By Fernando Nuno / Published on Tue, 2010-03-09 11:14
In this session the main elements of the parabolic trough technology will be described: concentrators, receivers, heat transfer fluids, connecting elements, etc.
Then, the main characteristics of today’s parabolic trough solar thermal power plants will be presented: design, operation and costs.
Finally, the audience will get some ideas for future developments.
This is the 2nd lesson of the general training on CSP technology.
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By Fernando Nuno / Published on Thu, 2010-03-04 12:54
Following the training course on electricity markets regulation, a set of support papers is being delivered to complete the didactic set.
This paper explains the various concepts about the regulationof the power quality: quality regulation, commercial quality, reliability, performance publication, standards and quality incentives schemes.
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By Fernando Nuno / Published on Thu, 2010-03-04 12:44
Following the training course on electricity markets regulation, a set of support papers is being delivered to complete the didactic set.
This paper explains the various price regulation methods: Rate of Return Regulation, Cap Regulation, Yardstick Competition, Sliding Scale and Profit Sharing Regulation.
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By Fernando Nuno / Published on Fri, 2010-02-19 12:08
Following the training course on electricity markets regulation, a set of support papers is being delivered to complete the didactic set.
This paper explains the various market design possibilities: Single Buyer or Electricity Markets with Wholesale Competition. Additionally, it provides a view about Pool versus Bilateral Trading, Intra-day Trading and Balancing Mechanisms and Supplementary Capacity Schemes.
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By Fernando Nuno / Published on Thu, 2010-02-18 15:55
Lesson 1 : Fundamentals of concentrating solar thermal power
In this session, the contents will focus on the physical and thermodynamic basis of Concentrated Solar Power:
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By Fernando Nuno / Published on Wed, 2010-02-10 14:28
Some fundamental questions for any country willing to introduce renewables and distributed generation are:
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By HDK / Published on Wed, 2010-02-03 19:01
Over the next few weeks, we will conclude the prediction group on low carbon electricity systems. There are 25 questions on the group which await your input.
As an appreciation of your effort, we'll award the top three participants a $100 Amazon gift card (view the current list of top traders).
You can participate in two easy steps:
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By Hans De Keulenaer / Published on Tue, 2010-02-02 13:49
In order to combat global warming, a detailed knowledge of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with different energy conversion technologies is important. For nuclear energy, GHG emissions result from different process stages of the whole fuel cycle. A life-cycle assessment offers the opportunity to properly calculate these emissions. In the past, both indirect energy use and GHG emissions were studied by many researchers. Most of the studies result in low indirect emissions comparable to windturbines.
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By Fernando Nuno / Published on Sat, 2010-01-16 22:25
Over-sizing the cross section of a cable beyond the result of voltage and current theoretical calculations is, in most of cases, a worthwhile investment that is easily amortised by the electricity bill savings (reduction of Joule losses). In the case of a photovoltaic (PV) installation, the allocated price for energy (feed-in tariff) is much higher than the market price, getting amortised much faster.
Together with an improved profitability of the project, there are additional advantages when using bigger cable sections:
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By Fernando Nuno / Published on Tue, 2010-01-12 15:46
The European power system has changed considerably in the last 15 years. The liberalisation and unbundling of the electricity market has led to increased international power flows and reduced influence of the system operators. Meanwhile, renewable and other small-scale uncontrolled and variable energy sources are being installed in the system.
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By Fernando Nuno / Published on Tue, 2010-01-12 15:01
The European power system has changed considerably in the last 15 years. The liberalisation and unbundling of the electricity market has led to increased international power flows and reduced influence of the system operators. Meanwhile, renewable and other small-scale uncontrolled and variable energy sources are being installed in the system.
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By Fernando Nuno / Published on Wed, 2009-12-23 11:46
A PSERC Public Webinar
The inherent variability of generation from renewable sources, such as wind and solar power, may
1) increase the operating costs associated with additional ramping requirements, and
2) increase the amount of installed conventional generating capacity needed to maintain the operating reliability of a network.
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By Fernando Nuno / Published on Fri, 2009-11-27 15:06
This webinar will provide a general view of drivers and barriers for CSP development, with a particular focus on the structure of the CSP Value Chain. From a technical point of view, the main key performances will be reviewed for the different technologies.
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By Fernando Nuno / Published on Fri, 2009-10-02 09:49
Session 3: Price Regulation
This session explains different forms of price control, including the classical rate of return organisation and more advanced forms of incentive regulation. It will also explain the design criteria for different price control models.
• Major price control models: Rate of return / Cap regulation / Yardstick competition / Sliding scale regulation
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By Fernando Nuno / Published on Fri, 2009-10-02 09:42
SESSION 2: Market Design
This section explains the main properties of different types of electricity markets exhibiting different level of competition and different forms of organisation.
• General market models : vertically integrated companies / single buyer / wholesale competition / retail competition
• Power pools : Price based / Cost based
• Markets with bilateral trade
• Balancing markets
• Power exchanges
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By HDK / Published on Tue, 2009-09-15 14:35
By Hans De Keulenaer / Published on Wed, 2009-07-29 15:01
One quarter of the world's population (1.6 billion people) do not have access to electricity in their homes. Over 80% of these people live in rural areas of the developing world, especially in peripheral urban and isolated rural areas. In Sub Saharan Africa, only 8% of the rural population has access to electricity. The lack of electricity deprives people of basic necessities such as lighting and communication, but also hampers productivity and economic development in these areas. Activities are limited to daylight hours.
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By HDK / Published on Mon, 2009-07-27 11:25
[In partnership with VEI]
Various energy sources generate electrical energy in a form that cannot simply be injected into the electricity network, including photovoltaic panels, microturbines, batteries and fuel cells. These sources generate either DC voltage or AC voltage with variable frequency and/or an amplitude or voltage not compliant with the electricity network. To connect such sources to the electricity network nevertheless, a power electronic inverter or transformer must be used.
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By Roman Targosz / Published on Mon, 2009-07-13 19:43
Commercial, or in other words non-technical losses account for more than 1% of electricity use around the world. The dominant component of these losses is electricity theft. In the largest extent, electricity theft is a problem related to residential customers. In some countries, electricity theft is in the range of, or far exceeding, technical losses in the transmission and distribution sector.
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