34 research outputs found
Are voluntary markets effective in replacing state-led support for the expansion of renewables? A comparative analysis of voluntary green electricity markets in Germany, the UK, France and Italy
No full textWith state-led support being only temporary, attention has turned to retail electricity markets to provide long- term support for renewable electricity. Past research has focused on consumer preferences for green elec-tricity, i.e. the demand side. We investigated the supply side by analyzing what suppliers selling green retail electricity products in the UK, Germany, France and Italy actually provide. Through content analysis of the online data provided by these companies, we found that most products in Germany and France rely on Scan-dinavian hydropower. Since almost all of these plants have been operating for decades, these products today cannot be said to effectively drive new renewable capacities. Products in the UK and Italy rely on sources which already have state-led support and thus also do not drive the expansion of renewables. In fact, none of the four countries has established a policy framework that successfully fosters the development of a voluntary market for green electricity capable of driving the expansion of renewables. Alignment between sustainable energy policy objectives, consumer demand, and supply-side offerings in a voluntary market might be improved by empow-ering consumers through a simplified and possibly state-led labeling scheme that focuses on environmental impact and includes minimum standards for performance
Synthetic natural gas in the private heating sector in Germany: match or mismatch between production costs and consumer willingness to pay?
No full textAbstract Background The residential heating sector in many European countries requires a fundamental transformation if it is to become climate neutral. Besides the introduction of efficiency measures and updating heating systems, scholars and practitioners consider replacing fossil fuels in existing heating systems a viable approach. Drop-in renewable gases such as biomethane and synthetic natural gas (SNG) cause considerably fewer carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions than natural gas and can be used in natural gas boilers, the dominant heating system in many European countries. To move the ongoing debate around e-fuels forward, this study reports on a Discrete Choice Experiment with 512 respondents in Germany that analyzed consumer preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for SNG. I build on these insights by comparing WTP to the production costs, making evidence-based decision-making possible. Results The results show that consumers prefer renewable gases over natural gas. Comparing the two types of renewable gases, SNG and biomethane, reveals that consumers clearly favor the latter despite the criticism it has come under in the last 10–15 years. Consumers show a surprisingly high WTP for increasing shares of SNG, with premia of 40 to almost 70% over a natural gas-based tariff. Comparing production costs to the WTP reveals that only tariffs with small shares of SNG (5% and 10%) can be offered at cost-covering prices. Conclusions Given the urgent need for a fundamental transition of the residential heating sector, marketers and policymakers should consider carefully whether it is worth channeling a rather unknown and expensive product like SNG into the voluntary market for heating gas, especially as biomethane is already established in the market and clearly a cheaper and more popular alternative
Renewable gases fueling the energy transition in residential heating and private transportation: A multi-perspective approach
No full textThis dissertation examines the role of renewable gases - biomethane and synthetic natural gas (SNG) - in Germany's energy transition, focusing on the residential heating and private transportation sectors. The research is grounded in a coevolutionary approach, that emphasizes socio-technical system transitions, and draws on theories of consumer decision-making and energy policy design. A mixed-methods approach underpins this work: qualitative analyses explore policy frameworks and consumer perceptions, while quantitative Discrete Choice Experiments investigate consumer preferences and willingness-to-pay (WTP).
Empirically, the five articles of this cumulative dissertation highlight critical findings. Policies favor renewable gases in electricity and transportation, leaving heating markets underdeveloped, with biomethane adoption largely driven by regulatory mandates. Consumer decisions in these markets are marked by low involvement, limited awareness, and significant price sensitivity. Nevertheless, there is notable willingness to pay for renewable gas products, particularly SNG, though this willingness often fails to match higher production costs. The four articles are structured into two parts. The first part explores the policy and market structures shaping renewable gas uptake, including an analysis of tariff offerings and the regulatory landscape. The second part delves into consumer behavior, with articles assessing perceptions, preferences, and pricing dynamics for biomethane and SNG. Collectively, this dissertation advances the literature on energy transitions, consumer behavior, and renewable gas market integration, offering actionable insights for policymakers, market stakeholders, and researchers
Policy and political consequences of mandatory climate impact assessments: an explorative study of German cities and municipalities
No full textSince May 2019, several German cities and municipalities have declared a ‘climate emergency’, an action which makes climate impact assessments mandatory for all projects or policy proposals. How have the processes in the local governments changed in response to the emergency status? How have the processes in the city and municipal councils changed? And how, if at all, has the relationship between elected politicians (who make up the city and municipal councils) and bureaucrats (who make up the local government) changed? Based on 13 interviews carried out with representatives of city and municipal councils and local governments, we show, first, that local governments expect a higher workload and to spend more time on cross-sectoral coordination and cooperation. Second, the issue of climate change is now part of the political agenda in the local councils. Third, the administrative actors are now in a stronger position vis-à-vis the political ones as they can de facto veto projects or policies. Overall, we conclude that local-level climate politics has changed following the declaration of the emergency status; however, the design of the corresponding policies has not changed to reflect the cross-sectoral character of responses to climate change
Naturally occurring neurologic disease in a fallow deer infected with meningeal worms
No full textNeurologic disease resulting from infection with Parelaphostrongylus tenuis was diagnosed in a fallow deer (Dama dama) from Georgia, USA, with clinical signs and histopathologic lesions similar to those reported for other accidental hosts of P. tenuis. Early 5th-stage parasites were found in the spinal meninges and immature parasites were found in the neural parenchyma, but none was recovered from the brain and cranial meninges. [AS].SC: ZA; CA; VE; PA; 0H; 0ISource type: Electronic(1) http://upei-resolver.asin-risa.ca?sid=SP:CABI&id=pmid:&id=&issn=0090-3558&isbn=&volume=13&issue=1&spage=55&pages=55-58&date=1977&title=Journal%20of%20Wildlife%20Diseases&atitle=Naturally%20occurring%20neurologic%20disease%20in%20a%20fallow%20deer%20infected%20with%20meningeal%20worms.&aulast=Kistner&pid=%3Cauthor%3EKistner%2c%20T%20P%3bJohnson%2c%20G%20R%3bRilling%2c%20G%20A%3C%2Fauthor%3E%3CAN%3E19770833899%3C%2FAN%3E%3CDT%3EJournal%20article%3C%2FDT%3
What Drives the Participation of Renewable Energy Cooperatives in European Energy Governance?
No full textWhat determines the willingness of renewable energy cooperatives (RECs) to strengthen their involvement in politics at the different levels of governments (local/regional, national, transnational)? We address this research question by using data from an original survey distributed to RECs in Germany. The descriptive analysis shows that the RECs are less willing to participate in energy governance at the EU/transnational level than at the national and especially the subnational level. Our analytical findings, first, show that the odds of RECs to participate in governance processes in the future are greater for those RECs that are already involved in such processes. Put differently, we find that engagement in energy governance is affected by path-dependence. Second, participation in subnational governance processes is determined by dissatisfaction with policy decisions taken at that level: the more dissatisfied the respondents, the more likely they are to exert influence in the future. For the Energy Union to realise its aim of incorporating a broader range of stakeholders, the European Commission must highlight the opportunity structure it provides for participating in governance processes
Policy frameworks and voluntary markets for biomethane - How do different policies influence providers’ product strategies?
No full textDiscontinuous molecular dynamics (DMD) study of heteropolymer collapse in an explicit solvent
No full textIn this study, we employ the discontinuous molecular dynamics simulation method to investigate the collapse properties of a single heteropolymer chain in an explicit solvent. Solvent density ρ, fraction of hydrophobic monomers n H (defined as the ratio of the number of hydrophobic monomers to the total number of monomers) and a hydrophobicity parameter λ (which controls the energy mismatch between the monomers and solvent particles) were systematically varied to examine their role in polymer collapse. The average static structure factor of the polymer was used to find the so-called θ-point characterizing the state of an ideal chain. Phase diagrams of ρ versus λ for the coil-globule transition were mapped out for different values of n H. Increasing the fraction of hydrophobic monomers n H, solvent density ρ, and hydrophobicity parameter λ were all shown to aid in stabilizing the globule phase. In an effort to explore scaling behaviour of the coil-globule phase diagram as a function of n H, and to investigate whether the phase boundaries for different n H collapsed on to one universal curve, we rescaled λ by n H (δ) λ; we determined δ = 1.72, in contrast to mean-field predictions of δ = 2.0
Cuidando do recém-nascido em UTIN: convivendo com a fragilidade do viver/sobreviver à luz da complexidade
No full textDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Florianópolis, 2009.Este estudo trata da elaboração de um modelo que contempla o fenômeno do cuidado em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal a partir da compreensão do ser e fazer enquanto enfermeiro neste sistema complexo. Tal compreensão aborda as transformações ocorridas desde a criação das UTINs até a atualidade, vislumbrando sua busca pela integralidade ao oferecer um cuidado sensível e compartilhado. O referencial metodológico da Teoria Fundamentada nos Dados (Grounded theory) associado ao Paradigma da Complexidade de Edgar Morin foi utilizado na análise e na construção do Modelo Teórico: CUIDANDO DO RECÉM-NASCIDO EM UTIN: Convivendo com a fragilidade do viver/sobreviver à luz da complexidade. Participaram da pesquisa 11 sujeitos, entre enfermeiros e mães com bebês internados na UTIN. Utilizou-se a entrevista aberta para coleta dos dados. A análise comparativa dos dados subsidiou o processo de codificação, amostragem, saturação teórica, ordenação e integração dos dados. Os dados foram inseridos no software NVIVO, dando seqüência na organização e agrupamento dos mesmos. A organização dos códigos foi feita de acordo com suas propriedades e, então, agrupados em códigos preliminares, subcategorias e categorias. Através das inter-relações entre categorias, emergente dos dados coletados, identificou-se a categoria central, eixo norteador do Modelo Teórico, e integradora das categorias analíticas denominada: Convivendo com a fragilidade do viver/sobreviver: cuidado altamente complexo, sensível, singular e compartilhado em torno da qual giram as demais categorias: Buscando conhecimentos e competências; Gerenciando o cuidado na UTIN e Vivenciando as singularidades na UTIN. Neste contexto, o cuidado em UTIN se fortalece como uma das áreas da Enfermagem em constante desenvolvimento, visando conciliar os avanços tecnológicos importantes para o sobreviver do bebê prematuro com abordagens que valorizam as inter-relações em seu quotidiano, de modo sistêmico. Busca atuar nas diversas esferas do cuidado complexo em saúde, desde os serviços de apoio da instituição hospitalar e seus gestores até a academia, visando evitar atuações compartimentadas e isoladas, integrando e aplicando conhecimentos científicos, com ganhos para a prática profissional. Oferecer suporte tecnológico já não basta. A pesquisa ressalta que é necessário exercitar as potencialidades já inatas dos profissionais de enfermagem e caminhar para o encontro de outras, um verdadeiro convite a novas percepções de cuidar do neonato, sua família e os membros deste sistema complexo, numa constante inquietação e adaptação para as demandas que surgem. Assim, as indagações norteadoras desta pesquisa convidam para a ampliação de novos horizontes de investigação, de forma que as possibilidades de estudos indicadas permitam o aprofundamento no âmbito das organizações de saúde e da academia.This study deals with the elaboration of a model which contemplates the phenomenon of care in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), based on the comprehension of the human being and human actor as a nurse in this complex system. Such comprehension encompasses the transformations which have occurred since the creation of the NICUs, discerning its search for the entirety to offer sensible and shared care. The methodological reference of the Grounded Theory associated with Edgar Morins Complexity Theory was utilized in analysis and the construction of the Theoretical Model: CARING FOR THE NEWBORN IN THE NICU: Living with the fragility of living/surviving in the light of complexity. The sample was composed of 11 subjects, including nurses and mothers with newborns in the NICU. Open interviews were used in order to collect data. Comparative data analysis subsidized the data codification, sampling, theoretical saturation, ordering, and integration processes. Data was inserted into NVIVO software, providing a sequence in data organization and grouping. Organizing the codes was done according to their properties and thus, grouped in preliminary codes, subcategories, and categories. Through the relationships in these categories which emerged from the data collected, the central category, the guiding axis of the Theoretical Model and the integrating factor of the analytical categories was identified, denominated: Living with the fragility of living/surviving: highly complex, sensitive, singular, and shared care around which are the following categories: Seeking knowledge and competencies; Managing NICU care; and Living the singularities of the NICU. In this context, NICU care is strengthened as one of the Nursing areas in constant development, seeking to conciliate important technological advances towards premature newborn survival with the approaches which systematically value day-to-day relationships. It seeks to enact in the diverse spheres of complex health care, from the support services of the hospital institution and its management to academia, searching to avoid fragmented and isolated care through integrating and applying scientific knowledge with gains for professional practice. Offering technological support is no longer enough. Research highlights that it is necessary to exercise already innate potential in nursing professionals and work towards finding others, a true invitation towards new perceptions for care for the newborn, his/her family, and the members of this complex system in a constant unrest and adaptation of demands which may arise. Thus, the guiding questions of this study invite towards the amplification of new investigative horizons, in such a manner that the possibilities for suggested studies permit more profound in the realm of health care and academic organizations
Weiterentwicklung von MoleARlert
No full text"MoleARlert" entstand im Rahmen eines Projektpraktikums der AG Computergrafik, unter Leitung Herrn Prof. Müllers und Herrn Dipl.-Inf. Stefan Rilling, im Wintersemester 2008/2009. Das System wurde von insgesamt zwölf Studierenden der Universität Koblenz-Landau entwickelt. Inhalt dieser Studienarbeit ist neben der Beschreibung des Systems vor allem die Veränderungen, die vom Autor nach Abschluss des Projektpraktikums, an diesem vorgenommen wurden unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Neu- und Weiterentwicklungen die dazu führten die Reife des Systems zu verbessern. Ein weiterer wichtiger Aspekt der Arbeit ist die Einbindung einer Webkamera in eine 3D-Engine in Echtzeit.MoleARlert is the result of a study-project of the Computer Graphics Working Group of the University of Koblenz-Landau. The project was led by Prof. Dr. Stefan Müller and Dipl.-Inf. Stefan Rilling. The system has been devolped by twelve students. This paper describes the developed system and focuses on the further developments made by the author in order to improve the degree of maturity of the system. Another important aspect of this work is the realtime access to a webcam from the open source 3D game engine OGRE
