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Flow boiling stands out as an efficient mode of heat transfer with significant potential for reducing carbon footprint. Based on a coupled Volume-of-Fluid and Level Set (VOSET) method, this numerical study reveals the microlayer and its evaporative heat flux distributions, as well as the effects of microlayer evaporation and depletion on bubble dynamic behavior, flow pattern, wall superheat distribution, and boiling crisis for the flow boiling in a mini-channel. These aspects are firstly comprehensively reported by the numerical method. Results indicate that the rapid evaporation of a thin microlayer positioned beneath elongated bubbles significantly contributes to heat dissipation during flow boiling in a mini-channel. The heat flux through the microlayer surpasses 300 kW/m2, accounting for approximately 42% of heat dissipation at 200 kW/m2. Furthermore, this contribution increases to over 70% as the heat flux exceeds 500 kW/m2. As a result, in comparison to scenarios without microlayers, the presence of microlayers results in an average heat transfer coefficient (HTC) that is 3.97 times larger within the range of 200–500 kW/m2. Additionally, microlayer evaporation delays the happening of flow boiling crisis. Without microlayers, the wall superheat exceeds 180 K at 500 kW/m2, whereas under microlayer influence, the maximum local wall superheat is only 37.09 K at 1000 kW/m2. With further increases in heat flux, the emergence of large dry patches resulting from microlayer depletion induces the beginning of heat transfer deterioration. Finally, the ongoing coalescence of elongated bubbles necessitates a prolonged period for rewetting dry patches at the exit of the mini-channel, triggering the flow boiling crisis at 1300 kW/m2. The study results provide crucial guidance for the development and application of the flow boiling heat transfer technology for the thermal management of data centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As China's economy continues to grow rapidly, the importance of green and sustainable development is increasingly prominent. In this context, enterprises have undergone significant changes in all aspects of the value creation process. Based on the data of Chinese a-share listed companies from 2011 to 2021, this paper links the digital transformation of enterprises with the green technology innovation of enterprises. The focuses on the relationship between the enterprises' digital transformation and the enterprises' green innovation and its Local-neighborhood effect. Research shows that the digital transformation of enterprises will promote the enterprise green technology innovation, and this relationship will have a Local-neighborhood effect in different regions, and this spatial spillover effect is mainly achieved through the transfer of high-tech industries between regions. The results of heterogeneity test show that the effect of green technology innovation is the strongest in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei economic circle, and the weakest in Pearl River Delta economic circle. Based on the spatial econometric model, this paper provides empirical evidence for the government and the state to formulate the regional development strategy of enterprises' digital transformation and green innovation. • Spatial panel Durbin model reveals digital transformation's impact on green technology innovation and regional spillover. • The effect of digital transformation of enterprises on their own green technology innovation has a "local-neighborhood" effect. • The spatial spillover effect is mainly realized through the transfer of high-tech industries between regions. • The strongest green technology innovation effect is found in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei economic circle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has committed to enhancing its national efforts to peak CO 2 emissions by 2030. Rather than applying broad emission reduction measures nationwide, a more efficient strategy involves focusing on select provinces and sectors as pioneers in emission reduction. This targeted approach is expected to drive broader, nationwide progress towards the carbon emission reduction goal, thereby improving the effectiveness of emission reduction policies. This study integrates complex network control theory with input–output modeling to develop a detailed analysis of the embodied carbon emission (EC) transfer network at the province-sector level in China for the year 2017. By examining the network's characteristics and identifying key nodes for control, the study arrives at several notable findings: (1) EC transfers predominantly flow from central and northern provinces to the economically vibrant southeast provinces, and from energy-intensive sectors towards services, manufacturing, and others. (2) The network's structure follows a scale-free distribution, indicating that a limited number of provincial sectors are central to the network, managing a majority of EC transfers and thus playing a crucial role. (3) Utilizing complex network control theory, an algorithm was developed to identify optimal control nodes, aiming to minimize the costs associated with emission reduction. This approach identified 287 provincial sectors, about one-third of the total, while keeping abatement costs below one-fourth of potential expenses. (4) The identified crucial control nodes consist of approximately 38% source nodes and 20% isolated nodes. Sectors downstream of these source nodes, such as sec04, sec05, and sec22, show significant node strength and betweenness centrality, enhancing the spread of emission reduction impacts. (5) When compared to other node selection strategies, the algorithm not only achieves complete network control but also minimizes abatement costs effectively. This research offers valuable insights for policymakers on the dynamics of interregional trade and EC management. It supports the formulation of a strategic, long-term plan for collaborative emission reduction across provinces and sectors, aligning with China's environmental commitments. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The escalating demand for resources in urban and rural construction development raises the crucial question of achieving green development within limited resource constraints. This study delves into the interplay between environmental policy and green development in urban and rural construction. Utilizing the spatial Durbin model for analysis, findings reveal that investment-oriented environmental regulation significantly impacts green development and positive spillover effects in neighboring regions when considering spatial weight matrices. In contrast, cost-based environmental regulations positively affect green development when spatial interactions are disregarded. However, they exhibit negative effects at the spatial level, potentially leading to a "pollution relocation" phenomenon. Although the influence of R& D subsidy-based environmental regulations on green development is not significant, their impact becomes notable upon considering spatial interactions, potentially generating positive effects across regions through mechanisms such as technology diffusion and knowledge transfer. Furthermore, from an endogeneity perspective, the impact of environmental regulatory tools on green development exhibits a time lag effect. Moreover, investment-type regulation in the eastern regions significantly fosters green development, whereas cost-based regulation shows a suppressive effect; investment-type regulation in central regions has a positive spillover on neighboring areas; and R&D subsidies in western regions negatively impact local green development. Moreover, the quality of governmental institutions, market integration, and technological innovation are key factors influencing green development in China's urban and rural construction. This study reveals the direct and indirect effects of various environmental policy tools on green development in urban and rural areas. It emphasizes the importance of considering spatial interactions in implementing environmental policies, providing a theoretical foundation and practical guidance for optimizing environmental policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although briquetting is an appropriate technology for the production of renewable energy, its widespreadness in Southeast Asia is limited. Especially due to the high initial investments and energy consumption of a high-pressure briquetting press. However, manual low-pressure briquetting presses (operating pressure <5 MPa) can represent a relevant alternative, regarding to their ease of use and modest energy consumption. The aim of the present research was to develop and verify a manual wooden low pressure briquetting press with a square-shaped pressing chamber, piston and a single lever as a pressing unit. In practice, press was designed, manufactured, and verified by successful bio-briquette samples production. Four different feedstock mixtures were prepared from coconut mesocarp fibre (CF), bamboo skin (BS), pineapple leaves (PL), sugarcane bagasse (SB); each mixed with external binding agent (wastepaper) in biomass:binder ratios of 1:1 and 2:1. The achieved bulk density ρ ranged from 204.30 ± 15.73 kg m−3 for 1:1 feedstock mixtures and 199.31 ± 23.13 kg m−3 for 2:1 feedstock mixtures. The press efficiency, feasibility and practicability were positively evaluated within their possible utilisation in rural areas of developing countries. The importance of research increases constantly due to the worldwide need for a transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, proper waste management, and reduction of environmental and health risks related to improper treatment of waste materials. The final idea of the article contributes to the development of the sector of clean green energy production, simultaneously with raising awareness about sustainable technologies for proper waste management within the wide public. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The common ground of both critics and proponents of green productivity is arguably hinged on the main role of environmental technological advancement. Considering the drive for climate-neutral economy among the Nordic states, the current study examines the role of climate change technological development within the countries and technological spillovers across countries in the pursuit for green economy. By using a combination of pooled mean group approach of autoregressive distributed lag (for coefficient estimation) and the recently developed Granger non-causality approach by Juodis et al. (2021) for the panel dataset analysis over the period 1990–2018, the results reveal that both domestic technological development and spillovers from abroad promote long-run green productivity growth in the panel and country-specific estimations. In both estimations, the impact of international diffusion of climate change technologies on green productivity is found to be larger. Additionally, the influence of these two dynamics of climate change-related technologies on attaining greening economy is the most impactful in Sweden. In the remaining Nordic economies, climate change technology spillovers in Denmark are more impactful than in Finland and least in Norway, while climate change technological development in Norway drives green productivity more than in Finland and least in Denmark. As a robust insight, the Granger causality techniques revealed causality from climate change technologies within the countries, climate change technology spillovers, and population to green productivity. Consequently, public policies should promote green innovativeness and especially learning and knowledge transfer from other countries to achieve climate neutrality targets. • The drivers of green productivity in the Nordic countries are investigated. • Domestic and foreign spillovers of green technology promote green productivity. • Green productivity responds more strongly to foreign technology spillovers. • The impact of climate change-related technologies is the highest in Sweden. • Financial development and population also drive green productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The innovation performance of Chinese wind power enterprises has not been effectively improved, which may be caused by the behavior of enterprises using the information asymmetry between government and enterprises to camouflage R & D and obtain policies incentives. Therefore, this paper attempts to construct an evolutionary game model of tax incentives in complex network, introduces technology spillover and reputation cost, and discusses the diffusion of R & D in Chinese wind power industry. The results show that: (1) Reducing technology spillover not only contributes to the R & D diffusion, but also reduces the peak in the proportion of enterprises with camouflaging R & D. (2) Increasing reputation cost of violations can accelerate enterprises to reach the equilibrium and reduce the time that the proportion of the behavior with camouflaging R & D decreases. (3) The increase in incentives of lower tax rate for high-tech enterprises will create "lowland effect" for high-tech enterprises. And the increase in incentives of extra deduction for R & D expenses will increase the R & D diffusion of non-high-tech enterprises, while also suppressing the peak of the proportion in non-high-tech enterprises with camouflaging R & D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of sustainable development in higher education is an important goal, and one which requires much planning. The many recurring problems and barriers that hinder the attainment of sustainable development objectives at universities are either directly or indirectly related to deficiencies in planning which pose a significant barrier to the implementation of sustainable development. There is therefore a perceived need to foster a better understanding of how planning may help higher education institutions to become more successful in implementing sustainable development. Based on this need, this paper describes the role of planning as a tool for improved knowledge and sound decision-making towards a better understanding of sustainability in a science and technology context, and the motivation towards transformation. In particular, it reports on a survey in the context of which some of the major obstacles for planning and implementing sustainable development at universities are outlined. The study identified the fact that many universities are yet to have fully developed plans to take into account matters related to sustainable development, and describes some the elements which could be considered in attempts to give a greater emphasis to sustainability to planning in a higher education context. Image 1 • Planning can assist in the implementation of sustainable development in higher education. • Globally, the development of sustainability initiatives in universities varies among institutions and regions. • Institutional commitment is required, along with transformation of perceptions and use of interrelated perspectives. • It is necessary to foster a better understanding of how planning may help universities to implement sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Appropriate technology for sustainable development in developing countries should consider comprehensive societal aspects of the target area and, at the same time, ensure target areas are capable of sustainable transformation. However, appropriate technology has mainly been approached from the engineering or technological aspects, thus becoming a short-term or one-time technology transfer or, despite the social science approach, it has no definite theoretical background. For successful and sustainable appropriate technology activities, appropriate technology should be approached theoretically. Therefore, this study applies the theory of grassroots innovation to appropriate technology, examines how the concepts of grassroots innovation based on local community units can relate to appropriate technology activities in developing countries, and analyzes a case of appropriate technology activity to show that future appropriate technology activities should involve grassroots innovation. The results show that the principles of grassroots innovation underlie successful appropriate technology projects. • Sustainability of appropriate technology can be grounded on a grassroots innovation. • The concept of strategic niche management is applied to appropriate technology. • Context, driving force, niche, organizational form, and resource base are common constructs of the framework. • The case of Laos identifies the relationship between appropriate technology and grassroots innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has developed eight bases to boost the large-scale exploitation of wind power, thereby achieving great success in recent years. In this study, we propose an adjusted technical innovation diffusion model to explore the optimal development paths for the eight bases until 2030. Considering environmental differences, the model mainly takes the following factors into account: economic factors, grid construction, coordination of departments, power system failure and technology diffusion. In addition, we classify the bases into four groups according to their geographical locations and economic development to investigate the common characteristics affecting their development. The empirical analysis indicates that all eight bases may achieve their development goals by 2020, but not all may reach their 2030 goals under most circumstances. The effect of incentive policies varies significantly among regions due to differences in available resources and economic development. Grid availability act as the biggest obstacle to wind power development in regions with abundant resources and underdeveloped economies, whereas a subsidy is the key driver of wind power diffusion in developed regions. • It has explored the optimal development paths for eight wind power bases. • Grid availability is the biggest obstacle in regions with abundant resources. • Financial subsidy is the key driver to wind power diffusion in developed regions. • Not all bases may achieve their goals by 2020 or 2030 under most circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental regulations aim at influencing individual behaviour toward more efficient use of resources and adoption of greener technologies for a sustainable development of globalized economies. This work investigates how and to what extent firms are influenced by an environmental Pigouvian tax on their technology and trade decisions. By using an international trade model with monopolistic competition that accounts for the heterogeneity of firms in terms of productivity, it is theoretically examined the decision of introducing a green technology or keeping a pollutant less advanced technology. If all firms adopt a pollutant technology, the eco-tax lowers emissions through a selection mechanism because the least productive firms are forced to leave the market. By imposing higher compliance costs to active firms, export propensity is negatively influenced as well. When abatement technologies can be adopted, an additional source of pollution reduction is obtained. The environmental tax will positively affect eco-innovation propensity and, indirectly, export propensity. However, since the positive effect will strictly depend on the amount of firm productivity, environmental tax and costs of clean technology, the Pigouvian tax can foster eco-innovation across the largest and most productive firms only. Productivity enhancing policies tailored to firm characteristics, especially size, may be more successful in the diffusion of cleaner technologies across all firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research shows urban sustainability experiments are critical for sustainability transition in cities and beyond, especially when they are multiplied in other contexts and upscaled. Even with a growing body of literature on sustainability experiments, little is known on how these experiments travel to and are contextualized in other contexts. Here we attempt to fill this gap, taking the adoption and proliferation of Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) in Shanghai as a case study. First, based on the system innovation literature, we identify the critical components that characterize the innovative practices. We then examine the contextualization process of EPC in Shanghai using this characterization. Finally, we identify and compare some innovative elements that emerged during the contextualization with those in the original contexts from which Shanghai learned. We argue that post experiment adoption and contextualization requires mobilization and realignments of actors, resources, and institutional arrangements within the process of learning, which involves much more than simple duplication and often with distinctive outcomes, thus in many ways is an innovation in itself. Innovation in post experiment contextualization is supported by various "horizontal linkages" with the original experiment, which include information/knowledge transfer and learning via actor interactions across experiments, but the focus of learning shifts from external (i.e. from the original context) to internal (i.e. within the new context) during the contextualization process. These findings contribute to an in-depth understanding of how innovation can transfer across cases, which is a significant gap in current system innovation literature, and may inform practice in terms of how to facilitate the scaling of experiments to achieve sustainability transitions. • How successful experiments travel across contexts is not well understood. • Embedding innovation requires new social, economic and institutional configurations. • Horizontal linkages critical, but learning mode shifts from external to internal. • Contextualization benefits from predecessors but requires endogenous innovation. • Contextualization could be a new source of innovations that needs renewed attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technology is critical for achieving carbon neutrality and establishing a circular carbon economy. Thermal power plants represent a significant contributor to carbon emissions, and facilitating the spread of CCUS technology throughout the power industry is a crucial means of advancing this technology. The diffusion of CCUS technology would be influenced by policy incentives, market environment, enterprises' individual characteristics as well as complex social network relationships. To study the impacts of these factors on the diffusion of CCUS technology, this study develops an evolutionary game model of CCUS technology diffusion in thermal power plants based on a small-world network. This model includes agents as the network nodes with different production capacities and decision preferences. Through numerical simulations, the study examined the impact of market prices, carbon taxes, and subsidies as incentive measures under different diffusion environments. The results demonstrate that those with higher production capabilities show a higher level of sensitivity to incentives for technology diffusion. To reduce fiscal expenditure, the government can adopt differentiated incentive measures for enterprises with varying production capacities. In addition, the synergistic combination of various incentive measures can effectively decrease the government's expenses in promoting CCUS technology. The incentive mechanisms for promoting CCUS diffusion should be implemented preferably during the early stage of low-carbon transition in the power sector. As the operating hours of thermal power plants decrease, the cost of promoting technology diffusion increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid spread of renewable electricity, the licensing of energy storage technology has become an important way for technologically backward electricity suppliers to improve their competitiveness in the electricity market. However, there have been few studies that have investigated the influence of government policy on the selection of licensing strategies for energy storage technologies by renewable electricity suppliers. Consequently, we constructed a game model involving two competing renewable electricity suppliers, the grid company, and the government. One of them is a technologically advanced electricity supplier, and the other is a technologically backward one. The model considers government subsidies and compares three licensing strategies: technology monopolies (TM), unit-production authorization (UA), and fixed-fee authorization (FA). Based on numerical analysis, this paper compares wholesale electricity prices, grid orders and grid and government profits under different licensing strategies. Next, the choice of the optimal licensing strategy among electricity suppliers and the preferences of the grid and the government for different licensing strategies are analyzed. The results show that wholesale electricity prices increase and grid orders decrease under the UA strategy compared to the TM strategy, while the opposite is true under the FA strategy. The FA strategy is preferred between electricity suppliers when the cost of generation from technologically advanced suppliers exceeds twice the cost of generation from technologically inferior suppliers. Otherwise, the UA strategy is more appropriate. Moreover, the grid and government preferred the FA strategy to the TM or UA strategy, with profits rising 89% and 26% for the grid and government respectively under this strategy. Lastly, the grid is more profitable under the UA strategy than under the TM strategy only if the level of electricity reliability and grid cost are higher. [Display omitted] • Quantifying the problem of energy storage technology diffusion in the renewable electricity sector with government subsidies. • Bertrand and Stackelberg competitions are established among the supply chain players. • The game equilbria are compared under three licensing strategies. • A technologically advanced electricity supplier's choice of licensing strategy is related to its generation costs. • The preferences of the government and the grid for different licensing strategies are investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores a case of reputation and stakeholder management in sustainability transitions. We use the case of aviation biofuel (biokerosene) to explore the complications around signalling in strategic niche management processes. Biokerosene is currently supplied at several Scandinavian airports in a low percentage blend, either as standard or upon request, although trials suggest that modern jet engines can reliably handle much higher percentage blends. Airlines, airports and biokerosene suppliers cooperate in a process of mutual strategic positioning that supports confidence-building and market development, while at the same time being intended to encourage positive stakeholder perceptions. A key challenge for the sector, however, is that signalling biokerosene as a response to aviation-related climate emissions is complicated by mixed societal perceptions of biofuel sustainability; and the policy and material conditions for affordable, sustainable, large scale supply of biofuel are lacking. Thus while parts of the sector would like to more clearly signal the value of existing and greater biokerosene use, interrelationships between reputational risks, supply constraints and economics limit this. By bringing stakeholder management theory to strategic niche management, we present a view of the latter as in part reputationally driven, in response to the uncertain legitimacy of a technology at an early stage in its market development. Image 1 • A relational view of the firm implies a role for stakeholders in strategic niche management. • Limited biokerosene use is examined from a strategic signalling perspective. • Non-technical uncertainties around biokerosene are constraining the extent of this signalling. • Biokerosene is an example of uncertain societal legitimacy limiting the diffusion of a niche technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the wave of digitisation sweeping through the higher education sector, end-of-life outcomes for decommissioned computers will pose a serious sustainability challenge for higher education institutions. This challenge presents an opportunity for universities to implement and demonstrate best practice in sustainability; in this case, computer re-use schemes. The paper addresses the practical realisation of sustainability innovation in a social and institutional context via an examination of the first computer re-use scheme implemented within an Australian university. It also contributes a unique, institutional and social perspective to the study of a sustainability innovation, computer re-use schemes. The key factors that contributed to the successful implementation of the Scheme are derived and presented as a social and institutional model for implementing sustainability initiatives. A summary of the model is presented in the graphical abstract. Given the complex organisational structure of universities, these learnings can be relevant to a wide range of institutions and the implementation of other sustainability initiatives. Image 1 • A social and institutional model for sustainability innovation is presented. • Student leadership and initiative was the catalyst for the re-use scheme. • A common language and stated objective for sustainability and social impact supported the scheme. • Partnerships led to new organisational and delivery set-ups for sustainability innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Universities worldwide are competing to offer attractive learning and research environments to a new generation of skilled and talented students. Governments of the developed world urge universities to foster innovation and technology transfer within a framework of sustainability, at the same time as higher education systemsare facing continuous funding cuts. This dilemma pushes campus architects and planners to work on ways to promote innovation and creativity in a planned manner within time, budget and space limitations. This research attempts to fill the gaps between strategy-based studies and practical aspects of design of innovation-conducive university campuses. This study introduces biophilia as a philosophical approach that reflects the innate human need to connect with nature. Recent experiments with biophilia have used natural elements to enhance physical, social, intellectual and psychological human wellbeing. This study proposes that merging the attributes of biophilic design with sustainable development will generate a robust model that supports the evolution of a creative university campus. In this light, this research thoroughly reviews the body of literature which investigates the correlation between sustainability, innovation and biophilia within the built environment in general with particular attention to university campuses. The theoretical background shows that the principles of biophilia have the potential to foster innovation in higher education. The study proposes a comprehensive framework based on earlier studies to promote the linkages between sustainability and innovation through deploying the values, patterns and elements of biophilic design. Further research is required to test the validity of the framework on a global scale. Highlights • Studies proved the viability of biophilia in restoring human's cognitive resources. • Most studies of biophilic design did not offer a mechanism for implementation. • The 'traditional' planning prototype of universities provokes passive learning. • Also, it stigmatises connection with nature and hinders advancing sustainability. • A design framework for a biophilic, innovative and sustainable campus is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Insights from battery research and development (R&D) need to be transferred into industrial application to create innovations and thus foster e.g. electro mobility. In terms of battery technology transfer, the early phase of application is particularly challenging due to the close intertwining between R&D and application. Therefore, the present study introduces start-ups as an additional indicator to capture the transition from science to industry within the technology life cycle. The findings show that despite highly dynamic R&D activities, technology transfer is only taking place on a very limited level. Surprisingly, start-ups focus on incremental improvements of existing technologies instead of introducing radical breakthrough-technologies. An analysis of the battery value chain reveals that opportunities for start-ups are rather located downstream in the value chain when integrating cells to battery systems and developing applications relying on innovative battery technologies. The findings contribute to the area of technology life cycle analysis explicitly using start-up companies as additional indicator for the critical transfer step from R&D to application. In a similar vein, technology forecasting literature, which is to date mainly focused on R&D, is expanded by a more application-centred perspective that allows identifying transfer opportunities along the technology value chain. Highlights • Start-ups as new technology life cycle indicator for the early phase of application. • No time lag between basic and applied research in the battery field. • Battery technology transfer takes place on a very limited level. • Start-ups surprisingly focus on incremental improvements of existing technologies. • Opportunities for start-ups concentrated upstream the battery value chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data on consumption-based CO 2 emissions has become increasingly available over the past years. These data raise the awareness of the link between final goods and the environmental pollution caused by upstream production processes. Consumers of final products learn where in the world CO 2 was emitted along the upstream production chain. For producers of final products these data provide benchmarks for total CO 2 emitted in upstream production processes. These are used together with an extended version of the inverse important coefficient methodology to identify ‘emission hotspots’. ‘Emission hotspots’ are defined as countries/industries where a bulk of the upstream emissions occur and where a change in technology brings about the largest decrease in upstream emissions. This knowledge provides a basis for well-targeted technology transfers to clean up the upstream production chain, thus reducing the emission footprint of final goods production. The highest impact overall in a significant number global value chains analyzed here would be replacing upstream use of coal electricity by low carbon electricity. These results support the call of the ‘Powering Past Coal Alliance’ at the COP23 of ending the use of coal power sooner rather than later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carbon neutrality target proposes challenges for China's intermittent renewable power, which has experienced rapid growth in recent years. This study quantitatively analyzes the competition effects of wind power and solar photovoltaics (PV) by way of a competition model and describes their diffusion mechanisms in the energy system. Taking minimum cost as the objective, it constructs a dynamic programming model to explore the optimal development pathway of China's intermittent renewable power to 2060 under the carbon neutrality target and other typical constraints, which enriches the application of competition model in the energy sector, especially in the field of renewable energy technology diffusion. Besides, it also explores the key factors affecting the pathway by way of scenario and sensitivity analyses. This empirical study finds that solar PV outweighs wind power in the long run because the diffusion of wind power is obviously negatively affected by solar PV, whereas the inverse relationship is slightly positive. Wind power will reach its diffusion cap of 660 GW after steady growth; by comparison, solar PV will achieve its diffusion cap of 1790 GW later, but with a much higher growth rate. Investment constraint and technological level slightly affect the development pathway in the early and middle stages, but grid absorptive ability is the critical factor over the entire study period. These discussions will help governments design pathways for developing intermittent renewable energy that match carbon neutrality targets, taking into account the impact of wind power and solar PV interactions. • Wind power diffusion is negatively affected by solar PV, but inverse is positive. • Solar PV will dominant the intermittent renewable power mix due to lower cost. • China will complete 1200 GW plan for carbon neutrality by 2030 ahead of schedule. • Solar PV enters mature stage later than wind power despite of its fast development. • Grid absorptive ability is critical for intermittent renewable power development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study offers a new perspective on the drivers of environmental sustainability for sector level (manufacturing, mining, agriculture, business, trade, and transport) analysis. In this case, country-level sectoral dynamic index for technology adoption and emission intensity were constructed to study the environmental efficiency effect of technology adoption and technology diffusion across tradable and non-tradable sectors by using empirical illustration for 49 developing and emerging countries during 1990–2018 period. By correcting for potential bias arising from endogeneity and cross-border spillover effects via cross-section dependence, results reveal long-term effects of technological changes. Importantly, it is shown that the environmental efficiency effect of technology adoption holds in technology-intensive sectors (i.e manufacturing, mining, agriculture) only at lower capitalization levels, thus establishing a U-shaped nexus of technology adoption and carbon emission. Additionally, it is found that trade networks reduce emission intensities by improving technology diffusion across all the tradable sectors and in transport sector. Moreover, trade alone mitigates carbon intensity across all the sectors while income per capita spur carbon intensity in the tradable sectors. From policy insight, the study identifies the need for stricter policy directives to scale up energy and clean technologies adoption in all sector activities. • Drivers of carbon emissions across tradable and non-tradable sectors were examined. • The case of selected 49 developing and emerging countries was investigated. • Tech adoption and emissions exhibit U-shaped nexus in manufacturing, mining, agriculture. • Trade moderate tech adoption to reduce emission in transport and tradable sectors. • Trade activities reduce emission intensities across all sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water Pollution Abatement (WPA) plays a pivotal part in ensuring water safety, but the key to developing WPA technology is a small number of high-value patents. This paper proposes an improved multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method integrating machine learning, which is applied to patent evaluation for the first time to effectively distinguish between patents of different categories of competitive potential, aiming to deepen the value understanding of the WPA industry technology. In this method, the set of reference points in AHPSort II is improved by integrating machine learning from the equidistant to automatic searching, and the original linear interpolation is modified by the curvilinear interpolation of cubic polynomial, which is more in line with the characteristics of patent data and improves the accuracy of the estimates. As an example, the 135 patents granted by the USA in WPA technology are presented: 5 patents at the T 1 level, 87 patents at the T 2 level, and the remaining 43 T 3 level patents were identified by this method. Finally, through analyzing these T 1 high-value patents, the inspirations for the development of WPA technology in China are put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transfer of industrial clean technology can contribute to the transformation of industry sustainable development to address the dual challenges of climate change and environmental pollution. Although its importance is widely acknowledged, there is still a lack of scientific and quantitative assessment framework to precisely and effectively identify high-potential cooperation targets in the context of countries with diverse backgrounds. To fill this gap, this study proposed a multidimensional assessment framework for industrial clean technology transfer potential with application in 58 BRI developing countries. This study reviewed existing literature on the main barriers and drivers of clean technology transfer and extracted four assessment dimensions as primary indicators, namely the recipient country's macro environment, industry development, clean technology demand, and clean technology transfer guarantee, with 13 secondary indicators, 52 tertiary indicators based on the open-source database and common assessment index. The established framework was then used to assess the potential for China's industrial clean technology transfer to 58 developing countries under the Belt and Road Initiative, with the weights of indicators at all levels determined by the analytic hierarchy process method based on expert questionnaires and equal weighting method. The findings demonstrate that there are significant differences in clean technology transfer potential among studied countries. Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Malaysia are the best options for China, while Bolivia, Cameroon, and Algeria have the lowest technology transfer potential. Our work can not only assist technology providers with overall country selection in industrial cleaner technology transfer cooperation and strengthen their risk prevention capacity, but also help countries with low cooperation potential or obvious weaknesses to identify deficiencies and make targeted improvements, as well as serve as a reference for other international technology cooperation assessments. • The study develops a novel framework to quantify the potential for industrial clean technology transfer for the first time. • The framework can guide country selection of clean technology transfers, and identify defiencies for low-potential countries. • The framework evaluated 58 BRI developing countries, revealing Qatar, UAE, and Malaysia as the top 3 with high potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Industrial Emission Directive (IED) has strengthened the requirement to apply Best Available Techniques (BATs) first introduced by the IPPC Directive. The so-called “Sevilla Process”, which is the formal European process to define and revise BATs, is based upon an exchange of information among different stakeholders and relies on data analysis and expert judgements. If the process to collect and to share information between stakeholders at sectoral and installation levels is well defined, the determination of BATs and BAT-Associated Environmental Levels has evolved along with the revision of the BAT REFerence documents (BREFs). Nevertheless, no formal tool to support the analysis exists. The objective of this article is to present a 5-steps methodology aimed to classify installations according to two multicriteria approaches, either a representative angle or a performant approach, and then to identify reference installations, which would help to propose reference values and possible BATs. The methodology is supported by statistical tools (Principal Component analysis, hierarchical clustering) and algorithmic approach (MissForest). The application to French dairy sectors has validated the methodology and mathematical tools used. Two reference classes has been identified for the representative approach and 19 installations selected. For the performant installations, seven (7) installations has been selected. BATAELs for COD flow are proposed considering these classifications and an effort rate comprised between 23 and 96% has been revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frugal innovation has recently become a relevant topic in the public domain. The real challenge for frugal innovation is to introduce something new or different (innovating) whilst being sparing with resources (frugal). Traditionally, it has been investigated in relation to emerging and developing countries. However, scholars and institutions have pointed out that the phenomenon is growing in relevance in advanced economies too. As a consequence, some scholars have started soliciting attempts to systematize this emerging field of research. Based on these premises, the study aims to: explore how the frugal innovation concept has developed over the years; analyze the main key findings from the extant literature on frugal innovation to lay a foundation for subsequent works, by identifying gaps in current knowledge; highlight new directions for future research. In doing so, we carried out a systematic literature review (SLR) and analyzed 113 articles that have been published since 1990. We asked experts to validate the main research gaps we had identified through the SLR. As a whole, results show that experts identify - for both emerging and developing countries and for advanced economies - various relevant future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has been very successful in creating conditions for industry localization in solar and wind energy manufacturing. In terms of their competitiveness in foreign markets, however, Chinese solar photovoltaics firms have shown significantly greater achievements than their counterparts in the wind energy sector. Moreover, the success of China’s solar photovoltaics industry has come in spite of significantly lower levels of domestic market support. The paper argues that technology-related factors and their implications for international technology transfer are critical for explaining the different speeds with which Chinese firms have been able to catch up in the two sectors. This is supported by a comparative analysis of technology transfer in the two sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability has been a global consensus for the governments worldwide to address serious environmental issues. However, there is a lack of data envelopment analysis (DEA) studies evaluating the performance of government in promoting various sustainability sub-systems. To do this evaluation work, our study proposes new parallel-series network DEA models with alternative network structures of incorporating intermediate products. Particularly, this study develops a new methodological framework to evaluate various inefficiency sources. The framework contains an extended method of network meta/group frontier approach and a new concept of efficiency Foster-Greer-Thorbecke indicator. Empirically, this study considers the case of Chinese government-sustainability system from 2010 to 2017. Such work cannot be found in the existing studies. The main findings are summarized as follows. First, China has succeeded in realizing an overall improved efficiency during the examined periods. The importance of various divisions changes over time. Second, the occurrence of method heterogeneity and significant linkage inefficiency implies that the modelers should incorporate intermediate products in a well-suited way. Finally, inland provinces show higher technology gap inefficiency as for economy division. To improve the performance, inland provinces should promote their human capital and adopt advanced technology. This paper proposes new parallel-series network DEA models with alternative network structures of incorporating intermediate products. Particularly, this study proposes a unified framework to analyze the relationship between network structures and inefficiency sources through the use of meta/group-frontier approach. To identify the main technology diffusion that maybe further cause the inefficiency value, this study applies the FGT indicators to the productivity and efficiency field for the first time. The FGT indicators can be used to explore the structure of technology inequality and identify barriers to technology diffusion. [Display omitted] • We propose a new approach for modelling the parallel-series network structure. • This study applies new frontier framework to identify sources of inefficiency. • There has been growing trends in Chinese government-sustainability system. • Managerial inefficiency had a negative annual growth rate of −6.01%. • Inland provinces showed higher technology gap inefficiency for economy division. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstracts Research suggests that product service systems (PSS) may usefully form part of the mix of innovations necessary to move society toward more sustainable futures. However, PSS implementation rates are disappointingly low and an implementation gap has emerged. Drawing on consumer culture theory (CCT), this paper provides insights to help resolve this issue in business to consumer markets. Since consumption of use orientated PSS is analogous to access based consumption, six dimensions of access are set out to analyse a case study of infant car seat provision. Five outcomes are derived from the analysis and these include partial identification with accessed product and interplay of use and symbolic value. This analysis questions the view that PSS do not create sufficient value to overcome a preference for ownership in western societies. Rather, PSS consumption is likely to arise when both functional and symbolic value are extracted by consumers and when PSS are promoted to appropriate consumer groups such as ‘nomads’. Further research is needed to explore these phenomena and address the issues they raise in PSS design processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of intellectual property rights (IPR) on the transfer of environmentally sound technologies (ESTs) has resulted in discursive contestation. On the one hand, the IPR regime is regarded as a catalyst to ESTs transfer. On the other hand, the IPR regime itself is argued to work as a barrier to the transfer of ESTs to developing countries. This contestation moved to another layer of discussion concerning what to do about the current IPR regime and the climate change regime that overlap on the subject matter of technology transfer. The IPR-as-a-catalyst approach prefers the IPR regime to remain as the status quo and that the climate change regime construct an enabling environment by lowering the transaction costs of technology transfer and enhancing the regulatory capacity of developing countries. On the contrary, skeptics of the role of the IPR regime in ESTs transfer prefer an active utilization of the flexible mechanisms of the IPR regime and more interventionist actions by the climate change regime for effective IPR-sharing. Regarding this bi-polar contestation, this paper analyzes why and where this discursive contestation occurs based on the economic theories of market failure. The benefits and difficulties of remedial institutional approaches to tackle market failures are explored; then, complementary institutional designs in compatibility with the IPR regime and in response to market failures are explored with exemplary cases under the climate change regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High upfront costs are a critical barrier for investments in clean infrastructure technologies in developing countries. This paper uses a case study of Thailand's electricity sector to create realistic estimates for the relative contributions of local and global technological learning to reducing these cost in the future and discusses implications of such learnings for international climate policy. For six renewable electricity technologies, we derive estimates for the share of locally and globally sourced goods and services, and analyze the effects of local and global learning during the implementation of Thailand's renewable energy targets for 2021. Our results suggest that, in aggregate, the largest potential for cost reduction lies in local learning. This finding lends quantitative support to the argument that the conditions enabling local learning, such as a skilled workforce, a stable regulatory framework, and the establishment of sustainable business models, have a more significant impact on cost of renewable energy in developing countries than global technology learning curves. The recent shift of international support under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change towards country-specific technology support is therefore promising. However, our results also show that the relative importance of local and global learning differs significantly between technologies, and is determined by technology and country characteristics. This suggests that international support need to consider both the global perspective and local context and framework conditions in order to reap the full benefits of technological learning across the wide range of clean technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Paris Agreement signed on December 15 2015 is a landmark consensus in the global efforts to cope with climate change that emphasizes the importance to hold the increase in the global average temperature to below 2 °C and even to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels. In order to achieve this target, it is urgently needed to introduce new approaches for transitions to low fossil carbon societies by promoting opportunities for effective development, diffusion and implementation of new technologies, policies and strategies. This Special Volume focuses upon both domestic and international institutions designed to facilitate improved low fossil carbon technology governance. The articles contained in this Special Volume demonstrate the barriers and opportunities to making the urgently needed changes, develop and test new concepts, structures, policies, and strategies for low fossil carbon technology governance. They indicate that there are various innovative technologies, policies and strategies available to make the drastic changes to low fossil carbon society and it is not too late to put those technologies, policies and strategies in practice to meet the 2 °C and 1.5 °C targets under the Paris Agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the fight against global climate change, improving energy efficiency and reducing related emissions are critical to mitigating sustainability issues such as global warming. In this regard, technological progress is known to improve energy efficiency and reduce related emissions. However, previous sustainability studies on Africa have paid less attention to energy and emission efficiency convergence among countries, along with the contribution of technological progress to the continent's sustainability. Accordingly, this paper develops a novel framework that assesses energy and emission efficiency convergence, gauges technology inequality, identifies the barriers to technology diffusion, and explores the factors influencing energy and emission efficiency convergence in Africa. The proposed framework incorporates Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), several economic convergence concepts, a K-means clustering model, the concept of efficiency Gini coefficient, and a group-based inequality decomposition method. We empirically covered 39 African countries from 2006 to 2018. The results show that African countries are, on average, 71.1% energy efficient and 65.3% CO 2 emission efficient, leaving more room for energy saving and emissions reduction. Second, there is strong evidence of convergence in energy and emission efficiencies in Africa. Third, despite the observed convergence process, there is significant heterogeneity between two research groups (i.e., low-and high-efficiency groups of countries) in terms of energy and emission efficiencies, with persistent technology inequality suggesting a lower contribution of environmental technological advancements to the continent's sustainability. Furthermore, cross-group inequality is the primary barrier to technology diffusion. Fourth, regional cooperation accelerates the convergence process in the two efficiency indicators. While economic development, industrial structure, and renewable energy consumption (REC) tend to favor energy and emission efficiency growth, rising foreign direct investment (FDI) and energy prices have a negative impact. Meanwhile, the effects of energy prices, FDI, and REC on emission efficiency are insignificant. Based on our findings, we discussed policy implications to promote energy and emission efficiency convergence and narrow environmental technology gaps. • Convergence in Total-factor energy and emission efficiency in Africa is explored. • Technology inequality across African countries is measured. • There is strong evidence of convergence in TFEE and TFCEE in Africa. • A persistent technology inequality is found among African countries. • Cross-group efficiency inequality is the main barrier to technology diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green institutional environment reflects the government's effort to promote sustainability and thus becomes an important research focus worldwide. To the best of our knowledge, no study has adopted the Benefit-of-the-Doubt (BoD) models to evaluate the performance of green institutional environment. It is noteworthy that the previous BoD studies receive great criticism, due to the possible occurrence of improper or extreme weights. To deal with the issue, this paper proposes two new types of cross-efficiency BoD models and provides methodological contributions to the BoD literature. To make empirical contributions to the studies on green institutional environment, this study proposes a new methodological framework to perform efficiency analysis. Our new framework has five types of academic effort: (a) five BoD models (for efficiency analysis); (b) Malmquist index (for sources of dynamic efficiency changes); (c) K-means clustering method (for group classification); (d) Mann-Whitney U test (to examine group heterogeneity); and (e) Gini coefficient (for inequality analysis) and group-based decomposition analysis (for identifying technology diffusion barriers). Such work cannot be found in the existing empirical studies. Empirically, this study focuses on green institutional environment of Chinese provinces from 2010 to 2019. The main conclusions are summarized as follows. First, China has succeeded in achieving an overall growth of green institutional environment during the examined periods. Second, there exists certain method heterogeneity, where our new models perform better than conventional BoD models. Finally, there is a growing trend in overall efficiency Gini coefficient, implying that an increasing technological disparity is confirmed in green institutional environment. • We propose two new Benefit-of-the-Doubt (BoD) models. • We first use BoD models to evaluate performance of green institutional environment. • We first consider technology inequality in green institutional environment. • Empirically, China shows progress in green institutional environment efficiency. • Significant heterogeneity is confirmed across groups and Chinese provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adopting urine-recycling technologies can support a transition to circular nutrient management systems. Although these technologies have been developed since the 1990s, their large-scale implementation remains limited. From a technological innovation system (TIS) perspective, "knowledge development and diffusion" is a critical function in the development phase. Yet, available methods in the literature to evaluate this function are not standardized. Hence, this study aims to fill this literature gap by developing a novel multi-criteria framework for evaluating knowledge functions. Several characteristics of emerging technologies are reflected in the criteria, including the rate of growth, novelty, diffusion, and relationship to incumbent systems. The knowledge base was measured by bibliometric analysis of publications obtained from comprehensive mapping. Results showed that the rate of publications and knowledge diffusion increased sharply in 2011–2021 compared to 1990–2010. However, the function still has insufficiency in some criteria. The lack of innovation in scientific research and the diversification of technologies were found to be impediments. The analysis also identified the lock-in of conventional technologies and centralized infrastructures in terms of publication dominance as another impediment. For the TIS to be legitimate and to grow, more pilot-scale implementations at a higher level are recommended to demonstrate that the technology works in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green institutional environment reflects the government's effort to promote sustainability and thus becomes an important research focus worldwide. To the best of our knowledge, no study has adopted the Benefit-of-the-Doubt (BoD) models to evaluate the performance of green institutional environment. It is noteworthy that the previous BoD studies receive great criticism, due to the possible occurrence of improper or extreme weights. To deal with the issue, this paper proposes two new types of cross-efficiency BoD models and provides methodological contributions to the BoD literature. To make empirical contributions to the studies on green institutional environment, this study proposes a new methodological framework to perform efficiency analysis. Our new framework has five types of academic effort: (a) five BoD models (for efficiency analysis); (b) Malmquist index (for sources of dynamic efficiency changes); (c) K-means clustering method (for group classification); (d) Mann-Whitney U test (to examine group heterogeneity); and (e) Gini coefficient (for inequality analysis) and group-based decomposition analysis (for identifying technology diffusion barriers). Such work cannot be found in the existing empirical studies. Empirically, this study focuses on green institutional environment of Chinese provinces from 2010 to 2019. The main conclusions are summarized as follows. First, China has succeeded in achieving an overall growth of green institutional environment during the examined periods. Second, there exists certain method heterogeneity, where our new models perform better than conventional BoD models. Finally, there is a growing trend in overall efficiency Gini coefficient, implying that an increasing technological disparity is confirmed in green institutional environment. • We propose two new Benefit-of-the-Doubt (BoD) models. • We first use BoD models to evaluate performance of green institutional environment. • We first consider technology inequality in green institutional environment. • Empirically, China shows progress in green institutional environment efficiency. • Significant heterogeneity is confirmed across groups and Chinese provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adopting urine-recycling technologies can support a transition to circular nutrient management systems. Although these technologies have been developed since the 1990s, their large-scale implementation remains limited. From a technological innovation system (TIS) perspective, "knowledge development and diffusion" is a critical function in the development phase. Yet, available methods in the literature to evaluate this function are not standardized. Hence, this study aims to fill this literature gap by developing a novel multi-criteria framework for evaluating knowledge functions. Several characteristics of emerging technologies are reflected in the criteria, including the rate of growth, novelty, diffusion, and relationship to incumbent systems. The knowledge base was measured by bibliometric analysis of publications obtained from comprehensive mapping. Results showed that the rate of publications and knowledge diffusion increased sharply in 2011–2021 compared to 1990–2010. However, the function still has insufficiency in some criteria. The lack of innovation in scientific research and the diversification of technologies were found to be impediments. The analysis also identified the lock-in of conventional technologies and centralized infrastructures in terms of publication dominance as another impediment. For the TIS to be legitimate and to grow, more pilot-scale implementations at a higher level are recommended to demonstrate that the technology works in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oil-bearing drilling cuttings (OBDC) produced in the petrochemical industry contain a large number of hydrocarbons, and their direct discharge will not only fail to recover the organic matter, but will also seriously harm the environment. In the process of treating OBDC, the consumption of resources and energy and pollution problems may arise, and the current clean production focusing on reduction, non-hazardous and resourcefulness has become the focus of achieving sustainable development. However, there is a lack of studies that consider treatment technology, resource consumption and utilization, and environmental impact under the perspective of cleaner production. In this paper, by studying the indicators related to cleaner production and the Driving Force-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) model, an evaluation index system for OBDC processing technology in the petrochemical industry under cleaner production is constructed. The evaluation results can provide reference for the selection of OBDC treatment process, and provide direction for the development and promotion of the treatment process. In the evaluation system, the DPSIR model can evaluate and manage the OBDC process from different levels and perspectives. The combination of the G1 method and the C-OWA operator method was used to calculate and analyze the index weights, and the improved matter-element analysis method was used to comprehensively evaluate the treatment of OBDC to determine the treatment of technical methods. The evaluation system is applied to actual cases in China. The results show that the low-temperature extraction technique was the best and the chemical washing method was the lowest compared with the three treatment techniques. The oil removal rate of OBDC, recovery of organic matter, secondary waste gas pollution and other indicators have a great impact on the evaluation of the OBDC treatment process under clean production. In order to contribute to the optimal recovery and utilization of resources, it is recommended to develop improvements to the treatment pair technology treatment process based on the results of the evaluation. • Analysis of oil-bearing drilling cuttings hazardous waste from the perspective of clean production. • Established the evaluation index system of oily drill cuttings treatment process under cleaner production. • A new set of oil-bearing drilling cuttings evaluation model under cleaner production was constructed. • Apply the improved matter-element analysis method to evaluate and analyze indicators at different levels. • Analyze and evaluate actual cases and propose areas for improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the combination of thermocatalytic oxidation technology with finned heat transfer technology was proposed to produce a novel passive solar vertical-finned- thermocatalytic-Trombe wall (VFTC-Trombe wall) system. The numerical model coupled with flow and heat transfer, convective-diffusion and catalytic reaction kinetic processes was established. The influences of fins geometry and environmental parameters on thermal and air purification performance were evaluated. The main findings are as follow: Both the purification efficiency and total efficiency increase with fins height. As the fins spacing rises, thermal, purification and total efficiencies all show maximum values. By adding the vertical fins in the channel, the purification performance improvement of the TC-Trombe wall system can be realized without sacrificing thermal performance. The optimum purification efficiency improves more than 1.5 times compared to that without vertical fins. The vertical fins have more significant effect on the purification performance than the thermal performance. At fins height h = 40 mm, fins spacing s = 16.67 mm, and solar radiation intensity I = 400 W/m2, the maximum total efficiency of VFTC-Trombe wall system reaches 65.11%, which is relatively improved by 31.9% compared to the TC-Trombe wall system without vertical fins. In addition, the impact of ambient temperature on thermal performance is more significant than that on purification performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Enabling Technologies (KETs) are pervasive groups of technologies expected to enable innovation. They have been promoted as technologies with tremendous potential for boosting economic growth and sustainability in all sectors of society – a claim whose validity remains underexplored. Building on systems thinking and the Multi-Level Perspective, we develop a novel approach to assess the socio-technical impact of a KET regime on a transitioning sectoral regime. This approach is applied to the case of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) KET impacting the decarbonization of the energy-intensive steel industry. To assess AI's technical impact, we compiled an inventory of AI tools based on reviewing technical scientific articles. Our analysis shows that AI adds technological value to the full range of areas in the steel industry, like predicting process parameters; optimizing operations, scheduling, and electrical energy; and forecasting product demand, quality, and site emissions. Semi-structured interviews were the primary data source to assess AI's broader socio-institutional impact. The results indicate that AI may currently be reinforcing path dependencies of the steel industry, as AI tools are more focused on incremental improvement for existing technologies rather than novel low-carbon technologies. However, AI also offers capabilities to reduce barriers to sustainability innovation, like system integration challenges, flexibility challenges, demand-side barriers, and risk-related barriers. Finally, we reflect on the generalizability of our approach for studying other transitions, and we induce characteristics of the AI-Digital KET regimes. We find that through these characteristics, the AI-Digital KET regime alters existing and creates new system structures (actors, networks, and institutions) within the impacted sector. • Our novel approach analyzes Key Enabling Technologies' socio-technical impact on transitions. • We assess the impact of the AI-KET on the steel industry's decarbonization transition. • We find more AI use on established technologies than on novel low-carbon innovation. • We identify new or altered system structures in steelmaking, introduced by the AI-KET regime. • These structural changes can help reduce some barriers to innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient financial sector provides necessary funds and credits for developing environmental technology and the deployment of renewable energy projects that increase consumption. Therefore, we try to explore the role of financial efficiency and environmental technology in renewable energy consumption in high-polluting economies. In this regard, most of the past studies have relied on the linear relationship between financial efficiency, environmental technology, and renewable energy consumption. However, our analysis is based on the non-linear assumption, which allows us to estimate the impact of positive and negative shocks on financial efficiency and environmental technology on renewable energy consumption. The panel NARDL method has been used for analysis, confirming that positive shock in financial institutions, financial market, and eco-innovations promotes renewable energy consumption by 1.322%, 2.664%, and 0.740%. Conversely, the negative shock in financial institutions significantly falls renewable energy consumption by 2.235%. The asymmetric effects of these variables are confirmed in the long run. The short-run NARDL findings show that positive and negative shocks in financial institutions and financial markets have an insignificant impact on renewable energy consumption, whereas positive shock in eco-innovation has a significant positive impact on renewable energy consumption. Therefore, policymakers should focus on both the positive and negative changes while making policies to increase renewable energy consumption in high-polluting economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to use laboratory experiments to study the behavior process of sunken and submerged oil under different breaking waves and then combines the experimental results with deep learning technology to establish a typical oil drift and diffusion model. Using the image data of real oil pollution moving under breaking wave energy in the laboratory, this research established and compared the 'You Only Look Once v4 model', 'CenterNet model', 'You Only Look Once v3 model', and 'Single Shot MultiBox Detector model'. The results show that the average detection speed values of 'You Only Look Once v4', 'You Only Look Once v3', 'CenterNet', and 'Single Shot MultiBox Detector' are 42.47 frames per second, 26.80 frames per second, 35.37 frames per second, and 38.90 frames per second, respectively. In terms of detection accuracy, the 'You Only Look Once v4' algorithm exceeds the other three algorithms by 10.59%, 22.62%, and 31.69%. Considering its detection speed and detection accuracy, the 'You Only Look Once v4' algorithm has strong robustness to changes in the shape and movement of sunken and submerged oil. In addition, by using 'You Only Look Once v4' model for oil detection, it is found that the submergence time of oil droplet for 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm, 25 cm and 30 cm breaking waves is 2.32 s, 2.52 s, 2.62 s, 3.20 s, 7.12 s, respectively. The speed of sinking to the deepest point is 0.208 m/s, 0.222 m/s, 0.212 m/s, 0.359 m/s, 0.303 m/s. • Proposing an oil detection method based on YOLO v4 deep learning algorithm. • Fine tuning the sunken and submerged oil detection model by data enhancement. • Achieving fast and accurate detection of sunken and submerged oil under the waves. • Oil's submergence time enhances with the increase of wave height of breaking wave. • Oil's sinking speed of main waves are 0.208 m/s,0.222 m/s,0.212 m/s,0.359 m/s,0.303 m/s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To the best of our knowledge, the previous Data Envelopment Analysis studies on passenger-car sustainability have neglected to measure technology-based measures, technology inequality, and technology diffusion barriers. To fill this research gap, this study proposes a new framework consisting of Data Envelopment Analysis, K-means clustering method, Gini coefficient, and the group-based decomposition method. Adopting these methods, this study examines the Marginal Rate of Transformation and the Rate of Substitution, identifies both desirable congestion (or eco-innovation) and undesirable congestion, evaluates technology inequality, and explores the main barriers to technology diffusion. Empirically, we assess new passenger cars released in the United States in 2020. The main conclusions are summarized as follows: First, under managerial disposability, the generally negative Marginal Rate of Transformation and Rate of Substitution across passenger cars suggest that the majority of car manufacturers are environmentally conscious. This outcome is partly the result of the minimum environmental standards set for car manufacturers. Second, the majority of passenger cars displayed the possibility of strong desirable congestion (clean-technology innovation) and no undesirable congestion simultaneously. The majority of passenger cars need to decrease carbon dioxide emissions along with an increase in fuel consumption efficiency (miles per gallon). This finding indicates that regulatory strategies have been mostly effective at directing eco-technological innovation toward mitigating a significant source of climate change. Finally, technology inequality was driven by both cross-group and within-group inequalities. Moreover, considerable heterogeneity existed in the within-group decomposition of the overall efficiency Gini coefficient result. • We measure marginal quantities and technology inequality of passenger cars. • We find that most passenger carlines are environmentally conscious. • An increase in desirable output could increase undesirable output. • Most passenger cars show possibilities of clean technology innovation. • Cross-group and within-group inequalities drive technology inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to examine and compare the contributions to environmental innovation of the public sector and private sector, respectively, and to compare their determinants. We analyze the development over time of triadic patents, classified as environmental technological innovations, for six major patenting countries from 1990 to 2014. This is done using a factor decomposition analysis framework. The analysis is done at both country aggregate level, and for a set of specific technological topics: alternative energy production, energy conservation, agriculture and forestry, and waste management. Results indicate that there has been a shift at an aggregate level towards environmentally sustainable technologies. In the private sector, the shift can be attributed to changes in research priorities and an increased scale of R&D. In the public sector, increased patenting of environmentally sound technologies can be attributed to efficiency gains. The largest difference between the public and private sector is observed in R&D efficiency, where in the private sector, reductions in efficiency have contributed negatively to patent growth, whereas the opposite is true for the public sector. In both sectors, research focus has shifted towards energy-related technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The technologies of the fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR/Industry 4.0) have been a technological catalyst for all fields of human endeavor, permeating the water, energy, and food (WEF) nexus. However, there is no empirical evidence of the extent of applications and the permeability level in ensuring the three resources' security. This study explored the relationship of the fourth industrial revolution technologies and the water, energy, and food nexus by evaluating the applications of the various technologies of 4IR on WEF nexus and examined the effect of 4IR on WEF nexus. The objectives were achieved using the qualitative methodology and bibliometric analysis of content analysis. The result showed that most fourth industrial revolution technologies had not been integrated with the WEF nexus. The result showed that only the Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data analytics had permeated the nexus, which shows that data of the resources will be the foundation of the nexus. The systematic collection, accuracy of data, and empirical analysis of data will determine the level of security of WEF nexus. The qualitative results show that there are applications of the fourth industrial revolution technologies to the individual sectors of the nexus, birthing Water 4.0, Energy 4.0, and Food 4.0. The Bibliometric analysis result shows that the integration of the fourth industrial revolution with the WEF nexus will lead to cleaner production practices relating to the technological processes of water, energy, and food resources. These practices will ensure the environment's safety from WEF wastes and the water, energy, and food security in production processes. The empirical research and bibliometric analysis result, rooted in the concept of cleaner production, shows that the fourth industrial revolution affected the WEF nexus. The effects are; the birth of clean technologies & industrial applications, the catalyst for sustainability security of WEF nexus leveraging on life cycle thinking, enablement of technological transfer, enhancement of economic growth, and urban planning. The study concludes that the fourth industrial revolution technologies affect WEF nexus, ensuring the popularization of cleaner production strategies and processes of the resources during trade-offs and synergies. The study recommends the integration of a cleaner production concept in WEF processing. It should follow the innovation diffusion theory (IDT) and Technology acceptance theory (TAM) when applying 4IR technologies to the nexus of water, energy, and food resources, for their sustainable security. • 4IR technologies in WEF production leads to WEF resources sustainable security. • Applications of 4IR technologies on WEF nexus has significant effects. • 4IR and WEF nexus ensures Cleaner production of WEF resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many environmental networks form around specific initiatives with prescribed outcome objectives. When the objectives are met, the networks frequently disband. Technological transfer halts and the social capital built up during the initiative fragments, in many cases, disappearing altogether. In an era of globally unsustainable economic activity, encouraging progressive innovation and broadening the scale and scope of knowledge transfer is one strategy for helping to attenuate ecological damage. This paper presents empirical field work which explores the Kalundborg Symbiosis in Denmark – a network of economic actors that has organically come together to implement industrial ecology principles – and documents how this network has managed to foster progressive innovation. The four drivers which emerged as central for fostering collaboration are i) a pragmatic environmental mindset, ii) the existence of opportunities to explore possibilities, iii) mutually beneficial initiatives and iv) the presence of dominant needs which stimulate a proactive search for solutions. The paper also contributes to sustainable public policy and urban planning literature by considering how municipal involvement can foster progressive and sustained development within the Kalundborg Symbiosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability is nowadays a milestone in government, administrative, business, manufacturing and educational policies. In the current difficult economic context, small and medium enterprises represent the most disadvantaged realities concerning environmental innovation, basically because they cannot invest in and consequently benefit from Research and Development units. This paper deals with the objectives, methods and collective short and medium-term results of a cross border network project, aimed at the engineering of eco-compatible products, led in cooperation with universities, public authorities and research centres. This applied research aims at disseminating the possible results obtained by a technology transfer to a selection of Italian and French case studies that, at the end of the biennial tutoring path, will represent some possible best practices able to integrate the theories of ecodesign into practical reality. The paper will illustrate the accompanying pathway undertaken by the Politecnico di Torino, with an overview of five Italian case studies, and a deeper focus on the most significant one in terms of qualitative and quantitative results achieved with this project. The effectiveness of this international research will be discussed, by highlighting the potential of creating an international comparison on the topic of how to implement eco-innovative strategies for small and medium enterprises. Finally, in conclusion some considerations on short, medium and long-term benefits will be presented, pointing out the added value of cross-border collaborations that may be shifted to other productive and geographical realities. Results focus on an Italian context even if the theme is also relevant outside of Italy: considerations could be made about how this method could be applied to other contexts and countries, where this kind of research and approach could be adopted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A shift towards sustainable agricultural systems would enhance food security without further depleting natural resources. Considering small-scale farming in the cereal-legume systems of Eastern and Southern Africa, we introduce a conceptual framework and apply an econometric model using data from a sample of 2208 households to assess factors limiting technology diffusion. Results show that investment-ready and food-secure small producers are more willing to adopt agricultural technology options, increased access to financial services is needed to enhance farm households' value-chain readiness and policy interventions promoting pluralistic extension service expansion and enhancing access to stable input and output markets are an incentive to adopt. The results from the cross-country comparison have shown that the examined factors have a similar influence on the extent of farm households' adoption of the proposed agricultural innovations. However, the heterogeneous nature of the smallholder farming environment in Eastern and Southern Africa implies that promotions of sustainable agricultural systems should be based on technology packages adapted to the complexity and diversity of smallholders' farming systems. • We consider small-scale farming in the cereal-legume systems of Eastern and Southern Africa. • An econometric model is applied to assess factors limiting the adoption of improved soil and crop management practices. • Findings illustrate common drivers but also differences across countries in agricultural technology adoption. • Access to extension services, land, credit, and input and output markets impacts adoption. • Our results provide evidence to shape sustainable rural development programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing studies on network data envelopment analysis (DEA) generally adopt radial or non-radial approaches to capture internal structures of production systems. To our knowledge, however, no study has utilized the intermediate approach to construct network DEA models. To fill the research gap, this study proposes a new intermediate network DEA model, by combining the intermediate approach with network DEA. Our new model has several methodological advantages. In addition, sustainability involves a three-stage system (i.e., economic growth, environmental protection and health promotion). Towards the holistic system, quite limited studies have evaluated the performance. Following this research line, our study proposes a new methodological framework consisting of intermediate network DEA, rank sum test, Gini coefficient and decomposition analysis. By adopting this framework, this study examines multi-dimensional efficiency measures, evaluates technology inequality measures and identifies technology diffusion barriers. Empirically, the current study considers the sustainability system of Chinese provinces from 2009 to 2017. The main findings are as follows. First, China has succeeded in realizing a general improvement in overall efficiency scores. Second, significant differences have been statistically confirmed among three stages. Third, convergent trends have been confirmed across stage efficiency measures. Finally, cross-group Gini coefficient accounts for the largest part in explaining technology inequality, where the stage of environmental protection plays an important role. • We add health promotion to the system of sustainability. • We propose a new intermediate network data envelopment analysis model. • Empirically, we consider the case of Chinese provinces from 2009 to 2017. • China experiences an improvement in overall efficiency scores. • But there is growing technology inequality across Chinese provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alleviating the pressure of climate and energy calls for an improved understanding of how policy interventions influence the diffusion of low-carbon technologies (LCTs) among enterprises. With the rapid convergence of supply-side policy effects, implementing demand-side policies to drive LCT diffusion may be a promising area for carbon abatement action. This study proposes a demand-supply coevolutionary model embedded in two-layer network is to capture the LCT diffusion among supply-side enterprises and low-carbon consumption diffusion among demand-side consumers. Using this model, we simulate the effects of demand-side policies, including public procurement, financial incentives for consumers, public information dissemination, and policy mixes combined with these instruments on LCT diffusion. The results show that public procurement can effectively facilitate LCT diffusion and restrain the magnitudes of market fluctuations caused by demand-side dynamics in the diffusion process. The high consumer incentives facilitate the rapid diffusion of LCTs, but there are noticeable diminishing marginal effects; even if subsidies are only used on the demand side, the promotion effect on LCT can still be achieved through the demand-supply interaction. Furthermore, the public information dissemination improves LCT diffusion and stabilizes the adaptive behavior of enterprises, but its time-lag effect leads to the pattern of "hot policies and cold markets." The introduction of policy mixes verifies these findings and reveals that although the public information dissemination is constrained by other policies, it may still be the premise of large-scale LCT diffusion. This study develops a valuable framework that enriches the modeling practice of LCT and provides insights for implementing well-designed policy packages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Appropriate technology has emerged as a critical driver for sustainable development in developing countries where a massive population depends on small and medium-sized businesses. Appropriate technologies are energy-efficient, which corresponds to environmental sustainability. The benefits of appropriate technology may range from providing economic sustainability for availing affordable solutions in a resource-constrained environment to promoting social sustainability by fostering inclusivity of marginalized sections of the society. However, the appropriateness, which is the perceived quality of appropriate technology, largely remains unaddressed in prior research. Therefore, the current study proposes a framework to explore determinants of appropriateness and examine the interplay among them anchored on resource mobilization theory. Four case organizations of a developing country are empirically analyzed to obtain appropriateness factors from the perspectives of multiple stakeholders, namely, enterprises, developers, and users. Next, a decision-making technique is applied to derive the cause-effect relationship between the identified factors. The results contribute five factors of appropriateness: technological, socio-economic, organizational, market, and environment to the literature on appropriate technology. The former three factors induce the latter two factors of appropriateness. Understanding the interplay among the indicators from a multi-stakeholder perspective assists the policymakers in facilitating the adoption of appropriate technologies at the grassroots level to achieve sustainable development goals in developing economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]