Energy Authority Research Articles

Sustainable power plants: A support tool for the analysis of alternatives

Shortage of fossil fuels and global oil crisis are leading many national energy authorities to switch from traditional fuels to other renewable ones. On the other hand, in several western countries – due to an increasing environmental awareness – public acceptance of traditional power plants (e.g., coal or fired oil) is steadily decreasing, mostly because of their significant environmental pressures. Decision makers’ activities need to be supported by objective tools, which must be designed to be able to select the best alternative in order to achieve some prefixed goals. Therefore, in the present study, a tool is proposed to support decision makers: it is based on Life Cycle Assessment data from seven different power plants (coal, fired oil, fired gas, nuclear, wind, solar and hydroelectric), to understand what is taken into in terms of material fluxes, and how much it costs in a specific context. Consequently, an Analytic Hierarchy Process has been proposed to select which one might be the best alternative in function of the considered scale and ten environmental criteria. The proposed procedure aims to evaluate different power plants and identify the most environmentally sustainable one in function of plant construction and operation phases.

Proposal for an irradiation facility at the TAEK SANAEM Proton Accelerator Facility

Turkish Atomic Energy Authority's (TAEK's) Proton Accelerator Facility in Ankara, Turkey, has been inaugurated in May 2012 and is under the process of being certified for commercial radio-isotope production. Three of the four arms of the 30MeV cyclotron are being used for radio-isotope production, while the fourth is foreseen for research and development of novel ideas and methods. The cyclotron can vary the beam current between 12μA and 1.2mA, sufficient for irradiation tests for semiconductor materials, detectors and devices. We propose to build an irradiation facility in the R&D room of this complex, open for use to the international detector development community.

Wave energy resource characterisation of the Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site

The Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS), a grid connected test area for the deployment of full scale Wave Energy Converters (WECs), is being developed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland near Belmullet in Co. Mayo, Ireland. In this paper measured data provided by two wave buoys, positioned at a deepwater location (100m depth) and an offshore location (50m depth), are analysed in order to characterise the wave resource at the site. In particular, a distinction is made between which sea states occur with the most regularity and which wave conditions are the most significant for the capture of power. The spatial variation in the occurrence of important summary statistics between the deepwater and offshore sites is examined and the difference in incident wave power calculated. Finally, this paper compares conditions at the Belmullet site with those measured at the quarter scale test site in Galway Bay. An assessment on the degree of scalability between resource parameters relevant to WEC power production experienced at the two locations, as recommended by development protocols, is made and methods for comparing benign and exposed sites proposed.

Optimization of a grid-connected renewable energy system for a case study in Nablus, Palestine

Recently, the Palestinian energy authority has approved a renewable energy policy to resolve the electricity problem caused by the Palestinian-Israeli energy dispute. Based on this, clear technical aspects in regards to renewable energy systems must enforced. In this research, a renewable energy system consisting of a PV and a wind energy source is proposed to be connected to Nablus city electricity grid. The proposed system is optimally designed taking into consideration maximum system productivity and inverter size. Two evaluating factors are used to optimally choose the configuration of the proposed system namely final yield factor (FY) and capacity factor (CF). As for the inverter, a liner programming optimization is performed to find out the optimum inverter sizing ratio (the rated power of the energy source to the rated power of the inverter). The results show that the use of PV energy sources is more feasible as compared to wind energy sources in Nablus. Therefore, a grid-connected system consisting of PV array only as an energy source is recommended. Moreover, the optimum sizing ratio of the inverter in the proposed system is 1.42.

Developing MATLAB software for PV and battery sizing for lighting projects in Gaza Strip, Palestine

Recently, with the critical situation of the siege on Gaza Strip, the need for an alternative energy source instead of traditional energy sources increases day by day, especially as Palestine is considered one of the sunny countries and receives good solar radiation over the year. In this paper, the MATLAB software is developed for sizing process of PV modules and batteries. The developed software determines the required number of PV modules and batteries taking into account the IEEE recommendations. The software is an efficient tool for designers and consultants in the Authority of Energy in Palestine.

Distribution of Thyroid Cancer in the Eastern Part of Turkey 27 Years After the Chernobyl Accident.

BackgroundThe Chernobyl accident caused widespread effects across Europe and huge areas where radiocontaminated. The effects of the Chernobyl accident on thyroid cancer have been investigated in most European countries. According to the data of the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority, the eastern part of the Black Sea region was the most radiocontaminated area in Turkey at the time of Chernobyl accident. We therefore aimed to examine the data of thyroid cancers at our center, Rize city which is located in the eastern Black Sea region.MethodsThis retrospective study included the patients with histologically proven thyroid cancer at our center between January 2008 and May 2012. Pathologic examinations of thyroidectomy materials were reviewed. We evaluated patients’ age, gender, size of the primary tumor (all sizes, < 1 cm, 1 - 2.9 cm, 3 - 3.9 cm and ≥ 4 cm), multicentricity, histologic subtypes of thyroid cancer, the presence of lymphatic, vascular, capsule and the extrathyroidal invasion.ResultsFive hundred and forty-seven of the 3,556 patients were diagnosed with thyroid cancer. The mean age of the patients was 49.31 ± 0.49 years. The histopathologic diagnosis of patients was papillary carcinoma in 533 (97.4%) and the tumor size was < 1 cm in 53.6% of the patients. The presence of multicentricity was detected in 47% of the patients.ConclusionThe portion of thyroid carcinomas in all thyroidectomies was 15.4% in our institution 27 years after the Chernobyl accident.

A Review of Existing Microgrid Architectures

The future electricity network must be flexible, accessible, reliable, and economic according to the worldwide smartgrid initiative. This is also echoed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and European Electricity Grid Initiative (EEGI). In order to facilitate these objectives and to reduce green house gas (GHG) emission, research on various configurations of microgrid (μG) system is gaining importance, particularly with high penetration of renewable energy sources. Depending on the resource availability, geographical locations, load demand, and existing electrical transmission and distribution system,μG can be either connected to the grid or can work in an autonomous mode. Storage can also be a part of theμG architecture. This paper presents a critical literature review of variousμG architectures. The benefits of grid-connected or isolatedμG with storage have also been identified.

Clean energy investment scenarios using the Bayesian network

Clean energy investment decisions are getting more difficult to make due to public reactions. In order to support the policies in the field, analysis of the positive conditions is needed. This research aims to construct the positive scenarios for nuclear energy and renewable energy investments in the state of Oregon, USA. The Bayesian network technique will be used to create the scenarios. Oregon has a wide range of renewable energies; hence, investment is becoming more complex. Criteria affecting the decisions are taken from the literature, but were reviewed with energy authorities in Oregon in order to define the interactions.

Conference, conscience and climate

Climate change due to the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) represents a grave threat to human health and survival. But will abandoning the international conference make a difference? The physical...

The costs of power outages: A case study from Cyprus

We study the costs of electricity disruptions in Cyprus, which suffered severe power shortages in summer 2011 after an explosion that destroyed 60% of its power generating capacity. We employ both economic and engineering approaches to assess these costs. Among other calculations, we provide estimates of the value of lost load by economic sector and the hourly value of electricity by season and type of day. The results of two economic methods employed to assess welfare losses differ largely, indicating that the assessment of outage costs is associated with many uncertainties. Our calculations show that the emergency actions taken by national energy authorities in response to that accident, though not necessarily optimal, have generally been appropriate and in line with international best practices: the additional costs incurred due to these measures are lower than the economic losses avoided thanks to these actions. Preferential treatment of specific consumer types in the case of repeated power outages remains an open policy question.

Radiological characterization and environmental impact in northwestern coast of Egypt

A study of environmental radioactivity along the northwestern coast of Egypt was performed by the Central Laboratory for Environmental Radioactivity Measurements Inter-comparison and Training within the framework of the research project: Radiological Studies/Measurements of Natural and Man-made Radionuclides in the Environment. The present paper contains important conclusions, correlations and interpretations of the environmental measurements. The samples collection and measurements were conducted according to the Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority monitoring plan for locations along the northwestern coast of Egypt and its main tributaries of interest. The specific activities of 226Ra (238U series), 228Ra (232Th series), 40K and 137Cs (Bq/kg dry weight) were measured using gamma-ray spectrometers based on hyper-pure germanium detectors. The absorbed radiation dose rates in air (nGy/h) due to natural radionuclides in shore sediment and radium equivalent activity index (Bq/kg) were calculated. The specific activity ratios of 228Ra/226Ra were calculated for evaluation of the geo-chemical behavior of these radionuclides. Samples textures and CaCO3 and total organic matter contents of sediments were also determined while the pH, major cations and anions such as Na+, K+, Ca++, Mg++and Cl−, SO4 – and HCO3, respectively were also determined in water samples.

Seismic Evaluation of a Multipurpose Tower in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

Locating scientific instruments in remote regions of the planet poses many common problems beyond just logistics, in particular when these instruments are to function autonomously or semiautonomously. In seismology, this is particularly prevalent for seismic stations located in the polar regions of the planet. Extremely cold, but also variable temperature, wind, and sunlight conditions as well as general inaccessibility hamper both operation and maintenance of equipment in such regions (Gill, 1974; Holcomb, 1982). The search for a reliable source of electrical power for the continuous operation of sensors and digitizing equipment continues to be one of these concerns. Many technologies have been investigated including radioisotope thermoelectric generation (e.g., Lamp, 1994), thermal electric generators (TEGs) (e.g., Holcomb, 1982), diesel engines, chemical batteries, wind and solar power generation (Anandakrishnan et al. , 2000), and more recently, fuel‐cell technology (e.g., Stehle et al. , 2011). Each technology has its own pros and cons, and in general, the technology that is chosen is based on which best suits the application, its requirements, and stresses of the station and its operators. For seismic instruments, this often requires that any noise generated by this choice does not adversely affect the operation or observations of ground motion the instrument is trying to measure. Such is the case at the Yellowknife teleseismic array in Canada’s Northwest Territories. Commissioned in 1962, the role of the Yellowknife seismic array (YKA) was to investigate the capabilities of distributed arrays of seismometers to monitor for the tell‐tale ground motions from explosions of nuclear weapons testing by the then nuclear‐capable countries of the United States, Great Britain, France, and the former Soviet Union. In one of the eventually five similar arrays constructed by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), the research was to determine if small numbers of seismic arrays could be …

Quantification of energy savings from Ireland’s Home Energy Saving scheme: an ex post billing analysis

This paper quantifies the energy savings realised by a sample of participants in the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s Home Energy Saving (HES) residential retrofit scheme (currently branded as the Better Energy Homes scheme), through an ex post billing analysis. The billing data are used to evaluate: (1) the reduction in gas consumption of the sample between pre- (2008) and post- (2010) scheme participation when compared to the gas consumption of a control group, (2) an estimate of the shortfall when this result is compared to engineering-type ex ante savings estimates and (3) the degree to which these results may apply to the wider population. All dwellings in the study underwent energy efficiency improvements, including insulation upgrades (wall and/or roof), installation of high-efficiency boilers and/or improved heating controls, as part of the HES scheme. Metered gas use data for the 210 households were obtained from meter operators for a number of years preceding dwelling upgrades and for a post-intervention period of 1 year. Dwelling characteristics and some household behavioural data were obtained through a survey of the sample. The gas network operator provided anonymised data on gas usage for 640,000 customers collected over the same period as the HES sample. Dwelling type data provided with the population dataset enabled matching with the HES sample to increase the internal validity of the comparison between the control (matched population data) and the treatment (HES sample). Using a difference-in-difference methodology, the change in demand of the sample was compared with that of the matched population subset of gas-using customers in Ireland over the same time period. The mean reduction in gas demand as a result of energy efficiency upgrades for the HES sample is estimated as 21 % or 3,664 ± 603 kWh between 2008 and 2010. An ex ante estimate of average energy savings, based on engineering calculations (u value reductions and improved boiler efficiency and use through heating controls), suggests a technical reduction potential of 5,676 kWh per dwelling. Equating this with the gas reduction in the sample suggests a shortfall of approximately 36 ± 8 % between technical potential and measured savings. This shortfall includes the effects of direct and indirect rebound effects, variations in ex ante assumptions and achieved u values and efficiencies for upgraded dwellings. The profile of household characteristics in the HES sample is influenced by the self-selected nature of scheme participants. Self-selection bias and other possible biases in the sample data impact on the validity of the comparison. Data limitations for individual households across explanatory variables in the control and treatment groups precluded corrections for these biases in the sample; however, the profiles of separate comparable data sets were used where possible to quantify the differences in the explanatory variables and how these might impact on the measured energy saving with reference to the relevant effects identified in the literature.

Development, Dams and Dilma: the Saga of Belo Monte

The Belo Monte hydropower scheme on the River Xingu in Brazilian Amazonia symbolizes the persistent contradictions between industrial modernization and resource conservation in a fragile environment. For over 30 years, local populations have battled with the energy authorities, contesting the top-down planning approach regularly applied in Brazilian infrastructure expansion. Reconfigured over the past decade as ‘neo-developmentist’, the model complements neoliberalism and is based on a strong alliance between the state as financial backer and the private sector as executor of such major schemes as Belo Monte. Following her predecessors, President Dilma continues to employ authoritarian tactics with little apparent regard for dealing comprehensively with its anticipated severe economic, ecological and social impacts, and with minimal consultation of diverse local groups, especially poorer agricultural and indigenous populations. More transparent and democratic planning procedures are necessary for Belo Monte and similar schemes if Brazil’s environmental credentials are not to be seriously compromised.

Optimal Control on Energy

It is generally true that energy authorities always pursue optimal electrical power generation for use by the population at large. This text extends the application of the basic model of Rebelo’s Cobb-Douglas production model in order to calculate ways in which energy authorities (power companies) can generate optimal electricity using their existing equipment. This paper also applies that governments can utilize the concept of Environment Rent and the Contribution Theory from traditional Chinese philosophy to face the energy issues. Besides, the paper attempts to calculate and identify optimal solutions from these mathematics models, an approach which is rarely seen in the power generation journals. The use if existing equipment to optimize electricity (power) generation for the population will have an impact on economical development and electricity control. The appropriate control of power generation can effectively reduce the use of certain dangerous and polluting energy sources, and this is the main contribution of this study.

Strategy on Energy Capacity Control

In the past, energy authorities attempted to prevent potential entrants from participating in the energy market. This study posits that this two-stage game theory is insufficient to describe the modern-day situation. Ware (1984) modified the Dixit (1980) model to develop a three-stage game structure. We use this mathematical model to analyze the optimal cost of an energy authority and the strategy of excess capacity.

Heavy-Duty PHEV Yard Tractor: Controlled Testing and Field Results

Diesel powered tractors are used to shuttle cargo trailers from point to point within the confines of a port facility, terminal or warehouse yard. Such operations are similar to those in ground support applications at airports and in industrial warehouses with lift trucks, in that the vehicles are used as tools to move goods in a semi-regular pattern. Southern California Edison Company (SCE) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) have partnered to help electrify vehicle operations in both of those venues with great success and see good prospects for the same at port operations. However, current port operations might require large investments in infrastructure and operational changes to implement electric drive all at once. To help demonstrate the benefits of electric drive without requiring large-scale changes, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) yard tractor design was proposed by EPRI and member utilities as a means to reduce operational emissions and diesel fuel use. Four member utility companies with large port customers in their service area (SCE, Southern Company, CenterPoint Energy, and New York Power Authority) agreed to work with EPRI to study the benefits and impacts of a PHEV yard tractor. In 2007 the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) contracted US Hybrid Corporation (USH) to design and construct a unique PHEV yard tractor. SCE agreed to test and evaluate the PHEV yard tractor for EPRI. To properly evaluate the benefits realized by the yard tractor in comparison to unmodified conventional yard tractors as well as other alternative fueled tractors, SCE had to test the tractor in controlled conditions with realistic loads in addition to field testing. SCE developed test procedures for controlled testing and for field evaluation. The field testing was conducted in four ports across the United States, each with different operating conditions and climate: Long Beach, California; Houston, Texas; Savannah, Georgia; and New York City. SCE designed a test procedure that simulates an accelerated duty cycle of cargo operations. The accelerated duty cycle has multiple starts and stops and little idle time. SCE measured the idling fuel consumption separately so it can be inserted to match the duty cycle of any particular port. The test cycle was performed with the vehicle both unloaded and loaded to profile the effects of load on system efficiencies. SCE also tested the battery and charger performance of the PHEV, and as a comparison, tested an unmodified yard tractor. In the accelerated testing, SCE found the PHEV fuel savings were as high as 60% (on a per-cycle basis) when compared to a stock diesel Kalmar tractor, and up to 35% fuel savings versus operating the PHEV tractor as a hybrid (i.e, not charging it), In charge sustaining operation, the fuel savings are as high as 40% compared to the stock vehicle. On a daily-operation basis, the projected fuel savings on a duty cycle similar to the SCE test cycle could be as low as 35% but as high as 60% with significant amounts of idling and low speed operation. The field test results show good fuel economy but are complicated by reliability issues that reduced the operational time of the prototype PHEV vehicle. Also, it was difficult to get fleet fuel use data. It was the intention in the project to compare the test vehicle’s results with the fleet average fuel use per unit time. These results will be discussed in the body of the paper. Port operators, in general, appreciated the engineoff mode’s reduced noise and exhaust. The US Hybrid prototype PHEV yard tractor has the potential to significantly reduce fuel consumption, as demonstrated in the SCE tests. Performance issues with the prototype prevented full duty in the field tests. Further testing, with a more reliable vehicle incorporating the key system improvements learned from this project, is worth pursuing to determine if the potential fuel savings can be fully realized in larger scale. Furthermore, the techniques and testing methods described can be used for other alternatively-fueled yard tractors.

CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION – SRI LANKA’S PERSPECTIVE

Climate Change with the associated increase in global temperature and sea level rise has become the most important global concern in the present day. A land mark event in this regard is the signing of the Climate Change Convention in 1992 in Rio, Brazil which provided targets for especially developed countries to reduce their Green House Gas (GHG) emissions by 5% of the 1990 levels by 2012.Mitigation of global warming involves taking actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to enhance sinks aimed at reducing the extent of global warming It has been found that almost 5400 million tons (Mt) of CO2 equivalents are emitted annually from various sources linked to human activities. Sri Lanka’s CO2 emission from fossil fuel combustion estimated at 2007 had been about 12,400 Gg CO2 which is only 0.04% of the global emission of 29,300 MtCO2 . The corresponding per capita CO2 emission was 648 kg in 2007 and although this is still much less than the global values, Sri Lanka has taken many policy measures that would result in mitigating GHG emissions.Mitigatory measures have been taken in all the sectors including energy (power, transport, industry and household and commercial), land use, land use change and forestry, waste etc. The Energy Policy and Strategies (2006) of the country emphasizes the need to resort to sustainable energy and has a target of having 10% of the energy from renewable sources (Non Conventional Renewable sources) by 2015, a target which can be achieved if all the pending initiatives towards this is made operational. Further, the Government is constantly questing for clean energy. Some of the other initiatives to reduce the carbon footprint in the service sector are Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” (LEED), ‘Greening Sri Lankan Hotels Programme’, setting up of the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority in 2007.In the arena of industries, location of industries in industrial estates and conducting Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA), voluntary standards like ISO 9001, ISO 14,001, Green building concepts, the Green Tax, Cleaner production initiatives, Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) benefits have provided incentives to reduce GHG in this sector. Many national initiatives are underway in reducing the GHGs in waste sector too. As a country with a high canopy forest cover of 23.5% and a forest cover of 40% in general the potential to act as a GHG sink in forestry sector is very high. While ensuring the sustainable development efforts this will help the country to obtain benefits from CDM or Reduced emissions from Deforestation and Land Degradation (REDD and REDD)+ programs in the future

The Impact of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Education on Radiation Exposure to Experienced Endoscopist: “Trainee Effect”

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP), as with other fluoroscopic procedures, carries the risk of exposure of staff to radiation. However, over the last two decades, only a few studies have investigated this risk. The aim of this work was to evaluate the dose of radiation exposure to staff participating in ERCP procedures in a busy teaching hospital that performs more than 1,850 procedures annually. The entire ERCP staff consisted of the experienced endoscopist, the assistant, and two nurses who were responsible for monitoring patients as well as keeping their heads in position during the procedure. RAD DOSE NEB.226 dosimeters, which were provided by the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority, were used for this study. Data on 110 consecutive therapeutic ERCP procedures was recorded. The mean fluoroscopy time was 5.65 ± 4.71 min. The mean fluoroscopy time of the 61 procedures performed by an experienced endoscopist alone was 5.41 ± 4.65 min, whereas the mean fluoroscopy time for the 49 procedures during which an assistant was involved was 5.94 ± 4.81 min (p = 0.56). In terms of median dose of ionizing radiation exposure to the eyes, the dose measurement per procedure in which the primary endoscopist participated alone was 72 microsievert (μSv), compared to 92 μSv when an assistant took part in theproceedings. Considering that the recommended annual equivalent dose limit to the lens of the eye is 150 mSv, by performing 1,850 procedures annually, the primary endoscopist exceeds this limit. Based on our results, taking into consideration the heavy workload in our hospital, it would seem that more experienced endoscopists are required to help provide training in ERCP, and that the use of lead acrylic goggles is required to decrease radiation exposure to the eyes.

Historical dictionary of atomic espionage

Almost from the moment in 1940 that Otto Frisch and Rudofl Peierls suggested, from their small office in the University of Birmingham, that an atomic weapon could be miniaturized and delivered to its target by aircraft, the concept of atomic espionage can be said to have existed. No sooner had the famous Frisch-Peierls Memorandum been received by the British War Cabinet than a Soviet mole, John Cairncross, passed the details on to his Soviet contact. And 70 years later with the International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA) estimating that up to 40 countries now have the capability of building nuclear weapons, the need to monitor this activity remains crucial. The Historical Dictionary of Atomic Espionage relates the history of atomic espionage through a chronology, an introductory essay, and cross-referenced dictionary entries on the agencies, agents, and operations. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about atomic espionage.