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Indicators of sustainability and environmental performance can be useful for comparing modes, discerning trends, and formulating appropriate policies. This paper considers the performance of U.S. transportation service sectors through use of 1992 and 1997 benchmark input–output models. Use of these models permits assessment of not only the direct performance of the sectors but also the supply chain impacts required for operation of the transportation sectors. Consideration of indirect impacts is critical for assessment of the overall costs and impacts of particular products or services. Six transportation service sectors (air, rail, water, truck, transit, and pipeline) are examined. Economic impact, energy, greenhouse gas emissions, and toxic emissions are examined. The transportation sectors use large amounts of energy, both in total and per dollar of output and on a per service basis. Pipeline and water transportation have particularly large energy requirements per dollar of output, likely reflecting higher energy intensity and lower labor intensity in these modes. Truck transportation is the most energy intensive of the freight transportation modes per ton-mile of service, but it has a trend toward greater energy efficiency. For greenhouse gas emissions, truck, water, and air transportation have the highest emissions per dollar of output. Water transportation freight rates are sufficiently low that emissions on a per ton-mile basis would be correspondingly low. Finally, the supply chain (indirect) toxic emissions per dollar of output are highest for rail and pipeline transportation. There is considerable work to be done to improve the overall sustainability of the different transportation modes.

Indicators of sustainability and environmental performance can be useful for comparing modes, discerning trends, and formulating appropriate policies. This paper considers the performance of U.S. transportation service sectors through use of 1992 and 1997 benchmark input–output models. Use of these models permits assessment of not only the direct performance of the sectors but also the supply chain impacts required for operation of the transportation sectors. Consideration of indirect impacts is critical for assessment of the overall costs and impacts of particular products or services. Six transportation service sectors (air, rail, water, truck, transit, and pipeline) are examined. Economic impact, energy, greenhouse gas emissions, and toxic emissions are examined. The transportation sectors use large amounts of energy, both in total and per dollar of output and on a per service basis. Pipeline and water transportation have particularly large energy requirements per dollar of output, likely reflecting higher energy intensity and lower labor intensity in these modes. Truck transportation is the most energy intensive of the freight transportation modes per ton-mile of service, but it has a trend toward greater energy efficiency. For greenhouse gas emissions, truck, water, and air transportation have the highest emissions per dollar of output. Water transportation freight rates are sufficiently low that emissions on a per ton-mile basis would be correspondingly low. Finally, the supply chain (indirect) toxic emissions per dollar of output are highest for rail and pipeline transportation. There is considerable work to be done to improve the overall sustainability of the different transportation modes.

The paper analyses the impact of Electric Vehicle(EV) integration into different power systems and their flexibility potential in mitigating the uncertainty and variability of renewable Energy sources (RES) generation. The problem is cast as Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) unit ommitment, modelling different generation mix/technologies over a number of scenarios. The results, as expected, show that different EV charging strategies have different impacts on power system operation and unit scheduling. In addition, the analyses support the premises that the greater number of EVs, with coordinated charging strategies, can have environmental enefits in terms of reducing CO2 emissions in addition to reducing wind curtailment and system operation costs. These benefits are more obvious in low flexible power systems characterized by dominantly thermal power plants, while they are less pronounced in balanced hydro thermal systems.

The paper analyses the impact of Electric Vehicle(EV) integration into different power systems and their flexibility potential in mitigating the uncertainty and variability of renewable Energy sources (RES) generation. The problem is cast as Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) unit ommitment, modelling different generation mix/technologies over a number of scenarios. The results, as expected, show that different EV charging strategies have different impacts on power system operation and unit scheduling. In addition, the analyses support the premises that the greater number of EVs, with coordinated charging strategies, can have environmental enefits in terms of reducing CO2 emissions in addition to reducing wind curtailment and system operation costs. These benefits are more obvious in low flexible power systems characterized by dominantly thermal power plants, while they are less pronounced in balanced hydro thermal systems.

Marine spatial planning (MSP) in Europe is in a paradigm shift as all (coastal) European countries now have established practices for the production of marine spatial plans. Though international guidelines and an EU directive for MSP provides policy frameworks, the formulation of national policy designs for MSP remains a national responsibility resulting in vastly different practices. Focusing on three Northern European countries; Denmark, Germany and Norway, this paper presents examples of how national policy designs for marine spatial planning are structured, and how the current practice in each country is influenced by local planning cultures. This mapping gives insights to a number of challenges facing planning authorities when planning for sustainable development. Ambiguity dominates the framework of marine spatial planning and the central sustainability concepts it contains. This paper gives voice to the planning teams, as they are key-players in generating meaning in this ocean of ambiguity, giving insights to their understanding of sustainability in the planning of futures for sustainable seas.

Marine spatial planning (MSP) in Europe is in a paradigm shift as all (coastal) European countries now have established practices for the production of marine spatial plans. Though international guidelines and an EU directive for MSP provides policy frameworks, the formulation of national policy designs for MSP remains a national responsibility resulting in vastly different practices. Focusing on three Northern European countries; Denmark, Germany and Norway, this paper presents examples of how national policy designs for marine spatial planning are structured, and how the current practice in each country is influenced by local planning cultures. This mapping gives insights to a number of challenges facing planning authorities when planning for sustainable development. Ambiguity dominates the framework of marine spatial planning and the central sustainability concepts it contains. This paper gives voice to the planning teams, as they are key-players in generating meaning in this ocean of ambiguity, giving insights to their understanding of sustainability in the planning of futures for sustainable seas.

Despite the fact that microgrids are growing in popularity, their integration in distribution networks is problematic because of the omnipresent variability of renewable energy sources. New research focuses on viewing microgrids as having an active role in the system and providing additional services, such as the concept of low-carbon microgrid nodes. The paper presents a mixed integer linear programming optimization algorithm for determining the optimal size of the distributed generation unit and battery storage system based on operational savings and investment costs, as well as estimation of environmental benefits. The flexibility of the analyzed power node comes not only from its capability to store electricity in the battery banks but to optimally schedule flexible loads such as electric vehicles (EVs). Stochasticity of EV arrival and their state of charge are modeled daily and seasonally. The results show that active market signal-driven integration of such nodes is still not feasible without incentives. But as additional services start creating profits, the gap to feasibility will become smaller.

Despite the fact that microgrids are growing in popularity, their integration in distribution networks is problematic because of the omnipresent variability of renewable energy sources. New research focuses on viewing microgrids as having an active role in the system and providing additional services, such as the concept of low-carbon microgrid nodes. The paper presents a mixed integer linear programming optimization algorithm for determining the optimal size of the distributed generation unit and battery storage system based on operational savings and investment costs, as well as estimation of environmental benefits. The flexibility of the analyzed power node comes not only from its capability to store electricity in the battery banks but to optimally schedule flexible loads such as electric vehicles (EVs). Stochasticity of EV arrival and their state of charge are modeled daily and seasonally. The results show that active market signal-driven integration of such nodes is still not feasible without incentives. But as additional services start creating profits, the gap to feasibility will become smaller.