Climate Change, Coal and Study

Study finds methane emissions from coal mines ~50% higher than previously thought

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 1, 2021

The amount of methane released into the atmosphere as a result of coal mining is likely approximately 50% higher than previously estimated, according to research presented at the recent annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union. The study is one of the first to account for methane leaking from old, abandoned mines.

Coal

Coal Emissions Escape Ukraine

CICERO-led study finds global warming effect of leaked hydrogen almost 12x stronger than CO2

Green Car Congress

JUNE 12, 2023

A study led by Norwegian climate center CICERO has found that the global warming effect of leaked hydrogen is almost 12 times stronger than that of CO 2. Unlike exhaust from burning coal and gas that contains CO 2 , burning hydrogen emits only water vapor and oxygen. Sand et al. —Dr Sand The GWP100 of hydrogen. Sand et al.

Hydrogen

Hydrogen Global Ozone CO2

Why EVs Aren't a Climate Change Panacea

Cars That Think

JANUARY 28, 2023

In states (or countries ) with a high proportion of coal-generated electricity, the miles needed to break-even climb more. Their study found “emissions from cycling can be more than 30 times lower for each trip than driving a fossil fuel car, and about ten times lower than driving an electric one.”

Climate Change

Climate Change Climate San Diego Emissions

Study finds steelmaking by electric arc furnace in US produces up to 75% less carbon emissions

Green Car Congress

JULY 26, 2022

This is the finding of an independent study of steelmakers worldwide conducted by CRU Group, a global business intelligence firm specializing in metals manufacturing. There is a lot of inaccurate and misleading information about steelmaking, and we believe this independent study will help further our efforts to achieve a low carbon future.

Carbon

Carbon Emissions Climate Change Power Grid

Study findings suggest that switching from coal to natural gas would do little for global climate

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

The study will appear next month in the peer-reviewed journal Climatic Change Letters. The study will appear next month in the peer-reviewed journal Climatic Change Letters. Relying more on natural gas would reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, but it would do little to help solve the climate problem.

Coal

Coal Climate Gas Global

Report finds says “negative emissions technologies” need to play a large role in mitigating climate change

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 29, 2018

To achieve goals for climate and economic growth, “negative emissions technologies” (NETs) that remove and sequester carbon dioxide from the air will need to play a significant role in mitigating climate change, according to a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Climate Change

Climate Change Climate Emissions Carbon

Converting Coal Power Plants to Nuclear Gains Steam

Cars That Think

SEPTEMBER 27, 2022

On a planet aspiring to become carbon neutral, the once-stalwart coal power plant is an emerging anachronism. It is true that, in much of the developing world, coal-fired capacity continues to grow. But in every corner of the globe, political and financial pressures are mounting to bury coal in the past.

Coal

Coal Convert Power Powered

Study finds climate impact of hydropower varies widely

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 14, 2019

earlier post ), a new study by a team at Environmental Defense Fund finds that the climate impact of hydropower facilities varies widely throughout the world and over time, with some facilities emitting more greenhouse gases than those burning fossil fuels.

Climate

Climate Climate Change Coal Gas-Electric

Study Concludes Peak Coal Will Occur Close to 2011

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 2, 2010

A multi-Hubbert analysis of coal production by Tadeusz Patzek at The University of Texas at Austin and Gregory Croft at the University of California, Berkeley concludes that the global peak of coal production from existing coalfields will occur close to the year 2011. Gt C (15 Gt CO 2 ) per year, according to the study.

Coal

Coal 2011 Global Emissions

Stanford study finds current carbon capture technology inefficient & increases air pollution

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 27, 2019

A study by Mark Z. Even if you have 100 percent capture from the capture equipment, it is still worse, from a social cost perspective, than replacing a coal or gas plant with a wind farm because carbon capture never reduces air pollution and always has a capture equipment cost. —Mark Jacobson.

Pollution

Pollution Carbon Coal Wind

Study projects thermoelectric power in Europe and US vulnerable to climate change due to lower summer river flows and higher river water temperatures

Green Car Congress

JUNE 3, 2012

Projected changes in summer mean usable capacity of power plants in the US and Europe for the SRES A2 emissions scenario for the 2040s (2031–2060) relative to the control period (1971–2000). A study published in Nature Climate Change suggests that thermoelectric power plants (i.e., Source: van Vliet et al.

Climate Change

Climate Change Water Climate Europe

Study finds shifts to renewable energy can drive up energy poverty

Green Car Congress

JULY 13, 2019

Efforts to shift away from fossil fuels and replace oil and coal with renewable energy sources can help reduce carbon emissions but do so at the expense of increased inequality, according to a new study by researchers at Portland State University (PSU) and Vanderbilt University. —Julius McGee. —Julius McGee.

Renewable

Renewable Energy Portland Climate Change

Study suggests current levels of methane leakage would result in numerous decades of more rapid climate change from a shift to natural gas vehicles

Green Car Congress

APRIL 10, 2012

A) CNG light-duty cars vs. gasoline cars; (B) CNG heavy-duty vehicles vs. diesel vehicles; and (C) combined-cycle natural gas plants vs. supercritical coal plants using low-CH 4 coal. Recent reports in the scientific literature and popular press have produced confusion about the climate implications of natural gas.

Climate Change

Climate Change Climate Gas Coal

New study puts air-pollution related deaths in India in 2019 at 1.67 million

Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 27, 2020

billion (US) in economic losses, according to a new study led by researchers from the Global Observatory on Pollution and Health at Boston College, the Indian Council of Medical Research, and the Public Health Foundation of India. Air pollution in India resulted 1.67

Pollution

Pollution India 2019 Boston

UMD-led study finds China’s SO2 emissions down 75% since 2007, India’s up 50%; India may now be the top SO2 emitter

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 13, 2017

Although China and India remain the world’s largest consumers of coal, a new University of Maryland-led study found that China’s sulfur dioxide emissions fell by 75% since 2007, while India’s emissions increased by 50%. The open access study is published in the journal Scientific Reports. Click to enlarge.

India

India 2007 Emissions Aura

OECD: governments should make better use of energy taxation to address climate change; “meaningful” increases limited to road sector

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 14, 2018

Between 2012 and 2015, effective tax rates decline perceptibly in real terms in around half of the countries studied, implying small and probably unintentional steps away from the polluter pays principle. —“Taxing Energy Use 2018”. —“Taxing Energy Use 2018”.

Climate Change

Climate Change Climate Energy Tax

MIT report finds China’s actions on climate change crucial; argues for global economy-wide greenhouse gas tax

Green Car Congress

MAY 29, 2012

A new report from the MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change shows the importance of all major nations taking part in global efforts to reduce emissions—and in particular, finds China’s role to be crucial. Eighty percent of those emissions came from coal, making China the consumer of about half the world’s coal.

Climate Change

Climate Change MIT Climate Tax

Study from Thuringia shows 50% of harmful soot comes from local sources, 50% from long-distance transport

Green Car Congress

JUNE 12, 2021

The main sources were combustion emissions, probably from wood and coal-fired heating systems. With the study now published, it is clear that even for soot, which accounts for only a portion of PM 10 fine particulate matter, the relationship between ambient and remote sources is similar—i.e.,

Transportation

Transportation Germany Climate Change Climate

Black carbon is a much larger cause of climate change than previously assessed; about twice previous estimates, and 2/3 the effect of CO2

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 16, 2013

Black carbon (BC) is the second largest man-made contributor to global warming and its influence on climate has been greatly underestimated, according to the first quantitative and comprehensive analysis of this pollutant’s climate impact. The large uncertainty derives principally from the indirect climate-forcing effects.

Climate Change

Climate Change Climate Carbon CO2

'Fossil fuels are dead,' says CSX railroad chief: no more new trains for coal, ever

Green Car Reports

JULY 31, 2017

The industrial revolution that began around 1750 was powered in large part by coal, and the carbon-rich fuel had 200 good years after that.

Coal

Coal Climate Change Fuel Climate

Conservation group opposing Thacker Pass lithium mine seeks endangered status for Kings River pyrg (snail)

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

In 2018, Lithium Americas completed a pre-feasibility study (PFS) on a two-phase project with a production capacity designed to reach 60,000 tpa of battery- quality lithium carbonate (Li 2 CO 3 ) and 46-year mine life. The sedimentary-clay deposit at Thacker Pass will use similar mining techniques to many coal deposits.

Nevada

Nevada Coal Pollution Argentina

Seattle City Council passes resolution opposing transportation of coal through Seattle for export, measures for mitigating impact

Green Car Congress

MAY 30, 2012

The Seattle City Council unanimously passed Resolution 31379 stating Seattle’s opposition to the transportation of coal through Seattle. There are currently four coal exports under permit review in the Northwest that collectively could increase US coal exports by 150 million tons of coal annually.

Seattle

Seattle Coal Transportation Washington

China study connects ozone pollution to cardiovascular health

Green Car Congress

JULY 17, 2017

Exposure to ozone, long associated with impaired lung function, is also connected to health changes that can cause cardiovascular disease such as heart attack, high blood pressure and stroke, according to a new study of Chinese adults. The team studied 89 healthy adults living in Changsha City, China, for one year.

Ozone

Ozone Pollution Connected Connect

How Smart Energy Management for EV Charging Is Connected to the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference

Driivz

NOVEMBER 29, 2021

We found ourselves thinking about how Smart Energy Management for EV charging is connected to the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference; Countries from around the world continue to focus on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as a key strategy for reducing the rate of global warming.

Climate Change

Climate Change Climate Connected Connect

Tsinghua University provincial-level lifecycle study finds fuel-cycle criteria pollutants of EVs in China could be up to 5x those of natural gas vehicles due to China’s coal-dominant power mix

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 12, 2013

In regions where the share of coal-based electricity is relatively low, EVs can achieve substantial GHG reduction, the team reports in a paper in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology. According to the 12 th Five-Year Plan of the China Coal Industry (2011?2015)

Coal

Coal Pollution China Gas

OPG, GE Hitachi to deploy small modular reactor at Darlington station in Canada

Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 6, 2021

International bodies, including the International Energy Agency (IEA), have been clear: climate change initiatives will fall short without nuclear power as part of the electricity supply mix. A single SMR of about 300 megawatts in size can prevent between 0.3 Spur SMR deployment elsewhere in Canada and abroad.

Canada

Canada Climate Change Estonia United Kingdom

Perspective: The Role of Offsets in Climate Change Legislation

Green Car Congress

MARCH 6, 2010

This article shows that including offsets in climate change legislation would likely make an emissions program more cost-effective by: (a) providing an incentive for non-regulated sources to generate emission reductions; and (b) expanding emission compliance opportunities for regulated entities. Assuming the offset is legitimate—i.e.,

Climate Change

Climate Change Climate Emissions 2008

U-M study: When, where, how electric delivery vehicles are charged has big impact on GHGs

Green Car Congress

JULY 13, 2021

Now, a study from University of Michigan researchers shows that when, where and how those fleet vehicles are charged can greatly impact their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The study is published in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology. —Maxwell Woody.

Charging

Charging Vehicles Gas-Electric Emissions

Tsinghua/Argonne Study Finds That Mass Use of EVs in China Could Result in Higher CO2 and Criteria Pollutant Emissions Than Conventional and Hybrid Gasoline Vehicles Due to Coal-Fired Generation of Electricity

Green Car Congress

MAY 25, 2010

The study was published online 24 May in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology. The study examined the fuel-cycle CO 2 , SO 2 , and NO x emissions of EVs in China in both current (2008) and future (2030) periods and compared them with those of conventional gasoline vehicles and gasoline hybrids. Credit: ACS, Huo et al.

Coal

Coal Gasoline-Electric Gasoline Pollution

Argonne study finds shale gas GHG lifecycle emissions 6% lower than natural gas, 23% lower than gasoline and 33% lower than coal; upstream methane leakage a key contributor

Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 18, 2011

The base results from a study by a team at the Center for Transportation Research, Argonne National Laboratory indicate that shale gas life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are 6% lower than conventional natural gas, 23% lower than gasoline, and 33% lower than coal. Credit: ACS, Burnham et al. Click to enlarge.

Gas

Gas Coal Emissions Gasoline

Study Finds that US Subsidies for Fossil Fuels Are Almost 2.5x Those for Renewables

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 18, 2009

The study, “Estimating US Government Subsidies to Energy Sources: 2002-2008”, found that fossil fuels benefited from approximately $72 billion over the seven-year period, while subsidies for renewable fuels totaled $29 billion. billion went to traditional sources—such as coal and oil—and $2.3 Of the fossil fuel subsidies, $70.2

Renewable

Renewable Tax Credit Fuel Climate Change

MIT researchers conclude fundamental changes in the US energy-innovation system are needed to meet challenges of climate change and energy supply

Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 22, 2011

A three-year study by a team of researchers based at MIT has concluded that fundamental changes are needed in the US energy-innovation system. The study was carried out at the MIT Industrial Performance Center and involved faculty and students from nine MIT departments. —Richard Lester.

Climate Change

Climate Change MIT Climate Energy

Reducing Black Carbon Emissions and Ground-Level Ozone Would Provide Immediate Benefit Against Climate Change

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 21, 2009

Reducing emissions of black carbon soot and ground-level ozone would quickly make a considerable dent in the climate change problem and would also contribute to public health and protect crop yields, according to an essay in the September/October issue of Foreign Affairs. Tags: Climate Change Emissions. Earlier post.)

Climate Change

Climate Change Ozone Climate Carbon

Kobe Steel and Mitsui to partner on DRI project in Oman

Green Car Congress

APRIL 11, 2023

The project aims to produce 5 million tons of DRI with a future expansion plan under study. Having confirmed the site and cooperative framework in Special Economic Zone at Duqm in Oman, Kobe Steel and Mitsui will move the feasibility study forward. The steel industry is working on reduction of CO₂ emissions to address climate change.

Oman

Oman Hydrogen Gas-Electric Gas

Study finds 1.4 Gt discrepancy between national and provincial data sets for greenhouse gas emissions in China

Green Car Congress

JUNE 11, 2012

A study lead by researchers from the Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences has found a 1.4-gigatonne The gap, noted the researchers in their open-access paper in Nature Climate Change , is equivalent to Japan’s annual CO 2 emissions, the world’s fourth largest emitter, with 5% of the global total.

Emissions

Emissions Gas China Climate Change

Researchers Say Mix of Policies and Current or Near-Term Technologies Could Phase Out US CO2 Emissions from Coal-Fired Power Plants by 2030

Green Car Congress

MAY 2, 2010

CO 2 emissions from US coal-fired power plant could be phased out entirely by 2030 using existing technologies or ones that could be commercially competitive with coal within about a decade, according to a paper published online 30 April in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology. Credit: ACS, Kharecha et al.

Coal

Coal Emissions Oil-Sands Climate Change

Enviva and MOL to develop sail-powered bulk carrier to cut GHG emissions in biomass supply chain; Wind Challenger hard sail

Green Car Congress

APRIL 5, 2021

MOL has been jointly studying the wind technology with cross-industrial partners. In December 2020, MOL reached a coal transport deal with Tohoku Electric Power Co., using a coal carrier equipped with a hard sail wind power propulsion system.

Wind

Wind Emissions Powered Power

Duke study finds China’s synthetic natural gas plants will have heavy environmental toll; 2x vehicle GHG if used for fuel

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 25, 2013

Coal-powered synthetic natural gas (SNG) plants being planned in China would produce seven times more greenhouse gas emissions than conventional natural gas plants, and use up to 100 times the water as shale gas production, according to a new study by Duke University researchers published in the journal Nature Climate Change.

Gas

Gas Mercury Fuel Climate Change

Peabody Energy and GreatPoint Energy To Partner on Coal-to-Gas and Coal-to-Hydrogen Facilities with Carbon Capture and Storage

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 19, 2010

Overview of the bluegas catalytic coal methanation process. By adding a catalyst to the coal gasification system, GreatPoint Energy is able to reduce the operating temperature in the gasifier, while directly promoting the reactions that yield methane, (CH 4 ). Click to enlarge.

Coal

Coal Carbon Gas Energy

Study finds urban waste heat affects temperatures across thousands of miles, warming some areas and cooling others

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 28, 2013

—NCAR scientist Aixue Hu, a co-author of the study. Such islands are mainly a function of the heat collected and re-radiated by pavement, buildings, and other urban features, whereas the new study examines the heat produced directly through transportation, heating and cooling units, and other activities.

Waste

Waste Miles Climate Change San Diego

Eight energy majors commit to reduce methane emissions within natural gas industry

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 23, 2017

The commitment was made as part of wider efforts by the global energy industry to ensure that natural gas continues to play a critical role in helping meet future energy demand while addressing climate change. —Tim Gould, Head of Supply Division, World Energy Outlook, IEA.

Gas

Gas Emissions Industrial Industry

UNEP study: small number of measures targeting black carbon and tropospheric ozone could yield immediate climate benefits

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 22, 2011

The climate change benefit is estimated for 2050 and human health and crop benefits are for 2030 and beyond. Widespread implementation is achievable with existing technology but would require significant strategic investment and institutional arrangements, the study found. Click to enlarge.

Ozone

Ozone Climate Carbon Climate Change

Study concludes abundant shale gas is neither climate hero nor villain; need for targeted GHG reduction policy

Green Car Congress

MAY 15, 2014

While natural gas can reduce greenhouse emissions when it is substituted for higher-emission energy sources, abundant shale gas is not likely to substantially alter total emissions without policies targeted at greenhouse gas reduction, according to a new study by two researchers at Duke University.

Climate

Climate Gas Coal Gas-Electric

Open Letter by Netherlands Scientists on IPCC and Errors in 2007 Climate Change Report

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 12, 2010

In response to the ongoing discussion about the reliability of the UN IPCC and the climate reports, a group of 55 leading Dutch scientists working in the field of climate change, energy and the environment wrote an open letter. Errors in the IPCC climate change report are being seized by some to discredit climate science.

Climate Change

Climate Change Netherlands 2007 Climate

Study finds methane emissions from coal mines ~50% higher than previously thought

CICERO-led study finds global warming effect of leaked hydrogen almost 12x stronger than CO2

Why EVs Aren't a Climate Change Panacea

Study finds steelmaking by electric arc furnace in US produces up to 75% less carbon emissions

Study findings suggest that switching from coal to natural gas would do little for global climate

Report finds says “negative emissions technologies” need to play a large role in mitigating climate change

Converting Coal Power Plants to Nuclear Gains Steam

Study finds climate impact of hydropower varies widely

Study Concludes Peak Coal Will Occur Close to 2011

Stanford study finds current carbon capture technology inefficient & increases air pollution

Study projects thermoelectric power in Europe and US vulnerable to climate change due to lower summer river flows and higher river water temperatures

Study finds shifts to renewable energy can drive up energy poverty

Study suggests current levels of methane leakage would result in numerous decades of more rapid climate change from a shift to natural gas vehicles

New study puts air-pollution related deaths in India in 2019 at 1.67 million

UMD-led study finds China’s SO2 emissions down 75% since 2007, India’s up 50%; India may now be the top SO2 emitter

OECD: governments should make better use of energy taxation to address climate change; “meaningful” increases limited to road sector

MIT report finds China’s actions on climate change crucial; argues for global economy-wide greenhouse gas tax

Study from Thuringia shows 50% of harmful soot comes from local sources, 50% from long-distance transport

Black carbon is a much larger cause of climate change than previously assessed; about twice previous estimates, and 2/3 the effect of CO2

'Fossil fuels are dead,' says CSX railroad chief: no more new trains for coal, ever

Conservation group opposing Thacker Pass lithium mine seeks endangered status for Kings River pyrg (snail)

Seattle City Council passes resolution opposing transportation of coal through Seattle for export, measures for mitigating impact

China study connects ozone pollution to cardiovascular health

How Smart Energy Management for EV Charging Is Connected to the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference

Tsinghua University provincial-level lifecycle study finds fuel-cycle criteria pollutants of EVs in China could be up to 5x those of natural gas vehicles due to China’s coal-dominant power mix

OPG, GE Hitachi to deploy small modular reactor at Darlington station in Canada

Perspective: The Role of Offsets in Climate Change Legislation

U-M study: When, where, how electric delivery vehicles are charged has big impact on GHGs

Tsinghua/Argonne Study Finds That Mass Use of EVs in China Could Result in Higher CO2 and Criteria Pollutant Emissions Than Conventional and Hybrid Gasoline Vehicles Due to Coal-Fired Generation of Electricity

Argonne study finds shale gas GHG lifecycle emissions 6% lower than natural gas, 23% lower than gasoline and 33% lower than coal; upstream methane leakage a key contributor

Study Finds that US Subsidies for Fossil Fuels Are Almost 2.5x Those for Renewables

MIT researchers conclude fundamental changes in the US energy-innovation system are needed to meet challenges of climate change and energy supply

Reducing Black Carbon Emissions and Ground-Level Ozone Would Provide Immediate Benefit Against Climate Change

Kobe Steel and Mitsui to partner on DRI project in Oman

Study finds 1.4 Gt discrepancy between national and provincial data sets for greenhouse gas emissions in China

Researchers Say Mix of Policies and Current or Near-Term Technologies Could Phase Out US CO2 Emissions from Coal-Fired Power Plants by 2030

Enviva and MOL to develop sail-powered bulk carrier to cut GHG emissions in biomass supply chain; Wind Challenger hard sail

Duke study finds China’s synthetic natural gas plants will have heavy environmental toll; 2x vehicle GHG if used for fuel

Peabody Energy and GreatPoint Energy To Partner on Coal-to-Gas and Coal-to-Hydrogen Facilities with Carbon Capture and Storage

Study finds urban waste heat affects temperatures across thousands of miles, warming some areas and cooling others

Eight energy majors commit to reduce methane emissions within natural gas industry

UNEP study: small number of measures targeting black carbon and tropospheric ozone could yield immediate climate benefits

Study concludes abundant shale gas is neither climate hero nor villain; need for targeted GHG reduction policy

Open Letter by Netherlands Scientists on IPCC and Errors in 2007 Climate Change Report

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