Energy-related Activities Research Articles

Interactions of aqueous U(VI) with soil minerals in slightly alkaline natural systems

Uranium (U) is a common contaminant at numerous surface and subsurface sites in proximity to areas involved with weapons manufacturing and atomic energy related activities. This paper covers some important aspects of the aqueous hexavalent uranium [U(VI)] interactions with soil minerals that are present in contaminated soils and sediments. The retention of U via interactions with soil minerals has significant consequences for the prediction of its short- and long-term behavior in soils and geological systems. Studies of the nature and type of these interactions have provided the necessary evidence for assessing the geochemical behavior of U in natural systems under different physical, biogeochemical, hydrological, and reducing or oxidizing conditions. Over the last 20 years, aqueous U(VI): soil mineral interactions have been studied by geochemists, soil chemists, clay and soil mineralogists, and the progress in some areas is remarkable. Although a mechanistic description and understanding of the complex interactions involving U and soil minerals in natural systems is currently difficult, results from carefully designed and executed field and laboratory experiments with these materials have improved our understanding of the heterogeneous system’s behavior and U contaminant mobility and transport. There are, however, areas that warrant further exploration and study. Numerous research publications were reviewed in this paper to present recent important findings to reveal the current level of the understanding of the U(VI) interactions with soil minerals, and to provide ideas for future needs and research directions.

Using Tax Expenditures to Achieve Energy Policy Goals

Tax expenditures are a major source of support for energy related activities in the federal budget exceeding direct budget support for energy by a factor of nearly six. Focusing on the policy goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and petroleum consumption, I find these tax expenditures highly cost ineffective at best and counterproductive at worse. The tax credit for ethanol is an example of a cost ineffective subsidy. The cost of reducing CO2 emissions through this subsidy exceeded $1,000 per ton of CO2 avoided in 2006. A change in the way the subsidy is administered provides an opportunity to measure its incidence. I find that the entire subsidy is passed backward to ethanol producers and possibly farmers. Consideration of market structure suggests that farmers receive little of the subsidy.

Elements for a Robust Climate Regime Post‐2012: Options for Mitigation

This article addresses the current state of negotiations within the international climate change regime (including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol) and options to be included in a post‐2012 carbon market framework, such as sectoral agreements, soft targets for developing countries and a larger consideration of sinks. The article reviews the different options focusing on their potential to spur mitigation of greenhouse gases in key areas such as energy production. The size and depth of the carbon market, as well as the stringency of the cap and the stabilization path chosen, are variables affecting the effectiveness of different options. The article thus makes a clear case for all large emitters to agree on a long‐term stabilization goal to guide further negotiations on medium‐term carbon market frameworks, and notes that options related to the consideration of sinks, for example, should maintain proportionality with the size of the carbon market to ensure that a sufficient ‘pull’ for technological developments in energy‐related activities is maintained.

Energy Consumption Changes and CO2 Emission in India During Reforms

As we know that energy consumption or fossil fuel consumption is very much linked with environmental pollution, which is known as global climate change, so more energy related activities have an adverse impact on environment.

03/02054 Climate change, energy-related activities and the likely social impacts on women in Africa: Annecke, W. International Journal of Global Environment Issues, 2002, 2, 3–4), 206–222

03/02054 Climate change, energy-related activities and the likely social impacts on women in Africa: Annecke, W. International Journal of Global Environment Issues, 2002, 2, 3–4), 206–222

Climate change, energy-related activities and the likely social impacts on women in Africa

This paper attempts to draw the links between climate change, energy-use, gender relations and the subsequent impacts on the every-day lives of poor women in Africa. The approach is one of broad-brush strokes in an attempt to provide an overview of the breadth and complexity of factors to consider in such an analysis. It is anticipated that climate change will result in aridification, decreased runoff, increased air temperatures and increased extreme weather conditions such as floods, droughts and high winds. Water resources, agriculture, human health, forestry, rangelands, biodiversity, fishing, forestry and tourism are all sectors that women are engaged in and that will be affected. Gender, the socially constructed relationships between men and women, plays a part in vulnerability. The paper highlights the difference in energy use in developed and developing countries and between men and women and goes on to explore the impact of energy use on climate change. The most vulnerable energy sub-sector is biomass fuels, which are used by the largest and most vulnerable category of consumers - poor women. The paper examines women's susceptibility to changes in the sectors mentioned and concludes with some recommendations on preparations which should be made towards sustainability.

A documented analysis of renewable energy related research and development in Mexico

The research and development of renewable energy sources in Mexico has recently started to be considered as a form of contributing to solve the environmental problems caused by the irrational use of fossil fuels to meet the human and industrial energy requirements. The major areas of renewable energy research in Mexico are solar thermal energy, photovoltaic energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, materials for renewable energy, energy planning and economy and lately new programs such as hydrogen energy, fuel cells, etc. In Mexico, there are many important institutions such as universities, research centers and industries working on research, development and analysis of renewable energy sources. The industrial involvement is comparatively less in this kind of research. In this work we present results from a documented, statistical and analytical research carried out on the renewable energy related research and development activities in various important Mexican research and development institutions. Many factors affecting the complete understanding of the research and development of renewable energy sources are presented in this paper.

Energy and CO 2 emissions in India: increasing trends and alarming portents

Ninety-eight percent of the carbon dioxide emissions in India are accounted for by energy related activities. Of this, nearly 48% is contributed by biomass combustion and the balance by the combustion of fossil fuel. The current paper presents some of the indicators of energy use in India including per capita energy consumption levels, the structure of energy consumption as well as efficiency of its utilization. The paper concludes by looking at some of the short and medium term projections for energy demand and their implications for CO 2 emissions and discusses the measures that need to be put in place to ensure a more effective utilization of energy. Particular attention is given to the current reforms in India's energy sector and the role of appropriate energy pricing is highlighted.

Occupational and energy behaviour patterns in Greek residences

The energy behaviour, which influences the generation of internal heat gains in an ‘average’ Greek family home, is presented. The necessary data are obtained from 158 families of Solar Village-3 in Lykovrisi Attika. The occupants were interviewed during 1991 and filled in a form with questions concerning their presence at home, the use of domestic appliances and the performance of energy related activities. With the elaboration of data the energy contribution of the members of typical families in the house was concluded. The results are occupation patterns, use of electric appliances, and occupants activities influencing the generation of heat in residences. The results can be used for the calculation of cooling loads in residence buildings and for the simulation of occupants' behaviour in building energy models.

An analytical history of EIA

This article traces the development of the Energy Information Administration (EIA) from 1974, the inception of its precursor, an office within the Federal Energy Administration, to its current form as an independent agency within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). EIA amalgamated the energy-related activities of over 50 separate agencies, when it was chartered in DOE in 1977, “to collect, evaluate, assemble, and analyze energy information....” Six tensions have characterized the agency during its history: data quality, the role of modeling, confidentiality of data, resources and requirements, the independence of EIA, and timeliness vs. accuracy.

CO 2 separation and recycling— a route to zero net production of CO 2 in the Alberta energy industry

CO 2 is known to be a key contributor to the green house effect resulting in global warming. Since energy industry is the major producer of CO 2 it shares the responsibility of reducing the impact of CO 2 emissions from various energy related activities. CO 2 is generated by the energy industry in a number of different ways. Some of it is simply recovered in its natural state, for example production of CO 2 with CO 2 containing natural gases while some other are generated in the chemical conversion processes of upgrading, processing and manufacturing of chemicals, for example generation of CO 2 as a by product in the manufacturing of hydrogen and syn-gas. While some activities in the energy sector results in the production of CO 2, other activities also require consumption of CO 2. Most important CO 2 consuming operation is the injection of CO 2 for the enhanced recovery of oils, which would otherwise be left unrecovered. This paper examines reduction in CO 2 emissions in the energy production and processing activities in Alberta, by recovering all the CO 2 produced and recycling the produced CO 2 into the reservoir for enhanced oil recovery projects. The status of CO 2 recovery processes is critically reviewed and feasibility of CO 2 supply network connecting the production and utilisation sites in the context of the Province of Alberta is discussed. The CO 2 supply network envisaged, may consist of pipelines, skid mount CO 2 liquefaction plants and CO 2 transport vehicles as well as CO 2 injection compressors and wells. It is argued that zero net production of CO 2 is possible under the proposed recycling options.

Pediatric emergencies:: An annotated bibliography of the recent literature

This paper examines the impact of participation in the Climate Wise program, one of the largest voluntary programs enacted in the US, on innovative activity by firms. In operation from 1993 to 2000, the Climate Wise program was designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by promoting innovation in energy efficiency and energy related activities. We begin by examining what types of firms were most likely to participate in this voluntary initiative. We find that the Climate Wise program was attractive to large firms, more R&D intensive firms, and firms with more financial resources. To consider the impact of Climate Wise participation on the innovative behavior of firms, we investigate whether participants and non-participants differed in the number of successful environmental and non-environmental patent applications between 1993 and 2003. We find some evidence that participation in the Climate Wise leads to a change in environmental patenting but only among less R&D intensive firms.

Australian Energy Development and Policies for the 80s: ABSTRACT

Australia has substantial reserves of energy resources and energy-related minerals, and therefore has the potential for major increases in the production of such resources and the processing of minerals for export. Realization of this potential in the 80s will depend largely on the state of world markets. Australia's resource base and its energy position have been described, and evaluated in the context of the development of Australia's energy resources as a contribution to the national and global transition away from oil. The economic growth that will flow from energy resources development and related activity is noted and possible constraints on development are considered. The role of the Commonwealth government is addressed, proceeding from the key energy policy goal of ensuring adequate supplies of liquid fuels for Australian industry, especially the transport sector, and private consumers. Specific objectives and achievements in energy conservation, fuel substitution, oil exploration and production, and the development of synthetic fuels are discussed. The preparations made by the Commonwealth and State governments and the private sector to deal with severe disruptions to imported oil supplies are outlined. Energy research and development policies and programs are described briefly. The Commonwealth government's policies are also examined in the context of setting the scene for resource development in the 80s. The importance of appropriate macro-economic and other supporting policies is emphasized. Major individual resource projects are described, and Australia's potential contribution to the Pacific region, both in direct energy trade and in technological cooperation, is considered. It is concluded that Australia has developed a flexible policy framework which will facilitate the development of its natural resources in the 80s. End_of_Article - Last_Page 987------------

In vivo and freeze-trapped assays of the energy state of brain and skeletal tissues

Non-invasive, non-destructive assay of energy-related metabolic activity of body tissues is the goal of several biophysical approaches, surface fluorometry of mitochondrial flavoprotein, positron emission tomography and 31 P n.m.r. Each has an appropriate specificity, time range, resolution and tissue damage potential. 31 P n.m.r. is the least invasive and at 72 MHz, with a 20 min averaging time and a 20 mm bore magnet, it affords in vivo assay of energy related compounds of tissues in small animals, such as fish skeletal muscle (loach) and heads of adult mouse and of newborn gerbils. In the transition from normoxia and nitrogen anoxia, decreases of the creatine phosphate : inorganic phosphate ratios from 3.9, 5.0, 2.7 in normoxia to 1.2, 0.04, 0.06 in anoxia occur in fish, mouse and gerbil respectively. The remarkable retention of significant ATP levels (80% of normoxic) in the new-born gerbil through 20 min of N 2 anoxia is clearly demonstrated. Evidence for the origin of much of the in vivo signal from the mouse brain is afforded by the fast freeze-trapping, excision of brain and assay by cryo-n.m.r. (Chance, B. et al . 1978 Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 75, 4925-4929) at —12 °C, the lowest temperature at which tissue signals are observed.

Role of Water in Energy Development

Almost all energy-related activities use water. The steam electric generating plants use large amounts of water for evaporative cooling. Development of a synthetic fuel industry and/or of oil shale as a source of hydrocarbons will require significant amounts of water - as process water, as cooling water, and for disposal of material waste. Thus the energy sector becomes a fourth major category of water uses, alongside urban agglomerations, agriculture (irrigation), and industry. The competition between the energy sector and other users for the limited availability of water resources may determine the rate of economic growth of a region. Water-energy-economy models were developed for the study of the role of water in energy development and for the evaluation of policy alternatives in the energy sector and/or in the water sector of the U.S. economy

The potential effects of energy related activities on the seasonal trajectories of epiphytic marine diatoms

Seasonal successional trajectories of transplanted and experimental diatom communities were studied during the summer of 1973. Manipulation of these diatom assemblages was accomplished through the development of an in situ experimental apparatus capable of incubating these organisms without doing violence to the community itself.