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Selected Papers from the SDEWES 2020 Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 February 2021) | Viewed by 74453

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Poul Alberg Østergaard

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Guest Editor
Department of Planning, Aalborg University, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
Interests: energy systems; energy scenarios; renewable energy system integration; energy and development; environmental impacts from energy development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Francesco Calise

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Guest Editor
Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, Italy
Interests: fuel cells; advanced optimization techniques; solar thermal systems; concentrating photovoltaic/thermal photovoltaic systems; energy saving in buildings; solar heating and cooling; organic Rankine cycles; geothermal energy; dynamic simulations of energy systems; renewable polygeneration systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Neven Duić

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Zagreb, Lučićeva 5, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: energy planning of energy systems with a high penetration of renewables; sustainable communities; energy policy; energy economics; mitigation of climate change; energy efficiency and combustion engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Qiuwang Wang

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Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Thermo-Fluid Science and Engineering (Ministry of Education), Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Interests: heat transfer enhancement and its applications to engineering problems; high-temperature heat transfer and fluid flow; transport phenomena in porous media; numerical simulation, prediction, and optimization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Maria da Graça Carvalho

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Guest Editor
Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Lisbon, 1649-004 Lisboa, Portugal
Interests: energy; sustainable development; climate change; energy policy; science-based policy making
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

One of the main issues of the coming decades is improving efficiencies by integrating various life-supporting systems, using waste from one as a resource in another, and in then exact moment when it is beneficial to all, integrating electricity, heating, cooling, transport, water, buildings, waste, wastewater, industry, forestry, and agriculture systems. Sustainability also being the perfect field for interdisciplinary and multicultural evaluation of complex systems, the SDEWES conferences have become a significant venue for researchers in those areas to meet and to develop, discuss, share, and disseminate new ideas. 

Energy has been and is the key-factor in human development; however, it is also one of the main—if not the main—human environmental fingerprints. Even with a significant attention on the importance and merits of sustainable energy supply over the last few decades, there are still significant gaps to be filled with respect to how to design and implement technically optimal energy systems at the lowest cost.  

This Special Issue (SI) aims to provide an important contribution by presenting state-of-the-art sustainable energy supply solutions ranging from technical analyses of energy components on both the supply and demand side to energy scenarios and pathways. This SI particularly welcomes SDEWES papers that address the energy system without traditional sector boundaries between electricity, heating, cooling, transportation and industrial demands and rather considers the integration and synergies between these sectors.

The 15th conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems—SDEWES Conference will be held in Cologne, dedicated to the improvement and dissemination of knowledge on methods, policies, and technologies for increasing the sustainability of development by de-coupling growth from natural resources and replacing them with knowledge-based economy, taking into account its economic, environmental, and social pillars.

Prof. Dr. Poul Alberg Østergaard
Prof. Dr. Francesco Calise
Prof. Dr. Neven Duić
Prof. Dr. Qiuwang Wang
Prof. Dr. Maria da Graça Carvalho
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Sustainability comparisons and measurements
  • Smart energy systems
  • Energy policy
  • Water–energy nexus
  • Energy system analysis
  • Renewable energy resources
  • Primary energy resources
  • Renewable electricity generation systems
  • Thermal power plants
  • District heating and/or cooling
  • Advanced sustainable energy conversion systems
  • Renewable heat systems
  • Biofuels and biorefineries
  • Alternative fuels
  • Hybrid and electric vehicles
  • Water treatment for drinking water
  • Modelling for pollution avoidance and energy efficiency
  • Cogeneration, trigeneration, polygeneration
  • Energy storage
  • Electricity transmission and distribution
  • Gas security of supply
  • Energy efficiency in industry and mining
  • Energy-efficient appliances
  • Energy efficiency in buildings
  • Energy markets

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Related Special Issues

Published Papers (15 papers)

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30 pages, 2530 KiB  
Review
Recent Advances in Low-Carbon and Sustainable, Efficient Technology: Strategies and Applications
by Wenxiao Chu, Maria Vicidomini, Francesco Calise, Neven Duić, Poul Alborg Østergaard, Qiuwang Wang and Maria da Graça Carvalho
Energies 2022, 15(8), 2954; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15082954 - 18 Apr 2022
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3937
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the supply chains of traditional fossil fuels. According to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) from 2020, oil-refining activity fell by more than the IEA had anticipated. It was also assumed that [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the supply chains of traditional fossil fuels. According to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) from 2020, oil-refining activity fell by more than the IEA had anticipated. It was also assumed that the demand in 2021 would likely be 2.6 million bpd below the 2019 levels. However, renewable markets have shown strong resilience during the crisis. It was determined that renewables are on track to meet 80% of the growth in electricity demand over the next 10 years and that sustainable energy will act as the primary source of electricity production instead of coal. On the other hand, the report also emphasized that measures for reducing environmental pollution and CO2 emissions are still insufficient and that significant current investments should be further expanded. The Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES) conference series is dedicated to the advancement and dissemination of knowledge on methods, policies and technologies for improving the sustainability of development by decoupling growth from the use of natural resources. The 15th SDEWES conference was held online from 1–5 September 2020; more than 300 reports with 7 special sections were organized on the virtual conference platform. This paper presents the major achievements of the recommended papers in the Special Issue of Energies. Additionally, related studies connected to the above papers published in the SDEWES series are also introduced, including the four main research fields of energy saving and emission reduction, renewable energy applications, the development of district heating systems, and the economic assessment of sustainable energy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the SDEWES 2020 Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems)
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20 pages, 3453 KiB  
Article
Modeling of Limestone Dissolution for Flue Gas Desulfurization with Novel Implications
by Cataldo De Blasio, Gabriel Salierno, Donatella Sinatra and Miryan Cassanello
Energies 2020, 13(23), 6164; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13236164 - 24 Nov 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2753
Abstract
Solid-liquid dissolution is a central step in many industrial applications such as pharmaceutical, process engineering, and pollution control. Accurate mathematical models are proposed to improve reactor design and process operations. Analytical methods are significantly beneficial in the case of iterative methods used within [...] Read more.
Solid-liquid dissolution is a central step in many industrial applications such as pharmaceutical, process engineering, and pollution control. Accurate mathematical models are proposed to improve reactor design and process operations. Analytical methods are significantly beneficial in the case of iterative methods used within experimental investigations. In the present study, a detailed analytical solution for the general case of solid particles dissolving in multiphase chemical reaction systems is presented. In this model, the authors consider a formulation that considers the particles’ shape factor. The general case presented could be utilized within different problems of multiphase flows. These methods could be extended to different cases within the chemical engineering area. Examples are illustrated here in relation to limestone dissolution taking place within the Wet Flue Gas Desulfurization process, where calcium carbonate is dissolving in an acidic environment. The method is the most common used technology to abate SO2 released by fuel combustion. Limestone dissolution plays a major role in the process. Nevertheless, there is a need for improvements in the optimization of the WFGD process for scale-up purposes. The mathematical model has been tested by comparison with experimental data from several mild acidic dissolution assays of sedimentary and metamorphic limestone. We have found that R2 ⊂ 0.92 ± 0.06 from dozens of experiments. This fact verifies the model qualifications in capturing the main drivers of the system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the SDEWES 2020 Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems)
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12 pages, 1556 KiB  
Article
The Exploitation of Low-Temperature Hot Water Boiler Sources with High-Temperature Heat Pump Integration
by Darko Goričanec, Igor Ivanovski, Jurij Krope and Danijela Urbancl
Energies 2020, 13(23), 6311; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13236311 - 30 Nov 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3056
Abstract
The article presents an original and innovative technical solution for the exploitation of low-temperature excess heat from hot water boilers that use gas or liquid fuel for the needs of high-temperature heating in buildings or in industry. The primary fuel efficiency used for [...] Read more.
The article presents an original and innovative technical solution for the exploitation of low-temperature excess heat from hot water boilers that use gas or liquid fuel for the needs of high-temperature heating in buildings or in industry. The primary fuel efficiency used for hot water boilers can be significantly increased by utilizing the excess low-temperature heat of flue gases that are discharged into the environment and thus also reduce CO2 emissions. Hot water systems usually operate at higher temperatures of the heating water, which is transported to the heat consumer via supply pipe, and the cooled heating water is returned to the hot water boiler via the return pipe. For the excess low-temperature heat exploitation of the flue gases from hot water boiler, it is necessary to install a condenser in the flue gas discharge pipe, where condensation of water vapour present in the flue gas heats water or a mixture of water and glycol. The heating water, which is cooled and returned from the heat consumer via the return pipe, is led to the condenser of the high-temperature heat pump, where it is preheated and then led to the hot water boiler, where it is heated to the final temperature. A computer simulation with the Aspen plus software package for the series or parallel connection of high-temperature heat pump to a hot water heating system and the economic analysis of the excess heat exploitation from the flue gases are also performed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the SDEWES 2020 Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems)
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12 pages, 14622 KiB  
Article
Efficient Integration of Machine Learning into District Heating Predictive Models
by Libor Kudela, Radomír Chýlek and Jiří Pospíšil
Energies 2020, 13(23), 6381; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13236381 - 2 Dec 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2320
Abstract
Modern control strategies for district-level heating and cooling supply systems pose a difficult challenge. In order to integrate a wide range of hot and cold sources, these new systems will rely heavily on accumulation and much lower operating temperatures. This means that predictive [...] Read more.
Modern control strategies for district-level heating and cooling supply systems pose a difficult challenge. In order to integrate a wide range of hot and cold sources, these new systems will rely heavily on accumulation and much lower operating temperatures. This means that predictive models advising the control strategy must take into account long-lasting thermal effects but must not be computationally too expensive, because the control would not be possible in practice. This paper presents a simple but powerful systematic approach to reducing the complexity of individual components of such models. It makes it possible to combine human engineering intuition with machine learning and arrive at comprehensive and accurate models. As an example, a simple steady-state heat loss of buried pipes is extended with dynamics observed in a much more complex model. The results show that the process converges quickly toward reasonable solutions. The new auto-generated model performs 5 × 104 times faster than its complex equivalent while preserving essentially the same accuracy. This approach has great potential to enhance the development of fast predictive models not just for district heating. Only open-source software was used, while OpenModelica, Python, and FEniCS were predominantly used. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the SDEWES 2020 Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems)
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13 pages, 2952 KiB  
Article
Research on Estimation Method of Fuel Cell Health State Based on Lumped Parameter Model
by Xueshuang Ren, Xin Zhang, Teng Teng and Congxin Li
Energies 2020, 13(23), 6425; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13236425 - 4 Dec 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2240
Abstract
The increasingly serious environmental pollution and the shortage of social energy have promoted the rapid development of fuel cell vehicles. The major factor which limits the commercialization of fuel cell vehicles is durability. Accurately estimating the state and parameters of a fuel cell [...] Read more.
The increasingly serious environmental pollution and the shortage of social energy have promoted the rapid development of fuel cell vehicles. The major factor which limits the commercialization of fuel cell vehicles is durability. Accurately estimating the state and parameters of a fuel cell is critical to extending the life of the fuel cell. To address this challenge, we extended a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) lumped parameter model and incorporated new algorithms that are essential to estimate the health of the fuel cell in a range-extended fuel cell car. The unscented Kalman filter (UKF) algorithm has been used to estimate the ohmic internal resistance of the fuel cell in real time. By using the unscented transformation (UT) method, the linearization of the nonlinear state equation is avoided, and the filtering accuracy is improved without increasing the complexity of the system. By comparing simulation and experimental results, the feasibility and accuracy of the algorithm in this paper are further verified. This method has high estimation accuracy and is suitable for an embedded system. The research of this method is an important basis for improving the control strategy of fuel cell vehicles. Reasonable use of fuel cells can extend battery life, and this method is of great significance to the commercialization of fuel cell vehicles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the SDEWES 2020 Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems)
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18 pages, 1344 KiB  
Article
Expenditure-Based Indicators of Energy Poverty—An Analysis of Income and Expenditure Elasticities
by Johannes Thema and Florin Vondung
Energies 2021, 14(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14010008 - 22 Dec 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3293
Abstract
Energy poverty is high up on national and European Union policy agendas. A number of possible indicators to measure the issue have been identified in the literature, but comparable data with European coverage is scarce. The EU Commission thus proposes four independent indicators [...] Read more.
Energy poverty is high up on national and European Union policy agendas. A number of possible indicators to measure the issue have been identified in the literature, but comparable data with European coverage is scarce. The EU Commission thus proposes four independent indicators on the “EU Energy Poverty Observatory” based on self-reported items from the pan-European surveys on income and living conditions (SILC) and household budgets (HBS). It is of increasing public interest to analyse social impacts of energy policies, and quantify energy poverty indicators also from modelling. This paper first shortly outlines how the expenditure-based indicators using HBS micro data may be directly linked to existing macroeconomic models through their defining variables (energy expenditure and income). As endogenous modelling based on micro data is difficult, the link may be country-specific elasticities. The main contribution of the paper is a systematic in-depth sensitivity analysis of the two indicators to changes in income and energy expenditure following varying patterns in the underlying distributions of the micro data. The results may be used by future soft links to models. The results display sometimes counterintuitive effects. We find that whether these indicators increase/decrease after a change of income or energy expenditure largely depends on the specific country-wise income and energy expenditure distribution between households on a micro-level. Due to their definition, the examined indicators are especially sensitive, when income changes alter the indicator threshold values, which in these cases are the median values in underlying distributions. We discuss these findings and relate them to several indicator shortcomings and potential remedies through changes in indicator definition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the SDEWES 2020 Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems)
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24 pages, 6261 KiB  
Article
Regional Energy Transition: An Analytical Approach Applied to the Slovakian Coal Region
by Hana Gerbelová, Amanda Spisto and Sergio Giaccaria
Energies 2021, 14(1), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14010110 - 28 Dec 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3599
Abstract
This study presents an analytical framework supporting coal regions in a strategy toward the clean energy transition. The proposed approach uses a combination of value chain analysis and energy sector analysis that enables a comprehensive assessment considering local specificities. Its application to a [...] Read more.
This study presents an analytical framework supporting coal regions in a strategy toward the clean energy transition. The proposed approach uses a combination of value chain analysis and energy sector analysis that enables a comprehensive assessment considering local specificities. Its application to a case study of the Slovakian region Upper Nitra demonstrates practical examples of opportunities and challenges. The value chain analysis evaluates the coal mining industry, from coal extraction to electricity generation, in terms of jobs and business that are at risk by the closure of the coal mines. The complementary energy system analysis focuses on diversification of the energy mix, environmental impacts, and feasibility assessment of alternative energy technologies to the coal combusting sources. The results show a net positive cost benefit for all developed scenarios of replacing the local existing coal power plant. Although the installation of a new geothermal plant is estimated to be the most expensive option from our portfolio of scenarios, it presents the highest CO2 reduction in the electricity generation in Slovakia—34% less compare to the system employing the existing power plant. In addition, the development of a new industrial polo around deep geothermal technology can boost the economic activity in the region by attracting investments in companies providing geological exploration services, transferring the local knowledge from the coal mining industry into an emerging sector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the SDEWES 2020 Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems)
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15 pages, 887 KiB  
Article
Towards a More Realistic Cost–Benefit Analysis—Attempting to Integrate Transaction Costs and Energy Efficiency Services
by Thomas Adisorn, Lena Tholen, Johannes Thema, Hauke Luetkehaus, Sibylle Braungardt, Katja Huenecke and Katja Schumacher
Energies 2021, 14(1), 152; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14010152 - 30 Dec 2020
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3028
Abstract
In order to calculate the financial return of energy efficiency measures, a cost–benefit analysis (CBA) is a proven tool for investors. Generally, however, most CBAs for investors have a narrow focus, which is—simply speaking—on investment costs compared with energy cost savings over the [...] Read more.
In order to calculate the financial return of energy efficiency measures, a cost–benefit analysis (CBA) is a proven tool for investors. Generally, however, most CBAs for investors have a narrow focus, which is—simply speaking—on investment costs compared with energy cost savings over the life span of the investment. This only provides part of the full picture. Ideally, a comprehensive or extended CBA would take additional benefits as well as additional costs into account. The objective of this paper is to reflect upon integrating into a CBA two important cost components: transaction costs and energy efficiency services—and how they interact. Even though this concept has not been carried out to the knowledge of the authors, we even go a step further to try to apply this idea. In so doing, we carried out a meta-analysis on relevant literature and existing data and interviewed a limited number of energy experts with comprehensive experience in carrying out energy services. Even though data is hardly available, we succeeded in constructing three real-world cases and applied an extended CBA making use of information gathered on transaction costs and energy services costs. We were able to show that, despite these additional cost components, the energy efficiency measures are economically viable. Quantitative data was not available on how energy services reduce transaction costs; more information on this aspect could render our results even more positive. Even though empirical and conceptual research must intensify efforts to design an even more comprehensive CBA, these first-of-its-kind findings can counterargue those that believe energy efficiency is not worth it (in monetary terms) due to transaction costs or energy services costs. In fact, this is good news for energy efficiency and for those that seek to make use of our findings to argue in favor of taking up energy efficiency investments in businesses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the SDEWES 2020 Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems)
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33 pages, 5609 KiB  
Article
Towards Fossil Free Cities—A Supermarket, Greenhouse & Dwelling Integrated Energy System as an Alternative to District Heating: Amsterdam Case Study
by Nick ten Caat, Luuk Graamans, Martin Tenpierik and Andy van den Dobbelsteen
Energies 2021, 14(2), 347; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14020347 - 9 Jan 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4031
Abstract
The municipality of Amsterdam has set stringent carbon emission reduction targets: 55% by 2030 and 95% by 2050 for the entire metropolitan area. One of the key strategies to achieve these goals entails a disconnection of all households from the natural gas supply [...] Read more.
The municipality of Amsterdam has set stringent carbon emission reduction targets: 55% by 2030 and 95% by 2050 for the entire metropolitan area. One of the key strategies to achieve these goals entails a disconnection of all households from the natural gas supply by 2040 and connecting them to the existing city-wide heat grid. This paper aims to demonstrate the value of considering local energy potentials at the city block level by exploring the potential of a rooftop greenhouse solar collector as a renewable alternative to centralized district heating. An existing supermarket and an ATES component complete this local energy synergy. The thermal energy balance of the three urban functions were determined and integrated into hourly energy profiles to locate and quantify the simultaneous and mismatched discrepancies between energy excess and demand. The excess thermal energy extracted from one 850 m2 greenhouse can sustain up to 47 dwellings, provided it is kept under specific interior climate set points. Carbon accounting was applied to evaluate the system performance of the business-as-usual situation, the district heating option and the local system. The avoided emissions due to the substitution of natural gas by solar thermal energy do not outweigh the additional emissions consequential to the fossil-based electricity consumption of the greenhouse’s crop growing lights, but when the daily photoperiod is reduced from 16 h to 12 h, the system performs equally to the business-as-usual situation. Deactivating growth lighting completely does make this local energy solution carbon competitive with district heating. This study points out that rooftop greenhouses applied as solar collectors can be a suitable alternative energy solution to conventional district heating, but the absence of growing lights will lead to diminished agricultural yields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the SDEWES 2020 Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems)
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16 pages, 3818 KiB  
Article
Modelling of an Existing Neutral Temperature District Heating Network: Detailed and Approximate Approaches
by Selva Calixto, Marco Cozzini and Giampaolo Manzolini
Energies 2021, 14(2), 379; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14020379 - 12 Jan 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3401
Abstract
This paper deals with the modelling of an existing neutral-temperature district heating network, meaning that the distribution temperature is close to the ambient temperature, with decentralised heat pumps. The considered case is located in Ospitaletto, Italy. Heat sources are given by industrial waste [...] Read more.
This paper deals with the modelling of an existing neutral-temperature district heating network, meaning that the distribution temperature is close to the ambient temperature, with decentralised heat pumps. The considered case is located in Ospitaletto, Italy. Heat sources are given by industrial waste heat at about 25 °C and aquifer wells at about 15 °C. Two models are used to analyse the network: a detailed model able to calculate local values of operating parameters and an approximate model focused on energy balances aggregating all users with a lumped demand. Both models include the behaviour of heat pumps, a feature not available in other district heating modelling tools. An entire year of operation is considered, with an hourly time resolution. Load profiles are provided as inputs, while the main outputs consist of energy balances and primary energy consumptions. The corresponding results are compared, showing a reasonable agreement, where the approximate model underestimates the overall electricity consumptions by about 15% with respect to the detailed model. On the other hand, the different information levels and execution times (the detailed model requires about 30 min to solve the considered network for a full year with hourly time steps, while the approximate model is almost immediate) make the two models suitable for different purposes, like the simulation of control solutions for the detailed one and scenario analysis for the other. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the SDEWES 2020 Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems)
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31 pages, 59966 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Integration of the Traditional Architectural Element Mashrabiya into the Ventilation Strategy for Buildings in Hot Climates
by Abdullah Abdulhameed Bagasi, John Kaiser Calautit and Abdullah Saeed Karban
Energies 2021, 14(3), 530; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14030530 - 20 Jan 2021
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 14258
Abstract
This paper reviewed related research works and developments on the traditional architectural element “mashrabiya” focusing on its history, design and structure, typology, and functions in hot climates. Moreover, the paper assessed the effect of the traditional mashrabiya on the indoor thermal environment and [...] Read more.
This paper reviewed related research works and developments on the traditional architectural element “mashrabiya” focusing on its history, design and structure, typology, and functions in hot climates. Moreover, the paper assessed the effect of the traditional mashrabiya on the indoor thermal environment and thermal comfort in a selected case study building. For this purpose, two similar rooms were investigated in a selected historic building with abundant mashrabiyas located in the Makkah Region, specifically in Old Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The field tests were conducted during a typical hot summer month with two different configurations. The study demonstrated that opening the mashrabiya allowed more airflow into the room during the day and reduced the indoor temperature by up to 2.4 °C as compared to the closed mashrabiya. Besides, the building envelope played an important role in preventing the high fluctuation of the indoor air temperature, where the fluctuation of the rooms air temperature ranged between 2.1 °C and 4.2 °C compared to the outdoor temperature which recorded a fluctuation between 9.4 °C and 16 °C. The data presented here can be used for the future development of the mashrabiya concept and the potential incorporation with passive cooling methods to improve its design according to the requirements of modern buildings in hot climates. Moreover, further studies and tests on mashrabiyas under different climatic conditions are required. Also, the different strategies or materials can be incorporated with mashrabiyas in order to improve its thermal performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the SDEWES 2020 Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems)
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24 pages, 6115 KiB  
Article
Energy and Economic Assessment of Energy Efficiency Options for Energy Districts: Case Studies in Italy and Egypt
by Francesco Calise, Francesco L. Cappiello, Maria Vicidomini, Jian Song, Antonio M. Pantaleo, Suzan Abdelhady, Ahmed Shaban and Christos N. Markides
Energies 2021, 14(4), 1012; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14041012 - 16 Feb 2021
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3833
Abstract
In this research, a technoeconomic comparison of energy efficiency options for energy districts located in different climatic areas (Naples, Italy and Fayoum, Egypt) is presented. A dynamic simulation model based on TRNSYS is developed to evaluate the different energy efficiency options, which includes [...] Read more.
In this research, a technoeconomic comparison of energy efficiency options for energy districts located in different climatic areas (Naples, Italy and Fayoum, Egypt) is presented. A dynamic simulation model based on TRNSYS is developed to evaluate the different energy efficiency options, which includes different buildings of conceived districts. The TRNSYS model is integrated with the plug-in Google SketchUp TRNSYS3d to estimate the thermal load of the buildings and the temporal variation. The model considers the unsteady state energy balance and includes all the features of the building’s envelope. For the considered climatic zones and for the different energy efficiency measures, primary energy savings, pay back periods and reduced CO2 emissions are evaluated. The proposed energy efficiency options include a district heating system for hot water supply, air-to-air conventional heat pumps for both cooling and space heating of the buildings and the integration of photovoltaic and solar thermal systems. The energy actions are compared to baseline scenarios, where the hot water and space heating demand is satisfied by conventional natural gas boilers, the cooling demand is met by conventional air-to-air vapor compression heat pumps and the electric energy demand is satisfied by the power grid. The simulation results provide valuable guidance for selecting the optimal designs and system configurations, as well as suggest guidelines to policymakers to define decarbonization targets in different scenarios. The scenario of Fayoum offers a savings of 67% in primary energy, but the associated payback period extends to 23 years due to the lower cost of energy in comparison to Naples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the SDEWES 2020 Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems)
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16 pages, 694 KiB  
Article
Solar Prosumers in the German Energy Transition: A Multi-Level Perspective Analysis of the German ‘Mieterstrom’ Model
by Raphael Moser, Chun Xia-Bauer, Johannes Thema and Florin Vondung
Energies 2021, 14(4), 1188; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14041188 - 23 Feb 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5778
Abstract
The expansion of photovoltaics in German cities has so far fallen short of expectations. The concept of ‘tenant electricity’ (‘Mieterstrom’ in German), in which tenants of a building are supplied with solar power produced on site, offers great potential here. A [...] Read more.
The expansion of photovoltaics in German cities has so far fallen short of expectations. The concept of ‘tenant electricity’ (‘Mieterstrom’ in German), in which tenants of a building are supplied with solar power produced on site, offers great potential here. A study on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy estimated the number of tenant households with good conditions for solar tenant electricity at 3.8 million. At the same time, the federal tenant electricity promotion scheme has been in place since 2017, but only about 1% of the annual budget has been claimed. The aim of this study is to identify the barriers for and drivers of diffusion of the tenant electricity model. To this end, a qualitative document analysis and a range of semi-structured expert interviews have been conducted. The theoretical framework used to guide the analysis is the multi-level perspective. The main barrier found for tenant electricity diffusion is the legal framework on the regime level, which also leads to high transaction costs of implementing tenant electricity. A social barrier is the inertia of some residents to actively concern themselves with their electricity supply and switch to a tenant electricity contract. Among its drivers are long-term trends such as the increasing electricity demand in urban areas, technical developments like blockchain technology and the increasing deployment of smart meters, and the EU Renewable Energy Directive. As long as the restrictive legal framework prevails, the further diffusion of tenant electricity will remain limited. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the SDEWES 2020 Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems)
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22 pages, 4026 KiB  
Article
A Multi-Objective Life Cycle Optimization Model of an Integrated Algal Biorefinery toward a Sustainable Circular Bioeconomy Considering Resource Recirculation
by Celine Marie A. Solis, Jayne Lois G. San Juan, Andres Philip Mayol, Charlle L. Sy, Aristotle T. Ubando and Alvin B. Culaba
Energies 2021, 14(5), 1416; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14051416 - 4 Mar 2021
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3175
Abstract
Biofuel production from microalgae biomass has been considered a viable alternative to harmful fossil fuels; however, challenges are faced regarding its economic sustainability. Process integration to yield various high-value bioproducts is implemented to raise profitability and sustainability. By incorporating a circular economy outlook, [...] Read more.
Biofuel production from microalgae biomass has been considered a viable alternative to harmful fossil fuels; however, challenges are faced regarding its economic sustainability. Process integration to yield various high-value bioproducts is implemented to raise profitability and sustainability. By incorporating a circular economy outlook, recirculation of resource flows is maximized to yield economic and environmental benefits through waste minimization. However, previous modeling studies have not looked into the opportunity of integrating productivity reduction related to the continuous recirculation and reuse of resources until it reaches its end of life. In this work, a novel multi-objective optimization model is developed centered on an algal biorefinery that simultaneously optimizes cost and environmental impact, adopts the principle of resource recovery and recirculation, and incorporates the life cycle assessment methodology to properly account for the environmental impacts of the system. An algal biorefinery involving end-products such as biodiesel, glycerol, biochar, and fertilizer was used for a case study to validate the optimization model. The generated optimal results are assessed and further analyzed through scenario analysis. It was seen that demand fluctuations and process unit efficiencies have significant effect on the optimal results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the SDEWES 2020 Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems)
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21 pages, 3450 KiB  
Article
Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis as the Key for Decentralized Sustainable Kerosene Production
by Andreas Meurer and Jürgen Kern
Energies 2021, 14(7), 1836; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14071836 - 25 Mar 2021
Cited by 33 | Viewed by 12556
Abstract
Synthetic fuels play an important role in the defossilization of future aviation transport. To reduce the ecological impact of remote airports due to the long-range transportation of kerosene, decentralized on-site production of synthetic paraffinic kerosene is applicable, preferably as a near-drop-in fuel or, [...] Read more.
Synthetic fuels play an important role in the defossilization of future aviation transport. To reduce the ecological impact of remote airports due to the long-range transportation of kerosene, decentralized on-site production of synthetic paraffinic kerosene is applicable, preferably as a near-drop-in fuel or, alternatively, as a blend. One possible solution for such a production of synthetic kerosene is the power-to-liquid process. We describe the basic development of a simplified plant layout addressing the specific challenges of decentralized kerosene production that differs from most of the current approaches for infrastructural well-connected regions. The decisive influence of the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis on the power-to-liquid (PtL) process is shown by means of a steady-state reactor model, which was developed in Python and serves as a basis for the further development of a modular environment able to represent entire process chains. The reactor model is based on reaction kinetics according to the current literature. The effects of adjustments of the main operation parameters on the reactor behavior were evaluated, and the impacts on the up- and downstream processes are described. The results prove the governing influence of the Fischer–Tropsch reactor on the PtL process and show its flexibility regarding the desired product fraction output, which makes it an appropriate solution for decentralized kerosene production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the SDEWES 2020 Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems)
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