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Forschung im Ingenieurwesen (2021). doi:10.1007/s10010-021-00564-w, Published by Springer, Heidelberg

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Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transport sector is one of the biggest challenges in the German energy transition. Furthermore, sustainable development does not stop with reducing GHG emissions. Other environmental, social and economic aspects should not be neglected. Thus, here a comprehensive sustainability assessment for passenger vehicles is conducted for 2020 and 2050. The discussed options are an internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV) fuelled with synthetic biofuel and fossil gasoline, a battery electric vehicle (BEV) with electricity from wind power and electricity mix Germany and a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) with hydrogen from wind power. The life cycle-based assessment entails 13 environmental indicators, one economic and one social indicator. For integrated consideration of the different indicators, the MCDA method Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is chosen. For the assessment, a consistent assessment framework, i.e. background scenario and system boundaries, and a detailed modelling of vehicle production, fuel supply and vehicle use are the cornerstones. The BEV with wind power is the most sustainable option in 2020 as well as in 2050. While in 2020, the second rank is taken by the ICEV with synthetic biofuel from straw and the last rank by the FCEV, in 2050 the FCEV is the runner-up. With the help of MCDA, transparent and structured guidance for decision makers in terms of sustainability assessment of motorized transport options is provided.

Power-to-Gas technologies enable the integration of non-dispatchable renewable energy sources into several sectors and help decarbonize and transform them. This study investigates to which extent an increase in Power-to-Gas technology applications affects their prospective environmental and economic performance. A first combined prospective LCA and LCC for different Power-to-Gas technologies based on the learning curve concept is presented. For the considered case study of future electrolysis and methanation, the applicability of the concept is demonstrated and prospective LCA and LCC results are obtained. Under assumed conditions, highest decreases in environmental impacts and costs occur between the years 2025 and 2030. Polymer electrolyte membrane electrolysis shows prospective advantages over alkaline water electrolysis. All results indicate that an extension of Power-to-Gas deployment and accompanying learning effects until the year 2050 can lead to significant reductions of more than 70 % in terms of environmental impacts and life cycle costs.

Dissertation, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, 2021; Aachen : RWTH University Aachen 1 Online-Ressource : Illustrationen, Diagramme (2022). = Dissertation, Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen, 2021, Today, the wind turbine drivetrain concept decision in an early design phase is made based on incomplete information. In addition, it is influenced by the subjective experience of the deciding development engineers. Furthermore, some product lifecycle phases as well as the entire system’s perspective are sometimes neglected. However, the prevailing cost pressure as the strongest driver in wind turbine technology calls for holistic and objectified drivetrain concept decisions in an early design stage.The main objective of this thesis is to develop and apply a holistic assessment framework to conduct structured and comprehensive drivetrain concept comparisons in an early design stage. In order to objectify the decision and to reduce complexity, an additive target system is derived in a systematic way. It takes technical, economic and ecological aspects as well as the preferences of the deciding engineers into account. Parameterizable, physically and empirically based model approaches are developed and validated to allow the quantification of the concept’s performance with respect to different targets. An ideal level of detail is identified and implemented for every drivetrain component and lifecycle phase. The developed method is subsequently applied to derive statements about a concept’s future viability. It is furthermore utilized to give recommendations about design goals and places for improvement of currently available drivetrain concepts. Beyond that, the assessment of innovative drivetrain concepts is assured. The utilization of this newly developed approach in the industry will objectify the design decision and thereby lead to improved drivetrain designs., Published by RWTH University Aachen, Aachen