Nuclear Power as an Option in Electrical Generation Planning for Small Economy and Electricity Grid

Implementing a NPP in countries with relatively small total GDP (small economy) and usually with small electricity grid face two major problems and constrains: the ability to obtain the considerable financial resources required on reasonable terms and to connect large NPP to small electricity grid. Nuclear generation financing in developing countries involves complex issues that need to be fully understood and dealt with by all the parties involved. Besides conventional approaches for financing power generation projects in developing countries, recently some alternative approaches for mobilizing financial resources are developed. The safe and economic operation of a nuclear power plant (NPP) requires the plant to be connected to an electrical grid system that has adequate capacity for exporting the power from the NPP, and for providing a reliable electrical supply to the NPP for safe start-up, operation and normal or emergency shut-down of the plant. Connection of any large new power plant to the electrical grid system in a country may require significant modification and strengthening of the grid system, but for NPPs there may be added requirements to the structure of the grid system and the way it is controlled and maintained to ensure adequate reliability. Paper shows the comparative assesment of NPP adn differrent base load technologies as an option in electrical generation planning for small economy and electricity gri

FROM MARKET UNCERTAINTY TO POLICY UNCERTAINTY FOR INVESTMENT IN POWER GENERATION: REAL OPTIONS FOR NPP ON ELECTRICITY MARKET

In the electricity sector, market participants must make decisions about capacity choice in a situation of radical uncertainty about future market conditions. Sector is characterized by non-storability and periodic and stochastic demand fluctuations. Capacity determination is a decision for the long term, whereas production is adjusted in the short run. Paper looks on the main contributions in investment planning under uncertainty, in particular in the electricity market for capital intensive investments like NPP. The relationship between market and nonmarket factors (recent UK policy example) in determining investment signals in competitive electricity markets was analysed. Paper analyse the ability of competitive electricity markets to deliver the desired quantity and type of generation capacity and also investigates the variety of market imperfections operating in electricity generation and their impact on long-term dynamics for generation capacity. Paper analyses how price formation influences investment signals. Number of factors (including market power, wholesale price volatility, lack Ž. Tomšić, From market uncertainty to policy uncertainty for investment in power generation: real options for NPP on electricity market, Journal of Energy, vol. 64 (2015) Special Issue, p. 178-197 of liquidity in the wholesale and financial market, policy and regulatory risks etc.) contribute to polluting the price signal and generating sub-optimal behaviour

RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES AND OTHER ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AS A MEASURE FOR MITIGATING THE IMPACT OF URBAN HEAT ISLANDS

Urban heat islands (UHI) represent increase of temperature inside of cities in regard to their rural environment. Causes of their formation are diverse and multiple: reduced amount of vegetation and waterproofing of surfaces, changed radiation and thermal characteristics of materials, urban geometry. Consequences are also diverse and significant: increasing consumption of energy for cooling, negative impact on human health, deterioration of air quality. Conventional methods for mitigating their impact include reflective and green roofs and introduction of green and water surfaces in cities. Different renewable energy technologies can also have positive impact on urban heat islands, but at the same time they contribute to greater energy independency of cities what is goal of future urban development. Proposed and described technologies are solar cooling, groundair heat exchanger, passive cooling, solar pond

INTRODUCTION

This special issue of the Journal of Energy is dedicated to the establishment of today the Department for Energy and Power Systems (ZVNE), University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing in 1934. in that time the High Voltage Department as part of the Technical Faculty. For this reason, the history of the Department for Energy and Power Systems is presented in the introductory article, while the other articles are part of a broad scientific and professional work of the employees of the Department and some of the articles were created in wide cooperation with experts from the companies, that graduated from the Department. Journal of Energy special issue: present 17 papers selected for publication in Journal of Energy after having undergone the peer review process. We would like to thank the authors for their contributions and the reviewers who dedicated their valuable time in selecting and reviewing these papers. We hope this special issue will provide you valuable information of some achievements at Department of Energy and Power Systems, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing. Short introduction of scientific and expert work of the Department for Energy and Power Systems (ZVNE): Besides educational energy related programmes for undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND POWER SYSTEMS has been actively involved for many years in many scientific and expert studies. Studies on scientific projects include collaboration with industry, national institutions, electric utilities, and many foreign universities. The Department has developed valuable international cooperation with many research institutions around the world, either directly or through inter-university cooperation. The Department is the leading institution in the field of electrical power engineering in the region, it has a long lasting cooperation with the economic sector, and it is recognized for its scientific activities and a large number of published scientific papers in globally relevant journals, as well as numerous national and international scientific projects. Main Department areas of activities are: a) Power Engineering and Power Technologies, b) Energy, Environment, Energy Management and c) Nuclear Power Engineering In Power Systems Engineering the research is focused to development of both fundamental knowledge and applications of electrical power engineering. The research is generally directed to increasing the availability and the reliability of a power system with an emphasis on the adjustment to the open market environment. Specific goals include: improving models and methodologies for power system analysis, operation and control; development, production and application of models and methodologies for power systems planning, maintenance and development; application of soft-computing (artificial intelligence, meta-heuristics, etc.), information technologies (web-oriented technologies, geographic information systems, enterprise IT solutions, etc.) and operational research in improving processes of planning, development, exploitation and control of power systems; investigation on applications for coordinated control of power system devices and exploring the power system stability, security and economic operation; integration of intelligent devices and agents in energy management systems and distribution management systems equipment and software; advanced modelling of dynamics, disturbances and transient phenomena in transmission and distribution networks (in particular regarding distributed generation); advances in fault detection, restoration and outage management. The researches also cover high voltage engineering. At time of global changes in the energy sector, with emphasis on sustainable development, significant efforts are devoted to liberalization efforts, facilities revitalization, improved legislation and adoption of new standards. In area of Power Technologies, Energy and Environment, Energy Management the main framework for the research are: sustainable electricity generation on a liberalized market, modelling ETS and electricity market; energy security and climate change; power system optimization with emission trading; rational use of energy and energy savings; energy management in industry and buildings; energy conservation and energy auditing in industry and buildings. General objective of the research is to develop methodologies for quantitative assessment of the environmental impact of applicable energy technologies (electric power producing plants and their technology chains), as a base for estimating optimal long-term development strategy of the Croatian power system. Research work includes new strategies of energy sector and power system development; preparing medium and long-term electricity generation expansion plan for power system; comparison of energy, economic and environmental characteristics of different options for electric power generation; studies for rational use of energy and energy savings, assuming a centralized structure of the electricity market. Research work also includes renewable energy sources and its role in power sector, as well as electricity production considering cap on CO2 emissions. Research covers development of new models for power system generation optimization and planning under uncertainties on the open electricity market. The goal of that research is to create analytical and software tools which will enable a successful transition to liberalized electricity market and ensure healthy and efficient power system operation in compliance with environmental requirements. In the Nuclear Energy Field research cover nuclear physics reactor theory, nuclear power plants. fuel cycles and reactors materials and general objective of the research is to develop methodologies for reliable assessment of nuclear power plants operational safety. In the nuclear energy field the specific analysis cover calculations of transients and consequences of potential accidents in NPP Krško. In the field of safety analyses of nuclear power plants the research activities are oriented to the mathematical modelling of nuclear power plant systems and components

INTRODUCTION

This special issue of the Journal of Energy is dedicated to the establishment of today the Department for Energy and Power Systems (ZVNE), University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing in 1934. in that time the High Voltage Department as part of the Technical Faculty. For this reason, the history of the Department for Energy and Power Systems is presented in the introductory article, while the other articles are part of a broad scientific and professional work of the employees of the Department and some of the articles were created in wide cooperation with experts from the companies, that graduated from the Department. Journal of Energy special issue: present 17 papers selected for publication in Journal of Energy after having undergone the peer review process. We would like to thank the authors for their contributions and the reviewers who dedicated their valuable time in selecting and reviewing these papers. We hope this special issue will provide you valuable information of some achievements at Department of Energy and Power Systems, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing. Short introduction of scientific and expert work of the Department for Energy and Power Systems (ZVNE): Besides educational energy related programmes for undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND POWER SYSTEMS has been actively involved for many years in many scientific and expert studies. Studies on scientific projects include collaboration with industry, national institutions, electric utilities, and many foreign universities. The Department has developed valuable international cooperation with many research institutions around the world, either directly or through inter-university cooperation. The Department is the leading institution in the field of electrical power engineering in the region, it has a long lasting cooperation with the economic sector, and it is recognized for its scientific activities and a large number of published scientific papers in globally relevant journals, as well as numerous national and international scientific projects. Main Department areas of activities are: a) Power Engineering and Power Technologies, b) Energy, Environment, Energy Management and c) Nuclear Power Engineering In Power Systems Engineering the research is focused to development of both fundamental knowledge and applications of electrical power engineering. The research is generally directed to increasing the availability and the reliability of a power system with an emphasis on the adjustment to the open market environment. Specific goals include: improving models and methodologies for power system analysis, operation and control; development, production and application of models and methodologies for power systems planning, maintenance and development; application of soft-computing (artificial intelligence, meta-heuristics, etc.), information technologies (web-oriented technologies, geographic information systems, enterprise IT solutions, etc.) and operational research in improving processes of planning, development, exploitation and control of power systems; investigation on applications for coordinated control of power system devices and exploring the power system stability, security and economic operation; integration of intelligent devices and agents in energy management systems and distribution management systems equipment and software; advanced modelling of dynamics, disturbances and transient phenomena in transmission and distribution networks (in particular regarding distributed generation); advances in fault detection, restoration and outage management. The researches also cover high voltage engineering. At time of global changes in the energy sector, with emphasis on sustainable development, significant efforts are devoted to liberalization efforts, facilities revitalization, improved legislation and adoption of new standards. In area of Power Technologies, Energy and Environment, Energy Management the main framework for the research are: sustainable electricity generation on a liberalized market, modelling ETS and electricity market; energy security and climate change; power system optimization with emission trading; rational use of energy and energy savings; energy management in industry and buildings; energy conservation and energy auditing in industry and buildings. General objective of the research is to develop methodologies for quantitative assessment of the environmental impact of applicable energy technologies (electric power producing plants and their technology chains), as a base for estimating optimal long-term development strategy of the Croatian power system. Research work includes new strategies of energy sector and power system development; preparing medium and long-term electricity generation expansion plan for power system; comparison of energy, economic and environmental characteristics of different options for electric power generation; studies for rational use of energy and energy savings, assuming a centralized structure of the electricity market. Research work also includes renewable energy sources and its role in power sector, as well as electricity production considering cap on CO2 emissions. Research covers development of new models for power system generation optimization and planning under uncertainties on the open electricity market. The goal of that research is to create analytical and software tools which will enable a successful transition to liberalized electricity market and ensure healthy and efficient power system operation in compliance with environmental requirements. In the Nuclear Energy Field research cover nuclear physics reactor theory, nuclear power plants. fuel cycles and reactors materials and general objective of the research is to develop methodologies for reliable assessment of nuclear power plants operational safety. In the nuclear energy field the specific analysis cover calculations of transients and consequences of potential accidents in NPP Krško. In the field of safety analyses of nuclear power plants the research activities are oriented to the mathematical modelling of nuclear power plant systems and components

RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES AND OTHER ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AS A MEASURE FOR MITIGATING THE IMPACT OF URBAN HEAT ISLANDS

Urban heat islands (UHI) represent increase of temperature inside of cities in regard to their rural environment. Causes of their formation are diverse and multiple: reduced amount of vegetation and waterproofing of surfaces, changed radiation and thermal characteristics of materials, urban geometry. Consequences are also diverse and significant: increasing consumption of energy for cooling, negative impact on human health, deterioration of air quality. Conventional methods for mitigating their impact include reflective and green roofs and introduction of green and water surfaces in cities. Different renewable energy technologies can also have positive impact on urban heat islands, but at the same time they contribute to greater energy independency of cities what is goal of future urban development. Proposed and described technologies are solar cooling, groundair heat exchanger, passive cooling, solar pond

Electricity Market and Energy Policies Uncertainties for Investment in Life Time Operation of Nuclear Power Plants

In the electricity sector, market participants must make decisions about capacity choice in a situation of radical uncertainty about future market conditions. Electricity sector is characterized by non-storability and periodic and stochastic demand fluctuations. Capacity determination is a decision for the long term, whereas production is adjusted in the short run. Today decisions pertaining to investment in new capacity or life time extension are surrounded by considerable uncertainties about the future economics of the projects. One reason is that in a deregulated market private investors typically have to bear a greater portion of the investment risk compared to a monopoly utility in a regulated market. This favours flexible investment alternatives with short-lead times and low capital requirements. Moreover, energy and climate policy – with feed-in tariffs for RES or green certificate system and the EU CO2 ETS may add to investment uncertainties. From the economic point of view, the costs of LTO are usually lower than the construction of any other source of electricity. But in the aftermath of the Fukushima accident, policies towards nuclear energy in some countries were changed. Because of that economic life decisions are plant specific. In evaluating the future economic prospects of existing plant, the owners/utility focus on the unique circumstances of that plant and its cost and performance, and the future demand for electricity, and value of electricity. Nevertheless, quantification of the LTO costs is not an easy task. It is recognized that LTO costs are highly dependent on specific conditions related to each NPP, such as: design of the plant; NPP operating history including ageing conditions; regulatory requirements; full or partial replacement of components; refurbishment for LTO; accounting methodologies; etc. The risks that may have an impact on the economic case for the long term operation of NPP should be identified with pre mitigation impact and probability assessment

ANALYSIS OF FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGIES FOR MICROCOGENERATION DEVICES IN THE HOUSEHOLDS AND SERVICE SECTOR

Present-day fuel cells for combined heat and power (CHP), even when fuelled with natural gas, are a promising technology in residential and commercial sectors because of their efficiency and carbon benefits. Using micro-cogeneration devices in fuel cell technologies could play a significant role in reducing harmful emissions into the environment in the building sector at a national level. This paper presents different technological solutions for fuel cells in the building sector, and reviews their applications and their technical characteristics. These characteristics are the basis for their comparison with competitive low-carbon technologies. In addition, a common benchmark for comparison of different technologies through appropriate methodology is described, considering how these devices work when they are connected to an electric power system, while using real data of comparable devices. This paper presents evidence and methods required for comparison of fuel cells with conventional systems for production of heat and electricity, as well as for competing with low-carbon technologies. A common way to compare fuel cell directly to heat pumps is developed, primarily through calculation of the equivalent coefficient of energy efficiency. The intensity of carbon emissions from electricity production is calculated using replacement methods, and a logical extension for calculating the intensity of carbon emissions from production of thermal energy for comparison to heat pumps is proposed