Peer-to-Peer Trading for Enhancing Electric Vehicle Charging with Renewable Energy

Electric vehicles (EVs) are rapidly increasing in popularity as greater attention is paid to climate change and decarbonisation, however the environmental benefits that EVs offer can only be fully realised through the use of renewable energy for their charging. Smart charging solutions are essential for managing the impact of EVs and increasing the utilisation of renewable energy, however, questions remain over whether low-voltage distribution networks can accommodate the upcoming increases in EV charging demand. This thesis addresses both the challenge of increasing the utilisation of renewable energy for EV charging and also the importance of ensuring safe operation of low-voltage distribution networks with the integration of EV charging, distributed renewable energy generation, battery storage and vehicle-to-grid technologies. Chapter 3 examines a scenario where houses equipped with solar photovoltaic panels and EV charge points endeavour to sell surplus solar energy and the use of their EV charge point to visiting EVs that require charging. A peer-to-peer auction is proposed, with a novel matching mechanism presented to increase the amount of EV charging completed using solar energy without any knowledge about future EV arrivals. Chapter 4 presents a full peer-to-peer trading model of Network Impact Tokens and Phase Impact Tokens between houses in a low-voltage network. The Impact Tokens guarantee that all EV charging and renewable energy generation does not cause the network to exceed its voltage, current or transformer loading limits, while ensuring each house retains control over its energy usage, requiring no real-time monitoring or sensors in the network, and no privacy issues are encountered. The Network and Phase Impact Token approach is further verified in Chapter 5, as it forms the basis of a novel approach for Distribution System Operators to evaluate the maximum EV hosting capacity of their networks in conjunction with renewable energy generation and battery storage. The maximum EV capacity results are verified by an alternate Optimisation approach and the maximum EV penetration is evaluated for a number of scenarios

The Cross-sectional Shape and Height Expansion of Coronal Loops: High-resolution Coronal Imager (Hi-C) Analysis of AR 12712

Abstract: Coronal loop observations have existed for many decades yet the precise shape of these fundamental coronal structures is still widely debated since the discovery that they appear to undergo negligible expansion between their footpoints and apex. In this work a selection of eight EUV loops and their 22 sub-element strands are studied from the second successful flight of NASA’s High-resolution Coronal Imager (Hi-C 2.1). Four of the loops correspond to open fan structures with the other four considered to be magnetically closed loops. Width analysis is performed on the loops and their sub-resolution strands using our method of fitting multiple Gaussian profiles to cross-sectional intensity slices. It is found that while the magnetically closed loops and their sub-element strands do not expand along their observable length, open fan structures may expand an additional 150% of their initial width. Following recent work, the Pearson correlation coefficient between peak intensity and loop/strand width are found to be predominantly positively correlated for the loops (≈88%) and their sub-element strands (≈80%). These results align with the hypothesis of Klimchuk & DeForest that loops and—for the first time—their sub-element strands have approximately circular cross-sectional profiles

Affordable building system from locally grown softwoods - Ty Unnos (house in a night)

The primary aim was to design, fabricate, prototype and mainstream a solution for the use of home-grown Sitka spruce in affordable housing

A new approach to managing development: towards a Welsh Planning Act

Arup, the Cardiff School of City and Regional Planning and Liz Mills Associates have reviewed the management and control of the use of land in Wales. This report has considered new and innovative ways to manage and control the use of land within a plan led system. The project has looked at the relationship between development plans and the development management process to deliver a more efficient and timely process. The objectives for this research were: To explore how development should be managed and controlled in a future Welsh Planning System; To review the current process of obtaining and implementing planning permission; To review the relationships between the development plan and development management; To explore the most cost efficient way to deliver the vision and strategy a local planning authority has set out in their adopted development plan. This will allow the plans once adopted to be implemented without unnecessary duplication, delay and cost and ensure sustainable development principles and regulatory requirements are observed; To explore innovative ways to deliver timely sustainable planning decisions within a new legislative and regulatory framework

Planning and Diversity: Research into Policies and Procedures

The main purpose of this research is to inform the review of existing national planning policies and guidance (PPGs), to ensure it addresses the needs of a diverse society and is fully compliant with relevant equalities legislation. The research specifically focuses on examining the effectiveness of PPGs in terms of meeting the needs of a diverse society,as well as the promotion of diversity

Novel homozygous variants in PRORP expand the genotypic spectrum of combined oxidative phosphorylation deficiency 54

Biallelic hypomorphic variants in PRORP have been recently described as causing the autosomal recessive disorder combined oxidative phosphorylation deficiency type 54 (COXPD54). COXPD54 encompasses a phenotypic spectrum of sensorineural hearing loss and ovarian insufficiency (Perrault syndrome) to leukodystrophy. Here, we report three additional families with homozygous missense PRORP variants with pleiotropic phenotypes. Each missense variant altered a highly conserved residue within the metallonuclease domain. In vitro mitochondrial tRNA processing assays with recombinant TRMT10C, SDR5C1 and PRORP indicated two COXPD54-associated PRORP variants, c.1159A>G (p.Thr387Ala) and c.1241C>T (p.Ala414Val), decreased pre-tRNAIle cleavage, consistent with both variants impacting tRNA processing. No significant decrease in tRNA processing was observed with PRORP c.1093T>C (p.Tyr365His), which was identified in an individual with leukodystrophy. These data provide independent evidence that PRORP variants are associated with COXPD54 and that the assessment of 5' leader mitochondrial tRNA processing is a valuable assay for the functional analysis and clinical interpretation of novel PRORP variants

Review of design and access statements in Wales

This research gives an insight and makes recommendations about improving the legislation, guidance and processes that govern design and access statements in Wales. This research gathered evidence on the effectiveness of design and access statements in influencing the final design of proposed developments as part of the planning application process. The research has also considered the relationship between design and access statements and building regulations