{"title":"Revisiting heterogeneity in the relationship between CO2 per capita emissions and income per capita","authors":"Pinar Deniz, Thanasis Stengos","doi":"10.1002/ep.14585","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.14585","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study applies various methods to deal with sources of potential misspecification in the drivers of CO<sub>2</sub> per capita emissions within an environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) framework. The proposed methodologies are as follows: (i) Bayesian model averaging analysis as a remedy for omitted variable bias due to model uncertainty, (ii) convergence club analysis to endogenously classify a large size of panel of countries as a remedy for unobserved heterogeneity, (iii) inclusion of lagged regressors as a remedy for simultaneity. The empirical findings show that the EKC is holding for all except for the first group with the highest (or fastest) long-term income trajectories. Moreover, one observes a clear negative impact of renewable energy consumption, a general positive impact of financial development, and no impact of institutions on emissions. Finally, the findings highlight the importance of constructing homogeneous country clusters.</p>","PeriodicalId":11701,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy","volume":"44 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144171314","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A novel wind power prediction model based on PatchTST and temporal convolutional network","authors":"Mingju Gong, Yining Wang, Jiabin Huang, Hanwen Cui, Shaomin Jing, Fan Zhang","doi":"10.1002/ep.14584","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.14584","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Due to the unpredictable nature of wind, wind power forecasting still faces certain challenges. The accuracy of wind power prediction plays a crucial role in the stability of the whole system. To improve the accuracy of wind power prediction, this research proposed an innovative hybrid prediction model that utilizes a multi-layer perceptron, combined with a temporal convolutional network and PatchTST. Firstly, a multi-layer perceptron is introduced to capture higher-order features, and a temporal convolutional network is used to extract time-domain features from the dataset to capture the dynamic changes of wind speed; then, PatchTST is used to accurately forecast wind power. The results show that the proposed model performs well in terms of prediction accuracy and prediction speed. The minimal MAPE is 14.4%, the prediction accuracy is improved by 9.22%, and the power generation efficiency is increased by 0.31%. In addition, this research used Bootstrapping to estimate the probability interval of wind power to provide a more comprehensive wind power forecast. This study provides a new and effective tool in the field of wind power forecasting, helping to improve the stability of power systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":11701,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy","volume":"44 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144171315","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sanaya Yousaf, Anam Ashraf, Shaista Ali, Akasha Rafiq, Abid Mahmood, Farrukh Bashir, Muhammad Akhyar Farrukh, Fizza Naseem, Durr -e-Shahwar
{"title":"Evaluation of the preservative efficacy of green-synthesized ZnO Nanoparticles using Cucumis sativus in cream formulations","authors":"Sanaya Yousaf, Anam Ashraf, Shaista Ali, Akasha Rafiq, Abid Mahmood, Farrukh Bashir, Muhammad Akhyar Farrukh, Fizza Naseem, Durr -e-Shahwar","doi":"10.1002/ep.14583","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.14583","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Due to concerns about the safety of preservatives in cosmetic formulations, there is an urgent need to explore eco-friendly alternatives that do not pose a risk to consumers. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are promising preservatives for pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. In this study, ZnO NPs were synthesized using <i>Cucumis sativus</i> (cucumber) extract as a stabilizing agent and zinc acetate dihydrate as a precursor. Polyphenols, terpenoids, and flavonoids in cucumber extract act as capping agents and facilitate the reduction of metal ions to form ZnO NPs. Synthesized ZnO NPs were characterized using various techniques, including powder x-ray diffraction, x-ray fluorescence, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, photoluminescence and spectroscopy UV–Vis. The effectiveness of ZnO NPs as a preservative in cream formulation was evaluated along with their antioxidant and antibacterial properties against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. This study introduces a new green synthesis method to produce ZnO NPs using <i>C. sativus</i> extract. This eco-friendly and cost-effective approach is a sustainable alternative for nanoparticle synthesis. It is worth noting that this is the first time that zinc oxide nanoparticles are used as a natural preservative in a moisturizing cream formulation. The resulting cosmetic formulation represents a unique advancement in cosmetic science that meets consumer demands for safe and eco-friendly skin care products while utilizing the preservative properties of ZnO NPs. This research has significant potential to change the cosmetics industry by providing natural and sustainable alternatives to traditional preservatives.</p>","PeriodicalId":11701,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy","volume":"44 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144171346","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shaban Mousavi Ghasemlou, Alberto Ochoa-Zezzatti, Karrar A. Hammoodi, Ali Keçebaş, Nabil Ben Kahla, Saiful Islam, Luz Angelica Garcia Villalba, Yashar Aryanfar
{"title":"Synergizing wind turbines with geothermal heat pumps: An exergoeconomic performance and optimization study","authors":"Shaban Mousavi Ghasemlou, Alberto Ochoa-Zezzatti, Karrar A. Hammoodi, Ali Keçebaş, Nabil Ben Kahla, Saiful Islam, Luz Angelica Garcia Villalba, Yashar Aryanfar","doi":"10.1002/ep.14581","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.14581","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study meticulously evaluates a hybrid renewable energy system that integrates geothermal heat pumps with wind turbines, focusing on Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Utilizing statistical and mathematical analysis, the research delves into the energy, exergy, and exergoeconomic performance of the system, emphasizing its sustainability and efficiency. A standout result is the ground-source heat pump's coefficient of performance, which remains stable at 3.916 across varying ambient temperatures, showcasing the system's resilience. A significant observation is the inverse relationship between the system's exergy efficiency and ambient temperature, highlighting efficiency loss at higher temperatures. Among the system components, the wind turbine distinguished itself with a 100% exergoeconomic factor, signifying its paramount efficiency in energy conversion without exergy loss, underscoring the wind turbine's critical role in sustainable energy generation. The study also uncovers a consistent net power output of 9.765 kW, demonstrating the system's reliability amidst temperature variances. The exergoeconomic analysis reveals disparities in component efficiencies, marking the ground source heat exchanger and condenser as areas ripe for optimization to enhance the overall system performance. Future research is suggested to expand climatic condition variations and explore adaptive system designs, aiming to improve the hybrid system's efficiency and global applicability, thereby enriching the renewable energy domain.</p>","PeriodicalId":11701,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy","volume":"44 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144171451","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Juxtaposing the influence of nuclear energy, human development index and research & development on economic performance of the European Union countries","authors":"Abraham Deka, Joshua Kisungu Kipulu, Sindiso Dube","doi":"10.1002/ep.14565","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.14565","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Nuclear energy has emerged as one of the essential sources of energy in the European Union (EU) region. It does not cause pollution to the environment, just like renewable energy (RE), though it is subject to depletion. Therefore, nuclear energy – a low-carbon energy source – is fundamental in maintaining sustainable development through raising national income with less ecological harm. However, there are studies that have investigated the influence of nuclear energy on the economic performance and on environmental sustainability. Thus, to cover the existing gap and inform policy making this study investigates the influence of nuclear energy and research & development (necessary for technological innovations) on the economic performance of the EU countries. The data of fourteen EU nuclear energy consuming countries is used in this analysis for the period 1990 to 2015. Important determinants of economic growth – capital, RE, human capital and financial development – are specified in the model for model controlling purposes. To achieve the research aim, the Generalized Least Squares and the Panels Correlated Standard Errors that caters for the within-panel correlations are used. The findings depict that nuclear energy, research & development, human development index and financial development are fundamental in raising the economic growth of the EU countries. However, capital growth rate and renewable energy are counterproductive. This research informs policy implication in nuclear energy use along with technological innovations and human development in order to advance sustainable economic growth.</p>","PeriodicalId":11701,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy","volume":"44 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143690286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Adesanya Samuel Abayomi, Kuhe Aondoyila, Ibrahim Jacob Sunday, Ndah Abdulrahman Alpha
{"title":"Sustainable briquette production from jujube seed shells: Process optimization using response surface methodology","authors":"Adesanya Samuel Abayomi, Kuhe Aondoyila, Ibrahim Jacob Sunday, Ndah Abdulrahman Alpha","doi":"10.1002/ep.14563","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.14563","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study explores the optimization of binder-free briquette production from jujube seed shells, an underutilized biomass resource in Nigeria, using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The influence of key process variables—particle size, pre-heat temperature, and compaction pressure—on the mechanical and thermal properties of the briquettes was assessed. RSM results indicated that fine particle sizes (<0.6 mm), combined with pre-heat temperatures between 65 and 75°C and compaction pressures up to 100 MPa, yielded briquettes with optimal characteristics: a maximum density of 2108 kg/m<sup>3</sup>, compressive strength of 22.81 MPa, and a shatter index exceeding 98%. The briquettes showed excellent durability, with minimal relaxed density loss (1.95%) over 56 days. Thermal analysis revealed high energy content, with calorific values ranging from 6317 to 6495 kcal/kg (26.45–27.19 MJ/kg), low ash content (1.51%–1.68%), and significant fixed carbon (17.29%–18.39%). The optimization process underscored the effectiveness of natural lignin as an internal binder, eliminating the need for external binders. These findings offer a sustainable, cost-effective, and eco-friendly alternative to traditional fuels, with promising potential for rural energy solutions in West Africa.</p>","PeriodicalId":11701,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy","volume":"44 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144171485","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Experimental investigation on the impact of ammonia fuel in a low-powered CI engine – A study toward dual fuel engine approach","authors":"K. K. Hari, Nataraj Ganesan","doi":"10.1002/ep.14580","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.14580","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study aims to operate a CRDI-equipped single-cylinder CI engine in a dual fuel mode with pilot-ignited WCB fuel and port-injected NH<sub>3</sub> fuel. The current study experimentally investigates the influence of various AEFs on performance, combustion, and pollutant emissions of dual fuel engine at peak load (4.14 bar BMEP @ 1500 rpm) conditions with constant speed. The obtained results showed that the AEF was limited due to its inherent combustion properties. Under the aforementioned operating conditions, we achieved a maximum of 44.89% of AEF. The NH<sub>3</sub> dual fuel engine achieves a maximum BTE of 29.33%. Moreover, in the dual fuel operation, the combustion switches from the diffusion phase with WCB operation to the rapid controlled phase as the AEF increases. The ICT reduces from 1488 to 1443 K when the AEF increases from 0% to 44.89%, respectively. Although NH<sub>3</sub> injection notably decreased the CO<sub>2</sub>, HC, CO, and smoke emissions by 57.14%, 60.26%, 71.42%, and 67.59%, NOx emissions increased by 16.21% compared with WCB operation. The BSEC of the dual-fuel mode engine is 13.07 MJ/kW-hr, which is slightly higher than the biodiesel operation mode, 12.17 MJ/kW-hr. The maximum ICP, HRR, and ID were increased by 2.6 bar, 4.64 J/deg., and 5 CAD, and CD and combustion phasing were reduced by 9.3 CAD and 7.98 CAD, respectively. However, the turbulence within the cylinder fluctuates significantly, with a COV of IMEP reaching 5.23% at an AEF of 44.89%.</p>","PeriodicalId":11701,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy","volume":"44 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144171442","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Study on the energy efficiency of straw fly ash concrete walls in rural residential buildings","authors":"Zhiyong Guo, Dzhedzhula Viacheslav","doi":"10.1002/ep.14579","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.14579","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In order to efficiently utilize agricultural and industrial wastes, and to achieve both resource recycling and building energy efficiency, this study incorporated different dosages of fly ash (10%, 20%, and 30%) and straw (4%, 6%, 8%, and 10%) into ordinary concrete(OC) materials, and the straw was selected from corn straw powder (CSP), corn straw strips (CSS), wheat straw powder (WSP), and wheat straw strips (WSS) which were commonly found in rural areas. The compressive strength of the concrete was tested using the experimental platform, the moisture content and thermal conductivity of the concrete were tested at different air humidity levels (0%, 38.2%, 54.0%, 75.4%, and 97.4%), the functional relationship between straw fly ash admixture and the compressive strength and thermal conductivity of the concrete was investigated, and the energy efficiency of the wheat straw flour concrete walls using F20S6 (20% fly ash and 6% straw) was analyzed. The study reveals that although the incorporation of straw and fly ash makes the concrete strength weaken with the increase of the proportion, the concrete with F20S6 dosage still meets the strength requirements of the wall. Meanwhile, the thermal conductivity decreased with the increase of admixture but increased with the increase of humidity. Applied to rural dwellings, straw fly ash concrete(SFC)walls showed significant energy-saving advantages.</p>","PeriodicalId":11701,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy","volume":"44 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144171400","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Analysis of numerous economic and financial barriers using the fuzzy DEMATEL method in the reverse supply chain to implement PV waste handling","authors":"Dinesh Yadav, Amit Kumar Saraf","doi":"10.1002/ep.14578","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.14578","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In the future, the management and disposal of waste from solar panels will pose increasing challenges for the sustainable provision of renewable energy. The recovery and recycling of PV waste have the potential to stimulate a nation's economy. Numerous obstacles impede the implementation of reverse supply chain PV waste management in India. The primary challenge faced by RSC management in establishing a circular economy is the financial burden. This study primarily focuses on the application of the fuzzy DEMATEL approach to assess and investigate the impact of financial and economic barriers in the reverse supply chain utilized for PV waste management in India. A review of the literature identified five barriers: insufficient investment in research and development (R&D) due to financial and economic constraints, lack of recycling incentives, limited realized economic profits, inadequate investment in PV waste recycling, and high initial cost of adopting RSCM. The results indicated that compared to other barriers, the high initial cost of implementing RSCM exerts a greater influence.</p>","PeriodicalId":11701,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy","volume":"44 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144171280","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Enhancing the cooling effectiveness of concentrated photovoltaic systems using polyethylene terephthalate","authors":"K. Simoud, A. Chaker","doi":"10.1002/ep.14561","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.14561","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Concentrated photovoltaic systems convert solar energy into electrical and thermal energy, making effective cooling crucial for optimizing performance and preventing cell damage. This study aimed to enhance both electrical and thermal efficiency while protecting cells from heat damage by incorporating polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into conventional channels with aspect ratios of 25 and 30. Numerical simulations using FORTRAN evaluated the system's efficiency, and an economic analysis assessed how PET costs affected the levelized cost of energy (LCOE). The research focused on the optimal position and height of PET, as well as the influence of the incidence heat flux angle on efficiency. Results showed that adjusting PET height and position significantly improved CPV system performance, with peak thermal and electrical efficiencies of 64.9% and 9.72%, respectively, achieved at a Reynolds number of 1500 and an aspect ratio of 30. Increasing the aspect ratio and incidence heat flux angle further enhanced efficiency, with optimal results at an incidence heat flux angle 35° and an aspect ratio of 30. Additionally, PET reduced the LCOE compared to other materials, thereby lowering overall cooling system costs.</p>","PeriodicalId":11701,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy","volume":"44 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143688681","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}