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Energy Transition towards Carbon Neutrality
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Energy Transition towards Carbon Neutrality

A topical collection in Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This collection belongs to the section "B: Energy and Environment".

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Editors

Prof. Dr. Shen Lei

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory for Resources Use and Environmental Remediation, Institute of Geographic Science and Natural Resources Research (IGSNRR), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), 11A Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
Interests: energy system complexity; energy economics and policy; climate change and carbon emission reduction; natural resources and environmental management and policy; energy transition
Prof. Dr. Ayman Elshkaki

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research (IGSNRR), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
2. University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
Interests: industrial ecology; dynamic material flow analysis; integrated assessment modelling; sustainable resources management; sustainability of emerging technologies; material–energy–water–climate nexus
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Topical Collection Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Collection Editors are inviting submissions to a Collection of Energies on the subject of “Energy Transition towards Carbon Neutrality”.

Carbon peaking and neutralization are significant to limit the temperature increase to well below 2 °C and avoid the negative impacts of climate change caused by the sharp increase in carbon dioxide emissions. Global transition in the energy, transportation, buildings, industry, and agriculture sectors is the key to achieving the goal of carbon peak and neutralization. The transition, however, is a complex and daunting challenge that requires different stakeholders, including governments, industries, researchers, and societies, to intertwine to identify low emission development pathways and to cope with various challenges and risks.

This Special Issue focuses on analyzing carbon emission mitigation pathways in different sectors and accepts contributions that address mainly energy economics, policy, and technological innovations, which have been playing an increasing role in the realization of global energy transition in recent years. Particular attention is devoted to exploring the dynamics and effects of carbon neutrality goal using different approaches and models of sustainable energy supply and demand in terms of resources and environmental impacts. 

Invited topics for this Special Issue include but are not limited to:

  1. Energy–material–carbon nexus;
  2. Energy–water–food nexus;
  3. Advances in energy supply and demand technologies;
  4. Advances in energy storage technologies;
  5. Technological advances in carbon intensive industries; and
  6. The role of society in energy transition.

Prof. Dr. Shen Lei
Prof. Dr. Ayman Elshkaki
Collection Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the collection website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • energy–material nexus
  • clean and renewable energy utilization
  • energy consumption and power supply
  • energy policy modeling
  • electrification of transport and industry
  • sustainable energy consumption and conservation

Published Papers (27 papers)

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2024

Jump to: 2023, 2022, 2021

15 pages, 7477 KiB  
Article
A Comprehensive Analysis of Hydrogen–Gasoline Blends in SI Engine Performance and Emissions
by Zdeslav Jurić, Tino Vidović, Jakov Šimunović and Gojmir Radica
Energies 2024, 17(7), 1557; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17071557 - 25 Mar 2024
Viewed by 438
Abstract
This study investigates the influence of adding hydrogen as an additive to gasoline in a four-stroke engine, utilizing comprehensive thermodynamic comparative analysis conducted with self-developed engine model. This research aims to assess the performance, emissions, and efficiency of the engine when using gasoline–hydrogen [...] Read more.
This study investigates the influence of adding hydrogen as an additive to gasoline in a four-stroke engine, utilizing comprehensive thermodynamic comparative analysis conducted with self-developed engine model. This research aims to assess the performance, emissions, and efficiency of the engine when using gasoline–hydrogen blends, and to provide insights into the potential benefits of this approach. First, the engine performance and emissions under different hydrogen blending levels were examined. A range of different air/fuel ratios (rich to lean) and varying percentages of hydrogen were considered. This systematic variation allowed for a detailed evaluation of the influence of hydrogen content on combustion efficiency, power output, and emissions characteristics. The analysis results included key parameters such as indicated specific fuel consumption and mean effective pressure. Additionally, the study focused on the range prediction of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, which are a critical environmental concern associated with internal combustion engines. The analysis of pressure and temperature profiles throughout the engine cycle shed light on the combustion characteristics and efficiency improvements associated with hydrogen addition. In terms of emissions, the study projected that all emissions were reduced except NOx, which is highly dependent on hydrogen percentage, and might be reduced in some cases, but with the higher temperatures and pressures associated with hydrogen addition, in most cases, there is actually a NOx increase, especially at higher engine loads. Full article
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16 pages, 426 KiB  
Article
The Energy Transition in SMEs: The Italian Experience
by Antonio Thomas, Rosalia Castellano, Gennaro Punzo and Giuseppe Scandurra
Energies 2024, 17(5), 1160; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17051160 - 29 Feb 2024
Viewed by 541
Abstract
Encouraging energy transition (ET) has become a global imperative for nations and companies, and not just large ones. Not all economic organizations pursue this process with the same intensity. Particularly, the factors driving Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) towards ET are not yet [...] Read more.
Encouraging energy transition (ET) has become a global imperative for nations and companies, and not just large ones. Not all economic organizations pursue this process with the same intensity. Particularly, the factors driving Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) towards ET are not yet clearly defined, despite SMEs representing most companies and bearing a significant responsibility for pollution. To shed light on this matter, this study presents a framework of the main drivers that stimulate SMEs placed in Italy to pursue energy transition. We conducted a Partial Least Squares (PLS) analysis on data collected from innovation-oriented SMEs enlisted in a specific register of the Italian Ministry of Economic Development. The research findings show a weak interest among SMEs towards ET. While country-specific conditions and social and psychological traits affect the decision to invest in ET, firm-specific factors and ‘stakeholder’ pressures seem to be almost irrelevant. Policy measures with a different focus are necessary. Specifically, the provision of facilitation emerges as the most effective tool for encouraging ET among SMEs. Full article
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29 pages, 11185 KiB  
Article
Supercritical CO2 Power Technology: Strengths but Challenges
by Michel Molière, Romain Privat, Jean-Noël Jaubert and Frédéric Geiger
Energies 2024, 17(5), 1129; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17051129 - 27 Feb 2024
Viewed by 692
Abstract
In the late 1960s, a handful of inspired researchers predicted the great potential of supercritical CO2 (“sCO2”) cycles for the production of electricity and highlighted the prospects for dramatic reductions in component sizes and efficiency increases. Since then, considerable development [...] Read more.
In the late 1960s, a handful of inspired researchers predicted the great potential of supercritical CO2 (“sCO2”) cycles for the production of electricity and highlighted the prospects for dramatic reductions in component sizes and efficiency increases. Since then, considerable development programs have been deployed around the world to “tame” this new technology. Despite these efforts, in-depth engineering studies and extensive testing are still necessary today before viable designs can be released for large-scale industrial applications. This raises questions as to the reasons for this delay, this debate being rarely addressed in the current literature. This situation has motivated the present study. Trying to unravel such an intricate topic requires to understand the distinctive properties of supercritical CO2 and the particular requirements of closed, high-pressure power systems. This article aims then to provide a broad overview of sCO2 power cycles, highlighting their main advantages and limitations and reflecting the challenges associated with the industrialization of that technology which actually requires disruptive and innovative designs. Full article
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20 pages, 2293 KiB  
Article
A Study on the Measurement of Regional Energy Consumption Efficiency and Decomposition of Its Influencing Factors in China: New Evidence for Achieving SDGs
by Xiumei Miao, Yong Wu and Fangrong Ren
Energies 2024, 17(2), 531; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17020531 - 22 Jan 2024
Viewed by 515
Abstract
With the growth of global population and economic development, people are facing the problem of increasing scarcity of renewable energy and unsustainable energy use. To achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations, research on energy consumption efficiency has become [...] Read more.
With the growth of global population and economic development, people are facing the problem of increasing scarcity of renewable energy and unsustainable energy use. To achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations, research on energy consumption efficiency has become particularly important. This research evaluates the energy consumption efficiency of 270 cities in China through an improved EBM model and finds a common phenomenon of low energy consumption efficiency in the cities, with the highest efficiency in northeast China and the lowest efficiency in eastern China. In addition, the efficiency of industrial exhaust emissions most significantly positively correlates with the efficiency of employed population and total energy consumption efficiency, while the efficiency of regional GDP does not significantly correlate with the efficiency of the two input variables. Using the LMDI method to decompose the driving factors of energy consumption efficiency in the cities, we find that the most important factor affecting energy consumption efficiency is their own energy endowment. Therefore, to improve the energy consumption efficiency of its cities, the China government should comprehensively consider factors such as regional economic development level, industrial structure, and technological level differences, formulate relevant energy-saving and emission-reduction policies, focus on optimizing the energy consumption structure, encourage technological progress and innovation, and help increase investment in science and technology. Full article
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27 pages, 5710 KiB  
Article
Modelling Policy Pathways to Maximise Renewable Energy Growth and Investment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Using OSeMOSYS (Open Source Energy Modelling System)
by Jacob Dalder, Gbemi Oluleye, Carla Cannone, Rudolf Yeganyan, Naomi Tan and Mark Howells
Energies 2024, 17(2), 342; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17020342 - 10 Jan 2024
Viewed by 892
Abstract
This study sought to generate, evaluate, and recommend possible national policies for the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to implement to most effectively boost growth and investment in renewable energy technologies (RETs) through 2065 using Open Source Energy Modelling [...] Read more.
This study sought to generate, evaluate, and recommend possible national policies for the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to implement to most effectively boost growth and investment in renewable energy technologies (RETs) through 2065 using Open Source Energy Modelling System (OSeMOSYS). The novelty of this study stems in-part from the scarcity of RET modelling completed for specific West African countries rather than for broader regions. Market-based instruments were identified as the policy type most practical for DRC. From modelling the resulting energy systems for policy pathways involving a 16% RET subsidy, a 70% fossil fuel tax, and both in combination relative to no-policy baseline scenarios, the scenarios including the tax had the lowest net costs (USD304–306 B) and the highest proportion of RETs (above 90%). Additionally, despite the current reliance on hydropower to fulfil 98% of its energy needs, hydropower played a very minor role in all of a modelled scenarios (no future investment beyond residual capacity). Finally, a post-modelling market potential assessment was performed on the technology that dominated off-grid supply across policy pathways: a 0.3 kW small solar home system (SHS). Based on learning rates for solar photovoltaics (PV), demand for a small SHS in DRC (>160 million units in total) was found to be sufficient to substantially reduce the unit cost as deployment scales. Ultimately, this study yielded four recommendations for the DRC government: (1) Pursue financial incentives to catalyse DRC’s renewable energy supply. (2) Tax fossil fuel energy production. (3) Re-evaluate focus on hydropower. (4) Promote DRC as a healthy market for solar home systems. Full article
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2023

Jump to: 2024, 2022, 2021

18 pages, 3286 KiB  
Article
Pathways to Clean Energy Transition in Indonesia’s Electricity Sector with Open-Source Energy Modelling System Modelling (OSeMOSYS)
by Pusanisa Paiboonsin, Gbemi Oluleye, Mark Howells, Rudolf Yeganyan, Carla Cannone and Simon Patterson
Energies 2024, 17(1), 75; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17010075 - 22 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 905
Abstract
Responding to the Paris Agreement and climate change mitigation, Indonesia aims to reach net zero by 2060 or sooner. Due to Indonesia’s dependence on coal and growing consumption, alternative sources of clean energy are imperative for meeting its rising energy needs and reducing [...] Read more.
Responding to the Paris Agreement and climate change mitigation, Indonesia aims to reach net zero by 2060 or sooner. Due to Indonesia’s dependence on coal and growing consumption, alternative sources of clean energy are imperative for meeting its rising energy needs and reducing energy-related greenhouse gas emissions to achieve the energy transition. This project aims to examine Indonesia’s opportunities and potential to achieve low carbon ambition in the energy sector and identify alternative pathways for the energy transition in Indonesia. In this study, the open-source energy modelling system (OSeMOSYS), which is a long-term energy system modelling tool, is employed to compare electricity generation, investment, and carbon dioxide emissions between business-as-usual and five alternative scenarios. Six scenarios, including business as usual, least-cost, two coal-phrase out and two net zero aligned with national climate targets and optimal scenarios, were simulated across different target years. The results show that the net zero (NZ) scenario is more cost-effective and emits fewer greenhouse gases than the other scenarios in meeting Indonesia’s future energy demand. However, achieving net zero by 2050 (NZ50) results in significantly lower CO2 emissions (10,134 MtCO2), which is less than half of the emissions in the net zero by 2060 (NZ60) scenario (16,849 MtCO2) at a similar cost (6229 and 6177 billion USD, respectively). This paper’s insights emphasise that large-scale renewable energy deployment and coal retirement are critical pathways to reaching carbon neutrality and achieving the energy mix transition. Full article
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20 pages, 3312 KiB  
Article
Evidence-Based Policymaking: Insights and Recommendations for the Implementation of Clean Energy Transition Pathways for Kenya’s Power Sector
by Neve Fields, David Ryves, Rudolf Yeganyan, Carla Cannone, Naomi Tan and Mark Howells
Energies 2023, 16(23), 7904; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16237904 - 04 Dec 2023
Viewed by 942
Abstract
With ambitious targets to drastically increase economic activity over the next decade, Kenya’s future is undoubtedly energy-intensive. Current power capacity expansion plans will see Kenya considerably ramp up fossil fuel generation, significantly increasing emissions. Therefore, Kenya is at a crucial stage of its [...] Read more.
With ambitious targets to drastically increase economic activity over the next decade, Kenya’s future is undoubtedly energy-intensive. Current power capacity expansion plans will see Kenya considerably ramp up fossil fuel generation, significantly increasing emissions. Therefore, Kenya is at a crucial stage of its national development, with critical decisions to make regarding its future power expansion and production. OSeMOSYS modelling software (clicSAND version v1.1) is employed to produce a series of possible clean energy transition pathways to increase renewable power production under rapidly intensifying demand. This study integrates existing national priorities and policies into six modelled scenarios to provide insights into their generation, total production, and costs, which can assist future policymaking and capacity-building efforts. The high-level insights gained in this research were employed to suggest key recommendations for Kenya’s power sector. Most notably, policy alignment, increased wind power production, energy-efficiency penetration, finance and investment securement, the development of storage technologies, power transmission, and distribution improvements should be prioritised. Full article
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14 pages, 1069 KiB  
Article
Cluster Analysis and Macroeconomic Indicators and Their Effects on the Evolution of the Use of Clean Energies
by Karime Chahuán-Jiménez, Rolando Rubilar-Torrealba, Hanns de la Fuente-Mella and Valeska V. Geldres-Weiss
Energies 2023, 16(22), 7561; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16227561 - 14 Nov 2023
Viewed by 878
Abstract
The aim of this research is to relate clean energies, CO2 emissions, and economic variables. Relationships can be generated that characterize countries that manage to relate the use of clean energy with GDP, economic openness, and economic growth. We employ a quantitative [...] Read more.
The aim of this research is to relate clean energies, CO2 emissions, and economic variables. Relationships can be generated that characterize countries that manage to relate the use of clean energy with GDP, economic openness, and economic growth. We employ a quantitative methodology that utilizes clustering techniques to identify distinct groups of countries based on their susceptibility to climate change impacts. Subsequently, we employ a generalized linear model approach to estimate the investment behaviors of these country groups in alternative energy sources in relation to CO2 emissions and macroeconomic variables. The clusters reveal that the countries grouped in each cluster exhibit significantly distinct behaviors among the clusters. This differentiation is grounded in the countries under analysis, showing the evolution of the countries in terms of the use of clean energy and the emission of CO2 in relation to macroeconomic variables. According to the conducted research, there are different groups with differentiated behavior in terms of energy consumption and CO2 emissions, which implies the implementation of policies consistent with the development characteristics of the countries and how they cope with climate risk. Moreover, as a result of this research, a recommendation for policy makers could be that sustainable and clean development countries are based in three different sustainability dimensions: environmental, economic, and social. Full article
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23 pages, 8459 KiB  
Article
Performance Improvement and Emission Reduction Potential of Blends of Hydrotreated Used Cooking Oil, Biodiesel and Diesel in a Compression Ignition Engine
by Ankit Sonthalia and Naveen Kumar
Energies 2023, 16(21), 7431; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16217431 - 03 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 686
Abstract
The positive effect of decarbonizing the transport sector by using bio-based fuels is high. Currently, biodiesel and ethanol are the two biofuels that are blended with fossil fuels. Another technology, namely, hydroprocessing, is also gaining momentum for producing biofuels. Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) [...] Read more.
The positive effect of decarbonizing the transport sector by using bio-based fuels is high. Currently, biodiesel and ethanol are the two biofuels that are blended with fossil fuels. Another technology, namely, hydroprocessing, is also gaining momentum for producing biofuels. Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) produced using this process is a potential drop-in fuel due to its improved physiochemical properties. This study aimed to reduce the fossil diesel content by blending 20% and 30% HVO and 5%, 10% and 15% waste cooking oil biodiesel on a volume basis. The blends were used to conduct a thorough performance examination of a single-cylinder compression ignition engine. The thermal efficiency of the engine was enhanced by the addition of biodiesel to the blend. The efficiency increased as the proportion of biodiesel in the mix increased, although it was still less efficient than diesel. The maximum improvement in thermal efficiency of 4.35% was observed with 20% blending of HVO and 15% blending of biodiesel compared with 20% blending of HVO and diesel. However, the HC (decrease of 30%), CO (decrease of 23.5%) and smoke (decrease of 21.1%) emissions were observed to be the lowest with 30% blending of HVO and 15% blending of biodiesel. A fuzzy-logic-based Taguchi method and Grey’s method were then applied to find the best blend of HVO, biodiesel and diesel. The combination of the two methods made it easier to carry out multi-objective optimization. The brake thermal efficiency (BTE), smoke and NO emissions were selected as the output parameters to optimize the HVO and biodiesel blend. The optimization study showed that 30% blending of HVO and 15% blending of biodiesel was the best blend, which was authenticated using the confirmation experiment. Full article
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20 pages, 4357 KiB  
Article
Research on Regional Carbon Emission Reduction in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Urban Agglomeration Based on System Dynamics: Key Factors and Policy Analysis
by Yuan Zeng, Wengang Zhang, Jingwen Sun, Li’ao Sun and Jun Wu
Energies 2023, 16(18), 6654; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16186654 - 16 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 949
Abstract
Urban agglomerations are regions where the economy and population are highly concentrated, which are also spatial units with more concentrated carbon emissions. A detailed decomposition of driving factors based on changes in carbon emissions of urban agglomerations can provide a reference for better [...] Read more.
Urban agglomerations are regions where the economy and population are highly concentrated, which are also spatial units with more concentrated carbon emissions. A detailed decomposition of driving factors based on changes in carbon emissions of urban agglomerations can provide a reference for better carbon reduction policies. In this paper, we establish an evaluation framework of carbon emission drivers of urban agglomeration from the perspective of CO2 generation and removal using a system dynamics method. The key influencing factors and optimal emission reduction measures of carbon emissions in urban agglomerations are explored. The results are as follows: (1) The industrial structure is the key influencing factor of carbon emissions; (2) compared with no implementation of any policies, the total carbon emissions and carbon emission intensity of integrated policies all significantly decrease, with a decrease of 43.68% and 53.32%, respectively in 2035; (3) energy structure adjustment has a significant effect in reducing carbon emissions and carbon emission intensity; (4) the role of increasing investment in technological innovation in ensuring achievement of “carbon peak” should not be ignored. It is found that integrated policies often exhibit a better emission reduction effect, but this effect is not a simple summation of the effects of each single policy. Full article
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16 pages, 4314 KiB  
Article
Assessing Energy Performance and Environmental Impact of Low GWP Vapor Compression Chilled Water Systems
by Rami Mansouri, Baby-Jean Robert Mungyeko Bisulandu and Adrian Ilinca
Energies 2023, 16(12), 4751; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16124751 - 16 Jun 2023
Viewed by 1201
Abstract
The global concern regarding the environmental repercussions of refrigerants has escalated due to their adverse effects. These substances deplete the ozone layer and intensify the greenhouse effect. International agreements such as the Montreal and Kyoto Protocols and COP21 have imposed restrictions on refrigerants [...] Read more.
The global concern regarding the environmental repercussions of refrigerants has escalated due to their adverse effects. These substances deplete the ozone layer and intensify the greenhouse effect. International agreements such as the Montreal and Kyoto Protocols and COP21 have imposed restrictions on refrigerants with high global warming potential (GWP) to address these issues. This study aims to explore the feasibility, energy efficiency, and environmental impact of utilizing the HFO (hydrofluoric-olefin) refrigerant R1234ze as a substitute for HFCs (hydrofluoric-carbon) (R134a, R407C, and R410A) and HCFCs (R22) in air-cooled vapor compression refrigeration and air conditioning systems. To determine their effectiveness, we evaluate the energy performance of various refrigerant operating cycles across a wide range of ambient and evaporating temperatures. Additionally, we conduct environmental impact analyses based on the total equivalent warming impact (TEWI) parameter calculated for commercially available chillers that utilize the fluids mentioned above. Our findings indicate that vapor compression chilled water systems employing R1234ze exhibit the highest performance coefficient and the lowest annual TEWI. Full article
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19 pages, 1336 KiB  
Article
Decarbonization Measures: A Real Effect or Just a Declaration? An Assessment of Oil and Gas Companies’ Progress towards Carbon Neutrality
by Alina Cherepovitsyna, Nadezhda Sheveleva, Arina Riadinskaia and Konstantin Danilin
Energies 2023, 16(8), 3575; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16083575 - 20 Apr 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2399
Abstract
Efforts to control climate change with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 have had the most significant impact on businesses operating in the energy sector, which produce large amounts of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In light of such policies, oil and [...] Read more.
Efforts to control climate change with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 have had the most significant impact on businesses operating in the energy sector, which produce large amounts of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In light of such policies, oil and gas companies have set goals aimed at reducing GHG emissions and achieving carbon neutrality, but the issue remains open as to how such activities and progress towards these goals can be evaluated. This study attempts to assess the activities and progress of oil and gas companies towards carbon neutrality, with a focus on quantitative evaluation of goal achievement. First, an algorithm was developed for selecting global oil and gas companies for the analysis that reported their activities in 2022. Using this algorithm, a list of companies was compiled and their goals with regard to carbon neutrality were analyzed. Second, an assessment of how information is presented in corporate reports and which activities aimed at achieving carbon neutrality are reflected there was performed using the proposed checklist. Third, a method for evaluating the progress of oil and gas companies towards intermediate goals in the area of carbon neutrality was developed and tested. The method is based on assessing and comparing trends for oil and gas companies aiming to achieve intermediate goals in reducing carbon intensity. As a result, companies were classified into three categories: (1) those showing carbon neutrality achievement rates exceeding the expected average annual rates, (2) those with fixed carbon neutrality achievement rates below the expected average annual rates, and (3) those demonstrating no movement towards intermediate goals or a negative trend. The main methods used in this study included content analysis, checklist development, decomposition, critical and comparative analysis, and simple statistical methods. Full article
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16 pages, 8600 KiB  
Article
Energy System Low-Carbon Transition under Dual-Carbon Goals: The Case of Guangxi, China Using the EnergyPLAN Tool
by Yao Li, Liulin Yang and Tianlu Luo
Energies 2023, 16(8), 3416; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16083416 - 13 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1511
Abstract
Guangxi is a typical developing region on the southern coast of China. The current issues encountered in the region’s development are that fossil energy accounts for about 80% of the energy structure, fossil fuels are heavily dependent on imports, and the self-sufficiency rate [...] Read more.
Guangxi is a typical developing region on the southern coast of China. The current issues encountered in the region’s development are that fossil energy accounts for about 80% of the energy structure, fossil fuels are heavily dependent on imports, and the self-sufficiency rate of resources is only 32%. These challenges have created a disparity between the current regional development state and the country’s dual carbon target. Under the premise of comprehensively considering the multi-sectors of electricity, industry, transportation, and heating, this paper presents a study on the energy system transition towards low-carbon development for Guangxi in four steps. Firstly, to demonstrate EnergyPLAN’s capability in energy modeling, a reference scenario for Guangxi is created using official yearbook data from 2020. Then, a short-term scenario is formulated to analyze the development of Guangxi’s energy system during the 14th Five-Year Plan. Furthermore, two mid-term scenarios are established, revealing that Guangxi is anticipated to reach its carbon emission peak between 2025 and 2030. Finally, three long-term scenarios are proposed for Guangxi’s energy system for 2050. These scenarios encompass the expansion of photovoltaics, nuclear, and wind power in the electricity system and emission reduction policies in the industrial, transportation, and heating sectors. As a result, compared with the 2020REF scenario, Guangxi can achieve a carbon emission reduction exceeding 57% and the share of non-fossil energy consumption can reach about 70% in the 2050 scenarios, despite a substantial increase in energy consumption, which makes it possible to achieve carbon neutrality in 2060 and to establish an energy system with less than 20% of fossil energy consumption. Full article
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2022

Jump to: 2024, 2023, 2021

34 pages, 2782 KiB  
Article
Pythagorean Fuzzy Storage Capacity with Controllable Carbon Emission Incorporating Green Technology Investment on a Two-Depository System
by Gudivada Durga Bhavani, Ieva Meidute-Kavaliauskiene, Ghanshaym S. Mahapatra and Renata Činčikaitė
Energies 2022, 15(23), 9087; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15239087 - 30 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1202
Abstract
Global warming is mainly caused by carbon emissions. Currently, fewer countries are concentrating on reducing carbon emissions. The primary strategy utilized by numerous countries to achieve carbon emissions reduction is the carbon tax policy. With this in mind, a sustainable two-warehouse inventory model [...] Read more.
Global warming is mainly caused by carbon emissions. Currently, fewer countries are concentrating on reducing carbon emissions. The primary strategy utilized by numerous countries to achieve carbon emissions reduction is the carbon tax policy. With this in mind, a sustainable two-warehouse inventory model was taken carbon tax into account for a controllable carbon emissions rate by investing in green technology initiatives under uncertain emission and cost parameters. The globe is currently experiencing an eco-friendly period. Many individuals are interested in purchasing natural or herbal items since they are made from natural sources and do not affect the environment. The demand for products made with herbal or natural ingredients is considered eco-friendly demand. This study examines a two-warehouse inventory model of deteriorating commodities with price and marketing-dependent eco-friendly demand. The inventory system is presented to handle the inventory in the depository with last-in-first-out and first-in-first-out strategies. After comparing both the policies under deterioration rate and holding cost, this study recommended a suitable dispatch policy. Interval-valued numbers and fuzzy numbers are the mathematical techniques that deal with uncertainties, so this model’s emission and cost parameters are taken as interval-valued numbers, and the storage capacity of the owned warehouse is a Pythagorean fuzzy number. The optimal solution for the two-warehouse inventory system is evaluated by taking the parametric form of interval-valued cost parameters and the new concept of the ranking function of triangular Pythagorean fuzzy numbers. Numerical results prove that emissions are reduced by 87% under green technology investment in both policies. As a consequence, in the FIFO policy, the total cost of the two-warehouse inventory system decreases by 34.45% and cycle length increases by 5.72%, and in the LIFO policy, the total cost of the two-warehouse inventory system decreases by 34.42% and cycle length increases by 11.19%. Sensitivity analysis of the key parameters has been performed to study the effect of various parameters on the optimal solution. Full article
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31 pages, 4620 KiB  
Review
Taxonomy for Industrial Cluster Decarbonization: An Analysis for the Italian Hard-to-Abate Industry
by Sonja Sechi, Sara Giarola and Pierluigi Leone
Energies 2022, 15(22), 8586; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15228586 - 16 Nov 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2075
Abstract
The share of industry in final global energy consumption was more than 30% in 2020, of which, the hard-to-abate sectors accounted for almost 60% of total final consumption in industry. Similarly, in Europe, industry accounts for around 25% of final energy consumption. In [...] Read more.
The share of industry in final global energy consumption was more than 30% in 2020, of which, the hard-to-abate sectors accounted for almost 60% of total final consumption in industry. Similarly, in Europe, industry accounts for around 25% of final energy consumption. In order to reduce the impact of industry in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, Europe has set many policies that support and regulate the sector, including pricing carbon emissions in a cap-and-trade scheme called the European Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS). According to the EU ETS, in 2021 the verified emissions of all stationary installations were around 1.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. In 2021, the total allocated allowances amounted to around 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, half of which were freely allocated. After reviewing the existing modeling approaches for industrial clusters and the available datasets, and assessing the energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions at plant level using a geographical information system approach (GIS), a taxonomy for industrial cluster decarbonization was introduced. This taxonomy shows that describing industry as sets of clustered installations rather than based on the conventional sectoral economic classification provides more insights into energy transition. First, the cluster description provides a more accurate techno-economic assessment based on a finer characterization of economies of scale compared to traditional energy systems models. Second, the industrial clustering approach may more realistically show the feasibility, in addition to the costs and benefits from coupling industry with transport (e.g., industrial fleets and logistics) or buildings (e.g., city scale), due to a more detailed representation of the energy sources and sinks. Full article
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37 pages, 6533 KiB  
Review
Ship Energy Efficiency and Maritime Sector Initiatives to Reduce Carbon Emissions
by Mohamad Issa, Adrian Ilinca and Fahed Martini
Energies 2022, 15(21), 7910; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15217910 - 25 Oct 2022
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4323
Abstract
With stricter IMO regulations on CO2 taking effect in 2023 and ambitious goals to reduce carbon intensity by 2030, the maritime industry is scrambling to clean up its act. Conventional methods and equipment are now being reevaluated, upgraded or completely replaced. The [...] Read more.
With stricter IMO regulations on CO2 taking effect in 2023 and ambitious goals to reduce carbon intensity by 2030, the maritime industry is scrambling to clean up its act. Conventional methods and equipment are now being reevaluated, upgraded or completely replaced. The difference between a short-term fix and a long-term sustainable option is how flexible vessels will be to use new energy sources or technology as they become viable. The review discusses the recent literature on renewable energy sources, technical and operational strategies for new and existing ships, technology maturity, and alternative fuels. It is found that the IMO’s targets can be met by combining two or three technologies, or via a radical technology shift which can provide innovative, high-efficiency solutions from an environmental and economic standpoint. It has also been noted that policies and enforcement are essential management instruments for mitigating the unfavourable environmental effects of marine transportation and directing the maritime industry toward sustainability on a regional, national, and international scale. Full article
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22 pages, 7527 KiB  
Article
Real-Time Simulation of a Small Modular Reactor in-the-Loop within Nuclear-Renewable Hybrid Energy Systems
by Hossam A. Gabbar and Otavio Lopes Alves Esteves
Energies 2022, 15(18), 6588; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15186588 - 08 Sep 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2975
Abstract
Advanced small modular reactors (SMRs) have recently been developed in many designs; therefore, nuclear energy stands out as a promising alternative to sustainability and reliability in replacing fossil fuel energies in microgrids. SMRs have been shown as the best option due to the [...] Read more.
Advanced small modular reactors (SMRs) have recently been developed in many designs; therefore, nuclear energy stands out as a promising alternative to sustainability and reliability in replacing fossil fuel energies in microgrids. SMRs have been shown as the best option due to the fact of their lower initial capital, greater scalability, and siting flexibility compared to large nuclear plants. Nowadays, there are several simulators able to reproduce all the safety and control mechanics of different nuclear reactors; however, there exists a lack of emulators able to put these functionalities into a real scenario to ensure the feasibility of the use of nuclear energy within energy systems, especially in nonconventional systems. This paper aims to mimic the central control system of SMRs by modeling the nuclear processes aiming to contribute to real-time simulations using SMRs integrated with renewable energy in microgrids that could be applied for different scenarios, such as cogeneration systems or fast-charging stations for electric vehicles, by considering the impact on dispatch and reliability. The simulation process of the proposed model was validated experimentally using the hardware-in-the-loop technique, which consisted of the modeling being integrated into the hardware and tested using real-time simulators. The proposed system, also denominated as SMR-in-the-Loop, was designed and adapted to be easily integrated with existing microgrid systems to represent the behavior of an SMR in nuclear-renewable hybrid energy systems, avoiding high investments and complexity in testing and implementing actual nuclear reactors. Full article
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5 pages, 202 KiB  
Editorial
Energy Transition towards Carbon Neutrality
by Ayman Elshkaki and Lei Shen
Energies 2022, 15(14), 4967; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15144967 - 07 Jul 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1465
Abstract
Carbon peaking and neutralization in the next 20 to 40 years are significant to limit the temperature increase to well below 2 °C and avoid the negative impacts of climate change caused by the sharp increase in carbon dioxide emissions [...] Full article
17 pages, 7971 KiB  
Article
Differences of Carbon Emission Efficiency in the Belt and Road Initiative Countries
by Yanmei Li, Xin Sun and Xiushan Bai
Energies 2022, 15(4), 1576; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15041576 - 21 Feb 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 1954
Abstract
Carbon emission efficiency, which is mainly affected by economic output, energy efficiency and energy structure, is the effect of carbon emissions generated in economic activities. Improving carbon emission efficiency and narrowing regional differences are very important for green development in Belt and Road [...] Read more.
Carbon emission efficiency, which is mainly affected by economic output, energy efficiency and energy structure, is the effect of carbon emissions generated in economic activities. Improving carbon emission efficiency and narrowing regional differences are very important for green development in Belt and Road Initiative regions with developing countries as the main body. The existing literature mostly uses the Theil index to study the temporal differences in carbon emission efficiency, but spatial differences and the reasons for the differences have rarely been examined. This paper measures the differences of carbon emission efficiency using the Theil index and examines the reasons based on the Logarithmic Mean Divisia index (LMDI) method in five groups of 60 Belt and Road Initiative countries. The results show that the Theil index of carbon emission efficiency in these countries is 0.196, with an intra-group difference of 0.165 and an inter-group difference of 0.031. Between most of the groups, energy efficiency is the dominant factor affecting carbon emission efficiency differences, especially between East Asia and Central and Eastern Europe, South Asia and East Asia. Between most of the countries with the highest and lowest carbon emission efficiency in the same group, such as Singapore and Vietnam in East Asia, energy efficiency is still the primary factor affecting the differences. Only some differences between a few groups, countries and sectors have been caused mainly by energy structures. Therefore, improving energy efficiency is the first way for those countries with low carbon emission efficiency to catch up other countries with high carbon emission efficiency, followed by improving the energy structure. Full article
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18 pages, 1835 KiB  
Article
Low-Carbon Transformation of Electric System against Power Shortage in China: Policy Optimization
by Bo Wang, Limao Wang, Shuai Zhong, Ning Xiang and Qiushi Qu
Energies 2022, 15(4), 1574; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15041574 - 21 Feb 2022
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 2239
Abstract
The low-carbon transition of the power system is essential for China to achieve peak carbon and carbon neutrality. However, China could suffer power shortages due to radical policies in some extreme cases. The gap between power demand and supply from March 2021 to [...] Read more.
The low-carbon transition of the power system is essential for China to achieve peak carbon and carbon neutrality. However, China could suffer power shortages due to radical policies in some extreme cases. The gap between power demand and supply from March 2021 to November 2021 ranged between 5.2 billion kW·h and 24.6 billion kW·h. The main reason for the power shortage was over-reliance on renewable energy and insufficient coal power supply for the power system. The low-carbon transformation path of the electric system needs to be explored with more flexibility for power security. This study applied a modified LEAP model and carried out a forecast analysis of thermal power generation and installed capacity in 2025 and 2030 under normal and extreme weather scenarios. The results suggested that: the installed capacity of thermal power will need to account for about 44.6–46.1% of power generation in 2025 and 37.4–39.3% in 2030, with the assumption of power shortages caused by the instability and uncertainty of renewable power. In the future, China needs to pursue the development of diversified energy sources and enhance the power supply security capability while strengthening the development and utilization of renewable energy. Full article
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23 pages, 2744 KiB  
Review
A Critical Review on Decarbonizing Heating in China: Pathway Exploration for Technology with Multi-Sector Applications
by Xiaoyang Hou, Shuai Zhong and Jian’an Zhao
Energies 2022, 15(3), 1183; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15031183 - 06 Feb 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2192
Abstract
Coal-fired heating is the main method of heating in China, causing serious air pollution and large amounts of CO2 emissions. Decarbonizing heating is important to reduce carbon emissions, and choosing a suitable heating technical scheme is conducive to the early realization of [...] Read more.
Coal-fired heating is the main method of heating in China, causing serious air pollution and large amounts of CO2 emissions. Decarbonizing heating is important to reduce carbon emissions, and choosing a suitable heating technical scheme is conducive to the early realization of carbon neutrality in China. Coal to gas and coal to electricity transformation projects were carried out in 2017 and achieved remarkable effects. This study compares the current domestic and international clean heating modes, where gas heating, electric heating, heat hump heating, biomass heating, and solar heating coupling system are taken into account. The heating technology potential and heating support aspects, including the industrial sector, building sector, carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, and publicity are explored as well. Regarding the actual situation in China, a comparative analysis is also conducted on the different types of heat pumps, and then an optimal heating scheme for urban and rural areas is proposed. It is suggested that the urban area with centralized heating can install ground source heat pumps, and the rural area with distributed heating can apply a coupling system of solar photovoltaics to ground source heat pumps (PV-GSHP). Based on current policies and standards support, this study calculates the carbon emissions of this scheme in 2030 and provides a detailed analysis of relevant parameters. The feasibility and superiority of the scheme are confirmed by comparison and discussion with other studies. Moreover, specific measures in planning, subsidy, construction, and electricity are proposed to implement the heating scheme. This study provides a reference for the mode selection and technical scheme of heating decarbonation in China, and that could be also considered in other regions or countries. Full article
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24 pages, 2488 KiB  
Article
Could China Declare a “Coal Phase-Out”? An Evolutionary Game and Empirical Analysis Involving the Government, Enterprises, and the Public
by Jingna Kou, Fengjun Sun, Wei Li and Jie Jin
Energies 2022, 15(2), 531; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15020531 - 12 Jan 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 1477
Abstract
There is a global move toward being “carbon neutral”. Reducing the use of coal to generate power has become an inevitable choice for many countries when transforming their energy structures. Many countries have proposed phasing out coal. China is a major energy producing [...] Read more.
There is a global move toward being “carbon neutral”. Reducing the use of coal to generate power has become an inevitable choice for many countries when transforming their energy structures. Many countries have proposed phasing out coal. China is a major energy producing and consuming country and intends to reach a carbon peak by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2060. China has repeatedly emphasized coal reduction, but has not explicitly proposed phasing out coal, due to the influence of local governments, coal-related enterprises, and the public. This paper explores whether China could declare a “coal phase-out”, and the possible reasons for doing so, by constructing an evolutionary game model with two correlations. MATLAB was used to simulate the model results to determine the effectiveness of the fractal results of the model, and the entropy method was used to calculate the development level of “coal phase-out” related indicators in China and Germany. The results show that: (1) The government can phase out coal only when coal-related enterprises and the public can benefit from reducing coal production and consumption. In addition, these benefits are needed to ensure stable economic and social development without affecting people’s daily lives; (2) The development level of relevant indicators of “coal retreat” in China is lower than that in Germany. Based on these results, it is concluded that it is difficult for China to announce a “coal phase-out” at present. Faced with this reality, China should improve the efficiency of coal use, install carbon capture and storage facilities, vigorously develop renewable energy and reduce the share of coal in the energy system. Full article
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22 pages, 4222 KiB  
Article
Comparative Life-Cycle Assessment of Liquefied Natural Gas and Diesel Tractor-Trailer in China
by Shuhan Hu and Hongyuan Chen
Energies 2022, 15(1), 392; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15010392 - 05 Jan 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2816
Abstract
Many countries, especially China, have extensively promoted liquefied natural gas (LNG) to replace diesel in heavy-duty vehicles for to achieve sustainable transport aims, including carbon peaks and neutrality. We developed a life-cycle calculation model for environmental load differences covering vehicle and fuel cycles [...] Read more.
Many countries, especially China, have extensively promoted liquefied natural gas (LNG) to replace diesel in heavy-duty vehicles for to achieve sustainable transport aims, including carbon peaks and neutrality. We developed a life-cycle calculation model for environmental load differences covering vehicle and fuel cycles to comprehensively compare the LNG tractor-trailer and its diesel counterpart in China on a full suite of environmental impacts. We found that the LNG tractor-trailer consumes less aluminum but more iron and energy; emits less nitrogen oxide, sulfur oxide, nonmethane volatile organic compounds, and particulate matter but more greenhouse gases (GHG) and carbon monoxide (CO); and causes less abiotic depletion potential, acidification potential, and human toxicity potential impacts but more global warming potential (GWP) and photooxidant creation potential (POCP) impacts. Poor fuel economy was found to largely drive the higher life-cycle GHG and CO emissions and GWP and POCP impacts of the LNG tractor-trailer. Switching to the LNG tractor-trailer could reduce carbon dioxide by 52.73%, GWP impact by 44.60% and POCP impact by 49.23% if it attains parity fuel economy with its diesel counterpart. Policymakers should modify the regulations on fuel tax and vehicle access, which discourage improvement in LNG engine efficiency and adopt incentive polices to develop the technologies. Full article
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2021

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17 pages, 3063 KiB  
Article
How Does the World View China’s Carbon Policy? A Sentiment Analysis on Twitter Data
by Ning Xiang, Limao Wang, Shuai Zhong, Chen Zheng, Bo Wang and Qiushi Qu
Energies 2021, 14(22), 7782; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14227782 - 19 Nov 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2533
Abstract
China has recently put forth an ambitious plan to achieve carbon peak around 2030 and carbon neutrality around 2060. However, there are quite a few differences regarding the public views about China’s carbon policy between the Chinese people and the people from other [...] Read more.
China has recently put forth an ambitious plan to achieve carbon peak around 2030 and carbon neutrality around 2060. However, there are quite a few differences regarding the public views about China’s carbon policy between the Chinese people and the people from other countries, especially concerning the doubt of foreign people about the fidelity of China’s carbon policy goals. Based on Twitter data related to China’s carbon policy topics from 2008 to 2020, this study shows the inter- and intra-annual trends in the count of tweets about China’s carbon policy, conducts sentiment analysis, extracts top frequency words from different attitudes, and analyzes the impact of China’s official Twitter accounts on the global view of China’s carbon policy. Our results show: (1) the global attention to China’s carbon policy gradually rises and occasionally rises suddenly due to important carbon events; (2) the proportion of Twitter users with negative sentiment about China’s carbon policy has increased rapidly and has exceeded the proportion of Twitter users with positive sentiment since 2019; (3) people in developing countries hold more positive or neutral attitudes towards China’s carbon policy, while developed countries hold more negative attitudes; (4) China’s official Twitter accounts serve to improve the global views on China’s carbon policy. Full article
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17 pages, 749 KiB  
Article
Why Low-Carbon Publicity Effect Limits? The Role of Heterogeneous Intention in Reducing Household Energy Consumption
by Jin Zhang, Lianrui Ma and Jinkai Li
Energies 2021, 14(22), 7634; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14227634 - 15 Nov 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 1756
Abstract
Low-carbon knowledge is seen as having a key role in interfering with household energy consumption behaviors by wide consensus from political and academic areas. Whether low-carbon publicity will help to reduce household energy consumption is still in dispute. By constructing an integrated knowledge-intention-behavior [...] Read more.
Low-carbon knowledge is seen as having a key role in interfering with household energy consumption behaviors by wide consensus from political and academic areas. Whether low-carbon publicity will help to reduce household energy consumption is still in dispute. By constructing an integrated knowledge-intention-behavior model and using 1335 detailed survey questionnaires of household energy behavior in Henan Province, the central area in China, this paper finds that in the developing area low-carbon knowledge or publicity cannot positively impact household energy-saving behavior even if mediated by energy awareness and energy-saving attitudes. Low-carbon knowledge does improve energy-saving attitude and attitude does not decrease household energy consumption directly. Familiarity with particular energy-saving knowledge would decrease the household energy consumption but not significantly in the statistics. Path analysis unfolds the reason that the heterogeneous effects of purchase-based intention and habitual intention explain energy consumption behavior. Subgroup analysis supports those economic factors of income and energy prices play key roles in explaining such household energy consumption behavior in the rapid urbanization area. This paper gives new evidence on the residential energy-saving behavior intervention among developing areas. Full article
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20 pages, 4475 KiB  
Article
Decoupling Energy, Water, and Food Resources Production from GHG Emissions: A Footprint Perspective Review of Africa from 1990 to 2017
by Fabien Muhirwa, Lei Shen, Ayman Elshkaki, Kgosietsile Velempini, Hubert Hirwa, Shuai Zhong and Aderiana Mutheu Mbandi
Energies 2021, 14(19), 6326; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14196326 - 03 Oct 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3301
Abstract
Decoupling energy, water, and food (EWF) consumption and production from GHG emissions could be an important strategy for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and SDG 7 (Clean and Affordable Energy) [...] Read more.
Decoupling energy, water, and food (EWF) consumption and production from GHG emissions could be an important strategy for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and SDG 7 (Clean and Affordable Energy) in Africa. This study applies Tapio’s decoupling method to analyze the relationship between GHG emissions and EWF resources use in 15 African countries over the period 1990–2017. The results show a remarkable relationship, which includes the contamination of EWF by GHG emissions, that mostly exhibits unsatisfactory decoupling state to satisfactory decoupling over a period of several years. The decoupling of water and energy resources from GHG emissions in most countries of Africa has not been able to reach an excellent decoupling state or a strong positive decoupling state. This requires countries in Africa to support environmentally friendly water and energy infrastructures and to promote an integrated, mutually managed, whole resource interaction system. The study also highlights the importance of tracking sources of GHG emissions, whether within individual resource sector activities or across resources to each other. Full article
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16 pages, 1057 KiB  
Article
Environmental and Cost Impacts of Food Waste in University Canteen from a Life Cycle Perspective
by Jing Li, Wei Li, Lei Wang and Baihui Jin
Energies 2021, 14(18), 5907; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14185907 - 17 Sep 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4532
Abstract
Food waste has caused double waste of resources in the food itself and the food supply chain of production, transportation, cooking, and processing, resulting in unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions and economic losses. This paper first conducted the quantification of students’ food waste and [...] Read more.
Food waste has caused double waste of resources in the food itself and the food supply chain of production, transportation, cooking, and processing, resulting in unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions and economic losses. This paper first conducted the quantification of students’ food waste and the collection of canteens operation data in the three canteens at Taiyuan University of Technology (China) in 2019 through the weighing method and interview. Then an integration of Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Costing was used to quantify the impact of food waste in university canteens on the environment and costs. The study found that the total amount of food waste in the university canteens with 22,000 students was 246.75 t/a, the carbon footprint caused by food waste was 539.28 t CO2-eq, and the cost was 4,729,900 yuan. Most of the impact of canteen meals on the environment comes from the use of energy in food cooking and the consumption of animal food types. The innovative integration of life cycle cost calculations highlights the key role of the labor required for cooking. The research results answer the basic scientific questions of how much food is wasted in the university canteens, and the carbon emissions and cost ratios of these wasted food in all links of the supply chain. The research results can provide a policy-making basis and data support for reducing food waste in universities and realizing carbon emission reduction in university canteens. Full article
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