Distributed energy infrastructure development: geospatial and economic feasibility in rural West Virginia

IF 4.7 3区 环境科学与生态学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Environment, Development and Sustainability Pub Date : 2024-09-12 DOI:10.1007/s10668-024-05363-1
Xinming Andy Zhang, Paul Kinder, Michael Strager, Samuel Taylor, Gabe Schwartzman
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Abstract

Energy transition from conventional centralized power plants, particularly coal-fired units, is critical for West Virginia’s long-term energy and economic future. The socioeconomic challenges faced by West Virginia are closely linked to its reliance on the centralized coal industry and economy, which has declined precipitously in the past decade. Many postindustrial communities in rural areas struggle to sustain economic viability, resulting in documented outmigration and diminished energy resilience. We investigated the possibility of introducing community-sized distributed energy systems in these rural communities to improve energy resilience and support the transition toward more sustainable energy production. This study investigated the feasibility of introducing community-sized distributed energy systems in rural West Virginia to enhance energy resilience and facilitate the transition away from traditional centralized energy. Utilizing a geospatial modeling approach with Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) and Geographic Information System (GIS) suitability assessment, we identified optimal locations for small-scale distributed wind, solar, and hydropower energy generation. The study conducted a net value comparison analysis, assessing the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and levelized avoided cost of energy (LACE) to determine the economic feasibility of each distributed generation type compared to traditional coal-generated electricity. Our findings revealed that wind and solar distributed generation are most suitable in southern and eastern West Virginia counties, while potential sites for small hydropower development are dispersed across the state . This study offers valuable insights into the possible future of distributed energy and its infrastructure development in rural West Virginia, thus contributing to the state’s energy transition and economic revitalization efforts.

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分布式能源基础设施开发:西弗吉尼亚州农村地区的地理空间和经济可行性
从传统集中式发电厂,尤其是燃煤机组的能源转型,对于西弗吉尼亚州的长期能源和经济未来至关重要。西弗吉尼亚州面临的社会经济挑战与其对集中式煤炭工业和经济的依赖密切相关,而这种依赖在过去十年中急剧下降。许多农村地区的后工业化社区都在为维持经济活力而挣扎,这导致了有据可查的人口外迁和能源复原力的下降。我们调查了在这些农村社区引入社区规模的分布式能源系统的可能性,以提高能源复原力,支持向更可持续的能源生产过渡。本研究调查了在西弗吉尼亚州农村地区引入社区规模的分布式能源系统的可行性,以提高能源复原力,促进从传统集中式能源的过渡。利用多标准决策分析(MCDA)和地理信息系统(GIS)适用性评估的地理空间建模方法,我们确定了小型分布式风能、太阳能和水力发电的最佳地点。研究进行了净值比较分析,评估了平准化能源成本 (LCOE) 和平准化避免能源成本 (LACE),以确定每种分布式发电类型与传统煤炭发电相比的经济可行性。我们的研究结果表明,风能和太阳能分布式发电最适合在西弗吉尼亚州南部和东部各县进行,而小水电开发的潜在地点则分散在全州各地。这项研究为西弗吉尼亚州农村地区分布式能源及其基础设施发展的可能前景提供了宝贵的见解,从而为该州的能源转型和经济振兴工作做出了贡献。
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来源期刊
Environment, Development and Sustainability
Environment, Development and Sustainability Economics, Econometrics and Finance-Economics and Econometrics
CiteScore
10.20
自引率
6.10%
发文量
754
期刊介绍: Environment, Development and Sustainability is an international and multidisciplinary journal covering all aspects of the environmental impacts of socio-economic development. It is also concerned with the complex interactions which occur between development and environment, and its purpose is to seek ways and means for achieving sustainability in all human activities aimed at such development. The subject matter of the journal includes the following and related issues: -mutual interactions among society, development and environment, and their implications for sustainable development -technical, economic, ethical and philosophical aspects of sustainable development -global sustainability - the obstacles and ways in which they could be overcome -local and regional sustainability initiatives, their practical implementation, and relevance for use in a wider context -development and application of indicators of sustainability -development, verification, implementation and monitoring of policies for sustainable development -sustainable use of land, water, energy and biological resources in development -impacts of agriculture and forestry activities on soil and aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity -effects of energy use and global climate change on development and sustainability -impacts of population growth and human activities on food and other essential resources for development -role of national and international agencies, and of international aid and trade arrangements in sustainable development -social and cultural contexts of sustainable development -role of education and public awareness in sustainable development -role of political and economic instruments in sustainable development -shortcomings of sustainable development and its alternatives.
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