• Energy Research
• Open Access close
• Universidade Católica Portuguesa close

An initial convergence of preferences made the European Green Deal (EGD) possible. However, the revision of all policy areas in line with the objectives and a conducive trajectory of the green transition is proving a major challenge, above all because member state policies and actions are not consistent with the long-term policy objectives they had subscribed to in the first place. On the upside, EU institutions, notably the European Commission and the European Central Bank (ECB), have been responding to the challenge by adapting rules and policies, which will have a positive effect in the long run. To deliver price stability the ECB needs to take into account all factors affecting inflation and climate change is one of them. Besides the primary objective of keeping prices stable, the ECB’s secondary objectives, notably contributing to a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment, are fundamental to ensure not only environmental sustainability but also EMU’s and the EU’s sustainability. However, those rules and policies also depend on the wider EU regulatory framework, which needs the approval of member states.

An initial convergence of preferences made the European Green Deal (EGD) possible. However, the revision of all policy areas in line with the objectives and a conducive trajectory of the green transition is proving a major challenge, above all because member state policies and actions are not consistent with the long-term policy objectives they had subscribed to in the first place. On the upside, EU institutions, notably the European Commission and the European Central Bank (ECB), have been responding to the challenge by adapting rules and policies, which will have a positive effect in the long run. To deliver price stability the ECB needs to take into account all factors affecting inflation and climate change is one of them. Besides the primary objective of keeping prices stable, the ECB’s secondary objectives, notably contributing to a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment, are fundamental to ensure not only environmental sustainability but also EMU’s and the EU’s sustainability. However, those rules and policies also depend on the wider EU regulatory framework, which needs the approval of member states.

Com o crescente aumento da necessidade de energia elétrica a nível global, é urgente encontrar fontes de energia alternativas aos combustíveis fósseis. A energia fotovoltaica solar é a fonte de energia alternativa mais promissora, uma vez que reúne características únicas comparativamente a outras energias renováveis. Nomeadamente, o custo dos componentes é competitivo e acessível ao consumidor residencial, é de fácil instalação e manutenção, e utiliza a fonte de energia inesgotável do sol. Em Espanha o sector de energia solar tem crescido significativamente, e conta com mais de 200.500 instalações residenciais. Este estudo tem como objetivo analisar o perfil de consumidor e qual o melhor canal de comunicação, de forma a adaptar e otimizar esse modelo de comunicação. Com base num inquérito anónimo elaborado para este fim, e com recurso a entrevistas, foi possível identificar qual é o perfil típico de clientealvo de uma empresa instaladora de painéis fotovoltaicos no setor residencial, como a Perfecta Energia, e otimizar a sua mensagem com os atributos preferidos. The increasing demand for electrical energy globally, makes it urgent to find alternative sources to fossil fuels. Solar photovoltaic energy is the most promising source of alternative energy, as it has unique characteristics compared to other renewable energy sources. Specifically, the competitiveness of the components cost makes it accessible to residential consumers, like the easiness of installation and maintenance, and it harnesses the inexhaustible energy source of the sun. The solar energy sector in Spain has grown significantly, with over 200.500 residential installations. This study aims to analyze the consumer profile and determine the best communication channel, to improve and optimize the communication model. Based on an anonymous survey developed for this purpose and interviews, it was possible to identify the typical customer profile for a residential photovoltaic installation company like Perfecta Energia and optimize the message with preferred attributes.

Com o crescente aumento da necessidade de energia elétrica a nível global, é urgente encontrar fontes de energia alternativas aos combustíveis fósseis. A energia fotovoltaica solar é a fonte de energia alternativa mais promissora, uma vez que reúne características únicas comparativamente a outras energias renováveis. Nomeadamente, o custo dos componentes é competitivo e acessível ao consumidor residencial, é de fácil instalação e manutenção, e utiliza a fonte de energia inesgotável do sol. Em Espanha o sector de energia solar tem crescido significativamente, e conta com mais de 200.500 instalações residenciais. Este estudo tem como objetivo analisar o perfil de consumidor e qual o melhor canal de comunicação, de forma a adaptar e otimizar esse modelo de comunicação. Com base num inquérito anónimo elaborado para este fim, e com recurso a entrevistas, foi possível identificar qual é o perfil típico de clientealvo de uma empresa instaladora de painéis fotovoltaicos no setor residencial, como a Perfecta Energia, e otimizar a sua mensagem com os atributos preferidos. The increasing demand for electrical energy globally, makes it urgent to find alternative sources to fossil fuels. Solar photovoltaic energy is the most promising source of alternative energy, as it has unique characteristics compared to other renewable energy sources. Specifically, the competitiveness of the components cost makes it accessible to residential consumers, like the easiness of installation and maintenance, and it harnesses the inexhaustible energy source of the sun. The solar energy sector in Spain has grown significantly, with over 200.500 residential installations. This study aims to analyze the consumer profile and determine the best communication channel, to improve and optimize the communication model. Based on an anonymous survey developed for this purpose and interviews, it was possible to identify the typical customer profile for a residential photovoltaic installation company like Perfecta Energia and optimize the message with preferred attributes.

In a time where environmental changes are a central issue, this chapter presents a narrative review of their impact on the mental health of the populations and main challenges. Recalling major ideas behind the relationship between mankind and the natural environment, the Anthropocene poses serious questions about the conceptualization of this debate. We start by focusing on how the physical environment changes, namely, temperature, air pollution, noise pollution, green spaces, and extreme events, affect mental health. We then analyze how our environmental experience has changed in our urban setting, in labor organization, with online connections and finally with the extinction of our experience with nature. All these aspects outline that a planetary health approach is mandatory to address mental health and mutual coexistence, and structural changes in the environment must be kept in mind by clinicians and decision-makers.

In a time where environmental changes are a central issue, this chapter presents a narrative review of their impact on the mental health of the populations and main challenges. Recalling major ideas behind the relationship between mankind and the natural environment, the Anthropocene poses serious questions about the conceptualization of this debate. We start by focusing on how the physical environment changes, namely, temperature, air pollution, noise pollution, green spaces, and extreme events, affect mental health. We then analyze how our environmental experience has changed in our urban setting, in labor organization, with online connections and finally with the extinction of our experience with nature. All these aspects outline that a planetary health approach is mandatory to address mental health and mutual coexistence, and structural changes in the environment must be kept in mind by clinicians and decision-makers.

This thesis critically explores the integration of digital strategies and sustainability initiatives in the professional football industry, with a particular focus on FC Bayern Munich (FCB). The key stakeholders will be identified over two decades, and the associated control points within the digital business ecosystem of professional football will be determined. In this context, two research questions are addressed. 1. How are the key stakeholders affected by integrating digital strategies and sustainability initiatives, and how do they contribute to its competitive advantage, particularly in the context of a club like FC Bayern Munich? 2. To what extent can sustainability and digitalization be fully reconciled with success in the professional football industry? The study identifies a significant shift in stakeholder dynamics, propelled by digitalization, positioning players as pivotal influencers, surpassing traditional associations like FIFA and UEFA. Despite the industry's increasing commercialization and the treatment of clubs as business models, it is observed that few clubs, aside from FCB, have successfully achieved profitability. FCB’s exemplary performance is attributed to its strategic integration of digitalization, effective brand management, and robust fan engagement, complemented by consistent sporting achievements. Additionally, the thesis underscores the complexity of aligning environmental sustainability with the core objectives of football clubs. However, it emphasizes that economic and social sustainability are vital for long-term success in the industry. The findings suggest that while comprehensive environmental sustainability remains challenging, aspects of CSR, particularly economic and social sustainability, are integral to the sustained competitiveness of football clubs. Esta tese investiga a integração de estratégias digitais e iniciativas de sustentabilidade no futebol profissional, focando-se no FC Bayern de Munique (FCB). Ao longo de vinte anos, identifica-se a evolução dos intervenientes e os pontos de controlo no ecossistema digital deste setor. Duas questões principais norteiam a pesquisa: 1. Como as estratégias digitais e a sustentabilidade influenciam os stakeholders principais e contribuem para a vantagem competitiva de clubes como o FCB? 2. Até que ponto a sustentabilidade e a digitalização podem ser totalmente conciliadas com o sucesso no sector do futebol profissional? A análise destaca uma transição nos papéis dos stakeholders, com jogadores emergindo como influenciadores-chave, ofuscando organizações como FIFA e UEFA. Apesar da comercialização intensa do futebol e da gestão dos clubes como empresas, poucos alcançaram a rentabilidade do FCB. O sucesso do FCB é creditado à sua digitalização estratégica, gestão eficiente da marca, engajamento dos fãs e sucessos esportivos. Ademais, a pesquisa ressalta a dificuldade de conciliar sustentabilidade ambiental com os objetivos dos clubes. Contudo, a sustentabilidade econômica e social surge como fundamental para o sucesso duradouro no setor. As conclusões apontam que, embora a sustentabilidade ambiental plena seja um desafio, a Responsabilidade Social Empresarial (RSE), principalmente a sustentabilidade econômica e social, é crucial para a competitividade dos clubes.

This thesis critically explores the integration of digital strategies and sustainability initiatives in the professional football industry, with a particular focus on FC Bayern Munich (FCB). The key stakeholders will be identified over two decades, and the associated control points within the digital business ecosystem of professional football will be determined. In this context, two research questions are addressed. 1. How are the key stakeholders affected by integrating digital strategies and sustainability initiatives, and how do they contribute to its competitive advantage, particularly in the context of a club like FC Bayern Munich? 2. To what extent can sustainability and digitalization be fully reconciled with success in the professional football industry? The study identifies a significant shift in stakeholder dynamics, propelled by digitalization, positioning players as pivotal influencers, surpassing traditional associations like FIFA and UEFA. Despite the industry's increasing commercialization and the treatment of clubs as business models, it is observed that few clubs, aside from FCB, have successfully achieved profitability. FCB’s exemplary performance is attributed to its strategic integration of digitalization, effective brand management, and robust fan engagement, complemented by consistent sporting achievements. Additionally, the thesis underscores the complexity of aligning environmental sustainability with the core objectives of football clubs. However, it emphasizes that economic and social sustainability are vital for long-term success in the industry. The findings suggest that while comprehensive environmental sustainability remains challenging, aspects of CSR, particularly economic and social sustainability, are integral to the sustained competitiveness of football clubs. Esta tese investiga a integração de estratégias digitais e iniciativas de sustentabilidade no futebol profissional, focando-se no FC Bayern de Munique (FCB). Ao longo de vinte anos, identifica-se a evolução dos intervenientes e os pontos de controlo no ecossistema digital deste setor. Duas questões principais norteiam a pesquisa: 1. Como as estratégias digitais e a sustentabilidade influenciam os stakeholders principais e contribuem para a vantagem competitiva de clubes como o FCB? 2. Até que ponto a sustentabilidade e a digitalização podem ser totalmente conciliadas com o sucesso no sector do futebol profissional? A análise destaca uma transição nos papéis dos stakeholders, com jogadores emergindo como influenciadores-chave, ofuscando organizações como FIFA e UEFA. Apesar da comercialização intensa do futebol e da gestão dos clubes como empresas, poucos alcançaram a rentabilidade do FCB. O sucesso do FCB é creditado à sua digitalização estratégica, gestão eficiente da marca, engajamento dos fãs e sucessos esportivos. Ademais, a pesquisa ressalta a dificuldade de conciliar sustentabilidade ambiental com os objetivos dos clubes. Contudo, a sustentabilidade econômica e social surge como fundamental para o sucesso duradouro no setor. As conclusões apontam que, embora a sustentabilidade ambiental plena seja um desafio, a Responsabilidade Social Empresarial (RSE), principalmente a sustentabilidade econômica e social, é crucial para a competitividade dos clubes.

Nos últimos anos, os padrões de produção e consumo cada vez mais insustentáveis levaram a um aumento dos recursos utilizados, com um desperdício anual estimado em 1,3 mil milhões de toneladas, equivalente a um terço da produção mundial de alimentos para consumo humano. A empresa Casa Mendes Gonçalves produz anualmente grandes quantidades de ketchup com a formação inerente de resíduos industriais, designados purgas. Atualmente, a sua valorização passa pela produção de biogás e fertilizantes, mas a solução encontrada não garante a sua valorização na íntegra, uma vez que parte das purgas acabam em aterros e representam um custo significativo para a empresa. Assim, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo o desenvolvimento de uma estratégia de valorização das purgas, através de um processo fermentativo com bactérias ácido lácticas (BAL) e posterior incorporação em ketchups. Para tal, recolheram-se duas purgas da unidade produtiva da empresa, uma sem conservantes e outra com sorbato de potássio, que não apresentaram diferenças significativas (p > 0,05) nos parâmetros físico químicos face aos ketchups, confirmando a sua relevância de valorização. As análises microbiológicas realizadas demonstraram que as purgas possuem parâmetros adequados para o reprocessamento destes fluxos. As purgas revelaram-se meios com condições pouco favoráveis para o desenvolvimento das BAL, pelo que se realizou uma diluição de fator 6 (D6) para diminuir a acidez acética e o °Brix e aumentar o pH. Na purga sem conservantes os inóculos mais promissores, que fermentaram em apenas 7 dias, foram Leuconostoc mesenteroides, individualmente e em consórcio com Lactobacillus plantarum, com D6 e 1,5% de sal. Nesta diluição, também a associação de Debaryomyces hansenii com o consórcio de 4 BAL com 0,4% de sal fermentou ao fim de uma semana. O consórcio das 4 BAL também se destacou na purga com fator de diluição 3 (D3) com atividade fermentativa em 7 dias. Na purga com conservantes, o consórcio das 4 bactérias em estudo com D6 e 0,4% de NaCl, assim como com D3 e 1,5% de sal apresentaram a maior produção de ácido láctico. As quatro fermentações da purga sem conservantes com melhores resultados foram selecionadas para o desenvolvimento de ketchups com diferentes percentagens de incorporação de cada uma das quatro purgas fermentadas. O ketchup sem conservantes que levou à formação das purgas foi utilizado como padrão e, de uma forma geral, não houve diferenças significativas (p > 0,05) nos parâmetros físico químicos entres as amostras desenvolvidas e o padrão. A análise sensorial permitiu selecionar os ketchups com a incorporação de 40,9% de purga fermentada com o consórcio de 4 BAL, com D3 e 1,5% de sal e o ketchup com a incorporação de 39,2% de purga fermentada com Lactobacillus plantarum e Leuconostoc mesenteroides, com D6 e 1,5% de sal. A análise nutricional destas amostras evidenciou a melhoria nutricional dos ketchups com a inclusão da purga fermentada, que apresentaram um conteúdo proteico mais elevado, assim como um teor de cinzas e fibras alimentares mais elevado. Futuramente, é essencial a análise das fermentações com recurso a HPLC para identificação e quantificação dos ácidos orgânicos produzidos e o teor de açúcares ao longo da fermentação, de forma a correlacionar com os resultados de pH e acidez obtidos nos ensaios fermentativos realizados. In recent years, the increasingly unsustainable production and consumption patterns have led to an increase in the resources used, with an estimated annual waste of 1.3 billion tonnes, equivalent to a third of the world's food production for human consumption. The company Casa Mendes Gonçalves annually produces large quantities of ketchup with the inherent formation of industrial waste, called purges. Currently, its recovery goes through the production of biogas and fertilizers, but the solution found does not guarantee its full recovery, since part of the purges end up in landfill and represent a significant cost to the company. Thus, the present work aims to develop a strategy of valorization of the purges, through a fermentative process with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and subsequent incorporation in ketchups. To this end, two purges were collected from the company's production unit, one without preservatives and the other with potassium sorbate, which did not present any significant differences (p > 0.05) in the physicochemical parameters compared to ketchups, confirming their relevance of valorization. The microbiological analyses performed demonstrated that the purges have adequate parameters for the reprocessing of these flows. The purges proved to be a medium with unfavorable conditions for the development of LAB, so a dilution of factor 6 (D6) was performed to decrease acetic acidity and °Brix and increase pH. In the purge without preservatives the most promising inoculums, which fermented in just 7 days, were Leuconostoc mesenteroides, individually and in consortium with Lactobacillus plantarum, with D6 and 1.5% salt. Also in this dilution, the association of Debaryomyces hansenii with the consortium of 4 LAB with 0.4% salt fermented after one week. The consortium of the 4 LAB also stood out in the purges with dilution factor of 3 (D3) with fermentative activity in 7 days. In the purge with preservatives, the consortium of the 4 bacteria under study with D6 and 0.4% NaCl, as well as with D3 and 1.5% salt showed the highest lactic acid production. The four preservative-free purge fermentations with the best results were selected for the development of ketchups with different percentages of incorporation of each one of the four fermented purges. The ketchup without preservatives that led to the formation of the purges was used as a standard and, in general, there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in the physicochemical parameters between the developed samples and the standard. The sensory analysis allowed to select the ketchups with the incorporation of 40.9% of fermented purge with the consortium of 4 LAB, with D3 and 1.5% of salt and the ketchup with the incorporation of 39.2% of fermented purge with Lactobacillus plantarum and Leuconostoc mesenteroides, with D6 and 1.5% of salt. The nutritional analysis of these samples showed the nutritional improvement of ketchups with the inclusion of fermented purge, which has higher protein content as well as a superior content of ash and dietary fiber. In the future, it is essential to analyze the fermentations using HPLC to identify and quantify the organic acids produced and the sugar content throughout the fermentation in order to correlate with the pH and acidity results obtained in the fermentation tests performed.