Energy use and greenhouse gas emissions of traction alternatives for regional railways

This paper presents a method for estimating Well-to-Wheel (WTW) energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions attributed to the advanced railway propulsion systems implemented in conjunction with different energy carriers and their production pathways. The analysis encompasses diesel-electric multiple unit vehicles converted to their hybrid...

Life-cycle assessment of marine biofuels from thermochemical liquefaction of different olive residues in Spain

Advanced biofuels from thermochemical liquefaction, such as pyrolysis (PY) and Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), of olive residues in the Andalusian region of Spain (specifically in the province of Jaen) can potentially play a crucial role in the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the maritime sector. In this study, an...

Performance of a Single-Aisle Aircraft with Auxiliary Propulsion and Power Unit

The aviation industry has grown at a steady rate of 5% per year over the past decades and is projected to continue this growth over the coming years. In sharp contrast stands the increasing concern with the reduction of the environmental impact of flying in the short term. To this end, a fuselage boundary layer ingesting propulsor powered using...

Carbon Footprinting of Universities Worldwide Part II: First Quantification of Complete Embodied Impacts of Two Campuses in Germany and Singapo

Universities, as innovation drivers in science and technology worldwide, should attempt to become carbon-neutral institutions and should lead this transformation. Many universities have picked up the challenge and quantified their carbon footprints; however, up-to-date quantification is limited to use-phase emissions. So far, data on embodied...

Life Cycle Assessment of Alternative Traction Options for Non-Electrified Regional Railway Lines

The railway sector is facing significant challenges in addressing the increasing concerns related to climate change, environmental pollution and scarcity of resources. This especially applies to often non-electrified regional railway networks, with passenger services provided by diesel-driven vehicles. Innovative propulsion system concepts offer...

Toward Carbon-Neutral Water Systems: Insights from Global Cities

Many cities have pledged to achieve carbon neutrality. The urban water industry can also contribute its share to a carbon-neutral future. Using a multi-city time-series analysis approach, this study aims to assess the progress and lessons learned from the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions management of urban water systems in four global cities:...

Towards closed carbon loop fermentations: Cofeeding of Yarrowia lipolytica with glucose and formic acid

A novel fermentation process was developed in which renewable electricity is indirectly used as an energy source in fermentation, synergistically decreasing both the consumption of sugar as a first generation carbon source and emission of the greenhouse gas CO₂. As an illustration, a glucose-based process is co-fed with formic acid...

Maximizing Thermal Energy Recovery from Drinking Water for Cooling Purpose

Drinking water distribution networks (DWDNs) have a huge potential for cold thermal energy recovery (TED). TED can provide cooling for buildings and spaces with high cooling requirements as an alternative for traditional cooling, reduce usage of electricity or fossil fuel, and thus TED helps reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. There is no...

Nitrous oxide emission from full-scale municipal aerobic granular sludge

The nitrous oxides emission was measured over 7 months in the full-scale aerobic granular sludge plant in Dinxperlo, the Netherlands. Nitrous oxide concentrations were measured in the bulk liquid and the off-gas of the Nereda® reactor. Combined with the batch wise operation of the reactor, this gave a high information density and a better...

Energy recovery from the water cycle: Thermal energy from drinking water

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions contribute to climate change. The public water utility of Amsterdam wants to operate climate neutrally in 2020 to reduce its GHG emissions. Energy recovery from the water cycle has a large potential to contribute to this goal: the recovered energy is an alternative for fossil fuel and thus contributes to the...

Thermal Energy Recovery from Drinking Water

Environmental impact of constructions made of acetylated wood

In the global climate agreements made during COP 21 in Paris, the role of forests and wood products have gained more attention considering their important impact – both negative and positive – through deforestation, forest conservation, afforestation and increasing application of wood in durable (construction) products acting as carbon sink. A...

Urban Form and Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Findings, Strategies, and Design Decision Support Technologies

The research reported in this dissertation contains three complementary and overlapping parts: One, "findings": It assesses the factors of urban morphology that contribute to increased rates of greenhouse gas emissions per capita, and the ways they interact. It finds a significant but under- represented set of factors, distinct from but relating...

The potential role of wood acetylation in climate change mitigation

In a carbon footprint assessment, the greenhouse gas emissions during the life cycle of a material can be measured, and compared to alternative products in terms of kg CO2 equivalent. If applied correctly, wood acetylation opens up a range of new innovative applications in which high performance yet carbon intensive non-renewable materials such...

Building envelope refurbishment of multiresidential postwar buildings: Investigation via a case study

This project is aiming to reduction of energy demands, and greenhouse gas emissions consequently, by achieving less heating demand and higher thermal comfort for residential buildings. The choice of refurbishment as the best solution for that is investigated. For the needs of the project, a case study was used, carefully chosen to be...