Research

13 pages, 1848 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Machine Learning Solution for Data Center Thermal Characteristics Analysis

by Anastasiia Grishina, Marta Chinnici, Ah-Lian Kor, Eric Rondeau and Jean-Philippe Georges

Energies 2020, 13(17), 4378; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13174378 - 25 Aug 2020

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3236

The energy efficiency of Data Center (DC) operations heavily relies on a DC ambient temperature as well as its IT and cooling systems performance. A reliable and efficient cooling system is necessary to produce a persistent flow of cold air to cool servers [...] Read more.

The energy efficiency of Data Center (DC) operations heavily relies on a DC ambient temperature as well as its IT and cooling systems performance. A reliable and efficient cooling system is necessary to produce a persistent flow of cold air to cool servers that are subjected to constantly increasing computational load due to the advent of smart cloud-based applications. Consequently, the increased demand for computing power will inadvertently increase server waste heat creation in data centers. To improve a DC thermal profile which could undeniably influence energy efficiency and reliability of IT equipment, it is imperative to explore the thermal characteristics analysis of an IT room. This work encompasses the employment of an unsupervised machine learning technique for uncovering weaknesses of a DC cooling system based on real DC monitoring thermal data. The findings of the analysis result in the identification of areas for thermal management and cooling improvement that further feeds into DC recommendations. With the aim to identify overheated zones in a DC IT room and corresponding servers, we applied analyzed thermal characteristics of the IT room. Experimental dataset includes measurements of ambient air temperature in the hot aisle of the IT room in ENEA Portici research center hosting the CRESCO6 computing cluster. We use machine learning clustering techniques to identify overheated locations and categorize computing nodes based on surrounding air temperature ranges abstracted from the data. This work employs the principles and approaches replicable for the analysis of thermal characteristics of any DC, thereby fostering transferability. This paper demonstrates how best practices and guidelines could be applied for thermal analysis and profiling of a commercial DC based on real thermal monitoring data. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue End-Users’ Perspectives on Energy Policy and Technology)

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18 pages, 5728 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Stochastic Modeling of the Levelized Cost of Electricity for Solar PV

by Chul-Yong Lee and Jaekyun Ahn

Energies 2020, 13(11), 3017; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13113017 - 11 Jun 2020

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 3554

Abstract

With the development of renewable energy, a key measure for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, interest in the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) is increasing. Although the input variables used in the LCOE calculation, such as capacity factor, capital expenditure, annual power plant operations [...] Read more.

With the development of renewable energy, a key measure for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, interest in the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) is increasing. Although the input variables used in the LCOE calculation, such as capacity factor, capital expenditure, annual power plant operations and maintenance cost, discount and interest rate, and economic life, vary according to region and project, most existing studies estimate the LCOE by using a deterministic methodology. In this study, the stochastic approach was used to estimate the LCOE for solar photovoltaic (PV) in South Korea. In addition, this study contributed to deriving realistic analysis results by securing the actual data generated in the solar PV project compared to the existing studies. The results indicate that the LCOE for commercial solar power ranged from KRW 115 (10 cents)/kWh to KRW 197.4 (18 cents)/kWh at a confidence level of 95%. The median was estimated at KRW 160.03 (15 cents)/kWh. The LCOE for residential solar power ranged from KRW 109.7 (10 cents)/kWh to KRW 194.1 (18 cents)/kWh at a 95% confidence level and a median value of KRW 160.03 (15 cents)/kWh. A sensitivity analysis shows that capital expenditure has the most significant impact on the LCOE for solar power, followed by the discount rate and corporate tax. This study proposes that policymakers implement energy policies to reduce solar PV hardware and soft costs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue End-Users’ Perspectives on Energy Policy and Technology)

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13 pages, 284 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantifying Public Preferences for Community-Based Renewable Energy Projects in South Korea

by Rahel Renata Tanujaya, Chul-Yong Lee, JongRoul Woo, Sung-Yoon Huh and Min-Kyu Lee

Energies 2020, 13(9), 2384; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13092384 - 10 May 2020

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2668

Abstract

Under the new climate regime, renewable energy (RE) has received particular attention for mitigating the discharge of greenhouse gas. According to the third energy master plan in South Korea, by 2040, 30–35% of the energy demand must met with RE sources. To ensure [...] Read more.

Under the new climate regime, renewable energy (RE) has received particular attention for mitigating the discharge of greenhouse gas. According to the third energy master plan in South Korea, by 2040, 30–35% of the energy demand must met with RE sources. To ensure relevant policy design to achieve this goal, it is crucial to analyze the public’s willingness to accept community-based RE projects. This study conducted a nationwide survey to understand the opinion of the public and also that of local inhabitants living near a RE project. A choice experiment was employed to measure public preferences toward RE projects. The analysis reveals that the type of energy source, distance to a residential area, and annual percentage incentives could affect acceptance levels. Additionally, investment levels were a factor in local inhabitants’ acceptance of energy-related projects. This study presents the relevant policy implications in accordance with the analysis results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue End-Users’ Perspectives on Energy Policy and Technology)

26 pages, 973 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Socio-Economic Effect on ICT-Based Persuasive Interventions Towards Energy Efficiency in Tertiary Buildings

by Diego Casado-Mansilla, Apostolos C. Tsolakis, Cruz E. Borges, Oihane Kamara-Esteban, Stelios Krinidis, Jose Manuel Avila, Dimitrios Tzovaras and Diego López-de-Ipiña

Energies 2020, 13(7), 1700; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13071700 - 03 Apr 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2756

Abstract

Occupants of tertiary environments rarely care about their energy consumption. This fact is even more accentuated in cases of buildings of public use. Such unawareness has been identified by many scholars as one of the main untapped opportunities with high energy saving potential [...] Read more.

Occupants of tertiary environments rarely care about their energy consumption. This fact is even more accentuated in cases of buildings of public use. Such unawareness has been identified by many scholars as one of the main untapped opportunities with high energy saving potential in terms of cost-effectiveness. Towards that direction, there have been numerous studies exploring energy-related behaviour and the impact that our daily actions have on energy efficiency, demand response and flexibility of power systems. Nevertheless, there are still certain aspects that remain controversial and unidentified, especially in terms of socio-economic characteristics of the occupants with regards to bespoke tailored motivational and awareness-based campaigns. The presented work introduces a two-step survey, publicly available through Zenodo repository that covers social, economic, behavioural and demographic factors. The survey analysis aims to fully depict the drivers that affect occupant energy-related behaviour at tertiary buildings and the barriers which may hinder green actions. Moreover, the survey reports evidence on respondents’ self-assessment of fifteen known principles of persuasion intended to motivate them to behave pro-environmentally. The outcomes from the self-assessment help to shed light on understanding which of the Persuasive Principles may work better to nudge different user profiles towards doing greener actions at workplace. This study was conducted in four EU countries, six different cities and seven buildings, reaching more than three-hundred-and-fifty people. Specifically, a questionnaire was delivered before (PRE) and after (POST) a recommendation-based intervention towards pro-environmental behaviour through Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). The findings from the PRE-pilot stage were used to refine the POST-pilot survey (e.g., we removed some questions that did not add value to one or several research questions or dismissed the assessment of Persuasive Principles (PPs) which were of low value to respondents in the pre-pilot survey). Both surveys validate “Cause and Effect”, “Conditioning” and “Self-monitoring” as the top PPs for affecting energy-related behaviour in a workplace context. Among other results, the descriptive and prescriptive analysis reveals the association effects of specific barriers, pro-environmental intentions and confidence in technology on forming new pro-environmental behaviour. The results of this study intend to set the foundations for future interventions based on persuasion through ICT to reduce unnecessary energy consumption. Among all types of tertiary buildings, we emphasise on the validity of the results provided for buildings of public use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue End-Users’ Perspectives on Energy Policy and Technology)

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18 pages, 3865 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A National Strategy Proposal for Improved Cooking Stove Adoption in Honduras: Energy Consumption and Cost-Benefit Analysis

by Wilfredo C. Flores, Benjamin Bustamante, Hugo N. Pino, Ameena Al-Sumaiti and Sergio Rivera

Energies 2020, 13(4), 921; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13040921 - 19 Feb 2020

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4417

Abstract

The high consumption of firewood in Honduras necessitates the search for alternatives with less-negative effects on health, the economy, and the environment. One of these alternatives has been the promotion of improved cooking stoves, which achieve a large reduction in firewood consumption. This [...] Read more.

The high consumption of firewood in Honduras necessitates the search for alternatives with less-negative effects on health, the economy, and the environment. One of these alternatives has been the promotion of improved cooking stoves, which achieve a large reduction in firewood consumption. This paper presents a cost-benefit analysis for an improved cooking stove adoption strategy for Honduras. The methodology uses the Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning System, LEAP, a tool used globally in the analysis and formulation of energy policies and strategies. The energy model considers the demand for firewood as well as the gradual introduction of improved cooking stoves, according to the premises of a National Strategy for improved cooking stoves adoption in Honduras. Hence, it is demonstrated that the costs of implementing this adoption strategy are lower than the costs of not implementing it, taking into consideration representative scenarios up to and including the year 2030. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue End-Users’ Perspectives on Energy Policy and Technology)

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15 pages, 208 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Public Perceptions of Energy Scarcity and Support for New Energy Technologies: A Western U.S. Case Study

by Alexandra Buylova, Brent S. Steel and Christopher A. Simon

Energies 2020, 13(1), 238; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13010238 - 03 Jan 2020

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2299

Abstract

This study examines public concern for energy security and support for public investment in new energy technologies. Using household survey data from the western U.S. states of California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, socio-demographic characteristics, environmental values, and policy relevant knowledge are analyzed as [...] Read more.

This study examines public concern for energy security and support for public investment in new energy technologies. Using household survey data from the western U.S. states of California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, socio-demographic characteristics, environmental values, and policy relevant knowledge are analyzed as drivers of energy security and technology investment orientations. Findings suggest that a majority of respondents in each state believe that not enough money is being spent on energy research, that the country has insufficient energy resources, and that new technologies can support future energy security. Multivariate analyses indicate that some socio-demographic variables (e.g., gender and education), ideology, and environmental value orientations also have an impact on energy security orientations and support for technology investment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue End-Users’ Perspectives on Energy Policy and Technology)

22 pages, 629 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Conceptual Framework to Understand Households’ Energy Consumption

by Véronique Vasseur, Anne-Francoise Marique and Vladimir Udalov

Energies 2019, 12(22), 4250; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12224250 - 07 Nov 2019

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 7391

Abstract

Households’ energy consumption has received a lot of attention in debates on urban sustainability and housing policy due to its possible consequences for climate change. In Europe, the residential sector accounts for roughly one third of the energy consumption and is responsible for [...] Read more.

Households’ energy consumption has received a lot of attention in debates on urban sustainability and housing policy due to its possible consequences for climate change. In Europe, the residential sector accounts for roughly one third of the energy consumption and is responsible for 16% of total CO₂ emissions. Households have been progressively highlighted as the main actor that can play a substantial in the reduction of this energy use. Their behavior is a complex and hard to change process that combines numerous determinants. These determinants have already been extensively studied in the literature from a variety of thematic domains (psychology, sociology, economics, and engineering), however, each approach is limited by its own assumptions and often omit important energy behavioral components. Therefore, energy behavior studies require an integration of disciplines through interdisciplinary approaches. Based on that knowledge, this paper introduces a conceptual framework to capture and understand households’ energy consumption. The paper aims at connecting objective (physical and technical) with subjective (human) aspects related to energy use of households. This combination provide the answers to the ‘what’, the ‘how’ and most importantly the ‘why’ questions about people’s behavior regarding energy use. It allows clarifying the numerous internal and external factors that act as key determinants, as well as the need to take into account their interactions. By doing so, we conclude the paper by discussing the value of the conceptual framework along with valuable insights for researchers, practitioners and policymakers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue End-Users’ Perspectives on Energy Policy and Technology)

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25 pages, 5062 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Modeling Future Energy Demand and CO₂ Emissions of Passenger Cars in Indonesia at the Provincial Level

by Qodri Febrilian Erahman, Nadhilah Reyseliani, Widodo Wahyu Purwanto and Mahmud Sudibandriyo

Energies 2019, 12(16), 3168; https://doi.org/10.3390/en12163168 - 17 Aug 2019

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3623

Abstract

The high energy demand and CO₂ emissions in the road transport sector in Indonesia are mainly caused by the use of passenger cars. This situation is predicted to continue due to the increase in car ownership. Scenarios are arranged to examine the [...] Read more.

The high energy demand and CO₂ emissions in the road transport sector in Indonesia are mainly caused by the use of passenger cars. This situation is predicted to continue due to the increase in car ownership. Scenarios are arranged to examine the potential reductions in energy demand and CO₂ emissions in comparison with the business as usual (BAU) condition between 2016 and 2050 by controlling car intensity (fuel economy) and activity (vehicle-km). The intensity is controlled through the introduction of new car technologies, while the activity is controlled through the enactment of fuel taxes. This study aims to analyze the energy demand and CO₂ emissions of passenger cars in Indonesia not only for a period in the past (2010–2015) but also based on projections through to 2050, by employing a provincially disaggregated bottom-up model. The provincially disaggregated model shows more accurate estimations for passenger car energy demands. The results suggest that energy demand and CO₂ emissions in 2050 will be 50 million liter gasoline equivalent (LGE) and 110 million tons of CO₂, respectively. The five provinces with the highest CO₂ emissions in 2050 are projected to be West Java, Banten, East Java, Central Java, and South Sulawesi. The projected analysis for 2050 shows that new car technology and fuel tax scenarios can reduce energy demand from the BAU condition by 7.72% and 3.18% and CO₂ emissions by 15.96% and 3.18%, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue End-Users’ Perspectives on Energy Policy and Technology)

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