Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zolboo Gansukh
Summary: The current world situation under the coronavirus epidemic has put pressure on commodity-based economies, leading to the need to seek other options for export diversification. Mongolia recently suspended commodity transport to China, and the article suggests using renewable energy to stabilize and support the country's macroeconomic situation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Stuart Jenkins, Margriet Kuijper, Hugh Helferty, Cecile Girardin, Myles Allen
Summary: Energy policy needs to balance the challenges of increasing resilience and security of supply, minimizing impact on consumer energy prices, and meeting climate goals. Applying extended producer responsibility (EPR) to fossil fuels can help achieve this by reducing global warming. Implementing EPR through CO2 storage and nature-based solutions can deliver net-zero emissions at comparable or lower costs than conventional scenarios driven by carbon pricing.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Muhammad Shakeel
Summary: This study examines the energy-GDP-exports nexus in the South Asia region using structural break models and finds that labor and capital have significant impacts on real economic output. However, the role of fossil fuels diminishes after 2008, while non-fossil fuels have little impact on real economic output.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Havva Yaka, Mert Akin Insel, Ozgun Yucel, Hasan Sadikoglu
Summary: Higher heating value (HHV) is an important parameter for energy efficiency, and this study used machine learning algorithms to estimate HHV for different fuel types, with performance evaluation and data analysis.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Jiankang Wang, Hanxiao Meng, Xiang Liu, Lei Zhang, Kelang Jin, Hao Zhou
Summary: Injecting ammonia improves the yield and tumbler index of sintered ore, enhances fuel combustion efficiency, and reduces CO emissions. Injecting 1.0% ammonia can decrease the coke ratio and reduce carbon emissions.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jamileh Fouladi, Ahmed AlNouss, Tareq Al-Ansari
Summary: Resource depletion is a significant threat to society due to the increasing demand for water, energy, and food resources driven by population growth. This study focuses on designing an integrated Energy-Water-Food-Carbon nexus within eco-industrial parks to address this issue. The research examines various technology sub-systems and carbon capture/utilization processes in an industrial park in Qatar. Simulation and optimization of multiple scenarios reveal the potential for biomass utilization and carbon capture to significantly reduce emissions, while wastewater treatment and reuse scenarios show no significant impact. The cost of the optimum solution after biomass utilization is slightly higher, but waste heat utilization can potentially reduce global warming potential.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Tomi J. Lindroos, Elina Maki, Kati Koponen, Ilkka Hannula, Juha Kiviluoma, Jyrki Raitila
Summary: The study combines models of Northern European power markets, local district heating and cooling systems, and biomass supply to analyze the impacts of bioenergy technologies on phasing out fossil fuels in the DHC system of the Finnish capital. Results show that heat only boilers are a robust solution from both economic and climate perspectives in Helsinki, but decrease local electricity self-sufficiency; whereas combined heat and power solutions are more valuable for the system than for the city, indicating potential conflicts of interest.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Guiyan Zang, Pingping Sun, Amgad Elgowainy, Michael Wang
Summary: CO2 capture and utilization provide an alternative pathway for low-carbon hydrocarbon production. The study found that the methanol production systems, including integrated and stand-alone systems, have different environmental impacts and prices that are influenced by the hydrogen price and CO2 abatement credits.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Indra Overland, Javlon Juraev, Roman Vakulchuk
Summary: This study quantitatively compares the distribution of renewable energy resources and fossil fuel reserves, finding that renewable energy is more evenly distributed. This supports the idea that transitioning to renewable energy can lead to a decentralized global energy system. However, the difference in distribution between renewable energy and fossil fuel reserves is not as significant as assumed, indicating that international energy trade and politics will still play a role.
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
G. Mutezo, J. Mulopo
Summary: The concept of circular economy has gained traction worldwide in the past decade, with more organizations considering its application in daily operations. The energy transition in Africa presents challenges and opportunities, particularly in the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Debora Cristina Bianchini, Flavio Jose Simioni
Summary: The study shows that drying wood chips using a rotary dryer is economically viable, with a short payback period and high Internal Rate Return. Even with an increase in purchase price and a decrease in sale price, the economic indicators remain viable.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND ASSESSMENTS
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zackery B. Morris, Marc Weissburg, Bert Bras
Summary: This study investigated 29 urban-industrial ecosystems using ecological network analysis, revealing that these systems perform worse ecologically compared to natural ecosystems. The impact of specific actor types within the networks, such as industry, agriculture, and the natural environment, was shown to be significant. Furthermore, the types of networks have been determined to affect ecological metrics, with linear-based energy networks performing the worst.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Psychology, Biological
Marike Schiffer
Summary: Ukrainian climate scientist Svitlana Krakovska discusses the role of fossil fuels in the war in Ukraine and advocates for divestment to ensure a sustainable future.
NATURE HUMAN BEHAVIOUR
(2022)
Review
Energy & Fuels
Pedro J. Megia, Arturo J. Vizcaino, Jose A. Calles, Alicia Carrero
Summary: This study reviews and compares different technologies for hydrogen production using renewable and non-renewable resources. The results show that biomass gasification and steam reforming technologies have promising features in terms of hydrogen yield, energy efficiency, and operational costs.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Shupa Rahman, Simron Singh, Cameron McCordic
Summary: This study examines the possibility of food localization in small Caribbean island nations, finding a decline in local food production over the past few decades. While Barbados and Jamaica have moved away from food localization, Dominica and Grenada show a modest trend towards localization in recent years. The study provides valuable insights for the Caribbean's food security debate and raises questions about the feasibility of food localization in small island contexts.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Lei Chen, Linyu Xu, Raul Velasco-Fernandez, Mario Giampietro, Zhifeng Yang
Summary: As China's urbanization accelerates, there have been significant changes in residential energy metabolism. The year 2009 marked a turning point when the household energy metabolic rate saw a rapid increase, with urbanization effect impacting energy metabolism in rural households. This highlights new challenges for China's energy-saving and energy structure refining policies.
Article
Thermodynamics
M. Ripa, L. J. Di Felice, M. Giampietro
Summary: The study proposes a methodology grounded in societal metabolism to analyze the behavior of post-industrial society's energy sector, suggesting that the behavior of the energy sector is influenced by various factors such as the globalized economy and impacts the overall greenhouse gas emissions.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Robin Harder, Mario Giampietro, Sean Smukler
Summary: This paper introduces a new analytical framework for studying nutrient circularity, considering system openness and feed and food trade. The framework allows for a separate discussion of four interpretations of nutrient circularity and analyzes how these indicators relate to each other depending on system openness.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Keith B. Matthews, Ansel Renner, Kirsty L. Blackstock, Kerry A. Waylen, Dave G. Miller, Doug H. Wardell-Johnson, Alba Juarez-Bourke, Juan Cadillo-Benalcazar, Joep F. Schyns, Mario Giampietro
Summary: The paper presents insights from conducting a pan-EU sustainability assessment using FADN data and SMA processes, focusing on the interactions between crop and livestock systems and the resulting impacts and challenges on the environment and other aspects.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
R. Strand, G. Gamboa, D. J. Dankel, M. Giampietro
Summary: This study examines the sociotechnical imaginaries in the Aquafly research consortium and evaluates the feasibility of the technology in terms of ethical and environmental impacts. Additionally, it highlights the challenges inherent in addressing global sustainability issues.
JOURNAL OF INSECTS AS FOOD AND FEED
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Michele Manfroni, Rail Velasco-Fernandez, Laura Perez-Sanchez, G. F. Sandra Bukkens, Mario Giampietro
Summary: The shortage of human activity is identified as an internal constraint to economic growth that can be addressed by strategies such as increasing capital investment, externalizing working hour requirements, and introducing immigration. While these strategies can temporarily overcome constraints at the national level, they do not provide a long-term solution globally.
ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Robin Harder, Mario Giampietro, Kent Mullinix, Sean Smukler
Summary: The circular bioeconomy is seen as a solution to current sustainability issues, with the lack of nutrient flow cyclicity being a major obstacle. By utilizing a novel analytical framework, we can better understand nutrient flow circularity and develop effective policies for sustainable management.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Laura A. Perez-Sanchez, Raul Velasco-Fernandez, Mario Giampietro
Summary: Residential end-uses account for a significant part of energy consumption and material stocks. However, addressing the sustainability of the residential sector solely as an environmental technical issue is not enough. Home is a vital part of daily life, serving essential functions for people. To analyze the sustainability of this sector, a comprehensive interdisciplinary framework is needed. By selecting plausible hypotheses, coherent anticipation scenarios can be created, leading to profound transformations towards sustainability.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Alireza Taghdisian, Sandra G. F. Bukkens, Mario Giampietro
Summary: This study utilizes a semantically open framework (MuSIASEM) to investigate nexus challenges in agricultural production systems in transboundary river basins, with the Iranian Aras River Basin as a case study. The study finds that utilizing different interrelated logics of aggregation can help identify and assess trade-offs in policy deliberations. Additionally, the study emphasizes the importance of a co-production of analysis with social actors and access to more complete data for effective nexus governance in the region.
Article
Environmental Studies
Mario Giampietro, Sandra G. F. Bukkens
Summary: Despite efforts to contain greenhouse gas emissions, the CO2 level in the atmosphere continues to increase. This article explores whether there are incomplete or incorrect scientific representations and knowledge claims used in energy policy discussions, as well as overlooked alternative knowledge claims. Through three case studies, it is found that alternative knowledge claims, based on non-equilibrium thermodynamics, exist and can better inform energy policy. However, these claims are currently unknown in the chosen framing of the issues. The article concludes that simultaneously solving the various concerns in EU energy policy is unrealistic and a smooth transition to a zero-carbon economy seems unlikely without integrating different narratives and knowledge claims.
ENERGY RESEARCH & SOCIAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Michele Manfroni, Sandra G. F. Bukkens, Mario Giampietro
Summary: This study presents a novel methodology for evaluating the performance of the oil sector. It focuses on the potential impact of unconventional oils on energy security and analyzes the global energy metabolism. The study finds that increased exploitation of unconventional oils may lead to shortages of specific refinery products. Different simulations show contrasting performances on environmental, technical, and economic criteria.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Mario Giampietro
Summary: I argue that the popularity of the circular bioeconomy concept in policy-making reflects a crisis in sustainability science, resulting from the use of outdated scientific paradigms to describe our interaction with the world. This leads to a lack of quality control on the science-policy interface. As our life support systems face collapse and the world rapidly changes, it is essential for society to re-examine its identity. However, existing mechanisms for quality control in scientific input hinder this process. Detecting and changing outdated scientific paradigms in sustainability science is therefore a crucial challenge. A shift to a new scientific paradigm would require a more reflexive science and society.
SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kerry A. Waylen, Kirsty L. Blackstock, Keith B. Matthews, Alba Juarez-Bourke, Alice Hague, Doug Wardell-Johnson, Dave Miller, Zora Kovacic, Thomas Volker, Angela Guimaraes Pereira, Mario Giampietro
Summary: Post-Normal Science (PNS) highlights the need for scientists and policy-makers to co-analyse and learn together. However, the roles and implications for scientific experts when interacting with policy-makers are not well understood. This article reflects on scientific experts' experiences in the interdisciplinary H2020 MAGIC project and suggests the importance of recognizing the plural roles expected of experts and the constraints of science-policy interactions.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & POLICY
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Diana Alfonso-Becares, Mario Giampietro, Esteve Corbera, Tarik Serrano-Tovar
Summary: This article proposes a novel methodology to explore the relationship between livelihood heterogeneity and land use change at the community level, by combining the concept of archetype with the accounting scheme of MUlti-Scale Integrated Analysis of Societal and Ecosystem Metabolism to define and quantify the characteristics of livelihood typologies in socioeconomic and ecological terms. Conservation trade-offs of potential policies are explored through what if scenarios assuming changes in off-farm opportunities, population growth, and conservation/farming subsidies. The approach is tested with a case study of the community of San Isidro, in Chiapas, Mexico. We conclude that the concept of livelihood typologies is useful to inform the debate over conservation prospects in rural environments.
ENVIRONMENT DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Juan J. Cadillo-Benalcazar, Sandra G. F. Bukkens, Maddalena Ripa, Mario Giampietro
Summary: This paper examines the inconsistency in policy discourses about biofuels within the EU, using the Netherlands as a case study. It reveals that economic incentives and trade opportunities, rather than original policy justifications, are driving the production and use of biofuels in the Netherlands. At the EU level, the majority of current liquid biofuels consist of first-generation biofuels, suggesting a slow progress towards advanced and food-waste-based biofuels. This analysis highlights the incoherence between policy justifications and their implementation, indicating room for improvement in the biofuels policy debate.
ENERGY RESEARCH & SOCIAL SCIENCE
(2021)