scholarly journals The Optimum Wood Procurement Scenario and Its Dynamic Management for Integrated Energy and Material Production in Carbon-Neutral Forest Industry

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (15) ◽  
pp. 4404
Author(s):  
Teijo Palander ◽  
Jari Takkinen
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Forest Industry ◽  
Forest Sector ◽  
Integrated Production ◽  
Material Production ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Carbon Neutral ◽  
Wood Procurement ◽  
Energy Reform

The digitalization of the forest sector, the increased demand of energy-wood, as well as faster market changes have increased the number of challenges for wood procurement of the forest industry. The aim of the study is to optimize wood procurement (upstream of supply chain) of energy and material production in integrated situations, and to consider the effects of production changes on the management of procurement regions. Three scenarios described integrated production situations in a carbon-neutral forest industry: (1) declining export, (2) energy reform, and (3) extensive energy reform. Time-varying capital-, cost-, and energy efficiency of the dynamic wood-flow model affected the competitiveness of the procurement regions. As a novel contribution, energy efficiency was modeled using the price of emission allowance as a cost parameter. The results show the positive effects of the energy reforms, which partly compensate for the declining exports. In addition, it is possible to change wood procurement in the regions in a market-oriented way. Decision makers should optimize purchases, inventories, and procurement resources as business processes, which are also considered success factors for the forest industry in integrated production situations. The strategic solution of extensive energy reform provides a potential approach for carbon-neutral customer-oriented supply chains, but it needs tactical energy efficiency analysis in future studies of sustainability, if the ultimate goal is to implement a carbon-free forest industry and bioeconomy.

scholarly journals Improving Environmental and Energy Efficiency in Wood Transportation for a Carbon-Neutral Forest Industry

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1194
Author(s):  
Teijo Palander ◽  
Hanna Haavikko ◽  
Emma Kortelainen ◽  
Kalle Kärhä ◽  
Stelian Alexandru Borz
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Enterprise Resource Planning ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Resource Planning ◽  
Positive Development ◽  
Forest Industry ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Efficiency Criterion ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Carbon Neutral

Wood transportation is an important source of greenhouse gas emissions, which should be considered when the carbon neutrality of the forest industry is of concern. The EU is dedicated to improving technology for a carbon-neutral development. This study investigates carbon neutrality by improving road freight transportation fleets consisting of various vehicle size combinations. The environmental emission and energy efficiency of a transportation fleet were analyzed in selected wood procurement regions of Stora Enso corporation (Finland). Based on the enterprise resource planning (ERP) data (2018–2020), the environmental emission efficiency increased by 11% via 76 t-vehicles compared 64 t vehicles. The maximum reduction in fuel consumption was 26% for 92 t vehicles, though this was achieved when operations were fully adjusted to the maximum weight limit. The wood-based energy efficiency measure (wood energy/transport energy) was a useful development indicator. It showed that the adapted fleets of transportation companies support a positive development for a carbon-neutral forestry. In respect to the current legal fleet (64, 68 and 76 t), the use of 76 t vehicles increased energy efficiency most effectively, by 50%, compared to 64 t vehicles in the best region. Currently, transportation service providers and their clients are using ERP information to tailor their energy efficiency metric and to implement them locally in the transportation monitoring systems. A three-year sensitivity analysis demonstrates that the technological development of management tools to improve transportation efficiency is essential for larger and heavier vehicle utilization. In the future, the whole wood supply chain from forest to factory will also be optimized with respect to energy efficiency criterion to ensure a low-carbon forest industry.

scholarly journals Improving Energy Efficiency in a Synchronized Road-Transportation System by Using a TFMC (Transportation Fleet-Management Control) in Finland

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 670 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teijo Palander ◽  
Kalle Kärhä
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
High Capacity ◽  
Transportation System ◽  
Management Control ◽  
Vehicle Group ◽  
Fleet Management ◽  
Forest Industry ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Road Transportation ◽  
Wood Procurement

Previous studies have suggested that the use of high-capacity transportation (HCT) can lead to low-carbon road-transportation in the forest industry. This study shows the impacts (in terms of energy efficiency) of a three-year adaptation process of transportation (2014–2016) towards HCT that took place in a synchronized transportation system (STS). The use of three transportation fleet-management control (TFMC) methods was analyzed in various road infrastructures. Energy-efficiency calculations were undertaken based on the HCT vehicles’ mass limits (64, 68 and 76 t). The use of 76 t vehicles increased energy efficiency by 13.4% and reduced CO2 emissions by 3.5% (to 49.6 g/tkm). In addition, the results show that the energy efficiency of the STS could be improved by a further 3.1%. In this respect, the proposed TFMC was used to adjust the STS towards vehicle-group transportation while meeting the road-class constraints of local wood supply chains. Forest-industry companies in Finland and abroad can use the tailored TFMC to optimize the STS in the near future and to achieve the energy-efficient STS and the regulations of the European Commission in wood-procurement logistics.

scholarly journals Institutional Impact of Forestry on the Economy

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dmitry Litvin ◽  
Galina Davydova ◽  
Anastasia Biryukova
Keyword(s):  
Property Rights ◽  
Transaction Costs ◽  
Institutional Environment ◽  
Sustainable Growth ◽  
Forest Industry ◽  
Forest Sector ◽  
Institutional Impact ◽  
Institutional Relations ◽  
First Time ◽  
Russian Forest

The problems of the forest sector identified by many researchers are primarily related to the quality of institutions and the lack of effective institutional relations in the industry, according to the authors’ opinion. The results presented in the article, which prove the existence of a causal relationship between the qualitative characteristics of institutions and institutional relations and economic results, are shown for the first time in the case of the forest industry. In order to achieve the objective, the economic interrelations between forest industry entities are analyzed in the context of their institutional environment. It is revealed that the existing institutional structure of the industry supports the conflict of incentives between the owner (state) and the user (tenant) of forest land. The theoretical aspects of the specification of property rights, minimization of transaction costs and costs of contractual relations in the Russian forest industry to increase its economic efficiency are investigated. The transformation of Russian forest industry institutions should be based on the comparative advantages of existing institutions, economic models of successful forest management, objective institutional and economic indicators of sustainable growth, such as the specification of property rights and the minimization of specific transaction costs.

scholarly journals A Framework for Tracking the State of the Forest Industry: Case Study of Georgia

2009 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 157-163
Author(s):  
Tim Sydor ◽  
Brooks Mendell ◽  
Jacek Siry ◽  
Rafael De La Torre ◽  
Tom Harris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oriented Strand Board ◽  
Local Level ◽  
The State ◽  
Forest Industry ◽  
Efficient Manner ◽  
Forest Inventories ◽  
Size Type ◽  
Wood Demand ◽  
Wood Procurement ◽  
Timber Markets

Abstract This research introduces a framework for tracking the state of the forest industry and relative competitiveness at the local level and applies it to the state of Georgia. Key insights highlight how localized forestry and forest industry profiles indicate where wood demand and suppliesare in and out of balance on an annual basis. Alternately, localized profiles that emphasize physiographic regions may not correspond well with traditional wood procurement areas. More importantly, ongoing tracking of wood supply viability and competitive analysis must distinguish between timber markets (stumpage, forest inventories and removals, and growth) and end product commodity markets (lumber, pulp, oriented strand board, and plywood). Mills, like forests, are not uniformly distributed throughout a state, whether measured by size, type, or end product. Tracking the forest industry in a localized, annual manner can support ongoing planning, investment, and policymaking activities in a targeted and efficient manner.

Identifying the Influential Factors of Knowledge Sharing in E-Learning 2.0 Systems

2020 ◽  
pp. 603-622
Author(s):  
Bing Wu
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Climate ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Knowledge Creation ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
E Learning

As the E-Learning 2.0 system is a tool to help members manage knowledge in an effective way, this study attempts to verify the constructs of knowledge creation self-efficacy, subjective norms, perceived usefulness, organizational climate, attitudes toward knowledge sharing and the intention to engage in knowledge sharing. A sample of 284 participants from companies in China that have already implemented E-Learning 2.0 systems participated in this study. Structural equation modeling is conducted to test the research hypotheses. Research results show that (1) Knowledge creation self-efficacy, perceived usefulness and organizational climates are found to have positive effects on the intentions toward knowledge sharing in E-Learning 2.0 systems; (2) Meanwhile, system success factors of communication quality and service quality are suggested to influence the perceived usefulness of E-Learning 2.0 systems; (3) As we expected, the intentions toward knowledge sharing in E-Learning 2.0 have positive effects on knowledge-sharing behavior. Therefore, by highlighting the role of the organizational climate, the findings of current research provide practical insights for understanding how organizations should reinforce fairness, innovativeness and affiliation to create a climate of reciprocity.

scholarly journals Exploring Carbon Neutral Potential in Urban Densification: A Precinct Perspective and Scenario Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 4814
Author(s):  
Bin Huang ◽  
Ke Xing ◽  
Stephen Pullen ◽  
Lida Liao
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Scenario Analysis ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Carbon Reduction ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Carbon Neutral ◽  
Carbon Performance

Decarbonising the urban built environment for reaching carbon neutrality is high on the agenda for many cities undergoing rapid expansion and densification. As an important urban form, precincts have been increasingly focused on as the context for urban redevelopment planning and at the forefront for trialling carbon reduction measures. However, due to interplays between the built forms and the occupancy, the carbon performance of a precinct is significantly affected by morphological variations, demographical changes, and renewable energy system deployment. Despite much research on the development of low-carbon precincts, there is limited analysis on aggregated effects of population growth, building energy efficiency, renewable energy penetration, and carbon reduction targets in relation to precinct carbon signature and carbon neutral potential for precinct redevelopment and decarbonisation planning. In this paper, an integrated carbon assessment model, including overall precinct carbon emissions and carbon offset contributed by precinct-scale renewable energy harvesting, is developed and applied to examine the lifecycle carbon signature of urban precincts. Using a case study on a residential precinct redevelopment, scenario analysis is employed to explore opportunities for decarbonising densification development and the carbon neutral potential. Results from scenario analysis indicate that redevelopment of buildings with higher-rated energy efficiency and increase of renewable energy penetration can have a long term positive impact on the carbon performance of urban precincts. Meanwhile, demographical factors in precinct evolution also have a strong influence on a precinct’s carbon neutral potential. Whilst population size exerts upward pressure on total carbon emissions, changes in family types and associated consumption behaviour, such as travelling, can make positive contributions to carbon reduction. The analysis also highlights the significance of embodied carbon to the total carbon signature and the carbon reduction potential of a precinct during densification, reinforcing the notion that “develop with less” is as important as carbon offsetting measures for decarbonising the precinct toward carbon neutrality.

Design of Carbon-Neutral Residential Communities in Kuwait

2017 ◽  
Vol 139 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Baqer Ameer ◽  
Moncef Krarti
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Wind Turbines ◽  
Renewable Energy Technologies ◽  
Energy Efficiency Measures ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Residential Communities ◽  
Efficiency Measures ◽  
Energy Needs ◽  
Carbon Neutral

In this paper, a general methodology for designing carbon-neutral residential communities is presented. Both energy efficiency measures and renewable energy technologies are considered in the design approach. First, energy end-uses for the buildings within the community are optimized based on a set of cost-effective energy efficiency measures that are selected based on a life-cycle cost analysis. Then, renewable energy technologies are considered to meet the energy needs for the residential community and ensure carbon-neutrality on an annual basis. The methodology is applied to design optimal and carbon-neutral hybrid electrical generation systems for three Kuwaiti residential communities with different sizes and energy efficiency designs. For Kuwait, it is found that wind turbines can cost-effectively generate significant electricity to meet most of the energy needs for the residential communities and thus reducing the country's reliance on fuel-based power plants. Specifically, it is found that wind turbines can generate electricity at a cost of $0.068/kWh well below the current grid power production costs of $0.103/kWh. Moreover, the analysis indicates that concentrated solar power (CSP) can be utilized to achieve carbon-neutral residential communities but at a levelized energy cost of $0.13/kWh slightly lower than the current grid power generation and distribution costs of $0.133/kWh.

scholarly journals Promotion of socially responsible business in transport companies in Serbia

2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (45) ◽  
pp. 27-40
Author(s):  
Milica Žarevac-Bošković ◽  
Marija Lakićević ◽  
Danijela Pantović
Keyword(s):  
Connective Tissue ◽  
Economic System ◽  
Social Performance ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
Material Production ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
The Republic

The topic of this paper represents a relatively new and still evolving term of socially responsible business, with a focus on application of this concept to transport companies. The goal of this paper is to formulate, in accordance with results gained from the study, concrete potential guidelines for more socially responsible business of transport companies in the Republic of Serbia. Considering multiple positive effects of socially responsible business, confirmed by numerous study activities and practical examples, as well as the fact that influences on one of the key external dimensions of socially responsible business - the environment - are most directly connected with transport business, and, finally, observing traffic as connective tissue of the entire economic system that gives purpose to all areas of material production, this paper analyses, in addition to the nature of the link between economic and social performance, the degree of application of socially responsible business in transport companies in the Republic of Serbia as well.

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