Search Results (1,371)

Rapid and accurate prediction of the maximum remaining life of lithium-ion batteries is a critical technical challenge for enhancing battery management system reliability and enabling the efficient secondary utilization of retired batteries. Traditional approaches that rely on full charge–discharge cycles or complex electrochemical models often suffer from long detection time and limited adaptability, making them unsuitable for fast testing scenarios. To address these limitations, this study proposes a novel capacity prediction method that integrates charging segment feature extraction with a back-propagation neural network (BPNN) co-optimized using the genetic algorithm (GA) and dung beetle optimizer (DBO). Leveraging the public CALCE datasets, key degradation-related features were extracted from partial charging segments to serve as inputs to the prediction framework. The hybrid GA_DBO algorithm is employed to jointly optimize the BPNN’s weights, learning rate, and activation thresholds. A comparative analysis is conducted across various charging durations (900 s, 1800 s, and 2700 s) to evaluate performance under different input lengths. Results reveal that the model using 1800 s charging segment features achieves the best overall accuracy, with a test set mean squared error (MSE) of 0.0001 Ah², mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.0092 Ah, root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.0122 Ah, and a coefficient of determination (R²) of 99.66%, demonstrating strong robustness and predictive capability. This research overcomes the traditional reliance on full cycles, demonstrating the effectiveness of short charging segments combined with intelligent optimization algorithms. The proposed method offers a high-precision, low-cost solution for online battery health monitoring and rapid sorting of retired batteries, highlighting its significant engineering application potential. Full article

The construction sector is a major contributor to climate change, with embodied carbon emissions from building materials representing a critical share of its environmental footprint. Selecting zero-carbon materials is therefore essential for reducing life-cycle emissions while advancing global climate goals. This study investigates six decision-making factors, including cost-effectiveness, durability, buildability, embodied carbon, availability, and aesthetics, and evaluates four alternative materials (wood, hemp, rammed earth, and straw bale) in the New Zealand context. A survey of 203 industry professionals was analysed using descriptive statistics, one-sample t-tests, and structural equation modelling (SEM). Using a 5-point Likert scale, the survey assessed six factors affecting material choice: cost-effectiveness, durability, buildability, embodied carbon, aesthetics, and material availability. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed using SEM via Partial Least Squares analysis. The results revealed that embodied carbon and material availability were the most influential factors shaping zero-carbon material selection. Among the available alternatives, hemp emerged as the most preferred material, while cost-effectiveness and wood showed moderate impacts, and aesthetic considerations had the least influence. These findings highlight that environmental performance and practical accessibility are central drivers of decision-making when adopting zero-carbon materials. This study contributes to developing effective strategies for promoting the widespread adoption of zero-carbon materials, thereby supporting New Zealand’s progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Full article

Despite the ongoing electromobility revolution in urban areas, fleet managers still prefer combustion engines over electric vehicles. Fleet electrification can deliver tangible benefits not only for the urban environment but also for the company itself. However, this requires a robust economic and technical analysis approach. This study assesses the technical and economic viability of integrating electric vehicle (EV) fleets into the Turkish manual frequency recovery reserve (mFRR) market. Using a life-cycle costing (LCC) framework, three operational scenarios are modeled: Baseline (leased EVs without V2G), V2G+ (leased EVs with aggregator-based mFRR), and High Utilization (owned EVs with full V2G integration and increased rental activity). The baseline scenario assumes a net cost of USD 142,500 over 10 years, excluding revenue share. V2G+ reduces this amount to USD 137,000, generating an annual income of approximately USD 4400 from its share of the frequency reserve. A high utilization scenario, combining V2G with ownership and higher rental income, reduces the net LCC to USD 125,500 and generates over USD 12,000 annually, reaching breakeven around year 7. Sensitivity analyses show that the financial profitability of the system is significantly influenced by EV purchase prices, aggregator fees, mFRR capacity payments, and vehicle utilization rates. Adding a 30–50% solar-powered charging enclosure further reduces operating costs by up to USD 21,500, demonstrating the synergistic potential of integrating V2G and distributed photovoltaics. These results influence not only the priorities for electrifying the urban vehicle fleet, but also smart city regulations in the area of energy management, through the development of bidirectional charging standards and pilot implementation of V2G in emerging markets such as Turkey. Full article

Life cycle cost (LCC) analysis has become a key tool for evaluating the long-term economic and environmental performance of built assets, yet its application in marinas and marine infrastructure remains underdeveloped. This review provides the first structured attempt to apply LCC to marina infrastructure, addressing the lack of sector-specific models for pontoons, mooring systems, and marina operations. It also synthesizes research on LCC methodologies, challenges, and emerging trends relevant to coastal facilities, with a particular focus on pontoons, mooring systems, and marina management practices. Studies reveal persistent barriers to effective implementation, including fragmented data systems, inconsistent regulations, and limited sector-specific tools. Existing models, largely adapted from other construction contexts, often overlook the unique technical, environmental, and operational demands of marine assets. The review critically examines international standards, procurement frameworks, and methodological approaches, highlighting opportunities to integrate sustainability considerations and address gaps in cost forecasting. It also identifies the need for standardized data collection practices and risk-based maintenance strategies tailored to harsh marine environments. By mapping current knowledge and methodological limitations, this work provides a foundation for developing more accurate, sector-specific LCC models and guidance. This literature review contributes to the advancement of sustainable coastal infrastructure planning by consolidating scattered research, emphasizing knowledge gaps, and outlining priorities for future studies, supporting policymakers, practitioners, and researchers seeking to optimize investment decisions in marinas and related facilities. Full article

To address the global challenge of sustainable energy transition in cities, there is a growing demand for innovative solutions to provide flexible, low-carbon, and socio-economically profitable energy systems. In this context, there is a need for holistic evaluation frameworks for the prioritization and economic optimization of interventions. This paper provides a literature review on sustainable planning and economic impact assessment of innovative urban areas, such as Positive Energy Districts (PEDs), to analyze research trends in terms of evaluation methods, impacts, system boundaries, and identify conceptual and methodological gaps. A dedicated search was conducted in the Scopus database using several query strings to conduct a systematic review. At the end, 57 documents were collected and categorized by analysis approach, indicators, project interventions, and other factors. The review shows that the Cost–Benefit Analysis (CBA) is the most frequently adopted method, while Life Cycle Costing and Multi-Criteria Analysis result in a more limited application. Only in a few cases is the reduction in GHG emissions and disposal costs a part of the economic model. Furthermore, cost assessments usually do not consider the integration of the district into the wider energy network, such as the interaction with energy markets. From a more holistic perspective, additional costs and benefits should be included in the analysis and monetized, such as the co-impact on the social and environmental dimensions (e.g., social well-being, thermal comfort improvement, and biodiversity preservation) and other operational benefits (e.g., increase in property value, revenues from Demand Response, and Peer-To-Peer schemes) and disposal costs, considering specific discount rates. By adopting this multi-criteria thinking, future research should also deepen the synergies between urban sectors by focusing more attention on mobility, urban waste and green management, and the integration of district heating networks. According to this vision, investments in PEDs can generate a better social return and favour the development of shared interdisciplinary solutions. Full article

Hydrogen is increasingly recognized as a clean energy vector and storage medium, yet its viability and strategic role in the Western Balkans remain underexplored. This study provides the first comprehensive techno-economic, environmental, and strategic evaluation of hydrogen production pathways in Albania. Results show clear trade-offs across options. The levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) is estimated at 8.76 €/kg H₂ for grid-connected, 7.75 €/kg H₂ for solar, and 7.66 €/kg H₂ for wind electrolysis—values above EU averages and reliant on lower electricity costs and efficiency gains. In contrast, fossil-based hydrogen via steam methane reforming (SMR) is cheaper at 3.45 €/kg H₂, rising to 4.74 €/kg H₂ with carbon capture and storage (CCS). Environmentally, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) results show much lower Global Warming Potential (<1 kg CO₂-eq/kg H₂) for renewables compared with ~10.39 kg CO₂-eq/kg H₂ for SMR, reduced to 3.19 kg CO₂-eq/kg H₂ with CCS. However, grid electrolysis dominated by hydropower entails high water-scarcity impacts, highlighting resource trade-offs. Strategically, Albania’s growing solar and wind projects (electricity prices of 24.89–44.88 €/MWh), coupled with existing gas infrastructure and EU integration, provide strong potential. While regulatory gaps and limited expertise remain challenges, competition from solar-plus-storage, regional rivals, and dependence on external financing pose additional risks. In the near term, a transitional phase using SMR + CCS could leverage Albania’s gas assets to scale hydrogen production while renewables mature. Overall, Albania’s hydrogen future hinges on targeted investments, supportive policies, and capacity building aligned with EU Green Deal objectives, with solar-powered electrolysis offering the potential to deliver environmentally sustainable green hydrogen at costs below 5.7 €/kg H₂. Full article

Wind turbine blade damage detection is crucial for advancing wind energy as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. Existing methods based on image processing technologies face challenges such as limited adaptability to complex environments, trade-offs between model accuracy and computational efficiency, and inadequate real-time inference capabilities. In response to these limitations, we put forward MSWindD-YOLO, a lightweight real-time detection model for wind turbine blade damage. Building upon YOLOv5s, our work introduces three key improvements: (1) the replacement of the Focus module with the Stem module to enhance computational efficiency and multi-scale feature fusion, integrating EfficientNetV2 structures for improved feature extraction and lightweight design, while retaining the SPPF module for multi-scale context awareness; (2) the substitution of the C3 module with the GBC3-FEA module to reduce computational redundancy, coupled with the incorporation of the CBAM attention mechanism at the neck network’s terminus to amplify critical features; and (3) the adoption of Shape-IoU loss function instead of CIoU loss function to facilitate faster model convergence and enhance localization accuracy. Evaluated on the Wind Turbine Blade Damage Visual Analysis Dataset (WTBDVA), MSWindD-YOLO achieves a precision of 95.9%, a recall of 96.3%, an mAP@0.5 of 93.7%, and an mAP@0.5:0.95 of 87.5%. With a compact size of 3.12 MB and 22.4 GFLOPs inference cost, it maintains high efficiency. After TensorRT acceleration on Jetson Orin NX, the model attains 43 FPS under FP16 quantization for real-time damage detection. Consequently, the proposed MSWindD-YOLO model not only elevates detection accuracy and inference efficiency but also achieves significant model compression. Its deployment-compatible performance in edge environments fulfills stringent industrial demands, ultimately advancing sustainable wind energy operations through lightweight lifecycle maintenance solutions for wind farms. Full article

The paper contributes to the debate on the holistic sustainability assessment of real estate projects, integrating economic, financial, environmental, and social aspects. A methodological study is presented to support decision-making processes involving the preferability ranking of alternative investment scenarios: new building production vs. retrofitting the existing stock, in the context of urban transformation interventions. The study integrates life cycle approaches by introducing the social components besides the economic and environmental ones. Firstly, a composite unidimensional (monetary) indicator calculation is illustrated. The sustainability components are internalized in the NPV calculation through a Discounted Cash-Flow Analysis (DCFA). Life Cycle Costing (LCC) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) are suggested to assess the economic and environmental impacts, and the Social Return on Investment (SROI) to assess the intervention’s extra-financial value. Secondly, a methodology based on multicriteria techniques is proposed. The Hierarchical Analytical Process (AHP) model is suggested to harmonize various performance indicators. Focus is placed on the criticalities emerging in both the methodological approaches, while highlighting the relevance of multidimensional approaches in decision-making processes and for supporting urban policies and urban resilience. Full article

Composite pressure vessels have attracted significant attention in recent years owing to their lightweight characteristics and superior mechanical performance. However, analyzing composite layers remains challenging due to complex filament-winding (FW) pattern structures and the associated high computational costs. This study introduces a homogenization method to achieve cross-scale modeling of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) layers, accounting for both lay-up sequence and in-plane FW diamond-shaped form. The stacking sequence in an FW Type IV composite pressure vessel is numerically investigated through ply modeling and cross-scale homogenization. The composite tank structure, featuring a polyamide PA66 liner, is designed for a working pressure of 70 MPa and comprises 12 helical winding layers and 17 hoop winding layers. An FW cross-undulation representative volume element (RVE) is developed based on actual in-plane mesostructures, suggesting an equivalent laminate RVE effective elastic modulus. Furthermore, six different lay-up sequences are numerically compared using ply models and fully and partially homogenized models. The structural displacements in both radial and axial directions are validated across all modeling approaches. The partial homogenization method successfully captures the detailed fiber-direction stress distribution in the innermost two hoop or helical layers. By applying the Hashin tensile failure criterion, the burst pressure of the composite tank is evaluated, revealing 7.56% deviation between the partial homogenization model and the ply model. Fatigue life analysis of the Type IV composite pressure vessel is conducted using ABAQUS^® coupled with FE-SAFE, incorporating an S-N curve for polyamide PA66. The results indicate that the fatigue cycles of the liner exhibit only 0.28% variation across different stacking sequences, demonstrating that homogenization has a negligible impact on liner lifecycle predictions. The proposed cross-scale modeling framework offers an effective approach for multiscale simulation of FW composite pressure vessels, balancing computational efficiency with accuracy. Full article

The development of algal bioplastics offers a promising pathway toward sustainable materials that can mitigate reliance on fossil fuel-derived plastics. This article reviews recent advances in algal cultivation, strain optimization, biopolymer extraction, and processing technologies, alongside techno-economic and life cycle assessments. Special emphasis is placed on integrated biorefinery models, innovative processing techniques, and the role of government–industry–academia partnerships in accelerating commercialization. The analysis incorporates both demonstrated algal systems and theoretical applications derived from established microbial processes, reflecting the emerging nature of this field. The environmental advantages, market readiness, and scalability challenges of algal bioplastics are critically evaluated, with reference to peer-reviewed studies and industrial pilot projects. The analysis underscores that while technical feasibility has been demonstrated, economic viability and large-scale adoption depend on optimizing yield, reducing production costs, and fostering collaborative frameworks. Future research priorities include enhancing strain performance via AI-enabled screening, expanding product valorization streams, and aligning regulatory standards to support global market integration. Full article

The growing demand for radiation-shielded infrastructure highlights the need for materials that balance shielding performance with environmental and economic sustainability. Heavyweight self-compacting concretes (HWSCC), commonly produced with barite (BaSO₄) or magnetite (Fe₃O₄) aggregates, lack systematic life cycle comparisons. The aim of this study is to systematically compare barite- and magnetite-based HWSCC in terms of life cycle environmental impacts, life cycle cost, functional performance (strength and shielding), and end-of-life circularity, in order to identify the more sustainable and cost-effective material for radiation shielding infrastructure. This study applies cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost analysis (LCC), in accordance with ISO 14040/14044 and ISO 15686-5, to evaluate barite- and magnetite-based HWSCC. Results show that magnetite concrete reduces global warming potential by 19% eutrophication by 24%, and fossil resource depletion by 23%, while lowering life cycle costs by ~23%. Both concretes achieve comparable compressive strength (~48 MPa) and shielding efficiency (µ ≈ 0.28–0.30 cm⁻¹), meeting NCRP 147 and IAEA SRS-47 standards. These findings demonstrate that magnetite-based HWSCC offers a more sustainable, cost-effective, and ethically sourced alternative for radiation shielding in healthcare, nuclear, and industrial applications. In addition, the scientific significance of this work lies in establishing a transferable methodological framework that combines LCA, LCC, and performance-normalized indicators. This enables scientists and practitioners worldwide to benchmark heavyweight concretes consistently and to adapt sustainability-informed material choices to their own regional contexts. Full article

The insufficient effectiveness of the European packaging waste policy has prompted the European Union to adopt more decisive measures in 2025. The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation of 2024 obliges Member States to use deposit–return systems to achieve high collection rates for beverage packaging and, as a result, to enhance packaging circularity. As evidence supporting this approach, i.e., that deposit systems indeed are an efficient solution for packaging waste collection, is still scattered, this article provides a systematic review of the evidence on various aspects of the use of deposit systems. A key finding of our review is that both scientific and empirical evidence support the European Union’s decision to make deposit–return systems mandatory: in European countries that have fully operational systems, the collection rates of packaging covered by these systems exceeded 85%. In addition to this positive contribution to packaging circularity, a significant (40–60%) reduction in littering is reported after implementation of the deposit systems. A significant novelty of this review is the presentation of the latest empirical data suggesting that deposit systems may be comparable to alternative collection methods in terms of costs to producers. Comprehensive assessments conducted using the cost–benefit analysis methods confirm that deposit systems generate net social benefits. It is suggested that innovations in logistics contribute to reduced environmental impacts of transport and transport-related costs. For this reason, updated life cycle assessments and cost–benefit analyses of deposit systems are needed to assess the role of deposit systems within the European circular economy framework. Full article

Seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination generates a concentrated brine byproduct rich in dissolved salts and minerals. This study presents an extensive economic and technical analysis of recovering all major ions from SWRO brine, which includes Na, Cl, Mg, Ca, SO₄, K, Br, B, Li, Rb, and Sr in comparison to conventional mining and chemical production of these commodities. Data from recent literature and case studies are compiled to quantify the composition of a typical SWRO brine and the potential yield of valuable products. A life-cycle cost framework is applied, incorporating capital expenditure (CAPEX), operational expenditure (OPEX), and total water cost (TWC) impacts. A representative simulation for a large 100,000 m³/day SWRO plant shows that integrated “brine mining” systems could recover on the order of 3.8 million tons of salts per year. At optimistic recovery efficiencies, the gross annual revenue from products (NaCl, Mg(OH)₂/MgO, CaCO₃, KCl, Br₂, Li₂CO₃, etc.) can reach a few hundred million USD. This revenue is comparable to or exceeds the added costs of recovery processes under favorable conditions, potentially offsetting desalination costs by USD 0.5/m³ or more. We compare these projections with the economics of obtaining the same materials through conventional mining and chemical processes worldwide. Major findings indicate that recovery of abundant low-value salts (especially NaCl) can supply bulk revenue to cover processing costs, while extraction of scarce high-value elements (Li, Rb, Sr, etc.) can provide significant additional profit if efficient separation is achieved. The energy requirements and unit costs for brine recovery are analyzed against those of terrestrial or conventional mining; in many cases, brine-derived production is competitive due to avoided raw material extraction and potential use of waste or renewable energy. CAPEX for adding mineral recovery to a desalination plant is significant but can be justified by revenue and by strategic benefits such as reduced brine disposal. Our analysis, drawing on global data and case studies (e.g., projects in Europe and the Middle East), suggests that metals and salts recovery from SWRO brine is technically feasible and, at sufficient scale, economically viable in many regions. We provide detailed comparisons of cost, yield, and market value for each target element, along with empirical models and formulas for profitability. The results offer a roadmap for integrating brine mining into desalination operations and highlight key factors such as commodity prices, scale economies, energy integration, and policy incentives that influence the competitiveness of brine recovery against traditional mining. Full article

Sustainable agricultural production systems are a global consensus. Their life-cycle economic feasibility is essential for long-term sustainable goals. This study integrates life-cycle costing with building energy simulation to assess the cost performance of conventional and innovative greenhouse tomato production systems in China’s Hexi Corridor, using dynamic thermal load modeling to overcome empirical-data limitations in traditional life-cycle costing. Under the facility-lease farming model, construction companies incur life-cycle costs of CNY 10.53·m⁻²·yr⁻¹ for the conventional concrete-walled Gobi solar greenhouse and CNY 10.45·m⁻²·yr⁻¹ for the innovative flexible insulation-walled Gobi solar greenhouses. However, farmer greenhouse contractors achieve 10.5% lower life-cycle costs for tomato cultivation in the conventional structure (CNY 2.87·kg⁻¹·yr⁻¹) than in the innovative one (CNY 3.21·kg⁻¹·yr⁻¹) due to 52.6% heating energy savings from the integrated active solar thermal systems. Furthermore, life-cycle cash flow analysis confirms construction companies incur non-viable returns, while farmers achieve substantial profits, with 52.5% higher cumulative profits obtained in the conventional greenhouse than the innovative greenhouse. This profit allocation imbalance threatens sustainability. Our pioneering stakeholder-perspective assessment provides evidence-based strategies for government, investors, and farmers to optimize resource allocation and promote sustainable Gobi agriculture. Full article

Geothermal energy has been recognized as a promising renewable resource for sustainable power generation; however, the efficiency of conventional geothermal power plants has remained relatively low, and high investment costs have limited their competitiveness with other renewable technologies. In this context, the present study introduced an innovative geothermal electricity generation system aimed at enhancing energy efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability. Unlike traditional configurations, the system raised the geothermal source temperature passively by employing advanced heat transfer mechanisms, eliminating the need for additional energy input. Comprehensive energy, exergy, and exergoeconomic analyses were carried out, revealing a net power output of 43,210 kW and an energy efficiency of 30.03%, notably surpassing the conventional Kalina cycle’s typical 10.30–19.48% range. The system’s annual electricity generation was 11,138.53 MWh, with an initial investment of USD 3.04 million and a short payback period of 3.20 years. A comparative assessment confirmed its superior thermoeconomic performance. In addition to its technoeconomic advantages, the environmental performance of the proposed configuration was quantified. A streamlined life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed with a functional unit of 1 MWh of net electricity. The proposed system exhibited a carbon footprint of 20–60 kg CO₂ eq MWh⁻¹ (baseline: 45 kg CO₂ eq MWh⁻¹), corresponding to annual emissions of 0.22–0.67 kt CO₂ eq for the simulated output of 11,138.53 MWh. Compared with coal- and gas-fired plants of the same capacity, avoided emissions of approximately 8.6 kt and 5.0 kt CO₂ eq per year were achieved. The water footprint was determined as ≈0.10 m³ MWh⁻¹ (≈1114 m³ yr⁻¹), which was substantially lower than the values reported for fossil technologies. These findings confirmed that the proposed system offered a sustainable alternative to conventional geothermal and fossil-based electricity generation. Multi-objective optimization using NSGA-II was carried out to maximize energy and exergy efficiencies while minimizing total cost. Key parameters such as turbine inlet temperature (459–460 K) and ammonia concentration were tuned for performance stability. A sensitivity analysis identified the heat exchanger, the first condenser (Condenser 1), and two separators (Separator 1, Separator 2) as influential on both performance and cost. The exergoeconomic results indicated Separator 1, Separator 2, and the turbine as primary locations of exergy destruction. With an LCOE of 0.026 USD/kWh, the system emerged as a cost-effective and scalable solution for sustainable geothermal power production without auxiliary energy demand. Full article