Emission Mitigation Options Research Articles

Industrial energy efficiency in the climate change debate: comparing the US and major developing countries

International comparisons of industrial energy efficiency can be helpful in selecting countries where emission reduction action is most effective. The aim of this paper is to analyse the energy efficiency of two energy-intensive industries in major developing countries. The energy efficiency in the two sectors is compared to that of the US. The analysis shows that the iron and steel sector is most energy-efficient in South Korea and Brazil and that Mexico, India and China have achieved an energy efficiency level comparable to that of the US in recent years. Among the countries analysed, the specific energy consumption in the iron and steel sector ranges from 25 to 70% above best plant energy consumption in recent years. For cement production, we found that South Korea is the most energy-efficient country analysed, followed by Brazil, Mexico and in recent years India. The US and China are the least efficient countries in our analysis. The specific energy consumption in the cement sector ranges from 2 to 50% above best plant energy consumption. The differences in energy efficiency are largely explained by the differences in the type of clinker kilns used. Data on energy use are to some extent uncertain and our results should be used with care. However, on the basis of the statistical data available now, we conclude that developing countries are not always the least efficient and that it is not necessarily true that the cheapest greenhouse gas emission mitigation options can be found there.

CO 2 emission reduction for Japanese petrochemicals

Energy efficiency in the Japanese industry is one of the highest in the world. As a consequence, reduction of CO 2 emissions is considered to be difficult and costly. However little attention has been paid as of yet to changes related to so-called non-energy use of fossil fuels. The analysis in this paper suggests that a large number of options exist for emission reduction in the Japanese petrochemical industry. This includes the introduction of biomass feedstocks, the introduction of new catalytic production processes, and changes in waste handling. The use of bioplastics and the use of CO 2 feedstocks seem costly options for GHG emission reduction that should not be applied on the short term. Japanese GHG emissions can be reduced by 7.7% if the optimal set of emission mitigation options is applied. About 60 Mt emission reduction (4.9%) can be achieved by changes on the supply side, another 35 Mt emission reduction (2.8%) can be achieved by changes in waste management. While changes in waste management can be implemented before 2010, biomass introduction on the supply side will probably require a longer lead-time. About half of the emission reduction is cost–effective, but will require further technology development. The other half can be achieved at a cost level of 10,000 yen/t CO 2 (80 US$/t CO 2). The latter part is based on proven technology that is currently not cost–effective.

CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS FROM THE GLOBAL CEMENT INDUSTRY

▪ Abstract The cement industry contributes about 5% to global anthropogenic CO2 emissions, making the cement industry an important sector for CO2-emission mitigation strategies. CO2 is emitted from the calcination process of limestone, from combustion of fuels in the kiln, as well as from power generation. In this paper, we review the total CO2 emissions from cement making, including process and energy-related emissions. Currently, most available data only includes the process emissions. We also discuss CO2 emission mitigation options for the cement industry. Estimated total carbon emissions from cement production in 1994 were 307 million metric tons of carbon (MtC), 160 MtC from process carbon emissions, and 147 MtC from energy use. Overall, the top 10 cement-producing countries in 1994 accounted for 63% of global carbon emissions from cement production. The average intensity of carbon dioxide emissions from total global cement production is 222 kg of C/t of cement. Emission mitigation options include energy efficiency improvement, new processes, a shift to low carbon fuels, application of waste fuels, increased use of additives in cement making, and, eventually, alternative cements and CO2 removal from flue gases in clinker kilns.

Effects of carbon emission mitigation options under carbon concentration stabilization scenarios

This paper evaluates the effects of carbon emission mitigation options from a long-range perspective using an integrated assessment model called MARIA (Multiregional Approach for Resource and Industry Allocation). This model has been developed to assess the potential contribution of fossil, biomass, nuclear, and other energy technologies and land-use changes to future greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions incorporating a simple carbon cycle and climate change model. Two types of policy options play major roles in the GHG mitigation debate; short-term economic instruments and long-term technological options. This paper describes how the model was applied to assess carbon emission stabilization options and strategies based on narrative storylines. The main focus is the long-term assessments of biomass utilization, nuclear power technologies, and carbon sequestration options for stabilizing the atmospheric carbon concentration at 450, 550, and 650ppmv. The results indicate that zero-carbon technologies such as the fast breeder reactor and carbon sequestration technologies can make a significant contribution toward emissions mitigation especially when drastic reductions are envisaged, but the “nuclear phasing out” scenario is still possible. Expansion of biomass appears to be robust.

An integrated assessment model for the new energy technologies and food production - an extension of the MARIA model

This paper describes an integrated assessment model for the long term evaluation of policy options. When concerned with global warming issues, the assessment of policy options should deal with the interactions between energy, the economy, the environment and climate changes. We developed an integrated assessment model, named MARIA, involving climate change and its impact on economic activities. This model has been used to evaluate carbon emission mitigation options by employing the Negishi weight technique to generate international trade prices. Here, we extend it to include the effects of land use change and the demand and supply systems. Carbon disposal technologies into the deep ocean and the underground are also taken into account. Although both the parameter assumptions and formulations for the agricultural production and demand systems require further considerations, the model indicates the potential value of biomass energy and land use change profiles and demonstrate the importance of technological progress in food production.

Strategic planning and adoption of greenhouse gas mitigation options in Asia

Asia's global warming potential (GWP) is large and growing. Asia releases an estimated 8.4 billion metric tons of Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) each year from fossil fuel use, cement manufactures and land use changes while its anthropogenic emissions of methane (emissions derived primarily from wet rice cultivation and livestock -- estimates from these being highly unreliable) represent nearly half the global total. These greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions represent 30% (28.3 billion metric tons) of the global total of CO 2 equivalent emitted in 1989. Per capita GHG emissions are low but per-unit GDP emissions are very high (anywhere from two to six times more than in the OECD countries). The countries participating in the Asia Least Cost Greenhouse Gas Abatement Strategies (ALGAS) 1 project account for nearly 70% of the total CO 2 emissions and over 80% of the methane emissions in the entire Asian region. This paper highlights several key issues that must be considered while developing GHG emissions mitigation options within the context of an overall strategy of moving countries rapidly along a path of sustainable development that increases inter-sectoral energy efficiencies within the economy, enhance sinks, and decrease GHG emissions per capita. In particular, this integrated strategy should promote no regrets policies and emphasize win-win options that result in sustainable economic development over and above any GHG abatement benefits that might result from the adoption of such initiatives. This emphasis on long term economic sustainability requires a detailed economic evaluation of environmental impacts of potential ALGAS projects. The GHG emissions mitigation potential of the candidate projects must be evaluated within this overall framework of evaluating anticipated economic and environmental impacts. Part 1 of this paper highlights key issues in economic evaluation of environmental impacts and provides recommendations on how to use accepted evaluation techni

Greenhouse gas Emissions projections and mitigation options for the Czech Republic, 1990?2010

The models used to assess greenhouse gas mitigation options for the Czech Republic are discussed and compared with respect to their capabilities and ease of use. The input data and preliminary results are described. According to the projections, Czech CO2 emissions will not exceed their 1990 level until 2010. Assessment of several mitigation options shows that a 6% reduction in CO2 emissions can be achieved using cost-effective technologies. Key areas for mitigation measures are fuel switching from brown coal to natural gas through replacement of boilers, efficiency improvements in household heating, and use of compact fluorescent lamps.

African greenhouse gas emission inventories and mitigation options: Forestry, land-use change, and agriculture

Human-induced change in the composition of the atmosphere seriously threatens the global climate. In an effort to address this threat, 161 nations signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992. The ultimate objective of this international agreement is to achieve stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. As of the first session of the Conference of the Parties (March/April 1995), 128 nations had ratified the Convention. Parties to the Convention commit to numerous obligations, including commitments to: develop national inventories of anthropogenic emissions using agreed, comparable methodologies’, and to formulate and implement national programs containing measures to mitigate, and to facilitate adaptation to, climate change. Several bilateral and multilateral programs, including the United States Country Studies Program (U.S. CSP) and the United Nations Environment Programme/Global Environment Facility Country Case Studies Project (UNEP), have been established to provide technical and financial assistance to developing countries and countries with economies in transition in meeting their commitments under the Convention.