• Energy Research
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Abstract Future “net-zero” electricity systems in which all or most generation is renewable may require very high volumes of storage in order to manage the associated variability in the generation-demand balance. The physical and economic characteristics of storage technologies are such that a mixture of technologies is likely to be required. This poses nontrivial problems in storage dimensioning and in real-time management. We develop the mathematics of optimal scheduling for system adequacy, and show that, to a good approximation, the problem to be solved at each successive point in time reduces to a linear programme with a particularly simple solution. We argue that approximately optimal scheduling may be achieved without the need for a running forecast of the future generation-demand balance. We consider an extended application to GB storage needs, where savings of tens of billions of pounds may be achieved, relative to the use of a single technology, and explain why similar savings may be expected elsewhere.

Abstract This paper investigates the forced convection of alumina-water nanofluids within helical tubes, maintaining a constant wall temperature and assuming thermal equilibrium between the nanoparticles and the base fluid. The nanofluid model incorporates the effects of alumina (Al2O3) nanoparticle volume fraction, diameter, and temperature on thermophysical properties. The governing equations are solved using the Forward-Time Central-Space Finite Volume method in conjunction with the simple algorithm. Numerical results are validated against experimental data, demonstrating high accuracy. The study explores the effects of pitch size, curvature ratio, nanoparticle volume fraction, nanoparticle diameter, and Reynolds number on velocity contours, temperature profiles, secondary flow, thermophysical properties, friction coefficient, and heat transfer rate. Additionally, the figure of merit evaluates the impact of these parameters on the thermal performance of the system. The results indicate that an increase in Reynolds number and nanoparticle diameter negatively affects thermal performance, while higher nanoparticle volume fraction, curvature ratio, and pitch size enhance it. Furthermore, incorporating nanoparticles in straight tubes proves to be more advantageous compared to helical tubes. This study tested volumetric ratios of 1%, 2%, and 4%, which resulted in increases in heat transfer coefficients of 21%, 32%, and 43%, respectively, compared to pure water under similar conditions, such as Reynolds number and coil pitch.

The UK is currently experiencing a cost-of-living crisis that is impacting access to affordable energy, which is worsening energy poverty issues. While the crisis continues, policymakers are attempting to meet climate change goals. Our paper discusses the ways in which energy poverty and energy justice are relevant to the shift to decarbonise the social housing sector. We use a case study of 22 interviews of social housing residents on an estate in the North West of England to problematise how retrofitting social housing to decrease energy consumption impacts residents' access to energy justice. Our work contributes to the emerging concept of retrofit justice, and we assess how the forms of tripartite energy justice occur through the retrofit project, furthering debates on retrofit justice. We find that while the housing provider made attempts to involve residents in retrofit planning, many residents were disengaged from the process due to disenfranchisement and misrecognition issues, contributing to limited procedural and recognition justice. We also found that while retrofits increased the energy efficiency of the buildings, this could not solve structural problems causing energy poverty, reducing the retrofit's capacity to deliver distributive energy justice. Retrofit is a hugely important aspect of meeting climate change goals, but energy poverty cannot be adequately challenged without structural changes to the electricity market. Our paper is based on a UK case study, but the findings are relevant to international conceptual debates around retrofit and energy justice and can be useful for any national context retrofitting their social housing stock.

Biogenic and anthropogenic feedstocks can be converted into high-quality and hydrogen-rich synthesis gas through high-pressure entrained flow gasification. However, robust pilot-scale process data is essential for the optimisation, design and scale-up of this process. Therefore, this study conducted pilot-scale experiments, developed balancing and equilibrium models for performance analysis and derived input and validation data for CFD models. The experiments were carried out at the bioliqEntrained Flow Gasifier plant using mixtures of ethylene glycol or beech wood pyrolysis oil with glass beads, thermal inputs of up to 5 MW and operating pressures of 40 bar. The cooling screen was recoated before the experiments to ensure well-defined heat transfer conditions. The data from on-line measurements and off-line analyses was evaluated with emphasis on the synthesis gas condition before quenching, the heat extraction from the inner reactor chamber and the carbon conversion. The results show that the balancing model provides consistent and accurate predictions and the equilibrium model is able to track the generated process data. Specifically, the balancing predictions are accurate if the solution of CO$_2$ in the quench water is accounted for, if undetected intermediates are described as lost carbon and lost atomic hydrogen and if further chemical reactions in the quench water are avoided by appropriate operating conditions.

This study examines the impact of geopolitical risks on price exuberance within the European natural gas market. The analysis identifies several instances of price exuberance and demonstrates that increased geopolitical risk in Ukraine and the UK significantly heightens price exuberance, whereas in Russia, it mitigates its occurrence. Although geopolitical risks could significantly influence price exuberance in the European natural gas market, the effect differs across countries.

Uncertainties associated with large-scale deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) and photovoltaic (PV) pose challenges to distribution network expansion planning (DNEP). This paper proposes an optimal planning method for EV charging stations (EVCS) and distribution systems to accommodate the ever-increasing uncertainties. It is achieved by entailing PV-grid-EV transactions, which enables EVCS and PV prosumers to trade energy to make profits while complying with grid securities. It offers a cost-effective operational alternative to long-term planning, which would otherwise result in PV curtailment or unnecessary DNEP. The transactive market operates on a peer-to-peer (P2P) basis and is cleared via a decentralized algorithm to protect privacy and enable autonomous decision-making. EVCS is incentivized by a designed network charge, quantifying its impact on adhering to security constraints from both long-term and short-term perspectives. Considering EV users’ charging decisions, we derive optimal EV charging prices to regulate EV charging flow. We employ multiple linearization techniques to ensure the convergence of the non-convex model. Results demonstrate that the proposed method enables the distribution networks to accommodate the large-scale integration of EV and PV more effectively.

electricity. In this research, the potential of ZigZag PVNBs has been investigated. The ZigZag Solar product, developed by Wallvision, has proven to offer multiple advantages in energy yield and aesthetics for building fa & ccedil;ade applications. For noise barrier applications, the ZigZag structure could offer interesting features in safety and noise cancellation (obtained by filling the ZigZag construction with Rockwool material) on top of the advantages in aesthetics and energy yield. A ZigZag PVNB has been designed and constructed at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Geleen, after which the electrical performance has been automatically monitored under Dutch climate conditions. The measurements have been compared to simulated data, which allowed optimiza