Harvesting energy from the environment offers the promise of clean power for self-sustained systems
. Known technologies-such as solar cells, thermoelectric devices and mechanical generators-have ...specific environmental requirements that restrict where they can be deployed and limit their potential for continuous energy production
. The ubiquity of atmospheric moisture offers an alternative. However, existing moisture-based energy-harvesting technologies can produce only intermittent, brief (shorter than 50 seconds) bursts of power in the ambient environment, owing to the lack of a sustained conversion mechanism
. Here we show that thin-film devices made from nanometre-scale protein wires harvested from the microbe Geobacter sulfurreducens can generate continuous electric power in the ambient environment. The devices produce a sustained voltage of around 0.5 volts across a 7-micrometre-thick film, with a current density of around 17 microamperes per square centimetre. We find the driving force behind this energy generation to be a self-maintained moisture gradient that forms within the film when the film is exposed to the humidity that is naturally present in air. Connecting several devices linearly scales up the voltage and current to power electronics. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of a continuous energy-harvesting strategy that is less restricted by location or environmental conditions than other sustainable approaches.
To effectively assess the potential greenhouse effect of high-quality energy development (HED), this study first constructs an assessment system for HED, and then tests the impact of HED on carbon ...dioxide (CO2) emissions in China. We also investigate three main effects (i.e., scale effect, structural effect, and technological effect) on the HED-CO2 nexus, respectively, and discuss the asymmetric impacts. The results show that: (i) HED in China has achieved initial results during the sample period; (ii) the overall effect of HED on CO2 emissions is negative, and HED not only curbs CO2 emissions directly, but also mitigates CO2 emissions indirectly by reducing total energy consumption, increasing the proportion of natural gas in energy consumption, and improving energy efficiency; and (iii) CO2 emissions and their determinants are significantly asymmetric at different quantiles. This study proposes a series of policy recommendations to promote carbon emission reduction according to the primary findings.
•We establish a system to assess China's high-quality energy development (HED).•We study the potential greenhouse effect of HED.•HED can significantly curb carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.•HED also indirectly affects CO2 by reducing total energy consumption, adjusting energy structure, and improving energy efficiency.•Significant asymmetry exists between CO2 emissions and their determinant.
To realize China’s low-carbon development, coal needs to be produced and consumed in a clean and efficient way. In this paper, a multi-regional coal supply model is developed to gain insights into ...China’s coal supply system up to 2050. Regional disparity, coal classification, and the development of clean coal technologies are specified in the model. Based on MESSAGEix, this model takes full consideration of coal mining, preparation, transformation, and transportation processes. Moreover, the effects of non-fossil energy development and carbon price are discussed. With the above framework, the future of China’s coal supply system is optimized. Results indicate that: 1) China’s national raw coal production will peak in 2030 under the business-as-usual scenario, while it has already peaked under the GREEN and carbon price scenarios, 2) The amount of coal used in final consumption and transformed into coke decreases, while coal transformed into liquids and SNG increases from 11 Mt in 2015 to 221 Mt in 2050 under the business-as-usual scenario, 3) both non-fossil fuel development and carbon price strategies have a positive effect on coal supply regulation and coal-related GHG emission reduction, 4) carbon price could facilitate the adoption of CCS technology and can effectively reduce coal-related GHG emissions.
•A multi-regional coal supply model with four types of raw coal is developed.•Raw coal production in China will peak in 2030 at 3791 Mt under the BAU scenario.•Coal production will be more concentrated in JSMN region and XJ region.•Raw coal output in the GREEN scenario is 9% lower than the BAU scenario in 2050.•Carbon price scenarios have a significant effect on GHG emissions reduction.
•We decompose China’s non-fossil energy consumption to examine the driving forces.•We conduct scenario and probability analyses of energy use and CO2 emission trends.•Economic scale plays a key role ...with urbanization identified as a crucial factor.•China should achieve low carbon transition through energy structural adjustment.
China has pledged to peak its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and lower its CO2 intensity by 60–65% from the 2005 level by 2030. Understanding the role of energy structural adjustment in achieving such targets is critical along with China’s rapid urbanization process. This study aims to uncover the drivers of China’s non-fossil energy development during 1990–2016, and conduct scenarios and probability analyses of different energy consumption and CO2 emission trajectories until 2050. Results show that economic scale plays a key role with urbanization identified as an essential factor in driving non-fossil energy development. The consumption of fossil fuels will continue to increase with rapid urbanization, leading to higher CO2 emissions. China will only achieve the 2030 targets if energy structural adjustment is completed on schedule. Under the current policies, CO2 emissions may peak between 2030 and 2032, while CO2 intensity will decrease. Such findings provide valuable insights and suggest that China should achieve low carbon transition through energy structural adjustment, while taking urbanization as an opportunity.
At present, different concentrating solar thermal technologies (CST) have reached varying degrees of commercial availability. This emerging nature of CST means that there are market and technical ...impediments to accelerating its acceptance, including cost competitiveness, an understanding of technology capability and limitations, intermittency, and benefits of electricity storage. Many developed and some developing countries are currently working to address these barriers in order to scale up CST-based power generation.Given the considerable growth of CST development in several World Bank Group partner countries, there is a need to assess the recent experience of developed countries in designing and implementing regulatory frameworks and draw lesson that could facilitate the deployment of CST technologies in developing countries. Merely replicating developed countries schemes in the context of a developing country may not generate the desired outcomes.Against this background, this report (a) analyzes and draws lessons from the efforts of some developed countries and adapts them to the characteristics of developing economies; (b) assesses the cost reduction potential and economic and financial affordability of various CST technologies in emerging markets; (c) evaluates the potential for cost reduction and associated economic benefits derived from local manufacturing; and (d) suggests ways to tailor bidding models and practices, bid selection criteria, and structures for power purchase agreements (PPAs) for CST projects in developing market conditions.
The evolutionary game theory method has been widely used in the research works about different kinds of energy utilization fields, especially the clean energy utilizations which can facilitate the ...sustainable energy development. This paper presents a research review of the evolutionary game theory (EGT)-based studies on different energy-related aspects, including the traditional energy utilizations, energy saving and carbon emission reduction, new energy utilizations, new energy vehicles, electric power market, distributed energy systems, micro-grid, smart grid and energy storage. Typical research works based on the evolutionary game theory method and relevant algorithms are introduced and summarized. To promote the sustainable developments of energy utilization technologies as well as the usage of evolutionary game theory method, typical existing problems and several general recommendations about the further EGT-based research works are also proposed. The potential further works based on the evolutionary game theory approach may include the EGT-based studies considering more complex initial conditions and influential factors, verifications of the applicabilities and feasibilities of the evolutionary game theory method based on practical examples, research works with evolutionary game models consisting of more participants, and research and development (R&D) works of new EGT-based or hybrid algorithms.
•Examine the link between green technological innovation, institutional quality and CO2 emissions.•Green technological innovation mitigates CO2 emissions.•CO2 emissions are significantly increased by ...institutional quality.•Economic growth has a positive effect on CO2 emissions.•Fossil fuel energy consumption significantly increases CO2 emissions.
Green technological innovation and institutional quality are identified as effective mechanisms to mitigate carbon emissions and promote sustainable development. However, few studies have analyzed the role of technological innovation and institutions in reducing emissions from the African perspective. Therefore, this study examines the long-run effect of green technological innovation, institutional quality, renewable energy, fossil fuel energy, and economic growth on CO2 emissions in 25 African countries from 2000 to 2018. With the potential occurrence of residual cross-sectional reliance and heterogeneity, the study used second-generation panel techniques to examine the relationship between the variables. The empirical findings from the augmented mean group (AMG) and common correlated effects mean group (CCEMG) estimators indicate that green technological innovation and renewable energy consumption have a negative significant impact on CO2 emissions. In contrast, institutional quality, economic growth, and fossil fuel energy consumption have a positive impact on CO2 emissions. Based on the revealed findings, we proposed that African countries should increase investment in green technological innovation and renewable energy projects to achieve sustainable development targets.
•A modified dynamic recursive CGE model is constructed.•Renewable energy growth is considerable only if ETS revenue is used.•Broader renewable energy subsidies are better than ones with narrow ...scope.•A small part of ETS revenue should be used to subsidize residents for social stability.
Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) and renewable energy generation are emission reduction methods in most countries in the world. However, few studies have focused on the impact of ETS on renewable energy. The question is, can carbon trading promote renewable energy generation? This paper first analyzes different distribution strategies of ETS revenue by applying dynamic recursive computable general equilibrium model with multi-sectors. Practical scenarios and better options of distribution of ETS revenue by a comprehensive evaluation based on entropy weight method are proposed. The results show that ETS with no subsidy to renewable will reduce the demand for energy, increase the cost of renewable energy sources and decrease the generation. ETS will be the spring of renewable energy generation when most of the revenue is used for all kinds of renewable energy sources, instead of some of them. The growth of renewable energy generation is also substantial. It is necessary that a small portion of ETS revenue should be used to subsidize residents to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor. If this income is used for government investment and consumption, it will also help to mitigate economic losses, which is caused by the direction of investment by the Chinese government.
The present study aims to explore the long‐run and causal effect of financial development and renewable energy consumption on environmental sustainability while controlling technological innovation ...and economic growth within the global framework. In line with the aim of the study, the fully modified OLS (FMOLS), dynamic OLS (DOLS), canonical cointegrating regression (CCR), Bayer and Hanck cointegration, and frequency‐domain causality tests are employed. Empirical evidence confirms the existence of a long‐run linkage among the variables. The present study also finds that in the long run, global financial development and global renewable energy consumption have a long‐run significant positive effect on environmental sustainability, while economic growth increases carbon emission flaring around the world. Within the global framework, the study, therefore, recommends that in order to increase environmental quality, global policy‐makers should further consider the roles of renewable energy and financial development by implementing reform energy policies in both developed and developing countries.
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