scholarly journals Exploring Carbon Neutral Potential in Urban Densification: A Precinct Perspective and Scenario Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 4814
Author(s):  
Bin Huang ◽  
Ke Xing ◽  
Stephen Pullen ◽  
Lida Liao
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Scenario Analysis ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Carbon Reduction ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Carbon Neutral ◽  
Carbon Performance

Decarbonising the urban built environment for reaching carbon neutrality is high on the agenda for many cities undergoing rapid expansion and densification. As an important urban form, precincts have been increasingly focused on as the context for urban redevelopment planning and at the forefront for trialling carbon reduction measures. However, due to interplays between the built forms and the occupancy, the carbon performance of a precinct is significantly affected by morphological variations, demographical changes, and renewable energy system deployment. Despite much research on the development of low-carbon precincts, there is limited analysis on aggregated effects of population growth, building energy efficiency, renewable energy penetration, and carbon reduction targets in relation to precinct carbon signature and carbon neutral potential for precinct redevelopment and decarbonisation planning. In this paper, an integrated carbon assessment model, including overall precinct carbon emissions and carbon offset contributed by precinct-scale renewable energy harvesting, is developed and applied to examine the lifecycle carbon signature of urban precincts. Using a case study on a residential precinct redevelopment, scenario analysis is employed to explore opportunities for decarbonising densification development and the carbon neutral potential. Results from scenario analysis indicate that redevelopment of buildings with higher-rated energy efficiency and increase of renewable energy penetration can have a long term positive impact on the carbon performance of urban precincts. Meanwhile, demographical factors in precinct evolution also have a strong influence on a precinct’s carbon neutral potential. Whilst population size exerts upward pressure on total carbon emissions, changes in family types and associated consumption behaviour, such as travelling, can make positive contributions to carbon reduction. The analysis also highlights the significance of embodied carbon to the total carbon signature and the carbon reduction potential of a precinct during densification, reinforcing the notion that “develop with less” is as important as carbon offsetting measures for decarbonising the precinct toward carbon neutrality.

scholarly journals Carbon Neutral Roadmap of Commercial Building Operations by Mid-Century: Lessons from China

Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 510
Author(s):  
Shufan Zhang ◽  
Xiwang Xiang ◽  
Zhili Ma ◽  
Minda Ma ◽  
Chenchen Zou
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Commercial Buildings ◽  
Commercial Building ◽  
Carbon Reduction ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Last Mile ◽  
Operations And Maintenance ◽  
Carbon Neutral ◽  
Industry Sectors ◽  
Carbon Peak

Carbon neutrality has positive impacts on people, nature and the economy, and buildings represent the “last mile” sector in the transition to carbon neutrality. Carbon neutrality is characterized by the decarbonization of operations and maintenance, in addition to zero emissions in electricity and other industry sectors. Taking China’s commercial buildings as an example, this study is the first to perform an extensive data analysis for a step-wise carbon neutral roadmap of building operations via the analysis of a dynamic emission scenario. The results reveal that the carbon emissions abatement of commercial building operations from 2001 to 2018 was 1460.85 (±574.61) mega-tons of carbon dioxide (Mt CO2). The carbon emissions of commercial building operations will peak in the year 2039 (±5) at 1364.31 (±258.70) Mt, with emission factors and energy intensity being the main factors influencing the carbon peak. To move toward carbon neutral status, an additional 169.73 Mt CO2 needs to be cut by 2060, and the low emission path toward carbon neutrality will lead to the realization of the carbon peak of commercial buildings in 2024, with total emissions of 921.71 Mt. It is believed that cutting emissions from the operation of buildings in China will require a multi-sectoral synergistic strategy. It is suggested that government, residents, enterprises, and other stakeholders must better appreciate the challenges to achieve a substantial carbon reduction and the need for urgent action in the building sector in order to achieve carbon neutrality.

Sustainable energy solutions for thermal load in buildings - Role of heat pumps, solar thermal, and hydrogen-based cogeneration systems

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Praveen Cheekatamarla ◽  
Vishaldeep Sharma ◽  
Bo Shen
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Heat Pumps ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Coefficient Of Performance ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Economic and population growth is leading to increased energy demand across all sectors – buildings, transportation, and industry. Adoption of new energy consumers such as electric vehicles could further increase this growth. Sensible utilization of clean renewable energy resources is necessary to sustain this growth. Thermal needs in a building pose a significant challenge to the energy infrastructure. Supporting the current and future building thermal energy needs to offset the total electric demand while lowering the carbon footprint and enhancing the grid flexibility is presented in this study. Performance assessment of heat pumps, renewable energy, non-fossil fuel-based cogeneration systems, and their hybrid configurations was conducted. The impact of design configuration, coefficient of performance (COP), electric grid's primary energy efficiency on the key attributes of total carbon footprint, life cycle costs, operational energy savings, and site-specific primary energy efficiency are analyzed and discussed in detail.

Design of Carbon-Neutral Residential Communities in Kuwait

2017 ◽  
Vol 139 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Baqer Ameer ◽  
Moncef Krarti
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Wind Turbines ◽  
Renewable Energy Technologies ◽  
Energy Efficiency Measures ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Residential Communities ◽  
Efficiency Measures ◽  
Energy Needs ◽  
Carbon Neutral

In this paper, a general methodology for designing carbon-neutral residential communities is presented. Both energy efficiency measures and renewable energy technologies are considered in the design approach. First, energy end-uses for the buildings within the community are optimized based on a set of cost-effective energy efficiency measures that are selected based on a life-cycle cost analysis. Then, renewable energy technologies are considered to meet the energy needs for the residential community and ensure carbon-neutrality on an annual basis. The methodology is applied to design optimal and carbon-neutral hybrid electrical generation systems for three Kuwaiti residential communities with different sizes and energy efficiency designs. For Kuwait, it is found that wind turbines can cost-effectively generate significant electricity to meet most of the energy needs for the residential communities and thus reducing the country's reliance on fuel-based power plants. Specifically, it is found that wind turbines can generate electricity at a cost of $0.068/kWh well below the current grid power production costs of $0.103/kWh. Moreover, the analysis indicates that concentrated solar power (CSP) can be utilized to achieve carbon-neutral residential communities but at a levelized energy cost of $0.13/kWh slightly lower than the current grid power generation and distribution costs of $0.133/kWh.

China’s 2060 goal could change climate outlook

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Electric Vehicles ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Iron Ore ◽  
Policy Decisions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Change Climate ◽  
Carbon Neutral

Significance Beijing already targeted peak emissions in 2030, but had not previously set a deadline for going carbon-neutral. Xi’s announcement, following policy decisions that encouraged more coal-fired power plants, seems to have caught Chinese bureaucrats by surprise. Impacts The carbon neutrality target makes it more likely that China will adopt ambitious green policies in its next Five-Year Plan (2021-25). China’s ministries, industry bodies, provinces and cities will have to create new economic plans consistent with the 2060 goal. Renewable energy, electric vehicles, recycling and related industries will receive a boost. Coal, steel and energy-intensive and polluting industries will see a downturn. Demand for iron ore and coal will fall; demand will rise for minerals needed in electrification and renewables, such as copper and lithium.

scholarly journals Improving Environmental and Energy Efficiency in Wood Transportation for a Carbon-Neutral Forest Industry

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1194
Author(s):  
Teijo Palander ◽  
Hanna Haavikko ◽  
Emma Kortelainen ◽  
Kalle Kärhä ◽  
Stelian Alexandru Borz
Keyword(s):  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Enterprise Resource Planning ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Resource Planning ◽  
Positive Development ◽  
Forest Industry ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Efficiency Criterion ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Carbon Neutral

Wood transportation is an important source of greenhouse gas emissions, which should be considered when the carbon neutrality of the forest industry is of concern. The EU is dedicated to improving technology for a carbon-neutral development. This study investigates carbon neutrality by improving road freight transportation fleets consisting of various vehicle size combinations. The environmental emission and energy efficiency of a transportation fleet were analyzed in selected wood procurement regions of Stora Enso corporation (Finland). Based on the enterprise resource planning (ERP) data (2018–2020), the environmental emission efficiency increased by 11% via 76 t-vehicles compared 64 t vehicles. The maximum reduction in fuel consumption was 26% for 92 t vehicles, though this was achieved when operations were fully adjusted to the maximum weight limit. The wood-based energy efficiency measure (wood energy/transport energy) was a useful development indicator. It showed that the adapted fleets of transportation companies support a positive development for a carbon-neutral forestry. In respect to the current legal fleet (64, 68 and 76 t), the use of 76 t vehicles increased energy efficiency most effectively, by 50%, compared to 64 t vehicles in the best region. Currently, transportation service providers and their clients are using ERP information to tailor their energy efficiency metric and to implement them locally in the transportation monitoring systems. A three-year sensitivity analysis demonstrates that the technological development of management tools to improve transportation efficiency is essential for larger and heavier vehicle utilization. In the future, the whole wood supply chain from forest to factory will also be optimized with respect to energy efficiency criterion to ensure a low-carbon forest industry.

scholarly journals A Green Quality Management Decision Model with Carbon Tax and Capacity Expansion under Activity-Based Costing (ABC)—A Case Study in the Tire Manufacturing Industry

Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1858 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Hsien Tsai
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Quality Management ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Carbon Tax ◽  
Environmental Cost ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Management Decision ◽  
Activity Based Costing ◽  
Carbon Reduction

Issues related to global environmental protection are highly important. Under the global trend of energy saving and carbon reduction, in order to lower the carbon emissions of products or services offered by enterprises, the Taiwanese government aims to control carbon emissions by constructing a carbon tax system and mandating enterprises to pay a carbon tax. The collection of a carbon tax can minimize the total social environmental cost and increase the efficiency of carbon reduction; the need to control the green quality cost can serve as a criterion of green management decision-making. This study aimed to reorganize carbon emissions in different stages of production in order to lower the total carbon emissions of products. Activity-based costing (ABC) was adopted to assess green quality management and production cost. The optimal green quality production portfolio was selected via a mathematical programming model to focus on the expansion of productivity and outsourcing strategy in order to effectively lessen the harmful effects on the environment and maximize profits. Besides academic contributions, the findings of this study could serve as a reference to enterprises on assessing the effects of carbon emissions, carbon taxes, and environmental management on production decision-making.

The carbon neutrality assumption for forest bioenergy: A case study for northwestern Ontario

2011 ◽  
Vol 87 (05) ◽  
pp. 644-652 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Ter-Mikaelian ◽  
Jon McKechnie ◽  
Stephen Colombo ◽  
Jiaxin Chen ◽  
Heather MacLean
Keyword(s):  
Total Carbon ◽  
Wood Pellets ◽  
Wood Pellet ◽  
Carbon Neutrality ◽  
Northwestern Ontario ◽  
Resource Inventory ◽  
Forest Resource Inventory ◽  
Carbon Neutral ◽  
Forest Age Structure

Minimum break-even and carbon-neutral periods resulting from displacing coal with wood pellets for energy generation at the Atikokan Generating Station (GS) were estimated using forest resource inventory for four forest management units (FMU) in northwestern Ontario. The break-even period was defined as the time since harvest at which the combined greenhouse gas (GHG) benefit of displacing coal with wood pellets and the amount of carbon in the regenerating forest equalled the amount of carbon in the forest had it not been harvested for wood pellets. The carbon-neutral period was defined as the time since harvest at which the amount of carbon in the regenerating forest equalled the amount of carbon in the forest had it not been harvested for wood pellets. Theoretically achievable minimum break-even and carbon-neutral periods were estimated as equal to 18 and 28 years after harvest, respectively. However, for the current forest age structure in the selected FMUs, production of wood pellets required for operation of the Atikokan GS would result in a minimum break-even period of 32 years after harvest. These results must be treated as optimistic since we assumed that all forest was available for harvest for wood pellet production, applied the “best” post-harvest silvicultural regime, and may have underestimated merchantable volume and total carbon stocks in older stands.

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