Greenhouse Gas Emission Mitigation Potential Research Articles

Exploring Synergistic GHG Emissions Mitigation Potential and Costs of Room Air Conditioners.

This study explores the potential of synergistically reducing direct (refrigerant) and indirect (electricity) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the global room air conditioning (RAC) sector, based on 80% of global RAC manufactured in China. Three scenarios are evaluated: Business-as-usual (BAU) based on maintaining refrigerant and energy efficiency levels from 2021 China RAC sales shares, Kigali Amendment compliant with 10% energy efficiency improvement by 2025 (KAE), and accelerated refrigerant transition and energy efficiency improvement (ATE). Each scenario considers the costs of refrigerant and efficiency measures for export market groups based on Kigali Amendment classifications. BAU predicts around 1 Gt CO2-eq average annual global RAC emissions (2022-2060). Cumulative emission reductions in China's RAC manufacturing under KAE and ATE are 12.2 and 17.2 Gt CO2-eq A5II and A5I (except China), presenting cost-effective abatement measures, with average costs of -$51.4 and -$68.8/t CO2-eq in KAE and ATE. Cumulative average abatement costs are around $18 and $4/t CO2-eq globally. KAE and ATE scenarios would avoid surface temperature rises of 0.023 (±0.002) °C and 0.027 (±0.003) °C, respectively, versus BAU. Collaboration between China and importing countries is urged to enhance energy efficiency in RACs traded, ensuring sustainable mitigation aligned with the Kigali Amendment.

Quantifying greenhouse gas emissions mitigation potential in China's agricultural plastic greenhouses

Quantifying greenhouse gas emissions mitigation potential in China's agricultural plastic greenhouses

Hands-On Approach to Foster Paludiculture Implementation and Carbon Certification on Extracted Peatland in Latvia

Voluntary carbon markets open horizons for private companies, public institutions, and individuals developing CO2 removal projects in peatlands to reduce overall carbon footprint. These steps, however, should be in line with appropriate rewetting targets. Therefore, the baseline information about the status of the area must be assessed. Here, we follow the methodology set by the carbon certification program standards, which define the necessary steps for reference conditions assessment. In this study, we practically test the fulfillment of necessary drained peatland baseline evaluation for paludiculture and carbon certification activities. Estimates on the greenhouse gas emission mitigation potential were summarized to define priorities and propose quantifiable measures with suggested paludiculture implementation. Our estimations indicate that rewetting and paludiculture practice on 16.4 ha drained extracted peatland could omit 60.17 t CO2 annual emissions and instead capture 80.31–120.11 t CO2 per year. If drainage continues, then it poses a risk of releasing stored carbon from leftover peat deposits into the atmosphere, contributing 52,653.64 t CO2 to greenhouse gas emissions. Our hands-on approach shows that it is possible for companies to implement rewetting strategies without large EU-level project funding when the conservation and economic aspects are met, thus boosting climate mitigation actions.

Greenhouse gas emissions mitigation potential of municipal solid waste management: A case study of 13 prefecture-level cities in Jiangsu Province, China

Greenhouse gas emissions mitigation potential of municipal solid waste management: A case study of 13 prefecture-level cities in Jiangsu Province, China

The effect of pretreatment choice on cellulosic ethanol production from sugarcane straw: An insight into environmental impact profile and GHG emissions mitigation potential in Brazil

The effect of pretreatment choice on cellulosic ethanol production from sugarcane straw: An insight into environmental impact profile and GHG emissions mitigation potential in Brazil

Greenhouse gas emissions mitigation potential from renewable energy development in Thailand’s industrial estates

Greenhouse gas emissions mitigation potential from renewable energy development in Thailand’s industrial estates

Greenhouse Gas Emission Mitigation Potential of Chemicals Produced from Biomass

The production of chemicals from biomass has received significant attention due to its potential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this work, we develop a systematic framework to quantitatively analyze the mitigation potential of 25 large-volume and promising platform biochemicals. To properly account for the energy requirements of producing different biochemicals, we construct material and energy balances of the biorefinery and develop simulation and optimization models to calculate the energy needed to separate and purify these biochemicals. We show that biomass-based production can lead to significant GHG mitigation. Notably, 24 out of the 25 biochemicals have lower GHG emissions compared to their fossil-fuel-derived counterparts. Under the most conservative assumptions (i.e., 25% conversion and high separation energy), biochemicals can reduce GHG emissions by up to 88%. Under the most optimistic assumptions (i.e., 75% conversion and easy separation), the emission reductions can be as great as 94%. Finally, we discuss constraints on the fraction of chemicals that can be replaced due to biomass availability limitations and identify molecular characteristics that can be used for the prioritization of chemicals to be produced from biomass.

Trajectory, driving forces, and mitigation potential of energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in China's primary aluminum industry

Trajectory, driving forces, and mitigation potential of energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in China's primary aluminum industry

Climate action and food security: Strategies to reduce GHG emissions from food loss and waste in emerging economies

Climate action and food security: Strategies to reduce GHG emissions from food loss and waste in emerging economies

From agricultural (by-)products to jet fuels: Carbon footprint and economic performance

This research assesses the well-to-tank (WTT) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and economic performance of an innovative bio-jet fuel via acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation. Dutch potato by-products from the food processing industry and sugar beets are explored as potential feedstocks. Four product systems differentiated by feedstocks, logistics and centralized/decentralized fermenters are investigated.For both feedstocks, it is found that a centralized large-scale fermentation is preferable to decentralized small-scale fermentation (25–30% less expensive and 5% lower WTT emissions). Once commercialization is reached, the cost and carbon performance of this novel bio-jet fuel could be similar to that of other alcohol-to-jet fuels. Depending on the feedstock and configuration considered, the GHG emission mitigation potential of this novel jet-fuel was estimated between 41% and 52%. To meet the EU RED II 65% GHG reduction criterion, possible options could be using low carbon-intensive processing energy and hydrogen or storing permanently biogenic carbon dioxide from fermentation.

Greenhouse gas emission mitigation potential from municipal solid waste treatment: A combined SD-LMDI model

Greenhouse gas emission mitigation potential from municipal solid waste treatment: A combined SD-LMDI model

Evaluating long-term greenhouse gas mitigation opportunities through carbon capture, utilization, and storage in the oil sands

Evaluating long-term greenhouse gas mitigation opportunities through carbon capture, utilization, and storage in the oil sands

Emissions down the drain: Balancing life cycle energy and greenhouse gas savings with resource use for heat recovery from kitchen drains

Emissions down the drain: Balancing life cycle energy and greenhouse gas savings with resource use for heat recovery from kitchen drains

Energy and water saving potentials in industrial parks by an infrastructure-integrated symbiotic model

Energy and water saving potentials in industrial parks by an infrastructure-integrated symbiotic model

A Dynamic Fleet Model of U.S Light-Duty Vehicle Lightweighting and Associated Greenhouse Gas Emissions from 2016 to 2050.

Substituting conventional materials with lightweight materials is an effective way to reduce the life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from light-duty vehicles. However, estimated GHG emission reductions of lightweighting depend on multiple factors including the vehicle powertrain technology and efficiency, lightweight material employed, and end-of-life material recovery. We developed a fleet-based life cycle model to estimate the GHG emission changes due to lightweighting the U.S. light-duty fleet from 2016 to 2050, using either high strength steel or aluminum as the lightweight material. Our model estimates that implementation of an aggressive lightweighting scenario using aluminum reduces 2016 through 2050 cumulative life cycle GHG emissions from the fleet by 2.9 Gt CO2 eq (5.6%), and annual emissions in 2050 by 11%. Lightweighting has the greatest GHG emission reduction potential when implemented in the near-term, with two times more reduction per kilometer traveled if implemented in 2016 rather than in 2030. Delaying implementation by 15 years sacrifices 72% (2.1 Gt CO2 eq) of the cumulative GHG emissionmitigation potential through 2050. Lightweighting is an effective solution that could provide important near-term GHG emission reductions especially during the next 10-20 years when the fleet is dominated by conventional powertrain vehicles.

Comprehensive analysis of GHG emission mitigation potentials from technology policy options in South Korea’s transportation sector using a bottom-up energy system model

Comprehensive analysis of GHG emission mitigation potentials from technology policy options in South Korea’s transportation sector using a bottom-up energy system model

Carbon Label at a University Restaurant – Label Implementation and Evaluation

Carbon Label at a University Restaurant – Label Implementation and Evaluation

Li-Rich Layered Cathode Materials: Transition Metals in Transit

In the most recent issue of Nature Communications , William Gent, William Chueh, and co-authors examine in depth the electronic structure and redox processes that occur during cycling of Li 1.17 Ni 0.21 Co 0.08 Mn 0.54 O 2 and reveal an important new insight that suggests oxygen redox is coupled with local transition metal migration. Aided by a suite of cutting-edge characterization methods, the authors formulate a clear and unprecedented view of both local and averaged structure evolution during cycling.

Greenhouse gas emissions mitigation potential in the commercial and institutional sector

Greenhouse gas emissions mitigation potential in the commercial and institutional sector

Emergy and greenhouse gas assessment of a sustainable, integrated agricultural model (SIAM) for plant, animal and biogas production: Analysis of the ecological recycle of wastes

Emergy and greenhouse gas assessment of a sustainable, integrated agricultural model (SIAM) for plant, animal and biogas production: Analysis of the ecological recycle of wastes