Abstract
Large-scale compressed air energy storage (CAES) is conventionally used in power systems. However, application of CAESs at the distribution level is limited because of differences in design and efficiency. On the other hand, application of electrical batteries suited for distribution networks (DNs) faces also challenges from high investment cost and significant degradation. In this regard, this paper presents the participation of an active distribution system equipped with a small-scale CAES (SCAES) in the day-ahead wholesale market. To make CAES applicable to DNs, thermal-electrical setting design of the SCAES coupled with a packed-bed heat exchanger is adopted in the operation of the grid, where SCAES performs as an energy storage for DNs to surpass existing deficiencies of battery banks. The electrical/thermal conversion rate has been modeled for the SCAES operation. Moreover, the operation strategy of the SCAES is optimally coordinated with an electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) as an alternative energy storage technology in deregulated DNs. To make EVCS simulation more realistic, Gaussian Copula probability distribution function is used to model the behavior of the EVCS. The results obtained from different case studies confirm the value of SCAES as a reliable energy storage technology for DNs.

Abstract

Abstract
Autonomous inspection Unmanned Aerial Vehicle systems are an essential research area, including power line distribution inspection. Considerable efforts to solve the demanding presented in the autonomous UAV inspection process are present in technical and scientific research. One of these challenges is the precise positioning and fly control of the UAV around the energy structures, which is vital to assure the security of the operation. The most common techniques to achieve precise positioning in UAV fly are Global Positioning Systems with Real-Time Kinematic. This technique demands a proper satellite signal receiving to work appropriately, sometimes hard to achieve. The present work proposes a complementary position data system based on augmented reality tags (AR Tags) to increase the reliability of the UAV fly positioning system. The system application is proposed for energy power tower inspections as an example of use. The adaptation to other inspection tasks is possible whit some small changes. Experimental results have shown that an increase in the position accuracy is accomplished with the use of this schema.

Abstract
EU-SysFlex H2020 project aims at developing and testing innovative tools for the integration of high levels (above 50%) of renewable energy sources (RES) in the pan-European Electricity system. Those high levels of RES will increase the need for new sources of flexibility to support the system services, since there will be a decreasing number of conventional power plants connected to the grid, traditionally the main providers of these services. In this context, this study describes the Flexibility Hub (FlexHub) concept, part of the EU-SysFlex Portuguese demonstrator, consisting of a platform of tools managed by the distribution system operator to facilitate market-based flexibility provision to the transmission system operator (TSO) using resources connected to the distribution system. The FlexHub includes the provision of active power flexibility to the TSO (with an extended restoration reserve market concept), an essential tool to help the TSO balancing the grid, being a replicable concept that will become increasingly relevant in a future with a high share of decentralised assets connected to the distribution grids.

Abstract
The evolution of technology, and mainly the evolution of the Internet, has improved the way business is done. Nowadays, most services are offered through a website or through an app, as it is much more convenient and suitable for the customer. This business transformation made it possible to get a faster and cheaper service, and companies had to adapt to the change, in order to fulfill customers’ requirements. In this context, this paper relates to this digital transformation, focusing on a case study about Netflix, a former DVD rental company and currently an online streaming leader. We aimed to understand Netflix’s behavior alongside this digital wave. Thus, we performed a survey, which had 74 answers, mainly from Portugal, but also from Spain, Belgium, Italy, Turkey, Georgia and Malaysia. Of the people who answered the survey, 90.1% were stream consumers, but only 59.1% had premium TV channels. From those 90.1%, 58.3% also said that they watched streams between two and four times per week, but the majority of premium TV channel subscribers (63.8%) replied that they watch TV less than twice in a week. We see a trend in which the traditional TV industry is in decline and streaming as a service has increased in popularity. Consumer habits are changing, and people are getting used to the digitalization era. Netflix is also confirmed in our survey as the market leader of the entertainment distribution business, as stated in the literature, and the biggest strength of this platform is its content. © 2020, The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Abstract