Investment timing and optimal capacity choice for small hydropower projects

This paper presents a method for assessing small hydropower projects that are subject to uncertain electricity prices. We present a real options-based method with continuous scaling, and we find that there is a unique price limit for initiating the project. If the current electricity price is below this limit it is never optimal to invest, but above this limit investment is made according to the function for optimal size. The connection between the real option and the physical properties of a small hydropower plant is dealt with using a spreadsheet model that performs a technical simulation of the production in a plant, based on all the important choices for such a plant. The main results of the spreadsheet are simulated production size and the investment costs, which are in turn used for finding the value of the real option and the price limit. The method is illustrated on three different Norwegian small hydropower projects.OR in Energy; Real Options; Continuous Scaling; Project Evaluation; Hydropower

Origin and consequences of the follow-up on illegalities in the coastal zone of Bergen

Mastergradsoppgave i areal og eiendom. Fakultet for ingeniør- og naturvitskap/ Institutt for byggfag/ Høgskulen på Vestlandet, campus Bergen.Ulovlighetsoppfølging av ulovlige tiltak er noe kommunene er pliktet til å gjøre etter plan- og bygningsloven. Strandsonen, som en begrenset ressurs, må reguleres for å unngå at viktige frilufts- og naturområder blir nedbygd, og for å sikre allmenhetens interesser. Vi har i denne masteroppgaven undersøkt opphavet til, og konsekvensene av ulovlighetsoppfølgingen av ulovlige tiltak i strandsonen i Bergen. Forskningen baserer seg i hovedsak på kvalitative intervjuer og dokumentstudier. Utgangspunktet for forskningen er intervjuer med fem hjemmelshavere som har fått ulovlighetsoppfølging på sin eiendom, og ett intervju med to representanter fra Bergen kommune, samt dokumentstudier av relevante dokument. Ved å analyse intervjuer og relevante dokumenter har vi besvart følgende problemstilling: «Hva er opphavet til og konsekvensene av ulovlighetsoppfølgingen i strandsonen i Bergen?» Forskningen viser at opphavet til ulovlighetsoppfølgingen i strandsonen i Bergen kommune var «strandsoneprosjektet» som ble utført i 2009-2012. Dette prosjektet ble utført på initiativ til dels fra Fylkesmannen i Hordaland (nå statsforvalteren), og dels av ønske fra Bergen kommune selv. Grunnen til at det ble kartlagt ulovligheter var blant annet at kommunen har plikt til dette, og at det var tenker om at det var mye ulovligheter i strandsonen i Bergen. Strandsoneprosjektet benyttet en kategorisering som kartla ulovlighetene som ble funnet ut ifra alvorlighetsgrad. Denne kategoriseringen ble gjort for å kunne følge opp de alvorligste tiltakene først. På grunn av ressursmangler, og at ulovlighetsoppfølgingen ble mye mer omfattende enn først forutsatt tok dette lang tid. Dette har ført til mange konsekvenser. Forskningen viser at noen av konsekvensene som har oppstått kommer av at dette har tatt lang tid. Innledningsvis i prosjektet var det potensielt planlagt å følge opp fortløpende med kartleggingen. Ettersom en ikke så innledningsvis at dette ville ta lang tid, ble ikke grunneiere varslet om inndelingen i kartleggingen. Mangelen på varsling om kartleggingen har fått konsekvenser ved at grunneierne ikke hadde mulighet for kontradiksjon. Mange av grunneierne forklarer i forskningen at de gjerne skulle ha hatt muligheten til å vite om dette, og på grunn av at de ikke visste har de hatt problemer med å fremskaffe bevis på at sine tiltak er lovlig etablert, eller det har ført til økonomisk tap. Videre har vi funnet at metodikk som innebærer tidlig varsling og inkludering kan føre til mindre konflikter og bedre kommunikasjon med forvaltningen. Studiet har funnet at ambisjonsnivået innledningsvis i et kartleggingsprosjekt burde stå i stil med tilgangen til ressurser og dette burde utredes nøye.Follow-up of illegalities is something the municipalities are obliged to do under the Norwegian law “plan- og bygningsloven”. The coastal zone, which is a limited resource, must be regulated to prevent important outdoor and natural areas from being built on, and to secure public interests. In this master's thesis, we have investigated the origins, and the consequences of, the follow-up of illegalities in the coastal zone in Bergen. The research is mainly based on qualitative interviews and document studies. The thesis is based on interviews with five landowners who have had follow-up of illegalities on their property, an interview with representatives of the Bergen municipality, and document studies of relevant documents. By analysing interviews and relevant documents, we have answered the following question: "What is the origin and consequences of the follow-up of illegalities in the coastal zone in Bergen?" The research shows that the origin of the follow-up of illegalities in the coastal zone in Bergen municipality was the “coastal zone project” that was carried out from 2009 to 2012. This project was carried out on the initiative partly of the county governor in Hordaland, and partly at the request of Bergen municipality itself. The reason why illegalities were mapped was that the municipality has a duty to do this, and there were a lot of illegalities in the coastal zone in Bergen. The coastal zone project used a categorisation that mapped the illegalities that were found according to severity. This categorisation was done to be able to follow up on the most serious measures first. Due to lack of resources, and the fact that the illegality follow-up was much more extensive than initially assumed, this took a long time, leading to many consequences. The consequences that have arisen are because this has taken a long time. The research shows that initially in the project it was planned to follow up continuously with the mapping. As it was not anticipated that this would take such a long time, landowners were not notified of the categorisation in the survey. The lack of notification about the mapping has had consequences in that the landowners had no opportunity to object. Many of the landowners explained in the research that they would have liked to have had the opportunity to know about this, and because they did not know, they have had problems obtaining evidence that their measures are legally established, or it has led to financial loss. Furthermore, we have found that a methodology that involves early notification and inclusion, can lead to fewer conflicts and better communication with the authorities. The study has found that the level of ambition initially in a mapping project should be in line with the access to resources, and this should be carefully investigated before startup.MOA30

Investment timing and optimal capacity choice for small hydropower projects

This paper presents a method for assessing small hydropower projects that are subject to uncertain electricity prices. We present a real options-based method with continuous scaling, and we find that there is a unique price limit for initiating the project. If the current electricity price is below this limit it is never optimal to invest, but above this limit investment is made according to the function for optimal size. The connection between the real option and the physical properties of a small hydropower plant is dealt with using a spreadsheet model that performs a technical simulation of the production in a plant, based on all the important choices for such a plant. The main results of the spreadsheet are simulated production size and the investment costs, which are in turn used for finding the value of the real option and the price limit. The method is illustrated on three different Norwegian small hydropower projects

Commissioning A New Multiphase Pump Visualization Test Rig To Investigate The Internal Flow Field And Its Connection With Pump Performance

LecturePumps with helico-axial impellers are used to boost mixtures of gas and liquid, for instance in subsea production of unprocessed oil and gas. Experimental data is essential to fully understand and characterize the internal flow, as well as for validation and improvement of numerical modeling techniques. Here we describe the commissioning of a test rig that enables visualization and measurements of the pump’s internal flow field. The test rig’s pump unit design contains three impeller stages that are 50 percent downscaled relative to a full-scale version previously tested.A reduction in nondimensional head, flow and efficiency relative to the full-scale pump can be attributed to lower Reynolds numbersand an increased relative impeller tip clearance. The tested head curves on single phase water exhibit a transition where the negative slope is replaced by a flat curve when reducing the volumetric flow rate below a certain value. Despite the downscaling, this change in slope occurs at the same relative flow rate as for the full-scale pump. This suggests that the test rig can be used to replicate the characteristics of the full-scale performance and flow field in pumps with helico-axial impellers. Varying the impeller tip clearance allowed for an estimate of pump head with the equivalent clearance as for the full-scale geometry. A Morrison number of 0.03 could then be established for the pump.The impeller tip leakage flow and two recirculation zones in the diffuser channels were identified in a preliminary view of the internal flow field at two percent gas volume fraction and part-load operating conditions. Operation at low relative flow rates and high gas volume fractions led to system surge and slugging in the flow loop. Increasing the inlet pressure and temperature significantly improvedthe situation, allowing stable operation at lower relative flow rates. Modifications to avoid gas coalescence through the pump inlet could also further widen the operational envelope at high gas volume fraction

Liste over forvaltningsrelevante naturenheter - Oppfølgende informasjon til rapporten "Forvaltningsrelevante naturenheter i sjø"

I forbindelse med forvaltningens oppgave om å lage en framtidig samlet offentlig instruks for kartlegging av marin natur, bestilte fiskeridirektoratet i en oversikt over der havforskningsinstituttet ville foreslå som "Forvaltningsrelevante naturenheter i sjø". Denne rapporten ble levert og publisert 29.04.2024. I den rapporten foreslo Havforskningsinstituttet å utvide begrepet naturenheter til også å omfatte funksjonsområder for arter, og områder viktig for struktur og sentrale økosystemprosesser. Totalt ble det foreslått 20 abiotiske fysiske enheter, 3 biotiske fysiske enheter, 6 hovedgrupper av funksjonsområder (for totalt 46 arter) og 9 struktur og prosessområder som kunne danne grunnlag for kartlegging av marin natur. Denne rapporten er en utdyping av rapporten "Forvaltningsrelevante naturenheter i sjø", der alle naturenhetene som er foreslått blir nærmere forklart samt at det presenteres et perspektiv på ulike aspekter som kan være viktig for prioritering av hva som skal kartlegges. Enkelte naturenheter har fått mindre endringer i navn og innhold til det opprinnelige forslaget, men den første rapporten har vært førende for innhold. Det kan være aktuelt å revidere hvilke naturenheter som vil være viktige og om noen naturenheter ikke nødvendigvis har samme betydning for forvaltningen på et senere tidspunkt.Liste over forvaltningsrelevante naturenheter - Oppfølgende informasjon til rapporten "Forvaltningsrelevante naturenheter i sjø"publishedVersio

Using geophysics on a terminal moraine damming a glacial lake: the Flatbre debris flow case,Western Norway

A debris flow occurred on 8 May 2004, in Fjǽrland, Western Norway, due to a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood and a natural terminal moraine failure. The site was investigated in 2004 and 2005, using pre- and post-flow aerial photos, airborne laser scanning, and extensive field work investigations, resulting in a good understanding of the mechanics of the debris flow, with quantification of the entrainment and determination of the final volume involved. However, though the moraine had a clear weak point, with lower elevation and erosion due to overflowing in the melting season, the sudden rupture of the moraine still needs to be explained. As moraines often contain an ice core, a possible cause could be the melting of the ice, inducing a progressive weakening of the structure. Geophysical investigations were therefore carried out in September 2006, including seismic refraction, GPR and resistivity. All methods worked well, but none revealed the presence of ice, though the depth to bedrock was determined. On the contrary, the moraine appeared to be highly saturated in water, especially in one area, away from the actual breach and corresponding to observed water seepage at the foot of the moraine. To estimate future hazard, water circulation through the moraine should be monitored over time

Investment timing and optimal capacity choice for small hydropower projects

This paper presents a method for assessing small hydropower projects that are subject to uncertain electricity prices. We present a real options-based method with continuous scaling, and we find that there is a unique price limit for initiating the project. If the current electricity price is below this limit it is never optimal to invest, but above this limit investment is made according to the function for optimal size. The connection between the real option and the physical properties of a small hydropower plant is dealt with using a spreadsheet model that performs a technical simulation of the production in a plant, based on all the important choices for such a plant. The main results of the spreadsheet are simulated production size and the investment costs, which are in turn used for finding the value of the real option and the price limit. The method is illustrated on three different Norwegian small hydropower projects.

Nutritional status of maintenance dialysis patients: Low lean body mass index and obesity are common, protein-energy wasting is uncommon.

<p> <b>Nutritional status of maintenance dialysis patients: Low lean body mass index and obesity is common, protein-energy wasting is uncommon</b> </p><p><b>Abstract</b></p> <p><b>Background and aims:</b> Maintenance dialysis patients are at increased risk of abnormal nutritional status due to numerous causative factors, both nutritional and non-nutritional. The present study assessed the current prevalence of protein-energy wasting, low lean body mass index and obesity in maintenance dialysis patients, and compared different methods of nutritional assessment. <b></b></p> <p><b>Methods: </b>In a cross-sectional study conducted in 2014 at Roskilde Hospital, Denmark, we performed anthropometry (body weight, skinfolds, mid-arm, waist, and hip circumferences), and determined plasma albumin and normalized protein catabolic rate in order to assess the prevalence of protein-energy wasting, low lean body mass index and obesity in these patients.<b></b></p> <p><b>Results:</b> Seventy-nine eligible maintenance dialysis patients participated. The prevalence of protein-energy wasted patients was 4% (95% CI: 2-12) as assessed by the coexistence of low lean body mass index and low fat mass index. Low lean body mass index was seen in 32% (95% CI: 22-44). Obesity prevalence as assessed from fat mass index was 43% (95% CI: 32-55). Coexistence of low lean body mass index and obesity was seen in 10% (95% CI: 5-19). The prevalence of protein-energy wasting and obesity varied considerably, depending on nutritional assessment methodology.</p> <b>Conclusions:</b> Our data indicate that protein-energy wasting is uncommon, whereas low lean body mass index and obesity are frequent conditions among patients in maintenance dialysis. A focus on how to increase and preserve lean body mass in dialysis patients is suggested in the future. In order to clearly distinguish between shortage, sufficiency and abundance of protein and/or fat deposits in maintenance dialysis patients, we suggest the simple measurements of lean body mass index and fat mass index