Technologies and strategies fostering the sustainable development of energy, water and environment systems

Holistic strategies in energy, water, and environmental systems can enhance climate change mitigation efforts. Recent scientific innovations have opened up numerous pathways toward comprehensive human development. This editorial explores the 18th Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES), highlighting eight key topics from eight research articles that showcase the latest scientific advancements. The articles that addressed energy saving, energy efficiency, and clean energy, include (1) Bioethanol burner operating parameters optimization: Effects of burner opening area modulation on heat output and flue gas composition, (2) Integration of photovoltaic panels and biomass-fuelled CHP in an Italian renewable energy community, (3) AI-Driven Innovations in Greenhouse Agriculture: Reanalysis of Sustainability and Energy Efficiency Impacts, and (4) Methodology to assess the impact of urban vegetation on the energy consumption of residential buildings. A case study in a Mediterranean city. One article discussed infrastructure planning: (5) Dynamic Reduction of Network Flow Optimization Problem: Case of Waste-to-Energy Infrastructure Planning in Czech Republic. One article reviewed the effects of national policies on renewable energy communities: (6) How do national policies influence energy community development across Europe? A review on societal, technical, and economical factors. Additionally, other two articles discussed the method for projections of wind power: (7) A copula post-processing method for wind power projections under climate change, and comparative analysis on open/closed loop with thermal load in an elastocaloric device: (8) 2D thermo-fluidynamic rotary model of an elastocaloric cooling device: The energy performances

Advanced technological options for sustainable development of energy, water and environment systems upgrade towards climate neutrality

Scientific research development in energy, water and environmental systems is vital for climate change mitigation and adaptation. In this regard, the outcome of the 17th Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems was reviewed and presented in this editorial. Examining recent scientific developments, thirteen research articles on this special issue are related to specific topics. The topic of industrial energy reduction potentials and alternative fuels were discussed in the articles 1) Electricity demand reduction through waste heat recovery in olefins plants based on a technology-agnostic approach, 2) Integration of a rSOC-system to industrial processes, 3) Spray combustion of fast-pyrolysis bio-oils under engine-like conditions, 4) Complex aspects of climate change impacts on the cultivation of perennial energy crops in the Czech Republic, while residential and small scale applications were presented in 5) Experimental and theoretical analysis of a micro-cogenerative solar ORC-based unit equipped with a variable speed sliding rotary vane expander, 6) Exergy-Optimum coupling of radiant panels with heat pumps for minimum CO2 emission responsibility and 7) State-of-the-art review of micro to small-scale wind energy harvesting technologies for building integration and 8) Dynamic simulation of a 4th generation district heating network with the presence of prosumers. Potentials of renewable energy increased penetration and measures and strategies for CO2 emissions reduction presented in 9) An evaluation of the synergy between the wave and wind energy along the west Iberian nearshore, 10) Energy efficiency improvement in multi-family houses in Kosovo, 11) Natural lighting performance of vernacular architecture, case study oldtown Pasa, Ecuador, 12) Diagnosis of the building stock using Energy Performance Certificates for urban energy planning in Mediterranean compact cities. Case of study: The city of València in Spain and 13) Carbon insetting as a measure to raise supply chain energy efficiency potentials: Opportunities and challenges

Climate change mitigation by means of sustainable development of energy, water and environment systems

Integrated approaches in energy, water and environmental systems can improve the climate change reduction process. New scientific developments and advancements have provided numerous opportunities in the comprehensive human progress direction. In this regard, we have reviewed the 16th Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems presented in this editorial. Examining recent scientific developments, eight research articles on this special issue are related to eight main topics. The solar energy technology and storage section reviewed the first four articles. These articles include topics such as: 1) advanced technologies to form a new TT PS-TIM window system for adaptive daylight control and advanced thermal insulation combination, 2) using experimental data for field testing located in an area with Mediterranean climate conditions, of newly installed FPVS in these areas, 3) possibilities described in short rotation of willow type and energy crop Miscanthus cultivation dedicated to former coal mining areas, 4) using solar and geothermal energy with boiling water purification and reverse osmosis. Furthermore, the following four articles are reviewed in the energy management systems section. These articles include topics such as, 5) deep analysis of facial expression and eye tracking using samples of non-expert participants to determine emotions caused by electricity consumption graphs in different time scales, 6) studying the electric vehicles (EVs) main life cycle activities using an exploratory survey and their potential inequities, 7) the biodiesel fuel production from waste sardine fish oil using methanol, ethanol or isopropanol and a solid heterogeneous catalyst prepared using eggshell and copper oxide [CaCu(OCH3)2] is analyzed. Finally, 8) biotechnology microalgae have been studied in 70-litre vertical photobioreactors that use unsupplemented secondary brewery wastewater as growth media using two collecting cells mechanically methods under hydrothermal (autohydrolysis) and dilute acid hydrolysis

Center for Fishery and Applied Hydrobiology “Little Danube”, Experimental School Estate “Radmilovac”: Synergy of Research, Economy and Society

In every society, initiators and promoters of the development are individuals, teams or institutions with a vision, good ideas, seriousness, but above enthusiasm to work hard. They trace the road and drive activities related to research and/or economy. In the Serbian aquaculture sector such institutions is the Faculty of Agriculture and its Center for Fishery and Applied Hydrobiology (CEFAH) (or the “Little Danube”), which operates within the Experimental school estate “Radmilovac”. The Center started to be established in 2007. Unlike other similar Centers built by state resources intended for research and scientific work, the “Little Danube” was created much more as a result of enthusiasm of a group of researchers and their readiness to cooperate with national and international institutions, but also by enthusiasm of individuals ready to financially or materially help some of the Center’s programs. The Center’s activities are directed towards improving and developing the research and economy in aquaculture. Today the Center in “Radmilovac” and its laboratories located in the building of the Faculty of Agriculture represent an education and research polygon for aquaculture development. The education part is aimed at all levels: from pre-school and elementary school level by educational visits to the “Little Danube”, where they get to know different fish species and other aquatic organisms, their culture, fishing, fishing tools; to PhD level students and researchers that increase their knowledge and skills in the Center. CEFAH is a scientific polygon: in its aquaria, tanks, RAS systems, as well as in a number of earthen ponds a range of various experiments in different areas of aquaculture are carried out and knowledge is transferred directly in aquaculture economy. The development of Serbian aquaculture is directly affected by the connection of the Center with the economy through realization of biotechnology projects, fish selective breeding programs, and experiments

Letter from the Editors: Engaging with Oceania: Some Background about the Region – and Why It Matters for IB Research

This special issue aims to introduce readers to the southern Pacific region of Oceania, which includes Australia, Melanesia, Micronesia, New Zealand, and Polynesia. This region represents remarkable diversity of institutions, cultures, and languages, and its history and economic development are deeply intertwined with the ocean. While typically viewed as a collection of geographically-remote and generally small-population island nations, relative to global centers, Oceania offers an interesting context for IB research, with respect to a variety of issues, from the impact of climate change to cross-cultural management and geopolitics

Stanje ribarstva u Srbiji

Fishery in Serbia comprises of aquaculture and fishery. Aquaculture in Serbia concerns fish culturing. For production of other aquatic animals, mainly ornamental plants and crayfish, only occasional interest and small scale production in aquarium type of units exists. Fish are produced in carp and trout fish farms (over 95%), to a smaller extent in cages, enclosed or partitioned natural or man made aquatic ecosystems. Aquaria fish culture is mainly low scale, with a small number of specialized breeders and one public aquarium (M a r k o v i ć i M i t r o v i ć T u t u n d ž i ć, 2003, 2005; M a r k o v i ć i P o l e k s i ć, 2007, M a r k o v i ć i sar., 2009). In Serbia freshwater species cultured are: common carp, white and gray bighead, wells, pike perch, rainbow trout and to a lesser degree Northern pike, tench, brown trout, beluga, Russian starlet. There is 13 500 – 14 000 ha of fish farms in Serbia, with 99.9% of carp farms and 0.1% of trout farms. The total fish production in recent years is between 10 000 and 15 000 tons with 70 to 75% of consumable fish. All three types of production systems are present: extensive, semi-intensive and intensive. Extensive production is sporadic and is present only at a few carp production units, mostly not economic for semi-intensive production due to remoteness from other production units or neglect. The principal type of production (75 – 80%) is semi-intensive production of cyprinids, with common carp as the main species. Common carp is present with more than 80% of the total production in warmwater fish farms. The traditional (old) type of feeding is slowly changing. Cereals are more often, at over 50% of production surfaces, totally of partially replaced by complete, peletted and even more extruded feed. This has resulted in an increase of production per surface unit in recent years. Intensive production systems in carp culture are less present, at a small number of earthen ponds with aeration systems, mainly for fish fry production, and in cages. However, rainbow trout, the only salmonid species cultured for consummation, is exclusively produced in intensive systems at trout farms in Serbia. The number of people involved full-time in fish production in Serbia is about 1100 and approximately 400 seasonal workers that are hired mainly prior to harvest. With the rising of standard and returning to traditional habits during religious fasting, as well as with a slow increase of “healthy food” supporters, fish consumption has a growing trend. However, although fish production is increasing in recent years, the country’s production and open-water capture fishery barely represent a quarter of the total needs of inhabitants. This results in increase of import, mainly marine and frizzed fish, but also freshwater fish. Open-water capture fishery is performed in Serbia’s fishing waters. They are represented by 66 000 km of water currents (rivers and streams), flood plains, backwaters, 50 lakes, 150 reservoir lakes and around 30 000 km of canal systems, hydromeliorative systems, as well as all other waters with fish. All fishing waters are divided into 6 fishing regions (Serbia – Vojvodina, Serbia – West, Serbia – South West, Srbia - South, Serbia – East, Serbia – Center) since year 2007. Sports fishing is obtainable at all regions but commercial fishery is aloud only at two regions (Serbia – Vojvodina, Serbia – west), and in rivers Tisa, Sava and Danube. Number of fisherman with purchased license in the last couple of years is between 50 000 and 100 000. Number of commercial fishermen is between 500 and 2000 in the last ten years. The amount of captured fish is between 2000 and 3000 tons in the few past years