K. Pikoń

Greenhouse Gas Emission Mitigation Relevant to Changes in Municipal Solid Waste Management System

Abstract Standard methods for assessing the environmental impact of waste management systems are needed to underpin the development and implementation of sustainable waste management practice. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a tool for comprehensively ensuring such assessment and covers all impacts associated with waste management. LCA is often called “from cradle to grave” analysis. This paper integrates information on the greenhouse gas (GHG) implications of various management options for some of the most common materials in municipal solid waste (MSW). Different waste treatment options for MSW were studied in a system analysis. Different combinations of recycling (cardboard, plastics, glass, metals), biological treatment (composting), and incineration as well as land-filling were studied. The index of environmental burden in the global warming impact category was calculated. The calculations are based on LCA methodology. All emissions taking place in the whole life cycle system were taken into account. The analysis included “own emissions,” or emissions from the system at all stages of the life cycle, and “linked emissions,” or emissions from other sources linked with the system in an indirect way. Avoided emissions caused by recycling and energy recovery were included in the analysis. Displaced emissions of GHGs originate from the substitution of energy or materials derived from waste for alternative sources. The complex analysis of the environmental impact of municipal waste management systems before and after application of changes in MSW systems according to European Union regulations is presented in this paper. The evaluation is made for MSW systems in Poland.

Environmental impact of PV cell waste scenario

Rapid growth of the volume of waste from PV cells is expected in the following years. The problem of its utilization seems to be the most important issue for future waste management systems. The environmental impacts of the PV recycling scenario are presented in the manuscript. The analysis is based on the LCA approach and the average data available in specialized databases for silicon standard PV cell is used. The functional unit includes parameters like: efficiency, composition, surface area. The discussion on the environmental impact change due to the location of the PV production and waste processing plants is presented in the manuscript. Additionally, the discussion on the environmental effect of substituting different energy resources with PV cells is presented in the manuscript. The analysis of the PV cell life cycle scenario presented in the article was performed using the SIMA PRO software and data from Ecoinvent 3.0 database together with additional data obtained from other sources.

Harmful Environmental Impact of the Production Process of Photovoltaic Panels—A Review

Until recently, the main disadvantage of photovoltaics was the fact that from the perspective of ecology, it was more harmful than helping—the building of the cells required far more energy than they could generate. Although in a local scale it may have made sense and allowed to produce pure energy in a certain place, in the global perspective the balance was definitely negative. At present popular trend is promoted to use as a source of energy photovoltaic modules, but little is said about the harmful effects on the environment and human life of the production process of the PV cells. In the article, based on the available literature, the production process of silicon and tellurium-cadmium cells was analyzed. The production process has been described, with particular emphasis on the hazardous substances used in cell production, as well as by the toxic by-products of these processes. The type of environmental and human toxicity has been demonstrated and the possible ways of limiting this impact have been reviewed.

The Environmental and Technological Evaluation of Dyed DSSC Cells Production

The growing demand for electricity and decreasing fossil fuels resources are a driving factors for research on the technologies that use renewable sources of energy. Solutions that allow using photo-conversion, processing solar energy into electricity are currently going through dynamic development. It could be stated that during the operation phase photovoltaic modules are wastes-free technology, but production and processing after withdrawn from exploration are sources of different sorts of wastes. One of the best solution that gather focuses from scientists are dye-based photovoltaic cells DSSC. During the last decade, many researches gave many specific results that can be used in optimization of this technology. This manuscript discusses a method to expand the lifetime of the module, method to maximize its efficiency as well as reducing the amount of waste during production, use and final waste stage. Natural alternative materials which are possible to apply with current DSSC production technologies and modifications to each individual component of the photovoltaic cell are shown as well.

A new education model in sustainable energy

The European Institute for Innovation and Technology (EIT) has selected knowledge and innovation community (KIC) InnoEnergy as the leading engine for innovation and entrepreneurship in sustainable energy in Europe. Since 2010, KIC InnoEnergy Master School has offered Masters degree programs, which are directed at a new type of education in the energy field, aimed at mobilising the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of the students. Seven Masters programs, accredited by top technical universities in Europe, offer a combination of engineering and entrepreneurship courses. This paper describes a new mechanism for the development of a teaching environment, which creates strong links between education, technology, business and entrepreneurship. The paper also emphasises the main distinguishing features of KIC InnoEnergy education and gives examples of the application of new pedagogical methods.

Work in progress: Combining active learning methods in engineering education

The new idea of approach to education associates different active learning methods in one holistic solution. This should be the complex approach combining different modern teaching techniques in order to provide the most effective pedagogical result. In innovative form the combination of challenge driven education with case teaching, project based learning and oxford style debate was proposed to be implemented in one specific course. In addition the shaping of different behavioral skills and competencies is added as well. Finally student would gain not only the expert knowledge but additionally behavioral skills, like teamwork capabilities, together with the business related knowledge and skills like art of presentation and giving elevator pitches. The heart of the proposal is case teaching method which is an established form of learning in many academic and professional learning programs. The case study method is considered to be the most effective method of teaching. It is proven that it develops practical skills and allows to look at the different situations, from cultural and economic perspective. In addition it shows different possibilities of solving problems based on real-life situations. However, the case teaching method is used mainly in law, medicine and business education. There are not many examples of its implementation in engineering courses. This is due to several problems related to specifics of technical sciences. Due to huge pedagogical benefits of case teaching method it seems to be the right tool in implementation challenge driver education model. Finally the product described in the manuscript could be the good example of holistic approach which is the future oif the education.