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Chaudry M, Jayasuriya L, Hall JW, Jenkins N, Eyre N, Eggimann S. Simulating flexibility, variability and decentralisation with an integrated energy system model for Great Britain. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4772. [PMID: 36959198 PMCID: PMC10036483 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31257-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Energy system models allow the development and assessment of ambitious transition pathways towards a sustainable energy system. However, current models lack adequate spatial and temporal resolution to capture the implications of a shift to decentralised energy supply and storage across multiple local energy vectors to meet spatially variable energy demand. There is also a lack of representation of interactions with the transport sector as well as national and local energy system operation. Here, we bridge these gaps with a high-resolution system-of-systems modelling framework which is applied to Great Britain to simulate differences between the performance of decarbonised energy systems in 2050 through two distinct strategies, an electric strategy and a multi-vector strategy prioritising a mix of fuels, including hydrogen. Within these strategies, we simulated the impacts of decentralised operation of the energy system given the variability of wind and across flexibility options including demand side management, battery storage and vehicle to grid services. Decentralised operation was shown to improve operational flexibility and maximise utilisation of renewables, whose electricity supplies can be cost-effectively converted to hydrogen or stored in batteries to meet peak electricity demands, therefore reducing carbon-intensive generation and the requirement for investment in expanding the electricity transmission network capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Modassar Chaudry
- School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Queen's Buildings, The Parade, Cardiff, Wales, CF24 3AA, UK.
| | - Lahiru Jayasuriya
- School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Queen's Buildings, The Parade, Cardiff, Wales, CF24 3AA, UK
- Department of Electrical and Electronics Technology, Faculty of Technology, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale, Sri Lanka
| | - Jim W Hall
- Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QY, UK
| | - Nick Jenkins
- School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Queen's Buildings, The Parade, Cardiff, Wales, CF24 3AA, UK
| | - Nick Eyre
- Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QY, UK
| | - Sven Eggimann
- Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QY, UK
- Urban Energy Systems Laboratory, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Empa, Dübendorf, Switzerland
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Lees E, Eyre N. Thirty years of climate mitigation: lessons from the 1989 options appraisal for the UK. Energy Effic 2021; 14:37. [PMID: 33824632 PMCID: PMC8017085 DOI: 10.1007/s12053-021-09951-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In April 1989, the UK Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, convened a full cabinet meeting on climate change addressed by leading scientists. The presentation on mitigation of carbon dioxide emissions was made by the Head of the Energy Technology Support Unit (ETSU), Ken Currie, and identified the key potential options for mitigation by 2020. In this paper, we compare the mitigation potential identified for each proposed option with the 2019 outturn. The largest mitigation options identified were improved end use energy efficiency across the economy and the generation and use of low carbon electricity. Our analysis finds that these have been the key options adopted. Reductions in primary energy use, resulting from improvements in energy efficiency were concentrated in the period 2005-2012 which in 1989 were widely considered to be ambitious. Decarbonisation of electricity has been achieved by the displacement of coal, initially by gas and more recently by renewable electricity. Renewable electricity has exceeded 1989 expectations in the last 5 years and is now the biggest source of CO2 reductions from electricity generation. The contribution envisaged by nuclear electricity has not occurred, largely due its failure to compete in liberalised generation markets. In all cases, the policy environment has been important. We draw lessons for mitigation options to achieve the goal of net zero emissions in the next 30 years. The contribution of demand side and other modular options will remain crucial, as mass-produced technologies tend to improve more quickly than those requiring large construction projects. Environmental, social and political factors will be important, so analysis should not be a purely techno-economic assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eoin Lees
- Eoin Lees Energy, 4 Silver Lane, West Challow, Wantage, Oxon, OX12 9TX UK
| | - Nick Eyre
- Environmental Change Institute, Oxford University Centre for the Environment, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QY UK
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Cardenes I, Hall JW, Eyre N, Majid A, Jarvis S. Quantifying the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of changing wastewater quality standards. Water Sci Technol 2020; 81:1283-1295. [PMID: 32597414 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2020.228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Regulations to ensure adequate wastewater treatment are becoming more stringent as the negative effects of different pollutants on human health and the environment are understood. However, treatment of wastewater to remove pollutants is energy intensive, so has added significantly to the operation costs of wastewater treatment plants. Analysis from six of the largest wastewater treatment works in South East England reveals that the energy consumption of these treatment works has doubled in the last five years due to expansions to meet increasingly stringent effluent standards and population growth. This study quantifies the relationship between energy use for wastewater treatment and four measures of pollution in effluents from UK wastewater treatment works (biochemical oxygen demand, ammoniacal nitrogen, chemical oxygen demand and suspended solids). The linear regression results show that indicators of these pollutants in effluents, together with the extension of plants to improve wastewater treatment, can predict over 95% of energy consumption. Secondly, using scenarios, the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of effluent quality standards are estimated. The study finds that tightening effluent standards to increase water quality could result in a doubling of electricity consumption and an increase of between 1.29 and 2.30 additional MTCO2 per year from treating wastewater in large works in the UK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iliana Cardenes
- Environmental Change Institute, Oxford University Centre for the Environment, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK E-mail:
| | - Jim W Hall
- Environmental Change Institute, Oxford University Centre for the Environment, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK E-mail:
| | - Nick Eyre
- Environmental Change Institute, Oxford University Centre for the Environment, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK E-mail:
| | - Aman Majid
- Environmental Change Institute, Oxford University Centre for the Environment, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, UK E-mail:
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Eyre N, Darby SJ, Grünewald P, McKenna E, Ford R. Reaching a 1.5°C target: socio-technical challenges for a rapid transition to low-carbon electricity systems. Philos Trans A Math Phys Eng Sci 2018; 376:rsta.2016.0462. [PMID: 29610372 PMCID: PMC5897831 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2016.0462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
A 1.5°C global average target implies that we should no longer focus on merely incremental emissions reductions from the electricity system, but rather on fundamentally re-envisaging a system that, sooner rather than later, becomes carbon free. Many low-carbon technologies are surpassing mainstream predictions for both uptake and cost reduction. Their deployment is beginning to be disruptive within established systems. 'Smart technologies' are being developed to address emerging challenges of system integration, but their rates of future deployment remain uncertain. We argue that transition towards a system that can fully displace carbon generation sources will require expanding the focus of our efforts beyond technical solutions. Recognizing that change has social and technical dimensions, and that these interact strongly, we set out a socio-technical review that covers electricity infrastructure, citizens, business models and governance. It describes some of the socio-technical challenges that need to be addressed for the successful transition of the existing electricity systems. We conclude that a socio-technical understanding of electricity system transitions offers new and better insights into the potential and challenges for rapid decarbonization.This article is part of the theme issue 'The Paris Agreement: understanding the physical and social challenges for a warming world of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nick Eyre
- Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK
| | - Sarah J Darby
- Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK
| | - Philipp Grünewald
- Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK
| | - Eoghan McKenna
- Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK
| | - Rebecca Ford
- Environmental Change Institute, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK
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Abstract
A 35-year-old woman with morbid obesity and amenorrhoea underwent a bilo-pancreatic diversion (BPD). Surgery was successful with good weight loss, restoration of menstruation and almost immediately she conceived for the first time. She was commenced on routine vitamin supplements after surgery but failed to attend follow-up clinic. Five years later, she presented with limb girdle pains, lethargy, night blindness, skin pigmentation, amenorrhoea and dizziness. She had stopped taking supplements prescribed after the surgery. Investigations showed severe vitamin A and D deficiency along with iron and calcium deficiency. Her cholesterol was low at 3.5 mmol L⁻¹. Despite aggressive vitamin replacement, she continued to complain of lethargy and dizziness. Subsequently, three short adrenocorticotropic hormone-stimulation tests were suboptimal (basal cortisol: 196, 185 and 223 nmol L⁻¹; 30 min cortisol: 421, 453 and 435 nmol L⁻¹). She was subsequently commenced on adrenal replacement and her symptoms resolved and she conceived. We describe for the first time in the literature the unexpected finding of adrenal insufficiency following a BPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- J W Stephens
- Welsh Institute of Metabolic and Obesity Surgery, Morriston Hospital, ABM University Health Board, Swansea, Wales, UK
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