• Energy Research
• 12. Responsible consumption close
• 8. Economic growth close
• GB close
• BE close
• University of Oxford close

Green ammonia is gaining momentum as a globally significant technology for deep decarbonisation. In this thesis, several models are developed across chemical, techno-economic, and energy system modelling disciplines to explore the future role of green ammonia. First, standalone models of production (i.e., power-to-ammonia) and re-electrification (i.e., ammonia-to-power) are developed and compared to competing technologies. Second, these models are integrated into a planning and dispatch energy system model (ESM) of India to 2050. The ESM has several novel additions including the sector coupling of hydrogen and ammonia, multiple years of granular weather data, and learning-curve-based technology cost forecasts. India is chosen as an ideal case study given its globally unmatched demand growth in all three relevant sectors: electricity, green hydrogen, and green ammonia. The projected electricity demands for green hydrogen and ammonia production account for 25% of the total Indian electricity demand in 2050, underscoring the transformational potential that green hydrogen and ammonia sector coupling can have on the Indian energy system. The results of the state-of-the-art ESM highlight synergistic effects of hydrogen and ammonia sector coupling with the power system. The least-cost system employs seasonal green ammonia production paired with up to 40 million tonnes (i.e., 200 TWh) of ammonia storage, as well as some re-electrification via gas turbines. Sector coupling reduces system curtailment, addresses challenges of long-duration storage, and improves system resilience to interannual weather variations. While India is a crucial case study from a global decarbonisation perspective, the methodology and findings are generally applicable, and it is the aim of this work to motivate and accelerate the wider research community into considering the potential impacts of green ammonia sector coupling on electricity grid design. Finally, this work highlights strategic technology development direction for ammonia producers and gas turbine manufacturers, as well as implications for policymakers.

This paper explores to what extent moving towards the 30% GHG emission reductions by 2020 with respect to 1990 in the EU can be considered a transformative target. To do so, we first define the concept of transformative targets from a complex systems perspective and show a novel approach and original results using an extended application of the GEM-E3 model. Traditional macroeconomic models cannot easily handle key synergetic system effects derived from green growth and sustainability policies, and thus require additional features. We analyse the role of semi-endogenous growth driven by learning-by-doing and low-carbon investment expectations following a long-term transformative trajectory.

Despite the fundamental role given to the sustainability of intergenerational programming regarding their demonstrated impact on an aging society, only a few studies have undertaken an exploration of the qualitative core dimensions of sustainable intergenerational programs. This article addresses how the sustainability of educational intergenerational programs relates to why and how intergenerational program managers in the Portuguese area of Porto may have developed different attitudes and beliefs around adequate implementation of the programs. Drawing on qualitative interview data of a four-case fieldwork study conducted in Porto, Portugal, the study examines autonomy, empowerment, and intergenerational relationships as dimensions other than time duration behind program sustainability. Attention to the managers’ narratives on how intergenerational programs are implemented can help to explain why some dimensions are more highlighted than others. A qualitative analysis of intergenerational program sustainability, it is argued, offers considerable findings which provide opportunities to its implementation and intersection with managers’ beliefs. Findings suggest a need to de-emphasize both time duration and managers’ persona as the key for sustainability. We recommend intergenerational program sustainability as an area for future theorizing through providing a conceptualizing framework that might go beyond the normative focus on its duration and into the relational nature of these programs.

Environmental distribution conflicts (EDCs) related to the construction and operation of waste incinerators have become commonplace in China. This article presents a detailed case study of citizen opposition to an incinerator in the village of Panguanying, Hebei Province. Drawing on in-depth fieldwork, we show how this case was notable, because it transcended the local arena to raise bigger questions about environmental justice, particularly in relation to public participation in siting decisions, after villagers exposed fraudulent public consultation in the environmental impact assessment. An informal network between villagers and urban environmental activists formed, enabling the Panguanying case to exert influence far beyond the village locality. This network was critical in creating wider public debate about uneven power and substandard public participation in siting disputes, a central feature in many Chinese EDCs. By transcending local specificities and exposing broader, systemic inadequacies, this case became instrumental in supporting "strong sustainability".

Modern economies and infrastructure sectors rely upon secure electricity supplies. Due to sectoral interdependencies, major interruptions cause cascading effects in the economy. This paper investigates the economic effects of major power supply disruptions taking such interdependencies into account. We apply a dynamic inoperability input-output model (DIIM) to 101 sectors, including households, of the Scottish economy in 2009 to explore the direct, indirect, and induced effects of supply interruptions. We estimate the societal cost of energy not supplied (SCENS) due to an interruption. The results show that the most economically affected industries, following an outage, are different from the most inoperable ones. The results also indicate that SCENS varies with the duration of a power cut, ranging from ਴,300/MWh for a one-minute outage to \xA38,100/MWh for a three-hour (and higher) interruption. The results can be used to design policies for contingencies and preventive investments in the power sector.

Introduction : Le manque d'informations fondées sur des preuves concernant les risques biologiques potentiels peut entraîner des stratégies inappropriées ou excessives de biosécurité et de réduction des risques de biosécurité. Cela peut causer des dommages et des pertes inutiles aux installations physiques, au bien-être physique et psychologique du personnel de laboratoire et à la confiance de la communauté. Un groupe de travail technique de l'Organisation mondiale de la santé animale (WOAH, anciennement OIE), de l'Organisation mondiale de la santé (OMS) et de Chatham House a collaboré au projet de feuille de route de recherche sur la biosécurité (BRM). L'objectif de la GRE est la mise en œuvre durable d'une gestion des risques biologiques fondée sur des données probantes des activités de laboratoire, en particulier dans les milieux à faibles ressources, et l'identification des lacunes dans la base de connaissances actuelle sur la biosécurité et la biosûreté. Méthodes : Une recherche documentaire a été menée sur la base de la conception et des pratiques de laboratoire pour quatre sous-groupes d'agents pathogènes hautement prioritaires sélectionnés. Les lacunes potentielles en matière de biosécurité ont été concentrées sur cinq sections principales, y compris la voie d'inoculation/les modes de transmission, la dose infectieuse, les infections acquises en laboratoire, les rejets de confinement et les stratégies de désinfection et de décontamination. Des catégories représentant divers agents pathogènes de la fièvre hémorragique respiratoire, bioterroriste/zoonotique et virale ont été créées au sein de chaque groupe pour examen. Résultats : Des fiches d'information sur les agents pathogènes ont été élaborées. Des lacunes critiques dans la base de données probantes pour une gestion sûre et durable des biorisques ont été identifiées. Conclusion : L'analyse des lacunes a identifié les domaines de recherche appliquée en biosécurité nécessaires pour soutenir la sécurité et la durabilité des programmes de recherche mondiaux. L'amélioration des données disponibles pour les décisions de gestion des biorisques pour la recherche avec des agents pathogènes hautement prioritaires contribuera de manière significative à l'amélioration et au développement de stratégies appropriées et nécessaires de biosécurité, de confinement biologique et de biosécurité pour chaque agent. Introducción: La falta de información basada en la evidencia sobre los riesgos biológicos potenciales puede resultar en estrategias de reducción de riesgos de bioseguridad y bioseguridad inapropiadas o excesivas. Esto puede causar daños innecesarios y pérdidas a las instalaciones físicas, el bienestar físico y psicológico del personal de laboratorio y la confianza de la comunidad. Un grupo de trabajo técnico de la Organización Mundial de Sanidad Animal (WOAH, anteriormente OIE), la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) y Chatham House colaboró en el proyecto de hoja de ruta de investigación sobre bioseguridad (BRM). El objetivo del BRM es la implementación sostenible de la gestión de biorriesgos basada en la evidencia de las actividades de laboratorio, particularmente en entornos de bajos recursos, y la identificación de brechas en la base de conocimientos actual de bioseguridad y bioseguridad. Métodos: Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica sobre la base del diseño y las prácticas de laboratorio para cuatro subgrupos seleccionados de agentes patógenos de alta prioridad. Las brechas potenciales en bioseguridad se centraron en cinco secciones principales, incluida la ruta de inoculación/modos de transmisión, la dosis infecciosa, las infecciones adquiridas en laboratorio, las liberaciones de contención y las estrategias de desinfección y descontaminación. Se seleccionaron las categorías que representan patógenos misceláneos, respiratorios, de bioterrorismo/zoonóticos y de fiebre hemorrágica viral dentro de cada grupo para su revisión. Resultados: Se desarrollaron hojas de información sobre los patógenos. Se identificaron brechas críticas en la base de evidencia para una gestión segura y sostenible de los biorriesgos. Conclusión: El análisis de brechas identificó las áreas de investigación de bioseguridad aplicada necesarias para respaldar la seguridad y la sostenibilidad de los programas de investigación globales. Mejorar los datos disponibles para las decisiones de gestión de biorriesgos para la investigación con patógenos de alta prioridad contribuirá significativamente a la mejora y el desarrollo de estrategias apropiadas y necesarias de bioseguridad, biocontención y bioseguridad para cada agente. Introduction: Lack of evidence-based information regarding potential biological risks can result in inappropriate or excessive biosafety and biosecurity risk-reduction strategies. This can cause unnecessary damage and loss to the physical facilities, physical and psychological well-being of laboratory staff, and community trust. A technical working group from the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH, formerly OIE), World Health Organization (WHO), and Chatham House collaborated on the Biosafety Research Roadmap (BRM) project. The goal of the BRM is the sustainable implementation of evidence-based biorisk management of laboratory activities, particularly in low-resource settings, and the identification of gaps in the current biosafety and biosecurity knowledge base. Methods: A literature search was conducted for the basis of laboratory design and practices for four selected high-priority subgroups of pathogenic agents. Potential gaps in biosafety were focused on five main sections, including the route of inoculation/modes of transmission, infectious dose, laboratory-acquired infections, containment releases, and disinfection and decontamination strategies. Categories representing miscellaneous, respiratory, bioterrorism/zoonotic, and viral hemorrhagic fever pathogens were created within each group were selected for review. Results: Information sheets on the pathogens were developed. Critical gaps in the evidence base for safe sustainable biorisk management were identified. Conclusion: The gap analysis identified areas of applied biosafety research required to support the safety, and the sustainability, of global research programs. Improving the data available for biorisk management decisions for research with high-priority pathogens will contribute significantly to the improvement and development of appropriate and necessary biosafety, biocontainment and biosecurity strategies for each agent. المقدمة: يمكن أن يؤدي نقص المعلومات القائمة على الأدلة فيما يتعلق بالمخاطر البيولوجية المحتملة إلى استراتيجيات غير مناسبة أو مفرطة للحد من مخاطر السلامة البيولوجية والأمن البيولوجي. يمكن أن يتسبب ذلك في أضرار وخسائر غير ضرورية للمرافق المادية والرفاهية الجسدية والنفسية لموظفي المختبر وثقة المجتمع. تعاونت مجموعة عمل فنية من المنظمة العالمية لصحة الحيوان (WOA، المنظمة العالمية لصحة الحيوان سابقًا) ومنظمة الصحة العالمية (WHO) وتشاتام هاوس في مشروع خارطة طريق أبحاث السلامة الأحيائية (BRM). الهدف من إدارة المخاطر البيولوجية هو التنفيذ المستدام لإدارة المخاطر البيولوجية القائمة على الأدلة للأنشطة المختبرية، لا سيما في البيئات منخفضة الموارد، وتحديد الثغرات في قاعدة المعرفة الحالية للسلامة البيولوجية والأمن البيولوجي. الأساليب: تم إجراء بحث في الأدبيات حول أساس تصميم المختبرات وممارساتها لأربع مجموعات فرعية مختارة ذات أولوية عالية من العوامل المسببة للأمراض. وتركزت الثغرات المحتملة في مجال السلامة الأحيائية على خمسة أقسام رئيسية، بما في ذلك مسار التلقيح/طرق انتقال العدوى، والجرعة المعدية، والعدوى المكتسبة من المختبرات، وإطلاقات الاحتواء، واستراتيجيات التطهير والتطهير. تم اختيار الفئات التي تمثل مسببات الأمراض المتنوعة والجهاز التنفسي والإرهاب البيولوجي/الحيواني المنشأ والحمى النزفية الفيروسية داخل كل مجموعة للمراجعة. النتائج: تم تطوير صحائف معلومات عن مسببات الأمراض. تم تحديد الثغرات الحرجة في قاعدة الأدلة للإدارة الآمنة والمستدامة للمخاطر البيولوجية. الخاتمة: حدد تحليل الثغرات مجالات أبحاث السلامة الأحيائية التطبيقية المطلوبة لدعم سلامة برامج البحوث العالمية واستدامتها. سيساهم تحسين البيانات المتاحة لقرارات إدارة المخاطر البيولوجية للبحث مع مسببات الأمراض ذات الأولوية العالية بشكل كبير في تحسين وتطوير استراتيجيات السلامة البيولوجية والاحتواء البيولوجي والأمن البيولوجي المناسبة والضرورية لكل عامل.

Plants acquire carbon through photosynthesis to sustain biomass production, autotrophic respiration and production of non-structural compounds for multiple purposes. The fraction of photosynthetic production used for biomass production, the biomass production efficiency, is a key determinant of the conversion of solar energy to biomass. In forest ecosystems, biomass production efficiency was suggested to be related to site fertility. Here we present a database of biomass production efficiency from 131 sites compiled from individual studies using harvest, biometric, eddy covariance, or process-based model estimates of production. The database is global, but dominated by data from Europe and North America. We show that instead of site fertility, ecosystem management is the key factor that controls biomass production efficiency in terrestrial ecosystems. In addition, in natural forests, grasslands, tundra, boreal peatlands and marshes, biomass production efficiency is independent of vegetation, environmental and climatic drivers. This similarity of biomass production efficiency across natural ecosystem types suggests that the ratio of biomass production to gross primary productivity is constant across natural ecosystems. We suggest that plant adaptation results in similar growth efficiency in high- and low-fertility natural systems, but that nutrient influxes under managed conditions favour a shift to carbon investment from the belowground flux of non-structural compounds to aboveground biomass.