Anand Kashyap
Sub-Editor
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World focus is now shifting towards renewable and non-polluting sources of energy. Here is a look at how geospatial tech can play an effective role in exploiting these sources.
People’s lives are dependent on energy more than ever before. However, with the world population touching 7 billion, the energy sector is feeling the heat of enormous demand. The biggest challenge is that the traditional energy sources like coal and oil are exhaustible. It is here that the alternative or renewable energy resources like hydropower, wind energy, solar energy, geothermal energy and biomass are stepping in, with the potential to fill in the demand-supply gap. According to a report by the United Nations, global renewable investment, in hydro power, wind, geothermal, solar power and ocean energy, are forecast at USD 1.36 – USD 5.1 trillion for the decade to 2020 and USD 1.49 – USD 7.18 trillion from 2012-30. It also observed that about 140 gigawatts (GW) of added electricity generating capacity came from renewable energy resources during 2008-09, of a world total of 300 GW. According to a market report by Datamonitor, Renewable Energy: Global Industry Guide, the global renewable energy market grew by 6.8 percent in 2010 to reach a value of USD 322.5 billion. In 2015, the global renewable energy market is forecast to have a value of USD 479.9 billion, an increase of 48.8 percent since 2010. In one of its report in 2009, Worldwatch Institute calculated the worldwide potential for various sources of renewable energy which is presented in Table1.
Geospatial technology has an important role to play in developing and managing these renewable energy resources. Here's a look at some of the key alternative energy resources and the role of geospatial technology in this process.
HYDROPOWER
Hydropower is a form of energy that comes from the force of moving water. According to Renewables Global Status Report 2011, hydropower production represented about 16 percent of global electricity production in 2010. An estimated 30 GW of capacity was added during the year, with existing global capacity reaching an estimated 1,010 GW. Asia (led by China) and Latin America (led by Brazil) are the most active regions for new hydropower capacity to be deployed. Some of the major hydropower projects under construction are presented in Table 2.
Worldwatch Institute states that hydropower is produced in at least 150 countries. The Asia-Pacific region generated roughly 32 percent of global hydropower in 2010. Africa produces the least hydropower, accounting for 3 percent of the world total, but is considered the region with the greatest potential for increased production. In 2008, four countries-Albania, Bhutan, Lesotho, and Paraguay-generated all their electricity from hydropower, and 15 countries generated at least 90 percent of their electricity from hydro. Iceland, New Zealand and Norway produce the most hydropower per capita.
Role of geospatial tech
For hydropower development, environmental assessment and detailed information about river morphology and catchment areas are very essential. Using geospatial technology, one can map a river's morphology and changing behaviours. The technology helps in accurate calculation of water discharge, drainage density and drainage length. A GIS-based drainage database system provides a holistic scenario of a river system, which is not possible even when conducting detailed field survey.
According to hydropower spcialists, the development of this source in a terrain requires thorough study of geology, topography, land use patterns, distribution patterns of biodiversity resources, infrastructure, socio-economic activities and so on. Due to altitudinal variation, 2D mapping may not be enough to understand the topographic characteristics of terrains. Hence, one should always prefer 3D visualisation and use a digital elevation model (DEM). The DEM helps to calculate slope gradient. Using DEM, one can develop different models and simulations to understand various scenarios after constructing a dam in the river channel.
TIDAL ENERGY
Tidal energy is derived from the kinetic energy of the ocean water flow. It is similar to the way a wind turbine operates in air. Tidal energy is considered as another form of hydropower. As water is more than 800 times denser than air, water moving 12 miles per hour (mph) may exert about the same amount of force as a constant 110 mph wind. This fact shows the enormous potential of production of tidal energy.
Identifying the potential of tidal power, French utility giant Electricite de France collaborated with Irish marine technology company OpenHyrdro to build the world's largest tidal power station – off the northern coast of France. The project, which commenced work in 2008, will cost around USD 56.5 million and is expected to be completed in 2012. Once completed, the 8 MW facility will consist of four tidal turbines and will be capable of generating enough energy to power around 4,000 homes.
Realising the potential of tidal power, the energy industry is betting high on it. Siemens, the German engineering giant that manufactured and laid underwater Atlantic cables between the US and Europe, has taken majority ownership of Marine Current Turbines (MCT) that develops and builds tidal power systems. Siemens estimates that global carbon reduction commitments are increasing demand for reliable marine current power. It observed that the ocean energy sector can expect double-digit annual growth rates up to 2020.
Role of geospatial tech
According to Georgia Tech Research Corporation, geospatial tools allow users to view the full spatial distribution of the pre-calculated available power density and then to enter bathymetric constraints and energy converter specific parameters to tailor the output for particular regions. It includes GIS model which consists of a database containing results from the tidal model and several computational tools which extract useful information for the user.
The database consists of the tidal costituents for the water level, depth-averaged currents and the mean lower low water (MLLW) depths at a high resolution (10-500 m spacing). These tidal constituents are used to derive velocity, power density and other parameters of interest as requested by users in near real time.
WIND ENERGY
Human being acknowledged power of wind energy 5500 years ago when they used it to propel sailboats and sailing ships. In addition, windmills were used for irrigation pumping and for milling grain. Now, they fitted multi-bladed wind turbine atop a tower with generators and battery banks to produce electricity as it is environment friendly and nonexhaustible. According to a report by Pike Research; by 2017, the worldwide wind energy industry will be worth USD 153 billion – up from USD 77 billion in 2011 – with an installed wind power capacity of 562.9 GW compared to 235.8 GW in 2011. The report also observed that this source is providing up to one-fifth of energy supplies in some countries. While the global economic slowdown affected the sector in 2010, turbine deployment activity remained strong.
According to World Wind Energy Report 2010, the Chinese wind energy market represented more than half of the world market for new wind turbines, adding 18,9 GW. A sharp decline in new capacity was witnessed in the US whose share in new wind turbines fell down to 14.9 percent (5.6 GW), after 25.9 percent (9.9 GW) in 2009. Nine other countries that can be seen as major markets, with turbine sales in a range between 0.5 and 1.5 GW, are: Germany, Spain, India, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Canada, Sweden and Romania.
Role of geospatial tech
Updated maps were a critical component of the wind deployment model used to meet 20 percent of all energy demand, according to Esri, which played a lead role in implementing GIS at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in the US. Using GIS, one can determine the most favourable locations for wind farms based on the cost of transmission, locations of load centres and wind resources and the layout of the electrical grid. GISbased modelling enables analysis of terrain, which significantly impacts the quality of wind at a particular site. By loading utility data into the GIS, researchers can quickly see the existing transmission routes and estimate the benefits of accessing existing electric lines. In the US, another important consideration for developers is land ownership. Landuse data in GIS identifies areas under development restrictions from the US Bureau of Land Management and those requiring right-of-way grants.
According to NRG Systems, wind energy assessment technology provider, wind energy is not provided with the US government subsidies. The wind energy industry therefore needs to be as cost efficient as possible, especially in evaluating potential wind farm locations. More and more developers are using SODAR (sonic detection and ranging) and LiDAR technologies to support wind resource assessments. Tools, basedon these remote sensing technologies, are easy to use and move from site to site. It helps energy analysts in characterising the potential of the wind farms accurately.
SOLAR ENERGY
According to Renewables Global Status Report 2011, solar photovoltaic (PV) industry had an extraordinary year, with global production and markets more than doubling in 2010 than previous year. An estimated 17 GW of capacity was added worldwide (compared with just under 7.3 GW in 2009), bringing the global total to about 40 GW – more than seven times the capacity in place five years earlier. The European Union dominated the global PV market, led by Italy and particularly Germany which installed more PV in 2010 than the entire world did the previous year. The trend of utility-scale PV plants continued, with the number of such systems exceeding 5,000 and accounting for almost 25 percent of total global PV capacity. In addition, after years of inactivity, the concentrating solar thermal power market came back to life with nearly 740 MW added during 2007-10. More than half of this capacity was installed during 2010. The report also observed that project development is moving beyond the US Southwest region and Spain to other regions and countries, particularly the Middle East and North Africa region.
India is also considering setting up a company with an initial capital of around USD 405.6 million to build federal solar projects and help the country achieve a target of 20 GW of solar energy capacity by 2022. The company – Solar Energy Corp. of India – will gradually take over the responsibility for federal solar projects from NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Ltd., an arm of India's largest power producer NTPC Ltd.
Role of geospatial tech
Geospatial technology experts say that the technology provides a means for identifying and quantifying the factors affecting the potential of available solar energy. In addition, it also helps enrich the database. The spatial database of resource availability and the demand helps in the regional energy planning.
An instance can be seen in Germany. Recent results of the SUNAREA Research Project concluded that about 20 percent of the country's rooftops are suitable for solar power production. For this project, SUN-AREA researchers collected rooftop data using aerial laser scanners. Using GIS software, they identified various aspects of rooftop data, such as outer form, inclination, orientation and clouding. The team used an algorithm sequence created using the software, to determine the solar potential of all roof areas. The SUNAREA project also calculated solar suitability, potential power output, CO2 reduction and investment volume for each sub-area of a roof.
In another part of the globe, Masdar city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is working on an ambitious plan to reduce carbon footprint. The city is located 30 kilometres from Abu Dhabi city. It aims to meet the goals of zero waste, sustainable living and ultimately carbon neutrality. CH2M HILL company, which is providing GIS tech support to Masdar, is extensively using geospatial technology to design this future city. Most of the electricity for the city will be generated through a photovoltaic power plant, while the city's cooling will be provided via concentrated solar power. The company considered the geography of the area: sun angles, wind patterns, street widths and building density and height. The orientation of the buildings on a diagonal grid to provide maximum natural shading was modelled on GIS software.
BIOMASS ENERGY
According to a report published in Trends in Ecology and Evolution, abandoned croplands and pasturelands globally amount to approximately 1.5 million square miles. Realistically, energy crops raised on this land could be expected to yield about 27 exajoules of energy each year. This is a huge amount of energy-an exajoule is a billion billion joules, equivalent to 172 million barrels of oil. Yet, till 2005, the biomass yield can still satisfy only about 5 percent of global primary energy consumption by human beings, which was 483 exajoules. In 2009, the biomass power industry in the US, which generated approximately 11,000 MW, produced about 1.4 percent of the US electricity supply. The largest biomass gasification project in the world is being planned in Finland. Global engineering and technology corporation, Metso, is behind the venture. By using Metso's technology to replace coal with wood-based renewables to generate energy, the plant will be able to generate around 140 MW, making the operation the largest of its kind worldwide.
Role of geospatial tech
The geographic distribution and quantity of biomass depend on the relationship between ecological zones and the climatic conditions. Geospatial technology helps in collecting, exploring, analysing, and visualising the biomass data. Researchers claim that they use a combination of historical data, satellite imagery and productivity models to determine best-case estimates of potential yields and of how much biomass could sustainably contribute to the world's energy needs, while also mitigating global warming.
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
According to a report on the geothermal energy market by ABS Energy Research, this market will grow by 78 percent, from 10,711 MW at the end of 2009 to 19,016 MW in 2015. In terms of new capacity, growth markets will be the three biggest geothermal countries: the US, the Philippines and Indonesia. The number of countries generating geothermal electricity is expected to rise from 24 at the end of 2009 to 36 in 2015.
Role of geospatial tech
In all phases of geothermal resources development, exploration, resource appraisal, drilling, exploitation and management of steam/hot water fields, most of the resource data/information is location based (or geographic data). GIS therefore emerges as the best option for handling the information.
CONCLUSION
Renewable energy options are plenty. The performance of these resources depends on location-based variables, implying the need for geospatial analysis to find the best fit for each segment. Geospatial technology is therefore proving to be an essential component of decision making process in renewable energy. The ongoing and increasingly enhanced observations about these energy sources will continue to improve the quality of the analysis and hence the performance of the power plants. The move to renewable power is definitely on.
