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Effective control of electricity consumption is crucial to achieving China's dual carbon goals, as it can significantly reduce coal consumption and associated carbon emissions. Using the Logarithmic Mean Divisa Index (LMDI) method, this paper constructs a two-stage decomposition model, which can divide total electricity consumption into industry and domestic electricity consumption and further examine the differential driving mechanism of the two types of electricity consumption separately. Taking the Yangtze River Delta as the research object, this paper analyzes the drivers of its temporal differences in total electricity consumption from 2000 to 2019 and fills the research gap in the identification of drivers of spatial differences in electricity consumption. The results showed: (1) Industry electricity consumption is the main driver of the increase in total electricity consumption, with economic growth and domestic electricity intensity being the primary and secondary factors behind this trend. The population scale also contributes to the increase. However, the effects of industrial structure, industry electricity intensity, and urbanization on total electricity consumption are not constant over time. This paper further decomposes the factors influencing changes in total electricity consumption in the provinces of Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui. (2) The spatial difference of electricity consumption between the other three provinces and Shanghai mainly comes from industry electricity consumption. (3) There are two kinds of conversion relations for the spatial-temporal differences of total electricity consumption. According to the conclusion, the targeted countermeasures and suggestions for total electricity consumption control are obtained. • We use the LMDI model to study the driving factors of total electricity consumption. • Production is the main reason for the increase of total power consumption. • Economic growth is the first factor to promote the total electricity consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Regions where feed-in tariff higher than valley price should follow dual objective optimization. • The economy of the household PV-BES-EV system mainly depends on the purchase cost of EVs. • Decreasing electricity price will not undermine the effectiveness of the household PV-BES-EV system. • The energy bills and carbon emissions decrease significantly with the optimal scheduling schemes. The household PV-BES-EV system (photovoltaic - battery energy storage - electric vehicle system) connected to the grid can guarantee the electricity demand of the household and facilitate the flexible trade with the grid to achieve the goals of cutting energy bills and reducing carbon emissions. In related issues, past studies often assume that renewable energy is both economical and environmentally friendly, and thus regarded it as the primary power source. While in fact, in some regions where the feed-in tariff is higher than the sales price at a certain time, households may be driven by arbitrage opportunities to frequently purchase electricity from the grid at the certain time to gain benefits, resulting in far greater carbon emissions than expected within the household measurement boundary. To avoid the environmental burden caused by pure economic incentives and to provide practical and sustainable solutions consistent with various energy price policies, the optimal scheduling schemes of the household PV-BES-EV system that considers both economic and environmental incentives for different scenarios solved by the genetic algorithm is proposed in this paper. Household data in Shanghai, China and Hamburg, Germany were selected for modelling, representing the dual-objective optimization scenario with arbitrage opportunities and the single-objective optimization scenario with sales price higher than feed-in tariff, respectively. Results show that for urban and rural residents in Shanghai, the energy bill and carbon emission would decline about 105%, 48% and 88%, 62%, respectively. As for Hamburg, the accordingly results would be 69% and 64%. In addition, based on the cost-effectiveness of the system in long-term, this paper puts forward policy recommendations that align with local conditions to further improve the economy of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pairs trading is one of the mainstream statistical arbitrage strategies in current financial market practice that can seize possible arbitrage opportunities caused by mispricing between similar assets. Based on the theory of statistical arbitrage and the similar attributes of carbon emission allowances traded in different carbon markets, this paper studies the applicability of the pairs trading strategy among different pilot markets in China. The novelty and possible contribution of this paper are as follows. Firstly, this paper extends the statistical arbitrage-based pairs trading framework to the analysis of carbon market transactions in China, which broadens the understanding of the correlation between China's carbon markets. Secondly, this study explores the arbitrage opportunities among China's regional carbon markets that have not been revealed by previous studies. Thirdly, based on the pairs trading analytical model adopted in this study, this paper further investigates the operation characteristics of China's carbon markets and the interaction between markets, as the sensitivity of strategy performance to the key parameters is also discussed. The results show that arbitrage based on pairs trading is profitable. In the baseline case, the annualized arbitrage returns between the Shanghai emission allowance and Beijing emission allowance is about 9.11%, the highest among all pairs. However, there is almost no pairing relationship between the Tianjin carbon market and other markets. By discussing the time distribution of arbitrage signals generated by the pairs trading strategy, it is found that most signals are sent out during the inactive trading period in a compliance cycle. The conclusions provide valuable insights for formulating relevant carbon market regulatory policies and investors' participation in arbitrage activities in China's carbon trading markets. • The application of the pairs trading strategy is extended to the Chinese carbon markets. • Based on relative value arbitrage theory, arbitrage opportunities between markets are examined. • Pairs trading strategy can also yield sustainable and distinctive returns in the Chinese carbon markets. • Arbitrage trading between the Shanghai and Beijing markets may yield promising annualized returns with about 9.11%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PV windows are considered to be a promising building-integrated PV technology due to their excellent electrical, daylighting and thermal performance. However, the shading of the PV cells increases the heating load in winter and the high temperature of PV cells exacerbates the cooling load in summer. Moreover, a significant portion of the heat absorbed by the PV modules is usually wasted. To address these issues, this paper proposed a multi-functional PV/T window. This system could recover the heat on PV cells for producing warm air in winter and hot water in other seasons. As a result, the proposed system can realize the combined PV/T utilization of solar energy and reduce the seasonal thermal needs of the building. First, the mathematical model of the proposed window was developed and validated. Next, the developed model was integrated into building energy software to evaluate the overall energy performance of the proposed window in four different cities of Yangtze River region: Shanghai, Nanjing, Wuhan, and Chongqing in China. These cities experience the subtropical humid climate (Cfa in the Köppen-Geiger classification) and belong to the zones with medium global horizontal irradiation. The sensitivity analysis revealed that the optimal slat angles are between 0o and 40o, while the optimal orientation angles range from 30o to 60o. Selecting low-iron glass as the inner glass resulted in the lowest overall energy consumption. By adopting the MFPV/T window, the annual operation cost of the studied case could be reduced by 34% (6.4 $/m2), 36% (7.0 $/m2), 28% (5.7 $/m2), and 16% (2.9 $/m2) in these four cites, respectively. Additionally, the annual CO 2 emissions could be curtailed by 53.5, 58.5, 47, and 22.3 kg/m2, respectively. • A novel PV/T window was proposed for addressing the common issues of PV windows. • The mathematical model of proposed window was developed and validated. • The parameter sensitivity was analyzed. • The overall energy performance was predicted in Yangtze River region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nationwide unification of carbon emission right market in China has long been proposed yet not achieved. Launching of the nationwide trading center at Shanghai was a recent great step towards this target but the regional pilots covering respective zones are still in operation. With all trading data in those markets from their inceptions, this paper investigates the development status and trend of each submarket, based on which, it is revealed that sudden replacement of regional markets by the unified nationwide trading center is infeasible at the present stage, furthermore, feasibility of market merging is analyzed and optimized route for essential unification is designed. This paper contributes to deconstruct the value of carbon emission right and interprets its properties of option value, the equivalence of which value from the perspective of financial investment and enterprise operations is explored and formally established. Applying the geometric Brownian motion and optimal stopping time to model the carbon asset operation, option value of carbon emission right is estimated and marginal return-ability of its consumption is calculated for each region. Based on the analysis regionally, market merging is simulated and optimized route for nationwide market unification is proposed with policy suggestions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents a carbon emission inventory in Shanghai for the period from 2000 to 2008 covering six sectors of stationary combustion, transportation, industrial processes, waste disposal and treatment, agricultural activities and forestry sink and three greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, and N2O). The aim is to reflect carbon emissions in Shanghai, and guides policymakers to take effective actions to mitigate carbon emissions. Several results are obtained: (1) the total carbon emissions in Shanghai increased by 48%, from 136TgCO2e in 2000 to 200TgCO2e in 2008; (2) only the sector of agriculture activities saw reduced emissions; (3) the comparisons among Shanghai, China and world average level confirm that during 2000–2008 Shanghai''s carbon emissions per capita are higher than both the world and the China average level, and its carbon emission per GDP is also higher than the world average level, but both of them are lower than the China average level; (4) in 2008, Shanghai''s carbon emission per GDP is around 10tons CO2 per $10,000 and higher than that of Taiwan, Hong Kong, the G7 and the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) except China and India. In addition, this paper also illustrates the problems about China statistical system in terms of emission inventory establishment, including the classification system, data quality and temporal resolution. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights • We estimate the energy rebound effect caused by technological progress in Shanghai. • We use the state space model with time-varying parameter based on the IPAT identity. • Shanghai has a high partial rebound effect on average at the overall-economy level. • Mitigating the energy rebound effect can significantly reduce carbon emissions. • Energy efficiency improvement should not be the only way to conserve energy. Abstract The energy rebound effect is regarded as an obstacle of achieving the expected target of energy-saving policies, especially under a rapid urbanization background in developing counties, such as China. This has become a substantial drag of sustainable development in some cities. Shanghai is the economic center of China, and it is also a typical energy import-dependent mega-city. Investigating the evolution of Shanghai's energy-saving performance and the energy rebound effect is significant for the implementation of energy-saving policies in other similar cities of China and other developing countries. Using the state space model with time-varying parameters and based on the IPAT identity and the Solow residual approach, this paper is the first study to present a specific estimation on Shanghai's energy rebound effect caused by technological progress. The results show that, during the period of 1991–2016, the average energy rebound effect of overall economy and secondary industry in Shanghai was 93.96% and 73.10%, respectively, indicating a high partial rebound effect. Most of expected energy saving caused by improved energy efficiency is offset by extra energy consumption caused by technological progress. Regarding tertiary industry, the average rebound effect was 146.61%, indicating a backfire effect. However, the average energy rebound amount of tertiary industry is less than that of secondary industry. In particular, there is an increasingly negative impact of the rebound effect of tertiary industry on energy conservation in recent years, with the sector's rapid expansion and corresponding increase in energy demand. Furthermore, we estimate the carbon rebound amount (i.e., carbon emissions caused by the energy rebound effect) and find that, on average, the energy rebound effect caused 13.1% and 0.41% increases in carbon emissions in Shanghai and China, respectively. Therefore, mitigating the energy rebound effect can significantly reduce carbon emissions. Due to the substantial impact of the rebound effect, technological progress and energy efficiency improvement should not be the only way to achieve energy-saving target, especially in energy import-dependent mega-cities like Shanghai. Some supporting policies should be implemented to ensure that the expected outcome of energy-saving effort can be realized as far as possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• City-centric global multi-region input-output models for Beijing and Shanghai are developed. • Factor contribution and critical path analysis are adopted. • Sector aggregation effect varies across sectoral datasets. Sector aggregation under the input-output framework may lead to deviation in results and the lack of detailed sectoral information, which hinder the targeted implementation of accurate sectoral adjustment policies. This paper explores the effects of sector aggregation on the embodied carbon emission of the residential consumptions of Beijing and Shanghai based on the city-centric global multi-region input-output (CCG-MRIO) model. Integrating with structural path analysis and structural decomposition analysis, the impacts of sector aggregation on the identifying of critical emission transmission paths and driving forces are also revealed. Three sector aggregation datasets are discussed to track the sector aggregation effect in 2012 and 2017. The findings show that the carbon emission results at 8 sector level better align with the results at the 22 sector level than those at 32 sector level. Moreover, sector aggregation will lead to the absence of some critical carbon transmission paths, some factor contributions on carbon emission also changed their directions at different sector levels. On the basis of clarifying the sector aggregation effect on embodied carbon emission, the research results provide a reference for similar studies to select the appropriate level of sector aggregation, to realize the goal of simplifying the calculation or gaining more detailed sectoral emission information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to deal with the increasing environmental challenges, the high carbon-emitting transport system keeps transitioning to achieve carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. This paper addresses the calculation of carbon emission estimation and identifying carbon reduction driving factors for the hinterland-based container intermodal network. Firstly, an analysis of the carbon emissions composition of the hinterland-based container intermodal networks is conducted. Furthermore, a carbon emission estimation model for the hinterland-based container intermodal network is developed. Subsequently, taking the Shanghai port and the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) hinterland as a case, we estimate the carbon emission of the hinterland-based container intermodal network under the Well-to-Wheel (WTW) and the Tank-to-Wheel (TTW) modes in the past ten years. Finally, the critical driving factors are identified by sensitivity analysis, and the variation of carbon emissions under different scenarios with carbon reduction policies are analyzed. The results indicate that the transportation structure and the fuel choices affect network emissions reductions significantly. In the current policy-based scenario, the WTW mode achieves the carbon peaking between 2030 and 2035, while the TTW mode peaks earlier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using energy conservation measures (ECMs) for building retrofit can significantly reduce building operational carbon emissions (BOCEs) and contribute to Chinese carbon neutrality by 2060. This paper involves 11 feasible ECMs for commercial buildings in hot-summer and cold-winter zone, China, and proposes a quick assessment approach to BOCEs reduction. Prototypical models are simulated for ECMs using EnergyPlus and the emission intensity is corrected by the building shape factor and window-to-wall ratio. Based on pre-simulated results, effects on reducing emissions of individual measures and packages of them are studied to develop regression models in SPSS. The results show that decreasing the U-factor of external walls, lighting power density (LPD), or shading coefficient can reduce BOCEs linearly. BOCEs are most sensitive to LPD and using daylighting control can reduce emissions by 5–15%. In addition, increasing the boilers' efficiency reduces emissions linearly, while performance improvement of chillers or heat pumps reduces emissions logarithmically. Furthermore, utilizing variable speed pumps, heat recovery ventilation, and air-side economizers can reduce emissions by 3.8%, 6.6%, and 15.2%, respectively. Finally, significant interactions exist among measures of enhancing glazing U-factor, adding external shading, using energy-saving lamps, and improving cooling/heating system efficiencies. The developed regression models are validated in a retrofit case in Shanghai. Through assessment, the case can reduce BOCEs by 15.9 kgCO 2 /m2, with a reduction rate of 20.8%. Compared with recorded data, the relative error of assessing emission reduction is −13.0% and that of assessing reduction rate is 0.5%, which are acceptable in the decision-making stage of retrofit strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new prediction method incorporating a set of measuring models applicable to the financing efficiency of China's carbon market to quantify such market's maturity, trading risk coefficient, and financing income. Our theoretical analysis indicates that the price of carbon emission quota essentially affects the financing efficiency of carbon market. While a robust safeguard measure to obtain a respectable income from carbon market financing is the long-term average quota price exceeding the initial quota price. Empirical findings derived from China's emissions trading scheme pilots reveal that these pilots can be divided into the growth-oriented market (i.e. Guangdong whose financing capacity is always significant), the balance-oriented market (i.e. Shanghai and Hubei whose quota pricing mechanisms and the financing level of carbon markets both maturely develop), and the risk-oriented market (i.e. Beijing whose quota price runs at a high-level with an intense financing income volatility). It is therefore achieved that carbon market's maturity level and quota price volatility are both robustly explicable for different financing effects among these pilots. Our key findings show that expanding the coverage of quota trading parties, stabilizing carbon price, and promoting carbon asset management help to improve the financing efficiency of carbon market. • The financing mechanism is analyzed with clarifying its main influence factors. • A stochastic process is used to build a price simulation equation that meets the operation law of China's carbon market. • An income model is built and thus evaluate market financing effect based on price expression and financing mechanism. • The financing effect of China's 8 pilot markets is measured, and thus 3 kinds of development modes are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Relative energy efficiency of regional wastewater treatment plants was assessed. • Designed scale and quality of wastewater influence energy efficiency significantly. • Area surrounding Taihu Lake is energy efficiency through in the Yangtze River Delta. With priorities to reach a carbon emission peak and integrated development involving ecological demonstration, a systematic evaluation on the energy efficiency and internal discrepancies of wastewater treatment plants in the Yangtze River Delta region is needed. In this study, a slacks-based measure data envelopment analysis model was applied to quantify the relative energy efficiency of 270 regional wastewater treatment plants. Based on the score of relative energy efficiency, the internal discrepancies of the region were identified through a method combining spatial and sensitivity analysis. Although the wastewater treatment plants had met the pollutant limits of discharge standards, the result of data envelopment analysis showed that 253 wastewater treatment plants were inefficient (with efficiency scores less than 1) due to input excess or output shortfall, indicating substantial potential for improving the energy efficiency. Besides, binary logistic regression demonstrated the significant impact from explanatory factors including designed capacity (104 m3/d), loading rate (%), influent ratio of chemical oxygen demand to total nitrogen, and influent concentration (mg/L) of chemical oxygen demand. Moreover, with regards to regional discrepancies, proportion of efficient wastewater treatment plants for Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui differs significantly. The area surrounding Taihu Lake was recognized as the trough of the Yangtze River Delta region in terms of the relative energy efficiency of wastewater treatment plants. This paper would give a reference for optimization of wastewater treatment plants in the study area and the evaluation framework on internal discrepancies might also be useful for other regions worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Four conventional control strategies are evaluated in different climate zones. • The condensation risk is higher in the HSCW and HSWW zones. • Multi criteria decision-making is used to evaluate the four control strategies. • A natural cold source substantially increases the application potential of the system. The application potential of radiant floor cooling systems is affected by climatic conditions. The meteorological parameters of 22 cities in five climatic zones in China (severe cold (SC), cold, hot summer and cold winter (HSCW), hot summer and warm winter (HSWW), and temperate) are analyzed to evaluate the applicability of four conventional control strategies of radiant floor cooling system in office buildings. The control strategies are modeled in the Transient System Simulation Program (TRNSYS), and the indoor thermal comfort, condensation risk, energy consumption, and carbon emissions are analyzed. Multi criteria decision-making is used to evaluate the radiant floor system. The results show that the control strategy with direct ground cooling produces the highest energy savings in the five climate zones. The energy savings are 25–66 % higher than those of the three control strategies using a heat pump as a cold source. Under the same indoor environment conditions, the three-step control strategy provides the optimum indoor temperature and humidity control. The number of hours when the three-step control strategy exceeds the thermal comfort zone is 5 % in 22 cities, and the number of hours with condensation risk is only 3%. The variable water supply temperature control and precooling control have better performance than the other strategies in the SC, cold, and temperate zones. In addition, the control strategies are ranked based on their application potential in 22 cities. The application potential of the radiant floor cooling system with a direct ground cooling source is the highest in the five climate zones in the two scenarios with equal weights of the four criteria and is preferable due to less carbon emissions. When the condensation risk is considered, the radiant floor cooling system with a direct ground cooling source exhibits better performance in the SC and cold zones. The variable water supply temperature control is the optimum strategy in the HSCW, HSWW, and temperate zones. The precooling control strategy ranks the highest in Changchun and Guiyang, and the three-step control strategy performs the best in Shanghai. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]