scholarly journals Energy Distribution Modeling for Assessment and Optimal Distribution of Sustainable Energy for On-Grid Food, Energy, and Water Systems in Remote Microgrids

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 9511
Author(s):  
Michele J. Chamberlin ◽  
Daniel J. Sambor ◽  
Justus Karenzi ◽  
Richard Wies ◽  
Erin Whitney
Keyword(s):  
Energy Distribution ◽  
Renewable Resources ◽  
Sustainable Energy ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Remote Communities ◽  
Distribution Models ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Food Energy ◽  
Isolated Communities ◽  
Health And Economic Development

Food, energy, and water (FEW) are essential for human health and economic development. FEW systems are inextricably interlinked, yet individualized and variable. Consequently, an accurate assessment must include all available and proposed FEW components and their interconnections and consider scale, location, and scope. Remote Alaska locations are examples of isolated communities with limited infrastructure, accessibility, and extreme climate conditions. The resulting challenges for FEW reliability and sustainability create opportunities to obtain practical insights that may apply to other remote communities facing similar challenges. By creating energy distribution models (EDMs), a methodology is proposed, and a tool is developed to measure the impacts of renewable energy (RE) on small FEW systems connected to the microgrids of several Alaska communities. Observing the community FEW systems through an energy lens, three indices are used to measure FEW security: Energy–Water (EW), Energy–Food (EF), and Sustainable Energy (SE). The results indicate the impacts of RE on FEW infrastructure systems are highly seasonal, primarily because of the natural intermittence and seasonality of renewable resources. Overall, there is a large potential for RE integration to increase FEW security as well as a need for additional analysis and methods to further improve the resiliency of FEW systems in remote communities.

scholarly journals Prospects of applying 3-D printing to economics of remote communities

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 488-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Svetlana Obydenkova ◽  
Nicholas C. Anzalone ◽  
Joshua M. Pearce
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Remote Communities ◽  
Fused Filament Fabrication ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Reindeer Herder

Purpose Isolated communities face a variety of inconveniences including severe remoteness, poor roads and extreme climate conditions, resulting in the lack of security of supply chains and exorbitant prices for cargo delivery. This paper aims to investigate the present advantages and prospects of applying 3-D printing to improve economics and everyday life of remote communities, reindeer herder case taken as an example. Design/methodology/approach This study covers the use of a low-cost open-source 3-D printer (RepRap) capable of fused filament fabrication to reduce operating costs for nomadic reindeer herder groups. Three case studies are provided for reindeer-specific applications to probe economic and technical viability of the technology, namely, ear-tags, electric fence components and lasso accessories. Findings 3-D printed objects feature technical characteristics similar to those of analogues available on the market while reducing the price by 63 per cent. Distributed 3-D printing reduces the cost of raw materials by 68 per cent and shipping costs by 50 because of lower trip frequency. If all reindeer herders globally were to adopt distributed manufacturing of the three aforementioned sample items only, their annual savings from such solution would amount to US$2m. The paper discovers other economic, entrepreneurial, technical and environmental opportunities offered by 3-D printing put to service the needs of remote communities. Research limitations As the paper is the first-ever study of 3-D printing potential applied to the reindeer husbandry case, it is based on a more thorough analysis of the techno-economic feasibility of the technology, while cultural and entrepreneurial factors have been discussed as preconditions only. Practical implications The paper might serve as a valuable source of information for entrepreneurs, as well as for students and academics for further case studies in this area. Originality/value In remote conditions, 3-D printing offers a more sustainable way of good manufacturing. Numerous open source designs already available for specialists, financial effectiveness, environmental benefits and vast opportunities for entrepreneurs are among the most promising advantages of the technology.

scholarly journals Effects of urbanization on food-energy-water systems in mega-urban regions: a case study of the Bohai MUR, China

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 044014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caiyun Deng ◽  
Hongrui Wang ◽  
Shuxin Gong ◽  
Jie Zhang ◽  
Bo Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Systems ◽  
Food Energy ◽  
Urban Regions

scholarly journals Renewable and Sustainable Energy Transitions for Countries with Different Climates and Renewable Energy Sources Potentials

Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 3523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haichao Wang ◽  
Giulia Di Pietro ◽  
Xiaozhou Wu ◽  
Risto Lahdelma ◽  
Vittorio Verda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Sustainable Energy ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Energy System Model ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Energy Transitions ◽  
The Future

Renewable energy sources (RES) are playing an increasingly important role in energy markets around the world. It is necessary to evaluate the benefits from a higher level of RES integration with respect to a more active cross-border transmission system. In particular, this paper focuses on the sustainable energy transitions for Finland and Italy, since they have two extreme climate conditions in Europe and quite different profiles in terms of energy production and demand. We developed a comprehensive energy system model using EnergyPLAN with hourly resolution for a reference year for both countries. The models include electricity, heat and transportation sectors. According to the current base models, new scenarios reflecting an RES increase in total fuel consumption have been proposed. The future shares of renewables are based on each nation’s potential. The outcomes of the new scenarios support the future national plans, showing how decarburization in an energy system can occur in relation to the European Roadmap 2030 and 2050. In addition, possible power transmission between Italy and Finland were investigated according to the vision of an integrated European energy system with more efficient cross-border activities.

Differentiated roles of mean climate and climate stability on post-glacial birch distributions in northern China

The Holocene ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (11) ◽  
pp. 1758-1766
Author(s):  
Hao Qian ◽  
Liu Hongyan ◽  
Yang Shilei ◽  
Yang Weihua ◽  
Song Zhaoliang
Keyword(s):  
Asian Summer Monsoon ◽  
Northern China ◽  
Distribution Range ◽  
Early Holocene ◽  
Distribution Models ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Climate Stability ◽  
Asian Summer ◽  
Mean Climate

Past changes in the distribution of tree species are critical to predict future vegetation dynamics under changing climate conditions. In this study, pollen-based reconstruction with 60 pollen records from mid-latitude region was performed in China. Betula emerged after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), when the climate ameliorated gradually. The distribution range was small but increased significantly during the early Holocene. However, when the climate was wet and warm during the mid-Holocene, the distribution range did not continue to expand. The relationships between the percentages of Betula pollen and the strength of the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) or its variability were positively correlated, while those of Betula and Pinus had opposite trends in the study region. Besides, the post-glacial distribution dynamics of Betula platyphylla and Betula dahurica were influenced by climate change which were simulated by species distribution models (SDMs). We conclude that birch distribution in mid-latitudinal northern China was mainly driven by the EASM or its variability, especially during the LGM and early Holocene when the climate was unstable, while the replacement by Pinus and Quercus occurred during the mid-Holocene when the climate remained stable. The future unstable climate may benefit birch development.

scholarly journals Engineering solutions for food-energy-water systems: it is more than engineering

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 172-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L. Wolfe ◽  
K. C. Ting ◽  
N. Scott ◽  
A. Sharpley ◽  
J. W. Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Systems ◽  
Food Energy

Effects of urbanization on food-energy-water systems in mega-urban regions: a case study of the Bohai MUR, China

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caiyun Deng ◽  
Hongrui Wang ◽  
Shuxin Gong ◽  
Jie Zhang ◽  
Bo Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Water System ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Stress Index ◽  
Food Energy ◽  
Urban Regions ◽  
System Pressure ◽  
Impact Of Urbanization ◽  
The Impact

<p>The security of food-energy-water systems (FEW systems) is an issue of worldwide concern, especially in mega-urban regions (MURs) with high-density populations, industries and carbon emissions. To better understand the hidden linkages between urbanization and FEW systems, the pressure on FEW systems is quantified in a typical rapid urbanizing region—the Bohai MUR. The correlation between urbanization indicators and the pressure on FEW systems is analyzed and the mechanism of the impact of urbanization on FEW systems is further investigated. Results show that approximately 23% of croplands is lost, 61% of which is converted to construction lands and the urban areas expand by 132.2% in the Bohai MUR during 1980-2015. The pressure on FEW systems has an upward trend with the stress index of the pressure on FEW systems (FEW_SI) exhibiting ranging from 80.49 to 134.82% and dominant pressure consisting of that has converted from water system pressure to energy system pressure since 2004. The FEW_SI in the Bohai MUR is enhanced with cropland loss and the increase in urbanization indicators. Additionally, land use, populations, incomes, policies and innovation are the main ways urbanization impacted FEW systems in MURs. This study enhances our understanding of the pressure variation on FEW systems in MURs and the effects of urbanization on FEW systems, which helps stakeholders to enhance the resilience of FEW systems and promote sustainable regional development.</p><p><strong>Keywords:</strong> urbanization, food-energy-water system pressure, linkages, MURs</p>

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document