Energy Systems and Environmental Assessment
A sustainable development requires adaption to and mitigation of climatic changes as well as long-term energy security, which in turn put high demands on renewable energy sources and energy efficiency.
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To be sustainable, energy systems need to be analyzed together with significant interacting systems, such as ecosystems. Furthermore, integration of such analyses in planning and decision making requires knowledge on legislative boundaries and planning processes, particularly concerning environmental assessment.
The research on Energy Systems and Environmental Assessment is funded by the strategic research area STandUp for Energy , Formas, Brazilian National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development, and the Swedish Energy Agency.
It involves development of methods and tools for integration of energy and environmental considerations in planning and decision making, decision support for forest biomass harvesting, and spatial modelling of sustainable energy landscapes.
Selected publications
| 2023 | Manolan Kandy, D., Mörtberg, U., Wretling, V., Kuhlefelt, A., Byström, G., Polatidis, H., Barney, A., Balfors, B. 2023. Spatial multicriteria framework for sustainable wind-farm planning – accounting for conflicts . Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 189A: 113856. |
| 2022 | Gardumi, F., Keppo, I., Howells, M., Pyec, S., Avgerinopoulos, G., Lekavičius, V., Galinis, A., Martišauskas, L., Fahle, U., Korkmaz, P., Schmid, D., Cunha Montenegro, R., Syrif, S., Hast, A., Mörtberg, U., Balyk, O., Karlsson, K., Pang, X.-L., Mozgeris, G., Trubins, R., Jakšić, D., Turalija, I.M., Mikulić, M., 2022. Carrying out a multi-model integrated assessment of European energy transition pathways: challenges and benefits . Energy 258: 124329. |
| 2022 | Wretling, V., Balfors, B., Mörtberg, U., 2022. Balancing wind power deployment and sustainability objectives in Swedish planning and permitting . Energy, Sustainability and Society 12:48. |
| 2021 |
Mozgeris, G., Mörtberg, U., Pang, X.-L., Trubins, R., Treinys, R., 2021. Future projection for forest management suggests a decrease in the availability of nesting habitats for a mature-forest-dwelling raptor. Future projection for forest management suggests a decrease in the availability of nesting habitats for a mature-forest-dwelling raptor . Forest Ecology and Management 491: 119168. |
| 2021 | Mörtberg, U., Pang, X.-L., Treinys, R., Trubins, R., Mozgeris, G., 2021. Sustainability assessment of intensified forestry - Forest bioenergy pathways versus forest biodiversity targeting forest birds . Sustainability 13: 2789. |
| 2021 |
Wretling, V., Balfors, B., 2021. Building Institutional Capacity to Plan for Climate Neutrality: The Role of Local Co-Operation and Inter-Municipal Networks at the Regional Level. Sustainability 13. |
| 2021 |
Wretling, V., Hörnberg, C., Gunnarsson-Östling, U., Balfors, B., 2021. SEA screening practice and the inclusion of environmental objectives in Swedish energy and climate planning. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal 39: 151-166. |
| 2020 | Jönsson, M.T., Rudolphi, J., Hannrup, B., LarsOlle, A., Mörtberg, U., Nordström, M., Olsson, B., Strömgren, M., 2020. A spatially explicit decision support system for assessment of tree stump harvest using biodiversity and economic criteria . Sustainability 12: 8900. |
| 2019 | Pang, X., Trubins, R., Lekavicius, V., Galinis, A., Mozgeris, G., Kulbokas, G., Mörtberg, U., 2019. Forest bioenergy feedstock in Lithuania – renewable energy goals and the use of forest resources . Energy Strategy Reviews 24: 244-253. |
| 2019 |
Freitas, F., 2019, Brazilian public protection regulations and the preservation of ecosystem services and biodiversity , KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, PhD thesis, 64 pp. |
| 2018 | Freitas, F.L.M., Sparovek, G., Berndes, G., Persson, M., Englund, O., Barretto, A., Mörtberg, U., 2018. Potential increase of legal deforestation in Brazilian Amazon after Forest Act revision . Nature Sustainability 1: 665–670. |
| 2018 | Engström, R., Destouni, G., Mörtberg, U., Howells, M., 2018. Multi‐functionality of nature‐based and other urban sustainability solutions: New York City study . Land Degradation and Development 29: 3653-3662. |
| 2018 | Wretling, V., 2018, Strengthening the municipal energy planning – Integration into comprehensive planning, performance of impact assessment and inclusion of national environmental objectives . Licentiate thesis, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm. |
| 2018 | Wretling, V., Gunnarsson-Östling, U., Hörnberg, C., Balfors, B., 2018. Strategic municipal energy planning in Sweden – Examining current energy planning practice and its influence on comprehensive planning . Energy Policy 113, 688-700. |
| 2018 |
Hansson, J., Berndes, G., Englund, O., Freitas, F., Sparovek, G., 2018. How is biodiversity protection influencing the potential for bioenergy feedstock production on grasslands? Global Change Biology Bioenergy 11: 517-538. |
| 2017 | Freitas, F.L.M., Englund, O., Sparovek, G., Berndes, G., Guidotti, V., Mörtberg, U., 2017. Global Change Biology 24: 2129-2142. |
| 2017 | Pang, X. 2017. . PhD thesis, TRITA-SEED-PHD 2017:02. Dept. of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm. |
| 2017 | Pang, X., Nordström, E.-M., Böttcher, H., Trubins, R., Mörtberg, U., 2017. . Ecosystem Services 28: 67-79. |
| 2017 | Freitas, F.L.M., Sparovek, G., Mörtberg, U., Silveira, S., Klug, I., Berndes, G., 2017. Offsetting legal deficits of native vegetation among Brazilian landholders: Effects on nature protection and socioeconomic development . Land Use Policy 68: 189-199. |
| 2017 | Freitas, F.L.M. 2017. . Licentiate thesis in Land and Water Resources Engineering, KTH Architecture and the Built Environment, Stockholm, TRITA-LWR LIC 2017:01, 39 pp. |
| 2017 | Pang, X., Mörtberg, U., Sallnäs, O., Trubins, R., Nordström, E.-M. and Böttcher, H. 2017. . Ecological Modelling 345: 99-112. |
| 2017 | Olsson, B., Hannrup, B., Jönsson, M., LarsOlle, A., Nordström, M., Mörtberg, U., Rudolphi, J. & Strömgren, M. 2016. . Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 32: 246-259. |
| 2017 |
Mörtberg, U., Goldenberg, R., Kalantari, Z., Kordas, O., Deal, B., Balfors, B. and Cvekovic, V. 2017. . Energy Policy 100: 338-349. |
| 2017 | Karlsson, C.S.J., Miliutenko, S., Björklund, A., Mörtberg, U., Olofsson, B., Toller, S., 2017. . The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 22: 1302–1317. |
| 2017 | Larsolle, A., Hannrup, B., Jönsson, M., Mörtberg, U., Nordström, M., Olsson, B., Rudolphi, J. and Strömgren, M. 2017. [Model based decision support for stump harvest, in Swedish]. Report 094, Department of Energy and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. |
| 2017 |
Freitas, F.L.M., Guidotti, V., Sparovek, G., 2017. Technical note: Land tenure map of Brazil. Atlas - A Geografia da Agropecuária Brasileira, www.imaflora.org/atlasagropecuario. Accessed 2017-06-21. |
| 2017 |
Englund, O., Sparovek, G., Berndes, G., Freitas, F.L.M., Ometto, J.P., Valle, P.C.E.O., Costa, C., Lapola, J., 2017. A new high-resolution nationwide aboveground carbon map for Brazil. Geo: Geography and Environment 4. |
| 2016 |
Freitas, F.L.M., Sparovek, G. and Hiromiti Matsumoto, M. 2016. : uma análise da oferta e demanda de cotas de reserva ambiental. Chapter 5 in: Moreira da Silva, A.P., Rodrigues Marques, H. and Sambuichi, R.H.R. (eds.). Mudanças no código florestal brasileiro: desafios para a implementação da nova lei. Rio de Janeiro: IPEA: 125-158 [in Portugese]. |
| 2016 | Pang, X. 2016. . Licentiate thesis TRITA-LWR LIC 2015:03, Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering, KTH, Stockholm. |
| 2015 | Siyal, S.H., Mentis, D., Mörtberg, U., Samo, S.R. and Howells, M. 2015. . International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 40: 6501-6511. |
| 2015 | Siyal, S.H., Mörtberg, U., Mentis, D., Babelon, I., Welsch, M. and Howells, M. 2015. . Energy 83: 447-461. |
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2014 |
Pang, X., Mörtberg, U. & Brown, N. 2014. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 33: 353-362. |
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2013 |
Pang, X., Nordström, E.-M., Mörtberg, U., Böttcher, H. and Sallnäs, O. 2013. Trade-offs and synergies among ecosystem services and biodiversity under different forest management scenarios – case study of a forest landscape in southern Sweden. Interim report, Young Scientists Summer Program at International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg, Austria. |
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2013 |
Uttam, K., Balfors, B., Faith-Ell, C. & Mörtberg, U. 2013. . Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management 15: 1340004-1 - 1340004-25. |
| 2013 | Suwala, W., Wyrwa, A., Pluta, M., Jedrysik, E., Karl, U., Fehrenbach, D., Wietschel, M., Bossman, T., Elsland, R., Fichtner, W., Genoese, M., Hartel, R., Bublitz, A., Merkel, E., Poganietz, W.-R., Silveira, S., Morfeldt, J., Mörtberg, U., Höjer, M., Brown, N., Pang, X., Möst, D., Muller, T., Gunkel, D., Blesl, M., Kuder, R., Beestermöller, R., & Nijs, W. 2013. Shaping our energy system – combining European modelling expertise. Case studies of the European energy system in 2050. Energy System Analysis Agency (ESA2), KIC InnoEnergy, European Institute of Innovation and Technology, Report available at www.esa2.eu. |
| 2013 | Brown, N., Wang, L., Balfors, B. & Mörtberg, U. 2013. Sectoral Energy Report. Synthesis Report: ICT for energy efficiency in buildings and strategic environmental assessment for smart grids. Division of Environmental Strategies Research, KTH Royal Institute of Technology. TRITA-INFRA-FMS 2013:1, ISSN 1652-5442. |
Conference contributions
| 2019 | Pang, X., Trubins, R., Lekavicius, V., Galinis, A., Mozgeris, G., Kulbokas, G., Mörtberg, U., 2019. Renewable energy goals and the use of forest resources . StandUp Academy 16 May 2019, Stockholm |
| 2019 | Mörtberg, U., Wretling, V., Manolan Kandy, D., Balfors, B., 2019. Regional planning for wind power . StandUp Academy 16 May 2019, Stockholm. |
| 2019 | Mörtberg, U., Pang, X., Treinys, R., Trubins, R., Mozgeris, G., 2019. Sustainability assessment of forest bioenergy options - integrating biodiversity components . Poster presented at the 10th IALE World Congress "Nature and society facting the Anthropocene - challenges and perspectives for landscape ecology", 1-5 July 2019, Milan, Italy, page 123 in Book of Abstracts. |
| 2019 | Mörtberg, U., Manolan Kandy, D., 2019. Wind power planning with a multicriteria approach - integrating biodiversity and ecosystem services in the Wind-GIS tool in Västernorrland, Sweden . Oral presentation at the 10th IALE World Congress "Nature and society facting the Anthropocene - challenges and perspectives for landscape ecology", 1-5 July 2019, Milan, Italy, page 169 in Book of Abstracts. |
| 2019 | Freitas, F.L.M., Sparovek, G., Berndes, G., Persson, M., Englund, O., Barretto, A., Mörtberg, U., 2019. Potential increase of legal deforestation in Brazilian Amazon after Forest Act revision . Dialogue on the future of the Brazilian Amazon: Bridging our perspectives, 5 February 2019 at Stockholm Resilience Centre (SRC), Stockholm. |
| 2018 | Pang, X., Trubins, R., Lekavicius, V., Mozgeris, G., Kulbokas, G., Galnis, A., Mörtberg, U., 2018. The Landscape simulation and Ecological Assessment (LEcA) tool : Renewable energy goals and the use forest resources . Energy Modelling Platform for Europe (EMP-E) conference 2018 - Modelling clean energy pathways, 25-26 September 2018, EC, Brussels. |
| 2018 | Pang, X., Mörtberg, U., Trubins, R., Sallnäs, O., 2018. Trade-offs analysis between bioenergy feedstock and other forest ecosystem services . StandUp Academy Conference 2018, Knivsta, Sweden. |
| 2018 | Manolan Kandy, D., Mörtberg, U., 2018. Spatial planning for wind energy development using GIS . StandUp Academy Conference 2018, Knivsta, Sweden. |
| 2018 | Gardumi, F., Avgerinopoulos, G., Korkmaz, P., Pye, S., Keppo, I., Montenegro, R., Fahl, U., Pang, X., Mörtberg, U., Howells, M., 2018. Recipes to facilitate the low-carbon transition . Energy Modelling Platform for Europe (EMP-E) conference 2018 - Modelling clean energy pathways, 25-26 September 2018, EC, Brussels. |
| 2018 | Freitas, F.L.M., Sparovek, G., Berndes, G., Persson, M., Englund, O., Barretto, A., Mörtberg, U., 2018. Potential increase of legal deforestation in Brazilian Amazon after Forest Act revision . 1st dialogue meeting on the future of the Brazilian Amazon - Potential implications of the new political landscape in Brazil, 5 December 2018 in Gothenburg, Sweden. |
| 2018 | Freitas, F.L.M., Englund, O., Sparovek, G., Berndes, G., Guidotti, V., Pinto, L.F.G., Mörtberg, U., 2018. Legal protection over the Brazilian carbon stocks . The 1st Latin American Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES), 28-31 January 2018, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. |
| 2018 | Freitas, F.L.M., Antonelli, A., Berndes, G., Englund, O., Faurby, S., Mörtberg, U., Persson, M., Pinto, L.F.G., Sparovek, G., Strassburg, B.B.N., 2018. Biodiversity values of Brazilian native vegetation – How much is protected by the Forest Act? International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) 2018 Conference on “Adaptive Management for Forested Landscapes in transformation”, 1-5 October 2018, Posadas, Argentina. |
| 2017 | Kraxner, F., Lundvall, A., Hörnell-Willebrand, M., Haraldsson, H.V., Nordström, E.-M., Mörtberg, U., Pang, X., Eriksson, L.O., Lämås, T., Shvidenko, A., Schepaschenko, D., Leduc, S., Yowargana, P., Patrizio, P., Mesfun, S., Pietsch, S.A., Franklin, O., Krasovskii, A., Khabarov, N., Balkovic, J., Nilsson, S.B., 2017. Planning the future forests: managing for wildlife in a climate constrained landscape . IUFRO 125th Anniversary Congress, 19-22 September 2017 Freiburg, Germany. Page 655 in Book of Abstracts. |
| 2017 | Byström, G., Mörtberg, U., Johansson, M., 2017. GIS-baserade metoder för hållbar planering av vindkraft - Grön infrastruktur . Oral presentation at the Workshop om grön infrastruktur och naturvårdsinsatser, 18 October 2017, Naturvårdsverket, Stockholm, Sweden |
| 2017 | Byström, G., Mörtberg, U. and Johansson, M. 2017. . Oral presentation at the Conference on Wind energy and Wildlife impacts, CWW 2017 Estoril, 6-8 September in Estoril, Portugal. |
| 2017 | Byström, G., Mörtberg, U., 2017. GIS-metoder för hållbar planering av vindkraft . Oral presentation at the conference Vind 2017, 11-12 October 2017, Stockholm, Sweden. |
| 2017 | Pang, X., Mörtberg, U., Trubins, R., Sallnäs, O., Mizgeris, G., Kulbokas, G., Galinis, A. and Lekavicius, V. 2017. The Landscape simulation and Ecological Assessment (LEcA) tool – Linking with the energy model MESSAGE . Poster presented at the Energy Modelling Platform for Europe (EMP-E) start-up meeting 17-18 May 2017 in EC headquarters, Brussels. |
| 2017 | Welsch, J., Schmid, D., Montenegro, R., Pang, X., Gardumi, F., Balyk, O., Korkmaz, U., Fahl, U., Howells, M. and Karlsson, K. 2017. Multi-sectoral modelling of decarbonisation pathways: a pilot thought experiment . Poster presented at the Energy Modelling Platform for Europe (EMP-E) start-up meeting 17-18 May 2017 in EC headquarters, Brussels. |
| 2015 | Freitas, F.L.M., Mörtberg, U. and Sparovek, G. 2015. . Poster presented at the Visit of the President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff, 19 October 2015, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm. |
| 2015 | Freitas, F.L.M, Mörtberg, U. and Sparovek, G. 2015. . Poster presented at the KTH Energy Dialogue, 26 November 2015, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm. |
| 2015 | Mörtberg, U., de Strasser, L., Howells, M. & Gordon, S. 2015. Assessing the energy-water-land use nexus. Oral presentation at the Conference of the International Association for Impact Assessment, “Impact Assessment in the Digital Era”, 20-23 April 2015 in Florence, Italy. |
| 2015 | Mörtberg, U., Pang, X., Nordström, E.-M. & Sallnäs, O. 2015. Policy assessment of forest bioenergy options. Oral presentation at the Conference of the International Association for Impact Assessment, “Impact Assessment in the Digital Era”, 20-23 April 2015 in Florence, Italy. |
| 2015 | Mörtberg, U., Deal, B., Cvetkovic, V., Balfors, B., Azcarate, J., Haas, J. & Pang, X. 2015. Integrating ecosystem services in urban energy trajectories. Oral presentation at the Biennial International Workshop Advances in Energy Studies (BIWAES) 4-7 May 2015 in Stockholm, Sweden. |
| 2015 | Mörtberg, U., Babelon, I., Malmgren, S. & Holmstedt, C. 2015. Wind power planning in Sweden – the treatment of biodiversity and ecosystem services. In: Köppel, J. & Schuster, E. (eds.). Book of Abstracts. Conference on Wind Energy and Wildlife Impacts, 10-12 March in Berlin, Germany. Technische Universität Berlin, p. 49. |
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2014 |
DeStrasser, L., Howells, M., Lipponen, A., Mörtberg, U., Destouni, G., Mentis, D. & Gordon, S. 2014. Water-Food-Energy-Ecosystems Nexus in transboundary river basins. Poster presented at the Interantional Conference Sustainability in the Water-Energy-Food Nexus, 19-20 May 2014 in Bonn, Germany. |
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2013 |
Mörtberg, U. 2013. Biodiversity, ecosystem services and renewable energy options. Seminar at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, IIASA, 26 June 2013, Laxenburg, Austria (invited speaker). |
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2013 |
Mörtberg, U. 2013. Methods for environmental assessment of wind power policy and plans. Book of Abstracts, Conference on Wind Power and Environmental Impacts, 5-7 February 2013, Stockholm. Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Report 6546, ISSN 0282-7298. |
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2013 |
Mörtberg, U. 2013. Methods for environmental assessment of wind power policy and plans. Book of Abstracts, Conference on Wind Power and Environmental Impacts, 5-7 February 2013, Stockholm. Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Report 6546, ISSN 0282-7298. |
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2012 |
Balfors, B., Mörtberg, U. & Wang, L. 2012. Strategic Environmental Assessment of Energy Plans in Sweden. (Oral presentation) Proceedings of the 32nd Annual Conference of the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA): Energy Future – The Role of Impact Assessment, 27 May – 1 June 2012 in Porto, Portugal. |
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2012 |
Mörtberg, U. & Pang, Xi. 2012. Biomass extraction and tools for impact prediction. Oral presentation at the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) Conference Energy Future – The Role of Impact Assessment, 27 May – 1 June 2012 in Porto, Portugal. |
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2012 |
Mörtberg, U. 2012. ”Förnybar energi och landskap – att planera för mångbruk“. Oral presentation at the International Association for Landscape Ecology (IALE) Sweden, „Förnyelsebar energi, hur påverkas landskapet? Vindkraft och skogsbiobränslen i fokus“, 4-5 October 2012 in Halmstad, Sweden. [In Swedish]. |
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2012 |
Mörtberg, U. 2012. Strategic environmental assessment of scenarios for wind power plants. Technoport – Sharing possibilities, Renewable Energy Research Conference, Trondheim, 16-18 April 2012. |
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2012 |
Nordström, E.-M., Poudel, B., Böttcher, H., Bergh, J., Mörtberg, U., Kraxner, F. & Nordin, A. 2012. Future forests scenarios: Analysing impacts of Swedish forest policy on ecosystem services, land use and the European market. Poster presented at Worlds within reach, from science to policy, IIASA 40th Anniversary Conference, Vienna and Laxenburg, Austria, 24-26 October 2012. |
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2011 |
Aronsson, P., Caruso, A., Hannrup, B., Hansson, P.-A., Jönsson, M., Larsolle, A., Lindholm, E.-L., Möller, J., Mörtberg, U., Nordström, M., Olsson, B., Rudolphi, J. and Strömgren, M. 2011. MAP-Stump - Multicriteria planning of stump harvest. Poster presentation at the International Symposium: “Tree-Stumps for Bioenergy - Harvesting Techniques and Environmental Consequences”, 24-26 October 2011, Uppsala, Sweden. |
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2011 |
Tessema, S.M. & Mörtberg, U. 2011. Hydropower and environmental assessment – tools for decision support. Poster presented at KTH Energy Initiative, 9 November 2011, KTH, Stockholm, Sweden. |
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2011 |
Uttam, K., Balfors, B. & Mörtberg, U. 2011. Promoting renewable energy through green procurement and impact assessment. World Renewable Energy Congress 8-13 May 2011, Linköping, Sweden. Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings 57 : Volume 12 Sustainable Cities and Regions, Linköping University Electronic Press. pp. 3002-3009. |
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2011 |
Uttam, K., Balfors, B., Faith-Ell, C. & Mörtberg, U. 2011. Procuring green energy in the construction sector. Conference Proceedings, “Impact Assessment and Responsible Development for Infrastructure, Business and Industry“, 31st Annual Meeting of the International Association for Impact Assessment, 28 May - 4 June 2011, Puebla, Mexico (www.iaia.org). |
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2010 |
Mörtberg, U. & Balfors, B. 2010. Energy systems and environmental assessment. Paper presented at International Energy Workshop, 21-23 June 2010, Stockholm, Sweden. |