Benchmarking Energy Transitions: An Irish Case Study

The challenges of a low carbon energy transition have now been recognized by most nation states, each of whom have responded with differing visions, strategies and programmes, with variable veracity and effectiveness. Given the complexity of each country’s energy system (and sub-systems such as mobility, food etc), the differing sources and wealth of indigenous energy resources, the variable legacy of the fossil fuel regime and differing capacity to respond to global shifts in energy markets, it is clear that each country will respond to this challenge in very different ways.
This poses difficulties for understanding the extent to which a transition may be taking hold in any territory as simple indicators such as GHG emission data or increases in renewable energy ignore the complex contexts in which transitions take place. Drawing on the results of a study, funded by the Irish Environmental Protection Agency (Characterizing and Catalyzing Transitions) and using the wider theoretical framework of socio-technological transitions, this paper will explore the challenges, virtues and constraints of attempting to ‘benchmark’ the Republic of Ireland’s transition. This will lead to wider observations on the normative nature of benchmarking and a critical review of how we conceptualize the very idea of transition.

Management of public water supply to reduce energy cost and improve wind power uptake

This paper presents a study on the implementation of Real-Time Pricing (RTP) based Demand Side Management (DSM) of water pumping at a clean water pumping station in Northern Ireland, with the intention of minimising electricity costs and maximising the usage of electricity from wind generation. A Genetic Algorithm (GA) was used to create pumping schedules based on system constraints and electricity tariff scenarios. Implementation of this method would allow the water network operator to make significant savings on electricity costs while also helping to mitigate the variability of wind generation.

Management of public water supply to reduce energy cost and improve wind power uptake

This paper presents a study on the implementation of Real-Time Pricing (RTP) based Demand Side Management (DSM) of water pumping at a clean water pumping station in Northern Ireland, with the intention of minimising electricity costs and maximising the usage of electricity from wind generation. A Genetic Algorithm (GA) was used to create pumping schedules based on system constraints and electricity tariff scenarios. Implementation of this method would allow the water network operator to make significant savings on electricity costs while also helping to mitigate the variability of wind generation.

The Islay wave power project: an engineering prospective

The design, construction and subsequent operation of the 75 kW oscillating water column wave power plant on the Isle of Islay has provided a significant insight into the practicality of wave power conversion. The development of wave power plant poses a significant design and construction challenge for not only civil but also mechanical and electrical engineers. The plant must withstand the immense forces imposed during storms, yet efficiently convert the slow cyclic motion of waves into a useful energy source such as electricity and do so at a price competitive with other forms of generation. In addition, the hostile marine environment hampers the construction process and the variability of the wave resource poses problems for electrical control and grid integration. Many sceptics consider wave power conversion to be too difficult, too expensive and too variable to justify the effort and expense necessary to develop this technology. However, the authors contend that with modular wave power systems developed from the practical experience gained with the Islay plant, wave power is a viable technology with a considerable world market potential. However, this technology is still at the early stages of development and will require the construction of a number of different prototypes before there is extensive commercial exploitation.

Expression of the phosphonoalanine-degradative gene cluster from Variovorax sp Pal2 is induced by growth on phosphonoalanine and phosphonopyruvate

The phosphonopyruvate hydrolase (PalA) found in Variovorax sp., Pal2, is a novel carbon-phosphorus bond cleavage enzyme, which is expressed even in the presence of high levels of phosphate, thus permitting phosphonopyruvate to be used as the sole carbon and energy source. Analysis of the regions adjacent to the palA gene revealed the presence of the five structural genes that constitute the 2-amino-3-phosphonopropionic acid (phosphonoalanine)-degradative operon. Reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) experiments demonstrated that all five genes in the operon are transcribed as a single mRNA and that their transcription is induced by phosphonoalanine or phosphonopyruvate. Transcriptional fusions of the regulatory region of the phosphonoalanine degradative operon with the gfp gene were constructed. Expression analysis indicated that the presence of a LysR-type regulator (encoded by the palR gene) is essential for the transcription of the structural genes of the operon. Similar gene clusters were found in the sequenced genomes of six bacterial species from the Alpha-, Beta- and Gammaproteobacteria, and analysis of metagenomic libraries revealed that sequences related to palA are widely spread in the marine environment.

Cloning and characterization of a novel cis-naphthalene dihydrodiol dehydrogenase gene (narB) from Rhodococcus sp NCIMB12038

Rhodococcus sp. NCIMB112038 can utilize naphthalene as its sole carbon and energy source. The gene encoding cis-naphthalene dihydrodiol dehydrogenase (narB) of this strain has been cloned and sequenced. Expression of NCIMB12038 cis-naphthalene dihydrodiol dehydrogenase was demonstrated in Escherichia coli cells. narB encodes a putative protein of 271 amino acids and shares 39% amino acid identity with the cis-naphthalene dihydrodiol dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas putida G7. Comparison of NarB with some putative cis-dihydrodiol dehydrogenases from Rhodococcus species revealed significant differences between these proteins. NarB together with two other proteins forms a new group of cis-dihydrodiol dehydrogenases. (C) 2000 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

The cost of water from an autonomous wave-powered desalination plant

A techno-economic model of an autonomous wave-powered desalination plant is developed and indicates that fresh water can be produced for as little as £0.45/m3. The advantages of an autonomous wave-powered desalination plant are also discussed indicating that the real value of the system is enhanced due to its flexibility for deployment and reduced environmental impact. The modelled plant consists of the Oyster wave energy converter, conventional reverse osmosis membranes and a pressure exchanger–intensifier for energy recovery. A time-domain model of the plant is produced using wave-tank experimentation to calibrate the model of Oyster, manufacturer's data for the model of the reverse osmosis membranes and a hydraulic model of the pressure exchanger–intensifier. The economic model of the plant uses best-estimate cost data which are reduced to annualised costs to facilitate the calculation of the cost of water. Finally, the barriers to the deployment of this technology are discussed, but they are not considered insurmountable.