Total Final Energy Consumption Research Articles

Integration of BIPV design and energy efficient technologies for low energy building in meeting net zero target

Based on the World Energy Transition Outlook, almost two thirds of the CO2 emissions released in the world are related to energy emissions with 36 Gigatonnes of energy related CO2 released in 2015. To reduce CO2 emissions by 70 % before 2050, energy efficiency parameters and renewable energy systems will have to be incorporated together to achieve a more sustainable future. The synergy between these two systems could potentially decrease the total final energy consumption of the world by 25EJ, which is by 5 % by the year 2030. One of those synergy methods would be the incorporation of energy efficient building designs and technologies with BIPV systems. Energy efficient building design is the process of upgrading or constructing buildings or elements that are able to maximize the consumption of energy supplied to them by reducing energy losses, through various innovative and effective systems and technologies. BIPV systems are PV products and components that are integrated into the buildings structure. In Malaysia, research and applications of BIPV are just emerging and is still in early development. In the final report submitted to the United Nations Development Program, Malaysia aimed to achieve an increase of 330 % in installed BIPV capacity. This paper aims to simulate an energy efficient building through a specific 3D modelling software, Autodesk Revit, that incorporates BIPV design systems. The method used to create this model will be performed in four stages. First, the development of a comprehensive 3D model of a suitable building. Second, analysis of photovoltaic system of the model. Third, an intricate energy analysis of 3D building and BIPV system via Revit and Autodesk Insight. Lastly, evaluation of the energy consumption of the building and CO2 emissions. This research has managed to reduce the Final Energy Use Intensity of the building from 194 kwh/m2/year to 140 kwh/m2/year and the CO2 emissions from 258 tnes CO2e to 186 tnes CO2e a year. This research presents the integration of energy efficient designs and technologies, with BIPV systems toward low energy building target.

Developing a Data-Driven AI Model to Enhance Energy Efficiency in UK Residential Buildings

Residential buildings contribute 30% of the UK’s total final energy consumption. However, with less than one percent of its housing stock being replaced annually, retrofitting existing homes has significant importance in meeting energy-efficiency targets. Consequently, many physics-based and data-driven models and tools have been developed to analyse the effects of retrofit strategies from various points of view. This paper aims to develop a data-driven AI model that predicts buildings’ energy performance based on their features under various retrofit scenarios. In this context, four different machine learning models were developed based on the EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) dataset for residential buildings and standard assessment procedure (SAP) guidelines in the UK. Additionally, an interface was designed that enables users to analyse the effect of different retrofit strategies on a building’s energy performance using the developed AI models. The results of this study revealed the artificial neural network as the most accurate predictive model, with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.82 and a mean percentage error of 11.9 percent. However, some conceptual irregularities were observed across all the models when dealing with different retrofit scenarios. All summary, such tools can be further improved to offer a potential alternative or support to physics-based models, enhancing the efficiency of retrofitting processes in buildings.

Revisiting the Nexus between Renewable Energy Consumption and Economic Growth in Nigeria: The VECM Approach

The research investigates the effect of renewable energy consumption on economic growth as well as analyzing the dynamic relationship between both variables from 1990 to 2022. Annual secondary data covering the period between 1990 and 2022 were used in the study. Data on real gross domestic product, renewable energy consumption (% of total final energy consumption), gross capital formation (% of GDP), labor force, total and trade (% of GDP) were sourced from World Development Indicator. The study applies Johansen co-integration test and Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) to examine the effect of renewable energy consumption on economic growth and other explanatory variables as well as using pairwise granger causality test to examine the causal relationship between both variables. The empirical evidence revealed long-term relationship between renewable energy consumption and economic growth. Evidence shows that there is no causality either unidirectional or bi-directional between both variables. In short run, renewable energy consumption revealed a significant positive impact on economic growth. This shows that renewable energy may stimulate economic growth, particularly as it has a greater short-term impact on economic growth than capital formation. The key policy implication drawn from the results indicate the need for investment in renewable energy technologies and infrastructure, which can help to increase the availability and affordability of renewable energy, improve workforce development in Nigeria renewable energy sector.

Energetic Valorization of the Innovative Building Envelope: An Overview of Electric Production System Optimization

The world population increased from 1 billion in 1800 to around 8 billion today. The Population Division of the United Nations predicts a global population of approximately 10.4 billion people by the end of the century. That represents over 2 billion more people. Moreover, the global community is currently experiencing a precarious state due to the enduring repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic across all sectors, including energy. Given the rising global population and the limited availability of primary energy resources, we must reach a balance between the demands of a growing human population and the planet’s carrying capacity. The dreadful conflict in Ukraine has precipitated an enormous energy crisis. This crisis has served as a warning to the world population of how much it depends on this resource to survive. In France, the building sectors, specifically residential and tertiary, account for 45% of the total final energy consumption. It is the first energy consumer of the country and one of the most polluting (i.e., about 34% of CO2 emitted by France). Consequently, we must consider alternative energy resource forms (i.e., substitution energy forms). Harvesting energy from the building envelope may be a viable technique for partially satisfying the electricity demands of building users. In this context, scientific research offers considerable potential for developing more innovative and efficient systems. This article aims to review the state-of-the-art of advances on the subject to orient and further optimize energy production systems, particularly electricity. This work addresses several points of view: it discusses the overall backdrop of the present study and introduces the subject; details the research strategy and procedures used to produce this paper; develops the state-of-the-art on the potential for generating or recovering power from the building envelope; presents the SWOT analysis of the earlier-described systems. Finally, it concludes by offering findings and viewpoints.

Thermal Modeling and Electric Space Heating of a University Building in Newfoundland

Buildings play a substantial role in global energy consumption, constituting a considerable share of the overall energy use. In Canada, they contribute to around 25% of the total final energy consumption. Notably, space heating emerges as the primary energy consumer, accounting for approximately 57% of energy utilization in institutional and commercial buildings. This paper presents a feasibility analysis of converting the space heating system of the Core Science Facility (CSF) building of Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN). Analysis is done using RETScreen Clean Energy Management Software, known as RETScreen Expert, a software package developed by the Government of Canada, and the thermal modeling of the building using Energy3D, developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The feasibility study indicates that significant savings can be achieved if space heating is switched to electric resistive heating. The results indicate a 24.2% savings in annual energy costs, with a simple payback period of 10.5 years. The simulation results from Energy3D are compared with the measured building energy consumption data provided by the MUN Facilities Management Department. The thermal model indicates less energy consumption than the actual measured values, which is a result of transmission losses, the interconnection between the CSF building and the University Center, building occupancy, the ventilation system, and degradation of equipment that are not considered in the model.

New estimate of shadow economy based on the total energy consumption. Evidence from the European Union countries

Estimating the shadow economy has become a significant concern for politicians, economists, and social scientists in recent times. Despite various advancements in methodology and empirical shreds of evidence, some areas remain unexplored. This article provides a valuable database on the estimations of the shadow economy in 26 EU countries for the period 2001–2021. We develop an innovative technique for measuring the shadow economy that is distinct from previous methods in the literature since it relies upon a modified version of the physical input approach. Instead of relying solely on electric power consumption, we consider the total final energy consumption, which encompasses all forms of energy utilized in the economy. In addition, advanced econometric modeling is performed through robust fixed effects LSDV model to delve into the credentials of our method. The main findings reveal significant variation in average levels of the shadow economy in the European Union, which range between 9.5% and 40% of the official GDP over the analyzed period. The developed database is intended to serve as a valuable resource for policymakers as they strive to combat economic crime. Its widespread utilization is anticipated, as a tool that will play an integral role in informing the development of effective policies and strategies in this critical area.

Unveiling the Spatial Distribution of Heat Demand in North-West-Europe Compiled with National Heat Consumption Data

Space and water heating for residential and commercial buildings amount to a third of the European Union’s total final energy consumption. Approximately 75% of the primary energy is still produced by burning fossil fuels, leading to high greenhouse gas emissions in the heating sector. Therefore, policymakers increasingly strive to trigger investments in sustainable and low-emission heating systems. This study forms part of the “Roll-out of Deep Geothermal Energy in North-West-Europe”-project and aims at quantifying the spatial heat demand distribution in the Interreg North-West-Europe region. An open-source geographic information system and selected Python packages for advanced geospatial processing, analysis, and visualization are utilized to constrain the maps. These were combined, streamlined, and optimized within the open-source Python package PyHeatDemand. Based on national and regional heat demand input data, three maps are developed to better constrain heat demand at a high spatial resolution of 100 m × 100 m (=1 ha) for the residential and commercial sectors, and for both together (in total). The developed methodology can not only be applied to transnational heat demand mapping but also on various scales ranging from city district level to states and countries. In addition, the workflow is highly flexible working with raster data, vector data, and tabular data. The results reveal a total heat demand of the Interreg North-West-Europe region of around 1700 TWh. The spatial distribution of the heat demand follows specific patterns, where heat demand peaks are usually in metropolitan regions like for the city of Paris (1400 MWh/ha), the city of Brussels (1300 MWh/ha), the London metropolitan area (520 MWh/ha), and the Rhine-Ruhr region (500 MWh/ha). The developed maps are compared with two international projects, Hotmaps and Heat Roadmap Europe’s Pan European Thermal Atlas. The average total heat demand difference from values obtained in this study to Hotmaps and Heat Roadmap Europe is 24 MWh/ha and 84 MWh/ha, respectively. Assuming the implementation of real consumption data, an enhancement in spatial predictability is expected. The heat demand maps are therefore predestined to provide a conceptual first overview for decision-makers and market investors. The developed methods will further allow for anticipated mandatory municipal heat demand analyses.

Simple solutions first—energy savings for domestic hot water through flow restrictors

Domestic hot water production is the second most important energy use in the European residential sector, nowadays accounting for 14% of the sector’s total final energy consumption. Despite its importance, the energy efficiency improvement rates for domestic hot water are lower than for other residential energy services, hence calling for energy-saving measures. One key measure is to install flow restrictors. Their advantages are the low upfront cost, easy installation, and suitability for integration into energy efficiency programs. Focusing on flow restrictors, this paper presents different methods for quantifying the energy savings using ex-ante and ex-post approaches: deemed savings (DES), dedicated measurements (DMs), and monthly and yearly billing analysis (SMBA and ABA). These methods were tested using information based on measurements (water flow, temperatures), historical billing analysis, a survey among inhabitants, and interviews with field experts. While measurements made at individual faucets or showerheads show significant water savings (20% and 33% respectively), energy savings associated with hot water production in the boiler (final energy) are significantly lower (around 10%) but far from being negligible. The main reasons for the difference are thermal losses related to hot water distribution in central heating systems, usages not affected by flow restrictors, and inhabitants removing them. We conclude that flow restrictors offer promising potential for short- to medium-term implementation. Given the simplicity of this solution, we recommend including it systematically in energy efficiency programs, as well as implementing a ban on fixtures with flow rates beyond a predefined level.

The effect of environmental degradation on self-reported health: the role of renewable energy consumption.

Although there are a number of studies in the literature that have explored the effect of environmental degradation on the subjective well-being and life satisfaction, no previous study has addressed the role of renewable energy consumption in examining the effect of environmental degradation on self-reported health. To this end, we employ a conditional mixed process (CMP) model, using a unique dataset that combines both micro-level data fromthe 6th (2010-2014) and 7th (2017-2022) Waves of the World Values Survey (WVS) database and macro-level data from the World Bank. Our study has several important empirical findings. First, while environmental degradation deteriorates self-reported health, social capital and health expenditure have a positive impact on self-reported health. Second, the share of renewable energy consumption in total final energy consumption has a statistically significant negative impact on environmental degradation. Third, urbanization has a deteriorating effect on environmental quality and the total number of people increases environmental degradation.

Global Decarbonization: Current Status and What It Will Take to Achieve Net Zero by 2050

A review of global CO2 emissions over the last century shows that emissions from 80 economies contributed to 95% of global emissions. Among them, 55 economies were decarbonizers, where CO2 emissions had either plateaued or were declining, while 25 economies were polluters, where CO2 emissions were still increasing. In 2021, the global CO2 emissions were 37.1 Gtpa, with 56% coming from polluters and 39% from decarbonizers. If current trends continue, global CO2 emissions will reach 49.6 Gtpa by 2050, with 81% coming from polluters and 14% from decarbonizers. Only 14 economies will reach net zero. The decarbonization target, over and above current efforts, to achieve net zero is calculated for each economy. Decarbonizers need to mitigate 230 Mtpa CO2 and polluters 1365 Mtpa CO2 beginning in 2021 to reach the net-zero target by 2050. This target will increase each year decarbonization is delayed. Analyses show that renewable energies’ share in the total final energy consumption in most economies increased by an average of only 4 percentage points in the last decade, which is inadequate for achieving net zero by 2050. Other means of decarbonization, including low-carbon fossil solutions through carbon capture and storage, will be needed. Pathways to accelerate decarbonization are proposed and their policy implications are discussed.

Effect of a PTL Coating and the Clamping Pressure on the Performance of a PEM Electrolyzer Cell

The temperature of the earth is slowly increasing due to the excess CO2 production from the use of fossil fuels in the energy consumption and power production cycles. By 2050, The IEA has devised the net zero energy plan to allow the hydrogen use to extend to several parts of the energy sectors and grow to meet 10% of total final energy consumption by that year [1]. A key player in the decarbonization plan is electrolysis technology. Specifically, PEM electrolysis has gained popularity throughout the years and has started to become more commercialized and its coupling to renewables allowed the technology to produce fully green hydrogen. Researchers’ goal now is to optimize this technology and reduce its cost. As it uses a protonic membrane in an acidic media, it requires expensive components that need to sustain harsh acidic conditions[2].Usually, a PEM water electrolysis unit is made up of a CCM (catalyst coated membrane made with a Nafion 115 coated with iridium oxide on the anode side and nanoparticles of platinum on a carbon support on the cathode side) sandwiched between a titanium porous layer at the anode and a carbon GDL on the cathode. All the components are contained with feeding plates usually made from titanium[3]. The electrolyzer is tightened enough to prevent leaks and ensure a good contact resistance. However, too much clamping can damage the components of the cell as it can reduce the GDL porosity, furthermore can reduce the protonic conductivity of the membrane due to the decreasing of its water content; hence limiting the electrolyzer performance. Another effect is the thinning of the membrane which can affect the hydrogen permeation rate and possibly cause a safety issue as the hydrogen in oxygen content should be less than 2%[4]. Each component has its influence on the contact resistance, the most influential one is that between the porous titanium PTL and the anodic catalytic layer. One uncoated PTL and three coated PTLs (Au, Pt, Ir) where implemented. The precious metal deposit has a positive effect on the interfacial contact resistance between the catalyst layer and the PTL as it decreases compared to an uncoated PTL: the gain is about 150mV at 2A/cm² for a 6.6 MPa clamping pressure – see Fig. 1a. The three deposits lead to the same performances below 2.5A/cm2 and for higher current densities the Iridium deposit is less good than the gold and platinum ones at the beginning of life. After an activation of few hundred hours of operation, the iridium deposit leads to the same performance as the platinum deposit and the gold deposit began to dissolve. To explore higher clamping pressure, the carbon GDL was replaced by a more rigid titanium felt and clamping experiment with an uncoated PTL were performed from 2.9 to 13.22MPa – see figure 1.b. Then decreasing it to see the effect of excessive tightening and relaxation, but unexpected increase in performance was observed up until a certain clamping (6.6MPa) (Fig. 1b) during the relaxation phase then the performances started to decrease. We attribute this behavior to the better water absorption of the membrane during the relaxation phase once the electrical contact is achieved at high pressures. These results might show an efficient method in assembly and clamping of an electrolyzer cell to obtain better performances.[1] F. Dolci, Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking - Programme review report 2017. 2018.[2] D. G. Bessarabov and P. Millet, PEM water electrolysis. 2017.[3] M. Sánchez-Molina, E. Amores, N. Rojas, and M. Kunowsky, “Additive manufacturing of bipolar plates for hydrogen production in proton exchange membrane water electrolysis cells,” Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, vol. 46, no. 79, pp. 38983–38991, 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.09.152.[4] T. J. Mason, J. Millichamp, P. R. Shearing, and D. J. L. Brett, “A study of the effect of compression on the performance of polymer electrolyte fuel cells using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and dimensional change analysis,” Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, vol. 38, no. 18, pp. 7414–7422, 2013, doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2013.04.021. Figure 1

The impact of monetary policy instruments on sustainable development

In this research, the effect of monetary policy on five sustainable development indicators prepared by the United Nations was investigated in Iraq. For this purpose, variables of interest rate, exchange rate and volume of money in circulation have been used as monetary policy tools and the indicators have been used such as Proportion of the population living below the international poverty line (1.1.1), Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water (6.1.1.), Change in water-use efficiency (6.4.1), Renewable energy (7.2.1), share in the total final energy consumption, and Annual growth rate of real GDP per capita (8.1.1.). For this purpose, five regressions were estimated using the Two Stage Least Squares (2SLS) method. The results show that the exchange rate has a positive effect on indicators of poverty, efficient management of water resources, and economic growth per capita, and a negative effect on access to safe drinking water. Among other monetary policy instruments, only currency in circulationhas a positive effect on poverty reduction, and in other cases it has no significant effect.

Paper Review of External Integrated Systems as Photovoltaic Shading Devices

The building sector contributes to 40% of the total final energy consumption and 36% of CO2 emissions in Europe, and these are set to increase in the coming years. International directives are pushing towards a decarbonisation roadmap to improve the quality of cities and the health of citizens. Buildings have a potentially central role in terms of energy transition as a means to produce and save energy. Photovoltaic shading devices (PVSDs) protect buildings from direct solar radiation and overheating while producing renewable electricity onsite and increasing the users’ thermal comfort. Even though the potential of the PVSD is considerable, the sector is still unexplored, and few studies on the topic are available in the literature. This systematic review aims to present an exhaustive overview of the current literature on state-of-the-art PVSDs by analysing the scientific framework in terms of the status of the research. It presents a performance-based approach focusing on innovative products, PVSD design strategies, and energetic performance in distinct climate conditions and configurations. In particular, 75 articles and about 250 keywords were identified, selected, and analysed. The literature review serves as a basis for further R&D activities led by both the industrial and the academic sectors.

The potential of salinity gradient energy based on natural and anthropogenic resources in Sweden

This paper presents assessment of natural and anthropogenic sources of blue energy within Swedish territory to identify suitable spots for implementing new projects. The natural energy potential of salinity gradients was found to be higher in southwest Sweden, and a national energy resource potential of 2610.6 MW from seawater/river water mixing will be reduced to a technical potential ranging from 1044.3 MW to 1825.4 MW considering technical and environmental constraints. It has been found that the theoretical extractable energy potential in Sweden is equivalent to 13% of the total electricity consumption and 6.2% of the total final energy consumption by energy commodities.Anthropogenic water sources were also highlighted as promising low and high-concentration solutions for SGE extraction. Gotland was identified as an attractive location for generating salinity gradient power. The total salinity gradient power obtainable by mixing municipal wastewater with seawater in Sweden was estimated to be 11.8 MW. The most promising site for this process was determined to be Gryaab AB Ryaverket in Gothenburg, which accounted for 45.8% of the total national potential from anthropogenic sources.

Potential utilization of hydrogen in the UAE's industrial sector

Climate change and resource depletion pose significant challenges to global sustainable development. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the industrial sector contributes to over half of the total final energy consumption, resulting in substantial carbon emissions. This study addresses how hydrogen, as an energy carrier, can facilitate the integration of renewable energy in hard-to-abate industries. We explore the energy landscape by analyzing energy flow diagrams, emission trends, and the social cost of carbon in the UAE. We propose a Green-to-Green system framework that promotes sustainability and incorporates the Power-to-X (PtX) concept, with hydrogen playing a central role. Our findings indicate that decarbonizing industries solely through renewable energy encounter challenges. However, domestically adopting solar PV for green hydrogen production presents an opportunity to decarbonize hard-to-abate industries. Furthermore, we emphasize the importance of a national hydrogen strategy to advance hydrogen utilization in the industrial sector.

Energy and Environmental Analysis of Renewable Energy Systems Focused on Biomass Technologies for Residential Applications: The Life Cycle Energy Analysis Approach

Sustainability and resilience are major challenges for the building sector in order to meet energy efficiency and low carbon emissions goals. Based on the defined and quantified targets of the EU climate change policy, Renewable Energy Systems (RESs) are among the top-priority measures for accomplishing the target of decarbonization in buildings. Nevertheless, the choice of the type of RES is not a one-dimensional problem, and the optimal combination may not be unique. The aim of this paper is the energy and environmental evaluation of renewable energy technologies with emphasis on biomass and solar thermal systems for heating applications in residential buildings. More specifically, and aiming at the maximum possible contribution of renewable energy sources in the total final energy consumption for the needs of zero energy buildings, different scenarios are presented based on a Life Cycle Energy Analysis (LCEA) approach. The methodology is based on quantifying the environmental impacts (midpoint analysis), as well as endpoint analysis, in order to define the impact on human health, ecosystem damage, and resource depletion. The LCEA has been conducted, supported by the SimaPro tool, ensuring the environmental impact assessment result. A combination of RES technologies based on solar and biomass are examined and compared to conventional fossil fuel heating systems according to technical, energy, and environmental criteria. Finally, the energy system technologies were compared in correlation to a building’s thermal insulation level. The first set of simulations fulfilled the minimum thermal insulation requirements, according to the national energy performance regulation, whilst the second set of simulations was based on increased levels of insulation. The point of this analysis was to correlate the impact of thermal insulation to RES technologies’ contribution. The results determined that the best available energy solution, focusing on technical and environmental criteria, is the combination of biomass and solar thermal systems for covering the heating processes in residential buildings. More specifically, the combined biomass–solar system has a lower overall environmental impact, due to the reduction in gaseous pollutant emissions, as well as the reduction in the amount of used fuel. The reduction in the total environmental impact amounts to a percentage of approximately 43%.

Variable renewable energy deployment in low-emission scenarios: The role of technology cost and value

While rapid deployment of variable renewable energy (VRE) technologies, namely wind and solar PV, is often projected in 2C pathways generated by integrated assessment models, there is a wide range in projected VRE deployment by mid-century. Such differences could be the result of differences in assumptions about future technology costs and/or differences in model approaches for capturing other aspects of technology competitiveness. Here we introduce a consistent competitiveness metric, profitability-adjusted levelized cost of electricity (or PLCOE), to an integrated assessment model (EPPA) to evaluate the representation of technology competition, including VRE, in low-emission scenarios. We show that representing the value of technology (alongside cost) may significantly impact VRE deployment relative to scenarios without such an adjustment. In addition, we show that varying VRE costs by about 35% in 2050 results in differences in VRE deployment that span much of the range in outcomes (over the same period) observed in likely 2C scenarios assessed by the IPCC, suggesting that both cost and value are key drivers of VRE deployment in such scenarios. Given the central role that VRE technologies play in the electricity mix across most scenarios, we also find that alternative cost assumptions for VRE technologies can lead to changes in electricity prices, the associated demand for electricity, and total final and primary energy consumption. However, the demand for fuels other than electricity is relatively insensitive to VRE assumptions in the 2C scenarios considered here.

Energy security performance evaluation revisited: From the perspective of the energy supply chain

The previous research on energy security performance (ESP) has often treated the energy security system as a “black box,” meaning that it has not explored the internal composition structure of the system or the linking relationships of the energy supply chain. This study proposes a comprehensive evaluation framework and a comparative study of ESP evaluation in 32 OECD countries over 20 years, dividing the energy system into four processes. A dynamic network Data Envelopment Analysis (DNDEA) model is used to analyze the energy system's overall performance and each process's performance, considering their internal structure and dynamic characteristics. The ESP results show that half of the 32 OECD countries had perfect efficiency scores, while the other half had scores ranging from 0.0222 to 0.74. The study also found more progress in the second half of the 20-year period. In terms of the four individual processes, the total primary energy supply (TPES) and total final energy consumption (TFEC) processes had consistently high scores, while the secondary energy resources (SER) process had room for improvement. Based on a cross-check of the various ESP results over the past 20 years, as well as the ESP in the most recent decade, seven countries (Austria, Canada, Finland, South Korea, Luxembourg, Norway, and Switzerland) were identified as benchmarks for their strong performance, and the study examined the indicators underlying their success. The study also identifies areas for improvement in underperforming countries and determines future directions for improvement.

Forestry products as renewable energy sources

Forestry products as renewable energy sources

The impacts of globalization, renewable energy, and agriculture on CO2 emissions in India: Contextual evidence using a novel composite carbon emission-related atmospheric quality index

At the 26th Conference of Parties in Glasgow, India declared the environmental agendas of turning carbon neutral by 2070 and substantially lowering its carbon intensity level. Thus, it can be assumed that India is committed to improving its atmospheric health over the next couple of decades. Thus, strategizing plans for limiting carbon emission-related environmental pollution has gone on to become a critically important objective of the Indian government. Against this backdrop, this current study aims to examine the factors influencing atmospheric quality in India. As opposed to the previously adopted approaches in the existing studies, a composite atmospheric quality index is estimated using data concerning different carbon dioxide emission-related atmospheric quality indicators (total carbon dioxide emissions, carbon footprints, and carbon intensity levels). Furthermore, the analysis of the possible non-linear association between renewable energy use and atmospheric pollution makes an additional contribution to the environmental literature. Using quarterly frequency data from 1990q1 to 2018q4 and employing advanced econometric techniques suitable for handling structural break issues, the empirical results reveal that globalization through economic and social channels, agricultural output expansion, and greater population density trigger atmospheric pollution in the long run. Besides, the relationship between renewable energy consumption and atmospheric quality is found to exhibit an inverted U-shape. In this regard, the threshold share of renewable energy in the total final energy consumption level of India is predicted at around 45.75% which is comparatively higher than India’s current renewable energy consumption share. Furthermore, urbanization is evidenced to stimulate the deterioration of India's atmospheric quality, both in the short- and long-run. In line with these major findings, some policy-oriented recommendations are made.