Systematic sensitivity analysis of the full economic impacts of sea level rise

The potential impacts of sea level rise (SLR) due to climate change have been widely studied in the literature. However, the uncertainty and robustness of these estimates has seldom been explored. Here we assess the model input uncertainty regarding the wide effects of SLR on marine navigation from a global economic perspective. We systematically assess the robustness of computable general equilibrium (CGE) estimates to model’s inputs uncertainty. Monte Carlo (MC) and Gaussian quadrature (GQ) methods are used for conducting a Systematic sensitivity analysis (SSA). This design allows to both explore the sensitivity of the CGE model and to compare the MC and GQ methods. Results show that, regardless whether triangular or piecewise linear Probability distributions are used, the welfare losses are higher in the MC SSA than in the original deterministic simulation. This indicates that the CGE economic literature has potentially underestimated the total economic effects of SLR, thus stressing the necessity of SSA when simulating the general equilibrium effects of SLR. The uncertainty decomposition shows that land losses have a smaller effect compared to capital and seaport productivity losses. Capital losses seem to affect the developed regions GDP more than the productivity losses do. Moreover, we show the uncertainty decomposition of the MC results and discuss the convergence of the MC results for a decomposed version of the CGE model. This paper aims to provide standardised guidelines for stochastic simulation in the context of CGE modelling that could be useful for researchers in similar settings

Dynamic Investigation and Optimization of a Solar-Based Unit for Power and Green Hydrogen Production: A Case Study of the Greek Island, Kythnos

The aim of the present work is the analysis of a solar-driven unit that is located on the non-interconnected island of Kythnos, Greece, that can produce electricity and green hydrogen. More specifically, solar energy is exploited by parabolic trough collectors, and the produced heat is stored in a thermal energy storage tank. Additionally, an organic Rankine unit is incorporated to generate electricity, which contributes to covering the island’s demand in a clean and renewable way. When the power cannot be absorbed by the local grid, it can be provided to a water electrolyzer; therefore, the excess electricity is stored in the form of hydrogen. The produced hydrogen amount is compressed, afterward stored in tanks, and then finally can be utilized as a fuel to meet other important needs, such as powering vehicles or ferries. The installation is simulated parametrically and optimized on dynamic conditions, in terms of energy, exergy, and finance. According to the results, considering a base electrical load of 75 kW, the annual energy and exergy efficiencies are found at 14.52% and 15.48%, respectively, while the payback period of the system is determined at 6.73 years and the net present value is equal to EUR 1,073,384

Dynamic Investigation and Optimization of a Solar-Based Unit for Power and Green Hydrogen Production: A Case Study of the Greek Island, Kythnos

The aim of the present work is the analysis of a solar-driven unit that is located on the non-interconnected island of Kythnos, Greece, that can produce electricity and green hydrogen. More specifically, solar energy is exploited by parabolic trough collectors, and the produced heat is stored in a thermal energy storage tank. Additionally, an organic Rankine unit is incorporated to generate electricity, which contributes to covering the island’s demand in a clean and renewable way. When the power cannot be absorbed by the local grid, it can be provided to a water electrolyzer; therefore, the excess electricity is stored in the form of hydrogen. The produced hydrogen amount is compressed, afterward stored in tanks, and then finally can be utilized as a fuel to meet other important needs, such as powering vehicles or ferries. The installation is simulated parametrically and optimized on dynamic conditions, in terms of energy, exergy, and finance. According to the results, considering a base electrical load of 75 kW, the annual energy and exergy efficiencies are found at 14.52% and 15.48%, respectively, while the payback period of the system is determined at 6.73 years and the net present value is equal to EUR 1,073,384

The Effect of Wind Energy on Microclimate: Lessons Learnt from a CFD Modelling Approach in the Case Study of Chios Island

During the last three decades, rapid growth of wind energy has led to questions regarding the possible impacts of wind farms on local weather and microclimates. Physically, the increased turbulence due to the wind turbine operation affects the mixing processes, may slightly disturb the pressure and temperature distributions downstream of wind farms and may have an impact on natural ecosystems such as the famous mastic tree population located on the island of Chios in the North Aegean Sea. This study explores the wind farms and their wake effects downstream with a particular focus on the effect on the southern part of the island where the mastic trees cultivation is located. The analysis is carried out with the use of the commercial CFD code ANSYS Fluent. Steady state computations of full 3D Navier–Stokes equations, using the k-ε turbulence closure scheme are carried out. The development of the multiple wake effects of the wind farms and their propagation downstream is examined under low and high turbulence intensities. Results clearly indicate that for both test cases there is no impact to the local microclimate and to the mastic Tree population

Is the Large-Scale Development of Wind-PV with Hydro-Pumped Storage Economically Feasible in Greece?

The achievement of the long-term national energy targets in Greece for large-scale integration of wind and solar energy may be facilitated by the development of hydro-pumped storage projects. In light of the above, technical aspects related with the operation of the Greek power system and its ability to absorb renewable energy are analyzed in connection with the role of hydro-pumped storage and relative economic aspects. The aim of this work is to assess the potential contribution of hydro-pumped storage projects and estimate the capacity magnitude order to support large-scale wind and photovoltaic (PV) integration in Greece. For this purpose, scenarios for the Greek power system with focus on Wind and PV development, in conjunction with hydro-pumped storage capacity, are developed, and results for current situation and reference years 2030 and 2050 are presented. For the simulation, among others, high resolution mesoscale wind data for a typical year in the whole Greek territory are used for the steady state simulation of the Greek power system, in order to better estimate the power that could be generated from installed wind turbines, taking into consideration technical characteristics of a typical commercial wind turbine. Results indicate the need of gradual development of hydro-pumped storage in parallel with the large-scale integration of wind and PV capacity into the Greek power system. In addition, the feasibility of the examined scenarios is supported from the low cost of wind and PV generation. In the case of Greece, thanks to the complex morphology and hydraulic conditions of the country, hydro-pumped storage composes an efficient and low-cost storage solution

Obesity and Nutritional Challenges Encountered by Survivors of Human Trafficking [11N]

INTRODUCTION:Human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery and an important public health issue globally. Survivors experience food insecurity and poor nutrition practices during their trafficking. They present with medical and psychiatric co-morbidities that compound their nutritional challenges. In Miami, survivors have access to comprehensive health care, provided through THRIVE- a multidisciplinary, trauma-informed medical-home clinic. THRIVE Clinic coordinates access to food and housing services as well as nutrition education for survivors. METHODS:A retrospective chart review was conducted to assess BMI at first visit, self-report exercise and dietary intake, and medical/psychiatric co-morbidities related to nutrition and diet. This review obtained IRB approval prior to data collection. RESULTS:Records were reviewed for 41 patients (35 women and 6 transwomen). All had a history of sex trafficking, labor trafficking, or both. Average BMI for women and transwomen were 26.7 and 33.1 respectively, with 42% of women and 50% of transwomen measuring as overweight/obese. All six transwomen were on hormone therapy. Related co-morbidities included chronic constipation, gastritis, depression, anxiety, anorexia nervosa, bulimia and PTSD. Approximately half of patients self-reported poor exercise and dietary habits. CONCLUSION:Our understanding of the long-term health and nutritional problems of human trafficking survivors is still developing. This review demonstrates survivors are living with obesity and other nutritional issues exacerbated by their past trauma experiences. Attention to nutritional needs during their recovery will provide a clearer understanding on how to address these co-morbidities. Attending to these complex physical and psychiatric morbidities is crucial to understanding the multiple challenges faced by survivors

A Probabilistic Approach to Analyze Wind Energy Curtailment in Non-Interconnected Greek Islands Based on Typical Wind Year Meteorological Data

Wind energy and photovoltaic solar energy (PV) are the most mature renewable energy technologies and are widely used to increase renewable energy penetration in non-interconnected Greek islands. However, their penetration is restricted due to technical issues related to the safe operation of autonomous power systems, the current conventional power infrastructure and their variable power output. In this framework, renewable energy curtailment is sometimes a necessity to ensure the balance between demand and supply. The ability of autonomous power systems to absorb wind and PV power is related to the load demand profile, the type and the flexibility of conventional power plants, the size of power system and the spatial dispersion of wind farms. In this connection, a probabilistic approach for estimating wind energy curtailment is thoroughly applied in most of the autonomous power systems in Greece, using detailed information about load demand and conventional power supply. In parallel, high resolution mesoscale model-based hourly wind data for typical meteorological wind year are used to represent the wind features in all the sites of interest. Technical constraints imposed by the local power system operator, related to the commitment of conventional power plants and the load dispatch strategies are taken into account to maximize renewable energy penetration levels. Finally, application for wide ranges of wind and PV capacity and the thorough analysis of the parameters leads to the presentation of comparable results and conclusions, which could be widely used to predict wind energy curtailment in non-interconnected power systems