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

Where does solar-aided seawater desalination make sense? A method for identifying sustainable sites

AbstractGlobal water planners are increasingly considering seawater desalination as an alternative to traditional freshwater supplies. Since desalination is both expensive and energy intensive, taking advantage of favorable natural and societal conditions while siting desalination facilities can provide significant financial and environmental returns. Currently, policy makers do not use a location-specific integrated analytical framework to determine where natural and societal conditions are conducive to desalination. This analysis seeks to fill that gap by demonstrating a multi-criteria, geographically-resolved methodology for identifying suitable regions for desalination infrastructure where 1) available renewable resources can offset part of the fossil energy load; 2) feedwater characteristics reduce the total energy needed for desalination; and 3) human populations have capacity and willingness to pay for desalinated water. This work demonstrates the method with a quantitative global analysis that identifies favorable sites for solar-aided seawater reverse osmosis desalination (SWRO) based on specific target criteria. Location-based data about natural conditions (solar insolation, ocean salinity, and ocean temperature) are integrated and mapped with social indicators (water stress, prevailing water prices, and population) to identify regions where solar-aided SWRO has the highest potential. This work concludes that water-stressed tropical and subtropical cities show the highest potential for economically sustainable solar-aided SWRO

Open-Source, Open-Architecture SoftwarePlatform for Plug-InElectric Vehicle SmartCharging in California

This interdisciplinary eXtensible Building Operating System–Vehicles project focuses on controlling plug-in electric vehicle charging at residential and small commercial settings using a novel and flexible open-source, open-architecture charge communication and control platform. The platform provides smart charging functionalities and benefits to the utility, homes, and businesses.This project investigates four important areas of vehicle-grid integration research, integrating technical as well as social and behavioral dimensions: smart charging user needs assessment, advanced load control platform development and testing, smart charging impacts, benefits to the power grid, and smart charging ratepayer benefits

Minimizing Water Requirements for Electricity Generation in Water Scarce Areas

Renewable energy technologies are infrequently evaluated with regard to water use for electricity generation; however traditional thermoelectric power generation uses approximately 50% of the water withdrawn in the US. To address problems of this water-energy nexus, we explore the replacement of existing electricity generation plants by renewable technologies, and the effect of this replacement on water use. Using a binary mixed integer linear programing model, we explore how the replacement of traditional thermoelectric generation with renewable solar and wind technologies can reduce future water demands for power generation. Three case study scenarios focusing on the replacement of the J.T. Deely station, a retiring coal thermoelectric generation plant in Texas, demonstrate a significant decrease in water requirements. In each case study, we replace the generation capacity of the retiring thermoelectric plant with three potential alternative technologies: solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, concentrated solar power (CSP), and horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWT). The first case study, which was performed with no limits on the land area available for new renewable energy installations, demonstrated the water savings potential of a range of different technology portfolios. Our second case study examined the replacement while constrained by finite available land area for new installations. This demonstrated the trade-off between land-use efficient technologies with water-use efficiency. Results from our third case study, which explored the replacement of a gas-fired plant with a capacity equivalent to the J. T. Deely station, demonstrated that more water efficient thermoelectric generation technologies produce lower percentages of water savings, and in two scenarios the proposed portfolios require more water than the replaced plant. Comparison of multiple aspects of our model results with those from existing models shows comparable values for land-use per unit of electricity generation and proposed plant size. An evaluation of the estimated hourly generation of our model’s proposed solution suggests the need for a trade-off between the intermittency of a technology and the required water use. As we estimate the “costs� of alternative energy, our results suggest the need to include in the expression the resulting water savings

Power Systems Optimization to Analyze Renewable Energy Policy and Resource Diversity

This thesis is organized into two chapters, which will be submitted separately for publication. The abstracts for each chapter are given below. Chapter 1: Many state-level Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) include preferences for solar generation, with goals of increasing the diversity of new renewable generation, driving down solar costs, and encouraging the development of local solar industries. Depending on their policy design, these preferences can impact the RPS program costs and emissions reduction. This study introduces a method to evaluate the impact of these policies on costs and emissions, coupling an economic dispatch model with optimized renewable site selection. Three policy designs of an increased RPS in Michigan are investigated: 1) 20% Solar Carve-Out, 2) 5% Distributed Generation Solar Carve-Out, and 3) 3x Solar Multiplier. The 20% Solar Carve-Out scenario was found to increase RPS costs 28%, while the 5% Distributed Generation Solar Carve-Out increased costs by 34%. Both of these solar preferences had minimal impact on total emissions. The 3x Solar Multiplier decreases total RPS program costs by 39%, but adds less than half of the total renewable generation of the other cases, significantly increasing emissions of CO2, NOx , and SO2 relative to an RPS without the solar credit multiplier. Sensitivity analysis of the installed cost of solar and the natural gas price finds small changes in the results of the Carve-Out cases, with a larger impact on the 3x Solar Multiplier. Setting the correct level for a solar multiplier to achieve one’s goals may prove difficult in light of changing costs associated with multiple technologies. The effective use of a credit multiplier can undermine objectives to increase renewable generation and decrease emissions, but do allow market forces to determine the level of solar development relative to other qualified renewable options. The Solar Carve-Out scenarios have a smaller impact on other non-solar related objectives, but may compel the development of high-cost solar, increasing the cost of implementing an RPS. Chapter 2: The variability of wind power introduces new challenges for the operation of the power system, including increased system ramping requirements. One method to reduce wind variability is to diversify the wind power resource by interconnecting diverse wind resources across a larger geography. This study uses a modified version of mean-variance portfolio optimization (MVP) to assess the potential for diverse wind to reduce the impacts of wind variability. To understand the value of the reduced variability to the power system, different portfolios of wind power are assessed using a unit commitment and economic dispatch model. Using MVP, diverse wind portfolios are shown to significantly reduce wind power variability, at the cost of increased installed wind capacity to meet the same level of wind generation of less diverse wind portfolios. However, the value of the reduced variability is complicated by complexities of the power system, including transmission constraints and the time of day of ramping need.Master of ScienceNatural Resources and EnvironmentUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/109710/1/Novacheck_Thesis_December_2014.pd

The Spatial Economics of Clean Energy in New Jersey

Clean energy policy is critically important in driving reductions of greenhouse gases and mitigating climate change. As clean energy technologies improve over time and interact with social systems and broader energy markets, there is a need for innovative environmental management that supports development of new clean energy policy. Understanding where these technologies may be deployed, quantifying the anticipated benefits, and mitigating risks are required for successful policy optimization. With these considerations in mind, this dissertation explores geothermal heat pumps (GHP), solar photovoltaics, and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). We call upon spatial economics to investigate these topics by incorporating the biophysical environment, socioeconomic factors, and economic considerations in our methodology to approach this problem from a holistic environmental management perspective. Reducing energy end use is a climate mitigation strategy that can be applied across the building, industry, and transportation sectors. Increasing energy efficiency, particularly in the building sector, is a promising means to reduce energy end use. In the second chapter of this dissertation, we perform a place-based investigation of GHP systems in New Jersey. In doing so we provide new baseline information on which building sectors this technology is most used and identify areas of significant clustering. Both of which provide insights for new energy efficiency policy within the study area. In the third chapter, we conduct a life cycle assessment of geothermal heat pumps to assess the cradle-to-grave environmental and human health impacts throughout the lifetime of a system operating in New Jersey. The results of this section highlight lower environmental and human impacts associated with GHP systems operating within New Jersey compared to the rest of the United States. We also conclude that GHP systems are significantly less impactful throughout their lifetime and operation as compared to other heating and cooling configurations that are common in the state. A combination of renewable energy technologies such as wind and solar photovoltaics will be an integral part of the clean energy electric generation portfolio of the future. Understanding where these systems are best located and how the public values their benefits can support smart policy decisions. In the fourth chapter, we evaluate solar photovoltaic potential using hosting capacity interpolation, multi-market suitability models, and remote sensing. The findings show hosting capacity of potential solar siting locations varies within each electric distribution company (EDC) territory. The results of the suitability models highlight areas for targeted local investigations of project suitability and community solar off-taker potential. Our municipal remote sensing analysis yield valuable local scale information of roof geometry, flood hazards, and solar radiation potential which can be used to streamline system siting and design. In the fifth chapter, we conduct a consumer willingness to pay survey for potential community solar customers in New Jersey. Evaluating the responses of over six-hundred residents underscores the common barriers to traditional residential net metering, such as home ownership and financial requirement. It also illuminates consumers’ willingness to participate in community solar projects that improve environmental quality and are sited in commercial settings and landfills. Reducing the carbon dioxide emissions associated with the electric generation sector will be crucial in mitigating future climate change. Emission trading schemes (ETS) are a regulatory approach that forces emitters to internalize the negative externalities of carbon dioxide with the goal of driving emission efficiency improvements and creating funding mechanisms to support other climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. In the sixth chapter, we perform a qualitative policy analysis of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) ETS in the context of generation shifting mitigation. We identify the best mitigation approaches as the program expands to be a combination of increased monitoring and modeling, promoting load reductions through efficiency, and expanding the RGGI program to states within distribution systems that have partial state participation. In New Jersey, successful climate mitigation and clean energy transitions are a function of policy, available technology, and energy markets. Historically, stringent air quality regulations and inexpensive natural gas have led to efficient fossil generation within the state. Additionally, early progressive solar policies have led to a robust solar industry and resulting overall in-state solar photovoltaic capacity ranking high in the nation. Although low-hanging fruit may be relatively sparse, current political environments in the state have been supportive of improved climate action and sparked increased potential for academic research to make tangible contributions to new clean energy policy. As the state continues to transition towards a clean energy future, government administrations, regulatory agencies, grid operators, research institutions, and stakeholders must work alongside each other to develop new policies that support increased climate mitigation. Currently in New Jersey, the potential of clean energy has not been adequately researched, particularly on local and regional scales. The goal of this research is to address this gap by contributing to the body of knowledge in our applied subject areas. The spatial economic approach can be used effectively in clean energy investigations because energy is inherently influenced by economics and geography. We anticipate the overall findings of this work to be applied within the study area to increase clean energy generation and access, promote the clean energy economy, and conserve valuable landscapes

A comparative study of wind power in the United States, Europe and Japan : strategies applicable to Japan

Thesis (M.B.A.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 2006.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-82).This thesis explores measures in the Japanese energy industry in order to meet the Kyoto target and further abate carbon dioxide beyond this target. To meet the Kyoto target, the Japanese government wants to increase renewable energy such as wind power as one of the measures. Wind power may be one of the most cost-effective renewable energy sources to address global warming. The world market for wind power is growing rapidly and the markets are concentrated in a few primary countries, with Europe (especially Germany) and the United States leading expansion. However, Japan is now taking its first steps to develop a large-scale commercial market for wind power. It is now difficult for renewable energy, such as wind power, to become a major energy source due to its high cost and intermittent supply. However, it is the author's belief that Japan can increase wind power energy to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by applying appropriate policies and technical development in the power industry. This thesis examines policies designed to encourage the development of wind power in three countries-Germany, Denmark, and the United States-and compares the policies enacted in each of these countries to policies that are used in Japan.(cont.) Measures that are applicable to shaping the implementation of renewable energy, especially wind power energy are examined and future policy measures are proposed to increase the use and development of wind power in Japan, consequently reducing carbon dioxide emissions.by Shinji Shimizu.M.B.A