Search results

The purpose of this paper is to assess the performance of Greek fossil fuel‐fired power stations employing a data envelopment analysis (DEA) model combined with bootstrapping.

DEA is used to derive aggregate performance indicators using data on inputs and desirable and undesirable outputs for a sample of fossil fuel‐fired power stations. The statistical significance of the derived aggregate performance indicators is assessed via the bootstrapping approach.

The results suggest that the power stations in the sample are considerably more inefficient than revealed by the initial point estimates of inefficiency. Moreover, the non‐lignite‐fired stations of the sample are on an average more efficient than the lignite‐fired stations.

DEA represents a useful framework for exploring the current state to derive aggregate performance indicators of power stations, and moreover, the statistical properties of these metrics can be assessed via the bootstrapping approach.

The bootstrapping approach in DEA shows its superiority over DEA models that do not address the uncertainty surrounding point estimates. The DEA bootstrapping model used in this study to model environmental performance in the power station electricity production setting provides bias correction and confidence intervals for the point estimates and it is therefore more preferable.

The derivation of aggregate performance indicators of Greek fossil fuel‐fired power stations is an important addition to the existing literature on energy economics. The paper is also innovated in providing the statistical properties of the derived performance metrics.

The purpose of this paper is to provide an immediate image about the reality of the renewable energies as experienced by an Algerian company.

The adopted approach focused on assessment of renewable energies’ impact (especially the thermal solar power) on the environment and on the economic aspect of an Algerian company.

The perception of environmental dimension is highlighted by means of an evaluation study supported by the calculation of quantities of CO₂ emitted by two power stations (the new hybrid power station of Hassi R’mel (SPPI) and a conventional one (Sonelgaz)).

This research has limitations that the authors plan to study in perspective: assessing the impact of wind systems on the environmental and economic aspects.

The analysis of obtained results shows and puts emphasis on the importance of renewable energies, especially thermal solar power, by identifying and evaluating the environmental and economic aspects of the new hybrid power station of Hassi R’mel (SPPI) and a conventional one (Sonelgaz) and by comparing the importance of their atmospheric emissions.

The paper shows that this new technology represents in theory a solution for environmental problems and could also be economically competitive with conventional energies if wisely exploited.

This paper aims to propose the practice of urban resilience to flooding in a vulnerable Asian city, Taipei. It conducts Geographic Information System (GIS)-based simulations to assess Taipei’s vulnerability under a set of varying flooding scenarios and likelihoods. This research concludes by proposing remedies to fill the gaps these flood simulations reveal and, in doing so, promotes urban resilience in Taipei. This paper provides an example of urban resilience to flooding for other cities in Asia.

The paper undertakes a case study of Taipei to survey current practices and historic analyses as a tool to evaluate a chronology of policies implemented to make Taipei resilient to flooding. It also conducts flood simulation and scenario analysis through the technology of GIS by using ArcMap 10.2.2 software to gauge the vulnerabilities in Taipei. These GIS-based data sets are collected from Taiwan’s central and local governments. This paper analyzes the vulnerability of population, land value, residential properties, GDP and critical facilities, such as major subway stations, medical centers, public schools, major public buildings, electric power substations and gas/oil stations. Additionally, it analyzes the likelihood and cost and benefit of different flooding scenarios based on typhoon and rainfall data sets in 1975-2014 period. After a thorough analysis of vulnerability, likelihood of flooding and cost–benefit analyses, this research develops Taipei resilience policies to address the vulnerabilities.

The findings indicate that Taipei case study, a chronology of policies implemented to prevent flooding, explains that costly engineering structures, rebuilding and fortification against floods eventually created a false sense of security, which has encouraged more intensive residential and commercial developments in flood-prone areas, and led to a higher level of vulnerability. Additionally, flooding simulations indicate that 40 per cent of Taipei City is located in flood risk areas in an extreme weather scenario. This percentage is higher than other global cities such as London’s 15 per cent, Tokyo’s 10 per cent and New York City’s 25 per cent. Based on the 10 per cent of total flooding areas above 0.5 m, the vulnerable population is estimated at 200,000 people, or 7 per cent of the total population. The GDP impact will be more than $28bn. More than $67bn of land value is vulnerable. A least one million subway passengers will be affected each day. Further, there is little evidence that the urban poor are particularly vulnerable to floods. On the contrary, some neighborhoods with high-income households face a higher risk of floods. Very few medical centers, oil and gas stations and electrical power substations are located in flood-prone areas, but a large number of public schools, administrative buildings and major subway stations are susceptible. Additionally, the likelihood analysis of flooding in an extreme rainfall scenario concludes that the possibility will be five times that of the existing assumption with a flood in every 200 years. Thus, Taipei City’s infrequent once-in-two-century floods are likely to occur more frequently.

This paper provides a thorough analysis of vulnerability, likelihood of flooding and cost–benefit analyses in Taipei. It also develops Taipei resilience policies to address the vulnerabilities. In the future, rather than strengthening and rebuilding costly structures, Taipei should focus on land-use and environmental planning for resilience. Urban policies should include environmentally responsible development in the face of continued population and economic growth, and being resilient regarding natural disasters. Most important is the need for a strong political commitment and leadership to initiate and implement urban policies toward resilience.

This study consists of an examination of productivity growth following three major technological breakthroughs: the steam power revolution, electrification and the ICT revolution. The distinction between sectors producing and sectors using the new technology is emphasized. A major finding for all breakthroughs is that there is a long lag from the time of the original invention until a substantial increase in the rate of productivity growth can be observed. There is also strong evidence of rapid price decreases for steam engines, electricity, electric motors and ICT products. However, there is no persuasive direct evidence that the steam engine producing industry and electric machinery had particularly high productivity growth rates. For the ICT revolution the highest productivity growth rates are found in the ICT-producing industries. We suggest that one explanation could be that hedonic price indexes are not used for the steam engine and the electric motor. Still, it is likely that the rate of technological development has been much more rapid during the ICT revolution compared to any of the previous breakthroughs.

This paper aims to study the changes in productivity for 25 state‐owned coal‐fired power plants (CFPPs) over a period of seven years (2003‐2010).

The methodology that is utilized in the study follows a non‐parametric approach of data envelopment analysis (DEA) and uses the Malmquist index to estimate the change in productivity of panel samples. In the calculations, the study considers installed capacity, fuel, labour, electricity used, and average operational time as inputs and considers net electricity produced as output.

The results indicate that the average total factor productivity regressed during the investigation period at an annual rate of 2 percent. The decrease in productivity is equally attributed to the technical efficiency change and technological change components, with an average decline in productivity of 1 percent per year. A plant‐wise analysis demonstrates that the Parichha plant recorded an average increase in productivity of 3.9 percent per year that was mainly driven by the technical efficiency change component (4.2 percent).There is little variation in the productivity of small‐size plants when compared with medium and large‐size plants. The productivity of multivaried plants is comparatively lower than BHEL (Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited) make plants.

The impact of size, make and region on change in productivity is examined. This study recommends specific policies that can be implemented to increase the productivity of power plants. The study also provides a contemporary overview of Indian CFPPs that can aid energy planners and plant operators in the monitoring and detection of changes in productivity.

HYDRO‐ELECTRIC STATION. Corrosion at Kamsk—I. The first of a series of articles on research at the Permsk State University, chiefly in connection with pitting corrosion. During the past 10 years several large hydro‐electric power stations have been built in the Soviet Union, and the severe corrosion to which much of the ironwork is exposed has become a serious problem. The station on the Kama River (central part) has been the subject of special studies, including samples of the river water that is much contaminated from various causes. Sulphate and chloride ion concentration is particularly high as compared with other Russian rivers, as shown in two tables, the second of which gives details for the several dams and spillways, up to No. 23 on the left bank. Some particulars are also given of the steel used. Special attention was given to micro‐biological studies; also of various protective coatings used, e.g. bituminous lacquers; also zinc sheeting and others. Pitting corrosion was severe in places through electrochemical action. It was found that, in the Kama water, there is a high content of iron bacteria, such as Leptothrix (two forms) and Crenothrix, with others. These favour electrochemical corrosion, but also take part in the formation of concretions that cover part of the metal surface and prevent ingress of oxygen. In such parts, forming anodes of local cells, corrosion develops rather deeply in the metal. The pH value of the water below the concretions is lowered. The bituminous lacquers were found to be of poor quality for the purpose of protection.—(V. V. Kuznetsov et al., Zh.prikl. Khim., 1961, (1), 187–193.)

THE invitations which some 4,000 scientists and technologists accept every year to visit the National Physical Laboratory during the two Open Days in May are equally available to such accredited representatives of industrial concerns as care to apply for them.

The author's aim is to offer a revolutionary method – the non‐rocket transfer of energy and thrust into Space with distances of millions of kilometers.

The author develops the theory and makes the computations.

The method is more efficient than transmission of energy by high‐frequency waves.

The method may be used for space launch and for acceleration of spaceships and probes to very high speeds, up to relativistic speed by current technology.

The research presented contains prospective projects which illustrate the possibilities of the suggested method.

The boiler pressure parts are a major asset of a power station, and the maintenance cost is often accountable for a huge portion of the annual budget. In the power generation industry, the outage costs due to loss of production, both planned or forced, are very significant and thus it is of interest to seek for a meaningful approach to the management of boiler pressure parts maintenance such that the enterprise performance is optimised. This paper aims to do this.

This paper proposes a framework that introduces the division of the enterprise objectives into the three decision dimensions. The framework is applied to the case of power station boiler pressure parts maintenance to optimise maintenance outages decisions for Loy Yang, a power station in Victoria, Australia.

The study finds that the framework provides meaningful approach to optimising maintenance decisions and is generic for application in different cases.

The paper provides a new insight and integrated approach to optimising asset maintenance for an enterprise with the use of a case study.

In this paper two effective algorithms are given for optimizing power systems schedules. These algorithms are based on the simplex method. Rapid convergence of the iterative processes, on which these algorithms are based, and a relatively brief calculation time at each iterative step lead to a high efficiency of the procedure for optimizing the schedules.