Piezoelectric-silicone structure for vibration energy harvesting: testing and modelling

Mechanical vibrations from heavy machines, building structures or the human body can be harvested and directly converted into electrical energy. In this paper the potential to effectively harvest mechanical vibrations and locally generate electrical energy using a novel piezoelectric-rubber composite structure is explored. Piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT) is bonded to silicone rubber to form a cylindrical composite-like energy harvesting device which has the potential to structurally dampen high acceleration forces and generate electrical power. The device was experimentally load tested and an advanced model was verified against experimental data. While an experimental output power of 57 μW/cm3 was obtained, the advanced model further optimises the device geometry via a relative optimisation approach. The proposed energy harvesting device generates sufficient electrical power for structural health monitoring and remote sensing applications, while also providing structural damping properties for low frequency mechanical vibrations

Efektywność energetyczna w Polsce

W artykule przedstawiono podstawowe informacje dotyczące efektywności energetycznej w Polsce, wynikające z wdrażania Dyrektywy PE i Rady 2012/27/UE z dnia 25 października 2012 r. w sprawie efektywności energetycznej. Implementację tej dyrektywy stanowi Krajowy Plan Działań dotyczący efektywności energetycznej dla Polski (KPDEE), opisujący wyniki działań podejmowanych przez rząd Polski w zakresie dążenia do osiągnięcia celów poprawy efektywności energetycznej przyjętych na 2020 rok

Enablers and Barriers in the Market-Driven Rollout of Smart Metering: Polish Technology Innovation System Analysis

This paper is the first country-specific analysis of the market-driven Smart Metering innovation system, covering technologies, actors, and policies. It provides new insights on the key enablers and barriers in the rollout of electricity Smart Meters (SMs) without binding regulatory mandate. The presented research is based on the Technology Innovation System (TIS) analysis for Poland, where an obligation scheme for the rolling out of SMs has been introduced very recently. Still, the number of SMs installed places the country in the top 10 Member States of the European Union. The implementation of SMs is progressing in a complex, multi-actor innovation system, shaped by the leading role of Distribution System Operators (DSOs). The article analyses the key elements of the SM innovation system (technologies and infrastructures, actors and networks, institutions and policies) and characterizes their interaction based on desk research and a critical assessment of regulations, statistics, and literature. The major enablers of the rollout are DSOs expectations of benefits, which have been instigated by the market regulator’s benevolence in tariffs approval. On the other hand, the major barriers are delayed and incomplete public policy instruments. Results of the study can inform the development of other market-driven SM deployments around the world

Electricity Usage Settlement System Based on a Cryptocurrency Instrument

This article reviews the issue of the use of cryptocurrencies (crypto-assets, in general) for an electricity settlement system. The development of digital techniques, including blockchain-based mechanisms, has meant that an increased interest in blockchain-based solutions is to be expected. Blockchain and similar approaches are characterised by decentralisation, so they are concurrent with the trends of the transforming power sector. Decentralised energy generation based on a high proportion of prosumer installations requires the implementation of a new settlement system for grid activities related to electricity use. The first projects of such systems based on a dedicated cryptocurrency have emerged. Based on these, the general concept of such a system with its own cryptocurrency called CCE is presented, including variants implementing net-metering and net-billing. Furthermore, issues requiring interdisciplinary research work and discussion before implementing such systems were identified. A settlement system in which a cryptocurrency is linked to a unit of energy used could be a first step towards introducing a new universal means of value exchange, linked to energy as the primary measure of the value of goods

Impact of the Lockdown during the COVID-19 Pandemic on Electricity Use by Residential Users

The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated lockdown can be regarded as a forced social experiment, the results of which show how to use energy under specific conditions. During this period, there was a reduction in electricity consumption at the level of the power system, but a different specificity distinguishes the group of household users. The article aims at presenting and analysing the identified issues concerning residential electricity users based on the experience from the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Data from energy meters from almost 7000 flats in Warsaw’s housing estates during the lockdown in 2020 and the analogous period before the pandemic were used. The analysis showed that, on average, residential users staying practically the whole day in their flats increased their energy consumption, but without increasing their average daily peak power, smoothing the profile in the morning hours to the level reaching the peak power that had occurred in the analogous period before the lockdown. The peak power of the sections feeding the different numbers of dwellings also remained practically unchanged during the lockdown compared to the pre-pandemic period. The pressure to work and educate remotely should contribute to an increase in the digital competence of society, which may result in an increased interest in new forms of activity and cooperation based on demand-side response and prosumption mechanisms, with digital settlements for energy exchange and services