Publications
Jácome, Rony Mauricio Parra
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 2020, ISBN: 9788449096624.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Energy metabolism, Oil extraction, sustainability
@phdthesis{ParraJacome2020,
title = {Biophysical constraints of fossil energy systems: studying the metabolism of ecuador's oil extraction-methodologies and application},
author = {Rony Mauricio Parra J\'{a}come},
url = {http://hdl.handle.net/10803/670720},
isbn = {9788449096624},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-01-01},
pages = {188},
school = {Universitat Aut\`{o}noma de Barcelona},
abstract = {The concept of “peak” in the trends of production of high quality oil is now well established. This is reflected by the dynamics towards the extraction of unconventional and lower quality oil reserves that demand greater flows of materials and energy in the metabolic pathway. At the same time, developed countries maintain an onerous but ineffective commitment to the partial or total substitution of fossil sources with renewable energy. This effort requires the generation of a complete new field of research capable of supplying the require information over the biophysical feasibility and viability of these solutions. This thesis proposes to expand the understanding of the problems related to current energy systems. It does so by analyzing in depth the performance of oil extraction as a primary source of energy and its relationship with society in the production of energy carriers, identifying its biophysical limitations in terms of scarcity and sink. This thesis presents innovative accounting methodologies based on applications of the MuSIASEM accounting scheme facilitating the understanding of the biophysical implications of oil extraction. The applications are illustrated in a multi-scale and integrated analysis of the Ecuadorian oil sector, avoiding the simplification of information, typical of reductionism, found in similar studies carried out using classic economic narratives. The proposed approach integrates the characterization of several relevant factors into a multi-criteria definition of the performance of a process of extraction of primary energy sources. It identifies profiles of relevant inputs and outputs of flows and funds described using the concept of “structural processors” that can be defined across different levels of analysis \textendash i.e. field / block / geographical area. Combinations of structural processors are analyzed as functional complexes whose characteristics depend on the quality of the exploited resource \textendash i.e. heavy, medium, and light oil production. In this way, we can study changes in the performance of oil fields due to their aging. Changes in the availability and quality of oil (and the need for freshwater) do affect the levels of environmental pressure in terms of required sink capacity - to absorb polluted water and GHG emissions. This framing allows to study the present and future relation between the primary source of energy (oil extraction) available to a society and its ability to produce, distribute and use intermediate products to guarantee their end uses in the various socioeconomic sectors. To achieve this task the analytical framework generates future scenarios allowing the metabolic understanding of the activities of the oil extraction systems. That is, it allows the identification of metabolic rates and biophysical constraints both in the supply side (oil extraction system) and in the demand side (energy end uses) in the Ecuadorian society. Due to the integration of the quantitative analysis across different dimensions and levels of analysis, the results of this type of analysis provide salient information to the discussions of energy policy across the technical, economic and environmental domain.},
keywords = {Energy metabolism, Oil extraction, sustainability},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {phdthesis}
}
The concept of “peak” in the trends of production of high quality oil is now well established. This is reflected by the dynamics towards the extraction of unconventional and lower quality oil reserves that demand greater flows of materials and energy in the metabolic pathway. At the same time, developed countries maintain an onerous but ineffective commitment to the partial or total substitution of fossil sources with renewable energy. This effort requires the generation of a complete new field of research capable of supplying the require information over the biophysical feasibility and viability of these solutions. This thesis proposes to expand the understanding of the problems related to current energy systems. It does so by analyzing in depth the performance of oil extraction as a primary source of energy and its relationship with society in the production of energy carriers, identifying its biophysical limitations in terms of scarcity and sink. This thesis presents innovative accounting methodologies based on applications of the MuSIASEM accounting scheme facilitating the understanding of the biophysical implications of oil extraction. The applications are illustrated in a multi-scale and integrated analysis of the Ecuadorian oil sector, avoiding the simplification of information, typical of reductionism, found in similar studies carried out using classic economic narratives. The proposed approach integrates the characterization of several relevant factors into a multi-criteria definition of the performance of a process of extraction of primary energy sources. It identifies profiles of relevant inputs and outputs of flows and funds described using the concept of “structural processors” that can be defined across different levels of analysis – i.e. field / block / geographical area. Combinations of structural processors are analyzed as functional complexes whose characteristics depend on the quality of the exploited resource – i.e. heavy, medium, and light oil production. In this way, we can study changes in the performance of oil fields due to their aging. Changes in the availability and quality of oil (and the need for freshwater) do affect the levels of environmental pressure in terms of required sink capacity - to absorb polluted water and GHG emissions. This framing allows to study the present and future relation between the primary source of energy (oil extraction) available to a society and its ability to produce, distribute and use intermediate products to guarantee their end uses in the various socioeconomic sectors. To achieve this task the analytical framework generates future scenarios allowing the metabolic understanding of the activities of the oil extraction systems. That is, it allows the identification of metabolic rates and biophysical constraints both in the supply side (oil extraction system) and in the demand side (energy end uses) in the Ecuadorian society. Due to the integration of the quantitative analysis across different dimensions and levels of analysis, the results of this type of analysis provide salient information to the discussions of energy policy across the technical, economic and environmental domain.
Sorman, Alevgul H.
Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, 2011.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: energy conversion, energy generation, Energy metabolism
@phdthesis{Sorman2011a,
title = {The Energetic Metabolism of Societies \textendash Development of Methodological Tools and Empirical Applications},
author = {Alevgul H. Sorman},
url = {https://www.educacion.gob.es/teseo/mostrarRef.do?ref=946551},
year = {2011},
date = {2011-09-01},
school = {Universidad Aut\'{o}noma de Barcelona},
abstract = {Los sistemas socio-econ\'{o}micos son sistemas abiertos altamente dependientes del sistema ecol\'{o}gico en el que operan. As\'{i}, los flujos de energ\'{i}a tienen un papel fundamental en la formaci\'{o}n, la composici\'{o}n y el funcionamiento de estos sistemas autopoy\'{e}ticos. Est\'{a} ampliamente aceptado el hecho de que los niveles de complejidad alcanzados por las sociedades m\'{a}s desarrolladas solo ha sido posible gracias a la abundancia y la r\'{a}pida disponibilidad de formas de energ\'{i}a primaria cuya explotaci\'{o}n provee de inmensos excedentes de flujos de energ\'{i}a. Sin embargo, la bonanza ha llegado a su fin y nos encontramos ahora ante una crisis global. Los sistemas socio-econ\'{o}micos se enfrentan a una presi\'{o}n creciente dadas las limitaciones biof\'{i}sicas, lo cual est\'{a} reduciendo el bienestar general de las sociedades. Dichas limitaciones externas pueden ser identificadas como el agotamiento de las reservas de combustibles f\'{o}siles, la disminuci\'{o}n de productividad energ\'{e}tica o los l\'{i}mites de emisi\'{o}n. Al mismo tiempo, las limitaciones internas - la resistencia al cambio y las expectativas sociales respecto al est\'{a}ndar de vida material - est\'{a}n determinando la viabilidad y deseabilidad de los posibles reajustes que tendr\'{i}an que producirse en diversos sectores relevantes de los sistemas socio-econ\'{o}micos, para acomodarse a las nuevas realidades biof\'{i}sicas.},
keywords = {energy conversion, energy generation, Energy metabolism},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {phdthesis}
}
Los sistemas socio-económicos son sistemas abiertos altamente dependientes del sistema ecológico en el que operan. Así, los flujos de energía tienen un papel fundamental en la formación, la composición y el funcionamiento de estos sistemas autopoyéticos. Está ampliamente aceptado el hecho de que los niveles de complejidad alcanzados por las sociedades más desarrolladas solo ha sido posible gracias a la abundancia y la rápida disponibilidad de formas de energía primaria cuya explotación provee de inmensos excedentes de flujos de energía. Sin embargo, la bonanza ha llegado a su fin y nos encontramos ahora ante una crisis global. Los sistemas socio-económicos se enfrentan a una presión creciente dadas las limitaciones biofísicas, lo cual está reduciendo el bienestar general de las sociedades. Dichas limitaciones externas pueden ser identificadas como el agotamiento de las reservas de combustibles fósiles, la disminución de productividad energética o los límites de emisión. Al mismo tiempo, las limitaciones internas - la resistencia al cambio y las expectativas sociales respecto al estándar de vida material - están determinando la viabilidad y deseabilidad de los posibles reajustes que tendrían que producirse en diversos sectores relevantes de los sistemas socio-económicos, para acomodarse a las nuevas realidades biofísicas.
Catalonia's energy metabolism: Using the MuSIASEM approach at different scales Journal Article
Ramos-Martín, Jesús; Cañellas-Boltà, Sílvia; Giampietro, Mario; Gamboa, Gonzalo
In: Energy Policy, 37 (11), pp. 4658–4671, 2009, ISSN: 03014215.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Energy metabolism, Integrated analysis, MuSIASEM
@article{Ramos-Martin2009,
title = {Catalonia's energy metabolism: Using the MuSIASEM approach at different scales},
author = {Jes\'{u}s Ramos-Mart\'{i}n and S\'{i}lvia Ca\~{n}ellas-Bolt\`{a} and Mario Giampietro and Gonzalo Gamboa},
url = {https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0301421509004352},
doi = {10.1016/j.enpol.2009.06.028},
issn = {03014215},
year = {2009},
date = {2009-11-01},
journal = {Energy Policy},
volume = {37},
number = {11},
pages = {4658--4671},
abstract = {This paper applies the so-called Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societal and Ecosystem Metabolism (MuSIASEM), based on Georgescu-Roegen's fund-flow model, to the Spanish region of Catalonia. It arrives to the conclusion that within the context of the end of cheap oil, the current development model of the Catalan economy, based on the growth of low-productivity sectors such as services and construction, must be changed. The change is needed not only because of the increasing scarcity of affordable energy and the increasing environmental impact of present development, but also because of the aging population. Moreover, the situation experienced by Catalonia is similar to that of other European countries and many other developed countries. This implies that we can expect a wave of major structural changes in the economy of developed countries worldwide. To make things more challenging, according to current trends, the energy intensity and exosomatic energy metabolism of Catalonia will keep increasing in the near future. To avoid a reduction in the standard of living of Catalans due to a reduction in the available energy it is important that the Government of Catalonia implement major adjustments and conservation efforts in both the household and paid-work sectors. textcopyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.},
keywords = {Energy metabolism, Integrated analysis, MuSIASEM},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This paper applies the so-called Multi-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societal and Ecosystem Metabolism (MuSIASEM), based on Georgescu-Roegen's fund-flow model, to the Spanish region of Catalonia. It arrives to the conclusion that within the context of the end of cheap oil, the current development model of the Catalan economy, based on the growth of low-productivity sectors such as services and construction, must be changed. The change is needed not only because of the increasing scarcity of affordable energy and the increasing environmental impact of present development, but also because of the aging population. Moreover, the situation experienced by Catalonia is similar to that of other European countries and many other developed countries. This implies that we can expect a wave of major structural changes in the economy of developed countries worldwide. To make things more challenging, according to current trends, the energy intensity and exosomatic energy metabolism of Catalonia will keep increasing in the near future. To avoid a reduction in the standard of living of Catalans due to a reduction in the available energy it is important that the Government of Catalonia implement major adjustments and conservation efforts in both the household and paid-work sectors. textcopyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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