Using underground space to store natural gas resources is an important means by which to solve emergency peak shaving of natural gas. Rock salt gas storage is widely recognized due to its high-efficiency peak shaving and environmental protection. Damage and stress concentrations inside the cavern injection during withdrawal operations and throughout the storage facility life have always been among the most important safety issues. Therefore, accurate evaluation of the stability of rock salt gas storage during operation is of paramount significance to field management and safety control. In this study, we used the finite element numerical analysis software Flac3D to numerically simulate large displacement deformations of the cavern wall during gas storage—in addition to the distribution of the plastic zone of the rock around the cavern and the surface settlement—under different working conditions. We found that the maximum surface settlement value occurred near the upper part of the cav... [more]

The paper investigates the optimization of ecosystem services of podzolized heavy loamy chernozem (black soil) as a result of the cultivation of the perennial energy culture of Miscanthus x giganteus. The research was conducted on an experimental land plot during 2016−2021. No fertilization was applied to the soil during the experiments, and over the years of research, the growing seasons were accompanied by abnormal droughts, but even under such conditions, the plants of Miscanthus x giganteus gradually increased their yield. At the initial stage of research, in the third year of cultivation, dry biomass of Miscanthus x giganteus was obtained at 14.3 t/ha, in the fourth year−18.6 t/ha, and already in the fifth and sixth years, 21.7 and 24.5 t/ha, respectively. That is, energy-wise, the harvest for the last year was equivalent to 15.9 tons of coal or 12,618 m3 of natural gas. Cultivation of Miscanthus x giganteus on black soil for six years has improved the provision of its ecosystem s... [more]

Promoting the development and utilization of solar energy is a practical way to alleviate the energy crisis and achieve the goal of carbon neutrality. Recently, interest has arisen in the dual-functional active solar thermal façade (ASTF) system that produces hot water throughout the whole year and reduces cooling and heating load as a function of the building façade. Here, a mathematical model of the ASTF system is built and validated by the experimental data, and the annual performance of the ASTF system in representative cities in three climate regions is evaluated. The results are that compared with the common solar water system, the ASTF system adds passive energy savings, which accounts for 5.8%, 7.2% and 11.4% of the total primary energy savings of the system for Shanghai, Beijing and Lanzhou. Compared with the traditional wall, the ASTF saves 16.4% and 23.0% of cooling energy consumption and 102.3% and 92.4% of heating energy consumption for Shanghai and Beijing, respectively.... [more]

The dry ice sublimation process of carbon dioxide (CO2) is a unique, environmentally friendly technology that can achieve a temperature of −56 °C or lower, which is a triple point of CO2 in CO2 refrigeration systems. In this study, a cyclone separator-evaporator was proposed to separate dry ice particles in an evaporator. As an initial step before introducing the cyclone separator-evaporator into an actual refrigeration system, a prototype cyclone separator-evaporator was constructed to visualize dry ice particles in a separation chamber. A high-speed camera was used to visualize the non-uniform flow of dry ice particles that repeatedly coalescence and collision in a swirl section. Consequently, the dry ice particle size and the circumferential and axial velocities of dry ice were measured. The results show that the equivalent diameter of the most abundant dry ice particles in the cyclone separation chamber is 2.0 mm. As the inner diameter of the separation section decreases, dry ice p... [more]

Rapid progress of computing and info-communication technologies (ICT) has changed the ecosystem of power production and delivery. Today, an energy network is a complex set of interrelated devices and information systems covering all areas of electric power operations and applying ICT based on open standards, such as IEC 60870, IEC 61850, and IEC 61970. According to IEC 62351, the energy networks are faced with high cybersecurity risks caused by open communications, security requirements rarely considered in the energy facilities, partial and difficult upgrades, and incompatibility of secure tools with industrial solutions. This situation results in new security challenges, e.g., denial of service attacks on the connected controllers, dispatching centers, process control systems, and terminals. IEC 62351 describes possible ways to comprehensive security in the energy networks. Most of them used in traditional networks (e.g., firewalls, intrusion detection systems) can be adapted to the... [more]

N2O has a global warming potential about 300 times higher than CO2, and even if its contribution to the greenhouse effect is underrated, its abatement in industrial production’s tail gas has become imperative. In this work, we investigate the feasibility of the microwave (MW)-assisted regeneration of a 13X zeolite bed for N2O capture from tail gases. Several consecutive adsorption−desorption cycles were performed to verify the microwave heating effect on the zeolite’s adsorption properties. The results of the experimental tests, performed at N2O concentrations of 10, 20 and 40% vol, highlighted that (i) the steps are perfectly repeatable in terms of both adsorbed and desorbed amount of N2O, meaning that the MWs did not damage the zeolite’s structure, (ii) the presence of both H2O and O2 in the feed stream irreversibly reduces the adsorbent capacity due to nitrites and nitrates formation, and (iii) the presence of H2O alone with N2O still reduces the adsorbent capacity of the zeolites,... [more]

On-site development of wave energy resources is a promising way to overcome power-shortage problems on islands. It is necessary to select suitable islands to deploy wave power plants, which are influenced by multiple factors related to resources, technology, economy, society, and environment. This study develops a two-stage decision framework to identify feasible islands and determine priority order based on geographic information systems (GIS) and multicriteria decision-making (MCDM). In the exclusion stage, unfeasible marine areas are excluded based on exclusion criteria and feasible island alternatives are identified. In the evaluation stage, alternatives are evaluated by evaluation criteria using the combined weighting method and the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS)-grey relation analysis (GRA) method. As the combined weighting method is based on the fuzzy group decision-making (GDM)-analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the entropy method,... [more]

The aim of the study is to identify, map and assess the maturity and impact level of the specific energy-oriented economy and other SMART management concepts and social, technological, finance (economical), environmental, and communication (S.T.F.E.C.) trends which arose from the dynamic development and spread of the Industry 4.0 revolution on processes of effective competitiveness and the creation of modern enterprises. The article presents data and information obtained thanks to an in-depth review of the literature (extensive desk research), as well as that obtained as part of the conducted CAWI pilot study. The authors aim to search for answers to three specific research questions, concluding that recently, special attention is paid to such issues as co-creation and co-production, energy-oriented and circular economy, eco-energy, and sustainability. The findings of this study clearly show that in the SMART WORLD era, there is a growing interest in cooperation, co-creation, co-produc... [more]

The aim of this paper is to replicate an existing study using the Generalized Method of Moments on the impact of ICT penetration (Mobile Phone and Internet) in Western Balkan countries on environmental sustainability through changing CO2 emissions for the period 2000−2015. A two-step system GMM method is used to handle both endogeneity of the independent and persistency of the dependent variables. Two important findings are derived: First, we find that mobile phones have a positive impact, whereas the Internet has a positive but insignificant impact on CO2 emissions per capita in noninteractive models. The impact of ICTs is insignificant as far as CO2 emission from liquid fuel consumption is concerned in noninteractive specifications. Based on this finding, we suggest policymakers of Western Balkan countries follow interdisciplinary policies and strategies considering ICTs such as Internet penetration to mitigate CO2 emissions. Second, in interactive models, all marginal effects are ne... [more]

The pulp and paper industry is recognized as a well-established sector, which throughout its process, generates a vast amount of waste streams with the capacity to be valorized. Typically, these residues are burned for energy purposes, but their use as substrates for biological processes could be a more efficient and sustainable alternative. With this aim, it is essential to identify and characterize each type of waste to determine its biotechnological potential. In this context, this research highlights possible alternatives with lower environmental impact and higher revenues. The bio-based pathway should be a promising alternative for the valorization of pulp and paper industry wastes, in particular for bioproduct production such as bioethanol, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), and biogas. This article focuses on state of the art regarding the identification and characterization of these wastes, their main applied deconstruction technologies and the valorization pathways reported for the... [more]

The main aim of this review is to present the current state of the research and applications of superconductivity and plasma technologies in the field of energy and environmental protection. An additional goal is to attract the attention of specialists, university students and readers interested in the state of energy and the natural environment and in how to protect them and ensure their sustainable development. Modern energy systems and the natural environment do not develop in a sustainable manner, thus providing future generations with access to energy that is generated from renewable sources and that does not degrade the natural environment. Most of the energy technologies used today are based on non-renewable sources. Power contained in fuel is irretrievably lost, and the quality of the energy is lowered. It is accompanied by the emissions of fossil fuel combustion products into the atmosphere, which pollutes the natural environment. Environmental problems, such as the production... [more]

Due to the population’s growing need for energy and the increasing impact of the phenomena of global warming and climate change on a global level, it becomes imperative to diminish energy consumption worldwide. For this reason, a deeper understanding of factors that encourage energy-saving habits and overall lifestyle is required. This research examined the factors that hold an impact on the adoption of energy-saving habits in Romania. It used eight constructs that were checked to see if they influence the individuals’ intentions to save energy. The research used a quantitative analysis approach, with primary data assembled through a survey of the population from six developed counties in Romania. In order to investigate and assess the data, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used. The results show that environmental awareness, perceived consumer effectiveness and a collectivistic perspective affect individuals in implementing energy-saving habits (in their life) in a significant a... [more]

Preservation of potatoes in a controlled cool environment (i.e., in cold storage) consumes a substantial amount of energy. The specific energy consumption in Indian cold storage has been estimated to be between 9 and 26 kWh/ton/year. In this article, the potential for minimizing the energy consumption in the refrigeration process of cold storage through passive cooling concepts (i.e., roof evaporative cooling and the earth integration of the storage building) was explored. These passive concepts of cooling have shown significant potential for lowering the cooling loads and the energy consumption in different types of buildings. Therefore, a feasibility analysis for a potato storage building, considering the effect of the passive cooling concepts, was conducted for three different climatic conditions (i.e., hot−dry, warm−humid, and composite) in India. The energy saving potentials in the cold storage were assessed by quantifying the thermal energy exchange between the indoor and outdoor... [more]

Circular economy is a tool based on the inclusion of environmental, social, and governance performance (ESG) in decision-making to achieve sustainable development goals (SDG). In recent years, it has become clear that business-as-usual has nothing to do with sustainability, and alternative business models, primarily on technological grounds, must be implemented to mitigate the damage caused by significant and unpredictable effects of climate change. The current situation requires unprecedented and urgent changes to policies and business development models. The current research aimed to target on industrial symbiosis as one of the business models of the circular economy. It evaluated the benefits of symbiosis and the fostering of cooperation between industries and, consequently, has a major impact on resource efficiency ratios. The research is based on quantitative and qualitative research methods, including a literature review, assessment, and application of the triangulation method. A... [more]

Residential biomass combustion has been pointed out as one of the largest sources of atmospheric pollutants. Rising awareness of the environmental effects of residential biomass combustion emissions boosted the development of different emission reduction devices that are currently available on the market for small-scale appliances. However, detailed studies on the efficiency of these devices in different combustion systems available in Southern European countries are lacking. In this study, two pollution control devices (catalytic converter and electrostatic precipitator) were tested in two different combustion systems (batch mode operated woodstove and automatically fed pellet stove) in order to assess the emission reduction potential of the devices. Pine firewood was used to fuel the woodstove. One commercial brand of pellets and an agricultural fuel (olive pit) were taken for the experiments in the pellet stove. While the efficiency of the electrostatic precipitator in reducing PM10... [more]

The research problem addressed in this article concerns the formation of a business model in an energy company as a consequence of the European Green Deal. The paper seeks answers to three questions: (1) What is the significance of the European Green Deal for the business model of the examined energy company? (2) Which elements of the business model of the studied energy company take the form of sustainable ones? (3) In what direction is the business model of the analysed energy company evolving? The subject of the study is the business model of the Tauron Capital Group. The business model is analysed in the context of the requirements for climate protection formulated in the European Green Deal. A single case study was used. As a result of the study, two research statements were adopted: (1) Economic regulations in the area of the European Green Deal lead to changes in the business model of the examined energy company. (2) The examined energy company through the implementation of sust... [more]

Recently, due to the industrial and e-commerce revolution, the freight transport sector has grown rapidly and has become one of the key factors for economic development. Coupled with the growth of this sector, significant energy and environmental problems have arisen. Therefore, a huge effort has been made around the world in order to develop some solutions that could mitigate these problems. One of these promising solutions is electrifying the urban freight transport sector including the trucks and freight commercial vehicles fleets. In Palestine, as in other developing countries, the implications of this solution are still unquantified and the efficiency of the application is unpredicted. Therefore, this has necessitated a comprehensive study that considers all the relevant factors, such as the source of the electricity (renewable energy, oils, natural gas, etc.), fuel rates, and electricity rates. In this study, a prediction model has been developed using the historical data for the... [more]

The main objective of this study was to examine the nonlinear relationship between environmental deterioration and foreign direct investment for subpanels based on the country’s income level. In this study, the model’s determinants were total consumption of energy and electricity consumption, the share of renewable energy, and economic growth. Due to the observation of cross-sectional dependence, utilization of cointegration tests and panel data unit root were incorporated, which confirmed a mixed integration order. For the compliance of long-run and short-run relationships among the variables, a pooled mean group estimator panel auto-regressive distributed lag approach was incorporated. The results of long-run development support the pollution haven hypothesis; hence, ecological footprint is increased by the activities related to foreign direct investments. The obtained findings depend on the different subpanels based on the income level of countries. For the assurance of economic dev... [more]

The EU has several directives aiming toward carbon neutrality and is attempting to promote and encourage individual electricity consumers to participate in this endeavor. The key idea behind consumer awakening and activation is to push consumers to become aware of their electricity consumption behavior. The purpose of this paper was to examine the current consumption behavior of Finnish electricity consumers and their intention to support the goals of carbon neutrality through energy efficient consumption. The aim was to reveal how far the consumption behavior of people was from the intention to tackle climate change. To reach this goal, a qualitative research method was applied to evaluate the consumer awareness and intentions. A consumer survey was conducted to enable standardized and consistent data collection. The research utilized a key performance indicator (KPI) approach to evaluate the results: the social KPIs connected with qualitative values provide a comprehensive approach.... [more]

Odorant emissions are associated with, among other things, wastewater transport in sewer networks; they contribute to air pollution and result in complaints from residents living close to emission sources. The critical location in terms of the formation of unpleasant odour compounds is the pressure line that connects the pumping station and the expansion well; this is where they are released into the atmosphere. This paper presents comprehensive results of olfactometric and chromatographic tests in the Polish city of Białystok using portable devices that allow for multiple determinations and instant results. The study attempts to investigate the relationship between odour and odorant concentrations and check the suitability of field olfactometry as a tool for the ongoing monitoring of the emission of noxious odours and for verifying complaints submitted by residents. Statistical analysis shows a very high correlation coefficient between cod and the concentrations of individual odorants... [more]

Municipal solid waste (MSW) treatment is one of the major contributors to carbon emissions. The improvement in MSW treatment carbon emission efficiency is crucial for China to achieve its CO2 emission targets. Firstly, this study used the super-efficiency SBM-DEA model to calculate the MSW treatment carbon emission efficiency in 31 provinces in China from 2010 to 2019. The results show that the MSW treatment carbon emission efficiency in all provinces except Shanghai and Jiangsu is less than 1, and the provinces with high efficiency are mainly located in eastern China. Secondly, the spatial auto correlation model and spatial Markov chain are used to test the regional differences and the spatial spillover effect of efficiency. The results show that the national average efficiency shows a fluctuating downward trend, and only the western region achieves a gradual increase. The regional differences in China’s MSW processing efficiency of carbon emissions show a fluctuating upward trend, an... [more]

Patients are different regarding their health conditions, illnesses and ailments, and mobility. These and other factors could affect their specific feelings about the thermal environment. Current methods of predicting thermal sensations were developed based on research on a group of healthy people. Therefore, the use of these methods with patients should be verified. This paper aimed to verify selected thermal comfort models in terms of their reliability to predict the average assessment of thermal conditions in the patient rooms and the percentage of dissatisfied patients. Thermal condition analyses were based on microclimate parameter measurements and extensive questionnaires among patients, done in parallel in the hospital’s patient rooms. The research was carried out in 23 hospitals located in the following provinces in Poland: (Warmińsko-Mazurskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Mazowieckie, Wielkopolskie, Łódzkie, Świętokrzyskie, Lubelskie and Dolnośląskie). Overall, 890 patients from 14 di... [more]

This paper presents the results of comparative studies on the implementation of machine learning methods in the damage intensity assessment of masonry buildings. The research was performed on existing residential buildings, subjected to negative impacts of the industrial environment induced by coal mining plants during their whole technical life cycle. The research was justified on the grounds of safety of use, as well as potential energy losses and CO2 emissions generated by the inefficient management of building materials resources resulting from poor planning of retrofitting. In this field, the research is in line with the global trends of large-scale retrofitting of existing buildings in European countries due to their thermal insulation parameters and seismic hazard. By combining this with the effects of material degradation throughout the technical lifecycle of buildings, the proposed methods allow for a more efficient approach to maintaining quality management of large groups of... [more]

Subchannel codes have been widely used for thermal-hydraulics analyses in nuclear reactors. This paper details the development of a novel subchannel code within the Idaho National Laboratory’s (INL) Multi-physics Object Oriented Simulation Environment (MOOSE). MOOSE is a parallel computational framework targeted at the solution of systems of coupled, nonlinear partial differential equations, that often arise in the simulation of nuclear processes. As such, it includes codes/modules able to solve the multiple linear and nonlinear physics that describe a nuclear reactor, under normal operation conditions or accidents. This includes thermal-hydraulics, fuel performance, and neutronics codes, between others. A MOOSE-based subchannel code is a new addition to the fleet of INL-developed codes, based on the MOOSE framework. In this work, we present the derivation of the subchannel equations for a single-phase fluid, we proceed with the description of the algorithm that is used to solve these... [more]

This study focuses on the life cycle assessment (LCA) of an onshore wind farm in India. The study is conducted on 10 Vestas 1.65 MW wind turbines situated in the Karnataka state of India. Following the ISO 14044 standard, SimaPro LCA software is used to model the process. The functional unit is chosen as 1 MWh sent out electricity. The results of the life cycle-based emissions of wind farm are compared with those of the coal power plant. The global warming potential is found to be 11.3 g CO2-eq/MWh for wind power, which is 98.8% lower than that for the coal power plant. A comparison of data available in SimaPro LCA software was carried out with data in GaBi software. There is a small difference between the two databases. This may be due to different boundary and inclusion of input items. Steel, aluminium, and concrete contributed 86%, 84%, 84% and 85% of total CO2, NOx, SO2 and PM2.5 emissions, respectively. Recycling the materials of a wind turbine at the end of its life can reduce th... [more]