Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions Research Articles

How dare they? Neoliberal resentment and carbon taxes in Alberta, Canada

ABSTRACT Policies that put a price on carbon dioxide emissions have long been favored in economic circles for reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Yet when such policies were deployed in Alberta, Canada, they sparked passionate opposition by conservative politicians, pundits, and interest groups. The opposition revealed that while carbon taxes remain firmly within a market-based neoliberal policy framework, many of those who opposed them are committed to market-based policies. Drawing on legislative debates and media commentary, I argue that the answer can be found in anti-elitist resentment. I contend that anti-elitist resentment served as a component of the affective formations that underwrote the emergence of expertise and policymaking in the 1970s and 1980s, only to now be taken up in opposition to neoliberal policy expertise.

Numerical Modeling of a Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell for Electric Aircraft Propulsion

Electrified propulsion systems with hydrogen-fueled fuel cells can potentially reduce carbon dioxide emissions from aircraft. However, achieving a substantial increase in the gravimetric/volumetric power density of fuel cell systems poses a considerable challenge. In this study, we focus on high temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (HT-PEMFCs) working between 100 and 200°C. To design an optimized PEMFC structure for an electric aircraft, we have developed a numerical model that employs the finite element method (FEM) (COMSOL Multiphysics) to couple electrochemistry, gas diffusive and convective transports, and heat transfer in fuel cell components such as separators, gas flow channels, gas diffusion layers, catalyst layers, and a PEM. We thereby derive the current distributions associated with three-dimensional hydrogen, oxygen, and water vapor concentration distributions, as well as temperature distributions. Moreover, we develop a machine learning model from the data outputs of the FEM model, which serves as training data, to reduce the computational costs for the fuel cell stack design incorporated in a system-level numerical model.

Techno economic analysis of PV pumping system for rural village in East Java

Renewable energy systems offer a sustainable alternative for addressing energy needs, especially in rural settings. This study investigates the optimization of a hybrid photovoltaic (PV) pumping system by minimizing the Cost of Energy (COE), maximizing the Renewable Fraction (RF), and reducing Carbon Dioxide Emissions (ECO₂). The optimization process was carried out using Python to implement the Queen Honeybee Migration (QHBM) algorithm, which evaluated three distinct scenarios to determine the most efficient system configuration. The optimal setup comprised 48 units of 600 Wp PV panels, 17 units of 250 Ah batteries, and 3 units of 8,000 W inverters. This configuration achieved a COE of $0.041 per kWh, an RF of 43.96 %, and an ECO₂ reduction of 118.49 kgCO₂e, with a cumulative objective value of -146.76. A comparative analysis with the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm indicated that QHBM excels in optimizing RF and ECO₂, whereas PSO demonstrates marginally superior performance in reducing COE. The economic evaluation reveals a Net Present Value (NPV) of $40,206.11 over a 35-year period, a Return on Investment (ROI) of 398 %, a Break-Even Point (BEP) of 6.45 years, and a Payback Period (PP) of 13.25 years. The system is projected to yield daily and annual cost savings of $6.33 and $2,310.90, respectively. These results underscore the efficacy of QHBM in achieving superior techno-economic and environmental performance in hybrid PV pumping systems.

Use of Various Industrial and Eggshell Wastes for the Sustainable Construction Sector

The alternative composites’ production alleviates the serious problem generated by global warming. Methods to reduce the amount of cement used in concrete production, for example, are being investigated to determine how to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in many applications. Egg shells and various industrial wastes, which are recommended to use in the construction sector at an appropriately high rate, also cause serious environmental damage. Bottom ash (BA) and marble powder (MP) wastes are used today in civil engineering applications. In addition, it is important to increase the use of eggshells due to their rich calcium carbonate content. In this work, BA and MP wastes were blended with eggshells to produce cement paste composites. Two different sets of composites were prepared during this study. The composites were prepared with cement (80%), BA (20%), and MP (20%) wastes by weight with 0.3%, 0.75%, 1.5%, and 2.5% eggshell waste. The fresh (flow table), physical (dry unit mass, apparent specific gravity, and porosity), mechanical (unconfined compressive strength and flexural strength), and durability (water absorption, seawater resistance) tests were conducted. According to the experimental results, the composites can be classified as lightweight construction materials. The test results showed that 0.75% eggshell by weight of cement in bottom ash and marble powder can be used as an optimum value for better performance. The bottom ash mixtures groups are higher water absorption and porosity values when referring to the marble powder mixture groups. The highest compressive strength value was found at 56.03 MPa in the MP mixture group and 52.79 MPa in the BA mixture groups with these optimum eggshell combinations at 56 days. The MP mixture group showed better resistance to seawater when referring to the bottom ash blended mixtures. Laboratory-produced composites are possible candidates for cost-effective and environmentally friendly building materials. The eggshells have a promising alternative binder for concrete in the near future and they are utilized together with industrial wastes such as BA and MP in sustainable concrete construction.

The reduction of chemical inputs by ultra-precise smart spot sprayer technology maximizes crop potential by lowering phytotoxicity

Weeding is at the heart of agriculture. Today, using herbicides is unavoidable in conventional agriculture. However, increasing ecological awareness, the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and the pursuit of sustainable food have driven industries and academics to explore new approaches for growing and protecting crops. In this context, smart spot sprayers emerge as a highly innovative alternative to broadcast treatments, which overuse pesticides, and mechanical weeding, which is limited by restrictive application conditions. Using artificial intelligence (AI) for plant recognition and ultra-precise spraying technology, herbicides are applied directly to weeds with minimal overspray, reducing their use by 90% compared to conventional methods. Spot sprayers' narrowly targeted spray limits chemicals' contact with the crop, resulting in low phytotoxicity, preserving natural crop development while maximizing yield potential. In addition, site-specific application increases the selectivity of chemical products artificially, enabling more concentrated mixtures to be used. Also, AI enables the selective application of non-selective molecules, supporting their use in established cultures. These characteristics open new opportunities for effective weed control where the traditional solutions fall short. This publication demonstrates the potential of the ultra-precise smart spot sprayer ARA in weed management in onion and sugar beet crops. Although comparing the overall performance of ARA with other smart spot sprayers on the market cannot be done in this article, this technology's potential in rendering weed management on farms more effective, sustainable, and saving labor without compromising yield is nevertheless indicated.

Review of Some Methods of CO2 Utilization

Abstract Protecting the environment from harmful substances (carbon oxides, nitrogen oxides, soot products, etc.) is one of the pressing issues of our time. This article discusses specific topics related to the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere, which are generated during biomass gasification, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, and other processes. The article also identifies alternative methods for producing valuable petrochemical products, which significantly reduce gas emissions into the atmosphere.

An integrated experimental-modeling approach to identify key processes for carbon mineralization in fractured mafic and ultramafic rocks.

Controlling atmospheric warming requires immediate reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, as well as the active removal and sequestration of CO2 from current point sources. One promising proposed strategy to reduce atmospheric CO2 levels is geologic carbon sequestration (GCS), where CO2 is injected into the subsurface and reacts with the formation to precipitate carbonate minerals. Rapid mineralization has recently been reported for field tests in mafic and ultramafic rocks. However, unlike saline aquifers and depleted oil and gas reservoirs historically considered for GCS, these formations can have extremely low porosities and permeabilities, limiting storage volumes and reactive mineral surfaces to the preexisting fracture network. As a result, coupling between geochemical interactions and the fracture network evolution is a critical component of long-term, sustainable carbon storage. In this paper, we summarize recent advances in integrating experimental and modeling approaches to determine the first-order processes for carbon mineralization in a fractured mafic/ultramafic rock system. We observe the critical role of fracture aperture, flow, and surface characteristics in controlling the quantity, identity, and morphology of secondary precipitates and present where the influence of these factors can be reflected in newly developed thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical models. Our findings provide a roadmap for future work on carbon mineralization, as we present the most important system components and key challenges that we are overcoming to enable GCS in mafic and ultramafic rocks.

Assessing carbon capture and storage technology in industrial joint venture

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology can effectively reduce carbon dioxide emissions from industrial and energy production processes. Yet the commercialization of CCS technology is hampered by financial requirements. Existing research compares the costs and benefits of business models for individual CCS projects, no studies assess the industry and national levels. Here we use a dynamic computable general equilibrium model, constructure the vertical integration and joint venture business models for CCS. This study assesses the emission and economic impacts of joint ventures between China's high-emission industries and their upstream and downstream sectors. We find that adopting the joint venture model in the coal power sector, compared to the vertical integration model, initially exerts a negative economic impact but can mitigate 0.04 % of GDP by 2060. The chemical industry consistently benefits from the joint venture model both economically and in emission reductions. Downstream sectors of the steel and cement industries are unsuitable for participation in joint ventures. In addition, the joint venture model has significant industry linkage effects, affecting energy consumption, the scale and cost of CCS deployment. This work provides important information for the large-scale commercialization of CCS technology.

Smarter and Cleaner? The Carbon Reduction Effect of Smart Cities: A Perspective on Green Technology Progress

In the context of the global climate change problem intensifying due to a dramatic increase in carbon emissions, smart cities, as a topical application of digitalization and intelligence, have become a new urban governance mode for countries, which helps to achieve sustainable development. This research studies the relationship between smart city construction (SCC) and carbon dioxide emissions based on the differences-in-differences model (DID) and propensity score matching (PSM) to promote China to achieve dual carbon goals and high-quality development. The findings are as follows: (a) SCC could promote carbon emission reduction by reducing urban carbon dioxide emissions by an average of 11.4%, which also has significant long-term dynamic effects. Specifically, SCC has more obvious emission reduction effects on activities, such as industrial production and waste treatment. (b) Mechanism verification shows that green technology progress is a significant booster for the carbon reduction effect in SCC. The pilot project can increase output of green patents, which helps transfer production mode and consumption patterns in an environmentally friendly manner. SCC could increase the total factor productivity (TFP) through the rational allocation and efficient use of resources, and thus reducing carbon emissions. (c) Research on city heterogeneity shows that a high level of human capital, material, and financial resources can provide support for smart cities to better achieve the carbon reduction effect. Among them, material resources have the best carbon reduction effect in the process of SCC, which could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 6.6–17.7%. This study is useful for policymakers to continuously and dynamically adjust urban development strategies in the future, to achieve a balance between socioeconomic prosperity and environmental sustainability.

COMPARISON OF THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS ON EMISSIONS OF CO2 IN THE AIR TRANSPORT

Air transport is a complex and intricate mode of transportation that has both benefits and consequences resulting from the operations of planes. Air travel offers the advantage of saving time during journeys or business visits, but it also has the disadvantage of contributing to carbon dioxide emissions caused by aircraft operations. These emissions present potential risks to both human health and the environment. In order to reduce the negative impacts, new technical advancements can be utilized to limit emissions and, consequently, the discharge of carbon dioxide. The COVID-19 epidemic caused an unprecedented situation where flights were temporarily suspended and aircraft were grounded, leading to a significant decrease in emissions from airline operations. This research utilizes graphical representations to clarify the main factors that lead to reduced carbon dioxide emissions. Moreover, it examines the effects of particular advancements in air transportation and assesses the impact of the pandemic on the overall decrease in emissions.

Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Quillaja Saponin or Phytase on the Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Faecal Gas Emissions, and Carcass Grade in Growing-Finishing Pigs.

This experiment aimed to evaluate the effects of low doses of Quillaja saponin (QS) or phytase (PHY) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, faecal gas emissions, and carcass grade in growing-finishing pigs. A total of 72 pigs (Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc), each weighing 25.82 ± 1.68 kg, were selected and randomly assigned to three treatment groups. Each group had six replicates, with four pigs per pen, and the allocation was based on the four initial body weight and sex of the pigs. They were randomly divided into the following three diet groups: the basal diet as a control (CON) group, the basal diet + 0.02% PHY; and the basal diet + 0.01% QS. The experiment period lasted for 110 days. The results of adding 0.01% QS to the basal diet of pigs show that it can significantly increase the body weight (BW) of growing-finishing pigs on the 110th day (p < 0.05). QS can significantly increase the average daily weight gain (ADG) on Days 80-110 of the experiment (p < 0.05). QS can significantly increase the total average daily weight gain (TADG) of growing-finishing pigs during the entire experimental period (p < 0.05) and has a tendency to improve the average daily feed intake and feed conversion rate during the entire experimental period. However, QS has no significant effect on pig nutrient digestibility and carcass grade. In addition, we also found that QS has a tendency to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. However, adding 0.02% PHY to the basal diet of growing-finishing pigs can only increase the TADG during the entire experimental period. Throughout the experiment, adding PHY to the diet had no significant impact on the nutrient digestibility, faecal gas emissions, and carcass grade of growing-finishing pigs. In summary, adding QS to feed can significantly improve the growth performance of growing-finishing pigs, and has a tendency to improve faecal gas emissions. PHY can only improve the growth performance of growing-finishing pigs.

Perceptions of carbon dioxide emission reductions and future warming among climate experts

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) employs emission scenarios to explore a range of future climate outcomes but refrains from assigning probabilities to individual scenarios. However, IPCC authors have their own views on the likelihood of different climate outcomes, which are valuable to understand because authors possess both expert insight and considerable influence. Here we report the results of a survey of 211 IPCC authors about the likelihood of four key climate outcomes. We found that most authors are skeptical that warming will be limited to the Paris targets of well below 2 °C, but are more optimistic that net zero CO2 emissions will be reached during the second half of this century. When asked about the beliefs of their peers, author responses showed strong correlations between personal and peer beliefs, suggesting that participants with extreme beliefs perceive their own estimates as closer to the community average than they actually are.

Emissions reduction potentials in business aviation with electric aircraft

Under the looming climate crisis, public concerns have been raised regarding the environmental impacts of private jet flights. Electric aircraft are currently considered one of the most encouraging technological keys to significantly reducing the environmental impacts of aviation. This research aims to study the replacement of currently used business jets with fully electric aircraft. This study is based on actual flight data of a European business carrier. The carbon dioxide emissions reduction potential for different aircraft ranges was estimated. Obtained results showed that with fully electric aircraft the studied business carrier could significantly reduce its annual emissions by up to 93%. On a per-passenger basis, the emissions could decrease from 6,787 g of carbon dioxide equivalent per passenger kilometre to 449 g. However, as electric aircraft will operate at a slower speed than business jets, flight times would increase by 10–41 min, depending on the distance.

Low-emissions hydrogen from MCH dehydrogenation: Integration with LNG regasification

Methylcyclohexane (MCH) is a promising organic hydride carrier for hydrogen transport and storage. Recovering hydrogen from MCH is an energy intensive process. An innovative idea of integrating this process with liquified natural gas (LNG) regasification is proposed in this study and demonstrated via modelling and simulation to substantially reduce external energy use. The synergistic benefits are twofold. In addition to providing a cold energy source for an effective high recovery cryogenic flash separation, the organic Rankine cycle based electrical power generation potential from LNG cold energy is fully exploited to reduce/eliminate external electricity demand for hydrogen compression to the high (end use) pressure. The results is a major reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. The proposed design for an integrated LNG-H2terminal can supply (1) 99.99 mol% pure hydrogen to a Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power plant and (2) commercial-grade natural gas to a gas-grid, both at the desired pressures and temperatures. Subsequently, rigorous simulation-based optimization was performed to minimize external energy inputs.A case study with 100 tph MCH and 100 tph LNG showed that integrating regasification with dehydrogenation produced 6.2 tph of hydrogen while gasifying LNG with a net power generation of 310 kW and a hydrogen recovery cost of 0.282 $/kg H2. Up to 7.3 tonnes of hydrogen can be produced per 100 tonnes of LNG without the use of external power. On the other hand, using external power, up to 11.3 tonnes of hydrogen can be produced per 100 tonnes of LNG without any external refrigeration. Overall, the superstructure proposed in this manuscript provides a generic initial approach for future MCH hydrogen supply chain projects, when considering integrations with LNG regasification plants.

Energy, exergy, economic and environmental studies on a nonflammable eco-friendly mixture for efficient heating in cold regions

As a compelling alternative to fossil fuel combustion, air-source heat pumps face challenges in inefficiency, flammability, and pollution when operated at low ambient temperatures. To address the demand for safe, eco-friendly and efficient heating during wintertime, this work is devoted to exploring a novel refrigerant for air-source heat pumps. The zeotropic mixture has the potential to meet all the above demands at appropriate operating parameters, although specific feasible mixtures are still under investigation. In this work, a novel mixture of carbon dioxide and trans-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene is proposed, with the heating performance being parametrically optimized based on a genetic algorithm. Energy analysis indicates a coefficient of performance improvement of up to 15.7 %, and thus an improvement in heating seasonal performance factor of more than 13.5 % for different cities, compared with traditional configurations. Exergy analysis shows that the low irreversibility of throttling is the main contributing factor to the improvement in energy efficiency. Meanwhile, economic and environmental analyses reveal a payback period of less than 7.5 years and an annual cost reduction of up to 14.5 %, as well as a carbon dioxide emission reduction of over 15.7 %. The sensitivity of operating parameters is analyzed, and other advantages of this concept are discussed as well. The results indicate a safe, efficient, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective air-source heat pump. This study contributes to: 1) providing an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly alternative refrigerant for heat pumps; and 2) promoting the sustainable development of low-carbon energy transformation technology.

Effects and mechanisms of intelligent electricity system on urban carbon reduction

This paper provides evidence on the effectiveness of China's intelligent electricity system in reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the electricity sector at the city and plant levels. The actual application level of intelligence technology in cities was quantified through text analysis of newspaper reports, demonstrating its effectiveness in reducing urban carbon dioxide emissions. Additionally, this paper explores four potential pathways through which intelligent electricity system measures impact the power industry: the adjustment effect, technological progress effect, and carbon transfer effect of energy supply structure, as well as the electricity substitution effect on the demand side. The findings suggest that combining information technology and intelligent technology in the electricity sector could enhance carbon reduction efforts.

Scaling CO2 Electrolyzer Cell Area from Bench to Pilot.

To contribute meaningfully to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions reduction, CO2 electrolyzer technology will need to scale immensely. Bench-scale electrolyzers are the norm, with active areas <5 cm2. However, cell areas on the order of 100s or 1000s of cm2 will be required for industrial deployment. Here, we study the effects of increasing cell area, scaling over 2 orders of magnitude from a 5 cm2 lab-scale cell to an 800 cm2 pilot plant-scale cell. A direct scaling of the bench-scale cell architecture to the larger area results in a ∼20% drop in ethylene (C2H4) selectivity and an increase in the parasitic hydrogen (H2) evolution reaction (HER). We instrument an 800 cm2 electrolyzer cell to serve as a diagnostic tool and determine that nonuniformities in electrode compression and flow-influenced local CO2 availability are the key drivers of performance loss upon scaling. Machining of an initial 800 cm2 cell results in a standard deviation in MEA compression that is 7-fold that of a similarly produced 5 cm2 cell (0.009 mm). Using these findings, we redesign an 800 cm2 cell for compression tolerance and increased CO2 transport and achieve an H2 FE in the revised 800 cm2 cell similar to that of the 5 cm2 case (16% at 200 mA cm-2). These results demonstrate that by ensuring uniform compression and fluid flow, the CO2 electrolyzer area can be scaled over 100-fold and retain C2H4 selectivity (within 10% of small-scale selectivity).

RESEARCH OF THE COMBUSTION PARAMETERS OF GASOLINE WITH ADDITIONAL HYDROGEN IN A SPARK-IGNITION ENGINE IN EXTERNAL SPEED CHARACTERISTIC MODES

The directions of development and improvement of road transport around the world are inextricably linked to the desire to reduce the use of cars “on traditional fuels” due to limited oil and environmental safety of mankind. Since the modes of external speed characteristic are the most typical for the operation of cars in cities, the study of environmental performance of engines in these modes is an urgent task. Therefore, finding ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from automobile engines at high-speed modes is an urgent task. The rapid growth in the number of cars with internal combustion engines and the inevitable decline in world oil reserves necessitate the development and implementation of energy-saving technologies and the use of alternative fuels. Research aimed at finding ways to improve the fuel efficiency and environmental performance of automotive engines is relevant. One of the promising areas is the influence on the combustion process in gasoline engines by using additives of alternative fuels, which include hydrogen. The presented study of the parameters of combustion of gasoline with hydrogen additive in a spark ignition engine at external speed characteristics is a comprehensive analysis of the combustion process of a gasoline-hydrogen mixture and determination of its effect on the concentration of carbon dioxide in exhaust gases by developing a mathematical model that takes into account the composition of the mixture components and features of the combustion process, allows for sufficiently accurate calculation of the operating process of an engine with hydrogen additive at ψ ≤ 10%, its identification by the results of experiments. In the course of the study, dependencies were developed to determine the combustion parameters of the Wiebe model, taking into account the addition of hydrogen to gasoline in the modes of external speed characteristics, and the effect of hydrogen addition on the concentration of CO2 in exhaust gases was analyzed. It is shown that with an increase in the hydrogen additive to 10% by mass fraction to gasoline, there is a decrease in CO2 emissions to almost 30% in the external speed characteristic modes, which corresponds to modern environmental standards for gasoline internal combustion engines.

How Not to Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions: An Unbalanced Focus on Energy Efficiency in Germany’s Building Rehabilitation Policies

Germany needs to reduce CO2 emissions from space heating in its old buildings to net zero by 2045 to fulfil its climate goals. However, direct CO2 reduction measures in existing buildings receive relatively little subsidy support from the federal government’s German Development Bank, compared to generous subsidies for energy efficiency measures. This interdisciplinary paper evaluates this phenomenon by comparing costs and CO2 abatement effects of ever higher energy efficiency measures, alongside the costs of direct CO2 reduction through heat pumps and onsite photovoltaics. It uses a set of carefully selected reports on the costs and benefits of renovation to a range of energy efficiency standards in three common types of multi-apartment buildings in Germany, updating these for 2024 construction, energy, and finance costs. The cost of the CO2 saved is extremely high with energy efficiency measures and absurdly high with the highest energy efficiency standards, up to 20 times the cost of CO2 abatement through other means, such as offsite renewables. This reduces markedly with onsite CO2 reduction measures. This paper sets this analysis in the context of asking what social, cultural, and discursive factors extol energy efficiency so highly that policy tends to thwart its own stated goal of deeply reducing CO2 emissions.

Bond–Slip Performance between Steel Tube and Self-Compacting Fly Ash Concrete

To reduce the amount of ordinary concrete and then reduce carbon dioxide emission, improving the engineering application range of self-compacting fly ash concrete (FASCC), this study explored the bond–slip traits between FASCC and a steel tube. Six samples were created, and bond–slip push-out tests were performed with varying concrete strength grades and steel tube internal setups. Digital image correlation (DIC) technology was applied to track the surface strain of four samples throughout the experiment. The results show that the outer surface of the steel tube stays mostly undistorted after the concrete is pushed out. Prior to reaching peak load, the load–slip curves of each specimen exhibit a primarily linear load–displacement relationship. Post-peak, the curves diverge into two distinct patterns, namely a sudden drop and a gradual decline. As the strength grade of the inner concrete increases, the interfacial bond between the steel tube and FASCC improves. Additionally, under the same conditions, the internal structure of the steel tube significantly enhances bonding strength. The FA40-Z specimen shows a maximum load that is 25.6% and 53.7% higher than the FA40-G and FA40-C specimens, respectively. The strain evolution patterns of steel tubes within FASCC and regular self-compacting concrete demonstrate similar characteristics. These observations provide valuable insights for the application of FASCC in engineering projects.