South Africa‟s current energy sector places undue reliance on fossil fuels to fulfil the country‟s energy requirements. The use of these non-renewable energy resources are unsustainable, as millions of tonnes of harmful emissions are released and estimates are made that these resources will be depleted within the next 100 years. Therefore the country has to source alternative energy resources. Renewable energy resources (for example solar energy) are considered to release little or no harmful by-products and have an infinite supply. Therefore the South African government has to promote the use of renewable energy as part of its commitments to address climate change and to ensure sustainable energy resources. Some of the most popular regulatory tools that a state uses to control human behaviour, is through command-and-control instruments and fiscal instruments. The latter promotes behavioural changes by rewarding desired behaviour which ultimately advances the user‟s own best interest. Because of the nature of renewable energy governance, energy users can not be forced or compelled through commandand- control instruments to use renewable energy. They should rather be encouraged or persuaded to use this form of energy through market-based instruments. This is also the central hypothesis of this dissertation. The purpose of this study is to determine the extent to which the South African legal regime makes provision to promote the use of renewable energy resources through fiscal instruments. Therefore the various energy-related white papers, policy papers and legislation will be analysed. This study found that South Africa‟s legal regime only partly makes provision to promote the use of renewable energy resources through fiscal instruments. The policy part of the legal regime is fairly well developed, but the statutory regime lacks detail and in its current form, environmental/energyrelated legislation does not fully correspond with the lofty objectives of the policy framework. / LLM (Environmental Law and Governance), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

O objetivo da dissertação foi o desenvolvimento de um modelo de avaliação rápida da atratividade de oportunidades de negócios em recursos energéticos renováveis dentro de uma região geográfica delimitada, valendo-se dos resultados do Planejamento Integrado de Recursos Energéticos (PIR) para a região analisada, complementado com outras bases bibliográficas primárias e secundárias. O uso dos resultados do PIR propiciou o acesso rápido a avaliações prontas dos recursos energéticos em três dimensões1, além da dimensão técnico-econômica, incluindo opiniões e posições da sociedade local e nacional (técnicos e não técnicos). No estudo piloto, o modelo é aplicado em cinco recursos energéticos renováveis dentro da Região Administrativa de Araçatuba (RAA), noroeste do estado de São Paulo. Os recursos avaliados são: (a) de oferta: Geração eólica (EOL); Cogeração por Biomassa de Cana-de-açúcar (BIO); e Pequenas Centrais Hidroelétricas (PCH); (b) de demanda (medidas de economia): Troca de Lâmpadas Incandescentes por Fluorescentes Compactas e Troca de Chuveiros Elétricos por Aquecedores Solares. Os principais resultados do modelo de avaliação foram (i) um modelo de fluxo de caixa funcional para a avaliação dos recursos de geração; (ii) para cada recurso de geração: cálculo das principais Figuras de Mérito Econômico Financeiro (VPL, TIR, PayBack Descontado, preço de equilíbrio2 da energia gerada e demanda relevante de capital de giro); (iii) para as medidas de economia de energia: cálculo das figuras de mérito econômico-financeiras (Custo do Ciclo de vida anualizado (CCVA) e PayBack Descontado); (iv) pontos notáveis da análise de sensibilidade das figuras de mérito, obtidas pela variação das principais parâmetros de entrada dos modelos matemáticos representativos dos recursos; (v) análise geral dos riscos em empreender os recursos avaliados; e (vi) diagnóstico da atratividade de investimento em cada recurso: não atrativo, atrativo com atenção, e atrativo. No contexto do estudo piloto, o recurso lâmpada fluorescente recebeu diagnóstico de atrativo; os recursos Cogeração por biomassa e coletor solar receberam o diagnóstico de atrativo com atenção, e os recursos Geração eólica e PCH receberam o diagnóstico de não atrativos para investimento, todos dentro da região do estudo de caso. / The purpose of this work was the expedite assessment of business opportunities attractiveness in renewable energy resources within a limited geographical area, based on the results of the Integrated Resources Planning for Energy (IRP), developed for the same area, and supplemented with other primary and secondary information sources. The use of IRP\'s information made possible, quickly and easy, the assessments of energy resources in extra three dimensions3, beyond the usual technical- economic one, including views and positions of local and national stakeholders (technical and nontechnical). In the pilot study, the model is applied in five renewable energy resources within the Administrative Region of Araçatuba (RAA), northwest of São Paulo state, Brazil. The evaluated energy resources were: (a) supply side: wind generation (EOL); Cogeneration by Biomass of Sugar Cane (BIO); and Small Hydro Power plants (SHP); (b) demand side (measures of energy economy): replacement of Compact Fluorescent Incandescent bulbs by Fluorescent ones and replacement of Electric Showers by Solar Heater ones. The main results of the proposed evaluation model were (i) a functional cash flow model , useful to assess the generation resources; (ii) for each generation resource: the calculation of the main Figures of Economic Merit (NPV, IRR, Discounted Payback, the equilibrium price of generated energy and relevant demand for working capital), (iii) measures of energy economy: the calculation of the main Figures of Economic Merit (Annualized Life Cycle Cost (ALCC) and Payback Discounted (PBD), (iv) points of remarkable sensitivity in the Figures of Economic Merit analysis, obtained by varying the main independent parameters input in the cash flow models that represent the resources, (v) analysis of the risks in adoption of the evaluated resources, and finally, (vi) the attractiveness degree of each resources evaluated : not attractive, attractive with attention, and attractive. Within the context of the pilot study case, the use of compact fluorescent bulb received the degree attractive; biomass cogeneration (BIO) and solar collector received degree attractive, but under attention; wind generation (EOL) and PCH received the degree not attractive for investment within the study case region.

O objetivo da dissertação foi o desenvolvimento de um modelo de avaliação rápida da atratividade de oportunidades de negócios em recursos energéticos renováveis dentro de uma região geográfica delimitada, valendo-se dos resultados do Planejamento Integrado de Recursos Energéticos (PIR) para a região analisada, complementado com outras bases bibliográficas primárias e secundárias. O uso dos resultados do PIR propiciou o acesso rápido a avaliações prontas dos recursos energéticos em três dimensões1, além da dimensão técnico-econômica, incluindo opiniões e posições da sociedade local e nacional (técnicos e não técnicos). No estudo piloto, o modelo é aplicado em cinco recursos energéticos renováveis dentro da Região Administrativa de Araçatuba (RAA), noroeste do estado de São Paulo. Os recursos avaliados são: (a) de oferta: Geração eólica (EOL); Cogeração por Biomassa de Cana-de-açúcar (BIO); e Pequenas Centrais Hidroelétricas (PCH); (b) de demanda (medidas de economia): Troca de Lâmpadas Incandescentes por Fluorescentes Compactas e Troca de Chuveiros Elétricos por Aquecedores Solares. Os principais resultados do modelo de avaliação foram (i) um modelo de fluxo de caixa funcional para a avaliação dos recursos de geração; (ii) para cada recurso de geração: cálculo das principais Figuras de Mérito Econômico Financeiro (VPL, TIR, PayBack Descontado, preço de equilíbrio2 da energia gerada e demanda relevante de capital de giro); (iii) para as medidas de economia de energia: cálculo das figuras de mérito econômico-financeiras (Custo do Ciclo de vida anualizado (CCVA) e PayBack Descontado); (iv) pontos notáveis da análise de sensibilidade das figuras de mérito, obtidas pela variação das principais parâmetros de entrada dos modelos matemáticos representativos dos recursos; (v) análise geral dos riscos em empreender os recursos avaliados; e (vi) diagnóstico da atratividade de investimento em cada recurso: não atrativo, atrativo com atenção, e atrativo. No contexto do estudo piloto, o recurso lâmpada fluorescente recebeu diagnóstico de atrativo; os recursos Cogeração por biomassa e coletor solar receberam o diagnóstico de atrativo com atenção, e os recursos Geração eólica e PCH receberam o diagnóstico de não atrativos para investimento, todos dentro da região do estudo de caso. / The purpose of this work was the expedite assessment of business opportunities attractiveness in renewable energy resources within a limited geographical area, based on the results of the Integrated Resources Planning for Energy (IRP), developed for the same area, and supplemented with other primary and secondary information sources. The use of IRP\'s information made possible, quickly and easy, the assessments of energy resources in extra three dimensions3, beyond the usual technical- economic one, including views and positions of local and national stakeholders (technical and nontechnical). In the pilot study, the model is applied in five renewable energy resources within the Administrative Region of Araçatuba (RAA), northwest of São Paulo state, Brazil. The evaluated energy resources were: (a) supply side: wind generation (EOL); Cogeneration by Biomass of Sugar Cane (BIO); and Small Hydro Power plants (SHP); (b) demand side (measures of energy economy): replacement of Compact Fluorescent Incandescent bulbs by Fluorescent ones and replacement of Electric Showers by Solar Heater ones. The main results of the proposed evaluation model were (i) a functional cash flow model , useful to assess the generation resources; (ii) for each generation resource: the calculation of the main Figures of Economic Merit (NPV, IRR, Discounted Payback, the equilibrium price of generated energy and relevant demand for working capital), (iii) measures of energy economy: the calculation of the main Figures of Economic Merit (Annualized Life Cycle Cost (ALCC) and Payback Discounted (PBD), (iv) points of remarkable sensitivity in the Figures of Economic Merit analysis, obtained by varying the main independent parameters input in the cash flow models that represent the resources, (v) analysis of the risks in adoption of the evaluated resources, and finally, (vi) the attractiveness degree of each resources evaluated : not attractive, attractive with attention, and attractive. Within the context of the pilot study case, the use of compact fluorescent bulb received the degree attractive; biomass cogeneration (BIO) and solar collector received degree attractive, but under attention; wind generation (EOL) and PCH received the degree not attractive for investment within the study case region.

Electrical energy is one of the most common forms of energy these days. Consequently, electric power system is an indispensable part of any society. However, due to the deregulation of electricity markets and the growth in the share of power generation by uncontrollable renewable energies such as wind and solar, power system simulations are more challenging than earlier. Thus, new techniques for simplifying these simulations are needed. One important example of such simplification techniques is the power system reduction. Power system reduction can be used at least for four different purposes: a) Simplifying the power system simulations, b) Reducing the computational complexity, c) Compensating the data unavailability, and d) Reducing the existing uncertainty. Due to such reasons, power system reduction is an important and necessary subject, but a challenging task to do. Power system reduction is even more essential when system operators are facing very large-scale power systems and when the renewable energy resources like hydro, wind, and solar have a high share in power generation. This thesis focuses on the topic of large-scale power system reduction with high penetration of renewable energy resources and tries to pursue the following goals: • The thesis first reviews the different methods which can be used for simplifying the power system studies, including the power system reduction. A comparison among three important simplification techniques is also performed to reveal which simplification results in less error and more simulation time decrement. • Secondly, different steps and methods for power system reduction, including network aggregation and generation aggregation, are introduced, described and discussed. • Some improvements regarding the subject of power system reduction, i.e. on both network aggregation and generation aggregation, are developed. • Finally, power system reduction is applied to some power system problems and the results of these applications are evaluated. A general conclusion is that using power system simplification techniques and specially the system reduction can provides many important advantages in studying large-scale power systems with high share of renewable energy generations. In most of applications, not only the power system reduction highly reduces the complexity of the power system study under consideration, but it also results in small errors. Therefore, it can be used as an efficient method for dealing with current bulk power systems with huge amounts of renewable and distributed generations. / <p>The Doctoral Degrees issued upon completion of the programme are issued by Comillas Pontifical University, Delft University of Technology and KTH Royal Institute of Technology. The invested degrees are official in Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden, respectively. QC 20150116</p>

Operation of the electricity markets is subject to a number of strict and specific constraints such as continuous load-generation balance, security of supply, and generation technology related limitations. Contributions have been made to two important problems of the Electricity Markets, in the context of this study. In this study, Price Based Unit Commitment problem in the literature, which is a tool for the GENCO for operations planning, is extended considering the interdependencies between the Natural Gas (NG) and Electricity infrastructures and the uncertainty of Wind Power generation. The effect of the NG infrastructure physical limitations is considered via linearized NG transmission system equations, and the Wind energy sources and conventional generation resource uncertainties are simulated by Monte-Carlo simulations. The contribution of the forward energy Bilateral Contracts (BC), as a financial risk hedging tool is also included by modeling these in the proposed PBUC framework. In the case studies , it is observed that a GENCO could prevent its financial losses due to NG interruptions, by depositing only a portion of the midterm interrupted NG in the storage facilities. The Security Constrained Unit Commitment (SCUC) Problem is widely accepted tool in the industry which models the market clearing process. This study integrates two novelties to the SCUC problem / &bull / A discrete demand response model to consider active participation of the consumers, &bull / A hybrid deterministic/stochastic contingency model to represent the N-1 contingencies together with the uncertainties related with the wind power generation and system load. It is observed that the curtailment of available wind power capacity would enable the TSO to take corrective actions against occurrence of the contingencies and realization of the uncertainties in the most possible economical manner.

This thesis deals with the issue of power flow analysis in a medium voltage (22kV) distribution network with a focus on the influence of distributed energy generation recources. At first the issue of operation of distributed energy resources and their reverse effects on the distribution system is presented in the thesis. Furtherly there are described their operational conditions from the legislation point of view. The part dealing with calculation compares two network configurations in terms of power quality and how the power quality is impacted by distributed energy resources. The attention is given to voltage conditions, short-circuit power, power conditions, losses and flicker. The first configuration corresponds to the real situation in the network, the other one is describing the changes after the new 110/22 kV substation implementation to the power supply area and the overal change of network configuration. The network model and run simulation is done using the E-Vlivy program.

No description available.

This master’s thesis named “The Life Cycle of Solar Power, Efficiency and Return” is divided into seven chapters and focuses on the utilization of solar radiation in photovoltaic power stations and solar thermal power stations. The first chapter of this thesis familiarizes the reader with issues concerning renewable resources of energy and presents an overview of the focus of each chapter. The following second chapter is occupied with a topical research of renewable resources of energy utilization in Europe. Further the author presents a brief glance back at the past of solar energy utilization and also a prediction of future solar energy utilization in the Czech Republic. The chapter named “Specification and parameterization of individual technologies” contains an overview of today’s most utilized photovoltaic cells and panels together with an overview of utilized solar collectors and solar thermal power stations. In the following chapter named “Concretization of typical applications and realizations of photovoltaic and solar thermal power stations and determination of all related parameters” the author describes further components of photovoltaic and solar thermal systems. The economical aspect of photovoltaic component production together with an overview of utilized photovoltaic technologies is presented in this chapter. The problem of recycling photovoltaic applications and the current legislative situation regarding this issue in the Czech Republic is also outlined within this chapter. In the fifth chapter of this master’s thesis the author presents mathematical models of a photovoltaic and a solar thermal power station with the focus on economic aspects of investment efficiency assessment. Within this master’s thesis a simulation program in the computational software program Mathematica was created by the author. This program allows a calculation of economic efficiency and return of photovoltaic power station investments. The results of executed simulations are presented in the sixth chapter of this thesis. The last chapter contains an appraisal and summary of results achieved by the author of this thesis.

MSc (Statistics) / Department of Statistics / Wind offers an environmentally sustainable energy resource that has seen increasing global adoption in recent years. However, its intermittent, unstable and stochastic nature hampers its representation among other renewable energy sources. This work addresses the forecasting of wind speed, a primary input needed for wind energy generation, using data obtained from the South African Wind Atlas Project. Forecasting is carried out on a two days ahead time horizon. We investigate the predictive performance of artificial neural networks (ANN) trained with Bayesian regularisation, decision trees based stochastic gradient boosting (SGB) and generalised additive models (GAMs). The results of the comparative analysis suggest that ANN displays superior predictive performance based on root mean square error (RMSE). In contrast, SGB shows outperformance in terms of mean average error (MAE) and the related mean average percentage error (MAPE). A further comparison of two forecast combination methods involving the linear and additive quantile regression averaging show the latter forecast combination method as yielding lower prediction accuracy. The additive quantile regression averaging based prediction intervals also show outperformance in terms of validity, reliability, quality and accuracy. Interval combination methods show the median method as better than its pure average counterpart. Point forecasts combination and interval forecasting methods are found to improve forecast performance. / NRF