Energy. Topics
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These themes were also developed in some lectures and visits of the Advanced training Program on Sustainable Development and Environmental Management.
. Difference between Energy Efficiency and Load Management: the first one including measures to produce the same level of products by using less energy, the second seeking to lower peak demand by temporally curtailing electricity usage, but at the end they can be both considered valuable and may be used as complementary tools.
Sustainable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency
Lectures and visits
. EU policies objectives about energy saving. Analysis of policy tools like labeling schemes for household appliances, minimum efficiency requirements for producers, voluntary labeling schemes for office equipment and voluntary agreements by the industry.
. Development of renewable energy application in the EU.
. Evaluation of the situation in Italy, where despite the energy consumption per capita reached a low level, and analysis of ministerial decrees about energy efficiency and their main objectives and features.
. Energy efficiency: general definition and analysis of the measure on energy efficiency policies through suitable indicators, and description of a modelling tool able to evaluate alternative policies for energy systems.
. The role of energy statistics, which are necessary to address how energy has been managed, how energy demand will develop and if the current and future energy system is sustainable; in fact energy balance allows to evaluate fuel conversion efficiencies.
. Dependency on fuel supplies; provided data to construct various indicators of energy consumption.
. Energy problems about radiant systems and how it is possible to reduce fossil energy. The recently discovered TABS (Thermally Activated Building Systems), in the framework of the Energy Performance Building Directive: several different measures required in order to achieve a prudent and rational use of energy sources and to reduce the environmental impact of the energy use for buildings.
. Analysis of energy efficiency technologies application and renewable energy sources use in residential buildings through a methodological approach composed of some steps such as the implementation of an Energy Audit, the identification of energy efficiency improvement measures and applicable renewable energy technologies, the technical and economic feasibility.
. Possibility to obtain energy from waste treatment. Evaluation of data for separate waste collection in Italy and analysis of the targets of the main legislative decrees.
Renewable Energies
Lectures and visits
. Analysis of waste collection in the peculiar city of Venice; separate waste collection being carried out in the mainland but not in the city itself; study of the RDF (refuse derived fuel) use in the nearby thermal power plant.
. Geothermal energy (that part of the earth’s heat that can be recovered and exploited by man): how it is exploited for electricity or for direct use, how the power plant works, its environmental impacts and costs. Geothermal power in China, in particular Tibet and Beijing, which is now facing the construction of the new Olympic Village.
. The Case of Venice. Study of the approaches that should be used in Venice in order to shape a sustainable energy system for the city: urban energy environmental planning and management aiming at restructuring the local energy supply and finding new energy efficiency, fuel shift and renewable energies policies and non-technological measures (change of life, mobility and consumption styles). Evaluation of how an energy efficiency investment plan is structured: cost alternatives, impact on the company, assessment of the physical and financial energy savings, and cash flow analysis and implementation schedule of each investment.
. Collection of information over the potential of landfill gas exploitation in China based on a relevant case study, analysis of methodological approach to LFG recovery and power generation estimation, together with greenhouse emission reductions.
. Hydrogen. World outlook on economic growth and primary energy demand: steady growth of demand for energy services and electricity; need to meet this accounting for climate change and environment protection. One of the possible remedies: hydrogen economy (power production and transport areas); analysis of the H2 parks in Italy; hydrogen economy as an important tool for reaching a broad long term strategy in Italy, making the new clean and safe energy sources and technologies available, cost effective and widespread; some examples of H2 projects in Region Lombardy and in Venice with the hydrogen waterbus.
