| 1. |
- Gustavsson, Leif, et al.
(author)
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Framework conditions and market potentials for the diffusion of innovative small-scale wood pellet systems
- 2003
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In: Bioenergy 2003, Proceedings.
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- More than 85% of all dwellings in the European Union are currently being heated by single-house systems. At the same time significant technological progress, cost reductions and increasing consumer awareness related to modern small-scale bioenergy systems (SSBS) have occurred in recent years. Taken together, SSBS could make a substantial contribution to the heat and electricity requirements in the not-too-distant future and, by substituting for less benign energy technologies and fuels, also to a more sustainable energy supply system. Despite the remarkably increased levels of comfort and reduced environmental impact offered by today´s SSBS, however, their widespread diffusion is still at its very beginning. Framework and market conditions and the overall merits of SSBS systems need to be properly understood by policy-makers for a suc-cessful promotion policy addressing these technologies. Technology diffusion models can help to better understand the diffusion dynamics and long-term market potentials, and the effectiveness of drivers and barriers that influence the adoption decision process. This paper first summarises recent technological, socio-economic and institutional trends relevant for SSBS adoption, and reflects on research results from other studies in this field regarding perceived image, comfort levels, reliability, and ways of use of modern small-scale bioenergy technologies in Europe. Second, it contains a limited compara-tive analysis of the direct and indirect external costs and benefits of modern bioenergy-based versus other heating technolo-gies at the small scale. Third, the usefulness of various economic diffusion modelling approaches is discussed, also with a perspective on studying modern SSBS in the light of data availability restrictions
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| 2. |
- Kerres, Bertrand, et al.
(author)
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Economic evaluation of maintenance strategies for wind turbines : a stochastic analysis
- 2015
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In: IET Renewable Power Generation. - : Institution of Engineering and Technology. - 1752-1416 .- 1752-1424. ; 9:7, s. 766-774
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The authors develop a stochastic model for assessing the life-cycle cost and availability of wind turbinesresulting from different maintenance scenarios, with the objective to identify the most cost-effective maintenancestrategy. Using field-data-based reliability models, the wind turbine – in terms of reliability – is modelled as a serialconnection of the most critical components. Both direct cost for spare parts, labour and access to the turbine, as wellas indirect cost from production losses are explicitly taken into account. The model is applied to the case of a VestasV44–600 kW wind turbine. Results of a reliability-centred maintenance analysis of this wind turbine are used to selectthe most critical wind turbine components and to identify possible maintenance scenarios. This study reveals thatcorrective maintenance is the most cost-effective maintenance strategy for the gearbox and the generator of the V44turbine, while the cost benefit of condition-based maintenance using online condition-monitoring systems increaseswith higher electricity price, turbine capacity and remoteness of sites.
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| 3. |
- Mahapatra, Krushna, 1974-, et al.
(author)
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Bioenergy innovations: the case of wood pellet systems in Sweden
- 2007
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In: Technology Analysis & Strategic Management. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0953-7325 .- 1465-3990. ; 19:1, s. 99-125
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In the context of global warming and dependence on fossil fuels, modern bioenergy systems have evolved with a large global potential. Small-scale pellet heating systems for space heating of detached houses is one application of bioenergy technology. In Sweden, such systems have advantages over oil-fired and electric boiler systems in terms of the total lifecycle heating cost to consumers. However, the diffusion of this technology into the market has hitherto been rather slow. By combining an extended configuration cycle model with a dynamic multi-level perspective on system innovation, we have studied the factors involved in the diffusion of such systems in Sweden. The results indicate that investment cost may not be the major issue, but that other factors such as annual fuel cost of heating, lack of information, dissatisfaction of early adopters, and technology lock-in are among the most important factors.
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| 4. |
- Saunders, Harry D., et al.
(author)
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Energy Efficiency : What Has Research Delivered in the Last 40 Years?
- 2021
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In: Annual Review of Environment and Resources. - : Annual Reviews. - 1543-5938 .- 1545-2050. ; 46, s. 135-165
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This article presents a critical assessment of 40 years of research that may be brought under the umbrella of energy efficiency, spanning different aggregations and domains-from individual producing and consuming agents to economy-wide effects to the role of innovation to the influence of policy. After 40 years of research, energy efficiency initiatives are generally perceived as highly effective. Innovation has contributed to lowering energy technology costs and increasing energy productivity. Energy efficiency programs in many cases have reduced energy use per unit of economic output and have been associated with net improvements in welfare, emission reductions, or both. Rebound effects at the macro level still warrant careful policy attention, as they may be nontrivial. Complexity of energy efficiency dynamics calls for further methodological and empirical advances, multidisciplinary approaches, and granular data at the service level for research in this field to be of greatest societal benefit.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Yang, Ying
(author)
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The arrival of the tipping point of solar photovoltaic technology
- 2021
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology has become well-established for addressing both greenhouse gas emission reductions and regional air pollution. Rapid developments within the solar PV sector are still facing various technical barriers, economic impediments, and institutional barriers. The technical system innovations and their uses in society co-evolve with the engagement of multi-actors between scientific communities, users, investors, policymakers, and other stakeholders. Therefore, a holistic and interdisciplinary approach is called to analyze the complexities and solve the issues. This doctoral thesis takes a social science perspective in conjunction with technical considerations. China is a major producer and market for solar PV. But it is still not clear that how economically competitive solar PV electricity is, compared with the traditional coal-fired power generation without subsidies. Compared with China, the energy transition in Sweden has been progressively proceeding, which enables it to build a low-carbon economy with the lowest share of fossil fuels in the primary energy supply. An interesting part is to explore how solar PV applications, along with smart city transformation, change the electricity market logic with the emerging of new actors. Further, it is vital to assess the potential availability of solar applications for policymaking and grid accommodation. In this thesis, economic feasibility, grid party capability, and investment values in the market of China are modeled, calculated, and analyzed. The geographical and technical potential of solar PV applications is explored in Sweden. Also, based on a Service-Dominant logic perspective, the new players and their roles in the transformation of smart cities are explored, using the Swedish electricity market as an example. The results of the grid parity analysis show that distributed solar PV projects have reached a tipping point of cost-effectiveness, when solar PV can be guaranteed to be competitive with conventional power sources in the context of a subsidy-free in China. This also implies a gradual replacement of currently operating coal power plants. The investment return examination shows that profitability levels vary from city to city, taking into account local resource endowments and local economic conditions. By highlighting the flexibility issues associated with integrating a higher percentage of solar power, key performance indicators are presented to assess the performance of current individual technology components and combined system modules. Zooming out to the macro level, we show the theoretical explanation of how the Swedish electricity market is being changed by renewable energies and the emergence of new actors.
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