Role of policy in the development of business models for battery storage deployment: The California case study

California has been one of the early adopters of battery storage technologies within the United States. The state has used multiple policy initiatives such as deployment targets, financial incentives, and market mechanisms to facilitate such a market development. This motivates us to try to understand the various business models in the state and the minimum set of barriers that must be overcome for its successful deployment (and thereby the development of the market). In our study, the former is achieved by assessing the various projects in the state, and the latter by creating a barrier-solution framework and verifying it by identifying the role of various policies/drivers in supporting various business models within California. We find that there are predominantly three business models in California: Front-of-the-meter, Behind-the-meter, and Aggregated Behind-the-meter business models. We also find that at least one barrier from barrier categories associated with market demand and project economics along with all the barriers related to interconnection and market participation must be addressed for successful deployment of battery storage. Additionally, we recommend policymakers seeking to develop a battery storage market to start with developing Behind-the-meter market as it requires the least amount of intervention and then move to develop Front-of-the-meter market, and finally to the aggregated Behind-the-meter market.     

Energy finance data warehouse: Tracking revenues through the power sector

Reliable data is needed to understand financial relationships in the power sector. However, relevant data acquisition and visualization can be a challenge due to the fragmented nature of the power sector. The US DOE and ORNL leveraged a Sankey prototype to elucidate the ‘big picture’ of financial flows to understand the complex relationships between specific actors within the power sector. The continued incorporation of high quality data can improve the fidelity of such an approach and lead to an increasingly detailed understanding of financial relationships in the power sector and their implications for policymakers.     

Consequences of large customer opt-out: An Ohio example

Opt-out policies allow large customers to withdraw from participation in utility sector efficiency programs. Our analysis shows these policies impose high costs, including increased utility system investments due to higher demand, increased air pollution within the state and surrounding regions, higher health costs because of the increased air pollution, and lost bill savings opportunities for large customers, leading to lost economic growth. We examine the consequences using Ohio as an example.     

Ensuring energy security in Russia in a transitional economy

The relevance of the study lies in the fact that increasing state energy consumption in the modern world leads to an increase in global energy consumption, which changes the international energy trade. The current processes determine the essence of national energy security, since for developing countries, it is important to secure national demand, guarantee export supplies and improve favourable terms of cooperation with producers and consumers. The purpose of the study is to identify and examine the factors that affect energy security of Russia in a transitional economy. In order to implement this measure, the economy and society must provide a favourable political, institutional and economic environment for the development of an innovation climate. There is particular interest in studying energy cooperation and various state projects, which reflect the link between security in general and current specialisation. The practical relevance of the study lies in the increasing importance of studying this field, which contributes to the reorganisation of new methods for global energy security that have turned out to be particularly relevant in research activities in recent years.     

实现商业建筑绿色照明的有效途径

本文简要介绍了国内外一些商业建设照明用电状况和目前主要推行的照明节电措施,并按不同的商业设施分提出了比较详细的照明节电改进办法,以供商业部门在进行照明节电改造时借鉴和参考。     

Evaluation of energy saving and CO2 emission reduction technologies in energy supply and end‐use sectors using a global energy model

Assessments of global warming mitigation technologies are important for achieving the Kyoto target and planning post‐Kyoto regimes. Regional differences in energy resources, growth in energy consumption, current technology diffusions, etc., should be considered in the assessments. A global energy systems model, DNE21+, with high regional resolution had treated the energy supply sectors in a bottom‐up fashion and the end‐use sectors in a top‐down fashion, which was expressed by using long‐term price elasticity. However, the assessments of technological options in the end‐use sectors are currently more important, particularly for the near and middle terms. In order to evaluate the technological options not only in the energy supply sectors but also in the end‐use sectors for energy savings and CO₂ emission reductions, DNE21+ has been modified for treating two energy‐intensive end‐use sectors, i.e. steel and cement sectors, in the bottom‐up fashion. The results reveal that the cost‐effective global CO₂ emission reductions in 2030 for stabilizing the atmospheric CO₂ concentration at 550 ppmv in comparison with that in the reference case would be approximately 68 MtC/yr and almost zero in the steel and cement sectors, respectively. The cost‐effective options include next‐generation coke ovens and coke dry quenching (CDQ) in the steel sector. Copyright © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

An approach for applying blockchain technology in centralized electricity markets

The electricity sector has recently begun to undergo a series of changes to improve the generation, transmission, and energy distribution. New technologies have been testing focused on reducing fossil fuels and implementing new tools to create a more efficient energy sector. Blockchain has emerged as one of the most promising tools due to its wide range of utilities, primarily supporting renewable energy, electric mobility, purchase, and energy sale. This technology has been revolutionary, contributing to the significant renewal of the electricity market model. In electricity markets that are not very mature, you can find some centralized activities and competition—creating a commercial monopoly in centralized activities in favor of a specific group. This article aims to analyze the shortcomings of previous research on blockchain in the electricity sector and, through a case study, propose an approach for applying blockchain in centralized electricity markets. Blockchain technology has valuable points, including the excellent security in the transactions carried out in the purchase and sale of energy through a peer-to-peer network stimulating the creation of a decentralized energy trading system.     

强化节能减排调控全面实现可持续发展

为缓解经济持续高速增长给资源环境带来的巨大压力,中国政府出台了一系列节能减排的政策措施,明确提出了"十一五"节能减排的量化指标,并采取经济、法律和行政等综合手段,充分发挥了宏观调控作用,一举扭转了近年来单位GDP能耗趋升的态势。分析当前节能减排工作的一些客观制约因素和存在问题,提出以下建议:必须以贯彻落实科学发展观、突出节能环保优先的战略地位为前提,统筹节能减排目标与其他发展目标的协调发展,坚持发挥市场机制作用与实施政府宏观调控相结合,建立和完善相关重大节能减排制度,强化节能减排的基础性工作。指出近期以构建节能环保型的生产体系为工作重点,中长期应兼顾节能环保型消费方式的引导。     

节约能源与可持续发展

阐述了我国能源的现状、节能的紧迫性和重要性，提出了对节能方针的思考，建议把节约能源与资源纳入我国的基本国策，并对电力行业的节能责任和技术作了概述。     

The end of the grid as we know it?

The climate change challenge we are currently facing globally makes attention to the energy sector an imperative, and this includes taking seriously the potential for radical changes to our current system, including a greater contribution from distributed generation (DG). At the same time, there is reason to be cautious in accepting all of these claims wholesale and creating specific policies to promote DG as a distinct, arbitrary category within the energy sector. It is clear that in the present situation there is not adequate consumer pull to spontaneously create a market of any significant scale for DG technologies, regardless of their technological potential. In the context of the UK's liberalised energy market, what is required is a well-designed policy framework that will reward efficiency and environmental benefits in DG technologies the same way as it does for conventional largescale generators. Such a framework would ultimately foster the emergence of a more diverse and low-carbon energy system in which DG solutions would find their place. This paper identifies the different factors that need to be considered to make DG a real option     

Farm electrification: A road-map to decarbonize the agriculture sector

Electrification is a promising approach to most carbon-emitting sectors of economic sectors of human activities such as transportation and industry sectors. Electrifying the machinery and different systems used in a farm can mitigate the carbon footprint of the agriculture sector if renewable energy sources are coordinated with the agricultural loads appropriately. This paper presents a road-map that: 1) presents greenhouse gases emitting activities in the food supply chain, 2) the potential impact of vertical farming on the agriculture sector, 3) discuss the carbon footprint of different activities in the food supply chain, and 4) presents a road-map to decarbonize greenhouse gas emitting activities in farms. This paper estimates that electrification of farms in an appropriate process with renewable energy resources can decrease the carbon footprint of farming 44–70% depends on the type of the farm.     

电力技术发展趋势浅议

本文叙述了中国电力工业实现可持续发展的巨大挑战和为缓解这些制约因素的技术措施，特别强调了提高能源效率的极端重要性。本文还讨论了一个管理体制不断变化的现代电力系统所 的关键技术。     

Modeling strategic objectives and behavior in the transition of the energy Sector to inform policymaking

Transitioning the energy sector to zero or net-zero emission of greenhouse gasses (GHG) and substantially reducing other pollutants is a massive, costly, and long-term effort. The typical starting point and centerpiece of energy decarbonization is the electric power sector. The sector is a large direct GHG emitter. It already has many technological, non-carbon emitting alternatives that are rapidly declining in capital and operating costs and improving in performance, making electricity the least expensive and accessible energy carrier to decarbonize. This paper explores what the modeling community should do to inform this transition. The underpinning premise of this paper is that policymakers genuinely want to be informed from the modeling community about their range of options, their ability to achieve various objectives, and possible unintended outcomes. Since the goal of the modeling community is to help inform policymaking, it is important that they hear the needs of policymakers, be it economic, technological, or social goals.     

Transferring Power Sectors from Aging Utilities into Smart Grids—The Case of Lebanon

The substantial increases in the energy consumption during the second half of the last century have amplified the use of fossil fuels in various economic sectors, mainly the power sector. Also, the low-efficient technologies still adopted in many countries have mounted the losses associated with various energy conversion processes to substantial levels. Tasks and challenges associated with transferring power sectors from energy-wasting utilities into advanced smart grid-based utilities are discussed in this article. To transfer the Lebanese dilapidated and aging electrical power sector into a modern economically profitable sector, adopted two major projects have been adopted: the Lebanese Electrical Network Control Center and the Advanced Metering Infrastructure. This article explains the outcomes and impacts of the major components of these two projects; it article also discusses the problems encountered during the implementation process of the Lebanese Electrical Network Control Center, where several original software packages have been modified by the research team to properly integrate the Lebanese Electrical Network Control Center with the aging Lebanese power sector. Finally, the article describes the controlled design project, which also has been implemented as part of the Lebanese Electrical Network Control Center project and highlights problems associated with upgrading the high-voltage transmission lines.     

双电压合成矩阵变换器的新型扇区划分

在研究传统矩阵变换器双电压控制策略的基础上,提出了一种新型的扇区划分模式,将矩阵变换器的输出扇区由6个扇区减少为3个扇区,因而使输入输出的扇区组合数由36种减少至18种。本文详细介绍了该新型扇区划分方法,并推导了新型扇区判断的数学规则、对应开关管占空比系数的数学表达式以及通用化的输出线电压的合成表达式,简化了双电压控制策略的实现过程。本文所提出的新型扇区划分模式在原理和输入输出性能上同传统双电压控制方法完全等效,在不平衡的输入下同样能够得到对称的三相输出电压,继承了传统双电压控制策略的优点。最后,通过仿真与实验验证了该新型扇区划分方法的有效性。     

Opportunities in energy: National policy approaches for addressing climate change

Last year’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report and the Fourth National Climate Assessment both showed that to limit the worst consequences of climate change by keeping global average temperature increases to 1.5 C, the United States and other countries must achieve net-zero heat-trapping emissions economy-wide by mid-century, with nearly half of those reductions occurring by 2030. Decarbonizing the electric sector is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce emissions and can help decarbonize other sectors with increased electrification. While renewable energy and energy efficiency have grown significantly in recent years due to technology cost reductions, state policies, and federal tax incentives, our rate of emissions reduction does not go far enough. Our analysis shows that a well-designed national Low Carbon Electricity Standard (LCES), Renewable Electricity Standard (RES), or increasing carbon price can help get the U.S. on a pathway for decarbonizing the power sector by 2050. The most cost-effective strategy for reducing emissions in the near-term is through the increased deployment of wind and solar, regardless of the policy. How much the generation mix shifts to low-carbon resources is a function of the stringency of the policy. These policies can also spur the development of low-carbon electricity in parts of the country that are not as far along in their transition to a clean energy economy. Allowing a wide range of carbon-free and low-carbon resources to compete against each other could deliver the most low-carbon electricity at the lowest cost and help broaden support for these policies.     

Incorporating stability and resilience in energy policy for the U.S. power sector: Recommendations for the Trump administration

With the impending transition in energy policy, the inevitability of political transitions should be accounted for in order to avoid an unsustainable shift in policy that is short-lived and introduces uncertainty for the U.S. power sector. A policy correction rather than an outright reversal can offer a middle ground for energy-environmental centrists to sustain pragmatic energy policy through political transitions, and engagement in international climate talks independent of the administration’s position on climate change.     

Letter to the Editor: Smart Grid Initiatives in India

Abstract

The Indian power industry is one of the fastest growing sectors and needs a paradigm shift through next-generation automation to handle the operational challenges. Presently, the Indian power sector possesses a number of issues, such as minimizing transmission and distribution losses, power theft, inadequate grid infrastructure, low metering efficiency, and lack of awareness etc. This gap can only be bridged by bringing smart grid initiatives into the Indian power industry.     

双电压合成矩阵变换器特性与电压扇区的关系分析

在双电压合成矩阵变换器中,需要将每个周期内的输入、输出电压划分成若干扇区。根据不同的划分方法,扇区的形状可以是S形或X形。首先对双电压合成方程的一般形式占空比的计算方法进行了改进。然后研究了输入、输出电压扇区形状的四种组合即{X,X}、{X,S}、{S,X}、{S,S}。针对每一种组合研究了矩阵变换器特性与相应扇区组合的关系。这些特性包括“原点开关”的存在性、最大电压增益及输入电流波形。通过分析比较得出,最佳输入、输出电压扇区组合是{S,X}。这种组合存在“原点开关”。便于实现,能够同时获得最大的电压增益和对称的正弦输入电流,功率因数可以达到1。通过仿真分析验证了结论的正确性。     

Revisiting private participation,governance and electricity sector performance in Latin America

This paper revisits the relationship between private participation, regulatory governance and the performance of the electricity sector in 18 Latin American countries over the last five decades. Private investment flows have been consistent overtime, providing around 55 % of total electricity investment in the region. We examine the nature, and resultant performance outcomes, of increased private sector involvement in electricity sub-sectors, including generation capacity, non-conventional renewable energy (NCRE), electricity access, electricity losses, and affordability. The results suggest that private investment and the quality of regulatory governance are positively associated with better performance of the electricity sector. Our long-term examination suggests that private investments strongly contribute to enhancing the quality and efficiency of the electricity sector's performance by increasing generation capacity, increasing the share of renewable energy, increasing access, and reducing electricity losses. Affordability of electricity services also improved in countries with high private participation, while subsidies to the electricity sector declined considerably. These outcomes seem to be enabled and reinforced by independent regulatory governance.