Application of Regional Bio-Refining to Increase the Sustainability and Energy Self-Sufficiency of Rural and Agricultural Communities

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
David T. Gallaspy ◽  
Rodney E. Sears
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Energy Conversion ◽  
Wind Power ◽  
Renewable Resources ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
Standard Equipment ◽  
Rural Region ◽  
Capital Costs ◽  
Self Sufficiency

The economics and potential offsets of imported energy are analyzed. Benefits to the carbon footprint of the region are estimated. A commercial structure for the operation of such a co-operative bio-refinery is proposed. Rural and agricultural regions typically have ample production of biomass in various forms, including wood from forestry, agricultural wastes and range grasses. Certain regions also have renewable energy resources such as wind power, solar insolation and hydraulic power. Rural regions are typically seen to have a potential for renewable energy that greatly exceeds energy consumption due to human activity in the region. However, energy consumption in such areas is highly biased toward non-renewable sources, just as in more urbanized regions. This is due to the standardization of virtually all manufactured energy conversion equipment to use available processed energy sources such as electricity and natural gas and refined fuels such as diesel and gasoline. In addition, agricultural activities are highly dependent on energy-intensive petrochemicals such as fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. Energy sustainability and self-sufficiency can therefore be increased by conversion of local renewable resources into appropriate form values for existing energy conversion equipment. Solar power, wind power and hydropower are fully commercial, although more economic in some regions than in others. The production of electricity from biomass fuels via conventional steam cycles is well established, if challenging from an economic standpoint. However, conversion of biomass and other renewable resources into fuels that can be used in standard equipment, and chemicals and fertilizers for local agricultural production is both technically and economically challenging. The authors evaluate the potential for a typical rural region to offset imports of conventional non-renewable energy such as electricity, engine fuels, and fertilizers via the establishment of a regional bio-refinery financed and operated as a local co-operative. The renewable resources of the typical rural region are assumed to facilitate the analysis. The appropriate technologies, scope, product slate, production rates, capital costs and operating costs for the bio-refinery are defined.

scholarly journals Potential utilization of renewable energy resources for electricity generation in Bosnia and Herzegovina

2005 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 15-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fajik Begic ◽  
Anes Kazagic
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Power System ◽  
Bosnia And Herzegovina ◽  
Electricity Market ◽  
Renewable Resources ◽  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Energy Resources ◽  
Energy Utilization ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources

Along with the current processes of restructuring of Energy power system of Bosnia and Herzegovina, liberalization of the electricity market, and modernization of the existing power plants, Bosnia and Herzegovina must turn to the utilization of renewable resources in reason able dynamics as well. Respecting this policy, the initial Valuation of the potential of renewable erg resources in Bosnia and Herzegovina is per formed. The methodology of evaluation of wind energy utilization is presented in this paper, as well as some other aspects of utilization of the renewable energy resources in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Implementation of selected projects should improve sustainability of energy power production in Bosnia and Herzegovina, by reducing the total emission of carbon dioxide originated from energy power system of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

scholarly journals TECHNO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF AN OFF-GRID HYBRID ENERGY SYSTEM WITH HOMER PRO

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 56-61
Author(s):  
Ahmet Erhan AKAN
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Economic Analysis ◽  
Energy Conversion ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Lithium Ion ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
Energy Potential ◽  
Economic Point

The decrease in fossil-based energy sources and increasing environmental problems increase the tendency to renewable energy sources day by day. The potential of renewable energy sources differs according to the region where the energy will be produced. For this reason, it is crucial to conduct a good feasibility study that deals with the selected systems from a technical and economic point of view before making an investment decision on energy conversion systems based on renewable energy sources. In this study, the most suitable equipment and capacities were investigated by examining the techno-economic analysis of a hybrid system created with wind-solar renewable energies for a detached house, which is considered off-grid, in a rural area of Tekirdağ province (40o58.7ı N, 27o30.7ı E). Investigations were carried out using the HOMER Pro (Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewable) program. The wind and solar energy potential of Tekirdağ province were obtained from the NASA renewable energy resources database added to the HOMER Pro program. The daily electricity requirement of the sample house was chosen as 11.27 kWh, and the current peak electrical load was chosen as 2.39 kW. A wind turbine is connected to the AC busbars, solar collectors and battery group connected to the DC busbars, and a converter that converts energy between AC and DC busbars in the energy conversion system. In order to determine the optimum capacities of the system elements, 27486 different simulations were performed by HOMER Pro. The selection of the most suitable system among these was determined according to the lowest net present cost (NPC) value. In addition, the energy production capacities that will occur in the case of different wind speeds were also investigated. Accordingly, the system to be installed with a solar panel with a capacity of 6.25 kW, PV-MPPT with a capacity of 1 kW, 2 wind turbines with a capacity of 1 kW, 8 Lithium-ion batteries with a capacity of 6V-167 Ah, and a converter with a capacity of 2.5 kW has been determined will generate electrical energy of 5433 kWh per year. In addition, it has been determined that 61.8% of this produced energy will be obtained from solar energy and 38.2% from wind energy, and the simple payback period of the investment will be 14 years. It is thought that this study will provide valuable information to researchers and investors.

scholarly journals Transformation of energy balances with dominant coal consumption in European economies and Turkey in the years 1990–2017

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 627-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Izabela Jonek-Kowalska
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Energy Balance ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Energy Resources ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
Coal Consumption ◽  
Energy Balances

Research background: Energy policy is closely linked to economic development. Therefore, its optimization is an important issue especially in the contemporary European environmental conditions.  EU regulations enforce a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions and the abandonment of non-renewable energy resources. Instead, they promote renewable energy sources. In this way, new legal and environmental circumstances are becoming the main reason for the transformation of energy balances, which is a real economic and technological challenge. This transformation requires a strategic and effective approach, especially in those countries which until now have used mainly hard coal in the energy sector. Purpose of the article: According to above justification, the main purpose of the article is to identify the strategies for the transformation of energy balances that were implemented in the years 1990–2017 by chosen European countries and Turkey. Methods: The study period covers the years 1990–2017, and the subject of the research at first applies to all European countries, and then to 7 countries selected due to their high share of bituminous coal in energy balance in the first year of the analysis, treated as the initial point of transformation (1990). As a result of this selection, 6 EU members and Turkey with the largest share of coal in energy production in the year 1990 are examined. Particularly, an analysis of the trends in their energy balances in the years 1990–2017 is conducted. The research uses data on non-renewable energy consumption and renewable energy resources and the total energy consumption. The research methodology includes: analysis of the structure and dynamics, evaluation of trends and comparative analysis and presentation of development strategies. At the end of the article, a comparative analysis is carried out, the economic consequences of identified changes are assessed, and recommendations are formulated aimed at optimizing the structure of the energy balance in the future. Findings & Value added: Generally, there are four theoretical and empirical patterns of transformation strategies of energy balances with dominant coal consumption: 1) using other non-renewable energy resources; 2) replacing non-renewable energy resources with renewable ones; 3) using nuclear energy instead of coal; 4) increasing coal consumption as available and efficient energy resource. It was found that the examined countries implement mainly the strategy in which the decreasing share of coal is made up for by an increasing share of gas. Additionally, we can observe an increase in the share of nuclear energy in France, the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom. In Spain and Germany, despite the use of nuclear power plants for the production of energy, the share of nuclear energy in the energy balances has systematically decreased in time. In all analyzed countries, we can also observe an increasing share of renewable sources in energy balances, however, this growth is very slow.

Evolution of the Transition to a World Driven by Renewable Energy

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian M. Fronk ◽  
Richard Neal ◽  
Srinivas Garimella
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Renewable Resource ◽  
The United States ◽  
Energy Utilization ◽  
Standard Of Living ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
Renewable Power ◽  
Consumption Rates ◽  
Developed Nations

The world’s energy supplies will continue to be pressured as the population grows and the standard of living rises in the developing world. A move by the rest of the world toward energy consumption rates on par with the United States is most probably unsustainable. An examination of population trends, current energy utilization rates, and estimated reserves shows that a major worldwide transition to renewable resources is necessary in the next 100 years. This paper examines one possible scenario of how energy usage and renewable power generation must evolve during this time period. As the global standard of living increases, energy consumption in developing nations will begin to approach that of the developed world. A combination of energy conservation and efficiency improvements in developed nations will be needed to push the worldwide energy consumption to approximately 200 million Btu per person per year. Fossil fuel resources will be exhausted or become prohibitively expensive, necessitating the development of renewable energy resources. At this projected steady state population and energy consumption, the required contribution of each type of renewable resource can be calculated. Comparing these numbers to the current renewable capacities illustrates the enormous effort that must be made in the next century.

scholarly journals Data–Driven Control Techniques for Renewable Energy Conversion Systems: Wind Turbine and Hydroelectric Plants

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvio Simani ◽  
Stefano Alvisi ◽  
Mauro Venturini
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Energy Conversion ◽  
Wind Turbine ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
Control Techniques ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Energy Conversion Systems ◽  
Hydroelectric Plants

The interest on the use of renewable energy resources is increasing, especially towards wind and hydro powers, which should be efficiently converted into electric energy via suitable technology tools. To this aim, data--driven control techniques represent viable strategies that can be employed for this purpose, due to the features of these nonlinear dynamic processes working over a wide range of operating conditions, driven by stochastic inputs, excitations and disturbances. Some of the considered methods, such as fuzzy and adaptive self--tuning controllers, were already verified on wind turbine systems, and similar advantages may thus derive from their appropriate implementation and application to hydroelectric plants. These issues represent the key features of the work, which provides some guidelines on the design and the application of these control strategies to these energy conversion systems. The working conditions of these systems will be also taken into account in order to highlight the reliability and robustness characteristics of the developed control strategies, especially interesting for remote and relatively inaccessible location of many installations.

scholarly journals Impacts of Renewable Energy Resources on Effectiveness of Grid-Integrated Systems: Succinct Review of Current Challenges and Potential Solution Strategies

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (18) ◽  
pp. 4856
Author(s):  
Joseph Oyekale ◽  
Mario Petrollese ◽  
Vittorio Tola ◽  
Giorgio Cau
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Renewable Resources ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Grid Integration ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
Solution Strategies ◽  
Review Study ◽  
Renewable Hydrogen

This study is aimed at a succinct review of practical impacts of grid integration of renewable energy systems on effectiveness of power networks, as well as often employed state-of-the-art solution strategies. The renewable energy resources focused on include solar energy, wind energy, biomass energy and geothermal energy, as well as renewable hydrogen/fuel cells, which, although not classified purely as renewable resources, are a famous energy carrier vital for future energy sustainability. Although several world energy outlooks have suggested that the renewable resources available worldwide are sufficient to satisfy global energy needs in multiples of thousands, the different challenges often associated with practical exploitation have made this assertion an illusion to date. Thus, more research efforts are required to synthesize the nature of these challenges as well as viable solution strategies, hence, the need for this review study. First, brief overviews are provided for each of the studied renewable energy sources. Next, challenges and solution strategies associated with each of them at generation phase are discussed, with reference to power grid integration. Thereafter, challenges and common solution strategies at the grid/electrical interface are discussed for each of the renewable resources. Finally, expert opinions are provided, comprising a number of aphorisms deducible from the review study, which reveal knowledge gaps in the field and potential roadmap for future research. In particular, these opinions include the essential roles that renewable hydrogen will play in future energy systems; the need for multi-sectoral coupling, specifically by promoting electric vehicle usage and integration with renewable-based power grids; the need for cheaper energy storage devices, attainable possibly by using abandoned electric vehicle batteries for electrical storage, and by further development of advanced thermal energy storage systems (overviews of state-of-the-art thermal and electrochemical energy storage are also provided); amongst others.

scholarly journals Integrated Renewable Energy System based on IREOM Model and Spatial–Temporal Series for Isolated Rural Areas in the Region of Valparaiso, Chile

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunesky Masip ◽  
Anibal Gutierrez ◽  
Joel Morales ◽  
Antonio Campo ◽  
Meyli Valín
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Wind Power ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
Energy Potential ◽  
Electricity Grid ◽  
Renewable Energy System ◽  
The Cost

Providing energy to areas isolated from the electricity grid through the use of a smart integrated renewable energy system (SIRES) is proposed in this study for Valparaiso, Chile. The study analyzes the process of identifying the appropriate size of a SIRES considering technical and economic factors. An optimization model proposed in the literature was modified, and a subsequent spatial–temporal analysis of the different variables was conducted. The model comprises locally available renewable energy resources, such as biomass, biogas, wind power, solar photovoltaic, and thermal power. Furthermore, it was used to determine the energy potential of each of the isolated areas, identifying those areas in which the SIRES could be implemented as a sustainable solution. The design simulates the cost of the initial investment and energy generation in the chosen areas. The study also includes the selection of different system components and the use of the general model to determine the optimal combination of energy subsystems for isolated areas with the aim of minimizing the cost of energy generations. Finally, an economic evaluation showed that the use of a SIRES based mainly on solar energy supported by biomass, biogas, and mini-wind power costs approximately three times less than extending the electricity grid network.

scholarly journals Toward the Optimal Operation of Hybrid Renewable Energy Resources in Microgrids

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (20) ◽  
pp. 5482
Author(s):  
Shabir Ahmad ◽  
Israr Ullah ◽  
Faisal Jamil ◽  
DoHyeun Kim
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Objective Function ◽  
Renewable Resources ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Pso Algorithm ◽  
Optimal Operation ◽  
Energy Resources ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
Cost Efficient

Renewable energy sources are environmentally friendly and cost-efficient. However, the problem with these renewable resources is their heavy reliance on weather conditions. Thus, at times, these solutions are not guaranteed to meet the required demand all the time. For this, hybrid microgrids are introduced, which have a combination of both renewable energy sources and non-renewable energy resources. In this paper, a cost-efficient optimization algorithm is proposed that minimizes the use of non-renewable energy sources. It maximizes the use of renewable energy resources by meeting the demand for utility grids. Real data based on the load and demand of the utility grids in Italy is used, and a system that determines the optimal sizing of the microgrid and a daily plan is introduced to optimize the renewable resources operations. As part of the proposal, the objective function for the operation and planning of the microgrid in such a way to minimize cost is formulated. Moreover, a variant of the PSO algorithm named recurrent PSO is implemented. The recurrent PSO algorithm solves the proposed optimization objective function by minimizing the cost for the installation and working of the microgrid. Afterwards, the energy management system algorithm lays out a plan for the daily operation of the microgrid. The performance of the system is evaluated using different state-of-the-art optimization methods. The proposed work can help minimize the use of diesel generators, which not only saves financial resources but also contributes toward a green environment.

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