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Land
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Renewable Energy and Land Use towards Low-Carbon Transition
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Renewable Energy and Land Use towards Low-Carbon Transition

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Water, Energy, Land and Food (WELF) Nexus".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (7 February 2024) | Viewed by 17847

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Mengyao Han

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Interests: economic geography; environmental economics; sustainable development; political ecology; global supply chain; food security
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As the climate change effects of traditional energy consumption are gradually pronounced, low-carbon transition has become increasingly crucial in regard to meeting economic growth and mitigating carbon emissions. Meanwhile, the distribution of and investment in renewable energy have also drawn global attention, triggering further discussion regarding a just and equal transition, especially in developing countries. Note that the development and utilization of renewable energy resources, including hydro, solar, wind, bioenergy, etc., are closely related to land use and land cover, which may further affect the processes of the low-carbon transition and sustainable development.

In this Special Issue, we would like to focus on a wide range of topics related to the interactions between renewable energy, land use, and the low-carbon transition in different countries, with the intention of developing our understanding of the land-use patterns and requirements of renewable energy development and how renewable energy application and land-use restrictions may influence the low-carbon transition and sustainable development. The research topics may include but are not limited to:

  • Renewable energy and land restrictions;
  • Spatial optimization and low-carbon transition;
  • Sustainable energy infrastructure and investment;
  • Industrial transition and renewable energy technologies;
  • Land use, land-use change, and forestry;
  • Urban carbon linkage and metabolism;
  • Low-carbon industrial park construction;
  • Justice and equity of low-carbon transition;
  • Renewable energy and poverty alleviation.

Dr. Mengyao Han
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • renewable energy and land restrictions
  • spatial optimization and low-carbon transition
  • sustainable energy infrastructure and investment
  • industrial transition and renewable energy technologies
  • land use, land-use change, and forestry
  • urban carbon linkage and metabolism
  • low-carbon industrial park construction
  • justice and equity of low-carbon transition
  • renewable energy and poverty alleviation

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 3764 KiB  
Article
Evaluating the Sustainable Development Goals within Spatial Planning for Decision-Making: A Major Function-Oriented Zone Planning Strategy in China
by Hongpeng Fu, Jiao Liu, Xiaotian Dong, Zhenlin Chen and Min He
Land 2024, 13(3), 390; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13030390 - 19 Mar 2024
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2609
Abstract
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) serve as a reference point in the global policy-making process, with their quantitative evaluation at various scales integrating spatial planning still under exploration. Major Function Oriented Zone (MFOZ) planning in China emerges as an innovative strategy, focusing on ecosystem [...] Read more.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) serve as a reference point in the global policy-making process, with their quantitative evaluation at various scales integrating spatial planning still under exploration. Major Function Oriented Zone (MFOZ) planning in China emerges as an innovative strategy, focusing on ecosystem services to achieve sustainable development. This study takes MFOZ planning as an example, and assesses SDG implementation within the MFOZ framework, focusing on 288 cities. Then, this study analyzes the zoning types of SDG realization status through cluster analysis. Based on this, we explore the influencing factors of the SDGs from the perspective of socioeconomic and environmental characteristics, and ecosystem services, and propose target strategies. The research found that there are four zoning types according to the SDG realization status, including mixed-oriented with high consumption and output (24.3%), non-agriculture-oriented with low consumption and high output (12.5%), agriculture-oriented with low consumption and output (55.9%), and agriculture-oriented with high consumption and output (7.3%) cities. Most cities do not demonstrate high efficiency in resource consumption output, and the realization status of SDGs urgently needs to improve. Socio-economic development during urbanization challenges SDGs, while the traditional environmental measures have limited effects. Ecosystem services could help improve SDGs, including GDP growth rate, and reduce water resource development intensity and carbon emissions. Focusing solely on numerical values of SDGs, such as water efficiency, may harm ecosystem services and go against sustainable development. This research underscores the necessity of adapting SDG strategies to the unique contexts of cities and has practical significance for enabling more targeted and effective strategies for SDG implementation, integrating spatial planning, and aligning local efforts with global sustainability aspirations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Land Use towards Low-Carbon Transition)
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24 pages, 34698 KiB  
Article
Morphology Optimization of Residential Communities towards Maximizing Energy Self-Sufficiency in the Hot Summer Cold Winter Climate Zone of China
by Yuan Zhou, Hongcheng Liu, Xing Xiong and Xiaojun Li
Land 2024, 13(3), 337; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13030337 - 6 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1242
Abstract
Further research is needed on the capability of residential communities to achieve energy self-sufficiency under the constraints of current standards of land use, in particular for the Hot Summer and Cold Winter climate zone (HSCW) of China, where the majority of communities are [...] Read more.
Further research is needed on the capability of residential communities to achieve energy self-sufficiency under the constraints of current standards of land use, in particular for the Hot Summer and Cold Winter climate zone (HSCW) of China, where the majority of communities are dominated by high floor-area ratios, thus high-rise dwellings, namely less solar potential per unit floor area, while most residents adopt a “part-time, part-space” pattern of intermittent energy use behavior, thus using relatively low energy per unit floor area. This study examines 150 communities in Changsha to identify morphological indicators and develop a prototype model utilizing the Grasshopper platform. Community morphology is simulated and optimized by taking building location, orientation, and number of floors as independent variables and building energy consumption, solar PV generation, and energy self-sufficiency rate as dependent variables. The results reveal that the morphology optimization can achieve a 4.26% decrease in building energy consumption, a 45% increase in PV generation, and a 13.2% enhancement in energy self-sufficiency, with the optimal being 39%. It highlights that energy self-sufficiency cannot be achieved solely through morphology improvements. Moreover, the study underscores the crucial role of community orientation in maximizing energy self-sufficiency, with the south–north orientation identified as the most beneficial. Additionally, a layout characterized by a horizontally closed and staggered pattern and a vertically scattered arrangement emerges as favorable for enhancing energy self-sufficiency. These findings underscore the importance of considering morphological factors, particularly community orientation, in striving towards energy-self-sufficient high-rise residential communities within the HSCW climate zone of China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Land Use towards Low-Carbon Transition)
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23 pages, 681 KiB  
Article
Just Energy Transition: Learning from the Past for a More Just and Sustainable Hydrogen Transition in West Africa
by Katharina Löhr, Custódio Efraim Matavel, Sophia Tadesse, Masoud Yazdanpanah, Stefan Sieber and Nadejda Komendantova
Land 2022, 11(12), 2193; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11122193 - 3 Dec 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3729
Abstract
The rising demand for energy and the aim of moving away from fossil fuels and to low-carbon power have led many countries to move to alternative sources including solar energy, wind, geothermal energy, biomass, and hydrogen. Hydrogen is often considered a “missing link” [...] Read more.
The rising demand for energy and the aim of moving away from fossil fuels and to low-carbon power have led many countries to move to alternative sources including solar energy, wind, geothermal energy, biomass, and hydrogen. Hydrogen is often considered a “missing link” in guaranteeing the energy transition, providing storage, and covering the volatility and intermittency of renewable energy generation. However, due to potential injustice with regard to the distribution of risks, benefits, and costs (i.e., in regard to competing for land use), the large-scale deployment of hydrogen is a contested policy issue. This paper draws from a historical analysis of past energy projects to contribute to a more informed policy-making process toward a more just transition to the hydrogen economy. We perform a systematic literature review to identify relevant conflict factors that can influence the outcome of hydrogen energy transition projects in selected Economic Community of West African States countries, namely Nigeria and Mali. To better address potential challenges, policymakers must not only facilitate technology development, access, and market structures for hydrogen energy policies but also focus on energy access to affected communities. Further research should monitor hydrogen implementation with a special focus on societal impacts in producing countries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Land Use towards Low-Carbon Transition)
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11 pages, 595 KiB  
Article
Residential Heating Using Woody Biomass in Germany—Supply, Demand, and Spatial Implications
by Ralf-Uwe Syrbe, Tran Thuc Han, Karsten Grunewald, Suili Xiao and Wolfgang Wende
Land 2022, 11(11), 1937; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11111937 - 31 Oct 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2171
Abstract
Low-carbon energy requires more land than the non-renewable resources. This paper balances holistic assessments of the land demands for biomass heating and their ecosystem services. It is predicted that biomass will continue to play an important role in the heating sector in Germany [...] Read more.
Low-carbon energy requires more land than the non-renewable resources. This paper balances holistic assessments of the land demands for biomass heating and their ecosystem services. It is predicted that biomass will continue to play an important role in the heating sector in Germany by 2050, as it is one way to increase the use of renewable energy and reduce CO2 emissions. To balance this out, it is important to ensure that the substitution of fossil fuels with fuelwood does not result in losses in biodiversity, natural forest, and agricultural land. Based on the observed types of fuel demand, the need for space in terms of the growing area is characterized as the corresponding land under the consideration of a given land-use type. Formulas have been applied at the federal level in Germany. The area required to supply an average German household is 0.64 ha if all the wood harvested is used for energy purposes, but this is in competition with all other types of timber use. Fuelwood from thinning alone cannot meet the domestic demand. However, a sustainable supply of woody biomass is possible if residues mainly from forestry and the wood processing industry are used, causing a land demand of 2.69 ha per house, possibly in combination with smaller shares of the above-mentioned types of use. Thus, the shares of pellets and wood chips for heating purposes should be expanded, which would also bring ecological advantages. The qualitative consideration of forest ecosystem services shows that changing the forest composition or management may increase the fuelwood supply but does not necessarily decrease forest ecological services. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Land Use towards Low-Carbon Transition)
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14 pages, 537 KiB  
Article
Unveiling China’s Overseas Photovoltaic Power Stations in Pakistan under Low-Carbon Transition
by Mengyao Han, Jun Tang, Abdul Karim Lashari, Khizar Abbas, Hui Liu and Weidong Liu
Land 2022, 11(10), 1719; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11101719 - 4 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3669
Abstract
Under the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor, renewable energy projects gradually receive due attention, among which the photovoltaic power stations in Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park represents the most typical power stations in Pakistan. The construction and development processes of the photovoltaic power stations are divided into [...] Read more.
Under the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor, renewable energy projects gradually receive due attention, among which the photovoltaic power stations in Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park represents the most typical power stations in Pakistan. The construction and development processes of the photovoltaic power stations are divided into three stages, with enterprises involved including TBEA Xinjiang Sunoasis Co., Ltd., Urumqi, China and Zonergy Solar Technology Co., Ltd., Zigong, China. The development model of the photovoltaic power stations changed from engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) plus operation and maintenance (O&M) mode to the Build–Own–Operate (BOO) mode. Through solar power generation and marginal emission factors of photovoltaic power stations, the cumulative electricity generation during the operation period can reach nearly 40.09 billion kWh, and the cumulative emission reduction potential of photovoltaic power stations can reach 23.82 Mt CO2-eq. Based on the multi-stage construction of photovoltaic power stations in the solar park, the land, infrastructure, and transmission facilities could be arranged to simplify the procedures and attract overseas investment. The construction and development model of Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park could provide a reference for the promotion of low-carbon transition, the adjustment of traditional energy structures, the fulfillment of carbon reduction commitments, and the mitigation of climate change, which could provide policy implications for renewable energy development and low-carbon transition in Pakistan. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Land Use towards Low-Carbon Transition)
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21 pages, 1705 KiB  
Article
Innovation-Driven Development and Urban Land Low-Carbon Use Efficiency: A Policy Assessment from China
by Ning Xu, Desen Zhao, Wenjie Zhang, He Zhang, Wanxu Chen, Min Ji and Ming Liu
Land 2022, 11(10), 1634; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11101634 - 23 Sep 2022
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2636
Abstract
Improving the low-carbon utilization efficiency of urban land is crucial to the low-carbon transformation and sustainable development of China and the world economy. Innovation-driven development, especially the construction of National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zones (NIIDZs), is an important measure to realize the low-carbon [...] Read more.
Improving the low-carbon utilization efficiency of urban land is crucial to the low-carbon transformation and sustainable development of China and the world economy. Innovation-driven development, especially the construction of National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zones (NIIDZs), is an important measure to realize the low-carbon transformation of urban land use and sustainable economic development in China. However, previous studies have neglected to study the impact of the construction of NIIDZs on the low-carbon utilization efficiency of urban land. Based on a theoretical analysis and using the panel data of 283 cities in China from 2006 to 2019, we took NIIDZ construction in China as a quasi-natural experiment and adopted the progressive difference-in-differences method (DID) to evaluate the impact and action mechanism of NIIDZ construction on urban land low-carbon utilization efficiency. We found that NIIDZ construction can significantly promote the improvement of the low-carbon utilization efficiency of urban land, and a series of robustness analysis results support this research conclusion. With the passage of time, this kind of promotion effect shows a trend of increasing fluctuation. NIIDZ construction mainly improves the low-carbon utilization efficiency of urban land by promoting green technology innovation and generating economies of scale. In addition, compared with eastern cities, small-scale cities and resource-based cities, the promotion effect of NIIDZ construction in central and western cities, large cities, and non-resource-based cities is more obvious. This study provides a theoretical basis and practical reference for the low-carbon utilization of urban land from the perspective of innovation in China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Land Use towards Low-Carbon Transition)
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