Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2021-08"
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- Temporal flexibility options in electricity market simulation models: Deliverable D4.1Publication . Couto, António; Schimeczek, Christoph; José, Débora Regina S.; Algarvio, Hugo; Kochems, Johannes; Nienhaus, Kristina; Pinto, Tiago; Helistö, Niina; Johanndeiter, Silke; Estanqueiro, AnaABSTRACT: This report covers the implementation of temporal flexibility options in TradeRES’ agent-based electricity market simulations models. Within this project, the term “temporal flexibility option” was defined as an asset or measure supporting the power system to balance electric demand and supply and compensate for their stochastic fluctuations stemming from, e.g., weather or consumer behaviour by adjusting demand and/or supply as a function over time or by reducing their forecast uncertainty. Other reports from the same work package of TradeRES are published almost simultaneously, each focussing on another aspect of market model enhancements. These accompanying reports address sectoral flexibility, spatial flexibility, actor types, and modelling requirements for market designs. Flexibility options covered in this report were selected with regard to a predominantly temporal characteristic, a contribution to TradeRES’ assessment of market designs, and the feasibility to be implemented in at least one of the agent based models (ABM) during the project’s lifetime. The technical aspects of “Load shedding”, “Load shifting”, “Electricity storage”, and “Real-time pricing” were selected for implementation. In addition, the following new electricity market products were selected for implementation: “Rolling market clearing”, “Trading with shorter time units”, and “Variable market closure lead times”.
- NewSOL Project: Thermocline degradationPublication . Azevedo, PedroABSTRACT: According to Task 6.3 of DOA, LNEG was supposed “to define an appropriate monitoring scheme and set of tests to collect the experimental data from the thermocline tank (TCT), necessary to the evaluation of the thermodynamic performance of the prototype and improvement and validation of the computational models”. However, due to known delays on the construction phase of the thermocline tank, the experimental period and its related data is not available, at the moment. Nevertheless, although the validation of the computational models was not possible, some additional adaptions to the models and analysis were developed that can impact namely the assessment of the cycling effect over effective thermal capacity, including for an upscaled solution. This report approaches the problem of the thermocline tank (TCT) degradation that can develop after consecutive cycles. Besides the control strategy, calculations were performed towards the assessment of the prototype TCT performance considering the control scheme disclosed in D7.91 and in some literature2. An alternate operation strategy is proposed, and its performance assessed and, finally, an upscaled TCT, also disclosed in D7.9, is also assessed considering the alternate operation strategy.
- New actor types in electricity market simulation models: Deliverable D4.4Publication . Machado, Ana Rita; Couto, António; Schimeczek, Christoph; Qiu, Dawei; José, Débora Regina S.; Papadaskalopoulos, Dimitrios; Strbac, Goran; Algarvio, Hugo; Sanchez, Ingrid; Kochems, Johannes; Nienhaus, Kristina; Vries, Laurens de; Chrysanthopoulos, Nikolaos; Pinto, Tiago; Estanqueiro, Ana; Cvetkovic, MilosABSTRACT: The modelling of agents in the simulation models and tools is of primary importance if the quality and the validity of the simulation outcomes are at stake. This is the first version of the report that deals with the representation of electricity market actors’ in the agent based models (ABMs) used in TradeRES project. With the AMIRIS, the EMLab-Generation (EMLab), the MASCEM and the RESTrade models being in the centre of the analysis, the subject matter of this report has been the identification of the actors’ characteristics that are already covered by the initial (with respect to the project) version of the models and the presentation of the foreseen modelling enhancements. For serving these goals, agent attributes and representation methods, as found in the literature of agent-driven models, are considered initially. The detailed review of such aspects offers the necessary background and supports the formation of a context that facilitates the mapping of actors’ characteristics to agent modelling approaches. Emphasis is given in several approaches and technics found in the literature for the development of a broader environment, on which part of the later analysis is deployed. Although the ABMs that are used in the project constitute an important part of the literature, they have not been included in the review since they are the subject of another section.
- Palynostratigraphy of the Triassic-Jurassic of the Silves Group, Lusitanian Basin, Portugal [Resumo]Publication . Vilas Boas, Margarida; Pereira, Zélia; Cirilli, Simonetta; Duarte, L. V.; Fernandes, PauloABSTRACT: We studied the miospore assemblage from an Upper Triassic to Lower Jurassic succession of the Silves Group near Coimbra, Portugal. The latter consists of, from base to top, the Conraria, Penela, Castelo Viegas, and the Pereiros formations. The palynological assemblages allowed establishing an informal palynozonation and providing new biostratigraphic that helped constrain the age attribution to the Silves Group formations.
- The Middle Jurassic dinoflagellate cyst biostratigraphy of the Lusitanian Basin, Portugal [Resumo]Publication . Correia, Vânia; Riding, James; Henriques, Maria Helena; Fernandes, Paulo; Pereira, Zélia; Wiggan, N.J.ABSTRACT: A mainly Middle Jurassic composite succession with 129 samples was examined palynologically. This spans the Toarcian–Aalenian transition to the lowermost Bathonian, exposed at Cabo Mondego (includes the GSSP and the ASSP for the Bajocian and Bathonian stages respectively) and São Gião in the northern Lusitanian Basin, western Portugal. The main goal was to establish a biostratigraphical scheme based on dinoflagellate cysts bioevents.
- New circular challenges in the development of take-away food packaging in the COVID-19 periodPublication . Kochanska, Ewa; Lukasik, Rafal M.; Dzikuc, MaciejABSTRACT: The COVID-19 pandemic has set new challenges for the HoReCa industry. Lockdowns have coincided with and strongly impacted the industrial transformation processes that have been taking place for a decade. Among the most important HoReCa transition processes are those related to the rapid growth of the delivery-food market and ordering meals via internet platforms. The new delivery-food market requires not only the development of specific distribution channels, but also the introduction of appropriate, very specific food packaging. Food packaging and its functionality are defined by the administrative requirements and standards applicable to materials that have contact with food and principally through the prism of the ecological disaster caused by enormous amounts of plastic waste, mainly attributed to the food packaging. To meet environmental and administrative requirements, new technologies to produce food packaging materials are emerging, ensuring product functionality, low environmental impact, biodegradability, and potential for composting of the final product. However, predominantly, the obtained product should keep the nutritional value of food and protect it against changes in color or shape. Current social transformation has a significant impact on the food packaging sector, on one hand creating a new lifestyle for society all over the world, and on the other, a growing awareness of the negative impact of humans on the environment and increasing responsibility for the planet. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to develop a circular economy based on the paradigm of shortening distribution channels, using local raw materials, limiting the consumption of raw materials, energy, water, and above all, minimizing waste production throughout the life cycle of products, all of which are in line with the idea of low-carbon development.
- Promoting sustainability: wastewater treatment plants as a source of biomethane in regions far from a high-pressure grid: a real portuguese case studyPublication . Baena Moreno, Francisco Manuel; Malico, Isabel; Marques, Isabel PaulaABSTRACT: Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) located in regions far from a high-pressure grid can produce renewable biomethane, which can partially substitute the natural gas locally consumed. However, the economic viability of implementing biomethane plants in WWTP has to be guaranteed. This paper uses the discount cash flow method to analyze the economic viability of producing biomethane in a WWTP located in evora (Portugal). The results show that, under the current conditions, it is unprofitable to produce biomethane in this WWTP. Since selling the CO2 separated from biogas may result in an additional income, this option was also considered. In this case, a price of 46 EUR/t CO2 has to be paid to make the project viable. Finally, the impact of potential government incentives in the form of feed-in premia was investigated. Without selling CO2, the project would only be profitable for feed-in premia above 55.5 EUR/MWh. If all the CO2 produced was sold at 30 EUR/t CO2, a premium price of 20 EUR/MWh would make the project profitable. This study shows that the economic attractiveness of producing biomethane in small WWTP is only secured through sufficient financial incentives, which are vital for developing the biomethane market with all its associated advantages.
- The Late Permian in the Muarádzi Sub-basin, Moatize-Minjova Basin, Mozambique: multidisciplinary palaeoenvironmental characterization [Resumo]Publication . Lopes, Gilda; Pereira, Zélia; Fernandes, Paulo; Mendes, Márcia; Marques, João; Jorge, Raul CG SantosABSTRACT: A study involving lithofacies, palynofacies, and palynological analysis is presented for the Muarádzi Sub-basin. This sub-basin is part of the Moatize-Minjova Basin (MMB), a crucial Karoo aged coalfield in Mozambique previously situated in the southern-central part of Gondwana.
- New market designs in electricity market simulation models: Deliverable D4.5Publication . Couto, António; Papadaskalopoulos, Dimitrios; Strbac, Goran; Algarvio, Hugo; Sanchez, Ingrid; Kochems, Johannes; Nienhaus, Kristina; Vries, Laurens de; Cvetkovic, Milos; Chrysanthopoulos, Nikolaos; Johanndeiter, Silke; Schimeczek, Christoph; Estanqueiro, Ana; Lopes, FernandoABSTRACT: To integrate a high share of renewables in a future system, several modifications to the electricity market rules may need to be implemented. The most relevant market design concepts were identified from the literature and reported in work package 3. There are several uncertainties, for instance with respect to the questions of whether a future electricity market will provide enough incentives for investment in variable renewable energy sources (vRES) – mainly solar and wind energy – and in flexibility options, especially for long periods with insufficient vRES generation. In this deliverable, the modelling requirements to analyse the new market rules are determined. The modelling efforts will reflect the main policy choices and are based on the strengths of the modelling capabilities from the consortium. The model enhancements to represent the temporal, spatial and sectoral flexibility will be approached in deliverables 4.1 to 4.3. For this reason, these topics will be described only briefly in this deliverable.
- Geoconservation in the Cabeço da Ladeira paleontological site (Serras de Aire e Candeeiros nature park, Portugal): exquisite preservation of animals and their behavioral activities in a middle Jurassic carbonate tidal flatPublication . Machado, Susana; Mergulhão, Lia; Pereira, Bruno Claro; Pereira, Pedro; Carvalho, Jorge; Anacleto, José; Neto de Carvalho, Carlos; Belo, João; Paredes, Ricardo; Baucon, AndreaAbstract: The Cabeço da Ladeira paleontological site in central Portugal became known as the “Jurassic Beach”. Formerly an active quarry, the site was protected in order to preserve the large exposures of a Middle Jurassic (early? Bajocian) carbonate tidal flat with an outstanding fossil record. This multidisciplinary paleontological work involving experts from several national and international research and geoconservation institutions was carried out under the umbrella of the Institute for Nature Conservation (ICNF), since this geosite is located within the Serras de Aire e Candeeiros nature park. Cabeço da Ladeira has provided exquisitely preserved body fossils, especially echinoderms, together with the exceptional preservation of their, and other, animal’s behaviors. It is also a hotspot to understand the diversity of bivalves in the Middle Jurassic. Due to the large area of the geosite, the international relevance of the findings, and the risk of weathering and destruction of the fossils, a geoconservation plan has been developed by ICNF with the support of local authorities. After several years of being open to visitors without proper control, the Cabeço da Ladeira paleontological site is now conditioned to organized groups of researchers, schools, and tourists. Some body fossils were collected for studies and included in the national collections of the Geological Museum (Lisbon). Moreover, casts have been made to protect holotypes of trace fossils, also providing ways to replicate this fossil record in temporary exhibitions. A long-term experimental study to conserve the limestone bedding plane exposures and their fossil contents was started in order to develop the best geoconservation strategy with an aim to reduce the damage produced by the increasing tourist demand on natural sites. Cabeço da Ladeira and other geosites in protected areas are key to communicating an evolutionary approach to environmental education, and their geoconservation must be a priority to improve their long-term use as (geo)tourism attractions.