Assessing the sweet sorghum-based ethanol potential on saline\u2013alkali land with DSSAT model and LCA approach

Estimating GHG emission mitigation supply curves of large-scale biomass use on a country level

Investigating the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions from municipal solid waste management using ant colony algorithm, Monte Carlo simulation and LCA approach in terms of EU Green Deal

Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions from beef production in western Canada – Evaluation using farm-based life cycle assessment

The aim of this study was to estimate the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated from whole life cycle stages of a sewer pipeline system and suggest the strategies to mitigate GHG emissions from the system. The process-based life cycle assessment (LCA) with a city-scale inventory database of a sewer pipeline system was conducted. The GHG emissions (direct, indirect, and embodied) generated from a sewer pipeline system in Daejeon Metropolitan City (DMC), South Korea, were estimated for a case study. The potential improvement actions which can mitigate GHG emissions were evaluated through a scenario analysis based on a sensitivity analysis. The amount of GHG emissions varied with the size (150, 300, 450, 700, and 900 mm) and materials (polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), concrete, and cast iron) of the pipeline. Pipes with smaller diameter emitted less GHG, and the concrete pipe generated lower amount of GHG than pipes made from other materials. The case study demonstrated that the operation (OP) stage (3.67 × 104 t CO2eq year−1, 64.9%) is the most significant for total GHG emissions (5.65 × 104 t CO2eq year−1) because a huge amount of CH4 (3.51 × 104 t CO2eq year−1) can be generated at the stage due to biofilm reaction in the inner surface of pipeline. Mitigation of CH4 emissions by reducing hydraulic retention time (HRT), optimizing surface area-to-volume (A/V) ratio of pipes, and lowering biofilm reaction during the OP stage could be effective ways to reduce total GHG emissions from the sewer pipeline system. For the rehabilitation of sewer pipeline system in DMC, the use of small diameter pipe, combination of pipe materials, and periodic maintenance activities are suggested as suitable strategies that could mitigate GHG emissions. This study demonstrated the usability and appropriateness of the process-based LCA providing effective GHG mitigation strategies at a city-scale sewer pipeline system. The results obtained from this study could be applied to the development of comprehensive models which can precisely estimate all GHG emissions generated from sewer pipeline and other urban environmental systems.

Energy-related activities are a major contributor of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A growing body of knowledge clearly depicts the links between human activities and climate change. Over the last century the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and oil and other human activities has released carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and other heat-trapping GHG emissions into the atmosphere and thus increased the concentration of atmospheric CO2 emissions. The main human activities that emit CO2 emissions are (1) the combustion of fossil fuels to generate electricity, accounting for about 37% of total U.S. CO2 emissions and 31% of total U.S. GHG emissions in 2013, (2) the combustion of fossil fuels such as gasoline and diesel to transport people and goods, accounting for about 31% of total U.S. CO2 emissions and 26% of total U.S. GHG emissions in 2013, and (3) industrial processes such as the production and consumption of minerals and chemicals, accounting for about 15% of total U.S. CO2 emissions and 12% of total ...

Process-based models are valuable tools for simulating crop production, estimating agronomic efficiency and developing optimum management practices to achieve sustainable agriculture. However, a comparison of the DeNitrification-DeComposition (DNDC) and Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) models has not been previously used to optimize management practices for spring maize in northeast China. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the performance of the DSSAT and DNDC models in simulating maize growth and soil C & N dynamics and analyse their weaknesses and strengths based on a 7-year spring maize study in northeast China; and to explore the optimal management practices for improving maize production and nitrogen use efficiency under 20-year climate variability. Both DNDC and DSSAT exhibited “good” to “excellent” performance in simulating maize yield, above-ground biomass and plant N uptake for ecological intensification with N fertilizer (EI-N) and farmers’ practice with N fertilizer (FP-N) treatments based on percent bias (PBIAS) of −10.5–4.2%, a normalized root mean squared error (nRMSE) of 7.5–17.2%, a Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) of 0.17–0.77 and a d index of agreement (d) of 0.81–0.94. Both models showed “fair” to “good” performance in the same simulation for EI without N fertilizer (EI-N0) and FP without N fertilizer (FP-N0) treatments, but the maize yield simulation was better for the DSSAT model. In addition, the two models provided “fair” performance for N-fertilized treatments to “poor” performance for N-unfertilized treatments in simulations of soil organic carbon (0–0.20 m) and mineral N (0–0.30 m), but the simulations were better for the DNDC model. Sensitivity analyses indicated that the optimum yield and agronomic efficiency were achieved at a planting date of late April to early May, a fertilizer N application rate of 180–210 kg N ha−1 with two timing splits in the DNDC and DSSAT model and a planting density of 7 seeds m−2 in the DSSAT model. This study suggests that comparing the management scenarios of multiple dynamic models is more beneficial to develop best management practices for improving crop production and fertilizer use efficiency.

Recent research has investigated the energy saving potential of regenerative suspension. However, the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission mitigation potential of regenerative suspension in battery electric vehicles (BEVs) has not been considered. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a typical method for evaluating GHG emissions but is rarely used in vehicle control design. Here we explore the effects of regenerative suspension on reducing the GHG emissions from a BEV, whose control design considers well-to-wheels (WTW) analysis. The work first conducts the WTW analysis and modelling of the GHG emissions from a BEV equipped with regenerative suspension. Based on the models, the relation between suspension control parameters and GHG emissions is obtained. To reach a compromise between dynamic performance and environmental benefit, two types of control parameters are recommended and their switch rules during the operation are proposed. Finally, we take a case study with different driving cycles, road levels and country contexts. The results show that considering WTW analysis in control design can contribute to GHG emission mitigation, especially for countries that have a high-carbon intensity of the electricity grid. These findings provide a quantitative reference for technology path decision on regenerative suspension. This paper may provide a new insight for employing LCA in vehicle design.

Electricity generation and GHG emission reduction potentials through different municipal solid waste management technologies: A comparative review

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from post-consumer waste and wastewater are a small contributor (about 3%) to total global anthropogenic GHG emissions. Emissions for 2004-2005 totalled 1.4 Gt CO2-eq year(-1) relative to total emissions from all sectors of 49 Gt CO2-eq year(-1) [including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and F-gases normalized according to their 100-year global warming potentials (GWP)]. The CH4 from landfills and wastewater collectively accounted for about 90% of waste sector emissions, or about 18% of global anthropogenic methane emissions (which were about 14% of the global total in 2004). Wastewater N2O and CO2 from the incineration of waste containing fossil carbon (plastics; synthetic textiles) are minor sources. Due to the wide range of mature technologies that can mitigate GHG emissions from waste and provide public health, environmental protection, and sustainable development co-benefits, existing waste management practices can provide effective mitigation of GHG emissions from this sector. Current mitigation technologies include landfill gas recovery, improved landfill practices, and engineered wastewater management. In addition, significant GHG generation is avoided through controlled composting, state-of-the-art incineration, and expanded sanitation coverage. Reduced waste generation and the exploitation of energy from waste (landfill gas, incineration, anaerobic digester biogas) produce an indirect reduction of GHG emissions through the conservation of raw materials, improved energy and resource efficiency, and fossil fuel avoidance. Flexible strategies and financial incentives can expand waste management options to achieve GHG mitigation goals; local technology decisions are influenced by a variety of factors such as waste quantity and characteristics, cost and financing issues, infrastructure requirements including available land area, collection and transport considerations, and regulatory constraints. Existing studies on mitigation potentials and costs for the waste sector tend to focus on landfill CH4 as the baseline. The commercial recovery of landfill CH4 as a source of renewable energy has been practised at full scale since 1975 and currently exceeds 105 Mt CO2-eq year(-1). Although landfill CH4 emissions from developed countries have been largely stabilized, emissions from developing countries are increasing as more controlled (anaerobic) landfilling practices are implemented; these emissions could be reduced by accelerating the introduction of engineered gas recovery, increasing rates of waste minimization and recycling, and implementing alternative waste management strategies provided they are affordable, effective, and sustainable. Aided by Kyoto mechanisms such as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI), the total global economic mitigation potential for reducing waste sector emissions in 2030 is estimated to be > 1000 Mt CO2-eq (or 70% of estimated emissions) at costs below 100 US$ t(-1) CO2-eq year(-1). An estimated 20-30% of projected emissions for 2030 can be reduced at negative cost and 30-50% at costs < 20 US$ t(-) CO2-eq year(-1). As landfills produce CH4 for several decades, incineration and composting are complementary mitigation measures to landfill gas recovery in the short- to medium-term--at the present time, there are > 130 Mt waste year(-1) incinerated at more than 600 plants. Current uncertainties with respect to emissions and mitigation potentials could be reduced by more consistent national definitions, coordinated international data collection, standardized data analysis, field validation of models, and consistent application of life-cycle assessment tools inclusive of fossil fuel offsets.

Fuel conservation and GHG (Greenhouse gas) emissions mitigation scenarios for China’s passenger vehicle fleet

Greenhouse gas emission mitigation potential of rice husks for An Giang province, Vietnam

Environmental implications of stored cattle slurry treatment with sulphuric acid and biochar: A life cycle assessment approach

The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the global ceramic production is estimated at more than 400 Mt CO2/year, which have increased steadily from economic growth. Among ceramic industries, ceramic tableware industry (CTI) is a highly energy-intensive and high GHG emissions industry. Thailand was the fourth highest ranking ceramic tableware exporting country in the world. However, information on GHG emission from this industry was limited. This research aimed to investigate the carbon dioxide(CO2) intensity of CTI in Thailand and the annual projections of GHG emission during 2017–2050 with different GDP growths. Then, the energy saving potentials and GHG mitigation measures with their GHG abatement cost for small and large-scale CTI were proposed. The results indicated that the average CO2 intensity of Thailand CTI was 1.75 kg CO2e/kg of product. The projections for GHG emissions of ceramic tableware production with gross domestic production (GDP) growth rates of 1.5, 3.5 (BAU), and 5.5%, reached their maximum emissions at 220,500 t CO2 in 2029, 2022, and 2020, respectively. Under a BAU scenario, ceramic tableware production in 2022 would emit GHG at a rate approximately 1.37 times greater compared to the emissions in 2016. The maximum GHG reduction (100% implementation) was 48,902 t CO2e, accounting for 22% of GHG emissions in 2030. The average mitigation cost was 6.64 USD/t CO2e reduction. This study provided a guideline for the assessment of CO2 intensity and the technical information for long-term GHG emission projection in CTI which could be applied in worldwide.

Hydrogen could play an important role in reducing the climate impact of the transport sector. This study explores the possibility of using existing biomethane infrastructure to enable the accelerated roll‐out of hydrogen as a transport fuel in a Swedish context. The concept of multifuel filling stations for hydrogen and biomethane are examined based on four cases, where the hydrogen is produced either via electrolysis or biomethane reforming, at a smaller or larger scale, and through either centralised or decentralised production. The cases are compared using established life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology to establish their respective impact from a greenhouse gas (GHG) emission mitigation potential. The LCA results show generally good GHG performance for all production paths being studied with a range from −7 g CO2 eq./MJ hydrogen for hydrogen production based on biomethane via steam reformation (SMR) compared to +19 g CO2 eq. for production based on Swedish National Grid Mix via electrolyser. The SMR is the more efficient technology in mitigating GHG emissions, especially if system expansion is applied. In addition, sensitivity analyses also show that electrolyses production based on renewable wind power will decrease the impact significantly and vice versa that a European Average Electricity Grid Mix (EU – 28) would increase the impact significantly. The findings of this study underline the potential of the gradual introduction of hydrogen as a fuel for transport without the need for large investments in a dedicated fuel‐specific distribution system. The concept could contribute to overcoming the current chicken‐and‐egg catch of achieving both scalable and profitable supply of hydrogen for transport as well as the vehicles using it as fuel.

Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions in pasture-based dairy-beef production systems