Power Generation Potential Research Articles

Enhancement of thermoelectric properties of p-type bismuth telluride bulk composites with Ag-TiO2 nano particles via spray coating and hot deformation process

We aimed to enhance p-type Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3.4 (BST) composite's thermoelectric (TE) properties by minimizing thermal conductivity through hierarchical phonon scattering via nano Ag-coated TiO2 (Ag/TiO2). Hot deformation (HD) was employed to induce multi-scale microstructures in these high-performance p-type TE materials, affecting electrical and thermal transport properties through improved textures and donor-like effects. Our optimization strategy included creating grain boundaries, multiple phonons scattering centers, and introducing high-density lattice defects, significantly reducing lattice thermal conductivity. The combined effects led to a noticeable improvement in the figure of merit (zT) across the temperature range, with all TE parameters measured along the in-plane direction. In the case of the hot-deformed Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3.4 alloy, the maximum zT reached 1.31 at 350 K, while the average zT (zTavg) was 1.17 in the range of 300–400 K, suggesting promising potential for near room temperature TE power generation and solid-state cooling.

Performance Improvement of Industrial Gas Turbine for Power Augmentation in the Nigeria Oil and Gas Sector

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the electricity supply situation in Nigeria, focusing specifically on enhancing the performance of industrial gas turbines, GE GT13E2 (Afam Power Plant owned by FIPL) in Port Harcourt. The study encompasses two primary aspects. Firstly, it involves an examination of the nominal operating conditions of a combined cycle system and explores their dynamic performance through advanced simulations. Secondly, the research introduces a supplementary burner into the combined system and conducts a comparative analysis, considering factors such as system efficiency and power output. The power plant configurations are simulated using Gasturb14. The analysis is carried out by establishing the maximum attainable temperature in the Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG), which determines the number of stages of supplementary firing that can be implemented. The results presented in this paper unveil the substantial potential for power generation with the addition of supplementary burners, indicating a remarkable increase in power output, yielding approximately 187.444 MW. However, this significant boost in power generation comes with an associated trade-off, wherein the overall system efficiency experiences a reduction. From an economic perspective, the additional power generated by the afterburner translates directly into increased revenue from electricity sales. Considering the average residential electricity rate in the U.S. as of February 2023, the calculated additional revenue from the afterburner amounted to approximately $25,641.58 per hour.

The effect assessment of wind turbine capacity on offshore wind power generation potential in guangdong

Abstract The installed capacity of offshore wind power directly impacts the number of turbines and the total electricity generation. This study uses wind speed and offshore wind power planning data, and Guangdong Province is a case study. Three scenarios are set (7.5 MW, 9.5 MW, and 15 MW) to explore the influence of turbine installed capacity on electricity generation. The results indicate that when the turbine capacity is 9.5 MW, it generates the highest electricity, which accounts for approximately 162718.9 GWh per year.

Dynamic performance enhancement in 2D and 3D curved flexible photovoltaic modules: Mismatch loss analysis and cell interconnection configurations optimization

The integration of photovoltaic (PV) technology into curved-surface buildings holds promise for energy-efficient eco-cities. However, the surface irradiance field of curved PV modules is uneven, and the distribution varies with the relative position to the sun and the surface shape. In this study, the dynamic irradiance field distributions of 2D and 3D curved PV modules are investigated. Based on this, 3 PV cell interconnection methods are proposed in conjunction with the irradiance balance principle. The electrical performance and power loss mechanisms are analyzed, and the dynamic adaptability, orientation adaptability, and geometric adaptability are evaluated. The results show diverse irradiance field patterns under different central angle conditions: uniform distribution in the north-south or east-west direction, while Gaussian distribution in other directions. Appropriate PV cell interconnection methods for 2D curved PV modules can effectively reduce mismatch losses, demonstrating significant enhancement in power output, up to 1721.21 Wh and 1604.10 Wh respectively. However, for 3D curved PV modules, the 3 interconnection methods fail to effectively adapt to the dynamic variation in irradiance, thus unable to fully exploit the power generation potential. In-depth investigation of mismatch losses in this study contributes to improving the reliability and economic viability of curved PV module, promoting its commercial application.

Numerical study on efficiency and robustness of wave energy converter-power take-off system for compressed air energy storage

The unpredictable fluctuations of wave lead to an imbalance between energy supply and demand. This article proposes a wave-driven compressed air energy storage system, which uses wave mechanical energy instead of electrical energy as the direct driving force for the compressors. Compressed air energy storage solves the problem of stability of wave energy output by accumulating and storing wave energy and then releasing it in a centralized manner. Due to the significant change in load damping compared to the generator, the damping force of the power take-off with compressed air energy storage load is analyzed. And a robust strategy with adjustable buoy draft and load compressor number is proposed, and the highest capture width ratio of 26.71 % and wave energy to compressed air energy conversion efficiency of 13.00 % are achieved under regular wave conditions. Surface seawater is used for heat supplementation in the expansion phase, and a closed-loop system is designed to avoid the damage of low-temperature condensation, the round-trip efficiency of the system is 11.26 %. This research provides a potential power generation path for wave energy and surface seawater heat. And it may beneficial to provide stable and relatively cheap power supply for coastal and offshore users.

Investigating the techno-economic and environmental feasibility of biogas-based power generation potential using food waste in Bangladesh

This study investigates the environmental, economic, and technological viability of sustainable energy production from food waste in Bangladesh through anaerobic digestion (AD) technology along with the challenges in developing such biogas plants. The tri-fold criteria of technical feasibility, economic viability, and environmental sustainability—all of which were examined in this research work. Results indicate that the amount of food waste is 40.86 million tons in 2021 and is projected as 62.82 million tons in the year 2043 in Bangladesh. The power generation potential from the food waste is estimated at 2667.40 MW and 4466.24 MW for the same period. The net present value of the project in Bangladesh is 55,234.93 million dollars. The investment payback period and internal rate of return are 6.73 yr And 11 %, respectively. Techno-economic and environmental feasibility is also calculated for the eight major cities in Bangladesh for the year 2021. The biogas-based power plant substantially reduces CO2 emissions as compared to coal-based and a diesel-based power plant. Additionally, 4.93 million tons of bio-fertilizer, could be produced from food waste. This study will offer scientific guidance for the investment in biogas-based electricity-generating projects in Bangladesh.

Research on the design and optimal control of the power take-off (PTO) system for underwater eel-type power generators

Wave energy and ocean current energy are considered stable, reliable, and highly predictable renewable energy sources. The development of ocean current energy conversion technology is crucial in addressing power shortages. However, the low velocity of most ocean currents worldwide, typically less than 1.5 m/s, poses a challenge for traditional ocean current energy capture devices. Current estimations of power generation from underwater devices often significantly differ from actual results. This study presents an eel-type power generation device designed for underwater use, investigates the design and optimization of a hydraulic power take-off (PTO) system suitable for such devices, and examines key components of the hydraulic PTO system like variable hydraulic motors and generators. Analytical research was conducted to understand its operational characteristics, with a focus on components such as the accumulator, speed control valve, and energy storage flywheel. The article also delves into the hydrodynamic and energy conversion characteristics of the device under shallow water wave and current conditions, enhancing the hydraulic PTO system model and establishing an integrated calculation model for real-time data transmission during the calculation process. Through evaluations of pitch angle and power generation under varying sea conditions, the study explores the impact of hydraulic motor displacement and damping coefficient on the hydrodynamic and power generation characteristics of the device, further validated through sea trials. The study findings indicate a high level of parameter adaptation among the components of the hydraulic system. The addition of an accumulator to the system results in smoother output response curves, suggesting that the accumulator absorbs impacts and stabilizes the hydraulic power transmission system. The proposed comprehensive calculation method enables a more precise prediction of the performance of the eel power generation device in real marine environments, capturing its movement behavior and power generation characteristics. Adjusting the motor displacement or damping coefficient under specific conditions can optimize the total damping of the hydraulic PTO system for maximum power output. The optimal power point of the hydraulic power generation system varies for different sea conditions, with a potential power generation efficiency of up to 80.3% under certain circumstances.

Rooftop PV Development Suitability and Carbon Benefits: An Anhui Province Case Study

As one of the most rapidly developing provinces in China in the past two decades, Anhui Province has seen an increasing demand for clean energy in recent years due to industrial transformation and the requirements of dual carbon targets. This paper opts to investigate roof-mounted distributed photovoltaics, which are more suitable for development in densely populated areas. Current research on distributed photovoltaics largely focuses on vague estimations of power generation potential, without adequately considering the specific development conditions of different regions. This paper starts from the actual situation affecting the development of roof-mounted distributed photovoltaics and selects a smaller number of factors that are more in line with reality for hierarchical analysis, constructing a relatively simple but practical evaluation system (“meteorological-geographical-socio-economic”). At the same time, this paper innovatively proposes different schemes for the full lifecycle power generation and emission reduction benefits of roof-mounted distributed photovoltaics and compares them, providing a foundation for subsequent in-depth research. Key findings include the following: The northern regions of Anhui Province exhibit higher suitability for rooftop distributed PV, with residential areas being the primary influencing factor, followed by solar radiation considerations; the annual power generation potential of rooftop distributed PV in Anhui Province constitutes around 80% of the total electricity consumption in 2021, but the potential is predominantly concentrated in rural areas, resulting in spatial disparities in power generation and consumption across the province; developing the rooftop distributed PV industry based on suitability can yield substantial power generation and emission reduction benefits, translating to an estimated reduction of approximately 1.28 × 108 tCO2 annually, representing around one-third of Anhui Province’s carbon emissions in 2021.

Exploring the stability and dynamic responses of dual-stage series ORC using LNG cold energy for sustainable power generation

Utilizing LNG cold energy for power generation is critical for improving energy efficiency of LNG supply chain. Current studies on power generation systems that use LNG cold energy primarily focus on steady-state simulations and optimizing key parameters. However, there is a notable gap in research regarding dynamic simulations to understand the dynamic behaviors of these systems. To address this, a dynamic model for a dual-stage series ORC system that harnesses LNG cold energy was proposed focusing on its dynamic responses. A comparative analysis of its stability under two different control strategies were conducted identifying the cascade control strategy as the superior method. The effects of various parameters, such as LNG temperature, mass flow, and composition, along with exhaust gas pressure, temperature, and composition, on the stability and dynamic response of the system were investigated. The results indicate that fluctuations in LNG mass flow have the most significant impact on system stability, while exhaust gas pressure has the least. Additionally, most parameters effectively returned to their setpoints after disturbances when managed by the cascaded control strategy. This research provides valuable insights into the operational characteristics of the dual-stage ORC, demonstrating its potential for sustainable power generation by leveraging the recovery of LNG cold energy.

A CMIP6-ensemble-based evaluation of precipitation and temperature projections

Understanding climate change’s effects on dam basins is very important for water resource management because of their important role in providing essential functions such as water storage, irrigation, and energy production. This study aims to investigate the impact of climate change on temperature and precipitation variables in the Altınkaya Dam Basin, which holds significant potential for hydroelectric power generation in Türkiye. These potential impacts were investigated by using ERA5 reanalysis data, six GCMs from the current CMIP6 archive, and two Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP2 − 4.5 and SSP5 − 8.5) scenario data. Four Multi-Model Ensemble (MME) models were developed by using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) approach (ENS1), simple averaging (ENS2), weighted correlation coefficients (ENS3), and the MARS algorithm (ENS4), and the results were compared to each other. Moreover, quantile delta mapping (QDM) bias correction was used. The 35-year period (1980–2014) was chosen as the reference period, and further evaluations were conducted by dividing it into three future periods (near (2025–2054), mid-far (2055–2084), and far (2085–2100)). Considering the results achieved from the MMEs, variations are expected in the monthly, seasonal, and annual assessments. Projections until the year 2100 indicate that under optimistic and pessimistic scenarios, temperature increases could reach up to 3.11 °C and 5.64 °C, respectively, while precipitation could decrease by as much as 19% and 43%, respectively. These results suggest that the potential changes in temperature and precipitation within the dam basin could significantly impact critical elements such as future water flow and energy production.

Modelling Anti-Corrosion Coating Performance of Metallic Bipolar Plates for PEM Fuel Cells: A Machine Learning Approach

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells have significant potential for clean power generation, yet challenges remain in enhancing their performance, durability, and cost-effectiveness, particularly concerning metallic bipolar plates, which are pivotal for lightweight compact fuel cell stacks. Protective coatings are commonly employed to combat metallic bipolar plate corrosion and enhance water management within stacks. Conventional methods for predicting coating performance in terms of corrosion resistance involve complex physical-electrochemical modelling and extensive experimentation, with significant time and cost. In this study machine learning techniques are employed to model metallic bipolar plate coating performance, diamond-like-carbon coatings of varying thicknesses deposited on SS316L are considered, and coating performance is evaluated using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The obtained experimental data is split into two datasets for machine learning modelling: one predicting corrosion current density and another predicting impedance parameters. Machine learning models, including extreme gradient boosting (XGB) and artificial neural networks (ANN), are developed, and optimized to predict coating performance attributes. Data preprocessing and hyperparameter tuning are carried out to enhance model accuracy. Results show that ANN outperforms XGB in predicting corrosion current density, achieving an R2 > 0.98, and accurately predicting impedance parameters with an R2 > 0.99, indicating that the models developed are very promising for accurate prediction of the corrosion performance of coated metallic bipolar plates for PEM fuel cells.

Probabilistic assessment of deep geothermal resources in the Cornubian Batholith and their development in Cornwall and Devon, United Kingdom

Geothermal energy could play a pivotal role in decarbonisation as it can provide clean, constant base-load energy which is weather independent. With a growing demand for clean energy and improved energy security, geothermal resources must be quantified to reduce exploration risk. This study aims to quantify the untapped resource-potential of the Cornubian Batholith as a geothermal resource for power generation and direct heat use. Recent field work, laboratory measurements and petrophysical characterization provides a newly compiled dataset which is inclusive of subsurface samples taken from the production well of the United Downs Deep Geothermal Power Project. Deterministic and probabilistic calculations are undertaken to evaluate the: total heat in place, recoverable resource, technical potential and potential carbon savings. The Cornubian Batholith is considered a petrothermal system which may require stimulation as an enhanced geothermal system. This study shows the batholith has significant heat stored of 8988 EJ (P50), corresponding to 366 EJ recoverable and a technical potential of 556 GWth. When evaluating the potential for power generation (i.e., electricity) the P50 is 31 GWe. The total carbon savings when generating electricity (P50) equates to 106 Mt.

Gasification of medical plastic waste into hydrogen: Energy potential, environmental benefits and economic feasibility

There has been a surge in plastic waste generation during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the rise in home food deliveries and groceries during lockdowns worldwide. During the pandemic, the increased uncontrolled plastic waste generation moves through sewage into water bodies, causing severe environmental problems in Africa. This calls for a sustainable plastic waste management strategy to combat these negative ecological consequences. Gasification is suitable for valorizing plastic waste into hydrogen for cleaner energy production. This study analyzes the power generation potential, ecological benefits, and economic feasibility of hydrogen from mixed daily COVID-19 plastic wastes in 57 African countries using the plasma gasification process. The key findings show that a total of 218.2 M kg/d of hydrogen gas, with an electricity generation potential of 10.35 M kWh/d, could be benefited from the project across Africa. The electricity consumption from the project could displace 48.04 M L/d of diesel fuel combustion for power generation. The total quantity of diesel fuel displaced daily can reduce global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions by 1.103 M kg CO2eq/d. The economic feasibility result showed that the project had a positive net present value (ranging from US$0.01478 M to US$30.95 M) in all African nations, with an average levelized cost of energy of US$0.4052/kWh and a 17.56% return on investment. Sensitivity analysis, practical implications, limitations, and future perspectives are discussed in detail. The outcomes of this study provide empirical recommendations for plastic waste treatment and disposal in Africa and other developing nations during the COVID-19 epidemic.

Tailoring interfacial states for improved n-type bismuth telluride thermoelectrics

Efforts to enhance the thermoelectric (TE) efficiency of n-type bismuth telluride (BTS) have focused on leveraging 2D nanostructures, as they have been proven effective in inhibiting phonon transport and simultaneously improving electrical properties. Herein, we introduce g-C3N4 as a suitable candidate for disrupting phonon transport, with the potential to finely tune charge carrier mobility. Crucially, our investigation provides insights into the potential of externally introduced conducting states as a feasible strategy for facilitating carrier transport at heterogeneous interfaces. In contrast, the carrier scattering and localization events play an inverse role. By carefully modulating the competition, we effectively increase carrier mobility, boosting electrical conductivity and optimizing the power factor. This orchestrated strategy leads to a high figure of merit (ZT) of 1.29 at 400 K and an average ZT (ZTave) of 1.20 within 300–500 K. At temperature difference ∆T = 180 K, a maximum power output Pmax = 0.91 W and a 6.2 % conversion efficiency (η) can be achieved over the fabricated TE module. Our findings underscore the potential of 2D nanomaterials and interfacial engineering (IE) as a promising avenue for unlocking the full potential of n-type thermoelectric materials, advancing sustainable and efficient TE power generation.

On Predicting Offshore Hub Height Wind Speed and Wind Power Density in the Northeast US Coast Using High-Resolution WRF Model Configurations during Anticyclones Coinciding with Wind Drought

We investigated the predictive capability of various configurations of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model version 4.4, to predict hub height offshore wind speed and wind power density in the Northeast US wind farm lease areas. The selected atmospheric conditions were high-pressure systems (anticyclones) coinciding with wind speed below the cut-in wind turbine threshold. There are many factors affecting the potential of offshore wind power generation, one of them being low winds, namely wind droughts, that have been present in future climate change scenarios. The efficiency of high-resolution hub height wind prediction for such events has not been extensively investigated, even though the anticipation of such events will be important in our increased reliance on wind and solar power resources in the near future. We used offshore wind observations from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s (WHOI) Air–Sea Interaction Tower (ASIT) located south of Martha’s Vineyard to assess the impact of the initial and boundary conditions, number of model vertical levels, and inclusion of high-resolution sea surface temperature (SST) fields. Our focus has been on the influence of the initial and boundary conditions (ICBCs), SST, and model vertical layers. Our findings showed that the ICBCs exhibited the strongest influence on hub height wind predictions above all other factors. The NAM/WRF and HRRR/WRF were able to capture the decreased wind speed, and there was no single configuration that systematically produced better results. However, when using the predicted wind speed to estimate the wind power density, the HRRR/WRF had statistically improved results, with lower errors than the NAM/WRF. Our work underscored that for predicting offshore wind resources, it is important to evaluate not only the WRF predictive wind speed, but also the connection of wind speed to wind power.

An Attention-Based Full-Scale Fusion Network for Segmenting Roof Mask from Satellite Images

Accurately segmenting building roofs from satellite images is crucial for evaluating the photovoltaic power generation potential of urban roofs and is a worthwhile research topic. In this study, we propose an attention-based full-scale fusion (AFSF) network to segment a roof mask from the given satellite images. By developing an attention-based residual ublock, the channel relationship of the feature maps can be modeled. By integrating attention mechanisms in multi-scale feature fusion, the model can learn different weights for features of different scales. We also design a ladder-like network to utilize weakly labeled data, thereby achieving pixel-level semantic segmentation tasks assisted by image-level classification tasks. In addition, we contribute a new roof segmentation dataset, which is based on satellite images and uses the roof as the segmentation target rather than the entire building to further promote the algorithm research of estimating roof area using satellite images. The experimental results on the new roof segmentation dataset, WHU dataset, and IAIL dataset demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed network.

Suitability analysis for implementing wind and solar farms based AHP method: Case study in Inner Mongolia, China

Abstract. As important green energy, wind power and photovoltaic power have great development prospects. The suitability evaluation of wind and solar power plants is a popular research field, which is related to the sustainable and healthy development of wind and solar power generation. In this paper, based on multiple dimensions such as land types, climatic conditions, topographic features and policy environment, we selected 10 indicators and combined (analytical hierarchy process) AHP method to build a suitability assessment model for evaluating the suitability of solar and wind power in Inner Mongolia, China. The findings revealed that, Inner Mongolia has a great potential to generate wind and solar electricity, for wind power, the category of ‘excellent’ regions covers 83855 km2 and represents 7.10% of the total surface area; for solar power, 7.66% (nearly 90420 km2) are classified as ‘excellent’. The suitability of both solar and wind energy in the western region is considered to have the most suitable development region, parts of Alxa League and Bayannur City have great potential for combined wind and solar power generation. The research results could provide important technical and data support for capacity evaluation and power station location decision.

Low-carbon scheduling of electricity consumption in wastewater treatment plant by using photovoltaic system

Sewage treatment as a high energy consumption industry, its electricity consumption accounts for 3 % of the total electricity consumption of society. That means significant greenhouse gas emissions. In the context of China's goal of “reaching carbon peak by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060”, reducing the energy consumption of wastewater treatment systems has emerged as an important issue in recent years. In this paper, the GPS-X simulation software was employed to conduct a simulation study of a modified Anoxic-Aerobic-Oxic wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Wuhan, and the response surface methodology (RSM) was utilized to ascertain the interactive effects of DO, IRF, ERR, and SD on the effluent quality, thereby identifying the operational parameters that minimize energy consumption while maintaining satisfactory effluent quality. Additionally, the PVsyst software was employed to design the solar power generation system of the WWTP and analyze its power generation potential. On this basis, through the coupling of photovoltaic power, electricity load, time-of-use pricing, and the water quality simulation model, and taking the WWTP data in September as a case study, the electricity usage strategies under various illumination conditions were formulated. The aim is to maximize the use of photovoltaic power to reduce the cost and carbon emissions of the WWTP. The results show that the optimal combination of operational parameters, including an external reflux ratio of 0.3, the internal recycle flow of 50,000 m3/d, and the sludge discharge of 448 m3/d, resulted in a reduction in power of 208.5 kW, and after the combination optimization of operational parameters and electricity utilization, the operation cost of the WWTP in September was reduced by 40 % ∼ 60 %, and the carbon emission attributable to electricity was reduced by 30 % ∼ 50 %.

Renewable energy potential in the State of Palestine: Proposals for sustainability

Renewable energy is not only a viable economic choice in Palestine, but it is also an imperative requirement to end the country's current energy crisis, which is particularly acute in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The main focus of this study, which makes it the most thorough in its sector, is showcasing Palestine's distinct renewable energy potentials (thermal solar, PV, wind, biomass, and hydropower). The System Advisor Model software (SAM) was used to predict the power potentials for a year. The results indicate that Palestine has a significant potential for PV power generation within 1,700 kWh/kWp. Wind energy can see a considerable difference in capacity, with a mean power density in the high mountains of WB of 600 W/m2, a mean power density for all of WB of 300 W/m2, and a relatively low power density for GS of less than 100 W/m2. Options for investments in the high seas and with the nearby Arabic nations were also offered. About 1,717 GWh of energy equivalent comes from biomass resources. It is determined that the best designed system can produce 82 % of the total while only 18 % is purchased from the grid using HOMER to retrieve the optimum on-grid hybrid energy system. Furthermore, only 70.7 % of the energy produced is consumed, with the remainder being sold back to the grid. Therefore, using renewable energy sources in addition to the grid is advised to cut costs and potentially generate income. Reduce reliance on fossil fuels and combat global warming, as well.

Wave energy converter farm feasibility assessment in southwest Baja California, Mexico

This study evaluates the technical and economic feasibility of implementing a wave energy converter (WEC) farm on the southwest coast of Baja California, Mexico. The aim is to determine the theoretical installed capacity and the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for a WEC farm, unlike most previous efforts that were limited to a single device. The availability of wave energy has been assessed using 40 years of wave data. The electrical power generation potential of the Archimedes Wave Swing and Wave Dragon devices was estimated using their power matrices. For the calculation of levelized cost of energy, the capital expenditure includes equity, debt, taxes, and the present value of the power generation over the project's lifespan. The results indicate that the Archimedes Wave Swing farms offer the most favourable pricing for end users, despite the Wave Dragon farms having a larger installed capacity. A sensitivity analysis was conducted for five variables, which revealed that site selection has the greatest impact on LCOE.