Jiufu Luo, Zhongxin Luo, Wen Li et al.

Agronomy • 2024

The co-allocation of photovoltaic arrays with crops presents a promising strategy to mitigate the conflict between photovoltaics and agricultural land. However, there is a notable lack of quantitative research on the impact of agrivoltaic system on land quality in fragile areas. In this study, peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) and ryegrass (Lolium perenne) were cultivated in photovoltaic array in the dry–hot valley of southwest China, with an off-site native land serving as the control. Sixteen soil physicochemical and biochemical parameters were measured in the gap and under-panel and control area. Results demonstrated that the agrivoltaic system significantly enhanced soil moisture, organic carbon, nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium nutrients, microbial biomass, and urease activity. It also led to varying degrees of increase in soil pH and electrical conductivity, along with reduced soil sucrase and phosphatase activity. In comparison to the control, the agrivoltaic system notably improved soil quality and multifunctionality. Specially, gap cultivation had a more pronounced positive impact on soil quality than under-panel cultivation, and the cultivation of peanuts had a greater effect on soil quality and multifunctionality improvement than ryegrass. This study provides fundamental data to support the improvement of land quality in photovoltaic developed regions, and to alleviate the conflict between photovoltaics and agricultural land.

L. Nadimuthu, K. Victor, Mohit Bajaj et al.

Scientific Reports • 2025

Agriculture constitutes a foundational pillar of the Indian economy, contributing nearly 18% to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and ranking second globally in horticultural output. Beyond its economic significance, the sector underpins rural employment, food security, and a wide range of agro-based downstream industries. Despite these strengths, Indian agriculture continues to encounter critical bottlenecks—most notably, post-harvest losses in fruits, which are estimated to range between 6.02% and 15.05%. These losses are predominantly attributed to the lack of accessible and decentralized cold storage infrastructure. Maintaining optimal temperature and humidity levels throughout the cold chain is essential to curtail physicochemical degradation and suppress microbial growth, both of which substantially diminish the quality and shelf life of perishable produce. This study introduces a solar photovoltaic (PV)-driven micro cold storage (MCS) system, specifically engineered for seamless integration with electric vehicles (EVs) to effectively mitigate post-harvest losses in perishable agricultural commodities. The research undertakes a comprehensive performance evaluation of the proposed system, which employs a thermoelectric cooling mechanism powered entirely by solar energy. Emphasis is placed on assessing the system’s thermal, electrical, and microbial preservation capabilities under both static and dynamic operational conditions, highlighting its potential for sustainable and mobile cold chain applications in rural agricultural contexts. The system comprises a 100 Wp polycrystalline solar photovoltaic (PV) module, which supplies power to a 12 V/6A shunt-configured thermoelectric cooler with a 12 L storage capacity via a 12 V/8A solar charge controller. Functioning as an off-grid refrigeration unit, the system is supported by a 12 V/40Ah battery energy storage system. The experimental analysis focuses on assessing the shelf life of Vitis vinifera (grapes) over a one-week storage period by measuring physiological loss in weight (PLW) as the key parameter for evaluating storage efficiency. The refrigeration chamber maintains a controlled temperature range of + 2 °C to + 8 °C. Findings indicate a controlled weight reduction of up to 87.6% in refrigerated grapes compared to those stored under ambient conditions. Also, the system’s performance to maintain proper storage conditions during short-distance transportation (six hours) is evaluated to demonstrate effective farm-to-market connectivity through electric vehicle utilization. The study evaluates the electrical and thermal performance of a system for renewable energy-integrated electric vehicle applications. It also investigates the effectiveness of a solar-powered modified controlled storage (MCS) system in preventing microbial growth and maintaining agro-produce quality during storage and transport. The microbial load, including bacterial, fungal, and yeast populations, was quantified using colony-forming unit (CFU) counts per millilitre to evaluate the system’s efficacy in ensuring food safety. The findings underscore the environmental sustainability and practical applicability of the MCS system in the preservation of perishable agricultural produce. By enabling access to affordable, reliable, and renewable energy sources, the system directly contributes to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7, while simultaneously addressing food waste reduction and improving the efficiency and resilience of agro-supply chains.

Mostefaoui Z, Amara S

Physical Science & Biophysics Journal • 2022

With the growth of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, renewable energies have become a promising solution to reduce global warming and pollution. One of the government’s goals is to introduce renewable energy in all sectors, especially the agricultural sector, which relies heavily on fossil fuels to operate milking cooling systems and other systems. This article presents a real study on the feasibility and efficiency of Grid connected PV system on a dairy farm, in Tlemcen province. It’s a typical farm that consumes about 42MWh / year of electrical energy. On this basis, we will dimension the system using the HOMER software, to feed this farm. A Grid connected PV system of 30W could produce 54.03MWh/yr, with Renewable Fraction of 53%, and 28.54kWh/yr was generated from the PV array, and 25.44kWh/yr is the amount of electricity purchased by the grid, while, the energy injected into the grid was estimated at 8.430 MWh/yr. In order to show the feasibility of this system we will proposed another system based on diesel generator, so that we can economically compare between the two systems, the lowest net present cost (NPC) of Diesel system of 25kW was estimated at 826$, with a cost of energy (COE) of 1.51$/kWh, while, the highest net present cost (NPC) of PV-Grid system (40kW) is 233$, and the cost of energy (COE) is 0.42$/ kWh. Therefore, this study shows the effectiveness of the grid-PV system in economic and environmental terms, thus, the use of this system in most dairy farms in Algeria contributes to the development of national agricultural production.

Kwangbok Jeong, Taehoon Hong, Choongwan Koo et al.

Applied Sciences • 2017

This study aims to design and develop the prototype models of the smart photovoltaic system blind (SPSB). To achieve this objective, the study defined the properties in three ways: (i) the photovoltaic (PV) panel; (ii) the tracking system; and (iii) the monitoring system. First, the amorphous silicon PV panel was determined as a PV panel, and the width and length of the PV panel were determined to be 50 mm and 250 mm, respectively. Second, the four tracker types (i.e., fixed type, vertical single-axis tracker, horizontal single-axis tracker, and azimuth-altitude dual-axis tracker) was applied, as well as the direct tracking method based on the amount of electricity generated as a tracking system. Third, the electricity generation and environmental conditions were chosen as factors to be monitored in order to evaluate and manage the technical performance of SPSB as a monitoring system. The prototype model of the SPSB is designed and developed for providing the electricity generated from its PV panel, as well as for reducing the indoor cooling demands through the blind’s function, itself (i.e., blocking out sunlight).

Nexhmi Krasniqi, Armend Ymeri

Interciencia • 2025

This study assesses the capacity of Photovoltaic (PV) Systems for Autonomous Irrigation in Kosovo, evaluating the feasibility and effectiveness of solar power in meeting the energy demands of agricultural water management. The study quantifies the potential of PV Systems to sustainably power Autonomous Irrigation technologies, considering Kosovo's unique geographical and climatic conditions. Key factors such as PV System efficiency, reliability under varying weather conditions, and economic viability compared to conventional energy sources are analysed. In practice, average daily solar radiation, often expressed as "peak sun hours" (kWh/m²/day), is a critical parameter for estimating PV energy generation. Geographic Information System (GIS) tools are employed to identify peak solar radiation periods, particularly in June, July, and August, when irrigation demand is highest. The findings of this study offer valuable insights into the integration of renewable energy solutions to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability in Kosovo.

Cui Li, Jinxian Liu, Jiabing Bao et al.

Land • 2023

The large-scale construction of photovoltaic (PV) panels causes heterogeneity in environmental factors, such as light, precipitation, and wind speed, which may lead to microhabitat climate changes that may affect ecosystems. In this study, plant–soil–microbial systems in shady and non-shady gaps of PV panels in a solar park in Northern China were investigated. The shading caused by the PV panels significantly affected the alpha diversity of plant and fungal communities (p < 0.05). The compositions of plant and soil microbial (bacteria, fungi, and protists) communities were significantly different between shady and non-shady areas (p < 0.05), and the beta diversity of the plant community was significantly correlated with that of the soil microbial community (p < 0.05). Shading enhanced the complexity of microbial communities by strengthening the associations among soil microbes. Photosynthetically active radiation was the main driving factor in the assembly of aboveground and belowground communities on a small scale, and it indirectly shaped the microbial community through its effects on the plant community. This study highlights the important effects of light on microbial community formation and on the relationships among communities in plant–soil–microbial systems. Thus, the effects of solar park establishment on degraded ecosystems should be considered.

Atıl Emre Cosgun, Hasan Demir

Energies • 2024

Photovoltaic (PV) modules have emerged as a promising technology in the realm of sustainable energy solutions, specifically in the harnessing of solar energy. Photovoltaic modules, which use solar energy to generate electricity, are often used on terrestrial platforms. In recent years, there has been an increasing inclination towards the installation of photovoltaic (PV) modules over water surfaces, including lakes, reservoirs, and even oceans. The novel methodology introduces distinct benefits and complexities, specifically pertaining to the thermal characteristics of the modules. In order to accomplish this objective, a photovoltaic (PV) module system with a capacity of 1 MW was developed as a scenario in the PVsyst Program. The scenario simulation was conducted on the Mamasın Dam, situated in the Gökçe village within the Aksaray province. To conduct the efficiency analysis, a comparative evaluation was conducted between bifacial and monofacial modules, which were installed from above the water at 1 m. The comparison was made considering two different types of modules. Additionally, the albedo effect, water saving amount, and CO2 emissions of the system were also investigated. Albedo measurements were made in summer when the PV power plant will operate most efficiently. As a result of the simulations, it was found that bifacial modules produce 12.4% more energy annually than monofacial modules due to the albedo effect. It is estimated that PV power plant installation will save 19,562.695 and 17,253.475 tons of CO2 emissions in bifacial and monofacial systems, respectively.

Yuanzheng Li, Zhixian Ni, Tianyang Zhao et al.

IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications • 2020

Electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy, such as wind power, have been widely utilized to meet the sustainable development of our society. To this end, research articles on the operation performance of the EV-wind integrated power system are important. This article proposes a coordinated scheduling model, which aims to improve the wind power adsorption while considering the energy conservation and emission reduction of thermal generators. Besides, to conduct a comprehensive investigation among these multiple objectives, we formulate the coordinated scheduling model as a multiobjective optimization problem. Then, a multiobjective optimization algorithm based on a parameter adaptive differential evolution is proposed to solve this problem. Simulation results based on a modified Midwestern USA power system verify that the proposed scheduling model could reveal the relationship among multiple objectives, and the integration of EVs can improve the wind power adsorption and cost effectiveness of the power system.

Md. Shafiul Alam, Tanzib Chowdhury, Abhishak Dhar et al.

Energies • 2023

A paradigm shift in power systems is observed due to the massive integration of renewable energy sources (RESs) as distributed generators. Mainly, solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and wind generators are extensively integrated with the modern power system to facilitate green efforts in the electrical energy sector. However, integrating these RESs destabilizes the frequency of the modern power system. Hitherto, the frequency control has not drawn sufficient attention due to the reduced inertia and complex control of power electronic converters associated with renewable energy conversion systems. Thus, this article provides a critical summary on the frequency control of solar PV and wind-integrated systems. The frequency control issues with advanced techniques, including inertia emulation, de-loading, and grid-forming, are summarized. Moreover, several cutting-edge devices in frequency control are outlined. The advantages and disadvantages of different approaches to control the frequency of high-level RESs integrated systems are well documented. The possible improvements of existing approaches are outlined. The key research areas are identified, and future research directions are mentioned so that cutting-edge technologies can be adopted, making the review article unique compared to the existing reviews. The article could be an excellent foundation and guidance for industry personnel, researchers, and academicians.

Tamarana S V S Pavan Teja, S. K. Prince, M. R. et al.

2022 4th International Conference on Energy, Power and Environment (ICEPE) • 2022

This work presents grid-tied wind power generating system (WPGS) with a shunt active power filter (SAPF) is put forward for compensation of reactive power, balancing of grid current, correction of power factor and reduction current harmonics. Perturbation and observation (P&O) based MPPT is implemented to control the boost converter and achieve the maximum power from the WEGS. The proposed controller is used to send the maximum power from the renewable energy system to the critical loads with unity power factor. The proposed controller is implemented using MATLAB/Simulink platform under several test conditions such as balanced grid voltages, grid voltage sag & swell and dynamic load condition. Finally, the suggested control scheme’s dynamic performance is determined to be good, and the THD analysis of grid currents is found to be well within IEEE 519 limits.

J. Rao, B. Bhalja, M. Andreev et al.

IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery • 2022

Integration of wind-based renewable energy sources into long Extra High Voltage/Ultra High Voltage uncompensated/compensated power transmission network poses significant problems in terms of proper detection of power swings and effective discrimination between symmetrical faults and power swing situations. As the existing protection strategies are unable to detect the said circumstances, a novel technique, based on the difference between sending end and receiving end positive sequence currents angles of the transmission line, is proposed in this paper. The required data is collected with the help of Phasor Measurement Units placed on both sides of the line. The scheme results in effective discrimination between distinct faults and circumstances of asymmetrical/symmetrical power swing and achieves satisfactory outcome during current transformer saturation condition. The proposed algorithm is evaluated on the wind-integrated IEEE-9 bus system by producing power swings, various cases of faults, and faults during power swings. Validation of the suggested technique was carried out by the execution of hardware-in-loop simulation on a Real-Time Digital Simulator. The achieved outcomes disclose higher sensitivity and better discriminating ability of the presented technique in comparison with those of numerous prevailing methods.

M. Varan, A. Erduman, Furkan Menevşeoğlu

Energies • 2023

Keeping the bus voltage within acceptable limits depends on dispatching reactive power. Power quality improves as a result of creating an effective power flow system, which also helps to reduce power loss. Therefore, optimal reactive power dispatch (ORPD) studies aim at designing appropriate system configurations to enable a reliable operation of power systems. Establishment of such a configuration is handled through control variables in power systems. Various control variables, such as adjusting generator bus voltages, transformer tap locations, and switchable shunt capacitor sizes, are utilized to achieve this objective. Additionally, the integration of wind power can greatly impact power quality and mitigate power loss. In this study, the Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO) approach was applied to the ORPD issue for the first time to discover the best placement of newly installed wind power in the power system while taking into account tap changer settings, shunt capacitor sizes, and generated power levels. The main objective was to determine optimal wind placement to minimize power loss and voltage deviation, while maintaining control variables within specified limits. On the basis of IEEE 30-bus and IEEE 118-bus systems, the performance of the proposed method was investigated. The results demonstrated the superiority of GWO in multiple scenarios. In IEEE-30, GWO outperformed the PSO, GA, ABC, OGSA, HBMO, and HFA methods, reducing total loss by 10.36%, 18.03%, 9.19%, 7.13%, 5.23%, and 7.73%, respectively, and voltage deviation by 68.00%, 1.59%, 36.34%, 41.97%, 46.29%, and 71.08%, respectively. In wind integration scenarios, GWO achieved the simultaneous reduction of power loss and voltage deviation. In IEEE-118, GWO outperformed the ABC, PSO, GSA, and CFA methods, reducing power loss by approximately 19.91%, 16.83%, 14.09%, and 4.36%, respectively, and voltage deviation by 8.50%, 14.15%, 16.19%, and 7.17%, respectively. These promising results highlighted the potential of the GWO algorithm to facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources, and its role in promoting sustainable energy solutions. In addition, this study conducted an analysis to investigate site-specific wind placement by using the Weibull distribution function and commercial wind turbines.

Xiaoqing Li, Lizhi Zhang, Ruiqi Wang et al.

IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications • 2023

Biogas-solar-wind integrated energy systems are effective for optimizing rural energy consumption and improving agricultural production. The performance of an integrated energy system generally depends on its capacity configuration. However, the uncertainties of renewable energy sources and loads deepen the coupling relationship between the capacity configuration and energy dispatching of integrated energy systems, which makes optimizing the capacity difficult. We propose a two-stage robust optimization model for the capacity configuration of a biogas-solar-wind integrated energy system that is applicable to rural areas. First, a framework of the biogas-solar-wind integrated energy system was designed and diverse evaluation indices were introduced. Then, the integrated energy system model was transformed into a two-stage robust optimization problem, where the column-and-constraint generation algorithm is used to solve the installed capacity problem of the system equipment in the first stage, and the nested column-and-constraint generation algorithm is used to optimize the energy dispatching schedule in the second stage. Finally, the proposed model was applied to a rural area in China to confirm the rationality and effectiveness of the optimization results.

Neevatika Verma, Narendra Kumar, Saket Gupta et al.

Protection and Control of Modern Power Systems • 2023

Emerging sub-synchronous interactions (SSI) in wind-integrated power systems have added intense attention after numerous incidents in the US and China due to the involvement of series compensated transmission lines and power electronics devices. SSI phenomenon occurs when two power system elements exchange energy below the synchronous frequency. SSI phenomenon related to wind power plants is one of the most significant challenges to maintaining stability, while SSI phenomenon in practical wind farms, which has been observed recently, has not yet been described on the source of conventional SSI literature. This paper first explains the traditional development of SSI and its classification as given by the IEEE, and then it proposes a classification of SSI according to the current research status, reviews several mitigation techniques and challenges, and discusses analysis techniques for SSI. The paper also describes the effect of the active damping controllers, control scheme parameters, degree of series compensation, and various techniques used in wind power plants (WPPs). In particular, a supplementary damping controller with converter controllers in Doubly Fed Induction Generator based WPPs is briefly pronounced. This paper provides a realistic viewpoint and a potential outlook for the readers to properly deal with SSI and its mitigation techniques, which can help power engineers for the planning, economical operation, and future expansion of sustainable development.

F. H. Malik, Muhammad Waseem Khan, Tauheed Ur Rahman et al.

Energies • 2024

The fast growth of the world’s energy demand in the modernized world has stirred many countries around the globe to focus on power generation by abundantly available renewable energy resources. Among them, wind energy has attained significant attention owing to its environment-friendly nature along with other fabulous advantages. However, wind-integrated power systems experience numerous voltage instability complexities due to the sporadic nature of wind. This paper comprehensively reviews the problems of voltage instability in wind-integrated power systems, its causes, consequences, improvement techniques, and implication of grid codes to keep the operation of the network secure. Thorough understanding of the underlying issues related to voltage instability is necessary for the development of effective mitigation techniques in order to facilitate wind integration into power systems. Therefore, this review delves into the origin and consequences of voltage instability, emphasizing its adverse impacts on the performance and reliability of power systems. Moreover, it sheds light on the challenges of integrating wind energy with existing grids. This manuscript provides a comprehensive overview of the essential features required for critical analysis through a detailed examination of Voltage Stability Indices (VSIs). To address voltage stability issues in wind-integrated power systems, this review examines diverse techniques proposed by researchers, encompassing the tools utilized for assessment and mitigation. Therefore, in the field of power system operation and renewable energy integration, this manuscript serves as a valuable resource for researchers by comprehensively addressing the complexities and challenges associated with voltage instability in wind-integrated power systems.

D. Pattison, M. Segovia Garcia, W. Xie et al.

Wind Energy • 2016

Abstract A novel architecture and system for the provision of Reliability Centred Maintenance (RCM) for offshore wind power generation is presented. The architecture was developed by conducting a bottom‐up analysis of the data required to support RCM within this specific industry, combined with a top‐down analysis of the required maintenance functionality. The architecture and system consists of three integrated modules for intelligent condition monitoring, reliability and maintenance modelling, and maintenance scheduling that provide a scalable solution for performing dynamic, efficient and cost‐effective preventative maintenance management within this extremely demanding renewable energy generation sector. The system demonstrates for the first time the integration of state‐of‐the‐art advanced mathematical techniques: Random Forests, dynamic Bayesian networks and memetic algorithms in the development of an intelligent autonomous solution. The results from the application of the intelligent integrated system illustrated the automated detection of faults within a wind farm consisting of over 100 turbines, the modelling and updating of the turbines' survivability and creation of a hierarchy of maintenance actions, and the optimizing of the maintenance schedule with a view to maximizing the availability and revenue generation of the turbines. © 2015 The Authors. Wind Energy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd

SM. Alamelu, R.P.Kumudini Devi

Wind Engineering • 2010

The depletion of fossil fuel reserves, emission of greenhouse gases and the uneven distribution of existing reserves led the countries to look for sustainable alternatives, especially wind power. In India mostly Squirrel cage induction generators (SCIG) are used for extracting energy from the wind. Induction generators inject real power to the grid and absorb reactive power from grid. Normally, fixed capacitors of rating equal to no-load compensation are installed at the wind-turbine. Reactive power absorbed by the SCIG over and above the no-lad compensation is dependent on the operating condition. To compensate for the reactive power (over and above the no-load compensation) dynamic VAR compensator can be installed at the point of common coupling. When the wind-farm is connected to a weak grid there may be a problem with wind penetration into the grid. UPFC (a versatile FACTS controller) will be able to alleviate the problems associated with fixed speed wind-farms that are connected to a weak grid. In this paper finding the location and capacity of the UPFC for minimisation of power generation cost is posed as a non-linear optimization problem. An efficient Primal-Dual Interior Point algorithm in conjunction with second order sensitivity analysis is made use for solving the above problem. The optimal line placement for wind penetration in terms of marginal values of UPFC variables are identified using first order sensitivity analysis. Second order sensitivity analysis has been employed to identify the optimal line placement for highest cost savings. Further actual cost savings and optimal control settings of UPFC are evaluated by actually placing UPFC in each line. The proposed approach is tested on a sample 9-bus system using the program developed in Matlab and the results are encouraging. The results indicate that the estimation of optimal placement of UPFC for a large system is possible reducing the computation time involved.

David Rehnlund, Edina Klein, Miriam Edel et al.

ECS Meeting Abstracts • 2020

Microbial cultivation with the aid of microfluidic flow chambers has a great potential to form biofilms on an easy to handle laboratory scale. Our microfluidic cultivation platform with a modular design offers versatility and precision in terms of simulating different environments to study multiple growth conditions 1 . Thus, a long-term cultivation of biofilms can easily be obtained with the possibility of integrated on-line optical analysis. In this paper we will present our recent development of a bioelectrochemical microfluidic platform that allows cultivation and characterization of exoelectrogenic biofilms under anoxic conditions. Electroactive biofilms will be cultivated and characterized in the microfluidic bioelectrochemical system focusing on electroactive microorganisms such as Shewanella oneidensis . The conductive intracellular protein chain of these microbes enables extracellular electron transfer (EET) from the cytoplasm through the cell membranes to an insoluble electron acceptor, such as an anode 2 . Different deletion strains were cultivated and could be examined and compared with each other by chronoamperometry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Genetically engineered strains focus on probing key genes that affect the biofilm forming properties of Shewanella oneidensis 3 . In-situ fluorescence microscopy studies of biofilm formation and interaction will also be presented based on our modular microfluidic bioelectrochemical platform. We will also present our ongoing research on artificial electroactive biofilms that integrate electrodeposited nanostructures with a biocompatible hydrogel to form an artificial biofilm matrix. In summary, electroactive biofilm growth under anoxic conditions using an anode as electron sink can be studied using our microfluidic flow technology. Examples of the versatility of the system as well as future outlooks on further biofilm growth conditions will be presented. References 1. Hansen, S. H. et al. Machine-assisted cultivation and analysis of biofilms. Sci. Rep. 9 , 8933 (2019). 2. Richter, K., Schicklberger, M. & Gescher, J. Dissimilatory Reduction of Extracellular Electron Acceptors in Anaerobic Respiration. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 913–921 (2012). doi:10.1128/AEM.06803-11 3. Arinda, T. et al. Addition of Riboflavin-Coupled Magnetic Beads Increases Current Production in Bioelectrochemical Systems via the Increased Formation of Anode-Biofilms. Front. Microbiol. 10 , 1–8 (2019).

Roozbeh Bakhshi, Peter Sandborn

Wind Energy • 2020

Abstract Wind energy is an important source of renewable energy with significant untapped potential around the world. However, the cost of wind energy production is high, and efforts to lower the cost of energy generation will help enable more widespread use of wind energy. Yaw error reduces the efficiency of turbines as well as lowers the reliability of key components in turbines. Light detection and ranging (LIDAR) devices can correct the yaw error; however, they are expensive, and there is a trade‐off between their costs and benefits. In this study, a stochastic discrete‐event simulation was developed that models the operation of a wind farm. We maximize the net present value (NPV) changes associated with using LIDAR devices in a wind farm and determine the optimum number of LIDAR devices and their associated turbine stay time as a function of number of turbines in the wind farm for specific turbine sizes. The outcome of this work will help wind farm owners and operators make informed decisions about purchasing LIDAR devices for their wind farms.

Rajesh Karki, Dinesh Dhungana, Roy Billinton

Applied Sciences • 2013

Adverse environmental impacts of carbon emissions are causing increasing concerns to the general public throughout the world. Electric energy generation from conventional energy sources is considered to be a major contributor to these harmful emissions. High emphasis is therefore being given to green alternatives of energy, such as wind and solar. Wind energy is being perceived as a promising alternative. This source of energy technology and its applications have undergone significant research and development over the past decade. As a result, many modern power systems include a significant portion of power generation from wind energy sources. The impact of wind generation on the overall system performance increases substantially as wind penetration in power systems continues to increase to relatively high levels. It becomes increasingly important to accurately model the wind behavior, the interaction with other wind sources and conventional sources, and incorporate the characteristics of the energy demand in order to carry out a realistic evaluation of system reliability. Power systems with high wind penetrations are often connected to multiple wind farms at different geographic locations. Wind speed correlations between the different wind farms largely affect the total wind power generation characteristics of such systems, and therefore should be an important parameter in the wind modeling process. This paper evaluates the effect of the correlation between multiple wind farms on the adequacy indices of wind-integrated systems. The paper also proposes a simple and appropriate probabilistic analytical model that incorporates wind correlations, and can be used for adequacy evaluation of multiple wind-integrated systems.

Andrea Capodaglio, Daniele Cecconet, Daniele Molognoni

Processes • 2017

Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) represent a still relatively new technology for liquid organic waste treatment and simultaneous recovery of energy and resources. Although the technology is quite appealing due its potential benefits, its practical application is still hampered by several drawbacks, such as systems instability (especially when attempting to scale-up reactors from laboratory prototypes), internally competing microbial reactions, and limited power generation. This paper is an attempt to address some of the issues related to MFC application in wastewater treatment with a simulation model. Reactor configuration, operational schemes, electrochemical and microbiological characterization, optimization methods and modelling strategies were reviewed and have been included in a mathematical simulation model written with a multidisciplinary, multi-perspective approach, considering the possibility of feeding real substrates to an MFC system while dealing with a complex microbiological population. The conclusions drawn herein can be of practical interest for all MFC researchers dealing with domestic or industrial wastewater treatment.

Xavier Alexis Walter, Irene Merino-Jimenez, John Greenman et al.

ECS Meeting Abstracts • 2018

The main competitive advantage of the microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology is to generate electricity from organic waste, which is otherwise considered expensive to treat; as such, interest in this field has intensified over the two last decades. Efforts have mainly focussed on improving the materials employed, the design configuration and the energy-harvesting peripherals. Many improvement solutions have been proposed within the last decade, more and more pilot-scale systems feeding on various kinds of feedstock have been tested (e.g. domestic wastewater, brewery waste, marine sediments, urine). A previous field trial at Glastonbury Music Festival has already demonstrated the feasibility of directly using urine from festival goers to light-up a urinal, thereby setting a benchmark in urine fuelled-MFCs for self-sustainable applications [1]. Furthermore, the concept of self-stratifying membraneless MFC (SSM-MFC) has also been reported. This approach allows scaling-up units’ sizes without significant power density losses, within the tested range (from 900 mL to 5000mL), a factor that has proven an obstacle in previous studies. This design had only been tested under controlled laboratory conditions and never trialled under real usage conditions [2, 3]. In the current study the results of an autonomous system, which was tested at the Glastonbury Music Festival 2016 are presented. To perform this trial, large MFC modules were built, tested and integrated in a setup that comprised a urinal, a stack of 12 SSM-MFCs modules, and an energy management control system harvesting the generated energy to power the lighting of the urinal. The urinal was large enough to accommodate 12 users at any given time and consisted of troughs directing urine to a buffer tank. This tank, equipped with an over flow redirecting excess urine, was connected to a passive feeding mechanism that was supplying urine to a MFC stack of 12 modules every time a volume of 9 L was reached. The stack was set with 6 independent cascades, each having 2 MFC modules electrically connected in parallel. Each module of the cascade comprised 38 MFCs submerged in the same electrolyte and electrically connected in parallel. All six cascades were electrically connected in series. The energy was then harvested and stored in a battery bank. At night (≈9h30 duty-cycles), the control board was redirecting the energy towards 6 LED strips (2.862W) lighting the urinal. Results from laboratory conditions have shown that the power density of a single module was ~2.75 W.m -3 , whereas under real conditions the power density ranged from ~1.70 to ~2.36 W.m -3 (total volumetric footprint). The energy harvested from the undiluted urine was sufficient to power the PEE POWER® lights for 9h30 every day. Under laboratory conditions, at 44h hydraulic retention time (HRT) the COD was reduced from 5.586 mg COD.L -1 to 0.625 mg COD.L -1 (88%); the nitrogen was also reduced by 29%. In the field, with a HRT of 11h40, the COD decreased by 48% and the total nitrogen content by 13%. When plotting data from the laboratory tests together with the ones of the field trial, the fitted Michaelis-Menten curve (r 2 =0.960) indicates that with a HRT of ≈64h, the COD could be reduced to the European Union standard for discharge (0.125 mg COD.L -1 ). Compared to the 2015 field trial benchmark [1], the present system demonstrates a 37 % higher COD removal with a 50% shorter HRT, and produced ≈30% more energy in a third of the total volumetric footprint. Overall, these results correspond to an over 7-fold technological improvement. [1] Ieropoulos IA, Stinchcombe A, Gajda I, Forbes S, Merino-Jimenez I, Pasternak G, Sanchez-Herranz D and Greenman J. Pee power urinal - microbial fuel cell technology field trials in the context of sanitation. Environ. Sci.-Wat. Res. Technol. 2016;2:336-343 [2] Walter XA, Gajda I, Forbes S, Winfield J, Greenman J and Ieropoulos I. Scaling-up of a novel, simplified MFC stack based on a self-stratifying urine column. Biotechnology for Biofuel 2016;9:93 [3] Walter XA, Stinchcombe A, Greenman J and Ieropoulos I. Urine transduction to usable energy: a modular MFC approach for smartphone and remote system charging. Applied Energy 2017;192:575-581

Glen-Oliver. F. Gowers, Oliver Vince, John-Henry Charles et al.

Genes • 2019

Microbial communities in remote locations remain under-studied. This is particularly true on glaciers and icecaps, which cover approximately 11% of the Earth’s surface. The principal reason for this is the inaccessibility of most of these areas due to their extreme isolation and challenging environmental conditions. While remote research stations have significantly lowered the barrier to studying the microbial communities on icecaps, their use has led to a bias for data collection in the near vicinity of these institutions. Here, miniaturisation of a DNA sequencing lab suitable for off-grid metagenomic studies is demonstrated. Using human power alone, this lab was transported across Europe’s largest ice cap (Vatnajökull, Iceland) by ski and sledge. After 11 days of unsupported polar-style travel, a metagenomic study of a geothermal hot spring gorge was conducted on the remote northern edge of the ice cap. This tent-based metagenomic study resulted in over 24 h of Nanopore sequencing, powered by solar power alone. This study demonstrates the ability to conduct DNA sequencing in remote locations, far from civilised resources (mechanised transport, external power supply, internet connection, etc.), whilst greatly reducing the time from sample collection to data acquisition.

Foziah Gazzawe, Marwan Albahar

F1000Research • 2025

Background The farming industry faces continuous threats from pest control and farm security issues because rodents cause significant damage to crops and disrupt farm operations. Traditional pest control methods require continuous human interaction which proves both resource-intensive and inefficient. Modern agricultural practices benefit from sustainable solutions through the combination of renewable energy with smart technologies. Method The research presents an innovative solar-powered motion-sensor system that utilizes OpenCV-based image analysis to detect and classify rodent intruders on farmland autonomously. The system depends on solar panels for energy autonomy while employing computer vision to monitor threats in real time and classify them. Results The system demonstrates its ability to detect and prevent rodent intruders according to initial testing results. The OpenCV system uses motion sensor signals to analyze movement patterns before distinguishing rodents from other detected objects. The solar-powered system operates continuously which decreases human intervention needs and enhances farm surveillance capabilities. The model demonstrates its capability to defend crops from rodent damage and enhance farm resistance against land degradation threats. Conclusion The proposed system demonstrates progress in uniting renewable energy systems with smart surveillance technologies to mitigate agricultural risks. The current system encounters problems with detecting wild animals beyond rodents as well as tracking rodent activity beneath ground level. Future developments could include improved pest capture systems alongside enhanced surveillance features for detecting both unauthorized human intruders and large animals. The research shows that solar power systems need to be connected with automated monitoring technology to create sustainable agricultural operations that are efficient and resilient.

Liesje De Schamphelaire, Angela Cabezas, Massimo Marzorati et al.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology • 2010

ABSTRACT By placing the anode of a sediment microbial fuel cell (SMFC) in the rhizosphere of a rice plant, root-excreted rhizodeposits can be microbially oxidized with concomitant current generation. Here, various molecular techniques were used to characterize the composition of bacterial and archaeal communities on such anodes, as influenced by electrical circuitry, sediment matrix, and the presence of plants. Closed-circuit anodes in potting soil were enriched with Desulfobulbus -like species, members of the family Geobacteraceae , and as yet uncultured representatives of the domain Archaea .

Paul Bertheau, Catherina Cader, Hendrik Huyskens et al.

Resources • 2015

Many people in African countries lack access to sufficient electricity supply due to missing infrastructure of the centralized conventional power generation system. In order to provide electricity to a wider part of the population, it is necessary to exploit the vast renewable resources in African countries. Therefore, this paper scrutinizes the economic advantages of photovoltaic-based hybrid systems over fossil fuel-based power generation. A simulation model is applied in order to calculate the cost advantage of hybrid systems compared to diesel-only systems for the entire continent on a long term basis by applying two scenarios: one based on world market diesel prices and the other one based on national diesel prices. The results indicate that average power generation costs per country can be reduced by up to 0.11 €/kWh considering world market diesel prices and by up to 0.48 €/kWh considering national diesel prices. Furthermore, the effect of diesel fuel subsidies and taxes on the renewable energy potential and the respective savings are examined. These findings may ameliorate the policy development according to fossil fuel subsidies and taxes and demonstrate the advantages of decentralized renewable hybrid systems especially in rural areas of Africa.

Iwona Gajda, John Greenman, Chris Melhuish et al.

Scientific Reports • 2016

Abstract This study presents a simple and sustainable Microbial Fuel Cell as a standalone, self-powered reactor for in situ wastewater electrolysis, recovering nitrogen from wastewater. A process is proposed whereby the MFC electrical performance drives the electrolysis of wastewater towards the self-generation of catholyte within the same reactor. The MFCs were designed to harvest the generated catholyte in the internal chamber, which showed that liquid production rates are largely proportional to electrical current generation. The catholyte demonstrated bactericidal properties, compared to the control (open-circuit) diffusate and reduced observable biofilm formation on the cathode electrode. Killing effects were confirmed using bacterial kill curves constructed by exposing a bioluminescent Escherichia coli target, as a surrogate coliform, to catholyte where a rapid kill rate was observed. Therefore, MFCs could serve as a water recovery system, a disinfectant/cleaner generator that limits undesired biofilm formation and as a washing agent in waterless urinals to improve sanitation. This simple and ready to implement MFC system can convert organic waste directly into electricity and self-driven nitrogen along with water recovery. This could lead to the development of energy positive bioprocesses for sustainable wastewater treatment.

Lisa Keller, D. Colman, E. Boyd

PNAS Nexus • 2023

Abstract Natural thermal geysers are hot springs that periodically erupt liquid water, steam, and gas. They are found in only a few locations worldwide, with nearly half located in Yellowstone National Park (YNP). Old Faithful geyser (OFG) is the most iconic in YNP and attracts millions of visitors annually. Despite extensive geophysical and hydrological study of geysers, including OFG, far less is known of the microbiology of geysed waters. Here, we report geochemical and microbiological data from geysed vent water and vent water that collects in a splash pool adjacent to OFG during eruptions. Both waters contained microbial cells, and radiotracer studies showed that they fixed carbon dioxide (CO2) when incubated at 70°C and 90°C. Shorter lag times in CO2 fixation activity were observed in vent and splash pool waters incubated at 90°C than 70°C, suggesting cells are better adapted or acclimated to temperatures like those in the OFG vent (∼92–93°C). 16S rDNA and metagenomic sequence data indicated that both communities are dominated by the autotroph Thermocrinis, which likely fuels productivity through the aerobic oxidation of sulfide/thiosulfate in erupted waters or steam. Dominant OFG populations, including Thermocrinis and subdominant Thermus and Pyrobaculum strains, exhibited high-strain level genomic diversity (putative ecotypes) relative to populations from nongeysing YNP hot springs that is attributed to the temporal chemical and temperature dynamics caused by eruptions. These findings show that OFG is habitable and that its eruption dynamics promote genomic diversity, while highlighting the need to further research the extent of life in geyser systems such as OFG.

Wulin Yang, Bruce E. Logan

Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology • 2016

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) cathodes must have high performance and be resistant to water leakage.

Shekhar Nagar, Chandni Talwar, Mikael Motelica-Heino et al.

Frontiers in Microbiology • 2022

Sulfur related prokaryotes residing in hot spring present good opportunity for exploring the limitless possibilities of integral ecosystem processes. Metagenomic analysis further expands the phylogenetic breadth of these extraordinary sulfur (S) metabolizing microorganisms as well as their complex metabolic networks and syntrophic interactions in environmental biosystems. Through this study, we explored and expanded the microbial genetic repertoire with focus on S cycling genes through metagenomic analysis of S contaminated hot spring, located at the Northern Himalayas. The analysis revealed rich diversity of microbial consortia with established roles in S cycling such as Pseudomonas , Thioalkalivibrio , Desulfovibrio , and Desulfobulbaceae ( Proteobacteria ). The major gene families inferred to be abundant across microbial mat, sediment, and water were assigned to Proteobacteria as reflected from the reads per kilobase (RPKs) categorized into translation and ribosomal structure and biogenesis. An analysis of sequence similarity showed conserved pattern of both dsrAB genes ( n = 178) retrieved from all metagenomes while other S disproportionation proteins were diverged due to different structural and chemical substrates. The diversity of S oxidizing bacteria (SOB) and sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) with conserved (r) dsrAB suggests for it to be an important adaptation for microbial fitness at this site. Here, (i) the oxidative and reductive dsr evolutionary time–scale phylogeny proved that the earliest (but not the first) dsrAB proteins belong to anaerobic Thiobacillus with other ( rdsr ) oxidizers, also we confirm that (ii) SRBs belongs to δ- Proteobacteria occurring independent lateral gene transfer (LGT) of dsr genes to different and few novel lineages. Further, the structural prediction of unassigned DsrAB proteins confirmed their relatedness with species of Desulfovibrio (TM score = 0.86, 0.98, 0.96) and Archaeoglobus fulgidus (TM score = 0.97, 0.98). We proposed that the genetic repertoire might provide the basis of studying time–scale evolution and horizontal gene transfer of these genes in biogeochemical S cycling.

Kamila Knapik, Manuel Becerra, María-Isabel González-Siso

Scientific Reports • 2019

Abstract Here, we describe the metagenome composition of a microbial community in a hot spring sediment as well as a sequence-based and function-based screening of the metagenome for identification of novel xylanases. The sediment was collected from the Lobios Hot Spring located in the province of Ourense (Spain). Environmental DNA was extracted and sequenced using Illumina technology, and a total of 3.6 Gbp of clean paired reads was produced. A taxonomic classification that was obtained by comparison to the NCBI protein nr database revealed a dominance of Bacteria (93%), followed by Archaea (6%). The most abundant bacterial phylum was Acidobacteria (25%), while Thaumarchaeota (5%) was the main archaeal phylum. Reads were assembled into contigs. Open reading frames (ORFs) predicted on these contigs were searched by BLAST against the CAZy database to retrieve xylanase encoding ORFs. A metagenomic fosmid library of approximately 150,000 clones was constructed to identify functional genes encoding thermostable xylanase enzymes. Function-based screening revealed a novel xylanase-encoding gene ( XynA3 ), which was successfully expressed in E . coli BL21. The resulting protein (41 kDa), a member of glycoside hydrolase family 11 was purified and biochemically characterized. The highest activity was measured at 80 °C and pH 6.5. The protein was extremely thermostable and showed 94% remaining activity after incubation at 60 °C for 24 h and over 70% remaining activity after incubation at 70 °C for 24 h. Xylanolytic activity of the XynA3 enzyme was stimulated in the presence of β-mercaptoethanol, dithiothreitol and Fe 3+ ions. HPLC analysis showed that XynA3 hydrolyzes xylan forming xylobiose with lower proportion of xylotriose and xylose. Specific activity of the enzyme was 9080 U/mg for oat arabinoxylan and 5080 U/mg for beechwood xylan, respectively, without cellulase activity.

Christaline George, Chloe Xue Qi Lim, Yan Tong et al.

Frontiers in Microbiology • 2023

The Sembawang Hot Spring in Singapore lies at the foot of a major regional geological feature called the Bentong-Raub Suture Zone. Amid an extensively managed surface geothermal park, an undisturbed hot spring emerges with source water at 61°C, pH 6.8, and 1 mg/L dissolved sulfide. A small main pool at the source supported orange-green benthic flocs, whereas the outflow channel with gradually less extreme environmental stress supported extensive vivid green microbial mats. Microscopy revealed that cyanobacterial morphotypes were distinct in flocs and mats at several intervals along the environmental gradient, and we describe a spiraling pattern in the oscillatorian cyanobacteria that may reflect response to poly-extreme stress. Estimation of diversity using 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed assemblages that were dominated by phototrophic bacteria. The most abundant taxa in flocs at 61°C/1 mg/L sulfide were Roseiflexus sp. and Thermosynechococcus elongatus , whilst the mats at 45.7–55.3°C/0–0.5 mg/L sulfide were dominated by Oscillatoriales cyanobacterium MTP1 and Chloroflexus sp. Occurrence of diverse chemoautotrophs and heterotrophs reflected known thermal ranges for taxa, and of note was the high abundance of thermophilic cellulolytic bacteria that likely reflected the large allochthonous leaf input. A clear shift in ASV-defined putative ecotypes occurred along the environmental stress gradient of the hot spring and overall diversity was inversely correlated to environmental stress. Significant correlations for abiotic variables with observed biotic diversity were identified for temperature, sulfide, and carbonate. A network analysis revealed three putative modules of biotic interactions that also reflected the taxonomic composition at intervals along the environmental gradient. Overall, the data indicated that three distinct microbial communities were supported within a small spatial scale along the poly-extreme environmental gradient. The findings add to the growing inventory of hot spring microbiomes and address an important biogeographic knowledge gap for the region.

T. Santini, Lucy Gramenz, G. Southam et al.

Frontiers in Microbiology • 2022

Salt lakes are globally significant microbial habitats, hosting substantial novel microbial diversity and functional capacity. Extremes of salinity and pH both pose major challenges for survival of microbial life in terrestrial and aquatic environments, and are frequently cited as primary influences on microbial diversity across a wide variety of environments. However, few studies have attempted to identify spatial and geochemical contributions to microbial community composition, functional capacity, and environmental tolerances in salt lakes, limiting exploration of novel halophilic and halotolerant microbial species and their potential biotechnological applications. Here, we collected sediment samples from 16 salt lakes at pH values that ranged from pH 4 to 9, distributed across 48,000 km2 of the Archaean Yilgarn Craton in southwestern Australia to identify associations between environmental factors and microbial community composition, and used a high throughput culturing approach to identify the limits of salt and pH tolerance during iron and sulfur oxidation in these microbial communities. Geographical distance between lakes was the primary contributor to variation in microbial community composition, with pH identified as the most important geochemical contributor to variation in microbial community composition. Microbial community composition split into two clear groups by pH: Bacillota dominated microbial communities in acidic saline lakes, whereas Euryarchaeota dominated microbial communities in alkaline saline lakes. Iron oxidation was observed at salinities up to 160 g L–1 NaCl at pH values as low as pH 1.5, and sulfur oxidation was observed at salinities up to 160 g L–1 NaCl between pH values 2–10, more than doubling previously observed tolerances to NaCl salinity amongst cultivable iron and sulfur oxidizers at these extreme pH values. OTU level diversity in the salt lake microbial communities emerged as the major indicator of iron- and sulfur-oxidizing capacity and environmental tolerances to extremes of pH and salinity. Overall, when bioprospecting for novel microbial functional capacity and environmental tolerances, our study supports sampling from remote, previously unexplored, and maximally distant locations, and prioritizing for OTU level diversity rather than present geochemical conditions.

Fei-Li Zeng, Yonghong Zhu, Dongling Zhang et al.

Frontiers in Microbiology • 2022

The soil in Yuncheng Salt Lake has serious salinization and the biogeographic environment affects the composition and distribution of special halophilic and salt-tolerant microbial communities in this area. Therefore, this study collected soils at distances of 15, 30, and 45 m from the Salt Lake and used non-saline soil (60 m) as a control to explore the microbial composition and salt tolerance mechanisms using metagenomics technology. The results showed that the dominant species and abundance of salt-tolerant microorganisms changed gradually with distance from Salt Lake. The salt-tolerant microorganisms can increase the expression of the Na+/H+ antiporter by upregulating the Na+/H+ antiporter subunit mnhA-G to respond to salt stress, simultaneously upregulating the genes in the betaine/proline transport system to promote the conversion of choline into betaine, while also upregulating the trehalose/maltose transport system encode genes to promote the synthesis of trehalose to resist a high salt environment.

Yihang Fang, Huifang Xu, Fraklin Hobbs

Sedimentology • 2023

Since the discovery of dolomite, numerous attempts have been made to understand its precipitation mechanism at Earth's surface conditions. One such mechanism relies on a relationship with microbial life, where laboratory synthesis experiments have shown that specific organic molecules, such as polysaccharides, exopolymeric substances and hydrogen sulphide can promote dolomite precipitation. Other mechanisms for precipitating dolomite focus on abiotic chemical environments, such as adding dissolved silica, which lower the dehydration energy barrier for the surface Mg2+‐water complex and promote disordered dolomite precipitation. Modern occurrences of dolomite in the Great Salt Lake, Utah, have been studied since the early 20th Century. The distribution of primary dolomite in the Great Salt Lake is spatially heterogeneous, with only the carbonate mud in the South Arm and ridge‐site between desiccation cracks in the North Arm being dominated by dolomite and calcite, while stromatolites in both Arms and ooidal sands in the North Arm are composed entirely of aragonite. It was proposed that dolomite precipitation in the Great Salt Lake was possibly induced by microbial activities such as organic degradation, bacteria sulphate reduction, or other microbial metabolic by‐products. However, these hypotheses could not explain the lack of dolomite in microbial mats, especially in the North Arm, which is constituted by mostly aragonite with no dolomite. Our results suggest that dissolved silica concentration is the primary control for dolomite and Mg‐clay formation in the Great Salt Lake. Even though the North Arm has a much more concentrated Mg and Ca water from lack of freshwater input, dissolved silica levels in the South Arm (>0.5 mm) and the Ridge‐site (ca 0.5 mm) are much higher than in the North Arm (<0.2 mm). Our finding could also provide a new proxy for reconstructing climate changes in the Great Salt Lake area based on dolomite content variation. Phanerozoic dolomite abundance variations may be linked to global CO2 level that facilitates global chemical weathering and dissolved silica input into palaeo‐ocean.

Shenxiang Zhang, Xian Wei, Xue Cao et al.

Nature Communications • 2024

The demand for lithium extraction from salt-lake brines is increasing to address the lithium supply shortage. Nanofiltration separation technology with high Mg^2+/Li^+ separation efficiency has shown great potential for lithium extraction. However, it usually requires diluting the brine with a large quantity of freshwater and only yields Li^+-enriched solution. Inspired by the process of selective ion uptake and salt secretion in mangroves, we report here the direct extraction of lithium from salt-lake brines by utilizing the synergistic effect of ion separation membrane and solar-driven evaporator. The ion separation membrane-based solar evaporator is a multilayer structure consisting of an upper photothermal layer to evaporate water, a hydrophilic porous membrane in the middle to generate capillary pressure as the driving force for water transport, and an ultrathin ion separation membrane at the bottom to allow Li^+ to pass through and block other multivalent ions. This process exhibits excellent lithium extraction capability. When treating artificial salt-lake brine with salt concentration as high as 348.4 g L^−1, the Mg^2+/Li^+ ratio is reduced by 66 times (from 19.8 to 0.3). This research combines ion separation with solar-driven evaporation to directly obtain LiCl powder, providing an efficient and sustainable approach for lithium extraction. An efficient and cost-effective Mg/Li separation process is necessary for lithium extraction from Salt Lake brines. Inspired by the mangroves, authors developed a direct lithium extraction method from Salt Lake brines through the synergistic effect of an ion separation membrane and a solar evaporator.

Gary E. Belovsky, Chad Larson, Younjin Han et al.

Aquatic Ecology • 2025

Abstract Over 27 years in Great Salt Lake (GSL: Utah, USA), phytoplankton relative abundances of chlorophytes, diatoms and cyanobacteria varied dramatically (monthly &lt; 10–90% for each). This observed variability within the lake was compared to laboratory experimental results with pure cultures (&gt; &gt; 90%) of several of the most common GSL phytoplankton (chlorophyte– Dunaliella viridis , diatom– Nitzschia epithemioides , cyanobacterium– Euhalothece sp.). Maximum abundances and growth rates were measured across ranges of temperature (10–30 °C), salinity (30–150 ppt) and nutrients (nitrogen: 0.0–0.64 mg/L, silica:17–51 mg/L) observed within GSL. Experimental results indicated the abundance and growth rate of D. viridis increased as salinity and nitrogen increased and decreased as temperature increased. The abundances and growth rates of N. epithemioides and Euhalothece decreased as salinity increased, and increased as temperature and nitrogen increased, and N. epithemioides increased as silica increased. Observed GSL phytoplankton relative abundances responded to environmental conditions as observed in the experiments, but correlations were weak except for chlorophytes, as diatoms and cyanobacteria relative abundances occasionally increased with unfavorable experimental conditions. The weak correlations between laboratory results and GSL observations could be due to the release of diatoms and cyanobacteria from microbialite biofilms in the lake’s benthos with cold stress and high winds, as a 5–10% release can produce diatom and cyanobacteria phytoplankton relative abundances of 24–48%. This suggests a novel potential link between GSL pelagic and benthic zones.

Osama M. Alian, William J. Brazelton, Karmina A. Aquino et al.

Frontiers in Microbiomes • 2025

Oceanic hydrothermal vent systems represent some of the oldest habitats on Earth and serve as analogs for extraterrestrial environments. The Lost City Hydrothermal Field (LCHF) near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is one such environment, and its large chimneys are unique in hosting actively venting hydrothermal fluids that are primarily controlled by serpentinization reactions in the subseafloor. Microbial communities within LCHF have been studied for insights into their functional adaptations to the warm, alkaline, and dissolved inorganic carbon-limited environment. Metagenomic and mineralogical data collected during a recent expedition to Lost City were analyzed to delineate associations between microbial populations and physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the chimneys. Bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences show a high degree of putative microdiversity within the relatively dominant genera Desulfotomaculum, Sulfurovum, Thiomicrorhabdus, and Serpentinicella, which represent a large core of the overall LCHF vent bacterial community. This microdiversity relates to the compositional fraction of aragonite, brucite, and calcite minerals within chimney samples rather than just the composition of nearby vent fluids. Although many species are found in both chimneys and venting fluids, the overall microbial community structures in chimney biofilms remain distinct from the hydrothermal fluids that flow through them. Shotgun metagenomic analyses reveal differences among genes predicted to be involved in carbon, methane, nitrogen and sulfur cycling with respect to their correlations to the abundances of specific minerals. These data hint at microenvironmental complexity lost within standard bulk analyses. The findings of this study underscore the need to more closely examine microbe-mineral interactions in natural environments, critically informing not just population-level distributions, but also the functional underpinnings of these extremophile microbial communities.

T. Schuler, J. Kohler, N. Elagina et al.

Frontiers in Earth Science • 2020

Since the first estimates of Svalbard-wide glacier mass balance were made in the early 2000s, there has been great progress in remote sensing and modeling of mass balance, existing field records have been extended, field records at new locations have been added, and there has been considerable environmental change. There is a wide spread in the available estimates of both total mass balance and surface or climatic mass balance, but there is overall agreement that the glaciers on Svalbard have been losing mass since the 1960s, with a tendency toward more negative mass balance since 2000. We define criteria to select data that are representative and of high credibility; this subset shows a more coherent evolution and reduced spread. In addition, we combine individual field mass balance records collected by different groups into a single dataset that samples glaciers across Svalbard and a range of different size classes. We find a close relationship between measured specific surface mass balance and size of the glacier, in such a way that smaller glaciers experience more negative surface mass balances. A qualitatively similar relationship between the accumulation area ratio and glacier area is found for all glaciers in the Svalbard, suggesting that the relation derived from glaciological records is not only an artifact caused by the limited number of samples (n = 12). We apply this relation to upscale measured surface mass balance for a new estimate for all glaciers of Svalbard. Our reconciled estimates are −7 ± 4 Gt a–1 (2000–2019) for the climatic mass balance, and −8 ± 6 Gt a–1 for the total mass balance. The difference between the two represents the sum of frontal ablation and the combined uncertainty, which together amount to ca. −2 ± 7 Gt a–1. While this is consistent with a previous estimate of Svalbard-wide frontal ablation, the uncertainties are large. Furthermore, several large and long-lasting surges have had considerable and multi-year impact on the total mass balance, and in particular on calving rates, emphasizing the need for better-resolved and more frequently updated estimates of frontal ablation.

M. Hopwood, D. Carroll, T. Dunse et al.

The Cryosphere • 2019

Abstract. Freshwater discharge from glaciers is increasing across the Arctic in response to anthropogenic climate change, which raises questions about the potential downstream effects in the marine environment. Whilst a combination of long-term monitoring programmes and intensive Arctic field campaigns have improved our knowledge of glacier–ocean interactions in recent years, especially with respect to fjord/ocean circulation, there are extensive knowledge gaps concerning how glaciers affect marine biogeochemistry and productivity. Following two cross-cutting disciplinary International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) workshops addressing the importance of glaciers for the marine ecosystem, here we review the state of the art concerning how freshwater discharge affects the marine environment with a specific focus on marine biogeochemistry and biological productivity. Using a series of Arctic case studies (Nuup Kangerlua/Godthåbsfjord, Kongsfjorden, Kangerluarsuup Sermia/Bowdoin Fjord, Young Sound and Sermilik Fjord), the interconnected effects of freshwater discharge on fjord–shelf exchange, nutrient availability, the carbonate system, the carbon cycle and the microbial food web are investigated. Key findings are that whether the effect of glacier discharge on marine primary production is positive or negative is highly dependent on a combination of factors. These include glacier type (marine- or land-terminating), fjord–glacier geometry and the limiting resource(s) for phytoplankton growth in a specific spatio-temporal region (light, macronutrients or micronutrients). Arctic glacier fjords therefore often exhibit distinct discharge–productivity relationships, and multiple case-studies must be considered in order to understand the net effects of glacier discharge on Arctic marine ecosystems.