Abstract
Energy resources are distributed in space. Models of spatial variability thus greatly contribute to the optimal exploitation of such resources. This paper concentrates on modeling the spatial distribution of energy content based on geostatistical interpolation and simulation methods. We focus on lignite, a fossil fuel which plays a key role in the energy budget in several parts of the world. Nonetheless, geostatistical tools are also relevant for the analysis of renewable and other fossil-based energy resources. Quantitative understanding of the spatial variability of lignite energy reserves helps to optimize mine exploitation and to reduce fluctuations in the quality of the fuel supplied to power plants. We also introduce the spatial profitability index as an analytical tool for the design and medium-term exploitation of multiseam mines. Based on this index we propose an empirical equation which allows fast and practical estimation of changes in energy reserves due to variations in expected costs or revenues. We illustrate the proposed modeling framework using lignite data from the Mavropigi mine in Northern Greece.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1906-1917 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Energy |
| Volume | 93 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2015 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2015 Elsevier Ltd.
Funding
A. Pavlides and D. T. Hristopulos acknowledge support from the project SPARTA 1591: “Development of Space-Time Random Fields based on Local Interaction Models and Applications in the Processing of Spatiotemporal Datasets,” which is implemented under the “ARISTEIA” Action of the operational programme Education and Lifelong Learning and is co-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and National Resources . We would also like to thank the Public Power Corporation of Greece for providing the datasets from the Mavropigi mine.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| National Institutes of Health/National Center for Research Resources | |
| European Social Fund-ESF |
Keywords
- Energy modeling
- Energy planning
- Kriging
- Simulation
- Uncertainty estimation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Mechanical Engineering
- General Energy
- Pollution
- Energy Engineering and Power Technology
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
- Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
- Building and Construction
- Fuel Technology
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
- Civil and Structural Engineering
- Modeling and Simulation
