Arango Hoyos, B. E., Franco Osorio, H., Valencia Gomez, E. K., Guerrero Sanchez, J., Del Canto Palominos, A. P., Larrain, F. A., et al. (2023). Exploring the capture and desorption of CO2 on graphene oxide foams supported by computational calculations. Sci. Rep., 13(1), 14476.
Abstract: In the last decade, the highest levels of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere have been recorded, with carbon dioxide (CO2) being one of the GHGs that most concerns mankind due to the rate at which it is generated on the planet. Given its long time of permanence in the atmosphere (between 100 to 150 years); this has deployed research in the scientific field focused on the absorption and desorption of CO2 in the atmosphere. This work presents the study of CO2 adsorption employing
materials based on graphene oxide (GO), such as GO foams with different oxidation percentages (3.00%, 5.25%, and 9.00%) in their structure, obtained via an environmentally friendly method. The characterization of CO2 adsorption was carried out in a closed system, within which were placed the GO foams and other CO2 adsorbent materials (zeolite and silica gel). Through a controlled chemical reaction, production of CO2 was conducted to obtain CO2 concentration curves inside the system and calculate from these the efficiency, obtained between 86.28 and 92.20%, yield between 60.10 and 99.50%, and effectiveness of CO2 adsorption of the materials under study. The results obtained suggest that GO foams are a promising material for carbon capture and the future development of a new clean technology, given their highest CO2 adsorption efficiency and yield.
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Nasirov, S., O'Ryan, R., & Osorio, H. (2020). Decarbonization Tradeoffs: A Dynamic General Equilibrium Modeling Analysis for the Chilean Power Sector. Sustainability, 12(19), 19 pp.
Abstract: Medium size developing countries like Chile that commit to decarbonization goals need to carefully assess the trade-offs associated to their intensity and timing, since most of the technologies required will be absorbed, not produced, by these countries. A rapid expansion of renewables in the Chilean energy matrix, mostly thanks to exceptional solar and wind resources, combined with a rapid decrease in the cost of renewable energy technologies, intensified current policy debates to reduce the role of coal, which is the largest source of CO2 emissions in the generation mix. Recently, the main generation companies in Chile made a voluntary commitment to not invest in new coal projects that do not include carbon capture and storage systems. In addition, the Chilean government announced its plans to phase out coal plants completely by 2040. In this context, the aim of this research is to study the economy-wide and emission reduction impacts of different decarbonization paths in the Chilean power sector. For this purpose, we consider dynamic simulations using a new energy-oriented version of the Computable General Equilibrium Model (CGE)- General Equilibrium Model for the Chilean Economy (ECOGEM)-Chile which is soft linked to the bottom-up engineering energy model. The results show the major impacts under both the business as usual (BAU) scenario and the coal phase-out scenario. Additionally, the study discusses to what extent the ambitious decarbonization goals of the Chilean government are coherent with the current technological limitations.
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O'Ryan, R., Nasirov, S., & Osorio, H. (2023). Assessment of the potential impacts of a carbon tax in Chile using dynamic CGE model. J. Clean. Prod., 403, 136694.
Abstract: Carbon taxes have been proposed as a major instrument to mitigate carbon emissions and promote an energy transition to low carbon sources. However, its adoption remains politically challenging, particularly amid rising inflation and energy prices. Despite the need for more aggressive action on carbon mitigation to reach the Paris Agreement goals, few countries in Latin America have adopted carbon taxes and the tax levels are relatively low. A key concern for these countries, is to adequately assess the tradeoffs between stricter emission goals and the potential negative economy wide as well as sectoral and distributive impacts. In this context, in this paper we first propose a step by step approach to enhance an existing dynamic Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model for Chile based on OECD's Green model. The contribution of this research is twofold. Firstly, emission factors are estimated and the development of the electricity sector is aligned with the expectations of decision makers. As a result, credible emission and energy sector development forecasts are generated by the model, that are in line with what policymakers expect to happen based on other bottom-up engineering models. Secondly, this baseline is then used in the CGE model to examine the use of a carbon tax to reach Chile's first Nationally Determined Contribution. The required tax level is determined together with CO2 emissions and the econo-mywide, sectoral and distributive impacts. The results allow concluding about the applicability of carbon taxes and possible complementary measures.
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Osorio, H., Nasirov, S., Agostini, C. A., & Silva, C. (2019). Assessing the economic viability of energy storage systems in the Chilean electricity system: An empirical analysis from arbitrage revenue perspectives. J. Renew. Sustain. Energy, 11(1), 015901.
Abstract: The emergence of high penetration rates of renewable energies in power systems presents a serious challenge in energy generation and load balance maintenance to ensure power network stability and reliability. Energy Storage Systems (ESSs) could play a relevant role in facing these challenges, as the technologies have passed the demo and prototype phases to a wide market implementation phase. The only remaining barrier for their implementation is their cost, but even this barrier is quickly disappearing. In this paper, we address the financial feasibility of storage technologies in electricity systems. In particular, we evaluate whether such technologies are economically sustainable and how far they are from becoming viable. For this purpose, we consider the Chilean electricity system and evaluate the maximum possible arbitrage revenues that could be achieved under ESS through benefiting from energy time shift, diminishing of transmission losses, and transmission upgrade deferral. The results show that the arbitrage revenues are still below the cost of storage systems. Further improvement in storage efficiency or a decrease in the cost of storage systems is still needed to make this type of investment financially viable in the near future.
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