Research Articles (Sustainable Life Cycle Management)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/4003

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Industrial and commercial opportunities to utilise concentrating solar thermal systems in South Africa
(Energy Research Institute, University of Cape Town, 2011-11) Brent, Alan Colin; Pretorius, Marthinus W.
The authors wish to thank the team members of the larger DST project that contributed to the development of the SETRM, and in particular those individuals that provided meaningful inputs to improve and finalise the SETRM document: Wikus van Niekerk of Stellenbosch University, Thomas Roos of the CSIR, and Dieter Holm and Johann Basson in their private capacities. The authors are further appreciative of the numerous participants of the workshops, and those individuals in the public and private sectors that availed themselves for personal interviews and consultations; without these engagements the SETRM would not have been possible. Finally, the authors express their gratitude towards the DST, for providing the financial support, and the CSIR, for coordinating and facilitating the larger project.
The contribution of energy efficiency towards the success of industrial organisations in South Africa
(Southern African Institute for Industrial Engineering, 2012-05) Gouws, P.A.; Brent, Alan Colin; Pierce, W.T.; alan.brent@up.ac.za
Internationally, governments and lobby groups increasingly put pressure on organisations to reduce their impact on the environment. To this end, various studies show the drivers, barriers, and contributions of energy efficiency towards a more sustainable environment, particularly through reduced greenhouse gas emissions and other by-products. In the study summarised in this paper, the factors that drive organisational success were compared with the effects that energy efficiency projects have on organisations. Methods, policies, and strategies on the application of energy efficiency were also studied. The findings are that, in general, most organisations have energy efficiency policies and strategies in place, and they include internal and external stakeholders in their energy efficiency efforts. These efforts also show a positive correlation with the factors that contribute to the perceived success of organisations in the South African industrial sector. These strategies must be maintained in the longer term, as energy efficiency will play a more important role in the future.
Selection of renewable energy technologies for Africa : eight case studies in Rwanda, Tanzania and Malawi
(Elsevier, 2011-04) Barry, Marie-Louise; Steyn, Herman; Brent, Alan Colin; mlb@up.ac.za
Renewable energy technologies need to be implemented to improve the current lack of access to energy on the African continent. However, the implementation of renewable energy technologies in Africa often fails, or the technologies are found to be unsustainable in the longer term. Previous research determined eleven factors that should be taken into account for the selection of sustainable, renewable energy technologies in Africa. The purpose of this research was to confirm and build upon these findings by means of eight case studies that were conducted in Rwanda, Tanzania and Malawi. Various individuals from implementing agencies, as well as end users of the various technologies, were interviewed, while secondary data were gathered in the form of project reports and other documentation. The analyses of the data confirm the importance of the eleven factors that were previously identified. A final set of thirteen factors that should be used for the selection of renewable technologies are proposed.
Corporate sustainability, ecological modernization and the policy process in the South African Automotive Industry
(John Wiley & Sons, 2010) Kehbila, Anderson G.; Ertel, Jurgen; Brent, Alan Colin; alan.brent@up.ac.za
In the past decade, the plea for corporate sustainability has gathered momentum and protecting the environment is one aspect for organizations to address if they are to conduct business in a sustainable manner. In this paper, we present the results of a questionnaire survey on the state of corporate sustainability within the South African automotive industry. The survey focused on the meaning and relevance of sustainability to South African automotive companies, and their use of different approaches to implement sustainability in corporate practice. On this score, the paper seeks to analyze and compare the levels of voluntary environmental initiatives between large and small and medium-sized enterprises within the automotive milieu. Survey results reveal that a majority of automotive companies have sought to improve their environmental performance by integrating environmental considerations into their core activities. Although the majority of these companies have standardized EMSs, our analysis reveals considerable differences between companies' approaches to corporate sustainability. In particular, they varied in the extent to which procedures were formalized and documented behind the corporate rhetoric of a high commitment to sustainability. The paper concludes by prescribing a number of recommendations as to how to engage and promote more widely the South African automobile manufacturing companies in environmental change.
A South African research agenda to investigate the potential environmental, health and safety risks of nanotechnology
(Academy of Science of South Africa, 2010-03) Ndeke, Musee; Brent, Alan Colin; Ashton, Peter J.
The South African perspective on nanotechnology, recently articulated through its national strategy,envisages nanotechnology to provide solutions to some of the country’s key development challenges,such as the provision of safe water and the innovative delivery of health services. The adoption of nanotechnology is therefore being encouraged and nanomaterials are being manufactured on a small scale for research and development purposes. The national strategy places the most emphasis on supporting the design, manufacture, synthesis and characterisation of nanomaterials and developing human capital and infrastructure. However, South Africa has yet to develop a national research strategy to investigate the environmental, health and safety risks of nanotechnology. This paper provides a brief overview of the risk-related research challenges that have been reported internationally. These challenges form the basis of a research framework and a prioritised agenda is proposed to take research forward in the South African context. Ultimately, a greater understanding of the environmental, health and safety risks will help to ensure the long-term sustainability of nanotechnologies.
Estimating the carbon emissions balance for South Africa : microsimulation
(Juta, 2009) Brent, Alan Colin; Hietkamp, Sibbele; Wise, Russell M.; O’Kennedy, Kenney
The carbon footprint of materials and products is becoming an increasingly important factor in international trade. At present the carbon emissions balance of the South African economy is not well understood, especially the carbon emissions associated with imports and exports. An investigation was done of known economic input-output and life cycle analyses models addressing this shortcoming. The results reveal that South Africa is a major exporter of carbon; at least 129 per cent more carbon is associated with a dollar earned from exports than a dollar spent on imports, and the carbon footprint of the outflows on average, equates 37 per cent of the total carbon emissions of the economy. Such figures have serious policy-related implications in a future where international climate-change trade limitations will become stricter and binding.
The use of focus group technique in management research : the example of renewable technology selection in Africa
(Journal of Contemporary Management, 2009) Barry, Marie-Louise; Steyn, Herman; Brent, Alan Colin
Quantitative management research on the African continent is often hampered by the lack of large data sets and the unreliability of electronic as well as conventional communication. This paper advocates the use of qualitative methods, in particular the focus group technique, to overcome these difficulties. The focus group technique has been extensively used in social sciences research and in this paper its use in management research is investigated and applied. The paper further advocates the use of triangulation to improve the reliability of qualitative management research. An example of the selection of renewable energy technology in Africa is used as basis for this investigation. In this case the focus group technique was used to identify thirty-eight factors during the exploratory phase of a larger research effort. The focus group technique was used in conjunction with the nominal group technique. The authors make recommendations on how the focus group technique can be successfully applied in management research.
Addressing the need for a clean development mechanism (CDM) specific project management strategy
(Juta, 2009-06) Lotz, Marco; Brent, Alan Colin; Steyn, Herman; alan.brent@up.ac.za
Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects have additional technical, financial and regulatory requirements that are not fully addressed by classic project management approaches. Research has been done on individual novel concepts of the CDM, like additionality, but little has been achieved to address an overall CDM project management approach. CDM and project management literature were reviewed and the South African CDM Industry Association was used as a case study to gain insight into an appropriate CDM specific project management strategy. A stage-gate model was subsequently derived to align classic project management approaches with the additional requirements of CDM projects. Further research will, in time, determine the completeness and practicability of the proposed model.
The transfer and commercialisation of technology from South Africa to foreign markets in the financial services industry
(Southern African Institute for Industrial Engineering, 2009-11) Lubbe, Francois H.; Brent, Alan Colin; alan.brent@up.ac.za
International technology transfer (ITT) processes are complex, risky, and often fail. When financial services organisations have the opportunity to transfer their business model and core technologies to a foreign market, comprehensive research into the technology and the market is compulsory. Numerous applicable theories and models in technology transfer were reviewed to develop a comprehensive ITT model. Interviews with key individuals and focus group sessions were used to rank factors that affect the success of ITT in the financial services industry – specifically, a case in the direct short term insurance industry. These success factors were implemented in the developed market evaluation model where the user is required to enter evaluation values for each factor. The evaluation model then delivers a value that represents the market potential. This model can be used to evaluate one market or many potential markets. There are two factors that an organisation must always be aware of: the influence stakeholders have on the ITT process, and what ITT strategy is employed. Further research is proposed to validate the developed model beyond the specific case study.
Investigating the risk management potential of a stage/phase-gate project management approach
(Journal of Contemporary Management, 2009) Lotz, Marco; Brent, Alan Colin; Steyn, Herman
The paper investigates the potential of a stage/phase and gate process as a general approach to manage project risks. The use of stages/phases and gates as a project management approach is well established in literature and industry. However, the approach has primarily been used for product development projects, and opinions differ as to the number of stages/phases and what tasks should be completed in each stage/phase in general. Furthermore, the risk management potential of such an approach is not well established in literature. The risk managing potential that is considered in this investigation is both overall and within project phases by considering project lifecycle phases as stages. A case study is presented to illustrate this potential for progressively lowering risk through such a stage/phase-gate project management approach.
Determining the most important factors for sustainable energy technology selection in Africa
(Southern African Institute for Industrial Engineering, 2009-11) Barry, Marie-Louise; Steyn, Herman; Brent, Alan Colin; alan.brent@up.ac.za
The supply of sustainable energy is crucial for sustainable development in Africa. The aim of the study summarised in this paper is the identification, and prioritisation, of the factors that must be taken into account when selecting the most sustainable technological systems in the African context, by applying the Delphi technique. The questionnaire of the first round was based on factors already identified during a focus group exercise with energy experts. The Delphi participants were required to comment on the factors, add new factors, and rate all the factors. The results were fed back during the second round where respondents were again asked to rate the factors for feasibility, desirability, and importance. The outcome is the identification of the most important factors that can be used by decision makers to ensure better selection of sustainable energy technologies and projects. The top five prioritised factors are: Ease of maintenance and support over the life cycle of the technology; Suitable site readily available for pilot studies; Project management; Economic development; and Access to secured suitable sites for deployment.
Sustainability cost accounting - Part 1 : a monetary procedure to evaluate sustainability of technologies in the South African process industry
(Southern African Institute for Industrial Engineering, 2006-11) Brent, Alan Colin; Van Erck, Ron P.G.; Labuschagne, Carin
The development and management of new technologies is fundamental to the manufacturing sector as a core operational initiative. Managers of a new technology are increasingly pressurised to consider the economic, environmental, and social impacts associated with the life cycle of the technology (and product) during decision-making – i.e. the overall sustainability of the technology. At present, there is no consensus on a methodology to incorporate externalities – for example, environmental and social impacts at macro-level, for which a company is (typically) not held financially liable – into management practices. This paper introduces the Sustainability Cost Accounting (SCA) procedure, whereby externalities (burdens and benefits) are translated into financial terms to assess the overall sustainability performance of a developed technology in the process industry.
Strategic change in procurement orientation in the South African automotive industry : a case study
(Southern African Institute for Industrial Engineering, 2005-11) Kalenga, C.E.; Brent, Alan Colin
The South African automotive industry faces increasing challenges for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and their suppliers to produce high-quality products at low costs. Items purchased by OEMs from the supply chain typically account for more than seventy percent of the total costs of manufactured automobiles. The strategic significance of the purchasing function is subsequently recognised as a major determinant of competitiveness. From a review of literature, a conceptual model is introduced whereby localisation strategies of OEMs, with respect to their main suppliers, can be optimised for competitive advantage. The findings of a case study of a South African OEM’s localisation strategies are presented. Based on the findings, an improved model is proposed that could be used as a guideline to orientate procurement strategies for optimal performance, so as to guarantee the competitive advantage of local OEMs. It is anticipated that these results will provide a platform of effective strategy development for the South African OEMs.
A review of operational research and mathematical methods for the environmental management applications in industry
(Southern African Institute for Industrial Engineering, 2005-05) Brent, Alan Colin; Labuschagne, Carin
The principles of operational research (OR) and related mathematical methods have been applied to environmental issues for the past five decades. However, the increasing pressures experienced by industry over the last decade, pertaining to sustainable development performances, have renewed interests and intensified the potential application of OR techniques in environmental planning and management. The subsequent number of published mathematical models is vast. This paper aims to provide an overview of the modelling approaches to address the environmental impacts associated with industrial activities. In particular, the methods that are used to model the cross-boundary effects of industrial resource use and releases are summarised.
Renewable rural electrification : sustainability assessment of mini-hybrid off-grid technological systems in the African context
(Elsevier, 2010-01) Brent, Alan Colin; Rogers, David E.C.
The investigation summarised in this paper applied a sustainability assessment methodology on a renewable energy technological system in a rural village project that was commissioned by the South African Department of Minerals and Energy. The project comprised of wind, solar and lead-acid battery energy storage technologies that were implemented as a mini-hybrid off-grid electrification system for the village. The sustainability assessment methodology predicts the outcomes of such interventions by way of a learning model using discipline experts in the fields of economics, sociology, ecosystem sustainability, institutional governance, and the physics and chemistry of energy conversion processes. The comparison of the project’s outcomes with a South African sustainable development framework shows that the specific village renewable off-grid electrification system is not viable. The main reason is that charges for electricity supply costs in village grids are too high for available subsidies; the economies of scale for renewable energy supply technologies favour national grids. The failure of the integrated system may also be attributable to the complexity of the social-institutional sub-system, which resulted in uncertainty for project planners and system designers, and the lack of resilience of the technological system to demands from the socio-economic and institutional sub-systems. Policy-related recommendations are made accordingly.
Towards assessing the social sustainability performance of the petroleum industry in the Niger delta region of Nigeria
(Southern African Institute for Industrial Engineering, 2009-06) Bubou, G.M.; Brent, Alan Colin; Tredoux, C.; alan.brent@up.ac.za
Unresolved social issues between the local community and the petroleum industry plague the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. These concerns are addressed by introducing a social sustainability assessment framework for the petroleum industry. Key performance indicators (KPIs) are identified, through a stakeholders’ engagement process, for social performance measurement purposes. A five-year time-frame is proposed for the periodic assessment of the state of social sustainability. It is recommended that the petroleum industry make the accounting of social sustainability performance measures a priority before beginning projects, especially greenfield projects, since this can assist in resolving the volatility in the region.
Systems analyses and the sustainable transfer of renewable energy technologies : a focus on remote areas of Africa
(Elsevier, 2009) Brent, Alan Colin; Kruger, Wikus J.L.
Sustainable energy provision is regarded as one of the most significant challenges facing the realm of development, especially in Africa where large proportions of the population still lack access to energy services. Although there have been much efforts to address these problems with renewable energy technologies, there have also been substantial failures and problems. The Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG) has developed a manual that seeks to address these implementation issues. The Renewable Energy for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods workgroup has also developed such a framework, termed SURE, which is a multi-criteria decision analysis modelling tool. Both of these frameworks rely heavily on the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach and emphasise the need to rigorously analyse the sub-systems where technologies are to be introduced. These two frameworks have been integrated and assessed in terms of their applicability for the South African rural renewable energy landscape through a Delphi study conducted with several experts in the energy sector. The results indicate that the integrated framework is suitable for the South African context, with additions to the ITDG and SURE frameworks suggested. Finally the paper highlights a potential concern in the South African renewable energy industry in that technology assessment methods that are utilised in practise do not incorporate the concepts of sustainability science adequately; this must be addressed through further case study research efforts.
Application of technology management strategies and methods to identify and assess cleaner production options : cases in the South African automotive industry
(Southern African Institute for Industrial Engineering, 2008-11) Pandey, A.K.; Brent, Alan Colin; alan.brent@up.ac.za
Environmental degradation is a burgeoning problem owing to the continual expansion of industrial production, and high-levels of energy and material consumption associated with economic growth. Cleaner Production (CP) is a preventive environmental approach, aimed at increasing resource efficiency and reducing the generation of pollution and waste at source. CP is being implemented globally and in SA, but it is not just an environmental initiative; it also supports other productivity-oriented programmes and strategies. The research study summarised in this paper assessed CP improvement options using two different Technology Management (TM) methods. The objective was to develop a better understanding of CP from a TM perspective. Data was collected through direct participation in case studies within the SA automotive industry. The case studies identified CP focus areas and improvement techniques. Results from the TM assessment were used to suggest strategies to benefit managers of companies and other stakeholders.
Advancing the concepts of industrial ecology in South African institutions
(Academy of Science of South Africa, 2008-02) Brent, Alan Colin; Oelofse, Suzan; Godfrey, Linda; alan.brent@up.ac.za
Industrial ecology seeks to apply the knowledge of systems in nature to the design and operation of industrial activities, to achieve integrated and sustainable relationships between the natural world and industry. Although the theoretical underpinning of the field corresponds in some ways to that of the emerging discipline of sustainability science, industrial ecology has evolved along two main directions that may be more practical for industry and policymakers: ‘eco-industrial parks’ and islands of sustainability; and ‘dematerialization–decarbonization’ and the service economy. The opportunities and risks associated with applying the concepts of industrial ecology have been argued globally. This article provides an overview of how the concepts have already been applied to some extent in South Africa. We recommend how industrial ecology may be nurtured here, prioritizing areas where the field can be institutionalized.
Evaluation of an integrated asset life-cycle management (ALCM) model and assessment of practices in the water utility sector
(Water Research Council, 2008-04) Haffejee, Mehmood; Brent, Alan Colin; alan.brent@up.ac.za
The water utility sector in South Africa is presently facing numerous challenges. Amongst the most urgent and important priorities is ageing infrastructure, which has the potential to end in failures with detrimental impacts on local communities and the natural environment. Furthermore, to manage the majority of strategic assets in terms of total performance, i.e. environmental, financial, social and technical, is often difficult as a large portion of assets, such as buried pipelines, cannot be easily accessed. These issues highlight the need for a generic asset life-cycle management model for the water utility sector. Such an integrated model is introduced; it was evaluated in the largest water utility in South Africa. Although it was found to have relevance, practicability, applicability, and usability, the model still needs rigorous testing amongst other water utilities in South Africa, and in other countries. The perceptions of the water utility sector were also assessed in terms of the practices of the principles of integrated life-cycle asset management. The results indicate a fairly good understanding of the concept of asset life-cycle management, but allude to challenges with fully implementing all the principles when it comes to asset performance measurements; particular attention must be given to develop mechanisms to measure environmental and social aspects. Nevertheless, it is highlighted that for strategic assets, the practices and principles of ALCM have many benefits, including better maintenance management, infrastructural planning, risk management, and sustainable development.

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