Relative inequality in energy resource consumption: a case of Kanvashram village, Pauri Garhwal district, Uttranchall (India)

Energy planning exercises for rural areas make use of a mix of locally available renewable resources with some commercial resources to cater to the energy needs of the population. Such exercises are economically attractive in developing countries, whereby, the foreign exchange reserves for the purchase of commercial energy is curtailed. The first step in the implementation of an energy planning exercise is to understand the energy consumption and utilization habits of the population being served. Frequently, an assessment of the levels of inequality in the consumption of various resources is necessary as, this provides the rural planner with an understanding of the future trends and thus forearms him with strategic alternatives to combat any future energy resource crisis that the trends seem to imply.In the present paper, an attempt is made to assess the level of energy resource consumption inequality in a typical hilly rural Indian village. The Gini Coefficient of Inequality, a measure of inequality in the field of Econometrics has been applied for this assessment. The population is segregated into different categories based on their income levels and certain socio-economic criteria, which are also felt to exercise an influence on consumption levels of energy. The results of the analysis are then discussed in the light of the findings.     

火电厂钢球磨煤机负荷的灰色PID控制系统研究

火电厂钢球磨煤机的负荷对象具有大滞后、慢时变、强非线性等复杂特性,采用常规控制方法难以获得满意的控制效果,提出了基于灰色预测PID控制的球磨机负荷控制方法,它融合了灰色预测与常规PID控制这两者的设计思想,将灰色预测在线预测结果代替被控对象测量值,再进行PID控制运算.Simulink仿真结果表明,灰色预测PID控制在控制的快速性、稳定性、适应性、鲁棒性、抗干扰性上均优于常规PID控制和带Simth预估PID控制.     

Economic growth,energy consumption and CO2 emissions in India: a disaggregated causal analysis

This study examines the long-run and short-run causal relationships among energy consumption, real gross domestic product (GDP) and CO₂ emissions using aggregate and disaggregate (sectoral) energy consumption measures utilising annual data from 1971 to 2011. The autoregressive distributed lag bounds test reveals that there is a long-run relationship among the variables concerned at both aggregate and disaggregate levels. The Toda–Yamamoto causality tests, however, reveal that the long-run as well short-run causal relationship among the variables is not uniform across sectors. The weight of evidences of the study indicates that there is short-run causality from electricity consumption to economic growth, and to CO₂ emissions. The results suggest that India should take appropriate cautious steps to sustain high growth rate and at the same time to control emissions of CO₂. Further, energy and environmental policies should acknowledge the sectoral differences in the relationship between energy consumption and real gross domestic product.     

基于灰色GM(1,N)自记忆模型的城市生活需水量预测

以宝鸡市为例,构建了灰色GM(1,N)自记忆城市生活需水预测模型,采用灰色斜率关联度筛选城市生活需水量的最主要影响因素,并考虑到建模中.实例结果表明,模型拟合和预测精度均较高,可为城市规划提供参考.     

Variation in energy consumption in production of wheat–maize with varying altitudes in hilly regions of Himachal Pradesh, India

Availability and consumption pattern of energy and constraints in its proper supply and management for crop production was studied in wheat–maize cropping system in selected hilly rural villages located at different altitudes of Himachal Pradesh in Western Himalayas. The information was collected from 90 farmers drawn from nine villages, three each from three selected altitudes using two-stage random sampling. The average values of energy consumption for wheat crop in low and high hills were, respectively, 41.68 and 110.8 MJ/ha and those for maize crop were, respectively, 43.43 and 81.33 MJ/ha. The productivity of wheat crop ranged from 1077 to 1840.9 kg/ha and for maize crop from 1108 to 1573 kg/ha, in low and high hills, respectively. The major constraints in the proper use of energy in crop production were the uncertain supply of different inputs due to difficult and undulating terrain, poor land holdings and non-availability of suitable technologies. The introduction of small powered equipment, precise use of seed and fertilizer and proper management of irrigation water were recommended for efficient energy use and better crop productivity.     

Prediction of net energy consumption based on economic indicators (GNP and GDP) in Turkey

The most important theme in this study is to obtain equations based on economic indicators (gross national product—GNP and gross domestic product—GDP) and population increase to predict the net energy consumption of Turkey using artificial neural networks (ANNs) in order to determine future level of the energy consumption and make correct investments in Turkey. In this study, three different models were used in order to train the ANN. In one of them (Model 1), energy indicators such as installed capacity, generation, energy import and energy export, in second (Model 2), GNP was used and in the third (Model 3), GDP was used as the input layer of the network. The net energy consumption (NEC) is in the output layer for all models. In order to train the neural network, economic and energy data for last 37 years (1968–2005) are used in network for all models. The aim of used different models is to demonstrate the effect of economic indicators on the estimation of NEC. The maximum mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) was found to be 2.322732, 1.110525 and 1.122048 for Models 1, 2 and 3, respectively. R² values were obtained as 0.999444, 0.999903 and 0.999903 for training data of Models 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The ANN approach shows greater accuracy for evaluating NEC based on economic indicators. Based on the outputs of the study, the ANN model can be used to estimate the NEC from the country's population and economic indicators with high confidence for planing future projections.     

CO2 emissions,energy consumption and economic growth in China: A panel data analysis

This paper examines the causal relationships between carbon dioxide emissions, energy consumption and real economic output using panel cointegration and panel vector error correction modeling techniques based on the panel data for 28 provinces in China over the period 1995–2007. Our empirical results show that CO₂ emissions, energy consumption and economic growth have appeared to be cointegrated. Moreover, there exists bidirectional causality between CO₂ emissions and energy consumption, and also between energy consumption and economic growth. It has also been found that energy consumption and economic growth are the long-run causes for CO₂ emissions and CO₂ emissions and economic growth are the long-run causes for energy consumption. The results indicate that China's CO₂ emissions will not decrease in a long period of time and reducing CO₂ emissions may handicap China's economic growth to some degree. Some policy implications of the empirical results have finally been proposed.     

Comparison and analysis of energy consumption of energy-efficient office buildings in different climate regions in China: case studies

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the energy consumption (EC) and find out the determining factors of energy-efficient office building cases according to specific case studies in typical cities of different climate zones in China. The investigated building cases were located in four cities (Beijing, Ningbo, Nanjing and Shenzhen) of three architecture thermotechnical design zones (cold zone, hot summer and cold winter zone, hot summer and warm winter zone). The analysis indicates that the energy consumption index (ECI) of these four cases ranges from 41.06 to 74.23 kW·h/(m²·a). Besides, the outdoor climate can change the EC of air conditioning/heating systems, and further determine the monthly volatility of the total EC of the whole building.     

Multivariate Granger causality between CO2 emissions, energy consumption, FDI (foreign direct investment) and GDP (gross domestic product): Evidence from a panel of BRIC (Brazil, Russian Federation, India, and China) countries

This paper addresses the impact of both economic growth and financial development on environmental degradation using a panel cointegration technique for the period between 1980 and 2007, except for Russia (1992-2007). In long-run equilibrium, CO₂ emissions appear to be energy consumption elastic and FDI inelastic, and the results seem to support the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis. The causality results indicate that there exists strong bidirectional causality between emissions and FDI and unidirectional strong causality running from output to FDI. The evidence seems to support the pollution haven and both the halo and scale effects. Therefore, in attracting FDI, developing countries should strictly examine the qualifications for foreign investment or to promote environmental protection through the coordinated know-how and technological transfer with foreign companies to avoid environmental damage. Additionally, there exists strong output-emissions and output-energy consumption bidirectional causality, while there is unidirectional strong causality running from energy consumption to emissions. Overall, the method of managing both energy demand and FDI and increasing both investment in the energy supply and energy efficiency to reduce CO₂ emissions and without compromising the country’s competitiveness can be adopted by energy-dependent BRIC countries.     

Exploring the relationship between urbanization and energy consumption in China using ARDL (autoregressive distributed lag) and FDM (factor decomposition model)

The paper develops a function of energy consumption, population growth, economic growth and urbanization process, and provides fresh empirical evidences for urbanization and energy consumption for China over the period 1978–2008 through the use of ARDL testing approach and factor decomposition model. The results of the bounds test show that there is a stable long run relationship amongst total energy consumption, population, GDP (Gross domestic product) and urbanization level when total energy consumption is the dependent variable in China. The results of the causality test with ECM (error correction model) specification, the short run and long run dynamics of the interested variables are tested, indicating that there exists only a unidirectional Granger causality running from urbanization to total energy consumption both in the long run and in the short run. At present, the contribution share which urbanization drags the energy consumption is smaller than that in the past, and the intensity holds a downward trend. Therefore, together with enhancing energy efficiency, accelerating the urbanization process that can cut reliance on resource and energy dependent industries is a fundamental strategy to solve the sustainable development dilemma between energy consumption and urbanization.     

Life cycle energy consumption and GHG emissions of hydrogen production from underground coal gasification in comparison with surface coal gasification

Developing underground coal gasification (UCG)-based hydrogen production (UCG-H₂) is expected to alleviate hydrogen supply and demand contradiction, but its energy consumption and environmental impact need to be clarified. In this paper, comparative study of energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions between UCG-H₂ and typical surface coal gasification (SCG)-based hydrogen production (SCG-H₂) is carried out using life cycle assessment method. Result shows energy consumption of UCG-H₂ is only 61.2% of that of SCG-H₂, which is 1,327,261 and 2,170,263 MJ respectively, reflecting its obvious energy saving advantage. 80% capture rate can achieve an appropriate balance between energy consumption and emissions. Under this capture rate, emissions of UCG-H₂ and SCG-H₂ are roughly equivalent, which are 207,582 and 197,419 kg CO₂-eq respectively. Scenario analysis indicates energy consumption in hydrogen industry can reduce by 38.8% when hydrogen production is substituted by UCG with CCS to fully meet demand of 21 Mt in 2030.     

Extended-power pinch analysis (EPoPA) for integration of renewable energy systems with battery/hydrogen storages

An extended-power pinch analysis (EPoPA) is proposed as a means of extending the power pinch analysis (PoPA) for optimal design of renewable energy systems with battery and hydrogen storage (RES-BH). The EPoPA concept is based on the storage of wasted electricity that cannot be stored by the battery bank designed by PoPA. This energy is stored in the form of hydrogen and is discharged in the form of electricity when the external electricity source is needed. EPoPA graphical and numerical tools are introduced to determine the minimum required external electricity source, wasted electricity sources, and appropriate hydrogen storage system capacity of the RES-BH system during first and normal operation years. Furthermore, the integration of the RES-BH system with a diesel generator as a high reliable system is investigated in view point of economic. The optimal sizes of diesel generator and hydrogen storage system components, such as electrolyzer, fuel cell and hydrogen tank are obtained with the minimization of the total annual cost (TAC) of the system. The implementation results of the EPoPA tools on three possible case studies indicate that EPoPA, unlike other process integration methodologies such as PoPA, is able to optimally design RES-BH systems.     

熵权法并联组合建模在径流预测中的应用

针对径流预报的具体特征和相关问题,建立了多元时变灰色预测模型,并基于信息熵原理,用熵权法将多元时变灰色预测模型、非时变的免疫神经网络模型、最小二乘支持向量机模型三者进行并联组合集成建模,以充分发挥多种模型各自优点且相互补充,并将此组合模型应用于新疆伊犁河雅马渡水文站的年径流预测。结果表明,与三个单项模型的预测结果相比,并联组合预测模型更合理、普适和可靠。     

Rice straw as a renewable energy source in India, Thailand, and the Philippines: Overall potential and limitations for energy contribution and greenhouse gas mitigation

Rice is a widely grown crop in the South and South-East Asia that leaves substantial quantity of straw in the field. The aim of this paper is to assess the quantity of rice straw produced, estimate Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions based on its current uses, and assess its possible energy potential and related GHG emissions mitigation potential. Updated statistics on rough rice production are used in this study in combination with the literature values on Straw-to-Grain Ratio (SGR) to quantify the amount of rice straw produced in the three countries of focus. It is estimated that 97.19, 21.86, and 10.68 Mt of rice straw residue are produced in India, Thailand, and the Philippines, respectively.In India, 23% of rice straw residue produced is surplus and is either left in the field as uncollected or to a large extent open-field burnt. About 48% of this residue produced is subjected to open-field burning in Thailand, and in the Philippines it is 95%. The GHG emissions contribution through open-field burning of rice straw in India, Thailand, and the Philippines are 0.05%, 0.18%, and 0.56%, and the mitigated GHG emissions when generated electricity is used would be 0.75%, 1.81%, and 4.31%, respectively, when compared to the total country GHG emissions.     

寒冷(B)地区农村住宅能耗调研及分析

通过对寒冷(B)地区农村住宅的调查,获得了大量统计数据,并依据《严寒和寒冷地区居住建筑节能设计标准》(JG J26-2010)对数据进行了分析及总结。结果表明:寒冷(B)地区农村住宅存在一些弊端,如体型系数较大、能耗大、室内热舒适性差等,并分析了产生弊端的原因,为农村住宅的设计提供了参考依据。     

Data analysis and short term load forecasting in Iran electricity market using singular spectral analysis (SSA)

In this paper, the data analysis and short term load forecasting (STLF) in Iran electricity market has been considered. The proposed method is an improved singular spectral analysis (SSA) method. SSA decomposes a time series into its principal components i.e. its trend and oscillation components, which are then used for time series forecasting, effectively. The employed data are the total load time series of Iran electricity market in its real size and is long enough to make it possible to take properties such as non-stationary and annual periodicity of the market into account. Simulation results show that the proposed method has a good ability in characterizing and prediction of the desired load time series in comparison with some other related methods.     

Use of multi-criteria decision analysis to explore alternative domestic energy and electricity policy scenarios in an Irish city-region

In this paper, multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) was used to assess 6 policy measures or scenarios relating to residential heating energy and domestic electricity consumption, using an Irish city-region as case study. The analysis was undertaken using a modified version of MCDA based on the NAIADE (Novel Approach to Imprecise Assessment and Decision Environments) software and involved a decision output based on a mix of qualitative and quantitative assessment, which offered a ranking of options. It was concluded that Scenario 2, which proposes reducing energy and electricity consumption, was the most preferable option and Scenario 3, which proposes increasing the contribution of wood waste, was the least preferable option. This suggests that absolute reduction and demand management should be prioritised over fuel substitution or renewable energy technologies.     

Operating characteristics of constant-pressure compressed air energy storage (CAES) system combined with pumped hydro storage based on energy and exergy analysis

Energy storage systems are becoming more important for load leveling, especially because of the widespread use of intermittent renewable energy. Compressed air energy storage (CAES) is a very promising method for energy storage because CAES relies on existing technologies, is less expensive, and easier to site and permit, as compared to pumped hydro storage. But, in the case of CAES employing hard rock caverns or man-made air vessels, although the smallest possible cavern volume is desirable in order to minimize the construction cost and optimize utilization of the given space, the operating pressure range in the cavern must be limited in order to reduce the deterioration in efficiency of the CAES system at off-design conditions. In this paper, a new constant-pressure CAES system combined with pumped hydro storage was studied to address the current problem associated with the conventional CAES systems. An energy and exergy analysis of the novel CAES system was performed in order to understand the operation characteristics of the system according to several different compression and expansion processes; we then examined the effects of the height of the storage cavern and heat transfer between two media (air, water) and the cavern on the performance of the novel CAES system.     

An innovative compressed air energy storage (CAES) using hydrogen energy integrated with geothermal and solar energy technologies: A comprehensive techno-economic analysis - different climate areas- using artificial intelligent (AI)

The present study evaluates the optimal design of a renewable system based on solar and geothermal energy for power generation and cooling based on a solar cycle with thermal energy storage and an electrolyzer to produce hydrogen fuel for the combustion chamber. The subsystems include solar collectors, gas turbines, an electrolyzer, an absorption chiller, and compressed air energy storage. The solar collector surface area, geothermal source temperature, steam turbine input pressure, and evaporator input temperature were found to be major determinants. The economic analysis of the system showed that the solar subsystem, steam Rankine cycle, and compressed air energy storage accounted for the largest portions of the cost rate. The exergy analysis of the system demonstrated that the solar subsystem and SRC had the highest contributions to total exergy destruction. A comparative case study was conducted on Isfahan, Bandar Abbas, Mashhad, Semnan, and Zanjan in Iran to evaluate the performance of the proposed system at different ambient temperatures and irradiance levels during the year. To optimize the system and find the optimal objective functions, the NSGA-II algorithm was employed. The contradictory objective functions of the system included exergy efficiency maximization and cost rate minimization. The optimal Exergy round trip efficiency and cost rate were found to be 29.25% and 714.25 ($/h), respectively.     

UK Local Authority engagement with the Energy Service Company (ESCo) model: Key characteristics,benefits, limitations and considerations

This paper explores how some UK Local Authorities (LAs) have opted to engage with the Energy Service Company (ESCo) model in a bid to enhance their influence over local energy system change and help them to deliver on their political ‘public good’ objectives. Three common approaches to LA ESCo model engagement are outlined including the: (1) LA owned ‘arm's-length’ model; (2) private sector owned concession agreement model; and (3) community owned and run model. The LA's decision to establish its own ESCo, or alternatively enter into a partnership with another, predominantly depends on: its willingness to expose itself to risk, the level of strategic control it desires and the resources it has at its disposal. However, the business case is contingent on the extent to which the national policy and regulatory framework facilitates and obligates LAs to play an active energy governance role. Stronger alignment of local and national energy agendas through communication and coordination between different governance actors could help to remove critical barriers to LA ESCo engagement and their wider energy governance activities.