Search results for "fossil fuel"

Inappropriate evaluation of methodology and biases by P. Morfeld and T.C. Erren.

2020

The spatial dynamics of atmospheric pollution in Latvia and the Baltic Republics, as measured in mosses, topsoil and precipitation

1994

Atmospheric pollution in the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania has been mapped using measurements of pollutant concentrations in mosses, topsoil and precipitation. Air masses from western Europe deposit industrial pollutants in the Baltic region and concentrations depend on meteorological conditions. Superimposed on this background is the pattern of deposits from local sources. Large areas receive neutral to basic precipitation due to cement industries and fly ash emissions from fossil fuel combustion. The burning of oil-shale in NE Estonia results in precipitation with pH values over 7.0, and high concentrations of V, Fe, and Cd. Heavy metal concentrations in the topsoil a…

Evaluation of energy performance of drinking water treatment plants: Use of energy intensity and energy efficiency metrics

2018

Abstract One of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is to provide access to safe and clean drinking water. However, treating raw water in facilities currently involves using a non-negligible amount of energy, and the fossil fuels used are both expensive and emit greenhouse gases when combusted. Previous studies have evaluated the energy performance of drinking water treatment plants by estimating the amount of energy consumed per volume of water. However, such studies have not accounted for differences between treatment technologies and have assumed a common standard water treatment technology. To overcome these limitations, this study employed metafrontier data envelopment ana…

Pollution patterns in the upper troposphere over Europe and Asia observed by CARIBIC

2014

Abstract Between May 2005 and March 2008 the CARIBIC (Civil Aircraft for the Regular Investigation of the atmosphere Based on an Instrument Container) observatory was deployed to make atmospheric observations on 42 flights between Frankfurt, Germany and Manila, the Philippines. This nearly 3 year flight series provides information about atmospheric composition in the upper troposphere over Europe and Asia during all seasons and was used to investigate seasonal and regional differences in trace gas distributions and the influence of long range transport and local convection on composition. The flight route was separated into three different regions having characteristic differences in transp…

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry study of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in grass and milk from urban and rural farms

2000

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) levels were studied in grass and milk sampled at two farms, one located in a non-contaminated, rural area, and another located in a urban area close to PAH sources such as highways, busy roads, fuel-powered trains and a steel plant. PAH concentration were measured by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) using internal deuterated standards. In grasses, unexpectedly, although the sum of PAH concentrations was only slightly higher at the urban farm (83.1 ± 16.1 ng g−1) than the rural farm (51.8 ± 10.6 ng g−1), this difference was not observed for all PAH members. This absence of a striking difference of PAH levels between urban and rura…

SOLAR DESALINATION: A CHALLENGE FOR SUSTAINABLE FRESH WATER IN THE 21ST CENTURY

2007

generate a sustainable source of fresh water as well as energy. This combination is highly valued as it limits and reduces air pollutant emissions and green house gases generated by combustion of fossil fuels. Increase in energy demand during the first half of this century is expected to continue, which makes the cost of renewable solar energy highly competitive against fossil fuels. Desalination has been relied on to provide fresh water for large cities and countries across the world. The desalination industry continues to grow in countries in arid regions. Various aspects of solar desalination processes, solar energy, and conventional desalination are discussed. Scenarios for combination …

Evaluation of the optimal renewable electricity mix for Lampedusa island: The adoption of a technical and economical methodology

2020

Abstract Worldwide, the majority of small islands not connected to the main grid is still dependent on fossil fuels. From an economic and environmental point of view, this condition is no more sustainable given the high costs for electricity generation and the high level of pollutant emissions. Furthermore, the dependence on fossil fuel represents a risk for the security of the supply of several small developing Countries since they are obliged to import those resources from foreign Countries. The introduction of renewable energy sources in small islands represents a valid solution to solve these problems. In this context, the paper investigates the case of Lampedusa, a small Italian island…

Small Island developing states: Overview about wind, solar and marine energy in Cuba

2019

The current economic, political, and social trends in Cuba indicate that energy sector will change in the future. The energy consumption will increase and Cuba, like most island nations, lacks a large energy resource base and satisfies most of its energy needs with imported fossil fuels. The aim of this work is a summary of renewable energy sources (solar, wind, bioenergy and marine) presented in the island and the development in the next society of the future.

Valorization of Marine Waste: Use of Industrial By-Products and Beach Wrack Towards the Production of High Added-Value Products

2021

Biomass is defined as organic matter from living organisms represented in all kingdoms. It is recognized to be an excellent source of proteins, polysaccharides and lipids and, as such, embodies a tailored feedstock for new products and processes to apply in green industries. The industrial processes focused on the valorization of terrestrial biomass are well established, but marine sources still represent an untapped resource. Oceans and seas occupy over 70% of the Earth’s surface and are used intensively in worldwide economies through the fishery industry, as logistical routes, for mining ores and exploitation of fossil fuels, among others. All these activities produce waste. The other sou…

Flexibility Services to Minimize the Electricity Production from Fossil Fuels. A Case Study in a Mediterranean Small Island

2019

The design of multi-carrier energy systems (MESs) has become increasingly important in the last decades, due to the need to move towards more efficient, flexible, and reliable power systems. In a MES, electricity, heating, cooling, water, and other resources interact at various levels, in order to get optimized operation. The aim of this study is to identify the optimal combination of components, their optimal sizes, and operating schedule allowing minimizing the annual cost for meeting the energy demand of Pantelleria, a Mediterranean island. Starting from the existing energy system (comprising diesel generators, desalination plant, freshwater storage, heat pumps, and domestic hot water st…