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Agenda: Natural Resource Industries And The Sustainability Challenge, University Of Colorado Boulder. Getches-Wilkinson Center For Natural Resources, Energy, And The Environment, University Of Colorado Boulder. The Colorado Law Energy Innovation Initiative

Natural Resource Industries and the Sustainability Challenge (Martz Winter Symposium, February 27-28)

"An International Conference hosted by The Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment and The Colorado Law Energy Innovation Initiative."

For more than two decades, sustainability has gained currency as a broad organizing principle for efforts to develop and use energy, natural resources, and the environment in ways that allow society to meet its needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. More recently, sustainability has been embraced by businesses across multiple sectors as part of a broader movement of corporate social responsibility. Hardly a day goes by without news of another corporate initiative …

Slides: Comments Of Jeff Bingaman, Jeff Bingaman

Natural Resource Industries and the Sustainability Challenge (Martz Winter Symposium, February 27-28)

Presenter: Jeff Bingaman, former Chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and U.S. Senator from New Mexico

6 slides

Organizational Fields, Transnational Business Governance Interactions And The Diffusion Of Csr, Melanie Coni-Zimmer

Transnational Business Governance Interactions Working Papers

The paper analyzes the process of global diffusion of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in the oil industry and how interactions between different actors have contributed to this outcome. It starts from the empirical puzzle that CSR has spread globally among transnational corporations since the mid 1990s (diffusion of CSR as a dependent variable). To explain this phenomenon, the paper presents a theoretical argument based on insights from sociological neo-institutionalism. It uses the concept of organizational fields as social spaces where organizations interact with one another. The structuration of an organizational field leads to processes of homogenization among the organizations belonging …

Sustainable Energy In The Galapagos, Sean Dove

Bridges: A Journal of Student Research

As the global population continues to grow, so does the dependency and need for energy. For decades, the solution to satisfy the world's demand has been the use of cheap, abundant, and inefficient sources such as coal and oil, but these sources are contributing to massive amounts of environmental degradation and the emission of greenhouse gases. The Galapagos Islands have pledged to do away with fossil fuels in an innovative "Zero Fuels Initiative" in order to help combat environmental damage to its own pristine habitats that make Galapagos one of the most sought out destinations in the world for scientific …

Getches Wilkinson Center Newsletter, Winter/Spring 2014, University Of Colorado Boulder. Getches-Wilkinson Center For Natural Resources, Energy, And The Environment

Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment Newsletter (2013-)

No abstract provided.

Hydropower Development In Himachal Pradesh: A Stakeholder Equity Analysis, Eliott Rousseau

Undergraduate Review

Seen as the champion of green energy to some and environmentally disastrous to others, hydropower is a multifaceted issue. As it continues to be developed in India, some of the most remote locations and vulnerable people are being affected. This paper holistically examines the process of hydropower development in rural Himachal Pradesh. The locus of this study is tribal region of Bharmour Tehsil within Chamba District of Himachal Pradesh, India. Aspects pertaining to project commission, the consent process, and government sponsored rural development schemes are examined, with emphasis given to equity among rural stakeholders. The nature of this project was …

A Strategic Analysis For Small Hydro Power (Shp) Development In Himachal Pradesh, India, Steven Spicer

Undergraduate Review

In addition to India currently being the second most populated country in the world, economists at Goldman Sachs have listed India as one of the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South America) projected to be most dominant economies by 2050. In spite of the rapid growth in India’s economy, there are still many serious issues affecting the majority of its people. The US Energy Information Administration reports that roughly 25% of India’s 1.2 billion people are living without access to electricity; which translates to 300 million citizens without power (EIA, 2013). Various estimates put India’s energy supply …

The Energy Trilogy: An Integrated Sustainability Model To Bridge Wastewater Treatment Plant Energy And Emissions Gaps, A. Adhim A. Altalibi

Wayne State University Dissertations

ABSTRACT

An estimated 4% of national energy consumption is used for drinking water and wastewater services. Despite the awareness and optimization initiatives for energy conservation, energy consumption is on the rise owing to population and urbanization expansion and to commercial and industrial business advancement. The principal concern is since energy consumption grows, the higher will be the energy production demand, leading to an increase in CO2 footprints and the contribution to global warming potential.

This research is in the area of energy-water nexus, focusing on wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) energy trilogy - the group of three related entities, which includes …

Synthesis And In-Situ Charactorization Of Energy Storage Material, Lixin Wang

Wayne State University Dissertations

Graphene has been widely studied in electrochemical energy storage devices, such as Li-ion batteries, Li-air batteries and supercapacitors, due to its high conductivity, high surface area, mechanical and electrochemical stability. However, the fact that graphene (and other carbon based materials) can only store charges on exposed surface, which severely limits the capacitance. On the other hand, it is well-known transition metal oxides have much higher inherent capacitance than graphene. However, transition metal oxides also have their limitations. Most significantly, the low conductivity confines the efficient storing and releasing process which makes the practical capacitance of the bulk transition metal oxides …

Study Of Tin-Based Electrodes And Ionic Liquid Electrolytes For Energy Storage Materials, Mahbuba Ara

Wayne State University Dissertations

Due to rapid increase in energy demand, modern society necessitates to develop high power, light-weight, and more economical energy storage systems. Rechargeable Li-ion batteries and Li-oxygen batteries have become the most promising energy devices in terms of energy and power densities. Diverse research on these battery components is being carried out by researchers worldwide to improve power density to meet the future requirements. The possible routes to improving power density of Li-ion as well as Li-oxygen batteries is to use nanostructured, hybrid electrode materials since they can significantly enhance kinetics of electrochemical reactions; and ion-conducting, low volatile electrolytes since they …

Environmental Considerations Of Small-Scale Hydroelectric Power Plants In Himachal Pradesh, India, Darwin Werthessen

Undergraduate Review

The need for increased energy production in India is high priority and hydroelectric power has been identified as having the greatest potential for achieving energy independence. The Indian government has continually created more streamlined methods for efficient implementation of hydroelectric facilities with an emphasis on small-scale (<25 MW) and micro (<5 MW) facilities in the more remote regions. Himachal Pradesh has effectively achieved one hundred percent electrification due to these initiatives and realized some of the most successful development in the nation with respect to rural electrification and improved infrastructure such as roads, schools, and hospitals. Hydroelectricity, and especially that produced through run of the river type systems, is generally embraced as a renewable source of energy by many established standards. Small scale run of the river facilities are also heralded for the minimal impact to the environment. However, with increased development and construction in continually industrializing areas, measurable human impacts have increased felt within the environment and ecosystems. Several studies and papers published by the Indian government, as well as the state government of Himachal Pradesh, identify these impacts as low to nonexistent. In contrast, a growing number of studies refute this claim and deserve consideration. There is a diversity of opinion on this subject. Some secondary sources indicate minimal to non-existent environmental impacts stemming from projects less than 25 MW, considered as Small Hydro Power (SHP); while other sources express significant concern. Interviews with government officials and researchers in the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand as well as in the capital city of Delhi revealed a wide range of views. This paper presents observations and argues for greater exploration of these issues through future research.

Calculating The Solar Energy Of A Flat Plate Collector, Ariane Rosario

Undergraduate Journal of Mathematical Modeling: One + Two

The amount of solar energy that could be obtained by a flat plate solar collector of one square meter dimension is calculated in three different locations: Tampa FL, Fairbanks AL, and Pontianak Indonesia, considering the varying sunset time for each day of the year. The results show that if the collectors are placed near the equator, more total energy could be obtained. In fact, by placing a solar collector in Pontianak, Indonesia 12.42% more solar energy can be obtained than by placing it in Tampa and 96.9% more solar energy than Alaska.

Novel Nanocomposite Material For Supercapacitor Applications, Wissam Fawaz

Wayne State University Theses

With the rapid development of electric-based transportation and introduction of various hybrids, plug-in and full electric vehicles, there is an urgent need to develop a high power energy storage system to complement the high energy density batteries, to extend the range and life of HEVs and EVs. In this work, we have developed and optimized a unique composite material that can serve as electrode materials for high power supercapacitor for various applications. The material is prepared form high surface area graphene-like carbon made from exfoliated graphite flakes through thermal shock process. The expanded graphite then is mixed with functionalized stacked …

Solar Pv Power Generation Forecasting Using Hybrid Intelligent Algorithms And Uncertainty Quantification Based On Bootstrap Confidence Intervals, Donna Alhakeem

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This Thesis focuses on short-term photovoltaic forecasting (STPVF) for the power generation of a solar PV system using probabilistic forecasts and deterministic forecasts. Uncertainty estimation, in the form of a probabilistic forecast, is emphasized in this Thesis to quantify the uncertainties of the deterministic forecasts. Two hybrid intelligent models are proposed in two separate chapters to perform the STPVF. In Chapter 4, the framework of the deterministic proposed hybrid intelligent model is presented, which is a combination of wavelet transform (WT) that is a data filtering technique and a soft computing model (SCM) that is generalized regression neural network (GRNN). …

Depositional And Sequence Stratigraphic Framework Of An Exposed Neoproterozoic Suprasalt Minibasin At Patawarta Diapir, Flinders Ranges, South Australia, Cora Evelyn Gannaway

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Outcrops of mixed carbonate/siliciclastic strata comprise the Neoproterozoic (Marinoan) Wilpena Group at Patawarta diapir in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia. Patawarta diapir is a ramping allochthonous salt sheet flanked by suprasalt and subsalt minibasin strata. The stratal and structural attributes of the coeval minibasin fills afford a unique perspective on lateral and vertical salt migration and the impacts of salt-modified bathymetry in shallow marine depositional environments. This study documents the depositional and diagenetic facies, stratal thickness trends, and structural style and stratal geometries of the suprasalt minibasin fill and correlates it to the previously studied subsalt minibasin fill. The goal …

Hydropower, Mary Finley-Brook

Geography and the Environment Faculty Publications

Hydropower dates back to the use of waterwheels to grind grain in Greece over two thousand years ago. Modern hydropower is a mature industry that has been used to generate electricity since the 1880s by capturing flowing water with a dam or other diversion structure and channeling it through a waterwheel or turbine. According to a 2012 report by the International Energy Agency, internationally dams are responsible for the largest amount of power generation from a renewable source; yet they have come under scrutiny as a result of environmental and social impacts perceived to be unsustainable (McCully 2001). Specific impacts, …

Renewable Energy, Mary Finley-Brook

Geography and the Environment Faculty Publications

Renewable energy installations are expanding around the globe. Although there is excellent potential for achieving sustainability with multiple types of renewable energy, no energy source is a panacea. There are place-specific costs and benefits from every energy type, and the scale of production influences impacts. Industrial-scale renewable energy sources usually merge into existing energy grids and may often be connected to broader economic and political initiatives. Such as regional integration, development of new growth poles to stimulate economic expansion in areas without infrastructure, job creation, or trade expansion. With the exception of desert solar projects or initiatives in remote areas, …

A Decision Modeling For Phasor Measurement Unit Location Selection In Smart Grid Systems, Seung Yup Lee

Wayne State University Theses

As a key technology for enhancing the smart grid system, Phasor Measurement Unit (PMU) provides synchronized phasor measurements of voltages and currents of wide-area electric power grid. With various benefits from its application, one of the critical issues in utilizing PMUs is the optimal site selection of units.

The main aim of this research is to develop a decision support system, which can be used in resource allocation task for smart grid system analysis. As an effort to suggest a robust decision model and standardize the decision modeling process, a harmonized modeling framework, which considers operational circumstances of component, is …

Review Of Kentucky Oil And Gas Production, 2010, Brandon C. Nuttall

Information Circular--KGS

The 2010 oil and natural gas production data by well published by the Kentucky Division of Oil and Gas were analyzed in response to proposed rules for limiting emissions from oil and natural gas facilities. Average daily production was determined for 5,044 oil wells and 12,940 natural gas wells. Of these wells, 955 are combined oil and natural gas producers. The overwhelming majority of Kentucky’s wells are marginal (stripper) wells and produce at rates of less than 10 barrels of oil (or barrels of oil equivalent) per day (bo/d) or 60 thousand cubic feet of natural gas per day (Mcf/d) …

Degradable Nanocomposite Preformed Particle Gel For Chemical Enhanced Oil Recovery Applications, Paul Tongwa

Doctoral Dissertations

”This work presents two new materials that can be potentially used in conformance control to increase ultimate oil recovery from mature oilfields.

The first product is a degradable nanocomposite preformed particle gel for enhanced in-depth mobility control. Three different types of degradable nanocomposite preformed particle gels were synthesized. These three nanocomposite hydrogels were made using Laponite XLG, Calcium Montmorillonite, and Sodium Montmorillonite nanomaterials. It was observed that after degradation, Laponite XLG nanocomposite hydrogels had the highest post-degradation viscosity (4437 cp), followed by sodium nanocomposite hydrogels (129 cp), and lastly calcium nanocomposite hydrogels (75.5 cp). Thus, degradable Laponite XLG nanocomposite hydrogels …

Assessing The Energy Efficiency And Emissions Of A Vertical Closed-Loop Geothermal System At West Chester University, Jacqueline Wilson

Earth & Space Sciences Student Work

No abstract provided.

Application Of The Kalman Filter On Full Tensor Gravity Gradiometry Data Around The Vinton Salt Dome, Louisiana, Mahnaz Sepehrmanesh

Theses and Dissertations--Earth and Environmental Sciences

Full tensor gravity (FTG) data are known for their high resolution but also for higher noise in its components due to the dynamic nature of the platform used for data acquisition. Although a review of the literature suggests steady increase in the success of gravity gradiometry, we still cannot take advantage of the full potential of the method, mostly because of the noise with the same amplitude and wavenumber characteristics as the signal that affects these data. Smoothing from common low pass filters removes small wavelength features and makes it difficult to detect structural features and other density variations of …

Natural Gas Service Expansion Criteria In Maine, Kevin Mahaffey

Muskie School Capstones and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to gain an understanding of the framework used by Maine’s natural gas utilities in making decisions to expand natural gas infrastructure and service to new customers,and then to apply this knowledge in an attempt to identify municipalities that are potentially attractive candidates for service expansion within Maine.

This study is not a precise model for gas utilities, but is meant rather to be a reconnaissance study for finding viable and attractive candidates for service.This study was limited both by resources and the inaccessibility of proprietary information.

The Effect Of Annealing On Amorphous Silicon Based Solar Photovoltaic Thermal System (Pv/T) And Appropriate Global Dispatch Strategies, Joseph Rozario

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Previous work has shown that high-temperature short-term spike thermal annealing of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) photovoltaic thermal (PVT) systems results in higher electrical energy output. The relationship between temperature and performance of a-Si:H PVT is not simple as high temperatures during thermal annealing improves the immediate electrical performance following an anneal, but during the anneal it creates a marked drop in electrical performance. In addition, the power generation of a-Si:H PVT depends on both the environmental conditions and the Staebler-Wronski Effect kinetics. In order to improve the performance of a-Si:H PVT systems further, this paper reports on the effect of …

Characterizing And Improving Production Of Fermentable Sugars And Co-Products From A Forest Product Industry Wastewater Stream, Jifei Liu

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Hardboard processing wastewater was evaluated as a feedstock in a bio refinery co-located with the hardboard facility for the production of fuel grade ethanol. A thorough characterization was conducted on the wastewater and the composition changes of which during the process in the bio refinery were tracked. It was determined that the wastewater had a low solid content (1.4%), and hemicellulose was the main component in the solid, accounting for up to 70%. Acid pretreatment alone can hydrolyze the majority of the hemicellulose as well as oligomers, and over 50% of the monomer sugars generated were xylose. The percentage of …

Review Of Factors Affecting Sustainability In The Universities, Hosna Ajilian

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

Purpose – The focus of this research is to find out a meaningful relationship between adopting sustainability practices and some of the characteristics of institutions of higher education (IHE). IHE can be considered as the best place to promote sustainability and develop the culture of sustainability in society. Thus, this research is conducted to help developing sustainability in IHE which have significant direct and indirect impact on society and the environment.

Design/methodology/approach – First, the sustainability letter grades were derived from “Greenreportcard.org” which have been produced based on an evaluation of each school in nine main categories including: Administration, Climate …

The Domestic Natural Gas Shortage In China, Ting Guo

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

This thesis analyzes the domestic shortage in the Chinese natural gas market. Both the domestic supply and demand of natural gas are growing fast in China. However, the supply cannot catch up with the demand. Under the present pricing mechanism, the Chinese natural gas market cannot get the equilibrium by itself. Expensive imports are inadequate to fill the increasing gap between the domestic demand and supply. Therefore, the shortage problem occurs. Since the energy gap can result in the arrested development of economics, the shortage problem need to be solved. This thesis gives three suggestions to solve the problem: the …

Electrocatalytic Processing Of Renewable Biomass-Derived Compounds For Production Of Chemicals, Fuels And Electricity, Le Xin

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports - Open

The dual problems of sustaining the fast growth of human society and preserving the environment for future generations urge us to shift our focus from exploiting fossil oils to researching and developing more affordable, reliable and clean energy sources. Human beings had a long history that depended on meeting our energy demands with plant biomass, and the modern biorefinery technologies realize the effective conversion of biomass to production of transportation fuels, bulk and fine chemicals so to alleviate our reliance on fossil fuel resources of declining supply. With the aim of replacing as much non-renewable carbon from fossil oils with …

Assessing The Viability Of Converting Indiana's Energy Framework To Renewable Sources By 2050, Lincoln Barlow 14

Honor Scholar Theses

Conflicting views exist with regard to the feasibility of transitioning the world from a dependence on fossil fuel energy production to a completely renewable, emission-free energy climate. Findings show that the potential for Indiana to match its current energy production solely utilizing renewable energy capabilities existing on the Indiana landscape is available using a calculated combination of available resources from available analytical data. The annual required energy production, phased in gradually through the year 2050 and excluding the transportation sector, would consist of ~61% onshore wind energy (443,900 GWh), ~1% offshore wind energy (8,129 GWh), ~1% hydroelectric power (6,833 GWh), …

Natural Selectivity Of Nickel And Vanadium In Crude Oil, Olienka P. De La O Fernandez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Nickel and Vanadium have always been found in crude oil all around the world. The metal content is found mainly in porphyrin structures in the asphaltene fraction of the petroleum. In order to determine the reason for this natural preference, a set of experiments testing thermodynamics, kinetics, and other factors were performed. Candidate metalloporphyrins containing Vanadyl, Chromium, Iron, Nickel, Copper and Zinc were analyzed through chemical reactions characterized using Silica Column Chromatography, HPLC, MS and UV-Visible. Theoretical analysis of the stability of metalloporphyrins was conducted using DFT/NRLMOL for computational calculation. The analysis of all factors leads us to conclude that …