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Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) are a key component of the Internet of Things (IoT) revolution. WSN nodes are in general battery-powered, thereby and efficient usage of their energy budget is of paramount importance to avoid performance degradation in IoT applications. To this end, this chapter proposes techniques to manage the WSN nodes’ power consumption. The aim of the first technique is to minimize the transmitted power for a given quality of service requirement at the receiver side. To this end, a power control is considered at each WSN node as well as the use of multiple distributed access points at the receiver side. The second technique to reduce the WSN energy consumption is energy harvesting (EH). Namely, the use of artificial light EH is considered to extend the WSN lifetime. Thus, an experimental setup based on a photovoltaic cell, a boost converter and a commercial WSN node is presented. It is shown that under certain settings it is possible to extend the WSN node’s lifetime without bound, when the transmission time period is above a certain threshold.

The aim of this report is to demonstrate and evaluate the potential of tall wheatgrass (Elytrigia elongata) to avoid GHG emissions and obtain lower economic costs in marginal areas of Spain. Our research built scenarios based on experimental plots (2 and 3 years growth) in 3 locations of Spain with completely different climate conditions (provinces of Girona, Soria and Palencia). In our experiences, we achieved an adequate establishment and biomass production, and assumed a rank of biomass yields until the end of the life cycle that is usually accepted to be about 15 years in many other studies in United States, Argentina and Eastern Europe where tall wheatgrass is extensively cultivated in marginal areas for sheep livestock production. Using our experimental plots and statistical information for economic inputs costs, we built 5 different scenarios per region considering a large range of biomass yields of tall wheatgrass. The analysis included a comparison with annual grasses economic costs calculated for a wide range of biomass yields of a previous study. We estimated GHG emissions savings for tall wheatgrasses and used our previous study (which had GHG emissions savings as well). Savings were calculated replacing natural gas electricity with electricity from biomass combustion in real power plants in Spain. In a wide range of yields, the results suggest that marginal areas might present a better performance with tall wheatgrass compared to annual winter grasses (cereals whole plant cuttings), thus producing biomass yields with higher GHG savings and lower economic costs at the farm level. Proceedings of the 20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 18-22 June 2012, Milan, Italy, pp. 217-229

Trabajo Fin de Grado leído en la Universidad Rey Juan Carlos en el curso académico 2022/2023. Directores/as: Javier Alfonso De Esteban Curiel ; This paper explores the evolution of tourism and sustainability, the impacts of tourism and the main challenges and opportunities for sustainable tourism in Spain. The policy instruments and frameworks that promote and regulate sustainable tourism are also examined. This paper aims to contribute to the existing body of knowledge on tourism and sustainability, providing a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing sustainable tourism in Spain.

Since 2009, with the appearance of the Bitcoin, blockchain has gained great popularity all over the world for multiple reasons. The ones that stand out the most are the transparency of the information, its immutability, meaning it is permanent and unalterable, its security thanks to the nature and the way the network is organized, and the fact that it is decentralized. The most common thing until then, or even now, when people want to send information or money, is having to go through a central node, and then from that node the information is sent to the receiver. Some clear examples are social media and banks, who are in clear control of all the information since the central servers first receive the data and then send it to the recipient. It can be said that the whole paradigm of data and the way it was handled changed when blockchain appeared, and the investigation and development have not stopped since. It was clear that there was a lack of security on the previous methods, given that the central node or server could forge and manipulate the data, since it had the whole control. Thus, a change was highly needed, and it finally appeared. Considering the huge amount of industry practitioners that take part in construction, trust is one of the most important things. This is the reason why the construction industry has already started asking itself whether things could change completely to try and avoid information asymmetry, to be able to keep track of all the payments and contracts alongside with their corresponding modifications, among others. With the current energetic situation of the planet, decentralized P2P energy trading systems are gaining importance and reputation. Not only are they linked to renewable energy systems, but they also allow the prosumers either buying or selling energy depending on their needs, decreasing the high dependency people currently have on the electric companies. The goal of this project is to introduce some concepts regarding the blockchain, the smart grids and the ...

Treball Final de Màster Universitari en Estudis Internacionals de Pau, Conflictes i Desenvolupament (Pla de 2013). Codi: SBG120. Curs acadèmic: 2016/2017 The Earth’s resources are limited and it is important that we conserve as much as possible. One way to do this is to recycle waste products. The main objective of this project is to decrease the amount of recyclable garbage that is not being recycled in the city of Castellón de la Plana. With the high number of plastic and glass bottles that are being used in restaurants, pubs, and family homes, a vast majority of these will likely be thrown in the garbage instead of recycling. Although there are a number of areas that allow easy access for recycling, the convenience of tossing something into the garbage is considered more convenient. This project will attempt to look at various options to not only provide enticement for businesses to recycle, but also potentially allow a form of income as an incentive.

SUSTAGRI4.0 will bring digital and marketing skills to small-scale farmers and agribusiness owners towards a sustainable and community-driven future. SUSTAGRI4.0 core aim is to promote a more sustainable agriculture and support sustainable agriculture businesses in their transition to Agriculture 4.0. This report, comprised from three clusters, the highlighting results of the study, focusing on the professional skills of the future European farming community build on the cornerstones of sustainability, digitalization, and entrepreneurship: Best practices at consortium level; digital survey; focus groups. The country analysis is based on critical research of relevant open sources, including, inter alia, data from national and regional/municipal organizations, law enforcement practice, formal education curriculum, scientific publications and NGOs reports. These desk studies have been of high importance for us, balancing academic findings, correcting views and seriously expanding our understanding of youth issues and related processes of digitalization. Moreover, they have served as a pool for ideas, inspiration and practical models for partner organizations [Cluster I]. Digital Survey recap the desk and case studies, providing valuable insights from our target groups – both from youth and stakeholders and enriching us with clarifying first-hand knowledge for preparing the next steps of our project [Cluster II]. Development of focus groups: Research on local producers & sustainable agricultural business owners and VET. After finishing the research phase (national level) has been completed, a number of best practices has been identified and described in order to compare official data and statistics with real implementation of abovementioned tools [Cluster III]

Treball Final de Grau en Finances i Comptabilitat. Codi: FC1049. Curs acadèmic: 2019/2020 In recent years there has been a rise in businesses investing in social and ethical issues. The sustainable development goals published in 2015 by the UN provide a globally agreed framework to make the world more sustainable. Companies have been given the opportunity to help the environment and society through their actions whilst increasing their value and return and improving their reputation. A method for doing so is by following the principles of responsible investment and incorporating environmental, social and governance criteria into long-term businesses strategies. Spanish banks are actively working to achieve the sustainable development goals by investing in sustainable finance, social projects, housing programmes, etc. to meet societal needs whilst extending their market scope and achieving corporate growth and financial success. The main focus of their actions lays with two specific goals: ending poverty and providing decent work and economic growth for all.

Treball Final de Grau en Finances i Comptabilitat. Codi: FC1049. Curs: 2017/2018 The present study aims to analyse the effects of the growth experienced by the Spanish photovoltaic sector in mid-2007, and the subsequent crisis which began at the end of 2008. In the first part of this paper the historical evolution of solar energy across the globe, its appearance and development at national level, the current situation in relation to solar energy in different countries and continents, and the evolution of the sector in recent years will be explained. Subsequently, we shall proceed to carry out an empirical analysis in order to determine the aggregate effect of the measure which constituted the driving force in the sector (RD661/2007) and of the measure responsible for the decline (RD 1578/2008) through the study of the levels of performance and risk of a sample of companies dedicated to the distribution and installation of photovoltaic material, before and after experiencing the combined effect of the two measures. It may be concluded that, in general, the companies remained in a similar situation, in terms of both profitability and of risk, except with regard to the ratio which measures the solvency of the company in the short term, which presents significant differences between the two years considered.

The International Seminar on Sustainable Technology Innovation is a course offered in the framework of the master of Sustainability of the UPC-Barcelona Tech University and financed by the ERASMUS Intensive Program scheme. It introduces backcasting scenarios methodology in real sustainability problems. The learning environment is international, transdisciplinary, intergenerational and intercultural. It includes stakeholders’ dialogues and discussions. The course is organized around current sustainability relevant topics that are analysed in study cases based in different contexts: going from developed to developing countries and from local to global cases. Students apply scenario methodologies to the study cases in order to set up the most contextualized sustainable strategies. The course is structured in four phases: first the local situation analysis where students analyse the topic in their own countries/regions; then students are grouped in international multidisciplinary teams and define the state of the art of the case studies; afterwards students, lecturers and stakeholders meet in Barcelona where the course is run for two weeks and finally students analyse their learning experience in terms of competences acquisition. The topics analysed in the course vary each year and are related to relevant sustainability challenges: urban solid waste management; food and drinks packaging waste; overfishing and marine ecosystem degradation; sustainable mobility, agroecology and sustainable community energy systems. In 2014 UPC Barcelona Tech is running the course for the seventh time and so far more than 170 students, 40 lecturers and 60 stakeholders have participated in the course from 39 countries. This paper explains the learning environment and the challenges and lessons learnt when organizing such a course, and the learning results obtained by students. Peer Reviewed

Trabajo Fin de Grado leído en la Universidad Rey Juan Carlos en el curso académico 2022/2023. Directores/as: Sandra Flores Ureba, Vera Gelashvili ; In this Project, we will analyze the different faces of Sustainability and address its importance in military actions such as the war between Russia and Ukraine which many say is the most important one since World War II. Sustainability is a commonly used term, however not many know all the areas that hide inside its definition. Achieving economic, social and environmental sustainability is the goal of the many countries that form part of United Nations. The members of the organization have even agreed a plan with 17 Sustainable Development Goals that must be accomplished before 2030. The sustainable development these countries follow is against the violence and destruction of the war between Russia and Ukraine. We will also see the effects that have already begun to appear. This study resumes all the effects that are consequence of the military activities that are taking place between Ukraine and Russia and that are having a great impact around the globe in all aspects. It is having disastrous effects on the environment and the United Nations members¿ economy. Moreover, there is also a life cost in addition to all the injured and the refugees that have had to emigrate in order to have more chances to survive. Analyzing the consequences of past wars and study the consequences they had in the three areas can help to foresee and anticipate to future impacts and provide quicker and more suitable solutions.