B.Sc. (TUM), Dipl.-Ing. (M.Sc., TUM), Ph.D (UOC)

 

Andy's Story

My interst in renewable energies and sustainability emerged during undergraduate studies at the Technical university of Munich, Germany, where I took courses on wind and hydro power design. During my Master's project, I applied my experience to the design of photovoltaic aerospace energy supply systems at Stanford University. Inspired by an email exchange about sustainability with Dr. Krumdieck, I decided to join the AEMS group in order to work on challenges with power systems in very remote areas.

Research Title

Methodology and Modelling Approach for Strategic Sustainability Analysis of Complex Energy-Environment Systems

Research Project

It is possible that in the near future, energy engineering will be called upon to help society adapt to permanently constrained fuel supplies, constrained green house gas emissions, and electricity supply systems running with minimal capacity margins. The goal of this research was to develop an analytical method for adaptive energy systems engineering within the context of resource constraints.
The resulting Anthropogenic Continuity Planning (ACP) method, as graphically illustrated below, involves assessing available energy resources, environmental and social issues, and economic activities.

ACPmethod

A spectrum of development options is identified for a given region and a Reference Energy Demand calculated for each representative level. A spectrum of conceptual Reference Energy System models is generated for each development level with a range of renewable energy penetration. The outcome is a matrix of energy system investment and resource utilization for the range of energy service levels defined by the development level. This matrix is referredto as the Possibility Space. These models are then used for feasibility analysis, eradicating all energy system options that are not economically feasible. The possibility space is this reduced to the feasibility space, i.e. all energy system options that are economically feasible.

Energy system options in the feasibility space proceed to comparative risk assessment. The feasibility space is reduced further resulting in the opportunity space. The opportunity space includes only those energy system options that are

A. Technically feasible

B. Economically feasible

C. represent low risks to the sustainability of an anthropogenic system, i.e. a regional society system

The above approach has been applied to a relatively simple case study on Rotuma, an isolated Pacific Island society. The case study results show a clear development space for Rotuma where needs and services are in balance with investment, local resource availability and environmental constraints.

Supervisors

Dr. Susan Krumdiek

Dr. Mark Jermy

Dr. Andre Dantas

Funding

University of Canterbury, PhD scholarship

Pacific Development and Conservation Trust

Andy Hamm

Andy Hamm

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