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Analysis of institutional authors

Gamarra Rodriguez, Ana RosaCorresponding AuthorDe Andrés JmAuthor

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January 23, 2023
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Article

A comparison and methodological proposal for hybrid approaches to quantify environmental impacts: A case study for renewable energies

Publicated to: SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT. 867 161502- - 2023-04-01 867(), DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161502

Authors:

Gamarra, AR; Lechón, Y; Banacloche, S; Corona, B; de Andrés, JM
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Affiliations

Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas - Author
Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development - Author
Res Ctr Energy Environm & Technol Ciemat, Ave Complutense 40, Madrid 28040, Spain - Author
Univ Politecn Madrid UPM, C Jose Gutierrez Abascal 2, Madrid 28006, Spain - Author
Univ Politecn Madrid UPM, Dept Chem & Environm Engn, C Jose Gutierrez Abascal 2, Madrid 28006, Spain - Author
Univ Utrecht, Copernicus Inst Sustainable Dev, Vening Meinesz Bldg,Princetonlaan 8a, NL-3584CB Utrecht, Netherlands - Author
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid - Author
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid , Centro de Investigaciones Energeticas, Medioambientales y Tecnologicas - Author
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Abstract

The transition towards a more sustainable and decarbonised energy system is mandatory for achieving global climate objectives, and counting on proper tools to evaluate sustainability is essential. Among sustainability assessment methodologies, hybrid approaches integrating Input-Output analysis (IOA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) are often proposed to overcome limitations and take advantage of strengths of both methodologies. In this paper we propose a new hybrid tiered approach, named Identification and Subtraction Method (ISM). Through a case study of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology, we test the proposed method assessing seven environmental indicators and compare the results obtained by different methodological approaches: Environmental Extended Multiregional Input-Output (EMRIO), LCA and two hybrid approaches. Results showed that, in general, LCA and EMRIO provide the lowest and uppest impact values, respectively. The ISM method expands the LCA boundaries by including indirect impacts, avoiding double-counting and retaining the technological detail and representativeness of the LCA. The main advantage is the ability to establish with high accuracy the impact coming from the LCA system boundaries. Furthermore, ISM is easy to undertake for LCA practitioners, is a low time-consuming hybrid approach once the LCA and EMRIO models are run, and it does not require the alteration of the IO matrix as other hybrid methods. However, the need to perform the EMRIO and LCA analysis could imply high detailed data needs. An additional limitation of the model is that it is not be able to include partial contributions from EMRIO sectors. The highest differences between results obtained by the different methods are found in the assessment of local impacts and the resources depletion, while the methods tend to agree more on global and regional impacts quantification. However, there are limitations to the implementation of the impact characterization methods that should be borne in mind when comparing the results of the different methods.
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Keywords

assessment lcaconcentrated solar powerconsumptionenvironmental impact assessmentgreenhouse-gas emissionshybrid life cycle assessmentinputinventorylife cycle assessmentmodelsplantyieldConcentrated solar powerEnvironmental impact assessmentHybrid life cycle assessmentLife cycle assessmentLife-cycle assessmentMultiregional input-output

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2023, it was in position 31/358, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Environmental Sciences. Notably, the journal is positioned above the 90th percentile.

From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from World Citations provided by WoS (ESI, Clarivate), it yields a value for the citation normalization relative to the expected citation rate of: 1.67. This indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: ESI Nov 13, 2025)

This information is reinforced by other indicators of the same type, which, although dynamic over time and dependent on the set of average global citations at the time of their calculation, consistently position the work at some point among the top 50% most cited in its field:

  • Weighted Average of Normalized Impact by the Scopus agency: 1.11 (source consulted: FECYT Mar 2025)

Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2026-04-25, the following number of citations:

  • WoS: 11
  • Scopus: 14
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Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2026-04-25:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 79.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 73 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 3.

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
  • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: https://oa.upm.es/92453/

As a result of the publication of the work in the institutional repository, statistical usage data has been obtained that reflects its impact. In terms of dissemination, we can state that, as of

  • Views: 38
  • Downloads: 24
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Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Netherlands.

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (GAMARRA RODRIGUEZ, ANA ROSA) and Last Author (ANDRES ALMEIDA, JUAN MANUEL DE).

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been GAMARRA RODRIGUEZ, ANA ROSA.

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