Due to the rapid advance in technology, a new generation of power plants has emerged: the concentrated solar power (CSP). It is a renewable energy system that can be combined with large-scale energy storage systems. CSP holds many promises for the countries with high direct solar radiation, as Brazil. However, there are many problems regarding the viability of these plants in the emerging countries such as high capital costs, lack of national technology and qualified professionals. Hybridization of existing power plants with solar energy could be a possible gateway for the technology deployment. This paper presents the technical and economic feasibility analysis of a steam super-heater plant powered by CSP for electricity production. Such hybridization permits the reduction of CO 2 emissions and retrenchment in the long term. In this context, the performances of four different systems of thermoelectric power generation were compared: (i) solar reheatingsuperheated steam generated by boiler and it expansion in the first turbine using CSP for reheating second expansion turbine; (ii) solar superheater-generating saturated steam in a boiler and superheating it using CSP; (iii) supercritical solar heater-saturated steam production in a boiler and heating at supercritical steam in CSP and (iv) conventional cycle and CSP working in parallel. The direct irradiation data available at the Brazilian solar atlas were analyzed, looking for the best location of power plant installation. In addition to the solar resource data, other criteria as economic, environmental and availability of transmission lines were taken into account. The decision matrix with performance indicators helped in the decision-making process of location selection. Comparing to others scenarios the obtained results showed several advantages of scenario (iv)-conventional cycle and CSP working in parallel using solar power towers without thermal storage. Research result as well revealed Santa Maria da Vitória town, Bahia region, as a better place for plant construction using the selected scenario. The total capacity was determined to be 30 MWe in accordance with the incentives offered by 481/2012-ANEEL (Brazilian Agency) resolution.
A partir da análise da balança comercial e dos investimentos chineses no Brasil, este trabalho apresenta uma discussão acerca dos fluxos e impactos ambientais das relações Brasil/China. A originalidade de nossa proposta consistiu em lançar mão da “unidade dos contrários” enquanto categoria analítica que aborda os processos de degradação ambiental e os vetores de modernização ecológica enquanto dimensões de uma mesma totalidade. Os dados que fundamentam o artigo incluem nove entrevistas semi-estruturadas com diferentes atores vinculados à questão ambiental, realizadas em Pequim entre novembro de 2015 e julho de 2018.
This investigation analyzes the Desertec project, which envisioned a transition to “clean energy” through constructing solar thermal power plants in the Sahara Desert and linking Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East via high voltage cables. Despite great enthusiasm in the international media and some sectors of civil society, the project faced so many obstacles that even the consortium which initially fostered the initiative decided to withdraw. This article uses this case to critically assess the theoretical and epistemological assumptions of the theory of ecological modernization, pointing out an alternate research agenda which focuses on unsuccessful projects in this area (failure cases), emphasizing the limited scope of this theory and the teleological postulate which assumes convergence between economic and environmental rationalities.
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