Pub Date : 2025-12-05DOI: 10.1016/j.esd.2025.101897
Umair Khan , Shouwen Wang
China's pledge to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 necessitates a fundamental transformation of its energy system; yet coal remains the dominant energy source. This paper investigates the political economy of China's energy transition, focusing on institutional and technical constraints. Drawing on policy analysis, relevant literature, and qualitative interviews with nine energy experts, the study identifies structural barriers that hinder the shift toward clean energy. Institutional challenges include fragmented governance, insufficient financing mechanisms, and a lack of cross-sectoral coordination. Technical challenges arise from the difficulty of reducing energy intensity, decarbonizing power generation, cutting emissions in transportation and industry, and scaling carbon capture technologies. Findings suggest that energy security and economic growth continue to outweigh decarbonization in China's policy priorities. To realign its energy strategy with carbon neutrality, China must adopt binding policies, reduce fossil fuel subsidies, foster renewable investment, and enhance efficiency across sectors. This research contributes to the literature by situating China's case within comparative political economy debates and offering insights into the conditions under which developing economies can reconcile growth with decarbonization.
{"title":"Balancing growth and decarbonization: Political economy dynamics in China's 2060 carbon neutrality strategy","authors":"Umair Khan , Shouwen Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101897","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101897","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>China's pledge to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 necessitates a fundamental transformation of its energy system; yet coal remains the dominant energy source. This paper investigates the political economy of China's energy transition, focusing on institutional and technical constraints. Drawing on policy analysis, relevant literature, and qualitative interviews with nine energy experts, the study identifies structural barriers that hinder the shift toward clean energy. Institutional challenges include fragmented governance, insufficient financing mechanisms, and a lack of cross-sectoral coordination. Technical challenges arise from the difficulty of reducing energy intensity, decarbonizing power generation, cutting emissions in transportation and industry, and scaling carbon capture technologies. Findings suggest that energy security and economic growth continue to outweigh decarbonization in China's policy priorities. To realign its energy strategy with carbon neutrality, China must adopt binding policies, reduce fossil fuel subsidies, foster renewable investment, and enhance efficiency across sectors. This research contributes to the literature by situating China's case within comparative political economy debates and offering insights into the conditions under which developing economies can reconcile growth with decarbonization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"91 ","pages":"Article 101897"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145685862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The rising cost of conventional energy sources has intensified the global search for clean and affordable energy alternatives. Water hyacinth (WH) has great potential as a renewable energy source due to its high growth rate and abundance in tropical regions. This study explores the social, economic, and environmental feasibility of utilizing water hyacinth for biogas production in rural India, with a dual objective of generating clean energy and organic fertilizer. A case study was conducted among 30 households in Goalpara village, West Bengal, an area moderately developed but severely affected by water hyacinth infestation. To evaluate the grassroot applicability of the proposed technology, a behavioural economics approach was adopted through a choice experiment assessing villagers' willingness to adopt biogas technology at a cost of INR 60 per month. This framework integrates technical assessment with social acceptability, providing a holistic perspective often missing in purely engineering-based studies. Biomethane potential was evaluated using Automatic Methane Potential Testing System (AMPTS) yielding methane approximately 148.6 ± 3.4 L/Kg-Volatile Solids for WH at an inoculum-to-substrate ratio of 2:1. The study also examined the availability of cow dung and the seasonal availability of water hyacinth to estimate sustainable biogas yield sufficient for replacing traditional firewood-based cooking. Results indicate that co-digestion of water hyacinth and cow dung could partially replace 33.7 tons of firewood annually, reducing an estimated 60.38 tons of CO2- equivalent emissions while producing about 700 kg of dry fertilizer for the participating households. Although technically and socially viable, the high initial installation cost remains a key barrier to widespread adoption. Nevertheless, the community's demonstrated willingness to pay and interest in replacing traditional fuels suggest a favourable environment for biogas-based clean cooking systems. By addressing SDG6 & SDG7 and contributing to carbon neutrality, the study offers a holistic scalable pathway towards sustainable rural energy transition and carbon-neutral growth.
{"title":"Valorization of invasive water hyacinth through anaerobic digestion: A pathway to clean cooking fuel and environmental sustainability","authors":"Anudeb Ghosh , Aman Basu , Apurba Koley , Sreya Ghosh , Richik GhoshThakur , Binoy Kumar Show , Tapas Bagdi , Amit Kumar Hazra , Shibani Chaudhury , Srinivasan Balachandran","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101899","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101899","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The rising cost of conventional energy sources has intensified the global search for clean and affordable energy alternatives. Water hyacinth (WH) has great potential as a renewable energy source due to its high growth rate and abundance in tropical regions. This study explores the social, economic, and environmental feasibility of utilizing water hyacinth for biogas production in rural India, with a dual objective of generating clean energy and organic fertilizer. A case study was conducted among 30 households in Goalpara village, West Bengal, an area moderately developed but severely affected by water hyacinth infestation. To evaluate the grassroot applicability of the proposed technology, a behavioural economics approach was adopted through a choice experiment assessing villagers' willingness to adopt biogas technology at a cost of INR 60 per month. This framework integrates technical assessment with social acceptability, providing a holistic perspective often missing in purely engineering-based studies. Biomethane potential was evaluated using Automatic Methane Potential Testing System (AMPTS) yielding methane approximately 148.6 ± 3.4 L/Kg-Volatile Solids for WH at an inoculum-to-substrate ratio of 2:1. The study also examined the availability of cow dung and the seasonal availability of water hyacinth to estimate sustainable biogas yield sufficient for replacing traditional firewood-based cooking. Results indicate that co-digestion of water hyacinth and cow dung could partially replace 33.7 tons of firewood annually, reducing an estimated 60.38 tons of CO<sub>2</sub>- equivalent emissions while producing about 700 kg of dry fertilizer for the participating households. Although technically and socially viable, the high initial installation cost remains a key barrier to widespread adoption. Nevertheless, the community's demonstrated willingness to pay and interest in replacing traditional fuels suggest a favourable environment for biogas-based clean cooking systems. By addressing SDG6 & SDG7 and contributing to carbon neutrality, the study offers a holistic scalable pathway towards sustainable rural energy transition and carbon-neutral growth.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 101899"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145693748","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-29DOI: 10.1016/j.esd.2025.101896
R. Perriment , V. Mergulhão , V. Kumtepeli , P. Parikh , M.D. McCulloch , D.A. Howey
Solar home systems provide low-cost electricity for rural off-grid communities. As access to them increases, more long-term data becomes available on how these systems are used throughout their lifetime. This work analyses a dataset of 1,000 systems across sub-Saharan Africa. Dynamic time warping clustering was applied to the load demand data from the systems, identifying five distinct archetypal daily load profiles and their occurrence across the dataset. Temporal analysis reveals a general decline in daily energy consumption over time, with 77% of households reducing their usage compared to the start of ownership. On average, there is a 33% decrease in daily consumption by the end of the second year compared to the peak demand, which occurs on the 96th day. Combining the load demand analysis with payment data shows that this decrease in energy consumption is observed even in households that are not experiencing economic hardship, indicating there are reasons beyond financial constraints for decreasing energy use once energy access is obtained.
{"title":"Understanding long-term energy use in off-grid solar home systems in sub-Saharan Africa","authors":"R. Perriment , V. Mergulhão , V. Kumtepeli , P. Parikh , M.D. McCulloch , D.A. Howey","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101896","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101896","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Solar home systems provide low-cost electricity for rural off-grid communities. As access to them increases, more long-term data becomes available on how these systems are used throughout their lifetime. This work analyses a dataset of 1,000 systems across sub-Saharan Africa. Dynamic time warping clustering was applied to the load demand data from the systems, identifying five distinct archetypal daily load profiles and their occurrence across the dataset. Temporal analysis reveals a general decline in daily energy consumption over time, with 77% of households reducing their usage compared to the start of ownership. On average, there is a 33% decrease in daily consumption by the end of the second year compared to the peak demand, which occurs on the 96th day. Combining the load demand analysis with payment data shows that this decrease in energy consumption is observed even in households that are not experiencing economic hardship, indicating there are reasons beyond financial constraints for decreasing energy use once energy access is obtained.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 101896"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145693746","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-27DOI: 10.1016/j.esd.2025.101888
Micaiah Zhitsu Silas , Abhay Kumar Verma
The transport industry in Nigeria is still mainly dependent on fossil fuels making the industry very costly to operate, energy insecure, and increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Its contribution to the transport sector is insignificant despite having an estimated 19billion m 3 of annual biogas potential in the form of agricultural and other organic residues. This paper analyses the feasibility of upgraded biogas (biomethane) as a renewable transport fuel in rural Nigeria based on secondary data, a comparative analysis, and the modelling of the cost and emission. Based on the 3m3/day of biogas that was upgraded to 1.8m3/day of biomethane, a payback period of 9.8 years of operation, an internal rate of return of 6 9, and a reduction of CO₂ emission by 85–90 % over diesel was simulated. The results show that although biomethane is currently uneconomical to produce, it is a technically and environmental viable alternative mode of transportation in the rural areas. Policy alignment, fiscal incentives, and modular upgrading infrastructure are the recommendations of the study that can speed up the process of changing Nigeria to a low-carbon, energy-secure transport system.
{"title":"Evaluating the viability of biogas as a sustainable transport fuel in Nigeria: Policy gaps, analytical insights, and strategic roadmap","authors":"Micaiah Zhitsu Silas , Abhay Kumar Verma","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101888","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101888","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The transport industry in Nigeria is still mainly dependent on fossil fuels making the industry very costly to operate, energy insecure, and increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Its contribution to the transport sector is insignificant despite having an estimated 19billion m 3 of annual biogas potential in the form of agricultural and other organic residues. This paper analyses the feasibility of upgraded biogas (biomethane) as a renewable transport fuel in rural Nigeria based on secondary data, a comparative analysis, and the modelling of the cost and emission. Based on the 3m<sup>3</sup>/day of biogas that was upgraded to 1.8m<sup>3</sup>/day of biomethane, a payback period of 9.8 years of operation, an internal rate of return of 6 9, and a reduction of CO₂ emission by 85–90 % over diesel was simulated. The results show that although biomethane is currently uneconomical to produce, it is a technically and environmental viable alternative mode of transportation in the rural areas. Policy alignment, fiscal incentives, and modular upgrading infrastructure are the recommendations of the study that can speed up the process of changing Nigeria to a low-carbon, energy-secure transport system.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 101888"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145624496","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-26DOI: 10.1016/j.esd.2025.101898
Edwin Garabitos-Lara , Alexander Vallejo-Díaz , Carlos Napoleón Pereyra-Mariñez , Idalberto Herrera-Moya
This study develops a techno-economic model to evaluate the feasibility of battery energy storage systems (BESS) integrated into photovoltaic (PV) self-consumption schemes without surplus injection under the Dominican Republic's residential tariff. Hourly consumption data from three real households were analyzed, defining three representative demand levels—low, medium, and high. System sizing was optimized by maximizing net present value (NPV) while assessing internal rate of return (IRR), self-consumption ratio (SCR), self-sufficiency ratio (SSR), levelized cost of energy (LCOE), and a proposed parity index (PI). Results indicate that PV self-consumption is profitable only for high-demand users (≥ 701 kWh month−1), achieving grid parity (PI ≈ 1.0; IRR ≈ 10 %). Battery integration raises SCR from 73.4 to 98.3 % and SSR from 34 to 45 %, however reduces profitability because of higher capital investment. Profitability is highly sensitive to the hourly demand profile: redistributing identical daily consumption improved NPV by up to 16 %. Removing the residential subsidy slightly enhances profitability for low- and medium-demand users, while high-demand users lose competitiveness. A 30 % reduction in battery cost increases NPV by 18 % for high-demand profiles but remains insufficient for others. These results confirm that PV + BESS are technically and economically viable for high-demand consumers, strengthening energy autonomy and resilience in countries with similar tariffs and solar resources.
{"title":"Techno-economic assessment of battery systems in the PV self-consumption without surpluses in the residential tariff of the Dominican Republic","authors":"Edwin Garabitos-Lara , Alexander Vallejo-Díaz , Carlos Napoleón Pereyra-Mariñez , Idalberto Herrera-Moya","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101898","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101898","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study develops a techno-economic model to evaluate the feasibility of battery energy storage systems (BESS) integrated into photovoltaic (PV) self-consumption schemes without surplus injection under the Dominican Republic's residential tariff. Hourly consumption data from three real households were analyzed, defining three representative demand levels—low, medium, and high. System sizing was optimized by maximizing net present value (NPV) while assessing internal rate of return (IRR), self-consumption ratio (SCR), self-sufficiency ratio (SSR), levelized cost of energy (LCOE), and a proposed parity index (PI). Results indicate that PV self-consumption is profitable only for high-demand users (≥ 701 kWh month<sup>−1</sup>), achieving grid parity (PI ≈ 1.0; IRR ≈ 10 %). Battery integration raises SCR from 73.4 to 98.3 % and SSR from 34 to 45 %, however reduces profitability because of higher capital investment. Profitability is highly sensitive to the hourly demand profile: redistributing identical daily consumption improved NPV by up to 16 %. Removing the residential subsidy slightly enhances profitability for low- and medium-demand users, while high-demand users lose competitiveness. A 30 % reduction in battery cost increases NPV by 18 % for high-demand profiles but remains insufficient for others. These results confirm that PV + BESS are technically and economically viable for high-demand consumers, strengthening energy autonomy and resilience in countries with similar tariffs and solar resources.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 101898"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145624493","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-25DOI: 10.1016/j.esd.2025.101885
Jingyi Mu , Yimeng Feng , Dazhi Yang , Guoming Yang
The energy consumption of urban residential buildings and occupant thermal comfort are significantly affected by climate change driven by excessive carbon emissions. However, these impacts remain understudied in cold urban areas. This study examined residential buildings in Harbin, China, to evaluate the effects of future climate change and urban wind environment on energy consumption and thermal comfort. Meteorological data for Harbin were simulated for 2030, 2040, 2050, and 2060 under SSP126, SSP245, and SSP585 carbon emission scenarios. The urban wind environment was analyzed using Phoenics, and EnergyPlus simulated the impact on building energy consumption and thermal comfort. Results showed an increase of 3.96 °C in annual average air temperature under SSP585 by 2060 compared to the typical meteorological year, with SSP245 and SSP126 showing increases of 2.27 °C and 1.57 °C. Cooling energy demand was projected to rise by 142.5 % and 134.0 % for multi-story and high-rise buildings under SSP585, while heating demand dropped by 20.3 % and 15.8 %. Thermal comfort exhibited pronounced changes, as the urban wind environment improving winter comfort but exacerbating summer discomfort, leading to a 1.33 % increase in cooling demand and a 1.68 % reduction in heating demand. This study emphasized the need for Harbin to adopt a greener development path beyond SSP126 while addressing health risks from winter temperature drops and the environmental impacts of increased cooling demand. The shading effect of urban vegetation can effectively mitigate the increased cooling energy consumption caused by the wind environment during summer. These results provided a foundation for policy development in cold urban areas.
{"title":"CMIP6 climate change and wind environment impacts on cold-region residential energy and thermal comfort: A case study of Harbin","authors":"Jingyi Mu , Yimeng Feng , Dazhi Yang , Guoming Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101885","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101885","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The energy consumption of urban residential buildings and occupant thermal comfort are significantly affected by climate change driven by excessive carbon emissions. However, these impacts remain understudied in cold urban areas. This study examined residential buildings in Harbin, China, to evaluate the effects of future climate change and urban wind environment on energy consumption and thermal comfort. Meteorological data for Harbin were simulated for 2030, 2040, 2050, and 2060 under SSP126, SSP245, and SSP585 carbon emission scenarios. The urban wind environment was analyzed using Phoenics, and EnergyPlus simulated the impact on building energy consumption and thermal comfort. Results showed an increase of 3.96 °C in annual average air temperature under SSP585 by 2060 compared to the typical meteorological year, with SSP245 and SSP126 showing increases of 2.27 °C and 1.57 °C. Cooling energy demand was projected to rise by 142.5 % and 134.0 % for multi-story and high-rise buildings under SSP585, while heating demand dropped by 20.3 % and 15.8 %. Thermal comfort exhibited pronounced changes, as the urban wind environment improving winter comfort but exacerbating summer discomfort, leading to a 1.33 % increase in cooling demand and a 1.68 % reduction in heating demand. This study emphasized the need for Harbin to adopt a greener development path beyond SSP126 while addressing health risks from winter temperature drops and the environmental impacts of increased cooling demand. The shading effect of urban vegetation can effectively mitigate the increased cooling energy consumption caused by the wind environment during summer. These results provided a foundation for policy development in cold urban areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 101885"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145624494","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-22DOI: 10.1016/j.esd.2025.101884
Takuma Otaki, Rajib Shaw
India and Japan are advancing hydrogen technologies, with Japan leading in areas salient to India (ammonia combustion, hydrogen-based iron reduction, heavy-duty vehicles, and water electrolyzers), making bilateral collaboration particularly valuable and raising the prospect of an India–Japan hydrogen value chain, including exports. Japan is also preparing to import hydrogen through grant-based schemes initiated in October 2024. This study maps and compares stakeholders in both countries using official documents, then conducts semi-structured interviews (11 of 12 targeted decision-makers across companies, research organizations, universities, and a conglomerate) to examine three themes: collaboration with Japan, export feasibility, and diffusion of hydrogen technologies in India. Stakeholders held moderate expectations for Japanese technology licensing (lower than for the United States) and highlighted slow decision-making by Japanese firms; they emphasized local manufacturing in India and the need for Japanese capital to leverage India's strong human talent amid infrastructure and funding constraints. Intellectual property protection was viewed as adequate, suggesting cooperation within the current framework. Medium- to long-term exports to Japan were considered feasible, underpinned by renewable deployment outpacing domestic demand and stable policy support; ammonia was favored as the carrier, whereas liquid hydrogen drew cost and handling concerns. Diffusion in India is expected to take at least a decade, with early uptake in refining, fertilizer, syngas, and iron, and government agencies pivotal via incentives, diffusion support, and public awareness. Key challenges—ecosystem development, cost competitiveness, safety, and demand creation—point to priorities in human capital, regulation, and finance, where Japanese experience could catalyze collaboration.
{"title":"Stakeholder analysis of perceptions of hydrogen cooperation with Japan in India","authors":"Takuma Otaki, Rajib Shaw","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101884","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101884","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>India and Japan are advancing hydrogen technologies, with Japan leading in areas salient to India (ammonia combustion, hydrogen-based iron reduction, heavy-duty vehicles, and water electrolyzers), making bilateral collaboration particularly valuable and raising the prospect of an India–Japan hydrogen value chain, including exports. Japan is also preparing to import hydrogen through grant-based schemes initiated in October 2024. This study maps and compares stakeholders in both countries using official documents, then conducts semi-structured interviews (11 of 12 targeted decision-makers across companies, research organizations, universities, and a conglomerate) to examine three themes: collaboration with Japan, export feasibility, and diffusion of hydrogen technologies in India. Stakeholders held moderate expectations for Japanese technology licensing (lower than for the United States) and highlighted slow decision-making by Japanese firms; they emphasized local manufacturing in India and the need for Japanese capital to leverage India's strong human talent amid infrastructure and funding constraints. Intellectual property protection was viewed as adequate, suggesting cooperation within the current framework. Medium- to long-term exports to Japan were considered feasible, underpinned by renewable deployment outpacing domestic demand and stable policy support; ammonia was favored as the carrier, whereas liquid hydrogen drew cost and handling concerns. Diffusion in India is expected to take at least a decade, with early uptake in refining, fertilizer, syngas, and iron, and government agencies pivotal via incentives, diffusion support, and public awareness. Key challenges—ecosystem development, cost competitiveness, safety, and demand creation—point to priorities in human capital, regulation, and finance, where Japanese experience could catalyze collaboration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 101884"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145624495","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The global transport sector remains a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, urging the need for low-carbon pathways that go beyond full fleet electrification. In countries like Brazil, where biofuel production is mature and the electricity matrix is relatively clean, bio-electromobility can offer an effective alternative for decarbonizing urban public transport. This study assesses the environmental performance of seven scenarios composed by different bus types and energy use — conventional diesel, compressed natural gas (CNG), biomethane (bioCNG), hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) from soybean oil and from tallow, in internal combustion engine buses (ICEB), hybrid buses (HEB) and battery electric buses (BEB) configurations — through a cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The analysis covers midpoint Global Warming Potential and endpoint damage categories: Ecosystem Quality, Human Health, and Natural Resources. Results show that buses powered by residue-based HVO or bioCNG in both internal combustion and hybrid configurations outperform BEBs in several environmental impact categories, challenging the narrative that “zero-emission” buses are always the optimal solution when upstream and mid-life emissions are considered. Limitations include data assumptions, partial regionalization, and infrastructure constraints that may affect large-scale deployment. The findings emphasize the need for diversified public policies that integrate biofuels and electrification, leveraging Brazil's biomass potential while expanding charging infrastructure sustainably. This study contributes to closing knowledge gaps in bio-electromobility's role and provides decision-makers with robust evidence to guide investments and regulatory frameworks toward a truly low-carbon urban transport system.
{"title":"The greenhouse gases emissions and environmental impact profiles for bio-electromobility alternatives in Brazilian urban buses","authors":"Marcelo Antunes Gauto , Tamar Roitman , Everton Lopes , Rafael Silva Capaz , Gonçalo Amarante Guimarães Pereira , Guilherme Pessoa Nogueira","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101887","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101887","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The global transport sector remains a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, urging the need for low-carbon pathways that go beyond full fleet electrification. In countries like Brazil, where biofuel production is mature and the electricity matrix is relatively clean, bio-electromobility can offer an effective alternative for decarbonizing urban public transport. This study assesses the environmental performance of seven scenarios composed by different bus types and energy use — conventional diesel, compressed natural gas (CNG), biomethane (bioCNG), hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) from soybean oil and from tallow, in internal combustion engine buses (ICEB), hybrid buses (HEB) and battery electric buses (BEB) configurations — through a cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The analysis covers midpoint Global Warming Potential and endpoint damage categories: Ecosystem Quality, Human Health, and Natural Resources. Results show that buses powered by residue-based HVO or bioCNG in both internal combustion and hybrid configurations outperform BEBs in several environmental impact categories, challenging the narrative that “zero-emission” buses are always the optimal solution when upstream and mid-life emissions are considered. Limitations include data assumptions, partial regionalization, and infrastructure constraints that may affect large-scale deployment. The findings emphasize the need for diversified public policies that integrate biofuels and electrification, leveraging Brazil's biomass potential while expanding charging infrastructure sustainably. This study contributes to closing knowledge gaps in bio-electromobility's role and provides decision-makers with robust evidence to guide investments and regulatory frameworks toward a truly low-carbon urban transport system.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 101887"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145580408","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-15DOI: 10.1016/j.esd.2025.101886
C. Zuffi , D. Fiaschi , X.S. Musonye , H.S. Mukhongo , M. Nafula , I.P. Da Silva
Geothermal energy is a crucial renewable resource for a sustainable future, especially in African nations cut by the Rift Valley, which holds vast untapped potential. However, high upfront costs and development risks remain key challenges. This study introduces a simplified model calibrated with real data from Kenya's Olkaria geothermal field. The model enables rapid preliminary assessments of both technical and economic performance, requiring minimal input data. Additionally, it incorporates a Life Cycle Assessment to evaluate environmental impacts, an aspect rarely explored in African geothermal studies. The research analyses various technological configurations, including Single Flash, Double Flash, and Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) systems, aiming to improve efficiency without additional drilling. Findings show that integrating an ORC with existing flash systems can boost energy output by up to 20.1 %, with only a modest rise in the Levelized Cost of Electricity. Compared to the current Olkaria IV setup, hybrid systems demonstrated lower carbon emissions and reduced material resource use per energy output. Results confirm that ORC integration offers the most sustainable pathway for developing high-temperature geothermal resources in the East African Rift. This approach balances energy efficiency, economic feasibility, and environmental impact, providing valuable guidance for future power plant development in regulatory-constrained settings. This work is fully consistent with the objectives of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 7 and 13.
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Pub Date : 2025-11-13DOI: 10.1016/j.esd.2025.101881
Christian Zürpel , Sebastian Groh
Around 800 million people globally do not have access to electricity — most of those affected reside in rural areas in the Global South. The challenge of rural electrification is particularly pronounced in Africa, though pockets of South Asia are similarly afflicted. In these areas, national grid extension is often prohibitively expensive owing to geography. To allow for the reaping of documented benefits bestowed by access to electricity, and to retain the prospect of reaching Sustainable Development Goal 7 by 2030 (access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all), affordably implementable alternatives to national grid extensions require exploring. To date, policymakers around the world have, however, paid comparably little attention to off-grid solutions suited to local conditions, such as microgrids powered by sustainable sources of energy, despite the potential cost- and time-savings in rural electrification.
Analyzing a unique, newly constructed data set covering two years of peer-to-peer trading data from 104 solar-powered microgrids across Bangladesh yields important lessons on aspects to consider in designing and efficiently leveraging such microgrids in electrifying rural areas. Linear regression analysis results illustrate, for both linear probability and ordinary least squares models, (i) the importance of sufficient solar power generation capacity in a microgrid, with backup power supply by so-called micro-utilities constituting an important tool to enhance microgrid performance; (ii) the composition and geographic setup of microgrids are crucial, with ideally no households in a given location opting out of connecting to the microgrid and a sufficient dispersion of production capacity to meet demand close by, minimizing transmission losses; (iii) electrically run appliances are a precondition for the intensive-margin utility of a microgrid, allowing for peer-to-peer energy sellers to capitalize on their investments in solar panels and batteries.
These findings and their interpretation underscore the crucial role ascribed to complementary services by the literature. Such services range from support in financing microgrid infrastructure and appliance purchases to skills training aimed at buttressing productive-use uptake of newly-gained electricity access. Policy support in establishing microgrids furthermore proves to be a worthwhile long-term endeavor. Even the arrival of national grid connections at numerous of the solar microgrids investigated did not diminish their utility owing to the need for backup power and these microgrids’ continued capacity to provide clean energy reliably.
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