Development Of Low-carbon Technologies Research Articles

The path toward urban carbon neutrality: How does the low-carbon city pilot policy stimulate low-carbon technology?

To reduce carbon emissions, it is important to promote the development of low-carbon technology in urban areas. This study is the first to examine the impact of policies on the advancement of low-carbon technologies using the Low-Carbon City Pilot Policy as a quasi-natural experiment. Specifically, the study examines the impacts of the Low-Carbon City Pilot Policy on low-carbon and carbon-reducing, -neutral, and -negative technologies. It does so by analyzing data from 2006 to 2020 across 278 prefecture-level cities in China. The analysis is based on various models and includes use of multi-period difference-in-differences (DID), multi-period propensity score matching (PSM) DID, event study, staggered DID, and synthetic DID (SDID). The results indicate that the Low-Carbon City Pilot Policy has substantially impacted the development of urban low-carbon inventions, particularly evident in the ongoing growth of carbon-neutral and -negative technologies. The Low-Carbon City Pilot Policy is mainly achieved through industrial upgrades, green finance, and public behavior, but the effects on low-carbon technologies are heterogeneous due to environmental resources law and regional digital economic development. These findings offer more theoretical backing and empirical substantiation for the Chinese government's pursuit of “point-to-surface” implementation of low-carbon cities, and for the expedited achievement of its “carbon peaking, carbon neutrality” target.

Recent Status of Production, Administration Policies, and Low-Carbon Technology Development of China’s Steel Industry

In 2023, China’s crude steel production amount reached 1.019 billion tons, and the energy consumption of China’s steel industry amount reached 561 million tons of coal. China’s steel industry, with its dominant reliance on coal for energy and the primary use of blast furnaces and converters in production processes, as well as its massive output, has become the main field for achieving China’s “carbon peaking” and “carbon neutrality” goals. Firstly, this article summarizes the current production status of the steel industry and the situation of carbon emissions in the steel industry. Secondly, it discusses the dual-carbon policies based on the national and steel industry levels and outlines the future directions for China’s steel industry. Subsequently, it analyzes the current state of research and application of mature and emerging low-carbon technology in China’s steel industry and details the low-carbon plans of China’s steel companies using the low-carbon technology roadmaps of two representative steel companies as examples. Finally, the article gives policy suggestions for the further carbon reduction of China’s steel industry. The purpose of this paper is to show the efforts and contributions of China’s steel industry to the early realization of its “carbon peaking” and “carbon neutrality” goals.

Quantifying provincial in-use stocks of rare earth to identify urban mining potentials in the Chinese mainland

Recycling of rare earth elements (REE) can help to offset the increasing demand for REE minerals and enhance the diversification of the REE supply chain. The development of low-carbon technologies, such as new energy vehicles and wind turbines has expedited the accumulation of REE as “urban mines”. This trend offers prospects for the progress of REE recycling initiatives targeting end-of-life products. This study conducts a dynamic material flow analysis (combined top-down and bottom-up method) of nine products containing NdFeB permanent magnets (their scrap is regarded as the most important secondary resource of rare earth) in the Chinese mainland at a provincial level to identify end-of-life products and provinces with high urban mining potentials. Results indicate that e-bikes, wind turbines, and air conditioners have the most significant REE recycling potentials in the Chinese mainland. Provinces with large populations and robust economies, such as Guangdong and Jiangsu, exhibit greater potential for REE recycling. This study illustrates significant provincial disparities in the end-of-life recycling potentials of REEs in the Chinese mainland and highlights the significance of provincial-level assessments of urban mining potential in the planning of the REE recycling industry.

Research on the spatial spillover effect of carbon trading market development on regional emission reduction

This paper introduces the current situation of carbon trading market in China and the effect of carbon emission reduction in each region. Theoretically, it expounds the influence mechanism and spatial spillover way of carbon trading market on regional carbon emission. Next, we use the data of 30 provinces in China from 2006 to 2019 to build a continuous spatial difference in difference model (SDM-DID) to empirically study the spatial spillover effect of carbon trading market on regional emission reduction. The results are as follows: First, the implementation of the pilot policy of carbon emission trading has significantly promoted the carbon emission reduction in the pilot areas. From the perspective of impact mechanism, the implementation of carbon trading pilot policy promotes carbon emission reduction in pilot areas by promoting clean transformation of energy consumption structure, improving technology absorption capacity and stimulating development of low-carbon technologies. From the perspective of spatial spillover effect, China’s regional carbon emissions have significant spatial spillover effect, and carbon emissions trading has spatial spillover effect. From the perspective of spatial spillover, the carbon emission trading market promotes the carbon emission reduction in neighboring areas by promoting the clean transformation of energy structure in neighboring areas, improving technology absorption capacity and promoting technological progress.

How does climate vulnerability affect the just allocation of climate aid funds?

In the process of global climate finance, the perspective of climate justice, especially distributive justice, has received widespread attention. However, how this principle is implemented in the practice of climate finance is still a topic that deserves in-depth discussion. Accordingly, this study aims to empirically examine the impact of climate vulnerability on the just allocation of climate aid (including mitigation and adaptation) funds based on balanced panel data of 89 countries from 2010 to 2020. To better understand this relationship, asymmetry, the moderating effects of government quality and low-carbon technologies, and the threshold effect of financial development are also empirically tested. The empirical results confirm that there is justice in the allocation of climate aid funds. Specifically, countries with higher climate vulnerability tend to receive more mitigation and adaptation funds, with adaptation funds being more responsive. However, this relationship is not universal but asymmetric. In addition, we test the mechanisms behind it. The quality of government and low-carbon technology development can enhance the beneficial effects of climate vulnerability, but government quality can only have an effect on the just allocation of mitigation finance. We also find a single threshold effect of financial development in the allocation of mitigation finance. Climate vulnerability contributes more to improving the just allocation of mitigation finance when the level of financial development exceeds the threshold. Finally, we provide policy implications for donors and recipients, respectively.

Strategic analysis of mining and metallurgical companies: consideration of socio-environmental factors

The strategic development of mining and metallurgical companies is currently largely related to the development of social policy and maintaining high responsibility of the business towards its employees and ecosystems. The strategic goals of companies should be aimed at the environmental modernization of production, ensuring, among other things, the reduction of emissions of harmful substances and greenhouse gases. The development of low-carbon technologies, compliance with modern environmental requirements, and the achievement of a high level of social responsibility are both areas of strategic development and opportunities for the formation of new competitive advantages. The purpose of the work is to adapt the methods of strategic analysis to modern environmental and social trends to set the current strategic goals of mining and metallurgical companies in terms of increasing attention to the social responsibility of business and the implementation of green production and low-carbon development. The study substantiates the increasing role of environmental and social factors of sustainable development in the activities of mining and metallurgical companies. Using MMC Norilsk Nickel as an example, the main environmental-oriented areas of the company’s development are identified, and the issues of social policy are also reflected. An algorithm of strategic analysis for the specifics of mining and metallurgical companies is proposed, suggesting the use of classical methods of strategic analysis and goal setting with the use of VRIO-analysis methodology, which in turn will allow to identify sustainable competitive advantages associated with the achievement of environmental and climatic objectives and increased social responsibility.

Environmental Impact of Electricity Generation Technologies: A Comparison between Conventional, Nuclear, and Renewable Technologies

The transformation of the energy sector, based on the development of low-carbon technologies, is essential to achieve climate neutrality. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a powerful methodology for assessing the environmental impact of energy technologies, which proves to be a useful tool for policy makers. The paper is a review of the main LCA studies of power generation systems performed over the past ten years aiming at comparing the energy technologies to identify those with the lowest impact on the environment, evaluated in terms of gCO2eq/kWh emissions. Screening criteria were established to include only studies of the highest qualitative significance. The authors decided to assign greater weight to emission values reported in more recent studies. For nuclear and renewable energy technologies, most of the emissions are related to the pre-operational phases. Notably, both nuclear and wind technologies, along with other renewable sources throughout their entire life cycle, exhibit significantly lower and less variable emissions compared with conventional gas- and coal-fired technologies.

Global copper cycles in the anthroposphere since the 1960s

This study characterizes the copper cycle, quantifying flows, stocks, and losses from 1960 to 2020, and explores global copper supply and demand under six scenarios until 2050. Results show substantial growth in copper production, consumption, and trade over six decades, with around 761 Tg of copper extracted, resulting in 483 Tg in-use stocks. Monte Carlo simulations indicate an 11.4 % uncertainty. These stocks, redistributed globally, form independent secondary resources for each country, with Chile, Peru and Australia holding dominant underground reserves, and China and the United States primarily having above-ground stocks. Targeted policies are needed to close the copper cycle due to current loss rates. Copper shortages are anticipated around 2040, further exacerbated by the development of low-carbon technologies and extended copper product lifespans, but mitigated by alternative technologies and increased recycling rates.

Separation Performance of Lithium and Calcium from Synthetic Geothermal Brine Using Electric Field-assisted Membrane

Green low-carbon technology development has spurred an increased demand for lithium. Brine, including geothermal brine, is the world’s largest source of lithium. However, the low lithium content and the presence of other ions pose challenges in concentrating lithium. An electric field-assisted membrane is a separation approach combining nanofiltration membranes with an electric field as an additional driving force, effectively separating lithium from magnesium and strontium. This study was conducted to separate lithium and calcium from synthetic geothermal brine using an electric field-assisted membrane. The separation process is conducted for lithium (50 ppm) and calcium (300, 800, and 2,000 ppm) with variations in electrical voltage (0V, 2V, and 3V). The decrease in lithium rejection reaches up to 50% at an electrical voltage of 2V. Conversely, the increase in electrical voltage does not significantly impact calcium rejection (calcium rejection remains at 89% with an electrical voltage of 3V) and the permeate flux for lithium and calcium. The increasing calcium concentration affects permeate flux significantly but does not notably affect calcium rejection, with the rejection remaining above 85%. The findings suggest the feasibility of concentrating lithium through electric field application without compromising calcium rejection within a single salt solution system.

Literature Review on the Renovation Project of Self-Built Residential Buildings in the South Under the Low-Carbon Background

With the continuous exploration and research of low-carbon buildings in China, combined with foreign theoriesand practices, there are a few basic theoretical and practical projects for low-carbon construction in major cities of China. However, throughout the entire academic research, there is still no comprehensive and clear guidance for the green and low-carbon research and transformation of rural self-built houses. Therefore, the existing development of low-carbon technology for rural self-built houses has been summarized, and some prospects for the future development of rural selfbuilt houses have been summarized. It is hoped that this will have positive help for future rural low-carbon transformation.

Exploring the synergy of blockchain technology and low-carbon innovation for enterprise sustainability for unlocking a sustainable energy

Along with further implementation of the policy strategy of carbon peaking and carbon neutralization in our country, the development idea of realizing the “dual carbon” goal with emphasis on environmental protection and low-carbon technology development has been preliminary established. At present, Chinese energy enterprises urgently need to break the dilemma between system and efficiency through technological innovation, so as to achieve the goal of sustainable development. Based on the legitimacy theory and stakeholder theory, this paper discusses the internal mechanism and boundary conditions of low-carbon technology innovation affecting the sustainable development of energy enterprises. Based on the data of listed Chinese energy companies from 2015 to 2021, the empirical study found that the level of low-carbon technology innovation of energy enterprises has an inverted U-shaped positive impact on their sustainable development performance, and the dual legitimacy (political legitimacy, market legitimacy) plays a part of the intermediary role. The degree of market competition positively moderates the relationship between low-carbon technology innovation and political legitimacy, and positively moderates the mediating effect of political legitimacy between low-carbon technology innovation and sustainable development performance. However, the degree of market competition has no significant moderating effect on the relationship between low-carbon technology innovation and market legitimacy, nor can it significantly regulate the mediating effect of market legitimacy. The constraint strength of “dual carbon” targets positively moderates the relationship between low-carbon technology innovation and political legitimacy, and positively moderates the mediating effect of market legitimacy between low-carbon technology innovation and sustainable development performance. On the contrary, the “dual carbon” target constraint intensity negatively moderates the relationship between low-carbon technology innovation and market legitimacy, and negatively moderates the mediating effect of market legitimacy. This article not only provides a new perspective for the integration of low-carbon innovation and legitimacy theory, but also provides theoretical reference and guidance for the practice of low-carbon technology innovation in energy enterprises.

Geopolitics and Climate Change: The Significance of South America

The Amazon region is home to nearly half of the world’s tropical forests, which are key to carbon absorption, and the continent has abundant reserves of minerals critical for the energy transition and the development of low-carbon technologies, notably lithium. If skilfully deployed, South America’s rising importance for global climate mitigation and energy transition could engender more sustainable economic models at home, as well as reinforce its clout in global decision-making. Social tensions around mining and rising environmental crime could, however, diminish focus from global-projection efforts and impede building geopolitical influence through the control of resources. South America’s success in this endeavour will depend on whether regional governments can adopt policies on critical minerals, energy transition and sustainable mining that furnish predictable guidance for investors as regional partners.

Research on the Effect of Information Infrastructure Construction on Low-Carbon Technology Knowledge Flow

The cross-regional diffusion of low-carbon technology knowledge is conducive to the development of low-carbon technology and increases the emission reduction contribution of the wider land. However, the flow of low-carbon technology knowledge faces many obstacles such as information, geography, and local protectionism. This paper focuses on whether and how information infrastructure construction can promote the flow of low-carbon technology knowledge under the digital wave. Through the low-carbon technology patents of category Y02 under the classification standard of Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) and by matching them to the city level to measure the low-carbon technology knowledge flow, empirical research finds that: information infrastructure cannot only directly promote the low-carbon technology knowledge flow, but also indirectly promote the low-carbon technology diffusion by increasing foreign direct investment and human capital. The role of information infrastructure in promoting low-carbon technology knowledge is more obvious in the central and western regions and non-resource-based cities. Finally, in view of the current development situation of low-carbon technology knowledge flows in China, the paper puts forward policy recommendations to vigorously promote the construction of information infrastructure, to gradually increase the network density and the number of network nodes, release the digital economic dividend, and form a spatial pattern of coordinated development of regional knowledge flows.

Analysis of Interprovincial Differences in CO2 Emissions and Peak Prediction in the Yangtze River Delta

The Yangtze River Delta is the most populous and economically active region in China. Studying the reduction in CO2 emissions in this region is of great significance in achieving the goal of “peak carbon and carbon neutrality” in China. In this study, the Tapio decoupling and extended STIRPAT models were used to study the differences in provincial CO2 emissions characteristics and influencing factors in the Yangtze River Delta from 2001 to 2019. The results show that the growth rate of CO2 emissions was slower than that of economic development, which means that CO2 emissions and economic growth were in a state of weak decoupling. As found by ridge regression, the same factor has different impacts on CO2 emissions among provinces. The differences in these influencing factors were mainly caused by the imbalance of development in the Yangtze River Delta. Nine development scenarios were set out to predict the future trend of CO2 emissions based on economic development and carbon emissions technology using the extended STIRPAT model. It was found that low-carbon-emissions technology is conducive to controlling CO2 emissions in the Yangtze River Delta. In that case, the CO2 emissions would peak in 2029 at 1895.78~1908.25 Mt. Compared with the low-carbon-emissions scenarios, both the medium- and high-carbon-emissions scenarios are not conducive to achieving a carbon peak, with a 2~5-year delay in peak time and increasing emissions by 3.69~7.68%. In order to reduce the Yangtze River Delta’s CO2 emissions and pass the peak emissions as soon as possible, it is essential to not only optimize the energy structure, upgrade industries and promote the coordinated development of low-carbon technologies, but also promote emissions reduction in the transportation and construction fields and advocate for a low-carbon lifestyle among the public.

Industrial solutions for developing low-carbon technologies and achieving carbon neutrality

Aim.The presented study aims to analyze Russian and international experience in the development of measures aimed at reducing the negative impact of climate change and adapting to it; to examine the impact of certain regulatory mechanisms on the business of domestic manufacturing companies.Tasks.The authors investigate the experience of several Russian companies (through the example of ferrous metallurgy and the pulp and paper industry) in the introduction of innovative decarbonization technologies; assess the prospects for their use to achieve decarbonization.Methods.This study analyzes Russian and foreign scientific literature, information from open sources, analytical materials and statistics of international organizations. The subject of the study is the approaches to solving the problem of decarbonization and achieving carbon neutrality.Results.The ways to achieve carbon neutrality in ferrous metallurgy and the pulp and paper industry — the two industries that are major environmental pollutants — are considered in the context of measures aimed at combating the global processes of climate change and Russia’s strategy of socio-economic development with low greenhouse gas emissions until 2050. The prospects of an inertial way of achieving decarbonization and innovative options for the strategic development of low-carbon technologies are described. The prospects of a wider introduction of direct recovery technology in ferrous metallurgy are shown. In the pulp and paper industry, the possibilities of developing technologies for the production of nanocellulose based on the use of industrial waste are identified.Conclusions.From the perspective of responding to climate challenges and achieving the optimal economic effect in ferrous metallurgy, the most strategically justified choice seems to be in favor of an innovative way of structural sectoral transformations aimed towards decarbonization and achieving carbon neutrality by reducing the carbon intensity of production through methods of carbon dioxide capture, use, and storage, and direct reduction of iron based on hydrogen. This conclusion corresponds to the strategy for the development of metallurgy adopted in 2022, which orients the industry toward the development and implementation of innovative lowcarbon technologies. In the pulp and paper industry, it seems promising to conduct further research to obtain innovative technologies for the production of nanocellulose.

Statistical evaluation of the impact of expenditures in the environmental protection sector on the volumes of pollutant emissions in Ukraine

Most emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere result from human activities, including industrial production, energy generation, agriculture, transportation, etc. This disrupts the natural balance, causing global warming, climate change, deterioration of air quality, and other negative consequences that affect living organisms and ecosystems on Earth. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere and mitigate their negative impact on the environment and human health. Many countries are implementing environmental measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, such as the use of renewable energy, improvement of energy efficiency, and development of low-carbon technologies, as well as installing filters and treatment facilities in industrial enterprises, using catalysts and other devices to reduce emissions from vehicles, etc. Environmental protection and the reduction of emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere is a pressing issue that requires significant financial resources and a long-term strategy. Expenditures on environmental protection, including current expenses and capital investments, play an essential role in preserving the environment and ensuring sustainable economic development. Their impact on reducing pollutant emissions can be evaluated using statistical analysis tools. Data from the State Statistics Service of Ukraine for the period 2006-2020 were used. Linear correlation coefficients were calculated to assess the relationship between current expenses and capital investments in the environmental protection sector and the volumes of pollutant emissions. The research results can help make effective decisions in the field of environmental protection and planning for the future. Keywords: analysis, pollutant emissions, current expenditures, capital investments, correlation coefficient, environmental protection sector.

Cost Efficiency Analysis of H2 Production from Formic Acid by Molecular Catalysts

The development of low-carbon technologies that will facilitate the efficient use of hydrogen (H2) as an energy carrier is a critical requirement of contemporary society. To this end, it is anticipated that the cost of H2 production will become a key factor in tandem with production efficiency, process safety, and transport. Much effort has been made to create and develop new, reversible, and sustainable H2 storage systems. Among current techniques, formic acid (FA) has been identified as an efficient energy carrier for H2 storage. Numerous homogeneous catalysts based on transition metals with high activity and selectivity have been reported for selective FA dehydrogenation. In this review, we outline the recent advances in transition-metal molecular catalysts for FA dehydrogenation. Selected catalytic systems that could be implemented on an industrial scale and considered potential materials in fuel cell (FC) technology have been cost-evaluated. We highlight some critical engineering challenges faced during the technology’s scale-up process and explain other factors that are frequently ignored by academic researchers. Finally, we offer a critical assessment and identify several system limitations on an industrial scale that are currently impeding future implementation.

Reflection of the concept of energy transfer in the development strategies of industries and regions of Russia

The article discusses the reasons and factors that make it necessary to transform the structure of the energy sector and approaches developed to implement the state policy of energy transition in modern conditions without creating an additional burden on the environment. The relevance of the topic is confirmed by the global trend of transition to the use of alternative energy sources, the development of low-carbon technologies and considerations of the exhaustibility of sources of fossil raw materials with the objective need to find ways to develop alternative energy, as well as increased external sanctions pressure. A brief review of approaches to the development of energy strategies in several foreign countries is presented including relevant documents of the USA, European Union, Germany and France. The conclusion is made about the global nature of the energy transition processes and the seriousness of the challenges facing Russia in the context of current trends in the transformation of the world energy industry and attempts to use the energy transition factor to increase external pressure. The current Russian strategic planning documents at the federal, sectoral and regional levels are analyzed in terms of reflecting the state policy measures for the development of renewable energy and the decarbonization of the economy. Among the documents of the federal level, the strategies of national security, economic security, the strategy of socio-economic development with low greenhouse gas emissions (low-carbon strategy) and the strategy for the development of the Arctic zone are considered. Industry strategies for the development of metallurgy, energy, transport, construction, science and technology are analyzed, as well as regional strategies for some subjects of the Russian Federation. The conclusion is made that it is necessary to develop a systemic long-term state policy in the field of energy transition and its introduction in the strategies of industries and regions of Russia

The Impact of EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism: Perspective from Developed and Developing Countries

In recent years, the environmental problems which have a direct effect on the daily life and health triggered by human activities are gradually being exposed. Exploring sustainable development becomes the priority. In December 2019, European Union proposed European Union Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism – Carbon border adjustment levy imposed on some European Union imports, included imported iron and steel, aluminum, fertilizers, and electricity, etc. If this policy is formally implemented, it will inevitably have an impact on the global import and export trade pattern, especially in some major exporters of carbon-intensive products. This paper presents a systematic analysis of the impact of EU CBAM on developed and developing countries. The results show that developed countries are relatively less vulnerable to EU CBAM due to earlier implementation of environmental protection policies and similar carbon pricing levels to the EU. In contrast, poor carbon policy environment and slow development of low-carbon technologies and carbon trading markets is inescapable presences in the developing countries, so the impact is greater. Under the challenge of EU CBAM, it is suggested that all countries accelerate the pace of promoting the construction of carbon emission trading market and a sound carbon pricing system. At the same time, help enterprises to make green transformation and find diversified international trade policies.

Does It Help Carbon Reduction in China? A Research Paper about the Mediating Role of Production Automation Based on the Carbon Kuznets Curve

As China puts forward its “carbon emissions peak and carbon neutrality” goals, how to achieve carbon reductions has become a key for China’s goal. The manufacturing industry is a significant source of carbon dioxide emissions. For a manufacturing country such as China, adjustments in various aspects of the industry would have a huge impact on its carbon emissions. As an important reform of the contemporary production mode, the process of production automation in China will inevitably affect China’s carbon emissions; therefore, the analysis of the impact of that production automation on the carbon dioxide emissions is an important basis for judging the future carbon reductions in China. Referring to the traditional study of the carbon Kuznets curve, this paper analyzes the impact of an average wage on production automation and the role of production automation in the carbon Kuznets curve (CKC). This paper proposes that production automation plays a mediating role in the process of carbon emissions, and gives a verification model of that mediating role. By analyzing the relationship between average wages and the production automation process, the U-shaped curve relationship between them was verified. By examining the relationship between carbon dioxide emissions data and the production automation industry in China, we verified that production automation plays a partial mediating role in the change of the carbon Kuznets curve. Combined with the analysis of the two parts, this paper believes that with the continuous development of China’s intelligent manufacturing industry, China’s carbon reduction prospects are more optimistic, and that there is a good industrial foundation to achieve the “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality” goals. Finally, this paper proposes policy suggestions so as to increase research investment in production automation, to help promote the application of production automation, encourage the research and application development of low-carbon technology, especially encouraging modular design, and to give full play to the role of production automation in the process of carbon neutrality in China.