The research was embedded in the APPEAR project "Developing maker‐movement‐inspired training courses on renewable energy sources in the Gaza Strip ‐ Palestine"- MakingFutureEnergy4Palestine. The project's objectives focus on supporting graduate students and building the capacity of female engineering students in the higher education sector, particularly at the Islamic University of Gaza. This will increase the opportunities for women to enter the green job market, which is expected to grow in Gaza in the future.
The Gaza Strip suffers from a lack of conventional energy resources, the import of fossil fuels, volatile fuel prices and environmental concerns. The PhD research aimed to make use of the abundant and accessible renewable energy sources there. It also provided a modelling and analysis of renewable energy potential. A software tool was used to construct a hybrid system to arrive at a feasible, optimal solution.
It was found that both renewable resources, biomass and solar, could be used as a hybrid system to cover the electrification of the residential sector, given the 3000 hours of sunshine per year and the high annual incident solar radiation. The Gaza Strip is a densely populated coastal region. Economic activities vary between agriculture, construction, trade, transport and storage, services and others. The potential of biomass in Gaza is limited to the following types: agricultural residues, municipal waste and sludge from wastewater treatment. A grid-connected hybrid bio-share of renewable resources has been designed based on locally available components at a reasonable price. The capacities of the system components and full connections are evaluated using a pre-calculated mathematical model, which is then drawn to imitate the reality installed.
Biomass is used in the hybrid system regarding the assumption of biogas extraction in anaerobic digestion, which is chosen among various biomass conversion technologies. which is based on the types and quantities of biomass, moisture content and the amount of organic matter. On the other hand, solar energy is harvested by PV panels while the biogas engines generate electricity. The study was completed in three phases, starting with the identification and evaluation of renewable energy sources using statistical data, meteorological readings, and processing via mathematical models and software tools. Second, the economic and technological inputs of the system were then thoroughly studied in accordance with the local market and industry experts. A precise and optimal solution for the hybrid system was then generated using the specified tool. The final step was to analyse the performance and effectiveness of the system.
The results show the reasonable energy cost and Net Present Cost (NPC), as well as how to meet the limits of the simulation input parameters and constraints. Finally, basic performance indicators, namely energy efficiency, system sizing and economic parameters have been evaluated. These results can be a useful tool for the design of such hybrid systems. It was possible to eliminate the growing amount of waste that was being incinerated because it was being thrown away, which significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions by half. This helps to protect the environment and prevent air pollution, and is seen as a sustainable solution, especially given the low cost of biomass.
In conclusion, there is ample scope for further benefits from biomass, which can be both environmental and sustainable. Bio-share technology also aims to reduce the capital cost of the system, which has a significant impact on the cost of energy (US$/kWh) over the life of the project.
The study contributes to the development needs of the Gaza Strip by providing a knowledge base for the development of strategies for the sustainable use of available energy resources. It enables the reliable and efficient operation of microgrids to be integrated into the main grid. The results obtained are based on accurate, realistic and integrity-based inputs and are therefore an important reference for specialists and those interested in the field of hybrid biomass and solar renewable energy systems. The PhD research strengthened the research capacity of the Islamic University of Gaza and contributed to increasing their research productivity in the future.
The knowledge Heyam has gained through seminars, lectures and research has been used to review various curricula in Gaza's high schools. On a personal level, her doctoral studies have enabled her to participate in and complete many interesting scientific research papers required for the field of study, to achieve sustainability, and to attend conferences. This, in turn, has made her a role model for many women in her home institution, her colleagues with whom she grew up, and the community in which she was born.
Her stay in Vienna provided her with many social skills and extensive knowledge. She has interacted with many people from different nations. Vienna values the diversity of its population. For Heyam, it was an incredible opportunity to join BOKU's prestigious academic programme and enjoy the beautiful campus and academic facilities. She would like to thank Prof. Christoph Pfeifer for supervising her PhD thesis and providing her with professional and scientific guidance.
During her time in Austria, she was able to gain insights into planning events, time management, independence and the value of teamwork. It is an opportunity to pass on these skills to students as well as colleagues in the university team. She has been interested in different teaching techniques and modern teaching methods and has used them in her teaching career. She is also grateful to the APPEAR programme for the scholarship, which has "truly changed her life".
Heyam Al-Najjar holds an MSc in Information Technology from the Faculty of Information Technology, 2015. Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) in Palestine. She holds a diploma in teaching and education from Al-Quds Open University, 2011. She has a Bachelor of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Electrical / Communication & Control Engineering, 2003, Islamic University of Gaza, Palestine. She worked as an electrical design engineer in an engineering consultancy and as a consultant in the design and installation of renewable energy systems, especially solar energy grid on and grid off systems, and as a teacher of Information Technology at Al-Quds Open University. She finished her PhD in June 2023 at BOKU, University of Natural Resources and Life Science University, Vienna, Austria. Her research interests are in the field of energy engineering, intelligent energy systems and renewable energy (biomass).
Publications:
Al-Najjar H, Pfeifer C, Al Afif R, J. El-Khozondar H. Estimated View of Renewable Resources as a Sustainable Electrical Energy Source, Case Study. Designs. 2020; 4(3):32. https://doi.org/10.3390/designs4030032
Al-Najjar, H., H. J. El-Khozondar, C. Pfeifer and R. Al Afif (2021). "Hybrid grid-tie electrification analysis of bio-shared renewable energy systems for domestic application." Sustainable Cities and Society: 103538. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2021.103538
Al-Najjar H, Pfeifer C, Al Afif R, El-Khozondar HJ. Performance Evaluation of a Hybrid Grid-Connected Photovoltaic Biogas-Generator Power System. Energies. 2022; 15(9):3151. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15093151
Conference Proceedings
AlNajjar, H.; Al Afif, R.; Pfeifer, C. Evaluation of bioenergy sources in the Gaza Strip. In Proceedings of the ICETI 2018, 2nd International Conference on Environmental Technology and Innovations, Prague, Czech Republic, 21–22 November 2018.