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Ketonization of fatty acids with TiO2 catalyst as a valorisation strategy to produce bio-based ketones for hydrophobization wax applications.
Bert Boekaerts; Margot Vandeputte; Kranti Navaré; Joost Van Aelst; Karel Van Acker; Jan Cocquyt; Chris Van Caneyt; Peter Van Puyvelde; Bert F. Sels. Assessment of the environmental sustainability of solvent-less fatty acid ketonization to bio-based ketones for wax emulsion applications. Green Chemistry 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleBert Boekaerts, Margot Vandeputte, Kranti Navaré, Joost Van Aelst, Karel Van Acker, Jan Cocquyt, Chris Van Caneyt, Peter Van Puyvelde, Bert F. Sels. Assessment of the environmental sustainability of solvent-less fatty acid ketonization to bio-based ketones for wax emulsion applications. Green Chemistry. 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBert Boekaerts; Margot Vandeputte; Kranti Navaré; Joost Van Aelst; Karel Van Acker; Jan Cocquyt; Chris Van Caneyt; Peter Van Puyvelde; Bert F. Sels. 2021. "Assessment of the environmental sustainability of solvent-less fatty acid ketonization to bio-based ketones for wax emulsion applications." Green Chemistry , no. : 1.
Meeting rooms are reserved 30% of working hours but only used for 20% of that time. By implementing a strategy where the available capacity is leased to the wider market rather than just the building users, there is a positive impact on the economic, environmental, and social factors of the building and its surroundings. This study uses the building ‘The Globe’ in The Hague as a case study, and then projects the results to the entire city. In case of The Globe, implementing a lease out strategy achieves a reduction of 36% of the annual rent of the meeting rooms to the building's tenant. The owner benefits from a revenue increase of 12.5%, with the same operational expenses (except the reservation system), leading to a proportional higher valuation of the building. Annual energy consumption may be lowered by 6.2%. This study contributes to the literature by considering the total benefits that could be obtained by more efficient use of office space that is currently underused. The application of technology generates added value for economic, environmental, and social factors. These factors are important in real estate as they (among others) have a direct link to the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) analysis that investors make before proceeding with an investment.
M. Peeters; T. Compernolle; S. Van Passel. Leasing out unused meeting room capacity to reduce future office space needs: A case study of The Hague, Netherlands. Journal of Building Engineering 2021, 44, 102953 .
AMA StyleM. Peeters, T. Compernolle, S. Van Passel. Leasing out unused meeting room capacity to reduce future office space needs: A case study of The Hague, Netherlands. Journal of Building Engineering. 2021; 44 ():102953.
Chicago/Turabian StyleM. Peeters; T. Compernolle; S. Van Passel. 2021. "Leasing out unused meeting room capacity to reduce future office space needs: A case study of The Hague, Netherlands." Journal of Building Engineering 44, no. : 102953.
Based on a survey of 2,106 individuals, this study aims to get a better understanding of the attitudes toward carsharing in Flanders, Belgium. Several drivers and barriers that influence household decisions to participate in a carsharing system are identified. An ordinal logit model reveals that highly educated, younger males with high ecological concerns are more likely to share cars. It is shown that living in a rural environment or owning a company car are important barriers. A parking policy aimed at discouraging private car use while stimulating sustainable mobility choices appears to be an interesting avenue for future research.
Raïsa Carmen; Luc Alaerts; Kris Bachus; Donald A. Chapman; Johan Eyckmans; Karel Van Acker; Luc Van Ootegem; Sandra Rousseau. Drivers and Barriers of Households’ Carsharing Decisions. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleRaïsa Carmen, Luc Alaerts, Kris Bachus, Donald A. Chapman, Johan Eyckmans, Karel Van Acker, Luc Van Ootegem, Sandra Rousseau. Drivers and Barriers of Households’ Carsharing Decisions. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board. 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRaïsa Carmen; Luc Alaerts; Kris Bachus; Donald A. Chapman; Johan Eyckmans; Karel Van Acker; Luc Van Ootegem; Sandra Rousseau. 2021. "Drivers and Barriers of Households’ Carsharing Decisions." Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board , no. : 1.
A new reductive catalytic fractionation biorefinery process (RCF) is currently being developed transforming wood into high-value end-products. RCF is considered to be in the pilot stage with a technology readiness level of 5–6. Apart from the RCF-process characteristics, the economic feasibility also depends on the investment decisions that are made upstream and downstream within the wood value chain, increasing the level of uncertainty. Two investment options within the value chain are considered: an option to invest in harvesting equipment and an option to invest in the RCF. To understand the impact of multiple sources of uncertainty on the decision to invest in an innovative RCF-driven wood value chain, an analytical two-factor real options model is presented, accounting for correlated cost and price uncertainties. Two different scenarios, separated and united investments in harvesting equipment and RCF, are analyzed. In both scenarios, market uncertainty postpones investment in comparison to the traditional NPV approach. When both investments are considered separately, the investment in RCF is expected to be earlier than the investment in harvesting equipment. When both investment decisions are united, the probability of investment increases. The study reveals that RCF has the potential to stimulate investments from different investors, –upstream and midstream–, within the wood value chain. Besides, the introduced real options model proofs its ability to assess the economic feasibility of innovative technologies (e.g RCF) individually or within the value chain, taking into account multiple sources of uncertainty.
Maxim Tschulkow; Tine Compernolle; Steven Van Passel. Optimal timing of multiple investment decisions in a wood value chain: A real options approach. Journal of Environmental Management 2021, 290, 112590 .
AMA StyleMaxim Tschulkow, Tine Compernolle, Steven Van Passel. Optimal timing of multiple investment decisions in a wood value chain: A real options approach. Journal of Environmental Management. 2021; 290 ():112590.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaxim Tschulkow; Tine Compernolle; Steven Van Passel. 2021. "Optimal timing of multiple investment decisions in a wood value chain: A real options approach." Journal of Environmental Management 290, no. : 112590.
Environmental effects and natural resources depletion associated with agriculture production affect the agriculture response to climate change. Traditional cross-sectional climate response models ignore this requirement. This research estimates the impact of climate on European agriculture using a continental scale Ricardian analysis. We correct farm income by accounting for resources (energy, fertilisers, pesticides, and water) use intensity and calculate the sustainable value for a sample of 9497 specialized field crop farms. Compared with the traditional Ricardian method, the marginal effects of temperature remain positive (but less positive) in Northern countries, while it leads to less damages in Southern countries when net revenue and farms' sustainable values are used as dependent variables. Accounting for the environmental effects and depletion of natural capital improves the ability of the Ricardian method to estimate agriculture climate response functions in the long run.
Michele Moretti; Janka Vanschoenwinkel; Steven Van Passel. Accounting for externalities in cross-sectional economic models of climate change impacts. Ecological Economics 2021, 185, 107058 .
AMA StyleMichele Moretti, Janka Vanschoenwinkel, Steven Van Passel. Accounting for externalities in cross-sectional economic models of climate change impacts. Ecological Economics. 2021; 185 ():107058.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMichele Moretti; Janka Vanschoenwinkel; Steven Van Passel. 2021. "Accounting for externalities in cross-sectional economic models of climate change impacts." Ecological Economics 185, no. : 107058.
Circular economy (CE) principles distinguish between technical and biological cycles. Technical cycles involve the management of stocks of non-renewable abiotic resources that cannot be appropriately returned to the biosphere, whereas, biological cycles involve the flows of renewable biotic resources that can safely cycle in and out of the biosphere. Despite this distinction, existing CE monitors are typically developed for technical cycles, and focus mainly on the extent to which resources are looped back in the technosphere. These monitors seem less apt to assess the circularity of biological cycles. This study aims to identify this gap by critically reviewing the CE monitoring criteria and CE assessment tools, and evaluate if they include the four key characteristics of biological cycles. Firstly, biotic resources, although renewable, require to be harvested sustainably. Secondly, while abiotic resources can be restored and recycled to their original quality, biotic resources degrade in quality with every subsequent use and are, hence, cascaded in use. Thirdly, biotic resources should safely return as nutrients to the biosphere to support the regeneration of ecosystems. Fourthly, biological cycles have environmental impacts due to resource extraction, resulting from land-use and resource-depletion and biogenic carbon flows. The CE monitoring criteria lack in thoroughly assessing these characteristics. With the growing demand for biotic resources, the gap in the assessment could exacerbate the overexploitation of natural resources and cause the degradation of ecosystems. The study discusses measures to bridge this gap and suggests ways to design a CE assessment framework that is also apt for biological cycles.
Kranti Navare; Bart Muys; Karl C. Vrancken; Karel Van Acker. Circular economy monitoring – How to make it apt for biological cycles? Resources, Conservation and Recycling 2021, 170, 105563 .
AMA StyleKranti Navare, Bart Muys, Karl C. Vrancken, Karel Van Acker. Circular economy monitoring – How to make it apt for biological cycles? Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2021; 170 ():105563.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKranti Navare; Bart Muys; Karl C. Vrancken; Karel Van Acker. 2021. "Circular economy monitoring – How to make it apt for biological cycles?" Resources, Conservation and Recycling 170, no. : 105563.
In the past decade, to improve crop production and productivity, Ethiopia has embarked on an ambitious irrigation farming expansion program and has introduced new large- and small-scale irrigation initiatives. However, in Ethiopia, poverty remains a challenge, and crop productivity per unit area of land is very low. Literature on the technical efficiency (TE) of large-scale and small-scale irrigation user farmers as compared to the non-user farmers in Ethiopia is also limited. Investigating smallholder farmers’ TE level and its principal determinants is very important to increase crop production and productivity and to improve smallholder farmers’ livelihood and food security. Using 1026 household-level cross-section data, this study adopts a technology flexible stochastic frontier approach to examine agricultural TE of large-scale irrigation users, small-scale irrigation users and non-user farmers in Ethiopia. The results indicate that, due to poor extension services and old-style agronomic practices, the mean TE of farmers is very low (44.33%), implying that there is a wider room for increasing crop production in the study areas through increasing the TE of smallholder farmers without additional investment in novel agricultural technologies. Results also show that large-scale irrigation user farmers (21.05%) are less technically efficient than small-scale irrigation user farmers (60.29%). However, improving irrigation infrastructure shifts the frontier up and has a positive impact on smallholder farmers’ output.
Markose Zewdie; Michele Moretti; Daregot Tenessa; Zemen Ayele; Jan Nyssen; Enyew Tsegaye; Amare Minale; Steven Van Passel. Agricultural Technical Efficiency of Smallholder Farmers in Ethiopia: A Stochastic Frontier Approach. Land 2021, 10, 246 .
AMA StyleMarkose Zewdie, Michele Moretti, Daregot Tenessa, Zemen Ayele, Jan Nyssen, Enyew Tsegaye, Amare Minale, Steven Van Passel. Agricultural Technical Efficiency of Smallholder Farmers in Ethiopia: A Stochastic Frontier Approach. Land. 2021; 10 (3):246.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarkose Zewdie; Michele Moretti; Daregot Tenessa; Zemen Ayele; Jan Nyssen; Enyew Tsegaye; Amare Minale; Steven Van Passel. 2021. "Agricultural Technical Efficiency of Smallholder Farmers in Ethiopia: A Stochastic Frontier Approach." Land 10, no. 3: 246.
Landfill mining (LFM) refers to the excavation and processing of formerly buried waste streams. It offers significant environmental and societal benefits through the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions or the reduction of long-term waste management costs. LFM’s profitability, however, is still in question and public investment support might be necessary to fully exploit its potential. To enable decision-makers to identify the best solutions for a landfill site, societal impacts of LFM still have to be investigated. Throughout relevant literature, societal impacts of LFM projects have only selectively been studied and it remains unclear if and which benefits justify policy interventions. This paper firstly provides a comprehensive conceptualization of the societal impact of an LFM project and dives into the underlying societal context of this emerging industry. It disentangles formerly identified burdens and benefits by applying a system dynamics approach to LFM research. Based on this approach, four causal loop diagrams are presented showing how LFM is embedded into its societal context, analyzing the composition of the net societal impact of an LFM project, the mechanisms influencing LFM’s public acceptance, and the dynamics of the market acceptance of LFM products. Key variables and leverage points have been identified, such as (i) technology choices influencing avoided impacts from the mitigations of primary resource consumption, since many societal impacts are closely related to environmental impacts, (ii) a timely and broad stakeholder involvement to prevent project opposition, and (iii) the after-use of the mined landfill, generating a major part of the local and regional societal benefits but also creating potential conflicts between stakeholder interests. Key intradimensional trade-offs and potential conflicts were identified in (i) spatial and (ii) temporal risk distribution, (iii) conflicting societal goals of the after-use such as job creations and recreation, as well as (iv) material and energy recuperation. These findings provide important insights for LFM decision-makers and can help to implement this emerging industry in a sustainable way.
Paul Einhäupl; Karel Van Acker; Herbert Peremans; Steven Van Passel. The conceptualization of societal impacts of landfill mining – A system dynamics approach. Journal of Cleaner Production 2021, 296, 126351 .
AMA StylePaul Einhäupl, Karel Van Acker, Herbert Peremans, Steven Van Passel. The conceptualization of societal impacts of landfill mining – A system dynamics approach. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2021; 296 ():126351.
Chicago/Turabian StylePaul Einhäupl; Karel Van Acker; Herbert Peremans; Steven Van Passel. 2021. "The conceptualization of societal impacts of landfill mining – A system dynamics approach." Journal of Cleaner Production 296, no. : 126351.
Model uncertainties in life cycle assessment (LCA) can arise due to the lack or limited knowledge of the system (epistemic), or due to the inherent spatial and/or temporal variability of the processes that characterize it (stochastic). Scenario analysis is often used to address such uncertainties. However, the analysis does not provide information on which scenario is more representative of the system, or more likely to occur. To account for model uncertainties in LCA, the approach presented here estimates the likelihood of occurrence of the scenarios by assigning probabilities to the events characterizing them. An integrated life cycle assessment (LCA) and quantitative risk assessment (QRA) approach was developed to include the likelihood of occurrence of future events, and their consequences, in the definition of one representative scenario. The integration of the two tools was conceived at a framework level, with the inclusion of probability estimates as weighting factors for the scenario results. These probability estimates for each scenario allow improving the spatial and temporal representativeness of the model of the system. The approach was applied to a landfill case study to test its applicability in defining the impacts of a landfill reference scenario. Twelve scenarios were developed to represent the potential variation of landfill conditions over time. In particular, the degradation and failure of the containment systems, and the flooding of the site, were the main events considered in the scenario definition. An event tree was built to estimate the probability of occurrence of each scenario. Expected values and standard deviations were computed for all impact categories based on the impacts and their probabilities. Additional information on the probability of obtaining a certain impact was further provided by the impact curve built as function of the impacts and their cumulative probability. Overall, the results of the study highlight the potential of the approach and the relevance of the information that the results can provide on the impact of a landfill, and more generally a system, under varying conditions over time.
Giovanna Sauve; Karel Van Acker. Integrating life cycle assessment (LCA) and quantitative risk assessment (QRA) to address model uncertainties: defining a landfill reference case under varying environmental and engineering conditions. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 2021, 26, 591 -603.
AMA StyleGiovanna Sauve, Karel Van Acker. Integrating life cycle assessment (LCA) and quantitative risk assessment (QRA) to address model uncertainties: defining a landfill reference case under varying environmental and engineering conditions. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. 2021; 26 (3):591-603.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiovanna Sauve; Karel Van Acker. 2021. "Integrating life cycle assessment (LCA) and quantitative risk assessment (QRA) to address model uncertainties: defining a landfill reference case under varying environmental and engineering conditions." The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 26, no. 3: 591-603.
The integrated techno-sustainability assessment (TSA) deals with the dynamic quantification of application-specific environmental, economic, and social indicators, and flexible decision-making for emerging (biobased) technologies.
Sophie Van Schoubroeck; Gwenny Thomassen; Steven Van Passel; Robert Malina; Johan Springael; Sebastien Lizin; Richard A. Venditti; Yuan Yao; Miet Van Dael. An integrated techno-sustainability assessment (TSA) framework for emerging technologies. Green Chemistry 2021, 23, 1700 -1715.
AMA StyleSophie Van Schoubroeck, Gwenny Thomassen, Steven Van Passel, Robert Malina, Johan Springael, Sebastien Lizin, Richard A. Venditti, Yuan Yao, Miet Van Dael. An integrated techno-sustainability assessment (TSA) framework for emerging technologies. Green Chemistry. 2021; 23 (4):1700-1715.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSophie Van Schoubroeck; Gwenny Thomassen; Steven Van Passel; Robert Malina; Johan Springael; Sebastien Lizin; Richard A. Venditti; Yuan Yao; Miet Van Dael. 2021. "An integrated techno-sustainability assessment (TSA) framework for emerging technologies." Green Chemistry 23, no. 4: 1700-1715.
In recent years, cities have revealed themselves as being prominent actors in the circular economy transition. Besides supporting and initiating urban projects catalyzing circularity, cities are looking for monitoring tools that can make their progress towards circularity visible. Adopting Leuven’s pilot project for a building materials bank as a case study, this paper notes the particular challenges and opportunities in the pilot project to assess its progress and impact, in combination with gathering data for overall circular city monitoring purposes. Firstly, the paper names tensions between the “messy” transition process from policy ambitions to implementation and the question of data and monitoring. Secondly, the paper identifies relevant dimensions and scales to evaluate progress and impacts of a building materials bank, drawing from its development process. Thirdly, it proposes guidelines to monitor and evaluate circular city projects from the bottom up, combining quantitative indicators with guiding questions in a developmental evaluation. The analysis serves a critical reflection, distills lessons learned for projects contributing to circular cities and feeds a few concluding policy recommendations. The case study serves as an example that, in order to move beyond the tensions between circularity monitoring and actual circular city project development, monitoring instruments should simultaneously interact with and feed the circularity transition process. Therefore, dedicated data governance driven by enhanced stakeholder interactions should be inscribed in transition process guidance. Bottom-up projects such as a building materials bank provide opportunities to do this.
Julie Marin; Luc Alaerts; Karel Van Acker. A Materials Bank for Circular Leuven: How to Monitor ‘Messy’ Circular City Transition Projects. Sustainability 2020, 12, 10351 .
AMA StyleJulie Marin, Luc Alaerts, Karel Van Acker. A Materials Bank for Circular Leuven: How to Monitor ‘Messy’ Circular City Transition Projects. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (24):10351.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJulie Marin; Luc Alaerts; Karel Van Acker. 2020. "A Materials Bank for Circular Leuven: How to Monitor ‘Messy’ Circular City Transition Projects." Sustainability 12, no. 24: 10351.
Electric vehicles are sometimes marketed unambiguously as low-carbon technologies; however, they often contain less ‘clean’ ingredients, such as rare earth permanent magnets. In fact, high-performance permanent magnets in electric vehicles often use neodymium. Alternatively, more costly samarium-cobalt magnets can be used. In this paper, life cycle assessment is used to compare the primary production routes of both neodymium-iron-boron and samarium-cobalt magnets in terms of environmental impact. For primary production of samarium-cobalt magnets, this is the first detailed life cycle inventory published to date. In addition, we provide an updated life cycle assessment of neodymium-iron-boron, expanded with recent literature and some primary industry data. We conclude that production of samarium-cobalt is not preferable in terms of environmental impact, from a cradle-to-gate perspective. A sensitivity analysis and uncertainty analysis show that while there are uncertain parameters in both studies, the uncertainty range tends to be slightly higher for samarium-cobalt.
Gwendolyn Bailey; Martina Orefice; Benjamin Sprecher; Mehmet Ali Recai Önal; Enrique Herraiz; Wim Dewulf; Karel Van Acker. Life cycle inventory of samarium-cobalt permanent magnets, compared to neodymium-iron-boron as used in electric vehicles. Journal of Cleaner Production 2020, 286, 125294 .
AMA StyleGwendolyn Bailey, Martina Orefice, Benjamin Sprecher, Mehmet Ali Recai Önal, Enrique Herraiz, Wim Dewulf, Karel Van Acker. Life cycle inventory of samarium-cobalt permanent magnets, compared to neodymium-iron-boron as used in electric vehicles. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2020; 286 ():125294.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGwendolyn Bailey; Martina Orefice; Benjamin Sprecher; Mehmet Ali Recai Önal; Enrique Herraiz; Wim Dewulf; Karel Van Acker. 2020. "Life cycle inventory of samarium-cobalt permanent magnets, compared to neodymium-iron-boron as used in electric vehicles." Journal of Cleaner Production 286, no. : 125294.
In Ethiopia, urban expansion happens at high rates and results in land expropriations often at the cost of agriculture and forests. The process of urban expansion does not include assessment of ecosystem services (ES). This has been causing unintended environmental problems. This study aims to uncover ES of three most important land use types (cropland, agroforestry, and grassland) that are threatened by land expropriation for urban expansion in Bahir Dar City. The study applied a participatory approach using community perception and expert judgments (N = 108). Respondents were asked to locate their perceptions on the use of 35 different ES, and then to evaluate the potential of the land use. Respondents were shown to have the ability to differentiate between ES and land use in terms of their potential to deliver ES. The results show that agroforestry is expected to have a high relevant potential to deliver 31% of all ES, but cropland 20% and grassland 14%. Food, fodder, timber, firewood, fresh water, energy, compost, climate regulation, erosion prevention, and water purification and treatment were identified as the ten most important services. It is not only the provisioning services that are being supplied by the land use types which are expropriated for urbanization, but also regulating, supporting and cultural services. To ensure sustainable urban land development, we suggest the consideration of the use of ES and the potential of the land use to supply ES when making land use decisions, including land expropriation for urban expansion.
Wubante Fetene Admasu; Annelies Boerema; Jan Nyssen; Amare Sewnet Minale; Enyew Adgo Tsegaye; Steven Van Passel. Uncovering Ecosystem Services of Expropriated Land: The Case of Urban Expansion in Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia. Land 2020, 9, 395 .
AMA StyleWubante Fetene Admasu, Annelies Boerema, Jan Nyssen, Amare Sewnet Minale, Enyew Adgo Tsegaye, Steven Van Passel. Uncovering Ecosystem Services of Expropriated Land: The Case of Urban Expansion in Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia. Land. 2020; 9 (10):395.
Chicago/Turabian StyleWubante Fetene Admasu; Annelies Boerema; Jan Nyssen; Amare Sewnet Minale; Enyew Adgo Tsegaye; Steven Van Passel. 2020. "Uncovering Ecosystem Services of Expropriated Land: The Case of Urban Expansion in Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia." Land 9, no. 10: 395.
Private car-use is a major contributor of greenhouse gases. Car-sharing is often hypothesised as a potential solution to reduce car-ownership, which can lead to car-sharing users reducing their car-use. However, there is a risk that car-sharing may also increase car-use amongst some users. Existing studies on the impacts of car-sharing on car-use are often based on estimates of the users’ own judgement of the effects; few studies make use of quasi-experimental methods. In this paper, the impact of car-sharing on car-ownership and car-use in Flanders, Belgium is estimated using survey data from both sharers and non-sharers. The impact on car-use is estimated using zero-inflated negative binomial regression, applied to matched samples of car-sharing users and non-users. The results show that the car-sharing may reduce car-use, but only if a significant number of users reduce their car-ownership. Policy intervention may therefore be required to ensure car-sharing leads to a reduction in car-use by, for example, discouraging car-ownership. Further research using quasi-experimental methods is required to illuminate whether the promise of car-sharing is reflected in reality.
Donald Chapman; Johan Eyckmans; Karel Van Acker. Does Car-Sharing Reduce Car-Use? An Impact Evaluation of Car-Sharing in Flanders, Belgium. Sustainability 2020, 12, 8155 .
AMA StyleDonald Chapman, Johan Eyckmans, Karel Van Acker. Does Car-Sharing Reduce Car-Use? An Impact Evaluation of Car-Sharing in Flanders, Belgium. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (19):8155.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDonald Chapman; Johan Eyckmans; Karel Van Acker. 2020. "Does Car-Sharing Reduce Car-Use? An Impact Evaluation of Car-Sharing in Flanders, Belgium." Sustainability 12, no. 19: 8155.
A new lignin-first biorefinery with a reductive catalytic fractionation process, which targets the valorization of the lignin and the carbohydrate fraction into higher value end-products, is currently being designed. To identify the various R&D drivers for projects with a low technology readiness level (TRL), we developed an integrated techno-economic assessment (TEA) that directly integrates the results of lab studies with economic costs and benefits. Furthermore, different linkages are made to upstream wood availability and downstream demand to understand its fit into existing wood value chains. By making the relations across the wood value chain explicit within the integrated TEA, we find that the scale of the plant, the feedstock-specific output quantities, and output prices highly determine the economic feasibility. Furthermore, this detailed analysis reveals the importance of assessing different types of feedstock. If only virgin wood is available as feedstock, minimum capacity levels between 190 and 234 kilotons per year are needed for the investment to be profitable. Waste wood proves to be the most profitable feedstock with an NPV of M€ 59 and an IRR of 26%. Using only waste wood as feedstock makes the investment profitable at a lower capacity level of 80 kilotons per year and economic shocks can be absorbed. Based on these results we show that an integrated and detailed TEA is indispensable to define future development paths for early-stage, innovative technologies.
Maxim Tschulkow; Tine Compernolle; Sander Van Den Bosch; Joost Van Aelst; Ilié Storms; Miet Van Dael; Gil Van Den Bossche; Bert Sels; Steven Van Passel. Integrated techno-economic assessment of a biorefinery process: The high-end valorization of the lignocellulosic fraction in wood streams. Journal of Cleaner Production 2020, 266, 122022 .
AMA StyleMaxim Tschulkow, Tine Compernolle, Sander Van Den Bosch, Joost Van Aelst, Ilié Storms, Miet Van Dael, Gil Van Den Bossche, Bert Sels, Steven Van Passel. Integrated techno-economic assessment of a biorefinery process: The high-end valorization of the lignocellulosic fraction in wood streams. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2020; 266 ():122022.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaxim Tschulkow; Tine Compernolle; Sander Van Den Bosch; Joost Van Aelst; Ilié Storms; Miet Van Dael; Gil Van Den Bossche; Bert Sels; Steven Van Passel. 2020. "Integrated techno-economic assessment of a biorefinery process: The high-end valorization of the lignocellulosic fraction in wood streams." Journal of Cleaner Production 266, no. : 122022.
The purpose of this study is to determine if aquaponic systems can reduce food insecurity in the semi-arid regions of Brazil and generate income for the beneficiaries. Aquaponics is a potentially sustainable way to produce food based on gardening, hydroponics and aquaculture. A case study, based on a project called Aquaponova, was developed. The aquaponic systems currently used in the project are non-commercial and designed for households with limited resources. The data based on six existing systems within this project were used to compare the costs and the benefits. The cost–benefit analysis covers four scenarios and three financing options. The results show that aquaponic systems have a large potential and can reduce food insecurity in semi-arid regions while generating income for the beneficiaries. Even if the system only produces 40% of the total estimated production, the system will still be feasible. However, the low opportunity cost of labour is an essential factor for obtaining these positive results. Moreover, the social benefits, such as a community spirit and the health benefits of the system, should not be underestimated.
Maíra Finizola E Silva; Steven Van Passel. Climate-Smart Agriculture in the Northeast of Brazil: An Integrated Assessment of the Aquaponics Technology. Sustainability 2020, 12, 3734 .
AMA StyleMaíra Finizola E Silva, Steven Van Passel. Climate-Smart Agriculture in the Northeast of Brazil: An Integrated Assessment of the Aquaponics Technology. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (9):3734.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaíra Finizola E Silva; Steven Van Passel. 2020. "Climate-Smart Agriculture in the Northeast of Brazil: An Integrated Assessment of the Aquaponics Technology." Sustainability 12, no. 9: 3734.
The fast-paced urbanization of recent decades entails that many regions are facing seemingly uncontrolled land-use changes (LUCs) that go hand in hand with a range of environmental and socio-economic challenges. In this paper, we use an integrated cellular automata–Markov chain (CA–MC) model to analyze and predict the urban expansion of and its impact on LUC in the city of Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. To this end, the research marshals high-resolution Landsat images of 1991, 2002, 2011, and 2018. An analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method is then used to identify the biophysical and socioeconomic factors underlying the expansion in the research area. It is shown that, during the period of study, built-up areas are rapidly expanding in the face of an overall decline of the farmland and vegetation cover. Drawing on a model calibration for 2018, the research predicts the possible geographies of LUC in the Bahir Dar area for 2025, 2034, and 2045. It is predicted that the conversions of other land-use types into built-up areas will persist in the southern, southwestern, and northeastern areas of the sprawling city, which can mainly be traced back to the uneven geographies of road accessibility, proximity to the city center, and slope variables. We reflect on how our findings can be used to facilitate sustainable urban development and land-use policies in the Bahir Dar area.
Melaku Bogale Fitawok; Ben Derudder; Amare Sewnet Minale; Steven Van Passel; Enyew Adgo; Jan Nyssen. Modeling the Impact of Urbanization on Land-Use Change in Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia: An Integrated Cellular Automata–Markov Chain Approach. Land 2020, 9, 115 .
AMA StyleMelaku Bogale Fitawok, Ben Derudder, Amare Sewnet Minale, Steven Van Passel, Enyew Adgo, Jan Nyssen. Modeling the Impact of Urbanization on Land-Use Change in Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia: An Integrated Cellular Automata–Markov Chain Approach. Land. 2020; 9 (4):115.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMelaku Bogale Fitawok; Ben Derudder; Amare Sewnet Minale; Steven Van Passel; Enyew Adgo; Jan Nyssen. 2020. "Modeling the Impact of Urbanization on Land-Use Change in Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia: An Integrated Cellular Automata–Markov Chain Approach." Land 9, no. 4: 115.
The anticipated development of decentralized electricity generation is expected to strengthen the opportunities of prosumers in the residential areas of cities, in line with the predicted establishment of renewable energy generation and storage. Based on academic research and on successful case studies, the opportunity for residential prosumers to organize in microgrids emerges as a viable and promising solution. This paper focuses on microgrids that are planned to generate electricity with a PV unit and use a shared storage system, and that opt to have a connection with the main grid. However, the point of common coupling needs to be agreed first between the microgrid operator and the network operator, and this agreement is determined by several factors and conditions beyond the basic technical and regulatory requirements. A survey of academic literature on the determinant factors for such an agreement exposes the fact that current research either focuses on the integration of individual prosumers in the main grid, or regards the point of common coupling as a given component of microgrids. We argue that neither of the two approaches is helpful in the case of microgrids vs. main grid, seeing as the agreement is not self-evident under just any circumstances, nor can the microgrid be equated to a single, large prosumer. Therefore this short paper compiles a set of determinant factors for the microgrid integration, as they emerge from academic literature, with the aim to document further research needs and support the discussion on microgrid integration.
Iolanda Saviuc; Steven Van Passel; Herbert Peremans. Integrating PV+Battery Residential Microgrids in Distribution Networks: How Is the Point of Common Coupling Agreed Upon? Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering 2020, 150 -164.
AMA StyleIolanda Saviuc, Steven Van Passel, Herbert Peremans. Integrating PV+Battery Residential Microgrids in Distribution Networks: How Is the Point of Common Coupling Agreed Upon? Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering. 2020; ():150-164.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIolanda Saviuc; Steven Van Passel; Herbert Peremans. 2020. "Integrating PV+Battery Residential Microgrids in Distribution Networks: How Is the Point of Common Coupling Agreed Upon?" Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering , no. : 150-164.
Birch bark was converted to a hydrocarbon biofuel through solubilization and hydrotreatment. The procedure implements a recyclable, salt- and metal-free solvent system and has been evaluated by Life-Cycle Assessment.
Ivan Kumaniaev; Kranti Navare; Natalia Crespo-Mendes; Vincent Placet; Karel Van Acker; Joseph S. M. Samec. Conversion of birch bark to biofuels. Green Chemistry 2020, 22, 2255 -2263.
AMA StyleIvan Kumaniaev, Kranti Navare, Natalia Crespo-Mendes, Vincent Placet, Karel Van Acker, Joseph S. M. Samec. Conversion of birch bark to biofuels. Green Chemistry. 2020; 22 (7):2255-2263.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIvan Kumaniaev; Kranti Navare; Natalia Crespo-Mendes; Vincent Placet; Karel Van Acker; Joseph S. M. Samec. 2020. "Conversion of birch bark to biofuels." Green Chemistry 22, no. 7: 2255-2263.
In Europe, 23% of the generated municipal solid waste (MSW) was landfilled in 2017. Despite the landfill targets which define waste and landfill requirements, there is still high variability in the waste management performance between EU Member States. Aim of the study was to give an overview of the variability of environmental impacts of MSW sanitary landfills in Europe in relation to the different levels of implementation of the requirements. Life cycle assessment (LCA) was adopted as tool to define the impacts of the different landfill conditions over a 100-year period. Based on previous studies, consistent methodological choices were made to allow comparability of the results. Four reference cases were defined based on average bulk MSW compositions to represent the European conditions, with L0 values of 18, 61, 90 and 138 [m3 CH4/t waste]. Furthermore, multiple scenario analysis was used to increase the relevance of the assessment and address the variability of site-specific factors, such as waste composition, climatic conditions and landfill management, which influence the impacts of landfills. Results of the study showed the range of potential impacts in Europe in relation to the variation of influencing factors, with values for climate change ranging from 124 to 841 kg CO2 eq., and with environmental savings obtained for categories such as ecotoxicity and human toxicity for scenarios with landfill gas - to - energy (LFGTE) solutions. The results emphasized the dependence of landfill impacts on waste composition, but also on the LFG treatment and climatic conditions. The outcome of the study also highlight how low amounts of biodegradable fractions reduce the impacts of landfills, as well as their variability in relation to leachate production rates or LFG treatment solutions. Therefore the overall results support the current targets and requirements reported in the Waste Directive 2008/98/EC, Circular Economy package and Landfill Directive 1999/31/EC.
Giovanna Sauve; Karel Van Acker. The environmental impacts of municipal solid waste landfills in Europe: A life cycle assessment of proper reference cases to support decision making. Journal of Environmental Management 2020, 261, 110216 .
AMA StyleGiovanna Sauve, Karel Van Acker. The environmental impacts of municipal solid waste landfills in Europe: A life cycle assessment of proper reference cases to support decision making. Journal of Environmental Management. 2020; 261 ():110216.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiovanna Sauve; Karel Van Acker. 2020. "The environmental impacts of municipal solid waste landfills in Europe: A life cycle assessment of proper reference cases to support decision making." Journal of Environmental Management 261, no. : 110216.