Recent legislative developments, most notably the new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), state that by 2030 a minimum of 10% of beverages must be sold in reusable packaging formats, increasing to 40% by 2040. This makes a transition unavoidable, and requiring HEINEKEN to further increase the share of their volume sold in reusable packaging, to provide for the final distributors. Reusable glass bottles (RGB) are seen as the most promising material for this transition. Through a Design Science Research approach, this study developed two complementary artifacts. First, a conceptual model mapping eight strategic decision dimensions and their parameters, structuring the full configuration space for RGB supply chains. Second, a financial model translating this framework into a practical evaluation tool to evaluate configurations on performance and trade-offs financially, environmentally and operationally, and that quantifies outcomes such as cost per hectoliter, Net Present Value (NPV), Discounted Payback Period (DPP), profit per hectoliter, and CO2 emissions. The demonstration and evaluation confirmed that the models behave logically and align with theoretical expectations. Under benchmark conditions and at 500.000HL, the In-house configuration came out as most promising, with Hybrid close behind. Outsourcing can be the more attractive option at lower volumes, while at higher volumes the advantage shifts to In-house and Hybrid. Pooling consistently performed weakest, but could at lower volumes and lower fees be viable and benefits from the lowest operational effort. The impact analysis identified production strategy, crate strategy, and sorting \& washing as the most critical levers influencing performance and sub-configuration tests also showed that choices inside a strategy can have impact. It can be concluded that there is no single supply chain design that would always operate best. Outcomes depend strongly on volume and market-specific conditions. This research provides a structured configuration framework and evaluation model to support the transition towards reusable glass bottle supply chains.

This thesis investigates the implementation of Mission-Oriented Innovation Policy (MOIP) in Indonesia, using the country’s Net-Zero by 2060 commitment as a case study to examine how procedural justice influences stakeholder perceptions and policy outcomes in a lower-income context. While MOIP has gained prominence as a framework for addressing grand societal challenges, most empirical studies focus on high-income countries. Indonesia’s recent transition to upper-middle income status and its complex governance landscape provide a compelling setting to explore how missions are interpreted, implemented, and contested.

Using a qualitative case study approach and the policy arena framework, the research maps stakeholder interactions across four arenas: strategic, programmatic, implementation, and performance. Through eight semi-structured interviewsthe study identifies four key procedural injustices: limited participation, restricted inclusivity, lack of transparency, and barriers to legal recourse. These injustices undermine stakeholder trust, fragment mission interpretation, and hinder collaborative learning, ultimately reducing the effectiveness of MOIP.

The findings reveal that Indonesia’s hierarchical and siloed policy culture constrains reflexive learning and reinforces power asymmetries, allowing dominant actors to shape mission outcomes. The thesis argues that procedural justice should be treated as a strategic enabler of mission legitimacy and policy effectiveness. It recommends combining top-down structures with bottom-up co-creation approaches to foster inclusive and adaptive governance.

This research contributes to the literature on MOIP, energy justice, and transition governance by offering a context-sensitive analysis of mission implementation in lower-income countries. It highlights the importance of embedding procedural justice into mission design to ensure equitable, coordinated, and socially legitimate energy transitions.

Global food production faces increasing challenges due to population growth, urbanization, and climate change. Even in developed countries such as the United States, a significant number of people experience food insecurity (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2025). Therefore, alternative crop growth methods such as vertical farming are considered. Vertical farming is the practice of growing crops in an indoor facility by stacking multiple layers of production (Agritecture & CEAg World, 2025). While the vertical farming market is expected to grow yearly, multiple large bankruptcies of vertical farming companies in the U.S. in 2023 showed that it has severe drawbacks and difficulties competing with traditional farming (field farming). Therefore, a framework is needed to assess the viability of vertical farming. This led to the following research question: Which decision support framework can support the assessment of the viability of vertical farming?

The research approach used to support the development of the decision support framework is a single case study method. The case was on an ongoing project at the York State Fair in York, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which involved several stakeholders. In this research, the advantages and disadvantages of vertical farming were first compared to traditional farming in terms of economic viability. Disadvantages such as high investment costs and energy usage were found to be more financially impactful than the advantages such as no-pesticide use, and water efficiency.

It was found that multiple important stakeholders had concerns about profitability. In addition, there is potential for conflict due to different interests in what the workforce must be in the project. The most suitable solution was to include educational aspects such as hiring interns. In addition, to cope with possible external factors such as shortages in the agricultural workforce, including automation via robotics, could make the project more resilient. The business models best suited to the project are the differentiation and experience business models. Based on the factors critical to the viability of vertical farming, a financial model tool was made in Excel. This tool can calculate a vertical farm project's profitability and test how resilient the profitability is to changes in the critical parameters.

A decision support framework was created, consisting of the following six stages: “identify drivers,” “analyze business environment,” “analyze stakeholder alignment,” “develop business case,” “analyze viability,” and “implement vertical farm initiative.” The stakeholder methods that should be used include a power-interest matrix, value network analysis, and, depending on potential conflicts between stakeholders, a system diagram analysis. A Business Model Canvas can be used to develop the business case. The vertical farm's viability can be assessed using the financial model tool. If the viability is satisfactory, the vertical farming initiative can be implemented. Private organizations and public institutions can use the decision support framework to assess whether a vertical farming initiative is profitable in a specific location, what type of business model fits the vertical farm, and whether policies need to be changed to increase a vertical farm’s viability.

Transitioning to renewable energy is essential for mitigating climate change and ensuring long-term energy security. Offshore wind farms offer a promising solution by harnessing strong and consistent wind resources at sea while minimizing land use conflicts. However, developing cost-effective offshore wind farm networks in the Baltic Sea—due to its unique geographical and environmental conditions—presents significant challenges.

This study addresses these challenges by developing a techno-economic optimization model to identify the most cost-effective offshore wind farm network configurations in the Baltic Sea Region. The model evaluates various configurations, including national (limited to domestic connections) and international networks (allowing cross-border connections), as well as single-stage (planning the entire network at once) and multi-stage (developing the network in phases) development plans. It optimizes the placement and capacities of wind farms, energy hubs, and export cables to minimize total system costs while adhering to technical and capacity constraints. Key geographical factors—such as water depth, ice cover, and proximity to ports—are integrated into the spatial data processing method to accurately assess infrastructure costs. The model also explores different network designs, including hub-and-spoke configurations that utilize energy hubs to consolidate and distribute power from multiple wind farms. The incorporation of single-stage and multi-stage optimization approaches allows for holistic and phased network developments, providing flexibility in planning and implementation.

The findings reveal that international networks are more cost-effective, totaling €28.5 billion, compared to national-only networks. This cost advantage is primarily due to enhanced flexibility in wind farm placement and power distribution. Specifically, national networks are 1.51% more expensive due to less optimized wind farm locations and localized grid overloading. Additionally, single-stage optimization outperforms multi-stage approaches by reducing costs by 1.71%, highlighting the benefits of a holistic planning strategy. While energy hubs can lower export cable costs by consolidating power transmission, they introduce higher overall expenses due to the additional costs associated with the hubs themselves. Specifically, the hub-and-spoke network is 1.15% more expensive than connecting wind farms directly to the onshore grid, suggesting a need for improved network optimization strategies. The study further identifies potential cost savings by positioning wind farms closer to shore in ice-covered areas when additional costs resulting from sea ice adaptation are minimized. This adjustment results in savings on export cables, as wind farms positioned closer to shore within these regions prove more economical due to their proximity and positioning in relatively shallow waters.

Ultimately, this research enhances the efficiency and economic viability of offshore wind infrastructure by optimizing design and cost estimation processes. The study provides actionable strategies for effective planning and investment in renewable energy infrastructure, offering valuable insights for policymakers and investors. By addressing the spatial, technical, and economic challenges associated with large-scale renewable energy deployment, the findings contribute significantly to academic knowledge and practical applications. The research emphasizes the importance of strategic long-term planning and international collaboration in developing sustainable and cost-efficient offshore wind energy infrastructures.

The production of carbon dioxide (CO2) is the largest contributor to global warming. The primary source of these emissions is petroleum-derived fuel used in transportation, specifically in internal combustion engine vehicles. In response, the European Union (EU) has implemented a low-emission mobility strategy, aiming to shift towards low-carbon transportation. This strategy includes ambitious targets for electric vehicle (EV) adoption with at least 30 million zero-emission vehicles expected to be on European roads by 2030. This push towards EVs is driving up demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs).
While efforts to improve efficiency in EV battery production and use are intended to reduce environmental impacts, they might potentially lead to unintended consequences known as rebound effects. Rebound effects occur when efficiency improvements result in increased consumption or production elsewhere in the system, negating the expected benefits. These effects can arise from both behavioural and systemic responses to efficiency gains. Current discussions and policy frameworks often overlook the potential rebound effects in CE activities, particularly concerning EV batteries. This oversight poses a significant risk to the effectiveness of initiatives aimed at reducing CO2 emissions and advancing CE practices. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate these rebound effects within the CE context for EV batteries to develop effective mitigation strategies.
There is a noticeable gap in the existing literature regarding the interconnected dynamics of CE practices and rebound effects in the context of EV batteries. While some studies have explored rebound effects in other sectors, limited research examines how CE practices for EV batteries contribute to rebound effects across different lifecycle stages. To ensure the sustainability of CE initiatives, it is essential to adopt a systemic view that considers these effects. By doing so, businesses can develop strategies that not only focus on recycling and efficiency but also address broader systemic impacts, ensuring that increased demand does not negate the benefits of circular practices.
The research employs qualitative SD to examine potential rebound effects in the CE system for EV batteries. This approach allows for a comprehensive understanding of the system's dynamics by identifying causal relationships between physical and behavioural components. The study uses CLDs to represent the interconnections and feedback processes within the circular economy of EV batteries, helping to identify reinforcing and balancing feedback loops that drive system behaviour. The initial phase involves identifying key variables that influence the system's behaviour. These variables include economic incentives, technological advancements, regulatory frameworks, consumer behaviour, and environmental impacts. The relationships between these variables are mapped to create CLDs, which are then iteratively refined based on expert feedback to ensure accuracy and relevance.
Expert interviews are conducted to validate and refine the constructed CLDs. Professionals with in-depth knowledge of the circular economy and EV batteries provide insights that help verify the model's assumptions, structure, and behaviour. This validation process includes discussions on potential oversights or nuances that the initial model may not fully capture. The methodology also involves developing Circular Business Models (CBMs) as strategies to mitigate rebound effects. A review of existing business model innovations in the CE context is conducted to identify patterns relevant to EV batteries. These business model patterns are categorized to align with the rebound mechanism categories, facilitating a cohesive analysis.
The study identifies key mechanisms within the EV battery lifecycle that can lead to rebound effects, particularly during the usage phase. Three significant mechanisms—Income, Substitution, and Demand Adjustment by Efficiency—were found to be most prominent in this phase. To mitigate these effects, the research proposes various strategies. Dynamic Pricing emerges as the most effective strategy, capable of addressing all three mechanisms by adjusting prices in response to real-time market conditions, thereby preventing excessive consumption and production. Alternative strategies such as Pay per Use and Subscription models also show promise in mitigating rebound effects by promoting efficient use and reducing the need for outright ownership.
The research highlights the importance of understanding these mechanisms and selecting suitable strategies to mitigate rebound effects. Firms must focus on the identified mechanisms and integrate appropriate strategies into their business models to ensure sustainable practices. Furthermore, the study underscores the necessity of engaging a diverse range of stakeholders, including consumers, policymakers, and industry practitioners, to develop comprehensive and inclusive CE strategies. Future research should continue to refine these strategies and explore the dynamic interactions within the EV battery lifecycle to enhance the effectiveness of CE initiatives.

This thesis investigates the potential for implementing a Close-Loop Supply Chain (CLSC) in the End-of-Life (EOL) management of aircraft cabin seating materials, with the goal of enhancing sustainability within the aerospace industry. As global pressures for sustainability grow, particularly with the target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, the aerospace sector faces significant challenges in managing the lifecycle of its assets, especially cabin components like seating.
The research begins by outlining key concepts of the Circular Economy, Product End-of-Life, and Reverse Supply Chain, establishing a theoretical foundation for understanding the complexities of integrating circular practices into the aerospace industry. Through a combination of literature review, supply chain analysis, and a case study focused on Airbus, the study identifies key challenges, including the high costs of developing environmentally friendly materials, regulatory barriers, and the complexity of mixed-material components that complicate recycling efforts.
Despite these challenges, the research highlights opportunities for improving sustainability through better collaboration among stakeholders, adoption of advanced technologies, and supportive regulatory frameworks. The thesis concludes with actionable recommendations for implementing CLSC in the aircraft seating supply chain, highlighting the importance of economic incentives, improved material separation processes, and regulatory support. These recommendations aim to reduce environmental impact, promote sustainability, and foster a more circular economy within the aerospace industry. This study contributes valuable insights to the field of sustainable technology management, offering practical solutions for a highly regulated and complex sector.

It is necessary to reduce meat consumption due to its impact on the climate. Various organisations, including the municipality of Amsterdam, are already taking steps to address this issue. However, these efforts often face resistance from the public. This emotional reaction hinders the establishment from implementing meat curtailment policies (MCPs). Therefore, it is essential to investigate the underlying reasons for these emotional reactions and whether these insights can be used to design meat curtailment interventions that cause less emotional responses. Consequently, this research addresses the following question: "What underlies the emotional reaction to reducing the meat supply in company restaurants, and how can these underlying reasons be used to design policies to reduce meat consumption at company restaurants?"

This study employed two research methods: emotion networking and brainstorming. The first part of the study employed emotion networking to explore the reasons behind the emotional reaction. It revealed that reducing meat consumption, whether through meat reduction policies or otherwise, evokes feelings of threats to freedom of choice, coercion, and exclusion. People perceive meat as essential and consume it consciously. These positive feelings about meat reinforce the negative feelings about reducing meat consumption. The underlying reasons for the emotional reactions seem strongly interconnected, with individuals often experiencing multiple underlying reasons.

The second part of the study consisted of a brainstorming session, focused on designing interventions based on the outcomes of the first part of the study. However, the ambiguity and interconnectedness of these emotions and underlying reasons prevented valuable interventions from being designed. This raises a crucial question: what are effective interventions?
The findings of this study contribute to the transition away from meat consumption as it showed that threats to the need to feel socially or culturally included cause resistance against reducing meat consumption, and meat offering at company’s restaurants or MCPs. Moreover, it suggests that there is a negative perception that eating vegetarian means eating meat substitutes, which causes resistance. Also, the lens of transition pain has proven insightful to research resistance against MCPs. Finally, this study suggests that designing effective interventions that do not cause resistance is complex and perhaps impossible. Consequently, it seems valuable to focus on designing interventions that effectively reduce meat consumption. Therefore, the question should be addressed: What is an effective intervention?

Purpose. This research aims to further the knowledge base around the food practices of low-income indi-viduals that are either conspicuously or inconspicuously contributing to the circularity of the food system in the urban context. It does so by answering the following research question: What (in)conspicuously circular food practices do low-income individuals in Amsterdam Zuidoost engage in and how can further adoption of circular food practices be encouraged among them?’ By answering this research question, the study aims to provide insights for policymakers and others working on circularity in the food system into how to make the transition to an urban circular food system more inclusive, and thus more successful.
Methods. Both low-income individuals and organizations active in the food space, with a link to circularity and inclusion, were interviewed in a semi-structured manner.
Results. The research results show that low-income individuals in Amsterdam Zuidoost engage in a wide range of circular food practices, with a focus on prevention of food waste and the reuse of food for human consumption. The majority of food practices engaged in are inconspicuously circular. Conspicuous circular food practices concerned the end-of-life stage of food, and/or were practiced by higher-educated individu-als or those with a Surinamese background.
Implications. The following recommendations for increasing the adoption of circular food practices among low-income individuals in Amsterdam Zuidoost result from this research: First, food-related meanings such as health, cultural appropriateness, solidarity/community and the belief that food should not be wasted are very important to this group. Additionally, financial pressures are also experienced widely. Practitioners would do well ensuring that policies and interventions take both these meanings and the financial realities into account. Second, suggestions by the low-income individuals themselves showed a preferred focus on increasing access to materials and further developing competences that are part of circular food practices.

The global challenge of food shortage, exacerbated by population growth, climate change, and economic disparities, demands innovative agricultural solutions. Vertical farming (VF) emerges as a promising alternative, offering higher yields, efficient land use, minimal water and nutrient usage, and the potential for urban integration. However, VFs face significant barriers, primarily due to their high energy demands for artificial lighting and climate control. This study investigates how vertical farming can contribute to local energy grid stabilization through optimized energy management strategies. Focusing on a case study in Zeeland, Netherlands, an area with significant grid congestion, this research develops a Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model to dynamically adjust energy consumption based on real-time data from photovoltaic (PV) panels, battery storage, and grid prices. The primary objective is to minimize energy fed back to the grid, while a secondary objective is to reduce operational costs. Results indicate that optimized energy management can significantly reduce costs and impact on the grid. Flexible light schedules, aligned with periods of low energy costs and high solar PV generation, enhance grid stability and economic viability. This study highlights the potential of vertical farms to support the energy grid, contributing to the broader goal of a sustainable and resilient food system.

There is a lack of academic attention towards the relationship between local governments and circular economy social innovations. While academic evidence suggests that local governments and policymakers can positively affect the success of social innovations, there is a lack of in-depth studies on how exactly they support social innovation. The main question of this study: How does the municipality of Rotterdam respond to the emergence of social innovation in circular economy, specifically to CCIs? This study aims to discover what circular economy social innovations entails in the municipality of Rotterdam, what policies and policy instruments are employed by the municipality of Rotterdam vis-à-vis circular citizen initiatives, how the interaction between the municipality of Rotterdam and circular citizen initiatives affects the transformative capacity of the latter, which bottlenecks and/or tensions are experienced with regards to the relationship between the municipality and circular citizens initiatives, and how the bottlenecks should be resolved according to circular citizen initiatives and the municipality of Rotterdam. The Local Climate Policy and Action framework, and transformative social innovation theory are utilised to develop semi-structured interviews. Said interviews are conducted among two civil servants who are involved with the citizen initiative, six participants of the citizen initiatives, and two academic experts. The results reveal four main bottlenecks: clashing institutional logics, tensions between civil servant and CCI participants, municipal and national regulations, clashing ideas of value-creation, and provision of accommodation. Analysis also revealed that the municipality does improve the transformative capacity of CCIs, albeit to a limited extent. Subsequently, these results discussed and explain using historic accepted practises that ensue from historic institutional logics. The paper continues by drawing conclusions regarding the discussed results and answering the research questions. Finally, recommendations for future research are made.

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is a renewable energy technology (RET), that harnesses energy from the temperature differences between warm surface and cold deep-sea water. OTEC can generate a continuous stream of renewable electricity, functioning as a baseload energy source. To achieve this the ocean water temperature difference must be at least 20°C, favouring locations close to the equator where surface water temperatures are typically higher. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) such as Aruba have been identified as potential markets for OTEC, as many of them are located within such regions and exhibit favourable conditions for OTEC.

OTEC has the highest ocean energy resource potential of all ocean energy technologies. However, of the 44PWh/year in global resource potential very little is being harnessed. With OTEC currently in a pre-commercial phase it has faced challenges advancing to the commercial phase. A large contributing factor to this is a lack of financing and government support for the technology. The technology has a high capital cost with a relatively modest amount of operational plants built to date, providing a limited track record. Furthermore, on smaller scales the technology is generally not economically viable as it experiences considerable economies of scale, becoming substantially more economic with larger plant capacities. This results in a phenomenon known as the “valley of death” where smaller pre-commercial OTEC plants are not commercially attractive but results from such facilities are needed to convince financiers that the risk of building such plants is manageable.
To overcome this “valley of death” research exploring the technological and economic feasibility of implementing OTEC is vital to bolster confidence among investors and governmental bodies. This thesis project aims to contribute to this by conducting a techno-economic, power system model and stakeholder and institutional analysis exploring OTEC’s implementation in Aruba with the main research question:

Is it technically and economically feasible to implement OTEC in Aruba’s energy system and if so what technical, economic and social factors play a role?

The research is conducted using power system modelling as well as qualitative analysis. A concep- tual model of Aruba’s power system based on fully renewable technologies has been developed in a modelling and simulation tool. In this work on and offshore wind, land-based utility scale and floating PV and OTEC are analysed with Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) for storage capacity. The model has been formulated as an optimisation of a generation problem to assess cost-optimal solu- tions for generation investments to meet demand while satisfying all constraints. This is firstly done for a reference scenario in 2030, 2040 and 2050 and subsequently for alternative scenarios in 2050. Based on these optimisation and stakeholder and institutional analysis results, the feasibility of OTEC’s implementation in Aruba is evaluated and recommendations are provided on whether and how OTEC could be implemented...

This research critically examines Dutch water boards' journey towards the circular use of dredged sediment, set against the backdrop of water boards’ ambitious targets for circularity. Water boards, carrying the majority of responsibility for regional dredging, must navigate the surplus of approximately 40 million cubic meters of dredged material annually, with the declining availability of disposal permits. This has made the pursuit of circular solutions essential. Despite the central role of water boards in managing dredged material, particularly in freshwater contexts, there has been a lack of empirical study on how these actors are navigating and shaping the transition towards the repurposing of this material. As they confront this challenge, Dutch water authorities have set bold targets, aligning with national circularity goals: achieving 50% circularity by 2030 and reaching 100% by 2050.

The Dutch government published a Climate Accord in 2019 which stated that all houses in the Netherlands should be heated without CO₂ emissions. The Dutch built environment is currently being heated with natural gas which forces actors within the heating system of the Dutch built environment to look for new technologies. At the same time, the increasing electricity demand results in grid congestion.

This thesis investigates the use of hydrogen for heating homes in the Netherlands and explores different future scenarios. The research question that is being answered in this thesis is “What is the development status of the hydrogen niche for heating homes in the Dutch-built environment and which socio-technical scenarios can be expected?’’. The theoretical frameworks, Multi-level Perspective, Strategic Niche Management, and Socio-technical scenarios were complementary used to analyse the context. With these theories, the interaction between technology and social elements have been analysed. Additionally, a qualitative study is executed by conducting 14 semi-structured interviews with experts from the field.

There are various hydrogen technologies developed for built environments. Some technologies are focussed on space heating like the hydrogen boilers in combination with a heat pump. While there are also technologies being developed which are primarily aimed at addressing the electrical net congestion challenge like fuel cells. These fuel cells also enable decentralized hydrogen production and storage. However, the feasibility is doubted among the interviewers due to limited scalability and safety concerns.

Currently, the top-of-mind barriers regarding the adoption of hydrogen in the Dutch built environment are mainly the uncertainty about the availability of green hydrogen, future prices, labour shortage, and user acceptance. The dominant barrier is the uncertainty about hydrogen availability. Due to still lacking availability of hydrogen companies are hesitant to invest resources in the development of hydrogen applications. The barrier labour shortage has not been found in previous literature, which makes this finding a novel contributions to academic research.

In this study 2 socio-technical scenarios regarding hydrogen in the Dutch built environment are formulated. In scenario 1 a reconfiguration transition occurs, whereas in scenario 2 a transformational transition occurs. These scenarios differ on the extent the electricity grid congestion is resolved. In both scenarios an extensive international hydrogen market established. Scenario 1 deals with a large amount of hydrogen and poor electricity grid capacity. In this scenario, hydrogen will be used as an alternative energy carrier to the built environment by utilizing fuel cells. Scenario 1's demonstration that fuel cells can be part of the solution for the electricity grid congestion. In scenario 2, the hydrogen economy is established and there is a resolved grid issue, which will lead to hydrogen being used for direct space heating.

This study shows how the niche could react to the development of hydrogen availability and the ability of the network operator’s electricity grid capacity in determining the role of hydrogen in the Dutch built environment. Additionally, it underscores the significance of government commitment and proactive policies for sustainable energy transitions.

The aviation industry is one of the most challenging sectors to decarbonise. There is an urgent need to reduce emissions in order to meet its committed goal of achieving net-zero flying by 2050. Along with the existing and proposed decarbonization options such as electric aircraft, hydrogen fuel, and operational
improvements, a hard-to-abate sector like aviation would require large amounts of carbon dioxide removal in order to achieve net zero. One such technology-based carbon removal option is Direct Air Capture (DAC) which has the potential to emerge as a potential game-changer to mitigate aviation’s environmental impact. This thesis report presents an analysis of the suitability of adopting DAC for aviation sustainability, viewed through an institutional analysis lens using the Institutional Analysis and Development (IAD) framework. DAC is framed as a technology niche from the Multi-Level Perspective to get a descriptive understanding of the problem context and the interconnected parts in the larger picture of aviation sustainability innovations. Specific to DAC, multiple dimensions of DAC integration in the aviation sector, including technology, actors, and policy analysis are carried out. Employing the IAD framework, the underlying institutional arrangements, rules, and incentives influencing the adoption of DAC for carbon removal in the aviation industry are examined.

Data was collected from grey literature, industry reports and interviews with aviation industry professionals. To assess the suitability of DAC for aviation sustainability, various evaluative criteria such as carbon emission reduction potential, technological feasibility, cost-effectiveness, and market acceptance
were considered. There are trade-offs in using DAC for aviation such as complexity in carbon markets, uncertainties in carbon credit pricing, and challenges in accurately measuring DAC’s carbon removal effectiveness. It is seen that DAC holds promise as an innovative carbon removal technology with potential applications in aviation including but not limited to the use in sustainable aviation fuel production. The current state of technology is nascent but the proposed policies under the EU have the potential to drive the commercialization of this technology. The aviation industry stakeholders, along
with carbon market operators, DAC providers, and government policymakers, are key actors involved. The incentives and motivations of actors in determining the success and scalability of DAC for aviation are illustrated.

Based on the analysis, the following recommendations are provided. To minimize residual emissions from aviation, several strategic approaches can be undertaken. Firstly, fostering collaborative research and development among airlines, DAC technology providers, and research institutions can be vital to
tackle technological challenges and creating tailored DAC solutions for aviation. Secondly, governments should extend their support through policy incentives and research grants, encouraging DAC development and integration within the aviation industry. Thirdly, establishing robust standards and certification for DAC-derived Sustainable Aviation Fuel ensures the credibility and quality of carbon removal achieved, further supporting aviation sustainability

Climate change stands as a monumental environmental challenge confronting the world today, with ongoing global manifestations. Within the transportation sector, the carbon-intense essence of petroleum-powered vehicles, finite fossil fuel reserves, and strides in technologies such as batteries, fuel cells, power electronics, and electric motors have expedited the integration of electric vehicles (EVs) into the conventional automobile market.
The escalating demand for crucial metals within renewable energy technology sectors has raised alarms regarding supply chain security. It is imperative to fortify the sustained and secure provision of these pivotal metals to ensure the forthcoming viability of EVs. Numerous nations have committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, intensifying the future prominence of renewables, and underscoring the significance of securing metal supplies for EVs to meet the 2050 demand amid competing technological contenders.
Multiple knowledge gaps and challenges encompass the repercussions of EV proliferation on essential metal resources. Prevailing studies on metal scarcity focus on various scenarios, yet few target the exponentially surging demand for these metals stemming from the EV surge. While geological reserve perspectives have scrutinized metal criticality for EVs, this approach lacks a comprehensive panorama, neglecting influential factors such as geopolitics and competing demand. Furthermore, there exists scant exploration of alternative remedies to diminish reliance on critical metals within EVs and their consequences for metal supply chains. The feasibility of these alternatives hinges on their impact on vehicular performance, a determinant factor for broad acceptance.
The primary objective of this research is to address the inquiry: "How does the rapid proliferation of electric vehicles affect the availability of vital metals, and what strategies can be adopted to alleviate potential supply impediments?"
This research pursues a four-tier approach. Initial efforts involve delineating criticality for EVs and devising an analytical framework that encompasses diverse perspectives beyond geological reserves. A comprehensive review identifies socio-technical metrics instrumental in assessing metal criticality and their contributions to EV-related criticality. This informs the development of an analytical model, rooted in established frameworks, to evaluate metal criticality for EVs. The model then undergoes validation through expert interviews.
Subsequently, the research identifies potential bottlenecks in critical metal supply. Essential metals for EV functioning are identified through literature analysis. Building upon prior work by Habib et al., the research delves into geopolitical reserves and integrates future demand scenarios. Each metal within scope undergoes individual analysis, considering geopolitics and competitive demand, utilizing literature reviews to uncover potential supply bottlenecks by 2050.
The third stage concentrates on recognizing critical metals from the analytical model results and outlining alternative strategies to alleviate supply bottlenecks. Insights from academic and industry experts, garnered through interviews, illuminate the feasibility of alternative technologies and their metal consumption implications. Varied battery configurations and trade-offs are explored, employing a semi-structured interview approach to ensure thorough data capture.
Lastly, the research aspires to actualize alternative pathways to mitigate prospective supply bottlenecks. This involves examining existing practices that imperil suggested solutions and probing promising remedies to these challenges. The technological readiness of these solutions is gauged, considering their effects on EV design and performance. Policy approaches by global leaders, coupled with identified bottlenecks and solutions, inform actionable recommendations.
The pivotal factors impacting metal criticality for EVs encompass Geological Reserve availability to meet 2050 EV demand, Competing Demand Sectors, and a spectrum of Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, and Legal factors. An analytical model is formulated to evaluate metal criticality through each of these lenses. Key metals identified as vital for EV functionality are Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, Copper, Aluminium, and Rare Earth Metals (REES).
From the analytical results, potential supply bottlenecks emerge for Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, and REEs, stemming from diverse combinations of factors within the model. Expert interviews unearth alternative paths to circumvent these bottlenecks, including substituting REE-containing Permanent Magnet Synchronous (PSM) motors with other technologies, short-term adoption of Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) and Lithium Manganese Oxide (LMO) batteries, and long-term integration of alternative battery chemistries like Sodium-ion, Potassium-ion, and Solid-State Electrolyte batteries.
The readiness of these technologies is evaluated, alongside scrutiny of policies regarding Critical Raw Material supply and Net-Zero emissions, as observed in global leader initiatives such as the European Union. Drawing from this analysis, a compilation of recommendations is outlined for Global policymakers, EV manufacturers, and EV users. These suggestions seek to accelerate the integration of these alternative technologies within the Electric Vehicle Industry. The proposed strategies to veer away from metals susceptible to supply bottlenecks are summarized, culminating in practical recommendations for stakeholders, manufacturers, and policymakers.

GIS bottom-up analysis of the material stock of construction materials (concrete, bricks, mortar) in buildings in Brno, Czech Republic.

With what objectives do policymakers make transport policy? This fundamental question is subject to a paradigm shift within transport policymaking in the Netherlands. There is an increasing call to let go of the predominant focus on economic well-being and consider a broader notion of well-being instead. However, how exactly this 'broad prosperity' should be operationalized and integrated within ex-ante policy evaluations remains a challenge.

Therefore this thesis aims to aid this integration of broad prosperity, by suggesting an alternative approach to operationalizing broad prosperity. One that moves away from the content (i.e. what should it include) and towards the process (i.e. how should it be determined). By approaching broad prosperity as a context-dependent and normative concept, effective value-oriented participation becomes the vehicle to integrate broad prosperity into ex-ante policy evaluations. Through literature review and expert validation, this approach is translated into a practical framework with 5 categories of 11 process-related criteria. It is suggested that these criteria together constitute an effective integration of broad prosperity into ex-ante policy evaluations.

By performing desk research and semi-structured interviews, this practical framework is then applied to the ex-ante evaluations of two Dutch transport projects: the Meerjarenprogramma Infrastructuur, Ruimte en Transport (MIRT) projects Oeververbindingen Rotterdam and A15 Papendrecht-Gorinchem. The results suggest that while broad prosperity is being used to some extent in Dutch ex-ante policy evaluations, there is still room for improvement. The great efforts to reduce the information asymmetry among participants, appreciate the participants' knowledge, and ensure all participants' contributions within MIRT processes, suggest that the projects are on their way to integrating broad prosperity. The main areas for improvement include the limited influence of local stakeholders on project objectives and scope, the transport-oriented scope of the (MIRT) process, and the extent of representative value-oriented participation.

Future research could examine how to further improve in these areas, address the challenges of a process-based approach, improve the practical framework, or expand the data collection. Overall, a process-based approach to broad prosperity that prioritizes effective value-oriented participation is a promising direction for a more holistic transport system that better serves everyone's values.