Browsing by Author "Ou, Jerry J. R."

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A hierarchical cost learning model for developing wind energy infrastructures
(2013-12-01)
Trappey, Amy J. C.
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Trappey, Charles V.
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Liu, Penny H. Y.
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Lin, Lee-Cheng
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Ou, Jerry J. R.
Renewable energy has been increasingly promoted and used to substitute non-renewable fossil-fuels, which cause negative effects on the environment. The Taiwan Statute for Renewable Energy Development has regulated and promoted renewable energy since 2009. A feed-in tariff (FIT) for renewable energy is one of the incentives that the government uses to promote the installation of green power generation facilities. The price of the electricity feed-in tariff is based on the current and future costs of renewable energy generation. When analyzing cost trends for renewable energy installation, many researchers use a single factor cost learning curve model. However, past studies indicate that there are multiple factors affecting the overall cost of installing renewable energy. Hence, this research develops a hierarchical installation cost learning model which considers multiple factors to accurately model and forecast wind energy development. This research uses wind power development data from Taiwan as a case study. We identify the cost factors, evaluate the learning effects, and compare the hierarchical learning curve model to the basic (non-hierarchical) learning curve model. The research results show an improved fit between the hierarchical model and the actual data when compared to the basic learning model. The study also provides new insights between the wind power learning progression of Taiwan and three countries in Europe. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
An evaluation model for low carbon island policy: The case of Taiwan's green transportation policy
(2012-06-01)
Trappey, Amy J. C.
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Trappey, Charles
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Hsiao, C. T.
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Ou, Jerry J. R.
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Li, S. J.
Conserving energy and reducing carbon emissions have become the common responsibility of the international community. During the year 2010, the Taiwan government planned a four-year project budgeted at 300 million US dollars, called "The Penghu Low Carbon Island Development Project." The policy objective is to use Penghu Island (population 85,000) as a test platform to evaluate new ways to conserve energy and reduce carbon emissions before attempting to replicate the policies on Taiwan Island. For Taiwan, a zero carbon island green transportation policy will regulate the total number of electric scooters, the total number of gasoline motorcycles, influence government subsidy incentives, and create the need for new motorcycle license issuing and control. These factors interact with each other to form a complex and dynamic system that impacts policy as well as the current way of life. In this study, a system dynamics approach is designed to construct a model for evaluating the green transportation policy on Penghu Island. Simulations are conducted to model green transportation system behavior and related policy effects in a smaller, controlled environment before creating policies for Taiwan Island that will impact the lives of over 23 million people. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Constructing a Hierarchical Learning Cost Curve for Photovotaic System
(2013)
Trappey, Amy J. C.
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Trappey, Charles V.
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Liu, Penny H. Y.
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Lin, Lee-Cheng
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Ou, Jerry J. R.
Developing renewable energy is an effective approach to reduce global warming and satisfies increasing energy demands. Among all of the renewable energy sources, solar power has the greatest potential because it is derived naturally from the sun. Photovoltaic methods convert solar radiation into direct current electricity via semiconductors. Although the energy coming from the sun is abundant, the cost of generating electricity using photovoltaic methods remains higher than conventional means of generating electricity. Often, expensive manufacturing and installation costs reduce the benefits of photovoltaic systems. In order to encourage the usage of photovoltaic systems, several countries have used a feed-in tariff calculated based on the installation costs as an incentive. Considering this important incentive, a learning curve model is constructed to model the installation costs. The cost and benefit model helps evaluate profitability as well as determine the feasible buyback prices and future installation plans. There are many factors that influence the costs. Therefore, this study uses Taiwan as case study and develops a hierarchical installation cost learning curve model for photovoltaic facility construction. Finally, the progression rate, which represents the cost trend, is calculated using case data.
System dynamics modelling of product carbon footprint life cycles for collaborative green supply chains
(2012)
Trappey, Amy J. C.
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Trappey, Charles V.
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Hsiao, Chih-Tung
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Ou, Jerry J. R.
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Chang, Chin-Tsung
Governments, environmental groups and industry associations are reducing greenhouse gas emissions to insure environmental sustainability. Manufacturing plays an important role in economic development but is a main cause of global warming since production requires energy consumption. The supply chain leadership coalition has requested all members to publish their carbon emission data and to reduce emissions. In addition, the International Standard Organization (ISO) has legislated and published ISO14064 as an industrial guideline to control global greenhouse gas emissions. The British Standards Institution developed PAS2050 as the world's first government regulation to control a product's carbon footprint. Providing carbon labelling on products increases product appeals and sales revenues, but also increases manufacturing costs. This research aims to minimise a product's carbon footprint, while controlling its manufacturing cost during collaborative green product design and production planning. An economic input-output life cycle assessment approach is used to evaluate the carbon emissions of new products. The life cycle assessment identifies problematic carbon emissions within the supply chain. Based on the input and output data, the research applies system dynamics modelling to simulate and identify green product redesigns with cost-effective carbon footprints during manufacturing. The purpose of this research is to derive optimal means to reduce the carbon footprint for green product development and production. Finally, the paper uses the case of an electronic image projector to demonstrate the application of the methodology.