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This paper focuses on the planning of electricity resources in the developing electricity infrastructure. First we model the existing infrastructure and extend this model to a smart grid infrastructure, where we focus on the large scale introduction of small electricity generators, leading to generation possibilities at both ends of the electricity network. Then the traditional Unit Commitment Problem (UCP) is given. We extend this formulation to the Multilevel Unit Commitment Problem (MUCP), where we describe and include the possibilities that arise in the developing smart grid, in a general way. Based on the characteristics of the problem with its subdivision into different levels, a planning method for the MUCP is described. Finally we solve and analyze a scenario, where a fleet of 5000 houses is added to a small collection of power plants.

This paper focuses on the planning of electricity resources in the developing electricity infrastructure. First we model the existing infrastructure and extend this model to a smart grid infrastructure, where we focus on the large scale introduction of small electricity generators, leading to generation possibilities at both ends of the electricity network. Then the traditional Unit Commitment Problem (UCP) is given. We extend this formulation to the Multilevel Unit Commitment Problem (MUCP), where we describe and include the possibilities that arise in the developing smart grid, in a general way. Based on the characteristics of the problem with its subdivision into different levels, a planning method for the MUCP is described. Finally we solve and analyze a scenario, where a fleet of 5000 houses is added to a small collection of power plants.

Abstract The European Community is dedicating a growing effort towards the development of renewable energy resources market and in particular to bio-fuels. General public is now aware green biomass represents a local renewable resource, which is widely available on the territory and exploitable under environmentally sustainable criteria for an ecologically sound economic development. Generally, the problem is to evaluate where to concentrate the institutional action for the promotion of the renewable energy sector. The goal of this paper is to develop a methodology able to analyse the feasibility of the biomass energy chain. In particular, we have analysed two aspects: the availability of resources and the enterprise structures. While the first aspect is tied to the local situation (forest and agricultural areas), the second aspect has a general relevance for the Italian mountain context.

Abstract The European Community is dedicating a growing effort towards the development of renewable energy resources market and in particular to bio-fuels. General public is now aware green biomass represents a local renewable resource, which is widely available on the territory and exploitable under environmentally sustainable criteria for an ecologically sound economic development. Generally, the problem is to evaluate where to concentrate the institutional action for the promotion of the renewable energy sector. The goal of this paper is to develop a methodology able to analyse the feasibility of the biomass energy chain. In particular, we have analysed two aspects: the availability of resources and the enterprise structures. While the first aspect is tied to the local situation (forest and agricultural areas), the second aspect has a general relevance for the Italian mountain context.

Abstract Plant competitive interactions influence the effect of herbicides, and the effect of competitive interactions on plant responses may be important to include in the ecological risk assessment of herbicides. In the present study the effect of competitive interactions and sublethal doses of 2 herbicides on plant species was investigated in competition experiments and fitted to empirical competition models. Two nontarget species commonly found in agroecosystems (Centaurea cyanus L. and Silene noctiflora L.) and 2 herbicides (glyphosate and metsulfuron methyl) were used in separate experiments. Plants were sprayed at the 6- to 8-leaf stage. Effects of herbicide treatments and plant density were modeled by generalization of a discrete hyperbolic competition model. The 10% effective dose (ED10) was calculated for C. cyanus. All experiments showed that as density increased, plants were negatively affected. Furthermore, in all cases, C. cyanus remained a better competitor than S. noctiflora. Nevertheless, the density of S. noctiflora (competitor) was an influential element in determining the ED10 of C. cyanus measured at the mature stage. With herbicide exposure, the competitive interactions were further altered; C. cyanus was less affected by glyphosate when S. noctiflora increased to high density. In contrast, at the young stage, conspecific density was important in determining the sensitivity of C. cyanus to metsulfuron methyl, whereas the density of the competitor S. noctiflora had a limited influence. Overall, the results demonstrate the importance of integrating the effect of herbicide and species interactions measured at the reproductive stage into the ecological risk assessments of pesticides. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:2053–2064. © 2019 SETAC.

Abstract Plant competitive interactions influence the effect of herbicides, and the effect of competitive interactions on plant responses may be important to include in the ecological risk assessment of herbicides. In the present study the effect of competitive interactions and sublethal doses of 2 herbicides on plant species was investigated in competition experiments and fitted to empirical competition models. Two nontarget species commonly found in agroecosystems (Centaurea cyanus L. and Silene noctiflora L.) and 2 herbicides (glyphosate and metsulfuron methyl) were used in separate experiments. Plants were sprayed at the 6- to 8-leaf stage. Effects of herbicide treatments and plant density were modeled by generalization of a discrete hyperbolic competition model. The 10% effective dose (ED10) was calculated for C. cyanus. All experiments showed that as density increased, plants were negatively affected. Furthermore, in all cases, C. cyanus remained a better competitor than S. noctiflora. Nevertheless, the density of S. noctiflora (competitor) was an influential element in determining the ED10 of C. cyanus measured at the mature stage. With herbicide exposure, the competitive interactions were further altered; C. cyanus was less affected by glyphosate when S. noctiflora increased to high density. In contrast, at the young stage, conspecific density was important in determining the sensitivity of C. cyanus to metsulfuron methyl, whereas the density of the competitor S. noctiflora had a limited influence. Overall, the results demonstrate the importance of integrating the effect of herbicide and species interactions measured at the reproductive stage into the ecological risk assessments of pesticides. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:2053–2064. © 2019 SETAC.

The Danish Atomic Energy Commission (AEK) was created in 1955 with the remit to promote ‘the peaceful exploitation of atomic energy for the benefit of society.’ Between 1956 and 1963 the AEK, which had been preceded by a number of early private nuclear initiatives, established an ambitious atomic energy research facility at Riso, some 40 kilometers west of Copenhagen. For most of this period the AEK was chaired by the celebrated physicist Niels Bohr. In spite of strong support from relevant actors in Danish society and Riso’s management, Denmark never built commercial nuclear power stations. Today Riso has undergone a complete metamorphosis from atomic energy research facility to a national laboratory, doing research and development on a broad range of alternative energy sources. Using concepts and approaches like national innovation systems and technological nationalism, the present paper will explore why and how this remarkable development took place.

The Danish Atomic Energy Commission (AEK) was created in 1955 with the remit to promote ‘the peaceful exploitation of atomic energy for the benefit of society.’ Between 1956 and 1963 the AEK, which had been preceded by a number of early private nuclear initiatives, established an ambitious atomic energy research facility at Riso, some 40 kilometers west of Copenhagen. For most of this period the AEK was chaired by the celebrated physicist Niels Bohr. In spite of strong support from relevant actors in Danish society and Riso’s management, Denmark never built commercial nuclear power stations. Today Riso has undergone a complete metamorphosis from atomic energy research facility to a national laboratory, doing research and development on a broad range of alternative energy sources. Using concepts and approaches like national innovation systems and technological nationalism, the present paper will explore why and how this remarkable development took place.