Development Of Renewable Energy Projects Research Articles

Public perception of offshore wind farms in Ireland

Public attitude towards onshore wind farm development in Ireland has been extensively investigated. Prior to this study, there was little or no understanding of the perception of the Irish public of offshore wind farms (OSWFs). At this critical juncture in the development of the sector, it is necessary to gauge public opinion regarding offshore wind farms. Data was collected using an online survey (n = 1154) between May and June 2019. Results detail the opinions and attitudes of the Irish public toward the development of renewable energy projects in Irish waters. Demographics showed a 49% male, 51% female split. Education levels and age ranges roughly follow the same distribution levels as seen in the 2016 census of Ireland. Results indicate that attitudes to planned offshore wind farms change significantly with education levels. The evidence suggests that the link between climate change mitigation by energy emissions reduction and offshore wind farms is an important aspect of public perception that supports the development of the sector in Ireland. Most of those questioned believed that Ireland is too reliant on foreign energy and agreed that Ireland is running out of its limited fossil fuel reserves. The majority of people also believed that the government is not doing enough to reduce carbon emissions and should invest in offshore wind farms. Sixty-three percent of those surveyed believed that offshore wind farms will increase Ireland’s job creation potential. A clear majority of those who took part in the survey were in favour of offshore wind farms both on a local and national level. Just over half of the participants believed that offshore wind farms are the best solution to our energy situation. Thirty-seven percent of respondents trust offshore wind farm developers and 34% indicate that they were neutral on the subject. Fifteen percent of those who took part in the survey indicated that they mistrust developers. Approximately half of respondents had previous experience of offshore wind farms (the majority of whom had experienced offshore wind farms on holiday). A minority group had experience of offshore wind farms as a result of their daily commute or had an offshore wind farm in the vicinity of their homes. The data confirmed the hypothesis that experience of offshore wind farms has a significant effect on attitudes towards them. Results show that those with experience of offshore wind farms are more positive towards offshore wind farm development in Irish waters, than those with no experience of offshore wind farms. To further investigate the perception of those who are regularly exposed to offshore wind farms, a focus group involving five members of the public with regular exposure to Ireland’s only wind farm, Arklow Bank Wind Park, was held. The scope of sentiment expressed towards the offshore turbines ranged from benign to extremely positive. Returning to the results of the national survey; in terms of the effect on wildlife, tourism and aesthetics, respondents found offshore wind farms to be relatively unobtrusive and in general a positive addition to the sea scape. This report provides a resource for the offshore wind industry and policy makers alike. The data would suggest that an opportunity exists to create a public awareness campaign as a next step, to build on the favourable national mood and public understanding of the role of offshore wind in decarbonising the economy.

Unlocking Opportunities in Renewable Energy Technologies in Africa: The Role of Development Financial Institutions


 
 
 
 Climate change and global warming are undeniably undermining global development with developing or emerging economies being the worse hit in this unfortunate development. In recent times, it has become necessary to adopt effective adaptation measures that mitigate the impact of climate change on the social, political, and economic environment. A global shift to low-carbon energy technologies through the gradual integration of renewable energy resources in the global energy mix has been generally proposed. Whilst legal and regulatory initiatives are indeed crucial in driving this global energy transition, it is equally imperative that the necessary capital is unlocked to finance the construction, development, and expansion of renewable energy projects in Africa. This paper focused on examining the impact of renewable energy technologies on climate change mitigation, and analysed the role of Development Financial Institutions (DFIs) in unlocking the vast opportunities associated with renewable energy technologies or projects, with a view to driving the clean energy transition in Africa.
 
 
 

The linkage between renewable energy potential and sustainable development: Understanding solar energy variability and photovoltaic power potential in Tibet, China

The accurate pattern of systematic assessment of regional-level solar energy resource potential including seasonal variability and annual trends is essential during renewable solar energy project development. Understanding the linkage between solar energy potential and photovoltaic (PV) development is of particular interest to developers and financers. However, a dearth of long-term, high-resolution solar radiation data makes these patterns and linkages challenging, and thus techniques to improve these characterizations are of great value. To improve knowledge of the renewable energy potential and sustainable development, we assessed high-resolution global surface solar radiation (SSR) dataset derived from remote sensing, and explicitly linked spatio-temporal pattern of solar energy potential across different timescales and PV development in Tibet using geographical statistics methods. With the framework, we provided an intuitive SSR mapping and more than 330 kWh/m2 of PV power potential was predicted in most areas of Tibet. We found spatio-temporal heterogeneity of solar energy seasonal variability: The SSR variation is less than 26% in most areas of Tibet in spring and summer, greater than 30% for autumn and winter; while the middle reaches of Yarlung Zangbo River remains at a low level. We also found PV power was not affected by SSR annual trends in most areas of Tibet during 2000–2016, ranging from −2 to 2 kWh/m2 per year. Additionally, we identified the mismatch between solar energy potential and PV development, characterized by a low average PV installed capacity with affluent solar energy potential, unstable power generation and a high light abandonment rate for PV. The main challenges facing long-term strategic development plans for solar PV was also assessed. Framework and findings herein provide a helpful guide to those responsible for making better decisions in some of the key stages of solar energy development at local and regional scale.

Co2 emissions and economic development in Africa: Evidence from a dynamic spatial panel model

The nexus between environmental degradation and economic growth continues to generate growing interest from environmental practitioners, industrialists, and researchers. Most existing studies in Africa have investigated the relationship based on the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) theory under assumptions of homogeneity and spatial independence. In contrast, we investigate the EKC theory under more realistic possibilities of country heterogeneity and spatial dependence. Accordingly, we make two contributions. First, following estimation based on a sample of 48 African countries, we perform a quadratic regression for each country to account for heterogeneity. Second, we test and control for spatial dependence using the Global Moran's I test and the Maximum Likelihood Estimator (MLE) within the Fixed and Random effects on the Spatial-Durbin-Model, respectively. We also estimate the relationship using pooled OLS, Fixed and Random effects, and the generalised methods of moments (GMM). We document three key results: (1) the EKC hypothesis holds for the entire sample of 48 countries, even though the relationship is weak, (2) the relationship is sensitive to factor heterogeneity, with the EKC holding in some countries, while it breaks in others, and (3) there exist significant direct and spillover effects in the Co2-growth nexus across countries. Our findings provide a strong case for increased technological progress in pollution abatement, more abatement intensity, and adoption of cleaner production techniques. Specifically, we urge governments, multilateral organisations, and private investors to increase investments in renewable energy development projects. Given heterogeneity effects, we call for country specific measures which speaks to the Paris agreement.

Financing renewable energy projects in the Dominican Republic: an empirical study

Purpose Currently, renewable energy (RE) sources represent a crucial pillar in obtaining sustainable development, one of the global goals for all countries. However, this presents a unique challenge for emerging and developing countries. As the technical and financial issues remain a significant barrier in implementing RE projects, several mechanisms are available to aid the financial aspect of investing and implementing clean energy projects. This paper aims to discuss new and traditional trends in the financial area of renewable investment, focusing on the Dominican Republic (DR), identifying the gaps in the financial area regarding RE. Design/methodology/approach An empirical study was conducted in the DR. This country is located at the heart of the Caribbean. Given the complexity of RE and developing countries issues and the scarcity of comparable research in the area, an interpretivist research paradigm along with the qualitative methodology was adopted. Primary data was collected through semi-structured interviews. The study sample includes: directors, chief executive officers and managers responsible for the implementation of RE strategies in their respective departments/organisations. NVivo software was used for data management and the collected data was analysed using content analysis. Findings The research highlighted several severe financial handicaps regarding RE in the DR: The lack of RE assets recognition; lack of RE investment loans; perceived RE risk; and lack of financial guarantor. After extensive interviews with critical actors in the RE sector in the DR, the possible solutions and recommendations for avoiding locking the energy and economic sector in fossil fuel debt are: (a) diversification of RE technology assets recognition, (b) implementation of government RE fund, (c) RE education on all actors and (d) introduction and adoption of new financial trends such as green bonds, bank pooling, cooperatives and more. Originality/value This paper provides information and knowledge related to financial tools and policies that are available for the RE projects in the DR. The results have a socio-economic impact. This research provides a better understanding of the key financial tools to be explored by RE project developers in the developing countries. This study shows the gaps that exist between the knowledge that the stakeholders should possess and the actual knowledge that exists in the country regarding the financial aspect of an RE project.

What are the challenges and opportunities in implementing Taiwan's aquavoltaics policy? A roadmap for achieving symbiosis between small-scale aquaculture and photovoltaics

The Taiwan government has initiated multiple renewable energy development projects in recent years, one of which involved the use of photovoltaics (PVs) as a source of renewable energy. Given the limited land resources in Taiwan, the government introduced an aquavoltaics policy that was aimed at slowing the reduction in aquaculture production and increasing non-farming production benefits for small-scale aquaculture farmers without compromising the country's industrial development. However, when this policy took effect, landowners began exploiting fishpond areas, which adversely impacted fishpond prices and preyed on farmers, tenants, and the environment, in addition to affecting the sustainable development of aquaculture. To meet the research purpose, this study explores, assesses, and analyses the effects of the aquavoltaics policy on Taiwan's aquaculture industry. The results show that different stakeholders had dissimilar views on the aquavoltaics policy. The research findings are expected to expedite the integration of different opinions with the implementation of renewable energy policies. The government sector should also effectively communicate the aquavoltaics policy to various stakeholders and help them to adopt the policy to reduce operational risks for aquaculture farmers and simultaneously facilitate the sustainable development of aquaculture and thereby make Taiwan's small-scale aquaculture farming system a model of energy transition.

ENERGIZING COMMUNITIES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH EXTERNAL ACTORS: SMALL-SCALE HYDROPOWER PROJECTS IN JAPAN

This study aims to specify the contextual conditions that allow for the success of community renewable energy projects, against the background of the expanding use of renewable energy. It analyzes cases where farmers invested in organizations to establish ownership of hydropower plants in the Chugoku region, Japan. Community renewable energy projects derived from local initiatives to provide an alternative energy resource and serve as a catalyst for rural development. However, the costs of small hydropower plant construction and the expert knowledge required for their operation could hinder the diffusion of the technology. Population decline and aging in rural communities also constrain the development of community renewable energy projects. This study presents cases that illuminate the conditions enabling these organizations to succeed in securing the necessary resources for the operation of their renewable energy plants. The survey illustrates how studied organizations have opted to collaborate with external actors to construct or refurbish their plants. The findings indicate that as building partnerships with external actors often becomes essential, it is vital to develop a business-minded framework in which both communities and external actors can financially benefit from introducing small hydropower projects. The cases also reveal that in building collaborative relationships, broad disparities exist between communities and external actors in financial power and expert knowledge, which give the latter substantial advantages in negotiations. An additional important claim derived is that, for an effective partnership that enables a successful community renewable energy project, a third party with expert knowledge and the ability to audit partnership-building processes could play a crucial role in securing community initiatives and independence.

주민참여형 재생에너지 개발의 지역경제 기여효과: 주민소득과 지역기업 매출을 중심으로

Power generation using solar PV and wind power are more feasible to compete with fossil fuel power generation. However, residential acceptance is still a big challenge in the deployment of renewable energy. The Korean government has implemented various policies to support the development of renewable energy in which communities invest. However, there are very few cases of the commercial operation of community-invested renewable energy power plants. Renewable energy has attracted attention in the reduction of greenhouse gasses (GHG) effects and economic feasibility. However, it is also necessary to focus on socio-economic effects to overcome the economic recession while reducing greenhouse emissions. Community-invested renewable energy development projects can positively revitalize the local economy in many aspects, such as resident income, job creation, and the growth of local businesses. This study analyzes the local economic impact of renewable energy development projects on residents

UNLOCKING OPPORTUNITIES IN RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES IN AFRICA: THE ROLE OF DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Climate change and global warming are undeniably undermining global development with developing or emerging economies being the worse hit despite their minimal contribution to this unfortunate development. In recent times, it is now therefore extremely necessary to adopt effective adaptation measures to mitigate the impact of climate change on social, political and economic environment. A global shift to low-carbon energy technologies through the gradual integration of renewable energy resources in the global energy mix has been generally proposed. Whilst legal and regulatory initiatives are indeed crucial in driving this global energy transition, it is equally imperative that the necessary capital is unlocked to finance the construction, development and expansion of renewable energy projects in Africa. This paper is thus focused on examining the impact of renewable energy technologies on climate change mitigation whilst analysing the role of Development Financial Institutions (DFIs) in unlocking the vast opportunities associated with renewable energy technologies/projects with a view to driving the clean energy transition in Africa.

ФІНАНСУВАННЯ ПРОЕКТІВ З ВІДНОВЛЮВАНОЇ ЕНЕРГЕТИКИ В УКРАЇНІ

Анотація. Поточний стан розвитку української енергетики характеризується низкою негативних тенденцій: частка викопних джерел енергії в загальному обсязі споживання є найбільшою, частка відновлюваних джерел є доволі низькою і протягом багатьох років залишається майже незмінною, Україна є залежною від імпорту джерел енергії, показник енергоємності ВВП — один із найвищих у Європі та світі. У рамках енергетичної стратегії України урядом поставлена мета до 2035 року підвищити частку відновлюваних джерел в обсягах загального постачання первинної енергії до 25 %. З огляду на це підприємствам варто підвищувати енергетичну ефективність і впроваджувати проєкти з відновлюваної енергетики. Однак більшість із суб’єктів господарювання обмежені у власних джерелах фінансування, тому потребують фінансової підтримки з боку держави і додаткових позикових коштів. Для стимулювання розвитку проєктів із відновлюваної енергетики у світі застосовується низка стратегій, серед яких виділяють регулятивні та добровільні. Наразі в Україні використовуються лише три інструменти підтримки відновлюваних джерел енергії: «зелені тарифи», податкові пільги і пільговий режим приєднання до електричної мережі. Крім того, існує декілька можливостей грантового і кредитного фінансування. Проте на сучасному етапі розвитку відновлюваної енергетики в Україні таких механізмів фінансової підтримки недостатньо, оскільки інвестування цієї сфери залишається доволі ризиковим. Тому для активізації інвестицій у проєкти з відновлюваної енергетики пропонуємо застосувати додаткові інструменти державного просування новітніх технологій у цій сфері, удосконалення нормативно-правової бази, посилення обізнаності підприємств про можливість пільгового кредитування і підвищення громадської активності щодо екологізації виробничих процесів. Ключові слова: відновлювані джерела енергії, енергоємність, енергоефективність, «зелені тарифи», тендерні системи. Формул: 0; рис.: 0; табл.: 1; бібл.: 14.

Bibliometric analysis of research on renewable energy crowdfunding: An assessment and policy implications

Crowdfunding is a new form of financial intermediation that has been used to fund renewable energy projects. However, research on the significance and evolution of renewable energy crowdfunding is scarce. The present paper provides a bibliometric analysis of the existing academic work on renewable energy crowdfunding. We identify three main clusters of publications: (1) renewable energy crowdfunding as an innovative solution to the technological and financial barriers to the deployment of renewable energy, (2) the success factors of crowdfunded renewable energy technologies, and (3) the links among the private actors involved in the energy transition. We show that the literature on renewable energy crowdfunding overlooks public interventions. We suggest that the state support crowdfunding to promote the development of renewable energy projects, and we discuss state interventions and the role of the state in regulation and investment.JEL classification: D14, Q28, Q48.

Trends in Social Acceptance of Renewable Energy Across Europe-A Literature Review.

Social acceptance has proven to be a significant barrier in the implementation of renewable energy systems (hereinafter “RES”). While a general acceptance of RES is high, low local acceptance has hindered the development of renewable energy projects (hereinafter “REP”). This study assesses the determinants of local and general social acceptance of REP across Europe through a qualitative analysis from 25 case studies of the most significant social drivers and barriers that include all European countries. These case studies contain qualitative and quantitative analyses of the main factors for social acceptance of many representative groups including residents, stakeholders, and experts. Understanding the influences of social acceptance enables us to create strategies that will promote the development of REP by mitigating any public opposition.

Visualizing the Intellectual Structure of Risk Management in Renewable Energy Projects

The development of renewable energy (RE) is the evident solution to satisfy the increasing demand of sustainable development while respecting the environment and ensuring a green economic growth. RE is a highly complex emerging research field with fragmental and diversified traits. However, the massive generation of risk was increasingly threatening the sustainable development of RE projects. This paper fills this gap via a systematic and quantitative review. In order to identify and visualize the intellectual structure and research opportunities, we conducted the scientometric analysis method from dynamic and evolutionary perspective. A total of 448 articles published from 1997-2018 were collected to construct the knowledge map and comprehensive framework for RM. This study contributes to the existing RM-RE knowledge by visualizing the intellectual structure and presenting a comprehensive knowledge framework.

Wind energy environmental assessment requirements and processes: an uneven landscape

ABSTRACT Environmental assessment (EA) is an important entry point to the development of renewable energy projects, yet the role of EA in the renewable energy sector remains poorly understood in comparison to its role in assessing and managing the potential impacts of traditional fossil fuel-based energy developments. This paper examines the requirements and provisions of EA for renewable energy development, specifically wind energy development, across Canada and the implications for renewable energy transition. Results show considerable variability in EA requirements and provisions for wind energy, including such factors as EA timelines, screening approaches, proponent responsibilities for consultation, and whether a proposed wind energy development even triggers an EA review. Differences in EA systems and procedures for wind energy projects may have implications for the predictability of EA and the relative attractiveness of certain jurisdictions for wind energy developers. As countries transition to renewable energy technologies to meet climate change targets and to deliver sustainable energy to remote and developing regions, the role of EA in balancing good environmental reviews with the pressing need to build and operate renewable power production requires further attention. This paper outlines four areas where improvements are needed in EA systems to meet these dual objectives.

The empirical failures of attaining the societal benefits of renewable energy development projects in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract The number of renewable energy (RE) projects that have been implemented in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has soared over the past couple of years. The number of projects to be implemented within the coming years is expected to rise considerably. However, the societal benefits of RE projects implemented in SSA have not been studied thoroughly. This study attempts to: (i) uncover the differences between the expected and the realized societal benefits of utilizing renewable energy technologies (RETs) in SSA, (ii) reveal any empirical failures in realizing those benefits and (iii) create awareness towards the sustainable implementation of RE projects. Within the realm of publicly-funded projects, we aim to provide solutions that assist these and future projects to meet their societal benefits. We investigate 29 projects that have been implemented in ten SSA countries taking into account direct experiences of the local users and project developers. We find that most of the projects investigated in this study have few to no societal benefits within a short period of time after the “cutting the ribbon” event. To counteract this, we present corresponding recommendations.

Environmental Justice and the Energy Transition: How the Energy Industry Can Do Better

Environmental justice (EJ) communities are defined as “a community with significant representation of communities of color, low‐income communities, or tribal and indigenous communities, that experiences, or is at risk of experiencing higher or more adverse human health or environmental effects.” As the energy transition to cleaner and greener forms of energy is accelerating, it does not necessarily mean the development of renewable energy projects will happen with little or no EJ conflicts. Just the opposite may occur, but in the name of fighting climate change.

Enhancing local support for tidal energy projects in developing countries: Case study inFlores Timur Regency, Indonesia

AbstractTidal energy is a new renewable energy source that can be used to provide electricity to remote islands, while contributing to climate change mitigation. Like all renewable energy projects, public awareness and support are not only crucial for the successful development of marine renewable energy projects too, but also aid the private sector project developers in making long‐term plans. As information about tidal energy is not easily available, public views toward it are not well known, making it challenging for the project developers to strategize implementation strategies. Moreover, the limited studies focusing on such social aspects of tidal energy come from advanced countries, highlighting the lack of focus on cases from developing countries. Our study fulfills this gap by providing a case study focusing on the social aspects of tidal energy in a developing country, which can be utilized by developers for designing their public engagement strategies. We estimate the public support for tidal energy in eastern Indonesia using two methods: (a) stages of development and (b) information provision. Using the first method, we found that support for tidal energy is lower in the initial stages, but it keeps rising once the public can realize the benefits. The second method shows that though people tend to support tidal energy, the role of information provision is dissimilar compared with western cases. Additionally, Probit modeling shows thatAge,Education,Collective Outcome Favorability, and especially,Individual Outcome Favorabilityare the key factors that positively impact the support for tidal energy in eastern Indonesia.

Titulares de derechos mineros y energías renovables en Chile: Un conflicto no resuelto

The article argues that the current structure of the mining concessions granted by the State of Chile is affecting the development of renewable energy projects. Then, it explains how this conflict could be settled using the accommodation doctrine developed in Texas. It is also discussed how the accommodation doctrine might be adapted for the Chilean legal system, and how this solution would help to mitigate the factors that are stopping or delaying or adding costs to renewable energies projects.

Potential and challenges of renewable energy development in promoting a green economy in Nigeria

ABSTRACT There is an established link between the availability of reliable and adequate energy supplies and economic growth and development. Based on this link, this study assesses the potential and challenges of the renewable energy sub-sector in addressing an energy deficit that has been identified as one of the obstacles hindering economic development in Nigeria. Through an analysis of various documents, the research made two important findings: First, Nigeria recognizes and has analysed its potential in a variety of renewable energy sources for possible exploitation to diversify its energy mix. Second, although there are policies to drive the renewable energy development projects, the lack of legislative backing and various systemic challenges are hindering the deep entrenchment of this thrust. The research concludes that public and private policy coherence is critical for Nigeria to develop an economically and technically viable renewable energy sub-sector to supplement its current energy supply.

Engineering practices for the integration of large-scale renewable energy VSC-HVDC systems

With the continuous development of power electronic devices, intelligent control systems, and other technologies, the voltage level and transmission capacity of voltage source converter (VSC)-high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology will continue to increase, while the system losses and costs will gradually decrease. Therefore, it can be foreseen that VSC-HVDC transmission technology will be more widely applied in future large-scale renewable energy development projects. Adopting VSC-HVDC transmission technology can be used to overcome issues encountered by large-scale renewable energy transmission and integration projects, such as a weak local power grid, lack of support for synchronous power supply, and insufficient accommodation capacity. However, this solution also faces many technical challenges because of the differences between renewable energy and traditional synchronous power generation systems. Based on actual engineering practices that are used worldwide, this article analyzes the technical challenges encountered by integrating large-scale renewable energy systems that adopt the use of VSC-HVDC technology, while aiming to provide support for future research and engineering projects related to VSC-HVDC-based large-scale renewable energy integration projects.