Evaluating the Feasibility and Environmental Impact of Alternative Fuels for Sustainable Operations of RCG Reach Stackers at Four European Locations

openThis thesis evaluates the feasibility and environmental impact of alternative fuels - specifically hydrogen, biofuels, and synthetic fuels - for sustainable operations of Rail Cargo Group (RCG) reach stackers, located in Mˇelník (CZ), Pˇrerov (CZ), Bratislava (SK), and Žilina (SK). The study addresses the urgent need to transition from fossil fuels due to their finite nature, geopolitical risks, and significant contri- bution to climate change. Through a comprehensive review of scientific literature, industry reports, and government publications, the research assesses the production processes, availability, cost-effectiveness, political support, and technological readi- ness of these alternative fuels. A detailed case study of RCG reach stackers provides practical insights into the application of these fuels. The findings indicate that while hydrogen and synthetic fuels offer significant environmental benefits, their high pro- duction costs and infrastructure requirements pose challenges. Biofuels, particularly second and third generation, present a more immediate and economically viable so- lution, though they require careful management to avoid adverse environmental im- pacts. The study concludes with recommendations for integrating these alternative fuels into existing energy infrastructures, contributing to global efforts to mitigate climate change and enhance energy security.This thesis evaluates the feasibility and environmental impact of alternative fuels - specifically hydrogen, biofuels, and synthetic fuels - for sustainable operations of Rail Cargo Group (RCG) reach stackers, located in Mˇelník (CZ), Pˇrerov (CZ), Bratislava (SK), and Žilina (SK). The study addresses the urgent need to transition from fossil fuels due to their finite nature, geopolitical risks, and significant contri- bution to climate change. Through a comprehensive review of scientific literature, industry reports, and government publications, the research assesses the production processes, availability, cost-effectiveness, political support, and technological readi- ness of these alternative fuels. A detailed case study of RCG reach stackers provides practical insights into the application of these fuels. The findings indicate that while hydrogen and synthetic fuels offer significant environmental benefits, their high pro- duction costs and infrastructure requirements pose challenges. Biofuels, particularly second and third generation, present a more immediate and economically viable so- lution, though they require careful management to avoid adverse environmental im- pacts. The study concludes with recommendations for integrating these alternative fuels into existing energy infrastructures, contributing to global efforts to mitigate climate change and enhance energy security

Elektromobilitás európai terjedését befolyásoló tényezők

The aim of this paper is to collect the electric vehicle sales of selected European countries and to examine which factors cause the wide difference in the market shares of electric vehicles across Europe. For the research publicly available databases were used namely the European Automobile Manufacturers Association quarterly issued alternative fuel vehicle registration figures, Eurostat database and European Alternative Fuel Observatory database. In this paper under the term electric vehicle I meant battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. In 2017 291 137 electric vehicles were registered in the European Union which meant 1,9 % market share. In Norway electric vehicles had an unusually high 36,7 % market share in 2017 with 58 190 electric car registrations. 77 percent of Europe’s electric vehicle registrations were made in only 5 countries which represents the huge imbalances in electric car sales in Europe. According to the European Union’s car CO2 reduction act car manufacturers must reduce their car fleet’s CO2 emission by 37,5% by 2030 calculated from 2021 emission levels. The act also sets electric vehicle sales targets of 35 % for 2030. In order to discover the current barriers of electric vehicle uptake I examined Transport & Environment’s 2018 and European Commission’s 2017 surveys about the factors influencing people’s car buying choice. According to both surveys the 2 main reasons people do not buy electric vehicles are the high price of those and the concerns about charger infrastructure availability. I verified the statements of the surveys with examining the correlation between electric vehicle sales and GDP per capita and the correlation between electric vehicle sales and electric chargers per capita. In the primer case the correlation was 0,65, in the latter case 0,71. The correlation results showed the existing moderately strong connection between electric vehicle sales and charger availability as well as affordability

"The Mobility Management framework context"

The European legislation on sustainable mobility was promulgated in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity. It provides for the Member States to regulate urban transport, while the provisions at European Commission (EC) level are entrusted with the task of prescribing the improvement of the quality of fuels and emission standards for motor vehicles as well as the differentiation of energy sources for transport and the dissemination of good practices

Aquatic-derived biomaterials for a sustainable future: A European opportunity

The valorization of aquatic-derived biowastes as possible feedstock for the production of value-added chemicals and materials is proposed here as a sustainable alternative compared to the exploitation of the more conventional (fossil) resources. In this context, the comprehension of the opportunity related to the valorization of the shellfish industry biowaste for the production of useful materials, especially focusing on chitin and its derived byproducts, is investigated. The large amount of waste produced each year by the shellfish processing industry seems to be an appealing opportunity for the European market to produce valuable products from underutilized waste. In order to highlight this important market-opportunity, the actual European situation concerning the shellfish volume of production is presented. The industrial processes necessary for the recovery of chitin, chitosan, and their derivatives are largely described, together with a wide description of their peculiar (and interesting) physicochemical properties. Even if nowadays the scientific literature suggests that this class of biopolymers is very appealing, further research is still necessary for overcoming some criticisms still present in the extraction and valorization of such substrates. However, the principles of both circular economy and green chemistry encourage the reduction of such biowastes and their exploitation as an alternative resource for a global sustainable future

From a fossil-fuel to a biobased economy : the politics of industrial biotechnology

Industrial biotechnology involves the replacement of petrochemical processes and inputs with more energy-efficient and renewable biological ones. It is already being used in the production of biofuels and bioplastics and has been touted as a means by which modern economies can be shifted toward a more competitive, low-carbon growth model. This paper does two things. First, it outlines the policy framework established in the European Union and the narrative of a knowledge-based bioeconomy (KBBE) underpinning this. Second, it argues that the ‘win – win’ rhetoric contained within the KBBE narrative is misleading. Among the different groups commenting on the use of industrial biotechnology, the paper locates cleavages between farmers and agribusiness, between those convinced and those sceptical of environmental technofixes, and between procorporate and anticorporate NGOs. Taken together, they show the purported transition from a fossil-fuel to a bio-based economy to be a resolutely political one

Horizon scanning the European bio-based economy:A novel approach to identification of barriers and key policy interventions from stakeholders in multiple sectors and regions

There is international recognition that developing a climate-smart bioeconomy is essential to the continuation of economic development, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and adaptation to climatic change; Bio-based products have an important role in making this transition happen. Supporting policy interventions have been put forward at European and national levels to support innovation and development of bio-based products and services. This study asks whether suggested policy interventions reflect the needs of stakeholders and examines how these needs vary between European regions. This consultation was performed through an online survey of 447 experts actively involved in bio-based research, industry, and governance across Europe. The majority of responses received were from stakeholders in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK which are examined in greater depth. Climate change was clearly an important driver for bio-based innovation as 86% of the respondents considered climate change to be a significant threat. There were clear differences between regions but also areas of consensus between stakeholders across the European regions surveyed. In particular there was consensus regarding the need for improved access to financial support and the need to ensure continuity of policy. The need to build investor confidence through demonstration of bio-based technologies, the provision of greater clarity regarding best conversion routes for specific feedstocks, and the need to promote a culture of industrial symbiosis were also regarded as important interventions

‘Green Shift’: An analysis of corporate responses to climate change

The concept of climate change is now of global concern. This article explores corporate responses through an investigation of the rhetoric of several major UK companies that claim to be leading corporate adjustment. It argues that their actual business practice fall far sort of the claims made for it. This raises questions about the extent to which solutions based on a philosophy of market and business solutions is capable of either meeting the ends claimed for it or confronting the scale of the problem of climate change. The difficulty, however, is that in the competition of when corporate claims are allow to compete, bad solutions might be diverting attention from and even driving out good solutions

Ensuring Security of Supply of Natural Gas in the European Union’s Common Energy Policy

The problematic of energy policy is nowadays widely disputed in the European Union community. In a global context characterized by highly and raising dependency of the economic activity on the energetic resources, the European authorities had launched a strategy in this sector which regards the problems of access to secure and affordable energy products. The aim of this paper is linked to the natural gas field of the European energetic concerns, and it assumes the high dependency of internal consumption on imports, more than half of the natural gas that is used in the 27 states comes from abroad. Ensuring a higher level of security in the supply is one of the goals that European Union wants to achieve on medium and long term. In these circumstances, actual measurements take into account different type of actions: stabilize relations with existing partner gas exporters (Russia, Algeria, Norway); diversification of transport routes coming from these countries, especially in the idea of trying to avoid transit countries (mainly Ukraine and Belarus); and finally opening discussions and investing in alternative routes which should transport the gas from new suppliers placed in the Caspian Sea or Central Asia region

First Workshop on Identification of Future Emerging Technologies for Low Carbon Energy Supply

As part of the European Commission's internal Low Carbon Energy Observatory project, the Joint Research Centre is developing an inventory of future emerging technologies relevant to energy supply. A key part of this initiative is consultation with external experts. This workshop is the first step in this process. It targets two main energy research areas: electricity from electromagnetic irradiation (principally photovoltaics, but also thermo-electric concepts) and fuels (comprising fuel cells, hydrogen and biofuels). Issues of general interest are also considered. The goal is to identify innovative technologies and processes for energy supply, possibly not sufficiently considered in current research funding programs.JRC.C.4-Sustainable Transpor

Policy instruments to promote electro-mobilityiIn the Eu28: A comprehensive review

Despite its environmental benefits, the amount of Electric Vehicles (EVs) in use within the European Union 28 is still very limited. Poor penetration might be explained by certain factors that dissuade potential buyers. To balance these factors and promote electro-mobility, Member States have established incentives to increase demand. However, the various measures are scattered. This paper contributes to fill the gap in the literature by offering an overall view of the main measures. The authors will focus on measures to promote electro-mobility within the EU28 until 2014. After an in-depth and comprehensive review of the relevant measures, the authors conclude that the most important policy instruments to promote EVs are tax and infrastructure measures in addition to financial incentives for purchasing and supporting R&D projects. Regardless of the scarcity of EV registration data, the available information allows us to conclude that higher EV penetration levels appear in countries where the registration tax, the ownership tax, or both taxes have developed a partial green tax by including CO2 emissions in the calculation of the final invoice.Junta de Andalucía proyecto SEJ-132Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad de España, Cátedra de Economía de la Energía y del Medio Ambiente (Cátedra de Energía y Economía Ambiental) ECO2014-56399-RUniversidad Autónoma de Chil