By Isabelle Heriakian / Published on Thu, 2009-10-29 16:09
This guide presents a methodology based on standard PN-IEC 60354 to check overloading capacity of transformers. Main changes versus standard PN-71/E-81000 are discussed and step by step examples are given. An essential advantage of the recommended methods of verification of overloading capacity of transformers is that the size and cooling modes of transformers are considered.
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By Bruno De Wachter / Published on Tue, 2009-10-27 06:30
California stimulating middle-scale renewable energy projects
California regulators have designed a new market system for stimulating middle-scale renewable energy projects in a competitive way. The main idea is to create a reverse auction market where renewable energy companies can offer their services for green energy projects. The company that offers to sell electricity at the lowest rate wins a particular purchase agreement. Subsequently, the state will pay the developers the feed-in tariff that is sufficient to bring that particular project online.
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By HDK / Published on Thu, 2009-10-22 12:26
This talk will present new methods to model and control the aggregated power demand from a population of thermostatically controlled loads. The control objective is to produce relatively short time scale responses (hourly to sub-hourly) for ancillary services such as load following and regulation. The control signal is applied by manipulation of temperature set points.
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By Guy Kasier / Published on Wed, 2009-10-21 14:19
Once an electrical installation had been installed in a home in the past, that was it. So, when a domestic electrical installation was fitted, it was and in a many cases still is considered to be an unmodifiable fixture. In fact, it has always been quite difficult to make any changes to a classical electrical appliance once it is installed. Fortunately the arrival of integrated home systems means that such flexibility is now available to us (see: Definition of integrated home systems), even if the communications aspect (see: Increasing communication) is, admittedly, still in its infancy.
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By Bruno De Wachter / Published on Tue, 2009-10-20 05:30
Avoiding a high administrative burden
The Australian government’s Department of Climate Change has created a new system of Renewable Energy Credits (REC) for systems up to 1.5 kW. Those small systems are mainly comprised of PV systems, along with small wind and hydroelectric installations. The problem with the former Renewable Energy Certificates system was that the resulting administrative burden for such small systems was too high and the resulting income too low to result in a successful incentive.
In the new RECs system, the energy production is not measured but estimated. The certificates are paid for in advance, at the time the system is purchased, for a lifetime of fifteen years. The production estimation is based on standard figures of mean solar irradiation in the local region. To provide an extra incentive for small systems, this figure is multiplied by 5 for systems installed between June 2009 and June 2012. This multiplier will decrease gradually after 2012 and be set at 1 from June 2015 onwards.
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By Bruno De Wachter / Published on Tue, 2009-10-13 05:30
No effective, affordable, low risk solutions available
If we are able to influence the earth’s CO2 density and climate in a negative way, it seems logical to assume that we are also able to influence it in a positive way. That is the basic idea behind geo-engineering solutions to climate change. Those solutions generally include such ideas as afforestation, CO2 air capture, ocean fertilisation, cloud albedo (using sea water spray to whiten clouds and increase cloud reflectivity), surface albedo (using specifically coloured roofing and paving materials), creating stratospheric sulphur aerosols, and space solar reflectors.
Is CCS geo-engineering?
A recent article on the subject in the Financial Times also includes CO2 capture at the stack ('Carbon Capture and Storage', CCS) among other geo-engineering solutions. This is noteworthy primarily since this solution is generally seen as more realistic. CCS already receives significant amounts of R&D funding, in contrast with the other geo-engineering solutions.
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By Bruno De Wachter / Published on Tue, 2009-10-06 05:30
Focus on PV, CCS, nuclear, hydrogen, biomass, and energy storage
In August, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the delivery of $377 million in funding for 46 new Energy Frontier Research Centres. The centres will be hosted by universities, national laboratories, non-profit organisations, and private companies. The research domains that were chosen offer a good sampling of those technologies the US Department of Energy (DOE) sees as potentially important in the energy landscape of the future. The funded projects are focussed on:
- Improving the efficiency of photovoltaic systems; with particular projects dedicated to hybrid inorganic/organic PV cells and nanometre-sized PV cells
- Advanced nuclear techniques
- Carbon capture and geological storage (CCS)
- Hydrogen, including the production of hydrogen as well as hydrogen fuel cells
- Biomass, including energy-rich plants and the conversion of biomass into chemicals and fuels
- Energy storage systems
- Superconductivity (1 project)
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By Fernando Nuno / Published on Fri, 2009-10-02 09:49
Session 3: Price Regulation
This session explains different forms of price control, including the classical rate of return organisation and more advanced forms of incentive regulation. It will also explain the design criteria for different price control models.
• Major price control models: Rate of return / Cap regulation / Yardstick competition / Sliding scale regulation
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By Fernando Nuno / Published on Fri, 2009-10-02 09:42
SESSION 2: Market Design
This section explains the main properties of different types of electricity markets exhibiting different level of competition and different forms of organisation.
• General market models : vertically integrated companies / single buyer / wholesale competition / retail competition
• Power pools : Price based / Cost based
• Markets with bilateral trade
• Balancing markets
• Power exchanges
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By Fernando Nuno / Published on Fri, 2009-10-02 09:24
This session explains the main tasks of regulation and addresses three main questions: what is regulated, where is it regulated, and how is it regulated.
In addition, we explain how the communication between regulators and regulated companies is organised, and how the regulatory performance is measured.
• General tasks of regulators: Price, Quality, Market functioning
• Areas of regulation
• Scope of regulation
• Methods of regulation
• Institutional questions
• Consultation and communication
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