•Cooling is gaining in importance with increased global temperatures.•Cooling demand mapping is an important tool for energy planning.•A flexible top-down cooling demand mapping method has been ...developed.•The method relies mostly on public data and data available to cities for validation.•District cooling potential assessment based on levelized cost of cooling and demand.
Europe's building sector represents its largest single energy consumers and greenhouse gas emitters. Although space heating and the preparation of domestic hot water are responsible for the largest share of their energy demand, cooling is becoming an important factor with the rise of the global temperatures and the increased living standards across the continent. The decarbonisation of the cooling sector is a challenge especially relevant in densely populated urban areas and as with heating, district cooling is proving to be an effective solution for the supply of the needed energy densities in these conditions. However, unlike district heating, the assessment of the potential for the utilization of district cooling is not well addressed and researched. The research in this paper proposes a flexible method for the assessment of the spatial distribution of cooling demand and the assessment of the viability for the utilization of district cooling using mostly public data combining a bottom-up and top-down mapping approach. The method has been implemented on the case study of Croatia (top-down) and the City of Zagreb (bottom-up) and it demonstrated a high potential for the utilization of district cooling in both cases.
The overall objective of the FP7 Biomass Energy Europe - BEE project is to improve the accuracy and comparability of future biomass resource assessments for energy by reducing heterogeneity, ...increasing harmonisation and exchanging knowledge. One of the main results within the project is the development of the Methods Handbook for biomass potential assessment, which contains detailed description of the proposed methodology based on type of biomass and type of analysis (statistical, spatially explicit, integrated and others). The main objective of the Illustration case for Croatia performed within the BEE project is to estimate the energy and technical potential of fast-growing broadleaved species energy plantations on abandoned land or on land where agricultural production is not profitable. The methodology utilised is based on the BEE Methods Handbook. The main source of data used is contained within the Basic pedological map of the Republic Croatia, which forms the basis for the estimtion of soil suitability for any kind of designated utilization. The theoretical potential for short rotation energy crops production in Croatia was estimated as following: QQQ ? Forest area suitable for energy crops - a total of 51 200 ha was estimated to be suitable for SRC, producing in total 470 200 t DM/y or 8,7 PJ QQQ ? Agricultural areas with moderately suitable soils and limited soil suitability - a total of 617 000 ha was estimated to be suitable for SRC, producing a total of 7 404 000 t DM/y or 136,2 PJ The technical potential for short rotation energy crops production in Croatia was estimated as following: QQQ ? Forest area suitable for energy crops - a total of 46 850 ha was estimated to be suitable for SRC, producing in total 430 000 t DM/y or 7,9 PJ QQQ ? Agricultural areas with moderately suitable soils and limited soil suitability - a total of 235 650 ha was estimated to be suitable for SRC, producing a total of 2 827 800 t DM/y or 52,1 PJ In spite of the considerable potential for short rotation energy crops production, currently a very small amount of the available area is utilised in Croatia. The issues and problems to be addressed in order to increase this production include a change in policy approach, especially aimed at small landowners, introduction of incentives and subsidies, lack of knowledge and experience in growing energy crops and generally a lack of cooperation between relevant stakeholders.
Rapidly developing international bio-energy trade may evolve over time into a “commodity market” which can secure supply and demand in a sustainable way; sustainability being a key factor for ...long-term security. It is clear that on a global scale and over the longer term, large potential biomass production capacity can be found in developing countries and regions such as Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa and Eastern Europe. If indeed the global bio-energy market is to develop to a size of 400 EJ over this century (which is quite possible given the findings of recent global potential assessments) the value of that market at US$ 4/GJ (considering pre-treated biomass such as pellets) amounts some US$ 1.6 trillion per year.
This creates important future opportunities for such regions, given the expected increased role of bio-energy within the world's energy supply. Consequently, this poses the fundamental question of how these potential major producers and exporters of bio-energy can benefit from the growing global demand for bio-energy in a sustainable way, i.e., that bio-energy exports can contribute to rural development, benefit local communities and be an integral part of overall development schemes, including the existing agricultural and forestry sectors.
In this paper the links between international bio-energy trade and socio-economic development and how sustainable bio-energy production could be realized are explored. Drivers, barriers and future potentials for international bio-energy markets are discussed and socio-economic implications for possible exporting countries are identified. By doing so, several key opportunities and issues for the developing international bio-energy markets and their possible socio-economic impacts on developing and rural regions are raised that should be taken into account by policy-makers, market parties, international stakeholders and other key stakeholders.
Summarizing, although international bio-energy trade and markets are developing very rapidly and the future looks bright given market demand and potential supplies, many barriers also exist that can disturb or at least slow down a sound development of such markets. Also, there are important concerns about competition for land that may result in conflict with food production, water resources and biodiversity protection. Although biomass production may well provide a crucial strategy to enhance sustainable land-use management, negative developments should be avoided, e.g., by clear standards and best-practice guidelines for (the design of) biomass production systems and their integration in agricultural areas.
Šumska biomasa predstavlja važan izvor energije, čijem bi se korištenju u budućnosti trebalo posvetiti znatno više pozornosti. Biomasa u svojim tradicionalnim oblicima je i dalje vrlo važan izvor ...energije u većini zemalje Jugoistočne Europe, te će u doglednoj budućnosti i dalje biti tako. Međutim, sve se više koristi ne samo za proizvodnju toplinske energije, već za proizvodnju električne i rashladne energije, i to se smatra kao važan dio energijske tranzicije koja je obećavajući model s visokim ekonomskim i ekološkim prednostima. Korištenje energije biomase pruža znatne mogućnosti za otvaranje novih radnih mjesta, te tako može imati znatan pozitivan utjecaj na lokalno i nacionalno gospodarstvo. U radu se opisuje trenutnu fazu energijske tranzicije u zemljama jugoistočne Europe ti ulogu šumske biomase u njegovoj provedbi. Analizirani su primjeri i događanja u Albaniji, Bosni i Hercegovini, Hrvatskoj, Makedoniji, Kosovu i Srbiji. Uporaba biomase kao energenta u ruralnim područjim, potiče stvaranje dodatnih prihoda, povećava proizvodnost te omogućava otvaranje malih seoskih poduzeća. Iz makroekonomske perspektiv, uporaba biomase doprinosi svim bitnim elementima razvoja zemalja jugoistočne Europe.Ključni pokretači, kao i prepreke na koje se može naići pri energijskoj tranziciji u jedinicama lokalne samouprave, mogu se strukturirati kao; poticaj iz potencijala, poticaj od tržišta korištenje trgovačkih i poslovnih veza, biti prvi ili lokalni ponos, zadržati novac kod kuće.U radu je prepoznat velii broj potencijalnih skupina prepreka za korištenje šumske biomase; gospodarska ograničenja, financijska ograničenja kao ozbiljna prepreka za mnoge lokalne samouprave, društvena ograničenja, ograničenja u ljudskim resursima, ograničenja zbog transparentnosti te na kraju tehnička ograničenja.
Predviđene promjene na tržištima umreženih energenata u Republici Hrvatskoj, kojima je obuhvaćeno restrukturiranje, privatizacija i promjene u cjelokupnom energetskom sektoru, imat će značajan ...utjecaj na mogućnosti uvođenja i povećane uporabe obnovljivih izvora energije. Obrazovanje javnosti, njezino uključivanje u procese odlučivanja u energetskom sektoru te promocija obnovljivih izvora još uvijek nisu česta pojava u Hrvatskoj. Suprotno tome, u razvijenim zemljama Europske unije podrazumijeva se sudjelovanje javnosti u donošenju odluka važnih za energetski sektor. Između ostalih prepreka povećanoj uporabi obnovljivih izvora, pa tako i energije biomase u Hrvatskoj, značajno mjesto zauzimaju i socijalne prepreke, za čije će prevladavanje, ali i za uspješno povećanje udjela energije iz obnovljivih izvora biti potrebno obrazovanju i uključivanju javnosti posvetiti bitno veću pozornost nego što se to do sada činilo. U radu se navodi primjer uspješnog sudjelovanja javnosti u procesu odlučivanja vezanom za uporabu energije biomase u švedskom gradu Växjö. Neki rezultati ankete kojom se pokušalo utvrditi poznavanje biomase i stajalište stanovništva prema uporabi energije u Gorskom kotaru kao i pregled sredstava i načina obrazovanja i komunikacije s javnošću prilagođenih Hrvatskoj. Osim toga, u radu se donose osnovne postavke sustava rada s javnošću koji bi se u Hrvatskoj trebao primijeniti za uspješno poticanje uporabe energije biomase.
The Croatian energy sector is currently undergoing a number of reforms that will have the effect of making energy cheaper & cleaner. Through privatization & larger transformations of the energy ...sector, the prospects of offering renewable energy sources are increased. Croatian public opinion has not been a major influence in decision-making processes in the past, in contrast to Western Europe, where energy-sector decisions without public input are unthinkable. Now, however, drawing on the experience of the Swedish city of Vaxjo, which introduced the use of biodegradable energy sources in concert with industry, government, & the public, a survey was conducted in Gorski Kotar, measuring Croatian public awareness of & attitudes toward biodegradable energy resources. It is concluded that Croatia needs to develop its public opinion research & public relations infrastructure for making public policy decisions. 1 Table, 5 Figures, 7 References. Adapted from the source document.
The social & economic advantages of biomass energy use are demonstrated in this presentation of quantitative & qualitative data from various sources pertaining to the exploitation of this resource in ...countries of the European Union (EU) & Croatia. Discussed are (1) future projections (2025 & 2050) of the ratio of biomass energy in the total energy production; (2) a list of positive outcomes in social & economic spheres associated with the exploitation of biomass as an alternative energy resource; (3) a comparison of the positive & negative impacts of different sources of energy (fossil fuels, nuclear, biomass); (4) the role of renewable resources in total energy output (EU comparative estimates for 2005, 2010, & 2020); & (5) employment potential in the program of biomass energy production in Croatia (estimates for 2002-2015). The success of Finland in producing biomass energy is reported, & the employment potential in Croatia associated with the biomass energy program is emphasized. 6 Tables, 19 References. Z. Dubiel
A rising share of renewable energy sources in the overall energy balance is one of the strategic goals of a growing number of countries. By signing international agreements (e.g. the Kyoto Protocol), ...and in accordance with the legislature and accession to the EU, Croatia undertook the obligation to make concrete steps and increase the use of renewable energy sources, as stated by the paradigm "sustainable development". In Croatia, biomass is a renewable energy source with the greatest potential. The goal of this work is to explore the impact of the European Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS Scheme) and flexible mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol - the Joint Implementation Mechanism, JI, and the Clean Development Mechanism, CDM, - on the competitiveness of biomass energy production. Compared to fossil fuels, the advantage of biomass is that energy from biomass combustion is considered CO sub(2) free technology, since biomass sequesters CO sub(2) as part of photosynthesis. The EU ETS restricts emission amounts at the national level and at the level of single installation. Every industrial operator is allocated a certain amount of emission allowances. In order to satisfy their needs, the operators may trade with their allowances and purchase emission allowances on the market. The JI and CDM projects represent flexible Kyoto mechanisms which allow investment in emissions reduction outside the investing country. The amount of emissions reduced in such projects is used to satisfy the allowances of the investing countries, while the price of CO sub(2) emissions per ton is determined by the market. An allocated amount of emissions which an installation or a country may emit increases the competitiveness of low-carbon technologies. Forest management and exploatation produces large quantities of forest biomass, which can be used for energy production. Biomass can additionally be generated by the establishment of bioenergy plantations and biomass production in short rotation crops (SRC) of forest tree species. The article presents a mathematical economic model which explores the impact of CO sub(2) prices on investment decisions related to the construction of new electrical power plants or a change of fuels in the existing plants. The model determines emissions allowance prices at which biomass becomes more competitive than other technologies. Changes in CO sub(2) prices affect short run marginal costs (SRMC) and long run marginal costs (LRMC) of electrical energy-production, where a decision on the replacement of fuel in the existing plant depends on trends in short run marginal costs, whereas an investment decision to construct new electrical plants depends on long run marginal costs. According to the results of the applied model, biomass fuel in the existing plants (comparison of SRMC) is more competitive than gas even with minimal biomass prices and no additional CO sub(2) allowance price or feed-in tariffs. With CO sub(2) prices larger than 26 /t CO sub(2), biomass becomes more competitive than gas and coal for its minimal price, while for its maximal price it is more competitive at CO sub(2) prices larger than 21 /t CO sub(2).Original Abstract: Povecanje udjela obnovljivih izvora energije u ukupnoj energetskoj bilanci, jedan je od strateskih ciljeva sve veceg broja zemalja. Hrvatska se potpisivanjem medunarodnih sporazuma (npr. Kyoto protokol) te sukladno zakonodavstvu i prikljucivanju u EU, obvezala na poduzimanje konkretnih koraka u povecanju koristenja obnovljivih izvora energije, sukladno paradigmi "odrzivog razvoja ". Biomasaje obnovljivi izvor energije s najvecim potencijalom u Hrvatskoj. Cilj ovoga rada je istraziti utjecaj Europske sheme trgovanja emisijama (EU ETS sheme) i fleksibilnih mehanizama Kyotskog protokola -- mehanizam Zajednicke implementacije (engl. Joint Implementation, JI) i Mehanizam cistog razvoja (engl. Clean Development Mechanism, CDM) na konkurentnost proizvodnje energije iz biomase. Osnovna prednost biomase u odnosu na fosilne energente je u tome, sto se sagorijevanje biomase u svrhu proizvodnje energije smatra tehnologijom bez CO sub(2) emisija, buduci da biomasa tijekom rasta veze CO sub(2) u procesu fotosinteze. EU ETS ogranicava kolicinu emisija na nacionalnoj razini i na razini pojedinog postrojenja. Svako postrojenje ima odredenu kolicinu emisijskih prava tj. kvotu kojom raspolaze, a trgovanje izmedu postrojenja omogucuje zadovoljenje vlastite kvote kupnjom emisijskih prava na trzistu. JI i CDM projekti predstavljaju fleksibilne Kyoto mehanizme, koji omogucuju ulaganje u projekte smanjenja emisija izvan zemlje ulagaca. Kolicina emisija smanjena u tim projektima koristi se za zadovoljenje kvota zemlje ulagaca, a cijenu CO sub(2) emisija po toni iz takvih projekata odreduje trziste. Ogranicenje kolicine emisija koju pojedino postrojenje ili drzava smiju emitirati, dovodi do povecanja konkurentnosti niskougljicnih tehnologija. Pri iskoristenju i gospodarenju sumama nastaju velike kolicine sumske biomase koje se mogu upotrijebiti za proizvodnju energije. Dodatna mogucnost iskoristenja biomase, ostvarivaje osnivanjem bioenergetskih plantaza i proizvodnjom biomase sumskih vrsta drveca u kulturama kratkih ophodnji (KKO). U radu je prikazan matematicko ekonomski model, pomocu kojega je moguce istraziti utjecaj cijene CO sub(2) emisija na investicijske odluke o gradnji novih elektrana ili o promjeni goriva u postojecim elektranama, odnosno istraziti pri kojim cijenama prava na emisiju biomasa postaje konkurentna drugim tehnologijama. Promjena cijene CO sub(2) emisija utjece na kratkorocne (KGT) i dugorocne granicne troskove (DGT) proizvodnje elektricne energije,
TOURISM AS A PATHWAY FOR RES UTILISATION Kulišić, Biljana; Zidar, Margareta; Jelavić, Branka ...
Tourism and hospitality management,
12/2008, Letnik:
14, Številka:
2
Journal Article, Web Resource
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Tourism, due its property of being an “invisible export” sector, has a strong multiplier effect over the economy. Tourists boost demand for numerous goods and services, one of them being energy. ...Unfortunately, energy sources are scarce for most of the countries in the region. Thus, one could think of another solution to the excess demand for energy than import. Namely, for more than a decade, renewable energy sources are in the central focus of the EU energy policy with an aim to ensure security, price stability, availably and affordability of energy to its citizens together with reduction of GHG emissions and making the EU economy more competitive. Combining tourism with renewable energy sources utilisation helps reducing the spill over effect from energy import. In this paper, the cross-section analysis based on environmental determination of tourism and renewable energy sources potentials is performed in order to indicate a pathway for implementation of renewable energy sources utilisation in the tourism and hotel industry.
