Activities on Solar Photovoltaics and Real Time Simulation in the Smart Grid and Interoperability Laboratory of the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission: "Smart Grid Simulation" Traineeship Report

This technical report aims to investigate the upper limit of single phase (1Φ) PV power connection (kWp) the low voltage (LV) electricity distribution system and the single phase (1Φ) contracted power (kVA) levels in member states of the EU. One of the key goals during the process of writing this report was to minimize the extent of the provided information with a simultaneous maximization of its efficacy for the end user. The sources used for the creation of this report are all properly referenced in the respective section of this work. Tables summarizing the current state for the upper limit of PV power connection (kWp) to the low voltage (LV) electricity distribution system in the EU are provided. Bar charts visualizing the single phase (1Φ) contracted power (kVA) levels in the EU member states are also provided. Additionally, in order to create a macroscopic view of the situation regarding the upper limits of the single phase (1Φ) PV power (kWp) connection to the low voltage (LV) electricity distribution system and the single phase (1Φ) contracted power (kVA) levels for the EU Member States, a bar chart and a coloured map, summarizing and visualizing the findings of the research that took place for the needs of this traineeship, are provided too. The significant importance of the website RES LEGAL [1] (Legal sources on Renewable Energy), an initiative of the European Commission, has to be acknowledged. The information provided in the website of RES LEGAL acted as an important starting point during the process of searching the relevant legislative documents of DSOs regarding the situation for single phase (1Φ) RES penetration (kWp) and single phase (1Φ) contracted power (kVA) levels in the EU member states. The ratio of installed single phase (1Φ) PV capacity (kWp) over the single phase (1Φ) contracted power (kVA) of a consumer is of importance when planning the penetration of RES to the electricity distribution system in the member states of the EU. For the majority of the member states this ratio is explicitly stated in relevant legislative documents. In case of lack of explicit definition of a coefficient that relates maximum allowable RES power injection (kWp) with contracted power (kVA) levels at the consumption side, this ratio can be calculated. In the following pages the reader will find relevant information, with respect to the goals of this literature review, for the member states of the EU. Additionally, work conducted in the laboratory including my involvement with the Elgar TerraSAS ETS 1000 PV Simulator hardware and software tools as well as the simulation of simple power system circuits in the Real Time Digital Simulator (RTDS Technologies) are also presented in respective chapters of this report. The tools that have been used for the realization of this report were Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Google Search, Google Translate, Map Chart, Elgar TerraSAS PV Simulator Software, RSCAD (software environment for creating power system models to be simulated in the RTDS hardware environment).JRC.C.3-Energy Security, Distribution and Market

Chapter A2.2: Benthic Habitats

Shallow-water coastal benthic habitats, which can comprise seagrasses, sandy soft bottoms, and coral reefs are essential ecosystems, supporting fisheries, providing coastal protection, and sequestering blue carbon. Multispectral satellite imagery, particularly with blue and green spectral bands, can penetrate clear, shallow water, allowing us to identify what lies on the seafloor

"Protected" marine shelled molluscs: thriving in Greek seafood restaurants

International agreements as well as European and national legislation prohibit exploitation and trading of a number of edible marine shelled molluscs, due to either significant declines in their populations or destructive fishing practices. However, enforcement of existing legislation in Greece is ineffective and many populations of “protected” species continue to decline, mainly due to poaching. The extent of illegal trading of protected bivalves and gastropods in Greek seafood restaurants was investigated by interviewing owners or managers of 219 such restaurants in 92 localities. Interviews were based on questionnaires regarding the frequency of availability in the menus and the origin of twenty-one species or groups of species, among which eight are protected - illegally exploited. Forty-two percent of the surveyed restaurants were found to serve at least one of the protected ¬- illegally exploited species. Among the illegally traded species, Lithophaga lithophaga, Pecten jacobaeus, and Pinnanobilis were served in a relatively high proportion of the surveyed restaurants (22.8%, 19.2%, and 16.4% respectively), outrunning many commercial species. In many cases these species were always or often available (11.4%, 4.6% and 5.0% respectively). There was substantial spatial variation in the proportion of restaurants that illegally served protected species with differing patterns for each species; very high proportions of illegal trading were observed in some marine regions (e.g., date mussels were served in >65% of the seafood restaurants along the coastline of Evvoikos Gulf). In most cases the illegally traded species were of local origin, while there was no finding of illegally imported molluscs from other countries. The strategy for enforcement of existing legislation should be greatly improved otherwise protection of shelled molluscs will remain ineffective

Cubesats Allow High Spatiotemporal Estimates of Satellite-Derived Bathymetry

High spatial and temporal resolution satellite remote sensing estimates are the silver bullet for monitoring of coastal marine areas globally. From 2000, when the first commercial satellite platforms appeared, offering high spatial resolution data, the mapping of coastal habitats and the extraction of bathymetric information have been possible at local scales. Since then, several platforms have offered such data, although not at high temporal resolution, making the selection of suitable images challenging, especially in areas with high cloud coverage. PlanetScope CubeSats appear to cover this gap by providing their relevant imagery. The current study is the first that examines the suitability of them for the calculation of the Satellite-derived Bathymetry. The availability of daily data allows the selection of the most qualitatively suitable images within the desired timeframe. The application of an empirical method of spaceborne bathymetry estimation provides promising results, with depth errors that fit to the requirements of the international Hydrographic Organization at the Category Zone of Confidence for the inclusion of these data in navigation maps. While this is a pilot study in a small area, more studies in areas with diverse water types are required for solid conclusions on the requirements and limitations of such approaches in coastal bathymetry estimations

Mind the gap in data poor Natura 2000 sites and how to tackle them using Earth Observation and scientific diving surveys

Charismatic species drives decisions for the conservation of marine areas in the view of the coverage of the Natura 2000 sites in the European Union and other forms of Marine Protected Areas in Europe. However, when used solely, critical seascapes and habitats are systematically ignored and practically it can take decades to fulfill baseline needs on habitats distributions, habitats conservation status and species distributions and biodiversity assessments. Luckily, in the last decade, the use of new technologies in conjunction with scientific diving and budget friendly hydroacoustic tools and applications, has allowed to fill the gap in knowledge in such situations and seascapes. The current work demonstrates the use of Earth Observation and Science Dive to fill the gap of knowledge in a newly established Natura 2000 area in Crete, Greece, East Mediterranean, paving the road for replicable approaches in similar situations

Marine alien species in Greek Seas: Additions and amendments by 2010

An update of the inventory of alien marine species from the coastal and offshore waters of Greece is presented. Records were compiled based on the existing scientific and grey literature, including the HCMR database of Greek alien species (ELNAIS), technical reports, scientific congresses, academic dissertations, websites, and unpublished/personal observations. 47 species were added to the inventory, including 34 invertebrates, one vertebrate (fish), three plants, eight protozoa, and one cyanobacterium. With the new records, the inventory of alien marine species of Greece now includes a total of 237 species (33 macrophytes, 131 invertebrates, 42 vertebrates, two bacteria and 29 protozoans). Among these, the presence of the gastropodHypselodoris infucata, the bivalvesDendrostrea frons and Septifer forskaliand the chondrichthyan Rhizoprionodon acutus is reported here for the first time. Based on molecular analysis, the occurrence of Bulla arabica in Greek waters is confirmed, and the suggestion that previous records of Bulla ampulla in the Mediterranean should be considered as misidentification of B. arabica is further supported. The acclimitization status of earlier records was revised in the light of new data, and thus the fishEnchelycore anatina, Seriola fasciata andTylerius spinosissimus, the red algaeHypnea cornuta and Sarconema scinaioides, the scyphomedusaCassiopea andromeda, the cephalopodSepioteuthis lessoniana, the nudibranchChromodoris annulata and the bivalvesGastrochaena cymbium andPseudochama corbieri were upgraded from casual records to established populations. The increased rate of introductions of warm water species confirms previous findings, which link the rate of introduction in the eastern Mediterranean to climate change

Population genetics of Bursatella leachii (De Blainville, 1817) and implications for the origin of the Mediterranean population

Abstract The sea hare Bursatella leachii (de Blainville 1817) (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Heterobranchia: Aplysiidae) is a pantropical sea slug that has colonized the Mediterranean Sea in modern times. Because the initial records in the non-native range started in the Eastern Mediterranean, and its pattern of spread was relatively consistent with those observed in well-known Lessepsian invaders, B. leachii is commonly considered to be a migrant from the Red Sea. In this study, we investigate for the first time the origin of the Mediterranean populations of B. leachii inferring their population structure and assessing relatedness levels of different regional populations. Sequence data from the cytochrome oxidase I were used to conduct population genetic analyses on this species, particularly by investigating the genetic structure of Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Indo-Pacific populations. Our results confirm that B. leachii is a truly pantropical species which displays geographic structure among major ocean basins. More importantly, sequenced Mediterranean and Atlantic animals share similar or identical haplotypes, which are distinct in at least 5 substitutions from haplotypes recovered from Indo-Pacific specimens. The results suggest that the Mediterranean population of B. leachii here examined probably have an Atlantic origin, and for the first time casts doubts on the assumed primary pathway of migration into the Mediterranean Sea

The origin and dispersal pathway of the spotted sea hare Aplysia dactylomela (Mollusca : Opisthobranchia) in the Mediterranean Sea

The spotted sea hare Aplysia dactylomela Rang, 1828 is a large and conspicuous opisthobranch sea slug that since 2002 has rapidly colonized the eastern Mediterranean, establishing populations in numerous localities. The source of the Mediterranean populations has been the subject of debate, with two main hypotheses considered (Atlantic and Red Sea origin). A recent study on the taxonomy of A. dactylomela has shown that the spotted sea hare is a complex of at least two genetically distinct species (A. dactylomela in the Atlantic and A. argus in the Indo-Pacific), facilitating the correct identification of Mediterranean specimens by molecular means. We used sequence data from the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene to identify the Mediterranean individuals for the first time and to infer their origin. Our results confirmed that all the specimens collected in the Mediterranean belong to A. dactylomela and therefore have an Atlantic origin. The limited sample size does not allow identification of the dispersal pathway of A. dactylomela into the Mediterranean, but the colonization sequence is consistent with a “natural” dispersal event. This hypothesis is evaluated in light of local surface circulation patterns. Possible causes for the recent and rapid invasion of the eastern Mediterranean by A. dactylomela are discussed.peer-reviewe