REDUCING DIESEL DEPENDENCE IN NUNAVUT: INTEGRATING RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES THROUGH POLICY ACTIONS

In the last fifty years, Nunavut has developed a deep dependence on diesel for virtually all of its energy needs, including electricity. This dependence has created a number of economic, environmental and health related challenges in the territory, with an estimated 20% of the territory’s annual budget being spent on energy, thereby limiting the Government of Nunavut’s ability to address other essential infrastructure and societal needs, such as education, nutrition and health care and housing. One solution to address this diesel dependency is the use of renewable energy technologies (RETs), such as wind, solar and hydropower. As such, this thesis explores energy alternatives in Nunavut, and through RETScreen renewable energy simulations, found that solar power and wind power are technically viable options for Nunavut communities and a potentially successful means to offset diesel-generated electricity in Nunavut. However, through this analysis it was also discovered that accurate data or renewable resources are often unavailable for most Nunavut communities. Moreover, through qualitative open-ended interviews, the perspectives of Nunavut residents with regards to developing RETs in Nunavut were explored, and it was found that respondents generally supported the use of renewable energy in their communities, while acknowledging that there still remains a knowledge gap among residents regarding renewable energy, stemming from a lack of communication between the communities, government and the utility company. In addition, the perceived challenges, opportunities and gaps that exist with regards to renewable energy policy and program development were discussed with government policy-makers through further interviews, and it was discovered that often government departments work largely independently of each other rather than collaboratively, creating gaps and oversights in renewable energy policy in Nunavut. Combined, the results of this thesis were used to develop a number of recommended policy actions that could be undertaken by the territorial and federal government to support a shift towards renewable energy in order to develop a sustainable and self-sufficient energy plan in Nunavut. They include: gathering accurate renewable resource data in Nunavut; increasing community consultations on the subject of renewable energy; building strong partnerships with universities, colleges and industry; developing a knowledge sharing network; and finally increasing accessibility to renewable energy programs and policies in Nunavut.

Master Plan for Renewable Energy based Electricity Generation in The Gambia

The principal objective of this paper is to develop a methodology for the formulation of a master plan for renewable energy based electricity generation in The Gambia, Africa. Such a master plan aims to develop and promote renewable sources of energy as an alternative to conventional forms of energy for generating electricity in the country. A tailor-made methodology for the preparation of a 20-year renewable energy master plan focussed on electricity generation is proposed in order to be followed and verified throughout the present dissertation, as it is applied for The Gambia. The main input data for the proposed master plan are (i) energy demand analysis and forecast over 20 years and (ii) resource assessment for different renewable energy alternatives including their related power supply options. The energy demand forecast is based on a mix between Top-Down and Bottom-Up methodologies. The results are important data for future requirements of (primary) energy sources. The electricity forecast is separated in projections at sent-out level and at end-user level. On the supply side, Solar, Wind and Biomass, as sources of energy, are investigated in terms of technical potential and economic benefits for The Gambia. Other criteria i.e. environmental and social are not considered in the evaluation. Diverse supply options are proposed and technically designed based on the assessed renewable energy potential. This process includes the evaluation of the different available conversion technologies and finalizes with the dimensioning of power supply solutions, taking into consideration technologies which are applicable and appropriate under the special conditions of The Gambia. The balance of these two input data (demand and supply) gives a quantitative indication of the substitution potential of renewable energy generation alternatives in primarily fossil-fuel-based electricity generation systems, as well as fuel savings due to the deployment of renewable resources. Afterwards, the identified renewable energy supply options are ranked according to the outcomes of an economic analysis. Based on this ranking, and other considerations, a 20-year investment plan, broken down into five-year investment periods, is prepared and consists of individual renewable energy projects for electricity generation. These projects included basically on-grid renewable energy applications. Finally, a priority project from the master plan portfolio is selected for further deeper analysis. Since solar PV is the most relevant proposed technology, a PV power plant integrated to the fossil-fuel powered main electrical system in The Gambia is considered as priority project. This project is analysed by economic competitiveness under the current conditions in addition to sensitivity analysis with regard to oil and new-technology market conditions in the future.

Exploring emotional climate in preservice science teacher education

Classroom emotional climates are interrelated with students’ engagement with university courses. Despite growing interest in emotions and emotional climate research, little is known about the ways in which social interactions and different subject matter mediate emotional climates in preservice science teacher education classes. In this study we investigated the emotional climate and associated classroom interactions in a preservice science teacher education class. We were interested in the ways in which salient classroom interactions were related to the emotional climate during lessons centered on debates about science-based issues (e.g., nuclear energy alternatives). Participants used audience response technology to indicate their perceptions of the emotional climate. Analysis of conversation for salient video clips and analysis of non-verbal conduct (acoustic parameters, body movements, and facial expressions) supplemented emotional climate data. One key contribution that this study makes to preservice science teacher education is to identify the micro-processes of successful and unsuccessful class interactions that were associated with positive and neutral emotional climate. The structure of these interactions can inform the practice of other science educators who wish to produce positive emotional climates in their classes. The study also extends and explicates the construct of intensity of emotional climate.

Bioenergy Status of Sharavathi River Basin, Western Ghats, India

Most of the developing countries including India depend heavily on bioenergy and it accounts for about 15% of the global energy usage. Its role in meeting a region’s requirement has increased the interest of assessing the status of biomass availability in a region. The present work deals with the bioenergy status in the Linganamakki reservoir catchment of the Sharavathi river basin, Western Ghats,India, by assessing the energy supply and sector wise energy consumption. The study reveals that majority of the households (92.17%) depend on fuelwood for their domestic energy needs with the per capita fuelwood consumption of 1.2 tonnes/year, which is higher than the national average (0.7 tonnes/year). This higher dependence on fuelwood has contributed to the degradation of forests,resulting in scarcity of bioresources necessitating exploration of viable energy alternatives to meet the growing energy demand.

Geographical Information System Approach for Regional Biogas Potential Assessment

The economic prosperity and quality of life in a region are closely linked to the level of its per capita energy consumption. In India more than 70% of the total population inhabits rural areas and 85-90% of energy requirement is being met by bioresources. With dwindling resources, attention of planners is diverted to viable energy alternatives to meet the rural energy demand. Biogas as fuel is one such alternative, which can be obtained by anaerobic digestion of animal residues and domestic and farm wastes, abundantly available in the countryside. Study presents the techniques to assess biogas potential spatially using GIS in Kolar district, Karnataka State, India. This would help decision makers in selecting villages for implementing biogas programmes based on resource availability. Analyses reveal that the domestic energy requirement of more than 60% population can be met by biogas option. This is based on the estimation of the per capita requirement of gas for domestic purposes and availability of livestock residues.

Structure and dynamics in solid state sodium ion electrolytes based on organic ionic plastic crystals

 The investigation of solid state sodium ion electrolytes based on Organic Ionic Plastic Crystals were carried out for potential use in the electrochemical devices such as batteries.

Análise energética e econômica da produção de leitões na região oeste do Paraná

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Metodologia de planejamento para inserção de geradores fotovoltaicos em redes elétricas isoladas e supridas por geradores a diesel

Fontes renováveis de energia baseadas na geração fotovoltaica (GFV) são alternativas energéticas promissoras para a complementação da geração elétrica convencional e centralizada, como usinas térmicas a diesel que suprem potência para redes elétricas isoladas em cidades e localidades remotas na Amazônia. A alocação e o dimensionamento de geradores para aplicação como geração distribuída (GD) é um problema desafiador, com implicações técnicas e econômicas, relacionadas ao planejamento, projeto e operação da rede e, particularmente, a GFV em função das condições ambientais, principalmente radiação solar e temperatura ambiente. Esta tese apresenta uma metodologia analítica para alocar e dimensionar a potência ativa de unidades de geração fotovoltaica, composta pelo gerador FV integrado ao inversor CC/CA (GDFV) para integração, de forma concentrada ou dispersa em redes isoladas de média tensão, e contempla o atendimento de múltiplos objetivos, melhoria do perfil de tensão da rede, redução das perdas ativas e redução da participação da geração a diesel, proporcionando redução no consumo de óleo diesel e, consequentemente, redução da poluição ambiental. A solução global do método proposto constitui um compromisso em relação a esses objetivos, apresentando ponderações diferenciadas para os mesmos, de acordo com prioridades estabelecidas no planejamento do sistema elétrico sob estudo. Para validação da metodologia proposta, foram modeladas e simuladas as redes de 33 e 69 barras do IEEE e um sistema elétrico isolado, cuja usina térmica a diesel supre alimentação para a cidade de Aveiro-PA, Região Amazônica, obtendo-se como resultados dessas simulações melhoria significativa no perfil de tensão, redução nas perdas ativas e na potência de geração a diesel, de acordo com indicadores técnicos que permitem a avaliação quantitativa da integração da GDFV na rede elétrica.

Desenvolvimento de monitoramento remoto em um sistema híbrido isolado de pequeno porte

Este trabalho visa avaliar as dificuldades e utilidades do monitoramento remoto de um sistema para o atendimento de cargas isoladas da rede elétrica, envolvendo sistemas reais em operação que podem ajudar a identificar os principais fatores que influenciam na vida útil desses dispositivos, tornando possível propor estratégias e tecnologias que melhorem a confiabilidade do sistema, possibilitem uma configuração mais adequada e reduzam os custos globais do sistema ao longo de sua vida útil. Para isso foi incorporado um sistema de monitoramento remoto via LabVIEW a um sistema híbrido isolado insta-lado em flutuante localizada as margens do lago da cidade de Tefé-AM. O sistema de geração foi composto inicialmente por um gerador fotovoltaico (FV) com potência de 2,08 kWp, dois subgeradores 1,04 kWp cada, e depois ampliado para 2,6 Wp mais 350 Wp de geração eólica. Além disso, um banco de acumuladores eletroquímicos com tensão nominal de 24 V e composto por 20 baterias de 150 Ah cada, Dois controladores de carga 24 V / 40 A e um inversor de onda senoidal de 1.500 VA. Resultados de operacionais apresentados neste trabalho ajudam a entender melhor o funcionamento desses sistemas e avaliar as barreiras encontradas no monitoramento remoto dessas unidades. Esse expe-rimento foi realizado em parceria do laboratório do Grupo de Estudos e Desenvolvimento de Alternativas Energéticas na Universidade Federal do Pará com o Núcleo de Inovação tecnológica do Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá.

Planejamento e otimização de sistemas energéticos para gestão econômica e ambiental de cidades

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Mudanças no uso da terra decorrentes da expansão da cultura da cana-de-açúcar na região oeste do estado de São Paulo

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Caracterização de biomassa lignocelulósica para uso em processos térmicos de geração de energia

Pós-graduação em Química - IQ

Study of combustion of different biomass and its atmospheric emissions

One of the energy alternatives that provide utility, flexibility, cleanliness and economy is biomass, such as forest waste (wood) and agricultural (sugarcane bagasse, rice husks, coffee pods, etc.). However, with its increasing supply and use grows also the concern of industries to invest in monitoring and control of emissions into the atmosphere, because during biomass burning are emitted as exhaust gases, fine particles known as particulates, which greatly contribute to the triggering of serious health problems to humans, in addition to the environmental damage. With that, this work aimed to conduct a monitoring of particulate and gaseous pollutants emissions to the atmosphere from the burning of various types of biomass used by industries. The equipment used for sampling were the optical monitor DataRAM 4 and the Unigas3000 + gas sampler. The results showed that biomass coffee pods presented the greatest concentration of particulates (485119 μg m-3) with particle diameters between 0.0602 μm and 0.3502 μm, i.e. the most ultrafine particles, harmful to human health and the environment. The largest emissions of CO and NOx were observed, respectively, for the coffee pods (3500 ppm) and for the rice husk (48 ppm). As for the superior calorific value (PCS), the best of fuel, with higher PCS, was the Eucalyptus grandis.

Cana-de-açúcar e álcool combustível: histórico, sustentabilidade e segurança energética

The cane sugar is important since the early days in the history of the country, following the discovery of Brazil since the colonial period, therefore, the culture has an important role in the Brazilian economy, being one of the main products. In the 1970s with the advent of the economic crisis, geopolitical and the possibility of depletion of oil, countries dependent on imported fuel, sought new energy alternatives. In Brazil, it was decreed in 1975 the creation of the National Alcohol Program - PROALCOOL, who had several years of rising, the increase of distilleries and marketing of cars powered with ethanol blend. Due to the decrease in the price of oil the importance of the program significantly reduced, returning to peak only in 1979, ie, the second phase of the program. Conceived as one of the vectors of the national response to the crisis in oil prices '70s, the program persisted at times rising in others not reaching for more than three decades. Brazil is the second largest ethanol producer, second only to the U.S., where the raw material comes from corn, which becomes a bottleneck biodiesel production because it competes with food production. New technologies developed to increase ethanol production combined with sustainability and economic viability are being held, the principal is the second generation ethanol, known as cellulosic ethanol, ethanol plus third and fourth generation.

As coalizões de defesa e as mudanças na política externa comercial e energética dos Estados Unidos para o etanol em 2011

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)