Integrating MCDM and GIS for renewable energy spatial models: assessing the individual and combined potential for wind, solar and biomass energy in Southern Spain

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 1855-1869 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pilar Díaz-Cuevas ◽  
Javier Domínguez-Bravo ◽  
Antonio Prieto-Campos
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Spatial Models ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Southern Spain ◽  
The Individual

Renewable Energy on Tribal Lands: A Feasibility Study for a Biomass-to-Energy Plant on the Cocopah Reservation in Arizona

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Lauren K. D’Souza ◽  
William L. Ascher ◽  
Tanja Srebotnjak
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
The United States ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Policy Support ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Energy Plant ◽  
Energy Projects ◽  
Alternative Investment

Native American reservations are among the most economically disadvantaged regions in the United States; lacking access to economic and educational opportunities that are exacerbated by “energy insecurity” due to insufficient connectivity to the electric grid and power outages. Local renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and biomass offer energy alternatives but their implementation encounters barriers such as lack of financing, infrastructure, and expertise, as well as divergent attitudes among tribal leaders. Biomass, in particular, could be a source of stable base-load power that is abundant and scalable in many rural communities. This case study examines the feasibility of a biomass energy plant on the Cocopah reservation in southwestern Arizona. It considers feedstock availability, cost and energy content, technology options, nameplate capacity, discount and interest rates, construction, operation and maintenance (O&M) costs, and alternative investment options. This study finds that at current electricity prices and based on typical costs for fuel, O&M over 30 years, none of the tested scenarios is presently cost-effective on a net present value (NPV) basis when compared with an alternative investment yielding annual returns of 3% or higher. The technology most likely to be economically viable and suitable for remote, rural contexts—a combustion stoker—resulted in a levelized costs of energy (LCOE) ranging from US$0.056 to 0.147/kWh. The most favorable scenario is a combustion stoker with an estimated NPV of US$4,791,243. The NPV of the corresponding alternative investment is US$7,123,380. However, if the tribes were able to secure a zero-interest loan to finance the plant’s installation cost, the project would be on par with the alternative investment. Even if this were the case, the scenario still relies on some of the most optimistic assumptions for the biomass-to-power plant and excludes abatement costs for air emissions. The study thus concludes that at present small-scale, biomass-to-energy projects require a mix of favorable market and local conditions as well as appropriate policy support to make biomass energy projects a cost-competitive source of stable, alternative energy for remote rural tribal communities that can provide greater tribal sovereignty and economic opportunities.

scholarly journals Energy Transition in Poland—Assessment of the Renewable Energy Sector

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 2046
Author(s):  
Michał Bernard Pietrzak ◽  
Bartłomiej Igliński ◽  
Wojciech Kujawski ◽  
Paweł Iwański
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
The Public ◽  
Critical Situation ◽  
Low Emission ◽  
Harmful Substances ◽  
The Creation ◽  
Modern Technologies ◽  
New Jobs

The topic of the article considers the functioning of the renewable energy (RE) sector in Poland. This is really important in the context of the energy transition of the national economy because it influences the creation of modern technologies and increases the competitiveness and innovation of the country. Poland is in a process of energy transition where the RE sector has been developing for two decades. The authors aimed to research the RE sector improvement possibilities in Poland, including the influence of this sector on chosen social and economic aspects. Because of this research’s aim a critical situation assessment of RE in Poland was conducted and a survey of a group of experts in this field was also involved. Legal, physical and mental determinants and their influence on RE sector were looked into. In the legal determinant context a necessity to simplify relevant legislation acts in Poland was found. Undoubtedly there is a need to improve several legal acts, including the Distance Act. In physical determinants it was found that solar, wind and biomass energy have the biggest chances for development. In the case of mental determinants the authors paid attention to the need of educating the public about using and obtaining energy. It is also important to make people aware how the RE sector influences the low emission economy positively. This will improve the creation of new jobs and reduce the emissions of harmful substances to the environment.

scholarly journals Scalable Multiport Converter Structure for Easy Grid Integration of Alternate Energy Sources for Generation of Isolated Voltage Sources for MMC

Electronics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (15) ◽  
pp. 1779
Author(s):  
Syed Rahman ◽  
Irfan Khan ◽  
Khaliqur Rahman ◽  
Sattam Al Otaibi ◽  
Hend I. Alkhammash ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Energy Resources ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
Component Level ◽  
Storage Devices ◽  
Multiport Converter ◽  
Detailed Simulation ◽  
The Individual

This paper presents a novel, scalable, and modular multiport power electronic topology for the integration of multiple resources. This converter is not only scalable in terms of the integration of multiple renewable energy resources (RES) and storage devices (SDs) but is also scalable in terms of output ports. Multiple dc outputs of a converter are designed to serve as input to the stacking modules (SMs) of the modular multilevel converter (MMC). The proposed multiport converter is bidirectional in nature and superior in terms of functionality in a way that a modular universal converter is responsible for the integration of multiple RES/SDs and regulates multiple dc output ports for SMs of MMC. All input ports can be easily integrated (and controlled), and output ports also can be controlled independently in response to any load variations. An isolated active half-bridge converter with multiple secondaries acts as a central hub for power processing with multiple renewable energy resources that are integrated at the primary side. To verify the proposed converter, a detailed design of the converter-based system is presented along with the proposed control algorithm for managing power on the individual component level. Additionally, different modes of power management (emulating the availability/variability of renewable energy sources (RES)) are exhibited and analyzed here. Finally, detailed simulation results are presented in detail for the validation of the proposed concepts and design process.

Assessing the potential for biomass energy to contribute to Scotland's renewable energy needs

2005 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.S. Andersen ◽  
W. Towers ◽  
P. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Energy Needs

THE ROLE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES IN REGIONAL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-36
Author(s):  
Branko Blazevic
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Wind Power ◽  
Geothermal Energy ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Regional Tourism ◽  
Regional Sustainable Development

In this paper, the author focuses on the fundamental hypothesis that the adoption of a concept of regional sustainable development and the use of renewable energy sources are preconditions to organising an acceptable regional tourism offering based on an eco-philosophy The renewable development of tourism regions is the basic framework for research regarding opportunities for introducing renewable energy sources such as hydro energy, wind power, solar energy, geothermal energy, and biomass energy. The purpose of this paper is to indicate the real opportunities that exist for substituting conventional energy sources with renewable ones and the role of renewables in regional development from economic, environmental and sociological viewpoints. It should also be noted that renewable energy sources have a strong regional importance and can contribute significantly to local employment.

scholarly journals Influence of Policy, Air Quality, and Local Attitudes toward Renewable Energy on the Adoption of Woody Biomass Heating Systems

Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 2873 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesse D. Young ◽  
Nathaniel M. Anderson ◽  
Helen T. Naughton
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Woody Biomass ◽  
The United States ◽  
State Policies ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Biomass Combustion ◽  
Heating Systems

Heat produced from woody biomass accounts for a significant portion of renewable energy in the United States. Economic and federal policy factors driving institutional adoption of woody biomass heating systems have been identified and examined in previous studies, as have the effects of state policies in support of biomass heating. However, plans for a number of mid- to large-scale biomass facilities have been abandoned after being proposed in communities with many of the factors and policies considered favorable to the adoption of such systems. In many of these cases, opponents cited potential negative impacts on local air quality, despite being generally in favor of renewable energy. This study employed a zero inflated negative binomial (ZINB) statistical model to determine if state policies, air quality, and local attitudes toward renewable energy have a significant effect on the adoption and retention of distributed-scale biomass combustion systems used for institutional heating. State policy appears to have a negligible effect, while the influences of historic and current air pollution and local emissions appear insignificant. However, local attitudes in favor of renewable energy are associated with the adoption and retention of distributed-scale woody biomass heating systems. This is an indication of the importance of local support in determining the fate of future biomass energy projects.

scholarly journals Challenges in Grid Integration of Renewable Energy Systems via Inverter: A Survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 30-33
Author(s):  
Sourabh Kedar ◽  
Mr. Santosh Singh Negi
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Reactive Power ◽  
Power Grids ◽  
Grid Integration ◽  
Solar Photovoltaic ◽  
Renewable Energy Systems ◽  
Pv Systems ◽  
The Past ◽  
Network Coordination ◽  
The Individual

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems have mainly been used in the past decade. Inverter-powered photovoltaic grid topologies are widely used to meet electricity demand and to integrate forms of renewable energy into power grids. Meeting the growing demand for electricity is a major challenge today. This paper provides a detailed overview of the topological trend of inverters with connection to the photovoltaic grid, as well as the advantages, disadvantages and main characteristics of the individual inverters. For proper integration into a network, coordination between the supporting devices used for reactive power compensation and their optimal reactive power capacity for grid current stability is important.

scholarly journals Individual and Community Social Determinants of Health Associated With Diabetes Management in a Mexican American Population

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kehe Zhang ◽  
Belinda Reininger ◽  
Miryoung Lee ◽  
Qian Xiao ◽  
Cici Bauer
Keyword(s):  
Social Determinants Of Health ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Mexican American ◽  
Diabetes Management ◽  
Spatial Models ◽  
Neighborhood Context ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Border Region ◽  
Determinants Of Health ◽  
The Individual

Background: Diabetes is a major health burden in Mexican American populations, especially among those in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) in the border region of Texas. Understanding the roles that social determinants of health (SDOH) play in diabetes management programs, both at the individual and community level, may inform future intervention strategies.Methods: This study performed a secondary data analysis on 1,568 individuals who participated in Salud y Vida (SyV), a local diabetes and chronic disease management program, between October 2013 and September 2018 recruited from a local clinic. The primary outcome was the reduction of hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) at the last follow-up visit compared to the baseline. In addition to age, gender, insurance status, education level and marital status, we also investigated 15 community (census tract) SDOH using the American Community Survey. Because of the high correlation in the community SDOH, we developed the community-level indices representing different domains. Using Bayesian multilevel spatial models that account for the geographic dependency, we were able to simultaneously investigate the individual- and community-level SDOH that may impact HbA1C reduction.Results: After accounting for the diabetes self-management education classes taken by the participants and their length of stay in the program, we found that older age at baseline, being married (compared to being widowed or divorced) and English speaking (compared to Spanish) were significantly associated with greater HbA1C reduction. Moreover, we found that the community level SDOH were also highly associated with HbA1C reduction. With every percentile rank decrease in the socioeconomic advantage index, we estimated an additional 0.018% reduction in HbA1C [95% CI (−0.028, −0.007)]. Besides the socioeconomic advantage index, urban core opportunity and immigrant's cohesion and accessibility indices were also statistically associated with HbA1C reduction.Conclusion: To our knowledge, our study is the first to utilize Bayesian multilevel spatial models and simultaneously investigate both individual- and community-level SDOH in the context of diabetes management. Our findings suggest that community SDOH play an important role in diabetes control and management, and the need to consider community and neighborhood context in future interventions programs to maximize their overall effectiveness.

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