Efficiency Emission Reduction Research Articles

A regenerative architectural solution for decarbonizing the construction sector in Algeria: lightweight and low-carbon insulating mortar

The building sector is responsible for a significant portion of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, thereby exacerbating climate change. To meet the growing need to minimize carbon footprints and improve construction energy efficiency, the development of eco-friendly building materials is crucial. This research concentrates on the development and assessment of lightweight insulating low-carbon mortar. This material is regarded as a prospective solution for regenerative architecture in Algeria due to its advantageous properties. This research aims to explore the characteristics of this material within the context of regenerative architecture, assessing its potential to enhance thermal insulation and energy efficiency of buildings and reduce CO2 emissions. This approach aligns with the principles of the "Materials" petal of the Living Building Challenge (LBC) certification, promoting architecture that goes beyond sustainability to become regenerative. To this end, we proceeded to make samples, conduct testing and laboratory studies on several specimens of this material, and perform digital simulations using RETA software. This mortar, is composed of low-CO₂ cement and lightweight aggregates, providing notable advantages in thermal insulation, energy efficiency, and GHG emissions reduction. In this way, it is observed that the thermal performance of buildings is improved, with a potential reduction in thermal energy consumption of up to 20% and a decrease in GHG emissions of up to 40% compared to conventional mortars. These, allows us to conclude that this ecological mortar contributes in initiatives that promote energy efficiency and sustainable development, promoting a transition towards more environmentally respectful regenerative architecture in Algeria and globally.

The Sustainable Practices of Coal Mining Industry in One Local Government in China

This study investigates the effectiveness and challenges of sustainable practices within the coal mining industry in Handan, Hebei, China. Coal remains a vital component of China’s energy security and is central to its carbon neutrality goals, yet it also contributes to significant environmental impacts. While the Chinese government has implemented policies to curb coal consumption, coal mining is still integral to the country’s energy landscape. This research examines sustainable practices in coal mining, focusing on technological innovations, reclamation efforts, and community engagement. It also assesses the challenges faced by the industry, including regulatory compliance, financial constraints, and workforce development. Using a mixed-method approach of surveys, interviews, and data analysis, the study aims to comprehensively understand the current state of sustainable practices in Handan’s coal industry. Findings will offer insights into the benefits of sustainability initiatives, such as emissions reduction and economic efficiency while identifying key barriers to implementation. The study’s results are intended to inform policymakers, industry leaders, and local communities about effective strategies to enhance sustainability in coal mining, contributing to the broader goal of achieving environmentally and economically sustainable resource management.

Heterogeneity Analysis of Regional Greenhouse Gas Driving Effects: An Empirical Study from Southeast Asian Countries

Southeast Asia is suffering from extreme weather, and its carbon emissions are increasing rapidly. For efficient emission reduction, clarifying the complex sources behind is necessary. This study takes a new perspective of incorporating multiple GHGs (greenhouse gases) into the same analysis framework, employing the STIRPAT model to dissect the contributions of various socio-economic factors to the emissions of CO2, CH4, and F-gases based on panel data. The analysis reveals that the driving coefficients of total population and urbanization rate are several to 10 times higher than those of other factors and can reach up to 2.98 and 4.715 and are the most significant drivers of GHG emissions in the region. Quadratic per capita GDP shows a significant positive driving effect, indicating that most Southeast Asian countries are unlikely to reach the Kuznets point in current development trajectories. The driving coefficients of F-gases in industrialized countries are significantly higher than those of other GHGs, indicating that their growth rate of F-gases will outpace that of CO2 and CH4. In countries with a similar industrial structure, the driving coefficient of CO2 from the secondary industry is up to 0.183 and down to 0.057, shows the influence of specific sector composition in the secondary industry on emissions. These findings provide critical insights for Southeast Asian policymakers aiming to develop effective climate policies.

Investigation of mechanical properties and hydration of low-carbon magnesium and calcium-rich waste powder geopolymer paste

Magnesium and calcium-rich waste powder (MWP) has the potential to be a low-carbon geopolymer cementitious material. This study investigates the mechanical properties and hydration products of low-carbon magnesium and calcium-rich waste powder geopolymer paste (LMWP). The influences of alkali content, calcination temperature, mix proportions of raw materials and curing temperature on the compressive strength and hydration of LMWP were examined. The mechanical properties of LMWP were systematically evaluated by assessing setting time, fluidity, and compressive strength, while the pore structure was analyzed using mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). The hydration products and microstructures of LMWP were investigated by XRD, TG-DTG, and SEM-EDS. The results indicated that incorporating 1 % NaOH significantly enhanced the compressive strength of LMWP, whereas thermally activated MWP (800 ℃, 900 ℃) negatively affected compressive strength development. The addition of slag facilitated the reaction of MWP and improved the compressive strength of LMWP. When the slag incorporation reached 40 %, the specimen demonstrated optimal performance with a compressive strength of 27.8 MPa. The pore diameter was predominantly distributed around 10 nm, indicating well-structured porosity. Microstructural analysis revealed that the hydration products are dense calcium magnesium silicate gels (C-M-S-H), which significantly enhanced the compressive strength and optimized pore structure of LMWP. The efficiency of carbon emission reduction achieved by LMWP was evaluated. The findings indicate that, compared to traditional cement-based materials, LMWP reduces cement consumption by over 60 %, significantly decreasing CO2 emissions. This study innovatively utilizes MWP to prepare green and low-carbon geopolymer paste materials, with the aim of replacing cement applications in the construction industry, thereby reducing carbon emissions. It explores new avenues for the low-carbon and green development of the civil engineering sector and contributes to efforts in addressing the global climate crisis.

Energy saving and carbon reduction production process of municipal sludge-based biochar: Optimization, simulation, and techno-economic analysis

The production process of municipal sludge-based biochar is a promising and efficient sludge treatment process. However, inefficient cleaner production and limited resource utilization always caused environmental and cost concerns. Based on the measured data of engineering field operation, the optimized production process of energy saving and carbon reduction is put forward by using the process simulation of Aspen Plus software and economic analysis approach, and the sludge treatment capacity is 300 t/d. The objective of the study is to comparatively evaluate the energy efficiency, carbon emission reduction efficiency, and techno-economic performance of the optimized process. The newly added SNCR and low-temperature SCR units are combined denitration and coupled with a waste heat recovery unit to reduce energy consumption. Meanwhile, reduce carbon emissions and NOx emissions in the whole process. The base case of the optimization process and resource utilization was found to be viable. Compared with the conventional process, the energy efficiency is increased by 8.52 %, the total carbon emission is reduced by 27.41 %, and the total emissions of NOx and SO2 emissions are reduced by 78.11 %, thus reducing the environmental burden of greenhouse gas emissions. The total product cost is reduced by 26.76 %, the annual investment rate of return is increased by 27.45 %, the gross profit rate is increased by 23.78 %, and the internal rate of return is increased by 45.19 %, which has excellent profitability.

Energy-flexibility strategy for residential blocks with multiple morphologies based on energy, economy, and carbon reduction performance

Incorporating energy-flexibility strategies into urban blocks can yield substantial benefits in terms of energy efficiency, economic viability, and carbon emission reduction. This study proposes an energy-flexibility strategy aimed at enhancing the energy and economic performance of a residential building system that integrates photovoltaics power generation, electric vehicles charging, and battery energy storage system. Simulation models were developed to comprehensively evaluate the performance of this strategy in residential blocks with different morphologies in Shenzhen, China. Simulation results indicate that the energy-flexibility strategy can reduce the average annual grid energy consumption of the block by 41.6% for multi-story buildings, 22.6% for small high-rise buildings, and 12.5% for high-rise buildings compared to the benchmark system. The average levelized cost of electricity over the entire lifecycle is 67.1%, 40.5%, and 29.7% lower than that of the benchmark system for multi-story, small high-rise, and high-rise buildings, respectively. The average peak-time grid flexibility factors for multi-story, small high-rise, and high-rise blocks reach 0.01, 0.17, and 0.35, significantly reducing the net grid power inflow during peak electricity demand periods. The total carbon emissions over the lifecycle can be reduced by 11.8% to 67.7%, with particularly notable carbon reduction benefits observed in multi-story blocks. Compared to traditional building-attached photovoltaics systems, blocks employing the energy-flexibility strategy achieve remarkable economic benefits and peak-shaving advantages, albeit at the cost of slightly higher grid power inflow and carbon emission.

Carbon emission reducing and financing strategies of capital-constrained supply chains using equity financing under different power structures

AbstractThis study considers a low-carbon supply chain model comprised of a capital-constrained manufacturer and a retailer under a cap-and-trade system. These two parties can choose from two financing modes: bank financing or mixed financing, in which the latter combines bank financing with equity financing. Two decision-making power structures are formulated, namely the Nash game model and the retailer-led Stackelberg game model. Subsequently, a comparative analysis of equilibrium outcomes for both parties within these power structures is performed, yielding the following insights: (1) In the bank financing mode, retailers find greater profitability in adopting dominance. When emission reduction efficiency is high, manufacturers obtain more profit within a Nash game context. However, when emission reduction efficiency is low, manufacturers accrue more profit in a Stackelberg game context. In the mixed financing mode without cap-and-trade regulations, supply chain participants do not express a preference for any specific game structure. (2) Without cap-and-trade regulation, in both the Nash and Stackelberg game models, the supply chain participants find more profitability in mixed financing when carbon emission reduction efficiency is high. Meanwhile, bank financing proves more profitable when the carbon emission reduction is low. Moreover, this study investigates the impact of wholesale and retail prices of low-carbon products on the financing strategies of the supply chain participants under different power structures and financing modes. Additionally, extended models are considered, including the manufacturer-led Stackelberg game structure and the capital-constrained manufacturer with a certain amount of initial capital.

Exploring Biomaterial-Based CoolRoofs: Empirical Insights into Energy Efficiency and CO2 Emissions Reduction

The Cool Roof concept, known for its efficiency in summer due to high temperatures during this period, employs a light coating that covers the roof to prevent the absorption of heat and maintain lower indoor temperatures. This study integrates a chemical component with biomaterials to enhance performance and reduce CO2 emissions. The composition investigated in this research is recognized for its durability and ability to lower outside temperatures, thereby mitigating the urban heat island effect. This experimental study evaluates the sustainability of CoolRoofs in a cold room located in Signes, France. Temperature measurements are conducted from 25 September 2023 to 27 July 2024, both with and without the coating, to assess energy performance and CO2 emissions. The selection of the building type ensures optimal performance in both summer and winter. Results show that the maximum outside and inside surface temperatures for a Cool Roof are 48.7 °C and 25.6 °C, respectively, compared to 72.9 °C and 32.2 °C for an uncoated roof. Additionally, implementing a CoolRoof reduces thermal load through the cold room by 56%, while CO2 emissions can be reduced by up to 27.31 kg CO2/m2 over a 20-year period. This study presents a solution for enhancing energy and environmental performance year-round using a resilient composite.

Artificial Intelligence and Environmental Sustainability: Insights from PLS-SEM on Resource Efficiency and Carbon Emission Reduction

This study investigates the relationship between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and environmental sustainability, focusing on how AI-driven resource efficiency, energy consumption, environmental monitoring, and carbon emission reduction contribute to sustainability outcomes. The purpose of this research is to examine the dual nature of AI's impact on sustainability by testing both positive and negative effects using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Drawing from a sample of 233 firms in the energy, transportation, and manufacturing sectors, this study collects data through an online survey measured on a five-point Likert scale. Four hypotheses are tested, revealing that AI-driven resource efficiency and environmental monitoring positively affect sustainability, while AI energy consumption has a negative impact. Furthermore, AI integration in industrial processes helps reduce resource depletion. The findings suggest that governments should incentivize AI adoption aimed at resource efficiency and environmental monitoring through policies like tax breaks or subsidies, particularly for firms reducing their carbon footprint. To mitigate the negative effects of AI energy consumption, policymakers are urged to promote energy-efficient AI models and invest in renewable energy infrastructure. A balanced policy approach is crucial to optimize the environmental benefits of AI while minimizing its energy-related drawbacks.

Considering Carbon–Hydrogen Coupled Integrated Energy Systems: A Pathway to Sustainable Energy Transition in China Under Uncertainty

The low-carbon construction of integrated energy systems is a crucial path to achieving dual carbon goals, with the power-generation side having the greatest potential for emissions reduction and the most direct means of reduction, which is a current research focus. However, existing studies lack the precise modeling of carbon capture devices and the cascaded utilization of hydrogen energy. Therefore, this paper establishes a carbon capture power plant model based on a comprehensive, flexible operational mode and a coupled model of a two-stage P2G (Power-to-Gas) device, exploring the “energy time-shift” characteristics of the coupled system. IGDT (Information Gap Decision Theory) is used to discuss the impact of uncertainties on the power generation side system. The results show that by promoting the consumption of clean energy and utilizing the high energy efficiency of hydrogen while reducing reliance on fossil fuels, the proposed system not only meets current energy demands but also achieves a more efficient emission reduction, laying a solid foundation for a sustainable future. By considering the impact of uncertainties, the system ensures resilience and adaptability under fluctuating renewable energy supply conditions, making a significant contribution to the field of sustainable energy transition.

A strategic optimizing carbon neutrality within profit and emission reduction efficiency: a stackelberg game analysis under a cap-and-trade scheme.

Carbon emissions (CO2e) are a main problem, and many countries are committed to reducing CO2e to attain carbon neutrality. To narrow this gap, this research considers green technology implementation (GTI) and CO2e quota in dual green gaming. The objective is to explore the integration of GTI and CO2e quotas into optimal production and pricing decisions in emission-generating companies (EGCs). To achieve this, a two-party simulation Stackelberg game model involving the CO2e strategy of EGCs and governments is proposed. We formulate a mathematical model and experimental methods to optimize EGCs' decision-making using neutral indicators. EGCs optimize production quantity, achieving CO2e reduction through ERE maximization. EGCs exhibit a strong commitment to ERE enhancement practices, enhancing profit and carbon-neutral goals. Our findings demonstrate the effectiveness of CO2e quotas and GTI as carbon-neutral indicators in EGCs, contributing to global CO2e reduction. Our research provides both literature and inspiration for global CO2e reduction efforts. Moreover, it aids governments in exploring optimal incentives and decisions for pricing and production. Last, this work enables EGCs to maximize profits and move toward a carbon-neutral environment.

City Logistics Solutions for CO2 Emission Reduction and Energy Efficiency: A Comparative Study of Vitoria-Gasteiz, Tartu, and Sønderborg

Modern cities face the challenge of reconciling dynamic development with environmental protection, as well as ensuring a high quality of life for their residents. In a time of continuous urbanization, with more than half of the world’s population living in cities, city logistics plays a crucial role in managing complex urban environments. As part of the concept of sustainable development, city logistics aims to minimize the negative impact of transport on the environment, while increasing operational efficiency and improving the comfort of life of residents in urban agglomerations. This article presents the results of a comparative analysis of the intensity of sustainable urban logistics development in selected cities of the European Union. It examines various strategies that reduce CO2 emissions, improve air quality, and increase building energy efficiency. The analysis demonstrates that cities investing in sustainable urban logistics not only improve their environmental performance but also increase their attractiveness and competitiveness as desirable places to live and work.

Computer-based monitoring system of retort processes for energy efficiency and carbon emission reduction

Retort sterilization is critical in the food industry. However, retorts are not smart enough to fully monitor and calculate their energy usage to reduce their carbon emissions. In this project, sensors and network equipment were installed in a retort, and a PC-based system was used to process the collected data. To monitor the sterilization status and energy consumption, we added flow sensors and electricity meters and built a visual identification system. Carbon emissions were calculated, and energy conservation and carbon emission reduction strategies were explored. According to the monitoring data, the electricity consumption of the air compressor, boiler, and natural gas combustion accounted for 80 % of the total carbon emissions. If the equipment cannot be changed, the cooling water system can be stopped in noncooling stages to conserve energy. This strategy reduced the energy consumption of the cooling system by 70 % and was the most effective strategy for this project.

Building stock energy modeling to assess annual progress in stock energy efficiency and carbon emission reduction of commercial buildings

Short-term progress assessments of carbon dioxide emission reductions are essential for nations to meet their medium/long-term targets. Bottom-up building stock energy modeling (BSEM) methods can contribute to this issue but have not been applied because of the need to represent short-term building stock dynamics in building systems and energy conservation measures (ECMs). To fill this gap, this study developed a BSEM framework that integrates top-down building stock decomposition, including building systems and ECMs, and bottom-up physics-based energy demand quantification using reference building models representing building stock segments. The framework was verified through a case study of a Japanese commercial building stock. The results indicate that the developed model effectively captures the short-term dynamics and contributions of the technologies. Although there are significant errors in estimating some building subsectors and end uses, the model predicts the changes in the aggregated energy consumption with acceptable accuracy. The Japanese 2030 emission reduction target cannot be achieved with the current technology deployment trends; however, the shortfall can be addressed by applying additional measures. Owing to its applicability to diverse building stocks, the framework promotes the use of BSEM for policy assessment and evidence-based policymaking for climate change mitigation.

Natural resource assets management and urban carbon emission efficiency: Evidence from quasi-natural experiment in China

Efficient management of natural resources plays an important role in improving urban low-carbon development. Based on panel data from 277 prefecture-level cities in China, this paper investigates the impact of the “Natural Resource Assets Management Audit” (NRAMA) policy on urban carbon emission efficiency (CEE) using the staggered DID approach. Our findings reveal that the NRAMA policy significantly improves urban CEE and shows heterogeneity from the perspective of regional features, city size, resource dependency, government intervention, and marketization level. The mechanism test results suggest that the pilot policy affects urban CEE through efficient natural resource utilization, better environmental protection, government audit, fiscal expenditures, and urban green innovation. Additionally, population density plays a significant moderating role. Our study supplements new evidence on the relationship between natural resource assets management and efficient carbon emission reduction and provides key insights regarding the effective implementation of the NRAMA policy.

Investigating combustion efficiency and NOx emission reduction in fluidized bed ammonia-coal co-firing

Ammonia, a carbon-free fuel, can significantly reduce CO2 emissions when co-fired with coal in power plants. Fluidized bed combustion, known for its excellent gas-solid mixing and low NOx emissions, is a promising method for ammonia-coal co-firing. However, challenges remain in optimizing ammonia injection and controlling nitrogen oxide emissions. This study investigates these aspects using a lab-scale fluidized bed reactor with flexible ammonia injection points. Key variables, such as ammonia co-firing ratios, injection location, temperature, and outlet oxygen concentration, are examined. The results show that with ammonia injection ratios up to 70 %, NO and N2O emissions slightly increase, while ammonia escape is maintained below 5 ppm. Air staging effectively controls NOx emissions, and higher temperatures promote N2O decomposition, but increase NOx levels. Ammonia injection does not raise unburned carbon content. Rate of production and sensitivity analyses highlight the role of OH radicals in ammonia conversion and identify the critical reactions affecting NO generation. This study highlights the feasibility of fluidized bed ammonia-coal co-firing technology.

CFD Simulation of the Influence of the Type of Gas Distribution in the Burners on Thermal Aerodynamic Processes in the DKVR 10-13 Boiler

Topics related to fuel combustion and its impact on the environment will never lose their relevance, as the issues of efficient combustion and emission reduction are key in power generation and environmental protection. The countries of the European Union are massively abandoning the use of natural gas as a fuel for thermal power stations. However, in Asian countries, the ease of using natural gas as the main fuel and its environmental friendliness compared to coal made it possible to widely use natural gas in industry and energy sector. Comparing natural gas with alternative combustible gases (generator, blast furnace, mine, biogas), the main conclusion that it has the most attractive characteristics for its use in industry, including energy facilities, can be drawn. Therefore, it is impossible to replace it with alternative fuels in the chemical, heavy industry and energy sector in the near future. The paper is devoted to CFD modeling of stabilized combustion without premixing in a burner with low swirl for two operating modes of the boiler unit - nominal one and at 60% capacity. The study was carried out using numerical methods with the ANSYS-Fluent application program package. The object of the study is a burner built according to the technology based on the use of jet-niche systems with gas distribution of fuel by circular jets fed perpendicularly into the flow of the oxidizer through a single-row system of holes. Hydrodynamics and heat exchange processes were chosen as the subject of research, based on the analysis of which a model of NOx generation in jet-niche systems was obtained. The authors of the paper believe that replacing the regular burners of the DKVR-10-13 water heating boiler with a jet-niche ones can contribute to better mixing of fuel and air and ensure more complete combustion. In this paper, two types of burners are considered. In one of the burners, fuel is supplied through rectangular slits, in the other – through round holes arranged in a row. Air is supplied to both burners through rectangular slits. It was determined that gas distribution through round holes increases the spraying of the mixture and increases the area of combustion products spraying. Visualization of the distribution of pressure, temperature, kinetic energy profiles of turbulent pulsations and vorticity was carried out. The obtained results indicate that there are no changes in the flow regime, flame displacement or its instability. It was determined that both the axial velocity and the tangential velocity of the flow affect the distribution of combustion products and harmful impurities such as NOx. Gas distribution in circular jets stabilizes combustion and reduces flame expansion.

Modeling of thermo-aerodynamic and environmental parameters on the example of a two-pipe water heating boiler that has worked out the park resource

Topics related to fuel combustion and its impact on the environment will never lose their relevance, as the issues of efficient combustion and emission reduction are key in power generation and environmental protection. The countries of the European Union are massively abandoning the use of natural gas as a fuel for thermal power station. However, in Asian countries, the ease of using natural gas in industry as the main fuel, its environmental friendliness compared to coal, made it possible to widely use natural gas in industry and energy. Comparing natural gas with alternative combustible gases (generator, blast furnace, mine, biogas), the main conclusion can be drawn that it has the most attractive characteristics for its use in industry, including energy. Therefore, it is impossible to replace it with alternative fuels in the chemical, heavy industry and energy industry in the near future. The presented work is devoted to CFD modeling of stabilized combustion without premixing in a burner with low swirl for two operating modes of the boiler unit - nominal and at 60% capacity. The study was carried out using numerical methods using the ANSYS-Fluent application program package. The object of the study is a burner built according to the technology based on the use of jet-niche systems with gas distribution of fuel by circular jets fed perpendicularly into the flow of the oxidizer through a single- row system of holes. Hydrodynamics and heat exchange processes were chosen as the subject of research, based on the analysis of which a model of NO x generation in SNS was obtained. In this work, two types of burners are considered. In one of the burners, fuel is supplied through rectangular slits, in the other – through round holes arranged in a row. Air is supplied to both burners through rectangular slits. It was determined that gas distribution through round holes increases the spraying of the mixture and increases the area of spraying of combustion products. Visualization of the distribution of pressure, temperature, kinetic energy profiles of turbulent pulsations and vorticity was carried out. The obtained results indicate that there are no changes in the flow regime, flame displacement or its instability. It was determined that both the axial velocity and the tangential velocity of the flow affect the distribution of combustion products and harmful impurities such as NO x . Gas distribution in circular jets stabilizes combustion and reduces flame expansion.

Carbon emission measurement and regional decomposition analysis of China’s beef cattle farming industry

IntroductionWarming caused by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has become a global environmental issue of widespread concern, and China, as a responsible power, has the pressing task of reducing carbon emissions. China is one of the world’s major beef producers and consumers, and at the same time, beef cattle, as a large livestock, is the largest source of GHG emissions in the livestock industry.MethodsThis study considered the panel data of 31 provinces in China from 2008 to 2022. The kernel density estimation and Dagum Gini coefficient were used to analyze the spatiotemporal dynamic evolution patterns and influencing factors of carbon emissions from China’s beef cattle farming industry.Results(1) The carbon emission trajectory of beef cattle production follows a distinctive “ascend-descend-ascend” three-phase pattern. By 2022, the sector’s cumulative carbon emissions had burgeoned by 37.62% relative to 2008, reflecting an average annual escalation of 2.31%. Despite the overall upward trend in carbon emissions, significant regional differences were observed. The Central Plains region has witnessed a consistent decline, in stark contrast to the Southwest and Northeast regions, which have emerged as hotspots for heightened carbon emissions and intensified emission densities within China’s beef cattle production landscape, underscoring the intensifying significance of carbon mitigation measures. (2) The kernel density curve shows an overall rightward shift with a specific gradient effect on carbon emissions. In addition, the range of the right drag of the curve in 2022 was significantly reduced, which laterally reflects the narrowing of the difference between the provinces with the highest and lowest carbon emissions from beef cattle farming. The principal source of variance in the overall carbon emissions from beef cattle production is the disparities between regions, which accounts for an average annual contribution rate of 52.52%. Conversely, the within-region contribution rates have remained relatively stable, while those for the intensity of transvariation have witnessed a substantial rise, with annual averages of 18.31 and 28.96%, respectively. (3) Regarding the factors influencing carbon emissions reduction, environmental regulations and production efficiency significantly drive carbon emissions reduction in beef cattle farming.DiscussionRelevant government departments should actively guide farmers toward green production, establish perfect policies and regulations for low-carbon beef cattle farming, and promote low-carbon beef cattle farming models based on local conditions.

Shifting gears in thermal power: Displacement efficiency and environmental impact of wind and solar generation in China

China has made substantial investments in wind and solar power in response to its commitment to addressing climate change. However, the extent to which these intermittent renewable energy sources can displace the predominant thermal generation remains uncertain. Employing two-way fixed-effect panel models, this study finds that from 2011 – 2021, intermittent renewable generation displaced thermal generation by crowding out the annual operating hours of thermal power. Furthermore, the environmental impact analysis suggests that, despite the emission reduction benefits brought about by wind and solar generation through phasing out inefficient units and promoting investments in efficient units, their intermittent nature and inadequate alignment with the increasing electricity demand led to reduced emission reduction efficiency. These findings indicate a transition of thermal power from baseload to dispatchable, emphasizing the importance of tailored investment plans based on the characteristics of wind and solar and the necessity of alternative measures to enhance grid flexibility.