Blockchain-based Peer-to-Peer Energy Trade

Motivated by numerous drivers, blockchain-based peer-to-peer energy trade whitepapers surged in the past two years. Assuming disruption through blockchain technology, they envisioned a transformation of energy systems through technosocio- economic solutions. Few impartial and sober assessments of blockchain-based energy projects exist, and many publications praise disruptive potential without further examination. A more distant and critical perspective, however, is imperative for a responsible use of a novel, in particular disruptive, technology. This review aims at surveying the energy system envisioned by the projects through discussing the projects by their characteristics, their perspective on the transactive energy lifecycle and the energy ecosystem envisioned in the white papers. This review is descriptive and comparative in nature, and attempts to synthesize topics raised in the white papers through methods of grounded theory, as well as assessing the disruptive potential of blockchain technology in energy systems. Through this and a critical and neutral perspective, it strives to (soberly) contribute to a discussion on the digitization of elements of the energy system, and how blockchain-based use cases can contribute constructively to the problems at hand

Potential of demand response for chlor-alkali electrolysis processes

Chlor-alkali electrolysis indicates significant demand response potential, accounting for over 2% of Germany’s total elec-tricity demand. To fully analyze this potential, digital models or digital twins are necessary. In this study, we use the IRPopt modeling framework to develop a digital model of an electrolysis process and examine the cost-optimal load shifting application in the day-ahead spot and balancing reserve market for various price scenarios (2019, 2030, 2040). We also investigate the associated CO2 emissions. Combined optimization at both markets results in greater and more robust cost savings of 16.1% but cannibalizes the savings that are possible through optimization separately at each market. In future scenarios, the shares of savings from spot and reserve market could potentially reverse. CO2 savings between 2.5% and 9.2% appear only through optimization at the spot market and could even turn negative if optimized solely at the reserve market

Nachtrag: Deutschlands Beitrag zur Lösung des Weltklimaproblems – Was lässt sich erreichen?

Ergänzend zu den Beiträgen, die im ifo Schnelldienst Nr. 7/2007 zum Klimawandel veröffentlicht wurden, legen Ottmar Edenhofer, Christian Flachsland und Thomas Bruckner, Potsdam-Institut für Klimafolgenforschung, dar, welchen Beitrag Deutschland zur Lösung des Weltklimaproblems ihrer Meinung nach leisten sollte. Für sie haben Europa und Deutschland die Möglichkeit, den entscheidenden Impuls zur Schaffung einer langfristig klimaverträglichen und gleichzeitig kostengünstigen Energieversorgung zu geben.Klimaschutz, Klimapolitik, Umweltschutzkosten, Deutschland, Europa

Aufbau eines Sortierroboters mit Lego Mindstorms

Das Interesse von jungen Menschen auf Wissenschaft zu lenken gestaltet sich schwierig. Dennoch ist Forschung nötig, um den Alltag zu vereinfachen. Einfache jedoch zeitintensive Aufgaben werden oft mit Hilfe von technischen, programmierten Geräten erledigt. In diesem Artikel werden Erfahrungen im Lego Mindstorm NXT Robotics Project der Fakultät für Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnologie der Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg dargestellt. Diese beziehen sich auf die Erstellung eines Sortierroboters

Prevalence and determinants of osteoporosis in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: Increased risk of osteoporosis and its clinical significance in patients with diabetes is controversial. We analyze osteoporosis prevalence and determinants of bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes. Methods: Three hundred and ninety-eight consecutive diabetic patients from a single outpatient clinic received a standardized questionnaire on osteoporosis risk factors, and were evaluated for diabetes-related complications, HbA1c levels, and lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) BMD. Of these, 139 (71 men, 68 women) type 1 and 243 (115 men, 128 women) type 2 diabetes patients were included in the study. BMD (T-scores and values adjusted for age, BMI and duration of disease) was compared between patient groups and between patients with type 2 diabetes and population-based controls (255 men, 249 women). Results: For both genders, adjusted BMD was not different between the type 1 and type 2 diabetes groups but was higher in the type 2 group compared with controls (p

The Influence of Financial Benefits and Peer Effects on the Adoption of Residential Rooftop Photovoltaic Systems

The uptake of residential photovoltaic systems is essential for energy system transformation towards carbon neutrality and decentralization. However, despite numerous campaigns to incentivize their uptake, adoption by residential homeowners is lacking behind. While countless drivers and barriers have been identified, the decision process is not fully understood. To address this gap, we developed an agent-based residential rooftop photovoltaic adoption model called PVact. Our model analyzes the interactions of potential household adopters based on their utility functions and social network, with a focus on the role of monetary evaluation and social pressure in adoption behavior. In this paper, we aim to assess the influence of monetary evaluation and social pressure in an abstract case study based on real-world data from the municipality of Leipzig, Germany. We consider stochastic dynamics through scenario analysis to investigate the influence of these factors on adoption behavior. Our results show that monetary evaluation and social pressure have a significant impact on adoption behavior. Specifically, we find shifting adoption patterns with an increased requirement for monetary returns and higher level of normative pressure required for households to act. Higher resistance against these pressure shows more stochastic variations

Towards positive energy districts: assessing the contribution of virtual power plants and energy communities

The concept of positive energy districts (PED) encompasses a range of policies and strategies in response to climate protection targets in urban areas. Due to the limited potential of renewable energy in urban neighborhoods, broader definitions of PED are proposed that allow for energy exchange through the grid infrastructure. This study evaluates demand side management in combination with a virtual power plant (VPP) to assess the impact on the design of PED. In particular, the optimal customer behavior in response to flexible electricity tariffs is analyzed. A techno-economic energy system model is proposed for an urban area in Germany that optimizes the customer cost and the VPP’s margin. This includes electrical energy generation, storage, demand, and access to the short-term electricity market. Based on economic analysis, a dynamic market-based tariff allows the VPP to maximize profit margins. Consumers benefit when the local balances of renewable energy supply and demand are integrated into the dynamic tariff

Challenges and Barriers for Net‐Zero/Positive Energy Buildings and Districts—Empirical Evidence from the Smart City Project SPARCS

Without decarbonizing cities energy and climate objectives cannot be achieved as cities account for approximately two thirds of energy consumption and emissions. This goal of decarbonizing cities has to be facilitated by promoting net-zero/positive energy buildings and districts and replicating them, driving cities towards sustainability goals. Many projects in smart cities demonstrate novel and groundbreaking low-carbon solutions in demonstration and lighthouse projects. However, as the historical, geographic, political, social and economic context of urban areas vary greatly, it is not always easy to repeat the solution in another city or even district. It is therefore important to look for the opportunities to scale up or repeat successful pilots. The purpose of this paper is to explore common trends in technologies and replication strategies for positive energy buildings or districts in smart city projects, based on the practical experience from a case study in Leipzig—one of the lighthouse cities in the project SPARCS. One of the key findings the paper has proven is the necessity of a profound replication modelling to deepen the understanding of upscaling processes. Three models analyzed in this article are able to provide a multidimensional representation of the solution to be replicated