• Energy Research

The transition to renewable fuels such as straw, husks, briquettes, pellets only mathematically maintains a zero balance of CO2 emissions. In fact, emissions from the combustion of these "clean" species are much higher than from the combustion of natural gas. To remove pollutants from flue gases, filters of various types are most often used. Each of them has certain advantages and disadvantages.

With growing global energy demand and environmental concerns, developing efficient energy storage systems is urgently needed. Although lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries have dominated the energy storage market in recent decades, they have reached capacity limitations due to their low capacity, which prevents them from satisfying the requirements of electric vehicles and grid-scale energy storage systems. Growing attention has been turned to lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries that have superior theoretical capacity and lifespan. However, Li–S batteries encounter several roadblocks in practical applications, such as capacity loss, safety concerns, and contamination issues. To tackle these challenges, various nanostructured materials (nanocarbons, metal-organic frameworks, metal oxides etc.) have been extensively developed for sulfur hosting, separator modification, and lithium metal anode protection. Sustainable and cost-effective nanocarbons, which possess excellent electrochemical and mechanical properties, have emerged as promising materials for constructing Li–S batteries. This dissertation aims to develop advanced carbon nanomaterials and simulation methods to facilitate the commercial applications of Li–S batteries. Experimental and computational methods have been utilized to explore how nanocarbons mitigate the shuttle effect, accommodate sulfur volumetric expansion, and suppress lithium dendrite growth. To further confirm the advantages of nanocarbons in Li–S batteries, spent cathode powders have been recycled to promote decarbonization, which prevents contamination and extends the life of end-of-life Li–S batteries. Specifically, in Chapter 2, cotton textiles were successfully converted to multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) via a low-cost approach. The combination growth process of vapor−liquid−solid (VLS) and solid−liquid−solid (SLS) growth mechanism were uncovered through both experiments and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The obtained Fe/Fe3C-encapculated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (Fe/Fe3C-MWCNT) were utilized for constructing cathodes and interlayer in Li–S batteries, which exhibited a superlative cycling stability and a remarkable specific capacity (1273 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C). In Chapter 3, coupled MD and finite element analysis (FEA) simulations were used to reveal the chemo-mechanics of rate-dependent sulfur anomalous volumetric changes, unveiling that partial lithiation of sulfur at a high cycling rate was found to buffer the expansion by 48.64 %. Furthermore, the nanocarbon hosts minimize sulfur expansion by restricting the lithiation process through blocking the flow of lithium ions. In Chapter 4, MWCNTs and graphene were massively produced by cotton textiles using simple steps. The obtained cotton-derived Fe3C-encapsulated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (Fe3C-MWCNTs) and graphene were used to construct cathodes and interlayers in Li–S batteries, effectively suppressing lithium dendrite growth. Both experimental observations and MD simulations jointly unveiled a new polysulfide-induced mechanism for lithium dendrite formation, which demonstrated the advantages of Fe3C-MWCNTs and graphene in Li–S batteries. In Chapter 5, cathode powders from spent Li–S batteries were recycled to reduce CO2 emission. Coupled MD simulations and digital image correlation (DIC) analysis unlocked the exfoliation of CNT walls to improve the specific surface area and CO2 adsorption capacity. During cycling, the detachment of polysulfides transformed their kinetic energy into strain energy within the walls of CNTs, facilitating their peeling off. These findings demonstrate the successful conversion of low-cost biomass into valuable CNTs and graphene using environmentally friendly and straightforward techniques, greatly improving sustainability. Additionally, this dissertation offers valuable strategies for addressing challenges in energy storage systems and provides promising decarbonization applications for spent Li–S batteries, guiding the way to industrial applications of Li–S batteries.

Recently, Poland’s governing party, Prawo i Sprawiedliwość (PiS), reassessed its approach to domestic energy policy. Countries around the world have noticed a steepening decline of the coal industry, discussed growing commitments to climate policy and have considered avenues toward renewables technology investments. Poland is no exception, but the pace of change is even more rapid. What has influenced Poland’s governing party, PiS, to change the course of energy policy so quickly? This paper argues that PiS made this shift due to increasing, negative economic factors, shift in public opinion regarding environmental awareness, and increased pressure from the EU. There is strong evidence concluding all three factors played a role in PiS' decision to change domestic energy policy to phase out coal and invest in different technologies, primarily nuclear. ; Public Affairs

Στόχος της παρούσας έρευνας είναι η ανάλυση των δύο νέων δεικτών IMO, των EEXI και CII, καθώς και οι επιπτώσεις των οποίων θα επηρεάσουν τις λειτουργικές διαδικασίες μιας ναυτιλιακής εταιρείας και την αποτελεσματικότητα του πλοίου. Αρχικά, η παρούσα εργασία περιγράφει τα κύρια αέρια θερμοκηπίου και τις επιπτώσεις τους στο περιβάλλον, καθώς και τη συμβολή της ναυτιλιακής βιομηχανίας στα παγκόσμια επίπεδα αερίων θερμοκηπίου. Επιπλέον, η έρευνα παρουσιάζει τις νομοθεσίες των EEXI και CII, οι οποίες υποχρεώνουν όλα τα πλοία άνω των 5.000 GT να πληρούν νέες απαιτήσεις σε τεχνικό και λειτουργικό επίπεδο. Στη συνέχεια, η εργασία παρουσιάζει τους υπολογισμούς EEXI και CII για δύο πλοία μεταφοράς χύδην φορτίου, τύπου Ultramax, που δεν συμμορφώνονται με τους νέους κανονισμούς και οι πλοιοκτήτες υποχρεούνται να προχωρήσουν σε μέτρα μετριασμού. Επιπλέον, με βάση τα στοιχεία που προκύπτουν από τους υπολογισμούς, η παρούσα έρευνα αναλύει τα συμπεράσματα σχετικά με τις προκλήσεις που θα χρειαστεί να αντιμετωπίσουν οι πλοιοκτήτες στο άμεσο μέλλον, όπως οι νέες νομικές διαδικασίες των ναυλοσυμφώνων και η σχέση του πλοιοκτήτη με τον ναυλωτή. Τέλος, η εργασία παρουσιάζει ορισμένες εναλλακτικές πράσινες μεθόδους μείωσης των εκπομπών CO2, όπως τα Ενναλακτικά Καύσιμα, η χρήση της αιολικής ενέργειας και τα Συστήματα Ανάκτησης Απορριπτώμενης Θερμότητας. ; The aim of the present research is to analyze the two new IMO indexes, the EEXI and CII, as well as the implications of which will affect the operational processes of a shipping company and the efficiency of the ship. Firstly, this paper describes the main Greenhouse Gases and their impact to the environment, as well as the contribution of Shipping Industry in the worldwide Greenhouse Gas levels. Furthermore, the research presents the legislations of EEXI and CII, which oblige all ships over 5,000 GT to meet new requirements in technical and operational levels. In addition, the paper demonstrates EEXI and CII calculations for two Ultramax bulk carriers which do not comply with the new ...

Urgent action is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate global warming, which leads to ecosystem degradation, extreme weather events, and economic and human risks. The Paris Agreement's goals can be achieved by establishing emission reduction targets and decarbonizing the economy. China, the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, aims to reach carbon peaking by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. Urban areas account for 85% of China's emissions, making it crucial for cities to adopt decarbonization measures to fulfill the national targets. Therefore, many city governments have developed decarbonization plans to explore low-carbon development opportunities. Based on a client project, this policy report focuses on the Chinese context and aims to provide practical knowledge for urban development planners, policymakers, and the public interested in decarbonization issues. The report clarifies the concept of decarbonization planning and provides a comprehensive planning guideline, including greenhouse gas inventory, future emissions forecast, setting decarbonization targets, and developing action plans specific to the region. To illustrate the practical application of the proposed guidelines, the report also includes a case study of an island city in northern China. The GHG inventory shows that the study area's emissions decreased by approximately 56% from 2016 to 2021, primarily due to the promotion of electrification in various industries. The LEAP model-based emissions forecast for the next 40 years reveals the feasibility of the island city achieving carbon neutrality by 2035 under a stringent low-carbon scenario. Based on this analysis, we design and compile a decarbonization action plan for the island city, presenting information on guiding ideology, principles, cross-cutting strategies, necessary decarbonization initiatives for specific sectors, and capacity-building guarantee systems.

Loyola de Palacio Programme on Energy Policy If Europe is serious about climate change, it has to reduce its overall greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, thereby effectively going to a (near-) zero carbon energy and thus, electricity system. The European Climate Foundation, Eurelectric, and the International Energy Agency have consequently published a study elaborating on the final goal of this transition. The studies project scenarios of how such a (near-) zero electricity system would look like and provide recommendations on the policies needed to guide the transition. In this paper, we observe that these studies tell a tale with many similarities. In spite of increased energy efficiency, the electricity demand is projected to increase substantially, with up to 50% from today towards 2050, due to shifts from other sectors towards electricity. This demand will be supplied by a minimum of 40% electricity generation by RES, with the remainder being filled up with nuclear and fossils with CCS. The importance of grid reinforcement, expansion, and planning in this context is emphasized in all three studies. While all three studies further recommend relying on the EU ETS for the transition, the European Climate Foundation and the International Energy Agency consider continuing with targets for RES in combination with a more harmonized EU RES support scheme.

Abstract Our current energy systems, particularly those reliant on fossil fuels, are — in terms of resource use, climate change, and local impacts — highly unsustainable. This thesis presents a generic energy system model that can be used to identify changes in system architecture, replacement technologies, and demand patterns which reduce some chosen suite of sustainability costs — for instance, depletable fuel use, CO2 output, and local air pollution — whilst maintaining energy-service levels. The model also tallies monetary cost so that beneficial changes can be traded against financial penalties, should these arise. The model was developed at the University of Würzburg, Germany, and programmed as the UNIX-based application deeco: dynamic energy, emissions, and cost optimisation. deeco provides a numerical modelling environment for undertaking energy system optimisation of the type just described and includes a library of common plant types. Mathematically, the model classifies as a dynamical flow network optimisation problem. The flow network itself is best described in terms of exergy, although the network currency used by deeco is energy. Exergy-service demand drives the problem. The model is constructed as follows. An energy system of interest is abstracted as a collection of interconnected discrete plant. The plant are treated as dynamic objects, with their intertemporal energetic input/output behaviour, capacity limits, and fixed and flow-dependent costs encoded as functions or inequalities as appropriate. Abutting plant are interfaced using logical exergy connections to form a graph-theoretic flow network — the physical structure. Time-series data-sets representing exergy-service demand by location and the prevailing ambient and institutional conditions — the informational structure — complete the problem specification. After selection of a flow-linear cost goal to proxy for sustainability, the model steps through a sequence of time-intervals (8760 hourly intervals by default) and, assuming redundancy, optimises the flow routing — that is, plant usage — for each interval. Specialist algorithms resolve heat-exchange conditions and store and export surplus exergy between intervals — given certain restrictions on inter-plant influence and abutting network behaviour for reasons of tractability. The storage policy implemented is non-anticipatory, but dynamic programming techniques could facilitate intertemporal optimisation. The key modelling requirements are that the marginal plant efficiencies be independent of duty, or approximated as stepwise-decreasing, and that the selected optimisation cost be linear on flow, or approximated as piecewise-increasing. The marginal plant efficiencies may be arbitrarily dependent on prior state and on ambient conditions. Upon completion, the model reports plant usage and aggregated cost statistics for subsequent interpretation. As well as providing quantitative decision support, the model also portrays energy policy concepts — such as efficiency, renewable energy, demand management, use of storage, waste recovery, and merit-order dispatch — as interdependent components of a more general dynamical flow network optimisation problem. The thesis also extends the concepts of exergy quality and intra-plant quality matching, and advocates the use of quality mismatch when searching for potential infrastructural improvements. The thesis concludes with a review of New Zealand energy sector policy problems that may benefit from quantitative modelling using deeco. ▢

This Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) explores Armenia’s intertwined climate and development challenges, presenting a comprehensive roadmap toward a cleaner environment, healthier communities, and a resilient economy. It highlights the economic and energy security advantages of transitioning from a gas-dependent to a solar-powered economy while acknowledging Armenia’s vulnerability due to its energy-intensive structure. The report emphasizes the urgency of adaptation investments to mitigate water stress, land degradation, and natural disasters, with a particular focus on boosting water efficiency and storage and adopting climate-smart agricultural practices. Key policy recommendations include fiscal and institutional reforms, alongside substantial investment needs in critical sectors such as energy, water, agriculture, and public infrastructure. Achieving a resilient, low-carbon pathway will require an estimated $8 billion investment between 2025 and 2060 (2.5% of GDP per year), with the benefits expected to outweigh the costs. The report also stresses the essential role of private sector engagement and innovative financing, including public-private partnerships and a sustainable finance framework, to mobilize the necessary resources. The World Bank Group’s Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDRs) are a core diagnostic that integrates climate change and development. They help countries prioritize the most impactful actions that can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and boost adaptation and resilience, while delivering on broader development goals. CCDRs build on data and rigorous research and identify main pathways to reduce GHG emissions and climate vulnerabilities, including the costs and challenges as well as benefits and opportunities from doing so. The reports suggest concrete, priority actions to support the low-carbon, resilient transition. As public documents, CCDRs aim to inform governments, citizens, the private sector and development partners and enable engagements with the development and climate agenda. CCDRs feed into other core Bank Group diagnostics, country engagements and operations, and help attract funding and direct financing for high-impact climate action.

ABSTRACT: Among the different applications in which hydrogen technology has become the protagonist, the transport sector should be particularly mentioned. It is expected that, by 2030, 1 in 12 cars sold in Germany, Japan, California, and South Korea will be powered by hydrogen, and that more than 350,000 hydrogen trucks will be able to transport large quantities of goods, while thousands of trains and ships can carry passengers without emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The decarbonisation of road transport can be achieved by implementing fuel cells in electric vehicles. Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV) are a necessary complement to Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs). FCEVs are more convenient for long distances with better performance for heavy vehicles that can benefit from the higher autonomy provided by hydrogen for long-distance transport, but it has lower energy efficiency than BEVs (Genovese & Fragiacomo, 2023). However, the possibility of rapid refuelling is an important advantage (Sinigaglia et al., 2017). However, the success of the implementation of this new technology is facing several obstacles. Among them, the lack of suitable and connected infrastructure and the high initial investment cost. So, hydrogen refuelling stations (HRSs) must be fully implemented as they are one of the most important parts of the hydrogen economy in the transport sector. N/A

Climate action offers an opportunity to safeguard development gains and accompany the ambitious transformation Senegal is embarking on to achieve its objective of reaching middle income status in the next decade. While the country was among the fastest growing economies in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), poverty reduction was slow, vulnerabilities persisted, and inequalities increased. In addition, overall productivity remained low, with lagging structural transformation, high informality, and low job creation. To attain its middle-income goal, Senegal must initiate a series of reforms for a productive, sustainable, and inclusive growth model, with climate considerations at the center given the country’s high vulnerability. Senegal’s high climate vulnerability is caused by the country’s coastal exposure and reliance on natural resources for food, jobs, and growth (partly a consequence of its slow structural transformation). With temperatures soaring, precipitation expected to decrease, and erosion threatening 75 percent of the coastline at term, Senegal’s population and assets are under high risk. The poorest are particularly vulnerable, with 55 percent of total households teetering on the edge of poverty because of recurrent shocks. Without action, annual economic losses could reach 3-4 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as soon as 2030 and further increase to 9.4 percent by 2050, wiping years of per capita income growth and eroding any potential human capital accumulation. Overall, climate change could push two more million Senegalese in poverty by mid-century. Building resilience and leveraging the low-carbon economy will help Senegal realizing its growth ambitions, contributing to a more productive, sustainable, and inclusive development pathway. The macro-economic analysis for this CCDR finds that adaptation measures in selected sectors could bring GDP gains of about 2 percent by 2030, and between 0.5 and 1 percent afterwards (for climate financing needs of about 0.9 percent of GDP in the period to 2030 and 0.1 percent afterwards). Adaptation could also reduce poverty headcount, with 40 percent less people pushed into poverty by climate change compared to no adaptation action. In addition, emission reductions could reach 20MtCO2e per year over the period to 2050, from interventions in forestry, improved cooking services, urban transport, waste management, and energy production. The energy transition provides an opportunity to meet both development and climate objectives, exceeding NDC targets and putting the country well on track for net zero by 2050, but significant downside risks remain, linked to delays in the deployment and financing availability for renewable generation and domestic gas. Senegal’s formidable renewable energy potential (chiefly around solar) offers the lowest cost generation option to meet rising energy demand while accelerating decarbonization. At term, the country could play a leading role in decarbonizing the region though export opportunities and bolster resilience across the regional grid. In the short term, given constraints to the fast deployment of renewables, the transitional use of domestic gas will help phase out expensive and high-emitting coal and Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) generation, while balancing the electricity system and lowering the cost of electricity. Climate action will require a financing of US$8.2 billion over 2025-30 (in present value, at 6 percent per year), or 4.5 percent of discounted cumulative GDP over the same period, and US$10.6 billion over 2031-50 (in present value terms), or 2.0 percent of discounted cumulative GDP over the same period. Water security, sustainable (urban) transport, and the energy transition account for the largest share. Importantly, climate action is expected to bring significant benefits over time, beyond climate adaptation and mitigation – including health or jobs, (as in the primary sector, with 155,000 jobs created, of which 80 percent in agriculture). Many benefits could not be properly estimated, implying that the returns from climate action might well be underestimated. The World Bank Group’s Country Climate and Development Reports (CCDRs) are a core diagnostic that integrates climate change and development. They help countries prioritize the most impactful actions that can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and boost adaptation and resilience, while delivering on broader development goals. CCDRs build on data and rigorous research and identify main pathways to reduce GHG emissions and climate vulnerabilities, including the costs and challenges as well as benefits and opportunities from doing so. The reports suggest concrete, priority actions to support the low-carbon, resilient transition. As public documents, CCDRs aim to inform governments, citizens, the private sector and development partners and enable engagements with the development and climate agenda. CCDRs feed into other core Bank Group diagnostics, country engagements and operations, and help attract funding and direct financing for high-impact climate action.