EV charging stations and RES-based DG: A centralized approach for smart integration in active distribution grids

Renewable Energy Sources based (RES-based) Dispersed Generation (DG) and Electrical Vehicles (EVs) charging systems diffusion is in progress in many Countries around the word. They have huge effects on the distribution grids planning and operation, particularly on MV and LV distribution grids. Many studies on their impact on the power systems are ongoing, proposing different approaches of managing. The present work deals with a real application case of integration of EVs charging stations with ES-based DG. The final task of the integration is to be able to assure the maximum utilization of the distribution grid to which both are connected, without any upgrading action, and in accordance with Distribution System Operators (DSOs) needs. The application of the proposed approach is related to an existent distribution system, owned by edistribuzione, the leading DSO in Italy. Diverse types of EVs supplying stations, with diverse diffusion scenarios, have been assumed for the case study; various Optimal Power Flow (OPF) models, based on diverse objective functions, reflecting DSO necessities, have been applied and tried. The obtained results demonstrate that a centralized management approach by the DSO, could assure the respect of operation limits of the system in the actual asset, delaying or avoiding upgrading engagements and charges

The Benefits of Contaminated Site Cleanup Revisited: The Case of Naples and Caserta, Italy

Guerriero and Cairns (2009) recently estimate that contaminated sites and improper waste management result in 848 excess deaths per year in the provinces of Naples and Caserta in Southern Italy, 403 of which are fatal cancers. In the absence of estimates of the Value of a Prevented Fatality (VPF) in Italy or specific to the hazardous waste context, they use figures recommended by DG-Environment. Contrary to their claims, estimates of the VPF are available for Italy that are specific to the hazardous waste context, and for causes of death that have been linked to contaminated site exposures. We review them in this paper. We also produce new estimates of the cancer VPF using data from a recent survey conducted in Milan, Italy, in late November to mid-December 2008. The evidence points to much higher VPF figures than the ones used by Guerriero and Cairns, and hence to much larger estimates of the reduced mortality benefits of remediating the hazardous waste in the Naples and Caserta areas. We also examine the importance of the discount rates, since the mortality benefits of remediation begin in 20 years and are assumed to continue over 30 years.Value of a Prevented Fatality, Stated Preferences, Hazardous Waste Sites, Contaminated Sites, Cancer, Mortality Benefits, Cost-Benefit Analysis

Modelling the 2007 Chikungunya Outbreak in Italy

The report describes the modelling analysis performed by JRC on request of the DG-SANCO related to the Chickungunya Outbreak occurred in Italy in the summer of 2007. The analysis reports the calculations performed using global models and agent based models.JRC.G.2-Support to external securit

From economic general equilibrium to ecological system services for nature conservation and management: a methodological analysis and an empirical study based on 30 Italian industries

In this paper, I develop an operational methodology to consistently compare alternative sustainability paradigms (weak sustainability [WS], strong sustainability [SS], a-growth [AG], and de-growth [DG]) and different assessment approaches (life-cycle assessment [LCA], cost-benefit analysis [CBA], and multi-criteria analysis [MCA]) within alternative relationship frameworks (economic general equilibrium [EGE] and ecosystem services [ESS]). The goal is to suggest different environmental interventions (e.g., projects vs. policies) for nature management and guide decisions to achieve nature conservation, defined here as reducing environmental pressures to preserve the future environment and its functioning over time. I then apply the methodology to 30 interdependent industries in Italy for three pollutants (greenhouse-effect gases, polluted rain, and air pollution) and four resources (water, minerals, fossil fuels, biomass) during two periods (from 1990 to 2007 and from 1990 to 2012). The industries were prioritised in terms of interventions to be taken to diminish pollution damage and resource depletion (e.g., fishing and non-energy mining for any sustainability paradigm), whereas sustainability paradigms are compared in terms of their likelihood (i.e., WS > AG = DG > SS), robustness (i.e., AG > SS > DG > WS), effectiveness (i.e., SS > AG > DG > WS), and feasibility (i.e., SS > DG > WS > AG). Proper assessment approaches for projects are finally identified for situations when policies are infeasible (e.g., LCA in WS and SS, MCA in DG and SS within ESS, CBA in WS and AG within EGE), by suggesting MCA in WS within ESS once ecological services are linked to sustainability criteria

Safety of tattoos and permanent make-up: Compilation of information on legislative framework and analytical methods

This document summarises the work carried out within Working Package 1 of the Administrative Arrangement 33617 on tattoos and permanent make-up, signed with Directorate General Health and Consumers (DG SANCO), now DG Justice (DG JUST). It includes: the description of the project; the description of the recommendations contained in the Council of Europe Resolution (2008)1 on requirements and criteria for the safety of tattoos and permanent make-up; the minutes of the meeting of the Consumer Safety Network Subgroup Tattoos and Permanent Make-up (CSN-STPM), held on 11th November 2014, in Ispra (VA), Italy; a collection of analytical methods that could be useful to implement the recommendations of the Council of Europe Resolution (2008)1, as well as a review of existing legislation/guidelines frameworks for the safety of tattoo and permanent make-up products in the European countries and some other jurisdictions.JRC.I.1-Chemical Assessment and Testin

Regional wave propagation using the discontinuous Galerkin method

We present an application of the discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method to regional wave propagation. The method makes use of unstructured tetrahedral meshes, combined with a time integration scheme solving the arbitrary high-order derivative (ADER) Riemann problem. This ADER-DG method is high-order accurate in space and time, beneficial for reliable simulations of high-frequency wavefields over long propagation distances. Due to the ease with which tetrahedral grids can be adapted to complex geometries, undulating topography of the Earth's surface and interior interfaces can be readily implemented in the computational domain. The ADER-DG method is benchmarked for the accurate radiation of elastic waves excited by an explosive and a shear dislocation source. We compare real data measurements with synthetics of the 2009 L'Aquila event (central Italy). We take advantage of the geometrical flexibility of the approach to generate a European model composed of the 3-D <i>EPcrust</i> model, combined with the depth-dependent <i>ak135</i> velocity model in the upper mantle. The results confirm the applicability of the ADER-DG method for regional scale earthquake simulations, which provides an alternative to existing methodologies

Restoration of an active MV distribution grid with a battery ESS: A real case study

In order to improve power system operation, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESSs) have been installed in high voltage/medium voltage stations by Distribution System Operators (DSOs) around the world. Support for restoration of MV distribution networks after a blackout or HV interruption is among the possible new functionalities of BESSs. With the aim to improve quality of service, the present paper investigates whether a BESS, installed in the HV/MV substation, can improve the restoration process indicators of a distribution grid. As a case study, an actual active distribution network of e-distribuzione, the main Italian DSO, has been explored. The existing network is located in central Italy. It supplies two municipalities of approximately 10,000 inhabitants and includes renewable generation plants. Several configurations are considered, based on: the state of the grid at blackout time; the BESS state of charge; and the involvement of Dispersed Generation (DG) in the restoration process. Three restoration plans (RPs) have been defined, involving the BESS alone, or in coordination with DG. A MATLAB®/Simulink® program has been designed to simulate the restoration process in each configuration and restoration plan. The results show that the BESS improves restoration process quality indicators in different simulated configurations, allowing the operation in controlled island mode of parts of distribution grids, during interruptions or blackout conditions. The defined restoration plans set the priority and the sequence of controlled island operations of parts of the grid to ensure a safe and better restoration. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that a BESS can be a valuable element towards an improved restoration procedure

El proyecto ImPLI, la interpretación en la etapa previa al juicio en Italia y la transposición de la directiva 2010/64/UE

This paper focuses on the right to court interpreting and police interpreting in Italy. The data presented about the situation in Italy are derived from the results of ImPLI (Improving Police and Legal Interpreting), a European research project funded by DG Justice which collected facts and figures about police interpreting in Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. The transposition of directive 2010/64/UE into Italian law is analysed to understand its impact on interpreting rights for people under investigation, accused persons and witnesses in Italy. The main drawbacks as well as improvements of the directive transposition are highlighted and discussedEl proyecto ImPLI, la interpretación en la etapa previa al juicio en Italia y la transposición de la directiva 2010/64/UE Este artículo está dedicado a la interpretación en tribunales y en entornos policiales en Italia. Los datos que presentamos sobre la situación en Italia proceden de los resultados del proyecto de investigación europeo ImPLI (Improving Police and Legal Interpreting), financiado por la DG Justicia, para el que se recogieron datos y cifras relativos a la interpretación en entornos policiales en Bélgica, la República Checa, Francia, Alemania, Italia y el Reino Unido. Se analiza la transposición de la Directiva 2010/64/UE a la legislación italiana para entender las consecuencias que tiene en el derecho a la interpretación de las personas sometidas a investigación, los acusados y los testigos en Italia. Se ponen de relieve y se debaten los problemas y las mejoras que trae consigo la transposición de la directiva

Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) - Review of Proposed DCF 2014-2020 – Part 1 (STECF-12-07)

The Expert Working Group meeting of the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries EWG 12-01 was held from 12 – 16 March in Barza d’Ispra, Italy, to evaluate options proposed by DG MARE on the new EU Multi-annual programme for data collection (MAP) 2014-2020. The report was reviewed by the STECF during its 39th plenary held from 16 to 20 April 2012 in Brussels (Belgium).JRC.G.4-Maritime affair

Assessing Italy's Reform Challenges:What Do Growth Accounting and Structural Indicators Say?

Italy's overall GDP growth has been dismal in recent years and this poor performance has been compounded by a declining trend in labour productivity and total factor productivity growth. This paper looks into growth accounting and structural indicators and analyses Italy's performance against other European countries. We look at the evidence provided by newly available information from the Lisbon Assessment Framework (LAF) developed by the Working Group on Lisbon Methodology (LIME) attached to the Economic Policy Committee and the European Commission services (DG ECFIN). Building upon the results of existing literature, we investigate whether this new evidence is supported by data from other sources and provides fresh insight into Italy's reform process. The main message from the analysis of growth accounting and structural indicators appears to be that Italy's GDP growth significantly underperformed that of the EU15 in 2001-2007 notwithstanding progress on reforms.Productivity, Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity, Italy