Current concentrated solar power plants (CSP) use molten salt at 565°C as a heat transfer and energy storage fluid. Due to thermal energy storage (TES), these solar plants can deliver dispatachable electricity to the grid; however, the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for these plants is 12-15 c/kWh, about 2.5 times as high as fossil fuel electricity generation. Molten salt technology limits peak operating temperatures to 565°C and a heat engine efficiency of 40%. Liquid metal (LM), however, can reach >1350°C, and potentially utilize a more efficient (60%) heat engine and realize cost reductions. A 1350 °C LM-CSP plant would require ceramic containment, inert atmosphere containment, additional solar flux concentration, and redesigned internal receiver. It was initially unclear if these changes and additions for LM-CSP were technically feasible and could lower the LCOE compared to LS-CSP. To answer this question, a LM-CSP plant was designed with the same thermal input as a published LS-CSP plant. A graphite internal cavity receiver with secondary concentration heated liquid Sn to 1400°C and transferred heat to a 2-phase Al-Si fluid for 9 hours of thermal energy storage. Input heat to the combined power cycle was 1350°C and had 60% thermal efficiency for a gross output of 168 MW. The cost of this LM-CSP was estimated by applying material cost factors to the designed geometry and scaling construction costs from published LS-CSP estimates. Furthermore, graphite was experimentally tested for reactivity with liquid Sn, successful reaction bonds, and successful mechanical seals. The result is switching to molten metal can reduce CSP costs by 30% and graphite pipes, valves, and seals are possible at least at 400°C.

Renewable energies, and among them solar photovoltaics, are becoming more important in the last years due to the lack of fossil fuels and the environmental impact of them. PV installed capacity is increasing over and over in some countries and the prices of the installation are decreasing while the prices of the electricity are predicted to increase. Electricity use in buildings account for an important part of all electricity use in the world. This two facts make the PV installation in the rooftops of buildings a good opportunity to reduce the purchase of electricity from the grid.   The aim of the thesis is to analyze the profitability and the environmental impact (when using a hot water accumulator) of a PV system with different storage systems placed in the rooftop of two dwellings located in Gävle (Sweden). The storage systems can be either batteries or hot water accumulators. The purpose of the storage system is to increase the self-consumption rate of the PV system and to save the highest amount of money possible. It is also studied the difference of installing PbA and Li-ion batteries, and the reliability of the data used in the simulation of the alternative systems with the help of the software PVsyst.   Results show that the profitability of the proposed three alternative PV systems with storage is not higher than the PV system without storage. The reason for this has been found in the low prices of electricity and DH nowadays. Moreover, the impact of decreasing the heating demand from DH network does not benefit the environment, because the electricity has to be produced in power plants that produce more pollutants. It can be said also that the data obtained in PVsyst has been determined reliable and that the difference between the two types of batteries is not conclusive.   It can be concluded that if the cost of the PV systems or the batteries would decrease, the profitability will be higher. Furthermore, the increase in the price of electricity, DH or governmental subsidies would improve the results.

Concentrating solar power plants can integrate cost-effective thermal energy storage systems and thereby supply controllable power on demand, an advantage against other renewable technologies. Storage integration allows a solar thermal power plant to increase its load factor and to shift production to periods of peak demand. It also enables output firmness, providing stability to the power block and to the grid. Thus, despite the additional investment, storage can enhance the performance and economic viability of the plants. However, the levelized cost of electricity of these plants yet remains higher than for other technologies, so projects today are only viable through the provision of incentives or technology-specific competitive bid tenders. It is the variability of the solar resource, the myriad roles that storage can assume, and the complexity of enhancing the synergies between the solar field, the storage and the power block, what makes the development of adequate policy instruments, design and operation of these plants a challenging process. In this thesis a comprehensive methodology for the pre-design and analysis of concentrating solar power plants is presented. The methodology is based on a techno-economic modeling approach that allows identifying optimum trade-off curves between technical, environmental, and financial performance indicators. A number of contemporary plant layouts and novel storage and hybridization concepts are assessed to identify optimum plant configurations, in terms of component size and storage dispatch strategies. Conclusions highlight the relevance between the sizing of key plant components, the operation strategy and the boundaries set by the location. The interrelation between critical performance indicators, and their use as decisive parameters, is also discussed. Results are used as a basis to provide recommendations aimed to support the decision making process of key actors along the project development value chain of the plants. This research work and conclusions are primarily meant to set a stepping stone in the research of concentrating solar power plant design and optimization, but also to support the research towards understanding the value of storage in concentrating solar power plants and in the grid. / Koncentrerad solkraft erbjuder möjligheten att integrera kostnadseffektiv termisk energilagring och därmed behovsstyrd kraftkontroll. Detta är en viktig fördel jämfört med andra förnybara energiteknologier. Lagringsintegration tillåter solkraftsanläggningar att öka sin lastfaktor och skifta produktion till tider med största efterfrågan. Vidare möjliggör lagring fast elproduktion vilket leder till förbättrad nät- och kraftturbinstabilitet. Därför kan termisk lagring öka anläggningsprestanda och ekonomiskt värde trots ökande initiala kapitalkostnader. I termer av specifik elproduktionskostnad (LCOE) ligger koncentrerade solkraftsanläggningar med lagring fortfarande högre än andra kraftteknologier och anläggningsprojekt blir endast lönsamma genom subventionsmodeller eller teknologispecifika konkurrensutsatta anbudsförfaranden. Att hitta adekvata policylösningar och optimala design och operationsstrategier är en utmanande process eftersom det gäller att hitta rätt balans mellan variabel solinstrålning, lagring av energi och tid för produktion genom optimal design och operation av solmottagarfält, kraftblock och lagringskapacitet. I denna avhandling presenteras en omfattande metodik för pre-design och analys av koncentrerande solkraftverk. Metodiken baseras på en tekno-ekonomisk modelleringsansats som möjliggör identifiering av optimala avvägningssamband för tekniska, ekonomiska och miljöprestanda indikatorer. Metodiken tillämpas på ett antal moderna anläggningslayouter  och lagrings- och hybridiseringskoncept för att identifiera optimal kraftanläggningsdesign i termer av komponentprestanda och lagringsanvändningsstrategier. I slutsatsen poängteras relevansen av att hitta rätt storlek på nyckelkomponenter i relation till lagringsstrategi och randvillkoren som ges av konstruktionsläget för optimal ekonomisk och miljömässig prestanda. Resultaten används för att formulera rekommendationer till nyckelaktörer i beslutsprocessen genom hela kraftanläggningens värdekedja från politisk beslutsfattare till anläggningsingenjör. Forskningen och slutsatserna i detta arbete skall i första hand ta ett steg framåt för optimering och design av solkraftsanläggningar men även tillhandahålla en metodik för utvärdering av lagringslösningar och dess specifika värde för solkraftsanläggningar och elnätet. / <p>QC 20160829</p>

Master of Science / Department of Agricultural Economics / Glynn Tonsor / The purpose of our analysis was to examine production strategies in the backgrounder and stocker segments of the beef industry within the Flint Hills region of Kansas. The time period analyzed encompassed 1996-2015. September and November placements of steers in the backgrounding sector of the industry were analyzed with an intended March sale date. Placements considered included 425, 500, and 575 pound steers. April and May placements of steers were analyzed for the industry’s stocking sector with an intended July sale date. Placements considered included 450, 600, and 750 pound steers. Within our analysis historical ex-post net incomes were analyzed, prediction errors were calculated (net income, revenue, and cost of gain), and market incentives/signals were analyzed. While for our historical ex-post net income analysis we did not identify one of the four placement strategies as superior in all 20 years of our analysis, we did find scenarios that were typically superior to others. In terms of backgrounding, November placements were typically superior to September placements, in terms of stocking April placements were typically superior to May placements, and when comparing backgrounding and stocking scenarios stocking scenarios were typically superior. In terms of prediction errors, we found that revenue errors are the main drivers of net income error. In general, within the backgrounding scenarios typical producers who are representative of our model assumptions generally overestimate net incomes which is detrimental to them (make lower profits than they anticipate making), while in stocking scenarios producers underestimate net incomes which is generally beneficial to them (make larger profits than they anticipate making). Market signal/incentive and ex-post net income analysis both indicated that steer weight at time of sale was a large factor influencing backgrounder profitability and decision making, and that pasture rents were a large factor influencing stocker profitability and decision making. In all four scenarios it proved economically beneficial to place lighter steer rather than heavy steers. Further research may include, but is not limited to; adding bulls and heifers to our model, analyzing different placement weights within our model, and allowing for animal performance variability within our model.

"Mémoire présenté à la Faculté des études supérieures en vue de l'obtention du grade de Maître en droit (L.L.M.) option Technologies de l'information" / Les progrès techniques qui caractérisent la révolution numérique modifient les rapports au sein de la société. Elle est sans conteste à la base d'une profonde modification du caractère de la création artistique. L'avènement de nouveaux moyens de communication de masse tels que l'Internet permettent la diffusion des oeuvres et cela sans frontières géo-temporelles. À ce contexte se superposent des prouesses techniques défiant les rêves les plus irréels. Le droit d'auteur se trouve confronté aux nouvelles techniques qui s'améliorent sans cesse. En réponse à cela, la gestion numérique des droits est apparue en tant que solution la plus appropriée: la technologie venant contrer à son tour la technologie. Cette approche a nécessairement influencé les initiatives législatives menant ainsi à une refonte du cadre légal tant en Amérique du Nord qu'en Europe. La récente vague de lois a-t-elle eu pour effet de modifier la conception du droit d'auteur ? Le droit d'auteur apparaît alors tel un instrument permettant la métamorphose économique du droit d'auteur. Le droit d'auteur se perd et se dissout non seulement par l'influence croisée avec le copyright mais notamment par la prolifération des droits au profit de personnes non auteur. Face à un tel constat, il est primordial de s'interroger sur l'opportunité économique que procure le droit d'auteur. Toutes ces réformes n'ont-elles pas eu lieu pour des enjeux financiers ? L'analyse économique s'avère indispensable afin de déterminer dans quelle mesure le droit des marchés s'en trouve affecté. Au regard de l'analyse économique, est-il possible de rendre la loi pour la protection du droit d'auteur plus optimale? En tant que propriété utile et vouée à circuler, une logique d'investissement semble dominer. Le cas de l'industrie musicale est une bonne illustration. Avec la construction d'un marché du téléchargement légal, la concurrence s'ouvre et amorce l'avènement d'un nouveau modèle d'exploitation des oeuvres. / The technical advances characterising the digital revolution do modify relations within society. This revolution is without dispute the basis of a complete change in the character of artistic creation. The arrivaI of new mass media such as the Internet allows works of art to be spread regardless of space and time boundaries. Technical miracles defying even the most unrealistic dreams are added to this context. Authors' rights are confronted to new technologies which are continually changing. In response to this, digital rights management has appeared as the most appropriate solution: it is a case of technology confronting technology. This approach has necessarily influenced legislative initiatives and led to an overhaul of the legal framework in North America as weIl as in Europe. Ras this recent wave of laws changed the conception of authors' rights? Authors' rights thus appear as an instrument for the economic metamorphosis of authors' rights. Authors' rights become lost and dissolve not only through cross influence with copyright but particularly through the proliferation of rights for the benefit of persons other than authors. In the face of such an acknowledgement, it is of the utmost importance to look into the economical opportunity offered by authors' rights. Raven't aIl these reforms been implemented for a financial stake? An economical analysis becomes essential in order to determine to what extent market law is affected. Is it possible, in regard to the economical analysis, to optimize the law for the protection of authors' rights? As useful property destined to circulate, the logic of investment appears to dominate. The case of the music industry is a prime example: as the competition opens up, a new mode! for the exploitation ofworks of art is initiated.

Duty of Care in Czech and German Civil Law Abstract The thesis deals with the importance of duties to prevent damages (duties of care) in Czech civil law. It focuses on detailed analysis of a few provisions of the Czech Civil Code. The main attention is focused on s. 415 of the Civil Code (Act No. 40/1964 Coll, the Civil Code, as amended; "OZ") establishing "the general duty of care". Findings about duties of care in the Civil Code are compared to a system of duties of care in German law of delict and additionally discussed using tools of economic analysis of law. The paper results in recommending changes in wording and interpretation of the duties of care and their comparison with the wording established by Act No. 89/2012 Coll., Civil Code ("NOZ"), effective from 1 January 2014. Chapter One examines development of interpretation of main provisions of OZ establishing duties of care. It briefly analyzes basic aspects of law of delict of OZ. It makes use of these findings in order to describe a position of duties of care in law of delict and limits of their interpretation. The main imperfections of their interpretation are illustrated on a couple of judicial decisions. Chapter Two briefly describes the system of law of delict under the German Civil Code ("BGB"). The chapter explores criteria of application...

The aim of this thesis is to carry out economic analysis of company Iveco Czech Republic, a.s. and evaluating it's financial situation in times of financial crisis. The thesis is divided into two main parts. Theoretical part describes methods and elementary principles,which are used for concrete calculations in second, practical part. Practical part is based on actual financial statements and other information, contains horizontal and vertical analysis, balance rules, ratio analysis, calculation of EVA, bankruptcy and creditworthy models, and comparison within sector.

Cílem diplomové práce je vypracování ekonomické analýzy neziskové organizace. V teoretické části je popsáno postavení neziskových organizací v systému národního hospodářství se zaměřením na obecně prospěšnou společnost. Dále jsou popsány jednotlivé fáze finanční analýzy jako základního nástroje ekonomické analýzy a vysvětleny některé základní pojmy. V úvodu praktické části je představena činnost a zdroje financování Horské služby ČR, o.p.s. V praktické části je provedena ekonomická analýza obecně prospěšné společnosti - Horské služby ČR za období 2005 -- 2009. Výsledky jsou porovnány s ekonomickými výsledky Horské záchranné služby, která působí ve stejném oboru ve Slovenské republice. V závěru uvádím zhodnocení analýzy a některých aspektů financování horské služby.

Most of the world’s electricity is being generated through conventional sources of energy like coal and nuclear. People are realizing the dire effect of using these fuels, and the amount of CO2 being released into the environment. Therefore, in recent year there has been a shift in emphasis towards cleaner ways of generating electricity. One such recent trend is solar photovoltaics (PV), which has seen rapid growth over the years. This ever-increasing trend of adopting PV system allows consumers to be producers or “Prosumers”. Due to the irregular production capability of solar PV, the need for an energy storage system like a battery bank is on the rise as well. This report evaluates how solar PV can be used in combination with a battery bank to supply the annual electricity demand for a household with little to no support from the grid. The building is assumed to be located in Bangalore, India. The energy demand for the household is estimated based on the requirements of a basic Indian house standard. The size and configuration of each component have been done with regards to the total load demand. Furthermore, the cost of the whole system is estimated in order to evaluate the feasibility of the grid-tied system from an economic perspective. The results show that a PV system consisting of four 270W solar panels, a battery bank of eight150Ah lead-acid batteries and a 48V 4kW inverter is required to meet the annual energy demand of the house. The results show that from a technical standpoint, the above-mentioned technology is feasible. The results from the economic evaluation show that the localized cost of energy(LCOE) for the system is ₹6.01/kWh or € 0.078/kWh or 0.84SEK/kWh and the payback time for the given system is 16.19 years. On the bright side, there are new technological advancements in the PV field every day, which could mean that an energy system of this type can be an achievable and practical alternative. Most of the world’s electricity is being generated through conventional sources of energy like coal and nuclear. People are realizing the dire effect of using these fuels, and the amount of CO2 being released into the environment. Therefore, in recent year there has been a shift in emphasis towards cleaner ways of generating electricity. One such recent trend is solar photovoltaics (PV), which has seen rapid growth over the years. This ever-increasing trend of adopting PV system allows consumers to be producers or “Prosumers”. Due to the irregular production capability of solar PV, the need for an energy storage system like a battery bank is on the rise as well. This report evaluates how solar PV can be used in combination with a battery bank to supply the annual electricity demand for a household with little to no support from the grid. The building is assumed to be located in Bangalore, India. The energy demand for the household is estimated based on the requirements of a basic Indian house standard. The size and configuration of each component have been done with regards to the total load demand. Furthermore, the cost of the whole system is estimated in order to evaluate the feasibility of the grid-tied system from an economic perspective. The results show that a PV system consisting of four 270W solar panels, a battery bank of eight 150Ah lead-acid batteries and a 48V 4kW inverter is required to meet the annual energy demand of the house. The results show that from a technical standpoint, the above-mentioned technology is feasible. The results from the economic evaluation show that the localized cost of energy (LCOE) for the system is ₹6.01/kWh or € 0.078/kWh or 0.84SEK/kWh and the payback time for the given system is 16.19 years. On the bright side, there are new technological advancements in the PV field every day, which could mean that an energy system of this type can be an achievable and practical alternative.

SELECTED ASPECTS OF BITCOIN AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE LAW AND ECONOMICS Abstract Bitcoin is one of the best-known examples of a decentralized convertible cryptocurrency based on blockchain technology. The diploma thesis deals with the main aspects of bitcoin and bitcoin payment networks in complex economic analysis based on the use of standard economic apparatus. The economic analysis is backed by a thorough and relevant legal research. The main goal of the diploma thesis is complex economic and legal analysis of bitcoin. In economic analysis, the emphasis is put on the use of supply-demand analysis, which outlines the basic factors affecting supply and demand for bitcoins. Based on a clear delineation of these factors, the thesis is able to analyse specific aspects of bitcoin. Diploma thesis analyzes the impacts of decentralized setting, as well as risks associated with anonymity of users, crime in connection with bitcoin, time delays in transaction verification, technical and energetic demands on mining, high transaction costs and internet connection needs. Each of these aspects is compared to existing payment institutions or systems. The thesis also examines the legal regulation of bitcoin. Due to the absence of a complex legal regulation, the diploma thesis tries to apply the...