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Modelling the economics of climate change is daunting. Many existing methodologies from social and physical sciences need to be deployed, and new modelling techniques and ideas still need to be developed. Existing bread-and-butter micro- and macroeconomic tools, such as the expected utility framework, market equilibrium concepts and representative agent assumptions, are far from adequate. Four key issues—along with several others—remain inadequately addressed by economic models of climate change, namely: (1) uncertainty, (2) aggregation, heterogeneity and distributional implications (3) technological change, and most of all, (4) realistic damage functions for the economic impact of the physical consequences of climate change. This paper assesses the main shortcomings of two generations of climate-energy-economic models and proposes that a new wave of models need to be developed to tackle these four challenges. This paper then examines two potential candidate approaches—dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) models and agent-based models (ABM). The successful use of agent-based models in other areas, such as in modelling the financial system, housing markets and technological progress suggests its potential applicability to better modelling the economics of climate change.

This paper proposes a novel online and self-learning algorithm to the identification of fuzzy neural networks, which not only learns the structure and parameters online but also learns the threshold parameters by itself and automatically. For structure learning, a self-constructing approach including adding neurons and merging highly similar fuzzy rules is proposed based on the criteria of the system error between actual and model output and the maximum firing strength of neurons. In order to achieve the efficient merging computing, a new calculation method of similarity degree between fuzzy rules is developed. Further and more importantly, the varying width of Gaussian membership functions can be learned by itself according to the underfitting and overfitting criteria. Similarly, different from the existing constant threshold of similarity degree for merging, the varying threshold of similarity degree can be self-learned according to the real-time accuracy of model. The proposed self-learning mechanism significantly improves the model accuracy and greatly enhances the easy usability. Several benchmark examples are implemented to illustrate the effectiveness and feasible of the proposed approach.

In industrialized countries, large amounts of mineral wastes are produced. They are re-used in various ways, particularly in road and earth constructions, substituting primary resources such as gravel. However, they may also contain pollutants, such as heavy metals, which may be leached to the groundwater. The toxic impacts of these emissions are so far often neglected within Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) of products or waste treatment services and thus, potentially large environmental impacts are currently missed. This study aims at closing this gap by assessing the ecotoxic impacts of heavy metal leaching from industrial mineral wastes in road and earth constructions. The flows of metals such as Sb, As, Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, V and Zn originating from three typical constructions to the environment are quantified, their fate in the environment is assessed and potential ecotoxic effects evaluated. For our reference country, Germany, the industrial wastes that are applied as Granular Secondary Construction Material (GSCM) carry more than 45,000 t of diverse heavy metals per year. Depending on the material quality and construction type applied, up to 150 t of heavy metals may leach to the environment within the first 100 years after construction. Heavy metal retardation in subsoil can potentially reduce the fate to groundwater by up to 100%. One major challenge of integrating leaching from constructions into macro-scale LCA frameworks is the high variability in micro-scale technical and geographical factors, such as material qualities, construction types and soil types. In our work, we consider a broad range of parameter values in the modeling of leaching and fate. This allows distinguishing between the impacts of various road constructions, as well as sites with different soil properties. The findings of this study promote the quantitative consideration of environmental impacts of long-term leaching in Life Cycle Assessment, complementing site-specific risk assessment, for the design of waste management strategies, particularly in the construction sector.

Integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) variables into the assessment of a mining project is essential to ensure the short and long term acceptance by the various stakeholders involved and the lack of doing so can put the sustainability of a project at risk. Thus, a holistic approach has been proposed which combines profitability and sustainability analysis with social and environmental considerations for any decisions made on processing operation selection or mine expansion. The potential economic implications of these factors would be used for determining the operational strategy. This study is based on an actual quarry case study and statistical data taken from Spain. Quantitative variables related to ESG aspects have been integrated into a block model, and optimisations were performed based on different plant types and waste disposal strategies. Results demonstrate a strong interdependence between profitability and sustainability. It is observed that strategies related to operating costs impact the environmental and social impacts. A green index is also incorporated to evaluate and compare the different scenarios, determining that the most relevant strategies in adding value to mining projects include investment in new technologies, environmental solutions, and economic and social benefits. Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::9 - Indústria, Innovació i Infraestructura Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::8 - Treball Decent i Creixement Econòmic Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::12 - Producció i Consum Responsables Peer Reviewed

Organic solar cells utilize an energy-level offset to generate free charge carriers. Although a very small energy-level offset increases the open-circuit voltage, it remains unclear how exactly charge generation is affected. Here we investigate organic solar cell blends with highest occupied molecular orbital energy-level offsets (∆EHOMO) between the donor and acceptor that range from 0 to 300 meV. We demonstrate that exciton quenching at a negligible ∆EHOMO takes place on timescales that approach the exciton lifetime of the pristine materials, which drastically limits the external quantum efficiency. We quantitatively describe this finding via the Boltzmann stationary-state equilibrium between charge-transfer states and excitons and further reveal a long exciton lifetime to be decisive in maintaining an efficient charge generation at a negligible ∆EHOMO. Moreover, the Boltzmann equilibrium quantitatively describes the major reduction in non-radiative voltage losses at a very small ∆EHOMO. Ultimately, highly luminescent near-infrared emitters with very long exciton lifetimes are suggested to enable highly efficient organic solar cells. Donor–acceptor systems with low energy-level offset enable high power efficiency in organic solar cells yet it is unclear what drives charge generation. Classen et al. show that long exciton lifetimes enable efficient exciton splitting and thus generation of free charges while also suppressing voltage losses.

Resumen: En este Trabajo de Final de Grado se aborda, como principal objetivo la reducción del consumo energético, en una bodega construida en el año 1965 con posteriores modificaciones para adaptarse a las demandas de la producción, en la actualidad tiene capacidad para procesa un máximo de 10 millones de kilos de uva por vendimia. Una de las modificaciones fue el cambio de ubicación de la zona de recepción del mosto, pasando de la cota más alta a la parte más baja de la finca, de unos depósitos de cemento a los de acero inoxidable i de estar ubicados en el interior de la bodega a la intemperie. Como se ha apuntado anteriormente, el principal objetivo de este proyecto es la reducción del consumo energético y concretamente de la zona de recepción, para tal fin se construirá un cofre aislante con las siguientes medidas 35 x 16 x 14 m, albergando en su interior los depósitos y el intercambiador de calor, ejecutándose la obra con dichos elementos inamovibles. Se han realizado los cálculos pertinentes para el dimensionado de la estructura metálica del cofre, de los cabales y dimensiones de los nuevos circuitos de refrigeración, calculando la potencia frigorífica necesaria para mantener la temperatura deseada, con una entrada máxima diaria de 200 tn de uva por día. Los cerramientos se realizarán con paneles aislantes que permitan mantener la temperatura del mosto refrigerado inicialmente hasta su clarificación y trasiego. Se ha calculado un presupuesto de ejecución de obra por contrato y se han elaborado los planos correspondientes. Así pues el proyecto consta de los siguientes documentos: Documento N.º 1 Memoria y 9 Anejos Documento N.º 2 Planos Documento N.º 4 Presupuesto detallado Como conclusión, podemos afirmar que con este proyecto se espera una reducción del 55% en el consumo energético de la zona de Recepción del mosto, mejoraría el rendimiento, tanto energético como en eficiencia con la automatización de las instalaciones entre la zona de Recepción y el Lagar. Abstract: This Final Degree Work addresses the reduction of energy consumption, mainly electricity, of a winery built in 1965, with subsequent modifications adapting to production circumstances, with the capacity to process 10 million kilos of grapes. One of the modifications was the change in location of the must reception area, moving from the highest to the lowest level of the farm, from cement tanks to stainless steel tanks and to be located inside the cellar in the open air. The objective of the project is the reduction of energy consumption in the must reception area, through the construction of an insulating box of 35 x 16 x 14 m, closing the six tanks and the tubular heat exchanger inside. the work being carried out with said immovable elements inside. The necessary calculations have been made for the dimensioning of the metal structure of the chest, the flow rates and the dimensions of the new refrigeration circuits, as well as the refrigeration power necessary to maintain them at the desired temperature, with a daily input of 200 t of grape The enclosures will be made with insulating panels that allow the temperature of the initially cooled must to be maintained until its clarification by gravity. A contract execution budget has been calculated and the corresponding plans have been drawn up. So, the project consists of the following documents: Document Nº1: Memory and 9 chapters. Document No. 2: 19 plans Document Nº4: Detailed budget. As a conclusion we will say that this project is expected to reduce energy consumption in the reception area by 55% and we can affirm that the performance, both energy and efficiency, would improve if the facilities between the Reception area and the Presses. Resum: En aquest treball de Final de Grau s'aborda la reducció del consum energètic d'un celler construït l'any 1965, amb posteriors modificacions per adaptar-se a les circumstancies de la producció, amb capacitat per processar 10 milions de quilos de raïm . Una d'elles va ser el canvi d'ubicació de la zona de recepció del most, passant de la cota mes alta a la part mes baixa de la finca, d'uns dipòsits de ciment a uns d'acer inoxidable i d'estar en el interior del celler al intempèrie. L'objectiu del projecte serà doncs, la reducció del consum energètic de la zona de recepció del most, mitjançant la construcció d'un cofre aïllant de 35 x 16 x 14 m, tancant en el seu interior els dipòsits i l'intercanviador de calor que romandran en el seu lloc mentre s'executi el projecte. S'han realitzat els càlculs necessaris per dimensionar l'estructura metàl·lica del cofre, dels cabals i dimensions dels nous circuits de refrigeració i de la potencia frigorífica necessària per mantenir-los, amb una entrada màxima diària de 200 tn de raïm per dia. Els tancaments es realitzaran amb panells aïllants que permetin mantenir la temperatura del most refredat inicialment, fins al seu desfangat estàtic. S'ha calculat un pressupost d'execució d'obra per contracta i s'han elaborat els plànols corresponents. Així doncs, el projecte consta del: Document Nº 1: Memòria i 9 Annexes. Document Nº 2: 19 plànols Document Nº 4: Pressupost detallat Com a conclusió direm que d'aquest projecte s'espera una reducció del 55% en el consum energètic a la zona de recepció del most i que es milloraria el rendiment, tant energètic com en eficiència amb l'automatització de les instal·lacions entre la Recepció i el Lagar. Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::9 - Indústria, Innovació i Infraestructura Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::12 - Producció i Consum Responsables

Abstract As main contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, power and transportation are crucial sectors for energy system decarbonization. Their interaction is expected to increase significantly: plug-in electric vehicles add a new electric load, increasing grid demand and potentially requiring substantial grid upgrade; hydrogen production for fuel cell electric vehicles or for clean fuels synthesis could exploit the projected massive power overgeneration by intermittent and seasonally-dependent renewable sources via Power-to-Hydrogen. This work investigates the infrastructural needs involved with a broad diffusion of clean mobility, adopting a sector integration perspective at the national scale. The analysis combines a multi-node energy system balance simulation and a techno-economic assessment of the infrastructure to deliver energy vectors for mobility. The article explores the long-term case of Italy, considering a massive increase of renewable power generation capacity and investigating different mobility scenarios, where low-emission vehicles account for 50% of the stock. First, the model solves the energy balances, integrating the consumption related to mobility energy vectors and taking into account power grid constraints. Then, an optimal infrastructure is identified, composed of both a hydrogen delivery network and a widespread installation of charging points. Results show that the infrastructural requirements bring about investment costs in the range of 43–63 G€. Lower specific costs are associated with the exclusive presence of FCEVs, whereas the full reliance on BEVs leads to the most significant costs. Scenarios that combine FCEVs and BEVs lie in between, suggesting that the overall power + mobility system benefits from the presence of both drivetrain options.