Reduction Of Environmental Emissions Research Articles

A comparison of animal and plant-based proteins from an economic, environmental, and nutritional perspective in the Republic of Ireland

CONTEXTProtein is a central component of health and nutrition. The current protein production system is unlikely to sustainably meet the growing global demand for protein. Therefore, alternative sources of protein must be considered. OBJECTIVEThis study uniquely compares animal-based (milk, beef meat, sheep meat) and plant-based (cereals and legumes) protein production in terms of land usage. The comparison is carried out across a suite of economic, environmental, and nutritional metrics. As land use decisions are taken at the farm level, the analysis adopts a farm gate approach. Focusing on the supply side, consumption is not considered in the analysis. METHODSEconomic performance is measured through the gross and net margins. Environmental performance is evaluated through farm-level greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) balances. Nutritional performance is measured through the gross protein yield, the protein yield corrected for digestibility and land-use efficiency, i.e., the land needed to generate one kg of (digestible) protein. Results are expressed per hectare and per 100 g of gross and digestible protein to allow for a holistic comparison. The analysis focuses on the Republic of Ireland, a relevant country given the importance of the strong agricultural export focus, the dominance of the livestock sector and the country's ambitious environmental emission reduction targets. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSFindings indicate that, on a per hectare basis, milk production on dairy farms has the strongest economic performance and highest GHG emissions amongst the products considered. Crops' gross and net margins are less than half that of dairy farms, but they also show the strongest environmental performance generally. Cereals and legumes have the best nutritional performance, from a protein perspective, whereas sheep meat production returned the lowest gross and digestible protein yields per hectare. Arable crops also show the lowest GHG emissions and nutrient balances on a per unit of protein basis. SIGNIFICANCELand-use policies need to be designed holistically, given the complexity of the agricultural sector. Agricultural policy design currently focuses on income support and on the environmental impact of the agricultural sector, but farmers' livelihood and food and protein security need to be safeguarded. Diversifying agricultural production and increasing plant-based protein production in Ireland, a country with a livestock-focused agricultural sector, could contribute to achieving the climate change targets of the country, provided the necessary policy levers are in place.

Promoting green taxation and sustainable energy transition for low-carbon development

Since there is a scientific consensus that the energy sector has brought the planet to the tipping point of climate change, transitioning to sustainable energy sources is inevitable to halt foreseeable climatic adversities. This study looks at how promoting green taxation and sustainable energy transition affected the G7 nations’ goal of low-carbon development between 1994 and 2020. This study used Generalized Least Squares Random Effects Regression and Driscoll-Kraay Standard Errors-based Least Sqaures approaches for empirical analysis. The latter approach accounts for cross-sectional dependence, heteroscedasticity, and autocorrelation to provide robust empirical outcomes. The empirical results are as follows: Firstly, through lowering CO2 intensity and greenhouse gas emissions, the environmental tax revenues have enhanced the condition of the environment. The total tax revenues linked to the environment had a greater overall impact than the tax revenues related to the energy industry. Furthermore, compared to CO2 intensity, both of the environmental tax revenue factors contributed considerably more to greenhouse gas emissions. Second, the sustainable energy transition helped to lower greenhouse gas and CO2 intensity. Among covariates, international trade was supportive of low-carbon development, but industrialization and GDP per capita did the opposite. The panel bootstrap causality revealed a unidirectional causal connection from all independent variables, except foreign direct investment, to CO2 intensity and greenhouse gas emissions. These results demonstrated that the G7 nations’ environmental policies supported their commitment to achieving low-carbon development goals. In this respect, the G7 nations’ environmental emission reduction efforts benefited more from the overall environmental tax revenues. To secure the industrial emissions reduction for a future with net-zero carbon emissions, it is thus advised to continue using policies that price environmental emissions, such as the carbon taxation regulations. Additionally, plans for the sustainable energy transition that includes a quick rise in renewable energy sources in the overall energy mix are successful in lowering environmental emissions. For environmental sustainability and low-carbon development, it is thus advised to divert the taxation burden from renewable energy technologies to the fossil fuel industry to enhance the sustainable energy transition phenomenon for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (especially SDG-7 and SDG-13).

Party Branch Embeddedness and Urban–Rural Environmental Inequality: Self-Regulation or Pollution Shelter?

With the deepening of environmental governance, the overall environmental quality of the region has been improved. However, internal environmental inequality, especially urban–rural environmental inequality, has continued to come to the fore. Nevertheless, there are still few studies on how to mitigate the increasing urban–rural environmental inequality. On the basis of examining the urban–rural environmental inequality in China’s environmental emission reduction investment dimension, this research verified the impact and mechanism of informal regulatory forces (grassroots party organizations) in alleviating urban–rural environmental inequality. In particular, based on an empirical analysis of data from the Chinese Private Enterprise Survey (CPES) 2006–2014, this study found that (1) investment in environmental management of polluting enterprises in rural areas is significantly lower than in urban areas, and the trend of urban–rural environmental inequality is intensifying; (2) urban–rural environmental inequality is more pronounced at the enterprise level in areas with larger enterprises and greater environmental enforcement and that urban-centered environmental regulatory policies continue to exacerbate urban–rural environmental inequality; and (3) the embeddedness of regional party organizations can narrow the gap between urban and rural environmental protection investment by private enterprises and alleviate urban–rural environmental inequality. The specific pathway is to improve rural enterprises’ social responsibility awareness and policy implementation. Based on the above findings, this paper argues that a gradual break with “urban-centered environmentalism” is the fundamental solution to urban–rural environmental inequality. However, in the current context of limited resources for formal environmental regulation, the power of informal environmental regulation can still mitigate these effects.

A study on supply chain information sharing strategy for emission reduction investment in electronic products based on game theory

By analyzing the competition between electronic product manufacturers and retailers in pricing, a dynamic game model is constructed. Using backward induction, the optimal choices and maximum profits under equilibrium conditions are determined. Finally, the constructed model is subjected to data simulation by setting numerical values for relevant parameters to analyze the effects of environmental emission reduction value on the supply chain and the information sharing value of each member. The following conclusions are drawn: when the emission reduction efficiency of manufacturers or the sensitivity of the market to environmental protection is high, the improvement effect of information sharing will outweigh its bilateral marginal effect. Retailers will voluntarily share all demand information and achieve a win-win situation in the supply chain.

Numerical analysis of heat gain to geothermal heat exchangers with moisture evaporation in the structure

Relevance. Provisions on the need to transition to alternative energy sources and energy security, reduction of environmental emissions and energy conservation in various industries can largely rely on the use of geothermal energy. A separate area in the field of modeling geothermal technologies is the study of thermal regimes of geothermal heat exchangers. The need to ensure reliable thermal contact between the geothermal heat exchanger and its environment leads to the use of a variety of backfills, including pre-moistened ones. Aim. Study of the intensification of heat supply to geothermal heat exchangers, taking into account the influence of moisture evaporation in its backfill, its characteristics and operating conditions of the systems under consideration. Methods. The solution to the problem was obtained by the finite difference method. An implicit difference scheme and sweep algorithm were used. The coordinate step ranged from 1 to 10 mm. Results and conclusions. Study was carried out for six months of continuous operation of a geothermal heat exchanger. When analyzing the thermal conditions of the system under consideration, the main attention was paid to the study of the intensification of heat supply to the geothermal heat exchanger, taking into account the influence of moisture evaporation in its backfill, its characteristics and operating conditions of the systems under consideration. It has been established that an increase in the humidity of the sand backfill of a geothermal heat exchanger leads to a growth in heat inflows by 3.2–7.8%. A significant influence of the unsteadiness of transfer processes on the intensification of heat transfer in the system under consideration was revealed. It was shown that the increase in heat flow to the geothermal heat exchanger due to the presence of evaporation is about 22%. The conclusion is substantiated that when choosing an option for regulating the thermal conditions of geothermal heat exchangers, the volumetric humidity of the sand backfill should be primarily changed.

Reducing the environmental footprint of glass manufacturing

AbstractThe glass industry is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions due to its energy consumption profile and the use of fossil fuels in the manufacturing process. Most of the energy to produce glass is consumed in the process of treating raw materials to elevated temperatures, usually above 1500°C. Glass manufacturing also generates significant environmental impacts, such as greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, water consumption, and waste generation. Therefore, improving the sustainability of glass manufacturing is a significant challenge for the industry and society. There are ways to reduce the energy consumption and emissions of glass melting, such as recycling glass, using oxy‐fuel burners, improving furnace insulation and design, and adopting electric melting technologies. These methods can help save energy, lower costs, and enhance the sustainability and environmental footprint of the glass industry. However, the industry faces challenges and barriers, such as technical feasibility, economic viability, capital investment, and market acceptance. More research and development must be invested to improve the energy efficiency and environmental performance of glass melting. The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of the growth glass industry has made over the past 30 years and the remaining challenges for sustainable glass manufacturing with a focus on the fiberglass segment. Sharing of procedural methods, technical approaches, and results can help enable the global glass industry in our future sustainability challenges. The fiberglass segment included a broad technical view including glass chemistry development, product development, new industry codes and standards, melting development, computational fluid dynamic modeling, life cycle assessments, and sustainability goals linked to capital planning. The net result delivered a significant reduction in environmental emissions at the global enterprise scale. The implemented changes have taken decades, significant investments, and resources to plan and develop. Practices reviewed and implemented can help drive collaboration and commonality within the glass industry to achieve sustainability goals. Action is needed now if the glass industry is to meet global government demands of reducing carbon emissions by 55% by 2030 and zero carbon emissions by 2050 in alignment with the Paris Agreement on decarbonization.

Assessing ecopreneurship impact on composite sustainability in the food and beverage industry: A holistic AHP approach integrating economic and environmental dimensions.

The implementation of ecopreneurship is evolving to address environmental sustainability challenges posed by industrial pollution. Scholars are exploring ways to enhance ecopreneurship implementation globally. However, there's a gap in understanding how ecopreneurship affects sustainability across economic and environmental dimensions. This study aims to explore the impact of ecopreneurship on sustainability, considering both economic and environmental indicators. The investigation was conducted through Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) methodology covering 102 ecopreneurs operating in the Tanzania food and beverage industry. The results of the study showed that implementation of ecopreneurship results in the attainment of sustainability through composite scores of 79.5%. In conclusion, this study underscores the significant impact of ecopreneurship implementation on composite sustainability, as evidenced by notable reductions in environmental emissions and improvements in economic performance within the studied industries. The findings highlight the importance of integrating environmental considerations into entrepreneurial endeavors for achieving sustainability goals. It is recommended that stakeholders actively promote and incentivize the adoption of ecopreneurship practices, invest in eco-friendly technologies, foster collaboration, implement effective monitoring mechanisms, and integrate sustainability into business strategies. The study recommends stakeholders' efforts directed towards enhancing the implementation of ecopreneurship practices in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs, 2015–2030), specifically goal nine (9) on pollution prevention through the implementation of Eco practices-based solutions to foster innovations and sustainable industrialization. Thus, strategizing the implementation of ecopreneurship practices is considered to have an essential contribution to addressing the challenges of sustainability and therefore enriching the realization of the global sustainable development agenda.

Recent advancements and performance implications of hybrid battery thermal management systems for Electric Vehicles

Electric Vehicles (EVs) can contribute significantly toward the reduction of environmental emissions caused by traditional Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs), as well as it reduces the reliance on conventional fossil fuels. Lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) are generally preferred for EVs due to their superior energy density, specific power output, and longer lifespan. LiBs are most effective and achieve optimal performance within a specific temperature range of 15-35 °C. An efficient Battery Thermal Management System (BTMS) is necessary to dissipate the heat produced in the battery during continuous charging and discharging process, which ultimately determines the operating range and life cycle of the battery. The hybrid battery thermal management system is becoming increasingly popular as it tackles the downsides and capitalizes on the upsides of individual conventional battery thermal management systems. Although hybrid Battery Management Systems are often mentioned in review articles, there is a lack of detailed or specialized discussions specifically on hybrid BTMS for electric vehicles. This article summarizes the current state-of-the-art and recent advancements in hybrid battery thermal management of LiBs and discusses the performance implications of a hybrid battery thermal management system. The study extensively examines hybrid BTMSs, designed to enhance the thermal performance of traditional BTMSs to cope with the stringent thermal requirements in high ambient temperatures and fast charging conditions. Lastly, the article critically evaluates and discusses the different BTMSs, emphasizing the future prospects, challenges, and recommendations in the BTMS field. The review's findings will assist researchers in determining the future direction of next-generation LiB thermal management systems for high-power electric vehicles.

Measuring the gap between optimal and observed energy structure: Evidence from 36 OECD countries

Sustainable development has always been given priority by economic authorities, therefore pursuing both environmental emissions reduction and economic growth at the same time is required. However, energy structure is often disregarded in existing performance evaluation methodologies, despite its essential function in determining environmental efficiency or productivity. This study shows how ignoring the energy structure can lead to distorted policy recommendations as well as evaluation results. The present study provides a non-parametric estimating approach to quantify the difference between the optimal (theoretical) energy structure required to achieve sustainable development and the actual (observed) energy structure. This method may assess the energy transition process and evaluate the observed and optimal energy structure of a country or region. We demonstrate that using the countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development as an example, that only a limited number of countries are able to meet their objectives for carbon reduction and economic development simultaneously without transforming their energy structure. The relationship between energy structure and green total factor productivity (GTFP) was further studied using a two-stage least squares regression on the observed energy structure and GTFP. The findings indicate that most countries need to increase their share of renewable energy in order to achieve green growth.

Environmental impact analysis of lithium iron phosphate batteries for energy storage in China

The deployment of energy storage systems can play a role in peak and frequency regulation, solve the issue of limited flexibility in cleaner power systems in China, and ensure the stability and safety of the power grid. This paper presents a comprehensive environmental impact analysis of a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery system for the storage and delivery of 1 kW-hour of electricity. Quantities of copper, graphite, aluminum, lithium iron phosphate, and electricity consumption are set as uncertainty and sensitivity parameters with a variation of [90%, 110%]. The results show that global warming potential is 9.08E+01 kg CO2 eq. and fossil resource use is 1.21E+03 MJ, with uncertainty ranges of [8.54E+01, 9.23E+01] and [1.15E+03, 1.23E+03], respectively. Electricity consumption during the manufacture and installation process is the greatest contributor to climate change (CO2 eq. emissions), accounting for 39.71% and largely owing to non-renewable sources, followed by cathode materials at 27.85% and anode materials at 18.36%. The disposal and recycling process offers emission reductions but requires an additional 1.17% use of fossil resources. Sobol T indices for the quantity of electricity are the highest for acidification, climate change, fossil resource use, and ionizing radiation. By considering the pathway of China’s electricity mix from 2020 to 2050 under the Paris Agreement’s 2° target, the potential for environmental emission reduction in the system is evaluated. The results show that the greener electricity mix could lead to a 24.59% reduction in acidification impact, a 35.74% reduction in climate change impact, a 33.24% reduction in fossil resource use, and a 44.13% reduction in ionizing radiation impact. This study offers a comprehensive view of the environmental impact reductions associated with the lithium iron phosphate battery and its industry.

Can Environmental Centralization Enhance Emission Reductions?—Evidence from China’s Vertical Management Reform

In the industrialization process, the difficulty in implementing environmental protection and enhancing the effect of environmental emission reduction are common problems to the developing countries, which are directly related to the quality of social development. This paper takes environmental centralization as the solution idea, takes the vertical management reform of environmental protection agencies implemented in China as the research object, and evaluates the environmental emission reduction effect and mechanism of action of centralized reform based on provincial environmental economic panel data using difference-in-differences model and intermediary model. The following conclusions are drawn: (1) The environmental centralization has significantly improved the provincial environmental emission reduction effect. After China’s vertical management reforms were implemented, per capita CO2 emissions decreased by 11.1%, and industrial source SO2 emissions fell by 35.7%. (2) By increasing investment in urban environmental infrastructure construction, the reform has raised the level of investment and regulation in environmental protection construction, which in turn has effectively improved the ability to reduce environmental emissions. (3) After the implementation of the reform, the emission reduction effects of the reform on per capita CO2 and industrial source SO2 are 10.1% and 14.2% higher in provinces with lower industrial output value compared to those with higher industrial output value. At the same time, the effect of reform in provinces with a strong degree of local government intervention was significantly lower than that in provinces with a weak degree of local government intervention. The emission reduction effects of the reform implementation are 10.2% (per capita CO2) and 30.5% (industrial source SO2) lower, respectively. Based on the above findings, this paper argues that environmental centralization is an effective measure to advance the improvement of environmental quality and efficiency. In addition, China’s reform experience has implications for other developing countries.

Analysis on Mode and Benefit of Resource Utilization of Rural Sewage in a Typical Chinese City

The treatment of rural domestic sewage is essential for the comprehensive improvement of the rural environment. At present, the rate of resource utilization of rural domestic sewage is generally low in China, which fits with the actual situation of rural areas, and low cost is becoming the requirement for the development of rural sewage treatment technologies. Adopting a tailored approach based on local conditions for utilising sewage resources is the best option for rural sewage management. Therefore, it is very important and urgent to explore and evaluate the mode of rural domestic sewage resource utilisation. This paper analyzes the current status of sewage resource utilization in rural China. It researches and explores sewage treatment technology and resource utilization models based on 10 study sites in Yongkang City, Zhejiang Province. At the same time, this article evaluates pollution control effectiveness and environmental emission reduction benefits. The results show that the effluent quality of the treated wastewater by the skid-mounted resource utilization equipment met the reuse requirements and maintained stable water quality. The project can save 251,900 tons of high-quality water resources annually, reducing COD by 78.51 tons, reducing NH3-N and TP by 5.62 tons and 0.39 tons, respectively, and reducing carbon emissions by more than 134 tons. The project has achieved significant comprehensive benefits in water conservation, pollution reduction, and carbon reduction.

Time and energy optimal trajectory generation for coverage motion in industrial machines

The increase in computer numerical control machine efficiency highly contributes to environmental emission reduction and energy-savings. Path and trajectory optimizations are used to improve machine efficiency in a coverage motion such as pocket milling, polishing, inspection, gluing, and additive manufacturing. Several studies have proposed coverage motion optimization in improving machine efficiency for time and energy consumption. Ensuring the smoothness and satisfaction of the machine constraints in coverage motion is necessary. This paper proposes a multi-objective path and trajectory optimization to obtain a trade-off between time and energy consumption for coverage motion. Jerk limited acceleration profiles describe the trajectory where velocity profiles generated for each linear segment attain desirable velocities. The energy model of an industrial two-axis feed drive system is used in finding solutions to the optimization problem. The non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II generates a Pareto front for trade-off time and energy consumption solutions. Simulation results of the proposed method are validated through experiments using the industrial two-axis feed drive system. Experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed approach where time reduction and energy savings are 10.05% and 2.10%, respectively. In addition, the optimized path has a lower maximum error of 76.6% compared to the constantly commanded velocity optimized path.

Processes Intensification for Sustainability: Prospects and Opportunities

Nowadays, any industrial process must not only respond to market requirements but also be sustainable. Process intensification (PI) offers promising opportunities toward enhancing the process performance while addressing sustainability objectives. Intensified process design and technologies take various forms including reduction in consumption of natural resources, increase in efficiency, decrease in physical size, increase in throughput, and reduction in environmental emissions. Thus, PI offers new opportunities for more sustainable processes. In this perspective article, the background, challenges, and opportunities of PI are presented to help identify options that lead to enhanced sustainability. The paper will also discuss emerging tools that can help intensify conventional processes and achieve a more sustainable performance.

APPLICATION OF BIO ADDITIVES IN DIESEL FUEL TO REDUCE CO, CH, SMOKE EMISSIONS IN AGRICULTURE

As part of the reduction of environmental emissions of tractors, combines and agricultural machinery when performing work in the agroindustrial complex, including in closed complexes for the cultivation of animals (livestock farms). The article presents proposals to improve the environmental characteristics of the diesel engine used in tractors of the agroindustrial complex of the Russian Federation. The effectiveness of the use of bioadditives from rapeseed oil for diesel engines is considered. The main directions of reducing emissions of toxic components of exhaust gases due to the addition of rapeseed oil to diesel fuel are indicated. The necessity of using bioadditives in diesel fuel to reduce emissions of CO, CH, and exhaust gases from diesel tractors when operating indoors is substantiated. A mixed fuel was used for the research. To get a mixed fuel, we mixed diesel fuel (DT) with rapeseed oil (RM). Based on the performed preliminary studies and these works, mixed fuel was prepared in the following proportions - 25% RM : 75% DT, 50% RM : 50 %DT, 75%RM : 25%DT. Rapeseed oil was obtained at ZAO Zelenogradskoye in the Pushkinsky district of the Moscow Region. The farm produces rapeseed seeds for the production of rapeseed oil, which is later used both for the confectionery industry and for livestock feed. Experimental studies have shown that the lowest content of CO, CH, in exhaust gases from diesel engines running on biofuels (25% RM:75% DT) and (50% RM:50% DT).

Nexus between Green Finance and Renewable Energy Development in China

ABSTRACT Renewable energy development is essential to energy structure transition and environmental emission reduction, and promoting renewable energy development via green financial instruments has been an effective approach to attain the objective of carbon neutrality in China. This research explores the bi-directional cointegration relationship between green finance and renewable energy development by adopting provincial data of China from 2005 to 2018. Results indicate a long-run bi-directional comovement exist between green finance and renewable energy development. This cointegration relationship appears in the eastern and central provinces of China, but is absent for western provinces. The pooled mean group estimators show that green finance cannot promote renewable energy development in the short run, whereas it does so in the long run for both the eastern and central provinces. Our research presents implications for emerging economies to initiate and design green financial instruments and renewable energy measures.

Optimal Design Of Smart Grid Renewable Energy System Using Homer Programme

<p>Smart grid is a network created through information technology, communication technology and electrical power systems. It is simply a “smarter” power grid which ensures a two-way communication between user and the power supplier. This work proposes a smart microgrid design hybrid renewable energy system based on solar, grid and wind energy resources. The optimization has been performed using homer software programme to get the best and optimal operation system. Hybrid system combines several energy systems together which offer increased energy reliability and security, and carry a large economic opportunity in terms of cost saving. A typical microgrid system would also include intelligent management that interfaces with the equipment via wired or wireless communication protocols. In the present work the optimization model has been developed for the optimal operation of the system. The modelled system collects meteorological and load data from a town. The optimal hybrid system design is realized by satisfying the load demand, nonlinear seasonal variations and equipment constraints. The main focus of the system is on operation of smart microgrids to maximize usage of green energy, reduction of environmental emissions, decrement of levelized cost of electricity and intelligent management of overall system.</p>

Assessing the environmental benefits of battery packs from multi‐vehicle and multi‐region perspective: Aiming for lightweight and carbon neutrality

AbstractVehicle lightweight and carbon neutrality turn out to be the critical goals in developing new energy vehicles. As an important part of electric vehicles, power battery packs have an impact on the environment. In this study, multiple environmental assessment indicators were grouped into a comprehensive index, namely the green characteristic index, and the green characteristic index was used to comprehensively evaluate the environmental impact of 11 kinds of battery packs. This study calculates and analyzes the environmental impact values of battery packs in different regions for four types of small, medium, intermediate, and limousine cars. Finally, the uncertainty analysis was carried out. Research has found that micro battery packs have a lower potential environmental impact than advanced battery packs, so smaller, more energy‐efficient battery electric vehicles (BEVs) generally perform better than larger BEVs for vehicle models. During the operation stage of the battery pack, the environmental impact value of carbon footprint and ecological footprint is greatly affected by the regional power structure. Running the battery pack in China will generate higher carbon footprint and ecological footprint. In addition, the green characteristic index is more affected by the stage of use. When the scene is switched, the larger the model of the electric vehicle, the more obvious its environmental emission reduction capability. This highlights the benefits of high‐efficiency electrical structures in large electric vehicles, which can reduce environmental impact by increasing lifetime and charging efficiency, reducing the loss of transport power in the area, and improving the weight‐to‐energy relationship for BEVs.

Hydrothermal Conversion of Waste Biomass from Greenhouses into Hydrochar for Energy, Soil Amendment, and Wastewater Treatment Applications

Solid hydrochar (HC) produced by hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of tomato plant biomass from a greenhouse (GH) was assessed for different inhouse applications, including fuel, seed germination, and leached GH nutrient feed (GNF) wastewater treatment. Completed experiments showed encouraging results. HC was revealed to be an efficient renewable fuel, having peat-like characteristics with high heating value of about 26.0 MJ/kg and very low clinker forming potential. This would allow the use of HC as fuel for GH heating as a substitute to costly natural gas, or it could be commercialized after pelletizing. Experiments with soil application showed substantial potential for the produced HC in better seed germination of tomato plants. Another benefit from use of the produced HC is as a soil additive, which would also contribute to environmental emission reduction. Results suggest that the generated HC can remove about 6–30% of nutrients from leached-GNF wastewater. This would be an essential treatment in the reduction of nutrients from leached water from GH operations, and thus could prevent/reduce eutrophication. The exhausted HC after treatment application could then be reused for soil remediation. Overall, the paper highlights the potential applications of hydrothermal treatment in valorization of low-valued GH TPB waste, resulting in a circular economy.

Can support policies promote the innovative diffusion of waste-to-energy technology?

Currently, China is facing severe pressure of environmental emission reduction. As a kind of clean energy, waste-to-energy technology has the advantages of renewability, low pollution, and stable supply. To establish an affordable, effective, and sustainable waste disposable method is critical for the low carbon society transition. Therefore, the innovation diffusion of waste incineration power technology is a problem worth studying. Based on this, in order to answer this question scientifically, this paper constructs a system dynamics model of innovative diffusion, and analyzes the internal mechanism of innovation diffusion. The results show that firstly, the government support policies have a positive influence on the innovation and diffusion of waste incineration power technology; secondly, compared with the R&D policy, feed-in tariffs policy is more efficient to expand the installed capacity of waste incineration power; At last, technological innovation caused by government support policies is the main driving force of waste incineration power industry investment cost reduction.