Use Of Renewable Sources Research Articles

Forecasting Electricity Generation from a Renewable and Low‐Carbon Matrix Using the Stochastic Volatility Process

The need to replace nonrenewable sources is a global challenge, especially for emerging countries with financial constraints to invest in energy transition. In Brazil, electrical generation is predominantly renewable, since the hydraulic source is responsible for more than half of the domestic electricity supply. Other alternative sources, such as biomass, solar, and wind, complement the renewable portion of the Brazilian electrical matrix. However, periods of drought and climate disturbances threaten the stability of the electrical system and increase dependence on thermal generation. Based on the global movement to intensify the use of renewable sources, which are volatile and influenced by climate variations, the objective of this research is to predict electricity generation using the Heston model. This model, originally applied to predict option prices, assumes nonconstant volatility and has the ability to estimate the average value including the stochastic volatility process. The database is made up of monthly values of the volume of electrical energy generation from biomass, coal, fuel oil, hydraulic, industrial waste, natural gas, nuclear, solar, and wind sources. Compared to the Black‐Scholes model, the chosen method proved to be superior in predicting the generation from coal, hydropower, and solar energy, according to the MAE, MAPE, and RMSE statistics. We conclude that a financial model can be effectively applied to the energy sector and the Heston model can be a useful instrument to assist in the planning and management of the national electrical system. One suggestion for the Brazilian case is to encourage the use of alternative energies and low‐carbon sources, such as solar, wind, and natural gas, providing greater energy security and a more reliable electrical system.

Use of renewable sources with thermal accumulation of solar energy for the energy consumption of buildings

Today, there is an increasing demand for renewable energy sources in Europe to minimise the carbon footprint and achieve a sustainable energy supply. One of the cleanest and most affordable energy sources is solar energy, which can be used efficiently for heating and hot water in buildings. However, efficient storage and use of solar energy is key. This paper focuses on a comparison of two main solar thermal energy storage systems: Pit Thermal Energy Storage (PTES) and Tank Thermal Energy Storage (TTES). The case studies include an analysis of the effectiveness of these systems in real scenarios, along with their advantages, disadvantages and potential future applications.

ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЯ ВОДОРОДНОЙ ЭНЕРГЕТИКИ В РЕГИОНАХ РОССИИ С УЧЕТОМ ОСОБЕННОСТЕЙ ОТРАСЛЕВОЙ СПЕЦИАЛИЗАЦИИ ЭКОНОМИКИ

This article studies the conditions for developing hydrogen energy, taking into account for-eign and domestic experience. It focuses on the sectoral usage of hydrogen in Russian regions given the restructuring of the energy sector to reduce resource capacity and increase energy efficiency, including through the use of renewable sources and the development of hydrogen energy. The study determines the conditions for developing hydrogen energy in Russian regions, taking into account location, sectoral spe-cialization, and export opportunities. The research uses methods of the systematization, analysis, and com-parison of analytical data from Russian and international studies on the development of hydrogen energy. The hypothesis is that the heterogeneity of the conditions for the development of hydrogen energy in Rus-sian regions determines their different potential: the localization of the extractive industry, a strong indus-trial base, and energy efficiency are starting advantages for the introduction of hydrogen technologies. The article focuses on the identification of the general and specific conditions contributing to the development of hydrogen energy in Russian regions and an assessment of successful world practices for the national economy and individual regions. The results supplement the theoretical aspects and systematize the data of cases of hydrogen energy development and highlight the spatial development of hydrogen energy infra-structure. This allows regions to diversify sources of GRP growth, integrate innovative solutions, and im-prove the efficiency of industry and the economy as a whole.

Sodium Mesoxalate as PRE-Sodiation Agent in Sodium-ION Capacitors

Lithium devices are the ones that reached the market to prompt the sustainable use of renewable sources, the alternative promise to leave behind fossil fuels dependency. However, lithium reservoirs seem not to be enough to supply the expected increase in future market demands. On account of that, the appearance of sodium-energy devices as an alternative to lithium is rising interest due to its abundance and easy availability. Those market demands are increasingly focused on delivering high energy and power density in a single device. These requirements lead to the appearance of Sodium-Ion Capacitors (SICs), which consist of a supercapacitor like cathode confronted with a battery like anode, extracting the main advantages of each technology, i.e, high energy stored, and power supplied as well as long cycle-life. Despite their potential, still some challenges need to be addressed to widespread their commercialization. The low coulombic efficiency of the first cycle together with the absence of a sodium source apart from that of the electrolyte, is the major challenge to ensure high energy densities without penalizing cycle life. A possible strategy is the addition of a pre-sodiation agent to the system [1]. Different agents have been tested so far, however an ideal solution has not been developed yet. In the present study sodium mesoxalate is suggested to be employed as pre-sodiation agent as it is a commercial, green and nontoxic compound [2].Herein, sodium mesoxalate was added directly to the positive electrode. The carbons C65 an Ketjen black (KB) were explored as conductive additives. Two different procedures of positive electrode fabrication were studied and in depth analyzed with the aim of extracting the best performance of the sacrificial salt. From this study it was found that the KB mixed with the monohydrated salt followed by a joint dehydration seems to extract the best performance of the sodium mesoxalate.To complete electrode manufacturing, YP50F was added as active material . The CV (Figure 1a) shows a single peak during the first cycle at around 4.25 V vs. Na+/Na, related to the decomposition of the Na2C3O5. This value is low enough to avoid electrolyte decomposition. In the second cycle, a little hump is also appreciated at ca. 3.6 V vs. Na+/Na probably due to a little remanent salt unable to be decomposed during the first cycle. In the following cycles, the voltammetries show a rectangular shape, attributed to the capacitance recorded by the electrode without the already decomposed salt, and mainly ascribed to the YP50F. Moreover, from the GA charge/discharge (Figure 1b) it can be seen that during the first charge, the sodium mesoxalate is able to provide a specific capacity of 405 mAh g-1 which is higher than the theoretical one (331 mAh g-1).Consequently, the results shown herein evidence the potential of the sodium mesoxalate as pre-sodiation agent in SICs as long as the proper conductive additive and obtention procedure are employed.[1] M. Arnaiz, D. Shanmukaraj, D. Carriazo, D. Bhattacharjya, A. Villaverde, M. Armand, J. Ajuria, A transversal low-cost pre-metallation strategy enabling ultrafast and stable metal ion capacitor technologies, Energy Environ. Sci. 13 (2020) 2441–2449. https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EE00351D.[2] A.J. Fernández-Ropero, M. Zarrabeitia, G. Baraldi, M. Echeverria, T. Rojo, M. Armand, D. Shanmukaraj, Improved Sodiation Additive and Its Nuances in the Performance Enhancement of Sodium-Ion Batteries, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces. 13 (2021) 11814–11821. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.0c20542. Figure 1

Hybrid electrical energy generation from hydropower, solar photovoltaic and hydrogen

The global concern to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the use of renewable sources has led Brazil to stand out as a promising nation in this context, with a large portion of its energy capacity coming from renewable sources. However, renewable sources have the disadvantage of intermittency and seasonality, which has prompted the search for solutions to these challenges. This study assesses the feasibility of integrating hydro and solar power with a Hydrogen-based Electrical Energy Storage System (H2EESS) at the Serra da Mesa hydroelectric Brazilian power plant. Hydrogen would be produced through water electrolysis, taking advantage of the available excess renewable energy, and subsequently converted back into electricity through fuel cells. The integration of hydro and solar power with H2EESS resulted in an increase of 11.10 % in the energy produced compared to conventional hydroelectric generation, with 36.06 % of this increase coming from H2EESS. Additionally, there was a 9.71 % increase in the utilization of substation capacity. These results highlight the feasibility and benefits of integrating hydro and solar power with H2EESS. This approach allows for maximizing renewable energy generation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and better utilizing available resources without the need for significant infrastructure investments.

A statistically analysis to determine the use of renewable sources for campus lighting, case study of technical faculty of Kosova

<span lang="EN-US">Considering the ever-increasing demand for electricity and the current crisis in this sector, various ways of generating electricity have been studied. Most of them are based on hybrid technologies as a solution to replace the relevant resources during the absence. In Kosovo, as an economically poor country, such technologies are rarely used. Public lighting in some countries is still considered unaffordable due to high cost. This study further demonstrates an environmentally friendly option for power generation using hybrid PV and Wind systems. The current study presents the study that was carried out on the campus of the technical faculty in Pristina. The analysis has been done analytically, which has resulted in the need for 6 hybrid lighting systems to achieve a coverage of the lighting needs, which so far lacks lighting in this part of the campus. A total of 461,448 kWh can be generated during the year from the wind turbine system and 796.11 kWh from the solar photovoltaic system. Considering that we have an ever-decreasing cost of such devices and from the analysis done it results that these systems are cost effective and ideal solutions for such cases and similar needs which are vital needs today.</span>

Characterization of Three Sugarcane Varieties as Agro-Residue for Bioenergy Use in the Ecuadorian Andes

There is a growing trend toward the use of renewable sources to produce clean energy and mitigate the effects of climate change. Second-generation lignocellulose biomasses, such as agro-residues, comprise a potential energy source as a byproduct of agriculture. Ecuador has optimal climate conditions that allow for the cultivation of different types of crops. This makes agriculture a relevant economic activity in the country; however, the residues obtained from agriculture have not been investigated for the establishment of a bioenergy industry. This study evaluated the potential of three varieties of sugarcane bagasse, named PR 980, CC 85-92, and CB 40-59, for bioenergy production in the Ecuadorian Andes. The bagasse was quantified by means of weighing, and then evaluated via calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis as well as proximal and elemental analysis. The results showed that these materials met the criteria for direct combustion, exhibiting both a low nitrogen content of 0.30 ± 0.12% and ash values of 6.20 ± 1.20%. Among the analyzed varieties, CB 40-69 stood out as the most suitable for power generation within the cogeneration system; this was attributed to its superior dry calorific value of 17.37 ± 1.45 MJ kg−1, greater presence of volatile materials, and negligible ash content. Variety CB 40-69 (157.91 t ha−1) reported the highest biomass and bagasse production (56.32 t ha−1). Analysis of the SCB structure concluded that the three varieties did not differ significantly in their contents of lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose, which is essential to implementing an industrial process for bioethanol production.

Deep eutectic solvents for the determination of endocrine disrupting chemicals

The harmful effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) to humans and other organisms in the environment have been well established over the years, and more studies are ongoing to classify other chemicals that have the potential to alter or disrupt the regular function of the endocrine system. In addition to toxicological studies, analytical detection systems are progressively being improved to facilitate accurate determination of EDCs in biological, environmental and food samples. Recent microextraction methods have focused on the use of green chemicals that are safe for analytical applications, and present very low or no toxicity upon disposal. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have emerged as one of the viable alternatives to the conventional hazardous solvents, and their unique properties make them very useful in different applications. Notably, the use of renewable sources to prepare DESs leads to highly biodegradable products that mitigate negative ecological impacts. This review presents an overview of both organic and inorganic EDCs and their ramifications on human health. It also presents the fundamental principles of liquid phase and solid phase microextraction methods, and gives a comprehensive account of the use of DESs for the determination of EDCs in various samples.

PCM embedded square channel receiver for effective operation of Net Zero Emission/Energy PDC building heating system

Net Zero Emission / Energy recommends reducing energy consumption to zero (use of renewable sources) and ensuring no pollution and emissions. Parabolic Dish Collector (PDC) is such a device, which utilizes the Solar energy (Zero Cost of Energy) for heating (Zero Emission of Carbon gases) by converting solar energy into heat transfer fluids (HTF). The recent researches PDC receiver’s efficiency improvement by different designs or arrangement inside the receiver as well as different types of phase change materials (PCMs) incorporated to it. This investigation aims to improve the PDC by involving the square channel type solar receiver as an alternate receiver and embedding it with the PCM for building heating applications. The thermal performance of 14 m2 square-channeled PDC was investigated with and without PCM embedded conditions. For embedding PCM of Paraffin wax, 3 kg was used in thermal storage in this experiment. The square-channeled receiver recorded the lowest receiver surface temperature and the highest discharge water temperature. Black coating is employed to reduce the heat loss from the receiver substance.The average energy and exergy efficiencies are around 65.8 % and 6.8 %, respectively, at a flow velocity of 0.07 kg/s. As PCM maintains a constant temperature, the solar receiver can hold its internal temperature around triple times higher than the conventional PDC (without PCM case). Hence it was experimentally ensured that PCM-filled PDC (solar receivers) is suitable for heating applications in domestic and industrial buildings.

Adoption of Energy Conservation Practices and their Effects on the Performance of Kenyan Lodges and Camps

Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess energy conservation practices implemented by lodges and camps in Kenya and to determine their effect on performance of Kenyan lodges and camps. 
 Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive correlation research design where data was collected from 294 lodge and camp managers in Kenya using self-administered questionnaires. Sample selection was through multistage sampling technique consisting of stratification, proportionate and simple random sampling. The data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics and linear regression analysis in SPSS. 
 Findings: Lodges and camps in Kenya mainly implemented energy conservation practices related to daylighting (M = 4.06, SD =.88) and use of renewable sources of energy (M = 4.02, SD =.87). Further results indicate that energy conservation practices (F [1, 292] = 124.76, p < .001, R2 = .30) significantly effected performance of Kenyan lodges and camps (β = .55, t = 11.17, p < .01). the findings imply that energy conservation practices accounts for 30% of the variation in performance of Kenyan lodges and camps.
 Recommendations: The current study makes theoretical and empirical contributions to eco-friendly practices and the performance of lodging facilities by providing insights into implementation of energy conservation practices, which seems to be lacking in the Kenyan context. As a result, the study recommends that lodging facilities should focus on implementing energy conservation practices, such as use of renewable sources of energy and installation of energy efficient systems in order to achieve positive performance ratings by stakeholders in the industry.

A spatially‐weighted AMH copula‐based dissimilarity measure for clustering variables: An application to urban thermal efficiency

AbstractInvestigating thermal energy demand is crucial for developing sustainable cities and the efficient use of renewable sources. Despite the advances made in this field, the analysis of energy data provided by smart grids is currently a demanding challenge due to their complex multivariate structure and high dimensionality. In this article, we propose a novel copula‐based dissimilarity measure suitable for analyzing district heating demand and introduce a procedure to apply it to high‐temporal resolution panel data. Inspired by the characteristics of the considered data, we explore the usefulness of the Ali‐Mikhail‐Haq copula in defining a new dissimilarity measure to cluster variables in the hierarchical framework. We show that our proposal is particularly sensitive to small dissimilarities based on tiny differences in the strength of the dependence between the involved random variables. Therefore, the measure we introduce is able to distinguish between objects with low dissimilarity better than standard rank‐based dissimilarity measures. Moreover, our proposal considers a weighted version of the copula‐based dissimilarity that embeds the spatial location of the involved objects. We investigate the proposed measure through Monte Carlo studies and compare it with an analogous dissimilarity measure based on Kendall's correlation. Finally, the application to real data concerning the Italian city Bozen‐Bolzano makes it possible to find clusters of buildings homogeneous with respect to their main characteristics, such as energy efficiency and heating surface. In turn, our findings may support the design, expansion, and management of district heating systems.

Power Cloud Framework for Prosumer Aggregation to Unlock End-User Flexibility

The behind-the-meter technologies integrating “all-in-one” photovoltaic plants, storage systems, and other technological solutions can transform consumers into active prosumages to both reduce their energy costs and provide flexibility to the grid. To exploit those flexibility services, it is necessary to manage the end-users in an aggregated form. End-user aggregation is currently becoming a suitable solution to manage energy flows to obtain environmental, economic, and social benefits. In this scope, the paper presents an algorithm to opportunely manage the energy flows inside this aggregation operating in a Power Cloud framework. The algorithm schedules the energy flows that the end-user storage systems must exchange inside the aggregation to maximize the use of renewable sources, provide grid flexibility services, and simultaneously provide balancing services. The algorithm is organized into three different steps: the day-ahead step, the real-time step, and the balancing one. Some simulation results are illustrated to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

Crowbar Protection Scheme for Fault Ride Through in a Doubly-fed Induction Generator

This study focusses on using a crowbar protection scheme to overcome the symmetrical voltage dips in a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG). The crowbar protection scheme is integrated into the wind energy conversion system of the DFIG. The implementation of this scheme provides automated fault ride-through during sudden transients which may otherwise lead to over current faults. The increased use of renewable sources for electricity generation leads to a reduction in pollution which directly benefits the environment. Sustained usage of renewable resources will be beneficial for the environment.

CO[formula omitted] recycling using sodium aluminate impregnated corn stover char gasification

The global annual energy demand continues to rise at a rate that requires the use of all energy sources. Most nations have agreed to curb global warming by incentivizing the use of renewable sources and pursuing greenhouse gas recycling. Biomass is a carbon-neutral renewable source of energy as it releases, during burning and absorbs, during photosynthesis, identical amounts of CO2. Oxidation of biomass with simultaneous deoxidation of CO2 provides an accelerated path to its recycling into useful liquids and solids. This paper involves gasification of sodium aluminate impregnated corn stover char with simultaneous deoxidation of CO2 in a fixed bed reactor. Future industrial adoption will be promoted by the use of a cost-effective impregnation methods. Particle sizes relevant to industrial gasifiers (<75μm) were employed. Temperatures within the range 1060 K and 1210 K and pressures within the range 1.3 atm and 5 atm were examined. The impregnated char samples were studied using X=Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) to understand the transport and reaction processes involved in CO2 gasification. The char exhibits needle-shaped structures that explain the enhancement in the gasification rate. The results showed that increasing pressure increases the gasification rate at temperatures within the 1210 K to 1060 K range. An increase in pressure from 1.3 atm to 5 atm results in a 150 K reduction (1210 K to 1060 K) in the gasification temperature necessary for an 85% char conversion.

Evaluating the Progress of Renewable Energy Sources in Poland: A Multidimensional Analysis

Energy is a key driver of all modern economies. Sustainable development is playing an increasingly important role both at regional and local levels. It is a compromise between social and economic needs and the preservation of nature. In the policy of the European Union, the idea of sustainable development and environmental protection is of decisive importance for the implemented programs and economic activities. Contemporary challenges require the transformation of the energy market towards greater use of renewable sources. According to Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and European Council on promoting energy from renewable sources, Poland has committed itself to achieving a 23% share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption by 2030. This goal considers total energy consumption in terms of power, engineering, heating, refrigeration, and transport. The aim of this paper was, firstly, an analysis of the share of renewable energy in the European Union over an 18-year period (2004–2021), with particular emphasis on the position of Poland. The second objective was the analysis of renewable energy at the local level in Poland, i.e., at the local government unit (LAU) level. Changes in the share of renewable energy in Poland compared to other European countries were also examined. The study utilized functional analysis of principal components and cluster analysis based on the data from the Central Statistical Office and EUROSTAT. The study found that while Poland does not differ significantly from other countries in using renewable energy, it does fall below the European average. Principal component analysis suggests that Poland responds adequately to European changes in the share of renewable energy in total energy consumption. This dynamic is stable (over 95% explained by the first component) and applies to most countries surveyed. In addition, the authors sought to answer questions relating to the current status of renewable energy sources in Poland, the barriers and challenges facing the introduction of renewable energy in the country, a comparative analysis of Poland’s progress in renewable energy with other global counterparts, and an exploration of the future prospects and potential for the development of renewable energy in Poland. The study found that the potential for renewable energy is greatest in the northern areas of Poland, with photovoltaics and wind power plants providing the greatest capacity. Poland’s renewable energy potential is very high and will be determined by technological development, political, economic, and social issues.

Città intelligenti e neutralità climatica: verso la transizione energetica

The contribution discusses the goal of achieving global climate neutrality, focusing on the activities of cities, energy production, and consumption. Europe is committed to supporting a hundred selected cities in reaching climate neutrality by 2030 through the Mission Climate Neutral and Smart Cities. This commitment combines climate neutrality with the concept of smart cities, promoting innovation and setting an example for other cities to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. For the hundred cities, Europe envisions the use of financial tools, regulatory interventions, and a Climate City Contract, along with funds from the national recovery and resilience plans, which are expected to be suitably coordinated. Due to the continued high consumption of fossil fuels, and of their inevitable use in the coming – hopefully few - decades, efforts must be made to improve the efficiency of existing power plants and utilize less polluting fossil fuel sources. The use of renewable sources, particularly solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, becomes increasingly imperative. Gradual electrification of sectors emerges as a key strategy for the energy transition, considering the natural integration of these sources into the power grid. The use of hydrogen as an energy carrier and storage source, as well as ongoing research in nuclear energy, are additional essential elements contributing to the implementation of a diversified energy strategy deemed necessary. The widespread adoption of information and communication technologies (ICT) and smart sector integration are also fundamental components of the energy transition. Renewable energy communities of prosumers, promoted by the European directives RED II and IEM of the Clean Energy Package, could potentially generate 20% of the energy consumed in cities by 2030, further emphasizing the importance of the electrical system and smart grids in this context.

Technical evaluation of hybrid super capacitor technologies for local energy communities

Renewable energy sources have demonstrated in recent years their ability to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels, contribute to the security of energy supply and play an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. To benefit from the local use of renewable sources and energy efficiency in distributed systems, the concept of local energy communities is established. In local energy communities, new innovative technologies are combined, highlighting the role of energy storage, to provide greater autonomy to communities that adopt this model. Among energy storage, the use of batteries stands out, while lithium batteries are currently the most widely used for domestic and residential applications, as well as in local energy communities. This work describes the experimental evaluation of an innovative energy storage system for energy communities based on hybrid supercapacitors (HSC), focused on local energy communities, and its comparison with other well established storage technologies, such as lithium-ion batteries.

'Clean Food': A Model for Safe and Sustainable Agriculture Towards Accomplishment of Circular Economy

The core concept of Circular Economy (CE) in Agriculture is targeted towards better sustenance through higher use of renewable sources and facilitating the restoration and regeneration of system resources. However, dearth of effective crop-technology/ies that can ensure the above while sustaining crop yields; form the major bottleneck towards facilitation of CE in agriculture. The Safe and Sustainable' Clean Food' (CF) Model can perhaps serve as the best fit road map towards the objective. Driven by Inhana Rational Farming (IRF) Technology this model focuses 'Plant Health Management' and utilizes the safe, cost-effective, waste bio-converted Novcom compost for Soil Health Management to deliver safe food, without crop loss and without raising the cost of production. The model when evaluated in respect of all the basic principles of circular agriculture; revealed its potential towards improving (by up to 19.5%) crop yield while reducing/ eliminating non-renewable inputs like chemical fertilizers and pesticides; that minimized the risk of pesticide residue in food (vegetables) by about 93%. Resource recycling through bioconversion of MSW/ landfill waste into safe compost improved soil quality by up to 27%. Most importantly, GHG Abatement of 6.4 to 11.7 kg CO2 -eq / kg food production, 64% increase in energy productivity, 16.7% higher employment generation, and about 19.7% increase in gross income (on an average); indicated that the CF Model delivered the very essence of CE in agriculture i. e., decoupling economic development from the linear dynamics of finite and non-renewable resource extraction, use, and disposal, while improving the access to safe and nutritious food for all.

Unveiling the spillover effects of democracy and renewable energy consumption on the environmental quality of BRICS countries: A new insight from different quantile regression approaches

This research explores the nexus of economic expansion, population, use of renewable energy, democracy, and the combined effect of democracy and GDP on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the BRICS countries. We apply an extended STIRPAT model, including the variables of democracy and democracy with GDP, to examine the case of the BRICS countries between 1990 and 2019. Quantile regression methods (Simultaneous, Powell, and MM-QR) are applied together with the Dynamic OLS (DOLS), Fully modified OLS (FMOLS), and CCR. The results indicate that economic size (GDP) and population are linked to increasing levels of CO2. Whereas increased use of renewable sources of energy can help reduce environmental degradation. Similarly, an interaction between good democracy and economic growth is helpful for a sustainable environment. The Dumitrescu and Hurlin panel causality test highlights a bidirectional causal link between GDP, Democracy, and Population with CO2, but only a unidirectional causal relationship between renewable energy and CO2. Policymakers in the BRICS countries need to consider:1) pro-growth economic policies along with better democratic practices, 2) higher promotion of renewable energy resources, and 3) improving living standards for the population to achieve higher environmental quality.

EVALUATION OF THE EFFICIENCY OF THE OPTIONS FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF THE HEAT SUPPLY AND THERMAL PROTECTION OF THE OFFICE BUILDING

The concept of implementation of the state policy in the field of ensuring the energy efficiency of buildings in terms of increasing the number of buildings with close to zero energy consumption and the National Plan for the increase in the number of buildings with close to zero energy consumption are aimed at achieving the goals set out in the Energy Performance of Building Directive, which indicates significant steps towards improving the energy efficiency of the Ukrainian construction sector. According to the above regulations, a prerequisite for new construction and renovation of existing buildings is to ensure a high level of thermal insulation of the building and the use of renewable sources to cover energy consumption. The work carried out a feasibility study of the modernization of an office building in the city of Kyiv to the level of a highly energy-efficient building using a heat pump to provide the necessary heat supply. Estimation of generation of required heat supply of the building by the heat pump and used electrical energy by the heat pump is based on the simulation results in the GeoTSOL software environment. In order to assess the economic attractiveness of the project for upgrading an existing building to the level of a highly energy-efficient building using renewable sources for heat supply, the calculation of the energy demand for heating in the Design Builder software environment and the integral costs for heating the building using renewable and traditional energy sources at different levels of thermal protection was made. The results obtained indicate attractive, both from an economic and environmental point of view, the possibilities of implementing the construction of a highly energy-efficient building that uses renewable energy sources for heat supply.