Studies on Optimal Strategy to Adopt Nuclear Power Plants into Saudi Arabian Energy System Using MESSAGE Tool

An optimal long-term electric power strategy for Saudi Arabia to adopt nuclear power was evaluated using the MESSAGE tool. Saudi Arabia is predicted to experience an electricity shortage by 2025 with the present energy system. This electricity shortage could be postponed until 2035 by rehabilitating the existing power plants. The MESSAGE model predicts that adopting a combination of renewable (i.e., solar and wind), advanced traditional power (i.e., gas turbine, steam, and combined cycle), and nuclear technologies is the most competitive future strategy to supply 43.7%, 41.6%, and 3.8%, respectively, of Saudi Arabia’s electricity needs by 2050. This paper proposes an optimal strategy for adopting nuclear power. The nuclear capacity of three scenarios was evaluated: a single APR-1400 nuclear reactor, a single SMART-100 nuclear reactor, and a combination of these two reactors. The results of this study indicate that the highest nuclear capacity was achieved by the combination of the APR-1400 and SMART-100 reactors followed by the single APR-1400 reactor and then the single SMART-100 reactor. However, the single G4ECONS nuclear reactor shows a higher capacity than the single APR-1400 reactor in other evaluated scenarios. The combined reactor strategy may be the most feasible option if the capital cost of a first-of-a-kind SMART-100 reactor is reduced by 62.3%. The cost reductions result from including factors like the time required to build the nuclear power plants in the MESSAGE tool calculation. Also, CO2 taxation will increase nuclear power’s feasibility in the Saudi Arabian energy system. However, the share of renewable energy is predicted to be more affected by the taxation of CO2. In this study, the proposed approach can provide more flexible strategic options for countries embarking on nuclear energy. These flexible strategic options can optimize their national energy mix for long-term planning.

PEMBANGKIT LISTRIK TENAGA GELOMBANG LAUT DENGAN MENGGUNAKAN TEKNOLOGI OSCILATING WATER COLUMN (OWC) DI PERAIRAN MARANA

The alternatives to overcome electricity shortage in Indonesia is wave generating. One of the methods conducted in this research is OWC (Oscilating Water Column) based on study area criteria (Marana Village). OWC method can convert ocean wave energy atwave columnoscillationto generate electricity. To be able to produce electricity, this OWC device will train the wave energy through the OWC door hole. This research determine the amount of waves that can be utilized in Marana waters to be converted into units of electricity (watts). The amount of wave height that can be used, depends on the amount of wind that is in the waters of Marana. In addition to wave height, tidal is also needed to know the placement of Oscilating Water Column (OWC) is so that when the tidal water occurs, OWC is still in the condition of the wave. In addition, the bathymetry of the sea is also needed to know at the depth of how placed this OWC. Based on the results obtained from wave forecasting using the 2002-2006 wind data obtained maximum wave height for 5 years is 0.204 m in Year 2003. Which can generate electricity of 0.688 watts. Where from concluded in Marana waters do not have the potential to build Sea Wave Power Plant.

Competing socio-technical narratives in times of grid capacity challenges: the representative case of Sweden

Background Around the globe the electricity sector is strikingly similar, as regardless of nation it is structured around centralized large-scale power production. However, these centralized systems are currently experiencing operational problems related to climate change, energy security and aging grid infrastructures. In Sweden, the lack of investment and maintenance of the grid have created bottlenecks in certain regions, which are now facing an electricity shortage. This capacity crisis has received the attention of the media and generated a debate around the future trajectory of the electricity system. Results The purpose of this study is to analyze the ongoing media discourse in Sweden to determine whether there is a dominant narrative in the debate and its potential implications. The findings indicate that the government is unanimously held accountable for the electricity shortage and that there is a strong inclination toward a centralized electricity system as a solution. Conclusion The results indicate that the dominating centralized narrative, should it receive too much traction, might create a technological lock-in and result in overlooking the many advantages of a decentralized electricity system. Ultimately, this might give rise to an outdated electricity system that stalls its transformation toward a more sustainable path.

Three-dimensional self-supported CuCo2O4 nanowires@NiO nanosheets core/shell arrays as an oxygen electrode catalyst for Li-O2 batteries

Developing rechargeable Li-O2 batteries is an effective way to relieve current the energy stress and electricity shortage. Designing an oxygen electrode catalyst with superior bifunctional catalytic activity can significantly improve...

Fear of the Dark? The CJEU adds electricity shortage to the reasons justifying an ex post regularization of projects without an EIA: Case C-411/17 Inter-Environnement Wallonie and Bond Beter Leefmilieu Vlaanderen, EU:C:2019:622

In July 2019, the CJEU delivered its judgment on the case C-411/17 Inter-Environnement Wallonie and Bond Beter Leefmilieu Vlaanderen. The case relates to the protracted debate on the production and use of nuclear energy in Belgium, which at present culminated with the legislative extension of the operation of two nuclear power stations. The CJEU ruled that the extension should have only been granted after an assessment on the stations’ impact on the environment had been carried out and, thus, the national measures were in breach of EU law. However, it is here argued that the judgment does not settle the dispute: it only initiates its second phase. Accordingly, this contribution focuses on the judgment’s expected implications for EU law and for the national constitutional order.

Probabilistic evaluation of renewable energy curtailment under forward electricity market

Forward electricity market has emerged as a pivotal section for the electricity transaction to keep stakeholders away from price risk and electricity shortage. But the forward contract of conventional unit partially limits the unit output before operation, leading to the curtailed generation share of renewable energy source (RES). Modeling and assessing this impact is of great significance for system planning and market supervision. The central thesis of this paper is to find out the impact of forward market on RES curtailment. A probabilistic evaluation model for RES accommodation is proposed, taking the curtailment rate as a main evaluation index. We mainly research financial contract and physical contract, modeling the impact of them on thermal unit minimum load capacity and power load in evaluation model. The simulation is conducted in a simplified system, which reveals the change of RES curtailment with renege penalty, contract price and execution generation curve.

Generation adequacy of electric power systems in market price setting

We propose the new model of generation adequacy optimization. Optimization criterion is a maximum of social welfare. Social welfare consists of profits of generating companies, consumer surplus, costs for development and servicing of electrical grids. In the article we present a review of existed methods of adequacy level management in liberalized electric power systems. Optimization of adequacy level is based on analysis of variants of development of the electric power system. For adequacy analysis of the variants of development we multiple estimate the electricity shortage in random hours of the system work. Analysis of the system work in every random hour is realized in two stages. At first we define values of equilibrium electricity demand in every system node and equilibrium price of electricity according to Cournot model. We consider only electricity market in the model. At the next stage we simulate failures of power generating equipment and transmission lines. The electricity shortage in a current hour is estimated on the second stage. After a whole cycle of analysis, we compute reliability indexes and profits of generating companies. Profits of generating companies are depended on the reliability of the electricity supply. The simulations of random values are based on Monte Carlo method.