Johan Albrecht

The techno-economic potential of renewable energy through the anaerobic digestion of microalgae

The potential of microalgae as feedstock for methane production is evaluated from a process technical and economic point of view. Production of mixed culture algae in raceway ponds on non-agricultural sites, such as landfills, was identified as a preferred approach. The potential of straightforward bio-methanation, which includes pre-concentration of microalgae and utilization of a high rate anaerobic reactor was examined based on the premises of achievable up-concentration from 0.2-0.6 kg m(-3) to 20-60 kg dry matter (DM) m(-3) and an effective bio-methanation of the concentrate at a loading rate of 20 kg DM m(-3) d(-1). The costs of biomass available for bio-methanation under such conditions were calculated to be in the range of €86-€124 ton(-1) DM. The levelized cost of energy by means of the process line algae biomass--biogas--total energy module would be in the order of €0.170-0.087 kWh(-1), taking into account a carbon credit of about €30 ton(-1) CO2(eq).

A Shapley decomposition of carbon emissions without residuals

Abstract Conventional decomposition techniques for historical evolutions of carbon emissions present path dependent factor weights of selected variables next to significant residuals. Especially for analyses over long periods with many variables, high residuals make it almost impossible to derive reliable conclusions. As an alternative, we present the Shapley decomposition technique for carbon emissions over the period 1960–1996. This technique makes it possible to present a correct and symmetric decomposition without residuals. The starting point of our analysis was an extended Kaya Identity with nine components. In a study of four countries, the Shapley decomposition showed that the carbon intensity of energy use and the decarbonization of economic growth—variables that are targeted with current climate policy measures—have more effect on total emissions than generally suggested in conventional decomposition exercises. Another interesting conclusion from our analysis was that the effect of population growth on emissions can be for some countries more important than the decarbonization efforts.

Cost-effectiveness of herceptin®: A standard cost model for breast-cancer treatment in a Belgian university hospital

OBJECTIVESnThe objective of this study was to conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis of Herceptin from the hospitals point of view. This new biotechnological pharmaceutical is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets the HER2 receptor, an important anti-cancer target.nnnMETHODSnA cost model with standard diagnostic and treatment options for breast cancer was set up for a Belgian university hospital in close collaboration with its specialists. Direct and indirect costs were calculated for each diagnostic and treatment option using the micro-costing method. Effectiveness was estimated through a literature study. The model allowed us to take cost consequences in other stages of the model into account and to calculate changes in monthly treatment costs from different starting points. With an incremental cost-effectiveness analysis, differences in costs and effectiveness with and without Herceptin were compared.nnnRESULTSnOver the complete treatment period from diagnosis until the metastatic phase, monthly costs for the hospital rose from 85.07 Euros to 90.35 Euros for stage I diagnosed breast cancer when adding Herceptin to the model. In the metastatic phase alone, these costs rose from 1,132.33 Euros to 1,256.23 Euros. With Herceptin, we found an extra cost of 3,981.44 Euros per extra life-month.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThis cost-effectiveness ratio was rather high, because Herceptin was quite expensive and the product was additive in its current use and did not replace existing treatments. Future research will concentrate on alternative applications of Herceptin based on ongoing Herceptin trials and expert opinions.

Environmental Regulation, Comparative Advantage and the Porter Hypothesis

Empirical surveys find no significant impact of environmental regulation and environmental costs on international competitiveness. In the literature, we can find three hypotheses on the impact of environmental regulation. For the industrial-flight and pollution-haven hypothesis, there is no clear empirical evidence. We show that this is a logical consequence of the principle of comparative advantage. Another explanation can be that developed countries have very diversified exports and most surveys do not link regulation to specific products. We therefore investigate the link between export diversification and two measures of labor productivity. The Porter hypothesis--the third or revisionist hypothesis in our overview--states that environmental regulation can lead to improved competitiveness. Many authors only find anecdotal evidence for this hypothesis, but we show that when regulation is linked to specific products, there is clear evidence for the Porter hypothesis. In our model, we work with international CFC-regulation (chlorofluorocarbons) and the export performance of CFC-using industries like refrigerators, freezers and air conditioning machines. A final section does focus on the tradition of cartelization that has been typical in many of the old--and dirty--industries.

The long-term evolution of quality, of life for disease-free breast cancer survivors : a comparative study in Belgium

Abstract Aim: Little is known about the longterm evolution of Quality of Life (QoL) for breast cancer treated patients. The study aims to describe this evolution of QoL in a group of Belgian breast cancer survivors. Methods: We gathered information on treatment, general health, activity problems, disease symptoms, pain, emotions, work, social activities, self-care, housekeeping, sexuality, and meaning of life. One hundred seventy-four disease-free survivors in Flanders (Belgium) participated in this study, which were grouped as being disease free less than one year (39), between one and five years (70), and more than five years (65). The data allowed us to analyse QoL for different dimensions over the three survivor groups. Results: The longer the survival time, the more QoL of breast cancer treated patients ameliorated and the less breast cancer had a major impact on QoL. Scores for doing intense activities, being tired, emotional health, social activities, and meaning of life were statistically significantly better in the long-term survivor group. The influence of breast cancer was more persistent for sexual QoL items. Conclusion: It is important for patients to know what they may expect after treatment. This kind of patient-reported information on the evolution of QoL is of great value to healthcare workers. Results may be used to encourage patients who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer or for patients who do not believe in further progress for some QoL aspects. When informing breast cancer patients, a fundamental difference has to be made between the several QoL aspects and time over which improvements may be expected.

Environmental policy and the inward investment position of US “dirty” industries

Do high pollution abatement costs have a disadvantageous effect on foreign direct investment in countries with a strict environmental policy? While it would seem to make sense to believe that they do, hard evidence based on trade data is hard to find. The following article tests the hypothesis for the USA and comes to some surprising conclusions.

Climate policy convergence in Europe: an assessment based on National Communications to the UNFCCC

Abstract With the adoption of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992) and the Kyoto Protocol (1997), an impressive international regime on climate change has emerged, involving over 190 countries. It includes legally binding quantitative targets on the emission of greenhouse gases for thirty-eight countries as well as for the European Union. In addition, the regime offers guidelines and incentives for countries to develop climate policy. The development of national climate policy strategies is legally binding, but countries are free to select their own policies and measures. Yet, since national climate policy is discussed in and promoted by international institutions, convergence of policies and measures can be expected. We present an empirical analysis of policy output and policy outcome convergence, based on the National Communications of twenty-three European countries. Our results suggest that in most European countries the explorative phase of climate policy has evolved into the selection and further elaboration of a set of core measures (especially in the energy and transportation sectors), implying some output policy convergence so far.

Tradable CO2 permits for cars and trucks.

Abstract The accelerated diffusion of cleaner vehicles to reduce CO 2 emissions in transport can be explicitly integrated in emission trading designs by making use of cross-sectoral energy efficiency investment opportunities that are found in data on CO 2 emissions during the production and the use of cars and trucks. We therefore elaborate the introduction of tradable certificates that are allocated or grandfathered to manufacturers that provide vehicles (and other durable goods) that enable their customers to reduce their own CO 2 emissions. This certificate is an allowance for each tonne CO 2 avoided. Manufacturers can then sell these certificates on the emission market and use the revenues to lower the price of their cleanest vehicles. This mechanism should partially overcome the price difference with less efficient cars. In a simulation, we found that the introduction of the certificate in tradable permit systems can lead to very significant reductions of CO 2 emissions. The simulations indicate that CO 2 emissions resulting from the car fleet can be reduced by 25–38% over a period of 15 years (starting in 1999). For the truck fleet, the reduction potential is more limited but still very interesting.

The diffusion of cleaner vehicles in CO2 emission trading designs

The paper investigates how a system of emission trading can stimulate the diffusion of cleaner vehicles. We start from cross-sectoral energy efficiency investment opportunities that are found in data on CO2 emissions during the production and the use of cars and trucks. We therefore elaborate the introduction of tradable certificates that are allocated or grandfathered to manufacturers that provide vehicles (and other durable goods) that enable their costumers to reduce their own CO2 emissions. Manufacturers can then sell these certificates on the emission market and use the revenues to lower the price of their cleanest vehicles. This mechanism should partially overcome the price difference with less efficient cars. When the new allowances are taken from the pool of grandfathered emissions, total emissions remain the same but the lower average emission reduction cost reduces the total cost of climate protection policy.

Competing environmental management standards: how ISO 14001 outnumbered EMAS in Germany, the UK, France, and Sweden

In the middle of the 1990s two international environmental management standards became available for European companies: the European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) and the International Organization for Standardizations ISO 14001. Companies that wanted to implement a standardized environmental management system were confronted with the choice between their national standard, the European standard, or the international one. In the past decennium, the national standards have been abolished and the number of ISO 14001 certified companies has outnumbered the number of EMAS-registered organizations. The speed at which and the extent to which ISO 14001 has outnumbered EMAS differs, however, between countries in the EU-15. We argue that a country classification based on the degree of statism of the collective agency on the one hand, and the degree of corporatism of societys organization on the other, offers a valuable perspective for analyzing the evolution of the uptake of both standards in a country. We present the cases of Germany, the UK, France, and Sweden, and conclude that in countries characterized by a more societal organization of authority, private alternatives for national regulations like ISO 14001 are welcomed and adopted with enthusiasm. In countries characterized by a rather statist organization, such alternatives are looked upon with more suspicion resulting in delayed uptake. Whereas ISO 14001 is a purely private initiative, voluntary registration to the EMAS regulation creates a link between the company and the authorities. In contrast to corporatist settings, this frightens off business participation in associational countries.