Electricity Producers Research Articles

Gas diffusion bioelectrodes

Summary Currently, bioelectrocatalytic devices such as biofuel cells and bioreactors are recognized as new environment-friendly devices for the production of electricity and valuable products. Thus far, systems have been improved from the viewpoints of enzymes and electrodes. A gas diffusion bioelectrode (GDBE) is one of the best approaches to improve electrode systems. This system has been remarkably developed and essentially employed in bioelectrocatalytic systems with gaseous substrates to realize high-speed H2 oxidation and O2 reduction for biofuel cells and to realize the high-speed bioelectrocatalytic reduction of CO2. GDBEs permit the enzymes to directly use gaseous substrates, and it is imperative that the electrodes exhibit suitable porosity, conductivity, and hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity balance for the gas permeation and enzyme reaction at the bio-three-phase interface of GDBEs. In this review article, the major factors of GDBEs are discussed by highlighting recent remarkable contributions and challenges.

Importance of fuel in the valuation of lignite-based energy projects with risk assessment from geology to energy market

This research aims to discuss complex economics of lignite-based energy projects with respect to risk and uncertainty, optimisation, sustainable land use and the importance of lignite as fuel that may be expressed in situ as a deposit of energy. The sensitivity analyses and Monte Carlo simulations performed in this article include estimated land acquisition costs, geostatistics, 3D deposit block modelling, electricity (product) price, power station efficiency, the unit cost of lignite processing at the power station, CO2 allowance costs, mining unit cost and also geological risk considered as kriging estimation error for lignite reserves. The investigated parameters have a nonlinear influence on the final results and hence the economically viable amount of lignite in the optimum ultimate pit varies. The optimum ultimate pit area varies across scenarios from 11.2km2 (or even 9.1km2) up to 14.3km2. The performed simulations allowed each optimum ultimate pit to be calculated from a unique set of project parameters based on their distributions. For the highest surface cost scenario, there is 95% probability of obtaining undiscounted net value of €1277 million and also there is only 5% chance to obtain the net value of €5524 million.

China's Green Lights Program: A review and assessment

Lighting accounts for 10–13% of China's electricity consumption. Triggered by the nationwide power shortage of the mid-1990s, the Chinese government launched its Green Lights Program in 1996. Since then, this program has been continuously highlighted in the nation's 9th–12th Five-Year Plans (1996–2015). This paper presents a review and assessment of this program during the past two decades. Based on available data, the achievements along with the implementation of this program are assessed by examining a set of indicators of electricity savings, consumer savings, market penetration, product quality, and production capacity expansion. The success of this programs can be attributed to several factors: 1) strong and sustained government commitment; 2) prioritized policy focus by program stages; 3) extensive efforts on product quality control; 4) a close symbiosis of energy efficiency policies with industrial development policies; and 5) the implementation of various incentive schemes. Nonetheless, several challenges are evident that the program needs to address in its next phase. These include: 1) promoting the use of efficient lighting products in rural China; 2) emphasizing the overall efficacy of lighting fixtures rather than focusing only on bulb efficacy; and 3) promoting the healthy development of an emerging semiconductor lighting industry in the nation.

CCS Research Development and Deployment in a Clean Energy Future: Lessons from Australia over the Past Two Decades

Abstract There is widespread, though by no means universal, recognition of the importance of carbon capture and storage (CCS) as a carbon mitigation technology. However, the rate of deployment does not match what is required for global temperatures to stay well below 2 °C. Although some consider the hurdles to achieving the widespread application of CCS to be almost insurmountable, a more optimistic view is that a great deal is now known about CCS through research, demonstration, and deployment. We know how to do it; we are confident it can be done safely and effectively; we know what it costs; and we know that costs are decreasing and will continue to do so. We also know that the world will need CCS as long as countries, companies, and communities continue to use fossil fuels for energy and industrial processes. What is lacking are the necessary policy drivers, along with a technology-neutral approach to decrease carbon emissions in a cost-effective and timely manner while retaining the undoubted benefits of ready access to reliable and secure electricity and energy-intensive industrial products. In this paper, Australia is used as an example of what has been undertaken in CCS over the past 20 years, particularly in research and demonstration, but also in international collaboration. Progress in the large-scale deployment of CCS in Australia has been too slow. However, the world’s largest storage project will soon be operational in Australia as part of the Gorgon liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, and investigations are underway into several large-scale CCS Flagship program opportunities. The organization and progress of the Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technologies (CO2CRC) Otway Project, which is currently Australia’s only operational storage project, is discussed in some detail because of its relevance to the commercial deployment of CCS. The point is made that there is scope for building on this Otway activity to investigate more broadly (through the proposed Otway Stage 3 and Deep Earth Energy and Environment Programme (AusDEEP)) the role of the subsurface in carbon reduction. There are challenges ahead if CCS is to be deployed as widely as bodies such as the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) consider to be necessary. Closer international collaboration in CCS will be essential to meeting that challenge.

Studi Perbedaan Niat Beli Green Electricity Product Berdasarkan Gender

Consumers adapt to this situation by considering environmental issue when shopping and by their purchase behavior. The aims of this paper are examines of differences of environment awareness and purchase intentions between male and female of students of Surabaya State University. Secondly, examines also role linearly of environment awareness on purchase intentions. Examines role linearly of environment awareness on purchase intentions of green electricity product using simple linier regression analysis. The results indicate that there are no differences of environment awareness and purchase intentions at the students of Surabaya State University by gender. And finally, environmental awareness has also positive effect on purchase intentions. The results of this study have implications for marketers in identifying, designing, and managing marketing mix with consider discrepancy of purchase intentions in the green electricity product by gender.

Life Cycle Assessment of Producing Electricity in Thailand: A Case Study of Natural Gas Power Plant

Environmental impacts from natural gas power plant in Thailand was investigated in this study. The objective was to identify the hotspot of environmental impact from electricity production and the allocation of emissions from power plant was studied. All stressors to environment were collected for annual natural gas power plant operation. The allocation of environmental load between electricity and steam was done by WRI/WBCSD method. Based on the annual power plant operation, the highest of environmental impact was fuel combustion, followed by natural gas extraction, and chemical reagent. After allocation, the result found that 1 kWh of electricity generated 0.425 kgCO2eq and 1 ton of steam generated 225 kgCO2eq. When compared based on 1GJ of energy product, the result showed that the environmental impact of electricity is higher than steam product. To improve the environmental performance, it should be focused on the fuel combustion, for example, increasing the efficiency of gas turbine, and using low sulphur content of natural gas. This result can be used as guideline for stakeholder who engage with the environmental impact from power plant; furthermore, it can be useful for policy maker to understand the allocation method between electricity and steam products.

Energy Outputs and Financial Returns of On-Farm Biodigester Systems in the United States: A Case Study in Vermont

This study assesses the investments, energy outputs, and financial returns of on-farm anaerobic digester systems (ADS) by farm size through a case study in Vermont and discusses the potential policy implications. Detailed data on the initial investments, production of electricity and other marketable products, operational expenses, and income, collected through surveys of eight operating ADS on dairy farms in Vermont, are used to estimate the return on equity (ROE), return on assets (ROA), and other financial indicators for small, medium, and large farms. The primary survey data indicate that the average investment was $1.35 million for small and medium farms (75-500 cows) and $2.44 million for large farms (>500 cows). Financial analysis indicates that the ROE and ROA were 12.54% and 13.50% for large farms but only 0.73% and 1.07% for small and medium dairy farms, respectively. Whereas the technology of ADS developed in the United States seems to favor large farms in terms of both energy production and financial returns, the centralized ADS developed in Europe and low-cost mini digesters developed in China may have potentials for small and medium farms to develop more economically viable ADS in the United States.

Hbox {CO}_2-intensive power generation and REDD-based emission offsets with a benefit-sharing mechanism

We propose and explore financial instruments supporting programs for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (FI-REDD). Within a microeconomic framework we model interactions between an electricity producer (EP), electricity consumer (EC), and forest owner (FO). To keep their profit at a maximum, the EP responds to increasing hbox {CO}_2 prices by adjusting electricity quantities generated by different technologies and charging a higher electricity price to the EC. The EP can prepare for future high (uncertain) hbox {CO}_2 prices by employing FI-REDD: they can purchase an amount of offsets under an unknown future hbox {CO}_2 price and later, when the hbox {CO}_2 price is discovered, decide how many of these offsets to use for actually offsetting emissions and sell the rest on the market, sharing the revenue with the FO. FI-REDD allows for optional consumption of emission offsets by the EP (any amount up to the initially contracted volume is allowed), and includes a benefit-sharing mechanism between the EP and FO as it regards unused offsets. The modeling results indicate that FI-REDD might help avoid bankruptcy of hbox {CO}_2-intensive producers at high levels of hbox {CO}_2 prices and therefore serve as a stabilizing mechanism during the transition of energy systems to greener technologies. The analytical results demonstrate the limits for potential market size explained by existing uncertainties. We illustrated that when suppliers and consumers of REDD offsets have asymmetric information on future hbox {CO}_2 prices, benefit-sharing increases the contracted REDD offsets quantity.

Wind, hydro or mixed renewable energy source: Preference for electricity products when the share of renewable energy increases

While the share of renewable energy, especially wind power, increases in the energy mix, the risk of temporary energy shortage increases as well. Thus, it is important to understand consumers' preference for the renewable energy towards the continuous growing renewable energy society. We use a discrete choice experiment to infer consumers' preferences when the share of renewable energy increases. The study results indicate that consumers are generally willing to pay extra for an increasing share of renewable energy, but the renewable energy should come from a mixture of renewable energy sources. We also found that consumers prefer to trade with their current supplier rather than another well-known supplier. This study contributes to the energy portfolio theories and the theory of energy diversification in a consumer perspective. The managerial implications of this study are also discussed.

Analysis of dual fluidized bed gasification integrated system with liquid fuel and electricity products

Dual fluidized bed (DFB) reactor is one of promising ways for biomass gasification. In this work, an integrated system is designed to produce multi products, i.e., liquid fuel and electricity using biomass as feedstock. The system consists of four main sections, i.e. Gasification, CO2 capture, F-T synthesis, Power Generation. HRSG unit is applied to recover the sensible heat and produce steam, and the heat and electricity demanded by this system are produced by itself. The simulation is conducted in Aspen Plus and the results are verified with the literature and industrial data. Carbon chain analysis, energy analysis and green degree method are applied to evaluate the mass conversion, energy utilization and environmental influence of the system, which presents a clear description of the whole system. Furthermore, CO conversion of DFB reactor has a significant influence on oil production. The results show that 39.7% (HHV) of biomass energy is stored in products, 24.0% (HHV) in liquid fuel and 15.7% (HHV) in electricity. The energy efficiency comparison between several integrated systems is also given.

Warm glow from green power: Evidence from Australian electricity consumers

Green electricity products are increasingly made available to consumers in many countries in order to address a number of environmental and social concerns. Most of the literature on this green electricity market focuses on consumers’ characteristics and product attributes that could affect participation. However, the contribution of this environmental consumerism to the overall environmental good does not depend on participation alone. The real impact relies on market participation for green consumers (the proportion of green consumers) combined with the level of green consumption intensity – the commitment levels, or proportion of consumption that is green. We design an online interface that closely mimics the real market decision environment for electricity consumers in Western Australia and use an error component model to analyze consumers’ choice of green electricity products and their commitment levels. We show that product attributes have limited impact on the choice of green products; however, there is still great potential for better participation by improving the design of green electricity programs. When green products are selected, most respondents select the minimum commitment possible, and this is insensitive to the premium being charged on green power, suggesting that we are largely observing a buy-in ‘warm glow’ for carbon mitigation.

State and prospects petrochemical complex of the Euroasian Economic Union States

Ensuring the competitiveness of national products and the acceleration of economic development in modern conditions are largely determined by their role in the world integration structures. One of the promising directions of Russia's participation in the integration process is the development of economic relations within the EEUS. Among the member countries the greatest potential petrochemical complex have Russia and Kazakhstan. Demand for oil, gas and petroleum products in Kyrgyzstan and Armenia are mainly met by imports from neighboring countries. Russia is a major exporter of energy resources for the neighboring countries, and one of the major consumers of manufactured goods in the countries of the EEUS. In this regard, it is Russia that is the determining reference point in matters of cooperation and harmonization of the various national systems of member countries. The most important direction of development of the Eurasian Economic Union is to create common markets for oil, gas, electricity and petroleum products. The geographical position allows you to create general transport routes, which can serve as a basis to accelerate economic growth in Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. Among the topical issues of the integration of significantly different structure of tax systems and the structure of the state budget, the most important is to create a unified system of taxation petrochemical complex. In this regard, it is necessary planned reform of the tax systems of all the participants in the taxation and control of subsoil users on the combined area, as well as in matters of indirect taxation of hydrocarbons. The next step is to improve the system of determining the tariffs for the transportation of various types of transport resources. High potential petrochemical complex in Russia and Kazakhstan and significant experience in the taxation of subsoil users in these countries suggests that they will have a leading role in the development and decision-making on major issues.

Willingness to pay lip service? Applying a neuroscience-based method to WTP for green electricity

Consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) represents a central question for providers of renewable energy. Most studies on the subject have used contingent valuation and choice experiments. However, all empirical designs employed to date suffer from serious biases, such as strategic behavior. We introduce a novel neuroscience-based approach to renewable energy-related WTP research, Neuropricing, which eliminates some of these biases. We tested consumers' WTP for two different green electricity products and found WTP for these products to be about 15% above that for a non-green electricity tariff. Our results suggest that Neuropricing is indeed able to eliminate strategic behavior. Moreover, this approach allows for WTP studies with much smaller sample sizes than traditional methods require. The neuroscience methodology can be used by researchers and marketers alike not only for testing the effects of product attributes on WTP but also for evaluating WTP effects of specific messages in marketing communications. Thus it may lead to a better understanding of consumer behavior and hence facilitate more successful marketing of renewable energy.

Life-cycle performance of hydrogen as an energy management solution in hydropower plants: A case study in Central Italy

The suitability of hydrogen as an energy management solution in a run-of-river hydropower plant in Central Italy is evaluated from a life-cycle perspective. Hydrogen production at off-peak hours via electrolysis is considered, as well as potential hydrogen storage in metal hydrides followed by hydrogen use at peak hours for power generation using fuel cell technology. Hydropower generation and hydrogen production are identified as the subsystems contributing most to the nine evaluated impact categories (e.g., global warming, abiotic depletion and cumulative energy demand). The renewable hydrogen produced shows a more favourable life-cycle environmental and energy performance than conventional hydrogen generated via steam methane reforming. Furthermore, when enlarging the system with hydrogen use for power generation, the renewable electricity product shows a better life-cycle profile than conventional electricity for the Italian electrical grid. Overall, under life-cycle aspects, hydrogen is found to be a suitable energy solution in hydropower plants both as a hydrogen product itself (e.g., for transportation) and as a feedstock for subsequent power generation at peak hours.

Opportunities and Challenges in the Design and Analysis of Biomass Supply Chains.

The biomass supply chain is one of the most critical elements of large-scale bioenergy production and in many cases a key barrier for procuring initial funding for new developments on specific energy crops. Most productions rely on complex transforming chains linked to feed and food markets. The term 'supply chain' covers various aspects from cultivation and harvesting of the biomass, to treatment, transportation, and storage. After energy conversion, the product must be delivered to final consumption, whether it is in the form of electricity, heat, or more tangible products, such as pellets and biofuels. Effective supply chains are of utmost importance for bioenergy production, as biomass tends to possess challenging seasonal production cycles and low mass, energy and bulk densities. Additionally, the demand for final products is often also dispersed, further complicating the supply chain. The goal of this paper is to introduce key components of biomass supply chains, examples of related modeling applications, and if/how they address aspects related to environmental metrics and management. The paper will introduce a concept of integrated supply systems for sustainable biomass trade and the factors influencing the bioenergy supply chain landscape, including models that can be used to investigate the factors. The paper will also cover various aspects of transportation logistics, ranging from alternative modal and multi-modal alternatives to introduction of support tools for transportation analysis. Finally gaps and challenges in supply chain research are identified and used to outline research recommendations for the future direction in this area of study.

Consumer attitudes towards renewable energy in China—The case of Shanghai

In this paper, we study the consumers’ attitudes towards green energy in China and their willingness to buy green electricity or renewable energy systems. A survey was conducted in the Shanghai region and 232 respondents answered the questionnaire. Generalized linear regression models were used in analyzing the results. The willingness to buy an own renewable energy system (e.g. solar water heater) is affected by age, how promising the renewable energy potential is seen and whether the person can choose the water heating and cooling system. The willingness to pay for a specific green electricity product is influenced by income, building type, how promising the renewable energy potential is seen, and whether the person can choose the water heating and cooling system.Our results show that price and equipment issues (operation, maintenance) were often seen as barriers to buying green energy. Energy savings and energy security were most often chosen as motivations for buying green energy and environmental reasons were less frequently chosen. Yet, buying green energy would have a strong environmental meaning for many respondents. Several respondents mentioned that lower prices and government subsidies could motivate them to buy green energy, and that more information and advertisement campaigns are needed.

Results of theoretical and experimental studies of hydrodynamics of circulation loops in circulating fluidized bed reactors and systems with interconnected reactors

Problems of the calculation of circulation loops in circulating fluidized bed reactors and systems with interconnected reactors (polygeneration systems for the production of electricity, heat, and useful products and chemical cycles of combustion and gasification of solid fuels)are considered. A method has been developed for the calculation of circulation loop of fuel particles with respect to boilers with circulating fluidized bed (CFB) and systems with interconnected reactors with fluidized bed (FB) and CFB. New dependences for the connection between the fluidizing agent flow (air, gas, and steam) and performance of reactors and for the whole system (solids flow rate, furnace and cyclone pressure drops, and bed level in the riser) are important elements of this method. Experimental studies of hydrodynamics of circulation loops on the aerodynamic unit have been conducted. Experimental values of pressure drop of the horizontal part of the L-valve, which satisfy the calculated dependence, have been obtained.

Value seeking, price sensitive, or green? Analyzing preference heterogeneity among residential energy consumers in Denmark

This study examines the heterogeneous consumer preference for electricity products in the residential electricity retailing market. Based on consumers’ trade-off decision making, we identified three distinct consumer segments: the value seeking consumers (53%), the price sensitive consumers (25%), and the green consumers (22%). We concluded that consumers are willing to pay extra for the increasing share of renewable energy. Consumer socio-demographic characteristics had also influence on their choices for electricity products. The findings of this study can help explain how different consumer segment can be affected by the change of electricity product attributes. Thus, it provides insightful knowledge on how to differentiate electricity products so as to satisfy specific consumer segments’ needs. Finally, the findings of this study have implications for energy policy makers (regulators) on consumers’ preference for electricity products assuming that consumers should make a choice among various products.

Electricity supply auctions: Understanding the consequences of the product definition

We study the impact of product definition in electricity auctions. Recognizing the key role of the auction rules—pay as bid, uniform—the definition of the product itself emerges also as a critical step. Poorly designed products may impact both the market performance and the physical operation of the system. We investigate the impacts that the product definition can have on the market outcomes. A product definition implemented in some electricity markets is used to unveil critical aspects that must be considered when electricity products are defined. Our results provide guidelines for improving the product definition in electricity auctions.

ChemInform Abstract: Hybrid Direct Carbon Fuel Cells and Their Reaction Mechanisms — A Review

AbstractReview: 85 refs.