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This presentation was part of the EERA JP Wind WORKSHOP on Ongoing research in offshore wind structures (September 16 & 17, 2021, hybrid event in Amsterdam and online).

A reduction in the availability of phosphate rock resources for fertiliser production coincides with an increase in phosphorus-rich dairy wastewater in Europe. This confluence of events has led to the development of technologies for phosphorus recovery from dairy wastewater and the use of the products as fertilisers in agriculture. This thesis aims to contribute both to the technical development of this emerging technical system and methodological development of assessing the sustainability of it with regard to (1) the identification and selection of sustainability indicators, and (2) the assessment of life cycle environmental impacts. The thesis describes an approach developed for identifying and selecting sustainability indicators by reviewing scientific documents and interviews as well as an approach employed for performing a meta-analysis of previously published life cycle assessment results to cope with lack of inventory data. The employed method for indicator selection narrows down an initial set of 382 sustainability indicators identified in the literature to 26, which were considered representative and useful for the assessment of the considered innovative conceptual system. The meta-analysis results suggested that the examined phosphorus recovery technologies exhibited a lower global warming potential and cumulative energy demand than those of dairy wastewater treatment processes and that those technologies recovering phosphorus from the liquid phase had lower impacts than those recovering phosphorus from sludge or ash.

Diese Dissertation untersucht die Wechselwirkungen zwischen Getreideproduktion und Klimawandel, um Erkenntnisse für eine gezielte Klimaanpassung und -minderung im Getreideanbau zu gewinnen. Ein zentrales Augenmerk liegt auf der Rolle der Genetik (G), Umwelt (E) und Management (M) in Deutschland. Vier Studien adressieren diese Themen: In Studie 1 wurde eine Lebenszyklusanalyse des Winterweizen- und Winterroggenanbaus mit Sortenversuchsdaten über 30 Jahre durchgeführt. Es konnte erstmals bewiesen werden, dass der Züchtungsfortschritt in Deutschland den CFP von Winterweizen und Winterroggen erheblich reduziert hat. In Studie 2 wurden räumlich dynamische Wetterindizes entwickelt, um die Auswirkungen von Hitze und Trockenheit auf Winterweizen mit Praxisertragsdaten zu untersuchen. Es wurden deutliche Unterschiede in der regionalen Ertragswirkung von Hitze und Trockenheitsstress identifiziert. In Studie 3 wurden standortspezifische Einflüsse auf Hitze und Trockenstresstoleranz von Winterweizen und Winterroggen mit Sortenversuchsdaten vertiefend geprüft. Es wurde bewiesen, dass die Bodengüte einen entscheidenden Einfluss auf die abiotische Stresstoleranz hat. Darüber hinaus konnte keine Verbesserung der abiotischen Stresstoleranz durch den Züchtungsfortschritt nachgewiesen werden. In Studie 4 wurde die Rückkopplung des Klimawandels auf die CFP von Winterweizen, Winterroggen und Wintergerste mit Sortenversuchsdaten analysiert. Die Ergebnisse weisen erstmals nach, dass Hitze und Trockenheit die CO2-Emissionen erhöhen. Außerdem wurde gezeigt, dass hohe Bodenqualität zu geringeren Emissionen pro Fläche und einem geringeren CFP führt. Basierend auf den Ergebnissen der vier Studien wurden wichtige Hebel zum Klimaschutz in der Landwirtschaft unter gleichzeitigen Klimaeinflüssen identifiziert. Hier wurden insbesondere Maßnahmen entlang G × E × M hervorgehoben, die hohe und stabile Erträge sowie maximale Input Effizienzen gewährleisten. This dissertation examines the interactions between cereal production and climate change to gain insights for targeted climate adaptation and mitigation in cereal cultivation. A central focus is on the role of genetics (G), environment (E), and management (M) in Germany. Four studies address these topics: In Study 1, a life cycle assessment of winter wheat and winter rye cultivation was conducted using variety trial data over 30 years. It was demonstrated for the first time that breeding progress in Germany has significantly reduced the carbon footprint (CFP) of winter wheat and winter rye. In Study 2, spatially dynamic weather indices were developed to investigate the effects of heat and drought on winter wheat using on-farm yield data. Significant regional differences in heat and drought stress yield effects were identified across Germany. In Study 3, site-specific influences on heat and drought stress tolerance of winter wheat and winter rye were examined in depth using variety trial data. It was proven that soil quality has a decisive impact on abiotic stress tolerance. Additionally, no improvement in abiotic stress tolerance due to breeding progress was found. In Study 4, the feedback of climate change on the CFP of winter wheat, winter rye, and winter barley was analyzed using variety trial data. The results indicate for the first time that heat and drought increase the CFP of cereal production. It was also shown that high soil quality sites exhibit lower GHG emissions per unit of land (GHGL) and lower CFPs. Based on the results of the four studies, important levers for climate protection in agriculture under simultaneous climate influences were identified. Particularly, measures along G × E × M were emphasized, which ensure high and stable yields as well as maximum input efficiencies.

Newsletter from March 2022 - Have a look on the last news around the UPWARDS project.

Este proyecto se engloba en el ámbito de la cooperación internacional, en el llamado ICT4D (TIC para el Desarrollo). El trabajo se ha llevado a cabo junto con AUCOOP y se basa en las experiencias adquiridas en proyectos anteriores de la asociación. Tiene como objetivo mejorar la eficiencia y la calidad del servicio médico del Saint John of God Hospital en Sierra Leona a través de la transformación digital. Actualmente, en este hospital todo el registro de pacientes se realiza a mano y se debe transcribir a Excel para poder hacer el análisis de los datos. Para cambiar esta situación y automatizar esta tarea, junto con AUCOOP se ha instalado en el hospital un software de recolección de datos de pacientes a través de tabletas. Además, se ha automatizado el proceso de completar las hojas de Excel mensuales necesarias a través de una aplicación web. Por otro lado, se ha establecido un plan de diferentes fases para instalar este software en todas las áreas del hospital. Para la recolección de estos datos, el acceso a Internet es indispensable, por lo que en este TFG se ha diseñado una red de comunicaciones para proporcionar Internet a todo el hospital y se ha definido el sistema a utilizar y el plan a seguir para la recolección de datos de los pacientes. Además, se ha calculado y dimensionado un sistema de placas solares que mantenga toda la infraestructura y de esta manera no dependa de la red eléctrica del hospital. Aquest projecte s'engloba en l'àmbit de la cooperació internacional, en l'anomenat ICT4D (TIC per al Desenvolupament). El treball s'ha portat a terme juntament amb AUCOOP i es basa en les experiències adquirides en projectes anteriors de l'associació. Té com a objectiu millorar l'eficiència i la qualitat del servei mèdic del Saint John of God Hospital in Sierra Leone a través de la transformació digital. Actualment, en aquest hospital tot el registre de pacients es realitza a mà i s'ha de transcriure a Excel per a poder fer l'anàlisi de les dades. Per a canviar aquesta situació i automatitzar aquesta tasca amb AUCOOP s'ha instal·lat a l'hospital un software de recollida de dades de pacients a través de tauletes. A més, s'ha automatitzat el procés de completar els fulls d'Excel mensuals necessàries a través d'una aplicació web. D'altra banda, s'ha establert un pla de diferents fases per instal·lar aquest software a totes les àrees de l'hospital. Per a la recollida d'aquestes dades l'accés a Internet és indispensable, és per això, que en aquest TFG s'ha dissenyat una xarxa de comunicacions per proporcionar Internet a tot l'hospital i s'ha definit el sistema a utilitzar i pla a seguir per a la recollida de dades dels pacients. A més, s'ha calculat i dimensionat un sistema de plaques solars que mantingui tota la infraestructura i d'aquesta manera no hagi de dependre de la xarxa elèctrica de l'hospital. This project is encompassed within the scope of international cooperation, in the so-called ICT4D (ICT for Development). The work has been carried out together with AUCOOP and is based on the experiences acquired in previous projects of the association. Its aim is to improve the efficiency and quality of the medical service at the Saint John of God Hospital in Sierra Leone through digital transformation. Currently, at this hospital, all patient records are done manually and must be transcribed to Excel to perform data analysis. To change this situation and automate this task, a patient data collection software has been installed in the hospital through tablets, in collaboration with AUCOOP. Additionally, the process of completing the necessary monthly Excel sheets has been automated through a web application. Furthermore, a phased plan has been established to install this software in all areas of the hospital. For the collection of these data, Internet access is indispensable, which is why in this Final Degree Project (TFG), a communication network has been designed to provide Internet to the entire hospital and the system to be used and the plan to follow for patient data collection has been defined. Additionally, a solar panel system has been calculated and dimensioned to maintain the entire infrastructure, thus avoiding dependence on the hospital's electrical network.

The main aim of the Horizon Europe Fit4Micro Project is to develop a microCHCP unit running on sustainable liquid biofuels. The application of this unit is foreseen at multi-family houses and at remote or off-grid locations. This technology will lead to very high electrical efficiencies (>40%) and a flexible heat/power ratio. Moreover, the usage of a truly advanced and RED II compliant biofuel will guarantee a high GHG emission reduction. This flexible hybrid energy system is based on a double-shaft micro gas turbine (mGT) combined with a novel humidification unit, and will be able to provide renewable heating, cooling and power production, mainly for domestic usage. The Fit4Micro solution contributes to make Europe the first enabled circular, climate-neutral and sustainable economy. Proceedings of the 31st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 5-8 June 2023, Bologna, Italy, pp. 514-516

This document is the deliverable D1.1 of the project POLYPHEM. It is planned in the framework of the Work Package 01 (R&D ON SOLAR RECEIVER). Task 1.1 of the POLYPHEM project deals firstly with the choice of a more competitive metallic alloy than the reference one, the alloy 600, in order to manufacture the solar receiver modules, more precisely, the environment protective layer. Secondly, the mechanical properties and microstructure of the best alloy and the reference one are examined using representative mock-ups. This deliverable presents the main results of the POLYPHEM Task 1.1.

Recently, public-private partnerships (PPPs) have attracted renewed attention as a valuable tool to close the gap between public services and social needs. In fact, the United Nations (UN) proposed collaboration across multiple stakeholders as one of the key goals for securing global sustainable development. Yet, PPPs remain a controversial proposition for many due to, among other factors, the complexity and limitation of current systems to assess their impact beyond the notion of value for money. This study offers a conceptual model (EASIER) that accounts for six dimensions that are relevant for social, environmental, and economic progress. We also propose a questionnaire to assess the impact of PPPs on UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and apply it to a PPP contract as an illustration. We advocate the use of EASIER as an initial evaluation model due to its simplicity and its holistic perspective.

The authors compare the energy consumption and CO2 emissions from vehicles using internal combustion engines (ICE), battery electric vehicles (BEV), fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV), and two types of hybrid vehicles, BEV-ICE hybrid and BEV-FCEV hybrid. This paper considers several scenarios for four countries’ electricity production from primary energy sources to estimate total CO2 release. Energy consumption of the vehicle per 100 km, emissions during manufacturing, battery production, and lifecycle of the vehicle are considered in the total amount evaluation of CO2 released. The results show that with current technologies for battery manufacturing, and a significant proportion of national grid electricity delivered by fossil fuels, BEV is the best choice to reduce carbon emissions for shorter driving ranges. In the case of electricity generation mainly by low-carbon sources, FCEV and BEV-FCEV hybrid vehicles end up with lower carbon dioxide emissions. In contrast, with electricity mainly generated from fossil fuels, electric vehicles do not reduce CO2 emissions compared to combustion cars.