Le développement du quartier comme échelle d’un développement urbain plus durable s’inscrit dans une période de prise de conscience liée au changement climatique pour lequel l’Union Européenne a mise en place une politique de transition énergétique. Actuellement, les écoquartiers se structurent autour de deux points clés au niveau énergétique : l’efficacité énergétique et l’approvisionnement énergétique. L’efficacité énergétique qui englobe la performance énergétique du bâtiment et la maitrise de la demande énergétique est le fer de lance des politiques de transition énergétique locale existante. A l’opposé, l’approvisionnement énergétique bas carbone ne semble pas avoir encore atteint une maturité suffisante pour être réalisée en totalité à l’échelle du quartier. Néanmoins, l’analyse des projets d’écoquartiers montre l’intérêt croissant porté à la création d’une offre énergétique bas carbone employant les ressources locales. Cet intérêt traduit, notamment, la volonté de certains acteurs locaux d’atteindre un certain degré d’autonomie énergétique. Afin d’envisager le quartier comme une échelle pertinente pour l’approvisionnement énergétique bas carbone, il est nécessaire d’analyser les conditions technico-économiques et institutionnelles à mettre en œuvre. Elle révèle le besoin d’un changement de paradigme dans la structuration des systèmes énergétiques passant de systèmes centralisés à des systèmes décentralisés. Or, ce nouveau paradigme est conditionné par la maturité technico-économique des infrastructures pouvant être installées dans le quartier et par la capacité à trouver un modèle d’affaire viable rendant l’investissement rentable à cette échelle. D’un point de vue institutionnel, il provoque une modification des relations entre les acteurs utilisant les vecteurs énergétiques étudiés (électricité et chaleur). L’essor de nouveaux profils de production avec le développement des énergies renouvelables et l’émergence de nouveaux profils de consommateurs devenant des producteurs modifie la chaîne de valeur énergétique et oblige à garantir la flexibilité des systèmes énergétiques pour garantir leur bon fonctionnement. Pour tenter d’apporter un éclairage sur les possibles formes que pourraient prendre ces relations, une démarche méthodologique reposant sur la construction d’idéal-types a été réalisé. Elle fait apparaître le besoin d’un nouvel acteur, le gestionnaire de l’énergie, pour garantir le bon fonctionnement des systèmes énergétiques installés dans les quartiers. / The development of the neighborhood as a scale of a more sustainable urban development takes part in a period of awareness linked to climate change for which the European Union has implemented an energy transition policy. In this context, the eco-neighborhoods are structured around two key points in terms of energy: energy efficiency and energy supply. Energy efficiency, which encompasses the energy performance of buildings and the control of energy demand, is the spearhead of existing local energy transition policies. In contrast, the low-carbon energy supply does not seem to have reached sufficient maturity to be fully implemented at the neighborhood level. Nevertheless, the analysis of eco-district projects shows the growing interest in the creation of a low carbon energy supply using local resources. This interest reflects, in particular, the willingness of some local actors to reach a degree of energy autonomy. In order to consider the neighborhood as a relevant scale for low-carbon energy supply, it is necessary to analyze the technical-economic and institutional conditions to be implemented. It reveals the need for a paradigm shift in the structuring of energy systems from centralized to decentralized systems. However, this new paradigm is conditioned by the technical and economic maturity of the infrastructures that can be installed in the district and by the ability to find a viable business model making the investment profitable on this scale. For the institutional part, it causes a modification of the relations between the actors using the energetic vectors studied (electricity and heat). The rise of new production profiles with the development of renewable energies and the emergence of new consumer profiles becoming producers, alters the energy value chain and makes it necessary to guarantee the flexibility of energy systems to ensure their correct functioning. To plan a different pathway that these relationships might take, a methodological approach based on the construction of the ideal-type was carried out. It shows the need for a new player, the energy manager, to ensure the proper functioning of the energy systems installed in the neighborhoods.

Innovation programmes require organisations to transfer both technology and knowledge to the diverse actors who operate within innovation eco-systems. The changing relationship between science and society has witnessed the growth of public private partnerships (PPP) to create new knowledge, while also triggering the emergence of a new role for universities as catalysts for innovation. This brings many challenges, stemming from the inherent nature of knowledge and the complex interactions involved with inter-disciplinary knowledge transfer. Concurrently, these public-funded programmes come under increasing scrutiny to demonstrate greater societal and economic impact as a return on research investment. Knowledge generated within the UK low carbon energy innovation system has the potential to facilitate the achievement of national emission targets. However, while knowledge may be successfully created, there is no guarantee that it will be disseminated and utilised in a way that contributes to the achievement of knowledge-related objectives. Current literature concentrates on the micro level inhibitors and enablers of knowledge transfer; however, a gap in empirical work which investigates system level knowledge interactions is evident. Research and practical application in this field has historically centred on technology transfer whilst under-emphasising the crucial role of knowledge within this complex, socio-technical innovation system. The overall aim of this qualitative study is to achieve a better understanding of the influences of knowledge transfer across a defined innovation system. This is achieved through the perceptions of participants via two case studies; one in a PPP and one in a University. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-eight participants, along with document analysis and participant observation at workshops, to investigate the participant perceptions. A three tier (macro-, meso- and micro-level) data analysis approach was adopted to reflect the systems level interactions. The study found that knowledge transfer is often perceived as the dissemination of information via explicit forms of knowledge, which may or may not be used by stakeholders to achieve innovation objectives. The main barriers to stakeholders utilising knowledge included: accessibility to knowledge; fit-for-purpose knowledge; stakeholder motivation/ability to use the knowledge; and viewing knowledge as an object. While there is an emerging impact agenda in academia, cultural and normative influences direct researchers towards traditional academic outputs (e.g. publications). Knowledge utilisation by stakeholders was found to be maximised through relational, stakeholder driven models, which view knowledge as a process. Knowledge utilisation was context specific, and, due to complex system influences, was never guaranteed to occur. Although planning for knowledge utilisation was undertaken at both the PPP and the University, implementing and measuring results was found to be difficult due to dynamic system influences such as understanding stakeholder motivations, resourcing constraints and complexity in the desired project outcomes. This makes adaptability and responsiveness important qualities for knowledge producers, while also necessitating specific skill sets. Based on this work, a set of principles were developed which should guide more effective utilisation of knowledge and promote more impactful research outcomes.

The effect of initial microstructures of an 0.05 wt.% C low carbon steel, acicular ferrite (AF), Bainite (B), polygonal ferrite (PF), fine polygonal ferrite (FPF), and a microstructure produced by direct strip casting (DSC) (termed SC), on the deformation and recrystallization behaviour of cold rolled low carbon (LC) steel, was investigated. The initially prepared samples with the initial microstructures were cold rolled to 50, 70 and 90% reductions, then annealed isothermally in the temperature range 580 ??? 680 oC. The microstructures and textures produced by deformation and annealing were studied by optical microscopy, XRD, TEM, SEM and EBSD. The initial microstructures were characterized mainly by optical microscopy and EBSD. Using EBSD, the ferrite grain size of the AF, B and SC samples was considerably larger than that found by optical microscopy with a large fraction of low angle grain boundaries (LAGBs) observed within prior austenite grains. All samples exhibited a very weak texture close to random. After cold rolling, the microstructures of AF and SC contained shear bands with PF and FPF generating deformation bands. For AF and SC, the pearlite phase was more extensively elongated in rolling direction compared with PF and FPF. After 90% cold rolling reduction, PF, FPF and SC consist mainly of the texture component and AF and B . It was found that FPF recrystallized most rapidly followed by B, PF and AF with SC recrystallizing orders of magnitude more slowly due to the solution drag caused by its uniformly distributed higher Mn content. Very strong (???-fibre) texture was generated in cold rolled PF followed by FPF, with AF, SC and B generating very weak textures. The texture evolution during annealing 90% reduction PF was examined in further detail. The behaviour of nucleation and grain growth provides strong evidence of orientated nucleation as the dominant factor for CRA texture development in this material.

With the growth of population and development of the global economy, the unrestrained use of natural and energy resources have seriously influenced environment and economy of world. Many people start to realize the serious environmental problems that come from the high energy utilizations, especially of high carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. So Low-Carbon Economy has become focus of attention around the world; it also has become every country‟s strategic goals for future development under this global situation.As the biggest country of CO2 emissions in the world, China‟s development of Low-Carbon Economy is increasingly influencing the economy and environmental development in the world, and the country has faced more and more pressure after United Nations Climate Change Conference, 2009. Transition to Low-Carbon Economy is essential road for China, whether respond to the threat of climate change or balance domestic economic development with environmental sustainability. However, China also faces lots of challenges and pressure in the process of transition to Low-Carbon Economy.This thesis combines quantitative method with qualitative methods to do a research about driving force and challenges of developing Low-Carbon Economy in China. Firstly, it discusses the driving forces for China to develop Low-Caron Economy from two aspects-pressures and benefits. Secondly, it investigates challenges that China is likely to face in Low-Carbon Economy development from energy and economic aspect. Finally, it uses cause and effect diagram to explain the bottlenecks of Low-Carbon Economy development in China.Our conclusion is that China faces the bottleneck between challenges and driving force to develop Low-Carbon Economy. And this situation was caused by national actual situations and conditions in China. This explains also why China requested in Copenhagen Conference that “developing countries take appropriated measures to emission control and reduction in terms of receiving the funding and technology support from developed countries. Those emission reduction actions should be done according to the national actual situations and conditions.”

Abstract: How to secure the power supply for future generation vehicles is an open question. This thesis uses Web-HIPRE as a tool of Decision Support System to predict the main compositions of future generation vehicles and also analyzes the advantages and shortages of currently existing solutions. The method of system approach is utilized to find out common problems of those existing solutions and to form an integrative solution. A model for this integrative solution is built under PowerSIM environment and the main objective of the model is to simulate the energy balance between power supply and demand. Finally, a brief discussion mainly focuses on the social and economic impact of the solution is made under PEBOSCA framework.

This study aims to design a novel inserted welding tool to friction stir spot weld SS400 low carbon steel sheets of 4mm thickness. In order to enhance the efficiency of frictional heat generation and to enhance the quality of the welding spot, the welding tool based on a cylindrical tungsten carbide and is inserted by a SS400 low carbon cylinder. The welding apparatus composed of a vertical milling machine and a welding platform that can keep the load between tool and workpiece constant. The plunge load is 8kN and there's no inclination angle on the tools. Welding temperature and the tool plunge depth are measured by thermelcouples and a displacement meter. ¡@¡@At the tool rotational speed of spindle of 900rpm and welding for 60 seconds, the temperature rising rate of the tools with 5 mm and 10 mm inserted material are 5.28 times and 6.31 times greater than the one without insert. While they are 1.36 and 1.42 times greater than at 1200rpm.At the tool rotational speed of spindle of 900rpm and welding for 300 seconds, themaximun welding temperature the tools with 5 mm and 10 mm inserted material can reach are 59¢J and 412¢J higher than the one without insert. While they can reach 35.6¢J and 197.6¢J greater than at 1200rpm. According to the tensile test, the shear failure loads of clad steel plates increase 11.3kN and 15.5kN by using tools with 5 mm and 10 mm inserted material at 900rpm for 60 seconds, and increase 7.6kN and 18.3kN by using tools with 5 mm and 10 mm inserted material at 1200rpm.

The background and motivation of this study are based on: (1) Energy saving and carbon emission reduction are the rising issues gaining more awareness and efforts worldwide. (2) Taiwan plans to build ¡§low-carbon cities¡¨ in order to implement the policy of greenhouse gas reduction. (3) The most direct and practical way to reduce carbon emissions is by saving energy. (4) Everyone has to use illumination sources. (5) ¡§Electro-Magnetic Induction Lamps¡¨ is a useful tool to achieve the goal of energy saving and carbon emission reduction. Thus the topic of this study is ¡§The Effectiveness Analysis and Strategy of Energy-efficient Lighting in Developing a Low Carbon City ¡V A Case on Electro-Magnetic Induction Lamps¡¨. The objectives of this study are: 1. To analyze the characteristics of ¡§Electro-Magnetic Induction Lamps¡¨ and their conformity with local and overseas energy-efficient lighting policies. 2. To analyze the effectiveness of lighting economics of the case companies before and after their adoption of ¡§Electro-Magnetic Induction Lamps¡¨. 3. To explore the possible obstacles and their solutions for lighting industry development of ¡§Electro-Magnetic Induction Lamps¡¨ in the public sectors¡¦ strategies to develop low-carbon cities in Taiwan. The main issues of this study are about energy-efficient lighting policies and the economical effectiveness of ¡§Electro-Magnetic Induction Lamps¡¨, which belong to policy research on energy-saving equipment and the lighting industry. Therefore three research methods: Literature Review, Case Study, and In-depth Interview were adopted to collect, compare, and analyze the data. The conclusions of this study are: 1. The characteristics of ¡§Electro-Magnetic Induction Lamps¡¨ are in conformance with energy-efficient lighting policies in Taiwan. 2. To provide the analysis result of the case companies¡¦ economic benefits after its adoption of ¡§Electro-Magnetic Induction Lamps¡¨. 3. To indicate the possible Dilemma of the lighting industry development of ¡§Electro-Magnetic Induction Lamps¡¨ and the energy-efficient lighting policies for the strategies to develop low-carbon cities in Taiwan. According to above research outcomes, three suggestions have been further proposed: 1. Users must change their concepts and habits of lighting usage in order to cultivate good energy-saving habits. 2. Users must select appropriate illumination sources according to their needs in order to achieve most effectiveness of lighting economics. 3. According to the needs of appropriate illumination sources, the government should promote and subsidize the development and use of ¡§Electro-Magnetic Induction Lamps¡¨.

In this study, a novel assembled-type tool was used to weld SS400 low-carbon steel plate using the friction stir spot welding. The welding tool was made of tungsten carbide embedded a circular rod made of the low-carbon steel. The superiority of this embedded material not only could effectively promote the interface temperature of the joint, but also the thickness of stir zone. Compared to previous studies, this novel tool can significantly improve the manufacturing cost and the trimming time. The welding apparatus composed of a vertical milling machine and a welding platform. The operating conditions of welding were as followings: the diameter of embedded material, the welding speed, and the vertical load. During the welding process, the interface temperature of the joint, the tool plunge depth, and the vertical load were simultaneously measured by the K-type thermocouple, a displacement sensor, and a load cell. Experimental results revealed that the interface temperature, the thickness of the stir zone, and the tensile strength of the welding joint was proportional to the diameter of the embedded material. The best welding condition is the embedded material diameter of 10mm, the vertical load of 8kN, the welding speed of 1200rpm, and the welding time of 100 seconds.

Economic and environmental objectives are traditionally seen as mutually exclusive, especially in terms of higher economic growth rates that are coupled with higher greenhouse gas emissions. The first aim of this study is to find a possible creative solution, in which higher economic growth can be coupled with lower greenhouse gas emissions, also known as low-carbon growth. The literature review shows that the economic growth aspect of low-carbon growth can be achieved by increasing exports. The other part of low-carbon growth, namely lower greenhouse gas intensity, can be achieved by diffusing low-carbon technologies (or environmental goods). The World Trade Organisation also encouraged the liberalisation of environmental goods. Therefore, low-carbon growth could be achieved by promoting the production and exports of low-carbon environmental goods. Although the World Trade Organisations has encouraged the liberation of environmental goods, there is no official list of environmental goods. Therefore, the second aim of this study is to derive a list of low-carbon environmental goods from existing lists of environmental goods. Thirty-nine lowcarbon environmental goods are identified for the purpose of this study. The Decision Support Model (DSM) is used to identify realistic export opportunities for these environmental goods. These low-carbon environmental goods were ranked based on three criteria: i) their potential environmental benefits, ii) South Africa’s capacity to produce these goods, and iii) their potential economic benefits. The five low-carbon environmental goods that ranked the highest are photosensitive semiconductors (HS-6: 854140), towers and lattice masts (HS-6: 730820), electrical control and distribution boards smaller than 1kV (HS-6: 853710), gearing, ball screws, speed changers, torque converter (HS-6: 848340), and static converters (HS-6: 850440). The exact environmental uses, producers, intensive and extensive export opportunities of the top five goods were discussed. The best overall intensive export opportunities according to potential export value are HS-6: 854140; photosensitive semiconductors (USD 922,362,000) to Germany and HS-6: 853710; electrical control and distribution boards smaller than 1kV, to the United States (USD 838,671,000). The best overall extensive export opportunities according to their potential export value are HS-6: 854140; photosensitive semiconductors to China (USD 953,255,000) and HS-6: 854140; photosensitive semiconductors to Hong Kong (USD 363,505,000). The results of this study will enable policy-makers to make optimal decisions regarding which environmental goods to produce and export. / Thesis (MCom (Economics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Economic and environmental objectives are traditionally seen as mutually exclusive, especially in terms of higher economic growth rates that are coupled with higher greenhouse gas emissions. The first aim of this study is to find a possible creative solution, in which higher economic growth can be coupled with lower greenhouse gas emissions, also known as low-carbon growth. The literature review shows that the economic growth aspect of low-carbon growth can be achieved by increasing exports. The other part of low-carbon growth, namely lower greenhouse gas intensity, can be achieved by diffusing low-carbon technologies (or environmental goods). The World Trade Organisation also encouraged the liberalisation of environmental goods. Therefore, low-carbon growth could be achieved by promoting the production and exports of low-carbon environmental goods. Although the World Trade Organisations has encouraged the liberation of environmental goods, there is no official list of environmental goods. Therefore, the second aim of this study is to derive a list of low-carbon environmental goods from existing lists of environmental goods. Thirty-nine lowcarbon environmental goods are identified for the purpose of this study. The Decision Support Model (DSM) is used to identify realistic export opportunities for these environmental goods. These low-carbon environmental goods were ranked based on three criteria: i) their potential environmental benefits, ii) South Africa’s capacity to produce these goods, and iii) their potential economic benefits. The five low-carbon environmental goods that ranked the highest are photosensitive semiconductors (HS-6: 854140), towers and lattice masts (HS-6: 730820), electrical control and distribution boards smaller than 1kV (HS-6: 853710), gearing, ball screws, speed changers, torque converter (HS-6: 848340), and static converters (HS-6: 850440). The exact environmental uses, producers, intensive and extensive export opportunities of the top five goods were discussed. The best overall intensive export opportunities according to potential export value are HS-6: 854140; photosensitive semiconductors (USD 922,362,000) to Germany and HS-6: 853710; electrical control and distribution boards smaller than 1kV, to the United States (USD 838,671,000). The best overall extensive export opportunities according to their potential export value are HS-6: 854140; photosensitive semiconductors to China (USD 953,255,000) and HS-6: 854140; photosensitive semiconductors to Hong Kong (USD 363,505,000). The results of this study will enable policy-makers to make optimal decisions regarding which environmental goods to produce and export. / Thesis (MCom (Economics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.