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This study investigates the temporal dynamics, sources, and photochemical behaviour of key volatile organic compounds (VOCs) along Marylebone Road, London (1 January 2015–1 January 2023), a heavily trafficked urban area. Hourly measurements of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, ethene, propene, isoprene, propane, and ethyne, alongside ozone (O3) and meteorological data, were analysed using correlation matrices, regression, cross-correlation, diurnal/seasonal analysis, wind-sector analysis, PCA (Principal Component Analysis), and clustering. Strong inter-VOC correlations (e.g., benzene–ethylbenzene: r = 0.86, R2 = 0.75; ethene–propene: r = 0.68, R2 = 0.53) highlighted dominant vehicular sources. Diurnal peaks of benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene aligned with rush hours, while O3 minima occurred in early mornings due to NO titration. VOCs peaked in winter under low mixing heights, whereas O3 was highest in summer. Wind-sector analysis revealed dominant VOC emissions from SSW (south-southwest)–WSW (west-southwest) directions; ethyne peaked from the E (east)/ENE (east-northeast). O3 concentrations were highest under SE (southeast)–SSE (south-southeast) flows. PCA showed 39.8% of variance linked to traffic-related VOCs (PC1) and 14.8% to biogenic/temperature-driven sources (PC2). K-means clustering (k = 3) identified three regimes: high VOCs/low O3 in stagnant, cool air; mixed conditions; and low VOCs/high O3 in warmer, aged air masses. Findings highlight complex VOC–O3 interactions and stress the need for source-specific mitigation strategies in urban air quality management.

Tropospheric levels of O3 have historically exceeded the official annual Mexican standards within the Monterrey Metropolitan Area (MMA) in NE Mexico. High-frequency and high-precision measurements of tropospheric O3, NOy, NO2, NO, CO, SO2, PM10 and PM2.5 were made at the Obispado monitoring site near the downtown MMA from September 2012 to August 2013. The seasonal cycles of O3 and NOy are driven by changes in meteorology and to a lesser extent by variations in primary emissions. The NOy levels were positively correlated with O3 precursors and inversely correlated with O3 and wind speed. Recorded data were used to assess the O3-Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)-NOx system’s sensitivity through an observational-based approach. The photochemical indicator O3/NOy was derived from measured data during the enhanced O3 production period (12:00–18:00 Central Daylight Time (CDT), GMT-0500). The O3/NOy ratios calculated for this time period showed that the O3 production within the MMA is VOC sensitive. A box model simulation of production rates of HNO3 (PHNO3) and total peroxides (Pperox) carried out for O3 episodes in fall and spring confirmed the VOC sensitivity within the MMA environment. No significant differences were observed in O3/NOy from weekdays to weekends or for PHNO3/Pperox ratios, confirming the limiting role of VOCs in O3 production within the MMA. The ratified photochemical regime observed may allow the environmental authorities to revise and verify the current policies for air quality control within the MMA.

Purpose: In the last three decades, thousands of companies around the world have embraced the ISO 9001 standard in their quest to improve company performance and customer satisfaction. In recent literature, a number of authors have identified different \"levels\" of ISO 9001 implementation. This study aims to analyse these implementation levels in companies from the point of view of the customer, and provide guidelines for future improvement. Design/methodology/approach: Research was conducted based on the results of the second-party audits (SPAs) of 90 suppliers, (including component suppliers, assemblers, and wind farm operation and maintenance services), to one of the wind power industry's largest wind turbine manufacturers. The audits were carried out within the ISO 9001:2008 framework and conducted by one of this study's authors in his role as the wind turbine company's Director of Global Quality. Findings: Auditing suppliers plays a unique role in helping to isolate system weaknesses, identify opportunities and suggest areas for improvement. This study shows that, in terms of management commitment and culture and the good practices of an organization, ISO 9001 certified companies implement differing degrees of the standard. From the results of this research, a \"road map\" towards improvement can be established; one that allows companies in the sector to go beyond simply being accredited with the standard and instead to take advantage of ISO 9001 certification as a catalyst for change. Research limitations/implications: This article focuses only on the wind power sector, although its findings could be extrapolated to similar sectors of high technology and high levels of customization. Originality/value: While quality audits are a customary topic for academics and researchers, few contributions are related to SPAs and their impact on the quality control process of company suppliers. Primary data from the SPAs of suppliers (objective data collected by one of the paper's authors), was used here and is one of the most valuable aspects of this paper's contribution.

The Wind Forecast Improvement Project (WFIP) is a public–private research program, the goal of which is to improve the accuracy of short-term (0–6 h) wind power forecasts for the wind energy industry. WFIP was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), with partners that included the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), private forecasting companies (WindLogics and AWS Truepower), DOE national laboratories, grid operators, and universities. WFIP employed two avenues for improving wind power forecasts: first, through the collection of special observations to be assimilated into forecast models and, second, by upgrading NWP forecast models and ensembles. The new observations were collected during concurrent year-long field campaigns in two high wind energy resource areas of the United States (the upper Great Plains and Texas) and included 12 wind profiling radars, 12 sodars, several lidars and surface flux stations, 184 instrumented tall towers, and over 400 nacelle anemometers. Results demonstrate that a substantial reduction (12%–5% for forecast hours 1–12) in power RMSE was achieved from the combination of improved numerical weather prediction models and assimilation of new observations, equivalent to the previous decade’s worth of improvements found for low-level winds in NOAA/National Weather Service (NWS) operational weather forecast models. Data-denial experiments run over select periods of time demonstrate that up to a 6% improvement came from the new observations. Ensemble forecasts developed by the private sector partners also produced significant improvements in power production and ramp prediction. Based on the success of WFIP, DOE is planning follow-on field programs.

The linkage between renewable energy resources and environmental influences on economic growth among selected Asian economies play a vital role in sustainable economic development. This study encompasses the panel data sets for eight selected Asian countries, and the period starts from 1990 to 2018. This research relies on the panel vector error correction model (PVECM) for data estimation. The overall findings indicate that biomass, geothermal, and wind power sources of energy have a positive and significant impact on the economic advancement of Asian economies. Besides that, as opposed to the other two renewable energy sources, windpower has a greater impact on economic development. Furthermore, the empirical findings of current research have significant implications towards selected Asian countries’ energy policy related to both private and public sector enterprises as it helps in identifying the industrial sectors which have greater contribution towards the economy and their energy requirements in long term.

The wind industry’s expansion in North America due to the need to provide clean energy is leading to increased regulatory concern for bats, particularly those that are endangered due to white-nose syndrome. The projected growth of installed wind capacity overlaps extensively with the ranges of several endangered and potentially regulated bat species. Wind energy operators in the US can comply with the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by submitting a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and Incidental Take Permit (ITP) to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. HCP documents include wind project overviews, estimates for incidental take (e.g., unavoidable fatalities), outline minimization and compensatory mitigation measures to avoid take, and often include estimated cost information for actions to implement the HCP/ITP. However, the lack of insight into specific cost data, combined with the lengthy ITP application process, has potentially led to the perception that ESA compliance imposes a costly regulatory burden on the private sector, deterring motivation for voluntary compliance. Resulting from the absence of routine reporting practices, it is not known how much it costs for companies to comply with ESA listings, nor is there a standardized database of compliance costs or a method for estimating them. This analysis of 25 publicly available project-specific HCPs published through 2022 establishes one approach to conceptualizing these costs and determined the median total cost for an HCP to be approximately$4.68 million (USD), with a notable discrepancy between the median costs for compensatory mitigation cost ($ 1.64 million) and fatality monitoring ($3.15 million). This analysis also created a general linear model that can be used to estimate potential project-specific costs, and overall provides better insight into the costs of complying with the ESA by identifying variables that might affect compliance costs, and estimating future costs for the wind industry.

This paper examines for the first time the relationship between CO2 emissions and the consumption of renewable and non-renewable energy in Uzbekistan, spanning the period 1985–2020. The analysis uses the Autoregressive Distributed Lags (ARDL) model to estimate the long-run dynamic multipliers and short-run elasticity coefficients of energy consumption variables. Economic factors, such as GDP, are excluded in the analysis as they may cause multicollinearity problems. The empirical results document that in the short- and long-run, hydropower (renewable) energy consumption negatively impacts CO2 emissions per capita, showing a unidirectional causal effect. As regards with non-renewable energy consumption, natural gas and oil energy consumption have a positive impact on CO2 emissions per capita both in the short and long run. Coal consumption positively impacts CO2 emissions in the short run, while it is negative in the long run. Policy measures to enhance the collection of energy from additional renewable energy sources, in particular hydropower, should be taken into account in order to increase the share of renewable energy, and thus, to compensate non-renewable energy consumption which is the main contributor to CO2 emissions. Moreover, solar and wind energy should be explicitly taken into consideration as an additional renewable energy source, which has the lack of attention by policymakers. Furthermore, policy actions, such as the involvement of the private sector into renewable energy projects and the implementation of effective carbon tax policies, could be further options to reduce CO2 emissions.

Purpose This paper aims to review the role of government initiatives for the development of wind power industries in India, to provide better and benevolent policies in the production of wind energy density and to maximize the use of the renewable source of energy which permits to reduce carbon emission from the coal-based power plant and to curtail tackle need of society and mitigate poverty. Design/methodology/approach The present study is carried out on the current position of wind power generation in India. Government policies for promoting clean energy and associated problems are also analysed herein detail. However, secondary approaches are opted in terms of alertness of caring for the environment hazardous and reduced the major economies aspects by fulfilling the schema of Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Findings The prospective of wind energy generation is huge, as an ancient source of energy, wind can be used both as a source of electricity and for agricultural, irrigation uses. The study of wind turbine blades and its features showed how it can be properly fabricated and used to extract the maximum power, even at variable and low wind speeds. Research limitations/implications Although India has achieved a remarkable advancement in wind power sectors, it needs to eradicate all the loopholes to evolve as super power in wind energy sector leaving behind its rivalry China. To do this, it is required to develop in many fields such as skilled manpower, advancement in research and development, grid and turbine installation, proper distribution, smooth land acquisition, modern infrastructure, high investment and above all industry friendly government policy. Practical implications The present study finds out effects of wind power energy as a source of renewable energy to mitigate energy crisis. Social implications As a source of renewable energy and cost effectiveness, wind power can be evolved as a potential means enhance social life. Originality/value The present paper caries out critical analysis for the active use of renewable energy in the present and forthcoming days. Such unique analysis must help India as a developing nation to balance its energy crisis.

Microgrids are an emerging technology that offers many benefits compared with traditional power grids, including increased reliability, reduced energy costs, improved energy security, environmental benefits, and increased flexibility. However, several challenges are associated with microgrid technology, including high capital costs, technical complexity, regulatory challenges, interconnection issues, maintenance, and operation requirements. Through an in-depth analysis of various research areas and technical aspects of microgrid development, this study aims to provide valuable insights into the strategies and technologies required to overcome these challenges. By assessing the current state of microgrid development in Pakistan and drawing lessons from international best practices, our research highlights the unique opportunities microgrids present for tackling energy poverty, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting sustainable economic growth. Ultimately, this research article contributes to the growing knowledge of microgrids and their role in addressing global sustainability issues. It offers practical recommendations for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and local communities in Pakistan and beyond.

Recurrent dust storms represent a significant concern in Australia because of their related hazards and damages since particulate matter (PM) has harmful impacts on the environmental, health and economic sectors. The particulate matter may be released from natural sources and human activities. The major part of natural particulate matter is emitted into the air by wind erosion processes from desert and semi-desert areas at the world scale. A huge dust storm crossed over several areas of New South Wales (NSW), Australia, including the Sydney region on 21–22 November 2018 and decreased the horizontal visibility to less than 1 km for 22 h. This study examined the synoptic weather conditions, and assessed the air quality and identified the source and transport trajectory of the dust storm over Sydney using ground and satellite remote sensing data. PM10 (< 10 μm) concentrations were obtained from selected air quality monitoring sites operated by the Environmental Protection Agency in NSW. The highest hourly concentration of PM10 (578.7 μg/m 3 ) was recorded at Singleton in the Hunter Valley, while concentrations in Sydney ranged from 480 to 385 μg/m 3 , well above the standard air quality level in Australia (50 μg/m 3 per 24 h). The HYSPLIT back trajectories of air parcels suggest that the potential sources of the dust episode originated from the Lake Eyre Basin and northeast South Australia, the Mundi Mundi plains west of Broken Hill, Cobar and the grazing lands and the red sandplains in northwestern NSW. It then travelled towards the east coast. These long-range airflows transported suspended dust particles, raising air quality to hazardous levels (elevated PM10 levels) over most areas of NSW. The results from the HYSPLIT model for dust movement are confirmed by MODIS satellite images. Many areas of NSW experienced this intense dust storm due to northwest wind generated by the low-pressure systems and cold fronts over South Australia and many parts of western NSW as it moved eastward.