How to make climate-neutral aviation fly

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: July 6, 2023

The European aviation sector must substantially reduce climate impacts to reach net-zero goals. This reduction, however, not be limited flight CO2 emissions since such a narrow focus leaves up 80% of unaccounted for. Based on rigorous life-cycle assessment and time-dependent quantification non-CO2 impacts, here we show that, from technological standpoint, using electricity-based synthetic jet fuels compensating via direct air carbon capture storage (DACCS) can enable climate-neutral aviation. However, with continuous increase in traffic, fuel produced electricity renewables would exert excessive pressure economic natural resources. Alternatively, fossil DACCS require massive volumes prolong dependence fuels. Here, demonstrate that will fly if traffic is reduced limit the scale mitigate.

Language: Английский

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Achieving net-zero emissions in agriculture: a review

Environmental Research Letters, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 18(6), P. 063002 - 063002

Published: May 16, 2023

Abstract Agriculture accounts for 12% of global annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (7.1 Gt CO 2 equivalent), primarily through non-CO emissions, namely methane (54%), nitrous oxide (28%), and carbon dioxide (18%). Thus, agriculture contributes significantly to climate change is impacted by its consequences. Here, we present a review technologies innovations reducing GHG in agriculture. These include decarbonizing on-farm energy use, adopting nitrogen fertilizers management technologies, alternative rice cultivation methods, feeding breeding enteric methane. Combined, all these measures can reduce agricultural up 45%. However, residual 3.8 equivalent per year will require offsets from removal make net-zero. Bioenergy with capture storage enhanced rock weathering are particularly promising techniques, as they be implemented within result permanent sequestration. While net-zero technically available, come price premium over the status quo have limited adoption. Further research development needed such more affordable scalable understand their synergies wider socio-environmental impacts. With support incentives, transition significant emitter sink. This study may serve blueprint identify areas where further investments accelerate

Language: Английский

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Global energy use and carbon emissions from irrigated agriculture

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: April 10, 2024

Abstract Irrigation is a land management practice with major environmental impacts. However, global energy consumption and carbon emissions resulting from irrigation remain unknown. We assess the worldwide associated irrigation, while also measuring potential reductions achievable through adoption of efficient low-carbon practices. Currently, contributes 216 million metric tons CO 2 consumes 1896 petajoules annually, representing 15% greenhouse gas utilized in agricultural operations. Despite only 40% irrigated agriculture relies on groundwater sources, pumping accounts for 89% total irrigation. Projections indicate that future expansion could lead to 28% increase usage. Embracing highly efficient, methods has cut half reduce by 90%. considering country-specific feasibility mitigation options, may see 55% reduction. Our research offers comprehensive insights into contributing valuable information can guide assessments viability enhancing adaptive capacity within sector.

Language: Английский

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Future hydrogen economies imply environmental trade-offs and a supply-demand mismatch

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Aug. 15, 2024

Abstract Hydrogen will play a key role in decarbonizing economies. Here, we quantify the costs and environmental impacts of possible large-scale hydrogen economies, using four prospective demand scenarios for 2050 ranging from 111–614 megatonne H 2 year −1 . Our findings confirm that renewable (solar photovoltaic wind) electrolytic production generates at least 50–90% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than fossil-fuel-based counterparts without carbon capture storage. However, could still result considerable burdens, which requires reassessing concept green hydrogen. global analysis highlights few salient points: (i) mismatch between economical across continents seems likely; (ii) region-specific limitations are inevitable since possibly more 60% large potentials concentrated water-scarce regions; (iii) upscaling be limited by power generation natural resource potentials.

Language: Английский

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Effects of emissions caps on the costs and feasibility of low-carbon hydrogen in the European ammonia industry

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: May 4, 2024

Abstract The European ammonia industry emits 36 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, primarily from steam methane reforming (SMR) hydrogen production. These emissions can be mitigated by producing via water electrolysis using dedicated renewables with grid backup. This study investigates the impact decarbonization targets for synthesis on economic viability and technical feasibility retrofitting existing plants on-site, semi-islanded electrolytic Results show that cuts emissions, average, 85% (36%-100% based price intensity), even without enforcing emission limits. However, an optimal lifespan average well-to-gate cap 1 kg equivalent (CO 2 e)/kg H leads to a 95% reduction (92%-100%) while maintaining cost-competitiveness SMR in renewable-rich regions (mean levelized cost (LCOH) 4.1 euro/kg ). Conversely, 100% target dramatically increases costs LCOH: 6.3 ) land area installations, likely hindering transition poor limited land. Increasing plant flexibility effectively reduces costs, particularly off-grid reduction: 32%). work guides policymakers defining cost-effective identifying region-based strategies support hydrogen-fed industry.

Language: Английский

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Integrated Carbon Capture and Utilization in the Cement Industry: A Comparative Study

ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 12(7), P. 2709 - 2718

Published: Feb. 5, 2024

This study analyzes a novel carbon capture and utilization pathway that has been proposed for the decarbonization of cement sector compares its performance in terms dioxide (CO2) emissions to business as usual (BAU) storage (CCS) alternative. In integrated (I-CCU) solution, methanol is produced with hydrogen from an electrolysis plant CO2 captured at oxyfuel plant; oxygen delivered comes same provides hydrogen, which eliminates need air separation unit (ASU). Due high energy demand electrolysis, footprint solution depends on intensity power grid; any advantage avoiding ASU overshadowed by requirements I-CCU. Consequently, BAU outperforms I-CCU geographical regions specific electricity larger than 0.2 kgCO2/kW h, corresponds most Europe. Furthermore, CCS practically always better alternative I-CCU; only when there renewable available abundance, better. Finally, it should be highlighted using additional low-carbon sources drive not efficient use emission reductions per electricity. While pursuit (energy) integration circularity considered, our work emphasizes necessity conducting comparative analysis, such presented here, guarantee achievement desired objectives.

Language: Английский

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Cost-competitive decentralized ammonia fertilizer production can increase food security

Nature Food, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 5(6), P. 469 - 479

Published: May 16, 2024

Abstract The current centralized configuration of the ammonia industry makes production nitrogen fertilizers susceptible to volatility fossil fuel prices and involves complex supply chains with long-distance transport costs. An alternative consists on-site decentralized using small modular technologies, such as electric Haber–Bosch or electrocatalytic reduction. Here we evaluate cost-competitiveness producing low-carbon at farm scale, from a solar agrivoltaic system, electricity grid, within novel global fertilizer industry. Projected costs for are compared historical market production. We find that relies on chain disruptions. Taking both factors into account, could achieve up 96% demand by 2030. These results show potential technologies in revolutionizing industry, particularly regions facing food insecurity.

Language: Английский

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Process integration and life cycle assessment of ethane thermal cracking, carbon capture, green hydrogen, CO2 hydrogenation and methanol to olefins

Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 74, P. 104162 - 104162

Published: Jan. 8, 2025

Language: Английский

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Low-carbon ammonia production is essential for resilient and sustainable agriculture

Nature Food, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 17, 2025

Language: Английский

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Nonviable carbon neutrality with plastic waste-to-energy

Energy & Environmental Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 16(7), P. 3074 - 3087

Published: Jan. 1, 2023

Energy recovery of plastic waste without carbon capture resulted in higher CO 2 emissions than from fossil fuels. Potential electricity generation 2050 waste-to-energy could be significantly increased.

Language: Английский

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