Part Four - Environmental sustainability and low emission technologies

Low-carbon production of iron and steel: Technology options, economic assessment, and policy

With the rising levels of CO2 in the atmosphere, low-emission technologies with carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) provide one option for transforming the global energy infrastructure into a more environmentally, climate sustainable system. However, like many technology innovations, there is a social risk to the acceptance of CCS. This article presents the findings of an engagement process using facilitated workshops conducted in two communities in rural Queensland, Australia, where a demonstration project for IGCC with CCS has been announced. The findings demonstrate that workshop participants were concerned about climate change and wanted leadership from government and industry to address the issue. After the workshops, participants reported increased knowledge and more positive attitudes towards CCS, expressing support for the demonstration project to continue in their local area. The process developed is one that could be utilized around the world to successfully engage communities on the low carbon emission technology options.

Brick kilns have been the backbone of the construction industry in Bangladesh due to non-availability of stones in enough quantity. Brick kilns in the country use age-old technologies, which are inefficient with high emissions. In addition, the industry uses low quality of coal as fuel, with high ash and sulfur content; there by contributing to the worsening of air quality. This paper discusses the developments in brick making during the past 30 years in search of higher energy efficiency and lower pollution. It is seen that the progress in pollution abatement and energy efficiency improvement have been slow; resulting in considerable health burden for the population and other economic losses for a long time. In recent years, some affordable designs of low polluting and more energy efficient kilns have been introduced by the Department of Environment (DOE) through a number of programs; including World Bank financed Clean Air and Sustainable Environment (CASE) Project. These efforts have led to considerable pollution reduction i.e., by more than 70% for PM (Particulate Matter) and coal consumption reduction by around 30% at individual brick kiln level. Large low emission industrial kilns with imported technology are also being established. However, the rollout of these energy efficient and low emission technologies in substantial numbers is yet to be achieved. Some moves are also afoot to increase the use of non-fired bricks. In order to achieve quick all-round gains, both push as pull factors for the change in current situation need to be mobilized. What is needed is a well-articulated time bound ‘Theory of Change (ToC)’ for green and clean brick industry in the country. Success in this endeavor will substantially reduce the air pollution levels bringing health benefits to local population. Concurrently, it will also reduce the land-use footprint, top soil use, loss of agricultural productivity and Green House Gas (GHG) emission from the brick kilns. In addition, this will also improve employment and working conditions for labor employed in the brick sector. A simplified ToC for a cleaner and greener brick sector for a ten years’ period is outlined in this work.

This editorial discusses the main areas of research concentration in the Australian air transport sector with a focus on the associated challenges and opportunities. The main topics include improved efficiency and capacity of airports, integrated air traffic management (ATM) systems, cost-effective through-life support of new and ageing aircraft, alternative fuels and low emission technologies. Additionally, advancements in aviation safety and security are identified as a strategic area for the Australian aviation sector. Both short-term and long-term initiatives are necessary to increase the economic and environmental sustainability of the sector and are therefore being targeted by various industrial and government organisations in Australia.

Emissions-intensive, trade-exposed (EITE) industries must decarbonize to limit global warming to 1.5°C. This study explores how policy stringency and regional variability impact EITE industrial decarbonization. It uses Canada as a case study due to its heterogeneous industrial sector and high regional resource variability. The study has two scenarios: one with global climate action where the world pushes to limit warming to 1.5°C, and one where Canada acts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and the rest of the world lags. The scenarios differ in three ways: the global price of oil, the pace of technological change for low emission technologies, and domestic climate policy. In the global action scenario, a carbon price of $430USD2020 was needed to achieve 75% decarbonization of EITE industries by 2050. In our global inaction scenario, EITE industries only decarbonize 25%, as domestic climate policy considered international competition and the risk of industrial shutdown. If competitiveness concerns persist as simulated in this scenario, Canada is highly unlikely to achieve deep industrial decarbonization by 2050. The results also show that regional variability plays a significant role in low emissions technology adoption. While all regions will need targeted innovation and commercialization support as well as market uptake mechanisms, we find that relative advantages and disadvantages in terms of resource availability and industrial mix play an important role in how regional decarbonization occurs. For instance, regions with inexpensive local fossil fuels and ready geology suitable for CO2 storage have a high uptake of carbon capture and storage. Regions with access to abundant hydroelectricity rely more on electrification as a decarbonization pathway. Regions with no relative resource advantages are at greater risk for industrial shutdown due to the higher cost of decarbonization.

Reduction of CO2 emission for solar power backup by direct integration of oxy-combustion supercritical CO2 power cycle with concentrated solar power

The aircrafts are responsible for emitting several types of pollutants, especially the pollutants in the form of NOX, CO2, CO, UHC, SOX and Particulate Matter PM (smoke/soot). The impact of aviation emissions on the global is well known, where these emissions modify the chemical and microphysical properties of the atmosphere resulting in changes of earth’s climate system, which can ultimate in critical changes in our planet fragile ecosystem, also the pollutants produced by aircraft engines cause many health problems. This is why the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is seriously seeking to control the emission levels by issuing new standards during the successive meetings of the Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection CAEP (CAEP/01 in 1986, CAEP/2, CAEP/4, CAEP/6, CAEP/8, etc). The new regulations include more stringent standards aimed to reduce emission levels, this led to increased interest in low emission technologies. In this paper, a comprehensive review of low emissions combustion technologies for modern aero gas turbines is represented. The current low emission technologies include the high Technologies Readiness Level (TRL) including RQL, TAPS, DAC and LDI. Also, there are advanced technologies at lower TRL including LPP, ASC and VGC.

As digital technologies rapidly transform global economies, the digital financial inclusion index (DFII) has emerged as a critical driver of economic growth, particularly in developing regions. In the context of China, where regional economic disparities persist, the expansion of digital financial services offers a promising avenue to boost regional development, promote inclusive growth, and enhance environmental sustainability. This study looks into how digital financial inclusion affects regional economic growth (GRP) in China’s provinces. It does this by using a panel threshold autoregressive model (PTAR) and a panel smooth transition autoregressive model (PSTAR) to see if the relationship is not always linear. Drawing on data from 31 Chinese provinces between 2003 and 2022, the analysis uncovers significant threshold effects, revealing distinct phases where digital financial inclusion’s influence on economic growth intensifies as financial inclusion increases. Furthermore, digital financial services empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and individual entrepreneurs to invest in eco-friendly innovations and low-emission technologies. By lowering barriers to funding, digital financial inclusion encourages the adoption of cleaner production processes and efficient resource management, which can significantly decrease emissions and improve air quality. Additionally, enhanced financial literacy and access to information through digital platforms enable consumers to make environmentally conscious choices, further contributing to reduced pollution levels. These findings provide empirical evidence of the transformative role of digital finance in both regional development and environmental sustainability, underscoring the need for policy interventions that enhance financial inclusion to drive economic growth.

Energy supply represents one of the main issues of sustainable development on a global scale, and its solution is in energy efficiency increase, plants modernization and use of renewable energy resources. The paper provides the comparison between the cost of electricity from current commerical technologies and the technologies expected to be commercially available in the next decade. The aim of the paper is to point out that investment in low emission technology is profitable investment, and that reduced CO2 emissions in a country lead to their reduction on the global level. Special emphasis in the paper is on CO2 emissions prices on the carbon market which can encourage project realization focused on larger exploitation of renewable energy sources (RES) in the Republic of Serbia.

Global warming and the related problem of water scarcity are predicted to cause widespread environmental, humanitarian, and economic challenges. New technologies may be able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions enough to prevent many of the worst consequences of climate change However, in order to be competitive in the market, new, low emissions technologies much be affordable. In this thesis I present work on building a technology to lower the cost of decentralized, electrochemical wastewater treatment technologies by improving maintenance. I also show that atomic layer deposition of TiO2 can be used to tune the catalytic activity and stability of multiple electrocatalysts for both the chlorine and oxygen evolution reactions (two of the most widely used electrochemical reactions used to make chlorine gas and in electroplating metals respectively). With more development, this phenomenon has the potential to be used to reduce the cost of many electrochemical systems. I modeled the techno-economics of a low-cost industrial hydrogen production technology and found the first process, to my knowledge, which is able to make industrially relevant quantities of hydrogen at a large scale. I conclude by urging researchers who are trying to solve environmental problems to consider both the potential for the cost of the entire technology to be competitive with existing technologies and to determine what the most effective way to reduce costs are. Finally, I propose that cogeneration of hydrogen and other chemicals may be a viable strategy to producing large quantities of inexpensive, clean hydrogen.

The article "The use of heat pumps in combined heating systems for urban infrastructure" delves into the potential of integrating heat pumps into modern urban heating systems, with a focus on energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. As urban areas expand and energy consumption continues to rise, the integration of heat pumps presents a promising solution to address both environmental and economic challenges. The introduction emphasizes the growing demand for energy-saving technologies, underscoring the need to reduce environmental impacts associated with traditional heating systems. Keywords such as heat pumps, combined heating systems, energy efficiency, and environmental sustainability are central to the discussion. The relevance of the topic is particularly justified by the increasing costs of traditional energy sources, which are often based on fossil fuels. As global concerns about climate change grow, cities are under pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which are a significant byproduct of conventional heating methods. The adoption of more sustainable technologies like heat pumps is critical to reducing urban areas’ carbon footprints. The problem statement in the article highlights the excessive energy consumption of conventional systems, as well as their significant contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. By transitioning to heat pumps, cities can not only address these environmental concerns but also ensure a more sustainable and energy-efficient future. The section on the analysis of studies and publications reviews the advantages and challenges of implementing heat pumps in urban environments. One of the key advantages of heat pumps is their ability to harness renewable energy from the environment, such as air, water, or the ground, to generate heating and cooling. This process drastically reduces reliance on fossil fuels and cuts down on emissions. However, several challenges are identified, including the high upfront costs of installation and the modernization of existing heating networks to accommodate these systems. Moreover, there is limited long-term data on the operational efficiency of heat pumps in urban settings, making it difficult to predict their performance over time in various urban climates and infrastructure types. The research aims to provide recommendations for the adoption of heat pumps in urban conditions. The tasks outlined include performing energy efficiency analyses to determine the optimal systems for different types of urban environments. Additionally, the research will explore integration schemes that combine heat pumps with existing heating infrastructure, as well as how to incorporate other renewable energy sources such as solar and wind to enhance overall system efficiency. The main body of the article elaborates on the technical aspects of heat pump operations. Heat pumps work by transferring heat from one location to another, typically from the ground or air to a building, which makes them highly energy-efficient. Their ability to both heat and cool spaces makes them versatile for year-round use in urban infrastructures. The economic feasibility of implementing heat pumps is also addressed. While initial installation costs may be high, the long-term savings on energy bills, coupled with the environmental benefits, make heat pumps a viable option for cities looking to reduce their energy costs and carbon emissions. Finally, the conclusions underscore the promising nature of heat pumps as a solution for urban heating and cooling needs. However, the article stresses the necessity of significant investments in both technology and infrastructure to ensure the successful integration of heat pumps into urban systems. The adaptation of existing heating networks, retrofitting older buildings, and overcoming technological limitations are key challenges that need to be addressed. In summary, the article suggests that while heat pumps offer a promising future for urban infrastructure, they require careful planning, significant investments, and continued research to fully realize their potential for long-term environmental and economic sustainability.

This chapter aims to provide a comprehensive review of the latest low emission propulsion vehicles, particularly for bus applications. The challenges for city bus applications and the necessity for low emission technologies for public transportation are addressed. The review will be focusing on the London bus environment which represents one of the busiest bus networks in the world. The low emission bus applications will be analysed from three main areas: hybrid electric buses, battery electric buses and fuel cell buses. This, summarises the main technologies utilised for low emissions urban transportation applications. A comprehensive review of these low emission technologies provide the reader with a general background of the developments in the bus industry and the technologies utilised to improve the performance in terms of both efficiency and emissions reduction. This will conclude with a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of the three main technologies and explore the potential opportunity of each.

Hospitals consume large amounts of energy in their daily operations. The necessity to comply with the global targets for climate change mitigation requires the decrease in their energy and fossil fuels consumption as well as reduction of their CO2 emissions. The aims of the current work are to study the possibilities of using several clean and low carbon emission technologies for heat, cooling and electricity generation in hospitals. The use of solar-PV panels, CHP systems and heat pumps has been examined as well as the possibility of financing these environmentally friendly energy technologies with external funding. Our results indicate that the abovementioned sustainable energy technologies are mature, reliable and cost-efficient providing heat, cooling and electricity in hospitals having also positive economic, social and environmental impacts. Their combined use with other low or zero carbon emission technologies could help in the transformation of hospital buildings to nearly zero energy buildings minimizing or zeroing their carbon footprint due to energy use. Various financial tools have been developed so far utilizing mainly private funds for financing clean energy investments in hospitals with external resources. Present work is important since it indicates that the previously mentioned sustainable energy technologies can be used in hospitals assisting in their transformation to low carbon emission organizations since in coming decades the mitigation of climate change in our societies will be necessary and crucial.

Mitigation of climate change, which is a severe global environmental problem, requires the sharp decrease of greenhouse gas emissions. Hospitals and healthcare facilities consume large amounts of energy compared with other organizations while they mainly use conventional fuels and grid electricity. The aims of the current study are: a) to review the sustainable energy technologies which can be used in hospitals minimizing their carbon emissions due to energy use, and b) to review the existing financial tools which can support the investments of clean energy technologies in hospitals. Published literature indicates that several benign energy technologies have been used in hospitals in developed and less-developed countries. These include: a) energy saving technologies, b) renewable energy technologies, c) low carbon emission technologies, and d) technologies related with green transportation. The most of them are reliable, mature and cost-efficient. Their combined use results in lower carbon emissions in hospitals. Any remaining emissions can be offset with the existing carbon offsetting schemes. Various financial mechanisms can facilitate investments of clean energy technologies in hospitals. It is concluded that several benign energy technologies combined with carbon offsetting schemes can assist hospitals to zero their net carbon emissions due to energy use while the existing financial mechanisms can facilitate and support the required energy investments. The present study is useful to policy makers and hospital’s authorities who are looking forward to minimize the carbon footprint in these organizations complying with current policies for achieving net zero carbon emission societies in the coming decades.

Terengganu, a coastal state in Malaysia renowned for its marine biodiversity and heritage tourism, faces mounting environmental pressures from its rapidly growing tourism industry. This study investigates the tourism-related carbon footprint in Terengganu, emphasizing the key emission sources; transportation, accommodation, and waste management; and proposes actionable mitigation strategies grounded in stakeholder perspectives. Adopting a qualitative methodology, in-depth interviews were conducted with tourism operators, policymakers, environmental NGOs, and tourists to uncover systemic challenges and opportunities in transitioning toward sustainable practices. Findings reveal that diesel-powered ferry transport accounts for approximately 60% of tourism-related CO₂ emissions, followed by energy-inefficient hotels and limited sustainable waste management systems. Although tourists express willingness to adopt eco-friendly options, accessibility and affordability remain key barriers. The study also identifies a critical policy gap in enforcement and incentive mechanisms, impeding the adoption of renewable energy and low-emission technologies. Guided by the Triple Bottom Line and Stakeholder Theory, the research proposes an integrated strategy involving carbon taxation for high-emission resorts, solar energy subsidies, and electric ferry incentives. These measures are aligned with Malaysia’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The research contributes both theoretically and practically by demonstrating how stakeholder collaboration and policy reform can decouple tourism growth from environmental degradation. It offers a replicable model for other island and coastal destinations in Southeast Asia seeking climate-resilient tourism development.