Renewable Resource Data Research Articles

Renewable methanol production: Optimization-based design, scheduling and waste-heat utilization with the FluxMax approach

Renewable methanol production is an important part of the energy transition of the chemical industry from fossil to renewable resources. This work presents the design of a methanol production from renewable energy only, using an extended optimization-based FluxMax approach. This linear programming design approach considers waste-heat utilization in parallel with the solution of the design and scheduling problems, allowing to identify energy efficient process configurations. The subsystems of the methanol production (energy generation, utility, storage and chemical processes) were represented with an extensive process network. Solar and wind energy generation processes were modeled based on yearly renewable resource data with an hourly resolution for the chosen location of Port Arthur, Texas, USA. The most cost-effective design had a levelized cost of methanol of 1392 $/t for reference year 2019 and expected future costs of 799 $/t (year 2030). In this design, the process configuration included parabolic troughs, thermal energy storage, a steam turbine and a heat pump operating in synchrony with a direct air capture process and a solid-oxide electrolyzer. By comparing several designs differing in their initial process networks, we analyzed the influences of: waste-heat utilization, complementarity of the generation processes, solar-tracking models and the flexibility of the methanol process. This analysis demonstrated the importance of considering a large process network spanning across all subsystems for the design of a cost-effective renewable methanol production.

Sup3r (Super Resolution for Renewable Resource Data)

sup3r (Super Resolution for Renewable Resource Data)

Modeling and Evaluating Beneficial Matches between Excess Renewable Power Generation and Non-Electric Heat Loads in Remote Alaska Microgrids

Many Alaska communities rely on heating oil for heat and diesel fuel for electricity. For remote communities, fuel must be barged or flown in, leading to high costs. While renewable energy resources may be available, the variability of wind and solar energy limits the amount that can be used coincidentally without adequate storage. This study developed a decision-making method to evaluate beneficial matches between excess renewable generation and non-electric dispatchable loads, specifically heat loads such as space heating, water heating and treatment, and clothes drying in three partner communities. Hybrid Optimization Model for Multiple Electric Renewables (HOMER) Pro was used to model potential excess renewable generation based on current generation infrastructure, renewable resource data, and community load. The method then used these excess generation profiles to quantify how closely they align with modeled or actual heat loads, which have inherent thermal storage capacity. Of 236 possible combinations of solar and wind capacity investigated in the three communities, the best matches were seen between excess electricity from high-penetration wind generation and heat loads for clothes drying and space heating. The worst matches from this study were from low penetrations of solar (25% of peak load) with all heat loads.

Reducing the carbon footprint of Whisky production through the use of a battery and heat storage alongside renewable generation

This paper presents an analysis of providing a typical distillery with low carbon energy through the combination of local wind energy, solar PV, electricity storage and heat storage. The aim of this is to increase the sustainability of the energyintensive whisky industry. Using hourly local renewable resource data and typical distillery consumption information, the local energy generation is balanced against the demand at the time of use. This followed by load shifting using a battery and heat storage. Results show that significant carbon savings can be achieved by a carefully designed portfolio of hybrid generation, battery storage and heat storage.

Smart energy solution for an optimised sustainable hospital in the green city of NEOM

Hybrid optimisation of multiple energy resources has been performed on a micro grid model of a hospital to investigate the capability of a standalone energy system and simultaneous mitigation of hospital waste. The main objectives of this study were to collect renewable energy resource data of a hybrid hospital, use the average amount of hospital waste from the literature and NASA surface meteorology in addition to the solar energy database from HOMER Pro software to construct a hybrid model for a conceptual hospital in the new green city in Saudi Arabia, NEOM. The hybrid model consisted of biogas cofire and diesel generators, PV solar array and batteries. Simulations were performed to analyse the load requirements of a standalone hospital. The mechanism of energy storage was designed based on Tesla batteries. Then, the hybrid hospital model was tested with NEOM’s natural resources, load demand of 250 kWh/day and the average amount of daily hospital waste of 0.6 tons based on the literature data. This condition allows the smart hospital to be tested with real features. The outcome of the COE, NPC and the amount of reduction of carbon dioxide in the hybrid hospital were analysed. Many of the hybrid properties and constraints that define the hospital were adopted from previous literature concentrating on similar domains. The optimal solution of a hybrid micro grid consisted of biogas cofire, PV array, and batteries. Of the total load demand, 32.3% and 67.6% were produced by PV array and biogas cofire generators, respectively, together with eight Tesla PowerWall2.0 batteries. The cost of energy was 0.21 USD/kWh and the net present cost was 243,699.17 USD. In this study, we compared renewable energy with conventional energy and found that the optimal solution would be able to reduce carbon emission and diesel consumption by almost 84% and 81%, respectively. The results were verified through a sensitivity study and compared with other studies.

Analysis of Wind Resource Potential for Small-Scale Wind Turbine Performance in Kiseveni, Kenya

"Kenya's energy depends on fossil fuels and the country is yet to embrace alternative sources especially in densely populated rural areas and urban poor. The use of wind is gaining popularity because it is cost effective, non-polluting, renewable and enormously available. The main challenge is non-availability of the renewable energy resource data in the rural areas where the bulk of the country’s population resides. The study assessed wind energy potential for Kiseveni area which is a rural site within expansive Mwingi/Kitui plateau in Kitui. The assessment entailed both empirical and numerical approaches by collecting a ten-minute interval wind speed for a period of six months with sensors elevated at 10 m height above the ground. From the collected data, wind speed analysis, wind directional analysis, wind energy and power both empirical and numerical was done to establish the available potential of wind energy at the site. In addition, the study elucidated the computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) application in addressing wind energy potential at the site and its added value with respect to its empirical approach. The results of the study were used to evaluate the potential for wind energy at the site for small-scale wind turbine application to the power-starved population. Empirical power density ranged between 31.65 W/m ² to 54.00 W/m² between 40 m to 100 m hub heights respectively with corresponding numerical power density ranging between 71.76 W/m² to 125.45 W/m². Numerical rotor power (P_R) and average wind power (P_W) were found to be -0.26 and 33.71 W/m² giving a negative C_P for the height. The results of the study reveal that the site corresponds to wind class 1 meaning the wind resource in the area is not suitable for grid connected generation but can run off grid small wind turbines and stand-alone activities like water pumping. "

Renewable Resource and Power Data tool (R2PD)

Renewable Resource and Power Data tool (R2PD)

Prospects of hydrogen production potential from renewable resources in Algeria

Hydrogen production from renewable energies is a key part in the energy transition to realize a sustainable energy economy for both developed and developing nations. For Algeria, successful energy transition toward a hydrogen economy will require the establishment of its potential. This study was conducted to estimate the potential for producing hydrogen from renewable resources in Algeria. The renewable energies considered are: solar photovoltaic and wind. To accomplish this objective, first, we analyzed renewable resource data both statistically and graphically using Geographical Information System (GIS), a computer-based information system utilized to create and visualize the spatial distribution of the geographic information. Then, the study will evaluate the availability of renewable electricity production potential from these key renewable resources. The potential for the hydrogen production, via the electrolysis process with wind and solar photovoltaic electricity, is described with maps showing it per unit area in each region. Finally, the results of the estimated hydrogen potential from both resources for each region are compared and significant conclusions are drawn.

대체에너지원 이력 데이터 관리 시스템 설계

Recently, the renewable energy resources play an important role as an energy resources of future due to an environmental pollution and lack of resources and so on. The development and diffusion of information systems related to renewable energy resources have been driven actively abroad. However, at domestic an efficient history management for renewable energy resource data and web retrieve service are not provided. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a history data management system for the renewable energy resources, which stores and manages vast history information of renewable energy resource data systematically. This system collects renewable energy resource data in the outside observation system and stores them in the history database. The stored Information is retrieved through the history query process and can be provided in various forms - table, graph, chart and counter line, etc. - on the internet. Especially, the proposed system manages the history data in real-time so the latest information is always provided to the users through the web interface.

Distribution Planning and Operations with Intermittent Power Production

The introduction of small-scale dispersed intermittent power production, such as photovoltaic and wind electric generation into distribution systems, will affect distribution system planning and operations. This paper examines the technical and economic impacts on the delivery system due to the presence of these new production sources, particularly those problems arising from their intermittent nature. A methodology for distribution planners and operators is presented as a unified framework that assesses the technical and economic impacts on planning and operations. Case studies using distribution system data and renewable resource data from specific utilities are analyzed to gain insights into the technical and economic impacts. The paper concludes with some general observations on how future distribution planning and operating processes may be changed as the distribution system is integrated with increased intermittent power sources.

Distribution Planning and Operations with INtermittent Power Production

The introduction of small-scale dispersed intermittent power production, such as photovoltaic nd wind electric generation into distribu-tion systems, will affect distribution system planning and operations. This paper examines the technical and economic impacts on the delivery system due to the presence of these new production sources, particularly those problems arising from their intermittent nature. A methodology for distribution planners and operators is presented as a unified framework that assesses the technical and economic impacts on planning and operations. Case studies using distribution system data and renewable resource data from specific utilities are analyzed to gain insights into the technical and economic impacts. The paper concludes with some general observations on how future distribution planning and operating processes may be changed as the distribution system is integrated with increased intermittent power sources.