Energy Certification Research Articles

Cleaner Chips: Decarbonization in Semiconductor Manufacturing

The growth of the information and communication technology sector has vastly accelerated in recent decades because of advancements in digitalization and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions data of the top six semiconductor manufacturing companies (Samsung Electronics, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation, Micron, SK Hynix, Kioxia, and Intel) were gathered from the publicly accessible Carbon Disclosure Project’s (CDP) website for 2020. Scope 3 emissions had the largest share in total annual emissions with an average share of 52%, followed by Scope 2 (32%) and Scope 1 (16%). Because of the absence of a standardized methodology for Scope 3 emissions estimation, each company used different methodologies that resulted in differences in emissions values. An analysis of the CDP reporting data did not reveal information on strategies implemented by companies to reduce Scope 3 emissions. The use of renewable energy certificates had the largest effect on decarbonization centered on reducing Scope 2 emissions, followed by the deployment of perfluorocarbon reduction technologies to help reduce Scope 1 fugitive emissions. Technology-specific marginal abatement costs of CO2 were also estimated and varied between −416 and 12,215 USD/t CO2 eq., which primarily varied depending on the technology deployed.

A Decomposition Analysis of the Energy System Patent with Blockchain Technology

The energy blockchain is a platform based on blockchain technology, creating a secure, transparent, and decentralized system for peer-to-peer transactions and automated smart contracts. This platform has the ability to facilitate the exchange and management of energy resources, such as electricity or renewable energy certificates. Our research aims to clarify the growth trends of energy systems with blockchain technology throughout the world. The novelty of this study is to understand the main factor in energy blockchain patent granting using a patent decomposition analysis and log mean Divisia index analysis and discover the relative importance in the R&D shift from electricity to other technology. Additionally, the IPC for energy blockchain technology primarily focuses on configuring and managing energy systems, including electricity, gas, and water supply. We also present a comprehensive overview of how countries and companies engage with energy blockchain technology and find China leads with 59% of patents, followed by the U.S. with 20%, but their specific tech shares differ. Participants span beyond traditional energy sectors, including electric and electronic machinery, IT firms, transport manufacturers, startups, and universities dedicated to blockchain technology.

Turkey's national renewable energy certificate system: a comparative assessment

Turkey's national renewable energy certificate system: a comparative assessment

Evaluation of Climate-Aware Metrics Tools for Radiology Informatics and Artificial Intelligence: Toward a Potential Radiology Ecolabel

Radiology is a major contributor to health care's impact on climate change, in part due to its reliance on energy-intensive equipment as well as its growing technological reliance. Delivering modern patient care requires a robust informatics team to move images from the imaging equipment to the workstations and the health care system. Radiology informatics is the field that manages medical imaging IT. This involves the acquisition, storage, retrieval, and use of imaging information in health care to improve access and quality, which includes PACS, cloud services, and artificial intelligence. However, the electricity consumption of computing and the life cycle of various computer components expands the carbon footprint of health care. The authors provide a general framework to understand the environmental impact of clinical radiology informatics, which includes using the international Greenhouse Gas Protocol to draft a definition of scopes of emissions pertinent to radiology informatics, as well as exploring existing tools to measure and account for these emissions. A novel standard ecolabel for radiology informatics tools, such as the Energy Star label for consumer devices or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification for buildings, should be developed to promote awareness and guide radiologists and radiology informatics leaders in making environmentally conscious decisions for their clinical practice. At this critical climate juncture, the radiology community has a unique and pressing obligation to consider our shared environmental responsibility in innovating clinical technology for patient care.

A review of the 1-2 apartment residential building stock in Lithuania based on an analysis of Energy Performance Certificates

One of priorities of the EU’s climate change policy is the energy performance of buildings. This is reflected primarily through the series of Directives the EU has enacted along the years, but is most precisely conveyed in the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). As part of the European Union, Lithuania has enacted its own long-term strategy aimed at transforming the current building stock in one which is more energy efficient. Building energy certification, legalized in accordance with the requirements of the directive is the primary tool used to evaluate the energy-efficiency of a building, which includes determination of the energy consumption of a building and subsequently assigning it with an energy performance class. Energy performance certificates (EPC) are obligatory for new and existing buildings in all European Union (EU) member states and provide not only a description of the energy performance characteristics of individual buildings, but are also useful source of legal information for determination of the achievements of building energy efficiency improvement strategy. Despite the current wide spread presence of EPC analyses in other European countries, similar information on the national EPC register of Lithuania is still hardly present in research studies. To this effect this paper presents a detailed overview of the stock of Lithuanian residential 1-2 apartments buildings using data from the national EPC register. The results obtained present the impact of the implementation of EPBD on Lithuanian residential 1-2 apartments buildings, including changes in thermal insulation of building elements, heating system typology, energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

Blockchain-Based Renewable Energy Certificate Trade for Low-Carbon Community of Active Energy Agents

The future distribution grid is a peer-to-peer (P2P) community formed by a large number of active energy agents (AEAs), and renewable energy certificate (REC) trading is an efficient way to realize a low-carbon AEA community. AEAs can trade not only electricity but also RECs among themselves to economically and efficiently meet the renewable portfolio standard (RPS) requirements. Aiming to lower the market barrier and increase the trading benefits for market participants, this paper proposes a blockchain-based renewable energy certificate (BCREC) that supports divisible and multiple transactions. The trade process includes four stages: setup, pre-transaction, transaction, and post-transaction. A scheme based on blockchain oracles and smart contracts is implemented to achieve decentralized BCREC issuance and transaction and to support a more flexible trading market. By exploring two typical market scenarios, we verify the advantages of BCREC trading and evaluate its impacts on AEA profits and market efficiency.

TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THE SYSTEM LONG-WAVE INFRARED HEATING IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF BUILDINGS

The paper presents the calculation of energy costs for heating buildings with three different heating systems, in order to determine the feasibility of using long-wave radiant heaters. The current rules of energy certification of buildings and related state standards of Ukraine were used as the calculation method. A technical and economic analysis was carried out, thanks to which savings from the transition to a radiant heating system in residential, public and industrial buildings located in the same weather environment were determined. The feasibility of radiant heating systems beyond the usual scope of use, namely in residential buildings, which make up the majority of all heating structures in Ukraine, and small architectural forms, such as, for example, modular buildings of retail establishments, public catering, etc., has been studied and provided. Bilux electric infrared long-wave heaters were chosen as the main research system. Competing systems are a water two-pipe system with free-flowing radiators and electric wall convectors. The key difference between traditional water heating systems, from the point of view of calculating energy consumption, is determined, which is the absence of losses in pipelines. It is justified that radiant heating systems are more appropriate in buildings with a floor height of more than 4 meters. It has been proven that in buildings of smaller volume, the cost reduction is also quite significant.

Cracking the code: mapping residential building energy performance in rural Central Asia through building typologies

Buildings in rural Central Asia have unique characteristics as they were built during the Soviet era (during 1950–1960) without any energy efficiency measures. The special and aged building stock pose a crucial challenge on energy security and energy supply. However, accurate scientific data on their energy usage is lacking, highlighting a research gap about robust and validated methodology to determine the energy use of rural Central Asian buildings. In response to this need, this research paper proposes a set of generalised residential building typologies for rural Central Asia, with a focus on Kyrgyzstan. The study combines quantitative and qualitative methods, including household surveys, energy demand modelling, EnergyPlus simulations, and result validation. It derives energy-based building typologies from construction year and building envelope characteristics. Through numerous validated simulations, it was identified that the heat demand for rural Kyrgyz houses is 3–5 times here compared to European houses (250–400 kWh/m2). The study revealed the estimated heat demand for homes in rural Kyrgyzstan, indicating a significant potential for improving building energy efficiency in the region. These results can inform specific approaches, such as building renovation plans, energy certification, and renovation strategies. Furthermore, the validated methodology introduced offers opportunities for researchers in the field of building energy efficiency and can be applied to similar regions in Central Asia with comparable building stocks and climates.

Green blockchain – A move towards sustainability

In recent years, blockchain technology has seen significant growth and widespread adoption in various industries. However, one major drawback of blockchain investments is their substantial energy consumption, which has negative impacts on both the economy and the environment. The main cause of concern is the generation of atmospheric carbon emissions resulting from excessive energy usage. This research study aims to identify blockchain networks and systems that assert themselves as environmentally friendly and determine which of them produces the least amount of carbon emissions, such as Cardano, Tezos, and Bitgreen. This has been accomplished by following a comprehensive hybrid literature review. Our study has identified 23 blockchain networks that consume significantly less power and release fewer carbon dioxide emissions compared to the Bitcoin network. Some of these environmentally friendly networks include Algorand, Fantom, MobileCoin, and Electroneum. Additionally, we have found various projects and organizations that support greener blockchain initiatives, such as the Renewable Energy Certificate Mechanism, Green Digital Finance Alliance, GreenTrust, and the Energy Web Foundation. While several projects in this area have been recognized and examined, comprehensive research and analysis are still needed to provide empirical evidence regarding the power consumption and carbon dioxide emissions of these claimed environmentally friendly blockchains. This is due to the relatively early stage of development in this field.

Renewable energy certificates and firm value: Empirical evidence in Taiwan

The Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) has been considered as an innovative technology for a green society. Many firms look to reduce carbon emissions and improve their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance using RECs. However, the impact of REC purchases on the value of firms remains unclear. This study investigates the effect of REC purchases on the stock return and volume of all REC buyers in Taiwan between 2017 and 2021. The sample consists of 266 REC transactions in the trading market. We find a positive effect of firms’ REC purchases on its stock returns in manufacturing but not the service industry. Moreover, the frequency of REC purchases is an important factor in the relationship between REC purchase and firm value. This study also investigates the underlying mechanisms of these effects. We find that public attention paid to environmental pollution is the most crucial factor associated with positive stock return and volume of a firm, while ESG disclosure is negatively associated with returns and volume.

E-DYCE - Dynamic approach to the dynamic energy certification of buildings

The energy performance certification (EPC) scheme, introduced in the European Union approximately 20 years ago, has become the focus of the upcoming revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). Despite its widespread use, the current EPC scheme has several shortcomings that need to be addressed. The Energy flexible DYnamic building Certification (E-DYCE) project has developed a dynamic approach to address these issues. The methodology includes a dynamic assessment of a building’s energy needs and comfort conditions under standard and different from standard conditions of building use to support Performance Gap (PG) analyses. The E-DYCE approach includes a dynamic building performance simulation with comfort and energy-related key-performance indicators (KPIs) measured and calculated according to E-DYCE DEPC methodology. These KPIs can inform end-users about indoor environmental quality conditions decisive for building energy performance, aid building managers in detecting dysfunctions resulting in PG, and include energy performance indexes for heating, cooling, lighting, domestic hot water, and more. Overall, the E-DYCE approach offers dynamic, reliable, and customer-tailored information and optimization possibilities to end-users while potentially resolving known shortcomings of the existing EPC schemes.

Determine the heat demand of existing buildings with machine learning

The renovation rate of existing buildings plays a major role in the Swiss Energy Strategy 2050+. To increase this rate, there must be a simple and cost-effective method to determine the heat demand of existing buildings. In this paper, the generation of such a method, based on the Swiss cantonal building energy certificate (GEAK) database with the help of machine learning (ML), is studied. The aim of the project was to develop a ML model which allows the heat demand of existing buildings to be determined quickly with a minimal set of parameters. The comparison of the GEAK building envelope class for single family houses calculated with the new ML model and the original GEAK classes shows that approximately 62 % have the same class, 32 % differ by one class and 6 % by two classes. The ML model is a good starting point for further refinements and developments.

A new method for estimating the smart readiness of building stock data using display energy Certificate data

The Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) was introduced by the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) 2018/844/EU, as a voluntary scheme for rating the smart readiness of buildings. The methodology addresses the benefits of smart technologies and their functionalities in buildings to offer low-energy, healthier, and environmentally comfortable buildings that balance the needs of occupants and the energy grid. This is a case study implementation of the SRI calculation to the university campus scale. The SRI methodology is applicable on a building-by-building basis; however, the assessment of large stocks and energy hubs is not addressed and will be the focus of this study. Other studies have proposed a method to extend the calculation to building clusters which, however, involves assessing all the buildings in the cluster in detail. The current case study extends to a much larger number of buildings, therefore, the assessment of each individual building was not considered effective. A critical implementation of the SRI calculation is presented here that leverages publicly available information like Display Energy Certificate (DEC) advisory recommendation reports for a university campus. A complex building is used to verify the proposed method based on the SRI detailed methodology. The proposed method provides a solution to the large-scale processing of building information across multiple complex buildings, hence benefiting decision-makers early on. Furthermore, the method benefits from the inclusion of building-specific recommendations based on DEC surveys. For the 98 buildings examined, a campus SRI score range has been estimated and focus areas have been identified as the foundation of smart energy and net-zero transition pathways.

Integrating BIM Processes with LEED Certification: A Comprehensive Framework for Sustainable Building Design

In response to the pressing demand for sustainable building practices within the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector, this study investigates the integration of building information modeling (BIM) processes with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification system, with a primary focus on enhancing sustainable design strategies. The objectives are twofold: firstly, to comprehensively understand the existing synergies between BIM and LEED, and secondly, to develop innovative methods that facilitate a seamless integration of these two crucial components. The study is structured into four distinct phases, each contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the synergistic relationship between BIM and LEED. In Phase 1, the “LEED-BIM Worksheets” is introduced, versatile tools designed to facilitate sustainable strategy formulation. These worksheets transparently identify roles, assess competencies, estimate certification levels, and enhance communication among stakeholders. Phase 2 highlights the “BIM Uses for Project Phase” diagram, emphasizing interdependencies between BIM uses and processes. This diagram provides insights into collaborative synergies among BIM uses and streamlines process mapping. Phase 3 introduces the “Liv1 Process Map”, a transformative visual representation of the building process. Integrated within building execution plans (BEPs), this map intricately weaves together responsible parties and BIM uses, fostering cohesive collaboration. Phase 4 extends the research with the introduction of the “Liv.2 Process Map”. This extension integrates selected BIM uses from the LEED Pilot Credits Library, emphasizing alignment between BIM processes and LEED credit criteria. Collectively, this research illuminates the potential for streamlining sustainable practices within the AEC sector. The findings offer valuable insights for both practitioners and researchers, empowering them to navigate the integration of BIM technology with LEED certification. By harmonizing digital transformation with ecological consciousness, this research significantly contributes to advancing sustainable building practices.

Verifiable proofs for the energy supply chain: small proofs brings you a long way

We describe a solution for secure and verifiable handling of energy certificates. Such certificates are increasingly used to claim and prove responsible use of green energy, and there is a strong need for transparency and public verifiability. While the proposed solution is designed for handling electricity it applies to different types of energy as well and the concepts may also be applied to other domains. Transmission System Operators are trusted to record consumption and production of electricity. The movement from volume-based MWh yearly certificates to spot-market aligned hourly or 15 min time-volume based intervals, creates challenges in relation to handling large amounts of data and subsequent transactions. Small discrete intervals gives the certification increased accuracy of energy consumption, as a means to prevent greenwashing, with the cost of higher amounts of transactional data and complexity. To ensure trust in the certification, these certificates must in addition be unique and publicly verifiable. This paper describes how blockchain technology can be used to create the required transparency and public verifiability. We show how large amounts of data can be efficiently handled on blockchains and how confidential data such as the amount of used energy in the certificates can be protected, ensuring privacy and correctness of the certificates.

The Early Case for Stabilization and Sustainability of Korean G-SEED Based on Collaborative Governance: A Theoretical Review

This article aims to identify the significance of collaborative governance in the initial stage of the system for stabilization and sustainability through a case study of the introduction of the Green Standard for Energy and Environmental Design (G-SEED) certification system. To this end, the collaborative governance model was examined, and how the initial drivers and collaborative dynamics contributed to the stabilization and sustainability of the G-SEED certification system were investigated. Based on a theoretical literature review, a descriptive case study was conducted by applying the Integrated Framework of Collaborative Governance framework to address how multi-stakeholder collaboration works in G-SEED. The results of this study demonstrate that the drivers and collaborative dynamics in the early G-SEED contributed to a major revision of green building certification regulations and standards as outcomes of collaborative actions and to a continued increase in the number of certifications. This article argues that the stabilization and sustainability of the certification system depend on how multiple stakeholders collaborate and establish collaborative governance in the early stage of system introduction. It suggests that in the case of G-SEED, it is necessary to consider the implications derived from the results based on collaboration among sectors to achieve qualitative growth rather than quantitative expansion.

The relative importance of carbon markets to the waste management sector’s future contribution to climate change commitments under the Paris Agreement: insights from Australia

This paper presents research that analyses the relative importance of carbon markets to sustainable waste management projects in Australia. It identifies that a large proportion of carbon credits issued have been generated by landfill to electricity projects, which effectively rely on the continuation of landfilling practices. More ambition is needed to realise the potential of circular solutions that reduce, recover and utilise waste before disposal.The research also shows that, through modelling the financial performance of two theoretical waste to energy projects that would result in diversion of waste from landfill, simultaneous use of revenue support mechanisms (carbon markets and renewable energy certificate programs), cost of capital support programs (like concessional finance) and avoided landfilling levies in the deployment of waste management projects can be justified. The paper illustrates the significant contribution carbon revenues can make to project additionality at the investment-decision stage, adding between 2–10% to ex-ante estimates of pre-tax equity returns. This shows that a project’s additionality is not invalidated in cases where it accesses more than one support mechanism.There are many policy and practice applications for these findings in Australia and globally. They include within ongoing international efforts to define modalities for the new Article 6.4 mechanism under the Paris Agreement, reforms to how developing countries access to climate finance (including, but not limited to, the Bridgetown Initiative 2.0 (The Bridgetown Initiative 2.0: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2023/04/press-release-with-clock-ticking-for-the-sdgs-un-chief-and-barbados-prime-minister-call-for-urgent-action-to-transform-broken-global-financial-system/)); and through the domestic policies and mechanisms countries adopt so they are fit-for-purpose to support implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).

A new blockchain investment and energy certificate platform

A new blockchain investment and energy certificate platform

Assessment of the Correlation between Energy Rating Labeling Regulations and Performance Metrics for Residential Air Conditioning Units: Case Study Variable Type Air Conditioners

To comply with the Paris Agreement, many countries have implemented mandatory energy certification policies in the HVAC sector. These policies have encouraged the deployment of more energy efficient technologies such as variable or inverter driven technologies, which have been developed based on established seasonal performance metrics. Therefore, this paper presents an experimental evaluation of a variable-type air conditioner based on seasonal cooling metrics and performance ratings using various energy labeling programs from multiple regions around the world. The results of this work demonstrate that the energy efficiency rating of an air conditioner is significantly influenced by the distribution of the reference outdoor temperature in the labeling program issued by each region, and not just by the adoption of a technical standard. These results are crucial for the development of public policies aimed at designing better energy efficiency and labeling programs. In particular, the findings are especially relevant for decision making by governments, as the adoption of a technical standard can be simplified, and greater harmonization of performance metrics used globally can lead to greater energy savings and mitigate the effects of global warming.

Leveraging self-sovereign identity & distributed ledger technology in renewable energy certificate ecosystems

Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) are tradable units that represent the commodity in the form of environmental attributes generated for each unit of electricity produced by a renewable energy source. Furthermore, the energy sector's digitalization ushers in new crucial enablers like Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), which may be used for REC record tracking and trading. Unfortunately, there are a number of outstanding issues such as the lack of a common standard for the representation, communication, and verification of REC, reliance on centralized entities, and others. In order to harness the true potential of energy DLT and REC, it is imperative to address these issues. In this visionary article, we propose a holistic approach which leverages a novel decentralized identity mechanism called Self-sovereign Identity (SSI) and DLT. We present its architecture, based on a rigorous threat model and requirement analysis as well as detailed use-cases to illustrate how the architecture can be used in different REC use-cases.