• Energy Research
• Closed Access close
• Embargo close
• FI close
• EU close
• English close

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) are a key component of the Internet of Things (IoT) revolution. WSN nodes are in general battery-powered, thereby and efficient usage of their energy budget is of paramount importance to avoid performance degradation in IoT applications. To this end, this chapter proposes techniques to manage the WSN nodes’ power consumption. The aim of the first technique is to minimize the transmitted power for a given quality of service requirement at the receiver side. To this end, a power control is considered at each WSN node as well as the use of multiple distributed access points at the receiver side. The second technique to reduce the WSN energy consumption is energy harvesting (EH). Namely, the use of artificial light EH is considered to extend the WSN lifetime. Thus, an experimental setup based on a photovoltaic cell, a boost converter and a commercial WSN node is presented. It is shown that under certain settings it is possible to extend the WSN node’s lifetime without bound, when the transmission time period is above a certain threshold.

Electricity distribution networks are commonly subject to supply interruptions and outages caused by faults. This dissertation focuses on medium voltage distribution networks, which typically consist of primary substations having multiple feeders along which secondary substations are located. When a permanent fault occurs on a segment (the part linking two consecutive secondary substations) of a distribution feeder, the faulted segment needs to be identified and isolated. Identifying the faulted segment can be realized through fault passage indicators. This is a straightforward task when the fault type is a short circuit, as these types of faults involve large currents. However, faulted segment identification for earth faults in non-effectively grounded medium voltage distribution networks has remained a challenge as the earth fault current in those networks is typically relatively small. Therefore, the main objective of this dissertation was to develop novel methods for locating single-phase earth faults in medium voltage distribution networks and validating them through simulations and real system measurements. After comprehensive review of state-of-the-art approaches presented in the literature, the dissertation proposes innovative methods for earth fault passage indication aimed at non-effectively grounded urban or rural distribution networks with radial feeders. The proposed methods are underpinned by a theoretical analysis based on the symmetrical components of the currents on a distribution feeder under an earth fault condition. The comparison of the sequence currents collected from various measuring points on the network forms the backbone of the methods. For practical implementation, current measurements need to be transferred to a central location for processing and decision making, but this can be done without accurate time synchronization. The proposed methods were developed and verified through simulations and empirical data. This work is a product of close collaboration between academia and ...

The reduction of carbon dioxide emissions is a choice that all should follow to combat climate change. Climate change causes problems such as global warming and meetings on these problems conclude that nations must integrate the Kyoto protocol commitments along with a reduction in greenhouse gases. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of climate change on water and environmental resources for the Kvarken Archipelago area. In the region, the sea level rise and river water runoff increase cause flooding and erosion. Measures such as dams and wetlands have to be installed for controlling these effects. Moreover, the use of renewable energy to replace non-renewable energy sources is one-step forward to combatting climate change. ‘Demonstrative energy’ is an important way of showing the usage of renewable energy. The Merten Talo or Havets Hus which is a part of the archipelago and Nature 2000 area will be a research site for the University of Vaasa. Paradoxically, climate change effects could even be used to our advantage, where for example, warm water could be used as a heat source, offering benefit to all sides by combatting and adapting to climate change. A microclimate is a set of meteorological parameters that characterize a localized area. The microclimates found in the Merten Talo area could be used as a tool to study climate change effects. The other area addressed was the land uplift. Land uplift is faster than the sea level inclination in the site, and in the Vaasa region, land uplift is on average 8.77±0.30 mm/yr. All in all, promoting sustainability and adapting to the effects of climate change is important, not only generally, but for the area in particular. ; fi=vertaisarvioimaton|en=nonPeerReviewed|

2016

In International Relations in recent years, the environment or 'environmental matters' have become a very important issue both within internal domestic politics and within international treaties and organisations such as the EU. Conflicts over natural resources or damage caused to one state's resources as a result of pollution from a neighbouring state can lead to potential conflicts and even wars between states. Climate change has a huge potential to adversely affect every country in the world and has steadily gained importance as an influential factor in international relations. Thus, the way in which environmental issues are viewed, classified and framed is extremely important as they in turn affect the decisions policymakers and politicians then make as to how to face environmental problems. Renewable energy has increased in popularity over the last two decades or so amidst increasing speculation on certain phenomena such as global warming and/or man-made climate change being linked to the burning of fossil fuels. This together with increased awareness of energy security, the increasing price of energy and of the possibility of fossil fuels even running out in the not so distant future have all contributed to the renewable energy debate in the EU. This thesis considers how these factors have affected the way the EU views renewable energy as a potential but up until recent times, expensive option. In particular I examine how the notion of Sustainable Development, popularised out of the 1987 Brundtland Report has shaped this debate on renewable energy within the EU. Discourse and Critical Discourse Analysis are used to evaluate EU Directives, Green Papers, Communications and speeches by prominent EU officials to get a real feel for how the ideas of 'sustainability' and 'Sustainable Development' have shaped the EU's stance on renewable energy over the last 20 years. Both of these terms have been used repeatedly in order to endorse a far more positive and in recent years a relatively stringent attitude towards ...

Achieving carbon neutrality in the European Union by 2050 requires deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in all forms of transport. Powertrain electrification and hybridisation are growing trends for light vehicles. Instead, electrification of maritime and heavy long-distance transport is far more difficult due to their massive energy needs. Battery technology is also problematic for mobile non-road machinery operating for long periods far from the charging infrastructure. However, fuel choices can significantly influence greenhouse gas emissions from internal combustion engines. Therefore, a transition to alternative fuels is one of the strategies under discussion. This study investigated the emission performance of two alternative fuels: biomethane and tall oil-based renewable diesel. In addition to greenhouse gas emissions, the harmful local emissions originating from fuel combustion were investigated. Biomethane was evaluated through a case study of a RoPax vessel operating in the Baltic Sea. In addition, real-driving emissions from a biomethane-powered city bus were measured. The study of renewable diesel´s emissions was carried out with engine experiments on an off-road diesel engine under laboratory conditions. Greenhouse gas emissions were calculated over the entire life cycle of the fuels. The results showed that using renewable fuels derived from sustainable biomass sources can reduce life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions by 65−90 % compared with fossil fuels. In addition, biomethane and renewable diesel can immediately improve local air quality by reducing local emissions. Burning liquefied biomethane reduced particulate matter by 80 % relative to marine diesel oil. Sulphur dioxide emissions were negligible and NOx emissions were low. Renewable diesel slightly reduced all regulated local gaseous emissions. The reduction in particulate number was more significant, at up to 26 % compared with conventional market diesel. Biomethane and renewable diesel proved to be effective ways to decarbonise ...