Energy Policy Research Articles

Advancing Sustainability in a Residential Building in Europe: A Case Study on LCA and LCC across Different Scenarios

This study evaluates the environmental and economic performance of the "ESTIA of Athens" residential building considering its energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It also explores the potential for improvements in these areas. The European Union's strategy to reduce GHG emissions from buildings by 55% compared to 1990 levels by 2030, as part of its broader aim for climate neutrality by 2050 is a background for the study. The methodology involves a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) using SimaPro software, monitoring energy consumption, temperature and humidity of the building. The thirteen impact categories and damage impact assessment that include human health, ecosystem and resources were examined. The study compares various scenarios, including historical data from 2018 to 2022 and two hypothetical scenarios to assess environmental impacts across different categories. Additionally, Life Cycle Costings (LCC) are performed to evaluate the economic aspects of the building's performance. The results highlight substantial differences in energy consumption, GHG emissions and economic costs among the scenarios. The findings suggest that a hypothetical scenario, referred to as Case 3, demonstrates lower environmental impacts and economic costs compared to other scenarios, indicating its potential as an optimal renovation strategy for the building. This includes reductions of 32%, 40% and 58% in the human health, ecosystems, and resources categories, respectively. A similar trend is observed across the impact categories, with reductions ranging from 4% in the Mineral Resource category to 47% in the Global Warming category. The study underscores the importance of holistic assessments in informing energy policy and renovation strategies for achieving both environmental sustainability and economic viability in buildings.

Integration and Characterization of Synthetic Biodegradable Polymer (PVA) with Graphite Oxide (GO) for Performance Assessment in Sustainable Electrochemical Devices

AbstractIn recent years, the demand for sustainable materials in electrochemical devices has driven the exploration of innovative composites. This study focuses on the integration and characterization of synthetic biodegradable polymer polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with graphite oxide (GO) to evaluate their performance in sustainable electrochemical applications. PVA, known for its biodegradability and biocompatibility, was combined with GO to leverage its excellent electrical conductivity and large surface area. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) represent a promising electrochemical biosynthesis technology that harnesses the enzymatic activities using microbes to produce energy from organic substrates. This renewable energy approach relies on the synergistic interaction between electrochemically active bacteria and electrode materials to facilitate electron transfer and power generation. Applications of MFCs range from wastewater treatment to sustainable power generation in remote or resource-limited settings. This study explores recent advances in MFC technology, challenges in scaling up for practical applications, and prospects for integrating MFCs into renewable energy strategies. The nano composite membrane was evaluated for structural, morphological, crystalline, and thermal properties by using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopic (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and UV- visible spectroscopy. Additionally, the biodegradability of the composite was assessed, confirming that it maintains its environmental benefits while offering improved performance for potential applications in sustainable energy storage and conversion devices. This work provides a promising avenue for the development of eco-friendly electrochemical devices with optimized performance characteristics.

Using an interactive simulation tool of national energy and climate policy planning to explore environmental policy options from the perspectives of different interest groups

AbstractTo reach the Paris Agreement goals, European governments have defined national contributions to the EU binding climate goals and have developed national climate and energy plans for 2021–2030 (NECPs). NECPs are detailed strategies in which governments can flexibly emphasize specific sectors, technologies and national energy policy choices. Every country has built its own energy modelling capacity for forecasting purposes. In most countries, this national modelling relies on optimization tools such as Markal or TIMES. For Latvia's energy sector, a system dynamics (SD) model was built to complement the TIMES model. The SD model deals with an integrated energy system, including the primary energy supply and transformation sector; energy distribution and storage system; and energy demand sectors (residential, tertiary, public, industry and transportation). Sectoral policies are presented in the Stella Architect interface. This study demonstrates how the interactive simulation tool was used in the Environmental Engineering Master level course ‘Environmental Policy and Economics’ as an experiential learning approach. The student assignment involved applying this tool to develop and analyse the energy transition policy package for one of four ideological interest groups: deep greens, bright greens, light greens and greys. Students had to assume a role and adopt its perspective by applying their border‐crossing competence and reflecting on selected policy mixes for that ideology. Various transition pathways, based on different ideologies, illustrate the possibilities for application. Results show that students were successful in fulfilling the assignment.

Sustainable Biomethanol and Biomethane Production via Anaerobic Digestion, Oxy-Fuel Gas Turbine and Amine Scrubbing CO2 Capture

Energy policies around the world are increasingly highlighting the importance of hydrogen in the evolving energy landscape. In this regard, the use of hydrogen to produce biomethanol not only plays an essential role in the chemical industry but also holds great promise as an alternative fuel for global shipping. This study evaluates a system for generating biomethanol and biomethane based on anaerobic digestion, biogas upgrading, methanol synthesis unit, and high-temperature electrolysis. Thermal integration is implemented to enhance efficiency by linking the oxy-fuel gas turbine unit. The integrated system performance is evaluated through thermodynamic modeling, and Aspen Plus V12.1 is employed for the analysis. Our findings show that the primary power consumers are the Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cell (SOEC) and Methanol Synthesis Unit (MSU), with the SOEC system consuming 824 kW of power and the MSU consuming 129.5 kW of power, corresponding to a production scale of 23.2 kg/h of hydrogen and 269.54 kg/h of biomethanol, respectively. The overall energy efficiency is calculated at 58.09%, considering a production output of 188 kg/h of biomethane and 269 kg/h of biomethanol. The amount of carbon dioxide emitted per biofuel production is equal to 0.017, and the proposed system can be considered a low-carbon emission system. Key findings include significant enhancements in biomethanol capacity and energy efficiency with higher temperatures in the methanol reactor.

Navigating resource scarcity and digital finance solutions for a sustainable future in ASEAN

This research assesses how resource scarcity and digital finance affect sustainability in ASEAN countries, using data from eight members between 2005 and 2022. The CUP-FM technique highlights that digital banking significantly boosts sustainable energy, with a 1% increase leading to a 0.15% rise in sustainable energy generation. In contrast, a 1% increase in fossil fuel reserves results in a 0.43% decrease in sustainable energy output, underscoring the drawbacks of fossil fuel dependence. Expanding forest areas by 1% correlates with a 0.32% increase in sustainable energy development, stressing the need for forest conservation. Additionally, the presence of SMEs and patent applications are key drivers of sustainable energy, emphasizing the role of innovation. A positive correlation with annual temperature suggests its beneficial impact on green energy. To advance sustainability, ASEAN policymakers should enhance digital finance infrastructure, encourage renewable energy, support forest conservation, foster SMEs and innovation, and integrate climate resilience into energy strategies.

Effect of geopolitical risk on energy consumption policy: New empirical evidence from BRICS

This study investigates the impact of geopolitical risk (GPR) on energy consumption. For empirical analysis, we utilize the dataset of BRICS nations spanning 25 years from 1998 to 2022. We employ three econometric models, namely fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS), dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS), and autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL), to analyze the relationships between GPR and energy consumption. Our empirical findings reveal several significant insights. Firstly, we observe a substantial negative influence of GPR on both fossil fuel energy consumption (FEC) and total energy consumption (TEC). This suggests that higher levels of GPR are associated with reduced utilization of fossil fuels and overall energy consumption within the BRICS countries. Conversely, we identify a significant positive effect of GPR on renewable energy consumption (REC). This implies that, as GPR rises, there is a corresponding increase in the adoption and usage of renewable energy sources. Furthermore, our analysis uncovers the presence of asymmetric effects pertaining to other key determinants of energy consumption, including FDI inflow, economic growth, banking sector development, and inflation rate. This study offers fresh empirical evidence on the intricate interplay between GPR and energy consumption in BRICS nations, shedding light on the significant impacts of GPR and the nuanced effects of various economic factors. These findings have important implications for policymakers and stakeholders seeking to navigate energy policy decisions in a geopolitically dynamic world.

Shaping stable support: Leveraging digital feedback interventions to elicit socio-Political acceptance of renewable energy

In democratic countries, the success of energy policies hinges on citizens' support and their acceptance of policy outcomes. In this study, we develop a digital feedback intervention to prompt citizens with information that visualizes the geographical distribution of wind turbines and to evaluate the effects on socio-political acceptance. In an online experiment, we exposed 430 German citizens to a personalized digital feedback intervention and elicited their acceptance of renewable wind energy. The results are threefold: First, citizens' acceptance of renewable wind energy that results from digital feedback is lower than initially claimed. Second, citizens who meaningfully engage with the digital feedback intervention are more likely to revise their acceptance of wind energy. Third, and surprisingly, citizens’ ecological attitude and place attachment to their current residence had no significant effect on the extent to which they revised their acceptance of renewable wind energy. Our results demonstrate that digital feedback interventions can act as a “sensor” for socio-political acceptance. This contributes to informing citizens about energy policy outcomes and provides valuable insights for policymakers promoting a participatory democracy paradigm.

Retraction Note: China's energy policy and sustainable energy transition for sustainable development: green investment in renewable technological paradigm.

Retraction Note: China's energy policy and sustainable energy transition for sustainable development: green investment in renewable technological paradigm.

Pragmatism and Ideology in Russian-German Energy Relations

For a long time, cooperation between Russia and Germany in the energy sector was based on bilateral interests and economic pragmatism, but recently in its relations with Russia the Federal Republic of Germany has been demonstrating ideologisation and loss of sovereignty in the important sphere of energy supply. This article investigated the history of bilateral energy relations, their characteristics, the political consequences of their disruption, and the results of the German energy policy. The results of the study include quantitative data on the volume of energy co-operation between the two states in the energy sector, as well as the status and dynamics of the German energy sector over the last 30 years. The main conclusions of the study are: 1) the thesis of Germany’s declining opportunities on the world stage because of its shrinking economic power has been proved.2) The assumption of the importance of low-cost energy supplies from Russia for Germany has been confirmed. 3) The vulnerability of the German political system to external influence through destructive political forces has been revealed. The final conclusion was that ideology has taken priority over pragmatism in German energy and foreign policy towards Russia in recent years.

Dynamics of global energy, geopolitics, and climate policy on inflation: A cross-regional analysis

This study investigates the intricate dynamics between the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and three critical determinants—Global Price of Energy (GPE), Geopolitical Risk (GPR), and Climate Policy Uncertainty (CPU)—across Europe, the USA, and China from February 1992 to April 2023. Using advanced methodologies, including time-varying Granger causality tests and a connectedness approach, we reveal that CPI consistently acts as a net receiver of shocks. The Total Connectedness Index (TCI) demonstrates a persistent and evolving mutual influence among these variables. Geopolitical Risk is identified as a constant net transmitter of shocks, while the role of Global Price of Energy evolves over time, and Climate Policy Uncertainty shows variable interactions with CPI. Our pairwise directional connectedness analysis highlights GPR's dominant impact on CPI and unveils distinct patterns in the relationships between CPI and the other determinants. This comprehensive approach provides a detailed understanding of the temporal and directional dynamics of inflation, offering valuable insights for policymakers and scholars. These findings underscore the need for nuanced economic strategies to address inflationary pressures and inform future research on the complex interplay of global economic factors.

Unveiling energy transition strategy: A deep dive into China's ambitious renewable energy policy and its impact on carbon emission dynamics

Over the past 70 years, China has issued approximately 20,000 renewable energy (RE) policies. How to interpret China's ambitious RE strategy through these policy documents and assess its effectiveness has been a question of interest. Therefore, based on 15,603 Chinese RE policy documents from 1975 to 2022, this study employs text mining, Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), Policy Modeling Consistency-Text Encoder (PMC-TE), and System-Generalized Method of Moments (SYS-GMM). It assesses the policy input intensity (PII) for different energy types, regions, and time periods, while also investigating the impact of PII about RE on carbon emissions. The study findings are as follows: (1)The PII is not uniform, with hydropower having the highest PII at 80,591, followed by solar (25,839) and biomass energy (18,903). The PII of wind (11,377) and geothermal energy (11,340) is similar, while hydrogen energy exhibits the weakest PII at 3488. (2)There are regional disparities in PII, with solar and wind energy being most prominent in northern regions, solar and hydropower being most significant in eastern regions, and wind and biomass energy aligning with local resources in southern regions. (3)RE policies have driven China's energy transition through four distinct phases. (4)Policy effectiveness varies, with solar, wind, and hydropower policies having the most significant impact on carbon emissions reduction, followed by biomass and geothermal energy. (5)China's government role in the RE strategy has shifted from a dominant role to a regulatory one.

Optimizing biomass energy production in the southern region of Iran: A deterministic MCDM and machine learning approach in GIS

This study employs a deterministic approach, distinguishing itself from other renewable energy evaluations, to assess the potential of electrical energy derived from biomass sources in the southern region of Iran. The primary objectives include pinpointing optimal locations for maximal biomass production and subsequent energy generation within distinct climates and topographies, using fuzzy- Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Additionally, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identify key factors influencing biomass and energy production. The study quantifies electrical and thermal energy derived from biomass sources across various climates. The findings indicate that regions with lower altitudes and humid climates (1530 km2) demonstrate superior biomass performance, leading to increased electrical and thermal energy production. The feature selection process highlights the significant impact of climate and soil characteristics on biomass production and energy output. Analysis of biomass energy production reveals maximum electrical energy production ranging from 674.88 kWh/ha to 711.36 kWh/ha. The results of the Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) method confirm its high accuracy in estimating electrical energy, with a significant correlation coefficient of 0.98. We conclude that by identifying locations with the best biomass sources based on climate, it is possible to increase the derived electrical energy. These insights are critical for informing energy policies aimed at optimizing biomass energy production and its integration into sustainable power grids.

How does economic policy uncertainty influence energy policy? The role of financial sector development

It is necessary to warrant the long-term viability of the energy policy for sustainable economic growth. However, certain factors exist that can create a threat to energy policy. In this essence, the current analysis explores the impact of EPU (economic policy uncertainty) and financial sector development on fossil fuel energy, renewable energy (REC), and total energy (EGY). The empirical analysis utilized the CS-ARDL model and focused on a sample comprising G7 economies. The robustness of analysis was examined by employing fully modified ordinary least square (FMOLS) technique. The estimated coefficients outline the significant negative impact of all main explanatory variables on fossil fuel energy and total energy and EGY in the long run and a significant negative impact on renewable energy in the short run. The findings further demonstrate the significant positive impact of financial development on fossil fuel energy and total energy and the significant negative relationship between financial development and renewable energy. Particularly, the analysis discloses the moderating role of financial development in the EPU-energy policy nexus. It is advised to policy officials that they should enhance the cooperation between the financial sector and the energy sector for the success of energy policy and for responding to the uncertain economic situation. This study robust the empirical findings of studies exploring the EPU-energy nexus and extends the literature by pointing out the moderating role of FCD.

Comparative impacts of energy, climate, and economic policy uncertainties on renewable energy

The ongoing adjustment and fluctuation of energy, climate, and economic policies leads to potential policy uncertainty. The potential uncertainty arising from these policies has a wide range of effects on renewable energy technology, leading to changes in investment decisions or consumption patterns. Hence, given the worldwide shift towards sustainable technologies, it is critical to assess how these policy uncertainties will affect renewable power. Given this backdrop, this study delves into the impact of energy policy uncertainty, climate policy uncertainty, economic policy uncertainty, and government effectiveness on renewable energy in the United States. The cross-quantilogram (CQ) methodology is employed by using monthly data from 2002 to 2022. The outcomes reveal that energy policy uncertainty effectively promotes renewable energy in the short run, whereas it serves as a barrier to the adoption of renewables in the long run. Economic policy uncertainty reduces renewable energy consumption in the short run, but it increases in the long run. Moreover, climate policy uncertainty accelerates the transition to low-carbon energy sources. Finally, government effectiveness is a significant supportive element of the energy transition towards renewables.

Research on the Influencing Factors of Carbon Emissions in Low-carbon Communities based on Complex Network Theory

Achieving carbon peak before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060 is a solemn commitment made by China to address global climate change, and is also one of the main goals for economic and social development in the 14th Five Year Plan and the 2035 vision period. The changes in carbon emissions are directly related to the progress of China's "carbon peak" and "carbon neutrality" goals. Therefore, in-depth research on the influencing factors of carbon emissions has become a key link in promoting the achievement of this goal. In the existing research on carbon emission influencing factors, countries mainly focus on macro scale low-carbon urban carbon emission influencing factors and micro scale low-carbon building full life cycle carbon emission influencing factors. However, there is relatively little research on the influencing factors of carbon emissions in low-carbon communities of urban micro units, and there is still considerable research space. This study conducted an in-depth analysis of the influencing factors of carbon emissions in low-carbon communities using complex network methods. By constructing a complex network model of factors affecting carbon emissions, we identified key nodes and pathways, and explored their interrelationships. The results indicate that factors such as energy structure, resident behavior, building design, and policy implementation play an important role in carbon emissions in low-carbon communities.

Variation of surface solar radiation components from 2016 to 2020 in China: Perspective from geostationary satellite observation with a high spatiotemporal resolution

At present, traditional satellite datasets still grapple with inadequacies in terms of capturing solar radiation with fine spatiotemporal granularity. This study utilizes the high spatiotemporal resolution of CARE data, which is developed based on geostationary satellite observations, and employs multivariate analysis techniques to conduct an in-depth investigation into the multidimensional spatiotemporal variations of different types of solar radiation across various regions in China from 2016 to 2020. In addition, the potential of solar energy resources was also assessed using cluster analysis method. The results revealed an upward trend in different components of solar radiation across most of China, with shortwave radiation exhibiting a significantly negative correlation with PM2.5 concentrations (R = −0.91, p < 0.05). This finding suggests that the increase in SWR may be attributed to the effective implementation of China's Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan. It suggests that China's endeavors to mitigate air pollution have not only resulted in improvements in national air quality but have also had an indirect positive effect on enhancing the potential for photovoltaic power generation. The assessment of solar energy resources potential indicated, with 99 % statistical confidence, that western China constitutes the core region for solar energy resources development, whereas northeastern and southeastern regions face certain constraints in solar energy resources utilization. Furthermore, we examined the specific influence of atmospheric circulation patterns on solar energy resources, uncovering that the El Niño phenomenon, by altering cloud distribution and variability, indirectly affects solar radiation intensity in specific regions. This study aids in understanding China's solar radiation variations, crucial for shaping effective energy policies towards carbon neutrality.

Sustainable Decarbonization of Road Transport: Policies, Current Status, and Challenges of Electric Vehicles

Carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) are the primary causes behind the current rise in global temperatures and climate change. CO2, which is present in the atmosphere in significant quantities, is contributing more to the warming effect than other gases that are present at smaller levels. The transportation sector is contributing significantly to the total global CO2 emissions (21.7%), with road transport accounting for 74%. Switching from gasoline-powered vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs) is the most practical way to decarbonize land transportation. We have gathered information on EVs from the USA, China, India, and a few EU members for the current review. The collected data regarding government policies, subsidies, and other rules and laws, the present status of EV technology and performance, market scenarios and future projections of EVs, EV regulations in the regions with the highest penetration rates, consumer perspectives and barriers, and the decarbonization of land transportation were analyzed. The adoption of electric vehicles has advanced significantly in some parts of the world, primarily as a result of government policies that include subsidies, other regulations, and laws that globally lower the cost of acquisition and ownership for owners of electric vehicles (EVs) relative to those of internal combustion engines (ICEs). Favorable government policies have been associated with the success of EV adoption in Norway, China, the United States of America (USA), the European Union (EU), and India. With more advantages than any other country, China is currently the world’s largest EV market. In addition, it has the highest number of EVs in use and the highest manufacturing capacity. Norway leads the world in the percentage of newly registered EVs at over 90%. China is competing with the USA for leadership in manufacturing and technology, especially in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI) and batteries. Favorable perceptions of consumers regarding EVs are vital in increasing the EV adoption rate. In order to achieve the goal of decarbonizing road transportation, we proposed that a number of factors—including government energy policies and regulatory standard development, necessary infrastructure investments and developments, AI incorporation in EVs, innovation in EV and battery technologies, and consumer perspectives in particular—play a crucial role.

Sustainable development through the balancing of photovoltaic charging facilities and agriculture for energy harvesting

Photovoltaics (PV) and electric vehicles (EVs) provide viable alternatives for powering rural areas and promoting sustainable development. However, solar energy and agricultural land compete with each other, necessitating a balance between energy needs and land preservation. Despite the potential of agricultural PV charging stations, there is a lack of research on their operational models, policies, stakeholder interactions, and feasibility of development. This study combines renewable energy and charging infrastructure subsidy policies, utilizes a public-private partnership model, and employs evolutionary game theory to establish a theoretical framework exploring strategic interactions among energy operators, EV users, and farmers. The model considers the impacts of generation, charging, and agricultural elements, conducting techno-economic research. A case study conducted in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA, revealed subsequent findings: (1) The players' evolutionary stable approach ultimately converges to (1,1,1). When renewable energy subsidies are decreased by 50 %, the likelihood of active engagement for energy operators drops to 0, and for farmers, it falls to 0.8. (2) As the usage duration of charging facilities grows by 50 %, energy operators and EVUs make steady progress before reaching 0.2 cycles, but farmers encounter a delay after 0.4 cycles. (3) It is feasible to fulfil the yearly charging requirements for EVs in Sioux Falls and South Dakota using only 7.4 ha and less than 22 ha of agricultural land area, respectively. Investors in Sioux Falls have the potential to earn an annual income of $1.1085 million, generate 7906.07 MWh of electricity, and reduce GHG emissions by 6525.91 tons of CO2-equivalent. Although farmers generate higher annual revenue, it typically takes them over a decade to reach the point of breaking even, and their return on investment is comparatively lower than that of energy operators.

An Overview of Hydrogen Production from Renewable Sources and Its Main Applications

AbstractThere is a misconception that sustainability is only related to greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, and that this is the only risk to which the planet is exposed. Sustainability is a multidimensional concept and must advance simoutaneously on several fronts, such as the urgent need to increase energy, clean water, clean air, food, mobility, health, and poverty reduction. All the problems of these multi‐dimensions are aggravated by the continuous growth of the world population, mainly in economic and socio‐environmental issues. However, the biggest challenge is to increase the supply of clean energy from renewable sources, as all other dimensions of sustainability depend on energy supply and policy decisions. The consumption of fossil fuels has supplied the current energy demand by approximately 87 %. Still, there are predictions of depletion, and the effects caused on the environment by the production of greenhouse gases bring significant economic losses. In this review, we will address the most common methods for hydrogen production, as well as its main technological applications in organic synthesis and for energy generation.

Life cycle assessment of typical tower solar thermal power station in China

In light of the growing environmental awareness and the sustainable development consideration in energy policies, the environmental impacts of concentrating solar power (CSP) have attracted significant attention. Considering that the site selection of CSP stations and databases used for evaluation has an important impact on the environment, the objective of this study is to assess the impact of concentrating solar power tower (CSP-T) station with thermal storage devices in the geographical context of China from environmental perspective by the life cycle assessment (LCA) method. To achieve this goal and ensure the reliability of the research results, a 2 × 50 MW capacity, double tank solar nitrate energy storage, and 12-h energy storage time CSP-T station in Dunhuang, Gansu, was selected. In addition, its model was constructed using the eFootprint online platform, assessing the environmental impacts of the CSP-T station according to the cradle-to-grave system boundary. Moreover, the impact assessment was performed in terms of key metrics, such as energy payback time (EPT), carbon cost of electricity (CCOE), carbon flow analysis, and environmental benefits of energy conservation and emission reduction. The results showed that the production stage is the most significant source of environmental impact in the life cycle of the CSP-T station, with the condensing system and heat storage system contributing 50.17 % and 47.64 % respectively. It can be found that the EPT of the CSP-T station is estimated at 4.88 years, accounting for 16.25 % of the operation cycle of the thermal power station, and varies depending on the station's location. It can be reduced to 3.19 years in places such as North Africa with abundant light intensity. Furthermore, the CCOE of the CSP-T station is 0.04 kg CO2/kWh. Overall, CSP-T station has over 95 % environmental benefits for energy conservation and emission reduction for most indices compared to thermal power station. Although the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) index is slightly lower, it still reaches 82.67 %. To promote the ecological development of the CSP-T station in China, this study usually includes a brief comment or relevant improvement recommendations after each comparative analysis.