Article
Environmental Sciences
Mihaela Simionescu
Summary: This paper examines GHG emissions in Central and Eastern European countries from 1990 to 2019 and proposes economic policies to reduce pollution, finding an inverse N-shaped relationship between GDP and GHG emissions, and an N-shaped relationship between value added in agriculture and pollution. The study confirms a U-shaped renewable energy Kuznets Curve for overall economy and agriculture, suggesting that reducing pollution can promote sustainable development in these countries.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Mihaela Simionescu, Wadim Strielkowski, Beata Gavurova
Summary: This paper validates the relationship between renewable energy consumption and environmental pollution in ten Central and Eastern European countries, as well as the impact of governance on greenhouse gas emissions. The results show that renewable energy consumption contributes to pollution reduction, while increased labor productivity leads to higher greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, factors such as rule of law, regulatory quality, and control of corruption have long-term effects on environmental quality.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ioannis Kostakis, Josep-Maria Arauzo-Carod
Summary: This study examines the validity of the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis for the G7 countries using ecological footprint and its components. Unlike previous studies that focus on CO2 emissions as an environmental damage measure, this study considers resource consumption and waste generation relative to nature's capacity. Panel data analysis is conducted for G7 countries from 1980 to 2018. The results confirm the EKC hypothesis for the overall ecological footprint, with varying impacts of GDP growth on its components. Renewable energy generation improves environmental sustainability, while globalization reduces pollution indicators and economic complexity contributes to environmental degradation.
Article
Economics
Hichem Dkhili
Summary: This analysis examines the hypothesis of EKC in MENA countries and finds the long-term decline between renewable energies, economic growth, trade openness, and FDI. The empirical results also show a link between the rate of CO2 emissions and trade openness.
JOURNAL OF THE KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sajid Ali, Zulkornain Yusop, Shivee Ranjanee Kaliappan, Lee Chin
Summary: The study found that trade openness has a negative impact on CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions in OIC countries, but a positive impact on ecological footprint. In lower income OIC countries, trade openness is positively associated with all environmental indicators. Additionally, an inverted-U-shaped EKC exists in all OIC countries when CO2, CH4, and ecological footprint are used as environmental indicators.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bright Akwasi Gyamfi, Festus Fatai Adedoyin, Murad A. Bein, Festus Victor Bekun
Summary: The study did not confirm the presence of an N-shaped EKC in the emerging 7 countries but rather found an inverted U-shaped EKC. Results showed a positive and significant relationship between renewable energy and non-renewable energy with CO2 emissions, but short-term results indicated no significant relationship between economic expansion and CO2 emissions. Causality tests revealed bi-directional causality between GDP and GDP-squared.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Louis Sevitnenyi Nkwatoh
Summary: The study investigates the relationship between CO2 emissions and economic development in West Africa between 1990 and 2014. The findings suggest that while the manufacturing and industrial sectors are not significantly large enough to cause environmental degradation, West African countries have not fully utilized the available technology to reduce pollution and decarbonize the environment. The study suggests that policies promoting natural agricultural practices and renewable sources of energy can help mitigate the CO2 emissions caused by economic development.
ENVIRONMENT DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Munir Ahmad, Cem Isik, Gul Jabeen, Tausif Ali, Ilhan Ozturk, Desire Wade Atchike
Summary: The study found bidirectional positive linkages between economic development and urban concentration, a unidirectional positive linkage from non-renewable energy use intensity to environmental emissions index, and bidirectional mixed linkages between economic development and non-renewable energy use intensity. Urban concentration showed a U-shaped linkage with non-renewable energy use intensity and environmental emissions index, while economic development exhibited an environmental Kuznets curve with environmental emissions index.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mihaela Simionescu, Monica Raileanu Szeles, Beata Gavurova, Urszula Mentel
Summary: Recent debates on the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) in the context of the European Green Deal indicate that pollution control can be achieved through channels other than economic development. The role of renewable energy consumption in reducing pollution is correlated with quality of governance. Government effectiveness reduces pollution both in the short-run and long-run, while control of corruption and rule of law support environmental protection in the long-run. Google searches for corruption as a proxy for quality of governance have immediate and practical implications in nowcasting pollution.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Serdar Ongan, Cem Isik, Azka Amin, Umit Bulut, Abdul Rehman, Rafael Alvarado, Munir Ahmad, Sahir Karakaya
Summary: This study introduces the use of the Armey curve hypothesis (ACH) to test the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis (EKCH). The two hypotheses have similar inverted U-shaped curves, so they are combined into a single composite model to calculate the optimal level of government expenditures that will affect CO2 emissions for USMCA countries. The results show that only Mexico verifies the EKCH through the AC model. Additionally, the study calculates the optimal government spending level for Mexico, which will increase both per capita real GDP (RGDPPC) and CO2 emissions by 26.4% of RGDPPC.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Jing Li
Summary: This study aims to deepen the understanding of the Kuznets curve by investigating the relationship between CO2 emissions per capita and various factors such as per capita GDP, nonfossil energy, and total factor productivity. The findings support the hypothesis of the environmental Kuznets curve and provide valuable insights for policymakers in addressing climate change challenges.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATE CHANGE STRATEGIES AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Langang Feng, Shu Shang, Xiangyun Gao, Sufang An, Xiaodan Han
Summary: This study analyzes the spatiotemporal evolutionary process of CO2 emissions in China and develops a spatial Durbin model and partial derivative approach based on direct, indirect, and total environmental Kuznets curves. The results show that CO2 emissions exhibit significant positive spatial autocorrelation and gravity centers have shifted westward. Neighboring economic growth has a stronger impact on local emissions compared to local economic growth. Population growth and the rise of energy intensity stimulate CO2 emissions in both local and neighboring regions. This study provides valuable scientific information for policymakers in formulating emissions reduction measures.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Licong Xing, Yousaf Ali Khan, Noman Arshed, Mubasher Iqbal
Summary: This study examines the economic factors behind environmental deterioration and the role of innovation in achieving sustainable development. It uses the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) and Stochastic Effects by Population, Affluence, and Technology (STIRPAT) structure for panel data regression analysis of Asian economies from 1990 to 2019. The study finds that the inverted U-shaped relationship between per capita economic growth and environmental degradation is not supported, but highlights the role of innovation at lower levels of growth in achieving EKC. The empirical evidence challenges the existence of EKC and suggests innovation as a viable approach for sustainable development in Asian economies.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Syed Ale Raza Shah, Syed Asif Ali Naqvi, Samia Nasreen, Nasir Abbas
Summary: The study examines the validity of the Environment Kuznets curve with two different environment proxies, finding that it holds for ecological footprint but not for carbon emissions. Environmentally friendly indicators include energy intensity and financial development, while biomass energy consumption has a negative impact on environmental degradation. Causality findings reveal bidirectional links between economic development and emission, biomass energy consumption, and financial development, emphasizing the need to focus on policy options to improve energy efficiency for a cleaner environment.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Studies
Daniil S. Ziyazov, Anton I. Pyzhev
Summary: This paper contributes to the literature on the Environmental Kuznets Curve by empirically analyzing the relationship between air pollutant emissions from motor vehicles and socio-economic factors in 56 major Russian cities. The study finds an N-shaped relationship, where emissions initially rise with economic growth due to rapid vehicle adoption, then decrease after reaching a certain point, and increase again beyond that point. Other important findings include the impact of population density, road density, and gasoline cost on emissions.
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH PART D-TRANSPORT AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Mihaela Simionescu, Nicolas Schneider
Summary: This study examines the role of nuclear power and renewable energy in achieving economic growth in Europe. The panel analysis of EU countries shows no feedback effect between nuclear and renewable resources and economic growth, supporting the conservation hypothesis. However, at the country level, Germany's renewable energy use has a weak causal effect on output growth, while economic growth enhances nuclear energy consumption in Spain. There is no causal link between economic growth and renewable energy use for Spain and France.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Mihaela Simionescu
Summary: The aim of this paper is to analyze the stochastic convergence in per capita energy use in the EU-15 countries in the period 1970-2019. The research shows that 11 countries in the EU-15 exhibited a convergent pattern, while Ireland and Spain had persistent per capita energy use. The study also indicates that economic growth is a significant factor in per capita energy use for countries with convergent behavior.
Article
Environmental Sciences
John M. Polimeni, Mihaela Simionescu, Raluca I. Iorgulescu
Summary: This study assesses the impact of energy poverty on health in the EU-27 countries from 2003 to 2020 using Panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag models and generalized ridge regressions. The findings indicate that arrears on utility bills positively affect the capacity to keep homes warm, current health expenditures, and self-perceived health as bad or very bad in the long run, but have a negative influence on energy import dependency. In the long term, the inability to keep homes adequately warm has a positive effect on self-perceived health as bad and very bad, while negatively influencing the number of cooling days. Current health expenditure has a long-term impact on self-perceived health as bad and very bad, as well as the number of heating days. Short-term impacts were observed for energy import dependency, arrears on utility bills, and the number of heating days on current health expenditure and the population unable to keep their home adequately warm. The study also highlights the significant impact of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion on energy poverty indicators. Separate analysis is conducted for EU states with the highest energy import dependency, and the implications of the results are discussed.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Mihaela Simionescu, Wadim Strielkowski, Beata Gavurova
Summary: This paper validates the relationship between renewable energy consumption and environmental pollution in ten Central and Eastern European countries, as well as the impact of governance on greenhouse gas emissions. The results show that renewable energy consumption contributes to pollution reduction, while increased labor productivity leads to higher greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, factors such as rule of law, regulatory quality, and control of corruption have long-term effects on environmental quality.
Article
Business
Mihaela Simionescu
Summary: This study aims to improve quarterly inflation forecasts provided by the National Bank of Romania through sentiment analysis. The sentiment forecasts based on official reports outperformed numerical predictions and combined forecasts, and additional forecasting models using machine learning and sentiment indices were proposed.
TECHNOLOGICAL FORECASTING AND SOCIAL CHANGE
(2022)
Article
Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary
Mihaela Simionescu, Javier Cifuentes-Faura
Summary: This study analyzes and predicts youth unemployment in Spain using Google Trends indices. The results confirm that forecasts based on Google Trends data are more accurate.
SOCIAL INDICATORS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary
Mihaela Simionescu, Magdalena Radulescu, Javier Cifuentes-Faura
Summary: The paper assesses the impact of renewable energy consumption on economic growth in 23 EU member states from 1990 to 2020. It finds that renewable energy use in the industry does not determine economic growth, but economic development can lead to more utilization of renewable energy in the industry. Additionally, more renewable energy consumption in transport enhances economic growth.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Javier Cifuentes-Faura, Mihaela Simionescu, Beata Gavurova
Summary: This paper analyzes the factors that explain the fiscal deficits of Spanish municipalities. The study finds that economic growth, unemployment, political participation, and right-wing political parties have an impact on the deficits. The results suggest that reducing unemployment and boosting economic growth are effective measures to reduce the budget deficit. This research has important implications for politicians, citizens, and stakeholders.
Article
Nuclear Science & Technology
Mihaela Simionescu
Summary: This paper examines the relationship between nuclear and renewable energy consumption and economic growth, considering the role of governance quality. The findings indicate a positive impact of renewable energy consumption on economic growth, while nuclear energy has a limited and negative effect. Control of corruption and rule of law play a crucial role in supporting renewable energy consumption, while an efficient political framework can promote the growth of nuclear energy.
PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR ENERGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Cem Isik, Mihaela Simionescu, Serdar Ongan, Magdalena Radulescu, Zahid Yousaf, Abdul Rehman, Rafael Alvarado, Munir Ahmad
Summary: This study aims to demonstrate the impact of renewable energy consumption (REC) on environmental degradation using the EKC hypothesis testing for the BRIC and G-7 countries. The empirical findings indicate that the EKC hypothesis is verified faster in the REC-EF-EPU-based EKC model (Model 2) for G-7 countries, suggesting that renewable energy consumption accelerates the reduction of CO2 emissions. However, the study found no evidence supporting the EKC hypothesis for the BRIC countries.
STOCHASTIC ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND RISK ASSESSMENT
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Mihaela Simionescu, Javier Cifuentes-Faura
Summary: Sustainability is achieved through reduced natural resource consumption and pollution. This study focuses on assessing the impact of electricity prices, innovation, and economic development on pollution in the energy supply and waste sectors in the V4 countries (2010-2021). The analysis reveals a U-shaped pattern in the energy supply sector and an inverted U-shape in the waste sector. Higher electricity prices for non-households, increased renewable energy consumption in the waste sector, and patents for environment-related technologies at higher GDP levels are recommended to reduce pollution. These empirical findings provide valuable insights for policy proposals.
Article
Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary
Mihaela Simionescu
Summary: The rate of unemployment for higher educated people has increased in Romania in recent decades. This study aims to analyze survey data from master's students in Economics from private and public universities in Bucharest. ANOVA/linear Dependent Dirichlet Process mixture model is used to explain the survey scores, which suggest that interview rejections for master's students are influenced by gender, work seniority, university attended, and employer requirements. Additionally, a rank ordered probit model assesses the importance of recommendations to improve university education. The results highlight the rigidity of the Romanian labor market and the need for better internships to support policy recommendations for smoother school-to-work transition.
SOCIAL SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mihaela Simionescu, Magdalena Radulescu, Daniel Balsalobre-Lorente, Javier Cifuentes-Faura
Summary: This study examines the impact of political stability and electricity price on pollution in 11 CEE countries from 2007 to 2021. The findings suggest that political stability increases CO2 emissions, while higher electricity prices for non-household consumers reduce pollution. An inverted-U pattern is observed in the relationship between growth and pollution, and renewable energy consumption is found to be the most effective tool in reducing CO2 emissions. These results provide insights for policy recommendations.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Mihaela Simionescu, Aurelian-Petrus Plopeanu
Summary: In this paper, the impact of governance quality on pollution in the revised forms of the Environmental Kuznets Curve, namely the nuclear energy Kuznets curve and the renewable energy Kuznets curve, is assessed. The analysis suggests that industry development is a source of pollution, while governance could control environmental degradation through certain measures. Specifically, a lack of sufficient environmental laws, regulations, and policies enhances pollution even in countries with political stability and effective governance. These findings provide the basis for future policy recommendations.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Mihaela Simionescu
Summary: This study evaluates the impact of emigration on the Romanian economy using panel data and a Bayesian approach. It finds that an increase in emigrants and remittances leads to a reduction in the number of employees in the mining sector and a negative effect on output. While unemployment is reduced to some extent, real wages remain low. The negative consequences of emigration are partly compensated by the benefits of remittances, but this does not ensure healthy economic growth.
ACTA MONTANISTICA SLOVACA
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Cameron Bracken, Nathalie Voisin, Casey D. Burleyson, Allison M. Campbell, Z. Jason Hou, Daniel Broman
Summary: This study presents a methodology and dataset for examining compound wind and solar energy droughts, as well as the first standardized benchmark of energy droughts across the Continental United States (CONUS) for a 2020 infrastructure. The results show that compound wind and solar droughts have distinct spatial and temporal patterns across the CONUS, and the characteristics of energy droughts are regional. The study also finds that compound high load events occur more often during compound wind and solar droughts than expected.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ning Zhang, Yanghao Yu, Jiawei Wu, Ershun Du, Shuming Zhang, Jinyu Xiao
Summary: This paper provides insights into the optimal configuration of CSP plants with different penetrations of wind power by proposing an unconstrained optimization model. The results suggest that large solar multiples and TES are preferred in order to maximize profit, especially when combined with high penetrations of wind and photovoltaic plants. Additionally, the study demonstrates the economy and feasibility of installing electric heaters (EH) in CSP plants, which show a linear correlation with the penetration of variable energy resources.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
M. Szubel, K. Papis-Fraczek, S. Podlasek
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
J. Silva, J. C. Goncalves, C. Rocha, J. Vilaca, L. M. Madeira
Summary: This study investigated the methanation of CO2 in biogas and compared two different methanation reactors. The results showed that the cooled reactor without CO2 separation achieved a CO2 conversion rate of 91.8%, while the adiabatic reactors achieved conversion rates of 59.6% and 67.2%, resulting in an overall conversion rate of 93.0%. Economic analysis revealed negative net present worth values, indicating the need for government monetary incentives.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yang Liu, Yonglan Xi, Xiaomei Ye, Yingpeng Zhang, Chengcheng Wang, Zhaoyan Jia, Chunhui Cao, Ting Han, Jing Du, Xiangping Kong, Zhongbing Chen
Summary: This study investigated the effect of using nanofiber membrane composites containing Prussian blue-like compound nanoparticles (PNPs) to relieve ammonia nitrogen inhibition of rural organic household waste during high-solid anaerobic digestion and increase methane production. The results showed that adding NMCs with 15% PNPs can lower the concentrations of volatile fatty acids and ammonia nitrogen, and increase methane yield.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zhong Ge, Xiaodong Wang, Jian Li, Jian Xu, Jianbin Xie, Zhiyong Xie, Ruiqu Ma
Summary: This study evaluates the thermodynamic, exergy, and economic performance of a double-stage organic flash cycle (DOFC) using ten eco-friendly hydrofluoroolefins. The influences of key parameters on performance are analyzed, and the advantages of DOFC over single-stage type are quantified.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Nicolas Kirchner-Bossi, Fernando Porte-Agel
Summary: This study investigates the optimization of power density in wind farms and its sensitivity to the available area size. A novel genetic algorithm (PDGA) is introduced to optimize power density and turbine layout. The results show that the PDGA-driven solutions significantly reduce the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) compared to the default layout, and exhibit a convex relationship between area and LCOE or power density.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Chunxiao Zhang, Dongdong Li, Lin Wang, Qingpo Yang, Yutao Guo, Wei Zhang, Chao Shen, Jihong Pu
Summary: In this study, a novel reversible liquid-filled energy-saving window that effectively regulates indoor solar radiation heat gain is proposed. Experimental results show that this window can effectively reduce indoor temperature during both summer and winter seasons, while having minimal impact on indoor illuminance.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Alessandro L. Aguiar, Martinho Marta-Almeida, Mauro Cirano, Janini Pereira, Leticia Cotrim da Cunha
Summary: This study analyzed the Brazilian Equatorial Shelf using a high-resolution ocean model and found significant tidal variations in the area. Several hypothetical barrages were proposed with higher annual power generation than existing barrages. The study also evaluated the installation effort of these barrages.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Francesco Superchi, Nathan Giovannini, Antonis Moustakis, George Pechlivanoglou, Alessandro Bianchini
Summary: This study focuses on the optimization of a hybrid power station on the Tilos island in Greece, aiming to increase energy export and revenue by optimizing energy fluxes. Different scenarios are proposed to examine the impact of different agreements with the grid operator on the optimal solution.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Peimaneh Shirazi, Amirmohammad Behzadi, Pouria Ahmadi, Sasan Sadrizadeh
Summary: This research presents two novel energy production/storage/usage systems to reduce energy consumption and environmental effects in buildings. A biomass-fired model and a solar-driven system integrated with photovoltaic thermal (PVT) panels and a heat pump were designed and assessed. The results indicate that the solar-based system has an acceptable energy cost and the PVT-based system with a heat pump is environmentally superior. The biomass-fired system shows excellent efficiency.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zihao Qi, Yingling Cai, Yunxiang Cui
Summary: This study aims to investigate the operational characteristics of the solar-ground source heat pump system (SGSHPS) in Shanghai under different operation modes. It concludes that tandem operation mode 1 is the optimal mode for winter operation in terms of energy efficiency.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
L. Bartolucci, S. Cordiner, A. Di Carlo, A. Gallifuoco, P. Mele, V. Mulone
Summary: Spent coffee grounds are a valuable biogenic waste that can be used as a source of biofuels and valuable chemicals through pyrolysis and solvent extraction processes. The study found that heavy organic bio-oil derived from coffee grounds can be used as a carbon-rich biofuel, while solvent extraction can extract xantines and p-benzoquinone, which are important chemicals for various industries. The results highlight the promising potential of solvent extraction in improving the economic viability of coffee grounds pyrolysis-based biorefineries.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Luiza de Queiroz Correa, Diego Bagnis, Pedro Rabelo Melo Franco, Esly Ferreira da Costa Junior, Andrea Oliveira Souza da Costa
Summary: Building-integrated photovoltaics, especially organic solar technology, are important for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the building sector. This study analyzed the performance of organic panels laminated in glass in a vertical installation in Latin America. Results showed that glass lamination and vertical orientation preserved the panels' performance and led to higher energy generation in winter.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zhipei Hu, Shuo Jiang, Zhigao Sun, Jun Li
Summary: This study proposes innovative fin arrangements to enhance the thermal performance of latent heat storage units. Through optimization of fin distribution and prediction of transient melting behaviors, it is found that fin structures significantly influence heat transfer characteristics and melting behaviors.
