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This is a postprint version of the Book Chapter. Information regarding the official publication is available from the link below - Copyright @ 2011 Springer Implementation of a Life Cycle Sustainability Management (LCSM) strategy can involve significant challenges because of competing or conflicting objectives between stakeholders. These differences may, if not identified and managed, hinder successful adoption of sustainability initiatives. This article proposes a conceptual framework for stakeholder management in a LCSM context. The framework identifies the key sustainability stakeholder groups and suggests strategic ambiguity as a management tool to harness dysfunctional conflict into constructive collaboration. The framework is of practical value as it can be used as a guideline by managers who wish to improve collaboration with stakeholders along the supply chain. The article also fills a gap in the academic literature where there is only limited research on sustainability stakeholder management through strategic ambiguity.

A wireless sensor network (WSN) consists of hundreds or thousands of sensor nodes organized in an ad hoc manner to achieve a predefined goal. Although WSNs have limitations in terms of memory and processors, the main constraint that makes WSNs different from traditional networks is the battery problem which limits the lifetime of a network. Different approaches are proposed in the literature for improving the network lifetime, including data aggregation, energy efficient routing schemes, and MAC protocols. Sink node mobility is also an effective approach for improving the network lifetime. In this paper, we investigate controlled sink node mobility and present a set of algorithms for deciding where and when to move a sink node to improve network lifetime. Moreover, we give a load-balanced topology construction algorithm as another component of our solution. We did extensive simulation experiments to evaluate the performance of the components of our mobility scheme and to compare our solution with static case and random movement strategy. The results show that our algorithms are effective in improving network lifetime and provide significantly better lifetime compared to static sink case and random movement strategy.

Compared to large-scale renewable energy systems, distributed systems have diffused relatively slowly in recent years, particularly in developing countries. In this study, we analysed the barriers to the diffusion of distributed photovoltaics in South Africa by applying the technological innovation system framework. More specifically, we carried out an interview-based structural-functional analysis to identify underlying systemic problems, reveal their patterns of interaction, and analyse the implications of these patterns for the relationship among the key processes within the innovation system, the so-called system functions. We identified a variety of interlinked problems, shed light on the specific roles of different, mal-performing, system functions, and revealed constellations where specific functions blocked each other and, thereby, created lock-in situations. Although the findings reveal the complexity of the problems that are associated with the implementation of distributed energy technologies, they also indicate that these problems may be addressed successfully. Version of record

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have a larger battery and can replace a certain amount of conventional fossil fuels with grid electricity, which differs from the traditional hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). The application of the onboard electrical energy significantly influences the energy utilization efficiency and thus impacts the fuel economy. In this paper, the basic PHEV operation modes are defined as pure electric driving (PED), hybrid driving charge depleting (HDCD) and hybrid driving charge sustaining (HDCS) based on the battery state of charge (SoC) profile. For a plug-in hybrid electric bus (PHEB), three different energy management strategies, which are combined with two or three of the basic operation modes, are put forward and comparatively examined based on simulation models. If some trip information can be approximately known in advance such as the trip distance and the mean power demand, the PED + HDCD + HDCS strategy comprised optimally of the PED mode, the HDCD mode and the HDCS mode would be the best energy management strategy.

AbstractThe use of biomass in co‐combustion systems using fluidized bed technology is considered a viable alternative to reduce the emission of pollutants. The herein study presents an experimental analysis to determine the technical feasibility of using run‐of‐mine (ROM) coal and its waste combined with biomass in a combustor of bubbling fluidized bed in pilot scale. The proximate analysis, ultimate analysis, and heat values were performed to characterize the fuels, and the chemical composition of the gases was monitored. During the co‐combustion tests, it was observed that a lower mass flow rate of fuel was needed for mixtures of coal and biomass to reach the operating temperature of the bed when compared to other fuels. The results of the chemical analysis showed that the unburned material was less than 1% in the bottom ashes and less than 7.3% in the fly ashes. For all the performed tests, a SO2 removal efficiency of 75.8% was reached, and the results indicate that the gas can be used to generate other sulfur compounds. The combustion efficiency was found to be in the range of 91.8% and 96.6%, which demonstrates that co‐combustion of coal, its wastes, and biomass is a promising option for heat generation.

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.

To assess the sustainability of waste management scenario with energy recovery, it is necessary to carry out an adequate analysis of all influential criteria. The main problem in the analysis is to determine the indicators that clearly and fully sublimate the most important influential factors. The model for the assessment of the sustainability of waste treatment scenarios based on multi-criteria analysis AHP (analytic hierarchy process) method is developed. The model predicts an increase in the number of indicators, if it found that a selected number of indicators are not sufficient to distinguish between scenarios and new criterion for the selection of indicators: the relevance of the indicator for certain waste treatment. The model is verified in the case study the city of Nis. Four scenarios were selected and examined: business as usual scenario (landfilling of waste) and the other are created as scenarios with energy recovery and recourses preserving: composting organic waste with recycling inorganic waste, incineration of waste and anaerobic digestion of waste. The assessment of the sustainability of waste treatment scenarios was made in several steps. It is found that the best sustainable scenario is composting of organic and recycling of inorganic waste.