Renewable Energy Support Research Articles

Assessment of Flexible Coal Power and Battery Energy Storage System in Supporting Renewable Energy

The use of renewable energy sources (RES) is expected to increase, potentially leading to volatility in the power system. Therefore, flexible power is essential to address this challenge. In China, two viable options for providing flexible power are battery energy storage systems (BESS) and flexibility modification of coal power units. This study introduces a framework to evaluate the costs of power system flexibility under varying RES shares on an hourly basis, comparing flexible coal power and BESS across several scenarios. In the short term, flexible coal power proves to be more advantageous than BESS, but BESS shows greater promise in the long run. The study suggests that while coal power will continue to play a critical role in the near future, it should gradually be phased out by reducing its utilization hours. Meanwhile, BESS should receive greater focus for long-term energy strategy. This study underscores the importance of maintaining power system stability throughout the low-carbon transition and highlights the need to balance short-term and long-term strategies for flexible power.

Bi-Directional Charging with V2L Integration for Optimal Energy Management in Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular as an efficient transportation solution but they also present unique challenges for energy management. Bi-directional charging (BDC) is a solution that allows EVs to not only consume energy from the grid but also supply energy back to the grid. This facilitates vehicle-to-load (V2L) integration, where EVs can act as mobile power sources for homes, buildings, and the grid. V2L enables better energy management by utilizing EVs as a flexible resource to balance grid demand and supply in the proposed system. This is achieved through intelligent coordination between the EVs, charging stations, and the grid, using smart meters and communication networks. Integration of BDC and V2L also enables EVs to provide backup power during grid outages, reduce the need for costly grid infrastructure, and support renewable energy integration. BDC with V2L integration is a promising approach for optimal energy management in EVs and can play a significant role in the future of sustainable transportation and energy systems. The proposed model reached 95.13% charging efficiency, 95.03% energy management, 95.69% power rating, 96.28% voltage support and 87.99% temperature management.

Navigating energy policy uncertainty: Effects on fossil fuel and renewable energy consumption in G7 economies

ABSTRACT In an era where energy transitions are critical for addressing climate change and ensuring economic stability, energy policy uncertainty (EGU) emerges as a crucial factor influencing energy consumption patterns. This study investigates the complex relationship between EGU and various forms of energy consumption, including fossil fuels, renewables, and total energy use across G7 countries from 1996 to 2022. Utilizing FMOLS (fully modified OLS) and DOLS (dynamic ordinary OLS) models, long-term relationships among variables were established and robustness was checked by employing ARDL (autoregressive distributed lag) model. Our findings reveal that EGU significantly hampers fossil fuel consumption, impedes renewable energy uptake, and affects total energy consumption adversely. These effects underscore the broader implications of policy uncertainty on energy strategies. Specifically, the robustness checks confirm that these relationships hold across different model specifications and periods. In addition, analysis reveals the dynamic impact of control variables including FDI inflow, institutional quality, banking development, and inflation rates on specific energy consumptions. Policy implications are profound: governments must prioritize the stabilization of energy policies to enhance investor confidence and facilitate the transition to sustainable energy sources. Additionally, targeted interventions to mitigate uncertainty can promote the development of renewable energy infrastructure and support more predictable energy markets. This study provides new insights into the impacts of policy uncertainty on energy consumption and offers a foundation for strategic policy formulation aimed at achieving a balanced and sustainable energy future.

Efficient utilization of abandoned mines for isobaric compressed air energy storage

There are massive abandoned coalmines and corresponding underground space, which provides a viable solution to energy storage of renewable energy generation. Here a novel scheme of isobaric compressed air energy storage (CAES) is proposed to improve the performance of energy storage in underground space. Energy recovery efficiency and energy storage density of isobaric CAES are respectively 70.60 % and 5.74 kWh/m3, while they are 70.56 %, 1.14 kWh/m3 and 60.19 %, 2.46 kWh/m3 respectively for pumped hydro storage and isochoric CAES. Abandoned mining fields can install photovoltaic and wind power, while underground tunnels can storage energy, transforming abandoned mines into a renewable energy support base with electricity generation and storage integrated into a site. Electrical energy with low frequency and high frequency in the base can all be used by driving compressors and heaters respectively. Besides, isobaric CAES can provide space heating and cooling simultaneously through using interstage compression heat and expanding refrigeration technique.

Study on the potential development of nuscale small modular reactor (smr) nuclear power plant to support the energy needs in the capital city of nusantara

Abstract In facing the dependence on unsustainable energy sources such as fossil fuels, diversifying the energy supply becomes crucial. As Indonesia’s new capital city, Nusantara significantly requires new and renewable energy sources as it can enhance energy security by reducing dependence on energy imports while also providing economic stimulus and creating new job opportunities. The potential development of new and renewable energy sources.in Nusantara is a solution to Indonesia’s dependence on fossil energy, which negatively impacts the environment and public health. One of these energy sources is the NuScale SMR type of nuclear power plant. The research method employed is a literature study based on various relevant sources related to the research topic. The results of the literature study indicate that the NuScale SMR is a nuclear reactor that possesses advantages in terms of size, high safety, reliability, resource efficiency, support for renewable energy, as well as affordable modularity and scalability, making it a prime choice to fulfil the energy needs in Nusantara. By utilising new and renewable energy sources from smaller and modular nuclear technology, Indonesia can reduce its dependence on fossil energy and promote a transition towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.

Right and Duty: Investment Risk Under Different Renewable Energy Support Policies

AbstractRenewable energy projects are subject to risk due to the uncertainty of future electricity prices and the amount of energy produced. Public support usually consists of some form of guarantee, either on the price received per MWh supplied or the return on investment per MW installed. This support reduces the investor’s risk, which is then assumed by the regulator. However, most of these policies do not only grant the investor the right to receive a guaranteed payment but also limit its potential benefits (i.e., impose an obligation). We propose a model with analytical solutions in which, considering the randomness of the market price, as well as that of the energy production, we quantify the risk removed under different types of regulations and assign a value to both the rights and the obligations that each policy entails. Finally, we apply the model to the case of Spain, which has undergone several changes in its green energy support system in recent years. Our results indicate that in the context of low electricity prices, the obligations imposed by most of these policies are negligible compared to the rights received. By contrast, in the context of high electricity prices and increasingly competitive renewable energy sources, the assumed obligations become more notable to the point of the support policy becoming a liability. Nevertheless, a sufficiently risk-averse investor may be incentivized by a policy with negative expected regulatory costs.

Geostrategic study of the evolution of energy harvesting systems based on the patent activity of flywheels and regenerative shock absorbers

This paper analyses the technological activity on energy harvesting and storage systems, such as flywheels and regenerative shock absorbers, for support of renewable energy and electric vehicle applications. The activity is analyzed based on the evolution of the patents over the last 20 years, based on databases such as Patbase and Derwnet. The data reveal that less than 50 % of the total flywheels patents and utility models are granted. China is identified as the leading innovator in this area, followed by the United States, Japan, and Germany, which collectively account for 84 % of all patent families. A ranking of related companies and institutes is dominated by Chinese companies such as CANDELA (SHENZHEN) TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION CO., SHENYANG WEIKONG NEW ENERGY TECH CO., followed by German and American companies such as LUK LAMELLEN, VYCON, Siemens, and Caterpillar Inc. The leading regions on regenerative shock absorbers technologies are Germany, China, USA, and the European Patent Office (EPO). The study shows a leadership of Germany accounting for 39 % of the priority patents. The study also identified the top 20 applicants with the highest number of patent families, which included European companies such as SCHAEFFLER AG, HYDAC, VOLKSWAGEN AG, and Continental Automotive GmbH.

Unveiling the cost competitiveness of sector coupling technologies - Policy impacts on levelised costs of heat pumps and battery electric vehicles in Germany

Heat pumps and battery electric vehicles play a crucial role in achieving a climate-neutral economy and integrating the Energy Efficiency First Principle into the building and transport sectors, rendering the overall energy system more efficient. To achieve cost competitiveness of these new technologies compared to conventional ones, investments, operating costs and conversion efficiencies are important. We conducted micro-simulations of the development of levelised cost of heat and transport for these sector coupling technologies to assess the direct cost impact of these parameters. With a broad and in-depth analysis of economies of scale, we determine future bandwidths of investment development. Based on this data, we compared implications of two policy scenarios of taxes and levies on final energy prices using a German case study. The first scenario considers recently adjusted taxes and levies: the national emissions trading system in 2021 and the abolishment of the electricity levy to finance renewable energy support in 2022. A counterfactual scenario includes previous framework conditions. Our results show that rising carbon and lower electricity prices already economically favour heat pumps from 2020 onwards. In contrast, taxes and levies do not decisively impact the cost competitiveness of battery electric vehicles, but expected reductions in manufacturing cost do.

Towards zero carbon hydrogen: Co-production of photovoltaic electrolysis and natural gas reforming with CCS

Although low emission hydrogen has the prospect of huge growth in the future, the cost challenge hinders the deployment and makes it weak in the global market share. Green hydrogen has the advantage of zero carbon emission and has achieved rapid development with the support of renewable energy. Limited by investment, electricity and technology, the large-scale application of green hydrogen faces challenges in the short term. Blue hydrogen comes from natural gas reforming, and its output is guaranteed. However, its production reaction requires high energy consumption and additional carbon emission treatment, resulting in insufficient sustainability. To solve the problem of high-efficiency and large-scale production of low emission hydrogen, a hydrogen co-production scheme combining photovoltaic electrolysis and natural gas reforming with CCS was proposed in this study. Electrolytic hydrogen production, natural gas autothermal reforming, CO2 sequestration and saline purification in the cogeneration hydrogen production system are coupled by energy and materials such as electricity, O2, CO2 and water. The scheme is applied in Sichuan-Chongqing region to verify the feasibility and effectiveness. The results show that the proposed hydrogen co-production scheme can achieve cost reduction of up to 16.4%, and has long-term development prospects.

A political economy theory of fossil fuel subsidy reforms in OECD countries

Fossil fuel subsidies continue to be a considerable barrier to meeting the targets of the Paris Agreement. It is thus crucial to understand the political economy of fossil fuel subsidies and their reform. To understand these mechanisms in the developed world, we use a database of different types of fossil fuel subsidy reforms among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. We find evidence for four intertwined processes i) a market-power mechanism: higher market shares for renewables ease fossil fuel subsidy reforms, and ii) a policy mechanism: reforms reduce the levels of fossil fuel subsidies. Importantly, both effects are contingent on iii) a polity mechanism where institutional quality influences the feasibility and effectiveness of political reforms, and iv) a feedback mechanism where systemic lock-ins determine the effectiveness of market competition. Our results even suggest that reforms carried out by effective governments with low corruption control are associated with increasing subsidies per capita. Renewable energy support can however provide a leverage point to break path-dependencies in fossil fuel-based economies. This turns out to be more effective when coupled with improvements to institutional quality and the insulation of political processes from pro-subsidy interests.

Comparative analysis of environmental sustainability indicators: Insights from Japan, Bangladesh, and Thailand

This study analyses environmental sustainability indicators (ESIs) and explores their governance challenges in developing countries (Bangladesh and Thailand) and advances possible remedies in light of the practices of a developed country (Japan). A comparative analysis of countries' performance based on the ESIs could help identify useful practices from countries with high ESI to improve the poor ESI countries. While it is broadly understood that renewable energy and effective governance support environmental sustainability, our findings extend this knowledge by detailing how these factors interact specifically within the contexts of developed and developing nations. The analysis delineates the complex relationship between GDP growth, fossil fuel reliance, and sustainability efforts, offering a detailed examination of the variance in ESI performance across these countries. Beyond established notions, this study empirically validates the relationships between environmental sustainability (ES) and its influencing factors, providing a country-specific analysis that emphasizes the differential impact of renewable energy adoption, governance quality, and economic policies on environmental sustainability in Japan, Bangladesh, and Thailand. The results also revealed that Bangladesh's performance in terms of majority ESIs ranges from bad to worse, while Japan exhibits good performance in all its ESI indicators except for emissions. Thailand's ESI performance indicates its vulnerability to climate disasters and slow growth of renewable energy. The ESI measures of Thailand have shown its susceptibility to climate-related calamities and a slowdown in the rate of renewable energy implementation. A noticeable discrepancy in the execution of regulatory frameworks was noted between developing countries, such as Bangladesh, and industrialized ones, such as Japan. The outstanding results of Japan's ESI may be credited to the successful practices of its citizens and their strong devotion to the rule of law.

Do development finance projects facilitate domestic renewable energy transitions? The role of small economic actors in Senegal

The diffusion of renewable energy (RE) in the Global South requires a significant mobilization of financial resources, of which public development finance contributes a substantial share. By focusing on the recipient side of development finance flows for RE and looking at one specific group of actors – micro, small- and medium enterprises (MSME) in Senegal – we are able to investigate the extent to which RE development financing is benefiting MSMEs while driving RE diffusion. Our empirical findings build on an explorative interview study conducted during field research in Senegal from 2019 to 2022. Making use of a multi-level perspective including that of finance, we conduct a two-step analysis. First, we analyze the level of financial support RE finance programs provide MSMEs. Second, we look closely into two specific RE projects that support MSMEs to examine whether funding is reaching these local actors to help drive RE dissemination from the bottom up. We find that the majority of RE development projects focus on large-scale energy plants and that MSMEs receive only marginal shares of the development funding. The lion's share of the funding goes to large-scale plant projects, which, in fact, make a limited socio-economic impact on the region. In contrast, projects driven by MSMEs respond to specific local needs and spur economic activity. Our findings contribute to the literature on transition studies and political economy of the energy transition.

Life cycle environmental hotspots analysis of typical electrochemical, mechanical and electrical energy storage technologies for different application scenarios: Case study in China

With increasing capacity of energy storage implemented into the power system services, a growing interest in evaluating the environmental impacts of energy storage systems (ESSs) has been sparked. In the present work, a comprehensive life cycle environmental hotspots assessment model for alternative ESSs was developed, including lithium iron phosphate battery (LIPB), vanadium redox flow battery, compressed air energy storage (CAES), supercapacitor and flywheel energy storage. A detailed life cycle inventory for the considered typical ESSs in China was provided to ensure the validity of the comparative assessment. It was indicated that the environmental impacts of ESSs were significantly dependent on technical solutions and grid application scenarios, including energy time-shift, frequency regulation, photovoltaic self-consumption, and renewable energy support. The results ranged from 26 to 702 kg CO2 eq/MWh for global warming potential (GWP), 0.1–1.2 kg PM2.5 eq/MWh for fine particulate matter formation, 0.1–3.0 kg SO2 eq/MWh for terrestrial acidification, 11–146 kg oil eq/MWh for fossil resource scarcity, and 0.0005–0.0122 kg N eq/MWh for marine eutrophication. LIPB emerged as a promising solution, while the environmental competitiveness of CAES increased in renewable-based power systems. It is advisable to prioritize the deployment of ESSs with minimal environmental footprints in the manufacturing process, such as CAES, despite the constraints imposed by relatively limited round-trip efficiencies. Moreover, the influences of the round-trip efficiency, depth of discharge, cycle frequency, and electrical grid emissions factor on the results were discussed. Particularly, the GWP of ESSs under the energy time-shift and frequency regulation scenarios decreased by approximately 3%–7% with a 1%-pts increase in the round-trip efficiency. Overall, the results could help manufacturers make informed decisions on energy storage materials selection. Besides, decision makers are recommended to consider multiple environmental impact indicators in devising future energy storage strategies.

Understanding the relationships among experience with extreme weather events, perceptions of climate change, carbon dependency, and public support for renewable energies in the United States

One of the most critical issue facing humanity today is climate change, as the rising incidence of extreme weather events has surpassed the adaptive capacity of human societies. A fundamental transformation of the energy system is urgently needed to address this issue. To gain a better understanding of how exposure to extreme weather events and perceptions of climate change influence support for expanding renewable energies, a nationally representative survey was conducted in 2021, incorporating contextual data on the cost of billion-dollar disasters and carbon dependency. The study's findings suggest that extreme weather events influence the public's perception of climate change, especially among Republicans. Age also plays a role, with younger people more likely to prioritize climate change. Public support for renewable energies is influenced by the perception of climate change as a priority issue, and carbon dependency decreases support for renewable energies. Policymakers should focus on highlighting the link between extreme weather events and climate change, target younger generations with messages about climate change, and consider alternative approaches to supporting carbon-dependent regions. The study has some limitations, including that it is based on cross-sectional data which may not account for potential endogeneity. Additionally, there are no contextual variables at a geographic level finer than the state, and future research should consider adopting measures at finer scales such as county and zip code. The study's theoretical framework could be further validated by integrating observational climate extreme data into understanding individuals’ perception of local weather and climate, and future studies should adopt path analysis or structural equation modelling to validate the proposed path when all relevant variables are included.

Do climate concerns and worries predict energy preferences? A meta-analysis

Public perceptions of energy choices will play a major role in the energy transition. Climate-related emotions, particularly concerns and worries, influence these perceptions, as they signal a heightened awareness of climate risks and greater personal salience of climate change. Here we conduct a series of meta-analyses to estimate whether climate worries and concerns influence energy preferences (k = 233; N = 85,285; 36 countries). Our findings reveal that climate worries and concerns translate into support for renewable energy, particularly solar and wind, and modest opposition to fossil fuels, particularly coal and gas. Climate worries and concerns are not associated with nuclear energy, albeit with a high degree of variance. Socio-demographic moderators, such as gender, education, and political orientation, did not influence these associations, while age and national energy supply attenuated these associations. These results suggest that climate concerns and worries translate into support for renewable energy, but not equal opposition to fossil fuels. More broadly, this meta-analysis underscores the role of climate-related emotions in shaping energy preferences, providing insights into the influence factors of energy policy support, the psychology of climate change, and climate change communication.

Renewable Energy Support Through Feed-in Tariffs: A Retrospective Stakeholder Analysis

Abstract This study develops a generalized evaluation framework that can be used to quantify the financial, economic, stakeholder, and environmental impacts of renewable energy support programs. The application of this framework is demonstrated by evaluating the feed-in tariff (FIT) program for solar distributed energy resources (DER) in Ontario, Canada. Our analysis reveals that Ontario’s FIT program has successfully promoted the adoption of solar DER across communities. However, the program has caused inequitable societal outcomes through a cross-subsidization with a present value of 9 CAD billion, paid for by the electricity consumer base for the benefit of only the 0.06 percent of electricity consumers who could install solar systems. The cost imposed on the Canadian economy ranges from 2.86 to 5.37 CAD billion, depending on the discount rate applied. The sensitivity analysis results indicate that the burden of this program on the Canadian economy would have been reduced by 50 percent if the program had been delayed and implemented in 2016 instead of 2010 due to the declining trend in solar system investment costs. The lessons from this analysis provide insights for designing future environmental and emission reduction policies.

ANALYZING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HEALTH EXPENDITURE, RENEWABLE ENERGY AND LIFE EXPECTANCY: EVIDENCE FROM ASIAN COUNTRIES

This study investigates the relationship between health expenditures, renewable energy and life expectancy in Asian countries within a model covering the period 2000-2020. GDP data are also included in the model. In the study, after applying cross-sectional dependence test and Cross-sectional Augmented Dickey-Fuller unit root tests, panel cointegration test is employed to show whether there is a long-run mutual relationship between health expenditures and other variables, and then Dumitrescu-Hurlin (2012) panel causality analysis method is used to test the causality between the relevant variables in Asian countries. According to the empirical findings, while causality is found between health expenditures and renewable energy in most of the Asian countries, there is also a high level of causality between life expectancy and health expenditures. Moreover, the cointegration test between health expenditures and other variables confirms that there is a long-run relationship between the variables. It is concluded that policy makers in Asian economies should develop policy frameworks that provide opportunities for renewable energy consumption and support investment in renewable energy projects to promote the use of clean technologies. Thus, an increase in renewable energy consumption can lead to economic prosperity by not only improving quality of life but also increasing productivity.

Panel Data Analysis on the Determinants of Renewable Energy Consumption in African Countries

Africa consists of countries that are primarily dependent on fossil fuels for energy but have significant potential in many types of renewable energy. Therefore, the study investigates the factors affecting the use of renewable energy in 15 African countries in the context of panel data analysis over the period of 1980-2018. Cointegration analysis of variables is carried out using Kao, Pedroni, and Westerlund techniques, and Driscoll-Kraay and FGLS estimation methods examine long-term coefficients. The findings point out a cointegration between the variables. While economic growth, FDI, and trade openness support renewable energy use, financial development and natural resources hinder it. The findings also indicate a two-way causality between all independent variables and renewable energy use. The study will be able to put forward some policy suggestions that can improve the renewable energy sector in African countries.

The effect of moral framing on attitudes towards offshore wind farms in Turkey

Public support of renewable energy has become more important as the share of renewable energy increases recently. To avoid public opposition framing strategies can be used. In this study, we aim to reveal the effect of moral framing on support for an intended offshore wind farm (OWF) project in Turkey. We designed a survey with two framing conditions in line with the assertions of Moral Foundations Theory, individualizing and binding, and one control condition. The individualizing condition appeals to the values associated with fairness and well-being. The binding condition appeals to values associated with patriotism, purity and respect for authority, and a control condition lacking any such targeting. We found, prioritizing economic growth, positive expectations from OWFs and willingness to bear personal cost to solve environmental problems positively affect support for OWF, while visual concerns and concerns regarding environment and limited natural resources negatively affect support for OWF. Regarding the framing effect, we found that congruency between political ideology and framing conditions is only significant for individualizing condition. Left-leaning individuals who were exposed to individualizing condition are more likely to support OWFs compared to those of who were exposed to binding and control condition.

Exploring the efficacy of renewable energy support policies in uncertain environments: A real options analysis

This paper explores the impact of various renewable energy support policies on investor behavior and environmental value. Specifically, the study investigates the effects of fixed feed-in tariff (FIT) and tradable green certificates (TGC) on investor’s flexibility and environmental value under conditions of uncertainty. Real options theory and envelope theory are employed to analyze these uncertainties, with an empirical analysis of China’s electricity market serving as the basis for the study. The results of the analysis demonstrate that the use of TGC can lead to higher environmental value for utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) projects in China. For onshore wind, substituting FIT with TGC may be more appropriate. However, for offshore wind projects, FIT may be more suitable due to their increased vulnerability to uncertainty. Additionally, the study finds that greater support is required for projects deployed under FIT policies.