Representation of Distribution Grid Expansion Costs in Power System Planning

The shift towards clean energy brings about notable transformations to the energy system. In order to optimally plan a future energy system, it is necessary to consider the influence of several sectors as well as the interaction of the transmission grid and distribution grid. The concept of Feasible Operation Region (FOR) is a detailed approach to representing the operational dependencies between the transmission and distribution grid. However, in previous planning procedures, only a simplified expansion of the distribution grids can be taken into account. With the method presented in this paper, a Feasible Planning Region (FPR) is developed, which represents the operational boundaries of the distribution grids for several expansion stages and thus represents an admissible solution space for the planning of distribution grids in systemic planning approaches. It hence enables a more detailed representation of the necessary distribution grid expansion for the integration of distributed technologies in an optimized energy system of the future. In this paper, we present the method by which the FPR is formed and its integration into an energy system planning formulation. In the results, the FPR is presented for different voltage levels, and its use in power system planning is demonstrated

Exploring eco-industrial development in the global south: recognizing informal waste-picking as urban-industrial symbiosis?

Industrial ecology (IE) is discussed as a suitable approach to resolve three widespread socio-ecological problems in the so-called global south: waste accumulation, unemployment, and lack of adequate housing. As the IE framework was developed mainly in the global north, its applicability in the global south is uncertain. The issue is discussed along the use of municipal waste as building materials as a concrete application of circular economy (CE) and IE principles, which could contribute to the alleviation of the aforementioned social-ecological problems. The study focuses on San Martin, a district in the Buenos Aires metropolitan areawhich suffers from these problems dispite its industrial capacities. A SWOT analysis that includes all PESTLE dimensions was applied to identify risks for the success of an IE-based strategy, including the main actors and stakeholders of local waste management. Key issues include the informality and low agency of non-profit organizations, fluctuations in the national economy, inefficiencies in waste collection and recovery, and a lack of awareness and policies on waste separation. One major challenge is the undervaluation of the relevance, expertise and efficiency of waste sorting and processing by informal waste pickers and non-profit organizations. These practices should be recognized as a symbiosis of the urban with the industrial metabolism. This way, the epistemic basis for the eco-industrial development (EID) framework can be layed to make it capable to empower them rather than further displace the people involved. In this way, urban EID could become a useful strategy to channel different scientific disciplines, knowledge and actors, knowledge and actors towards sustainable development.Fil: Tröger, Danny. University of Kassel; AlemaniaFil: Becerra Araneda, Abraham Alexis. Universidad Nacional de San Martin. Instituto de Arquitectura y Urbanismo; ArgentinaFil: Busnelli, Roberto. Universidad Nacional de San Martin. Instituto de Arquitectura y Urbanismo; ArgentinaFil: Yajnes, Marta Edith. Universidad Nacional de San Martin. Instituto de Arquitectura y Urbanismo; ArgentinaFil: Williams, Fernando. Universidad Nacional de San Martin. Instituto de Arquitectura y Urbanismo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Braun, Andreas Christian. University of Kassel; Alemani

SMaRT-OnlineWDN: A Franco-German Project For The Online Security Management Of Water Distribution Networks

Water Distribution Networks (WDNs) are critical infrastructures that are exposed to deliberate or accidental chemical, biological or radioactive contamination which need to be detected in due time. However, until now, no monitoring system is capable of protecting a WDN in real time. Powerful online sensor systems are currently developed and the prototypes are able to detect a small change in water quality. In the immediate future, water service utilities will install their networks with water quantity and water quality sensors. For taking appropriate decisions and countermeasures, WDN operators will need to dispose of: 1) a fast and reliable detection of abnormal events in the WDNs; 2) reliable online models both for the hydraulics and water quality predictions; 3) methods for contaminant source identification backtracking from the data history. Actually, in general none of these issues (1) – (3) are available at the water suppliers. Consequently, the main objective of the project SMaRT-OnlineWDN is the development of an online security management toolkit for WDNs that is based on sensor measurements of water quality as well as water quantity. Its main innovations are the detection of abnormal events with a binary classifier of high accuracy and the generation of real-time, reliable (i) flow and pressure predictions, (ii) water quality indicator predictions of the whole water network. Detailed information regarding contamination sources (localization and intensity) will be explored by means of the online running model, which is automatically calibrated to the measured sensor data. Its field of application ranges from the detection of deliberate contamination including source identification and decision support for effective countermeasures to improved operation and control of a WDN under normal and abnormal conditions (dual benefit).In this project, the technical research work is completed with a sociological, economical and management analysis

Evaluation of social vulnerability after the 2010 tsunami at Tumbes Cove – Chile through the “pressure and release” model

The 2010 tsunami in Chile exposed the absence of socio-natural disaster risk management at national and local levels. This article investigates the role of the government’s post-tsunami reconstruction process, as the articulating body for the most vulnerable communities. In particular, Tumbes cove, in the Biobío region, was studied, where vulnerability factors were identified in the face of tsunami flooding through closed surveys and interviews with key players, as well as organizing the information in matrices to identify perception after the reconstruction process. Vulnerability maps were generated using the “pressure and release” model of Wisner et al. (2006). Through five processes, it was observed that the macro-social levels would affect the micro social levels in their daily lives, in the management of socio-natural disasters, which would have an impact on the increase in vulnerability. We argue that the town of Tumbes is a case of a socio-economically and educationally vulnerable community, where the reconstruction process weakened community organizations due to the lack of knowledge of local leaders, thus contributing to the construction of greater vulnerabilities.El tsunami de 2010 ocurrido en Chile dejó al descubierto la ausencia de gestión de riesgos de desastres socio-naturales a nivel nacional y local. Este artículo indaga sobre el rol del proceso de reconstrucción gubernamental post-tsunami, como articulador de comunidades más vulnerables. Se estudió en particular la caleta Tumbes, de la región del Biobío, donde se identificaron factores de vulnerabilidad ante inundación por tsunami a través de encuestas cerradas y entrevistas a actores claves; información que se organizó en matrices con el fin de analizar la percepción de la comunidad tras el proceso de reconstrucción. Se generaron, asimismo, mapas de vulnerabilidad utilizando el modelo de “presión - descompresión” de Wisner et al. (2004). A través de cinco procesos se observó que los niveles macrosociales afectarían a los microsociales dentro de su cotidianidad en el manejo de desastres socio-naturales, los cuales influirían en el aumento de la vulnerabilidad. Se concluye que la localidad de Tumbes es un caso de comunidad socioeconómica y educativamente vulnerable, donde el proceso de reconstrucción debilitó las organizaciones comunitarias por el desconocimiento de liderazgos locales, lo que contribuyó a la generación de mayores vulnerabilidades. &nbsp

Technologieentwicklung und -unterstützung für Ionenfallenbasierte Quantencomputer (TeufIQ)

Purpose of the TeufIQ project is to support the industrial partners of QC-I in developing and manufacturing prototypes of ion-trap based quantum computers. The project framework encompasses a wide range of research services for the QC-I partners placed at the Innovation Center Hamburg (IZHH). The project’s foundation is the expertise and the experience in micro- and nanotechnology of the DLR division QT-IMN in Ulm. We particularly address close collaboration working on open research questions and the development of related technological solutions to facilitate the production of ion-trap based quantum computers in future

Experimental Economics in Virtual Reality

Experimental economics uses controlled and incentivized lab and field experiments to learn about economic behavior. By means of three examples, we illustrate how experiments conducted in immersive virtual environments can benefit (experimental) economic research