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This study evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of integrating fuel cells into stand-alone power generation systems, combined with different technologies such as diesel generators, wind turbines, and batteries. An optimisation analysis was performed using the Hybrid Optimization Model for Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER) software to minimise energy costs and several system architectures were obtained for different operating scenarios. The performance and cash flow of the selected system were included. The results suggest that the combination of traditional technologies for fuel cell power generation could be feasible for a country like Colombia, depending on economic factors such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the discount rate, and the availability of renewable resources. The proposed system achieves a Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) of $0.112/kWh, comparable to state-of-the-art systems in the literature. This research contributes to the global effort of transitioning to alternative energy sources and reducing carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colombia is a leading country in the production of palm oil, being the fourth in the world and the first in Latin America. However, large quantities of agro-industrial waste are produced from this industry, such as rachis, palm kernel shells, palm kernel cake, oily sludge, and sewage. Through this research, the aim is to find the most efficient route for obtaining bioethanol by taking advantage of a well-known, but not widely used, agro-industrial waste from the production of palm oil: palm kernel shells. This route must be convenient according to technical, economic, social, and environmental criteria of sustainability, for which the synthesis of routes of exploitation of the rachis based on optimization of superstructures will be implemented. In this work, a superstructure empathizing pretreatment stage was constructed with intermittent layers of chemical species required or obtained, and another of technologies for separation or transformation of said chemical species. Organosolv pretreatment (ethanol-acid) and thermochemical pretreatment (pyrolysis) were obtained as results: both routes were evaluated from the break-even point analysis to define which of them to choose as the most promising, giving as a final result the pyrolysis pretreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This article focuses on the design and characterization of management model for MSMEs, based on e- commerce and the GS1 international e-com standard. The first part contextualizes electronic commerce and its impact on domestic industry, and briefly describes the B2B e-commerce model used in Colombia. Subsequently the first step to apply the model is presented, which corresponds to the design of a diagnostic methodology that evaluates the technological, technical, commercial and administrative aspects of the organization; after that are exposed the results of the pilot experiment performed on a MSME from Bogota, and finally will be explained the procedures for the implementation of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Development of a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methodology for assessing sustainable performance in hybrid systems, facilitating the gradual energy transition. • Demonstrated feasibility of the energy transition through the study of three hybrid systems tailored to Colombia's emerging energy markets. • Achievement of demand-meeting power and low-emission hydrogen production in the full hybrid process. • Exploration of low-emission hydrogen generation aligned with the just transition, aiding in emissions reduction and introducing new energy vectors to markets reliant on non-renewable generation. To explore sustainable alternatives to meet the growing energy demand worldwide, it is necessary to analyze strategies promoting the efficient use of energy, the mitigation of environmental impact, the diversification of power resources, and the orientation toward energy transition. Due to their location, Latin America and the Caribbean have a significant renewable energy potential. For instance, Colombia has an installed thermoelectric capacity accounting for over 40% of its total power generation resources. Nevertheless, its legislation promotes the fair transition toward alternative sources while leveraging the installed infrastructure. Additionally, worldwide projections show that hydrogen-based power generation will foster the hybridization of power generation systems. This research addresses the evaluation of four increasingly complex systems, starting with a Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT), successfully adding subsystems up to a hybrid system comprising a CCGT, a photovoltaic field, a methane reformer with carbon capture, a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzer, and a hydrogen compression-storage stage. The appraisal is performed with the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), using technical, economic, sociopolitical, and environmental indicators. We used the Colombian energy market as a case study. The evaluation found that the scenario incorporating all the subsystems achieves the best trade-off across all considered criteria. In nominal conditions, this scenario achieves an overall efficiency of 63.67%, a levelized cost of energy of 0.032 USD/kWh, a carbon footprint of 0.047 kgCO 2 /kWh, and a conventional-to-total power ratio of 70.77%. Integrating electrolysis, reforming with carbon capture for hydrogen generation, and using surplus gas and power reduce CO 2 emissions while increasing profits. Additionally, the combination of hydrogen storage and solar energy enhances overall power generation capabilities. The proposed assessment methodology can be extended to evaluate the viability of similar hybrid systems in other regions and energy markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To describe the clinical features of patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome who have recently been discharged from intensive care units (ICUs) included in a chronic care program in Colombia. Methods. Descriptive case series study of a cohort of patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome who entered the Remeo® chronic care program between July 2020 and May 2021. Clinical features, complications, and treatments are described. Results. Among patients in the program discharged from an ICU, 122 cases of post-COVID-19 syndrome were identified. These patients continued in the program. The mean age was 66.9 years (CI 64-68); 62.29% were men, 88.9% (109) had a tracheostomy, 72.8% (90) had a gastrostomy, and 99% required supplemental oxygen. In the first four months, 9,518 interventions were carried out, including physical therapy (x:20.7), occupational therapy (x:10.9), respiratory therapy (x:41.4), and psychology (x:4.8). Conclusions. The chronic care program was an option for patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome recently discharged from an ICU, with a view to minimizing ICU occupation rates and facilitating patients' return to their homes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]