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This work has been developed under the AGROinLOG Project, “Demonstration of innovative integrated biomass logistics centres for the Agro-industry sector in Europe”. An Integrated Biomass Logistics Center (IBLC), is based on the introduction of new production chains into existing agro-industries by using new biomass feedstock. The AGROinLOG Project has dedicated great attention to investigate the potential of cereal chaff as a valuable resource.Chaff is the fine fraction of the thrashing residues, not usually collected. Chaff is made up of glumes, seed husks, rachis and the tinner part of the cereal stems, whole and cracked kernels, as well as weed seeds.Currently there are several mechanical solutions available on the market for chaff recovery, and others are still at prototype stage, but theyare not so common and very often unknown to the farmers.So far, the literature reportsfew cases of chaff collection with the specific purpose of weed seeds removal, but it still lacks specificexperiments on these machinesintentionally used for biomass collection.For this reason, during the Project AGROinLOG a series of large field tests were performed using an independent scientific approach with different kind of chaff harvesting technologiesin France, Sweden and Italy from 2017 to 2019.The present study collects the results of these activities with the aim to fill that gap and provide deeper understanding in the possibility to enhance the current cereal harvesting method, in order to improve the quantity of biomass collected by including the chaff. Proceedings of the 29th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 26-29 April 2021, Online, pp. 62-68

We analyze growth dynamics in an economy where a private good can be consumed as a substitute for a free access environmental good. In this context we show that environmental deterioration may be an engine of economic growth. To protect themselves against environmental deterioration, economic agents are forced to increase their labour supply to increase the production and consumption of the private good. This, in turn, further depletes the environmental good, leading economic agents to further increase their labour supply and private consumption and so on. This substitution process may give rise to self-enforcing growth dynamics characterized by a lack of correlation between capital accumulation and private consumption levels, on one side, and economic agents’ welfare, on the other. Furthermore, we show that agents’ self-protection consumption choices can generate indeterminacy; that is, they can give rise to the existence of a continuum of (Nash) equilibrium orbits leading to the same attracting fixed point or periodic orbit.

The presented Report forms Deliverable D6.2 resulted from the realization of Workpackage WP.6.3 titled “Overview of market drivers, fiscal measures and subsidies” in frame of the EU-Project “Geothermal communities – demonstrating the cascaded use of geothermal energy for district heating with small scale RES integration and retrofitting measures” (GEOCOM). The following seven countries were covered by WP6.3 works and this Deliverable D6.2: o Macedonia, o Hungary, o Italy, o Poland, o Romania, o Serbia, o Slovakia. The work was done with the contribution of all GEOCOM Project Partner teams and appointed experts, coordinated, interpreted and summarized by the Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute of PAS team, WP6 leader. FP7

Abstract This research, entitled “Eco-development in the light of the euro mediterranean partnership: application to the coastal territories of Algeria and Morocco” wants to focus on the economic and policy causes which conduct to move to the alternative of eco-development as a new growth policy for these southern countries, to preserve their natural resources and enhance a sustainable way for growth. Both Algeria and Morocco, despite their human, material and natural resources, have failed during the last years to attain significant results in their fight against underdevelopment and poverty. More than that, development policies applied by each of these countries are based on, in a major part, the exploitation of their coastal territories and natural resources, which are both limited. The growth level yearly attained during the last decade, have not been more than 3% to 3.5% for each of them, less than estimated growth level of 7%, considered by many researchers as necessary to stabilize poverty and satisfy job demands. The intensive exploitation of natural resources added to the growing pressures on coastal territories has conduct to the rise of environmental damages, which enhance the costs of growth. We can observe that claimed objectives to help these South Mediterranean countries to push growth level, fixed previously by the partnership agreements with E.U., are not in their way to be realized at the level where it have been announced. How can be thinked a global economic model, to enhance growth, preserve environment and coastal territories, in a renewed and more equitable partnership agreement with E.U.? Is it possible to clear such model, which tries to embrace all aspects of this problematic, which is not only economic, but also social, environmental and including also spatial planning? To analyze these aspects, common to the cited growth policy experiences, this work have been conducted simultaneously, in spite of different levels of intensity in research works, at three cities (Annaba, Algiers and ...

With high penetration of renewable energy, the cost of frequency control ancillary services (FCAS) has increased substantially and has become one of the main barriers to utilize clean and inexhaustible wind, solar and like power resources in large scale. After investigating a variety of often used energy storage devices (ESDs), the authors present a tiered energy storage system (TESS) for self-provision of regulation services by wind farms. Designed through employing different characteristics of these ESDs with respect to capacity, responding speed and investment/operation costs, the TESS can be applied for FCAS of power grids integrated with wind farms, including frequency regulation and contingency services. Simulations carried out in the research has verified the feasibility of the TESS.

Der Klimawandel ist eine globale Herausforderung, wobei die geschätzten Kosten für seine Eindämmung zwischen 1,6 und 3,8 Billionen USD pro Jahr liegen. Als Pionier im Bereich des Klimaschutzes verfügt die Europäische Union über das weltweit umfangreichste Emissionshandelssystem (87 % des globalen Wertes von 865 Mrd. USD im Jahr 2022). Die kumulative Dissertation ist in drei Artikel unterteilt und beschäftigt sich mit der Rolle von forstwirtschaftlichen Kohlenstoffgutschriften sowohl auf den Verpflichtungsmärkten als auch auf den freiwilligen Kohlenstoffmärkten. Dabei werden Potenziale für forstwirtschaftliche Investitionen in diesen beiden Märkten untersucht. Im ersten Artikel wird ein Überblick über die Klimastrategie der Europäischen Union gegeben, wobei der Schwerpunkt auf der Entwicklung des EU-Emissionshandelssystems (EU ETS) und der Rolle von Waldkohlenstoffzertifikaten für Kompensationszwecke sowohl in der Europäischen Union als auch international liegt. Wir argumentieren, dass die Europäische Union weiterhin ein beträchtliches Potenzial der Wälder - insbesondere der tropischen Wälder - als natürliche Kohlenstoffsenken ungenutzt lässt. Im Gegensatz dazu zeigen wir auf, dass die Regulierungsbehörden aus den Erfahrungen und Verbesserungen der Vergangenheit, den Sustainable Carbon Cylces der Europäischen Union und der Fertigstellung und Entwicklung des Regelwerks für Artikel 6 des Pariser Abkommens lernen können. Wir unterbreiten einen Vorschlag zur Änderung der EU-ETS-Verordnung, indem wir die kürzlich im Trilog vereinbarte Gesetzgebung der Europäischen Kommission zur Erhöhung des linearen Reduktionsfaktors von 2,2 % auf 4,2 % auf die Anrechenbarkeit von Waldkohlenstoffgutschriften übertragen, was zu einem zusätzlichen Finanzierungspotenzial für Forstprojekte zur Erhöhung der notwendigen Kohlenstoffsenken führt. Gleichzeitig wird durch die Möglichkeit, in begrenztem Umfang in Neutralisierungsprojekte zu investieren, das Risiko gemindert, dass regulierte Unternehmen bei der Erreichung der Emissionsreduktionsziele überfordert werden. Das Überdenken des Status quo erfordert nicht nur eine Stärkung der Robustheit von Kohlenstoffprojekten, sondern kann auch den Widerstand von politischen Entscheidungsträgern und NGOs überwinden. Emissionsgutschriften aus Wäldern sind in den meisten Emissionshandelssystemen von Bedeutung, da sie ein kosteneffizientes Mittel zum Ausgleich von schwer zu kompensierenden Emissionen darstellen. Bislang war dies im Emissionshandelssystem der Europäischen Union (EU ETS) nicht der Fall. Da das Regelwerk des Pariser Abkommens nun fertiggestellt ist, könnte sich jedoch die Gelegenheit bieten, diesen Flexibilitätsmechanismus in der europäischen Klimapolitik wiederzubeleben. Auf der Grundlage von 24 Experteninterviews untersuchten wir im zweiten Artikel das forstwirtschaftliche Potenzial innerhalb des EU-Emissionshandelssystems über kurz-, mittel- und langfristige Zeiträume. Wir kamen zu dem Ergebnis, dass das Erfüllungssystem bis 2030 blockiert bleiben wird, dass aber langfristig ein Übergang zur Einbeziehung von forstbasierten Entnahmen und Reduktionen wahrscheinlicher ist. Obwohl forstwirtschaftliche Projekte in der EU auf große Zurückhaltung stoßen, herrscht Einigkeit darüber, wie wichtig sowohl technologische Lösungen als auch solche Initiativen für den Klimaschutz sind. Um das Potenzial der Forstwirtschaft in Zukunft voll auszuschöpfen, müssen andere Methoden und Instrumente (z. B. Haftungsregelungen), strengere Rechtsvorschriften für sozioökonomische Faktoren (z. B. Landnutzungsrechte), die Überwindung von Umsetzungshürden (z. B. keine Kompromisse bei der Abschreckung durch Abschwächung) und eine offene politische Haltung eingeführt werden. Diese Studie bietet eine umfassende Perspektive auf die Hindernisse und Potenziale von Forstprojekten im Rahmen des Compliance-Systems der EU, die bei der Wiederaufnahme der Diskussion über die künftige Förderfähigkeit unbedingt berücksichtigt werden muss. Die Ergebnisse der Studie legen nahe, die Hindernisse für die Bereitstellung von Emissionsgutschriften in der nächsten Phase des EU-Emissionshandelssystems ab 2030 unverzüglich zu beseitigen. Der freiwillige Kohlenstoffmarkt (Voluntary Carbon Market, VCM) hat in den letzten Jahren ein beispielloses Wachstum erlebt, das durch die Verpflichtungen der Unternehmen begünstigt wurde. Die künftige Entwicklung hängt jedoch von der Strategie des Pariser Abkommens ab, insbesondere von Artikel 6. Daher werden im dritten Artikel die verschiedenen vorgeschlagenen Mechanismen und ihre Auswirkungen auf den VCM analysiert. Von besonderer Bedeutung ist der Bedarf an entsprechenden Anpassungen (CA) und wie sich diese Anforderung auf den VCM auswirkt. Der "neue" Typ von Kohlenstoffgutschriften, der auf der CoP27 eingeführt wurde, nämlich die "Mitigation Contribution A6.4ERs", wird die Konsolidierung des VCM wahrscheinlich beschleunigen. Auf der Grundlage einer halbsystematischen Überprüfung und von Experteninterviews (N = 20) sprechen die derzeitigen kurzfristigen Aussichten (~2030) für ein weiteres Wachstum des VCM, trotz bestehender Unsicherheiten aufgrund der unvollständigen technischen Details des Rahmens. Darüber hinaus halten die meisten Experten den Artikel 6-Rahmen nach intensiven und gründlichen Verhandlungen für erfolgreich. Mittelfristig (~2030-2045) wird es wahrscheinlich zu einem Marktübergang kommen. Dementsprechend wird der VCM seine Nische finden und das gegenwärtig verwendete Ausgleichsinstrument neu bewerten müssen. Diese Neubewertung muss über eine reine Kohlenstoffperspektive hinausgehen und sich auf die Zusatznutzen konzentrieren, um die Legitimität des VCM zu erhalten. Langfristig (~2045) deuten die Ergebnisse auf einen Rückgang des VCM hin, da er möglicherweise mit Compliance-Märkten kombiniert wird. Die Infrastruktur und die Robustheit der Artikel-6-Regelwerke werden jedoch dazu beitragen, das volle Wachstumspotenzial des VCM zu gewährleisten. Climate change is a global challenge, with estimated mitigation costs ranging from USD1.6 to USD3.8 trillion per year. As a pioneer in climate action, the European Union has the most extensive emissions trading system worldwide (87% of the global value of USD865 billion in 2022). The cumulative PhD thesis is divided into three articles dealing with the role of forest carbon credits in both compliance and voluntary carbon markets as well as investigating further potentials for forest investments in both of these markets. In the first article, we review the European Union's climate strategy, emphasizing the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) development, and the role of forest carbon credits for offsetting purposes, both in the European Union but also internationally. We argue that the European Union continues to leave a significant potential of forests - in particular tropical forests - as natural carbon sinks unattended. In contrast, we reveal that the regulators can learn from the experiences and improvements made in the past, the European Union’s Sustainable Carbon Cylces and the finalization and development of the rulebook for Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. We present a proposal on changes to the EU ETS regulation by converting the European Commission's legislation, recently agreed in the trilogue, to increase the linear reduction factor from 2.2% to 4.2% to the eligibility of forest carbon credits, resulting in additional funding potential for forestry projects to increase necessary carbon sinks. Simultaneously, allowing flexibility of investing to a limited extent in neutralization projects mitigates the risk of overstressing regulated companies to reach the emission reduction targets. The re-thinking of the status quo will not only require strengthening the robustness of carbon projects, but may also overcome the resistance of policy makers and NGOs. Forest-based carbon credits are crucial in most Emissions Trading Schemes as they offer a cost-efficient means of offsetting hard-to-abate emissions. To date, this has not been the case in the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS). However with the Paris Agreement rulebook now finalized, there could be an opportunity to revive this flexibility mechanism in European climate policy. Based on 24 expert interviews, we examined in the second article the forest potential within the EU ETS across short, medium, and long-term time frames. We found that the compliance system will remain blocked until 2030, but there is a greater likelihood of transitioning towards the inclusion of forest-based removals and reductions in the long term. Although forestry projects have faced significant reluctance in the EU, there is unanimous agreement on the importance of both technological solutions and such initiatives for climate protection. To fully leverage the potential of forest activity in the future, it will be necessary to adopt different methods and tools (e.g., liability regimes), stricter legislation on socio-economic factors (e.g., land use rights), overcoming implementation hurdles (e.g., do not compromise deterrence through mitigation), and maintaining an open political stance. This study provides a comprehensive perspective on the barriers and potentials of forestry projects within the compliance system of the EU which is essential to be addressed when re-opening the discussion on future eligibility. The implication of the findings suggest an immediate start to adopt to the barriers for carbon credit readiness in the next phase of the EU ETS beginning of 2030. The voluntary carbon market (VCM) has seen unprecedented growth over the past years, facilitated by corporate commitments. However, future development depends on the Paris Agreement strategy, in particular, Article 6. Therefore, the third article analyzes the various mechanisms suggested and their implications on the VCM. Of particular importance is the need for corresponding adjustments (CA) and how this requirement spills over to the VCM. The “new” type of carbon credits introduced during CoP27, that is, the “mitigation contribution A6.4ERs” will likely accelerate the consolidation of the VCM. Based on a semi-systematic review and expert interviews (N = 20), the current short-term (~2030) prospects support further growth of the VCM despite existing uncertainties caused by the incomplete technical details of the framework. Moreover, after intense and thorough negotiation, most experts deemed the Article 6 framework successful. In the mid-term (~2030-2045), a market transition will likely occur. Accordingly, the VCM will need to find its niche and reassess the current compensation tool used. This reassessment must go beyond a mere carbon perspective and focus on co-benefits to prolong the legitimacy of the VCM. Long-term (~2045) results indicate a decline in the VCM as it potentially combines with compliance markets. However, the infrastructure and robustness of Article 6 rulesets will help to ensure the full growth potential of the VCM.

The most significant thermal water resource in the Carpathian Basin can be found under the territory of the Hungarian-Serbian border, in the Szeged-Morahalom-Subotica triangle. The abstraction for extensive and complex utilization is currently being started on both sides of the border. For the safe and sustainable abstraction, and its international monitoring, it is necessary to determine the hydrogeological-hydrodynamic features of the common thermal water base, and to elaborate a two-phase 4D model of the water base for the mapping of the water resource and its gas content. FP7

A fundamental change in societal values and economic structures is required to address increasing pressures on ecosystems and natural resources. Transition research has developed in the last decades to analyze the co-dynamics of technological, institutional, social and economic elements in the provision of key functions such as energy, water and food supply. This doctoral dissertation provides conceptual and methodological contributions to the pro-active governance of sustainability transitions. Three research gaps are identified that are addressed in this dissertation. First, a comprehensive conceptualization of learning in sustainability transitions is currently missing that comprises learning at multiple societal levels (ranging from individuals to policy-actors). Learning concepts are often not explicitly discussed in transition research even though learning is considered as fundamental for innovation processes, niche formation and development as well as breakthrough and diffusion of innovations. Second, methods for the analysis and design of transition governance processes are lacking that specify case-specific intervention points and roles of actors in the implementation of innovations. Third, participatory modeling approaches are only applied to a limited extent in transition research despite a high potential for supporting communication and learning. The conceptualization of multi-level learning developed in this doctoral research conceptualizes learning at different societal levels as specific learning contexts ranging from individual and group contexts to organizational and policy contexts. The conceptual framework further differentiates between learning processes, intensity, objects, outcomes, subjects and factors, allowing for a more detailed analysis of learning within and across learning contexts. Thus, learning contexts can be linked by processes that involve actors from different learning contexts (e.g., community groups and policy-makers), as well as exchanges of physical aspects, institutions ...

The EU has set clear targets regarding energy conservation of buildings and heavily supports activities towards achieving these targets on a European scale. The Green Deal, renovation wave, Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) are some examples of EU's actions. For more than a decade, Energy Performance Certificates provide detailed data about the current energy needs of a building/building unit as well as information about the building construction and systems. A Building Renovation Passport (BRP) has, on a European level lately, been conceived as a tool that can stimulate cost-effective renovation in the form of a long-term basis, step-by-step deep renovation roadmap following defined quality criteria, and outline energy renovation measures that will improve the energy performance of the building. A Digital Building Logbook (DBL) is another tool that can serve as an archive where all building information can be stored and continuously updated. In this way, a full record of the building history will be electronically available with data regarding construction plans and permits, maintenance and system replacement activities, energy and heat consumption and production, etc. Building Renovation Passports and the Digital Building Logbook are tools that can help in achieving energy efficiency in existing buildings and contribute to reaching the EU renovation wave goals. The objective of this report is to investigate how the current EPC schemes best make the link towards the BRP and the DBL to further incentivise and stimulate cost-effective deep energy renovations of buildings across Europe. Three surveys were carried out to collect relevant information about the current status of the EPC data records and to identify stakeholders' potential needs, perceptions, thoughts and expectations, regarding a future connection between the EPC and the BRP or DBL. These surveys were prepared in two forms: using an excel file format circulated via email, and through an online questionnaire. Their completion was carried out by 16 countries. Regarding the EPCs, the state or regional energy agencies are the owner of the EPC data records and make full use of them. Their current main usage is for statistical reasons in the majority of the countries and their access is publicly available in half of the responding countries. Many common data is stored in the EPC database which can be linked with other tools (half of the EPC databases are already linked with another source). Regarding the BRP, a review of existing European schemes showed that successful BRPs have combined the renovation advice with financial support, legal requirements and/or communication campaigns. An important factor of the BRP is that it should be issued by a qualified expert and should provide customised measures for the specific building together with the investment costs per renovation measure(s). The DBL analysis showed that it should provide access to building information and contribute to better decision-making for future interventions as well as operation, use and maintenance records. The building owner/user is proposed to have full access to the logbook and provide/input about energy bills and building plans/construction materials info. An important aspect is that every time the building undergoes intervention works, the DBL should be updated accordingly. The most important barrier is the lack of motivation to update the DBL contents followed by the absence of synergies and consistency with other tools. Another interesting finding is that both BRP and DBL should be fed automatically by EPC data without any user interference. There is a clear possible interconnection between EPC data and BRP and DBL future contents. In addition, BRP can be an instrument to increase the renovation rates and DBLs are necessary for the management of buildings' information. The linkage of EPC data and BRP and DBL can be strengthened by introducing BRP and DBL as voluntary schemes under national incentives and should be fully implemented once they have demonstrated acceptance by the stakeholders.