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PhD Thesis - Energy Systems Research Unit - University of Strathclyde

PhD Thesis - Energy Systems Research Unit - University of Strathclyde

PhD Thesis - Energy Systems Research Unit - University of Strathclyde

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Abstract<br />

The global requirement for sustainable energy provision will become<br />

increasingly important over the next fifty years as the environmental effects <strong>of</strong><br />

fossil fuel use become apparent. Therefore, the issues surrounding integration<br />

<strong>of</strong> renewable energy supplies need to be considered carefully. The focus <strong>of</strong> this<br />

work was the development <strong>of</strong> a decision support framework that will aid the<br />

design <strong>of</strong> sustainable energy systems for the supply <strong>of</strong> electricity, heat, hot water<br />

and fuel for transportation.<br />

Issues requiring consideration in high percentage renewable energy systems<br />

include the reliability <strong>of</strong> the supply when intermittent sources <strong>of</strong> electricity are<br />

being used, and the subsequent necessity for storage and back-up generation. In<br />

order to allow the modelling <strong>of</strong> realistic integrated systems that supply the total<br />

energy needs <strong>of</strong> an area, the production <strong>of</strong> fuels derived from biomass and waste<br />

and their use in a variety <strong>of</strong> different plant types (e.g. vehicles, engines, turbines,<br />

fuel cells, electrolysers, heating and hot water storage systems) is an important<br />

consideration. The temporal nature <strong>of</strong> both intermittent electricity and derived<br />

fuel supplies must be taken into account in any analysis.<br />

Existing demand and supply matching s<strong>of</strong>tware has been enhanced to allow the<br />

full analysis described. Generic algorithms have been developed to allow the<br />

behaviour <strong>of</strong> a comprehensive list <strong>of</strong> plant types and methods for producing<br />

derived fuels to be modelled, which require only available process and<br />

manufacturers’ data. The program is flexible, generic and easy to use, allowing<br />

a variety <strong>of</strong> supply strategies to be analysed. This has been shown through the<br />

study <strong>of</strong> a small Scottish island, which highlights the importance <strong>of</strong> derived fuel<br />

production and use.<br />

This work has succeeded in developing a more complete tool for analysing the<br />

feasibility <strong>of</strong> integrated renewable energy systems. This will allow informed<br />

decisions to be made about the technical feasibility <strong>of</strong> supply mix and control<br />

strategies, plant type and sizing, suitable fuel production, and fuel and energy<br />

storage sizing, for any given area and range <strong>of</strong> supply options.<br />

3

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