223. MITIGATING AIR POLLUTION IN NORTH MACEDONIA: THE ROLE OF POWER ELECTRONICS IN ENERGY GENERATION AND CONSUMPTION

  • Slobodan Mirčevski Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, 18 Rugjer Bošković Str., 1000 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
  • Goran Rafajlovski Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, 18 Rugjer Bošković Str., 1000 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
  • Mikolaj Bartlomiejczyk Faculty of Electrical and Control Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology, Gdansk, Poland
  • Ivan Temelkovski Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, 18 Rugjer Bošković Str., 1000 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
Keywords: air pollution, power electronics, electricity, generation, consumption

Abstract

Environmental pollution and global warming are the greatest world problems today. Climate change and global warming (1.4 ̊C in 2023) as an issue of human survival on the planet Earth are a direct consequence of pollution. Environmental pollution should be divided into air pollution, water pollution, and soil contamination. This paper considers only air pollution in the Republic of North Macedonia and possible solutions thereto. All pollution types are a result of human habits, industrialization and the need for energy sources. Although the greatest environmental pollution comes from developed countries, the most polluted towns are easily found in underdeveloped countries, mainly as a result of poor standards, inadequate heating, and traffic using old buses, cars, etc. The impact of power electronics in industrialization and energy generation is very significant, and therefore it could be equally important for finding a solution to the problem. Power electronics are necessary not only for classical types of power plants (coal, hydro, oil, gas, and nuclear), but even more for renewable power sources such as wind farms, small hydropower plants, and solar plants. The industry is the greatest consumer of electricity, with electric drives accounting for two thirds of that consumption. Households are the second biggest consumer of electricity, with electric drives such as air conditioners and other HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) systems, washing machines, refrigerators, dust cleaners, and auxiliary domestic tools having a dominant share. Power electronics is a structure block of any contemporary electric drive and the best way to improve energy efficiency and reduce electricity consumption. On the other hand, they imply less need for electricity. Electric transport is a powerful way to reduce CO 2 emissions. High power fans with filters are necessary for air cleaning at power plants and industrial facilities. Water cleaning is done with the help of purification stations with pumps. In all these cases, power electronics for variable speed drives are used. High-efficiency motors (HEM) are already in use and contribute to lower electricity consumption.

Published
2024-12-17