• Other research productsclose
• 2021-2021close
• English close
• Energy Research close

Air pollution kills approximately 7 million people every year and nine out of ten people are exposed to high levels of airborne pollutants. This paper describes the design of a bicycle air probe by a team of multicultural and multidisciplinary students of the European Project Semester, during the spring of 2020. This learning experience started with the analysis of the state-of-the-art, ethics, marketing and sustainability dimensions, and was followed by the design, development and simulation of a proof-of-concept solution. The result is GOairLight – a bicycle probe paired with a mobile app. The probe collects air quality, humidity and temperature data as cyclists ride, while the mobile app shares the collected data with the community, by means of a cloud database, presents relevant air quality information and suggests less polluted routes. Furthermore, it relies on a sustainable energy source – a dynamo powered by the cyclist – and automatic lighting. The latter feature improves cyclist visibility and raises the awareness towards the cyclist, contributing to increased road safety. This work was partially financed by National Funds through the FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology) as part of project UID/EEA/50014/2019.

The science of fish stock assessment is one that is very resource and labor intensive, with stock assessment models historically being based on data that causes a model to overestimate the strength of a population, sometimes with drastic consequences. The need of cost-effective assessment models and approaches increases, which is why I looked into using Bayesian modeling and networks as an approach not often used in fisheries science. I wanted to determine if it could be used to predict both recruitment and spawning stock biomass of four fish species in the north Atlantic, cod, haddock, pollock and capelin, based on no other evidence other than the recruitment or biomass data of the other species and if these results could be used to lower the uncertanties of fish stock models. I used data available on the RAM legacy database to produce four different models with the statistical software R, based on four different Bayes algorithms found in the R-package bnlearn, two based on continuous data and two based on discrete data. What I found was that there is much potential in the Bayesian approach to stock prediction and forecasting, as our prediction error percentage ranged between 1 and 40 percent. The best predictions were made when the species used as evidence had a high correlation coefficient with the target species, which was the case with cod and haddock biomass, which had a unusually high correlation of 0.96. As such, this approach could be used to make preliminary models of interactions between a high amount of species in a specific area, where there is data abundantly available and these models could be used to lower the uncertanties of the stock assessments. However, more research into the applicability for this approach to other species and areas needs to be conducted.

The development of innovative heating technologies and, above all, their diffusion is essential to reach national climate change mitigation targets in the building sector. Research has shown that primary energy use and CO2 emissions could be greatly reduced by replacing conventional heating technologies with renewable energy heating systems such as heat pumps or solar-thermal heating. The acceleration of the development and diffusion of innovative heating technologies requires appropriate policy measures. Those policies need to be effective and feasible. This in turn, is dependent on the acceptance of the policy by (parts of) the general public. As the building sector is prone to lock-in effects, public opposition to policies might inhibit necessary adoptions of efficient technologies. This means that the dimension of socio-political acceptance needs to be included into policy design, next to considerations on economic efficiency, and climate compatibility. While social acceptance has already been studied with regard to heating technologies, less attention has been paid on the acceptance of policy measures that would foster their deployment. The aim of this study is to derive a conceptual framework to study policy acceptance, in particular for the heating sector. Therefore, we undergo four steps. First, we synthesize existing research on factors that influence policy acceptance towards innovative low-carbon technologies. Second, we review existing frameworks to study policy acceptance (for innovative technologies). Third, we propose a conceptual framework to study acceptance for policies in the heating sector. Finally, we review policies in the heating sector in Germany with a focus on policy characteristics that might influence policy acceptance.

In the process of decomposition soil carbon is transformed into CO2 by microbial respiration, which makes decomposition a key process for understanding carbon cycling an releases of CO2. Since the northern permafrost regions contain half of all belowground carbon and the tundra regions are expected to be markedly affected by climate warming, it is of particular interest to understand how warming will affect decomposition in the tundra. Decomposition is however influenced by many factors, from climatic factors such as temperature and precipitation to the belowground organisms inhabiting the soils and the aboveground system dictating the litter that falls to the ground and is decomposed. Further, grazing has been shown to oppose some of the effects of warming on tundra. In this thesis I analyzed data collected from two long-term field experiments, one in Kilpisjärvi (NW Finland) and the other close to Kangerlussuaq Fjord (SW Greenland), both using fencing for manipulation of grazing regime and open-top chambers for artificial warming. My aim was to not only investigate how warming and grazing affect decomposition, but also to understand whether the magnitude of changes in decomposition can be explained by changes in plant community traits and soil characteristics. I found that in contrast to my hypothesis, warming decreased decomposition in Kangerlussuaq, where the soil was drier and contained less carbon than in Kilpisjärvi. I found no effects of grazing on decomposition, plant community traits nor soil characteristics in neither of the study locations. Neither did I find any consistent associations between changes in decomposition and changes in plant community traits, indicating that the effect of litter quality on decomposition is minor in these areas likely rather limited by climate. I found an association for increased decomposition when plant community C:N ratio and C:P ratio increased as a response to warming, but only in Kilpisjärvi, and since increased plant community C:N and C:P ratios are linked to resistant litter this positive effect is unlikely driven by enhanced litter quality. However, I did find a positive relationship between increased root biomass and increased decomposition as a response to warming that was consistent across areas and grazing regimes, indicating that warming can boost decomposition in different tundra habitats by promoting root growth. I slutsteget av nedbrytningsprocessen bryter mikrober i jordmånen ner kolföreningar och bildar CO2, vilket vidare avges till atmosfären. Detta gör nedbrytning till en nyckelprocess som har en central betydelse för att förstå kolets kretslopp och förutspå koldioxidutsläpp. Eftersom de nordliga permafrostregionerna innehåller hälften av allt jordbundet kol i världen och tundraregionerna förutspås drabbas speciellt hårt av uppvärmning till följd av klimatförändringen, är det av särskilt intresse att förstå hur nedbrytningsprocessen i tundraområden påverkas av uppvärmning. Nedbrytning påverkas dock av flera faktorer: från klimatfaktorer så som temperatur och nederbörd till uppbyggnaden av organismsamhället i jordmånen, samt växt- och djursamhället ovanjord, som vidare bestämmer kvaliteten på det substrat som faller till marken och nedbryts. Dessutom har avbetning visat sig motverka en del förändringar i tundran som orsakats av uppvärmning. I den här avhandlingen analyserade jag data som insamlats inom två långsiktiga fältexperiment, ett beläget i Kilpisjärvi (nordvästra Finland) och ett nära Kangerlussuaq fjord (sydvästra Grönland). Båda studierna använde stängsel för att manipulera graden av avbetning och öppna kammare för att åstadkomma en artificiell uppvärmning. Utöver att studera effekten av uppvärmning och avbetning på nedbrytning hade jag som syfte att undersöka om omfattningen av en förändring i nedbrytning kan förklaras av förändringar i växtsamhällets och jordmånens egenskaper. I motsats till min hypotes fann jag att uppvärmning minskade nedbrytningen i Kangerlussuaq, där jorden är torr och kolfattig jämfört med Kilpisjärvi. Däremot hade förändringen i avbetning ingen effekt på vare sig nedbrytning eller växtsamhällets och jordmånens egenskaper. Jag hittade inte heller något konsekvent samband mellan en förändring i nedbrytning och förändringar i växtsamhällets egenskaper, vilket tyder på att effekten av substratkvaliteten på nedbrytning är ringa i dessa tundraområden, som sannolikt istället är begränsade av klimatfaktorer. I Kilpisjärvi fanns dock ett samband mellan förhöjd C:N och C:P kvot i växtsamhället och ökad nedbrytning som respons till uppvärmning, men då förhöjd C:N och C:P kvot är förknippat med försämrad substratkvalitet är detta positiva samband sannolikt inte relaterat till substratkvalitet. Jag fann även ett samband mellan ökad rotbiomassa i jordmånen och ökad nedbrytning, där sambandet dessutom var konsekvent för bägge studieområden och oberoende av graden av avbetning, vilket tyder på att uppvärmning kan stimulera nedbrytning via ökad rotbildning i olika tundrahabitat.

Postprint Peer reviewed

The phenomenon of the EGD (and the ECL) is analyzed in this master thesis. Its goal is to determine the reasons for the Deal’s emergence. Prior to the research part, the fundamentals of the Policy Cycle theory (more specifically, Agenda setting and Policy formulation stages) and Liberal intergovernmentalism are established. After creating the theoretical background, the EGD as well as on the ECL is thoroughly reviewed using a high variety of documents. The EGD has an unprecedented scope and potentially significant effect on the countries inside and outside the EU. Apparently, this grant initiative is novel and has not been yet widely reflected by societies and scholars. Because of the previous facts, it is undoubtedly relevant to find the reasons behind its emergence and to learn about its characteristics in general. Such an objective is achieved through the aforementioned theoretical and thematic review (which reinforces the research part), of course, and through the study conducted on the basis of the content analysis method, for which the official EU documents and outside academia and media sources are used. Qualitatively valuable units were extracted from those documents in order to reach the research objective. Additionally, the senior EU officials were interviewed in order to verify the finding from the documents and to further expand the topic. The generalized results of the successful research part show that the EGD appeared due to the following reasons: 1) the role of the EU entity and recent changes within it; 2) the increasing recognition of the threat; 3) the willingness of the Member States to support the EGD. In the case of the ECL, it appeared as the main tool to increase the commitment to reach the Deal’s objectives. When it comes to the conclusions of the master thesis, they are the following: 1) the theories of the Agenda Setting and Liberal Intergovernmentalism were well synthesized with the work and its topic; the validity and usefulness of them were verified and their tools helped to improve the research in general; 2) potential implementation of the EGD would considerably modify the face of the EU ;3) the ECL is an unprecedented strategy within the EGD framework, which will shift the EU development and its global role; 4) the results show that the EGD appeared due to a complex variety of reasons (reasons in text); 5) the development of the ECL have a variety of important reasons (reasons in the text); 6) the EGD still contains serious problems; 7) the thesis is a learning source about EU policy making subtleties and gives a rather universal research model. Based on the results of the study, the paper provides valuable recommendations to academia (further research on several topics) and politicians (primarily - encouragement to make dialogues). Šiame magistro darbe analizuojamas Europos žaliojo kurso fenomenas (kartu ir EU klimato teisės aktas kaip viena iš EŽK iniciatyvų). Jo tikslas yra nustatyti EŽK atsiradimo priežastis. Prieš tiriamąją dalį, yra pateikiami Politikos ciklo teorijos (eng. Policy Cycle) ir (tiksliau, darbotvarkės nustatymo ir politikos formavimo etapai) ir liberaliojo tarpvyriausybiškumo teorijos pagrindai. Sukūrus šį pagrindą, EŽK ir EKTA yra kruopščiai apibūdinami pasitelkiant įvairius dokumentus. Teigtina, kad EGD aprėptis yra beprecedentė, o potencialus poveikis šalims (ES viduje ir už jos ribų) yra milžiniškas. Taip pat, akivaizdu kad ši iniciatyva yra nauja ir dar nėra plačiai aptariama visuomenės ir mokslininkų. Dėl paminėtų priežasčių, labai svarbu yra rasti jos atsiradimo priežastis ir plačiau sužinoti apie EŽK ypatybes. Toks tikslas pasiekiamas atlikus minėtą teorinę ir teminę apžvalgą (kuri sustiprina tiriamąją dalį). Tyrimas atliktas pasitelkiant turinio analizės metodą. Tam buvo pasirinkti oficialūs ES dokumentai bei akademinės ir žiniasklaidos šaltiniai. Norint pasiekti tyrimo tikslą, iš tų dokumentų buvo išgauti kokybiškai vertingi vienetai ir vėliau apjungti į visumą. Be to, interviu metodu buvo apklausti ES pareigūnai, su tikslu patikrinti iš dokumentų surinktus faktus ir dar labiau praplėsti temą. Apibendrinti tyrimo dalies rezultatai rodo, kad EŽK atsirado dėl šių priežasčių: 1) dėl ES subjekto vaidmens ir naujausių pokyčių jame; 2) dėl vis labiau pripažįstamų klimato kaitos grėsmių; 3) dėl valstybių narių noro remti EŽK (nacionalinių interesų pagrindu). EKTA atveju, jis buvo sukurtas kaip viena pagrindinių priemonių, skirtų padidinti įtvirtinti EŽK įsipareigojimus teisėje. Toliau, iš darbo išgryninamos pagrindinės išvados: 1) įvyko sėkminga sintezė tarp teorijų ir tyrimo temos; patikrintas ir patvirtintas teorijų pritaikomumas ir validumas, o jų priemonės padėjo sustiprinti tyrimą; 2) jeigu potencialusis EŽK bus įgyvendintas, jis daugiaprasmiskai pakeis Europos žmonių gyvenimus (pvz. pateikti tekste); 3) EKTA yra precedento neturinti strategija EŽK iniciatyvų sistemoje; 4) rezultatai rodo, kad EŽK atsirado dėl įvairių priežasčių (kurios detaliai aptariamos tekste); 5) EKTA plėtra turi daug svarbių priežasčių, pakeisiančių EU vystymą ir rolę pasaulyje; 6) EŽK vis dar yra būdinga daugybė probleminių aspektų; 7) šis tiriamasis darbas leidžia geriau pažinti ES politikos formavimo subtilybes, ir pateikia gan universaliai pritaikomą tyrimo modelį. Remiantis tyrimo rezultatais, straipsnyje pateikiamos vertingos rekomendacijos akademinei bendruomenei (nurodant potencialas tyrimų temas) ir politikams (svarbiausia - raginant užmegzti dialogus su skirtingomis interesų grupėmis).

The Baltic states in general and Lithuania in particular represent a controversial combination of rapidly increasing climate change impacts and moderate or low concern with the climate crisis. A value shift is essential for the societal support and acceptance of renewable energy solutions. This study investigates the role of environmental attitudes in shaping the acceptance and risk perceptions of renewable energy technologies. The article analyses how environmental attitudes are shaping public attitudes towards climate change and perceptions of renewable energy technologies in Lithuania using New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) and environmental identity questions. The study analyses data from a representative public opinion survey with 1029 respondents conducted in Lithuania. The results reveal that environmental identity is a more significant factor in shaping risk perceptions of renewable technologies than is the NEP scale. The balance of nature dimension from the NEP is more closely related to perceptions of renewables than are humans’ right to rule claims. The results show that environmental attitudes have low explanatory power in explaining perceptions of energy technologies in Lithuania.

The paper seeks to understand the process behind the adoption of EU Directive 2019/692 bythe European Union. In doing so, the paper examines the relationship between interest groupsand the three legislative bodies of the European Union: the European Commission, theEuropean Parliament, and the European Council. The bedrock of the paper’s analysis stemsfrom the securitisation of the Nord Stream 2 project; and further delves into other areas whichinclude Member States’ positions, the influence of interest groups, and provides an in-depthlook at the policy cycle in relation to the Directive. The thrust of the analysis is encapsulatedin four hypotheses, each of which explores different dimensions of the research question. Dueto several constraints such as time and limited resources, the paper was not able to go intoelaborate detail on some issues that might be relevant to the research question. Nevertheless,it offers a general overview of the key factors and stakeholders involved in the legislativeprocess behind the Directive. The primary conclusion reached is that all interest groups andstakeholders lobbied the EU in pursuit of their respective interests, with securitisation servingas the overriding motive.

The thesis aims to analyze how the 3PL industry can become more sustainable in its warehousing operations. The thesis presents several factors that affect a 3PL warehouse’s environmental impact through a qualitative case report. The results are based on interviews with relevant persons working within or in connection to 3PL warehousing. These interviews are analyzed in combination with a theoretical framework to ultimately answering the research questions. The conclusion structures a framework for Swedish 3PL-actors to consider when shaping their sustainable warehouses. Factors affecting a warehouse’s energy efficiency are investigated to identify which areas are of higher importance to reduce the environmental impact of the warehousing operations. Also, the thesis explores the possibilities of self-producing solar energy, revealing the current pros and cons of producing renewable energy and presenting two different approaches for developing solar energy production plants. Additionally, the future of energy storage is explored to draw a picture of where the market is today and why energy storage should be considered for all modern warehouses MSc in Logistics and Transport Management

In this work, a hand-woven fashion collection is designed. The aim is to create clothes that connect us with life and nature and make us feel that we are part of a vibrant surrounding. Following the idea of clothes as a social mean to connect to one’s environment, this work examines several concepts and techniques that already incorporate certain aspects of connectedness and directness. A particular interest lies in how the form of clothes can relate to the way they are made and the tools that are used – with focus on the weaving technique. Historical and cultural sources, as well as contemporary design research are consulted, that show how the form and material of clothing are developed simultaneously instead of separately. Throughout the process of this work, I want to practically explore the following questions: How can the process of making become tangible in the outcome? How can the way of making become a tool for artistic expression? This work aims to find practical answers to these questions in form of woven clothes. Weaving techniques are applied to the design of the garments. Tapestry techniques are used in order to create vertical slits/ openings for body parts. Garment forms are developed by experimenting with rectangular shaping/ block pattern making. The result is a collection of seven unique wearable pieces. They are one-of-a-kind luxury clothes, couture so to speak, made using different materials and woven structures on different types of looms. Last but not least the row of garments represent and show my learning process and adaption to a new way of working, a different way of designing and making clothes. The following text is the theory part of my practical Master‘s thesis “Wild Things – A Collection of Handwoven Couture”. This thesis examines the potential of hand-weaving for contemporary fashion design. I aim to create “wild” (=valuable and mean¬ingful) clothing that connects the wearer to the environment and vibrant, natural surrounding. In the text I start with a background of my work and position it within the field of fashion design and previous personal work experiences (pages 3 – 10): Here I show the different contents involved in fashion design – the pictorial surface, the form and the material level – and how clothing can be perceived and sensed. The purpose, the goal and the starting questions of the work are formulated, fol¬lowed by an explanation of the practical approach on pages 13 – 14. How can I visualize the fabrication of clothes and make it tangible in the garment? How can the connection to the surrounding and environment become tangible in handwoven clothes? Pages 15 – 20 describe the work process step by step. Starting with the development of my way of working with paper models and weaving explorations I show how my process becomes more free, more interactive in body and shape and virtuoso in the weaving. Decisions, considerations and reflections are displayed. Through utilizing the properties of the loom and different materials my work results in seven clothes – original in form, material and textile structure. This Master‘s pro¬ject was exhibited during May/ June 2021 in the Greenhouse of Trädgardsförenin¬gen Gothenburg. The exhibition set up is shown and explained in the text. In the last part of this thesis, the work will be discussed and reflected (pages 25– 30), ending with a conclusion of the result on page 31. In this part of the text, the activist and political statement of this work is connected to its aesthetics and formal proposi¬tions. The look and touch of the “wild”, deriving from an individual way of making and manufactured production, wants to seduce you to reconsider your values: This work makes materiality and time tangible. It shows how the human energy and abil¬ity for skillful, careful and attentive making with the hands can lead to rich expres¬sions and valuable pieces of clothing.2