5,323 research outputs found

    Warehousing in the UK: Operations, Planning and Decarbonisation - Summary slideset

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    Residential distributed generation : decision support software to evaluate opportunities in the residential market : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the degree of Masters of Engineering at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand /

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    The residential market in New Zealand consumes a significant proportion of our electricity production and is one of the fastest growing sectors. As a vertically integrated generator retailer in the New Zealand electricity industry, Meridian Energy Ltd is concerned at retaining and growing their customer base. They recognise that utilisation of emerging distributed generation [DG] technologies can provide a competitive advantage in the market place. A decision tool was developed to help Meridian identify opportunities within the residential market for applications of DG. The model compares the cost to serve a household's energy needs using a business as usual case with a DG case on an annual basis for a single household or a neighbourhood. A modular approach was used for ease of development and to enable future enhancements. The main modules were: load profile development, DG technology, operation control, costing and a calculation engine. The load profile module estimated space heating/cooling, water heating and other electrical loads for each 30 minute period for 8 representative days of a year based on national end-use statistics and a set of 40 reference profiles. A Gamma distribution was used to simulate diversity between houses. The calculation engine computed the amount of demand that could be met by the DG technologies and hence the residual demand or surplus for export. The pricing module estimated the annual cost including aspects such as: capital cost, fuel cost, maintenance, value of export and cost of import. The technology modules allowed different DG technologies, as well as a range of parameters to be selected. It included renewable energy resource modelling. The performance module allowed different operation control of the heat engine technologies including: base load, electrical peaking, heat peaking, load following (heat-led) and load following(electricity-led). The model was implemented using Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications, in Excel. A series of user-forms were developed to enable the model to be run with a minimum of user input. Three case studies were undertaken. In the first, five technology types were modelled, with the heat pump and Stirling engine looking the most promising. The second case study involved these two technologies in a Christchurch urban area study. A hypothetical network analysis showed the benefit that these technologies could have in reducing peak loading on the network. The third case study examined the sensitivity of the results to the value of specific variables. Load size and capital cost had the strongest influence on NPV

    The parlous investment environment for Australian electricity generation and transmission

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    Optimal timing for power plant maintenance in the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas in a changing climate

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    We analyzed data for the Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to assess shoulder seasons -- that is, the 45 days of lowest total energy use and peak demand in the spring and fall -- and whether their occurrence has changed over time. Over the period 1996--2022, the shoulder seasons never started earlier than late March nor later than mid-October, corresponding well with the minimum of total degree days. In the temperature record 1959--2022, the minimum in degree days in the spring moved earlier, from early March to early February, and in the fall moved later, from early to mid-November. Warming temperatures might cause these minima in degree days to merge into a single annual minimum in December or January by the mid-2040s, a time when there is a non-trivial risk of 1-day record energy use and peak demand from winter storms

    Issues and mitigations of wind energy penetrated network: Australian network case study

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    Longest geographically connected Australian power system is undergoing an unprecedented transition, under the effect of increased integration of renewable energy systems. This change in generation mix has implications for the whole interconnected system designs, its operational strategies and the regulatory framework. Frequency control policies about real-time balancing of demand and supply is one of the prominent and priority operational challenge requiring urgent attention. This paper reviews the Australian electricity market structure in presence of wind energy and its governance. Various issues related to increased wind generation systems integration are discussed in detail. Currently applied mitigations along with prospective mitigation methods requiring new or improved policies are also discussed. It is concluded that developing prospective frequency regulation ancillary services market desires further encouraging policies from governing authority to keep pace with current grid transition and maintain its security

    Status of Power Markets and Power Exchanges in Asia and Australia

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    Methods and Tools for Planning the Future Power System : Issues and Priorities

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    This report contributes to discussion of the nature of the future power system in the context of the IET’s ‘Power Networks Joint Vision’ initiative. It summarises a number of future challenges arising from the changing nature of generation and demand and the possibility of greater demand-side participation in electricity markets. It argues that these require significant change in respect of current practice in the assessment, planning and development of power network facilities enabling future system operation. It reflects on methods and tools used by network planners in Britain today and discusses areas in which modelling capability needs to be developed and enhanced data or user competencies are required

    Indigenous voices in climate change adaptation

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    AbstractThis project investigated how the deep knowledge of the Yorta Yorta people can be used to strengthen their participation and influence in the complex national and regional processes that determine how their traditional lands, which are in the highly-contested Murray-Darling Basin, are managed, leading to improved adaptation decisions both for the Yorta Yorta and the wider community.Through discussions with the Yorta Yorta over several years, the approach developed for the project was the creation of a Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping framework containing both Yorta Yorta knowledge and more conventional knowledge. GIS allows for mapping and layering of different types of data, allowing the Yorta Yorta to access and present their knowledge in ways that relate to Western decision-making processes. To do this, the project had four components:1. Development and testing of protocols and methodology for the collection and protection of Yorta Yorta knowledge. This was carried out through an intergenerational process, whereby Yorta Yorta youth were trained in cultural data collection techniques, and they interviewed Elders to capture the knowledge.2. Building of a GIS framework to integrate both the Yorta Yorta knowledge and more conventional data about the climate, hydrology and biodiversity of the Yorta Yorta area. For the first time this pulled together all of the conventional information normally used as a basis for natural resource management decisions. In addition, because the GIS database has been created and is owned by the Yorta Yorta means that they have something of value to bring to the discussions, so that they are able to participate in those discussions on equal terms.3. Exploration of the views of the broader community in the region regarding management of the region and adaptation alternatives through a stakeholder consultation process. The consultation identified the potential for greater use of science as a neutral arbiter in issues such as management of the Murray-Darling Basin, but even more important is the need for genuine, deep, open-minded dialogue with the community at all stages of decision-making, particularly at an early stage before proposals are put forward and views become entrenched.4. Identification of broader lessons for improving adaptation of First Nations communities in Australia from the experience of the Yorta Yorta and other communities around the country, through a national workshop. The key conclusion of the workshop was the urgent need to empower First Nation communities to make their own assessments and decisions on the best ways for them to respond to climate change.The project raised community awareness and knowledge and energised the Yorta Yorta youth to take an interest in their history and culture, and in the climate challenges facing their community. Overall the project has been a successful pilot demonstration of the utility of a GIS database to integrate Indigenous and conventional knowledge for better natural resource management outcomes and the project has increased the knowledge and capacity of the Yorta Yorta to engage in effective natural resource management and decision-making.Please cite this report as:Griggs, D, Lynch, A, Joachim, L, Zhu, X, Adler, C, Bischoff-Mattson, Z, Wang, P, Kestin, T 2013  Indigenous voices in climate change adaptation: Addressing the challenges of diverse knowledge systems in the Barmah-Millewa, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, Gold Coast, pp.71AbstractThis project investigated how the deep knowledge of the Yorta Yorta people can be used to strengthen their participation and influence in the complex national and regional processes that determine how their traditional lands, which are in the highly-contested Murray-Darling Basin, are managed, leading to improved adaptation decisions both for the Yorta Yorta and the wider community.Through discussions with the Yorta Yorta over several years, the approach developed for the project was the creation of a Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping framework containing both Yorta Yorta knowledge and more conventional knowledge. GIS allows for mapping and layering of different types of data, allowing the Yorta Yorta to access and present their knowledge in ways that relate to Western decision-making processes. To do this, the project had four components:Development and testing of protocols and methodology for the collection and protection of Yorta Yorta knowledge. This was carried out through an intergenerational process, whereby Yorta Yorta youth were trained in cultural data collection techniques, and they interviewed Elders to capture the knowledge.Building of a GIS framework to integrate both the Yorta Yorta knowledge and more conventional data about the climate, hydrology and biodiversity of the Yorta Yorta area. For the first time this pulled together all of the conventional information normally used as a basis for natural resource management decisions. In addition, because the GIS database has been created and is owned by the Yorta Yorta means that they have something of value to bring to the discussions, so that they are able to participate in those discussions on equal terms.Exploration of the views of the broader community in the region regarding management of the region and adaptation alternatives through a stakeholder consultation process. The consultation identified the potential for greater use of science as a neutral arbiter in issues such as management of the Murray-Darling Basin, but even more important is the need for genuine, deep, open-minded dialogue with the community at all stages of decision-making, particularly at an early stage before proposals are put forward and views become entrenched.Identification of broader lessons for improving adaptation of First Nations communities in Australia from the experience of the Yorta Yorta and other communities around the country, through a national workshop. The key conclusion of the workshop was the urgent need to empower First Nation communities to make their own assessments and decisions on the best ways for them to respond to climate change.The project raised community awareness and knowledge and energised the Yorta Yorta youth to take an interest in their history and culture, and in the climate challenges facing their community. Overall the project has been a successful pilot demonstration of the utility of a GIS database to integrate Indigenous and conventional knowledge for better natural resource management outcomes and the project has increased the knowledge and capacity of the Yorta Yorta to engage in effective natural resource management and decision-making
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