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1 – 10 of 42Margot Hurlbert, Tanushree Das and Charisse Vitto
This study aims to report business preferences for achieving net-zero power production emissions in Saskatchewan, Canada as well as business perceptions of the most preferable…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to report business preferences for achieving net-zero power production emissions in Saskatchewan, Canada as well as business perceptions of the most preferable power production sources, barriers to change and suggestions for improvement. Mixed methods included focus groups and a survey with experimental design. This research demonstrates that this method of advancing academic and business knowledge systems can engender a paradigmatic shift to decarbonization.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is a mixed-methods study using five focus groups and a survey which included a 15-min information video providing more information on power production sources (small modular reactors and biomass). Participants requested more information on these topics in the initial three focus groups.
Findings
There is a significant gap in Canadian Government targets for net-zero emissions by 2050 and businesses’ plans. Communications, knowledge and capacity gaps identified include lack of regulatory requirements, institutional barriers (including a capacity charge in the event a business chooses to self-generate with a cleaner source) and multi-level governance dissonance. More cooperation between provincial governments and the federal government was identified by participants as a requirement for achieving targets. Providing information to survey respondents increased support for clean and renewable sources, but gender and knowledge are still important characteristics contributing to support for different power production sources. Scientists and teachers were the most trusted sources of information. Power generated from small modular nuclear reactors was identified as the primary future source of power production followed by solar, wind and natural gas. Research results also confirmed the high level of support for hydropower generated in Saskatchewan versus import from Manitoba based on high values of energy solidarity and security within the province.
Originality/value
This study is original, as it concerns upstream system power production portfolios and not failed projects; the mixed-method research design including a focus group and an experimental survey is novel. This research partially addresses a gap in knowledge surrounding which knowledge systems advance paradigmatic shifts and how and whether involving business people in upstream power production decisions can inform decarbonization.
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Diyana Sheharee Ranasinghe and Navodana Rodrigo
Blockchain for energy trading is a trending research area in the current context. However, a noticeable gap exists in the review articles focussing on solar energy trading with…
Abstract
Purpose
Blockchain for energy trading is a trending research area in the current context. However, a noticeable gap exists in the review articles focussing on solar energy trading with blockchain technology. Thus, this study aims to systematically examine and synthesise the existing research on implementing blockchain technology in sustainable solar energy trading.
Design/methodology/approach
The study pursued a systematic literature review to achieve its aim. The data extraction process focussed on the Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) databases, yielding an initial set of 129 articles. Subsequent screening and removal of duplicates led to 87 articles for bibliometric analysis, utilising VOSviewer software to discern evolutionary progress in the field. Following the establishment of inclusion and exclusion criteria, a manual content analysis was conducted on a subset of 19 articles.
Findings
The results indicated a rising interest in publications on solar energy trading with blockchain technology. Some studies are exploring the integration of new technologies like machine learning and artificial intelligence in this domain. However, challenges and limitations were identified, such as the absence of real-world solar energy trading projects.
Originality/value
This study offers a distinctive approach by integrating bibliometric and manual content analyses, a methodology seldom explored. It provides valuable recommendations for academia and industry, influencing future research and industry practices. Insights include integrating blockchain into solar energy trading and addressing knowledge gaps. These findings advance societal goals, such as transitioning to renewable energy sources (RES) and mitigating carbon emissions, fostering a sustainable future.
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Paul James Dunn, Adekunle Sabitu Oyegoke, Saheed Ajayi, Roshani Palliyaguru and Ganesh Devkar
The recent surge in light emitting diode (LED) lighting retrofitted into schools in the UK is as a result of the UK Government’s 2050 zero carbon pledge. However, the benefits and…
Abstract
Purpose
The recent surge in light emitting diode (LED) lighting retrofitted into schools in the UK is as a result of the UK Government’s 2050 zero carbon pledge. However, the benefits and consequences of LED retrofit projects for staff and enablers and stakeholder knowledge gaps about LED lighting retrofitting have not been fully explored. The aim of this research is to determine the amount of savings in cost, carbon reduction and kilowatt usage and to confirm if repayment from energy and cost savings derived from LED retrofit school projects funded through the SALIX funding option in the UK would be enough to service the loan. Thus, it examines monetary and non-monetary benefits, internal project stakeholder knowledge gaps and the consequences of LED retrofit for the staff and enablers of a large community college in the UK which is funded through the SALIX funding option.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology relied on a hybrid research approach of a case secondary school through the review of literature, analysis of secondary data, focus group and questionnaire survey. The focus group consists of six key project stakeholders. The secondary data was sourced from the Project IGP [Individual Grade Proposal] and the Positive Energy Report from Zenergi, and the closed online questionnaire survey was used to sample 150 teaching staff and school enablers.
Findings
The findings show that stakeholders lack project knowledge, trust and expertise/project comprehension. This is in terms of baseline information, LED technology/management, payback modalities, management of risks and ethical issues around environmental impact. The forecasted SALIX savings were not achieved in real-time, partly because it does not take into consideration the increase in energy costs over the payback period. However, the LED retrofit creates efficiencies; drives down energy costs and energy usage; and drives carbon reduction, helping pupils’ learning, improving productivity and performance, and finally leading to a better lighting environment for the school community.
Originality/value
The study will help schools in the UK that intend to access SALIX finance for LED retrofits to understand the challenges and mitigate the risks. It will also help the government to understand the importance of adjusting the payback modalities to the base price when the retrofit was carried out for real-time savings to be made. The research would be useful in ensuring the proactive involvement of all the identified stakeholders in understanding the challenges and what the function entails.
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Kalidas Das and Pinaki Ranjan Duari
Several graphs, streamlines, isotherms and 3D plots are illustrated to enlighten the noteworthy fallouts of the investigation. Embedding flow factors for velocity, induced…
Abstract
Purpose
Several graphs, streamlines, isotherms and 3D plots are illustrated to enlighten the noteworthy fallouts of the investigation. Embedding flow factors for velocity, induced magnetic field and temperature have been determined using parametric analysis.
Design/methodology/approach
Ternary hybrid nanofluids has outstanding hydrothermal performance compared to classical mono nanofluids and hybrid nanofluids owing to the presence of triple tiny metallic particles. Ternary hybrid nanofluids are considered as most promising candidates in solar energy, heat exchangers, electronics cooling, automotive cooling, nuclear reactors, automobile, aerospace, biomedical devices, food processing etc. In this work, a ternary hybrid nanofluid flow that contains metallic nanoparticles over a wedge under the prevalence of solar radiating heat, induced magnetic field and the shape factor of nanoparticles is considered. A ternary hybrid nanofluid is synthesized by dispersing iron oxide (Fe3O4), silver (Ag) and magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles in a water (H2O) base fluid. By employing similarity transformations, we can convert the governing equations into ordinary differential equations and then solve numerically by using the Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg approach.
Findings
There is no fund for the research work.
Social implications
This kind of study may be used to improve the performance of solar collectors, solar energy and solar cells.
Originality/value
This investigation unfolds the hydrothermal changes of radiative water-based Fe3O4-Ag-MgO-H2O ternary hybrid nanofluidic transport past a static and moving wedge in the presence of solar radiating heating and induced magnetic fields. The shape factor of nanoparticles has been considered in this study.
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Nawazish Mirza, Muhammad Umar, Rashid Sbia and Mangafic Jasmina
The blue and green firms are notable contributors to sustainable development. Similar to other businesses in circular economies, blue and green firms also face financing…
Abstract
Purpose
The blue and green firms are notable contributors to sustainable development. Similar to other businesses in circular economies, blue and green firms also face financing constraints. This paper aims to assess whether blue and green lending help in optimizing the interest rate spreads and the likelihood of default.
Design/methodology/approach
This analysis is based on an unbalanced panel of banks from 20 eurozone countries for eleven years between 2012 and 2022. The key indicators of banking include interest rate spread and a market-based probability of default. The paper assesses how these indicators are influenced by exposure to green and blue firms after controlling for several exogenous factors.
Findings
The results show a positive relationship between green and blue lending and spread, while there is a negative link with the probability of default. This confirms that the blue and green exposure positively supports the credit portfolio both in terms of profitability and risk management.
Originality/value
The banking system is among the key contributors to corporate finance and to enable continuous access to sustainable finance, the banking firms must be incentivized. While many studies analyze the impact of green lending, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the very few that extend this analysis to blue economy firms.
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Chinnaraj Gnanavel and Kumarasamy Vanchinathan
These implementations not only generate excessive voltage levels to enhance the quality of power but also include a detailed investigating of the various modulation methods and…
Abstract
Purpose
These implementations not only generate excessive voltage levels to enhance the quality of power but also include a detailed investigating of the various modulation methods and control schemes for multilevel inverter (MLI) topologies. Reduced harmonic modulation technology is used to produce 11-level output voltage with the production of renewable energy applications. The simulation is done in the MATLAB/Simulink for 11-level symmetric MLI and is correlated with the conventional inverter design.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper is focused on investigating the different types of asymmetric, symmetric and hybrid topologies and control methods used for the modular multilevel inverter (MMI) operation. Classical MLI configurations are affected by performance issues such as poor power quality, uneconomic structure and low efficiency.
Findings
The variations in both carrier and reference signals and their performance are analyzed for the proposed inverter topologies. The simulation result compares unipolar and bipolar pulse-width modulation (PWM) techniques with total harmonic distortion (THD) results. The solar-fed 11-level MMI is controlled using various modulation strategies, which are connected to marine emergency lighting loads. Various modulation techniques are used to control the solar-fed 11-level MMI, which is connected to marine emergency lighting loads. The entire hardware system is controlled by using SPARTAN 3A field programmable gate array (FPGA) board and the least harmonics are obtained by improving the power quality.
Originality/value
The simulation result compares unipolar and bipolar PWM techniques with THD results. Various modulation techniques are used to control the solar-fed 11-level MMI, which is connected to marine emergency lighting loads. The entire hardware system is controlled by a SPARTAN 3A field programmable gate array (FPGA) board, and the power quality is improved to achieve the lowest harmonics possible.
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This paper aims to examine the legal redress available to a UK bank customer who has been the victim of a sophisticated push payment scam which made use of the bank’s customer…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the legal redress available to a UK bank customer who has been the victim of a sophisticated push payment scam which made use of the bank’s customer facing payment portal.
Design/methodology/approach
A detailed study was done of the experience of a single UK bank customer who was the victim of a push payment scam in Autumn 2020. Her circumstances are typical of other customers who have been similarly scammed. Her rights of redress are explored in depth in relation to law and an industry code.
Findings
The industry code provides no reliable means of adjudication and redress. The common law of negligence has not adapted to the technological shift in bank payment methods currently used by customers. The duty of care is inadequate in safeguarding customer interests in relation to payment instructions to banks. Customers are bearing the loss associated with inadequate bank transaction analytics.
Originality/value
This research casts a unique light on the unbalanced relationship now existing between the bank and its customer in relation to the execution of remote payment instructions.
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Anam Ul Haq Ganie and Masroor Ahmad
The purpose of this study is to investigate the nonlinear effects of renewable energy (RE) consumption and economic growth on per capita CO2 emissions during the time span from…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the nonlinear effects of renewable energy (RE) consumption and economic growth on per capita CO2 emissions during the time span from 1980 to 2020.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses the logistic smooth transition autoregression (STAR) model to decipher the nonlinear relationship between RE consumption, economic growth and CO2 emissions in the Indian economy.
Findings
The estimated results confirm a nonlinear relationship between India’s economic growth, RE consumption and CO2 emissions. The authors found that economic growth positively impacts CO2 emissions until it reaches a specific threshold of 1.81 (per capita growth). Beyond this point, further economic growth leads to a reduction in CO2 emissions. Similarly, RE consumption positively affects CO2 emissions until economic growth reaches the same threshold level, after which an increase in RE consumption negatively impacts CO2 emissions.
Research limitations/implications
The study suggests that India should optimize the balance between economic growth and RE consumption to mitigate CO2 emissions. Policymakers should prioritize the adoption of RE during the early stages of economic growth. As economic growth reaches the specific threshold of 1.81 per capita, the economy should shift to more sustainable and energy-efficient practices to limit the effect of further CO2 emissions on further economic growth.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study represents the first-ever endeavor to reexamine the nonlinear relationship between RE consumption, economic growth and CO2 emissions in India, using the STAR model.
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Clément Génin, Marc Jeannin, Anne-Marie Grolleau and Philippe Refait
The purpose of this study is to investigate cathodic protection (CP) efficiency in the tidal zone and its associated processes.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate cathodic protection (CP) efficiency in the tidal zone and its associated processes.
Design/methodology/approach
Specific features of CP in the tidal zone, that is, persistence of a thin seawater film and insufficient cathodic potential due to ohmic drop, were addressed. In this preliminary study, carbon steel electrodes were polarized at two cathodic potentials (correct or insufficient protection) while immersed in 1 mm or 5 mm thick natural seawater layers. After CP interruption, the protective ability of the layers covering the steel electrodes was studied using various electrochemical methods, including electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The layers were characterized by XRD.
Findings
The protective ability of calcareous deposits was increased in thin seawater films. Insufficient CP could promote protective aragonite/corrosion products layer.
Originality/value
The combined effects of thin seawater film and applied potential were never addressed, and the conclusions drawn from this preliminary study give new insight on the efficiency of CP in the tidal zone.
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This study aims to examine the impact of renewable energy consumption on agricultural productivity while accounting for the effect of financial inclusion and foreign direct…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the impact of renewable energy consumption on agricultural productivity while accounting for the effect of financial inclusion and foreign direct investment in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) countries during 2000–2020.
Design/methodology/approach
The study has used the latest data from World Bank and International Monetary Fund databases. The dependent variable in the study is agricultural productivity. Renewable energy consumption, carbon emissions, financial inclusion and foreign direct investment are independent variables. Autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach was used to examine the short-run and long-run impact of renewable energy consumption, carbon emissions, foreign direct investment and financial inclusion on agricultural productivity.
Findings
The findings imply that consumption of renewable energy, carbon emissions and foreign direct investment have a positive impact on agricultural productivity while financial inclusion in terms of access does not seem to have any significant impact on agricultural productivity. Providing farmers, access to financial services can be beneficial, but its usage holds more importance in impacting rural outcomes. The problem lies in the fact that there is still a gap between access and usage of financial services.
Research limitations/implications
Policymakers should encourage the increase in the usage of renewable energy and become less reliant on non-renewable energy sources which will eventually help in tackling the problems associated with climate change as well as enhance agricultural productivity.
Originality/value
Most of the earlier studies were based on tabular analysis without any empirical base to establish the causal relationship between determinants of agricultural productivity and renewable energy consumption. These studies were also limited to a few regions. The study is one of its kind in exploring the severity of various factors that determine agricultural productivity in the context of emerging economies like BRICS while accounting for the effect of financial inclusion and foreign direct investment.
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