Low-carbon Energy Production Research Articles

Empowering Energy Justice.

The U.S. is experiencing unprecedented movement away from coal and, to a lesser degree, oil. Burdened low-income communities and people of color could experience health benefits from reductions in air and water pollution, yet these same groups could suffer harm if transitions lack broad public input or if policies prioritize elite or corporate interests. This paper highlights how U.S. energy transitions build from, and contribute to, environmental injustices. Energy justice requires not only ending disproportionate harm, it also entails involvement in the design of solutions and fair distribution of benefits, such as green jobs and clean air. To what extent does the confluence of state, civic, and market processes assure “just” transitions to clean, low-carbon energy production involving equitable distribution of costs, benefits, and decision-making power? To explore this question we assess trends with (1) fossil fuel divestment; (2) carbon taxes and social cost of carbon measurements; (3) cap-and-trade; (4) renewable energy; and (5) energy efficiency. Current research demonstrates opportunities and pitfalls in each area with mixed or partial energy justice consequences, leading to our call for greater attention to the specifics of distributive justice, procedural justice, and recognition justice in research, policy, and action. Illustrative energy transition case studies suggest the feasibility and benefit of empowering approaches, but also indicate there can be conflict between “green” and “just”, as evident though stark inequities in clean energy initiatives. To identify positive pathways forward, we compile priorities for an energy justice research agenda based on interactive and participatory practices aligning advocacy, activism, and academics.

Modeling and Simulation Environments for Sustainable Low-Carbon Energy Production – A Review

Abstract This paper reviews research trends in modeling for low-carbon energy production. The focus is on two currently significant low-carbon energy processes; namely, bioenergy and post-combustion carbon capture (PCC) processes. The fundamentals of these two processes are discussed and the role of modeling and simulation tools (MSTs) is highlighted. The most popular modeling software packages are identified and their use in the literature is analyzed. Among commercially available packages, it is found that no single software package can handle all process development needs such as, configuration studies, techno-economic analysis, exergy optimization, and process integration. This review also suggests that optimal modeling results reported in literature can be viewed as optimal at the individual plant level, but sub-optimal for plant superstructure level. This review has identified key gaps pertinent to developing hybrid models that describe integrated energy production processes. ASPEN Plus is found to be dominant for modeling both bioenergy and PCC processes for both steady-state and dynamic modes respectively.

Understanding the modes of use and availability of critical metals – An expert-based scenario analysis for the case of indium

Natural resources are an essential pillar of today's economic and technological innovation. Growing demand, in particular for certain metals relevant for emerging technologies such as low-carbon energy production, has recently led to supply concerns especially in resource-importing high-tech countries in Europe and North America. Current approaches for facing the challenges linked to supply security and general modes of use and re-use often focus on either technological innovation or on the development of relevant governance interventions, but lack a common pursuance of objectives. We used an expert-based formative scenario analysis to examine the role these approaches play in the case of indium, and how they interrelate. We identified four exemplary scenarios that reflect how indium use may be influenced in different ways: (i) an extrapolation of today's trends (business as usual); (ii) a focus on the recycling phase; (iii) a governance system with stringent governmental regulations; and (iv) a governance system with well-balanced power structures and cooperation. We then analyzed these system scenarios in terms of their plausibility when assuming different surrounding conditions (shell scenarios) to determine their overall robustness. The evaluation of the scenarios showed that measures should be taken to optimize life-cycle interfaces, including both primary and secondary production. We show that the state is a vital actor within the system of resource production and consumption, but has a limited operating range on an international scale. It must therefore provide the appropriate conditions to allow the evolution of private industry initiatives, which then can also contribute to the system's robustness. As a result, strategies targeting sustainable resource use could be the appropriate instrument to formulate a common objective and to more effectively coordinate such approaches for fostering sustainable indium use.

Water Impacts of a Low-Carbon Electric Power Future: Assessment Methodology and Status

Water is an integral element of energy production. Future US energy production will increasingly be driven by the need to mitigate climate change, posing complex water challenges. The water impacts of electricity generation in a carbon-constrained future have been a subject of active research. This paper reviews technologies and regulatory policy options for low-carbon electricity generation, including systems that use fossil fuels with carbon capture and storage, renewables such as wind, solar, and biomass, and nuclear energy. We also review cooling technologies in support of thermoelectric power generation, report and discuss current assessment methods and results on water use for low-carbon energy production, and identify adaptive approaches that could reinforce resilience for low-carbon electricity generation. Some recommendations are made for future research.

Water impacts of CO2 emission performance standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants.

We employ an integrated systems modeling tool to assess the water impacts of the new source performance standards recently proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for limiting CO2 emissions from coal- and gas-fired power plants. The implementation of amine-based carbon capture and storage (CCS) for 40% CO2 capture to meet the current proposal will increase plant water use by roughly 30% in supercritical pulverized coal-fired power plants. The specific amount of added water use varies with power plant and CCS designs. More stringent emission standards than the current proposal would require CO2 emission reductions for natural gas combined-cycle (NGCC) plants via CCS, which would also increase plant water use. When examined over a range of possible future emission standards from 1100 to 300 lb CO2/MWh gross, new baseload NGCC plants consume roughly 60-70% less water than coal-fired plants. A series of adaptation approaches to secure low-carbon energy production and improve the electric power industry's water management in the face of future policy constraints are discussed both quantitatively and qualitatively.

Low carbon urban development strategy in Malaysia – The case of Iskandar Malaysia development corridor

Sustainability policies that have quantitative emission or carbon footprint measurements are important in view of climate change and current rapid urbanization in developing countries like Malaysia. Although sustainability policies are mentioned in national development plan as early as in the 1990s, many of these policies are piecemeal and expressed qualitatively. In achieving environmental sustainability, planning of city or a region can be more functional and implementable by using low carbon city concept. Planning a low carbon city uses sustainable development principles; this demonstrates a high level of energy efficiency using low carbon energy sources and production technologies. It also adopts patterns of consumption and behavior that are consistent with low levels of greenhouse gas emissions in the urban areas. The planning of the fast developing region of Iskandar Malaysia, which is located in southern part of Peninsular Malaysia, provides a good opportunity for urban managers to incorporate the ideas of low carbon cities in this proposed high growth urban conurbation. This paper aims to explore implementation of the concept and vision of low carbon scenarios and examine the strategies toward the reduction of CO2 emission. This study also prepares a quantitative scenario study on the establishment of low carbon urban development in Iskandar Malaysia.

Integrated environmental assessment of energy crops for biofuel and energy production in Greece

Abstract This paper attempts an integrated environmental assessment of certain crops, their products and by-products, which are promoted in Greece, as potential raw materials for liquid biofuel and low carbon energy production. The analysis is based on the experimental results of a Greek state funded research project (Hi-Bred fuels), which investigated the integrated management of energy crops for both biofuel and energy production. Four crops, some new for Greek agriculture and other indigenous, namely rapeseed, soya, sunflower and cotton, were cultivated under “real farming” conditions, keeping detailed data of all important aspects affecting their environmental profile. The main industrial processes employed in Greece for extracting, processing and esterifying vegetable oil from the oleiferous seeds were also identified and studied in detail. The data collected during the various production steps were introduced in Global Emission Model for Integrated Systems (GEMIS) software in order to create production cycle models of both non-esterified (straight vegetable oil) and esterified (biodiesel) biofuel models. Dedicated experiments were performed on a diesel passenger car in order to investigate the applicability of the final products. Results indicate that sunflower has the optimal environmental characteristics with respect to biofuel production with potential GHG savings of 58–71% depending on the end product. Rapeseed followed with GHG savings potential of 48%–62%, soyabean oil (47%–60%) and cottonseed oil (35%–47%). For the different products, and production steps, the results of the analysis for energy, CO2 equivalent emissions and other pollutant emissions are presented. Results concerning energy crops adaptability in Greek climate conditions and their product yields were quite promising, with the exception of the watering demands, which in some cases were not sustainable (GHG savings below 35%). Vehicle application results indicate that on a low level concentration (up to 10%v/v) all biofuels may be employed without important effects on vehicle emissions. Finally it is concluded that the use of residual waste biomass is a key aspect for achieving sustainable and environmentally efficient biofuels.

Long-Term Scheduling for Cascaded Hydro Energy Systems With Annual Water Consumption and Release Constraints

Long-term scheduling for cascaded hydro energy systems is very important for low carbon energy production. It aims at determining the water release over a planning horizon to meet water resource requirements and the system demands for electric power. The problem is challenging in view of the complicated and stochastic system dynamics, nonlinear marginal cost, coupled hydraulic constraints, and the large problem size. In this paper we formulate the long-term scheduling problem of cascaded hydro energy systems with annual consumption and release constraints as a finite horizon constrained Markov decision process (CMDP), and develop a new rollout algorithm to optimize the policies. Numerical results demonstrate the effectiveness and the efficiency of the formulation and the new algorithm.