A multi-component flood risk assessment in the Maresme coast (NW Mediterranean)

Coastal regions are the areas most threatened by natural hazards, with floods being the most frequent and significant threat in terms of their induced impacts, and therefore, any management scheme requires their evaluation. In coastal areas, flooding is a hazard associated with various processes acting at different scales: coastal storms, flash floods, and sea level rise (SLR). In order to address the problem as a whole, this study presents a methodology to undertake a preliminary integrated risk assessment that determines the magnitude of the different flood processes (flash flood, marine storm, SLR) and their associated consequences, taking into account their temporal and spatial scales. The risk is quantified using specific indicators to assess the magnitude of the hazard (for each component) and the consequences in a common scale. This allows for a robust comparison of the spatial risk distribution along the coast in order to identify both the areas at greatest risk and the risk components that have the greatest impact. This methodology is applied on the Maresme coast (NW Mediterranean, Spain), which can be considered representative of developed areas of the Spanish Mediterranean coast. The results obtained characterise this coastline as an area of relatively low overall risk, although some hot spots have been identified with high-risk values, with flash flooding being the principal risk process

Integrative review of managed entry agreements : chances and limitations

Introduction: Managed Entry Agreements (MEAs) consist of a set of instruments to reduce the uncertainty and the budget impact of new high priced medicines; however, there are concerns. There is a need to critically appraise MEAs with their planned introduction in Brazil. Accordingly, the objective is to identify and appraise key attributes and concerns with MEAs among payers and their advisers, with the findings providing critical considerations for Brazil and other high- and middle-income countries. Methods: An integrative review approach was adopted. This involved a review of MEAs across countries. The review question was ‘What are the health technology MEAs that have been applied around the world?’ This review was supplemented with studies not retrieved in the search known to the senior level co-authors including key South American markets. Afterall, involved senior level decision makers and advisers providing guidance on potential advantages and disadvantages of MEAs and ways forward. Results: 25 studies were included in the review. Most MEAs included medicines (96.8%), focused on financial arrangements (43%), and included mostly antineoplastic medicines. Most countries kept key information confidential including discounts or had not published such data. Few details were found in the literature regarding South America. Our findings and inputs resulted in both advantages including reimbursement and disadvantages including concerns with data collection for outcome-based schemes. Conclusion: We are likely to see a growth in MEAs with the continual launch of new high priced and often complex treatments, coupled with increasing demands on resources. Whilst outcome based MEAs could be an important tool to improve access to new innovative medicines there are critical issues to address. Comparing knowledge, experiences and practices across countries is crucial to guide high- and middle-income countries when designing their future MEAs

Sugarcane energy use: The Cuban case

This paper examines the history, methods, costs, and future prospects of Cuba's attempts to develop the energy potential of sugarcane. An overview of the main factors affecting the current sugarcane agro-industry in Cuba is provided, along with an analysis of why, despite attempts by the Cuban government to revive the country's sugarcane agro-industry, the industry continues to decline. The prevailing conditions and degree of modernization in Cuban sugar factories are evaluated. The sugar-agro industry's main production bottlenecks are studied. The fall in sugarcane yield from 57.5 ton/ha in 1991 to 22.4 ton/ha in 2005 and its relation to land use is explained. The socio-economic impact of the sugarcane agro-industry's downsizing is assessed. The governmental and quasi-governmental entities in charge of sugarcane energy use development and the country's legal framework are analyzed. The Cuban sugarcane agro-industry's opportunities in the growing international biofuels and bioenergy market are evaluated. To situate Cuba within the global bioenergy market, international best practices relating to the production and commercialization of biofuels are examined to determine the degree to which these experiences can be transferred to Cuba. The analysis of the Cuba sugar industry's biofuel potential is based on a comparative technical-economic assessment of three possible production scenarios: (1) the current situation, where only sugar is produced; (2) simultaneous production of sugar-anhydrous ethanol; and (3) production of sugar-ethanol and simultaneous generation of surplus electricity exported to a public grid. Some of the key assumptions underlying these analyses are as follows: Ethanol production and operation costs for a 7000 ton/day-sugar mill are estimated to be 0.25 and 0.23 USD/l, respectively. The influence of gasoline prices on sugar-ethanol production is also assessed. The kWh production and operation costs starting from sugarcane bagasse are estimated at 0.06 and 0.04 USD, respectively. Cuba's potential Sugarcane cogeneration capacity is estimated to be 9006 GWh/year. Investment-profit analyses are offered for two scenarios: annexing a 300,000 l/day distillery to a sugar mill, and enlarging the cogeneration capacity of a 7000 ton/day mill. Added production cost/added-value analysis was carried out. The main environmental issues associated with sugarcane-based fuel production are also analyzed. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.3662163218

Energy recovery from sugarcane biomass residues: Challenges and opportunities of bio-oil production in the light of second generation biofuels

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)The lack of an alternative energy carrier to electricity with storage capability for use in off-season has to date been an unsolvable question for the sugar agroindustry. The improvement in cogeneration capacity via implementation of condensing extraction steam turbines or biomass integrated gasifier/gas turbine combined cycle and the barriers for their implementation were analyzed. The introduction of a fast pyrolysis (3 tons/h) module (FPM3) as a solution for off-season energy demand in the sugarcane agroindustry was also analyzed. The production cost of 1 ton of bio-oil for FPM3 condition was calculated at 87 USD/ton of bio-oil (0.104 USD/l of bio-oil). The economic feasibility of the FPM3 was estimated, comparing the added values for two alternatives: first alternative regarding the sugar and bioethanol simultaneous production (first generation biofuel production) and second alternative regarding the sugar and bio-oil simultaneous production (second generation biofuel production). Although the highest added value figure for a ton of sugarcane (49.30 USD) was gotten by the second alternative, the bioethanol production for cars fuel continues to be most attractive business option because of large fuel ethanol market demand. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3259170]16Abdus Salam International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) TRIL PROGRAMMEConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)CNPq [150604/2009-2

Cogeneration And Bio-oil Production Starting From Sugarcane Biomass Residues: Barriers, Challenges And Opportunities

There are more than 70 sugar producer countries around the world. Most of them are underdeveloped and poor. Especially for the underdeveloped, 3 rd world, the sugarcane residues disposal has first order priority. The lack of an alternative energy carrier to electricity with storage capability for use in off-season has to date been an unsolvable question for the sugar agro-industry. The improvement of cogeneration capacity via implementation of more efficient cogeneration systems and the barriers for their implementation were analyzed. A techno-economic assessment was carried out regarding the three most probable scenarios of sugar producer countries today. The biomass availability and high investment costs continue to be the main barriers to overcome in order to produce Bio-oil starting from sugarcane biomass solid residues. © Alonso-Pippo et al.; Licensee Bentham Open.23439Jenkins, B.M., Baxter, L.L., Miles, T.R., Miles, T.R., Combustion properties of biomass. Combustion properties of biomass (1998) Fuel Proc. Technol, 54 (1-3), pp. 17-46Dermibas, A., Combustion characteristic of different biomass fuels (2004) Prog. Energy Combust. Sci, 30, pp. 219-230http://faostat.fao.org/, FAOSTAT. FAO, [accessed December 12, 2008]Zanzi, R., Sjöström, K., Björnbom, E., Rapid high-temperature pyrolysis of biomass in a free fall reactor (1996) Fuel, 75 (5), pp. 545-550Hugot, E., (1986) Hand Book of Cane Sugar Engineering, , 3rd ed.Elsevier Science: AmsterdamAlonso-Pippo, W., Garzone, P., Cornacchia, G., Agro-industry sugarcane residues disposal: The trends of their conversion into energy carrier in Cuba (2007) Waste Manag, 27, pp. 869-885(2004) Clean and Efficient Biomass Cogeneration Technology In Asean, , EC-ASEAN COGEN Program, POWER-GEN Asia Conference and Exhibition October 5-7, BangkokLarson, E.D., Williams, R.H., Leal, L.V., Regis, M., A review of biomass integrated-gasifier/gas turbine combined cycle technology and its application in sugarcane industries with an analysis for Cuba (2001) Energy Sustain. Dev, 5 (1), pp. 54-76Renewables for power generation status & prospect (2003) Oecd.process. Technol, 54 (1-3), pp. 17-46. , IEAAlonso Pippo, W., Del Rey Ocampo, J., Technology for Biofuels and Syn-fuels production (2004) Preliminary Results, , (original in Spanish). Institute of Materials and Reactive, University of HavanaWu, C.Z., Huang, H., Zheng, S.P., Yin, X.L., An economic analysis of biomass gasification and power generation in China (2002) Bioresource Technol, 83, pp. 65-70(2008), http://www.matche.com/Equip.Cost/Reactor.htm, Matches. Reactor cost estimate, [Accessed November 10(2008), http://www.che.com/pindex/index.php, Marshall, Marshall & Swift equipment cost index, [Accessed October 12Bridgwater, A.V., Economics of primary fuels production from biomass (1990) Energy Research GroupSugacane Agro-industry, Biomass and Renewable Energy (2004) Forum of Science and Technology, , Cuban Ministery of Sugar, (original in Spanish). Ministery of Sugar Republic of Cuba. Havana, January 16Garzone, P., Cornacchia, G., Alonsopipo, W., (2008) Experimental Plant For Hydrogen Enriched Gas Production Starting From Residues Via Gasification-steam Reforming-water Shift, pp. 485-490. , Editors Maggioli Editore Proceeding of Ecomondo 2008. Rimini, Italy, November 5-8, 2008, original in Italian), Rimini, Ital

Energy Recovery From Sugarcane-trash In The Light Of 2nd Generation Biofuel. Part 2: Socio-economic Aspects And Techno-economic Analysis

Since last decade of twentieth century, the change in cane harvesting method from manual harvesting of burned cane to mechanical harvesting of green cane brought the real possibility of sugarcane-trash energy use. The sugarcane-trash, also called Sugarcane Agricultural Residues (SCAR) represents 1/3 of total sugarcane energy content. Despite SCAR is considered today the main unexplored energy reserve in the sugarcane agro-industry a negligible part of this residues is used. Starting from the analysis of the current situation and environmental aspects described in Part1 of the present work (Alonso Pippo et al. in Waste Biomass Valoriz 1), an assessment on socioeconomic aspects of SCAR and energy use was carried out. The impact of sugarcane mechanized harvesting on employment was described. The food versus biofuels production from crops was analyzed. SCAR characteristic in face 2nd generation biofuels requirements was treated. The social aspects related to land use were evaluated. A Linear Programming model for profitability maximization was used in order to estimate economical benefits derived from SCAR energy use. The model solution showed that among the variables should be considered in order to maximize profitability special attention deserves: sugarcane production and SCAR transportation cost. It seems to be that sugarcane mechanized harvesting combined with train transport are among the best infrastructure conditions to maximize the profit. When it is delivered to sugar-mill by train SCAR cost can be up to five times cheaper than when it is delivered using articulated lorries. Assuming SCAR energy use for electricity cogeneration as main priority, it was calculated the optimal size for sugarcane factory from techno-economic point of view. An added value/added cost analysis on SCAR energy use at a medium size factory was carried out. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011.23257266Alonso Pippo, W., Luengo, C.A., Alonsoamador Morales Alberteris, L., Garzone, P., Cornacchia, G., Energy recovery from sugarcane trash in the light of 2nd generation biofuels. Part 1: Current situation and environmental aspects (2010) Waste Biomass Valorizat, , doi:10.1007/s12649-010-9048-0Ustulin, E.J., Cordero, J.R., Sugarcane: Respect of environment and continue jobs generation (2001) Sugarcane National Commission, , http://www.cna.org.br, original in Portuguese. Accessed 19 Sep. 2008Ford, R.C., Johnson, R.S., The browning of biofuels: Environment and food security at risk. Biofuels and economic development (2009) Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, , Washington July 23-24Hansen, J., Sato, M., Ruedy, R., Lo, K., Lea, D.W., Medina-Elizade, M., Global temperature change (2006) PNAS, , September 26Brown, R.L., (2007) World May Be Facing Highest Grain Prices in History, , Copyright 2007, Earth Policy Institute 5 Jan(2008) Solving the Biofuels Vs. Food Problem, , Time:, 14 AprilHassuani, S.J., Leal, M.R.L.V., Carvalho Macedo, I., Biomass power generation: Sugarcane bagasse and trash (2005) Pi Racicaba: PNUD-CTCMorejón, M.Y., Gastelua, C.A., González, V.R., Milanés, A.F., Robaina, C.M., Economic-energetic evaluation during the harvest transportation of the sugarcane agricultural residuals in the sugar enterprise "hector molina" (2008) Revista Ciencias Técnicas Agropecuarias, 17 (2). , Universidad Agraria de La HabanaVillegas, A.P.J., Cruz, F.O., Rubio, G.A., Buckl, W.B., Perez, E.F., (2004) Evaluation of the Environmental Impact on the use of Biomass in Cuban Sugar-cane Mills, , http://www.cubasolar.cu/biblioteca/Ecosolar/Ecosolar12HTML/articulo, original in Spanish, Accessed 29 Nov. 2009Luigi Mariani, F., Using the straw of sugar cane to increase the energy capacity of utilities plants (2006) Internal Report, , State University of SP USP 26 Dec. original in PortugueseKnudsen, G.J., Considerations on SCAR transportation. Central University of Las Villas, Cuba (2004) Internal Report, , November. original in Spanish(2003) SCAR use as Boiler Fuel. Internal Repot of Bagasse & SCAR Group, , Ministry of Sugar:, Santa Clara, Cuba original in Spanish, 5 OctAlonso Pippo, W., Garzone, P., Cornacchia, G., Agro-industry sugarcane residues disposal: The trends of their conversion into energy carriers in Cuba (2007) Waste Management, 27 (7), pp. 869-885. , DOI 10.1016/j.wasman.2006.05.001, PII S0956053X06001498Kumar, A., Purohit, P., Rana, S., Kandpal, T.C., An approach to the estimation of the value of agricultural residues used as biofuels (2002) Biomass and Bioenergy, 22 (3), pp. 195-203. , DOI 10.1016/S0961-9534(01)00070-8, PII S0961953401000708Jenkins, B.M., A comment on the optimal sizing of a biomass utilization facility under constant and variable cost scaling (1997) Biomass and Bioenergy, 13 (1-2), pp. 1-9. , DOI 10.1016/S0961-9534(97)00085-8(1996) International Panel for Climate Change Guidelines, p. 15. , IPCC:, Revised. reference manual 3. EnergySeshagiri Rao, P., Genetic potential of germplasm for higher biomass production to generate energy (2007) West Indies Sugarcane Breeding Station, , BarbadosProfile of productions units by states (2008) Profile of Sugar and Ethanol Sector in Brazil, , CONAB:, Situation observed from November, 2007Database for biomass and waste Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands, , http://www.ecn.nl/phyllis/def.asp, Accessed 29 Oct. 2010Alonso-Pippo, W., Luengo, C.A., Koehlinger, J., Garzone, P., Cornacchia, G., Sugarcane energy use: The cuban case (2008) Energy Policy, 36, pp. 2163-218