Search Results (4,228)

Under China’s ‘Dual Carbon’ strategy, the power sector plays a central role in achieving carbon neutrality. This study develops a bi-level game-optimization model involving the government, power producers, and technology suppliers to explore the dynamic coordination between shadow carbon pricing and emission trajectories. The upper-level model, guided by the government, focuses on minimizing total costs, including emission reduction costs, technological investments, and operational costs, by dynamically adjusting emission targets and shadow carbon prices. The lower-level model employs evolutionary game theory to simulate the adaptive behaviors and strategic interactions among power producers, regulatory authorities, and technology suppliers. Three representative uncertainty scenarios, disruptive technological breakthroughs, major policy interventions, and international geopolitical shifts, are incorporated to evaluate system robustness. Simulation results indicate that an optimistic scenario is characterized by rapid technological advancement and strong policy incentives. Conversely, under a pessimistic scenario with sluggish technology development and weak regulatory frameworks, there are substantially higher transition costs. This research uniquely contributes by explicitly modeling dynamic feedback between policy and stakeholder behavior under multiple uncertainties, highlighting the critical roles of innovation-driven strategies and proactive policy interventions in shaping effective, resilient, and cost-efficient carbon pricing and low-carbon transition pathways in the power sector. Full article

The cement industry is a significant contributor to global carbon dioxide emissions, primarily due to the energy demands of its production process and its reliance on clinker, a material formed through the high-temperature calcination of limestone. Strategies to reduce emissions include the adoption of low-carbon fuels, the use of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies, and the integration of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) to reduce the clinker content. The effectiveness of these measures depends on a complex set of interactions involving technological feasibility, market dynamics, and regulatory frameworks. This study presents a system dynamics model designed to assess how various decarbonization approaches influence long-term emission trends within the cement industry. The model accounts for supply chains, production technologies, market adoption rates, and changes in cement production costs. This study then analyzes a number of scenarios where there is large-scale sustained investment in each of three carbon mitigation strategies. The results show that CCS by itself allows the cement industry to achieve carbon neutrality, but the high capital investment results in a large cost increase for cement. A combined approach using alternative fuels and SCMs was found to achieve a large carbon reduction without a sustained increase in cement prices, highlighting the trade-offs between cost, effectiveness, and system-wide interactions. Full article

Carbon flow tracking and spatial pattern optimization at the scale of urban functional zones are key scientific challenges in achieving carbon neutrality. However, due to the complexity of carbon metabolism processes within urban functional zones, related studies remain limited. To address these scientific challenges, this study, based on the “source–sink–flow” ecosystem services framework, develops an integrated analytical approach at the scale of urban functional zones. The carbon balance is quantified using the CASA model in combination with multi-source data. A network model is employed to trace carbon flow pathways, identify critical nodes and interruption points, and optimize the urban spatial pattern through a low-carbon land use structure model. The research results indicate that the overall carbon balance in Hangzhou exhibits a spatial pattern of “deficit in the center and surplus in the periphery.” The main urban area shows a significant carbon deficit and relatively poor connectivity in the carbon flow network. Carbon sequestration services primarily flow from peripheral areas (such as Fuyang and Yuhang) with green spaces and agricultural functional zones toward high-emission residential–commercial and commercial–public functional zones in the central area. However, due to the interruption of multiple carbon flow paths, the overall carbon flow transmission capacity is significantly constrained. Through spatial optimization, some carbon deficit nodes were successfully converted into carbon surplus nodes, and disrupted carbon flow edges were repaired, particularly in the main urban area, where 369 carbon flow edges were restored, resulting in a significant improvement in the overall transmission efficiency of the carbon flow network. The carbon flow visualization and spatial optimization methods proposed in this paper provide a new perspective for urban carbon metabolism analysis and offer theoretical support for low-carbon city planning practices. Full article

Accomplishing China’s national targets of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality necessitates proactive solutions, hinging critically on fundamentally transforming rural construction models. Current construction practices in rural areas are characterized by inefficiency, high resource consumption, and reliance on imported materials. These shortcomings not only jeopardize the attainment of climate objectives, but also hinder equitable development between urban and rural regions. Using the Digital Industrial Park in Yongtai County, Fuzhou City, as a case study, this study focuses on prefabricated public buildings in regions with extreme hot–humid climate, and innovatively integrates BIM (Building Information Modeling)-driven carbon modeling with the Gaussian Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (G2SFCA) method for spatial accessibility assessment to investigate the carbon emissions and economic benefits of prefabricated buildings during the embodied stage, and analyzes the spatial accessibility of prefabricated building material suppliers in Fuzhou City and identifies associated bottlenecks, seeking pathways to promote sustainable rural revitalization. Compared with traditional cast-in-situ buildings, embodied carbon emissions of prefabricated during their materialization phase significantly reduced. This dual-perspective approach ensures that the proposed solutions possess both technical rigor and logistical feasibility. Promoting this model across rural areas sharing similar climatic conditions would advance the construction industry’s progress towards the dual carbon goals. Full article

In line with the goals of “peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality”, this study aims to develop a market-coordinated operation mechanism to promote renewable energy adoption and consumption, addressing the challenges of integrating medium- and long-term trading with spot markets in power systems with high renewable energy penetration. A three-stage joint operation framework is proposed. First, a medium- and long-term trading game model is established, considering multiple energy types to optimize the benefits of market participants. Second, machine learning algorithms are employed to predict renewable energy output, and a contract decomposition mechanism is developed to ensure a smooth transition from medium- and long-term contracts to real-time market operations. Finally, a day-ahead market-clearing strategy and an incentive-compatible settlement mechanism, incorporating the constraints from contract decomposition, are proposed to link the two markets effectively. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed mechanism effectively enhances resource allocation and stabilizes market operations, leading to significant revenue improvements across various generation units and increased renewable energy utilization. Specifically, thermal power units achieve a 19.12% increase in revenue, while wind and photovoltaic units show more substantial gains of 38.76% and 47.52%, respectively. Concurrently, the mechanism drives a 10.61% increase in renewable energy absorption capacity and yields a 13.47% improvement in Tradable Green Certificate (TGC) utilization efficiency, confirming its overall effectiveness. This research shows that coordinated optimization between medium- and long-term/spot markets, combined with a well-designed settlement mechanism, significantly strengthens the market competitiveness of renewable energy, providing theoretical support for the market-based operation of the new power system. Full article

With the advance of digital transformation, the assessment of the environmental impact of digital tools and technologies grows more relevant. Considering the inflated expectations of environmental responsibility in higher education, this study analyses how websites of Polish universities conform to sustainable web design criteria. The sustainability audit employed a methodology encompassing carbon emissions measurement, technical website analysis, and SEO evaluation. The author analysed 63 websites of public universities in Poland using seven independent audit tools, including an original AI Custom GPT agent preconfigured in the ChatGPT ecosystem. The results revealed a substantial differentiation in CO₂ emissions and website optimisation, with an average EcoImpact Score of 66.41/100. Nearly every fourth website exhibited a significant carbon footprint and excessive component sizes, which indicates poor asset optimisation and energy-intensive design techniques. The measurements exposed considerable variability in emission intensities and resource intensity among the university websites, suggesting the need for standardised digital sustainability practices. Regulations on the carbon footprint of public institutions’ websites and mobile applications could become vital strategic components for digital climate neutrality. Promoting green hosting, “Green SEO” practices, and sustainability audits could help mitigate the environmental impact of digital technologies and advance sustainable design standards for the public sector. The proposed auditing methodology can effectively support the institutional transition towards sustainable management of digital infrastructure by integrating technical, sustainability, and organisational aspects. Full article

Flavonoids constitute a broad class of naturally occurring chemical compounds classified as polyphenols, widely present in various plants, fruits, and vegetables. They share a common flavone backbone, composed of two aromatic rings (A and B) connected by a three-carbon bridge forming a heterocyclic ring (C). One representative flavonoid is chrysin, a compound found in honey, propolis, and passionflower (Passiflora spp.). Chrysin exhibits a range of biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, neuroprotective, and anxiolytic effects. Its biological activity is primarily attributed to the presence of hydroxyl groups, which facilitate the neutralization of free radicals and the modulation of intracellular signaling pathways. Cellular uptake of chrysin and other flavonoids occurs mainly through passive diffusion; however, certain forms may be transported via specific membrane-associated carrier proteins. Despite its therapeutic potential, chrysin’s bioavailability is significantly limited due to poor aqueous solubility and rapid metabolism in the gastrointestinal tract and liver, which reduces its systemic efficacy. Ongoing research aims to enhance chrysin’s bioavailability through the development of delivery systems such as lipid-based carriers and nanoparticles. Full article

In order to achieve the goals of carbon neutrality, large-scale storage of renewable energy sources has been integrated into the power grid. Under these circumstances, the power grid faces the challenge of peak shaving. Therefore, this paper proposes a coordinated variable-power control strategy for multiple battery energy storage stations (BESSs), improving the performance of peak shaving. Firstly, the strategy involves constructing an optimization model incorporating load forecasting, capacity constraints, and security indices to design a coordination mechanism tracking the target load band with the equivalent power. Secondly, it establishes a quantitative evaluation system using metrics such as peak–valley difference and load standard deviation. Comparison based on typical daily cases shows that, compared with the constant power strategy, the coordinated variable-power control strategy has a more obvious and comprehensive improvement in overall peak-shaving effects. Furthermore, it employs a “dynamic dispatch of multiple BESS” mode, effectively mitigating the risks and flexibility issues associated with single BESSs. This strategy provides a reliable new approach for large-scale energy storage to participate in high-precision peaking. Full article

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) undergoes thermal degradation during processing and operation, which necessitates the use of effective thermal stabilizers. The purpose of this work is to comprehensively evaluate the potential of new hierarchically structured titanium phosphates (TiP) with controlled morphology as thermal stabilizers of plasticized PVC, focusing on the effect of morphology and Ti/P ratio on their stabilizing efficiency. The thermal stability of the compositions was studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in both inert (Ar) and oxidizing (air) atmospheres. The effect of TiP concentration and its synergy with industrial stabilizers was analyzed. An assessment of the key degradation parameters is given: the temperature of degradation onset, the rate of decomposition, exothermic effects, and the carbon residue yield. In an inert environment, TiPMSI/TiPMSII microspheres demonstrated an optimal balance by increasing the temperature of degradation onset and the residual yield while suppressing the rate of decomposition. In an oxidizing environment, TiPR rods and TiPMSII microspheres provided maximum stability, enhancing resistance to degradation onset and reducing the degradation rate by 10–15%. Key factors of effectiveness include ordered morphology (spheres, rods); the Ti-deficient Ti/P ratio (~0.86), which enhances HCl binding; and crystallinity. The stabilization mechanism of titanium phosphates is attributed to their high affinity for hydrogen chloride (HCl), which catalyzes PVC chain scission, a catalyst for the destruction of the PVC chain. The unique microstructure of titanium phosphate provides a high specific surface area and, as a result, greater activity in the HCl neutralization reaction. The formation of a sol–phosphate framework creates a barrier to heat and oxygen. An additional contribution comes from the inhibition of oxidative processes and the possible interaction with unstable chlorallyl groups in PVC macromolecules. Thus, hierarchically structured titanium phosphates have shown high potential as multifunctional PVC thermostabilizers for modern polymer materials. Potential applications include the development of environmentally friendly PVC formulations with partial or complete replacement of toxic stabilizers, the optimization of thermal stabilization for products used in aggressive environments, and the use of hierarchical TiP structures in flame-resistant and halogen-free PVC-based compositions. Full article

This study, conducted in Mexico, evaluates the agricultural potential of three compost formulations BFS1, BFS2, and BFS3 produced from mining tailings and thermophilic microbial mats and collected from geothermal environments. The physicochemical characterization included pH, electrical conductivity (EC), macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S), micronutrients (Fe, Zn, B, Cu, Mn, Mo, and Ni), organic matter (OM), and the carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio. All composts exhibited neutral pH values (7.38–7.52), high OM content (38.5–48.4%), and optimal C/N ratios (10.5–13.9), indicating maturity and chemical stability. Nitrogen ranged from 19 to 21 kg·t⁻¹, while potassium and calcium were present in concentrations beneficial for crop development. However, EC values (3.43–3.66 dS/m) and boron levels (>160 ppm) were moderately high, requiring caution in saline soils or with boron-sensitive crops. A semi-quantitative Compost Quality Index (CQI) ranked BFS3 highest due to elevated OM and potassium content, followed by BFS1. BFS2, while rich in nitrogen, scored lower due to excessive boron. One-way ANOVA revealed no significant difference in nitrogen (p > 0.05), but it did reveal significant differences in potassium (p < 0.01) and boron (p < 0.001) among formulations. These results confirm the potential of mining tailings—microbial mat composts are low-cost, nutrient-rich biofertilizers. They are suitable for field crops or as components in nursery substrates, particularly when EC and boron are managed through dilution. This study promotes the circular reuse of geothermal and industrial residues and contributes to sustainable soil restoration practices in mining-affected regions through innovative composting strategies. Full article

This study develops an integrated environmental–economic assessment framework to evaluate the life cycle environmental impacts and economic costs of CO₂ geological storage and produced water treatment in saline formations in China. Using a case study of a saline aquifer carbon storage project in the Ordos Basin, eight full-chain carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) scenarios were analyzed. The results indicate that environmental and cost performance are primarily influenced by technology choices across carbon capture, transport, and storage stages. The scenario employing potassium carbonate-based capture, pipeline transport, and brine reinjection after a reverse osmosis treatment (S5) achieved the most balanced outcome. Breakeven analyses under three carbon price projection models revealed that carbon price trajectories critically affect project viability, with a steadily rising carbon price enabling earlier profitability. By decoupling CCUS from power systems and focusing on unit CO₂ removal, this study provides a transparent and transferable framework to support cross-sectoral deployment. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers aiming to design effective CCUS support mechanisms under future carbon neutrality targets. Full article

This study proposes the SMR Smart Net-Zero City (SSNC) framework—a scalable model for achieving carbon neutrality by integrating Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), renewable energy sources, and sector coupling within a microgrid architecture. As deploying renewables alone would require economically and technically impractical energy storage systems, SMRs provide a reliable and flexible baseload power source. Sector coupling systems—such as hydrogen production and heat generation—enhance grid stability by absorbing surplus energy and supporting the decarbonization of non-electric sectors. The core contribution of this study lies in its real-time data emulation framework, which overcomes a critical limitation in the current energy landscape: the absence of operational data for future technologies such as SMRs and their coupled hydrogen production systems. As these technologies are still in the pre-commercial stage, direct physical integration and validation are not yet feasible. To address this, the researchers leveraged real-time data from an existing commercial microgrid, specifically focusing on the import of grid electricity during energy shortfalls and export during solar surpluses. These patterns were repurposed to simulate the real-time operational behavior of future SMRs (ProxySMR) and sector coupling loads. This physically grounded simulation approach enables high-fidelity approximation of unavailable technologies and introduces a novel methodology to characterize their dynamic response within operational contexts. A key element of the SSNC control logic is a day–night strategy: maximum SMR output and minimal hydrogen production at night, and minimal SMR output with maximum hydrogen production during the day—balancing supply and demand while maintaining high SMR utilization for economic efficiency. The SSNC testbed was validated through a seven-day continuous operation in Busan, demonstrating stable performance and approximately 75% SMR utilization, thereby supporting the feasibility of this proxy-based method. Importantly, to the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first publicly reported attempt to emulate the real-time dynamics of a net-zero city concept based on not-yet-commercial SMRs and sector coupling systems using live operational data. This simulation-based framework offers a forward-looking, data-driven pathway to inform the development and control of next-generation carbon-neutral energy systems. Full article

Land use/land cover (LULC) change constitutes a critical driver influencing regional carbon cycling processes. Optimizing LULC structures represents a significant pathway toward the realization of carbon neutrality. This study takes Liaoning Province as a case area to analyze LULC changes from 2000 to 2020 and to assess their impacts on land use carbon emissions (LUCE) and ecosystem carbon storage (ECS). To accelerate the achievement of carbon neutrality, four development scenarios are established: natural development (ND), low-carbon emission (LCE), high-carbon storage (HCS), and carbon neutrality (CN). For each scenario, corresponding optimization objectives and constraint conditions are defined, and a multi-objective LULC optimization coupling model is formulated to optimize both the quantity structure and spatial pattern of LULC. On this basis, the model quantifies ECS and LUCE under the four scenarios and evaluates the economic value of each scenario and its contribution to the carbon neutrality target. Results indicate the following: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the extensive expansion of construction land resulted in a reduction in ECS by 12.72 × 10⁶ t and an increase in LUCE by 150.44 × 10⁶ t; (2) Compared to the ND scenario, the LCE scenario exhibited the most significant performance in controlling carbon emissions, while the HCS scenario achieved the highest increase in carbon sequestration. The CN scenario showed significant advantages in reducing LUCE, enhancing ECS, and promoting economic growth, achieving a reduction of 0.18 × 10⁶ t in LUCE, an increase of 118.84 × 10⁶ t in ECS, and an economic value gain of 3386.21 × 10⁶ yuan. This study optimizes the LULC structure from the perspective of balancing economic development, LUCE reduction, and ECS enhancement. It addresses the inherent conflict between regional economic growth and ecological conservation, providing scientific evidence and policy insights for promoting LULC optimization and advancing carbon neutrality in similar regions. Full article

This study investigates the seasonal dynamics of energy balance, evapotranspiration (ET), and Net Ecosystem Production (NEP) in the Dengkou desert ecosystem of Inner Mongolia, China. Using eddy covariance and meteorological data from 2019 to 2022, the research focuses on understanding how these processes interact in one of the world’s most water-limited environments. This arid research area received an average of 109.35 mm per annum precipitation over the studied period, classifying the region as a typical arid ecosystem. Seasonal patterns were observed in daily air temperature, with extremes ranging from −20.6 °C to 29.6 °C. Temporal variations in sensible heat flux (H), latent heat flux (LE), and net radiation (Rn) peaked during summer season. The average ground heat flux (G) was mostly positive throughout the observation period, indicating heat transmission from atmosphere to soil, but showed negative values during the winter season. The energy balance ratio for the studied period was in the range of 0.61 to 0.80, indicating challenges in achieving energy closure and ecological shifts. ET exhibited two annual peaks influenced by vegetation growth and climate change, with annual ET exceeding annual precipitation, except in 2021. Net ecosystem production (NEP) from 2019 to 2020 revealed that the Dengkou desert were a net source of carbon, indicating the carbon loss from the ecosystem. In 2021, the Dengkou ecosystem shifted to become a net carbon sink, effectively sequestrating carbon. However, this was sharply reversed in 2022, resulting in a significant net release of carbon. The study findings highlight the complex interactions between energy balance components, ET, and NEP in desert ecosystems, providing insights into sustainable water management and carbon neutrality strategies in arid regions under climate change effect. Full article

Tropical forests continue to experience high levels of habitat loss and degradation, with wildfires becoming a frequent component of human-modified landscapes. Here we investigate the response of palm species to the conversion of old-growth forests to successional mosaics, including forest patches burned during wildfires. Palms (≥50 cm height) were recorded once in 2023–2024, across four habitat classes: terra firme old-growth stands, regenerating forest stands associated with slash-and-burn agriculture, old-growth stands burned once and twice, and active cassava fields, in the Tapajós-Arapiuns Extractive Reserve, in the eastern Brazilian Amazon. The flammability of palm leaf litter and forest litter were also examined to assess the potential connections between palm proliferation and wildfires. A total of 10 palm species were recorded in this social forest (including slash-and-burn agriculture and resulting successional mosaics), with positive, negative, and neutral responses to land use. Species richness did not differ among forest habitats, but absolute palm abundance was greatest in disturbed habitats. Only Attalea spectabilis Mart. (curuá) exhibited increased relative abundance across disturbed habitats, including active cassava field. Attalea spectabilis accounted for almost 43% of all stems in the old-growth forest, 89% in regenerating forests, 90% in burned forests, and 79% in crop fields. Disturbed habitats supported a five-to-ten-fold increment in curuá leaves as a measure of habitat flammability. Although curuá litter exhibited lower flame temperature and height, its lower carbon and higher volatile content is expected to be more sensitive to fire ignition and promote the spread of wildfires. The conversion of old-growth forests into social forests promotes the establishment of palm-dominated forests, increasing the potential for a forest transition further fueled by wildfires, with effects on forest resilience and social reproduction still to be understood. Full article