UEXdo/OpenDataHub huggingface dataset:
Projecting future carbon emissions from cement production in developing countries
Authors: Cheng, D.; Reiner, D.; Yang, F.; Cui, C.; Meng, J.
Journal: Nature Communications (2023)

AbstractAchieving low-carbon development of the cement industry in the developing countries is fundamental to global emissions abatement, considering the local construction industry’s rapid growth. However, there is currently a lack of systematic and accurate accounting and projection of cement emissions in developing countries, which are characterized with lower basic economic country condition. Here, we provide bottom-up quantifications of emissions from global cement production and reveal a r
Limitations to sustainable renewable jet fuels production attributed to cost than energy-water-food resource availability
Authors: Chong, C.; Ng, J.
Journal: Nature Communications (2023)

AbstractRenewable jet fuel (RJF) is often touted as the only viable sustainable energy source for the aviation sector, given the difficulties faced by other low-carbon energy sources in overcoming technological barriers. Despite that, the sustainability of RJF is still in dispute due to the conflicting requirements in natural resource for producing the fuels. We introduce a holistic 25-indicator sustainability index encompassing the four domains of energy-water-food nexus and governance, that me
Global green hydrogen-based steel opportunities surrounding high quality renewable energy and iron ore deposits
Authors: Devlin, A.; Kossen, J.; Goldie-Jones, H.; Yang, A.
Journal: Nature Communications (2023)

AbstractThe steel sector currently accounts for 7% of global energy-related CO2 emissions and requires deep reform to disconnect from fossil fuels. Here, we investigate the market competitiveness of one of the widely considered decarbonisation routes for primary steel production: green hydrogen-based direct reduction of iron ore followed by electric arc furnace steelmaking. Through analysing over 300 locations by combined use of optimisation and machine learning, we show that competitive renewab
2D MXenes polar catalysts for multi-renewable energy harvesting applications
Authors: Pan, X.; Yang, X.; Yu, M.; Lu, X.; Kang, H.
Journal: Nature Communications (2023)

AbstractThe synchronous harvesting and conversion of multiple renewable energy sources for chemical fuel production and environmental remediation in a single system is a holy grail in sustainable energy technologies. However, it is challenging to develop advanced energy harvesters that satisfy different working mechanisms. Here, we theoretically and experimentally disclose the use of MXene materials as versatile catalysts for multi-energy utilization. Ti3C2TX MXene shows remarkable catalytic per
The contribution of corporate initiatives to global renewable electricity deployment
Authors: Egli, F.; Zhang, R.; Hopo, V.; Schmidt, T.; Steffen, B.
Journal: Nature Communications (2023)

AbstractClimate change is gaining importance on the agenda of senior decision makers in the private sector. Hence, corporate renewable electricity (RE) procurement may become more relevant to the energy transition. RE100 is the largest corporate initiative to foster RE procurement with 315 corporate members as of 2021. Yet, the contribution of such initiatives to the energy transition remains unclear, because public reporting is aggregated on the global level. Here, we develop an approach to map
Meteorological drivers of resource adequacy failures in current and high renewable Western U.S. power systems
Authors: Sundar, S.; Craig, M.; Payne, A.; Brayshaw, D.; Lehner, F.
Journal: Nature Communications (2023)

AbstractPower system resource adequacy (RA), or its ability to continually balance energy supply and demand, underpins human and economic health. How meteorology affects RA and RA failures, particularly with increasing penetrations of renewables, is poorly understood. We characterize large-scale circulation patterns that drive RA failures in the Western U.S. at increasing wind and solar penetrations by integrating power system and synoptic meteorology methods. At up to 60% renewable penetration
Global transcontinental power pools for low-carbon electricity
Authors: Yang, H.; Deshmukh, R.; Suh, S.
Journal: Nature Communications (2023)

AbstractThe transition to low-carbon electricity is crucial for meeting global climate goals. However, given the uneven spatial distribution and temporal variability of renewable resources, balancing the supply and demand of electricity will be challenging when relying on close to 100% shares of renewable energy. Here, we use an electricity planning model with hourly supply-demand projections and high-resolution renewable resource maps, to examine whether transcontinental power pools reliably me
Electricity-driven asymmetric bromocyclization enabled by chiral phosphate anion phase-transfer catalysis
Authors: Tan, X.; Wang, Q.; Sun, J.
Journal: Nature Communications (2023)

AbstractElectricity-driven asymmetric catalysis is an emerging powerful tool in organic synthesis. However, asymmetric induction so far has mainly relied on forming strong bonds with a chiral catalyst. Asymmetry induced by weak interactions with a chiral catalyst in an electrochemical medium remains challenging due to compatibility issues related to solvent polarity, electrolyte interference, etc. Enabled by a properly designed phase-transfer strategy, here we have achieved two efficient electri
A low-carbon electricity sector in Europe risks sustaining regional inequalities in benefits and vulnerabilities
Authors: Sasse, J.; Trutnevyte, E.
Journal: Nature Communications (2023)

AbstractImproving equity is an emerging priority in climate and energy strategies, but little is known how these strategies would alter inequalities. Regional inequalities such as price, employment and land use are especially relevant in the electricity sector, which must decarbonize first to allow other sectors to decarbonize. Here, we show that a European low-carbon electricity sector in 2035 can reduce but also sustain associated regional inequalities. Using spatially-explicit modeling for 29
Inefficient prioritization of task-relevant attributes during instrumental information demand
Authors: Rischall, I.; Hunter, L.; Jensen, G.; Gottlieb, J.
Journal: Nature Communications (2023)

AbstractIn natural settings, people evaluate complex multi-attribute situations and decide which attribute to request information about. Little is known about how people make this selection and specifically, how they identify individual observations that best predict the value of a multi-attribute situation. Here show that, in a simple task of information demand, participants inefficiently query attributes that have high individual value but are relatively uninformative about a total payoff. Thi
How climate policy commitments influence energy systems and the economies of US states
Authors: Bergquist, P.; Warshaw, C.
Journal: Nature Communications (2023)

AbstractIn the United States, state governments have been the locus of action for addressing climate change. However, the lack of a holistic measure of state climate policy has prevented a comprehensive assessment of state policies’ effectiveness. Here, we assemble information from 25 individual policies to develop an aggregate index of state climate policies from 2000-2020. The climate policy index highlights variation between states which is difficult to assess in single policy studies. Next,
The asymmetric effects of climate risk on higher-moment connectedness among carbon, energy and metals markets
Authors: Zhou, Y.; Wu, S.; Liu, Z.; Rognone, L.
Journal: Nature Communications (2023)

AbstractClimate change affects price fluctuations in the carbon, energy and metals markets through physical and transition risks. Climate physical risk is mainly caused by extreme weather, natural disasters and other events caused by climate change, whereas climate transition risk mainly results from the gradual switchover to a low-carbon economy. Given that the connectedness between financial markets may be affected by various factors such as extreme events and economic transformation, understa
Geospatial mapping of distribution grid with machine learning and publicly-accessible multi-modal data
Authors: Wang, Z.; Majumdar, A.; Rajagopal, R.
Journal: Nature Communications (2023)

AbstractDetailed and location-aware distribution grid information is a prerequisite for various power system applications such as renewable energy integration, wildfire risk assessment, and infrastructure planning. However, a generalizable and scalable approach to obtain such information is still lacking. In this work, we develop a machine-learning-based framework to map both overhead and underground distribution grids using widely-available multi-modal data including street view images, road ne
Mental search of concepts is supported by egocentric vector representations and restructured grid maps
Authors: Viganò, S.; Bayramova, R.; Doeller, C.; Bottini, R.
Journal: Nature Communications (2023)

Abstract
                  The human hippocampal-entorhinal system is known to represent both spatial locations and abstract concepts in memory in the form of allocentric cognitive maps. Using fMRI, we show that the human parietal cortex evokes complementary egocentric representations in conceptual spaces during goal-directed mental search, akin to those observable during physical navigation to determine where a goal is located relative to oneself (e.g., to our left or to our right). Concurrentl
Grid integration feasibility and investment planning of offshore wind power under carbon-neutral transition in China
Authors: Guo, X.; Chen, X.; Chen, X.; Sherman, P.; Wen, J.
Journal: Nature Communications (2023)

AbstractOffshore wind power, with accelerated declining levelized costs, is emerging as a critical building-block to fully decarbonize the world’s largest CO2 emitter, China. However, system integration barriers as well as system balancing costs have not been quantified yet. Here we develop a bottom-up model to test the grid accommodation capabilities and design the optimal investment plans for offshore wind power considering resource distributions, hourly power system simulations, and transmiss
Electric vehicle batteries alone could satisfy short-term grid storage demand by as early as 2030
Authors: Xu, C.; Behrens, P.; Gasper, P.; Smith, K.; Hu, M.
Journal: Nature Communications (2023)

AbstractThe energy transition will require a rapid deployment of renewable energy (RE) and electric vehicles (EVs) where other transit modes are unavailable. EV batteries could complement RE generation by providing short-term grid services. However, estimating the market opportunity requires an understanding of many socio-technical parameters and constraints. We quantify the global EV battery capacity available for grid storage using an integrated model incorporating future EV battery deployment
Hidden delays of climate mitigation benefits in the race for electric vehicle deployment
Authors: Ren, Y.; Sun, X.; Wolfram, P.; Zhao, S.; Tang, X.
Journal: Nature Communications (2023)

AbstractAlthough battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are climate-friendly alternatives to internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs), an important but often ignored fact is that the climate mitigation benefits of BEVs are usually delayed. The manufacture of BEVs is more carbon-intensive than that of ICEVs, leaving a greenhouse gas (GHG) debt to be paid back in the future use phase. Here we analyze millions of vehicle data from the Chinese market and show that the GHG break-even time (GBET) of Chin
China’s electric vehicle and climate ambitions jeopardized by surging critical material prices
Authors: Wang, H.; Feng, K.; Wang, P.; Yang, Y.; Sun, L.
Journal: Nature Communications (2023)

AbstractThe adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) on a large scale is crucial for meeting the desired climate commitments, where affordability plays a vital role. However, the expected surge in prices of lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese, four critical materials in EV batteries, could hinder EV uptake. To explore these impacts in the context of China, the world’s largest EV market, we expand and enrich an integrated assessment model. We find that under a high material cost surge scenario, EVs
Wind-driven device for cooling permafrost
Authors: Qin, Y.; Wang, T.; Yuan, W.
Journal: Nature Communications (2023)

AbstractPreserving permafrost subgrade is a challenge due to global warming, but passive cooling techniques have limited success. Here, we present a novel wind-driven device that can cool permafrost subgrade by circulating coolant between the ambient air and the subgrade. It consists of a wind mill, a mechanical clutch with phase change material, and a fluid-circulation heat exchanger. The clutch engages and disengages through freezing and melting phase change material, while the device turns of
Global land and water limits to electrolytic hydrogen production using wind and solar resources
Authors: Tonelli, D.; Rosa, L.; Gabrielli, P.; Caldeira, K.; Parente, A.
Journal: Nature Communications (2023)

Abstract
                  Proposals for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 include scaling-up electrolytic hydrogen production, however, this poses technical, economic, and environmental challenges. One such challenge is for policymakers to ensure a sustainable future for the environment including freshwater and land resources while facilitating low-carbon hydrogen production using renewable wind and solar energy. We establish a country-by-country reference scenario for hydrogen demand in 205
Exploiting nonaqueous self-stratified electrolyte systems toward large-scale energy storage
Authors: Wang, Z.; Ji, H.; Zhou, J.; Zheng, Y.; Liu, J.
Journal: Nature Communications (2023)

AbstractBiphasic self-stratified batteries (BSBs) provide a new direction in battery philosophy for large-scale energy storage, which successfully reduces the cost and simplifies the architecture of redox flow batteries. However, current aqueous BSBs have intrinsic limits on the selection range of electrode materials and energy density due to the narrow electrochemical window of water. Thus, herein, we develop nonaqueous BSBs based on Li-S chemistry, which deliver an almost quadruple increase in
Rebound effects undermine carbon footprint reduction potential of autonomous electric vehicles
Authors: Onat, N.; Mandouri, J.; Kucukvar, M.; Sen, B.; Abbasi, S.
Journal: Nature Communications (2023)

AbstractAutonomous vehicles offer greater passenger convenience and improved fuel efficiency. However, they are likely to increase road transport activity and life cycle greenhouse emissions, due to several rebound effects. In this study, we investigate tradeoffs between improved fuel economy and rebound effects from a life-cycle perspective. Our results show that autonomy introduces an average 21.2% decrease in operation phase emissions due to improved fuel economy while manufacturing phase emi
Incentive based emergency demand response effectively reduces peak load during heatwave without harm to vulnerable groups
Authors: Wang, Z.; Lu, B.; Wang, B.; Qiu, Y.; Shi, H.
Journal: Nature Communications (2023)

Abstract
                  The incentive-based emergency demand response measure serves as an important regulatory tool during energy system operations. However, whether people will sacrifice comfort to respond to it during heatwave and what the effect on heat vulnerable populations will be are still unclear. A large-scale emergency demand response pilot involving 205,129 households was conducted in southwestern China during continuous extreme high temperatures in summer. We found that the incen
Switchable biomimetic nanochannels for on-demand SO2 detection by light-controlled photochromism
Authors: Zhang, D.; Sun, Y.; Wang, Z.; Liu, F.; Zhang, X.
Journal: Nature Communications (2023)

AbstractIn contrast to the conventional passive reaction to analytes, here, we create a proof-of-concept nanochannel system capable of on-demand recognition of the target to achieve an unbiased response. Inspired by light-activatable biological channelrhodopsin-2, photochromic spiropyran/anodic aluminium oxide nanochannel sensors are constructed to realize a light-controlled inert/active-switchable response to SO2 by ionic transport behaviour. We find that light can finely regulate the reactivit
Contribution of prioritized urban nature-based solutions allocation to carbon neutrality
Authors: Pan, H.; Page, J.; Shi, R.; Cong, C.; Cai, Z.
Journal: Nature Climate Change (2023)

Abstract
                  Nature-based solutions (NBS) are essential for carbon-neutral cities, yet how to effectively allocate them remains a question. Carbon neutrality requires city-led climate action plans that incorporate both indirect and direct contributions of NBS. Here we assessed the carbon emissions mitigation potential of NBS in European cities, focusing particularly on commonly overlooked indirect pathways, for example, human behavioural interventions and resource savings. Assuming
Slowdown of Antarctic Bottom Water export driven by climatic wind and sea-ice changes
Authors: Zhou, S.; Meijers, A.; Meredith, M.; Abrahamsen, E.; Holland, P.
Journal: Nature Climate Change (2023)

AbstractAntarctic Bottom Water (AABW) is pivotal for oceanic heat and carbon sequestrations on multidecadal to millennial timescales. The Weddell Sea contributes nearly a half of global AABW through Weddell Sea Deep Water and denser underlying Weddell Sea Bottom Water that form on the continental shelves via sea-ice production. Here we report an observed 30% reduction of Weddell Sea Bottom Water volume since 1992, with the largest decrease in the densest classes. This is probably driven by a mul
Future warming from global food consumption
Authors: Ivanovich, C.; Sun, T.; Gordon, D.; Ocko, I.
Journal: Nature Climate Change (2023)

Abstract
                  
                    Food consumption is a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and evaluating its future warming impact is crucial for guiding climate mitigation action. However, the lack of granularity in reporting food item emissions and the widespread use of oversimplified metrics such as CO
                    2
                    equivalents have complicated interpretation. We resolve these challenges by developing a global food consumption GHG emissi
Probabilistic projections of granular energy technology diffusion at subnational level
Authors: Zielonka, N.; Wen, X.; Trutnevyte, E.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2023)

Abstract
               Projections of granular energy technology diffusion can support decision-making on climate mitigation policies and infrastructure investments. However, such projections often do not account for uncertainties and have low spatial resolution. S-curve models of technology diffusion are widely used to project future installations, but the results of the different models can vary significantly. We propose a method to create probabilistic projections of granular energy technolo
Membrane free-energy landscapes derived from atomistic dynamics explain nonuniversal cholesterol-induced stiffening
Authors: Fiorin, G.; Forrest, L.; Faraldo-Gómez, J.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2023)

Abstract
                  All lipid membranes have inherent morphological preferences and resist deformation. Yet adaptations in membrane shape can and do occur at multiple length scales. While this plasticity is crucial for cellular physiology, the factors controlling the morphological energetics of lipid bilayers and the dominant mechanisms of membrane remodeling remain to be fully understood. An ongoing debate regarding the universality of the stiffening effect of cholesterol underscores the
Pore formation driven by particle impact in laser powder-blown directed energy deposition
Authors: Webster, S.; Moser, N.; Fezzaa, K.; Sun, T.; Ehmann, K.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2023)

Abstract
               Process defects currently limit the use of metal additive manufacturing (AM) components in industries due to shorter fatigue life, potential for catastrophic failure, and lower strength. Conditions under which these defects form, and their mechanisms, are starting to be analyzed to improve reliability and structural integrity of these highly customized parts. We use in situ, high-speed X-ray imaging in conjunction with a high throughput laser, powder-blown directed energy
Photovoltaic fields largely outperform afforestation efficiency in global climate change mitigation strategies
Authors: Stern, R.; Muller, J.; Rotenberg, E.; Amer, M.; Segev, L.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2023)

Abstract
               Suppression of carbon emissions through photovoltaic (PV) energy and carbon sequestration through afforestation provides complementary climate change mitigation (CCM) strategies. However, a quantification of the “break-even time” (BET) required to offset the warming impacts of the reduced surface reflectivity of incoming solar radiation (albedo effect) is needed, though seldom accounted for in CCM strategies. Here, we quantify the CCM potential of PV fields and afforestat
Toward carbon neutrality: Projecting a desert-based photovoltaic power network circumnavigating the globe
Authors: Zhou, Y.; Liu, J.; Ge, W.; He, C.; Ma, J.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2023)

Abstract
               Carbon, the human's most reliable fuel type in the past, must be neutralized in this century toward the Paris Agreement temperature goals. Solar power is widely believed a key fossil fuel substitute but suffers from the needs of large space occupation and huge energy storage for peak shaving. Here, we propose a solar network circumnavigating the globe to connecting large-scale desert photovoltaics among continents. By evaluating the generation potential of desert photovol
An all ambient, room temperature–processed solar cell from a bare silicon wafer
Authors: Okamoto, K.; Fujita, Y.; Nishigaya, K.; Tanabe, K.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2023)

Abstract
               Solar cells are a promising optoelectronic device for the simultaneous solution of energy resource and environmental problems. However, their high cost and slow, laborious production process so far severely hinder a sufficient widespread of clean, renewable photovoltaic energy as a major alternative electricity generator. This undesirable situation is mainly attributed to the fact that photovoltaic devices have been manufactured through a series of vacuum and high-tempera
Bioinspired stability enhancement in deuterium-substituted organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells
Authors: Tong, J.; Li, X.; Wang, J.; He, H.; Xu, T.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2023)

Abstract
               In hybrid perovskite solar cells (PSCs), the reaction of hydrogens (H) located in the amino group of the organic A-site cations with their neighboring halides plays a central role in degradation. Inspired by the retarded biological activities of cells in heavy water, we replaced the light H atom with its abundant, twice-as-heavy, nonradioactive isotope, deuterium (D) to hamper the motion of H. This D substitution retarded the formation kinetics of the detrimental H halide
Hazardous air pollutant emissions estimates from wildfires in the wildland urban interface
Authors: Holder, A.; Ahmed, A.; Vukovich, J.; Rao, V.
Journal: npj Clean Energy (2023)

Abstract
               Fires that occur in the wildland urban interface (WUI) often burn structures, vehicles, and their contents in addition to biomass in the natural landscape. Because these fires burn near population centers, their emissions may have a sizeable impact on public health, necessitating a better understanding of criteria and hazardous air pollutants emitted from these fires and how they differ from wildland fires. Previous studies on the toxicity of emissions from the combustion