On photosynthesis and polar bears

As opposed to humankind, plants and animals rely completely on one kind of renewable energy: the sun’s solar radiation. Biomimetic concepts mimic nature’s energy system and may thus contribute to sustainability

Bionik – Vorbild Natur

Einführung in das Schwerpunktthem

Measuring raw-material criticality of product systems through an economic product importance indicator: a case study of battery-electric vehicles

Purpose: The concept of criticality concerns the probability and the possible impacts of shortages in raw-material supply and is usually applied to regional economies or specific industries. With more and more products being highly dependent on potentially critical raw materials, efforts are being made to also incorporate criticality into the framework of life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA). However, there is still some need for methodological development of indicators to measure raw-material criticality in LCSA. Methods: We therefore introduce "economic product importance" (EPI) as a novel parameter for the product-specific evaluation of the relevance and significance of a certain raw material for a particular product system. We thereby consider both the actual raw-material flows (life cycle inventories) and the life cycle cost. The EPI thus represents a measure for the material-specific product-system vulnerability (another component being the substitutability). Combining the product-system vulnerability of a specific product system towards a certain raw material with the supply disruption probability of that same raw material then yields the product-system specific overall criticality with regard to that raw material. In order to demonstrate our novel approach, we apply it to a case study on a battery-electric vehicle. Results: Since our approach accounts for the actual amounts of raw materials used in a product and relates their total share of costs to the overall costs of the product, no under- or over-estimation of the mere presence of the raw materials with respect to their relevance for the product system occurs. Consequently, raw materials, e.g. rare earth elements, which are regularly rated highly critical, do not necessarily reach higher criticality ranks within our approach, if they are either needed in very small amounts only or if their share in total costs of the respective product system is very low. Accordingly, in our case study on a battery-electric vehicle product system, most rare earth elements are ranked less critical than bulk materials such as copper or aluminium. Conclusion: Our EPI approach constitutes a step forward towards a methodology for the raw-material criticality assessment within the LCSA framework, mainly because it allows a product-specific evaluation of product-system vulnerability. Furthermore, it is compatible with common methods for the supply disruption probability calculation -- such as GeoPolRisk, ESP or ESSENZ -- as well as with available substitutability evaluations. The practicability and usefulness of our approach has been shown by applying it to a battery-electric vehicle

Elektromobilität: klimafreundlich, aber teuer? Die Energiewende im Verkehr aus Sicht der multidimensionalen Technologiebewertung

Der Vortrag bildete den Input zu einem "Barcamp" zum Thema Elektromobilität aus der Perspektive der multidimensionalen Technologiebewertung. Es wurde kurz dargestellt, welche Dimensionen und Kriterien die multidimensionale Technologiebewertung üblicherweise bewertet. Des Weiteren wurde beispielhaft Ergebnisse aus der Literatur vorgestellt, wie bestimmte Technologien aus dem Bereich Elektromobilität im Hinblick auf verschiedene Dimensionen und Kriterien bewertet wurden

Synthetic biology: character and impact

Synthetic Biology is already an object of intensive debate. However, to a great extent the discussion to date has been concerned with fundamental ethical, religious and philosophical questions. By contrast, based on an investigation of the field’s scientific and technological character, this book focuses on new functionalities provided by synthetic biology and explores the associated opportunities and risks. Following an introduction to the subject and a discussion of the most central paradigms and methodologies, the book provides an overview of the structure of this field of science and technology. It informs the reader about the current stage of development, as well as topical problems and potential opportunities in important fields of application. But not only the science itself is in focus. In order to investigate its broader impact, ecological as well as ethical implications will be considered, paving the way for a discussion of responsibilities in the context of a field at a transitional crossroads between basic and applied science. In closing, the requirements for a suitable regulatory framework are discussed. The book is intended as a source of information and orientation for researchers, students and practitioners in the natural sciences and technology assessment; for members of scientific and technological, governmental and funding institutions; and for members of the general public interested in essential information on the current status, prospects and implications of synthetic biology

Multidimensional assessment of passenger cars: Comparison of electric vehicles with internal combustion engine vehicles

In the pursuit of transforming the transportation sector towards sustainability, a technological shift in vehicle drive systems is being promoted worldwide. Conventional gasoline or diesel fueled cars powered by internal combustion engines (internal combustion engine vehicle, ICEV) are to be replaced with alternative cars that are electrically driven (electric vehicle, EV) and powered by a battery, which is either externally charged (battery-electric vehicle, BEV) or internally charged via a hydrogen fuel cell (fuel cell electric vehicle, FCEV). However, whether or not EVs are superior to ICEVs throughout their entire life cycle is still subject to debate. Though considerable numbers of environmental life cycle assessment (eLCA) studies and—to a much lesser extent—life cycle costing (LCC) and social life cycle assessment (sLCA) studies have already been conducted, their individual results alone do not allow decision-makers to draw conclusions concerning the overall sustainability performance of the various vehicle technologies. Therefore, we are presenting a novel approach to analyze ICEV-, BEV-, and FCEV-type passenger cars on a multidimensional basis. This approach is based upon and combines existing studies about eLCA, LCC, sLCA, and further assessments to carry out a comprehensive meta-analysis by using multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methods. Through a transparent and differentiated presentation of the results, the adopted approach furthermore enables decision-makers to identify specific aspects influencing the overall performance of each vehicle technology and to take measures that allow for the implementation of sustainable vehicle concepts

Multidimensional assessment of passenger cars: Comparison of electric vehicles with internal combustion engine vehicles

In the pursuit of transforming the transportation sector towards sustainability, a technological shift in vehicle drive systems is being promoted worldwide. Conventional gasoline or diesel fueled cars powered by internal combustion engines (internal combustion engine vehicle, ICEV) are to be replaced with alternative cars that are electrically driven (electric vehicle, EV) and powered by a battery, which is either externally charged (battery-electric vehicle, BEV) or internally charged via a hydrogen fuel cell (fuel cell electric vehicle, FCEV). However, whether or not EVs are superior to ICEVs throughout their entire life cycle is still subject to debate. Though considerable numbers of environmental life cycle assessment (eLCA) studies and—to a much lesser extent—life cycle costing (LCC) and social life cycle assessment (sLCA) studies have already been conducted, their individual results alone do not allow decision-makers to draw conclusions concerning the overall sustainability performance of the various vehicle technologies. Therefore, we are presenting a novel approach to analyze ICEV-, BEV-, and FCEV-type passenger cars on a multidimensional basis. This approach is based upon and combines existing studies about eLCA, LCC, sLCA, and further assessments to carry out a comprehensive meta-analysis by using multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methods. Through a transparent and differentiated presentation of the results, the adopted approach furthermore enables decision-makers to identify specific aspects influencing the overall performance of each vehicle technology and to take measures that allow for the implementation of sustainable vehicle concepts