Production of renewable energy on closed landfills to compensate for biogas emissions: A case study of the Valdina landfill (Messina, Italy)

<div> The contribution of integrated municipal solid waste (MSW) management systems to greenhouse gas emissions is not negligible, even though it is moderate compared with other anthropogenic activities. The main emission from landfills that accept biodegradable MSW is methane that escapes from the biogas collection system. Such emissions are partially compensated if the collected biogas is exploited for energy production. Further compensation measures would also increase the overall sustainability of the landfill site. This study analyses the possibility of exploiting closed landfills to produce energy based on the case study of the Valdina landfill (Messina, Italy). Two possible scenarios are presented: the installation of a photovoltaic system and the cultivation of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) to be used for energy production through combustion. The results of a preliminary experimental activity are presented for the second scenario. The findings demonstrate the possibility of using the leachate produced in the landfill for irrigation purposes. For each scenario, the costs, potential energy production rate, avoided emissions and issues related to the integration of energy production with the landfill aftercare are evaluated. The presented results suggest that the cultivation of giant reed is the best option, especially during the early post-closure period, in terms of investment (18,000 € against 8,300,000 €), high production yield in the Mediterranean climate, simplicity of cultivation and integration with ordinary post-closure landfill management, limited cost of the energy produced (0.1€ kWh-1 against 0.27€ kWh-1). On the other hand avoided emissions are higher for the photovoltaic plant (27804  against 778  on an horizon of 20 years). </div>

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REMOTE MONITORING OF ENERGY PRODUCTION AND EFFICIENCY OF AN OFF-GRIDD PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM

INMATEH Agricultural Engineering ◽

10.35633/inmateh-64-12 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 131-140

Author(s):

Radu-Iulian Radoi ◽

Liliana Dumitrescu ◽

Alexandru-Polifron Chirita ◽

Nicolae-Valentin Vladut

Keyword(s):

Remote Monitoring ◽

Energy Production ◽

Optimal Solution ◽

Photovoltaic System ◽

Monitoring Equipment ◽

Mountain Areas ◽

Solar Systems ◽

Weather Stations ◽

Photovoltaic Plant ◽

Monitoring Software

In remote locations where people are required to live, such as weather stations in mountain areas, astronomical observatories etc., it is necessary to provide electricity for the operation of equipment and for domestic needs. The optimal solution is the use of photovoltaic energy. Owners of solar systems can remotely monitor the operation of the photovoltaic plant via the Internet (LTE, LoRa). The operating parameters of the solar installation can be seen in real time or can be adjusted. The article presents theoretical aspects, the hardware structure of monitoring equipment and remote monitoring software, which allow the analysis of the production and efficiency of the photovoltaic (PV) installation.

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MANAGEMENT PLANNING METHOD FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PRODUCTION FROM FOREST BIOMASS: DEVELOPMENT OF AN OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM AND CASE STUDY FOR A FINNISH ENERGY PLANT

Environmental Engineering and Management Journal ◽

10.30638/eemj.2018.069 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 17 (3) ◽

pp. 685-696

Author(s):

Teijo Sakari Palander ◽

Ari Hietanen

Keyword(s):

Energy Production ◽

Sustainable Energy ◽

Forest Biomass ◽

Planning Method ◽

Management Planning ◽

Optimization System ◽

Energy Plant

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A Dieldrin Case Study: Another Evidence of an Obsolete Substance in the European Soil Environment

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture11040314 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 314

Author(s):

Petros Tsiantas ◽

Evangelia N. Tzanetou ◽

Helen Karasali ◽

Konstantinos M. Kasiotis

Keyword(s):

Active Substance ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Carcinogenic Risk ◽

The European Union ◽

Soil Environment ◽

Single Application ◽

Environmental Concentration ◽

Tandem Mass Spectrometric ◽

Potential Use

Soil constitutes a central environmental compartment that, due to natural and anthropogenic activities, is a recipient of several contaminants. Among them, organochlorine pesticides are of major concern, even though they have been banned decades ago in the European Union, due to their persistence and the health effects they can elicit. In the presented work, a gas chromatographic tandem mass spectrometric (GC-MS/MS) developed method was applied to soil samples after the suspected and potential use of formulations containing organochlorine active substance. One soil sample was positive to dieldrin at 0.018 mg kg−1. Predicted environmental concentration in soil (PECsoil) considering a single application of this active substance potentially attributed the finding in its past use. The subsequent health risk assessment showed negligible non-carcinogenic risk and tolerable carcinogenic risk. The latter signifies that repetitive and prolonged sampling can unveil the pragmatic projection of persistent chemicals’ residues in the soil.

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Optimization of Low Head Axial-Flow Turbines for an Overtopping BReakwater for Energy Conversion: A Case Study

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14154618 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (15) ◽

pp. 4618

Author(s):

Antonio Mariani ◽

Gaetano Crispino ◽

Pasquale Contestabile ◽

Furio Cascetta ◽

Corrado Gisonni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Energy Conversion ◽

Control Strategy ◽

Energy Production ◽

San Antonio ◽

Axial Flow ◽

Complex Process ◽

Low Head ◽

Wave Power Conversion ◽

And Control

Overtopping-type wave power conversion devices represent one of the most promising technology to combine reliability and competitively priced electricity supplies from waves. While satisfactory hydraulic and structural performance have been achieved, the selection of the hydraulic turbines and their regulation is a complex process due to the very low head and a variable flow rate in the overtopping breakwater set-ups. Based on the experience acquired on the first Overtopping BReakwater for Energy Conversion (OBREC) prototype, operating since 2016, an activity has been carried out to select the most appropriate turbine dimension and control strategy for such applications. An example of this multivariable approach is provided and illustrated through a case study in the San Antonio Port, along the central coast of Chile. In this site the deployment of a breakwater equipped with OBREC modules is specifically investigated. Axial-flow turbines of different runner diameter are compared, proposing the optimal ramp height and turbine control strategy for maximizing system energy production. The energy production ranges from 20.5 MWh/y for the smallest runner diameter to a maximum of 34.8 MWh/y for the largest runner diameter.

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Photovoltaic Cleaning Optimization: A Simplified Theoretical Approach for Air to Water Generator (AWG) System Employment

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14144271 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (14) ◽

pp. 4271

Author(s):

Lucia Cattani ◽

Paolo Cattani ◽

Anna Magrini

Keyword(s):

Energy Loss ◽

Energy Production ◽

New Technologies ◽

Optimization Procedure ◽

System Size ◽

Design Tool ◽

Semiempirical Model ◽

Photovoltaic Panel ◽

Water Amount

Photovoltaic panel efficiency can be heavily affected by soiling, due to dust and other airborne particles, which can determine up to 50% of energy production loss. Generally, it is possible to reduce that impact by means of periodic cleaning, and one of the most efficient cleaning solutions is the use of demineralized water. As pauperization of traditional water sources is increasing, new technologies have been developed to obtain the needed water amount. Water extracted from the air using air to water generator (AWG) technology appears to be particularly suitable for panel cleaning, but its effective employment presents issues related to model selection, determining system size, and energy efficiency. To overcome such issues, the authors proposed a method to choose an AWG system for panel cleaning and to determine its size accordingly, based on a cleaning time optimization procedure and tailored to AWG peculiarities, with an aim to maximize energy production. In order to determine the energy loss due to soiling, a simplified semiempirical model (i.e., the DIrt method) was developed as well. The methodology, which also allows for energy saving due to an optimal cleaning frequency, was applied to a case study. The results show that the choice of the most suitable AWG model could prevent 83% of energy loss related to soling. These methods are the first example of a design tool for panel cleaning planning involving AWG technology.

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