Industrial Ecology:
Vision and perspectives for Research
Prof. Suren ERKMAN
IDYST Away Day – Les Diablerets – 19 January 2015
Industrialization as a historical process
The concept of Industrial Ecology
«The traditional model of industrial activity
should be transformed in a more integrated
model: an industrial ecosystem.» (…)
R. Frosch & N. Gallopoulos, General Motors Laboratories, 1989
The field (a meta-discipline ?) :
«Industrial Ecology»
Ecology = Science of ecosystems
Industrial = all economic activities taking place
within the industrial system
Industrial ecology:
What is being done ?
a) Measure, analyze, evaluate, understand
b) Operational strategy: large scale
implementation («transitions», etc.)
From «pre-» to «hyper-» industrial metabolism:
Resource consumption per capita increased by a factor 10 (at least)
as compared to all other previous economic systems
Translocations: excavations, irrigation
Inputs
Minerals,
Oil, Gaz
Water
Air
Agriculture,
Hunting
Outputs
Wastes
Wastewater
Various Emissions
Dissipation
Industrial
Economy
Source: Wuppertal Insitut
Meaningful data for sustainability
UN – IEAG – DRSD, November 2014
http://www.undatarevolution.org
Source: Planning Commission Report on Power and Energy, 2002
Electricity Utilization by different sectors in Karnataka (2000-01)
?
What, how much:
Biophysical perspective: material and energy stocks and flows
Why, in what way:
Sociological perspective: consumption behaviour and practices
Looking for «blind spots» (ex.: green ergonomics)
Understanding (un)sustainable consumption ?
Industrial ecosystem:
Dynamics of evolutive adaptation
1) Circularize (quasi-circular economy)
2) Minimize losses
3) Dematerialize
4) Balance the industrial diet (decarbonize)
Eco-industrial synergies or symbioses
Source: G. Massard
Biological life support system:
artificial closed ecosystem (ACE)
Loop with humans, micro-organisms and higher plants
food
water
O2
Crew
Synthese ICarbon transforma°
Synthese IINitrogen transforma°
small molecules
mineralsNO3
-
(edible nitrogen)
Higher plantsVegetables, cereals,
spirulinaDegradationWaste liquefaction
waste
CO2
non edible part of plants
New business models: Product Service Systems
Ex.: Chemical leasing
Product Use Performance
Sale, maintenance Rental Result
Value based
on the product
Value based
on the service
Shift of the center of gravity of economic activities !
D’après: Tomohiko Sakao
Organizational innovation: third party operator
I appreciate your generous spirit, but just wanted to let you know that I have
all the things I could possibly want.
This year, I’d like to try something special: a stuff-free holiday.
Therefore, I’m issuing you this “One Less Gift” Certificate.
Instead of exchanging presents, let’s find other ways to enjoy this wonderful
season together.
We’ll each have one less gift to worry about, and save a little time, money,
and stress – not to mention our planet’s resources. Memories last much
longer than any material things!
Courtesy of missminimalist.com
One Less Gift
Dematerialization and Social innovation:
missminimalist.com (Francine Jay: The joy of less, 2010)
300
400
500
Atm
osp
her
ic c
on
cen
trat
ion
(p
pm
)
2000 2050 2100
Année
1800
600
SP 450
SP 550
4000
3000
Am
ou
nt
(Gt)
2100 Gt
1300 Gt800 GtPre-industrial
concentration
Concentration
(2014)
Carbon Capture and Sequestration + Utilization
800 Gt of «industrial» CO2 accumulated in the atmosphere
CO 2
Bio-material (wood,
biopolymers)
Biofuel/chemicals
Biomineralization
Enhanced oil
recovery
Sparkling beverage,
extinguisher…
Solvent
(supercitical CO2)
C-C bond
formation
Aromatics acidsCarboxylic
acids
Acrylic acids Others
CCS
C-O bond
formation
mineralization
Polycarbonates
C-N bond
formation
Urea
Carbamates
Oxazolidones
Reduction
Methanol
Carbon
monoxide
Methane
Chemical reaction
with non-fossil H2
Formic acid
Thermochemical,
electrochemical,
or photocatalytic
reduction
Aggregates
Construction
Chemical pathway
Physical pathway
Biological pathway
Pathways of CO2 valorization
Organic carbonates
Frederic Meylan, UNIL
Biorefinery: diversity of processes
Bifurcation:
A) Malthusian catastrophe (Collapse)
Bifurcation:
B) Radical Abundance (catastrophic success ?)
«The Master Equation»:
I = P · A · T
I = Impact
P = Population
A = Affluence (purchasing power)
T = Technology
Technological trajectories : systemic approach
Ex.: limiting factor for air transport
Technological trajectories : aviation, airports, etc.
Cf. Project Clip – Air: http://clipair.epfl.ch
Technological dynamics and trajectories
Major trends (potentially disruptive):
Atomic Precise Manufacturing + Von Neumann
+ «Superintelligence» (algorithms)
«Autonomous artefacts» ?
Emergence of «living technologies» ?
Technoscientific research and innovation:
A massive and pivotal industrial activity
- Science/policy interactions:
- sustainability frameworks
- understanding agnotology…
- Exploring assumptions: different scientific research
visions / programmes according to bifurcation A) or
B)
Technoscientific research and innovation:
A massive and pivotal industrial activity
- Is present technoscientific endeavor meaningful ?
(cf. «Slow Science»)
- Sustainability research: «Detached specialist» vs
«Generalist activist» ?