Sustainability Commons^™

Energy Transitions In Kenya's Tea Sector: A Wind Energy Assessment, Erik Edward Nordman

Erik Edward Nordman

Kenya’s tea sector provides livelihoods for more than 500,000 farmers but energy access in the region remains limited. Clean, affordable distributed energy systems could transform the tea-growing regions by lowering tea production costs and increasing farmer profits. On-site generation could power tea factories and enhance grid stability by reducing electricity draw from the grid. Wind power’s potential in Kenya’s tea regions is unknown. A pre-feasibility study using the Solar and Wind Energy Resource Assessment (SWERA) dataset revealed that 29 percent of Kenya’s tea farms have wind resources that could be suitable for development. There were more “moderate”-rated tea farms west …

Economics Of Residue Harvest: Regional Partnership Evaluation, David W. Archer, David J. Muth Jr., Jacob J. Jacobson, Douglas L. Karlen

David J. Muth

Economic analyses on the viability of corn (Zea mays, L.) stover harvest for bioenergy production have largely been based on simulation modeling. While some studies have utilized field research data, most field-based analyses have included a limited number of sites and a narrow geographic distribution. An Iowa case study is developed illustrating the use of data extracted from a database of geographically distributed field studies for a region-specific economic analysis. The analysis utilizes grain and residue yield and associated management information from two Iowa field research sites that are Sun Grant Regional Partnership locations associated with the Corn Stover Regional …

Economics Of Residue Harvest: Regional Partnership Evaluation, David W. Archer, David J. Muth Jr., Jacob J. Jacobson, Douglas L. Karlen

Douglas L Karlen

Wind Energy Economics: Potential Economic Development In West Michigan, Paul Isely Ph.D., Yue Fan, Erik Edward Nordman Ph.D..

Erik Edward Nordman

Economic analyses conducted by the West Michigan Wind Assessment indicate that wind energy development could generate economic benefits and new employment in West Michigan; however, much of the economic activity occurs during construction and the local benefits depend on how many turbine parts are manufactured locally. As the wind industry grows in Michigan, a higher portion of the spending to construct new wind facilities could remain in the state.

Wind Energy Economics: Production Costs And Additional Impacts, Erik Edward Nordman

Erik Edward Nordman

West Michigan Wind Assessment Issue Brief #6 The economic costs of wind energy development were estimated in compared to costs of coal and natural gas. Excluding subsidies, but including external costs, we found that wind has a lower total cost ($/MWh) than coal, but slightly higher than natural gas.