Energy and environmental performances of small and innovative solar cooling systems

The development of renewable energy technologies is a critical tool for reducing climate change and the reliance on fossil fuels. However, renewable energy technologies cannot be considered totally clean because they require energy consumption and have environmental impacts that cannot be neglected during their life cycle. This paper presents the results of two researches related to the application of solar thermal system for building heating and cooling. It is focused on small and compact systems of two different typologies. An innovative compact Solar DEC system is analysed in terms of potential competitor of stand alone electrically driven HVAC systems. The performances of small absorption chillers coupled with low temperature solar collectors is investigated by the means of Life Cycle Assessment approach in order to highlight their environmental impacts also during manufacturing and end-of-life phases.Bajada New Energy, General Membrane, EcoGroup, Econetique, Energy Investment, JMV Vibro Blocks, Solar Engineering, Solar Solutionspeer-reviewe

Multi-user microgrids: obstacles to development and recommendations for advancement

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Multi-user microgrids (MUMs) are an emerging approach to electricity service that allows neighboring customers to obtain greater resilience in electricity service, from a set of locally installed distributed energy resources (DERs) of their own choice (sometimes including solar energy and energy storage), through joint participation in a power production and delivery system that can operate independently from the host electric utility. To date, there are relatively few MUMs in operation. This is primarily because regulated utility service from the electricity grid has historically been adequate and cost-effective for most customers – and it is highly likely that this will remain largely true, so that MUMs will not become widespread anytime soon. However, with improving microgrid economics and increasing customer needs for resilience, there will be a growing number of situations in which MUMs will become viable. Even today, certain sets of customers find the benefits offered by MUMs to outweigh the additional costs. Despite this, MUM activity has been extremely limited because of a number of significant barriers associated with implementing this novel business model. Exacerbating this, there is a dearth of comprehensive study on these barriers. Consequently, the goal of this research is to provide a first investigation into the barriers to MUM development and some early hypotheses on potential remedies that would facilitate MUM development when and where they might be a good solution – with a particular focus on the Northeastern U.S. [TRUNCATED]Funding for this research was provided via a generous gift from E4TheFuture

A grassroots sustainable energy niche? Reflections on community energy case studies

System changing innovations for sustainability transitions are proposed to emerge in radical innovative niches. ‘Strategic Niche Management’ theory predicts that niche level actors and networks will aggregate learning from local projects, distilling and disseminating best practice. This should lower the bar for new projects to form and establish, thereby encouraging the innovation to diffuse through replication. Within this literature, grassroots innovations emerging from civil society are an under researched site of sociotechnical innovation for sustainable energy transitions. We consider the emerging community energy sector in the UK, in order to empirically test this model. Community energy is a diverse grassroots led sector including both demand and supply side initiatives for sustainable energy such as community owned renewable energy generation, village hall refurbishments, behaviour change initiatives and energy efficiency projects. Our analysis draws on in depth qualitative case study research with twelve local projects, and a study of how intermediary organisations aim to support local projects and encourage replication. This rich data allows us to examine the extent and nature of interactions between projects and intermediary actors in order to evaluate the utility of niche theories in the civil society context. In particular, we investigate which types of knowledge, support and resources were needed by our case study projects to become established and thrive, and compare and contrast this with those offered by the emerging community energy niche. Our findings indicate that while networking and intermediary organisations can effectively collate and spread some types of learning and information necessary for replication, this is not sufficient: tacit knowledge, trust and confidence are essential to these projects’ success, but are more difficult to abstract and translate to new settings. We draw out the implications of our findings for niche theory, for community energy and other grassroots practitioners aiming to build robust influential niches, and for policymakers eager to harness civil society’s innovative potential for sustainability

Thin film CI(G)S PV modules : results from monitored installations and comparison tests

The paper explains the main features of the thin film CIS PV modules and tries to highlight the advantages of the technology even in Mediterranean countries. In the real world conditions CIS PV installations have a better performance in terms of specific generated output (kWh/kWp) in comparison with crystalline silicon modules, improving the return on investment for the end user/investor and maximizing the self-consumption. The main factors that contribute to the higher yields of CIS PV installations in comparison with c-Si are: the high temperature stability, the good behaviour with low light and low angle irradiation, high shadow tolerance and the light soaking effect. Several installations in different parts of the world with various weather conditions have been monitored scrupulously throughout the years with the production of a significant number of case studies. The results confirm that PV installation with CIS modules generate an average of 10% more electricity per rated power (kWh/kWp) even in optimal condition (modules facing south with 20-30° tilt). This gap increases as the condition of the weather (ambient temperature, irradiation) and of the roof (tilt, azimuth) varies from the optimal one. Due to their high flexibility in the installation it is possible to maximize the yield for the given area (kWh/sqm).peer-reviewe

An empirical assessment to establish the role of renewable energy sector in the Greek economy under the aspect of economic recession

The challenging economic environment that affects most European countries has driven the Greek economy through a volatile transition period. The economic crisis is considered in some cases as an opportunity for economic development in several sectors. The energy sector is one of them, and it is expected to play a key role in the recovery of the economy. The current research will inspect whether the renewable energy sector could play a vital role in boosting the Greek economy, but mainly why it has not been done as it was expected. In addition, this paper will demonstrate in detail the renewable energy sources that represented the core investment targets in the country, along with the current status of completion. Furthermore, the idea that renewable energy sources could help the improvement of country’s economy will be elaborated, along with the reasons that show why this idea has failed. The data analysis is based on an empirical assessment on energy projects that have been developed around the country. The presentation of the obstacles that an investor faces prior and after the completion of the projects will justify the reasons that investments in renewable energy sources could not ameliorate the economic crisis of Greece.Bajada New Energy, General Membrane, EcoGroup, Econetique, Energy Investment, JMV Vibro Blocks, Solar Engineering, Solar Solutionspeer-reviewe

Sustainable energy recovery from waste through plasma gasification : evolution of plasma torch technology from research applications to gasification of waste targeting zero waste to landfill

Westinghouse plasma technology has evolved from its genesis producing super high temperature energy for testing the heat shields on space shuttles to application in gasification reactors for the destruction of a wide range of waste materials and the production of renewable energy. A Westinghouse plasma gasification plant is ideally suited to help Malta achieve its waste treatment objectives, move toward eliminating its dependency on landfill, increase its energy self-sufficiency, reduce its carbon footprint, and become a global leader in waste management.Bajada New Energy, Bitmac ltd., Econetique, Energy Investment, JMV Vibro Blocks, Solar Engineering.peer-reviewe

Balancing risk and reward : a brief literature review pertaining to the ideal design of radiological protection measures in relation to the possible siting of a combined power and desalination nuclear reactor in Malta

A short feasibility study on the installation of a combined power and desalination nuclear reactor in Malta.Bajada New Energy, Bitmac ltd., Econetique, Energy Investment, JMV Vibro Blocks, Solar Engineering.peer-reviewe