Regional renewable energy and resource planning

The exploitation of the energy potential in biomass in a specific geographical region is frequently constrained by high production costs and the amount of land required per unit of energy generated. In addition, the distributed nature of the biomass resource and its normally low energy density may result in large transportation costs. Biomass also requires large land areas to collect and process the incoming solar radiation before the energy can be harvested. Previously published works on regional energy clustering (REC) and the Regional Resources Management Composite Curve, RRMCC (in this paper shortened to RMC), have been extended in this paper to tackle simultaneously the issues of the biomass supply chain, transportation, and land use. The RMC is a tool for supporting decision making in regional resource management. It provides a complete view of energy and land availability in a region, displaying their trade-offs in a single plot. The extension presented in this work has been developed in two steps. The first step presents the Regional Energy Cascade Analysis, which estimates the energy target within regional supply chains and provides the result for energy exchange flows between zones, the quantity of energy required to be imported/exported, and the locations of the demands. In the second step, the initial results are analysed against potential measures for improving the energy and land use targets by using the RMC and a set of rules for its manipulation. The presented method provides the option to assess the priorities: either to produce and sell the surplus energy on the fuel market or use the land for other purposes such as food production. This extended approach is illustrated with a comprehensive case study demonstrating that with the RMC application it is possible to maximise the land use and to maximise the biofuel production for the requested energy demand.     

Centralisation and decentralisation in strategic municipal energy planning in Denmark

Denmark's future energy system is to be entirely based on renewable energy sources. Municipalities will play an important role as local energy planning authorities in terms of adopting and refining this vision in different local contexts. Based on a review of 11 municipal energy plans, this paper examines to what extent municipal energy planning matches national 100% renewable energy strategies. The results indicate a willingness among Danish municipalities to actively carry out energy planning, and the plans reveal a large diversity of (new) activities. At the same time, however, there is a strong need for better coordination of municipal energy planning activities at the central level. It is suggested that the role of municipalities as energy planning authorities needs to be outlined more clearly in, e.g., strategic energy planning which integrates savings, efficiency and renewable energy in all (energy) sectors. This requires the state to provide municipalities with the necessary planning instruments and establish a corresponding planning framework. Consequently, there is a need for a simultaneous centralisation and decentralisation during the implementation of the 100% renewable energy vision. The paper outlines a basic division of tasks between the central and the local level within such a strategic energy planning system.     

欧盟可再生能源发展形势和2020年发展战略目标分析

2010年,欧盟可再生能源发展呈现出新的形势:一方面,风电满足了欧盟5.3%的电力需求,已经开始发挥替代能源的战略作用;另一方面,光伏发电新增装机容量首次超过风电,显示出分布式光伏发电的巨大优势。在欧盟可再生能源"20-20-20"发展目标的基础上,欧盟各成员国相继制定了具有法律效力的国家可再生能源行动方案,规定了各国在不同时期的可再生能源的发展目标和实现路径。     

Trigeneration primary energy saving evaluation for energy planning and policy development

Trigeneration or combined heat, cooling and power (CHCP) is becoming an increasingly important energy option, particularly on a small-scale basis (below 1 MW_e), with several alternatives nowadays available for the cooling power production and the coupling to cogeneration systems. This paper deals with the introduction of a suitable framework for assessing the energy saving performance of trigeneration alternatives, orientated towards energy planning studies and the development of regulatory policies. In particular, a new generalized performance indicator—the trigeneration primary energy saving (TPES)—is introduced and discussed, with the aim of effectively evaluating the primary energy savings from different CHCP alternatives. The potential of the TPES indicator is illustrated through specific analyses run over different combinations of trigeneration equipment, providing numerical examples based on time-domain simulations to illustrate the dependence of the energy saving characteristics on the CHCP system configurations and equipment, as well as on the loading levels. In addition, the key aspect of adequately establishing the reference efficiencies for the conventional separate production of electrical, thermal and cooling power is addressed in detail. This aspect affects both equipment selection and potential profitability of the considered solutions under the outlook of receiving financial incentives.     

Integrated resource strategic planning: Case study of energy efficiency in the Chinese power sector

In the last quarter of the 20th century, many power companies used the integrated resource planning (IRP) approach in power expansion planning. Today, very few power companies use this approach because of the split between the power generation and distribution activities. It seems that, in some countries, long-term power system expansion planning has become a task of the central government. To help the government in this area, this paper proposes a new approach called the integrated resource strategic planning (IRSP). When combined with a smart grid, this approach can replace the IRP for the government’s power sector expansion. This paper introduces the necessity and possibility of using this new approach, presents a framework on how to use the approach, and justifies the effectiveness of this approach against the traditional power planning approach, with a case study in China. This paper concludes that if China follows the IRSP approach, it may be able to avoid or postpone up to 69 GW of power generation in the period 2009–2015. These measures could help mitigate 201.8 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂), 0.816 million tons of sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and 0.946 million tons of nitrogen oxide (NO_x).     

Impact analysis of carbon tax on the renewal planning of energy supply system for an office building

An optimal planning method is proposed for the renewal-planning problem of an energy supply system installed into building from economic viewpoint. In this method, the objective function to be minimized is the average annual total cost during the evaluation period of the objective system based on the annualized costs method, and the renewal year is considered as a decision variable together with the renewal system's structure, equipment capacities, and system's operational strategy. This problem is formulated as one of the mixed-integer linear programming problem, and a numerical study is carried out for an office building with the total floor area of 15,000 m² by using the GAMS/CPLEX solver. Impact analysis of the carbon tax introduction is mainly studied on the renewal planning mentioned above, and the following results are obtained:     

福建省新能源和可再生能源开发利用规划的情况及评论

由福建省发展计划委员会部署 ,并委托福建省能源研究会组织专业人员配合研究编制的《福建省新能源和可再生能源开发利用与政策》 ,是我省有史以来的第一个新能源和可再生能源 (以下简称新可能源 )开发利用的专项发展规划研究报告。根据我省具体情况 ,主要是指目前开发利用程度较低或基本尚未开发利用、而未来发展潜力较大的风能、沼气、地热能、太阳能、垃圾发电、潮汐能等六种。至于水能 (包括中小型水电站 ) ,我省历来视为最优势的能源 ,优先发展 ,开发利用程度比较高 ,占全省发电量一半 ,已成为我省电力工业的重要组成 ,技术经济成熟 ,生…     

Impact of energy price rises on costs: A thermodynamic analysis

The standard of living in an industrialized country depends on the quantity of energy available and the efficiency with which it is utilized. Changes in the price of energy will, for a time, influence the choice of goods and services and so affect the world economy, until the balance between prices for goods and energy is restored. If we could control the economy during this time interval, there is no reason why increases in energy prices should reduce our standard of living. If renewable energy sources are to be more expensive than oil today, by implication we need to invest much more capital to be able to utilize these sources. We should therefore be willing to accept a smaller increase in standard of living and use the difference for investment in equipment to convert renewable energy sources to useful work. Only through new technology can the price of energy from such sources be reduced relative to the price of energy from oil. Increases in oil prices will not change the price ratio.     

循环经济理念下上海能源发展战略模式研究

上海市循环经济的发展到了需要深化的阶段,从循环经济理论中资源生产率的视角来揭示能源消耗与经济增长的关系。同时,运用资源生产率理论和IPAT方程式对未来上海能源发展的四种可能战略模式进行了分析,并结合上海的实际情况,探讨最适宜上海的能源发展模式,希冀对上海的能源发展问题有所裨益。     

Carbon and footprint-constrained energy planning using cascade analysis technique

This work presents algebraic targeting techniques for energy sector planning with carbon (CO₂) emission and land availability constraints. In general, it is desirable to maximize the use of low- or zero-carbon energy sources to reduce CO₂ emission. However, such technologies are either more expensive (as with renewable energy) or more controversial (as in the case of nuclear energy or carbon capture and storage) than conventional fossil fuels. Thus, in many energy planning scenarios, there is some interest in identifying the minimum amount of low- or zero-carbon energy sources needed to meet the national or regional energy demand while maintaining the CO₂ emission limits. Via the targeting step of pinch analysis, that quantity can be identified. Besides, another related problem involves the energy planning of biofuel systems in view of land availability constraints, which arises when agricultural resources need to be used for both food and energy production. Algebraic targeting approach of cascade analysis technique that was originally developed for resource conservation network is extended to determine targets or benchmarks for both of these problems.     

Regional energy planning methodology, drivers and implementation - Karlovac County case study

Renewable energy sources (RES) are being increasingly considered as key elements in future development strategies on a national, regional and local level. This paper discusses the methodological approach to local energy planning proposed by the authors and identifies the most important drivers for its application at the regional level. This approach is different to the previous ‘top-down’ or strategic assessments as seen many times in the past in Croatia and is expected to herald a new future for the local community ownership and ‘buy-in’ to renewable energy, resulting in the greater probability of individual project success where local stakeholder sympathy is retained. The implementation of the developed approach is demonstrated on Karlovac County (western Croatia), which has considerable potential for the utilisation of different RES. The main outcomes are described: approved Regional strategy for utilisation of renewable energy sources in the Karlovac County; number of individual projects identified, supported and launched; and a Regional energy agency created as the implementing body for future renewable energy projects.     

浅析中国经济发展与能源消费

在现阶段我国工业化的进程中，能源利用率低、消费结构不合理、供需矛盾加剧等问题目益突出，在很大程度上制约了经济持续快速的增长。为了缓解经济发展与能源消费之间的矛盾，我国必须优化产业结构和能源结构，大力发展能源先进技术，走可持续发展的工业化道路。     

Wind speed spatial estimation for energy planning in Sicily: Introduction and statistical analysis

The exploitation of the renewable energy sources plays a key role for achieving the CO₂ emissions reduction targets established by the Kyoto Protocol, as well as for facing the shortage of world fossil fuels reserves.In countries like Italy, with an high potential in terms of wind power generation, an efficient energy planning based on renewables is a very complex task. It encompasses many aspects: the resource availability assessment, the compliance with environmental and legislative constraints and last, but not least, the technical aspects linked to the safe integration to the grid of the intermittent power generated by the wind farms.This paper is the first part of a study addressing the first of the aforementioned issues. The wind measurements recorded in several stations of Sicily (Italy) were used for the spatial modelling of the wind fields over the region.A statistical analysis of the wind data has allowed the estimation of the parameters of the wind probability distribution function, that is a Weibull, as predicted by theory.In the last sections of the paper the results of some traditional deterministic and geostatistical interpolation techniques are shown. In the companion paper the maps of the estimated wind fields have been obtained by using the results of the statistical investigation accomplished here and coupling neural and geostatistical techniques. For a comprehensive evaluation of the forecasting accuracy of this neural kriging approach, those maps have to be compared with the maps showed in this paper.     

Impact of innovation programs on development of energy system: Case of Iranian electricity-supply system

The paper presents further experiments with an extended version of a comprehensive model for assessment of energy technologies and research and development (R&D) planning to evaluate the impact of innovation programs on development of Iranian electricity-supply system. This analytical instrument is a model of energy R&D resource allocation with an explicit perspective of developing countries which has been linked to a bottom-up energy-systems model. Three emerging electricity generation technologies of solar PV, wind turbine and gas fuel cell are considered in the model and the impact of innovation programs on cost-reducing innovation for them is examined. The main results provided by the modeling approach include optimal allocation of R&D resources, induced capacity expansion policies to guarantee the effectiveness of R&D activities, competitive cost of emerging technologies, impact of innovation programs on optimal structure of electricity-supply system and benefits of innovation programs in the long-run.     

CD-ROM and internet: Critical tools for renewable energy professionals

Computer and communications technologies are changing the way the world shares information. Renewable energy professionals should use these tools to their utmost advantage to exchange information, recapture “lost opportunities” in sustainable development, and create better designs for the new century and beyond. CREST, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and other federal and private agencies, is enabling such a future by creating innovative software tools and using online communications to foster the education, advancement and use of renewable energy and energy efficiency.     

Private sector investment in renewable energy utilisation: strategic analysis of stakeholder perspectives in developing countries

Private sector encouragement in the development programmes of renewable energy (RE) utilisation is one of the important subjects and challenges for governments of developing countries. While profit in short-term and market-based orientation are the dominant approach of private sector to start an investment, governments and policymakers are paying special attention to participation of private investments to achieve their long-term development plans. In contrast, academic researchers notice to private investments in a structure that is sometimes in conflict with private investors and policymakers perspectives. Therefore, each group of stakeholders has its own priorities that negatively affect promotion and adoption plans of renewable alternatives utilisation. This article reviews and analyses different perspectives of RE stakeholders (beneficiaries) to encourage participation of private investments Differences in priorities, concerns, and interests in each group of stakeholders are the subjects that are discussed in the article. To close the attitudes and perspectives, a recommendations package is also presented in two levels of operational and strategic     

Energy conservation through energy service companies: Empirical analysis from China

China's energy-service companies (ESCOs) have developed only modestly despite favorable political and market conditions. We argue that with sophisticated market institutions still evolving in China, trust-based relations between ESCOs and energy customers are essential for successful implementation of energy efficiency projects. Chinese ESCOs, who are predominantly small and private enterprises, perform poorly in terms of trust-building because they are disembedded from local business, social, and political networks. We conclude that in the current institutional setting, the ESCO model based on market relations has serious limitations and is unlikely to lead to large-scale implementation of energy efficiency projects in China.     

Identification of training and emergency planning needs through job safety analysis

Training and emergency planning needs within the photovoltaic industry may be more accurately determined through the performance of detailed job safety analysis. This paper outlines the four major components of such an analysis, namely operational review, hazards evaluation, personnel review and resources evaluation. It then shows how these may be developed into coherent training and planning recommendations, for both emergency and non-emergency situations.     

Recent development of energy supply and demand in China,and energy sector prospects through 2030

Facing multiple pressures, including its commitment to energy efficiency improvement, the current worldwide recession, and global warming concerns, China is making great efforts to maintain its continuous economic growth and reduce pollutant emissions. Many policies to encourage investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy have been issued. This article provides insights into the latest development of energy production, energy consumption and energy strategic planning and policies in China, and also describes the analysis, carried out by the authors as part of the Asian Energy Security project using the Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning (LEAP) modeling tool, of the impacts of implementing new and expected energy and environmental policies.