Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mohammad S. Marasadi, Kyle McGaughy, Jillian Falls, Tyler Tarnoczi
Summary: There is a disagreement between research communities and energy sector stakeholders on life cycle GHG emission estimates due to lack of validation of LCA models using real operation data. This is caused by limited collaboration and knowledge exchange between model developers and company experts. By engaging company experts and improving assumptions, models, and information used in an open-source LCA simulator (OPGEE), the carbon intensity estimates are found to be within 1%-5% of reported data by companies when using consistent region-specific input data and system boundaries.
Review
Economics
Katie Skillington, Robert H. Crawford, Georgia Warren-Myers, Kathryn Davidson
Summary: The building sector plays a significant role in global energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions. Recent studies have shown that improvements in operational energy efficiency have led to increased indirect or embodied energy demands and associated emissions. Existing policies in Australia, Canada, USA, and the United Kingdom mostly rely on voluntary instruments, with limited regulatory measures at the national level. Signals of change include growing private sector investment and increasing targets for emissions reduction.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yu Gan, Amgad Elgowainy, Zifeng Lu, Jarod C. Kelly, Michael Wang, Richard D. Boardman, Jason Marcinkoski
Summary: Solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity is an important source of electricity generation in the pursuit of net-zero carbon emissions. However, the growth of solar electricity leads to increased material demands and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from silicon and PV manufacturing. Analyzing the supply chain for the U.S. market, it is found that the majority of GHG emissions come from PV panel production processes in China and other Asia-Pacific countries. Moving manufacturing to the U.S. would reduce GHG emissions and, coupled with a decarbonized grid and improved PV conversion efficiency, the embodied GHG emissions of solar electricity in the U.S. could be significantly reduced.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Mayyas Alsalman, Vian Ahmed, Zied Bahroun, Sara Saboor
Summary: Despite global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the energy sector remains heavily dependent on hydrocarbon-based resources, fulfilling 80% of energy needs. This study focuses on renewable energy policy adoption, aiming to identify effective mechanisms for promoting grid-tied solar energy in the UAE. The findings highlight the potential for a unified renewable energy policy mechanism, with net metering emerging as the most efficient and economically viable choice.
Review
Energy & Fuels
M. M. Hasan, Shakhawat Hossain, M. Mofijur, Zobaidul Kabir, Irfan Anjum Badruddin, T. M. Yunus Khan, Esam Jassim
Summary: This review provides a comprehensive evaluation of an integrated solar energy system, including photovoltaic technologies, solar thermal systems, and energy storage solutions. It emphasizes the importance of solar energy as a renewable resource and its role in addressing global energy demand and mitigating climate change.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Pushpendra Singh, M. K. Gaur
Summary: The novel hybrid active greenhouse solar dryer features a heat exchanger and evacuated tube collectors, significantly reducing drying time for three different crops and mitigating substantial amount of CO2 emissions over its lifetime.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND ASSESSMENTS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Robert H. Crawford, Andre Stephan, Fabian Prideaux
Summary: The demand for new buildings and infrastructure poses considerable strain on the natural environment, requiring the use of tools like life cycle assessment to assess and improve environmental performance. The EPiC Database in Australia provides hybrid embodied environmental flow coefficients for construction materials to address incomplete process data and improve the environmental performance of construction projects.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jiajia Zheng, Zih-Ee Lin, Eric Masanet, Ranjit Deshmukh, Sangwon Suh
Summary: The study indicates that while installing PV systems reduces annual costs and carbon emissions for households, adding battery storage increases lifecycle costs and has mixed impacts on emissions. By 2040, solar-plus-storage systems may have up to 31% higher lifecycle costs and up to 32% higher emissions compared to solar-only systems.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Louis Delannoy, Pierre-Yves Longaretti, David J. Murphy, Emmanuel Prados
Summary: This paper explores the impact of using lower quality energy sources on the net-energy supply of oil products, finding that by 2050, half of the gross energy output will be needed for oil production. This challenges the feasibility of a rapid global transition to low-carbon energy, suggesting a renewed focus on net-energy issues in the peak oil debate.
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ahmed M. Ghaithan, Awsan Mohammed, Laith Hadidi
Summary: This study evaluates the feasibility of powering a large-scale Reverse Osmosis desalination plant using different energy supply systems and explores the impact of removing fuel subsidies on the cost of water. The results show that PV-grid system has a lower cost of water desalination, and PV-battery system is competitive when considering environmental issues.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND ASSESSMENTS
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Sulaiman O. Fadlallah, Delight M. Sedzro, Djamal Eddine Benhadji Serradj, Rakesh Mishra
Summary: The efforts and promises of North African countries to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide emissions fall short of the global goal of staying below 1.5 degrees C global warming by 2050. It is crucial for these countries to contribute to clean energy goals and utilize solar energy. The study highlights the potential of solar photovoltaic installations in various North African cities, with Schneider ConextCoreXC 630 kW with Generic PV technology showing the lowest cost of energy. PV farms are found to be economically practical, sustainable, and capable of reducing pollutants and energy costs.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND ASSESSMENTS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Santosh Kumar Singh, Arun Kumar Tiwari, H. K. Paliwal
Summary: The investigation focuses on the performance of Direct Absorption Parabolic Trough Collector in low-temperature applications. By coating the absorber tube with MXene particles and black paint, followed by dip coating of MgF2 and SiO2 particles, as well as using MXene/water as the heat transfer fluid, the highest thermal efficiency achieved was 58.5%. This provides a foundation for calculating embodied energy and reducing emissions.
PROCESS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Yi-Li Lin, Nai-Yun Zheng, Ching-Shi Lin
Summary: This study focused on improving the properties and energy efficiency of torrefied biochar produced from the waste of two common street trees. It was found that higher torrefaction temperatures and longer reaction times led to increased high heating values and fuel ratios in the biochar. Additionally, using biochar as a substitute for bituminous coal could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while cofiring biochar with bituminous coal at power plants is sustainable and economically beneficial.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Aminata Sarr, Aida Merida-Garcia, Lamine Diop, Luciano Mateos, Nicola Lamaddalena, Juan Antonio Rodriguez-Diaz
Summary: Solar photovoltaic (PV) irrigation is popular in agriculture due to its low cost and environmental benefits. A user-friendly tool called ODSIS was developed to optimize the sizing of a PV generator for crop irrigation. The tool calculates the irrigation needs, power demand, PV production potential, investment cost, and greenhouse gas emissions. A case study in Senegal showed that the optimal PV plant size can result in economic savings for farmers and emission reductions.
Review
Energy & Fuels
Md Tanjil Sarker, Mohammed Hussein Saleh Mohammed Haram, Gobbi Ramasamy, Fahmid Al Farid, Sarina Mansor
Summary: This paper provides a comprehensive review and analysis of solar photovoltaic (PV) home systems in Malaysia, examining their implementation, challenges, benefits, and future potential. It highlights the importance of Malaysia's adoption of solar PV systems at the residential level and explores government initiatives, policy frameworks, and socio-economic implications. The paper also discusses barriers to wider acceptance, technological advancements, and successful case studies, while offering insights on policy improvements and envisioning the future trajectory of solar PV home systems in Malaysia.
Article
Thermodynamics
Graham Palmer
Article
Energy & Fuels
Graham Palmer
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Graham Palmer
Editorial Material
Energy & Fuels
Graham Palmer
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jessica Daaboul, Patrick Moriarty, Graham Palmer, Damon Honnery
Summary: This paper introduces a method to determine ESME by removing the impact of energy systems on ecosystems over their lifecycle. The research shows that the capacity to produce net green energy decreases with increased natural gas backup.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Changlong Wang, Stuart D. C. Walsh, Thomas Longden, Graham Palmer, Israel Lutalo, Roger Dargaville
Summary: This study considers the factors contributing to cost-competitive green ammonia production from an exporter's perspective, including resource quality, off-grid plant operation, and trade buyer complementarity. Modeling shows that most hydrogen hubs in Australia can produce cost-competitive green ammonia, given partial flexibility in electrolysis and Haber-Bosch processes to cope with renewable variability.
ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Graham Palmer, Ashley Roberts, Andrew Hoadley, Roger Dargaville, Damon Honnery
Summary: Water electrolysis powered by solar photovoltaics is considered a promising green technology for producing hydrogen. In order to ensure its contribution to global energy decarbonisation, life cycle assessment and net energy analysis are important tools to evaluate its environmental impacts and energy balance. Despite initial findings of lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional steam methane reforming, sensitivity analysis reveals that solar-electrolysis may have comparable emissions under certain conditions. Further research and integration of LCA and NEA into project planning is recommended to promote green hydrogen production goals.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Economics
Joshua Floyd, Samuel Alexander, Manfred Lenzen, Patrick Moriarty, Graham Palmer, Sangeetha Chandra-Shekeran, Barney Foran, Lorenz Keysser