A green electrical matrix-based model for the energy transition: Maine, USA case example

Abstract

Nowadays, climate change is a major global societal challenge that significantly increases environmental stress. Most international organizations and policies have promoted initiatives to minimize emissions, reduce fossil fuel dependence and increase renewable energy resource integration into different sectors. An energy transformation toward more renewable systems is thus a priority. Under this scenario, the present paper describes and evaluates an alternative energy conversion matrix–based model to combine sector electrification, power generation units from renewables, and new clean technologies. The proposed green matrix-based model allows analysing future scenarios, including electricity participation in end–use consumption and electric power generated by renewables —potentially integrated into different sectors—. The proposed model is evaluated in the state of Maine (United States). This case study is focused on decarbonizing both residential heating and transport sector through the integration of large offshore wind power plant. Results and discussion is also included in the paper, providing expected energy demand reductions and decreasing emissions through the integration of renewables. This energy transition integration case study is proposed in three road-maps with different penetration rates and time scales. The proposed green matrix–based model can be also applied to other areas and energy resources, as an alternative way to analyse and estimate renewable integration into different sectors.