| 1. |
- Brandao, Miguel, et al.
(author)
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RED, PEF, and EPD: Conflicting rules for determining the carbon footprint of biofuels give unclear signals to fuel producers and customers
- 2022
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In: Frontiers in Climate. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2624-9553. ; 4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Biofuel producers and other commodity suppliers are increasingly affected by conflicting rules for life cycle assessment (LCA). They may get multiple requests for LCAs to be used in various contexts, which require the application of different methodological approaches that vary in scope, system boundaries, data demand, and more. This results in increased cost and competence requirements for producers, as well as confusion among other actors including their customers. Differences in methodologies might also lead to various outcomes, conclusions and conflicting guidance regarding which fuels to prioritize or develop. We have analyzed the actual differences when applying three different frameworks: the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED), the EU framework for Product Environmental Footprints (PEF), and the framework of Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), which have different modeling requirements. We analyzed the methods from a conceptual point of view and also applied the methods to estimate the carbon footprint on a wide range of biofuel production pathways: (i) ethanol from corn, (ii) fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) from rapeseed oil, (iii) biogas from food waste, (iv) hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) from rapeseed oil, and (v) HVO from used cooking oil. Results obtained for a specific fuel could differ substantially depending on the framework applied and the assumptions and interpretations made when applying the different frameworks. Particularly, the results are very sensitive to the modeling of waste management when biofuel is produced from waste. Our results indicate a much higher climate impact for, e.g., biogas and HVO produced from used cooking oil when assessed with the PEF framework compared to the other frameworks. This is because PEF assigns at least part of the production of primary materials and energy to the use of recycled material and recovered energy. Developing Category Rules for biofuels for PEF and EPD ought to help clarifying remaining ambiguities.
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| 2. |
- Poulikidou, Sofia, 1984, et al.
(author)
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Impacts on fuel producers and customers of conflicting rules for life cycle assessment
- 2022
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Reports (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The use of life cycle assessment (LCA) as a tool for estimating the environmental performance of a product or service in a holistic and systematic manner is increasing. Fuel producers may need to apply different methodological frameworks to be used in different contexts; internally for product development activities as well as externally for communication with customers or authorities. Different LCA frameworks may vary in scope, system boundaries (i.e. life cycle stages to be considered) or modelling requirements (such as data demands but also more detailed methodological features). They may also vary in terms of information they can provide in relation to the environmental performance of the product. Those variations could lead to conflicting outcomes and conclusions and may also increase complexity for the LCA practitioner leading to high competence and resource requirements. Within the research project: Impacts on fuel producers and customers of conflicting rules for LCA , the requirements of different LCA frameworks and their implications to fuel producers are investigated. Focus has been given on three specific frameworks that are identified as relevant or potentially relevant for fuel producers, namely: the recast of the EU Renewable Energy Directive (referred to here as RED II), the EU framework for Product Environmental Footprint (PEF), and the framework of Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). The aim of the project is to increase understanding on the different LCA frameworks available and identify whether the multitude of such frameworks gives conflicting recommendations for environmental improvements and fuel choices. The three LCA frameworks listed above were applied in case studies. To illustrate the potential differences that the different frameworks may lead to, a variation of production pathways and feedstocks were selected including first generation as well as advanced biofuels. Based on the results obtained it can be concluded that applying all three frameworks is not a straightforward task. The methods contain fundamental differences and are at different levels of development, maturity, and adoption. In certain situations, they can lead to diverging conclusions as a result of different quantitative outcomes for a specific production pathway, thus influencing decision making processes in different directions. Understanding those differences and underlying assumptions is important for understanding the variations in outcome. The result for a specific fuel could differ substantially depending on the framework applied and the assumptions and interpretations made when applying this framework. Certain methodological parameters were identified to have a greater impact on the results than others: • The three frameworks diverge in the methods applied for modelling waste management, which can be very important for the results when the biofuel is produced from waste. • The frameworks diverge in what approaches are allowed for modelling processes with multiple products. This can be very important for the results when the fuel is co-produced with other products. • The frameworks also diverge in how the electricity supply is modelled. This is not very important for the results in most of our case studies, because the production of these biofuels does not require a lot of electricity. The study confirms that applying a framework like EPD or PEF in addition to RED II would require significant supplementary efforts. Not only because of different rules which were often contradicting or difficult to interpret but also because of additional data and reporting requirements. The need for expertise and resources is increasing for fuel producers to be able to provide EPD and PEF compliant assessments. To enhance the development and harmonization of LCA approaches this project stresses the need for product specific rules (in the form of Product Environmental Category Rules (PEFCR) and Product Category Rules (PCR)) for renewable fuels. Future versions of all three studied frameworks should be clearer on how specific methodological choices are to be applied (e.g., when it comes to allocation and multifunctional processes) as well as when it comes to model electricity supply. RED for example shall be clearer on how to define the electricity region while EPD guidelines on how to define the electricity market. Although it is not realistic to aim for a single unified LCA framework, the biofuel PCR and PEFCR can be developed with RED in mind. Some aspects of the PEF methodology can perhaps also be integrated into RED III that is currently under development. This would enhance the broader adoption of the frameworks among fuel producers. Finally, the involvement and engagement of the industry, and fuel producers themselves is very important. Industry initiatives are essential for the development of biofuel PCR and PEFCR while the general development of the three frameworks can also be influenced. In this study, we also investigated the relationship between the LCA frameworks and schemes for chain of custody certification (CoCC), in particular schemes for mass balance certifications (MBC) to investigate to what extent these schemes complement or overlap with LCA. The purpose of MBC schemes and LCA are different, in the sense that the first aim at verifying the sources and sustainability of total amounts of raw materials used by tracking them throughout the value chain, while the second at quantifying specific environmental impact. The system boundaries are similar, since both cover the entire value chain, but may be applied differently depending on the detailed frameworks applied and choices made in applying the MBC schemes. By identifying and clearly illustrating the variations among the studied frameworks the study enhances application, development, and harmonization of LCA, in a broader perspective, informs LCA practitioners but also decision makers and provides insights on how the identified challenges can be addressed.
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| 3. |
- Torkzad, Michael R., et al.
(author)
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The Clinical Perspective on Value of 3D, Thin Slice T2-Weighted Images in 3T Pelvic MRI for Tumors
- 2012
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In: Current Medical Imaging Reviews. - : Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.. - 1573-4056. ; 8:2, s. 76-81(6)
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Pelvic imaging is undergoing rapid changes due to increased use of 3-Tesla (3T) magnetic resonance imaging (3T MRI). One of the advantages of 3T could be the possibility for thin section 3-dimensional (3D) imaging which could improve accuracy and at the same time reduce the need for multi-planar imaging needed for conventional T2 imaging (TSE). In the following text we review the advantages of 3D thin section imaging for assessment of pelvic tumors.
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| 4. |
- Akselsson, Roland, et al.
(author)
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Multidisciplinary Research on Integration of Human Factors and Production Concepts such as TQM - A Participatory Discussion Session
- 1999
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In: Proceedings of the Conference on TQM and Human Factors. - 9172195207 ; 2, s. 439-448
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A discussion session where the conference participants are invited to participate is planned. One topic for the session is to discuss experiences of multidisciplinary research on integration of human factors and different production concepts applied in change processes within Swedish companies. An important question that the discussion will focus on is: How to get high quality in multidisciplinary research? Another topic is to discuss how people from different disciplines in the companies interact with each other and with the researchers. Researchers from the centre Change@Work at Lund University in Sweden will present some of their experiences from several years of multidisciplinary research in companies. As a background the research questions within Change@Work are presented below. Discussions during the workshop will be performed according to methods used by the researchers in their research in the companies. All discussion will be documented and later sent to all workshop participants.
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| 5. |
- Aronsson, Tomas, et al.
(author)
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Estimating Intrahousehold Allocation in a Collective Model with Houasehold Production
- 2001
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In: Journal of Population Economics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0933-1433 .- 1432-1475. ; 14:4, s. 569-584
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The purpose of this paper is to estimate the intra-family distribution of income and the individual demand for leisure and household production from Swedish cross-sectional household data. As a basis for the analysis, we use a collective model where each individual is characterized by his or her own utility function and divides total time between leisure, household production and market work. For the purpose of comparison, we also estimate a version that is consistent with a more traditional model of labor supply, the unitary model.
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| 6. |
- Aronsson, Thomas, 1963-, et al.
(author)
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Local public goods and income heterogeneity
- 2006
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In: The theory and practice of environmental and resource economics. - Cheltenham : Edward Elgar Publishing Limited, Cheltenham. - 1845426495 - 9781845426491 ; , s. 85-101
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Book chapter (peer-reviewed)
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Athanassiadis, Dimitris, et al.
(author)
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Is there enough primary forest fuel available to feed into the existing and planned CHP facilities? The case of Northern Sweden
- 2010
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In: Publications / FINBIO. - 1239-4874. ; , s. 77-83
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A combined GIS and optimization method was used to calculate logging residue (slash and stumps) flows and expected costs at the heating or combined heat and power plants (CHP) in Northern Sweden for two logging residue supply chains. Regional primary forest energy availability was estimated considering ecological, technical and economical restrictions. Two supply chains were considered: One supply chain was based on truck transport of the fuel to the CHP plants and the other one was based on collecting the fuel to terminals adjacent to railway lines and transporting it by train to plants that are located in Central Sweden. The costs for each supply chain were calculated based on current costs for harvesting, forwarding, chipping/crushing, machine allocation to the harvesting site, road transport, compensation to the land owner and administration. The lowest cost pathway to the plants was selected. The effects of the establishment of the CHP plants on regional development are discussed
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| 9. |
- Bergqvist, Ewa, Docent, et al.
(author)
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How mathematical symbols and natural language are integrated in textbooks
- 2020
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- In mathematical text and talk, natural language is a constant companion to mathematical symbols. The purpose of this study is to identify different types of relations between natural language and symbolic language in mathematics textbooks. Here we focus on the level of integration. We have identified examples of high integration (e.g., when symbols are part of a sentence), medium integration (e.g., when the shifts between natural and symbolic language occurs when switching to a new line), and low integration (e.g., when symbols and written words are connected by the layout).
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| 10. |
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