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The greater challenge that researchers address and indicate while investigating about photovoltaic (PV) system failures during their Operation and Maintenance (O&M) is the lack of accessible reliable real quantitative data. For this reason, several publications have focused on this problem through a qualitative approach. However, this fact is one of the greater strengths of this paper, in which the quantitative information from the historical data of sixty-three PV plants portfolio in Italy and Spain has been accessible. Results obtained from the research provide essential information for main players involved in PV plants to identify failure modes and rates, in order to reduce investment risk and to focus their maintenance efforts on preventing those failures, improving longevity and performance of PV plants. The paper presents failure rates per PV Site and per kW, considering all portfolio and dividing it regarding five PV plants groups per size, distribution of failures per element, Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF), reparation times per affected element and the main failures modes examining each of the almost 100,000 complete alarms registered during the five years analyzed. • Failure rates and modes analysis of photovoltaic plants.. • Historical failures data and photovoltaic operators' perspective analysis.. • Review of failures frequencies in photovoltaic plants.. • Photovoltaic failure rates for its application in FMEA analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Energy efficiency, which is one of the pillars of the EU's Energy Union strategy, has been proposed as a solution, namely as a highly effective pathway to improve economic competitiveness and sustainability of the European economy, lower emissions, reduce energy dependency and increase security of supply, and job creation. The paper reviews the EU strategies and policies on energy efficiency and argues that further focus should be placed on industrial energy efficiency. Despite a decline in energy consumption in recent years in industry, this sector is one of the largest users of energy in the EU. Therefore, the paper reviews the extent to which the European and national policies in the selected jurisdictions, such as Italy and the UK address energy efficiency in industry and whether there are any measures in place to promote it. Highlights • Legal certainty is required in industrial energy efficiency policies. • White Certificates play a major role in industrial energy efficiency in Italy. • Yet, constant changes in the WC regulations can act as an investment barrier. • The UK's Energy Efficiency policy is underpinned with decarbonisation of the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to assess the impact of renewable energy incentives, particularly that of the feed-in tariff (FiT), on the long-term development of solar photovoltaics (PVs). With this aim, the paper introduces a dynamic model based on nonlinear delay differential algebraic equations to simulate the evolution of the PV capacity and its commitment in the power grid. The model assumes the FiT budget, the PV cost and willingness of the public to install PVs as the main drivers for solar PV installations. In particular, the learning-by-doing concept to model the PV cost and consequently the PV deployment is proposed for the first time in this paper. The accuracy of the model is validated against historical data of two of the biggest PV markets in the world driven by FiT, namely, Italy during 2008–2014, and Germany during 2000–2014. A sensitivity analysis based on the Italian PV market is carried out to identify the impact of the parameters of the proposed model. Results indicate that the proposed model is a valuable tool that can help policymakers in the decision-making process, such as the definition of the FiT price and the duration of the incentives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Italy, the economic support scheme for high-efficiency cogeneration annually provides tradable White Certificates to new constructed or refurbished high-efficiency cogeneration plants over a period of 10 years, proportionally to their annual primary energy saving. In contrast to the legislation currently in force, which assumes the power grid efficiency constant, this paper aims at assessing the adoption of a time-dependent approach, based on the use of the thermoelectric-based power grid efficiency, for evaluating the primary energy saving ensured by high-efficiency cogeneration as well as the relating economic incentives. The case study being analysed includes two 5.5 kW el micro-cogenerators installed in Naples (South Italy). Beyond the conventional, three scenarios have been outlined, depending on the time accuracy adopted (yearly, monthly and hourly basis). Starting from 2016, the scenarios have been replicated over the ten-year incentive period. In particular, the annual average thermoelectric-based power grid efficiency has been forecasted from 2021 to 2025. Following the innovative approach proposed in this study, the White Certificates would have increased by 9.2% in 2016, by 6.1% in 2017 and by 6.1% in 2018 too, thus fostering the achievement of the targets about high-efficiency cogeneration at national level. • In Italy, White Certificates are recognized to high-efficiency cogeneration. • The power grid efficiency affects the primary energy saving of cogeneration. • Hourly thermoelectric-based power grid efficiency indicators vary over time. • Increased time-accuracy means improved meaningfulness of results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small Islands usually rely on fossil fuels for their energy supply and face common challenges such as high energy costs and carbon dioxide emissions. For these reasons they represent interesting cases for analysing the transition towards a clean and secure energy system. Nevertheless, integrating non-dispatchable Renewable Energy Sources in the power grid causes stability issues and this is particularly true for island grids. Such issue is not fully considered in long-term energy planning; indeed, an important factor that should be considered in order to ensure the reliability of the grid are Reserves. There are different types of Reserves depending on the reactiveness/response time and the duration of the service. In this paper, primary and secondary reserves have been analysed in order to plan the long-term energy transition of the small island of Favignana, Italy by means of the new version of H2RES, a Linear Programming single-objective optimisation model able to provide a long-term capacity investment and dispatching optimisation. It has been found that biomass generators are favoured to both photovoltaic and wind turbines for their ability to provide reserves and also decrease the unpredictability of the supply. Batteries and Electrolysers are also used mostly for reserve provision. • Primary and Secondary Reserves are embedded in long-term optimisation model. • Optimal energy Transition strategy towards Smart Island Energy System is found. • Biomass is the main renewable source since it reduces reserve requirement. • Electrolysers are operated for 85% of their usage time as downward reserve provider. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the optimisation of small-scale micro gas turbines totally powered by the concentrated solar power to generate electricity in the range of 5–30kWe. The objective of this paper is to investigate of the potential of such systems for solar power generation at reasonable costs. The computational model uses a component-based approach for thermodynamic performance simulation and features an integrated economic model which allows for the evaluation of economic performance indicators including levelised cost of electricity. The integrated model is coupled to a genetic algorithm optimisation framework to find system designs with optimal techno-economic performance. Two cases of fixed 5kWe rated power and 5-30kWe systems are studied. The performance simulation considers the operation strategy and the safe operation limits. A multi-objective optimisation is performed for each case to find trade-offs between the performance and cost of the system. The levelised cost of electricity and annual solar to electric efficiency are considered for comparison purposes. Results show that a levelised cost of electricity of about 170€/MWh can be achieved for a system installed in Italy. Lower cost of electricity as low as 85€/MWh could be achieved when considering economy of scale and locations with higher annual insolation. • A methodology to evaluate annual performance in real conditions is introduced. • Operation strategies considering system constraints and DNI variations are applied. • The optimised system improves solar efficiency by 5% with the same specific cost. • The optimal size of dish-MGT systems is 20–25kWe with LCOE of 170€/MWh for Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Buildings are a promising area of energy savings, but a difference exists between actual and optimal investment in this field. The so called ‘information gap’ about the costs and benefits of energy-saving activities could explain the difference. Audit programs have been undertaken to overcome the ‘information gap’ but, surprisingly, most papers analyzing the impact of audits on the adoption of energy-saving measures use faulty methods that could provide biased results. In this paper we fill this gap of the energy literature. First, we introduce robust counterfactual methods to analyze the impact of energy-saving policies; second, we apply these methods to investigate the impact of the free-funding of audits on the energy-saving investments of local public administrations, a neglected area of investigation. As opposite to most of the literature, we cannot identify any statistically significant effect of the audits either on the number of energy-saving interventions or on the resources devoted to these activities by local public administrations. We believe that, in the field of public non-residential buildings, information is not sufficient to fostering public investments aimed at increasing energy efficiency. As a policy consequence, public resources should consider different tools, including those aimed at reducing the cost of investments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the various heating technologies that can be applied to urban areas district heating is recognized to allow significant reduction in primary energy consumption, provided that the system is properly designed and operated. Thermo-fluid dynamic simulation tools can be of extreme importance in order to achieve this objective. This paper aims at presenting a thermo fluid dynamic model for the detailed simulation of large district heating network and showing how it can be usefully applied to examine options for the reduction of primary energy consumption. The model is tested using experimental data and then applied for analyzing transient operations of the Turin district heating network, which is the largest network in Italy and one of the largest in Europe. A comparison between simulations and experimental results shows that the model is able to predict the temperature in the nodes of the network with good accuracy. The thermal power required to each plant is also calculated with a good level of accuracy. The model can be used for the simulation of operational strategies, thus representing a versatile and important tool for the implementation of advanced management such as the installation of local storage units or the variation of user request schedules. • A thermo-fluid dynamic model for the detailed simulation of large DHNs is proposed. • The model receives data from the substations as the input. • The transient simulation of the Turin DHN is compared with measurements. • The model can be applied to implement advanced management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geothermal power plants can provide clean and renewable energy and can be proposed as integrated units for simultaneous production of cooling and power. This paper presents a cascade arrangement of an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) and a water/lithium bromide (LiBr) absorption chiller (ABS). Starting from a literature reference layout which is taken as benchmark, some improvements are proposed at system level. To assess the performance of the system, a thermodynamic model is developed in EES and the energy and exergy balance is calculated. The proposed system is re-evaluated with reference to resource conditions corresponding to a planned power plant in central Italy, Torre Alfina (TA). A sensitivity analysis is performed in order to investigate the operating range of the plant and the possibility of adapting its design to the requirements of the customers. Under optimized conditions, the TA Case (targeted on a 5 MW power output) showed an energy utilization factor (EUF) of 46.2% and an exergy efficiency of 27.7%, neglecting the brine reinjection loss. The highest exergy destructions occur in the ORC economizer (8.6%), in the ABS generator (6.3%) and absorber (5.5%). The good resource conditions in TA case drive the design optimization to production of power rather than cold. • Organic Rankine cycle coupled with a LiBr/water absorption chiller is investigated. • Energy and exergy analysis were performed at system and component level. • The improved model is applied to an actual geothermal data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract As a large part of primary energy consumption in different countries is related to the residential sector, a reduction in energy consumption at the " household-scale " may determine a significant reduction in the carbon emission at the " country-scale ". Hence, the precise knowledge of the relationships between the household characteristics and the energy consumption/expenditure may serve as basis for policymakers when planning investments aiming to reduce the primary energy consumption in the residential sector. This paper contributes to the existing discussion, focusing on the Italian case study, by analyzing the relationships between the residential energy expenditure and the building factors, socio-demographic variables and appliances. In particular, the impact that the different household characteristics have on per–capita family energy expenditures has been examined commented and compared with the previous literature. The analysis is performed by coupling (a) the ordinary least squares method, to determine the relationship between the variables, (b) the variance inflation factor, to check for multicollinearity issues, and (c) the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, to select suitable variables. Subsequently, a segmentation of the Italian households has been proposed, by using a segmentation-tree approach and the outcomes of the previous analysis. Highlights • The relationships between the energy expenditure and the household characteristics have been analyzed. • Building, socio-demographic and appliances variables are likewise significant predictors. • A segmentation of the Italian households is proposed, by using a segmentation-tree approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The paper reports the results of a stated preference study, carried out in Italy in 2017, on consumers' preferences between an electric car (EC) and a petrol car. The focus is on the role of driving range. We find that the linear specification leads to lower willingness to pay (WTP) estimate for the driving range than the logarithmic, quadratic and EC-specific ones. The estimation of a mixed logit model leads to a coefficient of the EC-specific range attribute six times larger than the coefficient of the non-EC one. The jointly statistically significant covariates explaining the heterogeneity of the coefficient of the EC-specific driving range attribute are gender, number of cars owned by the family, and knowledge of cars. The implied WTP varies from 37 to 106 €/km, depending on the socio-economic characteristics of the respondent. Simulative analysis shows that very relevant increases in the probability of buying an electric car (ranging from 28% to 68%) over a petrol one require jointly improvements in the fast charging network, driving range and financial incentives. Highlights • We analyze consumers' preferences between electric and petrol cars in Italy. • Electric car-specific range attribute is six time larger than that of petrol cars. • The willingness to pay for a 1-km range increase varies between 37 and 106 €/km. • Demand for electric cars depends on fast charging network and driving range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: It is becoming evident that sustainable development methods are now being considered by governments and corporations from all countries at both local and global level. Firms are increasingly looking to strike a balance between profit, preserving the local environment, and energy savings, rather than just looking for profit. In this paper, an enterprise input–output analysis based on production processes is used to investigate two tile manufacturers, one located in China and the other in Italy. The aim of the paper is to describe their energy/materials use and consequent pollution/waste emissions, and to make a comparison between them. As this industry uses huge quantities of energy, it is useful to monitor these consumption uses along with pollution levels. This accounting can help in planning future local development strategies that would make production cycles more efficient and sustainable. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The influence of economic and demographic variables on the annual electricity consumption in Italy has been investigated with the intention to develop a long-term consumption forecasting model. The time period considered for the historical data is from 1970 to 2007. Different regression models were developed, using historical electricity consumption, gross domestic product (GDP), gross domestic product per capita (GDP per capita) and population. A first part of the paper considers the estimation of GDP, price and GDP per capita elasticities of domestic and non-domestic electricity consumption. The domestic and non-domestic short run price elasticities are found to be both approximately equal to −0.06, while long run elasticities are equal to −0.24 and −0.09, respectively. On the contrary, the elasticities of GDP and GDP per capita present higher values. In the second part of the paper, different regression models, based on co-integrated or stationary data, are presented. Different statistical tests are employed to check the validity of the proposed models. A comparison with national forecasts, based on complex econometric models, such as Markal-Time, was performed, showing that the developed regressions are congruent with the official projections, with deviations of ±1% for the best case and ±11% for the worst. These deviations are to be considered acceptable in relation to the time span taken into account. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The paper deals with an innovative (120kWe, 195kWt) natural gas (NG) combined heat and power (CHP) system, at present under development, which has been set up at the FIAT Centre of Research (CRF), Turin, Italy. The main characteristics of the CHP system are: the use of an automotive derived internal combustion engine, a high part load electrical efficiency due to a variable speed operation strategy and an advanced exhaust gas after-treatment to meet the most stringent pollutant emission regulations. In the paper, the electrical efficiency and pollutant emissions of the new CHP unit are compared with those of some traditional small-scale cogeneration systems. Some comparison criteria and performance indices which are, in the authors’ opinion, the most representative of the real operative conditions, have been proposed to evaluate the performance of the different technologies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The present paper proposes an analysis concerning the impact of the reduction of the net electricity flow between France and Italy due to the phase out of French nuclear power plants. The analysis is performed by using a bid stack model which offers an approximate, but reliable representation of the Italian power system, as shown by extensive validation on historical data. The study takes into account sixteen scenarios given by the combination of different assumptions on the operating life of French nuclear reactors, fuel price, renewables development and demand level. Furthermore, a Business As Usual scenario is implemented as reference case. The results have shown that some scenarios determine tight conditions for the Italian power market and provoke an increase of the clean spark of 13 €/MWh with respect to the Business As Usual scenario. At the same time, an increase of the load factor of gas turbines from 0.5% to 4% is also detected. This situation requires substantial interventions in order to re-balance the system. On the contrary, scenarios which imply a more aggressive development of renewables and low increase of the demand, even in the case of a relevant phase out of nuclear capacity in France, do not determine tight conditions on the Italian power market, therefore it is not necessary to adopt particular measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an economic and energy feasibility analysis of a renewable energy system for a small city in southern Italy to convert it to zero greenhouse gas city by 2030. The proposed energy infrastructure utilises different technologies: wind turbine, photovoltaic panels and biogas cogeneration plants to produce electric energy, and thermal solar panels, cogeneration and heat pumps to meet the thermal energy demand of the city. The electrification of transport sector is also considered. The whole city energy system is analysed by the EnergyPLAN software to evaluate streams combination and potential synergies between the different sectors. In order to improve the analysis, PhotoVoltaic technology has been simulated in TRNSYS environment, to obtain detailed prediction of this component of the energy infrastructure. The system behaviour was analysed considering different time bases: daily, weekly and yearly. The EnergyPLAN outputs include the aggregated yearly production and demands of all modelled energy conversion systems, as well as hourly values useful to identify the measures to make Altavilla Silentina nearly zero carbon city. Every measure identified becomes a new input in EnergyPLAN to evaluate its effect on city energy balance. The economic analysis has been performed to evaluate the electricity and thermal energy costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability of energy supply in small islands has been emerging as a severe issue, due to the large margins for improvement of the most frequently adopted solutions. In many European islands large amounts of heat are wasted by the operation of engines-based power plants; conversely, heat is produced by boilers or by electric equipment for different uses, like domestic hot water or space heating. In this paper a techno-economic analysis is proposed to assess the feasibility of CHP-retrofit of existing power plants and the possible utilization of the recovered heat to supply, via a district heating and/or cooling network, the energy requests of civil users in the tertiary and residential sectors. The analysis is performed for six islands in Italy characterized by different demographic and climatic conditions, so as to get a comprehensive understanding of the factors that favour/obstruct the viability of the examined technical solution. As expected, due to the low “linear heat density” observed in small islands, the investments resulted “far from being attractive”; only in the case where public support mechanisms are adopted, the integration of the existing power plants with heat recovery devices and a district heating network resulted moderately attractive, especially in the largest islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy demand represents a global challenge that calls for innovative energy solutions. Road lighting contributes in a small part to the overall worldwide electricity consumption, however the possibilities for energy saving are numerous. The road lighting should provide the required lighting quality, in the most energy efficient way as possible. In this paper the Authors analyze, compare and discuss the numerical indicators currently used to evaluate the lighting and the energy performance of new-designed and existing road lighting systems. To support the discussion, the use of the case study of road lighting of the historic town center of Pisa is proposed. For the case study the Authors have chosen a significant sample of 20 roads representative of 80 similar roads located in the historic town center. For the sample, geometric surveys, luminance and illuminance measurements, calculation of the national and international energy performance indicators have been carry out. The considerations made by the Authors, obtained with an investigation procedure of general validity, are useful to point out strengths and weaknesses of each indicator and to provide suggestions on the use of the appropriate indicators during the design stage of road lighting systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper a thermoeconomic analysis of a novel hybrid Renewable Polygeneration System connected to a district heating and cooling network is presented. The plant is powered simultaneously by solar and geothermal sources, producing electricity, desalinated water, heat and cooling energy. System layout includes Parabolic Through Collector (PTC) field, geothermal wells, Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) unit and a Multi-Effect Desalination (MED) system. Cooling and thermal demands are calculated by suitable building dynamic simulation models, calibrated for Pantelleria Island. Electrical demand is obtained by measured data. A detailed control strategy has been implemented in order to prevent any heat dissipation, to match the appropriate operating temperature levels in each component, to avoid a too low temperature of geothermal fluid reinjected in the wells and to manage the priority of space heating and cooling process. A 1-year dynamic simulation has been performed and results analyzed on daily, monthly and yearly basis. The system achieved an SPB equal to 8.50 and it resulted capable to cover the energy demands of a small community. Moreover, the plant is capable to cover the fresh water demand of the Pantelleria Island. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in the energy demands of residential neighborhoods constitutes a huge challenge to be faced. A viable option lies in the insertion of both renewable energy production systems and cogeneration units within urban territories. On-site production allows for the satisfaction of the heating and electrical demands of end-users and favors the distribution of produced energy within the neighborhood, especially under the regulatory framework of energy communities. This paper proposes a tool to model heating and electricity networks integrated with cogeneration units and PV panels installed in urban areas. The tool accounts for the following possibilities: (i) energy flow management and power sizes of both heating and electric networks, and (ii) evaluation of the electricity sharing configurations arising within energy communities. To better clarify the capability of the tool in supporting energy analysts and decision-makers, a densely populated area in Southern Italy is proposed as a case study. Regarding thermal distribution, results demonstrated that it is better to plan pipelines extended up to 300 m to take full advantage of the insertion of the CHP in the areas. Different considerations apply to the electrical distribution; here, an energy community extended over a geographical area with a radius of around 100 m is sufficient to guarantee an almost fully connected grid and obtain in any case exceeding production to be released to the centralized network. • An agent-based model is proposed as a tool for the design and operation of energy networks. • Photovoltaic panels and cogeneration units are assumed as the main energy systems. • Hourly-based simulations are performed for grid operation in residential and commercial areas. • Photovoltaic panels and cogeneration units are suitable technologies favoring autonomy and sharing in energy communities. • Results prove the flexibility of the tool in selecting the distribution distance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of renewable energy, including solar process heating, and of efficient energy conversion technologies, have been considered in the literature to improve the energy performance of cheese production. However, most of the studies considered one energy source at a time and hardly accounted for the carbon emission impact. In this paper, a mixed integer linear programming model is developed and applied to a reference cheese factory in Italy to identify the least cost mix of solar thermal energy, natural gas-based trigeneration and symbiotic waste heat recovery from nearby industries via district heating that allows to achieve assigned carbon emission reduction goals. The study reveals that fossil fuel based trigeneration is economically attractive, leading to savings in annual equivalent systems costs of approximately 18–20% over the baseline configuration, but does not contribute to decarbonization, generally causing a percentage increase of carbon emissions of approximately 30% from the baseline configuration. In addition, the combination of cogeneration and waste heat recovery from a remote source (300 m up to 1000 m far away from the user) may be more cost-efficient than solar heating to meet a 30% carbon emission reduction constraint for most combinations of electricity and natural gas prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last years, the Covid-19 outbreak raised great awareness about ventilation system performance in confined spaces. Specifically, the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system design and operating parameters, such as air change per hour, air recirculation ratio, filtration device performance, and vents location, play a crucial role in reducing the spread of viruses, moulds, bacteria, and general pollutants. Concerning the transport sector, due to the impracticability of social distancing, and the relatively loose requirements of ventilation standards, the SARS-COV-19 outbreak brought a reduction of payload (up to 50%) for different carriers. Specifically, this has been particularly severe for the railway sector, where train coaches are typically characterized by relatively elevated occupancy and high recirculation ratios. In this framework, to improve the Indoor Air Quality and reduce the Covid-19 contagion risk in railway carriages, the present paper investigates the energy, economic and environmental feasibility of diverse ventilation strategies. To do so, a novel dynamic simulation tool for the complete dynamic performance investigation of trains was developed in an OpenStudio environment. To assess the Covid-19 contagion risk connected to the investigated scenarios, the Wells-Riley model has been adopted. To prove the proposed approach's capabilities and show the Covid-19 infection risk reduction potentially achievable by varying the adopted ventilation strategies, a suitable case study related to an existing medium-distance train operating in South/Central Italy is presented. The conducted numerical simulations return interesting results providing also useful design criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Italy biogas support schemes are being revised to include subsidies for the production of biomethane. Energy policies should foster environmentally optimal solutions, especially because social acceptance issues often arise in the case of biogas. In this paper we use the external cost methodology to quantify the environmental impact of airborne emissions associated with biogas-based energy vectors and their corresponding fossil substitutes These are evaluated at supply chain level and incorporated in a spatially explicit optimization model. The method is applied to northern Italy to compare the potential impact of alternative policy options. It is found that, while the external costs of biogas-based pathways are always lower than corresponding fossil fuel based pathways, the differences are generally so small that policies based on internalization of external costs alone would not lead to further development of biogas-based technologies. For all utilization pathways, consideration of local externalities leads to a less favourable evaluation of biogas-based technologies, which results in external costs even higher than the substituted fossil fuel if biogas is allocated to local heating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the responsiveness of the electricity demand coverage in urban contexts to the changes in the Italian policies for PV systems. The morphological configuration of building roofs according to the number of covered flats, annual data of PV generation and electricity consumptions were considered in the transition from the feed-in tariff (FIT) mechanism to the tax credits scheme currently in force. With the aim of assessing the changes over time in three representative cities, the fluctuations both in the premiums for the produced electricity and the tax credits applied to the PV system costs were observed from July 2010 to February 2016. Furthermore, the main time-varying parameters, such as the prices of the exported and purchased electricity, prices of the PV system devices discount rate, average inflation rate and increase in the electricity price were included in the assessment. The proposed estimation methodology, which economically filters the energy results, found that the tax credits program was more attractive than the FIT and premium schemes until the first trimester of 2016, when some modifications to the electricity bills for domestic consumers were made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) is nowadays a commonly implemented approach for evaluating resource consumptions and for benchmarking purposes. It suffers some limitations, mainly related to its assumptions on linear resource -consumption behaviour as well as on the non-context specific data. On the other hand, it is an extremely powerful tool for decision-making support in the sustainability assessment of manufacturing processes, providing its well-structured approach and widely accepted procedure. Deepening the assessment capabilities of such a tool is thus an important opportunity. This paper is intended to build upon this concept by proposing an improved approach consisting in supplying in-process information concerning energy consumption and other process state conditions through thermography. The case of an Italian industrial company producing HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) nets for agriculture is taken as test bed case to show pros and cons of this idea. Actually, this approach resulted into a better assessment of the sustainability profile of the whole production process in terms of energy consumptions and environmental impacts. This in turn became an updated management tool for real-time decision making closer to the real conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an economic analysis of the investment in grid-connected PV (photovoltaic) systems installed on the rooftops of buildings located in densely urbanised contexts. The analysis was applied to some case studies that were selected as representative of the latitudes of the southern, central and northern Italy. The returns of the investment in PV systems were investigated with the aim of comparing the impact of the current PV policy, based on the tax credit scheme, with the FIT (feed-in tariff) scheme, in force until July 2013. The cash flows related to the disbursements and benefits during the lifetime of the investment were computed for each combination of orientation, tilt, roof shape and number of householders in the buildings. The pay-back periods referred to the totality of the PV systems of each case study were estimated. The results showed that the implemented tax credit scheme produces more advantageous pay-back periods. The LCOE (levelized cost of electricity) was calculated as an indicator of the competitiveness of the PV technology. Although the tax credit scheme is more profitable than the FIT scheme, urban PV solar in Italy is still not competitive with conventional generation sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decade, the architecture of the energy market has radically changed. In many countries end-users are now able to directly access the market, which has given rise to the question of how they can actively participate in that market. End-users can comprise a critical mass through aggregation that is carried out by a third party – to wit the “loads aggregator.” This paper proposes a new framework for generating feasible real-time price curves for those end-users in a demand-response management process. The underlying algorithm generates output curves as the solution to a constrained optimization problem whose objective function is the aggregator's economic benefit. A case simulation study of the Italian market, with various parameter options, illustrates the procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past three years Italy has seen a rapid growth in the PV (photovoltaic) energy market, followed by an equally sudden decline when the government decided to reduce the incentives. This sharp change in the trend of the market calls into question the achievement of the so called Grid Parity and the possibility that the market is able to develop independently. The motivation of this paper is to evaluate the effects that uncertainties surrounding both the energy prices and PV module costs have on forecasting the dynamics of the Italian PV market. Using the Real Option approach we calculate “the best time to invest” in a PV system by a maximizing investor. We show that these sources of uncertainty can delay the optimal investment decision of several years compared to current Grid Parity forecasts, well describing the current market situation in Italy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, Italy has seen a rapid growth in the PV (photovoltaic) sector, following the introduction of the FIT (feed in tariff) scheme known as Conto Energia. In July 2013 the Italian government definitively cut FITs, leaving only tax benefits and a revised net metering scheme (known as “Scambio sul Posto”) for new PV installations. In this scenario, the design of a new PV plant ensuring savings on electricity bills is strongly related to household electricity consumption patterns. This paper presents a high-resolution model of domestic electricity use. The model is based on Fuzzy Logic Inference System. Using as inputs patterns of active occupancy and typical domestic habits, the fuzzy model give as output the likelihood to start each appliance within the next minute. The model has been validated with electricity demand data recorded over the period of one year within 12 dwellings in the central east coast of Italy. The tool has been used to evaluate the self consumption percentage to correctly size a residential photovoltaic plant in a case study. A cost benefits analysis is presented to show the effectiveness of PV-generation in the new Italian scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to estimate the potential impacts of different COVID-19 scenarios on the Italian energy sector through 2030, with a specific focus on transport and industry. The analysis takes a multi-disciplinary approach to properly consider the complex interactions of sectors across Italy. This approach includes the assessment of economic conditions using macroeconomic and input-output models, modelling the evolution of the energy system using an energy and transport model, and forecasting the reaction of travel demand and modal choice using econometric models and expert interviews. Results show that the effect of COVID-19 pandemic may lead to mid-term effects on energy consumption. The medium scenario, which assumes a stop of the emergency by the end of 2021, shows that energy-related emissions remain 10% lower than the baseline in the industry sector and 6% lower in the transport sector by 2030, when compared with a pre-COVID trend. Policy recommendations to support a green recovery are discussed in light of the results. • Energy and emissions are compared for different COVID-19 scenarios in Italy by 2030. • The analysis is based on an integration of different models. • The scenarios consider different dates for the finish of the COVID-19 emergency. • The main drivers related to economic conditions and mobility demand are assessed. • Results highlight the contribution of the transport and industry sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to estimate how the profitability of grid-connected PV (photovoltaic) systems may vary month by month due to the changes in all parameters involved in the economic evaluation (discount rate, PV electricity selling price, inflation rate, price of PV devices etc.). The effects of these variations were investigated for a district of a city in the South Italy (Palermo). The results of the analysis provided the trend of the actual coverage of the district power demand from June 2010 to August 2012. In particular the load match index, which considers the daily energy demand covered by PV systems, ranged from almost 30% to less than 12%, which is less than the value of 17% of the final energy consumption in 2020 from renewable energy sources that Italy is obliged to ensure by the European Union Directive 2009/28/EC. Finally, a sensitivity analysis related to shading and mismatch factors was carried out. If 10% of the solar energy had been shadowed, the load match index would have reduced of 70%. Similarly, if only 40% of electrical production had been used, the load match index would have lowered to an almost null value in January 2012. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Renewable energy communities are multi-users energy systems that are expected to become popular in all countries, including Italy. This paper discusses environmental-driven solar compensation mechanisms, specifically designed for energy communities. Such mechanisms consider the adoption of Distributed Energy Resources by the communities and reflect their overall life cycle environmental benefit. Notably, an innovative three-steps iterative methodology is adopted to design new feed-in tariffs including: (i) the optimal economic sizing of solar technologies, (ii) the life cycle assessment and (iii) the evaluation of a solar compensation mechanism. In the last step, the emissions avoided by communities are converted into economic solar compensation mechanisms (via feed-in tariffs) using the current value of carbon taxes. After the general methodology description, the proposed approach is applied to a specific Italian case study. In case carbon taxes are set to the current value, namely 15.4 EUR/tonCO 2 eq, the yearly national emissions are mitigated by the adoption of the proposed solar compensation from 121.1 MtonCO 2 eq/yr to 108.2 MtonCO 2 eq/yr. Differently, if taxes are increased to 20 EUR/tonCO 2 eq, the emissions are reduced to 84.3 MtonCO 2 eq/yr; in case carbon taxes are extended over this value, the grid gets saturated by communities electricity and the additional environmental advantages are negligible. [Display omitted] • The proposed feed-in tariffs reward energy communities of their avoided greenhouse gases emissions. • Communities produce low-carbon electricity compared to the Italian energy mix. • The self-consumption allows for a remarkable mitigation of the national greenhouse gases emissions. • Increasing carbon taxes allows to extend communities energy injection to the grid. • The most suitable carbon taxes value is calculated through a sensitivity analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The need to reduce CO2 emissions requires a great economical effort to optimize the processes and solve the main technical and economic problems which still limit a large-scale diffusion of this kind of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies. In this paper, the main results of a techno-economic comparison between ultra supercritical pulverized coal combustion (USC) and integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plants are presented. The Sulcis coal basin, considered as a reference location for the plant configurations here analysed, could represent a very important site to test carbon capture and storage technologies, being representative of a lot of potential storage site in the world. For both USC and IGCC technologies, three different configurations have been compared: a configuration without CCS, a CO2-free configuration and an intermediate solution in which a demonstration CCS system is applied to only a portion of produced gas. The analysis here presented shows that USC technology is slightly more profitable than IGCC if a configuration without CCS is considered, whereas IGCC is more profitable than USC for a CO2-free configuration. Due to the high CCS costs and to the specificity of the site, the investment is not profitable if not supported by an adequate incentive. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The paper identifies and evaluates barriers to industrial energy efficiency through the investigation of 48 manufacturing Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Northern Italy. The research provides interesting suggestions both for enterprises and energy policy-makers. Firstly, economic and information barriers are perceived as the major obstacles to the adoption of energy-efficient technologies, whilst behavioural barriers do not seem to affect enterprises very much. Nonetheless, despite what declared, the most relevant barriers are the lack of interest in energy efficiency and the existence of other priorities, thus showing that decision-makers tend to downgrade energy efficiency to a marginal issue. Furthermore, perceived barriers do not take place exclusively in implementing energy-efficient technologies, but, with comparable importance, also in generating the interest and knowledge of the opportunities. Moreover, the study highlights that relevant differences can be appreciated for both perceived and real barriers even among SMEs, that thus should not be bundled together. In addition to that, other factors affect barriers, stimulating future research: indeed, lower real barriers can be observed with higher complexity of the production, high variability of the demand and strong competitors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This work is focused on the planning of rational heating systems for urban areas. District heating is an important option to supply heat to the users in urban areas. The energy sustainability of such option depends on the annual energy request, the population density and the efficiency in heat production. Among the alternative technologies, geothermal heat pumps play a crucial role. Nevertheless, in densely populated areas, an additional consideration is necessary: the subsurface thermal degradation caused by heat pump installations may affect the performances of surrounding installations. This paper aims to propose a procedure to select which users in an urban area should be connected with a district heating network and which ones should be heated through an alternative technology, in order to reach a globally optimal system from the energy viewpoint. The analysis of potential interferences between heat pumps is here conducted using a thermo-fluid dynamic model of the subsurface. The application to an Italian town is considered as a test case for the procedure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

One of the most common demand side management programs consists of time-of-use (TOU) tariffs, where consumers are charged differently depending on the time of the day when they make use of energy services. This paper assesses the impacts of TOU tariffs on a dataset of residential users from the Province of Trento in Northern Italy in terms of changes in electricity demand, price savings, peak load shifting and peak electricity demand at sub-station level. Findings highlight that TOU tariffs bring about higher average electricity consumption and lower payments by consumers. A significant level of load shifting takes place for morning peaks. However, issues with evening peaks are not resolved. Finally, TOU tariffs lead to increases in electricity demand for substations at peak time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the last several decades, demand response programs have played a crucial role in the management of the electrical energy system worldwide. Thus, demand response programs, offered by either system operators or utilities, have contributed to solve different matters that appear in the habitual operation of the power grid. Currently, there are no successful experiences of demand response applications in the natural gas system. However, it seems natural that, in line with the current trends in the energy sector, demand response concepts will be eventually essential for the better and more efficient operation of natural gas systems. The research here presented leads with the analysis of demand response as a strategic tool for the gas system operator to manage better the natural gas network. Thus, this research demonstrates as demand response could represent a great opportunity for consumers to play an active role in the operation of the natural gas grid. In this paper, the ability of consumers to participate in the balancing of natural gas in the transmission network is assessed and the utilization of demand response resources to help reducing the imbalances in the natural gas system is demonstrated. • Demand Response (DR) is evaluated for the balancing of natural gas systems. • The potential of DR in the natural gas sector is evaluated in a real case in Italy. • DR is profitable for both consumers and the gas system operator. • DR may reduce operation costs while favoring the involvement of consumers. • DR provides the natural gas system with in a more dynamic energy infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The paper deals with the cold energy available during LNG regasification, which can be recovered and utilized both inside the LNG regasification area and at a distance, such as in deep freezing agro food industry facilities and for space conditioning in the commercial and residential sector (e.g. Supermarkets and Hypermarkets). The feasibility study of this kind of application has been carried out at DREAM, Palermo University, within the framework of a research program. The results of a feasibility study of the kind of venture proposed, starting from its conceptual design and with a thorough thermodynamic and economic analysis, demonstrated the suitability and the profitability of the applications proposed. They seem very attractive due to expected wide future exploitation of LNG regasification in the World. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Green Public Procurement (GPP) is a significant policy tool for reducing the environmental impacts of services and products throughout their whole life cycle. Scientific and easily verifiable environmental criteria, based on a life cycle approach, should be developed and used within procurement procedures. In this paper, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is applied to wood windows showing how it can support the criteria definition. After a foreword on GPP development in Italy, the evaluation features of the environmental performances of building materials and components are outlined. The LCA case study is then presented, describing the use of the analysis results to define the environmental criteria. LCA allowed to identify the main impacts and the critical processes of the window life cycle, giving a scientific framework to discuss GPP criteria with manufacturers associations and stakeholders. Nevertheless, it couldn’t help neither in identifying detailed criteria for GPP nor to define numerical thresholds to be used as reference in procurement procedures. The appropriate strategies should be selected taking into account the technical status of the market, the standard development and the voluntary industry commitments, involving manufacturers associations. Finally, some elements to develop a structured approach for GPP of construction materials are presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Currently, a wide range of strategies is implemented in different countries to increase the share of electricity from renewable energy sources (RES-E). A still controversial discussion is whether quantity-driven (like Tradable Green Certificates (TGCs) based on quotas) or price-driven (like feed-in-tariffs (FIT)) instruments lead to preferable solutions for society. The core objective of this paper is to compare the perspectives of quota-based certificate trading systems for an efficient and effective increase of RES-E with FIT. The major results of this analysis are: (i) The success stories of growth in RES-E in EU member states in recent years has been triggered by FIT implemented in a technology-specific manner at modest costs for European citizens; (ii) At present, TGC systems in most countries applied show a low effectiveness with respect to RES-E deployment of less mature technologies such as solar PV (with improving tendencies in e.g. the UK or Italy with respect to certain technologies); (iii) Compared to short term trading in TGC markets the intrinsic stability of FIT systems appears to be a key element for success; (iv) Hence, currently a well-designed (dynamic) FIT system provides a certain deployment of RES-E in the shortest time and at lowest costs for society. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The objective of this paper is to assess the techno-economic viability of the use of fuel cell as an alternative technology for landfill gas energy recovery. The case of an Italian municipal solid waste landfill is analyzed. The landfill was opened in 1998 and in 2001 the energy recovery facility started operation. The current landfill gas conversion system is based on internal combustion engine technology. However, the drawbacks of internal combustion engine in terms of conversion efficiency and air emissions are widely acknowledged. Some authors have proposed molten carbonate fuel cell as one of the most interesting solution for landfill gas energy recovery for the near future. Fuel cells have proven capable of providing superior energy efficiency and environmental performance, but their widespread use is constrained by the capital cost required. Using actual data from the landfill, a comparison between the current energy recovery system and a hypothetical alternative solution based on molten carbonate fuel cell is performed. The analysis assesses the cost-effectiveness of the two solutions, considering also some environmental externalities usually not included in traditional economic assessment. The main strengths and weaknesses of the two landfill gas energy recovery systems are highlighted and some new insights into molten carbonate fuel cell overall sustainability are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is not widely used as a decision-supporting tool in Italy, despite recent European Commission policies fostering its adoption to achieve an energy- and resource-efficient economy. In this paper, an LCA of waste management system of the 1st Macrolotto industrial area is presented. The aims of the study were to identify the environmental critical points of the system and to evaluate opportunities and problems in applying this methodology at industrial area level. After a description of the waste management system of the 1st Macrolotto industrial area, the main assumptions of the study and some elements of the system modelling are presented. Results confirmed that door-to-door separated collection and packaging recycling are successful strategies for reducing the use of natural resources. The cooperation of the waste management company, which was part of the area management structure, was strategic for the completion of the analysis. Country-specific databases and models should be developed for a widespread application of the LCA methodology to waste management in Italian industrial areas. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Italy produces approximately 4,520,000tons of pasta annually, which is about 67% of its total productive potential. As factories need electric and thermal energy simultaneously, combined heat and power (CHP) systems are the most suitable. This paper describes a feasibility study of a CHP plant in a pasta factory in Italy while analyzing energy saving and environmental benefits. Commercially available CHP systems suitable for the power range of energy demand in pasta production use reciprocating engines or gas turbines. This study demonstrates how their use can reduce both energy costs and CO2 equivalent greenhouse gas emission in the environment. An economic analysis was performed following the methodology set out by Italian National Agency for Technology, Energy and Environment (ENEA) based on a discounted cash flow (DCF) method called “Valore Attuale Netto” (VAN), which uses a cash flow based on the saving of energy when using different energy processes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Low carbon transition agendas imposed by climate change claim for ambitious strategies grounded on non-biased information provided by energy and economic models. This is particularly relevant at local and regional scales, where environmental policies are practically implemented. To this end, this paper proposes a soft-linked model combining the EPLANopt energy simulation model with an empirical Input-Output model and applies it to assess the prospective impact of future scenarios in the Italian region of South-Tyrol. The proposed approach allows to perform scenario analysis of regional contexts with an accurate and physically detailed representation of the energy supply chain, while keeping track of the indirect and sector-specific economic and environmental impacts induced by a prospective policy action: the features and capabilities of the proposed approach are not fully covered by currently available methods and models. The EPLANopt model was setup and run for a selection of prescriptive scenarios, identifying optimal Pareto solutions in terms of minimization of economic cost of energy and carbon dioxide emissions. The results were then processed and incorporated into the Input-Output model, which allowed to evaluate the economy-wide economic and environmental impacts of such scenarios for different sectors. Results of the soft-linked model complement those of the EPLANopt model alone, as they reveal significant economic and environmental indirect effects that characterize the analysed scenario and are thus important to support decision-making. • A soft-linked model combining EPLANopt with Hybrid Input-Output model is presented. • Feasible energy transition scenarios for the South-Tyrol Province are simulated. • Related economic/environmental impacts are assessed in a comparative-static way. • Potential of the model in deriving insights to support low carbon policies is shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to maximize the performance of a U-type Oscillating Water Column power plant integrated into a breakwater to be built in Roccella Jonica, Mediterranean Sea, Italy. In this location, both prevalent mild waves and less frequent highly energetic sea states occur. The main challenge is to select a Power Take-Off (PTO) system able to operate with high-efficiency in this wave climate without the need of turning the power plant off for safety reasons. A non-linear time-domain wave-to wire model was developed to evaluate the performance of the Roccella Jonica power plant. Capture width ratio results for single and multi-stage Wells turbines were compared with the biradial turbine. The possibility to install a single turbine on combined air chambers was also considered to reduce the overall PTO costs. The rotational speed of the biradial turbine was found to only rarely exceed the maximum allowed limit during the most energetic sea states, while the Wells turbines too often exceeded that limit. The introduction of relief valves was found to be necessary to keep the PTO rotational speed within safety limits. Optimal turbine diameter, generator rated power and multi-chamber configuration were selected by maximizing the performance of the power plant. • Time-domain wave-to-wire model of the Roccella Jonica U-OWC power plant was developed. • Results for single and multi-stage Wells turbines were compared with biradial turbine. • Multi-chamber configurations were considered to reduce PTO costs. • Relief valves were considered to keep turbine rotational speed within safety limits. • The biradial turbine was found to be more efficient than the Wells turbines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, due also to high hygrothermal comfort requirements, the energy consumption for heating/cooling of modern trains can reach 30% of the related overall electricity demand. Energy-saving of train Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning systems can be suitably assessed through dynamic simulation approaches. Specifically, the weather solicitation has to be dynamically accounted for by considering the actual moving train location and orientation. Through such methodology different innovative actions for energy efficiency, environmental impact reduction and comfort enhancement can be analysed by also assessing their economic feasibility. In this paper, a novel simulation tool for the complete performance analysis of trains was developed in TRNSYS environment. To show the capabilities of the considered approach, a novel case study referred to an existing medium-distance train operating in South Italy is presented. Heating/cooling loads and demands, and the related electricity requirements, are dynamically assessed for the standard and revamped train. Several energy saving actions are considered for the coupling between the envelope and the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning systems enhancement. The obtained results return significant benefits in terms of energy saving, avoided CO 2 emissions and comfort. Paybacks depend on operating conditions. Useful design and operating criteria for trains manufacturers and users are provided. • Dynamic simulation for train HVAC system energy performance analyses using TRNSYS. • Customized weather data files for accounting real train locations and orientations. • Innovative energy efficiency solutions for trains with saving up to 6.0 MWh e /y. • Economic feasibility of energy efficiency solutions for trains. • Reduction up to 50% of the train environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The installation of PV systems in the Italian residential sector represents the main component within the overall PV market. Nevertheless, a strong contraction of PV investment can be observed in Italy during the last period due to the closure of the feed-in-tariff mechanism. For this reason, new opportunities have been introduced by the Italian Government to support investment in the residential sector: net-metering, tax deduction and a novel regulatory scheme where PV production can be exchanged between an end-user and an energy-provider free of network charges. In this context, an economic assessment for PV installations in residential households is presented in this paper considering the benefits derived by the combination of these supporting schemes presently available in Italy. Increasing electricity consumptions of residential end-user are considered to explore the feasibility of PV installation in different configurations. Geographical information system is used here as a supporting tool to take into account the variation of solar radiation resource across the country, since economic results are influenced by the match between energy consumption and PV production. The results highlight how the perspective of PV investment is still positive even if a feed-in-tariff for PV production is no longer available. • Economic potential of PV for Italian households with different electricity demand. • Energy modeling considering solar radiation variability through GIS tool. • The results highlight how the perspective of PV investment is still positive. • The new regulatory framework can contribute to improve PV diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper combines three models:, an energy simulator (eQuest), the Distributed Energy Resources Customer Adoption Model (DER-CAM), and a Reference Network Model (RNM), to quantify the impact of natural gas-fueled distributed generation (NGDG) in electricity distribution networks. First, eQuest is used to determine the energy profile of each type of building. Then, DER-CAM determines the optimal planning and operation of distributed energy resources. Finally, the hourly profiles of all buildings are processed by RNM to assess the impact of NGDG integration in electricity distribution networks. The reason behind this multi-level approach is that prosumers manage distributed energy resources to maximize their benefits, and later these decisions have an impact upon the electricity distribution networks. We assess this impact. The RNM evaluates power flows to size the network components, and determines the new components required, quantifying the corresponding investments in terms of low and medium voltage network and medium to low voltage transformers. We use this methodology to analyze the sensitivity of network reinforcements to NGDG penetration. Six European networks for urban and semi-urban distribution areas in Germany, Italy, and France have been studied. The results show clear differences in the expected impact in each of these countries. They depend greatly on the level of NGDG penetration and selected network, with network costs ranging up to 150€ and savings of 900€ per building. Energy losses decrease for low NGDG penetration levels and can double at 100% NGDG penetration levels. • There are significant variations per country in the impact of natural gas distributed generation (NGDG). • The necessity of reinforcements or the savings depend on the level of penetration of NGDG. • In some countries, NGDG always requires reinforcements, especially when no demand growth is expected. • In other countries, NGDG results in savings for all the penetration levels analyzed. • Losses have a U-shape, being more influenced by distributed generation than for reinforcements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]