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The climate crisis is driving policy makers, energy companies and chemical industries to accelerate the transition from conventional high-carbon ammonia to low-carbon and zero-carbon (green) ammonia. Ammonia is produced on a vast scale globally and is predominantly used for fertilizers but has a potential use as an energy vector. Utilizing variable renewable energy (typically solar or wind) for green ammonia production requires expensive energy storage. Tidal stream energy is a novel energy source for green ammonia production and could be an ideal energy source given its high resource availability and predictability. The objective of this paper is to determine if tidal stream energy is a useful energy resource (technically and economically) for offshore green ammonia production. This idea is presented through a case study on the Pentland Firth, a globally excellent tidal stream location. Using 30 years of hourly wind and tidal data, the addition of tidal stream capacity to wind capacity is shown to decrease the hydrogen storage requirement by 96% and eliminate the fuel cell requirement and thus reduce the levelized cost of ammonia (LCOA) by 12%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photovoltaic power system is highly dependent on the quantity of solar irradiance incident on it and its temperature. These parameters are dynamically changing with time due to climatic changes, shadows formed by clouds, trees, buildings, and so on, resulting in multiple maximum power points (MPP). Out of which one is global MPP (GMPP) and the rest are local MPP (LMPP). The GMPP varies dynamically along with the weather conditions and connected load. Many GMPP tracking (GMPPT) algorithms were developed which are inefficient and ineffective under dynamic irradiance conditions. This paper proposes a new enhanced arithmetic optimization algorithm based on the levy flight (AOA-LF) as a GMPPT method, which improves the tracking efficiency and tracking speed because of its good exploration and exploitation due to the long jump with a variable step size. The suggested AOA-LF GMPPT method is implemented in MATLAB/SIMULINK and tested with eight different dynamic irradiance patterns whose tracking curves are compared with the existing GMPPT algorithms like JAYA-LF, DFO, AOA, PSO, and P&O, which reveals that it is excellent in the tracking of GMPP with increment in efficiency as high as 19% when compared with P&O method and the least time to reach the GMPP with percentage decrement as high as 69% as compared to the PSO method. Also, the proposed AOA-LF GMPPT method is validated with the help of OPAL-RT OP4510 Real-Time Digital Simulator. Hence, the proposed algorithm shows superior performance with zero steady-state oscillations and also enhanced exploration and exploitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a major air pollutant worldwide. Characterizing its chemical compositions and source contributions is a critical prerequisite for effective control of PM2.5 pollution. This paper systematically reviews the sampling methods, chemical compositions, and source apportionments of PM2.5. Sampling methods have significant influences on the identification of chemical compositions and source contributions, with Quartz and Teflon filters being the most widely used. Receptor models are commonly adopted for identifying the sources of PM2.5, such as positive matrix factorization, chemical mass balance, principal component analysis, and UNMIX models, which have their respective advantages and limitations that determine their applications. The variations of PM2.5 compositions and sources in the past two decades in Beijing are also reviewed, which is the political, economic, and cultural center of China and is experiencing severe haze pollution events frequently. It was found that organic matters were the largest component (28.2%) in PM2.5, followed by sulfate (15.1%) during 2004–2013, which was overtaken by nitrate (14.9%) after 2013. Each PM2.5 source demonstrated significant seasonal and annual variations due to changes in climatic conditions and anthropogenic activities. Future research on the impacts of these external factors is urgently needed. This review is expected to provide valuable advice and evidence for those fast-growing megacities like Beijing to identify and control their PM2.5-related air pollution problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mismatching between the predicted and the operational performance of buildings designed to be nearly zero-energy underlines the importance to study the post-occupancy behavior, to understand if the building-HVAC system is capable to meet the variable conditions even due to the progressive climate change. The paper proposes a discussion about the operational performance of an existing nearly zero-energy building in the Mediterranean climate, during the heating and cooling seasons. The monitoring shows that the required electrical power is always lower than the nominal one, also because the external conditions are not extreme as the design ones. In the colder days, the difference in the required power is −21%. In summer, there is a delay of two hours between the external maximum temperature and the maximum required power. However, the monitored power is usually higher than the nominal one, with a maximum value of +11%. Considering all proposed combinations for the design calculation, it is demonstrated that the real performance cannot be predicted during the design, because indoor and external conditions influence the dynamic behavior of the building-HVAC system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to overcome the negative effects of climate change and ensure a global low-carbon future, decarbonizing the electricity sector has been recognized as an important focus area. Internationally, policymakers use average carbon intensity (in gCO2-e/kWh) in calculating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the electricity system. However, average carbon intensity is a single rate and a fixed quantity; thus, it does not provide any information about the time-varying nature of carbon intensity. The focus of this paper is to show the usefulness of time-varying carbon intensity estimation, which can provide detailed insights into GHG emissions, and help in identifying potential emission cut opportunities from the electricity sector in order to lessen atmospheric pollution. Time-varying carbon intensity estimation (i) reveals temporal variability of carbon intensity, (ii) explores the interplay between generations and emissions, (iii) identifies peak carbon-intensive hours, and (iv) provides evidence for designing appropriate demand-side management strategies with respect to GHG emission reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy supply is an essential element for development in any country. However, the huge energy demand in future, which depends mainly on fossil fuels, may create an environmental crisis. In this paper, an attempt was made to highlight the shale gas prospect of Pakistan as a solution for its future energy demands. It seems that Pakistan is currently consuming a huge amount of domestic natural gas and crude oil, which may soon result in climate change. As such, it is crucial to consider shale gas reserves as an ultimate solution for energy and achieving a low carbon economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays a suitable place selection for hosting alternative technologies in power plant installation has been a problem, such as wind and photovoltaic plants. Additionally, the hybrid plant inclusion from these two alternative energy sources is even more challenging for project planners who consider different criteria such as orographic, economic, geographic, and the most important climatological. This paper presents an alternative methodology to evaluate the available wind and solar energy resources in a site for determining if it is a candidate to host wind, solar, or hybrid power plants (wind and solar) with only climatological criteria using databases of automatic meteorological stations. To evaluate the available wind resource, the Weibull distribution was conducted according to on-site wind speed and the parameters are calculated using the modified maximum likelihood (MML) method. The available solar resource is analyzed in the peak hours of solar radiation at the site. The wind speed and peak solar time variables are addressed to a decision tree that determines if the site is suitable to host wind, solar, hybrid, or no power generation technologies according to the weather criteria. The methodology was performed in four sites with different weather according to Köppen–Geigen climate classification in Mexico and showed that two sites have potential to host hybrid plants with 80%; three sites with wind power plant at 100% and one site with solar power plant about 60% of power on-site resource available. Murcia, Spain, was considered to validate its application in any site, showing a similar performance, getting the potential to host wind, solar, and hybrid plants with 100%, 46%, and 70% of power on-site resources available, respectively. The results show that this methodology is the easiest and useful alternative to evaluate sites by using climatology criteria for hosting wind, solar, or hybrid power generation plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decades, a variety of CO2 removal technologies have been proposed and used. Thereinto, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) is a novel process for capturing CO2 from gas mixtures from sources such as fossil fuel power plants and either storing or reusing it to prevent the large quantities of CO2 release into the atmosphere. CO2 storage in geologic formations includes oil and gas reservoirs, unmineable coal seams and deep saline reservoirs, and the structures that have stored crude oil, natural gas, brine and CO2 over millions of years. The energy and environment issues are major influential factors during the CCUS process to implement the large-scale applications. This collection of the special issue includes 12 papers in the fields of CO2 capture, utilization and storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions contribute considerably to global warming and climate change. Since energy systems notably influence GHG emissions, such emissions can be modeled at the national level based on the energy sources utilized by a country. Economic activity also affects GHG emissions. In this work, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) approach, Group Method of Data Handling (GMDH), is used for determining emissions of carbon dioxide, the most significant GHG, on the basis of shares of various energy sources used as primary energy supply and GDP as an indicator of economic activity. Five countries are considered as case studies: Iran, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates (UAE). Comparing the results achieved by the developed model and actual quantities shows that the ANN model has acceptable accuracy for predicting CO2 emissions. The average absolute relative error and the R-squared values of the GMDH model are 2.3% and 0.9998, respectively. These values demonstrate the precision of the model in forecasting emissions of CO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The building sector is one of the leading contributors to global climate change. In recent decades, sustainable building assessment systems have been introduced in developed countries to improve the overall performance of buildings and to prevent greenhouse gas emissions, the main culprit of human activities in the current climate change. SBTool is a sustainable building evaluation system that can be calibrated according to the region, project type and phase of development, making SBTool a tailormade assessment system for a specific project. In this study, SBTool was adapted for the first time to an educational facility in Marmara/Turkey climate. The assessment parameters and their weights are arranged according to climate zone, building type, and accommodation characteristics. The created assessment tool was applied analytically to the Engineering Faculty Building of Yalova University/Turkey as a case study. The study showed that the government-run educational facilities could be evaluated with a tool that has 7 Issues, 21 Categories and 45 Criteria after adjustments made to follow its specific regional and local conditions. The assessed building got a Weighted Score of 3.30 points compared to the Target Weighted Score established at 3.08 points. The relative performance score was assigned to "B" which means an acceptable standard for a sustainable building. The methodology of assessment is presented step by step ending up with a graphical interpretation of the evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the following, the impacts of climate change on agricultural sector are analyzed through partial ‎equilibrium model and the effects of climate change scenarios on this section will be measured ‎separately. To this end, the data of value added, labor and capital in the agricultural sector between ‎‎1991 and 2014 are derived from the Central Bank and National Statistics Portal. De Martonne ‎index, which represents the climatic condition, is estimated using precipitation and temperature data ‎extracted from the Meteorological Organization of Iran sector between 1991 and 2014. The current study measured the effects of climate change on the agricultural sector in Iran. For this purpose, the function of agricultural sector production, which is affected by climate (temperature and precipitation), was estimated using the ARDL approach; then, the effect of climate change on the agricultural sector was evaluated in the framework of the SAM model. Different scenarios were applied. In general, it can be concluded that improving the climate will increase the country's economic potential and reduce costs, while adverse climate conditions will worsen the country's economic situation and, consequently, increase costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China is the world’s largest consumer and producer of coal. China is confronted with a dilemma of balancing economic growth with environment protection. This article uses the first Circular Economy Park for coal industry to discuss the strategies that China’s coal enterprises have utilized to shrink their carbon footprints. Through the use of two circulated economic industrial chains involving “coal-electricity-building materials” and “coal-chemical industry” to reduce, reuse, and recycle resources, the Tashan Circular Economy Park has achieved significant energy conservation and CO2emission reduction. It has provided a “Chinese definition” of low carbon for coal enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Korea adheres to the basic emission factor proposed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Guidelines to calculate the greenhouse gas emission. However, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Guidelines recommends applying an emission factor unique to a country, which reflects its features in fuel consumption. Especially, there has been little research in emission factors and in the amount of Korean coal briquettes used in Korea, and even worse, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Guidelines has not proposed the basic emission factor for such briquettes. Recently, the Korean government has made efforts to calculate greenhouse gas emission factors for each sector, and it is requiring research and development be conducted in the greenhouse gas emission factors of Korean coal briquettes in household and commercial sectors. The amount of carbon, hydrogen, and calorific values in the input fuel was measured using a calorimeter, elemental analyzer and proximate analyzer. For fuel analysis, the CO2emission factor for Korean coal briquettes is 95,558 CO2Kg/TJ. It is lower than the local anthracite CO2emission factor, 111,100 CO2Kg/TJ and the 2006 IPCC Guidelines, 87,399 CO2Kg/TJ by about 13.99 and 2.79%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The biggest challenge for developing countries in relation to energy consumption is to develop and implement technologies that help reduce the emissions of gases and particulate matter (dust and smoke), which have both local and possible global environmental impacts. In order to be more environmentally conscious, we need to endeavor to use resources that preferentially create fewer pollutants as by-products. But what is beyond a doubt is that, in the long term, we are going to rely on renewable energy sources, such as bio-fuel, solar, and hydrogen; also, climatic changes will force us to switch to carbon dioxide-free technologies and renewable energy sources. Consequently, this work focuses on the production of liquid bio-fuel produced from coconut oil. Analytical determinations of some properties of bio-fuel were carried out to confirm the quality and purity as well as the identification of bio-fuel. The properties that bio-fuel have been tested for are kinematic viscosity at 40 and 100°C, specific gravity at 27 and 15°C, pour point, sulpur content, flash point, heat of vaporization, heat of combustion, and distillation characteristics. The results obtained are kinematic viscosity of 18.179 cp at 40°C and 5.5605 at 100°C, specific gravity of 0.912 and 0.92 at 101.325 kPa and 27 and 15°C, respectively, the pour point is -5°C, flash point of the bio-fuel produced is 62.5°C at 101.3 kPa and the sulphur content is 0.072%. Heat of vaporization of the bio-fuel is 2,300.45 kJ/kg while the heat of combustion is 24,563.62 kJ/kg. The percentage total recovery of 98.5% by volume, 0.7% by volume of residue, and 0.8% by volume loss were made. These experimental values are relatively close to diesel fuel specification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas hydrates are crystalline solids that form from mixtures of water and light natural gases such as methane, carbon dioxide, ethane, propane, and butane. The Black Sea is the world's most isolated sea. Methane exists as gas hydrates or methane clathrate form in the Black Sea. Gas hydrates potential in the Black Sea is investigated as a source of methane. Methane gas hydrate is a solid combination of methane and ice. It is found under continental shelves and on land under permafrost and can contain from 80-99.9% of methane. Gas hydrate is found in sub-oceanic sediments and in continental slope sediments, where pressure and temperature conditions combine to make it stable. Natural gas hydrate contains highly concentrated methane, which is important both as an energy resource and as a factor in global climate change. The difficulty with recovering this source of energy is that the fuel is in solid form and is not amenable to conventional gas and oil recovery techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turkey's demand for energy is increasing rapidly and heavily dependent on expensive imported energy resources. As would be expected, the rapid expansion of energy production and consumption has brought with it a wide range of environmental issues at the local, regional, and global levels. With respect to global environmental issues, Turkey's greenhouse gas emissions have grown along with its primary energy consumption. In this regard, renewable energy resources appear to be one of the most efficient and effective solutions for clean and sustainable energy development in Turkey. Turkey's geographical location has several advantages for extensive use of most of these renewable energy sources. Turkey has substantial reserves of renewable energy sources, including approximately 1% of the total world hydropower potential. There is also significant potential for wind power development. Turkey's geothermal potential ranks seventh worldwide, but only a small portion is considered to be economically feasible. This article presents the role of renewables in meeting the energy demand of Turkey as a sustainable manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employs logical, scientific understanding and prediction of a Sensitivity Model which is an integer tool in the assessment of climate change for China. It simulated a smooth environmental sustainable transition for the next ten years, given the 11 simulated variables. The positive coefficient for GDP growth variable suggests that estimated emissions initially rise with GDP growth, and eventually fall; the impact of population on emissions has been more pronounced in lower rather than in higher income ranges, contradicting Environmental Kuznet Curve. The role of energy efficiency on emissions has been the greatest when CO2 emission is at its peak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses various reports in this issue including one on carbon dioxide emissions and global climate change and another on the impact of onshore wind power plants in Great Britain.

Wind power is currently the fastest growing renewable technology and will play a significant role in constraining the extent of climate change. However, the very fact that its 'fuel source' is driven by the climate may leave it exposed as climate changes over the coming decades. In this preliminary assessment, the potential for changes in climate to affect the significant onshore wind resource in the United Kingdom (UK) is explored using the regional climate change scenarios published by the UK Climate Impacts Programme in 2002. The scenarios indicate seasonal changes in potential wind production with winter production generally increasing while summer decreases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gases with higher heat capacities than those of O2 and N2 cause greenhouse effects. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the main greenhouse gas associated with global climate change. At the present time, coal is responsible for 30-40% of world CO2 emissions from fossil fuels. There was a higher correlation between the amount of carbon dioxide emission and percentage of carbon in the fuel for all equations. The squares of correlation coefficients were 0.9999, 0.9978, and 0.9995. The gas sensing characteristics of MgO and CaO as the CO2 gas sensors and CO2 emission capacities selected carbonaceous fuels have been investigated. It was found that increasing the percentage of carbon in carbonaceous fuel caused CO2 emission increase. Carbonation is a stabilization of CO2 by solidification process. The availability of a CO2 fixation technology would serve as insurance in case global warming causes severe restrictions on CO2 emissions. In order to prevent rapid climate change, it will be necessary to stabilize CO2 as carbonate by the carbonation process. The carbonation was carried out using MgO and CaO as CO2 sensors. The yield of carbonation increased with increasing temperature. The rate of carbonation conversion sharply increased in the initial 20 min and then reduced and reached a plateau value after about 40 min. The carbonation conversion with MgO is higher than that of CaO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass can play a dual role in greenhouse gas mitigation related to the objectives of the UNFCCC, i.e., as an energy source to substitute for fossil fuels and as a carbon store. However, compared to the maintenance and enhancement of carbon sinks and reservoirs, it appears that the use of biomass has so far received less attention as a means of mitigating climate change. Modern biomass options offer significant, cost-effective and perpetual opportunities toward meeting emission reduction targets while providing additional ancillary benefits. Moreover, via the sustainable use of the accumulated carbon, biomass has the potential for resolving some of the critical issues surrounding long-term maintenance of biotic carbon stocks. In the case of Turkey, energy consumption and environmental pollution are increasing rapidly due to its economic growth. As for the energy consumption, in parallel to the demand for heat and electricity, greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from energy use increase accordingly. In this regard, biomass and other renewables are becoming an attractive solution to the GHG mitigation for Turkey and other countries throughout the world. Finally, wood products can act as substitutes for more energy-intensive products, can constitute carbon sinks, and can be used as biofuels at the end of their lifetime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]