A eletrificação rural é um desafio caracterizado pela população rarefeita, baixo consumo per capita, longas distâncias para atender aos consumidores e vias de difícil acesso para manutenção das redes. No Rio Grande do Sul, as primeiras iniciativas de eletrificação rural foram viabilizadas por meio de Cooperativas de Eletrificação Rural (CERs) que, com o passar do tempo, começaram a enfrentar problemas provocados pela privatização do setor elétrico brasileiro. Para sobreviverem, as CERs desenvolveram iniciativas de mútua cooperação, implementaram novos negócios, se articularam com e pelas estruturas de representação. Deste contexto emerge o questionamento: Como se desenvolvem a intercooperação e o empreendedorismo cooperativo no Cooperativismo de Eletrificação Rural Gaúcho e qual a contribuição destes para a produção de energia elétrica e de alimentos sob a lógica da sustentabilidade? Para se construir a resposta à questão, definiu-se como objetivo: Investigar se e como o empreendedorismo cooperativo e a intercooperação fomentam o Cooperativismo de Eletrificação Rural Gaúcho e a produção de energia elétrica e de alimentos sob a lógica da sustentabilidade. A teoria que embasa o estudo faz alusão ao displacement of concepts para se averiguar a apropriação do conceito de organização pela Teoria Organizacional e, também, como o conceito de cooperação é apropriado pelos Estudos Organizacionais. Trata-se a temática da cooperação sob as perspectivas da Biologia, da Sociologia e da Teoria Organizacional. Aborda-se o surgimento, as principais teorias e os princípios do cooperativismo. Discute-se o que é a organização cooperativa com ênfase naquelas abordagens que destacam o processo de os sujeitos, por meio deste tipo de organização, promoverem soluções a problemas comuns. A intercooperação é discutida enquanto um dos princípios do cooperativismo e também como lógica competitiva. É tratado, ainda, o fenômeno do empreendedorismo sob as abordagens de negócios, coletivo, social e cooperativo, com foco nesta última perspectiva. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas em profundidade com gestores de 13 das 15 CERs, sendo 17 gestores de CERs entrevistados, 11 experts do cooperativismo, 5 associados de CERs, 3 gestores de estruturas de representação de organizações cooperativas e 1 líder de classe de trabalhadores. Os resultados apontam que as CERs nasceram em um ambiente de intercooperação e que algumas têm conseguido desenvolver a capacidade de promover arranjos intercooperativos, inclusive em nível internacional. As iniciativas de intercooperação, entretanto, ainda não avançaram para ações como a de compras conjuntas. Sobre o empreendedorismo cooperativo, as iniciativas se dão no sentido da criação das CERs, geração de energia elétrica de forma individual e compartilhada, e o reforço de redes de distribuição. Já, no que tange à contribuição para a produção de energia elétrica e de alimentos sob a lógica da sustentabilidade, as CERs viabilizaram a permanência das famílias em suas propriedades ao disponibilizarem a energia elétrica, assim como favoreceram o uso de tecnologias para o aumento da produção e produtividade, aspectos que contemplam as dimensões social e econômica. Na geração de energia elétrica, são identificadas as dimensões social, ambiental e econômica. Emergem, ainda as dimensões territorial, política e tecnológica da sustentabilidade. / Rural electrification is a challenge characterized by sparse population, low per capita consumption, long distances to meet the consumer and the process of difficult access to network maintenance. In Rio Grande do Sul, the first initiatives of rural electrification were made possible through Rural Rlectrification Cooperatives (RECs) which, over time, began to face problems arising from the the privatization of the Brazilian electricity sector. To survive, the RECs have developed mutual cooperation initiatives, implemented new business, and were articulated with and by its representation structures. From this context arises the question: How to develop the inter-cooperation and cooperative entrepreneurship in the Cooperative Rural Electrification Gaucho and what their contribution to the electricity and food production under the sustainability logic? To build the answer to this question, it was defined as objective: To investigate whether and how the cooperative entrepreneurship and inter-cooperation hold up Rural Electrification Cooperativism gaucho and the production of food and electricity, under the logic of sustainability. The theory that underlies the study alludes to the displacement of concepts to determine the appropriation of organization concept by the Organizational Theory and also how the cooperation concept ois appropriated by Organizational Studies. Discusses the cooperation issues from the Biology, Sociology and Organizational Theory perspectives. It is argued what is the cooperative organization with an emphasis on those approaches that highlight the process of the subject, through this type of organization, promote solutions to common problems. The inter-cooperation is discussed as one of the principles of the cooperative as well as competitive logic. It is treated also the entrepreneurship phenomenon in business, collective, social and cooperative approaches, focusing on the latter perspective. In conducting the survey, data was collected by in-depth interviews with managers of 13 of the 15 RECs, totaling 17 RECs managers interviewed, 11 cooperativism experts, 5 families of members of RECs, three structures representation of cooperative organizations managers and one working class leadership.The results demonstrate that RECs are born in a intercooperation environment and that, throughout its history, some have been able to develop the ability to promote intercooperatives arrangements, including at the international level. The inter-cooperation initiatives, however, have not come forward to actions such as joint purchasing. Regarding the co-operative entrepreneurship, the main initiatives are given towards the creation of RECs, the RECs capitalization for creating enterprises, individual and shared electric power generation, and strengthening distribution networks. Already, regarding the contribution to food and electricity production under the logic of sustainability, RECs possible the permanence of families in their ownership by delivering electrical energy, as well as promoted the use of technology to increase production and productivity, all of which include the social and economic dimensions of sustainability. In power generation, the social, environmental and economic dimensions are identified. Emerge, although the territorial, political and technological sustainability dimensions.

A eletrificação rural é um desafio caracterizado pela população rarefeita, baixo consumo per capita, longas distâncias para atender aos consumidores e vias de difícil acesso para manutenção das redes. No Rio Grande do Sul, as primeiras iniciativas de eletrificação rural foram viabilizadas por meio de Cooperativas de Eletrificação Rural (CERs) que, com o passar do tempo, começaram a enfrentar problemas provocados pela privatização do setor elétrico brasileiro. Para sobreviverem, as CERs desenvolveram iniciativas de mútua cooperação, implementaram novos negócios, se articularam com e pelas estruturas de representação. Deste contexto emerge o questionamento: Como se desenvolvem a intercooperação e o empreendedorismo cooperativo no Cooperativismo de Eletrificação Rural Gaúcho e qual a contribuição destes para a produção de energia elétrica e de alimentos sob a lógica da sustentabilidade? Para se construir a resposta à questão, definiu-se como objetivo: Investigar se e como o empreendedorismo cooperativo e a intercooperação fomentam o Cooperativismo de Eletrificação Rural Gaúcho e a produção de energia elétrica e de alimentos sob a lógica da sustentabilidade. A teoria que embasa o estudo faz alusão ao displacement of concepts para se averiguar a apropriação do conceito de organização pela Teoria Organizacional e, também, como o conceito de cooperação é apropriado pelos Estudos Organizacionais. Trata-se a temática da cooperação sob as perspectivas da Biologia, da Sociologia e da Teoria Organizacional. Aborda-se o surgimento, as principais teorias e os princípios do cooperativismo. Discute-se o que é a organização cooperativa com ênfase naquelas abordagens que destacam o processo de os sujeitos, por meio deste tipo de organização, promoverem soluções a problemas comuns. A intercooperação é discutida enquanto um dos princípios do cooperativismo e também como lógica competitiva. É tratado, ainda, o fenômeno do empreendedorismo sob as abordagens de negócios, coletivo, social e cooperativo, com foco nesta última perspectiva. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas em profundidade com gestores de 13 das 15 CERs, sendo 17 gestores de CERs entrevistados, 11 experts do cooperativismo, 5 associados de CERs, 3 gestores de estruturas de representação de organizações cooperativas e 1 líder de classe de trabalhadores. Os resultados apontam que as CERs nasceram em um ambiente de intercooperação e que algumas têm conseguido desenvolver a capacidade de promover arranjos intercooperativos, inclusive em nível internacional. As iniciativas de intercooperação, entretanto, ainda não avançaram para ações como a de compras conjuntas. Sobre o empreendedorismo cooperativo, as iniciativas se dão no sentido da criação das CERs, geração de energia elétrica de forma individual e compartilhada, e o reforço de redes de distribuição. Já, no que tange à contribuição para a produção de energia elétrica e de alimentos sob a lógica da sustentabilidade, as CERs viabilizaram a permanência das famílias em suas propriedades ao disponibilizarem a energia elétrica, assim como favoreceram o uso de tecnologias para o aumento da produção e produtividade, aspectos que contemplam as dimensões social e econômica. Na geração de energia elétrica, são identificadas as dimensões social, ambiental e econômica. Emergem, ainda as dimensões territorial, política e tecnológica da sustentabilidade. / Rural electrification is a challenge characterized by sparse population, low per capita consumption, long distances to meet the consumer and the process of difficult access to network maintenance. In Rio Grande do Sul, the first initiatives of rural electrification were made possible through Rural Rlectrification Cooperatives (RECs) which, over time, began to face problems arising from the the privatization of the Brazilian electricity sector. To survive, the RECs have developed mutual cooperation initiatives, implemented new business, and were articulated with and by its representation structures. From this context arises the question: How to develop the inter-cooperation and cooperative entrepreneurship in the Cooperative Rural Electrification Gaucho and what their contribution to the electricity and food production under the sustainability logic? To build the answer to this question, it was defined as objective: To investigate whether and how the cooperative entrepreneurship and inter-cooperation hold up Rural Electrification Cooperativism gaucho and the production of food and electricity, under the logic of sustainability. The theory that underlies the study alludes to the displacement of concepts to determine the appropriation of organization concept by the Organizational Theory and also how the cooperation concept ois appropriated by Organizational Studies. Discusses the cooperation issues from the Biology, Sociology and Organizational Theory perspectives. It is argued what is the cooperative organization with an emphasis on those approaches that highlight the process of the subject, through this type of organization, promote solutions to common problems. The inter-cooperation is discussed as one of the principles of the cooperative as well as competitive logic. It is treated also the entrepreneurship phenomenon in business, collective, social and cooperative approaches, focusing on the latter perspective. In conducting the survey, data was collected by in-depth interviews with managers of 13 of the 15 RECs, totaling 17 RECs managers interviewed, 11 cooperativism experts, 5 families of members of RECs, three structures representation of cooperative organizations managers and one working class leadership.The results demonstrate that RECs are born in a intercooperation environment and that, throughout its history, some have been able to develop the ability to promote intercooperatives arrangements, including at the international level. The inter-cooperation initiatives, however, have not come forward to actions such as joint purchasing. Regarding the co-operative entrepreneurship, the main initiatives are given towards the creation of RECs, the RECs capitalization for creating enterprises, individual and shared electric power generation, and strengthening distribution networks. Already, regarding the contribution to food and electricity production under the logic of sustainability, RECs possible the permanence of families in their ownership by delivering electrical energy, as well as promoted the use of technology to increase production and productivity, all of which include the social and economic dimensions of sustainability. In power generation, the social, environmental and economic dimensions are identified. Emerge, although the territorial, political and technological sustainability dimensions.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:23:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1113635 bytes, checksum: b8aef25a6a094f3a901ad781dc51e11f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-10-10 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This study analyzed the productivity and wood properties of two urograndis hybrid clones for energy production. Two genetic materials were compared and are represented by (P+), higher production, and (P-), lower production. Trials took place in two climatically contrasting areas of of southern Bahia, Brazil. Samples were collected at ages 24, 48, and 72 months. Six replicates were analyzed. In each sampled plant, disks were removed at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the commercial height of the trunk for analysis of Specific Mass (ME) and Power Calorific Value (PCS). ME was determined by removing the two sampled wedges diametrically opposite of each disks, and the PCS was determined with sawdust taken from the unused part of the disk. The Dry Mass (MS) per hectare was calculated with the values of Mean Annual Increment (IMA) and ME. The potential energy per hectare was calculated using PCS and MS values. Ecophysiological modeling was used to simulate the variation of the energy production of genetic materials for different rainfall conditions, alternating wet and dry periods during the development cycle of crops. Area East (AL) received an annual rainfall of 1,500 mm while area West (AO) only received 1,000 mm. Results showed an inverse relationship between IMA and ME. The results show clone P+ having the highest potential for biomass production and energy per hectare, but the clone P- show larger values of gross calorific value and density. This verifies that the clone with better yield is not always the one that gives the best woody characteristics to be used as energy. Despite Area East (AL) having higher water availability throughout the year, the highest biomass productivity and energy per hectare was collected in Area West (AO). Moreover, higher density values were observed in Area West (AO). This study shows selection of genetic material was more important than location to achieve higher productivity and wood quality. The study still accounts for the influence of environmental conditions , regardless of the genetic potential of each material. The 3-PG model satisfactorily simulated the IMA and the ME, making it possible to identify the range of variation of the energy potential due to climatic variations between the sites. We conclude that rainfall is the main factor that limits the mean annual growth and therefore, the energy potential. When the last three years happens less than in the first three years rainfall, a limiting occurs in the accumulation of biomass. / Este trabalho teve como objetivo principal analisar a influência das condições climáticas sobre a produtividade e as propriedades da madeira de dois clones híbridos do urograndis para produção de energia em duas áreas do extremo Sul da Bahia. Utilizou-se também a modelagem ecofisiológica para simular a variação da produção de energia dos materiais genéticos estudados para distintas condições de precipitação pluvial, alternando períodos secos e úmidos durante o ciclo de desenvolvimento dos plantios. O experimento foi desenvolvido em duas áreas climaticamente contrastantes do extremo Sul da Bahia, área Leste (AL) e Oeste (AO), sendo a primeira com maior índice de sítio com total anual de chuva de 1.500 mm e a segunda com reduzida chuva total de 1.000 mm. Em cada área foram coletadas árvores de dois clones híbridos de urograndis, com diferentes potenciais produtivos, para três distintas idades (24, 48 e 72 meses) e, seis repetições. Em cada planta amostrada foram retirados discos a 0, 25, 50, 75 e 100 % da altura comercial do tronco para as análises da ME e PCS. A MS por hectare foi calculada com os resultados de IMA e ME, e o potencial energético por hectare foi calculada com base nos resultados de PCS e MS. Utilizou-se o modelo 3-PG após realizada sua parametrização, calibração e validação com dados biométricos obtidos em inventário florestal realizados para as áreas e clones de estudo. Os resultados mostraram a mesma tendência verificada em outros estudos, em que é observada uma relação inversa entre IMA e ME. O clone menos produtivo (P-) obteve melhores propriedades da madeira para fins energéticos que o clone mais produtivo (P+), enquanto que o clone P+ mostrou maior potencial produtivo. Por outro lado, a área leste, apesar de apresentar a maior disponibilidade hídrica ao longo do ano, a maior produtividade de biomassa e energia por hectare foi mostrada na área com maior restrição hídrica. De igual forma, os maiores valores de Massa Específica foram verificados na mesma área. Assim, para obter uma maior produtividade e qualidade da madeira é mais importante à seleção do material genético que a localização da área, mas sem desmerecer a influencia das condições edafoclimáticas sobre o potencial genético de cada material. O modelo 3-PG simulou satisfatoriamente o IMA e a ME, sendo possível identificar a amplitude de variação do potencial energético em função das variações climáticas entre diferentes cenários simulados. A precipitação pluvial é o fator que mais limita o incremento médio anual e, por conseguinte o potencial energético. Quando nos três últimos anos de idade acontece uma precipitação pluvial menor que nos três primeiros anos, ocorre um limitante no acumulo de biomassa.

A eletrificação rural é um desafio caracterizado pela população rarefeita, baixo consumo per capita, longas distâncias para atender aos consumidores e vias de difícil acesso para manutenção das redes. No Rio Grande do Sul, as primeiras iniciativas de eletrificação rural foram viabilizadas por meio de Cooperativas de Eletrificação Rural (CERs) que, com o passar do tempo, começaram a enfrentar problemas provocados pela privatização do setor elétrico brasileiro. Para sobreviverem, as CERs desenvolveram iniciativas de mútua cooperação, implementaram novos negócios, se articularam com e pelas estruturas de representação. Deste contexto emerge o questionamento: Como se desenvolvem a intercooperação e o empreendedorismo cooperativo no Cooperativismo de Eletrificação Rural Gaúcho e qual a contribuição destes para a produção de energia elétrica e de alimentos sob a lógica da sustentabilidade? Para se construir a resposta à questão, definiu-se como objetivo: Investigar se e como o empreendedorismo cooperativo e a intercooperação fomentam o Cooperativismo de Eletrificação Rural Gaúcho e a produção de energia elétrica e de alimentos sob a lógica da sustentabilidade. A teoria que embasa o estudo faz alusão ao displacement of concepts para se averiguar a apropriação do conceito de organização pela Teoria Organizacional e, também, como o conceito de cooperação é apropriado pelos Estudos Organizacionais. Trata-se a temática da cooperação sob as perspectivas da Biologia, da Sociologia e da Teoria Organizacional. Aborda-se o surgimento, as principais teorias e os princípios do cooperativismo. Discute-se o que é a organização cooperativa com ênfase naquelas abordagens que destacam o processo de os sujeitos, por meio deste tipo de organização, promoverem soluções a problemas comuns. A intercooperação é discutida enquanto um dos princípios do cooperativismo e também como lógica competitiva. É tratado, ainda, o fenômeno do empreendedorismo sob as abordagens de negócios, coletivo, social e cooperativo, com foco nesta última perspectiva. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas em profundidade com gestores de 13 das 15 CERs, sendo 17 gestores de CERs entrevistados, 11 experts do cooperativismo, 5 associados de CERs, 3 gestores de estruturas de representação de organizações cooperativas e 1 líder de classe de trabalhadores. Os resultados apontam que as CERs nasceram em um ambiente de intercooperação e que algumas têm conseguido desenvolver a capacidade de promover arranjos intercooperativos, inclusive em nível internacional. As iniciativas de intercooperação, entretanto, ainda não avançaram para ações como a de compras conjuntas. Sobre o empreendedorismo cooperativo, as iniciativas se dão no sentido da criação das CERs, geração de energia elétrica de forma individual e compartilhada, e o reforço de redes de distribuição. Já, no que tange à contribuição para a produção de energia elétrica e de alimentos sob a lógica da sustentabilidade, as CERs viabilizaram a permanência das famílias em suas propriedades ao disponibilizarem a energia elétrica, assim como favoreceram o uso de tecnologias para o aumento da produção e produtividade, aspectos que contemplam as dimensões social e econômica. Na geração de energia elétrica, são identificadas as dimensões social, ambiental e econômica. Emergem, ainda as dimensões territorial, política e tecnológica da sustentabilidade. / Rural electrification is a challenge characterized by sparse population, low per capita consumption, long distances to meet the consumer and the process of difficult access to network maintenance. In Rio Grande do Sul, the first initiatives of rural electrification were made possible through Rural Rlectrification Cooperatives (RECs) which, over time, began to face problems arising from the the privatization of the Brazilian electricity sector. To survive, the RECs have developed mutual cooperation initiatives, implemented new business, and were articulated with and by its representation structures. From this context arises the question: How to develop the inter-cooperation and cooperative entrepreneurship in the Cooperative Rural Electrification Gaucho and what their contribution to the electricity and food production under the sustainability logic? To build the answer to this question, it was defined as objective: To investigate whether and how the cooperative entrepreneurship and inter-cooperation hold up Rural Electrification Cooperativism gaucho and the production of food and electricity, under the logic of sustainability. The theory that underlies the study alludes to the displacement of concepts to determine the appropriation of organization concept by the Organizational Theory and also how the cooperation concept ois appropriated by Organizational Studies. Discusses the cooperation issues from the Biology, Sociology and Organizational Theory perspectives. It is argued what is the cooperative organization with an emphasis on those approaches that highlight the process of the subject, through this type of organization, promote solutions to common problems. The inter-cooperation is discussed as one of the principles of the cooperative as well as competitive logic. It is treated also the entrepreneurship phenomenon in business, collective, social and cooperative approaches, focusing on the latter perspective. In conducting the survey, data was collected by in-depth interviews with managers of 13 of the 15 RECs, totaling 17 RECs managers interviewed, 11 cooperativism experts, 5 families of members of RECs, three structures representation of cooperative organizations managers and one working class leadership.The results demonstrate that RECs are born in a intercooperation environment and that, throughout its history, some have been able to develop the ability to promote intercooperatives arrangements, including at the international level. The inter-cooperation initiatives, however, have not come forward to actions such as joint purchasing. Regarding the co-operative entrepreneurship, the main initiatives are given towards the creation of RECs, the RECs capitalization for creating enterprises, individual and shared electric power generation, and strengthening distribution networks. Already, regarding the contribution to food and electricity production under the logic of sustainability, RECs possible the permanence of families in their ownership by delivering electrical energy, as well as promoted the use of technology to increase production and productivity, all of which include the social and economic dimensions of sustainability. In power generation, the social, environmental and economic dimensions are identified. Emerge, although the territorial, political and technological sustainability dimensions.

Orientadores: Arnaldo Cesar da Silva Walter, Marcos Cesar Ferreira / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Mecanica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-10T21:10:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Franco_MartaMinussi_M.pdf: 3900210 bytes, checksum: acdd427fe2a8c8ef08760720cf647916 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Resumo: Na dissertação é apresentado o desenvolvimento de um procedimento metodológicobaseado em Sistemas de Informações Geográficas (SIG) e Análise Espacial, e sua aplicação na avaliação do potencial de produção de eletricidade a partir da biomassa residual da cana-de açúcar (bagaço e pontas e folhas), tendo como foco o estado de São Paulo. O horizonte de avaliação do potencial é 2015. Primeiramente foram avaliadas as áreas nas quais deve ocorrer a expansão do cultivo da cana-de-açúcar. No procedimento foram considerados fatores condicionantes tais como uso da terra, aptidão do solo, propensão à erosão, fertilidade do solo, potencial de mecanização (sobretudo da colheita), disponibilidade de recursos hídricos e aptidão climática. O potencial foi calculado baseado na moagem estimada em diferentes usinas, em 2015, considerando tecnologias comerciais de sistemas de cogeração a vapor. Na avaliação do potencial foram considerados como fatores restritivos o acesso a rede elétrica e a disponibilidade de água na região. A dissertação demonstra a importância dos SIG em trabalhos de planejamento, sobretudo quando múltiplos fatores são considerados e sua características espaciais são relevantes na análise / Abstract: This dissertation presents the use of a methodological procedure based on Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and on Spatial Analysis and its application on the evaluation of the potential of electricity production using cogeneration systems based on residual biomass of sugarcane (bagasse and trash). The study was developed considering the state of São Paulo and 2015 as the horizon period. Firstly, the areas more adequate for sugarcane plantations were evaluated. Doing this, many factors were considered as potential constraints, such as land use patterns, soil adequacy, risk of erosion, soil fertility, the potential regarding mechanization (mainly regarding harvesting), availability of water resources and weather conditions. The potential of electricity production was estimated considering predicted sugarcane crushing in 2015 in each mill and commercial cogeneration technologies based on steam cycles. The potential evaluation was complemented with the consideration of additional potential constraints,as the distance of the power unit to the electric grid and water availability. This dissertationdemonstrates the importance of GIS in energy planning studies, mainly when many factorsshould be taken into account and when their spatial characteristics are a relevant aspect / Mestrado / Planejamento de Sistemas Energeticos / Mestre em Engenharia Mecânica

Gotland is a pilot area for Sweden to achieve carbon neutrality, which means that achieve a 100% sustainable energy supply is significant for Gotland energy development. Gotland has good sunshine conditions and solar radiation, but the development of solar energy is relatively slow. In order to prove that Visby, the largest city in Gotland, has good solar energy potential, this paper aims to investigate the PV potential for non-residential buildings in Visby by modelling the installation of roof solar panels on representative non- residential buildings (Visby Galleria, surrounding buildings in Stenhuggarvägen) through quantitative research methods. From the final result of the modelling, the solar energy potential per square meter of Visby's non-residential buildings is 121kWh, and the total solar electricity generation potential is 708 GWh. The research results show that Visby's non-residential buildings have high solar power potential, and it can be used as one of the methods to achieve a 100% sustainable energy supply.

M.Tech. (Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology), Vaal University of Technology. / An enormous amount of food waste (FW) is generated worldwide. Most of this waste is discarded in landfills, where it undergoes uncontrolled anaerobic digestion (AD) process, which emits excessive amounts of greenhouse gases, (methane and carbon dioxide), thereby contributing to global warming. A controlled AD of FW is key for organic waste management with a positive impact on the environment and economy. In South Africa (SA) there is little uptake of biogas technology for FW management due to little research on biogas potential at small to large scale. Furthermore, there is an over reliance on foreign data, which leads to misfit parameters to local raw materials; consequently, producing biogas of low quality and quantity with low degradation of waste. Biogas with poor quality reduces the efficiency of biogas conversion to energy and the low production rate makes the system less feasible. Considering the challenges faced with FW management and the little uptake of the AD technology in SA, this study aimed to treat FW through AD and convert the biogas produced to electricity. A complete-mix biogas pilot plant (VUT-1000C) was designed, constructed and commissioned. The materials used for constructing the pilot plant were sourced locally to prove the applicability of the AD technology in SA. The biodigester was operated at mesophilic temperature, 37 oC, aided by a solar system. A stand-alone 1 m3 plug-flow ambient biodigester (STH-1000A) was operated semi-continuously as well as a control. Cow dung (CD) was used to inoculate the biodigesters, which were then operated semi-continuously at their optimum organic loading rate (OLR). The STH-1000A digester was operated at 0.446 kgVS/m3/day OLR, according to the manufacturer’s specification, while for VUT-1000C, the OLR was determined. The highest biogas and methane yields obtained were 582 and 332 L/kgVS/m3, respectively, at the determined optimal OLR of 1.5 kgVS/m3/day for the VUT-1000C digester this was supported by the modified Gompertz model with an R2 value of 0.9836. VUT-1000C produced 1200 L/day while STH-1000A produced 150 L/day. VUT-1000C proved to be a more effective biodigester than STH-1000A owing to the digester design and operation at mesophilic conditions. The key design findings are higher reactor working volume and high digester temperature. From the 1000 L of biogas produced from VUT-1000C, 1.8 kW of electricity was generated, which is equivalent to powering 300 6W light bulbs for 1 hour. The energy balance of the pilot plant showed that only 10 percent of the energy output was required to operate the plant. These results show that SA has a 475 GWh energy potential based on the current FW figures. Furthermore, the study has shown that biogas technology is readily available for South Africans and that the designed biogas plant was very efficient in FW-to-energy conversion.

No description available.

Sediment microbial fuel cell (SMFC) is a special type of microbial fuel cells that can be deployed in a natural water body for energy production and contaminant removal. This MS project aims to explore whether it will be viable to apply SMFCs for wastewater treatment. Experimental SMFCs were studied in several configurations and operational modes for organic removal, nitrate reduction, and energy recovery. When treating an artificial secondary effluent for nitrate removal, the SMFC could remove 44% of the nitrate, higher than that without electricity generation. The enhanced removal was attributed to the supply of electrons to nitrate reduction in the aqueous phase through oxidizing the organics in the sediment. The lack of a proper separator between the anode and the cathode led to the failure of the SMFC when treating an artificial raw wastewater. Ion exchange membranes were incorporated into the MFCs that were installed in a lab-scale open water pond (150 L in volume). Such a system achieved 100% COD removal and more than 75% removal of ammonium nitrogen. However, denitrification remained as a challenge because of a lack of anoxic zone. To reduce the cost of the cathode catalysts, a polymer-based carbon cloth was investigated and exhibited better performance than bare carbon cloth. The results of this MS project have demonstrated that SMFCs in the absence of a proper separator cannot be applied for wastewater treatment. A membrane-based MFC system integrated with open pond may function as a wastewater treatment system, though nitrogen removal efficiency must be improved. / Master of Science

<p>Energy Director is a control and measuring system for energy consumption and is part of the product portfolio of E.ON AG for more efficient use of energy, offered to business customers. As of today, the system has only one parameter of control, namely power, and the objective of this essay has been to investigate whether other ones could be added. The emphasis is on the environmental perspective, which is why carbon dioxide has served as an example for this parameter in question.</p><p>Parallel with the study of Energy Director electricity on the margin, calculations of carbon dioxide equivalents and also the Swedish trade of electricity have all been highlighted. Results indicate that when reductions in energy are made it is endorsed to omit from electricity on the margin rather than some mean distributed electricity, under certain conditions, and in addition the calculations of the reductions should be modified regarding the efficiency of the power stations fuelled by lignite and bituminous coal. Sweden practices trade with the Nordic countries as well as Poland and Germany. Import and export represents essential factors in the discussion of electricity on the margin but they can nonetheless today be included in calculations concerning savings in emission of carbon dioxide.</p><p>The development of Energy Director is suggested to follow a model that includes the total emissions of carbon dioxide at each installation. Contributions are descended from local sources at the site, which are continuously measured, and from the energy that is obtained, where the equivalent amount of carbon dioxide has to be theoretically estimated. The total carbon dioxide limit control is then accomplished by means of controlling the obtained energy.</p> / <p>EnergiDirigent är ett styr- och mätsystem som ingår i E.ON:s produktsortiment för effektivare energianvändning. I dagsläget har systemet en styrparameter, uttagen effekt, och syftet med detta arbete har varit att undersöka om ytterligare styrparametrar kan infogas. Fokus för arbetet har varit att undersöka vilken potential EnergiDirigent har att bli miljövänlig. Styrparameter som tjänat som exempel för utredning har varit koldioxid.</p><p>Marginalel, det svenska elutbytet samt beräkning av koldioxidekvivalenter har behandlats parallellt med arbetet med EnergiDirigent. Arbetsgången har varit teoretisk med litteraturstudier, studiebesök och intervjuer. Resultat visar att vid en miljövärdering av el är det befogat att utgå ifrån marginalel vid besparingar, dock under vissa villkor, och att beräkningarna av besparingarna bör modifieras genom att verkningsgraden för kolkraftverk revideras. Sverige bedriver mycket handel med Norden samt Polen och Tyskland varför de har inkluderats i handelssystemet. Import och export är viktiga faktorer i behandling av marginalel men resurser saknas idag för att implementera faktorerna på ett adekvat sätt i besparingsuträkningar.</p><p>Utvecklingen av EnergiDirigent bör följa en modell som inkluderar det totala utsläppet av koldioxid vid varje installation. Bidrag till det totala utsläppet kommer ifrån lokala källor hos installationen, som hela tiden mäts, samt från den mängd energi som införskaffas, där motsvarande mängd koldioxid uppskattas teoretiskt. En styrgräns sätts på de totala utsläppen och följs sedan genom styrning på den inkommande energin.</p>