Browse Topic: Climate change mitigation
As part of the decarbonisation process for passenger car fleet in Austria, battery electric cars in particular have been subsidised in recent years, as these vehicles are considered to be largely emission free during use and are expected to reduce emissions in future. However, in order to sustainably reduce the global greenhouse gas emissions of Austrian passenger car traffic, taking into account all types of fuel systems, it is necessary to apply a cradle-to-grave approach, as is commonly done in comparable analyses in the literature, which evaluates the emissions of the entire vehicle life cycle. The most important phase in the life cycle assessment remains the well-to-wheel phase, which includes emissions from energy supply and vehicle use. Due to the large number of influencing factors, highly simplified models are usually used for this phase in the literature. As part of this work, a methodology was developed that, allows an in-depth analysis of entire vehicle fleets by linking
The rising importance of sustainability in the automotive sector has led to increased interest in circular and environmentally responsible materials, particularly for plastic trims parts, both interior and exterior. This study focuses on developing textile solutions using recycled polyethylene terephthalate (r-PET) sourced from post-consumer plastic waste, along with bio-based fibres such as bamboo. These materials made into woven and knitted fabrics are studied to suit different vehicle interior applications. r-PET textiles show promising strength, aesthetic appeal, and durability performance. Bamboo fabrics are known for their natural antimicrobial properties and enhanced breathability. Extensive testing is performed to validate explored sustainable materials performance against key automotive requirements. With this study, we gain an understanding of the performance of variedly sourced sustainable raw materials for automotive specific textile applications by different manufacturing
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have consolidated their place in the technology market for the energetic transition, with global manufacturing capacity exceeding 1 TWh in recent years and costs falling in this competitive environment. At the same time, the number of end-of-life LIBs is increasing, stimulating the recycling industry to process battery streams, thus promoting the circular economy to meet the increased demand for strategic raw materials and decarbonization. Vehicle electrification is the main driver of battery production, but their end-of-life will take some time to be significant in volume in the next years. Consumer electronics such as smartphones, laptops and power tools are now available at an appropriate volume enabling the preparation of recycling industry for the moment. In this scenario, recyclers are looking for sustainable routes to absorb all these streams and the different LIBs chemistries (LFP, NCA, NMC, LCO, LMO) to recover the critical metals (Ni, Co, Cu, Mn
Whether it’s the meeting room of an office building, the exhibition room of a museum or the waiting area of a government office, many people gather in such places, and quickly the air becomes thick. This is partly due to the increased humidity. Ventilation systems are commonly used in office and administrative buildings to dehumidify rooms and ensure a comfortable atmosphere. Mechanical dehumidification works reliably, but it costs energy and — depending on the electricity used — has a negative climate impact.
The path toward carbon-neutral mobility represents one of the greatest cultural transformations in recent human history. Positioned between industrial heritage, emerging mobility technologies, and the energy supply sector are the users of 1.5 billion motor vehicles worldwide. Conflicting publications on raw material availability, energy efficiency, and the climate neutrality of propulsion systems have led to widespread uncertainty. This Illustrated Energy Primer provides a new foundation for orientation. It begins with a visual explanation of the basic concepts of energy and power, followed by illustrative comparisons of typical energy demands in vehicles and households. The focus then shifts to common types of energy generation systems. Using regional examples—from coal-fired power plants to wind farms, solar installations, and balcony solar panels—the guide provides clear and accessible performance benchmarks for energy production. Next, nine individual experience profiles highlight
Letter from the Guest Editors
As part of the Nano4 EARTH initiative, a national challenge launched by the White House and the National Nanotechnology Initiative, researchers are exploring how innovations at the nanoscale can lead to groundbreaking solutions for a more sustainable future.
A Dartmouth-led research team set out to determine if managing green roof soil microbes could boost healthy urban soil development, a methodology that could be applied to support climate resilience in cities.
Backed by a consortium of companies, Southwest Research Institute's demonstrator vehicle aims to prove the commercial viability of hydrogen engines for on-road trucks. For decades, the running joke around hydrogen being a viable fuel for commercial trucks has been that it's “ten years away from being ten years away.” Though hydrogen-fueled rigs operating at scale has long seemed like a pipe dream, shifting winds around the globe blowing towards decarbonization have finally pushed this technology to be ready for the road. With the demand for the development of new propulsion technologies rising, organizations such as the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) have ramped up R&D efforts to make this tech commercially viable. SwRI is an independent provider of research services and can rapidly assemble teams to tackle problems. SwRI's main mission is to push the boundaries of science and technology to develop innovative solutions.
There is great recognition regarding the importance of hydrogen as an energy route for the decarbonization of road vehicles. Several countries are making large investments to create products, services, and infrastructures that allow hydrogen to be used as a clean source for propulsion, but there are still many open questions. This complete hydrogen chain involves production, transformation, transport, storage, and use. Although many initiatives are seeking global production, the use of low-carbon hydrogen is not yet economically competitive. Therefore, for this industry to establish itself, and acknowledging the characteristics of each region, there needs to be more intense coordination of efforts between the different industrial and political segments. Low-carbon Hydrogen Use Across Economic Sectors and Global Regions establishes premises for the hydrogen economy and its main environmental aspects. It also includes proposals and scenarios to establish a strategy that relates to
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