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Sustainable energy system analysis modeling environment: Analyzing life cycle emissions of the energy transition

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  • Gençer, Emre
  • Torkamani, Sarah
  • Miller, Ian
  • Wu, Tony Wenzhao
  • O'Sullivan, Francis

Abstract

One of the global community’s most significant contemporary challenges is the need to satisfy growing energy demand, while simultaneously achieving very significant reductions in the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the production, delivery, and consumption of energy. The energy sector is transforming via the convergence of power, transportation, and industrial sectors and inter-sectoral integration. To assess the level of decarbonization achieved through this change, one needs to study the carbon footprint of the energy system as a whole. Here, we present a novel, system-scale energy analysis tool, the Sustainable Energy System Analysis Modelling Environment (SESAME), to assess the pathway- and system-level GHG emissions of today’s changing energy system. The underlying analytic tool constitutes more than a thousand individual energy pathways. SESAME provides a consistent platform to estimate life cycle GHG emissions of all stages of the energy sector. Furthermore, the system representation is embedded into the tool for power and transportation sectors. The developed novel architecture, and implications of energy choices for example scenarios (vehicle fleet projections for US and generator-level hourly power generation) are presented to demonstrate SESAME’s high-resolution analysis capabilities. Impact of operational variations such as partial loading of power generation units and technology choices, such as treatment of the same crude oil in different refinery configurations, is explored.

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  • Gençer, Emre & Torkamani, Sarah & Miller, Ian & Wu, Tony Wenzhao & O'Sullivan, Francis, 2020. "Sustainable energy system analysis modeling environment: Analyzing life cycle emissions of the energy transition," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:277:y:2020:i:c:s030626192031062x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115550
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    3. Agnieszka Janik & Adam Ryszko & Marek Szafraniec, 2020. "Greenhouse Gases and Circular Economy Issues in Sustainability Reports from the Energy Sector in the European Union," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-36, November.
    4. Kakodkar, R. & He, G. & Demirhan, C.D. & Arbabzadeh, M. & Baratsas, S.G. & Avraamidou, S. & Mallapragada, D. & Miller, I. & Allen, R.C. & Gençer, E. & Pistikopoulos, E.N., 2022. "A review of analytical and optimization methodologies for transitions in multi-scale energy systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    5. Bashir, Muhammad Farhan & Pan, Yanchun & Shahbaz, Muhammad & Ghosh, Sudeshna, 2023. "How energy transition and environmental innovation ensure environmental sustainability? Contextual evidence from Top-10 manufacturing countries," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 697-709.
    6. Hernandez, Drake D. & Gençer, Emre, 2021. "Techno-economic analysis of balancing California’s power system on a seasonal basis: Hydrogen vs. lithium-ion batteries," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 300(C).
    7. Mohammad Abdul Baseer & Ibrahim Alsaduni, 2023. "A Novel Renewable Smart Grid Model to Sustain Solar Power Generation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-17, June.
    8. Matúš Mišík & Veronika Jursová Prachárová, 2023. "Coal Is a Priority for Energy Security, until It Is Not: Coal Phase-Out in the EU and Its Persistence in the Face of the Energy Crisis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-17, April.
    9. Li, Yanjie & Nian, Victor & Li, Hailong & Liu, Shengchun & Wang, Yabo, 2021. "A life cycle analysis techno-economic assessment framework for evaluating future technology pathways – The residential air-conditioning example," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 291(C).
    10. Resmond L. Reaño & Victor Antonio N. de Padua & Anthony B. Halog, 2021. "Energy Efficiency and Life Cycle Assessment with System Dynamics of Electricity Production from Rice Straw Using a Combined Gasification and Internal Combustion Engine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-19, August.

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