Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maryann R. Sargent, Cody Floerchinger, Kathryn McKain, John Budney, Elaine W. Gottlieb, Lucy R. Hutyra, Joseph Rudek, Steven C. Wofsy
Summary: The top-down study on methane emissions from natural gas in the Boston urban region over 8 years showed no significant trend in the loss rate, with consumption-driven losses potentially accounting for missing emissions in inventories. Comparisons with estimates from six US cities suggest that distribution and end use losses from natural gas supply chain may contribute significantly to total emissions, indicating a need for future policy action.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Economics
Son Duy Pham, Thao Thac Thanh Nguyen, Hung Xuan Do
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between natural gas and utility stocks in the U.S. market, finding that the connection is more pronounced at the tails of the distribution. The return connectedness indices are time-varying, with natural gas playing a net receiver role and influenced by various macro-variables. The research suggests that risk-adverse investors should allocate substantial weights to electricity utility stocks in normal market conditions, but during the COVID-19-induced recession, it is critical to shift more funds to natural gas futures to reduce tail risks.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Anna Karion, Subhomoy Ghosh, Israel Lopez-Coto, Kimberly Mueller, Sharon Gourdji, Joseph Pitt, James Whetstone
Summary: This study reveals that urban methane emissions in Washington, DC, and Baltimore, Maryland exceed estimates derived from traditional inventory methods. The study shows a decreasing trend in annual emissions over a four-year period and identifies wintertime emissions to be 44% higher than summertime emissions, correlating with natural gas consumption. Spatially resolved estimates attribute a significant portion of methane emissions to the natural gas sector, supporting previous findings. This research contributes to our understanding of urban methane emissions and provides evidence for mitigating natural gas emissions.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Hector M. Nunez, Andres Trujillo-Barrera, Xiaoli Etienne
Summary: The integration of the regional natural gas market in the US has decreased since the rise of shale production. However, the degree of integration has stabilized in recent years. It takes longer to correct price imbalances during the shale boom, indicating slower information transmission. Pipeline capacity, distances, production, consumption, and storage levels play crucial roles in determining information transmission. Efforts to improve natural gas market integration, such as pipeline and storage capacity expansion projects, can lead to significant welfare gains.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jinsong Wang, Quan Quan, Weinan Chen, Dashuan Tian, Philippe Ciais, Thomas W. Crowther, Michelle C. Mack, Benjamin Poulter, Hanqin Tian, Yiqi Luo, Xuefa Wen, Guirui Yu, Shuli Niu
Summary: The study found that warming can lead to increased methane uptake, decreased nitrous oxide emissions, and increased carbon dioxide emissions, with a significant increase in CO2 emissions. Additionally, the findings suggest that a 3.0-degree Celsius warming mainly alters the total greenhouse gas balance by stimulating CO2 emissions in the non-growing season.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Stephen P. Holland, Matthew J. Kotchen, Erin T. Mansur, Andrew J. Yates
Summary: This paper provides estimates of marginal CO2 emissions from US electricity generation using the most comprehensive data, showing that while average emissions have decreased, marginal emissions have increased due to a shift toward greater reliance on coal. The research also highlights that the increase in electric vehicles may be offset by the emissions from the electricity sector if not significantly transformed.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Stefan Ladage, Martin Blumenberg, Dieter Franke, Andreas Bahr, Ruediger Lutz, Sandro Schmidt
Summary: Methane emissions along the natural gas supply chain play a critical role in the climate benefits of switching from coal to natural gas in the power sector. For Germany, with methane leakage rates below specific break-even levels, transitioning to natural gas can significantly reduce CO2-equivalent GHG emissions.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hugh Z. Li, Patricia M. B. Saint-Vincent, Mumbi Mundia-Howe, Natalie J. Pekney
Summary: The 2015 Aliso Canyon storage well blowout is considered the worst natural gas leak in the history of the United States, releasing approximately 1 million metric tons of methane. A total of 129 incident-related events in underground natural gas storage were compiled from various sources, with a heavy-tailed emission pattern and the top seven events contributing to 98% of the total emissions.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Economics
Aldo Gonzalez, Vicente Lagos
Summary: In developing countries, the entry of Natural Gas (NG) networks may lead to a decrease in the retail prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). The study found that the presence of a competing NG network results in an average decrease in LPG retail prices within the range of -4% to -2%, indicating the importance of horizontal integration between NG and LPG providers in pricing strategies.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Uisung Lee, Hoyoung Kwon, May Wu, Michael Wang
Summary: This study conducted a retrospective analysis of the changes in US corn ethanol greenhouse gas emission intensity from 2005 to 2019, showing a significant decrease of 23%. Factors contributing to this decrease included increased corn grain yield, decreased fertilizer inputs, increased ethanol yield, and reduced ethanol plant energy use. The total GHG emission reduction benefits in the ethanol industry from 2005 to 2019 were estimated at 140 million metric tons, with an additional 544 MMT CO(2)e reduction benefit from displacing petroleum gasoline with corn ethanol in the transportation fuel market.
BIOFUELS BIOPRODUCTS & BIOREFINING-BIOFPR
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Afzal Ahmed Dar, Javaria Hameed, Chunhui Huo, Muddassar Sarfraz, Gadah Albasher, Chuanyi Wang, Ahsan Nawaz
Summary: Green energy projects are crucial for economic growth and development of countries. This research assesses the impact of biofuel projects on financial development and finds that natural gas does not contribute to economic growth or CO2 reduction.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Zhuoqian Yang, James Tate, Eleonora Morganti, Ian Philips, Simon Shepherd
Summary: As a major contributor to emissions, vans play a crucial role in achieving net-zero goals. This study examines the trends of CO2 and NOx emissions in the van sector under the 2030 phase-out of internal combustion engine vans in the UK. The results suggest that vans are on track to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, with the reduction of NOx emissions happening even faster.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Haider Mahmood
Summary: Oil and gas are key energy sources in the GCC region, but their environmental effects vary. Oil consumption is positively correlated with CO2 emissions in some countries, while negatively correlated in others. Natural gas consumption has a positive effect in all countries, but with variations. The study suggests that reducing oil consumption has a greater impact on reducing CO2 emissions compared to increasing natural gas consumption.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Andres Gonzalez-Garay, Clara Heuberger-Austin, Xiao Fu, Mark Klokkenburg, Di Zhang, Alexander van der Made, Nilay Shah
Summary: The aviation industry accounts for a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing its carbon footprint is crucial. This study analyzes the requirements for promoting Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) from solar energy to mitigate emissions. The study finds that solar PV, electricity storage, and water electrolysis are key drivers for the performance of solar SAFs, while the optimal location of facilities depends on factors such as solar radiation and jet fuel demand. The study also highlights the importance of using renewable sources to guarantee a reduction in CO2 emissions. However, the high production costs and the need for technological improvements and carbon taxes pose challenges to the competitiveness of SAFs.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Economics
Douglas Mugabe, Levan Elbakidze, Tim Carr
Summary: This study uses data from seven shale gas regions in the United States to examine natural gas production in terms of drilling rig activity and well completion rates. The findings indicate a decline in the explanatory power of drilling rig count in recent years, while the number of producing wells remains a significant factor for explaining gas production variation. Additionally, an increase in the number of drilled but uncompleted wells (DUCs) plays a significant role in natural gas supply, depending on drilling rig activity and futures prices of oil and natural gas.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xiaoli Zhao, Zewei Zhong, Xi Lu, Yang Yu
Summary: Increasing variable renewable energy (VRE) can help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, but it also leads to the crowding out of nuclear power and the increased use of fossil energy, resulting in a potential increase in emissions. However, combining wind and solar power can help mitigate this effect. Therefore, policymakers should carefully consider the mix of renewable energy sources and control the pace of nuclear power retirement to match the growth of VRE.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ziwen Ruan, Xi Lu, Shuxiao Wang, Jia Xing, Wei Wang, Dan Chen, Chris P. Nielsen, Yong Luo, Kebin He, Jiming Hao
Summary: The development of wind power is crucial for achieving China's carbon neutrality goals and improving air quality. Studies have shown that wind power has both direct and indirect impacts on air quality, including impacts on atmospheric circulation and air pollution dispersion.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xunzhang Pan, Lining Wang, Wenying Chen, Yann Robiou du Pont, Leon Clarke, Lei Yang, Hailin Wang, Xi Lu, Jiankun He
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shaojie Song, Haiyang Lin, Peter Sherman, Xi Yang, Shi Chen, Xi Lu, Tianguang Lu, Xinyu Chen, Michael B. McElroy
Summary: The paper explores various options for India to achieve a carbon-free energy future by 2050. It suggests onshore wind and solar sources as the main contributors, with green hydrogen produced through electrolysis as an important supplement. The hydrogen can help manage the variability of wind and solar power, and also replace the current industrial use of gray hydrogen that emits CO2. The paper further discusses the use of green hydrogen to reduce emissions in challenging sectors like industry and transport, and identifies the least costly options for India's zero carbon future.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhenyu Zhuo, Ershun Du, Ning Zhang, Chris P. Nielsen, Xi Lu, Jinyu Xiao, Jiawei Wu, Chongqing Kang
Summary: The Chinese government has set goals for carbon neutrality and renewable energy development in the power sector. However, due to the intermittency and increased investment costs of renewable energy, electricity costs will increase. According to the study, a significant amount of wind and solar photovoltaic capacity will be needed by 2050 to achieve carbon neutrality in China's power system, resulting in increased electricity supply costs.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Jie Wang, Xi Lu, Pengfei Du, Haotian Zheng, Zhaoxin Dong, Zihua Yin, Jia Xing, Shuxiao Wang, Jiming Hao
Summary: A new synergistic indicator is introduced to evaluate the synergistic effects of carbon mitigation on air pollutant reduction and public health in China. The results show that synergistic effects played an increasingly important role in emissions mitigation, leading to reductions in pollutants and improvements in air quality and public health. With urbanization and carbon neutrality, synergistic effects are expected to continue to increase.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mai Shi, Xi Lu, Haiyang Jiang, Qing Mu, Shi Chen, Rachael Marie Fleming, Ning Zhang, Ye Wu, Aoife M. Foley
Summary: This study demonstrates the potential of rooftop solar photovoltaics (RSPV) in achieving low-carbon emissions and cost-effectiveness in megacities. Taking Beijing as a case study, the results show that RSPV systems can be environmentally friendly and reduce the need for transmission capacity, providing valuable insights for sustainable development in mega-cities in China and globally.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yulong Yan, Junjie Li, Xi Lu, Yirong Wang, Menggang Li
Summary: This study conducted a multi-scale, multi-benchmark accounting of GHG emissions from Chinese coal mines in order to establish a shared understanding and facilitate discussion. The results showed large variations and uncertainties in carbon emissions at different scales. The conclusions are important for developing low-carbon coal supply systems and promoting cleaner production and sustainable development strategies in the coal industry in China.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mengjie Zhang, Lan Gao, Quanda Wang, Donglai Xie, Ji Gao, Shuxiao Wang, Xi Lu
Summary: The coal-to-natural gas transition in northern China has brought significant environmental and health benefits since 2017. However, the lack of accurate estimates on methane leakage from gas boilers hinders reliable assessment of greenhouse gas emissions. This study used a high-precision CO2-CH4 analyzer to examine 30 gas boilers in Beijing, estimating the methane leakage rates and reassessing the reduction in GHG emissions from the transition. The findings provide important data for amending NG appliance standards and evaluating energy transition policies in China.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zihua Yin, Xi Lu, Shi Chen, Jiaxing Wang, Jie Wang, Johannes Urpelainen, Rachael Marie Fleming, Ye Wu, Kebin He
Summary: Electrification and power decarbonization are important for low-carbon energy transition, but their combined effects on CO2 emissions have not been fully understood. This study uses the LMDI model to analyze the effects of electrification and power decarbonization on CO2 emissions in China, the U.S., and the EU between 1997 and 2020. The results show that electrification and power decarbonization played a significant role in reducing CO2 emissions in these regions. However, there are differences in the driving factors of electrification and power decarbonization across the three regions. The study also suggests measures to accelerate electrification in the U.S. and the EU to achieve their 2030 climate targets.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jing-Li Fan, Zezheng Li, Xi Huang, Kai Li, Xian Zhang, Xi Lu, Jianzhong Wu, Klaus Hubacek, Bo Shen
Summary: Decarbonized power systems are crucial for addressing climate change. This study develops a simulation model to explore the optimal solution for a reliable and resilient near-zero power system using carbon capture, utilization, and storage. The findings suggest that allowing up to 20% of abated fossil fuel power generation could significantly reduce the power shortage rate in China by 2050 and increase system resilience.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jianxiao Wang, Liudong Chen, Zhenfei Tan, Ershun Du, Nian Liu, Jing Ma, Mingyang Sun, Canbing Li, Jie Song, Xi Lu, Chin-Woo Tan, Guannan He
Summary: This study examines the statistical characteristics and spatiotemporal distribution of prediction errors for wind and solar power. A statistical learning model is developed to generate a year-long dataset of hourly prediction errors in 30 provinces in China. The study reveals the sources of prediction errors in scenarios with high utilization rates and analyzes the seasonal distribution of provincial prediction errors.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shi Chen, Xi Lu, Chris P. Nielsen, Michael B. McElroy, Gang He, Shaohui Zhang, Kebin He, Xiu Yang, Fang Zhang, Jiming Hao
Summary: The global surge in solar PV power has led to spatial specialization in the manufacturing and installation stages. This study investigates the net GHG mitigation of the PV industry using a dynamic life-cycle analysis. The results show a significant mitigation of 1.29 Gt CO2-equivalent from 2009-2019, with the highest potential net mitigation of 204.7 Gt from 2020-2060 in scenarios that prioritize manufacturing in Europe and North America and installations in carbon-intensive nations.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Shi Chen, Xi Lu, Chris P. Nielsen, Guannan Geng, Kebin He, Michael B. McElroy, Shuxiao Wang, Jiming Hao
Summary: This study examines the impact of air pollution control policies and meteorological conditions on photovoltaic power output in China. The results show that the benefits of air pollution control measures have been partially offset by unfavorable meteorological conditions. More stringent air quality targets could reduce the demand for photovoltaic installed capacity needed to meet carbon-neutrality goals by 2060.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Guang Shi, Xi Lu, Hongxia Zhang, Haotian Zheng, Zhonghua Zhang, Shi Chen, Jia Xing, Shuxiao Wang
Summary: China's rapid urbanization has led to population migration from rural to urban regions, resulting in increased air pollutant emissions, particularly in terms of NOx, SO2, and primary PM2.5. The widening gap between urban and rural investment and consumption is the main cause of the increase in migration-induced emissions, while the decrease in emission intensity plays a significant role in reducing emissions. Although urbanization currently poses additional environmental pressure, the reconciliation of urbanization and air quality improvement is possible through updated policies.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ECOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)