Date of Graduation

Winter 5-16-2020

Document Access

Project/Capstone - Global access

Degree Name

Master of Science in Energy Systems Management

College/School

College of Arts and Sciences

Department/Program

Energy Systems Management

First Advisor

Maggie Winslow

Abstract

Household coal consumption during the heating season affects Izmir’s air quality adversely to the point where air quality indicators show that pollution levels exceed limit concentration values that World Health Organization set for a habitable and healthy ambient air. The objective of this paper is to evaluate alternatives that utilize low-carbon emitting methods of domestic heating fueled by renewable energy sources and develop a model which would replace household coal. Research shows that 223,969 tonnes of coal were burned in households of Izmir in 2019 and analysis results show that 2.72 million MMBtu of heat energy was supplied to these households from burning coal. Considering the high potential for wind and solar energy in Izmir, the proposed model utilizes a combination of heating with natural gas, electric heaters, air-source heat pumps and ground source heat pumps that would be powered by solar PVs and wind turbines. Cost analysis reveals that an initial investment of 1,346,706,220 Turkish Liras is required where the elimination of household coal would prevent approximately 58 premature deaths and 189 disease cases related to ambient and household air pollution per year. The legislature and policy ideas for supporting this transformation are investigated and other possible ways of generating clean electricity and more efficient household heating methods are discussed.

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