Aj Annelies Balkema

Indicators for the sustainability assessment of wastewater treatment systems

Abstract Sustainability challenges us to reflect on wastewater treatment differently. Instead of focussing on end-of-pipe-treatment for emission prevention, attention shifts towards optimal resource utilisation, favouring the development of decentralised systems. But are these systems more sustainable than centralised wastewater treatment systems? What aspects determine sustainability? In an extensive literature review we give an overview of sustainability assessment methods and currently used indicators. Based on this we propose a general assessment methodology that builds on multi-objective optimisation and a complete set of sustainability indicators, yielding insight into the trade-offs made when selecting sustainable wastewater treatment systems.

Innovations in social entrepreneurship for sustainable biofuel production : the case of Tanzanian Outgrowers cultivating Jatropha for the global biofuel chain

This chapter focuses on the smallholder outgrower model for Jatropha biofuel cultivation in Tanzania. This model is based on seed production by small farmers who sell to a processing company that presses the bio-oil from the seeds locally, either for the local market or for export. This model has been implemented by a foreign investor in Tanzania; the social business model aims at combining profit making with social and environmental objectives. This chapter describes the trends and developments of this innovative business model in a global cultivation, production and usage chain, exploring the trade-offs between the people, planet, profit objectives (triple P) and how the business model adapts to survive through the different stages of the innovation process. The three stages in the innovation process, also described in learning theories are: (1) learning to be effective, (2) learning to be efficient and (3) learning to expand (up-scaling and diffusion). The observed trend is that in the different stages different roles are played by the company as it aims at shifting from subsidy funds to profit making. In the process of becoming efficient and starting to upscale, it seems harder to ensure the implementation of the social and environmental objectives. Therefore, public actors will have to play a more active role in capacity building and market regulation, and additional funding has to be made available for ensuring the social and environmental benefits. New innovations in governance and new ways of linking actors may be part of the solution.

Biofuels: Sustainable Innovation or Gold Rush? Identifying Responsibilities for Biofuel Innovations

Based on fieldwork and literature review we have investigated the rise and fall of jatropha cultivation in Tanzania over the last decade, and its negative socio-economic and environmental impacts. Based on the fact that the most vulnerable actors, small farmers, were affected the most, through loss of land and income, we conclude that biofuel innovations have so far been irresponsible. In this chapter we draw lessons for future biofuel innovations through the identification of stakeholder responsibilities. We do so by developing a framework which is based on current discussions on the meaning of ‘sustainability’ and recent ethical work on moral responsibility. In addition, we use the framework to reflect on the jatropha biofuel innovation experiences. Additional fieldwork will be done to gather information on visions and expectations and to discuss responsibilities for sustainable biofuel innovations in Tanzania. Our preliminary conclusion is that stakeholder participation and a clear demarcation of responsibilities are preconditions for sustainable biofuel innovations.

Application of smart grid technologies in developing areas

The United Nations has set the ambitious goal of assuring universal access to modern energy by 2030. Nowadays there are a lot of technical opportunities available to achieve these goals in an efficient way using smart grid technologies. However the extent to which these technologies are being applied in developing areas is still limited, but growing. In this paper this is illustrated taking Angola as example. The energy strategy in Angola is analyzed, focusing on the applications and the opportunities of smart grid technologies in this context, and describing the role of the government and private sector in this field. Lighting, one of the first applications used after access to electricity, is an important factor in the design of local electricity grids. New lighting technologies can increase grid reliability while ensuring safe and secure lighting. The opportunities and applications of smart lighting solutions in Angola are investigated in this paper as well.

Augmenting design with sustainability

Abstract The concept of sustainability changes the domain of optimal performance both for industry and services, adding environmental, social, and cultural dimensions and long-term effects to design and decision-making. Existing tools for design and environmental and social-cultural assessments can be integrated into a sustainability assessment. Providing us with a much more powerful tool, instead of designing a product and trying to produce it as sustainable as possible, sustainability becomes the point of departure possibly leading to entire new products and unconventional process configurations. To implement such a sustainability assessment, we developed a model based decision support tool for designing domestic water systems.