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Author Van Dael, M.; Van Passel, S.; Pelkmans, L.; Guisson, R.; Reumermann, P.; Luzardo, N.M.; Witters, N.; Broeze, J.
Title A techno-economic evaluation of a biomass energy conversion park Type A1 Journal article
Year 2013 Publication Applied Energy Abbreviated Journal Appl Energ
Volume 104 Issue Pages 611-622
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract Biomass as a renewable energy source has many advantages and is therefore recognized as one of the main renewable energy sources to be deployed in order to attain the target of 20% renewable energy use of final energy consumption by 2020 in Europe. In this paper the concept of a biomass Energy Conversion Park (ECP) is introduced. A biomass ECP can be defined as a synergetic, multi-dimensional biomass conversion site with a highly integrated set of conversion technologies in which a multitude of regionally available biomass (residue) sources are converted into energy and materials. A techno-economic assessment is performed on a case study in the Netherlands to illustrate the concept and to comparatively assess the highly integrated system with two mono-dimensional models. The three evaluated models consist of (1) digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste, (2) co-digestion of manure and co-substrates, and (3) integration. From a socio-economic point of view it can be concluded that it is economically and energetically more interesting to invest in the integrated model than in two separate models. The integration is economically feasible and environmental benefits can be realized. For example, the integrated model allows the implementation of a co-digester. Unmanaged manure would otherwise represent a constant pollution risk. However, from an investor's standpoint one should firstly invest in the municipal solid waste digester since the net present value (NPV) of this mono-dimensional model is higher than that of the multi-dimensional model. A sensitivity analysis is performed to identify the most influencing parameters. Our results are of interest for companies involved in the conversion of biomass. The conclusions are useful for policy makers when deciding on policy instruments concerning manure processing or biogas production. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000316152700062 Publication Date 2012-12-25
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0306-2619 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 7.182 Times cited 45 Open Access
Notes ; We would like to thank the editor and the anonymous referees for their helpful suggestions and insightful comments that have significantly improved the paper. Furthermore, the authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from INTERREG and the province of Limburg (Belgium). Also, we would like to thank all remaining partners of the ECP project (Eloi Schreurs, Dries Maes, Kristian Coppoolse, Han ten Berge, Bert Annevelink, Nathalie Devriendt, Erwin Cornelissen, Hannes Pieper, Pieter Vollaard, Jan Venselaar, and Hessel Abbink Spaink) for their support and contributions. Finally, we would like to express our gratitude towards the organization of the eighth International Conference on Renewable Resources and Biorefineries in Toulouse (France) for giving us the opportunity to present and thereby fine-tune our work. ; Approved Most recent IF: 7.182; 2013 IF: 5.261
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:127552 Serial 6145
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Author Vasilakou, K.; Nimmegeers, P.; Thomassen, G.; Billen, P.; Van Passel, S.
Title Assessing the future of second-generation bioethanol by 2030 : a techno-economic assessment integrating technology learning curves Type A1 Journal article
Year 2023 Publication Applied energy Abbreviated Journal
Volume 344 Issue Pages 121263-15
Keywords A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM); Intelligence in PRocesses, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS)
Abstract Lignocellulosic biomass is the most abundant source of renewable biomass and is seen as a high-potential replacement for petroleum-based resources. The conversion technologies to advanced biofuels are still at a low maturity level, thus allowing for future cost reductions through technological learning. This fact is barely considered in state-of-the-art techno-economic assessments and a structured approach to account for technological learning in techno-economic assessments is needed. In this study, a framework for techno-economic assessments of advanced biofuels, integrating learning curves, is proposed. As a validation of this framework, the economic feasibility of the valorization of corn stover for the production of second-generation bioethanol in Belgium is studied. Process flowsheet simulations in Aspen Plus are developed, with an emphasis on the comparison of four different pretreatment technologies and two plant capacities at 156 dry kt biomass/y and 667 dry kt/y. The dilute acid pretreatment model of the large-scale biorefinery required the lowest minimum learning rate to reach an economically feasible biorefinery by 2030, being 3.9%, almost half as the one calculated for the smaller scale plant. This learning rate seems to be achievable based on learning rates commonly estimated in literature. We conclude that there is a potential for advanced ethanol production in Belgium under the current state of technology for large-scale biorefineries, which require additional biomass imports, when accounting for future cost reductions through learning
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001007488700001 Publication Date 2023-05-22
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0306-2619 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 11.2 Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 11.2; 2023 IF: 7.182
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:196509 Serial 9186
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Author Rafiaani, P.; Dikopoulou, Z.; Van Dael, M.; Kuppens, T.; Azadi, H.; Lebailly, P.; Van Passel, S.
Title Identifying Social Indicators for Sustainability Assessment of CCU Technologies: A Modified Multi-criteria Decision Making Type A1 Journal Article
Year 2020 Publication Social Indicators Research Abbreviated Journal Soc Indic Res
Volume 147 Issue 1 Pages 15-44
Keywords A1 Journal Article; Engineering Management (ENM) ;
Abstract Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies capture CO2 waste emissions and utilize them to generate new products (such as fuels, chemicals, and materials) with various environmental, economic, and social opportunities. As most of these CCU technologies are in the R&D stage, their technical and economic viability are examined with less attention to the social aspect which is an important pillar for a holistic sustainability assessment. The lack of systematic social impact research is mainly due to the difficulty of identifying and quantifying social aspects through the entire life cycle of products. We will fill this gap for CCU technologies and identify the main social indicators. A multi-criteria decision making tool: TOPSIS (technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution) was applied to empirically determine which indicators are more relevant for assessing the social impact of a company operating CCU activities within a European context. First, seeing that social impact categories are linked to key stakeholder groups, we considered workers, consumers, and local communities as relevant stakeholders. Second, the main social impact categories and their potential performance indicators associated to each group of stakeholders were listed using the United Nations Environment Program/Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (UNEP/SETAC) guidelines. In the third step, an online questionnaire was distributed to identify the main social categories and indicators for CCU, to which 33 European CCU experts responded. Finally, a modified TOPSIS was applied to rank the indicators based on their relevance. We found that the indicators related to “end of life responsibility” and “transparency” within a CCU company achieved the highest rank affecting the consumers group, whereas “fair salary” and “equal opportunities/discriminations” were determined as the most relevant impact categories for the workers. For the local community group, “secure living conditions” and “local employment” received the highest priority from the experts’ point of view. Furthermore, “health and safety” considerations were identified as one of the most important criteria affecting all three groups of stakeholders. The ranking list of the main social indicators identified in our study provides the basis for the next steps in the social sustainability assessment of CCU technologies; that is, data collection and impact assessment. Our outcomes can also be used to inform the producers regarding the most and least relevant social aspects of CCU so that the potential social impacts caused by their production activities can be improved or prevented.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000511863600002 Publication Date 2019-07-06
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0303-8300 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 1.743 Times cited Open Access
Notes We would also like to thank James Morrison from the JamesEdits agency for proof reading and editing the article. Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number ENM @ enm @c:irua:166591 Serial 6354
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Author Gezahegn, T.W.; Van Passel, S.; Berhanu, T.; D'haese, M.; Maertens, M.
Title Do bottom-up and independent agricultural cooperatives really perform better? Insights from a technical efficiency analysis in Ethiopia Type A1 Journal article
Year 2020 Publication Agrekon Abbreviated Journal Agrekon
Volume Issue Pages
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract The cooperative landscape in Ethiopia is very heterogeneous with a mixture of remains of the pre-1991 government-controlled system and new post-1991 bottom-up collective action initiatives. This heterogeneity, coupled with a large growth in the number of cooperatives in the country, offers an interesting perspective to study the determinants of the (in)efficiency of cooperatives. In this paper, we analyse the performance of Ethiopian agricultural cooperatives, focusing on the degree of technical (in)efficiency and its determinants. We use the stochastic frontier approach in which we account for heteroskedasticity and the monotonicity of production functions, presenting a methodological improvement with respect to previous technical efficiency studies. The results show that NGO- and government-initiated cooperatives are less efficient than community-initiated ones, implying that governments and NGOs should not interfere too strongly in cooperative formation. Cooperatives with a high degree of heterogeneity in members' participation are found to be about 98% less efficient, while cooperatives that have paid employees are 33% more efficient. Besides, results show that cooperatives in Ethiopia function more efficiently if they incentivize committee members through monetary compensation.
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Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000487651200001 Publication Date 2019-09-24
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0303-1853 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 1.3 Times cited Open Access
Notes ; The authors acknowledge funding from the VLIR-UOS TEAM Program (VLIR-UOS-ZEIN2015PR406 (13V95615T), Belgium. ; Approved Most recent IF: 1.3; 2020 IF: 0.224
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:163772 Serial 6184
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Author Bjornavold, A.; Van Passel, S.
Title The lock-in effect and the greening of automotive cooling systems in the European Union Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Journal Of Environmental Management Abbreviated Journal J Environ Manage
Volume 203 Issue 3 Pages 1199-1207
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract As of 2017, the sale and use of the refrigerants most commonly used in automotive cooling systems – hydrofluorocarbons – are entirely banned in all new vehicles placed on the market in the European Union. These refrigerants have been recognised as potent greenhouse gases and, therefore, direct contributors to climate change. It is within this regulation-driven market that the technologies for a sustainable solution have been developed. However, this paper argues that the market for automotive cooling systems has been 'locked-in', which means that competing technologies, operating under dynamic increasing returns, will allow for one – potentially inferior technology – to dominate the market. Whilst such a situation is not uncommon, this paper discusses the way that regulation has reinforced a patented monopoly in 'picking winners': to the advantage of a synthetic chemical, R-1234yf, as opposed to the natural solution, which is CO2. By developing a generic conceptual framework of path dependence and lock-in, the presented evidence seeks to show how a snowballing effect has led to the intensification of differences in market share. We also argue that the automotive industry is potentially promoting short-term fixes, rather than long-term, sustainable and economically viable solutions. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000413886300035 Publication Date 2017-06-24
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0301-4797 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 4.01 Times cited 5 Open Access
Notes ; ; Approved Most recent IF: 4.01
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:147374 Serial 6268
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Author Van Passel, S.; Van Huylenbroeck, G.; Lauwers, L.; Mathijs, E.
Title Sustainable value assessment of farms using frontier efficiency benchmarks Type A1 Journal article
Year 2009 Publication Journal Of Environmental Management Abbreviated Journal J Environ Manage
Volume 90 Issue 10 Pages 3057-3069
Keywords A1 Journal article; Economics
Abstract Appropriate assessment of firm sustainability facilitates actor-driven processes towards sustainable development. The methodology in this paper builds further on two proven methodologies for the assessment of sustainability performance: it combines the sustainable value approach with frontier efficiency benchmarks. The sustainable value methodology tries to relate firm performance to the use of different resources. This approach assesses contributions to corporate sustainability by comparing firm resource productivity with the resource productivity of a benchmark, and this for all resources considered. The efficiency is calculated by estimating the production frontier indicating the maximum feasible production possibilities. In this research, the sustainable value approach is combined with efficiency analysis methods to benchmark sustainability assessment. In this way, the production theoretical underpinnings of efficiency analysis enrich the sustainable value approach. The methodology is presented using two different functional forms: the CobbDouglas and the translog functional forms. The simplicity of the CobbDouglas functional form as benchmark is very attractive but it lacks flexibility. The translog functional form is more flexible but has the disadvantage that it requires a lot of data to avoid estimation problems. Using frontier methods for deriving firm specific benchmarks has the advantage that the particular situation of each company is taken into account when assessing sustainability. Finally, we showed that the methodology can be used as an integrative sustainability assessment tool for policy measures.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000269022800013 Publication Date 2009-06-24
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0301-4797 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 4.01 Times cited 41 Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.01; 2009 IF: 2.367
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:136762 Serial 6259
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Author Compernolle, T.; Van Passel, S.; Lebbe, L.
Title Bioremediation : how to deal with removal efficiency uncertainty? An economic application Type A1 Journal article
Year 2013 Publication Journal Of Environmental Management Abbreviated Journal J Environ Manage
Volume 127 Issue Pages 77-85
Keywords A1 Journal article; Economics
Abstract Bioremediation is a remediation strategy, which has considerable strength but also certain limitations. Complex and uncertain relationships among biomass, contaminants, and nutrients lead to an uncertain level of removal efficiency. The uncertainty inherent to a bioremediation strategy should be addressed in the remediation selection process. In order to evaluate the bioremediation strategy economically, this study takes into account the reversibility of a decision. A decision tree structures the different remediation strategies, thus giving the possible courses of action open to the decision maker. The option value indicates the importance of having the possibility to reverse a previously made decision. Compared with conventional economic evaluation tools, more information to ground the selection made is revealed.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000322940100010 Publication Date 2013-05-15
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0301-4797 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 4.01 Times cited 1 Open Access
Notes ; ; Approved Most recent IF: 4.01; 2013 IF: 3.188
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:129868 Serial 6162
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Author Van Oijstaeijen, W.; Van Passel, S.; Cools, J.
Title Urban green infrastructure: A review on valuation toolkits from an urban planning perspective Type A1 Journal Article
Year 2020 Publication Journal Of Environmental Management Abbreviated Journal J Environ Manage
Volume 267 Issue Pages 110603
Keywords A1 Journal Article; Engineering Management (ENM) ;
Abstract As a response to increasing urbanization and changing weather and climatic patterns, urban green infrastructure (UGI) emerged as a concept to increase resilience within the urban boundaries. Given that implementing these (semi-) natural solutions in practice requires a clear overview of the costs and benefits, valuation becomes ever important. A range of decision-support tools for green infrastructure and ecosystem services exist, developed for various purposes. This paper reviews the potential of 10 shortlisted and existing valuation tools to support investment decisions of urban green infrastructure. In the assessment, the functionality is regarded specifically from the urban planning and decision-making viewpoint. The toolkits were evaluated on 12 different criteria. After analyzing the toolkits on these criteria, the findings are evaluated on the (mis)match with specific requirements in the urban planning and management context. Secondly, recommendations and guidelines are formulated to support the design of simple valuation tools, tailored to support the development of green infrastructure in urban areas. Approaching the valuation toolkits biophysically and (socio-)economically provides an integral overview of the challenges and opportunities of the capacities of each framework. It was found that most tools are not designed for the peculiarities of the urban context. Several elements contribute to the hampering uptake of GI valuation tools. Firstly, the limited effort in the economic case for green infrastructure remains a burden to use toolkits to compare grey and green alternatives. Secondly, tools are currently seldom designed for the peculiarities of cities: urban ecosystem (dis)services, multi-scalability, life-span assessments of co-benefits and the importance of social benefits. Thirdly, toolkits should be the result of co-development between the scientific community and local authorities in order to create toolkits that are tailor made to the specific needs in the urban planning process. It can be concluded that current tools, are not readily applicable to support decision making as such. However, if applied cautiously, they can have an indicative role to pinpoint further targeted and in-depth analyses.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000533525100040 Publication Date 2020-04-27
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0301-4797 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 8.7 Times cited Open Access
Notes Nature Smart Cities across the 2 Seas is an Interreg 2 Seas co-funded project to the value of €6,380,472. It consists of a total of 11 Partners from 4 EU Member States, who will work together to develop a business model that local authorities can use to justify the use of ‘city finance’ to fund their urban greening programmes. This project has received funding from the Interreg 2 Seas programme 2014-2020 co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund under subsidy contract No 2S05-048. Approved Most recent IF: 8.7; 2020 IF: 4.01
Call Number ENM @ enm @c:irua:169448 Serial 6384
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Author Tschulkow, M.; Compernolle, T.; Van Passel, S.
Title Optimal timing of multiple investment decisions in a wood value chain : a real options approach Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Journal Of Environmental Management Abbreviated Journal J Environ Manage
Volume 290 Issue Pages 112590
Keywords A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract A new reductive catalytic fractionation biorefinery process (RCF) is currently being developed transforming wood into high-value end-products. RCF is considered to be in the pilot stage with a technology readiness level of 5–6. Apart from the RCF-process characteristics, the economic feasibility also depends on the investment decisions that are made upstream and downstream within the wood value chain, increasing the level of uncertainty. Two investment options within the value chain are considered: an option to invest in harvesting equipment and an option to invest in the RCF. To understand the impact of multiple sources of uncertainty on the decision to invest in an innovative RCF-driven wood value chain, an analytical two-factor real options model is presented, accounting for correlated cost and price uncertainties. Two different scenarios, separated and united investments in harvesting equipment and RCF, are analyzed. In both scenarios, market uncertainty postpones investment in comparison to the traditional NPV approach. When both investments are considered separately, the investment in RCF is expected to be earlier than the investment in harvesting equipment. When both investment decisions are united, the probability of investment increases. The study reveals that RCF has the potential to stimulate investments from different investors, –upstream and midstream–, within the wood value chain. Besides, the introduced real options model proofs its ability to assess the economic feasibility of innovative technologies (e.g RCF) individually or within the value chain, taking into account multiple sources of uncertainty.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000656438000005 Publication Date 2021-04-25
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0301-4797 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 4.01 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.01
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:179487 Serial 6937
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Author Vermeulen, S.; Cools, J.; Staes, J.; Van Passel, S.
Title A review of economic assessments of drought risk reduction approaches in agriculture Type Administrative Services
Year 2023 Publication Journal of environmental management Abbreviated Journal
Volume 345 Issue Pages 118909-118912
Keywords Administrative Services; A1 Journal article; Economics; Ecosphere; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract Due to climate change, the frequency and intensity of droughts are expected to increase. To improve resilience to droughts, proactive drought management is essential. Economic assessments are typically included to decide on the drought risk-reducing investments to make. The choice of both methods and scope of economic assessments influences the outcome, and thus the investment choice. This paper aims to identify how comprehensively economic assessments are applied in practice. Through a systematic literature review, 14 actual economic assessments are identified and their methods are evaluated based on seven criteria for economic assessments as derived from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The results show that in practice, economic assessments rarely address all criteria. Applying a limited number of criteria reduces the scope and narrows the approach, possibly leading to the underestimation of drought risk reduction approaches’ related benefits. Applying the seven criteria in practice will improve the results of economic assessments of drought risk reduction measures, allowing for optimal investment selection. Based on the different criteria, a Framework for Economic Assessments of Drought Risk-Reducing Applications (FEADRRA) is proposed. Applying the criteria of the framework can support decision-makers in drought risk management and in carrying out the most fitting drought interventions.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001080044100001 Publication Date 2023-08-31
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0301-4797 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 8.7 Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 8.7; 2023 IF: 4.01
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:199661 Serial 9222
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Author Vanschoenwinkel, J.; Lizin, S.; Swinnen, G.; Azadi, H.; Van Passel, S.
Title Solar cooking in Senegalese villages : an application of best-worst scaling Type A1 Journal article
Year 2014 Publication Energy Policy Abbreviated Journal Energ Policy
Volume 67 Issue Pages 447-458
Keywords A1 Journal article; Sociology; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract Dissemination programs of nontraditional cookstoves often fail. Nontraditional cookstoves aim to solve problems associated with biomass fuel usage in developing countries. Recent studies do not explain what drives user's cookstove choice. This study therefore builds a holistic framework that centralizes product-specific preferences or needs. The case study identifies product-specific factors that influence rural Senegalese inhabitants to switch to solar cooking, using best worst scaling. Looking at the preferences, the case study classified 126 respondents, in three distinct market segments with different solar cooking expectations. The paper identifies socio-demographic characteristics that explain these differences in the respondents' preferences. Finally, the respondent sample is divided in two groups: solar cooker owners and non-owners. When studied with regard to the same issue, solar cooker owners appear to value benefits of the solar cooker lower than non-owners. This is due to program factors (such as formations, after-sales network) and miscommunication (such as a wrong image of the solar cooker) that highly influenced the respondents' cookstove choice. As a conclusion, solar cookers and solar cooking programs are not always adapted to the needs and requirements of the end-users. Needs-oriented and end-user adopted strategies are necessary in order to successfully implement nontraditional cookstoves programs. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000332815300043 Publication Date 2014-01-08
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0301-4215; 1873-6777 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 4.14 Times cited 10 Open Access
Notes ; The authors thank the VLIR-UOS for their financial support and the Sol Suffit Program for their co-operation during the research. ; Approved Most recent IF: 4.14; 2014 IF: 2.575
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:127544 Serial 6251
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Author Maes, D.; Van Passel, S.
Title Interference of regional support policies on the economic and environmental performance of a hybrid cogeneration-solar panel energy system Type A1 Journal article
Year 2012 Publication Energy Policy Abbreviated Journal Energ Policy
Volume 42 Issue Pages 670-680
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract This paper assesses unintentional interference between different public policies promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy. The paper develops a methodology to study the interference by analysing the economic and technical behaviour of a hybrid energy system. The hybrid energy system in this case consists of an existing cogeneration unit extended with a new installation of thermal solar panels. This puts two complementary heating technologies in juxtaposition. The two technologies are supported with distinct regional support instruments in each region. The design and operation of the energy system is optimised from the point of view of the investor according to the different support instruments. The optimal configuration is analysed as well as its effect on reduced CO2-emissions during the lifetime of the project. The methodology is applied to a case-study for two neighbouring regions, the Netherlands and Flanders. The policies in the Netherlands show a beneficial synergy. In Flanders, the hybrid energy system is not interesting, indicating unbalanced high support for cogeneration in this case. From the point of view of the authorities, a more balanced regional policy as in the Netherlands provides a larger CO2-emission reduction for a smaller cost. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000301616000066 Publication Date 2012-01-14
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0301-4215; 1873-6777 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 4.14 Times cited 4 Open Access
Notes ; The authors would especially like to thank Davy Duelen for the excellent case-study and data collection that enabled the present paper. The help and information provided by Pierre Gijsen also made the detailed assessment possible. We are also indebted to two anonymous reviewers, whose remarks strongly improved the paper. This project has been financed by the Impulse-project of the tUL (transnational University Limburg). ; Approved Most recent IF: 4.14; 2012 IF: 2.743
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:127558 Serial 6220
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Author Srivastava, A.; Van Passel, S.; Kessels, R.; Valkering, P.; Laes, E.
Title Reducing winter peaks in electricity consumption: A choice experiment to structure demand response programs Type A1 Journal Article
Year 2020 Publication Energy Policy Abbreviated Journal Energ Policy
Volume 137 Issue Pages 111183
Keywords A1 Journal Article; Engineering Management (ENM) ;
Abstract Winter peaks in Belgian electricity demand are significantly higher than the summer peaks, creating a greater potential for imbalances between demand and supply. This potential is exacerbated because of the risk of outages in its ageing nuclear power plants, which are being phased out in the medium term. This paper conducts a choice experiment to investigate the acceptability of a load control-based demand response program in the winter months. It surveys 186 respondents on their willingness to accept limits on the use of home appliances in return for a compensation. Results indicate that respondents are most affected by the days of the week that their appliance usage would be curtailed, and by the compensation they would receive. The willingness to enroll in a program increases with age, environmental consciousness, home ownership, and lower privacy concerns. The analysis predicts that 95% of the sample surveyed could enroll in a daily load control program for a compen- sation of €41 per household per year. Thus while an initial rollout among older and more pro-environment homeowners could be successful, a wider implementation would require an explanation of its environmental and financial benefits to the population, and a greater consideration of their data privacy concerns.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000515439900040 Publication Date 2019-12-13
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0301-4215 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 9 Times cited Open Access
Notes The authors gratefully acknowledge the guidance offered by the Flemish Electricity Regulatory Agency (VREG), the Flemish Department for Environment, Nature, and Energy (LNE), and Guido Pepermans in designing the experiment. We are also grateful for the translations provided by Loic De Weerdt, and the support extended by Macarena MacLean Larrain in pre-testing the experiment. Finally, Roselinde Kes- sels thanks the Flemish Research Foundation (FWO) for her postdoctoral fellowship and the JMP Division of SAS Institute for further financial support. Approved Most recent IF: 9; 2020 IF: 4.14
Call Number ENM @ enm @c:irua:167253 Serial 6348
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Author Van Slycken, S.; Witters, N.; Meers, E.; Peene, A.; Michels, E.; Adriaensen, K.; Ruttens, A.; Vangronsveld, J.; Du Laing, G.; Wierinck, I.; Van Dael, M.; Van Passel, S.; Tack, F.M.G.
Title Safe use of metal-contaminated agricultural land by cultivation of energy maize (Zea mays) Type A1 Journal article
Year 2013 Publication Environmental Pollution Abbreviated Journal Environ Pollut
Volume 178 Issue Pages 375-380
Keywords A1 Journal article; Economics
Abstract Production of food crops on trace element-contaminated agricultural lands in the Campine region (Belgium) can be problematic as legal threshold values for safe use of these crops can be exceeded. Conventional sanitation of vast areas is too expensive and alternatives need to be investigated. Zea mays on a trace element-contaminated soil in the region showed an average yield of 53 ± 10 Mg fresh or 20 ± 3 Mg dry biomass ha−1. Whole plant Cd concentrations complied with legal threshold values for animal feed. Moreover, threshold values for use in anaerobic digestion were met. Biogas production potential did not differ between maize grown on contaminated and non-contaminated soils. Results suggested favorable perspectives for farmers to generate non-food crops profitably, although effective soil cleaning would be very slow. This demonstrates that a valuable and sustainable alternative use can be generated for moderately contaminated soils on which conventional agriculture is impaired.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000320487700050 Publication Date 2013-04-22
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0269-7491 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 5.099 Times cited 30 Open Access
Notes ; This research was funded by the Institute for the promotion of Innovation by Science and Technology in Flanders (IWT-Flanders, Grant IWT/CLO/50702). We want to thank OVAM, as the planting and management of this site is part of a demonstration project in the context of the INTERREG-project BENEKEMPEN. Also many thanks to laboratory staff of the departments and to Pioneer and KWS for providing the seeds. ; Approved Most recent IF: 5.099; 2013 IF: 3.902
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:129870 Serial 6247
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Author Birhanu, T.; Deressa, S.B.; Azadi, H.; Viira, A.-H.; Van Passel, S.; Witlox, F.
Title Determinants of commercial bank loan and advance disbursement : the case of private Ethiopian commercial banks Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication International journal of bank marketing Abbreviated Journal
Volume 39 Issue 7 Pages 1227-1247
Keywords A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract Purpose This paper aimed to investigate the determinants of loans and advances from commercial banks in the case of Ethiopian private commercial banks. Design/methodology/approach The study randomly selected seven commercial banks to represent the population stratified on their asset, deposit and paid-up capital amounts. The study utilized an unbalanced panel data model as each bank started operation at a different period of time and considered the period 1995-2016 for secondary details. Findings The findings showed that the deposit size, credit risk, portfolio investment, average lending rate, real gross domestic product (GDP) and inflation rate had significant and optimistic effects on the lending and advancement of private commercial banks. On the contrary, liquidity ratio had significant and negative effects on private commercial bank loans and advances. Finally, the study forwarded a feasible recommendation for concerned organs to focus on deposit size, credit risk, portfolio investment, average lending rate, real GDP, inflation rate and liquidity ratio. The results of this study will help banking industry policymakers and planners understand how to minimize inflation and unemployment by improving development and sustainable economic growth. Originality/value The findings of this study can also affect the general attitudes of a society by increasing knowledge and improve the quality of life for the general public.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000670351700001 Publication Date 2021-07-07
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0265-2323 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:179858 Serial 6919
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Author Admasu, W.F.; Van Passel, S.; Minale, A.S.; Tsegaye, E.A.; Azadi, H.; Nyssen, J.
Title Take out the farmer: An economic assessment of land expropriation for urban expansion in Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia Type A1 Journal article
Year 2019 Publication Land Use Policy Abbreviated Journal Land Use Policy
Volume 87 Issue 87 Pages 104038
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract In Ethiopia, the demand for land for urbanisation is primarily met by converting rural land through expropriation. However, land expropriations are adversely affecting the previous land users by reducing the amount of production and their sources of income. In Bahir Dar, one of the fastest-growing cities in Ethiopia, approximately 300 landholdings are expropriated each year, on average, for urban expansion. This paper assesses the land expropriations to examine whether they offer economically appropriate compensation for the previous land users. Land expropriations for urbanisation between 2007/2008 and 2016/2017 were analysed based on data on land expropriation and its compensation payment obtained from the Bahir Dar City Land Administration and Management Office. Data were analysed using an exponential growth model and a stochastic budgeting technique in which Monte Carlo simulations are performed. Between 2007/2008 and 2016/2017, more than 1500 ha of land were included in the city's boundary through expropriation from 2900 landholders. The affected farmers received compensation that represents only 37 per cent of the value of current crop yields and its growth. The current compensation scheme ignores the impact of inflation on the prices of crops and assumes constant yields. It also excludes the value of crop residuals. We propose a workable discounted compensation framework that considers crop price and yield growths. This will make the compensation scheme more appropriate and make the affected farmers better off.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000483419100026 Publication Date 2019-06-15
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0264-8377 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 3.089 Times cited 1 Open Access
Notes ; The authors acknowledge the Bahir Dar City Administration for sharing its compensation data, Bahir Dar Zuria Wereda Agriculture Office for sharing yield data, and the Industry and Trade Development Office for sharing crop price data. The Institutional University Cooperation with Bahir Dar University (BDU-IUC), funded by the Belgian authorities, through the Flemish Interuniversity Council University Development Cooperation, funded the research activities. We also thank the two anonymous reviewers and the editor of Land Use Policy for all constructive comments and suggestions. ; Approved Most recent IF: 3.089
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:162837 Serial 6261
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Author Lizin, S.; Van Passel, S.; Schreurs, E.
Title Farmers' perceived cost of land use restrictions : a simulated purchasing decision using discrete choice experiments Type A1 Journal article
Year 2015 Publication Land Use Policy Abbreviated Journal Land Use Policy
Volume 46 Issue Pages 115-124
Keywords A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract This paper reports on the findings from discrete choice experiments designed to estimate farmers perceived costs of land use restrictions, i.e. crop restrictions, additional fertilizing restrictions, and usage restrictions, as opposed to having no such restrictions. To this end, hypothetical land purchasing decisions were simulated based on the information about productivity, lot size, distance to other land, driving time to home, land use restrictions, and price. Farmers from the Campine area (Belgium) were invited to participate in the survey as the agricultural land in this region still faces the effects of historical heavy metal contamination resulting in crop restrictions. For identical pieces of land, we estimate the perceived cost, calculated as a change in the consumer surplus due to having a land use restriction, to be about 46,000 /ha for the crop restriction, 50,000 /ha for the usage restriction, and 70,000 /ha for the fertilizing restrictions. Assuming this cost to represent a perpetuity, then with a discount rate of 5% the yearly fixed costs respectively equal about 2300 /ha, 2500 /ha, and 3500 /ha.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000356110500010 Publication Date 2015-03-03
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0264-8377 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 3.089 Times cited 12 Open Access
Notes ; The authors would like to thank Boerenbond for their help as well as the farmers for their time in responding to the questionnaire. Additionally, Sebastien Lizin thanks the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) for funding his postdoctoral fellowship, allowing him to revise the manuscript. The authors would also like to thank the anonymous reviewers for helping us to improve the quality of our work. ; Approved Most recent IF: 3.089; 2015 IF: 2.631
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:129877 Serial 6203
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Author Admasu, W.F.; Van Passel, S.; Nyssen, J.; Minale, A.S.; Tsegaye, E.A.
Title Eliciting farmers' preferences and willingness to pay for land use attributes in Northwest Ethiopia : a discrete choice experiment study Type A1 Journal article
Year 2021 Publication Land Use Policy Abbreviated Journal Land Use Policy
Volume 109 Issue Pages
Keywords A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract This study investigates farmers' preferences and willingness to pay for cropland attributes in Bahir Dar, north-west Ethiopia. A choice experiment is used to elicit farmers' preferences between different land use attributes, including a monetary attribute. The study was conducted in the croplands that are threatened by land expro-priation for urban expansion. A survey was undertaken with 144 farmers in four rural kebeles surrounding the city (Addis Alem, Weramit, Wereb and Zenzelima). In the survey, respondents were provided with hypothetical land purchasing decisions, with three alternatives (i.e., two hypothetical parcels and an opt-out option). A choice experiment was undertaken to measure farmers' interest in different types of croplands, which varies with respect to irrigability, number of trees per ha, soil erosion resistance and water holding capacity of the cropland. Estimation of two mixed logit models was carried out. The estimation results show that, although the farmers did not show strong preferences for each attribute of the cropland, many farmers in the area showed interest in the proposed alternative croplands. Farmers show more interest for the land that is irrigable, gentle slope and with medium water holding capacity. The results also indicate that farmers assign highest marginal willingness to pay (MWTP) (79.01 ETB per square meter) for irrigated land, followed by medium water holding capacity with MWTP of 52.13 ETB per square meter. We believe that the results of this study would help land use policy and decision makers in the study area to consider the various attributes of cropland in land use planning, including land expropriation programs, which assures the sustainability of ecosystem services.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000702844000009 Publication Date 2021-07-02
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0264-8377 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 3.089 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 3.089
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:182489 Serial 6921
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Author Fitawok, M.B.; Derudder, B.; Minale, A.S.; Van Passel, S.; Adgo, E.; Nyssen, J.
Title Analyzing the impact of land expropriation program on farmers' livelihood in urban fringes of Bahir Dar, Ethiopia Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Habitat International Abbreviated Journal Habitat Int
Volume 129 Issue Pages 102674-102679
Keywords A1 Journal article; Sociology; Law; Art; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract This paper analyzes the impact of urban land-use changes on farmers' livelihood around the city of Bahir Dar (Ethiopia). Rapid urban expansion in and around the city has resulted in massive land-use changes in its urban fringes, with land expropriation programs affecting communities' livelihood and the environment. A survey was conducted in three urbanizing villages near Bahir Dar, focusing on 150 farmers who were land-expropriated and 180 farmers who were non-land-expropriated. Regression models and propensity matching scoring are applied to examine the livelihood differences of farmers in terms of farm income, off-farm income, primary expenditure type, and perception of urban expansion benefits to farmers. The results reveal that land expropriation in the area has led to (a) a shift to off-farm income for land expropriated farmers; (b) an increase in their household expenditure on staple foods compared to other expenditure types, including farm inputs; and (c) diverging perceptions on whether and how city expansion benefits farmers in the neighboring villages. Our findings provide insight into the need for tighter and impactful policy actions to ensure the sustainability of urbanization through accommodating expropriated farmers' livelihood changes and protecting natural resources in the area.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000866411200001 Publication Date 2022-09-28
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0197-3975; 0361-3690 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 2.285 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: NA
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191385 Serial 7352
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Author Vasilakou, K.; Billen, P.; Van Passel, S.; Nimmegeers, P.
Title A Pareto aggregation approach for environmental-economic multi-objective optimization applied on a second-generation bioethanol production model Type A1 Journal article
Year 2024 Publication Energy conversion and management Abbreviated Journal
Volume 303 Issue Pages 118184-11
Keywords A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM); Intelligence in PRocesses, Advanced Catalysts and Solvents (iPRACS)
Abstract Multi-objective optimization is an important decision-making tool for energy processes, as multiple targets need to be achieved. These objectives are usually conflicting since a single solution cannot be optimal for all objectives, resulting in a set of Pareto-optimal solutions. Multiple indicators might be available to describe a sustainability objective, such as the environmental impact which is commonly evaluated by performing a life cycle assessment. In this study, Pareto aggregation is proposed as a method which employs a novel multi-objective optimization-based approach as an alternative to the classically used aggregation in life cycle assessment. This method identifies conflicting environmental indicators and performs an aggregation among those that require a trade-off. An environmental-economic optimization of a second-generation bioethanol plant is used to illustrate and evaluate the proposed method. Process parameters from a biochemical conversion pathway flowsheet simulation model are chosen as optimization variables. To reduce the computational time, surrogate models, based on artificial neural networks, are used. Out of the eighteen ReCiPe Midpoint environmental indicators, five were identified as conflicting, resulting in an aggregated environmental objective, which was then traded off with the economic objective function, chosen as the levelized cost of ethanol. Comparison with the widely used single-score EcoIndicator99 showed that the Pareto aggregation method can reduce most of the environmental indicators by up to 6.5%. This research provides an insight on non-redundant objective functions, aiming at reducing the dimensionality of multi-objective optimization problems, while taking into consideration decision-makers’ preferences.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 001185718400001 Publication Date 2024-02-10
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0196-8904; 1879-2227 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 10.4 Times cited Open Access
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 10.4; 2024 IF: 5.589
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:203046 Serial 9216
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Author Van Passel, S.; Meul, M.
Title Multilevel and multi-user sustainability assessment of farming systems Type A1 Journal article
Year 2012 Publication Environmental Impact Assessment Review Abbreviated Journal Environ Impact Asses
Volume 32 Issue 1 Pages 170-180
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology
Abstract Sustainability assessment is needed to build sustainable farming systems. A broad range of sustainability concepts, methodologies and applications already exists. They differ in level, focus, orientation, measurement, scale, presentation and intended end-users. In this paper we illustrate that a smart combination of existing methods with different levels of application can make sustainability assessment more profound, and that it can broaden the insights of different end-user groups. An overview of sustainability assessment tools on different levels and for different end-users shows the complementarities and the opportunities of using different methods. In a case-study, a combination of the sustainable value approach (SVA) and MOTIFS is used to perform a sustainability evaluation of farming systems in Flanders. SVA is used to evaluate sustainability at sector level, and is especially useful to support policy makers, while MOTIFS is used to support and guide farmers towards sustainability at farm level. The combined use of the two methods with complementary goals can widen the insights of both farmers and policy makers, without losing the particularities of the different approaches. To stimulate and support further research and applications, we propose guidelines for multilevel and multi-user sustainability assessments.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000297874000020 Publication Date 2011-09-21
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0195-9255 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 3.094 Times cited 49 Open Access
Notes ; ; Approved Most recent IF: 3.094; 2012 IF: 1.851
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:94186 Serial 6231
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Author Hoogmartens, R.; Van Passel, S.; Van Acker, K.; Dubois, M.
Title Bridging the gap between LCA, LCC and CBA as sustainability assessment tools Type A1 Journal article
Year 2014 Publication Environmental Impact Assessment Review Abbreviated Journal Environ Impact Asses
Volume 48 Issue Pages 27-33
Keywords A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract Increasing interest in sustainability has led to the development of sustainability assessment tools such as Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), Life Cycle Costing (LCC) and Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA). Due to methodological disparity of these three tools, conflicting assessment results generate confusion for many policy and business decisions. In order to interpret and integrate assessment results, the paper provides a framework that clarifies the connections and coherence between the included assessment methodologies. Building on this framework, the paper further focuses on key aspects to adapt any of the methodologies to full sustainability assessments. Aspects dealt with in the review are for example the reported metrics, the scope, data requirements, discounting, product- or project-related and approaches with respect to scarcity and labor requirements. In addition to these key aspects, the review shows that important connections exist: (i) the three tools can cope with social inequality, (ii) processes such as valuation techniques for LCC and CBA are common, (iii) Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is used as input in both LCA and CBA and (iv) LCA can be used in parallel with LCC. Furthermore, the most integrated sustainability approach combines elements of LCA and LCC to achieve the Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA). The key aspects and the connections referred to in the review are illustrated with a case study on the treatment of end-of-life automotive glass. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000340141900004 Publication Date 2014-05-23
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0195-9255 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 3.094 Times cited 93 Open Access
Notes ; ; Approved Most recent IF: 3.094; 2014 IF: 2.400
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:127542 Serial 6163
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Author Maes, D.; Van Passel, S.
Title Advantages and limitations of exergy indicators to assess sustainability of bioenergy and biobased materials Type A1 Journal article
Year 2014 Publication Environmental Impact Assessment Review Abbreviated Journal Environ Impact Asses
Volume 45 Issue Pages 19-29
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract Innovative bioenergy projects show a growing diversity in biomass pathways, transformation technologies and end-products, leading to complex new processes. Existing energy-based indicators are not designed to include multiple impacts and are too constrained to assess the sustainability of these processes. Alternatively, indicators based on exergy, a measure of “qualitative energy”, could allow a more holistic view. Exergy is increasingly applied in analyses of both technical and biological processes. But sustainability assessments including exergy calculations, are not very common and are not generally applicable to all types of impact. Hence it is important to frame the use of exergy for inclusion in a sustainability assessment. This paper reviews the potentials and the limitations of exergy calculations, and presents solutions for coherent aggregation with other metrics. The resulting approach is illustrated in a case study. Within the context of sustainability assessment of bioenergy, exergy is a suitable metric for the impacts that require an ecocentric interpretation, and it allows aggregation on a physical basis. The use of exergy is limited to a measurement of material and energy exchanges with the sun, biosphere and lithosphere. Exchanges involving services or human choices are to be measured in different metrics. This combination provides a more inclusive and objective sustainability assessment, especially compared to standard energy- or carbon-based indicators. Future applications of this approach in different situations are required to clarify the potential of exergy-based indicators in a sustainability context. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000331924600003 Publication Date 2013-12-05
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0195-9255 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 3.094 Times cited 18 Open Access
Notes ; ; Approved Most recent IF: 3.094; 2014 IF: 2.400
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:127545 Serial 6147
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Author Gezahegn, T.W.; Van Passel, S.; Berhanu, T.; D'Haese, M.; Maertens, M.
Title Big is efficient : evidence from agricultural cooperatives in Ethiopia Type A1 Journal article
Year 2019 Publication Agricultural Economics Abbreviated Journal Agr Econ-Blackwell
Volume 50 Issue 50 Pages 555-566
Keywords A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract In Ethiopia, there is a renewed interest in agricultural cooperatives as an institutional tool to improve the welfare of smallholder farmers. One of the pathways through which cooperatives benefit their members is scale economies. However, the establishment of cooperatives in Ethiopia seems to pay little attention to the size of the organizations. This article aims at investigating the effect of size on cost efficiency of agricultural cooperatives. More specifically, the purpose is to examine whether a single cooperative can serve a given number of farmers at a lower cost than two or more smaller cooperatives could. We employ the concept of cost subadditivity to compare the cost efficiency of large versus small cooperatives, and by extension unilateral actions. We estimate a flexible production technology using cross-sectional cooperative-level data. Findings show that costs would drop by 78% to 181% if farmers join hands in relatively large rather than small cooperatives.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000480797700001 Publication Date 2019-08-01
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0169-5150 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 1.758 Times cited Open Access
Notes ; VLIR-UOS-ZEIN2015PR406 (13V95615T) PROGRAMME(TEAM), Belgium ; Approved Most recent IF: 1.758
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:161812 Serial 6161
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Author Dadi, D.; Stellmacher, T.; Senbeta, F.; Van Passel, S.; Azadi, H.
Title Environmental and health impacts of effluents from textile industries in Ethiopia : the case of Gelan and Dukem, Oromia Regional State Type A1 Journal article
Year 2017 Publication Environmental Monitoring And Assessment Abbreviated Journal Environ Monit Assess
Volume 189 Issue 1 Pages 11-30
Keywords A1 Journal article; Economics; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract This study focuses on four textile industries (DH-GEDA, NOYA, ALMHADI, and ALSAR) established between 2005 and 2008 in the peri-urban areas of Dukem and Gelan. The objectives of the study were to generate baseline information regarding the concentration levels of selected pollutants and to analyze their effects on biophysical environments. This study also attempts to explore the level of exposure that humans and livestock have to polluted effluents and the effects thereof. The findings of this study are based on data empirically collected from two sources: laboratory analysis of sample effluents from the four selected textile plants and quantitative as well as qualitative socioeconomic data collection. As part of the latter, a household survey and focus group discussions (FGDs) with elderly and other focal persons were employed in the towns of Dukem and Gelan. The results of the study show that large concentrations of biological oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), and pH were found in all the observed textile industries, at levels beyond the permissible discharge limit set by the national Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). Furthermore, sulfide (S2), R-phosphate (R-PO43), and Zn were found in large concentrations in DH-GEDA and ALMHADI, while high concentrations were also identified in samples taken from ALSAR and ALMHADI. In spite of the clear-cut legal tools, this study shows that the local environment, people, and their livestock are exposed to highly contaminated effluents. We therefore recommend that the respective federal and regional government bodies should reexamine the compliance to and actual implementation of the existing legal procedures and regulations and respond appropriately.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000392300300011 Publication Date 2016-12-08
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0167-6369; 1573-2967 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 1.687 Times cited 6 Open Access
Notes ; In preparing this work, different organizations and institutions contributed immensely and therefore deserve acknowledgment. I would like to thank WHO for their financial support in collecting field samples, the purchase of chemicals, and various types of equipment required for the laboratory activities. I would also like to thank DAAD and the Post Graduate Program at Addis Ababa University for their financial support during my field stay in order to conduct the household survey. The authors wish to thank Ms. Bethany Gardner from the Department of Linguistics, the State University of New York at Binghamton, for her kind help in improving the English of this text. ; Approved Most recent IF: 1.687
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:139039 Serial 6198
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Author de Mey, Y.; Wauters, E.; Schmid, D.; Lips, M.; Vancauteren, M.; Van Passel, S.
Title Farm household risk balancing : empirical evidence from Switzerland Type A1 Journal article
Year 2016 Publication European Review Of Agricultural Economics Abbreviated Journal Eur Rev Agric Econ
Volume 43 Issue 4 Pages
Keywords A1 Journal article; Economics
Abstract Empirical evidence on household risk balancing behaviour is presented by estimating a fixed effects seemingly unrelated regression model using Swiss Farm Accountancy Data Network data. We find that in response to changes in expected business risks, Swiss farm households not only make strategic farm financial risk decisions (original risk balancing), but also make strategic off-farm decisions (household risk balancing) by altering their share of off-farm income and relative consumption. Small farms appear to make more use of household risk balancing strategies whereas large farms conversely make more use of the original risk balancing strategy.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000386026600005 Publication Date 2015-11-05
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0165-1587; 1464-3618 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 1.6 Times cited 15 Open Access
Notes ; This research was funded by a scholarship from the Agency for Innovation by Science and Technology (IWT) in Flanders. The authors are very grateful to Ludwig Lauwers and Frankwin van Winsen for many helpful discussions. They also thank the editor and two anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments and conference/workshop participants from ART, BAAE, EAAE, KU Leuven and WUR for excellent comments on earlier versions of the article. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Agroscope Institute for Sustainability Sciences ISS. ; Approved Most recent IF: 1.6
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:138183 Serial 6202
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Author Vanschoenwinkel, J.; Moretti, M.; Van Passel, S.
Title The effect of policy leveraging climate change adaptive capacity in agriculture Type A1 Journal Article
Year 2020 Publication European Review Of Agricultural Economics Abbreviated Journal Eur Rev Agric Econ
Volume Issue Pages
Keywords A1 Journal Article; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract Agricultural adaptation to climate change is indispensable. However, the degree of adaptation depends on adaptive capacity levels and it only takes place if the appropriate resources are present. Cross-sectional climate response models ignore this requirement. This paper adapts the Ricardian method to control for a generic territorial adaptive capacity index. The results for a sample of over 60.000 European farms show a significant non-linear positive relationship between adaptive capacity and climate responsiveness and that some regions in Europe can increase their climate responsiveness significantly. This confirms that improvement of adaptive capacity is an important policy tool to enhance adaptation.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000558982300007 Publication Date 2019-03-14
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0165-1587 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 3.4 Times cited Open Access
Notes This paper was supported by the Horizon 2020 project SUFISA (Grant Agreement No. 635577). Approved Most recent IF: 3.4; 2020 IF: 1.6
Call Number ENM @ enm @c:irua:167258 Serial 6350
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Author Fabri, C.; Moretti, M.; Van Passel, S.
Title On the (ir)relevance of heatwaves in climate change impacts on European agriculture Type A1 Journal article
Year 2022 Publication Climatic Change Abbreviated Journal Climatic Change
Volume 174 Issue 1-2 Pages 16-20
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract The Ricardian model is a widely used approach based on cross-sectional regression analysis to estimate climate change impacts on agricultural productivity. Up until now, researchers have focused on the impacts of gradual changes in temperature and precipitation, even though climate change is known to encompass also changes in the severity and frequency of extreme weather events. This research investigates the impact of heatwaves on European agriculture, additional to the impact of average climate change. Using a dataset of more than 60,000 European farms, the study examines whether adding a measure for heatwaves to the Ricardian model influences its results. We find that heatwaves have a minor impact on agricultural productivity and that this impact is moderated by average temperature. In colder regions, farm productivity increases with the number of heatwave days. For warmer regions, land values decrease with heatwave frequency. Despite the moderating effect, the marginal effect of heatwave frequency, i.e. the percentage change in agricultural land values caused by one more heatwave day per year, is small in comparison to the effect of average temperature increases. Non-marginal effects are found to be relevant, but only in the case of increased heatwave frequency. According to our results, farms are not expected to suffer more from extreme weather than from mean climate change, as was claimed by several previous studies.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000861873100002 Publication Date 2022-09-29
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0165-0009; 1573-1480 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record
Impact Factor 4.8 Times cited Open Access OpenAccess
Notes Approved Most recent IF: 4.8
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:191483 Serial 7364
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Author Vanschoenwinkel, J.; Van Passel, S.
Title Climate response of rainfed versus irrigated farms: the bias of farm heterogeneity in irrigation Type A1 Journal article
Year 2018 Publication Climatic Change Abbreviated Journal Climatic Change
Volume 147 Issue 1-2 Pages 225-234
Keywords A1 Journal article; Engineering Management (ENM)
Abstract Researchers who do not take into account farm heterogeneity in implementing specific climate change adaptation options might significantly bias their findings. To prove this point, this paper focusses on irrigation as an adaptation option to climate change and highlights the fact that there is no such thing as “irrigation.” Instead, different farms consider water management options across a spectrum that ranges from purely rainfed farms to purely irrigated farms with in between the extreme practices such as supplemental irrigation, water conservation practices, and different irrigation techniques. Accounting for such differences is necessary, yet difficult due to a lack of farm-specific data on water management and irrigation. This paper uses unique Farm Accountancy Data Network data of Western European farmers on the proportion of farmland that each farm irrigates. Unlike previous work, this allows taking into account some within-irrigation heterogeneity instead of simply categorizing farms as being “irrigated.” We estimate and compare climate response models based on the Ricardian cross-sectional method for a large range of irrigation categories. The results give insights into how the farm irrigation climate response can be significantly different depending on how irrigation is defined. This proves that ignoring within-adaptation differences when comparing non-adaptation with adaptation (in this case, rainfed versus irrigated agriculture) might lead to biased conclusions with regard to effectiveness of adaptation strategies. We therefore argue that it might be more relevant to understand at which point and under which circumstances irrigated agriculture is more or less beneficial than rainfed agriculture.
Address
Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000425959700017 Publication Date 2018-01-16
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0165-0009 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 3.496 Times cited 1 Open Access
Notes ; This paper was supported by the Horizon 2020 project SUFISA (Grant Agreement No. 635577). ; Approved Most recent IF: 3.496
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:149895 Serial 6166
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Author Compernolle, T.; Van Passel, S.; Huisman, K.; Kort, P.
Title The option to abandon : stimulating innovative groundwater remediation technologies characterized by technological uncertainty Type A1 Journal article
Year 2014 Publication Science Of The Total Environment Abbreviated Journal Sci Total Environ
Volume 496 Issue Pages 63-74
Keywords A1 Journal article; Economics
Abstract Many studies on technology adoption demonstrate that uncertainty leads to a postponement of investments by integrating a wait option in the economic analysis. The aim of this study however is to demonstrate how the investment in new technologies can be stimulated by integrating an option to abandon. Furthermore, this real option analysis not only considers the ex ante decision analysis of the investment in a new technology under uncertainty, but also allows for an ex post evaluation of the investment. Based on a case study regarding the adoption of an innovative groundwater remediation strategy, it is demonstrated that when the option to abandon the innovative technology is taken into account, the decision maker decides to invest in this technology, while at the same time it determines an optimal timing to abandon the technology if its operation proves to be inefficient. To reduce uncertainty about the effectiveness of groundwater remediation technologies, samples are taken. Our analysis shows that when the initial belief in an effective innovative technology is low, it is important that these samples provide correct information in order to justify the adoption of the innovative technology. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Corporate Author Thesis
Publisher Place of Publication Editor
Language Wos 000342245600009 Publication Date 2014-07-24
Series Editor Series Title Abbreviated Series Title
Series Volume Series Issue Edition
ISSN (down) 0048-9697 ISBN Additional Links UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles; WoS full record; WoS citing articles
Impact Factor 4.9 Times cited 4 Open Access
Notes ; ; Approved Most recent IF: 4.9; 2014 IF: 4.099
Call Number UA @ admin @ c:irua:119931 Serial 6269
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