117 research outputs found
Efficiency and Sustainability of the Distributed Renewable Hybrid Power Systems Based on the Energy Internet, Blockchain Technology and Smart Contracts-Volume II
The climate changes that are becoming visible today are a challenge for the global research community. In this context, renewable energy sources, fuel cell systems, and other energy generating sources must be optimally combined and connected to the grid system using advanced energy transaction methods. As this reprint presents the latest solutions in the implementation of fuel cell and renewable energy in mobile and stationary applications, such as hybrid and microgrid power systems based on the Energy Internet, Blockchain technology, and smart contracts, we hope that they will be of interest to readers working in the related fields mentioned above
CITIES: Energetic Efficiency, Sustainability; Infrastructures, Energy and the Environment; Mobility and IoT; Governance and Citizenship
This book collects important contributions on smart cities. This book was created in collaboration with the ICSC-CITIES2020, held in San José (Costa Rica) in 2020. This book collects articles on: energetic efficiency and sustainability; infrastructures, energy and the environment; mobility and IoT; governance and citizenship
Development of a system-dynamics-based methodology for comprehensive community energy planning
Global trends are leading to a rise in Energy Planning (EP) at the community-level, and Distributed Energy Resources at the residential-level, while seeking a more sustainable future; EP involves decision-making about energy systems. Whilst Community Energy Planning (CEP) aims to be holistic and participatory, it comprises multiple disjointed methods that lead to two challenges. The first challenge is hindrance to a holistic approach and understanding of the energy system, while the second challenge is hindrance to participation from diverse stakeholders. However, System Dynamics (SD), which is a methodology for mental and simulation models, looks promising as a basis for a comprehensive CEP methodology that would lead to a more holistic and participatory CEP.
Consequently, the research question of the thesis is: is a System Dynamics approach an effective and comprehensive methodology for sustainable Community Energy Planning? The research aims were broken down into specific objectives which are addressed in specific chapters. The objectives that required creating simulation models were addressed as case-study chapters, and arranged such that later chapters build on models created in earlier chapters, culminating in the combination of multiple earlier models.
Drawing on the literature of Sustainability Assessment (SA) and the methods used in CEP, it is argued that CEP is a form of SA because it utilises Sustainability Indicators to appraise models of planned energy systems. Furthermore, a comprehensive CEP methodology is proposed that is centred around SD, which addresses some of the challenges of CEP. Subsequently, gaps were identified in the demonstration of SD among the methods of the proposed CEP methodology, which was found to be in the area of bottom-up simulation models. The case-study chapters are the first attempts in the following, while utilising SD from the bottom-up: a valid supply-side model; use of the supply-side model in decision-making analyses; a valid demand-side model; use of the demand-side model in decision-making analyses; and combination of supply-side models, and with a demand-side model. Additionally, there are other significant contributions from the case-studies. In conclusion, it is argued that SD could be an effective basis for a more comprehensive CEP methodology, and that this research can be considered a step towards that aim
Sustainability-oriented housing innovation: Using the Solar Decathlon as a knowledge source
The Solar Decathlon competition started in 2002. Since then, Solar Decathlon has acted as a showcase and source of innovation in the field of sustainability for housing and for the construction industry at large. This thesis has utilised data from Solar Decathlon competitions to understand the nature of innovations involved with progressively building and refining the technology required for sustainable housing. As such, the focus and drive of this thesis is to present an image of the Solar Decathlon competition as openly creating and synthesising new knowledge about sustainability-oriented innovation. It can be stated that understanding the precise factors that make innovation happen can be convoluted in nature. The Solar Decathlon portrays these characteristics, is internationally recognised as the premier competition for prototyping sustainability-oriented innovation, and demonstrates the human features involved with progress in the field of sustainable housing. The thesis is original in that it is the first that addresses innovation and its management through human-centred design, and describes its processes, that can be henceforth taken up by the building industry.
Utilising the experience of the Innovations Coordinator of Team UOW (University of Wollongong), this thesis describes and analyses the nature of innovation involved with the Desert Rose house (UOW Solar Decathlon entry), including knowledge of how innovation happened in real time during its construction. This thesis asks the question: What is the nature of innovation involved with sustainable housing? The answer to this question is not resolved simply through experiencing the construction of the Desert Rose, or through an objective analysis of the available Solar Decathlon data sets. Rather, this thesis proposes that the answer can be obtained through comprehensive multi-disciplinary research, including: (i) analysis of available innovation related Solar Decathlon data sets from leading houses, (ii) the development of an innovations management framework for sustainability-oriented technology, (iii) a case study of the Desert Rose Solar Decathlon entry in 2018 in the broader context of design, construction, innovation and sustainability, and (iv) tracing innovation through development of a specific sustainability-oriented technology from Desert Rose
Measuring knowledge sharing processes through social network analysis within construction organisations
The construction industry is a knowledge intensive and information dependent industry. Organisations risk losing valuable knowledge, when the employees leave them. Therefore, construction organisations need to nurture opportunities to disseminate knowledge through strengthening knowledge-sharing networks. This study aimed at evaluating the formal and informal knowledge sharing methods in social networks within Australian construction organisations and identifying how knowledge sharing could be improved. Data were collected from two estimating teams in two case studies. The collected data through semi-structured interviews were analysed using UCINET, a Social Network Analysis (SNA) tool, and SNA measures. The findings revealed that one case study consisted of influencers, while the other demonstrated an optimal knowledge sharing structure in both formal and informal knowledge sharing methods. Social networks could vary based on the organisation as well as the individuals’ behaviour. Identifying networks with specific issues and taking steps to strengthen networks will enable
to achieve optimum knowledge sharing processes. This research offers knowledge sharing good practices for construction organisations to optimise their knowledge sharing processes
ECOS 2012
The 8-volume set contains the Proceedings of the 25th ECOS 2012 International Conference, Perugia, Italy, June 26th to June 29th, 2012. ECOS is an acronym for Efficiency, Cost, Optimization and Simulation (of energy conversion systems and processes), summarizing the topics covered in ECOS: Thermodynamics, Heat and Mass Transfer, Exergy and Second Law Analysis, Process Integration and Heat Exchanger Networks, Fluid Dynamics and Power Plant Components, Fuel Cells, Simulation of Energy Conversion Systems, Renewable Energies, Thermo-Economic Analysis and Optimisation, Combustion, Chemical Reactors, Carbon Capture and Sequestration, Building/Urban/Complex Energy Systems, Water Desalination and Use of Water Resources, Energy Systems- Environmental and Sustainability Issues, System Operation/ Control/Diagnosis and Prognosis, Industrial Ecology
Energy Harvesting and Energy Storage Systems
This book discuss the recent developments in energy harvesting and energy storage systems. Sustainable development systems are based on three pillars: economic development, environmental stewardship, and social equity. One of the guiding principles for finding the balance between these pillars is to limit the use of non-renewable energy sources
IoT Applications Computing
The evolution of emerging and innovative technologies based on Industry 4.0 concepts are transforming society and industry into a fully digitized and networked globe. Sensing, communications, and computing embedded with ambient intelligence are at the heart of the Internet of Things (IoT), the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and Industry 4.0 technologies with expanding applications in manufacturing, transportation, health, building automation, agriculture, and the environment. It is expected that the emerging technology clusters of ambient intelligence computing will not only transform modern industry but also advance societal health and wellness, as well as and make the environment more sustainable. This book uses an interdisciplinary approach to explain the complex issue of scientific and technological innovations largely based on intelligent computing
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