Renewable Projects Research Articles

A Quantified Methodology for Evaluating Engineering Sustainability: Ecological Footprint Measurement Modeling

With the gradual increase in public awareness of ecological environmental protection, how to manage the increasingly tight supply of natural ecological energy and resources and the more evident greenhouse effect, how to properly treat and deal with the relationship between people, engineering and the ecological environment during the construction phase of engineering projects as well as how to evaluate the degree of environmental friendliness and sustainable development ability of engineering projects will become an urgent issue. Stakeholders in engineering projects must seriously consider these vital issues. Existing studies on the evaluation of engineering–ecology sustainable development capacity mainly focus on the regional and industry levels, with less research focusing on the sustainability of individual engineering projects; furthermore, they are primarily concentrated on the qualitative evaluation perspective. In order to refine these shortcomings, based on the viewpoint of the ecosystem of construction projects, this paper integrates the concept of whole life cycle with the ecological footprint measurement model and defines the notion of the ecological footprint of the whole life cycle of construction projects. Subsequently taking the above concept as the foundation and making the ecological footprint of various activities throughout the life cycle of a construction project a specific study object, the research establishes the ecological footprint measurement model of the whole life cycle of the project, and comprehensively evaluates the impacts on the surrounding environment, which include the consumption of energy resources, CO2 and the absorption of solid wastes across the whole life cycle of the project. We then measure the sustainable development ability of engineering projects by comparing the ecological footprint with the ecological carrying capacity of a certain surrounding region. Finally, the practicability and reliability of the model is verified through the example’s application. Thus, the results of the study have significant theoretical and practical implications: (1) the introduction of the ecological footprint addresses the gap about the quantitative evaluation of the sustainability of individual engineering projects from a micro perspective; (2) it compensates for the shortcomings of other evaluation methods that only evaluate a single element, such as only CO2, resources, energy or solid waste and so on; and (3) stakeholders can use the measured model to quantitatively assess the sustainability of new projects or urban renewal projects, providing strong support for project feasibility studies and project-establishment.

Renewable energy communities: Democratically legitimate agents in governing the energy transition?

It is crucial that the energy transition enfolds democratically, to increase its legitimacy and improve its outcomes. Although practitioners and scholars increasingly point to renewable energy communities (RECs) as legitimate agents for governing a democratic energy transition, RECs' democratic practices are poorly understood, which challenges assumptions about their legitimacy. We therefore analyzed how and to what extent democratic legitimacy is being pursued and met by RECs in their governance of renewable energy generation projects. Our comparative case study examined four different RECs in Utrecht, The Netherlands. We found that three out of the four studied RECs broadly meet the principles of energy democracy in the initial, developing and implementation phase of their energy generation projects. Significant differences between principles and RECs were found, which refutes the simplistic general assumption that RECs are either fully democratically legitimate or are not democratically legitimate at all. In reality, RECs face several trade-offs between democratic principles, which arise from the different legitimacy needs related to the REC's stage of maturity and the type of energy source it uses. To overcome these trade-offs and uphold legitimacy internally as well as with various stakeholders, RECs strategically organize participation and decision making in different governance spaces and prioritize certain specific legitimacy principles over others. Combining the concepts of energy democracy and democratic legitimacy has brought novel theoretical insights to the fore, and we recommend other researchers to further bridge these distinct but related fields of study.

The making of a dissonant heritage: the Foro Italico in Rome

ABSTRACT Italy’s long and stratified history offers abundant heritage resources, with Rome serving as a showcase for the architectural embodiment of political and ideological changes over time. Among these periods, the Fascist regime under Benito Mussolini initiated extensive urban and architectural renewal projects, notably exemplified by the Foro Italico, a monumental sports complex that is still actively used. The present contribution retraces the elements constituting Fascist architectural heritage in Italy and explores how Italian people comprehend and interpret the dissonant heritage site of the Foro Italico. Departing from previous approaches, this research employs a conservation perspective, exploring, among others, architectural and socio-cultural values associated with the complex. By analysing the motives underlying its unceasing use, this study seeks to understand why citizens continue to create new experiences and memories at the site despite its contentious ideological symbolism, without undergoing modern damnatio memoriae or de-commemoration processes, thus contributing to ongoing debates on heritage management and the politics of memory.

Practical aspects of morphological research in urban renewal projects

The small towns of North-Eastern Germany suffered great losses in historic buildings and economic dynamics during the Second World War and the subsequent decades of communist rule. Since 1990, these communities have suffered a major decrease in the number of inhabitants, resulting in a large number of buildings being empty. To adjust the urban structure to twenty-first century standards and regain economic vitality, both regional and local governments are supporting urban renewal projects. Sites inside medieval town centres are under pressure to amalgamate and be recreated as large-scale developer architecture or to fall into ultimate decay. As part of the study of medieval urban structures, a study of the site of the former Holy Spirit Hospice (Heiligengeist-Quarter) of Woldegk has been carried out. This paper shows how contextualization and a re-definition of the site, based on historic narratives developed by morphological research, inspired authorities and stakeholders to initiate a narrative-based development of the site. It demonstrates that urban renewal, based on historic narratives, creates wide public support for contemporary redevelopment in small urban communities. It further shows how morphological research is contributing to the establishment of relevant narratives.

How Does the Level of Rule of Law Affect Foreign Direct Investment in Renewable Energy Power Projects?

ABSTRACT Using a manually curated database, we assess the installed capacity of 203 overseas renewable energy power projects invested in by Chinese companies from 2014 to 2023 to examine the relationship between the level of rule of law and foreign direct investment. Our results indicate that there is a negative correlation between the level of rule of law and the installed capacity of renewable energy power projects in FDI. The results of heterogeneity tests reveal that when investment decisions are primarily influenced by the legal framework rather than other factors, the negative correlation between the level of rule of law and FDI is more significant. Finally, we conduct three robustness tests, all of which robustly support our conclusions.

A risk sharing model for old community renewal project based on bargaining game model

To ensure the successful implementation of the old community renewal project (OCRP), it is essential for the participants to allocate the project risks reasonably. Firstly, this study comprehensively identifies the 20 key risk factors of the OCRP. Secondly, an index system is established from three dimensions to evaluate the risk allocation ability of participants, including a total of nine evaluation indexes. Furthermore, a risk-sharing model based on TOPSIS method and bargaining game model is proposed to determine the optimal risk bearer and risk-taking ratio between the government and the private sector in OCRP. Finally, an OCRP in Chongqing is taken as a case study to verify the applicability of the developed model. The results indicate that in OCRP under PPP mode, the government need to independently bear 7 risks related to politics, law, policy, while the private sector needs to independently bear 8 risks mainly from project financing, design, construction, operation, and maintenance stages. In addition, the risk-taking ratios of 5 risks that require both parties to share are divided. The research findings provide references for ensuring the smooth implementation of urban renewal and sustainable development.

Understanding temporary residential mobility during urban renewal: Insights from a structured community survey and machine learning analysis

Existing studies on urban renewal have primarily focused on the final effects of urban redevelopment, while often overlooked the social costs incurred during the temporary displacement phase. This gap is significant, as many residents must vacate their homes for an average of 3–5 years during Shantytown redevelopment, which brings about challenges of renting houses and the associated negative impacts on their well-being before returning to their resettled homes. Therefore, this study focuses on examining the temporary residence arising during Shantytown redevelopment while awaiting resettlement. We selected Heze city as our case study area, which has been through China's most intensive redevelopment between 2016 and 2018 that affected about 1.2 million population. A structured community survey was conducted, and 1035 valid samples were collected. We then applied spatiotemporal analysis and the Random Forest model to examine stability, direction, and distance of temporary residence mobility, along with its influencing factors. Findings reveal that 92.4% of households move just once or twice during the temporary phase, indicating the preference for stable residence. Regarding moving direction, households seek life service centers rather than city centers, and prefer familiar community environments. Furthermore, 74.8% of households resettled within 2.5 km of their original residence, indicating a preference for nearby temporary housing. The built environment emerged as the most critical factor influencing the mobility, followed by family socioeconomic status, while housing costs, surprisingly, having the minimal impact. This study highlights the importance of considering the interim social costs in urban renewal projects and provides valuable insights for housing market regulation and urban planning to mitigate these effects.

Who Holds up the Mirror? Women, Neighborhoods, and Public Education in Black Montreal

The Montreal Regional Committee of the National Congress of Black Women (NCBW), acting out of the burrow of Little Burgundy, was juggling a litany of roles in their service to Black Montrealers by the 1980s. Consisting of a mere fifty members, this non-profit had begun to show vested interest in the affordable public education of their fellow Black citizens, especially in regards to the maintenance of positive self-image in the youths of their communities. One project, “Let’s hold that mirror straight- Towards a positive Black image,” took up much of the energy of this passionate group in 1981. However, despite concerted efforts on the part of the organization and enthusiastic second parties, the event ended up being a middling success at best. This essay will consider how the failure of the “Hold That Mirror Straight” conference reflected the wider social issues plaguing Little Burgundy as a result urban renewal projects, which had been present in the neighborhood for decades by 1981. Indeed, this work will analyze the link between the conference’s lackluster success and another pivotal event which rocked the neighborhood at the end of the calendar year: the closure of the local anglophone secondary school, the Royal Arthur School. These two events, I would argue, would cast a shadow over the community for the next decade, and would mark the earliest steps towards the eventual downfall of the Negro Community Centre in 1993.

Optimization of Solar PV System Efficiency in Bangladesh

This paper presents a comprehensive review and analysis of Sarishabari Engreen Solar Plant Ltd., a 3.3 MW grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) system located in Sarishabari, Jamalpur, Bangladesh. The study evaluates the plant's economic and operational performance, revealing a competitive payback period of 10.1 years and a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of 0.11 USD/kWh. These metrics highlight the plant's financial viability, largely due to the low cost of public land used for construction. However, profitability may be challenged if similar projects require significant investments in private land acquisition. Key areas for improvement identified include optimizing the tilt angle and integrating smart automation systems. Additionally, the potential for hybrid renewable energy systems combining solar and wind power is discussed. The paper also provides actionable recommendations for future renewable projects, emphasizing the importance of advanced technologies, and supportive policies. These insights aim to inform the optimization of existing solar PV systems and guide the development of future renewable energy projects in Bangladesh, contributing to the country's sustainable energy goals.

Future pathways for green hydrogen: Analyzing the nexus of renewable energy consumption and hydrogen development in Chinese cities

Hydrogen energy offers a promising pathway for achieving zero-carbon urban energy consumption. This study quantitatively analyzes the patterns of hydrogen energy development and its linked to electricity consumption in China's urban areas. It investigates the spatial relationships between hydrogen energy expansion, the potential for green hydrogen production, and overall energy use. Utilizing a coupling coordination degree (CCD) model and a panel vector autoregressive (PVAR) model, the research explores the dynamic interactions between urban hydrogen energy development and the transition to renewable energy sources. In line with Chinese government policy, the study also conducts a scenario analysis of green hydrogen production by 2030, proposing a consumption strategy that balances environmental sustainability with economic growth. The key conclusions are as follows: (1) There is a spatial mismatch between the locations where hydrogen energy is being developed and where the potential for green hydrogen production is greatest. Cities with higher electricity consumption demonstrate stronger synergies in the coordinated development of hydrogen and renewable energy. (2) The development of hydrogen energy significantly accelerates the transition to renewable energy consumption in urban areas, with this impact being more substantial than that of the utilization capacity alone. (3) Hydrogen production in the Plan Scenario is significantly higher than in the Pessimistic Scenario, underscoring the critical importance of implementing renewable hydrogen projects in provinces with high production potential. Future trends in green hydrogen consumption at the provincial level indicate that addressing the challenges of efficient inter-provincial transportation of hydrogen energy remains essential.

Revitalization of urban industrial heritage from a perspective of spatial production theory: the case study of “Old market” project

ABSTRACT The renewal of urban industrial heritage brings many benefits, meanwhile facing challenges, and there is a lack of in-depth and specific case study analysis. Based on spatial production theory, this paper takes an iconic project as an example to explore its construction process and reveal the spatial and social changes it triggers. This case study investigates the changes in physical and social spaces resulting from the shift in the subjects of spatial production. By analyzing document data, spatial data, and field data, the following key findings and conclusions are obtained: 1) Capital led the regeneration process, transformed decaying factory buildings into consumer space, and activated the economic vitality of the area. 2) The construction of the physical space changed the spatial layout, structure and function that attracted the creative community and young visitors, changing daily lives of the space users. 3) However, the neglect of industrial culture and participation of nearby residents are obvious challenges. The results indicate that using spatial production as a theoretical analysis framework helps us fully understand the challenges faced in the renewal of urban industrial heritage projects. This study can provide a reference for small-scale urban heritage renewal projects, facilitating accurate decision-making.

Soc Trang residents’ willingness to payfor renewable energy development projects

In Vietnam, electricity production has been growing strongly and is expected tocontinue increasing in the future. However, heavy reliance on fossil fuels is putting significant pressure on the environment and national energy security. The public's awareness of the potential and benefits of renewable energy is still limited. The lackof understanding about the positive impacts of renewable energy compared to fossil fuels may lead to a lack of community support for the green energy transition process.This studyappliesthe approachof choice modelling (CM) or choice experiment (CE) toevaluatethe willingness to pay (contribute) of residents in Soc Trang province for renewable energy development projects. The results indicate that the majority of Soc Trang residents have some knowledgeabout common renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and biomass energy. They demonstrate a willingness to contribute to the benefits that renewable energydevelopment projectscan bring, includingimproving the environmental landscape, protecting wildlife habitats, reducing air pollution, and creating new job opportunities. Among these benefits, they are particularly interested in the potential for job creation through renewable energydevelopment projects

Environmental information disclosure and green transformation: Evidence from Chinese manufacturing enterprises

Green transformation (GT) is pivotal for global sustainability, with environmental information disclosure (EDI) playing a significant role, especially in the Chinese corporate landscape. This study, spanning 2009 to 2020 and leveraging a comprehensive dataset of listed companies, explores the intricate relationship between EDI and GT in Chinese manufacturing enterprises by constructing a fixed-effect model. Motivated by the imperative to address crucial issues in GT in China, this research utilizes empirical data to uncover the mechanisms through which EDI fosters GT. The study reveals how EDI reinforces environmental consciousness within manufacturing firms. Findings underscore the crucial role of EDI in enhancing GT in manufacturing enterprises, operating through two primary mechanisms. Firstly, EDI alleviates financing constraints towards GT within these firms. Secondly, it facilitates the adoption of enhanced internal governance practices, catalyzing the development of high-quality capital renewal projects. A battery of mechanism tests provides robust evidence that EDI enhances environmental awareness, mitigates financing constraints, and amplifies the motivation and capability of manufacturing enterprises for GT. This multifaceted approach ultimately fosters high-quality GT within companies. Further research reveals that the incentive effect of EDI on GT is more significant among private enterprises and heavily polluting industries. The study reveals the subtle interplay between EDI and GT, highlighting its relevance to policymaking and practical considerations. It provides valuable insights into the ongoing pursuit of sustainability and the integration of green practices into the corporate world.

An Urban Renewal Design Method Based on Carbon Emissions and Carbon Sink Calculations: A Case Study on an Environmental Improvement Project in the Suzhou Industrial Investment Science and Technology Park

In the process of urban renewal, the high carbon emissions caused by pollution from construction waste and the consumption of materials and energy via “demolition and construction” present significant problems. Calculating carbon emissions and sinks is a prerequisite to carving out a low-carbon path via urban renewal. In this paper, we take an environmental improvement project in the Suzhou Industrial Investment Science and Technology Park as an example. Under the framework of the entire life cycle, we define the “renewal phase”, which includes “demolition” and “construction”, as the calculation boundary, and use the emission coefficient method as the primary calculation approach to assess carbon emissions and sinks. We construct a design-oriented carbon revenue and expenditure estimation system based on the BIM model. After its application in empirical cases, the results show the following: ① The building carbon emissions of Scheme A are 342 t higher than those of Scheme B, due to the fact that the “demolition and construction” works in the former increased by 6000 m2 compared to the latter. ② The landscape carbon emissions of Scheme B are 269 t higher than those of Scheme A, due to the addition of a 2500 m2 reinforced concrete overhead walking platform. ③ The annual carbon sink of Scheme A is six times higher than that of Scheme B, due to the fact that the number of trees and shrubs in the former is five-to-six times greater than in the latter. The number of trees planted plays a decisive role in enhancing the carbon sink benefit. ④ In the year during which the renewal project was implemented, the difference in carbon emissions between Scheme A and Scheme B was 72.9 t. By the 16th year, the difference in carbon emissions between the two schemes approached zero, and the carbon reduction advantages of Scheme A became more pronounced over the entire life cycle thereafter. Finally, this article summarizes four low-carbon design strategies for industrial park renewal projects: rational construction and demolition, three-dimensional parking, low-carbon materials, and plant carbon sequestration. In the context of inventory renewal, this article makes a significant contribution in terms of carbon footprint control and the “dual-carbon” goal.

A Novel solar-assisted air source heat pump system for urban renewal: Experimental test and numerical simulation

Old residential communities require novel heating solutions to meet heating demands sustainably. In Southern China, current heating systems in old communities have high energy costs and lack sustainability. A potential solution, air source heat pumps (ASHP), have evaporators susceptible to frost accumulation and poor heating performance at low ambient temperatures. This study proposes a hybrid design that uses additional solar thermal energy to improve energy gains from the air source; the innovative serial coupling design increases the air-source temperature by engineering the evaporator of the ASHP as the load-side of the heat exchanger. The novel hybrid design aims to be efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable, satisfying urban redevelopment needs. A prototype of the novel hybrid solar-assisted ASHP system was constructed; various performance parameters were evaluated, and system operation in extreme climates was simulated in TRNSYS. Results indicated that the novel hybrid system had significantly superior heating performance, delivering a 70.1% improvement in heating rate compared to single-source ASHP under lower ambient temperatures (13C). The novel hybrid system also had a high COP value between 5.7 and 6.3, significantly exceeding values of 2.3-3.5 for most air-conditioning units. It demonstrates consistent performance in all simulated climates. It is estimated that the novel hybrid system can save 1000 RMB in annual energy costs for an average Shanghai family and reduce Shanghais CO2 emissions by 4.7 million tons. The novel system addressed limitations of ASHP, optimizing performance while maintaining sustainability, offering a promising solution for urban renewal projects in China.

Demonstrating clean energy transition scenarios in sector-coupled and renewable-based energy communities.

Energy communities facilitate several advantages, including energy autonomy, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, poverty mitigation, and regional economic development. They also empower citizens with decision-making and co-ownership prospects in community renewable projects. Integrating renewable energy sources and sector coupling is a crucial strategy for flexible energy systems. However, demonstrating clean energy transition scenarios in these communities presents challenges, including technology integration, flexibility activation, load reduction, grid resilience, and business case development. Based on the system of systems approach, this paper introduces a 4-step funnel approach and a 4-step reverse funnel approach to systematically specify and detail demonstration scenarios for energy community projects. The funnel approach involves four steps. First, it selects demonstration scenarios promoting energy-efficient state-of-the-art renewable technologies and storage systems, flexibility through demand side management techniques, reduced grid dependence, and economic viability. Second, it lists all existing and planned project technologies, analysing energy flows. Third, it plans actions at different levels to implement the demonstration scenarios. Fourth, it validates the strategies using key performance indicators (KPI) to quantify the effectiveness of the planned measures. Furthermore, the reverse funnel approach delves deeper into the demonstration scenarios. The four steps involve identifying stakeholder perspectives, describing scenario scopes, listing conditions for realisation, and outlining business models, including value chains and economic assumptions. This approach provides a detailed analysis of the demonstration scenarios, considering actors, objectives, boundary conditions, and business assumptions. The methodologies are exemplified in three diverse European energy communities extending across residential, commercial, tertiary, and industrial establishments, allowing power-to-x and sector coupling opportunities. The paper also suggested thirteen KPIs for validating renewable-focused energy community projects. Finally, the paper recommends increased collaboration between energy communities, knowledge sharing, stakeholder engagement, transparent data collection and analysis, continuous feedback, and method improvement to mitigate policy, technology, business, and market uncertainties.

An integrated expert recommender system approach to environmental service priorities in renewable energy

The purpose of this study is to analyze the investment success of renewable energy generation projects design. A novel model has been constructed for this purpose. At the first stage, collaborative filtering methodology is taken into consideration to complete missing evaluations. After that, M-SWARA based on QUSFSs with golden cut is used to compute the weights of these factors. Finally, the components of the service design are ranked by TOPSIS approach. The main contribution of the paper is that a new methodology (M-SWARA) has been created in this study by making improvements to SWARA. With the help of this new model, causal directions between the indicators can also be examined. Similarly, collaborative filtering methodology is taken into consideration to complete missing evaluations. In this process, the decision makers are allowed to leave the questions they wanted blank. This situation is considered as the superiority of the proposed model compared to many previous models in the literature. The findings indicate that cost is the most significant factor for the success of renewable energy investments because it gets the highest weight (.261). The ranking results also demonstrate that product is the most essential component of the service design of renewable energy investments. Therefore, solving the high-cost problem is of vital importance to increase these investments. First, renewable energy companies can reduce costs with more effective financial management. To carry out this process effectively, a finance department consisting of qualified personnel is needed. Thanks to this team, current situations in the financial markets will be better followed and this will play an important role in reducing costs.

Respecting, retaining, recreating: The successful renovation of the Beijing 751 D-Park

Post-industrial sites in Chinese cities are being redeveloped as catalysts for urban regeneration and economic development. Calling the shift from ‘Made in China’ to ‘Created in China’, the Chinese government is encouraging the development of the creative industry to transform post-industrial sites. Successful examples of city renewal projects provide examples of this strategy, tuning into the creative cultures and industrial heritage of these cities and offering platforms for creative enterprises to flourish. This paper describes a recently funded renovation project, Beijing 751 D-Park, which has been undertaken to analyse these opportunities, and offers the initial findings of a case study. It unlocks the development process of the renovation project in terms of its philosophy, design method and planning strategy.

Respecting, retaining, recreating: The successful renovation of the Beijing 751 D-Park

Post-industrial sites in Chinese cities are being redeveloped as catalysts for urban regeneration and economic development. Calling the shift from ‘Made in China’ to ‘Created in China’, the Chinese government is encouraging the development of the creative industry to transform post-industrial sites. Successful examples of city renewal projects provide examples of this strategy, tuning into the creative cultures and industrial heritage of these cities and offering platforms for creative enterprises to flourish. This paper describes a recently funded renovation project, Beijing 751 D-Park, which has been undertaken to analyse these opportunities, and offers the initial findings of a case study. It unlocks the development process of the renovation project in terms of its philosophy, design method and planning strategy.

Research on the Dynamic Evolution of Social Risks in Community Renewal Projects: Considering the Coupling Effects of Factors

Research on the Dynamic Evolution of Social Risks in Community Renewal Projects: Considering the Coupling Effects of Factors