O presente trabalho apresenta e analisa cenários para os próximos anos para a expansão da demanda do etanol a base de cana de açúcar no Brasil, considerando a influência dos condicionantes envolvidos e os conseqüentes impactos , necessidades e alternativas futuras na logística de distribuição deste insumo energético no Brasil. Mais especificamente apresenta o histórico e a evolução da cultura da cana-de-açúcar no Brasil e nos principais países produtores e consumidores dos derivados da cana-de-açúcar, aspectos produtivos relacionados á produção de etanol. Apresenta ainda os condicionantes para a demanda do etanol produzido no Brasil e as necessidades decorrentes de infra-estrutura logística para a distribuição do etanol nos mercado interno e para exportação. / This present work presents and analyses different scenarios for the following years for the demand expansion of sugarcane ethanol in Brazil. It considers the influence of different drivers involved and the consequent impacts, needs and future alternatives for distribution logistics of this energy source in Brazil. More specifically, this work presents historical evolution of sugarcane culture in Brazil and in other main producers and consumers of sugarcane products, productive aspects related to ethanol production . It presents drivers to the demand expansion of the ethanol produced in Brazil and the related needs of infrastructure and logistics for the ethanol distribution in the Brazilian local market and export markets.

O sistema energético pode ser visto não apenas como uma restrição, mas também como uma oportunidade para o desenvolvimento produtivo de uma sociedade. Pela segunda ótica, o objetivo principal a ser perseguido é a da garantia do suprimento energético e da adequação das formas e fontes de energia aos usos finais demandados. Ao mesmo tempo, dentro do contexto global de preocupação com as mudanças climáticas, faz-se necessário conceber uma nova trajetória de desenvolvimento para o estado de São Paulo, mais moderna, com maior participação de fontes renováveis de energia, focada na diminuição da ntensidade energética, e mais voltada ao desenvolvimento tecnológico. Este trabalho procurou, então, mostrar que o estado de São Paulo já promoveu uma verdadeira transformação de sua matriz energética em termos da participação de energias renováveis, no entanto, que os paulistas ainda devem encarar outros desafios maiores como saber lidar com a tendência não declinante de sua intensidade energética nos últimos anos. Enfim, ao decompor o indicador de intensidade energética para o estado de São Paulo, buscou-se explicitar as possíveis causas de forma a observar se há um tradeoff aparente entre o uso de fontes energéticas renováveis e a estagnação dos valores da intensidade energética estadual. / The energy system can be understood not only as a constraint, but also as an opportunity for a society productive development. Taking the second approach, the main objective to be pursued is that of securing energy supply and adequacy of forms and sources of energy to the demanded end uses. At the same time, within the context of global concern about climate change, it is necessary to devise a new development path for the state of São Paulo, more modern, with a higher share of renewable energy sources, focused on reduction of energy intensity and more focused on technological development. This study sought to show, therefore, that the state of São Paulo has promoted a true transformation of its energy matrix in terms of the share of renewable energies. However, the state must still face other major challenges such as how to deal with its non-downward energy intensity trend in recent years. Finally, by decomposing the energy intensity indicator for the state of São Paulo, we sought to clarify the possible causes in order to observe whether there is an apparent tradeoff between the use of renewable energy sources and the stagnation of the state energy intensity values.

At present many remote and Island communities rely solely on diesel powered generators to provide electricity. Diesel fuel is both expensive and polluting and the constant speed operation of the diesel engine is inefficient. In this thesis the use of renewable energy sources to help offset diesel fuel usage and an alternative way of running the diesel generator with the aim of reducing electrical energy costs is investigated. Diesel generators have to be sized to meet peak demand, in one or two diesel generator island grids, these generators will be running at a fraction of maximum output for most of the time. A new variable speed diesel generator allows for a reduction in fuel consumption at part load compared to constant speed operation. Combining the variable speed diesel generator with renewable generation should maximise the diesel fuel offsetting of the renewable source due to the increased efficiency at low loads. The stability issues of maintaining transient performance in a renewable variable speed hybrid system have been modelled and simulated. A control strategy has been developed and the use of energy storage as a buffer for any remaining stability problems has been explored. The control strategy has then been experimentally tested along with one of the possible energy storage solutions. An economic feasibility study has been performed on a case study community to validate the main aim of this research of reducing the cost of electrical energy in diesel generator grids.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering / Behrooz Mirafzal / Voltage source inverters (VSIs) are an essential interface for grid integration of renewable energy resources. Grid-tied VSIs are employed in power grids to integrate distributed generation units, e.g. photovoltaic arrays, wind turbines and energy storage units, to the utility and extract the maximum energy from the DG units in an efficient manner. However, the stability of VSIs and by extension the entire DG system can be degraded under abnormal grid conditions. In this dissertation, new control and switching techniques for stability and power quality improvement of grid-tied VSIs under abnormal grid conditions are presented. For grids with a low inertia and a low short-circuit ratio, commonly referred to as weak grids, grid connection may make VSIs susceptible to voltage distortion and instability. In this dissertation, through root locus analysis of a detailed state-space model, the design of several circuit and control parameters of the grid-tied VSI are evaluated for improving stability in weak grids. It is shown that grid-side filter inductances can be increased for stable operation of VSIs in weak grids. Accordingly, a virtual inductance emulating the effect of an increased inductance in the grid-side filter is developed in this dissertation, which enables stable operation of VSIs in weak grids without the tradeoffs, i.e. additional voltage drop, increased cost and larger size, associated with a larger inductor. The virtual inductance scheme is realized through the injection of a feedforward current element in the VSI controller through a gain component. The measured grid currents, which are sensed for regular VSI controller operation, are employed as the feedforward component eliminating the need for any additional sensors for the utilization of this control scheme. Furthermore, a direct model reference adaptive control (MRAC) scheme is employed in this dissertation to tune the virtual inductance gain block according to a stable reference model for varying grid conditions. The use of direct MRAC scheme allows tuning of the virtual inductance block without the need for a plant parameter estimation stage. The virtual inductance scheme enables stable operation of VSIs in weak grids without system parameter redesign, thereby maintaining the steady-state performance of the system. The efficacy of the virtual inductance feedforward scheme is verified through hardware tests carried out on a three-phase grid-tied experimental setup. Along with extracting energy from the DG sources, grid-tied VSIs are capable of providing various ancillary services to the utility under abnormal conditions. However, providing ancillary services could drive the inverter voltages beyond the linear modulation region resulting in grid current distortions, which could violate the requirements for grid integration of DGs. An atypical pulse width modulation (PWM) technique is proposed in this dissertation, which maximizes the dc-bus utilization of VSIs, which in turn enables the VSIs to supply the maximum extracted power from the DG units to the grid when providing ancillary services while operating in the linear modulation region. The switching scheme is realized by injecting common mode components in the PWM references, computed based on instantaneous reference magnitudes. The proposed scheme is suitable when providing both symmetrical and asymmetrical ancillary services. In this dissertation, negative-sequence compensation and harmonic compensation are employed as instances of symmetrical and asymmetrical ancillary services. The proposed scheme can be integrated with any control scheme and carrier-based PWM combinations. The efficacy of the proposed atypical PWM scheme is verified through both simulation and hardware tests.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T15:14:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissertacaoEduardoRossi.pdf: 2152561 bytes, checksum: dd229fbcec89fd6645531125be300d0e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-19 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Considering the growing demand for fuels, particularly liquids, and the possibility of producing renewable fuels using materials previously discarded or underutilized, there is need to develop processes to the use of a material usually discarded and wide availability, especially in Brazil, its straw the sugarcane, which has already ban burning in some Brazilian states, and this maximizes its importance, given the need for allocation. Therefore, this work studied the modification chemical degradation generated by two forms of pre-treatment of straw sugarcane, using citric acid in an autoclave, and urea solution with sodium hydroxide at low temperature. The efficiency of modification of each treatment was followed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and in the UV-visible region. The results showed that there are significant changes in the material studied, with degradation of lignin and hemicellulose and cellulose exposure to hydrolysis later. Spectroscopic techniques were effective in monitoring the changes caused by treatments. Already in the second stage, we attempted to biologically digest this material comparing fresh straw, straw pretreated with acid Citric, pretreated straw with urea and NaOH, and straw with both pre-treatments. Straw is delimited amounts of 0; 2.5; 5; 7.5 to 10% w / w. In all reactors was used 20% v / v inoculum. The inoculum consisted of 30% w / w poultry-to-bed and 70% of ARS. The experiment was conducted with greenhouses kept in mesophilic condition. It can be identified that to apply the pre-treatments proposed in the straw cane sugar, has a significant gain in production biogás.gSVR-1, and the proportions order to produce more biogas indicated when apply pre-treatments are 5 and 7.5% of straw in ARS. While the best results from digestion of straw cane sugar were obtained by pre-treating with acid Citric. / Considerando a demanda crescente por combustíveis, principalmente os líquidos e a possibilidade de se produzir combustíveis renováveis utilizando-se materiais anteriormente descartados ou subutilizados, há necessidade de se desenvolver processos visando a utilização de um material geralmente descartado e com vasta disponibilidade, principalmente no Brasil, a palha da cana-de-açúcar, que já possui proibição de queima em alguns estados brasileiros e isto maximiza sua importância, perante a necessidade de destinação. Para isso, este trabalho buscou estudar a modificação do material por degradação química gerada por duas formas de pré-tratamento da palha de cana-de-açúcar, utilizando-se ácido cítrico em autoclave e solução de ureia com hidróxido de sódio em baixa temperatura. A eficiência de modificação de cada tratamento foi acompanhada por espectrofotometria na região do infravermelho e na região do UV-visível. Digerir biologicamente este material comparando-se palha in natura, palha pré-tratada com ácido cítrico, palha pré-tratada com Ureia e NaOH e palha com ambos pré-tratamentos. Delimitou-se quantidades de palha de 0; 2,5; 5; 7,5 e 10% m/m. Em todos os reatores utilizou-se 20% v/v de inóculo, composto por 30% v/v de cama-de-aviário e 70% de ARS. O experimento foi desenvolvido utilizando-se de estufas mantidas em condição mesófila. Os resultados mostraram que há modificação significativa no material estudado, com degradação da lignina e exposição da hemicelulose e celulose à posterior hidrólise. As técnicas espectroscópicas foram eficientes no acompanhamento das modificações causadas pelos tratamentos. Já em uma segunda etapa. Pode-se identificar que, ao se aplicarem os pré-tratamentos propostos na palha de cana-de-açúcar, há um ganho significativo na produção de biogás em L.gSVR-1, sendo que, as proporções visando produção de metano mais indicadas quando se aplicam os pré-tratamentos são as de 2,5 e 5% de palha em ARS, enquanto os melhores resultados de digestão anaeróbia da palha de cana-de-açúcar foram obtidos ao pré-tratá-la utilizando-se ácido cítrico em autoclave.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T15:14:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Karine_N_Lupatini.pdf: 2653837 bytes, checksum: 3f96563a78bfc1de4ba5e308ad1fe38b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-22 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The biopolymer Chitosan has become object of several studies in recent years as proton conductive polymer membrane of hydrogen into PEM fuel cells. The main reasons are related to the possibility to undergo chemical and physical changes due to amine groups present, and its low cost. The schoolwork testing Chitosan membranes as proton conductivity, generally employ arrays of other polymers together, forming composites with properties better suited for this purpose. Very few schoolwork bother to study the effect of the properties of chitosan on the obtaining of these membranes, and Chitosan membranes are usually employed. The aim of this project was to develop membranes of Chitosan from shrimp shell of fresh water produced in Western Paraná, to be used as electrolyte fuel cells and comparing the results with those presented by the use of commercial Chitosan sample. This schoolwork investigated the influence of degree of deacetylation (GD), molar mass and reticulation of the different samples of chitosan on the performance of the membranes obtained front proton conductivity, water absorption, ion exchange capacity, mechanical strength, XRD and TGA. Chitosan QB, produced in the laboratory, presented desired characteristics of 76% GD and molar mass of 64 kDA. These properties have improved the performance of Chitosan membranes, as well as the crosslinking. The FTIR analysis proved that the crosslinking did not alter the functional groups of Chitosan, while the DRX found that the character of the MQBs became more amorphous than the MQAs and, in general, by the dTG says that the membranes have thermal stability up to 600-700° C, suitable to be applied in CaC. MQB04 and MQB05 membranes resulted in higher conductivity of 1.9 and 1.6 x 10-2 respectively and, in this case, the crosslinking provided better mechanical resistance of up to 45 N to the MQB04 membrane. The protonic conductivity obtained for MQB04 and MQB05 was significant, but still low compared to Nafion®. However, the versatility of Chitosan and the possibility of exploration and chemical modifications of its structure, still making it attractive for the research and development of Proton conducting polymeric membranes with superior performance to found in this schoolwork / O biopolímero quitosana tem se tornado objeto de vários estudos nos últimos anos como membrana polimérica condutora de prótons de hidrogênio em células a combustível do tipo PEM. As principais razões estão relacionadas à possibilidade de sofrer modificações físicas e químicas devido aos grupos amina presentes, e a seu baixo custo. Os trabalhos que testam membranas de quitosana como condutoras de prótons, geralmente empregam matrizes de outros polímeros em conjunto, formando compósitos com propriedades mais adequadas para esta finalidade. Pouquíssimos trabalhos se preocupam em estudar o efeito das propriedades da quitosana sobre a obtenção destas membranas, sendo que normalmente membranas de quitosana comercial são empregadas. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi desenvolver membranas de quitosana extraída de carapaças de camarão de água doce produzidos na região oeste do Paraná, para serem empregadas como eletrólito em células a combustível, comparando os resultados obtidos com aqueles apresentados pelo uso de amostra de quitosana comercial. Este trabalho investigou a influência do grau de desacetilação (GD), massa molar e reticulação das distintas amostras de quitosana, sobre o desempenho das membranas obtidas frente à condutividade protônica, absorção de água, capacidade de troca iônica, resistência mecânica, DRX e TGA. A quitosana QB, produzida no laboratório, apresentou características desejadas de GD de 76% e massa molar de 64 kDA. As propriedades de QB melhoraram o desempenho das membranas de quitosana, assim como a reticulação. A análise de FTIR comprovou que a reticulação não alterou os grupos funcionais da quitosana, enquanto que a DRX constatou que o caráter das MQBs tornou-se mais amorfo que às MQAs. As membranas MQB04 e MQB05 resultaram em condutividades superiores de 1,9 e 1,6x10-2 respectivamente e, neste caso, a reticulação proporcionou melhor resistência mecânica de até 45 N para a membrana MQB04. A condutividade protônica obtida para MQB04 e MQB05 foi expressiva, porém, ainda baixa se comparada ao Nafion®. Entretanto, a versatilidade da quitosana e a possibilidade de exploração e de modificações químicas da sua estrutura, continua tornando-a atrativa para a pesquisa e desenvolvimento de membranas poliméricas condutoras de prótons com desempenho ainda superior aos encontrados neste trabalho

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T15:14:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Cleber Aimoni Marques.pdf: 1860726 bytes, checksum: 384ef435970008b91758ce448afe1ed5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-01-25 / The energy is of fundamental importance to society, it is necessary for numerous activities of day-to-day, such as cooking, heating, refrigeration, lighting, among many others. Currently, with increasing population, the increasing use of industrial and agricultural machinery as well as fleet vehicles, there has been an increased demand for energy, especially fossil fuels renewable or not. Due to this growth, social and environmental problems arise because most of the sources used to produce fuel and electricity is produced from fossil fuels (oil, coal, natural gas), and burning these fuels releases various gases that are responsible for air pollution. Many countries have invested in the production of clean and renewable energy. This study aimed to evaluate the production of biogas from pig manure and generate electricity using biogas as a primary energy source. Biogas is produced on a farm located in São Miguel do Iguaçu / PR, which uses two digesters for biogas production, whose conversion into electricity is conducted in a motor-generator of 100 kVA or 76 kW. The biogas production data were collected using a gas meter model Roots Meter Series B3. For monitoring the consumption of biogas (m3 / h), the engine to generate electricity (kWh) used a mass flow transmitter of thermal dispersion model Thermatel TA2. The production of electricity (kWh) on the property was measured with a SMART METER T, which is a meter and recorder portable electrical quantities. For an average number of animals housed 4672 was 553 m3/day of biogas produced, making biogas used to generate 847 kWh / day of electricity. The average specific consumption of biogas in the engine 76 kW generator was 0.68 m3.kWh-1 and with an efficiency of 22.21%. The cost of producing electricity using the biogas was 0.45 R$ / kWh, on the other hand the value of energy paid by the concessionaire is 0.14 R$ / kWh, showing no viability. Moreover it was found that if there is a credit sale carbon and the increased production of biogas energy becomes competitive. / A energia é de fundamental importância para toda a sociedade, pois é necessária para inúmeras atividades do dia-a-dia, como cozinhar, aquecer, refrigerar, iluminar, entre tantas outras. Atualmente, com o aumento populacional, o uso crescente de máquinas industriais e agrícolas e também da frota de veículos automotores, gerou-se um aumento na demanda por energia, especialmente de combustíveis fósseis ou não renováveis. Devido a esse crescimento, surgem alguns problemas socioambientais, pois a maioria das fontes utilizadas para geração de combustíveis e eletricidade é de origem fóssil (petróleo, carvão, gás natural), e a queima desses combustíveis, libera vários gases que são responsáveis pela poluição atmosférica. Muitos países têm investido na produção de energia limpa e renovável. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a produção de biogás proveniente dos dejetos suínos e a geração de energia elétrica utilizando o biogás como fonte primária de energia. O biogás é produzido em uma propriedade rural localizada na cidade de São Miguel do Iguaçu/PR, a qual utiliza dois biodigestores para produção de biogás, cuja conversão em eletricidade é realizada num moto-gerador de 100 kVA ou 76 kW. Os dados de produção de biogás foram coletados utilizando um medidor de gás modelo Roots Meter Series B3. Para o monitoramento do consumo de biogás (m3/h), pelo motor para geração de energia elétrica (kWh), utilizou-se um transmissor de fluxo de massa de dispersão térmica, modelo Thermatel TA2. A produção de energia elétrica (kWh) na propriedade foi medida com um SMART METER T, o qual é um medidor e registrador portátil de grandezas elétricas. Para uma quantidade média de 4672 animais alojados foi produzido 553 m3/dia de biogás, sendo esse biogás utilizado na geração de 847 kWh/dia de eletricidade. O consumo específico médio de biogás no motor gerador de 76 kW foi de 0,68 m3.kWh-1 e com uma eficiência de 22,21%. O custo de produção de eletricidade utilizando-se o biogás foi de 0,45 R$/kWh, por outro lado o valor da energia paga pela concessionária é de 0,14 R$/kWh, mostrando que não há viabilidade. Por outro lado verificou-se que se ocorrer a venda de créditos de carbono e a ampliação da produção de biogás a energia torna-se competitiva.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T15:14:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Luiz Inacio Chaves.pdf: 1830089 bytes, checksum: 5146991baf6ffcd2929ea26b316d8b8d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-09-17 / The use of biomass as energy source is one of the most promising, because it contributes to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and allow the decentralized energy generation. Gasification is a technology of processing biomass energy into a gaseous biofuel of low calorific value. The gas can be used in Otto cycle engine for power generation in isolated communities. This study evaluated the capacity of the gasification gas in a fixed bed gasifier downtraft of two stages, the wood consumption, the efficiency of the gasifier and the gas consumption and efficiency in apower-generator Otto cycle. The gasifier use was a TERMOQUIP brand, model CD 40. The evaluated power-generator was a BRANCO brand, direct injection and power of 13 cv coupled to an electric generator of 5.5 cv. The gasification gas was injected into the engine mixed with the intake air. The generator was subjected to loads ranging from 0.5 kW to 2.5 kW, with the aid of a bank of electrical resistances. The production of gas from the gasifier and gas consumption by the motor were measured by means of a gasometer. The average gas production resulting from the gasification of wood presented during testing was 14.28 m³ hˉ ¹. Wood consumption averaged 5.61 kg hˉ ¹. The average yield of gas per unit weight was approximately 2.55 m3kgˉ ¹. The gasification efficiency averaged 57.2%. When fed with synthesis gas, the output voltage of the generator was kept within the standards established by Companhia Paranaense de Energia (Copel, 2008), varying only between 221 and 223 V. For tests with the power-generator the best condition occurred for the highest load, 2.5 kW, where the gas consumption was about 10.6 m³ hˉ ¹ and specific fuel consumption of 4.8 m³ kWhˉ¹. For this condition, the average specific fuel consumption of equivalent wood was 1.9 kg kWh ˉ ¹ and the overall efficiency of power-generator was about 16.6%. / O uso da biomassa como fonte de energia é uma das formas mais promissoras, pois contribui para a redução das emissões de dióxido de carbono na atmosfera e possibilita a geração descentralizada de energia. A gaseificação é uma tecnologia de transformação energética da biomassa num biocombustível gasoso de baixo poder calorífico. O gás pode ser utilizado em motor ciclo Otto para geração de energia elétrica em comunidades isoladas. Este trabalho avaliou a capacidade de produção de gás de gaseificação em um gaseificador concorrente de leito fixo de dois estágios, o consumo de madeira, a eficiência do gaseificador, a eficiência e o consumo de gás num motor-gerador ciclo Otto. O gaseificador utilizado foi da marca TERMOQUIP, modelo CD 40. O motor-gerador avaliado foi da marca BRANCO, com injeção direta e potência de 13 cv acoplado a um gerador elétrico de 5,5 cv. O gás de gaseificação foi injetado no motor misturado com o ar de admissão. O gerador foi submetido a cargas que variaram entre 0,5 kW e 2,5 kW, com o auxílio de um banco de resistências elétricas. A produção de gás do gaseificador e o consumo de gás pelo motor foram medidos por meio de um gasômetro. A produção de gás média resultante da gaseificação de madeira apresentada durante os testes foi de 14,28 m³ hˉ¹. O consumo de madeira apresentou uma média de 5,61 kg hˉ¹. A média de rendimento de gás por unidade de massa foi de aproximadamente 2,55 m3 kgˉ¹. A eficiência de gaseificação média foi de 57,2 %.Quando alimentado com gás de síntese, a tensão de saída do gerador se manteve dentro dos padrões estabelecidos pela Companhia Paranaense de Energia (COPEL, 2008), variando somente entre 221 e 223 V. Em relação aos testes com o motor-gerador, a melhor condição ocorreu para a maior carga, 2,5 kW, onde o consumo de gás foi cerca de 10,6 m³ hˉ¹ e o consumo específico de combustível de 4,8 m³ kWhˉ¹. Para essa condição, a média de consumo específico equivalente de madeira foi de 1,9 kg kWhˉ¹e a eficiência global do motor-gerador foi de 16,6 %.

Action on climate change will require an increase in renewable energy projects to support electrification in the transition away from burning fossil fuels. Indigenous peoples throughout Canada are developing community-owned small-scale (producing less than one megawatt of power) renewable energy projects and are interested in developing more. Despite Indigenous peoples’ involvement and interest, there is a lack of research into the impact of these projects for communities. This thesis explores whether and how small-scale renewable energy projects developed by First Nations communities in British Columbia (BC) might contribute to supporting justice within the energy transition. The research included a province-wide survey (First Nations Clean Energy Survey), and a case study with a remote First Nation with multiple small-scale renewable energy projects in operation—the Village of Skidegate on Haida Gwaii. This research found that small-scale projects are a distinct experience within the renewable energy sector, one that is offering First Nations communities an accessible form of power production that provides myriad benefits. Some benefits were easy to measure, such as cost savings and greenhouse gas reductions, while the majority of benefits were not as easy to quantify, such as increasing connection and engagement with energy, increasing self-sufficiency, providing a vision of a future free of oil and gas reliance, community pride and education. As these benefits indicate, the thesis concludes that small-scale renewable energy developments offer a distinctive and important opportunity that First Nations are using to enforce self-determination and build community resilience. / Graduate

There is overwhelming scientific evidence that shows the temperature of the Earth's atmosphere is rising at an unprecedented rate. This is attributed to increased levels of greenhouse gas emissions, a large proportion of which originates from anthropogenic combustion of carbon-based fossil fuels for energy. There is therefore a strong argument for the increased role of less environmentally damaging, low carbon energy sources including renewable energy technologies. Run-of-river hydropower is one such renewable energy option, considered more environmentally benign than traditional hydropower which requires the construction of large dams to create a reservoir. The aim of this study was to develop a model to search for, and map, economically viable run-of-river hydropower resource that can function on any global catchment of any size. Development and testing of the model was conducted on China's 2 million km2 Yangtze River drainage basin, the third longest river in the world and a rich landscape for hydropower. A gridded, distributed hydrological model was developed integrating high-resolution meteorological datasets and a digital elevation model (DEM). Using the model, the surface hydrology of the Yangtze catchment was simulated at a timestep of 6 minutes to obtain the mean daily surface runoff for every day from the beginning of 1979 to the end of 2007. Observed river flow data from sub-catchments of the Yangtze were used to calibrate the model by differential optimisation, an evolutionary computation technique. Validation was carried out on a 1.6 million km2 sub-catchment resulting in a mean objective function of 0.95 (where a perfect fit would be 1.0) across 8 objective functions commonly used in hydrology. Catchment wide mean daily runoff data was used to develop flow duration curves across the catchment river network. Virtual power stations were constructed at each river cell, iteratively testing differing scheme configurations, and costed using the RETScreen methodology. A best performing hydropower network was determined by a conflict algorithm, designed to prioritise high profit schemes and to remove lower performing and conflicting schemes. This resulted in a potential run-of-river installed capacity across the Yangtze catchment of 103GW (at 10% discount rate), generating 394TWh per annum. This model would be a valuable tool in finding optimal locations for future hydropower resource.