Electricity

21 pages, 5645 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Nexus-Based Impact Assessment of Rapid Transitions of the Power Sector: The Case of Greece

by Diamantis Koutsandreas

Electricity 2023, 4(3), 256-276; https://doi.org/10.3390/electricity4030016 - 05 Sep 2023

Viewed by 1455

Power system transformation can unleash wide-ranging effects across multiple, frequently interlinked dimensions such as the environment, economy, resource systems, and biodiversity. Consequently, assessing the multidimensional impacts of power system transformation, especially under rapid transitions, has become increasingly important. Nonetheless, there is a gap in the literature when it comes to applying such an analysis to a Mediterranean country facing structural socioeconomic challenges. This paper explores the potential multifaceted implications of rapidly decarbonizing the Greek power sector by 2035, focusing on the local-level consequences. The evaluation criteria encompass the cost-optimal power mix, power costs, land use, biomass utilization, GDP, and employment. In this effort, a technology-rich cost optimization model representing Greece’s power sector is linked to a global Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) macroeconomic model focusing on the Greek economy. The results indicate that a fast decarbonization of the Greek power sector could trigger positive socioeconomic consequences in the short- and medium-term (GDP: +1.70, employees: +59,000 in 2030), although it may induce negative long-term socioeconomic effects due to increased capital investment requirements. Additionally, the impact on land use may only be trivial, with the potential to decrease over time due to the de-escalation of biomass power generation, thereby reducing the risk of harming biodiversity. Full article

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3 pages, 172 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Recent Advances toward Carbon-Neutral Power System

by Poria Astero

Electricity 2023, 4(3), 253-255; https://doi.org/10.3390/electricity4030015 - 04 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1262

Abstract

The pursuit of a carbon-neutral society has emerged as a global imperative in the face of escalating environmental challenges [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances toward Carbon-Neutral Power System)

18 pages, 2472 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning-Based Decentralized Controller for Battery Modular Multilevel Inverter Systems

by Ali Mashayekh, Sebastian Pohlmann, Julian Estaller, Manuel Kuder, Anton Lesnicar, Richard Eckerle and Thomas Weyh

Electricity 2023, 4(3), 235-252; https://doi.org/10.3390/electricity4030014 - 06 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1854

Abstract

The battery-based multilevel inverter has grown in popularity due to its ability to boost a system’s safety while increasing the effective battery life. Nevertheless, the system’s high degree of freedom, induced by a large number of switches, provides difficulties. In the past, central computation systems that needed extensive communication between the master and the slave module on each cell were presented as a solution for running such a system. However, because of the enormous number of slaves, the bus system created a bottleneck during operation. As an alternative to conventional multilevel inverter systems, which rely on a master–slave architecture for communication, decentralized controllers represent a feasible solution for communication capacity constraints. These controllers operate autonomously, depending on local measurements and decision-making. With this approach, it is possible to reduce the load on the bus system by approximately 90 percent and to enable a balanced state of charge throughout the system with an absolute maximum standard deviation of

1.1 \times 10^{- 5}

. This strategy results in a more reliable and versatile multilevel inverter system, while the load on the bus system is reduced and more precise switching instructions are enabled. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advanced Operation, Control, and Planning of Intelligent Energy Systems)

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19 pages, 19013 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Simple Chargers for a Small DC Micro-Grid for a Home Emergency Power System

by Felix A. Himmelstoss and Helmut L. Votzi

Electricity 2023, 4(3), 216-234; https://doi.org/10.3390/electricity4030013 - 26 Jun 2023

Viewed by 1464

Abstract

Recently, the danger of a long blackout is discussed in Europe. Blackouts can be caused by failures in the energy distribution, errors in large power plants or even cyber-attacks. This can lead to a chain reaction and a disintegration of the mains. Longer blackouts have an extreme impact on the economy as a whole and on local households. Therefore, a small local grid at home which can supply the most important loads over some time has garnered increasing interest. With a small direct current (DC) grid, critical loads such as for deep freezers and refrigerators can be supplied, and some LED lights can be used in the evening or at night. Solar generators (panels) can be used to charge energy storage devices, e.g., batteries. A DC grid can not only be used in the case of an emergency, but can also be used to reduce energy consumption out of the public mains and reduce energy bills. The architecture of the household emergency DC grid is discussed; suggestions for batteries are given; two simple chargers, based on DC-DC-converters like the Buck (step-down) and on the Boost (step-up) converters, are shown; dimensioning suggestions are given; and simple, robust controllers, a P-controller with disturbance feedforward and a hysteresis controller, are treated and tested via simulations. The goal of the paper is to show a simple autonomous home energy system without an external fieldbus, LAN or internet connection with special focus on simple charger topologies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Operation, Modeling, Control and Applications of Microgrids)

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Electricity, Volume 4, Issue 3 (September 2023) – 4 articles

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