Edi Assoumou

Bio: Edi Assoumou is an academic researcher from Mines ParisTech. The author has contributed to research in topics: Renewable energy & Electricity. The author has an hindex of 11, co-authored 80 publications receiving 567 citations. Previous affiliations of Edi Assoumou include PSL Research University.

Increasing shares of intermittent sources in Reunion Island: Impacts on the future reliability of power supply

Abstract: This paper analyzes the capability of Reunion Island to achieve electricity autonomy by 2030. Currently, electricity production in Reunion Island is mainly based on imported fuels while it is blessed with high levels of renewable energy potentials. The issue addressed in this paper is the technical and economical feasibility of this ambitious target. The approach relies on a prospective study conducted by the TIMES-Reunion model which provides future production mixes according to different scenarios. It is combined with a quantitative assessment of reliability of power supply with two reliability indicators, regarding that intermittent sources may highly develop and consequently worsen reliability. This study enables us to draw three main conclusions: (i) electricity autonomy can be achieved thanks to high levels of biomass production and of intermittent sources; (ii) however, since fuel oil׳s power plants appear as back-up units, the reliability of power supply will be lowered. This is illustrated by the decrease of the reliability indicators over the time horizon; (iii) however, provided that appropriate rules on the instantaneous production are enforced, a generation mix that both complies with the electricity autonomy target and with a satisfying reliability of power supply is possible.

Conceptualising sustainability assessment

Abstract: Sustainability assessment is being increasingly viewed as an important tool to aid in the shift towards sustainability. However, this is a new and evolving concept and there remain very few examples of effective sustainability assessment processes implemented anywhere in the world. Sustainability assessment is often described as a process by which the implications of an initiative on sustainability are evaluated, where the initiative can be a proposed or existing policy, plan, programme, project, piece of legislation, or a current practice or activity. However, this generic definition covers a broad range of different processes, many of which have been described in the literature as 'sustainability assessment'. This article seeks to provide some clarification by reflecting on the different approaches described in the literature as being forms of sustainability assessment, and evaluating them in terms of their potential contributions to sustainability. Many of these are actually examples of 'integrated assessment', derived from environmental impact assessment (EIA) and strategic environmental assessment (SEA), but which have been extended to incorporate social and economic considerations as well as environmental ones, reflecting a 'triple bottom line' (TBL) approach to sustainability. These integrated assessment processes typically either seek to minimise 'unsustainability', or to achieve TBL objectives. Both aims may, or may not, result in sustainable practice. We present an alternative conception of sustainability assessment, with the more ambitious aim of seeking to determine whether or not an initiative is actually sustainable. We term such processes 'assessment for sustainability'. 'Assessment for sustainability' firstly requires that the concept of sustainability be well-defined. The article compares TBL approaches and principles-based approaches to developing such sustainability criteria, concluding that the latter are more appropriate, since they avoid many of the inherent limitations of the triple-bottom-line as a conception of sustainability.

Energy storage systems for renewable energy power sector integration and mitigation of intermittency

Abstract: Currently, the electric power sector is looking forward towards increasing the bent for availability, reliability and security of energy supply to consumers. This pursuit has vehemently increased the intention for integrating renewable energy (RE) into the electricity sector as a strategy to curb the problem of energy deficiency especially in isolated off-grid settlements. However, the variability in the sources of RE supply coupled with conditional changes in the level of energy consumption with respect to time has brought to focus the necessity for energy storage systems (ESSs). Despite the stochastic nature of RE produced from solar and wind energy and to some extent hydro, interest in their exploitation is still growing high due to their sustainability regarding environmental receptiveness. Thus, this paper extensively reviews the state of the art of three different kinds of energy storage technologies (pumped hydroelectricity storage, batteries and fuel cells) suitable for the integration and management of intermittency in RE. Within the context of the review, advantages and disadvantages of the various technologies are also presented. Additionally, it also pin-points on the different areas of applications of ESSs for RE integration and offers review summary on factors to be considered for selecting appropriate energy storage technology for either commercial or domestic applications. Finally, the paper concluded that ESSs selection is based on performance characteristics and fuel source used whereas no single ESS can meet all the possible requirements to be called a supreme ESS.