1,517 research outputs found

    Energy use in the EU food sector: State of play and opportunities for improvement

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    The amount of energy necessary to cultivate, process, pack and bring the food to European citizens tables accounts for the 17 % of the EU's gross energy consumption, equivalent to about 26 % of the EU's final energy consumption in 2013. Challenges and solutions for decreasing energy consumption and increasing the use of renewable energy in the European food sector are presented and discussed.JRC.F.7-Renewables and Energy Efficienc

    Skills Requirements for the European Machine Tool Sector Emerging from Its Digitalization

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    Abstract The machine tool industry, which is the starting point of all the metal producing activities, is presently undergoing rapid and continuous changes as a result of the fourth industrial revolution Industry 4.0. Manufacturing models are profoundly transforming with emerging digitalization. Smart technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), big data, the Internet of Things (IoT), digital twin, allow the machine tool companies to optimize processes, increase efficiency and reduce waste through a new phase of automation. These technologies, as well, enable the machine tool producers to reach the aim of creating products with improved performance, extended life, high reliability that are eco-efficient. Therefore, Industry 4.0 could be perceived as an invaluable opportunity for the machine tool sector, only if the sector has a competent workforce capable of handling the implementation of new business models and technological developments. The main condition to create this highly qualified workforce is reskilling and upskilling of the current workforce. Once we define the expected evolution of skills requirements, we can clarify the skills mismatch between the workers and job profiles. Only then, we can reduce them by delivering well-developed trainings. For this purpose, this article identifies the current and foreseen skills requirements demanded by the machine tool industry workforce. To this end, we generated an integrated database for the sector with the present and prospective skills needs of the metal processing sector professionals. The presented sectoral database is a fundamental structure that will make the sector acquire targeted industrial reforms. It can also be an essential instrument for machine tool companies, policymakers, academics and education or training centers to build well-designed and effective training programs to enhance the skills of the labor forceThis research was partly funded by (a) the European Union through the Erasmus Plus Programme (Grant Agreement No. 2018-3019/001-001, Project No. 600886-1-2018-1-DE-EPPKA2-SSA-B). (b) the HAZITEK call of the Basque Government, project acronym Adit4All and (c) Accenture, Inzu Group, Fundación Telefónica and Fundación BBK, partners of the Deusto Digital Industry Chair

    Firm internal drivers for eco-process innovation - A multi-method analysis of energy efficiency in Norwegian manufacturing firms

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    The high energy intensity of the manufacturing sector places it at the centre of all greenhouse gas emission abatement programmes. The thesis is thus motivated by the need to increase the environmental performance of the sector, and aims to explore the internal drivers in stimulating eco-process innovation in manufacturing firms. To this end, I use an explorative research design and explore the phenomenon from different theoretical, epistemological and methodological perspectives in three interdependent empirical studies. These studies are empirically informed by research on energy efficiency (EE). From the thesis results, I suggest a new typology of internal organisational drivers for eco-process innovation: environmental leadership, absorptive capacity, organisational structure and routines, and translation competence. Furthermore, the results point to the micro foundations of each driver and suggest an interrelation between the four drivers. This interrelation is discussed in a conceptual model. The thesis further contributes to the field by providing more knowledge on the impact and role of internal stakeholders at various organisational levels. By considering EE as an empirical phenomenon, the study is also of theoretical relevance to the EE literature. From my observations, the gap in the literature with regard to internal drivers is due to limited academic attention, ‘redundancy’ in theory development, and lack of theoretical framing and clarity in the definition of key concepts. Therefore, I suggest that, further research would benefit from a larger degree of problematisation of existing assumptions when designing research questions, build on alternative theoretical frameworks more actively, and are more explicit when defining key concepts. Thus, the further development of eco-innovation theory can extend our knowledge on the firm internal factors and mechanisms affecting the environmental transition of manufacturing firms. The thesis results also provide valuable insights for managers and policymakers as well as avenues for future research

    Sustainable development strategies in energy efficiency in Vietnam

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    This comprehensive study provides a breakdown of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by sector along with current energy efficiency measures in Vietnam. The main GHG sources (2010) were Energy and Agriculture, accounting for 58% and 36% of total GHG emissions respectively. Projected 2020 to 2030 GHG emissions show that GHG emissions in the Energy sector will increase rapidly. The paper provides a table of National Targets in GHG Emissions Reductions and Energy Efficiency, as well as a table which describes in detail the regulatory frameworks in force, their status and implementation year. A final table provides a summary of “Barriers to Energy Efficiency Implementation.

    Treatment and valorization plants in materials recovery supply chain

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    Aim of industrial symbiosis is to create synergies between industries in order to exchange resources (by-products, water and energy) through geographic proximity and collaboration [1]. By optimizing resource flows in a “whole-system approach”, a minimization of dangerous emissions and of supply needs can be achieved. Resources exchanges are established to facilitate recycling and re-use of industrial waste using a commercial vehicle. Several paths can be identified in order to establish an industrial symbiosis network (Figure 1, left), in relation (i) to the life cycle phase (raw material, component, product) and (ii) to the nature (material, water, energy) of the resource flows to be exchanged. Sometimes by-products and/or waste of an industrial process have to be treated and valorized in order to become the raw materials for others. In particular, two main treatment processes can be identified: refurbishment/upgrade for re-use (Figure 1, center) and recycling for material recovery (Figure 1, right). A brief overview of technological and economic aspects is given, together with their relevance to industrial symbiosis

    Entrepreneurial mindset, social competences and internationalization of green economy firms. How to boost the circular economy model

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    La presente tesi di dottorato intende approfondire il concetto di economia circolare nel recente contesto economico e sociale europeo e i relativi strumenti indispensabili per la sua implementazione a beneficio di cittadini e imprese. L\u2019economia circolare \ue8 considerata una valida alternativa al modello lineare di crescita economica e, soprattutto, come un modo per colmare la dicotomia tra interessi industriali e ambientali. Grazie ad essa, infatti, \ue8 possibile mantenere il valore dei prodotti e dei materiali in modo duraturo nel ciclo economico, riducendo al minimo sprechi e inquinamento e utilizzando le risorse in modo pi\uf9 intelligente e sostenibile, come ha affermato la stessa Commissione Europea in occasione della presentazione del Pacchetto sull'economia circolare del 2015. Questa tesi \ue8 strutturata in quattro capitoli che seppur presentati in modo autonomo, sono posti in reciproca connessione. Utilizzando approcci diversi, realizzano un intento comune: ossia mirano a definire la relazione tra economia circolare e sviluppo del business in termini di fattori sociali - legge, economia, istruzione, politica, ecc. \u2013 in grado di influenzare il comportamento delle imprese. Lo studio \ue8 stato sviluppato a partire dall\u2019analisi dei fattori trainanti dell'economia circolare - come il trend demografico, la perdita della biodiversit\ue0, l\u2019inquinamento e il degrado ambientale, nonch\ue9 le preferenze dei consumatori e gli altri aspetti culturali \u2013 e tiene conto sia degli aspetti quantitativi sia qualitativi tale da misurarne l\u2019impatto sulla crescita economica. Accanto a ci\uf2 sono state oggetto di studio una serie di misure europee e italiane volte all\u2019introduzione di disposizioni sull\u2019economia circolare nell\u2019ordinamento giuridico, cos\uec come il ruolo degli appalti pubblici e degli altri meccanismi di mercato. L\u2019analisi viene estesa anche a livello regionale con particolare riferimento alle opportunit\ue0 generate dalle specialit\ue0 locali. In questo modo \ue8 stato possibile esplorare il concetto in esame secondo un approccio multi-prospettico, prendendo in considerazione linee guida, attori coinvolti e strumenti necessari, nonch\ue9 seguire la trasformazione del ruolo ricoperto dalle istituzioni locali al fine di migliorare la consapevolezza e la partecipazione del pubblico. Nel secondo capitolo viene condotta una revisione sistematica della letteratura inerente l'economia circolare come strategia di sviluppo sostenibile. Si \ue8 osservato in che misura l\u2019economia circolare copre le tre aree della sostenibilit\ue0 - economica, ambientale e sociale - con particolare riferimento alla gestione delle risorse idriche. Nel fare ci\uf2, il capitolo analizza la relazione tra sviluppo circolare e Agenda 2030 per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile, di cui nello specifico l\u2019obiettivo 6: Garantire a tutti la disponibilit\ue0 e la gestione sostenibile dell\u2019acqua e delle strutture igienico-sanitarie. In questo scenario emergono chiaramente le sfide legate alle acque reflue che pongono questioni specifiche a carattere quantitativo e qualitativo, sia nel contesto urbano sia in quello rurale. Poich\ue9 l'acqua \ue8 la pi\uf9 grande risorsa non sfruttata, il terzo capitolo si concentra sulla recente proposta di regolamento UE con oggetto i requisiti minimi per il riutilizzo dell'acqua nell'irrigazione COM (2018) 337. Lo studio, condotto nell'ambito del progetto UE Marie S. Curie - AcceLerate Innovation in urban wastewater management for Climate changE (ALICE) , ha posto l\u2019attenzione sulla situazione italiana che, al pari di altri stati dell'Europa meridionale, deve affrontare importanti sfide strettamente legate alla scarsit\ue0 e alla qualit\ue0 della risorse idriche a disposizione. Sono state evidenziate quindi le pratiche locali pi\uf9 virtuose, anche grazie a parametri regionali pi\uf9 favorevoli (a esempio l\u2019impianto di Mancasale in Emilia Romagna e il distretto di Capitanata in Puglia). Considerando che \ue8 nell'interesse economico delle imprese ottimizzare l'uso delle risorse, nonch\ue9 esplorare nuove opportunit\ue0 di business, l'ultimo capitolo analizza il ruolo dell'istruzione e delle skill manageriali per le risorse umane nell'adozione dell'economia circolare. Lo scopo \ue8 duplice: analizzare i principali modelli di business di riferimento ed evidenziare le qualifiche e le competenze necessarie per operare in queste condizioni. Tramite una mappatura dei progetti finanziati dall'UE, il capitolo mostra i risultati rilevanti attinenti alle esigenze aziendali in merito alla creazione di valore nella macroregione Adriatico-Ionica, un'area in cui l'acqua \ue8 il principale elemento di collegamento di risorse, merci e persino di conoscenze e competenze. I risultati principali mostrano come l'istruzione svolga un ruolo cruciale per edificare le giuste competenze ad ogni livello e di conseguenza sia in grado di sostenere la creazione di valore nel nuovo quadro dell'economia circolare

    Enhancement of Industrial Energy Efficiency and Sustainability

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    Industrial energy efficiency has been recognized as a major contributor, in the broader set of industrial resources, to improved sustainability and circular economy. Nevertheless, the uptake of energy efficiency measures and practices is still quite low, due to the existence of several barriers. Research has broadly discussed them, together with their drivers. More recently, many researchers have highlighted the existence of several benefits, beyond mere energy savings, stemming from the adoption of such measures, for several stakeholders involved in the value chain of energy efficiency solutions. Nevertheless, a deep understanding of the relationships between the use of the energy resource and other resources in industry, together with the most important factors for the uptake of such measures—also in light of the implications on the industrial operations—is still lacking. However, such understanding could further stimulate the adoption of solutions for improved industrial energy efficiency and sustainability

    Energy efficiency determinants: an empirical analysis of Spanish innovative firms [WP]

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    This paper examines the extent to which innovative Spanish firms pursue improvements in energy efficiency (EE) within their innovation objectives. The increase in energy consumption and its impact on greenhouse gas emissions justifies the greater attention being paid to energy efficiency and especially to industrial EE. The ability of manufacturing companies to innovate and improve their EE has a substantial influence on reaching the objectives regarding climate change mitigation. Despite the effort to design more eficient energy policies, the EE determinants in manufacturing firms have been little studied in the empirical literature. From an exhaustive sample of Spanish manufacturing firms and using a probit model, we examine the energy efficiency determinants to those firms that have innovated. To carry out the econometric analysis, we use a panel data coming from CIS (Community Innovation Survey) for the period 2008-2011 that includes 4,458 manufacturing firms. Among firm characteristics, the empirical results underline the importance of size in facilitating the adoption of technology that improves energy efficiency; while among the factors related to companies’ behavior, the favorable influence of organizational innovations and innovations related with the reduction of environmental impacts stand out as the main factors in carrying out innovations with the objective of increasing energy efficiency

    Industry and Tertiary Sectors towards Clean Energy Transition

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    The clean energy transition is the transition from the use of nonrenewable energy sources to renewable sources and is part of the wider transition to sustainable economies through the use of renewable energy, the adoption of energy-saving measures, and sustainable development techniques. The clean energy transition is a long and complex process that will lead to an epochal change, and it will allow safeguarding the health of the environment in the long term. For its success, it necessitates contribution from everyone, from the individual citizen to large multinationals, passing through SMEs; national and international policies play a key role in paving the way to this process. This Special Issue is focused on technical, financial, and policy-related aspects linked to the transition of industrial and service sectors towards energy saving and decarbonization. These different aspects are interrelated and, as such, they have been analyzed with an interdisciplinary approach, for example, by combining economic and technical information. The collected papers focus on energy efficiency and clean-energy key technologies, renewable sources, energy management and monitoring systems, energy policies and regulations, and economic and financial aspects
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