Expansion Of Energy Research Articles

Author Correction: Aligning renewable energy expansion with climate-driven range shifts

Author Correction: Aligning renewable energy expansion with climate-driven range shifts

Spinning stories: Wind turbines and local narrative landscapes in Germany

The successful transition toward renewable energies requires public support in areas where their expansion may cause adverse effects. In this context, narratives are crucial as they shape people's perceptions. This article examines the relationship between onshore wind power and related narratives in regions across Germany.We run a series of spatial regression models on regional newspaper data, and our findings suggest that wind-related topics are more prominent and more neutrally (less angrily) framed in regions with more wind turbines. Public attitudes supporting wind energy expansion correlate with the prominence of related topics in regions' narrative landscapes. In contrast, support for anti-wind protests does not seem to correlate with the prominence of wind-energy-related topics in regions with higher wind turbine densities.

Fixed-node errors in real space quantum Monte Carlo at high densities: Closed-shell atomic correlation energies

We consider non-relativistic electron correlation energies of heavy noble gas atoms including the superheavy element Og. The corresponding data enables us to quantify fixed-node errors in real space quantum Monte Carlo methods as a function of the atomic number Z. We confirm that single-reference trial function nodes lead to an overall trend of mild decrease in recovered correlation energy with the increasing Z. This agrees with our previous study that has shown increasing fixed-node biases with the increasing electron density. We also estimate the value of the linear term in the asymptotic expansion of the atomic correlation energy.

Charting the future of Brazil’s electricity: a multicriteria analysis of northeastern power strategies amidst climate challenge

The article addresses the challenges faced by regions under water stress, such as conflicts over water use, environmental degradation, and water resource scarcity, intensified by climate change. In areas dependent on hydropower generation, these problems are exacerbated, highlighting the need to transition to more sustainable and resilient energy sources. The study emphasizes the importance of multifaceted criteria for an effective transition of the electricity matrix in semi-arid regions, taking into account economic, technical, environmental, and social aspects. Focusing on the São Francisco River basin in Northeastern Brazil, where the energy matrix is predominantly hydroelectric, the study uses the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to evaluate alternative scenarios, analyzing options for wind, solar, and thermoelectric energy. The methodology adopted included the close collaboration of experts in defining and weighting essential criteria, covering economic, technical, environmental, and social aspects. The results show that, within the same group, options that involve greater reductions in hydroelectric generation are more advantageous. Analyzing the ranking among all alternatives, the group that includes higher expansion of wind energy presents the most viable options, followed by the reference strategy (based on average annual generation) and the group with greater expansion of solar capacity. Increasing the share of gas-fired thermoelectric power is considered a less favorable solution according to the criteria used in the model.

A NARRATIVA COLONIAL PARA IMPLANTAÇÃO DE USINAS HIDRELÉTRICAS NO AMAPÁ

In the Amazon, the persistence of a colonial project, which triggered the appropriation of the territory for the implementation of hydroelectric plants, has been reproducing damage and disasters and causing, for decades, a series of socio-environmental conflicts. From this perspective, the objective of this article is to analyze the dynamics of the implementation of mitigation and compensation measures, as an instrument of Environmental Policy, in communities of artisanal fishermen and family farmers in the Brazilian Amazon, specifically in the State of Amapá, which are subject to disasters caused by hydroelectric dams on the Araguari River. In the conjuncture, even in the face of the persistence of social and environmental damages and disasters, there is a discourse of the inevitability of hydroelectric plants, under the allegation that the consequences can be mitigated or compensated. However, guided by Decolonial Epistemology, after documentary analysis of Ten-Year Energy Expansion Plans (2006-2021), public civil actions, TACs and interviews, which comprise information collected from fishermen and family farmers on the Araguari River, State of Amapá, it was found that the implementation of mitigating and compensatory measures proved to be illusory. From a participatory research, it was possible to observe the destructuring of an environment that was the basis for the survival of secular communities. In view of this, it is necessary to break with this exclusionary and unequal rationality through resistance movements and to embark on an epistemological disobedience necessary to confront the relations of domination and power present in capitalist projects, such as hydroelectric plants.

Bidirectional soft-linking of a Capacity Expansion Model with a Production Cost Model to evaluate the feasibility of transition pathways towards carbon neutrality in the power sector

Energy models have been a valuable tool in support of well-informed decision-making towards the transition to climate neutrality in the European Union. However, considering the extra levels of detail required when designing a system based on intermittent renewables, modelling approaches in the field often lack the necessary time resolution, or are not open source, raising concerns of transparency and scientific reproducibility. This article addresses this gap by introducing a novel bidirectional soft-linking approach between two open-source energy models to generate long-term scenarios in the power sector and evaluate their feasibility, allowing for the optimisation of investments over a 30-year period and the sector's hourly operation at different snapshots. To demonstrate the applicability of this modelling approach, the Greek power sector is used as a testing ground in order to study the capacity and flexibility requirements of different transition pathways by 2050. Simulation outcomes show that a more ambitious variable renewable energy and storage capacity expansion than the one projected by the National Energy and Climate Plan is required to achieve the targets of 2050, while also highlighting a path dependency on gas at least until 2033. The latter could either result in a lock-in effect or to stranded assets if the decision to phase out gas is not taken rapidly. On the other hand, there is the potential to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035, if significant investments take place in time. Finally, switching from natural gas to hydrogen could be an effective solution for new gas power plants to avoid becoming stranded assets.

Optimization of regional power low-carbon transition pathways in China under differentiated tradable green certificates trading models

In line with China's carbon dioxide peaking and carbon neutrality goals, the widespread adoption of renewable energy has become a key global and national trend. Tradable Green Certificates (TGC), used as a policy tool to implement the Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) system, stimulate the supply and demand for renewable energy. China's current TGC trading model comprises Electricity Certificate Combination (ECC) and Electricity Certificate Separation (ECS). These models lead to varying low-carbon transition pathways in the regional power sector. This study investigates the development trends of low-carbon power under different TGC models, aiming to identify the optimal transition path. By formulating policy parameters from a global optimization perspective, this study considers factors such as power balance, natural resource allocation, technological constraints, and carbon reduction policies. Using a bottom-up optimization model for energy expansion, the study analyzes the impacts of different market models and carbon emission reduction pressures on China's low-carbon power transition from 2023 to 2050. The recommendation is first to use the ECC model to promote renewable energy development by 2030, then transition to the ECS model to optimize TGC benefits, achieving a balanced approach to carbon reduction, economic costs, and social costs for the sustainable development of electricity.

Geoscience spillover: Gunnar Böðvarsson and the adoption of petroleum technologies in Iceland’s geothermal industry, 1940s–1970s

ABSTRACT During the twentieth century, Iceland became a leader in geothermal energy use, with hot water and steam providing for the heating of 9 out of 10 houses and almost one-third of the electricity supply. A crucial factor in the expansion of geothermal energy between the 1940s and 1970s were indirect ‘spillovers’ from the oil industry via the applied geosciences. While fundamentally different in end use, geothermal and hydrocarbon industries employ similar geoscientific methods for exploring and extracting fluids and gases. This article traces the spillovers from oil to geothermal by examining Iceland’s Geothermal Division and its founding director, Gunnar Böðvarsson. He saw the oil industry as a model and embraced its geoscientific exploration methods, oilwell rotary drilling and petroleum reservoir engineering. Adapted to the requirements of geothermal energy, petroleum technologies greatly improved the knowledge of geothermal reservoirs and the efficiency of well drilling and hot water and steam extraction. The geoscience spillover between oil and geothermal reveals an understudied dimension of geothermal history and the crucial role of the geosciences at the intersection of academia and energy industries, which also resulted in reverse spillovers from geothermal to oil and complicates the common dichotomization of fossil fuels vs. renewable alternatives.

Theory of nematic-isotropic phase transitions in solutions of rodlike aggregates

ABSTRACT A mean-field theory is introduced to describe phase behaviours for solutions of rodlike aggregates. By combining the Onsager model for rodlike aggregates and the Flory-Huggins model for polydisperse polymer solutions, we derive the free energy for the solutions of the rodlike aggregates. We calculate the mean aggregation number and orientational order parameter of rodlike aggregates. The mean aggregation number jumps at the first-order nematic–isotropic transition (NIT). We also derive the Landau-de Gennes expansion of the free energy and calculate the isotropic-nematic coexistence curves on the temperature-concentration plane. The NIT curves are qualitatively consistent with the experimental results of rodlike aggregates.

Modern methodological approaches for evaluating energy efficiency and environmental pollution: Emerging trends and technological innovation perspectives

This study analyzes the causal link between technological advancement, environmental degradation, energy usage, and sustainable economic development in China. The paper looks at the extent to which expansion in energy and carbon dioxide emissions can be explained using the Environmental Kuznets Curve model. Only the annual data from the WDI is considered; therefore, only the data range from 1990 to 2019 is used. This work also uses the FMOLS technique to establish the nature of the long-run causal relationship between the variables used in the analysis and establish that environmental quality has worsened in China during the period considered. The result shows that renewable and non-renewable energy sources, along with technological advancement, have a significantly positive impact on CO2 emissions, suggesting that they are detrimental to the environment. Nevertheless, the results confirm the EKC hypothesis since the coefficient estimates for GDP growth are positive, whereas those for the square of this variable are negative. The results also highlight the existence of a unidirectional causality between the Chinese GDP and carbon emissions while reporting on a bi-directional causality between economic growth and energy consumption. This research explores the impact of technological changes and energy consumption on environmental pollution in China, examining the issue left unexplored in understanding the effects of technological change and energy usage on sustainable economic growth. Although many prior studies have focused on the EKC model, very little research has specifically explored the effects of both renewable and non-renewable energy sources on China's environmental quality. This paper is, therefore, a direct attempt at filling this gap by identifying the causal effect of these factors over the 1990–2019 period.

Expansion of Landau theory with Magnetic Susceptibility and Heat Capacity

Abstract. Landau theory employs free energy to depict the work potential of molecules and utilizes order parameters to signify the degree of molecular organization. By applying a Taylor expansion of the free energy with respect to the order parameter in the vicinity of a phase transition, the theory elucidates how molecular arrangements can influence the system's energy. The universality of Landau theory stems from the order parameter within the framework of free energy expansion. The application of critical exponents exemplifies the universality of Landau theory, showcasing the properties of materials that share the same dimensionality and similar correlation lengths. This article aims to derive formulas and discuss practical applications of Landau theory, such as analyzing the heat capacity and magnetic susceptibility of materials across a range of temperatures.

Recent Development and Future Perspective of Wind Power Generation

The expansion of wind energy has progressed rapidly in recent years [...]

Generación renovable eólica y fotovoltaica en Ecuador: Una revisión sistemática de literatura

INTRODUCTION. Photovoltaic and wind renewable generation has grown exponentially in recent years worldwide, in Ecuador this technology has not been the exception, as several photovoltaic and wind power plants have been installed, increasing the generation of renewable energy. OBJECTIVE. This article presents a systematic review of the literature on operational photovoltaic and wind power plants in Ecuador, offering a perspective on the renewable sources connected to the national energy system. METHOD. Through a bibliographic search in the Scopus database, 8 publications were obtained that met the eligibility criteria, in addition to reports issued by government entities, to ensure that the information and technical aspects are accurate. RESULTS. The documentary analysis allows us to know the current status of photovoltaic and wind power plants, identifying their installed capacity, technology used, and operational characteristics. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS. The information collected provides a solid basis for understanding the current status and development prospects of photovoltaic and wind power generation in Ecuador. Despite certain limitations related to the availability of data in open sources, it was possible to obtain significant information on the main renewable plants in the country. These results serve as a basis for future research aimed at the expansion and optimization of renewable energies in the national context..

Economical, Innovative, or Ecological? What Are the Green Energy Users?

Green energy sources play a vital role in mitigating environmental impacts and reducing dependence on energy imports. Growing concerns over climate change, coupled with public policies promoting the expansion of green energy, have notably shaped consumer attitudes and behaviours. This study aims to address the knowledge gap by examining the impact of a sustainable lifestyle, consumer innovativeness, and economic attitudes on the intention to adopt green energy sources. The research was conducted on 580 Polish consumers using an online survey. The results of structural equation modelling revealed that pro-environmental self-identity (PESI) and consumer innovativeness (CI) have a positive impact on consumer behaviour toward green energy sources. Pro-environmental self-identity (PESI) is the strongest determinant of consumer behaviour toward green energy sources. Our research on Polish consumer behaviour could serve as a frame of reference for other countries, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. From a theoretical standpoint, this research enhances the understanding of pro-environmental self-identity (PESI) and its link to consumer innovativeness while also offering insights into consumer behaviour related to green energy sources, based on the experiences from the Polish market. The conclusions derived from this study may provide valuable guidance for managers and policymakers in formulating strategies to promote the adoption of green energy sources across Europe effectively.

Exact average many-body interatomic interaction model for random alloys

Understanding the physical origin of mechanisms in random alloys that lead to the formation of microstructures requires an understanding of their average behavior and, equally important, the role of local fluctuations around the average. Material properties of random alloys can be computed using direct simulations on random configurations. However, some properties are very difficult to compute, for others it is not even fully understood how to compute them using random sampling, in particular, interaction energies between multiple defects. To that end, we develop an atomistic model that does the averaging on the level of interatomic potentials. With such an average interatomic interaction model the problem of averaging via random sampling is bypassed since the problem of computing material properties on random configurations reduces to the problem of computing material properties on single crystals, the average alloy, which can be done using standard techniques.To be predictive, we develop our average model on the class of linear machine-learning interatomic potentials (MLIPs). To that end, using tools from higher-order statistics, we derive an analytic expansion of average many-body per-atom energies of linear MLIPs in terms of average tensor products of the feature vectors of the underlying machine-learning model that scales linearly with the size of an atomic neighborhood. In order to avoid forming higher-order tensors composed of products of feature vectors, we develop an implementation using equivariant tensor network (ETN) potentials, a class of linear MLIPs, that contracts the feature vectors to small-sized tensors, and then takes the average. We validate the average ETN potential by demonstrating the convergence of direct Monte Carlo simulations to the exact value for properties of the NbMoTaW medium-entropy alloy. Simulating average properties of dislocations has thus far only been possible with average embedded atom method potentials that, however, predict artificial polarized cores. Here, we show that average ETN potentials predict the compact screw dislocation core structure, in agreement with density functional theory. Hence, we anticipate that our model will become useful for understanding mechanistic origins of material properties and for developing predictive models of mechanical properties of random alloys.

On boundedness of isomerization paths for non- and semirelativistic molecules

This article focuses on isomerizations of molecules, i.e. chemical reactions during which a molecule is transformed into another one with atoms in a different spatial configuration. We consider the special case in which the system breaks into two submolecules whose internal geometry is solid during the whole procedure. We prove, under some conditions, that the distance between the two submolecules stays bounded during the reaction. This paper extends [Anapolitanos-Lewin, 2020] in two directions. The first one is that we relax assumptions that the ground state eigenspaces of the submolecules have to fulfill. The second one is that we allow semirelativistic kinetic energy as well. We provide an asymptotic expansion of the interaction energy between two molecules, including multipolar interactions and the van der Waals attraction. In addition to this static result, we proceed to a quasistatic analysis to investigate the variation of the energy when the nuclei move.

Modeling Nuclear-Centric Scenarios for Ukraine’s Low-Carbon Energy Transition Using Diffusion and Regression Techniques

This study presents a mathematical model for forecasting the development of Ukraine’s Integrated Power System (IPS) until 2040, with a specific focus on the expansion of nuclear energy as a cornerstone of the nation’s low-carbon transition. The model is an extension of Frank Bass’s mixed influence diffusion model, incorporating both economic and technological factors. These factors are treated as stochastic variables essential for accurately predicting the evolution of an integrated energy system, particularly in the context of rapid renewable energy sources (RES) growth. The model employs regression techniques using generalized logistic curves, improving forecasting efficiency by aligning modeling parameters with experimental data. The study’s results indicate the potential for optimizing IPS components, including nuclear and thermal power generation, through the model’s application. The model is distinguished by its inclusion of economic and technological impacts, such as state matrices, control actions, and external influence matrices, which enhance the accuracy of simulations and predictions. The validation of the model, based on scenarios of electricity consumption and generation, shows significant alignment with observed trends, confirming the model’s reliability. The findings suggest that this model is an effective tool for developing and refining energy system scenarios, with nuclear energy playing a pivotal role in Ukraine’s sustainable energy future.

Creep fatigue life prediction of pipe joints under complex bending-torsional loading using large-scale nonlinear structural analysis

With the expansion of clean energy, thermal power plants will be used as a load-following power plant. Thus, temperature and strain variations will occur during load fluctuations including start and stop of operation, and large-diameter pipes will be damaged by fatigue in addition to creep due to internal pressure. Especially, in a bent pipe such as an elbow pipe, bending and torsion are simultaneously applied. Therefore, it is important to predict the creep fatigue life in a bending and torsional stress environment. In this study, analysis method for creep fatigue life using Norton’s law, ductile exhaustion law, and Manson-Coffin’s law is proposed. Next, the proposed method was applied to the prediction of creep fatigue life of the test samples for thermal power plant piping, and the validity of the proposed method was verified by comparing creep fatigue life obtained by proposed method and that obtained by an experiment. In addition, the proposed method is applied to the prediction of creep fatigue life with load fluctuations and investigation of the effects of load fluctuation interval on creep fatigue life.

Comparative Policy Analysis of Renewable Energy Expansion in Mongolia and Other Relevant Countries

The study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of policies governing the expansion of renewable energy in Mongolia and selected countries. Against the backdrop of global energy transitions and Mongolia’s recent energy challenges, this research aims to identify and evaluate policy frameworks that facilitate the sustainable growth of renewable energy sources. The study delves into the unique socio-economic and geopolitical context of Mongolia, emphasizing the nation’s energy dependence on Russia. The findings of this comparative analysis provide valuable insights for Mongolian policymakers, offering recommendations for enhancing domestic policies that encourage the diversification of energy sources and attract foreign investment. By drawing on successful practices from some countries, this paper aims to contribute to the formulation of effective and context-specific strategies for Mongolia to achieve a more sustainable and resilient energy landscape.

Beyond the average: Emissions from electricity and the implications of decarbonization policies in Guangdong

Various policy interventions have been proposed to decarbonize the Chinese economy through the electricity sector. This study is the first to use generation-by-plant data to analyze the emissions from the electricity sector in a Chinese region and evaluate the environmental impacts of various policy interventions. Using regression techniques, the average emission factor, marginal emission factor, and marginal displacement factor, are estimated for different pollutants of Guangdong, the most affluent and populous province in China. Results reveal a decline in average emission factors over the sample period of 2017–2021, owing to the expansion of renewable energy. This study also finds a less pronounced disparity between marginal emission factors and average emission factors compared with that in developed countries, probably due to the prevalence of coal-burning plants and lower renewable energy penetration in Guangdong. Using the estimated emission factors, this study also examines the environmental effect of time-of-use tariffs, indirect emissions of electric vehicles, and carbon displacement effect of wind energy. The conclusions reveals that the time-of-use tariffs moderately reduced CO2 emissions, and the extensive adoption of electric vehicles and wind energy substantially reduces carbon emissions, indicating that decarbonizing the economy needs the coordination of various policies.