A Low-Cost Monitoring Platform and Visual Interface to Analyse Thermal Comfort in Smart Building Applications Using a Citizen–Scientist Strategy

Smart building issues are critical for current energy and comfort managing aspects in built environments. Nevertheless, the diffusion of smart monitoring solutions via user-friendly graphical interfaces is still an ongoing issue subject to the need to diffuse a smart building culture and a low-cost series of solutions. This paper proposes a new low-cost IoT sensor network, exploiting Raspberry Pi and Arduino platforms, for collecting real-time data and evaluating specific thermal comfort indicators (PMV and PPD). The overall architecture was accordingly designed, including the hardware setup, the back-end and the Android user interface. Eventually, three distinct prototyping platforms were deployed for initial testing of the general system, and we analysed the obtained results for different building typologies and seasonal periods, based on collected data and users’ preferences. This work is part of a large educational and citizen science activity.

Analysis of Stand-Alone Photovoltaic—Marine Current Hybrid System and the Influence on Daily and Seasonal Energy Storage

Stand-alone systems in remote regions require the utilization of renewable resources; however, their natural intermittence requires the implementation of energy-storage systems that allow a continuous power supply. More than one renewable source is usually available at the same site. Thus, the choice of a hybrid system seems viable. It is relevant to study hybrid systems as they could reduce energy storage; however, sizing the hybrid system might have several implications, not only for the available daily energy, but also for the required daily energy storage and surplus seasonal energy. In this work, we present a case study of a stand-alone, conventional household powered by photovoltaic and marine-current-energy systems in Cozumel, Mexico. The analysis of different hybridization degrees serves as a guidance tool to decide whether hybrid systems are required for a specific situation; in contrast to previous approaches, where ideal consumption and generation profiles have been utilized, yearlong profiles were utilized here. The renewable potential data were obtained on site at an hourly resolution; requirements such as size of and cycles in the daily and seasonal energy storage were analyzed according to the degree of participation or hybridization of the proposed renewable systems through an algorithm that evaluates power generation and daily consumption throughout the year. A further analysis indicated that marine-current-energy implementation reduces the size of the daily energy-storage system by 79% in comparison to the use of only a photovoltaic system due to the similarity between the energy-demand profile and the marine-current-energy production profile. The results indicate that a greater participation of marine currents can help decrease daily storage while increasing seasonal storage by 16% compared to using only solar energy. On the other hand, hybridization enabled a reduction in the number of daily charge and discharge cycles at 0.2 hybridization degrees. It also allowed us to reduce the seasonal energy storage by 38% at 0.6 hybridization degrees with respect to only using energy from marine currents. Afterwards, energy-storage technologies were evaluated using the TOPSIS Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis to validate the best-suited technology for the energy-storage system. The evaluation considered the characteristics of the technology and the periods of energy storage. In this work, hybrid storage systems were mandatory since, for daily storage, lithium-ion batteries are better suited, while for seasonal storage, hydrogen-producing systems are more suitable to manage the amount of energy and the storage duration due to the high seasonal renewable-energy variations.

Ti3C2Tx MXene Nanosheets Hybridized with Bacteriochlorin-Carotenoid Conjugates for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Development of efficient photocatalysts with a wide spectral range for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a promising way to address the current energy and environmental crises. In particular, utilization...

Blockchain Applications in the Energy Industry

The current energy transition from a fossil-fuel-based economy to a zero-carbon has significantly accelerated in recent years, as the largest emitters have committed to achieving carbon-neutral goals in the next 20-30 years. The energy industry transition is characterized by modernization through digital technologies, increased renewable energy generation, and environmental sustainability. Blockchain technology can play a significant role in providing secure digital distributed platforms facilitating digitization, decarbonization, and decentralization of the energy systems. Several promising blockchain applications in the energy sector are under research and development, including peer-to-peer energy trading; carbon monitoring, management, and trading; and IoT-enabled electric grid management. However, several challenges are slowing down the commercialization of these applications, including outdated legislation and regulations, slow pace of adaptation from the traditional energy industry, and risks associated with the new, untested technology.

Enabling Practical Nanoparticle Electrodeposition from Aqueous Nanodroplets

The rapid rise of technology in the modern world has led to an increased demand for energy. Consequently, it is essential to increase the efficiency of current energy-producing systems due...

A Novel Mobile and IOT Enabled Application for Smart Energy Meter

Smart Energy Meters have significantly helped in easy reporting of energy consumption and the measurement of the same, since their introduction. They have replaced mainstream method of the house to house energy consumption data recording, but they are still reading with a lot of data inconsistencies between participating parties (energy suppliers and consumers). The purpose of this research is to develop a mobile web application with Internet of Things (IOT) and short message service (SMS) for consistent, transparent recording, monitoring of energy consumed, amount billed, infrastructure theft and meter control. Arduino, sensors and relay modules are some of the hardware components used with communication application programming interface (API) accessed through the Wi-Fi module. The communication between the hardware and the server is the response based on different commands, which includes turning on and off, setting threshold, requesting consumption and even paid for consumed power. The app will enable the consumer monitor their current energy consumption through the web and android interface and remotely turn the meter on and off. Stored data can be retrieved at any time. Keywords— Arduino, Billing, IOT, Power Consumption, Smart Electricity meter, SMS, Web Application

Energy and Law. A Critical Approach to the Cuban Context

This research is aimed at studying the main deficiencies of the legal framework for energy in Cuba. Throughout this article, theoretical, legal and practical foundations are sought that make it possible to demonstrate the need for a legal system that is adapted to the Cuban reality and that regulates the most important elements related to the generation, distribution and commercialisation of energy. The theoretical analysis finds its starting point in the analysis of the energy as an object of legal regulation and its legal nature is dealt with. This constitutes a platform for the study of the energy legal framework in Cuba, where topics such as the current energy situation in Cuba, its commitment to sustainable development and the main institutions that govern energy in the country are presented. Finally, the article presents a comprehensive and critical analysis regarding the main deficiencies of energy legal regulation in Cuba. The exhaustive analysis of energy legislation in this area will make it possible to address the objectives set out at the beginning of the research.

The Italian energy transition in a multilevel system: between reinforcing dynamics and institutional constraints

The article analyses drivers as well as coordination mechanisms and instruments for the energy transition in Italy from a multilevel governance perspective. It addresses the structural constraints that influenced the decision-making processes and organisation of the Italian energy sector and the socio-technical challenges opened up by enhancing renewables. The current energy system is making the move from a centralised, path-dependent institutional and organisational structure to a more fragmented and pluralistic one. Renewables and decentralised patterns of production and consumption are key elements of this paradigmatic shift, which is paralleled by a multiplication of decision-making arenas and actors. These actors follow different interests, problem understandings and green growth narratives, increasing the complexity of governing the energy transition. Against this background, community-based renewable energy policy is assuming a very important role and Italy is putting efforts to establish an enabling framework in line with the requirements of the European Union. The goal of this strategy is to foster a positive link between acceptance of the energy transition and decentralised local activities. In the conclusion we address problems and barriers to new modes of governance, and discuss possible approaches to improved cooperation.