First Steps Towards Gamification Of Online Physics And Mathematics Assignments

The objective of this practice paper is to describe and analyse the use of online learning tasks on engineering mathematics and physics courses. The development of learning tasks was inspired by the promising effects of gamification techniques in higher education. Hence, some gamification elements, such as bonus points and immediate feedback were integrated into the learning tasks. Course results and student feedback demonstrate the positive impact of gamification of online learning tasks on students’ motivation and learning. In the end, further possibilities of increasing the number and repertoire of gamification techniques in engineering mathematics and physics courses are discussed

Curriculum planning in energy engineering education

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Effects of large-scale photovoltaic power integration on electricity distribution networks

The included postprint manuscript includes an errata page concerning the published version of the article.The public support in photovoltaic (PV) technologies and increasing markets have resulted in extensive applications of grid-connected PV, in particular in the consumer side and electricity distribution grid. In this paper, the effects of a high level of grid connected PV in the middle voltage distribution network have been analyzed. The emphasis is put on static phenomena, including voltage drop, network losses and grid benefits. A multi-purpose modeling tool is used for PV analysis in Lisbon and Helsinki climates. All network types studied can handle PV without problems with an amount of PV equaling at least up to the load (1 kW(p)/household). The comb-type network showed the best performance. The PV is unable to shave the domestic load peak in the early evening hours but through orientating the PV panels both to east and west, the noon peak from PV can be reduced by 30%. PV integration reduces network losses positively up to a 1 kW(p)/hh (100% of annual domestic load) level. For 2kW(p)/hh all but the comb-type networks demonstrate clear over-voltage situations and the annual network losses are much higher than without PV. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

A methodological approach for assessing potential of sustainable agricultural residues for electricity generation: South Asian perspective

VK: T20202Peer reviewe

Occupants’ acceptability of zero energy housing in Finland

Based on an extensive Finnish data covering 1350 interviews the authors surveyed the end users’ perceptions concerning improved energy efficiency, renewable energy integration and zero energy housing. The data has wide social coverage and it matches well with both age and gender distribution in Finland. The survey indicates that solar photovoltaic panels and heat pumps are among most familiar renewable energy technologies to the interviewed occupants while the panels also enjoy the most positive image among the interviewees. However, the interviewees’ willingness to pay extra for energy efficient improvements was more munificent than that for the renewable energy installations. Zero energy buildings were only known to roughly half of the interviewees while 48.9 % of the respondents did not even know whether there is an energy performance certificate for their house or not.Peer reviewe

Evaluation of choices for sustainable rural electrification in developing countries

Rural electrification (RE) can be modelled as a multifactorial task connected to a large number of variables: decision makers need to choose the appropriate options by considering not only the techno-economic competitiveness but also socio-cultural dynamics and environmental consequences, making the task intricate. Many rural electrification projects have failed due to lack of attention to the issues beyond financial and technical dimensions. This paper presents a standardized approach for decision making concerning the extension of electricity services to rural areas. This approach first determines whether the supply provision should be grid expansion or off-grid on the basis of levelized cost of delivered electricity. If the grid expansion is found nonviable over off-grid options then a multicriteria decision aiding tool, SMAA-2 (Stochastic Multicriteria Acceptability Analysis), will evaluate off-grid technologies by aggregating 24 criteria values. While applying this approach, the delivered costs of electricity by the grid in remote areas within the 1-25. km distances vary in a range of 0.10-7.85 US$/kW. h depending on the line lengths and load conditions. In the off-grid evaluation, the solar PV (photovoltaic) and biogas plants are found as the most preferable alternatives with 59% and 41% acceptability in their first rank, respectively.Peer reviewe

Wide Spread Exploitations of Bioenergy

The recoverable proven reserves of fossil fuel sources are projected to be exhausted by the end of this century. In response to the exhaustion of fossil resources, there is a serious need to find alternative fuel sources. Bioenergy is one of the potential candidates to counteract the fossil-fuel depletion challenge. Despite bioenergy sources appear to be renewable and net-zero GHG emitting, bioenergy undergoes competition with food, feed and other crucial applications. Since earth’s eco system has a limited capacity of land and water resources, overuse of these resources in bioenergy production could cause adverse social and environmental impacts. This paper summarizes the key sustainability issues involve in bioenergy chain, and examine the potential role of bioenergy in dealing with these sustainability issues. We found that bioenergy can be a sustainable source of energy provided that it has maintained irrationality is using of natural resources and several limits. In contrary, bioenergy would provoke further social and environmental problems if the sustainability issues are not given proper consideration.Peer reviewe

The paradox of mini-grid business models: A conflict between business viability and customer affordability in rural India

Policy-makers struggle with the following wicked problem in the energy access context: if existing socio-technical solutions can alleviate energy poverty, why is the energy transition slower than expected in rural Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) markets? Here, social enterprises are starting to play a vital role. Using Husk Power Systems (HPS) as a longitudinal case study, we analyse how a social enterprise in India attempts to serve low-income customers. In this study, we aim to address the following research question: how and to what extent can a mini-grid based social enterprise resolve the technical and organisational challenges associated with providing services in a rural BoP environment? Our interdisciplinary approach navigates the landscape between social entrepreneurship and socio-technical aspects of mini-grid operations in the rural BoP market using a Multi-Level Perspective (MLP). We rely on narrative analysis to delineate the complexities of mini-grid operations in low-income settings to integrate on-site experiences and firm-level processes to energy access discourse. The paper argues that continuous conflicts exist between social and commercial objectives concerning the socio-technical configuration of mini-grids in the rural BoP markets. As this case study reveals, social enterprises need to manage the socio-technical complexities inherent to mini-grid processes; otherwise, customer affordability and business viability become an unsolvable paradox. The sustainability of a business model depends on how socio-technical aspects of the mini-grid are designed, managed and operated. Finally, this study proposes a business model framework integrating social and technical aspects employing socio-technical regimes in the MLP.Peer reviewe

Extension of energy crops on surplus agricultural lands: A potentially viable option in developing countries while fossil fuel reserves are diminishing

The rapid depletion of fossil fuel reserves and environmental concerns with their combustion necessitate looking for alternative sources for long term sustainability of the world. These concerns also appear serious in developing countries who are striving for rapid economic growth. The net biomass growing potential on the global land surface is 10 times more than the global food, feed, fiber, and energy demands. This study investigates whether the developing countries have sufficient land resource to meet the projected energy demand towards 2035 by planting energy crops on surplus agricultural land after food and feed production. The annual yields of four commonly grown energy crops specifically jatropha, switchgrass, miscanthus, and willow have been used to make scenarios and estimate land requirements against each scenario. This paper first performs literature reviews on the availability of land resource, past and future trends in land use changes, demand of lands for food production, and potential expansion of croplands. The energy demands towards 2035 are compiled from energy scenarios derived by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the British Petroleum (BP). This paper also reviewed bio-physiological characteristics of these energy crops to determine whether they are cultivable under tropical climatic conditions in developing regions. This paper found that projected energy demand through 2035 in developing regions could be provided by energy crops grown on a portion of surplus croplands or upgraded grasslands (27% and 22% respectively for miscanthus scenario). Sustainable land management practices, improved agricultural productivity, and adopting suitable energy crops cultivation can potentially supply increasing energy demands.Peer reviewe

Driving and hindering factors for rural electrification in developing countries: Lessons from Bangladesh

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