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The diffusion of Plug-in Electric Vehicles (PEVs), is expected to increase considerably over the next few years. Ad-hoc charging systems interacting in real-time with smart grids will be needed increasingly to overcome the severe overload problems in electric distribution grids caused by the huge demand for energy to charge a large number of vehicles. These systems will have to implement the scheduling of the charging process on the basis of negotiation phases between the user and the electric utility in which information about fares, amount of required energy and maximum time available for completing the charging before user drive off are exchanged. Possible smart energy dispatching strategies which take advantage of varying the charging rate during the charging process are analyzed in the paper. As shown, the adoption of a variable charging rate is a very promising solution for developing ad-hoc algorithms to fully exploit the distribution grid capacity, allowing higher customer satisfaction and utility financial profits to be reached with respect to algorithms based on fixed charging rate. The results of the analysis performed give useful guidelines for the development of smart-grid management policies and for the design of next-generation PEVs battery chargers.

Abstract Currently, the potential for sustainable development of the regional economy has not been realized for several reasons, among which the problems of rural development occupy a special place. Therefore, the issues of choosing an effective mechanism for sustainable rural development that can solve rural problems on a scientific basis, creating prerequisites for the growth of the regional economy, are of particular relevance. The main problems of rural territories of the Krasnoyarsk region – the outflow of population, the unfavorable ratio of incomes of rural and urban populations, the unsatisfactory state of housing conditions worsen the prospects for growth of the region’s economy based on the using the potential of the agro-industrial complex. To eliminate these restrictions, a special mechanism of state regulation for industrial and social development of rural territories is needed. An important element of such a mechanism should be a system of indicators that allows effective monitoring of sustainable development of industrial and social subsystems in rural territories. The article attempts to offer such a system of indicators.

How can Smart Grids support the development of a new sustainable urban environment? Network infrastructures can play a key role in enabling innovative, sustainable and user-friendly urban services: energy efficiency, low carbon footprint systems and a city ‘more efficient to use’. Smart Grids and Smart metering enable services, for citizens and Public Administration, dedicated to building automation, urban lighting and mobility, gas and water interoperability: cutting-edge technologies and customers' awareness are the keys for 2.0 energy networks' success.

PurposeThe pressure of globalization has raised social concerns related to the protection of the environment, forced companies to use sustainability as a strategic weapon to fulfill the legal obligations and achieve overall competitiveness. It is reported that small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are globally responsible for approximately 70 percent of the industrial pollution, justifying urgent attention to the operations of these businesses. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of sustainability orientation (SO) and supply chain (SC) integration implemented by SMEs on their sustainable procurement (SP) and design. Moreover, this study examines how SMEs’ SP and design affect their environmental and cost performance (CP).Design/methodology/approachThe authors develop a comprehensive model to test the relationships among SC, SC integration, SP, sustainable design (SD), environmental performance (EP) and CP at the SMEs level. The authors investigate the relationships of the mentoned factors by a data set that is collected from 358 Indian manufacturing SMEs.FindingsThe results indicate that in the SMEs’ context: SO positively influences both SP and SD; external integration positively affects SP; internal integration positively affects SD; SP positively influences EP and has not impact on CP; and SD positively influences both EP and CP.Originality/valueThis study provides a broad view of the relation between driving factors that may direct SMEs toward a better sustainability performance and offers practical managerial insights into these important business entities.

In the last years, the circular economy (CE) paradigm is being widely explored by researchers and institutions as a possible path to increase the sustainability of our economic system. Reuse, repair and recycling are becoming crucial activities in many sectors. At the same time, companies are showing an increasing interest for this new economic model. However, the state of the art shows that a deep research on CE assessment and indicators is still lacking, in particular on the micro level. This work tries to fill this gap, first analyzing the current literature on CE assessment, then proposing a reference framework for the monitoring phase of a CE strategy. Finally, the main existing environmental assessment methodologies based on indexes are analyzed according to their suitability to evaluate the circularity of a system. A systematic approach for the choice of the adequate methodology is also provided, highlighting the main critical steps in the assessment of a CE strategy. Further research could be focused either on the extension of this approach to include other assessment methods, and on the validation of this proposal in a case study.

The Human-Centric SMED (H-SMED) is an evolution of the classical methodology introduced by Shingo to manage the setup process, which is particularly suitable for companies where the setup involves activities with high human content, that can be hardly transformed into external operations to be performed during the machine uptime. The H-SMED integrates Industry 4.0 tools, as the MES Data Analysis, Lean Management and Ergonomics with a new attention to the centrality of workers, in order to guide the transition towards the next Industry 5.0. The H-SMED methodology is developed into four phases, devolved to: (1) understanding the changeover process; (2) identifying potential improvements; (3) moving from proposal to practice; (4) training and control, in a continuous improvement cycle. The case study of a world-wide known company in the fashion eyewear industry is proposed to validate the framework, reporting a 44% reduction of setup duration.

Improving efficiency of city services and facilitating a more sustainable development of cities are the main drivers of the smart city concept. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) play a crucial role in making cities smarter, more accessible and more open. In this paper we present a novel architecture exploiting major concepts from the Future Internet (FI) paradigm addressing the challenges that need to be overcome when creating smarter cities. This architecture takes advantage of both the critical communications infrastructures already in place and owned by the utilities as well as of the infrastructure belonging to the city municipalities to accelerate efficient provision of existing and new city services. The paper highlights how FI technologies create the necessary glue and logic that allows the integration of current vertical and isolated city services into a holistic solution, which enables a huge forward leap for the efficiency and sustainability of our cities. Moreover, the paper describes a real-world prototype, that instantiates the aforementioned architecture, deployed in one of the parks of the city of Santander providing an autonomous public street lighting adaptation service. This prototype is a showcase on how added-value services can be seamlessly created on top of the proposed architecture.

Les petits États insulaires en développement (PEID), mais aussi d'autres pays en développement, en particulier dans les pays du Sud, sont toujours confrontés à des défis particuliers pour assurer des moyens de subsistance durables à leur population actuelle ainsi qu'aux générations futures. Il s'agit notamment de l'accès et de la production ainsi que de la fourniture abordable d'énergie. Malgré un grand potentiel de production d'énergie renouvelable, la disponibilité et le rapport coût-efficacité des technologies d'efficacité énergétique, les pays du Sud restent fortement tributaires des combustibles fossiles pour répondre à leurs besoins énergétiques, notamment en raison d'un manque de ressources humaines qualifiées dans le secteur de l'énergie. L'adoption de solutions TIC, dans le domaine de l'énergie, peut être une mesure transversale précieuse pour promouvoir l'éducation à la durabilité et résoudre le problème chronique des capacités humaines qui entrave l'adoption plus rapide des technologies énergétiques durables dans les PEID. S'appuyant sur un exemple concret de projet impliquant les petits États insulaires en développement, ce document explore l'importance des cours en ligne en libre accès pour améliorer l'apprentissage tout au long de la vie. L'étude de cas « Apprentissage tout au long de la vie sur l'efficacité énergétique, l'accès et la sécurité dans les petits États insulaires en développement d'Afrique et du Pacifique » (L3EAP) offre des informations précieuses sur le développement pratique et la mise en œuvre d'une approche axée sur la demande. Le module d'apprentissage L3EAP répond aux besoins et aux demandes distinctifs des pays en développement en matière de connaissances et de technologies dans le domaine de la production d'énergie durable, de la production d'énergie renouvelable, de l'efficacité énergétique et de la sécurité énergétique. Conformément à la tendance mondiale de la numérisation, il est suggéré que les cours d'apprentissage en ligne en libre accès peuvent stimuler l'éducation au développement durable, comme en témoignent le nombre croissant d'opportunités d'apprentissage en ligne librement accessibles et l'intérêt croissant d'autres groupes de parties prenantes, par exemple les entreprises et le personnel gouvernemental. Enfin, le document propose également des recommandations et des mesures pour intégrer et utiliser les solutions d'apprentissage des TIC à l'appui du renforcement des capacités individuelles et du développement socio-économique durable dans les pays du Sud. Los pequeños Estados insulares en desarrollo (PEID), pero también otros países en desarrollo, especialmente en el Sur Global, aún enfrentan desafíos distintivos para garantizar medios de vida sostenibles para su población actual, así como para las generaciones futuras. Estos incluyen el acceso y la producción, así como el suministro de energía asequible. A pesar de un gran potencial para la producción de energía renovable, la disponibilidad y la rentabilidad de las tecnologías de eficiencia energética, el Sur Global todavía muestra una gran dependencia de los combustibles fósiles para satisfacer sus demandas de energía, sobre todo debido a la falta de recursos humanos calificados en el sector energético. Adoptar soluciones de TIC, en el área de la energía, puede ser una medida transversal valiosa para promover la educación para la sostenibilidad y abordar el problema crónico de la capacidad humana que limita la adopción más rápida de tecnologías de energía sostenible en los PEID. A partir de un ejemplo concreto de proyecto que involucra a los Pequeños Estados Insulares en Desarrollo, este documento explora la importancia de los cursos en línea de acceso abierto para mejorar el aprendizaje permanente. El estudio de caso "Aprendizaje permanente sobre eficiencia energética, acceso y seguridad en los pequeños Estados insulares en desarrollo de África y el Pacífico" (L3EAP corto) ofrece información valiosa sobre el desarrollo práctico y la implementación de un enfoque impulsado por la demanda. El módulo de aprendizaje de L3EAP aborda las necesidades y demandas distintivas de conocimiento y tecnología de los países en desarrollo en el campo de la producción de energía sostenible, la producción de energía renovable, la eficiencia energética y la seguridad energética. En línea con la tendencia mundial de la digitalización, se sugiere que los cursos de aprendizaje en línea de acceso abierto pueden impulsar la educación para el desarrollo sostenible, lo que se refleja en el creciente número de oportunidades de aprendizaje en línea de acceso abierto y el creciente interés de otros grupos de partes interesadas, por ejemplo, empresas y personal gubernamental. Por último, el documento también propone algunas recomendaciones de lecciones y medidas para integrar y utilizar soluciones de aprendizaje de TIC en apoyo de la creación de capacidad individual y el desarrollo socioeconómico sostenible en el Sur Global. Small Islands Developing States (SIDS), but also other developing countries especially in the Global South, still face distinctive challenges to ensure sustainable livelihoods for their current population as well as future generations. These include the access to and the production as well as provision affordable of energy. Despite a large potential for the production of renewable energy, availability and cost-effectiveness of energy efficiency technologies, the Global South still show a heavy reliance on fossil fuels to meet its energy demands, not least due to a lack of skilled human resources in the energy sector. Embracing ICT solutions, in the area of energy, can be a valuable crosscutting measure to promote education for sustainability and address the chronic human capacity problem that constrains the quicker uptake of sustainable energy technologies in SIDS. Drawing from a concrete project example involving Small Island Developing States, this paper explores the importance of open-access online courses for improved lifelong learning. The "Lifelong Learning on Energy Efficiency, Access and Security in African and Pacific Small Island Developing States", (short L3EAP) case study offers valuable insights into the practical development and implementation of a demand-driven approach. The L3EAP learning module addresses distinctive knowledge and technology needs and demands of developing countries in the field of sustainable energy production, renewable energy production, energy efficiency and energy security. In line with the global trend in digitalization, it is suggested that open-access online learning courses can boost education for sustainable development, reflected by the increasing number of openly accessible online learning opportunities and growing interest by further stakeholders groups, e.g. businesses and government staff. Finally, the paper also proposes some lessons recommendations and measures for integrating and utilizing ICT learning solutions in support of individual capacity-building and the sustainable socio-economic development in the Global South. لا تزال الدول الجزرية الصغيرة النامية، وكذلك البلدان النامية الأخرى خاصة في الجنوب العالمي، تواجه تحديات مميزة لضمان سبل العيش المستدامة لسكانها الحاليين وكذلك للأجيال القادمة. ويشمل ذلك الحصول على الطاقة وإنتاجها وتوفيرها بأسعار معقولة. على الرغم من الإمكانات الكبيرة لإنتاج الطاقة المتجددة وتوافر تقنيات كفاءة الطاقة وفعاليتها من حيث التكلفة، لا يزال الجنوب العالمي يُظهر اعتمادًا كبيرًا على الوقود الأحفوري لتلبية احتياجاته من الطاقة، لأسباب ليس أقلها نقص الموارد البشرية الماهرة في قطاع الطاقة. يمكن أن يكون تبني حلول تكنولوجيا المعلومات والاتصالات، في مجال الطاقة، تدبيرًا شاملًا قيمًا لتعزيز التعليم من أجل الاستدامة ومعالجة مشكلة القدرات البشرية المزمنة التي تقيد الاستيعاب الأسرع لتكنولوجيات الطاقة المستدامة في الدول الجزرية الصغيرة النامية. مستمدة من مثال مشروع ملموس يشمل الدول الجزرية الصغيرة النامية، تستكشف هذه الورقة أهمية الدورات التدريبية المفتوحة الوصول عبر الإنترنت لتحسين التعلم مدى الحياة. تقدم دراسة الحالة "التعلم مدى الحياة بشأن كفاءة الطاقة والوصول إليها وأمنها في الدول الجزرية الصغيرة النامية في أفريقيا والمحيط الهادئ" (L3EAP) رؤى قيمة حول التطوير العملي وتنفيذ نهج قائم على الطلب. تتناول وحدة التعلم L3EAP الاحتياجات والمطالب المعرفية والتكنولوجية المميزة للبلدان النامية في مجال إنتاج الطاقة المستدامة وإنتاج الطاقة المتجددة وكفاءة الطاقة وأمن الطاقة. تماشياً مع الاتجاه العالمي في الرقمنة، يُقترح أن دورات التعلم عبر الإنترنت مفتوحة الوصول يمكن أن تعزز التعليم من أجل التنمية المستدامة، ويتجلى ذلك في العدد المتزايد من فرص التعلم عبر الإنترنت التي يمكن الوصول إليها بشكل مفتوح والاهتمام المتزايد من قبل المزيد من مجموعات أصحاب المصلحة، مثل الشركات والموظفين الحكوميين. وأخيرًا، تقترح الورقة أيضًا بعض توصيات وتدابير الدروس لدمج واستخدام حلول تعلم تكنولوجيا المعلومات والاتصالات لدعم بناء القدرات الفردية والتنمية الاجتماعية والاقتصادية المستدامة في الجنوب العالمي.