153230 20260217205444.0 doi 10.1016/j.energy.2024.134034 sideral 143647 ART-2024-143647 eng Valero Capilla, Antonio Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0003-0702-733X Expanding the horizons of thermoeconomics: Insights from the School of Zaragoza 2024 Access copy available to the general public Unrestricted The article discusses the future developments of Thermoeconomics, focusing on the current works of the School of Zaragoza, which integrates the Second Law of Thermodynamics with Economics to assess the physical origin of costs, focusing on process irreversibility. Traditionally used in energy systems, the authors argue that Thermoeconomics should expand to chemical, geological, and economic sectors. Key concepts from the Zaragoza School include Thanatia, a hypothetical state representing Earth’s mineral depletion, used to measure resource depletion costs; Thermodynamic Rarity, highlighting the loss of Earth’s mineral capital; Pristinia, for evaluating deviations from an ideal fertile crust; and Circular Thermoeconomics, based on the idea of waste as external irreversibility, promoting a circular economy to minimize waste. They also introduce Relative Free Energy, a new thermodynamic function that improves thermal system diagnostics. The authors suggest that Thermoeconomics could align economic activities with environmental realities by using physical metrics like exergy to evaluate resource consumption, leading to a sustainable economic model incorporating environmental costs. The paper advocates for broader application and further research in Thermoeconomics to manage the true cost of human activities. info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/PID2020-116851RB-I00 info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICINN/PID2023-148401OB-I00 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess by-nc https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/deed.es 9.4 2024 THERMODYNAMICS 3 / 79 = 0.038 2024 Q1 T1 ENERGY & FUELS 31 / 182 = 0.17 2024 Q1 T1 2.211 2024 Building and Construction 2024 Q1 Civil and Structural Engineering 2024 Q1 Electrical and Electronic Engineering 2024 Q1 Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law 2024 Q1 Energy Engineering and Power Technology 2024 Q1 Fuel Technology 2024 Q1 Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering 2024 Q1 Energy (miscellaneous) 2024 Q1 16.5 2024 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Valero Delgado, Alicia Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0003-3330-1793 Torres Cuadra, César Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-6360-1159 5004 590 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Ingeniería Mecánica Área Máquinas y Motores Térmi. 313 (2024), 134034 [14 pp.] Energy Energy 0360-5442 1472442 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/153230/files/texto_completo.pdf Versión publicada 2568051 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/153230/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon icon Versión publicada oai:zaguan.unizar.es:153230 articulos driver 2026-02-17-20:17:29 ARTICLE