Air pollution - Transport emissions

Title

The life cycle assessment of alternative fuel chains for urban buses and trolleybuses

Reference

Journal of Environmental Management
Volume 99, 30 May 2012, Pages 98-103

Author(s)

L. Kliucininkas, J. Matulevicius, D. Martuzevicius

Study type

Peer Review Journal    

Abstract

This paper describes a comparative analysis of public transport alternatives in the city of Kaunas, Lithuania. An LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) inventory analysis of fuel chains was undertaken using the midi urban bus and a similar type of trolleybus. The inventory analysis of fuel chains followed the guidelines provided by the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 standards. The ReCiPe Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) methodology was used to quantify weighted damage originating from five alternative fuel chains. The compressed biogas fuel chain had the lowest weighted damage value, namely 45.7 mPt/km, whereas weighted damage values of the fuel chains based on electricity generation for trolleybuses were 60.6 mPt/km (for natural gas) and 78.9 mPt/km (for heavy fuel oil). The diesel and compressed natural gas fuel chains exhibited considerably higher damage values of 114.2 mPt/km and 132.6 mPt/km, respectively. The comparative life cycle assessment of fuel chains suggested that biogas-powered buses and electric trolleybuses can be considered as the best alternatives to use when modernizing the public transport fleet in Kaunas.

Policy theme(s)

Air pollution >> Source of emissions >> Transport emissions
Climate change and energy >> Climate change mitigation >> Low carbon and renewable energy
Climate change and energy >> Greenhouse gas emissions >> Transport emissions
Sustainable mobility >> Environmental impacts of transport >> Transport emissions – Greenhouse gases

Keywords

Life cycle analysis; Alternative fuel chains; Bus; Trolleybus; Weighted damage

Entry Source:

Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

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http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479712000138
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Contact the study author at:

linas.kliucininkas@ktu.lt

Title

On-Road Emissions of Light-Duty Vehicles in Europe

Reference

Environ. Sci. Technol., 2011, 45 (19), pp 8575–8581
DOI: 10.1021/es2008424

Author(s)

Martin Weiss, Pierre Bonnel, Rudolf Hummel, Alessio Provenza, and Urbano Manfredi

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

For obtaining type approval in the European Union, light-duty vehicles have to comply with emission limits during standardized laboratory emissions testing. Although emission limits have become more stringent in past decades, light-duty vehicles remain an important source of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide emissions in Europe. Furthermore, persisting air quality problems in many urban areas suggest that laboratory emissions testing may not accurately capture the on-road emissions of light-duty vehicles. To address this issue, we conduct the first comprehensive on-road emissions test of light-duty vehicles with state-of-the-art Portable Emission Measurement Systems. We find that nitrogen oxides emissions of gasoline vehicles as well as carbon monoxide and total hydrocarbon emissions of both diesel and gasoline vehicles generally remain below the respective emission limits. By contrast, nitrogen oxides emissions of diesel vehicles (0.93 ± 0.39 grams per kilometer [g/km]), including modern Euro 5 diesel vehicles (0.62 ± 0.19 g/km), exceed emission limits by 320 ± 90%. On-road carbon dioxide emissions surpass laboratory emission levels by 21 ± 9%, suggesting that the current laboratory emissions testing fails to accurately capture the on-road emissions of light-duty vehicles. Our findings provide the empirical foundation for the European Commission to establish a complementary emissions test procedure for light-duty vehicles. This procedure could be implemented together with more stringent Euro 6 emission limits in 2014. The envisaged measures should improve urban air quality and provide incentive for innovation in the automotive industry.

Policy theme(s)

Air pollution >> Source of emissions >> Transport emissions

Keywords

Entry Source:

Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

Referred to in EC doc:

N/A

View this study at:

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es2008424
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Contact the study author at:

martin.weiss@jrc.ec.europa.eu.

Title

Emission scenarios for a global hydrogen economy and the consequences for global air pollution

Reference

Global Environmental Change
Volume 21, Issue 3, August 2011, Pages 983-994
Symposium on Social Theory and the Environment in the New World (dis)Order

Author(s)

Bas van Ruijven,, Jean-Francois Lamarque, Detlef P. van Vuuren, Tom Kram, Hans Eerens

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

Hydrogen is named as possible energy carrier for future energy systems. However, the impact of large-scale hydrogen use on the atmosphere is uncertain. Application of hydrogen in clean fuel cells reduces emissions of air pollutants, but emissions from hydrogen production and leakages of molecular hydrogen could influence atmospheric chemistry. This paper combines a global energy system model and a global atmospheric model to explore the range of impacts of hydrogen on atmospheric chemistry. We found that emissions of molecular hydrogen may range from 0.2 up to 10% (or 25-167 Tg hydrogen/yr) for a global hydrogen energy system. The lower end of this range would in fact be equal to current emissions from fossil fuel combustion. Hydrogen energy use leads to a clear decrease in emissions of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide, but large-scale hydrogen production from coal may lead to net increase in emissions of nitrous oxide and volatile organic compound. Compared to a reference scenario, this would lead to positive impacts on surface concentrations of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and ozone. However, if hydrogen leakage would not be minimised it leads to an increase in methane lifetimes and a decrease in stratospheric ozone concentrations.

Policy theme(s)

Air pollution >> Source of emissions >> Transport emissions
Air pollution >> Impact of emissions >> Climate change impacts
Environmental technologies >> Climate change mitigation >> Low carbon technologies
Environmental technologies >> Pollution control >> Low polluting technologies

Keywords:

Hydrogen energy; Atmospheric chemistry; Molecular hydrogen emissions; Stratospheric ozone; Air polluting emissions

Entry Source:

Selected for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

Referred to in EC doc:

N/A

View this study at:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959378011000409
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Contact the study author at:

bas.vanruijven@pbl.nl

Title

Assessing the impact of petrol stations on their immediate surroundings

Reference

Journal of Environmental Management, 2010; 91 (12): 2754
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2010.08.009

Author(s)

Isabel M. Morales Terrés, Marta Doval Miñarro, Enrique González Ferradas, Antonia Baeza Caracena, Jonathan Barberá Rico.

Study type

Peer Review Journal

Abstract

This paper describes a novel methodology for evaluating the extent to which petrol stations affect their surroundings. The method is based on the fact that the ratio of the concentrations of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon pollutants in the air of the petrol stations and their surroundings (basically determined by vapor emissions from unburned gasoline) differs from the ratio found in urban air, which is mainly influenced by traffic emissions. Bearing this in mind, the spatial limit of influence of petrol stations in any direction would be the first point, moving away from the station, where the ratio becomes equal to the urban background ratio. Application of the methodology involves multipoint measuring campaigns of the air at the studied petrol station and built-up area in general and processing the data with software capable of providing isoconcentration contours. The procedure should help local authorities in terms of land management, so that a 'belt' can be established around petrol stations where housing or vulnerable populations and activities such as those in schools, hospitals and community centers should be restricted.

Policy theme(s)

Air pollution >> Source of emissions >> Transport emissions
Urban environment >> Urban planning >> Healthy cities

Keywords

Petrol stations; Volatile organic compounds; Aromatic/aliphatic concentration ratio

Entry Source:

Shortlisted for Science for Environment Policy News Alert

Referred to in EC doc:

N/A

View this study at:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479710002574
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Contact the study author at:

mdoval@um.es