The Future of Solar Energy

The Future of Solar Energy (2015), an interdisciplinary MIT study led by the MIT Energy Initiative.

Fuel poverty

Fuel poverty: "Under the Low Income High Costs definition, a household is considered to be fuel poor if: they have required fuel costs that are above average (the national median level); [and] were they to spend that amount, they would be left with a residual income below the official poverty line." (in Annual fuel poverty statistics report: 2015, p.9)

in Annual fuel poverty statistics report: 2015, p. 9

Ver o conceito mais englobante «energy poverty» em Energy poverty and vulnerable consumers in the energy sector across the EU: analysis of policies and measures (2015)

The frontiers of energy (2016)

Armstrong, R. C., Wolfram, C., de Jong, K. P., Gross, R., Lewis, N. S., Boardman, B., Ragauskas, A. J., Ehrhardt-Martinez, K., and Crabtree, G. (2016). The frontiers of energy. Nature Energy, vol 1, art 201520:

"Great strides have been made over the past century in our ability to harness energy sources, leading to profound transformations — both good and bad — in society. Looking at the energy system of today, it is clear that meeting the energy needs of the world now and in the years to come requires the concerted efforts of many different actors across a range of technologies and approaches. In this Feature, ten leading experts in energy research share their vision of what challenges their respective fields need to address in the coming decades. The issues being faced are diverse and multifaceted, from the search for better materials for fuels, to the design of energy policy and markets for the developing world. However, a common theme emerges: changes to adapt and improve our energy system are greatly needed. By improving our mutual understanding of the issues faced by each area of energy research, these changes can happen more smoothly, efficiently and rapidly."

relação entre o tempo que faz e a energia renovável produzida

EnergizAIR: projecto europeu financiado pelo Programa Intelligent Energy Europe da Comissão Europeia. Coordenado pela Associação de Energias Renováveis Belga Apere, será implementado em 4 países europeus além de Portugal; França, Bélgica, Itália e Eslovénia.

Distribuição territorial com percentagem de energias renováveis produzidas (energia solar térmica, solar fotovoltaica e eólica), na última semana.

Steel industry in Netherlands

"The steel maker has announced that they intend to mount 80 000 solar panels on the factory roofs at its IJmuiden steelworks – an area equivalent to 40 football pitches. The solar project will have a 22 megawatt capacity and will generate the same amount of energy needed to power about 7000 homes." + info

(US) materials science in 2015

"materials science has been and will continue to be at the forefront of clean energy innovations. In 2015, we reported on three major clean energy trends thanks to advanced materials and engineering." + info 

Uruguay with 94,5% renewable energy

"In less than 10 years, Uruguay has slashed its carbon footprint without government subsidies or higher consumer costs, according to the country’s head of climate change policy, Ramón Méndez. In fact, he says that now that renewables provide 94.5% of the country’s electricity, prices are lower than in the past relative to inflation. There are also fewer power cuts because a diverse energy mix means greater resilience to droughts." + info

Investir mais em biomassa

"Segundo o Secretário-geral do COPA-COGECA a biomassa proveniente da floresta e da agricultura tem um potencial que ainda não está explorado. Deve-se, assim, encontrar soluções para um melhor uso dos recursos existentes, envolvendo mais os agricultores e produtores florestais, aconselhando-os e promovendo a transferência de conhecimentos e da inovação, investindo nas novas tecnologias, desenvolvendo novos modelos económicos."

power consumption for electrical devices

"WattDoesItUse allows you to calculate the power consumption of your devices. In fact, we make it easy for you to save all of the devices you own to your profile, so that you can view your total power consumption."

Free Energy guides

Pratical Guide to 'Free Energy' Devices (pdf) by Patrick J. Kelly (2015). + info em Free Energy

Call for papers, special issue of Sustainability Journal

"Passive House Development and High Energy Efficiency Sustainable Buildings", a special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). 

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 January 2016

vinte e um euros ano com gastos energéticos (UK)

Uma moradia super-eficiente de West Kirby, Wirral, no centro do Reino Unido, gasta apenas €21 por ano em energia" para ter "aquecimento, iluminação, energia para cozinhar e acesso a água quente."

Solar thermal plant at Moroccan city

From BBC, rows of curved mirrors capture solar energy

"A giant plant using energy from the Sun to power a Moroccan city at night will open next month. The solar thermal plant at Ouarzazate will harness the Sun's warmth to melt salt, which will hold its heat to power a steam turbine in the evening. The first phase will generate for three hours after dark; the last stage aims to supply power 20 hours a day."

Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)

Enquanto aguardamos por acesso via institucional à biblioteca científica online (b-on), fica uma selecção de revistas científicas de acesso aberto, indexadas pelo DOAJ:

Frontiers in Energy Research  

Publisher's keywords: bioenergy and biofuels, energy storage, energy systems and policy, solar energy, process and energy systems engineering, nuclear energy

Materials for Renewable and Sustainable Energy 

Publisher's keywords: energy saving, fuel production, energy storage, conversion

International Journal of Smart Grid and Clean Energy 

Publisher's keywords: microgrids, renewable energy, energy storage

International Journal of Renewable Energy 

Publisher's keywords: green energy, renewable energy sources

ResearchEnergy Science & Engineering 

Publisher's keywords: General Energy, Fossil Fuels, Energy Storage, Nuclear Energy, Renewable Energy, Power Engineering

Energy, Sustainability and Society Journal

Thomas Hoppe & Ellen van Bueren (2015). Guest editorial: governing the challenges of climate change and energy transition in cities. Energy, Sustainability and Society, 5(19).

"The main question in this guest editorial of the thematic issue, entitled ‘Governing the Climate Change Mitigation and Energy Transition Challenges in Cities’, is: How can effective policy strategies be designed and implemented to govern the challenges of climate change and energy transition in cities? We develop some preliminary answers to this question based on seven research papers that form the contribution to the thematic series"

Elaine Conway (2015). Engaging small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the low carbon agenda. Energy, Sustainability and Society, 5(32).

"This paper helps to fill a gap in the literature on SME engagement with low carbon initiatives. It demonstrates both the current areas of engagement and the perceived barriers to further engagement. These findings could inform policy makers in directing support to SMEs to reduce their ecological impacts"

Bastholm, C. and Henning, A. (2014). The use of three perspectives to make energy implementation studies more culturally informed. Energy, Sustainability and Society, 4(1):3

"One advantage of focusing on energy services rather than energy supply is that it opens up for studies of energy-related ways of living and how these may be altered [33]. Another advantage is that it draws attention to the fact that the same service can be provided by different equipments and sources of energy"

beauty in wind trees

"New Wind, a research and development company in France, has developed this new technology based on the look and feel of a tree. The unobtrusive design is actually pleasing to look at, is reported to be silent, and operates in low wind unlike most wind turbines, and this has the added effect of increasing overall efficiency and power output." +info

Energy Efficiency Market Report

"The International Energy Agency has released the 2015 Energy Efficiency Market Report that provides insights into how businesses, households and policy-makers generate the investments that drive the energy efficiency market and how this market impacts our energy system."

See report

O Fundo de Apoio à Inovação (FAI) em Energias Renováveis e Eficiência Energética, tem candidaturas abertas em permanência para “Projetos de Estudos Técnicos ou Científicos Artigo 3º, nº1, d) do Regulamento do FAI Estudos técnicos ou científicos que suportem de forma efetiva o conhecimento das entidades públicas e privadas na área da eficiência energética ou das energias renováveis.” 

São elegíveis despesas com trabalhadores, subcontratações (até 30% do valor com trabalhadores), viagens e alojamento, e custos indirectos (até 5%). Montante máximo por candidatura 200 000 euros. 

+ info (montantes e formulário) fai.pt/candidaturas-em-continuo/#projetosdeestudos

[curso online] Programa de Capacitação em Energias Renováveis

O Programa de Capacitação em Energias Renováveis é da iniciativa do Observatório de Energias Renováveis para América Latina e Caribe, "(...) focado no contexto das tecnologias de produção de energia renovável e eficiência energética que cumpram com as necessidades da América Latina e Caribe, de maneira a fomentar os investimentos nessa área." O "programa visa a promover o acesso a energias limpas e oferece aos profissionais e gestores de políticas conhecimentos de qualidade e atualizados sobre tecnologias energéticas". 

Oferece 7 módulos "incluindo a análise de exemplos práticos. Os usuários irão encontrar em cada um dos módulos diferentes elementos de formação, como guia didático, apresentações em vídeo, conteúdo extenso, slides interativos e exercícios. Todos os módulos de EAD estão disponíveis em Inglês, Espanhol e Português, cada um com 16 horas/aula. (...) Os usuários receberão um certificado digital" 

Módulos:

Energia e Mudanças Climáticas; 

Energia Mini-Eólica;

O Biogás; 

Energia Mini-Hidrelétrica; 

Energia Solar Térmica; 

Energia Solar Fotovoltaica; 

Eficiência Energética em Edifícios.

[event] Bioeconomy Investment Summit

Bioeconomy Investment Summit, Brussels, 9 e 10 de Novembro:

"The objective of the two-day Summit is to identify possible ways to mobilize private and public investment for the Bioeconomy, by notably ensuring supportive framework conditions including policy and regulatory environments. The event will be hosted by the EU Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Carlos Moedas and bring together high-level representatives from the European institutions, industry, primary producers, civil society, the scientific community, representatives from regional public investment banks, private equity firms investing in the bioeconomy, members of the European Parliament and producers in the agricultural, forestry and marine sectors."