scholarly journals Transitions to Future Energy Systems: Learning from a Community Test Field

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 4513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siddharth Sareen ◽  
Douglas Baillie ◽  
Jürgen Kleinwächter
Keyword(s):  
Energy Systems ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Power Dynamics ◽  
Test Field ◽  
Global Connections ◽  
Systems Learning ◽  
Integrated Policy ◽  
Southern Portugal ◽  
Energy Justice ◽  
Socioeconomic Considerations

This article explores the challenges of transitioning towards future energy systems in a solar test field within the eco-community of Tamera, Portugal. We examine what findings can point to wider actionability and how. First, we consider how Tamera’s solar test field has addressed energy transition challenges. We unpack the nature of stability and change in achieving 60 percent energy autonomy; trace the linkages to spatiotemporal issues implicated in this sociotechnical process informed by keen commitment to energy justice; and dwell on the test field’s socioeconomic considerations at its interface with the Portuguese institutional framework and global connections. Second, we identify which findings can fertilise policy and action across European contexts. Considerations in gradually installing sub-100 kW solar capacity contrast starkly with the current proliferation of grid-scale solar in southern Portugal, raising questions about the actionability of knowledge on sociotechnical transitions. We co-generate ideas on how such contextualised epistemological advances can aid our understanding of societal energy transitions. The article encourages socially informed, integrated policy pathways. It speaks to building epistemological complementarities between applied researchers and practicing agents; problematises linking across scale between a community and institutionalising powers; and calls for actionable efforts that integrate systems thinking and power dynamics towards transformation.

scholarly journals Global Energy Transition: Redefining India’s Energy Roadmap

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 36
Author(s):  
Girijesh Pant
Keyword(s):  
Energy Transition ◽  
Paris Agreement ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Power Dynamics ◽  
Global Energy ◽  
Energy Needs ◽  
Effective System ◽  
The Government ◽  
National Boundaries ◽  
Energy Justice

The onset of transition and transformation in the global energy landscape is disrupting the prevailing energy order,defined by the hydrocarbons. The power dynamics unfolded by global environmental concerns (Paris Agreement)and smart technology is changing the geopolitics by shifting the strategic leverage between energy producers andconsumers at various levels: globally, regionally and within the national boundaries. In this strategic shift, the Asianconsumers are emerging as critical players both as promoters and spoilers of global energy transition. Since they arethe largest consumer of fossil fuel, their compliance with Paris Agreement is going to be vital in meeting the targetsand time line. Thus IEA has rightly observed, “Energy developments in India transform the international energysystem, and, in turn, India will be increasingly exposed to changes in international markets.”Clearly the Indian roadmap of energy transition is going to be influenced if not determined by its global commitmentto meet Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC). The government therefore has all reasons to scale upits targets and execution. However in meeting the targets, it has to address the issue of energy poverty as well. Thusthe roadmap has to meet the convergence of minimizing carbon emission meeting the growing energy needs of thepoor. This calls for re defining the organizing principle of India’s energy policy. Besides ensuring supply security ataggregate level it demands meeting the objectives of energy justice. The transition thus involves not only hugefinancing (estimated to be 2.5 trillion dollar) and massive technological push but the compatible institutionalmechanism and effective system of governance also. Indian energy roadmap has to recalibrate global energyengagement beyond the search of hydrocarbons in consonance with the imperatives of energy transition defined byglobal and local context. 

scholarly journals A Review of Energy Communities in Sub-Saharan Africa as a Transition Pathway to Energy Democracy

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2128
Author(s):  
Amollo Ambole ◽  
Kweku Koranteng ◽  
Peris Njoroge ◽  
Douglas Logedi Luhangala
Keyword(s):  
Stakeholder Engagement ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Energy Access ◽  
Energy Projects ◽  
Global North ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Energy Justice ◽  
Design Proposal ◽  
Ssa Countries

Energy communities have received considerable attention in the Global North, especially in Europe, due to their potential for achieving sustainable energy transitions. In Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), energy communities have received less attention partly due to the nascent energy systems in many emerging SSA states. In this paper, we argue that these nascent energy systems offer an opportunity to co-create energy communities that can tackle the energy access challenges faced by most SSA countries. To understand how such energy communities are realised in the sub-region, we undertake a systematic review of research on energy communities in 46 SSA countries. Our findings show that only a few energy projects exhibit the conventional characteristics of energy communities; In most of these projects, local communities are inadequately resourced to institute and manage their own projects. We thus look to stakeholder engagement approaches to propose co-design as a strategy for strengthening energy communities in SSA. We further embed our co-design proposal in energy democracy thinking to argue that energy communities can be a pathway towards equity and energy justice in SSA. We conclude that energy communities can indeed contribute to improving energy access in Africa, but they need an enabling policy environment to foster their growth and sustainability.

scholarly journals An inter-disciplinary approach to the energy transition in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Iain Todd ◽  
Darren McCauley
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Transition Process ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Static Approach ◽  
Tackle Climate Change ◽  
Fossil Fuel Industry ◽  
Energy Justice

AbstractThe compelling need to tackle climate change is well-established. It is a challenge which is being faced by all nations. This requires an approach which is truly inter-disciplinary in nature, drawing on the expertise of politicians, social scientists, and technologists. We report how the pace of the energy transition can be influenced significantly by both the operation of societal barriers, and by policy actions aimed at reducing these effects. Using the case study of South Africa, a suite of interviews has been conducted with diverse energy interests, to develop and analyse four key issues pertinent to the energy transition there. We do so primarily through the lens of delivering energy justice to that society. In doing so, we emphasise the need to monitor, model, and modify the dynamic characteristic of the energy transition process and the delivery of energy justice; a static approach which ignores the fluid nature of transition will be insufficient. We conclude that the South African fossil fuel industry is still impeding the development of the country’s renewable resources, and the price of doing so is being met by those living in townships and in rural areas.

Energy justice gaps in renewable energy transition policy initiatives in Vermont

Energy Policy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 159 ◽  
pp. 112608
Author(s):  
Walter Keady ◽  
Bindu Panikkar ◽  
Ingrid L. Nelson ◽  
Asim Zia
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Policy Initiatives ◽  
Energy Justice ◽  
Transition Policy

scholarly journals Energy justice in the transition to low carbon energy systems: Exploring key themes in interdisciplinary research

2019 ◽  
Vol 233-234 ◽  
pp. 916-921 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darren McCauley ◽  
Vasna Ramasar ◽  
Raphael J. Heffron ◽  
Benjamin K. Sovacool ◽  
Desta Mebratu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Interdisciplinary Research ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Energy Justice ◽  
Low Carbon Energy

scholarly journals The governance of energy transition: lessons from the Nigerian electricity sector

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Norbert Edomah
Keyword(s):  
Systems Change ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Electricity Sector ◽  
Energy Access ◽  
Energy Infrastructure ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Transition Governance ◽  
Major Factors ◽  
Direct Government

Abstract Background The rising need for transition towards more sustainable energy sources requires a rethink in the governance of energy systems. Arguably, policy makers have very important roles in governing transitions in any given society through established institutional frameworks. It has also been argued that energy infrastructure choices are determined by institutional dynamics and structures. However, what are the underlying influences required to change energy systems and what lessons can we draw from them for the governance of energy transition? This study focuses on understanding the dynamics of energy transition governance in the Nigerian electricity sector with the aim of drawing lessons that impact on energy transition and energy systems change. Methods Using explorative research tools, this study investigates the dynamics of energy transition governance in the Nigerian electricity sector with the aim of drawing lessons that impact on energy transition and energy systems change. Data from primary and secondary sources in documentary archives as well as other published sources that are linked with the provision of the Nigerian historical energy infrastructure were used for the analysis in order to draw lessons on energy transition dynamics in Nigeria. Results The study revealed that there were three important factors that had a direct impact on energy transition and energy systems change in Nigeria’s electricity sector. These are: (1) Changing perceptions and goals (during the period leading up to Nigeria’s independence, 1890–1960s); (2) Direct government interventions in energy infrastructure provisions (1940s–1970s); and (3) Major changes in market rules (from 2005 and beyond). Conclusions The study concludes by highlighting that: (1) there is a need for government institutions to tackle energy access issues that address the needs of the poor; (2) it is imperative to explore technological options that are more sustainable; and (3) there is a need to address energy consumption patterns that are more energy intensive. Indeed, available energy resources, technological changes in electricity supply systems, and the ‘geographies of energy’ are major factors that influence energy production and consumption dynamics. All of them needs should be considered, as energy decisions are primarily political choices.

scholarly journals The Potential Of Simulating Energy Systems: The Multi Energy Systems Simulator Model

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luigi Bottecchia ◽  
Pietro Lubello ◽  
Pietro Zambelli ◽  
Carlo Carcasci ◽  
Lukas Kranzl
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Optimal Solution ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Energy System ◽  
System Modelling ◽  
Energy System Model ◽  
Urban Level

Energy system modelling is an essential practice to assist a set of heterogeneous stakeholders in the process of defining an effective and efficient energy transition. From the analysis of a set of open source energy system models, it has emerged that most models employ an approach directed at finding the optimal solution for a given set of constraints. On the contrary, a simulation model is a representation of a system that is used to reproduce and understand its behaviour under given conditions, without seeking an optimal solution. Given the lack of simulation models that are also fully open source, in this paper a new open source energy system model is presented. The developed tool, called Multi Energy Systems Simulator (MESS), is a modular, multi-node model that allows to investigate non optimal solutions by simulating the energy system. The model has been built having in mind urban level analyses. However, each node can represent larger regions allowing wider spatial scales to be be represented as well. MESS is capable of performing analysis on systems composed by multiple energy carriers (e.g. electricity, heat, fuels). In this work, the tool’s features will be presented by a comparison between MESS itself and an optimization model, in order to analyze and highlight the differences between the two approaches, the potentialities of a simulation tool and possible areas for further development.

Modern Optimization Algorithms and Applications in Solar Photovoltaic Engineering

2016 ◽  
pp. 390-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igor Tyukhov ◽  
Hegazy Rezk ◽  
Pandian Vasant
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Smart Grids ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Point Tracking ◽  
Composition Structure ◽  
Primary Energy Supply ◽  
Power Point

This chapter is devoted to main tendencies of optimization in photovoltaic (PV) engineering showing the main trends in modern energy transition - the changes in the composition (structure) of primary energy supply, the gradual shift from a traditional (mainly based on fossil fuels) energy to a new stage based on renewable energy systems from history to current stage and to future. The concrete examples (case studies) of optimization PV systems in different concepts of using from power electronics (particularly maximum power point tracking optimization) to implementing geographic information system (GIS) are considered. The chapter shows the gradual shifting optimization from specific quite narrow areas to the new stages of optimization of the very complex energy systems (actually smart grids) based on photovoltaics and also other renewable energy sources and GIS.

scholarly journals Hourly CO2 Emission Factors and Marginal Costs of Energy Carriers in Future Multi-Energy Systems

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 2260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Böing ◽  
Anika Regett
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Linear Optimization ◽  
District Heating ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Emission Factors ◽  
Energy Carrier ◽  
Energy Carriers ◽  
Marginal Costs ◽  
Market Values

Hourly emission factors and marginal costs of energy carriers are determined to enable a simplified assessment of decarbonization measures in energy systems. Since the sectors and energy carriers are increasingly coupled in the context of the energy transition, the complexity of balancing emissions increases. Methods of calculating emission factors and marginal energy carrier costs in a multi-energy carrier model were presented and applied. The model used and the input data from a trend scenario for Germany up to the year 2050 were described for this purpose. A linear optimization model representing electricity, district heating, hydrogen, and methane was used. All relevant constraints and modeling assumptions were documented. In this context, an emissions accounting method has been proposed, which allows for determining time-resolved emission factors for different energy carriers in multi-energy systems (MES) while considering the linkages between energy carriers. The results showed that the emissions accounting method had a strong influence on the level and the hourly profile of the emission factors. The comparison of marginal costs and emission factors provided insights into decarbonization potentials. This holds true in particular for the electrification of district heating since a strong correlation between low marginal costs and times with renewable excess was observed. The market values of renewables were determined as an illustrative application of the resulting time series of costs. The time series of marginal costs as well as the time series of emission factors are made freely available for further use.

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