Local Power Plant Research Articles

Pricing Mechanism for Natural Gas Distributed Generation Based on Classified Benchmark Price

Natural gas distributed generation (NGDG) has been widely concerned, promoted, and applied all over the world because it has advantages such as high comprehensive energy efficiency, environmental protection, sustainable and stable power supply, and so on. It also has become an important part of the energy strategy in China. Unfortunately, most NGDG projects on production in China do not operate very well due to several reasons such as high investment and operation cost, long load cultivation period, and so on. Thus it is quite urgent to design one pricing mechanism suitable for NGDG to meet the need in the transition stage before fully power marketization and rationalize and standardize the feed-in tariff of NGDG. This paper proposes a one-part tariff mechanism for NGDG based on classified benchmark price, which solves the problem that most NGDG projects have to refer to the benchmark tariff of local coal power plants due to the absence of NGDG pricing benchmark. Meanwhile, according to the characteristics of energy projects and regions, the mechanism establishes a two-dimensional classification scheme for NGDG, sets up the benchmark data and the method to determine the values, and then put forward the benchmark tariff of NGDG. It also changes the “one plant one price” approach in some areas. Finally, using the tariff mechanism and operating period price model, we calculate the benchmark tariff of all kinds of NGDG in several typical regions. The results can be referenced for research and NGDG tariff mechanism establishment in various countries.

Producción de conocimiento para las polí­ticas públicas en el nivel subnacional: la experiencia del Ministerio de Economí­a de la provincia de Buenos Aires (1987-2007)

En este artí­culo analizo las estrategias que el equipo económico de la Provincia de Buenos Aires desarrolló entre 1987 y 2007, con el propósito de formar cuadros técnicos, producir conocimiento para las polí­ticas, comunicar sus acciones e intervenir en los debates sobre polí­tica económica nacional y provincial. Estos desarrollos fueron parte de un movimiento más general que protagonizaron los economistas platenses, que excedió al Ministerio de Economí­a provincial y que supuso un contrapunto con el liderado por los centros de producción del pensamiento económico dominante de la época. La masa crí­tica de cuadros polí­ticos y técnicos producida por la carrera de economí­a de la UNLP y la renovación peronista de mediados de la década de 1980, cuajó en grupos de investigación y análisis que generaron usinas locales cuyas perspectivas eran alternativas a ese pensamiento económico liderado por los principales think tanks formados en la Argentina desde mediados de la década de 1970.

Selenium, Sulphur, Trace Metal, and BTEX Levels in Soil, Water, and Lettuce from the Croatian Raša Bay Contaminated by Superhigh-Organic-Sulphur Coal

This paper elaborates soil, water, and lettuce contamination status with respect to selenium, sulphur, trace metals, and BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) in a coal-based area (Raša Bay, Adriatic Sea, Croatia). A local coal-fired power plant polluted soil with S, Se, Cd, and PAHs due to the combustion of domestic superhigh-organic-sulphur coal. The locality is dotted with waste from coal mining/separation, coal combustion, former metal factories, untreated municipal and coal mine effluents, along with various harbour activities, which contribute to environmental contamination. The methodology involved ICP-MS and GC-MS for the measurement of trace elements and BTEX, respectively, while soil sulphur was determined with Eschka’s mixture. The max values of the analysed trace elements in soil (mg/kg) are reported: Hg 1.14, Cd 3.29, V 624, Se 10.3, Pb 872, Cr 1860, Zn 6580, Cu 1850, and U 25.2. According to ecological indices, these values fall into the category of an extremely high level of soil pollution. Elevated total Se values in surface water are ascribed to leaching of seleniferous coal, ash, and coal-polluted soil. Levels of BTEX in water samples were very low (0–0.83 µg/L). The data provide basic information on the inorganic and organic contamination status of the Raša Bay area.

Menorca is the island of the future-unical project in the field of electromobility

The article discusses the unique project on global scale and supported by UNESCO to carry out a total change of vehicle power sources, i.e. 100% electromobility. The place of implementation of the project is Menorca, an outcrop in the Balearic archipelago. He predicts that in a few years any means of transport: motorcycles, passenger cars, buses, ships, hydrofoils will have electric engines and energy will be provided by a local power plant. Many NGOs and companies have high hopes for successful implementation, treating this bold challenge as a test of technical and organizational capabilities.

Sea-Water Desalination for Load Levelling of Gen-Sets in Small Off-Grid Islands

This study deals with the energy/water nexus on small off-grid islands. Small islands share several characteristics that hinder the introduction of new plants, such as: Energy system balance when renewable sources are introduced; water shortages, usually addressed via shipping from the mainland; environmental and historical heritage values; and, scarce land availability. In these cases, it is mandatory to detect energy/water technology integration and management solutions respecting the peculiarities and boundaries of the sites. The present work proposes a desalination plant with a primary scope of load leveler and a secondary scope of water producer. The aim is to propose a simple and non-invasive solution for energy/water management in order to limit impacts on the local environment while improving the match between renewable energy and local generation by means of desalination. This study led to an integrated system composed of local diesel engine power plant, distributed roof-top photovoltaic plants and a desalination plant, managed by a dedicated control logic. Desalination from renewable energy and power adjustments of already active diesel engines are favored. The case study refers to Ponza island, in the Tyrrhenian Sea. This paper demonstrates the effective possibility of using a desalination plant with the double purpose of water production and load levelling, providing 98% of the local water demand while mitigating the renewable energy fluctuations effects on the gen-set. Moreover, the proposed system results in a 50% CO2eq emissions abatement over the current water supply carbon footprint.

The Effects on Perceived Risk, Confidence in the Government, and the Acceptance of Nuclear Power Caused by Knowledge to Nuclear Power: Focused on Local Residents Nearby Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant

The Effects on Perceived Risk, Confidence in the Government, and the Acceptance of Nuclear Power Caused by Knowledge to Nuclear Power: Focused on Local Residents Nearby Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant

Local aerosol composition before and during the transition from coal-fired power to natural gas

Local aerosol composition impacts human health, as toxicity depends on particle concentration, composition, and size. We have thus studied local aerosol composition in University Park, PA from September–November of 2014 and 2015 to determine the composition and morphology of ambient particles using Transmission Electron Microscopy. In particular, we explored how local aerosol composition is affected as local and regional power plants converted from coal to natural gas consumption. Our results indicate a decline in the fraction of fractal particles (soot and fly ash) from 2014 to 2015 due to the conversion of the local power plants. Since fly ash and soot are often associated with hazardous substances such as heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, decreases in these particle types suggest a trend that could benefit human health at the local level.

Recent trends in biogas value chains explained using cooperative game theory

In Denmark, since 2014, it has been possible to upgrade biogas to a gas grid and achieve support in line with biogas-based heat and power production. Since then, most new biogas production plants have chosen to upgrade their biogas. In this study, a mixed integer programming model is used to find the optimal biogas value chain, and cooperative game theory is used to understand real world observations compared to this study's results. Specifically, three profit allocation mechanisms are applied to allocate the profit between the heterogeneous owners in the value chain. It is found that Danish biogas plants should use large shares of manure combined with deep litter. Furthermore, it is found that input suppliers have relatively poor bargaining power in the profit allocation negotiations due to poor alternatives. This may explain why livestock farmers tend to receive little payment for their manure, and why they are hesitant to join biogas projects.Finally, it is found that biogas plants prefer to upgrade their biogas for several reasons. First, if the natural gas price is expected to be high, it is preferable to upgrade biogas than to use it directly in a local combined heat and power plant (CHP). Second, if the natural gas price is expected to be low, it is preferable to upgrade because the CHPs have better alternatives and therefore better bargaining power before investments (ex ante). Third, when the value chain contains an upgrading plant, the biogas plant has a greater bargaining power—in particular ex post.

Worldviews as predictors of wind and solar energy support in Austria: Bridging social acceptance and risk perception research

With increasing demand for renewable energy, research focusing on social acceptance of production facilities has firmly established itself over the past decades. While the influence of worldviews on individuals’ perceptions and behaviour has received widespread scholarly attention regarding a variety of related issues, social acceptance of renewable energy technologies (RET) has not been one of them. The study presented here addresses this shortcoming in the literature by examining the impact of various constructs, including worldviews, with respect to individuals’ acceptance of RET in their vicinity. The study builds on a representative sample of Austrian citizens. Our findings suggest that RET belief is most strongly associated with acceptance regarding the construction of RET in participants’ community. Further, we find that the more strongly participants feel about a variety of motives that generally support the use of renewable energies, the more accepting they are of local RET power plants. Regarding the effect of worldviews, we find that individuals who value the common good and equality are more supportive of RET in their vicinity. Our discussion focuses on the theoretical implications with particular attention to the results regarding the effect of worldviews.

Comparison of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon levels in three urban areas in Lebanon

IntroductionReports on the levels and sources of PAHs in the Middle Eastern region are very scarce and mostly outdated. This study reports for the first time the ambient levels of PAHs during summer and winter at three coastal locations in Lebanon. Comparison between PAH levels in the three locations is established and the contribution of major emission sources to PAHs is evaluated. Materials and methodsGas and particle phase PAHs were collected using a high-volume sampler fitted with a quartz filter and a polyurethane foam (PUF) holder at three coastal sites (American University of Beirut, Dora, and Zouk Mikael). The collected PAHs were then extracted and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The dispersion of pollutants in the emissions from a local power plant was evaluated using The Air Pollution Model (TAPM), coupled with field measurements to quantify the BaP level in two nearby locations and one background location. One-way ANOVA tests and coefficients of divergence (COD) between paired sites were used for data analysis. ResultsHigh heterogeneity was detected in the temporal and spatial variations of the PAH profiles and concentrations at the three coastal urban sites. Higher PAH levels were measured in winter than in summer at AUB and Dora, but not at Zouk Mikael. Major sources of pollution were identified as traffic, diesel engines, road dust, and oil fuel. Diesel engines are used as local sources of electricity during rotating blackout and oil fuel are used to run the inadequately maintained local power plant. The BaP levels measured near the power plant were approximately 10 times higher than those at the background site. ConclusionsThe annual average BaP concentrations of 2.07 ng m−3 and 2.9 ng m−3 at Zouk Mikael and Dora, respectively, exceeded the European Union (EU) air quality standard of 1 ng m−3. Owing to the lax governmental regulations, the BaP levels in Lebanon are higher by 60%–99% than those in most cities around the world.

The influence of PM2.5 coal power plant emissions on environment PM2.5 in Jilin Province, China

In recent years, in the Northeast of China, the heating period comes with large range of haze weather. All the units of coal power plants in Jilin Province have completed the cogeneration reformation; they provide local city heat energy. Many people believe that coal power plants heating caused the heavy haze. In is paper, by compared concentration of PM2.5 in environment in heating period and non heating period, meanwhile the capacity of local coal power plants, conclude that the PM2.5 emission of coal power plants not directly cause the heavy haze in Changchun and Jilin in the end of October and early November. In addition, the water-soluble iron composition of PM2.5 coal power plant emissions is compared with environment, which further proves that the heating supply in coal power plants is not the cause of high concentration of PM2.5 in Jilin province.

Shorter telomere length in cord blood associated with prenatal air pollution exposure: Benefits of intervention

BackgroundTo examine the molecular benefits of the government action to close the local coal burning power plant in Tongliang County, Chongqing Municipality, we compared biologic markers and health outcomes in two successive birth cohorts enrolled before and after the plant was shut down. In this city, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were primarily emitted by the coal burning facility. We previously reported that cord blood levels of PAH-DNA adducts (a biomarker of exposure) and various adverse health outcomes were reduced in the second cohort, whereas levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor/BDNF (a protein involved in neuronal growth) were increased. Here we assessed telomere length (TL), which has been associated with risk of certain chronic diseases, early mortality, aging and cognitive decline in adults. ObjectivesThe goals of the present study were to determine whether TL differed between the two cohorts and whether prenatal PAH exposure, estimated by PAH-DNA adducts in cord white blood cells of newborns in China, were predictive of shorter TL in cord blood, suggesting the potential accrual of risk of certain chronic diseases during the prenatal period. We explored relationships of TL with BDNF and neurodevelopmental outcomes, each previously associated with PAH-DNA adducts in these cohorts, as well as the potential mediating role of TL in the associations between adducts and neurodevelopmental outcomes. MethodsWe analyzed TL in cord blood of 255 newborns who also had data on PAH-DNA adducts, BDNF, and relevant covariates. Multiple regression analysis was carried out to test associations between adducts and TL and between TL and BDNF, adjusting for relevant covariates. In the subset with developmental quotient (DQ) scores from Gesell testing at age 2 (N = 210), we explored whether TL was a mediator of the relationship between PAH-DNA adducts and DQ scores by first examining the associations between cord adducts and DQ, cord adducts and TL, and TL and DQ, adjusting for the same covariates. ResultsAs hypothesized, the mean TL was significantly higher in the second cohort compared to the first cohort. Overall, PAH-DNA cord adducts were significantly and inversely correlated with TL. Multiple regression analysis showed a significant association between adducts and TL, after adjusting for key covariates: β (effect size per standard deviation adducts) = −0.019, p = .003. The regression coefficient of TL on (Ln) BDNF was also significant (β = 0.167, p < .001). Exploratory analysis, regressing TL on Gesell developmental scores, showed generally inverse, but not significant associations. TL was not, therefore, deemed to be a potential mediator of the association between adducts and developmental scores at age two. ConclusionThis study provides the first evidence that prenatal PAH exposure from coal burning may adversely affect TL, with potential implications for future risk of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease. The improvement in TL in the second cohort and the observed correlation between increased TL and higher levels of BDNF indicate direct benefits to the health and development of children resulting from the government's closure of the power plant.

Environmentally available hexavalent chromium in soils and sediments impacted by dispersed fly ash in Sarigkiol basin (Northern Greece).

Hexavalent chromium is one of the most toxic and carcinogenic species known and can be released into the environment from several sources. In Sarigkiol basin (N Greece) the presence of Cr(VI) in soil, sediments and groundwater may originate from both natural (ophiolitic rocks and their weathering products) and anthropogenic (dispersed fly ash produced from lignite power plants) sources. In this study, the distribution of contents and origin of environmentally available Cr(VI) in soils, sediments, regoliths and fly ash of Sarigkiol basin is presented. Detailed geochemical and mineralogical studies were performed on soil samples (up to 1 m) and regoliths, while leaching tests were also applied to fresh and old fly ash samples. Leachable chromium from soil and sediment samples generally increased with depth and the highest concentrations were observed near to the power plant of Agios Dimitrios. The speciation of chromium in leachates revealed that Cr(VI) concentrations accounted for more than 96% of total Cr. Leaching tests of regoliths established that the natural contribution of Cr(VI) is up to 14 μg kg-1. Therefore, the measurement of higher concentrations (up to 80 μg kg-1) of environmentally available Cr(VI) in soils and sediments can be attributed to the impact/presence of dispersed fly ash in the soils and sediments of the same area. This was also supported by the low correlation recorded between environmentally available chromium and Cr-bearing minerals (mainly serpentine and talc). The influenced zone is located in the eastern part of the basin near the local power plant and surrounds an open conveyor belt that transfers fly ash to an open temporary storage pit. This zone overlies an unconfined porous aquifer thus explaining the elevated concentrations of Cr(VI) in groundwater (up to 120 μg L-1) previously reported in this area.

Feasibility studies of using domestic wastewater for landscape irrigation purposes near a nuclear power plant

The current domestic wastewater treatment unit in a local nuclear power plant (Karachi) was found to bring major wastewater parameters to ranges suitable for landscape irrigation purposes according to US-EPA and Jordanian standards, except for TSS, BOD5 and coliforms. The inclusion of a sedimentation basin was found to reduce suspended solids to 30 mg/l and coliform by 40%-50%, which was a relatively insignificant improvement. In order to improve the wastewater treatment facility further, laboratory runs were conducted by passing treated wastewater through a slow sand filtration (SSF) unit for 168 hours. SSF unit was found to reduce TSS by 81.7%, BOD5 by 71.7% and fecal coliforms by 99.75%. As a result, it is recommended to include both a sedimentation basin as well as a SSF unit in the wastewater treatment train in the future to allow treated wastewater from the nuclear power plant to meet international standards for landscape irrigation.

Feasibility of virtual power plants (VPPs) and its efficiency assessment through benefiting both the supply and demand sides in Chongming country, China

The technical potential of power energy saving is the consequence of plant-side and demand-side characteristics. The paper aims to analyze the feasibility of virtual power plant by means of local renewable energy power plant construction and the update of high efficiency appliances located in electricity customers. The return on investment is carried out by using payback period and life cycle cost analysis. Results indicate that an optimal combined proportion of wind and PV plant is favorable to increase the power self-support sufficiency in Chongming based on existing policies. The implementation of high efficiency appliances in household and tertiary industry can form the VPPs with a total capacity of 63 MW, achieves total electricity saving 273GWH/year. The new electricity market structure via changing feed-in tariffs and electricity price was built to analyze the economic performance of plant and demand sides. Based on the findings, we argue that an optimal return from plant's increase profit is favorable to incentive payment mechanism in VPPs, optimal cash flow delivered from the plant side is sensitive to expected payback period of the VPPs formed in demand side.

Investigating the Effects of Local Power Plants on the Stability of Distribution Networks

Güç sistemlerinde kararlılık, bozucu bir etkiye maruz kaldığı durumda ve bu etkiden sonra senkron generatörün senkronizmayı koruyabilme yeteneğidir. Bu bozucu etkiye örnek olarak enerji iletim hatlarındaki büyük yük değişimi, açma-kapama durumları verilebilir. Güç sistemlerinde bu tür etkiler çok sık görülmektedir. Bu yüzden sürekli hal kararlılığı sistemin analizi ve sentezi bakımından önemlidir. Bu çalışmada dağıtım şebekesine bağlı senkron generatör güç açısı, hızı(rpm), aktif gücü, akım ve gerilim değerleri incelenmiş ve arıza kararlılık analizi yapılmıştır. Sistemin arıza oluştuğu zamanda kararlı olup olmadığı incelenmiş ve kararsızlık durumunda generatör güç açısı ve aktif gücünün değişimleri incelenmiştir.

Measuring Recovery to Build up Metrics of Flood Resilience Based on Pollutant Discharge Data: A Case Study in East China

Building “disaster-resilient” rather than “disaster-resistant” cities/communities requires the development of response capabilities to natural disasters and subsequent recovery. This study devises a new method to measure resilience via recovery capability to validate indicators from social, economic, infrastructural, and environmental domains. The pollutant discharge data (waste-water and waste-gas discharge/emission data) of local power plants, sewage treatment plants and main factories were used to monitor recovery process of both people’s living and local industrial production as the waste water/gas is released irregularly during the short disaster-hit period. A time series analysis of such data was employed to detect the disturbance on these infrastructures from disasters and to assess community recovery capability. A recent record-breaking flash flood in Changzhou, a city in eastern-central China, was selected as a case study. We used ordinal logistic regression to identify leading proxies of flood resilience. A combination of six variables related to socioeconomic factors, infrastructure development and the environment, stood out and explained 61.4% of the variance in measured recovery capability. These findings substantiate the possibility of using recovery measurement based on pollutant discharge to validate resilience metrics, and contribute more solid evidences for policy-makers and urban planners to make corresponding measures for resilience enhancement.

On the occurrence of three non-native cichlid species including the first record of a feral population of Pelmatolapia (Tilapia) mariae (Boulenger, 1899) in Europe.

Thermally influenced freshwater systems provide suitable conditions for non-native species of tropical and subtropical origin to survive and form proliferating populations beyond their native ranges. In Germany, non-native convict cichlids (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) and tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) have established populations in the Gillbach, a small stream that receives warm water discharge from a local power plant. Here, we report on the discovery of spotted tilapia (Pelmatolapia mariae) in the Gillbach, the first record of a reproducing population of this species in Europe. It has been hypothesized that Oreochromis sp. in the Gillbach are descendants of aquaculture escapees and our mtDNA analysis found both O. mossambicus and O. niloticus maternal lineages, which are commonly used for hybrids in aquaculture. Convict cichlids and spotted tilapia were most probably introduced into the Gillbach by aquarium hobbyists. Despite their high invasiveness worldwide, we argue that all three cichlid species are unlikely to spread and persist permanently beyond the thermally influenced range of the Gillbach river system. However, convict cichlids from the Gillbach are known to host both native and non-native fish parasites and thus, non-native cichlids may constitute threats to the native fish fauna. We therefore strongly recommend continuous monitoring of the Gillbach and similar systems.

Recycling coal from coal gangue

Coal gangue is not just solid waste, but also has the potential to yield useful energy. In China, a mining group and a local power plant power plant joined forces with a local university to look at ways to recycle coal gangue to improve the revenue, cut down on resource utilization, and reduce environment pollution.

Origin of hexavalent chromium in groundwater: The example of Sarigkiol Basin, Northern Greece

Hexavalent chromium constitutes a serious deterioration factor for the groundwater quality of several regions around the world. High concentrations of this contaminant have been also reported in the groundwater of the Sarigkiol hydrological basin (near Kozani city, NW Greece). Specific interest was paid to this particular study area due to the co-existence here of two important factors both expected to contribute to Cr(VI) presence and groundwater pollution; namely the area's exposed ophiolitic rocks and its substantial fly ash deposits originating from the local lignite burning power plant. Accordingly, detailed geochemical, mineralogical, hydro-chemical, geophysical and hydrogeological studies were performed on the rocks, soils, sediments and water resources of this basin. Cr(VI) concentrations varied in the different aquifers, with the highest concentration (up to 120μgL−1) recorded in the groundwater of the unconfined porous aquifer situated near the temporary fly ash disposal site. Recharge of the porous aquifer is related mainly to precipitation infiltration and occasional surface run-off. Nevertheless, a hydraulic connection between the porous and neighboring karst aquifers could not be delineated. Therefore, the presence of Cr(VI) in the groundwater of this area is thought to originate from both the ophiolitic rock weathering products in the soils, and the local leaching of Cr(VI) from the diffused fly ash located in the area surrounding the lignite power plant. This conclusion was corroborated by factor analysis, and the strongly positively fractionated Cr isotopes (δ53Cr up to 0.83‰) recorded in groundwater, an ash leachate, and the bulk fly ash. An anthropogenic source of Cr(VI) that possibly influences groundwater quality is especially apparent in the eastern part of the Sarigkiol basin.