Abstract
The integration in electric power networks of new renewable energy facilities is the final result of a complex planning process. One of the important objectives of this process is the selection of suitable geographical locations where such facilities can be built. This selection procedure can be a difficult task because of the initially opposing positions of the different agents involved in this procedure, such as, for example, investors, utilities, governmental agencies or social groups. The conflicting interest of the agents can delay or block the construction of new facilities. This paper presents a new decision support system, based on Geographic Information Systems, designed to overcome the problems posed by the agents and thus achieve a consensual selection of locations and overcome the problems deriving from their preliminary differing preferences. This paper presents the description of the decision support system, as well as the results obtained for two groups of agents useful for the selection of locations for the construction of new wind farms in La Rioja (Spain).

Abstract

Abstract
In this paper, Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) are used to model an extraction process that uses a supercritical fluid as solvent which its pilot installation is located at the Institute of Experimental and Technological Biology - IBET in Oeiras - Lisbon - Portugal. A strategy is used to complement the experimental data collected in laboratory during extraction procedures of useful compositions for the pharmaceutical industry using Black Agglomerate Residues (BAR) originating from of the cork production as raw material. The strategy involves fitting of data obtained during an operation of extraction. Two neural models are presented: the neural model trained using a Mean Square Error (MSE) minimization algorithm and the neural model which the learning was based on the error entropy minimization. A comparison of the performance of the two models is presented. © 2008 IEEE.

Abstract
A new methodology to evaluate well-being indices for a composite generation and transmission system, based on non-sequential Monte Carlo simulation and pattern recognition techniques, is presented. To classify the success operating states into healthy and marginal, an artificial neural network based on group method data handling techniques is used to capture the patterns of these state classes, during the beginning of the simulation process. The idea is to provide the simulation process with an intelligent memory, based on polynomial parameters, to speed up the evaluation of the operating states. The proposed methodology is applied to the IEEE reliability test system (IEEE-RTS), to the IEEE-RTS-96 and to a configuration of the Brazilian South-Southeastern system.

Abstract
Incipient fault diagnosis is closely related to isolation condition assessment. There are a great number of methods available for condition monitoring and diagnosis of power transformer isolation systems, but only few of them can take direct measurements inside the transformer. Fibre optic sensors can be applied to incipient fault diagnosis. In special, acoustic sensors are being developed for the detection and location of partial discharges in oil-filled power transformers. Towards such objective, this work reports investigation on the applicability of fibre Fabry-Perot interferometers for acoustic detection both in air and in liquids.

Abstract
This paper reports new results in adopting entropy concepts to the training of mappers such as neural networks to perform wind power prediction as a function of wind characteristics (mainly speed and direction) in wind parks connected to a power grid. Renyi's Entropy is combined with a Parzen Windows estimation of the error pdf to form the basis of three criteria (MEE, MCC and MEEF) under which neural networks are trained. The results are favourably compared with the traditional minimum square error (MSE) criterion. Real case examples for two distinct wind parks are presented.