Techno-economic Analysis Research Articles

Techno-Economic Analysis of Solar PV Electricity Generation at the University of Environment and Sustainable Development in Ghana

The electricity indebtedness of Ghanaian schools is increasing due to the high cost of electricity in the country. As a result, the utility companies frequently disconnect the schools from the grid to force them to settle their debts. Meanwhile, the school can reduce its bills from rooftop solar PV systems, yet little attention is given. The study uses the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD) as a case to assess the technical feasibility, economic viability, and potential benefits of implementing rooftop solar PV electricity in Ghanaian schools. Google Earth software was used to estimate the structure's rooftop surface areas to determine the potential energy harvest from a PV plant.In contrast, the economic analysis uses the net present value (NPV), internal rate of returns (IRR), discounted payback period (DPP) and profitability index (IP) to appraise the intended project. The results show that using rooftops of school structures can provide the needed electricity for local consumption and export excess to the grid for sales. The NPV, IRR, IP, and DPP recorded from the study are million GHS 15.15, 21%, 1.6 and 8 years, respectively. The findings highlight the potential of rooftop solar PV systems to meet educational institutions' electricity demand, exploring the possibility of exporting excess to the national grid for revenue (income generator), reducing operational costs, and contributing to a sustainable energy transition.

5-hydroxymethylfurfural and its Downstream Chemicals: A Review of Catalytic Routes.

Biomass assumes an increasingly vital role in the realm of renewable energy and sustainable development due to its abundant availability, renewability, and minimal environmental impact. Within this context, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), derived from sugar dehydration, stands out as a critical bio-derived product. It serves as a pivotal multifunctional platform compound, integral in synthesizing various vital chemicals, including furan-based polymers, fine chemicals, and biofuels. The high reactivity of HMF, attributed to its highly active aldehyde, hydroxyl, and furan ring, underscores the challenge of selectively regulating its conversion to obtain the desired products. This review highlights the research progress on efficient catalytic systems for HMF synthesis, oxidation, reduction, and etherification. Additionally, it outlines the techno-economic analysis (TEA) and prospective research directions for the production of furan-based chemicals. Despite significant progress in catalysis research, and certain process routes demonstrating substantial economics, with key indicators surpassing petroleum-based products, a gap persists between fundamental research and large-scale industrialization. This is due to the lack of comprehensive engineering research on bio-based chemicals, making the commercialization process a distant goal. These findings provide valuable insights for further development of this field. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Valorization of waste glycerol into value-added dihydroxyacetone via microbial fermentation: feasibility study

AbstractThe waste glycerol generated during biodiesel production can be converted into a value-added product like dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA is widely applied in the cosmetic industry as a color additive in sunless tanning products. There is a market demand for DHA as the revenue for sunless tanning products is growing. Study on reviewing the viability of an industry-scaled DHA production plant is scarce. Therefore, it is the aim of this study to examine and evaluate the feasibility of the DHA production plant in terms of technical, economical, and safety aspects. In this present study, the DHA is synthesized from glycerol via microbial fermentation using Gluconobacter oxydans. The production process is designed and simulated using Aspen Plus software. Preliminary process hazards and safety reviews are conducted using HAZOP and process material risk assessment. Techno-economic and sensitivity analyses are also performed. The simulation results indicate that with 6266 tons of crude glycerol, 3871 tons of DHA can be generated annually. The DHA production from crude glycerol is found to be technically and economically viable. The DHA plant is able to retain profitability at ± 25% fluctuation of the DHA selling price, with a payback period of less than 5 years. The findings from this work provide insight into the feasibility of the valorization of waste crude glycerol from biodiesel synthesis into DHA. Graphical abstract

Techno-Economic Evaluation of a Residential Photovoltaic System: A Case Study From the Residential Complex Kass Suwailem in Hilla, Iraq

Recently, the construction of residential complexes has spread significantly in all cities of Iraq. Hence, incorporating renewable energy into residential buildings provides multiple advantages as an essential component of the global sustainability initiative. In this study, a techno-economic analysis of a photovoltaic (PV) system has been evaluated in residential buildings of Kass Suwailem I and II, Iraq-Hilla, as a case study. The evaluation involved the technical and economic feasibility of implementing a solar power generation system in this residential setting. Furthermore, it assessed the costs, benefits, and financial viability of installing and operating a PV system for electricity generation. The optimal size of the PV system based on the energy consumption, local solar irradiation levels, and electricity demand patterns for each apartment unit has been evaluated. For each apartment unit, the total PV system cost is assumed to be $12,470 consisting of a 14.7 kW array, 8-battery bank of 230 Ah each, controller, and 10 kW inverter. Life-Cycle Cost analysis has been employed to determine the comprehensive cost of the PV system, encompassing all expenditures accrued throughout its operational lifespan. The calculation of the installed PV system involves annual energy rationalization, along with determining the amount of cost reduction and comparing the system with a generator or any other source that uses fossil fuels.

Electrochemical Oxidation of Small Molecules for Energy‐Saving Hydrogen Production

AbstractElectrochemical water splitting is a promising technique for the production of high‐purity hydrogen. Substituting the slow anodic oxygen evolution reaction with an oxidation reaction that is thermodynamically more favorable enables the energy‐efficient production of hydrogen. Moreover, this approach facilitates the degradation of environmental pollutants and synthesis of value‐added chemicals through the rational selection of small molecules as substrates. Strategies for small‐molecule selection and electrocatalyst design are critical to electrocatalytic performance, with a focus on achieving a high current density, selectivity, Faradaic efficiency, and operational durability. This perspective discusses the key factors required for further advancement, including technoeconomic analysis, new reactor system design, meeting the requirements of industrial applications, bridging the gap between fundamental research and practical applications, and product detection and separation. This perspective aims to advance the development of hybrid water electrolysis applications.

Techno-economic analysis and comparison of hydrogen supply using offshore wind power sources on the coast of the Korean peninsula

In response to the rapidly changing industry caused by climate change, the Korean government has set a goal of supplying 3 million tons of green hydrogen by 2050. This study aims to determine the leveled cost of hydrogen (LCOH) resulting from floating offshore wind power generation. Initially, we created a numerical model to represent the power curve for large-capacity offshore wind power generation. Additionally, we accounted for the variability in electrolytic cell efficiency by modeling predictions based on real PEMEC parameters using the Aspen Custom Model. The power-hydrogen quantity was then predicted using Aspen Plus. A comparison is also made regarding the transportation of gaseous hydrogen and liquid hydrogen. Gaseous hydrogen is produced through pipelines, while liquid hydrogen is produced using a modified Claude cycle and transported via trucks. Finally, a Techno-economic analysis was conducted, considering the net present value (NPV) derived from capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operating expenditure (OPEX) throughout the entire process. The analysis of LCOH indicated that the most economically viable option for the region with the lowest LCOH per kg is the supply of liquid hydrogen, priced at $11.04/kgH2. Our sensitivity analysis also reveals that while liquid hydrogen is more cost-effective at up to 250 MW, gaseous hydrogen becomes cheaper as its scale exceeds 500 MW because of its greater sensitivity to production volume.

Techno-economic and environmental analysis for the application of renewable energy sources in seaports.

Ports have an indisputable effect on the decarbonization of urban areas, helping to minimize air and environmental pollution and achieve sustainable development. In this instance, it is crucial to do research that can advance our understanding of how to increase ports' energy independence by utilizing renewable energy sources. The current study aims to study the environmental benefits and techno-economic challenges of converting three Egyptian ports to eco-friendly green ports by using solar panels, offshore wind turbines, and hydrogen fuel cells. The study shows that from a technical point of view, the required green power to be installed at Alexandria, Port Said, and Suez ports is around 13 MW, 5 MW, and 1.5 MW, respectively. Furthermore, the environmental analysis findings demonstrate that integrating green energy will significantly lower emissions in seaports. It is anticipated that the ports of Alexandria, Port Said, and Suez will achieve annual reductions in carbon dioxide emissions of roughly 68,7 k-tons, 25,8 k-tons, and 6,4 k-tons, respectively. From an economic point of view, the ports could be supplied with green energy from wind turbines for a cost of between 0.115 and 0.125 USD/kWh, while solar panels have a cost range of 0.098 to 0.129 USD/kWh. Additionally, hydrogen fuel cell systems cost about 0.102 USD/kWh.

A Simulation Modeling Approach for the Techno-Economic Analysis of the Integration of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations and Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems in Tourism Districts

A Simulation Modeling Approach for the Techno-Economic Analysis of the Integration of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations and Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems in Tourism Districts

Integrated Biorefinery for a Next-Generation Methanization Process Focusing on Volatile Fatty Acid Valorization: A Critical Review

This review addresses the critical issue of a rapidly increasing worldwide waste stream and the need for sustainable management. The paper proposes an integrated transformation toward a next-generation methanization process, which leads not only to treating waste but also to converting it into higher value compounds and greener energy. Although the current and commonly used anaerobic digestion process is useful for biogas production, it presents limitations of resource exploitation and some negative environmental impacts. Focusing on the acidogenic stage in waste stream processing, the paper discusses the recent strategies to enhance the recovery of volatile fatty acids (VFAs). These acids serve as precursors for synthesizing a variety of biochemicals and biofuels, offering higher value products than solely energy recovery and soil fertilizers. Additionally, the importance of recycling the fermentation residues back into the biorefinery process is highlighted. This recycling not only generates additional VFAs but also contributes to generating clean energy, thereby enhancing the overall sustainability and efficiency of the waste management system. Moreover, the review discusses the necessity to integrate life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA) to evaluate the environmental impacts, sustainability, and processing costs of the proposed biorefinery.

Concentrated Solar Power Techno-Economic Analysis in Humid Subtropical South America: The Uruguayan Case

Abstract This study assesses the feasibility of installing concentrated solar power plants in subtropical South America, particularly in Uruguay, by numerical simulations. Parabolic trough and solar power tower technologies are examined. A comprehensive literature analysis is conducted in order to evaluate initial investment, operation, and maintenance costs. Simulation models are validated in order to ensure results accuracy. The study is focused on the optimization of solar fields and storage sizes for five locations. The target set is to minimize the levelized cost of energy. In addition, energy losses and efficiencies are compared between parabolic trough and solar power tower technologies. Salto region in Uruguay is identified as the most suitable location for concentrated solar power projects. Optimized plants yield solar multiples of 3 or higher for solar power tower and around 4 for parabolic trough, with storage sizes ranging from 12 to 15 h, depending on the location. In Salto, the levelized cost of energy ranges from 148 to 175 USD/MW h for 110 MW solar power tower and from 169 to 220 USD/MW h for 55 MW parabolic trough plants, considering different investment cost scenarios. Levelized cost of energy is comparable for other locations, with a slight increase of approximately 10% for the least favorable location, Rocha. This work shows that while not yet competitive with photovoltaic or wind technologies, concentrated solar power plants show promise against fossil-fueled power plants and are expected to decrease further in cost.

Biorefinery potential of Dunaliella (Chlorophyta) for production of value‐added compounds

AbstractDunaliella functions as a microscopic bioindustry that can capture atmospheric carbon dioxide and amass it into a range of economically viable compounds. Dunaliella‐based biorefineries have emerged as sustainable platforms for fostering a green economy and reducing carbon emissions. Dunaliella‐derived value‐added compounds are commercially important due to their application in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical, and nutraceutical sectors. The present study highlights the economic application of different Dunaliella species and the available sustainable technologies for the cultivation, harvesting, and extraction of bioactive compounds that have the potential for commercial scaleup. Their incorporation into biorefinery processes can reduce dependency on energy‐intensive and low‐yield processes.This review briefly discusses the technoeconomic analysis (TEA) of Dunaliella‐driven industrial approaches for the optimization of effective yield and determination of final production costs. The major algal biorefineries are operational in countries like Australia, China, India, Israel, Japan, Portugal, Spain and the USA. The authors have comprehensively deliberated different aspects of Dunaliella from physiological to industrial applications, meanwhile underscoring the existing knowledge gaps that impede the success of Dunaliella biorefineries. The current industrial methods being employed for biorefineries are limited to producing individual bioproducts, which may not be fully cost effective, making them less competitive in the global market. However, the analysis carried out can serve as a starting point and can guide stakeholders towards the future direction of Dunaliella‐based research and the circular bioeconomy.

Agrivoltaic Systems: Potential Opportunities for South Africa

South Africa has seen a drastic uptake of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems with an increasing number of solar farms over the last decade. From an available land perspective, there is also much potential to significantly expand the generation capacity, when compared to the rest of the world. More than 80% of the land area has a solar resource greater than 1600 kWh/m2/yr. Over 79% of the land is used for agricultural purposes, yet only 22.5% of the installed PV capacity is in the agricultural sector. This highlights the potential of dual land usage with agrivoltaic systems. This paper investigates the opportunities to develop such systems by considering agricultural production in South Africa that may be suitable – to pave the way forward for the implementation of appropriate agrivoltaic systems in the country. A Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis was undertaken, considering the solar resource and land with a slope of less than 2 degree – to minimise construction costs. Current large-scale solar projects in South Africa indicate that at least 0.6 GWh of electricity can be generated annually per hectare. The current total capacity (of all sources) generated around 237 TWh of electricity in 2022. To generate an equal amount of electricity with agrivoltaic systems would then (roughly) require less than 400 thousand hectares of agricultural land; or less than 2% of the available land suitable for agrivoltaic systems (depending on the designed panel density). Further site-specific techno-economic analyses are underway to provide greater insight into the potential opportunities for South Africa.

Load management design and techno-economic analysis for an islanded hybrid Pv-Teg microgrid

Integration of various renewable energy sources (RES) is one of the critical factors behind microgrid (MG) capacity development and MG expansion. Distributed energy resources with and without RES, electrical loads, controllers, and storage units constitute the essential components of MGs. On the other hand, with the addition of different power generation sources, load prediction on the user side of the MG becomes an important issue. Demand response solutions and changing end-user behavior are the other sources of uncertainty in the performance of MGs. Therefore, matching supply and demand is a very important issue that must be done immediately at every moment of the operation. A load management system (LMS) in a community MG is essential to ensure the system’s adaptability. Fuzzy logic (FL) controllers and energy management systems will ensure optimum use of energy resources and efficient operation of MG and reduce energy waste. In this study, an 85 kW photovoltaic (PV) and thermoelectric generator (TEG) hybrid MG system (PVTEG-MG), which can operate as an island grid in all regions of the World with hot water resources, has been designed for the first time and its techno-economic analysis has been made. The state of charge (SOC) for the proposed PVTEG-MG remained stable at 40% charge state by adding charge management. The average value of the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) is $0.456/kWh for PV, $0.456/kWh for TEG, and 0.399/kWh over the total energy produced, 219,000 kWh for the PV and 493,650 kWh for the TEG. Overall, this PVTEG-MG system is a promising solution for hot water regions that can be used as an island grid to reduce electricity costs, increase efficiency and reliability, and provide a more sustainable energy source.

Environmental prospective of valorizing corn processing effluent to produce ferulic acid grafted chitosan polymer

The food industry requires new production models that include more environmentally friendly waste management practices, considering that the environmental loads of solid waste and wastewater associated with this sector cause damage to the receiving ecosystems. The approach considered in this study focuses on the design and environmental assessment of an enzymatic process for the valorization of ferulic acid present in the effluent of a corn tortilla plant. The ferulic acid can be immobilized on chitosan so that the ferulic acid grafted chitosan can be used as a bioactive film with enhanced antioxidant properties with potential applications in the biotechnology sector.Its real projection approach requires the evaluation of its environmental and economic performance, trying to identify its benefits and potential in the value chain, using the Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) as a phase for the conceptual design of the process and the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology for the environmental evaluation. It should be noted that the TEA indicators are promising, since the values of the financial indicators obtained are representative of the economic profitability, which makes the ferulic acid valorization a viable process. In terms of the environmental impact of the process, the buffer dose and the chitosan production process are identified as the main critical points. This double benefit in environmental and economic terms shows that the valorization of ferulic acid for chitosan functionalization is a promising alternative to improve the sustainability performance of corn processing.

Techno-Economic and Environmental Impact Analysis of a 50 MW Solar-Powered Rankine Cycle System

Techno-Economic and Environmental Impact Analysis of a 50 MW Solar-Powered Rankine Cycle System

Techno-economic analysis of ammonia cracking for large scale power generation

The increasing interest in leveraging green ammonia to mitigate carbon emissions in fertilizer production is paralleled by an expanding acknowledgment of its potential as a fuel for decarbonizing the electricity sector, particularly in high-efficiency gas turbine power plants. Co-firing ammonia with hydrogen presents a promising method for integrating ammonia into existing infrastructures. Within this context, the development of efficient technology for ammonia cracking presents a potential avenue for deploying ammonia in gas turbines. The objective of this study is to conduct a preliminary techno-economic evaluation and uncertainty analysis of two cracking technologies namely a membrane reactor and a conventional FTR (Fired Tubular Reactor) for the co-firing of ammonia with hydrogen in a CCGT (Combined Cycle Gas Turbine) plant. The integration of a membrane reactor during the cracking stage demonstrates a remarkable improvement in the system's thermal efficiency, surpassing traditional approaches by over 25%. Additionally, it brings about an approximate 10% reduction in the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH), despite a higher initial capital expenditure (CAPEX). At the CCGT level, the discrepancy in levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) narrows, as it is strongly influenced by the cost of ammonia constituting 80% of the LCOE. Beyond LCOE, the widespread adoption of these systems also faces challenges due to material scarcity. Analysis reveals that revamping just 1 GWe of CCGT assets using membrane reactors would for example necessitate approximately 0.11% of the global palladium supply, and 10% of the global ruthenium production. Considering the limited availability of these resources, coupled with their high demand across multiple sectors and the possibility of external factors such as geopolitical tensions, this strategy seems unfeasible. To tap into this market, future research should prioritize the exploration of alternative membrane materials, such as carbon molecular sieves, and catalysts, like nickel.

Technoeconomic Analysis for Deployment of Gait-Oriented Wearable Medical Internet-of-Things Platform in Catalonia

The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) extends the concept of eHealth and mHealth for patients with continuous monitoring requirements. This research concentrates on the use of wearable devices based on the use of inertial measurement units (IMUs) that account for a gait analysis for its use in three health cases, equilibrium evaluation, fall prevention and surgery recovery, that impact a large elderly population. We also analyze two different scenarios for data capture: supervised by clinicians and unsupervised during activities of daily life (ADLs). The continuous monitoring of patients produces large amounts of data that are analyzed in specific IoMT platforms that must be connected to the health system platforms containing the health records of the patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the factors that impact the cost of the deployment of such an IoMT solution. We use population data from Catalonia together with an IoMT deployment model for costs from the current deployment of connected devices for monitoring diabetic patients. Our study reveals the critical dependencies of the proposed IoMT platforms: from the devices and cloud cost, the size of the population using these services and the savings from the current model under key parameters such as fall reduction or rehabilitation duration. Future research should investigate the benefit of continuous monitoring in improving the quality of life of patients.

Kinetic Modeling and Techno-Economic Analysis of a Methanol-to-Gasoline Production Repurposed Refinery Equipment

Kinetic Modeling and Techno-Economic Analysis of a Methanol-to-Gasoline Production Repurposed Refinery Equipment

Cost-effective and modular CO2 capture to support decarbonisation for oil and gas, industrial and hard-to-abate sectors

Reducing emissions from the industrial and fossil fuel-based power sectors is crucial to achieving net zero emissions. These sectors contribute to ~60% of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. However, there are several challenges that current CO2 capture technology faces. The use of coal in steel and cement industries produces flue gases with high CO2 content but also with nitrogen and sulfur oxides (NOx and SOx) as impurities. These impurities cause faster degradation of amine-based solvents in the current CO2 capture system. Additionally, capturing CO2 from flue gases from the hard-to-abate sector, such as steel plants, is complex as it is not easy to capture CO2 from multiple sources and different CO2 concentration flue gas streams. For cement and other kiln processes, limited availability of water/steam can add to the difficulty and cost of CO2 capture. CO2CRC’s HyCaps process, an efficient and compact hybrid of solvent absorption and membrane technology, overcomes some of these challenges. It takes advantage of the capture efficiency of the solvent system, controlled flow regime and high surface-to-volume ratio of membrane technology. The mode of interaction between gas and liquid in HyCaps limits solvent exposure to NOx and SOx, reducing solvent degradation. In HyCaps, as solvent is regenerated at a lower temperature, low-quality, low-cost waste heat can be effectively utilised to reduce operational expenditure. Successful trials at three different industrial setups and preliminary techno-economic analysis from test trial data show the HyCaps process has the potential to offer very competitive capture solutions for various industrial settings.

Analysis of Gaps in Techno-Economic Analysis to Advance Heliostat Technologies for Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power

Abstract The Heliostat Consortium (HelioCon) was launched in 2021 to advance heliostat technology. One of its first efforts was to do a detailed analysis of gaps in technology and capabilities in the heliostat industry and complete a roadmap study describing high-priority gaps. HelioCon gathered gaps through a series of outreach activities with representatives and experts from industries and research institutes. This paper discusses the gap analysis for the techno-economic analysis (TEA) topic. One of the main objectives of the TEA topic is to relate the cost and performance of heliostats and heliostat components to the overall system performance. In this study, we limit the scope of this topic to the heliostat field, tower, and receiver and do not consider downstream applications or uses of thermal energy. We conducted a thorough review of existing models and compiled a list of the state of the art in open-source tools currently available to researchers. We collected an initial list of gaps for the TEA of heliostats from industry developers and experts. Each gap is briefly described, and the heliostat development cycle stages that the gap impacts are indicated. We ranked the initial list of TEA gaps into tiers depending on their potential impact. For TEA, most of the gaps identified are related to developing models or data. Strictly speaking, none of these gaps are essential for heliostat development, but all would aid in the heliostat development process.