s hunger for energy has over the last two decades afforded opportunities to investors from Hong Kong and foreign countries to provide both the energy technologies China needs, as well as project management capabilities to deliver energy projects. Recently, however, China has shown itself to be less reliant on non-local expertise, with an emerging capacity to go it alone in developing sources of energy. Data from the World Bank Private Participation in Infrastructure (PPI) database was used to analyse this trend, and to identify strategic directions that may be evident in China’s emerging energy self-reliance. A total of 555 cases were extracted for analysis using standard statistical tests across the range of available energy technologies. While it was found that the involvement of Hong Kong and foreign companies remains significant overall, there is a clear trend in Chinese mainland firms targeting and overtaking non-local counterparts in the development of renewable energy technologies and projects. Strong associations were identified between the rise in renewable projects and the growth in the participation of local companies in the energy sector. This is a significant finding and it provides strong implications that Chinese firms have emerged as an important competitor in renewable energy provision.

ATSINAUJINANČIOS ENERGETIKOS PLĖTRĄ SKATINANČIO TEISINIO REGULIAVIMO PROBLEMATIKA

Šiame straipsnyje nagrinėjami pagrindiniai atsinaujinančios energetikos plėtrą skatinančio teisinio reguliavimo probleminiai aspektai, atsižvelgiant į šio ūkio sektoriaus pagrindinius bruožus ir teismų praktiką, susijusią su atsinaujinančios energetikos plėtros skatinimo reglamentavimu.

Feasibility study of repurposing Trenton–Black River gas fields for geothermal heat extraction, southern New York

Geothermal resources have the potential to fulfill a significant portion of the low-temperature (30–100 °C) thermal energy demand in the United States. Investment risk at the exploration stage is a primary factor limiting the development of geothermal energy projects, due to the high cost of drilling and limited reservoir data. An approach to reduce this risk is to target proven, well-characterized conventional oil and gas reservoirs. We examined the suitability of the Trenton–Black River gas fields of southern New York as geothermal reservoirs. These highly productive hydrothermal dolomite fields occur within long, narrow normal-fault–bounded, en echelon grabens that are scattered with saddle dolomite-lined vugs, fractures, and breccia. The Quackenbush Hill field was analyzed using existing data sets with geothermal purposes in mind. Key geothermal reservoir characteristics examined here include rock temperature, porosity and permeability, stimulation potential, and the risk of inducing seismicity. Results indicate that the Quackenbush Hill field would produce temperatures of ∼91 °C from a dolomite reservoir with sufficient average horizontal permeability, low vertical permeability, and significant vertical and horizontal anisotropy. In the case that adequate flow rates cannot be achieved in practice, stimulation is a feasible option from the perspective of well-field design for optimal heat sweep; however, higher-resolution data are necessary to constrain the risk of inducing seismicity. We demonstrate the technical feasibility of transitioning conventional gas fields into geothermal heat-producing reservoirs, setting the stage for future consideration of the economics of a petroleum-to-geothermal transition.

Exploration Decision-Making on Energy Based On Improved Real Option Model and BP Neural Networks

Based on real options method to construct a petroleum exploration and development projects of integrated economic evaluation model, application mechanism real option method in oil and gas exploration and development projects around the expansion, the option value to identify and analyze the process of exploration and development projects exist. Finally, select the appropriate option pricing model, instance data analyzed by gas exploration and development projects, and its contrast with the traditional analysis, pointed out that application of real options method can effectively improve the investment project economic evaluation of science. In this paper, to build an economic evaluation method based on real options method of energy development projects, and to explore applications based on the principle of real options to develop economic evaluation method, proposed mostly for exploration stage oil and gas exploration and development project abandonment option binomial model and the development phase stop start option of partial differential equations, is determined based on the actual parameters of such projects, and to provide solutions to parameter estimation.

Sensitivity analysis of hybrid power systems using Power Pinch Analysis considering Feed-in Tariff

Feed-in Tariff (FiT) has been one of the most effective policies in accelerating the development of renewable energy (RE) projects. The amount of RE electricity in the FiT purchase agreement is an important decision that has to be made by the RE project developers. They have to consider various crucial factors associated with RE system operation as well as its stochastic nature. The presented work aims to assess the sensitivity and profitability of a hybrid power system (HPS) in cases of RE system failure or shutdown. The amount of RE electricity for the FiT purchase agreement in various scenarios was determined using a novel tool called On-Grid Problem Table based on the Power Pinch Analysis (PoPA). A sensitivity table has also been introduced to assist planners to evaluate the effects of the RE system's failure on the profitability of the HPS. This table offers insights on the variance of the RE electricity. The sensitivity analysis of various possible scenarios shows that the RE projects can still provide financial benefits via the FiT, despite the losses incurred from the penalty levied.

Social media and sentiment in bioenergy consultation

Purpose– This paper aims to address the following challenge: the push to widen participation in public consultation suggests social media as an additional mechanism through which to engage the public. Bioenergy companies need to build their capacity to communicate in these new media and to monitor the attitudes of the public and opposition organizations towards energy development projects.Design/methodology/approach– This short paper outlines the planning issues bioenergy developments face and the main methods of communication used in the public consultation process in the UK. The potential role of social media in communication with stakeholders is identified. The capacity of sentiment analysis to mine opinions from social media is summarised and illustrated using a sample of tweets containing the term “bioenergy”.Findings– Social media have the potential to improve information flows between stakeholders and developers. Sentiment analysis is a viable methodology, which bioenergy companies should be using to measure public opinion in the consultation process. Preliminary analysis shows promising results.Research limitations/implications– Analysis is preliminary and based on a small dataset. It is intended only to illustrate the potential of sentiment analysis and not to draw general conclusions about the bioenergy sector.Social implications– Social media have the potential to open access to the consultation process and help bioenergy companies to make use of waste for energy developments.Originality/value– Opinion mining, though established in marketing and political analysis, is not yet systematically applied as a planning consultation tool. This is a missed opportunity.

A correction to the enhanced bottom drag parameterisation of tidal turbines

Hydrodynamic modelling is an important tool for the development of tidal stream energy projects. Many hydrodynamic models incorporate the effect of tidal turbines through an enhanced bottom drag. In this paper we show that although for coarse grid resolutions (kilometre scale) the resulting force exerted on the flow agrees well with the theoretical value, the force starts decreasing with decreasing grid sizes when these become smaller than the length scale of the wake recovery. This is because the assumption that the upstream velocity can be approximated by the local model velocity, is no longer valid. Using linear momentum actuator disc theory however, we derive a relationship between these two velocities and formulate a correction to the enhanced bottom drag formulation that consistently applies a force that remains close to the theoretical value, for all grid sizes down to the turbine scale. In addition, a better understanding of the relation between the model, upstream, and actual turbine velocity, as predicted by actuator disc theory, leads to an improved estimate of the usefully extractable energy. We show how the corrections can be applied (demonstrated here for the models MIKE 21 and Fluidity) by a simple modification of the drag coefficient.

Risks and cost of capital for onshore wind energy investments in EU countries

The national binding targets, set for renewable energy deployment at European Union (EU), call for extended clean energy investments. Renewable energy projects require high up-front expenditures including, in many cases, considerable financing costs. The main objective of this paper is to elaborate and apply a methodology that allows assessing the most important risk categories related to renewable energy investments. The cornerstone of this approach is the weighted average cost of capital, which has been extracted for new onshore wind projects in EU-28 member states based on diverse methods e.g. Capital Asset Pricing Model. Moreover, to validate the model results, a series of interviews with renewable energy project developers and financers across the EU has been conducted. The results show that, following the country risk, policy-related risks exert the highest impact on the cost of capital. Moreover, there are significant discrepancies between different geographical regions and market deployment levels. To support policy makers' decision on effective risk-reducing policy designs, the assessment could also be extended to other renewable energy technologies.

Regulating wave and tidal energy: An industry perspective on the Scottish marine governance framework

The emerging ocean energy industry, which seeks to utilise waves and tides to generate electricity, is developing in many jurisdictions. The UK, and Scotland in particular, is strongly interested in these technologies, and has made considerable efforts to reform its marine governance processes to better meet the needs of innovative new marine industries. This paper provides an industry perspective on this regulatory framework, reporting on the experiences of ocean energy project and technology developers. Semi-structured interviews with companies with practical experience with Scotland's regulatory framework provide evidence of a number of legal and regulatory challenges, as well as interesting insights into how developers are interacting with new marine governance systems. The paper details the findings of these interviews and offers some suggested directions for future research.

Impact of social cost of carbon analyses in the development of energy projects on federal land

Pending either legislative action or formal agency guidance, utilization of the Social Cost of Carbon in analyses of energy development projects on federal land under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is not required. However, current trends indicate that future NEPA documentation of proposed energy projects on federal land will likely address and discuss project impacts on climate change using increasingly quantitative metrics. Accordingly, parties should be prepared to offer substantive comments on the suitability and accuracy of quantitative analyses of the impacts associated with greenhouse gas emissions and offer suggestions for meaningful mitigation measures to reduce such estimates.

The Integration of Renewables into the Bolivian Energy Mix - Legal Framework and Policies

In Bolivia, a large proportion of the population lives in rural areas, facing considerable challenges, such as low incomes and fuel poverty. Numerous homes and businesses are off-grid, with no access to mains gas, electricity and heat. Renewable energy sources could provide basic supplies for domestic needs. Bolivia has a large potential for producing energy from renewable sources, but unfortunately this potential is only being marginally exploited at present. Since the approval of the new Bolivian constitution, in a referendum in January 2009, there is a concrete mandate to introduce and promote renewable energy and, correspondingly, the state has recognized the advantages of their use, not just in connection with the protection of the environment (avoiding climate-damaging emissions), but also for saving finite resources. Nevertheless, there is still no consistent legal framework available that could trigger the proper implementation of renewable energy. This paper will analyse the current legislation in Bolivia and describe the energy sector. Furthermore, it will argue in favour of a rapid and consistent adoption of proper legislation to embrace the use of renewable energies, thereby avoiding the use of conventional energies and the introduction of nuclear power, as is now envisaged by the Bolivian government. The analysis will indicate the need for an integrated approach to put in place the right policies for the development of energy projects and for the rational use of natural resources to satisfy the socioeconomic need of present and future generations. The paper does not focus on how the new generating capacity based on renewable sources is to be constructed, but on the legal framework and policies.

Hydropower Development and Involuntary Displacement: Toward a Global Solution

This Note addresses the effects of hydropower development projects on displaced persons globally. This Note recognizes that the increasing global energy demand puts great strain on nations to provide their people with electricity, but it also suggests that sustainable energy development projects can be carried out in a way that is fair to the indigenous populations surrounding hydropower dams. The current global trend in involuntary displacement involves ignoring certain groups of affected persons while undercompensating directly displaced persons, leading to homelessness, social stigmatization, and extreme poverty for millions of people worldwide. Thus far, there has been no sufficient global solution to this displacement problem, as current solutions do not focus on rehabilitating the communities that lose everything for the construction of these projects. This Note suggests that individual nations must take responsibility for the displacement of indigenous populations in building hydropower development projects for the benefit of the nation, and an international actor, such as the World Bank, must use its resources and discretionary project funding to protect global human rights during the development of hydropower projects.

Avoiding a big bang for your buck

Unexploded ordnance presents an on-going challenge for offshore renewable energy project developers and as some have found to their cost, getting it wrong can be very expensive. With new guidelines on UXO management set to be published, best practice means a better understanding of the risks.

Conservation Planning for Offsetting the Impacts of Development: A Case Study of Biodiversity and Renewable Energy in the Mojave Desert.

Balancing society’s competing needs of development and conservation requires careful consideration of tradeoffs. Renewable energy development and biodiversity conservation are often considered beneficial environmental goals. The direct footprint and disturbance of renewable energy, however, can displace species’ habitat and negatively impact populations and natural communities if sited without ecological consideration. Offsets have emerged as a potentially useful tool to mitigate residual impacts after trying to avoid, minimize, or restore affected sites. Yet the problem of efficiently designing a set of offset sites becomes increasingly complex where many species or many sites are involved. Spatial conservation prioritization tools are designed to handle this problem, but have seen little application to offset siting and analysis. To address this need we designed an offset siting support tool for the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) of California, and present a case study of hypothetical impacts from solar development in the Western Mojave subsection. We compare two offset scenarios designed to mitigate a hypothetical 15,331 ha derived from proposed utility-scale solar energy development (USSED) projects. The first scenario prioritizes offsets based precisely on impacted features, while the second scenario offsets impacts to maximize biodiversity conservation gains in the region. The two methods only agree on 28% of their prioritized sites and differ in meeting species-specific offset goals. Differences between the two scenarios highlight the importance of clearly specifying choices and priorities for offset siting and mitigation in general. Similarly, the effects of background climate and land use change may lessen the durability or effectiveness of offsets if not considered. Our offset siting support tool was designed specifically for the DRECP area, but with minor code modification could work well in other offset analyses, and could provide continuing support for a potentially innovative mitigation solution to environmental impacts.

Case Study: Exporting Hydro Electricity From Bosnia and Herzegovina to the EU Under Joint Projects

The report investigated the cost savings of such cooperation for EU MS. Our analysis focused on cooperation with Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on the development of hydro energy projects. We chose hydro energy in BiH as an example case due to a large number of planned projects and availability of data. The analysis included the potential for sharing the electricity of a project between BiH and an importer country as well as the possible impact of joint projects on the overall expansion of hydropower in BiH.

Wave energy in Europe: Views on experiences and progress to date

Through the Intelligent Energy Europe-funded SOWFIA project, the experiences of developers, regulators and stakeholders in relation to consenting wave energy deployments to date was assessed and analysed. The work focussed on wave energy test centres in Europe and involved consultation with wave energy device and project developers, regulatory authorities, stakeholders, environmental consultants and others through dedicated workshops and questionnaire surveys. Themes that arise in the analysis relate to planning and consenting processes, administrative procedures, Environmental Impact Assessment and stakeholder consultation. An analysis of the barriers as perceived by those consulted is presented and discussed, and recommendations are drawn from the analysis within each of the themes. In particular the need for Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) to alleviate complex planning and consenting processes; the need for coordination of administrative procedures; the need for clearer requirements in the EIA process; and the need for early participation of stakeholders in consultation are discussed. Progress has been made in many EU countries but certain priority areas remain to be addressed if wave energy is to realise its full potential.

Effects of low temperature on the mechanical properties of glass fibre–epoxy composites: static tension, compression, R = 0.1 and R =− 1 fatigue of ±45° laminates

AbstractEffects of cold climate exposure on structures made of composite materials are scarcely documented. As a result, even if exceptional wind conditions prevail in some cold regions, uncertainties related to composite materials durability at low temperatures may hinder development of wind energy projects in those regions. Therefore, as part of the Wind Energy Strategic Network (WESNet) of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada, efforts were made to evaluate the effects of cold climate exposure on the mechanical properties of glass–epoxy composites. Tensile and compressive quasi‐static tests as well as tensile (R = 0.1) and fully reversed (R =− 1) fatigue tests were performed on vacuum‐infused [±45]2s glass–epoxy composites at −40°C and 23°C. Results for quasi‐static tests show an increase of tensile, compressive and shear strengths and moduli at low temperatures. It is also demonstrated that for the stress range under scrutiny, fatigue performance is improved at −40°C for both the R = 0.1 and R =− 1 loading cases. Moreover, the failure mode for R =− 1 fatigue changed from compressive failure due to buckling of delaminated plies to tensile failure, suggesting a more efficient use of the material. However, if R =− 1 fatigue results at low temperature are extrapolated towards the very low stresses that are also part of wind turbine blades fatigue load spectrum, fatigue life may be degraded compared with that at ambient temperature. Finally, evidence of visco‐elastic behaviour leading to changes in s − N curve slope parameter are reported. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Clean Development Mechanism-An Opportunity to Mitigate Carbon Footprint from the Energy Sector of India

Clean development mechanism (CDM) was included in the Kyoto protocol to support sustainable development in developing countries through technology transfer from developed countries along with the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. More than 1000 projects which were registered under CDM from India in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change have been reviewed. Through a CDM project, India as a developing country has enhanced the development of renewable energy projects with financial support through the sale of carbon credit. This note discusses the status and progress of CDM in India; the main finding is that CDM has significantly reduced the carbon footprint of the Indian energy sector.

Towards a Development of an Operational Process for Software Requirements: Case study application for Renewable Energy Software's

This research study introduces the operationalization process for the requirements activity of software engineering discipline to build renewable energy projects. It describes a new development approach composed of three phase’s methodology to undertake the operationalization process combined with the development of an operational model. A theoretical implementation is provided in addition to the development of a practical implementation on a standalone photovoltaic system case study. Moreover, the author’s expect that this will help in a better understanding of the principles of software engineering, in the implementation of these principles for the development of renewable energy projects as well as to contribute to build the research knowledge of software engineering foundations.