Search Results (405)

The resource utilization of swine manure represents a critical pathway for advancing sustainable agricultural development. This study, based on survey data from 509 swine farmers in Sichuan Province, employs the Ordered Probit (Oprobit) model and the Conditional Mixed Process (CMP) model to analyze the mechanisms and pathways through which cognition about manure treatment, environmental regulation, and their interaction influence farmers’ behaviors towards manure resource utilization. It further delves into the heterogeneous characteristics of influencing factors. The findings reveal the following: (1) Farmers possess a high level of cognition regarding manure treatment, while environmental regulation is moderately implemented. The principal methods of manure resource utilization focus on recycling to fields and organic fertilizer production, with over 95% of farmers adopting at least one method of resource utilization. (2) Both cognition of manure treatment and environmental regulation significantly promote the behavior of manure resource utilization. There are substitutive or complementary effects between moral cognition and constraint regulation, as well as capability cognition and guidance regulation. (3) Among the farming community, the behavior of large-scale farmers is mainly influenced by moral cognition, whereas non-large-scale farmers are more affected by capability cognition and guidance regulation; middle-aged and young farmers are predominantly influenced by capability cognition, incentives, and guidance regulation, whereas the older generation of farmers is driven more by moral cognition and guidance regulation. Based on these insights, this study proposes targeted strategies for enhancing cognition and regulatory alignment across different groups, aiming to elevate the level of manure resource utilization and promote the green transformation of livestock farming. Full article

South African small, medium and micro enterprises, particularly township-based spaza shops, face barriers to adopting solar photovoltaic systems due to upfront costs, regulatory uncertainty, and limited technical capacity. This article presents a reproducible methodology for evaluating and selecting solar photovoltaic systems that jointly considers economic, technological, and legal/policy criteria for such enterprises. We apply multi-criteria decision making using the Multi-Objective Optimization by the Ratio Analysis method, integrating simulation-derived techno-economic metrics with a formal policy-alignment score that reflects registration requirements, tax incentives, and access to green finance. Ten representative system configurations are assessed across cost and benefit criteria using vector normalization and weighted aggregation to enable transparent, like-for-like comparison. The analysis indicates that configurations aligned with interconnection and incentive frameworks are preferred over non-compliant options, reflecting the practical influence of policy eligibility on investability and risk. The framework is lightweight and auditable, designed so that institutional actors can prepare shared inputs while installers, lenders, and shop owners apply the ranking to guide decisions. Although demonstrated in a South African context, the procedure generalizes by substituting local tariffs, irradiance, load profiles, and jurisdiction-specific rules, providing a portable decision aid for small enterprise energy transitions. Full article

This review examines the vast opportunities and key challenges in renewable waste management across the Gulf region, with a particular emphasis on Saudi Arabia. As global demand for sustainable energy intensifies, driven by technological advancements and environmental concerns, the Gulf Cooperation Council nations, notably Saudi Arabia, are beginning to acknowledge the urgency of transitioning from fossil fuel reliance to renewable waste management. This review identifies the abundant renewable resources in the region and highlights progress in policy development while emphasizing the need for comprehensive frameworks and financial incentives to drive further investment and innovation. Waste-to-energy (WTE) technologies offer a promising avenue for reducing environmental degradation and bolstering energy security. With Saudi Arabia targeting the development of 3 Gigawatts of WTE capacity by 2030 as part of national sustainability initiatives, barriers such as regulatory complexities, financial constraints, and public misconceptions persist. Ultimately, this review concludes that advancing renewable waste management in the Gulf, particularly through stronger policies, stakeholders’ collaboration, investment in WTE and an enhancement in public awareness and education, is critical for achieving sustainability goals. By harnessing these opportunities, the region can take decisive steps toward achieving sustainability, positioning Saudi Arabia as a leader in the global fight against climate change and resource depletion. Full article

This study examines the governance of building carbon markets in the context of China’s “dual-carbon strategy”, focusing specifically on the integration of Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems. The study identifies critical challenges in China’s emissions-trading scheme (ETS), such as weak corporate compliance incentives, high regulatory costs, and concerns about third-party verification independence, which hinder the effectiveness of carbon pricing and technology adoption. Using a three-player evolutionary game model involving the government, carbon-emitting firms, and third-party verifiers, the study finds that moderate government supervision, performance-based incentives, and stronger penalties lead to long-term stability and optimal governance. Based on these findings, policy recommendations are made, including tiered penalties, targeted incentives for green technology adoption, and the strengthening of third-party verification mechanisms to enhance market governance and support China’s carbon-reduction goals in the building sector. Full article

The cement industry accounts for approximately 7–8% of global CO₂ emissions, primarily due to energy-intensive clinker production and limestone calcination. With cement demand continuing to rise, particularly in emerging economies, decarbonization has become an urgent global challenge. The objective of this study is to systematically map and synthesize existing evidence on technological pathways, policy measures, and economic barriers to four core decarbonization strategies: clinker substitution, energy efficiency, alternative fuels, as well as carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) in the cement sector, with the goal of identifying practical strategies that can align industry practice with long-term climate goals. A scoping review methodology was adopted, drawing on peer-reviewed journal articles, technical reports, and policy documents to ensure a comprehensive perspective. The results demonstrate that each mitigation pathway is technically feasible but faces substantial real-world constraints. Clinker substitution delivers immediate reduction but is limited by SCM availability/quality, durability qualification, and conservative codes; LC₃ is promising where clay logistics allow. Energy-efficiency measures like waste-heat recovery and advanced controls reduce fuel use but face high capital expenditure, downtime, and diminishing returns in modern plants. Alternative fuels can reduce combustion-related emissions but face challenges of supply chains, technical integration challenges, quality, weak waste-management systems, and regulatory acceptance. CCUS, the most considerable long-term potential, addresses process CO₂ and enables deep reductions, but remains commercially unviable due to current economics, high costs, limited policy support, lack of large-scale deployment, and access to transport and storage. Cross-cutting economic challenges, regulatory gaps, skill shortages, and social resistance including NIMBYism further slow adoption, particularly in low-income regions. This study concludes that a single pathway is insufficient. An integrated portfolio supported by modernized standards, targeted policy incentives, expanded access to SCMs and waste fuels, scaled CCUS investment, and international collaboration is essential to bridge the gap between climate ambition and industrial implementation. Key recommendations include modernizing cement standards to support higher clinker replacement, providing incentives for energy-efficient upgrades, scaling CCUS through joint investment and carbon pricing and expanding access to biomass and waste-derived fuels. Full article

With the rapid advancement of the Internet and big data, data sharing has become pivotal for enhancing operational efficiency and user experience across industries. In the restaurant sector, the emergence of smart kitchens has accelerated digital transformation, underscoring the critical importance of data sharing. In this study, we investigate the evolutionary dynamics among four key stakeholders in the smart kitchen ecosystem: data providers, data-sharing platforms, data consumers, and regulators. We develop a four-party evolutionary game model to analyze the strategic interactions and behavioral evolution of each participant, applying replicator dynamics and Lyapunov stability theory. Our findings reveal that (1) data providers’ willingness to supply high-quality data is strongly influenced by platform incentives; (2) platforms’ adoption of data governance mechanisms depends on associated governance costs; (3) regulatory subsidies contribute significantly to system stability; and (4) increased financial support for regulators promotes favorable system evolution. This work offers both theoretical insights and practical guidance for data sharing in smart kitchens, providing a novel perspective on digital transformation within the restaurant industry. Full article

The digital transformation of low-voltage distribution networks demands a renewed perspective on both regulatory frameworks and metering technologies. This article explores the intersection between incentive structures and metering technologies, focusing on how smart metering can act as a strategic enabler for flexibility in electricity distribution. Starting with the Spanish regulatory evolution and European benchmarking, the shift from asset-based regulation and how it can be complemented with performance-oriented incentives to support advanced metering functionalities is analyzed. On the technical side, the capabilities of smart meters and the performance of communication protocols (such as PRIME, G3-PLC, and 6LoWPAN) highlighting their suitability for real-time observability and control are examined. The findings identify a way to enhance regulatory frameworks for fully harnessing the operational potential of smart metering systems. This article calls for a hybrid, context-aware approach that integrates regulatory evolution with metering structures innovation to unlock the full value of smart metering in the energy transition. Full article

The value of personal data can only be unlocked through efficient circulation. This study explores a multi-party collaborative mechanism for personal-data trading, aiming to improve data quality and market vitality via incentive-compatible institutional design, thereby supporting the high-quality development of the digital economy. Symmetry enhancement refers to the use of strategies and mechanisms to narrow the information gap among data controllers, operators, and demanders, enabling all parties to facilitate personal-data transactions on relatively equal footing. Drawing on evolutionary-game theory, we construct a tripartite dynamic-game model that incorporates data controllers, data operators, and data demanders. We analyze how initial willingness, payoff structures, breach costs, and risk factors (e.g., data leakage) shape each party’s strategic choices (cooperate vs. defect) and their evolutionary trajectories, in search of stable equilibrium conditions and core incentive mechanisms for a healthy market. We find that (1) the initial willingness to cooperate among participants is the foundation of a virtuous cycle; (2) the net revenue of data products significantly influences operators’ and demanders’ propensity to cooperate; and (3) the severity of breach penalties and the potential losses from data leakage jointly affect the strategies of all three parties, serving as key levers for maintaining market trust and compliance. Accordingly, we recommend strengthening contract enforcement and trust-building; refining the legal and regulatory framework for data rights confirmation, circulation, trading, and security; and promoting stable supply–demand cooperation and market education to enhance awareness of data value and compliance, thereby stimulating individuals’ willingness to authorize the use of their data and maximizing its value. Full article

Global efforts to achieve carbon neutrality increasingly rely on institutional green policy that reshape corporate environmental behavior. This study examines whether green policy improves corporate environmental performance (EP). Using panel data of the A-share listed firms from 2010 to 2022, we exploit the rollout of pilot cities as a quasi-natural experiment and apply a difference-in-differences (DID) framework, supplemented by double machine learning (DML) and robustness tests. The results show that the New Energy Demonstration City (NEDC) policy notably increases EP, with stronger effects for state-owned enterprises, large firms, and regulated industries. Mechanism analysis indicates that artificial intelligence innovation capacity and the stringency of regional environmental regulation amplify the policy’s effectiveness, revealing a “innovation–regulation” dual mechanism. By focusing on integrated EP rather than single outcomes, this paper extends the literature on green policy instruments. It demonstrates that structural policies combining fiscal incentives and regulatory constraints can correct market failures and foster long-term green transition. Beyond China, the findings provide insights for other developing economies where market-based instruments alone may be insufficient to trigger low-carbon transformation. Full article

Microgrids (MGs) have emerged as pivotal players in the energy transition by enabling the efficient integration of distributed energy resources and the provision of ancillary services to the power system. Despite their technical capabilities, MGs still face economic and regulatory barriers that hinder their widespread deployment in electricity markets. This paper presents a structured methodological framework to assess the economic viability of MGs delivering services such as peak shaving, loss compensation, and voltage support, among others. The proposed approach considers three distinct scenarios: (1) MGs supplying energy to local loads, (2) hybrid MGs combining local supply with ancillary services, and (3) MGs exclusively dedicated to ancillary services. The framework incorporates adjusted levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), levelized avoided cost of electricity (LACE), and net value metrics, while accounting for tax incentives and market price signals. A case study based in Colombia (Cali and Camarones) validates the framework through simulations conducted in HOMER Pro V3.18.4 and MATLAB Online. The results indicate that remuneration schemes based on availability and service utilization significantly enhance the viability of MGs. The proposed methodology is applicable to emerging regulatory environments and offers guidance for designing public policies that promote the active participation of MGs in supporting grid operations. Full article

Mexico holds significant potential for wind energy development, owing to its strategic geographic location and extensive coastlines. This review article systematically explores the technical, environmental, and economic aspects of wind energy in five different climatic zones in Mexico, reviewing potential zones for wind energy development, with the focus on the key case studies, ongoing project, and wind power performance metrics. It also critically examines the key challenges and opportunities within Mexico’s wind energy portfolio, with a focus on social, economic, environmental, and regulatory dimensions that influence the sector’s development and long-term sustainability. The results indicate that Oaxaca leads Mexico’s onshore wind potential with a power density of 761 W/m², followed by strong resources in Tamaulipas and Baja California, where wind speeds exceed 6 m/s. For offshore wind potential, Isthmus of Tehuantepec demonstrates outstanding offshore potential, with wind power densities exceeding 1000 W/m² and wind speeds above 8 m/s. Major challenges include inconsistent or unclear governmental policies regarding renewable energy incentives, regulatory uncertainties, and social resistance from local communities concerned about environmental impacts and land use. These obstacles underline the need for integrated, transparent policies and inclusive engagement strategies to carry out the full potential of wind energy in Mexico. Full article

The integration of renewable energy into the grid has led to problems such as low utilization rate of energy storage resources (“underutilization after construction”) and insufficient system stability. This paper studied the co-evolution mechanism of power market entities empowered by shared energy storage. Based on the interaction among power generation enterprises, power grid operators, and government regulatory agencies, this paper constructed a three-party evolutionary game model. The model introduced a dynamic reward and punishment mechanism as well as a random interference mechanism, which makes it more in line with the actual situation. The stability conditions of the game players were analyzed by using stochastic differential equations, and the influences of key parameters and incentive mechanisms on the stability of the game players were investigated through numerical simulation. The main research results showed the following: (1) The benefits of shared energy storage and opportunistic gains had a significant impact on the strategic choices of power generation companies and grid operators. (2) The regulatory efficiency had significantly promoted the long-term stable maintenance of the system. (3) Dynamic incentives were superior to static incentives in promoting cooperation, while the deterrent effect of static penalties is stronger than that of dynamic penalties. (4) The increase in the intensity of random disturbances led to strategy oscillation. This study suggested that the government implement gradient-based dynamic incentives, maintain strict static penalties to curb opportunism, and enhance regulatory robustness against uncertainty. This research provided theoretical and practical inspirations for optimizing energy storage incentive policies and promoting multi-subject coordination in the power market. Full article

The construction and demolition (C&D) industry generates nearly one-third of the total global waste. In response, the European Union is driving urgent efforts to enhance material circularity through the promotion of renewable materials. However, research primarily targets materials such as concrete, plastics, steel, bricks, and gypsum, while wood as a renewable material presents a clear research gap. This study aims to bridge the gap by identifying key barriers and potentials for reusing wood waste in the C&D sector. As a result, factors influencing wood reusability are categorized into economic, societal, environmental, technical, and regulatory dimensions. Economic and environmental factors addressing high costs, unstable markets, and contamination are the most discussed barriers for an enhanced circular use of wood. Specifically, material irregularities and impurities represent technical barriers that may make wood demand less attractive. Societal barriers, such as knowledge gaps regarding the quality of secondary materials, established standards, and legal limits are further barriers that are mentioned in the literature. Therefore, potential future indicators to support a circular approach in the construction sector, including regulatory actions and incentives, are recommended to promote recovered secondary materials. This approach would facilitate shared stakeholder cooperation, knowledge sharing, and market development. Full article

Electric arc furnace technology is a key factor in the sustainable transformation of the iron and steel industry. This study compares two discrete-time multi-objective optimization models—integer and mixed-integer linear programming—that integrate unit commitment with economic and environmental dispatch. After evaluating both approaches, the integer linear programming model is used, due to its reasonable calculation time, to assess demand-side management potentials under real-world processes and day-ahead market conditions. The model is applied to various scenarios with differing energy price dynamics, CO₂ pricing, EAF utilization levels, and weighting of the objective functions. Results indicate cost savings of up to 6.95% and CO₂ emission reductions of up to 10.86%, though these are subject to a non-linear trade-off between economic and environmental goals. Due to process constraints and market structures, EAFs’ flexibility in energy carrier use (switch between electricity and natural gas) is limited to 3.07%. Additionally, lower furnace utilization does not necessarily increase flexibility, as downstream process requirements restrict scheduling options. The study underscores the importance of green electrification, with up to 36% CO₂ savings when using 100% renewable electricity. Overall, unlocking industrial flexibility requires technical solutions, supportive market incentives, and regulatory frameworks for effective industrial decarbonization. Full article

This paper addresses water governance in the context of dissolved organic matter emissions into water bodies and cultural eutrophication. Through a comparative interdisciplinary analysis of cases from Norway, the Czech Republic, and China, it seeks to identify core principals of effective water governance and suggest strategies for achieving good ecological and chemical status of raw water. The analysis presents each case by exploring natural and societal processes, emphasising the interdependence between society and nature, and applying a theoretical framework. In this way, the paper contributes to the broader field of water governance studies. The central conclusion is that raw water quality results from “muddling through” processes involving stakeholders with diverse and sometimes conflicting interests. Building the capabilities to manage such contingencies is essential for successful governance. Four critical dimensions are identified as key to this capability: (i) robust environmental knowledge and literacy; (ii) stronger representation of non-human interest; (iii) regulatory measures and economic incentives to enhance raw water quality; and (iv) integrated multi-level governance combining top-down and bottom-up approaches. Strengthening these dimensions can also help mitigate the structural economic pressure driving the exploitation of “cheap nature”. Full article