scholarly journals Energy Value of Yield and Biomass Quality in a 7-Year Rotation of Willow Cultivated on Marginal Soil

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 2144
Author(s):  
Mariusz Jerzy Stolarski ◽  
Stefan Szczukowski ◽  
Michał Krzyżaniak ◽  
Józef Tworkowski
Keyword(s):  
Energy Use ◽  
Alluvial Soil ◽  
High Energy ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Marginal Lands ◽  
Energy Value ◽  
Wood Processing ◽  
Processing Plants ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Marginal Soil

Bioenergy plays a major role as a renewable energy source in the European Union. Solid biomass is derived mainly as wood from forests and wood processing plants. Willow plantations set up on marginal lands can be a supplementary source of wood for energy generation. This study aimed to determine the energy value of yield and the thermophysical properties and elemental composition of the biomass of 7-year rotation willow harvested on marginal soil. Three varieties and three clones were cultivated in the Eko-Salix system on three marginal soils in northern Poland: riparian, alluvial soil, classified as heavy complete humic alluvial soil (Obory); organic, peat–muck soil formed from peat (Kocibórz); very heavy mineral clay soil (Leginy). Favourable conditions for obtaining high energy value biomass were at Kocibórz and Obory with a high groundwater level. The energy value of biomass at Leginy was lower than at Kocibórz and Obory (by 33% and 26%, respectively). The Ekotur variety had the significantly highest yield energy value (217 GJ ha−1 year−1) among the varieties and clones under study. This feature at Kocibórz and Obory was 288 and 225 GJ ha−1 year−1, respectively, and 139 GJ ha−1 year−1 at Leginy. Moreover, the biomass of this variety contained less ash (1.1% d.m.), sulphur (0.03% d.m.) and nitrogen (0.28% d.m.), which is beneficial from the energy-use perspective. Notably, the yield energy value of the UWM 095 clone biomass was also high (167 GJ ha−1 year−1). This study showed that willow grown in the Eco-Salix system can be a significant source of energy contained in good-quality woody biomass.

Resources provision of woodworking industries in Ukraine: cross-national and inter-regional comparisons

2019 ◽  
pp. 145-154
Author(s):  
Svitlana Ishchuk ◽  
Lyubomyr Sozanskyy
Keyword(s):  
Raw Materials ◽  
Dynamic Assessment ◽  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Necessary Condition ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Environmental Aspects ◽  
Fuel Wood ◽  
Significant Deterioration ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Wood Processing

Sufficient supply of woodworking with raw materials while preserving the ecology and rational use of wood is a necessary condition for the functioning of the woodworking industry as one of the key segments of the national economy. The issue is of particular importance given the deepening of world integration processes and the introduction of a moratorium on timber exports from Ukraine. It actualizes the study of the state and dynamics of the formation of raw materials potential of domestic woodworks. The purpose of the article is a structural and dynamic assessment of the economic and environmental aspects of formation of the resource potential of Ukrainian woodworks in comparison with the countries of the European Union, as well as in the regional section by types of wood. In the structure of merchantable wood harvested in Ukraine, fuel wood share increased by 4.3 pp. during 2011-2016, whereas in 2017 it increased by 3.8 pp. compared to 2016 and amounted to 61.4%. Unlike in Ukraine, in the vast majority of EU countries business timber is the basis of the structure of harvested merchantable timber. Thus, in the neighboring countries with similar forest landscape – Poland and the Czech Republic – the share of fuel wood in 2017 was 11.6% and 12.3%, in Slovakia – only 6.3%, and in the EU as a whole – 23. 2%. Hence, the significant deterioration of the structure of the harvested merchantable timber in Ukraine can be interpreted as a threat to environmental, and therefore to national security. On the other hand, the results of the assessments revealed an increase in the volume of commercial timber harvesting in Ukraine (in 18 regions) in 2018, as well as in the level of forest reproduction in the leading regions from the harvesting of merchantable timber (Zhytomyr, Kyiv and Rivne regions) and a decrease in the death rate. The restoration of the logical patterns between the dynamics of the loss of stands and the harvesting of commercial and fuel wood are signs of the beginning of positive tendencies in ensuring the preservation and rationalization of raw potential of domestic woodworks and, at the same time, improving the conditions for deepening the level of wood processing. Further authors’ research in this area will be devoted to the search for effective forms of wood industry development in Ukraine, in particular in the Western region.

scholarly journals CO2 Intensities and Primary Energy Factors in the Future European Electricity System

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 2165
Author(s):  
Sam Hamels
Keyword(s):  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Conversion Factor ◽  
Unit Commitment ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
High Temporal Resolution ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Electricity System ◽  
Energy Factors ◽  
Electrical Loads

The European Union strives for sharp reductions in both CO2 emissions as well as primary energy use. Electricity consuming technologies are becoming increasingly important in this context, due to the ongoing electrification of transport and heating services. To correctly evaluate these technologies, conversion factors are needed—namely CO2 intensities and primary energy factors (PEFs). However, this evaluation is hindered by the unavailability of a high-quality database of conversion factor values. Ideally, such a database has a broad geographical scope, a high temporal resolution and considers cross-country exchanges of electricity as well as future evolutions in the electricity mix. In this paper, a state-of-the-art unit commitment economic dispatch model of the European electricity system is developed and a flow-tracing technique is innovatively applied to future scenarios (2025–2040)—to generate such a database and make it publicly available. Important dynamics are revealed, including an overall decrease in conversion factor values as well as considerable temporal variability at both the seasonal and hourly level. Furthermore, the importance of taking into account imports and carefully considering the calculation methodology for PEFs are both confirmed. Future estimates of the CO2 emissions and primary energy use associated with individual electrical loads can be meaningfully improved by taking into account these dynamics.

scholarly journals The profile of vulnerable students using the university psychosocial and medical care services

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Papadakaki ◽  
F Sarakatsianou ◽  
V Tsismeli ◽  
G Lapidakis ◽  
M Karapiperaki
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Academic Progress ◽  
Health Examination ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Psychosocial Needs ◽  
Development Education ◽  
Medical Unit ◽  
Set Up

Abstract Background Increasing the capacity of higher education institutes to address students' vulnerabilities has been deemed necessary due to the financial crisis. Multilevel interventions have thus been initiated at the Hellenic Mediterranean University of Crete, as part of a project co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Social Fund-ESF) through the Operational Programme <<Human Resources Development, Education and Lifelong Learning 2014- 2020 >> (MIS 5045937). The project aims to offer support to students with low family income or a certified disability, monitor their bio-psychosocial needs, increase their accessibility to health and psychosocial care, and improve their academic outcomes. Methods As part of the project, a primary health care unit has been set up to offer medical and nursing care (medical unit) as well as psychosocial support (counseling centre) to students in need. An observatory has also been set up to monitor their health and psychosocial needs and their academic progress. Results A total of 228 eligible students used the services in the second half of 2019 (counseling centre 37; medical unit 191). Out of the 37 individuals who used the counseling centre, 30 (81.0%) were female and 16 (43.2%) were at the first 2 years of their studies. A total of 36 (97.3%) requested psychological support, 6 (16.2%) warranted social welfare services and 1 (2.7%) support for learning disabilities. As for the 191 individuals who used the medical services, 101 (52.8%) were male and 88 (46.0%) were at first 2 years of their studies. Most of them had a health examination to receive a health certificate (74.8%) followed by those who received emergency care (e.g. respiratory infection, allergic reaction, injury, etc), chronic disease management and medicine subscription, as well as vaccination. Conclusions Complex bio-psychosocial needs have been identified, recorded and analyzed to explain the academic progress of socially vulnerable students. Key messages The students’ journey through medical and counseling services is being mapped to offer important information for educational policy. Assessment and monitoring of students’ complex needs are important to achieve quality in higher education.

scholarly journals Environmental Production Efficiency in the European Union Countries as a Tool for the Implementation of Goal 7 of the 2030 Agenda

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (15) ◽  
pp. 4593
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Cheba ◽  
Iwona Bąk
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
The European Union ◽  
2030 Agenda ◽  
European Union Countries ◽  
Taxonomic Methods ◽  
Development Levels ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Eu

The main purpose of the paper is to present a proposal to measure the relationships between Goal 7 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and one of the areas considered in the green growth concept: environmental production efficiency. Both of these areas illustrate the relationship between the natural environment and the economy, emphasizing transformations in the field of energy use. Selected taxonomic methods, TOPSIS, and multicriteria taxonomy, were applied to study the relationships between the two areas. The results of the EU countries classification showed a variety of countries’ development pathways within a single economic community. Despite continued attempts to equalize the development levels between European Union countries in many strategic areas, they remain highly diversified. That is also true for the areas analyzed in the paper, which is a disturbing situation, indicating that both strategies might not correlate in all respects. Further research into the relationships linking the remaining dimensions of both strategies is required.

scholarly journals European Union One Health Country Visits as Driver to Combat on Antimicrobial Resistance

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s222-s222
Author(s):  
Pita Spruijt ◽  
Paul Bergervoet ◽  
Robbin Westerhof ◽  
Merel Langelaar ◽  
Marie-Cécile Ploy
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Peer Review ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
One Health ◽  
Competent Authority ◽  
Political Agenda ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Review System ◽  
Set Up

Background: In 2016, the European Union adopted unanimously Council Conclusions on the next steps to combat antimicrobial resistance under a One Health approach. To implement some of the provisions laid down in the Council Conclusions, a European Joint Action on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and Healthcare-Associated Infections (HCAI) or EU-JAMRAI was set up, gathering 44 partners. Methods: As part of EU-JAMRAI, 13 participating European countries set up a country-to-country peer review system to evaluate each other’s national action plans (NAPs). This review system entailed a self-assessment, strengths–weaknesses–opportunities–threats (SWOT) analysis, and country visits. All steps were executed with representatives from both the human and the veterinary domains (One Health approach). Special attention was given to supervision and the way supervision can enhance the implementation of guidelines on AMR, both at the policy level and within healthcare institutions. Results: Despite differences in the stage of developing and implementing NAPs, all 13 countries are working on NAPs. In this process, country visits function as a moment to exchange best practices and to provide an outsider’s point of view. At the end of 2019, 13 country-to-country visits had taken place, resulting in tailor-made recommendations for each country. These recommendations were shared with the competent authority. An example is a country that used the recommendation to improve infection prevention as an immediate reason to get the topic on the agenda of the Ministry of Health. During the country visits, intersectoral participation was perceived as desirable, but in some cases it was challenging to arrange. For some highly relevant topics, it has been recognized that discussion should take place on a European level. Examples of such topics include supervision, infection prevention guidelines, funding, surveillance, and regular audits of antibiotic prescriptions for physicians including feedback loops. Conclusions: Peer review is a cooperative and friendly working method compared to common audits. The country visits function as an agenda setting tool to get or to keep AMR on the political agenda and presenting the most relevant topic(s) to address for each country.Funding: NoneDisclosures: None

scholarly journals Joint bodies in the European Union's international agreements: Delegating powers to the European Commission in EU external relations

2021 ◽  
pp. 146511652110273
Author(s):  
Markus Gastinger ◽  
Andreas Dür
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
European Commission ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
International Agreements ◽  
Principal Agent ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Original Dataset ◽  
Voting Rule ◽  
External Relations ◽  
Set Up

In many international agreements, the European Union sets up joint bodies such as ‘association councils’ or ‘joint committees’. These institutions bring together European Union and third-country officials for agreement implementation. To date, we know surprisingly little about how much discretion the European Commission enjoys in them. Drawing on a principal–agent framework, we hypothesise that the complexity of agreements, the voting rule, conflict within the Council, and agency losses can explain Commission discretion in these institutions. Drawing on an original dataset covering nearly 300 such joint bodies set up by the European Union since 1992, we find robust empirical support for all expectations except for the agency loss thesis. Our findings suggest that the European Commission is the primary actor in the implementation of many of the European Union's international agreements, allowing it to influence EU external relations beyond what is currently acknowledged in the literature.

The Tahaddart estuary, NW of Morocco: evidence of marine submersion events during the last 3500 years 

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Otmane Khalfaoui ◽  
laurent Dezileau ◽  
Jean-Philippe Degeai ◽  
Maria Snoussi
Keyword(s):  
Late Holocene ◽  
Atlantic Coast ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variability ◽  
Progressive Change ◽  
Marine Facies ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Long Term Studies

<p>The Atlantic coast of Morocco has been confronted with several marine submersion events. Historically, some of them have resulted in significant economic and human damage, including the 1755 AD event (known as the tsunami of Lisbon). This indicates the need to implement adaptation and mitigation strategies, based on long-term studies of these extreme events to deduce their spatial and temporal variability. Using two cores (TAH17-1 and TAH17-3) collected from the Tahaddart estuary (NW of Morocco), this work aims to identify deposits, set up by these high energy events during the mid to late Holocene period. The sedimentological, geochemical and geochronological analyses carried out on these geological archives show two fining-upward sequences, indicating a progressive change from a purely sandy marine facies, between 6500 and 3500 BP, to another finer and more terrigenous one. The fine sedimentation, which has dominated in the estuary during the last 3500 years, has facilitated the recording of several marine submersion events in the form of isolated sandy layers. Chronological data have made it possible to date four deposits. Two (1-E1 and 3-E1) were put in place about 250 years ago, which corresponds, according to historical records, to the 1755 AD Lisbon tsunami. Two other deposits (1-E13 and 1-E14) are dated around 3200 BP and represent unknown submersion events on the Moroccan Atlantic coast.</p>

Blockchain for Governance of Sustainability Transparency in the Global Energy Value Chain: Part 2, Reconciling the Technology/Regulation Mismatch

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-50
Author(s):  
Lauren Downes ◽  
Chris Reed
Keyword(s):  
Value Chain ◽  
Regulatory Change ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Regulatory Requirements ◽  
Global Energy ◽  
Energy Value ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Governance Model ◽  
Regulatory Frameworks

In this second part of a two-part article we continue our consideration of how global energy value chains could be managed more sustainably through blockchain by greatly increasing transparency. The aim is to use this transparency to incentivise more sustainable behaviour on the part both of energy producers and suppliers and of consumers. Incentives of this kind are market based, and so we have concentrated on market-based instruments in the energy sector, emphasising those that decrease the CO2 footprint of energy consumption, such as emissions trading schemes and renewable energy certificates. Blockchain can enhance transparency by improving the quality of, and access to, sustainability-related information. However, existing laws and regulatory frameworks that govern market-based instruments may prevent these benefits from becoming fully realised. We review the governance frameworks of market-based instruments in several international jurisdictions (Brazil, India, Kazakhstan, Mexico, South Africa and Ukraine, as well as the European Union with particular reference to the Netherlands and United Kingdom (which was a member of the EU at the time of this writing), to ascertain how laws, rules and regulations may limit transparency of sustainability information. We also consider jurisdictional differences to identify difficulties in the creation of a global framework for managing sustainability information from market-based instruments. Jurisdictional differences mean that a one-size fits all solution may not be possible. To overcome this, we propose a blockchain governance model, using aggregated blockchains and peering agreements. It allows flexibility when disclosing information, through layering of permissions, and this means that it should be possible to construct a transparency system which complies with existing domestic legal and regulatory requirements, rather than requiring major legal and regulatory change.

Analyzing the impact of fossil fuel import reliance on electricity prices: The case of the Iberian Electricity Market

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 687-705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blanca Moreno ◽  
María T García-Álvarez
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Electricity Market ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emission ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Electricity Prices ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Eu

Spain and Portugal are highly dependent on energy from abroad, importing more than 70% of all the energy they consume. This high energy dependence could involve important effects on the level and stability of their electricity prices as a half the gross electricity generated in both countries came from power stations using imported combustible fuels (such as natural gas, coal and oil). In general, changes in the prices of these fossil fuels can directly affect household electricity prices, since generation costs are likely to be transmitted through to the wholesale electricity market. Moreover, in the framework of the European Union Emission Trading System, electricity production technologies tend to incorporate their costs of carbon dioxide emission allowances in sale offers with the consequent increase of the electricity prices. The objective of this paper is to analyze the influence of fossil fuel costs and prices of carbon dioxide emission allowances in the EU on the Spanish and Portuguese electricity prices. With this aim, a maximum entropy econometric approach is used. The obtained results indicate that not only the price of imported gas are very important in explaining Spanish and Portuguese electricity prices but also the price of carbon dioxide emission allowances in the EU.

Does environmental quality reflect on national competitiveness? The evidence from EU-15

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 559-585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saša Obradović ◽  
Nemanja Lojanica
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Export Performance ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
National Competitiveness ◽  
Harmful Emissions ◽  
Future Policy ◽  
Two Parameters

The European Union has set the target that by 2020 harmful emissions and energy consumption should be reduced by 20% compared to the 1990s. This paper examines the impacts of environmental quality on two parameters of national competitiveness (exports and GDP per capita). The study focuses on the EU-15 countries and covers the period from 1960 to 2013. Even though the analyzed economies are developed countries which are the leaders in environment protection, they are still also the leading emitters of greenhouse gases. The paper uses traditional econometric techniques to test the relations between energy use, CO2 emissions, exports and GDP. The results show that the variables are co-integrated. In addition, energy-led growth hypothesis is valid in most of the analyzed economies. The results have also shown that increased CO2 emissions reduce economic activity and export performance. Finally, we will conclude that there are two tasks for future policy makers: first, to strengthen renewable-energy goals, and second, to adjust the economic structure towards less harmful emissions. In such circumstances, we could expect the economies to further develop clean technologies and to obtain their benefits for national competitiveness.

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