ENERGY COMMUNITIES: BARRIERS TO AND BENEFITS FROM THEIR IMPLEMENTATION WITH THE VIABLE BUSINESS MODEL: AN ENERGY COOPERATIVE CASE STUDY FROM TURKEY

openAbstract Energy communities are gaining increasing attention along with their bottom-up, decentralized energy generation characteristics to reduce carbon emissions and foster energy transition in response to climate change mitigation. This study aims to investigate the barriers surrounding energy communities, the benefits they create, and the implemented business model in the development of energy communities. This study examined an energy cooperative case study based in Turkey using semi-structured interviews with the thematic analysis method. Analysis of the respondents demonstrated that while the institutional barriers were the most critical barriers hindering, the community building and self-realizations were the most significant benefits deriving from energy communities' dissemination. The business model's value proposition contained social, environmental, and economic elements, and the costs were covered by own equity capital. This research responds to the question concerning the barriers to and benefits from energy communities by exploring the implemented business model, particularly investigating an energy cooperative in Turkey. On this basis, it is recommended that policymakers should consider creating a consistent, long-term enabling legal framework for the development of energy communities. Further studies are needed to comprehend better these results' essence with mixed research methods. Keywords: Energy communities, barriers, benefits, energy cooperative business model, decentralized energy, energy transition.Abstract Energy communities are gaining increasing attention along with their bottom-up, decentralized energy generation characteristics to reduce carbon emissions and foster energy transition in response to climate change mitigation. This study aims to investigate the barriers surrounding energy communities, the benefits they create, and the implemented business model in the development of energy communities. This study examined an energy cooperative case study based in Turkey using semi-structured interviews with the thematic analysis method. Analysis of the respondents demonstrated that while the institutional barriers were the most critical barriers hindering, the community building and self-realizations were the most significant benefits deriving from energy communities' dissemination. The business model's value proposition contained social, environmental, and economic elements, and the costs were covered by own equity capital. This research responds to the question concerning the barriers to and benefits from energy communities by exploring the implemented business model, particularly investigating an energy cooperative in Turkey. On this basis, it is recommended that policymakers should consider creating a consistent, long-term enabling legal framework for the development of energy communities. Further studies are needed to comprehend better these results' essence with mixed research methods. Keywords: Energy communities, barriers, benefits, energy cooperative business model, decentralized energy, energy transition

Effects of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on yield,growth and nutrient contents in organically growing raspberry

During 2003 and 2005, plant growth promoting effects of two Bacillus strains OSU-142 (N2-fixing) and M3 (N2-fixing and phosphate solubilizing) were tested alone or in combinations on organically grown primocane fruiting raspberry (cv. Heritage) plants in terms of yield, growth, nutrient composition of leaves and variation of soil nutrient element composition in the province of Erzurum, Turkey. The results showed that Bacillus M3 treatment stimulated plant growth and resulted in significant yield increase. Inoculation of raspberry plant roots and rhizosphere with M3 and/or OSU-142 + M3, significantly increased yield (33.9% and 74.9%), cane length (13.6% and 15.0%), number of cluster per cane (25.4% and 28.7%) and number of berries per cane (25.1% and 36.0%) compared with the control, respectively. In addition, N, P and Ca contents of raspberry leaves with OSU-142 + M3 treatment, and Fe and Mn contents of the leaves of raspberry with M3 and OSU-142 + M3 applications significantly improved under organic growing conditions. Bacterial applications also significantly effected soil total N, available P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn contents and pH. Available P contents in soil was determined to be increased from 1.55 kg P2O5/da at the beginning of the study to 2.83 kg P2O5/da by OSU-142, to 5.36 kg P2O5/da by M3 and to 4.71 kg P2O5/da by OSU-142 + M3 treatments. The results of this study suggest that Bacillus M3 alone or in combination with Bacillus OSU-142 have the potential to increase the yield, growth and nutrition of raspberry plant under organic growing conditions

Psychological Needs as the Predictor of Teachers' Perceived Stress Levels

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between teachers' psychological needs and perceived stress levels. First of all, the differentiation status of teachers' psychological needs and perceived stress levels in terms of gender, type of institution and type of the school variables was examined. Then, the psychological need's level of predicting the perceived stress was tested. This research was carried out by descriptive survey design. For this purpose, Personal Information Form, Perceived stress level scale and Psychological needs scale were applied to 498 primary school teachers (317 female 63.7% and 181 male 36.3%). T test, F test and multiple linear regression analysis were applied in addition to descriptive statistics in the analysis of data. According to the results obtained from the research, it was found that the dominance needs of teachers working in private schools were significantly higher than the teachers working in public schools. It was determined that the psychological needs of teachers do not vary by gender, but the perceived stress levels of female teachers were significantly higher than male teachers. Besides, it was concluded that primary school teachers' need for relationship and secondary school teachers' need for autonomy were significantly higher compared to teachers working in other institutions. It was also determined that the needs for success, autonomy and dominance from among psychological needs significantly predicted the perceived stress. The results obtained from the research were interpreted and suggestions for further research were put forward

Optimization of Conical Micro-Diffusers and Micro-Nozzles Considering Entropy Generation

Fluid flow characteristics and entropy generation in a circular diffuser/nozzle element are studied numerically. The flow is assumed to be isothermal, laminar and incompressible with constant thermo-physical properties. The velocity field, mass flow rate, and entropy generation are investigated for several half angles in combination with several values of pressure drops. The effect of diffuser half angle on the entropy generation is investigated and discussed. Furthermore, the effect of the half angle of diffuser on the diffuser efficiency and the effect on the rectification efficiency are explained. It is shown that there is an optimum operation half angle for which the diffuser efficiency has a maximum value. In the case of a micro-diffuser 1 mm long with an inlet diameter of 100 μm, the optimum half angle was found to be 2.5°. These results are based on several parametric simulations ranging from 0 to 7° half angles and covering pressure drops between 500 and 2000 Pa.King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (Deanship of Scientific Research

Changes in some physico-chemical content of Anatolian buffalo milk according to the some environmental factors

The aim of this study was to determine the some physico-chemical content of raw milk from Anatolian water buffaloes raised under different village conditions in the Tokat province of Northern Turkey. The study materials included 1272 milk samples from 149 water buffaloes raised at 12 separate villages of the Erbaa, Turhal, and Pazar counties in the Tokat Province. Milk samples were collected during the morning milking between the months of February and May 2012 to 2014. The density, freezing point degree, dry matter, nonfat dry matter (or solid non fat), fat, protein, lactose, milk urea nitrogen and casein content of the milk samples were determined. The study results demonstrated that the mean dry matter, nonfat dry matter, fat, protein, lactose, casein content, density, milk urea nitrogen (MUN) and freezing point degree (FPD) of the raw milk samples were 16.99±0.108%, 10.88±0.036%, 5.98±0.107%, 4.85±0.043%, 5.17±0.021%, 3.61±0.036%, 1029±0.056, 21, 22 mg/dl and 0.55°C, respectively. The study data were evaluated according to the water buffaloes’ lactation stage, parity, and season by using the SPSS statistical program. It was concluded that the sampling time, parity, village conditions, stage of lactation and calving age had a significant effect (P<0.05) on the density, freezing point degree, dry matter, nonfat dry matter, fat, protein, lactose, and casein content of raw milk from the Anatolian water buffalo. © 2016, Kasetsart University. All rights reserved.TAGEM/60MANDA2011-01 --This investigation was supported by Republic of Turkey Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies for financial support (TAGEM/60MANDA2011-01). -

A Case Study on the Use of Flexible Earth Retaining Structure In Instable Slopes

Recently new highway, motorway and railway projects take place in many developing countries within the aggressive infrastructure investment programme of governments. In rugged topography, engineers face the challenging problems of designing safe and cost effective cuts and fills for these projects especially under seismic loading and marginal stability conditions. Overall stability mechanism and safety of the cut generally controls the design decisions for the relevant section. In addition, because of the construction width limitations, in some mechanically stabilized earth wall projects sufficient width to accommodate the strip lengths of the retaining system cannot be provided. To eliminate all these problems, to minimize cut and backfill volumes and provide an innovative solution in such difficult terrains, soil nailing is implemented in the cut side together with the mechanically stabilized earth wall in the fill side together both are being flexible earth retaining structures. In addition, soil nails could be designed in such configuration and length that nails will also contribute to overall stability conditions of the cut slope. Furthermore, implementation of the system brings the advantage of reduction of both cut and fills volumes, therefore more cost effective and safer design. This paper presents application of this system in a recent case study, in Baku, Azerbaijan

Advanced tunability of optical properties of CdS/ZnSe/ZnTe/CdSe multi-shell quantum dot by the band edge engineering

In this study, the advanced manipulability of wave functions in a type-II multi-shell hetero-nanostructure (MS-HNS) and the tunability of radiative exciton lifetime over a wide range with and/or without changing in transition energies has been demonstrated by the band edge engineering. For this purpose, the electronic and optical properties of exciton (X) and biexciton (XX) in a spherical CdS/ZnSe/ZnTe/CdSe HNS have been explored in detail. In the calculations, effects of all Coulombic interactions between the charges have been taken into account on the wave functions. Moreover, in the case of XX, the exchange-correlation potential between the same charged particles has also been considered. The results have been presented as a function of CdS core radius and ZnSe shell thickness and the probable physical reasons have been discussed in detail

Gastric Necrosis due to Acute Massive Gastric Dilatation

Gastric necrosis due to acute massive gastric dilatation is relatively rare. Vascular reasons, herniation, volvulus, acute gastric dilatation, anorexia, and bulimia nervosa play a role in the etiology of the disease. Early diagnosis and treatment are highly important as the associated morbidity and mortality rates are high. In this case report, we present a case of gastric necrosis due to acute gastric dilatation accompanied with the relevant literature

A Therapeutic and Diagnostic Dilemma: Granular Cell Tumor of the Breast

Six to eight percent of granular cell tumors are seen in the breast. Although mostly benign, they rarely have malignant features clinically and radiologically reminding of breast cancer. This may lead to a potential misdiagnosis of breast carcinoma and overtreatment of patients. The final diagnosis is made by immunohistochemical examination. We performed excisional biopsy on a patient who was diagnosed to have a breast mass. The histopathological examination of the mass revealed granular cell tumor