Corn ethanol produced in the US and sugarcane ethanol produced in Brazil are the world's leading sources of biofuel. Current US biofuel policies create both incentives and constraints for the import of ethanol from Brazil, and together with the competitiveness and greenhouse gas intensity of sugarcane ethanol compared to corn ethanol will determine the extent of these imports. This study analyzes the supply-side determinants of this competitiveness and compares the greenhouse gas intensity of corn ethanol and sugarcane ethanol delivered to US ports. We find that while the cost of sugarcane ethanol production in Brazil is lower than that of corn ethanol in the US, the inclusion of transportation costs for the former and co-product credits for the latter changes their relative competitiveness. We also find that the relative cost of ethanol in the US and Brazil is highly sensitive to the prevailing exchange rate and prices of feedstocks. At an exchange rate of US$1 = R$2.15 the cost of corn ethanol is 15% lower than the delivered cost of sugarcane ethanol at a US port. Sugarcane ethanol has lower GHG emissions than corn ethanol but a price of over $113 per ton of CO 2 is needed to affect competitiveness.

Wind energy is a mature renewable energy source that offers significant potential for near-term (2020) and long-term (2050) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions. Similar to all sectors of the transportation industry, the marine industry is also focused towards reduction of environmental emissions. A direct consequence of this being is a renewed interest in utilising wind as supplementary energy source for propulsion on cargo/merchant ships.This research utilises a techno economic and environmental analysis approach to assess the possibility and benefits of harnessing wind energy, with an aim to establish the potential role of wind energy in reducing GHG emissions during conventional operation of marine vessels. The employed approach enables consistent assessment of different competing traditional propulsion systems when operated in conjunction with a novel environmental friendly technology, in this instance being the Flettner rotor technology. The assessment specifically focuses on quantifying the potential and relative reduction in fuel consumption and pollutant emissions that may be accrued while operating on typical Sea Lines of Communication.The results obtained indicate that the implementation of Flettner towers on commercial vessels could result in potential savings of up to 20% in terms of fuel consumption, and similar reductions in environmental emissions.

Corn ethanol produced in the US and sugarcane ethanol produced in Brazil are the world's leading sources of biofuel. Current US biofuel policies create both incentives and constraints for the import of ethanol from Brazil, and together with the competitiveness and greenhouse gas intensity of sugarcane ethanol compared to corn ethanol will determine the extent of these imports. This study analyzes the supply-side determinants of this competitiveness and compares the greenhouse gas intensity of corn ethanol and sugarcane ethanol delivered to US ports. We find that while the cost of sugarcane ethanol production in Brazil is lower than that of corn ethanol in the US, the inclusion of transportation costs for the former and co-product credits for the latter changes their relative competitiveness. We also find that the relative cost of ethanol in the US and Brazil is highly sensitive to the prevailing exchange rate and prices of feedstocks. At an exchange rate of US$1 = R$2.15 the cost of corn ethanol is 15% lower than the delivered cost of sugarcane ethanol at a US port. Sugarcane ethanol has lower GHG emissions than corn ethanol but a price of over $113 per ton of CO 2 is needed to affect competitiveness.

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This work presents an accurate method for the calculation of the compensating impedances for an uncoventional three-phase rural distribution network using two overhead wires and the ground for energy transmission. This system is referred as T2F scheme, which is an inherently unsymmetrical 3-phase system. The paper deals with the compensating method using a series impedance in the earth return path and a shunt capacitance connected between the two wires. A simulation study in MATLAB/Simulink was conducted in a medium voltage radial distribution system to verify a need of compesating impedances by analysing of unbalaced voltages and voltage drop. This study shows that the system is capable of operating within the unbalancing factor standards and voltage drops limits, as seen in the simulations results.