Inter-firm exchanges, distributed renewable energy generation, and battery energy storage system integration via microgrids for energy symbiosis

Policymakers and entrepreneurs are aware that reducing energy waste and underutilization are mandatory to actually foster the green transition. Nevertheless, small-medium enterprises usually meet technical and over-whelming financial constraints. They are unable to make profits, become less energy-sensitive, and cut down on their emissions simultaneously. Industrial districts are a source of both wealth and GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions. Eco-industrial parks (EIPs) supply a suitable strategy to ease symbiotic exchanges among various organizations. Surplus electricity from larger, energy-autonomous companies will be a new input for more vulnerable ones. This type of district is challenging, and it can provide an unexplored opportunity to cooperate, invest in renewable energy sources, and form alliances. To better exploit underutilized energy in industrial districts, it is essential to explore energy symbiosis (ES), i.e., an energy-based perspective of industrial symbiosis. This study presents an original mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) optimization model that aims to identify possible inter-firm exchanges and introduce microgrid-based support for distributed renewable-energy generators (DREGs) and battery energy storage systems (BESS) over a one-year simulation period. The model simultaneously targets economic and ecological objectives. The paper compares two case studies, one with battery support and one without. The optimization model was tested using a case study and found to improve energy efficiency (with a 43.46% saving in energy costs) and reduce greenhouse gas emissions (with an 84.59% reduction in GHG) by facilitating symbiotic exchanges among SMEs in industrial districts. The inclusion of BESS support further enhanced the model's ability to utilize green and recovered energy. These findings have im-plications for policymakers, entrepreneurs, and SMEs seeking to transition to more sustainable energy practices. Future work could explore the applicability of the MILP optimization model in other contexts and the potential for scaling up the model to larger industrial districts

Estimating the circularity performance of an emerging industrial symbiosis network: The case of recycled plastic fibers in reinforced concrete

In recent times, the construction industry has been handling circular economy strategies in order to face the most important challenges in the sector, namely the lack of raw materials and the environmental impacts derived from all the processes linked to the entire supply chain. The industrial symbiosis approach represents an effective strategy to improve the circularity of the construction industry. This study analyses the circularity performance of an emerging industrial symbiosis network derived from the production of a cement mortar reinforced with recycled synthetic fibers coming from artificial turf carpets. From the collection of artificial turf carpets at the end-of-life stage it is possible to recover several materials, leading to potential unusual interactions between industries belonging to different sectors. A suitable indicator, retrieved from the literature, the Industrial Symbiosis Indicator (ISI), has been used to estimate the level of industrial symbiosis associated with increasing materials recirculation inside the network. Four scenarios—ranging from perfect linearity to perfect circularity—representing growing circularity were tested. Findings demonstrate that the development of an effective industrial symbiosis network can contribute to improving the circular approach within the construction sector, reducing environmental and economic pressures

Urban–Industrial Symbiosis to Support Sustainable Energy Transition

Despite the growing interest in the field of urban–industrial symbiosis as well as in sustainable energy solutions at the city level, a research gap is recognized in terms of analyzing the advantages of energy symbiosis networks between industrial and urban areas integrating renewable energy systems. The urban–industrial symbiosis can support both urban transition toward sustainability and industrial green innovation through creating advantageous relationships in the framework of a common low-carbon strategy between industrial districts and neighboring urban areas. Urban–industrial symbiosis extends the concept of industrial symbiosis, a part of the industrial ecology field, to urban–industrial synergies. Taking advantage of the geographic proximity, it promotes the exchanges of waste, resources, and energy between urban and industrial areas, as well as the sharing of infrastructure. Thus, the paper aims at presenting an in-depth analysis of the main urban–industrial symbiosis schemes based on low-carbon energy flows between industries and cities, investigating the energy synergies potential. It introduces the concept and outline of sustainability-driven framework with the aim of modeling urban–industrial energy symbiosis networks integrating renewable energy sources from a multi-stakeholder point of view and supporting decision-making on the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of the energy synergies

Renewable energy in eco-industrial parks and urban-industrial symbiosis: A literature review and a conceptual synthesis

Replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources is considered as an effective means to reduce carbon emissions at the industrial level and it is often supported by local authorities. However, individual firms still encounter technical and financial barriers that hinder the installation of renewables. The eco-industrial park approach aims to create synergies among firms thereby enabling them to share and efficiently use natural and economic resources. It also provides a suitable model to encourage the use of renewable energy sources in the industry sector. Synergies among eco-industrial parks and the adjacent urban areas can lead to the development of optimized energy production plants, so that the excess energy is available to cover some of the energy demands of nearby towns. This study thus provides an overview of the scientific literature on energy synergies within eco-industrial parks, which facilitate the uptake of renewable energy sources at the industrial level, potentially creating urban-industrial energy symbiosis. The literature analysis was conducted by arranging the energy-related content into thematic categories, aimed at exploring energy symbiosis options within eco-industrial parks. It focuses on the urban-industrial energy symbiosis solutions, in terms of design and optimization models, technologies used and organizational strategies. The study highlights four main pathways to implement energy synergies, and demonstrates viable solutions to improve renewable energy sources uptake at the industrial level. A number of research gaps are also identified, revealing that the energy symbiosis networks between industrial and urban areas integrating renewable energy systems, are under-investigated

The Potential of Hydrogen Technologies for Low-Carbon Mobility in the Urban-Industrial Symbiosis Approach

The use of green hydrogen to power vehicles is recognized as contributing to the mitigation of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions responsible for climate change. On the other hand, the need for reducing GHG emissions is even more urgent in densely industrialized areas, traditionally located nearby highly populated zones. In these areas, road transportation is a relevant source of environmental pressures affecting air quality and the nearby communities’ health: in Europe, private vehicles, vans, trucks, and buses produce more than 70% of the overall greenhouse gas emissions from transport, as well as particulate matter and nitrogen oxide. The European Hydrogen Strategy considers using green hydrogen as an energy carrier to de-carbonize industry and the transport sector, highlighting the need for the infrastructure to produce, store, and distribute hydrogen. The spatial configuration of the industrial sites and the existing infrastructure can facilitate the creation of hydrogen hubs serving both the logistics needs of companies and the public and private mobility in an urban-industrial symbiosis approach. Thus, this study aims at investigating the opportunities offered by the creation of synergies between industrial clusters and the nearby urban areas to improve the local sustainability by supporting the deploying of low-carbon mobility using green hydrogen. The available literature is reviewed in order to schematise and discuss the sustainability-related basis of adopting such a strategy, presenting an updated analysis of the latest research and application results suitable for future research applications and for supporting decision-making processes

Development of a mirror-based LCPV module and test results

The design and the technical features of a low concentration photovoltaic module based on silicon solar cells are here presented, reporting manufacturing topics and results of experimental tests. The product here described has been developed, taking into account costs, efficiency, reliability, and investments required for its industrial production and for its commercial exploitationThe design of a specific low concentration photovoltaic module is described here, with a report of the results of the first experimental tests of its industrial version. The product is a 20× reflective concentrating photovoltaic module based on silicon solar cells. The optics were designed to mount these modules on 2-axis trackers with angular pointing accuracy of up to about ±4° without significant power loss. The high angular acceptance of the non-imaging optics permits the collection of a high fraction of the circumsolar light impinging on the module's frontal aperture, providing high direct normal irradiance efficiency in real operative conditions. Many technical features of the product are described here, in which features are the result of 5 years of product development in order to improve performance, reliability and cost issues

The Geolocation of an Industrial Plant by Means of a Multi-Criteria Fuzzy Approach

An innovative company should be ready to take advantage of all the opportunities offered by the market as well as to face the market challenges, and particularly to meet customers' needs. Thus, when compiling a business plan, the use of decision support tools can improve the presented solutions. This paper presents a method for the geolocation of a new industrial plant, to become competitive in the customer mind-set. An innovative project in the E-mobility sector of a company based in Europe concerned a partnership with a corporation and required a new plant located in the US. The problem of the geolocation is solved using a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process approach. Ten key factors that could potentially affect the location of a newcomer in the US have been selected and analyzed, and the State for the optimal location identified