by Alec J. Ernst, Isaac Ansah, Keyshon Bachus, Charles Kporxah and Olusegun S. Tomomewo
Original Research
Population increase, energy dependency and climate change are issues causing the world to rapidly focus on clean and renewable sources of energy. With a business-as-usual attitude, further consequences may ensue. Renewable energy will drive diversification of fuels and allow for energy infrastructures to become more independent from remote grids. Renewable energy is good for the planet and is virtually inexhaustible, unlike fossil fuels. Within the United States, numerous clean power projects have been set in place to support powering the electric grid with 100% clean energy by 2050. Constraints to this plan are that renewable energy is not available around the clock and has limited infrastructural investments for transmission, distribution etc. Energy storage can help to close the gap by efficient delivery of inflexible, baseload clean energy resources. Energy storage will be key to reliably delivering clean energy and understanding this role in the evolution of renewable energy and its effect on the environment has not been fully studied. This work investigates the role of energy storage in bridging the lapses between renewable energy production and climate change mitigation efforts. By using case studies, we showed the potential of energy storage in renewable energy curtailment efforts and reducing emissions associated with electric power generation. Legislation will play an important role in relaxing the market barriers to the deployment of renewable and storage systems. An overhaul of the bureaucratic structures in favor of renewable energy and its allied technologies such as energy storage systems, is required to allow a seamless transition into a new era in which clean energy dominates the share of the energy mix.
American Journal of Energy Research. 2023, 11(3), 128-143. DOI: 10.12691/ajer-11-3-4
Pub. Date: August 24, 2023
1350 Views18 Downloads
by Kirby Christian C. Micayabas, Deckson R. Tingalan, Kingman N. Pacturan, Dave Joaquin B. Singgil, Ian Jay P. Saldo, Rolando Y. Casas and Mary Jade Peñafiel-Dandoy
Original Research
Biodiesel is a renewable and sustainable fuel generated from a variety of feedstocks, including soybean oil, canola oil, and used motor oil. It has been widely acknowledged as a promising alternative to diesel fuel derived from petroleum because of its lower greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impact. In addition, blending various varieties of biodiesel can improve fuel properties, including these physical and chemical properties. This study compared through a thorough evaluation and assessment of the different properties of mixed biodiesel and commercial diesel. It was compared in terms of physical properties: viscosity and density, and chemical properties: pH level, corrosion test, and amount of particle matter determined using gravimetric testing. The study used research and development with a quantitative design focused on the experimental approach. Results revealed that the viscosity values of the mixed biodiesel had an overall mean of 5.68, while commercial diesel had a value of 4.56. For the density, the Mixed Biodiesel attained an overall mean of 0.843 while the commercial diesel yielded 0.83. Furthermore, in their pH level testing, the Mixed Biodiesel yielded an overall value of 8.80, while the commercial diesel got an overall mean of 9.46. For their corrosion test, the three samples of mixed biodiesel passed the ASTM D130 rating in which it garnered the degree of 1b (Slight tarnish), while the commercial diesel garnered 1a, which is still in the classification of Slight tarnish. In addition, for the particle matter, the mixed biodiesel yielded an overall mean of 1.801, while the commercial diesel only had 0.636. T-tests revealed that there were no significant difference on the physical and chemical properties of mixed biodiesel and commercial diesel. Further studies regarding the different physical and chemical properties are recommended for future contribution to the body of knowledge.
American Journal of Energy Research. 2023, 11(3), 117-127. DOI: 10.12691/ajer-11-3-3
Pub. Date: July 03, 2023
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by Geng Yuanbo, Hassan Ghassemi, Guanghua He and Hamid Reza Ghafari
Original Research
Ocean waves are considered a potentially untapped renewable resource that is 800 times denser than wind energy. With a vast coastline of nearly 32,000 km, China offers a huge potential for harnessing wave energy. This paper utilizes the boundary element method to compare the energy absorption characteristics of two wave energy converters (WECs) with conical and hemispherical buoy shapes (with the same displacement, equal 905203 kg) as point absorber devices in the Chengshantou area of the Shandong Peninsula, which occurs mainly in low and moderate sea states, where a linear response is appropriate. Only heaving motion and regular waves are considered in the hydrodynamic response analysis. Hydrodynamic coefficients such as the Froude-Krylov force, radiation damping, additional mass, diffraction force, excitation force and response amplitude operators (RAO) are compared to determine the most appropriate shape. The maximum efficiency of a power take-off (PTO) device was simulated and the velocity response of the buoy was observed. Monthly variations in average absorbed power and efficiency were calculated for both shapes of the buoy. The results indicate that the hemispherical buoy is more efficient than the conical buoy, due to its better hydrodynamic characteristics and smoother interaction with incident waves.
American Journal of Energy Research. 2023, 11(3), 108-116. DOI: 10.12691/ajer-11-3-2
Pub. Date: July 02, 2023
772 Views20 Downloads
by Keyshon Bachus and Yeo Howe Lim
Original Research
Energy consumption via electricity purchased by organizations makes up a large part of worldwide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. More than two-thirds of electricity used is by commercial and industrial users. Companies with warehouses, offices, data centers, and other facilities, and that engage in industrial processes consume significant amounts of purchased electricity to power their operations. Most organizations do not generate their own electricity or have operational control of their energy generation; rather, they purchase it from public utilities and other providers. Many organizations are making climate commitments in support of the Paris Agreement’s net-zero pledge by reducing their indirect “Scope 2” GHG emissions and promoting development of more renewable energy and less dependence on fossil-fuel-generated electricity. Depending on the locations of organizations’ facilities, renewable energy infrastructure may or may not be available. However, companies can meet their public climate commitments by obtaining renewable energy certificates in lieu of obtaining renewable energy directly to their operations. Each certificate purchased represents 1 megawatt-hour of renewable energy added to the grid. The two options for obtaining these certificates, which this study will focus on: obtaining renewable energy certificates via a contract, such as a virtual power purchase agreement or purchasing them from a broker or developer without a contract, or association with energy generated known as “unbundled renewable energy certificates.” Thus, even when companies do not consume the energy directly, their efforts do not go unnoticed by their stakeholders as they take possession of the environmental attributes via renewable energy certificates. Either option enables companies to secure renewable energy certificates and meet their climate commitments. Companies may purchase certificates equal to their total greenhouse gas emissions emitted or equivalent to the MWh value of fossil-fuel-generated energy consumed as a way to offset their Scope 2 GHG emissions generated from fossil fuels. Both options have potential risks and benefits. The second phase of this research will be to measure and identify these risks around long-term virtual power purchase agreements and unbundled renewable energy certificates. Results of the literature review show that there are substantial benefits and potential risks to organizations that use these instruments to achieve their climate commitments. The significance of this research is to identify, quantify, and measure the potential risks of unbundled renewable energy certificates and virtual power purchase agreements. The results of the research can serve as a baseline framework to be used by corporations and clean energy developers to combat climate change and accelerate their renewable energy portfolios. Understanding the risks will undoubtedly help in developing key mitigating strategies and removing the timeline barriers associated with contract negotiations, signage, or the purchase of unbundled renewable energy certificates.
American Journal of Energy Research. 2023, 11(3), 100-107. DOI: 10.12691/ajer-11-3-1
Pub. Date: June 14, 2023
994 Views11 Downloads