scholarly journals Conceptualizing a new circular economy feature – storing renewable electricity in batteries beyond EV end-of-life: the case of Slovenia

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matevz Obrecht ◽  
Rhythm Singh ◽  
Timitej Zorman
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Potential Solution ◽  
Renewable Electricity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Electricity Storage ◽  
Pv Systems ◽  
Battery Capacity

PurposeThis paper aims to forecast the availability of used but operational electric vehicle (EV) batteries to integrate them into a circular economy concept of EVs' end-of-life (EOL) phase. Since EVs currently on the roads will become obsolete after 2030, this study focuses on the 2030–2040 period and links future renewable electricity production with the potential for storing it into used EVs' batteries. Even though battery capacity decreases by 80% or less, these batteries will remain operational and can still be seen as a valuable solution for storing peaks of renewable energy production beyond EV EOL.Design/methodology/approachStoring renewable electricity is gaining as much attention as increasing its production and share. However, storing it in new batteries can be expensive as well as material and energy-intensive; therefore, existing capacities should be considered. The use of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) is among the most exciting concepts on how to achieve it. Since reduced battery capacity decreases car manufacturers' interest in battery reuse and recycling is environmentally hazardous, these batteries should be integrated into the future electricity storage system. Extending the life cycle of batteries from EVs beyond the EV's life cycle is identified as a potential solution for both BEVEOL and electricity storage.FindingsResults revealed a rise of photovoltaic (PV) solar power plants and an increasing number of EVs EOL that will have to be considered. It was forecasted that 6.27–7.22% of electricity from PV systems in scenario A (if EV lifetime is predicted to be 20 years) and 18.82–21.68% of electricity from PV systems in scenario B (if EV lifetime is predicted to be 20 years) could be stored in batteries. Storing electricity in EV batteries beyond EV EOL would significantly decrease the need for raw materials, increase energy system and EV sustainability performance simultaneously and enable leaner and more efficient electricity production and distribution network.Practical implicationsStoring electricity in used batteries would significantly decrease the need for primary materials as well as optimizing lean and efficient electricity production network.Originality/valueEnergy storage is one of the priorities of energy companies but can be expensive as well as material and energy-intensive. The use of BEV is among the most interesting concepts on how to achieve it, but they are considered only when in the use phase as vehicle to grid (V2G) concept. Because reduced battery capacity decreases the interest of car manufacturers to reuse batteries and recycling is environmentally risky, these batteries should be used for storing, especially renewable electricity peaks. Extending the life cycle of batteries beyond the EV's life cycle is identified as a potential solution for both BEV EOL and energy system sustainability, enabling more efficient energy management performance. The idea itself along with forecasting its potential is the main novelty of this paper.

scholarly journals Expansion of Renewable Energy in Federal Settings: Austria, Belgium, and Germany in Comparison

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Wurster ◽  
Christian Hagemann
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Qualitative Comparative Analysis ◽  
Policy Instruments ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Renewable Electricity ◽  
Federal States

In the face of accelerating climate change, the transition towards a nonnuclear renewable energy system represents a key political challenge, which can be aggravated by the increasing energy supply uncertainty created by the shift away from fossil fuels. In this article, we conduct a comparison of the expansion of renewable energy sources in Austria, Belgium, and Germany at the level of their subnational units (federal states), thereby covering three economically very important central European federal European Union members. We consider potentially influential factors in a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis: In addition to state-specific socioeconomic and geographical characteristics, political factors, such as parties in government, and specific energy-related policy instruments are included in the analysis. We find that a high potential for renewable electricity expansion in combination with low financial prosperity is most likely to lead to a successful expansion of renewable electricity production from wind and photovoltaics.

scholarly journals A Novel Control Strategy on Multiple-Mode Application of Electric Vehicle in Distributed Photovoltaic Systems

Complexity ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qianwen Zhong ◽  
Yize Sun ◽  
Lele Peng
Keyword(s):  
Electric Vehicle ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Storage Battery ◽  
Pv System ◽  
Pv Systems ◽  
Multiple Mode ◽  
Control Scheme ◽  
Battery Capacity ◽  
Annual Reduction ◽  
The Individual

Considering the booming development of electric vehicle (EV), this article presents a novel control scheme analyzing EV multiple-mode application in a number of distributed photovoltaic (PV) systems, which rationalizes the energy flow among the energy system participants containing a power grid, a grid-connected PV system, power consumption devices, storage batteries, and EV. Based on the control scheme, the authors propose two day-ahead optimal control strategies with different objective functions: one is minimizing the daily electricity expense of an individual distributed PV system and the other is minimizing the daily total expense of distributed PV systems which EV can be connected to. The model has been verified by the actual data and forecast data, respectively. The results show under the individual objective, in the distributed PV system with EV, the electricity expense can obtain an annual reduction of 27.18%. Furthermore, in the distributed PV system with a storage battery as well as EV, the electricity expense can obtain an annual reduction from 30.67% to 81.49% with a storage battery capacity changing from 1 kWh to 20 kWh. Under the total objective, the total expense and even the individual expense have different degrees of reduction. However, the specific benefits should be rerationally distributed by balancing the interests of all the distributed PV systems. In addition, besides the application in the distributed PV systems, this model may have some potential on the development of a regional energy system.

scholarly journals Vehicle-to-Grid in Standard and Fast Electric Vehicle Charging: Comparison of Renewable Energy Source Utilization and Charging Costs

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anamarija Falkoni ◽  
Antun Pfeifer ◽  
Goran Krajačić
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Electric Vehicles ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Social Aspects ◽  
Transport Sector ◽  
Renewable Electricity ◽  
Electricity Prices ◽  
Vehicle To Grid ◽  
Fast Charging

Croatia aims to achieve 10% of its energy production from the renewable energy sources in the total energy consumption in the transport sector. One of the ways to achieve this goal is by the use of electric vehicles. This work comparatively analyses the financial and social aspects of vehicle-to-grid charging in standard and fast charging mode, their impact on the renewable electricity production and the total electricity consumption regulated through variable electricity prices. Data were taken for the wider urban area of the Dubrovnik region. The assumption is that the Dubrovnik region will be self-sufficient by the year 2050 with 100% renewable electricity production and that all conventional vehicles will be replaced by electric vehicles. This work aims to show that the fast charging based on 10 min time steps offers more opportunities for flexibility and utilization of renewable generation in the energy system than the standard charging based on hourly time step. The results of this work showed the opposite, where in most of the scenarios standard charging provided better results. Replacement of the existing two tariff model in electricity prices with variable electricity prices contributes to the stability of the energy system, providing better regulation of charging and higher opportunities for renewable electricity utilization in standard and fast charging and reduction of charging costs. According to the financial aspects, fast charging is shown to be more expensive, but for the social aspects, it provides electric vehicles with more opportunities for better competition in the market.

Reducing e-waste in China's mobile electronics industry: the application of the innovative circular business models

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 591-610
Author(s):  
Alastair Marke ◽  
Carmen Chan ◽  
Gozde Taskin ◽  
Theo Hacking
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Business Model ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Resource Recovery ◽  
Electronics Industry ◽  
Waste Reduction ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Industrial Symbiosis ◽  
Resource Value ◽  
Content Type

PurposeThe objectives of this research are to (1) fill the evidence gap of circular business activities and (2) enrich the knowledge base about the drivers of and barriers to circular economy business model (CEBM) that supports e-waste reduction in China’s mobile electronics industry. To answer the overarching research question of whether there are CEBMs emerging to address e-waste in China’ mobile electronics industry, we in this paper divided it into three sub-questions: (1) What CEBMs can support e-waste reduction? (2) Is there evidence for their implementation in China? and (3) What are the drivers of and barriers to these business model innovations?Design/methodology/approachWe started with setting the scene on the importance of better e-waste management and the scale of e-waste problem in China. Building on the oft-quoted ReSOLVE framework, developed by EMF (2015) and consolidated in Lewandowski (2016), we have refined from it 11 CEBMs to suit the context of e-waste reduction. These 11 models include regenerate, life cycle extension, take-back services, product sharing systems, optimise resource value, produce on demand, circular supplies, resource recovery, industrial symbiosis, product-as-a-service and transformative innovation. We have mapped these refined models against the evidence of circular business practices identified in the corporate sustainability reports of eight out of top 12 mobile electronics manufacturers in China.FindingsOur research findings show that six out of these 11 CEBMs are de facto practised in many of these companies. They include life cycle extension, collection services, optimise resource value, circular supplies, resource recovery and industrial symbiosis, although circular economy is still early-stage endeavours in the industry. As confirmed in our expert and company interviews, CEBM stems largely from profit and policy drivers. The key to building successful CEBMs to eliminate e-waste is, indeed, multi-stakeholder collaboration across the mobile electronics industry, which involves effective collection, reuse and recycling systems.Originality/valueThe lessons learnt can promote peer learning among EEE manufacturers and inform policymakers of effective strategies to create an enabling environment in which circular economy models can thrive.

Materials passport's review: challenges and opportunities toward a circular economy building sector

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mayara Regina Munaro ◽  
Sergio Fernando Tavares
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
Knowledge Domain ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities

PurposeReuse and recycling building materials depend on an efficient set of information and tracking, which can be obtained by the materials passport (MP) tool. Although MP introduces principles of circular economy (CE) and brings environmental, social and economic benefits, it is little-explored in the construction sector. The purpose of this study is to explore the adoption of the MP in the sector to raise awareness about this tool. This analysis leads to the conception of a model and identifies the main challenges and opportunities to increase MP implementation in the sector.Design/methodology/approachThrough a systematic literature review, based on the descriptive and thematic analysis, articles were selected, and analyzed to (1) review the MP state-of-the-art in the construction sector; (2) propose a materials passport model and (3) list the main challenges and opportunities to MP adoption.FindingsThe studies about MP were concentrated on strategies to implement general concepts and business opportunities. The MP model was proposed to overcome the lack of studies and understanding showed in the review. The model aimed to improve the recovery and reuse of materials across a building's life cycle. Challenges and opportunities were raised to direct decision-makers and support the development of this tool. A systematic regulation in the construction value chain and policy systems is crucial for creating digital platforms for data management of buildings' material.Originality/valueThis study developed an MP model to enable the management of building materials at different stages of the building's life cycle and contributes to future developments of the studies on this knowledge domain.

Environmental life cycle analysis of a fixed PV energy system and a two-axis sun tracking PV energy system in a low-energy house in Turkey

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 391-399
Author(s):  
Ceyda Aksoy Tırmıkçı ◽  
Cenk Yavuz
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Solar Radiation ◽  
System Design ◽  
Tracking System ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Energy Output ◽  
Total Solar Radiation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Pv Modules ◽  
Fixed System

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose a fixed PV energy system design and a sun tracking PV energy system design to meet the primitive energy demands of a typical house in Sakarya, Turkey with energy payback times (EPBT) and greenhouse payback times (GPBT) calculations. Design/methodology/approach The designs were developed based on the total solar radiation received on the surface of the PV modules. The EPBT and the GPBT of the designs were investigated by utilizing the current embodied energy data of the literature and annual energy output of the proposed systems. The monthly mean total solar radiation, the yearly total solar radiation and the annual energy output of the systems were calculated according to the results of previous studies of authors on 80-W prototypes of a fixed PV energy system tilted at the yearly optimum tilt angle of Sakarya and a two-axis sun tracking PV energy system. Findings The annual energy outputs of the fixed system and the tracking system were established to be 10.092 and 10.311 MJ, respectively. EPBT of the systems were estimated 15.347 years for the fixed system and 11.932 years for the tracking systems which were less than the lifespan of PV modules. The greenhouse gas emitted to produce and install the systems were estimated to be 6,899.342 kg for the fixed system and 5,040.097 kg for the tracking system. GPBT of the systems were calculated to be 5.203 and 2.658 years, respectively. Originality/value PV energy is clean without greenhouse gas emission during the operation. However, significant emissions occur in the life cycle of PV modules until the installation is completed. Therefore reducing the number of PV modules make great differences in the GPBT of PV energy systems. In this paper, comparisons between the GPBT results of the optimally tilted fixed system and tracking system were performed to discuss the best option by means of environmental concerns.

Life Cycle Cost Aspects of BIPV and Conventional Building Components

2014 ◽  
Vol 1051 ◽  
pp. 696-700 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thorsten Schuetze
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Significant Degree ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Detailed Calculation ◽  
Renewable Electricity ◽  
Building Integrated Photovoltaic ◽  
Building Components ◽  
Cost Calculations

Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) components can replace conventional components for the construction of building skins and they can produce renewable electricity during their lifetime. BIPV components can have therefore lower life cycle costs than conventional building components, which do not generate any gain during their lifecycle. The detailed calculation of economical profitability of BIPV is dependent on multiple factors, such as the specific case and the specific basic conditions. However, exemplary calculations indicate that it is possible to compensate the cumulative costs of BIPV components, at least to a significant degree, if the gain of the renewable electricity production during a BIPV component’s lifetime is considered in the life cycle cost calculations. Accordingly, BIPV systems are in general economically more profitable than ground-mounted PV power plants in open areas.

scholarly journals Circular economy in the construction sector: advancing environmental performance through systemic and holistic thinking

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magnus Sparrevik ◽  
Luitzen de Boer ◽  
Ottar Michelsen ◽  
Christofer Skaar ◽  
Haley Knudson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
Recursive Structure ◽  
Effective Implementation ◽  
Environmental Effectiveness ◽  
Standards And Regulations ◽  
Management Schemes ◽  
Different Levels

AbstractThe construction sector is progressively becoming more circular by reducing waste, re-using building materials and adopting regenerative solutions for energy production and biodiversity protection. The implications of circularity on construction activities are complex and require the careful evaluation of impacts to select the appropriate path forward. Evaluations of circular solutions and their environmental effectiveness are often performed based on various types of life cycle-based impact assessments. This paper uses systemic thinking to map and evaluate different impact assessment methodologies and their implications for a shift to more circular solutions. The following systemic levels are used to group the methodologies: product (material life cycle declarations and building assessments), organisation (certification and management schemes) and system (policies, standards and regulations). The results confirm that circular economy is integrated at all levels. However, development and structure are not coordinated or governed unidirectionally, but rather occur simultaneously at different levels. This recursive structure is positive if the methods are applied in the correct context, thus providing both autonomy and cohesion in decision making. Methods at lower systemic levels may then improve production processes and stimulate the market to create circular and innovative building solutions, whereas methods at higher systemic levels can be used, for example, by real estate builders, trade organisations and governments to create incentives for circular development and innovation in a broader perspective. Use of the performance methods correctly within an actor network is therefore crucial for successful and effective implementation of circular economy in the construction sector.

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