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Remote Power Generation for Applications to Natural Gas Grid: A Comprehensive Market Review of Techno-Energetic, Economic and Environmental Performance

Author

Listed:
  • Luca Da Lio

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Via Venezia 1, 35131 Padova, Italy)

  • Andrea Lazzaretto

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Via Venezia 1, 35131 Padova, Italy)

Abstract

The operation of natural gas grids requires electric-powered devices as data acquisition and control systems, surveillance and communication appliances, etc., often located in remote, unpopulated off-the-grid areas, where there is no personnel for surveillance, and maintenance costs are prohibitive. The literature on the power generating systems for these devices is limited to specific applications without a comparison between competing technologies, making their choice a difficult task for natural gas operators. This work presents a comprehensive up-to-date survey of market available technologies for remote power generation in the range of 20–1000 W for gas grid applications: thermoelectric generators, solid acid, direct methanol and solid oxide fuel cells, Stirling engines and microturbines. The work aims at sorting the technologies by techno-energetic, economic and environmental performance while providing specific technological characteristics and limitations. The results indicate well-defined ranges of power in which only some of the technologies are suitable and have very different efficiencies (3–30%). The capital cost of equal power technologies is similar (EUR 5000–30,000) and roughly linear with power (34.8P el + EUR 6553), whereas operation costs (10–120 cEUR/kWh) and lifetime (0.5–20 yr) significantly depend on the technology. The indications of this review may constitute helpful guidelines to choose properly power generation systems for remote applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Luca Da Lio & Andrea Lazzaretto, 2022. "Remote Power Generation for Applications to Natural Gas Grid: A Comprehensive Market Review of Techno-Energetic, Economic and Environmental Performance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-27, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:14:p:5065-:d:860476
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    References listed on IDEAS

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