Life cycle navigation through future energy carriers and propulsion options for the energy transition in shipping

The shipping industry\u27s heavy reliance on fossil fuels has a detrimental effect on the global climate, human health, and the natural environment. The shipping sector now relies on the use of cheap and energy-dense heavy fuel oil and is perceived as ‘difficult-to-decarbonize’. Presently the shipping sector is adopting incremental emission reduction measures related to operational and technological energy efficiency solutions. However, to meet the global climate target, the transition from fossil-based marine fuels to renewable energy carriers is needed. Electro-fuels, which are produced from low-carbon electricity, or direct use of electricity with battery storage, are two pathways for energy transition included in this thesis.This thesis aims to assess the possible influence of the above two decarbonization paths based on energy demand, environmental performance, and economic performance across the whole life cycle of ships. The assessment is performed for hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, and battery-electric on three case study vessels using prospective life cycle assessment (pLCA) and life cycle costing (LCC). The pLCA is based on systems thinking used for the environmental assessment of emerging technologies that are in an early stage of development, and the LCC is used for the economic assessment of technologies over the life cycle based on the same systems thinking. To understand the environmental and economic tradeoffs for decision making an integrated assessment of pLCA and LCC is employed in the thesis. Considering the complexity and challenges of integration, a framework termed ‘integrated life cycle framework’ is developed for this thesis, allowing for consistent assessment to understand tradeoffs. This framework can be useful for other transport sectors.The study shows that there is a substantial potential for reducing the environmental impact of shipping through the studied pathways; however, this depends on the carbon intensity of the electricity used in fuel production. Technically, not all fuels are suitable for all vessels. Their suitability is primarily determined by the amount of fuel required for bunkering and the amount of space available onboard. Reduced climate impact comes at the expense of several other impact categories, such as human toxicity, water use, and resource use (minerals and metals). For the same type of fuel, fuel cells have greater impact reduction potential than engine options; however, engines are more cost competitive. Fuel price and utilization rate also influence cost competitiveness. The total life cycle cost of all the studied options is significantly higher than the conventional diesel option, and the critical parameter is the cost of the fuel. The cost of fuel is sensitive to the price of electricity. The carbon abatement cost estimated in this study shows that policies should be designed to imply at least a cost of 250–300 €/tCO2eq for emitting greenhouse gases to make the assessed fuel options cost competitive

A comparative study of three different methods of shoot meristem excision for induction of embryogenic calli in coconut

A protocol was standardized to maximize yields of embryogenic calli from shoot meristem culture of coconut. Three different shoot meristem excision methods were tested viz., excision of shoot meristem aseptically from in vitro germinated embryo after 10-12 days, excision of shoot meristem from in vitro germinated embryo subjected to GA3 treatment for five days and excision of shoot meristem from fresh embryo. The primary calli induction after 30 days of culture incubation for the three treatments were 21%, 27%  and 79% respectively.  Further, the primary calli formed from the shoot meristem excised from fresh embryo gave rise to 56% of embryogenic calli. The calli obtained from the shoot meristem which were excised from in vitro germinated embryo formed less percentage of embryogenic calli because of the presence of cotyledonary tissues which inhibited the multiplication of meristematic tissues. In the case of shoot meristem extracted from GA3-treated embryos, the percentage of non-embryogenic calli was more compared to the shoot meristem excised from fresh embryo. It was observed that the addition of GA3 in the initial stages of culture inhibited the formation of embryogenic calli and favored direct shoot development. Currently, the shoot meristem excised from fresh embryo is being employed for scaling up the planting material production from released varieties of coconut

Cloning, characterization and expression analysis of NBS-LRR-type resistance gene analogues (RGAs) in coconut

Coconut palms are highly susceptible to diseases caused by different pathogens, and replanting with resistant varieties is the best way to manage them. Obtaining a collection of resistance gene analogues (RGAs) is an effective strategy to identify genomic regions linked to disease resistance. We have successfully used a comparative genomics approach to amplify putative RGAs from the coconut root (wilt) disease resistant cultivar Chowghat Green Dwarf (CGD) by using primers designed based on conserved motifs of the NBS-LRR domain of the date palm. The amplified sequences were cloned, sequenced and characterized. The coconut RGAs had high identity to monocot NBS-LRRs. A complete structural analysis and 3-D modeling of the NBS domain of coconut RGA was also undertaken. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis indicated that the isolated coconut NBS-LRR class RGAs was expressed more in root (wilt) disease resistant genotypes than in susceptible ones. This study would provide a base for future efforts to map disease resistant traits in coconut

Life-Cycle Assessment and Costing of Fuels and Propulsion Systems in Future Fossil-Free Shipping

Future ships need to operate with low or possibly zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while ensuring low influence on other environmental impacts and that the operation is economically feasible. This study conducts a life-cycle evaluation of potential decarbonization solutions involving selected energy carriers (electrolytic hydrogen, electro-ammonia, electro-methanol, and electricity) in different propulsion system setups (engines, fuel cells, and carbon capture technologies) in terms of environmental impact and costs. The results of the study show that the assessed decarbonization options are promising measures to reduce maritime GHG emissions with low-carbon-intensive electricity. The same order of GHG reduction is shown to be possible independent of the propulsion system and energy carrier used onboard, However, the carbon abatement cost ranges from 300 to 550 (sic)/tCO(2)eq, and there is a trade-off with environmental impacts such as human toxicity (cancer and non-cancer effects) and freshwater ecotoxicity mainly linked with the wind infrastructure used for electricity production, Electro-ammonia in fuel cells is indicated to be effective in terms of the carbon abatement cost followed by the so-called HyMethShip concept. The higher abatement cost of all options compared to current options indicates that major incentives and policy measures are required to promote the introduction of alternative fuel and propulsion systems

How do variations in ship operation impact the techno-economic feasibility and environmental performance of fossil-free fuels? A life cycle study

Identifying an obvious non-fossil fuel solution for all ship types for meeting the greenhouse gas reduction target in shipping is challenging. This paper evaluates the technical viability, environmental impacts, and economic feasibility of different energy carriers for three case vessels of different ship types: a RoPax ferry, a tanker, and a service vessel. The energy carriers examined include battery-electric and three electro-fuels (hydrogen, methanol, and ammonia) which are used in combination with engines and fuel cells. Three methods are used: preliminary ship design feasibility, life cycle assessment, and life cycle costing. The results showed that battery-electric and compressed hydrogen options are not viable for some ships due to insufficient available onboard space for energy storage needed for the vessel\u27s operational range. The global warming reduction potential is shown to depend on the ship type. This reduction potential of assessed options changes also with changes in the carbon intensity of the electricity mix. Life cycle costing results shows that the use of ammonia and methanol in engines has the lowest life cycle cost for all studied case vessels. However, the higher energy conversion losses of these systems make them more vulnerable to fluctuations in the price of electricity. Also, these options have higher environmental impacts on categories like human toxicity, resource use (minerals and metals), and water use. Fuel cells and batteries are not as cost-competitive for the case vessels because of their higher upfront costs and shorter lifetimes. However, these alternatives are less expensive than alternatives with internal combustion engines in the case of higher utilization rates and fuel costs

Histological studies of cellular differentiation during somatic embryogenesis of coconut plumule-derived calli

Since coconut is   one of the most recalcitrant species to generate in vitro, it is   necessary to study in detail about the cellular changes that occur during   somatic embryogenesis to enhance our knowledge about this phenomenon. In the   present study, coconut plumular tissues, the shoot meristem including leaf   primordia, were used as explants for in vitro regeneration studies.   Histological studies were carried out in different stages of plumule culture.   No noticeable growth was observed in 15 days old cultures. After 30 days,   meristematic cells could be identified. Abundance of meristematic cells,   foremost to the development of callus structures, was observed after 45 days.   After 75 days, globular friable calli were formed and histological studies   revealed the presence of meristematic centers which eventually formed somatic   embryos. The histological study of matured somatic embryos formed after 120   days of callus initiation showed a clear meristematic zone of parenchyma   cells, surrounded by vascular bundles. Histological studies, carried out for   certain abnormalities like compact calli, abnormal somatic embryoids with   rudimentary shoots and multiplied roots, revealed the presence of intact   cotyledonary leaves which seemed to inhibit the apical meristem development   of somatic embryoids. The presence of vascular bundles in the early stages of   callus formation might lead to the direct formation of meristemoids. These   results could aid future studies leading to enhanced control of the somatic   embryogenic process and greater efficiency of somatic embryo and plantlet   formation in coconut

Assessment of User Perceptionon Public and Private Spaceswithin Urban Context

Public spaces are vital features in the urban context which offers inclusive environment for everyone in the society.Traditionally, urban public spaces (UPS) were developed by the governmentintended for places of interaction withthe aims of social welfare and public health. In the recent past, private sector involvement in the public space provision was visible with significant changes in the form and functionsinfluenced by market-basedmotives.Although commercialization or privatizationaspects ofpublic space was often debated, the user perception of the use ofpublic spaces from ownership and access control aspects were less studied in the context of developing countries. This study aimed at identifying the attributes for which people differentiate and experience in four public spaces owned andoperated by the government and private sectorin the city of Colombo, Sri Lanka.The study used 35 semi-structured interviews and 119 online questionnairesurveys to identify the user defined features of ownership and access control for public space use. The results revealed that governmentowned and operated spaces were preferred by the users due to easy access and freedom for activities while privately owned spaces were preferred due to better infrastructure, safety, and security within. Also, each public space offered benefits to specific user profile regardless its ownership or access controls. However, the freedom and openness provided by governmentowned spaces were identified as important in comparison with the restrictions imposed by private sector operated public spaces. This study provides key insights for urban planners and policy makers to identify the role of private sector in the provision of effective urban spaces in the fast-growing citiesas well as possible pitfalls and negative externalities created by unregulated spaces

Optimal design and operation of maritime energy systems based on renewable methanol and closed carbon cycles

The phasing out of fossil fuels in the shipping sector is of key importance for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Synthetic fuels based on renewable energy are a promising option for a sustainable maritime sector, with renewable methanol being one of the most widely considered energy carriers. However, the availability of renewable methanol is still limited and the costs associated with it are significantly higher than for conventional fuels, also because fuel synthesis must rely on carbon dioxide as a resource. Through the use of onboard carbon capture, the release of carbon dioxide during combustion can be avoided, and this closed cycle reduces the need for carbon sources. This paper investigates such a scenario by analyzing overall ship energy systems that use internal combustion engines with connected pre-combustion and post-combustion carbon capture technologies. The effect of these technologies on the techno-economic performance of a fully renewable energy system is investigated by setting up a mixed-integer optimization framework for the optimal design and operation of ship propulsion systems. The propulsion demand for the chosen case study consists of a typical operational profile of a ferry operating in the Baltic Sea. Comparison of the capture cases to a system solely based on renewable methanol reveals significant cost advantages of the closed carbon cycle systems. The baseline scenario has nearly 20% lower annual costs, with total capture rates of 90% in the post-combustion case and around 40% in the pre-combustion case. An extensive sensitivity analysis shows that these cost advantages are robust against various technological and economic boundary conditions. In the pre-combustion case, process heat demand reduction in combination with increased engine heat supply might enable higher capture rates beyond 90%. The results indicate that combining renewable fuels with onboard carbon capture creates opportunities for cost-effective, sustainable shipping

Pastoral de 1825, 8 de septiembre sobre la unión / [Hipólito, Obispo de Lugo]

145 páxinas ; 20 cmAnteportada co título Entrada en la ciudad de LugoDividida en dúas partes con numeración correlativ

Las ánforas de Son Fornés. Su estudio tipológico y contextualización histórica

De las ocho campañas de excavación que se desarrollaron en el yacimiento arqueológico de Son Fornés, entre los años 1975 y 1988, se han estudiado 330 bordes de ánfora procedentes del área del Mediterráneo occidental, desde Sicilia, la península itálica, Ibiza, el Norte de África hasta las diferentes provincias romanas de Hispania. A partir de la adscripción tipológica y cronológica de cada pieza anfórica y de su cuantificación en el conjunto global de las ánforas documentadas en el yacimiento, se elabora un estudio sobre las relaciones y corrientes comerciales que se establecen entre el s.IV aC. y el s.I dC. y su coordinación con los hechos históricos más destacados de cada momento, integrando el registro arqueológico de un poblado de cultura talayótica de Mallorca en los acontecimientos históricos del Mediterráneo Occidental