scholarly journals The Transition to Renewable Energy Technologies—Impact on Economic Performance of North Rhine-Westphalia

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (18) ◽  
pp. 3783 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianmarco Aniello ◽  
Johannes Többen ◽  
Wilhelm Kuckshinrichs

The economic impacts of the German Renewable Energy Act (EEG) are of considerable importance for the discussion of the energy transition in Germany (Energiewende). The Energiewende implies structural changes of the energy system by deploying Renewable Energy (and energy efficiency) Technologies (RET), but it also may induce structural changes for the overall economy, with uneven effects on a sub-national level. North-Rhine Westphalia (NRW) is an ideal case to study such regional disparities, since this federal state has scarce per-capita renewable energy sources, whereas it stands out for its energy intensive industry and fossil-fuel based power plants. In order to support renewable energy policies, mostly gross impact assessments of RET deployment have been carried out both on national and regional levels. By definition, such analyses result in positive assessments, since only expansionary effects resulting from additional demand for RET are accounted for. This paper, in contrast, presents a net impact assessment of the EEG on the NRW economy of both expansionary and contractionary effects. The latter consist of negative income effects, increased production costs and, the crowding-out of conventional energy due to the renewable energy financing mechanism (i.e., electricity surcharge), as well as its preferential status for feed-in. Our findings show how North-Rhine Westphalia, with regard to the operation of RET, suffers disproportionally from negative effects in relation to the value addition of its economy in comparison to the rest the country, whereas it benefits marginally from the production of such facilities.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Koh ◽  
Jordan Kern ◽  
AFM Kamal Chowdhury ◽  
Stefano Galelli

<p>Multi-sector modelling frameworks are fundamental platforms for exploring the complex interactions between the water and energy sectors. While acknowledging the pivotal role of hydropower within the energy system, it is essential to understand the feedback mechanisms between power and water systems to guide the design of hydropower operations and enhance water-energy management strategies. With this in mind, we developed a modelling framework hinged on a bidirectional coupling between water and power system models. We simulate the constraints imposed by water availability on grid operations as well as the feedback between the state of the energy and water systems. For example, the framework explicitly accounts for conditions of hydropower oversupply, during which part of the water could be stored in reservoirs or allocated to other sectors. The flexibility added to the system gives operators control over desired reservoirs, and allows the system to exploit the benefits warranted by a more efficient use of renewable energy. We evaluate the framework on a real-world case study based on the Cambodian grid, which relies on hydro, solar, and thermoelectric resources. In our analysis, we demonstrate that managing hydropower reservoirs with the feedback mechanism in mind allows us to improve system’s performance—evaluated in terms of power production costs and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions. Overall, our work contributes a novel modelling tool for climate-water-energy nexus studies, working towards an optimal integration of hydropower and other renewable energy sources into power systems.</p>


Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukas Kriechbaum ◽  
Thomas Kienberger

In developed countries like Austria the renewable energy potential might outpace the demand. This requires primary energy efficiency measures as well as an energy system design that enables the integration of variable renewable energy sources. Municipal energy systems, which supply customers with heat and electricity, will play an important role in this task. The cumulative exergy consumption methodology considers resource consumption from the raw material to the final product. It includes the exergetic expenses for imported energy as well as for building the energy infrastructure. In this paper, we determine the exergy optimal energy system design of an exemplary municipal energy system by using cumulative exergy consumption minimisation. The results of a case study show that well a linked electricity and heat system using heat pumps, combined heat power plants and battery and thermal storages is necessary. This enables an efficient supply and also provides the necessary flexibilities for integrating variable renewable energy sources.


2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 109-115
Author(s):  
Vyacheslav Valerievich Guryev ◽  
Vladimir Vyacheslavovich Kuvshinov ◽  
Boris Anatolevich Yakimovich

The Crimean Peninsula is the flagship of the development of renewable energy, as it is not only an actively developing region, but also a resort center. The energy complex of the Crimean Peninsula in recent years has increased due to the construction of new power plants (Balaklava TPP and Tavricheskaya TPP) with a total capacity of 940 MW, as well as the construction of new 220 and 330 kV transmission lines, which ensured that the peninsula’s power supply deficit was covered. A review of the regional development and use of renewable energy sources is carried out. Based on the data obtained, an analysis is made of the problems and prospects for the development of renewable energy in the region. The development of renewable energy for the Crimean Peninsula plays an important role in order to achieve environmental safety and develop the economic potential of the region. The paper substantiates the priority use of renewable energy in the region, as well as the solution of emerging problems with an increase in the share of renewable energy in the total generation. The appearance of excess electricity in the power system and the possibility of balancing the generated power of renewable energy and thermal power plants, while reducing the cost of electricity. Investment attractiveness and active population growth in the region leads to an increase in generating capacity and an increase in the maneuverability of the energy system with a significant impact of RES. The efficiency of renewable energy in the energy system, the world experience in managing renewable energy generation, the actual impact of renewable energy on the energy system in conditions of electricity shortage, and forecast work schedules of the SES wind farm provided by the electric power industry entities in the assigned way are taken into account when forming the dispatch schedule and are accepted at the request of the subject. The available experience of existing SES in the power system of the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol requires additional research, including through field testing of generating equipment. Further full-scale tests should be carried out under the conditions of a real electric power mode of the power system, which requires the introduction of modern information technologies that ensure the exchange of technological information and the implementation of appropriate control actions. The work is underway to create a regulatory framework for the control of renewable energy source operation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 174-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bandiyah Sri Aprillia ◽  
Desri Kristina Silalahi ◽  
Muhammad Agung Foury Rigoursyah

Electricity demand increases along with an increasing population. Renewable energy power plants are experiencing an increase in their use. This increase occurred because the world's electricity needs are rising every year, so the development of renewable energy power plants continues. Indonesia's state-owned power plants supply electricity more from non-renewable energy sources than renewable energy sources. Therefore, there is a need for renewable energy sources that can supply electricity in Indonesia. This research discusses an efficient renewable energy system for residential and the total installation costs for on-grid systems in Bandung, Indonesia. The research method used is collecting solar radiation data, equipment specifications and other data needed and then optimized. The simulation model uses HOMER software. HOMER is used to determine the best technically estimated cost, payback period, and NPC. Based on the optimization results, the system configuration can supply the electricity load 45.5% of daily load consumption with a total NPC cost is 75,300,000 million with a payback period of 7 years. In addition, the on-grid system produces 1400 kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per year from diesel generators, lower than the CO2 emissions from systems that only comprise diesel generators reaching 114 tons per year.    


2021 ◽  
Vol 899 (1) ◽  
pp. 012048
Author(s):  
Evangelia Karasmanaki

Abstract Examining willingness-to-pay (WTP) for renewable energy sources (RES) as well as views on energy topics can enable policymakers to design effective measures for facilitating the transition from fossil fuels to a renewable-based energy system. The aim of this study was to investigate environmental students’ willingness-to-pay for renewables and their views on various energy topics. Results showed that respondents preferred renewable-based electricity production to conventional energy production while solar energy emerged as the most preferred renewable type. In addition, most respondents were willing to pay for renewable energy but would pay relatively low sums of money per month. Moreover, respondents were divided over whether new lignite plants should be constructed in Greece. Finally, social media and special websites were the most favored media of daily information.


2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 93-101
Author(s):  
T.A. Zheliezna ◽  
A.I. Bashtovyi

The aim of the work is to analyze possible ways of decarbonization of the EU heat supply sector. The task of the work is to identify the most promising areas and develop appropriate recommendations for Ukraine. The heat supply sector of the EU and Ukraine needs decarbonization, for which there is a big potential and different areas of implementation of relevant measures. In Europe, such a strategy is set out in the Roadmap for decarbonization of the EU heating sector until 2050, the main provisions of which are in line with objectives of the European Green Deal and the EU Strategy on Heating and Cooling. European experts have developed the concept of a smart energy system, which was taken into account when preparing the Roadmap for decarbonization of the EU heating sector until 2050. A number of carried out studies have shown that a smart energy system with 50% district heating integrated with other parts of the overall energy system is more efficient than a conventional energy system or the one based on decentralized heat supply, in terms of the possibility of using a high share of renewable energy. It is recommended for Ukraine to finalize the Concept of green energy transition until 2050, taking into account European approaches to the development of heating systems and the use of modern biofuels. It is also recommended to expand the current Concept of heat supply of Ukraine to the level of a strategy with an emphasis on the development of district heating systems, wide involvement of renewable energy sources and new technologies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 12494
Author(s):  
Dorian Frieden ◽  
Andreas Tuerk ◽  
Ana Rita Antunes ◽  
Vasilakis Athanasios ◽  
Alexandros-Georgios Chronis ◽  
...  

To accelerate the energy transition, the EU “Clean Energy for all Europeans” package aims to strengthen the involvement of end consumers in the energy market. To this end, together with so-called “active consumers” and provisions for individual and collective renewable energy self-consumption, two types of energy communities were introduced. The EU framework, however, leaves many details of the transposition process to the national level. The corresponding directives were supposed to be transposed by the end of December 2020 (recast Electricity Market Directive, defining active consumers and citizen energy communities) and by the end of June 2021 (Renewable Energy Directive, defining renewables self-consumption and renewable energy communities). In this paper, we critically discuss major developments of the transposition, including questions of the general distinction of the different concepts, governance and ownership, physical expansion, administrative barriers and the overall integration of energy communities into the energy system. The analysis builds on country case studies as well as on previous work by the authors on the status of the transposition process throughout the EU. The paper shows that the national approaches differ greatly and are at very different stages. While basic provisions are in place in most Member States to meet the fundamental EU requirements, the overall integration into the energy system and market is only partly addressed. This concerns, for instance, the analysis of system impacts of energy communities and measures that would allow and support energy system-friendly behaviour. In addition, several practical hurdles need to be overcome. These often relate to administrative requirements such as complex registration and licensing procedures, the need for the involvement of several institutions, or difficult procedures for access to relevant data. The paper concludes that discussed barriers will need to be carefully addressed if the high expectations for the role of energy communities are to be met.


2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 771-780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zihnija Hasovic ◽  
Boris Cosic ◽  
Adisa Omerbegovic-Arapovic ◽  
Neven Duic

This paper investigates current and planned investments in new power plants in Bosnia and Herzegovina and impact of these investments on the energy sector, CO2 emission and internationally committed targets for electricity from renewable sources up to year 2020. Bosnia and Herzegovina possesses strong renewable energy potential, in particular hydro and biomass. However, the majority of energy production is conducted in outdated power plants and based on fossil fuels, resulting in environment pollution. New major investments The Stanari Thermal plant (300 MW) and the investment in Block 7 (450 MW) at the Thermal Plant Tuzla are again focused on fossil fuels. The power sector is also highly dependent on the hydrology as 54% of current capacities are based on large hydro power. In order to investigate how the energy system of Bosnia and Herzegovina will be affected by these investments and hydrology, the EnergyPLAN model was used. Based on the foreseen demand for year 2020 several power plants construction and hydrology scenarios have been modelled to cover a range of possibilities that may occur. This includes export orientation of Stanari plant, impact of wet, dry and average year, delayed construction of Tuzla Block 7, constrained construction of hydro power plants, and retirement of thermal units. It can be concluded that energy system can be significantly affected by delayed investments but in order to comply with renewables targets Bosnia and Herzegovina will need to explore the power production from other renewable energy sources as well.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Osei-Tutu ◽  
Samuel Boadi ◽  
Vincent Kusi-Kyei

Abstract Background In Ghana, energy transition as a research theme is new. It is unclear whether energy transition has occurred or not, and if so, in what form. This study sought to find out whether this transition has occurred in Ghana’s electrical energy sector and how using indicators deduced from literature, such as change in energy source type, change in energy ownership and management, and transition to greener vehicular transportation. Methods Information on Ghana’s electrical energy transition was obtained from thematic content analysis of Ghana’s renewable energy policy documents, energy sector reports, newspaper articles and information on the websites of Ghana’s energy sector institutions such as the Volta River Authority, Ghana Grid Company Limited, Electricity Company of Ghana and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company. Results In this study, it was demonstrated that two structural changes have occurred in Ghana’s electrical energy sector: (1) Transition from an exclusively hydro energy to a hydro-thermal mix, with thermal energy constituting about 69% of the 2020 generation mix; and (2) Transition from an exclusively state supplied energy to a state-private supply mix, with about 56% of the 2020 supply coming from private companies. These changes were motivated by the need to expand the energy supply in response to an increasing demand of 10–15% per year. The study also indicated that renewable energy had attracted attention in policy, with policy targets such as 10% renewable energy in the energy mix by 2030 and provision of renewable energy to 1000 off-grid communities by 2030. However, renewable energy currently constitutes less than 1% of the electrical energy mix. Also, there has been no change in the heavy reliance on fossil energy for vehicular transportation. Conclusions The study concludes that energy transition in its broad sense of structural changes in a country’s electrical energy system has occurred in Ghana, however a sustainable energy transition in the sense of a transition to greener energy has not occurred. It is recommended that further studies should be conducted on why Ghana’s renewable energy agenda has so far only been an agenda in policy with very minimal implementation in practice.


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