• Energy Research
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A circular economy emerged as an alternative transition model, which is considered to be a solution to massive environmental degradation. The transition from a linear economy to a circular economy requires companies to be actively involved in more sustainable practices. For such a transition, companies must rethink, innovate on business models, and encourage sustainability-oriented innovation to deliver customer value, while simultaneously considering environmental and social aspects. On the other hand, the role of the circular economy in energy conservation and infrastructure has not been mapped out in the current literature. This systematic literature review seeks to map out the main interrelated topics of the circular economy and sustainability-oriented innovation, describing internal and external factors that need to be considered in the transition to a clean energy future. Key lines of research are identified, and suggestions for future research and for how to facilitate the movement towards a circular economy are provided. This study contributes to an enhancement of the literature by identifying priority areas regarding the circular economy and sustainability-oriented innovation to encourage future research that contributes to sustainability and environmental preservation.

A huge concern regarding global warming, as well as the depletion of natural fuel resources, has led to a wide search for alternative energy sources. Due to their high reliability and long operation time, thermoelectric generators are of significant interest for waste heat recovery and power generation. The main disadvantage of TEGs is the low efficiency of thermoelectric commercial modules. In this work, a unique design for a multilayer TE unicouple is suggested for an operating temperature range of 50–600 °C. Two types of thermoelectric materials were selected: «low temperature» n-and p-type TE materials (for the operating temperature range of 50–300 °C) based on Bi2Te3 compounds and «middle temperature» (for the operating temperature range of 300–600 °C) n- and p-type TE materials based on the PbTe compound. The hot extrusion technology was applied to fabricate n- and p-type low-temperature TE materials. A unique design of multilayer TEG was experienced to achieve an efficiency of up to 15%. This allows for the possibility of extracting this amount of electrical power from the heat generated for domestic and water heating.

The use of a grid-tied photovoltaic system with a storage battery to increase the power of objects of railway transport infrastructure above the limit on consumption from the grid with the possibility of energy saving is considered. The methods of analysis of energy processes in photovoltaic systems with a storage battery are used. They are added via the processing of archival data of power generation of a photovoltaic battery and computer modeling results. A technique of system parameter calculation to increase the power according to the given load schedule of the object at constant and maximum possible degree of power increasing is developed. The values of the average monthly generation of a photovoltaic battery at the location point of the object based on archival data are used. The principle of the control of power, consumed from the grid, according to the given values of the added and total load is developed. Using the basic schedule of added load power in connection with the graph of photovoltaic battery generation allows reducing the installed power of the storage battery. The additional reduction in the installed power of the photovoltaic and storage batteries is possible at the corresponding choice of the degree of power load increasing. The joint formation of current schedules with reference to the added power value and state of charge of the battery according to the short-term forecast of the generation of a photovoltaic battery is proposed. The value of added power at certain intervals of time is set according to the graph of actual generation of the photovoltaic battery, which contributes to the maximum use of its energy. With the average monthly generation of a photovoltaic battery in the spring–autumn period, the discharge of the battery during the hours of the morning load peak is not used. This reduces the number of deep discharge cycles and extends the battery life. The description of energy processes in steady-state conditions for the daily cycle of system functioning is formalized. On this basis, a mathematical model is developed in MATLAB with an estimation of the costs of electricity consumed from the grid. When modeling, archival data are used for days when the generation of a photovoltaic battery over time intervals is close to average monthly values. This makes it possible to evaluate the effectiveness of system management under conditions close to real during the year.

Energy issue stays a top priority for the national security of most countries. Despite numerous international forums, large-scale geoeconomic research, international and national projects, and the development of appropriate strategies, the issue of energy security assessment and understanding of its terminology is not a universal practice. The presented study has an ambitious goal to develop a methodology that can provide an objective picture of the energy sector on an international scale with cross-country comparisons under the influence of modern megatrends. Based on 29 indicators, according to the World Bank data since 1991, the energy security index is calculated for the set of world states with further analysis of the cluster dynamics of their common trends in energy security. The index showed its objectivity and resistance to existing shocks in geoeconomic dynamics. An important feature of the proposed index is the possibility to compare the energy security index with 1. This value is, in fact, a European average: if a country has an energy security index greater than 1, it means that its energy level is currently better than the European average, and if it is lower than 1, it means that it is inferior to the level of energy security currently achieved on average in Europe. The concept of calculating the index of energy security of the state is based on a unified comparison of all countries, which allows us to move away from the use of signaling approaches and eliminate subjectivity in calculations, as well as provide a basis for dynamic comparison of energy security. The vital aspect of the index is that it takes into account changes in the energy paradigm, the transition to alternative energy sources, and the comprehension of the role of energy efficiency, in particular, of fossil fuels. The study identifies clusters of countries that have consistent similarities in energy security, which can usually be of practical interest in developing energy strategies and understanding the similarity of geoeconomic interests of these states. Thus, this article contributes not only to the development of scientific approaches to the assessment of energy issues, in particular, through the methodological development of a representative index, but also through the presentation of statistically sound results for further effective management decisions at the state level.

The article is devoted to the following issues: boiling of fluid in the cooling jacket of the engine cylinder head; agents that influenced the thermal conductivity coefficient of nanofluids; behavior of nanoparticles and devices with nanoparticles in the engine’s cylinder head cooling system. The permissible temperature level of internal combustion engines is ensured by intensification of heat transfer in cooling systems due to the change of coolants with “light” and “heavy” nanoparticles. It was established that the introduction of “light” nanoparticles of aluminum oxide Al2O3 Al2O3 into the water in a mass concentration of 0.75% led to an increase in its thermal conductivity coefficient by 60% compared to the base fluid at a coolant temperature of 90 °C, which corresponds to the operating temperature of the engine cooling systems. At the indicated temperature, the base fluid has a thermal conductivity coefficient of 0.545 Wm2×°C W/(m °C), for nanofluid with Al2O3 particles its value was 0.872 Wm2×°C. At the same time, a positive change in the parameters of the nanofluid in the engine cooling system was noted: the average movement speed increased from 0.2 to 2.0 m/s; the average temperature is in the range of 60–90 °C; heat flux density 2 × 102–2 × 106 Wm2; heat transfer coefficient 150–1000 Wm2×°C. Growth of the thermal conductivity coefficient of the cooling nanofluid was achieved. This increase is determined by the change in the mass concentration of aluminum oxide nanoparticles in the base fluid. This will make it possible to create coolants with such thermophysical characteristics that are required to ensure intensive heat transfer in cooling systems of engines with various capacities.

The quality of internal air is one of the factors that affect the pace and quality of knowledge acquisition. Therefore, it is important that classrooms have high quality of air. Using computer simulation, the effect of various building ventilation variants on air quality in classrooms was analyzed. Two criteria were analyzed and six variants of ventilation. The analysis was carried out using the CONTAMW program, used for multi-zone analysis of ventilation and air quality in a building. As an indicator of air quality, the concentration of carbon dioxide in school halls was adopted. The analyses show that natural ventilation is not able to provide proper air exchange. Regular airing of classrooms during breaks can reduce the carbon dioxide concentration to 2500 ppm, however, there is a significant reduction in indoor temperature (even below 10 °C). The best control over the internal environment can be obtained by using a supply–exhaust ventilation system with heat recovery. Obtaining a higher stabilization of ventilation is achieved by supplying additional energy to drive fans, however, this is only a small amount of energy compared to the cost of heat for heating the building (maximum 2%).

Circular economy is a tool based on the inclusion of environmental, social, and governance performance (ESG) in decision-making to achieve sustainable development goals (SDG). In recent years, it has become clear that business-as-usual has nothing to do with sustainability, and alternative business models, primarily on technological grounds, must be implemented to mitigate the damage caused by significant and unpredictable effects of climate change. The current situation requires unprecedented and urgent changes to policies and business development models. The current research aimed to target on industrial symbiosis as one of the business models of the circular economy. It evaluated the benefits of symbiosis and the fostering of cooperation between industries and, consequently, has a major impact on resource efficiency ratios. The research is based on quantitative and qualitative research methods, including a literature review, assessment, and application of the triangulation method. As a result of this research, the authors realized a matrix for the development of regional or cross-country industrial symbiosis that can be used by policymakers to foster the development of symbiotic interconnections on a wide scale. The authors also recommend the development of the Baltic University Program (BUP) network center of excellence and methodological justification for industries to engage in industrial symbiosis (IS).

Climate change, as well as the challenges that come with it, is one of the main issues in international and national politics today. Addressing the threats posed by climate change requires close cooperation at the international level and within each country, creating a dialogue between the political elite and society, thus promoting a common understanding and action across the European Union (EU). The aim of this research is to (1) identify what climate policy narratives are projected to the Latvian electorate (public) and (2) assess how these narratives are aligned with the EU-defined strategic climate policy narrative. The theoretical basis and methodological approach of the study is based on the concept of strategic narrative. It is assumed that the viability and impact of a strategic narrative is enhanced when there is coherence between all stages of the narrative life cycle (i.e., the EU level and the national policy level). The empirical basis of the study is based on the identification of the EU climate policy narrative in the sector’s regulatory documents, as well as an analysis of the election programmes of Latvian political parties (the last European Parliament (2019) and parliamentary (2018) election programmes). The results show that the narrative that the Latvian public receives from its political elite through the European Parliament and the national pre-election programmes is significantly different from the EU strategic narrative on climate policy. Based on the theoretical concept of strategic narrative, it can be concluded that the observed dissimilarity of narratives does not stimulate the inclusion of the Latvian public in the common EU space of climate policy understanding and action.