• Energy Research

With the rapid growth of aluminum production, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in China’s aluminum industry (CAI) is posing a significant challenge. In this study, the energy-related GHG emission trajectories, features and driving forces of CAI are analyzed from the perspective of life cycle analysis (LCA) from 2004 to 2013. Results indicate that CAI experienced a rapid growth of energy-related GHG emissions with an average annual growth of 28.5 million tons CO2e from 2004 to 2013. Energy-scale effect is the main driving force for energy-related GHG emissions increase in CAI, while emission-factor effect of secondary aluminum production plays a marginal effect. Construction and transportation-related activities account for the bulk of the embodied emissions, accounting for more than 40% of the total embodied emissions from CAI. Policy implications for GHG mitigation within the CAI, such as developing secondary aluminum industry, improving energy mix and optimizing resource efficiency of production, are raised.

Abstract The use of forest biomass in thermal generation processes has been recognized by the Government of Nova Scotia (NS) as one option that could help meet its renewable electricity goals (25% by 2015 and 40% by 2020). Over half of the woodland in NS is owned by small-private woodland owners (51%), indicating that they could significantly influence the future of NS forests and its potential use for energy purposes. This paper presents the results of a survey of small-woodland owners on their attitudes towards using energy from forest biomass. 489 small-woodland owners responded to mail-out surveys and 14 rural community members participated in three focus groups. Three major findings emerged. First, it was found that the acceptability of using forest products varied depending on multiple factors – the source of biomass, harvesting methods, and [predicted] end-use. Second, forest sustainability and keeping resources local were the two most important concerns amongst respondents. Finally, respondents felt that better collaboration with other stakeholders and education around the issues would be the best strategies for overcoming these concerns. The paper also highlights the barriers and drivers as perceived by the woodland owners as they relate to the possibility of using more biomass for energy in the future.

Abstract With the necessity of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction as a backdrop, the circular economy (CE) is increasingly being considered an effective response to this issue. Currently, China is facing a considerable challenge as it tries to respond to Paris Agreement targets; however, in many respects China is ahead of other nations as it relates to the implementation of such innovative strategies such as the circular economy policies. For over ten years, China has been investigating how the circular economy policies could be used to respond to GHG emission issue. In particular, the effects of such economic development pattern needs to be identified as well as the specific influence on GHG emissions reduction. This study presents an analysis of the Chinese plastic recycling industries (CPRI) through this lens. Plastics were specifically targeted, as such waste generation represents one of the highest fractions of global waste by mass, as well as the increasing public concerns of the environmental impacts of post-consumer plastics waste. Integrating the concepts of circular economy in this industry could be deemed an effective strategy, one which not only reduces post-consumer waste pollution, but also mitigates GHG emissions. This study analyzes the trajectories, features and driving forces of GHG emissions reduction achieved by the CPRI in the past ten years. The results show that the contribution of the CPRI to [specifically] CO2 emissions reduction increased from 7.67 million tons (MT) in 2007 to 14.57 MT in 2016; the scale factor and structure factor had significant impacts on GHG emissions reduction changes. A scenario analysis is presented based on projected impacts of various relevant national strategies. Finally, the policy implications of the CPRI's further GHG reduction measures are proposed.

Abstract Industrial parks have played a key role in promoting economic development around the world. However, rapid industrial park development has resulted in many challenges, including resource depletion, environmental emissions and increasing pressure for industries to respond to climate change. Under such circumstance, a solution to optimize resource utilization and reduce environmental impact is needed. One effective approach is to adopt an eco-industrial development strategy that not only contributes to economic profit and resource conservation, but also to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions mitigation and environmental service. Such integrated benefits are often termed as co-benefits. However, at present, how to account for such co-benefits at the scale of an eco-industrial park (EIP) is still at an early stage. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the co-benefits resulting from eco-industrial development and demonstrate how an emergy accounting-based approach can be applied. A case study involving the Dalian Economic and Technological Development Zone (DETDZ) was completed to verify the applicability of this approach. The results indicate that co-benefits go far beyond simple direct economic benefits. The policy implications of such strategies and the application beyond industrial development such as urban symbiosis are discussed within the context of the DETDZ demonstrating how multiple objectives can be achieved.

Abstract Although there is a clear positive link between community wind energy (CWE) projects and social acceptance, there is still empirical and conceptual ambiguity concerning the details of why. To fill this gap, we revisit foundational papers in this field and then, focusing on empirical case studies between 2010 and 2018 (n = 15), trace how recent research has engaged with existing conceptual frameworks. Most empirical researchers verify the importance of the two key dimensions defined by Walker & Devine-Wright [1] : process and outcome, and then relate this to procedural justice and distributive justice. Meanwhile, the core concept of “community” has been deployed, in both practice and research, in so many different and sometimes ambiguous ways that it remains difficult to assert if, and how, community-based renewable energy policy and siting practice produces high levels of local community acceptance. We suggest that parsing out the scale of investment in wind energy projects and the local historical context of energy transitions add clarity to the Walker & Devine-Wright framework as it relates to CWE; providing important conceptual nuance for guiding policy, developer practices and future empirical research.

Although not yet a global consensus, there is widespread agreement that climate change is the result of anthropogenic sources of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. In order to respond to this issue, society has applied such strategies as clean energy development, improving industrial resource efficiency etc. Despite this, GHG emissions are still pursuing an upward trend. As the largest global GHG emitter, China faces a considerable challenge in responding to its agreed target of 40–45% GHG emission mitigation per unit gross domestic production (GDP) by 2020 as compared to 2005 levels. How to practically achieve this is still largely undecided. Comprehensive development of industrial symbiosis around nationwide is considered part of the solution. However, few researchers have studied how to actually implement a comprehensive development of industrial symbiosis for the purpose of GHG emission mitigation. This work intends to address this gap through highlighting the opportunities to develop such an approach for particular application to GHG emissions reduction in China. In addition, this study will also address the challenges ahead associated with the implementation of such a strategy, and outlines the where future research could be focused. Policy implications like establishing industrial symbiosis indicators associated with GHG emission mitigation are proposed.

The need for governments to reduce the exposure of energy consumers to future increases in fossil fuel prices places urgent pressure on policy-makers to deliver fundamental transformations in energy strategies, particularly in jurisdictions with high dependency on fossil fuel sources (Dorian et al., 2006). This transformation is unlikely without a high level of stakeholder engagement in the policy development process. This paper describes two policy development processes recently undertaken in Nova Scotia in which the inclusion of stakeholder views was central to the approach. The first delivered a new institutional framework for electricity energy efficiency involving the inception of an independent performance-based administrator. The second required the delivery of a strategy to significantly increase renewable energy generation in the Province. It involved recommendations for changes in institutional arrangements, financial incentives and technological options. This process was followed by new commitments to renewable energy developments, new infrastructure for the importation of hydro-electricity, and the announcement of FITs for ocean energy. In both cases, recommendations were made by an independent academic institution, and the Government responded directly to a majority of recommendations. The paper concludes with a discussion of lessons learned and the implications for future energy policy making in carbon-intensive jurisdictions.