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With the penetration of PV on the distribution system continually increasing, new advanced simulation methods are necessary to model the potential technical impacts of PV to the equipment and operation of the distribution system. With distributed PV, a timeseries analysis approach is necessary to more fully capture the time-varying nature of solar energy and the interaction with distribution system operations. The objective of the research is to streamline the PV interconnection process by providing more accurate methods that require less time for both the PV interconnection screening criteria and the PV interconnection impact study process. To improve the computational speed of timeseries simulations, an equivalent circuit reduction method is developed to simplify the circuit to a reduced-order model. The reduced circuit is equivalent during timeseries simulations, but it solves in a fraction of the time. The algorithm works with unbalanced multi-phase complex distribution system models, and it is shown to have high accuracy when validated against the full feeder models. An advanced PV hosting capacity simulation tool is developed and used to quantify system impacts for many PV interconnection scenarios, configurations, and locations, which can be generalized to develop improved future interconnection screening criteria. The advanced tools quantify location-specific impacts and the locational hosting capacity of potential PV interconnection locations on the feeder, including PV impact signatures and zones. A set of 50 different real distribution systems is analyzed in detail to demonstrate the range of scenarios and impacts that can occur depending on the feeder characteristics and topology. Specific methods are developed for time-series analysis, faster simulation times, distribution system equivalent circuit reduction, and PV hosting capacity analysis. The advancements presented in this thesis assist in streamlining PV interconnection studies with faster interconnection analysis times and more accurate screening criteria.

Solar and wind generation are one of the most rapidly growing renewable energy sources, and is regarded as an appealing alternative to conventional power generated from fossil fuel. This is leading to significant levels of distributed renewable generation being installed on distribution circuits. Although renewable generation brings many advantages, circuit problems are created due to its intermittency, and overcoming these problems is a key challenge to achieving high penetration. It is necessary for utilities to understand the impacts of Photovoltaic (PV) generation on distribution circuits and operations. An impact study is intended to quantify the extent of the issues, discover any problems, and investigate alternative solutions. In this manner, system wide and local impact study are proposed in the dissertation. 1) System wide impact study This study considers system effects due to the addition of Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles (PHEV) and Distributed Energy Resource (DER) generation. The DER and PHEV are considered with energy storage technology applied to the residential distribution system load. Two future year scenarios are considered, 2020 and 2030. The models used are of real distribution circuits located near Detroit, Michigan, and every customer load on the circuit and type of customer are modeled. Monte Carlo simulations are used to randomly select customers that receive PHEV, DER, and/or storage systems. The Monte Carlo simulations provide not only the expected average result, but also its uncertainty. 2) Local impact study Analysis of high PV penetration in distribution circuits using both steady-state and quasi steady-state impact studies are presented. The steady-state analysis evaluates impacts on the distribution circuit by comparing conditions before and after extreme changes in PV generation at three extreme circuit conditions, maximum load, maximum PV generation, and when the difference between the PV generation and the circuit load is a maximum. The quasi steady-state study consists of a series of steady-state impact studies performed at evenly spaced time points for evaluating the spectrum of impacts between the extreme impacts. Results addressing the impacts of cloud cover and various power factor control strategies are presented. PV penetration levels are limited and depend upon PV generation control strategies and the circuit design and loading. There are tradeoffs in PV generation control concerning circuit voltage variations, circuit losses, and the motion of automated utility control devices. The steady state and quasi steady-state impact studies provide information that is helpful in evaluating the effect of PV generation on distribution circuits, including circuit problems that result from the PV generation. In order to fully benefit from wind power, accurate wind power forecasting is an essential tool in addressing this challenge. This has motivated researchers to develop better forecast of the wind resources and the resulting power. As a solution for wind generation, frequency domain approach is proposed to characterize and analyze wind speed patterns in the dissertation. 3) Frequency Domain Approach This study introduces the frequency domain approach to characterize and analyze wind speed patterns. It first presents the technique of and the prerequisite conditions for the frequency domain approach. Three years of wind speed data at 10 different locations have been used. This chapter demonstrates that wind speed patterns during different times and at different locations can be well characterized by using the frequency domain approach with its compact and structured format. We also perform analysis using the characterized dataset. It affirms that the frequency domain approach is a useful indicator for understanding the characteristics of wind speed patterns and can express the information with superior accuracy. Among the various technical challenges under high PV penetration, voltage rise problems caused by reverse power flows are one of the foremost concerns. The voltage rises due to the PV generation. Furthermore, the need to limit the voltage rise problem limits PV generators from injecting more active power into the distribution network. This can be one of the obstacles to high penetration of PVs into circuits. As a solution for solar generation, coordinated control of automated devices and PV is proposed in the dissertation. 4) Coordinated Automated Device and PV Control A coordinating, model-centric control strategy for mitigating voltage rise problems due to PV penetration into power distribution circuits is presented. The coordinating control objective is to maintain an optimum circuit voltage distribution and voltage schedule, where the optimum circuit operation is determined without PV generation on the circuit. In determining the optimum circuit voltage distribution and voltage schedule, the control strategy schedules utility controls, such as switched capacitor banks and voltage regulators, separate from PV inverter controls. Optimization addresses minimizing circuit losses and motion of utility controls. The coordinating control action provides control setpoints to the PV inverters that are a function of the circuit loading or time-of-day and also the location of the PV inverter. Three PV penetration scenarios are considered, 10%, 20%, and 30%. Baselines with and without coordinating controls for circuit performance without PV generation are established, and these baselines are compared against the three PV penetration scenarios with and without coordinating control. Simulation results are compared and differences in voltage variations and circuit losses are considered along with differences in utility control motion. Results show that the coordinating control can solve the voltage rise problem while minimizing circuit losses and reducing utility control motion. The coordinating control will work with existing PV inverter controls that accept control setpoints without having to modify the inverter controls. 5) Coordinated Local and Centralized PV Control Existing distribution systems and their associated controls have been around for decades. Most distribution circuits have capacity to accommodate some level of PV generation, but the question is how much can they handle without creating problems. It proposes a Configurable, Hierarchical, Model-based, Scheduling Control (CHMSC) of automated utility control devices and photovoltaic (PV) generators. In the study here the automated control devices are assumed to be owned by the utility and the PV generators and PV generator controls by another party. The CHMSC, which exists in a hierarchical control architecture that is failure tolerant, strives to maintain the voltage level that existed before introducing the PV into the circuit while minimizing the circuit loss and reducing the motion of the automated control devices. This is accomplished using prioritized objectives. The CHMSC sends control signals to the local controllers of the automated control devices and PV controllers. To evaluate the performance of the CHMSC, increasing PV levels of adoption are analyzed in a model of an actual circuit that has significant existing PV penetration and automated voltage control devices. The CHMSC control performance is compared with that of existing, local control. Simulation results presented demonstrate that the CHMSC algorithm results in better voltage control, lower losses, and reduced automated control device motion, especially as the penetration level of PV increases. / Ph. D.

A Avaliação de Impacto (AI) engloba processos, métodos, procedimentos e instrumentos, que buscam informar os tomadores de decisão sobre os efeitos ambientais e sociais na implantação de projets de modo a reduzir o desequilíbrio entre os pilares da sustentabilidade. Contudo, sua aplicação no ambiente urbano tem ocorrido de modo pontual e desarticulada ao planejamento das cidades. O surgimento do Estudo de Impacto de Vizinhança (EIV) a partir da Lei 10.257/2001 (Estatuto da Cidade), integrado ao processo decisório municipal voltado para a análise e aprovação de projetos e atividades potencialmente causadores de perturbações na dinâmica urbana e qualidade de vida nas cidades, desponta como uma oportunidade de fortalecimento da AI na esfera local, que implica na necessidade de compreensão dos fatores que influenciam a sua efetividade. A presente pesquisa visa caracterizar do quadro de aplicação do EIV no Brasil, por meio do levantamento dos aspectos institucionais/legais que orientam a sua aplicação nos 50 municípios mais populosos brasileiros, assim como o quadro específico verificado no município de São Carlos. Os dados levantados foram cotejados diante de princípios internacionais de efetividade da AI, o que permitiu estabelecer as lacunas e pontos de convergência entre o EIV e a AI. Foi realizada a análise de qualidade do conteúdo dos EIVs, o que permitiu identificar pontos que podem ser aprimorados como a definição de escopo e de alternativas, a identificação e previsão dos impactos, a avaliação de significância, a definição de medidas mitigadoras e o compromisso com o acompanhamento, além de alguns aspectos considerados positivos como a descrição do ambiente e o modo de apresentação das informações. Houve aspectos contextuais que contribuíram para a efetividade da AI como sua aplicação ocorrer de forma antecipada, sua equipe envolver diferentes disciplinas e o processo envolver os afetados, embora não em todos os casos. O aperfeiçoamento da utilização do EIV no contexto brasileiro requer uma definição mais precisa do seu propósito, e procedimentos para integração ao processo decisório. / Impact Assessment (IA) encompasses processes, methods, procedures and instruments that seek to inform decision makers about the environmental and social effects of project implementation in order to reduce the imbalance between the sustainability pillars. However, its application in the urban environment was carried out in a isolated and disjointed way to city planning. The emergence of the Neighbourhood Impact Assessment (EIV) based on Law 10.257/2001 (City Statute) emerges as an opportunity to strengthen IA in the local sphere, which implies the need to understand the factors that influence its effectiveness when integrated to the municipal decision-making process aimed at the analysis and approval of projects and activities potentially causing disturbances in the urban dynamics and quality of life in the cities. The present research aims to characterize of the framework for the application of EIVs in Brazil, through a survey of the institutional/legal aspects that guide its application in the 50 most populous Brazilian municipalities, as well as the specific situation in the city of São Carlos. The data collected were checked against international principles of effectiveness of the IA, which allowed to establish the gaps and points of convergence between the EIV and the IA. The analysis of the quality of the EIVs content was carried out, which allowed the identification of points that could be improved such as the definition of scope and alternatives, the identification and prediction of impacts, the evaluation of significance, the definition of mitigating measures and the commitment with the monitoring, as well as some positive aspects such as the description of the environment and the way information is presented. There were contextual aspects that contributed to the effectiveness of AI as its application occurred in advance, its team involved different disciplines and the process involved the affected, although not in all cases. Improving the use of EIV in the Brazilian context requires a more precise definition of its purpose, and procedures for integrating the decision making process.

A Avaliação de Impacto Ambiental (AIA) é um processo de caráter prévio que visa fundamentar e auxiliar no processo de tomada de decisão sobre a viabilidade ambiental de um empreendimento ou atividade. No Brasil, uma das principais etapas deste processo é a elaboração do Estudo de Impacto Ambiental (EIA). Objetivando o embasamento para a tomada de decisão, um ponto fundamental de um EIA é a apresentação e comparação de alternativas locacionais. Apesar de ter um papel primordial na análise dos possíveis cenários de impactos ambientais, na prática atual, tanto no contexto nacional como internacional, a análise de alternativas de localização dentro da AIA exibe diversas deficiências e falhas indicadas por inúmeros autores, como a não apresentação de alternativas de localização, a presença de alternativas impraticáveis, a ausência de comparação entre as alternativas, a baixa qualidade dos estudos e a fraca justificativa da seleção locacional. Dessa maneira, o presente estudo objetivou descrever e analisar a qualidade dos estudos de alternativa locacional apresentadas nos EIAs do estado de São Paulo no período de 2005 a 2016. Para isso, elaborou-se uma lista de verificação que foi então aplicada para a amostra de 52 EIAs e 33 Termos de Referência (TR). Verificou-se que, do total de estudos analisados, 46% não apresentaram alternativas de localização para o empreendimento proposto. Além disso, 75% dos critérios estabelecidos na lista de verificação obtiveram conceitos insatisfatórios. Mesmo entre os estudos que continham alternativas de localização, 58% dos critérios foram também avaliados como insatisfatórios, indicando uma baixa qualidade geral dos estudos e diversas fragilidades, principalmente referentes aos processos de seleção de alternativas a serem analisadas, de comparação entre as alternativas e de justificativa de seleção do local determinado com base na análise locacional apresentada. Os critérios que obtiveram os melhores conceitos foram os referentes a apresentação e descrição de alternativas, indicando um caráter muito mais descritivo do estudo de localização do que comparativo. Os TRs avaliados também obtiveram conceitos insatisfatórios, o que indicou que não apenas a qualidade dos estudos locacionais é inadequada, como também a qualidade das diretrizes que os guiam. Os resultados observados reforçaram as deficiências encontradas na literatura e evidenciaram a necessidade de aprimoramento desta etapa da AIA no estado de São Paulo, principalmente por meio da inclusão de diretrizes mais detalhadas nos TRs, do desenvolvimento de instrumentos de planejamento territorial que auxiliem e direcionem os estudos locacionais e da melhora nos processos de seleção de alternativas para análise, comparação entre as alternativas e justificativa do local selecionado dentro dos estudos locacionais nos EIAs / The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a tool that aims to support and assist the decision-making process about the environmental viability of a project or activity. In Brazil, one of the main steps in this process involves the elaboration of the Environmental Impact Study (EIS). To properly support the decision-making process, an EIS key point is the study of locational alternatives, including the presentation, analysis and comparison of alternatives. In spite of having a primary role in analysing possible scenarios of environmental impacts, in current practice, both in the national and international context, the locational alternatives analysis in the EIA process shows several deficiencies indicated by many authors, such as the lack of alternatives consideration, the presence of unreasonable alternatives, the lack of comparison between alternatives, the poor quality of the studies and the poor justification of the site selection. Thus, this study aimed to describe and evaluate the quality of the alternative locational studies presented in the EISs of the state of São Paulo from 2005 to 2016. For this purpose, a checklist was elaborated, which was then applied to a sample of 52 EISs and 33 Terms of Reference (TR). The results show that 46% of the studies did not consider any locational alternatives. Additionally, 75% of the criteria set out in the checklist were assessed as unsatisfactory. Even among the studies that considered locational alternatives, 58% of the criteria were also assessed as inadequate, indicating a low general quality of the studies and several weaknesses, mainly referring to the processes of selecting alternatives to be analysed, of comparing alternatives and of justifying the site selection based on the presented locational analysis. The criteria that obtained the best results were those referring to the alternatives presentation and description, indicating that the locational analysis tend to approach a much more descriptive aspect rather than a comparative approach. The TRs criteria were also evaluated as inadequate, indicating that not only the quality of the locational studies is insufficient, but the quality of its guidelines is also inappropriate. The results in this study support the deficiencies found in the literature review and point out the need to improve the locational analysis in the EISs of São Paulo state, mainly through the input of more detailed guidelines in the TRs, the development of territorial planning tools that can help to guide the studies in the selection of reasonable alternatives to be assessed and the improvement of alternatives analysis, comparison and justification

A aplicação do conceito de serviços ecossistêmicos à avaliação de impactos ambientais (AIA) pode resultar em uma análise integrada dos efeitos sociais e ambientais de projetos e contribuir para solução de algumas das deficiências recorrentes da prática de AIA. Com objetivo de testar a aplicabilidade de uma abordagem de serviços ecossistêmicos (ASE) foi selecionado um projeto de uma nova mina de ferro, em Minas Gerais. O estudo de impacto ambiental (EIA) desse projeto foi elaborado segundo uma perspectiva tradicional, focada nas perdas ou danos potenciais aos recursos ambientais e culturais e suas respectivas mitigações. O projeto está localizado em uma região prioritária para conservação da biodiversidade e a sua população afetada é principalmente composta por agricultores de subsistência sem acesso a saneamento básico e outros serviços públicos. A coleta de dados foi feita mediante análise documental (EIA e seus complementos) e avaliações expeditas de campo (observação direta e mini surveys). A análise dos resultados se deu por meio da comparação entre os resultados obtidos pelo teste e as etapas do processo de AIA. Os resultados apontam que a ASE: (1) proporciona uma análise integrada dos impactos sobre os meios físico, biótico e social; (2) pode melhorar a determinação do escopo do EIA e consequente identificação e avaliação dos impactos; (3) permitiu identificar impactos adversos significativos que não foram descritos no EIA; (4) facilita a identificação e avaliação de impactos cumulativos; que: (5) nem todos os impactos identificados normalmente pela AIA podem ser identificados pela ASE; e (6) a escala de análise e coleta de dados da ASE deve ser de detalhe, considerando especialmente os beneficiários dos serviços impactados. O teste também permitiu identificar as limitações da ASE, que se dão principalmente devido à sua inerente complexidade, à falta de consolidação do conceito e à dificuldade de analisar alguns serviços, principalmente os reguladores. Apesar da complexidade da ASE, a integração do conceito de serviços ecossistêmicos à prática atual de AIA poderá promover uma reestruturação de algumas de suas etapas. Tal reestruturação conduz a uma melhor análise de impactos, desde que esta seja realizada de maneira integrada e em escala compatível com a identificação detalhada dos serviços e seus beneficiários. / The integrated analysis of the social and biophysical impacts of a project, called herein ecosystem services approach (ESA) can overcome perceived shortcomings of the current environmental impact assessment (EIA) practice. Aiming at testing this approach, the EIA of a new iron ore mining project in Brazil was reviewed. The environmental impact study (EIS) filed in compliance with legislation was prepared under a \"traditional\" approach, focused on the potential loss or harm to environmental and cultural resources. The project is located in a region of high biodiversity conservation value. The affected population is mainly composed of subsistence farmers with poor access to social services. Data was collected through document analysis (EIS and its supplements) and rapid appraisal (direct observation and mini surveys). Findings were discussed in relation to the literature on the main steps of the EIA process. It was found that the ESA: (1) provides for biophysical effects to be described in integration with social impacts; (2) can improve scoping with consequent gains in impact identification and analysis; (3) can identify impacts not described in the EIS; (4) facilitates the identification of cumulative impacts; and (5) not all impacts identified in the EIS can be identified by the ESA; (6) the scale of data collection and analysis in the ESA should be detailed and focused in the beneficiaries of the affected ecosystem services. The test also led to the identification of limitations in the approach. They are mainly due to its inherent complexity, the lack of conceptual consolidation and the difficulties of analyzing some ecosystem services, especially regulating services. Despite these limitations, the inclusion of ecosystem services in EIA practice could lead to improvements in impacts analysis, provided that the approach is conducted in an integrated way and adopts detailed scales.

Federal legislation, No Child Left Behind (NCLB, 2001), has brought the call for high quality and excellence into every aspect of education, including professional development. The links between teacher learning and student learning are well documented. teacher skill is one aspect influencing student growth; hence, professional development provides a path to the goal of NCLB - increased student achievement. However, it is a long way from policy decisions to implementation in local districts; hence, the professional development requirements of NCLB face challenges to implementation. One of the factors affecting NCLB policy implementation at all levels is the capacity of schools and districts to implement policies as they are intended (Cooper, Fusarelli, & Randall, 2004; Heck, 2004; Odden, 1991). Especially in rural districts, factors of isolation, poverty, and size may restrict the implementation of policy requirements (Jimerson, 2004; Reeves, 2003). This policy impact study used qualitative methods to look at the question, "How Do Factors of Arizona's Rural Districts Impact the Implementation of Models of Professional Development Required by NCLB?" Information was gathered through the use of document analysis, site-visits, and semi-structured interviews.

A aplicação do conceito de serviços ecossistêmicos à avaliação de impactos ambientais (AIA) pode resultar em uma análise integrada dos efeitos sociais e ambientais de projetos e contribuir para solução de algumas das deficiências recorrentes da prática de AIA. Com objetivo de testar a aplicabilidade de uma abordagem de serviços ecossistêmicos (ASE) foi selecionado um projeto de uma nova mina de ferro, em Minas Gerais. O estudo de impacto ambiental (EIA) desse projeto foi elaborado segundo uma perspectiva tradicional, focada nas perdas ou danos potenciais aos recursos ambientais e culturais e suas respectivas mitigações. O projeto está localizado em uma região prioritária para conservação da biodiversidade e a sua população afetada é principalmente composta por agricultores de subsistência sem acesso a saneamento básico e outros serviços públicos. A coleta de dados foi feita mediante análise documental (EIA e seus complementos) e avaliações expeditas de campo (observação direta e mini surveys). A análise dos resultados se deu por meio da comparação entre os resultados obtidos pelo teste e as etapas do processo de AIA. Os resultados apontam que a ASE: (1) proporciona uma análise integrada dos impactos sobre os meios físico, biótico e social; (2) pode melhorar a determinação do escopo do EIA e consequente identificação e avaliação dos impactos; (3) permitiu identificar impactos adversos significativos que não foram descritos no EIA; (4) facilita a identificação e avaliação de impactos cumulativos; que: (5) nem todos os impactos identificados normalmente pela AIA podem ser identificados pela ASE; e (6) a escala de análise e coleta de dados da ASE deve ser de detalhe, considerando especialmente os beneficiários dos serviços impactados. O teste também permitiu identificar as limitações da ASE, que se dão principalmente devido à sua inerente complexidade, à falta de consolidação do conceito e à dificuldade de analisar alguns serviços, principalmente os reguladores. Apesar da complexidade da ASE, a integração do conceito de serviços ecossistêmicos à prática atual de AIA poderá promover uma reestruturação de algumas de suas etapas. Tal reestruturação conduz a uma melhor análise de impactos, desde que esta seja realizada de maneira integrada e em escala compatível com a identificação detalhada dos serviços e seus beneficiários. / The integrated analysis of the social and biophysical impacts of a project, called herein ecosystem services approach (ESA) can overcome perceived shortcomings of the current environmental impact assessment (EIA) practice. Aiming at testing this approach, the EIA of a new iron ore mining project in Brazil was reviewed. The environmental impact study (EIS) filed in compliance with legislation was prepared under a \"traditional\" approach, focused on the potential loss or harm to environmental and cultural resources. The project is located in a region of high biodiversity conservation value. The affected population is mainly composed of subsistence farmers with poor access to social services. Data was collected through document analysis (EIS and its supplements) and rapid appraisal (direct observation and mini surveys). Findings were discussed in relation to the literature on the main steps of the EIA process. It was found that the ESA: (1) provides for biophysical effects to be described in integration with social impacts; (2) can improve scoping with consequent gains in impact identification and analysis; (3) can identify impacts not described in the EIS; (4) facilitates the identification of cumulative impacts; and (5) not all impacts identified in the EIS can be identified by the ESA; (6) the scale of data collection and analysis in the ESA should be detailed and focused in the beneficiaries of the affected ecosystem services. The test also led to the identification of limitations in the approach. They are mainly due to its inherent complexity, the lack of conceptual consolidation and the difficulties of analyzing some ecosystem services, especially regulating services. Despite these limitations, the inclusion of ecosystem services in EIA practice could lead to improvements in impacts analysis, provided that the approach is conducted in an integrated way and adopts detailed scales.

This thesis focuses on the new regulatory regime for the insurance sector called Solvency II. The aim of this thesis is to introduce and explain the structure of the new regime with its advantages and further to provide an overview of the most important problems linked with the draft of the new directive and the implementation itself. The thesis is divided into five parts. The first two parts shortly survey the current situation in the regulation of insurance markets together with the risks typical for the insurance industry. The third part explains the current rules for solvency calculation and the actual reasons for the introduction of the new regime. The fourth part generally describes the Solvency II directive proposal. Finally, the fifth part deals with the expected impact of the new solvency concept on the insurance market as well as the management of insurance companies.