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The efficient utilization of low-cost carbon feedstocks, such as municipal solid waste (MSW), in biorefineries has become increasingly important for reducing GHG emissions and meeting the growing demand for renewable energy sources. However, MSW as a feedstock presents several challenges, including high moisture content, compositional variability, particle size and shape, density, and ash content. To address these challenges, the potential of mechanical dewatering and high-moisture pelleting processes for densifying MSW fractions, such as paper, cardboard, thin plastic, and thick plastic, into low-cost carbon feedstocks with improved handling and conversion properties were investigated. The effect of these preprocessing technologies on the critical quality attributes (CQAs) of the resulting pellets, including bulk density, durability, and size uniformity, were evaluated. The results showed that with these preprocessing technologies, the paper and cardboard fractions could be pelleted at moisture contents over 40% (w.b.) while achieving >99% durability and >300 kg/m3, while the high moisture plastic fractions were not suitable for pelleting. The thick plastic fraction processed in a screw press was shown to remove up to 30% of the moisture content in a single pass. These findings suggest that these mechanical preprocessing technologies can improve the physical properties of low-cost municipal solid waste fractions for biofuels production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transportation sector remains a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. The understanding of energy-efficient driving behaviors and utilization of energy-efficient driving strategies are essential to reduce vehicles' fuel consumption. However, there is no comprehensive investigation into energy-efficient driving behaviors and strategies. Furthermore, many state-of-the-art AI models have been applied for the analysis of eco-friendly driving styles, but no overview is available. To fill the gap, this paper conducts a thorough literature review on ecological driving behaviors and styles, and analyzes the driving factors influencing energy consumption and state-of-the-art methodologies. With a thorough scoping review process, thirty-seven articles with full text were assessed, and the methodological and related data are compared. The results show that the factors that impact driving behaviors can be summarized into eleven features including speed, acceleration, deceleration, pedal, steering, gear, engine, distance, weather, traffic signal, and road parameters. This paper finds that supervised/unsupervised learning algorithms and reinforcement learning frameworks have been popularly used to model the vehicle's energy consumption with multi-dimensional data. Furthermore, the literature shows that the driving data are collected from either simulators or real-world experiments, and the real-world data are mainly stored and transmitted by meters, controller area networks, onboard data services, smartphones, and additional sensors installed in the vehicle. Based on driving behavior factors, driver characteristics, and safety rules, this paper recommends nine energy-efficient driving styles including four guidelines for the drivers' selection and adjustment of the vehicle parameters, three recommendations for the energy-efficient driving styles in different driving scenarios, and two subjective suggestions for different types of drivers and employers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in global average temperature, mainly due to the high rate of greenhouse gas emissions, has triggered severe global warming and climate change. In Europe, the building sector accounts for a significant portion of emissions and energy consumption, prompting attention on nearly-zero-energy buildings (nZEBs) and zero-carbon buildings, as they play a pivotal role in reaching the goal of climate neutrality by 2050. Passive systems offer a promising solution, optimizing energy usage by better adapting buildings to their local climates. This paper reviews the state-of-the-art of passive heating and cooling techniques, exploring their contributions to contemporary architecture and showcasing their features and adaptability across different climates. Furthermore, the link between traditional and bioclimatic architecture is assessed. Recent years have witnessed a surge in publications on bioclimatic solar passive strategies, reflecting an intensified debate on climate change. Europe leads research in this area, aligned with initiatives like the Green Deal and Fit for 55. While dynamic simulation software is widely utilized for energy efficiency analysis, there remains limited integration of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and life cycle analysis (LCA) tools, which could enhance holistic assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the Positive Energy District Database (PED DB), a pivotal web tool developed collaboratively by the COST Action 'PED-EU-NET', in alignment with international initiatives such as JPI Urban Europe and IEA EBC Annex 83. The PED DB represents a crucial step towards sharing knowledge, promoting collaboration, reinforcing decision-making, and advancing the understanding of Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) in the pursuit of sustainable urban environments. The PED DB aims to comprehensively map and disseminate information on PEDs across Europe, serving as a dynamic resource for sustainable urban development according to the objective of making the EU climate-neutral by 2050. Indeed, PEDs imply an integrated approach for designing urban areas—the districts—where a cluster of interconnected buildings and energy communities produce net zero greenhouse gas emissions, managing an annual local/regional overflow production of renewable energy. The paper describes the collaborative step-by-step process leading to the PED DB implementation, the current results and potentials of the online platform, and introduces its future developments towards a more user-friendly and stakeholders-tailored tool. The interactive web map offers a customizable visualizations and filters on multiple information related to PED case studies, PED-relevant cases, and PED Labs. Users can access detailed information through a table view, facilitating comparisons across different PED projects and their implementation phase. The paper offers insights and detailed analysis from the initial dataset that includes 23 PED cases and 7 PED-related projects from 13 European countries, highlighting the key characteristics of surveyed PEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reduction or elimination of reliance on traditional fossil fuels and of the emission of greenhouse gases and pollutants into the environment are affecting energy technologies, systems, and applications. In this context, one potential approach to achieving sustainability, decarbonization, and ensuring the energy and economic viability of existing and future energy systems involves adopting one or more renewable sources. The presented paper concentrates on examining the performance of a small-scale hybrid renewable polygeneration system. This system utilizes biogas produced through anaerobic digestion, which is then supplied to an internal combustion engine, along with solar energy converted into electrical energy by photovoltaic modules and wind energy harnessed through a wind turbine. A small-scale user, represented by residential buildings and a zootechnical farm with heating, cooling, and electrical energy demands, serves as the case study. TRNSYS software is employed to design and model the system, considering realistic assumptions about technical aspects and user energy requirements. The investigation involves analyzing the system's operation, considering both energy and economic perspectives. The paper discusses the pros and cons of combining biogas, solar, and wind energy in the proposed hybrid system under the considered case study. Despite non-satisfactory economic profitability without incentives, the proposed system allows one to save significant amounts of primary energy and carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reduction in GHG emissions has become one of the most important objectives in Europe. One of these clean technologies in the quest for large-scale decarbonisation is the blending of hydrogen and natural gas (H2NG). The significance of this article lies in conducting a technical–economic analysis that relies on simulating annual consumption patterns. This study focuses on the utilization of H2NG at different proportions within a distribution network in Bucharest, Romania's largest city. The paper is a fallow up of another paper and presents a case study for the injection through all four entry points in the city of different percentages of hydrogen and the dynamic of the mix through the gas distribution network. The study found that the variation in H2 in the network is high and depends on the entry point levels and consumption. An economic analysis was conducted on seasonal real consumption, which confirmed the investment's profitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased effectiveness of methane drainage from sealed post-mining goaves in hard coal mines contributes to reduced methane emission from goaves into the mine ventilation system. This paper focuses on issues concerning the assessment of the additional amount of methane released from the goaf into mine workings during periods of atmospheric pressure drops, which can be captured with a methane drainage system. Thanks to the solutions presented in the paper, it is possible to control the efficiency of the goaf drainage system, which in turn leads to the reduction of methane emission from the mine ventilation air into Earth's atmosphere. These solutions are of great added value for both the environment and coal mines as they reduce the costs arising from greenhouse gas emissions that are incurred by mining companies, increasing the efficiency of methane capture and its use in gas engines or district heating systems. The paper uses relationships relating to the influence of atmospheric pressure changes on the process of gas release from the goaf according to the hysteresis loop of methane release during atmospheric pressure changes, which was developed based on conducted research. The analysis and conclusions presented in this paper may facilitate the development of strategies aimed at reducing methane emissions from a mine's ventilated air into Earth's atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing environmental concerns have prompted the shipping industry to adopt stringent measures to address greenhouse gas emissions, with fuel-powered ships being the primary source of such emissions. Additionally, alternative forms of ship propulsion, such as internal combustion engine hybridization, low-carbon fuels, and zero-carbon fuels, face significant challenges either in terms of cost or emission-reduction capability at present. In order to decarbonize navigation, countries are focusing the maritime industry's transition towards low-carbon alternatives on transforming energy consumption, with widespread attention on the electrification of ships. Therefore, this paper provides a comprehensive review of the feasibility of fully electrifying ships, covering aspects such as technological prospects, economic viability, and emission-reduction capabilities. Firstly, the current state of research on ship electrification technology is summarized; the applicability of different battery types to electric ship technology is compared. Subsequently, the economic viability and emission-reduction capabilities of five different electric ship lifecycles are discussed separately. The results indicate that ship electrification is a key pathway to achieving zero-emission shipping, with lithium-ion batteries being the most suitable battery technology for maritime use currently. Short-to-medium-range electric ship types have demonstrated economic advantages over traditional diesel ships. As battery costs continue to decline and energy density keeps improving, the economic feasibility of ship electrification is expected to expand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a multi-objective optimization model for the integration of polygeneration systems into energy communities (ECs), by analyzing a case study. The concept of ECs is increasingly seen as beneficial for reducing global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Polygeneration systems have the potential to play a crucial role in this context, since they are known for producing multiple energy services from a single energy resource, besides the possibility of being fed also by renewable energy sources. However, optimizing the configuration and operation of these systems within ECs presents complex challenges due to the variety of technologies involved, their interactions, and the dynamic behavior of buildings. Therefore, the aim of this work is developing a mathematical model using a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) algorithm to optimally design and operate polygeneration systems integrated into ECs. The model is applied to a case study of an EC comprising nine buildings in a small city in the northeast of Italy. The work rests on the single- and multi-objective optimization of the polygeneration systems taking into account the sharing of electricity among the buildings (both self-produced and/or the purchased from the grid), as well as the sharing of heating and cooling between the buildings through a district heating and cooling network (DHCN). The main results from the EC case study show the possibility of reducing the total annual CO2 emissions by around 24.3% (about 1.72 kt CO2/year) while increasing the total annual costs by 1.9% (about 0.09 M€/year) or reducing the total annual costs by 31.9% (about 1.47 M€/year) while increasing the total annual CO2 emissions by 2.2% (about 0.16 kt CO2/year). The work developed within this research can be adapted to different case studies, such as in the residential–commercial buildings and industrial sectors. Therefore, the model resulting from this work constitutes an effective tool to optimally design and operate polygeneration systems integrated into ECs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air conditioning systems can play a positive or negative role in the spread of COVID-19 infection. The importance of sufficient outdoor air changes in buildings was highlighted by the World Health Organization, therefore these should be guaranteed by mechanical ventilation systems or adequate air conditioning systems. The proposed case study concerns the optimal number of outdoor air changes to limit COVID-19 contagion for a school building in Central Italy. The Wells–Riley model is used to assess the risk of airborne infection, while energy consumption is calculated by a dynamic energy simulation software. The scope of the paper offers an innovative method to define the optimal ventilation strategy for the building's HVAC system design to reduce the risk of infection with limited increases in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Results show that the desirable approach is the one in which the same low value of contagion risk is set in all rooms. This new approach results in significant energy savings, compared to the most common ones (setting the same high outdoor air rates for all rooms) to counteract the risk of infection. Finally, the zero-emission building target is verified by introducing a suitable photovoltaic system to offset pollutant emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen combustion engine vehicles have the potential to rapidly enter the market and reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) compared to conventional engines. The ability to provide a rapid market deployment is linked to the fact that the industry would take advantage of the existing internal combustion engine production chain. The aim of this paper is twofold. First, it aims to develop a methodology for applying life-cycle assessment (LCA) to internal combustion engines to estimate their life-cycle GHG emissions. Also, it aims to investigate the decarbonization potential of hydrogen engines produced by exploiting existing diesel engine technology and assuming diverse hydrogen production routes. The boundary of the LCA is cradle-to-grave, and the assessment is entirely based on primary data. The products under study are two monofuel engines: a hydrogen engine and a diesel engine. The hydrogen engine has been redesigned using the diesel engine as a base. The engines being studied are versatile and can be used for a wide range of uses such as automotive, cogeneration, maritime, off-road, and railway; however, this study focuses on their application in pickup trucks. As part of the redesign process, certain subsystems (e.g., combustion, injection, ignition, exhaust gas recirculation, and exhaust gas aftertreatment) have been modified to make the engine run on hydrogen. Results revealed that employing a hydrogen engine using green hydrogen (i.e., generated from water electrolysis using wind-based electricity) might reduce GHG emission by over 90% compared to the diesel engine This study showed that the benefits of the new hydrogen engine solution outweigh the increase of emissions related to the redesign process, making it a potentially beneficial solution also for reconditioning current and used internal combustion engines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Egypt has the potential to generate a significant amount of energy from renewable technologies, in particular solar PV, concentrated solar power (CSP), and onshore and offshore wind. The energy sector is reliant on fossil fuels, particularly natural gas, for electricity production and is at risk of locking itself into a high carbon pathway. Globally, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with national energy sectors is a target outlined in the UN's Paris Agreement. To reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions associated with a higher dependence on fossil fuels, Egypt must consider upscaling renewable energy technologies (RETs) to achieve a clean energy transition (CET). This research modelled six scenarios using clicSAND for OSeMOSYS to identify the technologies and policy target improvements that are needed to upscale RETs within Egypt's energy sector. The results showed that solar PV and onshore wind are key technologies to be upscaled to contribute towards Egypt's CET. The optimal renewable target is the International Renewable Energy Agency's (IRENA) target of 53% of electricity being sourced from RETs by 2030, which will cost USD 16.4 billion more up to 2035 than Egypt's current Integrated Sustainable Energy Strategy (ISES) target of 42% by 2035; it also saves 732.0 MtCO2 over the entire modelling period to 2070. Socio-economic barriers to this transition are considered, such as recent discoveries of natural gas reserves combined with a history of energy insecurity, political instability impacting investor confidence, and a lack of international climate funding. The paper concludes with policy recommendations that would enable Egypt to progress towards achieving a CET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transport sector is under scrutiny because of its significant greenhouse gas emissions. Essential strategies, particularly the adoption of zero- and low-emission vehicles powered by electricity, are crucial for mitigating emissions in road transport. Pickups, which are integral to Mexico's fleet, contribute to such emissions. Thus, implementing effective policies targeting pickups is vital for reducing air pollution and aligning with Mexico's decarbonization objectives. This paper presents a simulation model based on system dynamics to represent the adoption process of zero- and low-emission vehicles, with a focus on pickups and utilizing data from the Mexican case. Three policy evaluation scenarios are proposed based on the simulation model: business as usual; disincentives for zero- and low-emission vehicles; and incentives for unconventional vehicles. One of the most significant findings from this study is that even in a scenario with a greater number of vehicles in circulation, if the technology is fully electric, the environmental impact in terms of emissions is lower. Additionally, a comprehensive sensitivity analysis spanning a wide spectrum is undertaken through an extensive computational process, yielding multiple policy scenarios. The analysis indicates that to achieve a maximal reduction in the country's emissions, promoting solely hybrid electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles is advisable, whereas internal combustion engines, vehicular natural gas, and battery electric vehicles should be discouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy management strategies play a crucial role in enhancing the fuel efficiency of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. For the current commonly used time horizon optimization methods that only target the trend curve of the optimal battery state of charge (SOC) trajectory obtained offline, which are only suitable for buses with known future driving conditions, this paper proposed an energy management strategy based on an adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) that optimizes the time horizon length and enhances adaptability to driving conditions by integrating historical vehicle velocity, accelerations, and battery SOC trajectory. First, the vehicle velocity prediction model based on the radial basis function (RBF) neural network is used to predict the future velocity sequence. After that, ANFIS was used to optimize and update the length of the forecast time horizon based on the historical vehicle velocity sequence. Finally, compared with the fixed time horizon energy management strategy, which is based on model predictive control (MPC), the average calculation time of the energy management strategy is reduced by about 23.5%, and the fuel consumption per 100 km is reduced by about 6.12%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Germany, there are over 32,000 schools, representing great potential for climate protection. On the one hand, this applies to educational work, as understanding the effects of climate change and measures to reduce GHG emissions is an important step to empower students with knowledge and skills. On the other hand, school buildings are often in bad condition, energy is wasted, and the possibilities for using renewable energies are hardly used. In our "Schools4Future" project, we enabled students and teachers to draw up their own CO2 balances, identify weaknesses in the building, detect wasted electricity, and determine the potential for using renewable energies. Emissions from the school cafeteria, school trips, and paper consumption could also be identified. The fact that the data can be collected by the students themselves provides increased awareness of the contribution made to the climate balance by the various school areas. The most climate-friendly school emits 297 kg whilst the school with the highest emissions emits over one ton CO2 per student and year. Our approach is suitable to qualify students in the sense of citizen science, carry out a scientific investigation, experience self-efficacy through one's own actions, and engage politically regarding their concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although technical improvements to engines and aftertreatment systems have the greatest impact on pollutant emissions, there is also potential for reducing emissions through driver behavior. This potential can be realized in the very short term, while better emission-control technologies only take effect once they have penetrated the market. In addition to a change in driving style, the vehicle owner's choice of vehicle technology and size class will also have an impact on the future emissions of the vehicle fleet. The effects of different driving styles, the tire choice, the vehicle size class, and propulsion technologies on energy consumption and tailpipe and non-exhaust emissions are analyzed in this paper for different traffic situations and start temperatures for cars with petrol and diesel combustion engines and for battery electric vehicles. The analysis is completed with the corresponding upstream emissions from fuel and electricity production. The analysis is based on a vehicle simulation using the Passenger car and Heavy-duty Emission Model (PHEM), which is based on a large database of vehicles created using measurements of real driving conditions. For the assessment of the driving style, a novel method was developed in an H2020 project, which reproduces a measured trip with a virtual eco-driver. Carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (CO2eq) increase with increasing vehicle size, but can be reduced by around 20% for conventional vehicles and 17% for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) through an environmentally conscious driving style. On average, BEVs have around 50% lower CO2eq emissions than conventional vehicles, if the emissions from vehicle production are also taken into account. On an average journey of 35 km, the cold start of modern diesel vehicles accounts for around half of the total NOx emissions, while the proportion of cold starts for petrol vehicles is around 25%. Tire and brake wear together generate a similar amount of PN23 emissions as the exhaust gases from new cars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a critical technology for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change. CCS involves capturing CO2 emissions from industrial processes and power plants and injecting them deep underground for long-term storage. The success of CCS projects is influenced by various factors, including the regional pressure dissipation effects in subsurface geological formations. The safe and efficient operation of CCS projects depends on maintaining the pressure in the storage formation. Regional pressure dissipation, often resulting from the permeability and geomechanical properties of the storage site, can have significant effects on project integrity. This paper provides a state-of-art of the impact of regional pressure dissipation on CCS projects, highlights its effects, and discusses ongoing investigations in this area based on different case studies. The results corroborate the idea that the Sleipner project has considerable lateral hydraulic connectivity, which is evidenced by pressure increase ranging from <0.1 MPa in case of an uncompartmentalized reservoir to >1 MPa in case of substantial flow barriers. After five years of injection, pore pressures in the water leg of a gas reservoir have increased from 18 MPa to 30 MPa at Salah project, resulting in a 2 cm surface uplift. Furthermore, artificial CO2 injection was simulated numerically for 30 years timespan in the depleted oil reservoir of Jurong, located near the Huangqiao CO2-oil reservoir. The maximum amount of CO2 injected into a single well could reach 5.43 × 106 tons, potentially increasing the formation pressure by up to 9.5 MPa. In conclusion, regional pressure dissipation is a critical factor in the implementation of CCS projects. Its impact can affect project safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability. Ongoing research and investigations are essential to improve our understanding of this phenomenon and develop strategies to mitigate its effects, ultimately advancing the success of CCS as a climate change mitigation solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In most countries energy needs are satisfied using fossil fuels. Fossil fuel combustion involves environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The effect of the depletion of natural resources and the growing awareness of the need to protect the environment are the reasons that clean energy and alternative energy sources have been significant research issues. One of the most important technologies enabling efficient generation of low-emission energy is the gasification process of synthesis gas production. Syngas is primarily composed of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, but depending on the feedstock, it can also contain smaller concentrations, e.g., of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrogen. Because synthesis gas contains flammable and toxic substances, it may pose hazards to humans and the environment at every stage of gas production, storage, transport or final utilization if released uncontrollably. This paper presents the results of analyses related to hazards created by an uncontrollable release of synthesis gas during storage. A failure of a syngas system may cause damage to other, subsequent technological systems and facilities located in the neighborhood and containing dangerous substances. The problem gains special significance if syngas is stored in many tanks, where a failure of one may result in damage to subsequent tanks due to the so-called domino effect. The conditions in which the domino effect may occur are analyzed and the effect occurrence probability is determined depending on the mutual location of the tanks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the findings of fifteen energy audits conducted on industrial sites in Canada's Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The audits covered a range of industries including food processing, packaged goods, and finishing processes (powder-coating). The primary focus of the audits was to analyze the natural gas consumption and the performance of major-gas-consuming equipment. The audits identified natural-gas-consuming equipment that could be optimized to yield energy and operational cost savings and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction opportunities. Food production plants' energy intensity ranges from 5.59 m3/ft2 to 17.73 m3/ft2. Therefore, there is a significant opportunity to improve energy consumption through better technology integration. The results of the audits indicate a trend of an increase in the percentage of non-productive consumption with non-productive time. The proposed energy-saving measures include reducing non-productive natural gas consumption, gas-fired equipment tune-up, optimizing boiler loads, and reducing oven exhaust by using variable frequency drives (VFDs). The findings of this study could be used to develop a demand-side management program specifically for small- and medium-sized industrial facilities in the Greater Toronto Area and other parts of Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The built environment is a significant contributor to global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Advancements in the adoption of environmentally friendly building technology have become crucial in promoting sustainable development. These advancements play a crucial role in conserving energy. The aim is to achieve an optimal design by balancing various interrelated factors. The emergence of innovative techniques to address energy conservation have been witnessed in the built environment. This review examines existing research articles that explore different metaheuristic optimization techniques (MOTs) for energy conservation in buildings. The focus is on evaluating the simplicity and stochastic nature of these optimization techniques. The findings of the review present theoretical and mathematical models for each algorithm and assess their effectiveness in problem solving. A systematic analysis of selected algorithms using MOT is conducted, considering factors that influence wellbeing, occupant health, and indoor environmental quality. The study examines the variations among swarm intelligence MOTs based on complexity, advantages, and disadvantages. The algorithms' performances are based on the concept of uncertainty in consistently providing optimal solutions. The paper highlights the application of each technique in achieving energy conservation in buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the current and prospective greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of e-fuels produced via electrolysis and Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) for the years 2021, 2030, and 2050 for use in Germany. The GHG emissions are determined by a scenario approach as a combination of a literature-based top-down and bottom-up approach. Considered process steps are the provision of feedstocks, electrolysis (via solid oxide co-electrolysis; SOEC), synthesis (via Fischer–Tropsch synthesis; FTS), e-crude refining, eventual transport to, and use in Germany. The results indicate that the current GHG emissions for e-fuel production in the exemplary export countries Saudi Arabia and Chile are above those of conventional fuels. Scenarios for the production in Germany lead to current GHG emissions of 2.78–3.47 kgCO2-eq/L e-fuel in 2021 as the reference year and 0.064–0.082 kgCO2-eq/L e-fuel in 2050. With a share of 58–96%, according to the respective scenario, the electrolysis is the main determinant of the GHG emissions in the production process. The use of additional renewable energy during the production process in combination with direct air capture (DAC) are the main leverages to reduce GHG emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photovoltaic (PV) panels are prone to experiencing various overlays and faults that can affect their performance and efficiency. The detection of photovoltaic panel overlays and faults is crucial for enhancing the performance and durability of photovoltaic power generation systems. It can minimize energy losses, increase system reliability and lifetime, and lower maintenance costs. Furthermore, it can contribute to the sustainable development of photovoltaic power generation systems, which can reduce our reliance on conventional energy sources and mitigate environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions in line with the goals of sustainable energy and environmental protection. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive survey of the existing detection techniques for PV panel overlays and faults from two main aspects. The first aspect is the detection of PV panel overlays, which are mainly caused by dust, snow, or shading. We classify the existing PV panel overlay detection methods into two categories, including image processing and deep learning methods, and analyze their advantages, disadvantages, and influencing factors. We also discuss some other methods for overlay detection that do not process images to detect PV panel overlays. The second aspect is the detection of PV panel faults, which are mainly caused by cracks, hot spots, or partial shading. We categorize existing PV panel fault detection methods into three categories, including electrical parameter detection methods, detection methods based on image processing, and detection methods based on data mining and artificial intelligence, and discusses their advantages and disadvantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As buildings are one of the major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption, they have a key potential for energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality improvement. Therefore, the development of nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (nZEBs) is strategic to respond to these challenges and to design and retrofit sustainable highly performing buildings. Actually, the nZEB target can also be reached with highly insulated wooden technologies. However, they must be critically revised and adapted when taking into account the warm climate peculiarities. The paper contributes to this attempt by dealing with the implementation of a methodology specifically focused on the long-term assessment of the real building envelope performance. The methodology is applied to a recently built wooden nZEB detached single-story dwelling constructed in 2017 in central Italy. One year monitoring data were collected about the envelope in-field dynamic performance and the indoor microclimate and well-being conditions. The theoretical design-stage data and the monitored data were compared. The positive aspects as well as the critical issues of nZEB target in the Mediterranean climate context and the performance gap were underlined. Accordingly, the main aspects to be considered in the design of nZEBs envelope were highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water and sewage sector is responsible for approximately 3.5% of energy consumption in the European Union (EU). Leaks causing water losses in water distribution systems (WDSs) are responsible for approximately 24% of water consumption in the EU, which contributes to additional energy losses and emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs). The implementation of the Directive of the European Parliament and the EU Council on the quality of drinking water (Directive (EU) 2020/2184) introduces the obligation to report water losses by large water utilities in EU Member States. The reported indicator will be the infrastructure leakage index (ILI) which is the ratio between current annual real loss (CARL) and unavoidable annual real loss (UARL). The paper presents a comparative analysis of selected water loss performance indicators calculated for 12 Polish WDSs. Results show that values of calculated indicators were diverse. The overestimation of both the reported value of operating pressure and total length of service connections may lead to the overestimation of UARL and thus to the underestimation of ILI. Obtaining a satisfactory, but incorrect, value of ILI may result in the abandonment of activities aimed at water loss reduction. Water losses in water distribution systems (WDSs) contribute to a significant increase in both energy consumption and GHG emissions. Total approximated electrical energy related to CARL consumed in 2021 by eleven utilities (except for one company) amounted to 3.276 GWh and total approximated carbon emissions amounted to 2807.84 MgCO2eq. In the case of four WDSs, reduction of ILI to the value of 1.5 may reduce GHG emissions by 31–54%. It can be concluded that the implementation of Directive (EU) 2020/2184 will require unification of methodology for calculation of parameters used in ILI evaluation in all EU Member States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) has been identified by the EU as a powerful resource capable of making substantial contributions to energy savings and reducing GHG emissions. Spain's effort to promote CHP has been prolific since the 1980s. In this regard, there have been various Laws, Royal Decrees (RDs) and European Union (EU) Directives addressed to reach the national objectives set for the CHP sector. Despite these attempts, the evolution and growth of installed CHP capacity has been irregular, compared to other technologies. Likewise, the academic treatment of the Spanish CHP evolution has not deserved the same attention as other technologies such as wind, photovoltaic and thermal solar systems. As a result, this article is aimed at providing a comprehensive overview of the regulatory frameworks applied to the Spanish CHP sector and analysing the reasons behind the variable evolution of the installed CHP capacity. The study covers the legislative context from 1980 to 2020, describing the evolution during both the pre-liberalization and liberalization periods, highlighting the modifications in economic policies that affected self-producers and the so-called Special Regime (SR) for CHP, and examining the challenges faced during the cost containment measures that followed. The manuscript finds and explains the connection between the regulatory framework and the evolution of installed CHP capacity in Spain. Likewise, the connection between the industrial situation and the promotion of CHP, as well as the influence of the Spanish Electricity Sector (SES)'s liberalization on the CHP sector are also pointed out. The paper intends to provide valuable insights for CHP experts and policymakers by showcasing the importance of aligning regulatory measures with the objectives of energy efficiency. It also serves as a reference for countries in various stages of promoting CHP, and provides evidence for the importance of stable energy-policy control mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve climate and energy goals in the building sector, the current pace of renovating existing structures must double, overcoming prevailing barriers. Key Performance Indicators play a pivotal role in science-based decision making, emphasizing both direct and indirect benefits of building retrofits. The authors aim to contribute to proper metric identification for multi-perspective building performance assessment and formulate a methodology supporting energy planning decisions. They introduce the Global Cost per Emission Savings (GCES), an aggregated indicator encompassing both public (CO2 emissions) and private (global cost) perspectives of diverse retrofit technologies for building HVAC systems. Applied to the Italian residential building stock via the Reference Building approach, the methodology is tested using condensing gas boilers, biomass boilers, and electric heat pumps, revealing diverse environmental and economic performances. Addressing the establishment of effective decision-support tools for policymakers, the paper explores the potential impact of various policies on the favorability of technologies. Different policy scenarios are delineated to analyze how distinct approaches may influence the attractiveness of technologies. Notably, in the baseline scenario, biomass boilers hold an advantage over heat pumps according to the GCES index. However, scenarios involving technology-specific incentives or a greenhouse gases emission tax failed to alter the technological ranking, leaving heat pumps financially uncompetitive. In contrast, the TXPM scenario positions heat pumps as the most financially appealing option, penalizing biomass boilers for high particulate matter emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of geological formations, distinguished by natural porosity and permeability and protected by low-permeability caprock, has emerged as an effective strategy for carbon dioxide (CO2) storage. This method significantly contributes to mitigating anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and addressing the challenges of climate change. Recent research has unveiled the potential of CO2 to enhance geothermal heat energy extraction in geothermal reservoirs by acting as a subsurface heat exchange fluid. This review paper explores the viability of CO2 in augmenting geothermal heat energy extraction, comparing it to conventional water-based geothermal systems. Special emphasis is placed on CO2 plume geothermal (CPG) systems, characterized by rapid deployment and long-term utilization of geothermal energy resources. With the overarching objective of establishing net-zero energy communities, the analysis of such systems offers a comprehensive understanding of their features, providing a fresh perspective on extracted energy within the context of energy supply in integrated, sustainable energy in built systems. Notably, these systems demonstrate efficacy in meeting the power requirements of an energy community, spanning both distinct heating and electricity needs. However, the key challenge lies in selecting suitable locations. This scientific review aims to comprehend the characteristics of CPG under specific temperature and pressure conditions while optimizing subsurface permeability. This insight is pivotal for identifying future locations for CPG operations with the intent of powering small energy communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the age of energy transition that we are going through today, many research studies discuss how to develop various approaches to making forecasts aimed at obtaining quantitative assessments of the technical and economic indicators of the energy industry. This paper considers the adaptation of a comprehensive approach to forecasting the structure of energy generation based on the factor and trend approach and using autoregressive and multifactor models that apply a linear regression tool with ridge regularization. To implement this approach, we propose a tool for automated selection of the factors that have the most significant impact on the change in the structure of energy generation. This approach allows us to forecast the dynamics of electricity generation by different types of generating facilities as affected by the key factors in energy transition in the short, medium, and long term. As a result, we obtained quantitative relationships for the energy generation structure. Over the next 10 years, the share of generation using renewable energy sources will increase to 10%, and the share of thermal power plants, on the contrary, will decrease to 50%, despite the growth in demand for electricity. Also, greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by 30%. We have also provided scientific justification for the sufficient reliability of the forecasts we present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a comprehensive approach for sizing grid-connected hybrid renewable energy systems tailored for electric bus fleet operations. The study involves two main steps. First, a mathematical model that optimizes the configuration of such systems by considering daily electric bus consumption, solar irradiance, wind speed, and biomass potential is formulated. The model utilizes Pareto frontier multi-objective optimization to minimize the net present cost, the cost of energy, and greenhouse gas emissions. Second, the model is rigorously applied and tested in a real-world case study in Fez, Morocco, using HOMER Pro; the case study centers on the daily energy requirements of the buses, estimated at 2.5 megawatt hours per day, with a peak demand of 345 kilowatts. Two scenarios are explored, revealing a discernible trade-off dilemma between the full hybrid renewable energy scenario (Scenario 1) and the grid-connected hybrid renewable energy scenario (Scenario 2). In Scenario 2, the grid-connected hybrid renewable energy system demonstrates a notable 42.8% reduction in the net present cost, totaling USD 984,624. Similarly, the levelized cost of energy experiences a significant decrease, reaching approximately 0.08 USD/kWh, marking a 38.1% reduction. However, this apparent economic advantage is juxtaposed with a critical consideration—an increase in greenhouse gas emissions from null to 330,418 kg/year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this article is to assess the carbon footprint across the Continuous Deep Mixing Method (CDMM) life cycle, considering its implementation in the context of sustainable, zero-emission, and decarbonising construction. Amidst global climate change challenges of greenhouse gas emissions in the construction sector, the CDMM emerges as a potentially effective solution to mitigate environmental impact. This study aims to address the gap in the existing scientific literature by evaluating the environmental aspects of CDMM application, with a focus on identifying primary emission sources. This research extends beyond the conventional focus on construction materials to include energy consumption from equipment and transportation, offering a holistic view of the technology's environmental impact. This analysis identified cement as the major greenhouse gas emission source for the CDMM, underscoring the technology's potential as an alternative to traditional geotechnical methods, in line with integrated design solutions and meeting growing social expectations for sustainability. The added value of this study comes from data derived from an actual project, enabling a realistic assessment of CDMM's environmental impact and resource and energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building a hydrogen economy is perceived as a way to achieve the decarbonization goals set out in the Paris Agreement to limit global warming, as well as to meet the goals resulting from the European Green Deal for the decarbonization of Europe. This article presents a literature review of various aspects of this economy. The full added value chain of hydrogen was analyzed, from its production through to storage, transport, distribution and use in various economic sectors. The current state of knowledge about hydrogen is presented, with particular emphasis on its features that may determine the positives and negatives of its development. It was noted that although hydrogen has been known for many years, its production methods are mainly related to fossil fuels, which result in greenhouse gas emissions. The area of interest of modern science is limited to green hydrogen, produced as a result of electrolysis from electricity produced from renewable energy sources. The development of a clean hydrogen economy is limited by many factors, the most important of which are the excessive costs of producing clean hydrogen. Research and development on all elements of the hydrogen production and use chain is necessary to contribute to increasing the scale of production and use of this raw material and thus reducing costs as a result of the efficiencies of scale and experience gained. The development of the hydrogen economy will be related to the development of the hydrogen trade, and the centers of this trade will differ significantly from the current centers of energy carrier trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging economies and ecosystems rely heavily on fossil fuels, and a country's energy dependence is a strong indicator of its reliance on foreign suppliers. This study investigates the impact of energy dependence on energy intensity, CO2 emission intensity, and the exploitation of renewable resources in 35 developing and 20 developed nations. It also explores the correlation between renewable energy, GDP growth, and CO2 emissions. This study utilizes the Generalized Linear Model (GLM) and the Robust Least Squares (RLS) method to investigate the negative correlation between renewable energy and policymakers in established and emerging economies. It also employs distinctive linear panel estimation techniques spanning from 1970 to 2022. This study examines the impact of renewable energy on economic growth, energy consumption, and CO2 emissions across four continents. Developing countries see an increase in per capita CO2 emissions when their utilization of renewable energy exceeds their capacity. Even with the introduction of several proxies for renewable energy use using changed techniques, this discovery remains valid. Moreover, this is particularly crucial for industrialized nations with well-established institutions. Energy dependency has increased the energy and carbon intensity needed for expansion across all components, which is surprising. The regional study discovered a spillover impact in most regions, indicating that the consequences of energy reliance are similar in neighboring countries. Regional energy exchange unions play a vital role in reducing the adverse environmental and economic impacts of energy dependence, which is essential for the growth of the renewable energy sector and the decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. Undeveloped countries need to enhance their investment in research and development to advance technologically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Institutions of higher learning in South Africa are grappling with occasional power outages in lecture halls, leading to disruptions in academic activities and occasional loss of lecture hours. Therefore, this study presents a comprehensive evaluation of a grid-connected solar PV/Li-ion battery microgrid (μG) system aimed at maintaining a constant power supply to selected lecture halls at a university in the Western Cape, South Africa. The microgrid design, modelling, and simulations, conducted in the MATLAB/Simulink environment, include the solar PV, Li-ion battery, energy consumption of the lecture halls (load profile), boost converter, bidirectional converter, and grid. Using the detailed design, modelling, and simulation, the study evaluates the economic and environmental impacts of integrating μGs, focusing on enhancing energy reliability, reducing operational costs, and mitigating CO2 emissions. The results indicate that integrating the microgrid resulted in a significant 51% reduction in energy cost and a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions by 530 kgCO2e per hour. In Cases 2 and 4, where the battery supplied power, the annual battery degradation costs are 6.08% and 14.9% of the initial cost, respectively. The μG ensures an uninterrupted power supply and improves the overall reliability of the university's energy infrastructure. It promotes environmental sustainability goals of zero emissions and maintains continuous academic activities during grid outages. Furthermore, it fosters a conducive learning environment, supports innovation and creativity in sustainable energy technologies, and sets a standard for other higher education institutions to integrate renewable energy-powered μGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to high greenhouse gas emissions, countries worldwide are stepping up their emission reduction efforts, and the global demand for new, carbon-free fuels is growing. Ammonia (NH3) fuels are popular due to their high production volume, high energy efficiency, ease of storage and transportation, and increased application in power equipment. However, their physical characteristics (e.g., unstable combustion, slow flame speed, and difficult ignition) limit their use in power equipment. Based on the structural properties of the power equipment, NH3 fuel application and emissions characteristics were analyzed in detail. Combustion of NH3 fuels and reduction measures for NOx emissions (spark plug ignition, compression ignition, and gas turbines) were analyzed from various aspects of operating conditions (e.g., mixed fuel, fuel-to-exhaust ratio, and equivalence ratio), structure and strategy (e.g., number of spark plugs, compression ratio (CR), fuel injection, and ignition mode), and auxiliary combustion techniques (e.g., preheating, humidification, exhaust gas recirculation, and secondary air supply). The performance of various NH3 fuel cell (FC) types was analyzed, with a focus on the maximum power achievable for different electrolyte systems. Additionally, the application and NOx emissions of indirect NH3 FCs were evaluated under flame and catalytic combustion conditions. The system efficiency of providing heat sources by burning pure NH3, anode tail gas, and NH3 decomposition gas was also compared. Based on a comprehensive literature review, the key factors influencing the performance and emissions of NH3-powered equipment were identified. The challenges and limitations of NH3-powered equipment were summarized, and potential strategies for improving efficiency and reducing emissions were proposed. These findings provide valuable insights for the future development and application of NH3 FCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article embarks on a crucial exploration of the implementation and integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria within the energy sector of European countries, with the ultimate objective of refining the energy legislation in Ukraine. The research delves into the evolving role of ESG standards as a cornerstone in corporate strategy and investment, transitioned from its roots in socially responsible investing to a comprehensive framework that intertwines ethical, environmental, and governance considerations with financial analysis. The main thrust of the study is the following: firstly, it provides a panoramic overview of ESG applications within European energy projects, underscoring pivotal policies, strategies, and instances of successful ESG standard incorporation. Secondly, it benchmarks and compares ESG practices across Europe's energy sector to distill best practices and their consequential trends and impacts. Lastly, this study converges these European insights to forge pragmatic recommendations for Ukraine's energy legislation, aiming for an elevated integration of ESG standards that are in step with European benchmarks. The anticipated outcomes offer recommendations for enhancing Ukraine's energy sector with robust ESG standards, proposing steps that align with the country's newly adopted Energy Strategy 2050 and international sustainability goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As civilization and technology have developed, there have been multiple energy transitions that have pushed various resources like coal, wood, oil, and gas to the forefront of the energy mix. Due to a variety of geopolitical initiatives, there have been progressively more restrictions on the energy sector in recent years. One of the main concerns of researchers is the widespread use of renewable energy and the replacement of fossil resources. The utilization of non-renewable energy sources results in a detrimental increase in greenhouse gas emissions. One of the most crucial strategies for lowering energy consumption and enhancing the energy system's sustainability is to increase energy efficiency. Numerous studies note that energy transition has become necessary in the modern day. Using the analysis of the main components as an extraction method, hierarchical cluster analysis, this study focuses on the situation of the states of the European Union in their race for energy transition, taking into account the main challenges generated by geopolitical tensions and the energy poverty spectrum for the population. The conclusions of the study call for a reconfiguration of the energy mix based on renewable energy. Increasing the share of renewable energy is a goal pursued by EU countries, but energy policies must be considered in a broader context that includes the social aspects of the energy transition. So, just transition is a new concept that reshapes the actions of public authorities on the path to a low-carbon economy. Just transition is a necessity that puts the consumer at the center of attention so that the negative externalities generated by the move away from fossil fuels are minimized in terms of social impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this review is to understand the progress in waste material management through pyrolysis to produce eco-energy. The growing demand for energy, combined with the depletion of traditional fossil fuels and their contribution to environmental problems, has led to the search for waste-to-energy technologies in pursuit of carbon neutrality. While municipal residues are only part of the waste management problem, the impact of discarded plastics on the environment and landfills is significant. Plastics not only take centuries to decompose, but also seriously pollute the oceans. Pyrolysis is a thermochemical process that allows for the thermal decomposition of waste in the absence of oxygen. There are several types of pyrolytic reactors, including batch and continuous ones. Batch reactors are preferred to process polymeric waste, with studies highlighting the importance of optimizing parameters, i.e., type of feedstock, heating rate, and pyrolysis temperature. Moreover, the choice of reactor type can influence the yield and structure of the final compounds. Furthermore, various studies have highlighted the gas heating value obtained through waste pyrolysis and how the composition of the liquid fraction is influenced by the type of polyethylene used. Though scientific interest in pyrolysis is remarkable, as publications have increased in recent years, kinetics studies are scarce. Overall, pyrolysis is a promising technique for managing waste materials to produce energy. Ongoing research and development in this area offer significant potential for improving the sustainability of waste management systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is devoted to the ecological comparison of electric and internal combustion engine vehicles throughout their entire life cycle, from mining to recycling. A scientifically based approach to a comprehensive environmental assessment of the impact of vehicles on the environment has been developed. To analyze the impact on the environmental situation, aspects such as the consumption of natural resources, waste generation, electricity consumption, emission of harmful substances into the atmosphere, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions are taken into consideration. As a result of comparing the environmental impacts of vehicles, it was found that natural resources consumption and production of industrial waste from electric vehicles (EV) is 6 times higher than from internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEV). Harmful substance emissions and greenhouse gas emissions from EV production are 1.65 and 1.5 times higher, respectively. The EV total electricity consumption is 1.4 times higher than that of ICEVs. At the same time, it was revealed that during operation, EVs have higher energy consumption and emit more harmful substances into the atmosphere, but EVs produce less greenhouse gas emissions. It means that at different life cycle stages, EVs have a much higher negative impact on the environment compared to gasoline engine vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concentrated solar power (CSP) has gained traction for generating electricity at high capacity and meeting base-load energy demands in the energy mix market in a cost-effective manner. The linear Fresnel reflector (LFR) is valued for its cost-effectiveness, reduced capital and operational expenses, and limited land impact compared to alternatives such as the parabolic trough collector (PTC). To this end, the aim of this study is to optimize the operational parameters, such as the solar multiple (SM), thermal energy storage (TES), and fossil fuel (FF) backup system, in LFR power plants using molten salt as a heat transfer fluid (HTF). A 50 MW LFR power plant in Duba, Saudi Arabia, serves as a case study, with a Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) above 2500 kWh/m2. About 600 SM-TES configurations are analyzed with the aim of minimizing the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). The analysis shows that a solar-only plant can achieve a low LCOE of 11.92 ¢/kWh with a capacity factor (CF) up to 36%, generating around 131 GWh/y. By utilizing a TES system, the SM of 3.5 and a 15 h duration TES provides the optimum integration by increasing the annual energy generation (AEG) to 337 GWh, lowering the LCOE to 9.24 ¢/kWh, and boosting the CF to 86%. The techno-economic optimization reveals the superiority of the LFR with substantial TES over solar-only systems, exhibiting a 300% increase in annual energy output and a 20% reduction in LCOE. Additionally, employing the FF backup system at 64% of the turbine's rated capacity boosts AEG by 17%, accompanied by a 5% LCOE reduction. However, this enhancement comes with a trade-off, involving burning a substantial amount of natural gas (503,429 MMBtu), leading to greenhouse gas emissions totaling 14,185 tonnes CO₂ eq. This comprehensive analysis is a first-of-a-kind study and provides insights into the optimal designs of LFR power plants and addresses thermal, economic, and environmental considerations of utilizing molten salt with a large TES system as well as employing natural gas backup. The outcomes of the research address a wide audience including academics, operators, and policy makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The natural gas (NG)-powered compressors/engines used in liquified natural gas (LNG) plants are a major source of methane emission. The Allam–Fetvedt cycle (AFC), an oxyfuel, carbon-neutral, high-efficiency power plant, generates pipeline-grade CO2. This work performed novel process modeling, economic analysis, and greenhouse gas emissions analysis for a heat-integrated, electrified LNG/AFC/air separation unit (ASU) complex (LAA), then compared it to standalone LNG and AFC/ASU plants (baseline) as well as an LNG plant electrified with AFC/ASU without heat integration. The low-grade heat generated from compressors of the LNG plant can enhance the AFC net power output by 7.1%. Utilizing the nitrogens cold energy reduces the compressor power requirement by 1.6%. In the integrated LAA complex, not only are GHG emissions avoided, but the energy efficiencies are also improved for both the LNG plant and the AFC power plant. A cash flow analysis of LAA was performed over a 20-year period with 5%, 7%, and 10% discount rates and three levels of LNG prices. The 45Q CO2 credit of USD 85/T as stipulated by the recent Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 has been incorporated. The results clearly indicate the economic and environmental benefits of the proposed electrification and heat/power integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) is a necessary requirement for high-emitting CO2 industries to significantly reduce volumes of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere and mitigate climate change. Geological CO2 storage into depleted oil and gas fields is the fastest and most accessible option for CCS deployment allowing for re-purposing existing infrastructures and utilizing significant knowledge about the subsurface acquired during field production operations. The location of such depleted fields in the neighborhoods of high-emitting CO2 industries is an additional advantage of matured on-shore European fields. Considering these advantages, oil and gas operators are now evaluating different possibilities for CO2 sequestration projects for the fields approaching end of production. This article describes an integrated approach to reservoir simulations focused on evaluating a CO2 injection pilot at one of these matured fields operated by MND and located in the Czech Republic. The CO2 injection site in focus is a naturally fractured carbonate reservoir. This oil-bearing formation has a gas cap and connection to a limited aquifer and was produced mainly by pressure depletion with limited pressure support from water injection. The article summarizes the results of the efforts made by the multi-disciplinary team. An integrated approach was developed starting from geological modeling of a naturally fractured reservoir, integrating the results of laboratory studies and their interpretations (geomechanics and geochemistry), dynamic field data analysis (pressure transient analysis, including time-lapse) and history matching reservoir model enabling simulation of the pilot CO2 injection. The laboratory studies and field data analysis provided descriptions of stress-sensitive fracture properties and safe injection envelope preventing induced fracturing. The impact of potential salt precipitation in the near wellbore area was also included. These effects are considered in the context of a pilot CO2 injection and addressed in the reservoir simulations of injection scenarios. Single-porosity and permeability reservoir simulations with a dominating fracture flow and black-oil formulation with CO2 simulated as a solvent were performed in this study. The arguments for the choice of the simulation approach for the site in focus are shortly discussed. The reservoir simulations indicated a larger site injection capacity than that required for the pilot injection, and gravity-driven CO2 migration pathway towards the gas cap in the reservoir. The application of the approach to the site in focus also revealed large uncertainties, related to fracture description and geomechanical evaluations, resulting in an uncertain safe injection envelope. These uncertainties should be addressed in further studies in preparation for the pilot. The article concludes with an overview of the outcomes of the integrated approach and its application to the field in focus, including a discussion of the issues and uncertainties revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decarbonization is gaining priority from the macro to the micro level. However, achieving this is a critical challenge, as industries are still immature. This study explores the practices used to calculate and reduce embodied carbon (EC) in New Zealand (NZ) commercial construction projects. In the Paris Agreement, NZ pledged to reduce its net GHG emissions to 50 percent below the gross 2005 levels by 2030. The built environment generates approximately 40% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with 11% being generated by manufacturing materials. EC represents carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted into the atmosphere throughout the extraction, fabrication, transportation, and assembly of building materials. A survey questionnaire was distributed to stakeholders in commercial construction via the New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NZIQS) open forum. Twenty-seven valid responses were analyzed. The survey tested and expanded on the interview findings. Calculating and reducing EC are not mandatory in NZ. Most industry professionals had yet to experience EC calculation in projects. Clients most commonly drive EC reduction in public projects with calculations that are often conducted during the concept or detailed design stages. The challenges in measuring and lowering EC include a lack of client willingness to fund EC calculation, lack of knowledge and experience, lack of previous cost data, lack of EC materials, and lack of fit-for-purpose EC calculation tools. These findings may inform NZ government policy initiatives supporting EC reduction to meet their 2050 target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most studies on industrial heat decarbonization by electrification focus on energy and greenhouse gas emissions. However, there are additional potential environmental impacts to be considered to make a fair comparison. The aim of the proposed work is therefore to highlight the benefits and drawbacks of switching to electricity, using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology to explore more environmental issues. In addition, in order to evaluate the environmental sustainability of this transformation, the LCA results are compared with sustainability thresholds defined with two different methods, on a global scale using the "sustainable levels" concept. The first method is based on the current environmental impacts of industrial processes, while the second considers the economic added value. Industrial heat production levels for the Danish and French food industries are used as case studies. The results show a large number of environmental trade-offs associated with electrification, some of which are leading to unsustainable levels. Sustainability thresholds based on economic added value ensure a fairer distribution between sectors, in particular by preventing the most virtuous sectors and processes from being penalized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transformative actions are crucial across all sectors emitting greenhouse gases. Nonetheless, energy transition research to date displays a notable imbalance, with a larger emphasis on the supply side than on the demand side. The present study addresses this inequity by focusing on residential sector space heating demand, a frequently overlooked energy service that currently contributes substantially to global greenhouse gas emissions. Our primary objective is to pinpoint effective climate policies and space heating strategies that align with the EU's ambitious targets for emission reduction. We employ the recently developed TIMES-Europe model to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the residential sector's policy frameworks, technological advancements, and associated costs. This analysis aims to determine the measures necessary to meet ambitious climate objectives within the European context. To achieve this, we formulate four distinct scenarios, each representing varying levels of ambition and collaboration among EU member states, thereby providing insight into the pathways toward achieving these targets. By implementing current intended EU policies on the renovation of dwellings, we project a substantial reduction of at most 850 PJ, or, i.e., a 19% decrease, in yearly energy demand for space heating between 2020 and 2050. In contrast, if the recent pace of dwelling renovation within the EU were to continue, space heating energy savings from renovation would only amount to less than 400 PJ/yr (i.e., a 9% reduction) in the same period. In our more ambitious climate scenarios, phasing out fossil fuels leads to widespread electrification of the European residential sector, and by 2050, electricity from heat pumps and electric boilers accounts for over 68% of the total residential sector space heating demand. The outcomes of our study underline the importance of implementing the currently planned EU policies. We also demonstrate the necessity for collaboration among EU member states in order to attain the common European climate targets under the most effective resource allocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite efforts to mitigate climate change, annual greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, which may lead to the global warming of our planet. Buildings' thermal energy needs are inherently linked to climate conditions. Consequently, it is crucial to evaluate how climate change affects these energy demands. Despite extensive analysis, a comprehensive assessment involving a diverse range of building types has not been consistently conducted. The primary objective of this research is to perform a coherent evaluation of the influence of climate changes, construction element properties, and the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system type of control on the energy requirements of six buildings (residential, services, and commercial). The buildings are considered to be located in a temperate Mediterranean climate. Our focus is on the year 2070, considering three distinct climatic scenarios: (i) maintaining the current climate without further changes, (ii) moderate climate changes, and (iii) extreme climate changes. The buildings are distributed across three different locations, each characterized by unique climatic conditions. Buildings' envelope features a traditional External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) serves as thermal insulation material. Two critical design factors are explored: EPS thickness ranging from 0 (no insulation) to 12 cm; and horizontal external fixed shading elements varying lengths from 0 (absence) to 150 cm. Six alternative setpoint ranges are assessed for the HVAC system control: three based on the Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) and three based on indoor air temperature (Tair). Results were obtained with a validated in-home software tool. They show that, even under extreme climate conditions, the application of thermal insulation remains energetically favorable; however, its relative importance diminishes as climate severity increases. Then, proper insulation design remains important for energy efficiency. The use of external shading elements for glazing (e.g., overhangs, louvers) proves beneficial in specific cases. As climate changes intensify, the significance of shading elements grows. Thus, strategic placement and design are necessary for good results. The HVAC system's energy consumption depends on the level of thermal comfort requirements, on the climate characteristics, and on the building's type of use. As climate change severity intensifies, energy demands for cooling increase, whereas energy needs for heating decrease. However, it is essential to recognize that the impact of climate changes on HVAC system energy consumption significantly depends on the type of building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollutants and greenhouse gases (GHGs) represent major challenges in our era, contributing to climate change and global health issues. These problems arise from a variety of well-known sources, including motor vehicles. Almost all nations, Thailand included, have formulated and implemented policies to curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in line with the requirements and commitments of the Paris Agreement. The evaluation of specific air pollutants and GHG emissions originating from road vehicles utilises the Thailand database, referencing the year 2019. Data intersections from 2019 to 2022 are grounded in actual data collected from relevant departments in Thailand, while projections for 2023–2030 are forecasted based on the baseline year. The secondary database used in the International Vehicle Emission model is adjusted according to real-world driving data to accurately reflect country-specific emission factors. Dynamic emission factors for specific air pollutants and GHGs are evaluated and integrated with the average Vehicle Kilometres Travelled (VKT) for each vehicle category. The Business-As-Usual (BAU) scenario is then examined, based on existing policies aimed at reducing air pollutants and GHG emissions in Thailand's transport sector. These policies include strategies for the adoption of electric vehicles and the promotion of public transport to reduce VKT. Under the BAU scenario, the overall number of road vehicles in Thailand, including passenger cars, motorcycles, pickups, vans, trucks, and buses, is expected to increase by approximately 6.58% by 2030, leading to a rise in specific air pollutants and GHG emissions compared to the 2019 baseline. However, by adhering to Thailand's strategies and transitioning to new electric passenger cars and buses, greenhouse gas emissions and specific air pollutants from the road transport sector will be significantly reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reductions in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions are required globally. Under this background, the Multilayer Perceptron machine-learning algorithm was used to predict liquid natural gas consumption to improve energy consumption efficiency. Setting hyperparameters remains challenging in machine-learning-based prediction. Here, to improve prediction efficiency, hyperparameter autotuning via Bayesian optimization was used to identify the optimal combination of the eight key hyperparameters. The autotuned model was validated by comparing its predictive performance with that of a base model (with all hyperparameters set to the default values) using the coefficient of variation of root-mean-square error (CvRMSE) and coefficient of determination (R2) based on the Measurement and Verification Guideline evaluation metrics. To confirm the model's industrial applicability, its predictions were compared with values measured at a small-to-medium-sized food factory. The optimized model performed better than the base model, achieving a CvRMSE of 12.30% and an R2 of 0.94, and achieving a predictive accuracy of 91.49%. By predicting energy consumption, these findings are expected to promote the efficient operation and management of energy in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a gradual decline in rural population due to urbanization, as of 2022, approximately 35% of China's total population still resides in villages. Over a span of 40 years, carbon emissions from villages have significantly surged, with a sevenfold increase from energy consumption and a 46% rise from agriculture. Consequentially, the development of low-carbon villages is imperative. A comprehensive understanding of the primary sources of carbon emissions in villages is crucial for implementing practical and effective strategies towards low-carbon development. However, limited research has been conducted on quantifying carbon emissions and sinks for Chinese villages. This study aims to address this gap by proposing a methodology for assessing carbon emissions in villages, including the emissions of CO2, CH4 and N2O. Inspired by the IPCC standard methodology for greenhouse gas emissions at national levels and provincial greenhouse gas inventory guidelines customized for China's context incorporating localized characteristics, this approach has been applied to seven villages in Northern China based on field investigations. Employing a range of methods including field surveys, questionnaires, statistical records and big-data platforms, we collected the carbon emission activity levels of the seven villages using the most up-to-date carbon emission factors. Subsequently, the collected data and facts are quantitatively processed to generate results that are compared among the seven villages. These findings are also compared with those from other studies. The analysis indicates that the primary industries in these villages significantly influence the total carbon emissions. Moreover, the study reveals that energy consumption in buildings, agriculture, transportation and waste disposal are the most influential emission sources. These findings provide valuable insights into the carbon emission landscape of villages and can serve as a guide for implementing strategies and policies aimed at promoting low-carbon development in the rural areas of Northern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we analyze the correlation between GDP/capita variation, primary and renewable energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions on the one hand, and green taxes on the other. Green taxes are the main instruments used to limit activities that have a negative impact on the environment. These consist of taxes paid by producers and/or consumers for any activity that generates pollution. The results of dynamic regressions, validated by the applied robustness tests, indicate a significant and positive correlation between primary energy consumption and total environmental taxes, respectively energy taxes. At the same time, this shows that variation in GDP/capita significantly and positively influences transport taxes and pollution taxes. In contrast, net greenhouse gas emissions and the supply, transformation and consumption of renewable sources and waste do not significantly influence the total green taxes and their components. This finding is useful to both academic research and government policies for the realistic substantiation of the levels of green tax revenues and for establishing appropriate measures meant to reduce CO2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greenhouse gas emissions, including CO2 emissions, are an issue in the energy sector that must be addressed urgently. The energy sector, including electricity, has been given a global aim of net zero emissions (NZE). This article examines three scenarios for reaching net-zero emissions in power supply. These scenarios are baseline, NZE1, and NZE2. The baseline scenario represents power plant capacity planning based on existing regulations in the base year. The net zero emissions consisting of the NZE1 and NZE2 scenarios aim to achieve net zero emissions by 2060. The NZE1 and NZE2 scenarios differ in the usage of nuclear power plant technology. The NZE1 scenario employs advanced costs for small modular reactors and large reactors technology, whilst the NZE2 scenario employs the low cost of small modular reactors and large reactors. The three scenarios were implemented and examined using the low emissions analysis platform software. The analytical results demonstrate that the NZE1 and NZE2 scenarios can meet the net zero emission objective by 2058. The baseline scenario results in power plant capacity planning with an average annual CO2 emission growth rate of 3.58%. On the other hand, the baseline scenario has the lowest investment expenses, at only 44 billion USD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]