Research team
Expertise
Hanne Lamberts-Van Assche is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Antwerp, at the Environmental Economics research group at the Faculty of Business & Economics. During her PhD, she analyzed the economic feasibility and environmental impact of an innovative technology that captures CO2 and converts it into valuable products. This implies that CO2 no longer needs to be treated as waste, but could also be used as a resource. Technologies that capture and then convert CO2 are known as "Carbon Capture and Utilization" (CCU) technologies. Instead of converting CO2, the CO2 could also be permanently stored. This is known as "Carbon Capture and Storage" (CCS). Although CCU and CCS share many steps in the value chain, there are also many differences in costs, revenues and the environmental impact of these two technologies. In the final chapter of her PhD, Hanne analyzes the investment decision of a company, which can choose between investing in CCU, CCS, or the combination of both (CCUS). The uncertainties associated with this investment decision are taken into account in a comprehensive real options analysis, and the real options-based investment model is applied to a case in the cement industry. In her position as a postdoctoral researcher, Hanne continues to perform research on applications of CCU and CCS, the feasibility of these technologies and the factors hindering investment in these innovative solutions. She is also involved in several research projects on the sustainable use of the deep subsurface in Flanders. Indeed, the deep subsurface, although it is hidden from sights, contains many valuable resources and can support many activities. Geothermal energy and CO2 storage are just two examples of activities that can take place in the deep subsurface, which are essential for successful energy transition and achieving climate goals. Today, however, a clear policy framework for planning activities in the deep subsurface is lacking. While the range of possible activities in the subsurface is enormous, there are only a limited number of suitable locations in Flanders. Therefore, a vision needs to be developed for sustainable management of the deep subsurface in Flanders, supported by all stakeholders involved. To this end, different stakeholders, both from the private and public sectors, are invited for interviews and surveyed about their expectations for the policy framework for sustainable management of the subsurface in Flanders. Various uncertainties also play an important role in the development of activities in the deep subsurface: the consequences in terms of e.g. seismic activity cannot always be accurately forecasted in advance. Therefore, real option analysis will also be applied for this study, to consider these uncertainties in the decision model as optimally as possible. In summary, as a researcher, Hanne is adept at applying Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) and Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) to estimate the economic feasibility and environmental impact of emerging technologies. Innovative technologies, which are still under development, are often subject to many uncertainties: e.g. how efficient will the technology be, and how long will it take to commercialize the technology? To take these types of uncertainties into account, and make the best possible investment decision, Real Option Analysis (ROA) is applied. Not only investors but also policymakers have to deal with a lot of uncertainties. ROA will therefore also be applied to develop activities in the deep subsurface in Flanders as optimally as possible - sustainably, efficiently, and without risk.