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Author Jamshidi, O.; Asadi, A.; Kalantari, K.; Movahhed Moghaddam, S.; Dadrass Javan, F.; Azadi, H.; Van Passel, S.; Witlox, F. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers toward climate change: evidence from Hamadan province in Iran Type A1 Journal Article
  Year 2020 Publication Climate And Development Abbreviated Journal Clim Dev  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages 1-11  
  Keywords A1 Journal Article; Adaptive capacity; cross sectional survey; socio-economic variables; adaptation strategies; Hamadan province; Engineering Management (ENM) ;  
  Abstract The global climate is changing, and farmers must increase their adaptive capacity to avoid negative impacts. This study aimed to examine the adaptive capacity of farmers’ household to tolerate climate changes and identify factors affecting the climate in Hamadan province, Iran. The adaptive capacity was evaluated quantitatively by using 23 indicators and was categorized into high, moderate, low, and very low adaptive capacity. The study was based on a cross sectional survey and was conducted with a random sample of 280 household farmers distributed in five counties of Hamadan province in the west of the country whose climatic data revealed signs of climate change. The result showed that farmers’ negative perception toward climate change generally increases during dry seasons and decreases when the precipitation and water resources are more available. Regarding the available information, only 15% of farmers had a high level of adaptive capacity, while 10% of them were highly adapted, and 27.5% showed a very low level of adaptive capacity. Adaptive capacity in the current study was influenced by some socio-economic variables including total farm size, irrigated farm size, number of agricultural land plots, and perception and knowledge of climate change.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000509193400001 Publication Date 2020-01-25  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1756-5529 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 2.051 Times cited Open Access  
  Notes The authors appreciate the comments of the anonymous reviewers and would like to thank them for their constructive feedback. Frank Witlox acknowledges funding received from the Estonian Research Council (PUT PRG306). Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number ENM @ enm @c:irua:166572 Serial 6378  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Larrain, M.; Van Passel, S.; Thomassen, G.; Kresovic, U.; Alderweireldt, N.; Moerman, E.; Billen, P. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Economic performance of pyrolysis of mixed plastic waste: Open-loop versus closed-loop recycling Type A1 Journal Article
  Year 2020 Publication Journal Of Cleaner Production Abbreviated Journal J Clean Prod  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages 122442  
  Keywords A1 Journal Article; Engineering Management (ENM) ;  
  Abstract In recent decades new recycling technologies for mixed plastic waste have emerged. In pyrolysis, the polymer chains are thermally broken (pyrolyzed) to obtain hydrocarbon materials of different molecular weights such as naphtha, oil or waxes, whose yields can be controlled by varying the reaction parameters. Naphtha represents a closed-loop recycling process as it is a feedstock for (poly)olefins; while the co-production of waxes, having several applications in e.g. the construction industry, exemplifies an open-loop recycling process. This paper compares the economic performance of the pyrolysis of mixed polyolefin waste in a closed-loop and open-loop scheme, including a probabilistic approach to the most important variables. From an economic perspective, open-loop pyrolysis as presented outperforms closed-loop recycling, due to the high prices of wax. However, the results present a high dispersion caused by the volatility of the prices of crude oil and its derivates. Considering the current oil price projections, our case study analysis showed that for open-loop recycling there is a future probability of almost a 98 % of observing positive results and around 57 % of probability in the case of closed-loop recycling, under the assumptions made. Yet, in a future scenario where decarbonized electricity would decrease oil prices, the probability of a positive outcome reduces to 57 % for the open-loop case and to less than 8 % in the case of closed-loop recycling. To make these pathways attractive to investors, the nameplate capacity should be at least 70 kt/year for open-loop recycling and 115 kt/year for closed-loop recycling. A 120 kt/year plant should operate minimally at 80 % of its capacity for open-loop recycling, while closed-loop recycling would demand running close to maximum capacity. Security of feedstock supply therefore is required.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000579071300078 Publication Date 2020-05-28  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0959-6526 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 11.1 Times cited Open Access  
  Notes This work was supported by the VLAIO Catalisti-ICON project MATTER (Mechanical and Thermochemical Recycling of mixed plastic waste; project HBC.2018.0262). Approved Most recent IF: 11.1; 2020 IF: 5.715  
  Call Number ENM @ enm @c:irua:170005 Serial 6385  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Larrain, M.; Van Passel, S.; Thomassen, G.; Kresovic, U.; Alderweireldt, N.; Moerman, E.; Billen, P. url  doi
openurl 
  Title Economic performance of pyrolysis of mixed plastic waste: Open-loop versus closed-loop recycling Type A1 Journal Article
  Year 2020 Publication Journal Of Cleaner Production Abbreviated Journal J Clean Prod  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages 122442  
  Keywords A1 Journal Article; Engineering Management (ENM) ;  
  Abstract In recent decades new recycling technologies for mixed plastic waste have emerged. In pyrolysis, the polymer chains are thermally broken (pyrolyzed) to obtain hydrocarbon materials of different molecular weights such as naphtha, oil or waxes, whose yields can be controlled by varying the reaction parameters. Naphtha represents a closed-loop recycling process as it is a feedstock for (poly)olefins; while the co-production of waxes, having several applications in e.g. the construction industry, exemplifies an open-loop recycling process. This paper compares the economic performance of the pyrolysis of mixed polyolefin waste in a closed-loop and open-loop scheme, including a probabilistic approach to the most important variables. From an economic perspective, open-loop pyrolysis as presented outperforms closed-loop recycling, due to the high prices of wax. However, the results present a high dispersion caused by the volatility of the prices of crude oil and its derivates. Considering the current oil price projections, our case study analysis showed that for open-loop recycling there is a future probability of almost a 98 % of observing positive results and around 57 % of probability in the case of closed-loop recycling, under the assumptions made. Yet, in a future scenario where decarbonized electricity would decrease oil prices, the probability of a positive outcome reduces to 57 % for the open-loop case and to less than 8 % in the case of closed-loop recycling. To make these pathways attractive to investors, the nameplate capacity should be at least 70 kt/year for open-loop recycling and 115 kt/year for closed-loop recycling. A 120 kt/year plant should operate minimally at 80 % of its capacity for open-loop recycling, while closed-loop recycling would demand running close to maximum capacity. Security of feedstock supply therefore is required.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000579071300078 Publication Date 2020-05-28  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0959-6526 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 11.1 Times cited Open Access  
  Notes This work was supported by the VLAIO Catalisti-ICON project MATTER (Mechanical and Thermochemical Recycling of mixed plastic waste; project HBC.2018.0262). Approved Most recent IF: 11.1; 2020 IF: 5.715  
  Call Number ENM @ enm @c:irua:170005 Serial 6386  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Peeters, M. openurl 
  Title The added value of Smart Product-Service Systems to real estate developments Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2021 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages 117 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Economics; Engineering Management (ENM); Internet Data Lab (IDLab)  
  Abstract Socially responsible investments can be defined as an investment process that integrates ethical values and environmental protection, improving social conditions, and good governance into a traditional investment decision. This integration is mainly a consequence of the growing importance that investors give to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria, resulting in more sustainable development. Also, in the real estate sector, increased attention is being paid to the contributions made to integrate economic, environmental, and social factors into decisions. The ESG framework looks closely at how companies are managed, and the impact related to their market value. The factors for investors’ focus are summarized as environmental, social, and governance. The term ESG was coined in a 2004 United Nations (UN) report titled “Who Cares Wins,” aimed at raising awareness regarding the importance of environmental, social, and corporate governance issues in financial markets. The ESG criteria’s specific purpose is to guide investors in recognizing sustainable investments without evaluating how sustainable the asset is or the investment value represented by sustainability. It is essential to underline that ESG does not take specific economic interests into account. The rationale behind this apparent gap is that investors investigate the economic aspects before investing. However, by not explicitly linking ESG and economic criteria, attractive investments are often misjudged and not implemented. For example, investments that only show their value in the longer term or indirectly influence value by achieving a higher retention rate among incumbent tenants, reducing or eliminating friction costs. A product–service system (PSS) refers to a market proposition (business model) that builds on a product’s traditional functionality by incorporating additional services. Although services are already offered, the PSS function is to link the service to a product. The service thereby supports the operation of the product and generates additional benefits. It encompasses the integrated solutions of products and services to satisfy customers' needs and generate maximum value. According to Sutanto et al., a PSS is designed to focus on sustainability characterized in three dimensions. 1. The economic dimension 2. The environmental dimension 3. The social dimension When discussing sustainability in this thesis, we use the criteria listed above related to socially responsible investments. The link between PSS and ESG is that a PSS focuses on creating a sustainable system, and ESG makes sustainability more visible to investors. Therefore, when PSS are recognized and implemented in buildings, they must be evaluated using ESG analysis methods. Product-Service Systems (PSS) try to find a way to offer services on top of a product. The product is essentially secondary to the result that is delivered from the services. For example, the modem (product) that a cable company provides will be of secondary importance to the connectivity (service). Alternatively, it will be less critical how heat is made (product) than the intended set point is achieved in the building. PSSs transform the supply of products into services. In doing so, the responsibility shifts from delivering a product (once only) to continuous service delivery. Therefore, it is in the best interest of the service provider to deliver the outcome of the service as efficiently (read: lowest cost) as possible. A direct consequence of this is that the service provider will want to use the product as efficiently as possible and as long as possible to reduce his costs. Therefore, the supplier will also want to recover and maximize the reuse of his product based on the same rationale. A positive impact on the environment and the used raw materials is thus to be expected. The whole process of servitization (transforming products into services) in real estate will positively impact the Economic, Environmental and Social factors. Therefore, demonstrating this proposition is the main objective of this thesis. Smart PSS is the same idea as Product-Service systems but in which the digitization of the services plays a key role. It will be shown that by digitizing services, a broader range can be offered. It will be demonstrated that products that provide services at the building level can, through their interconnectedness, also provide services to external systems (e.g. electricity grid, urban planning, mobility, ...). At the same time, digitizing the products and services will also underpin trust in the systems and allow for proper remuneration. In this PhD, different standard systems in a building, such as the reservation system, the water heater, or the fire detection system, are equipped with additional services. A PSS is often specifically designed to focus on economic, social, and environmental dimensions. These dimensions correspond to the investor’s examination as part of the ESG analysis before investing. As the PSS is often specifically designed to integrate sustainability, there is a close link between the sustainability performance of the PSS and the ESG criteria evaluated by the investor. Throughout the work, the owner is considered to be the user of the building. It is not the case that only an owner-user can generate cash flow. In essence, if they have sufficient rights to the underlying product, any building user can activate services that generate cash flow. In today's market, it is logical that this is viewed in the owner-user context as they will usually choose the products to be installed in larger technical installations. They may have previously used a PSS or choose to move to one. However, a building’s tenant could choose to lease out their meeting rooms if they are not contractually prohibited from doing so since, in practice, contracts have begun to prohibit certain services. For example, rental contracts that actively prohibit renting out a property through platforms such as Airbnb. Thus, the user’s function could potentially impact how the PSS is designed. This work does not explicitly explore the impact of this aspect. The owner-user is assumed throughout this manuscript. The second chapter describes the state of affairs concerning PSSs in a broad framework evolving towards focusing on the real estate sector. After which, in the second chapter, ESG and the link to real estate and how smart real estate (smart buildings) is missing from this evaluation are discussed in more detail. Chapter 3 shows from a fire alarm system, which was extended with an evacuation support system, the usefulness, and the risk of data. Further work was done to demonstrate the added value in terms of Economic, Environmental and Social factors of standard installations in buildings. In Chapter 4, a simple sanitary hot water boiler is extended with a service that allows controlling this boiler according to the status of the electricity grid (surplus or shortage of energy). The supply and demand of energy on the power grid must be equal at all times. By equipping a classic water heater (product) with additional intelligence (service), it becomes possible to adjust the energy use to the grid's needs. The grid operators are prepared to pay for this. This payment can be linked to different energy markets (long term market, spot market, ...). This study looked at the fee that would have to be paid when the adjustment of the energy use can be made instantaneously so that the fee must be settled according to the prices on the imbalance market. In chapter 5, we look at the impact of the service to rent out free spaces as co-working places on a broad market (external to the building), compared to a regular reservation system. By renting out unused workplaces on a broad market, the utilization of the existing patrimony will be higher. The demand for new square meters with the same function will decrease as the supply-demand curve changes, and so will the price. This makes it less interesting to build new buildings. Less construction of new buildings will result in fewer resources being used, which will positively affect the environment. In addition, fewer new buildings with an office function will leave more space for buildings with another function. Also, the city's infrastructure will be less burdened (roads, sewerage, electricity grid,...). In The Hague, the decreasing need for new square meters of office buildings can lead to more space for affordable housing, for which the city has a great need. Chapter 6 will frame the valuation of service as a real options method that gives an impetus to a general valuation methodology to value the flexibility that Smart PSS inherently has. Finally, this thesis demonstrates that (smart) PSSs impact real estate profitability, while positively influencing environmental and social factors. Further research and the limitations of the studies conducted are documented. This PhD concludes that Product-Service systems should break the silos between different stakeholders, resulting in a lower total cost of ownership of buildings in the longer term. This can only be achieved if the valuation of Product-Service systems is done correctly and is recognized by every stakeholder in the real estate process.  
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  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:183415 Serial 6912  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Saviuc, I. openurl 
  Title Assessment of electric residential microgrids in the EU context : role of energy storage, interactions with the main grid, and policy scenarios Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2021 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages 158 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Engineering Management (ENM)  
  Abstract As decentralized electricity generation plays an important role in the reform of the energy system in the EU, electric residential microgrids merit an assessment of their position and potential. The work on this dissertation focuses on the synergy between the development of microgrids that are powered by PV panels, and the adoption of energy storage, with the aim to identify shortcomings and propose solutions. Techno-economic assessment indicates that, for a microgrid that aims to maximize its self-consumption, the electricity pricing mechanisms that are current practice across the EU are detrimental to the economic viability of using energy storage. Case studies and simulations in Belgium, Greece, Denmark, Italy, Finland, Spain and Germany show conclusively how existing tariff structures (Net-Metering, Time-of-Use, Feed-in Tariff, with or without the option of a Capacity tariff) are suitable for stimulating renewable generation, but not storage. Another underlying reason that affects the economic viability of a residential microgrid in the current context relates to the technology losses, which cannot be compensated by electricity pricing mechanisms. Having established the need for a different approach in order to improve the economic viability of microgrids with storage, this work investigated whether a form of direct support to the microgrid operator can be envisioned. A cost-benefit analysis revealed that the benefits coming from decentralized energy generation toward the main electricity grid can be compared with the cost of including and operating energy storage, and therefore a direct support from the network operator and the public can be justified in order to attain the economic viability of a microgrid with storage. This way, the electricity network can benefit from an increased number of flexible, enriched microgrids within the system, the microgrid operators are incentivized to include energy storage, and the society contributes towards a sturdier energy supply with more engaged prosumers and less polluting emissions. Entrepreneurial diversity: a career motives’ perspective – Ilse D  
  Address  
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  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:177112 Serial 6915  
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Author Berihun, D.; Van Passel, S. pdf  url
doi  openurl
  Title Climate variability and macroeconomic output in Ethiopia : the analysis of nexus and impact via asymmetric autoregressive distributive lag cointegration method Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2021 Publication Environment, development and sustainability Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)  
  Abstract Ethiopia showed a rapid, yet, a none resilient economic growth much threatened by climate variability. In Ethiopia, the adverse effects of climate variability are stipulated among the significant factors constraining its economic development. There are relatively few studies about the adverse effects of climate variability on the Ethiopian macroeconomy. In this context, little is known about the exact effects of the ongoing climate variability on Ethiopian macroeconomic growth. This study intends to examine whether climate variability factors, for instance rainfall and temperature, have an effect on the macroeconomic output of Ethiopia. An asymmetric autoregressive distributive lag cointegration method is used to investigate time-series data for the years 1950-2014. Diagnostic tests show the relevance of the applied method and robustness of our results. The study finds climate variability affects Ethiopia's economic growth in the long run. Rainfall and temperature fluctuation induce significant negative impacts. A percentage annual temperature variability for instance decreases the Ethiopian annual gross domestic yield (GDP) up to 4.5 percent. In the short run, climate variability particularly rainfall and temperature changes also have a profound effect on Ethiopia's economic output. Within such confirmed climate change impacts, Ethiopia should carry out more on adapting and mitigating the impacts as it is presented on its climate-resilient economic growth policies and strategies. In spite of the policy contribution of the results, the study will motivate further research and will also serve as a benchmark for the coming Ethiopian studies.  
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  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000670722100001 Publication Date 2021-07-07  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1387-585x ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:179837 Serial 6917  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Esguerra, J.L. url  isbn
openurl 
  Title Developing strategies for improved economic performance and reduced climate impact of landfill mining in Europe Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2021 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages xiv, 99 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Economics; Engineering Management (ENM)  
  Abstract Landfill mining refers to the re-circulation of resources from the previously deposited wastes–integrating resource recovery with traditional site remediation. Several resources that can be recovered include scrap metals, combustibles, and inert materials. In addition, land can be recovered or landfill void space can be liberated for future wastes. At present, landfill mining is still an emerging concept with few project implementations. Consequently, the assessments of its economic and climate implications are case study-specific, limiting the understanding of its potential in a wider geographical scope. This thesis aims to assess the economic performance and climate impact of landfill mining in Europe towards the development of sound strategies for implementation. Different project setups are assessed in relation to varying factors at the site level such as waste composition and landfill settings, and at the system level such as policy and market conditions and background material and energy. In doing so, a factor-based method is developed and applied to generate multiple scenarios (531, 441 scenarios per project setup) and determine the underlying important factors and their interrelations that drive the results. Such understanding is used to develop and discuss strategies for improvement by addressing relevant questions for specific stakeholders, including project investors (i.e., which landfill sites to prioritize?), landfill mining practitioners (i.e., how to set up such projects?), and policymakers (i.e., which policy instruments can effectively support such projects?). Results show that landfill mining is preferable in terms of climate than economy. Possible improvements are shown by internalizing thermal treatment of combustibles and extending fines residue utilization as construction aggregates. In relation to the choice of project setups, preferable site and system-level conditions are identified in general but it is also discussed that the plausibility of finding such conditions may be difficult at present. This steers the development of more tailored strategies on what can be done now by the landfill practitioners in terms of setting up projects under current policy and market conditions in specific regions, or what can be done by the policymakers in terms of implementing various policy instruments that can drive such changes at the system level. Through this thesis, the future of landfill mining research is guided towards addressing key challenges and potential solutions for improvement. Furthermore, this thesis highlights the role of assessment as a tool for learning and guiding the development of emerging concepts such as landfill mining.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN 978-91-7929-056-6 Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:183155 Serial 6920  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Chekol Zewdie, M. isbn  openurl
  Title How irrigation water impacts Ethiopian agriculture : an applied economics study Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2021 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages xiv, 152 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Economics; Engineering Management (ENM)  
  Abstract In recent decades, as crop production has increased in many areas where irrigation projects have been implemented, the global agricultural development community has promoted irrigation investments. However, due to the disappointing performance of irrigation farming in developing countries, irrigation intervention in Africa South of the Sahara including Ethiopia is an issue of debate. Moreover, several gaps exist in the Ethiopian irrigation farming literature. For instance, evidence about the direct and indirect effects of irrigation water on agriculture is not well documented. The irrigation farming literature has not disentangled the indirect effects of having access to irrigation water from the direct effect and the indirect effects have been underrepresented. Furthermore, most previous studies have applied either a quantitative or qualitative approach and have relied only on revealed data as main type of methodology, making studies that combine qualitative and quantitative research and that use both stated and revealed data underrepresented. In this study, different approaches have been applied to investigate how irrigation water impacts Ethiopia agriculture with special attention being given to disentangling the direct and indirect effects of irrigation water on Ethiopian agriculture. Using a structural equation model, a stochastic production frontier approach, and a discrete choice experiment, I drew evidence regarding the direct and indirect effects of irrigation water on crop revenue of smallholder farmers, the technical efficiency of irrigation user farmers, and the farmers’ willingness to pay to improve poor irrigation schemes from field observations, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with farmers, and key informant interviews with the local agricultural agents from the Koga and Fogera Districts of Amhara Region Ethiopia. The results indicate that irrigation water in general has both direct and indirect positive effects on agriculture, and the indirect effect is mediated by both improved farm inputs and the type of crops produced. The results also show that – due to poor extension services and backward agronomic practices, the mean technical efficiency of farmers in Ethiopia is very low, and that large-scale irrigation users are less technically efficient than small-scale irrigation users. Moreover, the results show that improving irrigation schemes shifts the frontier up, and smallholder farmers are strongly willing to contribute financially to the maintenance costs of irrigation schemes. The results offer relevant lessons for policymakers that providing irrigation water supply must be embedded in a comprehensive support package including access to extension services, improved input supply, and access to stable markets.  
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  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN 978-90-5728-700-8 Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:180816 Serial 6928  
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Author De Weerdt, L. file  openurl
  Title An inquiry into the market acceptance of circular plastics Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2021 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages xii, 154 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Engineering Management (ENM)  
  Abstract Closing material loops and reducing resource extraction is considered to be the foundation of the circular economy that delivers environmental gains. Today, certain materials with large environmental impacts, such as plastics, are placed high on the circularity agenda. In this thesis, the market acceptance of circular plastics is analyzed. Firstly, the current – mostly linear – market for plastics in the European Union is analyzed. We find that market failure and uncertainties lead to postponed and scaled down private investments in recycling facilities for plastics. As a consequence, we conclude the failing and uncertain market needs government intervention. Secondly, potential government interventions that alleviate the market failure and reduce the present uncertainties are analyzed. Government intervention can be either incentive-based or regulatory-based. The Flemish government already acts as an incentivizer. For more than two decades already, a tax is levied on the incineration of plastic waste. We find that this tax reduces industrial plastic waste generation, but fails to elicit investments in recycling facilities. Regulatory-based policies are expected to gain in importance in the pursuit of a circular economy. Indeed, in the European Commission’s latest circularity action plan, a policy to mandate the use of recycled plastics is signaled. Mandating the use of recycled plastics can enable the circularity of plastics effectively. However, it would also generate a shock wave on the market, especially because, i.a. the implementation time of such a policy is uncertain. We investigate how firms can invest optimally in the use of recycled plastics under the presence of policy uncertainty. We conclude that the European market will be able to successfully adopt circular plastics. However, stimulating policies, both incentive-based and regulatory-based, turn out to be essential in this adoption process. Therefore, there will be a need for a combination of policies in order to prevent the incessant mass single-use consumption of plastics, which harms the environment.  
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  Corporate Author Thesis  
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  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:178913 Serial 6930  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Saviuc, I.; Van Passel, S.; Peremans, H. doi  isbn
openurl 
  Title Integrating PV+battery residential microgrids in distribution networks : how is the point of common coupling agreed upon? Type H1 Book chapter
  Year 2020 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages 150-164  
  Keywords H1 Book chapter; Economics; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)  
  Abstract The anticipated development of decentralized electricity generation is expected to strengthen the opportunities of prosumers in the residential areas of cities, in line with the predicted establishment of renewable energy generation and storage. Based on academic research and on successful case studies, the opportunity for residential prosumers to organize in microgrids emerges as a viable and promising solution. This paper focuses on microgrids that are planned to generate electricity with a PV unit and use a shared storage system, and that opt to have a connection with the main grid. However, the point of common coupling needs to be agreed first between the microgrid operator and the network operator, and this agreement is determined by several factors and conditions beyond the basic technical and regulatory requirements. A survey of academic literature on the determinant factors for such an agreement exposes the fact that current research either focuses on the integration of individual prosumers in the main grid, or regards the point of common coupling as a given component of microgrids. We argue that neither of the two approaches is helpful in the case of microgrids vs. main grid, seeing as the agreement is not self-evident under just any circumstances, nor can the microgrid be equated to a single, large prosumer. Therefore this short paper compiles a set of determinant factors for the microgrid integration, as they emerge from academic literature, with the aim to document further research needs and support the discussion on microgrid integration.  
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  Language Wos Publication Date 2020-04-08  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title Sustainable Energy for Smart Cities : First EAI International Conference, SESC 2019, Braga, Portugal, December 4–6, 2019: proceedings  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN 978-3-030-45693-1 Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:168515 Serial 6932  
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Author Vicca, S.; Crabbé, A.; Van Passel, S. openurl 
  Title Is het coronavirus goed nieuws voor het klimaat? = Is the coronavirus good news for the climate? Type Newspaper/Magazine/blog article
  Year 2020 Publication globalchangeecology.blog Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages  
  Keywords Newspaper/Magazine/blog article; Sociology; Economics; Engineering Management (ENM); Plant and Ecosystems (PLECO) – Ecology in a time of change; Centre for Research on Environmental and Social Change  
  Abstract  
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  Corporate Author Thesis  
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  Language Wos https://www.scientists4climate.be/is-the-coronavirus-good-news-for-the-climate/ Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record; https://www.scientists4climate.be/is-the-coronavirus-good-news-for-the-climate/; https://globalchangeecology.blog/2020/04/03/is-het-coronavirus-goed-nieuws-voor-het-klimaat/  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:168299 Serial 6934  
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Author Einhäupl, P. openurl 
  Title Landfill mining : implementing the missing link to a circular economy: an evaluation of the societal sustainability Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2021 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages xxiii, 216 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Economics; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)  
  Abstract One of the main objectives of implementing a circular economy system is the reuse and recycling of resources. Closing material cycles and renewable-based electricity and fuel production are essential to such systems. To achieve a high degree of circularity, waste streams have to be rethought and integrated from a cradle-to-grave to a cradle-to-cradle approach. However, today’s circular economy strategies mostly focus on current waste streams, while past waste streams, buried in landfills, could play an important role when recovering resources and energy. Hence, a well-thought-out circular economy strategy should include the re-integration of past waste streams. A grave-to-cradle approach is needed. Landfill mining (LFM), i.e. the excavation and processing of formerly buried waste to energy and materials, aims at utilizing these past waste streams. Doing so could bear potential economic, environmental, and societal burdens and benefits. Originating from landfill remediation projects, landfill mining has been further developed towards resource recovery. Today, using up-to-date technologies and following the most stringent environmental and social criteria, the concept is also known as enhanced landfill mining (ELFM). Throughout the relevant scientific literature, most attention is given to advances in technological development for (E)LFM, as well as its techno-economic and environmental assessment. Societal assessments of LFM projects are rare and treat societal impacts only selectively or from unilateral societal perspectives. If stakeholders are included in societal (E)LFM assessments, only industrial actors, like landfill operators, and governmental actors are asked to participate. A holistic stakeholder assessment for (E)LFM is missing. Moreover, the diverse societal impacts – ranging from socio-environmental benefits through the mitigation of health risks, over socio-economic benefits through land reclamation, and social benefits through community engagement, for example – are either only studied selectively or evaluated as one, entangling various societal effects. A holistic and specific assessment of societal factors affecting (E)LFM implementation is also missing. This thesis uses an anticipatory approach to tackle these challenges. This approach aims to integrate stakeholder values and include uncertainty through the use of multiple social perspectives and prospective modeling tools. In-depth interviews were conducted to develop a typology of (E)LFM stakeholders and to elicit the most important stakeholder needs. Stakeholders were selected along an extended quadruple helix framework, including industrial, institutional, scientific, and community actors. Furthermore, using system dynamics tools, namely causal loop diagrams, societal systems of (E)LFM could be visualized and analyzed. Finally, a discrete choice experiment was conducted to evaluate a set of societal factors representing the conversion of a landfill into a public park for recreational use. The in-depth interviews included landfill operators, technology providers and incubators, local governments and governmental institutions, as well as researchers and community members. To structure the diverse perspectives of stakeholders on (E)LFM, five stakeholder archetypes were developed: The Entrepreneur, the Engaged Citizen, the Visionary, the Technology Enthusiast, and the Skeptic. The archetypes capture important characteristics and opinions approaching (E)LFM implementation. They differ in risk perceptions, knowledge base, influence on (E)LFM’s systemic and project implementation, and their main concerns and motivations. Furthermore, 18 stakeholder needs were derived from the interviews. This includes societal, environmental, regulatory, and techno-economic needs. The needs are put in relation to the affected stakeholders and sustainability dimensions. Uncertainties that could potentially be reduced through the fulfillment of each need are qualitatively assessed. Quantitatively, stakeholders were focusing on societal, regulatory, and techno-economic needs, whereas qualitative emphasis was given to environmental needs, especially the avoidance of impacts from primary resource production. When meeting stakeholder needs fairly, intra- and inter-dimensional trade-offs have to be considered as different perspectives can lead to different and sometimes contradicting implications for (E)LFM implementation. To conceptualize societal systems of (E)LFM, causal loop diagrams were developed following system dynamics methodology. The visualizations show how (E)LFM is embedded in its societal context. Variables comprising the societal impact were analyzed, and mechanisms affecting the public project acceptance and the market acceptance of (E)LFM products worked out. Leverage points were identified, helping (E)LFM practitioners and policymakers to minimize potential risks and maximize potential benefits. To these count technological choices, stakeholder involvement, the after-use, quality standards, and LFM regulation in general, amongst others. To disentangle and evaluate societal impacts of (E)LFM, a discrete choice experiment was conducted deriving the utility of five distinct attributes: the size of a landfill, the project duration, job creation, disamenities, and climate impacts. To determine the willingness to pay, perform scenario analysis, and model policy simulations, a sixth attribute was added representing a cost factor for project implementation. Environmental considerations are most important to the sample, while project duration and disamenities also play a significant role. The scenario analysis and policy simulations show that taxing households for (E)LFM implementation is a viable option, especially for environmentally beneficial projects. Nonetheless, a favorable combination of the remaining attributes can compensate utility losses for environmentally questionable projects. As risks of classical landfill management practices are likely to grow with an updated evaluation of after-care periods lasting up to 100 years and more, positive effects of (E)LFM become even more noteworthy. Nonetheless, (E)LFM projects also pose potential risks like groundwater contamination or the reintroduction of hazardous materials. If executed poorly, (E)LFM projects could potentially do more harm than good. A mix of policy measures is recommended to push a major part of potential (E)LFM projects from being environmentally beneficial and economically inefficient to being societally, environmentally, and economically favorable. Overall, more research is necessary to integrate (E)LFM into circular economy strategies and build a sensible grave-to-cradle approach.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:181007 Serial 6935  
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Author Annys, S.; Van Passel, S.; Dessein, J.; Ghebreyohannes, T.; Adgo, E.; Nyssen, J. pdf  doi
openurl 
  Title Small-scale irrigation expansion along the dam-regulated Tekeze River in Northern Ethiopia Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2020 Publication International Journal Of Water Resources Development Abbreviated Journal Int J Water Resour D  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages 1-22  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering Management (ENM)  
  Abstract Based on extensive field information, farmer-led small-scale irrigation systems along the dam-regulated Tekeze River is investigated and the likelihood of future irrigation expansion within the area with modelled potential is discussed, considering facilitating and hampering factors. Due to dam-induced hydrologic alterations, downstream socio-ecological systems have strongly transformed as the irrigated area has quadrupled and the post-dam potential for perennial crop cultivation has attracted numerous migrant investors to the area, inducing inequalities but also providing opportunities. Future dam construction should involve tailored policy interventions to facilitate irrigation expansion, while safeguarding equal and sustainable access to water and land.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000569995600001 Publication Date 2020-09-16  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0790-0627 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles  
  Impact Factor 3.1 Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.1; 2020 IF: 2.088  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:171952 Serial 6943  
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Author Admasu, W.F. openurl 
  Title Socioeconomic and environmental impact of expropriation of agricultural land for urbanisation in Ethiopia Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2021 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages 162 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Engineering Management (ENM)  
  Abstract Globally, incorporation of agricultural lands into the urban boundary has been a common phenomenon. Governments use various alternatives to access the required land, including land expropriation procedures, which refers to the compulsorily taking of land from the landholders without their consent by paying compensation. In Ethiopia, the urban population is growing rapidly which resulted into an increase in the demand for urban land for housing construction, public services provision, and infrastructure developments. As the Ethiopian constitution prohibits sale of landholders, governments, at various levels, have been expropriating land from the surrounding farmers to meet the demand for urban land. The general objective of this thesis is to improve the understanding of the impacts of local land deals for urbanization on socioeconomics of farmers and the environment. The findings of this thesis revealed that there are gaps in the current practices of land expropriation for urban expansion that should be improved. The results showed that the compensation paid to the affected farmers is found to be economically inappropriate, i.e., not enough to restore the affected farmers’ livelihoods, in contrast with the land laws that allows a compensation amount that would put previous land users in a better or the same wellbeing as before the land expropriation. In addition, it is indicated that the land expropriation process does not take into account the value of ecosystem services, which are benefits obtain from the land, and important for the wellbeing of the society. We conclude that while land expropriation is an important tool to obtain land from the landholders when it is needed for public purposes, the practices in the study area show it is adversely affecting the socioeconomics of farmers and the environment.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:177909 Serial 6944  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Van Schoubroeck, S. url  openurl
  Title A techno-sustainability assessment framework : indicator selection and integrated method for sustainability analysis of biobased chemicals Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2020 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages 195 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Engineering Management (ENM)  
  Abstract Biobased chemistry has gained interest and has the potential to tackle some of the sustainability challenges the chemical industry must endure. Sustainability impacts need to be evaluated and monitored to highlight the advantages and pitfalls of different biobased routes over the product life cycle. A better understanding of the potential sustainability of emerging biobased technologies and products is essential to guide additional research and further technology development. This PhD thesis aims to develop a framework for a techno-sustainability assessment (TSA), while accounting for technological as well as economic, environmental, and social aspects in an integrated approach. First, a review of the state-of-the-art sustainability indicators for biobased chemicals was conducted and a gap analysis was performed to identify indicator development needs. Afterwards, a Delphi study was performed to select sustainability indicators specifically for biobased chemical assessment and to reach consensus among experts on a prioritization of these indicators. Next, the selected sustainability indicators were quantified while integrating technological and country-specific data with environmental characterization factors, economic values and social data. Finally, a stochastic, hierarchical multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) integrates the independent techno-sustainability indicators expressed in different units, taking into account stochastic and flexible method options. The developed integrated TSA framework was applied to a case for which a production and harvesting plant of microalgae-based food colorants is assessed. The final aim of the integrated TSA is to compare the potential sustainability performance of different scenarios and to make better-informed choices between alternatives by evaluating environmental, economic and social sustainability impacts in one holistic model. Integrated TSA offers a novel framework where decision makers can assess sustainability already in early technology development stages by identifying potential hurdles and opportunities to guide R&D and make sustainable investment decisions.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:174826 Serial 6947  
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Author Bjørnåvold, A. isbn  openurl
  Title Unlocking lock-in : accelerating socio-technical transitions to sustainability Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2021 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages 189 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Linguistics; Engineering Management (ENM)  
  Abstract Achieving global sustainability goals will require cleaner and cheaper technologies. Public policy is central to achieving these goals and, in turn, ensuring a quicker pace of change. A major obstacle lies in the fact that technologies cannot be considered isolated entities: they are embedded in a powerful social context of cultural, organisational and institutional systems. This intertwining of different elements is referred to as a socio-technical system. This thesis discusses how socio-technical systems have, over time, allowed locked-in configurations to emerge, referring to a combination of systematic forces that perpetuate unsustainable infrastructures embedded in society. Such lock-ins can inhibit innovation and competitiveness of low-carbon and sustainable technologies, and this thesis looks to concrete solutions for unlocking them. Vital to this objective lies better understanding preferences, intentions, and behaviour of actors involved at each stage of technological development to improve public policy design. A discrete choice experiment – a quantitative non-market valuation method – was, therefore, a core method used to model preferences of key target groups. Target groups considered in the four components of the thesis include i) industry players, ii) policymakers, iii) farmers, and iv) the general public in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. The thesis seeks to establish how both economic and regulatory instruments can be leveraged to overcome lock-in. One conclusion sees that implementing an efficient environmental tax regime – an economic instrument – requires balancing political feasibility and public acceptance considerations in line with tax and environmental policy. Results indicate that public acceptance for environmental taxation increases with earmarking. Another conclusion highlights the importance of taking behavioural and habitual considerations into account – both when considering policymakers’ investment decisions, and farmers’ decisions to adopting agro-ecological practices when responding to regulatory instruments. Overall, policy design should emphasise a more continuous and systemic approach to innovation and technology policy on the road to accelerating socio-technical transitions to sustainability.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN 978-90-5728-692-6 Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:179247 Serial 6949  
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Author Grangeiro de Barros, A.; Devroede, R.; Vanlanduit, S.; Vuye, C.; Kampen, J.K. url  openurl
  Title Acoustic simulation of noise barriers and prediction of annoyance for local residents Type P1 Proceeding
  Year 2021 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages 1-8  
  Keywords P1 Proceeding; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM); Condensed Matter Theory (CMT); Energy and Materials in Infrastructure and Buildings (EMIB); Social Epidemiology & Health Policy (SEHPO)  
  Abstract Road traffic is the most widespread environmental noise source in Europe, proven to affect human health and well-being adversely. Noise barriers can be a very effective way to objectively reduce the noise levels to which the population is exposed, leading to positive effects on noise perception and quality of life. In this paper, surveys were used to assess subjective noise level indicators (annoyance and quality of life) from residents of the vicinity of a highway where obsolete noise barriers were to be replaced. %HA before the barrier replacement was measured from the surveys (26.8%) and estimated based on the acoustic simulation and two existing exposure/response relationships (14.6 and 18.8% before and 13.6 and 8.3% after). The difference in the measured %HA to those calculated from the ERRs shows that those models might not estimate %HA fairly for small samples or particular situations where high Lden is reported. Noise annoyance correlated differently with the quality of life indicators: a weak link was observed with health problems, while a strong correlation was found with the comfort level to perform activities outdoors. Objective noise measurements gave LA,eq,(15 min.) reductions of 4.1dB(A) due to the new barrier, while in acoustics models, calculated as Lday, expected this reduction to be 5.2 dB(A). After replacing the noise barriers, a second survey could still not be distributed due to the unknown effect of the COVID-19 measures that are still active  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 978-83-7880-799-5 ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:181057 Serial 6969  
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Author de Barros, A.G.; Hasheminejad, N.; Kampen, J.K.; Vanlanduit, S.; Vuye, C. file  openurl
  Title Noise barriers as a road traffic noise intervention in an urban environment Type P1 Proceeding
  Year 2021 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages 1-10  
  Keywords P1 Proceeding; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM); Condensed Matter Theory (CMT); Energy and Materials in Infrastructure and Buildings (EMIB); Social Epidemiology & Health Policy (SEHPO)  
  Abstract Intending to tackle road traffic noise in urban environments, noise barriers have been proven to effectively reduce environmental noise levels, leading to positive effects on noise perception by the exposed population. This work assesses the impacts of replacing an obsolete noise barrier in a site near a highway. The effects of this change were monitored via a combination of field surveys, acoustic measurements and noise maps. The results have shown that even though the barrier replacement led to a 4.1 dB reduction in the LA,eq,(15 min.), the annoyance levels of the respondents increased. Possibly, the expectations regarding the improvement of the noise barrier were not met, after a history of complaints. Additionally, existing exposure-response relationships were not successful in predicting the annoyance levels in this particular case. In this dataset, noise annoyance presented a weak link with reported health problems, while a strong correlation was found with the comfort level to perform activities outdoors. Questions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic showed that even though the respondents were spending more time at home, they were less annoyed due to road traffic noise in the period when circulation restrictions were in place.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 978-989-53387-0-2 ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:180105 Serial 7004  
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Author Motamedi, J.; Azadi, H.; Alijanpour, A.; Shafiei, A.B.; Sheidai-Karkaj, E.; Mofidi-Chelan, M.; Moghaddam, S.M.; Van Passel, S.; Witlox, F. pdf  doi
openurl 
  Title Economic indices of by-products utilization and forage production in semi-arid rangelands Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2022 Publication Journal Of Environmental Planning And Management Abbreviated Journal J Environ Plann Man  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages 1-29  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Sociology; Law; Engineering Management (ENM)  
  Abstract One of the most basic criteria in documenting rangeland use prospects is the recognition of byproducts and their economic appraisal. The current study was conducted to assess the economic indices of exploiting byproduct production in Shahindej, Northwest Iran. For this purpose, 24 by-product-generating species were selected in 114 locations that belong to 49 rangeland units. The total expected value of 24 by-product generating species yield and forage production was calculated at 44.22 USD ha(-1). The results of this study showed that the sustainability of natural resources depends on the effective participation and empowerment of local communities. Furthermore, by-product exploitation contributes significantly to the local economy and employment while also reducing grazing intensity. Overall, the findings of this study show that by-product earnings should be considered in range management schemes and comprehensive natural-area management.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000830614200001 Publication Date 2022-07-26  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0964-0568 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record  
  Impact Factor 1.56 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:189725 Serial 7355  
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Author Naderi Mahdei, K.; Esfahani, S.M.J.; Lebailly, P.; Dogot, T.; Van Passel, S.; Azadi, H. pdf  doi
openurl 
  Title Environmental impact assessment and efficiency of cotton : the case of Northeast Iran Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2022 Publication Environment, development and sustainability Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages 1-21  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)  
  Abstract Cotton is one of the important crops that play an important role in creating a livelihood for rural people in many parts of Iran. Cotton production necessitates a large amount of resources (e.g., fossil energy and agrochemicals, all of which have the potential to damage the environment in various ways). The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the environmental effects of cotton production in the South Khorasan Province of Iran. For this purpose, life cycle assessment (LCA) and data envelopment analysis (DEA) techniques have been applied to investigate the environmental impacts of cotton production. LCA is a practical method to evaluate the environment on the product flow, in which all aspects of the product life cycle are examined by a comprehensive approach. Furthermore, combining the LCA method with other managerial strategies such as DEA could allow researchers to provide decision-makers with more practical and interpretable data. The findings of the efficiency test showed that the average technical efficiency, pure technical efficiency, and scale efficiency were 0.81, 0.92, and 0.87, respectively. Respiratory inorganics (i.e., respiratory effects resulting from winter smog caused by emissions of dust, sulfur, and nitrogen oxides to air) posed the greatest environmental burden in cotton production, followed by non-renewable energy, carcinogens, and global warming. In addition, the highest effects were on human health, and then, on resources and climate change. Energy, on-system pollution, and waste played a crucial role in the environmental impacts of cotton processing. This study suggests improving farmers' knowledge toward the optimum application of chemical fertilizers, or their substitution with green fertilizers, which reduces the environmental effect of growing cotton in the area.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000826851400001 Publication Date 2022-07-18  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1387-585x; 1573-2975 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record  
  Impact Factor 4.9 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.9  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:189630 Serial 7356  
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Author Admasu, W.F.; Van Passel, S.; Minale, A.S.; Tsegaye, E.A.; Nyssen, J. pdf  doi
openurl 
  Title Nexus between land development and the value of ecosystem services in Ethiopia : a contingent valuation study Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication ENVIRONMENT DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages 1-21  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)  
  Abstract In Ethiopia, the state owns all lands within the territory of the country. Cities are incorporating large parcels of land from their surrounding rural agricultural areas through land expropriation. However, these land developments do not consider the nonmarket value of ecosystem services (ES), which is causing a deterioration of the existing ES and reduction on the potential supply of ES from agricultural land. The aim of this study was to estimate the monetary value of nonmarketable ES from the agricultural land using a double-bounded dichotomous choice contingent valuation method. A survey of 524 smallholder farmers was conducted. In the survey, respondents were asked to state their willingness to pay for the improvement of some of the nonmarketable ES: erosion control, air and climate regulation, water regulation, and soil fertility. The estimation was carried out using a bivariate probit model. The results revealed that farmers are willing to pay on average 276 ETB (7.9 USD) per hectare per year for a period of 10 years. We found that individual characteristics such as age, family size, and a recent land expropriation experience adversely affect the willingness to pay by the farmers. On the other hand, individuals with higher income and larger land size are willing to pay more. In general, the study indicated that the nonmarket ES, which are affected by the land expropriation for urban expansion, are valuable for the farmers. Therefore, we recommend that the government consider the value of nonmarketable ES in its land use decisions and hence achieve sustainable land development.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 000907898700002 Publication Date 2023-01-05  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 1387-585x; 1573-2975 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record  
  Impact Factor 4.9 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access: Available from 05.01.2024  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.9; 2023 IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:193432 Serial 7363  
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Author Larraín, M. openurl 
  Title Recycling of plastics : linking technical, economic and policy aspects of post-consumer plastic packaging Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2022 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages x, 165 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM); Intelligence in PRocesses, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS)  
  Abstract The rise in plastic packaging production and disposal has encouraged the progress of recycling technologies and aroused policy discussion on how to increase recycling rates. However, the effect that these policy instruments will have on the development of the different recycling technologies has not been studied holistically yet. This dissertation explores how new and existing technologies will behave under the market and policy conditions observed at present and after the implementation of the policy instruments that are under discussion. The technologies that are analyzed in this thesis are mechanical recycling and thermochemical recycling of post-consumer polyolefin waste. Using a techno-economic assessment that takes into account the physical properties of the different plastic fractions and their contamination level, the study shows that both mechanical and thermochemical recycling can be profitable if oil prices remain steady or increase. Specifically, mechanical recycling will show better results than thermochemical recycling for plastic fractions with low contamination levels. On the contrary, thermochemical recycling is more profitable for fractions with a higher contamination level from which high-quality products cannot be obtained with mechanical recycling, such as PE films. Moreover, it demonstrates that besides the oil prices and sorted waste prices, waste purity and the plant capacity are the variables that influence more the net present value of thermochemical recycling and the labor cost and waste purity the ones of mechanical recycling. The thesis explores the dynamics between the stakeholders of the circular value chain and predicts the recycling rates under the implementation of several policy instruments. This is done with a supply chain equilibrium model, based on the extended producer responsibility scheme implemented in Flanders, that uses as an input the cost structures of mechanical and thermochemical recycling obtained from the techno-economic assessments. Direct interventions like recycled content standards, can decouple the recycling industry from the oil market, but in the long term, they may not present incentives to achieve recycling levels beyond the targeted amounts and thus limit technological innovation. On the contrary, economic interventions such as taxes, create economic incentives for recycling and allow fund collection from the government but leave the recycled levels dependent on external markets. Results also show that higher recycling rates does not necessarily mean better environmental performance. Therefore, when designing circular economy policies, policymakers should carefully analyze whether the intention is to increase circularity or improve the sustainability of the value chains.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191730 Serial 7366  
Permanent link to this record
 

 
Author Tschulkow, M. openurl 
  Title A techno-environmental economic assessment of a lignin-first biorefinery : a dynamic and prospective framework for emerging technologies Type Doctoral thesis
  Year 2022 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages 175 p.  
  Keywords Doctoral thesis; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)  
  Abstract Novel emerging biorefinery technologies have gained interest and have the potential to tackle several sustainability challenges in our society. A lignin-first biorefinery process – reductive catalytic fractionation (RCF) – is currently under development with the aim to process wood into high-value end-products that replace highly polluting fossil oil-based products. However, such emerging technologies are not matured yet, holding a certain degree of technological, economic, and environmental uncertainty. Hence, an appropriate assessment method is required to assess techno-economic feasibility and environmental impacts of emerging uncertain technologies (e.g lignin-first RCF process). This dissertation aims to develop an integrated techno-environmental economic assessment framework to assess emerging technologies dynamically and prospectively from economic and environmental points of view. First, a techno-economic assessment (TEA) is performed to assess the economic feasibility and the most influential economic and technological parameters of the lignin-first RCF biorefinery taking the whole wood value chain into account. By making the relations across the wood value chain, the scale of the biorefinery, wood species, and output prices highly determine the economic feasibility. The economic feasibility can be reached by a sufficient capacity level which depends on wood species-specific conditions. Also, waste wood proves to be the most profitable feedstock in comparison to virgin wood. Second, an analytical real options analysis (ROA) is performed taking two correlated market uncertainties and the value of flexibility into account to identify the optimal investment decision in an RCF biorefinery. Two different investment options, separated and united investments in harvesting equipment and RCF biorefinery, are analyzed. In both scenarios, market uncertainty postpones the investment. When both investment decisions are united, the probability of investment increases in comparison to separated investments. The study reveals that RCF has the potential to stimulate investments within the wood value chain. Third, a consequential life cycle assessment (LCA) is performed to assess the carbon emissions and the environmental consequences of the lignin-first RCF process and its products. The study reveals that at the current stage RCF products have higher carbon emissions than their alternative counterparts. Several options to improve the environmental performance are discussed such as different RCF technology configurations, targeting different RCF products with the ability to replace higher polluting alternative counterparts on the markets. Other discussion points such as transportation type and the distance, (in-)direct land-use change, the use stage and disposal stages implications, and a more comprehensive environmental view of the RCF products, show the potential to improve the environmental performance of the RCF technology. Overall, the study shows that the RCF process can be environmentally desirable if the appropriate RCF configuration and products are chosen. Finally, the above-mentioned methods – techno-economic assessment, analytical real options analysis, and consequential life cycle assessment – are uniquely integrated within the newly developed integrated assessment framework. The framework has the aim to complement the shortcomings and combine the advantages of all three methods. The framework assesses emerging technologies to give predictive insights about the time-specific economic and environmental performance under the newly developed three threshold conditions: technological readiness, economic feasibility, and environmental desirability. The developed integrated assessment framework assesses dynamically and prospectively the RCF biorefinery implementation under Belgian conditions. It reveals that the economic feasibility increases and carbon emissions decrease over time. The RCF biorefinery fulfills all three threshold conditions – technological readiness, economic feasibility, and environmental desirability – consecutively. The newly developed integrated assessment framework offers decision support to several stakeholders of emerging technologies starting from low technology readiness level (TRL). Practitioners such as the technology developers, researchers, and policymakers can use the framework to evaluate emerging technologies that deal with high levels of technological, economic, and environmental uncertainties. The framework assesses emerging technologies on a detailed level to give decision-makers in-depth insights into the intertwined nature of the technological, economic, and environmental dimensions. It offers insights into the expected time-specific economic and environmental performances, potential, and challenges of the emerging technology to further improve the technology and direct R&Ds along the right path.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:188968 Serial 7369  
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Author Reniers, G.L.L.; Sörensen, K.; Vrancken, K. isbn  openurl
  Title Conclusions and recommendations Type H1 Book chapter
  Year 2013 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages 265-268 T2 - Management principles of sustainable  
  Keywords H1 Book chapter; Engineering Management (ENM); Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN 9783527649488 Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:107610 Serial 7723  
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Author Reniers, G.L.L.; Sörensen, K.; Vrancken, K. isbn  openurl
  Title Editorial introduction Type H1 Book chapter
  Year 2013 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages 1-6 T2 - Management principles of sustainable indu  
  Keywords H1 Book chapter; Engineering Management (ENM); Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN 9783527649488 Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:107601 Serial 7833  
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Author Reniers, G.; Sörensen, K.; Vrancken, K. openurl 
  Title Management principles of sustainable industrial chemistry Type P3 Proceeding
  Year 2012 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages  
  Keywords P3 Proceeding; Economics; Engineering Management (ENM); Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:97648 Serial 8197  
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Author Reniers, G.; Sörensen, K.; Vrancken, K. doi  isbn
openurl 
  Title Management principles of sustainable industrial chemistry : theories, concepts and industrial examples for achieving sustainable chemical products and processes from a non-technological viewpoint Type ME1 Book as editor or co-editor
  Year 2013 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages 274 p.  
  Keywords ME1 Book as editor or co-editor; Economics; Engineering Management (ENM); Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos Publication Date 2013-03-14  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN 978-3-527-33099-7; 978-3-527-64948-8 Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:106565 Serial 8198  
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Author Reniers, G.; Sörensen, K.; Vrancken, K. doi  isbn
openurl 
  Title Sustainable industrial chemistry from a nontechnological viewpoint Type H1 Book chapter
  Year 2013 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages 33-41 T2 - Management principles of sustainable in  
  Keywords H1 Book chapter; Economics; Engineering Management (ENM); Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL)  
  Abstract  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos Publication Date 2013-03-14  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN 9783527330997; 9783527649488 Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:106566 Serial 8629  
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Author Wittner, N.; Vasilakou, K.; Broos, W.; Vlaeminck, S.E.; Nimmegeers, P.; Cornet, I. pdf  doi
openurl 
  Title Investigating the technical and economic potential of solid-state fungal pretreatment at nonsterile conditions for sugar production from poplar wood Type A1 Journal article
  Year 2023 Publication Industrial and engineering chemistry research Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages 1-11  
  Keywords A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM); Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology (DuEL); Biochemical Wastewater Valorization & Engineering (BioWaVE); Intelligence in PRocesses, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS)  
  Abstract Pretreatment is crucial for the conversion of lignocellulose to biofuels. Unlike conventional chemical/physicochemical methods, fungal pretreatment uses white-rot fungi and mild reaction conditions. However, challenges, including substrate sterilization, long duration, and low sugar yields associated with this method, contribute to lower techno-economic performance, an aspect that has rarely been investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of fungal pretreatment of nonsterilized poplar wood. Various factors, including inoculum types, fermentation supplements, and cultivation methods, were investigated to optimize the process. A techno-economic assessment of the optimized processes was performed at a full biorefinery scale. The scenario using nonsterilized wood as a substrate, precolonized wood as an inoculum, and a 4 week pretreatment showed a 14.5% reduction in sugar production costs (€2.15/kg) compared to using sterilized wood. Although the evaluation of nonsterilized wood pretreatment showed promising cost reductions, fungal pretreatment remained more expensive than conventional methods due to the significant capital investment required.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos 001102138000001 Publication Date 2023-10-25  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN 0888-5885; 1520-5045 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record  
  Impact Factor 4.2 Times cited Open Access Not_Open_Access: Available from 24.04.2024  
  Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.2; 2023 IF: 2.843  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:200155 Serial 8891  
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Author Reijniers, J.; Partoens, B.; Peremans, H. openurl 
  Title Noise-resistant correlation-based alignment of head-related transfer functions for high-fidelity spherical harmonics representation Type P3 Proceeding
  Year 2023 Publication Abbreviated Journal  
  Volume (down) Issue Pages  
  Keywords P3 Proceeding; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM); Condensed Matter Theory (CMT)  
  Abstract It is standard practice in virtual reality applications to synthesize binaural audio based on a discrete set of directionally-dependent head-related impulse responses (HRIRs). This set of HRIRs is often time-aligned in a pre-processing step, to allow for high-fidelity interpolation between HRIRs corresponding with neighbouring directions. The fidelity of this operation depends on the similarity of neighbouring aligned HRIRs. The pairwise quality of similarity makes it a difficult criterion to optimize globally and consequently one often resorts to alignment methods based on a specific feature that can be extracted for each HRIR separately, e.g., the first-onset of the peak or the group delay. However, such proxies for similarity are very sensitive to noise and therefore require a high signal-to-noise ratio, which makes them less suitable for processing HRIRs acquired outside an anechoic room. In this paper, we advance a novel alignment method, which maximizes the similarity – defined as the correlation between the full-length HRIRs – between neighbouring aligned HRIRs for all directions at once. We show that this correlation-based alignment procedure outperforms the first-onset alignment with regards to the fidelity of the spherical harmonics representation of both the spectral and interaural time difference (ITD) information, when tested on the KEMAR HRIR and six human HRIRs. Finally, we show that the correlation-based alignment is more robust to noise.  
  Address  
  Corporate Author Thesis  
  Publisher Place of Publication Editor  
  Language Wos Publication Date  
  Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title  
  Series Volume Series Issue Edition  
  ISSN ISBN Additional Links UA library record  
  Impact Factor Times cited Open Access  
  Notes Approved no  
  Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:199714 Serial 9062  
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