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An exergy-based approach to the joint economic and environmental impact assessment of possible photovoltaic scenarios: A case study at a regional level in Italy

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  • Colombo, Emanuela
  • Rocco, Matteo V.
  • Toro, Claudia
  • Sciubba, Enrico

Abstract

Most energy conversion systems, and especially electricity generation plants, do not operate at nominal conditions throughout their useful life: periodic, semi-periodic and stochastic changes in the availability of the resource affect solar (thermal and PV), wind, hydraulic, and geothermal plants, which in reality operate at off-design conditions for most of their life. To a smaller extent, fossil-fuelled plants may also be plagued by fuel availability problems and no longer easily predictable demand oscillation. In spite of the ever growing net connectivity, since the demand curve in even larger geographic regions displays a typical quasi-sinusoidal shape, fleet load modulation is unavoidable. Naturally, off-design operation and load cycling affect the cost of the generated kWh.

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  • Colombo, Emanuela & Rocco, Matteo V. & Toro, Claudia & Sciubba, Enrico, 2015. "An exergy-based approach to the joint economic and environmental impact assessment of possible photovoltaic scenarios: A case study at a regional level in Italy," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 318(C), pages 64-74.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:318:y:2015:i:c:p:64-74
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2014.11.006
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Giuseppe Todde & Lelia Murgia & Isaac Carrelo & Rita Hogan & Antonio Pazzona & Luigi Ledda & Luis Narvarte, 2018. "Embodied Energy and Environmental Impact of Large-Power Stand-Alone Photovoltaic Irrigation Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-15, August.
    3. Claudia Toro & Matteo V. Rocco & Emanuela Colombo, 2016. "Exergy and Thermoeconomic Analyses of Central Receiver Concentrated Solar Plants Using Air as Heat Transfer Fluid," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-17, October.
    4. Guerin, Turlough F., 2017. "Evaluating expected and comparing with observed risks on a large-scale solar photovoltaic construction project: A case for reducing the regulatory burden," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 333-348.
    5. Petar Sabev Varbanov & Hon Huin Chin & Alexandra-Elena Plesu Popescu & Stanislav Boldyryev, 2020. "Thermodynamics-Based Process Sustainability Evaluation," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-28, April.
    6. Baccanelli, Margaret & Langé, Stefano & Rocco, Matteo V. & Pellegrini, Laura A. & Colombo, Emanuela, 2016. "Low temperature techniques for natural gas purification and LNG production: An energy and exergy analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 180(C), pages 546-559.
    7. Ferrara, G. & Lanzini, A. & Leone, P. & Ho, M.T. & Wiley, D.E., 2017. "Exergetic and exergoeconomic analysis of post-combustion CO2 capture using MEA-solvent chemical absorption," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 113-128.

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