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16 pages, 1425 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Maritime Shipping Decarbonization: Roadmap to Meet Zero-Emission Target in Shipping as a Link in the Global Supply Chains

by Andrzej S. Grzelakowski, Jerzy Herdzik and Sławomir Skiba

Energies 2022, 15(17), 6150; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15176150 - 24 Aug 2022

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 4950

Abstract

The main subject of research involves the characteristics and assessment of the already ongoing process of maritime shipping radical decarbonization. There were identified and analyzed international legal and administrative regulatory measures as well as a package of technical, technological, operational and economic solutions, [...] Read more.

The main subject of research involves the characteristics and assessment of the already ongoing process of maritime shipping radical decarbonization. There were identified and analyzed international legal and administrative regulatory measures as well as a package of technical, technological, operational and economic solutions, including the possibility of choosing alternative low-emission fuels that are necessary to achieve the already set targets by 2050. This research aimed to indicate and assess the most promising types of measure which are to be applied to achieve the required reduction of CO₂ emissions in global shipping as well as developing a potential roadmap leading to their implementation. In the conducted research work, mainly qualitative analyses were applied, i.e., factor analysis (FA), comparative analysis (CA), and a series of consultations with representatives of the maritime industry were carried out, following the procedure typical for the Delphi technique. The main result of the research work is the development of a scenario for potential supply and distribution of fuels to the maritime shipping market by 2050. The basic conclusion is that shortages in manufacturing, commercialization, and supply of low and zero-emission fuels to the shipping market may be the main obstacle hampering the reaching of the targets of shipping industry decarbonization. Such a scenario could significantly slow down the stepping up process of greening the global supply chains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Consumption Patterns in Sustainable Supply Chains)

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23 pages, 1069 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Energy Savings Analysis in Logistics of a Wind Farm Repowering Process: A Case Study

by Andrzej Jezierski, Cezary Mańkowski and Rafał Śpiewak

Energies 2021, 14(17), 5452; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14175452 - 1 Sep 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2220

Abstract

The process of wind farm operation requires proper logistics services, consisting of the supply of all resources necessary in this process. A critical moment in the operation of wind farms is the implementation of the repowering process, in the form of replacement of [...] Read more.

The process of wind farm operation requires proper logistics services, consisting of the supply of all resources necessary in this process. A critical moment in the operation of wind farms is the implementation of the repowering process, in the form of replacement of the basic elements of wind farms: blades, hub rotors, nacelles or even towers. The replacement of these basic elements of the wind farm relates to the necessity to provide logistics services for heavy and oversized deliveries. Therefore, this article presents a unique analysis of logistics processes related to wind farms. Therefore, the aim of the article is to identify the most energy-saving variant of logistics service of the wind farm repowering process. However, the criterion of selecting the optimal variant is based on the original methodology of energy consumed during logistics services, as opposed to the traditionally used cost-effectiveness criterion. The SolidWorks software with other methods and tools were used for this purpose. As a result of the conducted research, it was found that the differences in individual variants of logistics service implementation may range from 4.7% to even 19.4% in terms of energy savings. Due to the increasingly common need to implement the process of repowering wind farms, the presented original methodology for the analysis and selection of the delivery variant with lowest energy consumption fills the literature gap and formulates a model of business practice, thus constituting both theoretical and practical value. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Consumption Patterns in Sustainable Supply Chains)

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14 pages, 1129 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Railway Vehicle Energy Efficiency as a Key Factor in Creating Sustainable Transportation Systems

by Małgorzata Ćwil, Witold Bartnik and Sebastian Jarzębowski

Energies 2021, 14(16), 5211; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14165211 - 23 Aug 2021

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3728

Abstract

Railway transit forms the backbone of sustainable transportation systems, which are necessary to limit the effects of global warming. In this paper, the authors seek to determine whether there is a statistically significant difference in energy consumption between distinct railway vehicle types. Firstly, [...] Read more.

Railway transit forms the backbone of sustainable transportation systems, which are necessary to limit the effects of global warming. In this paper, the authors seek to determine whether there is a statistically significant difference in energy consumption between distinct railway vehicle types. Firstly, the energy consumption measurement methods in the railway transportation sector are described and compared to each other in respect to precision and cost. Secondly, the use of energy consumption as a criterion in rolling stock tenders with the associated norm is analysed, particularly with regard to the life-cycle cost of railway vehicles. In the next part real life data on energy consumption of six distinct passenger electrical railway vehicle types is presented and analysed in order to compare the efficiency of different types of rolling stock. The differences in energy efficiency between rolling stock types may be used to improve the procurement process ensuring train operating companies obtain less energy-consuming vehicles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Consumption Patterns in Sustainable Supply Chains)

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22 pages, 958 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigating the Sustainable Impact of Seaport Infrastructure Provision on Maritime Component of Supply Chain

by Dariusz Bernacki and Christian Lis

Energies 2021, 14(12), 3519; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14123519 - 13 Jun 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2843

Abstract

The aim of the research is to identify and quantify the direct economic effects resulting from the improved seaport nautical access and capacity expansion. This case study considers a regional port located in the Baltic sea and relates to port users, i.e., shipping [...] Read more.

The aim of the research is to identify and quantify the direct economic effects resulting from the improved seaport nautical access and capacity expansion. This case study considers a regional port located in the Baltic sea and relates to port users, i.e., shipping operators and shippers. The effects were identified for maritime transport by comparing transport performance in two scenarios: with-the-investment and without-the-investment. Incremental calculus addresses freights (containers, dry bulk, and cereals) traded to and from the given port, changes in size of vessels, and the shipping route alternatives vis-a-vis adjacent ports in the range. Sustainable impact concerns generalized maritime transport cost, i.e., shipping operating costs and port-to-port transit time, as well as energy consumption and external costs of maritime shipping. To capture effects, daily and unit dry bulk, as well as container shipping cost, values of time, and marginal external costs were revealed in freight sea transport. As investigated, shipping operators and shippers will benefit from the reduction in ships’ operating (including ships’ fuel cost savings) and time cost, while the community will enjoy the reduction in externalities. However, the main economic effect is the reduction in shipping operating cost resulting from the increased vessel size (economies of scale). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Consumption Patterns in Sustainable Supply Chains)

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24 pages, 1300 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Employee Behaviors toward Using and Saving Energy at Work. The Impact of Personality Traits

by Dawid Szostek

Energies 2021, 14(12), 3404; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14123404 - 9 Jun 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2817

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to determine how personality traits (extraversion, neuroticism, conscientiousness, agreeableness and openness to experience) affect organizational citizenship behaviors for the environment (OCBE), especially in the context of energy saving. The purpose is also to verify the hypothesis that [...] Read more.

The purpose of the article is to determine how personality traits (extraversion, neuroticism, conscientiousness, agreeableness and openness to experience) affect organizational citizenship behaviors for the environment (OCBE), especially in the context of energy saving. The purpose is also to verify the hypothesis that this impact is significantly moderated by individuals’ demographic characteristic (sex, age, length of service, work type and economic sector of employment). To achieve the purposes, a survey was conducted in 2020 on 454 working people from Poland. The analysis was based on structural equation modeling (SEM). The research model assumed that particular types of personality affect direct and indirect OCBEs, including energy-saving patterns. The model also included the aforementioned demographic characteristics of respondents. I proved that personality traits have a significant impact on direct and indirect organizational citizenship behaviors for the environment. In the case of direct OCBEs, the energy-saving items that were most significantly affected by employee personality were: I am a person who turns off my lights when leaving my office for any reason; I am a person who turns off the lights in a vacant room; I am a person who makes sure all of the lights are turned off if I am the last to leave. The strongest predicators were Neuroticism (negative relationship) and Agreeableness (positive relationship) for direct OCBE, but Extraversion (positive relationship) and Agreeableness (negative relationship) for indirect OCBE. The impact of an individual’s personality on OCBE was significantly moderated mainly for indirect behaviors. This applied to all the analyzed demographic variables, but it was stronger for women, employees aged up to 40 years, those with 10 years or more experience, office/clerical workers, and public sector employees. The article discusses the theoretical framework, research limitations, future research directions and practical implications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Consumption Patterns in Sustainable Supply Chains)

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21 pages, 750 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Link between Vessel Size and Maritime Supply Chain Sustainable Performance

by Dariusz Bernacki

Energies 2021, 14(11), 2979; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14112979 - 21 May 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4077

Abstract

This study determines the relationship between the increase in size of dry bulk carriers and container ships and the changes in sustainable shipping performance. It measures the elasticities of shipping costs for bulk carriers and container ships. Using regression, it derives the functions [...] Read more.

This study determines the relationship between the increase in size of dry bulk carriers and container ships and the changes in sustainable shipping performance. It measures the elasticities of shipping costs for bulk carriers and container ships. Using regression, it derives the functions of the daily and unit costs of shipping with respect to the size of dry bulk carriers and container ships. The estimated daily and unit cost elasticities and cost models reveal significant but diversified impacts of vessel size on dry bulk and container shipping cost and its components, other operating capital, and fuel costs. Findings: Dry bulk carriers and containership size mean elasticities of daily operating costs estimates respectively: total operating costs 0.291 and 0.552, other operating cost (labor cost included) 0.238 and 0.328, capital costs 0.329 and 0.765, fuel costs 0.289 and 0.462; dry bulker and container ship unit shipping mean elasticity respectively: full operating costs (−0.751) and (−0.553), other operating cost (−0.804) and (−0.782), capital costs (−0.713) and (−0.399), fuel costs (–0.757) and (−0.702). This research provides an insight into the impact of technology and the way the services are provided (irregular versus regular) on shipping cost and energy savings. The cost models can be used for estimating the savings in shipping costs resulting from handling larger vessels in seaports. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Consumption Patterns in Sustainable Supply Chains)

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21 pages, 1564 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How to Predict Energy Consumption in BRICS Countries?

by Atif Maqbool Khan and Magdalena Osińska

Energies 2021, 14(10), 2749; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14102749 - 11 May 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 2975

Abstract

Brazil, Russia, China, India, and the Republic of South Africa (BRICS) represent developing economies facing different energy and economic development challenges. The current study aims to predict energy consumption in BRICS at aggregate and disaggregate levels using the annual time series data set [...] Read more.

Brazil, Russia, China, India, and the Republic of South Africa (BRICS) represent developing economies facing different energy and economic development challenges. The current study aims to predict energy consumption in BRICS at aggregate and disaggregate levels using the annual time series data set from 1992 to 2019 and to compare results obtained from a set of models. The time-series data are from the British Petroleum (BP-2019) Statistical Review of World Energy. The forecasting methodology bases on a novel Fractional-order Grey Model (FGM) with different order parameters. This study contributes to the literature by comparing the forecasting accuracy and the predictive ability of the

F G M (1, 1)

with traditional ones, like standard

G M (1, 1)

and

A R I M A (1, 1, 1)

models. Moreover, it illustrates the view of BRICS’s nexus of energy consumption at aggregate and disaggregates levels using the latest available data set, which will provide a reliable and broader perspective. The Diebold-Mariano test results confirmed the equal predictive ability of

F G M (1, 1)

for a specific range of order parameters and the

A R I M A (1, 1, 1)

model and the usefulness of both approaches for energy consumption efficient forecasting. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Consumption Patterns in Sustainable Supply Chains)

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Review

Jump to: Research

16 pages, 1856 KiB

Open AccessReview

Energy Consumption and Environmental Impact of E-Grocery: A Systematic Literature Review

by Soukaina Aziz, Ila Maltese, Edoardo Marcucci, Valerio Gatta, Rachid Benmoussa and El Hassan Irhirane

Energies 2022, 15(19), 7289; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15197289 - 4 Oct 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3435

Abstract

E-grocery is fast growing worldwide and represents a relevant issue for city logistics. Although in almost all countries the percentage of food e-buyers was lower than those purchasing other commodity categories, due to the pandemic, they have increased significantly in the last two [...] Read more.

E-grocery is fast growing worldwide and represents a relevant issue for city logistics. Although in almost all countries the percentage of food e-buyers was lower than those purchasing other commodity categories, due to the pandemic, they have increased significantly in the last two years, with consequences that are difficult to fathom and estimate. This phenomenon therefore deserves more attention, especially with respect to its environmental impact, mostly at the urban scale. This paper presents a systematic literature review (SLR) on how e-grocery impacts the environment through the CO₂ emissions generated and the equivalent energy consumption. The methodology used for the review follows a standard approach, with different combinations of keywords used for the search performed in SCOPUS and the Web of Science databases. Emissions and energy consumption assessments were performed for all of the papers considered. The results point to two different findings: some studies consider online grocery as an environmentally friendly channel, while others note that the energy consumption of this emerging channel is higher than alternative ones. This paper contributes by suggesting future research directions to be explored on the relationship between e-grocery and energy use and provides some reflections that are useful not only to e-grocers and logistics operators, but also to policy makers with an interest in developing sustainable urban plans and promoting less environmentally impacting distributions/configurations of grocery delivery systems within city logistics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Consumption Patterns in Sustainable Supply Chains)

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