Jatrophanviljely ja maank��ytt�� Vietnamissa

Biofuels are under discussion all over the world today. There are fears that the farming of biofuel plants hurts food production and weakens the food security of the poor. On the other hand, biofuel production could lessen the green house gas emissions caused by transportation, and it could also spread the profits from fuel markets more evenly between countries. The aim of this thesis is to find out how an oil plant called jatropha curcas L., which is used for biodiesel production, can affect the sustainability of livelihoods in Vietnam from the point of view of land use. Special attention is given to the effects of jatropha farming on food production, land productivity, natural resources of livelihoods and global livelihood. Jatropha belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae, and it grows naturally in tropical and subtropical areas. It can be grown on poor soils, its seeds have high oil content, and it cannot be eaten due to its toxicity. The plant grows naturally in Vietnam, and during the past few years it has also begun to be farmed for making biodiesel. Population growth in Vietnam has slowed down, but the population's standard of living and energy consumption are still rising quickly. An interest in the international biodiesel markets has awoken following Vietnam's opening up to international trade. Jatropha diesel plays a significant part in Vietnam���s clean fuel strategy, and many companies have set up jatropha plantations to produce raw material for biodiesel. Diesel made from jatropha is planned to be used both locally and for export. This thesis uses a theoretical concept of sustainable livelihoods. According to the theory, the resources that people have shape their livelihood possibilities. Farming of jatropha affects the livelihoods of people especially through land use, as land use changes have effects on many of the livelihood resources. In addition to the written sources, the material of the thesis is based on 14 interviews in Vietnam and Finland, and on observation during a field trip to Northern Vietnam in the spring of 2008. The results of the thesis show that jatropha diesel can support the sustainability of livelihoods at different scales if it is produced with deliberation. However, positive results are only possible if decisions are made carefully and more experience is collected. The possibilities of sustainable jatropha farming depend mainly on the previous land use methods and ways of production. Farming of jatropha does not threaten food production in Vietnam if the farming plans are implemented as planned. Jatropha may take some land from cassava, but at the same time, food production can be increased if mixed farming is used on some farms. Plenty of new research information and practical experiences on jatropha farming has to be collected before results of the real sustainability of the farming are ready. Carefully considered continuation and documentation of present and future projects would help to understand the possibilities of jatropha diesel in Vietnam and elsewhere.

Hydrogen generation fromammonia borane using nanocatalysts

The rapidly depleting petroleum feed stocks and increasing green house gas emissions around the world has necessitated a search for alternative renewable energy sources. Hydrogen with molecular weight of 2.016 g/mol and high chemical energy per mass equal to 142 MJ/kg has clearly emerged as an alternative to hydrocarbon fuels. Means for safe and cost effective storage are needed for widespread usage of hydrogen as a fuel.Chemical storage is the one of the safer ways to store hydrogen compared to compressed and liquefied hydrogen. It involves storing hydrogen in chemical bonds in molecules and materials where an on-board reaction is used to release hydrogen. Ammonia���borane, (AB,H3N��BH3) with a potential capacity of 19.6 wt% is considered a very promising solid state hydrogen storage material. It is thermally stable at ambient temperatures. There are two major routes for the generation of H2 from AB: catalytic hydrolysis/alcoholysis and catalytic thermal decomposition. There has been a flurry of research activity on the generation of H2 from AB recently. The present review deals with an overview of our efforts in developing cost-effective nanocatalysts for hydrogen generation from ammonia borane in protic solvents.

Optimal placement of Distributed Generation for a projected load increase using Relative Electrical Distance approach

There is a lot of pressure on all the developed and second world countries to produce low emission power and distributed generation (DG) is found to be one of the most viable ways to achieve this. DG generally makes use of renewable energy sources like wind, micro turbines, photovoltaic, etc., which produce power with minimum green house gas emissions. While installing a DG it is important to define its size and optimal location enabling minimum network expansion and line losses. In this paper, a methodology to locate the optimal site for a DG installation, with the objective to minimize the net transmission losses, is presented. The methodology is based on the concept of relative electrical distance (RED) between the DG and the load points. This approach will help to identify the new DG location(s), without the necessity to conduct repeated power flows. To validate this methodology case studies are carried out on a 20 node, 66kV system, a part of Karnataka Transco and results are presented.

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Bottom-up modelling of energy demand and technical energy savings potential in the Irish residential sector

The International Energy Agency has repeatedly identified increased end-use energy efficiency as the quickest, least costly method of green house gas mitigation, most recently in the 2012 World Energy Outlook, and urges all governing bodies to increase efforts to promote energy efficiency policies and technologies. The residential sector is recognised as a major potential source of cost effective energy efficiency gains. Within the EU this relative importance can be seen from a review of the National Energy Efficiency Action Plans (NEEAP) submitted by member states, which in all cases place a large emphasis on the residential sector. This is particularly true for Ireland whose residential sector has historically had higher energy consumption and CO2 emissions than the EU average and whose first NEEAP targeted 44% of the energy savings to be achieved in 2020 from this sector. This thesis develops a bottom-up engineering archetype modelling approach to analyse the Irish residential sector and to estimate the technical energy savings potential of a number of policy measures. First, a model of space and water heating energy demand for new dwellings is built and used to estimate the technical energy savings potential due to the introduction of the 2008 and 2010 changes to part L of the building regulations governing energy efficiency in new dwellings. Next, the author makes use of a valuable new dataset of Building Energy Rating (BER) survey results to first characterise the highly heterogeneous stock of existing dwellings, and then to estimate the technical energy savings potential of an ambitious national retrofit programme targeting up to 1 million residential dwellings. This thesis also presents work carried out by the author as part of a collaboration to produce a bottom-up, multi-sector LEAP model for Ireland. Overall this work highlights the challenges faced in successfully implementing both sets of policy measures. It points to the wide potential range of final savings possible from particular policy measures and the resulting high degree of uncertainty as to whether particular targets will be met and identifies the key factors on which the success of these policies will depend. It makes recommendations on further modelling work and on the improvements necessary in the data available to researchers and policy makers alike in order to develop increasingly sophisticated residential energy demand models and better inform policy.

Optimal Scheduling Methods to Integrate Plug-In Electric Vehicles with the Power System: A Review

The introduction of the Tesla in 2008 has demonstrated to the public of the potential of electric vehicles in terms of reducing fuel consumption and green-house gas from the transport sector. It has brought electric vehicles back into the spotlight worldwide at a moment when fossil fuel prices were reaching unexpected high due to increased demand and strong economic growth. The energy storage capabilities from of fleets of electric vehicles as well as the potentially random discharging and charging offers challenges to the grid in terms of operation and control. Optimal scheduling strategies are key to integrating large numbers of electric vehicles and the smart grid. In this paper, state-of-the-art optimization methods are reviewed on scheduling strategies for the grid integration with electric vehicles. The paper starts with a concise introduction to analytical charging strategies, followed by a review of a number of classical numerical optimization methods, including linear programming, non-linear programming, dynamic programming as well as some other means such as queuing theory. Meta-heuristic techniques are then discussed to deal with the complex, high-dimensional and multi-objective scheduling problem associated with stochastic charging and discharging of electric vehicles. Finally, future research directions are suggested.

Phytoplankton Pigment Signatures as a Biomarker in a Tropical Estuary

We are in the cutting edge of a new era of development without leaving any promises to next generation. But the scale and size of the problem are only partially blamed. The juggernaut of Globalisation has trampled upon whatever little hope we might have had making a quick transition to a less energy ��� intensive world. ���Environment friendliness begins at home���. Our quest for productivity and profitability should progress simultaneous with our cooperative responsibility of leaving behind a clean and green earth for the generation to come. Climate change is the most pressing global environmental challenge being faced by humanity, with the quest for better productivity for our fragile ecosystem. It is too late to rely solely on reduction in Green house gas emissions to mitigate climate change although this is undoubtedly crucial. Coastal belts are more prone to these devastating impacts and its protection is an intensive filed of research. The present study describes how the colourful Carotenoids and Chlorophylls can be used in rapid hand on tool in conjunction with molecular biology to open sources and it also explores the fate of organic matter in the aquatic system and underlying sediments.

Formation of anoxia and denitrification in the bottom waters of a tropical estuary, southwest coast of India

Hydrographic characteristics of the southwest coast of India and its adjoining Cochin backwaters (CBW) were studied during the summer monsoon period. Anomalous formation of anoxia and denitrification were observed in the bottom layers of CBW, which 5 have not been previously reported elsewhere in any tropical estuarine systems. The prevalent upwelling in the Arabian Sea (AS) brought cool, high saline, oxygen deficient and nutrient-rich waters towards the coastal zone and bottom layers of CBW during the high tide. High freshwater discharge in the surface layers brought high amount of nutrients and makes the CBW system highly productive. Intrusion of AS waters seems 10 to be stronger towards the upstream end ( 15 km), than had been previously reported, as a consequence of the lowering of river discharges and deepening of channels in the estuary. Time series measurements in the lower reaches of CBW indicated a low mixing zone with increased stratification, 3 h after the high tide (highest high tide) and high variation in vertical mixing during the spring and neap phases. The upwelled waters 15 (O2 40 ��M) intruded into the estuary was found to lose more oxygen during the neap phase (suboxic O2 4 ��M) than spring phase (hypoxic O2 10 ��M). Increased stratification coupled with low ventilation and presence of high organic matter have resulted in an anoxic condition (O2 = 0), 2���6 km away from barmouth of the estuary and leads to the formation of hydrogen sulphide. The reduction of nitrate and formation of nitrite 20 within the oxygen deficient waters indicated strong denitrification intensity in the estuary. The expansion of oxygen deficient zone, denitrification and formation of hydrogen sulphide may lead to a destruction of biodiversity and an increase of green house gas emissions from this region

Responsabilidad Social Empresarial en Cerro Matoso en el a��o 2014

El prop��sito del presente art��culo es describir la operaci��n del comit�� de Responsabilidad Social Empresarial en la compa����a Cerro Matoso S.A en el departamento de C��rdoba, Colombia. Para lograr dicho prop��sito se definieron indicadores agrupados en cuatro variables como lo son: Evoluci��n del ��rea, Plataforma Estrat��gica, Divisi��n del trabajo y Coordinaci��n del trabajo. Por medio de este trabajo se pretende identificar aprendizajes claves en la creaci��n, dise��o y ejecuci��n de modelos de Responsabilidad Social Empresarial en las empresas. Los resultados muestran que la compa����a no tiene un ��rea especifica de Responsabilidad Social Empresarial sino que articula todas sus iniciativas y proyectos de manera transversal a trav��s de toda la organizaci��n por medio de un comit�� que involucra todas las ��reas de la compa����a y la Fundaci��n San Isidro. Todos los proyectos de Cerro Matoso S.A est��n enmarcados dentro de los est��ndares establecidos por BHP Billiton.

The effect of demand, tank parameters, and pumping stations on energy use in municipal drinking water distribution systems

Two of the indicators of the UN Millennium Development Goals ensuring environmental sustainability are energy use and per capita carbon dioxide emissions. The increasing urbanization and increasing world population may require increased energy use in order to transport enough safe drinking water to communities. In addition, the increase in water use would result in increased energy consumption, thereby resulting in increased green-house gas emissions that promote global climate change. The study of multiple Municipal Drinking Water Distribution Systems (MDWDSs) that relates various MDWDS aspects--system components and properties--to energy use is strongly desirable. The understanding of the relationship between system aspects and energy use aids in energy-efficient design. In this study, components of a MDWDS, and/or the characteristics associated with the component are termed as MDWDS aspects (hereafter--system aspects). There are many aspects of MDWDSs that affect the energy usage. Three system aspects (1) system-wide water demand, (2) storage tank parameters, and (3) pumping stations were analyzed in this study. The study involved seven MDWDSs to understand the relationship between the above-mentioned system aspects in relation with energy use. A MDWDSs model, EPANET 2.0, was utilized to analyze the seven systems. Six of the systems were real and one was a hypothetical system. The study presented here is unique in its statistical approach using seven municipal water distribution systems. The first system aspect studied was system-wide water demand. The analysis involved analyzing seven systems for the variation of water demand and its impact on energy use. To quantify the effects of water use reduction on energy use in a municipal water distribution system, the seven systems were modeled and the energy usage quantified for various amounts of water conservation. It was found that the effect of water conservation on energy use was linear for all seven systems and that all the average values of all the systems' energy use plotted on the same line with a high R 2 value. From this relationship, it can be ascertained that a 20% reduction in water demand results in approximately a 13% savings in energy use for all seven systems analyzed. This figure might hold true for many similar systems that are dominated by pumping and not gravity driven. The second system aspect analyzed was storage tank(s) parameters. Various tank parameters: (1) tank maximum water levels, (2) tank elevation, and (3) tank diameter were considered in this part of the study. MDWDSs use a significant amount of electrical energy for the pumping of water from low elevations (usually a source) to higher ones (usually storage tanks). The use of electrical energy has an effect on pollution emissions and, therefore, potential global climate change as well. Various values of these tank parameters were modeled on seven MDWDSs of various sizes using a network solver and the energy usage recorded. It was found that when averaged over all seven analyzed systems (1) the reduction of maximum tank water level by 50% results in a 2% energy reduction, (2) energy use for a change in tank elevation is system specific, and (2) a reduction of tank diameter of 50% results in approximately a 7% energy savings. The third system aspect analyzed in this study was pumping station parameters. A pumping station consists of one or more pumps. The seven systems were analyzed to understand the effect of the variation of pump horsepower and the number of booster stations on energy use. It was found that adding booster stations could save energy depending upon the system characteristics. For systems with flat topography, a single main pumping station was found to use less energy. In systems with a higher-elevation neighborhood, however, one or more booster pumps with a reduced main pumping station capacity used less energy. The energy savings for the seven systems was dependent on the number of boosters and ranged from 5% to 66% for the analyzed five systems with higher elevation neighborhoods (S3, S4, S5, S6, and S7). No energy savings was realized for the remaining two flat topography systems, S1, and S2. The present study analyzed and established the relationship between various system aspects and energy use in seven MDWDSs. This aids in estimating the amount of energy savings in MDWDSs. This energy savings would ultimately help reduce Greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions including per capita CO 2 emissions thereby potentially lowering the global climate change effect. This will in turn contribute to meeting the MDG of ensuring environmental sustainability.

Caracterizaci��n de la ventilaci��n en la edificaci��n residencial existente. Conciliaci��n entre calidad del aire interior y eficiencia en la rehabilitaci��n energ��tica

La edificaci��n residencial existente en Espa��a y en Europa se encuentra abocada a una rehabilitaci��n profunda para cumplir los objetivos marcados en la estrategia europea para el a��o 2050. Estos, para el sector de la edificaci��n, se proponen una reducci��n del 90% de emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero (GEI) respecto a niveles del a��o 1990. Este plan a largo plazo establece hitos intermedios de control, con objetivos parciales para el a��o 2020 y 2030. El objetivo ��ltimo es aprovechar el potencial de reducci��n de demanda energ��tica del sector de la edificaci��n, del cual la edificaci��n residencial supone el 85% en Espa��a. Dentro de estos requerimientos, de reducci��n de demanda energ��tica en la edificaci��n, la ventilaci��n en la edificaci��n residencial se convierte en uno de los retos a resolver por su vinculaci��n directa a la salud y el confort de los ocupantes de la misma, y al mismo tiempo su relaci��n proporcional con la demanda energ��tica que presenta el edificio asociada al acondicionamiento t��rmico. Gran parte de las p��rdidas t��rmicas de la edificaci��n residencial se producen por el aire de renovaci��n y la infiltraci��n de aire a trav��s de la envolvente. La directiva europea de eficiencia energ��tica de la edificaci��n (EPBD), que establece las directrices necesarias para alcanzar los objetivos de este sector en cuanto a emisiones de CO2 y gases de efecto invernadero (GEI), contempla la ventilaci��n con aire limpio como un requisito fundamental a tener en cuenta de cara a las nuevas construcciones y a la rehabilitaci��n energ��tica de los edificios existentes. El s��ndrome del edificio enfermo, un conjunto de molestias y s��ntomas asociados a la baja calidad del aire de edificios no residenciales que surgi�� a ra��z de la crisis del petr��leo de 1973, tuvo su origen en una ventilaci��n deficiente y una renovaci��n del aire interior insuficiente de estos edificios, producto del intento de ahorro en la factura energ��tica. Teniendo en cuenta que, de media, pasamos un 58% de nuestro tiempo en las viviendas, es fundamental cuidar la calidad del aire interior y no empeorarla aplicando medidas de ���eficiencia energ��tica��� con efectos no esperados. Para conseguir esto es fundamental conocer en profundidad c��mo se produce la ventilaci��n en la edificaci��n en bloque en Espa��a en sus aspectos de calidad del aire interior y demanda energ��tica asociada a la ventilaci��n. El objetivo de esta tesis es establecer una metodolog��a de caracterizaci��n y de optimizaci��n de las necesidades de ventilaci��n para los espacios residenciales existentes en Espa��a que a��ne el doble objetivo de garantizar la calidad ambiental y reducir la demanda energ��tica de los mismos. La caracterizaci��n del parque edificatorio residencial espa��ol en cuanto a ventilaci��n es concluyente: La vivienda en Espa��a se distribuye principalmente en tres periodos en los que se encuentran m��s del 80% del total de las viviendas construidas. El periodo anterior a las normas b��sicas de la edificaci��n (NBE), de 1960 a 1980, el periodo desde 1980 al a��o 2005, con el mayor n��mero total de viviendas construidas, guiado por la NTE ISV 75, y el periodo correspondiente a la edificaci��n construida a partir del C��digo T��cnico de la Edificaci��n, en 2006, cuyo documento b��sico de condiciones de salubridad (DB HS3) es la primera norma de obligado cumplimiento en dise��o y dimensionamiento de ventilaci��n residencial en Espa��a. La selecci��n de un modelo de bloque de viviendas de referencia, un valor medio y representativo, seleccionado de entre estos periodos, pero con cualidades que se extienden m��s all�� de uno de ellos, nos permite realizar un intensivo an��lisis comparativo de las condiciones de calidad de aire interior y la demanda energ��tica del mismo, aplicando las distintas configuraciones que presenta la ventilaci��n en viviendas dependiendo del escenario o ��poca constructiva (o normativa) en que esta fuera construida. Este an��lisis se lleva a cabo apoy��ndose en un doble enfoque: el modelado num��rico de simulaciones y el an��lisis de datos experimentales, para comprobar y afinar los modelos y observar la situaci��n real de las viviendas en estos dos aspectos. Gracias a las conclusiones del an��lisis previo, se define una estrategia de optimizaci��n de la ventilaci��n basada fundamentalmente en dos medidas: 1) La introducci��n de un sistema de extracci��n mec��nica y recuperaci��n de calor que permita reducir la demanda energ��tica debida a la renovaci��n del aire y a la vez diluir los contaminantes interiores m��s eficazmente para mejorar, de esta forma, la calidad del ambiente interior. 2) La racionalizaci��n del horario de utilizaci��n de estos sistemas, no malgastando la energ��a en periodos de no ocupaci��n, permitiendo una leve ventilaci��n de fondo, debida a la infiltraci��n, que no incida en p��rdidas energ��ticas cuantiosas. A esta optimizaci��n, adem��s de aplicar la metodolog��a de an��lisis previo, en cuanto a demanda energ��tica y calidad del aire, se aplica una valoraci��n econ��mica integradora y comparativa basada en el reglamento delegado EU244/2012 de coste ��ptimo (Cost Optimal Methodology). Los resultados principales de esta tesis son: ��� Un diagn��stico de la calidad del aire interior de la edificaci��n residencial en Espa��a y su demanda energ��tica asociada, imprescindible para lograr una rehabilitaci��n energ��tica profunda garantizando la calidad del aire interior. ��� Un indicador de la relaci��n directa entre calidad de aire y demanda energ��tica, para evaluar la adecuaci��n de los sistemas de ventilaci��n, respecto de las nuevas normativas de eficiencia energ��tica y ventilaci��n. ��� Una estrategia de optimizaci��n, que ofrece una alternativa de intervenci��n, y la aplicaci��n de un m��todo de valoraci��n que permite evaluar la amortizaci��n comparada de la instalaci��n de los sistemas. ABSTRACT The housing building stock already built in Spain and Europe faces a deep renovation in the present and near future to accomplish with the objectives agreed in the European strategy for 2050. These objectives, for the building sector, are set in a 90% of Green House Gases (GHG) reduction compared to levels in 1990. This long���term plan has set milestones to control the correct advance of achievement in 2020 and 2030. The main objective is to take advantage of the great potential to reduce energy demand from the building sector, in which housing represents 85% share in Spain. Among this reduction on building energy demand requirements, ventilation of dwellings becomes one of the challenges to solve as it���s directly connected to the indoor air quality (IAQ) and comfort conditions for the users, as well as proportional to the building energy demand on thermal conditioning. A big share of thermal losses in housing is caused by air renovation and infiltration through the envelope leaks. The European Directive on Building energy performance (EPBD), establishes the roots needed to reach the building sector objectives in terms of CO2 and GHG emissions. This directive sets the ventilation and renovation with clean air of the new and existing buildings as a fundamental requirement. The Sick Building Syndrome (SBS), an aggregation of symptoms and annoys associated to low air quality in non residential buildings, appeared as common after the 1973 oil crisis. It is originated in defective ventilation systems and deficient air renovation rates, as a consequence of trying to lower the energy bill. Accounting that we spend 58% of our time in dwellings, it becomes crucial to look after the indoor air quality and focus in not worsening it by applying ���energy efficient��� measures, with not expected side effects. To do so, it is primary to research in deep how the ventilation takes place in the housing blocks in Spain, in the aspects related to IAQ and ventilation energy demand. This thesis main objective is to establish a characterization and optimization methodology regarding the ventilation needs for existing housing in Spain, considering the twofold objective of guaranteeing the air quality as reducing the energy demand. The characterization of the existing housing building stock in Spain regarding ventilation is conclusive. More of 80% of the housing stock is distributed in 3 main periods: before the implementation of the firsts regulations on building comfort conditions (Normas B��sicas de la Edificaci��n), from 1960 to 1980; the period after the first recommendations on ventilation (NTE ISV 75) for housing were set, around 1980 until 2005 and; the period corresponding to the housing built after the existing mandatory regulation in terms of indoor sanity conditions and ventilation (Spanish Building Code, DB HS3) was set, in 2006. Selecting a representative blueprint of a housing block in Spain, which has medium characteristics not just within the 3 periods mention, but which qualities extent beyond the 3 of them, allows the next step, analyzing. This comparative and intense analyzing phase is focused on the air indoor conditions and the related energy demand, applying different configurations to the ventilation systems according to the different constructive or regulation period in which the building is built. This analysis is also twofold: 1) Numerical modeling with computer simulations and 2) experimental data collection from existing housing in real conditions to check and refine the models to be tested. Thanks to the analyzing phase conclusions, an optimization strategy on the ventilation of the housing stock is set, based on two actions to take: 1) To introduce a mechanical exhaust and intake ventilation system with heat recovery that allows reducing energy demand, as improves the capacity of the system to dilute the pollutant load. This way, the environmental quality is improved. 2) To optimize the schedule of the system use, avoids waste of energy in no occupancy periods, relying ventilation during this time in a light infiltration ventilation, intended not to become large and not causing extra energy losses. Apart from applying the previous analyzing methodology to the optimization strategy, regarding energy demand and air quality, a ROI valorization is performed, based on the cost optimal methodology (delegated regulation EU244/2012). The main results from the thesis are: ��� To obtain a through diagnose regarding air quality and energy demand for the existing housing stock in Spain, unavoidable to reach a energy deep retrofitting scheme with no air quality worsening. ��� To obtain a marker to relate air quality and energy demand and evaluate adequateness of ventilation systems, for the new regulations to come. ��� To establish an optimization strategy to improve both air quality and energy demand, applying a compared valorization methodology to obtain the Return On Investment (ROI).

Ecosystems as climate controllers ��� biotic feedbacks (a review)

There is good evidence that higher global temperature will promote a rise of green house gas levels, implying a positive feedback which will increase the effect of the anthropogenic emissions on global temperatures. Here we present a review about the results which deal with the possible feedbacks between ecosystems and the climate system. There are a lot of types of feedback which are classified. Some circulation models are compared to each other regarding their role in interactive carbon cycle.

Application of battery energy storage in the Qu��bec interconnection

Le Syst��me Stockage de l�����nergie par Batterie ou Batterie de Stockage d�����nergie (BSE) offre de formidables atouts dans les domaines de la production, du transport, de la distribution et de la consommation d�����nergie ��lectrique. Cette technologie est notamment consid��r��e par plusieurs op��rateurs �� travers le monde entier, comme un nouveau dispositif permettant d���injecter d���importantes quantit��s d�����nergie renouvelable d���une part et d���autre part, en tant que composante essentielle aux grands r��seaux ��lectriques. De plus, d�����normes avantages peuvent ��tre associ��s au d��ploiement de la technologie du BSE aussi bien dans les r��seaux intelligents que pour la r��duction de l�����mission des gaz �� effet de serre, la r��duction des pertes marginales, l���alimentation de certains consommateurs en source d�����nergie d���urgence, l���am��lioration de la gestion de l�����nergie, et l���accroissement de l���efficacit�� ��nerg��tique dans les r��seaux. Cette pr��sente th��se comprend trois ��tapes �� savoir : l�����tape 1 - est relative �� l���utilisation de la BSE en guise de r��duction des pertes ��lectriques ; l�����tape 2 - utilise la BSE comme ��l��ment de r��serve tournante en vue de l���att��nuation de la vuln��rabilit�� du r��seau ; et l�����tape 3 - introduit une nouvelle m��thode d���am��lioration des oscillations de fr��quence par modulation de la puissance r��active, et l���utilisation de la BSE pour satisfaire la r��serve primaire de fr��quence. La premi��re ��tape, relative �� l���utilisation de la BSE en vue de la r��duction des pertes, est elle-m��me subdivis��e en deux sous-��tapes dont la premi��re est consacr��e �� l���allocation optimale et le seconde, �� l���utilisation optimale. Dans la premi��re sous-��tape, l���Algorithme g��n��tique NSGA-II (Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II) a ��t�� programm�� dans CASIR, le Super-Ordinateur de l���IREQ, en tant qu���algorithme ��volutionniste multiobjectifs, permettant d���extraire un ensemble de solutions pour un dimensionnement optimal et un emplacement ad��quat des multiple unit��s de BSE, tout en minimisant les pertes de puissance, et en consid��rant en m��me temps la capacit�� totale des puissances des unit��s de BSE install��es comme des fonctions objectives. La premi��re sous-��tape donne une r��ponse satisfaisante �� l���allocation et r��sout aussi la question de la programmation/scheduling dans l���interconnexion du Qu��bec. Dans le but de r��aliser l���objectif de la seconde sous-��tape, un certain nombre de solutions ont ��t�� retenues et d��velopp��es/implant��es durant un intervalle de temps d���une ann��e, tout en tenant compte des param��tres (heure, capacit��, rendement/efficacit��, facteur de puissance) associ��s aux cycles de charge et de d��charge de la BSE, alors que la r��duction des pertes marginales et l���efficacit�� ��nerg��tique constituent les principaux objectifs. Quant �� la seconde ��tape, un nouvel indice de vuln��rabilit�� a ��t�� introduit, formalis�� et ��tudi�� ; indice qui est bien adapt�� aux r��seaux modernes ��quip��s de BES. L���algorithme g��n��tique NSGA-II est de nouveau ex��cut�� (r��-ex��cut��) alors que la minimisation de l���indice de vuln��rabilit�� propos�� et l���efficacit�� ��nerg��tique repr��sentent les principaux objectifs. Les r��sultats obtenus prouvent que l���utilisation de la BSE peut, dans certains cas, ��viter des pannes majeures du r��seau. La troisi��me ��tape expose un nouveau concept d���ajout d���une inertie virtuelle aux r��seaux ��lectriques, par le proc��d�� de modulation de la puissance r��active. Il a ensuite ��t�� pr��sent�� l���utilisation de la BSE en guise de r��serve primaire de fr��quence. Un mod��le g��n��rique de BSE, associ�� �� l���interconnexion du Qu��bec, a enfin ��t�� propos�� dans un environnement MATLAB. Les r��sultats de simulations confirment la possibilit�� de l���utilisation des puissances active et r��active du syst��me de la BSE en vue de la r��gulation de fr��quence.

Greenhouse gas balance due to the conversion of sugarcane areas from burned to green harvest, considering other conservationist management practices

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient��fico e Tecnol��gico (CNPq)

Greenhouse gas mitigation potential from green harvested sugarcane scenarios in S��o Paulo State, Brazil

Brazil is a major sugarcane producer and S��o Paulo State cultivates 5.5 million hectares, close to 50% of Brazil's sugarcane area. The rapid increase in production has brought into question the sustainability of biofuels, especially considering the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated to the agricultural sector. Despite the significant progress towards the green harvest practices, 1.67 million hectares were still burned in S��o Paulo State during the 2011 harvest season. Here an emissions inventory for the life cycle of sugarcane agricultural production is estimated using IPCC methodologies, according to the agriculture survey data and remote sensing database. Our hypothesis is that 1.67 million hectares shall be converted from burned to green harvest scenarios up to years 2021 (rate 1), 2014 (rate 2) or 2029 (rate 3). Those conversions would represent a significant GHG mitigation, ranging from 50.5 to 70.9 megatons of carbon dioxide equivalent (Mt CO2eq) up to 2050, depending on the conversion rate and the green harvest systems adopted: conventional (scenario S1) or conservationist management (scenario S2). We show that a green harvest scenario where crop rotation and reduced soil tillage are practiced has a higher mitigation potential (70.9��Mt CO2eq), which is already practiced in some of the sugarcane areas. Here we support the decision to not just stop burning prior to harvest, but also to consider other better practices in sugarcane areas to have a more sustainable sugarcane based ethanol production in the most dense cultivated sugarcane region in Brazil. �� 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.