Non-renewable Energy Use Research Articles

The benefits and burdens of wind power systems in reaching China’s renewable energy goals: Implications from resource and environment assessment

Recognizing the economy’s growing reliance on global energy landscape transformation on wind power deployment, as well as the general reality that renewable facilities require lower operational but higher up-front inputs than fossil-based power systems, this paper focuses on the life-cycle burdens of wind power systems and their substitution benefits compared with coal-fired power systems. The estimation considers the consumption of nonrenewable sources of energy, emissions of greenhouse gases, and other environmental resource factors that have received significantly less research attention, such as industrial land use, water use, PM2.5, SO2, NOX, and Hg emissions. The scope of this study differs from earlier ones in that it includes a comprehensive description of all the equipment, materials, and services used, as opposed to earlier studies that either omit crucial supporting infrastructure or just focus on the plant’s physical structure as its primary materials. Results based on a typical plant in China show that the state-of-the-art onshore wind power systems can provide significant reductions in nonrenewable energy use (9.2 MJ/kWh) and GHG emissions (782.8 GtCO2/kWh). To produce an equivalent amount of electricity, wind power systems require more than three times industrial land use and almost one-third of industrial water use of that for traditional coal-fired power systems. The avoided SO2, Hg, PM2.5, and NOX emissions per unit of electricity generation account for 60.6%-89.3% of the total air pollution emissions induced by supercritical coal-fired power systems. By integrating 3797 operating plant-specific data and fixed-point wind energy information, this study scales up results of the single plant to a country level. The macro picture implies different opportunities born by wind power systems in easing multiple resource and environmental pressures, highlighting the significance of designing hierarchical strategies to improve penetration levels of wind power. By 2050, cumulative climate benefits obtained from onshore wind power technology are predicted to reach 74.2 Gt CO2, achieving around 17.2%-45.5% of the national carbon-neutral goal.

An Adaptive Energy Orchestrator for Cyberphysical Systems Using Multiagent Reinforcement Learning

Reducing carbon emissions is a critical issue for the near future as climate change is an imminent reality. To reduce our carbon footprint, society must change its habits and behaviours to optimise energy consumption, and the current progress in embedded systems and artificial intelligence has the potential to make this easier. The smart building concept and intelligent energy management are key points to increase the use of renewable sources of energy as opposed to fossil fuels. In addition, cyber-physical systems (CPSs) provide an abstraction of the management of services that allows the integration of both virtual and physical systems in a seamless control architecture. In this paper, we propose to use multiagent reinforcement learning (MARL) to model the CPS services control plane in a smart house, with the purpose of minimising, by shifting or shutdown services, the use of non-renewable energy (fuel generator) by exploiting solar production and batteries. Furthermore, our proposal dynamically adapts its behaviour in real time according to current and historic energy production, thus being able to handle occasional changes in energy production due to meteorological phenomena or unexpected energy consumption. In order to evaluate our proposal, we have developed an open-source smart building energy simulator and deployed our use case. Finally, several simulations with different configurations are evaluated to verify the performance. The simulation results show that the reinforcement learning solution outperformed the priority-based and the heuristic-based solutions in both power consumption and adaptability in all configurations.

Decarbonization of Nitrogen Fertilizers, from Production to Runoff: A Policy Memo

Decarbonization of agriculture is critical to reshaping the U.S. economy as climate-resilient and less carbon-intensive. Decarbonizing nitrogen fertilizers specifically is increasingly important for the U.S. to achieve its climate targets while feeding a growing population in a changing climate, as around 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions result from nitrogen fertilizers alone. Carbon dioxide equivalent emissions from fertilizer come from non-renewable energy use, chemical processes, transportation, and on-farm applications. These emissions typically take the form of carbon dioxide or nitrous oxide, potent greenhouse gasses. To reduce emissions from nitrogen fertilizers, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Department of Energy (DOE) should 1) create federal regulations for nitrogen fertilizer use, 2) provide financial incentives for farmers transitioning to less-intensive nitrogen fertilizer use, and 3) create a research grant solicitation focused on regional methods for reducing nitrogen fertilizer use and the creation of green hydrogen.

Transforming the feeding regime towards low-input increases the environmental impact of organic milk production on a case study farm in central germany

Abstract Purpose Despite the direct effect of the feeding regime on the environmental impacts of dairy farming systems, its level of intensity, particularly in organic systems, has rarely been investigated. This study compares the environmental impact of a high-input feeding regime with a grassland-based, low-input feeding regime scenario within an organic milk production system conducted on Gladbacherhof, the research farm of Justus Liebig University Giessen, in Central Germany. Methods An integrated Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analysis was performed from a cradle-to-farm gate perspective to quantify five environmental impacts, namely Global Warming (GW), Non-Renewable Energy Use (NREU), Land Use (LU), Terrestrial Acidification (TA), and Freshwater Eutrophication (FE). All agronomic data of the Gladbacherhof research farm, averaged over the years 2010–2017, were included. When not directly measured on the farm, ecoinvent data were included. Results and discussion Contrary to our hypothesis, the results suggest that a grassland-based low-input system has a higher environmental impact as compared to a high-input system for each of the five impact categories when using fat and protein-corrected milk (FPCM) as the functional unit. A 50% reduction in concentrates and exclusion of maize silage from the feed ration in the modelled low-input production system lead to a 20% drop in milk yield. To balance the energy content in low-input feeding ration, longer grazing period and higher amount of hay, alfalfa, and grass silage are required. This in turn results in higher emissions from enteric fermentation, manure management, and feed production and hence in higher environmental impact, particularly for GW, TA, and FE. Conclusions This study is one of the few that directly explores the environmental impact of feeding intensity in an organic milk production system. Nevertheless, there is a lack of research on consolidated emission factors for several greenhouse gas (GHG) sources in organic livestock and cropping systems to perform more robust carbon footprint calculations that comply with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Tier 3 GHG reporting guidelines. To generalize the results at the regional or national scale, direct comparisons with a larger number of organic farms representative of high-input and low-input intensities are still essential.

Integrated crop management for long-term sustainability of maize-wheat rotation focusing on productivity, energy and carbon footprints

Modern agriculture, driven by diesel-fed machinery, is both energy and carbon-intensive, primarily due to the improper use of inputs. Designing a production module with lower carbon emissions, greater productivity, and enhanced energy use efficiency is crucial for achieving the environmental sustainability. Conservation agriculture based integrated crop management (ICMs) practices have shown promise in improving the productivity, energy-use, and reducing the carbon emissions. In our extensive long-term field study, we explored the crop yields, energy use, and carbon linkages of a maize-wheat rotation under different ICMs practices. Eight ICMs were evaluated over the course of nine consecutive years, which included ICM1&2: conventional (CT) flat-bed maize and wheat, ICM3&4: CT raised bed maize fb wheat without residues, ICM5&6: conservation agriculture (CA)-based double zero tilled (ZT) maize fb ZT wheat with residues and ICM7&8: CA-based triple ZT maize and wheat with residues and green manures. Our results indicated that the system productivity under CA-based ICMs was 16.5–22.9% greater than that under the CT-based ICM1-4. CA based ICM5-8 (125.2–131.5 × 103 MJ ha−1) needed higher energy input than CT-based ICM1-4 (32.7–39 × 103 MJ ha−1), with 76–80% shared by renewable crop residues. Furthermore, the CA-based ICMs recorded significantly higher levels of specific energy, human energy profitability, non-renewable energy use efficiency, and nutrient energy use efficiencies compared to CT-based. Likewise, the CA-based ICMs produced 12.5% more total output energy than the CT-based ICMs. In contrast, the CT based ICMs demonstrated, energy productivity, higher net energy returns and energy profitability. Compared to conventional ICMs, CA-based ICMs produced a 23–36% reduction in spatial carbon emissions and a 31–44 % reduction in yield-scale emissions. Nevertheless, the CA-based practices recorded the higher C- output, C- sustainability and C- efficiency ratio. Greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) was 33.3–76.2% greater with the ICM1-4 practices than with the ICM5-8 practises. Thus, the present study proposed that adopting the integrated crop management practices based on the conservation agriculture could prove to be productive, as well as carbon and energy-use efficient approach for the maize-wheat rotation. This approach is envisioned to make substantial contributions to both food security and environmental sustainability.

Green investment and its transformative impact on energy use in agriculture: A holistic approach towards carbon dioxide emissions

The extensive use of non-renewable energy sources in agriculture and associated unsustainable practices have contributed greatly to climate change issues. Africa's lack of green initiatives has exacerbated environmental pollution in the last decade. In that regard, this study investigates the transformative impact of green investment on carbon emissions in agriculture fueled by dependency on non-renewable energy use in the sector. It utilizes advanced econometric techniques, including dynamic ordinary least squares, fully modified ordinary least squares, and the causality tests to conduct a rigorous analysis. The findings reveal a concerning rise in agricultural pollution via crop and livestock production. However, green investment is found to have a positive impact on carbon dioxide emissions, hence a potent tool for significantly reducing carbon emissions. The causality analysis unveils a bidirectional causal relationship between green investment and agricultural pollution and a unidirectional causality between green investment and carbon emissions, shedding light on the complex interplay between these variables. Also, non-renewable energy is found to increase carbon emissions in the region. The outcomes of this research contribute valuable insights and lay a foundation for future research and policymakers to enhance the future of agricultural research and sustainability. It also offers a roadmap for developing effective policies that balance the immediate needs of the agricultural sector with the imperative of long-term environmental sustainability. Finally, it has a global significance on the relevance of green initiatives to boost sustainable agriculture and reduce pollution.

Solution of the modular PCM-based cooling ceiling and ventilation system

Most newly constructed buildings are now built to energy-passive standards, which set requirements for specific heating demand, non-renewable primary energy use, building envelope airtightness, and the frequency of exceeding permissible indoor air temperatures in summer. These temperature exceedances relate to the room’s thermal stability, determined by the potential for heat accumulation in surrounding structures over the daily cycle. For buildings with lightweight construction, implementing a Thermal Energy Storage (TES) solution can significantly enhance their energy accumulation ability. This article addresses the design and evaluation of a progressive cooling ceiling system combined with active ventilation system components, including the incorporation of TES based on PCM materials. The proposed solution aims to improve the thermal stability of occupied spaces, thereby significantly reduce the need for mechanical cooling. The research developed a new methodology for measuring the energy performance parameters of modular cooling ceiling systems, with its implementation thoroughly discussed. The evaluation of this solution was conducted within the context of the entire energy system for a reference building, considering various construction types (lightweight, medium, heavy). The overall potential energy savings range from 13% to 32%, depending on the building’s construction, while still meeting the required thermal comfort criteria.

PERHITUNGAN EMISI GAS RUMAH KACA DALAM KAWASAN PERTAMBANGAN

Carbon emissions are one of the components of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2) which mainly comes from the use of fossil fuels and various human activities. Based on fossil fuel and industrial emissions data, in 2022 Indonesia ranked as the 6th largest carbon emitting country in the world after China, the United States, India, Russia and Japan, with 728.88 million tons of CO2e total emissions. The Ministry of Industry reported that total GHG emissions from Indonesia's industrial sector reached 238.1 million tons of CO2e in 2022. In the mining industry, GHG emissions originate from deforestation, energy use, processing, and refining, with non-renewable energy use being the largest emitter. GHG emissions from primary mineral and metal production contribute approximately 10% of global GHG emissions related to energy. Each mining industry may have varying primary sources of GHG emissions depending on the type of mine and the final product. Mining industries, as one of the major emitters, must conduct GHG inventories to understand emission sources and develop effective reduction strategies. GHG inventory activities are conducted based on guidelines provided by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry's National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Management Handbook (2012), Book II Volumes 1-4. Efforts to reduce GHG emissions can be undertaken through planting plants that have high carbon absorption and storage capabilities in mine reclamation activities, as well as using New and Renewable Energy (NRE) as an alternative to replace fossil energy.

The connection between disaggregate energy use and export sophistication: New insights from OECD with robust panel estimations

Numerous nations have demonstrated their commitment to achieve sustainable economic growth by enhancing export sophistication fueled by imperative energy utilization. This research examines the impact of renewable and non-renewable energy (RE and NRE) use on the improvement and diversification of export strategies among OECD economies using data from 1990 to 2022. This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by introducing an export sophistication index as a dependent variable in the corresponding model. Pre-estimations followed by employing the CS-ARDL method findings revealed that disaggregated energy use plays a pivotal role in enhancing the intelligence of OECD economies, with the use of NRE energy exerting a more significant influence than REN use. While foreign direct investment, institutional quality and human capital also play essential roles in the complexity of exports within these economies. Applying the dynamic econometric technique, Wavelet coherence analysis substantiates these findings. Consequently, the study's results yield a range of policy recommendations.

A statistical study for the impact of REMS and nuclear energy on carbon dioxide emissions reductions in G20 countries

Renewable and nuclear energy are seen as clean and eco-friendly substitutes for energy derived from fossil fuels. Which of the two is better, though, is still up for debate. In order to meet their combined global energy objectives and perhaps become carbon neutral or even carbon negative in the near future, a shift to additional renewable energy sources and nuclear energy will be necessary. One such method of improving energy usage through the implementation of a renewable energy management system (REMS) that will help attain a continuous and reliable source of energy, allowing for the proactive and effective management of renewable assets and dependable supply. This article investigates attitudes and opinions about nuclear and renewable energy production technologies by analyzing the dependence of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions on non-renewable energy sources, renewable energy sources, and nuclear energy in the group of twenty (G20) countries, over the period from 2000 to 2021. This study employs advanced panel data econometric techniques in the presence of outliers in the G20 dataset, utilizing a robust random coefficient regression (RRCR) model via the M-estimation approach to study the impacts of non-renewable, renewable, and nuclear energy use with respect to CO2 emission mitigation in G20 countries. The overall conclusions of the econometric analysis confirm renewable and nuclear energy's importance in reducing CO2 emissions. We can conclude that the robust M-estimate approach is the best estimation technique for the G20 dataset, as compared to the classical estimation methods in the presence of outliers. The results show that for every percentage point of energy consumption that falls into the category of non-renewable energy, CO2 emissions will increase by 2.5737% for all G20 countries. Also, A 1% rise in renewable energy consumption reduces CO2 emissions by 1.0566% for all G20 countries. Similarly, a 1% increase in nuclear energy consumption will reduce CO2 emissions by 5.5703% for all G20 countries. Therefore, we can conclude that energy derived from renewable sources and nuclear energy greatly cuts CO2 emissions in all G20 countries. Total energy consumption, on the other hand, increases CO2 emissions in the long run. According to these findings, it is pivotal for the G20 countries to increase nuclear energy use and employ REMS to reduce the majority of G20 country's reliance on fossil fuels in order to minimize CO2 emissions. These findings are vital for understanding the relationship between these variables and the implementation of new or revised policies and initiatives supporting carbon neutrality at the G20 countries and national levels.

Impact of Global Climate Change on The Labour Market: Evidence from Türkiye

In the literature, the relationship between climate change and the labour market is discussed in terms of whether climate policies create employment opportunities or increase unemployment. Therefore, whether the transition to renewable energy will increase unemployment or create employment opportunities is an important research topic. This study aims to investigate the relationship between unemployment and the use of renewable energy by focusing on the Turkish labour market. In the study, the Augmented Autoregressive Distributed Lag test is applied to determine the short- and long-run relationships of the variables with annual data for the period 1990-2019 obtained from the International Energy Agency and TurkStat databases. The results of the study show that in the long-run, a 1% increase in non-renewable energy reduces unemployment by 1.64%, while renewable energy reduces unemployment by 2.03%. In the short-run, every 1% increase in the use of renewable energy reduces unemployment by 1.06%, while a 1% increase in the use of non-renewable energy reduces unemployment by 1.31%. In this context, it is possible to say that non-renewable energy sources have a greater impact on unemployment in the short run. The results of the research suggest that climate policies focussing on renewable energy in Turkey can help fight unemployment.

An empirical investigation of the impact of energy consumption, globalization and natural resources on ecological footprint and economic growth, evidence from China, Japan, South Korea and China Taiwan

Natural resources are regarded as important indicators that make great contributions to reducing environmental pollution and promoting growth in today's era of globalization. Thus, a more rigorous assessment of the complexity of determining growth and ecological footprint is critical. This study examines the dynamic linkages between globalization, natural resources, renewable and non-renewable energy use, ecological footprint and growth in Taiwan, Japan, China, and South Korea from 1975 to 2020. In terms of the certainty of cross-sectional dependence of panel variable data, this study uses second-generation panel unit root, cointegration, long-term elasticity, and two-way causality estimation tests to obtain reliable and valid results. The findings explore the fact that environmental degradation is substantially mitigated by the using of renewable energy sources, while other underlying factors, such as non-renewable energy sources, natural resource rent (NRR), economic growth, and globalization, exacerbate environmental pollution. In addition, the use of renewable and non-renewable energy, NRRs and globalization drive economic progress. Globalization and ecological footprint have a bilateral causal association. The research analysis supports the feedback hypothesis based on a bidirectional causal relationship between renewable energy use and ecological footprint. Based on the empirical findings of the current study, various policy endorsements are proposed to scare and control environmental damage without hampering growth in specific East Asian economies.

Competition Indices and Economic Benefits of Winter Wheat and Winter Peas in Mixed Cropping

Intensive wheat production, which produces high yields through the excessive use of chemical inputs and non-renewable energy, is unsustainable in the long term. Innovative cultivation methods such as intercropping can address emerging challenges. This kind of plant association offers the possibility of achieving a balanced yield with the use of a natural nitrogen source. An experiment was conducted for three growing seasons (2020/2021, 2021/2022, 2022/2023) with a combination of three winter wheat varieties (GK Szilárd, Cellule, GK Csillag) and a winter pea variety (Aviron) in three sowing densities to determine the species interaction and the economics of mixed plots. The intercropping systems were evaluated in terms of the land equivalent ratio (LER), aggressivity (A), competitive ratio CR), actual yield loss (AYL), monetary advantage index (MAI), and intercropping advantage (IA). In almost all mixtures, the values of partial A, CR, and AYL indicated that wheat was more competitive than peas due to the overconcentration of mixtures. For MAI, the mixture Cellule/Aviron 75:50 was more profitable than the others in the first two years. Our results draw attention to the influence of the seeding rate, which can contribute to new directions for current research.

Synergistic role of agriculture production, fertilizer use, tourism, and renewable energy on CO2 emissions in South Asia: A static and dynamic analysis

The most crucial industries for growth, particularly in developing countries, are agriculture, tourism, and the fertilizer industry. These businesses are also linked to environmental deterioration. The current study uses empirical research to inspect the links between carbon dioxide (CO2) secretions and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) progression, government expenditure, tourism, fertilizer usage, renewable and non-renewable energies, and agricultural production. Information commencing from six South Asian nations is used to produce the findings between 1991 and 2019. Following the establishment of stationary and cointegration, a static analysis using a Fixed Effect and Random Effect Model and a dynamic analysis using a One Step Difference and System GMM (Generalized Method of Moments) are performed. This article employs Mean Group (MG) and Augmented Mean Group (AMG) approaches to increase robustness, while multicollinearity, heteroscedasticity, autocorrelation, and Cross-Sectional Dependency (CSD) are used for post-estimation. According to the study, the selected South Asian region's agricultural, fertilizer use, non-renewable energy use, tourism, GDP growth, and government spending all result in a rise in CO2 emissions, while using clean energy reduces those emissions and is crucial to reducing those emissions. The study offers some policy ramifications concerning green farming and tourism.

Carbon Emissions Accounting Disclosure: An Empirical Analysis during the Covid-19 Pandemic Period in a Developing Country

Carbon emissions accounting disclosure (CEAD) is an interesting research area that is related to the increase in global warming that is being caused by the use of non-renewable energy. However, there has been no research that has tested the disclosure of carbon emissions during the COVID-19 pandemic using a comprehensive model. Apart from that, there is still limited previous research that focuses on developing countries where the use of fossil-based energy has become an important issue at the moment. In this sense, this study aims to contribute to CEAD by analyzing earnings management, corporate governance, and media exposure as determinants of CEAD in Indonesia, a developing country. The sample consists of 244 firm-year manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) during the 2020-2022 period. The test results, using partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), indicate support for legitimacy theory, namely the view that corporate governance and media exposure have a positive effect on the level of CEAD. Drawn from the COVID-19 pandemic period, the empirical evidence from this study shows that the sample of manufacturing companies tended to carry out income-increasing earnings management and the disclosure of carbon emissions tended to be low.

Energi listrik berkelanjutan: Potensi dan tantangan penyediaan energi listrik di Indonesia

Economic growth and increasing population density have an influence on the large need for electrical energy in Indonesia. The amount of energy needed is directly proportional to economic growth and population density. This condition could threaten energy security in Indonesia if all stakeholders still depend on non-renewable energy. Coal, oil, and natural gas, which are continuously exploited for generating electricity, will eventually run out and will no longer be able to meet Indonesia's electrical energy needs. Apart from that, the use of non-renewable energy also has a negative impact on the environment. Indonesia is a country that is rich in renewable energy sources that can be used as a source of energy for generating electricity, but there are still obstacles in processing and using them, so they are not optimal. This paper aims to analyze the potential and challenges of providing electrical energy in Indonesia. The method used is a descriptive method using primary and secondary data and literature studies. The results of this study show that the potential for renewable energy that can be processed and developed for electricity generation is quite large, namely from energy sources originating from geothermal, hydropower, mini-hydro and micro-hydro, bioenergy, solar power, wind energy, and ocean waves. The survey results show that 52% of the public agree with the use of renewable energy, and 43% agree with the use of nuclear energy as a source of renewable electrical energy. The reason for choosing nuclear energy is the reliability of the energy supply. A strategy for developing renewable electrical energy can be formulated based on the opportunities and challenges currently faced to achieve energy security in Indonesia. Efforts to develop renewable electrical energy need to be carried out with the cooperation of all relevant stakeholders so that the sustainability of electrical energy in Indonesia can be realized.

Recent advances in nickel‐based catalysts in eCO2RR for carbon neutrality

AbstractThe excessive use of nonrenewable energy has brought about serious greenhouse effect. Converting CO2 into high‐value‐added chemicals is undoubtedly the best choice to solve energy problems. Due to the excellent cost‐effectiveness and dramatic catalytic performance, nickel‐based catalysts have been considered as the most promising candidates for the electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (eCO2RR). In this work, the electrocatalytic reduction mechanism of CO2 over Ni‐based materials is reviewed. The strategies to improve the eCO2RR performance are emphasized. Moreover, the research on Ni‐based materials for syngas generation is briefly summarized. Finally, the prospects of nickel‐based materials in the eCO2RR are provided with the hope of improving transition‐metal‐based electrocatalysts for eCO2RR in the future.

Analysing the nexus between clean energy expansion, natural resource extraction, and load capacity factor in China: a step towards achieving COP27 targets

AbstractThe excessive use of non-renewable energy in 21st-century economic growth has continued to hurt the environment by accumulating carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. However, promoting environmental sustainability requires expanding clean energy utilisation. In this study, we examine the effects of clean energy expansion and natural resource extraction on load capacity factor (LCF) in China from 1970 to 2018. Using the dynamic autoregressive distributed lag simulations approach, we extend the standard load capacity curve (LCC) hypothesis by incorporating clean energy expansion and natural resource extraction as main determinants of the LCF. The empirical outcomes reveal that economic expansion is, although positively associated with the LCF, but its squared term degrades the LCF. This confirms that the LCC hypothesis is not valid for China. Moreover, while clean energy expansion has a positive effect on the LCF, the effect of natural resource extraction is negative. These effects are stronger and statistically significant only in the long run. Therefore, this study highlights the potentials for a sustainable decarbonized economy in China by investing not only in clean energy sources but also efficiently use the available natural resources in the country.

Efficiency Improvement, Design Optimization, and Expansion of Oxygen Flow Valve Holes in Small Industrial Scale Husk Furnaces

Indonesia has an abundant amount of industry. Production in large, medium, and small industries still uses gas and oil as fuel sources. The fuel sources used still come from non-renewable energy. There is a need for alternative use of renewable energy to reduce the use of non-renewable energy. One solution is the use of rice husk biomass as a fuel source. Rice husk is still often considered as waste despite its many utilizations. The utilization of rice husk waste must be improved to increase its beneficial value. Rice husk waste can be utilized as a fuel source in a husk furnace. A husk furnace is a cooking device in which the fuel (rice husk) is burned using direct combustion. This research aims to optimize the efficiency of the husk furnace by varying the size of the oxygen flow valve hole and the mass of water being heated. Tests were conducted on four variations of oxygen flow valve hole size, namely, 36x27 cm2, 36x34 cm2, 43x34 cm2, and 50x34 cm2, and two variations of water mass (6 and 18 kg). The research was conducted by heating water using the Water Boiling Test method with test parameters: heating time, fuel consumption rate, energy in, energy out, heat efficiency, heat transfer rate, and ash and charcoal yield. The significant efficiency value can be used as a reference for small-scale industrial rice husk furnaces. The most significant efficiency in the study was 54.99%, achieved by a 43x34 cm2 valve hole for heating 18 kg of water. Based on the most effective efficiency value gained, the expansion of the oxygen flow valve hole is sufficient to be used as a test parameter to test the optimization of small industrial-scale husk furnaces.

Examination of the factors contributing to environmental degradation: does LPG consumption still matter?

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is one of the energy resources that deserve to be qualified as a transition fuel for developing countries that cannot abandon their dependence on non-renewable energy use and adopt renewable alternatives. The current study examines how environmental degradation is affected by financial development, LPG use, and economic growth in the BRICS-T countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and Turkiye) in the period of 1993-2018. For this purpose, four models were tested with Pedroni, Kao,PMG Panel ARDLcointegration and Dumitrescu-Hurlin causality methods. The results show that LPG consumption has a positive effect on the ecological footprint and an adverse influence on the CO2 emission of BRICS - T countries. The financial institutions exhibited to have a positive and significant impact on ecology. Economic growth displayed negative effects on environmental degradation and a positive influence on CO2. Additionally, there is significant evidence for the validity of the EKC hypothesis. Unidirectional causality exists between ecological footprint, LPG, financial market, and economic growth. The financial institution index shows bidirectional causality with the ecological footprint. There is also unidirectional causality between ecological footprint, LPG, financial market, and economic growth. Furthermore, the financial institutions' index shows a bidirectional causality with the ecological footprint. Also, economic development and financial institution index have a bidirectional relationship with CO2 emissions. On the other hand, the financial market index showed unidirectional causality with CO2 emissions. In short, our study highlights the need for a comprehensive and integrated approach to sustainable development in BRICS - T countries. Policymakers must balance economic growth with environmental protection and consider the potential trade-offs between policy options to promote sustainable and inclusive development.