Energy nexus最新文献

Water scarcity poses a critical global challenge, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. This paper introduces an innovative nexus approach to mitigate this issue through the integration of hydro panels in buildings, exploiting solar energy and atmospheric humidity to generate clean water. We offer a comprehensive review of the hydro panel technology's current state, exploring its potential, implementation challenges, and alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through a bibliometric analysis. Our findings highlight a significant uptick in research on sustainable building technologies, positioning hydro panels at the nexus of solutions for water scarcity. Despite their promise, our analysis reveals a scarcity of focused research on hydro panels, indicating an emerging interest in leveraging smart city frameworks for environmental sustainability. The paper contributes by defining the technological trajectory and identifying gaps in existing research, emphasizing the hydro panels' potential to transform water accessibility in arid regions, especially when integrated with other sustainable technologies such as solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. This review not only underlines hydro panels as a novel solution but also paves the way for future investigations into their broader application within the nexus of sustainable urban development.

The bulk electrical system, a critical infrastructure for societal functionality, must meet the electricity demands of end-users sustainably, economically, and in compliance with standards. The concept of power system resiliency has gained significant attention as vulnerabilities and potential attacks could lead to substantial losses. This paper distinguishes power system resiliency from reliability through a detailed literature review. It discusses the development of quantitative metrics from operational and infrastructural perspectives to better understand this emerging concept. We categorize the threats into natural disasters and cyber threats, evaluating their impacts on power system components. The integration of smart grid technologies—including demand response, electric vehicles, distributed generation, energy storage systems, and microgrids—is explored to demonstrate how they enhance resilience against external shocks. This review not only offers a comprehensive analysis of load restoration techniques through smart grid practices but also identifies future challenges, such as adapting to increasingly severe climate conditions, advancing cybersecurity measures to match evolving threats, and ensuring the scalability of resilient systems to meet growing energy demands. These challenges highlight the necessity for innovative research and strategic planning to strengthen power systems against a broad spectrum of emerging threats. This work serves as a critical reference for researchers and planners dedicated to enhancing resiliency strategies.

Cooking is the most energy-intensive activity in the household sector. In developing countries, it accounts for about 90% of the total domestic energy use. With this, knowledge of its dynamics in terms of energy choice and use is imperative. This study explored the nexus between household dynamics and cooking energy choice in Kaduna State, Northwestern Nigeria. Data were collected from 400 households with the aid of a structured questionnaire following a multi-stage sampling approach. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data and a multinomial logit regression model was employed to assess the impact of household factors on the choice of primary cooking energy. The results from the descriptive analysis depict charcoal as the most used cooking energy in the surveyed area, followed by fuelwood and Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG). These choices are influenced by cost, accessibility, and availability. Furthermore, the results from the multinomial logit regression analysis indicated that the choice of cooking energy is significantly influenced by household factors such as household size, household income, occupation of household head, marital status, age, and education of the main cook, and the household head. These findings can be crucial for policymakers and organizations working towards promoting clean and sustainable energy, climate change mitigation, and the reduction of household air pollution.

The acid-modified chilli peppers, a novel adsorbent, were prepared and used to absorb Ni(II) and Cd(II) ions from aqueous solution. Batch experiments with raw chilli peppers were compared with those of acid-modified chilli peppers. Batch experiments were conducted to evaluate the adsorption capacities of both sorbents under different conditions, including pH, concentration, contact time and temperature, in solutions. Bands with oxygen groups (-OH, -COOH, -C = O, -COC and -CO) on both sorbents were identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Scanning electron micrographs of raw chilli peppers showed a morphology resembling spheres, while acid-modified chilli peppers showed a structure resembling a mesh of a mixture of different shapes, including squares and triangles. Maximum sorption capacities were achieved at pH 7, with the uptake of Ni(II) and Cd(II) ions dependent on pH.

The highest adsorption capacities for raw chilli peppers and acid-modified chilli peppers were observed at 70 °C. The sorption capacities increased with increasing temperature. The concentration effect showed that as the concentration of Ni(II) and Cd(II) ions increased on raw chilli peppers and acid-modified chilli peppers, the adsorption capacity also increased. On raw chilli peppers, the rate of removal of Ni(II) and Cd(II) ions in solution was 60 min, while on acid-modified chilli peppers it took 80 min. The adsorption of Ni(II) and Cd(II) ions was best described by the Freundlich model with heterogeneous coverage and maximum capacities of 45.33 and 39.12 mg/g, respectively. The uptake of Ni(II) and Cd(II) ions was endothermic and showed positive values (∆Hº). Gibb′s free energy (∆Gº) for Cd(II) and Ni(II) ions on the activated carbon showed that the reaction was spontaneous. The change in entropy (ΔS^o) of the reactions showed positive magnitudes for both pollutants, indicating a high degree of randomness in the solid-liquid phase. The kinetic model that best fitted the mechanism was pseudo-first order for Ni(II) and Cd(II) ions, indicating correlation numbers of R² values of 0.9923–0.9995. Therefore, the acid-modified chilli peppers can be used as a viable alternative adsorbent for effective removal of Cd(II) and Ni(II) ions from aqueous solution.

Sugarcane trash is a source of biomass available for energy generation. However, this potential has not been explored in the South African small-scale sugarcane sector. The current trash management practices of farmers, especially, pre-harvest burning, have huge negative environmental implications. Sustainable management of sugarcane trash could help address several challenges in the sugarcane industry including the high cost of irrigation. Therefore, this study is meant to assess small-scale growers’ trash management practices and their implications on greenhouse gas emissions. It also ascertains the potential for using sugarcane trash in the co-generation of electricity. The study was conducted in two communities in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga provinces with 330 small-scale farmers. A probit regression was used to determine factors that influence farmers’ trash management practices. Other analyses such as estimations of the amount of available trash, burning emissions and potential energy from sugarcane were informed by previous studies. The findings showed that pre-burning of sugarcane is a common practice among smallholder producers in South Africa. However, some farmers have attempted to move away from this practice opting to leave their sugarcane in the field or use it for compost. The farmers’ burning of sugarcane releases an estimated 0.08 tCO2-e per ha into the atmosphere. In total, the estimated greenhouse gas emissions from sugarcane burning of all small-scale growers in the two provinces are 725 tCO2-e per annum. The findings also revealed that having more land, poor endowment with psychological capital, lack of access to extension, limited resources, and working in silos compound the practice of burning sugarcane. The estimated energy potential from small-scale sugarcane producers in the country, using a 50 % recovery efficiency and 36 % energy conversion efficiency is 150,323.3 MWh. The study proposes several recommendations for improving trash management practices and initiating the co-generation of electricity from trash in the small-scale sugarcane industry.

Oil prices play a pivotal role in Thailand's economic development due to its heavy reliance on oil imports to meet its energy needs. Fluctuations in global oil prices directly and significantly impact domestic price levels, affecting production costs, inflation, and overall economic growth. To ensure stability and foster economic development, it is crucial to comprehend and effectively manage these dynamics. Therefore, this study aims to assess the impact of global oil prices on domestic price levels in Thailand, including key indexes such as the producer price index, consumer price index, and export price index, as well as prices of essential commodities like oil palm, sugarcane, cassava, diesel, and gasohol. The study employs both linear and nonlinear ARDL specifications, analyzing monthly time series data from January 2005 to June 2023 to unveil the nature of the relationship between global oil prices and product price levels. The empirical results indicate that most product prices respond to changes in global oil prices in an asymmetrical manner. However, oil palm prices exhibit a symmetrical response, and sugarcane prices do not display a clear pattern during testing. Based on these findings, the study offers recommendations for short-term and long-term policies aimed at mitigating the impact of domestic oil price fluctuations, ensuring energy stability, and promoting sustainability in the future.

Introduction

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is a clean cooking fuel that emits less household air pollution (HAP) than polluting cooking fuels (e.g. charcoal, wood). While switching from polluting fuels to LPG can reduce HAP and improve health, the impact of ‘stacking’ (concurrent use of polluting fuels and LPG) on adverse health symptoms (e.g. headaches, eye irritation, cough) among female cooks is uncertain.

Methods

Survey data from the CLEAN-Air(Africa) study was collected on cooking patterns and health symptoms over the last 12 months (cough, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, eye irritation, headaches) from approximately 400 female primary cooks in each of three peri‑urban communities in sub-Saharan Africa: Mbalmayo, Cameroon; Obuasi, Ghana; and Eldoret, Kenya. Random effects Poisson regression, adjusted for socioeconomic and health-related covariates, assessed the relationship between primary and secondary cooking fuel type and self-reported health symptoms.

Results

Among 1,147 participants, 10 % (n = 118) exclusively cooked with LPG, 45 % (n = 509) stacked LPG and polluting fuels and 45 % (n = 520) exclusively cooked with polluting fuels. Female cooks stacking LPG and polluting fuels had significantly higher odds of shortness of breath (OR 2.16, 95 %CI:1.04–4.48) compared with those exclusively using LPG. In two communities, headache prevalence was 30 % higher among women stacking LPG with polluting fuels (Mbalmayo:82 %; Eldoret:65 %) compared with those exclusively using LPG (Mbalmayo:53 %; Eldoret:33 %). Women stacking LPG and polluting fuels (OR 2.45, 95 %CI:1.29–4.67) had significantly higher odds of eye irritation than women cooking exclusively with LPG. Second-hand smoke exposure was significantly associated with higher odds of chest tightness (OR 1.92, 95 % CI:1.19–3.11), wheezing (OR 1.76, 95 % CI:1.06–2.91) and cough (OR 1.78, 95 %CI:1.13–2.80).

Conclusions

In peri‑urban sub-Saharan Africa, women exclusively cooking with LPG had lower odds of several health symptoms than those stacking LPG and polluting fuels. Promoting a complete transition to LPG in these communities may likely generate short-term health benefits for primary cooks.

The hydrological dynamics of the Bagmati River downstream from Kathmandu have transformed due to rapid urbanization, impacting regional water projects. Declining open land and groundwater levels have reduced winter base flow and increased summer peak discharge, challenging sustainable energy generation. This study quantifies Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) impact on downstream hydropower. Using LULC data and a calibrated hydrological model in SWAT, it introduces change scenarios, analyzing their influence on river runoff and energy generation. Results reveal varied runoff curve numbers and seasonal discharge due to LULC shifts. Annual mean flow sees a 1.3% increase, while lean flow decreases by 3.45%. Consequently, dry, wet, and total energy generation drops annually by 0.68%, 0.31%, and 0.38%, respectively. The Flow Duration Curve (FDC) notably shifts upwards at its top and downwards at the bottom compared to the base simulation, defining the most sustainable installed capacity. Additionally, the study presents a regression equation based on LULC changes for simplified analysis. It underscores the crucial role of LULC modifications in river runoff, profoundly impacting energy generation and water resource projects' sustainability. Neglecting these changes could severely affect project success.

Agriculture is the second largest contributor (20 %) to total anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the world. There is a need to identify energy and carbon efficient cropping systems that reduce GHG emission and improve environmental quality. Using life cycle assessment (LCA), we evaluated the four cropping systems namely fallow – chickpea (F–C); Sesbania – mustard (Ses–M); blackgram – chickpea (B–C); sorghum + cowpea – mustard (S + C–M) cultivated during the 2018–2022 period. The energy use pattern and the input-output relationship were analysed. Three measures were utilized to quantify carbon footprints: CFa, which denotes emissions per unit area; CFb, indicating emissions per kilogram of yield; and CFe, representing emissions per unit of economic output. The result indicates that non-renewable sources of energy (diesel and fertilizer) contributed more than ∼80 % of the total energy consumed in the different cropping systems. The total energy requirement was the highest for S + C–M (16,972 MJ ha^–1), followed by Ses–M (14,365 MJ ha^–1), B–C (11,132 MJ ha^–1) and F–C (8679 MJ ha^–1) cropping systems. The S + C–M cropping system also had the highest energy use efficiency (9.13) followed by F–C (6.03), B–C (5.41) and Ses–M (5.41). The fallow–chickpea cropping system had the lowest values of CF_a, CF_b, and CF_e however, the highest carbon efficiency (10.7) and the carbon sustainability index (9.7) were computed in S + C–M cropping system. Our findings indicate that thoughtfully structured, varied crop systems that integrate legumes and forage crops have the potential to significantly reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, while sustaining or potentially improving overall productivity within these systems.

The two-stage anaerobic digestion (2st-AD) of sugarcane vinasse is widely studied and well-known for improving the energy recovery potential in sugarcane biorefineries. Maintaining enhanced substrate acidification in a separate (first stage) reactor directly improves the performance of methanogenesis (second stage). However, problems derived from the presence of sulfate (SO₄²⁻) and the subsequent sulfide formation in the second stage are not prevented in conventional 2st-AD systems. In addition, high costs related to reactor alkalinization still represent significant drawbacks in that configuration. The energy recovery potential via methanogenesis was assessed from acidified sugarcane vinasse samples collected from different dark fermentative systems, namely: V1 (subjected to NaOH+NaHCO₃ dosing), V2 (subjected to NaOH dosing) and V3 (subjected to no pH control). Despite the harmfulness of sulfide, the enhanced production of acetate from the incomplete oxidation of organic matter in sulfidogenesis can benefit methanogens. The highest methane yield (296.3 NmL-CH₄ g-COD⁻¹) and global energy recovery potential (354,603 GWh per season) were obtained from the lactate and SO₄²⁻rich vinasse (V2). Nevertheless, from a technological perspective, the methanogenesis of vinasses subjected to the fermentative-sulfidogenic process (V1) provided a higher quality biogas due to a higher calorific power (26.4-27.0 MJ Nm⁻³) and decreased H₂S content in the biogas. Finally, the fermentative-sulfidogenic process as an alkalinizing strategy was demonstrated to be the best economic approach for scaling up the 2st-AD of sugarcane vinasse, overcoming the main economic drawback of this configuration.