• Energy Research
• 13. Climate action close

In advanced combined-cycle power plants, significant improvements in the thermodynamic performance are mainly achieved by the development of more efficient gas-turbine systems. This paper evaluates the effect of selected decision variables in the steam system for optimization of Thermal Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (TCCGT) power plant using an iterative exergoeconomic. The design variables were the thermodynamic parameters that establish the configuration both of the steam and gas systems. The design data of an existing plant (Damavand power plant in Tehran-Iran) is used. Two different objective functions are proposed: one minimizes the total cost of production per unit of output, and the other maximizes the total exergetic efficiency. The analysis shows that the total cost of production per unit of output is 2% lower and exergy efficiency is 4% higher with respect to the base case. It demonstrates that selected decision variables have suitable results for the exergy analysis and cost effectiveness. Since, environmental pollution and energy shortage are the two factors limiting the development of the society; nevertheless, this analysis tends to optimally find the design parameters which result in a decrease in the fuel mass flow rate. Also, this reduction (about 5%) in the mass flow rate and increasing exergetic efficiency can decrease the environmental impacts.

One of the most effective measures for building energy conservation is the implementation of energy codes. The building energy codes introduction in Iran started two decades after the first oil crisis in the early 1970s by establishing the building energy conservation regulation called Issue 19. Nowadays, due to some financial and executive barriers, the implementation of Issue 19 is faced with some difficulties. The most critical obstacle is the low price of energy carriers, which lead to high subsidies of energy and the reluctance of the building owners to implement the regulation. The main goal of this paper is the introduction of an innovative financial and executive mechanism for implementation of Issue 19 in both new and existing buildings to achieve sustainability and resiliency. The cost–benefit analysis approach, along with SWOT technique and a comprehensive review of global experiences, was applied to introduce proper financial and executive mechanisms to determine the economic and social aspects of energy conservation programs for implementation of energy saving in buildings. The presented mechanism indicates the role of all different related parties, such as the government, banking system, energy-saving companies, building owners, and municipality, to achieve this goal. The results indicated that with a cost of $10 million, the benefits of implementation of the introduced mechanism are over 5.78 billion dollars.

Abstract The promotion of the adoption of renewable energies in deprived and remote areas can be considered as an important step towards reduction of threats to the loss of biodiversity through community mobilization. One important outcome is mitigation of the deforestation processes through firewood collection. The aim is achievement of sustainable development of the forest biodiversity, awareness raising and the capacity building for execution of similar projects. The social and economical aspects and the obstacles for execution of such project were investigated and guidelines were prepared to facilitate the promotion of renewable energy in similar small communities.

This study aims at identifying the parameters that govern the environmental costs in oil and gas projects. An initial conceptual model was proposed. Next, the costs of environmental management work packages were estimated, separately and were applied in project control tools (WBS/CBS). Then, an environmental parametric cost model was designed to determine the environmental costs and relevant weighting factors. The suggested model can be considered as an innovative approach to designate the environmental indicators in oil and gas projects. The validity of variables was investigated based on Delphi method. The results indicated that the project environmental management’s weighting factor is 0.87% of total project’s weighting factor.

By growing urban population, Iran faces numerous environmental issues and solid waste management is on the top of these problems. Studies showed that a daily average of 700-1000 g of wastes are produced per person in Iran, in which organic waste accounts for a significant amount. On the other hand, hospital waste represents a part of the wastes, which need careful consideration from the environmental point of view. In the present study, the amount, composition, and management of urban and hospital wastes were evaluated in 7 Iranian metropolises, which account for about 30% of the population and produce about 35% of the country wastes. Based on prior surveys, landfill method is the current main method for waste management in these cities, which is generally not completely sanitary and therefore causes many environmental problems. The other common methods for waste management in these cities are composting of organic wastes, and the use of waste conversion methods to energy. However, the latter is ongoing only in Tehran which also includes some limitations. Therefore, the study also evaluated the future perspectives and feasibility of waste-to-energy conversion as a promising economic route for waste disposal.

AbstractIntegrated ethylene oxide/ethylene glycols (EO/EG) plants are prominent energy consumers in the petrochemical sector, particularly concerning high‐pressure steam (HPS) usage which holds the potential for substantial energy savings. This study focuses on an unexplored territory: Examining the impact of EO catalyst type, selectivity, and glycols production capacity on HPS import in a plant in the Pars Special Economic Energy Zone (PSEEZ). Utilizing Python3 for data preprocessing and ordinary least squares linear regression analysis, we evaluate how varying catalyst loads and production scenarios influence HPS import. Regression models are created, encompassing normal and efficient HPS import scenarios, yielding positive outcomes in terms of correlation, mean error percentage, and R2 analysis. Comparing normal and efficient HPS import models highlights potential savings, uncovering opportunities to conserve between 45 and over 200 tonnes per day of HPS. We also explore the plant's HPS behaviour under 1% selectivity and production capacity reductions. Notably, catalyst activity decline markedly escalates HPS import for hybrid catalysts, while selectivity decline decreases HPS import for high‐activity catalysts. The models demonstrate that HPS import is ~150 tonnes per day more sensitive to a 1% change in selectivity compared to production capacity. Moreover, when comparing high activity and hybrid catalyst scenarios in normal and efficient cases, the most substantial HPS import difference arises under conditions of low selectivity, amounting to nearly 200 tonnes per day. Our methodology applies to other EO/EG plants. It is incorporated into our plant's energy management system, enabling continuous monitoring of steam import behaviour relative to catalyst and plant performance.

Abstract In this study, the prospects of energy efficiency potential, clean development mechanism (CDM) and carbon income up to and beyond 2012 are investigated in the petrochemical industries of Iran as a major oil-producing country. This paper is to address four questions of: (1) the GHGs emission in Iranian petrochemical complexes, (2) the most energy-consuming processes, (3) units with the highest energy efficiency potentials and (4) potentials of CDM or similar carbon projects based on post-2012 scenarios. The petrochemical processes are investigated in two categories of non-polymeric and polymeric productions. Based on capital expenditure, economic saving, simple payback period, CO2 equivalent emissions, and the level of technology transfer, the attractiveness of energy efficiency measures is assessed and CDM potentials are investigated. Meanwhile, the impact of the recently deregulation of national energy-prices is examined. The results reveal that the three main non-polymeric (ammonia, urea and methanol) processes in Iran offer the most opportunity for energy efficiency improvement and carbon-market potentials followed by the polymeric processes in units with outdated technology. The studied petrochemical units indicate over 2.53 million tons CO2-eq/year potential reduction in GHGs emission and natural gas conservation of 1100 million-m3/year. Nonetheless, more detailed energy-auditing for the entire Iranian petrochemicals is required for a comprehensive analysis.

Abstract The aim of the present study is to provide an Atlas of IRAN Offshore Renewable Energy Resources (hereafter called ‘the Atlas’) to map out wave and tidal resources at a national scale, extending over the area of the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman. Such an Atlas can provide necessary tools to identify the areas with greatest resource potential and within reach of present technology development. To estimate available tidal energy resources at the site, a two-dimensional tidally driven hydrodynamic numerical model of Persian Gulf was developed using the hydrodynamic model in the MIKE 21 Flow Model (MIKE 21HD), with validation using tidal elevation measurements and tidal stream diamonds from Admiralty charts. The results of the model were used to produce a time series of the tidal stream velocity over the simulation period. Moreover, to assess the potential of the wave energy in this site, a model was developed based on six-hourly data from a third generation ocean wave model (ISWM-Iranian Sea Wave Model) covering the period 1992–2003. To ensure the information provided to the Atlas is managed and maintained most effectively, all the derived marine resource parameters have been captured in a structured database, within a Geographical Information System (GIS), so enabling effective data management, presentation and interrogation.

In recent decades, climate change has been of great concern due to its effect on water level and its impact on aquatic ecosystems. Urmia Lake, the largest inland wetland in Iran, has been shrinking. There is a great con- cern whether it will dry up like the Aral Sea. Therefore, a hydrodynamic model has been developed to simulate the condition of Urmia Lake. The model has been validated using the known annual data on precipitation, evaporation, run off, river discharges and water level which are avail- able for the last 35 years. Different hydrological conditions regarding lake input and output data were tested and water depth was calculated using bathymetry to predict water- level fluctuations in the future. The results predict that the water level will decrease continuously. The lake will be dried up in about 10 years if very dry conditions continue in the region. The drought speed cannot be reduced and there is no potential to develop a water-usage program. Besides, the lake water depth decrease is more slightly, applying alternate wet and dry-period conditions. In some hydrological conditions there is a good potential to con- sider water development projects. The sensitivity analysis of different parameters indicates that the lake is highly sensitive to river discharges, which implies that the water development project plans will disturb the lake ecosystem if implemented up to 2021 and integrated watershed management plan for the lake can change the condition by regulating the dam output.