Low Carbon Emission Technologies Research Articles

Bus Basis Model Applied to the Chilean Power System: A Detailed Look at Chilean Electric Demand

This paper presents a methodology to forecast electrical demand for the Chilean Electrical Power System considering a national, regional, district and bus spatial disaggregation. The methodology developed was based on different kinds of econometric models and end-use models to represent the massification of low carbon emission technologies such as electromobility, electric heating, electric water heating, and distributed generation. In addition, the methodology developed allows for the projection of the electric demand considering different kinds of clients as regulated and non-regulated clients, and different economic sectors. The model was applied to forecast the long-term electricity demand in Chile for the period 2022–2042 for 207 districts and 474 buses. The results include projections under the base case and low carbon scenarios, highlighting the significant influence of new technologies on future demand.

A Review on the Applications of Biochar in Agricultural Farms: A Low Carbon Emission Technology

Improving the condition of the soil is essential for successful agriculture since it increases crop output and soil fertility. Applying biochar to the soil can boost crop yields and soil fertility. Biochar is a solid carbon-rich substance made by pyrolyzing biomass, which includes trash, wood, and agricultural crop leftovers under low oxygen conditions. Because biochar has potential uses in waste recycling, soil nutrient retention, and greenhouse gas emission reduction, it is significant for sequestering carbon. Over the last two decades, biochar has received substantial attention in agriculture and the environment. Agriculture soil productivity has long been increased by the application of synthetic fertilizers, some of which leached into the environment and released greenhouse gases (GHG). Improving soil microbiology and water retention, as well as increasing fertilizer efficiency, are some of the basic problems facing agricultural practices. Biochar is becoming more and more popular as a soil supplement to increase crop yields and sequester carbon. Biochar is one of the many conservation agricultural techniques that can be used to improve soil fertility, and crop productivity, and slow down global warming. It is also a readily available and important input for sustainable agriculture. Furthering global food security, biochar may improve soils' ability to produce crops under various biotic and abiotic stress. This review examines the numerous uses of biochar to guarantee the long-term, safe enhancement of soil fertility. An overview of the characteristics, manufacturing process, and applications of biochar in agriculture is given in this review. Researchers, farmers, and academics interested in using biochar might find this review to be a helpful resource.

Water use in a sustainable net zero energy system: what are the implications of employing bioenergy with carbon capture and storage?

Net zero emissions of the global energy and land systems are needed to keep the temperature increase to the 1.5 degrees limit by 2100 as per the Paris Agreement (PA). Furthermore, updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) now include a net zero target by 2050 or until 2070. These climate policies require rapid technological development towards renewable energy and low carbon emission technologies like nuclear and carbon capture and storage. However, this transition is water intensive as water is needed in power plants cooling, gasification, carbon capture, hydroelectricity, or emission control. In this study, the focus is done on the first three by using an integrated assessment model TIAM-FR. It is based on techno-economic linear optimization and includes a water allocation module. Under two climate scenarios, the energy mixes of the world energy system are scrutinized. The results show that achieving net zero requires renewable energy mainly but would use bioenergy with carbon capture and storage. For the 2018-2100 period, water consumption increases by 100.5% for a 1.5-degree pathway whereas an NDC pathway increases it by 135%. The comparative analysis asses the choice of mitigation solutions with respect to regional water scarcity. At the end, a discussion on the relevant sustainable development goals (2, 6, 7, 13, 15) is presented.

Iceberg-inspired solar water generator for enhanced thermoelectricity–freshwater synergistic production

Interfacial solar steam generation has emerged as a promising eco-friendly and low-carbon emission technology to address the global water scarcity. So far, the majority of attention is paid to the improvement of the evaporation rate while the efficient vapor collection sector remains broadly unexploited. Herein, an inverted iceberg-inspired solar water generator (ISWG), consisting of a thermoelectric generator coated by a photothermal agent, a bilayer all-fiber nonwoven fabric and a passive cooling vapor condenser, is constructed. Inspired by the shape of an iceberg, the majority of the ISWG system is underneath the bulk water, leaving only the evaporation section floating on the water. This ISWG system not only avoids the vapor condensation induced solar input loss, but also transfers the heat to the surrounding bulk water, resulting in passive cooled and enhanced vapor collection. Moreover, a thermoelectric generator, which utilizes the temperature difference between the photothermal layer and evaporation layer, is sandwiched for thermal conduction in place of the traditional metal plate. The ISWG can achieve a high vapor collection rate of 1.02 kg m-2 h−1 and extra output electricity with a power of 0.47 W m−2 under sunlight with the ambient temperature at about 42 ℃. This work may pave the way for the development of an efficient solar-induced water-electricity co-generation system in tropical islands.

Techno-economic evaluation of a novel bio-energy system integrated with carbon capture and utilization technology in greenhouses

BackgroundWaste-to-energy power generation technology will play a key role in energy transition, deserving researcher's attention. Biomass-fueled Combined Heat and Power (CHP) can be considered as an efficient and low carbon emission technology: if coupled with the carbon capture and utilization (CCU) section, this technology may be considered as a carbon sink, and it may provide a contribution in reaching CO2 emissions targets. MethodThe present study proposes and examines a biogas-based CHP system equipped with a MEA post-combustion CCU section, which captures CO2 and adopts it for plant growth in greenhouses. A thermodynamic evaluation has performed for thermal, electrical, and CO2 production of the integrated system. In addition, a techno-economic analysis has performed to assess technical and economic features of the system, and particular attention has devoted to the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE). Finally, a parametric analysis on critical parameters has applied. Significant findingsOverall, the system energy and exergy efficiencies are respectively found to be 21.8% and 12.4%, with a CO2 capture efficiency of 96.1%. Furthermore, the LCOE, cost of produced CO2, specific CO2 emission, and the payback period are estimated to be respectively of 46.16 USD/MWh, 0.02 USD/kg, 40.41 kgCO2 /MWeh, and 4.8 years. Based on the findings, the analyzed system appears to be an interesting alternative for CHP generation and CO2 capture.

İklim Değişikliğine Bağlı Faktörlerle (Yüksek CO2, Yüksek Sıcaklık ve Kuraklık) Değişen Yağış ve Sıcaklık İklim Modeli İlişkisinin Türkiye'de Buğday Üretimine Etkisi

Wheat (Triticum spp.), the staple food of approximately 50 countries, due to its appropriate nutritional value, storage and processing facilities, also providing approximately 20% of the total calories provided by plant-based foods to the world population, has a relevant importance in the food security of Turkey. Wheat yield, quality, and growth are all affected by environmental factors. Therefore, wheat production is affected by climate factors such as seasonal precipitation distribution, precipitation amount, temperature, and drought. With the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events caused by global climate change, the risks to wheat production have become increasingly evident. In a study, it is estimated that wheat yield in Turkey will decrease by about 8% until 2100, according to the average scenario. According to the worst scenario, wheat production is expected to decrease by 23% on average in 2100. In order to solve this problem, appropriate scenarios should be developed regarding the effects of climate change on wheat. Strategies such as climate change adaptation strategies, low carbon emission technologies and capacity building can be developed. Our aim is to draw attention to the impact of climate change on wheat yield in Turkey.

Review of Sustainable Energy Technologies and Financial Tools for Achieving Net-zero Emission Hospitals

Mitigation of climate change, which is a severe global environmental problem, requires the sharp decrease of greenhouse gas emissions. Hospitals and healthcare facilities consume large amounts of energy compared with other organizations while they mainly use conventional fuels and grid electricity. The aims of the current study are: a) to review the sustainable energy technologies which can be used in hospitals minimizing their carbon emissions due to energy use, and b) to review the existing financial tools which can support the investments of clean energy technologies in hospitals. Published literature indicates that several benign energy technologies have been used in hospitals in developed and less-developed countries. These include: a) energy saving technologies, b) renewable energy technologies, c) low carbon emission technologies, and d) technologies related with green transportation. The most of them are reliable, mature and cost-efficient. Their combined use results in lower carbon emissions in hospitals. Any remaining emissions can be offset with the existing carbon offsetting schemes. Various financial mechanisms can facilitate investments of clean energy technologies in hospitals. It is concluded that several benign energy technologies combined with carbon offsetting schemes can assist hospitals to zero their net carbon emissions due to energy use while the existing financial mechanisms can facilitate and support the required energy investments. The present study is useful to policy makers and hospital’s authorities who are looking forward to minimize the carbon footprint in these organizations complying with current policies for achieving net zero carbon emission societies in the coming decades.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Salt-Affected Soils: Mechanistic Understanding of Interplay Factors and Reclamation Approaches

Salt-affected soils contain high levels of soluble salts (saline soil) and exchangeable sodium (alkali soil). Globally, about 932 million ha (Mha), including 831 Mha of agricultural land, is salt-affected. Salinity and sodicity adversely affect soil microbial diversity and enzymatic activities, and thereby carbon and nitrogen dynamics and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from soils. In this review article, we synthesize published information to understand the impact of salinity and sodicity on GHG production and emissions from salt-affected soils, and how various reclamation amendments (gypsum, phosphogypsum, organic manure, biochar, etc.) affect GHG emissions from reclaimed soils. Nitrous oxide (N2O) and methane (CH4) emissions are of greater concern due to their 298 and 28 times higher global warming potential, respectively, compared to carbon dioxide (CO2), on a 100-year time scale. Therefore, CO2 emissions are given negligible/smaller significance compared to the other two. Generally, nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions are higher at lower salinity and reduced at higher salinity mainly due to: (a) higher ammonification and lower nitrification resulting in a reduced substrate for denitrification; (b) reduced diversity of denitrifying bacteria lowered down microbial-mediated denitrification process; and (c) dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA), and denitrification processes compete with each other for common substrate/nitrate. Overall, methane (CH4) emissions from normal soils are higher than those of salt-affected soils. High salinity suppresses the activity of both methanogens (CH4 production) and methanotrophs (CH4 consumption). However, it imposes more inhibitory effects on methanogens than methanotrophs, resulting in lower CH4 production and subsequent emissions from these soils. Therefore, reclamation of these soils may enhance N2O and CH4 emissions. However, gypsum is the best reclamation agent, which significantly mitigates CH4 emissions from paddy cultivation in both sodic and non-sodic soils, and mitigation is higher at the higher rate of its application. Gypsum amendment increases sulfate ion concentrations and reduces CH4 emissions mainly due to the inhibition of the methanogenesis by the sulfate reductase bacteria and the enhancement of soil redox potential. Biochar is also good among the organic amendments mitigating both CH4 and N2O emission from salt-affected soils. The application of fresh organic matter and FYM enhance GHG emissions for these soils. This review suggests the need for systematic investigations for studying the impacts of various amendments and reclamation technologies on GHG emissions in order to develop low carbon emission technologies for salt-affected soil reclamation that can enhance the carbon sequestration potential of these soils.

Taxonomy and tendencies in sustainable finance: A comprehensive literature analysis

This study identifies the trends in the literature related to Sustainable Finance by means of an exhaustive literature review and a bibliometric analysis of publications taken from the Web of Science database (WoS). A search in WoS for the associated terms came up with a total of 9294 entries, showing a particularly noticeable growth in scientific production in the aftermath of the Paris Agreement of 2015. The analysis of the bibliometric networks was performed using VOSviewer (VOSviewer is a software tool for constructing and visualizing bibliometric networks), from which the analysis of key words was obtained. Using this analysis five cluster groups were identified, showing the main themes of research: Climate risk and adaptation, Low carbon energy economy or Low carbon economy, Environment, finance and governance, Low carbon emission technologies, Economic model and social cost. Further research is recommended into the themes of Low carbon energy economy and Environment, social and governance, considered key issues in the future.

Possibilities of Using Sustainable Energy Technologies including CHP Systems, Solar Photovoltaics and Heat Pumps in Hospitals

Hospitals consume large amounts of energy in their daily operations. The necessity to comply with the global targets for climate change mitigation requires the decrease in their energy and fossil fuels consumption as well as reduction of their CO2 emissions. The aims of the current work are to study the possibilities of using several clean and low carbon emission technologies for heat, cooling and electricity generation in hospitals. The use of solar-PV panels, CHP systems and heat pumps has been examined as well as the possibility of financing these environmentally friendly energy technologies with external funding. Our results indicate that the abovementioned sustainable energy technologies are mature, reliable and cost-efficient providing heat, cooling and electricity in hospitals having also positive economic, social and environmental impacts. Their combined use with other low or zero carbon emission technologies could help in the transformation of hospital buildings to nearly zero energy buildings minimizing or zeroing their carbon footprint due to energy use. Various financial tools have been developed so far utilizing mainly private funds for financing clean energy investments in hospitals with external resources. Present work is important since it indicates that the previously mentioned sustainable energy technologies can be used in hospitals assisting in their transformation to low carbon emission organizations since in coming decades the mitigation of climate change in our societies will be necessary and crucial.

Can Financial Development Help in Raising Sustainable Economic Growth and Reduce Environmental Pollution in Pakistan? Evidence from Non Linear ARDL Model

It is a global challenge to reduce environmental pollution and enhance sustainable economic growth. This study explores the role of financial development as an instrument in reducing environmental pollution and enhancing sustainable economic development in Pakistan for the period 1980-2020. The Non-linear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) econometrics technique has been utilized to find the association between environmental pollution, economic growth, and financial development. The results show that positive shocks of financial development increase economic growth and reduce environmental pollution. While the negative shocks of financial development increase both economic growth and environmental pollution. Globalization has negative impact on economic growth and the use of energy increases economic growth and environmental pollution. The study suggests that the State Bank of Pakistan and other financial institutions should formulate and implement soft loan policies to induce the private investors to use low carbon emission technologies.

Dynamic linkage between industrialization, energy consumption, carbon emission, and agricultural products export of Pakistan: an ARDL approach.

This study aims to contribute to the literature and examine the causal relationship between Pakistan’s agricultural products export, industrialization, urbanization, transportation, energy consumption, and carbon emissions. For the last four decades, time-series data were used to employ short-run and long-run nexus between the selected variables by analyzing the autoregressive distributed lag model (ARDL). The Granger causality test was analyzed to estimate the causality directions. The unit root test results indicate that all the selected variables are stationary at the level and first difference. The bound test confirmed that all variables are cointegrated at a 1% significance level. Long-run estimates suggest that an increase in energy consumption will increase the export of agricultural products. An increase in urbanization, transportation, and carbon emission resulted in a decrease in agricultural products export in Pakistan. In the short run, an increase in industrialization, transportation, and energy consumption leads to an increase in agricultural products export. Increasing urbanization and carbon emission decrease the agricultural products export of Pakistan. Based on our findings, we recommend sustainable agricultural production, renewable energy consumption, low carbon emission technologies, and a green portfolio for sustainable agricultural products export.

Economic Growth, CO2 Emissions, Electricity Production, and Consumption Nexus in Bangladesh

This paper seeks to find the causal relationship between economic growth, electricity consumption, carbon emissions, electricity production from oil, and electricity production from gas. The data were taken from World Development Index (WDI) for the period of 1972-2014. For stationarity checking, visualization and some econometrics techniques like ADF and Phillips-Perron test have been adopted. For testing the long-run relationships among the variables, the Johansen cointegration testing procedure has been considered. This test ensured that there are long-run relationships among the variables. To capture the short-run dynamics, a VECM test has been done, and to find the direction of causation, the Granger causality approach has been tested. The results find that there was a bidirectional causality from CO2 emissions to gross domestic product (GDP) and from electricity production from gas to GDP where unidirectional causality was found from GDP to electricity consumption and electricity production from oil to GDP. CUMSUM and CUSUM approaches have also been considered to test the stability of the parameters. Policy implications of the research indicate that Bangladesh should give importance to low carbon emission technologies to reduce the CO2 emissions level with a view to keeping Bangladesh safe from natural calamities along with economic growth.
 JEL Classifications: C32, O13, Q43

Carbon dioxide emission, economic growth, and energy consumption among Central Asian countries

The paper examines the relationship between carbon dioxide emission, economic growth, and energy consumption among five Central Asian countries during 2000-2017. To verify the said relationship, we have used both static (pooled OLS and Fixed effect) and dynamic Generalized Method of Moments. The results indicate that GDP has a significantly negative impact, while a square of GDP has a significantly positive impact on carbon dioxide emission. Therefore, our findings support the U-shaped Environmental Kuznets Curve. Also, energy consumption is having a significantly positive impact on carbon dioxide emissions. The results emphasize non-renewable sources of energy, low carbon emission technologies, and sustainable growth.

Industrial growth and CO2 emissions in Vietnam: the key role of financial development and fossil fuel consumption.

The increase in greenhouse gas emission has a major global issue, catching the attention of the researcher and policymakers around the world. The combustion of fossil fuel is the main cause of the rising greenhouse gas emission particularly in developing countries including Vietnam. Meanwhile, the purpose of the study is to evaluate the linkage between fossil fuel consumption, financial development, industrial progression, and CO2 emission over the period from 1970 to 2019, particularly in Vietnam. The study applied the ARDL econometric technique and Bayer-Hanck cointegration approach with structural break to confirm long run relationship and the EKC hypothesis between industrial growth and CO2 emission, in Vietnam, which assume the U-shaped link between CO2 emission and industrial growth in Vietnam. Which further confirmed by Lind and Mehlum U test in addition, the Granger causality exists between fossil fuel consumption and CO2 emission in both short run and long run. The causal relationship is unidirectional in the short run running from fossil fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emission; therefore, the study proposed to adopt low-carbon emission technology.

Pollution Control and Resources Allocation: Optimization Path of Carbon Trading Efficiency Driven by Service Trade Enterprises Innovation

This paper subdivides and explores the mechanism of the role of standardization on international service trade enterprises from three dimensions and aspects, analysing and studying the three dimensions of the scale of international service trade, the combination of international service trade elements and the efficiency of carbon trading, optimization of resource allocation, together with the benefits of service trade. The research discovered and sorted out the mechanism of standardization to promote the efficiency of carbon trading of service trade enterprises and improve competitiveness: standardization and service trade enterprises low-carbon emission technology advancement; standardization and service trade enterprises carbon trading resource optimization allocation; standardization and service trade enterprises carbon trading information symmetry. Based on this mechanism, three paths are drawn to promote the development of carbon trading efficiency optimization and innovation of service trade enterprises through standardization, and the research combines the three traits of green, low-carbon and recycling in the current standardization of service trade enterprises in the new era and puts forward relevant suggestions.

CO2 emission, economic development, fossil fuel consumption and population density in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh: A panel investigation

AbstractThe adverse impacts of climate change have occupied central theme of many policy initiatives. This paper investigated the impact of economic development, fossil fuel consumptions and population density on CO2 in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh using annual data over the period 1971–2014. We have applied panel Autoregressive distributed lags model to estimate the long‐run dynamics and Vector error correction model specified Granger causality test for finding the causality direction. Using three multivariate equations model, the empirical outcome of our study has established key associations that have crucial policy implications. Firstly, the results of auto‐regressive distributed lags (ARDL) confirmed the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis that the relationship between CO2 and economic development is U‐shaped. Moreover, fossil fuel consumption and population density have a positive impact on CO2 emission in the long run. VECM test evidence suggests that short‐run causalities from economic development to CO2, population density to CO2 and fossil fuel consumption to CO2 exist. Secondly, CO2 has a negative impact on economic development while the impacts of fossil fuel, FDI and total exports on economic development have been significantly positive in the long run. In short run, CO2, fossil fuel consumption and FDI Granger cause economic development. Lastly, CO2 emission negatively influences population density while economic development positively affects population density in long run. Moreover, short‐run causalities from economic development to population density and CO2 to population density exit. For policy drives, efficient and low carbon emission technologies should be used.

Analyzing the long run linkage between Population, Economic Development and Energy Consumption on Carbon emissions of ASEAN Nations

This study examined the effect of population, energy consumption, economic development on environment degradation in the context of ASEAN countries. For this purpose, the study used the panel data of nine ASEAN countries (Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Vietnam) from 1995 to 2018 with the help of the World Development Indicators (WDI) dataset. Panel FMOLS and Panel ARDL methodology are used to examine the econometric model. ARDL results show that economic growth increases the emission of carbon dioxide which means economic development makes the environment unhealthy, moreover it confirmed the validity of the EKC hypothesis for ASEAN countries. There is a long-term positive impact of GDP and the consumption of energy on CO2 emission. In contrast, the impact of population growth is significant on the per capita emission of carbon dioxide. However, the emission of carbon dioxide hurts economic growth in the long run. Consequently, emission of carbon dioxide can be reduced, and economic growth can be sustainable by using low carbon emission technologies such as renewable energy.

Public views of Scotland's path to decarbonization: Evidence from citizens' juries and focus groups

Scotland offers a case study of a country with significant fossil energy resources that has seen rapid decarbonization and deployment of renewable energy. We review the key policies that facilitated a 47% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 baseline levels and almost 75% of Scottish electricity being produced from renewable sources. Public views on climate policy, renewable energy, and low-carbon technologies are explored using focus groups we conducted in Aberdeen, Peterhead, and Edinburgh and citizens' juries in Aberdeen and Edinburgh. The deliberative processes reveal strong public support for continued diversification of Scotland's energy portfolio to include more renewable energy sources, particularly at the local level. We also found support for increased state involvement in the energy sector. Pro-renewables sentiments and skepticism of industry pervade even in Aberdeen, the main oil and gas hub, alongside support for further exploration of low-carbon emission technologies such as carbon capture and storage (CCS) that retain the ability to continue to use fossil fuels. Although Peterhead stood to benefit from a major CCS project, there was remarkably little awareness of the proposed project among residents. Finally, we argue deliberative processes can help both policy-makers and developers gauge where they can (and cannot) expect support.

Comparative Investigation of Gaseous Emissions and Particle Emission Characteristics from Turbo-Charged Direct Injection (DI) Engine with Gasoline and LPG Fuel Depending on Engine Control Parameters

To meet greenhouse gas (GHG) emission target, automotive manufacturers should promote low carbon emission technology, including gasoline direct injection (GDI) systems. However, recent studies have shown that excessive levels of nanoparticles were emitted from GDI vehicles compared to port fuel injection (PFI) vehicles. One of the many ways to decrease nanoparticle emissions from GDI engine is to use alternative fuel This study used turbo charged 2.0 L 4-cylinder LPG direct injection engine (T-LPDi) that was converted from a turbo charged gasoline direct injection engine (T-GDI) with dedicated LPG fuel supply and control system. To analysis on combustion phenomena and nanoparticle emissions, in-cylinder pressure and exhaust gas were measured under engine dynamometer test. Additionally, various engine control parameters were swung to understand the effects of the control parameters on combustion and nanoparticle characteristics. Throughout this study, T-LPDi engine, compared to T-GDI engine, showed ∼ 9 % and 76 % reduction of CO2 and PN emissions respectively. By optimizing engine parameters based on parametric study, PN emissions were improved 70 % from the baseline of T-LPDi engine emissions.