Day: February 3, 2021

Energy systems can come in a variety of sizes and complexities. For instance, the Western Interconnection spans from British Columbia to the Mexico border, servicing millions of homes, business and industries with a diverse portfolio of power supply resources, including oil, natural gas, coal, hydroelectricity and other renewables. However, energy systems aren’t always that large.

The island nation of Tokelau is a dependent territory of New Zealand, encompassing three atolls, with a combined land area of 10 square kilometers. Approximately, 1,500 residents live on the island and industries are limited to agriculture and other small-scale enterprises.

Prior to 2013, Tokelau has had electricity supplied by three sets of three diesel generator systems. In 2010, Tokelau began a transition from diesel to a hybrid renewable system, almost entirely eliminating diesel usage on the island. This energy transition has radically change how energy is provided. A report was written to summarize the project results, which serves as an interesting case study in a real-life energy transition of an entire energy system.

Instructions
Download the case study: Tokelau, Renewable Case Study, March 13
Write a report (600-700 words) that is APA formatted and referenced.
You must have at least 5 academic sources, two of which can be the courses texts or the Tokelau case study itself.
The report should include the following information:
Identification of the case study reviewed
An description of the supply-side of the Tokelau energy system before and after the renewable energy project, highlighting the unique aspects of an isolated electric grid
Sketch out the old diesel energy system and new renewable energy system using the building blocks outlined in Unit 2.
Evaluate the project benefits, particularly the economic business case.
Evaluate project challenges and barriers
Discuss how implementing a hybrid renewable system in Tokelau may be different than investing in solar photovoltaics, say in a large Canadian urban community.
Discuss how the lessons learned from the Tokelau renewable project could be applied in Canada. HINT: Where does Canada have isolated electric grids?

1. Choose an article.
The news story or article should be taken from news sources such as indicated below which can be accessed free of charge online:
Energy Manager Today
The Globe and Mail
Energy Manager
Macleans
The Vancouver Sun
The Economist
Time
The New York Times
The Independent
The Guardian
Other recognized newspapers, journals, or magazines
Articles should be at least 8-10 paragraphs to provide enough information for you to review.
Articles should discuss current events and should be no more than four months older than the assignment due date.
Avoid using articles published as editorials (opinions, columns) or press releases, blogs, press releases, or general sources. While often interesting and informative, these tend not to be as thorough, or present only one opinion on a topic.
2. Write an Introduction
The length of an introduction is usually one paragraph in length, include a few opening sentences that announce the author(s) and the title, the publisher, date of publication, and briefly explains the topic of the text.
The introduction should present the aim of the article and summarize the main finding or key argument.
Conclude the introduction with a brief statement of your evaluation of the text. This can be a positive or negative evaluation or, as is usually the case, a mixed response.
3. Summarize the article
Present a summary of the key points along with a limited number of examples.
You can also briefly explain the authors purpose/intentions throughout the text and you may briefly describe how the text is organized.
The summary should only make up about a third of the critical review.
4. Critique the article
The critique should be a balanced discussion and evaluation of the strengths, weakness and notable features of the text.
Remember to base your discussion on specific criteria.
Good reviews also include other sources to support the evaluation (remember to reference).
You can choose how to sequence your critique. Here are some examples to get you started:
Most important to least important conclusions you make about the text.
If your critique is more positive than negative, then present the negative points first and the positive last.
If your critique is more negative than positive, then present the positive points first and the negative last.
If there are both strengths and weakness for each criterion you use, you need to decide overall what your judgement is. For example, you may want to comment on a key idea in the text and have both positive and negative comments. You could begin by stating what is good about the idea and then concede and explain how it is limited in some way. While this example shows a mixed evaluation, overall you are probably being more negative than positive.
In long reviews, you can address each criterion you choose in a paragraph, including both negative and positive points. For very short critical reviews (one page or less) where your comments will be briefer, include a paragraph of positive aspects and another of negative.
You can also include recommendations how the text can be improved in terms of ideas, research approach; theories or frameworks used can also be included in the critique section
5. Write a Conclusion
This is usually a very short paragraph. Restate your overall opinion of the text.
Briefly present recommendations.
If necessary, some further qualification or explanation of your judgement can be included. This can help your critique sound fair and reasonable.
Cite your References
Cite the source of your article in a properly formatted APA-style reference at the end of the review.
If you have used other sources in you review you should also include them in this reference list.
Remember to properly cite your reference if you refer to text from it, either directly in the form of a direct quote, or indirectly if you paraphrase.

This homework assignment will test your understanding of three of the twelve
drivers of SCM competitive advantage, as illustrated in our course textbook. There
are no right and wrong answers. Some answers will be better, more
comprehensive and more relevant than others. Since this Homework is worth
about 10% of the final grade, you will need to balance the time you invest in it with
other requirements of this course. Feel free to use any resources, particularly
those provided by the course material. The work must be your own, with
appropriate citations for published material. You will have several weeks to
complete this homework assignment. A double-spaced report will be due as
indicated on the syllabus to be submitted through the assignment folder in D2L.
(A) Review the twelve drivers of SCM competitive advantage, illustrated in
chapters 2-13 in Tom Mentzers Fundamentals of Supply Chain
Management. Select the three drivers you are most interested in exploring.
(B) Describe and discuss the three drivers you selected, citing why they are
important and of interest to you and an organization. Explain the
consequences of not paying attention to these drivers. What should be/can
be done by the supply chain organization(s) to make these drivers really
work for them? Give (make-up) examples where you can.