Renewable Energy and Power Engineering Paper Example

Research proposal topic: Distributed solar photovoltaic power generation and renewable energy sustainable utilization in China

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Introduction

China has focused on the utilization of sustainable energy, and specifically on the solar distributed solar photovoltaic power. This is because of the minimal geographical restrictions as well as faster conversion speed of PVs into the other energy forms. Besides, solar energy can be developed and used without necessarily having to accomplish mining and transport exercises and still produce high-value energy. According to Zhang and He (2013), the value of the distributed solar photovoltaic power generation and renewable energy is also reflected in the reduced level of pollution in the country and the enormous annual solar radiation on the surface of the earth. With this, Urban, Wang and Geall (2018) suggested that China's energy engineering projects have managed to produce the cleanest and the largest energies in the world. China being a developing country, these renewable sources of energy are appropriate for their case to improve the lives of the citizens and maintain the quality of the environment. This paper is a proposal for the research, which will investigate distributed solar photovoltaic power generation and renewable energy sustainable utilization in China.

Research Questions

1. Has distributed solar photovoltaic energy replaced coal as the main source of energy in China?
2. How is the use of renewable energy contributing to the economic developer of the country?
3. What is the contribution of China towards the achievement of the total world's clean energy?

Research Objectives and Statement of Problems

The following are objectives of the research which researcher will set to meet:

1. To determine the extent to which the solar photovoltaic energy has been produced and used in China while dropping coal.
2. To investigate the impacts of renewable energy sources in transforming the economy of China
3. To investigate on China's level of compliance with the world's clean energy requirement

The research Problems

The introduction and development of PVs and the other forms of renewable sources of energy is one of the current trends in China. According to Mi, Zheng, Meng, Shan, Zheng and Ou (2018), various aspects of power engineering have been utilized in the sectors of energy to harness the solar energy. The research will, therefore, focus on the potential of the PVs and its significance in the country. Moreover, there is the need to determine how the introduction of renewable energy sources responds to global environmental management concerns.

Literature Review

Many works of literature have been published on the topic Distributed solar photovoltaic power generation and renewable energy sustainable utilization. This section draws from such information materials providing a critical appraisal of their contribution to the understanding of the topic and the context is connected to the case of the Chinese energy.

The Concern for the Environment

Lyu, Li, Wallin and Xv (2017) argued that China is currently embracing the needs for distributed solar photovoltaic power generation and renewable energy sustainable utilization as a way for response to the concerns about environmental management and conservation. Liu, Chen, Wang, Campana and Yan (2016) added that energy consumption in China has been, for quite a long time, been dominated by coal; however, the sector dealing with aspects of energy in the country is currently gradually influencing the transformation to an environmentally friendly form for the purpose of mitigating the anthropogenic climate change and protecting the environment. Liu (2018) noted that conservation and preservation of the environment is an issue of concern in China, and therefore coal being a major problem has to be dropped for a better alternative.

The value of Renewable Energy

China is striving to comply with the requirement of fulfiling the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) by introducing renewable energy (Li, Wang, Liu, Li, Hua, & Liu, 2017). Factors like total capacity, total cost, CO2 emissions, excess electricity, and direct job creation are some of the factors considered for the choice of the main source of energy to be used in China. Moreover, it is associated with a significant level of sustainability. Ha, Tan and Goh (2018) argued that that renewable energy source has the potential of meeting the goal of a share of 20% of the non-fossil energy in the primary energy. These preferred forms of energy can significantly contribute up to approximately 50% share of the non-fossil energy in the electric power (Ding, Zhang & Shuai, 2018). On this noted, Cong and Shen (2014) suggested that the government of China should, therefore, implement new and applicable policies which target towards promoting an integrated development of solar distributed solar PVs and wind power.

The growth of Distributed Solar PV in China

China is one of the countries which have contributed to the installations solar photo-voltaic (PV) booming globally from 2010 recording a 40 percent annual growth rate. Ding, Zhang and Shuai (2018) argued that the country is leading the growth since 2015 in both the installed power generation and capacity. The sector of energy in China had managed a total of130 gigawatts of solar PV, which is approximately six times the capacity of its hydroelectric power plants (Chen, 2015). Distributed solar PV has been mainly installed in the eastern and southern China where the economic perspectives of the country have achieved the greatest demand and prosperous for power developments. The four provinces of Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui reported having contributed 52 percent of the total capacity.

Declining Cost with Improved Efficiency

The introduction of the distributed solar PV projects and the related forms of renewable energy sources of energy have done more good than harm to the country with respect to reducing cost and increasing the level of efficiency. Cong and Shen (2014) suggested that this has made this choice a favorite in the country and it is normally used by private companies in most instances. Chen (2015) indicated that the average price of the global PV modules dropped by 79% for a period of between 2010 to 2017. At the same time, the advances led to a number of technological improvements which further fueled efficiency in the associated operations. China has been influenced by these factors making the average cost of the solar power generated in the country in 2017 falling to approximately 0.5 Yuan/kWh, which translates to USD 0.077/kWh. The continuous decline in the costs has attracted many companies to invest in the distributed solar projects.

The significance of the Study

The study has a great significance to the researcher and the society as a whole. For instance, the study will enable the researcher to understand why the country is focusing on the renewable sources of energy based on their significance. Besides, it will also make it possible to understand how the use of PVs contributes to the preservation of the environment. The study, therefore, helps in responding to some of the identified research gaps in the topic.

Research Methodology

Research Design

The researcher will use a descriptive research design; this will be appropriate since the research will be more or a case a study (Teherani, Martimianakis, Stenfors-Hayes, Wadhwa & Varpio, 2015). China will be used as a case whose context will be used to study the distributed solar photovoltaic power generation and renewable energy sustainable utilization.

Research Approach

The study will use both qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The quantitative technique will help to analyze the phenomenon by statistical approaches, hence the need for numerical facts. On the other hand, a qualitative technique will be important in exploring the underlying and applicable aspects on the topic of the context in question. (Chin, 2017) It is important in investigating the arguments on the problem under study.

Data Collection Method

The interview will be used as the major source of data collection. The interview will be conducted with resource-persons who will be selected based on specific criteria. Moreover, secondary sources will also be consulted for further information which had been published earlier on the topic. Adhabi and Anozie (2017) added that this is important for gathering adequate data.

Analysis

Thematic will be used for the basis of data analysis. It will involve considering the common trends across the data collected from the various sources under the study. This will be important in getting objective reasoning after working on the data collected (Nowell, Norris, White & Moules, 2017).

References

Adhabi, E., & Anozie, C. (2017). Literature Review for the Type of Interview in Qualitative Research. International Journal Of Education, 9(3), 86. Doi: 10.5296/ije.v9i3.11483

Chen, T. (2015). The development of China's solar photovoltaic industry: why industrial policy failed: Table 1. Cambridge Journal Of Economics, 40(3), 755-774. Doi: 10.1093/cje/bev014

Chin, E. (2017). The COPD exacerbation experience: A qualitative descriptive study. Applied Nursing Research, 38, 38-44. Doi: 10.1016/j.apnr.2017.09.005

Cong, R., & Shen, S. (2014). How to Develop Renewable Power in China? A Cost-Effective Perspective. The Scientific World Journal, 2014, 1-7. Doi: 10.1155/2014/946932

Ding, L., Zhang, F., & Shuai, J. (2018). How Do Chinese Residents Expect of Government Subsidies on Solar Photovoltaic Power Generation?-A Case of Wuhan, China. Energies, 11(1), 228. Doi: 10.3390/en11010228

Ha, J., Tan, P., & Goh, K. (2018). Linear and nonlinear causal relationship between energy consumption and economic growth in China: New evidence based on wavelet analysis. PLOS ONE, 13(5), e0197785. Doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197785

Li, S., Wang, J., Liu, Q., Li, L., Hua, Y., & Liu, W. (2017). Analysis of Status of Photovoltaic and Wind Power Abandoned in China. Journal Of Power And Energy Engineering, 05(01), 91-100. Doi: 10.4236/jpee.2017.51007

Liu, J. (2018). Calculation and analysis of energy consumption of Chinese national rail transport. International Journal Of Energy Sector Management, 12(1), 189-200. Doi: 10.1108/ijesm-05-2016-0006

Liu, J., Chen, S., Wang, H., Campana, P., & Yan, J. (2016). Evolution of China's Urban Energy Consumption Structure-A Case Study in Beijing. Energy Procedia, 88, 88-93. Doi: 10.1016/j.egypro.2016.06.029

Lyu, H., Li, H., Wallin, F., & Xv, B. (2017). Research on Chinese Solar Photovoltaic Development Based on Green-trading Mechanisms in Power System by Using a System Dynamics Model. Energy Procedia, 105, 3960-3965. Doi: 10.1016/j.egypro.2017.03.823

Mi, Z., Zheng, J., Meng, J., Shan, Y., Zheng, H., & Ou, J. et al. (2018). China's Energy Consumption in the New Normal. Earth's Future, 6(7), 1007-1016. Doi: 10.1029/2018ef000840

Nowell, L., Norris, J., White, D., & Moules, N. (2017). Thematic Analysis. International Journal Of Qualitative Methods, 16(1), 160940691773384. Doi: 10.1177/1609406917733847

Teherani, A., Martimianakis, T., Stenfors-Hayes, T., Wadhwa, A., & Varpio, L. (2015). Choosing a Qualitative Research Approach. Journal Of Graduate Medical Education, 7(4), 669-670. Doi: 10.4300/jgme-d-15-00414.1

Urban, F., Wang, Y., & Geall, S. (2018). Prospects, Politics, and Practices of Solar Energy Innovation in China. The Journal Of Environment & Development, 27(1), 74-98. Doi: 10.1177/1070496517749877

Zhang, S., & He, Y. (2013). Analysis on the development and policy of solar PV power in China. Renewable And Sustainable Energy Reviews, 21, 393-401. Doi: 10.1...