Harnessing Curtailed Wind-Generated Electricity via Electrical Water Heating Aggregation to Alleviate Energy Poverty: A Use Case in Ireland

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The article explores the possibility of utilizing unused wind-generated electricity to heat domestic water in Irish households facing fuel poverty. A wind-generated electricity allocation model was developed to evaluate the feasibility and economics of this approach.

Although addressing a relevant topic, the article requires some improvements before being accepted for publication. These include the need to revise the abstract to provide more details about the methods, results, and limitations of the research. 

I believe that a one-page introduction, without figures, tables, and bullet points, providing a precise definition of the research question and objectives, would enhance the robustness of the text.

I recommend that the authors improve the formatting quality of some tables, such as Table 1. The readability of certain tables, for example, Table 4, also needs adjustments. Regarding the figures, I suggest that some be excluded to enhance the flow of the text. Additionally, I recommend standardizing the formatting of the figures. There is a lot of informative text within the figures themselves, which could be replaced by commentary notes below the figures. Please note that the comments in certain figures seem to have been cut off (Figure 6, Figure 7 part a).

Finally, I recommend that the authors carefully review the text formatting, as I noticed variations in font styles in certain paragraphs (e.g., Arial, Times New Roman, etc.). This inconsistency should be addressed for better readability and professional presentation.

According to the methos, I have few suggestions to authors, with the aim of enhancing the robustness of the methods:

1. (i) More precise modeling: Conduct a more detailed and accurate analysis of the electrical system and consumer behavior to enhance the wind-generated electricity allocation model, considering variables such as seasonality, variable demand, and wind generation intermittency.

2.  

3. (ii) Technical and economic feasibility studies: Carry out practical studies to evaluate the technical implementation of this model in different types of households and water heating systems, along with detailed cost-benefit analyses to better understand long-term economic viability.

4.  

5. (iii) Comprehensive socio-economic impact analysis: Conduct a comprehensive analysis of the socio-economic impacts of this initiative, considering not only environmental and economic benefits but also effects on fuel-poor consumers, local employment, and other relevant social aspects.

6.  

7. Sincerely, The reviewer

 

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

Many thanks for helpful comments that have been addressed and much improve the paper.

A 1-page introduction has been added (1 table and 1 figure remain).  The table is referred to later in the narrative.  Figure 1 can be removed if it is felt that it impedes flow. 

Research question and objectives have been added at end of introduction

All tables and figures have been refined and formatted (I fear some of the formatting might be lost on upload but we will work with publication office to make sure all is ok for publishing.

Some text is included in figures.  Figures are also described in the text.   I suggest that some be excluded to enhance the flow of the text. 

All text is now Palatino Linotype - thanks for catching this.

Regarding the method - this work is limited to a proof of concept through modelling - we have added a "Limitation, Recommendations and Future Research" Section that highlights limitations of the approach, how this could be made more robust as well as future work.  We hope this addresses your comments.

 

Your Faithfully

Ciara (Corresponding author on behalf of other authors)

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors, 

This research examines the potential and economics of using excess wind-generated electricity to create an Electrical Water Heating Aggregation scheme for residential areas in the Irish context. I believe the article has been made with much effort, represented by the comprehensive data supported by national reports and some literature describing a specific context like Irish.  However, the current paper structure makes it difficult to follow, and the coherence and structure must be improved. Hence, significant corrections were required before publication. 

Here are my recommendations: 

1. The study discussed a specific issue related to the Irish context. So, the title should clearly refer to "Ireland." because the current title conveys a broader scope. 

2. The abstract should be improved: the aim and method applied should be clearly and briefly stated.

3.  The introduction section needs to be rearranged; I suggest transferring the aim (lines 21-26) after briefly placing the research in a broad context and highlighting its importance, as not all interested readers/scientists were familiar with this specific domain.  It is a bit surprising that the aim is mentioned initially, while Section 2.4 defines "Specific Research Objectives." 

- Also, it would be recommended that research questions be formulated that need to be addressed to achieve the aim. A visual summary of the method and structure would be beneficial. 

- Please emphasize to what extent mentioning the equations at the beginning supports the study. 

4. It seems that the study was implemented two years ago, as was noticed from the data presented and national reports, which makes some references inaccessible and might affect data reliability.  It would recommended to update the data included with more recent ones and re-check all references. For example:

- Line 33 indicated "34% in 2030," while the EU Target for 2030 is 42.5%, per the revised Renewable Energy Directive EU/2023/2413.

- Reference 1, line 680, cited "Balancing Market Principles Statement" that launched on 14 October 2020, Version 4.0, while a more recent guide presented on 24 April 2023, available at: 

https://www.soni.ltd.uk/media/documents/EirGrid-and-SONI-Balancing-Market-Principles-Statement-V6.1.pdf 

To what extent does the updated data affect the study? 

-  Line 31. It seems that reference 4 is available at:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/04/22/fact-sheet-president-biden-sets-2030-greenhouse-gas-pollution-reduction-target-aimed-at-creating-good-paying-union-jobs-and-securing-u-s-leadership-on-clean-energy-technologies/

If yes, does it mention any information about the EU, as stated in the text?  Please re-check.

- Overall, the reference list needs to be updated, like References 4,10,15,16, & 28 (as the page is not available)

-Ref 31 and 35 Access date format need to be unified. 

- It seems references 5 and 6 have been swapped to lines 35 and 37. The data presented was from reference 6, line 694, while line 42 refers to another reference. Kindly revise the references. 

- Ref 11 and 12 need to be merged lines 706-707 

- Lines 62 and 63 indicated it "was 65%, rising to 75% in 2021." While at the official website of the Irish transmission operator in Ireland:

https://www.eirgrid.ie/ds3-programme-delivering-secure-sustainable-electricity-system 

indicated "70% in 2021 and 75% in 2022." Please elaborate on this. 

5. Juxtapositioning the study with the literature discussing the Irish context is required to show the contact and difference points, for instance, but not limited to: 

- 10.1109/PESGM52003.2023.10253224 

 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112513

Kindly ensure that relevant studies are included. 

6. What does section 2.3.2 convey? As mentioned in line 299, does the study aim to retrofit building systems? What is its relevance to research? Also, in Figure 10, line 604, the interaction of value-nexus elements showed a reduction in CO2 in the core. Is this the aim of the study? Does the study aim to minimize the GHG, quantify the impact of the retrofitting system, or address poverty? The research originality needs to be better described and emphasized. 

7. A section introducing the Irish context is to be added to summarize the electricity scheme's characteristics and energy poverty level. Is it limited to Northern Ireland or All Islands? Also, the relevant programs, like the "DS3 programme". To better premise this specific study, also as not all readers are familiar with this. 

Despite some of this data being distributed throughout the manuscript (e.g., the paragraph between lines 117-130), they need to be better restructured.

8. Presentation: 

- In Equation 1, line 52, please define HVDC; I think it might be High Voltage Direct Current. 

- Table 1 What does starlike refer to? It would be better to support the data with a proper reference.

- Lines 120, 171, and 173 Include a hyperlinked word that refers to an external reference. Instead, please use the proper citation style. 

- The readability of Figure 9 needs to be improved. 

Also, it is recommended to follow the Author Instructions, Sustainability-MDPI, available at: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability/instructions

Thank you very much.

Best regards,

Reviewer 

Author Response

Dear Reviewer, 

Many thanks for your considered comments and time taken to review.  We have addressed all queries and the paper is much improved for your input.

The paper has been restructured.

Regarding the recommendations

1. Ireland has been added to title

2. Abstract has been redrafted to include the aim and method applied 

3.  Introduction has been rearranged and now concludes with research aims and objectives.  We have described the method more fully and did create a visual summary of the method and structure but felt it did not add to the additional text so we removed.  Please review and if it is still felt necessary, we are happy to add.

4. SNSP is referred to a great deal and is a key element of the study and limitation on VRE so we have opted to keep in.  Please review again and if it is felt that it is still superfluous to understanding we are happy to remove.  As an engineer, I favour inclusion of equations :)  

4. All references and links have been updated (thanks for catching this) also all % figures have been updated.

5.  Suggested references have been added, again, thank you for highlighting

6. Methods and materials section has been updated and we hope the paper reads with more easily now.  Regarding Figure 10.  EWHA scheme have many benefits but at the nexus of all aspects is a CO2 reduction.  Originality is more strongly emphasized. 

7. As per Reviewer 1 comments, Ireland has been added to the title and so a specific section on Ireland has not been added, rather references to the Irish context are knitted into the text.

8. Presentation: 

- In Equation 1, line 52, please define HVDC; I think it might be High Voltage Direct Current.  √

- Table 1 What does starlike refer to? It would be better to support the data with a proper reference. √ Corrected

- Lines 120, 171, and 173 Include a hyperlinked word that refers to an external reference. Instead, please use the proper citation style. √ Corrected

- The readability of Figure 9 needs to be improved. √ Corrected

Also, it is recommended to follow the Author Instructions, Sustainability-MDPI, available at: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability/instructions √ Corrected

Thank you again for time taken with this review

Ciara (Corresponding author on behalf of all authors)

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Based on the current status of the potential and economics of heating domestic water for households at risk of fuel poverty, this paper creates an EWHA scheme and develops a wind power distribution model, and evaluates and analyses, amongst other things, Irish hot water heating and historical curtailment wind data for households at risk of fuel poverty to benefit from EWHA. This article is of academic interest in terms of deploying unutilised wind power in Ireland, but further refinement is required in terms of research detail.

1. It is recommended that the checking rate of the article be verified to reduce the rate of article reprints.

2. It is recommended that 1.3. "Electrical Hot Water Aggregation Schemes" should be supplemented with an explanation of "maximising the benefits to the head of household as the controlling parameter" as the causal factor in the study.

3. It is recommended that the explanations of "Household Hot Water Consumption Profiles" in 2.1 and "Modelling Hot Water Consumption Profiles" in 2.2 should be provided. It is recommended to explain the comparison of the data in 2.1 "Household Hot Water Consumption Profiles" and 2.2 "Modelling Hot Water Consumption Profiles" by the comparison of the data of each factor in each region with the graphs.

4. It is recommended that 2.6. "Wind Curtailment Allocation Model" be supplemented with an introduction that focuses on the source of the graphs, an introduction to the design methodology, the flow of the experiment and the experimental methodology.

5. It is recommended that Table 3a and Table 3b be briefly introduced and analysed for the reader's understanding.

6. It is recommended to add an overview of practical use cases of wind power programmes in Ireland or other similar regions.

7. Suggested to add feasibility issues such as realistic financing, cost recovery, land occupation issues, bird protection, etc. in wind power programmes in the Irish region.

8. Suggested adjustments to sub-point branches, e.g. to serial numbers.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer,

Many thanks for your considered comments that have been addressed and that have improved the work.

1. It is recommended that the checking rate of the article be verified to reduce the rate of article reprints.

Apologies but we are not sure what this is!? Happy to carry out any review necessary

2 It is recommended that 1.3. "Electrical Hot Water Aggregation Schemes" should be supplemented with an explanation of "maximising the benefits to the head of household as the controlling parameter" as the causal factor in the study.

Thanks for this comment - this has been adopted universally in abstract, research question etc. 

3. It is recommended that the explanations of "Household Hot Water Consumption Profiles" in 2.1 and "Modelling Hot Water Consumption Profiles" in 2.2 should be provided. It is recommended to explain the comparison of the data in 2.1 "Household Hot Water Consumption Profiles" and 2.2 "Modelling Hot Water Consumption Profiles" by the comparison of the data of each factor in each region with the graphs.

This has been done, save for graphs - other articles did not publish so this would be huge undertaking and outside the scope of this work.  Moreover, we adopted a simplified load approach, this has been better articulated in text and in new limitations section (4.1)

4. It is recommended that 2.6. "Wind Curtailment Allocation Model" be supplemented with an introduction that focuses on the source of the graphs, an introduction to the design methodology, the flow of the experiment and the experimental methodology.

We have restructured the paper and added text to the "Method and Materials" section and hope the approach is better articulated.  We did add a figure on the methodological approach but on review we did not feel it added to the additonal text so we took it back out.! Happy to reconsider if text remains unclear.

5. It is recommended that Table 3a and Table 3b be briefly introduced and analysed for the reader's understanding.

Done - now Table 2 (a and b) see lines 370 to 377

6. It is recommended to add an overview of practical use cases of wind power programmes in Ireland or other similar regions.

Done - now Table 2 (a and b) see lines 83 to 91

7. Suggested to add feasibility issues such as realistic financing, cost recovery, land occupation issues, bird protection, etc. in wind power programmes in the Irish region.

We have added a section "limitations, recommendations and future research" (Section 4.1) to address other reviewers comments, we have more addressed limitations of the methodological approach rather than the macro issues mentioned here.  If on review you would still like included, happy to do so.

 

8. Suggested adjustments to sub-point branches, e.g. to serial numbers.

Paper entirely restructured and no of sub branches much reduced.  

Yours faithfully

Ciara (corresponding author on behalf of all authors)

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear authors, the new version is better structured and my opinion is to approve the article.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors, 

The recommendations have been addressed. 
Thank you 

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Author，

Thank you for your patient and careful response and revision.

After review, I believe this manuscript meets the requirements for preliminary publication.

Best regards.