Development and Implementation of the Smart Village Concept as a Challenge for the Modern Power Industry on the Example of Poland

Nowadays, while cities are often subject to research in terms of their development, especially smart development, studies on rural areas are rare. However, the development of the latter is very important. It is important that rural areas develop economically and socially. Smart villages are a challenge for the modern energy sector. The authors of the article try to answer the question: What are the challenges for the modern energy sector in the context of rural development? The aim of this article is to identify challenges for the modern power industry in the concept of smart countryside development. The article begins with the presentation of the essence of smart villages and the essence of energy policy. The research facilitated the identification of basic challenges that prevent or slow down the development of the smart villages in terms of modern energy solutions, as perceived by experts and residents, and farmers and entrepreneurs operating in rural areas. The article identifies a number of energy challenges in the context of a smart village. They include, among others, a lack of awareness regarding the impact of energy on the environment, a low level of public knowledge about new energy solutions, and a lack of social trust in modern energy solutions in rural areas. The research was conducted in rural areas in the north-western part of Poland. At the end, the article presents a model of rural development in the context of the modern energy sector. The research also allowed the creation of a smart village development model that focuses on smart economy, intelligent environment, intelligent people, and intelligent governance. Since these are universal solutions, they can be used as a proposition for other countries.

Strategies of European Energy Producers. Directions of Evolution

The article presents an innovative method of analyzing energy companies’ strategies, which aims to identify the strategic orientation of the entities subject to the research and, thus, to initially define the directions of strategic changes in the analyzed sector. The aim of the research, the results of which were used in this publication, was to identify the features of energy sector companies’ strategies in the European Union in the period of sector transformation caused by the new climate policy. The analysis area is the energy sector, i.e., the sector whose fundamental strategic goal is energy production. The research used a critical analysis of the subject literature and desk research method with the use of the researchers’ own analytical equipment, developed for the needs of this analysis. It was assumed in the conducted research that the primary source of information in the empirical study, the information subject to subsequent analysis, was the analysis of official documents (strategies, financial reports, etc.) posted on the websites of the surveyed corporations. The research results indicate the dominance of the resource-based approach in implementing strategic postulates of the surveyed companies. Nevertheless, the operational activity focuses on the implementation of innovative solutions towards decarbonization and climate neutrality.

MODERN STAGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF AI METHODS AND SYSTEMS IN POWER ENGINEERING

В статье анализируется ряд публикаций на эту тему, а также обобщаются результаты дискуссий на конференции «Знания, онтологии, теории» (Новосибирск, 8-12 ноября 2021 г.) и Круглом столе в ИСЭМ СО РАН «Искусственный интеллект в энергетике» (22 декабря 2021 г.). Рассматриваются понятия: сильный и слабый ИИ, объяснимый ИИ, доверенный ИИ. Анализируются причины «бума» вокруг машинного обучения и его недостатки. Сравниваются облачные технологии и технологии граничных вычислений. Определяется понятие «умный» цифровой двойник, интегрирующий математические, информационные, онтологические модели и технологии ИИ. Рассматриваются этические риски ИИ и перспективы применения методов и технологий ИИ в энергетике. The article analyzes a number of publications on this topic, and also summarizes the results of discussions at the conference "Knowledge, Ontology, Theory" (Novosibirsk, November 8-12, 2021) and the Round Table at the ISEM SB RAS "Artificial Intelligence in Energy" (December 22 2021). The concepts are considered: artificial general intelligence (AGI), strong and narrow AI (NAI), explainable AI, trustworthy AI. The reasons for the "hype" around machine learning and its disadvantages are analyzed. Compares cloud and edge computing technologies. The concept of "smart" digital twin, which integrates mathematical, informational, ontological models and AI technologies, is defined. The ethical risks of AI and the prospects for the application of AI methods and technologies in the energy sector are considered.

Dissipative cooling induced by pulse perturbations

We investigate the dynamics brought on by an impulse perturbation in two infinite-range quantum Ising models coupled to each other and to a dissipative bath. We show that, if dissipation is faster the higher the excitation energy, the pulse perturbation cools down the low-energy sector of the system, at the expense of the high-energy one, eventually stabilising a transient symmetry-broken state at temperatures higher than the equilibrium critical one. Such non-thermal quasi-steady state may survive for quite a long time after the pulse, if the latter is properly tailored.

Physicochemical Upgrading of a Biodetergent for Application in the Industrial Energy Sector

In the industries across the petroleum chain and those involved in energy generation, the use of petroderivatives as fuel oils is common. To clean parts, equipment and environments contaminated by hydrocarbons, they use expensive, toxic products, bringing risks to the environment as well as to workers’ health. Thus, the aim of this study was to check the stability of a biodetergent prepared using atoxic substances for large-scale production and industrial energy sector application. The relationship between volume (4 to 10 L) and stirring time (5 to 10 min) of the formulation at 3200 rpm and 80 °C was evaluated. The hydrophilic lipophilic balance (HLB), long-term stability (365 days), toxicity and efficiency of low-sulfur, viscous fuel oil removal from metal pieces and floors were investigated. The interaction among operating conditions was shown to influence the features of the product, which achieved approximately 100% stability after a stirring time of 7 min. The emulsion HBL index varied between 4.3 and 11.0. The biodetergent maintained its physicochemical properties during its 365 days of storage and showed high efficiency, removing 100% of the OCB1 impregnated on the metallic surfaces and floors tested. The formulation showed reliability in scale up when submitted to the study of physicochemical factors in the productive process, and safe application, by reducing risks for workers’ health and environment.