Miguel Edgar Morales Udaeta

Integrated Energy Resources Planning for the Electricity Sector: Targeting Sustainable Development

Technology advancement and population pressures demand that development planning be conducted not only with the techno-economic paradigm in mind but also taking into consideration environmental, political, and social sustainability factors. Projections considering current energy policies demonstrate that global electricity consumption will grow by 84% in the next 25 years. The portion of electricity consumption from fossil fuels is estimated at 63%, still representing a major ?challenge to the energy sector in the coming decades [1]. Estimating supply alternatives for increasing electricity consumption is integral to the development expansion plans of developing nations. The selected countries in this work are part of different social, environmental, political, and economic scenarios. Although the sample of countries is small, it represents a very heterogeneous and comprehensive group. The implications from the review here aim to provide an overview of energy planning around the world.

Solar energy analysis supported on hydropower modelling for taking advantage of photovoltaic power plants

The aim of this study is to conceptualize the formatting process of primary energy for power systems using photovoltaic plants, based on the systemic handling of hydropower knowledge defined over the years in a country-level interconnected power system. The main premise adopted is the installation of photovoltaic systems in areas occupied by large hydroelectric dams. The results show that the climatic behavior is specific in each region. Therefore, it has not been possible to find any evidence of standardized correlations between the sunshine and the other climatic and hydrological variables analyzed. Finally, a flow chart that illustrates a consistency in the definition of the distinguishing elements of the inventory process is presented. The purpose of this flow chart is to enable the same inventory process for PV plants in existing hydropower plants, using a comparison method. Thus, this study provides a new way to systematize the solar resource based on a dominated formulation of the water resource.

Impact of distributed generation on the operational planning of medium voltage distribution networks using genetic algorithms

This paper presents a study of the impact of Distributed Generation (DG) in the planning and design of Low Voltage (LV) distribution networks. The proposed model considers the planning of LV networks with the aims of reducing power losses, acceptable voltage levels and maximizing power supply of distributed generation units using Genetic Algorithm (GA). Planning LV distribution networks involves radial configuration design, cable replacement, changes on the phases of the consumers and transformer position. In this work, these goals are considered by taking into account different conductors, voltage drop and power losses in lines. A power flow for radial distribution networks based on a backward/forward sweep using current summation was presented to validate the solutions.This paper presents a study of the impact of Distributed Generation (DG) in the operational planning and design of Medium Voltage (MV) distribution networks. The proposed model considers the planning of MV networks for reducing power losses, voltage drop and investments in reinforcements using Genetic Algorithm (GA). Planning MV distribution networks involves cable replacement, sizing and positioning of capacitor and DG and phase load balancing. The objective function to be minimized includes operational costs of proposed changes, power losses and voltage constraints. A power flow for radial distribution networks based on a backward/forward sweep using current summation was developed to validate the solutions.

Análise e avaliação do mercado reprimido de energia no contexto do desenvolvimento limpo na Região Administrativa de Araçatuba

This article assesses the restrained market of electricity, natural gas and alcohol in the Aracatuba Administrative Region (RAA), comparing the its consumption with the average consumption of the states of Sao Paulo and Florida (USA), where the demand is believed to be fully satisfied. Projections are made for answering the demand in a clean development context for a hypothetical scenario.

Hierarchy of the Energy Resources Using Data Envelopment Analysis for Energy Planning

This paper presents a strategy for the prioritization of energy resources on the supply side using data envelopment analysis. The work considers the hierarchy of sources environmental, political, social, technical and economic aspects, by means of numerical and linguistic indicators, the latter obtained through public participation resulting in public hearings conducted with those involved and interested in the environmental, social and politicians. The method of data envelopment analysis was used to aggregate the linguistic variables, considering the sensitivity as the choice of asymmetric scale. Simulations show that the method can be used to prioritize the choice of energy sources that have the lowest overall cost, considering the holistic view of the costs of sources, incorporating part of the externalities of traditional energy planning. Additionally, the method is not sensitive to granularity and unbalanced the language scales.

Natural Gas Virtual-Pipeline for Alternative Energy Distribution

Virtual-pipeline is an alternative method of transporting natural gas to places where there are no pipeline networks available. It is based on a modular system of compression or liquefaction, transport and decompression and/or regasification of natural gas, which communities, industries, gas stations and others can use. In virtual-pipelines compressed/liquefied natural gas is transported by various modes highway, railway, waterways and the sea.

Multi-criteria evaluation of the expansion of natural gas distribution network by the urban dynamics (doi: 10.4090/juee.2010.v4n2.055062)

As in many other developing countries, the generation of clinical waste in Malaysia has increased significantly over the last few decades. Even though the serious impact of the clinical waste on human beings and the environment is significant, only minor attention is directed to its proper handling and legal aspects. This study seeks to examine the management of clinical waste in Selangor’s government hospitals as well as problems that arise from the current practice of clinical waste management. A depth interview with the responsible concession who handles the clinical waste management in those hospitals also has been taken. In general, it was found that the consortium’s administration was reasonably aware of the importance of clinical waste management. However, significant voids were present that need to be addressed in future including efficient segregation, better handling and transfer means, as well as the need for training and awareness programs for the personnel. Other obstacles faced by consortiums who handle the clinical waste including the operational costs. Waste minimizing and recycling, as well as the alternative treatment methods for incineration are regarded to be major challenges in the future.The objective of this work is to analyze the expansion of the infrastructure of natural gas distribution, identifying priorities from large metropolis using the energy planning based on urban design tools like urban dynamics and techniques like AHP. The methodology proposed uses matrices considering the relations between the concept of urban dynamics, quality of life and the possibilities of natural gas displacing other energy forms. The matrices are made up of information about social and urban development, costs of establishing the infrastructure and projections of the consumption potential in various sectors. Relating the consumption to urban development parameters and the real estate future of the areas in study, the methodology allows to indicate the viability of a gas network for each district. As conclusion, the model presents the integration between the cities profile and the natural gas use, by means of a growing natural gas use in districts of Sao Paulo City as a specific case study.

Urban Model for the Analysis of the Brazilian Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure

This paper analyses through the use of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), the influence of several urban parameters in the expansion of natural gas distribution in the Brazilian market. The logic based on pair combination allows the verification of relationships such as demographic density and distribution of family income, residential and industrial concentration, distance between areas that could be served and others that are effectively attended by natural gas, defining through the attribution of a priorities scale, the decisive aspects in the selection of areas that must receive the natural gas expansion. The model intends to propose the integration between the city’s profile and the natural gas use, using the advance of natural gas on São Paulo City as a specific case study. As a conclusion, the model provides the neighbourhoods expansion rankings, verifying the coherence of the proposal based on urban parameters analysis through the test with suburban districts of the São Paulo city.