Direct Energy Consumption Research Articles

Effect of Foreign Direct Investment, Energy Consumption and Unemployment on Income Distribution in Malaysia

The paper analyses the relationships between Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Energy Consumption, Unemployment, and their effects on Income Distribution in Malaysia from 1990-2022. Despite economic growth, Malaysia faces income inequality, especially among ethnic groups. The study uses ARDL regression to find that FDI promotes income distribution by creating jobs and facilitating technology transfer. Increased energy availability boosts industrial production, which is crucial for equitable income distribution. High unemployment, particularly among graduates, exacerbates income inequality. Government initiatives aim to address unemployment through skills enhancement and entrepreneurship. The study concludes that FDI and energy consumption positively influence income distribution, while unemployment has a negative impact. The findings are valuable for policymakers in fostering inclusive growth and equitable income distribution in Malaysia. As Malaysia is an export-oriented country, these insights can lead to impactful improvements in the export sector, further boosting employment opportunities and economic resilience.

Assessment of the carbon footprint of total hip arthroplasty and opportunities for emission reduction in a UK hospital setting.

This study aimed to assess the carbon footprint associated with total hip arthroplasty (THA) in a UK hospital setting, considering various components within the operating theatre. The primary objective was to identify actionable areas for reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable orthopaedic practices. Using a life-cycle assessment approach, we conducted a prospective study on ten cemented and ten hybrid THA cases, evaluating carbon emissions from anaesthetic room to recovery. Scope 1 and scope 2 emissions were considered, focusing on direct emissions and energy consumption. Data included detailed assessments of consumables, waste generation, and energy use during surgeries. The carbon footprint of an uncemented THA was estimated at 100.02 kg CO2e, with a marginal increase to 104.89 kg CO2e for hybrid THA. Key contributors were consumables in the operating theatre (21%), waste generation (22%), and scope 2 emissions (38%). The study identified opportunities for reducing emissions, including instrument rationalization, transitioning to LED lighting, and improving waste-recycling practices. This study sheds light on the substantial carbon footprint associated with THA. Actionable strategies for reducing emissions were identified, emphasizing the need for sustainable practices in orthopaedic surgery. The findings prompt a critical discussion on the environmental impact of single-use versus reusable items in the operating theatre, challenging traditional norms to make more environmentally responsible choices.

20 Seconds to fabricate high-performance NiFe-based anode for seawater electrolysis via bidirectional pulse current method

Direct electrolysis of seawater to produce green hydrogen has attracted great attention. While the development of efficient and rapid manufacturing processes for high-performance electrodes, particularly for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), remains trail. Here, we introduce an innovative approach to fabricate high-performance NiFe-based OER electrodes using an ultrafast and eco-friendly bidirectional pulse current (BPC) method, which remarkably shortens the production time to only 20 s. Our BPC method alternates oxidation and reduction currents within a single period, promoting the in-situ formation of porous NiFe(oxy)hydroxide nanosheets through dissolution/deposition processes. Moreover, this methodology creatively utilizes the “Cl− induced effect”, typically a hindrance in other electrochemical systems involving seawater or brine, to enhance the synthesis of electrodes from NaCl-based electrolyte devoid of additional Ni/Fe cations. The prepared NiFe-based electrode (NFF O-R 20 s) demonstrates remarkable OER catalytic activity, with optimal overpotentials (ηj) of 272, 308 and 367 mV at current densities (j) of 10, 100 and 1000 mA cm−2, respectively. Impressively, it maintains a low cell voltage of 1.59 V after enduring 1000 h of operation under the industrially current density of 300 mA cm−2, with a direct current energy consumption of 3.8 kWh Nm−3 H2 for overall alkaline seawater electrolysis. Our BPC preparation approach provides a promising path to construction high-catalytic activity, good-stability electrode, and low-energy consumption direct seawater electrolyzer.

Unveiling the Nexus: Analyzing foreign direct investment and energy consumption in shaping carbon footprints across Africa’s leading CO2-emitting countries

Carbon emissions have become a pressing global concern because of its contribution to climate change and environmental degradation. Given the urgency to tackle climate change, especially by reducing carbon emissions, this study focuses on Africa’s leading CO2 emitters from 2000 to 2020. The aims of the study are; to examine whether there is evidence of an energy-Kuznets Curve among the leading CO2 emitters in Africa, to examine whether there is evidence of an FDI-Kuznets Curve among the leading CO2 emitters in Africa, and to Identify the turning points. The study employs an innovative analysis of unbalanced panel data utilizing sophisticated econometric techniques, the contemporaneous correlation methodology, which are; the feasible generalized least squares (FGLS), and the panel-corrected standard errors (PCSE) to uncover insights. The results reveal consistency across all employed techniques. The study confirms the existence of an Energy-Kuznets Curve among the leading CO2 emitters in Africa; it also finds evidence of a U-shaped relationship between foreign direct investment and carbon emissions among the leading CO2 emitters in Africa; finally, it also identifies crucial turning points at 2760.12kg and 2886.29kg of oil equivalent per capita for energy use and 6.89% and 6.17% for FDI inflow, respectively. By investigating the factors influencing carbon emissions and evaluating their impacts, our study offers valuable insights for policymakers. These findings can inform the development of targeted interventions to curb emissions intensity, enhance energy efficiency, and foster the adoption of renewable energy sources.

Curbing environmental degradation to balance sustainable development: Evidence from China

To achieve the goals of sustainable development, it is crucial to check the balance of increased level of international trade along with financial development, foreign direct investment (FDI), energy consumption, and institutional advancement with the quality of the environment. This study focuses on how these variables have caused environmental degradation in China. To achieve Goal 13 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), i.e. to increase the nation's resilience to natural disasters and hazards related to climate change, to promote climate action and safeguard life as part of sustainable development, this involves the analysis of time-series data sets from 1975 to 2021 and the use of the dynamic version of ARDL (Autoregressive Distributed Lag) cointegration or simulation model. The results show that FDI is essential for lowering carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions over the long term, but financial development, the volume of international trade, and the level of energy use or consumption contribute to environmental deterioration. Moreover, China's environmental degradation is decreased by high institutional quality. To accomplish the SDGs and reduce environmental degradation, it is essential to take into account how these elements interact and to adopt a holistic strategy that includes regulations, policies, and education. On the basis of our trustworthy findings, suggestions are made to keep the sustainable development.

Unlocking CO2 emissions in East Asia Pacific-5 countries: Exploring the dynamics relationships among economic growth, foreign direct investment, trade openness, financial development and energy consumption

Unlocking CO2 emissions in East Asia Pacific-5 countries: Exploring the dynamics relationships among economic growth, foreign direct investment, trade openness, financial development and energy consumption

Sustainable Energy Usage for Africa: The Role of Foreign Direct Investment in Green Growth Practices to Mitigate CO2 Emissions

In line with Africa’s commitment to keeping up with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, achieving a sustainable future requires balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability. This study investigates the long-term impacts of foreign direct investment, economic growth, agricultural production, and energy consumption on CO2 emissions across 43 African nations from 1990 to 2021. Despite significant research on the individual effects of these factors, the combined influence on CO2 emissions remains underexplored. Addressing this gap, this study employs cross-sectional augmented distributed lag estimators (CS-DL and AMG) and updated estimation packages to effectively examine the relationships between variables. Our findings are as follows: firstly, economic growth and energy use was shown to have a significant positive influence on CO2 in the long term. Also, foreign direct investment significantly promotes CO2 emissions. Secondly, the causality test shows a unidirectional causal relationship between CO2 emissions and foreign direct investment. The test also revealed a bidirectional relationship between GDP and CO2 emissions, as well as between energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Again, a bidirectional causation was observed between agricultural production and CO2 emissions. Thirdly, the impulse response analysis shows that GDP will contribute more to emissions over the 10-year forecast period. This study also proposes policy implications to lessen CO2 across the continent and advocates for the judicious adoption of existing policy frameworks like the 2030 Agenda for environmental Sustainability.

The carbon footprint of external beam radiotherapy and its impact in health technology assessment

BackgroundThe major drivers of carbon dioxide (CO2eq) emissions of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) are not well known and limit our ability to initiate mitigation strategies. Material and methodsWe describe the carbon footprint of four typical centers. We explore direct EBRT associated factors such as the impact of fractionation and use of MRI-LINAC, as well as indirect factors (e.g. patient rides). Treatment strategy related CO2eq emissions are included in a health technology assessment analysis that takes into account CO2eq emissions. ResultsA typical EBRT treatment emits from 185 kgCO2eq to 2066 kgCO2eq. CO2eq emissions are mostly driven by (i) accelerator acquisition and maintenance (37.8 %), (ii) patients and workers rides (32.7 %), (iii) drugs and medical devices (7.3 %), (iv) direct energy consumption (6.1 %), and (v) building and bunker construction (5.6 %) with a substantial heterogeneity among centers. Hypofractionation has a strong impact to mitigate emissions. MRI-LINAC is associated with a substantial increase in CO2eq emissions per fraction and requires ultra hypofractionation in 5 fractions to achieve a similar carbon footprint compared to 20 fractions treatment schemes. The expected limited small increase in toxicities due to hypofractionation (when existing) are in the same range as avoided detrimental effects to future people’s health thanks to CO2eq mitigation. ConclusionCarbon footprint of EBRT is not neglectable and could be mitigated. When safely feasible, hypofractionation is one of the main factors to decrease this impact. Taking into account CO2eq emissions has a substantial impact on the health technology assessment of EBRT, favoring hypofractionated regimens.

Facile Immersing Synthesis of Pt Single Atoms Supported on Sulfide for Bifunctional toward Seawater Electrolysis

Seawater electrolysis for hydrogen production represents a substantial opportunity to curtail production expenditures and exhibits considerable potential for various industrial applications. Platinum-based precious metals exhibit excellent activity for water electrolysis. However, their limited reserves and high costs impede their widespread use on a large scale. Single-atom catalysts, characterized by low loading and high utilization efficiency, represent a viable alternative, and the development of simple synthesis methods can facilitate their practical application. In this work, we report the facile synthesis of a single-atom Pt-loaded NiCoFeSx (Pt@NiCoFeSx) bifunctional catalytic electrode using a simple impregnation method on a nickel foam substrate. The resulting electrode exhibits low overpotentials for both HER (60 mV@10 mA cm−2) and OER (201 mV@10 mA cm−2) in alkaline seawater electrolytes. When incorporated into a seawater electrolyzer, this electrode achieves a direct current energy consumption of only 4.18 kWh/Nm3H2 over a 100 h test period with negligible decay. These findings demonstrate the potential of our approach for industrial-scale seawater electrolysis.

The environmental benefits and burdens of RFID systems in Li-ion battery supply chains – An ex-ante LCA approach

This article explores the current and future technological pathways of RFID components and quantifies their environmental impacts through life cycle assessment (LCA), and also covering the critical materials and energy use of tags, readers, and backend servers. We assess RFID-enabled lithium-ion battery supply chains with different cathode chemistries – lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA), nickel cobalt manganese oxide (NCM) as case applications. The results indicate that miniaturization and novel antenna materials can reduce the current environmental impacts of tags and readers by 60 % and 4 %, respectively. Direct energy consumption and antennas are the main contributors for tags, while microcontrollers and transceivers are the main contributors for readers. Furthermore, the overall environmental improvements of RFID system outweigh their additional environmental impacts. The use of RFID systems in optimizing battery supply process gives higher reductions in climate change and abiotic resource depletion impacts than switching to low-carbon battery chemistries (i.e. using NCM instead of NCA).

Quantifying the impact of earthquakes on urban energy consumption and carbon emissions in Tokyo from a nexus perspective

Unexpected events can have profound impacts on urban resource supply and consumption. The Great East Japan Earthquake (3.11 hereafter) triggered not only the planned blackout in the Tokyo Metropolitan Region soon after the disaster but also the energy shift to fossil fuels to recover from the disfunction of Fukushima nuclear power plants. Previous research has mainly focused on the direct energy consumption and carbon emissions of different sectors while the intensity and extensity of the impact on industries and the environment have never been empirically addressed. This study explores energy-use efficiency and carbon emissions in Tokyo from 2011 to 2015 through a lens of nexus using environmentally extended input-output analysis and community-wide carbon analytic approaches. Results show that the energy consumption is the largest exporter and importer of carbon emissions, whereas energy losses and carbon emissions caused by energy conversion and transmission are almost twice as much as those caused by the direct parts. Strong nexus effects among building and material, transportation, and energy consumption were observed. The 3.11 greatly impacted the energy structure and carbon emission patterns because of the increased consumption of coal for electricity. The share of energy consumption and carbon emissions by raw materials for construction also increased because of the increased demand for the reparation and reconstruction of buildings and transport systems. This structural change provided new scientific evidence for governments to implement decarbonization policies while preparing for unprecedented events.

Sustainable Development: Impact of FDI and Corruption Mitigation Within BRI Nations

This study examines the effects of foreign direct investment (FDI), corruption mitigation, stock market, e-commerce and energy consumption on environmental quality in 54 countries along the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) from 1996 to 2016. Using various econometric techniques, the study finds that anti-corruption efforts and financial development have positive impacts on environmental quality, while economic growth, FDI and urbanization have negative impacts. This study also reveals that FDI and corruption control have a significant interaction effect on CO2 emissions. This study provides important insights and policy implications for achieving sustainable development in BRI countries.

Large-Scale and Simple Synthesis of NiFe(OH)x Electrode Derived from Raney Ni Precursor for Efficient Alkaline Water Electrolyzer

Water electrolysis is a crucial technology in the production of hydrogen energy. Due to the escalating industrial demand for green hydrogen, the required electrode size for a traditional alkaline water electrolyzer has been increasing. Numerous studies have focused on developing highly active oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts for water electrolysis. However, there remains a significant gap between the microscale synthesis of catalysts in laboratory settings and the macroscale preparation required for industrial scenarios. This challenge is particularly pronounced in the synthesis of sizable self-supported electrodes. In this work, we employed a commercially available Raney Ni-coated Ni mesh as a precursor material to fabricate a self-supported NiFe(OH)x@Raney Ni anode with a substantial dimension exceeding 300 mm through a straightforward immersion technique. The as-prepared electrode exhibited remarkable electrocatalytic OER activity, as an overpotential of only 240 mV is required to achieve 10 mA cm−2. This performance is comparable to that of NiFe-LDHs synthesized via a hydrothermal method, which is difficult to scale up for industrial applications. Furthermore, the electrode demonstrated exceptional durability, maintaining stable operation for over 100 h at a current density of 500 mA cm−2. The large-scale electrode displayed consistent overpotentials across various areas, indicating uniform catalytic activity. When integrated into an alkaline water electrolysis device, it delivered an average cell voltage of 1.80 V at 200 mA cm−2 and achieved a direct current hydrogen production energy consumption as low as 4.3 kWh/Nm3. These findings underline the suitability of electrodes for industrial scale applications, offering a promising alternative for energy-efficient hydrogen production.

Study on the Influence of International Economic Law of Carbon Emission Trading on Environmental Sustainable Development

With the continuous development of global economic and trade activities, environmental problems have become an important factor restricting the sustainable development of all countries. How to realize the coordinated development of international trade and environmental protection has become a major issue facing the international community. Since China joined the WTO, its share of international trade has been increasing continuously. In order to deeply analyze the influence of international carbon emission trading policy on domestic carbon emissions, we use an input–output model and a GTAP analysis method to theoretically calculate the carbon emissions of the international trade of various departments in Shandong Province. At the same time, the implicit carbon emission index of various industries in 2022 is calculated through the direct energy consumption coefficient. The results show that there are significant differences in the impact of the carbon tariff system on different industries. In terms of the carbon emission index, the food processing industry showed a decrease of 18.99 Mt, while the implied carbon emission of the tobacco, textile and leather manufacturing industry reached 30.56 Mt due to the continuous expansion of trade scale. In contrast, the implied carbon emission level of the metal product processing industry reached 5.3 Mt, while the carbon emission of traditional trading industries such as coal mining was almost unaffected by international trade, and its carbon emission index reached the highest level of 5.89 in 2020. In terms of trade impact, high-trade industries such as the food processing industry are significantly affected by the carbon tariff policy, and their share has dropped from 5.89% to 3.95% in the past decade. The carbon emissions generated by GDP growth established by the GTAP model are more convincing. This model can directly reflect the energy efficiency of a region from the side. Based on the present situation of international trade, this paper analyzes the inequality of the current carbon tariff system, and puts forward some policies to optimize the energy structure to reduce carbon emissions and expand domestic demand to reduce the dependence on international trade. Through the GTAP model, we put forward policy suggestions to optimize the energy structure to reduce carbon emissions and the dependence on international trade by expanding domestic demand.

Sustainable Pathways: CO2 Emissions, FDI, Trade, and Energy in Post-Communist Economies

This study explores the intricate interplay among CO2 emissions, economic development, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, trade, and energy consumption in post-communist republics spanning from 1995 to 2017. Utilizing a panel cointegration test, we unveil a profound and enduring relationship among these variables. Long-term elasticities are meticulously examined through Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) and Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) regressions, both of which consistently reveal a positive association between GDP per capita, FDI inflows, trade, energy consumption, and CO2 emissions per capita over the long term. Moreover, employing a panel causality test, our analysis identifies a robust unidirectional causality, specifically from CO2 emissions to energy consumption, signifying a pivotal link in the chain of influence (p<0.01). These findings shed light on the nuanced dynamics of CO2 emissions and their intricate connections with economic growth, foreign investments, trade, and energy usage in the post-communist context.

Does industrialization promote the emission mitigation agenda of East Africa? a pathway toward environmental sustainability

Africa’s economy continues to be characterized by increasing environmental pollution caused by anthropogenic activities. Despite the implications of environmental pollution in the continent, little attention has been paid to it, although almost all its countries are signatories to the Paris Agreement. One macroeconomic variable that has proven to be a major driver of environmental pollution in the region is industrialization. However, despite the numerous explorations on the connection between industrialization and environmental degradation, limited studies have examined the linkage amidst the series in East Africa. This study was, therefore, conducted to help fill that gap. In accomplishing this goal, econometric techniques that control cross-sectional correlations, heterogeneity, and endogeneity, among others, were employed for the analysis. From the results, the panel under consideration was heterogeneous and cross sectionally correlated. In addition, the studied series were first differenced stationary and co-integrated in the long run. The elasticities of the regressors were explored via the cross sectionally augmented autoregressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL) estimator, the cross sectionally augmented distributed lag (CS-DL) estimator, and the augmented mean group (AMG) estimator. According to the results, industrialization led to a reduction in the environmental quality in the region through high CO2 emissions. In addition, financial development, foreign direct investments, urbanization, and energy consumption were not environmentally friendly in the bloc. On the causal linkages amid the series, bidirectional causalities between industrialization and CO2 emissions, energy consumption and CO2 emissions, and foreign direct investments and CO2 emissions were detected. Finally, one-way causal movements from financial development and urbanization to CO2 emissions were unraveled. These findings are useful in helping stimulate the emission mitigation agenda of the region. Based on the findings, the study recommended, among others, that national policies that can promote energy conservation at the industrial level and can convert the industrial structure of the region to a low carbon-intensive one should be formulated.

Higher total energy costs strain the elderly, especially low-income, across 31 developed countries

Addressing the total energy cost burden of elderly people is essential for designing equitable and effective energy policies, especially in responding to energy crisis in an aging society. It is due to the double impact of energy price hikes on households-through direct impact on fuel bills and indirect impact on the prices of goods and services consumed. However, while examining the household energy cost burden of the elderly, their indirect energy consumption and associated cost burden remain poorly understood. This study quantifies and compares the direct and indirect energy footprints and associated total energy cost burdens for different age groups across 31 developed countries. It reveals that the elderly have larger per capita energy footprints, resulting from higher levels of both direct and indirect energy consumption compared with the younger age groups. More importantly, the elderly, especially the low-income elderly, have a higher total energy cost burden rate. As the share of elderly in the total population rapidly grows in these countries, the larger per capita energy footprint and associated cost burden rate of elderly people would make these aging countries more vulnerable in times of energy crises. It is therefore crucial to develop policies that aim to reduce energy consumption and costs, improve energy efficiency, and support low-income elderly populations. Such policies are necessary to reduce the vulnerability of these aging countries to the energy crisis.

Household fuel and direct carbon emission disparity in rural China

Universal access to clean fuels in household use is one explicit indicator of sustainable development while currently still billions of people rely on solid fuels for daily cooking. Despite of the recognized clean transition trend in general, disparities in household energy mix in different activities (e.g. cooking and heating) and historical trends remain to be elucidated. In this study, we revealed the historical changing trend of the disparity in household cooking and heating activities and associated carbon emissions in rural China. The study found that the poor had higher total direct energy consumption but used less modern energy, especially in cooking activities, in which the poor consumed 60 % more energy than the rich. The disparity in modern household energy use decreased over time, but conversely the disparity in total residential energy consumption increased due to the different energy elasticities as income increases. Though per-capita household CO2 and Black Carbon (BC) emissions were decreasing under switching to modern energies, the disparity in household CO2 and BC deepened over time, and the low-income groups emitted ∼ 10 kg CO2 more compared to the high-income population. Relying solely on spontaneous clean cooking transition had limited impacts in reducing disparities in household energy and carbon emissions, whereas improving access to modern energy had substantial potential to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions and its disparity. Differentiated energy-related policies to promote high-efficiency modern heating energies affordable for the low-income population should be developed to reduce the disparity, and consequently benefit human health and climate change equally.

Foreign Direct Investment, Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Nigeria

This paper investigated the nature of the relationship that exists between foreign direct investment, energy consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions in Nigeria between 1990 and 2020. The investigation was done using the ARDL method of analysis. The bounds cointegration test found the existence of long run relationship among the variables. The long run estimation result showed that foreign direct investment in Nigeria has a negatively significant impact on greenhouse gas emission in the short run and long run. The result also shows that AGO consumption has a negatively insignificant impact on greenhouse gas emission in the short run and long run. While PMS consumption has a positively significant impact on greenhouse gas emission in the long run. The model goes on to propose the use of government policies that would promote FDI investment in Nigeria and a more business friendly environment

Technology transfer for green investments: exploring how technology transfer through foreign direct investments can contribute to sustainable practices and reduced environmental impact in OIC economies.

Estimating the asymmetrical influence of foreign direct investment is the primary goal of the current study. In addition, further controlled variables affect environmental degradation in OIC nations. Due to this, current research employs the asymmetric (NPARDL) approach and the data period from 1980 to 2021 to estimate about viability of the EKC (environmental Kuznets curve) theory. The study utilized greenhouse gas (GHG) including emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), and ecological footprint as substantial parameters of environmental quality. A nonlinear link between foreign direct investments, trade openness, economic growth, urbanization, energy consumption, and environmental pollution with CO2, N2O, CH4, and ecological footprint in the OIC nations is confirmed by the study's outcomes, which however reveals inconsistent results. Furthermore, the results also show that wrong conclusions might result from disregarding intrinsic nonlinearities. The study's conclusions provide the most important recommendations for decision-makers.