Renewable Energy Systems

Briefing: challenging lock-in through urban energy systems

by Chris Goodier

Off-grid Mobilities: Incorporating a Way of Life

by Phillip Vannini

Published in Transfers: Interdisciplinary Journal of Mobility Studies

Drawing from sensory ethnography, the present multimodal writing—accompanied by photography and digital... more Drawing from sensory ethnography, the present multimodal writing—accompanied by photography and digital video—documents and interprets the mobilities of off-grid living on Lasqueti Island, British Columbia, Canada. The data presentation focuses in particular on the embodied experience of off-grid inhabitation, highlighting the sensory and kinetic experiences and practices of everyday life in a community disconnected from the North American electrical grid and highway network. The mobilities of fuel and energy are presented in unison with ethnographic attention to the taskscape of everyday activities and movements in which off-grid islanders routinely engage. The analysis, based on Tim Ingold's non-representational theory on place, movement, and inhabitation, focuses on how the material and corporeal mobilities of off-grid life body forth a unique sense of place.

Leveraging Photovoltaic Technology for Sustainable Development in Ontario's First Nations Communities

by Joshua Pearce

Dirk V. P. McLaughlin, Nicole C. McDonald, Ha T. Nguyen and J. M. Pearce, “Leveraging Photovoltaic Technology for Sustainable Development in Ontario's First Nations Communities”, Journal of Sustainable Development 3(3), pp. 3-13, 2010.

The Ontario feed-in tariff (FIT) for solar photovoltaic (PV) technology has provided Ontario's Aboriginal communities... more The Ontario feed-in tariff (FIT) for solar photovoltaic (PV) technology has provided Ontario's Aboriginal communities with an opportunity to i) weaken the cycle of poverty; ii) directly counteract climate change by producing renewable energy; and iii) become more self-sufficient. This paper critically analyzes the technical, cultural, and economic viability of leveraging the FIT for PV to provide green electricity and revenue to assist First Nations communities in sustainable development. A generalized free GIS-energy-based protocol was developed to determine the PV potential for Aboriginal communities. This model was applied to a case study of the Constance Lake First Nations community and an economic analysis showed financially-viable rates of return over 20 years. By generalizing these findings to Ontario, the potential PV deployment on First Nation rooftops alone is over 200MW, which clearly provides an opportunity for developing pride associated with owning a community-led, environmentally beneficial, local energy project.

Open Solar Photovoltaic Systems Optimization

by Joshua Pearce

Joshua M. Pearce, Adegboyega Babasola, Rob Andrews, “Open Solar Photovoltaic Systems Optimization” Proceedings of the 16th Annual National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance Conference, Open 2012, pp. 1-7.

A partnership has formed between eighteen organizations to produce the Open Solar Outdoors Test Field (OSOTF), which... more A partnership has formed between eighteen organizations to produce the Open Solar Outdoors Test Field (OSOTF), which has been designed to provide critical data and research on solar photovoltaic (PV) systems optimization in the public domain. Unlike many other projects, the OSOTF is organized under open source principles. All data and analysis when completed will be made freely available to the entire photovoltaic community and the general public. This paper documents how the teamwork between educational institutions and industry has resulted in one of the largest systems in the world for this detailed level of analysis of PV systems performance in real-world conditions. The challenges to this approach will be addressed and appropriate models for garnering industrial team work will be discussed. Conclusions will be drawn on how to scale other opportunities for the sharing of data to assist in improved optimization of socially-beneficial appropriate technologies.

Wind Turbine Power Curves

by Iain Staffell

This working paper collates data on the power curves for 16 recent and forthcoming models of wind turbine from four... more This working paper collates data on the power curves for 16 recent and forthcoming models of wind turbine from four major manufacturers: Siemens, Vestas, REpower and Nordex.

Measured performance of a 1.72 kW rooftop grid connected photovoltaic system in Ireland

by Aidan Duffy

Validated real-time energy models for small-scale grid-connected PV-systems

by Aidan Duffy

Living off the Grid in BC: Clayoquot Sound

by Phillip Vannini

A magazine article, rather than a paper, on people living off grids.

An Ideal Sustainable Energy Model for Local Utilities: An Assessment of the City of San Marcos, Texas

by Texas State PA Applied Research Projects

Harkins, James S., "An Ideal Sustainable Energy Model for Local Utilities: An Assessment of the City of San Marcos, Texas" (2010). Applied Research Projects, Texas State University-San Marcos. Paper 330.
http://ecommons.txstate.edu/arp/330

THIS PAPER WAS THE WINNER OF THE 2010 MCGREW AWARD FOR RESEARCH Central Texas Chapter American Society for Public Administration (Capstone category)

The purpose of this research is to develop an ideal sustainable energy policy for the San Marcos Electric Utility. The... more The purpose of this research is to develop an ideal sustainable energy policy for the San Marcos Electric Utility. The utility of the 21st century should focus on doing more with less, rather than always producing more, which was the 20th century model. The San Marcos Electric Utility is uniquely positioned to become an energy utility for the 21st century by focusing on the five key components of the practical ideal model, known as the Sustainable Energy Utility. The five key elements are:


* Central Coordination
* Comprehensive Programs
* Flexible Incentives
* Financial Self-Sufficiency
* Setting a Standard

Key literature is reviewed on effective green policies for electric utilities, and applies them to policies in San Marcos, Texas. The research examines the historical context of renewable energy policies in the United States, and the lack of a comprehensive and consistent federal plan going back to the 1973 Arab oil embargo. By exploring how local governments acted in the absence of federal action, the research shows how local action is key to driving change. A case study of the San Marcos Electric Utility occurred, using document analysis, direct observation, and structured interviews to gauge certain policies in San Marcos to determine how close the policies of the San Marcos Electric Utility reflect the ideal policies established by the Sustainable Energy Utility. For the most part, San Marcos mostly meets the standards of the Sustainable Energy Utility. The research helped develop 23 recommendations to improve the policies of the San Marcos Electric Utility.

Wind energy status of Iran: Evaluating Iran's technological capability in manufacturing wind turbines

by Enayat Allah Moallemi

Co-authored with Bagheri Moghaddam N., Mousavi S.M., Nasiri M., and Yousefdehi H.
Published in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

Iran, as a developing country, will be confronted with a significant increase in electricity demand in future years.... more Iran, as a developing country, will be confronted with a significant increase in electricity demand in future years. Being a petroleum producing country has resulted in extreme subsidies for energy production from fossilized resources such as oil and gas. This issue is one of the most important factors regarding underdevelopment of renewable energies in Iran. Expansive use of fossil resources in providing the necessary energy has resulted in Iran being among the 20 countries that have a share in the 75% spread of greenhouse gases. This issue has resulted in greater attention on behalf of the energy sectors policy makers regarding renewable energies, especially wind. Awareness regarding the current condition of each system is the first step for optimum management policy making. On this basis, analyzing Iran's wind conditions and assessing its technological capabilities is considered a pre-requisite for the wind sectors policy making. This paper aims at studying Iran's wind energy status in the form of available capacities, power production, wind power plant characteristics, principal agents and existing protective laws. Also, the main focus of this paper is on evaluating Iran's potential and effective technological capabilities for producing the main parts of wind turbines in different sizes. In order to fulfill this task, sector-level technological capabilities are defined. Then by analyzing active organizations in this field, Iran's capability level will be determined and by comparing it with the ideal conditions, Iran's technological gaps will be identified. The reasons for the creation of such shortcomings will also be introduced from different aspects in the form of the Atlas model. Finally, Iran's potential capabilities in resolving technological shortcomings will be identified.

Design and Implementation of Renewable Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles

by Kary Thanapalan

Co-authored with; Williams.J.G., Premier.G.C., Guwy.A.J.,
Published in Renewable Energy and Power Quality Journal (RE&PQJ), No.9, 2011

Assessment of utilization of wind energy resources in Nigeria

by Oluseyi Ajayi

The study critically reviews the prospects and challenges of utilizing wind energy resources for power generation in... more The study critically reviews the prospects and challenges of utilizing wind energy resources for power generation in Nigeria. The various initiatives by governments and researchers were surveyed and the nation is found to sit in the midst of enormous potential for wind harvest for power generation. The far northern states, the mountainous regions and different places of the central and south-eastern states were identified as good areas for wind harvest together with the offshore areas spanning from Lagos through Ondo, Ogun, Cross-Rivers to Rivers states along the Atlantic Ocean in the south–south. Despite this great potential and huge prospect, the country is found to still suffer from serious energy crises due to her over dependence on hydropower which also is susceptible to seasonal variation in the amount of water levels at dams. There is yet to be committed wind energy project for power generation on-going in the country. Several challenges bedeviling the development and utilization of wind energy resources were identified and suggestions highlighted to help pull the nation out of this lingering energy crisis.
c 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Ireland's pathway towards a 100% renewable energy-system: the first step

by David Connolly

A review of computer tools for analysing the integration of renewable energy into various energy systems

by David Connolly

America's Freedom: Virtual Power Plants

by sherry carr

This paper details and examines the advantages of Virtual Power Plants and the need for renewable energy... more This paper details and examines the advantages of Virtual Power Plants and the need for renewable energy sources.  VPP's are collective generators of renewable energy sources that can store and adjust energy output on demand and at will.  VPP’s can be employed to co-generate with current grids or operate soley to produce reliable, efficient, cost-effective energy while reducing costs and global warming. 

My hypothesis suggests that VPP’s can create substantial and sustainable energy from renewables, as it helps to reverse the destruction of our planet and ourselves.  We can create and sustain a cleaner, safer, more efficient world by implementing and advancing VPP’s to meet, and possibly exceed our energy needs.

Measurement and simulation of a standalone photovoltaic system for residential lighting in Malaysia

by Dimas Firmanda Al Riza

published in Journal of Hydrocarbon, Mines and Environmental Research Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 6-12, special issue of EFEEA 2011

Abstract: Modeling and simulation is necessary to investigate the dynamic behavior of a solar photovoltaic system.... more Abstract: Modeling and simulation is necessary to investigate the dynamic behavior of a solar photovoltaic system. There are some software that can be used to model, simulate and estimate photovoltaic system performance such as TRNSYS. This paper presents results of a simulation work carried out on a standalone photovoltaic system for residential house lighting using TRNSYS 16. An experimental setup of standalone photovoltaic system was established and then a comparison of the simulation results was made against measurement results to validate the model. It was found that the TRNSYS simulation model gave comparable results to the actual measurements. An accuracy improvement of previous research results was obtained by changing the component model and setting parameters.

Keywords: standalone photovoltaic system, simulation, experimental, validation, TRNSYS.

MSc Dissertation - Integrating Sustainable Energy Projects with Climate Change Adaptation in Ladakh, Northern India: How many birds can one stone hit?

by Cai J. Heath

Submitted as part of a Masters degree in International Development, October 2010.

Renewable Energy Projects for Sustainable Development

by Cai J. Heath

Submitted as part of a Masters Degree in International Development, May 2010.

Modular approach for modelling a multi-energy district boiler

by Julien Eynard

Julien Eynard, Stephane Grieu, Monique Polit, Applied Mathematical Modelling, Volume 35, Issue 8, August 2011, Pages 3926-3957, ISSN 0307-904X, DOI: 10.1016/j.apm.2011.02.006.

The present paper deals with the modelling of a district boiler (city of La Rochelle, west coast of France), as part... more The present paper deals with the modelling of a district boiler (city of La Rochelle, west coast of France), as part of the OptiEnR research project. This 'multi-energy' boiler supplies domestic hot water and heats residential and public buildings, using mainly wood and sometimes fuel or gas if necessary. The OptiEnR research project focuses on optimizing the performance of the boiler. Its main objective is to minimize the use of fossil energy, stocking renewable energy during low-demand periods and using it when peak-demand is high. Because of both the complexity of the plant as a whole and the strong interactions between the sub-systems (the wood boiler, the gas-fuel oil boiler, the breaking pressure bottle, the cogeneration plant, the hot water distribution network), a modular approach has been proposed. According to what information is available, a combination of white, grey and black boxes (Hammerstein-Wiener models) has been used to carry out the modelling task. To answer for the lack of information, additional parameters were proposed and identified. The model has been first used in simulation during heating periods, with the aim of optimizing both the parameters of the boilers control systems and the use of wood, gas and fuel oil. Next, it will be used, when adding to the plant a thermal storage unit and implementing a model predictive controller, to improve its functioning, especially reducing the coverage rate of the fossil energy boiler.

Florida Atlantic University College of Engineering: Infusing Sustainability in the Curriculum

by John Hardman