An empirical analysis of energy efficiency measures applicable to cities, regions, and local governments, based on the case of South Korea’s local energy saving program

Impact of future urban form on the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from residential, commercial and public buildings in Utsunomiya, Japan

Co-effect assessment on regional air quality: A perspective of policies and measures with greenhouse gas reduction potential

Background and objective: Carbon neutrality must be achieved across societal sectors through carbon neutral policies. Therefore, local governments, which realize the actual greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction, must develop GHG reduction strategies. This study aims to present information on the GHG reduction of the building sector (BS) at the local government level, for the carbon neutrality by 2050 (CN).Methods: The gross floor area (GFA) of all buildings and the total floor area of household (HBs), business (BBs), and public buildings (PBs) and by 2050 were predicted using building and demographic information from Jeollanam-do. Buildings were classified as over or under 10 years old. GHG emissions projection by 2050 were combined the GFA prediction results with public information on building energy consumption (BEC). After adjusting the nationwide CN goal for the BS in Jeollanam-do, the pathways for two scenarios were to estimate GHG reduction.Results: HBs showed the steepest increase in GFA, while BBs and PBs showed a very modest increase. About 30% of HBs and BBs were under 10 years and about 70% were over 10 years. The HB's GHG emissions increased remarkably, reflecting the GFA results, while the emissions of BBs and PBs didn't raised much. GHG reduction targets by 2030 were calculated as 1.4, 0.7, and 0.35 million TOE for HBs, BBs, and PBs, respectively. Reduction Scenario 1 shows a straight-line path with a negative slope from 2023. Reduction Scenario 2 shows an increase in emissions after 2023, which begins to decrease from 2028, falling with a curved steep slope until 2035, followed by a very modest decline until 2050.Conclusion: This study calculated GHG emissions from the BS by 2050 using the latest information on BEC and GHG calculation guidelines. The method in this study helps establish regional/local GHG reduction targets, setting scenarios, and estimating GHG reduction.

Analysis of electrification and its greenhouse gas reduction potential in the industrial sector of Korea using mixed methods

본 연구의 목적은 실행 가능한 온실가스 감축목표를 설정하기 위해 가능한 온실가스의 감축잠재량을 산정하기 위한 것이다. 2020년 BAU 대비 온실가스 감축목표가 30%로 설정되어있기 때문에 우리나라는 온실가스 의무감축국이 아니다. 그러나 온실가스 총 배출량 세계 9위(2009년 기준)로 높고, 세계 15위 경제규모를 갖추고 있어 2020년 온실가스 의무감축국에 편입될 가능성이 커지고 있다. 이를 대비한 각 지자체의 역할이 중요해지고 있으며, 지자체는 현실적으로 온실가스 감축목표 설정을 하는 데 노력해야 한다. 이를 위해 본 연구는 총 3단계로 진행되었다. 첫째, 온실가스 감축목표와 감축잠재량, 온실가스 감축목표 설정 방법에 대한 이론적 고찰을 하였다. 둘째, 시나리오 기법을 이용하여 시나리오 별로 감축목표를 설정하였다. 셋째, 각 시나리오의 감축목표별로 감축기법의 적용비율을 설정하여 감축잠재량을 산정하였다. 이러한 결과로 본 연구는 각 시나리오에 따른 감축기법의 적용비율을 적용하여 감축잠재량을 산정하였다.This study intends to estimate reduction potential using scenarios to set a practical target for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction. Since South Korea does not have a mandatory obligation to reduce GHG emissions, its target for GHG reduction is set at 30% of that of BAU in 2020. However, South Korea is increasingly likely to be obliged to reduce its emissions according to 2020 GHG emission target, and thus the local governments should make efforts to set its own realistic reduction target as their roles become more important. This study has proceeded in three stages as follows. First, it reviewed the literature about GHG reduction target, GHG reduction potential, and the relevant methodology for setting GHG emission reduction target. Second, reduction targets were set up by scenario. Third, reduction potential was estimated by setting the application rate of reduction technique for each of the scenarios on a practical target for GHG emission reduction.

The combination of bioethanol production and carbon capture and storage technologies (BECCS) is considered an indispensable method for the achievement of the targets set by the Paris agreement. In Croatia, a first‐of‐its‐kind biorefinery project is currently underway that aims to integrate a second‐generation ethanol plant into an existing fossil refinery. The goal is to replace the fossil fuel production by second‐generation ethanol production using miscanthus. In the ethanol fermentation, CO2 is emitted in highly concentrated form and this can be directly compressed, injected and stored in exploited oil reservoirs. This study presents an assessment of the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction potential of miscanthus ethanol produced in combination with CCS technology, based on data from the planning process of this biorefinery project. The GHG reduction potential is evaluated as part of a full environmental life cycle assessment. This is of particular relevance as a lignocellulosic ethanol industry is currently emerging in the European Union (EU) and LCAs of BECCS systems have, so far, often omitted environmental impacts other than GHG emissions. Overall, the ethanol to be produced in this planned biorefinery project would clearly achieve the EU's global warming potential (GWP) reduction target for biofuels. Depending on the accounting approach applied for the biological carbon storage, reduction potentials between 104% and 138% relative to the fossil comparator are likely. In addition, ethanol can reduce risks to resource availability. As such, the results generated from data based on the intended biorefinery project support the two major rationales for biofuel use. However, these reductions could come at the expense of human health and ecosystem quality impacts associated with the combustion of lignin and biogas. In order to prevent potential environmental trade‐offs, it will be imperative to monitor and manage these emissions from residue combustion, as they represent significant drivers of the overall environmental impacts.

Potential for energy recovery and greenhouse gas reduction through waste-to-energy technologies

Comparative LCA study of different timber and mineral buildings and calculation method for substitution factors on building level

Cost-effectiveness analysis on improving fuel economy and promoting alternative fuel vehicles: A case study of Chongqing, China

In this study, various scenarios were developed that correspond to estimations of future biomass availability and biofuel demand from the maritime industry. These marine biofuel demand scenarios were based on the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction targets of the Renewable Energy Directive II (RED II) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). A multi-objective Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model was developed which is used to optimize the Well-to-Tank (WtT) phases of each studied scenario. This resulted in an overview of the most feasible use of feedstocks, deployment of new conversion technologies and trade flows between regions. Additionally, the results provided insight into the costs and emission reduction potential of marine biofuels. By analyzing the results from this study, improved insight into the potential of drop-in biofuels for reaching the proposed emission reduction targets for the maritime sector was developed. A trade-off between costs and emissions was found to result in potential GHG reductions between 68–95% compared to Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) for 800–2300 EUR/ton. More specifically, 80% GHG reduction compared to HFO can be achieved at fuel costs of between 900–1050 EUR/ton over the studied time period.

Release the power of the public purse

Since most Green House Gases (GHGs) and air pollutants are generated from the same sources, it will be cost-effective to develop a GHGs reduction plan in combination with simultaneous removal of air pollutants. However, effects on air pollutants reduction according to implementing any GHG abatement plans have been rarely studied. Reflecting simultaneous removal of air pollutants along with the GHGs emission reduction, this study investigated relative cost effectiveness among GHGs reduction action plans in Busan Metropolitan City. We employed the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), a methodology that evaluates relative efficiency of decision-making units (DMUs) producing multiple outputs with multiple inputs, for the investigation. Assigning each GHGs reduction action plan to a DMU, implementation cost of each GHGs reduction action plan to an input, and reduction potential of GHGs and air pollutants by each GHGs reduction action plan to an output, we calculated efficiency scores for each GHGs reduction action plan. When the simultaneous removal of air pollutants with the GHGs reduction were considered, green house supply-insulation improvement and intelligent transportation system (ITS) projects had high efficiency scores for cost-positive action plans. For cost-negative action plans, green start network formation and running, and daily car use control program had high efficiency scores. When only the GHGs reduction was considered, project priority orders based on efficiency scores were somewhat different from those when both the removal of air pollutants and GHGs reduction were considered at the same time. The expected action plan priority difference is attributed to great difference of air pollutants reduction potential according to types of energy sources to be reduced.

Life cycle assessment of sludge anaerobic digestion combined with land application treatment route: Greenhouse gas emission and reduction potential

Pending or recently enacted greenhouse gas regulations and mandates are leading to the need for current and feasible GHG reduction solutions including combined heat and power (CHP). Distributed generation using advanced reciprocating engines, gas turbines, microturbines and fuel cells has been shown to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) compared to the U.S. electrical generation mix due to the use of natural gas and high electrical generation efficiencies of these prime movers. Many of these prime movers are also well suited for use in CHP systems which recover heat generated during combustion or energy conversion. CHP increases the total efficiency of the prime mover by recovering waste heat for generating electricity, replacing process steam, hot water for buildings or even cooling via absorption chilling. The increased efficiency of CHP systems further reduces GHG emissions compared to systems which do not recover waste thermal energy. Current GHG mandates within the U.S Federal sector and looming GHG legislation for states puts an emphasis on understanding the GHG reduction potential of such systems. This study compares the GHG savings from various state-of-the-art prime movers. GHG reductions from commercially available prime movers in the 1–5 MW class including, various industrial fuel cells, large and small gas turbines, micro turbines and reciprocating gas engines with and without CHP are compared to centralized electricity generation including the U.S. mix and the best available technology with natural gas combined cycle power plants. The findings show significant GHG saving potential with the use of CHP. Also provided is an exploration of the accounting methodology for GHG reductions with CHP and the sensitivity of such analyses to electrical generation efficiency, emissions factors and most importantly recoverable heat and thermal recovery efficiency from the CHP system.

There are various methods to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the construction and operational processes of chemical plants; however, the greenhouse gas reduction effects, investment costs, and benefits of their application have not been evaluated. Therefore, this study proposes greenhouse gas reduction measures that can be applied to chemical plant projects, including photovoltaic power generation, power factor improvement, VSD (Variable Speed Drive) motors, LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting, and minimizing on-site business trips. Subsequently, the potential greenhouse gas reduction, estimated costs, and expected benefits for each measure were calculated by region. Among these measures, power factor improvement demonstrated the highest CO<sub>2</sub> reduction potential, with an estimated investment cost as low as 27 USD/tCO<sub>2</sub>, making it an effective greenhouse gas reduction strategy. Additionally, LED lighting and minimizing on-site business trips, which require little initial investment, should be implemented promptly. The proposed five measures, considering the potential reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, estimated investment costs, and benefits, can be applied to identify ways to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in new chemical plants.