Challenges in the CO2 emissions of the Turkish power sector: Evidence from a two-level decomposition approach

Decarbonization of the energy system is urgent to avert the disruptions in the climate. Considering its share, the low carbon transition of the power sector is pivotal. Growing electricity demand poses unique challenges for Turkey to enact deep decarbonization. It is vital to uncover the contributing causes of emissions to provide strategic oversight for carbon management activities. This study investigates key drivers of CO₂ emissions from the power sector using the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index decomposition method. While efficiency improvement contributes to sustainable yet minor mitigation, changes in the fossil-fuel share indicate a cycling but significant overall impact.     

The dynamic impact of carbon reduction and renewable support policies on the electricity sector

Carbon reduction and renewable energy policies are implemented in Europe to improve the sustainability of the electricity sector while achieving security of supply. We investigate the interactions between these policies using a dynamic investment model. Our analysis indicates that both policies are necessary to achieve a sustainable power sector. However, renewable energy generation significantly affects carbon markets and could lead to very low prices. These would attract investments in carbon intensive technologies, locking the sector into future higher emissions. To contrast this effect, policy makers may introduce a floor price in the carbon market or adjust the emissions quota periodically.     

National and Regional Economic Impacts of changes in Germany's electricity mix: A dynamic analysis through 2050

To meet the net zero emission target by 2045, Germany has planned to phase out coal from electricity production by 2038 and increase electricity production from alternative sources through technological advancements. We examine the impacts of related measures on CO₂ emissions, electricity security, and economic output at national and regional levels using a regionalized dynamic computable general equilibrium model. Our results reveal that phasing out coal from the electricity mix reduces electricity generation and increases imports but only slightly reduces electricity supply and economic output. The reduction in CO₂ emissions in Germany is significant but insufficient to reach the 2045 net zero emission target. Additional technology advancements in alternative electricity productions accompanying the phase-out may have limited effects on the supply of electricity, economic outputs, and CO₂ emissions.     

Economic assessment of CO2 emissions savings in Spain associated with the use of biofuels for the transport sector in 2010

This article provides an economic assessment of greenhouse gas emissions savings associated with the use of biofuels for the transportation sector in Spain. The reference year used is 2010 in accordance with the target for the implementation of biofuels and other renewable fuels set down in European legislation (Directive 2003/30). The assessment is based on the premise that an increased use of biofuel will displace a similar amount of fossil fuel on a BTU basis, with the amount of biofuel used in 2010 taken as a reference point to conduct the estimates.The results show that the most cost-efficient biofuel is the biodiesel obtained from waste oil. Regarding the differences between first- and second-generation biofuels, the results show that the latter had very high associated costs. Reaching the biofuel target for 2010 by primarily using first-generation used-oil biodiesel blends would have led to a saving of 58°M€. In contrast, reaching this target by exclusively using second-generation biofuels would have led to a 1000 M€ increase in total costs.     

The contribution of CO2 emissions to environmental stress in the Middle East: challenges and potential solutions

The increasing demand for water and electricity in the Middle East causes environmental stress. Along with the industrial sector, desalination and power plants are linked to fossil fuel combustion, which is chiefly responsible for increased carbon dioxide emissions. The magnitude of certain sustainable development indicators (such as the ecological footprint) has led to growing concern. This paper presents some of the challenges facing the transition to sustainable development.     

Household electricity demand in Latin America and the Caribbean: A meta-analysis of price elasticity

Studying the price elasticity of demand is essential when considering rate policies in the electricity sector. This research aims to perform a meta-analysis and a meta-regression of the price elasticity of electricity demand for the residential sector in Latin American and Caribbean countries. Results show that the true value of the short-term price elasticity is between −0.197 and −0.468 and, for the long-term, is between −0.252 and −0.331. Findings differ substantially when studies are classified by their quality in econometric procedures. The long-term price elasticity seems to be lower than estimates found for other regions.     

Energetic valorization of wood waste: estimation of the reduction in CO2 emissions

This paper investigates the potential CO₂ emission reductions related to a partial switch from fossil fuel-based heat and electricity generation to renewable wood waste-based systems in Flanders. The results show that valorization in large-scale CHP (combined heat and power) systems and co-firing in coal plants have the largest CO₂ reduction per TJ wood waste. However, at current co-firing rates of 10%, the CO₂ reduction per GWh of electricity that can be achieved by co-firing in coal plants is five times lower than the CO₂ reduction per GWh of large-scale CHP. Moreover, analysis of the effect of government support for co-firing of wood waste in coal-fired power plants on the marginal costs of electricity generation plants reveals that the effect of the European Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is effectively counterbalanced. This is due to the fact that biomass integrated gasification combined cycles (BIGCC) are not yet commercially available. An increase of the fraction of coal-based electricity in the total electricity generation from 8 to 10% at the expense of the fraction of gas-based electricity due to the government support for co-firing wood waste, would compensate entirely for the CO₂ reduction by substitution of coal by wood waste. This clearly illustrates the possibility of a ‘rebound’ effect on the CO₂ reduction due to government support for co-combustion of wood waste in an electricity generation system with large installed capacity of coal- and gas-based power plants, such as the Belgian one.     

Modelling the impacts of building regulations and a property bubble on residential space and water heating

This paper develops a bottom-up model of space and water heating energy demand for new build dwellings in the Irish residential sector. This is used to assess the impacts of measures proposed in Ireland's National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (NEEAP). The impact of the housing construction boom, which resulted in 23% of occupied dwellings in 2008 having been built since 2002, and the subsequent bust, are also assessed. The model structure treats separately new dwellings added to the stock after 2007 and pre-existing occupied dwellings. The former is modelled as a set of archetype dwellings with energy end use affected by the relevant set of building regulations that apply during construction. Energy demand of existing dwellings is predicted by a simpler top down method based on historical energy use trends. The baseline scenario suggests residential energy demand will grow by 19% from 3206 ktoe in 2007 to 3810 ktoe in 2020. The results indicate that 2008 and 2010 building regulations will lead to energy savings of 305 ktoe (8.0%) in 2020. Had the 2008 building regulations been introduced in 2002, at the start of the boom, there would be additional savings of 238 ktoe (6.7%) in 2020.     

Hybridity in the housing sector: examining impacts on social and private rented sector tenants in Scotland

Abstract

Housing Associations in many countries exhibit increasing levels of ‘hybridity’, as reductions in state financing for social housing, exacerbated by austerity policies since the 2008 crash, have instigated ‘enterprising’ approaches to maintaining income. Alongside this, hybrid organisations have emerged in the Private Rented Sector (PRS), responding to sectoral growth and consequent increases in vulnerable households entering private renting. These developing hybridities have been considered at a strategic level, but there has been little exploration of the impacts on tenants. This article examines two organisations, operating across the social and private rented sectors, to elucidate potential implications for tenants. The research suggests that different forms of hybridity can affect tenant outcomes and, moreover, that examining such impacts is important in understanding hybridity itself. Furthermore, the study suggests that emerging forms of hybridity, particularly in the PRS, may be blurring the boundaries between housing sectors, with implications for policy and research.     

The status of and opportunities for utility-scale battery storage in Australia: A regulatory and market perspective

Australia's electricity market is rapidly adding renewable energy generation. Utility-scale batteries could have a major role in facilitating these transitions; however, their deployment is still largely state-subsidized. We summarize the current and future roles for batteries from a legal-economic perspective in the context of Australia's electricity market framework. We find that the future of batteries in Australia is not only a function of the large-scale deployment of renewables, their cost development and the comparative future cost of competing gas turbines but also of national electricity market and state policy reforms focusing on reliability.     

CO2, CO, and Hg emissions from the Truman Shepherd and Ruth Mullins coal fires, eastern Kentucky, USA

Carbon dioxide (CO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), and mercury (Hg) emissions were quantified for two eastern Kentucky coal-seam fires, the Truman Shepherd fire in Floyd County and the Ruth Mullins fire in Perry County. This study is one of the first to estimate gas emissions from coal fires using field measurements at gas vents. The Truman Shepherd fire emissions are nearly 1400 t CO₂/yr and 16 kg Hg/yr resulting from a coal combustion rate of 450-550 t/yr. The sum of CO₂ emissions from seven vents at the Ruth Mullins fire is 726 ± 72 t/yr, suggesting that the fire is consuming about 250-280 t coal/yr. Total Ruth Mullins fire CO and Hg emissions are estimated at 21 ± 1.8 t/yr and > 840 ± 170 g/yr, respectively. The CO₂ emissions are environmentally significant, but low compared to coal-fired power plants; for example, 3.9 × 10⁶ t CO₂/yr for a 514-MW boiler in Kentucky. Using simple calculations, CO₂ and Hg emissions from coal-fires in the U.S. are estimated at 1.4 × 10⁷-2.9 × 10⁸ t/yr and 0.58-11.5 t/yr, respectively. This initial work indicates that coal fires may be an important source of CO₂, CO, Hg and other atmospheric constituents.     

Electricity production,government effectiveness eco-innovation,and public health: Novel findings in the context of sustainability policies

In the recent world of catastrophe, scholars and policymakers have empirically examined the influence of various economic and financial instruments on environmental quality. Still, the literature is limited in terms of displaying the factors affecting public health, particularly in case of China. This study aims is to examine the nexus between green electricity, government efficiency, and health issues to draw novel policies. The current study investigates role of electricity production, eco-innovation and institutional factors for overall public health in China using the data from 2000Q1-2021Q4, which is a novel contribution to the existing literature. For empirical analysis, the study employs cointegration analysis, quantile regression and fully modified ordinary least square methods. The empirical result found the validity of the long-run equilibrium relationship. However, the asymmetric distribution of all variables allows this study to use a non-parametric “quantile regression” approach. The empirics depicts that economic growth and renewable electricity production positively influence public health–increase health-related issues. On the contrary, eco-innovation and government effectiveness substantially reduces public health issues. The empirical results are authenticated by the applying three parametric approaches – fully modified ordinary least square, canonical cointegration regression, and dynamic ordinary least square. To explore the causal connection between the variables, this study uses granger causality test – validates the presence of unidirectional and bidirectional causalities between variables. This study suggests enhancement in government effectiveness, expenditure, and eco-innovation to reduce critical health issues in the country.     

Impact of economic,financial, and institutional factors on CO2 emissions: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa economies

Given the acceleration of economic changes in Sub-Saharan Africa economies (SSA), a better understanding of the relationship between economic growth and pollution is essential for policy makers. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of economic, financial and institutional developments on CO₂ emissions for 25 SSA countries over the period 1996–2010. We use the reduced form modeling to control unobserved heterogeneity specific to countries and the GMM dynamic panel method to control endogeneity. We found no -evidence in our investigation for the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis. Indeed, a monotonically increasing relationship with GDP is found more appropriate for CO₂ emissions. The results confirm that political stability, government effectiveness, democracy, and control of corruption influence negatively CO₂ emissions. On the contrary, regulatory quality and rule of law have a positive effect on CO₂ emissions. The results confirm the importance of institutional frameworks in reducing carbon dioxide emissions since institutional quality not only affects carbon dioxide emissions directly, but also indirectly via economic growth and trade openness.     

Examining the effects of the neighborhood built environment on CO2 emissions from different residential trip purposes: A case study in Guangzhou,China

This study developed structural equation models (SEMs) to examine the effects of the neighborhood built environment on CO₂ emissions from different trip purposes. CO₂ emissions were calculated using the Travel O-D Point Intelligent Query System (TIQS) and a 2015 travel survey in Guangzhou. The results showed that there were several differences in the influence mechanism of the neighborhood built environment on CO₂ emissions for different trip purposes. Most of the built environment elements tested in this study had significant effects on CO₂ emissions. Certain effects were direct effects, while others were indirect effects that influenced mediating variables, such as car ownership, mode choice or trip distance. In terms of total effect, the distance to city public centers had a positive effect on CO₂ emissions from commuting trips but had a negative effect on that from recreational and daily shopping trips. In contrast, residential density had a negative effect on CO₂ emissions from commuting trips but had a positive effect on that from social, recreational and daily shopping trips. Bus stop density was positively correlated with CO₂ emissions from commuting trips, a counterintuitive but not implausible outcome. Additionally, bus stop density had a significant negative correlation with CO₂ emissions from social and daily shopping trips. In addition, land-use mix had a negative effect on CO₂ emissions from commuting, social and daily shopping trips, while metro station density and road network density had significant negative effects on CO₂ emissions for all trip purposes. These results suggest that it is necessary to design targeted interventions in the built environment to encourage residents to change their travel behavior, reduce CO₂ emissions, and achieve low-carbon development.     

CO2 sequestration by magnesite mineralisation through interaction of Mg-brine and CO2: integrated laboratory experiments and computerised geochemical modelling

ABSTRACT

Several Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) techniques have been studied including injections of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the mature and/or depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs and deep saline aquifers. This work aims to test storing CO₂ into the magnesium-rich evaporite strata and also into the stratigraphic intervals containing Mg-rich brines. The test simulates Mg-carbonation of the synthetic solution obtained from the Mg-evaporite mineral, bischofite – both experimentally in the laboratory condition and also through computerised geochemical simulation. The laboratory experiments, which resulted in the crystallisation of anhydrous magnesite, were analysed. The TOUGHREACT^TM, Geochemist’s Workbench^TM (GWB) and PHREEQC^TM software simulated the experiments as computerised geochemical model and tested the results for natural geological conditions. The geochemical simulations successfully demonstrate the immense CCS potential for the Mg-evaporite (as well as the sedimentary strata charged with Mg-evaporitic brine) at their subsurface geological occurrences at elevated pressure-temperature and high salinity.     

Evaluation of BIM energy performance and CO2 emissions assessment tools: a case study in warm weather

ABSTRACT

The EU members have adopted regulations and official methods for evaluating the energy performance in buildings. Most of these methods are applied at the end of the project phase, with few opportunities to correct erroneous design decisions when the desired building energy performance is not achieved. It is demonstrated that there is no European standard for sustainability and that the decision-making process during the development of a building project is compromised by the methodologies and some concepts, as thermal inertia, are withdrawn. Currently, the industry has been developing alternative tools for evaluating energy performance and CO₂ emissions in buildings over their entire life cycle. These software programs, which belong to the BIM environment, use databases and make simplifications adapted to the stage of design when the software can be applied. The main objective of this paper is to evaluate the accuracy of this software and how the databases and simplifications influence the decision-making process in building design. Calculation examples are carried out with various tools and compared to real building performance data. The results demonstrate that, as with the official methods, the tools influence the results and therefore condition, sometimes wrongly, the decision-making process to produce better buildings.     

关于中国城市交通的文献与政策综述

1978年以来,我国社会经济的发展给城市交通带来诸多挑战.为克服这些挑战,人们开展了研究、政府提出了对策.不过,很少有人把相应研究成果和对策进行比肩对照探究.文章旨在对最重要的一些研究(文献)和政策进行综述和回顾,以探究在城市交通方面,人们(政府)已知的、推荐做的和已做的之间的差距及其改进途径.研究发现,相关政策和研究工作及成果是大量的.但是,已有政策、研究尚有可待改进之处.对此,给出了一些具体建议.     

Impacts of the shading-type building-integrated photovoltaic claddings on electricity generation and cooling load component through shaded windows

The shading-type building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) claddings can act as power generators as well as external shading devices of a building, which reduce the energy consumption of the building. However, there is little information about energy impacts of different tilt angles of the shading-type BIPV claddings. By considering the typical meteorological conditions of Hong Kong, the energy performance of the shading-type BIPV claddings, in terms of the electricity generation and the cooling load reduction, is analyzed in this paper. The optimum tilt angle of PV modules for maximum electricity generation is found to be 20° instead of local latitude. Combining electricity generation and cooling load reduction, it can be concluded that the optimum tilt angles for the first type of the shading-type BIPV claddings vary from 30° to 50°, while the optimum tilt angle for the second type is 0°.     

Capacity Remuneration Mechanisms for Reliability in the Integrated European Electricity Market: Effects on Welfare and Distribution through 2023

A reduced attractiveness of investments in reliable fossil power plants in liberalized markets on the background of a transition towards renewable energies has brought a discussion on capacity policies to Europe. I develop a partial equilibrium model to compare effects of three polar capacity remuneration mechanisms (CRMs) based on the assumption that a CRM is indicated. A strategic reserve (SR) policy with administratively set capacity targets, a capacity market (CM) based on public procurement, and a decentralized reserve market with the obligation of generators to finance reserves in relation to their peak supply (RM). Substantial differences of policies arise across countries and regarding consumers and producers due to power plant structures. By 2023, we find the decentralized RM to induce least pronounced distributional effects and only modest welfare reductions, while SR and CM induce higher losses. In the longer term until 2033, welfare results differ less pronounced, although the RM is most friendly to consumers. A robust policy conclusion has to pay attention to further aspects concerning the environment and technological developments.     

新马克思主义视角下中国新城空间演变研究

首先指出建国以后出现的一波接一波的新城/工业区建设热潮,之后将其置于新马克思主义的视角下理解,探讨中国新城/工业区在建国以来的在中国资本积累进程中所承担的角色.通过对建国以来资本积累循环与新城空间演变历程的梳理,指出新中国建立后存在一个资本积累循环不断调整的过程,这个过程受到国内外政治经济形势及国家相应作出的制度与政策调整的影响.资本积累循环的调整过程具体体现为国内资本类型的变化,主要积累回路的转换以及金融和国家机构在循环中的角色与作用的变动.中国新城以新兴工业城市、开发区、新城区为代表成为资本积累循环中盈余资本进行空间修复的主要载体.由于资本积累循环内部结构的调整,新城呈现出不同的类型、空间分布与结构特征.