Sri Lanka
Recent Progress and Approaches on Transition Metal Chalcogenides for Hydrogen Production
Dec 2021
Publication
Development of efficient and affordable photocatalysts is of great significance for energy production and environmental sustainability. Transition metal chalcogenides (TMCs) with particle sizes in the 1–100 nm have been used for various applications such as photocatalysis photovoltaic and energy storage due to their quantum confinement effect optoelectronic behavior and their stability. In particular TMCs and their heterostructures have great potential as an emerging inexpensive and sustainable alternative to metal-based catalysts for hydrogen evolution. Herein the methods used for the fabrication of TMCs characterization techniques employed and the different methods of solar hydrogen production by using different TMCs as photocatalyst are reviewed. This review provides a summary of TMC photocatalysts for hydrogen production.
The Implications of Ambitious Decarbonisation of Heat and Road Transport for Britain’s Net Zero Carbon Energy Systems
Oct 2021
Publication
Decarbonisation of heating and road transport are regarded as necessary but very challenging steps on the pathway to net zero carbon emissions. Assessing the most efficient routes to decarbonise these sectors requires an integrated view of energy and road transport systems. Here we describe how a national gas and electricity transmission network model was extended to represent multiple local energy systems and coupled with a national energy demand and road transport model. The integrated models were applied to assess a range of technologies and policies for heating and transport where the UK’s 2050 net zero carbon emissions target is met. Overall annual primary energy use is projected to reduce by between 25% and 50% by 2050 compared to 2015 due to ambitious efficiency improvements within homes and vehicles. However both annual and peak electricity demands in 2050 are more than double compared with 2015. Managed electric vehicle charging could save 14TWh/year in gas-fired power generation at peak times and associated emissions whilst vehicle-to-grid services could provide 10GW of electricity supply during peak hours. Together managed vehicle charging and vehicle-to-grid supplies could result in a 16% reduction in total annual energy costs. The provision of fast public charging facilities could reduce peak electricity demand by 17GW and save an estimated £650 million annually. Although using hydrogen for heating and transport spreads the hydrogen network costs between homeowners and motorists it is still estimated to be more costly overall compared to an all-electric scenario. Bio-energy electricity generation plants with carbon capture and storage are required to drive overall energy system emissions to net zero utilisation of which is lowest when heating is electrified and road transport consists of a mix of electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. The analysis demonstrates the need for an integrated systems approach to energy and transport policies and for coordination between national and local governments.
Investigating the Impact of Economic Uncertainty on Optimal Sizing of Grid-Independent Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems
Aug 2021
Publication
One of the many barriers to decarbonization and decentralization of the energy sector in developing countries is the economic uncertainty. As such this study scrutinizes economics of three grid-independent hybrid renewable-based systems proposed to co-generate electricity and heat for a small-scale load. Accordingly the under-study systems are simulated and optimized with the aid of HOMER Pro software. Here a 20-year average value of discount and inflation rates is deemed a benchmark case. The techno-economic-environmental and reliability results suggest a standalone solar/wind/electrolyzer/hydrogen-based fuel cell integrated with a hydrogen-based boiler system is the best alternative. Moreover to ascertain the impact of economic uncertainty on optimal unit sizing of the nominated model the fluctuations of the nominal discount rate and inflation respectively constitute within the range of 15–20% and 10–26%. The findings of economic uncertainty analysis imply that total net present cost (TNPC) fluctuates around the benchmark value symmetrically between $478704 and $814905. Levelized energy cost varies from an amount 69% less than the benchmark value up to two-fold of that. Furthermore photovoltaic (PV) optimal size starts from a value 23% less than the benchmark case and rises up to 55% more. The corresponding figures for wind turbine (WT) are respectively 21% and 29%. Eventually several practical policies are introduced to cope with economic uncertainty.
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