The Global Community for Sustainable Energy Professionals
The stresses responsible for transformer failures, creep behavior of aluminum conductor, operating conditions, freque
An energy efficiency obligation (EEO) is a regulatory mechanism that requires obligated parties to meet quantitative
The year 2012 was a year of transition for the IEA Demand-Side Management Implementing Agreement.
Power quality is important when market liberalization focuses on electricity price and regulators are focused only on
The IEA Demand Side Management Programme (IEA DSM) is publishing a new report which shows that energy companies that
This report (from RAP) discusses important issues in the design and deployment of time-varying rates.
From a thermodynamic point of view, it seems absurd to use electricity in thermal processing.
This is a selection of articles that appeared on the Sustainable Energy Blog over the past four years.
A reliable and efficient power system is a necessity for any industrialised society.
Voltage dips (also known as “voltage sags”) are short-duration reductions in voltage magnitude.
This case study is an assessment of electric power quality in a low voltage supply network in rural environment, base
In order to combat global warming, a detailed knowledge of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with differe
This paper describes the performance of the network of a typical future residential concept area, as has been studied
In principle, the equivalent conductor size of underground cables is much larger than that of the OHL (i.e.
Once installed in the ground, cables are intrinsically maintenance free.
Aside from creating less visual and environmental impact, which typically generates large opposition from local commu
Jean-Paul Hautekeer will explain why innovation, efficiency and sustainability have become such crucial needs for business and how silicon technology can help to meet those needs, particularly in the context of building design and protection. He will begin by discussing some of the factors influencing sustainability, defining sustainable building and explaining its benefits. Looking towards the future, he will reflect on why cities will increasingly depend on sustainable technologies and how silicon will contribute to the needs of urban areas. Eight key eco-design principles will be discussed. The presentation will end with a discussion of the next steps that are essential to ensure that sustainable building continues to progress.
This talk will present new methods to model and control the aggregated power demand from a population of thermostatically controlled loads. The control objective is to produce relatively short time scale responses (hourly to sub-hourly) for ancillary services such as load following and regulation. The control signal is applied by manipulation of temperature set points. The methods leverage the existence of system diversity and use physically-based load models to inform the development of a new theoretical model that accurately predicts - even when the system is not in equilibrium - changes in load resulting from changes in thermostat temperature set points. Insight into the transient dynamics that result from set point changes is developed by deriving a new exact solution to a well-known hybrid state aggregated load model. A straightforward minimum variance control law is developed and it is shown that the high frequency components of the output of a wind plant can be followed with very small changes in the nominal thermostat temperature set points.
The webinar took place November 3 between 2pm and 3pm US Eastern Time [webcast | slides PDF 1.2MB].
In cooperation with PSERC, we are pleased to offer access to this archived webinar.
Part of the Internet-based Monthly Seminars by University of Minnesota
By Yakout Mansour - California ISO
The webinar took place September 18, between 1pm and 2pm US Central Time.
Speaker biography
California Independent System Operator Corporation (California ISO) President and Chief Executive Officer since 2005, Yakout Mansour brings more than 35 years of power system experience to his position managing California’s open-access high-voltage power grid. Previously, he served as the Senior Vice President of System Operations and Asset Management for British Columbia Transmission Corporation (BCTC) since its inception in 2003. Mr. Mansour helped chart the course of BCTC as an independent entity and was a major contributor to the development of the transmission business in British Columbia and the North West.
In 2008, Mr. Mansour was named to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Electricity Advisory Committee which provides counsel regarding long-range planning and priorities for the modernization of the nation’s electricity delivery infrastructure. He also served on the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) panel that steered the investigation of the August 14, 2003 blackout that affected much of the eastern North America. He was part of a similar panel that looked into the blackout that affected the western United States and Canada on August 10, 1996 as well as major blackouts that affected other parts of the world in South America and Asia in recent years.
Wind power forecast uncertainty raises concerns of the impact of wind power on power system and electricity market operations. This research project uses an optimal power flow (OPF) model in a Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) framework to estimate the cost impacts from the uncertainty in wind farm output.
Using various regional load levels and assumptions on the costs for providing balancing energy, the results from the OPF and MCS analysis show that wind power forecast uncertainty, combined with load forecast uncertainty, can increase production cost for the 39-bus test system up to 350 times, though for most cases the forecast uncertainty does not introduce any significant changes from the base cases. The real and reactive power losses are shown to be higher for scenarios with low wind–high load and high wind–low load as compared to the moderate wind–load cases. The results also show minimal voltage violations across the test system.
The webinar took place October 6 between 2pm and 3pm US Eastern Time.
A task of the IEA 4E EMSA Project - The International Energy Agency (IEA) Implementing Agreement for
A new paper from Carnegie Mellon Electricity Industry Center
A new paper from Carnegie Mellon Electricity Industry Center
[In partnership with VEI] Innovative ideas of
A new study, which was conducted on behalf of the European Commission’s Directorate-General Energy and Transport, is
All users of an electrical power system expect that the frequency and voltages are maintained within acceptable boundaries at all times. Some participants, mainly generating units, provide the necessary frequency and voltage control services, called ancillary services. Since these participants are entitled to receive a payment for the services provided, markets for ancillary services have been developed along with the liberalisation of electricity markets. However, current arrangements vary widely from a power system to another.
This thesis provides a comprehensive assessment of markets for frequency and voltage control ancillary services along three axes: (a) defining the needs for frequency and voltages, as well as specifying the ancillary services that can fulfil these needs; (b) assessing the cost of ancillary services for a producer; and (c) discussing the market design of an efficient procurement of ancillary services.
Such a comprehensive assessment exhibits several advantages: (a) stakeholders can quickly grasp the issues related to ancillary services; (b) participants benefit from a standardised method to assess their system; (c) solutions are proposed to improve current arrangements; and (d) theoretical limitations that need future work are identified.
In partnership with the Smart-A project.
Smart Domestic Appliances in Sustainable Energy Systems (Smart-A)” develops strategies for an intelligent operation of domestic appliances, which contributes to load management in future energy systems. Therefore, the project assesses the options for load shifting by a variety of appliances across Europe and evaluates them against the Demand Side Management requirements of future energy systems, which will feature large shares of variable wind and solar power production.
The Smart-A project also features a detailed survey of the acceptance of smart appliances operation by users, which is a prerequisite for integrating domestic appliances into Demand Response schemes of electric utilities. The research also addresses the usability of available control technologies and communication standards. The overall potential of smart appliances is assessed based on a model which takes into account the variations of appliance use and the framework conditions in energy systems across Europe.
Webinar participants will receive a presentation on the results obtained in the project, including a concept for business cases for smart domestic appliances and a proposal for the development of smart appliances and their integration into the energy system.
The development of photovoltaic (PV) panels has made solar-powered pumps a reality.
Based on current trends for solving complex technical problems, a new concept of power quality improvement is propose
Ferroresonance is a phenomenon usually initiated by transients in power networks resulting from, for example, switchi
A hybrid parallel active filter / off-line uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system is proposed here.
Power Quality, in terms of power factor and harmonics, is greatly hampered by a three-phase rectifier used as a front
Recently, electricity consumers have shown increasing concern for power quality.
This paper presents a method of estimating the conducted electromagnetic interference EMI emissions in soft switching
In this paper, the method of selecting dv/dt for EMI current ringing attenuation is presented.
This paper presents an algorithm for the detection of a complex envelope of power grid signals.
Phase disturbances in electric power signals are neglected and only amplitude (envelope) distortions are discussed in
This brief communication addresses the case of a dc nonlinear load supplied with a perfectly constant instantaneous p
This application note proposes a systems approach to the design of the earthing system. It has to perform three func
Earthing of electrical systems is very important. Its primary purpose is to ensure safety by providing protection fo
More than half of the primary energy consumption is for the generation of heat. Thermal energy storage is of key importance for energy reduction technologies and for increasing the share of renewables in the thermal energy consumption.
In many application areas, like for instance in solar thermal systems for the existing building stock, the volume available for large capacity heat stores is limited. Systems with high renewable yield are only possible when compact heat storage technologies are developed. These storage technologies typically are several times more compact than a thermal storage using water.
An overview will be given of three classes of compact thermal energy storage: phase change material, sorption and thermochemical storage. The principles of the technologies will be explained, examples of their applications will be given and the research and development challenges described that are needed for their respective routes to the markets.
Hereby our list of Sustainable Energy Blogs. Vote, comment or add your own:
During this webinar, P. Kadel will present the contents of his book with special focus on the market requirements of energy consultancy.
With his book “Building Energy Consultancy”, P. Kadel outlined the complete know-how surrounding the energy flow of systems and buildings. The book starts with the basic calculation rules of different energies, succeeding with information of the world-wide energy situation, introducing the calculation rules of buildings and electrical systems, improving know-how on thermal protection and systems engineering, and combines these in the chapter on energy consultancy.
Furthermore, economic requirements are considered to optimise the energy flow in buildings and systems. Many examples are included so that the reader can follow and practice the introduced knowledge. In the appendix, various tables specifiying energy values are included and there are some helpful calculation tools on the attached disc. The book is most appropriate for those who wish to expand their know-how in energy efficiency solutions.
This webinar discusses some of the power quality contracts and classification systems used by distribution companies. It will show the different contracts used around the world by some groups of customers and utilities. It also discusses the roles of the regulator when allowing the market to agree on premium power quality contracts.
This webinar also describes the possiblity of classification of power quality at the point of supply for the most important power quality aspects (interruptions, voltage dips, harmonics, voltage fluctuations).
When visiting and using www.leonardo-energy.org (hereafter called the po
While the documentation on this website has been prepared with care, European Copper Institute and other contributers
In Italy, 4,380,000 accidents occur in the home each year, leading to 8000 casualties.
In a dozen screens, this minute lecture introduces the concept of total cost of ownership for distribution transforme
Climate change policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will produce significant side benefits in terms of reduced
Fragmentation is high cost for the economy To achieve Kyoto targets, the EU promotes renewable ener
Following 'how precious is a kWh' and 'how precious is a m3 gas', and using a sheet from Good Energy, we can estimate
Eco-design case study, based on the engineering studies in the transport download section, demonstrating the environm
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is getting a bad image because of its contribution to global warming.
We've asked the question before: how much energy do we need?
The two reports in this post are not recent, but together, they present a very detailed case study on efficiency in D
Via theWatt, we learn of an article in Harvard Magazine about the world's future energy needs and their supply.
Following on from Wednesday's post on the emission trading scheme, the following graph shows the strong relation betw
Vision document of the SmartGrids technology platform.
This is to share the sad news that Prof. Amulya Kumar N Reddy (Amulya)
On the surface, the answer to this question is easy: energy conservation is conserving energy, i.e.
This paper describes the benefits from a policy on electrical energy efficiency, and suggests policies and technologi
A 6-pulse bridge from the 14th century, Leonardo da Vinci's Power Factor Correction capacity, mechanical power distri
Electricity markets of the EU member states are too weakly integrated to create a truly European market.
Power quality is the bottom line of every efficient industrial process or commercial service.
According to Ohm's law, energy loss in cables and wires decreases by increasing the cross section.
Obviously an environmental problem, but recently, economists have pleaded for a larger consideration of its economic
Renewable electricity generation is typically 2-3 times more expensive than the current (economic) cost of convention
The Commission European Climate Change Program (ECCP) has identified motor driven systems as the major area for actio
A 48th vision on Post-2012 climate policy has been published by the Wuppertal Institute.
From the Guardian via Endogenous Preferences and Sustainablog comes news about Car
Date: February 24, 14h00 GMT+1
Duration: 1 hour
In the context of the public consultation on the Green Paper on Energy Efficiency, European Copper Institute in coope
Minimum Energy Performance Standards and Alternative Strategies for Electricity Distribution Transformers by the Aust
This joint report undertaken by the Union of the Electricity Industry - EURELECTRIC and the International Union for E
EcoDesign Awareness Raising Campaign for Electrical and Electronics SMEs.
This web site, launched in September 2003, was developed by the DANTES project.
The EcoDesignArc offers free training materials for self-study in 10 modu
In a 47th vision on Kyoto Post-2012 (after the '45 visions' review by University of Amsterdam and the recent 3E repor
In this discussion paper by CE Delft, the current and expect impact of liberalising t
A new report by Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, ECN and Wageningen University contributes a review of 45 publications o
In Factor Four - Doubling Wealth, Halving Resource Use, one of the solutions mentioned are super-refrigerators.
Passive houses are getting to be common technology in Germany, and have been successfully introduced in Austria, Belg
The most wide-spread lamp type (incandescent) is also the most inefficient one.
According to the World Energy Assessment, the world consumes about 400 Exajoules/year of pr
GIFAM, a French association of 60 manufacturers of home appliances has issued a wh
This paper presents three different types of certificates ('white' for energy savings, 'green' for renewable electric
Since energy cannot be created or destroyed, it's impossible to have an energy source, let alone a 'renewable energy
Three Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects have submitted "requests for issuance" of carbon credits – meaning t
When renewable activists talk about wind energy's contribution to Security of Supply, electrical engineers don't know
Buildings represent 40% of energy use, and 70% of building energy is consumed in dwellings.
Individuals and business can reduce emissions causing climate change in a variety of ways:
This new report from IEA checklists current issues in the emerging offshore wind industry.
With motors using typically 65% of site energy consumption, saving even 3% is well worth doing.
There's a lot of discussion around