scholarly journals The Environmental Impacts of the Grassland Agricultural System and the Cultivated Land Agricultural System: A Comparative Analysis in Eastern Gansu

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (24) ◽  
pp. 10602
Author(s):  
Huilong Lin ◽  
Yanfei Pu ◽  
Xueni Ma ◽  
Yue Wang ◽  
Charles Nyandwi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Production Capacity ◽  
Northern China ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Agricultural System ◽  
Cultivated Land ◽  
Primary Energy Demand

“Introducing grass into fields”, the major approach to modern grassland agriculture, is the crucial direction of agricultural structure adjustment in the farming-pastoral zone of Northern China. However, there have been few studies on the environmental impacts of agricultural production in this pattern. We used the life cycle assessment (LCA) method for the first time from the perspective of the entire industry chain from agricultural material production to livestock marketing, which involves the combination of planting and breeding. A comparative analysis of the environmental impact processes of beef and pork, the main products of the two existing agricultural systems in Eastern Gansu, was conducted. The findings showed that based on the production capacity of the 1 ha land system, the comprehensive environmental impact benefit of the grassland agricultural system (GAS) in the farming-pastoral zone was 21.82%, higher than that of the cultivated land agricultural system (CLAS). On Primary energy demand (PED) and environmental acidification potential (AP), the GAS needs improvement because those values were 38.66% and 22.01% higher than those of the CLAS, respectively; on global warming potential (GWP), eutrophication potential (EP), and water use (WU), the GAS performed more environment-friendlily because those values were 25.00%, 68.37%, and 11.88% lower than those of the CLAS, respectively. This indicates that a change in land use will lead to a change in environmental impacts. Therefore, PED and AP should be focused on the progress of grassland agriculture modernization by “introducing grass into fields” and new agricultural technologies.

An environmental impact analysis method of machine-tool cutting units based on LCA

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Junli Shi ◽  
Junyu Hu ◽  
Mingyang Ma ◽  
Huaizhi Wang
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Machine Tool ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Impact Analysis ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Analysis Method ◽  
Environmental Impact Analysis ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Primary Energy Demand ◽  
Tool Cutting

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present a method for the environmental impact analysis of machine-tool cutting, which enables the detailed analysis of inventory data on resource consumption and waste emissions, as well as the quantitative evaluation of environmental impact. Design/methodology/approach The proposed environmental impact analysis method is based on the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. In this method, the system boundary of the cutting unit is first defined, and inventory data on energy and material consumptions are analyzed. Subsequently, through classification, five important environmental impact categories are proposed, namely, primary energy demand, global warming potential, acidification potential, eutrophication potential and photochemical ozone creation potential. Finally, the environmental impact results are obtained through characterization and normalization. Findings This method is applied on a case study involving a machine-tool turning unit. Results show that primary energy demand and global warming potential exert the serious environmental impact in the turning unit. Suggestions for improving the environmental performance of the machine-tool turning are proposed. Originality/value The environmental impact analysis method is applicable to different machine tools and cutting-unit processes. Moreover, it can guide and support the development of green manufacturing by machinery manufacturers.

scholarly journals Environmental Impacts of a Solar Dish Coupled With a Micro-Gas Turbine for Power Generation

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Agostini ◽  
C. Carbone ◽  
M. Lanchi ◽  
A. Miliozzi ◽  
M. Misceo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Energy Mix ◽  
Micro Gas Turbine ◽  
Primary Energy Demand

Concentrated solar power (CSP) systems are regarded as a renewable energy source technology that can contribute to decoupling the energy mix from fossil fuel combustion and related environmental impacts. However, current small-scale CSP technologies (e.g., Dish-Stirling) have not entered the market yet due to high costs, complexity, and poor reliability. The EU-funded OMSoP (Optimised Microturbine Solar Power) project aimed at solving the small-scale CSP shortcomings by coupling a solar dish with the consolidated and relatively cheap technology of the micro gas turbine (MGT). In this study, an environmental life cycle assessment analysis of the production and operation of a CSP-MGT system is performed following an eco-design approach, thus identifying the environmental hotspots and how the system can be improved in terms of environmental impacts. The results of the analysis, per unit of electricity produced, were compared to other renewable technologies with the same level of dispatchability to better evaluate strengths and weaknesses of the system under exam. With regard to climate change, the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the CSP-MGT system resulted in the same range as those generated by photovoltaic systems. However, the system can substantially be optimized and the GHG emissions per kWh can be reduced up to 73% with respect to the built prototype. The GHG emissions are much lower than the current Italian energy mix (by up to 94%). To reduce the environmental burden of CSP-MGT plants, the system design here considered should be revised by improving the component’s performance and significantly reducing the reflective surface and therefore the structural materials for the dish foundation and frame. The replacement of steel in the dish frame with aluminum increases all the environmental impact parameters and primary energy demand (17%–27% depending on the environmental category considered) but slightly reduces abiotic element depletion (by 9%).

scholarly journals Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of EPA and DHA Production from Microalgae and Farmed Fish

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 699-710
Author(s):  
Sarat Chandra Togarcheti ◽  
Ramesh Babu Padamati
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Fish Oil ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Life Cycle Analysis ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Fish Feed ◽  
Farmed Fish ◽  
Primary Energy Demand ◽  
Dha Production

The present study aims at comparing the life cycle environmental impacts of polyunsaturated fatty acids production (PUFA) from microalgae and farmed fish. PUFA production from microalgae cultivated via heterotrophy and photoautotrophy was assessed and compared. The primary energy demand (PED) and environmental impacts (EI) of PUFA production from microalgae via heterotrophy were significantly lower compared to PUFA produced via photoautotrophy. Furthermore, PED and EI of PUFA production from fish farmed in marine net pens were assessed. The results indicated that the PED and EI of PUFA production from farmed fish are higher than that produced from microalgae cultivated via heterotrophy. Therefore, the results suggest that PUFA produced from microalgae via heterotrophy could substitute fish oil from an environmental perspective. Furthermore, life cycle analysis results indicate that PUFA derived from microalgae could potentially replace fish oil in the fish feed, thus reducing the pressure on oceans.

A PSO–GA optimal model to estimate primary energy demand of China

Energy Policy ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. 329-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiwei Yu ◽  
Yi-Ming Wei ◽  
Ke Wang
Keyword(s):  
Energy Demand ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Optimal Model ◽  
Primary Energy Demand

scholarly journals Environmental Impacts ofJatropha curcasBiodiesel in India

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Gmünder ◽  
Reena Singh ◽  
Stephan Pfister ◽  
Alok Adheloya ◽  
Rainer Zah
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Jatropha Curcas ◽  
Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Mineral Fertilizer ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Fertilizer Application ◽  
Assessment Procedure

In the context of energy security, rural development and climate change, India actively promotes the cultivation ofJatropha curcas, a biodiesel feedstock which has been identified as suitable for achieving the Indian target of 20% biofuel blending by 2017. In this paper, we present results concerning the range of environmental impacts of differentJatropha curcascultivation systems. Moreover, nine agronomic trials in Andhra Pradesh are analysed, in which the yield was measured as a function of different inputs such as water, fertilizer, pesticides, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Further, the environmental impact of the wholeJatropha curcasbiodiesel value chain is benchmarked with fossil diesel, following the ISO 14040/44 life cycle assessment procedure. Overall, this study shows that the use ofJatropha curcasbiodiesel generally reduces the global warming potential and the nonrenewable energy demand as compared to fossil diesel. On the other hand, the environmental impacts on acidification, ecotoxicity, eutrophication, and water depletion all showed increases. Key for reducing the environmental impact ofJatropha curcasbiodiesel is the resource efficiency during crop cultivation (especially mineral fertilizer application) and the optimal site selection of theJatropha curcasplantations.

Optimization of the energy supply in the plastics industry to reduce the primary energy demand

2018 ◽  
Vol 192 ◽  
pp. 790-800 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heiko Dunkelberg ◽  
Johannes Wagner ◽  
Conrad Hannen ◽  
B. Alexander Schlüter ◽  
Long Phan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Supply ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Primary Energy Demand ◽  
Plastics Industry

scholarly journals Myth v. Fact

2011 ◽  
Vol 133 (01) ◽  
pp. 24-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Reilly ◽  
Allison Crimmins
Keyword(s):  
Energy Demand ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Energy Prices ◽  
Primary Energy Demand ◽  
Business As Usual

This article predicts future global energy demand under a business-as-usual scenario. According to the MIT projections, conventional technology supported by fossil fuels will continue to dominate under a business-as-usual scenario. In fact, in the absence of climate policies that would impact energy prices, fossil fuels will supply nearly 80% of global primary energy demand in 2100. Alternative energy technologies will expand rapidly. Non-fossil fuel use will grow from 13% to 20% by 2100, with renewable electricity production expanding nearly tenfold and nuclear energy increasing by a factor of 8.5. However, those sources currently provide such a small share of the world's energy that even rapid growth is not enough to significantly displace fossil fuels. In spite of the growth in renewables, the projections indicate that coal will remain among the least expensive fuel sources. Non-fossil fuel alternatives, such as renewable energy and nuclear energy, will be between 40% and 80% more expensive than coal.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document