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As countries pursue decarbonization goals, the rapid expansion of transmission capacity for renewable energy (RE) integration poses a significant challenge due to hurdles such as permitting and cost allocation. However, we find that large-scale reconductoring with advanced composite-core conductors can cost-effectively double transmission capacity within existing right-of-way, with limited additional permitting. This strategy unlocks a high availability of increasingly economically viable RE resources in close proximity to the existing network. We implement reconductoring in a model of the US power system, showing that reconductoring can help meet over 80% of the new interzonal transmission needed to reach over 90% clean electricity by 2035 given restrictions on greenfield transmission build-out. With $180 billion in system cost savings by 2050, reconductoring presents a cost-effective and time-efficient, yet underutilized, opportunity to accelerate global transmission expansion.

Conventional wisdom and standard industry practice is to setback zone temperature setpoints when commercial buildings are unoccupied at night. The HVAC systems then operate in warmup mode to recover zone temperatures prior to the start of occupancy, sometimes with an optimal start algorithm. These strategies were intended to reduce HVAC energy consumption when originally developed decades ago but are due for re-examination given the significant changes in HVAC systems that have since occurred. In particular, the changes currently underway with the movement toward electrification present new design considerations and priorities. Warming up a building as fast as possible may not be the best strategy in terms of energy use, operating cost, or carbon emissions. This article discusses some of the downfalls of conventional morning warmup practices, suggests an improved strategy, and shows the results from a pilot field demonstration test.

Electrification of homes is a critical part of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, space constraints, installation complexity, and the potential impact on energy costs slows the pace of retrofit electrification efforts. Also, the addition of electrical circuits for heat pumps and the increased household electrical demand often necessitates electrical panel upgrades, which increases costs and slows installation. Multi-Function Heat Pumps (MFHPs) use a single compressor to provide heating, cooling, and domestic hot water (DHW) –which represent the most intensive thermal loads of a home –and can ease the process of retrofit electrification. MFHPs are potentially more economical than typical split HVAC heat pumps (HPs) and heat pump water heaters(HPWHs), as they consolidate systems, require fewer circuits, streamline installation, and enable efficiency opportunities, such as recovering waste heat from cooling to heat DHW. The current study evaluates one MFHP product, a split HP with indirect water heater and ducted air handler, using a low-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant (R454B). This MFHP has a unique defrost operation that pulls heat from the DHW tank instead of the indoor air, which avoids cold drafts on occupants. This allows for better thermal comfort without requiring an electrical resistance backup heater and costly panel upgrades. The MFHP was installed in two low-income apartments, evaluated for ease of installation, and monitored through the heating season to assess reliability, energy efficiency, and performance.

With countries and economies around the globe increasingly relying on non-dispatchable variable renewable energy (VRE), the need for effective energy storage and international carriers of low-carbon energy has intensified. This study delves into hydrogen’s prospective, multifaceted contribution to decarbonizing the electricity sector, with emphasis on its utilization as a scalable technology for long-duration energy storage and as an international energy carrier. Using Japan as a case study, based on its ambitious national hydrogen strategy and plans to import liquefied hydrogen as a low-carbon fuel source, we employ advanced models encompassing capacity expansion and hourly dispatch. We explore diverse policy scenarios to unravel the timing, quantity, and operational intricacies of hydrogen deployment within a power system. Our findings highlight the essential role of hydrogen in providing a reliable power supply by balancing mismatches in VRE generation and load over several weeks and months and reducing the costs of achieving a zero-emission power system. The study recommends prioritizing domestically produced hydrogen, leveraging renewables for cost reduction, and strategically employing imported hydrogen as a risk hedge against potential spikes in battery storage and renewable energy costs. Furthermore, the strategic incorporation of hydrogen mitigates system costs and enhances energy self-sufficiency, informing policy design and investment strategies aligned with the dynamic global energy landscape.

Conventional wisdom and standard industry practice is to setback zone temperature setpoints when commercial buildings are unoccupied at night. The HVAC systems then operate in warmup mode to recover zone temperatures prior to the start of occupancy, sometimes with an optimal start algorithm. These strategies were intended to reduce HVAC energy consumption when originally developed decades ago but are due for re-examination given the significant changes in HVAC systems that have since occurred. In particular, the changes currently underway with the movement toward electrification present new design considerations and priorities. Warming up a building as fast as possible may not be the best strategy in terms of energy use, operating cost, or carbon emissions. This article discusses some of the downfalls of conventional morning warmup practices, suggests an improved strategy, and shows the results from a pilot field demonstration test.

We studied a combination of heating system measures in two large commercial officebuildings in San Francisco (110,000 and 120,000 ft 2 respectively) within a project funded by the California Energy Commission’s Public Interest Efficiency Research program. We retrofitted theexisting heating plants and updated the HVAC controls to ASHRAE Guideline 36-2021 as closely as possible while retaining the existing controller hardware. These measures decreased annual natural gas consumption by about 70 percent while also reducing HVAC electricity consumption. The results reinforce previous work showing significant natural gas reductions in 3 other buildings that underwent full controls retrofits (including controller hardware), and large savings from another 3 buildings that underwent partial controls upgrades. We show that on today’s electricity grid, which is quite dirty during the winter and early morning hours when most heating occurs, the carbon emissions reduction from these measures exceeds the reduction from fully electrifying the existing heating system’s load with today’s air-to-water heat pumps. More importantly, these solutions are mutually beneficial. Acknowledging that we also need to electrify HVAC loads to meet our climate goals, replacing controls first will reduce the size, weight, first cost, and ongoing operating cost of the subsequent heat pump installation requiredto fully electrify, and will make it more feasible to do so. This paper highlights an overlooked opportunity for enormous decarbonization in the existing commercial building stock using a solution that is available, cost effective, and scalable. We should prioritize these measures first,and then electrify, rather than focusing solely on electrification.

Abstract. The buildings sector in Indonesia is dominated by homes—the number of which hasbeen growing rapidly to meet population-driven demand. However, most buildings built over thepast four to five decades lack adequate natural ventilation and other passive cooling measuressuited to tropical climates and rely at least partly on air-conditioning. This study focuses on aparametric analysis of passive and low-energy “whole-building” cooling solutions for thetropical climate of Indonesia, evaluating the benefits of 12 passive or low-energy coolingsolutions: solar-reflective “cool” roofs, cool walls, insulated roofs, insulated walls, low thermal-emissivity (“low-E”) windows, solar-control window films, ceiling fans with temperaturesetback, ceiling fans without temperature setback, exterior window shades, interior windowshades, natural ventilation based on schedule and outside air temperature, and natural ventilationbased only on outside air temperature. Results indicate that a ceiling fan with thermostat setback(raising the cooling setpoint to 28.1 °C from 25 °C while maintaining constant thermal sensation)provided both the highest nationwide electricity savings and the highest net present value forhouseholds, followed by insulated walls, insulated roofs, and cool walls.

Abstract: There is a rapid, global push for wind energy installation. However, large numbers of bats are killed by turbines each year, raising concerns about the impacts of wind energy expansion on bat populations. Preventing turbine blades from spinning at low wind speeds, referred to as curtailment, is a method to reduce bat fatalities, but drawing consistent inference across studies has been challenging. We compiled publicly available studies that evaluated curtailment at six wind energy facilities in North America across 10 years. We used meta‐regression of 29 implemented treatments to determine fatality reduction efficacy as well as sources of variation influencing efficacy. We also estimated species‐specific fatality reduction for three species that comprise most fatalities in North America: hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis) and silver‐haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans). We found that curtailment reduced total bat fatalities by 33% with every 1.0 ms−1 increase in curtailment wind speed. Estimates of the efficacy for the three target species were similar (hoary bats: 28% per ms−1, 95% CI: 0.4%–48%, eastern red bats: 32% per ms−1, 95% CI: 13%–47% and silver‐haired bats: 32% per ms−1, 95% CI: 3%–53%). Across multiple facilities and years, a 5.0 ms−1 cut‐in speed was estimated to reduce total bat fatalities by an average of 62% (95% CI: 54%–69%). Mortality reductions at individual facilities in any given year were estimated to fall between 33%–79% (95% prediction interval). Inter‐annual differences rather than inter‐site or turbine characteristics accounted for most of the variation in efficacy rates. Species‐specific average mortality reduction at 5.0 ms−1 curtailment wind speed was 48% (95% CI: 24%–64%) for hoary bats, 61% (95% CI: 42%–74%) for eastern red bats and 52% (95% CI: 30%–66%) for silver‐haired bats. Practical implication. curtailment reduced bat mortality at wind turbines in this North American study. Efficacy increased proportionally as curtailment speed is raised, and patterns and rates of efficacy were similar across species. This indicates that curtailment is an effective strategy to reduce bat fatalities at wind energy facilities, but exploration of further refinements could both minimize bat mortality and maximize energy production.

China’s cement industry emits over 1 Gt of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually, or 3% of global CO2 emissions.Urgent decarbonization efforts of the Chinese cement industry are needed to meet China and global community’s climate commitments. Prior studies on this topic primarily relied on supply-side technologies and end-of-pipe solutions, presenting one singular pathway to net zero without exploring multiple trajectories.This study adds value to the existing research by constructing and evaluating two different pathways toward net-zero emissions in China’s cement industry: the Energy Technology Pathway (ETP) and the Circular Economy Pathway (CEP). Both pathways aim for net-zero emissions but diverge in their prioritization and emphasis. The Energy Technology Pathway focused on supply-side technologies such as green hydrogen and CCS, while the Circular Economy Pathway focused on demand-side strategies, centered on materials and resources.The study showed both pathways can achieve a comparable level of emission reduction, reducing 94-95% of CO2 emissions by 2060 from the 2020 level. Notably, the role of CCS is limited in the CEP, contributing only 5% and 22% of total emission reductions by 2030 and 2060, respectively. The majority of the emission reductions in CEP are achieved through a combination of material-focused innovations and circular economy strategies, such as increasing the use of supplemental cementitious materials (SCMs), advancing alternative cements, integrating material efficiency practices in product lifecycle phases, and adopting alternative fuels (e.g., industrial wastes and agricultural byproducts). Policy support on materials and the circular economy will be critical. We recommend updating codes and standards to allow performance-based cement products, providing R&D support on alternative cements, developing implementation guides to disseminate material efficiency practices, and improving material/waste collection, sorting, and recycling systems.

In the transition from fossil fuel to electrified heating, a concerning trend is emerging in certain regions of the US. Owners of buildings with gas-based systems leave them in place after adding heat pumps (HPs). Existing control solutions for these hybrid (dual fuel) systems are rudimentary and fall short of realizing the full carbon reduction potential of these systems. Model predictive control (MPC) is often regarded as the benchmark for achieving optimal control in integrated systems. However, in the case of small-medium commercial buildings (SMCBs), the control and communication infrastructure required to facilitate the implementation of such advanced controls is often lacking. This paper presents a field implementation of easy-to-deploy MPC for a dual fuel heating system consisting of HPs and a gas-fired furnace (GF) for SMCBs. The control system is deployed on an open-source middleware platform and utilizes low-cost sensor devices to be used for real SMCBs without major retrofits. We demonstrated this MPC in a real office building with 5 HPs and 1 GF for 2 months. The test results showed that MPC reduced 27% of cost while completely eliminating GF usage by shifting 23% of the thermal load from occupied-peak time to non-occupied-non-peak times.

The electric grid was designed to move large amounts of energy through space, but decarbonization goals will require it to also move energy through time--from days and seasons with a surplus of energy production to days and seasons with insufficient production. Long-duration energy storage technologies that can hold a large amount of electricity and distribute it over periods of many hours to days and even seasons will play a critical role in the clean energy transition. But creating an environment in which these nascent technologies can develop and thrive will require changes in how the grid is planned and built. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental impacts of buildings has largely ignored the embodied impacts of mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems that rely on significant proportions of metals and contain a multitude of complex components. A better understanding of the environmental impacts of MEP systems is needed to achieve a net-zero carbon future. The study serves as an initial step in developing benchmarks and impact reduction strategies for MEP systems. It considers the material substitution from standard practice to PEX pipe throughout (Radiant: PEX in slab, copper and steel elsewhere; VAV: steel and copper) and for both typical single-riser pipe layout and multi-riser layout for both HVAC system types. When assessed for a four-story office building, the A1-A4 GWP100 impacts for the pipe in the standard layout for the radiant and VAV systems are 1.1 kgCO2e/m2 and 0.8 kgCO2e/m2, respectively. Implementing a like-for-like material substitution to PEX with a single-riser layout led to 41% reduction for the pipe impacts in the radiant system and a 64% reduction for the VAV system. Employing a multi-riser layout with standard materials reduced the pipe impacts by 30% for the radiant system and 66% for the VAV system. The embodied impacts for the ductwork in the radiant and VAV systems in this building were 5.8 and 7.7 kgCO2e/m2, respectively. The use of PEX and/or a multi-riser layout represent relatively easy changes that lead to measurable GWP100 reductions for MEP systems.

In this study, a high internal phase water-in-oil (HIP W/O) emulsion containing three different internal water contents was used for the decarbonization of coal gasification slag (CGS). The results showed that at an internal water content of 85% and a dosage of 20 kg·t−1, the residual carbon recovery achieved 91.23%, and the ignition loss of concentrate decreased to 15.54%, demonstrating the most effective decarbonization outcome. Laser particle size analysis and Zeta potential test showed that the average dispersed particle size of the emulsion was 0.243 μm, and Zeta potential reached −36.25 mV when the internal water content was 85%. Molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to provide additional insights into the adsorption characteristics of the HIP W/O on the CGS surface. The findings indicated that decreasing the internal water content of the emulsion improved its dispersibility, facilitated the aggregation of oil on CGS particles, and significantly boosted the efficiency of decarbonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving a low-carbon future requires a comprehensive approach that combines emission mitigation options from economic activities with the sustainable use of land for numerous needs: food production, energy production, carbon sequestration, nature preservation and broad ecosystem services. Using the MIT Integrated Global System (IGSM) framework we analyze land-use competition in a 1.5°C climate stabilization scenario, in which demand for bioenergy and natural sinks increase along with the need for sustainable farming and food production. We find that to address the numerous trade-offs, effective approaches to nature-based solutions (NBS) and agriculture practices are essential. With proper regulatory policies and radical changes in current practices, global land is sufficient to provide increased consumption of food per capita (without large diet changes) over the century while also utilizing 2.5–3.5 billion hectares (Gha) of land for NBS practices that provide a carbon sink of 3–6 gigatonnes (Gt) of CO2 per year as well as 0.4–0.6 Gha of land for energy production—0.2–0.3 Gha for 50–65 exajoules (EJ) per year of bioenergy and 0.2–0.35 Gha for 300–600 EJ/year of wind and solar power generation. We list the competing uses of land to reflect the trade-offs involved in land use decisions, and note that while there is sufficient land in our scenario, attaining this outcome, capable of delivering a 1.5°C future, requires effective policies and measures at national and global levels that promote efficient land use for food, energy and nature (including carbon sequestration) and ensure long-term commitments by decision makers from governments and industry in order to realize the benefits of climate change mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct reduced iron (DRI) plants, where iron ore is reduced using a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide generated via steam reforming, represent a cleaner and more efficient alternative to the energy- and emissions-intensive blast furnaces used in the steel industry. Reformers operate under harsh and often fluctuating conditions, and preserving the integrity of the reformer tubes is an important economic and safety concern. This work presents a novel reformer tube model to support operational analysis. The model accounts for the relevant length scales (tube, catalyst particles) and captures thermal expansion caused by temperature transients. The model is calibrated and validated using a set of industrial data, and provides accurate predictions (within less than 0.5 mole percent) of the tube outlet composition as well as unique insights on the temperature distribution within the tube. • Modeling hydrogen reformers for direct reduced iron (DRI) production. • DRI is key to decarbonizing steel industry. • New industrially-validated two-dimensional model of reformer tubes. • Model captures tube thermal expansion and reactant diffusion in catalyst particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum is the world's second most consumed metal, and its production contributes substantially to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. When formulating decarbonization strategies, it is imperative to ensure their coherence and alignment with existing industrial practices and standards. A material flow analysis (MFA) is needed to gain a holistic and quantitative understanding of the flows and stocks of products/materials associated with all participants within the supply chain. To support risk-informed decision policymaking in decarbonizing aluminum manufacturing, this study develops a dynamic system model that maps global aluminum flows and computes their embedded GHG emissions. A baseline scenario is devised to reflect the current business and operation landscape, and three decarbonization strategies are proposed. Deterministic simulation is performed to generate dynamic material flows and performance metrics. Monte Carlo simulation is then implemented to evaluate the robustness of the system's performance under demand uncertainties. The results reveal the immense carbon implications of material efficiency, as well as the preponderant role of post-consumer scrap recycling in decarbonizing aluminum manufacturing. Informed by simulation outputs, macro decarbonization guidelines are formulated for various criteria. The object-oriented programming framework that underlies the dynamic MFA may be integrated with network analysis, agent-based simulation, and geospatial interfaces, which may lay the foundation for modeling more fine-grained material flows and supply chain structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen is believed to be a promising decarbonization vector. An optimal hydrogen supply-chain network achieving net-zero emissions in ASEAN by 2050 is determined. A logistic profile for decarbonization and declining costs with technological advances are assumed. It is found that the region has the potential to fully decarbonize its power sector with renewable energy if a regional power grid is installed. A mix of green (from surplus renewable power), blue (from natural gas) or orange (from biomass) hydrogen, the latter two with carbon capture and sequestration, meets industry, transport and power (without a regional power grid) sector demands. Results show that available biomass is insufficient to meet decarbonization targets beyond 2045 without green hydrogen. Prioritizing energy security and sustainability has minimal incremental costs compared to importing liquefied natural gas for blue hydrogen production. Optimal production locations are Myanmar, Cambodia for green hydrogen, and Indonesia, Vietnam for orange and blue hydrogen. [Display omitted] • Decarbonizing ASEAN. • Net-zero emissions hydrogen economy by 2050. • Green hydrogen production can be delayed up to 2045 with unlimited natural gas. • Total project cost for ASEAN decarbonization can range from 2.3 to 7.3 trillion USD. • Upstream emissions reduction can eliminate reliance on green hydrogen completely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of new technologies for the synthesis of green ammonia using exclusively hydrogen from water and nitrogen from air in processes driven exclusively by renewable energy is poised to decarbonize the production of this important molecule for the production of green fertilizers as well as offering a carbon-free vector for the long-term storage of renewable energy. In this article, we explore and quantify the CO2 emission reduction potential of green ammonia, evaluating how it can facilitate the decarbonization of other hard-to-abate industrial processes such as steel, glass and cement industries. Green ammonia can be used as a direct replacement of fossil fuels used as energy sources in the different processes. In addition, green ammonia can facilitate the electrification of the processes (so-called Power-to-X) by storing renewable energy in the long term to balance a decarbonized grid against intermittent renewable energy supplies. This article is part of the discussion meeting issue 'Green carbon for the chemical industry of the future'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to outline the path that Intel has been taking to drive sustainable semiconductor manufacturing processes. As new sites are built to deliver Intel’s Design & Manufacturing (IDM) 2.0 strategy, we expand and grow our manufacturing output and facilities scope. To minimize environmental impact, there was focus on chemical and water usage reduction, chemical reuse, improvement of Destruction Removal Efficiencies (DRE), abatement of hazardous by-products, & innovation of novel Point of Use (POU) systems. There is also commitment to replacing fossil fuel with electrically driven alternatives and/or renewable natural gas. There has been a collective approach in the decarbonization methodology for all manufacturing emissions through technology-based innovations to reduce climate impact in global manufacturing. Intel also engages with suppliers and customers with a focus on reducing waste and wastewater emissions by leveraging technology to reduce environmental impacts on global manufacturing. There has been a focus on enabling greener circular economy strategies across the industry value chain by transforming its chemical footprint methodology. Collaboration with others to lead the way in the semiconductor sector has led to accelerating progress on reducing climate impact by advancing sustainable and green chemistry use. Intel strives to achieve renewable energy use and energy conservation across its global manufacturing operations, along with maximizing water conservation and implementing novel technologies to drive reduction in greenhouse gases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous biorefining may increase the volume of lignin generated by an additional 100 million tons/year. Lignin valorization is essential to the economic success of aqueous biorefineries. Valorization has potential to generate lignin feedstocks for production of sustainable feedstocks for manufacture of sustainable aviation biofuels, agricultural applications, and specialty products. The extent of decarbonization by lignin through agricultural practices that sequester carbon by adding lignin back to the soil remains to be validated. An additional 100 million tons/year of lignin coproduct will result when lignocellulosic biomass is processed in biorefineries to fiber, sugars, biofuels, and bioproducts. This will double the amount of lignin already generated from pulping and paper production. Unlike pulping that results in lignosulphonate (88% of total) or Kraft lignin (9%), aqueous-based biorefining leaves behind non-sulfonated lignin and aromatic molecules. This new type of lignin provides opportunities for large volume agricultural uses such as controlled-release carriers and soil amendments as well as feedstocks for new chemistries that lead to molecular building blocks for the chemical industry and to precursors for sustainable aviation biofuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article argues that rising economic inequality and the decline in political trust across Western countries have systematic normative implications for Western governments' pursuit of climate justice. The article argues that it is an essential but neglected task of nonideal political theory to identify political feasibility constraints on the pursuit of climate justice and reflect on how to overcome them. The article identifies two feasibility constraints in contemporary Western countries, the inequality constraint and the legitimation constraint, as important elements of a nonideal theory of climate justice. It argues that the French Gilets Jaunes (yellow vests) movement arose as a form of bottom-up motivational resistance to President Macron's decarbonization policies, precisely because those policies did not take sufficient heed of the inequality and legitimation constraints. Furthermore, the article sketches elements of a roadmap for a feasible pathway for Western governments to decarbonize and observe their citizens' duties of climate justice and argues that the framework of feasibility constraints offers a coherent, novel and urgent rationale for adopting redistributive measures such as the Carbon Fee and Dividend and participatory-democratic measures such as Citizen Assemblies as component parts of a feasible pathway to a decarbonized economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) plays a pivotal role in achieving decarbonization within the transportation sector. However, the widespread adoption of EVs faces multifaceted challenges, particularly concerning infrastructure development. This paper investigates the intersection of sustainability, decarbonization, and EV adoption, with a focus on identifying and analyzing the challenges associated with infrastructure deployment. Strictly adhering to the methodological principles and process of systematic literature reviews, this paper analyzes research spanning the fields of engineering, energy, computer science, environmental science, social sciences, and others to elucidate the barriers hindering EV adoption, ranging from technological limitations to regulatory complexities and market dynamics. Furthermore, it examines the critical role of infrastructure, encompassing charging networks, grid integration, and supportive policies, in facilitating EV uptake and maximizing environmental benefits. The findings are finally used to present the implications for theory, practice, and policies and to highlight the avenues for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the optimal energy mix for industrial complexes by incorporating renewable energy systems, decarbonization strategies, and sector coupling technologies. Using data from the Balan Industrial Complex in Korea, five energy scenarios were evaluated, ranging from conventional systems (Scenario 1) to advanced renewable configurations (Scenario 5). The results show that Scenario 5, which integrates sector coupling systems and decarbonization technologies, is the most cost-effective and environmentally sustainable. Scenario 5 achieves the lowest Net Present Cost (NPC), and significantly reduces CO2 emissions. Furthermore, an analysis of electricity prices and CO2 costs from Korea, the United States, and Germany highlights the critical role of regional electricity tariffs and carbon pricing in determining the economic feasibility of energy systems. While renewable setups require higher initial investments, Scenario 5 proves to be the most economically viable over time, offering both cost savings and environmental benefits. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and industry leaders, emphasizing the importance of customized strategies to optimize energy systems in industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing emphasis on renewable energy highlights hydrogen's potential as a clean energy carrier. However, traditional hydrogen production methods contribute significantly to carbon emissions. This review examines the integration of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies with hydrogen production processes, focusing on their ability to mitigate carbon emissions. It evaluates various hydrogen production techniques, including steam methane reforming, electrolysis, and biomass gasification, and discusses how CCS can enhance environmental sustainability. Key challenges, such as economic, technical, and regulatory obstacles, are analyzed. Case studies and future trends offer insights into the feasibility of CCS–hydrogen integration, providing pathways for reducing greenhouse gases and facilitating a clean energy transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among various waste‐to‐energy technologies, gasification is one of the most promising, because of high efficiency, feedstock flexibility, and carbon capture potential. This case study is focused on comprehensive analysis of integrated gasification combined cycle‐based plant with refuse‐derived fuel (RDF) as feedstock and carbon capture. As there are hardly any studies focused on simulation of waste gasification with carbon capture, most of which are lacking important process specifics, this study addresses existing research gap. Process flowsheets are developed in detail according to literature data for various process configurations and simulated in AspenPlus software, while obtained results on material and energy balance were used for estimation of plant efficiency and performance indicators. Waste generation data in Novi Sad, Serbia, were used for determination of RDF flowrate. Configurations include different syngas cleaning pathways, final products (power, heating, and hydrogen) and co‐gasification with coal. Cogeneration increases overall plant efficiency from 27%–36% (power production only) to 63%–76%. High net hydrogen efficiencies, around 58%, compensate lower power and thermal energy production in hydrogen‐based configurations. Overall, co‐gasification produces better results due to higher feedstock heating value. Obtained results will be used in further research for environmental and economic evaluation to provide multi‐level assessment of proposed processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of solar and wind energy in the current processes of decarbonization of the Russian electric power industry is considered. The issues of the formation and further development of renewable energy, which can make up a significant share of the country's energy balance thanks to the legislation introduced to stimulate its implementation, are discussed. The rates of commissioning of renewable energy-generation facilities (hereinafter referred to as renewable generation) by region are analyzed, and trends towards reducing capital expenditures in the construction of both solar and wind grid power plants are assessed. An important feature of renewable generation is its stochastic nature, which can cause certain problems when transmitting energy to electrical networks and requires the adoption of special measures to increase the share of renewable energy sources in electrical networks and additional costs to ensure it. Abroad, where a significantly greater path has been taken in the development of the industry, the introduction of grid energy-storage devices, methods for converting surplus energy generated by renewable sources into various useful products and other measures are widely discussed as such measures. In Russia, the overall share of RES in the energy balance is still quite small, but it has already reached threshold values in some regions, at which several pilot projects are being implemented using electric energy-storage devices in both network and autonomous systems. The article provides estimates of the contribution of grid solar and wind power plants to replacing energy from traditional sources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and examines the problems and prospects for further development of the industry, primarily from the point of view of the need to reconstruct the grid infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing R&D investments in green hydrogen promise to shape the global energy value chain and transform the nature of energy markets and industries, and the way firms organize their operations, as well as how and where they compete. China is emerging as the most competitive market in green hydrogen since it holds a huge number of family patents in this area while investing massively in hydrogen production. However, capturing value from these R&D investments requires Chinese companies to undergo transformations and effective commercialization, raising a series of questions prompting them to rethink their global strategies and capabilities. These changes will have critical implications for strategic management and international business research. In this article, we propose a conceptual framework that provides a strategic view of green hydrogen technology, including managerial processes and capabilities that support Chinese companies in exploiting green hydrogen innovations and their impact on regional clusters and international collaboration. We also discuss what firms' capabilities are crucial to deploy effectively green hydrogen technologies in terms of costs, resilience and risks. We elucidate how this new energy landscape shapes the extant strategic management and international business literature and how future research can push it further along. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experts play a significant role in shaping global and local norms on how societies should respond to the climate crisis. However, current scholarship on the relationship between expertise and climate change has not fully addressed recent transformations in the field, specifically the emergence and increasingly influential role of what we term "green transition expertise." We define green transition expertise as a more applied, normative, and contextual form of climate change knowledge that is contrasted with the formalized, pure science of "climate expertise." If climate experts assess the deteriorating state of the global climate, then transition experts tell states and corporations what they should do about it. We argue that if the social science of climate change knowledge is to further deepen its grasp of the politics of the green transition analytically and normatively, it must embrace a "post‐IPCC" research agenda that turns increasingly toward studying the power of transition experts in directing state and corporate climate action. Based on a review of the literature, we contrast the extant IPCC agenda with an emerging post‐IPCC agenda along three dimensions: expert cast (who are the experts?), expert content (what do they know?) and expert context (where are they located?). By marking a shift in each of these dimensions, the post‐IPCC agenda sensitizes the social science of climate change knowledge to overlooked and increasingly powerful forms of experts and expertise. To facilitate their study, we define six specific areas that require detailed attention as the post‐IPCC agenda develops. This article is categorized under:The Social Status of Climate Change Knowledge > Sociology/Anthropology of Climate KnowledgePolicy and Governance > National Climate Change PolicyClimate, History, Society, Culture > Ideas and Knowledge [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Przegląd Elektrotechniczny is the property of Przeglad Elektrotechniczny and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Przegląd Elektrotechniczny is the property of Przeglad Elektrotechniczny and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As port authorities and cargo operators seek strategies to reduce carbon emissions while ensuring operational efficiency, some are turning to the concept of green corridors. These solutions aim to establish formalized partnerships among ports, carriers, shippers, and countries. During the process, the stakeholders must consider four priority areas (alternative fuels, bunkering infrastructure, vessel decarbonization pathways, and cargo demand dynamics) from seven angles (environmental, economic, infrastructure, regulatory, operational, technological, and social). This study explores the prioritization of these criteria for establishing a green maritime corridor between two major ports in Portugal and Angola, which would be a significant step toward promoting sustainable global trade. Utilizing the fuzzy AHP, this research analyzes all these factors and their associated sub-criteria derived from a comprehensive literature review and consultations with stakeholders from the Ports of Sines and Luanda. The findings show the dominance of environmental compatibility and economic viability, while social acceptance shows the lowest score. This framework guides the decision-making process for developing a sustainable shipping corridor. The results offer valuable insights for policymakers which can guide them in fostering resilient maritime transport routes, accelerating the adoption of decarbonization strategies and playing a critical role in achieving the IMO's zero-emission targets by 2050. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Reducing emissions requires transitioning towards decarbonized systems through avoiding, processing, or offsetting. Decisions on system design are associated with high costs which can be reduced at the planning stage through optimization. The temporal variations in power demand and renewable energy supply significantly impact the design of a low‐emissions energy system. Effective decision‐making must consider such impact in a comprehensive framework that accounts for the potential synergies between different options. This work presents a mixed integer linear programming model that considers the impacts of energy supply and demand dynamics to optimize the design and operation of an integrated energy system while adhering to a set emissions limit. The model integrates renewable power with CO2 capture, utilization, and sequestration by considering H2 production and storage. The case study showed including negative emissions technologies and CO2 capture and processing with renewable energy allows achieving net zero emissions power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Airports have ambitious decarbonization objectives, with many EU airports pledging to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 for all emissions fully under their control. This requires setting a baseline and defining roadmaps composed of decarbonization measures that intend to reduce energy demand and carbon emissions from that baseline. However, there is substantial uncertainty in defining the impact that can be achieved through these roadmaps, which can be substantially reduced through the use of a digital twin. In this paper, we present the creation of a baseline digital twin of the built environment of Brussels Airport, which will be used to analyze the impact of decarbonization measures before they are deployed. To create the digital twin, an extensive data collection exercise was carried out to ensure that the created model is a realistic representation of the core airport systems and that its simulations are accurate in forecasting results. Utilizing the IES Apache physics-based engine, the digital twin predictions have been validated against actual energy consumption data. The present work demonstrates the methodology and results achieved, offering insights on how to tackle the complex challenge of creating a digital twin of the built environment of an entity as complex as an airport while focusing the baselining efforts on the most significant aspects, with the ultimate objective of reducing uncertainty of future decarbonization investments. The digital twin has been used to calculate the energy consumption and CO2 emission baseline, and it will be utilized to model key decarbonization measures that are part of the Brussels Airport net zero carbon roadmap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding predictors of climate policy support is important for tackling climate change. Previous research demonstrated that policy support is partially driven by cultural worldviews. Yet, treating policies as a homogeneous concept, this literature neglected the existence of different policy types. Making this distinction is important because each type implies a distinct solution to the same problem (i.e., carbon emissions) with varying degrees of retained freedom for agents. Given that diverging worldviews imply different preferences for individual freedom, we hypothesize an interaction between policy types and cultural worldviews on climate policy support: Policy support is stronger when the retained freedom of a policy type is aligned with the worldview‐based preferences for such freedom. Using a representative sample of the UK population (N = 1991) and actual policy proposals of UK political parties, our results partly support our hypothesized interaction. Although communitarian‐egalitarians, compared to all other worldview groups, indicated stronger support across policy types, contrary to our hypothesis they showed their weakest support for command‐and‐control and their strongest for information‐based policies. Individualist‐hierarchists, in contrast and in line with our argument, showed the weakest support for command‐and‐control policies and strongest support for voluntary policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe adjustment and control of specific product characteristics, e.g., foaming behavior of carbonated beverages, requires an understanding of influencing factors along with reliable analytical methods. However, due to the overlay of different phenomena, i.e., release of CO2 and action of surface-active molecules contained in such beverages, it is difficult to assess their respective contribution to foam appearance and stability. This study aimed at evaluating a new methodological approach to investigate the interfacial and foaming properties of carbonated beverages. Using beer as an example, it was attempted to establish a correlation between interfacial properties and foaming behavior. To ensure a comprehensive dataset, surface tension, interfacial dilatational rheology, and foaming properties including foam structural characteristics of six different German beers of three different types (i.e., Pils, wheat beer and Koelsch), which are known to exhibit distinct foaming behavior, were measured. While foams prepared with CO2 as sparging gas did not show any differences in foam aging, use of air for foaming enabled differentiation based on beer type. Differences observed in foam structural characteristics and stability could not be related to dynamic surface tension but might be linked to interfacial dilatational properties. Overall, the presented multiscale approach can be seen as promising concept for further experimental studies on carbonated beverages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pyrolysis of water hyacinth is gaining attention and acceptance as a resource recovery technique due to its availability and economic viability. However, the presence of lignin, one of the three major biomass fractions, presents significant challenges for profitable water hyacinth processing for biofuel production. Fungal pretreatment of water hyacinth for lignin breakdown has been explored but the application of Trichoderma atroviride as a pretreatment for pyrolysis is relatively novel. The efficacy of T. atroviride pretreatment in improving water hyacinth's pyrolytic products using a fixed‐bed reactor was therefore investigated in this study. The optimization process was studied using a central composite design in response surface methodology with Design Expert 13. Delignification of the biomass was established because the elemental analysis showed a 25.42% increase in cellulose content and a 23.40% and 3.37% decrease in lignin and hemicellulose content, respectively. The biomass pretreatment applied influenced the physical and chemical characteristics of the pyrolytic products. The highest pyrolysis oil yield increased by 25.81% at 575 °C and particle size 2290 μm, and the highest char yield decreased by 4.23% at 273 °C and particle size 1500 μm. This research is crucial for policy and research conversations as it offers a scientific basis for the application of T. atroviride pretreatment in biomass pyrolysis technology and emphasizes the optimal utilization of water hyacinths to obtain socio‐environmental benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many energy policies, including Poland's, environmental priorities clash with the issue of energy security. With these contradictions in mind, the main objective of the article is a comparative analysis of domestic production and imports of hard coal in Poland and the formulation of conclusions for energy policy and competitiveness. The analysis covers the years 2018–2023 and concerns three issues: the volume and directions of coal imports to Poland, the qualitative and price competitiveness of coal, and the possibility of substituting imported coal with domestic coal. The research used statistical analysis. Indicators of structure and dynamics as well as comparative analysis were also used. The analysis shows that the structure of coal importers to Poland is quite diverse and includes many geographic directions. However, until 2021, it was dominated by Russia, followed by Colombia, indicating a fairly homogeneous supply market and a continuing tendency to depend on a single importer. Analysis of qualitative competitiveness confirms the existence of balance and industrial resources whose quality parameters (sulfur content, ash content, and calorific value) are comparable to and better than those of imported coal. Polish hard coal can also compete with imported coal in terms of price. From 2021 to 2023, it was clearly cheaper than foreign coal. In the above circumstances, it is quite difficult to unequivocally assess the reasons for importing coal to Poland and to justify dependence on external suppliers. This is especially relevant since domestic mining in 2020–2023 remains stable (periodically even increasing), which does not indicate a decisive shift away from coal as an energy resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transport sector is experiencing a notable transition towards sustainability, propelled by technological progress, innovative materials, and a dedication to environmental preservation. This study explicitly examines the incorporation of electric vehicles (EVs) into the power grid, with a particular emphasis on passenger automobiles. Our analysis emphasises the vital importance of updated transport infrastructure in decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and aiding carbon reduction efforts in electricity networks. The analysis uncovers that adopting electric vehicles offers significant advantages, including enhanced grid efficiency and decreased emissions. However, it also brings issues concerning the design and operation of power systems at both the transmission and distribution levels. Key players are crucial in tackling these difficulties to improve electric vehicle integration into the grid. The study determines the most effective ways for distributing and providing electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and investigates the efforts made to establish common standards in order to solve current challenges. This research contributes to the advancement of sustainable mobility and energy systems by conducting a thorough examination of the impact of electric vehicles on power systems and offering appropriate integration solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, its impacts on the maritime transportation and logistics field have been multi-dimensional. In addition to the green shipping corridor proposed by the Clydebank Declaration in the United Kingdom in 2021, port digitalisation and decarbonisation of the maritime industry have become focal issues in the field. The industry needs a new framework to offset the negative impacts of the pandemic and to accommodate integrated technologies comprising of artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, cloud systems, internet of things (IoT) and others, which have been applied to the industry. Having considered these circumstances, this paper aims to propose the 6th-generation ports model with smart port (6GP) as a new framework for the port logistics industry in the post-COVID-19 period. The proposed 6GP contributes to providing business development strategy and port development policy for stakeholders in the industry in the post-pandemic era reflecting focal challenges such as digitalisation, decarbonisation, sustainability and smart transformation. It also contributes to expanding port devolution theory from the fifth-generation ports (5GP) to 6GP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen, as an energy carrier, is attractive to many stakeholders based on the assumption that the extensive global network of natural gas infrastructure can be repurposed to transport hydrogen as part of a zero‐carbon energy future. Therefore, utility companies and governments are rapidly advancing efforts to pilot blending low‐carbon hydrogen into existing natural gas systems, many with the goal of eventually shifting to pure hydrogen. However, hydrogen has fundamentally different physical and chemical properties to natural gas, with major consequences for safety, energy supply, climate, and cost. We evaluate the suitability of using existing natural gas infrastructure for distribution of hydrogen. We summarize differences between hydrogen and natural gas, assess the latest science and engineering of each component of the natural gas value chain for hydrogen distribution, and discuss proposed solutions for building an effective hydrogen value chain. We find that every value chain component is challenged by reuse. Hydrogen blending can circumvent many challenges but offers only a small reduction in greenhouse gas emissions due to hydrogen's low volumetric energy density. Furthermore, a transition to pure hydrogen is not possible without significant retrofits and replacements. Even if technical and economic barriers are overcome, serious safety and environmental risks remain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex and multidimensional effect of climate change, coupled with low socioeconomic development, in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) makes the region vulnerable to the changing climate and threatens its inhabitants' survival, livelihood, and health. Subnational actions have been widely acclaimed as effective in combatting climate change. Local governments in SSA have been developing and implementing climate action plans to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this article, we qualitatively assessed climate change mitigation technical pathways at the city level by studying four major African megacities' climate plans and actions. The cities studied are Accra, Ghana; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Lagos, Nigeria; and Nairobi, Kenya. This study provides insight into the novel and innovative policy design and instrumentation options to sustainably address climate change mitigation in SSA. With the past literature focusing on climate adaptation for the Global South, this study shows leading context-specific efforts in climate change mitigation that simultaneously address local sustainable development needs. Our assessment identified the prioritized technical pathways for climate change mitigation in the selected cities, as well as innovative techniques and areas for improvement. Given that it also identifies emerging best practices, this study's findings can be helpful to local governments and practitioners pursuing local deep decarbonization and international organizations supporting these programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, the production of concrete is responsible for 5% to 8% of anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Cement, a primary ingredient in concrete, forms a glue that holds concrete together when combined with water. Cement embodies approximately 90% of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with concrete production, and decarbonization methods focus primarily on cement production. But mitigation strategies can accrue throughout the concrete life cycle. Decarbonization strategies in cement manufacture, use, and disposal can be rapidly implemented to address the global challenge of equitably meeting societal needs and climate goals. This review describes (a) the development of our reliance on cement and concrete and the consequent environmental impacts, (b) pathways to decarbonization throughout the concrete value chain, and (c) alternative resources that can be leveraged to further reduce emissions while meeting global demands. We close by highlighting a research agenda to mitigate the climate damages from our continued dependence on cement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent rapid and unexpected cost reductions in decarbonization technologies have accelerated the cost-effective decarbonization of the US economy, with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions falling by 20% from 2005 to 2020. The literature on US economy-wide decarbonization focuses on maximizing long-term GHG emissions reduction strategies that rely mostly on renewable energy expansion, electrification, and efficiency improvements to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050. While these studies provide a valuable foundation, further research is needed to properly support decarbonization policy development and implementation. In this review, we identify key decarbonization analysis gaps and opportunities, including issues related to cross-sectoral linkages, spatial and temporal granularity, consumer behavior, emerging technologies, equity and environmental justice, and political economy. We conclude by discussing the implications of these analysis gaps for US decarbonization pathways and how they relate to challenges facing major global emitters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The car market in Mexico has undergone substantial change over the last twenty years, as sales have increased dramatically and as policy measures have been introduced to improve fuel economy so that decarbonization targets can be achieved. The argument presented in this paper is that overall fuel economy is driven by vehicle sales and the fuel economy standards imposed. In addition, this picture is complicated by the purchasing preferences of buyers, and this might reduce the effectiveness of the policy measures introduced. A case study approach allows analysis of the shifts in transport policy (2003–2020) to be undertaken by linking the fuel consumption of cars (L/100 km) to the purchasing patterns of consumers, and from this estimate the levels of CO2 emissions. From the empirical analysis, it is found that, although there have been fuel economy gains every year, this is countered by (a) increasing sales of SUVs, and (b) a car market that is increasingly being dominated by larger cars. The current fuel standards are not sufficient to control the continued growth in fuel consumption, and levels of carbon emissions are continuing to increase. In conclusion, tighter emissions standards are needed, together with stronger governance structures and a range of further policy measures to improve car efficiencies and limit growth of the use of larger vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy prices are usually determined by the marginal costs obtained by solving economic dispatch problems without considering commitment costs. Hence, generating units are compensated through uplift payments. However, uplift payments may undermine market transparency as they are not publicly disclosed. Alternatively, energy prices can be obtained from the unit commitment problem which considers commitment costs. But, due to non-convexity, prices may not monotonically increase with demand. To resolve this issue, convex hull pricing has been introduced. It is defined as the slope of the convex envelope of the total cost function over the convex hull of a unit commitment (UC) problem. Although several approaches have been developed, a relevant survey has not been found to aid the understanding of convex hull pricing from the current limited literature. This paper provides a systematic survey of convex hull pricing. It reviews, compares, and links various existing approaches, focusing on the modeling and computation of convex hull prices. Furthermore, this paper explores potential areas of improvement and future challenges due to the ongoing efforts for power system decarbonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen is in the spotlight in the energy world, and it will remain so. In Europe, the necessity to integrate ever-growing amounts of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) in order to implement the ambitious European decarbonization policy (package Fit-for-55) and to preserve the security of energy supply (package Repower-EU) are feeding the interest in hydrogen. This paper will provide a thorough analysis of prospects and criticalities for the development of hydrogen both as a carrier and as a feedstock and, definitively, as a key element for the implementation of the European decarbonization policies. First, the present regulatory framework will be highlighted, taking the European Union as a main reference, since it presently has one of the most advanced hydrogen legislations in the world. Then, both hydrogen offer (technologies) and demand (both as a feedstock and as an energy carrier) will be dealt with in detail. Two additional sections will take care to illustrate, respectively, the interactions between hydrogen and the electricity grid and the issues related to the creation of a liquid hydrogen market. Finally, a conclusion section will wrap up and summarize the most urgent issues to be tackled to create a well-functioning hydrogen economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary discourses of net-zero decarbonization (also referred to as carbon neutrality) routinely overlook the landscape transformations required to offset carbon emissions. Conventional analyses also often fail to engage with decarbonization as an inherently spatial process, embedded in landscapes in which the biophysical, socionatural, and political economic dimensions of energy intersect. This creates a conceptual pitfall: the potential to misread and depoliticize strategies of putative decarbonization that might not, in fact, be carbon neutral, particularly when the cumulative effects of broader landscape transformations are considered. To illustrate this pitfall, our analysis queries net-zero decarbonization strategies that arise alongside—and often as a result of—simultaneous investments in fossil fuel production, a process we term recarbonization. We posit recarbonization as a variegated sociospatial phenomenon that materializes through the site-specific interplay between capitalist social relations and biophysical processes. In making this claim, we seek to bridge political economy with concepts of materiality and relationality that, we suggest, enable deeper theoretical engagement with multifaceted landscape transformations entailed by processes of energy transition. Drawing on a case study of the Peace River region in the western Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, this article exposes the cumulative environmental effects and ongoing forms of colonial violence of some net-zero decarbonization agendas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]