A Smart Grid Planning Method with Coal-to-electricity Based on Multifactor Adaptability

In order to reduce coal pollution and improve air quality in winter, many cities in northern China began to promote coal-to-electricity, and a series of policy subsidies were released accordingly. With the implementation of coal-to-electricity, the characteristics of power network has been changed significantly and the traditional planning method is no longer applicable. To meet the needs of coal-to-electricity engineering, a smart grid planning method with coal-to-electricity based on multifactor adaptability is proposed in this paper. First, the coal-to-electricity load characteristics is analysed, and typical parameters is proposed based on the actual operation data, which considers the impacts of different types of equipment and breaks through the modelling difficulties of coal-to-electricity characteristics. Then, a smart grid planning method with coal-to-electricity based on multifactor adaptability is set up, which combines the influence of transmission capacity for each equipment, the investment capacity for each participant, and the social acceptance of the electricity price. Based on this model, the technical, economic, and environmental benefits of coal-to-electricity modification are coordinated. The application shows that the proposed method is concise and effective and provides useful suggestions for determining the coal-to-electricity scale, network planning and compensation policy, which supports the implementation of coal-to-electricity.

Challenges to Climate Planning in Rural Inland Florida and Recommendations for Future Actions

Despite being farther away from direct impacts of sea-level rise, Florida’s rural inland localities, like those across the nation and world, can be as vulnerable to a changing climate as coastal ones. However, unlike their urban coastal peers, many have not addressed or acknowledged climate change. Few existing research projects have explored the reasons why. To begin filling the knowledge gap and understanding the complexities of the rural Florida climate story, this research aims to answer the question: What challenges are preventing rural inland communities in Florida from addressing climate change, and what do they need to overcome them? To characterize these obstacles and identify next steps, a combination of primary (i.e. surveys) and secondary sources from the author, government agencies, scientists, universities, and other expert organizations were analyzed holistically. The four challenges identified include: community sentiment, investment capacity, gaps in climate literacy, and external connections and coordination. These challenges are linked to numerous underlying issues characteristic of rural communities, such as socioeconomic levels, physical and social isolation, the availability of human capital, and cultural values and perceptions. Based on this information, the discussion section reviews how various stakeholders - local governments, community members, and external supporting agents - can actively curtail disparities in climate preparedness.

Impact of buyers’ support on farmer performance and investments in the Brazilian pork supply chain

This paper analyses how the technical and managerial support of buyers affects the performance and investment capacity of Brazilian pig farmers. The paper also analyses the influence of the farmers’ investment capacity on their own performance and how that performance in turn influences the investment requirements demanded by buyers. We developed a structural equation model applied to a sample of 199 farmers including piglet farmers (n=91) and finishers (n=108) working under production contracts. The model includes two constructs that assess performance – financial performance and production and quality performance. The results show that buyer support positively influences both performance constructs and investment requirements for piglet farmers and finishers. The relationship between buyer support and investment capacity was significant only in the sample of finishers. Farmers’ investment capacity positively influences both performance constructs in the sample of piglet farmers. For finishers, investment capacity influences only financial performance. Moreover, only production and quality performance of finishers influences investment requirements. The results provide buyers and farmers with insights for refinements in support policies and management.

OPTIBOX - Software Tool for the OPTImal distribution of hot BOx aXle detectors

Axle bearings may constitute a critical component with regards to safety due to the fact that they can present sudden failures. Hot box detectors are wayside devices that aim at identifying axle bearings with a high potential of failure. Therefore, it is important to place these sensors along the network in order to minimize the risk of axle bearing failures that could derive in train derailments. How many and where to install these wayside devices depends on the requirements of each country and on the available investment capacity. However, there is no tool in the market that helps the Infrastructure Managers to prioritize locations for hot box detectors. In this context, the OPTIBOX tool that is presented in this article appears as useful and easy-to-use tool to guide Infrastructure Managers in the selection of the most appropriate locations for hot box detectors according to historical data of the line and its main relevant characteristics, such as speed, type of trains or volume of traffic.

Penanaman modal asing dan demokrasi: analisis data panel Provinsi-Provinsi di Indonesia

Foreign investment is very important for developing countries in economic development because of the low domestic investment capacity. Democracy is considered as one of the aspects that has an impact on investment, although there is still debate as to whether the impact is positive, negative, or neutral. Many other factors influence the inflow of foreign investment into a country, including the size of the economy, the level of wages, domestic investment, and the quality of human resources. Using a panel data regression analysis of provinces in Indonesia with a random effect model, we try to look at the factors that influence foreign investment inflows to Indonesia. We find that the democracy index in Indonesia's provinces does not affect foreign investment inflows

Cluster development as a significant perspective of entrepreneurial promotion in petrochemical industry

The paper reviews the clusterization as one of the new forms of entrepreneurship development. Cluster is presented as a combination of industrial production, scientific-research institutes, infrastructures united in a territory and branch orientation for using the integration and synergetic effects. Cluster creation will enable producing the goods under general brand name providing higher level of quality. The essence of clusterization is about the unenforced and equal association of enterprises. As a result it will lead to the improvement of investment conditions, as well as other synergetic effects. The possibility of cluster development associated with petrochemical industry in Absheron peninsula is reviewed as well. The authors offer using regress analysis for the evaluation of financial state and specification of the potential of enterprises involved in the cluster. Current state of the sphere has been analyzed with statistical figures. For the estimation of probable results of clusterization, regress analysis has been carried out using financial state of the enterprise, parameters affecting its financial indexes and investment capacity. The results of regress analysis justified that due to the investment increase in the similar field and loan services, the financial state of the enterprises included in the cluster will improve, the income and export potential of the country will advance as well.

Pooled Finance: Brazil's Opportunity to Finance Subnational Sustainable Infrastructure

This briefing proposes innovative Pooled Finance Mechanisms to improve the capacity of Brazilian subnational consortiums to implement sustainable infrastructure projects. It provides a legal and financial overview on local subnational consortiums experiences and frameworks. It also analyses international Pooled Finance experiences and provides alternatives for the implementation of innovative financial structures that could leverage the countrys investment capacity in local sustainable infrastructure.

Challenges, Opportunities, and Lessons Learned: Sustainability in Brazilian Omnichannel Retail

This paper reports the focus group results administered with top executives of the Brazilian retailers regarding their omnichannel strategies. This study aimed at analyzing the process of implementing omnichannel strategies and identifying contributions omnichannel has to sustainability. Using qualitative exploratory and a case study design to assess three large Brazilian retailers, we collected information concerning omnichannel implementation associated with processes, technologies, and organizational structure. This study was conducted with top executives in Brazil. Results suggest that the most viable solution, given a company’s investment capacity, is implementing an e-commerce platform that results in greater integration, profitability, and sustainability of the whole chain. A discussion on the benefits and outcomes related to the sustainable performance of such companies is also presented. This study answers calls for more research on the retail sector in Latin American countries.

Assessment of Research Collaborations for Improving Intellectual and Economic Performance in Public Renewable Energy R&D

Public R&D investment in renewable energy has burgeoned at the global level in a concerted effort to expedite energy transition. Unlike traditional energy sources, the renewable energy industry produces a favorable collaboration environment for small and medium enterprises, affecting traits of R&D collaboration in R&D as well. The main purpose of this study is to find relationships between R&D collaboration and intellectual & economic performances in renewable energy R&D. We have analyzed 484 projects completed between 2006 and 2014 in South Korea’s public renewable energy R&D program. We found that university-industry-government research institute collaboration is not the most effective for creating intellectual nor economic performance, interpreting as a necessity in the revision on current UIG collaboration policy. For a leader organization, we found that medium enterprises are the most positively related with economic outcomes, interpreting medium enterprises had as much technical competency and investment capacity as large enterprises. Keywords: R&D, performance measurement, collaboration, renewable energy, triple helix, r&d leader