Repositório do LNEG
National Laboratory of Energy and Geology Scientific Repository
Welcome to LNEG’s Scientific Repository
The LNEG’s Scientific Repository intends to preserve, disseminate and give access to LNEG's scientific production in digital format.
The objectives of the Repository are: to increase the visibility and impact of the research carried out at LNEG, to improve internal and external communication and to preserve the institution's intellectual memory.
Recent Submissions
Detailed in-depth mapping of the world largest anorthositic complex: Magnetic anomalies, 2.5-3D modelling and emplacement constraints of the Kunene Complex (KC), SW Angola
Publication . Merino-Martínez, E.; Rey-Moral, Carmen; Machadinho, Ana; Carvalho, João; Represas, Patricia; García-Lobón, J. L.; Feria, María Carmen; Martín-Banda, Raquel; López-Bahut, T.; Alves, Daniela; Ramalho, Elsa; Manuel, José; Cordeiro, Domingos
ABSTRACT: The Kunene Complex (KC) represents a very large Mesoproterozoic igneous body, mainly composed of anorthosites and gabbroic rocks that extends from SW Angola to NW Namibia (outcropping 18,000 km2 , NE-SW trend, and ca. 350 km long and up to 50 km wide). Little is known about its structure at depth. Here, we use recently acquired aerogeophysical data to accurately determine its hidden extent and to unravel its morphology at depth. These data have been interpreted and modelled to investigate the unexposed KC boundaries, reconstructing the upper crustal structure (between 0 and 15 km depth) overlain by the thin sedimentary cover of the Kalahari Basin. The modelling reveals that the KC was emplaced in the upper crust and extends in depth up to ca. 5 km, showing a lobular geometry and following a large NE-SW to NNE-SSW linear trend, presumably inherited from older Paleoproterozoic structures. The lateral continuation of the KC to the east (between 50 and 125 km) beneath the Kalahari Cenozoic sediments suggests an overall size three times the outcropping dimension (about 53,500 km2 ). This affirmation clearly reinforces the economic potential of this massif, related to the prospecting of raw materials and certain types of economic mineralization (Fe-Ti oxides, metallic sulphides or platinum group minerals). Up to 11 lobes have been isolated with dimensions ranging from 135.5 to 37.3 km in length and 81.9 to 20.7 km in width according to remanent bodies revealed by TMI mapping. A total volume of 65,184 km3 was calculated only for the magnetically remanent bodies of the KC. A long-lasting complex contractional regime, where large strike-slip fault systems were involved, occurred in three kinematic pulses potentially related to a change of velocity or convergence angle acting on previous Paleoproterozoic inherited sutures. The coalescent magmatic pulses can be recognized by means of magnetic anomalies, age of the bodies as well as the lineations inferred in this work: (i) Emplacement of the eastern mafic bodies and granites in a stage of significant lateral extension in a transtensional context between 1500 Ma and 1420 Ma; (ii) Migration of the mantle derived magmas westwards with deformation in a complex contractional setting with shearing structures involving western KC bodies and basement from 1415 Ma to 1340 Ma; (iii) NNW-SSE extensional structures are relocated westwards, involving mantle magmas, negative flower structures and depression that led to the formation of late Mesoproterozoic basins from 1325 Ma to 1170 Ma. Additionally, we detect several first and second order structures to place the structuring of the KC in a craton-scale context in relation to the crustal structures detected in NW Namibia. (c) 2025 China University of Geosciences (Beijing) and Peking University. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of China University of Geosciences (Beijing).
Strategic Bidding to Increase the Market Value of Variable Renewable Generators in New Electricity Market Designs
Publication . Algarvio, Hugo; Sousa, Vivian
ABSTRACT: Electricity markets with a high share of variable renewable energy require significant balancing reserves to ensure stability by preserving the balance of supply and demand. However, they were originally conceived for dispatchable technologies, which operate with predictable and controllable generation. As a result, adapting market mechanisms to accommodate the characteristics of variable renewables is essential for enhancing grid reliability and efficiency. This work studies the strategic behavior of a wind power producer (WPP) in the Iberian electricity market (MIBEL) and the Portuguese balancing markets (BMs), where wind farms are economically responsible for deviations and do not have support schemes. In addition to exploring current market dynamics, the study proposes new market designs for the balancing markets, with separate procurement of upward and downward secondary balancing capacity, aligning with European Electricity Regulation guidelines. The difference between market designs considers that the wind farm can hourly bid in both (New 1) or only one (New 2) balancing direction. The study considers seven strategies (S1-S7) for the participation of a wind farm in the past (S1), actual (S2 and S3), New 1 (S4) and New 2 (S5-S7) market designs. The results demonstrate that new market designs can increase the wind market value by 2% compared to the optimal scenario and by 31% compared to the operational scenario. Among the tested approaches, New 2 delivers the best operational and economic outcomes. In S7, the wind farm achieves the lowest imbalance and curtailment while maintaining the same remuneration of S4. Additionally, the difference between the optimal and operational remuneration of the WPP under the New 2 design is only 22%, indicating that this design enables the WPP to achieve remuneration levels close to the optimal case.
Strategies to Incentivize the Participation of Variable Renewable Energy Generators in Balancing Markets
Publication . Algarvio, Hugo; Sousa, Vivian
ABSTRACT: Balancing markets (BMs) play a crucial role in ensuring the real-time equilibrium between electricity demand and supply. The current requirements for participation in BMs often overlook the characteristics and capabilities of variable renewables, limiting their effective integration. The increasing penetration of variable renewables necessitates adjustments in the design of BMs to support the transition toward carbon-neutral power systems. This study examines the levels of active market participation for a wind power producer (WPP) in the Iberian Electricity Market and the Portuguese BMs. In addition to exploring current market dynamics, the study tests one methodology proposed by the Danish Transmission System Operator to support the participation of variable renewables in BMs, the P90, and two new methods based on the full cost balancing concept. These methodologies incentivize WPPs to minimize imbalances by allowing market participation only if imbalances remain within a 10% deadband of annual hours (P90), hourly offers (D90), or both (DP90). The results indicate that participating in the secondary capacity market, particularly for downward capacity, is the most profitable strategy. This participation enhances the value of wind power by over 42%. However, in most methodologies, the WPP failed to deliver nearly 100% of its allocated capacity approximately 1% of the time. In contrast, the D90 approach limited the maximum deviation to 10%, demonstrating the highest reliability among the evaluated methods.
Strategic Bidding to Increase the Market Value of Variable Renewable Generators in Electricity Markets
Publication . Sousa, Vivian; Algarvio, Hugo
ABSTRACT: The 2050 global ambition for a carbon-neutral society is increasing the penetration of the most competitive variable renewable technologies, onshore wind and solar PV. These technologies are known for their near-zero marginal costs but highly variable time-dependent generation. Power systems with major penetrations of variable generation need high balancing flexibility to guarantee their stability by maintaining the equilibrium between demand and supply. Electricity markets were designed for dispatchable technologies. Support schemes are used to incentivize and de-risk the investment in variable renewables, since actual market designs are riskier for their active participation. This study presents three strategic bidding strategies for the active participation of variable renewables in electricity markets based on probabilistic quantile-based forecasts. This case study examines the levels of active market participation for a wind power producer (WPP) in the Iberian electricity market and the Portuguese balancing markets, where WPPs are financially responsible for imbalances and operate without support schemes in the first and second stages of the Iberian market designs. Results from this study indicate that the WPP has the potential to increase its market value between 36% and 155% if participating in the tertiary and secondary balancing markets completely adapted to its design, respectively. However, considering the use of strategic bidding in actual market designs, by participating in the secondary reserve, the WPP can increase its market value by 10% and 45% when compared with perfect foresight and operational cases, respectively.
Techno-economic analysis of a renewable energy based multigeneration system for zero energy buildings
Publication . Aelenei, Laura Elena; Rodrigues, Carlos; Brites, Maria João de Sousa; Viana, Susana
ABSTRACT: The present study explores the contribution and benefits of a renewable energy based multigeneration prototype integrating a luminescent compound parabolic concentrator, a photovoltaic/thermal system and thermal storage using phase change materials. A numerical model was developed for assessing the energy performance of the prototype and the results are presented for three different European locations. A simplified economic analysis was also developed and presented for two different scenarios and the same European locations. The results reveal that the installation of the IDEAS system in Lisbon, with a total estimated yearly use of solar energy of 1215 kWh and an amount of energy sold to the grid of 40.6 kWh, results in savings of 266 (26 % of energy bill). For the Ferrara location, with a total estimated yearly use of solar energy of 967 kWh and 19.8 kWh of energy sold to the grid of, results on 229 (16 % of energy bill) of annual savings. In Dublin, with a total estimated yearly use of solar energy of 862 kWh and an amount of energy sold to the grid of 20.5 kWh, results on annual savings of 257 (14 % of energy bill).