Global Analysis of Electricity Security: Diversity and Aging of Power Plants
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Level:
Master's Thesis author:
Jashan Daniel Thesis topic:
energy security Thesis topic:
electricity Academic Area(s):
Environmental and Energy Studies Status:
Completed Year of enrollment:
2009/2010 Duration of thesis project:
Feb, 2011 - Jun, 2011 Thesis supervisor:
Aleh Cherp Affiliations:
Thesis abstract:
Energy security is a key driver of energy policies in most countries. Security of electricity supply is increasingly considered a central part of energy security. This study focuses on two key areas of electricity security: diversity and aging of power plants. It is an analysis with global coverage with aggregation of data at the level of individual countries.
This thesis uses the more advanced ‘triple concept’ approach to measuring diversity of fuels in the power sector which includes the ‘distance’ between the types of fuels as well as the number of types and the evenness of spread between them. It also analyses the physical diversity of power plants. This study also assesses the aging of power plants in a new and novel way, using a specifically developed Aging Index.
Key results of this study are the use of a ‘triple concept’ has the potential to significantly alter results and as such future diversity analyses should use such indices. Relating to diversity, 60% of countries analysed (145) have vulnerability. They account for a total population of about 750 million people. There are some clear relationships between diversity profile of countries and World Bank development status; in general, countries with development status HI or UMI are significantly more diverse, having better fuel and power plant diversity. Relating to aging of power plants, 85 countries with a total population of 1.4 billion are considered highly vulnerable. A further 78 countries with a total population of 3.8 billion are considered vulnerable.
Energy security is a key driver of energy policies in most countries. Security of electricity supply is increasingly considered a central part of energy security. This study focuses on two key areas of electricity security: diversity and aging of power plants. It is an analysis with global coverage with aggregation of data at the level of individual countries.
This thesis uses the more advanced ‘triple concept’ approach to measuring diversity of fuels in the power sector which includes the ‘distance’ between the types of fuels as well as the number of types and the evenness of spread between them. It also analyses the physical diversity of power plants. This study also assesses the aging of power plants in a new and novel way, using a specifically developed Aging Index.
Key results of this study are the use of a ‘triple concept’ has the potential to significantly alter results and as such future diversity analyses should use such indices. Relating to diversity, 60% of countries analysed (145) have vulnerability. They account for a total population of about 750 million people. There are some clear relationships between diversity profile of countries and World Bank development status; in general, countries with development status HI or UMI are significantly more diverse, having better fuel and power plant diversity. Relating to aging of power plants, 85 countries with a total population of 1.4 billion are considered highly vulnerable. A further 78 countries with a total population of 3.8 billion are considered vulnerable.