This book describes the Exergy-based Input – Output (ExIO) framework, a comprehensive methodology for assessing the primary fossil fuels requirements for the production of goods and services within a given economy from a lifecycle perspective. In the ExIO approach, exergy is assumed to be the best suited thermodynamic metric for characterizing fossil fuels. The mathematical formulation of ExIO is based on Input-Output analysis, which defines boundaries in time and space for any system or product analyzed, encompassing its entire lifecycle. The Hybrid-ExIO approach has been developed to increase the accuracy of results and to analyze energy systems in detail, leading to the definition of criteria and indicators for identifying and optimizing the primary fossil fuels requirements of system products. Lastly, the Bioeconomic ExIO model has been proposed to account for the side effects that the working hours required for producing goods and services have on the total primary fossil fuels consumption. As such, the book will be of considerable interest to both researchers and engineers in industry, offering them essential guidelines on the utilization of exergy and thermoeconomic analysis.
