Date of Award

2020

Document Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Engineering (Research)

Department

Engineering

First Advisor

Dr Brendan O' Donnell

Second Advisor

Professor Joseph Walsh

Abstract

At present a large proportion of domestic and commercial heating systems in Ireland are fossil fuel based. Decarbonisation of Irelands heating system would mean a shift away from traditional fossil fuels, and a step towards more renewable and sustainable thermal energy systems. This thesis outlines a viability analysis of one of the options available to assist in the achievement of Ireland’s thermal energy goals and carbon emissions targets. The option considered in this proposal is the development of a wood chip fuelled District Heating System (DHS) to cater for the thermal needs of the town of Tralee. Several alternatives DHS sizes are analysed including; the major energy user’s base load only, the total load of the major energy users only and the major users and the residential sector combined. It is difficult to recommend, on purely financial standings, any of the proposed DHS’s assessed in the thesis. The significant capital investment and the current low cost of fossil fuels are major factors which make any of the systems proposed in the thesis difficult to recommend. It is only when social and environmental benefits are considered that positive outcomes begin to emerge. Green House Gas emissions were analysed to evaluate possible savings achievable. All proposed biomass DHS’s can achieve profitability, but funding of capital investment is required and the renewable heat sale price would have to be set at a level above where it would be competitive. Monetary viability for some of the proposed systems can be achieved but only over a long term life cycle basis. The use of locally sourced wood chip as the fuel source allows each heat plant assessed in the analysis to show an improvement with regard to CO2 emissions levels when compared to the existing thermal energy systems and would also aid in the creation of local employment. The two larger systems, Heat Plant 2 and 2A can achieve a profitable outcome when no capital funding is available, but the heat sale price would have to be 9c/kWh. Three of the other systems assessed can also achieve profitable outcomes without capital funding but ii the price for renewable heat energy would need to be charged at 10c/kWh. Heat Plant 1A can’t achieve a profit making outcome without the aid of capital funding. It has become clear that further action is needed to tackle global warming and alleviate the dangers associated with the further warming of our planet. The reduction of energy consumption, the efficient use of the energy we generate, the increased use of renewable and sustainable non polluting energy generation, and the reduction in GHG emissions may yet become one of this generation’s defining moments.

Access Level

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

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