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This paper describes a novel tool-kit to analyze energy systems in relation to the bio-economic and environmental performance of society. It is illustrated with data from the oil and gas sector of Mexico. The approach combines relational analysis (as developed in theoretical biology) and Multi-Scale Integrated Assessment of Societal and Ecosystem Metabolism (MuSIASEM). It integrates two non-equivalent views of the functioning of the oil and gas system starting from the identification and description of the relations between functional and structural elements. The metabolic pattern of the energy system is described as a sequential pathway generated by different functional elements (e.g., extraction, refining, transportation), each of which is made up of different structural elements (e.g., plants adopting different extraction techniques, diverse types of refineries, different methods of transportation), and operating at a given level of openness (imports and exports). The relations found over the elements of the energy system are described both in functional terms (what/why) and in spatial terms (where/how). The policy relevance of the information generated is discussed in relation to the Mexican Energy Reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex environment for planning created by liberalised electricity sectors, requires the use of frameworks that incorporate the multiple-objective nature of investment and also the behavioural aspect of decision-making. Such framework could aid company managers to select economically efficient, low-carbon and socially accepted energy portfolios given their risk-taking levels. The work presented in this paper was aimed at bringing together decision analysis tools that have traditionally been used separately, and showing its usefulness in the context of the Mexican electricity sector. In order to accomplish this, a novel approach for the combination of multi-attribute utility theory (MAUT) and mean-variance portfolio (MVP) theory was established; and multi-attribute portfolios were determined with the aid of real data obtained through interviews and multi-objective optimisation. It was found that when only using MAUT, geothermal energy was favoured. The consideration of risk-aversion in portfolio optimisation highlighted natural gas combined cycles (NGCC) as the highest return option and the attractiveness of wind as an alternative to reduce fossil fuel risk. The extension to multiple attributes presented portfolios with a high share of low-carbon technologies that were not found when only one variable was considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of limited natural resources on Earth, linkage among environment, energy, and economy (3Es) becomes important perspectives for sustainable development. This paper proposes to use Lotka–Volterra model for SUstainable Development (LV-SUD) to analyse the interspecific interactions, equilibria and their stabilities among emissions, different types of energy consumption (renewable, nuclear, and fossil fuel), and real GDP, the main factors of 3Es issues. Modelling these interactions provides a useful multivariate framework for prediction outcomes. Interaction between 3Es, namely competition, symbiosis, or predation, plays an important role in policy development to achieve a balanced use of energy resources and to strengthen the green economy. Applying LV-SUD in Mexico, an emerging markets country, analysing results show that there is a mutualism between fossil fuel consumption and GDP; prey-predator relationships that fossil fuel and GDP enhance the growth of emissions, but emissions inhibit the growth of the others; and commensalisms that GDP benefits from nuclear power, and renewable power benefits from fossil fuel. It is suggested that national energy policies should remain committed to decoupling the relevance between non-clean energy and GDP, to actively developing clean energy and thereby to properly reducing fossil fuel consumption and emissions without harming economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents for the first time a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study of electricity generation in Mexico. The electricity mix in Mexico is dominated by fossil fuels, which contribute around 79% to the total primary energy; renewable energies contribute 16.5% (hydropower 13.5%, geothermal 3% and wind 0.02%) and the remaining 4.8% is from nuclear power. The LCA results show that 225 TWh of electricity generate about 129 million tonnes of CO2 eq. per year, of which the majority (87%) is due to the combustion of fossil fuels. The renewables and nuclear contribute only 1.1% to the total CO2 eq. Most of the other LCA impacts are also attributed to the fossil fuel options. The results have been compared with values reported for other countries with similar electricity mix, including Italy, Portugal and the UK, showing good agreement. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Throughout the world wherever oil and gas is discovered, a support industry will develop and evolve with the needs of industry and government regulation. In the Gulf of Mexico, a large variety of marine vessels transport goods and provide services to exploration, development and production activity, and play an important role in the economic and ecological impacts across communities. The spatial and temporal dynamics of the logistics network is complex and dynamic and closely related to the magnitude, duration, type, and sequence of offshore workflows and activities. The purpose of this paper is to develop a methodological framework to quantify the number of offshore supply vessel and crew boat departures by activity across the Gulf’s coastal regions in support of the oil and gas industry. The logistics network is modeled as a linear time-invariant deterministic system and implemented using an input-output model. We provide a methodological framework to quantify the magnitude and distribution of service vessel trips to forecast port activity. This is the first integrated modeling study on service vessel trips in the Gulf of Mexico and special attention is paid to the analytic framework, model assumptions, and limitations of the analysis. Generic examples illustrate the model implementation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Energy use in the Mexican residential sector is steadily increasing. Important factors contributing to the increase include changes in the types of housing built, heating, cooling, water-heating equipment and other appliances. In this paper, the development of household equipment in Mexico is described between 1984 and 2006. Trend in energy consumption by end use is reviewed over the same period. Methodology based on energy end-uses shows that cooking is the main end use while water heating and appliances are the end uses with the greatest rates of growth. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Bioethanol as fuel oxygenator is currently being introduced in Mexico with an estimated yearly demand of 3 billion liters expected to be produced mainly from sugarcane. This paper studies how to employ some of the expertise acquired by Brazil during its transition from typical mills into advanced biorefineries to retrofit the Mexican sucroalcohol industry. A typical Mexican sugarcane factory design is retrofitted to three biorefinery designs commonly found in Brazil, which are an autonomous distillery, a biorefinery with 50:50 feedstock ratio for ethanol and sugar production and a molasses distillery. The results of a techno-economic analysis considering these four designs under Mexican conditions are presented, followed by an economic comparison of the autonomous distillery design operating under Mexican and Brazilian conditions. Sustainability analysis is then carried out to identify the advantages and drawbacks of each design. The analysis compares an environment-driven scenario promoting bioethanol production and use for phasing out fossil fuels, against a commercially focused framework considering only environmental and economic issues affecting stakeholders' profit. Results show in monetary terms the impact of each indicator of a retrofitting path from currently profitable biorefineries coproducing sugar and alcohol to sustainable distilleries using molasses and juice as feedstock to produce bioethanol. • Retrofitting the Mexican sugar industry with Brazilian expertise for ethanol production. • Techno-economic and sustainability analyses of all designs. • Calculation with same tools and bases, thus highlighting differences between countries. • Comparison of environment-driven sustainability versus current commercial practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consumption of fuel by heavy motor vehicles, both passenger and freight, driven on typical Mexican roads, has a direct influence on pollutant emissions. This fuel consumption strongly depends on driving practices, as has been shown by data gathered in field tests conducted with a large number of vehicles in a variety of driving conditions. So-called ‘technical driving’, which essentially means an optimal use of the engine speed and torque, has demonstrated substantial savings in fuel consumption and, therefore, is an effective practice for the reduction of pollutant emissions. In this paper, the main results of an extended field study, using the technical driving, are presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]