This paper presents an economic viability analysis of two investment alternatives for a pig farming located in the city of Jatai, Goias State, Brazil. The first investment alternative consists of the implementation of...This paper presents an economic viability analysis of two investment alternatives for a pig farming located in the city of Jatai, Goias State, Brazil. The first investment alternative consists of the implementation of a biodigester, being the biogas burned in a flare. The second alternative also consists of a biodigester, nevertheless the produced biogas is used to generate electricity. The methodologies to estimate the methane production in anaerobic reactors are presented, as well as those for the quantification of the baseline and project emissions and of the electricity that can be generated. The results showed that the use of biogas for the electricity generation is the alternative more economically viable.展开更多
This article tracked, identified, and demonstrated the economic and financial viability of the renewable energy sector from biomass in a Spanish Thermal Power Plant. The methodology used came from Theoretical postulat...This article tracked, identified, and demonstrated the economic and financial viability of the renewable energy sector from biomass in a Spanish Thermal Power Plant. The methodology used came from Theoretical postulates （GITMAN, 2004; VAN HORNE, 1993） called, Technical Preparation of capital budgets （Economic and Financial Analysis） called, payback, Net Present Value, and Internal Rate of Return）. The economic and financial viability results demonstrated were in two stages： the first identified that the plant is viable according to the payback. The second traced the economic and financial viability from the thermal energy production hypothesis equivalent to electricity power in the amount of 7,699.08 MWh, which resulted in the following indicators： payback of seven years and three months, NPV of R$ 369,064.98, and the IRR of 12.46%. Therefore, managers would have to make a user raising campaign in the ratio of 24.66%, taking into account of an unused capacity of 25%. These indicators were calculated using the following financial data： initial investment of R $ 3,654,731.86, operational income of R $1,262,264.16, operational inputs of R$ 503,639.59, and capital cost of 10.95% over 20 years. This industrial plant is located in the city of Cuellar in northern Spain, having two employees working eight hours a day; it produces only thermal power, represented in this study by MWh of electric power. This industrial plant produces power by burning forest residues from tree pruning. It was concluded that, given the research question developed in this paper--is the study plant profitable from the economic and financial point of view？--The response was identified by calculating the economic and financial indicators that the plant studied is viable from the proposed of maximizing sales revenues to 7,699.08 MWh.展开更多
Recycling spent lithium-ion(Li+)batteries is critical for achieving environmental conservation and the strategic recovery of essential resources.Compared with conventional methods for recovering cathode materials,whic...Recycling spent lithium-ion(Li+)batteries is critical for achieving environmental conservation and the strategic recovery of essential resources.Compared with conventional methods for recovering cathode materials,which are energy-intensive and prone to secondary pollution,the direct regeneration approach has emerged as a rapid and highly efficient method,gaining widespread attention in recent years.However,this approach faces major challenges,including degraded electrochemical performances and limited economic value.This study,therefore,proposes a high-value direct regeneration strategy to convert degraded spent LiFePO_(4)(S-LFP)into a gradient manganese(Mn)-doped regenerated LiFe_(0.7)Mn_(0.3)PO_(4)/C(R-LFMP)composite.This method leverages the inherent microcracks and Li vacancies present in S-LFP,likely acting as diffusion channels for the Mn^(2+)/Li^(+)ions.Through a two-step mechanochemical ball-milling and carbothermal reduction process,this approach achieves simultaneous Li replenishment and surface-localised Mn gradient doping with enhanced structural control.Notably,the R-LFMP exhibits an exceptional electrochemical performance.At 0.1 C,it delivers a discharge capacity of 161.4 mA h g^(−1)and an energy density of 563.5 Wh kg^(−1)(representing a 60.5%improvement over S-LFP).Additionally,it maintains 83%capacity retention after 900 cycles at 0.5C,a considerable enhancement compared to commercial LFMP(62%).Furthermore,the regenerated cathode material generates a net profit of$7.102 kg^(−1),surpassing the profitability of conventional recycling methods by 90%.Overall,this study introduces a transformative and sustainable LFP regeneration technology,achieving breakthroughs in electrochemical restoration and high-value recycling,while paving the way for the closed-loop utilisation of LFP-based energy storage systems.展开更多
Gas production from multiple coal seams has become common practice in many coal basins around the world. Although gas production rates are typically enhanced, the economic viability of such practice is not well studie...Gas production from multiple coal seams has become common practice in many coal basins around the world. Although gas production rates are typically enhanced, the economic viability of such practice is not well studied. In order to investigate the technical and economic feasibility of multiple coal seams production, reservoir simulation integrated with economics modelling was performed to study the effect of important reservoir properties of the secondary coal seam on production and economic performance using both vertical and horizontal wells. The results demonstrated that multiple seam gas production of using both vertical and horizontal wells have competitive advantage over single layer production under most scenarios. Gas content and permeability of the secondary coal seam are the most important reservoir properties that have impact on the economic feasibility of multiple seam gas production. The comparison of vertical well and horizontal well performance showed that horizontal well is more economically attractive for both single well and gas field. Moreover, wellhead price is the most sensitive to the economic performance, followed by operating costs and government subsidy. Although the results of reservoir simulation combined with economic analysis are subject to assumptions, multiple seam gas production is more likely to maintain profitability compared with single layer production.展开更多
The economic viability and social value of traditional aquaculture in rural Sierra Leone were evaluated. The hypothesis tested was that traditional methods of farming fish in ponds were not economically viable, so far...The economic viability and social value of traditional aquaculture in rural Sierra Leone were evaluated. The hypothesis tested was that traditional methods of farming fish in ponds were not economically viable, so farmers were investing their time/labour in less risky and more profitable livelihoods activities. The assumption in this assessment was that fish farming is an economic activity, and that for farmers to adopt or choose it over other livelihoods, the benefit-cost ratio of fish farming must be higher than that of alternative livelihoods. The main objective of the study was to assess why local farmers failed to adopt modem market oriented aquaculture production systems introduced by the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources in rural Sierra Leone. Two hundred farmers owning fishponds on family lands were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires and farmers＇ responses were analyzed using statistical tools （SPSS 16.0）. The mean contributions of different livelihoods to total annual incomes of farmers and the social values they attached to these livelihoods were compared. Results of the study suggested that traditional fish fanning was economically viable across the range of pond sizes sampled; but the medium-sized ponds were more profitable than the smallest and largest ponds, and labour accounted for 70% of total annual production costs in the systems assessed. The average benefit-cost ratio of 2.3 for fish fanning was favorable compared with that of 0.83 for rice farming, which was ranked as most popular livelihood activity by farmers. The payback period for traditional aquaculture investments was less than five years using informal investment loans （without interest）, and was favorably compared with that for tree crops fanning, which was also popular among farmers. Additional benefits of fish fanning included social capital and maintenance of kinship relationships.展开更多
The work presents technologies of materials,energy and water management that can be used for sustainable buildings,reducing costs and environmental impacts.The aim was to encourage the reduction of energy consumption,...The work presents technologies of materials,energy and water management that can be used for sustainable buildings,reducing costs and environmental impacts.The aim was to encourage the reduction of energy consumption,adequate water management and more sustainable material choices in new or existing buildings.For this,a diagnosis of existing technologies and alternatives was carried out in the first stage of the work.The second stage consisted of analyzing among the technologies and alternatives diagnosed from the methodology which can be applied in a fictitious case study of housing,its implementation and maintenance and viability analyzing,finally,environmental indicators,social and economic.The results showed that the best evaluated technologies/alternatives were in Energy:ventilation and natural light;in Water Management:double-action sanitary basin,flow restrictors,aerators with constant flow,and minicistern systems;and in Materials:bamboo,wood,soil-cement brick,earth,steel frame and wood frame,aggregate with ash from rice husks,aggregate with ash from sugarcane bagasse,glass,phase change materials,aggregate with residues of construction and demolition,Portland cement and cement with blast furnace slag;which can be used in the civil construction sector,and provide socio-environmental and economic benefits,encouraging new studies and its use for public/private buildings,aid in the elaboration of public policies to reduce costs and improve the quality of buildings.展开更多
The increasing global demand for sustainable agricultural practices and effective waste management has highlighted the potential of biochar as a multifaceted solution. This study evaluates the economic viability of su...The increasing global demand for sustainable agricultural practices and effective waste management has highlighted the potential of biochar as a multifaceted solution. This study evaluates the economic viability of sugarcane bagasse-based biochar in Brazil, focusing on its potential to enhance agricultural productivity and contribute to environmental sustainability. While existing literature predominantly explores the production, crop yield benefits, and carbon sequestration capabilities of biochar, there is a notable gap in comprehensive economic modeling and viability analysis for the region. This paper aims to fill this gap by employing a scenario-based economic modeling approach, incorporating relevant economic models. Findings include that biochar implementation can be economically viable for medium and large sugarcane farms (20,000 - 50,000 hectares) given the availability of funding, breaking even in about 7.5 years with an internal rate of return of 18% on average. For small farms, biochar can only be viable when applied biochar to the soil, which in all scenarios is found to be the more profitable practice by a large margin. Sensitivity analyses found that generally, biochar becomes economically feasible at biochar carbon credit prices above $120 USD/tCO2e, and at sugarcane bagasse availability percentages above 60%. While the economic models are well-grounded in existing literature, the production of biochar at the studied scales is not yet widespread, especially in Brazil and uncertainties can result. Reviewing the results, the land application scenario was found to be the most viable, and large farms saw the best results, highlighting the importance of scale in biochar operations. Small and medium farms with no land application were concluded to have no or questionable viability. Overall, sugarcane bagasse-based biochar can be economically viable, under the right circumstances, for agricultural and environmental advancement in Brazil.展开更多
There is a need for more focus in understanding the economic benefits of Climate-Smart Agriculture(CSA)interventions,particularly in sub-Saharan Africa,where extreme climate events are significantly affecting agricult...There is a need for more focus in understanding the economic benefits of Climate-Smart Agriculture(CSA)interventions,particularly in sub-Saharan Africa,where extreme climate events are significantly affecting agriculture and rural livelihoods.This study used the Net Present Value(NPV),Internal Rate of Return(IRR),Benefit-Cost Ratio(BCR),and payback period to evaluate the economic viability of the adopted CSA interventions in the three villages(Doggoh,Jeffiri,and Wulling)of the dryland farming systems of northern Ghana,where CSA interventions were mostly practiced.Data were collected from 161 farm households by the questionnaire survey.The results showed that CSA interventions including livestock-crop integration,mixed cropping,crop rotation,nutrient integration,and tie ridging enhanced crop yield and the household income of smallholder farmers.The five CSA interventions selected by smallholders were in the following order of priority:livestock-crop integration(BCR=2.87),mixed cropping(BCR=2.54),crop rotation(BCR=2.24),nutrient integration(BCR=1.98),and tie ridging(BCR=1.42).Results further showed that livestock-crop integration was the most profitable CSA intervention even under a pessimistic assumption with a long payback period of 5.00 a.Moreover,this study indicated that the implementation of CSA interventions,on average,was relatively profitable and had a nominal financial risk for smallholder farmers.Understanding the economic viability of CSA interventions will help in decision-making process toward selecting the right CSA interventions for resilience development.展开更多
The evaluation of sustainable land use is the key issue in the field of studying the sustainable land utilization. In general analysis, the sustainable land use is evaluated respectively from its ecological sustainabi...The evaluation of sustainable land use is the key issue in the field of studying the sustainable land utilization. In general analysis, the sustainable land use is evaluated respectively from its ecological sustainability, economic sustainability and social sustainability in China and other countries in recent years. Although this evaluation is an important work, it seems insufficient and hard to comprehensively reflect the whole degree of land use sustainability. Thus, to make up this deficiency, this paper brings forward the evaluation indexes, which make it possible to quantitatively reflect the whole degree of land use sustainability, namely, the concept of ＂degrees of overall land use sustainability＂ （Dos）, and research and measurement development of the method of and calculation in Dos. Taking the evaluation of the degree of land use sustainability in county regions of Yunnan Province as the actual example for analysis, results are basically as follows： 1） The degree of land use sustainability （Dos） is the ration index to organically and systematically integrate the degree of ecological friendliness （DeF）, the degree of economic viability （Dev） and the degree of social acceptability （Dsa）, able to comprehensively reflect the whole sustainability degree of regional land use 2） Based on the value of Dos, the grading system and standard for the sustainability of land use may be established and totally divided into five grades, namely, the high-degree sustainability, middle-degree sustainability, low-degree sustainability, conditional sustainability and non-sustainability. Meanwhile, the standard for distinguishing sustainability grades has also been confirmed so as to determine the nature of sustainability degrees in different grades. This makes the possibility for the combination of nature determination with ration in research result and provides with the scientific guideline and decision-making gist for better implementation of sustainable land use strategy. 3） The practice in evaluation of sustainability degree in county regional land use in Yunnan shows that the value of the degree of land use sustainability （Dos） of whole Yunnan Province is only 58.39, belonging to the grade of low-degree sustainability. Two thirds of counties in the whole province represent the grade of ＂conditional sustainability＂ and ＂non-sustainability＂ in the sustainability of land use. Among these counties, 11.11 % shows ＂non- sustainability＇. The lowest degree of land use sustainability appears especially in the middle plateau mountain region of Northeast Yunnan, where the value of Dos in most counties （districts） is below 40 %, belonging to the grade of ＂non-sustainability＂. The sustainability degree in the karst mountainous region in lower-middle plateau mountain region in Southeast Yunnan is generally low and the value of sustainability degree （Dos） in most of the counties （cities and districts） is below 55. The value of sustainability degree （Dos） in most of the counties （cities and districts） in the north, west, northwest and southwest parts of Yunnan is below 55. This article also analyzes the reasons of low degree of sustainability in land use in Yunnan and puts forward the countermeasures to increase the degree of sustainability in land use in the whole province.展开更多
In this paper, we investigate the properties of an alternative material for use in marine engineering, namely a rigid and light sandwich-structured composite made of expanded polystyrene and fiberglass. Not only does ...In this paper, we investigate the properties of an alternative material for use in marine engineering, namely a rigid and light sandwich-structured composite made of expanded polystyrene and fiberglass. Not only does this material have an improved section modulus, but it is also inexpensive, light, easy to manipulate, and commercially available in various sizes. Using a computer program based on the finite element method, we calculated the hogging and sagging stresses and strains acting on a prismatic boat model composed of this material, and determined the minimum sizes and maximum permissible stresses to avoid deformation. Finally, we calculated the structural weight of the resulting vessel for comparison with another structure of comparable dimensions constructed from the commonly used core material Divinycell.展开更多
Light weights wheels improve vehicle performance with respect to road handling, cornering as well providing fuel economy and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Aluminum wheels are currently used in many models and are ...Light weights wheels improve vehicle performance with respect to road handling, cornering as well providing fuel economy and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Aluminum wheels are currently used in many models and are produced usually by low pressure assisted gravity casting. Important property requirements are fatigue strength, pressure tightness, tensile strength, impact resistance, and corrosion resistance. Many attempts have been made to convert aluminum road wheels to magnesium. Race cars and some of the high end models (Porsche, Ferrari, etc.) have used magnesium wheels. These wheels have been gravity cast or forged. Viable corrosion protection systems have been developed and magnesium wheels have been used with success on these models. To use magnesium on more modest models is a challenge due to cost issues. Higher productivity casting processes or more cost effective coating systems need to be utilized. The project consists of selecting magnesium alloys for road wheels, examining the possible cost effective casting processes and corrosion protection systems, evaluating the cost per one wheel and comparing it to aluminum wheel costs. The wheels will also be compared with respect to fatigue and impact properties, pressure tightness, and corrosion.展开更多
This paper presents the results of a technical and economic optimization study of the prospects of the Caspian Energy Ring(CER),connecting power systems of Russia,countries of the Caucasus,Central Asia,and South Asia....This paper presents the results of a technical and economic optimization study of the prospects of the Caspian Energy Ring(CER),connecting power systems of Russia,countries of the Caucasus,Central Asia,and South Asia.The CER,belonging partly to the emerging Asian Supergrid and partly to the existing European Supergrid,will become a bridge connecting these supergrids,laying the foundation for forming a global energy interconnection in the long term.The expansion of carbon-free renewable and nuclear facilities,low-carbon gas-fired power plants,and traditional thermal and hydro energy sources within the CER were considered in this study.The positive economic benefits of the creation of the CER are presented.Preliminary characteristics of the potential CER were also estimated.展开更多
An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to assess the effect of soybean meal （SBM）, groundnut meal （GNM） and blood meal （BM） addition in diets with or without （1%） fishmeal on the performance, N-digestibility an...An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to assess the effect of soybean meal （SBM）, groundnut meal （GNM） and blood meal （BM） addition in diets with or without （1%） fishmeal on the performance, N-digestibility and cost of production of growing grasscutters. Fifty-four grasscutters （9-week-old） of mixed sexes were randomly assigned to six dietary treatments, using a completely randomized design （CRD） in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement, with three grasscutters per treatment and three replicates each. Treatments 1-3 （TI-T3） contained no fishmeal, whilst treatments 4-6 （T4-T6） had 1% fishmeal added. The diets were formulated to be isocaloric and isonitrogenous. N-digestibility was significantly high for SBM diets with or without fishmeal, 83.91% and 82.19%, respectively, followed by BM diets. Average daily gain （ADG） was significantly （P 〈 0.05） high （12.95 g） for BM diet without fishmeal. Feed cost per kg diet was the lowest （US$0.195） for the same BM diet. The results indicated that the inclusion of SBM and BM in the diet of grasscutters with or without 1% fishmeal could improve performance and it may be the most economical for feeding BM in the diet without fishmeal.展开更多
The emergence of mechanically one-way materials presents an exciting opportunity for materials science and engineering. These substances exhibit unique nonreciprocal mechanical responses, enabling them to selectively ...The emergence of mechanically one-way materials presents an exciting opportunity for materials science and engineering. These substances exhibit unique nonreciprocal mechanical responses, enabling them to selectively channel mechanical energy and facilitate directed sound propagation, controlled mass transport, and concentration of mechanical energy amidst random motion. This article explores the fundamentals of mechanically one-way materials, their potential applications across various industries, and the economic and environmental considerations related to their production and use.展开更多
As countries accelerate efforts to meet carbon neutrality targets,carbon capture and storage(CCS)is gaining renewed attention as a critical mitigation strategy.This review provides a structured synthesis of global CCS...As countries accelerate efforts to meet carbon neutrality targets,carbon capture and storage(CCS)is gaining renewed attention as a critical mitigation strategy.This review provides a structured synthesis of global CCS policy evolution,highlighting how incentive mechanisms have shifted from generic subsidies toward hybrid approaches integrating carbon pricing,green finance,and legal risk-sharing.Building on this,the paper introduces a policy classification framework that categorizes instruments into market-based tools,command-and-control regulations,and institutional support,offering analytical coherence for future cross-country comparisons.Beyond the industrial and power sectors,the review foregrounds an often-overlooked CCS application:addressing residual emissions in hard-to-abate sectors such as transportation.We emphasize the strategic role of CO 2 transport infrastructure-including pipelines,shipping routes,and port retrofitting-and introduce a dedicated section analyzing its cost-leveraging effects,infrastructure integration models,and life-cycle trade-offs.By embedding a life-cycle assessment(LCA)perspective,we demonstrate how different transport modes shape both economic and carbon efficiency.Drawing on case studies from the U.S.,EU,and China,we distill key governance lessons and identify the enabling conditions for scaling up CCS deployment.The paper also highlights governance gaps related to cross-border infrastructure coordination,carbon market integration,and just siting.Overall,this review contributes to literature on CCS governance and infrastructure transitions by offering a replicable analytical structure,expanding the scope beyond capture technology,and linking fragmented insights into an integrated policy roadmap for large-scale CCS commercialization.展开更多
Poplar has gained popularity among farmers of Punjab,Haryana,Western Uttar Pradesh,and the foothills of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh due to their fast growth rate and suitability for industrial uses such as pulp a...Poplar has gained popularity among farmers of Punjab,Haryana,Western Uttar Pradesh,and the foothills of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh due to their fast growth rate and suitability for industrial uses such as pulp and timber production.Integrating poplar trees into agroforestry systems optimizes land resources and economic gains,as successful techniques have been developed to coordinate crop timing and arrangements effectively.Integrating poplar trees with agricultural crops provides additional income streams for farmers and contributes to soil conservation,biodiversity enhancement,and other environmental benefits.Farmers in these regions typically employ effective spacing of 5 m×4 m for block plantation and 1 m×3 m for row plantation.In the present study,a systematic literature review encompassing 137 English-language journal articles was conducted to assess the economic benefits of Poplar using discounted cash flow(DCF)analysis,considering short-rotation poplar(SRC)and very short-rotation poplar(vSRC)plantations alongside annual crops.The findings revealed that increasing canopy density led to a decline in crop yields by 37%,70%,and 99% at canopy densities of 30%,60%,and 90%,respectively,from early spring to harvest.Cost-benefit analysis in Saharanpur district,India,indicated average annual net returns of USD 346.36 for Poplar-based agrisilviculture,while monoculture yielded USD 140.73 per annum.Furthermore,economic analysis in Yamunanagar and Haridwar districts showed benefit-cost ratios ranging from 2.35 to 3.7.Additionally,Poplar block and boundary plantations were found to sequester significantly more carbon in long-lived biomass,serving as substitutes for fossil fuels(5.45 and 1.84 t ha-1 yr-1)in poplar-based systems with block and boundary plantations.The study suggested expanding spacing between tree rows may mitigate resource competition between plantations and crops.The study inferred that Poplar-based agroforestry may play a crucial role in climate mitigation programs by effectively sequestering atmospheric carbon and offering fuel,fodder,timber,and wood products,thereby alleviating pressure on existing natural forests.展开更多
In the global transition toward sustainable hydrogen production,water electrolysis has emerged as a key technology for generating high-purity hydrogen from renewable sources[1-3].However,its overall efficiency is limi...In the global transition toward sustainable hydrogen production,water electrolysis has emerged as a key technology for generating high-purity hydrogen from renewable sources[1-3].However,its overall efficiency is limited by the sluggish kinetics and high overpotential of the anodic oxygen evolution reaction(OER)[4].Moreover,oxygen,the product of OER,has minimal commercial value,which undermines the economic viability of large-scale hydrogen generation[5].展开更多
Effective waste management is an important aspect of green building development.However,a number of studies find that construction waste minimization actions are not satisfactorily performed in practice.Thus,it is of ...Effective waste management is an important aspect of green building development.However,a number of studies find that construction waste minimization actions are not satisfactorily performed in practice.Thus,it is of significance to identify the driving factors that influence construction practitioners’waste minimization behavior.This paper aims to explore the driving factors by comparing the affecting factors and construction waste minimization behavior between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.Firstly,through a comprehensive literature review,potential affecting factors were categorized into five groups:background information variables,construction waste minimization intentions,economic viability,governmental supervision,and project constraints.Based on the identified factors,a questionnaire was initially designed and then refined through a focus group meeting with three experienced experts.A total of 166 questionnaires were collected and non-parametric tests(Mann-Whitney U Test and Kruskal-Wallis Test)were conducted to investigate the underlying driving factors.Results revealed that background information variables play insignificant roles in construction waste minimization.Compared with other affecting factors(i.e.,waste minimization intentions,governmental supervision,project constraints),economic viability is the most important driving factor that determines construction waste minimization.Results suggested that local governments should make policies that increase practitioners’profit,rather than just increasing their intentions or regulating waste management behavior.展开更多
文摘This paper presents an economic viability analysis of two investment alternatives for a pig farming located in the city of Jatai, Goias State, Brazil. The first investment alternative consists of the implementation of a biodigester, being the biogas burned in a flare. The second alternative also consists of a biodigester, nevertheless the produced biogas is used to generate electricity. The methodologies to estimate the methane production in anaerobic reactors are presented, as well as those for the quantification of the baseline and project emissions and of the electricity that can be generated. The results showed that the use of biogas for the electricity generation is the alternative more economically viable.
文摘This article tracked, identified, and demonstrated the economic and financial viability of the renewable energy sector from biomass in a Spanish Thermal Power Plant. The methodology used came from Theoretical postulates （GITMAN, 2004; VAN HORNE, 1993） called, Technical Preparation of capital budgets （Economic and Financial Analysis） called, payback, Net Present Value, and Internal Rate of Return）. The economic and financial viability results demonstrated were in two stages： the first identified that the plant is viable according to the payback. The second traced the economic and financial viability from the thermal energy production hypothesis equivalent to electricity power in the amount of 7,699.08 MWh, which resulted in the following indicators： payback of seven years and three months, NPV of R$ 369,064.98, and the IRR of 12.46%. Therefore, managers would have to make a user raising campaign in the ratio of 24.66%, taking into account of an unused capacity of 25%. These indicators were calculated using the following financial data： initial investment of R $ 3,654,731.86, operational income of R $1,262,264.16, operational inputs of R$ 503,639.59, and capital cost of 10.95% over 20 years. This industrial plant is located in the city of Cuellar in northern Spain, having two employees working eight hours a day; it produces only thermal power, represented in this study by MWh of electric power. This industrial plant produces power by burning forest residues from tree pruning. It was concluded that, given the research question developed in this paper--is the study plant profitable from the economic and financial point of view？--The response was identified by calculating the economic and financial indicators that the plant studied is viable from the proposed of maximizing sales revenues to 7,699.08 MWh.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2023YFB3809300).
文摘Recycling spent lithium-ion(Li+)batteries is critical for achieving environmental conservation and the strategic recovery of essential resources.Compared with conventional methods for recovering cathode materials,which are energy-intensive and prone to secondary pollution,the direct regeneration approach has emerged as a rapid and highly efficient method,gaining widespread attention in recent years.However,this approach faces major challenges,including degraded electrochemical performances and limited economic value.This study,therefore,proposes a high-value direct regeneration strategy to convert degraded spent LiFePO_(4)(S-LFP)into a gradient manganese(Mn)-doped regenerated LiFe_(0.7)Mn_(0.3)PO_(4)/C(R-LFMP)composite.This method leverages the inherent microcracks and Li vacancies present in S-LFP,likely acting as diffusion channels for the Mn^(2+)/Li^(+)ions.Through a two-step mechanochemical ball-milling and carbothermal reduction process,this approach achieves simultaneous Li replenishment and surface-localised Mn gradient doping with enhanced structural control.Notably,the R-LFMP exhibits an exceptional electrochemical performance.At 0.1 C,it delivers a discharge capacity of 161.4 mA h g^(−1)and an energy density of 563.5 Wh kg^(−1)(representing a 60.5%improvement over S-LFP).Additionally,it maintains 83%capacity retention after 900 cycles at 0.5C,a considerable enhancement compared to commercial LFMP(62%).Furthermore,the regenerated cathode material generates a net profit of$7.102 kg^(−1),surpassing the profitability of conventional recycling methods by 90%.Overall,this study introduces a transformative and sustainable LFP regeneration technology,achieving breakthroughs in electrochemical restoration and high-value recycling,while paving the way for the closed-loop utilisation of LFP-based energy storage systems.
文摘Gas production from multiple coal seams has become common practice in many coal basins around the world. Although gas production rates are typically enhanced, the economic viability of such practice is not well studied. In order to investigate the technical and economic feasibility of multiple coal seams production, reservoir simulation integrated with economics modelling was performed to study the effect of important reservoir properties of the secondary coal seam on production and economic performance using both vertical and horizontal wells. The results demonstrated that multiple seam gas production of using both vertical and horizontal wells have competitive advantage over single layer production under most scenarios. Gas content and permeability of the secondary coal seam are the most important reservoir properties that have impact on the economic feasibility of multiple seam gas production. The comparison of vertical well and horizontal well performance showed that horizontal well is more economically attractive for both single well and gas field. Moreover, wellhead price is the most sensitive to the economic performance, followed by operating costs and government subsidy. Although the results of reservoir simulation combined with economic analysis are subject to assumptions, multiple seam gas production is more likely to maintain profitability compared with single layer production.
文摘The economic viability and social value of traditional aquaculture in rural Sierra Leone were evaluated. The hypothesis tested was that traditional methods of farming fish in ponds were not economically viable, so farmers were investing their time/labour in less risky and more profitable livelihoods activities. The assumption in this assessment was that fish farming is an economic activity, and that for farmers to adopt or choose it over other livelihoods, the benefit-cost ratio of fish farming must be higher than that of alternative livelihoods. The main objective of the study was to assess why local farmers failed to adopt modem market oriented aquaculture production systems introduced by the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources in rural Sierra Leone. Two hundred farmers owning fishponds on family lands were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires and farmers＇ responses were analyzed using statistical tools （SPSS 16.0）. The mean contributions of different livelihoods to total annual incomes of farmers and the social values they attached to these livelihoods were compared. Results of the study suggested that traditional fish fanning was economically viable across the range of pond sizes sampled; but the medium-sized ponds were more profitable than the smallest and largest ponds, and labour accounted for 70% of total annual production costs in the systems assessed. The average benefit-cost ratio of 2.3 for fish fanning was favorable compared with that of 0.83 for rice farming, which was ranked as most popular livelihood activity by farmers. The payback period for traditional aquaculture investments was less than five years using informal investment loans （without interest）, and was favorably compared with that for tree crops fanning, which was also popular among farmers. Additional benefits of fish fanning included social capital and maintenance of kinship relationships.
基金Thanks to the Laboratory and Research Group ACert—Audit,Certification and Environmental Management(CNPq-UNESP/UFSCar),São Paulo State University(UNESP),University of São Paulo(ESALQ/USP)in BrazilHigher Institute of Technology of the University of Algarve(UALG)and Higher Technical Institute of the University of Lisbon(ULisboa)in PortugalNational Council for Scientific and Technological Development—CNPq and São Paulo State Research Support Foundation—FAPESP-Brazil for supporting this work.
文摘The work presents technologies of materials,energy and water management that can be used for sustainable buildings,reducing costs and environmental impacts.The aim was to encourage the reduction of energy consumption,adequate water management and more sustainable material choices in new or existing buildings.For this,a diagnosis of existing technologies and alternatives was carried out in the first stage of the work.The second stage consisted of analyzing among the technologies and alternatives diagnosed from the methodology which can be applied in a fictitious case study of housing,its implementation and maintenance and viability analyzing,finally,environmental indicators,social and economic.The results showed that the best evaluated technologies/alternatives were in Energy:ventilation and natural light;in Water Management:double-action sanitary basin,flow restrictors,aerators with constant flow,and minicistern systems;and in Materials:bamboo,wood,soil-cement brick,earth,steel frame and wood frame,aggregate with ash from rice husks,aggregate with ash from sugarcane bagasse,glass,phase change materials,aggregate with residues of construction and demolition,Portland cement and cement with blast furnace slag;which can be used in the civil construction sector,and provide socio-environmental and economic benefits,encouraging new studies and its use for public/private buildings,aid in the elaboration of public policies to reduce costs and improve the quality of buildings.
文摘The increasing global demand for sustainable agricultural practices and effective waste management has highlighted the potential of biochar as a multifaceted solution. This study evaluates the economic viability of sugarcane bagasse-based biochar in Brazil, focusing on its potential to enhance agricultural productivity and contribute to environmental sustainability. While existing literature predominantly explores the production, crop yield benefits, and carbon sequestration capabilities of biochar, there is a notable gap in comprehensive economic modeling and viability analysis for the region. This paper aims to fill this gap by employing a scenario-based economic modeling approach, incorporating relevant economic models. Findings include that biochar implementation can be economically viable for medium and large sugarcane farms (20,000 - 50,000 hectares) given the availability of funding, breaking even in about 7.5 years with an internal rate of return of 18% on average. For small farms, biochar can only be viable when applied biochar to the soil, which in all scenarios is found to be the more profitable practice by a large margin. Sensitivity analyses found that generally, biochar becomes economically feasible at biochar carbon credit prices above $120 USD/tCO2e, and at sugarcane bagasse availability percentages above 60%. While the economic models are well-grounded in existing literature, the production of biochar at the studied scales is not yet widespread, especially in Brazil and uncertainties can result. Reviewing the results, the land application scenario was found to be the most viable, and large farms saw the best results, highlighting the importance of scale in biochar operations. Small and medium farms with no land application were concluded to have no or questionable viability. Overall, sugarcane bagasse-based biochar can be economically viable, under the right circumstances, for agricultural and environmental advancement in Brazil.
文摘There is a need for more focus in understanding the economic benefits of Climate-Smart Agriculture(CSA)interventions,particularly in sub-Saharan Africa,where extreme climate events are significantly affecting agriculture and rural livelihoods.This study used the Net Present Value(NPV),Internal Rate of Return(IRR),Benefit-Cost Ratio(BCR),and payback period to evaluate the economic viability of the adopted CSA interventions in the three villages(Doggoh,Jeffiri,and Wulling)of the dryland farming systems of northern Ghana,where CSA interventions were mostly practiced.Data were collected from 161 farm households by the questionnaire survey.The results showed that CSA interventions including livestock-crop integration,mixed cropping,crop rotation,nutrient integration,and tie ridging enhanced crop yield and the household income of smallholder farmers.The five CSA interventions selected by smallholders were in the following order of priority:livestock-crop integration(BCR=2.87),mixed cropping(BCR=2.54),crop rotation(BCR=2.24),nutrient integration(BCR=1.98),and tie ridging(BCR=1.42).Results further showed that livestock-crop integration was the most profitable CSA intervention even under a pessimistic assumption with a long payback period of 5.00 a.Moreover,this study indicated that the implementation of CSA interventions,on average,was relatively profitable and had a nominal financial risk for smallholder farmers.Understanding the economic viability of CSA interventions will help in decision-making process toward selecting the right CSA interventions for resilience development.
文摘The evaluation of sustainable land use is the key issue in the field of studying the sustainable land utilization. In general analysis, the sustainable land use is evaluated respectively from its ecological sustainability, economic sustainability and social sustainability in China and other countries in recent years. Although this evaluation is an important work, it seems insufficient and hard to comprehensively reflect the whole degree of land use sustainability. Thus, to make up this deficiency, this paper brings forward the evaluation indexes, which make it possible to quantitatively reflect the whole degree of land use sustainability, namely, the concept of ＂degrees of overall land use sustainability＂ （Dos）, and research and measurement development of the method of and calculation in Dos. Taking the evaluation of the degree of land use sustainability in county regions of Yunnan Province as the actual example for analysis, results are basically as follows： 1） The degree of land use sustainability （Dos） is the ration index to organically and systematically integrate the degree of ecological friendliness （DeF）, the degree of economic viability （Dev） and the degree of social acceptability （Dsa）, able to comprehensively reflect the whole sustainability degree of regional land use 2） Based on the value of Dos, the grading system and standard for the sustainability of land use may be established and totally divided into five grades, namely, the high-degree sustainability, middle-degree sustainability, low-degree sustainability, conditional sustainability and non-sustainability. Meanwhile, the standard for distinguishing sustainability grades has also been confirmed so as to determine the nature of sustainability degrees in different grades. This makes the possibility for the combination of nature determination with ration in research result and provides with the scientific guideline and decision-making gist for better implementation of sustainable land use strategy. 3） The practice in evaluation of sustainability degree in county regional land use in Yunnan shows that the value of the degree of land use sustainability （Dos） of whole Yunnan Province is only 58.39, belonging to the grade of low-degree sustainability. Two thirds of counties in the whole province represent the grade of ＂conditional sustainability＂ and ＂non-sustainability＂ in the sustainability of land use. Among these counties, 11.11 % shows ＂non- sustainability＇. The lowest degree of land use sustainability appears especially in the middle plateau mountain region of Northeast Yunnan, where the value of Dos in most counties （districts） is below 40 %, belonging to the grade of ＂non-sustainability＂. The sustainability degree in the karst mountainous region in lower-middle plateau mountain region in Southeast Yunnan is generally low and the value of sustainability degree （Dos） in most of the counties （cities and districts） is below 55. The value of sustainability degree （Dos） in most of the counties （cities and districts） in the north, west, northwest and southwest parts of Yunnan is below 55. This article also analyzes the reasons of low degree of sustainability in land use in Yunnan and puts forward the countermeasures to increase the degree of sustainability in land use in the whole province.
文摘In this paper, we investigate the properties of an alternative material for use in marine engineering, namely a rigid and light sandwich-structured composite made of expanded polystyrene and fiberglass. Not only does this material have an improved section modulus, but it is also inexpensive, light, easy to manipulate, and commercially available in various sizes. Using a computer program based on the finite element method, we calculated the hogging and sagging stresses and strains acting on a prismatic boat model composed of this material, and determined the minimum sizes and maximum permissible stresses to avoid deformation. Finally, we calculated the structural weight of the resulting vessel for comparison with another structure of comparable dimensions constructed from the commonly used core material Divinycell.
文摘Light weights wheels improve vehicle performance with respect to road handling, cornering as well providing fuel economy and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Aluminum wheels are currently used in many models and are produced usually by low pressure assisted gravity casting. Important property requirements are fatigue strength, pressure tightness, tensile strength, impact resistance, and corrosion resistance. Many attempts have been made to convert aluminum road wheels to magnesium. Race cars and some of the high end models (Porsche, Ferrari, etc.) have used magnesium wheels. These wheels have been gravity cast or forged. Viable corrosion protection systems have been developed and magnesium wheels have been used with success on these models. To use magnesium on more modest models is a challenge due to cost issues. Higher productivity casting processes or more cost effective coating systems need to be utilized. The project consists of selecting magnesium alloys for road wheels, examining the possible cost effective casting processes and corrosion protection systems, evaluating the cost per one wheel and comparing it to aluminum wheel costs. The wheels will also be compared with respect to fatigue and impact properties, pressure tightness, and corrosion.
基金the State Assignment Project (FWEU-2021-0001) of the Fundamental Research Program of the Russian Federation 2021-2030 using the resources of the High-Temperature Circuit Multi-Access Research Center (Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, project No. 13. CKP.21.0038)
文摘This paper presents the results of a technical and economic optimization study of the prospects of the Caspian Energy Ring(CER),connecting power systems of Russia,countries of the Caucasus,Central Asia,and South Asia.The CER,belonging partly to the emerging Asian Supergrid and partly to the existing European Supergrid,will become a bridge connecting these supergrids,laying the foundation for forming a global energy interconnection in the long term.The expansion of carbon-free renewable and nuclear facilities,low-carbon gas-fired power plants,and traditional thermal and hydro energy sources within the CER were considered in this study.The positive economic benefits of the creation of the CER are presented.Preliminary characteristics of the potential CER were also estimated.
文摘An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to assess the effect of soybean meal （SBM）, groundnut meal （GNM） and blood meal （BM） addition in diets with or without （1%） fishmeal on the performance, N-digestibility and cost of production of growing grasscutters. Fifty-four grasscutters （9-week-old） of mixed sexes were randomly assigned to six dietary treatments, using a completely randomized design （CRD） in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement, with three grasscutters per treatment and three replicates each. Treatments 1-3 （TI-T3） contained no fishmeal, whilst treatments 4-6 （T4-T6） had 1% fishmeal added. The diets were formulated to be isocaloric and isonitrogenous. N-digestibility was significantly high for SBM diets with or without fishmeal, 83.91% and 82.19%, respectively, followed by BM diets. Average daily gain （ADG） was significantly （P 〈 0.05） high （12.95 g） for BM diet without fishmeal. Feed cost per kg diet was the lowest （US$0.195） for the same BM diet. The results indicated that the inclusion of SBM and BM in the diet of grasscutters with or without 1% fishmeal could improve performance and it may be the most economical for feeding BM in the diet without fishmeal.
文摘The emergence of mechanically one-way materials presents an exciting opportunity for materials science and engineering. These substances exhibit unique nonreciprocal mechanical responses, enabling them to selectively channel mechanical energy and facilitate directed sound propagation, controlled mass transport, and concentration of mechanical energy amidst random motion. This article explores the fundamentals of mechanically one-way materials, their potential applications across various industries, and the economic and environmental considerations related to their production and use.
文摘As countries accelerate efforts to meet carbon neutrality targets,carbon capture and storage(CCS)is gaining renewed attention as a critical mitigation strategy.This review provides a structured synthesis of global CCS policy evolution,highlighting how incentive mechanisms have shifted from generic subsidies toward hybrid approaches integrating carbon pricing,green finance,and legal risk-sharing.Building on this,the paper introduces a policy classification framework that categorizes instruments into market-based tools,command-and-control regulations,and institutional support,offering analytical coherence for future cross-country comparisons.Beyond the industrial and power sectors,the review foregrounds an often-overlooked CCS application:addressing residual emissions in hard-to-abate sectors such as transportation.We emphasize the strategic role of CO 2 transport infrastructure-including pipelines,shipping routes,and port retrofitting-and introduce a dedicated section analyzing its cost-leveraging effects,infrastructure integration models,and life-cycle trade-offs.By embedding a life-cycle assessment(LCA)perspective,we demonstrate how different transport modes shape both economic and carbon efficiency.Drawing on case studies from the U.S.,EU,and China,we distill key governance lessons and identify the enabling conditions for scaling up CCS deployment.The paper also highlights governance gaps related to cross-border infrastructure coordination,carbon market integration,and just siting.Overall,this review contributes to literature on CCS governance and infrastructure transitions by offering a replicable analytical structure,expanding the scope beyond capture technology,and linking fragmented insights into an integrated policy roadmap for large-scale CCS commercialization.
文摘Poplar has gained popularity among farmers of Punjab,Haryana,Western Uttar Pradesh,and the foothills of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh due to their fast growth rate and suitability for industrial uses such as pulp and timber production.Integrating poplar trees into agroforestry systems optimizes land resources and economic gains,as successful techniques have been developed to coordinate crop timing and arrangements effectively.Integrating poplar trees with agricultural crops provides additional income streams for farmers and contributes to soil conservation,biodiversity enhancement,and other environmental benefits.Farmers in these regions typically employ effective spacing of 5 m×4 m for block plantation and 1 m×3 m for row plantation.In the present study,a systematic literature review encompassing 137 English-language journal articles was conducted to assess the economic benefits of Poplar using discounted cash flow(DCF)analysis,considering short-rotation poplar(SRC)and very short-rotation poplar(vSRC)plantations alongside annual crops.The findings revealed that increasing canopy density led to a decline in crop yields by 37%,70%,and 99% at canopy densities of 30%,60%,and 90%,respectively,from early spring to harvest.Cost-benefit analysis in Saharanpur district,India,indicated average annual net returns of USD 346.36 for Poplar-based agrisilviculture,while monoculture yielded USD 140.73 per annum.Furthermore,economic analysis in Yamunanagar and Haridwar districts showed benefit-cost ratios ranging from 2.35 to 3.7.Additionally,Poplar block and boundary plantations were found to sequester significantly more carbon in long-lived biomass,serving as substitutes for fossil fuels(5.45 and 1.84 t ha-1 yr-1)in poplar-based systems with block and boundary plantations.The study suggested expanding spacing between tree rows may mitigate resource competition between plantations and crops.The study inferred that Poplar-based agroforestry may play a crucial role in climate mitigation programs by effectively sequestering atmospheric carbon and offering fuel,fodder,timber,and wood products,thereby alleviating pressure on existing natural forests.
基金funding from the National Key R&D Program of China(Nos.2023YFA1507201 and 2024YFA1510700)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.22579175).
文摘In the global transition toward sustainable hydrogen production,water electrolysis has emerged as a key technology for generating high-purity hydrogen from renewable sources[1-3].However,its overall efficiency is limited by the sluggish kinetics and high overpotential of the anodic oxygen evolution reaction(OER)[4].Moreover,oxygen,the product of OER,has minimal commercial value,which undermines the economic viability of large-scale hydrogen generation[5].
基金supported by the Humanities and Social Sciences Grant,Ministry of Education[grant number 17YJCZH191]Natural Science Foundation of SZU[grant number 2017065]+3 种基金Guangdong Planning Office of Philosophy and Social Science[grant number GD16YGL07]Youth Talents Programme of the Central University of Finance and Economics[grant number QYP1711]Beijing Social Science Foundation[grant number 17GLB030]Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities[grant number QL18012].
文摘Effective waste management is an important aspect of green building development.However,a number of studies find that construction waste minimization actions are not satisfactorily performed in practice.Thus,it is of significance to identify the driving factors that influence construction practitioners’waste minimization behavior.This paper aims to explore the driving factors by comparing the affecting factors and construction waste minimization behavior between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.Firstly,through a comprehensive literature review,potential affecting factors were categorized into five groups:background information variables,construction waste minimization intentions,economic viability,governmental supervision,and project constraints.Based on the identified factors,a questionnaire was initially designed and then refined through a focus group meeting with three experienced experts.A total of 166 questionnaires were collected and non-parametric tests(Mann-Whitney U Test and Kruskal-Wallis Test)were conducted to investigate the underlying driving factors.Results revealed that background information variables play insignificant roles in construction waste minimization.Compared with other affecting factors(i.e.,waste minimization intentions,governmental supervision,project constraints),economic viability is the most important driving factor that determines construction waste minimization.Results suggested that local governments should make policies that increase practitioners’profit,rather than just increasing their intentions or regulating waste management behavior.
