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30 pages, 3062 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Regional Differences, Dynamic Evolution and Convergence of Carbon Emissions from Rural Residents’ Living Consumption: Evidence from China

by Chiqun Hu and Xiaoyu Ma

Energies 2023, 16(16), 5951; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16165951 - 12 Aug 2023

Viewed by 730

Abstract

Actively exploring a reduction in carbon emissions from rural residents’ living consumption (RRLC) is necessary to address climate change and achieve high-quality development of the rural economy. Based on the measurement of the carbon emissions from RRLC in China between the years 2000 [...] Read more.

Actively exploring a reduction in carbon emissions from rural residents’ living consumption (RRLC) is necessary to address climate change and achieve high-quality development of the rural economy. Based on the measurement of the carbon emissions from RRLC in China between the years 2000 and 2021, and it uncovers regional differences, dynamic evolution and convergence. The main findings are as follows: (1) Using the Dagum Gini coefficient, it was found that the differences in carbon emissions from RRLC in the nationwide and low-income level group (LLLG), low-middle-income level group (LMLG), upper-middle-income level group (UMLG), and high-income level group (HHLG) are all significantly decreasing, and the intensity of transvariation is the primary source of the overall difference. (2) Using the kernel density estimation, it was found that the level of carbon emissions from RRLC in the nationwide and the four major regions have generally gone upward, as well as a polarisation phenomenon. (3) Using the Markov chain, it was shown that there is an instability in the carbon emissions from RRLC, which can be transferred downward to the ideal state, but there is also a risk of increasing the upward shift of carbon emissions. (4) The nationwide level and the four regions showed typical σ convergence characteristics and absolute β convergence. After considering the influence of socio-economic and natural climatic factors, conditions β convergence trend is shown. And there are significant regional differences in spatial β convergence. The limitation of this study is that the data on carbon emissions from RRLC are only obtained at the macro level, which cannot accurately reflect the micro and individual impact on RRLC. On this basis, the paper puts forward policy recommendations to reduce the spatial imbalance of carbon emissions from RRLC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Energy and Resource Efficiency and Sustainable Policy)

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22 pages, 4709 KiB

Open AccessArticle

China’s Inter-Provincial Energy Security Resilience Assessment over Space and Time: An Improved Gray Relational Projection Model

by Pin Li and Jinsuo Zhang

Energies 2023, 16(7), 3131; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16073131 - 30 Mar 2023

Viewed by 1118

Abstract

In recent years, with the increasing impact of extreme weather events on energy security, energy vulnerability has increased significantly, and more and more international institutions and departments have begun to incorporate resilience governance into energy security. This paper focuses on China’s inter-provincial energy [...] Read more.

In recent years, with the increasing impact of extreme weather events on energy security, energy vulnerability has increased significantly, and more and more international institutions and departments have begun to incorporate resilience governance into energy security. This paper focuses on China’s inter-provincial energy security assessment. Compared with existing relevant research, the significant features of our work are (i) introducing the concept of energy resilience and presenting its evolution mechanism and evaluation criteria, (ii) developing a gray relational projection model by using the level difference maximization and optimization theory, (iii) measuring the energy resilience of 30 Chinese provinces over space and time. Our results show that the spatial–temporal patterns of energy resilience in China changed significantly from 2005 to 2018. High energy resilience moved from provinces with abundant nonrenewable energy before 2010 to provinces with high energy diversity. Energy endowment is a primary condition to ensure a region’s energy resilience. Renewable energy development, energy investment, economic development, and policy coordination play vital roles in ensuring regional energy resilience. Energy investment and economic development can effectively improve the energy resilience of resource-poor areas. This study’s results will serve as a reference for China and contribute to expanding knowledge in this field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Energy and Resource Efficiency and Sustainable Policy)

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19 pages, 3197 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence Mechanisms of Dynamic Changes in Temperature, Precipitation, Sunshine Duration and Active Accumulated Temperature on Soybean Resources: A Case Study of Hulunbuir, China, from 1951 to 2019

by Xuanwei Ning, Peipei Dong, Chengliang Wu, Yongliang Wang and Yang Zhang

Energies 2022, 15(22), 8347; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15228347 - 08 Nov 2022

Viewed by 936

Abstract

As a raw material for clean energy supply for the new generation, the soybean is conducive to the realization of global energy transition and sustainable development in the context of “carbon neutrality”. However, global warming has been affecting soybean yields in recent years. [...] Read more.

As a raw material for clean energy supply for the new generation, the soybean is conducive to the realization of global energy transition and sustainable development in the context of “carbon neutrality”. However, global warming has been affecting soybean yields in recent years. How to clarify the correlation between meteorological factors and soybean yields, so as to ensure the security of soybean growth and development and the stability of renewable energy development, is a key concern of the government and academia. Based on the data of temperature, precipitation, sunshine duration and active accumulated temperature during the soybean growing season in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 1951 to 2019, and soybean yield data of the city from 1985 to 2019, this paper adopted statistical methods such as the Trend Analysis Method, the Rescaled Range Analysis Method and so on to analyze the trends of yield changes, characteristics of abrupt changes and periodic patterns of climate factors and soybean yields in Hulunbuir. A Pearson Correlation Analysis and a Grey Relation Analysis were used to explore the correlation between climatic factors and soybean yields, followed by a comprehensive impact model of the combined effect of temperature and precipitation on soybean yields established by the Method of Integral Regression. The results showed that temperature and active accumulated temperature are the dominant factors affecting soybean yields in Hulunbuir, while the decrease in precipitation is unfavorable to the improvement of soybean yields. Meanwhile, temperature and precipitation have different effects on the growth and development of the soybean at different stages. The conclusion of this paper is of great practical significance for Hulunbuir to promote the sustainable development of clean energy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Energy and Resource Efficiency and Sustainable Policy)

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14 pages, 3013 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Can Sustainable Public Transport Be Improved? A Traffic Sign Recognition Approach Using Convolutional Neural Network

by Jingjing Liu, Hongwei Ge, Jiajie Li, Pengcheng He, Zhangang Hao and Michael Hitch

Energies 2022, 15(19), 7386; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15197386 - 08 Oct 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1468

Abstract

Sustainable public transport is an important factor to boost urban economic development, and it is also an important part of building a low-carbon environmental society. The application of driverless technology in public transport injects new impetus into its sustainable development. Road traffic sign [...] Read more.

Sustainable public transport is an important factor to boost urban economic development, and it is also an important part of building a low-carbon environmental society. The application of driverless technology in public transport injects new impetus into its sustainable development. Road traffic sign recognition is the key technology of driverless public transport. It is particularly important to adopt innovative algorithms to optimize the accuracy of traffic sign recognition and build sustainable public transport. Therefore, this paper proposes a convolutional neural network (CNN) based on k-means to optimize the accuracy of traffic sign recognition, and it proposes a sparse maximum CNN to identify difficult traffic signs through hierarchical classification. In the rough classification stage, k-means CNN is used to extract features, and improved support vector machine (SVM) is used for classification. Then, in the fine classification stage, sparse maximum CNN is used for classification. The research results show that the algorithm improves the accuracy of traffic sign recognition more comprehensively and effectively, and it can be effectively applied in unmanned driving technology, which will also bring new breakthroughs for the sustainable development of public transport. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Energy and Resource Efficiency and Sustainable Policy)

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18 pages, 2587 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Reward–Penalty vs. Deposit–Refund: Government Incentive Mechanisms for EV Battery Recycling

by Hao Hao, Wenxian Xu, Fangfang Wei, Chuanliang Wu and Zhaoran Xu

Energies 2022, 15(19), 6885; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15196885 - 20 Sep 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2020

Abstract

With the rapid development of electric vehicles (EVs), many EV batteries have entered the retirement stage, leading to increasing concerns about the impact of resource recycling and environmental sustainability. Some countries have successfully applied reward–penalty and deposit–refund mechanisms in similar fields, such as [...] Read more.

With the rapid development of electric vehicles (EVs), many EV batteries have entered the retirement stage, leading to increasing concerns about the impact of resource recycling and environmental sustainability. Some countries have successfully applied reward–penalty and deposit–refund mechanisms in similar fields, such as lead-acid and waste portable batteries. However, whether these mechanisms are conducive to collecting waste EV batteries is unclear. This study aims to comprehensively analyze the influence of reward–penalty and deposit–refund mechanisms in EV battery collection by developing a Stackelberg game theoretical model. In the model, the recycling enterprise is the leader and the EV manufacturer is the follower. Furthermore, the total social welfare is used as the indicator to select the optimal incentive mechanisms. The results show that (1) both mechanisms could improve collection rates and recycling enterprises’ profits, though the collection rate is lower under the reward–penalty mechanism than the deposit–refund mechanism unless the reward/penalty coefficient takes a very high value. (2) Regardless of government focus on increasing the sales volume of new EV batteries, collection rates, or social welfare, the boundary conditions of the choice of the two mechanisms are obtained. Additionally, the boundary conditions are related to the trade-in discount and refund coefficient. (3) Under the deposit–refund mechanism, even if the refund coefficient is less than 1, the mechanism may still lead to a higher collection rate than the reward–penalty mechanism. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Energy and Resource Efficiency and Sustainable Policy)

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18 pages, 10380 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synergy Degree Evaluation of Stakeholder Engagement in Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Management: A Case Study in Harbin, China

by Wenna Wang, Zhujie Chu and Tianyue Zhang

Energies 2022, 15(14), 5000; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15145000 - 08 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1458

Abstract

Municipal solid waste (MSW) has caused the increasing concern for environmental issues in recent years, and the wide engagement from all stakeholders of society has been involved in promoting integrated MSW management. Therefore, this study aims to identify the problems of dis-synergy among [...] Read more.

Municipal solid waste (MSW) has caused the increasing concern for environmental issues in recent years, and the wide engagement from all stakeholders of society has been involved in promoting integrated MSW management. Therefore, this study aims to identify the problems of dis-synergy among multi-stakeholders engaged in the integrated MSW management evolution, then contribute strategies to coordinated development of integrated MSW management system by bettering the engagement and interaction of different stakeholders combined with the region characteristics. From the perspective of the stakeholder theory and synergy theory, we constructed an integrated MSW management system with four stakeholder subsystems: governments, enterprises, residents, and NGO subsystems. We used integrated MSW management in Harbin as a case study and used the synergy degree model to estimate the system synergy degree from 2010 to 2019. Then, the synergetic development trend of integrated MSW management was studied, providing a feasible approach to boost the coordinated development of integrated MSW management in Harbin. The results were in concordance with the factual situation and pointed to integrated MSW management in Harbin and, although there is movement towards a more harmonious and orderly state over time, the government subsystem needs to be further reinforced. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Energy and Resource Efficiency and Sustainable Policy)

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23 pages, 3297 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Evolution of the Spatial-Temporal Differences of Municipal Solid Waste Carbon Emission Efficiency in China

by Xu Chu, Yiying Jin, Xuan Wang, Xiankun Wang and Xiaoqian Song

Energies 2022, 15(11), 3987; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15113987 - 28 May 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2058

Abstract

Municipal solid waste (MSW) treatment is one of the major contributors to carbon emissions. The improvement in MSW treatment carbon emission efficiency is crucial for China to achieve its CO₂ emission targets. Firstly, this study used the super-efficiency SBM-DEA model to calculate [...] Read more.

Municipal solid waste (MSW) treatment is one of the major contributors to carbon emissions. The improvement in MSW treatment carbon emission efficiency is crucial for China to achieve its CO₂ emission targets. Firstly, this study used the super-efficiency SBM-DEA model to calculate the MSW treatment carbon emission efficiency in 31 provinces in China from 2010 to 2019. The results show that the MSW treatment carbon emission efficiency in all provinces except Shanghai and Jiangsu is less than 1, and the provinces with high efficiency are mainly located in eastern China. Secondly, the spatial auto correlation model and spatial Markov chain are used to test the regional differences and the spatial spillover effect of efficiency. The results show that the national average efficiency shows a fluctuating downward trend, and only the western region achieves a gradual increase. The regional differences in China’s MSW processing efficiency of carbon emissions show a fluctuating upward trend, and the regional background affects the spatiotemporal evolution pattern of the efficiency. Finally, the special error model was used to analyze the factors and influence paths that affect the efficiency, and to find that the degree of government intervention as an influencing factor that restricts the improvement of efficiency. Based on the research results, we put forward countermeasures and suggestions to improve the MSW treatment carbon emission efficiency in each province and the country as a whole. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Energy and Resource Efficiency and Sustainable Policy)

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Review

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18 pages, 7766 KiB

Open AccessReview

Exploring the Green-Oriented Transition Process of Ship Power Systems: A Patent-Based Overview on Innovation Trends and Patterns

by Minghan Sun, Yiwei Jia, Jian Wei and Jewel X. Zhu

Energies 2023, 16(6), 2566; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16062566 - 08 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1668

Abstract

The shipping industry has accelerated the transformation of its carbon emission reduction and decarbonization, and relevant patents are rapidly increasing, but the industry still lacks consensus on the low-carbon development route of ship propulsion technology. We used the Derwent Innovation Index to collect [...] Read more.

The shipping industry has accelerated the transformation of its carbon emission reduction and decarbonization, and relevant patents are rapidly increasing, but the industry still lacks consensus on the low-carbon development route of ship propulsion technology. We used the Derwent Innovation Index to collect the global patent information on ship power systems between 1965 and 2022 and proposed a new patent information mining framework. It is used for the dynamic tracking and analysis of global technology correlation characteristics, hot technology topics, and competitive situations. The findings indicate that: (1) the innovation of ship power systems is more radical and concentrated in the fuel field represented by LNG technology, whereas technical innovation in the field of pure electric propulsion is more scattered. Small tonnage ships, underwater operations, and recreation technology are among its innovation hotspots. (2) Pure electric propulsion technology is dominated by combined innovation with other propulsion methods (hybrid propulsion technology) and Chinese universities have recently begun to lead this technology. (3) Fuel cells and remote control have become innovation hotspots. Fuel cell technology, which combines electric, fuel, and hybrid power technology, is now on the cutting edge of innovation and has the potential for disruptive innovation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Energy and Resource Efficiency and Sustainable Policy)

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