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Researchers have simulated the operation of seven renewable energy communities in the port of Naples and found that they offer lower life-cycle costs. Using different solar and wave power capacities, they were able to optimize the system to a self-consumption rate of 90%. They also offered a scheme for the management of a port energy community.
Researchers at the University of Naples Federico II (Italy) have examined the feasibility of establishing renewable energy communities (RECs) in seaports. To do so, they created a numerical model based on EU regulations, although they claim that their results can be generalised to other ports. Taking the port of Naples as a case study, they achieved a high self-consumption rate and low life-cycle costs.
“Ports are unique anthropogenic systems characterised by high energy demand due to the multitude of activities taking place within port areas, spanning electricity for shipping, industrial operations and commercial facilities,” the academics state. “Therefore, by end-use electrification and developing shared renewable energy projects within the enabling REC framework, ports can be transformed into renewable energy hubs, potentially supplying surplus energy to surrounding communities.”
Using software such as MATLAB and PVsyst, the scientists created a numerical model for the deployment of photovoltaic systems, wave energy converters (WECs) and battery energy storage systems (BESSs). They then modeled the financial flow of the system and performed multi-objective optimization to find the best REC configuration.
The study was based on the case of the Port of Naples, which has a potential PV installation surface of 106,100 m2, while the WECs are assumed to be located on the harbour breakwaters, with an extension of 1.5 km. Meteorological data for a typical year were used from irradiation and wave profiles. The location receives a maximum of approximately 1,000 Wh/m2 of global horizontal radiation, up to an annual radiation of about 1,600 kWh/m2. The maximum wave height reaches 2.5 m, with an average of 0.55 m.
“The analysis considers south-facing solar panels with an azimuth angle of 0 degrees and a tilt angle of 30 degrees, using commercial photovoltaic modules with a nominal power of 315 W per module,” the researchers explain. “An oscillating water column (OWC) system is assumed as the technology of choice to harness wave energy.”
The assumed capital costs for PV were €1,200 ($1,295)/kW, €1,500/kW for CME and €350/kW for BESS. The model considered PV installations of up to 12 MW, CME of up to 5 MW and BESS of up to 5 MWh.
In addition, the study considered seven RECs that can operate together or separately. The Port Authority REC (PA REC) consists mainly of the public area, while RECs 1-5 are entities grouped based on their proximity. The Port REC refers to a large energy community of the entire port, with a peak demand of 3,800 kW.
“According to the information publicly provided by the port authority, the main players operating within the port boundaries can be grouped into general companies, operators in the passenger sector, shipyards and commercial operators. All of them are energy users and potential stakeholders in the establishment of CERs,” the researchers stressed.
“The analysis considers south-facing solar panels with an azimuth angle of 0 degrees and a tilt angle of 30 degrees, using commercial photovoltaic modules with a nominal power of 315 W per module,” the researchers explain. “An oscillating water column (OWC) system is assumed as the technology of choice to harness wave energy.”
The assumed capital costs for PV were €1,200 ($1,295)/kW, €1,500/kW for CME and €350/kW for BESS. The model considered PV installations of up to 12 MW, CME of up to 5 MW and BESS of up to 5 MWh.In addition, the study considered seven RECs that can operate together or separately. The Port Authority REC (PA REC) consists mainly of the public area, while RECs 1-5 are entities grouped based on their proximity. The Port REC refers to a large energy community of the entire port, with a peak demand of 3,800 kW.
“According to the information publicly provided by the port authority, the main players operating within the port boundaries can be grouped into general companies, operators in the passenger sector, shipyards and commercial operators. All of them are energy users and potential stakeholders in the establishment of CERs,” the researchers stressed.
According to them, optimising the system would allow a port REC with 90% self-consumption and 60% self-sufficiency. This gives a life cycle cost (LCC) over 20 years of 35 million euros, taking into account that otherwise port operators would have spent 86 million euros. The BESS represents a 15% increase in self-consumed energy.
“The decision between creating one or several RECs in the port depends on the specific characteristics of the port,” the academics conclude. “The optimisation results showed that multiple RECs provide more total revenue and lead to a lower LCC (€19 million versus €35 million) compared to the implementation of a single REC in ports. However, virtual self-consumption decreases slightly to 81%.”
The researchers suggested that “the complexity of renewable energy asset management in ports can be addressed by centralised management of multiple RECs in ports through a synergy between the Port Authority, port operators, REC members and third parties. We proposed a management model that involves all of them and introduces a supervised allocation of new members, dividing management functions between central administration and individual RECs. In this way, ports can offer more competitive and cost-effective services to port users.”
Their findings are presented in “ Empowering sea ports with renewable energy under the enabling framework of the energy communities ,” published in Energy Conversion and Management . Scientists from Concordia University in Canada also participated in the study. |
