| 61. |
- Nordelöf, Anders, 1975
(författare)
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Using life cycle assessment to support the development of electrified road vehicles. Component data models, methodology recommendations and technology advice for minimizing environmental impact
- 2017
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The anthropogenic pressure on the Earth system already overshoots safe limits for climate change, so there is an urgent need to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by transportation. Electric propulsion technology is a promising solution that can decouple fossil fuel use from road vehicle traffic. Additional benefits include removed tailpipe exhaust gas emissions, which currently damage human health and the environment, both locally and regionally.However, electrification of vehicles could lead to problem shifts, e.g. from the use of fossil fuels to the generation of fossil electricity. Even when combined with renewable energy, there are trade-offs between benefits in operation and added environmental load during manufacturing, shifting from airborne emissions to resource related impacts. This is because electric powertrain components require new materials and more advanced processing compared to conventional vehicle parts.The environmental impacts of vehicle electrification can be analyzed using life cycle assessment (LCA). This is a holistic systems tool, where all life cycle stages, from raw material acquisition to disposal, are investigated for potential contribution to environmental problems. For LCA of vehicles, a well-to-wheels study examines the life cycle of the energy carrier, i.e. a fuel or electricity, whereas complete LCA includes the production, use and disposal of the vehicle as such. A thorough review of the research field exposed short-comings in both methodology and inventory data.This thesis aims to discuss in what ways LCA support the development of electrified road vehicles, and present contributions on how the methodology can advance to provide better support, with the goal to minimize environmental impact of vehicles in the long term.Two component data models were developed. These estimate the mass and composition of one electrical traction motor and one inverter unit (the motor controller), calculate full gate-to-gate manufacturing inventories, and point to an existing database to establish cradle-to-gate models. Both are scalable from basic engineering parameters, build on typical design solutions and are easy-to-use. During this work, 45 new unit process datasets for manufacturing were compiled and the thesis discusses and presents useful strategies for data collection.A critical review of 79 publications was conducted. It was found that most LCA studies of electric vehicles fail to report their purpose and time scope as required by the ISO standard for LCA, making results appear divergent and creating a demand for more restrictive LCA guidelines to enhance comparability. But LCA has utility beyond comparing electric and conventional vehicles, e.g. to guide stepwise improvements in design and manufacturing. Such studies address a technical audience rather than consumers or policy makers. An LCA study in the project evaluated three electric motors with different designs and magnets. Results show that the making of aluminum, electrical steel and copper dominates the environmental load of the production. In particular, copper use is a driver of toxic impacts.The thesis stresses the importance of framing LCA studies to advise specific actors to take action and avoid future environmental impact. The thesis advises policy makers, automotive and power industries to plan and act for a conjoint development of electrified vehicles with fossil free electricity production, to attain the full climate change mitigation potential of electrification. Policy makers and automotive industries need to be aware that energy efficiency is key to low impact, while the equipment production, especially of primary metals and related toxic emissions, becomes increasingly important.
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| 62. |
- Nypelö, Tiina, 1982, et al.
(författare)
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Lignocellulosics and Their Use in Functional Materials and Nanotechnology
- 2020
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Ingår i: Lignocellulosics: Renewable Feedstock for (Tailored) Functional Materials and Nanotechnology. ; , s. 1-16
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Lignocelluloses originate mainly from forest resources and are traditionally utilized in paper, textiles, energy, and chemicals. The benefit of the raw material has been price, renewability, and feel, the latter mainly in hygiene products and textiles. The increase in environmental concerns has made it possible to justify the expansion of target applications made from lignocellulosics and that endeavor governs the majority of current research activities in the field. The search for new applications has led to the utilization of forest beyond the mere fibers, and those possibilities are reviewed in this chapter.
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| 63. |
- Paramonova, Svetlana, 1986-
(författare)
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Re-viewing industrial energy-efficiency improvement using a widened system boundary
- 2016
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Improved energy efficiency in industry is important for reaching the targets within the EU strategy for increased sustainability. However, energy efficiency is not always prioritised within companies, and the improvement potential remains large. This paradox called an energyefficiency gap is explained by energy-efficiency barriers. The low interest in energy efficiency is also explained by the fact that it is not within companies’ core competences and not perceived as strategic. The public policies aiming at closing the gap have thus far been concentrated on the faster diffusion of energy-efficient technologies. This is not sufficient, and the gap can be extended by including energy management practices. To bridge the extended gap, there is a need to introduce an extended system perspective. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the industrial energy-efficiency potential and possibilities for reaching this potential using an extended system boundary.In this thesis, the extended gap was quantified by means of classification of the energy data covering the most electricity-intensive Swedish industrial companies. The results show that technology-related measures represent 61% of energy savings, whereas management-related measures account for 38%. Energy efficiency due to management-related measures can be improved with lower costs. The energy-efficiency potentials for different levels of industrial motor systems were quantified, showing that the highest potential is found in the measures that include personal involvement and the optimisation of routines. This proves that the general approaches based on technological diffusion seem to not be sufficient to solve the energy paradox.The evaluation of the Swedish energy audit programme for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) proved that there is a lack of energy-related knowledge among SMEs. The implementation rate of measures proposed in the audits is only 54%, while there is also a need to reach the SMEs not covered by the programme. The international study of energy-efficiency potentials did not indicate energy management to be considered by SMEs at all.To bridge the extended gap, the external experts’ knowledge on how to work with energy efficiency has to stay within companies. For this, there is a need for methods based on longterm orientation as well as a systematic view of complicated processes. The methods should be universal and applied in a particular context. An example of such a method for large industries is presented in this thesis, whereas applying it to SMEs is problematic due to limited resources. Participating in networks for energy efficiency can be a way to initiate energy-efficiency work within SMEs on a continuous basis. Moreover, this thesis shows that there is a need for the development of a common taxonomy for energy data as well as the development of a central portal where energy data can be reported and stored. This would simplify the monitoring of energy end-use, the control of measures implementation and the comparison between processes, companies and sectors.
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| 64. |
- Pereira Ramos, Eunice, 1982-
(författare)
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Advancing Nexus Approaches: insights from practice in support of their operationalisation
- 2022
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The last decade has seen the emergence of a new research theme - the study of the resources Nexus. The “Nexus” refers to considering the functioning of several systems simultaneously, as opposed to one, as the object of research. This perspective reasons that coherent decision-making needs to consider systems' interconnectedness. Typical system-of-systems (Nexus) studied relate to the security of services, such as the Water-Energy and Food Nexus, and resources, i.e. the Climate, Land, Energy and Water systems (CLEWs) Nexus. The process of examining cross-systems dynamics and interactions is known as the Nexus approach. Implementing it requires understanding multiple systems, disciplinary integration, and multi-stakeholder engagement at various decision levels. Adequate planning of an assessment process is needed to ensure the successful implementation of the approach and its long-lasting presence in decision-making processes. Therefore, reviewing the application of Nexus approaches can inform essential aspects that clarify and streamline the entire process. Current gaps in Nexus research include the lack of clarity in systems representation, the lack of flexible and accessible tools and methods for Nexus analyses, and the need for transparency in modelling approaches. All of these hinder the integration of the approach in research and the incorporation into decision-making processes. The thesis aims to advance the science of integrated resource assessments, particularly the Nexus approach, and support its dissemination and implementation within and beyond academia. Insights from applying two Nexus approaches (CLEWs and SIM4NEXUS) are distilled from the comparison of case studies. Overarching aspects examined include the expertise engaged in assessments, practitioners' roles and transdisciplinarity. Also analysed are selected components in the Nexus approach, such as identifying systems' interactions, analytical approaches, and stakeholder engagement and participation. The transversal feature of knowledge transfer between experts, practitioners, and stakeholders is examined to understand its importance in the assessment process. Examples of quantitative analyses illustrate the representation of different Nexus contexts and the elaboration of relevant insights. This thesis presents two such quantitative examples. One example is an entry-level CLEWs modelling exercise, whose development is described from conceptualisation, model development, and interpretation of results. The other example is a quantitative analysis of the transboundary Syr Darya river basin, which investigates the role of model structure in exploring Nexus questions. The thesis highlights a list of principles to support the Nexus approach's operationalisation deriving from practice and considering current research gaps.
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| 65. |
- Perera, Amarasinghage Tharindu Dasun, et al.
(författare)
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Linking Neighborhoods into Sustainable Energy Systems
- 2019
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Ingår i: Energy, Environment, and Sustainability. - Singapore : Springer Singapore. - 2522-8366. ; , s. 93-110
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Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Improving the energy efficiency and sustainability in the urban sector plays a vital role in the energy transition. Hence, it is important to consider promising ways to design sustainable urban energy hubs linking neighborhoods into energy systems. Improving the efficiency and sustainability of urban energy infrastructure is a process with multiple steps. This chapter presents the workflow that is required to be followed in this process. A brief overview about the methods that can be used to consider urban climate, urban simulation, and energy system design are presented in this chapter highlighting the crosslinks among these topics. Finally, the chapter presents the research gaps and promising areas to conduct future research.
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| 66. |
- Peters, Gregory, 1970, et al.
(författare)
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The need to decelerate fast fashion in a hot climate - A global sustainability perspective on the garment industry
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Cleaner Production. - : Elsevier BV. - 0959-6526. ; 295
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Controversy exists regarding the scale of the impacts caused by fast fashion. This article aims to provide a robust basis for discussion about the geography, the scale and the temporal trends in the impacts of fast fashion because the globalisation of the fashion industry means original, peer-reviewed, quantitative assessments of the total impacts are relatively rare and difficult to compare. This article presents the first application of Eora, a multiregional environmentally extended input output model, to the assessment of the impacts of clothing and footwear value chain. We focus on the key environmental indicators of energy consumption, climate and water resources impacts, and social indicators of wages and employment. The results of the analysis indicate that the climate impact of clothing and footwear consumption rose from 1.0 to 1.3 Gt carbon dioxide equivalent over the 15 years to 2015. China, India, the USA and Brazil dominate these figures. The trends identified in this and the other indicators represent small increases over the study period compared to the 75% increase in textile production, meaning that the impacts per garment have improved considerably. On the other hand, the climate and water use impacts are larger as a proportion of global figures than the benefits provided via employment and wages. Our analysis of energy consumption suggests most of the per-garment improvement in emissions is the result of increased fashion-industrial efficiency, with a lesser role being played by falling carbon intensity among energy suppliers. While both the social benefits and environmental impacts per mass of garment appear to have decreased in recent times, much greater improvements in the absolute carbon footprint of the fashion industry are attainable by eliminating fossil-fueled electricity supplies, and by eliminating fast fashion as a business model.
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| 67. |
- Rootzén, Johan, 1978, et al.
(författare)
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Supply-chain collective action towards zero CO2 emissions in infrastructure construction : Mapping barriers and opportunities
- 2020
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Ingår i: IOP Conference Series. - : IOP Publishing Ltd. ; , s. 042064-
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Successful decarbonisation of the supply chains for buildings and infrastructure, including the production of basic materials, will involve the pursuit - in parallel - of measures to ensure circularity of material flows, measures to improve material efficiency, and to radically reduce CO2 emissions from basic materials production. Emphasis in this work has been on how “intangible” factors such as implicit or explicit constraints within organisations, inadequate communication between actors in the supply chain, overly conservative norms or lack of information, hinder the realisation of the current carbon mitigation potential. Although this work draw primarily from experiences in Sweden and other developed economies we believe the focus on innovations in the policy arena and efforts to develop new ways of co-operating, coordinating and sharing information between actors (SDG17) and on practices and processes that could enable more sustainable resource use in infrastructure construction may be of relevance also elsewhere. Not the least, since there are still many regions of the world where much of the infrastructure to provide basic services remains to be built (SDG6-7, SDG9, SDG11) a challenge that must be handled in parallel with efforts to reduce/erase the climate impact from infrastructure construction (in line with the Paris Agreement and SDG13).
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| 68. |
- Savvidou, Georgia, 1991, et al.
(författare)
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Material Requirements, Circularity Potential and Embodied Emissions Associated with Wind Energy
- 2023
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Ingår i: Sustainable Production and Consumption. - 2352-5509. ; 40, s. 471-487
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Wind energy, which is often posited as a key decarbonisation option, represents one of the fastest-growing energy sources globally in recent years. Research on the material requirements for transitioning to a low-carbon electricity system at national levels, as well as research exploring the potential of the electricity system to serve as a source of secondary materials remains underexplored. We address these gaps in the knowledge by analysing the stocks and flows in a wind power system towards 2050 using Sweden as a case study, including the demands for bulk (concrete and steel) and critical materials (neodymium and dysprosium), through a dynamic material flow analysis based on policy-relevant scenarios. We demonstrate that some of the investigated scenarios generate substantial increases in the stocks and flows of bulk and critical materials. We show that, after 2045, the year by which Sweden has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero, the inflows show a decreasing trend while the outflows show an increasing trend, suggesting the beginning of the closing of the material loops, provided untapped circularity potentials transform into actual capacities. For wind power to comply with emissions targets, the steel and concrete production processes will need to be decarbonised at a rate in line with the climate targets. We show that the adoption of mitigation measures to decarbonise the concrete and steel industries aligned with Sweden's climate change mitigation agenda, has the potential to reduce embodied carbon emissions for wind power infrastructure in 2045 from corresponding to around 4 % of current total national emissions in the absence of measures to practically negligible levels. National policies need to focus on promoting the implementation of circularity strategies and decarbonising the entire value chain of the involved materials.
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| 69. |
- Selvakkumaran, Sujeetha, 1985, et al.
(författare)
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Electric Vehicle (EV) Transition in Thailand: Is it Beneficial?
- 2018
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Ingår i: PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2018 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AND UTILITY EXHIBITION ON GREEN ENERGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (ICUE 2018). - 9789748257990
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The adoption of electric vehicles (EV) is effectively a problem of socio-technical transitions and comes with its complexities. The Thai Energy Efficiency Development Plan includes the adoption of EV as a voluntary measure to increase the energy effectiveness of its transport sector and to mitigate GHG emissions. But, there are other important social, technological, economic and policy factors which need to be thoroughly investigated before the EV transition is attempted in Thailand, since the environmental cost may outweigh the benefits of the EV transition. The methodology used is based on systems thinking and called Causal Loop Diagrams (CLD). In CLD, the factors underpinning the benefits accruing from the EV transition in Thailand are characterized as causal relationships and feedback loops. Preliminary CLD investigation into the factors for EVs show the technological factor EV efficiency levels and their cost (economic factor) are important in determining the GHG reduction benefit, along with the grid emission factor.
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| 70. |
- Shami, Siavash, et al.
(författare)
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Assessments of ground subsidence along the railway in the Kashan plain, Iran, using Sentinel-1 data and NSBAS algorithm
- 2022
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Ingår i: International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation. - : Elsevier. - 1569-8432 .- 1872-826X. ; 112
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The 110-kilometer-long Qom-Kashan railway is one of the busiest lines in Iran, passing through the Kashan plain. The majority of Iran's plains have subsided in recent years as a result of uncontrolled groundwater extraction, and the Kashan plain is no exception. In this study, ground surface displacement in the Kashan plain region and its impact on the railway were investigated using New Small Baseline Subset (NSBAS) in up-down and east–west directions using descending and ascending Sentinel-1 data collected between 2015 and 2021. Our results indicate that the Kashan plain is subsiding more than 90 mm/year. The study of the local areas around the railway which passes through the study area revealed that the rate of vertical velocity in some locations reaches –23 mm/year, while the rate of east–west velocity is insignificant and is approximately ±2 mm/year. Additionally, a method for analyzing the railway's stability based on longitudinal profiles along the railway is presented. Our findings suggest that more than 60% of the railway line is subject to variable amounts of subsidence. Additionally, a region of approximately one kilometer of the railway has been classified as a risk zone due to relatively fast local deformation. After examining the effect of various factors, it was determined that uncontrolled groundwater extraction in agricultural areas contributed to the subsidence in this area. Our results show that the presented stability control approach in this study is highly reliable for creating hazard profiles for linear structures, such as railways.
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