This article deals with utilisation of renewable energy sources with orientation on their benefits and
handicaps. Possibilities of distributed generation and utilisation of the renewable energy sources are also
mentioned. Actual conditions of these sources within the European Union are analysed, and their external costs
are compared with the external costs of conventional energy sources. The continual development of the
renewable energy sources utilisation is emphasised

Hvizdoš, Marek

Tkáč, Ján

DSpace at University of West Bohemia

DISTRIBUTED GENERATION AND RENEWABLE ENERGYSOURCES FOR SUSTAINABLE LIFEJán Tkáč, Marek HvizdošABSTRACTThis article deals with utilisation of renewable energy sources with orientation on their benefits andhandicaps. Possibilities of distributed generation and utilisation of the renewable energy sources are alsomentioned. Actual conditions of these sources within the European Union are analysed, and their external costsare compared with the external costs of conventional energy sources. The continual development of therenewable energy sources utilisation is emphasised.KEYWORDSdistributed generation, renewable energy, sustainable life, solar energy, wind energy1. INTRODUCTIONFrom the analysis of foregoing development, it results, that the mankind in the past was oriented to coal, oiland natural gas, which are exhaustible. Today, the exploitation of these energy sources has reached very highlevel, which is non-sustainable to the future from quantitative point of view. Their exhaustion is expected in theperiod 15 – 150 years. However, the utilization of these sources is limited not only by their reserves, but alsobecause of the disturbance of the thermodynamic stability of planet. According to WEC analysis, this problemcan be solved by the renewable energy sources (RES). Their quantity presents 20,000 – multiple of actual worldenergy consumption and reserves of these sources are practically inexhaustible [1]. The delaying of the RESutilisation through last decades causes serious international conflicts.2. NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCESImportant results of non-renewable energy sources utilisation are production of CO2 and thermal emission,with the effects of global warming and climate changes. In consequence of unequal allocation of these sources,the costs of exploitation, processing and transport raise, because of long distance between the locations ofmining and consumption. Countries with supplies of raw materials generally only sell them to developedcountries for further manipulation [2].Conserving the current structure of energy supply would increase the European Union’s dependence onimports of raw materials dramatically to 71 % in 2030, as shows Fig. 1. Also some prognostic institutions (e.g.UDI) present the necessity of increasing of installed electricity power worldwide by 100 % to 7200 GW.However, the realisation of these prognoses is practically not possible. From these analyses, it result, that it ispossible to anticipate serious economical, ecological and ethical problems over the world in following decades.The solution of these problems requires new methods and important change of life style.Fig. 1   Forecast of growing dependence of EU on fuel importsThe utilisation of non-renewable energy sources is doubtful also from economical point of view, because oftheir high external costs, i.e. social, political, environmental and nuclear costs. These forgotten costs are notincluded in selling price and they are by much higher than actual electricity price (Fig. 2).Fig. 2   Price of energy supply – the conventional energy price iceberg3. RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCESThe main renewable energy source is solar energy. This energy is transformed to kinetic energy of wind,potential energy of water, chemical energy of biomass, or thermal energy on ground surface. Every type of theseenergies can be utilised for production of electrical, thermal or mechanical energy. The high potential ofrenewable energy sources is shown on Fig. 3. The highest potential is concentrated in solar radiation, kineticwind energy, energy of the waves and sea, biomass and in hydrologic cycle. Actual world energy consumptionper year is displayed in the diagram lower right corner and it is only little part compared to the whole potential ofRES. The great benefit of renewable energy sources is their balanced allocation on Earth’s surface. It allowstheir distributed utilisation.Fig. 3   Potential of renewable energies worldwideThe renewable energy sources have low external costs, as shows Fig. 4. It follows the benefit of global gainof life quality.Fig. 4   Price of energy supply – saving costs through renewable energiesPresent economic methods for energy sources evaluation have not included external costs, which chargedthe society and the environment. In last years, it has increased the interest in more complex economic approach,with analysis shown on Fig. 5. The diagram proves the low external costs of RES in comparison withconventional energy sources [3].0 1 2 3 4Brown CoalBlack CoalGas TurbinesCombinedNuclearSolarWindSk / kWhFig. 5   External costs of electricity generation for various types of power plants3.1 DEVELOPMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCESAlthough the former problems have been well known already 30 years, the mankind has not concentrated itsresearch potential and financial resources to solve these challenges. The results of scientific research have notbeen applied in practice. Introduction of a new energy source requires 15 – 30 years for research, prototypedevelopment, demonstration projects, experience gaining, preparation and starting of mass production. However,it has been spent much time, what causes delayed wide utilisation of RES.The utilisation of RES has not been significant until the appreciation of the importance of grant funding fordevelopment and utilisation of these sources by some countries. At first, the equipments for photothermalconversion of solar energy were used, but gradually the wind power industry reached the highest growth. Themost impressive results have been achieved in Germany (Fig. 6). Figure shows the political milestones withcorresponding increase of installed capacity and number of wind turbines.In Germany, in 1991 was adopted the Electricity Feed Act. Installed power capacity of wind power plantswent up 20 – times until 1997. With respect to the mass interest, in 1997, it was necessary to change the GermanBuilding Code to achieve the privilege of wind turbines building. In 2000, the Renewable Energy Sources Actwas adopted to make granting priority for RES. The consideration of law court was even necessary. In 2001, theEuropean Court of Justice made decision that the German tariff model complies with European CompetitionLaw. Previous experiences also stimulate to amend the RES Act in 2003.As the result of presented way, it is above 16 GW of installed capacity of wind power plants and about16,000 wind turbines. According to experience, the development of this industry has positive effect to the jobcreation and also to the export. In Germany, the wind energy industry has strong position and the grant fundingaid is not necessary now.Fig. 6   Increase of installed capacity of wind power plants in GermanyMoreover, Fig. 7 indicates the interesting growth of world installed capacity of wind power plants. It reflectsprogress from experimental phase to mass production.05000100001500020000250003000035000400004500050000MW1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003Fig. 7   Increase of installed capacity of wind power plants worldwideRenewable energy sector has been not asserted in many countries because of bureaucratic barriers,especially in initial period of plants operation. It is evident in Slovakia, which began to use the TF (TechnologyForesight) method as the last country of the European Union. This method can help to achieve the optimalsolutions using the development of science and technology at power engineering [4].4. CONCLUSIONSIn despite of positive extra-scientific public image of renewable energies utilisation, the funding support ofresearch is not corresponding. It is caused by serious economical difficulties during changes of dominant energysources. But it is short-sighted policy, because of global character of these problems, and expert solutions shouldbe preferred according to the global priorities.The value of RES was underestimated and large part of expert community was prevailed only by practicalresults. Nowadays, world installed capacity of wind power plants overreaches 50 GW.The European renewable energy sector has only just begun to reveal its enormous potential for growth. Ina global economy, Europe’s competitive advantage is to be found in its ability to develop and bring to marketinnovative products and services. For all that, it is important to create conditions that encourage Europeancountries to produce and export high-tech, innovative, environmental technologies.5. REFERENCES[1] Škorpil, J.: Energy and Environment. In: The Effective Use of Physical Theories of Conversion of Energy2002, ZČU Plzeň, Czech Republic, 2002, pp. 16 - 19. ISBN 80-7082-872[2] Beran, M. – Mühlbacher, J.: Preise, Steuern und Regulationen auf die Gebiet der Energetik. In: Use ofTechnical Measurements in Solving Environmental Problems, ZČU Plzeň, Czech Republic, 1999,pp. 31 - 34. ISBN 80-7082-527-8[3] Ursíny, J. – Bíro, L.: Čo sú to vonkajšie náklady pri výrobe elektriny? In: Slovenská energetika, No. 4,2000, pp. 4 - 5. ISSN 1335-2899[4] Janíček, F. – Šimunek, P.: Trendy rozvoja vedy a techniky v slovenskej elektroenergetike. In: EE –Časopis pre elektrotechniku a energetiku, mimoriadne číslo – Elektrotechnika a informatika 2004,Bratislava, Slovakia, 2004, s. 30 - 34. ISSN 1335–2547This work was supported by Science and Technology Assistance Agency under the contract No. APVT-20-026902 and by Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education of Slovak Republic and the SlovakAcademy of Sciences under the contract No. 1/1061/04.Authors:Ing. Ján Tkáč, CSc – Ing. Marek Hvizdoš, PhD.Department of Electric Power EngineeringFaculty of Electrical Engineering and InformaticsTechnical University of KošiceMäsiarska 74040 01 KOŠICE, Slovak RepublicE-mail: jan.tkac@tuke.sk, marek.hvizdos@tuke.skTel.: +421 55 6023551Fax: +421 55 6023552

English

Distributed generation and renewable energy sources for sustainable life

University of West Bohemia Digital Library

http://dspace5.zcu.cz/bitstream/11025/25367/1/Tkac.pdf

Distributed generation and renewable energy sources for sustainable life

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

DSpace at University of West Bohemia

University of West Bohemia Digital Library