• Energy Research
• ES close
• FR close
• EU close

Sustainability of agro-food supply chains has recently become the subject of greater interest from consumers, firms, governmental organizations and academia as the environment continues to deteriorate. One of the most critical factors influencing the sustainability of an agro-food supply chain is its network design. A particularly challenging aspect in this context is the broad range of influencing indicators associated with the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) of sustainability that need to be considered. However, many of these indicators could not be fully integrated or measured by single-step optimization problems. This paper presents a critical literature review of operational research methods for the design of sustainable supply chains. A novel two-stage hybrid solution methodology is proposed. In the first stage, a partner selection is performed using a hybrid multi criteria decision making based on Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method and the Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA) aggregation method. The result obtained in the first stage is used in the second stage to develop a multi-objective mathematical model to optimize the design of the supply chain network. This approach allows the simultaneous consideration of all three dimensions of sustainability including carbon footprint, water footprint, number of jobs created and the total cost of the supply chain design. The proposed approach generates a Pareto frontier to aid users in making decisions. Numerical experiments are completed utilizing data from an agro-food company to demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed solution methodology. The analyzes of the numerical results provide important organizational, practical and policy insights on (1) the impact of financial and environmental sustainability on supply chain network design (2) the tradeoff analysis between environmental emission, water footprint, societal implications and associated cost for making informed decision on supply chain investment.

Five years after the efficiency tests of the European COST ES0601 project (known as “HOME”) new tests are planned with the use of a new benchmark dataset. New tests are needed for three reasons: i) Several homogenization methods have newer versions since HOME, while some other methods were not tested by HOME; ii) The HOME benchmark represented only one climatic region (i.e. the central-western European climate) and a not very large selection of inhomogeneity problems; and iii) The number of networks in the HOME benchmark was small, and thus certain kinds of results with them have large statistical uncertainty. For all these reasons the representativeness of HOME results is limited. The new tests will be performed by researchers of the Centre for Climate Change of the University Rovira i Virgili and those of the Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET) with the support of a Spanish national project. We will develop and use a much larger benchmark dataset than the HOME benchmark, but we will test automatic methods only, thus the amount of the required work remains feasible. Primarily, the openly accessible automatic methods will be tested, which do not need the direct collaboration of the method developers. However, we intend to keep contact with the developers in order to test the best versions of the methods with the best possible parameterizations . Until the autumn of 2016 we will be accepting newly developed methods and versions for testing. In the development of the new benchmark, we will build on the knowledge gathered before the creation of HOME benchmark, but we aim to create an even more realistic benchmark including various segments representing particular climatic regions and inhomogeneity problems. For instance, the new benchmark will consider that a) The frequency of breaks of detectable size is generally much higher for temperature series than for precipitation series; b) The annual cycle of biases depends both on the examined variable and the geographical region; c) The frequent presence of short-term, platform-shaped inhomogeneities in observed temperature series. The efficiencies will be evaluated with the residual root mean square error of monthly and annual values in homogenized series, as well as with the residual trend bias errors for individual time series and network mean trends. Presentación realizada en: 10th EUMETNET Data Management Workshop celebrado en St. Gallen, Suiza, del 28 al 30 de octubre de 2015.

The utilisation of thermoelectric technology as a heat pump in heating applications necessitates comprehensive investigation. The scalable nature of thermoelectric technology enables its operation at elevated temperatures without the requirement of refrigerants. In this work, an accurate computational model that can simulate one- and two-stage thermoelectric heat pumps is developed. This model uses the electric-thermal analogy and the finite difference method, including the thermoelectric effects, temperature dependent properties, thermal contact resistances and all heat exchangers, even the intermediate heat exchanger in the case of a two-stage configuration. Moreover, the model has been experimentally validated by built and tested prototypes, being the first time that a two-stage thermoelectric heat pump model is experimentally validated. The discrepancy between the simulated and experimental results is below the ± 10 % for , ± 8 % for generated heat and temperature lift in the airflow, and less than the ± 6 % for consumed power. Additonally, the model simulates real tendencies under different operating conditions, proving the reliability of the developed thermoelectric heat pump model. Finally, the model is used to optimise a thermoelectric system combining one- and two-stage thermoelectric heat pumps, and hybridising them with electric resistances. An airflow of 16.5 m3/h is heated from 25 °C to 160 °C, achieving a maximum of 1.21. Lastly, the importance of considering the thermal resistances of the heat exchangers is computationally modelled and demonstrated. Not taking them into account would overestimate the performance of the TEHP system by more than the 7 %. The authors would like to acknowledge the support of the grant TED2021-130071A-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and, as appropriate, by 'European Union Next Generation EU/PRTR', as well as the Government of Navarre, as part of the 'Grants to SINAI agents for the realization of collaborative R&D projects' under the PC066-067-068 FlexORCStorage. Open access funding provided by Universidad Pública de Navarra.

The SBE19 Brussels - BAMB-CIRCPATH "Building as Material Banks - A Pathway for a Circular held in Brussels on 5 to 7 of February 2019, is an initiative of the Consortium of the H2020 BAMB Project together with the Sustainable Built Environment (SBE) series of conferences. Being within the SBE series, this event gathers the support of CIB International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction, iiSBE International Initiative for a Sustainable Built Environment, the United Nations Environment Programme, and FIDIC International Federation of Consulting Engineers. The goal of this series of regional and international conferences is to disseminate innovative policies and developments in the field of sustainable urban environment to a broad international audience of specialists in policy, design, construction and operation of buildings and related infrastructure. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

AbstractA large number of small- to medium-sized community ponds exist in most parts of the Terai region in Nepal. Such ponds could be a viable alternative for other forms of surface irrigation. But, with the lack of efficient management, many of these ponds remain underutilized. An effort was made to facilitate the rehabilitation of such a pond in a selected village of Rupandehi District in Western Terai region of Nepal. This paper aims to evaluate the changed water availability situation in post-monsoon seasons after the pond rehabilitation. The paper also evaluates the feasibility of such interventions especially focusing on the potential to provide additional water and improve agricultural productivity. Results showed small increases in quantifiable indicators such as water availability, cropping intensity, productivity and income. The new institutional setup improved water allocation, improved operation and maintenance, and increased social awareness among the people about the importance of underutilized water resources. The intervention has the potential to be replicated in similar contexts.

Исследование ландшафтов всегда было традиционным научным направлением географии. В России подобная направленность исследований остаётся актуальной, несмотря на то, что термины «геоэкология» и «ландшафтная экология» сегодня более распространены в англоязычном научном сообществе. Наш краткий обзор показывает значительное ускорение антропогенных ландшафтных изменений в Европе, Центральной Азии и азиатской части России за последние пять десятилетий. Ландшафтные исследования в антропоцене должны быть направлены на достижение и сохранение устойчивости ландшафта при его высокой производительности, что включает в себя прекращение деградации ландшафтов, развитие культурных и сохранение природных ландшафтов. Чистая вода и чистый воздух, плодородные и здоровые почвы для производства продуктов питания и других экосистемных услуг, а также биологически разнообразная зеленая среда являются атрибутами ландшафтов, обеспечивающих выживание и благополучие населения. Дисциплинарные и междисциплинарные исследования должны генерировать знания, инновации и правила принятия действенных решений. Генерация знаний в глобализованном мире основана на сборе больших массивов данных и моделировании сценариев. Международные длительные полевые опыты и системы агроэкологического мониторинга будут предоставлять данные для экосистемных моделей и систем поддержки принимаемых решений. Landscape research has been a traditional scientific discipline of geography. This is still the case in Russia, whilst the terms geo-ecology and landscape ecology have become established in the English speaking scientific community. Our short review reveals huge and accelerating anthropogenic landscape transformations in Europe, Central Asia and Asian Russia since the end the 1960s. Landscape research in the Anthropocene has to focus on achieving landscape sustainability at high productivity. This includes halting landscape degradation, developing cultural landscapes, and maintaining semi-natural landscapes. Clean water and air, fertile and healthy soils for food and other ecosystem services and a green and bio-diverse environment are attributes of landscapes for the survival and well-being of humans. Research has to generate knowledge, innovations and decision rules by disciplinary, interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary work. Knowledge generation in a globalized world is based on big data gathering and scenario modelling. International long-term experiments and agri-environmental monitoring systems will deliver data for ecosystem models and decision support systems.

This introductory article to the Ecological Modernization special issue begins with the observation that, when it comes to transitions, ecological modernization projects are often the ones being implemented. This justifies studying these projects in their own right. An analysis of what is involved in the concept of ecological modernization brings it back to the status of a promise, which is part of a relationship of both continuity and rupture with modernity. The articles in this issue are examined in light of this promise. These projects reveal the internal tensions within ecological modernization and show that, while it is continuously being renegotiated and hybridized, and despite suffering from significant internal limitations and criticisms, these projects appear to be united by their ability to strengthen the most powerful actors through compromises and minimal alignments. These compromises often lead to strong deviations from the promise and, ultimately, from the objectives of energy transition. Cet article introductif du numéro spécial Modernisation écologique part du constat qu’en matière de transition, ce sont le plus souvent des projets relevant de la modernisation écologique qui se mettent en œuvre – ce qui justifie que ces projets soient étudiés en tant que tels. Une analyse de ce que renferme l’idée de modernisation écologique renvoie celle-ci au statut de promesse, qui s’inscrit dans un rapport de continuité rupture par rapport à la modernité. Les articles réunis dans ce numéro sont lus à l’aune de cette promesse. Ces projets révèlent les tensions internes de la modernisation écologique, et montrent que si celle-ci est constamment renégociée et hybridée, si elle souffre d’importantes limites (et critiques) internes, ces projets semblent rassemblés par leur capacité à renforcer des acteurs les plus puissants autour de compromis et d’alignements a minima générant des écarts forts à la promesse et in fine aux objectifs de transition énergétique.

The ‘4 per mille Soils for Food Security and Climate’ was launched at the COP21 with an aspiration to increase global soil organic matter stocks by 4 per 1000 (or 0.4 %) per year as a compensation for the global emissions of greenhouse gases by anthropogenic sources. This paper surveyed the soil organic carbon (SOC) stock estimates and sequestration potentials from 20 regions in the world (New Zealand, Chile, South Africa, Australia, Tanzania, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, India, China Taiwan, South Korea, China Mainland, United States of America, France, Canada, Belgium, England & Wales, Ireland, Scotland, and Russia). We asked whether the 4 per mille initiative is feasible for the region. The outcomes highlight region specific efforts and scopes for soil carbon sequestration. Reported soil C sequestration rates globally show that under best management practices, 4 per mille or even higher sequestration rates can be accomplished. High C sequestration rates (up to 10 per mille) can be achieved for soils with low initial SOC stock (topsoil less than 30 t C ha− 1), and at the first twenty years after implementation of best management practices. In addition, areas which have reached equilibrium will not be able to further increase their sequestration. We found that most studies on SOC sequestration only consider topsoil (up to 0.3 m depth), as it is considered to be most affected by management techniques. The 4 per mille number was based on a blanket calculation of the whole global soil profile C stock, however the potential to increase SOC is mostly on managed agricultural lands. If we consider 4 per mille in the top 1m of global agricultural soils, SOC sequestration is between 2-3 Gt C year− 1, which effectively offset 20–35% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. As a strategy for climate change mitigation, soil carbon sequestration buys time over the next ten to twenty years while other effective sequestration and low carbon technologies become viable. The challenge for cropping farmers is to find disruptive technologies that will further improve soil condition and deliver increased soil carbon. Progress in 4 per mille requires collaboration and communication between scientists, farmers, policy makers, and marketeers.