A coal-fired power plant integrated with biomass co-firing and CO_(2) capture for zero carbon emission

A promising scheme for coal-fired power plants in which biomass co-firing and carbon dioxide capture technologies are adopted and the low-temperature waste heat from the CO_(2) capture process is recycled to heat the condensed water to achieve zero carbon emission is proposed in this paper.Based on a 660 MW supercritical coal-fired power plant,the thermal performance,emission performance,and economic performance of the proposed scheme are evaluated.In addition,a sensitivity analysis is conducted to show the effects of several key parameters on the performance of the proposed system.The results show that when the biomass mass mixing ratio is 15.40%and the CO_(2) capture rate is 90%,the CO_(2) emission of the coal-fired power plant can reach zero,indicating that the technical route proposed in this paper can indeed achieve zero carbon emission in coal-fired power plants.The net thermal efficiency decreases by 10.31%,due to the huge energy consumption of the CO_(2) capture unit.Besides,the cost of electricity(COE)and the cost of CO_(2) avoided(COA)of the proposed system are 80.37/MWhand41.63/tCO_(2),respectively.The sensitivity analysis demonstrates that with the energy consumption of the reboiler decreasing from 3.22 GJ/tCO_(2) to 2.40 GJ/tCO_(2),the efficiency penalty is reduced to 8.67%.This paper may provide reference for promoting the early realization of carbon neutrality in the power generation industry.

A theory of carbon currency

We propose a new international monetary system based on carbon currency(the carbon standard)to tackle two pressing externalities in today’s global economic and political context:the dangerous and irreversible effects caused by unconstrained green-house gas emissions and the cost to the rest of the world as a result of the U.S.dollar being the dominated global currency and the U.S.Federal Reserve increasingly implementing monetary policies not aligned with the global common interest.We define carbon currency as standardized carbon-related securities backed up by the right of one unit of carbon emissions.It can be used as a new global reserve currency and functions as an international unit of account.Through the trading of carbon currency,efficient carbon prices are established.By incorporating the cost of carbon emissions into decision making,carbon pricing provides incentives for countries to pursue low-carbon growth,which helps achieve the net zero emissions global goal set under the 2015 Paris Agreement.Under the carbon standard,the external shocks to the international financial system would come from variations of carbon emissions rather than the U.S.monetary policies.As such,monetary authorities’commitment to maintaining stable exchange rates comes together with monetary policies aiming at pursuing low-carbon growth.The new system potentially poses a plausible solution to the classical Mundellian Trilemma because the objectives of maintaining fixed exchange rate and implementing monetary policy become one.Although several hurdles are constraining the launch of carbon currency immediately,the carbon standard poses a feasible international monetary system as the world-wide campaign to achieve carbon neutrality progresses.

A review of methane leakage from abandoned oil and gas wells:A case study in Lubbock,Texas,within the Permian Basin

In the pursuit of global net zero carbon emissions and climate change mitigation,ongoing research into sustainable energy sources and emission control is paramount.This review examines methane leakage from abandoned oil and gas(AOG)wells,focusing particularly on Lubbock,a geographic area situated within the larger region known as the Permian Basin in West Texas,United States.The objective is to assess the extent and environmental implications of methane leakage from these wells.The analysis integrates pertinent literature,governmental and industry data,and prior Lubbock reports.Factors affecting methane leakage,including well integrity,geological characteristics,and human activities,are explored.Our research estimates 1781 drilled wells in Lubbock,forming a foundation for targeted assessments and monitoring due to historical drilling trends.The hierarchy of well statuses in Lubbock highlights the prevalence of“active oil wells,”trailed by“plugged and abandoned oil wells”and“inactive oil wells.”Methane leakage potential aligns with these well types,underscoring the importance of strategic monitoring and mitigation.The analysis notes a zenith in“drilled and completed”wells during 1980-1990.While our study's case analysis and literature review reiterate the critical significance of assessing and mitigating methane emissions from AOG wells,it's important to clarify that the research does not directly provide methane leakage data.Instead,it contextualizes the issue's magnitude and emphasizes the well type and status analysis's role in targeted mitigation efforts.In summary,our research deepens our understanding of methane leakage,aiding informed decision-making and policy formulation for environmental preservation.By clarifying well type implications and historical drilling patterns,we aim to contribute to effective strategies in mitigating methane emissions from AOG wells.

THE ESSENCE OF LOW-ENERGY AFFORDABLE HOUSING DESIGN STRATEGIESLearnt from Scottish and Canadian Homebuilders’Attempt and Experience

Nearly one-third of the Scottish population is struggling to heat their home properly today.There is an urgent need for the delivery of low-energy affordable homes.However,the homebuilding industry has no systematic way to deliver such unconventional homes,although the UK government has set out a bold“green”target that all newly-built homes be carbon neutral by 2016.Accordingly,this paper explores the status quo of today’s affordable homes being built in Scotland;and secondly,it extends the scope to the review of successfully commercialized low-to zero-energy affordable housing developments in Canada.This study emphasizes the significant impact of design choices on the delivery of low-to zero-energy affordable housing,including housing orientations and configurations;construction materials and systems,including renewable energy technologies;and internal planning,with due consideration to the time-related sun positions and the internal space day-lighting and heat gain potentials.In addition,the paper argues that the absence of clear definitions as to housing quality and affordability,and the lack of industry capacity for technical knowledge learning activities,are potential obstacles that limit the spread of sustainable zero-carbon homes in Scotland today.Moreover,the effect of the design charrette approach being practiced in Canada on the homebuilding decision making process was reviewed,with the aim of providing a base for further discussion on the applicability of Canadian low-energy affordable housing design techniques to sustainable zero carbon homes of the future in Scotland.