1,721,207 research outputs found
How will second-use of batteries affect stocks and flows in the EU? A model for traction Li-ion batteries
Full text linkAlthough not yet developed in Europe, second-use of traction batteries enables an extension of their lifetime and potentially improves life cycle environmental performance. Li-ion batteries (LIBs) offer the most promising chemistry for traction batteries in electric vehicles (xEVs) and for second-use. Due to the novelty of the topic and the expected increase of e-mobility in the next decades, more efforts to understand the potential consequences of second-use of batteries from different perspectives are needed. This paper develops a dynamic, parameterised Material Flow Analysis (MFA) model to estimate stocks and flows of LIBs after their removal from xEVs along the specific processes of the european value-chain. Direct reuse, second-use and recycling are included in the model and parameters make it customisable and updatable.
Focusing on full and plug-in electric vehicles, LIBs and energy storage capacity flows are estimated. Stocks and flows of two embedded materials relevant for Europe were also assessed (cobalt and lithium). Results showed that second-use corresponds to a better exploitation of LIBs’ storage capacity. Meanwhile, Co and Li in-use stocks are locked in LIBs and their recovery is delayed by second-use; depending on the slower/faster development of second-use, the amount of Co available for recycling in 2030 ranges between 9% and 15% of Co demand and between 7 and 16% for Li. Uncertainty of inputs is addressed through sensitivity analysis.
A variety of actors can use this MFA model to enhance knowledge of second-use of batteries in Europe and to support the effective management of LIBs along their value-chain
Environmental and economic assessment of durability of energy-using products: Method and application to a case-study vacuum cleaner
No full textThe article focuses on the quantitative assessment of the benefits and/or burdens of extending the lifetime of products. Longer lasting products can be less efficient than newer one, implying higher energy consumption, environmental impacts and costs. The article illustrates a set of indicators, named "Pro-EnDurAncE" (Environmental and Economic Assessment of Durability of Products), developed for the assessment of products durability from both environmental and economic perspectives. Pro-EnDurAncE indicators have been structured to capture various relevant aspects, as the impacts and costs of the studied product and of potentially replacing products, the maintenance and repair, the lifetime extension and the use of energy and auxiliary materials during the operation. The proposed indicators were illustrated upon a case-study vacuum cleaner. It resulted that extending the lifetime of this product produce environmental and economic benefits in the large majority of scenarios considered. For example, when the impacts of repair are negligible, the extension of the lifetime by 250 h (i.e. 5 years) avoids around 4.2% of Global Warming Potential impact compared to the replacement of the vacuum cleaner with a new one 15% more energy efficient. Analogously, despite the occurring repair costs, the economic benefits for extending the lifetime by 250 h are equal to 40€ (i.e. about 8.6% of the life cycle costs) compared to the replacement with a new product 15% more energy efficient. The article concludes that the Pro- EnDurAncE indicators are applicable to investigate the durability of products in several different scenarios and they are robust and flexible since the assessment can based on a large number of parameters and different scenarios. These indicators can be used to assess product at the design stage or to support policy measures to promote more durable products
Ten years of scientific support for integrating circular economy requirements in the EU ecodesign directive: Overview and lessons learnt
Full text linkThe paper presents and analyses the REAPro Research programme led at the JRC that allowed the Commission to move from the formulation in 2011 of a general policy need to improve circularity of products through design, to the concrete implementation in 2019 of innovative and ambitious circular economy criteria in entry market European legislation. This policy innovation entailed the robust development of complementary components along the policy process, including policy agenda setting (better formulation of the policy need), policy formulation (e.g. identification of indicators to measure resource efficiency of products), and policy implementation (initiation of standardization activities). The paper looks back into 10 years of scientific support to policy and draws some conclusions concerning the needs of scientific support for policy making
Life Cycle Assessment of repurposed electric vehicle batteries: an adapted method based on modelling energy flows
No full textAfter their first use in electric vehicles (EVs), the residual capacity of traction batteries can make them valuable in other applications. Although reusing EV batteries remains an undeveloped market, second-use applications of EV batteries are in line with circular economy principles and the waste management hierarchy. Although substantial environmental benefits are expected from reusing traction batteries, further efforts are needed in data collection, modelling the life-cycle stages and calculating impact indicators to propose a harmonized and adapted life-cycle assessment (LCA) method.
To properly assess the environmental benefits and drawbacks of using repurposed EV batteries in second-use applications, in this article an adapted LCA is proposed based on the comparison of different scenarios from a life-cycle perspective. The key issues for the selected life-cycle stages and the aspects and parameters to be assessed in the analysis are identified and discussed for each stage, including manufacturing, repurposing, reusing and recycling.
The proposed method is applied to a specific case study concerning the use of repurposed batteries to increase photovoltaic (PV) self-consumption in a given dwelling. Primary data on the dwelling’s energy requirements and PV production were used to properly assess the energy flows in this specific repurposed scenario: both the literature search performed and the results obtained highlighted the relevance of modelling the system energy using real data, combining the characteristics of both the battery and its application. The LCA results confirmed that the environmental benefits of adopting repurposed batteries to increase PV self-consumption in a house occur under specific conditions and that the benefits are more or less considerable depending on the impact category assessed. Higher environmental benefits refer to impact categories dominated by the manufacturing and repurposing stages. Some of the most relevant parameters (e.g. residual capacity and allocation factor) were tested in a sensitivity analysis. The method can be used in other repurposing application cases if parameters for these cases can be determined by experimental tests, modelling or extracting data from the literature
Analysing the contribution of automotive remanufacturing to the circularity of materials
Full text linkRemanufacturing can boost resource efficiency, circularity of raw materials and reduce environmental impacts. Material Flow Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment tools are integrated to assess the contribution of remanufacturing in reducing both consumption and impacts of primary resources for passenger cars. Results show that remanufacturing allows keeping within EU about 150,000 tonnes of materials, which is particularly relevant for Critical Raw Materials, such as rare-earth elements. Also, remanufacturing contributes in decreasing environmental impacts of vehicle's key components, as combustion engines (up to 79% of Global Warming Potential reduction). Further work will address data gaps and it will include current/innovative mobility
Life Cycle Assessment of repurposed electric vehicle batteries: an adapted method based on modelling energy flows
Full text linkAfter their first use in electric vehicles (EVs), the residual capacity of traction batteries can make them valuable in other applications. Although reusing EV batteries remains an undeveloped market, second-use applications of EV batteries are in line with circular economy principles and the waste management hierarchy. Although substantial environmental benefits are expected from reusing traction batteries, further efforts are needed in data collection, modelling the life-cycle stages and calculating impact indicators to propose a harmonized and adapted life-cycle assessment (LCA) method. To properly assess the environmental benefits and drawbacks of using repurposed EV batteries in second-use applications, in this article an adapted LCA is proposed based on the comparison of different scenarios from a life-cycle perspective. The key issues for the selected life-cycle stages and the aspects and parameters to be assessed in the analysis are identified and discussed for each stage, including manufacturing, repurposing, reusing and recycling. The proposed method is applied to a specific case study concerning the use of repurposed batteries to increase photovoltaic (PV) self-consumption in a given dwelling. Primary data on the dwelling's energy requirements and PV production were used to properly assess the energy flows in this specific repurposed scenario: both the literature search performed and the results obtained highlighted the relevance of modelling the system energy using real data, combining the characteristics of both the battery and its application. The LCA results confirmed that the environmental benefits of adopting repurposed batteries to increase PV self-consumption in a house occur under specific conditions and that the benefits are more or less considerable depending on the impact category assessed. Higher environmental benefits refer to impact categories dominated by the manufacturing and repurposing stages. Some of the most relevant parameters (e.g. residual capacity and allocation factor) were tested in a sensitivity analysis. The method can be used in other repurposing application cases if parameters for these cases can be determined by experimental tests, modelling or extracting data from the literature
Challenges and opportunities for web-shared publication of quality-assured life cycle data: the contributions of the Life Cycle Data Network
Full text linkPurpose: The European Commission's Integrated Product Policy Communication, 2003, defined Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as the ‘best framework for assessing the potential environmental impacts of products'. Since then, the use of LCA and life cycle approaches has been developing in a wide range of European policies, and its use has also significantly grown in business. Increasing the availability of quality-assured Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) data is the current challenge to ensure the development of LCA in various areas. Methods: One solution to increase availability is to use LCI data from multiple database sources but under the condition that such LCI data are fully interoperable. Results and discussion: This paper presents original solutions and recent achievements towards increased availability, quality and interoperability of life cycle inventory data, developed through European Commission-led activities and based on wide stakeholder consultation and international dialogue. An overview of related activities, such as the International Reference Life Cycle Data System (ILCD), the European Reference Life Cycle Database (ELCD) and the ILCD Entry-Level quality requirements are presented. The focus is then on the Life Cycle Data Network (LCDN). Conclusions: A non-centralised data network of LCI datasets complying with minimum quality requirements that was politically launched in February 2014, already includes several database nodes from different worldwide sources and has the potential to contribute to the needs of the international community
Roadmap for the European Platform on Life Cycle Assessment: facilitating data collection and sustainability assessments for policy and business
Full text linkAfter its debut in the European Commission’s Integrated Product Policy (COM (2003)302) as the “best framework for assessing the potential environmental impacts of products”, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has become increasingly essential in support of community policies and business.
Within this framework, the European Platform on Life Cycle Assessment (EPLCA), developed by the JRC, together with DG-Environment, represents the reference point for data and methods essential to implementing Life Cycle based approaches.. The Platform promotes the availability of data and information, with a focus on coherence and quality assurance.
Although methodology development is advancing fast, including the provision of authoritative requirements by the European Commission, the availability of coherent, quality-assured life cycle data and studies still represent a more major challenge to mainstream use of LCA and associated environmental footprint methods in business and in policy.
Although a lot of work has been already done, there are still several bottlenecks preventing the Platform to effectively and efficiently meet the growing needs of policy makers and other stakeholders. Seeking for synergies among tools, improving transparency and consistency of data, and populating the ELCD and ILCD DN with new data are just a few examples of further development necessities.
This Roadmap provides an overview of what would be required to further improve and best position the European Platform on LCA in relation to a slection of key on-going EC policy support activities required to facilitate environmental sustainability. The Roadmap specifies a number of action proposals. These actions are differentiated in the Roadmap in terms of time frame (i.e. short-mid-term describing circa 3 years starting from 2014, while the longer-term perspective represents a vision for the future evolution). Based on the availability of resources, three scenarios have been delineated to undertake to various extents these actions.
In short, the first scenario assumes minor changes to the current resource availability. This scenario would address only the most important needs, detected as transversal across the different EU projects and policies involved, including only the strictly necessary improvements.
According to the second scenario, efforts would be slightly increased in terms of additional resources. Given the current situation, this scenario seems to be the minimum-effort scenario to improve the Platform in a timely manner. This scenario entails, among others, the expansion of the data and information support tools needed to make e.g. the Environmental Footprint method development a reality; amongst other policy and business support needs of the community.
With major additional resources very important goals could be achieved in a fast-track manner. Through this third scenario, the Platform could become the unique reference point for all the life cycle based activities in the EU, facilitating interactions among stakeholders, policy makers and practitioners, and creating synergies for data exchange between the European Commission and other EU institutions (also at member-state level).JRC.H.8 - Sustainability Assessmen
Feasibility study for setting-up reference values to support the calculation of recyclability / recoverability rates of electr(on)ic products
No full textThe 'feasibility study for setting-up reference values to support the calculation of recyclability / recoverability rates of electr(on)ic products' commissioned by the Joint Research Centre is embedded in the activities of the European Commission targeting the improvement of the resource efficiency by promoting the recyclability of products. The objectives of the study are to define key harmonized methodological aspects to calculate reference values on recycling and recovery rates (RR rates) of materials and components for electr(on)ic products, and to assess the benefits and limitations associated to the development and maintenance of such reference values. It fits well into the European Commission's Circular Economy Action Plan of 2015 that calls for more systematic analysis of recyclability, in particular under ecodesign. To quantify the recycling and recovery rates of materials and components, three main options are possible and combinable: (1) use data on RR rates compiled to comply with the reporting requirements of the WEEE directive for WEEE input flows and combined with analyses of the input composition, (2) conduct, e.g. in the frame of research projects or certification processes, additional batch analyses at treatment operators, and (3) model the processes with simulation tools. In this study, the focus was set on option 1. The frame set by the definitions, methods and rules adopted in the European Waste Framework Directive and in the standards EN 50625 and TS served as a methodological basis to define the requirements on the data. The data collected through batch analyses in WEEE treatment facilities, compiled using the software WF-RepTool, checked and validated, were linked with data on the WEEE input flow to calculate material-specific recycling and recovery rates. To calculate recyclability and recoverability rates of products, the material-specific rates are combined with the bill of materials of the product. One task aimed at testing the data collection methodology on few materials (including some Critical Raw Materials) and components contained in two case studies chosen for their relevance for ecodesign requirements: washing machines and laptops. The calculation of reference values using a harmonized scope and harmonized methods would provide common data reflecting the economically running treatment processes used by WEEE treatment operators for calculating recyclability and recoverability rates of products. The calculated recyclability and recoverability rates of products can be used as one of the indicators of the material efficiency of a product, and integrated into further environmental assessments. The proposed method for the production of the reference values relies on the cooperation with stakeholders, for instance operators of treatment facilities and WEEE compliance schemes. The method provides new opportunities to link product design and recycling, as well as to enhance the dialogue between the stakeholders
Integrating chemical risk in industrial products design activities, applied to Aeronautics.
No full textDans un contexte réglementaire contraignant (REACh), ce projet a pour but de développer une méthode permettant d'évaluer, le plus amont possible du processus de conception, le risque chimique potentiellement présenté par un équipement aéronautique depuis sa livraison jusqu'à sa fin de vie. Le résultat s'intègre dans l'ensemble des paramètres gérés par les concepteurs, dans un but d'amélioration de la traçabilité des substances dangereuses et de maîtrise du risque chimique présenté par l'équipement. Le développement de la méthode s'appuie tant sur l'analyse des modes d'évaluation classiques de risques chimiques, pour différents périmètres, que sur celle des pratiques de conception aéronautiques. En parallèle, des tests in situ en Bureaux d'Etudes sont réalisés itérativement, permettant de définir des outils d'évaluation et d'aide à la décision adaptés aux besoins identifiés des concepteurs. Les travaux aboutissent à la proposition d'une méthode permettant au concepteur de répondre à la problématique risque chimique à partir des seules données issues du processus de conception, rendant cette nouvelle approche miscible à ses activités quotidiennes.In a restrictive context (REACh regulation), this project aims at developping a method enabling one to evaluate, as soon as possible in the design process, the potential chemical risk related to any aeronautic equipment' s part during their different life cycle steps (from delivery to end of life). Assesment results is integrated among the numerous data that are by designers, in order to improve hazardous substances traceability and equipment's chemical risk control. The method's development lays on the analysis of different chemical risk assessments modes (different perimeters) and the understanding of aeronautical design practices. In situ tests (design offices) have been run in an iterative way, in order to define assessment ans decision making tools responding to designers identified needs. The work done leads to the proposal of a method which enables the designer to cope with chemical risk problematics, only from the data resulting from design process : this new approach can be considered as miscible in designer's daily activities
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