Title: Perspectives on the development of non-conventional energy sources

Authors: S. Afanasiev, B. Koslov

Addresses: World Energy Systems Analysis, All-Russian Institute of Complex Fuel and Energy Problems (VNIIKTEP), B. Cheremushkinsky 34, Moscow 117259, Russia. ' New Energy Sources Department, Russian Ministry of Fuel and Energy, Moscow, Russia

Abstract: At present wide-scale penetration of new (non-conventional) energy sources into the fuel-energy balance is substantially limited by their high cost. However, there are two global tendencies acting at present which will allow the new energy sources to become sufficiently competitive vis-a-vis traditional ways of energy production and supply (perhaps just after the year 2010): first, is the general long-term tendency of increase in the cost of conventional energy resources; second, the tendency for non-conventional energy resources to become cheaper through scientific advances and mass-production on an ever-increasing scale (such a situation is now observed in solar cell production). The additional stimuli for the penetration of new energy sources are the advantages of ecologically clean energy production and of a possibly autonomous energy supply in distant regions, which provide rapidly expanding markets for, for instance, solar cells. So, in making cost comparison estimates two different types of new energy sources generating units should be distinguished: stand-alone systems and grid-connected systems. The comparison of costs of energy production between traditional and non-conventional sources meets, with substantial methodological difficulties, which are analysed. These difficulties are due to qualitatively different modes of energy production between these two ways of energy supply. The success of penetration of such new energy generating technologies as solar cells will also depend to a great extent on the advances in efficiency of energy consumption devices, especially household appliances. The competitiveness of solar-cell generating units being dependent on the size of electricity demand, the wider use of low-energy consuming devices will also provide additional stimulus for the penetration of such non-conventional methods of electricity generation as solar cells. The ingredients of costs comparisons are discussed, as well as some tendencies of non-conventional energy production given the specific of the world energy market.

Keywords: energy costs; energy sources; electricity generation; environmental impact; non-conventional energy sources; photovoltaics; solar power; solar energy; solar cells.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGEI.1994.063539

International Journal of Global Energy Issues, 1994 Vol.6 No.3/4/5, pp.166-169

Published online: 16 Jul 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article