69 research outputs found
Distributed generation: definition, benefits and issues
This paper starts from the observation that there is a renewed interest in small-scale electricity generation. The authors start with a survey of existing small-scale generation technologies and then move on with a discussion of the major benefits and issues of small-scale electricity generation. Different technologies are evaluated in terms of their possible contribution to the listed benefits and issues. Small-scale generation is also commonly called distributed generation, embedded generation or decentralised generation. In a final section, an attempt is made to define the latter concepts more precisely. It appears that there is no consensus on a precise definition as the concept encompasses many technologies and applications.Distributed generation, embedded generation, electricity
Municipal energy management model for Cuban first level municipalities
The Government of Cuba proposed in the year 2011 an update of the economic and social model, where the management
of energy is an element of influence in the economy of the country. This led to the approval of a policy for the
development of renewable sources and the efficient use of energy. Another important aspect is the National Plan for
development until 2030, which considers the use of natural resources including energy, environmental impacts, and its
link with the local development. However, in the municipalities, there are few studies on local energy management
(LEM), and they lack the essential elements to guarantee it. This study defined the elements of LEM for the management
models of local governance in Cuba, the energy context, and the scenario for the development of LEM in the country.
The results suggest a model for LEM that integrates its elements to the functions of local government in energy decisions
that influence the economy, society, the environment and local development
Heating ventilation and air-conditioned configurations for hotels an approach review for the design and exploitation
The tourism sector is one of the main worldwide economic sectors with sustained growth, demonstrating its strength and resilience. In this sector, energy uses have increased to ensure quality, guest comfort, and rate level requirements being a building with great energy consumption. Several factors influence and can produce a significant variation in hotel consumption even in facilities located in the same region; the difference in a four-star hotel can reach 114 kWh/m2 /year. This paper deals with related aspects such as hotel design, operation, type of service, occupancy patterns, operating point and efficiency of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system where 30 to 50% of the energy is consumed. Also, previous works based on the implementation of non-conventional energy resources such as photovoltaics projects to replace fuel dependence and high costs in electricity bills were reviewed. where there are savings of up to 30% in electricity and 60% in gas consumption. However, the initial capital investment and payback period are high and require new features to be considered in these facilities
A novel modular design approach to âthermal capacity on demandâ in a rapid deployment building solutions: Case study of Smart-POD
Designed to address the challenges of a sustainable future and the financial difficulties facing schools, Smart-POD is a unique and innovative research project which provides an alternative to traditional classroom planning. It proposes a rapid deployment building solution, transitory or permanent in its use, modular in design, flexible in set-up and self-sustaining in use, requiring nominal site works and providing for all of its energy demands from renewable energy sources. Its feasibility was tested via a design case study which investigated potential of its novel âthermal capacity on demandâ energy performance approach. It combines a modular thermal storage solution capable of balancing heating demand and supply for a low rise, low mass superstructure with renewable technologies and the level of back-up power/services needed. The project team has formed a consortium of stakeholders and consulted on design methodology, performance specification and viability of other markets, the results of which are reported in this paper. The research has, in its final output, established a commercial model based on its design, procurement, financing, supply chain and the manufacturing strategy and is currently negotiating funding for the prototype.Sustainable Construction INet / ERD
On the evolution of âcleaner productionâ as a concept and a practice
âCleaner Productionâ(CP) is about less and more efficient energy and materials use and the substitution of more harmful products (for the environment and health) by less dangerous ones. CP was the reply of the industry to the call for sustainable development as launched by the WCED (1987) and further elaborated in Rio's Agenda 21 (UN, 1992). During the past 25 years, the concept was put in practice. During this period it changed in scope, methods, and application area. This provided a deeper socio-economic impact to an idea that was originally launched to awaken industry on its environmental responsibilities. This paper provides a review of essentials that contributed to the fundamental changes in CP during the most recent quarter of a century. It takes off with a review of CP definitions illustrating the changes of the content. Changes in scope are exemplified with the increasing importance of âCorporate Social Responsibilityâ (CSR). This includes that post-modern companies have not only responsibilities on their economic performance and the environment, but should also act on issues including human rights and resources, business ethics, and community involvement. The links between CP and green and circular economy are indicated. The CP approach is increasingly applied outside the industry. CP for sustainable tourism is discussed in more detail but is only an example of the wider application in e.g. agriculture or health services
A New Energy Performance Indicator for Energy Management System of a Wheat Mill Plant
In this paper, a predictive tool for the energy consumption of wheat milling process using Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) and a new Energy Performance Indicator (EnPI) is proposed. This EnPI does not only consider the production of flour but also the particle size of flour and added water for softening wheat. The results of the study, carried out in a wheat mill plant in Cuba, show a good coincidence between the predicted and real energy consumption for the developed model. It also demonstrates the effectiveness of EnPI proposed as a tool for management and energy savings in the company under study. Due to the complexity of the proposed model, for obtaining the baseline and estimating the energy saving potential, a probabilistic method was used. It was statistically demonstrated by the determination index (R2), that the new proposed model is superior to the conventional model of energy vs. production.
Keywords: energy performance indicators, energy efficiency, wheat milling
JEL Classifications:Â K32, L9
Towards the increased utilisation of geothermal energy in a district heating network through the use of a heat storage
Hydrogen-enriched natural gas as a domestic fuel: An analysis based on flash-back and blow-off limits for domestic natural gas appliances within the UK
In the effort to reduce carbon emissions from an ever-increasing global population, it has become increasingly vital to monitor and counteract the environmental impact of our domestic energy usage given its contribution to overall carbon emissions. To this end, hydrogen has emerged as a foremost candidate to offset and eventually replace the use of traditional gaseous fossil fuels. Hydrogen as the universal energy carrier or vector is easily produced from all forms of renewable or recovered energy as a storable, transportable commodity that can be used on demand, thus decoupling the supply from demand that is often considered to be the down-side of intermittent renewable energy usage. European trials have already been conducted to investigate the practical implementation of hydrogen-enriched natural gas (HENG) within a mains gas supply. In this work, the limitations of such a strategy are evaluated based on a novel meta-analysis of experimental studies within the literature, with a focus on the constraints imposed by the phenomena of flash-back and blow-off. Through consideration of the Wobbe Index, we discuss the relationship between molar hydrogen percentage and annual carbon dioxide output, as well as the predicted effect of hydrogen-enrichment on fuel costs. It is further shown that in addition to suppressing both blow-off and yellow-tipping, hydrogen-enrichment of natural gas does not significantly increase the risk of flash-back on ignition for realistic burner setups, while flash-back at extinction is avoided for circular port diameters of less than 3.5 mm unless the proportion of hydrogen exceeds 34.7 mol%. It is thus proposed that up to 30 mol% of the natural gas supply may be replaced in the UK with guaranteed safety and reliability for the domestic end-user, without any modification of the appliance infrastructure
Concrete Transition Issues Towards a Fully-Fledged Use of Hydrogen as an Energy Carrier (De concrete transitieproblematiek naar het volwaardig gebruik van waterstof als energiedrager toe)
Het doel van dit werk is de ontwikkeling van een realistische en doenbar e roadmap naar een mogelijke waterstofeconomie toe, waarbij de concrete transitieproblematiek bekeken wordt en oplossingen worden aangereikt. Di t omvat de uitbouw van een nieuwe waterstofinfrastructuur en het in reke ning brengen van de volledige waterstofketen met inbegrip van productie, transport, opslag, distributie en eindgebruik. De vooropgestelde methodologie steunt grotendeels op het bijmengen van w aterstof in aardgasleidingen. De commerciële doorbraak en beschikbaarhei d van brandstofcellen is dan niet langer een vereiste en de impasse tuss en het gebrek aan infrastructuur en het gebrek aan een vraag naar waters tof wordt opgelost. Naast een kwalitatieve, maar goed onderbouwde benadering, wordt vervolge ns een model ontworpen dat de ontwikkeling van een dergelijke, prille wa terstof-infrastructuur kwantificeert en optimaliseert. Het model laat to e nieuwe, belangrijke inzichten te verwerven die van groot belang zijn v oor de uitbouw van een waterstofeconomie.In een laatste deel wordt de mo gelijke interactie tussen een nieuw te ontwikkelen waterstofinfrastructu ur en een reeds bestaande elektriciteitsinfrastructuur onderzocht. Hierb ij wordt vooral aandacht besteed aan de co-productie van waterstof en el ektriciteit in steenkoolvergassingscentrales.nrpages: 204status: publishe
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