Variable Renewable Energy: How the Energy Markets Rules Could Improve Electrical System Reliability

In the last 10 years, significant changes have been observed in the operation of electrical systems resulting from the increasing incorporation of Variable Renewable Energy (NCRE—Solar PV, WIND) characterized by strong volatility in its energy production, due to climatic effects, which affect the reliability in the operation of the electrical system. These technologies also show a significant reduction in their capital costs, which are currently competitive compared to conventional alternatives for energy production, with the advantage of contributing to reducing the production of greenhouse gases. Therefore, increasing reliability operational problems are expected in the future, which must be resolved to supply the demand safely and at minimum cost. LATAM’s countries are making slow progress in updating their regulatory frameworks for the electricity sector to include changes that improve the integration of NCRE generation without reducing the quality of service. This document describes possible regulatory changes that could be implemented to promote a system safe operation including (a) intra-hours marginal costs, (b) day-ahead/intraday energy markets, (c) incentives to better forecast the NCRE generation production profile, (d) participation of NCRE generation in the capacity market, and (e) including BESS as ancillary service for frequency/ramp power control

Wind and solar intermittency and the associated integration challenges : a comprehensive review including the status in the Belgian power system

Renewable Energy Sources (RES) have drawn significant attention in the past years to make the transition towards low carbon emissions. On the one hand, the intermittent nature of RES, resulting in variable power generation, hinders their high-level penetration in the power system. On the other hand, RES can aid not only to supply much more eco-friendly energy but also it allows the power system to enhance its stability by ancillary service provision. This article reviews the challenges related to the most intermittent RES utilised in Belgium, that is, wind energy and solar energy. Additionally, wind speed and solar irradiance variations, which are the cause of wind and solar intermittency, are studied. Then, recent techniques to forecast their changes, and approaches to accommodate or mitigate their impacts on the power system, are discussed. Finally, the latest statistics and future situation of RES in the Belgian power system are evaluated

La electromovilidad como potenciador de la cuota de renovables en sistemas eléctricos en regiones aisladas: El caso de las Islas Canarias

This doctoral thesis is divided into three chapters. These are linked to a single common axis, which is the impact of the electromobility in islanded regions, exploring two different approaches: Supply and demand side. Chapter 1 and 2 address the supply side, focusing on the role of the electric vehicles as energy storage system in isolated regions. These two chapters have been published in two international journals, included in the Journal of Citation Reports. Chapter 1 was published in Sustainability Journal in 2015; and chapter 2, in Modern Power System and Clean Energy Journal in 2016. Chapter 3 addresses the demand side, deepening in aspects that define the potential buyer of the electric vehicle. This chapter has been submitted to Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews Journal and its current state is revised and resubmitted. Chapter 1. Impact of Electric Vehicle as Distributed Energy Storage in Isolated Systems: The case of Tenerife. Isolated regions are highly dependent on fossil fuels. The use of endogenous sources and the improvement in energy efficiency in all consumption activities are the two main methods to reduce the dependence on petroleum-derived fuels. Tenerife offers excellent renewable resources (extensive long periods of sun and wind). However, the massive development of these technologies could cause important operational problems within the electric power grids, because of the small size of its system. In this chapter, it is explored the option of coupling an electric vehicle fleet as a distributed energy storage system to boost the share of renewable energies in an isolated power system, i.e., Tenerife island. A model simulator has been used to evaluate five key outputs under alternative scenarios, which are: the renewable share, the energy spilled, the CO2 emissions, the levelised cost of generating electricity, and fuel dependence. A total amount of 30 different scenarios have been evaluated in comparison with the current situation, combining a gradual renewable installed capacity and the introduction of an electric vehicle fleet using alternative charging strategies. Results show that the impact of 50,000 electric vehicles would increase the renewable share in the electricity mix of the island up to 30%, reduce CO2 emissions by 27%, the total cost of electric generation by 6% and the oil internal demand by 16%. Chapter 2. Complementarity of electric vehicles and pumped-hydro as energy storage in small isolated energy systems: case of La Palma, Canary Islands. In this chapter, we analyse a different island in the Canary Islands, which shows different characteristics than Tenerife. The island of La Palma is located on the northwest of the Canary Islands, and its electric system is fairly small. Sustainability policies planned by local authorities are aimed to increase the share of renewable energies and the reduction of fossil energies. However, intermittence and the concentration of unmanageable renewable energies in few locations may hinder the operation of the system. In order to solve these problems, energy storage plays an essential role. The aim of this chapter is to analyse the effects of the introduction of two possible alternatives as a form of energy storage: pumped hydro storage and electric vehicles. For this, we use a simulation model adapted to the features of La Palma, considering different scenarios and the existence of a pumped-hydro energy storage system. Results show that, in the best-case scenario, the installation of an additional 25 MW from renewables (more than double the current power), supported by 20 MW of pumped hydro storage and a fleet of 3361 electric vehicles, would allow the current share of renewables to increase from 11% (in 2015) to 49%. Furthermore, this would lead to a 26% reduction in CO2 emissions, a 10% in costs of generated kWh and a 19% in energy dependence. Chapter 3. Willingness to pay for electric vehicles in island regions: the case of Tenerife, Canary Islands. Electric vehicles could be a sustainable solution to reduce final energy consumption and carbon emissions in the road transport sector. Moreover, mobility characteristics of drivers (i.e., the average driving distance) fit better with current electric vehicle technical features on a small island than in mainland. In this chapter, the penetration of electric vehicles in Tenerife (Canary Islands) is analysed, which is still quite low. Based on data collected through a face-to-face contingent valuation method, the willingness to change and the willingness to pay for an electric vehicle on the island are estimated, which are key factor to understand the potentiality of electric vehicle penetration. In order to provide an appropriate profile of a potential electric car buyer, in the second part of the chapter we analyse the impact of a set of explanatory variables on both willingness to change and willingness to pay. It has been found that providing information about basic properties of an electric cars and environmental concerns are key factors for willingness to change, while income level, mobility patterns, environmental concerns and technological attitude of individuals are found to be important factors to determine willingness to pay

Renewable energy challenges and opportunities. The prospect of adopting a new policy and legal paradigm in Ghana

This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University LondonGlobal consumption of fossil fuels has wreaked havoc on the environment through anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Meeting the ever-increasing demand for energy and limiting its impact on the environment are the two intertwined issues that confront the world. Against this backdrop, national and international stakeholders have been called to transition to renewable energy (RE) to provide energy security and stem climate change. As such, governments around the world have been formulating legal and policy frameworks to encourage the deployment of RE along with technological innovations. However, poor legal frameworks and policies, insufficient financial support, and incentives have rendered the adoption of RE technologies, especially in developing countries, woefully inadequate and Ghana is no exception. In Ghana, various legal and policy frameworks have been deployed for the development of hydro and non-hydro RE. However, the contribution of non-hydro RE (solar and wind) to the country's electricity generation mix is paltry due to various challenges. The research uses desktop analysis, empirical research, and comparative analysis to critically examine the existing Renewable Energy Act, 2011 (Act 832) and policies on RE in Ghana to ascertain the extent to which they effectively address energy security challenges. The results reveal many challenges as follows: a general poor implementation of the provisions of the Act, poor funding, obsolete grid network, transmission and distribution losses, and bureaucratic processes in licence acquisition to be responsible for the paltry diffusion of non-hydro RE in Ghana whose share was 0.3% in 2020. The research recommends that the government of Ghana (GoG) reviews the existing Renewable Energy Act, policies, and regulatory frameworks currently in operation to address deployment constraints. The thesis concludes by calling on the GoG to focus on specific legal and policy frameworks that would promote solar photovoltaic deployment as the country is endowed with abundant solar energy

Materiais para energia: oportunidades em transferência de tecnologia

Mestrado em Engenharia QuímicaEnergy is a current topic and although due to different motivations (rising fuel costs, environmental issues or supply security) the main goals are common, consume less energy and find alternatives to fossil fuel based technologies. Nowadays, significant efforts towards the implementation of sustainable energy technologies, by delineating strategies and priorities, as well as through developing supporting mechanisms and building scenarios. In Europe this efforts are being taken in order to meet the ambitious and binding energy and climate change objectives for 2020. In the form of electricity, heat, light, mechanical, biological or chemical, energy will become an always more expensive commodity, and therefore there is a great need to manage this resource effectively. New products made from new advanced materials can have a large impact on the energy field. It is intended with this dissertation to better understand the energy problem nowadays, to explore applicability of materials science towards sustainable energy technologies with potential to commercial deployment and to understand in each way the positioning of the University of Aveiro associate laboratory CICECO – Centre for Research in Ceramics and Composites Materials, the largest Portuguese institute in the field of materials science and engineering, is fulfilling these assumptions. Therefore, this analysis aims at gathering information in order to create a tool for strategic decision making.A energia é uma temática atual e, apesar das diferentes motivações (o aumento do consumo de combustíveis, as questões ambientais ou de segurança de abastecimento), os principais objetivos são comuns, reduzir o consumo de energia e encontrar formas de energia alternativas aos combustíveis fósseis. Actualmente estão a ser desenvolvidos esforços significativos no sentido da implementação de tecnologias de energia sustentável, delineando para tal estratégias e prioridades, assim como desenvolvendo mecanismos de financiamento e projecção de cenários. Na Europa, estes esforços estão a ser desenvolvidos no sentido de cumprir com os objectivos ambiciosos estabelecidos para 2020, no que respeita a energia e às alterações climáticas. Sob a forma de electricidade, calor, luz, mecânica, biológica ou química, a energia vai se tornar uma comodidade cada vez mais cara e, neste sentido, há uma grande necessidade de gerir este recurso de forma eficaz. Novos produtos resultantes do desenvolvimento de novos materiais avançados poderão ter um impacto significativo na área da energia. Pretende-se com esta dissertação analisar a atual problemática energética, explorar a aplicabilidade da ciência dos materiais em tecnologias energéticas sustentáveis com potencial de comercialização e perceber de que forma o posicionamento do Laboratório Associado da Universidade de Aveiro, CICECO - Centro de Investigação em Materiais Cerâmicos e Compósitos, o maior instituto Português em matéria de engenharia e ciência dos materiais, vai ao encontro desses pressupostos. Deste modo, a presente análise pretende reunir informação de forma a criar uma ferramenta de apoio à decisão em termos de desenvolvimento estratégico