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Global use of carbon-based fuels increased by 1.6 % in 2017 and continued increasing in 2018, after managing to maintain emissions flat between 2014–2017. This trend deviates from the emissions trajectory required to fulfill the climate change goals to maintain the earth's temperature below 2-degrees. The transport sector accounts for about a quarter of these emissions but its the sector with the highest dependence on fossil-fuels. In order to reduce emissions, several approaches have been taken, from increasing fuel efficiency to the use of alternative fuels altogether. The most recent trend leans towards electrifiying the transport sector. High penetration of mature renewable energy technologies such as wind and solar photovoltaics as well as energy storage improvements are leading the way. While mass adoption of electric-propulsion systems for boats are still years away, recent pilot projects suggest that electrifying boats for passenger transportation may be not only a sustainable transport solution but its lower operation costs could facilitate its penetration on densely populated coastal and river cities where conventional public transport systems are reaching their full capacity.

Abstract The growing market share of electric vehicles (EV) has increased the interest in charging strategies and their effects on the electricity system as well as their climatic soundness. However, the benefits of different charging strategies including Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) on a large regional scale, e.g. in Europe, have not been analyzed sufficiently. This study examines the impact of different charging strategies on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from electricity generation and EV batteries in Europe in 2050. To consider indirect emissions and potentially additional battery degradation due to V2G, a model coupling concept is applied to link Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with the electricity system model, PERSEUS-EU. Overall, EV could reduce the GHG emissions by 36% by simply replacing conventional cars. Controlled unidirectional charging and V2G add another 4 or 11 percentage points on the European level. However, for these gains an efficient implementation of V2G is required.

Abstract In this paper, a multi-objective framework is proposed for the daily operation of a Smart Grid (SG) with high penetration of sensitive loads. The Virtual Power Player (VPP) manages the day-ahead energy resource scheduling in the smart grid, considering the intensive use of Distributed Generation (DG) and Vehicle-To-Grid (V2G), while maintaining a highly reliable power for the sensitive loads. This work considers high penetration of sensitive loads, i.e. loads such as some industrial processes that require high power quality, high reliability and few interruptions. The weighted-sum approach is used with the distributed and parallel computing techniques to efficiently solve the multi-objective problem. A two-stage optimization method is proposed using a Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and a deterministic technique based on Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP). A realistic mathematical formulation considering the electric network constraints for the day-ahead scheduling model is described. The execution time of the large-scale problem can be reduced by using a parallel and distributed computing platform. A Pareto front algorithm is applied to determine the set of non-dominated solutions. The maximization of the minimum available reserve is incorporated in the mathematical formulation in addition to the cost minimization, to take into account the reliability requirements of sensitive and vulnerable loads. A case study with a 180-bus distribution network and a fleet of 1000 gridable Electric Vehicles (EVs) is used to illustrate the performance of the proposed method. The execution time to solve the optimization problem is reduced by using distributed computing.

Abstract Reducing energy consumption and emissions from freight transport plays an important role in climate change mitigation. However, there remains a need for enhanced policy making and research to explore decarbonization of freight transport. This research establishes a freight transport model to simulate transport demand, energy consumption and emissions, and applies the model to Ireland with scenarios running out to 2050. This model provides advanced technological details in freight transport modelling, responses of transport demand to economic changes, and behavioural responses in the representation of competition between transport technologies. The results show a strong growth of land freight transport demand in Ireland resulting from economic growth (GDP) despite increasing carbon taxes. The new EU CO 2 emission performance standards on light and heavy-duty vehicles have the potential to effectively slow down the growth of energy consumption from 2015 to 2050 but possible technical barriers need to be evaluated to ensure full compliance. In the short term, carbon taxation (or higher fuel prices) may have a greater impact but the effect of emission performance standards will be realised in the longer term as the vehicle stock is replaced with new technology vehicles. Notably, adoption of biofuel and alternative freight vehicles are expected to bring additional reductions in future energy consumption and emissions. For a low carbon future for freight transport, integrated efforts are needed to develop a comprehensive policy agenda (technology specific standards and pricing mechanisms) and promote low or zero emission vehicles technologies, especially for heavy goods vehicles.

Abstract Tight gas reservoirs always have a low natural gas recovery because of the poor reservoir properties. Effective means on achieving enhanced gas recovery (EGR) in this type of reservoir remain a challenging task. In this study, experimental investigations on supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO2) sequestration and EGR in tight gas reservoirs were presented. Results of phase behavior testing revealed that the adsorption capacity of SCCO2 in tight sandstone is more than 50 % higher than that of natural gas in tight sandstone, and the diffusion coefficient of SCCO2 in natural gas is too low (

Plant species diversity regulates the productivity(1-3) and stability(2,4) of natural ecosystems, along with their resilience to disturbance(5,6). The influence of species diversity on the productivity of agronomic systems is less clear(7-10). Plant genetic diversity is also suspected to influence ecosystem function(3,11-14), although empirical evidence is scarce. Given the large range of genotypes that can be generated per species through artificial selection, genetic diversity is a potentially important leverage of productivity in cultivated systems. Here we assess the effect of species and genetic diversity on the production and sustainable supply of livestock fodder in sown grasslands, comprising single and multispecies assemblages characterized by different levels of genetic diversity, exposed to drought and non-drought conditions. Multispecies assemblages proved more productive than monocultures when subject to drought, regardless of the number of genotypes per species present. Conversely, the temporal stability of production increased only with the number of genotypes present under both drought and non-drought conditions, and was unaffected by the number of species. We conclude that taxonomic and genetic diversity can play complementary roles when it comes to optimizing livestock fodder production in managed grasslands, and suggest that both levels of diversity should be considered in plant breeding programmes designed to boost the productivity and resilience of managed grasslands in the face of increasing environmental hazards.

AbstractResting egg production is considered the most common form of dormancy in aquatic invertebrates. Given that many taxa at least partially terminate resting egg state using environmental cues, knowledge on environmental drivers of hatching success is important, particularly within the context of climate change and environmental degradation. Fairy shrimp (anostracans) are temporary wetland specialists that are reliant on resting egg production for population persistence. Temporary wetlands are common in many arid regions projected to experience increases in temperature, and in areas often compromised by human‐mediated activities. In this study, we assessed the combined effects of light and temperature on the hatching success of Streptocephalus cafer (Anostraca) dormant eggs from temporary wetlands in an arid environment. Both temperature and light altered hatching success, with emergent effects evident. Light caused a significant threefold increase in hatching success overall, while temperature effects were non‐linear, with hatching optimised at 27°C, and especially under light conditions. These results are discussed within the context of shifting climates and disturbances to temporary wetland ecosystems.

This review is a retrospective of ecological effects of bioactivities produced by biofilms of surface-dwelling marine/intertidal microbes as well as of the industrial and environmental biotechnologies developed exploiting the knowledge of biofilm formation. Some examples of significant interest pertaining to the ecological aspects of biofilm-forming species belonging to the Roseobacter clade include autochthonous bacteria from turbot larvae-rearing units with potential application as a probiotic as well as production of tropodithietic acid and indigoidine. Species of the Pseudoalteromonas genus are important examples of successful surface colonizers through elaboration of the AlpP protein and antimicrobial agents possessing broad-spectrum antagonistic activity against medical and environmental isolates. Further examples of significance comprise antiprotozoan activity of Pseudoalteromonas tunicata elicited by violacein, inhibition of fungal colonization, antifouling activities, inhibition of algal spore germination, and 2-n-pentyl-4-quinolinol production. Nitrous oxide, an important greenhouse gas, emanates from surface-attached microbial activity of marine animals. Marine and intertidal biofilms have been applied in the biotechnological production of violacein, phenylnannolones, and exopolysaccharides from marine and tropical intertidal environments. More examples of importance encompass production of protease, cellulase, and xylanase, melanin, and riboflavin. Antifouling activity of Bacillus sp. and application of anammox bacterial biofilms in bioremediation are described. Marine biofilms have been used as anodes and cathodes in microbial fuel cells. Some of the reaction vessels for biofilm cultivation reviewed are roller bottle, rotating disc bioreactor, polymethylmethacrylate conico-cylindrical flask, fixed bed reactor, artificial microbial mats, packed-bed bioreactors, and the Tanaka photobioreactor.