Search

Paper has shaped society for centuries and is considered one of humanity's most important inventions. However, pulp and paper products can be damaging to social and natural systems along their lifecycle of material extraction, processing, transportation, and waste handling. The pulp and paper industry is among the top five most energy-intensive industries globally and is the fourth largest industrial energy user. This industry accounts for approximately 6% of global industrial energy use and 2% of direct industrial CO 2 emissions. The pulp and paper industry is also the largest user of original or virgin wood, with deleterious impacts on both human health and local flora and fauna, including aquatic ecosystems. This critical and systematic review seeks to identify alternatives for mitigating the climate impacts of pulp and paper processes and products, thus making the pulp and paper industry more environmentally sustainable. This study reviews 466 studies to answer the following questions: what are the main determinants of energy and carbon emissions emerging from the pulp and paper industry? What are the benefits of this industry adopting low-carbon manufacturing processes, and what barriers will need to be tackled to enable such adoption? Using a sociotechnical lens, we answer these questions, identify barriers for the pulp and paper industry's decarbonization, and present promising avenues for future research. •This review identifies carbon-intensive processes in the pulp and paper industry. •Presents decarbonizing practices, potential transformations and innovations. •Presents promising avenues for future research. •No agreed consensus on the most promising technologies to achieve net-zero in the pulp and paper industry. •Pulp and paper products are associated with other sociotechnical systems that create compelling interdependencies among industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is the editorial for the virtual special issue (VSI) of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews (RSER) dedicated to three Sustainable Development of Energy Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES) Conferences held in 2022, namely: (i) the 5th South East European Conference SEESDEWES 2022 held from May 22 to 26, 2022 in Vlore, Albania; (ii) the 3rd Latin American LASDEWES 2022 held from July 24 to 28, 2022 in Sao Paulo, Brazil and (iii) the 17th SDEWES 2022 held from November 6 to 10, 2022 in Paphos, Cyprus. The VSI collected both high quality review papers and original research articles presented at these conferences, aligning with the aims and scope of RSER. Following a rigorous peer review process, seventeen articles were accepted and published. These articles explore techniques and technologies essential for advancing feasible Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems. Spanning multidisciplinary topics, many of them address almost all the Sustainable Development Goals, offering feasible solutions for much-needed decarbonization pathways. • The VSI SDEWES 2022 presents the ready solutions for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems. • Five clusters for presenting the Renewable and Sustainable energy cutting edge solutions. • The positioning in the scientific context of the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems. • Feasible solutions for much-needed decarbonization pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-carbon and environmentally friendly development are becoming increasingly important in the metallurgical industry. In this study, the use of biomass as a source of both material and energy in metallurgical technologies is reviewed. The paper discusses the preparation of bio-based raw materials, their utilization in metallurgical processes, phytoremediation and metal extraction technology, and forestry as a carbon dioxide sequestration method. Bio-based raw materials, such as bio-based fuels, reductants, adhesives, and activated carbons, are found to provide energy, act as reductants and binders, dispose metallurgical flue gas, and adjust metal melt composition, thereby reducing energy consumption in metallurgical processes. Additionally, heavy metals can be enriched in plants through biomass-mediated soil remediation, and these metals can then be processed to obtain raw materials for metallurgical processes. Moreover, metallurgical waste heat can be used to prepare biomass as soil amendments, remediate deserts, and indirectly reduce metallurgical industry carbon dioxide emissions through forest carbon sinks. Based on these findings, the concept of biomass metallurgy is proposed, which promotes the use of biomass as energy or raw materials, ecological restoration and reforestation, and reduction of carbon dioxide and pollutant emissions in metallurgical processes. This study emphasizes the advantages of biomass metallurgy and encourages the development of low-carbon and green metallurgical processes. [Display omitted] • Development of metallurgical technologies using bio-based material and energy. • Bio-based materials including fuels, reductants, adhesives, and activated carbon. • Biomass used in metallurgy for combustion, reductants, pellets making, etc. • Heavy metals in hyperaccumulators extracted and recovered by biochemical methods. • Indirectly reducing CO 2 by transforming metallurgical waste heat into carbon sinks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The critical transmission hubs in global supply chain networks have great potential to reduce carbon emissions, yet this has not received much attention from existing studies. This research combines the structural path betweenness, an extended structural path analysis, and a multi-level modularity optimization algorithm to identify key transmission sectors, paths, and carbon communities in a global supply chain network using the environmentally extended multi-regional input-output analysis. The results show that (1) China's metal industry, power industry, and non-metallic industry are the most crucial transmission centers, and some sectors, such as the paper industry and textile industry in China, are also key transmission hubs, yet they are ignored by traditional accounting methods. From a national viewpoint, China is the most key transmission hub, and its high betweenness is mainly caused by domestic demand. Meanwhile, the CO 2 emissions transferred by China to satisfy foreign demand are mainly related to the US, ROW (especially the Asia-Pacific region), and Japan. (2) The transmitted carbon emission is mainly concentrated in the first four production layers, accounting for 69.46 % of the total. (3) The global carbon emission network can be divided into 20 carbon communities. And the largest communities are mainly led by mainland China. Most of the communities contain various national sectors, which offer evidence for international cooperation strategies. The results offer policymakers a new perspective on mitigating environmental stress. [Display omitted] • Critical sectors having higher betweenness are identified from a global level. • Key supply chain paths causing the high betweenness are identified. • Some critical carbon communities in the global carbon emission network are detected. • An extended structural path betweenness is proposed to find key supply chain path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To meet environmental goals while maintaining economic competitiveness, worldwide ports have increased the amount of renewable energy production and have focused in optimizing performances and energy efficiency. However, carbon-neutral operation of industrial port areas (IPA) is challenging and requires the decarbonization of industrial processes and heavy transport systems. This study proposes a comprehensive review of decarbonization strategies for IPA, with a particular focus on the role that green hydrogen could play when used as renewable energy carrier. Much information on existing and future technologies was also derived from the analysis of 74 projects (existing and planned) in 36 IPAs, 80 % of which are in Europe, concerning hydrogen-based decarbonization strategies. The overall review shows that engine operation of ships at berth are responsible of more than 70 % of emissions in ports. Therefore, onshore power supply (OPS) seems to be one of the main strategies to reduce port pollution. Nevertheless, OPS powered by hydrogen is not today easily achievable. By overcoming the current cost-related and regulation barriers, hydrogen can also be used for the import/export of green energy and the decarbonization of hard-to-abate sectors. The technical and economic data regarding hydrogen-based technologies and strategies highlighted in this paper are useful for further research in the field of definition and development of decarbonization strategies in the IPA. • Comprehensive review of decarbonization strategies for industrial port areas. • Hydrogen-powered cold ironing can have a great impact in reducing emissions. • Hydrogen FC is an emission-free option for port heavy-duty vehicles/equipment. • Hydrogen hubs in ports can help decarbonize heavy industry and shipping sectors. • 74 projects considering hydrogen production/use to decarbonize IPA are analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve the goal of carbon neutrality, society must undertake a comprehensive green transformation and build a decarbonization roadmap. Model simulation is a primary method for designing and analyzing long-term low-carbon roadmaps. This paper aims to examine the various capabilities of Energy-Economy-Environment (3E) models to gain an intuitive understanding of the current status, as well as future development directions and potential, from a low-carbon analysis perspective. By reviewing various existing 3E models considering their modeling approach, theoretical framework and spatiotemporal resolution, the 10 most representative models are selected for an in-depth analysis. According to the evaluation results of the selected models while considering five challenges for future model development, most models perform well in terms of techno-economic resolution and transparency. However, there is still potential for improvement regarding spatiotemporal resolution and the consideration of social factors. Moreover, to bridge the gap between top-down models and the real-world context, it is recommended to combine them with bottom-up models to form hybrid models. Generally, the PRIMES model demonstrates the best overall performance, although it cannot be regarded as perfect. The review and assessment results can provide references for modelers to improve 3E models and serve as a basis for users to choose the most suitable model. • Ten typical 3E models with the highest use frequency are summarized and classified. • Challenges of 3E models for long-term low-carbon roadmaps research are discussed. • An evaluation framework is established for 3E models considering five abilities. • The prospects for future development of 3E models are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the funding trends, topical themes, and notable gaps in global public research funding across the areas of energy, climate change, transport, and industrial decarbonisation from 1990 to 2020. The paper organizes its analysis along the themes of financial and spatial patterns of funding, patterns of disciplinary funding, and the temporality (and shifting research priorities) within funding patterns. It finds that funding for energy and climate research remains concentrated within the European Commission, United Kingdom and United States. Climate change adaptation research is the most funded general area, and the specific topics of energy efficiency, climate resilience, and climate information systems, managing climate risks, energy storage, carbon dioxide removal and solar energy are the most funded technologies. There is significant diversity in the disciplines funded, with the social sciences supported almost as much as the engineering and physical sciences and meaningful amounts of funding disbursed to the arts and humanities and the life sciences. A large majority of projects identify themselves as transdisciplinary. The paper, lastly, discusses research gaps and future research questions. • Systematically explores research funding on climate change and energy from 1990 to 2020. • Catalogues public research programs across the largest funders and countries in the world. • Examines the top-awarded universities, top-awarded disciplines and interdisciplinary funding patterns. • Evaluates how research funding shapes the dynamics on knowledge and technology innovation. • Analyses spatial patterns of funding, disciplinary politics, and shifting research priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concrete is the most highly used construction material globally. This is largely due to its durability, versatility and manufacture from inexpensive and readily available materials. Although concrete has become an essential and ubiquitous construction material for modern society, its use has significant environmental impacts. The full cement and concrete lifecycle, from production to final disposal, accounts for nearly 10% of global energy-related CO 2 emissions with the majority of these emissions produced from cement, which is the binding material that holds concrete together. The cement and concrete industry (CCI), which is integral to global infrastructure development, is therefore confronted with a growing need to decarbonize its operations and products, as well as to support the decarbonization of associated end-user sectors. This paper provides a systematic and critical review of more than 800 studies to highlight ways in which the CCI can decarbonize. A socio-technical perspective is used to understand the full range of industrial and economic activities where a decarbonized paradigm for cement and concrete production is relevant. This perspective is further used to assess key technical, economic, social and political factors that will drive a net-zero transition in the CCI over the long term. • Reviews the cement and concrete industry (CCI) decarbonization literature. • Describes the CCI's sociotechnical system and energy and environmental impacts. • Highlights barriers and opportunities for CCI decarbonization. • Outlines technologies and policies to mitigate negative CCI impacts. • Proposes gaps and future agendas for CCI decarbonization research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing interest in fully decarbonizing worldwide energy systems requires abandoning traditional generation expansion planning in favour of other flexibility-enabling energy system planning tools allowing the integration of energy storage and sector coupling. Therefore, this paper proposes a mixed-integer linear programming formulation focused on enabling flexibility provision on integrated energy systems targeting independent sizing of power and energy capacities for simultaneous generation and storage expansion planning. The optimization problem minimizes investment, maintenance, operation and emissions costs over a 20 year horizon with hourly resolution. In this context, islands represent suitable study cases for the energy transition due to their exceptional renewable availability, and fast-paced development; despite being regions with extreme external dependence and isolation. In particular, the island of Santiago, Cape Verde is selected as study case given its existing targets regarding reaching 50 and 100% renewable shares in 2030 and 2040, its data availability, and the extreme seasonal variation in wind and solar resources. Four scenarios are considered. The first and second dismiss flexibility: business as usual (BAU), and another one aligned with the government goals (Green). Then, the other two exploit it: one equivalent to Green, FlexG, and a last one finding the Optimal. In addition, three energy demand growth levels are considered in order to reduce uncertainty, corresponding to 1, 3 and 5%. Last, a sensitivity analysis with three additional scenarios is performed to provide a thorough view of Cape Verde's energy future. The results highlight the importance of flexibility exploitation which provides up to 85% savings and allows to decarbonize other sectors via electrification. • Solar and hydro pumped storage drive the transition. • Wind power's role increases in hydrogen intensive and surface constraint scenarios. • Integrating flexibility into generation expansion planning halves power needs. • The current paradigm is the most expensive option, doubling emissions in 20 years. • The Optimal configuration achieves 96% renewable penetration. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United States has pledged to develop a 100% carbon-free electric power system by 2035 and a net-zero-emissions economy by 2050. While important advancements have been made in the scale, performance, and economics of clean energy technologies, meeting the nation's ambitious goals will not only require their deployment at scale, but also additional innovation and effective integration of different solutions. Technological developments across the broad suite of low-carbon energy solutions are advancing rapidly, with ongoing innovations in renewable electricity generation, industrial processes, and energy-saving technologies and services, including LED lighting, induction heating, electric vehicles, energy storage solutions, and mobility as a service, plus smart devices, controls, and more efficient and smart buildings. Combining renewable electricity with biotic and abiotic pathways to produce chemicals, fuels, and materials promises to deliver new solutions. Grid-interactive buildings and communities, integrating transportation infrastructure and vehicles, are likely to be significant components of any zero-carbon energy strategy. Low-carbon industrial manufacturing will also make strong contributions to a net-zero economy. While the technical prospects appear promising, variations in the state of infrastructure, jurisdictional and social equity, pollution, economic and socio-cultural constraints, energy resource availability, and supply chain dynamics found in different locations present a range of challenges and demand customized solutions. This paper provides a critical review and offers new insights into the technical, infrastructure, analytic, political, and economic challenges faced in translating the nation's ambitious net-zero-emissions goals into feasible and reliable implementation action plans. • This manuscript brings together multiple experts view on the State of technologies, System level solutions, economics and scaling, for the United States to achieve bold decarbonization goals by 2050. • Key insights are offered on power system decarbonization, the role of hydrogen, storage, transportation, integrated energy systems, and material utilization and circularity. • Technologies, particularly wind and solar, are increasingly cost-effective, yet challenges remain regarding integration, social and political economy issues, and energy and environmental justice. • While the technical and economic factors are increasingly favorable, the US faces a number of non-technical challenges to rapidly scale clean energy technologies in order to achieve its ambitious goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a strategy for achieving a fully decarbonized Danish energy system (including transport and industry) in 2045. The strategy could also be relevant for most countries at a global level. The energy system analysis includes hour-by-hour computer simulations leading to the design of a Smart Energy System with the ability to balance all sectors of the complete energy system. In the analysis, issues such as international shipping and aviation, the sustainable use of biomass, and the exchange of electricity and gas with neighbouring countries are all considered. Moreover, the energy system is coordinated with other sectors to achieve a fully decarbonized society. Finally, the size of the employment impact of investing in decarbonizing the Danish economy is discussed. • A strategy for a fully decarbonized Danish society in 2045. • The inclusion of international shipping and aviation in a country strategy. • A Smart Energy Systems approach modelled by EnergyPLAN. • Detailed calculations of different elements of the strategy in 2030 and 2045. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union (EU) imports a large amount of natural gas, and the injection of renewable hydrogen (H 2) into the natural gas systems could help decarbonize the sector. The new geopolitical and energy market situation demands urgent actions in the clean energy transition and energy independence from fossil fuels. This paper aims to investigate techno-economic analysis, barriers, and constraints in the EU policies/frameworks that affect natural gas decarbonization. First, the study examines the levelized cost of hydrogen production (LCOH). The LCOH is evaluated for blue and grey hydrogen, i.e., Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) natural gas as the feedstock, with and without carbon capture, and green hydrogen (three type electrolyzers with electricity from the grid, solar, and wind) for the years 2020, 2030, and 2050. Second, the study evaluates the current policies and framework based on a SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, and Weakness) analysis, which includes a PEST (Political, Economic, Social, and Technological) macro-economic factor assessment with a case study in Portugal. The results show that the cheapest production costs continue to be dominated by grey hydrogen (1.33 €/kg.H 2) and blue hydrogen (1.68 €/kg.H 2) in comparison to green hydrogen (4.65 €/kg.H 2 and 3.54 €/kg.H 2) from grid electricity and solar power in the PEM - Polymer Electrolyte Membrane for the year 2020, respectively. The costs are expected to decrease to 4.03 €/kg.H 2 (grid-electricity) and 2.49 €/kg.H 2 (solar – electricity) in 2030. The LCOH of the green grid-electricity and solar/wind-powered Alkaline Electrolyzer (ALK) and Solid Oxide Electrolyzer Cell (SOEC) are also expected to decrease in the time-span from 2020 to 2050. A sensitivity analysis shows that investments costs, electricity price, the efficiency of electrolyzers, and carbon tax (for SMR) could play a key role in reducing LCOH, thereby making the economic competitiveness of hydrogen production. The key barriers are costs, amendments in rules/regulations, institutions and market creation, public perception, provisions of incentives, and constraints in creating market demand. • The study evaluates the levelized cost of hydrogen production (LCOH). • LCOH of green hydrogen expected to decrease in the time-span from 2030 to 2050. • Investment costs, efficiencies, fuel and electricity prices, and carbon tax are the key variables. • We identify barriers and constraints in the decarbonization of natural gas systems. • Rules/regulations, incentives, and restructuring of market/institution are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To ensure sufficient power generation capacity and minimize the risk of blackouts, many countries have introduced capacity mechanisms that provide payments for power plants according to their installed generation capacity. Capacity mechanisms can have different designs, but all have the same purpose—to incentivize sufficient infrastructure investment to meet future electricity demand and, thus, assure mid- and long-term electricity system reliability. Some countries allow renewable energy generators to participate in such capacity mechanisms. Thus, policymakers must choose how to combine capacity mechanisms and renewable energy support. This paper reviews the international experience of combining the two policy types. This is the first review that considers all countries that had some kind of capacity mechanism in place as of 2021. The review reveals a variety of policy mixes. The decision to permit renewable energy producers to participate in a capacity mechanism largely depends on the type of capacity mechanism and the type of renewables support in place. As capacity mechanisms become more widespread and the share of renewable energy in the electricity mix grows, this is one of the largest and most difficult choices that policymakers face. If left unharmonized, the two policies might work against each other, leading to an inefficient and unsustainable scenario, where a rising share of renewables creates a need to increase conventional power generation capacity, undermining cost-efficient decarbonization. [Display omitted] • Many countries allow renewables (RE) to participate in capacity mechanisms (CM). • In some cases, RE support is abolished when participating in a CM. • If RE support is centrally defined, it is often reduced according to CM revenue. • If both schemes are market-based, RE support can be left without intervention. • In the two latter cases, CM can steer RE mix in favor of system adequacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in energy demand for water cooling in nearby future encourages the use of metamaterial-based passive radiative water cooler, which has application potential in a highly-populated country like India. However, an energy-exergy-economic feasibility study with the best tube design is essential before implementation due to climatic diversity, but not yet been studied. Hence, this paper deals with the analysis of the passive radiative water cooler and the study of its performance with respect to the variable water mass flow rate and water tube geometry. The research presents the monthly variation of cooling performance, cooler efficiency and COP concerning Indian cities of different climatic conditions. The study also carries out exergy, economic and ecological analyses and proposes a new exergy model. Results reveal that the cooling performance is low for humid climate as compared to arid climate. For a total cooling panel area of 10.75 m2 and water flow rate of 0.03 kg/s, a maximum water temperature drop of 3.63 °C with an associated cooling capacity of 42.46 W/m2 is obtained at Jaisalmer in October (arid climate). The least performance is obtained at Chennai in May (humid climate). Results also reveal that the semicircular channel increases temperature drop and cooling capacity by 15.8% and 14.8%, respectively, over the circular channel. Exergy analysis shows very high entropy generation and hence very low exergy efficiency for radiative cooling. The use of the radiative cooler over the electric cooler produces a maximum annual operational cost saving of 19.25% and carbon dioxide mitigation of 1.987 kg. • Effect of operating and design variables is studied for passive radiative water cooler. • Climate-based energy, exergy, economic and ecological performances are evaluated. • Novel exergy-economic model for passive radiative cooler is proposed in this study. • Cooling performance of the cooler is better for arid climate and semicircular channel. • Exergy efficiency is very low, but having cost saving and CO 2 mitigation potentials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]