The extraction of hydrocarbons is associated with obtaining certain amounts of water, which is heavily contaminated with a wide range of chemical compounds that negatively affect the environment. At present, practically the only method of managing extracted reservoir waters is their injection into absorbing horizons. Large changes in parameters (pH, Eh, temperature, etc.) occurring during the extraction and storage of water, as well as the contact of the injected water with reservoir water and rock, may result in the precipitation of secondary sediments. The complexity of the injected water/native water/deposit rock system and the wide range of possible interactions do not always allow for correct interpretation of the processes and their impact on near-well zone permeability. One of the factors which has a decisive influence on dissolution/precipitation is temperature change. Applying analytical data of water with low (W-1) and high (W-2) mineralization, calculations were carried out... [more]

Services surrounding green buildings are specialised and directed towards the process of design and comprise comprehensive and quantified management in its entirety. Implicitly, consultancies are unable to deliver this service at the standard and pace required in the preliminary stages of design, and not all clients or consultants will require the services to be essential. The main aim is to stabilise the several characteristics prompting one another to optimise design performance against the optimisation algorithms. Green Star is a universal evaluation tool, assessing not only green characteristics but also elements that influence wellbeing and occupant health, such as indoor environment quality. The tools for Green Star rating can be used to measure the green features of a building from the design phase right to the stage of site handover (known as “As-Built”). This paper refers, in the literature review, to the passive and low-energy design methods of a Green Star-rated building at... [more]

Water presents one of the earth resources as a component of environmental change, demanding the research of water use. A nusmber of authors analyzed water use from different perspectives, in different regions, not including the water efficiency index and water productivity in the whole of the EU. The presented contribution is orientated to the evaluation of water resources through the development of efficiency and productivity indexes in EU member states. The research is made by a single analysis of the index in time development, followed by countries’ comparison according to the available data and software support, accessing the sustainability features in water supply that are the three-fold-goals of economic feasibility, social responsibility, and environmental integrity, linked to the purpose of the water use. The results of the contribution show the countries with a positive indexes trend, and countries with a negative indexes trend. Such results can be used for improving measureme... [more]

Compostable packaging is one of the innovative alternatives to conventional packaging. This is also an opportunity in view of the current energy crisis and rising oil prices, firstly, because compostable packaging is produced only from renewable resources, and secondly, it can feed both the composting process and biogas plants. According to the CE principles, it is vital to effectively close product life cycles. Therefore, this paper is aimed at expounding the triggering role of social innovations co-created by stakeholders for improving compostable packaging waste management in accordance with the CE concept. The research procedure consisted of four integrated research phases. A qualitive study was undertaken by conducting 29 in-depth interviews and 3 Social Innovation Labs, engaging 67 bio-packaging market stakeholders, which are national and international companies (e.g., manufacturing, distributing), institutions and other organisations from the social, public and private sectors.... [more]

Global warming is one of the major problems in the developing world, and one of the major causes of global warming is the generation of carbon dioxide (CO2) because of the burning of fossil fuels. Burning fossil fuels to meet the energy demand of households and industries is unavoidable. The current commercial and experimental techniques used for capturing and storing CO2 have serious operational and environmental constraints. The amine-based absorption technique for CO2 capture has a low absorption and desorption ratio, and the volatile and corrosive nature of the solvent further complicates the situation. To overcome all of these problems, researchers have used ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as a replacement for commercial amine-based solvents. ILs and deep eutectic solvents are tunable solvents that have a very low vapor pressure, thus making them an ideal medium for CO2 capture. Moreover, most ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents have low toxicity and can... [more]

This study aims to improve existing fossil gas turbine power plants by waste heat recovery. These power plants function with an air simple cycle (ASC) and are implemented where water resources are limited. Modeling and simulation of ASC and two advanced energy conversion systems are performed. They are the gas turbine−air bottoming cycle (GT-ABC) and gas turbine−supercritical carbon dioxide bottoming cycle (GT-sc-CO2BC). The main intent is to assess the benefits of employing sc-CO2 as a working fluid in a closed Brayton bottoming cycle compared to air, based on the energetic and exergetic performance and economic and environmental impact. Analyses of ASC, GT-ABC, and GT-sc-CO2BC are performed for various topping gas turbine powers: large (plant 1); medium (plant 2); and low (plant 3). The results of the energetic and exergetic analyses indicate that there is a significant improvement in the output power (ranging from 22% to 25%); and energy and exergy efficiencies of GT-ABC and GT-sc-C... [more]

In order to reduce the impact of noise on the environment and reduce the dissipation of useless energy of traction motors, this study analyzed the noise of a traction motor by detecting the vibration acceleration of the suspension frame. Field tests were conducted to measure the traction noise and suspension frame vibration in a commercially operational medium- and low-speed maglev train. The tests showed that as the train accelerates, the sound pressure grows overall, but the increase becomes smaller at each test speed. The speed of the maglev train is closely correlated with the vibrations of the suspension frame in lateral/vertical directions. The dominant frequency of traction motor noise is basically consistent with that of suspension frame vibration acceleration, showing that the suspension frame vibration is the main reason for high-frequency noise in the operation of low−medium-speed maglev trains.

The aim of this article is to analyze the effectiveness of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) concept for packaging in the context of the transition to a Circular Economy (CE) and the corresponding transformation of the energy sector. The functioning of today’s packaging industry is becoming more and more linked to the assumptions of the CE due to the use and recycling of raw materials. The basic research method used in this work is an analysis of the literature on the links between the concept of the EPR and the CE. The authors limited their research to the selected legal, economic and social aspects of packaging production and management in the European Union (EU). The situation in Poland is discussed in particular and the legal, economic and social specificity of the implementation of the EPR in this country is presented. This paper emphasizes the dependance between the implementation of the EPR concept and the effectiveness of the transformation toward a CE, which is achiev... [more]

It has been extensively debated how social innovation, circularity, and energy transition may all be considered environmental, social, and governance (ESG) components from a sustainability perspective. To comprehend the conceptual development of this subject in the academic literature, few studies, however, tackle the problems above by reviewing earlier research on the subject. By developing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) technique, this study aims to address the current and anticipated advancements in social innovation, energy transition, and circularity. As a result, we create two metasynthesis analyses related to “social innovation−energy transition” and “social innovation−circularity.” In the first analysis, the three databases Web of Science, Scopus, and JSTOR had a total of 1767 studies and reports, and in the second analysis, we reviewed the work from a total of 466 studies and reports. We emphasize that implementing environmental... [more]

Concerns about the environment and renewable energy are growing. Improving the perception of renewable energy in urban and rural households is required to promote green development and to learn about consumer preferences for renewable energy based on the gradual reduction in financial subsidies for photovoltaic (PV) power generation. This paper aims to estimate the willingness of consumers to pay for a Household PV system and explores the factors that affect consumers’ product selection, which is conducive to optimizing Household PV products and policies and is important for achieving the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. Using a discrete choice model, this paper surveyed 765 urban and rural residents without installing Household PV systems in Tianjin, China. Subsequently, the respondents’ attribute preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for a Household PV system were analyzed using a logit regression analysis model. The influence of respondents’ socio-economic characterist... [more]

Unsustainable use of electricity has severe implications on the environment and human well-being. With an estimated consumption of about 20% of total global electricity demand, the household sector is a key player in efforts for crafting interventions for reducing electricity consumption. Despite increasing calls for behavioural solutions to electricity conservation at the household level, more attention has been paid to technical than behavioural interventions. Yet a deeper understanding of electricity use behaviour is needed to design interventions and engender integration of behavioural interventions into demand-side management and decision making. Although South Africa is energy insecure and a major greenhouse gas emitter, less attention has been paid to household electricity use using behavioural lenses. Using a scoping review approach, this study inductively reviewed publications to examine the state of research on household electricity use in South Africa, focussing on (1) resea... [more]

Residential buildings instigate a vital role in creating a safe and comfortable indoor living environment. The phenomenon of overheating, an impact of climate change, can cause a negative effect on residents’ productiveness and heat-related illnesses and can even force high pressure on electricity generation by increasing the risk of power outages due to excessive peak cooling and heating requirements. Various issues on building thermal comfort are being evolved and discussed in review articles. However, there are few articles that review the current condition of adaptive thermal comfort studies and the potential for energy savings in residential buildings. Therefore, the aims for this paper are to: identify comfort temperature ranges in residential buildings, investigate the correlation of comfort temperature with indoor and outdoor temperatures with the aid of ‘comfort threads’, and clarify the effect of adaptive measures on residential energy saving potential. This study obtained a... [more]

The transport sector plays an important role in society at large. This article aimed to provide a state-of-the-art literature review in the area of sustainable transport. Data for the analysis were collected from the Web of Science database from 2000 to 2022. A total of 1238 bibliometric records of publications were collected. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were undertaken in the article. The analysis results showed five main research areas: 1—sustainable urban/public transport and mobility; 2—transport emissions and fuels; 3—sustainable supply chain/logistics management models; 4—performance and metrics in sustainable transport; and 5—future and policy. The limitations of the research carried out, which mainly concern the methodological section, should also be borne in mind. These include the selected publication base and search criteria, such as the year or language of publication.

The twentieth century started with engineers’ new concepts and ideas to develop the built environment, with ideas ranging from reducing weight to automated industrialisation, enhancing energy efficiency, etc. However, they failed to predict the negative impact of automation on the environment and its resources. Therefore, future technologies proposed by engineers should consider the adverse effects on nature and the surrounding ecosystem. Using the science of ecology and integrating it into building typology can help avoid unwanted scenarios. Such technologies prioritise the performance of buildings and cities by using simulation tools to explore more ideas for designing and testing their performance. This work explores the obstacles and challenges opposing the plan to successfully supply Egypt with clean, renewable energy that reaches 42% of its total electricity. Furthermore, some solutions are proposed to tackle those barriers, such as installing thermal cooling systems and ball win... [more]

The scarcity of energy and water resources and rising temperatures due to climate change has set the focus on improving the energy efficiency of power plant thermodynamic cycles to adapt to higher heat sink temperatures and use fewer resources for energy production. In this work, a review of power production thermodynamic cycles is presented: from Brayton to Rankine and combined cycles, alongside particular cycles such as Organic Rankine Cycles, Kalina, Goswami or the more recently developed Hygroscopic Cycle. The efficiency of these cycles and their possible improvements are considered, as well as their environmental impact. Costs associated with existing power plants found in the literature have also been included in the study. The main existing facilities for each cycle type are assessed, and the most sustainable options in terms of resource consumption (fuel, water, etc.) and future perspectives to ensure both their energy efficiency and sustainability are identified.

Growing animal production results in a significant amount of waste, composed of manure, bedding, feed, feathers, etc., whose safe and cost-effective disposal becomes a troublesome challenge. The literature review points out that the higher heating value (HHV) of animal-origin waste reaches 19 MJ/kg (dry basis), which positions it as a promising renewable energy source. Various paths of energy recovery were investigated in the literature, but the thermal processes, particularly combustion and co-combustion, were indicated as the most effective from both technical and environmental points of view. The presented study reviews the fuel characteristics, possible combustion-related challenges, and ash disposal routes of the most popular animal-origin waste: poultry litter and cow (cattle) manure with a slight sight on piggery (swine) manure. When considering animal-origin feedstock as fuel, usually only animal species is given (poultry, cattle, etc.). However, according to the analyzed liter... [more]

The treatment and disposal of sewage sludge is one of the most important and critical issues of wastewater treatment plants. One option for sludge liquidation is the production of fuel in the form of pellets from mixed sewage and paper mill sludge. This study presents the results of the combustion of pelletized fuels, namely sewage and paper mill sludge, and their 2:1 and 4:1 blends in a fluidized bed combustor. The flue gas was analysed after reaching a steady state at bed temperatures of 700−800 °C. Commonly used flue gas cleaning is still necessary, especially for SO2; therefore, it is worth mentioning that the addition of paper mill sludge reduced the mercury concentration in the flue gas to limits acceptable in most EU countries. The analysis of ash after combustion showed that magnesium, potassium, calcium, chromium, copper, zinc, arsenic, and lead remained mostly in the ash after combustion, while all cadmium from all fuels used was transferred into the flue gas together with a... [more]

Historic buildings constitute a specific group of buildings where the possibilities of improving energy efficiency and comfort are significantly limited because of the existing construction features and heritage values. Each building has a different history so the scope of renovation and/or retrofitting must be determined individually for each building. This article presents the methodology of measurement and diagnosis of features of particular importance for energy performance and comfort improvements, based on the example of a historic masonry building located in southern Poland. The first research question was which of the comfort conditions have been exceeded according to measurements. The second issue concerned the necessary extension of the basic determinants of comfort, beyond measurable qualities. A multi-faceted approach to the comfort assessment is proposed, including qualitative research that applies the additional criterion of aesthetic comfort. During the case study diagno... [more]

The energy crisis, the risk of interruptions or irregular supplies of conventional energy carriers, and the need to protect the environment stimulate the search for new solutions to improve the heat balance of buildings with the use of solar energy. In this paper, direct and indirect solar gain systems integrated with the building envelope are discussed. In the context of the identified operational problems, the evolution of the classic Trombe wall was shown in the period 1967−2022. Modifications to the windows and Trombe wall proposed in the reviewed works can significantly reduce the risk of an insufficient supply of heat in the winter season. This review also indicates the impact of climate conditions on the decision-making process involved in the selection of the Trombe wall design with respect to energy−effects optimization. The insufficient thermal insulating capacity of Trombe walls has been diagnosed as the reason why they do not enjoy much popularity in cold and moderate clima... [more]

With economic growth and rising incomes, increasing consumption of fossil energy is leading to environmental pollution and climate change, which requires increased innovative inputs to promote the efficiency of renewable energy use. Considering the important impact of innovation input and climate change on renewable energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and green economic growth, this study uses simultaneous equation and sys-GMM model to explore the dynamic nexus of innovation input, climate change, and energy-environment-growth in OECD and non-OECD countries, with panel data covering 2000 to 2019. The empirical results show that renewable energy consumption in non-OECD countries significantly promoted green economic growth, while OECD countries did the opposite. Moreover, renewable energy consumption significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions caused by climate change, especially for OECD countries. When the level of economic growth exceeds a certain inflection point, green... [more]

Despite the considerable breakthrough in district heating systems (DHS) globally, there is not yet any policy on developing this technology in Iran. This country has a high range of energy demand, while renewable energies play a minor role in its energy supply chain. Furthermore, the world is going through a transition towards renewable resources, which currently consist of only 10% of the total energy mix. As the first contribution in this area, this paper aims to design a 100% renewable DHS integrated with radiant floor heating for a group of residential buildings in Sarein, Iran. Moreover, the literature proposes a novel approach for combining geothermal energy and Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) to achieve a 100% renewable energy system. Building Information Modeling (BIM) is used for thermal analysis by 3D designing the buildings in SketchUp and OpenStudio and simulating the heat load in EnergyPlus. Three scenarios are presented to better compare the DHS with the decentralized heating... [more]

The environment is seriously threatened by the rising energy demand and the use of conventional energy sources. Renewable energy sources including hydro, solar, and wind have been the focus of extensive research due to the proliferation of energy demands and technological advancement. Wind energy is mostly harvested in coastal areas, and little work has been done on energy extraction from winds in a suburban environment. The fickle behavior of wind makes it a less attractive renewable energy source. However, an energy storage method may be added to store harvested wind energy. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of extracting wind energy in terms of hydrogen energy in a suburban environment incorporating artificial intelligence techniques. To this end, a site was selected latitude 33.64° N, longitude 72.98° N, and elevation 500 m above mean sea level in proximity to hills. One year of wind data consisting of wind speed, wind direction, and wind gust was collected a... [more]

In 2019, Chile generated 20 million tons of waste, 79% of which was not properly disposed of, thereby providing an attractive opportunity for energy generation in advanced thermochemical conversion processes. This study presents a techno-economic and environmental assessment of the implementation of Waste-Integrated Gasifier-Gas Turbine Combined Cycle (WIG-GTCC) technology as an alternative for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) treatment. The studied case assesses the conversion of 14.61 t·h−1 of MSW, which produces a combustible gas with a flow rate of 34.2 t·h−1 and LHV of 5900 kJ·kg−1, which, in turn, is used in a combined cycle to generate 19.58 MW of electrical power. The proposed economic assessment of the technology uses the energy generation processes as a reference, followed by a model for an overall economic evaluation. The results have shown that the profit could be up to USD 24.1 million, and the recovery of investment between 12 and 17 years would improve the environmental impac... [more]

CO2 emissions have been identified as the main driver for climate change, with devastating consequences for the global natural environment. The steel industry is responsible for ~7−11% of global CO2 emissions, due to high fossil-fuel and energy consumption. The onus is therefore on industry to remedy the environmental damage caused and to decarbonise production. This desk research report explores the Bio Steel Cycle (BiSC) and proposes a seven-step-strategy to overcome the emission challenges within the iron and steel industry. The true levels of combined CO2 emissions from the blast-furnace and basic-oxygen-furnace operation, at 4.61 t of CO2 emissions/t of steel produced, are calculated in detail. The BiSC includes CO2 capture, implementing renewable energy sources (solar, wind, green H2) and plantation for CO2 absorption and provision of biomass. The 7-step-implementation-strategy starts with replacing energy sources, develops over process improvement and installation of flue gas ca... [more]

The purpose of the paper is to analyse the relationship between digitalisation of public services (e-government) and ESG factors (environmental, social and economic factors). As public administration is a major stakeholder influencing sustainable development and state governments are aiming to digitise their services, there is a need to better understand the effect of the digital revolution on ESG. This article aims to study the relationship between the E-Government Development Index (EGDI) and ESG factors in 26 European countries. The linear ordering method TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) was used for the study, followed by the Perkal index and the method of optimal predictors’ selection—the Hellwig method. The study is based on the Eurostat data (in the period 2003−2020), and the analysis includes ten variables: Share of environmental taxes in GDP; Exposure to dust air pollution; Greenhouse gas emissions by source sector—carbon dioxide, methane... [more]