No abstract available

[en] Nowadays, global energy demand has increased considerably due to the growing global economy and industrialization. In order to reduce the increasing usage of fossil fuels, the usage of renewable energies is being promoted. The use of bioelectrochemical systems (BES) to valorise wastewater is a promising renewable energy alternative. There are different types of BES depending on itsfunction. Some ofthese systems are: microbialfuel cell(allows electricity generation), microbial electrosynthesis cell (produces chemical products), microbial desalination cell (allows the desalination), and microbial electrolysis cells (MEC) which are a type of BES that allows hydrogen production, being H2 a valuable energy carrier and a feedstock for many chemical processes [1].

[en] This report carried out an energy analysis of energy supply in France. In the past two decades, the drive for energy independence, coupled with long term, centralised planning, has resulted in 51.8% of French energy needs being met indigenously. The main contributor to this growth is nuclear electricity. There is also significant expansion of natural gas but in contrast the long-term prospects for the indigenous coal industry look less promising. (UK)

No abstract available

[en] Restructuring, privatisation and market changes of grid-bound energy systems present processes that characterise the energy sector of today, and the achieved level of these processes vary considerably from one country to another and there is no ideal model. Therefore, the exchange of experiences and broad co-operation in the field is of vital importance. For the first time the concept of the future Croatian energy legislation, presently in the focus of domestic energy related attention, will be introduced. Restructuring includes the changes in organisation anbd economic relations in order to enhance efficiency and reduce operational costs, in keeping with the market trends. Privatisation is a process that should enable the creation of markets and competition. When defining the concept of privatisation, we should primarily design the market, determine the position of individual functioning during market creation, and then determine the course of privatisation. Experiences of developed countries tell us that it is necessary to find a balance between markets and state interventions, as well as among technological-technical, economic and social aspects of energy use

[en] This article deals with the nexus between energy policymaking and ideology. The article builds and expands upon a theoretical social constructivist analytical strategy, or framework, put forth for the purposes of conducting energy policy analysis. It then addresses criticism that this strategy constitutes “postmodern mush” that has no place in energy analysis before concluding with a review of why social constructivism has a significant role to play in building consensus and enhancing understanding between competing energy policy perspectives. The main contribution made by this paper stems from application of this ontological construct to the analysis of policies targeting wicked energy problems. The study cuts to the core about how energy problems are defined, interpreted, communicated, planned for, and potentially implemented via policy. Put another way, our study offers a timely critique or a call for reconceptualizing the process and practice of energy policy itself. - Highlights: • A social constructivist analytical strategy is needed in energy policy analysis. • Social constructivism has a significant role to play in building consensus. • It can also enhance understanding between competing energy policy perspectives.

No abstract available

[en] Replaceable fuses as coupling elements, with detailed composite connections, can state the steel and concrete hybrid structures to be one of the best alternatives for a more feasible and easy repairable earthquake-proof structure. Therefore, an efficient composite connection for a newly suggested Hybrid Coupled Wall (HCW) system, consisting of a reinforced concrete shear wall coupled with steel side columns via dissipative steel shear links, is studied in this paper. The steel shear links are connected to a steel profile, embedded or passing through the RC wall. This embedded part should be so designed that the damage always occurs on the steel shear links (fuses) prior to minimal damage in the RC wall and embedded connection. The emphasis is on characterizing a suitable “steel link + embedded composite connection within the RC wall” configuration and calculate an appropriate embedment length while concentrating the seismic damage to the replaceable steel links. To this purpose, two joint configurations are designed through a capacity based approach, namely “partly embedded” and “passing through” steel beam connection and are examined through detailed FE analyses. A parametric study was also carried out to provide sufficient evidence towards the design considerations proposed in this study, in terms of strength, stiffness and bearing strength within the embedded connection. (Author)

[en] We calculate the vortex gyration in a nanodisk with existence of Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interactions (DMI), including bulk DMI (BDMI) and interfacial DMI (IDMI). By analyzing the system energies, we establish quantitative relations between the gyration frequency and the magnetostatic, DMI, exchange, and Zeeman energies. Accordingly, we explain how the BDMI and IDMI alter the vortex gyration frequency in a nanodisk. - Highlights: • We study the vortex gyration frequency in a nanodisk with DMI. • Interfacial DMI decreases the gyration frequency obviously. • We explain how the DMI alter the vortex gyration frequency by analyzing the energies.

[en] This report consists of the appendices to report ETSU/B/M4/00487/01/REP and gives summaries of the detailed information and calculations used therein. (UK)