Potential Of Renewable Energy Resources Research Articles

What Advantages Arise from the Shift Towards Sustainable Energy Sources in Resource-Rich Economies? Empirical Insights from Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, a nation with abundant petroleum resources, aspires to harness the untapped potential of the Caspian Sea's renewable energy resources. The aim for the immediate future is to meet not only domestic energy requirements, but also to establish the nation as a green energy exporter. The nation expects to develop power installations utilizing renewable energy over the forthcoming decades to satisfy a portion of its domestic consumption and also cater to the European market. As part of this colossal project, Azerbaijan anticipates collaborating with international partners to install a 4-gigawatt (GW) power cable traversing the seabed of the Black Sea. The successful realization of these ambitious projects would bolster Azerbaijan's economic sustainability during its post-petroleum phase, while simultaneously enabling a reduction in carbon emissions, offering regional and global benefits. This manuscript seeks to probe the multidimensional implications—political, economic, sociocultural and environmental—of this shift towards wind-derived green energy for Azerbaijan and other nations in the region.

Geographical information system based assessment of various renewable energy potentials in Nigeria

Nigeria’s energy transition plan is hinged on increasing the energy mix from renewable energy sources. An understanding of where the potentials of these renewable energy sources lie is very crucial to enhance quality and timely policy formulations, interventions and proper decision making. This paper aims at providing a holistic assessment of the potentials of key renewable energy resources; solar, wind, biomass and small hydro in Nigeria using ArcGIS; a geospatial analytical platform that provide data and visualizations of these potentials across the country. This paper focuses on the Inverse Distance weighting methodology which overlays various map shapefiles and spreadsheets containing relevant data such as; waterlines and water areas, road and rail networks, crop production, longitude and latitude, wind speeds, solar irradiation, elevation and other relevant map data, shape files for all the Nigerian states and local governments. These data are geo-processed to align the results to the exact locations as provided by their geographical positions stem coordinates. These interpolation results are further reclassed within standard limits for the various output parameters such as crops, forest areas, built-up areas, water bodies, shrubs/grasslands, barren lands and waterbodies to reveal suitability areas for siting the various renewable energy power generating plants.

Unlocking the potential of renewable energy and natural resources for sustainable economic growth and carbon neutrality: A novel panel quantile regression approach

As the world grapples with the dual challenge of fostering sustainable economic growth and achieving carbon neutrality, the role of renewable energy, urbanization, and financial development in shaping environmental outcomes in South Asian nations becomes increasingly critical. In this pioneering study, we delve into the heart of South Asia, encompassing a diverse range of nations – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives, and India – each chosen for their strategic geographical significance and the rich availability of pertinent data, offering a unique lens into the region’s energy and economic dynamics. This research uses panel quantile regression analysis to examine the relationship between the renewable energy consumption, broad money, urbanization, and natural resources and their effects on carbon emissions and economic development in South Asian (SAARC) nations. Fixed-effect panel quantile regression analysis was used to adjust for geographical variability. This study aims to investigate how urbanization, broad money, natural resources, and renewable energy affect economic growth and carbon emissions. According to our research, renewable energy consumption significantly and negatively affects CO2 emissions, especially in the distribution’s higher quantiles. Urbanization has a positive and significant effect on GDP, whereas natural resource rent has a positive impact on GDP and CO2 emissions. Broad money boosts GDP in the lower quantiles while having a negative impact in the higher quantiles. These findings show that in order to combine economic development with environmental sustainability, governments must concentrate on boosting the use of renewable energy sources and encouraging sustainable urbanization. Our policy implication is that policymakers should prioritize policies aimed at promoting renewable energy consumption and sustainable urbanization, which can help mitigate the negative environmental impact of economic growth in the SAARC region.

Tidal energy extraction modifies tidal asymmetry and transport in a shallow, well-mixed estuary

Tidal energy extraction is increasingly being studied as a potential renewable energy resource in estuaries worldwide. Although it is understood that energy extraction via tidal stream turbines can modify currents and transport within estuaries, it is not clear how the underlying nonlinear physical mechanisms dictating tidal hydrodynamics are modulated. This research investigates the influence of a hypothetical tidal stream turbine array on barotropic tidal processes in a shallow, well-mixed system: the Piscataqua River – Great Bay (PRGB) estuary, using a numerical model. The modeled turbine farm includes 180 turbines which would extract an estimated 44.7 GWh of energy, annually. The tidal hydrodynamic model for the existing condition is validated with in-situ observations of currents and water level before analyzing tidal asymmetry and transport with and without tidal turbines. Results indicate that the tidal turbine array will decrease tidal elevation and current magnitudes system-wide, but generally reduce ebb currents and transport more than flood over most of the estuary footprint, thereby diminishing tidal asymmetry. The smaller asymmetric distortion compared to the no-turbine case is attributed to reductions in the storage volume of water over the estuary’s extensive tidal flat regions between low and high waters which decreases the associated nonlinear intertidal storage mechanism up to 25%. This leads to weakened ebb dominance over estuary sections from the mouth to mid-reaches, where depths are deep enough to keep the combined nonlinear shallow water and frictional effects from asserting control over the storage mechanism. Even in upstream shallow regions where depth-dependent friction controls asymmetry in both cases, the frictional mechanism is reduced only by 10% with turbines. Some environmental considerations of this work are discussed, with focus on sediment transport, water quality, and ecology.

Towards Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings: Smart Energy Management of Vehicle-to-Building (V2B) Strategy and Renewable Energy Sources

As countries worldwide strive for net-zero emissions, electric vehicles (EVs) have gained significant momentum. EVs, particularly through Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technology, including Vehicle-to-Building (V2B), are recognized as key enablers for achieving nearly-zero energy buildings (NZEB). This research presents an advanced Smart Energy Management System (SEMS) with a novel V2B strategy, offering precise one-hour resolution to reduce grid reliance and optimize peak load management. The SEMS coordinates building energy and EV charging while harnessing the potential of renewable energy resources and battery storage systems. By carefully scheduling EV charging and discharging activities, it maximizes the efficient use of available energy resources. Importantly, the algorithm integrates real-world EV parking patterns, accounting for factors such as fleet composition, parking durations, and charging priorities. Economic evaluation encompasses not only direct EV battery degradation costs but also external expenses associated with environmental impacts. Simulation outcomes underscore a remarkable reduction in building grid power demand (65%) and a substantial decrease in carbon emissions (64%). The PV+V2B Scenario emerges as the preferred choice, striking an optimal balance between initial investment costs, energy savings, and carbon footprint reductions. This study holds great academic and practical significance, contributing to the advancement of smart, sustainable, and economically viable net-zero cities.

Analyzing The Effectiveness of Renewable Energy Policies in Poverty Reduction and Mitigating Climate Change Impacts in Africa

This study explores how renewable energy policies in Africa can help alleviate poverty and combat climate change. The research highlights the significant percentage of Africa's population living in poverty without access to electricity, leading to a cycle of poverty and limited education. By examining relevant literature from various sources, the study aims to deepen our understanding of how renewable energy policies can contribute to poverty reduction and climate change mitigation in Africa. The research emphasizes the untapped potential of renewable energy resources in Africa, including hydropower, geothermal, biomass, solar, and wind, which can significantly increase the region's renewable energy capacity. Renewable energy policies are seen as a powerful tool to alleviate poverty by providing affordable, clean, and reliable energy sources in developing countries. Additionally, these policies play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting the transition to sustainable energy systems. Africa faces significant risks from climate change, such as rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and extreme weather events, making the adoption of renewable energy even more important. The study recommends increasing investment in renewable energy infrastructure, developing effective policies, strengthening partnerships, promoting energy efficiency, integrating renewable energy into national development plans, enhancing climate change resilience, and raising awareness among communities. Embracing renewable energy has the potential to bring about positive change in Africa, improving lives, economies, and ecosystems, while addressing climate change

Sustainable energy transition in Bangladesh: Challenges and pathways for the future

AbstractThe industrial development of a country plays a vital role in its overall progress and is closely tied to its capacity of electricity generation. However, the scarcity of natural resources and increasing costs of fuel in global markets pose significant challenges for developing countries like Bangladesh in managing the rising expenses of electricity generation. Consequently, the government of Bangladesh is exploring alternative energy resources such as solar, wind, hydroelectricity, biomass, and biogas to supplement fossil fuels and optimize electricity generation cost. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current status of natural resources, including gas, coal, and oil, which are conventionally used for electricity generation in Bangladesh. It highlights concerns about dwindling resource availability and their impact on the country's energy landscape. Through numerical analysis, it demonstrates the detrimental effects of relying heavily on gas‐based power plants, leading to electricity supply instability. To address the ongoing energy crisis, the paper proposes the adoption of renewable energy sources as a viable solution. Additionally, it also acknowledges the challenges associated with implementing large‐scale renewable projects in distinct areas of the country, such as limited infrastructure, technical constraints, and the need for significant investment. Overcoming these barriers is crucial for achieving widespread utilization of renewable resources. This paper concludes by offering recommendations to overcome these challenges and maximize the contributions of renewable energy in meeting future energy demands. The suggestions include developing robust infrastructure, implementing policy reforms to attract investment, emphasizing research and development, and promoting community engagement in renewable energy initiatives. It also highlights the potential of renewable energy resources in shaping a more secure and sustainable energy future for Bangladesh, emphasizing the importance of electricity generation for socio‐economic development.

Techno-economic analysis of auto-thermal gasification of municipal solid waste with ash direct melting for hydrogen production

Hydrogen is regarded as a promising secondary energy source to tackle the pollutions and carbon emission caused by the usage of fossil fuels. Municipal solid waste (MSW) generated in our daily lives as a potential renewable energy resource can be used for hydrogen production via gasification process. Yet the techno-economic feasibility of the waste-to-H2 process has not been well evaluated. This study proposes a H2 production route from MSW via an auto-thermal steam gasification combined with ash direct melting process. The technical and economic performances of the system are evaluated by process simulation using Aspen Plus. Part of the generated syngas is extracted for combustion with oxygen to provide heat for gasification and achieving ash melting. A net H2 yield of 0.075 kg/kg-MSW was obtained at the gasification temperature of 900 °C and steam/MSW ratio of 0.9. The levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) is 18.53 CNY (Chinese Yuan)/kg. Under this condition the energy and exergy efficiency are 47.37% and 40.18%, respectively. Three additional cases were also studied to investigate the effects of external energy supply, ash melting process, and gasification agent on the thermodynamic and economic performances. Using biochar as external supply energy will lead to a higher H2 yield (0.112 kg/kg-MSW), but also a higher LCOH due mainly to the additional biochar cost and CO2 capture cost. If without the ash melting process, the energy efficiency can be improved, yet the generated ash may need further treatment which would otherwise cause environmental pollution. Considering the technical, economical, and environmental perspectives, the gasification and direct melting process as a harmless and resourceful method presents a promising potential for waste-to-H2 conversion.

Exploring the Sectoral Development and Sustainability Potentials of Renewable Energy Resources in Nigeria

Exploring the Sectoral Development and Sustainability Potentials of Renewable Energy Resources in Nigeria

Wind resource assessment of northern part of Thailand

With the unpleasant occurrences of climate change and global warming, there is an inevitable need to generate energy from renewable sources. Energy generation from burning coal, extracting fuel, ignition of CO 2 , exploiting tar sands, or any other environmentally unfriendly resources are hazardous to our planet. Therefore, the world needs to switch towards renewable sources. Wind energy has developed across the globe due to being the most eco-friendly, comparatively efficient, and affordable. Thailand has a higher potential for wind energy because of the median height of 287 m above sea level with a soaring altitude of 2565 m above sea level. In addition to this, Thailand has a higher energy wind potential are of 550 km 2 . Regarding this, Thailand has realized wind energy is a strong potential renewable energy resource that needs to be developed. To fulfill energy demands, the prospect of particular provinces concerning wind power and the capacity of electrical energy acquired from wind energy has been studied. Consequently, with the data derived from the specific regions, consisting of 13 different stations at 10 m height and 10 min interval, the wind energy potential has been evaluated for each region in the WASP (Wind Atlas Analysis and Application Program). In addition, 7 stations data was processable among 13 stations. In this program, the wind data acquired from the study area consists of Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Mae Sa Riang, Pha Yao, Theon, and Thung Chang with the latitude and longitude through meteorological stations and entered as an input to the WASP. WAsP simulation software was used to analyze the data generated, which is considered to be among the best simulation applications worldwide. As a result, the potential areas for electricity generation are identified. This study supports the generation of renewable energy in particular northern regions of Thailand and accordingly the purpose is to provide guidelines and contributions to the researchers and related organizations to further dig into which can substitute the conventional methods and economically provide energy.

Battery energy storage systems reinforcement control strategy to enhanced the maximum integration of PV to generation systems

Java Bali area has high potential of renewable energy resources (RES) especially for photovoltaic (PV) energy which can supply the power system electricity. However, the PV generation has intermittent characteristic, which in may disturb the power system operation. The disturbance is related to the system technical minimum load (TML) and system ramping capability. For that purpose, the maximum size of PV generation should be determined and regulated since it depends on generating unit size and type. The regulation can be realized using the reinforcement of battery energy storage system (BESS) which can provide the system flexibility, frequency regulation and energy management. The method to determine maximum penetration level of PV penetration is proposed in this research, which is based on the unit commitment (UC) procedure. The BESS facilities are also included as the technology option which can provide more flexibility. The proposed method will determine penetration level, periodically committed generating unit, dispatched generating unit, BESS charging and discharging status. The method is simulated in simplified Java Bali System under three different period that are weekdays, weekend and lowestday scenario having different demand and peakload combining to BESS facilities as the options. The result shows that under BESS reinforcement the PV integration are 49%, 35% and 23% during weekdays, weekend and lowestday, respectively. On contrary, without BESS reinforcement the PV integration are only 45%, 31% and 17%.

Sailing mega-solar rafts for huge renewable energy in the low-latitude Pacific Ocean

An innovative idea of exploiting huge solar energy in the low-latitude Pacific Ocean using wind-sailing mega-solar rafts is reviewed to emphasize its great potential for human renewable energy resources besides currently promoted offshore wind energy. The basic technologies including energy-transportation are already available but necessary to be developed commercially viable. It will also promote the peaceful use of open seas in the Pacific Ocean for a truly sustainable world instead of military confrontations.

Solar-driven Dish Stirling System for sustainable power generation in Bangladesh: A case study in Cox’s Bazar

In recent years, the power sector of Bangladesh has seen a major development in terms of generation capacity. But as before, it is heavily dependent on fossil fuels overlooking the potential of renewable energy resources. The scope for grid-connected renewable energy systems has not been explored too far and in terms of solar thermal energy and concentrating solar power (CSP), it is even less. This study focuses on assessing the techno-economic feasibility of solar-driven Dish Stirling system for large-scale grid-connected power generation in Bangladesh. Detailed modeling and optimization of a 100 MW Dish Stirling power plant have been carried out in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, a location suitable for solar energy harnessing due to favorable climatic conditions. The modeling parameters and weather data have been collected from relevant literature, various solar data providers, and specific plant parameters have been optimized for the Bangladeshi climatic condition. Simulation of the modeled plant carried out by the System Advisor Model (SAM) shows that, it can supply 129.856 GWh electricity annually operating at an overall efficiency of 24.91% which is much higher than the values reported in similar literature for the South-Asian regions. The levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) has been determined to be 10.18 cents/kWh, which is highly competitive and promising. The insights obtained from this study can be a perfect starting point for the policymakers and concerned authorities of Bangladesh to further explore the viability of this technology for renewable and sustainable power.

Harmonized and Open Energy Dataset for Modeling a Highly Renewable Brazilian Power System

Improvements in modelling energy systems of populous emerging economies are highly decisive for a successful global energy transition. The models used–increasingly open source–still need more appropriate open data. As an illustrative example, we take the Brazilian energy system, which has great potential for renewable energy resources but still relies heavily on fossil fuels. We provide a comprehensive open dataset for scenario analyses, which can be directly used with the popular open energy system model PyPSA and other modelling frameworks. It includes three categories: (1) time series data of variable renewable potentials, electricity load profiles, inflows for the hydropower plants, and cross-border electricity exchanges; (2) geospatial data on the administrative division of the Brazilian federal states; (3) tabular data, which contains power plant data with installed and planned generation capacities, aggregated grid network topology, biomass thermal plant potential, as well as scenarios of energy demand. Our dataset could enable further global or country-specific energy system studies based on open data relevant to decarbonizing Brazil’s energy system.

A potential renewable energy resource from the biomass of banana pseudo-stem (Musa acuminata) wild species variety

A potential renewable energy resource from the biomass of banana pseudo-stem (Musa acuminata) wild species variety

An enhancement of transformer-based architecture with randomized regularization for wind speed prediction

The wind power is considered as a potential renewable energy resource which requires less management cost and effort than the others like as tidal, geothermal, etc. However, the natural randomization and volatility aspects of wind in different regions have brought several challenges for efficiently as well as reliably operating the wind-based power supply grid. Thus, it is necessary to have centralized monitoring centers for managing as well as optimizing the performance of wind power farms. Among different management task, wind speed prediction is considered as an important task which directly support for further wind-based power supply resource planning/optimization, hence towards power shortage risk and operating cost reductions. Normally, considering as traditional time-series based prediction problem, most of previous deep learning-based models have demonstrated significant improvement in accuracy performance of wind speed prediction problem. However, most of recurrent neural network (RNN) as well as sequential auto-encoding (AE) based architectures still suffered several limitations related to the capability of sufficient preserving the spatiotemporal and long-range time dependent information of complex time-series based wind datasets. Moreover, previous RNN-based wind speed predictive models also perform poor prediction results within high-complex/noised time-series based wind speed datasets. Thus, in order to overcome these limitations, in this paper we proposed a novel integrated convolutional neural network (CNN)-based spatiotemporal randomization mechanism with transformer-based architecture for wind speed prediction problem, called as: RTrans-WP. Within our RTrans-WP model, we integrated the deep neural encoding component with a randomized CNN learning mechanism to softy align temporal feature within the long-range time-dependent learning context. The utilization of randomized CNN component at the data encoding part also enables to reduce noises and time-series based observation uncertainties which are occurred during the data representation learning and wind speed prediction-driven fine-tuning processes.

THE MAIN CHALLENGES OF ENERGY INDEPENDENCE OF GEORGIA

Ensuring energy independence is the most significant challenge for the economy of Georgia. In order to overcome the problems related to energy independence and energy security, special importance is attached to the use of renewable energy resources. The research aims to assess the potential of renewable energy resources and determine the possibilities of their use for the sustainable economic development of Georgia. In the research process, statistical data analysis and comparative analysis were carried out; qualitative and quantitative research methods were used. As a result of the research, the main problems and challenges related to the energy independence of Georgia were highlighted, and all the positive and negative aspects related to the use of renewable energies were emphasized. The research presents possible ways of overcoming the challenges related to energy independence: improving the infrastructure of the energy sector; Improving the energy policy: improving the investment environment; creating a transparent and non-discriminatory legal framework; Deepening trade relations with the energy markets of the European Union, implementation of scientific research projects, etc., which in turn will contribute to the increase of energy independence and energy efficiency of the country, improvement of energy security and sustainable economic development.

ОСВОЄННЯ ВІДНОВЛЮВАНИХ ЕНЕРГЕТИЧНИХ РЕСУРСІВ ЗАКАРПАТСЬКОЇ ОБЛАСТІ В КОНТЕКСТІ ЗБАЛАНСОВАНОГО РОЗВИТКУ

The state of development of the unique potential of renewable energy resources in the Zakarpattia region for industrial production of heat and electricity in the context of balanced social, economic, and environmental development is considered. It is noted that the region should be among the leaders in the implementation of Ukraine’s Energy Strategy for the period up to 2035 and, by building “green” energy facilities, make a significant contribution to replacing generating capacity that pollutes the atmosphere with greenhouse gases and thus ensures Ukraine’s compliance under the Paris Agreement and achieve the indicators specified in the Law Carbon Strategy of Ukraine until 2050. The problems and prospects of rational use of available renewable resources, the potential of which is more than sufficient to fully meet the region’s energy needs, and its development are unalterable.

Multi-criteria decision analysis for evaluation of potential renewable energy resources in Malaysia

Switching to renewable energy resources as an alternative is critical for developing countries in order to ensure energy security and diversify their energy supply. Malaysia is endowed with biomass, solar, waste-to-energy, wind, and hydro energy potentials, although these have not been fully explored. This is because the country continues to rely extensively on conventional fossil-fuel energy sources such as coal and petroleum to generate power and consume energy. On the other hand, demand for energy is increasing as a result of population growth and a booming economy. Thus, this study intends to identify suitable potential renewable energy resources that can benefit Malaysia by analysing the outcomes of Focus Group Discussions (FGD) using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) as an analytical technique. Five renewable energy resources were evaluated: biomass, solar, waste to energy, wind, and hydro energy while five criteria were identified: carbon production, operational costs, location characteristics, energy, and availability of renewable energy resources. The outcome suggested a strategic focus on solar energy for Malaysia due to consideration in carbon production. This information will assist decision-makers in strategizing the most suitable renewable energy resources for Malaysia.

A probabilistic approach to potential estimation of renewable energy resources based on augmented spatial interpolation

Renewable energy resources have garnered considerable attention owing to concerns regarding climate change mitigation and sustainability. The performance of renewable energy resources varies based on weather conditions, which is an important consideration in power system planning as renewable energy penetration increases. In this study, a probabilistic approach for the potential estimation of renewable energy resources based on augmented spatial interpolation was proposed. The proposed algorithm was verified using empirical data obtained from wind farms in Jeju Island. Wind power output scenarios were modeled through ordinary kriging and Monte Carlo simulations. Moreover, the point and cause of line overload according to the seasonal wind power output and power demand were analyzed through transmission security analysis, and the frequency and scale of the curtailments were estimated. This can be used to estimate potential renewable energy resources and establish a power system operation plan. Further study includes the development of stable power system operation plans for large-scale renewable energy resource-integrated power systems.