Central European System Research Articles

Assessing the need for flexibility technologies in decarbonized power systems: A new model applied to Central Europe

The increasing use of renewable energy leads to a higher share of intermittent and volatile electricity generation. In this paper, we develop FLEXIES, a new open-source power system optimization model to determine the cost-efficient deployment of renewable electricity generation technologies and flexibility technologies. We apply FLEXIES in a case study of power systems in Central Europe (Switzerland, Austria, France, Germany, and Italy) in 2030, 2040, and 2050.The case study indicates that low-carbon electricity generation, batteries, and power-to-gas, consisting of multiple gas storages, are cost-efficient in 2050 – rather than burning natural gas in gas turbines. Such decarbonized power systems could be cost-efficient earlier assuming sufficiently high carbon prices. Furthermore, we find that onshore wind is prioritized over highly volatile solar generation due to a lower need for electricity storage. Interconnections enable higher shares of uniform generation technologies (on– and offshore wind, nuclear, biomass-waste) and reduce the need for solar and storage. Hence, compared to a case in which countries are isolated, interconnections reduce total electricity generation by up to 8.2%, system costs by up to 16.3%, and carbon equivalent emissions by up to 9.0%.Finally, we observe that decarbonized power systems entail a cost shift from the operational to the investment phase and total normalized costs could be higher than power market prices. Thus, new mechanisms may be needed to incentivize decarbonized power systems.

Does innovation support and maturity matter for firms’ performance in a moderately developed regional innovation system in Central Europe?

Regional innovation systems in Central and Eastern Europe suffer from many handicaps connected with generally lower levels of business activity and unfavourable positions of firms within global value chains. In this paper, results of business coaching programmes implemented in South Moravia (Czechia) are evaluated. The success of support is assessed (1) in terms of turnover, value added and employment growth (using a counterfactual analysis), and (2) according to the maturity of companies. Average annual growth of the treated companies was higher compared to a control group of non-supported firms. Apart from the initial dynamic growth, the supported start-ups underwent the fastest growth between 2 and 3 years after entering the programme, when the impact of the support on their performance was fully expressed. The findings bring new insights into the effects of targeted support of companies, using unique company data combined with qualitative information on the results of evaluated measures.

Fighting a Just War in the Midst of an Unreasonable International Strife: World War I and the Collapse of the Central European System of the Triple Imperial Dominion

ABSTRACT This article constitutes an attempt to demonstrate the complexity of factors affecting the legitimate acquisition and reasonable exercise by a political community of the right to war as specified in the just war criteria of jus ad bellum. To achieve this purpose, a brief analysis is presented of the intentional participation in World War I of thousands of Polish volunteers forming military units deployed by the Central Powers on the Austrian-Russian front. Considered in light of the standard principles of just war, the military enterprise of the Polish Legions, as they were called, turns out to be a paradoxical instance of warfare which, while being part of a state-to-state aggression, must be deemed compliant with all the principles in question. As a means of explaining this paradox, a modification of the concept of justified intervention is proposed, embracing military efforts aimed at the ultimate defeat of all the (unjustly) warring parties operating within a given territory. In consonance with the classic just war approach, it is also argued that the justification for such an intervention is essentially dependent on its being initiated by, or attributable to, an unquestionable state agent acting in defence of the state’s basic prerogatives.

Application of next-generation sequencing technologies to conservation of wood-inhabiting fungi.

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has significantly increased knowledge of microbial communities and their distribution. However, it is still not common to apply NGS technology to microbial conservation. We sought to use NGS technologies to evaluate conservation strategies for wood-inhabiting fungi. Evaluating a deadwood experiment 3 years after it was established, we specifically examined which tree species combinations promoted the highest richness of wood-inhabiting fungi. Deadwood enrichment was an effective strategy and logs of 6 tree species, either those with the highest wood-inhabiting fungal α and γ diversity or those with the highest β diversity, maintained >1,000 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) spread over a wide range of taxonomic groups. In comparison, a conservation strategy based only on the results of sporocarp surveys yielded 591 OTUs. This result highlights the need to use NGS approaches to inform microbial conservation strategies. We also determined that 5 tree species with the highest saproxylic beetle γ diversity simultaneously conserved wood-inhabiting fungi. Apart from deadwood volume, we suggest data on deadwood quality and species also be included as indicators, especially for wood-inhabiting fungal diversity, and incorporated quickly in forest assessment and monitoring systems in Central Europe.

How Public R&D Support Affects Research Activity of Enterprises: Evidence from the Czech Republic

Public support for research and development (R&D) in business sector is usually justified by the argument about market failure. New knowledge produced by research and development has some features of public good, which causes underinvestment in private R&D activities. From the social development point of view, it is desirable to produce and diffuse new knowledge. The article seeks to answer the question what impact a change in the amount of public support for R&D has on research activities of private enterprises. This paper tries to bridge a gap in the literature dealing with impact of R&D policy in emerging innovation systems in Central Europe. Our research is carried out on the example of the Czech Republic and its regions. We evaluate direct and indirect R&D support in the period 2007–2015, and we pay attention to three variables representing R&D in businesses: business expenditures on R&D, number of R&D employees in businesses and number of R&D workplaces in businesses. We calculate year-on-year changes in all the observed variables, and the relation between the public support and research activities of enterprises is assessed through descriptive statistics, measures of association and regression models. Our analyses proved a positive impact of R&D support on companies’ own expenditures on R&D and the number of employees. The relation between R&D support and number of workplaces seems to be quite weak. The paper also discusses limitations of the research and implications for public policy.

Phases to the transformation of agriculture in Central Europe - Selected processes and their results

The fall of the communist system in Central Europe was followed by dynamic social and economic change that also had its clear impact on the food sector. One of the key factors shaping the contemporary condition of the agricultural sector in region has been change of ownership, with the collapse of the nationalised sector and restitution of property to former owners. The work presented here considers the main directions of changes and assessment of selected economic processes ongoing in the farming sector over the last quarter-century throughout the region under consideration. This analysis may be further broken down in relation to the three suggested phases of change, i.e. transformation, integration and polarisation. The work took in five countries of the former Eastern Bloc, i.e. the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

On the Series of +CG Lightning Strokes in Dancing Sprite Events

AbstractIn dancing sprite events, sprite entities and groups appear in rapid succession together with a corresponding series of parent lightning strokes. Dancing sprite events, including a case with possible sprite rebrightening, were recorded on video simultaneously from two observation sites above a mesoscale convective system in Central Europe on the night of 6 August 2013. Joint analysis of triangulated locations of sprite elements, position, type, and peak current of lightning strokes from the LINET lightning detection network database and current moment waveforms deduced at the Hylaty station, Poland, showed that subsequent sprite‐parent lightning strokes occurred no further than 21 km from the closest preceding sprite entity in the cases analyzed in this study. Additionally, it was found that longer sprite delay times tend to correspond to larger sprite location offsets from the parent +CG stroke. These observations, the occurrence of +CG lightning stroke and sprite sequences, as well as sprite‐sprite delay times and displacements can be explained if +CG strokes are part of one extended lightning flash. A corresponding production mechanism based on previous findings on the formation of sprite‐producing and general +CG lightning discharges is suggested.

Flexible line ratings in stochastic unit commitment for power systems with large-scale renewable generation

The thermal ratings of overhead transmission lines are typically conservative, which leads to underutilization of transmission assets. In this paper, we propose an optimization model that accounts for the inherent flexibility in line ratings of thermal restricted transmission lines. We determine, in a stochastic unit commitment framework, when and which line can and should adopt higher ratings (calculated based on anticipated weather conditions and loading) as part of the recourse actions. Such recourse decisions in the second stage models the capability of the transmission system to provide flexibility to mitigate the variability of renewable generation. Flexible line ratings in the recourse help improve first-stage commitment decisions. Numerical tests conducted on both IEEE 118 system and a network representing the Central European System demonstrate that with flexible line ratings recourse, the expected operation cost can be substantially reduced without degrading reliability.

Stochastic Unit Commitment With Topology Control Recourse for Power Systems With Large-Scale Renewable Integration

In this paper, we model topology control through transmission switching as a recourse action in the day-ahead operation of power systems with large-scale renewable generation resources. We prove that transmission switching could only reduce the linear objective value of direct current optimal power flow when congestion exists. However, we also show, through a simple example, that unit commitment cost could be reduced by transmission switching even in the absence of congestion. To solve the stochastic unit commitment with topology control within reasonable computational time, we proposed a heuristic that first decomposes a practical system into zones and then solves the problem for each zone in parallel. The benefit of topology control recourse is demonstrated on a network representing the Central European System. We compare the costs of the network with different loading and renewable generation conditions. The cost reduction of the test system can reach 3.34% with heavy load and large-scale renewable generation while in a single zone the cost reduction can be above 7%.

Successful maintenance of Lepidoptera by government-funded management of coppiced forests

Coppice and coppice with standards are important habitats for species of light forests, because regular cutting of re-growth applied in this type of forest-use produces forest structures that fulfil habitat requirements of these species. Coppicing had been a traditional forest-use system in Central Europe for centuries, but it has dramatically declined in the last 100 years. As a conservation strategy, a contract-based conservation program for forests (CBCP Forest) was introduced in 2005 in Bavaria, Germany, that supports among other activities coppiced forests. We studied the effects of CBCP Forest on the occurrence and abundance of two Lepidoptera species of European conservation concern (Euphydryas maturna, Eriogaster catax) as umbrella species in ten forest patches. With the introduction of the CBCP Forest no further loss of coppiced forests occurred in our study area, in contrast, a new coppiced forest was initiated. The occurrence and number of larval webs of our studied species were highest after 5–10 (E. catax) and 10–15 (E. maturna) years of cutting. This means that coppicing can maintain a dynamically changing forest where both study species can find patches of optimal age and thus coppicing ensures their long-term persistence. We also found larval webs in high forests adjoining coppiced forests, but in much lower number and larval webs occurred always around forest gaps (e.g. roads) or edges. Onset of specific management including coppicing in these high forests highly increased the occurrence of E. maturna and E. catax. The survival of the populations of E. maturna and E. catax in our study area is closely connected to the persistence of coppicing as supported by CBCP Forest. As they are considered as umbrella species for numerous inhabitants of light forests, we assume a positive effect on the whole community. CBCP Forest is a valuable conservation tool for coppices and should be actively advertised to promote greater uptake by forestry practitioners and stakeholders.

Impact of German Energiewende on transmission lines in the central European region

This paper analyses the impacts of the growth of renewable energy production and German nuclear phase-out on the electricity transmission systems in Central Europe. The principal concern is the significant disparity between the growth of renewable production and the pace at which new transmission lines for the transport of electricity have been built, especially in Germany. This imbalance profoundly endangers the system stability and reliability in the whole region. The assessment of these impacts on the transmission grid is analysed by the direct current load flow model ELMOD. Two development scenarios for the year 2025 are evaluated by 3 representative weeks. The results illustrate the issue from three different perspectives. First, the distribution of loads in the grids is shown. Second, hourly patterns during particular weeks are analysed. Third, a geographical decomposition is made, and problematic regions are identified. The high solar or wind power generation decrease the periods of very low transmission load and increase the mid- and high load on the transmission lines. High solar feed-in has less detrimental impacts on the transmission grid than high wind feed-in. High wind feed-in burdens the transmission lines in the north-south direction in Germany and water-pump-storage areas in Austria.

The influence of abiotic factors on the bloom-forming alga Ulva flexuosa (Ulvaceae, Chlorophyta): possibilities for the control of the green tides in freshwater ecosystems

Ulva species are characterised by the capacity to achieve rapid biomass increase, which results in the formation of “green tides”, particularly in nutrient-rich seawaters. Over the last decade, formation of large-scale Ulva mats has been increasingly observed in freshwater systems in Central Europe. Mass development of Ulva in freshwater ecosystems presents a growing burden in spite of its economic benefits. This study explores the formation dynamics of Ulva flexuosa mats with respect to habitat conditions, using the examples of a number of water systems located in Poland. Elevated water temperature, pH and high concentration of sulphates are among the most important factors affecting biometric parameters of Ulva blooms. An evident disparity was observed between lotic water ecosystems and lentic water ecosystems, which differed in terms of chemical characteristics of the habitat and mat structure properties. In flowing water, U. flexuosa displays a definitely higher potential for blooms. On the other hand, mass occurrence of U. flexuosa in freshwaters is caused by the inflow of fecund waters, especially following intense precipitation in summertime, as well as by periodic increases in salinity, pH and sulphate levels. The study suggests that potential U. flexuosa blooms in landlocked ecosystems may be controlled by means of reducing the inflow of particularly sulphate-rich waters.

Development of autopoietic economic structures in the Baltic states: analysis of factors

Research background: Since the introduction of the concept in 1972 Autopoiesis has enjoyed great popularity among academicians representing various fields of science. However, the number of studies devoted to the investigation of factors that have an impact on the formation of autopoietic economic structures is quite limited. This paper addresses the gap in scientific research on autopoiesis of economic structures in small open markets, specifically in the Baltic States.Purpose of the article: The paper aims to identify and evaluate factors that turn on self-organization mechanisms of autopoietic economic structures in the Baltic States, in particular in Latvia.Methods: Expert survey was used to identify the most important factors affecting the for-mation of meso-economic entities in the Baltic States. The factors? assessments provided by seven experts were analyzed. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) with fuzzy numbers was employed to process the data. Two different scales of evaluation (inverse linear and balanced) were used.Findings & Value added: The factors influencing the process of formation of business groups were evaluated by experts. Research results allow for making conclusions regarding the causes of the business integration, and impact of diversified integrated business structures on the country's business system in Central Europe.

A generational divide in the academic profession: A mixed quantitative and qualitative approach to the Polish case

In a recently changing Polish academic environment – following the large-scale higher education reforms of 2009–2012 – different academic generations have to cope with different challenges. Polish academics have been strongly divided generationally, not only in terms of what they think and how they work but also in terms of what is academically expected from them following the reforms. This article explores intra-national cross-generational differences based on a combination of quantitative (surveys, N = 3704) and qualitative (interviews, N = 60) primary empirical evidence used according to the mixed-methods approach methodology and its ‘sequential’ research design. This article explores the major dimensions of the intergenerational divide between younger and older academic generations (and how they are related to both post-1989 developments and recent reforms). It shows the power of research at a micro-level of individuals, complementing the traditional research at aggregated institutional and national levels. Implications for Central European systems are shown.

Phytoplankton of rhithral rivers: Its origin, diversity and possible use for quality-assessment

While phytoplankton studies on large potamal rivers have increased in number in recent years, upper river sections have received considerably less attention. However, in order to better understand processes that govern the development of dominance of euplanktonic elements in the lower river sections, detailed studies of the upstream areas are necessary. We studied the composition, diversity and recruitment of the planktonic algal communities in the River Sajó and in its main tributary River Hernád, two characteristic rhithral river systems in Central Europe. Results revealed that diatoms are dominant elements of the phytoplankton in the upper river segments both in terms of taxa richness, and relative abundance. We found that composition of the phytoplankton showed the closest resemblance to that of benthic communities of soft substrates, highlighting the key role of riverbed characteristics in river phytoplankton recruitment. The occurrence of euplanktonic elements was not restricted to human impacted river segments, these taxa also occurred in pristine headwaters. Accordingly, planktonic algae potentially colonise small headwater streams naturally, although their dominance is expected to occur only at downstream reaches following impounded river segments. Diatom metrics used in ecological state assessment were calculated for the rithroplankton. These metrics fell in the range of values calculated for diatom flora on the hard substrates. However, the potential use of rithroplankton for quality assessment might be limited, because the high variability of index values at site level would result in misclassification of the ecological status.

VEGETATION OF DECIDUOUS FORESTS IN THE BALKAN PENINSULA*

The article provides an overview of deciduous forests of the Balkan Peninsula. It presents riverine, floodplain and moor forests, dominated by Alnus incana, A. glutinosa, Fraxinus excelsior, F. angustifolia, Quercus robur, Salix alba, Ulmus laevis, U. minor; acidophilous forests dominated by Betula pendula, Castanea sativa, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus petraea; thermophilous forests dominated by Carpinus orientalis, Ostrya carpinifolia, Quercus cerris, Q. farainetto, Q. petraea, Q. pubescens and mesophilous forests dominated by Carpinus betulus, Fagus sylvatica, F. orientalis, Fraxinus excelsior, Tilia argentea, T. cordata, T. platyphyllos, Ulmus glabra. At the same time, forests were classified into the synsystematic framework of the standard Central European system to the level of an alliance.

Stable isotope compositions of speleothems from the last interglacial – Spatial patterns of climate fluctuations in Europe

Studies on the last interglacial (LIG) can provide information on how our environment behaved in a period of slightly higher global temperatures at about 125 ± 4 ka, even if it is not the best analogue for the Holocene. The available LIG climate proxy records are usually better preserved and can be studied at a higher resolution than those of the preceding interglacials, allowing detailed comparisons. This paper presents complex stable hydrogen, carbon and oxygen isotope records obtained for carbonate (δ13C and δ18Ocarb) and fluid inclusion hosted water (δD and δ18Ow) of a stalagmite from the Baradla Cave system in Central Europe that covers most of the LIG, as proven by U-Th dates. Comparing its C and O isotope data with records reported for other speleothem (cave-hosted carbonate) deposits from Europe revealed the complex behavior of these climate proxies, with a concerted relative increase in 18O of carbonates from 128 to 120 ka and synchronized shifts in the opposite direction after 119 ka. The hydrogen isotope analyses of inclusion-hosted water extracted from the BAR-II stalagmite also correspond to the regional climate proxy records, with meaningful deviations from global temperature trends. Beside following the general paleotemperature pattern from the climate optimum (high δD values up to −64‰ around 120 ka) to the subsequent cooling starting at about 119 ka (low δD values down to −90‰ at about 109 ka), a period between 126.5 and 123 ka with low δD values (down to −81‰) is detected in the BAR-II stalagmite. Although the isotope shifts are muted in the C-O isotope data of carbonate due to competitive fractionation processes, the δ13C data show a positive relationship with the δD pattern, indicating humidity – and possibly temperature – variations. The periods with low δD values fit well to temperature and humidity changes inferred from proxy records from western Europe to the eastern Mediterranean. Spatial distributions of these variables show, that at about 125 ± 2 ka the Mediterranean region was characterized by warm, humid conditions and enhanced seasonality with elevated winter precipitation. The combined interpretation of stable isotope data revealed that the Alpine and Mediterranean regions behaved differently during Greenland Stadial 26 (GS26, ∼119 to 116.2 ka). While the Alpine records fluctuated in close agreement with the Central Greenland ice core δ18O data, the BAR-II stalagmite show a positive δ18Ocarb anomaly. The Baradla data indicate enhanced aridity and seasonality for a part of GS26, with the relative dominance of summer precipitation and Mediterranean moisture contribution. Following the GS26 event, the effect of long-term global cooling becomes dominant in the Baradla isotope records and leads to glacial inception at about 109 ka.

Field Evaluation of Controlled Traffic Farming in Central Europe Using Commercially Available Machinery

Abstract. The progressive increase in the size and weight of farm machinery causes concerns due to the increased risk of soil compaction that arises from non-organized vehicle traffic. Controlled traffic farming (CTF) offers an effective means to manage compaction by confining all load-bearing wheels to the least possible area of permanent traffic lanes. Although CTF is relatively well-established in Australia and in some countries in Northern Europe, its benefits and suitability for Central European conditions have not been demonstrated. A long-term experimental site was established in 2010 in Nitra, Slovakia, using a 6 m “OutTrac-CTF” system with shallow non-inversion tillage practices. The 16 ha experimental field of loam soil is representative of land used for arable cropping in Central Europe. Four traffic intensities (non-trafficked, one traffic event per year with a single pass, multiple passes with permanent traffic lanes, and random traffic) were evaluated using two traffic systems: controlled (CTF) and non-controlled traffic farming (referred to as random traffic farming or RTF). This article reports the findings derived from the first four years of the project and focuses on the effects of traffic systems on yields observed in cereal crops (winter wheat, spring barley, and maize) grown at the site in a rotation cycle. Significant differences (p < 0.1) in yield are reported due to the heterogeneity of the field and the seasonal effect of weather. The results of this investigation suggest that CTF systems have potential to increase production sustainably in arable farming systems in Central Europe. Well-designed CTF systems using commercially available machinery allow for reductions in the area affected by traffic of up to 50% compared with random, non-organized traffic systems. Results also show that in years when soil moisture was not limiting, the yield penalty from a single (annual) machine pass was relatively small (~5%). However, in dry years, compaction caused by multiple machinery passes may lead to yield losses of up to 33%. When considering the ratio of non-trafficked to trafficked area within the different CTF systems evaluated in this study, yield improvements of up to 0.5 t ha-1 for cereals are possible when converting from RTF to CTF. Given the assumptions made in the analyses, such yield increases translate into increased revenues of up to 117 USD ha-1 (1 Euro= 1.1 USD). For Central European farming systems, the main benefit of CTF appears to be improved efficiency and enhanced agronomic stability, especially in dry seasons, where the significant yield penalty from machinery passes is likely. Keywords: Crop performance, Economic return, Field efficiency, Soil compaction, Traffic systems, Yield penalty.

Analysis and Design Rehabilitation Foundation of Timber Houses in Scandinavian Climate Condition

The article describes the analysis and remediation design of the rudiments walls of Wooden construction in the “two by four” system in Central Europe, in particular the Scandinavian climate. This article is focused on the real problems, which these constructions face in similar conditions. Especially in Scandinavian climatic conditions the specific requirements for the solution of this detail must be fulfilled, including the requirements on foundation base frost penetration, minimum interior surface temperature and prevention of the accumulation of moisture in the structure. These structures are facing many bottlenecks already stemming from the architectural and operational requirements that have significant influence on the outcome of the detail. The article is focused on one of the most common structural solutions, which in construction practice could be found mostly in houses built between years 1960 - 1970. The article is focused on the most common rehabilitation of this detail as well. Both of details are subjected to dynamic heat and moisture analysis and analysis of mold growth. The results pointed out on critical solution of the original and rehabilitated foundation and evaluation of the implementing remediation design. To determine the required temperature curve and humidity Wufi 2D software was used.

Impact of German Energiewende on Transmission Lines in the Central European Region

The impacts of renewable energy production and German nuclear phase-out on the electricity transmission systems in Central Europe is investigated with focus on the disparity between the growth of renewable production and the pace at which new electricity transmission lines have been built, especially in Germany. This imbalance endangers the system stability and reliability in the whole region. The assessment of these impacts on the transmission grid is analysed by the direct current load flow model ELMOD. Two scenarios for the year 2025 are evaluated from different perspectives. The distribution of loads in the grids is shown. Hourly patterns are analysed. Geographical decomposition is made, and problematic regions are identified. The high solar or wind power generation decrease the periods of very low transmission load and increase the mid- and high load on the transmission lines. High solar feed-in has less detrimental impacts on the transmission grid than high wind feed-in. High wind feed-in burdens the transmission lines in the north-south direction in Germany and water-pump-storage areas in Austria.