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A Linear Reduced-Order Model for the Activated Sludge Process For the Integration into a Mixed-Integer Linear Energy System Optimisation Model

Conventional wastewater treatment plants consume significant amounts of electricity. The constant aeration of the wastewater in order to foster the growth of microorganisms or the pumping of wastewater are two examples for energy-intensive processes within a plant. Case studies have shown that switching off blowers and inlet pumps for a certain period of time is possible without a loss in water quality. ...

Plans for Expanding Nuclear Power Plants Lack Technological and Economic Foundations

In mid-April 2023, the final three nuclear power plants in Germany will be taken offline permanently. At the same time, the energy crisis resulting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine has fueled calls for the construction of new nuclear reactors in Germany. A similar debate is taking place in many other countries in the context of the climate crisis. Since the 1950s, nuclear power has been one of ...

Climate Policy Integration: A Comparative Analysis of Land Use Change and Energy Sectors in Indonesia and Mexico

Reacting to Changing Paradigms: How and Why to Reform Electricity Markets

Flexible Heat Pumps: Must-Have or Nice to Have in a Power Sector with Renewables?

Heat pumps are a key technology for reducing fossil fuel use in the heating sector. A transition to heat pumps implies an increase in electricity demand, especially in cold winter months. Using an open-source power sector model, we examine the power sector impacts of a massive expansion of decentralized heat pumps in Germany in 2030, combined with buffer heat storage of different sizes. Assuming that ...

Reacting to Changing Paradigms: How and Why to Reform Electricity Markets

The energy crisis and the accelerated transition to climate neutrality result in a shift from the traditional energy trilemma to an “energy quartet” across Europe. Firstly, the criteria of affordability, previously focused on short-term price developments, broadens to reliable affordability including in crises. Secondly, clean energy traditionally focused on clean production now extends to clean energy ...

How Flexible Electrification Can Integrate Fluctuating Renewables

To phase out fossil fuels, energy systems must shift to renewable electricity as the main source of primary energy. In this paper, we analyze how electrification can support the integration of fluctuating renewables, like wind and PV, and mitigate the need for storage and thermal backup plants. Using a cost-minimizing model for system planning, we find substantial benefits of electricity demand in ...

Power Sector Impacts of a Simultaneous European Heat Pump Rollout

The decarbonization of buildings requires the phase-out of fossil fuel heating systems. Heat pumps are considered a crucial technology to supply a substantial part of heating energy for buildings. Yet, their introduction is not without challenges, as heat pumps generate additional electricity demand as well as peak loads. To better understand these challenges, an ambitious simultaneous heat pump rollout ...

Organizational Models for the Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Plants: Lessons from the United Kingdom and the United States

With nuclear reactor fleets continuously aging, the decommissioning of closed reactors is gaining increasing attention. In nuclear decommissioning, technical, organizational, and regulatory challenges lead to long project durations and cost escalations. This paper attempts to examine the organizational efficiencies in nuclear decommissioning by applying the framework of the "system good" analysis and ...

Climate dividends and public support for carbon pricing

With the increasing urgency to address climate change, understanding public sentiment is crucial for designing effective and socially acceptable environmental policies. Despite the existence of effective tools for the green transition, a significant obstacle for policymakers lies in the lack of public support, hindering their ability to utilize these tools effectively. One tool that has been...