Argyris G. Kagiannas

Artificial intelligence in short term electric load forecasting: a state-of-the-art survey for the researcher

Abstract Intelligent solutions, based on artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, to solve complicated practical problems in various sectors are becoming more and more widespread nowadays. AI-based systems are being developed and deployed worldwide in myriad applications, mainly because of their symbolic reasoning, flexibility and explanation capabilities. This paper provides an overview for the researcher of AI technologies, as well as their current use in the field of short term electric load forecasting (STELF). The history of AI in STELF is outlined, leading to a discussion of the various approaches as well as the current research directions. The paper concludes by sharing thoughts and estimations on AI future prospects in this area. This review reveals that although still regarded as a novel methodology, AI technologies are shown to have matured to the point of offering real practical benefits in many of their applications.

Energy Policy Making: An Old Concept or a Modern Challenge?

Abstract The energy policy is directed by the three main objectives, namely the security of supply, the competitiveness of the energy market, and the environmental protection. In addition to this, now the energy policy is developed through a number of social and economical challenges. As a result, a comprehensive and modern energy policy making, which can be characterized by clarity and transparency, is necessary. Even though energy policy making has been the subject of many researchers, comprehensive and modern studies examining the multiple and often conflicting parameters that have to be incorporated is not present in the international literature. In the above context, the purpose of this article is to review and analyze the current concept and the challenges toward the modern energy policy making, based on the three energy policy objectives as well as the impact of the crucial parameters.

The impact of clean development mechanism in achieving sustainable development

The flexible mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol, the clean development mechanism (CDM), should fulfil a twin objective: cost-effective greenhouse gas mitigation and enhancement of sustainable development in developing countries. As most host CDM countries have not established the proper institutional capacity to approve CDM projects and, at the same time, are prerogative to define sustainable development criteria for CDM projects, there is a clear need for a single set of guidelines or one evaluation system that accounts both climate and sustainable development considerations in the approval process of CDM projects. This paper proposes a set of sustainability criteria and indicators for CDM projects screening, reflecting the environmental, social, economic and technological dimension of sustainable development. Sufficient attention has been paid to determine globally relevant criteria and indicators. Priority has been given to energy sector CDM projects.

Energy policy assessment of the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation

The Euro-Mediterranean Energy Partnership between the 15 EU member states and the 12 Mediterranean countries of North Africa and Eastern Mediterranean is functioning since 1995 with an action plan for the development of a Free Trade Area by the year 2010. The process is highly motivated by the mutual interests that both parties have. The Mediterranean countries see it as a vehicle to associate themselves with their partner in the north and secure technical assistance, while for the EU, the process is expected to create a favourable and stable climate for energy investments and to secure access to the energy sources available in the region. The policy instruments have been established and the basis of the dialogue has been agreed through the adoption of three energy policy objectives, namely security of supply, competitiveness of the energy industry and environmental protection. The paper aims to present in a coherent way the energy policy status of the Mediterranean countries involved in the Partnership and identify the challenges and the priorities to be addressed. Though a policy paper, the authors aim to cultivate the ground and provide a solid basis for future research derived from the need to develop guidelines for the achievement of the above objectives.

Energy policy indicators for the assessment of the Euro-Mediterranean energy cooperation

The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership was initiated in 1995 and is highly motivated by the mutual interests that both parties have. The Mediterranean countries involved see it as a vehicle to associate themselves with their partner in the north and secure technical assistance provision for the development of their energy sector, while for EU the process is expected to create a favourable and stable climate for energy investments and to secure access to the energy sources available in the region. The energy cooperation is directed by the three common energy policy objectives, namely security of supply, competitiveness of the energy industry and environmental protection. The paper discusses the challenges derived from this cooperation and presents the level of achievement of the energy policy objectives adopted. A set of energy policy indicators have been developed in order to provide a quantitative assessment of the status of the above objectives. The use of these indicators is expected to provide an impetus for the identification of policy actions and guidelines for the achievement of the objectives of the partnership.

Bridging GCC needs in downstream oil and gas sector with EU technologies

The present situation in oil and gas downstream technologies presents a trend in their development to give an adequate answer to the increasing challenges related to the reduction of capital, field operation and transport as well as to environmental protection and safety. The technologies available from EU providers seem globally to be in line with GCC users needs and are required in the GCC market, although with an uneven distribution due to the characteristics of each GCC member state. The paper outlines the main issues in oil and gas downstream advanced technologies and proposes an advanced technology match between needs and offers of the above technologies as perceived both by the GCC operators and EU technology providers.

EU-GCC energy policy cooperation through upstream oil and gas advanced technology transfer

GCC region is one of the most prolific petroleum provinces in the world. However technical and financial conditions have changed advanced technologies must provide appropriate solutions. The impact of technological developments is further accentuated when viewed within the overall policy for energy cooperation between GCC and the EU. EU providers are able to provide such technologies and to bring solutions to these specific issues on most segments of the activities, including equipment, software and consultancy. The scope of this paper is to outline the main advancements in oil and gas upstream technologies defined as exploration, development and production of hydrocarbons up to the well head and to present a technological match between GCC needs and EU technological offers as perceived both by GCC operators and EU technology providers.