Search Results (311)

The accelerating demand for climate action has underscored the need to link financial innovation with clean energy adoption. This study examines the interplay between green finance, renewable energy consumption, and CO₂ emissions across 15 countries from 2013 to 2022. Green finance is proxied by green bond issuances and environmental protection expenditures, capturing both market-based and fiscal flows. Using panel econometric methods, including fixed effects with Driscoll–Kraay corrections, Prais–Winsten regressions with PCSE, and Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS), the analysis accounts for heteroscedasticity, autocorrelation, and cross-sectional dependence. Results show how green finance significantly reduces emissions, both directly and indirectly, through its positive influence on renewable energy deployment. Renewable energy consumption shows a robust negative association with CO₂ emissions, confirming its pivotal role in energy transition. A mediation analysis further demonstrates that renewable energy partially transmits the effect of green finance on environmental performance. The findings highlight the dual function of green finance in mobilizing investment and accelerating decarbonization, offering timely insights for policymakers seeking effective pathways toward sustainable, low-carbon economies. Full article

The energy-intensive manufacturing industry is a significant contributor to carbon emissions, necessitating urgent measures to reduce its carbon footprint. The advent of the digital economy has engendered a milieu conducive to the decarbonization of energy-intensive manufacturing enterprises. This paper utilizes panel data from A-share listed energy-intensive manufacturing enterprises in China from 2012 to 2024 to empirically analyze the impact of the digital economy on carbon abatement performance. The findings reveal the following: First, the digital economy has a significant effect on enhancing the carbon emission reduction performance of energy-intensive manufacturing enterprises. Second, total factor productivity, R&D investment, and technology innovation have partial mediating effects in this relationship. Third, heterogeneous effects exist across enterprises of six major energy-intensive industries. Fourth, the carbon reduction effect of the digital economy is more significant in central and western regions compared to eastern regions in China. These results underscore the importance of accelerating digital transformation and formulating diversified policies predicated on industries and regions to facilitate the realization of China’s “dual carbon” goals. Full article

Amid China’s pursuit of its “dual carbon” goals, systematic theoretical and empirical research remains limited to the potential role of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing firms’ carbon emission performance (CEP). From a systems perspective, this study developed a dynamic learning game model that integrates a constant elasticity of substitution (CES) production function, an AI-enabled abatement function, and institutional constraints to analyze firms’ cleaner production and technology adoption under simultaneous budgetary and emission constraints. Empirically, we drew on panel data of 3404 Chinese A-share listed firms from 2013 to 2023 and employ a two-way fixed-effect model to examine the effect of AI empowerment on CEP. The results showed that AI significantly improves CEP overall, though its effect is potentially constrained by energy rebound effects. Robustness checks using alternative measures and specifications confirmed the reliability of the findings and further indicated that AI’s abatement effect became stronger after 2018, consistent with technological maturity and institutional improvement. Mechanism analysis suggests two plausible pathways: (1) improving ESG performance and strengthening environmental governance; and (2) stimulating green innovation to support low-carbon technology development and application. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that AI’s effects are more evident in regions with higher marketization, in private firms, and in non-pollution-intensive industries. By contrast, firms led by executives with overseas experience tend to exhibit weaker effects, a pattern consistent with institutional fit and localization considerations. This study contributes to cleaner production theory by highlighting firm-level mechanisms of AI-enabled carbon governance while offering practical insights for low-carbon transitions and digital decarbonization strategies in developing economies. Full article

Shore power systems, also known as cold ironing or shore-to-ship (STS) connections, are increasingly recognized as a viable solution to reduce emissions and noise from ships during berthing operations. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of shore power technology, with a focus on typical onboard energy consumption profiles across different types of ship, the main electrical architectures used in shore-side systems, and the compatibility challenges related to frequency, voltage, and control integration. The paper reviews international standards, particularly the ISO/IEC/IEEE 80005 series, that define technical requirements for interoperability and safety. A detailed analysis of recent patents highlights technological innovations in mobility, conversion topologies, and high-voltage integration. In addition, commercially available shore power solutions from major manufacturers are surveyed, with comparative data on power ratings, voltage levels, and converter topologies. Finally, the study discusses current limitations and outlines development directions for Onshore Power Supply systems, including regulatory developments, digital integration, and grid support functionalities. The insights presented aim to support the design, standardization, and deployment of efficient and scalable STS systems in line with global maritime decarbonization goals. Full article

Green hydrogen has the potential to contribute to the decarbonization of the fossil fuel industry, and its development is expected to increase in the coming years. The social dynamics among the various actors in the green hydrogen sector are studied to understand their public perception. Using the technological innovation system research approach for the stakeholder analysis and the qualitative thematic analysis method for the interviews with experts, this study presents an overview of the actors in the green hydrogen sector and their relations in Luxembourg. As a central European country with strategic political and geographic relevance, Luxembourg offers a timely case for analyzing public perception before the large-scale implementation of green hydrogen. Observing this early stage allows for future comparative insights as the national hydrogen strategy progresses. Results show high expectations for green hydrogen in mobility and industry, but concerns persist over infrastructure costs, safety, and public awareness. Regional stakeholders demonstrate a strong willingness to collaborate, recognizing that local public acceptance still requires effort, particularly in areas such as clear and inclusive communication, sharing knowledge, and fostering trust. These findings provide practical insights for stakeholder engagement strategies and theoretical contributions to the study of social dynamics in sustainability transitions. Full article

In the context of global industrial chain decarbonization, the perpetuation of corporate green innovation has emerged as a linchpin for sustaining a competitive advantage in the pursuit of environmental sustainability. Employing a panel data framework, this investigation analyzes A-share listed firms in China from 2011 to 2023. In terms of supply chain perspectives, this study utilizes fixed effects models, mediation analysis, and moderation analysis to empirically examine how downstream enterprises’ digital transformation affects the sustainability of upstream enterprises’ green innovation, while deconstructing the “capability–motivation” dual pathway underlying such sustainability. The key findings are as follows: (1) downstream digital transformation significantly strengthens upstream green innovation persistence through both capability reinforcement and motivation amplification, with a notably stronger impact on the latter; (2) mechanism tests show that capability improvement primarily arises from knowledge spillovers and enhanced supply–demand coordination efficiency, while motivation enhancement stems from intensified market competition and greater responsiveness to tax incentives; and (3) supply chain structural characteristics exert critical moderating effects. This research elucidates the operational logic and boundary conditions of supply chain digital coordination in driving green innovation persistence, contributing to theoretical frameworks while offering actionable insights for policymaking and corporate strategic optimization in sustainable supply chain management. Full article

Achieving decarbonization targets in the aviation sector requires transformative approaches to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production. In this pursuit, feedstock innovation has emerged as a critical challenge. This research uses the U.S. SAF Grand Challenge as a case study, focusing on its feedstock innovation workstream, to investigate how Industry 4.0 technologies can fulfill that workstream’s objectives. An integrative literature review, drawing on academic, industry, and policy sources, is used to evaluate the Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) of Industry 4.0 technology applications across the SAF biomass supply chain. The analysis identifies several key technologies as essential for improving yield prediction, optimizing resource allocation, and linking stochastic models to techno-economic analyses (TEAs): IoT-enabled sensor networks, probabilistic/precision forecasting, and automated quality monitoring. Results reveal an uneven maturity landscape, with some applications demonstrating near-commercial readiness, while others remain in early research or pilot stages, particularly in areas such as logistics, interoperability, and forecasting. The study contributes a structured TRL-based assessment that not only maps maturity but also highlights critical gaps and corresponding policy implications, including data governance, standardization frameworks, and cross-sector collaboration. By aligning digital innovation pathways with SAF deployment priorities, the findings offer both theoretical insights and practical guidance for advancing sustainable aviation fuel adoption and accelerating progress toward net-zero aviation. Full article

This article examines the growing potential of low-emission hydrogen as an innovative solution supporting the decarbonization of the agricultural sector. It discusses its potential applications on farms, including as an energy source for powering agricultural machinery, producing fertilizers, and storing energy from renewable sources. Within the European context, it considers actions arising from the European Green Deal and the “Fit for 55” strategy, which promote the development of hydrogen infrastructure and support research into low-emission technologies. The article also discusses global initiatives and trends in the development of the hydrogen economy, pointing to international cooperation, investment, and the need for technology standardization. It highlights the challenges related to cost, infrastructure, and scalability, as well as the opportunities hydrogen offers for a sustainable and energy-efficient agriculture of the future. Full article

The decarbonization of hard-to-defossilize sectors, such as international maritime transport, requires innovative, and at times disruptive, energy solutions that combine efficiency, scalability, and climate benefits. Therefore, power-to-liquid (PtL) routes have stood out for their potential to use low-emission electricity for the production of synthetic fuels, via electrolytic hydrogen and CO₂ capture. However, the high energy demand inherent to these routes poses significant challenges to large-scale implementation. Moreover, PtL routes are usually at most neutral in terms of CO₂ emissions. This study evaluates, from a thermo-energetic perspective, the optimization potential of an e-methanol synthesis route through integration with a biomass oxy-fuel combustion process, making use of electrolytic oxygen as the oxidizing agent and the captured CO₂ as the carbon source. From the standpoint of a first-law thermodynamic analysis, mass and energy balances were developed considering the full oxygen supply for oxy-fuel combustion to be met through alkaline electrolysis, thus eliminating the energy penalty associated with conventional oxygen production via air separation units. The balance closure was based on a small-scale plant with a capacity of around 100 kta of methanol. In this integrated configuration, additional CO₂ surpluses beyond methanol synthesis demand can be directed to geological storage, which, when combined with bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) strategies, may lead to net negative CO₂ emissions. The results demonstrate that electrolytic oxygen valorization is a promising pathway to enhance the efficiency and climate performance of PtL processes. Full article

The accelerating degradation of the global environment, primarily driven by dependence on fossil fuels, has intensified the urgency for energy transitions toward renewable sources. While the literature on energy transitions is expanding, the role of environmental governance, particularly the stringency of environmental policies, remains insufficiently understood. This study addresses this gap by empirically examining how environmental policy stringency influences national energy transitions. Using a balanced panel of 29 countries over the period 2010–2024, we construct an energy transition indicator and estimate its relationship with policy stringency while controlling for macroeconomic and structural factors such as income, trade openness, and foreign direct investment. To mitigate endogeneity and cross-sectional dependence, we employ robust econometric techniques, including Instrumental Variables (IV) two-step Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) and IV two-stage least squares estimators. The results provide strong evidence that stricter environmental policies significantly accelerate the shift toward cleaner energy sources. Furthermore, the findings highlight the complementary roles of financial innovation in mobilizing green investments and economic complexity in facilitating sustainable energy adoption. These insights underscore the critical importance of stringent environmental governance in achieving global decarbonization goals and inform policymakers on the design of effective regulatory frameworks to foster energy transitions. Full article

This study presents a holistic framework for adaptive thermal energy storage (A-TES) in solar-assisted systems. This framework aims to support a reliable industrial energy supply, particularly during periods of limited sunlight, while also facilitating industrial decarbonization. In previous studies, the focus was not on addressing the framework of the entire problem, but rather on specific parts of it. Therefore, the innovation in this study lies in bringing these aspects together within a unified framework through a data-driven approach that combines the analysis of efficiency, technology, environmental impact, sectoral applications, operational challenges, and policy into a comprehensive system. Sensible thermal energy storage with an adaptive approach can be utilized in numerous industries, particularly concentrated solar power plants, to optimize power dispatch, enhance energy efficiency, and reduce gas emissions. Simulation results indicate that stable regulations and flexible incentives have led to a 60% increase in solar installations, highlighting their significance in investment expansion within the renewable energy sector. Integrated measures among sectors have increased energy availability by 50% in rural regions, illustrating the need for partnerships in renewable energy projects. The full implementation of novel advanced energy management systems (AEMSs) in industrial heat processes has resulted in a 20% decrease in energy consumption and a 15% improvement in efficiency. Making the switch to open-source software has reduced software expenditure by 50% and increased productivity by 20%, demonstrating the strategic advantages of open-source solutions. The findings provide a foundation for future research by offering a framework to analyze a specific real-world industrial case. Full article

Heating and cooling (H&C) account for nearly half of the EU’s energy consumption, with significant potential for decarbonization through renewable energy sources (RES) integrated in district heating and cooling (DHC) systems. This study evaluates the environmental and social impacts of RES-powered DHC solutions implemented in three European small-scale demo sites (Bucharest, Luleå, Córdoba) under the Horizon 2020 WEDISTRICT project. Using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) methodologies, the research compares baseline fossil-based energy scenarios with post-implementation renewable scenarios. Results reveal substantial greenhouse gas emission reductions (up to 67%) and positive environmental trade-offs, though increased mineral and metal resource use and site-specific impacts on water and land use highlight important sustainability challenges. Social assessments demonstrate improvements in gender parity, local employment, and occupational safety, yet reveal persistent issues in wage equity, union representation, and inclusion of vulnerable populations. The findings emphasize that while renewable DHC systems offer significant climate benefits, social sustainability requires tailored local strategies and robust governance to avoid exacerbating inequalities. This integrated environmental-social perspective underscores the need for holistic policies that balance technical innovation with equitable social outcomes to ensure truly sustainable energy transitions. Full article

This review examines the transformative impact of innovative artificial intelligence (AI) methods on energy productivity, industrial transformation, and digitalization in the context of energy economics, energy efficiency, and sustainability. AI-based tools are revolutionizing energy systems by optimizing production, reducing waste, and enabling predictive maintenance in industrial processes. Integrating AI increases operational efficiency across various sectors, significantly contributing to energy savings and cost reductions. Using deep learning (DL), machine learning (ML), and generative AI (genAI), companies can model complex energy consumption patterns and identify efficiency gaps in real time. Furthermore, AI supports the renewable energy transition by improving grid management, forecasting, and smart distribution. The review highlights how AI-assisted digitalization fosters smart production, resource allocation, and decarbonization strategies. Economic analyses indicate that AI implementation correlates with improved energy intensity indicators and long-term sustainability benefits. However, challenges such as data privacy, algorithm transparency, and infrastructure investment remain key barriers. This article synthesizes current literature and case studies to provide a comprehensive understanding of AI’s evolving role in transforming energy-intensive industries. These findings highlight AI’s crucial contribution to sustainable economic development through improved energy efficiency and digital innovation. Full article

As the world races toward carbon neutrality, the true test lies not in ambition but in implementation, particularly in regions such as the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye (MENAT), where energy demand is accelerating and emissions trajectories remain uncertain. Despite increasing global focus on decarbonization, the MENAT region remains empirically underexplored, with limited and often inconclusive evidence on the environmental impacts of structural factors such as energy intensity, human capital, social globalization, and financial globalization. This study addresses these gaps by integrating the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis with the Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence, and Technology (STIRPAT) framework, employing an empirical strategy using panel data from MENAT countries covering the period from 2000 to 2021. Utilizing a suite of robust panel estimators, our results suggest that there is a U-shaped connection between income and CO₂ emissions, which invalidates the EKC hypothesis. Additionally, energy intensity, human capital, and urbanization are found to increase emissions, whereas technological innovation, social globalization, and financial globalization contribute to CO₂ emissions reduction. The panel heterogeneous causality tests give insights on the inference causality between CO₂ emissions and its drivers. These results highlight the urgent need for MENAT economies to embed renewable energy, low-carbon technologies, and sustainability-focused policies into the core of their development agendas to prevent the intensification of emissions alongside rising income levels. Full article

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a vital climate mitigation strategy aimed at reducing CO₂ emissions from industrial and energy sectors. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of CCS technologies, focusing on capture methods, transport systems, geological storage, geomechanical and geochemical aspects, modeling, risk assessment, monitoring, and economic feasibility. Among capture technologies, pre-combustion capture is identified as the most efficient (90–95%) due to its high purity and integration potential. Notably, most operational CCS projects in 2025 utilize pre-combustion capture, particularly in hydrogen production and natural gas processing. For geological storage, saline aquifers and depleted oil and gas reservoirs are highlighted as the most promising due to their vast capacity and proven containment. In the transport phase, pipeline systems are considered the most effective and scalable method, offering high efficiency and cost-effectiveness for large-scale CO₂ movement, especially in the supercritical phase. The study also emphasizes the importance of hybrid integrated risk assessment models, such as NRAP-Open-IAM, which combine deterministic simulations with probabilistic frameworks for robust site evaluation. In terms of monitoring, Seismic monitoring methods are regarded as the most reliable subsurface technique for tracking CO₂ plume migration and ensuring storage integrity. Economically, depleted reservoirs offer the most feasible option when integrated with existing infrastructure and supported by incentives like 45Q tax credits. The review concludes that successful CCS deployment requires interdisciplinary innovation, standardized risk protocols, and strong policy support. This work serves as a strategic reference for researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals aiming to scale CCS technologies for global decarbonization. Full article