Environmental Protection Objectives Research Articles

Environmental regulations in developing countries and the span of firms' production stages: Evidence from China

AbstractDespite the well‐established tradeoff between economic development and environmental protection, research on the economic costs of alleviating pollution, especially from the perspective of global value chain upgradation, is scarce. In 2006, in its Eleventh Five‐Year Plan, the Chinese government implemented strict environmental regulations against air pollution. We examine the causal effect of these environmental regulations – which were stricter for higher pollution emission provinces compared with lower pollution emission provinces – on Chinese firms' span of production stages after the policy shock. A difference‐in‐difference‐in‐differences estimation reveals that, first, environmental regulations have a significantly negative effect on firms' span of production stages that robustness checks corroborate; second, the negative effects of environmental regulations on firms' span of production stages are realised through the simultaneous decline in import upstreamness and increase in export upstreamness. Heterogeneity tests indicate that the effects are more significant for firms in eastern China, and foreign‐owned firms; finally, the negative effects are manifested through the emission‐related input and output, productivity, and innovation mechanisms. Meanwhile, there are significant emission reduction effects. These results have implications on environmental policies in developing countries in terms of reiterating the need to achieve the dual objectives of environmental protection and global value chain upgradation.

Федеральные особо охраняемые природные территории Алтайского края: современное состояние и перспективы развития

One of the most important global problems of our time is the preservation of the natural environment; the optimal solution to this problem is the creation of specially protected natural areas. A guarantee of effective conservation of the region’s natural-territorial complexes is the creation of a network of protected areas that is representative of landscape and biological diversity. It is also known that a more stringent protection regime, which is typical for nature reserves and national parks, contributes to the successful implementation of environmental protection objectives. This article examines the current state of specially protected natural areas of federal significance in the Altai Territory ― the “Tigireksky” State Nature Reserve and the “Salair” National Park, as well as the prospects for the creation of the projected “Gornaya Kolyvan” National Park. It is shown that the existing and projected federal protected areas in the region are located only in its mountainous part, and the natural complexes of the flat part of the region, which also have great environmental value, are protected only by the regimes of nature reserves and natural monuments of regional significance. The area of federal protected areas in the region has recently increased from 0.25% to 1.5% of the region’s area, which is still one of the lowest indicators for the regions of the Siberian Federal District. The creation of the “Gornaya Kolyvan” National Park plays a big role in preserving the diversity of Northwestern Altai and makes it possible to unite disparate regional protected areas into a single whole at the organizational level. If this protected area is created and the protected zone of the reserve is given federal status, the share of federal protected areas will increase to 2.5% of the area of the region.

Community Management of Groundwater under a Private Property Regime: An Example of Institutional Local Adaptation to Overexploitation Problems in the Copiapó Aquifer, Chile

The governance model established in Chilean water law delegates responsibility for groundwater management to private water rights owners. The Copiapó aquifer in the Atacama Region, Chile, has problems of overexploitation resulting from intensive use of the resource. This is explained by the limited information on the water availability in the aquifer and the existence of legally granted water rights whose flows exceed the rate of natural recharge. In this context, water users formed Chile’s first groundwater users’ community in the Copiapó basin for the collective administration of the aquifer. Although this organization is regulated by Chilean water law, the way in which its members participate in decision-making processes and some self-management mechanisms that they have implemented are local institutional arrangements that go beyond the rules established in the Water Code, showing this organization to be an empirical case of institutional adaptation to the overdepletion of an aquifer. The local institutional arrangements include incorporating environmental protection objectives for aquifers and wetlands, establishing an institutional arrangement that guarantees the participation in the decision-making processes of different water uses and users, developing an internal management model that promotes temporary transfers of partial volumes of a water right and carrying out studies to improve water management.

Influence of Coal Mining Activities on Soil's Agrochemical and Biochemical Properties

Recultivation of technologically disturbed land is an important objective of environmental protection. The study aimed to examine the impact of the coal mining process on the agrochemical and biochemical parameters of soil. Agrochemical and biochemical analysis of soil samples was conducted before and after the mining reclamation stage. The baseline indicators of coal mines indicated that all studied territories needed a full cycle of technologically disturbed land recultivation measures. Before the initial stage of recultivation, the content of carbonate-ion, bicarbonate-ion, copper, lead, zinc, cadmium, and petroleum products in soil samples from the coal mine met the norms and requirements of authorizing documents, and part of the samples from the territory of the Sample 2 coal mine were marked by increased pH and reduced humus content. All samples exceeded the background values of mobile forms of zinc, manganese, copper, lead, nickel, chromium, and cobalt. To effectively improve soil fertility, it is recommended to use biochar, compost, and/or peat and apply organic and inorganic fertilizers. The next stage of research will involve the biological reclamation of technogenically disturbed areas of the coal mines with cultivated and wild plants.

Eco‐efficiency of leys—The trigger for sustainable integrated crop‐dairy farming systems

AbstractThe specialisation of agricultural systems in Western Europe and the intensification of livestock and cropping production are intrinsically linked to substantial resource inputs. This intensified approach frequently leads to nutrient surpluses and biodiversity loss, resulting in detrimental environmental impacts. A transformative agricultural shift is imperative in light of climate and environmental protection objectives. Addressing this need, the Lindhof eco‐efficient pasture‐based milk production initiative, initiated in 2016, is a tangible manifestation of a productive and profitable dairy system integrated within a ley‐based Integrated Crop‐Livestock System (ICLS). Operational at the organically managed Lindhof farm, this approach involves a rotational stocking system of spring‐calving Jersey cows stocked on grass‐clover‐herb leys embedded within a cash crop rotation. The dairy cows benefit from these highly productive swards, rich in nutritive value comparable to concentrate feeding. At the same time, the cultivated crops derive advantages from the legacy effect of leys due to nutrient exchange facilitated by grazing excreta and residual crop matter. Compared to specialised systems, the ley‐based ICLS emerges as an alternative dairy production paradigm that supports many ecosystem services – including minimised nutrient losses, a lower carbon footprint and positive contributions to agro‐biodiversity. These outcomes are realised without compromising overall land‐use efficiency while reducing environmental and social costs of 20–30 Eurocent per kg of milk produced compared to specialised systems. Thus, the ley‐based ICLS conforms to the principles of ecological intensification, enhancing functional diversity within the agricultural landscape. Essentially, the Lindhof initiative represents a holistic and environmentally responsible approach to farming that could contribute to realising the EU Farm to Fork Strategy.

Energy communities and architectural quality of small historical centres

The text looks at Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) as a tool for implementing strategies that favour local energy transition, with particular focus on inland areas and small historical settlements. These “sensitive” contexts, often situated in landscapes or historical-cultural areas of significant value, require policies to convert to green energy and energy self-sufficiency that evaluate the need for specific actions tied to environmental protection objectives. The study reveals the role RECs can play in urban and landscape regeneration processes in these territories, under the condition that we adopt a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to design, oriented toward reimagining these sites with a view toward relaunching and promoting them.

Modeling Ecological Constraints on a CO2 Pipeline Network.

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) are a critical set of strategies to decarbonize the industrial and power sectors and to mitigate global climate change. Pipeline infrastructure connecting CO2 sources and sinks, if not planned strategically, can cause environmental and social impacts by disturbing local landscapes. We investigated the impacts of these considerations on optimal CO2 pipeline routing and sink locations by modifying and leveraging an open-source CCUS infrastructure model, SimCCS. We expanded SimCCS from a cost-minimizing to a multiobjective framework, explicitly incorporating environmental protection objectives. We estimated trade-offs between private costs and environmental and social impacts. Using a version of the model focused on the southeastern United States, we modeled seven scenarios with varying weights given to environmental impacts to evaluate how the pipeline network responds to the multiobjective optimization. We found that the optimal path is sensitive to environmental and social impact considerations in that a small increase in pipeline length (and cost) significantly avoids large environmental and social impacts. We hope such a tool can be used to improve the pipeline permitting and siting processes and contribute to the achievement of decarbonization goals with minimal environmental impacts.

The Impact of the Digital Economy on Carbon Emissions using the STIRPAT Model

As a new economic factor, digitalization plays a vital role in society, economy, and the environment. Based on the expanded STIRPAT model, this paper empirically tests the impact of digital economy on carbon emissions by panel data from 2011 to 2021 in BRICS countries. Utilizing a variety of econometric techniques, the study's objectives were met. For instance, unit root properties are investigated using the CIPS and CADF techniques, while cointegration is examined using the panel cointegration approach of Westerlund and Edgerton (2008). The findings demonstrate the existence of a long-term correlation between carbon emissions, population, GDP, technical level, and digital economy. We propose that governments must not only implement hedging policies to reduce Carbon emissions caused by the digital economy at an early stage but also promote the development of the digital economy in order to accomplish the objective of global collaborative environmental protection.

Working in (Slow) Progress: Socio-Environmental and Economic Dynamics in the Forestry Sector and the Contribution to Sustainable Development in Europe

Forest ecosystems are increasingly subject to disturbances, such as extreme (climate) events, fires and pathological outbreaks, which exert significant (and still poorly quantified) economic impacts, despite their intrinsic resilience. How forest management addresses these challenges will have profound effects on human health, environmental diversity, (ecological and economic) productivity and the ability of forest ecosystems to recovery from exogenous shocks. Assuming forests as ensuring ecosystem services that are vital to society and human well-being, in addition to providing wood material, a better knowledge of forest ecosystems appears a key requirement to delineate a developmental strategy that guarantees environmental protection objectives and achievement of climate and energy targets. In the context of Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, the information available on forest management practices in Europe still seems not completely suitable to provide a comprehensive overview of ecosystem conditions, their economic value, and their biodiversity. Based on a literature review, the present contribution focuses on recent dynamics of the forestry sector in Europe, delineating the inherent complexity in the environmental-economic nexus. Additionally, the extensive use of a key natural resource such as wood exerts social implications for local districts adapting to ecological change—from climate warming to landscape transformations. In line with earlier studies, our paper confirms the role of the technical-economic dimension of forestry in sustainable development paths of districts and regions, affecting together (i) short-term economic dynamics, (ii) the growth prospects of the sector, (iii) the organization of the supply chain, (iv) the interconnections between companies, and (v) investment strategies at large. One of the major issues is the low reliability of official statistics to provide a coherent picture of the actual status of forest resources. At the same time, forestry practices are pivotal in maintaining habitats and species while increasing the timber production that remains (too) sustainable. This is the policy direction constantly given by the European Commission to stimulate over time public bodies and private (in whose hands is about 60% of European forests) to start virtuous paths in the circular economy with considerable repercussions in terms of additional jobs, recycled materials, mt of CO2 equivalent avoided, and increase in community added value. In this context, forestry should assure a more ‘holistic’ contribution to sustainable development paths at various spatial scales. This means concentrating on both economic and environmental targets based on the identification of significant (ecological-economic) dimensions that may delineate future lines of investigation and policy intervention, while increasing between member countries and regional authorities.

Refined Calculation of Multi-Objective Ecological Flow in Rivers, North China

The concepts and calculation of basic, suitable, and fine ecological flow are put forward, and an integrated multi-method to calculate the ecological flow in rivers under multi-objectives is explored. Based on this, a refined calculation theory and method of a multi-objective ecological flow division based on time and space is proposed. That is, three commonly used methods, namely, the hydrology method, the hydraulics method, and the habitat method, are selected to finely calculate the ecological flow demand at different periods, in different sections, and under different ecological objectives. This approach breaks through the traditional ecological water demand calculation method based on hydrology and develops a river ecological flow calculation method based on water environmental protection objectives. A refined calculation method of ecological flow division based on time and space is developed to ensure that the ecological-hydrological process in rivers and lakes meets the ecological flow demand in different periods, different reaches, and different ecological objectives. Taking eight rivers entering Baiyangdian Lake as an example, the ecological flow demand in different river sections under different ecological objectives at different times is calculated to ensure the ecological flow process. The results show that the range of basic ecological flow demand range is 0.07–3.87 m3/s, the range of suitable ecological flow demand is 0.51~10.74 m3/s, and the range of fine ecological flow demand is 0.71~20.29 m3/s. In terms of spatial distribution, Ping River has the lowest demand for ecological flow, and the Zhulong River has the largest. In terms of the interannual ecological demand, those of the Baigou River, Fu River, Xiaoyi River, and Zhulong River are larger. In the demand process across the year, the demand is the largest from July to September, while the demand is the smallest from March to May. Similarly, most rivers face such problems as a sharp decline in runoff, drying up of the river, and an urgent need to restore ecology in northern China. This study also has insights and reference significance for other regions.

Research and application analysis of marine diesel engine energy saving and emission reduction technology

In order to protect the environment and check the emission of polluted gas, this article conducts research on energy saving and emission reduction technologies for marine diesel engines and their applications. In order to achieve this goal, we can improve and optimize combustion efficiency, improve combustion efficiency and combustion efficiency of diesel engines, and use new engines with higher and cleaner energy sources when using new energy sources with higher efficiency and less diesel, thus reducing pollution and achieving environmental protection objectives. The application of energy-saving and emission reduction technology in marine diesel engines can make them more efficient, improve efficiency, and facilitate combustion of diesel engines, reduce nitrogen oxides, recover heat generated by diesel engines, and improve energy consumption.

Climate, Energy – and Environment? Reconciliation of EU Environmental Law with the Implementation Realities of EU Climate Law

Abstract Recognizing that significantly increased renewable-energy share (res) is a central component of both EU climate and environmental law, the focus of this paper is the point of intersection between these legal frameworks. Renewable-energy infrastructure projects are necessary for climate-mitigation purposes, but they give rise to significant local environmental impacts that have a negative effect on local communities and environmental conditions. The objective of environmental protection, ‘to preserve, protect and improve the quality of the environment’, does not fully align with the objectives of climate mitigation, which are designed to safeguard the needs of future generations and the long-term environment. While EU environmental policy encompasses ‘measures designed to combat climate change’, little attention has been afforded in relevant Directives to the impact of climate-mitigation measures on the environment. There is no provision for proportionate treatment of the impacts of these measures in environmental governance procedures. Analysis of the provisions of the eia and Habitats Directives, which directly impact the authorization of renewable-energy projects, reveals that climate as a component of EU environmental policy is dealt with via the limitation and control of greenhouse gas emissions, an incomplete approach that fails to provide for the development of new large-scale infrastructure that can mitigate the generation of greenhouse gas emissions through provision of sustainable energy sources. The European Union’s revised Trans European Network – Energy (ten-E) Regulation (June 2022) provides that energy infrastructure in the form of projects of common interest shall be deemed to be in the overriding public interest in the context of the Habitats Directive, an exception to that Directive’s prohibition on development that could negatively impact protected Natura 2000 features. A proposal pursuant to the EU Commission’s plan ‘REPowerEU’ recommends an amendment to the Renewable Energy Directive to introduce a similar overriding provision in respect of all renewable-energy infrastructure projects. These sidestepping provisions in climate-energy laws, made necessary by the failure of EU environmental law to incorporate effective provisions that promote climate change measures, are an incomplete solution that will limit the regulation of an environmentally responsible approach to increased res and are likely to be challenged.

One Fee, Two Reductions: The Double Abatement Effect of Pollutant Discharge Fees on Industrial Pollution and Carbon Emissions

Formulating policies under the dual policy objectives of environmental protection and carbon neutrality in China is essential. This paper utilizes enterprise-level data to construct a panel model. Our empirical test indicates that increasing China’s pollutant discharge fee can effectively reduce industrial pollutants, including wastewater and exhaust gas. The empirical results indicate that in terms of enterprises, pollutant discharge fees can not only directly reduce carbon emissions but also indirectly by reducing coal assumption. This paper also constructs a threshold model of the carbon emission reduction effect of population size. It has been proved that when the population size does not exceed the threshold, the utility of the pollutant discharge fee is apparent. According to this study’s heterogeneity test, the carbon emission reduction effect of the pollutant discharge fee is more evident in large- and medium-sized enterprises and heavy pollution enterprises.

The Key to Sustainable Economic Development: A Triple Bottom Line Approach

Concerns about improving social, environmental, and economic living standards are the basis of the triple bottom line (TBL) link to economic development (ED). Aware of the importance of studying their relationship, this article analysed the influence of TBL on ED. A quantitative methodology was used. The sample comprised a panel of data from 2006 to 2019 for OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries. Five multiple linear regression models were estimated by the generalised method of moments. The results of this study revealed that the social dimension of TBL boosts ED, the environmental dimension of TBL slows down ED, and the economic dimension of TBL contains conflicting synergies in ED. The Human Development Index (HDI) should now include indicators of environmental wellbeing. Governments should adopt policies to improve social wellbeing to boost ED, work to coordinate the objectives of environmental protection and ED, and combat vulnerabilities arising from public debt. As one of the first studies to assess the influence of TBL on ED at the country level, the present findings contribute to the reflection about the influence of TBL on a country’s ED and strengthens the discussion around the influence of different dimensions of TBL.

Optimal trade-off of integrated river basin water resources allocation considering water market: A bi-level multi-objective model with conditional value-at-risk constraints

The predictable water shortage crisis is intensifying due to frequent extreme weather caused by climate change and human activities. Motivated by urgent practical needs of more scientific and balanced river basin water resources allocation (RBWRA) schemes, a comprehensive bi-level multi-objective programming (BLMOP) model for RBWRA considering uncertain risks and water market is constructed in this paper, which pursues the objectives of environmental protection, equality, and economic development. River basin authority, as the leader of RBWRA, is committed to reducing pollutants while introducing Gini coefficient to maintain the equality of economic development between sub-areas. Meanwhile, the sub-areas (i.e., followers) are dedicated to improving the economic benefit. In addition, the water market is introduced as water redistribution mechanism and its effect is probed into in detail. Moreover, conditional value-at-risk (CVaR) constraints are integrated into the model to control the economic loss caused by the risks of uncertain water availability. To solve the BLMOP model, a novel bi-level interaction based adaptive global equilibrium optimization (BI-aGEO) approach is proposed, which can obtain the best equilibrium solution that satisfies all decision-making participants. Furthermore, the proposed model and approach are applied to the Hanjiang River Basin in central China to elaborate on their feasibility and effectiveness. Results show that the proposed model is effective in ensuring the sustainability, equality and efficiency of RBWRA. The introduction of water market is shown to be able to improve water efficiency and promote water conservation and CVaR constraints play a significant role in controlling economic risks. Finally, some managerial suggestions are provided for different RBWRA participants for more scientific and effective integrated water resources management (IWRM).

TRADE-OFFS IN THE DESIGN OF SUSTAINABLE CROPPING SYSTEMS AT A REGIONAL LEVEL: A CASE STUDY ON THE NORTH CHINA PLAIN

<List> <ListItem><ItemContent> ● Impacts of 30 cropping systems practiced on the North China Plain were evaluated. </ItemContent></ListItem> <ListItem><ItemContent> ● Trade-offs were assessed among productive, economic and environmental indicators. </ItemContent></ListItem> <ListItem><ItemContent> ● An evolutionary algorithm was used for multi-objective optimization. </ItemContent></ListItem> <ListItem><ItemContent> ● Conflict exists between productivity and profitability versus lower ground water decline. </ItemContent></ListItem> <ListItem><ItemContent> ● Six strategies were identified to jointly mitigate the trade-offs between objectives. </ItemContent></ListItem></List> Since the Green Revolution cropping systems have been progressively homogenized and intensified with increasing rates of inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides and water. This has resulted in higher crop productivity but also a high environmental burden due to increased pollution and water depletion. To identify opportunities for increasing the productivity and reducing the environmental impact of cropping systems, it is crucial to assess the associated trade-offs. The paper presents a model-based analysis of how 30 different crop rotations practiced in the North China Plain could be combined at the regional level to overcome trade-offs between indicators of economic, food security, and environmental performance. The model uses evolutionary multi-objective optimization to maximize revenues, livestock products, dietary and vitamin C yield, and to minimize the decline of the groundwater table. The modeling revealed substantial trade-offs between objectives of maximizing productivity and profitability versus minimizing ground water decline, and between production of livestock products and vitamin C yield. Six strategies each defining a specific combination of cropping systems and contributing to different extents to the various objectives were identified. Implementation of these six strategies could be used to find opportunities to mitigate the trade-offs between objectives. It was concluded that a holistic analysis of the potential of a diversity cropping systems at a regional level is needed to find integrative solutions for challenges due to conflicting objectives for food production, economic viability and environmental protection.

Cooperation and accounting policies of economic entities as tools for the development of a green economy

Subject. Scientific and technological progress, mining disregarding environmental standards, throw-away economy, and other similar human activities have led to a new economic objective of environmental protection, waste disposal, and recycling. Any qualitative solution to an economic problem requires a quantitative measurement to calculate its scale and create political and organisational measures to eliminate it. State regulation and the support of a green economy means providing for and controlling the processes of enterprise cooperation aimed at waste optimisation and disposal as well as controlling waste recycling. Organisational measures include procedures aimed at the formation of cooperative ties. They also require procedures that form an accounting and analytic section, i.e. procedures for the acknowledgement, assessment, and disclosure of information about waste in financial statements. A realistic estimate and the control of waste as well as liquidation obligations related to its disposal will provide reliable information about the scale of environmental behaviour of each economic entity. Objectives. The study includes identifying tools for the development of a green economy. It proposes methods for environmental cooperation within the framework of waste-free and lean production, the development of conditions for the acknowledgement and correction of estimates of recyclable and non-recyclable waste, and methods for the efficient use of recyclable waste. Methods. The work involved the observation and generalisation of empirical data regarding the economic activities of economic entities and the study of scientific economic literature. It also used methods for the theoretical analysis of provisions of regulatory documents regarding the state control of activities in the field of environmental protection and waste management. Conclusions. The paper presents a study of different types of effective environmental behaviour of economic entities. Such behaviour requires comprehensive measures aimed at using cooperative relations between economic entities and improving the accounting policies of participants of economic relations to reduce waste and to meet liquidation obligations for waste disposal and the remediation of the environment. The proposed tools for the development of a green economy, ways of acknowledging environmental costs, their estimation, control, and saving the environment will make it possible to effectively use limited natural resources.

Green claims, green washing and consumer protection in the European Union

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to offer some reflection on the importance of reliable green claims to encourage sustainable production. The role of market is fundamental. Businesses and consumers are both involved in achieving environmental protection objectives. There is the real risk of the phenomenon of so-called green washing or misleading marketing. The problem arises of verifying the reliability of green claims to prevent competitive elements from become distorting factors of competition.Design/methodology/approachBased on the analysis of a European programme, the author shows how in Italy there is a dangerous lack of consumer protection. For this reason the European and national authorities have provided that green claims must be true, reliable, verifiable and comparable, but it is necessary that consumers be protected, through a certification system that makes it possible to certify the veracity of green claims. The problem is that a number of certification systems have been adopted in Europe which undermine the competitiveness of the market for green products.FindingsThis work aims to identify the tools necessary to make green indications more reliable, but above all to create a common methodology on which to base them. In this direction, companies wishing to advertise the ecological characteristics of their products should be required to provide the supporting demonstrations on the basis of a standard methodology assessing their actual environmental impact.Originality/valueThis work will examine the problem of green washing and the importance of reliable green claims for environmental protection. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this paper is the original work of the author and has not been submitted elsewhere for publication.

Does agri-environment scheme participation in England increase pollinator populations and crop pollination services?

Agri-environment schemes are programmes where landholders enter into voluntary agreements (typically with governments) to manage agricultural land for environmental protection and nature conservation objectives. Previous work at local scale has shown that these features can provide additional floral and nesting resources to support wild pollinators, which may indirectly increase floral visitation to nearby crops. However, the effect of entire schemes on this important ecosystem service has never previously been studied at national scale. Focusing on four wild pollinator guilds (ground-nesting bumblebees, tree-nesting bumblebees, ground-nesting solitary bees, and cavity-nesting solitary bees), we used a state-of-the-art, process-based spatial model to examine the relationship between participation in agri-environment schemes across England during 2016 and the predicted abundances of these guilds and their visitation rates to four pollinator dependent crops (oilseed rape, field beans, orchard fruit and strawberries). Our modelling predicts that significant increases in national populations of ground-nesting bumblebees and ground-nesting solitary bees have occurred in response to the schemes. Lack of significant population increases for other guilds likely reflects specialist nesting resource requirements not well-catered for in schemes. We do not predict statistically significant increases in visitation to pollinator-dependent crops at national level as a result of scheme interventions but do predict some localised areas of significant increase in bumblebee visitation to crops flowering in late spring. Lack of any significant change in visitation to crops which flower outside this season is likely due to a combination of low provision of nesting resource relative to floral resource by scheme interventions and low overall participation in more intensively farmed landscapes. We recommend future schemes place greater importance on nesting resource provision alongside floral resource provision, better cater for the needs of specialised species and promote more contiguous patches of semi-natural habitat to better support solitary bee visitation.

Flare emission reduction utilizing solid oxide fuel cells at a natural gas processing plant

The oil and gas sector produces a substantial volume of emissions mainly generated from flaring, which adds to the total energy loss in oil and gas plants and significantly impacts air quality. Therefore, reducing and recovering flare gas is essential since it benefits economic efficiency and environmental protection objectives. Several options have been developed for flare gas recovery. One of the promising approaches is integrating solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) into natural gas operations. The integration of SOFCs with a flare system in a natural gas processing plant that produces two billion standard cubic feet of natural gas daily reduces the emissions and generates electricity using the complimentary fuel.Moreover, by maintaining the flame’s heating value at the flare tip to ensure the plant’s safety requirement, 70% of the flare gas can be fed to SOFC as fuel. In an on-shore plant, SOFCs are fueled by 3.5 million standard cubic feet of purge gas, which will reduce the CO2 eq. per day from 263 tons to 101 tons and generates 20 MW of electricity. For the off-shore plant, the fuel for SOFCs is around 105 thousand standard cubic feet of purge gas, which reduces the CO2 eq. per day from 9 tons to 3 tons and generates 600 kW of electricity. Utilizing SOFCs in the natural gas flare system will generate extra electricity using waste gases and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.