.
Synchrophasor measurement technologies are shaping power system monitoring, protection and control capabilities. Their correct functioning relies on accurate time synchronization over large areas, which is typically carried out by satellite systems. However, such systems are vulnerable to time synchronization attacks, which can hinder the accuracy of Phasor Measurement Units, reducing the overall power system cyber-resilience. Hence, new techniques aimed at disseminating reliable and precise timing signals from highly accurate and stable reference sources to distributed grid sensors are required to achieve and maintain wide area time synchronization. To address this issue, this paper explores the potential role of Precision Time Protocol-based systems for PMUs synchronization, presenting the results of extensive experimental analysis aimed at characterizing the performance of a prototype system for time synchronization of grid sensors distributed over large area, ranging from 50 to 100 km. The obtained results demonstrated that, under some specific conditions, the analyzed system can provide reliable time synchronization of the order of tens of nanoseconds, hence satisfying the accuracy requirements of the main power system control and protection functions.
Italy has the third largest bioeconomy in Europe (€330 billion annual turnover, 2 million employees), making it a core pillar of the national economy. Its sectors of excellence are food and biobased products, and it is a consistent presence in research and innovation projects funded by the EU Horizon 2020 programme (Societal Challenges 2) and the European Public Private Partnership “Biobased industry” (BBI-JU). The bioeconomy reduces dependence on fossil fuels and finite materials, loss of biodiversity and changing land use. It contributes to environmental regeneration, spurs economic growth and supports jobs in rural, coastal and abandoned industrial areas, leveraging local contexts and traditions. In 2017 the Italian government promoted the development of a national Bioeconomy Strategy (BIT), recently updated (BIT II) to interconnect more efficiently the pillars of the national bioeconomy: production of renewable biological resources, their conversion into valuable food/feed, biobased products and bio-energy, and transformation and valorization of bio-waste streams. BIT II aims to improve coordination between Ministries and Italian regions in alignment of policies, regulations, R&I funding programmes and infrastructures investment. The goal is a 15 % increase in turnover and employment in the Italian bioeconomy by 2030. Based on Italy’s strategic geopolitical position in the Mediterranean basin, BIT II also includes actions to improve sustainable productivity, social cohesion and political stability through the implementation of bioeconomy strategies in this area. This paper provides an insight into these strategies and discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the sectors involved and the measures, regulatory initiatives and monitoring actions undertaken.
Power amplifier (PA) technology is essential to the future of millimeter-wave (mm-wave) communication systems in defense and commercial sectors. High atmospheric attenuation at these mm-wave frequencies has led to demand for high power PAs able to offset this effect. Gallium nitride high-electron-mobility-transistors (GaN HEMTs) have emerged as leading contenders to supply high power at mm-wave frequencies due to its wide bandgap and high electron velocity. To improve upon conventional GaN HEMT heterostructures, we previously introduced HEMTs on the aluminum nitride (AlN) platform [1] , using an AlN/GaN/AlN heterostructure. The maximized bandgap of binary AlN prevents buffer leakage current and increases HEMT breakdown voltage, while also providing a higher thermal conductivity for enhanced channel temperature management. Additionally, the increased polarization offset with GaN allows for highly scaled top barriers that still induce large density two-dimensional electron gases (2DEGs). We recently showed high breakdown voltage of up to 2 MV/cm in RF AlN/GaN/AlN HEMTs [2] and RF power operation of these HEMTs at 6 GHz, with an power added efficiency of 55% and output power (P out ) of 2.8 W/mm [3] . In this work, we demonstrate the first mm-wave frequency operation of AlN/GaN/AlN HEMTs, showing a peak PAE = 29%, with associated P out = 2.5 W/mm and G T = 7 dB at 30 GHz.
The article substantiates the author’s hypothesis of the fundamental reasons for periodic «ups» in prices for essential food products, including the most recent price jump in the second half of 2020. Both the official assessments of the causes of recurring food price surges and the measures taken by the executive branch to stop and prevent them are subjected to critical analysis. Conclusions and fundamental proposals are formulated aimed at eradicating the systemic causes of price volatility in the domestic food market.
