The main objective of this study is to establish analytical feasibility for the deployment of solar panels in Qatar houses and other organisations; to calculate, by the use of analytical means, solar panel deployment scenarios with different panel sizes, efficiency, and sun per day, in order to estimate generated energy and compare that with actual consumption over a period of twelve months. In addition, the study aims to provide a comparative indicator on the ratio of generated energy to consumed energy and consumed electrical energy (GtoC), to establish the possibility of using the GtoC ratio as a new renewable energy rating index, for use in renewable energy investment and sales forecasting, in maintaining comparisons between different installation scenarios, and in upgrade planning and decision making. This study’s analytical solutions might be correlated with data from in situ solar panel installation scenarios in order to fully establish the performance under operational scenario... [more]

Renewable energy consumption is one of the most important factors in meeting the goal of “30 and 60” in China. However, the maintenance of the transmission section affects the amount of generation transfer, further affecting the consumption of renewable energy. Hence, in this study, a time-series renewable energy production simulation (REPS) is proposed in order to accurately predict the power generation in a simulated situation. According to the results of the REPS, the sensitivity of the different sections’ maintenance can be calculated and determined. The appropriate maintenance strategies can be selected for different situations by comparing the consumption rate; as an example, we conducted a case study. The results show that the quota in the transmission section has higher sensitivity; a larger quota indicates a greater sensitivity to the consumption rate. The results also show that a larger quota is more suitable for maintenance in February or November, since the consumption rate... [more]

The electrification of the transportation sector contributes to a cleaner environment in non-interconnected island (NII) systems or standalone islands. Moreover, e-mobility can significantly contribute to achieving very high renewable energy source (RES) penetration levels in islands, allowing a reduction both in the emissions due to the conventional generation and the system’s cost. Ιncreased RES penetration, however, can pose technical challenges for an island’s system. In order to overcome these challenges, new technologies like grid-forming converters are important. Moreover, the provision of new ancillary services in relation to battery storage systems might be considered, while novel control and protection schemes are needed to ensure secure operation. E-mobility can also contribute to solving technical problems that arise from very high RES penetration by providing frequency containment reserves or reactive power compensation. Since EV charging demand introduces modifications in... [more]

Liquid fuel has been the main source of energy in internal combustion engines (ICE) for decades. However, lithium-ion batteries (LIB) have replaced ICE for environmentally friendly vehicles and reducing fossil fuel dependence. This paper focuses on the comparative analysis of battery thermal management system (BTMS) to maintain a working temperature in the range 15−35 °C and prevent thermal runaway and high temperature gradient, consequently increasing LIB lifecycle and performance. The proposed approach is to use biodiesel as the engine feed and coolant. A 3S2P LIB module is simulated using Ansys-Fluent CFD software tool. Four selective dielectric biodiesels are used as coolants, namely palm, karanja, jatropha, and mahua oils. In comparison to the conventional coolants in BTMS, mainly air and 3M Novec, biodiesel fuels have been proven as coolants to maintain LIB temperature within the optimum working range. For instance, the use of palm biodiesel can lightweight the BTMS by 43%, compa... [more]

A gravity-type heat pipe boiling characteristics test rig was constructed to solve the heat dissipation problem of fuel cells during operation. The boiling heat transfer characteristics of water in a parallel plate under negative pressure at different inclination angles and heat flow density input are investigated. The results show that: First, the gravity-type heat pipe can dissipate some heat and it is possible to use it for fuel cell heat dissipation. Second, with a certain range of heat flow density, the temperature of all parts of the plate is about 80 °C, with a small temperature difference, which is conducive to the safe operation of the fuel cell. Third, the heat flow density is in the range of 2222~3111 W·m−2, the temperature difference is large, and the outlet temperature is greater than 80 °C, which exceeds the operating temperature of the fuel cell, and the power-type heat pipe should be used for heat dissipation. Fourth, the average temperature of the plate placed at an in... [more]

Rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems could significantly contribute to renewable energy production and reduce domestic energy costs. In Italy, as in other countries, the current incentives generate a modest annual increase after the generous fiscal incentives that kick-started the PV market in the 2008−2013 period. Several factors are, however, at play that can speed up the installation process, such as the improvements in PV technology at declining prices, the increased availability of battery-storage (BS) systems, the growing use of electric appliances, the uptake of electric cars, and the increased environmental awareness. We integrate two research methodologies, discrete choice modeling and agent-based modeling, to understand how these factors will influence households’ decisions regarding PV and BS installations and how agents interact in their socioeconomic environment. We predict that in Italy, given the preference structure of homeowners, the continuing decline in costs, and... [more]

Renewable energy resources such as offshore wind and wave energy are environmentally friendly and omnipresent. A hybrid offshore wind-wave energy system produces a more sustainable form of energy that is not only eco-friendly but also economical and efficient as compared to use of individual resources. The objective of this paper is to give a detailed review of co-generation technologies for hybrid offshore wind and wave energy. The proposed area of this review paper is based on the power conversions techniques, response coupling, control schemes for co-generation and complimentary generation, and colocation and integrated conversion systems. This paper aims to offer a systematic review to cover recent research and development of novel hybrid offshore wind-wave energy (HOWWE) systems. The current hybrid wind-wave energy structures lack efficiency due to their design and AC-DC-AC power conversion that need to be improved by applying an advanced control strategy. Thus, using different po... [more]

E-scooters as a new form of mobility are gaining more and more popularity. This popularity results from the flexibility of this mode of transport, but above all from the positive impact on the natural environment through the much higher energy efficiency of an e-scooter compared to a motor vehicle (according to the literature the rate is 2 km per kWh equivalent for a motor vehicle and the range is 90−100 km per kWh in the case of an e-scooter). This paper introduces a discussion on the future development of an energy-efficient electric scooter sharing system based on stakeholder analysis methods. The implementation of the e-scooter sharing system involves linking several areas of human activity, including social activity. This, in turn, relates to the interactions and building of relationships with entities, particularly those influencing the provision of services and their effects. The large number of entities and the complexity of the relations between them make it a challenge both t... [more]

With the development of space exploration, high-power and high-voltage power systems are essential for future spacecraft applications. Because of the effects of space radiation such as single event burnout (SEB), the rated voltage of power devices in converters for a spacecraft power system is limited to a level much lower than that for traditional ground applications. Thus, multi-level DC/DC converters are good choices for high-voltage applications in spacecraft. In this paper, a fault-tolerant strategy is proposed for a three-level flying capacitor DC/DC converter to increase the reliability with minimal cost. There is no extra hardware needed for the proposed strategy; the fault tolerance of the converter is only achieved by changing the software control strategy. A stage analysis of the proposed strategy is provided in detail for different fault locations and ratios between the input and output voltage. Finally, a simulation model and prototype are built to verify the effectiveness... [more]

The article presents the results of the analysis of parameters describing electricity consumption in individual phases of the production cycle on a poultry farm. One full broiler rearing cycle on the farm was analyzed. Electrical parameters were tested during the broiler rearing process using a power quality analyzer with a measurement interval of 1 min. During the tests, the analyzer recorded the active and reactive power, phase and line voltage, power factor, and frequency. On the basis of collected data, original indicators describing electricity consumption per chicken wkA, wkQ, and per unit area wiA, wiQ were determined. The regression curves of active and reactive power consumption in particular stages of the cycle were also determined, and the minimum and maximum values of active and reactive power consumption were determined. The accomplished research can be used in planning electricity demand in energy-self-sufficient areas. The presented original indicators can be used to det... [more]

This study aims to institutionalize an evaluation methodology to assess water-source heat pumps (WSHPs) when designing a zero-energy building. Thus, regions where zero-energy buildings were designed were subdivided into 66 sub-regions, thereby standardizing the temperatures on the source side of WSHPs using river water and pipeline water. Based on these data, ground-source and water-source heat pump system-based simulation (new and renewable energy self-sufficiency rate compared to building energy consumption) values were derived for cases whose condition (region or heat source) was different among the buildings certified as zero-energy buildings. The application of the standard meteorological data and reference hydrothermal data to the ECO2 program and outcome evaluation led to the following findings: in all cases (reference: Seoul), ground-source heat pumps (GSHPs) showed a higher self-sufficiency rate than WSHPs (ground source > pipeline water > river water). The self-sufficiency ra... [more]

Cold climate regions have great potential for wind power generation. The available wind energy in these regions is about 10% higher than in other regions due to higher wind speeds and increased air density. However, these regions usually have favorable icing conditions that lead to ice accumulation on the wind turbine blades, which in turn increases the weight of the blades and disrupts local airflow, resulting in a reduction in wind turbine performance. Considering this problem, plasma actuators have been proposed as devices for simultaneous flow control and deicing. These devices transfer momentum to the local airflow, improving the aerodynamic performances of the turbine blades while producing significant thermal effects that can be used to prevent ice formation. Considering the potential application of plasma actuators for simultaneous flow control and deicing, it is very important to investigate the thermal effects induced by these devices. However, due to the significant electrom... [more]

Over the years, high voltage transmission of large energy blocks over long distances has widely developed from the Line Commutated Converter (LCC) technology. However, the continuous expansion of the AC network and the increase in renewable energy penetration leads to the weakening of Electric Power Systems (EPS), causing operational problems for the LCC-HVDC. This paper evaluates the degree of contribution of the VSC-HVDC on the LCC-HVDC dynamic performance when the infeed is in a hybrid multi-infeed HVDC system. Through a steady-state mathematical framework, the new concept of Hybrid Power Voltage Interaction Factor (hPVIF) is proposed to assess the transient stability improvement of LCC. Additionally, this article introduces two key contributions from hPVIF: the complementary Improved Commutation Failure Immunity Index (iCFII), as a measure of the effective short circuit enhancement, as well as the apparent line length, which emulates the line lengths adjusting the power dispatch in... [more]

The persistent fight against global environmental threats and energy catastrophe is currently a major concern for the economic development of bioenergy across the entire country. Hence, traditional fuel-based reserves are overburdened to cope with the rapid energy crisis, necessitating an urgent need for an innovative carbon-neutral green-energy resource. In order to address these critical bottlenecks, microalgae with incredible metabolic versatility have paved the way for a pivotal attention towards sustainable biofuel production. However, due to high operational costs and low lipid productivity, the microalgae-based biofuel resource is still in its infancy. As a result, this problem can be overcome by incorporating engineered microalgal strains which can pave the way for significant lipid augmentation for biofuel production. Thus, our current review depicts an in-depth understanding of a multi-omics approach to microalgae, the broad scope of self-sustaining microalgae cultivation, li... [more]

Wave energy converters (WECs) have enormous potential in providing clean renewable energy with high levels of predictability [...]

Increasing energy usage efficiency requires enhanced heat energy recuperation between process streams in the industry and civic sector with waste heat utilization. The condensation of different vapours is the process encountered in many industrial applications. Increasing the heat recuperation in this process is possible with efficient heat transfer equipment, among which a Plate Heat Exchanger (PHE) is at the leading position. A number of research works have been conducted in recent years concerning construction development and heat transfer enhancement in conditions of limited pressure drop to increase PHE performance in condensation processes. The results of studies on heat transfer and pressure drop in the two-phase condensing flow inside channels of PHE with different geometries of corrugations are discussed. In many implementations, the total pressure drop allowable for gaseous streams in heat exchangers is relatively small. The structure of two-phase flow in PHE channels of comp... [more]

To restrain the environmental impact of modern SI engines, igniters must guarantee stable combustions with low cycle-to-cycle variability in extreme operating conditions (high EGR, ultra-lean), via high energy release in the combustion chamber. The direct measurement of this energy is not trivial and requires a controlled environment. Luminosity detection is a non-intrusive diagnostic technique to indirectly measure the thermal energy released by the discharge on optically accessible apparatus. This work compares energy and luminosity produced by a plasma igniter in a constant volume vessel at realistic working conditions (ignition at 8 bar and air as a medium). A calibration factor can be defined to describe the thermal energy behavior as a function of the discharge luminosity and to give an assessment of such approach for its use in optically accessible engine. This study shows that thermal energy and luminosity are influenced by the gas type and related by a linear relationship for... [more]

The treatment and disposal of sewage sludge is one of the most important and critical problems of wastewater treatment plants. 8.7 million tonnes of dry matter of sewage sludge were produced annually in the European Union in the year 2020. Due to the fact that sewage sludge contains a large number of substances that are not beneficial for human health, the conditions for sludge management will be significantly tightened in the EU countries. One option for sludge liquidation is the production of biofuel in a form of granules or pellets from sewage sludge enriched by waste celluloses. The achieved results show that the resulting quality of such alternative biofuel is fully comparable to conventional fossil fuels. The economic analysis is based on the simulation of cash flows associated with the implementation of the project over the lifetime and the calculation of levelised cost (LCOE). Results shows (under the current economic situation) that solar dryer technology ensures the lowest LC... [more]

As it has an export-oriented economy, Taiwan urgently needs to keep up with the growing trends toward carbon taxation. However, making the institution of a carbon tax a reality in Taiwan has proven to be difficult. Since 1998, Taiwan has explored the possibility of putting a tax on carbon many times. Specifically, three main windows of opportunity emerged to adopt a carbon tax during this period; however, all of them failed. This study mainly explores why these three opportunities failed, what structural factors hindered them, and how those structural factors formed path dependence and locked the entire society back onto the existing development track. Firstly, Taiwan’s high-carbon industrial structure has established the rapid growth of energy-intensive industries since the end of the 1990s and has created an economy with high energy consumption and pollution levels. Secondly, this analysis showed that through the combination of government bureaucracy, industry, and the China National... [more]

Oil shale is a crucial unconventional energy source to supplement conventional oil and gas. The oil shale in the Maoming Basin of China has excellent resource potential. In this study, through systematic geochemical testing, the industrial quality and geochemical characteristics of oil shale are revealed, and the hydrocarbon generation potential of oil shale, the parent rock type, and the tectonic setting of the source area are discussed. It is comprehensively assessed that Maoming oil shale has a medium-oil yield (avg. 6.71%) with high ash content (avg. 76.1%), a high calorific value (avg. 7.16 M J/kg), and ultra-low sulfur (avg. 0.54%). The mineralogical compositions primarily consist of clay minerals and quartz, and barely pyrite. Maoming oil shale is in an immature evolution stage, with high TOC and I-II1 kerogen type, and could be considered an excellent hydrocarbon source rock. The chemical index of alteration (CIA), the index of chemical variability (ICV), and the Th/U ratio ind... [more]

Because wind power is connected to the grid on a large scale, frequency fluctuation in the power grid, which is defined as a system safety risk to the power grid, occurs from time to time. According to the grid code rules of China, wind turbines are required to be equipped with primary frequency modulation or inertia response control capability, which are used to support the safe and stable operation of the power grid. During the traditional frequency modulation process of the wind turbine, power limiting operation or pitch angle reservation is generally adopted to ensure that the reserved energy can be released at any time to support the frequency change in the power grid. However, the frequency support method leads to a large loss of power generation, and does not consider the coordination between mechanical load characteristics control and primary frequency modulation. In this paper, a mechanical load optimization control strategy for a wind turbine during the primary frequency modu... [more]

Forecasting energy consumption in Saudi Arabia for the period from 2020 until 2030 is investigated using a two-part composite model. The first part is the frontier, and the second part is the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model that helps avoid the large disparity in predictions in previous studies, which is what this research seeks to achieve. The sample of the study has a size of 30 observations, which are the actual consumption values in the period from 1990 to 2019. The philosophy of this installation is to reuse the residuals to extract the remaining values. Therefore, it becomes white noise and the extracted values are added to increase prediction accuracy. The residuals were calculated and the ARIMA (0, 1, 0) model with a constant was developed both of the residual sum of squares and the root means square errors, which were compared in both cases. The results demonstrate that prediction accuracy using complex models is better than prediction accuracy using sin... [more]

The study deals with the analysis of data from a selected tourism facility and the implementation of a solar system and a rainwater system, which are an alternative to commonly used energy sources. The objective is to evaluate the potential savings from the use of the solar system for water heating and the rainwater system for purposes other than potable use with respect to local conditions of sunlight and rainwater variability. The facility holds 257 beds allocated in 124 rooms on 5 floors. The result of the contribution is an economic evaluation of the efficiency of investments in the proposed systems and the resulting recommendations in the field of energy flows in the selected facility. Appropriate formulas including the consumption of hot water, the amount of energy needed to heat water, the cost of the consumed energy necessary for heating and the average annual rainfall in the location, water consumption for clearly identified purposes of alternation with rainwater, the initial... [more]

This study proposes a data-driven methodology for modeling power and hydrogen generation of a sustainable energy converter. The wave and hydrogen production at different wave heights and wind speeds are predicted. Furthermore, this research emphasizes and encourages the possibility of extracting hydrogen from ocean waves. By using the extracted data from the FLOW-3D software simulation and the experimental data from the special test in the ocean, the comparison analysis of two data-driven learning methods is conducted. The results show that the amount of hydrogen production is proportional to the amount of generated electrical power. The reliability of the proposed renewable energy converter is further discussed as a sustainable smart grid application.

Distributed electric power production by small-scale customers is increasing continuously. Photovoltaic production is a popular method of producing self-energy for customers. Additionally, power systems require more flexibility when weather-dependent renewable energy production increases. Small-scale customers can increase the self-consumption of self-produced energy by using batteries or a demand response operation. However, batteries require high investment, and demand response operations induce a loss of comfort. Customers who heat their buildings using electric heaters are a good target for demand response operations because their heating can be controlled with limited changes in the indoor temperature. The demand response potential of a building can be defined by simply using customer load profiles and knowledge of the outdoor temperature. Any other information is not required in the proposed novel method. A tolerable variation in indoor temperature corresponds to considerably sma... [more]