scholarly journals An Online Tool for Estimating Return-on-investment for Water Recycling at Nurseries

2022 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-56
Author(s):  
Paul D. Gottlieb ◽  
Robin G. Brumfield ◽  
Raul I. Cabrera ◽  
Daniel Farnsworth ◽  
Lucas Marxen
Keyword(s):  
Net Present Value ◽  
Simulation Analysis ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Capital Cost ◽  
Water Recycling ◽  
Online Tool ◽  
Aggregated Data ◽  
Water Rates ◽  
Total Capital ◽  
Fierce Competition

Water availability, quality, and management, particularly under climate change constraints and fierce competition for water resources, are challenging the sustainability of intensively irrigated nursery crops. We created an online tool to estimate costs and benefits of a water recycling investment at a commercial nursery, given data on the operation input by the user. The online tool returns a “regulatory risk score” based on the user’s drought and pollution risk. Then, using a partial budget approach, it returns net present value of the investment, upfront capital cost, and expected change in annual cash flow. The present article seeks to cross-validate this computer model with results reported in the case study literature. We aggregated data on 38 nurseries and greenhouses profiled in five published studies into a meta study dataset. These data validated the computer tool’s assumptions about the relationship of operation size to total capital cost. Separate simulations on the profitability effects of varying public water rates and price premia due to green marketing corroborated the findings of earlier studies. A major finding of the simulation analysis not previously emphasized in the literature is that capital cost and profit vary significantly with the precise method that is used to size the recapture pond. A “minimalist” approach to this decision is likely to be the most cost-effective, but growers should also keep stormwater runoff and other issues of environmental best practices in mind.

scholarly journals Techno-economics of Biochar and Biogas viability in Ghana

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 33-41
Author(s):  
Eric Fifi Ankamah ◽  
Pax Davies Dzamboe ◽  
Patience Mamle Agbedor ◽  
Godfred Tottimeh ◽  
Joseph Yao Amoah
Keyword(s):  
Net Present Value ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Payback Period ◽  
Capital Cost ◽  
Benefit Analysis ◽  
Total Capital ◽  
Welfare Change ◽  
Benefits And Costs

Biogas and voucher are technological solutions that deal with sanitation and other environmental problems. The technology for producing biogas from faeces is termed bio-toilet and production of biochar from the same human waste is by means of Sol-char toilet. The study evaluated economic benefits and costs of sol-char toilet and compared with empirical benefits and costs estimates of bio-toilet. Cost Benefit Analysis was used to judge welfare change attribution of investment into Sol Char Toilet and Bio Toilet. The pyrolysis plant was fed with 4000 tons of faeces for which Sol char toilet incurred Total capital cost of US$ 3,140,940.38, Net Present Value (NPV) of US$9,718,817.4788, Profitability Index (PI) of 4.0942381271 and 1.4 years payback period. Bio toilet values for a total of 4000 m3 (100 units of 40 m3 each) were; - Total capital cost of US$ 36,026.05, NPV of US$89,152.75, PI of 3.4746 and 3.46 years payback period. Sol char toilet is faced with high capital requirement challenges, compared with an advantage in smaller payback period and a marginal difference in PI. The study concluded that complementary roles of sol char toilet and bio toilet in the Ghanaian economy is preferred.Keywords: Biogas; Biochar; Cost Benefit Analysis; Profitability Index; Payback period.

scholarly journals Heat Exchanger Network Retrofit of an Oleochemical Plant through a Cost and Energy Efficiency Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Valli Trisha ◽  
Kai Seng Koh ◽  
Lik Yin Ng ◽  
Vui Soon Chok
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Heat Exchanger ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Capital Cost ◽  
Global Market ◽  
Annual Saving ◽  
Heat Exchanger Network ◽  
First Case ◽  
Payback Time ◽  
Better Than

Limited research of heat integration has been conducted in the oleochemical field. This paper attempts to evaluate the performance of an existing heat exchanger network (HEN) of an oleochemical plant at 600 tonnes per day (TPD) in Malaysia, in which the emphases are placed on the annual saving and reduction in energy consumption. Using commercial HEN numerical software, ASPEN Energy Analyzer v10.0, it was found that the performance of the current HEN in place is excellent, saving over 80% in annual costs and reducing energy consumption by 1,882,711 gigajoule per year (GJ/year). Further analysis of the performance of the HEN was performed to identify the potential optimisation of untapped heating/cooling process streams. Two cases, which are the most cost-effective and energy efficient, were proposed with positive results. However, the second case performed better than the first case, at a lower payback time (0.83 year) and higher annual savings (0.20 million USD/year) with the addition of one heat exchanger at a capital cost of USD 134,620. The first case had a higher payback time (4.64 years), a lower annual saving (0.05 million USD/year) and three additional heaters at a capital cost of USD 193,480. This research has provided a new insight into the oleochemical industry in which retrofitting the HEN can further reduce energy consumption, which in return will reduce the overall production cost of oleochemical commodities. This is particularly crucial in making the product more competitive in its pricing in the global market.

scholarly journals Transforming biorefinery designs with ‘Plug-In Processes of Lignin’ to enable economic waste valorization

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhi-Hua Liu ◽  
Naijia Hao ◽  
Yun-Yan Wang ◽  
Chang Dou ◽  
Furong Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cellulosic Ethanol ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Substantial Improvement ◽  
Selling Price ◽  
Waste Valorization ◽  
Lignin Valorization ◽  
Capital Costs ◽  
Carbon Efficiency ◽  
Synergistic Enhancement ◽  
Total Capital

AbstractBiological lignin valorization has emerged as a major solution for sustainable and cost-effective biorefineries. However, current biorefineries yield lignin with inadequate fractionation for bioconversion, yet substantial changes of these biorefinery designs to focus on lignin could jeopardize carbohydrate efficiency and increase capital costs. We resolve the dilemma by designing ‘plug-in processes of lignin’ with the integration of leading pretreatment technologies. Substantial improvement of lignin bioconversion and synergistic enhancement of carbohydrate processing are achieved by solubilizing lignin via lowering molecular weight and increasing hydrophilic groups, addressing the dilemma of lignin- or carbohydrate-first scenarios. The plug-in processes of lignin could enable minimum polyhydroxyalkanoate selling price at as low as $6.18/kg. The results highlight the potential to achieve commercial production of polyhydroxyalkanoates as a co-product of cellulosic ethanol. Here, we show that the plug-in processes of lignin could transform biorefinery design toward sustainability by promoting carbon efficiency and optimizing the total capital cost.

scholarly journals Comparison of electrical collection topologies for multi-rotor wind turbines

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 1237-1252
Author(s):  
Paul Pirrie ◽  
David Campos-Gaona ◽  
Olimpo Anaya-Lara
Keyword(s):  
Wind Turbines ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Capital Cost ◽  
Lower Efficiency ◽  
Energy Capture ◽  
Electrical Systems ◽  
Component Type ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Comparison Table ◽  
Almost All

Abstract. Multi-rotor wind turbines (MRWTs) have been suggested in the literature as a solution to achieving wind turbine systems with capacities greater than 10 MW. MRWTs utilize a large number of small rotors connected to one support structure instead of one large rotor with the aim of circumventing the square cube law. Potential benefits of MRWTs include cost and material savings, standardization of parts, increased control possibilities, and improved logistics for assembly and maintenance. Almost all previous work has focused on mechanical and aerodynamic feasibility, with almost no attention being paid to the electrical systems. In this research eight different topologies of the electrical collection network for MRWTs are analysed to assess which are the most economically and practically viable options. AC and DC collection networks are presented in radial, star, cluster and DC series topologies. Mass, capital cost and losses are estimated based on scaling relationships from the academic literature and up-to-date commercial data. The focus of this study is the assessment of the type of electrical collector topology, so component type and voltage level are kept consistent between topology designs in order to facilitate a fair comparison. Topologies are compared in terms of four main criteria: capital cost, cost effectiveness, total mass and reliability. A comparison table is presented to summarize the findings of the research in a convenient way. It is found that the most cost-effective solutions are the AC radial and AC star topologies, with the least cost-effective being the DC series–parallel and DC cluster topologies. This is due to the high cost of DC–DC converters and DC switchgear along with the lower efficiency of DC converters. Radial designs perform best in terms of efficiency and annual energy capture. DC systems achieve a slightly lower nacelle mass compared to their equivalent AC systems. DC topologies are generally found to be more expensive when compared to their AC counterparts due to the high cost of DC–DC converters and DC switchgear. Star topologies are considered to have the best reliability due to having no shared equipment. The most suitable collection topology for MRWTs is shown to be of the star type, in which each turbine is connected to the step-up transformer via its own cable.

scholarly journals INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES AS A PROSPECTIVE DIRECTION OF PLANNING ACTIVITIES OF HOTEL AND RESTAURANT ENTERPRISES OF UKRAINE

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ljudmila Neshchadym ◽  
Svetlana Тymchuk
Keyword(s):  
Internal State ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Restaurant Industry ◽  
Product Portfolio ◽  
Innovative Strategies ◽  
Reducing Costs ◽  
Fierce Competition ◽  
High Level

The article monitors and analyzes the main strategies for the development of hotel and restaurant enterprises and, accordingly, increase their efficiency and competitiveness; the process of organization and economic planning of hotel and restaurant enterprises has been improved. It is investigated that the enterprises of hotel and restaurant industry of Ukraine partially provide the necessary quality indicators for the provided services, and this is the reason for the insufficient level of competitiveness of services in the domestic market and in European countries. An urgent problem of planning and organizing the activities of hotel and restaurant enterprises is the use of innovative strategies and areas of long-term development to increase the level of competitiveness and quality of services provided. This will intensify innovation processes in Ukraine in the field of services. Innovative strategies and promising areas of development of hotel and restaurant enterprises are extremely important in the management of hotel and restaurant complexes. Innovative strategies in the hotel and restaurant industry are cost-effective and feasible provided a high level of profitability, improving the service process, expanding the range of services, reducing costs, increasing competitiveness, improve and optimize the work of all hotel or restaurant services. The application of innovative strategies in the process of hotel and restaurant enterprises allows them to compete in the field of service. In conditions of fierce competition and rapidly changing market conditions, it is very important not only to focus on the internal state of affairs of the enterprise, but also to develop a long-term strategy. Economic activity requires constant innovation. All services offered by hotel and restaurant enterprises must be introduced in modern innovative ways. This is the basis for successful business, maintaining a consistently high level of competitiveness and improving the quality of service. The selection of the optimal innovation strategy for a hotel or restaurant company is carried out by its management based on the analysis of key factors that characterize its condition and the state of the product portfolio.

Effects of aerial strip spraying on mixedwood stand structure and tree growth

2014 ◽  
Vol 90 (04) ◽  
pp. 479-485 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phil Comeau
Keyword(s):  
Net Present Value ◽  
Stand Structure ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Present Value ◽  
Herbicide Application ◽  
Subsequent Growth ◽  
Block Area

Herbicide application in strips offers a cost-effective way to accelerate spruce growth in young mixedwood stands, while also retaining the mixedwood character of the stand. In June of 2006 data were collected to evaluate the effects of aerial strip spraying on subsequent growth of treated stands. These blocks had been planted in 1991 and treated in 2000 with Triclopyr ester herbicide applied in strips. Treated and untreated strips averaged 5.8 m and 8.4 m in width, respectively, with 38% of the block area being effectively treated. In 2006 aspen density, DBH, and height were significantly lower in the treated strips compared to either untreated strips or completely untreated blocks. Spruce growth was significantly larger in treated strips with diameter growth responses beginning in the first and height growth responses in the second growing season following treatment. Yield estimates from the Mixedwood Growth Model (MGM) indicate that the strip spray treatments result in the highest spruce yields. However, when understory protection (harvesting aspen at age 70 and spruce at 120) is applied, the untreated blocks provided higher total yield and net present value.

Wind capacity growth in the Northwest United States: Cooptimized versus sequential generation and transmission planning

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 573-595 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Maloney ◽  
Ping Liu ◽  
Qingyu Xu ◽  
James D McCalley ◽  
Benjamin F Hobbs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pacific Northwest ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Planning Horizon ◽  
Power Grids ◽  
Sequential Optimization ◽  
Sequential Approach ◽  
Transmission Planning ◽  
Expansion Planning ◽  
Transmission Expansion

This article demonstrates the benefits of simultaneous cooptimization on a 312-bus network representation of the Western Interconnection power grid with emphasis on The Bonneville Power Administration’s operational area in the Pacific Northwest. While generation and transmission expansion planning has traditionally been solved sequentially, simultaneous cooptimization of both guarantees plans at least as cost effective as sequential approaches and better integrates high-quality remote resources like wind into power grids. For three scenarios with varied carbon and transmission costs, results indicate that (1) simultaneous cooptimization provides up to 6 billion dollars in net present value benefits over sequential optimization during the 50-year planning horizon, (2) cooptimization is more adept at tapping into superior remote resources like wind that the sequential approach has trouble identifying for low iterations, and (3) 10 iterations of sequential cooptimization only capture 75%–96% of the transmission benefits of simultaneous cooptimization.

scholarly journals Plasma Assisted Combustion as a Cost-Effective Way for Balancing of Intermittent Sources: Techno-Economic Assessment for 200 MWel Power Unit

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 5056
Author(s):  
Tadeusz Mączka ◽  
Halina Pawlak-Kruczek ◽  
Lukasz Niedzwiecki ◽  
Edward Ziaja ◽  
Artur Chorążyczewski
Keyword(s):  
Power Unit ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Economic Assessment ◽  
Marginal Effect ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Present Value ◽  
Plasma System ◽  
Value Analysis

Due to the increasing installed power of the intermittent renewable energy sources in the European Union, increasing the operation flexibility of the generating units in the system is necessary. This is particularly important for systems with relatively large installed power of wind and solar. Plasma technologies can be used for that purpose. Nonetheless, the wide implementation of such technology should be economically justified. This paper shows that the use of plasma systems for increasing the flexibility of power units can be economically feasible, based on the results of a net present value analysis. The cost of the installation itself had a marginal effect on the results of the net present value analysis. Based on the performed analysis, the ability to lower the technical minimum of the power unit and the relationship between such a technical minimum and the installed power of a plasma system can be considered decisive factors influencing the economics of the investment for such an installation. Further research on better means of prediction of the minimum attainable load, which would allow determining the influence of implementation of a plasma system, is recommended. This will be the decisive factor behind future decisions regarding investing in such systems.

Life Cycle Cost Analysis Case Study on Corrosion Remedial Measures for Concrete Structures

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin How Ho ◽  
Azlan Abd. Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Cost Analysis ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Concrete Bridges ◽  
Analysis Tool ◽  
Life Cycle Cost Analysis ◽  
Remedial Measures ◽  
Present Value

Artikel ini membincangkan kajian ringkas berkaitan analisis kos kitaran hayat terhadap langkah-langkah pembaikan pengaratan bagi jambatan dan struktur marin konkrit yang terdedah kepada karbonasi atau serangan natrium klorida daripada air laut atau sumber-sumber lain. Perisian kos kitaran hayat, Bridge LCC 2.0 digunakan untuk menjalankan analisi kitaran hayat untuk tiga kes kajian melibatkan kaedah nilai bersih kini. Keputusan kajian menunjukkan analisis kos kitaran hayat berkeupayaan untuk membantu jurutera dan agensi pengangkutan dalam menilai keputusan penyelenggaraan yang efektif berkaitan dengan masalah pengaratan. Ia boleh digunakan sebagai alat analisis ekonomi kejuruteraan yang membantu mantaksir kos-kos perbezaan dan membuat pilihan terhadap langkah pembaikan pengaratan yang berkesan. Analisis kos kitaran hayat bagi langkah pembaikan dipengaruhi oleh banyak pemboleh ubah seperti kos permulaan, kos penyelenggaraan, tahun kekerapan, dan jangka masa analisis. Amalan terbaik untuk analisis kos kitaran hayat bukan sahaja mengambil kira perbelanjaan oleh agensi, tetapi perlu mempertimbangkan kos-kos oleh pengguna dan analisis sensitiviti di sepanjang jangka hayat sesuatu langkah pembaikan. Kata kunci: Analisis kos kitaran hayat, jambatan konkrit, pengaratan, langkah, pembaikan, pemulihan struktur, keberkesanan kos, kaedah nilai bersih kini (NPV) This paper discusses a short study on life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) on corrosion remedial measures for concrete bridges and marine structures, which are subjected to carbonation or ingress of sodium chloride from sea water and other sources. Life cycle costing software, Bridge LCC 2.0, was used to perform life cycle cost analyses on three case studies, based on net present value method. The analysis of the results showed that LCCA is capable of assisting engineers or transportation agencies to evaluate optimum maintenance decisions in corrosion–related problems. It can be used as an engineering economic analysis tool that helps in qualifying the differential costs and choosing the most cost–effective corrosion remedial measures. Life cycle costs for the remedial measures are influenced by many costing variables such as initial costs, periodic maintenance costs, frequency years and analysis period. The best practice of LCCA should not only consider agency expenditures but also user costs and sensitivity analysis throughout the service life of a remedial measure. Key words: Life cycle analysis, concrete bridges, corrosion, remedial measures, structural rehabilitation, cost-effective, net present value method (NPV)

Incorporating Pavement Smoothness Benefits to Enhance the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Pavement Type Determination Process

2020 ◽  
Vol 2674 (5) ◽  
pp. 563-571
Author(s):  
Max Grogg ◽  
Kelly Smith ◽  
Chris Williges ◽  
Scott Schram
Keyword(s):  
Best Practice ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Pavement Management ◽  
State Highway ◽  
Type Selection ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Federal Highway ◽  
Accepted Practice

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)’s Pavement Policy as codified in 23 CFR 626 states, “Pavement shall be designed to accommodate current and predicted traffic needs in a safe, durable, and cost effective manner” to be eligible for federal highway funding. To meet this requirement, state highway agencies have developed pavement type determination (PTD) policies, also known as pavement type selection, and implemented pavement management. Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT)’s PTD has been in place for many years; but in 2018, Iowa DOT looked at enhancing their PTD process to address gaps between past practice and best practice. Among the enhancements, user benefit as defined by pavement smoothness was utilized when net present value (NPV) alone could not definitively distinguish a preferred alternative. The smoothness benefit would become the divisor in a cost–benefit (C/B) ratio that would be used to determine the preferred alternate for the PTD. The cost portion of the ratio would remain the NPV of agency costs for the construction and projected rehabilitations during the analysis period. After a literature review and interviews of comparable state DOTs, several modifications to Iowa DOT’s PTD and the C/B ratio were analyzed and adopted. The modifications range from accepted practice changes, such as the use of a longer analysis period (50 years), to unconventional techniques, such as the consideration of smoothness. Iowa DOT believes these changes provide a more robust PTD. They are also considering additional improvements based upon additional research and policy making.

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