The Experts below are selected from a list of 137202 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Cristhian Vegaquezada - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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synergies between agriculture and bioenergy in latin american countries a circular economy strategy for bioenergy production in ecuador
New Biotechnology, 2017Co-Authors: Cristhian Vegaquezada, Maria Blanco, Hugo RomeroAbstract:This study quantifies the synergies between agriculture and bioenergy considering biodiesel production as part of a set of Systemic initiatives. We present a case study in Ecuador taking into account the recent government measures aimed at developing the bioenergy sector. Four scenarios have been evaluated through a newly designed Systemic scheme of circular-economy initiatives. These scenarios encompass three production pathways covering three energy crops: palm oil (PO), microalgae in open ponds (M1) and microalgae in laminar photobioreactors (M2). We have applied Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) methodology considering the Net Present Value (NPV) and the Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) as the main evaluation criteria. In terms of private investment, biodiesel production from PO is more attractive than from M2. However, regarding efficiency and effectiveness of public funds, M2 is superior to PO because the public BCR and NPV are higher, and the pressure on agricultural land is lower. Moreover, M2 as part of a Systemic Approach presents a better carbon balance. These findings show that, under a Systemic Approach based on circular economy, strategies like the one analyzed in this study are economically feasible and may have a promising future.
Roland Hischier - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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a circular economy within the planetary boundaries towards a resource based Systemic Approach
Resources Conservation and Recycling, 2020Co-Authors: Harald Desing, Dunia Brunner, Fabian Takacs, Stephane Nahrath, Karolin Frankenberger, Roland HischierAbstract:Abstract Circular Economy (CE) is the buzzword of today, promising an economy able to prosper on limited resources by closing material cycles. However, there is no guarantee that simple strategies of material cycling, as propagated by the various definitions of this concept, will indeed lead to an economy able to manage the world's resources, pollution and societal demand within environmentally sustainable levels. Based on the shortcomings of the present mainstream definitions of CE, this paper proposes an integrative, cascading, resource-based Approach aimed at an environmentally sustainable and socially beneficial economy. The international community agrees on the necessity to maintain the current environmental equilibrium to ensure equity for future generations and to allow human well-being and dignity already in the present. Accordingly, physical and environmental limitations are identified, that are to be observed to make CE sustainable. This paper then suggests that a transition towards a sustainable resource-based CE goes hand in hand with a paradigm shift in the way environmental considerations are perceived by individuals, codified in different normative frameworks and dealt with by private companies. It therefore opens the discussion by underlying some challenges that could appear in the view of transitioning to CE.
Hugo Romero - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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synergies between agriculture and bioenergy in latin american countries a circular economy strategy for bioenergy production in ecuador
New Biotechnology, 2017Co-Authors: Cristhian Vegaquezada, Maria Blanco, Hugo RomeroAbstract:This study quantifies the synergies between agriculture and bioenergy considering biodiesel production as part of a set of Systemic initiatives. We present a case study in Ecuador taking into account the recent government measures aimed at developing the bioenergy sector. Four scenarios have been evaluated through a newly designed Systemic scheme of circular-economy initiatives. These scenarios encompass three production pathways covering three energy crops: palm oil (PO), microalgae in open ponds (M1) and microalgae in laminar photobioreactors (M2). We have applied Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) methodology considering the Net Present Value (NPV) and the Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) as the main evaluation criteria. In terms of private investment, biodiesel production from PO is more attractive than from M2. However, regarding efficiency and effectiveness of public funds, M2 is superior to PO because the public BCR and NPV are higher, and the pressure on agricultural land is lower. Moreover, M2 as part of a Systemic Approach presents a better carbon balance. These findings show that, under a Systemic Approach based on circular economy, strategies like the one analyzed in this study are economically feasible and may have a promising future.
Steven Van Passel - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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social sustainability assessments in the biobased economy towards a Systemic Approach
Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2018Co-Authors: Parisa Rafiaani, Tom Kuppens, Miet Van Dael, Hossein Azadi, Philippe Lebailly, Steven Van PasselAbstract:Abstract The majority of impact assessments for the biobased economy are primarily focused on the environmental and (techno-)economic aspects, while social aspects are rarely considered. This study proposes a modified Systemic Approach for a social sustainability impact assessment of the biobased economy, based on a review on the common methodologies for assessing social impacts. Accordingly, the proposed Approach follows the four general iterative steps of social life cycle analysis (SLCA) as it considers all life cycle phases of the biobased economy. The Systemic Approach considers the potential social impacts on local communities, workers, and consumers as the main three groups of the stakeholders. The review showed that the most common social indicators for inventory analysis within the biobased economy include health and safety, food security, income, employment, land- and worker-related concerns, energy security, profitability, and gender issues. Multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) was also highlighted as the broadly utilized methodology for aggregating the results of impact assessments within the biobased economy. Taking a life cycle perspective, this study provides a holistic view of the full sustainability of research, design, and innovation in the biobased economy by suggesting the integration of the social aspects with techno-economic and an environmental life cycle assessment. Our proposed Systemic Approach makes possible to integrate the social impacts that are highly valued by the affected stakeholders into the existing sustainability models that focus only on environmental and techno-economic aspects. We discuss the steps of the proposed Systemic Approach in order to identify the challenges of applying them within the biobased economy. These challenges refer mainly to the definition of the functional unit and system boundaries, the selection and the analysis of social indicators (inventory analysis), the aggregation of the inventory to impact categories, and the uncertainties associated with the social sustainability evaluation. The result of this review and the proposed Systemic Approach serve as a foundation for industry and policy makers to gain a better insight into the importance of social sustainability impacts assessment within the biobased economy.
Harald Desing - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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a circular economy within the planetary boundaries towards a resource based Systemic Approach
Resources Conservation and Recycling, 2020Co-Authors: Harald Desing, Dunia Brunner, Fabian Takacs, Stephane Nahrath, Karolin Frankenberger, Roland HischierAbstract:Abstract Circular Economy (CE) is the buzzword of today, promising an economy able to prosper on limited resources by closing material cycles. However, there is no guarantee that simple strategies of material cycling, as propagated by the various definitions of this concept, will indeed lead to an economy able to manage the world's resources, pollution and societal demand within environmentally sustainable levels. Based on the shortcomings of the present mainstream definitions of CE, this paper proposes an integrative, cascading, resource-based Approach aimed at an environmentally sustainable and socially beneficial economy. The international community agrees on the necessity to maintain the current environmental equilibrium to ensure equity for future generations and to allow human well-being and dignity already in the present. Accordingly, physical and environmental limitations are identified, that are to be observed to make CE sustainable. This paper then suggests that a transition towards a sustainable resource-based CE goes hand in hand with a paradigm shift in the way environmental considerations are perceived by individuals, codified in different normative frameworks and dealt with by private companies. It therefore opens the discussion by underlying some challenges that could appear in the view of transitioning to CE.