scholarly journals Emerging Photovoltaic (PV) Materials for a Low Carbon Economy

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 4131
Author(s):  
Ilke Celik ◽  
Ramez Hosseinian Ahangharnejhad ◽  
Zhaoning Song ◽  
Michael Heben ◽  
Defne Apul
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Acid Methyl Ester ◽  
Contact Layer ◽  
Inorganic Materials ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
The Cost

Emerging photovoltaic (PV) technologies have a potential to address the shortcomings of today’s energy market which heavily depends on the use of fossil fuels for electricity generation. We created inventories that offer insights into the environmental impacts and cost of all the materials used in emerging PV technologies, including perovskites, polymers, Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS), carbon nanotubes (CNT), and quantum dots. The results show that the CO2 emissions associated with the absorber layers are much less than the CO2 emissions associated with the contact and charge selective layers. The CdS (charge selective layer) and ITO (contact layer) have the highest environmental impacts compared to Al2O3, CuI, CuSCN, MoO3, NiO, poly (3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl (P3HT)), phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), poly polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS), SnO2, spiro-OMeTAD, and TiO2 (charge selective layers) and Al, Ag, Cu, FTO, Mo, ZnO:In, and ZnO/ZnO:Al (contact layers). The cost assessments show that the organic materials, such as polymer absorbers, CNT, P3HT and spiro-OMeTAD, are the most expensive materials. Inorganic materials would be more preferable to lower the cost of solar cells. All the remaining materials have a potential to be used in the commercial PV market. Finally, we analyzed the cost of PV materials based on their material intensity and CO2 emissions, and concluded that the perovskite absorber will be the most eco-efficient material that has the lowest cost and CO2 emissions.

scholarly journals The Economic Analysis of Carbon Emissions: Evidence from China

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 42
Author(s):  
Yu Kun Wang ◽  
Li Zhang ◽  
We-me Ho
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Independent Variable ◽  
Empirical Tests ◽  
Coal Supply ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Effective Path

Transitioning away from coal supply is a cost-effective path to a low-carbon economy. Although many articles have considered the issue of manufacturers' production and emission of pollution. Few papers have discussed the interrelations among CO2 emissions, economic growth and coal supply on the cost of environmental degradation.This paper seeks to fill this gap by using some empirical tests including unit root, ARDL bounds test and impulse effect to check the causality among carbon emission, economic growth and coal supply The time series used in the model ranged from 1990 to 2016. We specifically take China as a case to analyze. The main results show that there exist only one-way positive causality between LGDP (dependent variable) and LCO2 (independent variable), in addition, we show China's GDP growth in recent years has gradually decoupled from CO2 emissions, in other words, the current growth of China's economy is not at the cost of worsening the environmental degradation, Furthermore, we outline that the generalized impulse response between LCO2 and LGDP is higher than that of LCOALSUPPLY and LGDP.

scholarly journals Complex Valuation of Energy from Agricultural Crops including Local Conditions

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 1415
Author(s):  
Václav Voltr ◽  
Martin Hruška ◽  
Luboš Nobilis
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Energy Crops ◽  
Co2 Production ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Silage Maize ◽  
Marginal Areas

This paper provides values of economic, energy and environmental assessments of 20 crops and assesses the relationships of soil-climatic conditions in the example of the Czech Republic. The comparison of main soil quality indicators according to the configuration of land and climate regions is performed on the basis of energy and economic efficiency as well as a comparison of the level of environmental impacts. The environmental impacts are identified based on the assessment of emissions from production and also in the form of soil compaction as an indicator of the relationship to soil quality. As concerns soil properties, of major importance is soil skeleton, slope of land and the depth of soil, which cause an increase in emissions from the energy produced. Substantially better emission parameters per 1 MJ through energy crops, the cultivation of perennial crops and silage maize has been supported. Among energy crops, a positive relationship with the quality of soil is seen in alfalfa, with a significant reduction in soil penetrometric resistance; energy crops are also politically justifiable in competition with other crops intended for nutrition of population. The main advantage of energy crops for the low-carbon economy is their CO2 production to MJ, which is almost half, especially in marginal areas with lower soil depths, slopes and stoniness, which can be included in the new agricultural policy.

Alternative scenarios for the future of the Canadian boreal zone1

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
James W.N. Steenberg ◽  
Peter N. Duinker ◽  
Irena F. Creed ◽  
Jacqueline N. Serran ◽  
Camille Ouellet Dallaire
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Adaptive Capacity ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Boreal Zone ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Carbon Economy

In response to global climate change, Canada is transitioning towards a low-carbon economy and the need for policy approaches that are effective, equitable, coordinated, and both administratively and politically feasible is high. One point is clear; the transition is intimately tied to the vast supply of ecosystem services in the boreal zone of Canada. This paper describes four contrasting futures for the boreal zone using scenario analysis, which is a transdisciplinary, participatory approach that considers alternative futures and policy implications under conditions of high uncertainty and complexity. The two critical forces shaping the four scenarios are the global economy’s energy and society’s capacity to adapt. The six drivers of change are atmospheric change, the demand for provisioning ecosystem services, the demand for nonprovisioning ecosystem services, demographics, and social values, governance and geopolitics, and industrial innovation and infrastructure. The four scenarios include: (i) the Green Path, where a low-carbon economy is coupled with high adaptive capacity; (ii) the Uphill Climb, where a low-carbon economy is instead coupled with low adaptive capacity; (iii) the Carpool Lane, where society has a strong capacity to adapt but a reliance on fossil fuels; and (iv) the Slippery Slope, where there is both a high-carbon economy and a society with low adaptive capacity. The scenarios illustrate the importance of transitioning to a low-carbon economy and the role of society’s adaptive capacity in doing so. However, they also emphasize themes like social inequality and adverse environmental outcomes arising from the push towards climate change mitigation.

scholarly journals Should Countries Fire Sell their Oil & Gas Assets? Addressing the Mis-conceptions Surrounding the Continued Role of Fossil Fuels in the Energy Transition Era

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 432-440
Author(s):  
Victoria R. Nalule ◽  
Xiaoyi (Shawn) Mu
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Energy Access ◽  
Poverty Eradication ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Tackle Climate Change ◽  
Oil Gas ◽  
Carbon Economy

Access to modern energy such as electricity is key in the economic development of any country, and yet over 600 million people remain with no access to electricity in developing countries. It is true that both renewable energy and fossil fuels are key in the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development (UN SDG) Goal 7 and Goal 1 on energy access and poverty eradication respectively. However, the current global efforts to transition to a low carbon economy, and tackle climate change as stipulated in the SDG 13 and the 2015 Paris Agreement, have created a lot of tension on fossil fuel developments in recent years.This commentary article is presented as a question and answer session aimed at addressing the misconceptions surrounding the achievement of SDG 7 and SDG 13 in this energy transition era. The paper is of interest to oil producing countries. The article follows the various questions raised by policymakers during an online seminar delivered by both the authors entitled, ‘Fossil Fuels in the Energy Transition Era’.

Chemical Energy Conversion as Enabling Factor to Move to a Renewable Energy Economy

Green ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1-6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Salvatore Abate ◽  
Gabriele Centi ◽  
Siglinda Perathoner
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Energy Storage ◽  
Smart Grids ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Solar Fuels ◽  
Chemical Energy ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Chemical Production ◽  
Low Carbon Economy

AbstractThe role of chemical energy storage and solar fuels as key elements for the sustainable chemical and energy production is discussed in this concept paper. It is shown how chemical energy storage, with the development of drop-in carbon-based solar fuels, will play a central role in the future low-carbon economy, but it is necessary to consider its out-of-the-grid use, rather than being limited to be a tool for smart grids. Related aspects discussed are the possibility to: (i) enable a system of trading renewable energy on a world scale (out-of-the-grid), including the possibility to exploit actually unused remote resources, (ii) develop a solar-driven and low-carbon chemical production, which reduces the use of fossil fuels and (iii) create a distributed energy production, going beyond the actual limitations and dependence on the grid.

The Engineering Technology Index Analysis of the Low-Carbon Building

2012 ◽  
Vol 535-537 ◽  
pp. 1985-1990
Author(s):  
Bao Ku Qi ◽  
Jing Ming Zhao ◽  
Yu Qu
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effective ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Engineering Technology ◽  
Architectural Form ◽  
Cost And Benefit ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Cost Effective Method ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Analysis Mode ◽  
Carbon Economy

Low-carbon building is the new building types under the background of low-carbon economy. Compared with traditional architectural form, the cost and benefit of the low-carbon building have changed a lot; therefore, it is necessary to analyze the low-carbon building from the perspective of cost and benefit. This paper structured an analysis mode through the cost-effective method, and also provided a new analysis idea and approach to value the low-carbon building, so it has an important referential value for the promotion and construction of low-carbon building in the whole society.

scholarly journals GLOBAL ENERGY GOVERNANCE THROUGH INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS: ANALYSIS OF THE FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTATION

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 258-278
Author(s):  
Matheus Linck Bassani
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Universal Access ◽  
Sustainable Energy ◽  
Energy Crisis ◽  
Intergovernmental Organizations ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Climate Stability ◽  
Energy Governance ◽  
Deductive Method

This paper analyzes the current factors causing an energy crisis, including depletion of the natural resources, geopolitical tensions, energy security, search for climate stability and absence of universal access to energy. Through the deductive method, the study analyzes if investments are considered as a possible solution to promote sustainable energy. It assesses the current position of intergovernmental organizations linked in some way to the topic of energy, such as the WTO, ECT, G8, G20, IEF, IEA and OPEC, to identify whether the initiatives are being developed and the political will to do so. Some organizations are connected but with limited and insufficient focus. Funding initiatives are below of what is necessary to achieve the goals considered relevant. In the absence of a global governance of energy due to the lack of sufficient cooperation and collaboration of international actors to efficiently mitigate the energy crisis. The challenge is to alter from high to low carbon economy, and the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy will contribute substantially to this transition. It concludes the necessity of cooperation between organizations such as IRENA and ONU’s programme Sustainable Energy for All, which have the potential to become catalysts for a new trend.

scholarly journals The role of Rare Earth Elements in the deployment of wind energy in Colombia

2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Andrés Gallego
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earth Elements ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Low Carbon Economy ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
The Government ◽  
Critical Minerals ◽  
Carbon Economy

The deployment of renewable energy technologies will play a crucial role in the global transition to a low-carbon economy and ultimately in the fight against global warming. However, this transition could face important problems because most of those technologies rely on the steady supply of critical minerals. Colombia, thanks to its hydrological resources, has relied on the hydro­power for electricity generation. However, the government has implemented measures to back-up the energy system in draught periods and, consequently, fossil fuels-based plants have increased the market share and with these, CO2 emissions. This study assesses the mineral demand in Colombia in the period 2020-2050 for the rare earth elements embedded in the deployment of wind power technologies in four different climate policy scenarios in order to establish whether they could face geological bott­lenecks that could ultimately hamper the transition to a low-carbon economy. The Gigawatts (GW) of future capacity additions in the energy system are converted into tons of metal using published metal intensities of use and assumptions of Colombia’s technological pathway. Then, the cumulated mineral demand is compared against current mining production rates and geological reserves to establish geological bottlenecks. The results show that the reserves will not pose any threat to its transition. However, when compared to current mining rates, the mineral demand in 2050 could pose a problem for the supply of minerals. Finally, this study gives some policy recommendations that could be used to mitigate these issues, such as substitution, improved circular economy and sound technological choices.

scholarly journals From Megawatts to Kilowatts: A Review of Small Wind Turbine Applications, Lessons From The US to Brazil

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 2760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caio Cesar Moreira Chagas ◽  
Marcio Giannini Pereira ◽  
Luiz Pinguelli Rosa ◽  
Neilton Fidelis da Silva ◽  
Marcos Aurélio Vasconcelos Freitas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Public Policies ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
The United States ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Power Grids ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Low Carbon Economy

Increased use of fossil fuels has contributed to global warming due to greenhouse gas emissions, which has led countries to implement policies that favor the gradual replacement of their use with renewable energy sources. Wind expansion in Brazil is a success story, but its adherence to distributed generation is still a big challenge. In this context, the authors of this paper argue that the development of robust and viable distributed power grids will also depend in the future on improving small wind generation as an important alternative to the diversity of decentralized power grids. In this study, the authors present an overview of the small-sized Aeolic (or wind) energy market in Brazil, with the objective to support the debate regarding its expansion. Promoting the small wind market in Brazil is still a big challenge, but lessons can be learned from the United States. In this context, the article uses the United States learning curve, analyzing barriers that were found, as well as public policies implemented to overcome them. The lessons learned in the American market may guide public policies aimed at fostering this technology in Brazil. If technological improvements, certification and introduction of financial incentives were implemented in Brazil, the small wind industry chain could grow substantially, building a trajectory to promote the low carbon economy.

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