• Energy Research
• 7. Clean energy close
• 11. Sustainability close
• EU close
• AT close

AbstractSmart Grids are electrical grids that require a decentralised way of controlling electric power conditioning and thereby control the production and distribution of energy. Yet, the integration of Distributed Renewable Energy Sources (DRESs) in the Smart Grid introduces new challenges with regards to electrical grid balancing and storing of electrical energy, as well as additional monetary costs. Furthermore, the future smart grid also has to take over the provision of Ancillary Services (ASs). In this paper, a distributed ICT infrastructure to solve such challenges, specifically related to ASs in future Smart Grids, is described. The proposed infrastructure is developed on the basis of the Smart Grid Architecture Model (SGAM) framework, which is defined by the European Commission in Smart Grid Mandate M/490. A testbed that provides a flexible, secure, and low-cost version of this architecture, illustrating the separation of systems and responsibilities, and supporting both emulated DRESs and real hardware has been developed. The resulting system supports the integration of a variety of DRESs with a secure two-way communication channel between the monitoring and controlling components. It assists in the analysis of various inter-operabilities and in the verification of eventual system designs. To validate the system design, the mapping of the proposed architecture to the testbed is presented. Further work will help improve the architecture in two directions; first, by investigating specific-purpose use cases, instantiated using this more generic framework; and second, by investigating the effects a realistic number and variety of connected devices within different grid configurations has on the testbed infrastructure.

Abstract The need to increase energy system flexibility, alongside the need to lower fossil fuel use in the food sector, and the importance of refrigeration infrastructure presents an opportunity for Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) integrated with refrigerated warehouses. To quantify this opportunity in Europe we analyse energy scenarios and existing refrigeration infrastructure for four countries with diverse energy systems (UK, Spain, Bulgaria and Germany). We find that with growing levels of electricity generation from variable renewable sources and numerous refrigerated warehouses, LAES has the potential to provide value in many areas of the EU through the 2020s. However, LAES is still pre-commercial, and with the proportion of electricity from variable renewable sources still low in many countries it is likely that LAES will not be deployed widely alongside refrigerated warehouses under current market conditions. Countries such as the UK and Spain, which have the greatest need for additional energy system flexibility and the most refrigerated warehouses are likely to gain the most value initially.

Summary of modifications delivered to the shemaorg standard for energy M18

-

The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, expressed in carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2-eq), of different Austrian biogas systems were analyzed and evaluated using life-cycle assessment (LCA) as part of a national project. Six commercial biogas plants were investigated and the analysis included the complete process chain: viz., the production and collection of substrates, the fermentation of the substrates in the biogas plant, the upgrading of biogas to biomethane (if applicable) and the use of the biogas or biomethane for heat and electricity or as transportation fuel. Furthermore, the LCA included the GHG emissions of construction, operation and dismantling of the major components involved in the process chain, as well as the use of by-products (e.g. fermentation residues used as fertilizers). All of the biogas systems reduced GHG emissions (in CO2-eq) compared with fossil reference systems. The potential for GHG reduction of the individual biogas systems varied between 60% and 100%. Type of feedstock and its reference use, agricultural practices, coverage of storage tanks for fermentation residues, methane leakage at the combined heat and power plant unit and the proportion of energy used as heat were identified as key factors influencing the GHG emissions of anaerobic digestion processes.

Pervasive computing and business process modeling are increasingly joining forces, as mobile human users shall be seamlessly integrated into business processes. In respective scenarios, humans use mobile devices and wireless technology to interact with workflows running in a powerful back-end infrastructure. However, the frequent interaction between humans and workflows causes a high communication overhead and, thus, high energy consumption on mobile devices. This impacts the usability and efficiency of the business process due to rapidly drained batteries and the resulting short life-times of the devices and applications. We present an approach based on a minimum-cut algorithm for reducing costly data transmissions during workflow execution by distributing parts of a workflow to the users' devices. Our motivation is to reduce the energy consumption on the mobile devices and, thus, avoid draining batteries in the field. We prove that our algorithm finds the optimal solution for a given network and workflow, decreasing the energy consumed on mobile devices by 32-37% compared to an approach where the entire workflow is executed in the infrastructure. Thus, in typical domains like logistics and health care, one third of the energy can be saved. This either means that devices have to be charged less frequently, leading to less distraction in the business process, or that mobile device specifications can be lowered. Significant cost reductions result in both cases.

After a halt of four years, the n TOF spallation neutron facility at CERN has resumed operation in November 2008 with a new spallation target characterized by an improved safety and engineering design, resulting in a more robust overall performance and e cient cooling. The rst measurement during the 2009 run has aimed at the full characterization of the neutron beam. Several detectors, such as calibrated ssion chambers, the n TOF Silicon Monitor, a Mi- croMegas detector with 10B and 235U samples, as well as liquid and solid scintillators have been used in order to characterize the properties of the neutron uence. The spatial pro le of the beam has been studied with a specially designed \X-Y