An environmental impact assessment of quantum dot photovoltaics (QDPV) from raw material acquisition through use

Some emerging technologies are expected to be pivotal for solving many of the environmental challenges faced today, especially those related to energy. However, many of these technologies may incur significant environmental impacts over their life cycle, while having environmental benefits during their use. This paper presents results of a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of a proposed type of nanophotovoltaic, quantum dot photovoltaic (QDPV) module. The LCA is confined to the stages of raw materials acquisition, manufacturing, and use. The impacts of QDPV are compared with other types of PV modules and energy sources - both renewable and nonrenewable. To provide a comprehensive comparative assessment, QDPV modules were compared with mature as well as emerging PV types for which data are available. Comparative assessment with other types of energy sources includes coal, oil, lignite, natural gas, diesel, nuclear, wind, and hydropower.QDPV modules may have the potential to overcome two current barriers of solar technology: low efficiencies and high manufacturing costs. If higher efficiencies are realized, QDPV modules could pave the way to large scale implementation of solar energy, helping nations move toward greater energy independence. On the other hand, candidate materials as quantum dots for solar cell applications are mostly compound semiconductors such as cadmium selenide, cadmium telluride, and lead sulfide which may be toxic and for which renewable options are limited. Toxic effects of these materials may be exacerbated by their nanoscale features.The LCA was carried out using the software SimaPro, and the Ecoinvent Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) database supplemented with available literature and patent information. Our results indicate that while QDPV modules have shorter Energy PayBack Time (EPBT), lower Global Warming Potential (GWP), SO_x and NO_x emissions than other types of PV modules, they have higher heavy metal emissions, underscoring the need for investigation of emerging technologies, especially nano-based ones, from a life cycle perspective. QDPV modules are better in all impact categories assessed than carbon-based energy sources but they have longer EPBT than wind and hydropower and higher GWP.     

Assessment of eco-labelling criteria development from a strategic sustainability perspective

To turn current patterns of consumption and production in a sustainable direction, solid and understandable market information on the socio-ecological performance of products is needed. Eco-labelling programmes have an important role in this communication. The aim of this study is to investigate what gaps there may be in the current criteria development processes in relation to a strategic sustainability perspective and develop recommendations on how such presumptive gaps could be bridged. First a previously published generic framework for strategic sustainable development is described and applied for the assessment of two eco-labelling programmes. Data for the assessment is collected from literature and in semi-structured interviews and discussions with eco-labelling experts.The assessment revealed that the programmes lack both an operational definition of sustainability, and a statement of objectives to direct and drive the criteria development processes. Consequently they also lack guidelines for how product category criteria might gradually develop in any direction. The selected criteria mainly reflect the current reality based on a selection of negative impacts in ecosystems, but how this selection, or prioritization, is made is not clearly presented. Finally, there are no guidelines to ensure that the criteria developers represent a broad enough competence to embrace all essential sustainability aspects.In conclusion the results point at deficiencies in theory, process and practice of eco-labelling, which hampers cohesiveness, transparency and comprehension. And it hampers predictability, as producers get no support in foreseeing how coming revisions of criteria will develop. This represents a lost opportunity for strategic sustainable development. It is suggested that these problems could be avoided by informing the criteria development process by a framework for strategic sustainable development, based on backcasting from basic sustainability principles.     

Critical perspectives of sustainable development research and practice

Sustainable development has been intensely debated for more than twenty years, but real progress of our societies to become more sustainable is very slow. Therefore this special issue provides a forum for critical perspectives of Sustainable Development Research and Practice. The papers are grouped into three clusters: a. Sustainability Science, b. Economic Problems and c. Corporate Contributions to Sustainable Development.Although a single special issue cannot address the entire array of issues pertaining to progress of sustainability related research, the selected papers highlight special aspects of sustainability research either due to their theoretical contributions or because they report on valuable empirical evidence. The main goal of sustainability research should be to contribute to our understanding of sustainability problems and to develop and help to implement solutions to solve them. This can be described as the relevance of sustainability research. A precondition to gain relevance is the rigor of sustainability science: it has to be based on solid scientific principles and methods. Additionally it has to be regarded that Sustainable Development is dynamic and that it has both normative and practical aspects. It is concluded that sustainability science and practice should be based upon these four central aspects: rigor, relevance, normative aspects and dynamic     

中国区域可持续发展综合优势能力空间关联分析

采用空间统计方法研究了中国31个省、市、自治区的可持续发展综合优势能力的空间关联关系,结果显示中国可持续发展的总资产能力、总负债能力和综合优势能力均存在较强的空间依赖性。综合优势能力Z值与总资产Z值存在显著正相关（R=0.944）,而与总负债Z值存在显著的负相关（R=-0.952）。利用综合优势能力空间关联Z值对中国可持续发展能力进行初步的分区,并采用古典聚类（K means）方法对中国可持续发展能力进行同质性研究,利用K聚类结果对空间聚类（G统计）结果进行修正,将中国可持续发展能力划分为3种区域类型：中国东部沿海强发展区域、中国中部中等发展区域和中国西部弱发展区域。分区结果与中国传统的东部、中部、西部区域划分基本对应,东部沿海省市除海南和广西处于中等发展类型外,其他省市均处在强发展类型之列,中国中部全部省市均处于中等发展类型而中国西部全部省市均处于弱发展类型。     

可持续发展中的代际关系研究

人类社会的发展是一个世代发展的过程。因此．代际公平是可持续发展的根本所在。根据“代际”一词有不同的理解。“公平”在不同的社会有不同的含义,尤其是对代际公平的含义、原则进行了探讨。代际公平实现的策略是：基于压力-状态-反应的人力资源可持续开发;基于艾奇沃斯方框图分析的自然资源可持续利用;鉴于客观上当代具有优先权,代际之间在环境污染上则采用非合作博弈。     

基于REOF方法的辽宁气候舒适度区域特征分析

基于辽宁省50个气象站1964-2008年的气象资料,采用适应东北地区的人体舒适度计算公式及分级标准,得出辽宁省近45年历年人体各舒适度级别日数,使用旋转经验正交分解法(REOF),对辽宁省气候舒适度进行区域划分,并分析了各区域气候舒适度的空间分布特征和变化趋势.结果表明:(1)根据前4个旋转倚载向量场高载荷区分布,将...     

电镀行业清洁生产指标体系的修正

文章旨在通过剖析清洁生产指标体系建立的全过程,发现《电镀行业清洁生产指标体系(试行)》存在的缺陷与不足,并进行修正,采用层次分析法对修正后的定量指标体系赋权.最后选用三家电镀企业,对修正前后的指标体系进行评价与对比,并据此证明:修正后的指标体系更能客观评价企业真实的清洁生产水平.     

供水管网水质评价方法的探讨及其应用

利用了模糊数学评价模型和综合指数评价模型分别对南方某市部分给水管网水质进行评价。评价结果分析表明,模糊数学评价法具有评价准确性好、操作简单的特点;综合指数法具有评价结果直观、精确度较高的优点。从评价结果上看,综合指数法较模糊数学评价法更为合理。     

国内含油污泥的综合利用方法

含油污泥是在石油开采和加工过程中产生的含油固体废物．含油量可高达30％以上。含油污泥中的油气挥发,污染生产区域内空气质量,散落和堆放的含油污泥污染地表水甚至地下水水质,进而影响人类的健康。资源化和无害化是含油污泥处理的目标,主要论述了含油污泥的资源化与综合处理方法．对国内含油污泥的综合利用方面的专利成果进行了综述。     

农药厂搬迁厂址用于房地产开发的选址环境影响评价

传统有机磷、有机氯农药具有高毒性、持久性和环境激素效应,处于痕量和超痕量浓度水平都可能给人类生命健康和生态环境带来严重威胁和风险。由于农药及其副产物的历史残留、累积及跨界迁移和分布,农药厂搬迁厂址用于房地产开发场地环评具有很大困难。结合南方某市一大型农药厂搬迁厂址用于房地产开发项目的案例,探讨了该类场地评价中基础资料的搜集方法和环评中应遵循的理念和原则。