Energy payback time of grid connected pv systems: comparison between tracking and fixed systems

A review of existing studies about LCA of PV systems has been carried out. The data from this review have been completed with our own figures in order to calculate the Energy Payback Time of double and horizontal axis tracking and fixed systems. The results of this metric span from 2 to 5 years for the latitude and global irradiation ranges of the geographical area comprised between −10◦ to 10◦ of longitude, and 30◦ to 45◦ of latitude. With the caution due to the uncertainty of the sources of information, these results mean that a GCPVS is able to produce back the energy required for its existence from 6 to 15 times during a life cycle of 30 years. When comparing tracking and fixed systems, the great importance of the PV generator makes advisable to dedicate more energy to some components of the system in order to increase the productivity and to obtain a higher performance of the component with the highest energy requirement. Both double axis and horizontal axis trackers follow this way, requiring more energy in metallic structure, foundations and wiring, but this higher contribution is widely compensated by the improved productivity of the system.

Regulatory price performance, excess cost indexes and profitability:how effective is price cap regulation in the water industry?

In this study we apply an index number approach to allow for cross sectional comparisons of relative profitability, productivity and price performance of the regulated Water and Sewerage companies (WaSCs) in England and Wales during the years 1991-2008. In order to better analyse the impact of regulation on WaSC performance, we decompose actual economic profits into spatial multilateral Fisher productivity (TFP) index, the inverse of which is demonstrated to be a regulatory excess cost index that measures the deviation of a firm’s actual costs from benchmark costs, and a newly developed regulatory total price performance (TPP) index, which measures the excess of regulated revenues relative to benchmark costs. Increases (decreases) in regulatory price performance are indicative of the loosening (tightening) of price cap regulation. Moreover, we also show that the relationship between actual economic profitability, regulatory excess costs and regulatory price performance indices can be used to categorize regulatory price caps as “weak”, “powerful” or “catch-up promoting”. The results indicated that throughout the entire 1991-2008 period, price caps were never “powerful”, in the sense that they required less productive firms to immediately and fully catch-up to the most productive firm to regain economic profitability. More specifically, during the years 1991-2000 price caps were “weak” as prices were high enough for the firms to achieve economic profits despite their low productivity levels. However, after 2001 prices became “catch up promoting” as they required less productive companies to eliminate at least some excess costs in order to eliminate economic losses. Finally, we emphasize that as our results also clearly demonstrated a much closer alignment between allowed revenues and benchmark costs after 2001, Ofwat’s approach during this period was not only appropriate, but should also be continued in the 2009 price review.

Trademark law and theory:a handbook of contemporary research

Publication Review: Trademark Law and Theory: A Handbook of Contemporary Research, Edited by Graeme B. Dinwoodie and Mark D. Janis

Application of Oribatid mites as indicators

This review discusses the connection between quantitative changes of environmental factors and oribatid communities. With the overview of available studies, it can be clearly explored how various characteristics of Oribatid communities are modified due to changes in moisture, temperature, heavy metal concentration, organic matter content and level of disturbance. The most important question concerning the application of Oribatids as indicators is to clarify what kind of information content does natural Oribatid coenological patterns possess from the aspect of bioindication. Most of the variables listed above can be directly measured, since rapid methods are available to quantify parameters of the soil. Responses of Oribatids are worth to study in a more complex approach. Even now we have an expansive knowledge on how communities change due to modifications of different factors. These pieces of information necessitate the elaboration of such methods which render Oribatid communities suitable for the task to prognosticate what extent the given site can be considered near-natural or degraded, based on the Oribatid composition of a single sample taken from the given area. Answering this problem needs extensive and coordinated work.

Dr. Greg Starr and Dr. Justin Cummings working on the eddy covariance and meteorological tower near TS/Ph-1

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Graduate student David Lagomasino downloading surface water flow data at SRS-1

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Scientific research in tourism: review of the literature from 2005 to 2009

This article presents the results of a review of the literature on tourism from 2005 to 2009. Precisely, 1,648 articles were reviewed and classified into eight macro-lines of research. The content of the Strategy macro-line was analyzed in greater depth, as it was considered to be an "umbrella" for the other dimensions pertinent to tourism. The literature thus provided significant elements confirming the appropriateness of the strategic network perspective for research on sustainable tourism management, and it also helped identify the actors that are most critical for leading the development of a tourist destination.

Final Report on the Review of the Home Accident Prevention Strategy Action Plan 2004-2009 (PDF 147KB)

Report on the Review of the Home Accident Prevention Strategy & Action Plan 2004-09

Hine Review on the 2009 Influenza Pandemic (PDF 934KB)

An independent review of the UK response to the 2009 influenza pandemic

Report on a review of selected general and application controls over the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System (IPERS) I-Que Pension Administration System for the period March 24, 2009 through April 22, 2009

Report on a review of selected general and application controls over the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System (IPERS) I-Que Pension Administration System for the period March 24, 2009 through April 22, 2009

Iowa Efficiency Review Report to Governor Chet Culver and Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge, December 18,2009

Public Works is pleased to present the following Iowa Efficiency Review Report to Governor Chet Culver and Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge. This report is the product of a collaboration between our consulting team and very dedicated Iowa state employees who worked with us to share ideas and cost‐saving proposals under very difficult circumstances caused by the national financial crisis that is affecting state budgets throughout the country. For example, during the course of this review, Iowa departments were also asked to develop across‐the‐board cuts to achieve immediate reductions in state spending. It is a credit to Iowa state government that departmental staff continued to work on this Efficiency Review Report despite these challenges of also having to develop across‐the‐board budget cuts to achieve a balanced budget. We hope that these ideas will set the stage for further future budget improvements from achieving efficiencies, eliminating outdated practices, increasing the use of information technology solutions and finding new sources of non‐tax funding. The Efficiency Review Team faced a second challenge. Statewide Efficiency Reviews usually take from nine to 12 months to complete. In Iowa, we worked with dedicated department staff to complete our work in less than 4 months. The Governor challenged all of us to work intensely and to give him our best thinking on efficiency proposals so that he could act as quickly as possible to position state government for success over the next several years.

Report on a review of the Transportation Enhancement Program of the Iowa Department of Transportation for projects closed out during the period July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2009

Report on a review of the Transportation Enhancement Program of the Iowa Department of Transportation for projects closed out during the period July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2009

Report on a review of selected general and application controls over the Iowa Department of Human Services’ Issuance Verification System for the period March 19, 2009 through April 17, 2009

Report on a review of selected general and application controls over the Iowa Department of Human Services’ Issuance Verification System for the period March 19, 2009 through April 17, 2009

Report on a review of selected general and application controls over the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Internal Billing System for the period April 6, 2009 through July 31, 2009

Report on a review of selected general and application controls over the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Internal Billing System for the period April 6, 2009 through July 31, 2009