Regional Electrification Planning: ENGT5114 Sustainable Energy Report

This report delves into the application of sustainable energy principles and various energy technologies within the context of regional electrification planning. It begins by analyzing local user requirements in Sierra Leone, identifying current energy generation specifications and customer bases. The report then explores zero-carbon energy generation strategies, emphasizing the potential of renewable sources like solar, hydro, and wind energy. It further examines the integration of new energy solutions with existing infrastructure, including the utilization of existing power plants and the establishment of reserve plants. The transition pathway towards sustainable energy is discussed, highlighting the importance of reducing carbon consumption and promoting the use of renewable resources. The report also presents business models and investment approaches for sustainable energy projects, including the use of operating models, financial aspects, crowd funding, and loans. Finally, it covers governance and policy structures, providing a comprehensive overview of regional electrification planning and sustainable energy strategies. This report is a valuable resource for students studying sustainable energy and environmental engineering.

Sustainable Energy

TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
1: Local user requirements...........................................................................................................3
2: Zero carbon energy generation................................................................................................4
3: Integration with existing infrastructure....................................................................................5
4 Transition pathway....................................................................................................................5
5 Business model and investment approach................................................................................6
6 Governance and policy structure .............................................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Sustainable energy is a form of energy that helps in fulfilling today’s demand of energy
without harming and threatening resources being expired or depleted. This form of energies can
be used again and again (Hussain and et.al 2017). Sustainable energy can be widely used and
must be encouraged as they cause no harm to environment. The availability of this energy is free
of cost. All the renewable form of energy like wind, solar energy, hydro-power and so on are
sustainable as they are large quantity and in their stable forms. Many types of energy
technologies can be made with the use of sustainable forms of energy. There are some types of
renewable mini grids mostly popular in rural areas for the electrification projects. This report
deals with the application of the principles of sustainable energy and multiple different energy
technologies. There is a detailed development of the electrification strategy which is present on
off grid and on grid both types of solutions. Lastly, there is a business model and the way of
investment explained in this report.
1: Local user requirements
Sierra Leone tend to establish a new power generation unit within the western region and
through which it tend to ensure that it is being able to fulfil the power requirements of the local
audience (Rahman and Wahid, 2021). Thus in order to develop future requirements, current
working requirements has to be identified. Therefore following are the current generation
specifications which are being associated withinSierra Leone.
Plant
Peak
Capacity
(MW)
Fuel
Carbon
Intensity
(kg/kWh)
Marginal
Cost of
Electricity
($/kWh)
Capacity
Factor
Bumbuna I 43.8 Hydro 0 0.01 50.00%
Karpowership 1 100 Heavy Fuel Oil 0.78 0.12 90.00%
Charlotte 1.5 Hydro 0 0.01 40.00%
Kingtom 9 Heavy Fuel Oil 0.78 0.22 88.00%
Black Hall Road 16.4 Heavy Fuel Oil 0.78 0.22 88.00%
As per the case study it is being given that Sierra Leone is having different types of
customer bases which are as following, Domestic customers 72.3%, Private customers 17.2%,
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Government facilities 10.5%. This is important to identify because different pricing and
differences in energy consumption is also being seen in this case. The differences in power
consumption is also be seen and on that bases different payment approaches are also being seen
accordingly. This include payment structure in payment for house hold is$ 0.16/kwh, whereas
private customers $0.27/kwh and governmental facilities pay $0.26/kwh.
Thus several approaches have to be taken through which electrical requirements of the
users is being fulfilled. This is also important for the corporation that new power unit is being
established, due to the fact that within Sierra Leone high electrical theft are being happening
(Ahn, Seo and Kim, 2021). Therefore because of which the final electrical supply is often being
interrupted because of which customer requirements are not being fulfilled and also new
developed strategy will also reduce the pricing.
Thus Sierra Leone has to install new power generation facility and with that has to take
appropriate steps like conversion of overhead lines to underground lines. Through this Sierra
Leone can ensure that chances of having power cut-off is often being reduced.
2: Zero carbon energy generation
Sierra Leone has to ensure that it make concentrated efforts to minimize the negative
impact upon the environment, through this it can ensure that it is being able to develop a positive
impact in from of the customers. This happens because rapidly increasing in global warming is
increasing the sea level and due to which several climatic changes have being monitored within
the recent time. The prime factor for the increasing global warning is the utilization of non-
renewable resources. This becomes more significant forSierra Leone due to that fact that various
geographic locations within Sierra Leone are primarily using different approaches of energy
generation (Kim and et.al, 2021). Following are the primarily used energy generation plants
within Sierra Leone; Bumbuna-Hydro peak capability having peak, Karpowership- heavy fuel
oil,Charlotte- hydro, Kingtom- heavy fuel oil and Black Hall Road- heavy fuel oil.
Since the primarily approach for energy generation is the high utilization of non-renewable
resources. Therefore Sierra Leone has to ensure that it make a significant approach in terms of
development and identification of innovative approach in the zero-carbon is being emitted in
terms of power generation. Thus in order to generate high power by using zero-carbon approach,
company may tend to use various approaches, this include elements like solar energy, hydro
energy, wind energy and various other approaches. This is an highly effective approach because
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since Sierra Leone is having several hydro plants, therefore it can utilize its pre-established
plants and extend their capacity. Through this it can ensure that it is being able to meet the
current requirements as well as the future requirements. With that it can also use an integrated
approach of power generation in which wind energy plants can be installed at remote locations
and primarily near hydro-plants (Fouquet, 2017). This happens because high wind flow can be
seen near the hydro-plants because through this appropriate result can be achieved.
3: Integration with existing infrastructure
Sierra Leone tend to provide electrical based supply to its customers with an integrated
approach of hydro plants, high oil plants and various other approaches. Since different
approaches are significantly being utilized for the fulfilment of the energy consumption.
Therefore if a completely new plant is being established from the scratch that high expenditures
have to faced. Thus the pre-installed infrastructure has to utilized in such a way that overall work
productivity is being increased. This can be seen in the case in which since it having several
hydropower plants, therefore efforts can be made to increase the water storage capacity. Through
this the overall energy generation capability of the plant can be increased by which the overall
requirements can be accomplished. Also the wind energy generation plants are to be installed at
far locations because of requirement of high winds. Therefore with this approach the electrical
unit generation withinSierra Leone can be increased.
Once the new plants are being established then in that case the existing plants like heavy
oil plant and other plants can be used as an reserve plants. The prime objective of having reserve
plants is that it act as an backup plant, through which sudden peak requirements can be fulfilled
(Gambhir, 2019). However, since Sierra Leone is not often being able to provide continuous
energy supply to the customers, thus due to which by installing innovative approaches within the
pre-installed power generation units. The overall carbon emission can be reduced because non-
renewable plants are being used as reserve plants and primary plants uses renewable energy for
the power generation. Therefore due to which Sierra Leone can ensure that it utilizes existing
plants and also at the same time is being able to increase the working capability of the existing
plants by which the chances of goal achievement can be increased.
4 Transition pathway
Sustainable energy shows the usage of energy in such a way which does not impact the future
need of energy and it will also fulfil the present lead of the energy through which people can
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conduct their day to day activities easily(Wu and et.al2018). Energy Transmission refers to the
need of people such as electricity heating, transportation and cooling. But these resources are
limited in nature. If people will use such energy on daily basis then there is high chances that the
coming generation will not able to use such energy. Transition pathway provides the different
ways and Solutions so that it is not used more energy and try to save such energies for the
upcoming future generation. Transition pathway is being wait for Carbon use. Low carbon will
provide technical and economic benefit to Sierra. The nature of transition energy is implicit in
nature so it is the responsibility of people to safeguard the transition energy and only use such
energy and specially carbon through which they can fulfil their needs and they should not use
such energy throughout the day. Sierra is trying to prepare different innovative techniques and
the government also trying to implement such innovative Strategies and techniques so that it can
reduce the consumption of carbon for up to 9 years. Apart from this it is the duty of people that
do not use carbon in much amount otherwise the coming generation will have to face difficulties
in the absence of carbon. From the given case it has been seen that people are using electricity
for cooking and other household things. Some people are using kerosene and other gases for their
day-to-day operations. But they have to make sure that they do not use such gases specially
liquid Petroleum And kerosene as it is very limited resources and if the resources get finished
then the entire world has to suffer. Western Area of Sierra Leone is using more energy in their
daily life. In result the resources of Sierra is reducing very fast. Only option is available is that
people can reduce the consumption then only valuable resources can sustain. Most of the
resources uses carbon then only they can produce better outcome. So the consumption of carbon
is increasing day by day. The Government of Sierra continuously ensuring people about the
limitations of such resources especially carbon but people are not taking this seriously and
unknowingly they are wasting the valuable resources. But this is the responsibility of
government that they should implement strict laws and rules on the usage of carbon. Apart from
this government has to make substitute of carbon to the people so that they can conduct their
daily activities smoothly.
5 Business model and investment approach
Business model refers to the core strategy implemented by the company and Enterprises to fulfil
the goal and objective. In Sierra the Government and other companies are using various Business
models and investment approach to generate more Renewable Sources and also the want to
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safeguard the electricity and carbon in the country. Safeguard search resources company in
government has to provide substitute products to the people so that they do not use such valuable
energy and resources. For that complaint government needs a lot of money and fund then only
they can provide Biomass and bio fuel to the people so that they do not use liquid petroleum and
carbon. To generate substitute Product Company can use operating model through which it can
minimise and maintain the fees and expenses on technologies (Kuzemko and et.al 2020).
. Apart from this if the company of government uses different Technologies than we have to pay
that charges of up gradation and maintenance of such Technologies which can become quite
expensive for the company but with the help of financial aspects company can grab the funds to
maintain such resources easily. Company can take help from crowd funding through which we
can purchase new technologies and Company can easily implement sustainable and renewable
energy. But for crowd funding company has to provide relevant details about the renewable
energy and technology to the people then only they will invest their valuable money in the
project and Company can provide benefit of renewable energy to people. Another thing company
can go for obligations and loan through which they will get funding to start their project of
renewable energy. Pen company book for loan they have to provide interest and also they have to
repay the loan to the Financial Institutions and banks but these are some important and popular
aspects to get finance for renewable energy.
Investment model
Able energy required a front investment and heavy amount of investment then only it can
provide benefits to people and government as well (Chu and et.al2017). To use renewable energy
and safeguard Carbon Company and government need to make policies about the usage of
finance and they have to make sure that they do not waste money in those things which do not
provide any benefit to people. Apart from this company and government need to hire such a
skilled employees who can use their knowledge and provide best solution to the government and
Company so that usage of carbon and liquid petroleum can be decreased and people can get
substitute of this product because petroleum and carbon is very important and without petroleum
people can’t run their day to day expenses. So these are very important energy which is being
used by people on daily basis and it is very hard to replace such resources with another
renewable resources.
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6 Governance and policy structure
As the government is concerned for the usage of Sustainable energy as these energies are limited
in nature so sometimes government has to take strict actions on the usage of these energies so
that nobody can miss use energy (Ryu and et.al 2019). To protect the misuse of renewable
energy government has imposed social technical transition which is an approach safeguard the
renewable energy which is being used by civil societies Institutions and infrastructure
companies. Besides days government has imposed various sustainable energy policies on the
people through which they cannot use more energy as compared to their needs. As when the
people increases the usage of such energy it it damages the environment and also due to their
mistake future generation has to suffer therefore government time to time update the renewable
policies and make the people bound to follow such policies and rules. Besides this government
run various campaign for the energy so that more and more people come to know about the
importance of energy and government also wants to make people aware that they do not waste
such energy which is limited in nature. Government has created energy portfolios and it is also
creating energy securities and making policies for pollution reduction so that upcoming
generation do not have to face difficulties in using search resources. Apart from this government
is establishing various energy plants to safeguard valuable resources and also it is providing
biggest Employment opportunity to people and their role is to take care the resources for that no
one other people can misuse such resources for their profit. Besides this government is
continuously trying to develop such sustainable resources but government has to face different
challenges such as energy poverty and climate changes due to which their policies and strategies
get failed. As the usage of fuel increasing day by day but government is encouraging people to
use recyclable energy so that environment do not get affected.
CONCLUSION
It can be concluded that sustainable energy is the best source of energy in this modern
world to conserve what all is left for future generations. Electricity is used to improve human
life, welfare and technology. Mini grid projects are famous for rural electrification, a database is
made to analyse the costs and success of the project. Between the two types of ownership, public
ownership can be more expensive than a private or community ownership. Community
ownership drives the mini grid project leading to its success. It is identified that renewable
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source of energy is the best choice for grid connections. Pocket friendly option for a lot of
communities is the grid connection.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Ahn, J.H., Seo, M.H. and Kim, T.S., 2021. Efficiency maximization of a quadruple power
generation system with zero carbon emission. Energy. 226. p.120278.
Chu and et.al2017. The path towards sustainable energy. Nature materials. 16(1).pp.16-22.
Fouquet, R., 2017. Make low-carbon energy an integral part of the knowledge
economy. Nature. 551(7682). p.S141.
Gambhir, A., 2019. Planning a low-carbon energy transition: what can and can’t the models tell
us?. Joule. 3(8). pp.1795-1798.
Hussain and et.al 2017. Emerging renewable and sustainable energy technologies: State of the
art. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews.71. pp.12-28.
Kim, D. and et.al, 2021. Impact on Renewable Design Requirements of Net-Zero Carbon
Buildings under Potential Future Climate Scenarios. Climate. 9(1). p.17.
Kuzemko and et.al 2020. Covid-19 and the politics of sustainable energy transitions. Energy
research & social science.68. p.101685.
Rahman, M.N. and Wahid, M.A., 2021. Renewable-based zero-carbon fuels for the use of power
generation: A case study in Malaysia supported by updated developments
worldwide. Energy Reports. 7. pp.1986-2020.
Ryu and et.al 2019. Hybrid energy harvesters: toward sustainable energy harvesting. Advanced
Materials. 31(34). p.1802898.
Wu and et.al2018. Application of blockchain technology in sustainable energy systems: An
overview. Sustainability. 10(9). p.3067.
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