University campuses represent a heterogeneous ecosystem as to social, economic, energetic, and personal travel planning with a huge impact on hosting cities and territories. Sustainable policies are thus fundamental to reduce this impact and to adopt ecological behaviors. The measures for any University Sustainability Plan should be evaluated in terms of GHG emissions, as well as the overall impact of the university itself. Carbon footprint (CF) calculation is a relevant Decision Support tool that allows university organizations to measure and communicate the environmental effects of their activities. The aim of this paper is to present a carbon footprint methodology specifically designed to calculate the carbon footprint of large universities. The methodology was applied to calculate the CF of the University of Bologna by following international standards—i.e., the GHG protocol, the ISO 14064, and the ISO/TR 14069 guide—to understand the environmental impact caused by greenhouse gas e... [more]

Current and future trends in the world population lead to the continuous growth of municipal waste volumes. Only in the EU-28 approx. 86 million tons of biowaste is produced yearly. On the other hand, the recent energy crisis calls for a fast transition towards more local and renewable energy sources. Most of this stream could be recycled through anaerobic digestion (AD) to produce energy and high-quality fertilizers. This paper presents a balance of dry anaerobic digestion of municipal biowaste based on three years of system monitoring in an industrial-scale AD plant. The results indicate that the average biogas production rate of 120 Nm3/ton of fresh waste can be achieved. Biogas utilization in combined heat and power (CHP) units leads to an overall positive energy balance at significantly reduced CO2 emissions. The overall CO2 emission reduction of 25.3−26.6% was achieved, considering that biogas utilization is environmentally neutral. Moreover, biowaste conversion allows digestate... [more]

The use of energy from waste can be a key means of reducing the consumption of fossil fuels and thus reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Waste energy can be a worthy alternative to conventional energy sources in construction. This paper presents data on energy consumption for the preparation of domestic hot water in residential buildings. A review of the literature sources and inventions in the area of waste energy recovery from grey water was carried out. It also presents the results of research on prototypes of devices used to receive energy deposited in wastewater, published in recent years. The benefits of using drain water heat recovery systems for preheating utility water in residential buildings are presented. An analysis of technical solutions for grey water energy collection units was made, revealing their advantages and disadvantages. Great importance was attached to the review of patent sources as well as devices available on the market. According to the authors, the resu... [more]

Driven by the excessive consumption of fossil resources and environmental pollution concerns, a large amount of biorefinery research efforts have been made for converting lignocellulosic biomass into fuels and chemicals. Recently, a strategy termed “lignin-first,” which allows for realizing high-yield and high-selectivity aromatic monomers, is regarded as one of the best prospective strategies. This review summarizes recent research advances in lignin-first biorefinery, starting from the raw lignocellulose through lignin-first processing and moving to downstream processing pathways for intermediate compounds. In particular, for the core purpose of producing liquid fuels, the corresponding downstream processing strategies are discussed in detail. These are based on the structural properties of the intermediates derived from lignin-first biorefinery, including the catalytic conversion of lignin and its derivatives (aqueous phase system and pyrolysis system) and the cascade utilization of... [more]

Within the oil and gas industry, there is unanimity that wax deposits-driven pipeline blockages are a critical environmental concern and an economic liability of up to billions of dollars. However, a quantitative assessment of such an impact and, especially, of the different individual impacts that add up is absent from the current scientific literature. Such a gap is a deterrent for better-focused research. Given the production transition to heavy and paraffinic oils, harsh climatic zones, and extremely deep offshore oilfields, an extensive investigation is increasingly needed. The current endeavour was inspired by such a challenge and a review of the most recent technical and scientific publications was devised. A PRISMA-inspired and adapted methodology for systematic reviews was adopted. Over two hundred research articles, conference papers, books, theses, reviews, public databases and industry and government agencies reports were considered. As a result, a significant research gap... [more]

Sustainable energy strategies have been a critical subject for sustainable development, especially in cities. Citizens, as an integral part of the urban environment, play a significant role in urban spaces, as does their health. An accurate understanding of citizens’ mental, social, and physical health in urban settings is required to design and plan better cities. This study aims to assess the level of alignment with health factors in Mahabad, a major medium-sized city in Iran. Previous studies indicate that the built environment can influence health dimensions. Health factors depend to a great extent on how well the environment is formed and how it is put together. This research is a descriptive, analytical, cross-sectional study that analyzes the environment’s psychological elements and physical and mental health factors of Mahabad’s citizens. According to the Cochran model, 384 questionnaires were distributed among households. For data analysis, SPSS 12 and Arc GIS software were us... [more]

In recent years, there has been an increased focus on developing and utilizing renewable energy resources due to several factors, including environmental concerns, rising fuel costs, and the limited supply of conventional fossil fuels. The most appealing green energy conversion technology is solar energy, and its efficient application can help the world achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7: Access to affordable, clean energy. Irradiance, latitude, longitude, tilt angle, and orientation are a few variables that affect the functioning of a solar photovoltaic (PV) system. Additionally, environmental factors like dust accumulation and soiling of panel surfaces impact the cost of maintaining and producing electricity from a PV system. Dust characteristics (kind, size, shape, and meteorological elements), one of the largest factors affecting PV panel performance, need to be investigated to devise specific solutions for efficiently harnessing solar energy. The essential findings of ongoing... [more]

Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and volatile methylsiloxanes (VMSs) are key pollutants from the point of view of the operators of biogas plants. H2S poses corrosive hazards, while VMSs transform into difficult-to-remove deposits, reducing the availability and yield of biogas combustion equipment. This study provides a critical overview and evaluation (so-called SWOT analysis) of implemented and promising methods to reduce the content of the above pollutants in biogas, with particular emphasis on biological techniques. The aim of the analyses was to develop an innovative concept for a hybrid biological method for the combined removal of H2S and VMSs using the same device, i.e., a two-phase biotrickling filter (BTF), in which the organic phase that intensifies the mass transfer of VMSs is in the form of a low-viscosity methyl silicone oil. The finally developed technological schematic diagram includes the basic devices and media streams. The concept is characterized by closed media circuits and... [more]

For operators of oil and gas to save the cost of unforeseen events and risks, and to avoid unnecessary shutdowns, there is a need to have an effective subsea pipeline integrity management system. Currently a large number of subsea pipelines around the globe have already exceeded their design lives; nevertheless, they are still being operated safely, effectively and with diligent consideration towards Environmental, Health and Safety regulations, as well as international standards and best practices. In addition, many older flowlines have no permanent pigging facilities due to various design and operational limitations. For the unpiggable pipeline, the vast majority of the oil and gas operators use different inspection and monitoring techniques to provide essential integrity management data such as product chemistry, cathodic protection, electrical resistance probes and coupons, etc. However, translating such essential integrity management data into meaningful information to make crucia... [more]

Anaerobic wastewater treatment is still a dynamically developing technology ensuring the effective degradation of organic compounds and biogas production. As evidenced in the large scale-up, this technological solution surpasses aerobic methods in many aspects. Its advantages stem from the feasibility of operation at a high organic load rate, the smaller production of difficult-to-manage sewage sludge, the smaller space and cubature required, and the high-methane biogas ultimately produced. The exploitation of anaerobic reactors is in line with the assumption of a circular economy, material recycling by reduced CO2 emissions and energy consumption, and the production of renewable energy. Despite their unquestionable advantages, there is still a need to seek novel approaches and improve the currently exploited installations. The key avenues of research entail improvements in the stability of bioreactor operations and the enhancement of bioreactor adaptability to changing and unfavorable... [more]

Microalgal biomass can be used to derive many different types of biofuels. In order to widely commercialize this technology, its limitations and weaknesses must be eliminated. Many technical and economic issues also need to be clarified and unknowns answered. Microalgae-based technologies have been shown to be versatile, efficient and suitable for practical and commercial use. However, the current technological readiness level (TRL) of most microalgae-based bioenergy production systems precludes their quick and widespread implementation. Their development is limited by a combination of factors that must be precisely identified, after which their negative impact on scale-up prospects can be eliminated or minimized. The present study identifies the main barriers to the development of industrial microalgae-production and microalgae-to-biofuel systems. In addition, it proposes measures and efforts necessary to achieve a higher TRL, which will provide investors with sought-after performance... [more]

Due to the increasing penetration of the power grid with renewable, distributed energy resources, new strategies for voltage stabilization in low voltage distribution grids must be developed. One approach to autonomous voltage control is to apply reinforcement learning (RL) for reactive power injection by converters. In this work, to implement a secure test environment including real hardware influences for such intelligent algorithms, a power hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL) approach is used to combine a virtually simulated grid with real hardware devices to emulate as realistic grid states as possible. The PHIL environment is validated through the identification of system limits and analysis of deviations to a software model of the test grid. Finally, an adaptive volt−var control algorithm using RL is implemented to control reactive power injection of a real converter within the test environment. Despite facing more difficult conditions in the hardware than in the software environment, th... [more]

Due to limited fossil fuel reserves, the global political situation, and progressive environmental pollution, the development of new methods of hydrogen production is highly demanded [...]

The service of mineral insulating oils for power transformer insulation and cooling aspects cannot be disavowed. However, the continued use of mineral oils is questionable due to environmental unfriendliness and the divestment from fossil fuels. This has provoked the quest for green alternative insulating liquids for high-voltage insulation. Natural esters are among the remaining alternatives that are renewable and environmentally friendly. Regardless of their environmental and technical merits, natural esters have some limitations that are slowing down their total acceptance by transformer owners and utilities. Critical limitations and concerns include esters’ pour point, viscosity, oxidative stability, and ionization resistance. In this work, the state of the art of “natural esters for transformers” is explored with the aim of potential improvements. The sections of the article are geared towards technical viewpoints on improving the overall workability and serviceability of natural... [more]

The utilization of end-of-life batteries (including Zn-C and alkaline batteries) is one of the areas that need to be perfected in order to provide environmental and human safety as well as to contribute to closing the material loop, as described in the EU Green Deal. The presented study shows the environmental impacts of the two selected pyrometallurgical technologies (processing of the black mass from waste Zn-C and alkaline batteries as an additive to an existing process of the recycling of steelmaking dust and treatment of the black mass as the primary waste material, both processes performed in a Waelz kiln). The presented LCA-based study of the recycling of end-of-life Zn-C and alkaline batteries focused on terrestrial ecotoxicity can be a useful tool in the process of the development of a circular economy in Europe, as it provides a multi-disciplinary overview of the most important environmental loads associated with the described recycling technologies. Therefore, the goal of th... [more]

Energy efficiency is a key concern in achieving sustainability in modern society [...]

The aim of the study is to present the possibilities of simultaneous production of green energy and reduction of pollution in rural areas. Actions taken by small family businesses are in line with the goals of a low-carbon economy. The paper presents the results of research on the possibility of using ecological energy for production and, at the same time, utilizing harmful waste generated in farms in rural areas. Within a month, a medium-sized biogas plant can produce about 35−40 GJ of energy (depending on the input material). Biogas production may be of significant importance from the point of view of environmental protection, especially in the case of overproduction of animal waste and slaughterhouse materials. The production and use of energy generated from agricultural waste give a great opportunity for diversification and an increase in income of family farms. In addition to financial, energy, and environmental gains, we can obtain a very valuable fertilizer that is easily absorb... [more]

The effects of climate change, in combination with the recent energy crisis, have brought the energy efficiency issues of hospitals markedly to the fore. Hospitals are considered among the most energy-intensive buildings, which is why they have become a top priority for governments wishing to upgrade their energy efficiency. Given the critical nature of the work of hospitals and the model of healthcare provision (nursing cover 24 h per day, 7 days a week) it is very hard to achieve energy cuts. The international literature shows that the energy efficiency of hospitals is a complex process that requires further research. This need is covered by the present systematic literature review, which captures the existing knowledge on energy monitoring strategies, assessment, and upgrading through technology, resources-saving strategies, and the relationship between energy efficiency and the quality of the service provision, while also identifying future research considerations and the potential... [more]

Owing to geographical and political influences, Korea has an independent electric power system and the highest density of electric power facilities in the world. Large-scale base power generation complexes are located in non-metropolitan coastal areas, while the most expensive combined cycle power plants are operating or under construction in the metropolitan areas, which have the largest electricity demand. It has become difficult to secure a site for power plants, and the existing power transmission network is insufficient because of the additional construction of generators in existing power generation complexes, the increase in capacity of facilities, and the rapid increase in new and renewable energy. In particular, the East Coast region has a problem of transient stability for this reason, which is being addressed in advance through power generation restrictions. In addition, TCSC (Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitor) is installed and operated to expand the capacity of existing... [more]

The key factor in sustainable biogas production is a feedstock whose production has no adverse impact on the environment. Since maize cultivation harms the environment, biogas plant operators seek a more sustainable feedstock. Common reed is an invasive species mown as part of wetland conservation measures, or it can be harvested from paludiculture. This study aimed to investigate wet co-digestion of maize silage with 10%, 30%, and 50% content of common reed silage using the biochemical methane potential (BMP) test. In addition, the potential energy generated and avoided greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were calculated. The substitution of maize silage with 10%, 30%, and 50% content of reed silage reduced the methane (CH4) yield by 13%, 28%, and 35%, respectively. A disadvantage of reed silage addition was increased ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) concentrations in biogas. Although substituting maize silage with reed silage decreases the CH4 yield, the co-digestion of maize and... [more]

Against the background of continuously rising energy carbon emissions, accelerated energy transformation in developed countries, and increased international attention to energy security, there is still a large amount of energy consumption in the manufacturing industry. Promoting the diffusion of green supply-chain management is becoming a powerful tool to support energy transformation and energy conservation and emission reduction in the manufacturing industry. Based on this, we first conducted a scientific metrological analysis of 4960 articles in relevant fields in the Web of Science database, presenting the research status of green supply-chain management diffusion in the context of energy transformation. Second, we identified factors that affect the implementation of green supply-chain management, and analyzed the diffusion path of green supply-chain management among enterprises. Finally, based on the energy situation, enterprise operation, and implementation of environmental prote... [more]

The use of renewable energy (RE) is considered one of the most important topics of discussion regarding sustainable consumption and environmental protection nowadays. More than ever, a new energy crisis is forming due to the effect of political and military conflicts that have already been in place for some time. Our research envisages using a sample of 1126 respondents for the validation of a theoretical model that highlights the complex relationship between specific variables, such as concern for the environment, knowledge about renewable energy, perceived utility regarding RE usage, ease of use regarding RE, attitude toward RE utilization and behavioral intentions to use RE. The results show that attitudes towards renewable energy consumption are strongly influenced by the other latent constructs with perceived utility, social influence and concern for the environment being among the most determining ones. Behavioral intentions and the actual consumption behavior for RE are more and... [more]

The microscopic pore structure controls the fluid seepage characteristics, which in turn affect the final recovery of the reservoir. The pore structures of different reservoirs vary greatly; therefore, the scientific classification of microscopic pore structures is the prerequisite for enhancing the overall oil recovery. For the low permeability conglomerate reservoir in Mahu Sag, due to the differences in the sedimentary environment and late diagenesis, various reservoir types have developed in different regions, so it is very difficult to develop the reservoir using an integrated method. To effectively solve the problem of microscopic pore structure classification, the low permeability conglomerate of the Baikouquan Formation in Well Block Ma18, Well Block Ma131, and Well Block Aihu2 are selected as the research objects. The CTS, HPMI, CMI, NMR, and digital cores are used to systematically analyze the reservoir micro pore structure characteristics, identify the differences between di... [more]

Green roofs are increasingly being used in urban settings because of the many benefits they are capable of providing. Because of their widespread use, the issue of how to conduct proper disposal of green roofs once they have reached their end of life is beginning to be raised. The present study is a review of the scientific literature published between 2007 and 2022. Specifically, the contribution of this review study is to clarify whether a waste scenario exists and if so, identify the methodological frameworks and/or criteria used in green roof-related studies to establish the end-of-life scenario of a given green roof, which will then be used to analyze its environmental and economic performance. The literature analysis indicated that a standardized method, widely adopted, which allows identifying recovery and/or disposal treatments to be assigned to waste from the disposal of a green roof, is missing. In general, the feeling one gets from reading all these articles is that when it... [more]

Plastic waste has a high energy content and can be utilized as an energy source. This study aims to assess the economic feasibility of polypropylene plastic waste (PP) pyrolysis. A literature review was carried out to determine the optimal pyrolysis conditions for oil production. The preferred pyrolysis temperature ranges from 450 °C to 550 °C, where the oil yields vary from 82 wt.% to 92.3 wt.%. Two scenarios were studied. In the first scenario, pyrolysis gas is used for the pyrolysis heating needs, whereas in the second scenario, natural gas is used. An overview of the economic performance of a pyrolysis plant with a capacity of 200,000 t/year is presented. Based on the results, the plant is economically viable, as it presents high profits and a short payback time for both scenarios considered. Although the annual revenues are smaller in scenario 1, the significant reduction in operating costs makes this scenario preferable. The annual profits amount to 37.3 M€, while the return on i... [more]