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The energy needed for the dewatering and drying of wet paper web represents around half of the energy consumption of papermaking processes. The present work examined whether the dewatering and drying of paper could be enhanced during a previous pulp drying process by pretreating the fibers with polyamide-epichlorohydrin (PAE). According to the hypothesis, the cured PAE restrains swelling and water absorption of water-wetted fibers by forming a fiber-bound, self-crosslinked polymernetwork on the fiber surfaces. The hypothesis was tested by adding PAE to never-dried kraft pulp slurry followed by pulp thickening, drying, and final curing of the PAE-resin. After this, the PAE-treated fibers were dispersed in water, and their water retention values (WRV) and Shopper-Riegler values (°SR) were measured. The PAE pretreatments notably decreased the fibers' WRV and °SR, indicating improved water removal of paper web in the paper machine forming and drying section. Compared to chemical crosslinking pretreatments, which also can be used to decrease fibers WRV and °SR-value, a notable advantage of PAE-pretreatment is milder required curing conditions of the PAE, which makes implementation of the method easier in practice. Due to decreased fiber-to-fiber bonding capability, the PAE-treated specialty fibers could take advantage especially as a bulking aid of paperboard, tissue, and absorbent materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal 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.)

State-of-the-art manufacturing of tissue paper by Through Air Drying provides excellent product performance, although at a high production cost and energy use. In this work, a laboratory scale vacuum suction box was used to mimic the initial dewatering and the Through Air Drying molding, together with a pilot-scale trial. The purpose was to investigate both how the laboratory scale corresponds to pilot scale testing and investigate how fabric design, basis weight, beating, and fibers affect dewatering and sheet caliper. This study reevaluates dewatering mechanisms during molding, challenging the previous hypothesis of pure air displacement dewatering. Results show a parallel mechanism of compression dewatering and air displacement. The influence of rush transfer is examined, impacting the sheets' visual appearance, thickness, and solids content. Correlations between molding box solids content and headbox freeness emphasize significance of fibers and beating levels. Pilot results confirm the link between former solids and molding box solids. Pilot trials validate the laboratory results, facilitating comprehensive simulation of full-scale manufacturing. This research reveals dewatering mechanisms, highlights operational parameters, and enables effective Through Air Drying process design and refinement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal 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.)

We revisit, and document new facts regarding, the financialization of U.S. energy markets in 2000–2010. We show that, after controlling for macroeconomic factors and physical energy market fundamentals, the strength of energy markets' co-movements with the U.S. stock market is positively related to the energy paper market activity of hedge funds that trade both asset classes. This relation weakens when credit risk is elevated. We find, in contrast, no link with the aggregate positions of commodity index traders in energy futures markets. Our findings have implications for the ongoing debate regarding the financialization of commodities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic benefits of the pulp and paper industry have led it to be one of the most important industrial sections in the world. Nevertheless, in recent years, pulp and paper mills are facing challenges with the energy efficiency mechanisms and management of the resulting pollutants, considering the environmental feedbacks and ongoing legal requirements. This study reviews and discusses the recent developments of affordable methods dealing with pulp and paper mill wastewaters. To this end, the current state of the various processes used for pulp and paper production from virgin or recovered fibers has been briefly reviewed. Also, the relevant contaminants have been investigated, considering the used raw materials and applied techniques as the subject for further discussion about the relevant suitable wastewater treatment methods. The results of the present study indicated that adopting the integrated methods, alongside a combination of biological (e.g., anaerobic digestion) and physicochemical (e.g., novel Fenton reactions) treatment methods, can be environmentally and economically preferable to minimize environmental contaminants and energy recycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the association between renewable energy uptake and digitalization in the sector by reviewing relevant literature (published 2010–2022), with the aim of identifying the existing utilization of digital technologies within the sector, challenges to adoption, and future prospects. Different search engines (SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) were used to locate relevant papers and documents. The results revealed the high significance of digital technologies in supporting the renewable energy sector, with high costs and security risks representing the key challenges. Most papers reviewed had a positive outlook, but recommended further research and development for effective energy transition and resilient infrastructure. The current drivers of the integration of digital technologies to support the diffusion of renewable energy sources appear to extend beyond energy demand and involve many aspects of sustainability and sustainable development. Compared with previous reviews, this work has unique scope and novelty since it considers the bigger picture of the coupling between digitalization and the renewable energy sector, with a greater focus on critical areas in these two interconnected bodies that need to be addressed. The relatively small sample of relevant papers (69 from 836 hits) located in the literature review confirms the need for more research covering the subject in greater depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Based on energy flow characteristics of the paper machine drying section, the dryer section can be divided into network. The Agents applied for the proxy of energy network node. A collaboration approach based on an extended contract net protocol for dryer section energy networks of paper machine is presented, applied for Multi-level negotiation protocol to solve distribution of energy allocation and use of conflict that exist in energy used in paper machine dryer section, in which the trust degree, threshold, and priority are introduced into the classical contract net protocol. This approach resolves energy distribution conflict in the dryer section network through bidding, game theory between the central control Agents and node Agents. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This document is a guest editorial from the journal IET Generation, Transmission & Distribution. It discusses the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in reliable forecasting for energy sectors. The editorial highlights the challenges of integrating renewable energy sources and fluctuating electricity demand, and emphasizes the importance of accurate forecasting for system operators. The document also provides summaries of several papers included in a special issue on AI-empowered forecasting in energy sectors, covering topics such as load forecasting, wind power prediction, and control parameter optimization. The editorial concludes by recommending further research and practical implementations of AI approaches in the energy sectors. [Extracted from the article]

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is among the main available options to cut CO2 emissions from the industry and energy production sectors, but the high costs of current CCS technology still limit their large-scale applicability. For this reason, there is increasing interest in alternative absorbents with the potential to lower the energy and environmental impact of carbon capture. The estimation of costs, as well as process design and optimization, require accurate, reliable, and stable thermodynamic models. This article presents the development and testing of an ELECNRTL model in Aspen Plus for the characterization of HS3, an innovative blend made up of a primary (3-amino-1-propanol) and a tertiary (1-(2-hydroxyethyl) pyrrolidine) amine studied in the H2020-funded Realise project. The vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) model is fitted to in-house experimental data covering a wide range of loadings and operating temperatures. A plot for the system speciation in the liquid phase is obtained. Moreover, a comparison between the heat of absorption data and model prediction is also included. The proposed VLE model shows good accuracy and numerical stability in the whole temperatures and loading ranges of interest for industrial CO2 capture applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to estimate industry-specific direct rebound effects and to relate these effects to industry energy efficiency programs. The rebound effect represents economic behavior that will offset energy savings from energy efficiency improvements. The paper focuses on four energy intense sectors in Sweden; pulp and paper, iron and steel, chemical, and mining, during 2001-2012. We apply a factor demand model that allows for asymmetric energy price responses, i.e. that firms respond differently to increasing and decreasing energy prices. The results show considerable rebound effects. For electricity and non-fossil fuels, efficiency improvements could even 'backfire'. To mitigate this effect, policies, such as voluntary energy efficiency programs, should be combined with an increase in energy taxes if the ambition is to reduce overall energy use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing environmental consideration and the growth of instability of the energy market call for methods that can process the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) into fuel instead of disposal. Due to the pyrolysis and gasification that are efficient procedures to achieve valuable products, gasification of OFMSW with different particle sizes and compositions was carried out in the presence of Ni and Ni-Ce-loaded Y-zeolite in a multizone tubular kiln reactor. During the experiments, 500°C was applied in the first reactor zone, while the 2nd zone was at an elevated temperature of 600°C or 900°C in the presence of steam. The combined pyrolysis and gasification experiments were also carried out without a catalyst with the same operating conditions. The feedstock was collected from the organic fraction of a Hungarian mechanical-biological treatment (MBT) plant and was separated into four different fractions based on particle size: <1 cm dry biomass and fine particles, 1-2 cm paper-rich, 2-6 cm paper and plastic-rich feedstocks, and <6 cm mixture of these fractions. During the experimental work, product yields; gaseous product composition; the ratio of H2/CO, CO2/CO, and CH4/CO; and lower heating value were determined in the function of feedstock composition, the applied temperature, and catalysts. It was found that the hydrogen content and H2/CO ratio of gaseous products were increased due to catalyst application and temperature elevation in the 2nd reactor zone. The addition of Ce to the Ni/Y-zeolite catalyst was advantageous in the case of hydrogen formation at a lower temperature (600°C). The hydrogen and methane content of products obtained from the catalytic pyrolysis-gasification of paper and plastic-rich OFMSWs on elevated temperatures were higher, which increased the lower heating value of those products. Based on the elemental analysis of the obtained solid residues, it was found that paper/plastic-rich feedstock released hydrogen and carbon with a higher extent. 1-2 cm feedstock-related solid residues had the highest H/C ratio which caused a 12.5-12.8 MJ/kg gross heating value. As a result, combined pyrolysis and gasification appear to be an efficient method to attain valuable outputs from OFMSW not only in gas but also in solid products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst efforts to combat high corruption incidence in Ghana, the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959) was enacted to investigate and prosecute specific cases of alleged or suspected corruption offenses in accordance with the United Nations Convention against Corruption. Contrariwise there is a weak accountability, probity, and transparency in the Ghanaian Public Sector as asserted by the Transparency International release (2018-2022). Against this backdrop, this aims to analyze the implications of internal audit efficacy (measured with; risk management, environmental sensitivity, and audit effectiveness), on energy saving behavior, and develop a baseline model to enhance energy saving behavior through sustainability audit. The paper utilized a quantitative research approach and cross-sectional survey design to draw data from 405 public officials across different public sector agencies in Ghana. Variance-Based Structural Equation Modeling and SMART-PLS version 3.3.8 have been used to validate the hypotheses herein. The paper has found that internal audit efficacy has significant effect on sustainability audit and energy saving behavior. Moreover, the paper has revealed sustainability audit significantly mediates the relationship between internal audit efficacy and sustainable energy saving behavior among public sector officials. These indicative results have implications on the newly developed model that could be used to enhance energy saving behavior in a country where such studies have been inadequately explored. These results have reaffirmed the relevance of internal audit efficacy and sustainability audit in energy transition polices as well as the realization of sustainable development goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has become increasingly difficult in Canada to gain and sustain public acceptance of energy projects. Increased levels of protest, combined with traditional media and social media coverage of opposition, combine to suggest decreased public acceptance of energy projects. Decision-makers have responded accordingly, and a variety of energy projects have either been delayed or put on hold indefinitely. This is true for both conventional and renewable energy projects and in many different regions across the country. A number of proposed energy projects have recently faced opposition from various stakeholder groups. For instance, the decision of the Joint Review Panel for the Northern Gateway Pipeline is being challenged in Canada's court system. First Nations groups have issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government that it must choose between Site C (a proposed hydro dam) and liquefied natural gas development in B.C. Rapid expansion of wind energy projects in Ontario has engendered lengthy and costly appeals and the rise of an anti-wind social movement. In Nova Scotia, tidal energy development is being positioned as a new renewable energy option; gaining public acceptance is critical in light of recent opposition to wind energy development. As these experiences suggest, not only has the regulatory process become more contentious, but also an apparently new concept -- social licence -- has had popular appeal. This white paper reports on the results of a year-long interdisciplinary collaboration aimed at identifying and summarizing extant research regarding social licence and related concepts, with a particular emphasis on understanding its implications for public acceptance of energy projects in Canada, and their related regulatory processes. In particular, this research addressed the following questions: 1. What is the history and scope of the term 'social licence', both in the context of energy project development and more generally? What are the strengths and limitations of this term? How does it help or hinder energy policy, regulatory debates and decision-making? 2. What are the similarities and differences between the notion of social licence and established concepts and other concepts or frameworks? 3. From the standpoint of public acceptance of energy projects, is Canada's regulatory system broken? From whose perspective? And what alternatives might be considered? 4. What are barriers to, and enablers of a licence within the regulatory process -- legal, social or otherwise? 5. What role does social licence play in the larger picture: How valid is the concept of social licence? Can social licence actually stop a project, or determine the outcome of an election? Does it create a valuable dialogue about a project? When opposition to projects leads to the arrest of people breaching an injunction or violent confrontations, what role can social licence play in promoting an alternative approach? In addition to a comprehensive look at the concepts of public acceptance and social licence and their applications to Canada, this white paper arrives at certain conclusions (Section 5) and makes recommendations (Section 6) for improving Canada's regulatory systems and improving public confidence in Canada's various energy-related regulatory agencies. For instance, as the federal government embarks on its agenda to amend the regulatory process, the research presented here can inform how the government can best carry out its mandate of reform while balancing the economic, environmental, political, social, and security-related issues pertinent to regulators, federal and provincial governments, industry, First Nations, environmental groups and the general public. The appeal of the term "social licence" derives from the inclusivity and equitability that it seems to imply. But populist pressure for increased voice and regulatory or judicial intervention, arising out of a sense of disaffection or disenfranchisement, is hardly a novel phenomenon: historical context and the lessons learned therefrom are essential in evaluating the idea and situating the debate within a meaningful framework. Social licence entails an additional layer of 'regulation', albeit an amorphous one. A central lesson of the 20th century experience is that regulation comes at a cost, and that excessive regulation and intervention can lead to paralysis and 'government failure'. The implication is that regulation should be relied upon where it is necessary, and should be implemented in sensible ways. One of the conclusions of this report is that public trust and confidence can be enhanced by rationalizing existing regulatory vehicles to reduce the common perception that decisions are sometimes politically motivated and ensuring that decisions are made at the right levels of government. The institutionalization of social licence also has identifiable risks. It is likely to increase incentives for "rent-seeking behaviour." The threat of veto, or even obstruction, endows the affected group with leverage that can result in extraction of rents that are disproportionate to impacts. It also increases regulatory and political uncertainty associated with a given project, discouraging investment, or requiring returns higher than are merited by the inherent riskiness of the proposed undertaking. The term "social licence" needs to be further analyzed, and, if used, used with care. The concept originated in the mining sector as the "social licence to operate," and as the concept has migrated to the energy sector, it appears to have broadened in scope so that its meaning has become unclear, amorphous and confusing. Other terms such as "acceptance," "support" or "public confidence" may be more appropriate in the energy sphere. Regulators, policy-makers and politicians should refrain from the use of these terms without a clear understanding of their implications. Our specific recommendations include: 1. Governmental Coordination. Greater coordination of regulatory processes between the federal and provincial governments is required and should be directed towards enhancing beneficial outcomes for all affected stakeholders (Section 6.1). 2. Stakeholder Engagement. A consistent, transparent and rigorous system for identifying and reaching out to stakeholders is essential to regulatory efficiency and efficacy (Section 6.2). 3. Social Licence as a Concept. When it comes to energy development, the term "social licence" needs to be further analyzed, and, if used, used with care (Section 6.3). 4. First Nations. The federal and provincial governments should take ownership of this duty to consult and ensure that it is done in a comprehensive manner that has been set out by both domestic and international law (Section 6.4). 5. Changes to the NEB Act. An independent review of the changes to the NEB Act regarding time to consult and the list of those who can be consulted should be undertaken to ensure the NEB is unconstrained in its ability to regulate appropriately and has public confidence in its mandate and decisions (Section 6.5). 6. Make Broader Use of Information Gained during Assessment Processes. Energy regulators should consider mechanisms to report recurring concerns that are outside of the scope of their mandate (Section 6.6). 7. Compliance after Project Approval. There is a need for publicly available, timely and relevant data relating to the compliance and post-approval status of projects. Data should be placed on a government portal to increase accessibility to stakeholders (Section 6.7). 8. Cross-Examination in Regulatory Hearings. The extensiveness of permitted cross-examination, and indeed the entire regulatory proceeding, needs to be proportionate to the magnitude of the impacts of the ultimate decision (Section 6.8). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing energy prices and market volatilities force energy intensive industries to implement energy management systems in order to ensure competitiveness. In this paper, we focus on the strategic level of energy management, specifically, on the analysis of the internal and external conditions that form the basis for strategic development. For this, we selected the case of the Austrian paper and pulp industry. We applied a hybrid method by combining an analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats with an analytic hierarchy process which was based on a survey of expert opinion. The results show that cost-related factors predominate. According to our analysis, the four most important factors are all directly linked to energy costs, energy efficiency, and the energy market. Experts pay little attention to environmental issues or to energy market volatilities. Apart from that, the combination of an analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats with an analytic hierarchy process promises to be a valuable tool for strategic energy management. This is especially true for energy intensive companies and/or sectors, since it enables decision makers to take strategic decisions based on a systematic understanding of the main issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Administration of corporate activity is the daily preoccupation of corporate directors. Delegation of decision-making to the director, who is an independent player within the company, can clearly create the risk of conflicting his interests with the interests of the shareholders. This potential conflict of interests is a consequence of the division of ownership of the company and the control powers of the company's commercial activity. The delegation of decision-making authority to the directors of the company may cause the risk of the temptation of the director to the assets of the company. In addition, directors may also be tempted by opportunities for profit that arise during the exercise of their function, instead of using these opportunities for the company. For this reason, it is necessary to foresee clear disciplinary parameters, to avoid and eliminate the conflict of interest, as well as the prohibition of competition. In the present paper, through a legal assessment, special attention has been paid to the main categories of standards: elimination of conflict of interest and prohibition of competition. The main aim of this paper is to analyze the US doctrine, legal provisions, which regulate the two standards of disciplinary conduct for the corporate directors, as well as the court practice in this regard. Also, an important objective of this paper is that it may serve as an important basis for further comparative studies in this field with other jurisdictions. Such analysis is based on the qualitative method, which contains also the research, analytical, descriptive, interpretive methods. The result of this paper will stimulate debate in the academic level and contribute to further improvements of our company legislation, as well to the legal doctrine in Albania that lacks such. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to address the planning problem of integrated energy system (IES) under the goal of "dual-carbon", this paper proposes a multi-objective planning method for IES with carbon trading mechanism based on CVaR (Conditional Value at Risk). Firstly, this paper establishes the IES energy supply equipment model and the improved stepped carbon trading model. Moreover, this paper proposes the IES multi-objective two-layer planning model based on the consideration of carbon trading cost. The upper layer of the planning model takes the optimization of economy and environmental as the goal to realize the rational planning of the integrated energy system. The lower layer model takes the minimum operating cost as the goal to optimize the system operating conditions and verify the rationality of the planning results. Then, the uncertainty model based on mean-CVaR is established for the uncertainty of carbon trading price and new energy output in the planning process. Finally, this paper sets up cases and solves the model using non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II) and solver, which shows that the proposed method can realize the IES low-carbon planning while guaranteeing the economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Research Topic on "Enabling Technologies and Business Models for Energy Communities" presents a comprehensive exploration of critical facets in the realm of sustainable energy transitions. The Research Topic encompasses diverse topics, ranging from smart energy frameworks for urban communities and off-grid renewable energy deployment in Mexico to the impact of institutional support on the coalbed methane industry. It further investigates complex grid investment decisions, solar-based irrigation adoption in water-scarce regions, and risk management in power supply projects. Additionally, the Research Topic delves into financial aspects, exploring the pricing of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project Asset-backed Securities (ABS) products, the impact of managerial competence on corporate carbon performance, and equity-based predictions for the energy industry. The influence of innovation on fossil fuel abandonment in low and middle-income countries and the significance of climate risk for green innovation in heavy-polluting industries are also examined. A regional perspective is provided on the technological convergence of hydrogen energy, and the interplay between renewable energy, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and CO2 emissions in highly-globalized countries is scrutinized. Lastly, the effects of green credit policy on the risk of stocks prices crash are investigated. Together, these contributions offer a holistic understanding of the challenges and opportunities in enabling technologies and business models for energy communities, contributing valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders striving for a sustainable energy future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Historia Agraria is the property of Historia Agraria 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.)

In the context of integrated energy systems, the synergy between generalised energy storage systems and integrated energy systems has significant benefits in dealing with multi-energy coupling and improving the flexibility of energy market transactions, and the characteristics of the multi-principal game in the integrated energy market are becoming more and more obvious, but it is difficult to improve the flexibility of the transactions between "source-load-storage" in a one-way master–slave game structure, and the problem of how to establish an optimisation strategy for the coordination of integrated energy systems and energy storage systems is an urgent issue. How to establish a coordinated optimisation strategy of integrated energy system and energy storage system is an urgent problem. Therefore, this paper proposes a generalised shared energy storage and integrated energy system transaction optimisation method based on a two-stage game model, which improves the flexibility of the system transaction by constructing a two-stage game energy transaction model in which the subject acts as a leader and a gamer. Compared with the current one-way game model that does not consider the game on the energy storage side, the coordinated optimisation method proposed in this paper enables the energy storage side to participate more actively in the scheduling, which improves its revenue by 20.6%, the revenue on the energy-using side by 6.3%, and the overall revenue of the system by 5.4%, and at the same time, the load demand response regulation effect is more obvious, so the energy scheduling strategy proposed in this paper is able to weigh the interests of each subject and increase the overall economic benefits of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reliability of wind turbine power converters is crucial for analyzing wind energy project costs, and for estimating maintenance and downtime. The published literature in this field relies on evaluating the reliability effect of wind speed to estimate the converter lifetime. However, this paper demonstrates that wind turbulence intensity, which has not been widely considered in similar reliability analyses, shows a significant impact on converter lifetime. This paper uses 821 10‐min wind speed time series sampled at 1 Hz on the two most commonly deployed wind turbine converter topologies: the two‐level voltage source and the three‐level neutral point clamped. Electromechanical and thermal modelling, combined with statistical analysis shows that mean wind speed and turbulence intensity both impact the lifetime of both converter topologies. However, the paper estimates that the three‐level converter can operate 2.4 to 4.0 times longer than the two‐level converter depending on the operating wind speed and turbulence intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union, in pursuit of the goal of reducing emissions by at least 55% by 2030 and achieving climate neutrality by 2050, is deploying different actions, with industry decarbonization as a key strategy. However, increasing electricity demand requires an intensification of energy generation from clean technologies, and the energy system's expansion is hindered by renewable generation's climatic dependencies and the imperative for substantial electrical infrastructure investments. Although the transmission grid is expected to grow, flexibility mechanisms and innovative technologies need to be applied to avoid an overwhelming growth. In this context, this paper presents a thorough assessment, conducted within the FLEXINDUSTRIES project, of the flexibility potential across seven energy-intensive industries (automotive industry, biofuel production, polymer manufacturing, steel manufacturing, paper mills, pharmaceutical industry, and cement production). The methodology followed during the analysis entails reviewing the state-of-the-art existing flexibility mechanisms, industries' energy markets engagement, and technical/operational readiness. The results highlight the feasibility of the proposed actions for enabling energy market flexibility through demand-response programs, quantifying energy opportunities, and pinpointing regulatory and technical barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The power sector is one of the major CO2-emitting industries in China. It is also the first key emissions control industry included in China's national carbon trading market established in 2021. Therefore, based on the data of 30 provinces and cities in China from 2015 to 2022, this study analyzes the impact of the national carbon market policy on the carbon emissions of the power industry based on the generalized Difference-in-Difference (DID) model. Based on the method of text analysis, this paper constructs the carbon market policy intensity index of each region and incorporates it into the DID model. Empirical analysis finds that the national carbon market policy can significantly inhibit the carbon emissions of the power industry. However, the heterogeneity analysis of 30 provinces and cities shows that the national carbon market policy has a significant impact on the regions that already have a carbon pilot, but not on the non-pilot regions. Therefore, this paper demonstrates the effectiveness of the national carbon market policy in the power industry emissions control, and also exposes the heterogeneity between regions, providing an important empirical basis for the inclusion of other energy-intensive industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particularly within recent years, the rising number of city actors worldwide declaring climate emergencies and pledging commitments to carbon neutrality has sparked a spatial turn in broader sustainable transition thinking, noting the importance of the local level for governing sustainable transitions. Using a Geographical Political Economy approach, this paper critically engages with path creation theory and sustainable transitions literature to explore the potential of urban net-zero carbon transitions in a multi-scalar governance framework. The main argument is that municipal ownership across sectors has a fundamental role in sustainable transitions at the city level. This paper makes a distinct conceptual contribution to sustainable transitions literature by drawing on path creation theory to illustrate how municipal ownership is a central tenet of path creation by bringing together local actors and enabling political capacity and agency to control and strategize integrated sustainable urban pathways. Using the transport and energy sectors in Nottingham in the UK, it applies the Path Creation Framework in an urban setting to illustrate that municipal ownership stimulates a positive path creation through three main arguments. First, municipal ownership enables a positive embeddedness and historical legacy in the provision of sustainable urban energy and transport services; second, it facilitates the establishment of skills and expertise that positively reinforces urban political capacity for the pursuit of urban sustainability; and third, it stimulates the creation of innovative urban projects for sustainable and equitable pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use conflicts are intensifying in Northern Sweden due to the increasing global demand for resources coupled with the green transition. In line with this, a thorough understanding of land use conflicts in the area is becoming necessary as economic activities expand and newer ones are developed. Hence, this paper aims to provide a systematic literature review of research on land use conflicts specific to Northern Sweden, focusing on various economic activities such as forestry, mining, tourism, energy sector and reindeer husbandry. Additionally, we aim to determine lessons learned and suggested ways forward based on a systematic review. We used Scopus and Web of Science on June 2023 and through descriptive statistical analysis of 33 articles, we summarized research trends and gaps. We found three main typologies of conflicts and five main themes of suggested ways forward. Recommendations agree that there should be a broader understanding of the underlying interests of the stakeholders; and there should be an inclusive, more participatory approach to discussing potential solutions, not to create an agreement but to come to an understanding. Beyond academic insights, the findings hold practical relevance for shaping effective land use policies. This paper offers valuable lessons that extend beyond the local context, informing broader discussions and policy considerations for sustainable land management in the larger Arctic setting, where similar challenges and resource demands are unfolding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In advancing the transition of the energy sector toward heightened sustainability and environmental friendliness, biopolymers have emerged as key elements in the construction of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) due to their renewable sources and excellent biodegradability. The development of these TENG devices is of significant importance to the next generation of renewable and sustainable energy technologies based on carbon-neutral materials. This paper introduces the working principles, material sources, and wide-ranging applications of biopolymer-based triboelectric nanogenerators (BP-TENGs). It focuses on the various categories of biopolymers, ranging from natural sources to microbial and chemical synthesis, showcasing their significant potential in enhancing TENG performance and expanding their application scope, while emphasizing their notable advantages in biocompatibility and environmental sustainability. To gain deeper insights into future trends, we discuss the practical applications of BP-TENG in different fields, categorizing them into energy harvesting, healthcare, and environmental monitoring. Finally, the paper reveals the shortcomings, challenges, and possible solutions of BP-TENG, aiming to promote the advancement and application of biopolymer-based TENG technology. We hope this review will inspire the further development of BP-TENG towards more efficient energy conversion and broader applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the quantitative conditions under which an energy metering pricing model is proposed to increase both gas merchant profits and gas customer consumer surplus compared to a volumetric pricing model. The quantitative condition is found to be related to factors such as the standard unit calorific value of natural gas prescribed by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and other relevant government departments under the energy metering pricing model. This paper establishes a mathematical model based on optimization theory to explore the operational decisions of city gas suppliers in the volumetric and energy metering and pricing modes, respectively, under the condition of relatively stable natural gas sales price. The results of the study show that DAC and other authorities can regulate the standard unit calorific value of natural gas under the energy metering and pricing model by regulating the standard unit calorific value of natural gas. This affects the incentives of gas dealers to produce and operate, guides the preference of gas users for natural gas energy metering and pricing, and results in the derivation of formulas for a reasonable range of standard unit calorific values for natural gas. The findings of this paper provide theoretical support to promote the reform of natural gas energy measurement and pricing, and contribute to the development of the natural gas industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective forecasting of energy consumption structure is vital for China to reach its "dual carbon" objective. However, little attention has been paid to existing studies on the holistic nature and internal properties of energy consumption structure. Therefore, this paper incorporates the theory of compositional data into the study of energy consumption structure, which not only takes into account the specificity of the internal features of the structure, but also digs deeper into the relative information. Meanwhile, based on the minimization theory of squares of the Aitchison distance in the compositional data, a combined model based on the three single models, namely the metabolism grey model (MGM), back-propagation neural network (BPNN) model, and autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model, is structured in this paper. The forecast results of the energy consumption structure in 2023–2040 indicate that the future energy consumption structure of China will evolve towards a more diversified pattern, but the proportion of natural gas and non-fossil energy has yet to meet the policy goals set by the government. This paper not only suggests that compositional data from joint prediction models have a high applicability value in the energy sector, but also has some theoretical significance for adapting and improving the energy consumption structure in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, in order to address climate change and energy depletion, countries around the world have been constantly promoting energy transformation and structural upgrading. The effectiveness of RCEP has broadened the international east Asian new energy market. The development of renewable energy trade in the context of RCEP has attracted significant economic, environmental, and technical attention. Based on the background of RCEP in this study, the constant market share (CMS) model and the weighted dominant comparative advantage (IRCA) index are used to assess the export competitiveness of renewable energy products from 2006 to 2021. The data in this paper were obtained from the UN comtrade database according to the categorical statistics of HS codes. The results show that: (1) the overall competitiveness of Chinese renewable energy products shows an upward trend; (2) the comparative advantages of Chinese renewable energy products are strong, with some differences among different industries; (3) the growth effect is the main reason for the fluctuation of Chinese renewable energy product exports; and (4) the signing of RCEP has injected new vitality into Chinese renewable energy trade. Finally, based on the research conclusions, the paper puts forward corresponding policy proposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a detailed review of the existing literature on peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading considering market architectures, trading strategies, and enabling technologies. P2P energy trading enables individual users in the electricity network to act as sellers or buyers and trade energy among each other. To facilitate the discussion on different aspects of P2P energy trading, this paper focuses on P2P market mechanisms, relevant bidding strategies, and auction models. In addition, to solve the energy management problems associated with P2P energy trading, this paper investigates widely used solution methods such as game-theoretic models, mathematical optimisation, as well as more recent machine learning techniques and evaluates them in a critical manner. The outcomes of this investigation along with the identification of the challenges and limitations will allow researchers to find suitable P2P energy trading mechanisms based on different market contexts. Moreover, the discussions on potential future research directions are expected to improve the effectiveness of P2P energy trading technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Environmental information disclosure is an important means to protect the ecological environment, and global climate change puts forward higher requirements for corporate environmental information disclosure. New energy companies play an important role in addressing climate change and environmental information disclosure, and should strengthen environmental information disclosure and actively participate in ecological environmental protection. Methods: This paper selected Chinese new energy listed companies as the research sample to investigate the impact of green credit on corporate environmental information disclosure, and proposed and empirically tested the hypothesis on the mechanism of the effect of green credit on environmental information disclosure. Results: The regression results indicated that green credit can effectively improve the quality of corporate environmental information disclosure, and this conclusion is still significantly valid after robustness test; The impact mechanism tests showed that green credit can change the level of corporate environmental information disclosure by controlling company size. This paper also tested the heterogeneity and adjustment effects, showing that the relationship between green credit and environmental information disclosure are affected by multiple factors. Discussions: Combining the research of this paper and previous research results, it is found that the positive impact of green credit on corporate environmental information disclosure has been confirmed by academic research and practical verification. However, the implementation effect of green credit policy will be affected by the economic level, regional differences, and the comprehensive impact from companies, financial institutions and government departments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the dynamic link between the development of COVID-19 pandemic and industry sector risk spillovers is crucial to explore the underlying mechanisms by which major public health events affect economic systems. This paper applies ElasticNet method proposed by Diebold and Yilmaz (2009, 2012, 2014) to estimate the dynamic risk spillover indicators of 20 industrial sectors in China from 2016 to 2022, and systematically examines the impact of industry risk network fluctuations and the transmission path caused by COVID-19 shock. The findings reveal that risk spillovers of Chinese industries show a dynamic change of "decline-fluctuation-rebound" with the three phases of COVID-19 epidemic. At the beginning of the epidemic, machinery and equipment, paper and printing, tourism and hotels, media and information services, and agriculture were the exporters of epidemic risk, while materials, transportation equipment, commercial trade, health care, and environmental protection were the importers of epidemic risk; However, as the epidemic developed further, the direction and effect of risk transmission in the industry was reversed. Examining the network characteristics of the pair sectors, we found that under the epidemic shock, the positive risk spillover from tourism and hotels, culture, education and sports to consumer goods, finance, and energy industries was significantly increased, and finance and real estate industries were affected by the risk impact of more industries, while the number of industries affected by information technology and computer industry was significantly reduced. This paper shows that there is inter-industry risk transmission of the COVID-19 epidemic shock, and the risk transmission feeds back in a cycle between industries as the epidemic develops, driving the economy into a vicious circle. The role of the service sector in blocking the spread of negative shocks from the epidemic should be emphasized and brought into play to avoid increasing the overall economic vulnerability. This study will help to deepen the understanding of scholars and policy makers on the network transmission effects of the epidemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the persistence of energy prices in international markets and its implications for market participants and policymakers. Using the ARFIMA model and log-periodogram regression technique, we estimate the long memory parameter in energy price indices. Our findings confirm the persistence in energy prices, indicating that past price movements have a lasting impact on future prices. For market participants, understanding the persistence of energy prices is crucial for developing effective trading strategies and risk management measures. The long-lasting effects of past price movements suggest the need for preparedness in the face of extended periods of price volatility. Policymakers can also benefit from this knowledge by implementing measures to stabilize energy markets and mitigate the impacts of price shocks. Furthermore, our study highlights the importance of incorporating the persistence of shocks in energy price forecasting models. By accounting for the longlasting effects of past price movements, these models can improve the accuracy of price forecasts and aid in decision-making for market participants. While our study provides valuable insights into the persistence of energy prices, further research is needed to investigate the root causes of persistence and its implications in a rapidly changing global economic environment. Additionally, exploring the individual factors that influence energy price indices can enhance our understanding of their dynamics and improve prediction accuracy. Overall, our findings contribute to the existing literature by confirming the presence of persistence in energy prices and providing valuable insights for market participants and policymakers. Further research in this area can offer more pragmatic advice and enhance decision-making in the energy markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global energy sector is in a period of transition, during which time it is expected that renewable and low-carbon energy sources, such as wind and solar, will replace traditional fossil fuels, including oil, gas, and coal. The energy transition is happening not only to limit the environmental impact of fossil fuel production and consumption but also to ensure energy security, reliability, access, affordability, and sustainability. The importance of the energy transition has been amplified by recent events, notably the Russian-Ukraine conflict. Economic, financial, and trade sanctions against Russia, and in particular its oil and gas industry, have forced countries to find new suppliers in the short term, but also to investigate new and more sustainable sources to guarantee long-term energy security. Given the importance of energy, it is perhaps not unexpected that there is a considerable body of recent academic literature, particularly over the last 4–5 years, studying what industries, consumers, governments, and markets can do to help bring about a faster energy transition. In this paper, we provide a review of the literature that pertains to the economic aspects of the energy transition. While our initial search of the literature is targeted at uncovering all relevant articles on the subject, we focus most of our discussion on the most influential articles in prominent journals and articles published in this journal—Energies. This review is intended to help identify active topics and potential research gaps and provide future direction, so we hope it will prove useful to the readers and authors interested in this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the interdependence among natural resource prices. Commodities belonging to three different groups (energy commodities, metals, agricultural commodities) are considered. The analysis is performed via a battery of time‐varying Granger causality tests. They allow to assess whether price interdependence occurs and to identify the candidate first movers. These tests also allow observing how long and in which subperiods these causality relationships occur. The approach is applied to the monthly prices of 11 natural resources over the 1980–2021 period. Results suggest that interdependence is weak for energy and agricultural commodities and often concerns limited time periods, while it seems stronger and longer lasting among metals. Moreover, if an overall price driver has to be identified, agricultural commodities more than oil seem to be the best candidates. Recommendations for Resource Managers: This paper investigates the interdependence among commodity prices belonging to three different groups (energy commodities, metals, agricultural commodities).The analysis is performed via a battery of time‐varying Granger causality tests.These tests also allow observing how long and in which subperiods these causality relationships occur.The approach is applied to the monthly prices of 11 commodities over the 1980–2021 period.Results suggest that interdependence is weak and short for energy and agricultural commodities, stronger and longer lasting among metals.Agricultural commodities are more often first movers than energy prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: The main application of this paper is to review and improve a model that enables the use of water heaters by small electricity customers in electricity markets and services in the short and medium term. For this goal, it is necessary to review the service of loads to avoid customer discomfort and the way control mechanisms work, usually thermostats. To guarantee a minimum level of accuracy in the flexibility of the response, the understanding of heat and electric processes in the load is a cornerstone for the participation of these appliances. This must be done by comprehensive validation of the model in different conditions, including water draws, temperature, and load control. To exemplify the potential of the model, an application in a prosumer scenario is presented. Residential segments are of the greatest interest from the point of view of Demand-Side Resources and Decarbonization. Main end-uses such as water heaters, heating, and cooling have interesting opportunities: first, they can store energy, and this is relevant for the integration of renewables. Second, they are candidates for efficiency and electrification, increasing their demand share and the flexibility of demand. This paper aims to formulate an elemental Physical-Based Heat Pump Water Heater model that will enable the use of these energy-efficient appliances through aggregation in complex products, considering the advantages for demand and supply sides. Simulation results show that the individual performance is quite accurate and that the proposed model is flexible enough to be used to take more profit from energy markets or to easily respond to fast-occurring events. The model can be easily aggregated and used to obtain baselines, an important point for Demand Response evaluation. Results also demonstrate that demand–supply coordination and balance can be improved using these models to reduce or mitigate the risks and volatility of renewables without inducing a noticeable loss of service. Consequently, the contribution of this responsive load can be modelled through this methodology, making the engagement of more customer segments in Demand Response policies more credible and deploying new segments, such as prosumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]