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Large-scale energy storage systems typically withdraw electricity from the grid and transform it into another form for storage. When the grid is unable to meet demand, the process is reversed and the stored energy is transformed back into electricity. Instead of this traditional approach, the following thesis explores the concept of ‘generation-integrated energy storage’, in which a generator’s existing energy conversion pathway is used to store energy in an intermediate form. This has two benefits: (i) the hardware used for generation can be exploited to reduce storage costs and (ii) fewer energy transformations are required when compared to traditional ‘electricity-in-electricity-out’ forms of storage. This means a high effective (exergetic) round-trip efficiency can be achieved at low cost. Specifically, this thesis focuses on the integration of thermal energy storage with the feedwater heating system of steam plant. (In modern energy systems this is likely to be nuclear-powered.) In the proposed system, the plant’s electrical output is flexed whilst maintaining constant reactor power. During charge, the plant’s electrical power output is reduced below its normal full-capacity level, and during discharge, it exceeds this level. This approach provides the equivalent of an electricity storage system and facilitates the adoption of a load-following role for nuclear plant. By allowing the reactor to operate constantly at maximum power output, the system also avoids the economic constraints and practical problems of part-load operation, which currently favour the use of nuclear plant for baseload only. An important feature of the proposed system is that the wet steam turbine bleed flows automatically provide good thermal matching with the feedwater temperature profile. This means that heat can ultimately be transferred to and from sensible-heat thermal-storage media with high exergetic efficiency. Various options are discussed for the thermal stores, including pressurised water tanks, thermal oils, and packed beds. This thesis is focused on the engineering research and development of the feedheat- integrated energy storage system and how this technology would be valuable in a modern energy system. The following contributions have been made: (i) Thermodynamic analysis – Detailed thermodynamic analysis is presented for an elec- tricity storage system in which thermal stores are integrated with the feedwater heating system of steam plant. The findings indicate that a round-trip efficiency greater than 80% is likely and that the plant’s power output can be varied between 85–113%. The analysis is also extended for heat cogeneration applications, for which the effective COP is estimated to be approximately 8 for modern district heating and 4 for industrial process heat. (ii) Off-design steam plant operation – A detailed off-design steam plant model is created. It is shown that the plant performs sufficiently well when operated off-design, and is able to efficiently transfer work to heat and then heat back to work. (iii) Capital cost estimation – A comprehensive cost analysis of the proposed system is undertaken, with an emphasis on the marginal cost of oversizing existing compo- nents. Costs for a well-designed system are approximately 250–1000 $/kWe and 15–20 $/kWhe. (iv) Thermo-economic optimisation – Parametric studies and a genetic algorithm optimisa- tion method are used to determine the optimal trade-off between efficiency and cost, and inform best design practices. (v) Steam turbine operation – A streamline equilibrium throughflow method is used to numerically validate Stodola’s ellipse law, and to explore the unusual off-design conditions caused by the storage system. Throughout this thesis, these contributions are routinely placed in the context of the modern energy system. It is demonstrated that integrated systems which perform multiple roles – electricity generation, energy storage, and possibly heat cogeneration – will be highly valuable for the transition to a low-cost, secure, and decarbonised energy system.

The Arctic climate system is in great distress, warming faster than the rest of the world and transforming more rapidly than previously anticipated. Sustained and harmonized multidisciplinary observations at key locations are needed to fill knowledge gaps and evaluate the ongoing climate change impacts on the complex Arctic marine system. For more than a decade, the Distributed Biological Observatory (DBO) has functioned as a “detection array” for ecosystem changes and trends in the Pacific sector of the Arctic Ocean. This long-term collaborative initiative builds on active involvement of scientists conducting in situ observations within marine disciplines to systematically document how the arctic marine ecosystem is transforming with environmental change. The DBO concept is currently being expanded into other sectors of the Arctic, including Davis Strait and Baffin Bay, the Atlantic Arctic gateway area, and the East Siberian Sea. Through increased collaboration and joint practices, findings from these regional areas can leverage to pan-Arctic perspectives and improve our understanding of the entire Arctic Ocean. Common practices are now being developed, including key phenomena and relevant indicators to study. Also, we strive towards harmonized routines for sampling, analysis and data sharing to increase the comparability across both disciplines and regions, and to improve the usability of our in-situ observations also for the modelling and remote sensing scopes. An ambition is, moreover, to expand from today's predominantly open-sea coverage towards coastal regions, to the benefit of both local communities and researchers. The process of establishing a pan-Arctic DBO network is to a large part facilitated by the EU Horizon project Arctic PASSION (2022-2025). Here, we present the latest developments and shared priorities, as well as our vision of how to incorporate our efforts into other parallel processes aiming to strengthen the pan-Arctic observing system towards, during and beyond the upcoming IPY.

This study develops a multidimensional framework to assess cumulative exposure to climaterelated risks across Europe, integrating health, energy, transport, and socioeconomic conditions. By mapping risk distribution across regions and measuring dependence, we capture the interconnectedness of exposures and identify key socioeconomic drivers. Our findings reveal a substantial variation in risk distribution, with no clear geographical patterns. Unsurprisingly, household income emerges as the strongest determinant of exposure. We extend this analysis by projecting cumulative exposure to 2050, applying climate scenarios. The results suggest gradual rather than sharp change in exposure over time, with some areas exhibiting sharp rises; however, average risks are expected to rise across the entire continent.

This dissertation examines the impacts of the 1973 Arab petrostate oil embargo on U.S. energy politics. I argue that the embargo was the moment that transformed oil from a domestic and highly regulated commodity into a matter of national security and competitive geopolitics. While its likelihood was foreseen by the Nixon Administration, the embargo did exacerbate an existing energy crisis that was caused by pre-embargo federal energy policies. Following the embargo, a dominant narrative emerged that viewed dependence on foreign oil supplies as an existential threat that merited extraordinary government measures. The securitization of the energy crisis allowed the Nixon Administration to implement many of its pre-embargo energy policies, including the launch of a national energy program to bring the U.S. to energy self-sufficiency by 1980. The embargo was the trigger for the creation of new governmental entities, such as the Department of Energy and U.S. Central Command, that endure to this day. It also shaped the U.S.'s close relationship with Saudi Arabia as an essential oil supplier and a key ally in the Arab world. The dissertation contests the revisionist accounts that argue that the embargo was a non-event, arguing that its impacts on U.S. domestic and foreign policies are still tangible and relevant. Doctor of Philosophy For most countries, ensuring energy security and uninterrupted oil supplies is a matter of national security and economic survival. However, for the U.S., long a major oil exporter, access to energy resources only rose to the status of a national security issue in the early 1970s. This dissertation examines the impacts of the 1973 Arab petrostate oil embargo on U.S. energy politics. I argue that the embargo was the moment that transformed oil from a domestic and highly regulated commodity into a matter of national security and competitive geopolitics. Pre-embargo rising domestic demand for oil, insufficient domestic supplies, and misdirected federal regulations had already weakened the resilience of the U.S. oil market and caused shortages. Following the embargo, the Nixon Administration launched a national program to achieve energy self-sufficiency by 1980. I argue that the value of committing the U.S. to energy autarky was essential for conveying to foes and allies that the Nixon Administration was willing to invest in a very costly national program so that it can maintain the autonomy of both its foreign policy and of the economy. I also argue that racial and cultural prejudices influenced the Nixon Administration's reaction to the embargo, in that throughout the ramp-up and during the post-embargo period, both the media and the Nixon Administration expressed disbelief at the effrontery of underdeveloped countries that were until recently Western possessions to challenge a global superpower. Following the embargo, a dominant narrative emerged that viewed dependence on foreign oil supplies as an existential threat that merited extraordinary government measures. The securitization of the energy crisis allowed the Nixon Administration to implement many of its pre-embargo energy policies. The embargo was the trigger for the creation of new governmental entities, such as the Department of Energy and U.S. Central Command, that endure to this day. It also shaped the U.S.'s close relationship with Saudi Arabia as an essential oil supplier and a key ally in the Arab world.

As designations of origin, geographical indications ( GIs) play a significant role in communicating to consumers the essential link between a product and its place of production. Yet, the strength of the link between place and product can vary widely among GIs, depending on whether the connection in question is quality-based or purely reputational. This article posits that the links which GI-denominated products have with the environmental and micro-climatic conditions of their place of origin (also known as terroir) are at risk of being weakened by three sets of destabilising forces: doctrinal developments, climate change, and biotechnology. This article argues that links to terroir need to be more rigorously defined, especially for GIs whose connections with a place of production are purely reputational, in order to restore doctrinal consistency to the regulatory framework for GIs.

Although the feasibility of introducing climate policies underpins global efforts to curb climate change, there has been limited analysis estimating the likelihood of introducing specific policies in different country contexts. Drawing on a dataset of climate policies introduced globally over the past 50 years, this paper explores patterns in climate policy adoption to quantify policy feasibility across countries. In constructing a ‘Climate Policy Space’ network based on the co-occurrence of policies across countries, the paper shows that climate policy adoption is path-dependent: countries are significantly more likely to introduce policies that are related to their prior climate policymaking experience. Exploiting this finding, the paper constructs empirically validated ‘Climate Policy Feasibility Frontiers’ which identify policies that are likely to be more feasible and could also increase the probability of the adoption of other policies. Complementing traditional cost-benefit analysis, feasibility frontiers can inform more realistic and strategic climate policy prioritization across countries.

This project considers whether it would be beneficial to incorporate data or functionality into Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) in Scotland. Three broad levels of interactivity are proposed that could allow householders to better assess potential retrofit measures and may prompt households to undertake energy efficiency measures or switch to clean heat systems.

Over the past decade, research data management services have evolved significantly, driven by increased recognition of the value of data sharing and open scholarship. What began as basic data management planning has transformed into comprehensive services that encompass not only data planning and storage, but also sharing, long-term preservation, and the widespread adoption of persistent identifiers like ORCIDs and DOIs. These advancements have not only facilitated the creation of FAIR data (findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable) but have also played a crucial role in enhancing research reproducibility and collaboration across disciplines. Over a decade ago, Cornell’s Research Data Management Service Group surveyed NSF-funded researchers to investigate researchers’ preparedness to meet the new data management planning requirements. They found that there was a great deal of uncertainty, with at least 20% of survey respondents selecting “I'm not sure” for every question it was offered as a response (Steinhart et al., “Prepared to Plan?”). Contrast that with our later survey of researchers who had deposited data and received curation support in 2021: “97% agreed that data curation adds value to the data sharing process, 96% agreed it was worth the effort, and 90% felt more confident sharing their data due to the curation process” (Marsolek et al., “Understanding the Value of Curation.”). In the current research landscape, with increased awareness and adoption of data sharing and open scholarship practices, monitoring and responding to data management needs is more important than ever. Providing data management services not only helps researchers comply with funding agency and publisher requirements but also enhances the reproducibility and impact of their research. Cornell University offers a suite of data management services designed to support researchers throughout the data lifecycle, from data creation and storage to sharing and preservation. This poster will outline the available data management services at Cornell and provide examples of how we’ve grown since 2011, and how we hope to grow over the next decade. By leveraging Cornell’s data management services, researchers can ensure that their data is secure, well-organized, discoverable, and accessible, enhancing the quality and impact of their research.