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Rita Garcia holds a PhD in Sustainable Energy Systems (MIT-Portugal Program, Univ Coimbra, 2016) and an MSc in Environmental Engineering, with a specialization in Technology and Environmental Management (Univ Coimbra, 2010). She is currently Environmental Engineer at the Sustainability Section, in Itecons – Institute for Research and Technological Development in Construction, Energy, Environment and Sustainability, performing R&D and consultancy activities, and Invited Assistant Professor at the Univ Coimbra. Previously, she was a Researcher at the Center for Industrial Ecology – Association for the Development of Industrial Aerodynamics (2010-2023), Integrated Member of the Associated Laboratory for Energy, Transports and Aeronautics (2017-2023), and Visiting Researcher at the MIT, USA (2014). R. Garcia has participated in several national and international R&D projects (e.g., H2020-OPTIMA, H2020-UrbanWINS) and has an extensive expertise in life cycle modelling and assessment of energy, mobility, agro-industry, and waste management systems, incorporating environmental and socioeconomic aspects, as well as in material flow analysis (MFA). She has been engaged in the discussion of critical issues in the life cycle assessment (LCA) of these systems (e.g., carbon accounting, multifunctionality, circularity) and the integration of MFA and LCA, and has several articles published in peer-reviewed indexed journals (Scopus h-index: 15). Her research interests include life cycle modeling and assessment of energy and industrial systems, material flow analysis, consequential modeling, dynamic fleet modeling, life-cycle sustainability assessment, and circular economy.
Identification

Personal identification

Full name
Rita Pinheiro Garcia

Citation names

  • Garcia, Rita

Author identifiers

Ciência ID
AC17-30E4-9507
ORCID iD
0000-0002-1653-8249

Websites

Languages

Language Speaking Reading Writing Listening Peer-review
Portuguese Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1)
English Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1) Advanced (C1)
Education
Degree Classification
2016/03/30
Concluded
Sustainable Energy Systems (Doutoramento)
Major in Sem especialidade
Universidade de Coimbra Departamento de Engenharia Mecânica, Portugal
"Dynamic fleet-based life-cycle assessment: addressing environmental consequences of the introduction of electric vehicles in Portugal" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
Aprovado com Distinção e Louvor, por unanimidade
2010/09/13
Concluded
Integrated Master in Environmental Engineering (Mestrado)
Major in Technology and Environmental Management
Universidade de Coimbra Departamento de Engenharia Mecânica, Portugal
"Avaliação comparativa de instrumentos de gestão ambiental de ciclo de vida aplicados a dois sistemas com biomassa: painéis e electricidade / Comparative assessment of life-cycle-based environmental management tools applied to biomass-based systems" (THESIS/DISSERTATION)
17 (out of 20)
Affiliation

Science

Category
Host institution
Employer
2019/04/01 - 2023/05/31 Contracted Researcher (Research) Associação para o Desenvolvimento da Aerodinâmica Industrial, Portugal
2017/06/01 - 2019/03/31 Postdoc (Research) Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal
Associação para o Desenvolvimento da Aerodinâmica Industrial, Portugal
2016/06/20 - 2017/05/31 Postdoc (Research) Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2010/06/01 - 2016/06/19 Researcher (Research) Associação para o Desenvolvimento da Aerodinâmica Industrial, Portugal
2014/06/01 - 2014/08/31 Visiting Researcher (Research) Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States

Teaching in Higher Education

Category
Host institution
Employer
2022/09/01 - Current Invited Assistant Professor (University Teacher) Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2021/09/01 - 2022/02 Invited Assistant Professor (University Teacher) Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2020/09 - 2021/02 Invited Assistant Professor (University Teacher) Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal
2019/09/01 - 2020/02/03 Invited Assistant Professor (University Teacher) Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
Universidade de Coimbra Departamento de Engenharia Mecânica, Portugal
Projects

Grant

Designation Funders
2016/06/01 - 2017/05/31 Urban metabolism accounts for building waste management innovative networks and strategies
Post-doc
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal

Câmara Municipal de Leiria, Portugal

CEIFAcoop, Portugal

Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal

Centre Tecnològic de Manresa, Spain

Comune di Cremona, Italy

Fondazione Ecosistemi, Italy

Università Iuav di Venezia, Italy

Chalmers tekniska högskola, Sweden

Ecoteca, Romania

Sustainable Europe Research Institute, Austria
Horizon 2020
Ongoing

Contract

Designation Funders
2014/11/01 - 2015/12/31 Sustainable mobility: Perspectives for the future of biofuel production
PTDC/EMS-ENE/1839/2012
Research Fellow
Associação para o Desenvolvimento da Aerodinâmica Industrial, Portugal

Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
2012/05/06 - 2015/09/30 Extended “well-to-wheels” assessment of biodiesel for heavy transport vehicles (BioHeavy)
PTDC/SEN-TRA/117251/2010
Researcher
Associação para o Desenvolvimento da Aerodinâmica Industrial, Portugal

Associated Laboratory for Energy Transports and Aeronautics, Portugal

Universidade de Coimbra Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores de Coimbra, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
2010/10/18 - 2014/04/17 Economic and Environmental Sustainability of Electric Vehicle Systems
MIT/MCA/0066/2009
Researcher
Universidade de Coimbra Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores de Coimbra, Portugal

Associação para o Desenvolvimento da Aerodinâmica Industrial, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
2010/06/01 - 2010/10/31 Biofuel systems for transportation in Portugal: An "well-to-wheels"integrated multi-objective assessment
PTDC/TRA/72996/2006
Research Fellow
Associação para o Desenvolvimento da Aerodinâmica Industrial, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded

Other

Designation Funders
2022 - Current Better Plastics - Plastics in the Circular Economy
Researcher
Associação para o Desenvolvimento da Aerodinâmica Industrial, Portugal
Ongoing
2021/09 - Current WalNUT - Closing waste water cycles for nutrient recovery
Researcher
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
European Union
Ongoing
2018/09/01 - Current Optimised Pest Integrated Management to precisely detect and control plant diseases in perennial crops and open-field vegetables
Post-doc
Center for Industrial Ecology - University of Coimbra, Portugal
European Commission
Ongoing
2016/06/01 - 2019/12/31 Sustainability assessment of forest sector management strategies in the context of a bioeconomy
PTDC/AGR-FOR/1510/2014
Researcher
Universidade de Aveiro, Portugal

Associação para o Desenvolvimento da Aerodinâmica Industrial, Portugal
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Concluded
2013/04 - 2015/09 Energy and Mobility for Sustainable Cities
CENTRO-07-0224-FEDER-002004
PhD Student Fellow
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal

Associação para o Desenvolvimento da Aerodinâmica Industrial, Portugal
Concluded
Outputs

Publications

Book chapter
  1. Filipa Figueiredo; Garcia, Rita; Castanheira, Érica; Malça, João; Freire, Fausto; Miguel Brandão; Frank, E.D; et al. "Sustainability and Life-Cycle Assessment of Algal Bioenergy". In State of Technology Review – Algae Bioenergy, 82-94. -: IEA Bioenergy, 2017.
    Published
  2. Silva, Diogo Aparecido Lopes; Ometto, Aldo Roberto; Garcia, Rita; Freire, Fausto; Varanda, Luciano; André Christoforo. "Life Cycle Assessment of Wood-Based Composites: State-Of-The-Art and Opportunities for Reducing Environmental Impacts". In Non-conventional building materials based on agro-industrial wastes, 143-178. Bauru, SP, Brazil: Tiliform, 2015.
    Published
  3. Silva, Diogo; Garcia, Rita; Freire, Fausto; Ometto, Aldo; Varanda, Luciano. "Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida (ACV) de painéis de madeira: uma revisão bibliográfica com foco sobre a importância e as necessidades para o contexto brasileiro". In Painéis de Partículas de Madeira e de Materiais Lignocelulósicos, 123-164. São Paulo, Brasil, Brazil: EESC-USP, 2013.
    Published
Journal article
  1. Bastos, Joana; Prina, Matteo Giacomo; Garcia, Rita. Corresponding author: Garcia, Rita. "Life-cycle assessment of current and future electricity supply addressing average and marginal hourly demand: An application to Italy". Journal of Cleaner Production 399 (2023): 136563. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.136563.
    Published • 10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.136563
  2. Gonçalves, Mariana; Freire, Fausto; Garcia, Rita. "Material flow analysis of forest biomass in Portugal to support a circular bioeconomy". Resources, Conservation and Recycling 169 (2021): 105507. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105507.
    Published • 10.1016/j.resconrec.2021.105507
  3. Garcia, Rita; Alvarenga, Rodrigo A.F.; Huysveld, Sophie; Dewulf, Jo; Allacker, Karen. "Accounting for Biogenic Carbon and End-of-Life Allocation in Life Cycle Assessment of Multi-Output Wood Cascade Systems". Journal of Cleaner Production (2020): 122795. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122795.
    Published • 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122795
  4. Saez de Bikuña, Koldo; Garcia, Rita; Dias, Ana Cláudia; Freire, Fausto. "Global warming implications from increased forest biomass utilization for bioenergy in a supply-constrained context". Journal of Environmental Management 263 (2020): 110292. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110292.
    Published • 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110292
  5. Quina, M.J.; Garcia, Rita; Simões, Ana S.; Quinta-Ferreira, Rosa M.. "Life cycle assessment of lightweight aggregates produced with ashes from municipal solid waste incineration". Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management (2020):
    Published • 10.1007/s10163-020-01079-2
  6. Garcia, Rita; Figueiredo, Filipa; Brandão, Miguel; Hegg, Marika; Castanheira, Érica; Malça, João; Nilsson, Astrid; Freire, Fausto. "A meta-analysis of the life cycle greenhouse gas balances of microalgae biodiesel". The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment (2020):
    Published • 10.1007/s11367-020-01780-2
  7. Marques, Pedro; Garcia, Rita; Kulay, Luiz; Freire, Fausto. "Comparative life cycle assessment of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles addressing capacity fade". Journal of Cleaner Production 229 (2019): 787-794. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.05.026.
    Published • 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.05.026
  8. Kabayo, Jeremiah; Marques, Pedro; Garcia, Rita; Freire, Fausto. "Life-cycle sustainability assessment of key electricity generation systems in Portugal". Energy 176 (2019): 131-142. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2019.03.166.
    Published • 10.1016/j.energy.2019.03.166
  9. Pedro Augusto Marques; Jeremiah Kabayo; Rita Garcia; Fausto Freire. "Avaliação Ambiental de Ciclo de Vida dos principais sistemas de geração de eletricidade em Portugal". LALCA: Revista Latino-Americana em Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida 2 2 esp. (2018): 110-127. https://doi.org/10.18225/lalca.v2iEspec.4467.
    10.18225/lalca.v2iEspec.4467
  10. Soares, N.; Martins, A.G.; Carvalho, A.L.; Caldeira, C.; Du, C.; Castanheira, É.; Rodrigues, E.; et al. "The challenging paradigm of interrelated energy systems towards a more sustainable future". Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 95 (2018): 171-193. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2018.07.023.
    10.1016/j.rser.2018.07.023
  11. Garcia, Rita; Freire, Fausto; Clift, Roland. "Effects on Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Introducing Electric Vehicles into an Electricity System with Large Storage Capacity". Journal of Industrial Ecology 22 2 (2018): 288-299.
    Published • 10.1111/jiec.12593
  12. Garcia, Rita; Freire, Fausto. "A review of fleet-based life-cycle approaches focusing on energy and environmental impacts of vehicles". Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 79 - (2017): 935-945.
    Published • 10.1016/j.rser.2017.05.145
  13. Garcia, Rita; Freire, Fausto. "Marginal Life-Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Electricity Generation in Portugal and Implications for Electric Vehicles". Resources 5 4 (2016): 41. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/resources5040041.
    10.3390/resources5040041
  14. Domingues, Ana Rita; Marques, Pedro; Garcia, Rita; Freire, Fausto; Dias, Luís C.. "Applying Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis to the Life-Cycle Assessment of vehicles". Journal of Cleaner Production 107 - (2015): 749-759. http://hdl.handle.net/10316/43164.
    Published • 10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.05.086
  15. Garcia, Rita; Gregory, Jeremy; Freire, Fausto. "Dynamic fleet-based life-cycle greenhouse gas assessment of the introduction of electric vehicles in the Portuguese light-duty fleet". The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 20 9 (2015): 1287-1299.
    Published • 10.1007/s11367-015-0921-8
  16. Garcia, Rita; Freire, Fausto. "Carbon footprint of particleboard: a comparison between ISO/TS 14067, GHG Protocol, PAS 2050 and Climate Declaration". Journal of Cleaner Production 66 - (2014): 199-209. http://hdl.handle.net/10316/27168.
    Published • 10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.11.073
  17. Faria, Ricardo; Marques, Pedro; Garcia, Rita; Moura, Pedro; Freire, Fausto; Delgado, Joaquim; de Almeida, Aníbal T.. "Primary and secondary use of electric mobility batteries from a life cycle perspective". Journal of Power Sources 262 . (2014): 169-177. http://hdl.handle.net/10316/27930.
    Published • 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.03.092
  18. Garcia, Rita; Marques, Pedro; Freire, Fausto. "Life-cycle assessment of electricity in Portugal". Applied Energy 134 - (2014): 563-572.
    Published • 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.08.067
  19. Silva, Diogo Aparecido Lopes; Lahr, Francisco Antonio Rocco; Garcia, Rita Pinheiro; Freire, Fausto Miguel Cereja Seixas; Ometto, Aldo Roberto. "Life cycle assessment of medium density particleboard (MDP) produced in Brazil". The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment 18 7 (2013): 1404-1411. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11367-013-0583-3.
    Published • 10.1007/s11367-013-0583-3
  20. Garcia, Rita; Freire, Fausto. "Environmental assessment of wood-based panels: a comparison of life-cycle-based tools". International Journal of Sustainable Construction 1 1 (2012): 63-71. http://ijsc.greenlines-institute.org/volumes/2012/IJSC_2012_V01_01_08_Garcia_63_71.pdf.
    Published
  21. Garcia, Rita; Freire, Fausto. "Modelação Energética e Ambiental do Ciclo de Vida de Painéis Aglomerados de Partículas". Construlink 9 28 (2011): 22-30.
    Published
Report
  1. Leonardo Rosado; Dívia Jimenez; Bastos, Joana; Garcia, Rita; Freire, Fausto. 2019. Urban Metabolism Case Studies.
  2. Bastos, Joana; Garcia, Rita; Freire, Fausto. 2019. Indicators for waste prevention and management: measuring circularity.
  3. Garcia, Rita; Lídia Vendrell; Mireia Mesas; Florina Stan; Adriana Gheorghe; Alexandra Ghenea; Linda Spatzierer; Stefan Schweiger; Harald Mattenberger. 2017. State of the Art of Waste Prevention and Management Strategies in “Urban_Wins” Countries and Municipalities. https://www.urbanwins.eu/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/UrbanWINS-D1.1.-State-of-the-art-of-waste-prevention-and-management.pdf.
Thesis / Dissertation
  1. Garcia, Rita Pinheiro. "Dynamic Fleet-Based Life-Cycle Assessment: Addressing Environmental Consequences of the Introduction of Electric Vehicles in Portugal". PhD, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10316/30192.
  2. Garcia, Rita. "Avaliação comparativa de instrumentos de gestão ambiental de ciclo de vida aplicados a dois sistemas com biomassa: painéis e electricidade". Master, Universidade de Coimbra Departamento de Engenharia Mecânica, 2010.
Activities

Supervision

Thesis Title
Role
Degree Subject (Type)
Institution / Organization
2019 - Current Material Flow Analysis integrated wit Life Cycle Assessment to support the Circular Economy of Plastics in Portugal
Co-supervisor
Sustainable Energy Systems (PhD)
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
2019/02 - 2019/09/27 Análise de Fluxos Materiais aplicada à Biomassa Florestal em Portugal
Supervisor
Universidade de Coimbra Departamento de Engenharia Mecânica, Portugal
2019/02 - 2019/09 Avaliação do ciclo de vida da geração de electricidade numa central termoelétrica a carvão convertida para biomassa florestal
Supervisor
Environmental Engineering (Master)
Universidade de Coimbra Faculdade de Ciencias e Tecnologia, Portugal

Event organisation

Event name
Type of event (Role)
Institution / Organization
2019/05/25 - Current Energy for Sustainability Research Day at UC (2019/05/25)
Conference (Member of the Organising Committee)
Energy for Sustainability Initiative of the University of Coimbra, Portugal
2018 - 2018 Energy for Sustainability Research Day
Conference (Other)
2015 - 2015 2nd Discussion Forum on Industrial Ecology and Life-Cycle Management
Workshop (Other)
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal
2014 - 2014 1st Discussion Forum on Industrial Ecology and Life-Cycle Management
Workshop (Other)
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal

Committee member

Activity description
Role
Institution / Organization
2017/01 - Current Membro do Comité para a Investigação Científica e Ligação às Empresas (CICLE) da Iniciativa Energia para a Sustentabilidade (EfS) / Member of the Committee for Scientific Research and Outreach of the Energy for Sustainability (EfS) initiative
Member
Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal

Conference scientific committee

Conference name Conference host
2018/06/26 - 2018/06/26 Scientific Meeting on Circular Economy and Waste Management Universidade de Coimbra
2018/06/25 - 2018/06/25 Conferência nacional em economia circular e gestão de resíduos: a experiência do projeto UrbanWINS Universidade de Coimbra