Paleobotany is the branch of paleontology that studies plant fossils. It is concerned with the study of ancient plant life and its evolution over geological time. Paleobotanists study plant fossils found in sedimentary rocks such as coal, shale, and limestone in order to reconstruct the history of plant evolution, biodiversity, and environmental changes.
As the use of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind grows, as does the use of devices such as heat pumps and batteries, a new optimization tool developed at the University of Surrey will assist the UK in planning for a greener electricity network.
The researchers created an algorithm to simulate how these smaller networks distributed electricity, taking into account how local grids could become unbalanced by clustering too many heat pumps in one area or generating more electricity than the grid could accept.
Changes in energy prices, the cost of batteries, or government subsidies can all have large effects on which solutions are best for a particular location. Our findings could influence government policy by demonstrating how effective subsidies and system design can pave the way for net zero initiatives.
Dr. Ishanki De Mel
The Surrey team discovered that generating renewable energy and using it locally was generally more efficient than storing it in expensive batteries or exporting it across the grid. The study could suggest the most efficient way of designing local grids by including data on energy prices, government subsidies, and demand in the model.
Dr Michael Short, Senior Lecturer on Process Systems Engineering at the University of Surrey, said:
“Greening the grid is essential, yet it’s an enormous challenge – and it is clear from our modeling that there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, our model shows how local constraints need to be considered when designing new power networks. The government now needs to think seriously about whether new subsidies or even market changes such as pricing electricity differently during off-peak periods, are needed to enable communities to move towards net zero.”
Their model may also suggest the best size of heat pump for a given situation. In the future, this could help households avoid overselling large appliances and damage to local grids.
“Changes in energy prices, the cost of batteries, or government subsidies can all have large effects on which solutions are best for a particular location,” said Dr. Ishanki De Mel, who worked on the project at Surrey. Our findings could influence government policy by demonstrating how effective subsidies and system design can pave the way for net zero initiatives.”
Paleobotany plays a crucial role in reconstructing Earth’s history and understanding the development of terrestrial ecosystems. It contributes to our knowledge of plant evolution, biodiversity, and the interplay between plants and the environment throughout geological time.
