Environmental and Climate Technologies最新文献

{"title":"Comparison of Frameworks for the Assessment of Decarbonisation of European National Building Stocks","authors":"Carlos Beltrán-Velamazán, Marta Gómez-Gil, Belinda López-Mesa, Marta Monzón-Chavarrías, Francisco González González","doi":"10.2478/rtuect-2023-0037","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2023-0037","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The European Union (EU), aware that having an energy efficient building stock is crucial to achieve decarbonisation goals and to improve people's quality of life, has established a legislative framework made up of Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBDs) and Energy Efficiency Directive (EEDs) to support Member States’ (MS) governments in boosting energy performance of buildings by offering a broad range of policies and support measures. Since 2014, all EU countries must establish a long-term renovation strategy (LTRS) every three years to support the renovation of their national building stock into a highly energy efficient and decarbonised building stock by 2050, contributing to achieving the Member States’ energy and climate plans (NECPs) targets. The requirement for EU countries to adopt a LTRS was first set out in the EED (2012/27/EU) and was revised in 2018 EPBD (2018/844/EU). With the aim of facilitating the interpretation of the latter directive by the national governments, Commission Recommendation (EU) 2019/786 was published. In this recommendation a voluntary framework based on progress indicators to assess the decarbonisation of the building stock was proposed. Later, in 2021, a proposal for the recast of the EPBD was launched, and in 2023 it was amended. In these new versions, the LTRs are strengthened towards Building renovation plans (BRP). The plans will include national targets in a more unified and comparable approach, and progress will be measured through a compulsory assessment framework based on indicators, among other issues. In this paper, the assessment frameworks proposed in the Commission Recommendation (EU) 2019/786, the proposal for the EPBD recast (2021 version) and the 2023 amended version of the EPBD recast are compared. Additionally, 2020 Member States’ LTRSs are analysed, focusing on the indicators that each one proposes to assess the renovation progress in the country. Finally, the level of alignment between the indicators proposed by each national strategy and by the 2023 amended version of the EPBD recast is evaluated, in order to identify best practices among MS to get closer to the future ‘Building renovation plans’.","PeriodicalId":46053,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Climate Technologies","volume":"40 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135840552","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Potential Role of Green Hydrogen in Decarbonization of District Heating Systems: A Review","authors":"Madara Rieksta, Emils Zarins, Gatis Bazbauers","doi":"10.2478/rtuect-2023-0040","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2023-0040","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract District heating will have an increasing role in the decarbonization of energy systems and in improving the security of supply. Although the electrification of district heating via heat pumps and heat storage is seen as the main path to decarbonization, green hydrogen could also be an important energy source for covering peak demand, providing long-term storage in power-to-gas solutions and backup. The study’s research question was to identify the potential pathways for replacing natural gas in district heating with hydrogen. Should we focus on using hydrogen and build appropriate infrastructure, or should we use hydrogen-derived synthetic gas, for which we already have an infrastructure? A review of publications was the method used in the study. The results show the existing technological solutions and associated costs for using either hydrogen or hydrogen-derived synthetic gas, i.e., methane.","PeriodicalId":46053,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Climate Technologies","volume":"46 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136302768","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Criteria for Enhanced Monitoring and Control Plans for a Waste Gasification Plant","authors":"Luca Adami, Marco Ragazzi, Marco Tubino, Marco Schiavon","doi":"10.2478/rtuect-2023-0042","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2023-0042","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The Environmental Monitoring Plan (EMP) and the Monitoring and Control Plan (MCP) are key documents required respectively in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures and in the Integrated Environmental Authorization (IEA) for activities subjected to this procedure. Both documents aim at preventing impacts on the environment and human health and/or quickly taking actions if anomalous levels of pollutants are found in the environment. Trentino is an Italian region located in the Alps characterized by high population density in its valleys, complex terrain and, thus, a low level of dispersion of the atmospheric pollutants. The research carried out in Trentino in the last two decades has allowed identifying innovative monitoring approaches to point out issues that conventional methodologies could not detect. The present paper provides the key elements of an EMP that must be included in the EIA of a waste gasification plant. The paper proposes unconventional monitoring campaigns to guarantee a more efficient control of the areas influenced by the plant before, during and after its construction. The paper also discusses key aspects of an MCP for plants that are subjected to IEA. The final aim is to make this paper a reference document to 1) evaluate new projects of waste combustion plants, 2) suggest alternative monitoring methodologies to investigate the role of specific pollutants in peculiar contexts, and 3) prescribe a specific surveillance plan in the case of a plant that is subjected to IEA. Considerations on differences with conventional plants were also included.","PeriodicalId":46053,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Climate Technologies","volume":"20 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136371612","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Life Cycle Assessment of an Innovative Microalgae Cultivation System in the Baltic Region: Results from SMORP Project","authors":"F. Romagnoli, Alessandro Thedy, Baiba Ievina, Maksims Feofilovs","doi":"10.2478/rtuect-2023-0010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2023-0010","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Microalgae cultivation at biogas plants creates joint benefits for using liquid digestate and exhaust gas from the CHP unit as nutrient and carbon sources for microalgae growing. This circular approach increases biogas production’s sustainability towards a bioeconomy and zero-waste perspective. This study aims to evaluate the potential environmental impacts in connection to a novel microalgae growing technology named Stacked Modular Open Raceway Pond (SMORP) as a side-stream process coupled with centrate and exhaust gases from a biogas plant. A comparative LCA according to ISO 14044 is performed between the innovative SMORP concept at the pilot level and a hypothetical scaled-up system. Primary data for the inventory are directly gathered from the microalgae growing test performed at the biosystems laboratory of the Institute of Energy Systems and Environment of the Riga Technical University. Secondary data are collected from literature mostly in terms of mass and energy balances considering the SMORP pilot project design. The results of the LCA include the main findings both at mid and endpoint categories according to the IMPACT 2002+ method. In addition, a sensitivity analysis for several different parameters has been investigated. Results show the feasibility of the coupled system and the possibility of having benefits once the system is scaled up. Nevertheless, the results show a critical dependency of the environmental performance on the local conditions, potentially affecting too high cultivation costs.","PeriodicalId":46053,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Climate Technologies","volume":"124 1","pages":"117 - 136"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77343075","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Carbon Footprint Evaluation Tool for Packaging Marketplace","authors":"Nidhiben Patel, Maksims Feofilovs, F. Romagnoli","doi":"10.2478/rtuect-2023-0027","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2023-0027","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Businesses willing to reduce their carbon footprint embrace sustainability and positively impact the progress towards achieving climate neutrality. Well-prepared and presented information to the business customer before purchasing can be a strong driver for better decision-making towards less impactful product alternatives. This study presents the development of a tool for packaging products online marketplace that informs customers about the carbon footprint of packaging products and allows them to evaluate which of the select packaging alternatives is most preferable from an environmental perspective. The tool implements a life cycle analysis (LCA) approach, including the stages of raw material extraction, packaging production, and transportation to the customer. The impact assessment in the tool is performed according to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2021 methodology for assessing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions based on information obtained from the Ecoinvent database. The final output of carbon footprint calculation is provided with an indicator marking the carbon footprint performance of customer-defined alternatives in a clear, simple, and consistent way. The tool aims to educate customers, foster informed purchasing decisions, and improve the environmental outcomes of their decisions.","PeriodicalId":46053,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Climate Technologies","volume":"53 3 1","pages":"368 - 378"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77345039","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Incorporating User Behaviour Into System Dynamics Modelling: A Case Study of Private vs. Public Transport in Latvia","authors":"A. Safronova, Aiga Barisa, V. Kirsanovs","doi":"10.2478/rtuect-2022-0022","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2022-0022","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract In this paper, a newly developed dynamic simulation model for transport user behaviour analysis is presented. The study aims to evaluate the impact of various factors on human behavioural intentions, identify the inconvenience costs of public transport, and identify the necessary improvements to shift the demand for population mobility from private cars to public transport. The assessment of such aspects as travel time and travel cost is presented. Modelling assumptions are based on a specially designed public survey allowing to improve the reliability of the developed system dynamics model. Modelling results highlight the multiplicative effect of factors influencing mode shift.","PeriodicalId":46053,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Climate Technologies","volume":"325 1","pages":"294 - 305"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80345256","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"CO2 as Resource. Society’s Willingness to Pay Analysis","authors":"Viktorija Terjanika, Liana Vetrinska, J. Pubule","doi":"10.2478/rtuect-2022-0061","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2022-0061","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Climate change, including the efficient management of CO2 emissions, is considered a significant environmental challenge today. Carbon dioxide is still considered an undesirable by-product that must be eliminated. However, it can be turned into a source of income. By using the latest technologies of CO2 capturing and/or utilization, valuable products with high added value can be created. For more effective analysis of the opportunities to use CO2 in Latvia, it is necessary to find out the opinion of both the public and the industrial sector. The prospects of such technologies in the local market soon depend on the desire and opportunities of the market to turn waste into a profitable resource. This paper aims to determine the Latvian manufacturer’s and society’s willingness to pay and make changes in CO2 utilization. The analysis of the conducted survey will give an insight into the opinion of these significant market players in Latvian case.","PeriodicalId":46053,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Climate Technologies","volume":"215 1","pages":"806 - 821"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78413329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Implications of the FMEA Method in Evaluating Amirkabir Dam’s Environmental Risk","authors":"Yousef Kassem, H. Gökçekuş, A. Iravanian, M. Nategh","doi":"10.2478/rtuect-2022-0074","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2022-0074","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract There are various environmental risks in both the construction and operation phases of huge civil projects such as dam construction. As a result, it is critical to implement appropriate risk control and risk mitigation measures before the initiation of the activities posed by these schemes. The goal of this research is to identify and categorize the environmental risks posed by the Amirkabir Dam during its construction and operation phases. After identifying the risks, the risk factors were prioritized using the FMEA method, with the risks being ranked according to their severity, probability of occurrence, and ability to detect. The study’s findings revealed that the highest risk in the dam construction stage is associated with road construction and vehicle exhaust gases (RPNs of 280 and 252, respectively), and the highest risk in the operation phase is associated with borrow area overuse (erosion and sediment downstream of the dam) (RPN of 280).","PeriodicalId":46053,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Climate Technologies","volume":"11 1","pages":"982 - 997"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86667176","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hempcrete – CO2 Neutral Wall Solutions for 3D Printing","authors":"M. Sinka, Ella Spurina, A. Korjakins, D. Bajare","doi":"10.2478/rtuect-2022-0057","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2022-0057","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Hempcrete is a bio-based self-bearing envelope and thermal insulation building material that is becoming more popular nowadays and has a low environmental impact, especially CO2 emissions. This study looks for solutions for hempcrete printing using a custom-built gantry type 3D printer typically used for concrete 3D printing. Preliminary research shows that hempcrete can be printed at a relatively low density of 660 kg/m3 and achieve an adequate buildability and compressive strength for printing individual wall elements. At this density, hempcrete has a thermal conductivity of 0.133 W/(m·K), unable to provide the adequate thermal resistance at average wall thickness, so high-density hempcrete should be printed as an outer wall shell (similar to Contour Crafting) and the middle filled with lower density thermal insulation hempcrete. By calculating the CO2 emissions of such printed 400–620 mm thick walls, it was found that they absorb from 1.21 to 16.7 kg of CO2 per m2, thus, such material could reduce the negative environmental impact of the construction industry while improving its productivity through 3D printing.","PeriodicalId":46053,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Climate Technologies","volume":"62 1","pages":"742 - 753"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86020529","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Production of Biodiesel Using Phosphate Rock as a Heterogeneous Catalyst. An Optimized Process Using Surface Response Methodology","authors":"Janet Kiprono, H. Rutto, T. Seodigeng","doi":"10.2478/rtuect-2022-0062","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2022-0062","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract In the present study, calcined phosphate rock was used as a heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel production from waste cooking oil (WCO). Response surface methodology was used to optimize and determine the significant process variables that affected the experiment. A 5-level-4 factor Central composite design consisting of 30 experiments was used to develop a quadratic polynomial model. The following parameters were optimized, namely, reaction temperature (40–90 °C), catalyst to oil weight ratio (1–5 %), reaction time (40–120 min), and methanol to oil ratio (10:1–18:1). Maximum biodiesel yield of 96.07 % was obtained through numerical optimization at reaction temperature 62.63 °C, catalyst to oil weight ratio of 3.32 %, reaction time 79.07 min, and alcohol to oil ratio 14.79:1. Fourier transform Infrared Spectra (FTIR) analysis was used to characterize the phosphate rock in its raw form, after calcination at 1000 °C and after the first and the fourth reuse cycle. According to the American society for testing and material (ASTM D6751), the fuel properties such as kinematic viscosity, pour point, cloud point, and density were measured and were found to be within the stipulated range.","PeriodicalId":46053,"journal":{"name":"Environmental and Climate Technologies","volume":"47 23 1","pages":"822 - 835"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80615704","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}