Electricity Generation Projects Research Articles

Effects of the U.S. inflation reduction act on SMR economics

The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 provides a wide array of tax credits and other incentives for low-carbon energy. The technology-neutral clean generation production tax credit (PTC) (Section 45Y of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code) and the technology-neutral investment tax credit (ITC) (Section 48E) lower the net cost of new electricity generation projects with zero or negative greenhouse gas emission rates. We evaluate the impact of the IRA legislation—specifically the PTC and ITC—on the cost-competitiveness of small modular reactors (SMRs). We use the Argonne Low-carbon Energy Analysis Framework (A-LEAF) model to calculate the capacity factor of an SMR with a range of hypothetical variable operating and maintenance (O&M) costs in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) electricity market. We selected ERCOT for market modeling because of its competitive structure, available data, and extensive use in prior literature. We use a discounted cash flow model to calculate the SMR’s net present value based on the market prices and capacity factors from A-LEAF, hypothetical ranges of capital and variable O&M costs, and other input parameters, with or without the IRA tax credits. We determine the SMR owner’s optimal choice of PTC or ITC for the hypothetical ranges of capital and variable O&M costs. We also evaluate potential shifts in the SMR owner’s optimal choice of PTC or ITC based on historical patterns of nuclear capital cost overruns in the United States. We also assess the sensitivity of our results to longer PTC period and electricity prices from the New England market, which tend to be higher than electricity prices in ERCOT. We find that even with the IRA tax credits, only SMRs with low capital and variable O&M costs would be economically feasible in the low-price ERCOT market scenario modeled. A longer PTC period and higher-price market such as New England, however, would significantly expand the economic feasibility of SMRs in the United States.

Technologies to embrace the sun: solarpunk-based project as an exploration for a just energy transition

The national implementation of electricity generation projects directly threatens the livelihoods of local and Indigenous communities in Latin America. Therefore, it is crucial to search for solutions to energy supply considering local needs and cosmologies. This article focuses on micro-energy production in rural settlements on the Colombian Caribbean coast. The aim is to provide insights into the relationship between energy, technology, and ancestrality through the lens of solarpunk storytelling. To explore this theme, we present the «tech to embrace the sun» initiative as a case study to co-design and imagine desirable futures by the local community of Selvatorium, in La Guajira. The results consist of the development of seven future ancestral stories co-written by community members and guests, two guides to build two prototypes, and a fanzine. The project concludes with empirical and theoretical insights for development studies about sustainable energy futures.

Project Management Dynamics and Performance of Kenya Electricity Generating Company Projects

Kenya continues to face challenges regarding the actualization and timely implementation of electricity generation projects aimed at increasing the electricity capacity required in the quest for attaining industrialization status by the year 2030. Out of the projected flagship electricity generation projects, less than 20 percent of the projects had been translated into the national grid by the end of the year 2022. Such trends call for an in-depth study of project dynamics that determine the performance of electricity generation projects. To research the problem, the focus was given to Kenya Electricity Generation Company (KenGen) Plc, which is a state-owned electricity generation company accounting for 60 percent of the electricity generation market share in Kenya. The purpose of the study was to determine the project management dynamics that determine the performance of electricity generation projects. Specifically, the study sought to evaluate the influence of project financing, project procurement, organization dynamics, individual dynamics and stakeholder management dynamics on the performance of electricity generation projects in KenGen. The study was anchored on system theory, constraints theory, and competence theory of project management. The earmarked population was 10 electricity generation projects implemented by sixty-eight employees who had formal project management appointments in the power plant construction projects that ranged from hydroelectric, geothermal, thermal and wind generation modes. A census survey method was used, targeting the sixty-eight respondents. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between the variables. The study established that all the independent variables had positive regression coefficients, indicating that a unit rise for each independent variable facilitated a consequent rise in the dependent variable. However, only finance dynamics revealed a statistically significant effect, indicating that project finance dynamics had a significant effect on the performance of electricity generation projects. The study recommended that priority should be given to finance dynamics while scoping the electricity projects above other project dynamics. Financial analysis of the project financier's capacity to ensure uninterrupted project milestones financing was identified as an aspect requiring consideration in project financing. This outcome will be helpful to stakeholders in the energy sector, academicians and electricity project financiers. Suggestions were made for further studies on other financial dynamics not accounted for in the study and non-financial dynamics that were not established to have a significant effect on generation projects

Green Masquerade: Neo-liberalism, Extractive Renewable Energy Transitions, and the ‘Good’ Anthropocene in South Africa

This chapter examines the ‘green’ energy developments apparent in the South African government’s energy policy and renewable energy programme. In 2011, the South African government introduced the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme as a new policy imperative for electricity generation from renewable energy sources through publicprivate partnerships. The Programme has been hailed for attracting a huge amount of direct foreign investment in climate mitigation in South Africa. This chapter analyses the material nature of the Programme and the publicprivate partnership investment conditions, based on a case study of the Tsitsikamma Community Wind Farm in the Eastern Cape in South Africa, an electricity generation project initiated prior to the introduction of the Independent Power Producer renewable energy programme on community reclaimed land. This community was a willing partner in the wind energy investment partnership. Despite their inclusion in this techno-capitalist development project, however, the material well-being of members of this community remains unchanged, as does the degraded state of the commercial agricultural land involved. The chapter argues that the capitalist neo-liberal logic of alternative ‘green’ energy interventions in investment models such as this renewable energy programme is embedded in the machinations of the extractivist productivist model through ‘new’ forms of financialisaton for capital accumulation.

The Impact of Fiscal Incentives on the Feasibility of Solar Photovoltaic and Wind Electricity Generation Projects: The Case of Indonesia.

The Impact of Fiscal Incentives on the Feasibility of Solar Photovoltaic and Wind Electricity Generation Projects: The Case of Indonesia.

Comparative Study on the Fractal and Fractal Dimension of the Vortex Structure of Hydrofoil’s Tip Leakage Flow

Axial-flow turbomachinery is widely used in low head water transfer and electricity generation projects. As there is a gap between the impeller and casing of the tubular flow unit, the fluid will cross the gap to form tip leakage flow, which may induce intense pressure pulsation, noise and mechanical vibration, and even threaten the safe operation of the unit. In order to ensure the efficient and stable operation of hydropower units, the influence factors of tip clearance flow and its formation and development mechanism have been deeply studied in this paper. In this paper, the impact of gap width, angle of attack and inlet velocity on tip leakage flow of hydrofoil with clearance are studied by orthogonal experiment method. The results suggest that the gap width has the greatest influence on tip clearance flow, the incidence angle takes the second place, and the inlet velocity has the least effect on tip clearance flow. Then the fractal characteristics of tip leakage vortices with different gap widths are studied. The results demonstrate that the fractal dimension of tip leakage vortices in large gaps was significantly larger than that in small gaps; The fractal dimension of the leakage vortex decreases gradually along the flow direction.

Некоторые вопросы атомного права Республики Сербия в свете научно-технического сотрудничества с Россией

Due to its participation in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Nuclear Safety Convention, the Vienna Convention, the existing nuclear infrastructure and experience in nuclear facility operation, Serbia is a sought-after partner for joint implementation of projects in the field of peaceful use of nuclear power. The development of cooperation between Russia and Serbia in this area should be welcomed, however, it should be noted that a law prohibiting the implementation of electricity generation projects using nuclear power significantly limits not only cooperation in constructing nuclear power plants of existing types, but also Serbia's opportunities to create and operate promising types of nuclear power plants, including low-power nuclear power plants. Given the market development and increasing demand for carbon-neutral energy, it can be concluded that applying such limitation cannot be a long-term solution.

Indicators of Climate Change, Geospatial and Analytical Mapping of Trends in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh: An Observational Study

The year 2022 has served as a recall for the impact that climate change has in the South Asian region, which is one of the most vulnerable regions to climate shock. With a paucity of climate-based and geospatial observational studies in South Asia, this paper (i) links power sectors and carbon dioxide emissions, (ii) maps nitrogen dioxide density across three countries (Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh), (iii) understands electricity generation trends and projects weather changes through 2100. We monitored data monitored between 1995 and 2021. The following databases were used: the International Energy Agency, the World Bank, the UN Food and Agricultural Organization. Raw data was obtained for climate indicators, which were entered into Microsoft Excel. Geospatial trends were generated in the ArcGIS geostatistical tool by adopting the ordinary kriging method to interpolate and create continuous surfaces depicting the concentration of nitrogen dioxide in the three countries. We found increased usage of coal and fossil fuels in three countries (Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh). Both were significant contributors to carbon dioxide emissions. The geographic localities in South Asia were densely clouded with nitrogen dioxide as reported with the tropospheric column mapping. There are expected to be increased days with a heat index >35 °C, and consecutive dry days from 2020 and 2100. We also found increased chances of flooding in certain regions across the three countries. This study monitored climate change indicators and projects between 1995 and 2100. Lastly, we make recommendations to improve the relationship of the environment and living beings.

Optimal Structuring of Investments in Electricity Generation Projects in Colombia with Non-Conventional Energy Sources

Taking full advantage of fiscal and economic incentives has become a complex process for investors, who must find the right portfolio or capital structure to obtain viable and competitive generation projects. In this context, this paper proposes a methodology for the optimal structuring of investments in non-conventional energy sources (NCRES) considering fiscal and economic incentives. Three methods were evaluated: (1) levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) combined with three metaheuristic techniques; (2) discounted cash flow (DCF) with Monte Carlo simulation and value at risk (VaR); and (3) real options with Black and Scholes. The proposed approach presents as the main financial indicator the generation cost (GC), as well as three other financial indicators, namely: net present value (NPV), value at risk (VaR) and net present value for real options (NPVRO). The propose approach allows for defining different investment portfolios from where an investor can choose; each of which minimizes the GC. Furthermore, the methodology can be adapted to countries with different policies and fiscal incentives for the development of NCRES projects. The results show that for each metaheuristic, an optimal capital structure that minimizes GC is obtained; in this way, a GC of 0.032 (USD/kWh) is achieved for solar photovoltaic technology, with a reduction of 49.2%, when tax incentives are considered.

5. South America

This document contains aspects related to regulation issued in Colombia in the past year in regard to environmental protection within the view of sustainable development, international treaties, and international soft law instruments. The following presents laws, decrees, and resolutions issued by the Colombian Congress and by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development that extend from the introduction of new crimes against the environment, such as deforestation and ecocide in the Colombian Criminal Code, to the issuance of guidelines for the development of low-impact and environmentally sustainable agricultural activities in páramos. Similarly, reference is made to decisions of the Constitutional Court regarding the right of communities living close to projects of national interest to participate in said projects and to be considered within project decisions. Many relevant laws were adopted this year. Law 2099 declares green hydrogen, blue hydrogen, and geothermal energy projects as non-conventional renewable energy projects. It establishes tax incentives for electricity generation projects based on non-conventional renewable energy sources such as green hydrogen, blue hydrogen, and geothermal energy. Law 2099 adopts measures for the energy transition and the dynamization of the energy market through the use, development, and promotion of non-conventional energy sources.

Enhancing the Yearly Profit of a Wind Farm Using a Novel Transfer Function for Binary Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm

While governments of quite a lot of nations and international alliances like the United Nations are perpetually striving for curtailing the emission of greenhouse gases for limiting the dangerous aftermaths of climate change, renewable energy resources like wind power can be utilized to realize an environment-friendly switchover of electricity generation projects. In this paper, Binary Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm has been employed to enhance the yearly profit of a wind farm in Kayathar town of India with a novel transfer function. The optimization trial outcomes validate the superiority of the proposed transfer function when compared with similar ‘S’-type transfer functions.

Evaluation of Energy Alternatives through FAHP for the Energization of Colombian Insular Areas

In this study, the methodology of the Analytical Hierarchy Process with fuzzy logic (FAHP) is implemented to provide decision criteria in the selection, planning and development of electric power generation projects from renewable energy sources in the insular regions of Colombia. In this study, six renewable energy sources were considered, biomass combustion, anaerobic digestion of biomass, biogas landfills, waste incineration, photovoltaic energy and hydrogen-generated energy, due to their energy potential in insular areas and not interconnected with the national electricity system. To determine the order of priority in the development of energy conversion technologies, a questionnaire was drawn up and sent to a group of experts. Given the need to generate electricity in a sustainable way, the information was analyzed under four main criteria: technical, environmental, social and economic. Sixteen additional subcriteria were selected based on a literature review. In general, the economic criterion is the most relevant in the area due to the high investment and operating costs of electricity generation. The social criterion highlights the opportunity to create new jobs very important for the study area, while the environmental criterion highlights the component of renewable energy substitution and environmental care, a key aspect in the diversification of the energy matrix, which is part of the country's political agenda. Regarding the technological component, self-consumption photovoltaic energy seems the most favorable due to its low environmental impact and the considerable price reduction experienced by the solar panel market in recent years.

Collective self-consumption in multi-tenancy buildings–To what extent do consumers’ goals influence the energy system's performance?

Collective self-consumption can have an important role contributing to decarbonization and sustainability goals in cities. However, the implementation of such projects is hindered by technical, economic, social and regulatory barriers, which may compromise those goals. Based on the recent guiding principles for collective energy systems established under the scope of the European Union's Clean Energy Package, this work aims to assess how cost minimization and self-consumption maximization collective objectives may influence the economic and energy performance of a shared electricity generation and self-consumption project implemented in a multi-tenancy environment. A multiagent framework is developed to model the building dynamics while optimization algorithms are implemented to exploit individual and collective goals. Our findings show that cost minimization and self-consumption maximization can be conflicting objectives and influence the project energy and economic performance. While the cost minimization objective is more attractive for projects in which cost-driven participants are concerned with recovering investment, the self-consumption maximization objective is more suitable for cost-indifferent participants and projects aimed at energy self-sufficiency. These results raise relevant hints for stakeholders (participants, investors and policymakers), contributing to make better investment decisions and design better policies incentivizing electricity generation and management in multi-tenancy buildings.

Implementation of the Hierarchical Analytical Process in the Selection of the Best Source of Renewable Energy in the Colombian Caribbean Region

In this study, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodology is implemented to provide decision criteria in the selection, planning, and development of electric power generation projects from renewable energy sources in the Caribbean region of Colombia. Six sources of renewable energy; biomass combustion; anaerobic digestion of biomass; biogas landfills; waste incineration; Photovoltaic energy and solar thermal radiation were considered in this study due to their energy potential in rural areas and areas not interconnected to the national electricity system. To determine the order of priority in the development of energy conversion technologies, a questionnaire was developed and sent to a group of experts. Given the need to generate electricity sustainably, the information was analyzed under four main criteria: technical, environmental, social, and economic. Sixteen additional sub-criteria were selected based on a literature review. In general, the economic criterion is the most relevant in the area due to the high investment and operating costs of electricity generation. The social criterion highlights the opportunity to create new jobs, while the environmental criterion highlights the component of substitution of renewable energy, a key aspect in the diversification of the energy matrix, which is part of the country's political agenda. Regarding the technological component, photovoltaic energy seems the most favorable due to its low environmental impact and the considerable reduction in prices experienced by the solar panel market in recent years.

Sugar-energy bioelectricity in energy trading environments: reasons for the lack of competitiveness

PurposeRenewables such as sugar-energy biomass can contribute to national electrical security, job creation and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. However, after the auction of reserve energy, in 2008, exclusive biomass, in the regulated contracting environment (RCE), the authors observe that this energy environment has lost competitiveness in the auctions. Thus, a study on the present theme is justified, based on the problem: What are the reasons for the lack of competitiveness of sugar-energy bioelectricity in the Auctions of the RCE of the National Electric Energy Agency? The purpose of this study is to understand the situation of sugar-energy bioelectricity in the Brazilian market.Design/methodology/approachLiterature review was conducted through the Scientific Electronic Library Online database, as well as the survey of primary documents at Sugarcane Industry Union and Electric Energy Trading Chamber.FindingsThe reasons for lack of competitiveness in RCE electricity auctions are: distant location of transmission lines; difficulties in obtaining licensing; delay in responses from environmental agencies; difficulties in securing financing for electricity generation projects for distilleries; non-pricing of positive environmental externalities as adequate disposal of waste; and the non-recovery of the cost of retrofit of the plants. The present situation may create economic, social and ecological circumstances adverse for Brazilian development, such as a lack of employment and income generation, loss of international currencies from imports of technologies not developed and produced in the country and more significant inefficiency greenhouse gas mitigation.Originality/valueThe originality of this study is in the contribution to the scarce literature on the understanding of the reasons for the lack of competitiveness of the Brazilian sugarcane sector in auctions of the regulated energy environment, based on SWOT analysis and, based on this understanding, to propose solutions for the expansion of this important matrix energy.

Optimization of risk assessment in renewable energy of Russia by applying statistical calculations of climatic characteristics and GIS technologies

Based on the characteristics of the renewable energy sources (RES), current states and also Russia uses the analysis of emerging risks and their management methods for avoiding this problem. The analysis of methodological approaches to assessing emerging risks in the implementation of electricity generation projects based on various types of renewable energy sources is carried out. The problems of assessing the natural resource risks of using renewable energy in the Russian Federation in relation to the climatic regionalization of the territory are examined. The most representative parameters of the ecological and geographical component for assessing the degree of risk by using renewable energy are highlighted. The authors propose a methodology for assessing the degree of risk for using solar resources based on the characteristics calculated of the influx variability for solar radiation to the earth's surface, by assessing and mapping the level of natural resource risks. The levels of resource risks in solar energy development for some regions of Russia were estimated. The paper presents maps of areas with different risk levels in Russia.

Household Electricity Generation as a Way of Energy Independence of States—Social Context of Energy Management

The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of influence of alternative options for generating electricity by households on the level of energy independence of countries. The research methodology was based on the use of correlation–regression analysis, as well as adapted non-linear optimization by choosing one of three scenarios for electricity generation by households for 20 countries. Regression analysis showed the dependence of a country’s energy security on households’ energy independence. It is determined that an increase in households’ energy production helps to reduce the level of energy dependence in developed countries. However, for developing countries, there is no such interrelation. The solution of the formulated problem of nonlinear optimization for the studied countries has demonstrated that the criterion of energy dependence is superior to the criterion of a country’s energy security. In the long term, this study can be deepened in the direction of assessing the effectiveness of household investment in electricity generation projects. The proposed results can be used by responsible persons in the field of economy and energy in order to determine the position of various policies, and use strategic levers and indicators that ensure an effective response to energy security challenges in the regional and global markets.

Economic analysis of the German regulation for electrical generation projects from biogas applying the theory of real options

In this research, four electricity generation projects from biogas are analyzed. The present value of public aid granted by the German Administration in the four projects is calculated by applying real options theory. It is determined that the public aids are greater for the plants of 500 kW of installed capacity, resulting in values of 33.418 euros per megawatt-hour in biogas plants from landfills and 22.334 euros per megawatt-hour in biogas plants from the treatment of sewage. The public aid for the two 5 MW biogas plants from landfills and biogas from wastewater treatment turned out to be equal with a value of 17.222 euros per megawatt-hour. This study has relied on a new methodology to calculate the value of government incentives for electricity generation projects from biogas in Germany, applying real options. It shows the higher cost for the German Administration of biogas plants with lower installed capacity (500 kW), compared to biogas plants with higher installed capacity (5 MW), as a result of granted governmental incentives for electricity generation.

Closing the void in energy planning modeling: Integrating local realities

Closing the void in energy planning modeling: Integrating local realities

Evaluation of the maturity level of biomass electricity generation technologies using the technology readiness level criteria

This article assesses the level of maturity of current biomass power generation technologies, by using metrics of technology readiness levels. A questionnaire was developed and sent to hundreds of bioenergy experts from several countries. A total of 101 answers to the survey were received from the experts. Such analysis was based on a method commonly used in the defense sector, but modified, mainly in terms and concepts issues, about particularities of biomass energy generation technologies. Obtained results indicate that 62.07% of experts in the sector consider Conventional Rankine Cycle technology having already a high degree of maturity, with a Technology Readiness Levels of 8 or higher, and 37.11% of experts consider Organic Rankine Cycle technology also has a high degree of maturity. Technology Readiness Level definition for Gasifier/Internal combustion engine technology resulted to be a complex task as reflected in the present survey’s results, where the weighted Technology Readiness Level is 6. The technologies showing lower weighted TRL values are integrated gasifier combined cycle, externally fired gas turbines, steam radial turbines, screw expander, gasifier/gas microturbine, and Stirling engines. Survey results and reviewed performance data provide very useful information for preliminary technology selection in biomass electricity generation projects.