Renewable energy potential in the automotive sector: Czech regional case study

Bearing in mind the instant innovations in renewables and the pressures to adopt ecological behaviors, companies are pushed to make changes in the energy field as well. Especially companies in the automotive sector have begun to implement sustainable production practices. The Czech Republic is not an exception, suggesting that sustainable actions have begun to be more significant at the local level as well. This article addresses the state of the art of using sustainable energy actions, concentrating on the renewable energy in the automotive supplier network within a selected region in the Czech Republic. Analyzing a broad context of renewable energy utilization at the regional level, the researched company sample shows that it is not yet a common practice. The results confirm that renewable energy sourcing needs to find its economic viability or justification in environmental legislation. Only then it can further spread along the automotive supply chain

Behavioral aspects in residential energy use

Residential energy use is a field, which calls for a dynamic theoretical and analytical approach. Bearing in mind the instant technological innovations, the decision models in the energy use need to be designed in holistic way. As the energy consumption is influenced also by non-technical and non-economic factors, sustainable energy use is expected to include behavioral aspects as well. The aim of this article is to provide insight into theoretical concepts in behavioral research especially in residential energy use. Behavioral aspects relevant for the energy use are detected and the main emphasis is given to the prospect theory. Energy efficiency is explained and analysed in broader perspective. This paper shows that following the complexity of relationships in energy field the behavioral economics has a good potential to be more influential in the future of the energy

Environmental management systems: An effective tool of corporate sustainability

The paper addresses corporate environmental policy concentrating on the current relationship of business activities towards environmental management in the Czech Republic. The pressure to adopt environmentally responsible behaviors motivates companies to initiate ecological practices, such as environmental and energy management systems, green balanced scorecard or green supply chain management. The efforts beyond the legislative requirements that are justified by potential cost reduction together with need for risk-based thinking, support investments into sustainable projects. This paper attempts to provide an in-depth view of the current enterprise practices and behavior in environmental management within the selected industrial sector in the Czech Republic region. Based on the mix of qualitative and quantitative approaches, the authors carried out structured in-depth interviews combined with a questionnaire survey with the aim to analyse the Czech environmental policy practices. A sample of 247 medium and large-sized Czech manufacturing companies was used for the survey. Three levels of environmental management system were identified: legal, basic and mature. The findings underscore the critical role of the management strategy approach and stakeholder requirements' monitoring. The research revealed that an important atribute in environmental activies in business area is the ownership structure. The foreign ownership has positive impact on the level of environmental management system adoption. The study makes practical contribution in that it explains the mature environmental management system concept and shows a possible path in the environmental behavior to companies not meeting the requirements of the mature system. The authors highlight also the need for awareness raising of business owners and top management to increase their interest in being more involved in environmental activities. © 2019 by author(s) and VsI Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center.Tomas Bata University in Zlin [VaVIP-RO/2018/03]; Environmental and energy risk management in relation to the triple bottom line concept within selected industrial sector in the Czech Republic [IGA/FaME/2017/016

A self-standing binder-free biomimetic cathode based on LMO/CNT enhanced with graphene and PANI for aqueous rechargeable batteries

The electrochemical parameters of a novel binder-free self-standing biomimetic cathode based on lithium manganese oxide (LMO) and carbon nanotubes (CNT) for rechargeable Lithium-ion aqueous batteries (ReLIAB) are improved using polyaniline (PANI) core-shell in situ polymerization and graphene (Gr). The fabricated cathode material exhibits the so-called “tectonic plate island bridge” biomimetic structure. This constitution is created by combining three components as shown by a SEM and a TEM analysis: the Gr substrates support an entangled matrix of conductive CNT which connect island of non-conductive inorganic material composed of LMO. The typical spinel structure of the LMO remains unchanged after modifying the basic structure with Gr and PANI due to a simplified hydrothermal method used for synthesis. The Gr and PANI core-shell coating improves the electric conductivity from 0.0025 S/cm up to 1 S/cm. The electrochemical performances of the LMO/CNT-Gr/PANI composite electrode are optimized up to 136 mA h g−1 compared to 111 mA h g−1 of the LMO/CNT. Besides that, the new electrode shows good cycling stability after 200 galvanostatic charging/discharging cycles, making this structure a future candidate for cathode materials for ReLIAB. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, TACR: TK03030157THETA program of the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic [TK03030157

Development of all-solid-state Li-ion batteries: From key technical areas to commercial use

Innovation in the design of Li-ion rechargeable batteries is necessary to overcome safety concerns and meet energy demands. In this regard, a new generation of Li-ion batteries (LIBs) in the form of all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) has been developed, attracting a great deal of attention for their high-energy density and excellent mechanical-electrochemical stability. This review describes the current state of research and development on ASSB technology. To this end, study of the literature and patents as well as market analysis over the last two decades were carried out, highlighting how scientific achievements have informed the application of commercially profitable ASSBs. Analyzing the patents registered over the past 20 years revealed that the number of them had increased exponentially-from only few per year in early 2000 to more than 342 in 2020. Published literature and patents on the topic declare a solid-state electrolyte (SSE) to be the main component of ASSBs, and most patented examples are referred to as solid inorganic electrolytes (SIEs), followed by solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) and solid hybrid electrolytes (SHEs) in popularity. Investigation of company websites, social media profiles, reports, and academic publications identified 93 companies associated with ASSBs. A list of leading businesses in the solid-state battery sector was compiled, out of which 36 provided information on the ASSB units in their product portfolio for detailed analysis.Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, TACR: TK03030157Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, Theta Program [TK03030157

Shifts in the smart research agenda? 100 priority questions to accelerate sustainable energy futures

Energy transitions are at the top of global agendas in response to the growing challenges of climate change and international conflict, with the EU positioning itself as playing a pivotal role in addressing climate risks and sustainability imperatives. European energy transition policies identify 'smart consumption' as a key element of these efforts, which have previously been explored from a predominantly technical perspective thus often failing to identify or address fundamental interlinkages with social systems and consequences. This paper aims to contribute to interdisciplinary energy research by analysing a forward looking 'Horizon Scan' research agenda for smart consumption, driven by the Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH). Reflecting on an extensive systematic Delphi Method exercise surveying over 70 SSH scholars from various institutional settings across Europe, we highlight what SSH scholars see as future directions for smart consumption research. Building from seven thematic areas (under which are grouped 100 SSH research questions), the study identifies three key 'shifts' this new smart research agenda represents, when compared to previous agendas: (1) From technological inevitability to political choice, highlighting the need for a wider political critique, with the potential to open up discussions of the instrumentalisation of smart research; (2) From narrow representation to diverse inclusion, moving beyond the shortcomings of current discourses for engaging marginalised communities; and (3) From individual consumers to interconnected citizens, reframing smart consumption to offer a broader model of social change and governance. Social Sciences and Humanities scholarship is essential to address these shifts in meaningful (rather than tokenistic) ways. This agenda and the shifts it embodies represent key tools to enable better interdisciplinary working between SSH and teams from the technical and natural sciences.Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic DKRVO, (RP/CPS/2022/005); Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, H2020; European Commission, EC; Horizon 2020, (826025)European Union [826025]; Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic DKRVO [RP/CPS/2022/005

Shifts in the smart research agenda? 100 priority questions to accelerate sustainable energy futures

Energy transitions are at the top of global agendas in response to the growing challenges of climate change and international conflict, with the EU positioning itself as playing a pivotal role in addressing climate risks and sustainability imperatives. European energy transition policies identify ‘smart consumption’ as a key element of these efforts, which have previously been explored from a predominantly technical perspective thus often failing to identify or address fundamental interlinkages with social systems and consequences. This paper aims to contribute to interdisciplinary energy research by analysing a forward looking ‘Horizon Scan’ research agenda for smart consumption, driven by the Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH). Reflecting on an extensive systematic Delphi Method exercise surveying over 70 SSH scholars from various institutional settings across Europe, we highlight what SSH scholars see as future directions for smart consumption research. Building from seven thematic areas (under which are grouped 100 SSH research questions), the study identifies three key ‘shifts’ this new smart research agenda represents, when compared to previous agendas: (1) From technological inevitability to political choice, highlighting the need for a wider political critique, with the potential to open up discussions of the instrumentalisation of smart research; (2) From narrow representation to diverse inclusion, moving beyond the shortcomings of current discourses for engaging marginalised communities; and (3) From individual consumers to interconnected citizens, reframing smart consumption to offer a broader model of social change and governance. Social Sciences and Humanities scholarship is essential to address these shifts in meaningful (rather than tokenistic) ways. This agenda and the shifts it embodies represent key tools to enable better interdisciplinary working between SSH and teams from the technical and natural sciences

Community renewable energy in the Czech Republic: Value proposition perspective

The community renewable energy offers much potential for sustainable projects differing in terms of regional governance, technology, social, and economic settings. However, the energy sector often lacks a systematic approach to community energy project data, and community projects are based on diversified value proposition designs. This study introduces a new concept of value proposition canvas. Four regional case studies provide essential inputs for the novel community renewable energy value proposition canvas based on the triple bottom line concept. The argument of this study is that energy communities bring together multiple positive local impacts. Moreover, we offer a novel, structured way of looking at its value propositions in the form of triple bottom line value proposition canvas. The study results might serve for the new entrants to the low carbon energy communities and decision-making authorities in energy policy.Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic-DKRVO [RP/CPS/2022/005]RP/CPS/2022/00