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IntroductionWith the much-needed transformation from linear to more circular resource flows, it is imperative for enterprises to understand their financial prospects. Transforming towards Product-as-a-Service (PaaS) with circular elements introduces new considerations that must be addressed to ensure profitability and sustainability. However, there is a lack of comprehensive financial assessments based on empirical cases to guide companies in assessing the lucrativeness of their transformations. This paper addresses this gap by proposing a simple-to-use and flexible financial assessment model for PaaS, helping practitioners identify the conditions necessary for financial viability from both provider and user perspectives.MethodsGrounded in transdisciplinary research, this study focuses on a construction machine manufacturer's transformation from a traditional one-off sales business model to PaaS. The transformation is analysed through the development of a life cycle costing financial assessment model that addresses relevant cost drivers.ResultsUsing discounting methods, the model can help practitioners generate scenarios to identify feasible solutions for profitable PaaS setups. Additionally, the paper presents an analytical procedure to identify conditions for a financially viable PaaS. The procedure includes scenario-based analysis that accounts for systemic changes often necessary for successfully realising PaaS.DiscussionBy following the proposed procedure, along with the financial assessment model, manufacturers can streamline their financial assessments to identify necessary changes. For the analysed case company, the modelling results indicate that it must redesign its products for PaaS to outperform its previous business model.

AbstractWe have measured the effect of degradation on the I-V characteristics in APFO3:PCBM solar cells. The solar cell devices were subject to ambient air under simulated solar illumination. We found that the degradation resulted in a lowering of the fill factor and short circuit current while the open circuit voltage remained unchanged. In order to gain insight into what has caused the degraded I-V characteristics we have studied the active layer film using various techniques. We found clear spectral changes both in absorption and in photoinduced absorption spectroscopy correlated with increased carrier lifetimes and lowered mobility when comparing the degraded film with a pristine one. The results show a significant degradation of the active layer causing a lower fill-factor and short circuit current.

KOF Working Papers, 327

A transition from fossil to renewable energy requires the development of sustainable electric energy storage systems capable to accommodate an increasing amount of energy, at larger power and for a longer time. Flow batteries are seen as one promising technology to face this challenge. As different innovations in this field of technology are still under development, reproducible, comparable and verifiable life cycle assessment studies are crucial to providing clear evidence on the sustainability of different flow battery systems. Based on a review of 20 relevant life cycle assessment studies for different flow battery systems, published between 1999 and 2021, this contribution explored relevant methodological choices regarding the sequence of phases defined in the ISO 14,040 series: goal and scope definition, inventory analysis, impact assessment and interpretation. Inspired by good practice examples, common gaps and weaknesses were identified and recommendations for comparative life cycle assessment studies were derived. This includes suggestions for an expanded functional unit definition, a provision of more detailed and transparent reporting of LCI data while using input/output tables. Outcomes of this study are also of relevance for the amendment of the Batteries Directive 2006/66/EC, where first drafts are under revision in the European Council, including the introduction of a battery passport, which should encourage battery producers to reduce their carbon footprint and avoid problematic materials.

Large-scale muscle injury in humans initiates a complex regeneration process, as not only the muscular, but also the vascular and neuro-muscular compartments have to be repaired. Conventional therapeutic strategies often fall short of reaching the desired functional outcome, due to the inherent complexity of natural skeletal muscle. Tissue engineering offers a promising alternative treatment strategy, aiming to achieve an engineered tissue close to natural tissue composition and function, able to induce long-term, functional regeneration after in vivo implantation. This review aims to summarize the latest approaches of tissue engineering skeletal muscle, with specific attention toward fabrication, neuro-angiogenesis, multicellularity and the biochemical cues that adjuvate the regeneration process.

The phenomena of climate change transcend all national and regional boundaries. To address this complex challenge, we must determine the areas of the country of interest, in this case, Greece, that have been most adversely affected by climate. Greece is surrounded by water, and a significant part of its GDP is derived from the marine and maritime industries, including tourism. Since the start of the IntelComp project, a Preparatory Living Lab (PLL) has been planned and delivered, feeding into the development of the IntelComp platform and the Living Lab on Climate Change Adaptation. The study's results lead to the conclusion that one of the most important challenges in tackling climate change is the decarbonisation challenge, specifically the shift to renewable energy sources and the investments that must be made. Several EU and national policy frameworks, including the European Green Deal, the Climate Law, the National Long-term Strategy for 2050 (on the Climate and Energy), highlight the decarbonisation as one of the major challenges in the climate change pledge. This will be the primary subject of the IntelComp climate change case study. PLLs also led to the identification of policy questions and useful data sources to aid the IntelComp project's launch. While previous research on co-production has primarily focused on involving citizens through public participation processes in order to gain their support, trust, and insights in structured decision-making processes, our approach opens a new channel for incorporating external knowledge into problem-solving processes. The IntelComp project will aid in policy development by providing pertinent tools co-developed with the final users that will provide insights and analysis in the field of STI (Science, Technology, Innovation) encompassing all of the Energy areas mentioned above.

AbstractThe production of Z boson pairs in proton–proton ($${\mathrm{p}} {\mathrm{p}} $$ p p ) collisions, $${{\mathrm{p}} {\mathrm{p}} \rightarrow ({\mathrm{Z}}/\gamma ^*)({\mathrm{Z}}/\gamma ^*) \rightarrow 2\ell 2\ell '}$$ p p → ( Z / γ ∗ ) ( Z / γ ∗ ) → 2 ℓ 2 ℓ ′ , where $${\ell ,\ell ' = {\mathrm{e}}}$$ ℓ , ℓ ′ = e or $${{\upmu }}$$ μ , is studied at a center-of-mass energy of 13$$\,\text {TeV}$$ TeV with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 137$$\,\text {fb}^{-1}$$ fb - 1 , collected during 2016–2018. The $${\mathrm{Z}} {\mathrm{Z}} $$ Z Z production cross section, $$\sigma _{\text {tot}} ({\mathrm{p}} {\mathrm{p}} \rightarrow {\mathrm{Z}} {\mathrm{Z}} ) = 17.4 \pm 0.3 \,\text {(stat)} \pm 0.5 \,\text {(syst)} \pm 0.4 \,\text {(theo)} \pm 0.3 \,\text {(lumi)} \text { pb} $$ σ tot ( p p → Z Z ) = 17.4 ± 0.3 (stat) ± 0.5 (syst) ± 0.4 (theo) ± 0.3 (lumi) pb , measured for events with two pairs of opposite-sign, same-flavor leptons produced in the mass region $${60< m_{\ell ^+\ell ^-} < 120\,\text {GeV}}$$ 60 < m ℓ + ℓ - < 120 GeV is consistent with standard model predictions. Differential cross sections are also measured and agree with theoretical predictions. The invariant mass distribution of the four-lepton system is used to set limits on anomalous $${\mathrm{Z}} {\mathrm{Z}} {\mathrm{Z}} $$ Z Z Z and $${{\mathrm{Z}} {\mathrm{Z}} \gamma }$$ Z Z γ couplings.