Mature Renewable Energy Technologies Research Articles

A multiplicative log mean Divisia index decomposition analysis of energy‐related carbon emissions in Pakistan: From the perspective of economic development phases

AbstractTo successfully implement mitigation policies, it is first needed to identify the factors that contribute to carbon emissions. Based on the extended Kaya identity approach, this study investigates the driving factors of energy‐related carbon emissions in Pakistan from 1990 to 2019 using the multiplicative LMDI‐I decomposition technique with no residual term. The decomposition results reveal that the population and affluence contributed significantly to accelerating carbon emissions from energy consumption across all the sub‐periods. The cumulative effect of population size increased to 2.286 times in 2019, far greater than the impact of other factors. The cumulative effect of economic activity per person reached 1.566 in 2019. The impact of fuel quality and energy intensity is relatively minor (as the index value is less than one) most of the time. The cumulative effect of renewable energy penetration has increased from 0.998 in 1990 to 1.034 in 2019 due to the country's less mature renewable energy technologies. Fossil fuel switching is a factor that reduces carbon emissions, as the index value decreased from 0.945 in 1990 to 0.918 in 2019. The results of the study contain helpful information for lowering carbon emissions.

The (r)evolution of wind energy systems in Romania: state-of-the-art, new trends and challenges

After decades of development, one of the most mature renewable energy technologies is recognized to be wind energy. Compared to other renewable energy sources the wind potential that can be used to produce electricity is much higher. Currently, the conversion of wind energy into electricity has several advantages, among which can be mentioned the following: “clean” energy source, renewable energy source, low costs per unit of electricity produced. Thus, the progress of future technological innovations must lead to the achievement of wind turbines that are more efficient, more robust, and less expensive than actual technology. The aim of this work is to provide an overview of the Global, European and, especially, Romanian situation of the wind energy market. Moreover, are presented aspects related to innovative constructive solutions for wind turbines used to capture wind energy in areas where wind potential is low.

A Probabilistic Approach to Analyze Wind Energy Curtailment in Non-Interconnected Greek Islands Based on Typical Wind Year Meteorological Data

Wind energy and photovoltaic solar energy (PV) are the most mature renewable energy technologies and are widely used to increase renewable energy penetration in non-interconnected Greek islands. However, their penetration is restricted due to technical issues related to the safe operation of autonomous power systems, the current conventional power infrastructure and their variable power output. In this framework, renewable energy curtailment is sometimes a necessity to ensure the balance between demand and supply. The ability of autonomous power systems to absorb wind and PV power is related to the load demand profile, the type and the flexibility of conventional power plants, the size of power system and the spatial dispersion of wind farms. In this connection, a probabilistic approach for estimating wind energy curtailment is thoroughly applied in most of the autonomous power systems in Greece, using detailed information about load demand and conventional power supply. In parallel, high resolution mesoscale model-based hourly wind data for typical meteorological wind year are used to represent the wind features in all the sites of interest. Technical constraints imposed by the local power system operator, related to the commitment of conventional power plants and the load dispatch strategies are taken into account to maximize renewable energy penetration levels. Finally, application for wide ranges of wind and PV capacity and the thorough analysis of the parameters leads to the presentation of comparable results and conclusions, which could be widely used to predict wind energy curtailment in non-interconnected power systems.

Experimental investigation of multiple Oscillating Water Column Wave Energy Converters integrated in a floating breakwater: Energy extraction performance

Currently, ocean wave energy technology is in its infancy relative to the mature renewable energy technologies such as wind and solar. Due to its early stage of development, ocean wave energy has high associated Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE), a measure of lifetime costs relative to lifetime energy production. Several solutions have been derived in an attempt to reduce this high LCOE, of which breakwater integration of wave energy converters presents a viable option. Current full-scale commercial and demonstration devices indicate that OWC device integrated breakwaters are typically limited to nearshore and onshore operational regions. However, industries such as aquaculture and offshore wind are exploring the viability of placing these structures in deeper waters, where these traditional concepts would not be applicable, providing opportunity for the development of floating offshore multi-purpose structures. This article describes a proof-of-concept for a floating breakwater integrated with Oscillating Water Column (OWC) Wave Energy Converters (WEC). For an integrated device of this type there are multiple key aspects that are inter-related and each must be understood: energy extraction performance, wave attenuation and quantifying platform motions. In order to adequately report on each aspect in a logical manner the study is presented in two parts. This paper covers the energy extraction aspects, while the second part deals with wave attenuation and motion characteristics [1]. The wave energy extraction characteristics of the installed devices are explored across parameters including device configurations, breakwater width, power take-off damping, wave height and motion constraints, all of which was achieved through model scale hydrodynamic experimentation. The major findings indicate that OWC device spacing is a key parameter in the design of multi-device structures, as device-device interaction can have constructive or destructive interferences on the energy extraction. Additionally, the results of the OWC device performance, under the influence of the aforementioned parameters, provides new insights to the development of floating offshore multi-purpose structures and their feasibility.

Do Almost Mature Renewable Energy Technologies Still Need Dedicated Support Towards 2030?

The discussion on whether and how to continue support for almost mature renewable electricity (RES-E) technologies, such as onshore wind and PV, has recently intensified. In this paper we analyze arguments in the literature in favor and against the phase-out of renewables support in the context of increasingly competitive RES-E technologies. We conclude that there are good reasons to continue dedicated RES-E policies beyond 2020 for those technologies. Dedicated RES-E support can provide a predictable, secure investment framework that lowers the risk premiums required by investors and therefore reduces the capital costs of RES-E. In addition, there are still significant cost reduction potentials for these technologies. The increased use of renewables has multiple socio-economic benefits in addition to climate change mitigation. These arguments are still valid when looking at the current market situation characterized by oversupply and low prices on both the CO2 market and some power markets in Europe. Since renewables are not the main reason for the current oversupply, it would not be effective to take actions towards restoring market equilibrium in the form of radical or overall phase-out of RES-E support.

Renewables exploitation for energy production and biomass use for electricity generation. A multi-parametric literature-based review

Nowadays, the provision of viable energy production and the energy autonomy are fundamental and utmost importance issues included in drawing the national strategic plan of both developing and developed countries. In parallel, the contentious role of fossil-based energy infrastructures, in the light of their high external costs of operation/use and the environmental depletion, have oriented current scientific research to find and exploit other energy sources that comply with increased pressure towards energy production, energy autonomy, and energy safety. Nevertheless, these preconditions of any energy mix introduced signify the importance of developing mature renewable energy technologies, which could enable sound and credible exploitation of any new-coming energy source, in the light of socio-economic acceptability and environmental sustainability. In parallel, the socio-economic traits, the know-how status, the technological maturity, the geo-morphologic conditions, and the well-being aspirations of each nation to its citizens consist also significant motives of energy-mix-schemes adaptation to a national level of analysis. According to the aforementioned statement, the present paper provides a four-fold overview upon: renewables’ exploitation for energy production in the global and European contexts, as well as biomass exploitation for electricity generation in a global-oriented and technology overview of the relevant literature. Conclusively, the main limitations and challenges that are derived from this four-fold literature overview, were also outlined.

Game Analysis of the China Wind-farm Investment Market

The global electricity supply from non-hydro renewable energies, such as wind and solar, has being growing at a high rate, and it is expected that this trend persists. In China, Wind power is one of the most mature renewable energy technologies and it is possible to be utilized in large-scale. However, in the long run, the malicious competition will break the rule of the monopoly wind power market under control of electricity utilities in China and prevent the development of Chinese wind power. Reasonable competition of the investment market is a key to promote healthy development of the wind power industries in China. Based on game theory, this paper investigates competitive behavior of the wind-farm investment companies. The competition mechanism and malicious competition behavior of the investment market of the non-asymmetric enterprisers, and the wind-farm investment market are discussed by the Stacklberg model and the Cournot-Nash model, respectively, and moreover, the theoretic analysises are verified to be effective by an example. Furthermore, some policy advices are put forwards to the Chinese wind power investment market.

Integrating Wind Farm to the Grid Using Hybrid Multiterminal HVDC Technology

Since wind generation is one of the most mature renewable energy technologies, it will have the greatest share of future renewable energy portfolio. Due to the special characteristics of the wind generation, it requires extensive research to explore the best choice for wind power integration. In light of the practical project experience, this paper explores the feasibility of using HVdc transmission technology, particularly multiterminal HVdc (MTDC), as one of the preferable solutions to solve the grid interconnection issue of wind generation. This paper mainly focuses on the application of the hybrid MTDC to integrate wind farms into the electric power grid. A five-terminal hybrid MTDC model system including a large capacity wind farm is set up in PSCAD/EMTDC, in which the corresponding control strategy is designed. The operation characteristic of the hybrid system is studied, and the proposed control strategy is verified through simulation under various conditions, including wind speed variation and faults on ac side and dc side.

Accelerating the transition to sustainable energy systems

The slow pace of transition to sustainable energy systems is the result of several factors running in parallel. The starting points are very low. Even 30% per annum increases in rated capacity (for wind energy or solar PV, for example) take many years to make a big impact at the global level. Policy initiatives are for the most part ineffectual in relation to the urgency and scale of what is required, and often fail to address the fundamental causes of this slow progress. This reflects a “top-down” approach—often accompanied by unrealistic targets and simultaneously undermined by a lack of consistency across policies, which reflect a “utopian social engineering mentality”, made worse because: “The Planner's response to failure of previous interventions (is) to do more intensive and comprehensive interventions” as William Easterly has put it. In short, there is little or no accountability. This approach has failed to harness the sympathy, imagination, self-interest, or sound options of energy users—although it may attract developers, including those not hitherto noted for renewable energy projects or environmental concern. Targets are usually too short term and clearly unrealistic, especially where fossil fuel use is rising very rapidly, and renewable energy use expands modestly. Government subsidies for traditional energy forms continue. Insufficient attention is paid to what individuals might achieve in energy efficiency and renewable energy terms if permitted to have, or retain (in industrialized countries, where the burden of taxation is often inhibiting), the wherewithal to make the necessary investments. Subsidy systems often promote renewable energy schemes that are misdirected and buoyed up by grossly exaggerated claims. One or two mature renewable energy technologies are pushed nationally with insufficient regard for their costs, contribution to electricity generation, transportation fuels’ needs, or carbon emission avoidance. Investors are rewarded excessively under some national schemes for mature technologies that should not require support, and that frequently do not make the contribution to renewable energy output or carbon emission avoidance they claim. Costs to business and domestic electricity consumers, through the subsidy payments they make, are much greater under some schemes than what other carbon abatement measures would cost. Higher-cost, less mature renewable energy technologies that have large potential for meeting global energy needs are not getting the support they warrant. This is of grave concern given the minimum 30–50 year lead times required to make a large global contribution. Without departing from the sense of urgency required to address the pressing needs for sustainable energy systems, it is imperative that the involvement of people at the grassroots level is harnessed and sound commercial and technical criteria are applied.