1,720,962 research outputs found
Life cycle assessment and multivariate data analysis for an integrated characterisation of the technologies for electric energy production
No full textLCA and MDA for an integrated characterization of the technologies for electric energy production
No full textPower production systems are responsible for most local air pollutants as well as greenhouse gas emissions.
Renewable energy technologies allow one to reduce atmospheric pollution, but their total environmental impact (all life cycle phases) should be carefully assessed to avoid environmental degradation. Power production systems are responsible for most local air pollutants as well as greenhouse gas emissions. Renewable energy technologies allow one to reduce
atmospheric pollution, but their total environmental impact (all life cycle phases) should be carefully assessed to avoid environmental degradation. The aim of this
work was to characterise with a quantitative criterion the environmental impact of the in-use technologies for power production and to develop a methodology
based on a statistical approach that detects the cause-effect relationships. A general purpose methodology, based on the integration of LCA and MDA, was then implemented and applied for analysing the technological options provided
by the Energy Plan of Basilicata Region (Southern Italy). An inventory analysis of the air pollutants emitted by these technologies was carried out using LCA.
The inventory matrices were normalised and subsequently analysed by Cluster Analysis and Principal Component Analysis. In this way, the initial data were aggregated into statistically homogeneous groups and the principal components
were individuated, characterising the relationships between technologies and pollutants. The integration of the two methods allows for improvement of the informative content of LCA results, broadening its possible fields of application
A model for representing the Italian energy system: The NEEDS-TIMES experience
No full textSustainability of energy systems has a strategic role in the current energy-environmental policies as it involves key issues such as security of energy supply, mitigation of environmental impact (with special regard to air quality improvement) and energy affordability. In this framework modelling activities are more than ever a strategic issue in order to manage the large complexity of energy systems as well as to support the decision-making process at different stages and spatial scales (regional, national, Pan-European, etc.). The aim of this article is to present a new model for the Italian energy system implemented with a common effort in the framework of an integrated project under the Sixth Framework Programme. In particular, the main features of the common methodology are briefly recalled and the modelling structure, the main data and assumptions, sector by sector, are presented. Moreover the main results obtained for the baseline (BAU) scenario are fully descfibed
A REPRESENTATION OF THE SLOVENIAN ENERGY SYSTEM USING THE NEEDS TIMES MODEL
No full textThe relationships between anthropogenic activities and the environment require a careful analysis of economic and technological implication of energy-climate policies, to redirect the energy systems towards a sustainable configuration. This implies the implementation of innovative decisional tools for policy assessment to support the policy makers in the definition of effective energy-environmental strategies, coherent at different spatial scales. In this framework partial equilibrium models as the TIMES models generator, developed under the IEA-ETSAP Programme, represent a powerful tool to analyse global, national and local issues and to support the formulation of comprehensive policies. These tools are utilized in the framework of the Integrated Project NEEDS of the VI Framework Programme to implement a unique modelling platform, the Pan European NEEDS TIMES model, based on the integration of the energy system models of 30 EU countries, which are linked by energy and emissions trades. This paper is aimed to describe the NEEDS TIMES methodological approach in the Slovenia case study, providing a full picture of the actual national energy system and discussing the model indications for its development on a 50-year time horizon, based on a least-cost approach in an unconstrained (Business As Usual - BAU) scenari
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Assessment of externalities related to global and local air pollutants with the NEEDS-TIMES Italy model
No full textThis work is aimed to illustrate the potentiality of the multi-region NEEDS-TIMES modelling platform, in the economic evaluation of the environmental damages due to air pollution. In particular the effects of external costs on the least-cost optimised energy system configuration were analysed in a national case study with the NEEDS-TIMES Italy model, considering the externalities related to local and global air pollutants (NO(x), SO(2), VOC, particulates and GHGs). Different scenarios were compared to emphasise the role of external costs in the achievement of strategic environmental targets. The main results obtained are discussed, focusing on the changes in energy fuel mix as well as in local air pollutants and GHG emissions, highlighting the main conclusions in terms of policy strategies. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
The environmental balance: An application to an industrial district of southern Italy for supporting strategic sustainable planning
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The contribution of the scientific research for a less vulnerable and more resilient community: the Val d’Agri (Southern Italy) case
No full textThe increasingly intensive use of natural resources with consequent environmental impacts has generated numerous social conflicts over the years, for whose solution it is necessary to build up an innovative territorial governance model based on sustainable and resilience thinking. At the international level, the problems associated with oil and gas extraction activities have been tackled by recognizing scientific research as a strategic role aimed at guaranteeing a more in-depth knowledge of environmental issues, the creation of collaboration networks between the various stakeholders and the whole usability of environmental data. This article presents the commitment made by the National Research Council of Italy–Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis–CNR-IMAA to make the Val d’Agri community, an area affected by mining activities, less vulnerable and more resilient. Through the combined use of different scientific research methodologies, a multidisciplinary approach was developed which contributed to increasing the overall knowledge of the environmental problems of Val d’Agri as well as providing concrete indications for the development of more effective territorial management tools. Other activities, complementary to those of research, were aimed at ensuring correct and detailed environmental data information and communication and a broaden participation and involvement of citizens
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