Evaluating indicators of energy security for sustainable development in Asia

Helen Cabalu and Yixiao Zhou, in “Evaluating indicators of energy security for sustainable development in Asia,” examine the fossil fuel energy profile of selected Asian countries in terms of specific energy supply indicators, which include intensity, net import dependency, ratio of domestic energy production to total domestic energy consumption and geopolitical risk. Drs. Cabalu and Zhou discuss the indicators for selected countries in Asia in the period between 2002 and 2015. A composite supply security index for oil (OSSI), gas (GSSI) and coal (CSSI) are calculated to provide a quantitative measure of energy security for each of the fossil fuels, taking into account the dynamics among the identified set of energy supply indicators. The authors examine the energy profile of selected Asian countries, including China, India, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Thailand, then compile a supply security index for oil, gas and coal, analyzing and evaluating the index in order to draw policy conclusions

GaN grown on two-step cleaned C-terminated 6H-SiC by molecular-beam epitaxy

A contaminant-free C-terminated 6H-SiC (0001) surface has been successfully prepared by a two-step method, which combines H2:He (1:1) plasma and heating at 940 °C for 100 min. On this surface, a high-quality GaN (0001) thin film is obtained by radio-frequency nitrogen-plasma- assisted molecular-beam epitaxy. Near-band-edge emissions have been observed from some of these epilayers, depending primarily on the substrate surface conditions. Auger electron spectroscopy measurements show that temperatures of 940-1245 °C are necessary to thermally desorb the oxide and carbide from 6H-SiC substrates. At 1040 °C for the C-face SiC and 1150 °C for the Si-face SiC, crystalline damage was reported in the form of graphite formation on the surface. This graphite was observed through x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Structural analysis by x-ray diffraction and photoluminescence indicates very good in-plane alignment of the GaN epilayers as the substrates are cleaned using H2:He (1:1) plasma at 940 °C for 100 min

The dynamics of energy geopolitics in the Gulf and Qatar's Foreign relations with East Asia

Five GCC countries have developed shortages of natural gas, while Qatar possesses the third largest reserves of natural gas globally, and yet no meaningful GCC-wide gas network exists. Qatar's commercially grounded energy policy together with a reluctance to enter into an energy-dependent status with a close neighbour understandably favours high East Asian above the discounted rate demanded by GCC states. As a result, natural gas geopolitics has prompted Qatar to take on a global energy policy resulting in an increased integration with Asian states. The focus of this paper is to assess the dynamics of the regional energy market of the GCC, how existing tensions foster Qatar's increased interconnectivity with East Asia, and the resulting impact on traditional international alliances with Europe and North America.Scopu

Alternative energy policy for mitigating the asynchrony of the wind-power industry’s supply chain in Brazil

High dependency on hydroelectricity has revealed drawbacks in the security of power supplies as a consequence of the climate variability in South America. Under these conditions, Brazil is starting to consider alternative renewable sources for energy production, seeking to avoid periods of scarcity while also promoting clean technologies in its electricity market. Since 2004, wind power has shown a significant rise in terms of installed capacity in this country. Despite increases in wind-power units, Brazil suffers from delays in setting up its transmission infrastructure, which affects the performance of the wind-power supply chain. This chapter presents a simulation model that helps assess the long-term effects of an alternative sustainable energy policy, which may contribute to overcoming the asynchrony between renewable generation policy and the insufficiency of transmission infrastructure. Using lessons learned from simulations, the research concludes that the transmission industry in Brazil requires appropriate investment incentives for just-in-time synchrony with the expansion of the wind industry