Total Electricity Production Research Articles

Development of Small Modular Reactor iPWR Dynamics Simulator

Abstract In the energy transition era, nuclear power serves as a significant source of electricity with low emissions, contributing to approximately 10% of the world’s total electricity production. The advanced and distinct features of iPWR-type SMR in the field of nuclear power generation contribute to a greater safety margin. This opens up possibilities for extending the utilization of secure, environmentally friendly, and dependable nuclear energy across various energy sectors. Moreover, the public need to understand the technical performance of the iPWR. To improve understanding of iPWR’s technical performance, a simulator is developed. The simulator is developed to provide a comprehensive study of nuclear reactor transient behavior, to serve as an educational tool for students, and to demonstrate the safety features during accident scenarios. This article introduces a simulator that combines modules of neutronics, reactor thermal-hydraulics, and the NSSS. The simulator uses the design parameters of iPWR with a power capacity of 160 MWt that relies on natural convection. The proposed simulator was developed using LabVIEW software to perform the reactor dynamics calculations. Furthermore, hardware devices for controlling the simulator can be integrated to simulate the control room of an NPP. The calculation was based on the standard lumped parameter point kinetics and thermal-hydraulic equations. To simplify the process and reduce computational cost, several assumptions are incorporated into the equations, including one-group thermal neutron and constant gain thermal power. The simulator development yields preliminary data for reactor calculations, the graphical user interface (GUI) of the simulator, and the Virtual Instruments (VIs) comprising the reactor model. The reactor model comprises multiple components, each represented as a subVI within the LabVIEW environment. This simulator serves as an effective educational and dissemination tool for increasing public acceptance of NPP by providing insights into the behavior of the reactor and facilitating a better understanding of its operation, safety features, and potential benefits.

Environmental Implications of Fly Ash Management and Utilization: A Review of Laws, Policies, and Practices.

In the environmental realm, ‘fly-ash’ refers to the byproduct of burning pulverized coal in thermal power stations. One of India's most resource-intensive and polluting industries, coal-fired power generation, contributes considerably to atmospheric pollution. Public power stations that use coal or lignite to generate energy account for 77% of the nation's total electricity production. This sector is responsible for over 65% of India's total coal use. This study employs a multifaceted approach combining theological, exploratory, analytical, and descriptive methods. It relies on secondary sources from diverse web resources to analyze fly ash's ecological and health impacts, explore utilization methods, and discuss potential legislation to prevent careless disposal. The coal-based power industry has added 32 GW, or over 64% of the new massive capacity, to its operations in the last decade, leading to a rise in coal consumption. There was a greater than 71% increase in annual coal usage, from 367 million tonnes in 2009–10 to almost 629 million tonnes in 2018–19. The increasing usage of coal in India has led to fly ash being one of the country's most significant industrial solid wastes. Fly ash is a residue or byproduct made when coal is burned; it is harmful to both humans and the environment. The problem is particularly acute in India because of the poor calorific value, high ash content, and low grade of the coal used there.

ABOUT SOME PROBLEMS OF THE ELECTRIC ENERGY SECTOR OF GEORGIA

In the article - "About some problems of the electric energy sector of Georgia" - the issue of the country's electricity production potential and how it is used is discussed. The article mentions that out of all the energy resources, Georgia has the most electrical energy resources. These are hydropower (water resources), wind and solar resources. A retrospective analysis of both total and individual production and consumption of electricity in the period 1990-2023 concluded that a 47.5% increase in individual consumption was caused by the catastrophic population decrease in Georgia during the same period. The article also mentions that the average consumption of electricity in Georgia is half of the corresponding indicator of Germany, the USA - Mesa-Med, and Norway - one-sixth. The electricity balance of Georgia is negative. A significant part of electricity is imported from Russia and Azerbaijan. Among the problems faced by the electrical energy system, the article discusses the possibility of causing danger by depending on external sources of electricity, giving preference to the construction of large hydroelectric power plants (the construction of which destroys wild nature) and less attention to the study of the issue of regional production and consumption of electricity. The article provides conceptual solutions to each of these problems. Keywords: electric energy; hydropower; wind and solar energy; large and small hydropower plants; Electrical energy balance.

An Analysis of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Electrolysis for Certifying Clean Hydrogen

The drive for carbon neutrality has led to legislative measures targeting reduced greenhouse gas emissions across the transportation, construction, and industry sectors. Renewable energy sources, especially solar and wind power, play a pivotal role in this transition. However, their intermittent nature necessitates effective storage solutions. Green hydrogen and ammonia have gained attention for their potential to store renewable energy while producing minimal emissions. Despite their theoretical promise of zero greenhouse gas emissions during production, real-world emissions vary based on system configurations and lifecycle assessments, highlighting the need for detailed evaluations of their environmental impact. Therefore, in this study, calculations were performed for the actual amount of produced greenhouse gas emissions that are associated with the production of green hydrogen using electrolysis, from raw material extraction and processing to hydrogen production, with these assessed from well-to-gate emission estimates. Emissions were also evaluated based on various types of renewable energy sources in South Korea, as well as hydrogen production volumes, capacities, and types. Using these data, the following factors were examined in this study: carbon dioxide emissions from the manufacturing stage of electrolysis equipment production, the correlation between materials and carbon dioxide emissions, and process emissions. Current grades of clean hydrogen were verified, and the greenhouse gas reduction effects of green hydrogen were confirmed. These findings are significant against the backdrop of a country such as South Korea, where the proportion of renewable energy in total electricity production is very low at 5.51%. Based on the domestic greenhouse gas emission efficiency standard of 55 kWh/kgH2, it was found that producing 1 kg of hydrogen emits 0.076 kg of carbon dioxide for hydropower, 0.283 kg for wind power, and 0.924 kg for solar power. The carbon dioxide emissions for AWE and PEM stacks were 8434 kg CO2 and 3695 kg CO2, respectively, demonstrating that an alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) system emits about 2.3 times more greenhouse gasses than a proton exchange membrane (PEM) system. This indicates that the total carbon dioxide emissions of green hydrogen are significantly influenced by the type of renewable energy and the type of electrolysis used.

An integrated system dynamics model of electricity production, consumption, and export policy in Iran considering carbon emissions

The electricity industry is a cornerstone of modern economies, requiring accurate forecasting to facilitate informed decision-making aligned with sustainable development goals. This study employs a novel, comprehensive system dynamics model comprising four subsystems: consumption, production, carbon emissions, and electricity trading. Our analysis reveals significant trends in Iran's electricity industry. The household sector is projected to become the largest energy consumer, with anticipated reductions in consumer sector subsidies over time. By 2040, total electricity production is forecasted to reach 862,835 million kWh, with renewable sources contributing only 3.3 percent. This trajectory is accompanied by a substantial increase in carbon emissions, reaching 448,383 tons, an alarming 2.6-fold surge compared to 2020. The private sector is anticipated to account for 70 percent of these emissions. Given the findings, prioritizing renewable electricity sources becomes imperative to align with sustainable development goals. Utilizing this integrated model, stakeholders can formulate informed strategies and interventions to navigate the evolving landscape of Iran's electricity sector.

Performance of power generation: A dynamic productivity and efficiency analysis

This study evaluates the performance dynamics of Oman's principal part of electricity generation. Emphasis is placed on capturing the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry's performance indicators. We utilised the Malmquist Index method to analyse the changes in overall performance indicators over time. This approach allows us to distinguish between efficiency and technology changes. In addition, we employed the analysis of variance approach to test hypotheses related to COVID-19. Data is collected from twelve electricity producers across Oman's power sector. These consist of companies listed on the Stock Exchange Market in Oman, accounting for about 60 % of the total electricity production in the Sultanate. The predominant findings indicate that COVID-19 detrimentally impacted the sector's aggregate performance in 2020 but had a swift recovery in 2021. The analysis of the sample firm's productivity indices verifies that the decline in productivity in 2020 due to the Pandemic is attributable to a decrease in average efficiency indices and a negative shift in the projected frontier. These are probable consequences of the recessionary effects caused by the Pandemic. Despite a considerable decrease in average efficiency scores, a positive change in the frontier has facilitated a rapid recovery in 2021. This recovery can be attributed to the implementation of advanced technical upgrades in particular enterprises, which began as early as 2018/2019, well before the onset of the Pandemic.

Analysis of the Hybrid Power-Heating System in a Single-Family Building, along with Ecological Aspects of the Operation

This study evaluates a hybrid heating system in a single-family building in northeastern Poland, which has a temperate continental climate. The analysis covers two heating seasons in 2021/2022 and 2022/2023. The hybrid heating system includes an air heat pump HPA–08 CS Plus with a heating power of 8.2 kW (AHP), a condensing gas boiler VC146/5–5 with a power of 14 kW (GB–Condens.), and a solid fuel boiler with a power of 11 kW for central heating. Additionally, hot water is heated by a Basic 270 (DHW’s AHP) air–water heat pump with a power of 2 kW, utilizing a tank with a capacity of 270 dm3 equipped with two heating coils. The building’s average electricity consumption is around 5400 kWh/year. A 4.96 kWp photovoltaic installation is installed on the building’s roof at a 40° angle towards the south to supplement the hybrid system. The study aims to assess whether the PV installation can adequately cover the energy needs of the hybrid heat source for heating and hot water. Furthermore, the study calculates the emission of pollutants (CO2, SOx, NOx, CO, and PM10) into the atmosphere. The total annual electricity production from PV installations was 5444.9 kWh in 2021/2022 and 5684.8 kWh in 2022/2023. The excess electricity was stored in the PGE power grid as per the Prosumer settlement rules. The installed PV installation is sufficient to power the following devices annually: AHP, DHW’s AHP, and GB–Condens. However, the daily electricity production from the PV installation is not enough to cover the energy needs of the heat pump for heating during the cold months in Poland (I–III, XI–XII). It can meet the power needs of a PC all year round and can also be stored during the summer months, for example, in energy warehouses or by directly storing it in the PGE power grid. The use of the PV installation resulted in an average reduction in pollutant emissions into the atmosphere: CO2—94.1%, SOx—91.8%, NOx—95.6%, CO—9.7%, and PM10—32.1%.

Optimize power generation of thermal generating sources in solving the green energies-based economic load dispatch using Electric Eel Foraging Optimization

This research focuses on solving the green energies-based economic load dispatch problem (ELD) with the consideration of both solar and wind power to minimize the total electricity production cost (TEPC) of all thermal generating sources (TGSs) existing in the given power system. Two power systems, including a 6-TGS and a 15-TGS power system, were selected to conduct the research. Besides, the prohibited operating zones (POZs) of the TGSs are also considered while solving the GE-ELD problem. Golf optimization algorithm (GOA) and Electric Eel Foraging Optimization (EEFO) are applied to find the optimal power generation of TGSs to minimize the TEPC value and satisfy all the related constraints featured by the considered problem, especially the POZ constraints. The results obtained by GOA and EEFO in the two power systems are evaluated and compared using different criteria. The comparison indicates that EEFO is superior to GOA at all criteria, especially in the minimum value of TEPC (Min. TEPC) and the standard deviation (Std). In particular, EEFO is better than GOA 0.052($/h) on Min.TEPC and 98.34% on Std while applied in the first power system. The better values of EEFO over GOA in the second power system are 199.474 ($/h) and 78.703%. By considering these results, EEFO is considered a powerful search method and highly suggested for use to solve such GE-ELD problems.

Power sector decarbonisation in developing and coal-producing countries: A case study of Indonesia

Global efforts to transition away from coal within a decade encounter significant challenges, particularly in developing and coal-producing countries, e.g. Indonesia. Most current studies do not discuss the impact of coal phase-out on the upstream sector, which is important for coal-producing countries. This study aims to analyse Indonesia's power sector decarbonisation impact on the power and fossil upstream sectors. This analysis used VEDA-TIMES energy system optimisation using three scenarios: least-cost system (BAU), decarbonisation without coal phase-out (PA 1.5), and decarbonisation with coal phase-out (PA 1.5 PO). In all cases, decarbonisation will reduce the amount of coal used in energy systems. However, in a technology-agnostic transition, coal still constitutes 16% of total capacity in 2060. By this time, the coal-fired power generating assets have also transitioned to high efficiency, low emissions (HELE) technologies. CCS plays an important role in Indonesia's decarbonisation. A key implication of the coal phase-out scenario is the stranding of $9 bn worth of existing assets and an increased role for renewable energy and imported natural gas in 2035–2050, posing a notable threat to gas security within the industrial sector. In addition, the potential loss due to untapped coal reserves is estimated at $63 bn, while the cumulative net loss in the coal upstream sector amounts to $799 bn (0.26% of Indonesia's GDP and 3.7% of the coal-producing GDRP). Nevertheless, the total investment and electricity production costs exhibit negligible differences in the rapid VRE expansion, but it will reduce total investment by 24% in the low VRE buildrate.

Green Electricity Prices

This paper examines the correlation between end-user electricity prices and the share of solar and wind energy in total electricity production in OECD countries. It is shown (i) that end-user prices in recent years (2020–2022) are positively correlated with the share of solar and wind and (ii) that the price of electricity in the majority of countries has risen with the solar and wind share since these types of energy came on the scene.

Minimize Total Cost and Maximize Total Profit for Power Systems with Pumped Storage Hydro and Renewable Power Plants Using Improved Self-Organizing Migration Algorithm

This study presents the application of an improved self-organizing migration algorithm (ISOMA) for minimizing the total electricity production expenditure (TEPE) and maximizing the total electricity sale profit (TPRF) for hydrothermal power systems (HTPS) without and with renewable energies. Two power system configurations were employed to test the real efficiency of ISOMA while dealing with two objective functions. In the first configuration, there was one thermal power plant and one hydropower plant, while in the second configuration, wind and solar energy were both connected to the first system. The results achieved in the first configuration with the first objective function indicated that ISOMA not only outperformed SOMA according to all comparison criteria but was also superior to other methods such as evolutionary programming (EP), acceleration factor-based particle swarm optimization (AFPSO), and accelerated particle swarm optimization (APSO). The evaluation of the results achieved by ISOMA in the second configuration with the objective function of maximizing the TPRF revealed that ISOMA could reach better profits than SOMA in terms of maximum, mean and minimum TPRF values over fifty trial runs. As a result, it was concluded that pumped storage hydropower plants are very useful in integrating with renewable power plants to cut total cost for thermal power plants and in reaching the highest profit for the whole system. Also, ISOMA is a suitable algorithm for the considered problem.

Profitability Model of Green Hydrogen Production on an Existing Wind Power Plant Location

This paper presents a new economic profitability model for a power-to-gas plant producing green hydrogen at the site of an existing wind power plant injected into the gas grid. The model is based on a 42 MW wind power plant, for which an optimal electrolyzer of 10 MW was calculated based on the 2500 equivalent full load hours per year and the projection of electricity prices. The model is calculated on an hourly level for all variables of the 25 years of the model. With the calculated breakeven electricity price of 74.23 EUR/MWh and the price of green hydrogen production of 99.44 EUR/MWh in 2045, the wind power plant would produce 22,410 MWh of green hydrogen from 31% of its total electricity production. Green hydrogen injected into the gas system would reduce the level of CO2 emissions by 4482 tons. However, with the projected prices of natural gas and electricity, the wind power plant would cover only 20% of the income generated by the electricity delivered to the grid by producing green hydrogen. By calculating different scenarios in the model, the authors concluded that the introduction of a premium subsidy model is necessary to accelerate deployment of electrolyzers at the site of an existing wind power plant in order to increase the wind farm profitability.

Technological ways to improve the efficiency of petrothermal power plants and increase their contribution to electricity generation

The contribution of renewable energy sources to the total electricity production in the world is steadily increasing. At the same time, the share of geothermal energy in the overall balance remains unjustifiably insufficient. The prospects for obtaining heat from the earth are limited by a number of technical and technological difficulties, which especially applies to that part of geothermal energy, which is called petrothermal. The article proposes an approach to improve the efficiency of a petrothermal power plant while maintaining the general concept of environmental friendliness.

IMPACT OF SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS ON ENERGY SECURITY IN ZAMBIA: CHALLENGES AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES

This study examines the impact of supply chain interruptions on Zambia's energy security, highlighting the nation's significant reliance on hydroelectric power, which generates about 83% of its total electricity production (Jürisoo et al., 2019). According to the study, Zambia's energy sector is significantly impacted by global supply chain risks, such as geopolitical conflicts and environmental issues (Mwanza et al., 2023). The analysis explores how these problems exacerbate problems related to energy security, particularly during load-shedding incidents (Jürisoo et al., 2019; Alzoubi, 2024). Furthermore, the study looks at the obstacles to establishing circular supply chains in Zambia's energy sector and emphasizes how cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence and blockchain might improve supply chain resilience (Mwanza et al., 2023; Alzoubi, 2024). The conclusions stress how urgently legislative changes and focused investments are needed to support Zambia's energy infrastructure and keep it safe from future shocks.

Non-Oil Tax Revenue and Infrastructural Development in Nigeria

Abstract In Nigeria, there has been a decline in oil revenue. This has impacted negatively on infrastructural development. This paper seeks to examine the effect of non-oil revenue as an alternative source of revenue for infrastructural development. The research design of the study was the ex post facto research design. The source of data was the secondary source and a time series of data from 1981 to 2021 was used in carrying out the research. The Autoregressive Distributed Lagged (ARDL) bounds test was used to determine the long-run and short-run relationship between the dependent and independent variables. It was observed that the variables are co-integrated, and as such, a long-run and short-run relationship exists among the explanatory variables. Furthermore, the ARDL short-run estimation result shows that the non-oil tax variables (proxied by VAT, CUSTD, and CIT) have a positive and significant effect on infrastructural development (proxied by total electricity production measured in Gigawatt hours (GWh) in Nigeria. In tandem, the ARDL long-run estimation results reveal that value-added tax, customs duties, and company income tax have a positive and significant impact on infrastructural development in Nigeria. Hence, an increase in the non-oil tax revenue base will boost infrastructural development in Nigeria in the long run. This finding is in tandem with the ARDL short-run estimation result. Therefore, it is inferred that Nigeria can experience infrastructural development when genuine commitment is made to explore an increase in non-oil revenue generation instead of being over-dependent on oil revenue.

Techno-economic Analysis and Optimization of Renewable Energy Forecasting at Universitas Jenderal Achmad Yani

The availability of electrical energy ensures operational sustainability in everyday life, including the educational environment. The possibility of easier renewable energy installation encourages the goal of growing the installation to be affordable. Universitas Jenderal Achmad Yani is one of the campuses that has the capacity to use renewable energy and has a role in environmental awareness in accordance with the university's future vision. In light of this, a hybrid photovoltaic (PV), diesel, and battery plant design is presented as an alternative power plant to supplement conventional energy sources. However, it is critical to examine the long-term capital and profit estimations that must be considered. The hybrid plant is proposed in two configurations, grid-connected and off-grid. In this paper, modeling and simulation are performed using Net Present Cost (NPC) prices from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) rooftop PV installation planning guidelines and inflation estimations from the Republic of Indonesia's Ministry of Finance. Furthermore, until the contribution of energy generated in the simulation is displayed, the production and consumption of electrical energy required for the selected building instances are generated. Hybrid plant modeling has been completed at Universitas Jenderal Achmad Yani’s Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology (FHST) and Rectorate buildings. According to the simulation results, the NPC cost for the next 25 years is anticipated to be Rp 1,047,534,000, with a total electrical energy production of 729,807 kWh/year and a renewable energy contribution >91.4%. Furthermore, from a technological and economic standpoint, a grid-connected hybrid generation system is advocated

Catching the Biogas Opportunity: Determining the Animal Waste-Based Biogas Potential and Environmental Effects for Sirnak

Anaerobic digestion of renewable feedstocks into biogas is an important technological approach for sustainable and reliable energy supply. Biogas is produced from biomass and is defined as a gaseous energy carrier containing 60% methane and 35-40% carbon dioxide. Although different types of biomass samples can be used for biogas production, the use of animal wastes in biogas production is more preferred than others. The region selected in the study is a city with a significant amount of animal waste production and thus biogas potential due to intensive animal husbandry. In this study, the animal waste potentials that can be produced from cattle, sheep, and poultry in Sirnak province and their effects in terms of biogas equivalents and carbon emissions were analyzed. The results of the study show that a total of 23.445 million m3 year-1 biogas can be produced from animal wastes in Sirnak province from all districts, while total electricity production is 44,238,955.45 kWh year-1. As an environmental impact, it has been determined that total CO2 emission can be 276,356,209.6 kg CO2/year, on the other hand, a reduction in total CO2 emission up to 209,809,869.8 kg CO2/year can be achieved.

Process modeling and analysis of a combined heat and power system integrating solid oxide fuel cell and organic Rankine cycle for poultry litter utilization

Syngas from the gasification process of poultry litter can be utilized as the fuel in the solid oxide fuel cell for electricity production. A novel combined heat and power system, integrating solid oxide fuel cell and organic Rankine cycle, is currently proposed to achieve efficient and clean utilization of poultry litter. The effects of biomass type for co-gasification and six operational parameters on this cogeneration system are studied. Results show that the total electricity production, fuel cell power output, total heat production and primary energy utilization efficiency are 162.02 kW, 141.65 kW, 52.41 kW and 44.70%, respectively. Co-gasification of straw and poultry litter can improve the overall system performance. Low water content of poultry litter is generally preferable. The highest primary energy utilization is achieved at equivalent air ratio of around 0.26. Increasing water-carbon ratio would deteriorate the fuel cell and the overall system performance. When the operating temperature is 950 °C, the energy utilization efficiency reaches the peak value. This energy efficiency reaches the maximum value of 44.98% at fuel utilization efficiency of 0.78. This research provides a new solution for high-value utilization of the low-calorific poultry litter, to achieve the sustainable utilization of wasted energy and biomass resources.

Renewable Energy and Inclusive Economic Development: An African Case Study

Climate change constitutes a major challenge to economic growth and development across the globe as it negatively affects most sectors of the economy. Hence, there has been a global clamour for countries to invest in climate change mitigations. In developing regions like Africa, however, there are high resource limitations, and as such, there is a general opinion that funding climate change mitigation will have a huge opportunity cost of low investment in other development infrastructures, with the likelihood of decreasing economic development. On this premise, this study investigates the impact of renewable energy consumption and output on economic development in Africa. The study employed panel data analysis estimated using the System Generalised Method of Moments for a sample of 43 Sub-Saharan African countries. The results show that an increased share of renewable electricity in total electricity production increased significantly and contributed positively to economic development in Africa. Also, the ratio of renewable electricity to the total electricity consumed had a positive but insignificant effect on economic development. The study thus concludes that an increase in renewable electricity production and consumption does not only mitigate climate change but could also contribute marginally to the economic growth and development of African economies.

Bioenergy Production Potential of Available Biomass Residue Resources in Ethiopia

The study intends to present the bioenergy potential in Ethiopia using major sources of biomass generation. The study utilized data from secondary sources to generate the potential using the available biomass sources within the country. In order to determine the bioenergy potential, four residue biomass sources, including livestock manure, crop residues, forest residues, and municipal solid waste (MSW) from major cities, were considered. The Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical (FAOSTAT) Database as well as national and local reports were used to compile information on crops, forests, animals, and human populations. The potential of each source is estimated for 2020-21 as the base year. The total bioenergy potential of the country is estimated to be 2955 petajoule (PJ) per year, with 56.01% of it coming from forest residue, 28.29% from crop residue, 15.36% from livestock waste, and 0.33% from MSW. In addition, it is estimated that 819.7 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity may be generated from all sources yearly. This is equivalent to around 8, 58, and 89 times Ethiopia’s total primary energy consumption, electricity production, and electricity net consumption in 2020, respectively. Results also demonstrated that the total potential (819.7 TWh·y−1) is roughly 56% greater than the forest residues’ potential alone (459 TWh·y−1). This implies that biomass resources might be crucial in assisting Ethiopia to fulfill its future energy needs. To fully realize the availability of biomass energy, the study suggests performing integrated development research, choosing the best feedstock and value chains for bioenergy, and creating a bioenergy database.