Geographic information system algorithms to locate prospective sites for pumped hydro energy storage

Pumped hydro energy storage is capable of large-scale energy time shifting and a range of ancillary services, which can facilitate high levels of photovoltaics and wind integration in electricity grids. This study aims to develop a series of advanced Geographic Information System algorithms to locate prospective sites for off-river pumped hydro across a large land area such as a state or a country. Two typical types of sites, dry-gully and turkey’s nest, are modelled and a sequence of Geographic Information System-based procedures are developed for an automated site search. A case study is conducted for South Australia, where 168 dry-gully sites and 22 turkey’s nest sites have been identified with a total water storage capacity of 441 gigalitres, equivalent to 276 gigawatt-hours of energy storage. This demonstrates the site searching algorithms can work efficiently in the identification of off-river pumped hydro sites, allowing high-resolution assessments of pumped hydro energy storage to be quickly conducted on a broad scale. The sensitivity analysis shows the significant influences of maximum dam wall heights on the number of sites and the total storage capacity. It is noted that the novel models developed in this study are also applicable to the deployments of other types of pumped hydro such as the locations of dry-gully and turkey’s nest sites adjacent to existing water bodies, old mining pits and oceans

Enhancing strategies to improve hydroelectricity generation

Abstract: Renewable energy sources are evolving fundamental components of wastewater treatment plants. The intermittent and increasing adoption of renewable energy sources supports emerging studies undertaken in the demand and supply of energy. Hydropower is a significant renewable energy source globally. A sustainable application of hydropower technology requires effective planning, design and implementation to manage or mitigate challenges. In South Africa the prevalent source of energy generation is through fossil fuels and solid waste. Overdependence on energy demand based on fossil fuels for everyday capacity of the wastewater treatment plants is unsustainable. Affordability, stability, reliability, and accessibility of electricity generated by alternative renewable energy resources are fundamental for ensuring sustainability in wastewater treatment plants...M.Ing. (Engineering Management

The Use of Floating Solar Panels in Hot Regions Such as Iraq to Benefit in Cooling the Panels and Increasing Their Efficiency

The operating of photovoltaic panels (PV) comes with a serious contradiction. This system of solar PV panels prefers high radiation to generate electricity, but when rising their operating temperature by negative effects on their efficiency. Thus, one of the major working barriers for PV panels is overheating because of surplus solar irradiation. To get rid of the problem of overheating of the panels, we propose a new design that floats on the surface of the water floating photovoltaic panels (FPV) to take advantage of the nature of water in heat transfer, thus cooling the panels and raising the efficiency of the panels. For the purpose of this study, we proposed one of the regions of central Iraq, namely the Marsh Al-Dalmach, which is located in Wasit province, and it is one of the areas rich in solar radiation (2150 kWh/m2/year) and the length of daylight hours more 4000 operating hours during the year. After conducting a survey around the area and collecting the necessary data for use in programs such as Homer and Matlab, great results were obtained, as this design of the stations contributes to reducing temperatures and raising the efficiency of the panels from 15% to 24%

Design and Modelling of Wave Energy Converter and Power Take-Off System

Ocean wave energy contains the largest energy density amongst all renewable energy. In Malaysia, the highest wave energy in the South China Sea is 12kW with maximum wave amplitude of 2 meters. This paper presents the design and modelling of wave energy converter and power take-off system that suitable for Malaysia in order to obtain the highest output of electrical power. A point absorber made up of a floating buoy connected by a fibre rope is used as wave energy converter. Linear permanent magnet generator has been used as the power-take-off system. This generator exploits directly the incoming sea wave vertical motion. This wave energy converter and power-take-off model have been developed and implement in Matlab. The model included wave energy, buoy water interaction, and linear generator. To extract highest wave energy, different parameters have been applied to the linear generator. Simulation results are presented showing three effects of three different parameters; winding coil turns, magnetic field strength and tooth width of the stator

CO₂-mitigation options for the offshore oil and gas sector

The offshore extraction of oil and gas is an energy-intensive process leading to the production of CO2 and methane, discharged into the atmosphere, and of chemicals, rejected into the sea. The taxation of these emissions, in Norway, has encouraged the development of more energy-efficient and environmental-friendly solutions, of which three are assessed in this paper:. (i) the implementation of waste heat recovery, (ii) the installation of a CO2-capture unit and (iii) the platform electrification. A North Sea platform is taken as case study, and these three options are modelled, analysed and compared, using thermodynamic, economic and environmental indicators. The results indicate the benefits of all these options, as the total CO2-emissions can be reduced by more than 15% in all cases, while the avoidance costs vary widely and are highly sensitive to the natural gas price and CO2-tax. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Industry-led awards 2018. Marine Institute Grant Awards in Support of the Marine Economy.

Innovation 2020, Ireland’s strategy for research and development, science and technology states that despite the importance of research and innovation for firms, firms under-invest in research. Therefore there is a strong case for the state to encourage firms to undertake research by providing co-investment. However, this investment must be targeted at areas of commercial opportunity that are strategically important. This is the underpinning rationale of Research Prioritisation (2018-2023), which identifies 6 Themes and 14 Priority Areas that present particular market opportunities for Ireland. The first goal of Harnessing Our Ocean Wealth is “A Thriving Maritime Economy”, which focuses on the marine opportunities to achieve economic recovery with socially inclusive and sustainable growth. The Development Task Force Report developed a strategic framework identifying three interventions to drive growth across five thematic areas and create economic growth opportunities for the marine sector. In May 2018, the Marine Institute launched the Industry-Led Call, designed to provide funding for SMEs to raise the maturity levels for their research theme across these three dimensions (human capacity, infrastructure and networks & relationships). The call aims to fulfil national strategic objectives as follows: National Marine Research and Innovation Strategy 2017-2021 - Implementation of Action 8 Increase opportunities for SMEs to participate in marine research. Innovation 2020 - Action point 2.4 Optimising Enterprise RDI Supports. The funding aims to: Support research and innovation costs for the development of innovative technologies, products and services from existing or new marine-based business. Help marine companies to develop capacity, capability and their networks & relationships. Support “novel” marine research that has not previously received funding to create new knowledge or a new product, process or service or to substantially improve existing products, processes or services.Marine Institut

Implementation and Usage of Low-cost Turbines for Power Generation in Water Networks

The following APP is part of an investigation and development, carried out to design, and implement a hydroelectric turbine of horizontal axis, in order to generate electrical energy in rural areas, utilizing existing infrastructure or natural waterways such as irrigation canals, piping, rivers and streams. Every industrialized country, as well as, most of the developing nations, have a stake in agriculture and thus access to the infrastructure required for irrigation purposes. Artificial irrigation canals offer advantages such as a clean continuous flow, with the possibility of flow regulation: this together with their vast availability as agricultural infrastructure constitute the main motivation for the application sought with the results of this APP. It is thus established that the problem at hand is selecting an appropriate design in order to overcome some of the needs of rural populations and an effort to promote the use of renewable energies in order to lower cost in electrical bills as well as a reduction in carbon emissions produced by conventional power plants. Among the availability of different sources on turbines, the horizontal axis turbines types were selected. This type of turbine is relevant to the geometric and hydraulic characteristics and challenges of irrigation canals, as well as its easy construction and transport. The work methodology used is aimed at describing the geometric and hydraulic characteristics of irrigation canals, the engineering principles that govern the operation of hydraulic turbines and the fundamental characteristics of energy conversion to the generation of electrical energy. In the prototype design process, the main variables, hydraulic dimensioning, selection of geometric parameters and mechanical principles are identified. The prototype has the main purpose as test equipment for purposes of measurement and evaluation of design and operation parameters. The most important manufacturing procedures are highlighted, taking into account locally available materials and manufacturing facilities. In the same way, test results carried out are shown with discussions, conclusions and recommendations for improvements

Offshore Electrical Networks and Grid Integration of Wave Energy Converter Arrays - Techno-economic Optimisation of Array Electrical Networks, Power Quality Assessment, and Irish Market Perspectives

Wave energy is an emerging industry and faces many challenges before commercial wave energy converter (WEC) arrays are installed. One of these challenges is the grid integration of WEC arrays. This includes offshore electrical networks, grid compliance, and access to electrical markets. This must be achieved in a technically viable manner and also at an acceptable cost. As electrical networks are expected to make up a large proportion of the overall WEC array CAPEX, perhaps up to 25%, this area is critical to the long term competitiveness of wave energy. The objectives of this thesis are to develop technically and economically acceptable electrical network designs for WEC arrays, evaluate voltage flicker issues for WEC arrays and develop design tools to analyse same, and evaluate the market scale for wave energy in Ireland, considering electrical integration issues in both the domestic and export markets. This thesis presents the optimum design for WEC array electrical networks. By building from the industry state of the art, including offshore wind experience, a comprehensive techno-economic optimisation process is undertaken. This includes optimising the key electrical interfaces between the WEC and the array electrical network, optimising the array network configuration, assessing efficiency of the network, and demonstrating that the network can be achieved at a cost which will allow competitiveness. Some challenges to the economics of WEC array electrical networks and some strategies for improving the economics are presented in this research also. The results provide timely guidance to WEC and WEC array developers. This research also demonstrates the critical link between voltage flicker emissions from WECs and the primary resource, i.e. ocean waves. Some practical assessment tools for the evaluation of this power quality issue are shown to assist in quantifying the problem. Also the full flicker performance of a candidate WEC is assessed helping characterise this link further. In this thesis both the domestic and export markets for Ireland’s wave energy resource are assessed as, although Ireland has an enviable wave energy resource, it is unclear where the market for this resource lies. This analysis shows that the medium term market for wave energy in Ireland is an export market. Also, although technically feasible, there is an additional cost for export transmission which must be considered in evaluating export markets. Some of the critical grid integration issues have been evaluated and addressed in this thesis. Future work is recommended in the areas of weather risk to cable installation at high energy wave sites, evaluating the benefits of shared electrical infrastructure across a range of renewable projects, designing offshore substations for WEC arrays, and quantifying the benefits of the addition of wave energy to the Irish renewable energy mix

Ocean Energy in Belgium - 2019

B

Nature rules hidden in the biomimetic wave energy converters

Some animals and plants have special functions and structures. They are the result of biological evolution and Nature's ideas. The question to answer is how to use these biomimetic ideas to design the next generation of wave energy converters. In this paper, the characteristics of the existing wave energy converters are analyzed using biomimetic ideas and then the design rules hidden in them are established. First, the characteristics of wave energy are introduced. Next, the state of the art and methods of energy extraction by the wave energy converters are analyzed. Then based on the introduction of the biomimetic design knowledge, the biomimetic features, principles, and characteristics of the wave energy converters are explained. Lastly, the association rules hidden in the biological features and engineering features are mined based on the Apriori algorithm. These rules will assist the development of the next generation of biomimetic wave energy converters and provide future research trends