/library/oar/handle/123456789/1181 2026-05-24T10:51:02Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/146139 Title: Evaluating sociotechnical factors influencing the feasibility of vineyard photovoltaic integration in Malta Authors: Rexhausen, Aron; Rothstein, Benno; Yousif, Charles Abstract: This study investigates the feasibility of viticultural photovoltaics (Viti-PV) in Malta — a small European island state in the Mediterranean — through a mixed-methods approach, combining a standardised questionnaire (n= 13 viticulturists) with expert interviews involving stakeholders from viticulture, energy and policy. Results show that while Viti-PV offers tangible benefits such as shading, reduced irrigation needs and income diversification to this sunny, warm and relatively dry island, adoption is constrained by high investment costs, regulatory prohibitions and concerns over landscape impacts. For policy and practice, the findings highlight the necessity of tailored financing models, regulatory adaptation and participatory pilot projects to build evidence and stakeholder confidence. Viti-PV can contribute simultaneously to renewable energy targets and viticultural climate resilience, but its implementation depends on coordinated support across technical, economic and institutional dimensions. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/146070 Title: Shared micro-mobility services : a sustainability assessment of their use in Malta Abstract: Shared micro-mobility services in Malta, such as bicycles, e-bikes and e-scooters, were analysed in this dissertation. Literature shows that shared micro-modes of transport pose several benefits, such as reduced traffic congestion and the promotion of an active alternative mode of commuting, posing cost-effective, health and social benefits. They are ideal for last mile trips and work extremely well when properly integrated with the transport system, particularly the road infrastructure and public transport systems. Shared micro-mobility services reduce the energy demand and have the potential of reducing carbon and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on local roads. Although in 2016 shared micro-mobility services were introduced in Malta, these abruptly halted their services. Thus, the aim of this thesis was formulated as follows: To perform a sustainability assessment on shared micro-mobility services in Malta, to understand their sustainability advantage, the reasons why they stopped operating, and to make recommendations for their inclusion in sustainable transport locally. The methodology to gather data was semi-structured interviews with 18 key stakeholders of transport in Malta. A simplified sustainability assessment and policy review were also conducted. Results show that the majority of participants perceived them as sustainable and that there needs to be a competitive advantage over other modes of transport (particularly the private car), the provision of safe infrastructure and better enforcement. Participants also claimed that the main reasons why they left was due to abuse, chaos, no discipline (especially amongst e-scooter users), vandalism and lack of safety towards pedestrians and other road users; with 40% of the respondents agreeing with these services halting operations. The Maltese government is looking towards the future, providing incentives for the use of personalised e-bikes and e-scooters. However, sharing services are still not being pushed to reintroduce them. Although private micro-vehicles may reduce the abuse, irregularities and dangers to self or pedestrians, they do not eliminate them. Shared services still have the potential to provide a cheap, flexible and convenient alternative to commuting, and its potential (considering Malta’s size) should not be ignored. Key concluding recommendations include the need for pilot projects, an enhanced regulatory framework and enforcement, more awareness and acceptance, improved public transport (bus/ferry) and integration, and the provision of safe infrastructure. Description: M.Sc.(Melit.) Sust.Energy 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/145824 Title: Sustainable food packaging : an updated definition following a holistic approach Authors: Dörnyei, Krisztina Rita; Uysal-Unalan, Ilke; Krauter, Victoria; Weinrich, Ramona; Incarnato, Loredana; Karlovits, Igor; Colelli, Giancarlo; Chrysochou, Polymeros; Camilleri Fenech, Margaret; Kvalvåg Pettersen, Marit; Arranz, Elena; Marcos, Begonya; Frigerio, Valeria; Apicella, Annalisa; Yildirim, Selçuk; Poças, Fátima; Dekker, Matthijs; Johanna, Lahti; Coma, Véronique; Corredig, Milena Abstract: Food packaging solutions need to be redesigned to be more sustainable, but determining which solution is ‘more optimal’ is a very difficult task when considering the entire food product value chain. Previous papers paved the way toward a sustainable food packaging definition, but it is far from being commonly accepted or well usable in the broad food systems domain, which further results in uninformed choices for sustainable food packaging made by all stakeholders in the value chain: producers, distributors, practitioners and consumers. Therefore, this work aims first at giving a state-of-the-art overview of sustainable food packaging terms (38 similar terms were identified and grouped into four clusters: Sustainable, Circular, Bio and Other sustainable packaging) and definitions using systematic (narrative) review analysis and ‘controlled expert opinion feedback’ methodology. Second, it aims to offer an updated definition for sustainable food packaging, which is also specific to food packaging and be simple, coherent, easily understandable, and communicable to everybody. The applied holistic approach intends to include all aspects of the food-packaging unit, to consider food safety and packaging functionality, while taking into account different disciplines and challenges related to food packaging along the supply chain. Being a balancing act, a sustainable food packaging may not be a perfect solution, but contextual, suboptimal and in need of constant validation. 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/145062 Title: Experimental analysis of a constant blade to jet speed ratio control for a micro-Pelton wheel turbine for use with an offshore hydro-pneumatic energy storage system Authors: Aquilina, Luke; Duane, Iain; Faust, Wilian; Sant, Tonio; Farrugia, Robert N. Abstract: Hydro-Pneumatic Energy Storage is a type of mechanical energy storage system being investigated for providing long duration energy storage which is becoming essential for integrating renewables on a wide scale. Pelton turbines are often being considered for converting the stored energy into electricity. This is due to the low specific speed requirements, resulting from the high pressure and low flowrates that characterise hydro-pneumatic systems. As opposed to conventional applications in hydro power, where variations in the operating head are small, hydro-pneumatic energy storage presents a more complex environment due to the relatively large variations in the head across the discharging cycle. This study implements a control scheme on a physical setup to maintain a constant blade-to-jet speed ratio for a grid-connected Pelton turbine. The proposed scheme increased the turbine’s overall efficiency from 62 % to 65 %, representing a 4.9 % relative improvement in recovered energy compared with the constant-speed control scheme. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z