Browsing by Author "Javanshir, Nima"

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Abandoning peat in a city district heat system with wind power, heat pumps, and heat storage
(2022-11) Javanshir, Nima; Syri, Sanna; Teräsvirta, Antti; Olkkonen, Ville
A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
The Finnish Government has established the target of carbon-neutrality by 2035. In Finland, district heating (DH) networks in most cities rely on carbon dioxide (CO2) intensive fuels such as coal and domestic peat. This study assesses the decarbonization of a Finnish city's DH by employing power-to-heat (P2H) technologies, including heat pumps, an electric boiler, and thermal storage together with an ambitious building energy renovation program. This study also aims to use wind power with a calculated fixed price instead of the market price for the electricity consumption of the deployed P2H units to further support electrification and decarbonization of the DH network. Bilateral contract between the wind producer and the DH operator is examined, as new wind power producers receive no subsidies in Finland. The impacts of storage capacity, electricity tax, building-level renovation, and European CO2 emission allowance (EUA) price on the DH's optimal operation and break-even price of heat production were evaluated. The optimization routine minimizes marginal production costs. The optimal scenario eliminated the carbon intensive fuel peat with more affordable heat prices, due to P2H technologies, lower electricity tax, higher EUA prices, and the renovation of buildings. Bilateral electricity contract can bring mutual benefits for the DH company and the wind producer.
Green hydrogen and wind synergy : Assessing economic benefits and optimal operational strategies
(2024-09-19) Javanshir, Nima; Pekkinen, Simo; Santasalo-Aarnio, Annukka; Syri, Sanna
A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
Volatile electricity prices have raised concerns about the economic feasibility of wind projects in Finland. This study assesses the economic viability and optimal operational strategies for integrating wind-powered green hydrogen production systems. Utilizing modeling and optimization, this research evaluates various wind farms in Western Finland over electricity market scenarios from 2019 to 2022, with forecasts extending to 2030. Key economic metrics considered include internal rate of return, future value, net present value (NPV), and the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH). Results indicate that integration of hydrogen production with wind farms shows economic benefits over standalone wind projects, potentially reducing LCOH to €2.0/kgH2 by 2030 in regular and low electricity price scenarios, and to as low as €0.6/kgH2 in high-price scenarios. The wind farm with the highest capacity factor achieves 47% reductions in LCOH and 22% increases in NPV, underscoring the importance of strategic site selection and operational flexibility.
Is Electrified Low-Carbon District Heating Able to Manage Electricity Price Shocks?
(2022) Javanshir, Nima; Hiltunen, Pauli; Syri, Sanna
A4 Artikkeli konferenssijulkaisussa
To comply with the European Union's carbon-neutrality target for 2035, the decarbonization of fossil-fuel intensive city district heating networks (DHN) is imperative. With electricity production nearly emission-free in Finland, electrification of the DHNs can assist in decarbonizing the heating sector. However, concerns regarding this solution are the volatility of electricity prices and the security of heat supply. This study examines the feasibility of electrified DHNs during the high energy market prices of2021. Two case study DHNs in Espoo and Kuopio are simulated using EnergyPro with an optimization routine to minimize production costs. The results of February and December were compared, and they show that the heat pumps maintain their competitiveness even with high electricity prices in Espoo, where the production relies still heavily on imported natural gas. However, in Kuopio, where peat and biomass are the most important fuels, high electricity price makes the heat pumps significantly less attractive.
Operation of district heat network in electricity and balancing markets with the power-to-heat sector coupling
(2023-03-01) Javanshir, Nima; Syri, Sanna; Tervo, Seela; Rosin, Argo
A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
The stochastic nature of renewable energy resources poses a challenge in terms of balancing supply and demand in the power grid, necessitating additional sources of flexibility and balancing services. District heating networks (DHNs) equipped with power-to-heat (P2H) technologies and thermal storage can provide balancing services to the grid. Participation of DHN in a combination of diverse marketplaces to optimize revenue has been understudied. This study proposes a daily routine for the operation of a DHN in multiple energy markets, covering the day-ahead and intraday electricity markets, and various balancing markets. The emphasis is on providing balancing services by the P2H units, while considering their technical constraints of operation. The economic viability of the proposed routine is examined. Results indicate an increase in the operation profits by 1.3–9.7% compared to the total electricity sales, 0.4–3.0% of total heat sales, and 0.3–2.0% net profit in the examined DHN between 2019 and 2021. Given the complexity and uncertainty of future market development, it is critical to be aware of the most influential aspects. Sensitivity analysis indicates that fluctuations in electricity spot prices, fuel prices, and technical constraints of units significantly affect the profit.
The risks of electrified district heating in Finland's cold climate
(2024-09) Javanshir, Nima; Syri, Sanna; Hiltunen, Pauli
A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
Decarbonizing fossil fuel-dependent district heating systems is essential for achieving carbon neutrality, particularly in cold climates. In Finland, district heating operators are concentrating on electrifying these systems. However, the 2022 energy crisis in Europe has highlighted concerns about heat production costs and the security of heat supply with this approach. This study examines the economic feasibility and risks associated with electrified district heating systems and the early decommissioning of thermal power plants in the interconnected district heating systems of Helsinki, Espoo, and Vantaa. The case study is simulated and optimized to find the least-cost solution while meeting heat demand for various 2025 scenarios, assuming high energy market prices as in 2022 and more normal circumstances. Simulation results indicate that shutting down fossil fuel-based combined heat and power plants in Helsinki and Espoo would create a shortfall in base-load heat production, increasing dependency on heat imported from Vantaa. Both cities are expected to employ more cost-competitive biomass boilers to mitigate the reduction in coal-based heat production, which would decrease operational costs but also reduce revenue from electricity sales due to reduced combined heat and power capacity. Consequently, Vantaa is likely to benefit from its substantial storage and waste and biomass combined heat and power capacity, enabling efficient heat production at reduced costs. Across both scenarios, the analysis demonstrates a significant decrease in emissions and less reliance on imported fuels, highlighting the potential benefits of electrified district heating systems even amidst high electricity market prices.
Sector-Coupling and Renewable Energy Integration in Low-Carbon District Heating: Perspectives of Economics, Environment and Supply Security
(2024) Javanshir, Nima
School of Engineering | Doctoral dissertation (article-based)
In the face of a global climate crisis, the imperative to reduce carbon emissions throughtransforming our energy infrastructure is paramount. This dissertation focuses on decarbonizing District Heating (DH) systems in Finland by integrating power-to-heat (P2H) technologies, including heat pumps and electric boilers, and renewable energy sources such as wind power, considering diverse energy market scenarios. Given the substantial role of heating in Finland's energy demand and the prevalence of DH systems, this topic is pivotal in meeting both national and international environmental objectives. The study encompasses case studies for Finnish cities, analyzing systems including a mid-sized network reliant on local fuels biomass and high-emission fuel peat and the large-scale networks of Helsinki metropolitan region, still dependent on imported fossil fuels, primarily natural gas and coal. This approach covers environmental and economic aspects, considering the fluctuating global fossil fuel prices and the increasing costs associated with carbon dioxide emissions allowances and fuel taxes. This dissertation evaluates the feasibility of partly electrified DH systems under different market conditions, including periods of low, regular, and high energy market prices, including Europe's 2022 energy crisis. This thesis also explores the technical and economic potential of electrified DH systems in the electricity and various balancing markets across different scenarios through modeling and simulation of the case studies. The findings indicate significant environmental benefits as a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. However, this transition is not without its challenges. Notably, increased reliance on biomass combustion and electricity market volatility were recognized, potentially leading to further environmental and energy security issues. Economically, while electrification offers protection against the volatility of fossil fuel prices and promises long-term economic advantages, the initial investment and potential increases in consumer heating costs present challenges in the short to medium term. The participation of electrified DH systems in balancing markets could provide additional operational profits, yet complexities of system operation and management require careful consideration. DH systems were found to be resilient even under extreme energy prices, however, shutting down combined heating and power plants (CHP) would result in significant losses in potential electricity market income. In conclusion, the electrification of DH systems in Finland presents a promising pathway towards a sustainable heating sector. However, achieving this goal requires a balanced and integrated approach, incorporating technological innovation, strategic planning, and economic incentives.
Techno-Economic Analysis of a Highly Renewable and Electrified District Heating Network Operating in the Balancing Markets
(2023-12) Javanshir, Nima; Syri, Sanna
A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
In pursuit of Finland’s carbon neutrality objective by 2035, integrating renewable energy sources into the power grid is essential. To address the stochastic nature of these resources, additional sources of flexibility are required to maintain grid stability. Meanwhile, district heating network (DHN) operators in Finland are decommissioning fossil fuel-based combined heat and power plants (CHPs) and electrifying heating systems with heat pumps (HPs) and electric boilers. A techno-economic assessment and the optimized operation of DHN-connected HPs and electric boilers in providing ancillary balancing services were explored in this study. The primary goal was to maximize the potential revenue for DHN operators through participation in the day-ahead electricity market and frequency containment reserve (FCR) balancing markets. Three interconnected DHNs in the Helsinki metropolitan area were optimized based on 2019 data and each operator’s decarbonization strategies for 2025. HPs are expected to achieve the highest profit margins in the FCR-D up-regulation market, while electric boilers could generate substantial profits from the FCR-D down-regulation market. In contrast to other balancing markets studied, the FCR-N market exhibited limited profit potential. Sensitivity analysis indicated that spot electricity prices and CO2 emission allowance prices significantly influence the profitability derived from balancing markets.
Techno-environmental assessment and machine learning-based optimization of a novel dual-source multi-generation energy system
(2023-08) Javaherian, Amirreza; Ghasemzadeh, Nima; Javanshir, Nima; Yari, Mortaza; Vajdi, Mohammad; Nami, Hossein
A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
The utilization of high-temperature hybrid energy systems has a vital and promising role in reducing environmental pollutants and coping with climate change. So, in the present research, a dual-source multigeneration energy system composed of a gas turbine, a supercritical carbon dioxide recompression Brayton cycle, an organic Rankine cycle, an absorption refrigeration system, and a reverse osmosis desalination unit is designed and analyzed from thermodynamic, environmental and economic perspectives. The system supplies power with a stable load to follow the changes in the demand side which is important for off-grid distributed energy systems. The dual-source operation of the system makes it possible to generate sustainable electricity leading to less utilization of fossil fuels in the gas turbine subsystem and reduction in environmental pollution, and furthermore, malfunctioning of a subsystem will not lead to the failure of the entire plant. Three multi-objective optimizations with different objective functions are accomplished using artificial neural network from data learning and genetic and Greywolf algorithms to obtain the best-operating conditions. Under the base conditions, for the total input energy of 699 MW to the entire system, the energy and exergy efficiencies, the unit exergy cost of products, the carbon dioxide emission index, and the payback period, respectively, were found to be 45 %, 54 %, 15.3 $/GJ, 112.2 kg/MWh, and 7.2 years. The net output power of the proposed system was calculated as 288.2 MW. A sensitivity analysis revealed that with a change in the pressure ratio of the supercritical carbon dioxide cycle, the net generated power and overall efficiency take maximum values of 293.9 MW while the unit exergy cost of products and carbon dioxide emission index take minimum values of 15.3 $/GJ and 110.1 kg/MWh, respectively. Furthermore, increasing the pressure ratio of the gas turbine leads to maximum values of 45 % and 54 % in overall energy and exergy efficiencies, respectively.