• Energy Research
• 12. Responsible consumption close

This paper presents an approach to the assessment of the Mexican energy system’s evolution under the climate and energy objectives set by the National Climate Change Strategy using an energy optimization model. Some strategic indicators have been chosen to analyze the performance of three integration elements: sustainability, efficiency, and energy security. Two scenarios have been defined in the medium and long-term: the business as usual scenario, with no energy or climate targets, and the National Climate Change Strategy scenario, where clean energy technologies and CO2 emissions objectives are considered. The aim of this work is the analysis of some of those strategic indicators’ evolution using the EUROfusion Times Model. Results show that reaching the strategy targets leads to improvements in the integration elements in the medium and long term. Besides, meeting the CO2 emission limits is achievable in terms of technologies and resources availability but at a high cost, while clean technologies targets are met with no extra costs even in the business as usual scenario.

Abstract A proposal for rational energy saving using wasted heat is showed in the present paper. Thermodynamicmathematical model is presented like an effort for water purification from waste heat. This paper describes computing results of heat transformer operation for water purification using low grade waste heat. Equations, parameters and simplifications used in the model are briefly described. The main parameter of the carried out study is the coefficient of performance (COP) defined for reversed heat pumps and the second main parameter is absorber temperature, both parameters has been showed and correlated between them. Main objective of this work is to show the optimal operating condition for different process which deliver low grade waste heat and requires water purification. Assisted computing simulation was used for obtain these results. The main conclusion is an ecological proposal for optimal recover of low grade waste heat. Many operating conditions are showed in graphical form and discussed for different environment conditions.

A reverse osmosis system driven by photovoltaic energy is an eco-friendly and sustainable way to produce freshwater in rural areas without connection to a power grid and with available brackish water sources. This paper describes a project where a photovoltaic-driven low-pressure reverse osmosis system (LPRO-PV) was designed, tested under laboratory conditions, and installed in Samalayuca, Chihuahua, Mexico, to evaluate the technical feasibility and social impact of this technology. The LPRO-PV system was tested with synthetic water with a salinity of 2921 ± 62.3 mg/L; the maximum freshwater volume produced was 1.8 ± 0.06 m3/day with a salinity value of 91 ± 1.9 mg/L. The LPRO-PV system satisfied the basic freshwater requirements for a local family of three members for one year, including the mobility-restriction period due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The social evaluation analysis reflects the importance of considering the technical aspects derived from the experimental tests, as well as the users’ perception of the performance and operation of the system. As a result of the implementation of this technology and the benefits described by the users, they committed to the maintenance activities required for the LPRO-PV system’s operation. This technology has great potential to produce fresh water in arid and isolated regions with high-salinity groundwater sources, thus fulfilling the human right to safe and clean drinking water.

Abstract The market of energy production coming from geothermal energy is growing around the world. However, in some countries little attention is given to the life cycle environmental impacts of this industrial sector. In addition to the available work presented in previous reviews about this matter, this paper provides an updated review of life cycle environmental studies for the geothermal power generation. For the first time, these results have been compiled by energy conversion technology: dry steam, binary cycle, single flash, and double flash, including the generation pilot projects of enhanced geothermal systems. The analysis of the review shows that the environmental impacts are evaluated by considering from 1 to 18 impact categories commonly used in life cycle assessment (LCA). These impacts are mainly affected by: (i) reservoir characteristics; (ii) geothermal fluid chemistry; (iii) power generation technology; (iv) type of emissions of the life cycle inventory; and (v) data availability. Most of the LCA studies reported global warming, which is mostly caused by the fuel consumption in the construction and operation stages. A deeper analysis of the life cycle environmental impacts to promote an environmental sustainable management of geothermal power generation is proposed, which still represents a challenge for this industrial sector.