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Rethinking Streetlights - Copenhagen's Bus Stops through Perception, Movement, and Urban Identity.
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Neurodivergent in social work - a qualitative and practice-oriented study of demands and adaption in newly graduated social workers encounter with work life.
No full textThis master thesis explores how neurodivergent social workers experience the transition from been a student to becoming an employee. Our findings reveal these experiences as individual and shaped by the gap between personal needs and the demands of the professional environment. A central theme is the neurodivergent social worker’s dilemma, whether to be an out and open neurodivergent employee or to keep the neurodivergence in the closet. As far as deciding to be in or out goes, many of our interview participants struggle due to fear of stigma, judgment or dismissal. Some choose to suppress their neurodivergence to come off as a normal, whole and multi experienced professional. But only in front of their boss and colleagues. In the interaction where the neurodivergent social worker meets the client, we find that the neurodivergence gets articulated as an undefined superpower. Another theme is the difference between the types of help and support offered by the educational institutions vs. the types of help, support and compensation in the professional environment. Our findings are based on interview participants’ statements and based on these, the responsibility for seeking compensation lies with the neurodivergent student/social worker. However, it is more attractive to ask for compensation during education than during work. This discrepancy creates barriers for neurodivergent social workers, who may struggle to meet job demands without adequate compensation. We conclude that neurodivergent social worker’s ability to thrive depends on their own needs and their willingness to adapt. Based on our findings we furthermore conclude that professional social workers without neurodivergence express concern that educational compensations contribute to a non-realistic description of the many complexities of social work
BESS in Denmark: An evaluation of business-economic viability and organisational framework
No full textThis thesis investigates the financial viability and organisational framework of stand-alone Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in Denmark. It is guided by the research question: "How do BESS's current and future business economic prospects affect its financial viability in Denmark, and how could relevant stakeholders address the challenges and opportunities related to BESS planning, regulation, and deployment?" The thesis combines qualitative and quantitative methods, including stakeholder analysis, interviews, and techno-economic modelling of a 10 MW / 20 MWh stand-alone BESS participating in the frequency containment reserve and intraday market, in DK1 for 2024. The modelling results show that BESS can be financially viable, but the return is modest and sensitive to changes in market saturation, conditions, and investment costs. Multi-market participation is essential for achieving economic viability. The analysis also finds that local planning and authorisation processes are characterised by regulatory uncertainty and a lack of national guidance. This creates uneven conditions across municipalities and contributes to an uncertain investment environment. In conclusion, the thesis highlights both the challenges and opportunities facing BESS in Denmark. It presents insights into BESS's financial viability and organisational structure under current conditions for decision makers. It recommends providing more explicit national guidance for local planning and that BESS's future role be holistically assessed from a smart energy system perspective
The Circular Shift - Towards a holistic urban future
No full textClimate change and rapid urbanization demand a fundamental shift in the way we design and transform our urban environments. The building and construction sector remains a major contributor to global carbon emissions (United Nations Environment Programme and Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction, 2025), while demolition-led renewal strategies in socially vulnerable areas often undermine both climate goals and community well-being. This thesis investigates how the Danish social housing area of Toveshøj, located in the Brabrand district of Aarhus, can be transformed into a circular and socially sustainable neighborhood without relying on demolition.By integrating the theoretical concepts of Circular Economy (CE), Social Sustainability, and Design for Disassembly (DfD), the study proposes a holistic design framework that addresses both environmental and social dimensions of urban transformation. The research identifies the challenges and potentials of the Toveshøj area through spatial, social, and material analysis, revealing opportunities for reuse, micro-climate adaptation, and community-centered public space design.The resulting design proposal envisions Toveshøj as a regenerative neighborhood, where material flows, social interaction, and ecological resilience are interlinked. New housing typologies, multifunctional public spaces, and enhanced mobility networks are introduced to strengthen neighborhood identity and foster local circular practices. Common areas are reprogrammed to serve as social anchors that support well-being, learning, and biodiversity.Ultimately, the thesis positions Toveshøj as a pioneering model for circularity at a neighborhood-scale by demonstrating how sustainable transformation can be achieved through inclusive, adaptive, and non-destructive design interventions that benefit both human and non-human life
Investigation of a Transcritical CO2 Heat Pump in a District Heating Network with Excess Heat from a Power-to-X Facility
No full textSpecialet undersøger ydeevnen og den økonomiske gennemførlighed ved at integrere en transkritisk CO₂-varmepumpe i Aalborgs fjernvarmenet, med fokus på at udnytte overskudsvarme fra et fremtidigt Power-to-X-anlæg. En stationær model af én 44,25 MW enhed viste en COP på 3,35, mens den dynamiske model, som tager højde for sæsonvariationer og transiente forhold, gav en lavere COP på 2,33. Inklusionen af en lagdelt varmtvandsbeholder forbedrede systemets fleksibilitet og øgede effektiviteten en smule. En skal-og-rør varmeveksler blev modelleret til at forvarme havvand, der ledes ind i fordamperen, ved hjælp af overskudsvarme. Dette hævede indløbstemperaturen med kun mellem 0,6 og 2,3 K og forbedrede COP'en marginalt fra 0,0256 til 0,0431. Den økonomiske analyse viste, at kapitalomkostningen for varmeveksleren blev estimeret til €14,7 millioner og ikke kunne retfærdiggøres af de driftsbesparelser, der var forbundet med den øgede COP. Nutidsværdiberegninger over 20 år viste, at systemet uden varmeveksleren var mere økonomisk rentabelt. Konklusionen er, at selvom den transkritiske CO₂-varmepumpe er teknisk effektiv og miljømæssigt fordelagtig, er integrationen af overskudsvarme via en stor varmeveksler i øjeblikket ikke omkostningseffektiv. Studiet anbefaler yderligere optimering og udforskning af alternative konfigurationer for at forbedre både ydeevne og økonomisk levedygtighed.The thesis investigates the performance and economic feasibility of integrating a transcritical CO heat pump into Aalborg’s district heating network, with a focus on utilising excess heat from a future Power-to-X facility. A steady-state model of one 44.25 MW module showed a COP of 3.35, while the dynamic model, which accounts for seasonal variations and transient behaviour, yielded a lower COP of 2.33. The inclusion of a stratified hot water storage tank improved system flexibility and slightly increased efficiency. A shell-and-tube heat exchanger was modelled to preheat seawater entering the evaporator using excess heat. This raised the inlet temperature only between 0.6 and 2.3 K and improved COP marginally from 0.0256 to 0.0431. The economic analysis revealed that the capital cost of the heat exchanger was estimated at \EUR14.7M and was not justified by the operational savings linked to the increased COP. Present worth value calculations over 20 years showed that the system without the heat exchanger was more economically viable. In conclusion, while the transcritical CO heat pump is technically effective and environmentally beneficial, the integration of excess heat via a large-scale heat exchanger is not currently cost-effective. The study recommends further optimisation and exploration of alternative configurations to improve both performance and economic viabilit
Solar Power: Creating Value for Rural Villages through Renewable Energy Projects in the Realm of Contemporary Danish Strategic Spatial Planning.
No full textThe aim of this thesis has been to investigate how renewable energy projects, particularly ground-mounted solar parks, canbe meaningfully integrated into contemporary Danish strategic spatial planningfor rural villages, whilst preserving andenhancing their social, cultural, and landscape qualities.The thesis combines insights from adaptive and transformative strategic planningtheory with lessons drawn from two keycases: the Viuf-Håstrup solar park andthe village of Harndrup. These two locations served as focal points for exploringhow solar parks can be designed and implemented to generate local value beyondmere energy production.The theoretical framework builds uponcollaborative and place-sensitive planningtraditions, highlighting how spatial planners, municipalities, and energy developers can mediate between national sustainability ambitions and local landscapevalues. A context-sensitive planning anddesign model for integrating solar energyprojects into rural settings is proposed.This model was applied to Harndrup andtranslated into a series of spatial designinterventions, grounded in a nuancedunderstanding of the site’s social fabric,cultural identity, and physical landscape.These interventions seek to reinforce thevillage’s existing qualities, align with strategic development objectives, and createadded value for both the community andits surroundings.Through thoughtful spatial integration,the use of visual design principles, andclose attention to community needs, theproject demonstrates how solar parks canact as catalysts for rural development. Theadded value lies in improved public accessto the landscape, a strengthened sense oflocal identity, enhanced recreational opportunities, and new connections betweentechnological infrastructure and everydaylife.Ultimately, this thesis argues that, with theappropriate strategic tools, participatoryprocesses, and design awareness, solarparks can contribute to an approach toDenmark’s green transition that add valueto rural village
Professional Navigation in the Unknown: Kindergarten Staff's Encounter with Childhood Cancer
No full textThe Value of Place: Assessing Location-Based Economic Feasibility of Data Center Heat Recovery
No full textThis thesisinvestigatestheeconomicfeasibilityofreusingExcessHeat(EH)fromDataCenters(DCs) forDistrictHeating(DH)purposes,emphasizinghowlocation-relatedfactorsinfluencefinancial viabilityofsuchprojects.Thestudy,groundedinLocationTheoryandIndustrial-Urban Symbiosis,comparativelyanalyzesNetPresentValue(NPV)andDiscountedPaybackPeriod(DPB) ofsixreal-worldDanishDCsites,identifiedthroughspatialanalysis.Thethesisidentifiesthree keylocation-relatedinputfactorsfortheNPVmodel:DHconnectioncosts,temperaturedifference betweenDC’sEHandDHsupply(HP’sCOP),andlocalEHprice.Resultsshowthatdifferences inDClocationcanleadtosignificantlyvariedNPVoutcomes,withcostsofconnectionbetweenDCandDHbeingadecisivefactor.While,withinputEHandelectricityprices,onlylarge-scale DCswithefficientliquidcoolingshowpositiveNPVwithina12-yeartimeframe,resultssuggestthe needtoaccountforlocalspatialandeconomiccontextwhenplanningforDC’sEHrecovery.The projecthighlightstheimportanceofintegratingspatialplanningandenergyinfrastructuredecisions tounlockthepotentialofDCheatreuseinsustainableurbanenergysystems