Preeti Kumari Sahu , Chandan Chakraborty , J.N. Roy
{"title":"Comparative Economic Analysis of Bifacial Roof-top PV Systems","authors":"Preeti Kumari Sahu , Chandan Chakraborty , J.N. Roy","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2024.101593","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2024.101593","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study addresses the existing literature’s incomplete coverage of detailed LCOE (Levelised Cost of Electricity) and economic evaluation for bifacial photovoltaic (PV) systems. LCOE is a crucial metric in assessing the economic viability of energy generation. This paper introduces a novel model that captures the relationship between LCOE and the innovative technology of bifacial PV. It also analyzes the LCOE and energy payback period for an 8 kW bifacial PV plant, which is installed on the rooftop of the IIT Kharagpur campus. The LCOE derived from the real-time PV plant stands at 3.46 INR/kWh, while PVSyst predicts it as 3.37 INR/kWh. The corresponding payback period for the actual bifacial plant is approximately five years and five months, compared to five years and three months projected by PVSyst. It explicitly compares the economic feasibility of two rooftop PV systems: traditional monofacial panels and bifacial panels for scaled-up systems (1 MW). The analysis encompasses both systems’ initial costs, energy output, and payback periods. The findings reveal that the bifacial PV system outperforms the monofacial system in electricity generation and offers a shorter payback period. Consequently, the study demonstrates that the bifacial PV system represents a more economically advantageous choice for rooftop solar installations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 101593"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142651589","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Development of a comprehensive Rooftop Solar PV Index using DVF framework of Design Thinking","authors":"Ale Imran, Mohd Rihan","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2024.101577","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2024.101577","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The importance of the Rooftop solar segment lies in its potential to transform the energy landscape, offering cleaner, more sustainable, affordable energy solutions while contributing to the environment, economy, and society as a whole. India, in particular, has been witnessing significant growth in the deployment of Rooftop Solar PV; however, despite the best efforts, there are bottlenecks and challenges that are affecting the further spread of rooftop solar PV and needs to be tackled at various levels to accelerate the adoption of the technology. In this work, the authors have presented an Index framework that could be used as a methodical tool to analyze and evaluate the rooftop Solar PV performance and simultaneously identify the bottlenecks. This paper presents the development of a comprehensive and detailed rooftop Solar Index framework incorporating the DVF framework of Design Thinking that includes the principles of User Desirability, Technological Feasibility, and Business Viability for the process development. The developed index framework segregates the variables that categorize the rooftop sector into 3 drivers, 5 sub-drivers, and 20 parameters that are linked to multiple indicators of interest. The chosen variables of interest have been validated using Co-relation coefficient analysis and the weights have been assigned by Domain Experts or Specialists using Modified Borda's Technique & Analytical Hierarchical Process. The index has also been used to compare the performance of two chosen states across India & highlight a few key bottlenecks. The developed index is of critical importance to access the performance of the rooftop solar sector & could be used by multiple stakeholders like policymakers, investors, consumers, and entrepreneurs to ensure a wide proliferation of rooftop solar PV technology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 101577"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142651588","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lin Lu , Yanghua Chen , Qing Feng , Wenqi Li , Dan Chen
{"title":"Long-range energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions analysis using the LEAP Model: A case study of building ceramic industrial park","authors":"Lin Lu , Yanghua Chen , Qing Feng , Wenqi Li , Dan Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2024.101594","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2024.101594","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The ceramic industry is acknowledged as a sector with high energy demands, with industrial parks serving as its primary product producers. Consequently, to explore the potential of the ceramics industry in carbon emission reduction and energy conservation, this study combined lifecycle energy demand with the Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP). The analysis indicates that over the period from 2020 to 2040, the Technology Promotion (TP) scenario is poised to outperform the Low Carbon (LC) scenario in reducing energy consumption. Energy consumption may be reduced by 52 % in the LC scenario and 58 % in the TP scenario. Moreover, the TP scenario also demonstrates even greater efficacy in emissions reduction. In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, in 2040, the building ceramics industrial park is expected to generate 6.05 million tons of CO<sub>2</sub> in the Baseline (BS) scenario, 5.02 and 4.32 million tons of CO<sub>2</sub> in the LC and TP scenarios, respectively, which corresponds to a reduction of 17 %–30 %. It is expected that this study will fill knowledge gaps pertaining to energy efficiency potential in industrial park energy-intensive industries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 101594"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142651587","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Assessing greenhouse gas emissions and decarbonization potential of household biogas plant: Nepal's case study","authors":"Navin Kumar Jha , Sunil Prasad Lohani , Dilip Khatiwada , Prajal Pradhan , Shree Raj Shakya","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2024.101592","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2024.101592","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Household biogas plants (HBPs) are widely promoted in developing countries like Nepal to decarbonize the cooking fuel sector, mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with traditional, non-clean cooking fuels. However, their decarbonization potential mainly relies on the overall GHG emissions associated with HBP and the avoidable emissions to be substituted by the HBP, and there is a lack of systematic studies evaluating these emissions under Nepalese context. This study addresses this gap, probably for the first time in Nepal, by analyzing GHG emissions associated with HBP, assessing their decarbonization potential under various operational conditions, and identifying opportunities to enhance the potential. Using a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach, we examined the decarbonization potential of HBPs and evaluated the impact of their operational uncertainties through sensitivity analysis. Our results indicate that HBPs could decarbonize the cooking fuel sector in Nepal by around 150,000 kt of CO<sub>2</sub> equivalent annually; however, GHG emissions from about two-third of HBPs exceeded avoidable emissions, hindering their overall decarbonization potential. To improve this potential, we recommend strategies such as effective operation and maintenance, efficient digestate utilization, and context (regional, socioeconomic etc.) specific intervention policies such as biogas yield enhancement through codigestion of locally available feedstock. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers aiming to assess and enhance the decarbonization potential of HBPs in Nepal and other parts of the developing countries under similar contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 101592"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142651586","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Spatial vulnerability of energy poverty among the households in Odisha","authors":"Deepak Panda , Rudra P. Pradhan","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2024.101578","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2024.101578","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Energy poverty, generally defined by the dependence on traditional solid fuels or lack of access to modern energy sources, continues to be a major hurdle in Odisha. This deficiency impedes progress towards SDG7 and has cascading negative effects on other SDGs. Various policy initiatives have endeavoured to expand access to modern energy services but accurate identification of energy-deprived households remains a persistent obstacle. To address this critical gap, the present research employs a multidimensional approach to gauge energy poverty in Odisha. By leveraging a combination of household survey data and geospatial techniques, this framework captures the nuanced realities of energy poverty at the household level. This comprehensive data collection culminates in the construction of a robust energy poverty index. Principal component analysis extracted underlying factors from collected data, with the resulting vector determining the principal components. Subsequently, energy poverty scores were computed for each household by taking a weighted sum of the principal components, where the weight is derived from the variance. Finally, district-level energy poverty indices are calculated by averaging the scores of resident households. This comprehensive analysis unveils a stark disparity in energy poverty between rural and urban areas of Odisha. Furthermore, it sheds light on concerning regional variations, highlighting the challenging situations faced by hilly northern districts and tribal-dominated southern districts. The insights gleaned from this in-depth analysis are intended to equip policymakers and stakeholders with valuable knowledge to formulate targeted interventions, which can bridge the energy deprivation gap and achieve equitable and affordable energy access for all.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 101578"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142651585","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hari Kumar Suberi , Muhammad Asif , Talha Bin Nadeem
{"title":"Rooftop solar PV in Bhutan: A systemic analysis of feed-in-tariff program","authors":"Hari Kumar Suberi , Muhammad Asif , Talha Bin Nadeem","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2024.101591","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2024.101591","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are critical to the global electrification efforts, especially in the rural and remote communities of the developing countries. This study analyses the prospects of a feed-in-tariff program for solar PV systems in Bhutan. It is based on the analysis of a pilot project covering 361 households in rural areas of Bhutan. A mix of qualitative and quantitative methods is applied, which captures the multi-disciplinary variables and generates primary data from the pilot project in Bhutan. The two critical variables argued are user acceptability and financial sustainability in the long-term in the context of access to clean energy and empowerment in rural areas. From the field data assessment, it was found that the low existing energy tariff has a cybernetic effect on user acceptability and the financial sustainability of the solar PV feed-in-tariff system in Bhutan. The current tariff rate for low voltage (LV) consumers is $ 0.038/kWh whereas the solar energy generation cost ranges between $ 0.04–0.045/kWh considering the PV project life of 25 years. The findings of the study suggest that users are willing to accept the feed-in-tariff as an enabler for rural livelihood provided the tariff rate is reasonable (at least in the range $ 0.05 to 0.07/kWh) to sustain the capital investment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 101591"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142592948","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Junjie Wang, Fengsong Pei, Tingting Kang, Peng Cheng, Kuiqi Yang
{"title":"Assessing the bioenergy potential of abandoned cropland in China: Toward an optimal distribution of bioenergy crops","authors":"Junjie Wang, Fengsong Pei, Tingting Kang, Peng Cheng, Kuiqi Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2024.101590","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2024.101590","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bioenergy has gained wide attention due to its potential to reduce fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Abandoned cropland is a promising option for cultivating bioenergy crops, as it does not compete with food production. The vast amount of abandoned cropland in China provides extensive opportunities for the development of bioenergy. However, the bioenergy potential of China's abandoned cropland remains unclear. In this study, we identified abandoned cropland in China for the period of 2000–2020. Based on this, we estimated the bioenergy potential from conventional food crops (maize and wheat), and perennial bioenergy crops (miscanthus and switchgrass), on the abandoned cropland in China. We optimized the planting of conventional food and two perennial bioenergy crops by maximizing crop yield and accounting for water limits. The results show that 29.49 Mha of abandoned cropland was found in the past twenty years. Spatially, it was mainly located in eastern China with relatively high soil quality, in contrast to that in the U.S. and Europe. By optimizing the crop distribution on abandoned cropland, the bioenergy potential primarily shows a spatial distribution of higher potential in the south and lower potential in the north, with a total yield reaching 9.52 EJ. This is approximately 1.43 times higher than that of solely cultivating miscanthus and 8.28 times that of wheat. This potential accounts for 6 % of China's total primary energy consumption in 2022 and 7.66 % of the carbon emission peak target for 2030. It holds significant importance for the national emission reduction strategy. These findings highlight the immense bioenergy potential of abandoned cropland, providing support for the development of bioenergy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 101590"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142577467","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Henry Louie , Scott O'Shea , Stanley Atcitty , Derrick Terry , Darrick Lee , Peter Romine
{"title":"Load profiles of residential off-grid solar systems on the Navajo Nation","authors":"Henry Louie , Scott O'Shea , Stanley Atcitty , Derrick Terry , Darrick Lee , Peter Romine","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2024.101572","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2024.101572","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Standalone off-grid electrical systems, no matter where they are deployed or for what user class, are designed based upon the load they are expected to serve. State-of-the-art computerized off-grid system design tools require the user to specify the expected load profile, that is, how the power consumption changes throughout the day. Often, this is at an hourly resolution, and some characterization of the distribution of power around the average values may be required. Specifying realistic and reasonable load profiles is a barrier to the appropriate design of standalone systems. This research extends previous studies on daily energy consumption of residential solar-powered off-grid systems on the Navajo Nation to provide hourly load profiles, statistical characteristics, and probabilistic models. The data analyzed come from 90 homes over a two-year period. K-means clustering is used to identify prototypical normalized load profiles when the data are grouped by year, season, weekday, and weekend. Eight parametric probability density functions are fit to the grouped data at an hourly resolution. Their fit to the data is evaluated using the Cramér-von Mises (CvM) statistic. The results show that the load profiles tend to be night-peaking and that Log Normal and Gumbel distributions can reasonably model variation in the data. The load profiles and probabilistic models can be used in off-grid design software and to synthesize load profiles for design and future research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 101572"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142573284","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Strengthening commercial viability through greater inclusiveness in rural mini-grid deployment: Insights from Nigeria and Kenya","authors":"Temilade Sesan , Adriana Fajardo , Lucy Baker , Unico Uduka , Mourice Kausya , Daniel Kerr , Elsie Onsongo , Okechukwu Ugwu , Ewah Eleri , Subhes Bhattacharyya","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2024.101584","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2024.101584","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Amidst the prevalence of energy poverty in sub-Saharan Africa, mini grids have emerged in recent years as a promising solution, not only to bridge lingering electricity access gaps, but also to revitalise rural economies. The realisation of this promise however depends on the extent to which business models, i.e., the value that mini-grid companies offer to different customer segments, are able to respond to the peculiar needs of the largely low-income, agrarian contexts in which they operate. Private developers across the region have been especially innovative in evolving mini-grid business models over time; nonetheless, achieving the goal of commercial viability while serving the majority of rural dwellers remains elusive. Our paper analyses how two private mini-grid developers in Nigeria and Kenya have approached this challenge, introducing business models that address the needs of small-scale farmers for growth while targeting increased revenue for their respective companies. These cases provide evidence for the added value of employing a “KeyStarter” model – one in which developers begin to facilitate inputs early on in agricultural value chains, in addition to the latter-stage investments emphasised in conventional approaches to powering the agriculture-energy nexus. Our analysis is grounded in the premise that broad-based development should be pursued in tandem with electricity access provision in low-income agrarian communities across Africa. We conclude that significant financial and policy support, as well as further research and iteration, will be required to realise the potential of the KeyStarter model to resolve the twin challenges of mini-grid viability and inclusiveness at scale.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 101584"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142573287","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"National goal, local resistance: How institutional gaps hinder local renewable energy development in Taiwan","authors":"Chia-Ling Shen , Hsing-Sheng Tai","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2024.101586","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2024.101586","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In most countries, energy transitions are well supported by the public; however, the implementation of renewable energy policies at the local level is often beset with resistance. Previous research has mainly focused on factors influencing community acceptance and strategies to improve social acceptance. Meanwhile, there has been limited analysis of the institutional gaps that lead to local resistance and the dynamic effects of institutional factors on renewable energy implementation at the local level. This paper thus investigates Taiwan's regulations for renewable energy development, presenting a detailed case study from a local context. It examines the factors contributing to local resistance to the implementation of national renewable energy policy targets and explores the dynamics of these resistance actions. Furthermore, through the lens of multi-level governance, the study reveals the institutional gaps and interactions that influence the execution of national policy at the local level. Six major institutional gaps in Taiwan's renewable energy governance were identified, including the lack of energy governance authorizations for local governments, a lack of superordinate site selection criteria and evaluation mechanisms for development zones, lack of governance systems that can address multiple issues, lack of scientific and academic information, lack of information disclosure and public participation mechanisms, and the burden of carbon reduction responsibilities and costs on local communities with few or no benefits. Compounded together, these six institutional gaps lead to the buildup of negative experiences interacting with the government and the renewable energy industry and feelings of worry, panic, distrust, and injustice among the local populace. These ultimately trigger resistance attitudes and the adoption of protest actions, hindering solar farm developments from reaching national policy targets. This study highlights the critical role of multi-level governance in facilitating the energy transition, emphasizing that the successful development of renewable energy requires a robust institutional framework. Such a framework is essential for addressing the complex governance challenges that arise during this transition, particularly aspects supporting local engagement. The six institutional gaps identified from the Taiwan case can serve as policy references for countries or cities intending to promote ground-mounted solar power.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 101586"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142573286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}