The extensive exploitation and depletion of our finite natural resources have significant negative impacts on economic growth, social progress, and environmental quality. In order to overcome these problems and pave the way to a better and more sustainable future, the United Nations has embraced the Sustainable Development Goals, which lay out plans to address global challenges like inequality, climate change, and environmental degradation.

A circular economy is key to meeting equity and sustainability targets, as it makes use of resources and products that are sustainably sourced, designed to be re-used, remanufactured and recycled. With this approach, waste becomes a resource and less primary raw material needs to be used. This in turn significantly reduces the demand for natural resources and reinforces a resource-efficient economy. Thus, removing resource consumption from the concept of human well-being.

At the same time, rapidly-rising global populations and industrialisation is contributing to a growing demand for energy. Decarbonisation (the removal or reduction of carbon dioxide output into the atmosphere) has been considered as a noteworthy alternative strategy to ensure energy security for our future. The process requires a fundamentally different energy system, which encourages the use of alternative energy sources based on green electricity and green molecules (such as biofuels and hydrogen). However, green credentials might be lacking when considering impacts of all stages of their product and service life cycle. For example, the disposal of decommissioned turbine blades remains an imminent environmental concern for the wind-energy industry. Similarly, the reliance on fossil fuels continues to threaten the hydrogen-energy industry.

Associate Professor Adrian Kuah of James Cook University (JCU) in Singapore, will be taking the lead in addressing these pertinent issues in the open access journal ‘Energies: Circular Economy and Decarbonization of Energy’. This reputable journal covers scientific research, technology development, engineering, and the studies in policy and management — relating to economics, econometrics, and energy.

In this project, Associate Professor Kuah will be partnering with Professor Seeram Ramakrishna, Everest Chair of the Circular Economy Taskforce and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the National University of Singapore, and Dr Kok-Hoong Wong, Assistant Professor in composite materials at University of Nottingham Ningbo China. The trio will curate evidence in advances in the circular economy and the decarbonisation of energy from around the world to achieve synergies that will best serve the sustainable development goals.

The journal issue will touch upon topics across various aspects of the circular economy and decarbonisation, including:

• Strategy development that promotes Sustainable Development Goals in the green energy industry via a circular economy approach
• Opportunities and challenges on circular economy and green energy integration
• Assessment of waste-to-resource for green energy production
• Circular supply chain in green energy industry
• Sharing platforms and associated challenges
• Strategies and rationale for product life extension
• Strategies and rationale for remanufacturing and green energy
• Product service systems for specific products/industries

Both Associate Professor Kuah and Professor Ramakrishna have been appointed to the National Mirror Committee on the ISO/TC 323 Circular Economy, and to the Environment and Resources Standards Committee by Enterprise Singapore. Earlier in September this year, Associate Professor Kuah headed the Singapore Delegation to attend the ISO/TC 323 meeting at Kigali, Rwanda. Collaborating with Professor Chris Rudd OBE — Deputy Vice Chancellor and Head of Campus, Singapore for JCU — and Dr Wong, Associate Professor Kuah also addressed the need and process for material recovery of high-quality carbon fibres in wind turbines to close the loop for the circular economy.

Professor Caryn West, Dean of Research for the Singapore campus of JCU, said, “Transitioning to a circular economy becomes more pressing with each passing day. Change happens incrementally, and I believe that the contributions to this journal will help facilitate a positive impact towards achieving our sustainability goals.”

The deadline for manuscript submissions is 1 September 2023. Details of the special issue can be found here. Researchers interested in contributing towards the special issue may contact Associate Professor Adrian Kuah at [email protected]

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Contacts

Associate Professor Adrian Kuah [email protected]
Media: Mr Edwin Teo [email protected]