CE Delft - CEmailvision, Issue 13, Winter 2011

In August 2011 CE Delft published a study on the main factors determining the sustainability of hinterland transport from the Port of Rotterdam. The Port Authority is keen to further its understanding of the environmental footprint of the ten main hinterland corridors and has asked CE Delft to conduct a follow-up study to assess the CO2, NOx and PM emissions of the inland shipping, road and rail links in the respective transport chains, based on specific vehicle capacity factors, volume scale, route efficiency and other logistical variables. Fleet-average emissions will also be reviewed, as well as emissions under full compliance with specific emission standards like Euro-VI and CCR-2. The STREAM model is to be used in the study. Among the corridors being reviewed are those to Amsterdam, Venlo, Antwerp, Liege, Duisburg, Mannheim, Basel, Munich and Prague.
More information: Eelco den Boer, tel. 0031(0)15-2150 150.

CE Delft is part of an international consortium established at the request of the European Commission to implement the OPTIMISM project: Optimising Passenger Transport Information to Materialize Insights for Sustainable Mobility. The study will develop a series of strategies and methodologies for optimising passenger transport systems based on co-modality ICT solutions. The first step towards this goal is to gain a thorough understanding of the supply and demand factors that shape the transportation system and mobility patterns (demographic variables, extent of car ownership and so on). Potential future trends in these factors and their impact on mobility patterns will then be modelled. In a second phase of the study ICT solutions supporting co-modality will be identified and assessed. The main objective is to estimate the mobility and environmental impacts of best practices in this field. The results of this assessment will be combined with the results of the outlook on future mobility patterns to define strategies and methodologies for optimizing future passenger transport through the use of co-modality ICT solutions.
More information: Arno Schroten, tel. 0031(0)15-2150 150.

The Dutch environment ministry has asked CE Delft to help the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, PBL, do the groundwork for a scenario analysis of a European ‘biobased economy’. EU member states are making growing use of biomass for transport, energy, chemicals and other products, a trend that seems set to continue. There are numerous options for industrial use of biomass in these various realms, depending on availability, price and sustainability criteria, and their respective impact on greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity and a range of other parameters will be reviewed. This preparatory phase will culminate in an exploratory report outlining the opportunities and risks of a European biobased economy. The ultimate PBL scenario analysis will be used as input for EU policy on a sustainable biobased economy and is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2012.
More information: Geert Bergsma, tel. 0031(0)15-2150 150.

At the request of the VROM Inspectorate, part of the Dutch environment ministry, CE Delft has written an English-language brochure entitled ‘Blending and bunkering, admixture of hazardous materials to bunker fuels for maritime shipping’. The brochure makes a series of recommendations designed to stop the practice of undesirable materials being blended into bunker fuels, through improved international agreements, better enforcement of regulations and other measures.
The brochure can be downloaded as a pdf file or ordered from CE Delft.
More information: Ab de Buck, tel. 0031(0)15-2150 150.

A series of large-scale trials are being conducted in the Netherlands to explore the concept of Smart Grids. This is being accompanied by a social cost-benefit analysis to assess the desirability of widespread introduction of such power grids. For this part of the programme CE Delft has teamed up with KEMA to examine the distribution of costs and benefits amongst stakeholders - i.e. the winners and losers - of three different scenarios for the power grid and energy systems of the future. The study is scheduled for completion in early January 2012. It is anticipated that the monitoring data obtained in the trials will provide better underpinning and refinement of component costs and benefits, and yield improved estimates of behavioural effects on tariff and service incentives.
More information: Martijn Blom, 0031(0)15-2150 150.

A comparative study by CE Delft for the Dutch Waste Management Association shows that recycling household plastic packaging waste has definite environmental benefits. At-source separation (by consumers), post-consumer separation (by waste processors, using infrared recognition and air classifiers) and deposits on PET bottles are better for the environment than burning the waste as a power plant fuel. A combination of all three forms of recycling yields the greatest environmental gains. The study looked closely at all the environmental impacts of sorting plastic waste, reworking of recyclate and its application in specific products serving as alternatives for virgin plastics, concrete and tropical hardwood. 
The results of the study will provide input for a parliamentary debate on changes to present Dutch plastics recycling systems. More information: Geert Bergsma, tel. 0031(0)15-2150 150.

On 28 November the CE Delft report ‘A critical examination of the investment proposal for Unit 6 of the Sostanj power plant’ was presented in Ljubljana, Slovenia. This report reveals a number of methodological errors and unsubstantiated claims in the investment programme for this plant. Correct calculations result in a significantly lower internal rate of return, one of the key elements for obtaining a state guarantee for the required loan from the European Investment Bank. The report was presented by the CEE Bankwatch Network and Focus, Association for Sustainable Development, and was financially supported by the European Climate Foundation. More information: Geert Warringa, tel. 0031(0)15-2150 150.

From the policy context of the Roadmap to Resource efficiency the European Commission is looking into policy options to trigger further improvement in the environmental and resource efficiency of companies and organisations.In this perspective, DG Environment has asked a consortium to assess the impact of different policy options for improving the environmental performance of companies. A consortium of AEA Technology (consortium leader), Arcadis Belgium and CE Delft currently carries out this research. It will include literature research, interviews and a stakeholder consultation. Results will be presented to the Commission in the first months of 2012.
More information: Ab de Buck, tel. 0031(0)15-2150 150.

A critical examination of the investment proposals for Unit 6 of the Sostanj Power Plant
Nuclear energy: The difference between costs and prices