scholarly journals Facilities of J. G. Mendel Antarctic station: Technical and technological solutions with a special respect to energy sources

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pavel Prošek ◽  
Miloš Barták ◽  
Kamil Láska ◽  
Alois Suchánek ◽  
Josef Hájek ◽  
...  

In this paper, we focus on technical facilities and technologies used at the Johann Gregor Mendel station (James Ross Island, Antarctica) with a special respect to energy sources used for running the station. Construction of the station is evaluated from energy demand and energy loss points of view. Detailed description of main energy sources, i.e. wind turbines, solar thermal panels, and diesel generators is given. Water management and combustible solid waste management are described as well. Brief overview of future plans related to energy sources at the Johann Gregor Mendel station including an increase in the exploitation of solar energy from photovoltaic panels is given.

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petr Wolf

It is well known that the utilization of renewable energy sources is inevitable for a sustainable future. Besides the fact that other energy sources such as coal, gas or nuclear power have limited reserves the proper use of increasingly higher shares of renewable energy sources may lower negative impacts of traditional energy sources on the ecosystems. This is especially important in naturally protected areas located in remote Earth locations. Such areas are still almost untouched by mankind, e.g. Antarctica. The research activities in the area of renewable energy sources have increased rapidly within the last few decades. It is of a global interest to carry out the research in an ecologically sensitive way, i.e. balance the outputs and the effects of infrastructure on environment. In this paper, a project of installation of a photovoltaic system on the Czech Antarctic Station (Johann Gregor Mendel) on the James Ross Island is described and the first experience from the system run is reported. The contribution of this system to the overall energy production on this station shortly after commissioning of the system is presented as well. In discussion, a possible future development of the system is suggested.


2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zdeněk Stachoň ◽  
Jan Russnák ◽  
Daniel Nývlt ◽  
Filip Hrbáček

The article is focused on issuing of the permanent stabilisation of geodetic points in the periglacial environment. Periglacial environment of ice-free areas of northern James Ross Island is characterised by specific geomorphological processes connected with freezing and thawing and mass movement processes in the superficial part of the ground. Variable intensity of periglacial processes creates main limitations for traditional methods of permanent geodetic point’s stabilisation. This article describes periglacial processes with regards to the traditional stabilisation methods and suggests alternative solutions, which were practically applied and verified on the ice-free area of Ulu Peninsula, northern James Ross Island.


2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-41
Author(s):  
Alena Ševčíková ◽  
Jana Bednářová ◽  
Sonia Bartáková ◽  
Pavel Ševčík

During January and February 2011 two sets of microbiological samples were collected inside the main building of Johann Gregor Mendel station located at the James Ross Island near the coast of Antarctica. The aim was to examine the changes of microbial profile of the antarctic station environment. The first set of samples was collected from the station environment before the staff entry, i.e. after 10 months of quiescent state when nobody was present at the station. The second set of samples was collected from the same places before the Antarctic expedition staff left the station after 45 days of the stay. The cultivation of samples was focused on mesophilic bacteria. Twenty-three strains were obtained from the Set No. 1 and 27 strains were obtained from the Set No. 2. However, 8 strains from each set were not reliably identified by mass spectrometry. Altogether 13 strains of Gram-positive bacteria were identified in the Set. No. 1, while only 7 in the Set No. 2. Contrastingly, Gram-negative bacteria were much more abundant in the Set No. 2 (12 strains) than in the Set No. 1 (2 strains). Bacillus sp. was the most common Gram-positive strain (9 isolations from the first set, 2 isolations from the second set). Pantoea agglomerans was the most common Gram-negative strain (2 isolations from the first set, 7 isolations from the second set). The first experience with the microbial profile of the research station showed that we were able to detect mainly bacteria commonly present in the outer environment that could survive under extreme conditions. We did not isolate any microbes related to human colonisation except of enterococci and Escherichia vulneris. For further investigation of the station environment, it will be necessary to choose alternative way of collection and storage of samples to ensure survival of all present bacteria.


Author(s):  
Bisma Imtiaz ◽  
Imran Zafar ◽  
Cui Yuanhui

Due to the rapid increase in energy demand with depleting conventional sources, the world’s interest is moving towards renewable energy sources. Microgrid provides easy and reliable integration of distributed generation (DG) units based on renewable energy sources to the grid. The DG’s are usually integrated to microgrid through inverters. For a reliable operation of microgrid, it must have to operate in grid connected as well as isolated mode. Due to sudden mode change, performance of the DG inverter system will be compromised. Design and simulation of an optimized microgrid model in MATLAB/Simulink is presented in this work. The goal of the designed model is to integrate the inverter-interfaced DG’s to the microgrid in an efficient manner. The IEEE 13 bus test feeder has been converted to a microgrid by integration of DG’s including diesel engine generator, photovoltaic (PV) block and battery. The main feature of the designed MG model is its optimization in both operated modes to ensure the high reliability. For reliable interconnection of designed MG model to the power grid, a control scheme for DG inverter system based on PI controllers and DQ-PLL (phase-locked loop) has been designed. This designed scheme provides constant voltage in isolated mode and constant currents in grid connected mode. For power quality improvement, the regulation of harmonic current insertion has been performed using LCL filter. The performance of the designed MG model has been evaluated from the simulation results in MATLAB/ Simulink.


2021 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 21-30
Author(s):  
Nasreddine ATTOU ◽  
Sid-Ahmed ZIDI ◽  
Mohamed KHATIR ◽  
Samir HADJERI

Energy management in grid-connected Micro-grids (MG) has undergone rapid evolution in recent times due to several factors such as environmental issues, increasing energy demand and the opening of the electricity market. The Energy Management System (EMS) allows the optimal scheduling of energy resources and energy storage systems in MG in order to maintain the balance between supply and demand at low cost. The aim is to minimize peaks and fluctuations in the load and production profile on the one hand, and, on the other hand, to make the most of renewable energy sources and energy exchanges with the utility grid. In this paper, our attention has been focused on a Rule-based energy management system (RB EMS) applied to a residential multi-source grid-connected MG. A Microgrid model has been implemented that combines distributed energy sources (PV, WT, BESS), a number of EVs equipped with the Vehicle to Grid technology (V2G) and variable load. Different operational scenarios were developed to see the behaviour of the implemented management system during the day, including the random demand profile of EV users, the variation in load and production, grid electricity price variation. The simulation results presented in this paper demonstrate the efficacy of the suggested EMS and confirm the strategy's feasibility as well as its ability to properly share power among different sources, loads and vehicles by obeying constraints on each element.


Stanovnistvo ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Predrag Petrovic ◽  
Goran Nikolic ◽  
Ivana Ostojic

Over the past several decades there has been a strong intensifying trend of human society impact on ecosystems, consumption of natural resources and global change. The environmental impact of the society is fully apparent and dominantly implemented through various greenhouse gases emissions (GHG), leading towards global climate change with considerably spread harmful effects. Global climate change includes the earth and ocean surface and atmospheric warming, but also melting of snow and ice, increase of sea levels and ocean acidity, as well as ever more common natural phenomena extremes (winds, various forms of rainfall/precipitation, extremely low or high temperatures, etc.). Scientists are well-familiarized with the fact that use of fossil fuels, such as oil derivatives and coal, is the main generator of harmful gases. In addition, possible substitutions for fossil fuels in the form of other energy sources are very limited, and it should be remembered that other energy sources also have certain adverse environmental effects. Bearing in mind climate change caused by products of fossil fuels combustion, as well as inevitable depletion of natural crude oil resources, management of growing global energy demand becomes one of the key goals and challenges of 21st century. If these reasons are coupled with obligations emanating from Kyoto Protocol, it is clear that attention of researches should be more than reasonably focused on the main determinants of energy consumption. This study is focused on illumination of key demographic and economic determinants of energy consumption in 28 EU member states in the period 1960- 2014. The results obtained demonstrate that population positively and quite strongly influence total energy consumption. An increase of population of 1% will result in an increase of energy consumption of 1.59% to 1.76%. Such relation most probably can be explained by the fact that demographic growth of the society aggravates and complicates planning processes of efficient energy consumption, diminishing the ability of society to be energy efficient. The population effect of persons aged 65 and above to energy consumption is also positive. An increase in share of this age group of 1% will result in an increase in energy consumption of approximately 0.43%. Positive elasticity coefficient should be understood as a proof that European societies with higher share of senior citizens consume more energy that societies with higher share of younger population, not necessarily as an argument that senior citizens use more energy than younger population. The explanation for such nature of a cause-andeffect relation could be that high share of senior citizens influences the structure of production and consumption, spatial distribution of population, transport infrastructure and social services provided. A significant influence on energy consumption in the EU is made by the level of economic development of countries, which is in accordance with the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC), suggesting a relation of inverted letter ?U?. The amount of income per capita needed to have the EKC expressed ranges between 54,183 and 81,552 dollars.


Author(s):  
Alberto Tama Franco

Wind technology is considered to be among the most promising types of renewable energy sources, and due to high oil prices and growing concerns about climate change and energy security, it has been the subject of extensive considerations in recent years, including questions related to the relative sustainability of electricity production when the manufacturing, assembly, transportation and dismantling processes of these facilities are taken into account. The present article evaluates the environmental impacts, carbon emissions and water consumption, derived from the production of electric energy of the Villonaco wind farm, located in Loja-Ecuador, during its entire life cycle, using the Life Cycle Analysis method. Finally, it is concluded that wind energy has greater environmental advantages, since it has lower values of carbon and water footprints than other energy sources. Additionally, with the techniques Cumulative Energy Demand and Energy Return on Investment, sustainability in the production of electricity from wind power in Ecuador is demonstrated; and, that due to issues of vulnerability to climate change, the diversification of its energy mix is essential considering the inclusion of non-conventional renewable sources such as solar or wind, this being the only way to reduce both the carbon footprint and the water supply power.


Author(s):  
Hanna Irena Jędrzejuk

This chapter describes a general issue of selecting renewable energy sources (RES) and technical systems. To achieve the nearly zero-energy building (nZEB) standard, application of an RES (e.g., solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, and biomass energy) is necessary. Each type of RES has specific characteristics and can be used to produce electricity and/or heat in certain systems. A short review of various systems using renewable energy sources is presented. To find the required and satisfactory solution that guaranties meeting the nZEB standard, an analysis must be carried out considering a number of aspects: local availability, structure and time-dependence of energy demand, building construction, economic conditions, legal regulations, and specific requirements. Finally, two examples of modernisation towards the nZEB standard are included.


Author(s):  
Sharon Nanyongo Njie ◽  
Ikedinachi Ayodele Power Wogu ◽  
Uchenna Kingsley Ogbuehi ◽  
Sanjay Misra ◽  
Oluwakemi Deborah Udoh

While most governments subscribe to boosting global energy supplies since it paves the way for improved economies, which translates to better living conditions and gainful employments which in turn boost government operations, the rising global demand for energy from all human endeavors have activated unparalleled consequences on the environment, resulting to harmful repercussions for government operations and processes all over the world. Hence, scholars argue that the rising demand for global energy by industrialized nations have further increased the vulnerability of governments' operations and processes, especially in countries where these energy sources abound. Consequently, governments, multinationals, and various interest groups are divided on how best to address the quandaries resulting from rising global demand for energy and its effect on the environment and government operations. Recommendations that would enhance government operations were proposed.


Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 2051 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renato Lemm ◽  
Raphael Haymoz ◽  
Astrid Björnsen Gurung ◽  
Vanessa Burg ◽  
Tom Strebel ◽  
...  

The transition towards a reliable, sustainable, low-carbon energy system is a major challenge of the 21st century. Due to the lower energy density of many renewable energy sources, a future system is expected to be more decentralized, leading to significant changes at the regional scale. This study analyzes the feasibility of the energy transition in the Swiss canton of Aargau as an illustrative example and explores different strategies to satisfy the local demand for electricity, heat, and fuel by 2035. In particular, we assess the potential contribution of biomass. Four scenarios demonstrate what energy demand proportion could be covered by bioenergy if different priorities were given to the provision of heat, electricity, and fuel. The impact of improved conversion technologies is also considered. The results show that the sustainably available renewable energy sources in canton Aargau will probably not be sufficient to cover its forecasted energy demand in 2035, neither with present nor future biomass conversion technologies. At best, 74% of the energy demand could be met by renewables. Biomass can increase the degree of autarky by a maximum of 13%. Depending on the scenario, at least 26–43% (2500–5700 GWh) of total energy demand is lacking, particularly for mobility purposes.


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