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In dieser Arbeit wird die fortgeschrittene Pinch-Analyse (im Folgenden PA) als Instrument zur Optimierung der Energienutzung und der Einführung erneuerbarer Energieressourcen in industriellen Prozessen untersucht, um das Problem der Nachhaltigkeit und der Dekarbonisierung industrieller Energiesysteme zu lösen. In dieser Hinsicht konzentriert sich die Forschung auf die thermodynamische Energieeffizienz, bei der die Reduzierung der Treibhausgasemissionen (im Folgenden THG) berücksichtigt wird. Aus diesem Grund orientiert sich diese Forschung an einigen Bestimmungen des Pariser Abkommens oder an europäischen Green-Deal-Initiativen. Die Definition des Anwendungsfalls konzentriert sich auf eine systematische Vorgehensweise, die unter anderem eine Literaturrecherche, eine Datenerhebung und eine thermodynamische Analyse mit Hilfe der Pinch-Analyse umfasst. Zu den wichtigsten Methoden gehören die Konstruktion und Interpretation von zusammengesetzten und verschobenen zusammengesetzten Kurven sowie der Grand Composite Curve (GCC) zur Bewertung und Verbesserung der thermodynamischen Effizienz von Prozessen. Der Anwendungsfall bietet eine praktische Grundlage für die Anwendung und Validierung der PA-Methodik. Die Ergebnisse zeigen erhebliche Möglichkeiten für die Wärmerückgewinnung und die Optimierung der internen Energieströme auf, einmal unter Berücksichtigung aller theoretischen Einschränkungen der Pinch-Analyse und einmal als innovativer Ansatz, der die Grenzen der PA überwindet. Die Fallstudie veranschaulicht die Integration von Technologien wie Wärmetauschern, Wärmepumpen und solarthermischen Systemen, um die Abhängigkeit von fossilen Brennstoffen zu verringern und gleichzeitig den Heiz- und Kühlbedarf zu decken. Die innerbetriebliche Nutzung erneuerbarer Energiequellen wie der Solarthermie kann als eine weitere Form der Wärme in den Prozess integriert werden, was zu besseren Möglichkeiten für einen nachhaltigen industriellen Betrieb führt. Sie verbessert die praktische Anwendung in dieser Studie von PA, indem sie reale Einschränkungen berücksichtigt und gleichzeitig zukunftsorientierte Lösungen zur Energieoptimierung untersucht. Ihr wichtigster Beitrag besteht darin, die Aufmerksamkeit auf die Fragen der industriellen Energieeffizienz und der potenziellen wirtschaftlichen Einsparungen für Industrien zu lenken, die versuchen, ein Gleichgewicht zwischen konkurrierenden wirtschaftlichen und ökologischen Belangen herzustellen. This thesis investigates the advanced Pinch Analysis (hereafter PA) as a tool for optimizing the use of energy and adoption of renewable energy resources in industrial processes, which aims to address the issue of sustainability and the concern of industrial energy systems needing decarbonization the most. In this regard, the research focuses on thermodynamic energy efficiency during which reduction of Greenhouse-Gas (hereafter GHG) emissions is considered. That is why this research aligns itself with some provisions of the Paris Agreement or European Green Deal initiatives. The use case definition focuses on a systematic way which involves among others a literature review, data collection, and thermodynamic analysis using Pinch Analysis. Key methods involve constructing and interpreting composite and shifted composite curves as well as the Grand Composite Curve (GCC) to evaluate and improve the thermodynamic efficiency of processes. The use case provides a practical basis for applying and validating the PA methodology. The results reveal significant opportunities for heat recovery and the optimization of internal energy flows, once following all the theoretical limitations of the Pinch Analysis, and once an innovative approach, defying the limitations of the PA. The case study illustrates the integration of technologies such as heat exchangers, heat pumps, and solar thermal systems to de-crease dependence on fossil fuels while meeting heating and cooling needs. In-plant utilization of renewable energy sources such as solar thermal energy can be integrated into the process as another form of heat, which is useful in giving better possibilities of sustainable industrial operation. It enhances practical application in this study of PA by considering real-world constraints while investigating forward-looking solutions for optimizing energy. Its principal contribution has been to draw attention to the issues of industrial energy efficiency and potential economic savings for industries attempting to balance competing economic and environmental concerns.

Abstract Blooms of dark pigmented microalgae accelerate glacier and ice sheet melting by reducing the surface albedo. However, the role of nutrient availability in regulating algal growth on the ice remains poorly understood. Here, we investigate glacier ice algae on the Greenland Ice Sheet, providing single-cell measurements of carbon:nitrogen:phosphorus (C:N:P) ratios and assimilation rates of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), ammonium and nitrate following nutrient amendments. The single-cell analyses reveal high C:N and C:P atomic ratios in algal biomass as well as intracellular P storage. DIC assimilation rates are not enhanced by ammonium, nitrate, or phosphate addition. Our combined results demonstrate that glacier ice algae can optimise nutrient uptake, facilitating the potential colonization of newly exposed bare ice surfaces without the need for additional nutrient inputs. This adaptive strategy is particularly important given accelerated climate warming and the expansion of melt areas on the Greenland Ice Sheet.

Environmental sustainability remains a critical challenge in the face of global economic development. This study explored the complex interactions among renewable energy consumption, urbanization, trade openness, and economic development, focusing on their effects on environmental quality in 34 high-income European and Asian economies from 1970 to 2022. Using linear Bayesian regression and the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM), the analysis examined short- and long-term impacts to uncover nuanced relationships. Results demonstrated that economic development contributed to environmental degradation over the long term while mitigating it in the short term. Renewable energy consumption supported economic growth but showed limited efficacy in reducing ecological footprints across different time frames. Urbanization and trade openness emerged as significant drivers of long-term environmental degradation, emphasizing the need for targeted policy interventions. This study examined the link among economic progress and environmental sustainability, and identified key areas for improvement in urban planning, renewable energy, and trade policies. The findings provide a framework for policymakers to balance development with environmental preservation.

This study introduces a fuzzy logic-based two-degree-of-freedom PID (FL2DOF-PID) controller that is optimized using the Bee Algorithm (BA) to control the load frequency in a two-area linked power system that has both reheat thermal power plants and hydro power plants. To test how well it works, MATLAB/Simulink simulations compared it with PID, 2DOF-PID and fuzzy PID controllers, looking at overshoot, undershoot, settling time, steady-state error and the integral of absolute error (IAE). The results showed that FL2DOF-PID had the lowest RMSE (0.0054, 0.0089) and MAE (0.0041, 0.0065), as well as the smallest IAE (0.1308) and the smallest overshoot (69.3% less). It also had the fastest settling time (5.1528 s) and the smallest IAE (0.1338 less). These results showed that it works to reduce frequency changes, improve power flow stability and make the whole system more reliable under changing conditions.

Abstract Several authors have argued that we ought to have fewer children in order to reduce our contribution to climate change. Proponents of this view generally hold a moderate version of the view, according to which it is still permissible to have one or two children per couple. One recent exception is Chad Vance’s paper “Procreation is Immoral on Environmental Grounds” in this journal, in which he argues that procreation is always, or almost always, morally impermissible. I argue, first, that Vance is mistaken in conceding that his radical position holds only if individual acts of procreation can make a difference, rather than being only a causally insignificantly contribution to collective harm. Instead, given his assumptions, he should hold on to the radical view that we ought to have no children at all. Second, I argue against Vance’s strongest argument for his radical view. Vance argues that procreation harms others, and that obligations to avoid harming rule out the demandingness considerations that are used to support a permission to have one or two children. However, contrary to paradigmatic cases of harming, any procreation-related harms result not only from procreators’ actions, but also from our collective failures to rapidly reduce emissions. This complex causal structure undermines Vance’s rejection of demandingness considerations. I conclude that the moderate view that we may have one or two children per couple survives Vance’s criticism.

Background: The organic sector is often suggested as a lever with a potential for contributing to the three dimensions of sustainability: social, environmental, and economic. This study aims to investigate selected organic initiatives and organic food sectors in different locations, such as capital cities, rural areas, and the bio-district in SysOrg project consortium, in the Warsaw municipality in Poland, North Hessia region in Germany, Cilento bio-district in Italy, Kenitra province in Morocco, and Copenhagen municipality in Denmark to uncover the diverse drivers, barriers, and entry points to enable a transformation process to resilient and sustainable organic food systems. Methods: Following the methodology of the SysOrg project, this study relied on the following mixed data collection methods: quantitative (a household survey distributed among citizens) and qualitative (semi-structured interviews with organized initiatives). Results: The results demonstrate that, despite being in different stages of development in the investigated territories, the organic sector is challenged by similar barriers (e.g., undeveloped market, regulatory/budgetary constraints, and lack of knowledge and awareness) and benefits from analogous drivers (e.g., awareness and education, community support, and incentives). Conclusions: Those similarities, but also analyses of their differences and origins, allowed us to establish critical entry points for the development of a sustainable organic food system, e.g., promoting organics through a top-down approach, providing training and education, reducing information delay, popularizing negative feedback, strengthening the effectiveness of a given incentives scheme by tailored nudging mechanisms, establishing country/regional specific traditional frames, making the system more inclusive, building organic communities, and awareness-building.

Shadow flicker caused by wind turbine blades passing through sunlight can significantly affect nearby residential buildings, raising environmental and regulatory concerns in wind farm development. The accurate assessment of shadow flicker exposure is critical for compliance and minimizing community impacts. We present a novel method for accurately determining the exposure of shadow flicker from wind turbines on residential buildings, addressing a key regulatory concern in wind farm planning. Current simulation techniques rely on discrete sampling of solar positions, resulting in potential inaccuracies tied to sampling resolution. Our proposed approach models shadow flicker as a continuous function and applies numerical minimization and numerical root finding to compute the duration of exposure. Our evaluation proves that this method achieves a superior balance between precision and computational efficiency, significantly improving existing techniques.