In the recent years, governments have encouraged the utilization of renewable energy by providing incentives to investors, and enhancing traditional practices in the sector. For example, in Ontario, Canada, local distribution companies can now legally own and operate up to 10 MW generating plant per location as long as it is from a renewable source. Although this trend results in some operational benefits for the host networks, it also creates specific technical challenges and economic problems. New modeling approaches are needed to account for the main features of power produced by these facilities, namely, the uncertainty and uncontrollability. The uncertainty of power produced by weather-based generating facilities affects the decisions of different activities related to the operation of distribution systems. Examples of these tasks include power procurement decisions, the assessment of voltage magnitude variation, and reactive power management. If not properly included, uncertainty could result in non optimal outcome of operational activities of a distribution system operator. Based on different optimization techniques, the thesis introduces several models that capture the uncertain behavior of renewable resources. Two operational tasks were selected for application using the enhanced models: economical operation of distribution system and impact assessment on voltage magnitude. The power procurement problem is an operational challenge to acquire the correct economic mix of power purchases to supply the demand of a local distribution company. Three models have been presented to formulate the power procurement problem with a consideration of the stochastic nature of renewable generation. These models select the optimal quantities of bilateral contracts under uncertain renewable generation and give the option to decision makers to recalculate the powers from other sources. In one of these proposed models, the mean-variance theory is utilized to evaluate the risk associated with the variation of renewable power output on the financial efficiency of a local distribution company. Unlike previous studies, in which renewable power production is identified as a decision variable, in this work the generation from these units is represented as a parameter to model their feature of uncontrollability. Comparison of results obtained from using the proposed models showed that the degree of uncertainty plays an important role in selecting the proper mix. In general, stochastic based algorithms are superior to deterministic approaches when increasing contributions from renewable resources are considered. A major technical problem that may be caused by the uncertain generation of renewable units is the increase of voltage variation. The second part of the thesis introduces a methodology based on a Monte-Carlo technique to assess new installation depending on its impact on the quality of supply voltage. Two different standard measures for supply voltage quality are applied in this approach to provide the decision maker a tool that can be used to authorize new connections of renewable generation. The consistency of results obtained by the two indices applied in the proposed methodology encourages adopting the proposed approach for evaluating the impact of new connections of renewable resources. The models proposed in the thesis contribute to promote safer integration of renewable resources in distribution systems by modeling two main features: uncertainty and non-controllability.

The Green Savings programme was drawn up by the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic and fully administered by the State Environmental Fund. The main objectives of the programme were reduction of CO2 emissions as well as limitation of other air pollutants, supported by increased use of renewable energy sources and improved energy efficiency in the housing sector. The programme has not only promoted use of renewable energy sources for heating and hot water preparation but has also subsidized energy savings in reconstructions and new buildings. The programme supports quality insulation of family houses and non-panel multiple-dwelling houses, replacement of environment unfriendly heating for low-emission biomass-fired boilers and efficient heat pumps and, finally, installations of these sources in new low-energy buildings as well as construction of new houses in the passive energy standard. The Green Savings support is provided in the form of non-claimable subsidies granted only to applicants from the Czech Republic. The Green Savings programme started 1st April 2009 and was suspended in late October 2010 due to its funds having been spent. The State Environmental Fund of the Czech Republic received 7137 grant applications from the South Bohemian Region - 1693 applications (23.7%) were granted and paid in full, 2121 applications (29.7%) were approved and 3323 applications (46.6%) were turned down. The applicants in the South Bohemian Region have claimed to be adequately informed about the programme and they find it to be economically advantageous ? the programme itself proved to be extremely popular and successful in meeting the applicants expectations in energy savings. If some of the South-bohemian households choose not to apply for a subsidy within this programme it was not because of lack of funds. Most households who applied for the subsidy reported only partial satisfaction with its administration process. The greatest majority of benefactors in all subsidized areas were family houses and the biggest amount of grants applied for concerns the use of renewable energy sources for heating and hot water preparation (in particular installation of solar-thermal collectors which represents 25% of all submitted applications). Lowest interest within the subsidized areas was for housing construction in the passive energy standard. For many applicants the governmental support isn't the main driving force in their decision-making process about energy efficient homes. Many of them had implemented energy-saving measures before the programme started. But they claim to have chosen more energy efficient measures using the programme than they would have done without it. People living in South Bohemian Region have positive relationship with their environment and take environmental issues seriously.

This study investigates decision-making processes in respect to the maturation time and the marketed quantities of single malt whisky in a Swedish distillery start-up. At first, the literature regarding decision-making in both start-ups and larger organisations has been reviewed. It can be concluded that decision-making in start-ups, compared to their established counterparts, is more based on heuristics and continuously exposed to several biases. In the following, a general resource exploitation model is presented in the context of deterministic decision-making and adjusted towards whisky casks as deposits of nonrenewable resources. The consecutive case study is conducted in a Swedish distillery start-up. Findings indicate that the start-up is exposed to a high market dynamic and expert-knowledge is of high importance. In the start-up, these experts make decisions regarding the maturation times and the quantities of the marketed whisky. Nevertheless, the optimal exploitation model can be implemented into daily operations and delivers additional data for decisions. Planning can evolve from a mainly cost-based towards a profit-maximising perspective. However, the quality of the model results are expected to be limited, due to the deterministic nature of the model in a highly dynamic environment. This effect may be even amplified by input parameters, which cannot be precisely determined.Therefore, the industry knowledge of the decision-maker appears to be the most important factor for decision-making processes in this industry.

Diploma work analyzes the collective systems which are solving the disposal of photovoltaic's panels, classified as electrical equipment subject to recollection since last year, and tries to get answer to question if the collective systems should ensure a smooth disposal. Biggest wave of disposal photovoltaic's panels is expected in the next 15 -- 20 years. Operators and manufacturers have a statutory obligation to pay a fee, for every kilogram of photovoltaic's panels.The question under consideration is the check of the collective systems setting and also, comparative analysis of collective systems which are dealing with disposal of photovoltaic's panels and other electrical equipment. Furthermore, the survey conducted and processed according to the conclusions of the various groups (collective systems operators, operators of PV plants, lawmakers, and public) and also, the analysis of systems is presented.

This MA thesis examines the effects of wind and photovoltaic power plants on the regional development using the standard regional and statistical analysis tools. The theoretical part focuses on the macroeconomical point of view concerning the support of renewable energy sources. The consequences for Czech economy can be seen as greatly negative. The practical part includes case studies and focuses on specific municipalities. The result of the findings is that the construction of photovoltaic powe plants does not have a negative impact on the development of municipalities, in the case of smaller ones it can even be seen as an economic asset.

The Master’s thesis deals with the renewable resources of energy and possibilities of funding of solar electrical power production from European union funds. The thesis also contains the feasibility study and the concept of Eko-Energie program grant application form, which can help to gain the financial support for increasing the effectivity of the project.

Die Anlage von Kurzumtriebsplantagen (KUP) mit schnellwachsenden Baumarten auf landwirtschaftlichen Flächen kann sowohl Synergien freisetzen als auch negative Auswirkungen für Naturschutzziele haben. Entscheidend dafür sind die Flächenauswahl sowie die konkrete Gestaltung der KUP-Anlage und ihre Bewirtschaftung. Die Broschüre widmet sich insbesondere dem Aspekt Flächenauswahl. Dazu wird eine weiterentwickelte Methode zur fachlichen Einschätzung der Eignung von Ackerflächen für Kurzumtriebsplantagen im Einklang mit dem Naturschutz vorgestellt. Anhand von 93 Einzelkriterien aus den Komplexen »Flächennaturschutz« und »Artenschutz« wurde ein Bewertungsalgorithmus entwickelt und am Praxisbeispiel des Landkreises Görlitz in Ostsachsen getestet. Im Ergebnis einer GIS-Analyse wurde für die Ackerflächen dieses Landkreises eine abgestufte, naturschutzfachlich begründete Synergieklassen-Kulisse als fachliche Empfehlung für eine gezielte Flächenauswahl für KUP gebildet.

no / This review summarises the recent developments in the synthesis and applications of polymers derived from malic acid. There has been an increased interest in the design of sustainable and biodegradable polymers as a result of the drive to use renewable feedstocks as an alternative to petrochemicals in addition to their significant potential in biomedical applications. Synthetic strategies to access polymers from malic acid based on both condensation and ring-opening polymerization, across a broad range of conditions, are reviewed along with their advantages and limits. The role that such materials are studied for in biomedical applications is discussed, and their environmental impact based on the biodegradability of the malic polymer backbone is outlined. / The Royal Society, EPSRC, BBSRC

L’objectif de ce travail de thèse était la synthèse d’un nouveau matériau polyuréthane biorsourcé composé par du caoutchouc naturel modifié chimiquement et par du poly(ε-caprolactone), (PCL), en présence ou absence d’isocyanates. Des oligoisoprènes téléchéliques hydroxylés (HTNR) ont été obtenus après époxidation du caoutchouc naturel et réduction des oligomères carbonyles. Plusieurs paramètres ont été étudiés comme la nature et la quantité relative de diisocyanate, le rapport molaire entre diisocyanate et diol (NCO:OH), l’influence de la masse molaire des diols HTNR et PCL, le pourcentage de 1,4-butane diol (BDO, extenseur de chaîne), et le rapport molaire entre les diols HTNR:PCL. Trois types de diisocyanate ont été employés : isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), toluène-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI) et hexaméthylène diisocyanate (HDI). Masses molaires différentes ont été utilisées pour les diols HTNR et PCL: 1700, 2800 et 2900 g/mol pour HTNR et 530 et 2000 g/mol pour PCL. Le rapport molaire entre NCO:OH était entre 0,75:1,00 – 2,85:1,00. Les PU ont été préparés par la méthode « one shot » et les structures chimiques des HTNR et PU ont été identifiées par 1H-NMR et FTIR. La résistance à la traction et à la rupture ont été étudiées. La caractérisation a été conduite par DSC, DMTA, ATG et spectroscopie Raman. Une étude préliminaire a montré que la masse molaire du PU augmentait avec le rapport NCO:OH et le temps de réaction, et que le chloroforme n’était pas un bon solvant pour obtenir des films. Le tetrahydrofurane était le solvant le plus approprié et il a été utilisé par la suite pour toutes les polymérisations. Le rapport NCO:OH = 1,25:1,00 s’est révélé optimal pour obtenir des films. L’analyse FTIR a permis de vérifier la présence de liaisons uréthane, de points de réticulation et de branchements. Le polyuréthane a montré des propriétés mécaniques excellentes dépendantes de la composition chimique. Si on exclue l’utilisation de PCL2000 et de HDI, le comportement à la traction était caractéristique des élastomères. Les PU étaient amorphes sauf lorsque le HDI a été employé. Duos ce cos été obtenais un PU semi cristallin. Cette cristallinité augmente le module de Young, la résistance à la rupture, la dureté et la stabilité thermique du PU. Pour ce PU ont observé une séparation de phase entre les segments du PCL et du HTNR. Les chaînes plus longues et plus flexibles du HTNR et leur non polarité sont responsables de la diminution des propriétés mécaniques et des températures de transition. Le materiae pane d’un comportement élastomère a un comportement plastique pour un rapport NCO:OH élevé (2,85 :1,00). Le dégréé de réticulation élevé a été retenu comme la cause pour laquelle il n’y avait pas de séparation de phase entre les segments souples et durs. La liaison hydrogène entre le diol PCL et le segment hard a généré des Tg élevées. Les spectres Raman ont montré la formation de la liaison uréthane du PU contenant différents diisocyanates. La synthèse de PU sans diisocyanate a été obtenue grâce à une réaction de polyaddition entre des carbonates cycliques téléchéliques dérivés du PCL et du caoutchouc naturel, et la 1,4-butylène diamine. Les structures contenant des carbonates cycliques ont été obtenues grâce à la modification des groupes OH sur le HTNR et le PCL à groupes carboxyle, utilisant l’anhydride succinique, et a la réaction successive avec le glycérol carbonate. / The aim of this research work was to prepare a novel bio-based polyurethane (PU) composed by chemically modified natural rubber (NR) and poly(ε-caprolactone) diol (PCL), with and without isocyanate. Hydroxyl telechelic natural rubber (HTNR) was synthesized via epoxidized and carbonyl telechelic natural rubber. The parameters studied included type and relative amount of diisocyanate, molar ratio between diisocyante and diol (NCO:OH), molecular weight of HTNR and PCL diol, 1,4-butane diol (BDO, chain extender) content and molar ratio between HTNR:PCL diols. Three types of diisocyanate were employed: isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), toluene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI) and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). The number average molecular weights of HTNR and PCL diol were selected: 1700, 2800 and 2900 g/mol for HTNR and 530 and 2000 g/mol for PCL diol. The NCO:OH molar ratio was in the range 0.75:1.00 – 2.85:1.00. PU was prepared by one-shot method. The chemical structure of HTNR, PCL and PU were identified by 1H-NMR FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. Tensile properties and tear resistance of PU were investigated. Characterization of mechanical and thermal properties was carried out using DSC, DMTA and TGA. A preliminary study showed that the molecular weight of PU increased with increasing NCO:OH molar ratio and reaction time, and chloroform was not a good solvent for polymer casting. Tetrahydrofuran was an appropriate solvent as it allowed film formation and it was used in all the other experiments. The NCO:OH molar ratio of 1.25:1.00 was suitable for preparing good PU films. FTIR analysis verified the presence of urethane linkages and crosslinking or chain branching. PU demonstrated excellent mechanical properties, which depended on the chemical composition. Excluding the use of PCL2000 and HDI, the tensile behavior seemed to have typical elastomeric characteristics. PU became amorphous except in the case of HDI, which was able to crystallize leading to the crystalline PU. The crystallinity increased the Young’s modulus, the tear strength, the hardness and the thermal stability of PU. PU showed a phase separation between the PCL and HTNR segments. The longer and more flexible chain and non-polarity of HTNR were responsible of a decrease of the mechanical properties and transition temperatures. The very high molar ratio of NCO:OH (2.85:1.00) changed the tensile characteristics from an elastomer to a plastic. The high crosslinking was attributed to there being no phase separation between the hard and the soft segment. Hydrogen bonding between the PCL diol and the hard segment produced a high Tg. Raman spectra were able to identify the urethane linkage of PU containing different diisocyanates by showing the relative absorbance peaks. Synthesis of PU without isocyanate was successfully obtained via a polyaddition polymerization between a cyclic carbonate telechelic PCL/NR and 1,4-butylenediamine. The cyclic carbonate telechelic NR and cyclic carbonate telechelic PCL were prepared via the modification of the hydroxyl end groups of HTNR and PCL diols to carboxylic acid end groups by reacting with succinic anhydride. Then, the carboxylic acid end groups were changed to the cyclic carbonate end groups by using glycerol carbonate.

This thesis focuses on legislation governing the use and protection of natural resources. In each chapter this thesis undertakes a comparison of Czech and Slovak legislation which governs the use and protection of natural resources. This thesis is divided into five main chapters. The first chapter contains a general introduction of the role of natural resources in the society. The next chapter is focused on the regulation of the use and protection of natural resources through legislation, including international, EU law and national law. The third chapter deals with non renewables with an accent on the use and protection of mineral resources. Part of the third chapter is also focused on the use and protection of soil and water. The fourth chapter discusses renewables and specifically deals with the use and protection of flora, forests, fauna and renewable sources of energy. The final chapter contains a short excursion into the field of legal regulation of France.The use and protection of natural resources also has significance beyond national borders, so it is necessary to regulate the matter through instruments of international law and EU law. The basic framework for the use and protection of natural resources is determined by the constitutional order which lays down basic rights and duties generally...