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Modeling tools for wind and solar integration and air quality co-benefits in a zero-carbon future

dc.contributor.authorSward, Jeffrey Aaron
dc.contributor.chairZhang, K. Max
dc.contributor.committeeMemberTester, Jefferson William
dc.contributor.committeeMemberAult, Toby Rollin
dc.contributor.committeeMemberAnderson, C. Lindsay
dc.date.accessioned2022-09-15T15:51:29Z
dc.date.available2022-09-15T15:51:29Z
dc.date.issued2022-05
dc.description201 pages
dc.description.abstractWind and solar can provide an endless supply of clean electricity, affording us all the benefits that modern society has to offer without the debilitating and inequitable effects of pollution. Unfortunately, these distributed energy resources stand in stark contrast to the central-station synchronous power plants of the past, and we have yet to remember how to work with naturally occurring flows of energy. In this future, both electricity demand and supply are inextricably linked to the weather. In response, I present a collection of open-source tools that center around meteorology -- the underlying driver of future electrical grid and air quality uncertainty. I begin with a spatial study focusing on solar development and show how sunny winter days might cause as many problems as cloudy summer ones. I then showcase novel tools that will lower the barrier to entry for meteorological modeling and are aimed at giving each government and non-profit agency access to in-house wind and solar forecasts. Building upon these, I propose an integrated framework for quantifying air-quality co-benefits associated with renewable energy development, which improves the case for further investment.
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.7298/tyra-ky95
dc.identifier.otherSward_cornellgrad_0058F_13059
dc.identifier.otherhttp://dissertations.umi.com/cornellgrad:13059
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1813/111797
dc.language.isoen
dc.rightsAttribution 4.0 International
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subjectair quality
dc.subjectgrid integration
dc.subjectsolar energy
dc.subjectweather forecasting
dc.subjectwind energy
dc.titleModeling tools for wind and solar integration and air quality co-benefits in a zero-carbon future
dc.typedissertation or thesis
dcterms.licensehttps://hdl.handle.net/1813/59810.2
thesis.degree.disciplineMechanical Engineering
thesis.degree.grantorCornell University
thesis.degree.levelDoctor of Philosophy
thesis.degree.namePh. D., Mechanical Engineering

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