Dissertation Defence: Sustainable Gaseous Fuel Futures of Canada: A Techno-Economic-Environmental Assessment of Cleaner Supply Chain Configurations
October 18 at 1:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Ravihari Kaumadi Kotagoda Hetti, supervised by Dr. Kasun Hewage, will defend their dissertation titled “Sustainable Gaseous Fuel Futures of Canada: A Techno-Economic-Environmental Assessment of Cleaner Supply Chain Configurations” in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering.
An abstract for Ravihari Kaumadi Kotagoda Hetti’s dissertation is included below.
Examinations are open to all members of the campus community as well as the general public. Please email Kasun.Hewage@ubc.ca to receive the Zoom link for this exam.
ABSTRACT
Continuous growth in the economy has caused an increasing energy demand, resulting in numerous environmental concerns. Despite the popularity gained by renewable energy, certain economic activities still require fossil fuels. Amongst existing fossil fuels, natural gas (NG) plays a critical role in ensuring Canada’s energy security. However, the Canadian oil and gas (O&G) sector is a major contributor to national greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, rigorous actions are required within the NG industry to ensure sustainability in its operations. Hydrogen and renewable natural gas (RNG) are identified as low-carbon gaseous fuels capable of decarbonizing the NG supply chain. RNG has already been used in the market, whereas hydrogen is gaining increased attention from utilities due to its ability to produce in higher capacities. However, hardly any studies have been carried out to suggest integrated pathways for RNG and hydrogen inclusion in conventional gas grids. The main goal of this research is to develop a life cycle thinking-based decision support framework to decarbonize the natural gas supply chain through RNG and hydrogen integration. Multi-criteria decision-making methods were used to select the most suitable RNG and hydrogen production paths. Multi-objective optimization was employed to determine the optimum fuel generation mix and gaseous fuel portfolio that caters to key economic sectors. A dynamic modelling approach was used to evaluate investment decisions from a long-range perspective. Policy implications and recommendations were further proposed for successfully decarbonized gas grid planning and management. The deliverables of this research will aid in decision-making for pre-project planning and sustenance of a diversified gas supply chain with RNG and hydrogen. The developed decision support framework and the models will assist utility providers and investors in identifying the optimum fuel integration path and fuel portfolio allocation for key economic sectors. The deliverables are geared towards ensuring necessary technical support to ensure community energy security and achieve climate action goals. The study findings will contribute to the development of a diversified and decarbonized gas supply chain and an energy-independent community.
