| Home | << 1 >> |
|
Girard, A., Roberts, C., Simon, F., & Ordonez, J. (2019). Solar electricity production and taxi electrical vehicle conversion in Chile. J. Clean Prod., 210, 1261–1269.
Abstract: Carbon emissions from the Chilean public transport sector have doubled between 2000 and 2013. Thus, the need to find alternative clean-air solutions is becoming increasingly critical. With this in mind, this paper addresses a solution to the aforementioned problem by studying the conversion of both taxis and “colectivos” (public taxis with defined routes) into electric vehicles (EV) to be used in the Chilean public transport sector. In Chile, 80% of taxis are Nissan V16s, meaning that all of these vehicles will be replaced and end up in landfills within the next 5-8 years. This study presents an option to give a second life to these vehicles, addressing environmental and financial issues. It compares emissions from the Nissan V16's conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) with an equivalent electric conversion prototype. Furthermore, it analyses the CO2 emissions from the EV that has been fully charged by the Chilean grid as well as one that has been charged by a solar photovoltaic system. A solar recharging station for EV taxis is designed, taking advantage of the high levels of solar radiation in Chile. The results show that EV conversion does not lead to real environmental benefits, in comparison to its ICE equivalent, when it is charged with the grid. However, the results also show a considerable decrease in cost and CO2 emissions per km travelled when using solar energy to charge the batteries. Future challenges include identifying solutions to cope with solar intermittence and minimizing CO2 emissions during periods of low radiation. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Electric vehicle; Public transport; CO2 emissions; Solar charging station; Chile
|
|
Nasirov, S., Girard, A., Pena, C., Salazar, F., & Simon, F. (2021). Expansion of renewable energy in Chile: Analysis of the effects on employment. Energy, 226, 120410.
Abstract: Over the last few years, Chile has witnessed an extraordinary energy transformation that has turned the country into one of the largest renewable energy markets in South America. This study examines the impact of renewable energy (RE) technologies from the perspective of job creation opportunities in Chile. For this purpose, the study introduces an analytical assessment model that will be used to assess the direct impacts on employment generated by several policy scenarios aimed at reducing CO2 emissions. The direct impacts on employment in Chile were calculated up to 2026 according to three energy scenarios constructed using the SWITCH-Chile energy model. The empirical results show that RE technologies (solar PV, wind, hydro) can generate more employment per unit of energy than coal and natural gas. According to the scenario projecting the largest reduction of CO2 emissions, which features a dominant participation of renewable energies, up to 20,958 jobs can be created in the Chilean energy sector by 2026. The proposed model can be used to design energy programs as a direct stimulus of employment in the RE industry. Furthermore, policy recommendations are provided based on the results to effectively address changes in employment perspectives for the RE industry. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: JOB CREATION; TECHNOLOGIES; POWER; WIND
|
|
Parrado, C., Girard, A., Simon, F., & Fuentealba, E. (2016). 2050 LCOE (Levelized Cost of Energy) projection for a hybrid PV (photovoltaic)-CSP (concentrated solar power) plant in the Atacama Desert, Chile. Energy, 94, 422–430.
Abstract: This study calculates the LCOE (Levelized Cost of Energy) on the PSDA (Atacama Solar Platform) for a solar-solar energy mix with the objective of evaluate new options for continuous energy delivery. LCOE was calculated for three 50 MW (megawatt) power plants: A PV (photovoltaic), a CSP (concentrated solar power) plant with 15 h TES (thermal energy storage) and a hybrid PV-CSP plant constituted with 20 MWp of PV and 30 MW of CSP with 15 h TES. Calculations present two scenario projections (Blue Map and Roadmap) until 2050 for each type of plant. Due to the huge solar resource available in northern Chile, the PV-CSP hybrid plant results to be a feasible option for electricity generation, as well as being effectively able to meet electricity demand profile of the mining industry present in the area. This type of energy could mitigate long-term energy costs for the heavy mining activity, as well as the country CO2 emissions. Findings point out that PV-CSP plants are a feasible option able to contribute to the continuous delivery of sustainable electricity in northern Chile. Moreover, this option can also contribute towards electricity price stabilization, thus benefiting the mining industry, as well as reducing Chile's carbon footprint. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: LCOE; PV; CSP; Mining industry; Solar resource; Hybrid
|
|
Simon, F., Girard, A., Krotki, M., & Ordonez, J. (2021). Modelling and simulation of the wood biomass supply from the sustainable management of natural forests. J. Clean. Prod., 282, 124487.
Abstract: Wood biomass is an important energy resource, which can contribute to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels. The research undertakes the microeconomic approach to estimate the technical availability and operational costs of woody biomass production with a higher level of precision than other models present in the literature, as it considers the entire supply chain of the sustainable management of natural forests. This study introduces a tool, which is applied to estimate supply curves and costs of wood biomass extraction from natural forests in the 7th Region of Chile. The simulation indicates that 531,015 tons/year of wood biomass is available in natural forests of the Region under study, with extraction costs ranging from 24.51 to 56.68 US$/ton, or an average total cost of 40.97 US$/ton. The parametric analysis revealed that the maximum admissible distance to the nearest transport route and the transportation costs are the two most influential variables in the estimation of wood biomass supply and cost. Reducing the admissible distance from 5 km to 1 km reduced the availability of biomass by 80%, while a variation of +/- 50% of transportation costs translated into +/- 18.3% variation of total extraction costs.
The proposed method can be used to identify the technical-economic potential of wood biomass from natural forests in any commune, province, region, or country; as it has the flexibility to allow tests with multiple scenarios and parameters depending on the specific characteristics of the area to be analysed. Essentially, the purpose of this tool is to serve the assessment processes of the identification of new wood biomass resources, allowing decision makers to increase the potential of sustainable and cost-effective woody biomass for heat and electricity generation, and at the same time reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the dependence on fossil fuels. |
|
Simon, F., Ordonez, J., Girard, A., & Parrado, C. (2019). Modelling energy use in residential buildings: How design decisions influence final energy performance in various Chilean climates. Indoor Built Environ., 28(4), 533–551.
Abstract: To reduce the energy consumption in buildings, there is a demand for tools that identify significant parameters of energy performance. The work presents the development and validation of a simulation model, called MEEDI, and graphical figures for the parametric sensitivity investigation of energy performance in different climates in Chile. The MEEDI is based on the ISO 13790 monthly calculation method of building energy use with two improved procedures for the calculation of the heat transfer through the floor and the solar heat gains. The graphical figures illustrate the effects of climate conditions, envelope components and window size and orientation on the energy consumption. The MEEDI program can contribute to find the best solution to increase energy efficiency in residential buildings. It can be adapted for various parameters, making it useful for future projects. The economic viability of specific measures for building envelope materials was analysed. Payback periods range from 5 to 27 years depending on the location and energy scenario. The study illustrates how building design decisions can have a significant impact on final energy performance. With simple envelope components modification, valuable energy gains and carbon emission reductions can be achieved in a cost-effective manner in Chile.
|
|
Simon, F., Ordonez, J., Reddy, T. A., Girard, A., & Muneer, T. (2016). Developing multiple regression models from the manufacturer's ground-source heat pump catalogue data. Renew. Energy, 95, 413–421.
Abstract: The performance of ground-source heat pumps (GSHP), often expressed as Power drawn and/or the COP, depends on several operating parameters. Manufacturers usually publish such data in tables for certain discrete values of the operating fluid temperatures and flow rates conditions. In actual applications, such as in dynamic simulations of heat pump system integrated to buildings, there is a need to determine equipment performance under operating conditions other than those listed. This paper describes a simplified methodology for predicting the performance of GSHPs using multiple regression (MR) models as applicable to manufacturer data. We find that fitting second-order MR models with eight statistically significant x-variables from 36 observations appropriately selected in the manufacturer catalogue can predict the system global behavior with good accuracy. For the three studied GSHPs, the external prediction error of the MR models identified following the methodology are 0.2%, 0.9% and 1% for heating capacity (HC) predictions and 2.6%, 4.9% and 3.2% for COP predictions. No correlation is found between residuals and the response, thus validating the models. The operational approach appears to be a reliable tool to be integrated in dynamic simulation codes, as the method is applicable to any GSHP catalogue data. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
|
|
Simon, F., Ruiz-Valero, L., Girard, A., & Galleguillos, H. (2023). Experimental and Numerical Analysis of a PCM-Integrated Roof for Higher Thermal Performance of Buildings. J. Therm. Sci., Early Access.
Abstract: Phase change materials (PCMs) designate materials able to store latent heat. PCMs change state from solid to liquid over a defined temperature range. This process is reversible and can be used for thermo-technical purposes. The present paper aims to study the thermal performance of an inorganic eutectic PCM integrated into the rooftop slab of a test room and analyze its potential for building thermal management. The experiment is conducted in two test rooms in Antofagasta (Chile) during summer, fall, and winter. The PCM is integrated into the rooftop of the first test room, while the roof panel of the second room is a sealed air cavity. The work introduces a numerical model, which is built using the finite difference method and used to simulate the rooms' thermal behavior. Several thermal simulations of the PCM room are performed for other Chilean locations to evaluate and compare the capability of the PCM panel to store latent heat thermal energy in different climates. Results show that the indoor temperature of the PCM room in Antofagasta varies only 21.1 degrees C +/- 10.6 degrees C, while the one of the air-panel room varies 28.3 degrees C +/- 18.5 degrees C. Under the experiment's conditions, the PCM room's indoor temperature observes smoother diurnal fluctuations, with lower maximum and higher minimum indoor temperatures than that of the air-panel room. Thermal simulations in other cities show that the PCM panel has a better thermal performance during winter, as it helps to maintain or increase the room temperature by some degrees to reach comfort temperatures. This demonstrates that the implementation of such PCM in the building envelope can effectively reduce space heating and cooling needs, and improve indoor thermal comfort in different climates of Chile.
|