Exercises and Sample solutions
Exercises and Sample solutions
Conventional Vs Renewable Power generaiton
Explain what is meant by conventional power generation and give some examples.
Generally fossil fuelled systems: Coal, Combine Cycle Gas Turbine Power Plants
Explain what is meant by renewable energy and sustainable energy, giving examples.
§ The ability of humanity to ensure that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. (UN Bruntland commission)
§ Sustainability is the preservation of the productive capacity for the foreseeable future.
§ The biophysical aspect of sustainability means maintaining or improving the integrity of the life support system of the earth
§ The simple principle: Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. To pursue sustainability is to create and maintain the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony to support present and future generations.
§ Renewable energy is based on replenishable resources (non-depleted), geothermal can be depleted over a short period of time but does not take so much time to regenerate. Fossil fuels take a very long time (hundreds/ thousand of years).
Are there any commonalities between renewable and conventional power generation? Can they complement each other?
Compliment each other especially for balancing and intermittent generation/ baseload. Thermal systems (fossil/ biofuels/ geothermal/ CSP) all use an engine to create shaft power to run a generator to produce electricity.
Bonus question: Describe an energy transition scenario to achieve the Net Zero Plan for 2050.
Scenarios should be plausible future examples reflecting a possible combination of the important factors such as economic growth, technological development, environmental concerns, public attitudes, and political/ governmental stance. Supporting new large scale wind and marine energy in remote areas using new transmission, active distribution systems, microgrids, combination of several renewable generation technologies depending on application. Backed with own analysis.