Ludger Eltrop

Greenhouse gas emissions and abatement costs of biofuel production in South Africa

Transport accounts for about one quarter of South Africas final energy consumption. Most of the energy used is based on fossil fuels causing significant environmental burdens. This threat becomes even more dominant as a significant growth in transport demand is forecasted, especially in South Africas economic hub, Gauteng province. The South African government has realized the potential of biofuel usage for reducing oil import dependency and greenhouse gas (GHG) and has hence developed a National Biofuels Industrial Strategy to enforce their use. However, there is limited experience in the country in commercial biofuel production and some of the proposed crops (i.e. rapeseed and sugar beet) have not been yet cultivated on a larger scale. Furthermore, there is only limited research available, looking at the feasibility of commercial scale biofuel production or abatement costs of GHG emissions. To assess the opportunities of biofuel production in South Africa, the production costs and consumer price levels of the fuels recommended by the national strategy are analysed in this article. Moreover, the lifecycle GHG emissions and mitigation costs are calculated compared to the calculated fossil fuel reference including coal to liquid (CTL) and gas to liquid (GTL) fuels. The results show that the cost for biofuel production in South Africa are currently significantly higher (between 30% and 80%) than for the reference fossil fuels. The lifecycle GHG emissions of biofuels (especially for sugar cane) are considerably lower (up to 45%) than the reference fossil GHG emissions. The resulting GHG abatement costs are between 1000 and 2500 ZAR2007 per saved ton of carbon dioxide equivalent, which is high compared to the current European CO2 market prices of ca. 143 ZAR2007 t−1. The analysis has shown that biofuel production and utilization in South Africa offers a significant GHG‐mitigation potential but at relatively high cost.

Barriers of implementing Clean Development Mechanism in South Africa: Building energy efficiency projects

Implementation of energy efficiency measures in buildings demonstrate significant reduction in energy usage, thus contributing to the reduction of CO2 emissions. Buildings are responsible for more than one third of total energy use and associated greenhouse gas emissions in society, both in developed and developing countries [1]. “Worldwide, 30%–40% of all primary energy is used in residential and public buildings” [2].

A plant-specific model approach to assess effects of repowering measures on existing biogas plants: the case of Baden-Wuerttemberg

Up to the latest versions of the German renewable energy act (EEG), there had been a constant growth of new biogas plants (BGPs). After reaching a stagnation in the last years, today the focus has shifted to improving the existing BGPs. Assuming that most plants have not reached the technical end of life, the question arises on how an operation can be realized beyond the initial EEG support period of 20 years. In addition, new legal and economic conditions require the implementation of adjustments, that is, “repowering measures.” Based on a method review, a plant‐specific model approach is presented to assess repowering measures for a wide range of BGPs differing in capacity, substrate mixture and agricultural structures. The techno‐economic model includes different performance indicators like levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) and temporal aspects like technical progress. Using a data set for BGPs in the state of Baden‐Wuerttemberg (Germany), results are illustrated for the different model modules and three repowering scenarios of an extended operation period of ten years. The scenarios regard different options to meet the requirements of the current EEG, namely the flexibilization and restrictions on energy crops, in comparison with a reference case. While in repowering scenarios, the number of plants decreases between 54% and 69% and the overall power capacity changes between −48% and 13% until 2035. The results further show a reduction potential in the specific area demand and GHG emission up to 12% and 24%, respectively. Technical progress, additional revenues and capacity premiums are shown to be an important factor for efficient substrate utilization, low LCOE and thereby the enabling of an extended operation period. The scenario results indicate that the agricultural areas for energy crop cultivation and the amount of manure used in BGPs will be reduced considerably, inducing new chances and challenges in the future.

Opportunities to integrate solar technologies into the Chilean lithium mining industry – reducing process related GHG emissions of a strategic storage resource

The arid northern regions of Chile are characterized by an intensive mineral mining industry and high solar irradiance levels. Besides Chile’s main mining products, copper, molybdenum and iron, the production of lithium carbonate from lithium containing brines has become strategically important due to the rising demand for battery technologies worldwide. Its energy-intensive production may affect the ecological footprint of the product and the country’s climate targets. Thus, the use of solar technologies for electricity and heat production might constitute an interesting option for CO2 mitigation. This study aims to quantify the impacts of the lithium carbonate production processes in Chile on climate change, and to identify site-specific integration options of solar energy technologies to reduce GHG life-cycle emissions. The considered solar integration options include a parabolic trough power plant with a molten salt storage, a solar tower power plant with molten salt receiver and molten salt storage, ...

Technische und wirtschaftliche Erfolgsfaktoren für Bürgerwind, Contracting, Mini-/Mikro-KWK und intelligente Infrastrukturen

Im Kapitel 2 werden die technischen und okonomischen Charakteristika der vier Innovationsimpulse Burgerwindanlagen, Mini-/Mikro-KWK-Anlagen, uber Contracting realisierte Energieversorgungskonzepte sowie der Einsatz intelligenter Infrastrukturen analysiert und aufgezeigt. Sie sind hinsichtlich Stand der Technik, verfugbarer Leistungsbereiche, realisierter Konzepte zur Strom- und Warmebereitstellung oder Energiegestehungskosten sehr unterschiedlich einzuordnen und im heutigen Energieversorgungssystem unterschiedlich etabliert. Die Analyse umfasst die Darstellung beispielhafter, realisierter Einsatzbereiche der jeweiligen Technologien, technische Ausgangsdaten und Entwicklungspotenziale, typische Warme- und Stromgestehungskosten sowie erganzende Sensitivitatsanalysen. Auf dieser Grundlage werden in Kapitel zwei technische und wirtschaftliche Erfolgsfaktoren und Hemmnisse fur die Innovationsimpulse abgeleitet und vergleichend gegenubergestellt.

Renewable Energy: Resources and Technologies

Renewable energy or regenerative energy technologies attract an enormous attention today. New technologies, new projects and new energy stakeholder groups are emerging everywhere. Countries, regions and cities are competing about the top range in energy rankings. Where does this movement come from and which role can renewable energy technologies take in a given energy system?

Energieprognose Bayern 2030

Im Gutachten „Energieprognose Bayern 2030“ wird untersucht, wie sich die erfolgten Veranderungen der energiewirtschaftlichen Rahmenbedingungen auf die Entwicklung von Energieversorgung und -anwendung in Bayern auswirken und welche Folgen dies wiederum auf die Entwicklung der energiebezogenen Emissionen haben wird. Damit sollen Daten und Analysen vorgelegt werden, die eine belastbare Basis fur die Ausgestaltung der energiepolitischen Rahmenbedingungen in Bayern darstellen, die sich an den Zielen einer sicheren, wirtschaftlichen, umwelt- und nachweltvertraglichen, d. h. dem Leitbild der „nachhaltigen Entwicklung“ entsprechenden Energieversorgung orientiert, so dass sowohl die okonomischen als auch die okologischen Anforderungen an die Energieversorgung bestmoglich erfullt werden konnen.