Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS)

About: Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS) is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Life-cycle assessment & Emerging technologies. The organization has 167 authors who have published 318 publications receiving 6738 citations.

A cost and resource analysis of sodium-ion batteries

Abstract: Sodium-ion batteries are an appealing alternative to lithium-ion batteries because they use raw materials that are less expensive, more abundant and less toxic. The background leading to such promises is carefully assessed in terms of cell and battery production, as well as raw material supply risks, for sodium-ion and modern lithium-ion batteries.

The environmental impact of Li-Ion batteries and the role of key parameters - A review

Abstract: The increasing presence of Li-Ion batteries (LIB) in mobile and stationary energy storage applications has triggered a growing interest in the environmental impacts associated with their production. Numerous studies on the potential environmental impacts of LIB production and LIB-based electric mobility are available, but these are very heterogeneous and the results are therefore difficult to compare. Furthermore, the source of inventory data, which is key to the outcome of any study, is often difficult to trace back. This paper provides a review of LCA studies on Li-Ion batteries, with a focus on the battery production process. All available original studies that explicitly assess LIB production are summarized, the sources of inventory data are traced back and the main assumptions are extracted in order to provide a quick overview of the technical key parameters used in each study. These key parameters are then compared with actual battery data from industry and research institutions. Based on the results from the reviewed studies, average values for the environmental impacts of LIB production are calculated and the relevance of different assumptions for the outcomes of the different studies is pointed out. On average, producing 1 Wh of storage capacity is associated with a cumulative energy demand of 328 Wh and causes greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 110 gCO2eq. Although the majority of existing studies focus on GHG emissions or energy demand, it can be shown that impacts in other categories such as toxicity might be even more important. Taking into account the importance of key parameters for the environmental performance of Li-Ion batteries, research efforts should not only focus on energy density but also on maximizing cycle life and charge-discharge efficiency.

Food waste prevention in Europe – A cause-driven approach to identify the most relevant leverage points for action

Abstract: The reduction of food waste is seen as an important lever for ensuring food security and diminishing environmental burdens. In context of the forthcoming revision of the European Waste Directive the EC is planning to commit its Member States to reduce their food waste by 30% until 2025. To reach this ambitious objective effective prevention measures have to be implemented. This requires detailed knowledge on drivers and reasons for food waste generation along the food supply chain and the ‘hotspots of wastage’. The paper provides information on these two topics. Main drivers for food waste generation are process- and market-based standards, non-compliance with food safety requirements, exceeding of expiry dates, marketing standards or logistic constraints, but also consumer preferences and societal trends like growing prosperity, declining food prices, rising number of single households and increasing employment of women. As surveys and calculations indicate, the highest waste rates in Europe occur at the first stage (primary production) and the last stage (household sector) of the supply chain. The paper further presents a set of policy options on European and national level which are considered most promising to prevent food waste. The selection is based on a thorough literature review, reflecting also the results of a stakeholder workshop held in November 2014. The analysis reveals that most of the prevention measures implemented in the EU Member States up to now are soft instruments like awareness campaigns, round tables, networks and information platforms. In addition to this soft instruments, the paper advocates for the introduction of more rigorous approaches like the abolishment of subsidies on food, amendments to EU regulations and economic incentives. Further research is required to assess the impacts and efficacy of economic and regulatory instruments.

Towards pervasive computing in health care – A literature review

Abstract: The evolving concepts of pervasive computing, ubiquitous computing and ambient intelligence are increasingly influencing health care and medicine. Summarizing published research, this literature review provides an overview of recent developments and implementations of pervasive computing systems in health care. It also highlights some of the experiences reported in deployment processes. There is no clear definition of pervasive computing in the current literature. Thus specific inclusion criteria for selecting articles about relevant systems were developed. Searches were conducted in four scientific databases alongside manual journal searches for the period of 2002 to 2006. Articles included present prototypes, case studies and pilot studies, clinical trials and systems that are already in routine use. The searches identified 69 articles describing 67 different systems. In a quantitative analysis, these systems were categorized into project status, health care settings, user groups, improvement aims, and systems features (i.e., component types, data gathering, data transmission, systems functions). The focus is on the types of systems implemented, their frequency of occurrence and their characteristics. Qualitative analyses were performed of deployment issues, such as organizational and personnel issues, privacy and security issues, and financial issues. This paper provides a comprehensive access to the literature of the emerging field by addressing specific topics of application settings, systems features, and deployment experiences. Both an overview and an analysis of the literature on a broad and heterogeneous range of systems are provided. Most systems are described in their prototype stages. Deployment issues, such as implications on organization or personnel, privacy concerns, or financial issues are mentioned rarely, though their solution is regarded as decisive in transferring promising systems to a stage of regular operation. There is a need for further research on the deployment of pervasive computing systems, including clinical studies, economic and social analyses, user studies, etc.