• Energy Research
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This article describes an innovative method for measuring lighting levels and other lighting parameters through the use of aerial imagery of towns and cities. Combined with electricity consumption data from smart electricity meters, it was possible to measure the energy efficiency of public lighting installations. The results of this study also confirmed that lighting measurements, installation material, luminaire position, and electricity consumption data can be easily integrated into geographic information systems (GIS). The main advantage of this new methodology is that it provides information about lighting installations in large areas in less time than more conventional procedures. It is thus a more effective way of obtaining the data required to calculate the energy efficiency of lighting levels and electricity consumption. There is even the possibility of generating street lighting maps that provide local administrations with up-to-date information regarding the status of public lighting installations in their city. In this way, modifications or improvements can be made to achieve greater energy savings and, if necessary, to correct the distribution or configuration of public lighting systems to make them more efficient and sustainable. This research studied levels of street lighting and calculated the energy efficiency in various streets of Deifontes (Granada), through the use of aerial imagery.

ABSTRACTThe goal of this study was to analyse the combustion characteristics and emissions of Jatropha curcas biodiesel (JCB) when run in a diesel engine. Jatropha curcas oil was used to produce Jatropha curcas biodiesel (JCB) through a transesterification process. The major fuel properties of JCB, including the acid value, kinematic viscosity, flash point, gross heating value, and iodine value, were determined and compared with that of soybean biodiesel (SBM), sunflower seed biodiesel (SFM), mackerel fish oil biodiesel (MB), and premium diesel (D). JCB had a higher density, acid value, kinematic viscosity, iodine value and flash point, but a lower gross heating value, than D. JCB was then used to analyze combustion characteristics, CO, CO2, NO, NOx, SO2, and particulate matter (PM), under varied engine speeds and varied engine loads. The experimental results show CO2 concentration increased with increasing engine loads for all fuels. Engine trials on D exhibited better combustion efficiency at lower engine loads (0 kW–4 kW) but engine trials on JCB exhibited better combustion efficiency for higher engine loads (5 kW– 8 kW). JCB emitted more NO and NOx on a loaded engine. Engine trials on JCB emitted higher PM concentration when the engine was not loaded, while engine trials on MB produced higher PM concentration when the engine was loaded. The estimated CO2 emissions for JCB, MB, and D are 9221.3, 9617.2, and 10185.0 g (gal fuel)–1, respectively.

This study focuses on formulating the most sustainable concrete by incorporating recycled concrete aggregates and other products retrieved from construction and demolition (C&D) activities. Both recycled coarse aggregates (RCA) and recycled fine aggregates (RFA) are firstly used to fully replace the natural coarse and fine aggregates in the concrete mix design. Later, the cement rich ultrafine particles, recycled glass powder and mineral fibres recovered from construction and demolition wastes (CDW) are further incorporated at a smaller rate either as cement substituent or as supplementary additives. Remarkable properties are noticed when the RCA (4–12 mm) and RFA (0.25–4 mm) are fully used to replace the natural aggregates in a new concrete mix. The addition of recycled cement rich ultrafines (RCU), Recycled glass ultrafines (RGU) and recycled mineral fibres (RMF) into recycled concrete improves the modulus of elasticity. The final concrete, which comprises more than 75% (wt.) of recycled components/materials, is believed to be the most sustainable and green concrete mix. Mechanical properties and durability of this concrete have been studied and found to be within acceptable limits, indicating the potential of recycled aggregates and other CDW components in shaping sustainable and circular construction practices. The authors wish to acknowledge the financial support from EU Horizon 2020 Project VEEP ‘‘Cost-Effective Recycling of C&DW in High Added Value Energy Efficient Prefabricated Concrete Compo-nents for Massive Retrofitting of our Built Environment” (No.723582).

IT technologies related to Industry 4.0 facilitate the implementation of the framework for sustainable manufacturing. At the same time, Industry 4.0 integrates IT processes and systems of production companies with IT solutions of cooperating companies that support a complete manufactured product life cycle. Thus, the implementation of sustainable manufacturing implies a rapid increase in interfaces between IT solutions of cooperating companies. This, in turn, raises concerns about security among manufacturing company executives. The lack of a recognized methodology supporting the decision-making process of choosing the right methods and means of cybersecurity is, in effect, a significant barrier to the development of sustainable manufacturing. As a result, the propagation of technologies in Industry 4.0 and the implementation of the sustainable manufacturing framework in companies are slowing down significantly. The main novelty of this article, addressing the above deficiencies, is the creation, using the combined DEMATEL and ANP (DANP) and PROMETHEE II methods, of a ranking of the proposed three groups of measures, seven dimensions and twenty criteria to be implemented in companies to ensure cybersecurity in Industry 4.0 and facilitate the implementation of the sustainable production principles. The contribution of Industry 4.0 components and the proposed cybersecurity scheme to achieve the Sustainable Development goals, reducing the carbon footprint of companies and introducing circular economy elements was also indicated. Using DANP and PROMETHEE II, it can be concluded that: (i) the major criterion of cybersecurity in companies is validation and maintaining electronic signatures and seals; (ii) the most crucial area of cybersecurity is network security; (iii) the most significant group of measures in this regard are technological measures.

Green certificate is the green attribute of renewable energy generation. At present, voluntary green certificate purchase has been carried out in China. This paper firstly analyses the background and key points of green certificate policy in China. Secondly, it studies the implement situation and existing problems of green certificate transaction. Then, combining the new requirements of grid parity and renewables portfolio standards (RPS) policy, this paper proposes "2+2+2+3" green certificate trading mode in China, and establishes green certificate trading volume evaluation model. Evaluation result shows that the green certificate trading volume in State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) business area in 2019 is 4.8 TWh.

To cope with global warming and environmental protection in recent years, the requirements for clean energy are enhancing, and the installation of wind power, as one of such energy, is increasing in various countries. Nevertheless, the connection of wind blades and support blades often break when wind turbine are running. To avoid such a problem in the design stage or the successive reinforcement through proper methods has become an urgent problem in engineering. Commercial software, Solidworks Simulation, is used for simulating stress distribution and the patch reinforcement design in this paper. The analyses show that the maximum stress of the original design not being reinforced with patches has exceeded the tensile strength of the material and result in the breaks and damage of the entire structure. Using composite patches to reinforce the interface of wind blades and the supportive structure could effectively reduce the maximum stress and the displacement of deformation. Moreover, patches could effectively reduce the maximum stress that the optimal reinforcement should take a larger fillet into account.

The distribution feeders often gets overload under peak power demands. This situation is generally countered by load shading, which leads to financial losses to utilities and individual users. This paper presents the new methodology to support the real and reactive power demand through energy storage (ES) to avoid the load shading situation. The compensation of real / reactive power not only provides the voltage profile improvement but also ensures the sustain power to the consumers. A control scheme incorporated also maintains the unity power factor on source side. This relieves the existing distribution network from the extra reactive loading hence the line is having extra capacity for real power transfer to its maximum thermal limit. This additional capacity availability adds more customer base to justify the energy storage investment. The operational features are presented through a simulation of a realistic urban feeder data. The financial analysis is also presented to justify the energy storages with the distribution networks.

Abstract In this paper, we analyze the rationale for an energy policy mix when the European Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is considered from a public choice perspective. That is, we argue that the economic textbook model of the ETS implausibly assumes (1) efficient policy design and (2) climate protection as the single objective of policy intervention. Contrary to these assumptions, we propose that the ETS originates from a political bargaining game within a context of multiple policy objectives. In particular, the emissions cap is negotiated between regulators and emitters with the emitters' abatement costs as crucial bargaining variable. This public choice view yields striking implications for an optimal policy mix comprising RES supporting policies. Whereas the textbook model implies that the ETS alone provides sufficient climate protection, our analysis suggests that support for renewable energies (1) contributes to a more effective ETS-design and (2) may even increase the overall efficiency of climate and energy policy if other externalities and policy objectives besides climate protection are considered. Thus, our analysis also shows that a public choice view not necessarily entails negative evaluations concerning efficiency and effectiveness of a policy mix.