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Abstract In the context of climate change, global industrialised nations are grappling with transforming energy networks to support a low carbon future. Using an energy justice framework this work aims to understand holistic outcomes of one low-carbon energy network intervention: demand-side response enacted on domestic heat pumps. By exploring participants’ lived experience of a pilot project, from recruitment to installation and use, this work reveals how injustices were reduced, introduced and amplified. Choice, consent, cost, comfort, disruption, and control are highlighted as key aspects of interest when considering the distributive, procedural, and recognition implications of this domestic innovation. For a net reduction of energy injustices to be realised, we highlight the need for project designers to work in partnership with end users to optimise the benefits for the household and the electricity system. Whilst this is a UK study, the themes and findings are internationally applicable for interventions that aim to harness the flexibility of heating, the largest global energy end-use.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has matured over the past decades and become part of the broader field of sustainability assessment. To strengthen LCA as a tool and eventually increase its usefulness for sustainability decision-making, it is argued that there is a need to expand the ISO LCA framework by integration and connection with other concepts and methods. This paper explores the potential options for deepening and broadening the LCA methodologies beyond the current ISO framework for improved sustainability analysis. By investigating several environmental, economic and social assessment methods, the paper suggests some options for incorporating (parts of) other methods or combining with other methods for broadening and deepening the LCA.

ABSTRACTAn overview is given of an International Atomic Energy Agency Coordinated Research Project (CRP) on the treatment of irradiated graphite (i-graphite) to meet acceptance criteria for waste disposal. Graphite is a unique radioactive waste stream, with some quarter-million metric tons worldwide eventually needing to be disposed of. The CRP has involved 24 organizations from 10 Member States. Innovative and conventional methods for i-graphite characterization, retrieval, treatment and conditioning technologies have been explored in the course of this work, and offer a range of options for competent authorities in individual Member States to deploy according to local requirements and regulatory conditions.

Abstract Solid mixing process plays a crucial role in evaluating the reaction performance of multiphase reactor. However, there still lacks the systematic research on solid mixing for the multistage circulating fluidized bed with enlarged sections. Solid mixing mechanism in a multistage riser is investigated numerically in this study. Some individual characteristics of solid mixing are found. It is shown by analyzing residence time distributions that solid mean residence time and the degree of solid dispersion increase with the increasing solid flux or the decreasing superficial gas velocity. Nevertheless, particle diffusion coefficient increases as solid flux decreases or superficial gas velocity increases. Moreover, the diffusion coefficient in enlarged sections decreases with the increasing height, which is contrary to the variations in traditional risers. Compared with the traditional riser, particle diffusion is weak, but overall solid mixing is enhanced in the multistage riser. Furthermore, two mixing patterns that gas-solid flow develops towards the plug-type flow in the center region of riser and the mixed-type flow in the enlarged section are identified. In addition, the dominant recirculation time of solids in the enlarged section is predicted as 1.5 s under examined cases.

Abstract The efficiency of a solar cells utilizing polycrystalline Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 is to a large extent limited by crystalline defects of the semiconductor. Depending on the fabrication process the density of grain boundaries and dislocations, can vary considerably. However, the material properties can be improved significantly by the subsequent processing steps. In this paper results obtained using various post deposition methods to improve the structural and electro-optical properties of CuIn 0.75 Ga 0.25 Se 2 (CIGS) thin films have been presented and discussed. Films deposited by the evaporation of pre-reacted polycrystalline CIGS onto glass substrate were subsequently processed under several sets of conditions including vacuum, selenium, inert and forming gas ambients at different temperature and times. The structural and electro-optical properties of both as-deposited and annealed films were studied using a variety of analytical techniques. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies of the films showed a columnar structure with strong orientation, which after heat treatments was relaxed to form a chalcopyrite structure. Raman analysis showed that full wave half maximum (FWHM) value reduced from 20 to 10 cm −1 with the annealing process indicating a change in both film composition and microstructure. In addition, investigations using energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS) revealed that the composition was approaching that of the starting polycrystalline material. Both n- and p-type conductivities were observed and gave resistivity values in the range 10 −1 to 10 6 Ω cm. Annealing in selenium changed the observed n-type conductivity of the as-deposited films to p-type. Photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) have also been applied to verify the improvement in the optical properties of annealed films.

This article considers the potential of a revival of interest in theories of practice for the study of consumption. It presents an abridged account of the basic precepts of a theory of practice and extracts some broad principles for its application to the analysis of final consumption. The basic assumption is that consumption occurs as items are appropriated in the course of engaging in particular practices and that being a competent practitioner requires appropriation of the requisite services, possession of appropriate tools, and devotion of a suitable level of attention to the conduct of the practice. Such a view stresses the routine, collective and conventional nature of much consumption but also emphasizes that practices are internally differentiated and dynamic. Distinctive features of the account include its understanding of the way wants emanate from practices, of the processes whereby practices emerge, develop and change, of the consequences of extensive personal involvements in many practices, and of the manner of recruitment to practices. The article concludes with discussion of some theoretical, substantive and methodological implications.

Abstract There has been resurgence in interest in new nuclear power stations over the last couple of years. The UK Government has taken steps to encourage the private sector to build new stations in the UK, a change in its previous neutral stance toward nuclear power. This paper examines the change in government policy asking what drivers have led to this decision and what barriers were preventing new nuclear power in the past and what barriers are still faced by both government and industry. Three main drivers are discussed: security of energy supply; diminishing energy generation capacity; and climate change. The paper also examines other key factors that play a part in facilitating a shift in government policy, namely economics, public perception and waste management policy. Barriers are identified through examination of public perception, and policy. The changes to the planning system are also discussed. The paper concludes by comparing drivers and barriers for other technologies and contrasting the UK experience with that of other countries.

The transition to a low carbon energy system must occur in the context of numerous uncertainties that occur at all scales, from the extent of the carbon reduction required through to the technologies and policies which will bring the reductions about. Against this background, the Tyndall Decarbonisation Scenarios project has sought to develop a new approach for the generation of energy scenarios, which focuses explicitly upon the transition to a low carbon energy system. Using a backcasting approach, the scenarios explore areas of uncertainty in relation to a low carbon energy system and how the low carbon transition may be brought about.

Abstract The technique of electrochemical noise measurement has now reached a relatively mature state, in that the methods required to make reliable measurements are well-understood, and some aspects of the analysis of such measurements have achieved general acceptance. Thus, the analysis of the resultant data in terms of the noise resistance, R n , is widely accepted, and methods for the extraction of information about corrosion type are starting to become available. One requirement of most of the analysis methods is the assumption that the two electrodes used to determine the current noise are similar. This assumption is always something of a concern, and a number of methods have been proposed to enable the simultaneous or sequential determination of both potential and current noise associated with a single electrode, so that the assumption of similarity is not necessary. This paper is concerned with methods that use deliberately asymmetric electrodes. The normal justification for using deliberately asymmetric electrodes is to permit the study of what is happening on one of the two electrodes. The situation that applies when two asymmetric working electrodes are coupled together and the current and potential noise determined has been analysed previously. Unfortunately, however, the significance of this work has not generally been appreciated by those groups using asymmetric electrodes. In part this may be because the prior analysis did not explicitly consider the theoretical and experimental justification claimed for this type of experiment, and this paper aims to review this analysis, and to rationalise the claims and observations of previous workers.