A atual situação energética global demonstra a dependência pela energia elétrica, evidenciando a importância do uso racional da energia e da redução de poluentes em sua produção. A utilização de hidrogênio como fonte de geração de energia elétrica nas células a combustível utiliza um bem abundante na face terrestre, e produz energia elétrica sem poluição. A célula a combustível constitui-se de um conversor eletroquímico, que converte a energia química proveniente dos reagentes hidrogênio e oxigênio em energia elétrica (corrente contínua), água e calor. Esta tecnologia é promissora e apresenta uma gama de aplicações no cotidiano, sendo atrativa em relação às outras tecnologias convencionais, com incrementos na eficiência, emissão de poluentes, simplicidade, maior vida útil, tamanho e peso, sendo modular e silenciosa. As células a combustível possuem aplicações no setor automobilístico, como geração auxiliar em instalações elétricas, geração de energia para equipamentos portáteis e programas espaciais. Entre as restrições estão o custo da célula e a produção de hidrogênio e como estocá-lo. O hidrogênio não é uma fonte primária de energia, mas pode ser obtida a partir de processos tais como a eletrólise, fontes fósseis, pirólise a plasma, biocombustíveis como o lixo urbano e a biomassa. Este trabalho apresenta um estudo do estado da arte e uma sistematização das formas de utilização de células a combustível como geração auxiliar em instalações elétricas de grande porte. Esta tecnologia é de desenvolvimento recente, intensificando-se com as restrições ambientais às outras fontes, além da previsão da redução futura do custo deste tipo de aproveitamento. O trabalho faz uma comparação entre a geração auxiliar em instalações elétricas de grande porte feita com células a combustível com as outras gerações auxiliares convencionais, como o gerador a diesel, e é sugerido o seu emprego como opção, sendo feitas análises técnica e econômica. Também uma análise de seu funcionamento e um estudo de caso com a viabilidade econômica de seu emprego em um laboratório de informática em uma instituição de ensino. / The current global energy situation shows the dependence on the electric energy, and the importance of the rational use of energy and the reduction of pollutants in the production of energy. The hydrogen as source of generation of electrical energy in fuel cells uses an abundant resource in Earth, and produces electrical energy with no pollution. The fuel cell consists of an electrochemical converter, that converts the chemical energy from the hydrogen and oxygen reagents into electric energy (continuous current), water and heat. This technology is promising and presents a range of applications in every day life, being attractive in relation to the other conventional technologies, due to increments in the efficiency, emission of pollutants, simplicity, longer life and smaller weight, being modular and silent. The cells the fuel have applications in the automotive segment, as auxiliary generation in electrical installations, generation of energy for portable equipment and space programs. Among the restrictions there is the cost of the cell and the hydrogen production and how to store it. The hydrogen is not a primary source of energy, but can be obtained from processes such as fossil electrolysis, plasma pyrolysis, bio fuels as the urban garbage and the biomass. This paper presents a study of the state of the art of this technique and also a systematization of the ways in which it can be used as auxiliary generation in automated electric installations. This technology, of recent development, has its interest increased by the environmental restrictions to the sources of energy and also by the cost reduction that is forecast. There is also a case study with a comparison between fuel cells and other more conventional options as the diesel generation. The paper is carried out for an existing computer processing center in an educational institution.

A atual situação energética global demonstra a dependência pela energia elétrica, evidenciando a importância do uso racional da energia e da redução de poluentes em sua produção. A utilização de hidrogênio como fonte de geração de energia elétrica nas células a combustível utiliza um bem abundante na face terrestre, e produz energia elétrica sem poluição. A célula a combustível constitui-se de um conversor eletroquímico, que converte a energia química proveniente dos reagentes hidrogênio e oxigênio em energia elétrica (corrente contínua), água e calor. Esta tecnologia é promissora e apresenta uma gama de aplicações no cotidiano, sendo atrativa em relação às outras tecnologias convencionais, com incrementos na eficiência, emissão de poluentes, simplicidade, maior vida útil, tamanho e peso, sendo modular e silenciosa. As células a combustível possuem aplicações no setor automobilístico, como geração auxiliar em instalações elétricas, geração de energia para equipamentos portáteis e programas espaciais. Entre as restrições estão o custo da célula e a produção de hidrogênio e como estocá-lo. O hidrogênio não é uma fonte primária de energia, mas pode ser obtida a partir de processos tais como a eletrólise, fontes fósseis, pirólise a plasma, biocombustíveis como o lixo urbano e a biomassa. Este trabalho apresenta um estudo do estado da arte e uma sistematização das formas de utilização de células a combustível como geração auxiliar em instalações elétricas de grande porte. Esta tecnologia é de desenvolvimento recente, intensificando-se com as restrições ambientais às outras fontes, além da previsão da redução futura do custo deste tipo de aproveitamento. O trabalho faz uma comparação entre a geração auxiliar em instalações elétricas de grande porte feita com células a combustível com as outras gerações auxiliares convencionais, como o gerador a diesel, e é sugerido o seu emprego como opção, sendo feitas análises técnica e econômica. Também uma análise de seu funcionamento e um estudo de caso com a viabilidade econômica de seu emprego em um laboratório de informática em uma instituição de ensino. / The current global energy situation shows the dependence on the electric energy, and the importance of the rational use of energy and the reduction of pollutants in the production of energy. The hydrogen as source of generation of electrical energy in fuel cells uses an abundant resource in Earth, and produces electrical energy with no pollution. The fuel cell consists of an electrochemical converter, that converts the chemical energy from the hydrogen and oxygen reagents into electric energy (continuous current), water and heat. This technology is promising and presents a range of applications in every day life, being attractive in relation to the other conventional technologies, due to increments in the efficiency, emission of pollutants, simplicity, longer life and smaller weight, being modular and silent. The cells the fuel have applications in the automotive segment, as auxiliary generation in electrical installations, generation of energy for portable equipment and space programs. Among the restrictions there is the cost of the cell and the hydrogen production and how to store it. The hydrogen is not a primary source of energy, but can be obtained from processes such as fossil electrolysis, plasma pyrolysis, bio fuels as the urban garbage and the biomass. This paper presents a study of the state of the art of this technique and also a systematization of the ways in which it can be used as auxiliary generation in automated electric installations. This technology, of recent development, has its interest increased by the environmental restrictions to the sources of energy and also by the cost reduction that is forecast. There is also a case study with a comparison between fuel cells and other more conventional options as the diesel generation. The paper is carried out for an existing computer processing center in an educational institution.

Submitted by Marilene Donadel (marilene.donadel@unioeste.br) on 2017-08-17T23:38:37Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Thayanya Rodrigues 2016.pdf: 2040843 bytes, checksum: 1bc946a3ab21b7a49ba1d904ba6fbdaf (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-17T23:38:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Thayanya Rodrigues 2016.pdf: 2040843 bytes, checksum: 1bc946a3ab21b7a49ba1d904ba6fbdaf (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-05-10 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The micro-algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii adds genes responsible for anaerobic metabolic pathways, being able to produce molecular hydrogen efficiently. Therefore body is a model for scientific research due to its growth characteristics and because of their nuclear genomes, mitochondrial, chloroplast are known, and modifications allow for obtaining new strains, more productive in relation to H2. The photoproduction H2 for this microalga is observed after incubation in their culture media free of sulfur. This deprivation causes partial and reversible inactivation of hotosynthetic O2 synthesis,creating anaerobic conditions induced by light in the culture medium as well as the expression of two [FeFe] -hidrogenases cells. The H2 is seen as an ideal fuel because it is not a molecule of aggravating due to the greenhouse effect. Moreover, H2 presents environmental and production cost constraints when obtained by other methods such as,electrolysis of water, steam reformed natural gas or hydrocarbons, pyrolysis and gasification of biomass, there being thus a viable alternative to the clean energy production targets. Thus, this research focuses on the training of human resources devoted to science and technology in the area linked to the molecular hydrogen bioproduction in Brazil, from the cultivation of mutant and wild-type strains of Chlamydomonas genre in controlled laboratory conditions. The strains studied were the CC-124, CC-125, CC-602 and CC-1034. These were cultured in medium with sulfur to form stock, and then cultured in medium without the addition of sulfur, to optimize the H2 production. The produced gases, including H2 were evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively by chromatographic analysis. This study confirmed that previous studies reported the behavior O2 production, is inversely proportional to H2 production (ie, the higher production of H2represents lower O2 production). The chromatographic analysis also indicates de CC-124 strain as the greatest potential for molecular hydrogen production (H2). / A microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii agrega genes responsáveis por vias metabólicas anaeróbias, sendo capaz de produzir com eficiência o hidrogênio molecular. Assim sendo é um organismo modelo para investigações científicas devido às suas características de crescimento e pelo fato de seus genomas nuclear, mitocondrial e de cloroplasto serem conhecidos e permitirem modificações para a obtenção de novas linhagens, mais produtivas em relação ao H2. A fotoprodução de H2 por essa microalga é observada após incubação de suas culturas em meios livres de enxofre. Tal privação ocasiona a inativação parcial e reversível de síntese de O2 fotossintético, criando condições anaeróbias induzidas pela luz no meio de cultura, bem como a expressão de duas [FeFe]- hidrogenases nas células. O H2 é visto como um combustível ideal por não ser uma molécula de consequência agravante ao efeito estufa. Por outro lado, o H2 apresenta restrições ambientais e de custo de produção quando obtido por outras metodologias como, eletrólise da água, vapor reformado de gás natural ou de hidrocarbonetos, gaseificação de biomassa e pirólises, não sendo, assim, uma alternativa viável para os objetivos de produção limpa de energia. Desse modo, a presente pesquisa tem seu foco na capacitação de recursos humanos voltados à ciência e à tecnologia na área ligada à bioprodução de hidrogênio molecular no Brasil, a partir do cultivo de linhagens mutantes e selvagens do gênero Chlamydomonas em condições controladas de laboratório. As cepas estudadas foram as CC-124, CC-125, CC-602 e CC-1032. Estes foram cultivadas em meio com enxofre, para formação de estoque, sendo posteriormente cultivadas em meio sem adição de enxofre, para otimizar a produção de H2. Os gases produzidos, incluindo o H2, foram então avaliados qualitativamente e quantitativamente por meio de análise cromatográfica. O presente estudo, confirmou relatos de estudos anteriores, que afirmavam ter a produção de O2, comportamento inversamente proporcional â produção de H2 (ou seja, quanto maior a produção de H2, menor a produção de O2). A análise cromatográfica também indicou a cepa CC-124 como a de maior potencial para a produção de hidrogênio molecular (H2).

Innovation intermediaries provide a range of services to assist firms during the process of innovation. How SMEs perceive innovation intermediaries is an area of investigation that would provide important information on how innovation intermediaries’ assist small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This study focuses on the cleantech industry and explores SMEs’ expectations and perceptions of an established community-based intermediary (CBI) moving into their sector. A qualitative research methodology was adopted to collect data from 15 sample SMEs. In regards to SMEs, the findings show that cleantech companies face financing, partnerships, marketing, sales, regulatory and bureaucratic challenges. In regards to innovation intermediaries, the findings showcase how CBI, a regional intermediary, is not effective in supporting cleantech SMEs with their sector specific needs or challenges.

In Cape Town, South Africa, households' acces to modern and clean energy services needs to be increased. However, use of coal-powered electricity stresses the environment and power cuts create an urgent need to reduce the demand. Solar water heaters (SWH) could enable increasing access and affordability of energy services in the townships without stressing the environment or increasing the demand for coal-powered electricity. However, it is an expensive solution and the majority of the city-level efforts still target the high-consuming households. The benefits for the poor households from using a SWH could though outweigh the high capital investements and meet the needs of the city's environmental management. The results from this study of 20 households showed that by having an affordable, clean and reliable source of energy for heating water, households were able to use more warm water for bathing and reduce their use of electricity and paraffin. This resulted in improvements in health and quality of life. Also, households' general spending on energy was reduced, which for some enabled an increase in income-generating activities. The use of solar-heated showers was found to be restricted by the issue of sharing and it is argued that the benefits would be greater if each households had their own solar water heater. The estimated increase in water use might raise questions of the solution's future feasibility. Despite this, it can be argued that the changes in the households' energy and water use are likely to result in significant improvements in the households' well-being which could also benefit the city as a whole.

The ‘hydrogen economy’ represents an energy system in which hydrogen and electricity are the dominant energy carriers for use in transportation applications. The ‘hydrogen economy’ minimizes the use of fossil fuels in order to lower the environmental impact of energy use associated with urban air pollution and climate change. An integrated energy system is required to deal with diverse and distributed energy generation technologies such a wind and solar which require energy storage to level energy availability and demand. A distributed ‘energy hub’ is considered a viable concept in envisioning the structure of an integrated energy system. An energy hub is a system which consists of energy input/output, conversion and storage technologies for multiple energy carriers, and would provide an interface between energy producers, consumers, and the transportation infrastructure. Considered in a decentralized network, these hubs would form the nodes of an integrated energy system or network. In this work, a model of a clean energy hub comprising of wind turbines, electrolyzers, hydrogen storage, a commercial building, and a fleet of plug-in fuel cell vehicles (PFCVs) was developed in MATLAB, with electricity and hydrogen used as the energy carriers. This model represents a hypothetical commercial facility which is powered by a renewable energy source and utilizes a zero-emissions fleet of light duty vehicles. The models developed herein capture the energy and cost interactions between the various energy components, and also calculate the CO2 emissions avoided through the implementation of hydrogen economy principles. Wherever possible, similar models were used to inform the development of the clean energy hub model. The purpose of the modelling was to investigate the interactions between a single energy hub and novel components such as a plug-in fuel cell vehicle fleet (PFCV). The final model reports four key results: price of hub electricity, price of hub hydrogen, total annual costs and CO2 emissions avoided. Three scenarios were analysed: minimizing price of hub electricity, minimizing total annual costs, and maximizing the CO2 emissions avoided. Since the clean energy hub could feasibly represent both a facility located within an urban area as well as a remote facility, two separate analyses were also conducted: an on-grid analysis (if the energy hub is close to transmission lines), and an off-grid analysis (representing the remote scenarios). The connection of the energy hub to the broader electricity grid was the most significant factor affecting the results collected. Grid electricity was found to be generally cheaper than electricity produced by wind turbines, and scenarios for minimizing costs heavily favoured the use grid electricity. However, wind turbines were found to avoid CO2 emissions over the use of grid electricity, and scenarios for maximizing emissions avoided heavily favoured wind turbine electricity. In one case, removing the grid connection resulted in the price of electricity from the energy hub increasing from $82/MWh to $300/MWh. The mean travel distance of the fleet was another important factor affecting the cost modelling of the energy hub. The hub’s performance was simulated over a range of mean travel distances (20km to 100km), and the results varied greatly within the range. This is because the mean travel distance directly affects the quantities of electricity and hydrogen consumed by the fleet, a large consumer of energy within the hub. Other factors, such as the output of the wind turbines, or the consumption of the commercial building, are largely fixed. A key sensitivity was discovered within this range; the results were ‘better’ (lower costs and higher emissions avoided) when the mean travel distance exceeded the electric travel range of the fleet. This effect was more noticeable in the on-grid analysis. This sensitivity is due to the underutilization of the hydrogen systems within the hub at lower mean travel distances. It was found that the greater the mean travel distance, the greater the utilization of the electrolyzers and storage tanks lowering the associated per km capital cost of these components. At lower mean travel distances the utilization of the electrolyzers ranged from 25% to 30%, whereas at higher mean travel distances it ranged from 97% to 99%. At higher utilization factors the price of hydrogen is reduced, since the cost recovery is spread over a larger quantity of hydrogen.

Innovation intermediaries provide a range of services to assist firms during the process of innovation. How SMEs perceive innovation intermediaries is an area of investigation that would provide important information on how innovation intermediaries’ assist small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This study focuses on the cleantech industry and explores SMEs’ expectations and perceptions of an established community-based intermediary (CBI) moving into their sector. A qualitative research methodology was adopted to collect data from 15 sample SMEs. In regards to SMEs, the findings show that cleantech companies face financing, partnerships, marketing, sales, regulatory and bureaucratic challenges. In regards to innovation intermediaries, the findings showcase how CBI, a regional intermediary, is not effective in supporting cleantech SMEs with their sector specific needs or challenges.

The ‘hydrogen economy’ represents an energy system in which hydrogen and electricity are the dominant energy carriers for use in transportation applications. The ‘hydrogen economy’ minimizes the use of fossil fuels in order to lower the environmental impact of energy use associated with urban air pollution and climate change. An integrated energy system is required to deal with diverse and distributed energy generation technologies such a wind and solar which require energy storage to level energy availability and demand. A distributed ‘energy hub’ is considered a viable concept in envisioning the structure of an integrated energy system. An energy hub is a system which consists of energy input/output, conversion and storage technologies for multiple energy carriers, and would provide an interface between energy producers, consumers, and the transportation infrastructure. Considered in a decentralized network, these hubs would form the nodes of an integrated energy system or network. In this work, a model of a clean energy hub comprising of wind turbines, electrolyzers, hydrogen storage, a commercial building, and a fleet of plug-in fuel cell vehicles (PFCVs) was developed in MATLAB, with electricity and hydrogen used as the energy carriers. This model represents a hypothetical commercial facility which is powered by a renewable energy source and utilizes a zero-emissions fleet of light duty vehicles. The models developed herein capture the energy and cost interactions between the various energy components, and also calculate the CO2 emissions avoided through the implementation of hydrogen economy principles. Wherever possible, similar models were used to inform the development of the clean energy hub model. The purpose of the modelling was to investigate the interactions between a single energy hub and novel components such as a plug-in fuel cell vehicle fleet (PFCV). The final model reports four key results: price of hub electricity, price of hub hydrogen, total annual costs and CO2 emissions avoided. Three scenarios were analysed: minimizing price of hub electricity, minimizing total annual costs, and maximizing the CO2 emissions avoided. Since the clean energy hub could feasibly represent both a facility located within an urban area as well as a remote facility, two separate analyses were also conducted: an on-grid analysis (if the energy hub is close to transmission lines), and an off-grid analysis (representing the remote scenarios). The connection of the energy hub to the broader electricity grid was the most significant factor affecting the results collected. Grid electricity was found to be generally cheaper than electricity produced by wind turbines, and scenarios for minimizing costs heavily favoured the use grid electricity. However, wind turbines were found to avoid CO2 emissions over the use of grid electricity, and scenarios for maximizing emissions avoided heavily favoured wind turbine electricity. In one case, removing the grid connection resulted in the price of electricity from the energy hub increasing from $82/MWh to $300/MWh. The mean travel distance of the fleet was another important factor affecting the cost modelling of the energy hub. The hub’s performance was simulated over a range of mean travel distances (20km to 100km), and the results varied greatly within the range. This is because the mean travel distance directly affects the quantities of electricity and hydrogen consumed by the fleet, a large consumer of energy within the hub. Other factors, such as the output of the wind turbines, or the consumption of the commercial building, are largely fixed. A key sensitivity was discovered within this range; the results were ‘better’ (lower costs and higher emissions avoided) when the mean travel distance exceeded the electric travel range of the fleet. This effect was more noticeable in the on-grid analysis. This sensitivity is due to the underutilization of the hydrogen systems within the hub at lower mean travel distances. It was found that the greater the mean travel distance, the greater the utilization of the electrolyzers and storage tanks lowering the associated per km capital cost of these components. At lower mean travel distances the utilization of the electrolyzers ranged from 25% to 30%, whereas at higher mean travel distances it ranged from 97% to 99%. At higher utilization factors the price of hydrogen is reduced, since the cost recovery is spread over a larger quantity of hydrogen.

Purpose The main purpose of this thesis was to evaluate the investment attractiveness of oil and gas stocks (registered on Nasdaq Stockholm) in face of the increasing campaigns for the adoption of clean energy. The findings can help in the formulation of relevant policy implications on the campaign for a cleaner environment Design/Methodology/Approach The authors assume positivism and objectivity as the philosophical aspects for the purpose of this study. Following these initial considerations, the nature of the study was adopted as quantitative. This follows a longitudinal design and a deductive approach, basing the paper on previous literature in the areas of environmental sustainability, market efficiency, financial news items and their effect on stock volatility in order to test own hypothesis.    Theory Following the methodological assumptions and the adoption of a deductive approach, relevant theory was selected to address the focus of previous research on which the research gaps and purpose are based. It also plays a role in introducing the reader to the relevant theories which will aid comprehension of further sections of this paper. Theories surrounding market efficiency, risk and return, the oil and gas industry and sustainability have all been mentioned.  Findings In order to fulfil the purpose of the study, the authors studied whether the volatility of oil and gas stocks are affected by clean energy related news. The empirical results suggest that the volatility of oil and gas stocks decline whenever news of clean energy is introduced, implying clean energy news cause lower volatility. To this end, oil and gas stocks are better off whenever clean energy/sustainability news are introduced into the market.  Analysis The empirical results seem to point to the fact that oil and gas firms may be benefiting from the investment they have made within the last two decades towards the issue of doing business in a more sustainable and socially responsible manner. It is therefore possible that investors get to reward them whenever news relating to sustainability and clean energy are announced. Conclusions  This thesis confirms the attractiveness of oil and gas stocks notwithstanding the increasing campaigns and initiatives aimed at promoting the adoption of clean energy.  Research limitations The research was limited in terms of setting since it only covered Sweden and therefore cannot answer questions regarding the overall attractiveness of oil and gas stocks across the globe.

Innovation intermediaries provide a range of services to assist firms during the process of innovation. How SMEs perceive innovation intermediaries is an area of investigation that would provide important information on how innovation intermediaries’ assist small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This study focuses on the cleantech industry and explores SMEs’ expectations and perceptions of an established community-based intermediary (CBI) moving into their sector. A qualitative research methodology was adopted to collect data from 15 sample SMEs. In regards to SMEs, the findings show that cleantech companies face financing, partnerships, marketing, sales, regulatory and bureaucratic challenges. In regards to innovation intermediaries, the findings showcase how CBI, a regional intermediary, is not effective in supporting cleantech SMEs with their sector specific needs or challenges.