• Energy Research
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The present study is motivated by the need to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation given the new wave of chase for higher economic growth trajectories comes with its environmental cost implications, especially among developing blocs like the Emerging 7 (E7) countries. There is a consistent trade-off between economic growth versus environmental quality. Government apparatus are perpetually on the chase for low-carbon emission policies via the pursuit for green economy. To this end, this present study extends the conventional environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) argument by incorporating the role of institution in emerging industrialized economies (E7) and using second-generation panel analysis methods like mean group (MG), augmented mean group (AMG), common correlated effects mean group (CCEMG), and the Dumitrescu and Hurlin causality test for more robust estimates and inferences. To this end, we explore the long-run and causality relationship between economic growth, quadratic form of economic growth, institutional quality, trade flow, investment in energy sector, and financial development in an EKC environment. Empirical analysis established a long-run equilibrium relationship among the outlined variables over the study period. The long-run regression shows the presence of EKC in the E7. Thus, suggesting the preference for GDP growth over environmental quality at the earlier stage of growth curve. Interestingly, investment in energy, trade flow dynamics across the blocs, and financial development dampens the detrimental effect of environmental pollution as we observed negative relationship with the ecological footprint. On the contrary, quality of institution is weak as institutional quality increase (worsen) the quality of environment in the E7 economies. From a policy perspective, this current study proposed the need for more stringent environmental treaties and regulations and promotion of green economy without compromising economic growth. In the conclusion part of the study, more details and specifics about the policy blueprint are presented.

Earth observation (EO) data are useful tools to analyse geomorphological processes, among which slow-moving landslides triggered by rainfall. EO data are also used to evaluate climate change and to assess its impact on geomorphological processes and geo-hydrological phenomena. The latter is the topic of the Project OT4Clima (Innovative Earth Observation technologies to study Climate Change and its impact on the environment) joined by CNR-IRPI within a consortium that includes other CNR institutes, universities and private companies. The OT4CLIMA project moves from the awareness that the impacts of climate change on the environment need to be better observed, understood, and modelled, especially at a regional scale, in order to put in place appropriate and effective risk mitigation strategies. Within the project, the CNR-IRPI group works on the development of rigorous methods and procedures for evaluating the impact of climate and its change on landslides, in particular on those characterized by a slow cinematic, at a regional scale. The test site is represented by four catchments located in the Basilicata region, southern Italy, namely the basins of the Bradano, Basento, Agri, and Sinni rivers. Long-term rainfall series gathered from 22 rain gauges located in the four catchments are analysed to evaluate the presence of temporal trends. To this aim, non-parametric and statistical tests are applied to the series. Historical landslide information is gathered from the analysis of the IFFI (Inventario dei Fenomeni Franosi in Italia) database, the Idrogeo platform (https://idrogeo.isprambiente.it/app/) and the AVI (Aree Vulnerate in Italia) catalogue. Only some types of landslide movements are considered, namely rotational-translational slides, slow slides/flows, complex movements. Moreover, Copernicus Sentinel-1 images are employed to detect the spatial and temporal distribution of slow earth surface deformations. The obtained results are used for checking the completeness of the landslide inventories. More in detail, the deformation maps of the test site are obtained by means of the application of the SBAS (Small BAseline Subset) technique to three datasets of Sentinel-1 images: t146 ascending orbit and t51 and t124 descending orbits, for the period 2015-2020. Then, a comparative analysis of rainfall data with displacement series is carried out with the aim of identifying clusters of satellite measurements with homogeneous behaviour likely correlated to variations in the rainfall regime. In particular, only the points with a mean velocity in the observation higher than 0.1 cm/year are considered to be moving. Moreover, only the displacement series of points located in areas mapped as landslides - as for the historical inventories - and sited within the influence regions of each rain gauge in the study area are analysed. A 10-km circular buffer centred in the stations are used to define the influence region of each station. The displacement series are analysed and compared to the rainfall series to search for correlations and to evaluate the effects of climate drivers on slow moving landslides.

The building and construction sector is a large contributor to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and consumes vast natural resources. Improvements in this sector are of fundamental importance for national and global targets to combat climate change. In this context, vertical greenery systems (VGS) in buildings have become popular in urban areas to restore green space in cities and be an adaptation strategy for challenges such as climate change. However, only a small amount of knowledge is available on the different VGS environmental impacts. This paper discusses a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) between a building with green walls, a building with green facades and a reference building without any greenery system in the continental Mediterranean climate. This life cycle assessment is carried according to ISO 14040/44 using ReCiPe and GWP indicators. Moreover, this study fills this gap by thoroughly tracking and quantifying all impacts in all phases of the building life cycle related to the manufacturing and construction stage, maintenance, use stage (operational energy use experimentally tested), and final disposal. The adopted functional unit is the square meter of the facade. Results showed that the operational stage had the highest impact contributing by up to 90% of the total environmental impacts during its 50 years life cycle. Moreover, when considering VGS, there is an annual reduction of about 1% in the environmental burdens. However, in summer, the reduction is almost 50%. Finally, if the use stage is excluded, the manufacturing and the maintenance stage are the most significant contributors, especially in the green wall system.

AbstractClimate change effects along with anthropogenic activities present the main factors that threaten the existence of heritage sites across the north Nile Delta of Egypt close to the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea. Observing the changes in the landscape close to the archaeological sites is an important issue for decision‐makers in terms of reducing the negative impact of natural events and human activities. The coastal heritage sites are becoming strongly threatened by the rising sea level phenomena that will happen due to global warming. Focusing on the distribution of the archaeological sites, this study aims to detect the areas at risk of shoreline erosion or accretion in the northern shoreline of the Nile Delta. In this study, the changes in the northern shoreline of the Nile Delta were observed and calculated during the last hundred years based on the integration between the old topographic maps from surveys in 1900, 1925 and 1945, optical satellite images captured by Landsat in 1972, 1986 and 2000; Sentinel2 2021; and the Radar SRTM data. The results of this study showed that the changes were enormous with a great shoreline erosion process over the last 121 years recorded along the shoreline in the periods between 1900–1925, 1925–1945, 1945–1972, 1972–1986, 1986–2000 and 2000–2021. The areas eroded were about 5.3, 4.7, 5.6, 8.9, 2.5 and 5.4 km2, respectively. Such negative movements caused the loss of two heritage sites, and the expected changes will lead to the loss of additional heritage sites in the next 500 years. Furthermore, a model was suggested for protecting the coastal heritage sites threatened by the risk of submergence. This study can help the decision‐makers to detect the coastal archaeological sites at risk and create innovative solutions for protecting these irreplaceable heritage sites.

Thermokinetics of Biochar production.

Engineered cementitious composites (ECCs) are special types of fibre-reinforced cementitious composites (FRCC) with higher strain capacity which can be achieved with low fibre volume as low as 2% and total elimination of coarse aggregates. Due to the outstanding performance of ECCs, they are suitable for various construction and repair applications. However, in order for ECCs to achieve their properties; a high amount of binder which is primarily composed of Portland cement (PC) is used alongside a special type of ultrafine silica sand (USS) which is different from the conventional natural fine aggregates. The production of PC is known to be detrimental to the environment due to its high carbon dioxide emissions coupled with the high consumption of natural resources. Thus, the high use of PC content in ECCs posed a sustainability threat. Similarly, the USS used in ECCs are not readily available everywhere and are expensive. The processing of the USS coupled with its transportation over long distances would also increase the cost and embodied carbon of ECCs. Hence, in order to promote more development and applications of ECCs for various applications; this dissertation aims to provide innovative ways to improve the sustainability of ECCs and their performances. This dissertation offers four solutions to improve the sustainability of ECCs which are (i) use of unconventional industrial by-products as partial replacement of PC (ii) total replacement of PC in ECCs with alternative sustainable binders (iii) replacement of USS in ECCs with recycled materials and (iv) the use of supplementary cementitious materials to replace a high volume of PC. The findings from this study revealed sustainable ECCs with acceptable mechanical and durability performance can be achieved with the use of alternative binders or replacement of the conventional USS used in ECC mixtures. The sustainability and cost assessment of the ECCs indicated that the incorporation of industrial by-products such as blast furnace slag (BFS) especially at higher content is beneficial to reducing the negative environmental impact and economic burden associated with ECCs compared to the conventional ECC. The sustainability index and cost index of the ECCs further showed that the use of BFS is more beneficial when the sustainability and cost of the ECCs are compared with the corresponding performance. Similarly, the use of recycled materials as an alternative to USS was found to result in a significant reduction in the embodied carbon and cost of ECCs. The use of recycled materials such as expanded glass (EG) as aggregates in ECCs was also found to improve the thermal insulation properties of ECCs making such ECC suitable for the production of building envelope elements.

THERMODYNAMIC AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF COMBINED HEAT AND POWER (COGENERATION) STEAM CYCLES SUMMARY Thermodynamic models for twoprocess heating, cogeneration steam cycles were developed in this study. These cycles are an extraction-condensing turbine cycle and a back pressure turbine cycle. Heat and electric outputs were calculated for inlet conditions ranging from 3 MPa, 250 C to 12 MPa, 535 C and process heat supply temperatures ranging from 80 C to 160 C. Furthermore, the performance of these cycles at 0 to 100 percent of their maximum heat outputs were examined. A simple method of economic analysis based on the annual costs was developed. This method can take part load into consideration. An extraction-condensing system and a back pressure system were compared by using this method. Process heating with cogeneration is a thermodinamically effective way of supplying heat and power to the industry. In a central plant, fuel can be burned more efficently, environmental controls can be applied more easily and economies of scale can be used to advantage. Furthermore, producing electricity as a byproduct in such plants is less expensive than producing electricity in power stations. In the extraction-condensing type, steam is expanded to condenser pressure and an extraction is made at the saturation pressure corresponding to the process heat supply temperature. In the back pressure type, steam is expanded only to the saturation pressure correspoding to the process heat supply temperature. The extraction-condensing turbines have the advantage that the electric output can be increased at partial heat loads. On the other hand, back- pressure turbines have a simpler mechanism of load control and lower initial costs. Detailed thermodynamic analysis of these systems appears to be lacking [14]-. For example, information on the variation of heat and electric outputs and thermal efficiencies of different configurations with changes in load and inlet steam conditions is essantial for the initial planning stage. viIn this study, computer modelling and simulation of two steam turbine based cogeneration cycles is made. Nu merical experiments were performed for various steam inlet conditions. Heat and electric outputs of cycles, heat input to the cycles and various parameters based on these thermodynamic quantities were calculated at full load and part load conditions. Partial loads ranging from 0 to 100 percent of full load were considered for the extraction-condensing cycle and partial loads of 37.5 to 100 percent were considered for the back pressure cycle. Thermodynamic Analysis The extraction-condensing turbine cycle consists of steam generator, turbine, condenser, heating condenser, feedwater heaters and pumps. The following assumptions are made regarding this cycle: The condenser is assumed to operate at 10 kPa. Extractions from the turbine to the feedwater heaters, heating condenser and the condenser is assumed to occur with a pressure loss equal to 5 persent of the exraction pressure. Pressure loss in the steam generator is assumed to be 25 percent of the turbine inlet pressure. Enthalpy rise of the feedwater is taken as 70 percent of the theoretically optimum value [13- This value is given by Ahopt = n/n+1 (hab - he) (1) where: n is the number of feedwater heaters, hs*> is the boiler drum satureted liquid enthalpy he is the enthalpy of satureted liquid leaving the condenser The loses in the expansion process through the turbine are accounted for by using an isentropic efficiency, r/, defined as : hi- ho r, = - t- r (2) h>- - hos where : hi is the enthalpy before expansion ho is the enthalpy after expansion hos is the enthalpy after an isentropic expansion This value is taken as 0.8 for the high pressure section of the turbine. The isentropic expansion efficiency for the flow between the heating condenser extraction and the turbine exhaust decreases linearly from 0.8 to 0.5 as the flow to the condenser decreases. Isentropic efficiency or compression in all of the pumps is asumed to be 0.7. viiThe calculations performed in the computer program are summarized in the block diagram of figure 1. Application of the first law of thermodynamics and the conservation of mass to each of the components of the cycle yield the exraction mass flows, work in the turbines and in the pumps, heat transfer in the boiler, heating condenser and in the condenser. Heat output is assumed to be primary output from the cycle. Electric output is considered to be a byproduct. Variation of the heat output is achieved by controlling the flow passing through the condenser. At 100 percent heat output, only the cooling steam flows to the condenser. At no heat output, there is no flow through the heating condenser. Cycle calculations have been performed for 100, 75, 50, 25, and 0 percent of the maximum heat output. Assumptions calculation procedures outlined above for the extraction-condensing cycle also apply for back- pressure cycle. The control of heat output, however, is different. The heat output of the back pressure cycle is varied by changing the mass flow rate through the turbine. Calculations have been performed for 100 to 37.5 percent of the maximum heat output. Properties of water required in the computer programs were computed using the equation and procedures given in [3]- Economic Analysis It is the economic consideration which will determine whether or not a cogeneration plant should be built. A simple method is presented here for determining the economic feasibility of a cogeneration plant. In this method all costs and revenues are expressed on an annual basis for comparison. Two assumption are made. First the heat demand is assumed to be supplied by other means if a cogeneration plant is not built. Therefore only the additional or incremental cost is considered. This includes the turbo generator set, condensers, feedwater heaters, steam generators, additional piping, fuel handling, exhaust cleaning measures, building and consruction costs as well as engineering cost. The second assumption is that all of the byproduct electricity produced can be utilised. A numerical example using this method shows that an extinction condensing cycle should bepreferred if the system is to operate at partial heat loads for long periods of time. Back-pressure cycle will be economically feasible only if the system operates at full load more than 90 percent of the time. However the most economic operation for the extraction-condensing cycle is also realized at full load. vmResults Results of the computer simulation of the two cycles discussed above. The key parameters on which the results are based, are explained below. Heat output per unit mass of steam entering the turbine has a maximum value for a given throttle condition and process heat supply temperature. Heat output from the cycle for a given set of turbine inlet conditions was varied as explained in the thermodinamic a na lysis. It was also found that the thermal efficiency of these cycles, defined as net work output over the heat input. Increasing the process heat supply temperature decreases the electric to heat ratio and the electric out put, increases the heat output. IXEnter the type of the system Turbine inlet pressure and temperature Process heat supply temperature Deter mine feedwater enthalpy rise and Turbine exraetion pressure Determine for the case of no heat output mass flow to the feed water heaters and the condenser r* Select a heat load as a percent of full load L-. Determine mass flows to the feedwater heaters, process heating condenser, condenser, net work, electric output heat output, heat input Figure 1. Block diagram of calculation procedure xi ÖZET Birleşik ısı ve güç çevrimlerinin endüstride kullanımının yaygınlaşması bu konudaki araştırmalara yeni boyutlar kazandırmaktadır. Bu durum göz ününe alınarak endüstride kullanılan buharlı birleşik ısı -güç çevrimleri ne ait termodinamik ve ekonomik çözümlemelerin yapıldığı bu çalışmada beş bölüm bulunmaktadır. Birinci bölümde, yapılan çalışmanın amacı açıklanmış, literatürdeki yerine ve önemine değinilmiştir. Konu ile ilgili kabullerden bahsedilmiştir. ikinci bölümde, buharlı güç çevrimleri hakkında genel bilgi verilmiştir. Çevrimlere ait T-s ve akis diyagramlarının yer aldığı bu bölümde çalışmada dikkate alınan değişkenlerin değişim aralığından bahsedilmiştir. Uçüncü bölümde, termodinamik çözümleme yapılarak, kısmi ve tam yükte ısı ve elektirik enerjisinin değişimi ile proses için gereken ısı enerjisi değeri hesaplanmıştır Dördüncü bölümde yakıt fi ati arı ve yakıt türleri yanısıra isletmelerin ihtiyaç duyduğu güç değerleri ve çalışma süreleri esas alınarak bu çevrimlerin ekonomik analizi yapılmıştır. Son bölümde sonuçların grafiklerle kıyaslama ve tartışması yapılarak her iki çevrime ait değişik değerlerin irdelemesi yapılmıştır. 69

Reducing agronomic input supply can significantly contribute to decrease the environmental impact of bioenergy cropping systems. Currently, there is a renewed industrial interest in non-food oil crops for different end-uses application. Among species from Brassica genus, Brassica carinata A. Braun is an interesting winter annual crop in warm and semi-arid environments and may provide a rotation alternative with cereal crops, sourcing non-edible oil for the industry, additional incomes to the farmers and soil benefits. The present study compared four Brassica carinata lines (GID-6165, GIP-6164, GID-6091, GID-6084) under two different organic fertilization levels (80 and 160 kg N ha-1) in a semiarid Mediterranean area. These four lines have not been tested in Southern Italy previously, nor under the present low-input cultivation practices in semiarid Mediterranean area. Main findings showed a significant fertilization effect (P=0.05), with the high-input providing higher seed yields and harvest index than low-input. There was no genotype effect, however, the gap between potential (i.e. seed yield at the programmed plant density) and actual yields was rather high for GID-6165 and GID-6080. On the other hand, genotype had the largest effect on the thousand seed weight and the residual biomass yield. In general, GID-6091 and GID-6165 reached seed physiological maturity earlier than GID-6084 and GID-6164 lines. The present study proved that improved B. carinata lines can be grown in semiarid Mediterranean area under low-input organic systems, providing satisfactory seed yields. However, seedbed preparation was noticed to be key to narrow the gap between potential and actual seed yield, particularly under the present clay soil. Proceedings of the 30th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 9-12 May 2022, Online, pp. 120-124

This book gives insights into the agricultural policies in several countries located in different continents. It is of interest to students, researchers, and policy and decision makers. Given the particularities of agriculture, agricultural policies are indispensable for an adjusted development of farms according to the strategic objectives of each country, namely the socio-economic and environmental ones. The question that often arises is whether the practical effects of the various policy measures are in accordance with their design and what is the effect of these policy instruments among many other causes of structural and technological change. The aim of this book is to describe the main agricultural policies that have been implemented in countries such as the United States of America, Brazil, China, India, South Africa, Australia, as well as the European Union. It also aims to analyse the real impact of these policies on the structural and technological changes of farms in the European Union. As its methodology, the book considers bibliometric analysis, literature review and statistical approaches.