Meteorological Forecasting for renewable energy plants. A case study of two energy plants in Spain

Energy resources are the engines that drive every economy [1], [4], [14], Therefore, it is necessary to develop their exploitation in a friendlier, environmentally and sustainable way indeed it is a critically needed nowadays. Then, it is necessary to improve efficiency and optimize renewable energy in order that replace polluting energy sources. This work aims to relate the use of forecasting on meteorological variables such as wind speed, wind direction, solar radiation, among others, obtained by mathematical models implemented on computer to forecast energy production in renewable energies plants. It has been implemented and automated one of the most used models by the scientific community in this field, WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting Model). WRF is a next generation mesoscale model, designed to serve as a tool for meteorological research in addition to provide forecasts in operational regime. This research introduce the topic of energy forecast, mainly of renewable energy, focusing on wind and solar energy, basing the study on a better forecasting of meteorological variables in order to use as income in energy production forecast. A case study in two Spanish renewable energy plants is exposed.

A Scoping Review on Virtual Reality-Based Industrial Training

The fourth industrial revolution has forced most companies to technologically evolve, applying new digital tools, so that their workers can have the necessary skills to face changing work environments. This article presents a scoping review of the literature on virtual reality-based training systems. The methodology consisted of four steps, which pose research questions, document search, paper selection, and data extraction. From a total of 350 peer-reviewed database articles, such as SpringerLink, IEEEXplore, MDPI, Scopus, and ACM, 44 were eventually chosen, mostly using the virtual reality haptic glasses and controls from Oculus Rift and HTC VIVE. It was concluded that, among the advantages of using this digital tool in the industry, is the commitment, speed, measurability, preservation of the integrity of the workers, customization, and cost reduction. Even though several research gaps were found, virtual reality is presented as a present and future alternative for the efficient training of human resources in the industrial field.Facultad de Informátic

System dynamics modelling and the Environmental Kuznets Curve in Ecuador (1980-2025)

Is it possible for a country in the process of development to comply with the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis in the medium term? This is question that inspired this study. This paper is an extension of a previous study focused on economic development and CO2 emissions in the coming years in Ecuador (Robalino-L´pez et al., 2013). The main goal of this paper is to analyze whether the EKC hypothesis holds within the period 1980-2025 under four different scenarios. This paper uses co-integration techniques (Stock and Watson, 1993) to test the existence of the EKC hypothesis in Ecuador in the medium term using the Jaunky's specification (Jaunky, 2011). Our proposal goes a step further than previous contributions, and intends to see under which conditions a country could approach the fulfilment of this hypothesis in the medium term. Results do not support the fulfilment of the EKC, nevertheless, our estimations show that Ecuador could be on the way to achieving environmental stabilization in the near future if economic growth is combined with an increase in the use of renewable energies, an improvement of the productive sectoral structure, and the use of a more efficient fossil fuel technology.This work has been supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad and the European regional development fund (FEDER) under project number FIS2011-28738-C02-02, and by Spanish Consolider-Ingenio 2010 (CPANCSD-2007-00042). One of the authors (A.R.L.) gives special thanks to the SENESCYT (Ecuador) and the AUIP (Spain) for the institutional and financial support

Políticas públicas, autonomía y participación docente en contextos de transformación y cambio

Son muy escasos los organismos internacionales que se preocupan por la situación de los docentes: en América Latina la Red Estrado es uno de los contados colectivos que realiza estudios, investigaciones y propuestas por mejorar la condición humana y profesional de los educadores. En el Ecuador, en sus pocos años de funcionamiento, la Red Estrado ha tenido una presencia muy poco activa para denunciar los problemas y dificultades que afectan a los docentes, dar a conocer las fortalezas y cualidades de quienes educan a los ecuatorianos del presente y del futuro y proponer acciones concretas que aseguren el desarrollo de los integrantes del magisterio. Esta organización de la sociedad civil está integrada por un selecto grupo de académicos pertenecientes a varias universidades, quienes con una actitud totalmente desinteresada y altruista, con el apoyo de sus respectivos centros de educación superior, han organizado algunos eventos nacionales, han publicado varios libros sobre la situación docente y, de manera excepcional, han colocado este tema en el imaginario nacional, a fin de dar a conocer los aspectos relacionados con la formación inicial, el ejercicio de la carrera, las condiciones de salud y trabajo, la formación permanente, los problemas salariales, la evaluación y los demás asuntos que se relacionan con la trayectoria profesional de los educadores. El libro políticas públicas, autonomía y participación docente en contextos de transformación y cambio, que se pone a consideración de los lectores, contiene varios estudios e investigaciones llevados a cabo en estos años por algunos docentes de centros educativos ecuatorianos y otros países de América Latina

System dynamics modeling for renewable energy and CO2 emissions : a case study of Ecuador

It is clear that renewable energy plays a crucial role in achieving a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. This paper presents a model approach of CO$_2$ emissions in Ecuador in the upcoming years, up to 2020. The main goal of this work is to study in detail the way the changes in the energy matrix and in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will affect the CO$_2$ emissions of the country. In particular, we will pay special attention to the effect of a reduction of the share of fossil energy, as well as of an improvement in the efficiency of the fossil energy use. We have developed a system dynamics model based on a relationship, which is a variation of the Kaya identity, and on a GDP that depends on renewable energy, which introduces a feedback mechanism in the model. The main conclusion is that it is possible to control the CO$_2$ emissions even under a scenario of continuous increase of the GDP, if it is combined with an increase of the use of renewable energy, with an improvement of the productive sectoral structure and with the use of a more efficient fossil fuel technology. This study offers useful lessons for developing countries, and it could be used as a policy-making tool because it is easily transferable to any other time period or region.MINECO, Junta de Andalucía, FEDER, SENESCYT (Ecuador), AUIP (Spain

Studying the relationship between economic growth, CO2 emissions, and the environmental Kuznets curve in Venezuela (1980-2025)

This work tries to determine whether it is possible to stabilize CO2 emissions under a rapid increase of Gross Domestic Product in a medium term. The paper is an effort to study in detail how changes in the driving forces of the economy affect CO2 emissions. We study the case of Venezuela for the period 1980–2025, using the methodology proposed by Robalino-López et al. (2014, 2013) [1] and [2], which is based on an extension of the Kaya identity and on a GDP formation approach that includes the effect of renewable energies. We test the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) [3] hypothesis in a coming future under different economic scenarios considering, therefore, not only past data but also projections for the coming years. We use cointegration techniques [4] and the Jaunky (2011) [5] specification to test the fulfillment of the EKC hypothesis in Venezuela. Our predictions show that Venezuela does not fulfill the EKC hypothesis, but however, the country could be on the way to achieve environmental stabilization in the medium term. This stabilization could be accomplished combining economic growth with increasing use of renewable energy, appropriated changes in the energy matrix, and in the productive sectoral structure

CO2 emissions convergence among 10 South American countries : a study of Kaya components (1980–2010)

This paper analyzes the convergence process in CO2 emissions per capita among 10 South American countries from 1980 to 2010 based on their Kaya components, namely, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, energy intensity and CO2 intensity. This work tries to find out whether a set of countries of a given region share common convergence patterns in CO2 emission per capita and in its driving forces. First, a descriptive statistical analysis is carried out, and then Phillips and Sul methodology is applied to test the existence of convergence clubs in the pathway of evolution of each Kaya component. An analysis of inequality was also performed, considering three exogenous groups of countries. The results show that the region, as a whole, does not present a global convergence pattern regarding CO2 emissions per capita; however, the evidence suggests the formation of various convergence clubs for each Kaya component and even for the Kaya identity as a whole

Economic growth, renewable energy and CO2 emissions: the Kaya identity and the environmental Kuznets curve

This contribution presents a model for estimating CO2 emissions in a given country for a near future. The model is based on a modification of the Kaya identity that allows to connect gross domestic product, productive sectoral structure, energy matrix, and energy intensity with CO2 emissions. A key point in the model will be the introduction of a feedback mechanism involving the use of renewable energy. We will analyze the results on the light of the so-called environmental Kuznets curve. The model will be applied to the case of Ecuador and to the time period 2011-2015.This work has been supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad and the European regional development fund (FEDER) under project number FIS2011-28738-C02-02. One of the authors (A.R.L.) gives special thanks to the SENESCYT (Ecuador) and the AUIP (Spain) for the institutional and financial support