ASEAN grid flexibility: Preparedness for grid integration of renewable energy

In 2015, ASEAN established a goal of increasing its renewable energy share in its energy portfolio from approximately 13–23% by 2025. Renewable electricity, especially intermittent and variable sources, presents challenges for grid operators due to the uncertain timing and quantity of electricity supply. Grid flexibility, the electric grid's ability to respond to changing demands and supply, now stands a key resource in responding to these uncertainties while maximizing the cost-effective role of clean energy. We develop and apply a grid flexibility assessment tool to assess ASEAN's current grid flexibility using six quantitative indicators: grid reliability, electricity market access; load profile ramp capacity; quality of forecasting tools; proportion of electricity generation from natural gas; and renewable energy diversity. We find that ASEAN nations cluster into three groups: better; moderately; and the least prepared nations. We develop an analytical ramp rate calculator to quantify expected load ramps for ASEAN in an integrated ASEAN Power Grid scenario. The lack of forecasting systems and limited electricity market access represent key weaknesses and areas where dramatic improvements can become cost-effective means to increase regional grid flexibility. As ASEAN pursues renewable energy targets, regional cooperation remains essential to address identified challenges. Member nations need to increase grid flexibility capacity to adequately prepare for higher penetrations of renewable electricity and lower overall system costs

Energy security in power systems within the frame of energy transitions

Climate change is real. Global human population is growing as never before. Natural resources are limited. These factors have taken different countries to embrace new pathways in order to fulfill the energy needs of their population, understanding that energy is a fundamental instrument for achieving sustainable development. Since each economy decides, according to its needs, possibilities and interests, its own shift of energy production and consumption, this tendency has received the name of energy transitions. Energy transitions, through digitalization, decentralization and decarbonization of the energy system, have placed the power sector as the center of modern infrastructures, making it imperative to procure its security in the long-term. This thesis is focused on the security of electrical systems, for which, after performing a thorough review on energy policies of different economies, it presents a multi-dimensional index as a tool for policy makers aimed to assess long-term security of power systems. The composed index is subsequently applied to different nations from two different approaches: the tracking of a country’s development and the evaluation, comparison and ranking of different economies in a specific time frame. The designed tool represents a comprehensive framework for assessing -and improving- energy security in power systems, being this precisely the main contribution of the present thesis: the development and proposal of an instrument that contributes, through the betterment of energy systems by making them more secure, to achieve sustainable development.El cambio climático es real. La población humana global está creciendo como nunca antes. Los recursos naturales son limitados. Estos factores han llevado a los distintos países a adoptar distintas rutas encaminadas a satisfacer las necesidades energéticas de su población, entendiendo a la energía como un instrumento fundamental para alcanzar el desarrollo sostenible. Debido a que cada economía decide, de acuerdo a sus necesidades, posibilidades e intereses, su propio cambio en producción y consumo de energía, esta tendencia ha recibido el nombre de transiciones energéticas. Estas, a través de la digitalización, descentralización y descarbonización del sistema energético, han colocado al sistema eléctrico como el centro de las infraestructuras modernas, haciendo imperativo el procurar su seguridad en el largo plazo. La presente tesis está enfocada en la seguridad de los sistemas eléctricos, para lo que, luego de una exhaustiva revisión de políticas energéticas de distintas economías, se presenta un índice multidimensional como herramienta para los encargados de la elaboración de políticas orientadas a procurar la seguridad de los sistemas eléctricos. El índice compuesto es posteriormente aplicado a diferentes naciones desde dos perspectivas distintas: el seguimiento temporal del desarrollo de un país y la evaluación, comparación y jerarquización de diferentes economías en un tiempo específico. La herramienta diseñada representa un marco integral para la evaluación y mejoramiento de la seguridad energética de los sistemas eléctricos, siento precisamente esta la mayor contribución de la presente tesis: el desarrollo y propuesta de un instrumento que contribuya, a través del mejoramiento de los sistemas energéticos, haciéndolos más seguros, a alcanzar el desarrollo sostenible.Postprint (published version

Governing energy in Nicaragua: the practices and experiences of off-grid solar energy technologies

The global energy trilemma has brought attention to the importance of energy access, in particular to the 1.3 billion people worldwide without access to electricity. Vital for addressing poverty, improving people s quality of lives and meeting the Millennium Development Goals, small scale solar energy technologies are espoused as a solution to household energy needs in off-grid areas of the developing world. This thesis contributes to this critical research area through an investigation of energy governance issues in Nicaragua; specifically it focuses on the practices and experiences of off-grid solar energy technologies. The lived realities, voices and aspirations of energy users are largely absent in scholarly accounts of energy poverty, as such this thesis considers the implications of solar energy technologies from the perspective of those ultimately adopting, using, maintaining (and abandoning) them. Contributing to the burgeoning field of geographical and social science studies of energy, this thesis draws on ten months of field research in Nicaragua, which encompassed more than seventy qualitative interviews with stakeholders at multiple spatial scales. This included actors from international development agencies, national government, non-governmental organisations, the private sector, civil society, as well as households participating in three solar energy programmes. This was complemented by a large household survey of participants from one solar energy programme. Incorporating perspectives from the micro, meso and macro scales, this study presents a highly nuanced picture of the Nicaraguan energy landscape. The study concludes that interaction between global energy paradigm shifts and the domestic political economic context produced an electricity sector that was until recently - characterised by low distributional equity, deep consumer mistrust and dominated by fossil fuel-based electricity generation. The recent prioritisation of energy as a key developmental concern is demonstrated not only in strong government intervention, but also through growing international interest in solving Nicaragua s energy problem . A raft of programmes to green the electricity generating matrix, strengthen distribution activities and expand electricity access have emerged. Despite these encouraging developments, this research concludes that issues related to transparency, vested interests and the politicisation of electricity access appear to remain unresolved. The study traces the development of the off-grid solar energy market segment, revealing a complex architecture of institutions and actors working to promote and deploy solar energy technologies at scale. While this market initially developed in response to gaps in remote electrification plans, the research finds that recent grid expansion activities mean that the longer-term scope for small scale solar energy technologies is limited. However, solar energy remains an important feature of energy development assistance in Nicaragua, with further evidence in this study highlighting the amenability of solar energy to multiple institutional objectives and mandates whether climate change-related or poverty focused. The thesis concludes that the positions and expectations of key solar actors are often misaligned with the needs, wants and aspirations of off-grid energy users. Engagement with the narratives of people living in remote, off-grid areas reveals that the implications of solar energy programmes are not guaranteed, static, or necessarily captured by all households or indeed, all members of households. Users perceive that small scale solar energy technologies provide important soft benefits including increased levels of comfort, security, wellbeing and connectivity. However, the benefits are only captured for as long as the technology continues to work whether in organisational, financial, technical or social terms. The research concludes that there are numerous challenges facing solar energy interventions in Nicaragua, with some barriers connected to the situation of the user household, for instance, their continued ability to absorb the financial commitments associated with technology use. Other challenges link to the broader political economic context, where the highly complex, fragmented and politicised nature of (solar) electricity access has the potential to undermine interventions. This thesis argues that it is vital to examine solar energy interventions as embedded within broader political economic frameworks, but also to account for the intricacies of inter and intra-household dynamics. The study contributes new insights and empirical findings to debates on global energy governance, energy poverty, and the practices, politics and experiences of off-grid solar energy technologies in the Global South

Positive out of the Negative: Tracking Renewable Energy Projects in Central America

Central America is undertaking a vast Renewable Energy (RE) transition, due to widespread investments across the region in an array of technologies. These technologies include Community Solar, Wind, and Hydroelectricity. Hydroelectricity has long been the backbone of many countries’ energy grids in the region due to the region’s long history with hydroelectricity. Ambitious climate goals coupled with diminishing hydroelectric power generation opportunities have led to an expansion of investment in Community Solar and Wind energy. The embrace of Solar and Wind has been accelerated due to declining costs for these technologies as they mature. Central America as a case study adds an interesting perspective to the growing RE literature, as the region is attempting to achieve national electrification goals while also diversifying their electricity generation capacity to include more renewable sources. While the Global North is transitioning to RE sources, their electricity grids have long been built and supplied by fossil fuels. In essence, this two-pronged transition is occurring to different degrees in each Central American country, which allows for a rich literature debate to occur. To ground this transition in theory this thesis engages with literature ranging from the Global North vs Global South, achieving Energy Independence, Energy Poverty, and Income Inequality, Asset-based vs. Livelihoods Development Approaches, Indicators implementation and contestation, and Narratives of the Future. Finally, this thesis will highlight a series of specific projects in each country, highlighting project maps of all projects within the criteria. This thesis will conclude with a review of the RE transition, as well as possible next steps and areas of improvement for the RE transition

Solar photovoltaic technology in isolated rural communities in Latin America and the Caribbean

The main characteristics of photovoltaic (PV) energy and its current development in Latin American and Caribbean countries (LAC); its impact on the electrification of homes, health institutions, and schools in isolated or difficult-to-access communities; and, the advantages thereof are presented and discussed by replacing the use of traditional fuels such as firewood and kerosene in order to improve inhabitants ’health as well as reducing CO2 emissions. Countries like Nicaragua, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile stand out for their growing PV energy development in the region. A case study of the electrification process by PV systems shows very positive changes are manifested in terms of improving the quality of life of the inhabitants, and especially their physical and mental health state. In addition, CO2 emission reductions from electrifying 216 houses in the nine communities reach an annual amount of 2,164.19 t/yr, reducing firewood consumption by 2,123.39 t/yr and kerosene consumption by 40.80 t/yr However, LAC countries must adopt laws and regulations that regulate the use of PV energy, with an emphasis on recycling systems at the end of their life cycle

Energy for All: Harnessing the Power of Energy Access for Chronic Poverty Reduction

Policy makers are trying to balance the demands of three broad objectives in the energy sector; energy security to ensure economic stability and growth; reducing energy poverty, by ensuring access to electricity and clean-combusting fuels and equipment for the poor; and managing greenhouse gas emissions from energy. The World Energy Council has called this the "energy trilemma" - of how to achieve an appropriate balance between these sometimes conflicting objectives. Over the past two years, the challenge of providing people living in poverty with access to modern energy has been prominent in policy debates. The UN Secretary General's Sustainable Energy for All initiative is instrumental in highlighting the importance of energy access for poverty reduction. Some developing countries are now drawing-up national strategies for Sustainable Energy for All and over the next few years, attention is likely to continue in the debates about the post-2015 development agenda and during the UN Decade for Sustainable Energy for All (2014-24). However, and despite this policy focus, governments sometimes overlook the needs of chronically poor people when initiating energy for all programmes as they are often the most difficult for energy service providers to reach, and are least able to afford services when they are available. Chronically poor people therefore need to be explicitly considered in measures to deliver energy services. Research and policy evaluation tells us that access to electricity, together with the assets which enable its use in a transformational way, improved cooking technologies, and mechanical power can help people to escape from persistent poverty. There are three broad policy areas which can help achieve this: - expanding electricity coverage and distributing clean-combusting fuels and equipment to populations not yet served; - improving the ability of the poorest people to afford these when they are available; - enhancing the reliability of energy services. This is important if energy is to contribute in a transformational way to escaping poverty. A minimalist approach will not do - energy is needed by poor households for productive uses as well as domestic and community needs. This CPAN Policy Guide provides guidance for developing country policy makers and their advisers when considering the specific measures necessary to ensure that chronically poor people are included in efforts to deliver sustainable energy for all. It is therefore intended for policy and programme designers and implementers in energy agencies, as well as policymakers in ministries of finance and planning, energy, rural development and health alongside those in local government. One message from this guide is that co-ordination and inter-sectoral collaboration is required to ensure that the expansion of energy services contributes to poverty reduction

Irrigation and water resources in Latin America and the Caribbean: challenges and strategies

Latin America and the Caribbean are relatively well endowed with water resources. However, population growth and rapid urbanization are putting considerable pressure on water available for irrigation. Local and regional water scarcity problems are exacerbated by severe water quality problems; and wastewater is frequently used for irrigation. Moreover, prospects for new investments into irrigation development appear limited. This paper examines the factors underlying irrigation development in Latin America and the Caribbean, reviews the water supply situation, and describes trends in water demand and irrigated agriculture. The overall water management in the region is assessed, and recent trends in investments in the water sector, with a focus on large-scale irrigation systems, are analyzed. The paper concludes that in this context of accelerating demand and declining irrigation investments, new water development is not the primary solution to water resource challenges in the region. Much greater attention is needed on water policy and management reform to improve the efficiency and equity of irrigation and water supply systems.Water resources development Caribbean Area., Water-supply., Water use Management., Irrigation farming.,