This paper elucidates the development of electricity production and distribution in Greece from the 1950s to date, in correlation with national and European energy policy. During this period, Greece experienced a multifaceted energy transition, including both the transition of ownership of energy generation companies from public to private and a transition from an energy mix in which coal (lignite) served as a major and inexpensive resource to a mix in which wind power, solar power and natural gas gained a primary role, but with high costs for energy generation. The correlation between electrical energy consumption and economic growth is explored in this context, revealing an increase in consumption before the 2009 recession and a decline thereafter. The study investigates the correlation between escalating electricity prices and legislative dependencies that mandated the purchase of wind- and solar-generated electricity at exorbitant rates, the closure of cost-effective lignite units, and the reliance on natural gas—a commodity susceptible to geopolitical shifts. It also shows that, given the structure of the Greek energy mix, the increase in the share of wind and solar energy in the mix is directly related to the increase in the price of electricity. Highlighting the importance of energy costs for prosperity, this paper underscores, through the detailed review of the Greek energy “landscape”, that the major determinants of electricity prices are both the accessibility to natural resources but also their proper and judicious management.
A smooth transition towards a clean and sustainable environment will heavily rely on the continuous increase of renewable energy (RE) integration. Malaysian authorities have set targets to increase the RE capacity to 31% by the end of 2025 and achieve 40% by 2035, specifically through the power generation plan. Solar PV systems have been widely used, from industries to residential homes, because Malaysia receives a high irradiation potential of up to 5000 Wh/year. The increase in the potential of solar PV usage has allowed solar companies to provide this system regardless of its complexity and system size. However, a drop in efficiency due to system parameters within the photovoltaic (PV) system is evident over time. This study aims to analyze the relationship between solar PV system parameters and their energy performance, particularly in a tropical climate region, for a large-scale solar (LSS) plant. This project was undertaken with two objectives: First, it is to develop an optimum solar PV system by adhering to and implementing GCPV standards in Malaysia. Stage 1 will primarily focus on managing and manipulating various PV system parameters to ensure the optimum energy yield received from the plant. The system parameters analyzed are tilt angle, module technology and its effect on different temperatures, the effect of the optimizer, sizing and thermal loss. Stage 2 will then incorporate the industry data of the LSS plant by creating a Pearson’s Correlation model on how energy yield is correlated against real time system parameter values obtained. An optimum tilt angle of 10°, monocrystalline module and inclusion of optimizer increases the overall energy production from 88,986 MWh/year to 89,782 MWh/year and performance ratio (PR) from 78.9% to 79.8%. The outcome of this study demonstrates the significant parameters of the PV system to maximize the energy output to the grid. This will further support the government’s plan to reduce GHG emissions by 45% through the use of renewable energy, with the aim of producing up to 2.5 GW from LSS systems by 2030.
This paper takes Beijing as a research object to develop a framework for assessing urban public service facilities’ resilience, incorporating both macro and micro perspectives. Initially, the study utilizes spatial matching theory and coupling coordination models at the district and sub-district levels to analyze the spatial coupling between public service facility layouts and population distribution, thereby identifying regions exhibiting discrepancies in service supply and demand. Building on this foundation, the research further investigates at the neighborhood level the alignment between different types of public service facilities and residents’ daily activity patterns through the living circle theory and accessibility analysis models. From a macro perspective, research findings indicate that the layout of Beijing’s public service facilities exhibits a radial structure of centralized clustering and polycentric dispersion and that the resilience of these facilities diminishes from the city center outward. Microanalysis in three outlier sub-districts of Chaoyang District reveals that the accessibility to cultural and social welfare facilities in Daitou Sub-district is below the regional average and exceeds the typical 15-min walking distance accessible to the average person. Based on these findings, the paper proposes specific policy recommendations, including prioritizing the establishment of multifunctional public service facilities in densely populated and underserved peripheral areas and reserving adequate land for facilities in newly developing areas to ensure the sustainability of urban growth. Additionally, it is recommended that urban planners utilize dynamic data updating mechanisms to adjust the distribution of public service facilities, thereby better accommodating changes in population structure. This study not only highlights the dual role of public service facilities in enhancing urban resilience and living quality but also provides theoretical support and empirical evidence for creating a human-centered urban resilience spatial structure.
