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Editorial Complex Optimization and Simulation in Power Systems

The complex interaction between city and climate crisis is converting design-based disciplines from deterministic to flexible approaches. In this regard, Decision-Making Under Deep Uncertainty (DMDU) methods and operational strategies can be valuable support mechanisms to cope with the emerging climate fragilities of urban systems. In light of recent advances in the field of adaptive approaches, this paper discusses key concepts, current limitations and the potential to introduce the DMDU in the method and practices of regenerative design. Our critical discussion aims to restore the designer’s role within the DMDU and to reduce current and future climate fragilities in European cities.

Abstract To achieve the EU climate and energy objectives, a transition towards a future sustainable energy system is needed. The integration of the huge potential for industrial waste heat recovery into smart energy system represents a main opportunity to accomplish these goals. To successfully implement this strategy, all the several stakeholders' conflicting objectives should be considered. In this paper an evolutionary multi-objective optimization model is developed to perform a sustainability evaluation of an energy system involving an industrial facility as the waste heat source and the neighbourhood as district heating network end users. An Italian case study of heat recovery from a steel casting facility shows how the model allows to properly select the district heating network set of users to fully exploit the available waste energy. Design directions such as the thermal energy storage capacity can be also provided. Moreover, the model enables the analysis of the trade-off between the stakeholders’ different perspectives, allowing to identify possible win-win solutions for both the industrial sector and the citizenship.

This document contains the Strategic Research Agenda to Innovation on Blue Energy developed in the framework of the PELAGOS project (D.4.2.1). Relying on both the current Research & Innvation guidelines and priorities established at European level for exploitating in the most effective way the potential of Ocean Energy and the knowledge acquired the activities of PELAGOS project at Mediterranean level, this document considers the strategic focus areas related to the most promising Marine Renewables Energy technologies in the Mediterranean area.

Changes in the main weather features are becoming perceivable in Italy. In the last years, the average temperature and the intensity of rainstorms are increasing. Such phenomena could lead to changes in the earth-atmosphere interaction. Accounting for the high vulnerability of the Italian territory, an obvious consequence would concern the effects on the hydro-geological hazards, including landslides and floods. As a matter of fact, the higher frequency of high magnitude flood and landslide events represent an alarm bell. It is necessary to explore with all available instruments the consequences of the potential climate changes. Since quantitative predictions are not possible, the only way to run is depicting rational scenarios for the most vulnerable contexts adopting a multidisciplinary approach. Based on projections of potential climate changes in the 21st century, the report examines their potential impact in the context of the Italian peninsula. After a general overview about typical slope responses to weather changes, some quantitative scenarios have been depicted for representative geomorphological contexts. The last part of the paper examines changes in the expected risk, based on the characteristics of the Italian territory and its vulnerability, looking at the initiatives to undertake for its mitigation.

The electrical resistance of Ni 50 Ti 30 Hf 20 and Ni 50 Ti 40.5 Hf 9.5 alloys during Stress Assisted Two Way Memory Effect was investigated with the aim to deduce the relationship between electrical resistance and deformation across the transformation range. Results show an almost linear relationship although a crossing point between increasing and decreasing deformation may compromise the use of these alloys actuators.

Laboratory corrosion and scaling testing of metallic materials exposed in high temperature and pressure environments generally involves complex, multi-instrument measurement setups. Here, we present a setup including an autoclave that is instrumented for in-situ electrochemical testing and that contains a ZrO2-based solid-state pH electrode and devices for temperature control and solution stirring. We show results highlighting the importance of adequate pre-calibration of the pH measurement, due to the hysteresis depending on temperature sweep. Additionally, we illustrate how interfacing the autoclave and the electrochemical cell to measuring and controlling instruments, using different data communication interfaces, can create ground loops. These ground loop interferences can introduce significant errors in the measurement, such as a potential shift of >100 mV. In complex, multi-instrument setups, a complete understanding of ground loops may often be difficult. Thus, we recommend systematic checks to identify the ground loops and we propose measures to avoid them. Measurement, 155 ISSN:0263-2241 ISSN:1873-412X

Hydrochar, carbon-rich material produced during the thermochemical processing of biomass, is receiving increased attention due to its potential value as soil amendment. It can increase agroforestry systems’ productivity through direct and indirect effects on growth and soil quality. Hydrochar may also directly help mitigate climate change by sequestering stable carbon compounds in the soil and perhaps indirectly through increased C uptake by trees. In this research, we aim to evaluate how the application of hydrochar produced by two feedstock types, Cynara cardunculus L. (Hc) residuals and sewage sludge (Hs), and in two different doses (3 and 6 kg m−2) could improve the growth and water use efficiency of Populus alba L., a fast-growing tree species largely used in agroforestry as bioenergy crops and in C sequestration. We considered five plants per treatment, and we measured apical growth, secondary growth, leaf area and intrinsic water use efficiency in each plant for the whole growing season from February to October 2022. Our results highlighted that hydrochar applications stimulate the growth and water use efficiency of plants and that the double dose (6 kg m−2) of both hydrochars, and particularly Hc, had positive effects on plant performance, especially during extremely hot periods. Indeed, the year 2022 was characterized by a heat wave during the summer period, and this condition allowed us to evaluate how plants, growing in soils amended with hydrochar, could perform under climate extremes. Our findings showed that the control plants experienced severe damage in terms of dried stems and dried leaves during summer 2022, while hydrochar applications reduced these effects.