• Energy Research
• 2021-2025close
• 12. Responsible consumption close
• GB close
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Decarbonizing the building sector is extremely important to mitigating climate change as the sector contributes 40% of the overall energy consumption and 36% of the total greenhouse gas emissions in the world. Net-zero energy buildings are one of the promising decarbonization attempts due to their potential of decreasing the use of energy and increasing the total share of renewable energy. To achieve a net-zero energy building, it is necessary to decrease the energy demand by applying efficiency enhancement measures and using renewable energy sources. Net-zero energy buildings can be classified into four models (Net-Zero Site Energy buildings, Net-Zero Emissions buildings, Net-Zero Source Energy buildings, and Net-Zero Cost Energy buildings). A variety of technical, financial, and environmental factors should be considered during the decision-making process of net-zero energy building development, justifying the use of multi-criteria decision analysis methods for the design of net-zero energy buildings. This paper also discussed the contributions of renewable energy generation (hydropower, wind energy, solar, heat pumps, and bioenergy) to the development of net-zero energy buildings and reviewed its role in tackling the decarbonization challenge. Cost-benefit analysis and life cycle assessment of building designs were reviewed to shape the priorities of future development. It is important to develop a universal decision instrument for optimum design and operation of net-zero energy buildings.

With the aim to fully exploit the by-products obtained after the industrial extraction of starch from sweet potatoes, a cascading approach was developed to extract high-value molecules, such as proteins and pectins, and to valorize the solid fraction, rich in starch and fibrous components. This fraction was used to prepare new biocomposites designed for food packaging applications. The sweet potato residue was added to poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) in various amounts up to 40 wt % by melt mixing, without any previous treatment. The composites are semicrystalline materials, characterized by thermal stability up to 260 °C. For the composites containing up to 10 wt % of residue, the tensile strength remains over 30 MPa and the strain stays over 3.2%. A homogeneous dispersion of the sweet potato waste into the bio-polymeric matrix was achieved but, despite the presence of hydrogen bond interactions between the components, a poor interfacial adhesion was detected. Considering the significant percentage of sweet potato waste used, the biocomposites obtained show a low economic and environmental impact, resulting in an interesting bio-alternative to the materials commonly used in the packaging industry. Thus, according to the principles of a circular economy, the preparation of the biocomposites closes the loop of the complete valorization of sweet potato products and by-products.

Results-based financing (RBF) programmes in the clean cooking sector have gained increasing donor interest over the last decade. Although the risks and advantages of RBF have been discussed quite extensively for other sectors, especially health services, there is limited research-documented experience of its application to clean cooking. Due to the sheer scale of the important transition from ‘dirty’ to clean cooking for the 4 billion people who lack access, especially in the Global South, efficient and performance-proven solutions are urgently required. This paper, undertaken as part of the work of the UKAid-funded Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) programme, aims to close an important research gap by reviewing evidence-based support mechanisms and documenting essential experiences from previous and ongoing RBF programmes in the clean cooking and other sectors. On this basis, the paper derives key strategic implications and learning lessons for the global scaling of RBF programmes and finds that qualitative key performance indicators such as consumer acceptance as well as longer-term monitoring are critical long-term success factors for RBF to ensure the continued uptake and use of clean cooking solutions (CCS), however securing the inclusion of these indicators within programmes remains challenging. Finally, by discussing the opportunities for the evolution of RBF into broader impact funding programmes and the integration of energy access and clean cooking strategies through multi-sector approaches, the paper illustrates potential steps to enhance the impact of RBF in this sector in the future.

Green ammonia is gaining momentum as a globally significant technology for deep decarbonisation. In this thesis, several models are developed across chemical, techno-economic, and energy system modelling disciplines to explore the future role of green ammonia. First, standalone models of production (i.e., power-to-ammonia) and re-electrification (i.e., ammonia-to-power) are developed and compared to competing technologies. Second, these models are integrated into a planning and dispatch energy system model (ESM) of India to 2050. The ESM has several novel additions including the sector coupling of hydrogen and ammonia, multiple years of granular weather data, and learning-curve-based technology cost forecasts. India is chosen as an ideal case study given its globally unmatched demand growth in all three relevant sectors: electricity, green hydrogen, and green ammonia. The projected electricity demands for green hydrogen and ammonia production account for 25% of the total Indian electricity demand in 2050, underscoring the transformational potential that green hydrogen and ammonia sector coupling can have on the Indian energy system. The results of the state-of-the-art ESM highlight synergistic effects of hydrogen and ammonia sector coupling with the power system. The least-cost system employs seasonal green ammonia production paired with up to 40 million tonnes (i.e., 200 TWh) of ammonia storage, as well as some re-electrification via gas turbines. Sector coupling reduces system curtailment, addresses challenges of long-duration storage, and improves system resilience to interannual weather variations. While India is a crucial case study from a global decarbonisation perspective, the methodology and findings are generally applicable, and it is the aim of this work to motivate and accelerate the wider research community into considering the potential impacts of green ammonia sector coupling on electricity grid design. Finally, this work highlights strategic technology development direction for ammonia producers and gas turbine manufacturers, as well as implications for policymakers.

AbstractMany developing countries are facing the difficulty of choosing between economic growth and energy conservation and emission reduction (ECER). China has strengthened the implementation of ECER by setting environmental accountability as the development goal of local governments, hoping to have better governance effects. To evaluate the actual intervention effect of this approach, this paper constructs panel data covering 46 countries from 1995 to 2014 and uses the difference-in-differences (DID) method and the composite control method to quantitatively analyse the policy effect. The results show that China can effectively curb energy consumption and carbon emission intensity per unit of GDP by adding ECER targets to the government’s five-year plan, which has significant effects on ECER. Furthermore, we use an intermediary mechanism to test and identify low-carbon alternatives and an ECER promotion mechanism for technological advancement. The conclusion shows that economic development is compatible with low carbon and energy consumption. Combined with China’s long-term goals for ECER, it can be considered that on the road to achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality in the future, the economy and tertiary industry should be rationally developed, the degree of urbanization should receive more attention, and the proportion of thermal power generation should be reduced.

District heating is a network of pipes through which heat is delivered from a centralised source. It is expected to play an important role in the decarbonisation of the energy sector in the coming years. In district heating, heat is traditionally generated through fossil fuels, often with combined heat and power (CHP) units. However, increasingly, waste heat is being used as a low carbon alternative, either directly or, for low temperature sources, via a heat pump. The design of district heating often has competing objectives: the need for inexpensive energy and meeting low carbon targets. In addition, the planning of district heating schemes is subject to multiple sources of uncertainty such as variability in heat demand and energy prices. This paper proposes a decision support tool to analyse and compare system designs for district heating under uncertainty using stochastic ordering (dominance). Contrary to traditional uncertainty metrics that provide statistical summaries and impose total ordering, stochastic ordering is a partial ordering and operates with full probability distributions. In our analysis, we apply the orderings in the mean and dispersion to the waste heat recovery problem in Brunswick, Germany.

Les développements des systèmes de transport, les changements dans les tendances de consommation et des conditions telles que la COVID-19 ont augmenté à la fois la demande et la charge du transport de marchandises. Étant donné que diverses entreprises transportent des marchandises dans le monde entier pour évaluer la durabilité, la vitesse et la résilience des systèmes de transport de marchandises, des systèmes de mesure de la fluidité des données et du fret sont nécessaires. Dans cette étude, un modèle de prise de décision intégré est proposé pour donner la priorité aux alternatives de mesure de la fluidité du fret. Le modèle proposé est composé de deux étapes principales. Dans la première étape, la méthodologie logarithmique des poids additifs (LMAW) basée sur les normes de Dombi est utilisée pour trouver les poids des critères. Dans la deuxième phase, une évaluation étendue basée sur la méthode de la distance de la solution moyenne (EDAS) avec Dombi onction pour l'agrégation est présentée pour déterminer les résultats finaux de classement des alternatives. Trois alternatives de mesure de la fluidité du fret sont proposées, à savoir ne rien faire, intégrer les activités de fret dans Metaverse pour mesurer la fluidité et former une gouvernance mondiale des activités de fret pour mesurer la fluidité à partir des données disponibles. Treize critères, qui sont regroupés sous quatre aspects principaux à savoir la technologie, la gouvernance, l'efficacité et la durabilité environnementale, et une étude de cas au cours de laquelle un cadre de base est formé pour que les experts évaluent les alternatives compte tenu des critères utilisés dans le processus décisionnel multicritères. Les résultats de l'étude indiquent que l'intégration des activités de fret dans Metaverse pour mesurer la fluidité est l'alternative la plus avantageuse, alors que ne rien faire est la moins avantageuse. Los desarrollos en los sistemas de transporte, los cambios en las tendencias de consumismo y condiciones como el COVID-19 han aumentado tanto la demanda como la carga en el transporte de mercancías. Dado que varias empresas transportan mercancías en todo el mundo para evaluar la sostenibilidad, la velocidad y la resistencia de los sistemas de transporte de mercancías, se necesitan sistemas de medición de datos y fluidez de la carga. En este estudio, se propone un modelo integrado de toma de decisiones para priorizar las alternativas de medición de la fluidez de la carga. El modelo propuesto se compone de dos etapas principales. En la primera etapa, se utiliza la Metodología Logarítmica de Pesos Aditivos (LMAW) basada en normas Dombi para encontrar los pesos de los criterios. En la segunda fase, se presenta una Evaluación extendida basada en el método de Distancia de la Solución Media (EDAS) con Dombi unción para la agregación para determinar los resultados finales de clasificación de las alternativas. Se proponen tres alternativas de medición de la fluidez de la carga, a saber, no hacer nada, integrar las actividades de carga en Metaverse para medir la fluidez y formar una gobernanza global de las actividades de carga para medir la fluidez a través de los datos disponibles. Trece criterios, que se agrupan en cuatro aspectos principales: tecnología, gobernanza, eficiencia y sostenibilidad ambiental, y un estudio de caso en el que se forma un marco básico para que los expertos evalúen las alternativas considerando que los criterios se utilizan en el proceso de toma de decisiones multicriterio. Los resultados del estudio indican que integrar las actividades de carga en Metaverso para medir la fluidez es la alternativa más ventajosa, mientras que no hacer nada es la menos ventajosa. Developments in transportation systems, changes in consumerism trends, and conditions such as COVID-19 have increased both the demand and the load on freight transportation. Since various companies are transporting goods all over the world to evaluate the sustainability, speed, and resiliency of freight transportation systems, data and freight fluidity measurement systems are needed. In this study, an integrated decision-making model is proposed to advantage prioritize the freight fluidity measurement alternatives. The proposed model is composed of two main stages. In the first stage, the Dombi norms based Logarithmic Methodology of Additive Weights (LMAW) is used to find the weights of criteria. In the second phase, an extended Evaluation based on the Distance from Average Solution (EDAS) method with Dombi unction for aggregation is presented to determine the final ranking results of alternatives. Three freight fluidity measurement alternatives are proposed, namely doing nothing, integrating freight activities into Metaverse for measuring fluidity, and forming global governance of freight activities for measuring fluidity through available data. Thirteen criteria, which are grouped under four main aspects namely technology, governance, efficiency, and environmental sustainability, and a case study at which a ground framework is formed for the experts to evaluate the alternatives considering the criteria are used in the multi-criteria decision-making process. The results of the study indicate that integrating freight activities into Metaverse for measuring fluidity is the most advantageous alternative, whereas doing nothing is the least advantageous one. أدت التطورات في أنظمة النقل، والتغيرات في اتجاهات النزعة الاستهلاكية، وظروف مثل COVID -19 إلى زيادة الطلب والحمل على نقل البضائع. نظرًا لأن العديد من الشركات تنقل البضائع في جميع أنحاء العالم لتقييم استدامة وسرعة ومرونة أنظمة نقل البضائع، فهناك حاجة إلى أنظمة قياس سيولة البيانات والشحن. في هذه الدراسة، يُقترح نموذج متكامل لصنع القرار للاستفادة من إعطاء الأولوية لبدائل قياس سيولة الشحن. يتكون النموذج المقترح من مرحلتين رئيسيتين. في المرحلة الأولى، يتم استخدام منهجية لوغاريتمية الأوزان المضافة (LMAW) القائمة على معايير دومبي لإيجاد أوزان المعايير. في المرحلة الثانية، يتم تقديم تقييم موسع يعتمد على طريقة المسافة من الحل المتوسط (EDAS) مع Dombi unction للتجميع لتحديد نتائج الترتيب النهائي للبدائل. يتم اقتراح ثلاثة بدائل لقياس سيولة الشحن، وهي عدم القيام بأي شيء، ودمج أنشطة الشحن في ميتافيرس لقياس السيولة، وتشكيل حوكمة عالمية لأنشطة الشحن لقياس السيولة من خلال البيانات المتاحة. ثلاثة عشر معيارًا، تم تجميعها تحت أربعة جوانب رئيسية وهي التكنولوجيا والحوكمة والكفاءة والاستدامة البيئية، ودراسة حالة يتم فيها تشكيل إطار أرضي للخبراء لتقييم البدائل مع مراعاة استخدام المعايير في عملية صنع القرار متعددة المعايير. تشير نتائج الدراسة إلى أن دمج أنشطة الشحن في ميتافيرس لقياس السيولة هو البديل الأكثر فائدة، في حين أن عدم القيام بأي شيء هو البديل الأقل فائدة.