Climate mitigation models need to become circular : let's start with the construction sector

ABSTRACT: Circular Economy (CE) is presented today as the way forward to achieving a sustainable and carbon-neutral society. Yet, circularity assessment tools such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Material Flow Analysis (MFA), and Supply and value-chain analysis are currently disconnected from the models used to advise bodies that steer sustainability-driven policies like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Climate mitigation models (henceforth climate models) are used in policy discussions and international negotiations to track GHG emissions and identify pathways towards a low-carbon economy. One example is the JRC-EU-TIMES model developed by the International Energy Agency or the PRIMES model, which is the backbone of the energy and climate policy of the European Union (EU). These climate models are inherently suitable for representing only linear patterns of economic activity, where GHG emissions are modelled per economic sector (primary energy resource extraction, final energy generation, energy, and materials used in industry, buildings, etc.).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The CO2NSTRUCT European project: Modelling the role of Circular Economy in construction value chains for a carbon-neutral Europe

Linear climate mitigation models look into aggregated economic sectors and model greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions disregarding downstream value chains, making particular sectors accountable for downstream (or upstream) GHG emissions. Hence, the present climate mitigation models inconsistently account for indirect GHG emissions; underrepresent upstream and downstream value chains; do not address Circular Economy (CE) practices; do not cover resource consumption, thus not considering materials' circularity. To provide curated policy support for decision-making for carbon neutrality and other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), models need to shift from linear to circular. To achieve this, a link between energy-climate mitigation modelling and cradle-to-cradle assessment CE analytical tools must be established. This is the core issue covered in the CO2NSTRUCT Horizon project (2022-2026). CO2NSTRUCT proposes a framework to supplement the well-established JRC-EU-TIMES model, using a highly comprehensive technological representation with CE measures. The framework will apply CE measures to the value chain of six carbon-intensive construction materials (i.e., cement, steel, brick, glass, wood, and insulation materials) and will provide new components to the JRC-EU-TIMES model, including citizen behaviour; societal impacts; rebound effects; supply and value chains. The results will be used for policy approaches integrating CE into climate change mitigation actions

Public participation in the process of EIA intentions of wind power plants in the Czech Republic

Public participation in decision-making process is an important function of the process called Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The respect for the public right in the participation of environmental impact assessment and the right to information are generally controlled by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment. The support of public is provided in the cases in which queried entity tries not to give the requested information in the appropriate range. NGOs do not follow how the public is involved in the EIA process, and how the comments are relevant or incorporated and whether the final standpoint is influenced. This standpoint is not monitored by Czech Statistical Office. The article deals with the involvement of the general public in the EIA process of wind power plants in the Czech Republic. In selected regions (Moravskoslezský, Olomoucký, Ústecký and Jihomoravský), not only the quantity but also the relevance of the comments in relation to the outcome of the process are evaluated. The own typology groups of the public (individuals, petitions, self-government etc.) and also applying comments (noise, nature protection, administrative mistakes etc.) were used for the evaluation. All intentions obtained concurring standpoints in the case of zero or low interest of the public.O

Critical skills needs and challenges for STEM/STEAM graduates increased employability and entrepreneurship in the solar energy sector

© 2023 The Authors. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2023.113776Energy produced by photovoltaic module (PVM) is poised to deliver the UN Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG-7) by 2030 and Net-Zero by 2050 but not until ample graduates with adequate Solar Energy Technology (SET) skills are produced by Higher education institutions (HEIs). Although PVM has witnessed significant penetration globally, the sustainability of the growth of the sector is challenged by attendant monotonic skilled labour shortages. The evolving growth imbalance is critical in the European Union (EU), limits her global competitiveness and necessitates the need to create wider awareness on the green technology to stimulate more production of solar energy sector (SES) specific skills graduates. Discussing the mismatch between the skills Europe needs and has in the SES, the study outlines key critical skills Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) cum Arts (STEAM) graduates ought to possess to secure sector employment and the challenges limiting them from acquiring the competencies. The review is conducted via extensive study of relevant literature, analysis of interviews and observations. Academic, industrial, and entrepreneurial skills are identified as critical SES needs. Designing and running educational modules/curricula that embed the identified solar technology specialist skills on students and learners are proposed as vehicle to increase their employability and entrepreneurship. This study profiles trends and developments in the SES for stakeholders’ increased awareness while presenting the specialist skills in-demand for employment in the sector. The adoption of SET Training (SETechTra) curricula/modules by the EIs will substantially increase the production of industry-ready graduates whilst decreasing the SES skills gap.The authors acknowledge the European Union for funding the project entitled “Solar Energy Technology Training (SETechTra) Module for STEM Undergraduates” which produced this article under the Erasmus + Programme of the European Union. Project detail include: €392, 000.00 total grant; 36 months duration and agreement no.: 2020-1-UK01-KA203-079236. Innovate UK is also acknowledged for supporting the development of the mobile solar power system, project No. 83383.Published versio

Residential heating systems’ selection process: empirical findings from Greece on the relations between motivation factors and socioeconomic, residence, and spatial characteristics

The residential sector is responsible for a large portion of global energy consumption, with the primary needs consisting of space heating. Therefore, consumers’ decisions concerning the heating system selection play a significant role in shaping the sector's conditions. This study examines the relationship between residential heating systems’ selection-related motivation factors and socioeconomic, residence, and spatial characteristics. A questionnaire survey focusing on the Greek population was performed during 2012 and 2019, with the two samples being examined in parallel. The motivation factors were classified into convenience, market, performance, and cost-related aspects, with performance-related and cost-related aspects being perceived as the most important. Convenience-related aspects are more important for older people and women, while performance-related aspects for individuals with environmentally friendlier behaviour

Factors Affecting Sustainable Market Acceptance of Residential Microgeneration Technologies. A Two Time Period Comparative Analysis

On a global scale, the residential sector is responsible for a significant part of consumed energy, of which the major part is dependent upon fossil fuels. A solution for the reduction of fossil fuel use is the application of residential microgeneration technologies. The present study examines the market acceptance factors of such systems in Greece, as well as how these factors change over time, based on real decisions made by consumers. In this context, two surveys applying a common questionnaire were performed in 2012 and 2019 in order to examine the effects of (a) socioeconomic, residence, and spatial characteristics, (b) environmental awareness and behavior, and (c) factors related to consumer behavior, attitudes, and system attribute preferences. Factors affecting the installation of a microgeneration system are gender, age, income, residence type, ownership and size, environmental behavior, use of a subsidy program, as well as views on costs and market-related issues. When evaluating the effect of these factors over time, socioeconomic and residence characteristics, as well as environmental behavior, seem to have a fixed effect to the installation of residential microgeneration systems, with market acceptance fluctuations being related mainly to market conditions, including existing subsidy programs, expectations on fuel prices, and legislation

Correlations of Seismic Velocities and Elastic Moduli with Temperature in Superhot and Enhanced Geothermal Systems

This paper presents correlations derived by linear regression analysis of seismic velocities VP and VS and elastic moduli EP and ES with temperature in Los Humeros superhot (SHGS) and Acoculco enhanced (EGS) geothermal systems at depths down to 3 km below the surface and temperatures up to approximately 400 °C. In Los Humeros, the seismic velocity models were derived from the inversion of legacy active seismic survey data acquired in 1998, as well as from passive seismic monitoring and ambient seismic noise interferometry carried out during 2017–2019 by the GEMex consortium. In the Acoculco EGS, ambient seismic noise data were used. Steady-state formation temperatures were re-evaluated during and after the end of the GEMex project using measurements provided as a courtesy of the Federal Electricity Commission of Mexico (CFE). The density data needed for the calculation of elastic moduli were provided by the GEMex consortium, as derived from the inversion of regional and local gravity surveys. The analysis indicated that statistically significant correlations of seismic parameters to temperature exist in the vertical direction, namely exponential in Los Humeros superhot and logarithmic in Acoculco EGS, but no correlation was evident in the horizontal direction. This result suggests an indirect relationship among the considered variables due to interdependence on other parameters, such as pressure and vapor saturation. As the analysis was performed using only data obtained from sensing-at-surface methods, without direct geophysical calibration at depth, a distributed fiber-optic seismic and temperature sensing system at both surface and downhole is proposed for active-source and passive seismic monitoring, and seismic-while-drilling by the drill-bit source is considered for reverse vertical seismic profile (RVSP) recording whenever possible for future high-temperature geothermal applications

Examining the Development of a Geothermal Risk Mitigation Scheme in Greece

Geothermal project development entails a number of risks, the most significant of which is the geological risk. The introduction of a risk mitigation scheme (RMS) might enable project developers to shift some of the geological risk to public or private entities. Keeping the above in mind, the objective of this study is to examine the development of an effective and financially feasible geothermal risk mitigation scheme in Greece, i.e., a country with no such scheme available. In this respect, the existing status of the geothermal sector in the country is presented, followed by an evaluation of the financial sustainability of a potential RMS, taking into account different insurance premiums, risk coverages, and project success rates. The results indicate that alternative insurance premium, risk coverage, and success rate requirements would result in different financial preconditions for the foundation either of a public or a private fund. Keeping in mind that in most examined scenarios the initial RMS capital is expended before the end of the ending of the scheme, it is suggested that such a plan can only be initiated by the public sector, which is typical of countries with little-developed geothermal markets

Heating and cooling of buildings with the use of renewable energy sources: socioeconomic factors that contribute to the diffusion of ground source heat pumps (GSHP) in the residential sector

The purpose of this study is to contribute to the promotion of renewable energy sources in Greece through the dissemination of ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems in the residential sector. Two surveys examine the factors that influence the publics’ knowledge regarding a) geothermal energy and GSHPs, b) their use for residential heating and cooling and c) the procedures required for the installation of a GSHP system, while the factors that influence the intention of households to install such a system are also examined. A third survey examines the views of people that are involved in the GSHP sector, regarding adoption level of residential GSHP systems, dissemination barriers and actions that can contribute to their adoption.Factors that affect public’s knowledge regarding the issues that are under examination, as well as the intention of installing a residential GSHP system, are gender, age, level of education, employment, income, environmentally friendly behavior and the relevance of profession or interests with the environment, technology or engineering. In addition, the intention of installing such a system is affected by factors related to dwelling characteristics and factors associated with behavior and consumer attitudes and preferences towards specific characteristics of heating systems. According to people involved in the GSHP sector, diffusion barriers can be classified into market barriers, information barriers, regulatory barriers, siting and installation barriers and financial barriers. In accordance, diffusion actions that can contribute to the penetration of the technology can be categorized into awareness activities, financial incentives, regulatory framework and technology improvement.Σκοπός της μελέτης αυτής είναι να συμβάλλει στην προώθηση των ανανεώσιμων πηγών ενέργειας στην Ελλάδα μέσω της διάδοσης των συστημάτων γεωθερμικών αντλιών θερμότητας (ΓΑΘ) στον οικιακό τομέα. Μέσα από δύο έρευνες κοινής γνώμης εξετάζονται οι παράγοντες που επηρεάζουν την ενημέρωση του κοινού όσον αφορά: α) τη γεωθερμία και τις ΓΑΘ, β) τη χρήση τους για οικιακή θέρμανση / ψύξη και γ) τις διαδικασίες που απαιτούνται για την εγκατάσταση ενός συστήματος ΓΑΘ, καθώς και οι παράγοντες που επηρεάζουν την πρόθεση του κοινού να εγκαταστήσει ένα τέτοιο σύστημα. Μία τρίτη έρευνα εξετάζει τις απόψεις των ατόμων που δραστηριοποιούνται στον κλάδο των ΓΑΘ σχετικά με το επίπεδο διάδοσης των οικιακών συστημάτων ΓΑΘ, τα εμπόδια διάδοσης τους και τις δράσεις που μπορούν να συμβάλλουν στην υιοθέτησή τους.Μεταξύ των παραγόντων που επηρεάζουν τη γνώση του κοινού πάνω στα υπό εξέταση θέματα καθώς και την πρόθεση για εγκατάσταση οικιακού συστήματος ΓΑΘ είναι το φύλο, η ηλικία, το επίπεδο σπουδών, η απασχόληση, το εισόδημα, η περιβαλλοντικά φιλική συμπεριφορά και η συνάφεια του επαγγέλματος ή των ενδιαφερόντων με το περιβάλλον, την τεχνολογία ή τη μηχανική. Επίσης, η πρόθεση εγκατάστασης επηρεάζεται από χαρακτηριστικά της κατοικίας και παράγοντες σχετικούς με τη συμπεριφορά και τη στάση των καταναλωτών και τις προτιμήσεις τους έναντι συγκεκριμένων χαρακτηριστικών των συστημάτων θέρμανσης. Τα εμπόδια διείσδυσης των ΓΑΘ μπορούν να ταξινομηθούν σε εμπόδια αγοράς, εμπόδια ενημέρωσης, ρυθμιστικά εμπόδια, εμπόδια χωροθέτησης & εγκατάστασης και οικονομικά εμπόδια. Αντιστοίχως, οι ενέργειες που συμβάλλουν στη διείσδυση της τεχνολογίας μπορούν να κατηγοριοποιηθούν σε δράσεις ενημέρωσης, οικονομικά κίνητρα, ρυθμιστικό πλαίσιο και βελτίωση τεχνολογίας