A carregar...
Projeto de investigação
Sem título
Financiador
Autores
Publicações
Interplay between the potential of photovoltaic systems and agricultural land use
Publication . Dias, Luís; Gouveia, João Pedro; Lourenço, Paulo; Seixas, Júlia; CENSE - Centro de Investigação em Ambiente e Sustentabilidade; DCEA - Departamento de Ciências e Engenharia do Ambiente; Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam.
The recent decrease in solar photovoltaic (PV) investment cost has transformed the attractiveness of the technology. Southern Europe has one of the highest levels of solar radiation in the world, and policy makers are very keen to take full advantage of this resource for electricity and heat production. However, physiographic characteristics and specific land uses (e.g. agro-forestry and nature conservation) present important spatial constraints. This paper proposes a methodology for the evaluation of utility-scale solar PV projects’ (>1 MW) technical potential. The municipality of Évora (Portugal) was used as a case study, considering topographical features and spatial planning regulations. Three compatible scenarios for solar PV farms and other competing land uses were studied. The assessment was carried out using a geographic information system and statistical tools. It was conducted for four sizes of PV project (1, 10, 20 and 30 MW) consisting of two different technology types: concentrated PV and crystalline-silicon tracking PV. Concentrated PV 1 MW projects were found to have greater adaptability for use in available areas dispersed throughout the territory, while preserving land for agriculture and nature conservation. The scenario with land primacy for agricultural purposes reduced PV technical potential by more than half (from 2494 to 1116 MW). Nevertheless, the remaining potential was sufficient to cover substantial shares of local annual electricity consumption. The results provided support for future spatial planning regulations and local sustainable energy action plans.
Electro-technologies for the removal of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole from naturally contaminated cork discs: reactor design and proof of concept
Publication . Guedes, Paula; Mateus, Eduardo P.; Ribeiro, Alexandra B.; Fernandes, José P.; CENSE - Centro de Investigação em Ambiente e Sustentabilidade; DCEA - Departamento de Ciências e Engenharia do Ambiente; Elsevier Science Publisher B.V.
The electrochemical (EC) process for the removal of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA) from cork discs was investigated for the first time. For process development, six different EC reactors (based on a 3-compartment set-up) and four process variables were tested. Independently of the reactor design used, the application of a low level direct current for 8 h (10 mA, 0.16 mA/cm2) had a positive effect on TCA removal. The best option is to place the cork discs in a middle compartment separated from the cathode compartment by the use of a passive membrane, and from the anode compartment by a cation exchange membrane. In this reactor design, the TCA levels in 78% of the cork discs decreased to values below limit of detection (0.49 ng/L; TCA initial concentration between 0.5 and 2 ng/L). By immersing the discs’ in a saline solution for 24 h prior current application, the TCA removal was improved by 10–15%. When the 34 cork discs contaminated with 2.5 times-fold more TCA were subjected to EC after 24 h immersion in the saline solution, the percentage of discs in which TCA concentration was below 0.49 ng/L decreased to 41%. Still, and considering that TCA perception threshold in wines starts at 1.5 ng/L, 85% of the cork discs exposed to EC reatment presented TCA levels below the threshold. Results showed that the here developed EC system could be a viable method for the removal of TCA from cork discs.
Unidades organizacionais
Descrição
Palavras-chave
Contribuidores
Financiadores
Entidade financiadora
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Programa de financiamento
5876
Número da atribuição
147274