6,198 research outputs found

    Using Lifecycle Analysis (LCA) Towards Environmental and Human Health Footprints of Electrically Assisted Velomobile, PODBIKE

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    Master's thesis in Industrial Asset ManagementThe transportation sector is responsible for the second largest ratio of the greenhouse gas emissions that can cause severe effects on human health and the environment. On the other hand, this sector is important by providing human beings with access to education, health care, employment opportunities, etc. and also leads to economic growth. As a result, sustainability is vital for this sector. Many initiatives have been introduced to lead to sustainability for this sector such as electric cars, e-scooters, car-sharing business models, etc. Recent studies have proved that among the current available means of urban transportation, electric cars, conventional bicycles and electric bicycles have the lowest level of environmental and human health impacts. However, the damages associated with the production phase, and energy consumption during the use phase of the electric cars are still too high. Also, lack of safety and comfort of the bicycles can decrease their uptake among the public. Hence, a state-of-the-art concept of velomobile is developed to bridge the gap between the cars and bicycles. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the undesirable environmental and human health impacts caused by the use of the velomobile. Therefore, in this research, a systematic, comprehensive, and scientific approach is proposed in order to measure and document the sustainability of the velomobile with respect to the environmental and human health footprints, this approach is called Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) or Cradle-to-Grave Analysis. Meanwhile, this methodology can enable the stakeholders of the asset to identify the points with the highest contribution to the environmental and human health damages, and accordingly improve the environmental and human health footprints performance of the velomobile. Also, the study can provide a practical application of the LCA study for four-wheeled pedelecs with electric assist. Based on the application of the study, the EndPoint LCA was selected to be implemented. The LCA framework is developed for the asset in compliance with two main international standards, ISO 14040 and ISO 14044. The results and analysis have shown that if the velomobile is ridden using renewable energy, the environmental and human health impacts of the vehicle can be half, and the damages can be mainly attributable to the manufacturing phase of the product, otherwise, the impacts can mainly come from the use phase of the velomobile. Also, the results have demonstrated that the electrical system and rolling chassis assemblies are primarily accountable for the impacts caused during the production phase. Moreover, aluminium components, batteries, electric motors and electronics for control units have the highest environmental and human health impacts potential. In the meantime, the maintenance of the product during the lifetime of the velomobile can lead to the second largest proportion of the damages due to the battery replacement times over the lifetime of the vehicle. The study concluded that recycling development, technical improvements of the battery packs, aluminium components and electric motors, involvement of the stakeholders in the improvement processes, and continuous follow-up on the environmental and human health footprints performance improvement of the product using the developed mind map can bring about a significant reduction of the impacts

    Sulphur Directive – A New Long-Term Cost Driver for Nordic Export Industry

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    EU Directive of MARPOL Annex VI and its economic impact on the Nordic paper industry is theme of this research work. Empirical data for analysis purposes was gained from a large Nordic paper mill that exports bulk products mainly to Europe (70 % of its volume). The study shows that in the end the industry&rsquo;s location still has an economical effect, and that the location has a distinct impact on competition through rising transportation costs. Environmental regulation continues and fosters long-term upwards trajectory of transportation cost, which has been experienced by the paper mill earlier during years 2001-2009.&nbsp;</p

    Overcoming the obstacles of intermodal transport - a shipper perspective on the effects of modal shift

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    Scandinavian demonstration projects for sustainable energy and transport:Their contribution to the formation of broad and aligned networks

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    This report gives results of an analysis of effects of demonstration projects in transition processes to sustainable energy and transport in the Scandinavian countries. The report is a result of the research project “Role of demonstration projects in innovation: transition to sustainable energy and transport” (2013–2014). It was funded by the Forfi programme at the Research Council of Norway

    Valuing the manufacturing externalities of wind energy: assessing the environmental profit and loss of wind turbines in Northern Europe

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    This study draws from a concept from green accounting, lifecycle assessment, and industrial ecology known as 'environmental profit and loss” (EP&L) to determine the extent of externalities across the manufacturing lifecycle of wind energy. So far, no EP&Ls have involved energy companies and none have involved wind energy or wind turbines. We perform an EP&L for three types of wind turbines sited and built in Northern Europe (Denmark and Norway) by a major manufacturer: a 3.2 MW onshore turbine with a mixed concrete steel foundation, a 3.0 MW offshore turbine with a steel foundation, and a 3.0 MW offshore turbine with a concrete foundation. For each of these three turbine types, we identify and monetize externalities related to carbon dioxide emissions, air pollution, and waste. We find that total environmental losses range from €1.1 million for the offshore turbine with concrete foundation to €740,000 for onshore turbines and about €500,000 for an offshore turbine with steel foundation—equivalent to almost one-fifth of construction cost in some instances. We conclude that carbon dioxide emissions dominate the amount of environmental damages and that turbines need to work for 2.5 to 5.5 years to payback their carbon debts. Even though turbines are installed in Europe, China and South Korea accounted for about 80% of damages across each type of turbine. Lastly, two components, foundations and towers, account for about 90% of all damages. We conclude with six implications for wind energy analysts, suppliers, manufacturers, and planners. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

    A comparative Life Cycle Assessment between conventional and electronic books

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    Sustainability Assessment of Inter Urban Crowdshipping- A Case Study Approach

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