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Community Renewable Energy Projects. The future of the sustainable energy transition?
Abstract
The Energy Union and the European Green Deal advocate the participation of citizens and communities in the energy transition, which encourage a bottom-up approach in the implementation of sustainable energy initiatives. Both are in tune with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which attempt to involve all members of society in the sustainability path. The reality in EU Member States however, is that community energy still lacks the necessary regulatory framework to compete with large utility companies. This can indicate that the governance framework is lagging behind, still not ready to include communities (collective citizens) as full participants in the energy transition.Citation
Fernandez, R. (2021). Community renewable energy projects: The future of the sustainable energy transition? The International Spectator, 56(3), 87-104. https://doi.org/10.1080/03932729.2021.1959755Publisher
Taylor & FrancisJournal
International SpectatorAdditional Links
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03932729.2021.1959755Type
ArticleDescription
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in International Spectator on 06/09/2021, available online: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03932729.2021.1959755ISSN
0393-2729EISSN
1751-9721ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1080/03932729.2021.1959755
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- Creative Commons
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
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Speed-Related Energy Flow and Joint Function Change During Human WalkingHu, Zheqi; Ren, Lei; email: lei.ren@manchester.ac.uk; Hu, Dan; Gao, Yilei; Wei, Guowu; Qian, Zhihui; Wang, Kunyang; email: kywang@jlu.edu.cn (Frontiers Media S.A., 2021-05-31)During human walking, mechanical energy transfers between segments via joints. Joint mechanics of the human body are coordinated with each other to adapt to speed change. The aim of this study is to analyze the functional behaviors of major joints during walking, and how joints and segments alter walking speed during different periods (collision, rebound, preload, and push-off) of stance phase. In this study, gait experiment was performed with three different self-selected speeds. Mechanical works of joints and segments were determined with collected data. Joint function indices were calculated based on net joint work. The results show that the primary functional behaviors of joints would not change with altering walking speed, but the function indices might be changed slightly (e.g., strut functions decrease with increasing walking speed). Waist acts as strut during stance phase and contributes to keep stability during collision when walking faster. Knee of stance leg does not contribute to altering walking speed. Hip and ankle absorb more mechanical energy to buffer the strike during collision with increasing walking speed. What is more, hip and ankle generate more energy during push-off with greater motion to push distal segments forward with increasing walking speed. Ankle also produces more mechanical energy during push-off to compensate the increased heel-strike collision of contralateral leg during faster walking. Thus, human may utilize the cooperation of hip and ankle during collision and push-off to alter walking speed. These findings indicate that speed change in walking leads to fundamental changes to joint mechanics.



