Integrating Quality of Life in Sociotechnical Design: A Review of Microgrid Design Tools and Social Indicators

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hailie Suk ◽  
John Hall
Keyword(s):  
Power Management ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Social Indicators ◽  
Design Procedure ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Design Tools ◽  
Sociotechnical Design ◽  
Societal Dynamics ◽  
Microgrid Design

Abstract Microgrid systems can provide distributed power to communities that lack basic access to electricity. Scalability, maintenance, and power management are prominent challenges associated with microgrid resilience. These obstacles can be limiting in the continued development of the community. As progress drives an increase in energy demand, the microgrid needs to continue to meet that demand. Designing systems with the appropriate maintenance levels is another obstacle that impacts resiliency. There are many design tools that analyze system performance and cost. One goal of this work is to review a set of these technical models. HOMER Energy, System Advisor Model (SAM), and the Microgrid Design Toolkit (MDT) were reviewed. However, technical and economic performance is just one aspect of design. In the design procedure, social parameters also need to be considered. Few, if any, microgrid design tools consider societal dynamics. This work also aims to evaluate social indicators in the context of sustainable microgrid design. Accordingly, relationships are established between common societal indicators and the microgrid challenges of scalability, maintenance, and power management.

Urban and rural millennials: Heterogeneity of the young adult generation

2019 ◽  
pp. 5-28
Author(s):  
Vadim V. Radaev
Keyword(s):  
Coming Out ◽  
Generational Differences ◽  
Cohort Analysis ◽  
Social Indicators ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Generational Cohort ◽  
Rural Infrastructure ◽  
Sociological Approach ◽  
Monitoring Survey

A sociological approach towards the generational cohort analysis is developed. A special emphasis is made upon the youngest adult generation of millennials coming out of their adolescence in the 2000s. A broad range of social indicators is used for empirical exploration of intra-generational differences between urban and rural millennials. Data were collected from the annual Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS-HSE) in 2003—2016. Numerous significant differences have been revealed with regard to the educational level, family planning, use of modern gadgets and digital technologies, commitment to healthy lifestyles, and some values. Some practices are more widely spread among rural millennials, whereas other practices are more characteristic of urban millennials. Most of revealed differences are explained by the lower level of material well-being of rural millennials and lower quality of rural infrastructure.

scholarly journals Techno-Economic Analysis of a Novel Hydrogen-Based Hybrid Renewable Energy System for Both Grid-Tied and Off-Grid Power Supply in Japan: The Case of Fukushima Prefecture

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 4061 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naoto Takatsu ◽  
Hooman Farzaneh
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Economic Assessment ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Integrated Simulation ◽  
Hybrid Renewable Energy System ◽  
Renewable Energy System ◽  
Hybrid Renewable Energy

After the Great East Japan Earthquake, energy security and vulnerability have become critical issues facing the Japanese energy system. The integration of renewable energy sources to meet specific regional energy demand is a promising scenario to overcome these challenges. To this aim, this paper proposes a novel hydrogen-based hybrid renewable energy system (HRES), in which hydrogen fuel can be produced using both the methods of solar electrolysis and supercritical water gasification (SCWG) of biomass feedstock. The produced hydrogen is considered to function as an energy storage medium by storing renewable energy until the fuel cell converts it to electricity. The proposed HRES is used to meet the electricity demand load requirements for a typical household in a selected residential area located in Shinchi-machi in Fukuoka prefecture, Japan. The techno-economic assessment of deploying the proposed systems was conducted, using an integrated simulation-optimization modeling framework, considering two scenarios: (1) minimization of the total cost of the system in an off-grid mode and (2) maximization of the total profit obtained from using renewable electricity and selling surplus solar electricity to the grid, considering the feed-in-tariff (FiT) scheme in a grid-tied mode. As indicated by the model results, the proposed HRES can generate about 47.3 MWh of electricity in all scenarios, which is needed to meet the external load requirement in the selected study area. The levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of the system in scenarios 1 and 2 was estimated at 55.92 JPY/kWh and 56.47 JPY/kWh, respectively.

scholarly journals Optimal Planning and Operation of a Residential Energy Community under Shared Electricity Incentives

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 2045
Author(s):  
Pierpaolo Garavaso ◽  
Fabio Bignucolo ◽  
Jacopo Vivian ◽  
Giulia Alessio ◽  
Michele De Carli
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Power Distribution ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Distribution Networks ◽  
Building Envelope ◽  
Net Energy ◽  
Technical Equipment ◽  
Optimal Planning

Energy communities (ECs) are becoming increasingly common entities in power distribution networks. To promote local consumption of renewable energy sources, governments are supporting members of ECs with strong incentives on shared electricity. This policy encourages investments in the residential sector for building retrofit interventions and technical equipment renovations. In this paper, a general EC is modeled as an energy hub, which is deemed as a multi-energy system where different energy carriers are converted or stored to meet the building energy needs. Following the standardized matrix modeling approach, this paper introduces a novel methodology that aims at jointly identifying both optimal investments (planning) and optimal management strategies (operation) to supply the EC’s energy demand in the most convenient way under the current economic framework and policies. Optimal planning and operating results of five refurbishment cases for a real multi-family building are found and discussed, both in terms of overall cost and environmental impact. Simulation results verify that investing in building thermal efficiency leads to progressive electrification of end uses. It is demonstrated that the combination of improvements on building envelope thermal performances, photovoltaic (PV) generation, and heat pump results to be the most convenient refurbishment investment, allowing a 28% overall cost reduction compared to the benchmark scenario. Furthermore, incentives on shared electricity prove to stimulate higher renewable energy source (RES) penetration, reaching a significant reduction of emissions due to decreased net energy import.

Regional integrated energy system schemes selection based on risk expectation and Mahalanobis-Taguchi system

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Jiahang Yuan ◽  
Yun Li ◽  
Xinggang Luo ◽  
Lingfei Li ◽  
Zhongliang Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Demand ◽  
Choquet Integral ◽  
Subjective Evaluation ◽  
Risk Attitude ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Energy Utilization ◽  
Utilization Efficiency ◽  
Energy Structure ◽  
Fuzzy Measures ◽  
Integrated Energy System

Regional integrated energy system (RIES) provides a platform for coupling utilization of multi-energy and makes various energy demand from client possible. The suitable RIES composition scheme will upgrade energy structure and improve integrated energy utilization efficiency. Based on a RIES construction project in Jiangsu province, this paper proposes a new multi criteria decision-making (MCDM) method for the selection of RIES schemes. Because that subjective evaluation on RIES schemes benefit under criteria has uncertainty and hesitancy, intuitionistic trapezoidal fuzzy number (ITFN) which has the better capability to model ill-known quantities is presented. In consideration of risk attitude and interdependency of criteria, a new decision model with risk coefficients, Mahalanobis-Taguchi system and Choquet integral is proposed. Firstly, the decision matrices given by experts are normalized, and then are transformed to minimum expectation matrices according to different risk coefficients. Secondly, the weights of criteria from different experts are calculated by Mahalanobis-Taguchi system. Mobius transformation coefficients based on interaction degree are to calculate 2-order additive fuzzy measures, and then the comprehensive weights of criteria are obtained by fuzzy measures and Choquet integral. Thirdly, based on group decision consensus requirement, the weights of experts are obtained by the maximum entropy and grey correlation. Fourthly, the minimum expectation matrices are aggregated by the intuitionistic trapezoidal fuzzy Bonferroni mean operator. Thus, the ranking result according to the comparison rules using the minimum expectation and the maximum expectation is obtained. Finally, an illustrative example is taken in the present study to make the proposed method comprehensible.

scholarly journals Interdependencies of Infrastructure Investment Decisions in Multi-Energy Systems—A Sensitivity Analysis for Urban Residential Areas

Smart Cities ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 112-145
Author(s):  
Daniel Then ◽  
Johannes Bauer ◽  
Tanja Kneiske ◽  
Martin Braun
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity Analysis ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Linear Optimization ◽  
Investment Decisions ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Mixed Integer ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Residential Areas ◽  
Mixed Integer Linear Optimization

Considering the European Union (EU) climate targets, the heating sector should be decarbonized by 80 to 95% up to 2050. Thus, the macro-trends forecast increasing energy efficiency and focus on the use of renewable gas or the electrification of heat generation. This has implications for the business models of urban electricity and in particular natural gas distribution network operators (DNOs): When the energy demand decreases, a disproportionately long grid is operated, which can cause a rise of grid charges and thus the gas price. This creates a situation in which a self-reinforcing feedback loop starts, which increases the risk of gas grid defection. We present a mixed integer linear optimization model to analyze the interdependencies between the electricity and gas DNOs’ and the building owners’ investment decisions during the transformation path. The results of the investigation in a real grid area are used to validate the simulation setup of a sensitivity analysis of 27 types of building collectives and five grid topologies, which provides a systematic insight into the interrelated system. Therefore, it is possible to identify building and grid configurations that increase the risk of a complete gas grid shutdown and those that should be operated as a flexibility option in a future renewable energy system.

scholarly journals Syngas Quality as a Key Factor in the Design of an Energy-Efficient Pyrolysis Plant for Scrap Tyres

Proceedings ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (23) ◽  
pp. 1455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dina Czajczyńska ◽  
Renata Krzyżyńska ◽  
Hussam Jouhara
Keyword(s):  
Energy Demand ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Industrial Emissions ◽  
Whole Process ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Industrial Emissions Directive ◽  
Pyrolytic Oil ◽  
Quality Of Products

In 2016 4.94 million tonnes of tyres were produced. Each tyre eventually become waste and pyrolysis has been considered an effective way of utilizing scrap tyres for several decades. However, pyrolysis has failed many times because the process has a great energy demand and the quality of products is unstable or insufficient for commercial use. Usually plants are focused on the production of pyrolytic oil or char and the gaseous phase is only a by-product. In this paper the importance of composition and quality of pyrolytic gas is emphasized. The main chemical properties make this gas a valuable biofuel that may satisfy energy requirements of the whole process (except for the start-up phase). Available data from literature concerning composition and other features of the pyrolytic gas from scrap tyres obtained at temperatures up to 1000 °C are compared with experimental results. The quality of evolved gases is discussed in the context of the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED), too. Finally, an analysis of the mass balances obtained allows a decision about the business profile and profitability.

scholarly journals Quality of Life and Philosophy of Life Determines Physical and Mental Health: Status Over Research Findings From The Quality of Life Research Center, Copenhagen, 1991-2007

2007 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 1743-1751 ◽  
Author(s):  
Søren Ventegodt ◽  
Isack Kandel ◽  
Joav Merrick
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Good Life ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Social Indicators ◽  
Health Science ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Quality Of Life Research ◽  
Global Quality Of Life ◽  
The Individual

Quality of life (QOL) has over the past decade become an important part of health science and also increased public awareness. It has become increasingly apparent that illness is closely related to the individual perception of a good life, and therefore the exploration of indicators related to quality of life appears to be of broad importance for the prevention and treatment of diseases. Identifying, which factors constitute a good life may reveal an understanding about what areas in life should be encouraged, in order to enhance the global quality of life, health, and ability. In this paper we present results from studies initiated in 1989 to examine quality of life in relation to disease. The purpose of this presentation was to assemble the results from the study carried out in the years between 1993 and 1997, examining a total of 11.500 Danes, to show the association between quality of life and a wide series of social indicators.

scholarly journals Optimal Design on Fossil-to-Renewable Energy Transition of Regional Integrated Energy Systems under CO2 Emission Abatement Control: A Case Study in Dalian, China

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 2879
Author(s):  
Xinxin Liu ◽  
Nan Li ◽  
Feng Liu ◽  
Hailin Mu ◽  
Longxi Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Optimal Design ◽  
Co2 Emission ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Mixed Integer ◽  
Total Annual Cost ◽  
Emission Abatement ◽  
Integrated Energy Systems

Optimal design of regional integrated energy systems (RIES) offers great potential for better managing energy sources, lower costs and reducing environmental impact. To capture the transition process from fossil fuel to renewable energy, a flexible RIES, including the traditional energy system (TES) based on the coal and biomass based distributed energy system (BDES), was designed to meet a regional multiple energy demand. In this paper, we analyze multiple scenarios based on a new rural community in Dalian (China) to capture the relationship among the energy supply cost, increased share of biomass, system configuration transformation, and renewable subsidy according to regional CO2 emission abatement control targets. A mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model was developed to find the optimal solutions. The results indicated that a 40.58% increase in the share of biomass in the RIES was the most cost-effective way as compared to the separate TES and BDES. Based on the RIES with minimal cost, by setting a CO2 emission reduction control within 40%, the RIES could ensure a competitive total annual cost as compared to the TES. In addition, when the reduction control exceeds 40%, a subsidy of 53.83 to 261.26 RMB/t of biomass would be needed to cover the extra cost to further increase the share of biomass resource and decrease the CO2 emission.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document