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Barney A, Polatidis H, Vakalis S, Grondin D, Benne M, Salces FS, Haralambopoulos D. Energy transition awareness: Can it guide local transition planning on islands? Heliyon 2023; 9:e19960. [PMID: 37809593 PMCID: PMC10559555 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The consequences of climate change and reduced energy security are becoming increasingly apparent, especially on islands. At the same time, the energy transition is quickly spreading and its value to society becoming clearer. Two main obstacles to this transition, rigid policy and lack of local understanding, are particularly troubling on islands, where national policies often aren't flexible enough to consider local particularities and residents are exposed to different energy realities from those on the mainland. Using exploratory interviews and a survey on four islands, this article considers island residents' awareness of energy transition concepts and presents how it interacts with, and is potentially influenced by, relevant energy policies at the national level. The paper presents the comparative results for the geographically, demographically and climatologically diverse islands of Gotland (Sweden), Lesvos (Greece), La Réunion (France) and Mallorca (Spain) to focus on European island energy transitions. Differences were noted between the islands' residents with regards to awareness of and willingness to use specific energy transition tools or to join activities like energy communities. Additionally, differences were noted between the islands for what was the most important reason to consider when using demand response, though 'Ease of use' was important across all. The potential reasons for differences among the islands are discussed and suggestions to increase consumer engagement with energy transition activities on islands are given. Overall, the results show that while awareness of energy concepts isn't greater on these European islands, interest in prospective transition actions was high and provide an opportunity for planners to capitalize on. However, if there are potential policy obstacles, these higher levels of interest cannot ensure higher levels of willingness to engage. Taken together, these two findings indicate the potential for an acceleration of transition activity on these islands, and potentially beyond, should engagement with island residents be increased along with review, and amendment of policies impeding it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Barney
- Uppsala University, Dept. of Earth Sciences, Cramérgatan 3, 621 57, Visby, Sweden
| | - Heracles Polatidis
- Uppsala University, Dept. of Earth Sciences, Cramérgatan 3, 621 57, Visby, Sweden
| | - Stergios Vakalis
- University of the Aegean, Dept. of Environment, University Hill, 81100, Mytilene, Lesvos, Greece
| | - Dominique Grondin
- ENERGY Lab, University of La Réunion, 15 Avenue René Cassin CS 92003, CEDEX 9, 97744, Saint-Denis, France
| | - Michel Benne
- ENERGY Lab, University of La Réunion, 15 Avenue René Cassin CS 92003, CEDEX 9, 97744, Saint-Denis, France
| | - Fausto Sainz Salces
- International University of La Rioja, College of Engineering and Technology (ESIT), Avenida de la Paz, 137. 26006, Logroño, Spain
| | - Dias Haralambopoulos
- University of the Aegean, Dept. of Environment, University Hill, 81100, Mytilene, Lesvos, Greece
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Battisti C, Fanelli G, Gallitelli L, Scalici M. Dunal plants as sink for anthropogenic marine litter: The entrapping role of Salsola kali L. (1753) in a Mediterranean remote beach (Sardinia, Italy). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 192:115033. [PMID: 37182241 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
The ability to retain anthropogenic marine litter by a halo-psammophilous plant formation dominated by a single prostrate species (Salsola kali) on a Sardinian beach was measured. We hypothesized that the anthropogenic litter (i) is trapped by plants to a greater extent than in control areas, and (ii) has more elongated size, mimicking the organic Posidonia wrack, largely occurring locally as 'banquettes'. Salsola kali patches show an apparently higher anthropogenic litter density than control sites without vegetation. Salsola kali plants trap litter items significantly longer and a larger number of size length categories than control plots. These effects may be due to the prostrate structure of the plant with small thorns at the apex. Also, litter entrapped by plants can interfere with the mechanisms of dune deposition and structuration, in turn affecting food chains by decreasing the availability of organic material for pedofauna.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corrado Battisti
- "Torre Flavia" LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) Station, Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Servizio Aree protette - parchi regionali, Viale G. Ribotta 41, 00144 Rome, Italy.
| | - Giuliano Fanelli
- Department of Environmental Biology, University of Rome Sapienza, Italy.
| | - Luca Gallitelli
- Department of Sciences, University of Rome Tre, Viale Guglielmo Marconi, 446 00146 Rome, Italy.
| | - Massimiliano Scalici
- Department of Sciences, University of Rome Tre, Viale Guglielmo Marconi, 446 00146 Rome, Italy.
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Multi-Energy System Demonstration Pilots on Geographical Islands: An Overview across Europe. ENERGIES 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/en15113908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Smart integration of different energy sectors on islands could serve as a key to achieve their energy independence and carbon neutrality goals and facilitate the large-scale penetration of renewables. Demonstration projects play a vital role in testing innovative sector-coupling solutions and exploring their synergies in the real-life environment. They also help to build the required market confidence and awareness, verify and enhance the societal acceptance, and identify and prevent unnecessary risks and complications. The aim of this paper is to provide the reader with a comprehensive review of 19 research projects, which concern the demonstration of sector-coupling technologies on European islands. The projects are funded by the European Commission and started between 2010 and 2020. The review focuses on the exploration of various technical aspects of 28 demo pilots. In addition, it addresses objectives, contributions, and novelty of the demonstrations and analyses barriers, challenges, risks, and success factors reported by project stakeholders. The paper intends to support the decision-makers on the identification, adoption, and replication of successful technologies. Moreover, it provides researchers and other interested parties with lessons learnt to ensure the successful project execution and technology demonstration in future projects.
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Towards a Just Energy Transition, Barriers and Opportunities for Positive Energy District Creation in Spain. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su13168698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
To mitigate the effects of climate change, the European Commission created a Strategic Energy Technology Plan committing to forming 100 Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) by 2025. These are considered to potentially be major instruments for decarbonization in a just transition. This plan has led to some districts being defined as PEDs, although none have fully met the criteria to be a PED yet. Research shows that new forms of energy ownership and production, as could potentially be found in PEDs, could help reduce energy poverty, which affects a significant segment of the population, as households can reduce their energy expenditure as well as improve their energy behavior. This paper set out to shed light on the PED landscape, investigating the barriers and opportunities to PED creation in Spain and its potential to mitigate energy poverty. We conducted a literature review on community-owned energy in Spain, followed with expert interviews (energy researchers, stakeholders, and NGOs) who focus on sustainability issues in Spain. Results show a number of barriers (lack of knowledge and awareness, and lack of trust from consumers) and opportunities connected with the creation of PEDs. In conclusion, policymaker engagement and support play a key role in successfully implementing PEDs.
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