Analysis of Engineering, Socio-Political and Market Aspects of Energy Policies Using Examples from Carbon Tax, Market Diffusion of Combined Heat and Power and Vehicle-to-Grid Services

University of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. May 2019. Major: Public Affairs. Advisors: Bruce Wollenberg, Elizabeth Wilson. 1 computer file (PDF); xi, 156 pages.Excelling at formulating, analyzing and implementing effective energy policies requires a holistic understanding of its economic, socio-political and engineering aspects. However, both in academia and in practice, one (or more) of these perspectives is often neglected or understudied. Considering this, this dissertation studies three examples of energy policies focusing on a lesser known, and often-neglected aspect. The examples are compiled as three independent, self-contained essays. The first essay analyses the power engineering aspect of a carbon tax. Using U.S. market practices and policies as an example, a carbon tax is operationalized in a wholesale electricity market. Its effect is examined on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Reliability Test System 28-bus model examining both transmission congestion and other energy policies. The results show how a carbon tax affects emission savings, and revenue streams for generators, loads and the government. They indicate that such interactions could lead to ineffective emissions reduction. The second essay analyzes the socio-political aspect of Combined Heat and Power (CHP). By using expert elicitation and document analysis, the non-financial barriers for CHP are analyzed. The results show three significant barriers a) the business model of the electrical utility b) negative subjective impressions and c) challenges in allocating the risks and benefits. The third essay analyzes the economic/market aspect of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G). Model of a centralized V2G system is developed and applied to the 2015 wholesale electricity market in Texas (Houston Hub). Three scenarios are examined. In the first scenario, electric vehicles are paid based on a fixed retail market price; in the second, they are paid a time-varying retail market price; in the third, the virtual power plant shares 50% of its total reward with the participating vehicles. The results demonstrate that, while this system is always financially profitable to the virtual power plant and the system operator gets grid services, the electric vehicles could lose money. Further, results show that these vehicles with lower per unit output-battery cost could lose more money because of extensive battery over-use and insufficient reward at current market prices. The results have several important policy implications. Study of a power-engineering aspect of a carbon tax reveals that due to operational interactions, in the short term, a carbon tax might not reduce emissions. Study of the socio-political issue of CHP reveals that economically viable technologies may sometimes not gain traction in the market because of internal business models and negative subjective impressions. Similarly, the study of the economic/market aspect of a V2G reveals that lower battery costs, subsidies for participation, and more rewarding market products could all make V2G more economically viable to the vehicle owners. More importantly, these results also imply thorough analysis would reveal the intricacies and allow the policymaker to understand the impacts of such a policy holistically

A Non-catalytic Deep Desulphurization Process using Hydrodynamic Cavitation

A novel approach is developed for desulphurization of fuels or organics without use of catalyst. In this process, organic and aqueous phases are mixed in a predefined manner under ambient conditions and passed through a cavitating device. Vapor cavities formed in the cavitating device are then collapsed which generate (in-situ) oxidizing species which react with the sulphur moiety resulting in the removal of sulphur from the organic phase. In this work, vortex diode was used as a cavitating device. Three organic solvents (n-octane, toluene and n-octanol) containing known amount of a model sulphur compound (thiophene) up to initial concentrations of 500 ppm were used to verify the proposed method. A very high removal of sulphur content to the extent of 100% was demonstrated. The nature of organic phase and the ratio of aqueous to organic phase were found to be the most important process parameters. The results were also verified and substantiated using commercial diesel as a solvent. The developed process has great potential for deep of various organics, in general, and for transportation fuels, in particular

Forensic Analysis in Wildlife Crime Cases: Microscopy, DNA Profiling and Isotope Analysis

Illegal wildlife trade is one of the biggest threats to the environment and biodiversity. The growing volume of illegal trade in wildlife jeopardizes all the conservation efforts across the globe. Many species have become extinct due to the illegal wildlife trade and many have reached the verge of extinction. According to some estimates, the monetary values of the illegal wildlife trade are estimated to be several billion US dollars. To deal with wildlife crime cases, it becomes imperative to have a sound knowledge of the techniques required in the analysis of wildlife crime exhibits. In this chapter, we have outlined the three frequently used techniques in wildlife forensics viz. microscopy, DNA and isotope analysis for addressing the problems of species and individual identification, and additionally identification of the geographical origin of a wildlife sample. The basic essentials of these techniques have been discussed in this chapter

Energy from Waste: Poterioochromonas malhamensis Used for Managing Dairy Effluent and Producing Valuable Microalgal Lipid

Currently, microalgae have become a marvelous and resource-friendly alternative source of advantageous bioproducts, such as lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, or other bioactive compounds. Because of the richness of microalgae in these high-value-added metabolites, still, it is an underdeveloped source of sustainable energy and food. There are some hurdles to profitable production, such as culture contamination and costly harvesting techniques. In the current work, a chrysophyte was isolated from dairy wastewater, identified as Poterioochromonas malhamensis based on its morphology and partial 18S rRNA gene sequences. This isolate was used to remediate dairy waste water (DWW) and to obtain neutral lipids (fatty acids) from microalgae. Microalgal growth was optimized by using different concentrations of DWW, supplemented with all the nutritive requirements for better progression and flourishment. Maximum biomass yield 1.478 g L−1 was achieved by optimized cultural conditions (different concentrations of DWW with BBM media). This strain showed high nitrate and phosphate removal efficiency (87.45% and 88.96%), respectively in 15 days. The experimental results highlighted that the lipid content and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal were 31.60% and 88.84%, respectively, and the lipid profile of isolated microalga was C16:0, C16:1, C18:0, C18:1, and C18:2 fatty acids. For growth and treatment purposes, 75% DWW with Bold’s Basal Medium (BBM) media showed better results. This is the first report of DWW treatment using the microalga Poterioochromonas malhamensis, as far as we are aware. Its cultivation prevented the spread of pollution of freshwater sources, remedied the DWW, and generated important lipids for industry

Detection of a glitch in the pulsar J1709-4429

We report the detection of a glitch event in the pulsar J1709$-$4429 (also known as B1706$-$44) during regular monitoring observations with the Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope (UTMOST). The glitch was found during timing operations, in which we regularly observe over 400 pulsars with up to daily cadence, while commensally searching for Rotating Radio Transients, pulsars, and FRBs. With a fractional size of $\Delta\nu/\nu \approx 52.4 \times10^{-9}$, the glitch reported here is by far the smallest known for this pulsar, attesting to the efficacy of glitch searches with high cadence using UTMOST.Comment: 3 pages, 1 figur

The Airway Microbiome at Birth.

Alterations of pulmonary microbiome have been recognized in multiple respiratory disorders. It is critically important to ascertain if an airway microbiome exists at birth and if so, whether it is associated with subsequent lung disease. We found an established diverse and similar airway microbiome at birth in both preterm and term infants, which was more diverse and different from that of older preterm infants with established chronic lung disease (bronchopulmonary dysplasia). Consistent temporal dysbiotic changes in the airway microbiome were seen from birth to the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in extremely preterm infants. Genus Lactobacillus was decreased at birth in infants with chorioamnionitis and in preterm infants who subsequently went on to develop lung disease. Our results, taken together with previous literature indicating a placental and amniotic fluid microbiome, suggest fetal acquisition of an airway microbiome. We speculate that the early airway microbiome may prime the developing pulmonary immune system, and dysbiosis in its development may set the stage for subsequent lung disease

Trading Electricity with Blockchain Systems

On the wave of the development of new ICT technologies and renewable energy, the power system will certainly experience great changes to its outdated architecture over the next several decades. One of the key drivers of change in the power system is distributed energy resources. They are completely changing the paradigm of the power system as a system with a centralized hierarchy and one-way power flows from generation to customer and from high voltage to low voltage. Because the goals of net zero greenhouse gas emissions are gathering pace and are being accepted by countries around the world, slowdown in the integration of distributed energy resources cannot be expected. Another reason why we can expect faster integration is the development of technology for energy production which is becoming more available to power consumers. Because of the problems that are currently occurring in the distribution system, it is clear that the system must be modernized in line with the development of these technologies. The technology that will likely have the greatest impact on the modernization of the power system is blockchain technology combined with the smart grid paradigm. Blockchain has the ability to completely change the way the power system is managed and optimized for performance