Renewable energy
Bio-economic and environmental modelling of biofuels adoption in the petroleum sector in Nigeria
(Abila, Nelson)
Sustainability criteria of bioenergy: A qualitative model
(Brose, I. & Van Stappen, F. & Castiaux, A.)
Supply chain issues of bio-energy production: a literature review
(Gold, Stefan & Seuring, Stefan)
Integrated Management of Risks of New Technologies as a Part of Corporate Social Responsibility
(Jovanovic, A. & Jovanovic, S. & Löscher, M.)
Sustainability LCA of Biofuels
(Ketola, Tarja & Myllylä, Tiina)
Corporate Social Responsibility Prime Movers in Renewable Energy Sector: The Case of MASDAR Initiative in Abu Dhabi
(Mezher, Toufic)
Robin Hood Theorem – An equitable energy distribution for Ghana
(Ndzibah, Emmanuel)
(1)
Bio-economic and environmental modelling of biofuels adoption in the petroleum sector in Nigeria
(Abila, Nelson)
Abstract
Biofuels are increasingly making inroads into the energy sector and the demand for them as an alternative to petroleum is increasing. This surge has been ascribed to concerns over the diminishing supplies, rising prices, adverse environmental and human health impact from the use of fossil fuel (West et al 2008). The global acceptance of bioenergy as a viable alternative energy source has set the benchmark for various governments and corporations to explore the potentials for generating the various forms of bioenergy available within the stretch of their natural resource endowment. This global adoption of biofuels is symbolic of the display of corporate responsibility relating governance and corporations in the management of the earth resources, pursuance of sustainable development and environment. The increase in the use and subsequent demand for biofuels is creating an international biofuel trade (EPC 2001), with biofuel markets already fully developed in some countries that have been able to harness their natural resource for producing biofuels. This increase in demand and adoption of biofuels, by and large, calls for corporate social and cultural responsibility, to ensure that the world's poor and the marginalized communities can participate and benefit from this exploitation, rather the reverse. The study seeks to assess the impact of the adoption of biofuels in Nigeria vis-à-vis socio-economic sustainability, access to land and conflict with other productive ventures as well as the capacity to expand fortunes and livelihoods of the poor and marginalized community in the Niger region of the country.
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(2)
Sustainability criteria of bioenergy: A qualitative model
(Brose, I. & Van Stappen, F. & Castiaux, A.)
Abstract
Bioenergy from agriculture is today in the heart of sustainable development. Each bioenergy production route presents externalities: greenhouse gases and carbon stocks, air, soil and water quality, agrochemicals, biodiversity, direct and indirect land-use changes, local prosperity and well-being, property rights and working conditions, competition with food, energy security, etc. These externalities must be assessed in order to enhance responsible managers’ choice of the best bioenergy route(s) [4].
From our literature review and assessment of sustainability criteria initiatives and certification systems, we have derived the list of externalities, also called sustainability criteria, to take into account in bioenergy routes evaluation. The sustainability criteria selected are then articulated into a qualitative model. This model defines links between criteria and characterises these relations into positive (correlation), negative (inverse) or indeterminate. From this modelling, it appears that many interactions between bioenergy externalities are not straightforward. Many of them are time- or space-dependent. Agricultural practices vary a lot from one region to another; indirect effects are far from being understood and assessed correctly, long-term effects of climate change are still unknown, etc.
The qualitative model is being iteratively refined through interactions with experts in workshops and brainstorming sessions. On the basis of the final consolidated qualitative model, a quantitative model will be built. It will enable, on the one hand, the monetization of measurable sustainability criteria and their introduction in a policy prediction model, and, on the other hand, the qualitative assessment of other sustainability criteria and their introduction in a certification scheme.
4 This paper is tied to the TEXBIAG project: “Decision-Making Tools to Support the Development of Bioenergy in Agriculture”.
This project is sponsored by the BELgian Science POlicy and led by Walloon Agricultural Research Center,
University of Namur, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.
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(3)
Supply chain issues of bio-energy production: a literature review
(Gold, Stefan & Seuring, Stefan)
Abstract
Energy production via biomass can be regarded a promising approach when searching for renewable energy options. It helps preserve non-renewable resources, contributes to energy supply security, and mitigates the greenhouse effect. On the other hand, critics pointing to adverse sustainability balances of certain forms of bioenergy production have gained more and more scientific and public attention in recent years.
In order to tap the full potential of energy production from biomass and to facilitate its flexible demand driven deployment, supply chain management, co-ordination of information and material flows, and logistics are of outstanding importance for all bio-energy systems. This paper presents a literature review of selected articles published in English-speaking peer-reviewed journals, which cover the interface of bio-energy production and supply chain issues. The articles are assessed according to (1) topic and research method, as well as (2) feed stock, energy end application, and part of supply chain under examination. Moreover, issues and challenges in the context of bio-energy chains have been classified into (1) transport, handling, pre-treatment, storage, (2) logistics in general, (3) system design, (4) supply security, and (5) purposes of bio-energy supply chains apart from energy production. Although biomass supply chains and networks are manifold in terms of size, design, and functioning, most relevant issues regarding SCM / logistics of bio-energy production are identified.
This work contributes to structuring the field at the interface of bio-energy production and SCM / logistics and it subsequently discusses the findings against the backdrop of bio-energy as sustainable renewable energy option.
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(4)
Integrated Management of Risks of New Technologies as a Part of Corporate Social Responsibility
(Jovanovic, A. & Jovanovic, S. & Löscher, M.)
Abstract
The focus of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) evolution and development in the last two decades has been very much concentrated onto the environmental, social and, recently, economic consequences of the (suboptimal) CSR policies for the companies and for the society. With the introduction of new technologies and/or products based on them (e.g. nanotechnologies, CO2 sequestration, use of unmanned devices…) the importance of technical aspects (causes!) of the CSR policies increases. The social responsibility of the company is often focused almost exclusively onto issue of how company deals with the technology, i.e. with the real or perceived risks related to it. Dealing with the technology and its risks practically means establishing an accepted and transparent system of responsible risk management.
The paper considers the above aspect in the cases the technologies treated in the currently running large European projects emphasizing the LCA (Life Cycle Analysis) as one of the main tools for practical implementation, presenting their use in the framework represented by the ISO standards 14040, 26000 (draft) and 31000, as well IRGC and GRI documents. Examples from the technologies concerned (advanced nonmaterials in industry, biofuels for aerospace applications, advanced energy technologies) and the tools developed and used for the above analyses are presented, too.
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(5)
Sustainability LCA of Biofuels
(Ketola, Tarja & Myllylä, Tiina)
Extended abstract
Picture year 2015: households, companies and other organizations all over the world turning their sewage into biofuels instead of discharging it into environment? That would solve two global problems at once: overfertilization of waterways causing sea, lake and river deaths, and carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels contributing to climate change. This vision represents cradle-to-cradle approach in which nothing ever becomes waste but is endlessly recycled in different renewable, harmless forms. Maybe such an idea will not be applied globally by 2015, but it certainly seems, at least to laypeople, an ideal solution to our world's major environmental, socio-cultural and economic problems. The feasibility of turning sewage into biofuels needs to be put into perspective by comparing it to other ways of producing, consuming and recycling biofuels.
Biofuels can nowadays be refined from dozens of different plants and different kinds of waste. The most common plants for biofuel include maize, wheat, barley, oats, potatoes, soya beans, palm oil, rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, sugar beans, sugar roots, switchgrass and alga. In addition, e.g. straw, wood, woodchips, forest residue and peat may be used. Almost any kind of biodegradable waste and sludge are suitable biofuel raw materials.
The purpose of this research is to conduct a sustainability life cycle assessment (LCA) of different kinds of biofuels.
Sustainability has four dimensions: environmental, social, cultural and economic sustainability. In a sustainability life cycle assessment all four dimensions need to be evaluated. Environmental sustainability comprises biodiversity, natural resource use, and the effects of production, consumption and products on the environment. Social responsibility deals with issues such as wellbeing, employment, alienation, aging, equality, justice and participation. Cultural sustainability encompasses values, attitudes and customs. Economic sustainability reaches from global, national and regional to corporate and household economy issues.
Life cycle assessment (LCA) is usually defined as merely an environmental LCA (Guinee 2002, Hendrickson et al. 2006). This research takes a more holistic perspective on LCA, allowing it to cover all aspects of sustainability. Sustainability LCA is a systematic evaluation of the environmental, social, cultural and economic consequences of a particular product, process, or activity from cradle to grave or, ever more frequently, from cradle to cradle. LCAs need to cover the whole life cycle of biofuels, starting from raw materials, production, transportation and distribution to usage, maintenance, reuse, recycling and disposal as well as energy production and consumption during all these stages.
As yet there is no general agreement even of the criteria of environmental LCAs. For example the LCA section of the first version of the Nordic Swan Ecolabel covers only greenhouse emissions and energy use (Nordic Council of Ministers 2008).
Hence, in the first part of this research generally acceptable environmental LCA criteria for biofuels will be compiled. The different corporate, political, civil and scientific actors will be interviewed to collect their views and experiences of environmental LCA criteria for biofuels. Based on this information a model of environmental LCA criteria for biofuels will be drafted.
Comparative LCA research in the area has focussed on comparing some biofuels to some fossil fuels. For example, SenterNovem (2008), an agency of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, commissioned a biofuel LCA, which compared bioethanol from wheat to gasoline and MTBE, and biodiesel from rapeseed to diesel. On the other hand, analyses of greenhouse gas emissions from biofuels have been conducted (e.g. Delucchi 2006, Farrel et al. 2006, International Energy Agency 2004). In addition, Hill et al. (2006) have made environmental, economic, and energetic cost/benefit analyses of biodiesel and ethanol biofuels.
In conclusion, partial LCAs of a number of biofuels have been carried out, particularly a variety of environmental LCAs, but also some economic cost/benefit analyses. Yet a holistic sustainability LCA comparison of biofuels made of the most common plants and wastes is still missing. This paper demonstrates the findings of the first part of this major endeavour: generally acceptable criteria for environmental LCAs of biofuels and a draft environmental LCA comparison of biofuels made of the most common plants and wastes. Some of these findings may be surprising to many researchers.
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(6)
Corporate Social Responsibility Prime Movers in Renewable Energy Sector: The Case of MASDAR Initiative in Abu Dhabi
(Mezher, Toufic)
During the World Future Energy Summit that was held in Abu Dhabi, the CEO of Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (ADFEC), Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, announced the first renewable energy policy set by UAE government. The policy calls for at least seven percent of the Emirate's power generation capacity will come from renewable energy sources by 2020. UAE is an oil producing country and through the MASDAR Initiative, the leadership of UAE and Abu Dhabi made a strategic decision to establish a globally competitive renewable energy sector in the country. The paper will discuss the social responsibility role that ADFEC is playing as the “Prime Mover” in the renewable energy sector in UAE. The paper will also discuss the impact of the MASDAR Initiative on the local, regional, and global levels. In addition, the paper will discuss the environmental challenges of UAE. UAE has the highest per capita CO2 emissions and water usage. The main source of CO2 emissions are the oil industry, and the power sector for both electricity generation and water desalination. The paper will look at the potential application of renewable energy, mainly the Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), in UAE power sector, and will discuss the potential barriers to the diffusion and development of renewable energy sector in the country.
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(7)
Robin Hood Theorem – An equitable energy distribution for Ghana
(Ndzibah, Emmanuel)
ABSTRACT
Purpose: This study explores how energy could be shared equitably to both the rural and urban consumers in Ghana. The Robin Hood theorem borrows the essence of the strategy, used by a character in a British folklore by the same name, in providing resources for the deprived. This study aims at exploring the same notion in a realistic way, thus giving power to the people.
Design/methodologies/approach: A proposed theorem aimed at promoting strategies that could help the Energy Commission of Ghana to deploy protocols enabling an equitable distribution of energy to every consumer.
Findings: In Ghana, people living in the rural areas are usually considered as having irregular source of income, lack of credit and loan facilities, thus making it relatively impossible for them to afford almost any form of renewable energy solutions. On the other hand, unlike the rural communities, majority of the urban dwellers are home and /or business owners who spend huge amounts of money on energy especially electricity. These urban dwellers are to a realistic degree exposed to aggressive credit and loan schemes which some take advantage of for the acquisition of house, creation of business and buying of cars, just to mention a few. Furthermore, due to the fact that the density of pollution in the urban areas is high, the Robin Theorem promotes social responsibility as a means of curbing the problem.
Originality/value: This study can be seen as an initial attempt to conceptualize an effective way of fair distribution of energy to both the rural and urban dwellers. The article is thus aimed at translating theorem into a systematic practice for the benefit of the economy of Ghana.
Keywords: Robin Hood, social responsibility, energy, Ghana.
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