Mapping Cloud-Edge-IoT opportunities and challenges in Europe

While current data processing predominantly occurs in centralized facilities, with a minor portion handled by smart objects, a shift is anticipated, with a surge in data originating from smart devices. This evolution necessitates reconfiguring the infrastructure, emphasising computing capabilities at the cloud's "edge" closer to data sources. This change symbolises the merging of cloud, edge, and IoT technologies into a unified network infrastructure - a Computing Continuum - poised to redefine tech interactions, offering novel prospects across diverse sectors. The computing continuum is emerging as a cornerstone of tech advancement in the contemporary digital era. This paper provides an in-depth exploration of the computing continuum, highlighting its potential, practical implications, and the adjustments required to tackle existing challenges. It emphasises the continuum's real-world applications, market trends, and its significance in shaping Europe's tech future

Solugas - Solar Up-scale Gas Turbine System

In order to compete with conventional electricity generation, one of the most promising concepts for the cost reduction of solar thermal electricity is the introduction of the solar energy into the Brayton topping cycle of a combined cycle power plant: the results is the solar hybrid technology. In this way the solar heat can be converted to renewable electric energy with the highest currently available conversion efficiency of modern combined cycle plants. Main objective of Solugas is to demonstrate a full functional integrated solar-hybrid driven gas turbine system on a commercial scale, the performance and cost reduction potential and the persistence of its components, especially the solar receiver. By introducing the solar energy into a Brayton cycle which could also have a bottoming Rankine cycle, a solarised combined cycle (CC) power plant with highest conversion efficiencies can be obtained. By heating pressurized air, the solar heat can be directly fed into the gas turbine without the losses of an additional heat exchanger. A further, but not less important, advantage of solar driven gas turbine systems is the low water consumption. Solar driven gas turbines that are operated in recuperated mode do not require cooling water, and for solar-hybrid Combined Cycles the water requirement can be reduced in comparison to a solar steam power plant. This reason is crucial as solar thermal power plants are better located in arid and desert areas, which benefit from both, strong direct solar irradiation and the availability of large areas of land but suffer from a scarcity of water. Solugas project covered a wide range of topics related to CSP including solar receiver, heliostats, turbine, high temperature interconnection and insulation systems. All components were case of study during the development of the project together with the plant characterisation and efficiency measurement. As definition of the concept, solar-hybrid systems combine solar energy and fossil fuel. Thus it provides reliable power with full dispatchability and, if bio-fuels are used, also 100% sustainable at zero net emissions. The advantages of modern gas turbines, as fast start up, low parasitic losses or compact design are kept. Systems based on gas turbines are suited for cogeneration or Combined Cycles, making them very efficient and cost effective. All objectives proposed were achieved. Following results are presented and the work carried out is explained

Innovation Needs for the Integration of Electric Vehicles into the Energy System

The mitigation of climate change and the substitution of fossil energy sources is one of the greatest tasks of our time. Electric mobility is the most promising solution to decarbonize the transport sector. As the market for electric vehicles is quickly gaining momentum, an urgent need for an intelligent integration of the energy and mobility system arises. This integration leads to a multitude of technical, economic and social challenges. Through a validated road-mapping process, the needs for future research, development, standardisation and regulation have been identified and visualised. Recommendations for action for decision-makers in politics and industry have been derived from those innovation needs. In summary, the most promising innovation path is the consequent application of smart and flexible charging concepts as well as an adaption of the regulations and roles in combination with the consequent usage of renewable energies. In five to ten years, also synergies through the exploitation of autonomous electric vehicles will gain momentum

SOLUGUS - FUTURE SOLAR HYBRID TECHNOLOGY

In order to compete with conventional electricity generation, one of the most promising concepts for the cost reduction of solar thermal electricity is the introduction of the solar energy into the Brayton topping cycle of a combined cycle power plant: the results is the solar hybrid technology. In this way the solar heat can be converted to renewable electric energy with the highest currently available conversion efficiency of modern combined cycle plants. Abengoa Solar participates and leads important steps forward in the technology, having achieved several milestones during the last years and more to come in the early future, highlighting the successful construction of the Solugas demo plant, its operation and the upcoming integration of the Soltrec receiver

Efficiency Determination of Tubular Solar Receivers in Central Receiver Systems

This paper describes a method for the efficiency determination of a cavity receiver using the example of the solar hybrid gas turbine system SOLUGAS. Major focus is given on the improvement of a new approach of the solar flux density determination based on a measurement-supported simulation technique where an acceptable uncertainty of the solar input power of 1.3%. . .+6.3% is achieved. For the thermal evaluation an uncertainty of 2.4% is determined that leads to an overall uncertainty of the thermal receiver efficiency of 2.8%. . .+7.7%. Detailed uncertainty propagation is presented and conclusions discussed

Solugas - Comprehensive Analysis of the solar hybrid Brayton plant

This article presents the first megawatt scale solar-hybrid plant with a solarized gas turbine. The works and improvements that made the Solugas project succeed during design, construction and long-term solar operation are described and explained. More than 1000 operation hours and receiver outlet temperatures of 800 °C were achieved. The operation behaviour and performance of the key components – the solar pressurised air receiver and the gas turbine – are presented here as a proof of the high potential of the technology