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Industrial energy management is critical to ensuring efficient energy usage, market viability, and greenhouse gas emission reductions. In this study, the aim is to investigate energy management practices in paper and pulp industries (PPI) of Bangladesh. The study identifies several barriers to adopt energy management practices; "Lack of governmental attention", "Inadequate staff awareness" and "limited access to capital" are identified as the major constraints. In addition, HVAC systems and compressed air systems present higher barriers compared to electrical motor and pump systems while looking at the barriers by technology areas. On the other hand, "Owner's demand", "Commitment from the top management" and "Pressure from the customers and different non-Governmental organization" are found to be the dominant drivers of energy management in the studied PPI. Energy management practices can enhance the energy efficiency approximately by 4–5 % according to the study. Furthermore, this study reveals that the majority of PPIs are unaware of the energy service companies (ESCO) with the lack of a standardized system for energy audit, as well as a lack of trust and information, appearing to be the obstacles behind this. • Energy management practices in paper and pulp industries of Bangladesh are shown. • Barriers and drivers to energy management practices in paper and pulp industry are presented. • Barriers to energy efficiency measures by technology area are discussed. • Barriers to consult energy service companies (ESCOs) are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The aim of this work is to quantify the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions savings potential in magazine paper production through the application of the innovative manufacturing strategies using advanced sheet structure design and fibre modifications. Methods The study applies Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology to two different magazine paper products: supercalendered (SC) paper and light-weight coated (LWC) paper. A cradle-to-gate approach is used aiming to assess the environmental benefits gained through the implementation of new manufacturing strategies in both products. The functional unit of the system was defined as the production of one square meter of finished paper for printing magazines. Conventional and new production processes have been compared. Results and discussion The strategies applied to SC paper resulted in reduction of GHG emissions by 22.9%, with a total of 10.7 gCO 2 eq emissions saved per square meter of SC paper. In the case of LWC paper, GHG emissions are reduced by 20.3%, which are equal to a total of 19.7 gCO 2 eq saved per square meter of LWC paper. The influence of certain methodological approaches -functional unit, electricity mix and avoided impacts- in the final results is also discussed in the paper. Conclusions The manufacturing strategies implemented show a remarkable potential for reducing GHG emissions. Taking into account that the pulp and paper industry is a very energy-intensive sector and one of the main GHG emitters, the potential of the strategies for the improvement of the environmental performance of the papermaking processes is significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulp and paper mill sludge (PPMS) is applied on agricultural soils as an organic fertilizer. Although it is well accepted that land application of PPMS has benefits for soils and crops, information on PPMS-induced soil N 2 O emissions is still limited. We assessed the effect of substituting mineral N fertilizer for PPMS on soil N 2 O emissions after a single application at planting on a clay loam cropped to wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) over two snow-free seasons in eastern Canada. Fertilization treatments consisted of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of crop N requirements derived from N supplied by PPMS, the remaining N being supplied as urea-N. Soil CO 2 and CH 4 emissions were also measured and not affected by the fertilizer addition; a slight CH 4 oxidation occurred. Area-based N 2 O emissions from PPMS fertilization (4.4 to 12.1 kg N 2 O-N ha −1 ) were similar or higher than from urea alone (3.4 and 6.2 kg N 2 O-N ha −1 ). Although crop yields were not affected by the type of fertilizer, yield-based N 2 O emissions, N uptake efficiency and N surplus (applied N minus aboveground N uptake in crop biomass) indicated that N availability from the mineral fertilizer was higher than from PPMS for the wheat crop. However, treatments with PPMS had fertilizer-induced N 2 O emission factors (FIEF, applied N lost as N 2 O-N; 0.8 to 3.1%) similar to urea alone (−0.3 and 4.5%). Although substituting urea-N with PPMS in agricultural fields might reduce N 2 O emissions under moderate soil moisture conditions, PPMS land application produced greater N 2 O emissions under high soil moisture conditions. Further research on a variety of agricultural practices is needed before concluding that including PPMS in the fertilization plan could result in a global GHG abatement as compared to mineral fertilizers under the cool climate of eastern Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Production of transportation fuels from biorefineries via biomass gasification has been suggested as a way of introducing renewable alternatives in the transportation system with an aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere. By co-locating gasification-based processes within heat demanding industries, excess heat from the gasification process can replace fossil or renewable fuels. The objective of this study was to compare the heat integration potential of four different gasification-based biorefinery concepts with a chemical pulp and paper mill. The results showed that the choice of end-product which was either methanol, Fischer-Tropsch crude, synthetic natural gas or electricity, can have significant impact on the heat integration potential with a pulp and paper mill and that the heat saving measures implemented in the mill in connection to integration of a gasification process can increase the biomass resource efficiency by up to 3%-points. Heat saving measures can reduce the necessary biomass input to the biorefinery by 50% if the sizing constraint is to replace the bark boiler with excess heat from the biorefinery. A large integrated gasification process with excess steam utilisation in a condensing turbine was beneficial only if grid electricity is produced at below 30% electrical efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intervention into the present building industry is the main strategy of the European Commission in order to achieve one of its planned aims regarding the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions up to 20% up by 2020 and up to 80% by 2050. Therefore, it is necessary to develop not only energetically efficient but also more environmentally friendly materials. This work presents bio-based propylene glycol and paper waste sludge particles modified polyurethane foams, their physical properties and their prediction models. The conducted research has revealed that paper waste sludge particles negatively affect dimensional changes. In order to eliminate the negative impact of paper waste sludge, bio-based propylene glycol is used. The obtained results have shown that this raw material allows development of dimensionally and structurally stable polyurethane foams used as a thermal insulating layer having the following properties: density in the range of 40–50 kg/m 3 , compressive strength in the range of 193–243 kPa, thermal conductivity in the range of 0.0349–0.0359 W/(m·K), long-term water absorption in the range of 6–11 vol.% and water vapour transmission factor in the range of 26.2–40.9. On the basis of the results, prediction models are suggested for the most important physical properties of propylene glycol and paper production waste sludge particles modified polyurethane foams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comparison between four gasification-based biorefineries integrated with a pulp and paper mill. It is a continuation of 'Transportation fuel production from gasified biomass integrated with a pulp and paper mill - Part A: Heat integration and system performance'. Synthesis into methanol, Fischer-Tropsch crude or synthetic natural gas, or electricity generation in a gas turbine combined cycle, were evaluated. The concepts were assessed in terms of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions and economic performance. Net annual profits were positive for all biofuel cases for an annuity factor of 0.1 in the year 2030; however, the results are sensitive to biofuel selling prices and CO 2,eq charge. Additionally, GHG emissions from grid electricity are highly influential on the results since all biofuel processes require external power. Credits for stored CO 2 might be necessary for processes to be competitive, i.e. storage of separated CO 2 from the syngas conditioning has an important role to play. Without CO 2 storage, the gas turbine case is better than, or equal to, biofuels regarding GHG emissions. Efficiency measures at the host mill prior to heat integration of a gasification process are beneficial from the perspective of GHG emissions, while having a negative impact on the economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pulp and paper industry, which provides cellulose pulp and paper, bio-based energy and chemicals, is one of the largest energy consumers, greenhouse gases (GHG) and pollutant emitters among manufacturing industries. Although the environmental impact of the pulp and paper industry has been extensively studied, life cycle assessment (LCA) results have not yet reached a consensus. By means of a systematic review and meta-analysis, this article contributes to the quantification and harmonization of the life cycle environmental impacts of pulp making and paper making systems. Based on the screening of 45 cases of paper making and 18 cases of pulp making, we found that 1 t of paper results in about 950 kg carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) equivalent (CO 2 -eq) GHG emissions on average. However, there are distinct differences between countries and pulp and paper categories. The dominant factor influencing GHG emissions is energy use. In paper making, the pulp making process is responsible for 62% of energy use, 45% of GHG emissions, 48% of acidification potential, and 49% of eutrophication potential. The kg CO 2 -eq emissions of three different types of pulp were as follows: Kraft, 508 kg CO 2 -eq/t; chemi-mechanical, 513 kg CO 2 -eq/t; and recycled pulp, 408 kg CO 2 -eq/t. Excluding emissions from electricity and steam production, the convergence of carbon emissions is observed within the same categories of pulp. Straw-based pulp caused far more environmental impact than any other type because of the intensive inputs in agricultural activities as well as in the pulp making process. This research highlighted the inconsistencies in functional units, system boundaries, and methodologies and carbon neutrality assumptions in different LCA studies of pulp and paper making. Future studies should focus on the environmental impact of straw-based pulp making, system boundary unification, and calculation of biogenic carbon emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Adoption of energy efficient technologies is considered a key sustainability strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in global industries. This article aims to assess costs of energy savings and carbon reduction from applying energy efficiency technologies in the US pulp and paper sector. Applicable efficiency measures were identified and their cost effectiveness was evaluated in two historical years – 1994 and 2006. Potential savings of final energy use resulting from applicable sustainability options were estimated as 707 PJ in 1994 and 1064 PJ in 2006, respectively, corresponding to approximately 32% of the sector''s annual final energy use in 1994 and 62% in 2006. The associated carbon-emission reduction was 8.1 million ton of carbon (MtC) in 1994 and 11.8MtC in 2006, corresponding to 26% and 45% of sector''s total energy-related carbon emissions in 1994 and 2006, respectively. Using the concepts of cost of conserved energy and cost of carbon reduction, we estimated that cost effective sustainability options contributed to final energy savings in the range of 15–25% of the annual energy use, and carbon-emission reduction from 14% to 20% of annual carbon emissions from the sector. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This study investigates heat integrated production of FT (Fischer–Tropsch) crude, where excess heat from the FT crude plant is delivered to a typical Scandinavian pulp and paper mill that produces fine paper. The sizes of FT crude plants are quantified, when the amount of excess heat from the FT plant exactly matches the heating demand otherwise satisfied by the bark boiler at the mill, considering a number of development pathways at the mill, including various degrees of steam savings and biorefinery options, such as lignin extraction. Performance of integrated production is compared with that of an FT stand-alone plant on the basis of wood fuel-to-FT crude efficiency, GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions balances and FT crude production cost. The results show that there exists a heat integration opportunity for an FT crude plant ranging from 0 up to 350 MW (LHV) of wood fuel depending on the development pathway for the mill. The results indicate higher overall efficiency and a generally lower production cost for the heat integrated, co-located production. Heat integrated production has a larger potential to contribute to GHG emission mitigation, assuming a future generation of grid electricity emitting equal to or less than an NGCC (natural gas combined cycle) power plant. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The increasing presence of e-books (electronic books) has become a major focus in countries around the world. In the United States, e-books represented 28% of the total book sales for 2012. In Japan, the conversion from paper books to e-books is expected to accelerate by the prevalent use of smartphones and tablet PCs. It is therefore important to quantitatively evaluate the environmental load of paper books and e-books for a sustainable society. In this study, paper books are compared to e-books read on different electronic devices (e-ink tablets, tablets, cell phones, smartphones, laptop computers, desktop computers and portable music players) through a case study on a 224-page book. The study is based on key primary data such as use time and reading speed for each device and aims to minimize assumptions made in other studies. GHG emissions for paper books are 1.24 kg-CO 2 e/book, and are reduced to 1.11 kg-CO 2 e/book when the effect of paper recycling is taken into consideration. The results for e-books under average use-time conditions range from 0.25 to 0.91 kg-CO 2 e/book with the e-ink tablet having the lowest emissions. When the average use time of each e-book device is applied, the paper book has a higher impact than all the e-books. However, sensitivity analysis shows that the impact of paper books can be lower than that of e-books for larger screen devices such as tablets, laptops and desktops when the reuse of books is considered or the e-book reading device is hardly used during its life cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A partnership of affluent nations is proposed to pursue the objective of universal electrification in the world with a challenging interim goal of bringing efficient and sustainable [2] [2] For the purposes of this paper sustainable electric systems are those that emit low or no net greenhouse gases (GHGs). This requirement is generally consistent with the goal expressed in the National Research Council report Our Common Journey: a Transition Toward Sustainability [National Research Council, 1999]: “… that the primary goals of transition toward sustainability should be to meet the needs of a much larger but stabilizing population, to sustain the life support systems of the planet and to sustainably reduce hunger and poverty.” The authors believe that the electric systems targeted in the universal electrification proposal of this paper can contribute to the goals of the transition explored by the academy. The partners must assure this contribution, but for simplicity the authors use the criterion of low or no net greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation to qualify a system as sustainable. electric services within 20 years to one billion people. Four plausible partners are the United States, the European Union, Japan with Australia and New Zealand, and, perhaps, the OPEC countries. The partners would provide part of the capital needed for electrification. This “concessionary” contribution should stimulate private investors and/or indigenous governments to supply the remainder of the capital needed, and to organize the management of each electrification project. The concessionary contribution would be designed for two objectives: (1) to help alleviate poverty, grow opportunities, and increase the quality of life in the developing world by providing electric services to all, and (2) to reduce future greenhouse gas emissions by supporting a low-carbon development path toward universal electrification. Paying for the difference in cost between high-efficiency end-use equipment and least-first-cost equipment would pursue the first objective. This concession would significantly lower the cost to the consumer of electricity services. The second objective would be pursued by paying the added cost (up to $ 1000/kW) of low-GHG or climate-friendly electricity generation (i.e., low or no-net carbon-emitting systems) over and above least-first-cost generation technology. This electrification of one billion people would require about 50 GWe of new electric generating capacity assuming 50% capacity factor and 15% line losses. The concessionary investment needed would be up to $50 billion for low-GHG generation plus about $30 billion for efficient end-use equipment. An additional 25% of the concessionary contribution would go for training, program management and evaluation. The total is $ 100 billion (or $ 100/person) spread over 20 years, or about $ 1.25 billion per partner per year assuming an equal share for each partner. The remainder of the capital required is estimated to be about $ 170/person for the electrical system including hook-up, plus another $ 140/person for efficient end-use equipment purchased at the cost of least-first-cost equipment. The consumer would pay back these non-concessionary investments through the price of electricity and through a lease-purchase charge for end-use equipment. Provision of basic electricity services for newly electrified communities is estimated to require about 0.025 kW/person on average for all electric uses including domestic, commercial, agricultural and industrial uses, compared with current electricity services of about 1.8 kW/person in the United States and 0.3 kW/person globally. Thus, electric power per capita in these poor, mostly rural areas would be very small initially, just sufficient to meet basic necessities, and consistent with customers'' ability to pay. Not every community would choose or be able to buy even this much, but to have the opportunity for electric services at whatever level will make a huge difference in people''s lives. Experience over many decades has shown that electrification can help alleviate poverty, improve health, reduce drudgery, and increase literacy, all contributing to the UN''s Millennium Development Goals to which all countries are committed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In Australia, a pervasive response to increasing atmospheric greenhouse gasses and the exchange of these gasses between the atmosphere and forests has been to focus on storing carbon (C) in forested landscapes. However, the amount of C stored and able to be stored in the landscape, which is often called carbon carrying capacity, is commonly over-estimated and over-emphasised. This occurs, in part, due to a focus on the continent’s most C-rich forests when discussing landscape C storage or carbon carrying capacity, and by failing to account for wildfires that will prevent all forests from becoming old and C-rich. These effects on forest age-class structure and thus C-stocks, in the Australian landscape currently tend to be overlooked at the policy level. Underemphasised is the widely recognised role of wood products in greenhouse gas mitigation, both as a C-stock and by providing society with low emission products. Improving atmospheric outcomes will only be achieved if variation in landscape C stocks is accurately described and the full role of forests in greenhouse gas mitigation including the role of wood products is explored and reflected in policy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study presents a comparative cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) of distillers grain (DG) gum, a bio-based paper coating binder, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Non-renewable energy use, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and eutrophication potential were assessed for each binder. Economic, mass, and energy allocation were used to allocate the impacts of DG gum production with co-products (ethanol and livestock feed). DG production non-renewable energy use (269 to 183 MJ) surpassed that associated with PVA production (168 MJ). GHG emissions from DG gum production under mass and energy allocations were 28% and 37% lower than PVA production emissions, respectively. Corn cultivation is responsible for 55% to 78% of the eutrophication impacts of DG gum production under energy and economic allocation, respectively. Changes to natural gas consumption and fertilizer runoff had the largest influence on total energy use, GHG emissions, and eutrophication potential of DG gum production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urgent challenge of reducing industrial greenhouse gas emissions has created a growing demand for a more comprehensive understanding of how various technology options can contribute to achieving carbon neutrality. Energy efficiency has long been regarded as a key pathway in this context, but the volume and diversity of efficiency options has resulted in an unclear understanding of their combined impacts. In this study, we present a novel technology-explicit method to estimate the overall abatement potential associated with a comprehensive suite of 115 energy efficiency technologies spanning all relevant sector processes and energy types. By applying our flexible analysis framework to a case study of the Canadian pulp and paper sector, we demonstrate that energy efficiency could be the single largest contributor to achieving a carbon-neutral target for the sector. We find that efficiency can reduce emissions by 4.92 MtCO 2 e/yr (66%) relative to business-as-usual by 2050 at a weighted average abatement cost of -$162/tCO 2 e when accounting for capital, operating, maintenance, and energy costs. Abatement at the energy system-wide level is even larger, reaching 6.67 MtCO 2 e in 2050 when accounting for upstream effects. Adoption of the full suite of efficiency measures could materially improve the competitiveness of the sector by reducing energy and carbon costs. On the whole, our results suggest that proven energy efficiency technologies could be the primary element of a credible low-cost pathway towards achieving a target of carbon neutrality for the pulp and paper sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Pulp and paper industry is facing challenges such as resource scarcity and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The objective of this research is to investigate whether the use of new coatings (micro or nano TiO2) and different pulp types could bring savings in wood, energy, GHG emissions and other environmental impacts in comparison with conventional printing and writing paper. We studied three types of pulp, namely i) unbleached virgin kraft pulp, ii) recovered fiber, and iii) high yield virgin chemithermo-mechanical pulp (CTMP). A life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted from cradle to grave. Applying attributional modeling, we found that wood savings amount to 60% for the nanoparticle coated recovered fiber paper and 35% for the micro TiO2 coated CTMP paper. According to the ReCiPe single score impact assessment method, the new product configurations allow the reduction of the environmental impacts by 10–35% compared to conventional kraft paper. Applying consequential modeling, we found larger energy and GHG emission savings compared to attributional modeling because the saved wood is used for producing energy, thereby replacing fossil fuels. The nanoparticle coated recovered fiber paper offered savings of non-renewable energy use (NREU) by 100% (13GJ/ton paper) and GHG emission reduction by 75% (0.6tonCO2 eq./ton paper). Micro TiO2 coated CTMP paper offered NREU savings by 25% (3GJ/ton paper) and savings of GHG emissions by 10% (0.1tonCO2 eq./ton paper). The taking into account of all environmental impacts with the ReCiPe single score method leads to comparable results as that of attributional modeling. We conclude that the nanoparticle coated recovered fiber paper offered the highest savings and lowest environmental impacts. However, human toxicity and ecotoxicity impacts of the nanoparticles were not included in this analysis and need further research. If this leads to the conclusion that the toxicity impacts of the nanoparticles are serious, then the CTMP paper with micro TiO2 coating is the preferred option. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of this research was to quantify and compare the environmental impact of a number of different deinking sludge utilization approaches. A comparative life cycle assessment of deinking sludge material and energy recovery was performed for the baseline scenario—landfill disposal, and four alternative scenarios: two cement plants, a lightweight aggregate plant, and a stone wool plant. Sludge pretreatment and transportation processes were included in the scenario analyses. The results of the life cycle assessment showed that the use of dry deinking sludge in a cement plant in Finland, 45 km from the point of supply of the deinking sludge, to substitute 46% of the petcoke and 2.7% of the limestone showed the best performance. Therein, a global warming potential reduction of 13% and an eutrophication potential reduction of 12% – the highest reduction out of all impact categories studied – were achieved. A similar reduction in global warming potential of 12% was achieved when deinking sludge was incinerated and the ash utilized in cement production in a Russian plant located 350 km from the paper mill. However, abiotic depletion potential and acidification potential slightly increased by 2.6 and 1.5%, respectively. A maximum reduction of 2.1% out of al impact categories was achieved when dry sludge was used in a lightweight aggregate plant. That is considerably less compared to the reduction achieved at the cement plants. The use of deinking sludge ash in a stone wool plant to substitute 25% of cement resulted in a maximum reduction of 25% in the ozone layer depletion potential. Thus, the utilization of deinking sludge in construction materials production while preventing its landfilling has beneficial effects on the environment, in particular decreased greenhouse gas emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing global waste generated by industrial activities poses significant environmental challenges. Eco-waste management emerges as an economically viable solution for converting, valorizing, and repurposing these byproducts, aligning with circular economy principles, and aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Construction, known for its unsustainability due to high energy consumption, non-renewable resource utilization, waste generation, and greenhouse gas emissions, particularly from cement production, has led to the exploration of alternative materials. Magnesium oxide (MgO)-based cement, an alternative to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), has gained attention, leveraging Brazil's prominence as a major magnesite producer. This study explores the valorization of waste from kraft pulp mills of the paper industry, specifically lime sludge (LS) and lime slaker grits (grits), to produce magnesium oxysulfate (MOS)-based fiber cement boards. The effect of accelerated carbonation on cementitious composites produced with formulations containing grits and LS was investigated. Replacing 25% of the limestone with grits showed no noticeable differences in the properties of the boards, and MOR values close to 11.17 MPa were obtained. However, the physical-mechanical performance showed a decrease with the use of LS and higher concentrations of grits, associated with Na 2 SO 4.XH 2 O formation in the system and ITZ structure formed around the aggregated particle, respectively. Carbonation in a saturated atmosphere led to the carbonation of the 5–1–7 phase, which was related to the decrease in mechanical strength of the boards after the curing process. The thermal decomposition of the Hydrated Magnesium Carbonates (HMCs) formed during accelerated carbonation corroborated with the changes in the physical properties of the composites, demonstrating that the carbonation products are formed within the voids and pores of the material and contribute to the reduction in water absorption of the boards. • Global waste requires innovative environmental solutions for sustainability. • Investigation on eco-waste management aligns with circular economy principles, reducing environmental impact. • Article focuses on MgO-based cements as an alternative to Ordinary Portland Cement, highlighting global magnesite production. • Research emphasizes valorization by utilizing waste from kraft pulp mills (such as LS and grits) for MOS-based fiber cement production. • Exploration of accelerated carbonation impact on cementitious composites with LS and grits unveils shifts in physical-mechanical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Evaluation of new HWP accounting method leads to significant GHG emission reduction for Canada. [•] Use of harvested wood for energy and of construction lead to largest GHG savings. [•] A cascade-use for wood and paper products is paramount for further GHG improvement. [•] The end-of-life effect of using recycled waste wood for energy is delayed due to longer carbon uptake. [•] Cradle-to-cradle utilization of wood waste has an underdeveloped reduction potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper, which is one of the largest constituent of Municipal solid waste, has become a severe problem for disposal in developed and developing countries due to the shrinking landfill capacity. It is very important and challenging task in managing the solid waste. Newspaper, which is a cellulosic feed stock, is emerging as an attractive option for the production of bio-ethanol because of lower feedstock costs, higher potential for fossil fuel displacement and also there will be reduction in greenhouse gas emission as compared to production of ethanol from corn. The main objective of the current project is to minimize the newspaper load on municipal solid waste by efficiently utilizing the waste newspaper in the production of bio-ethanol. Experimental studies have been carried out to optimize the pre-treatment process for increasing the efficiency of bacterial hydrolysis, the efficient conversion of cellulose to sugars from cellulose degrading microorganisms and to convert the sugars released to Ethanol by using Fermentation process. Pretreatment, hydrolysis and fermentation are the steps involved in the production of Bioethanol. In the pre-treatment process, the Lignin, Hemicellulose and Cellulose are separated to enhance the hydrolysis process. The optimized condition for the pre-treatment was found to be 1.5% concentration of H 2 SO 4 at 121 °C and 45 minutes. The bacteria CytophagaHuchnosonni was used for hydrolysis process, which helped in converting the cellulose to sugars and was analysed using DinitroSalicilicacid. The reducing sugars were fermented to produce Bioethanol using the Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisae and the yield was estimated using specific gravity method and also by using HPLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental issues within the transport industry need to be given priority attention. Optimizing the transport structure and promoting low-carbon transport are essential measures for achieving carbon emission reduction. However, the rail-water multimodal transport scale is currently limited. The government has to intervene in the market through incentive policies, so how to expand the revenue of carriers and enhance the volume has become a major dilemma. Our paper constructs a transport system that includes road, water, and railway, and examines the impact of incentive policies on separate stakeholders. It is discovered that incentive policies can increase the revenue of carriers and simultaneously attract more shippers to elect rail-water multimodal transport. Subsidy policy can hasten the structural transformation of inland transport, making railway transport volume rise. Unfortunately, although the dry port policy may enhance the revenue of railway carriers, it leads to an apparent decline in the revenue of road-water multimodal transport participants. However, the subsidy policy can create a win-win scenario for multiple carriers while achieving carbon emission reduction, but to the detriment of social welfare. Additionally, the paper compares the interactions between diverse incentive policies and pivotal factors such as transport time. The conclusions of our research serve strategic recommendations for maximizing carriers revenues and provide support for government decision-making. • The impact of incentive policies on the rail-water multimodal transport is inspected. • Subsidy policy can make carriers better off, but may have adverse effects on social welfare. • Subsidy policy expands carrier volume and stimulates transport structure transformation. • Although dry port is conducive to social welfare, it hurts the revenue of carriers. • The dry port is beneficial for achieving long-distance carbon emissions reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emission permitting (EP) has been widely implemented to regulate point-source wastewater emissions. However, the ways in which local industries respond to an EP intervention and to what extent an EP policy could reduce emissions is subject to great uncertainty and should be investigated. This study develops an agent-based model to examine each individual firm's changing behaviours and the aggregated environmental and economic performance of the local economy. The Baoding Municipality, located upstream of the Baiyangdian Wetland, a core conservation area in the Xiong' An New District, was investigated as a case study. The simulation results showed that the regional industrial economy first fell and then rose. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) emissions of the municipal industrial total showed a downward trend from 2015 to 2025, with an average annual reduction of 1.2% under the current EP policy. The textile and papermaking industries had comparatively large potential for emission reduction, accounting for 43.7% and 22.7% of the total industrial emissions, respectively. The simulation results also showed that over 61.9% of firms changed their approach from take-no-action to proactive pollution control up to 2025. Further, the results verify that total emissions would be expected to decrease significantly with tightening permit limits, while the marginal effects of EP regulation would be expected to decline gradually. As a quantification of EP's effects on both environmental and economic aspects, this study provides valuable insights for the advancement of EP policies through national reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The paper industry is responsible for a considerable amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions mainly due to its intensive energy requirements. The production of heat and power streams in a cogeneration system, i.e., a combined heat and power (CHP) plant, releases considerable amounts of GHG emissions into the atmosphere. Such emissions are already subjected to legislation globally. The amount of GHG emissions is usually calculated from the product of the total amount of energy activity multiplied by an emission factor. However, each energy output stream should get a share of emissions responsibility. This fact could assist in assigning weights to the emissions generated for power and thermal purposes in a combined heat and power plant. However, developing a suitable method of allocating emissions in a cogeneration system is still a concern and a subject research for scientists, companies and policy makers. This paper exposes and evaluates different published allocation methods and applies them to a real case of a combined heat and power plant integrated in a paper mill and proposes a new allocation method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Renewable energy sources, driven by the global concern for climate change and the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, are gaining increasing importance. Among them, solar energy stands out as a crucial renewable source and accurate solar irradiance forecasting is vital for its effective utilisation. Deep learning (DL) techniques have emerged as state-of-the-art solar irradiance forecasting methods in past years. However, traditional models that are widely used have inferior accuracy in forecasting. To bridge this gap, this paper presents an improved state-of-the-art model that leverages the convolutional property to forecast the time series data. We got a reduction of 8.32% in MAE compared to the base model. The paper's findings highlight the potential of DL-based approaches to significantly improve the accuracy of solar irradiance forecasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A broad consensus has been formed around global greenhouse gas emission reduction, and the task of realizing carbon reduction and decarbonization in the shipping industry is getting increasingly severe. Low-carbon and zero-carbon fuel power is the most direct and effective way to reduce ship emissions. However, it is difficult to form a mature power system configuration in designing, constructing, and applying low-carbon and zero-carbon fuel-powered ships due to the constraints of waters, routes, ship types, demand, power, alternative fuels, carbon emission reduction policies, and other dimensions. Based on this situation, to fill in the top-level architecture of the ship green power system and form a preliminary ship green power system configuration, this paper constructs a "demand-configuration-integration-system evaluation" architecture of ship green power system based on zero-carbon fuels from two kinds of zero-carbon fuels, i.e., hydrogen and ammonia. First, the demand for green ship power systems is sorted out, and the five ship system configuration elements, namely, fuel, power module, propulsion mode, aftertreatment mode, and propulsion module, are summarized. Then, the systems are combined and integrated, and the steps of the assessment of zero-carbon ship power systems are summarized by taking three typical power system configurations, namely, internal-combustion engine, fuel cell, and hybrid power systems, as examples. The green zero-carbon power system architecture proposed in this paper not only includes three kinds of inland near-sea and oceanic water requirements but also involves different ship types, such as container ships, bulk carriers, cruise ships, offshore engineering vessels, which can provide specific ideas and references for the designers/owners when designing and selecting a new type of zero-carbon powered ship. [Display omitted] • A ship zero carbon power system architecture has been constructed. • Sorting out zero-carbon power needs from waters, routes, and ship types. • Constructing the zero-carbon ship power system from five dimensions. • Demand, configuration, integration, and evaluation form a selection closed-loop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a novel aviation CO 2 emissions reduction method by introducing a market-based incentive mechanism. An aviation carbon emissions prediction model is proposed to characterize both the microscopic flight dynamics and the macroscopic air traffic demand trend. Based on emissions prediction, a linear climate response model is applied to evaluate the environmental impact of the aviation carbon emissions. Finally, a market-based framework for aviation CO 2 emissions reduction is established based on a two-phase carbon trading model, which provides a piecewise charge method through emission taxation and cap-and-trade. A case study is carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed framework using a real-world dataset from the Hefei Air Traffic Control Zone in China. Three scenarios are defined to describe the possible development speed of sustainable aviation fuel application in the future: not applied, medium-speed development, and high-speed development. The results show that the carbon peak will be reached in 2025 in the high-speed development scenario, when the emission amount and associated environmental impact will be reduced by 23.7% and 22.3%, respectively. Thus, the market-based framework proposed in this paper can effectively reduce aviation CO 2 emissions and mitigate the effects of global warming. • An aviation CO 2 emissions prediction model is proposed considering both microscopic flight dynamics and macroscopic traffic demand. • A more efficient market-based CO 2 emission reduction framework is developed based on a two-phase carbon trading model by means of taxation and cap-and-trade. • Case study shows that the proposed method has a more optimal incentive for CO 2 emission reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We study the relationship between GVC embedding and carbon emission density. • A mediation effect model was established to test the mechanism. • There is a U-shaped relationship between urban GVC embedding and carbon emission density. To achieve its carbon peak and neutrality plan, whether China's global value chain (GVC) embedding has a carbon emission reduction effect is a question worthy of attention. This paper measures the GVC embedding degree of 218 Chinese cities from 2000 to 2016, and constructs a panel data model to investigate the impact and its mechanism of GVC embedding on carbon emission intensity. This study finds that there is a significant U-shaped relationship between GVC embedding and carbon emission intensity, and a series of robustness test results support this conclusion. Export scale, energy consumption structure and technological innovation play a mediation role in the impact path of GVC embedding on carbon emission intensity. Based on this, this paper proposes that while participating in GVC, China needs to actively utilize the emission reduction effect of GVC, promote the transformation of export mode to high quality, reduce the use and dependence on high-carbon resources such as coal, and encourage companies to innovate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method of recycling cooking with pulping wastewater was developed to save energy and reduce carbon dioxide emissions in a pulp mill, which used bio-fuel of eucalyptus instead of coal and oil, and reduced the steps of black liquor combustion and lime regeneration in the traditional pulp mill to reduce carbon dioxide emission. As results, the bio-fuel consumption and CO 2 emission are 2.04 × 104 MJ (1.2 tons of eucalyptus) and 2.2 tons for per ton of pulp. It reduces 28.23% of fuel energy consumption and 14.06% of CO 2 emission comparison with that by the traditional pulp mill. In addition, while using the generated lignin as part of bio-fuel, the product value-added is 765.88 RMB for per ton of pulp, being 23.72% lower than that of 1004.08 RMB by the traditional pulp mill. Therefore, this study demonstrates the advance and feasibility of using only bio-fuel for a new pulp mill with a new method of recycling cooking, and will promote the technological revolution of cleaner production in the pulp and paper industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past years, several efforts have been made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions coming from the transport sector. Due to the highly efficient CO2-free combustion and low manufacturing costs, Hydrogen Internal Combustion engines (H2ICEs) are considered one of the most promising solutions for the future of medium and heavy duty vehicles. However, the combustion of an air-hydrogen mixture presents challenges related to the production of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and high knock tendency, mainly due to the chemical characteristics of the fuel. Although these problems can be mitigated by the use of a lean mixture, which is also useful to increase the combustion efficiency, the presence of excess air reduces exhaust temperatures and, consequently, the enthalpy content in the exhaust would be limited, leading to a reduced boosting capability. Therefore, a proper control of mixture preparation and combustion phasing is mandatory to limit NOx emissions, avoid abnormal combustions, and maximize efficiency without performance limitations. This paper focuses on the design of a dedicated control strategy for H2ICEs. Starting from a previously validated 1-D engine model operated with hydrogen, a 0-D Artificial Neural Network (ANN) - based engine model has been designed and calibrated. By using the obtained fast running ANN-based model, an innovative torque-based engine controller has been developed and both engine and controller models have been tested covering different torque profiles. The results show good accuracy within a range of ±5% on producing the requested torque by controlling the centre of combustion. [Display omitted] • Hydrogen represents an optimal solution for the abatement of CO2 emissions related to the transport sector. • Hydrogen combustion is prone to abnormal combustions and NOx emissions. • Dedicated control strategies are needed to achieve an efficient, clean and reliable H2 combustion. • Model in the Loop approach aimed at testing the proposed control strategy. • Artificial neural network – based fast running engine model enabled testing the control system in relevant running conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the increase in electric energy consumption and the significant growth in the number of electric vehicles (EV) at the level of the distribution network, new networks have started using new fuels such as hydrogen to improve environmental indicators and at the same time better efficiency from the excess capacity of renewable resources. In this article, the services that can be provided by hydrogen refueling stations and charging electric vehicles in the optimal performance of microgrids have been investigated. The model proposed in this paper includes a two-stage stochastic framework for scheduling resources in microgrids, especially hydrogen refueling stations and electric vehicle charging. In this model, two main goals of cost minimization and greenhouse gas emissions are considered. In the proposed framework and in the first stage, the service range of microgrids is determined precisely according to the electrical limitations of distribution systems in emergency situations. Then, in the second stage, the problem of energy management in each microgrid will be solved centrally. In this situation, various indicators including the output energy of renewable sources, smart charging of hydrogen and electric vehicle charging stations (EV/FCV) and flexible loads (FL) are evaluated. The final mathematical model is implemented as a multivariate integer multiple linear problem (MILP) using the GUROBI solver in GAMS software. The simulation results on the modified IEEE 118-Bus network show the positive effect of the presence of flexible loads and smart charging strategies by charging stations. Also, the numerical derivation shows that the operating costs of the entire system can be reduced by 4.77% and the use of smart charging strategies can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 49.13%. • Embedding network security constraints to ensure that each microgrid operates within safe voltage levels and avoids line capacity. • Examining the impacts of flexible loads and the charging patterns of EVs and FCVs on operational costs. • Incorporating hydrogen storage systems and refueling stations in the model to mitigate the adverse effects of renewable energy fluctuations. • Establishing a multi-objective model to consider both economic and environmental aspects of energy management in the proposed model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legislation regulating the sustainability requirements for hydrogen technologies relies more and more on life cycle assessments (LCAs). Due to different scopes and development processes, different pieces of EU legislation refer to different LCA methodologies, with differences in the way multifunctional processes (i.e., co-productions, recycling, and energy recovery) are treated. These inconsistencies arise because incentive mechanisms are not standardized across sectors, even though the end product, hydrogen, remains the same. The goal of this paper is to compare the life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of hydrogen from four production pathways depending on the multifunctional approach prescribed by the different EU policies (e.g., using substitution or allocation). The study reveals a large variation in the LCA results. For instance, the life-cycle GHG emissions of hydrogen co-produced with methanol is found to vary from 1 kg CO 2 -equivalent/kg H 2 (when mass allocation is considered) to 11 kg CO 2 -equivalent/kg H 2 (when economic allocation is used). These inconsistencies could affect the market (e.g., hydrogen from a certain pathway could be considered sustainable or unsustainable depending on the approach) and the environment (e.g., pathways that do not lead to a global emission reduction could be promoted). To mitigate these potential negative effects, we urge for harmonized and strict guidelines to assess the life-cycle GHG emissions of hydrogen technologies in an EU policy context. Harmonization should cover international policies too, to avoid the same risks when hydrogen will be traded based on its GHG emissions. The appropriate methodological approach for each production pathway should be chosen by policymakers in collaboration with the LCA community and stakeholders from the industry based on the potential market and environmental consequences of such choice. • LCA methodologies for hydrogen-related policies are currently not fully harmonized. • Four hydrogen production pathways involving multifunctionality were analysed. • GHG emissions of hydrogen vary significantly with the LCA methodology adopted. • Inconsistencies can lead to market distortions, inefficiencies, and confusion. • There is an urgent need for harmonized and strict LCA guidelines for H2 production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of climate change, zero carbon refurbishment for existing buildings is imperative for maximising carbon emission reductions. Due to the increasing complexity of reducing carbon emissions for existing buildings, there is a need for a more collaborative and integrative approach. Extensive research has shown the importance, benefits, and challenges of collaboration and integration in implementing sustainable buildings. However, little attention has been paid to investigating collaboration and integration in refurbishment projects that focus on reducing life cycle carbon emissions. This paper explores the collaboration and integration in the decision-making process towards zero carbon refurbishment by examining three real-life case studies in New Zealand. The findings resulted from an interactive cross-case analysis using replication logic within and among cases. Empirically, the study emphasises the importance of (1) organisational commitment and compatibility of team members, (2) the timely involvement of key stakeholders, (3) the highest level of integration in the design process, and (4) a centralised and integrated information system. The paper also divulges the current practices and challenges faced in the integration process, where lessons learnt are identified for future refurbishment projects. A collaboration and integration framework towards successfully delivering building projects towards zero carbon is proposed. The research implications may assist the real-world uptake of the zero‑carbon refurbishment approach by promoting effective collaboration and integration. • An interactive analysis between theoretical propositions and cross-case synthesis • Divulging challenges and lessons learnt in the collaboration and integration process • Proposing a collaboration and integration framework towards zero carbon refurbishment • Promoting an effective collaboration to assist the real-world uptake of zero-carbon refurbishment [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green hydrogen has become more attractive as a fuel for engines to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By mixing it with natural gas (NG), the modification work on the engine can be minimized but the carbon dioxide emissions from combustion can still be decreased. In this paper, an experimental study was accomplished to investigate the performance of a spark-ignition engine fueled with hydrogen-natural gas blends by either keeping a constant ignition timing or changing it. Up to 25 mol-% hydrogen was mixed into natural gases with different compositions and the methane number and Wobbe index were calculated and compared to the requirements set by Euromot. The results show that up to 15 mol-% hydrogen can be blended into NG to meet the limits of Euromot. However, when 25 mol-% hydrogen was mixed into NG the methane number varied between 56 and 64 depending on the gas composition. This would most likely cause knock for a mixture consisting of higher hydrocarbons but during the executed tests knock was never a problem. Furthermore, it was detected that the methane number alone cannot tell the knock tendency of a gas in a certain engine and an additional condition is needed such as the hydrogen level. An adjusted ignition timing was also preferable compared to a constant one to keep the engine component temperature at a moderate level. • A SI-engine was fueled with different hydrogen-natural gas (H 2 -NG) mixtures. • Wobbe index and methane number (MN) were calculated for all test points. • Efficiency was improved and emissions were decreased with higher hydrogen content. • No tendency of knock when 25 mol-% hydrogen was mixed into natural gas with a low MN. • Additional condition is needed for MN eg. H 2 -level to be sure if knock can happen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Research progress of observation-based ozone formation sensitivity is reviewed. • Threshold values for Photochemical Indicator methods need to be localized. • Reaction mechanisms and monitoring capability need to be improved for OBM. • Ozone formation sensitivity in China presents the gradual shifting tendency. • Dynamic regulation capability for ozone pollution control needs to be built. Observation-based method for O 3 formation sensitivity research is an important tool to analyze the causes of ground-level O 3 pollution, which has broad application potentials in determining the O 3 pollution formation mechanism and developing prevention and control strategies. This paper outlined the development history of research on O 3 formation sensitivity based on observational methods, described the principle and applicability of the methodology, summarized the relative application results in China and provided recommendations on the prevention and control of O 3 pollution in China based on relevant study results, and finally pointed out the shortcomings and future development prospects in this field in China. The overview study showed that the O 3 formation sensitivity in some urban areas in China in recent years presented a gradual shifting tendency from the VOC-limited regime to the transition regime or the NO x -limited regime due to the implementation of the O 3 precursors emission reduction policies; O 3 pollution control strategies and precursor control countermeasures should be formulated based on local conditions and the dynamic control capability of O 3 pollution control measures should be improved. There are still some current deficiencies in the study field in China. Therefore, it is recommended that a stereoscopic monitoring network for atmospheric photochemical components should be further constructed and improved; the atmospheric chemical mechanisms should be vigorously developed, and standardized methods for determining the O 3 formation sensitivity should be established in China in the near future. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shared mobility solutions such as bike sharing services play a key role to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in urban areas. In this paper, we present an approach to model station-based bike sharing in the multi-modal agent-based travel demand model mobiTopp. We compare different implementations of how agents choose their bike pick-up and drop-off stations. In addition to two variations of distance minimization, we also present a gravity approach to represent the reliability of a system. By also comparing different behavioral attitudes of the agents towards walking, a total of six scenarios were implemented and tested. The presented approach allows to easily test scenarios with a varying number of bikes and stations. We apply our algorithm to a model for the city of Hamburg, Germany, where the mobility behavior of a total of 1.9 million agents is modeled. Our simulations show plausible results. The average distances, utilization shares of each station, and other parameters match with values from the actual service. While the different strategies result in significantly different access times, and provide further new valuable insights and options for parameterization, differences in resulting demand are small. Overall, this model provides new methods to simulate bike sharing in travel demand models, thus helps to simulate an important mode of transport of the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Digitalization become a new driving force to improve energy-saving and emission reduction performance (EEP). • The relationship between digitalization and EEP has spatial and temporal heterogeneity. • There is a synergy between digitalization and industrialization. • Some constructive policy suggestions are proposed from the perspective of digital development. In the digital era, enterprises actively use digital technology to enable resource conservation and pollution reduction, which has important practical significance. However, the existing research has not fully clarified the link between digitalization and energy-saving and emission reduction. This paper measures the digital development level and energy-saving and emission reduction performance (EEP) of 271 Chinese cities from 2003 to 2019 and empirically explores the impact of digitalization on EEP. The empirical results are: (1) digitalization can significantly improve EEP in Chinese cities, and become a new driving force to save energy and reduce emissions in the new era. After solving the endogeneity problems and replacing the explained variables, the conclusion remains robust. (2) The relationship between digitalization and EEP has significant spatiotemporal heterogeneity. Digitalization helps to promote EEP in China's eastern cities, but it has not shown a positive effect in western cities. The positive effect of digitalization began to emerge after 2011. (3) There is a synergy between digitalization and industrialization, which enables cities to save energy and reduce emissions. This study helps clarify the relationship between digitalization and EEP, which provides important insights into how digitalization can empower cities' energy-saving and emission reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The logistics management of refined oil under a separation of production and transportation leads to high logistics costs and a mismatch between the supply and demand sides. This paper intends to develop a general framework to assess the impact of the integration of the production and transportation in terms of economic, environmental, and energy benefits. Firstly, this paper proposes a tactical-level mathematical model for optimizing the integration of production and transportation of refined oil to minimize the total cost. In the model, several factors, such as level of market demand, production capacity limits, transportation modes, and transportation capacity, are taken into consideration. Then, the energy, economy, and environment analysis method are applied to assess the impact of the integration on the field of refined oil logistics. Four scenarios are set up and a comparative analysis is carried out in detail in China. The optimal resource allocation scheme and production adjustment scheme for each scenario are obtained. The results show that after the integration, the logistics cost is reduced by 6.8 %− 11 %, the greenhouse gas emission is reduced by 7.3 %− 17.7 %, and the energy consumption per unit turnover is reduced by 4.4 %− 7.4 %. This proves that the integration of production and transportation guided by the proposed method performs positive economic, environmental, and energy benefits. Finally, policy implications are provided. • A framework is raised to assess the integration of oil production and transportation. • A logistics optimization model considering production adjustment is proposed. • The economic, environmental and energy benefits in a real case are identified. • Policy prescriptions are recommended for China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the constraints of carbon trading policy, manufacturers have strengthened joint emission reduction with energy service company (ESCO). In view of the capital constraint of ESCO and the demand risk of the manufacturer, in order to promote better cooperation between the manufacturer and ESCO, the influence of manufacturer's risk aversion on supply chain performance is studied. In this paper, we use the mean-variance (MV) model to construct the two-echelon supply chain models of manufacturer's non-shareholding ESCO, manufacturer's shareholding ESCO and manufacturer's shareholding ESCO under risk aversion, respectively. This paper studies the risk aversion strategy of manufacturer's shareholding ESCO, discusses the influence of relevant parameters on decision variables, and analyses the influence of different shareholding proportion and risk aversion coefficient on profit through numerical analysis. The results show that the emission reduction of ESCO and the selling price of the manufacturer are increased when the manufacturer chooses the appropriate shareholding proportion, and interestingly, the manufacturer's shareholding in ESCO will also increase its emission reduction price. However, in order to avoid the risk of equity investment, manufacturers adopt the strategy of reducing the price of emission reduction and sales price, but this behavior will not only reduce their own profits, but also make the emission reduction lower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Carbon Peaking" and "Carbon Neutralization" is the strategic direction and key period in the current stage of ecologic civilization construction. Green finance refers to making the financial industry a guide and supervisor of other industries. Green finance will help other industries save energy and reduce emissions to achieve "Carbon Peaking" and "Carbon Neutralization" at an early date. This paper takes Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Guizhou and Xinjiang provinces, which were approved as green finance reform pilot zones in 2017, as examples, and uses synthetic control method to study the constraint effect of the local carbon emissions in pilot zones. The results show that Guizhou has the best emission constraint effect. Jiangxi Province has a certain degree of emission constraint effect. Zhejiang, Guangdong and Xinjiang have no emission constraint effect. The following placebo test results show that the experiment is stable and robust. By combining the actual pilot zones policy schemes and experimental results of the five provinces, this paper concludes that the main reason for the differences in emission constraint effects of the five pilot zones are the differences in the policy selection and the different characteristics of the provinces. Based on this result, relevant policy suggestions are put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pressure on reducing greenhouse gas emissions has increased since the focus on climate change mitigation has grown. As the human development index is directly related to per capita energy consumption, sustainable energy production with reduced carbon footprint is the essential pathway for cleaner environment. Over numerous existing biological processes, hydrogen production via photo fermentation and photolysis of water is considered a more sustainable and economical method of hydrogen production. While both biological modes suffer from certain limitations, such as low yields and low production rates, practical implementation is still a long way off due to these limitations. The unique properties of nanomaterials (NMs) can help increase the efficiency of the biomass to biohydrogen process in significant ways. Applications of organic and inorganic nanoparticles in photocatalytic and photo fermentative hydrogen production is discussed in this paper. This review reports a wide range of applications of nanomaterials including the details of photo fermentative microorganisms and their mechanism of action. The maximum photo fermentative bio-H 2 production was reported in the presence of SiC–Fe 3 O 4 (3.02 mol H 2 /mol acetate), Ni (41 mol H 2 /mol sugar), graphite-C 3 N 4 (64.2 mol H 2 /mol sugar) whereas photocatalytic bio-H 2 yield was highest when Pd–Ni/CdS (54 mmol/g.h), Ni-MO/g-C 3 N 4 (1785 mmol/g.h) and CuO/TiO 2 (20.3 mmol/g.h) nanoparticles were employed. To design photocatalytic systems for practical and scalable use, the future research should be focused on deeper theoretical knowledge of mechanisms of light harvesting, ± charge separation and transport, surface biochemical reactions, semiconductor–liquid interactions, and reactor dynamics. [Display omitted] • Recent developments for improving water photolysis and photo-fermentation are reviewed. • Applications of organic and inorganic nanoparticles in hydrogen production are discussed. • The working principle and mechanism of hydrogen production are discussed. • The influence of key operating factors are presented. • Scope for future research was presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the huge contribution of transportation to global greenhouse gas emissions, it is imperative to embrace more carbon-efficient transportation modes to support our environmental goals. However, few studies offer empirical evidence to evaluate the potential of shifting transportation model for carbon emissions reduction. This paper, aiming at addressing this gap, conducts an empirical study to assess the CO2 emissions reduction through modal shift from road to waterway transport (MSRW). It utilizes primary data collected from more than 200 voyages of 92 enterprises through one national pilot project on CO2 emission reduction in the Quzhou region initiated by the Chinese central government. Specifically, it employs empirical analysis based on bottom-up methodologies to investigate the potential for CO2 emission reduction through MSRW. The results reveal that MSRW can aid to benefit 45,907 tons CO2 emission reduction from the modal shift within the study scope. When considering factors such as distance and voyage density, it provides new quantitative insights into the advantages of water transport over road transport in terms of CO2 emission reduction under different scenarios. Consequently, this study makes new contributions to the quantification of the benefits that an investigated region/city can derive from transport modal shift. It thereby lays the groundwork for effective cost-benefit analysis and policy implementation toward cleaner transportation. • Use of a hybris of energy consumption approach from a new analysis perspective that consider multiple-dimensional MSRW. • Provide a new research method to enable the quantification of the carbon emissions of an entire transport chain in detail. • Provides a solution to the evaluation of the effect of the implementation of transport policies on carbon emissions. • Investigate the MSRW to stimulate cost-benefit analysis and transport policy implementation towards clean transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of distributed energy sources in integrated energy systems make it difficult to meet the real-time balance between supply and demand, requiring the deployment of energy storage systems. Hydrogen storage can compensate for the lack of electrochemical energy storage in the energy, time and space dimensions. Meanwhile, the cooperative operation of participants within an integrated energy system, compared to individual operation, can help generate additional benefits and reduce carbon emissions. Therefore, this paper proposes a method for optimising the operation of integrated energy systems based on a cooperative game containing hydrogen energy storage systems. Firstly, a model for optimising the operation of an integrated energy system with hydrogen storage energy system considering the revenue from hydrogen sales is constructed. Secondly, a benefit allocation mechanism for the cooperative game based on the shapley value method is proposed. Finally, the BPSO-SA optimisation algorithm is proposed for solution. The total operating cost of the collaborative operation scenario is reduced by 22.96% and the carbon emissions are reduced by 80.11% compared to the independent operation scenario, the operating cost savings and carbon emissions reduction are allocated to the participants according to their contribution, encourage participants to build integrated energy systems through collaboration. • A model for optimising the operation of an IES containing hydrogen energy storage system is developed. • A multi-participant cooperative game benefit allocation mechanism within the IES is developed. • A hybrid particle swarm optimisation-simulated annealing based on beetle antennae search strategy (BPSO-SA) is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the process of producing isopropanol (IPA) by direct hydration of propylene, a mixture of IPA, n-propanol (NPA) and H 2 O is formed. In order to obtain high purity IPA and NPA, extractive distillation technology can be used to separate these three components. In this paper, Based on the COSMO-RS model, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyandiamide ([EMIM][DCA]) was selected as the extractant for extractive distillation in ionic liquids. The extractive distillation process for the separation of IPA-NPA-H 2 O system with ethylene glycol (EG) or [EMIM][DCA] as extractant was designed and optimized by multi-objective genetic algorithm. Process simulation results show that the process using [EMIM][DCA] can reduce total annual cost by 44.635% and total gas emission by 29.873% compared with the traditional organic solvent EG as extractant. These results show that [EMIM][DCA] is a good extractant, which can reduce the gas emission and energy consumption of the distillation process. In addition, we further explored the separation mechanism of the system at the molecular level by analyzing the σ-curve and the intermolecular interaction energy. • Based on COSMO-RS model, [EMIM][DCA] was selected as extractant. • The reason why EG and [EMIM][DCA] can break the IPA-H 2 O azeotrope was revealed. • Optimized the extractive distillation process with EG or [EMIM][DCA] as entrainers. • [EMIM][DCA] can realize the energy saving and emission reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed at solving the environmental problem of the hottest greenhouse gas reduction. The paper identifies the energy electricity demand, proposes solutions, and calculates the greenhouse gases emitted in each of the interconnected networks available in Cameroon. For a total production estimated at 1292 MW, the country's electricity production depends heavily on hydropower plants (57%), thermal power plants (42%), and only 1% of biomass. Specifically, biomass would contribute to 40% of the supply of the demand if it is sufficiently exploited. Hydroelectricity needs transmission for long distances. The electricity demand in the median economic scenario is the basis of this study. GHGs were calculated using the tool MESSAGE. The results of this study show that it will be possible, without taking into account the fact that biomass is clean energy, to avoid 462 kt of CO 2 eq and 14 kt of CO 2 eq for South Interconnected Network and East Interconnected Network respectively. The amounts of CH 4 , SO 2 , and NO x are not statistically significant. This study takes into account the main existing energy sources in the country. The specificity of this study is to treat the three interconnected networks of the country separately. The use of biomass in local power plants was proposed to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. This study shows that to reduce the GHG emission and the loss of electricity due to its transmission in the country, it is better to use biomass instead of fossil fuels for the production of electricity in Cameroon. [Display omitted] • Electricity demand of the country was identified. • The quantity of GHG emitted from electricity generation in Cameroon was estimated. • Biomass power plants were introduced in the electricity mix of the country to promote local production. • Local realities were taken into account and dependence of imported fossil fuels was reduced. • Biomass instead of fossil fuels was to avoid emission of 462 kt of CO 2 eq. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the viability of environmental taxes as a means to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions within the European Union (EU) using the panel threshold model on two balanced panel data comprising countries from the European Union: the Northern and Western countries and Southern and Eastern countries for the period 2000–2020. The study's empirical results support the Pigouvian theory for developed countries, as they indicate an optimal minimum threshold for environmental taxes, where these taxes effectively contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, the results diverge for emerging countries, revealing a maximum threshold for environmental taxes beyond which their impact in curbing emissions diminishes. To achieve the ambitious goal of climate neutrality, policymakers must adopt a comprehensive and diversified approach. This includes a combination of environmental taxes, more stringent regulations, and emission standards for industries. Additionally, the implementation of carbon pricing mechanisms, promotion of investments in sustainable fuels and technologies, and the establishment of low-carbon emission infrastructure are essential components of this strategy. By integrating these various measures, policymakers can better navigate the path toward climate neutrality and effectively combat climate change in the EU and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses panel data on renewable energy in China. Thus, the current analysis fills the gaps by examining the relationship between green technology innovation and renewable energy and CO 2 emissions from 1990 to 2018. The current study examines all concerns connected to panel data analysis with advanced panel estimators, such as cross-sectional dependence, stationarity, variation in slope parameters, and structural break. Our findings show that test results reveal that green technology innovation and renewable energy have a negative and considerable influence on CO2 emissions in the long run. Moreover, the short-run relationship of green technology innovation, on the other hand, is not significant—as evidenced by the findings of robustness tests such as AMG and CCEMG. Other empirical results revealed that GTI, REN and NEN significantly reduced local CO 2 emission, while POP and PI had no obvious reduction effects on CO 2 emissions. Different GTIs had the same spatial "symbiotic effects" on CO 2 emission reduction in the short term, showing positive spatial spillover reduction effects. Lastly, we conclude that the use of green technology innovation has positive externalities. Some policies to assist green innovation technologies and renewable energy resources have been suggested for the Chinese government to enact. • This paper uses panel data on renewable energy in China. • The current study examines all concerns connected to panel data analysis with advanced panel estimators. • The short-run relationship of green technology innovation is not significant. • We conclude that the use of green technology innovation has positive externalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant increases in renewable energy are needed in electricity systems in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in the face of increasing electricity demand arising from the electrification of heat and transport. Greater flexibility is required in the electricity system to facilitate this, using proven flexibility providers such as batteries and interconnection or new technologies yet to be proven. This paper investigates how the relationship between battery and interconnection development and carbon price can impact carbon dioxide emissions and renewable energy curtailment. The study simulates twenty-eight scenarios and sensitivities using a unit commitment and economic dispatch model of a 2030 European power system that acknowledges that coal will not be fully eliminated from the 2030 generation mix. The results show that interconnection and battery deployment can alleviate renewable energy curtailment by over 2.4 TWh for the basecase, but a high carbon price is critical to ensuring their deployment plays a complementary role in reducing emissions. The paper also examines the impact of batteries and interconnection on solar and wind energy curtailment. It reveals that battery development nearly doubled the solar energy benefits achieved by interconnection development in some cases, while wind energy benefited more from interconnection development. • A high CO 2 price is critical to IC and batteries achieving emissions reductions. • IC can facilitate production of cheaper higher emitting fuels when CO 2 price is low. • Solar energy benefits more from deployment of batteries due to similar timescales. • Diversity of wind profiles can be leveraged with increased interconnection. • Regardless of CO 2 price IC and batteries alleviate renewable energy curtailment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing demand for electricity due to economic development contributes to increased greenhouse gas production, especially CO 2. However, emissions can be limited by enhancing the efficiency of primary energy conversion, such as integrating geothermal energy into coal-fired power plants. Therefore, this paper proposes replacing conventional feed-water heaters with geothermal preheaters to create a hybridized system. This study was based on a numerical model validated at a selected Polish power unit. The model was subsequently calibrated for off-design conditions to facilitate partial load analysis. The obtained characteristics outperformed those of the non-hybrid unit, generating over 18 MW of electric power output. Such an improvement could potentially boost the unit's net efficiency by more than 2.6 %. This enhancement is significant as power units typically operate under part load for approximately 90 % of the time, hence the need to evaluate the performance characteristics of hybridized units in those states. Furthermore, the research outlines the potential decrease in the plant's CO 2 emission factor, with reductions reaching up to 6.5 % under off-design conditions. Based on a gap analysis of the existing literature, this paper's comprehensive partial load evaluation serves as a new addition to research on hybridized systems. • An in-depth analysis of feed-water heaters operation is performed. • Turbine performance calculations for both design and off-design states is validated. • The comprehensive study of hybridized systems integrates three major factors. • Hybrid geothermal-fossil power cycle is vital for specific CO 2 emissions reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Introducing cryptocurrency mining as a novel virtual energy storage system. • Offering a structure to store excessive renewable energy in cryptocurrency units. • Proposing an opportunity to generate more electricity from renewable sources. • Modeling cryptocurrency storage in the energy management studies of the microgrids. • Studying the profitability of cryptocurrency mining in the microgrids. Renewable electrical energy (such as: solar and wind energies) generation in microgrids (MGs), is gaining attention to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Microgrid operators (MOs) aim to create self-sufficient, environmentally sustainable grids, increasing the capacity of renewable energy sources (RESs) by up to 100%. Despite of the benefits of this trend, challenges arise from non-controlled characteristics of these power generations and their seasonal variations, causing fluctuations and renewable energy curtailment. Although the technical solutions; such as: the demand response (DR) programs, and the conventional electrical energy storage systems (EESSs) can help, however those may face limitations in countries with high seasonal energy generation and consumption variations. This paper introduces cryptocurrency mining loads (CMLs) as innovative virtual energy storage systems (VESSs), named cryptocurrency energy storage systems (CESSs). It proposes a structure to store excess renewable energy in cryptocurrency units (CCUs) like Bitcoin (BTC). CESSs can be charged during off-peak intervals and, conversely, they discharge during high-demand periods to reduce the overall operational cost of MGs. Furthermore, it presents a new energy management system (EMS) formulation for the optimal operation of MGs in the presence of CESSs, providing an opportunity to generate additional electricity from RESs and to mitigate renewable energy curtailment. This paper explores the optimal operation conditions of both islanded and grid-connected MG with the proposed CESS. Utilizing a dataset from an island in Finland as a practical MG, its effectiveness is demonstrated through several case studies. The results of one case study in this paper demonstrate that the proposed CESS can decrease the operating cost of the MG by about 46.5%. Additionally, it is showed that by application of CESS the renewable energy curtailment is significantly reduced, and approached zero. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to cast-in-situ construction, prefabricated construction reduces the generation of construction waste; however, construction waste cannot be entirely eliminated through prefabrication and can be generated at each stage of its life cycle. This paper generates a system dynamics model, comprising two causal-loop diagrams and one stock-flow diagram, to simulate the effectiveness of policies on decarbonizing prefabricated concrete building waste. The model can predict the annual and total construction waste, along with the associated carbon emissions, under different policy scenarios in China by 2030. This paper focuses on prefabricated concrete buildings in China, with specific attention to the wastage of concrete, bricks, mortar, and metal. In single-factor scenario simulations, increasing landfilling fee is the most effective policy for waste decarbonization, potentially reducing carbon emissions by 31%. Increasing prefabrication rate and enhancing regulation degree at the design phase of prefabrication can directly reduce prefabricated building waste generation, subsequently resulting in an 18% and 7% carbon emissions reduction. Multi-factor scenario simulations demonstrate that the simultaneous application of all four policies is most effective, achieving a 44% reduction in carbon emissions. This research establishes a theoretical framework for prefabricated concrete building waste management and provides the Chinese government with practical insights on optimizing policies for waste decarbonization in the dynamic landscape of prefabrication. • This paper develops the prefabricated building waste generation and disposal systems. • The model predicts the construction waste and associated carbon emissions by 2030. • Raising landfill fee is an effective policy for decarbonizing construction waste by 31.06%. • Prefabrication rate reaching 100% can reduce 18.04% of carbon emissions from waste. • Applying all policies is most effective, achieving a 44.34% carbon emissions reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Challenges and future perspectives of desalination integration are presented. [Display omitted] • Different optimized models for desalination technologies integration are summarized. • The control strategies of RES-desalination for reducing environmental are discussed. • Impact of desalination process innovation on energy saving and emission reduction. In the present framework, desalination, as an energy-intensive industry, has garnered increased attention due to the imperative need for reducing energy consumption. In this paper, various challenges in the integration and optimal design of desalination processes have been presented. The energy consumption, energy supply method, water production method and improvement measures of various desalination are studied in detail, of which energy consumption is a major aspect. This article summarizes the integration modes of different desalination technologies. Low integration density, inadequate energy utilization and unsystematic theory guidance have been the focus of research. Operational strategies and optimal design methods for the integration of renewable energy and desalination technologies are studied in detail. The integration of renewable energy emerges as a pivotal trend, contributing significantly to the reduction of carbon footprints and costs. Additionally, the significance of recently developed desalination processes, such as pre-treatment process, equipment enhancements and advanced materials have been discussed. Furthermore, various unresolved issues in de integration desalination technologies system have been investigated in the paper along with the possible solutions to address the reported open issues. By exploring the integration of desalination technologies, the paper aims to provide valuable insights for enhancing the efficiency of commercial desalination plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]