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Renewable energy communities (RECs) are increasingly seen as key innovations for the development of decentralized energy systems that leverage on renewable energy co-production, sharing, and consumption. However, they still represent a niche in search of development and consolidation, and the social innovations they might bring to the energy systems need to be further scrutinized. Innovations related to the capacity to support forms of social entrepreneurship in the energy system are central to this analysis, even if they have been little studied in Italy in relation to the emerging field of renewable energy communities. Through a theoretical discussion aimed at fulfilling descriptive objectives, this paper examines, on the one hand, the social innovations related to community energy projects and, with a focus on Italy, the legal forms required to create an REC in the light of the constantly changing regulatory framework, where new actors, such as the Third Sector, can play a leading role as intermediary actors to develop the social implementation of REC initiatives. The paper navigates through the literature on community energy in the light of the social innovation they can bring to the energy system, discusses the niche condition of RECs, and addresses the Italian case with particular reference to the role of the Third Sector in disseminating REC innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper provides an optimal design for load frequency control (LFC) in the interconnected power system. To obtain an adequate LFC response alongside shortening implementation time and minimizing costs, an integral (I) controller is used. A deep analysis of the I controller-based LFC is presented. At first, a two-area interconnected power system is used, and to enhance the LFC response, the I controller and frequency bias parameters are optimized using three novel optimization algorithms, which are the incomprehensible but intelligible-in-time logic algorithm (ILA), the coati optimization algorithm (COA), and the brown-bear optimization algorithm (BOA). Also, five well-known techniques, namely, particle swarm optimization (PSO), genetic algorithm (GA), simulated annealing (SA), pattern search (PS), and nonlinear programming (NP), are used. A new objective function utilizing the integral of squared error (ISE), settling time, settling-max, and settling-min of the dynamic response is used to increase the efficacy of estimating the parameters. The presented results in this paper showed that the optimized I controller outperforms the classic I controller. After considering a load change in one area by 18.75%, the optimized I controller achieved the lowest ISE values. ISE values were: 0.00582, 0.00179, 0.00176, 0.00178, 0.00321, 0.00304, 0.00179, 0.00185, and 0.00181, for classic I, PSO-I, GA-I, SA-I, PS-I, NP-I, ILA-I, COA-I, and BOA-I. Then, the proposed method is applied to a nonlinear two-area system, demonstrating that the proposed strategies can deal with nonlinearity. As the purpose of the hybrid power system is to create a robust energy infrastructure that adheres to sustainability standards, the proposed algorithms are analyzed in a three-area multi-source power system comprising renewable energy sources (RESs) such as photovoltaic (PV) and wind turbine (WT), a battery energy storage system (BESS), and an electric vehicle (EV). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the transformation of the energy market from the traditional vertical integrated structure to the interactive competitive structure, the traditional centralized optimization method makes it difficult to reveal the interactive behavior of multi-agent integrated energy systems (MAIES). In this paper, a master–slave game optimal scheduling strategy of MAIES is proposed based on the integrated demand response. Firstly, a master–slave game framework of MAIES is established with an energy management agent as leader, an energy operation agent, an energy storage agent, and a user aggregation agent as followers. Secondly, in view of the wind and solar uncertainty, the Monte Carlo method is used to generate random scenarios, and the k-means clustering method and pre-generation elimination technology are used for scenario reduction. Then, according to different flexible characteristics of loads, a multi-load and multi-type integrated demand response model including electric, thermal, and cold energy is built to fully utilize the regulation role of flexible resources. On this basis, the transaction decision-making models of each agent are constructed, and the existence and uniqueness of the Stackelberg equilibrium solution are proved. Finally, the case simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed optimal scheduling strategy of MAIES. Compared to the scenario without considering the wind and solar uncertainty and the integrated demand response, the rate of renewable energy curtailment was reduced by 6.03% and the carbon emissions of the system were reduced by 1335.22 kg in the scenario considering the proposed method in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term sustainable energy is very familiar to all of us, yet its exact definition or meaning has so far been vague. To date, the widely adopted definition of sustainable energy has been inspired by the definition of sustainable development formulated more than 30 years ago in Our Common Future—the UN's Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development. The current definition conceals the true spirit of the report, and this has some ramifications. It raises the question as to whether we have put too much emphasis on attaining the future dimension of sustainability in the middle of a situation where energy survivability is in fact the real issue in many parts of the world. In this paper, the role of energy in sustaining the livelihoods of low-income communities is discussed. The existing definition of sustainable energy that the whole world seems to have embraced is looked at critically and its downsides exposed. The identified pillars of sustainable energy and the associated issues are discussed, and the need for an additional pillar, i.e., affordability, is discussed and called for. This paper will argue that the global definition of sustainable energy seems inappropriate and should be jettisoned, and a more realistic definition should be formulated, adopted, and embraced at the local (i.e., national or regional) level taking into account local attributes and factors. The current push for a transition from the reliance on conventional energy sources to "cleaner" energy sources (generally associated with renewable energy) has further exacerbated the issue of energy affordability that has made the conditions even more dire for so many groups of the world's population. In the midst of this situation, those who push for a rushed energy transition seem to be those who also produce an unsustainably high carbon footprint but who can easily offset their carbon footprint through the 'net-zero' concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the impact of economic, environmental, and social indicators on inclusive growth in 19 member countries of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue from 1995 to 2021. This research employed the Driscoll–Kraay standard error regression technique. The findings reveal that the impact of independent variables on inclusive growth differs significantly among three distinct income categories: lower-middle-income countries (LMYCs), upper-middle-income countries (UMYCs), and high-income countries (HYCs). One of the primary contributions of this research is the provision of empirical evidence concerning the role played by fishery and aquaculture production in fostering inclusive growth in the Asian context. This research also highlights the trade-offs between economic development and environmental sustainability in terms of trade openness; agriculture, forestry, and fishing; the ecological footprint; and renewable energy utilization. Enhancing inclusive growth in Asia requires improving fishery and aquaculture management, diversifying economic activities, reducing the ecological footprint, and increasing renewable energy utilization. This paper suggests some future work directions for extending the analysis to other regions and indicators. The paper also suggests some policy implications for fostering inclusive growth in Asia through regional cooperation, capacity building, technology transfer, and green financing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an overview of current electricity generation and consumption patterns in the Antarctic. Based on both previously published and newly collected data, the paper describes the current status of renewable-energy use at research stations in the Antarctic. A more detailed view of electricity systems is also presented, demonstrating how different types of resources may be used and combined. The paper will serve as a guide to various renewable-energy generation technologies, highlighting well-established praxis, lessons learned, and potential ideas for improvement. Several renewable electricity generation technologies that have proven effective for use in the Antarctic environment are described. as well as those that are currently in use. Finally, the paper summarizes the major lessons learned to support future projects and close the knowledge gap. The use of renewable-energy sources has the potential to reduce research stations' greenhouse gas emissions, making research in Antarctica more sustainable. The availability of high-quality energy is crucial for survival and to allow scientists to conduct meaningful research at research stations under harsh Antarctic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable agriculture strives to ensure future food and energy supply while safeguarding natural resources. The interpretation of sustainability varies by context and country, yielding distinct indicators. Researchers have studied sustainable agriculture for the past 25 years and have developed several indicators. Renewable energy holds a vital role in sustainable agriculture, aiding energy needs and mitigating environmental harm tied to agriculture. It curbs fossil fuel dependency and harnesses agricultural waste for energy. However, a consistent update of renewable energy indicators for agricultural sustainability is needed. Employing SALSA (Search, Appraisal, Synthesis, and Analysis) and PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) methodologies within the PRISMA protocol, this study extracts 84 indicators from 420 papers via SCOPUS. These indicators span social, environmental, economic, institutional, and technical dimensions. The study refines these indicators based on significance and influence, offering an enriched perspective. Furthermore, the analysis categorizes papers by publication year, continent, and topic, providing insights for stakeholders, policymakers, and researchers. By ensuring periodic indicator updates, this research promotes sustainable agriculture, informs priority areas, and guides strategic decisions. This contributes to global resilience and food security aspirations in a changing world. The future of renewable energy and sustainable agriculture will involve cutting-edge technologies, refined policy frameworks, and inclusive cross-sector collaboration to address pressing global challenges and create a greener, more resilient world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to achieve sustainable development, China has proposed to "strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and strive to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060". Virtual power plants (VPPs) are an effective means to achieve carbon neutrality goals. In order to improve the economy and low-carbon performance of virtual power plants, this paper proposes a low-carbon economic optimization dispatching model considering the combined operation of oxygen-enriched combustion (OEC) and electricity-to-ammonia (P2A). Firstly, the mechanism of the combined operation of OEC and P2A is proposed. The oxygen-enriched combustion technology can reduce the carbon emissions of the system and enhance the flexibility of the system operation; P2A can effectively consume renewable energy and improve the energy utilization rate. The by-product of the P2A process, oxygen, is the raw material needed for oxygen-enriched combustion, which reflects the complementary nature of the OEC and P2A.Then, an optimal dispatching model is established with the objective function of minimizing the total cost. Finally, the validity of the proposed model is verified by comparing and analyzing the simulation results of five different models. After the introduction of the combined operation of OEC and P2A, the total cost of the system decreases by 10.95%, and the carbon emission decreases by 34.79%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses the bootstrapped Granger Causality Testing approach to investigate the relationship between electricity consumption, renewable energy production, and the current account of the six OECD countries. One of the main advantages of using this approach is that it captures the cross-section dependence in our sample and applies the Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR) to examine the causality relationship between the variables. The empirical findings show the presence of cross-section dependence in our sample as the six Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries share resources, capabilities, and key competencies. Notably, a unidirectional causality exists running from electric power consumption to the current account of the USA. The current account balance causes electric power consumption in the case of France and Switzerland. The tri-variate causality relationship between electricity consumption, renewable energy production, and current account balance could not be established in the case of Germany, Finland, or the UK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past four years, the number of prosumers utilizing photovoltaic (PV) installations in Poland has increased significantly, exceeding 1.3 million, reaching a total power capacity of 10.5 GW by the end of 2023. This paper presents a three-year energy yield analysis of the prosumer PV systems operating in Eastern Poland. The 9.6 kW system consists of high-efficiency monocrystalline photovoltaic modules in half-cut technology. Over the three years of operation, specific yields have been analyzed along with weather parameters, such as solar intensity, outdoor temperature, humidity, wind speed, rainfall, or snowfall. The average annual final yield was found to be relatively high, exceeding 1000 kWh·kW−1 in each of the analysed years. The highest monthly specific yields of the analysed period were noticed during the summer, reaching the maximum value of 164 kWh·kW−1 in 2022. The daily final yields varied from a minimum of 0.15 kWh·kW−1 in Winter 2021 to a maximum of 6.8 kWh·kW−1 in Spring 2022. Weather conditions increasing the energy yields, such as low average ambient temperatures together with high insolation periods, were noticed. Energy production in such favorable conditions reached a surprisingly high value of energy yield in April 2020, comparable to the summer months (151.0 kWh·kW−1). The occurrence of heavy rainfall in summer was also noted as a desirable effect that leads to the natural cleaning of the PV modules. The average performance ratio during the analyzed period was found to be 0.85. The energy production of the PV system allowed the reduction of about 21 tons of CO2 emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a case study conducted at a food supply centre in a shopping centre in São Paulo city, Brazil. A waste digester was developed based on specifications provided by GE for the generator, and the cost of electricity production from food waste generated in the region was subsequently assessed. Results show that 1,368,750 m3 biogas was produced for the year, which provided a reduction of 14% of electricity consumption and is equivalent to USD 854 thousand per year. The amount of carbon credits is equivalent to 10,775 metric tons of CO2 and 51,840 tons of organic waste humus per year. The energy produced by biogas from food waste had a unit cost of 0.10 USD/kWh. At the end of the project, a profit of USD 3.087 million was achieved, which is equivalent to an ROI of 433%. There is a reduction in energy costs by USD 854 thousand per year and a payback of 1.01 years. These indicate that biogas production from food waste is economically viable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a hierarchical collaborative reactive power and voltage control method aimed at meeting the internal voltage requirements of a coupled system composed of centralized new energy stations such as wind and solar power and traditional thermal power units, with particular attention paid to the reactive power regulation ability of power units in new energy stations. This method is implemented in two layers: At the transmission layer, the overall reactive power compensation capacity of thermal power units and stations on the transmission lines within the system is determined according to the engineering requirements of different node voltages in the coupled system, the regulation voltages of the high-voltage grid-connected points and the point of common coupling (PCC) of the stations are found, and the actual regulation voltages of the PCCs of the stations are given as commands. At the station layer, based on determining reactive power distribution between power units and continuous reactive power compensation devices within each station, voltage optimization is carried out using the voltage command issued by the transmission layer as a reference. At the same time, consistency coordination between the transmission layer and the station layer is achieved based on the Analytical Target Cascading (ATC) method at different layers. Finally, simulation analysis was conducted on a regional coupled system in Dalian. The results showed that the method proposed in this paper can effectively control the voltage safety requirements of each region and PCC in the coupled system and, to some extent, improve the economic efficiency of system operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change education is crucial for fostering informed and engaged future generations. However, traditional pedagogies often fail to engage learners fully and provide real-world, experiential learning. This paper presents a novel approach to climate change education through a three-day virtual reality (VR) hackathon. The hackathon focused on four United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—Quality Education, Affordable and Clean Energy, Sustainable Cities and Communities, and Climate Action. Using VR technology and game design software, engineering students worked in teams. They competed against each other in designing immersive environments that demonstrated their understanding of these SDGs and climate change. Our goal was to encourage the development of empathy, education, and awareness around these critical global issues. The hackathon also integrated authentic assessments, mirroring real-world engineering tasks and providing a more practical and relevant learning experience. Our findings suggest that this VR hackathon has significantly enhanced students' understanding of the SDGs and climate change issues, their competency with VR technologies, as well as their teamwork and problem-solving skills. This paper discusses the hackathon's design, implementation, and outcomes, highlighting the potential of such innovative approaches in tackling climate change education and awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photovoltaic noise barrier (PVNB), a solar noise barrier, is an innovative integration of transportation and renewable energy. It is primarily installed alongside roads near acoustic environmental protection targets in proximity to traffic lanes. PVNBs serve the dual purpose of reducing noise pollution and harnessing solar energy. The electricity generated is used for traffic lights, surveillance, and even feeding into the power grid. This helps to reduce pollution and carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the current research and practical applications of PVNBs, focusing on their unique features. It systematically addresses challenges and proposes solutions concerning optimal site selection, safety standards, noise attenuation effectiveness, power generation efficiency, durability, operational maintenance, and collaborative efforts across various departments. Additionally, this paper highlights the importance of conducting advanced research into glare mechanisms, improving site selection processes, optimizing design strategies, enhancing management and maintenance systems, and conducting comprehensive life-cycle cost–benefit analyses. This research aims to offer scientific insights for designing and deploying PVNBs, thereby fostering the progressive adoption and application of distributed photovoltaics in transportation infrastructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the concept of sustainable development, to promote the development and application of renewable energy and enhance the capacity of renewable energy consumption, this paper studies the design and optimization of renewable energy hydrogen production systems. For this paper, six different scenarios for grid-connected and off-grid renewable energy hydrogen production systems were designed and analyzed economically and technically, and the optimal grid-connected and off-grid systems were selected. Subsequently, the optimal system solution was optimized by analyzing the impact of the load data and component capacity on the grid dependency of the grid-connected hydrogen production system and the excess power rate of the off-grid hydrogen production system. Based on the simulation results, the most matched load data and component capacity of different systems after optimization were determined. The grid-supplied power of the optimized grid-connected hydrogen production system decreased by 3347 kWh, and the excess power rate of the off-grid hydrogen production system decreased from 38.6% to 10.3%, resulting in a significant improvement in the technical and economic performance of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adopting a circular economy (CE) can play a role in achieving economic sustainability for all countries. Material and production waste must be recycled to make better use of limited resources. Developments in the CE need to transition linear economies into circular ones. Although the CE has a role in reaching economic sustainability, few studies have investigated the effect of transitioning to a CE in emerging economies. Thus, it is critical to examine the effect of circular economic influences on economic growth. This paper analyses particular indicators of the CE in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The analysis employs econometric techniques such as unit root tests, random-effect models, and the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model to examine different components, including environmental, social, and economic. Panel data are used to determine the dependency of circular economic factors on economic growth in GCC countries. The data was collected from the World Bank database covering the years 2000 to 2020. The paper is based on the analysis of the CE filed in GCC countries and intends to contribute to the studies in the field. The results gained from the GCC situation are valuable for both emerging and developing countries looking to include sustainable development measures in their policies and regulations. The findings highlight the importance of the CE to sustainability within GCC countries. This investigation of CE indicators based on the results of the economic model contributes to the empirical literature on the transition to a CE in emerging and developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrification of heavy-duty trucks stands as a critical and challenging cornerstone in the low-carbon transition of the transportation sector. This paper employs the total cost of ownership (TCO) as the economic evaluation metric, framed within the context of China's ambitious goals for heavy truck electrification by 2035. A detailed TCO model is developed, encompassing not only the vehicles but also their related energy replenishing infrastructures. This comprehensive approach enables a sophisticated examination of the economic feasibility for different deployment contexts of both fuel cell and battery electric heavy-duty trucks, emphasizing renewable energy utilization. This study demonstrates that in the context where both fuel cell components and hydrogen energy are costly, fuel cell trucks (FCTs) exhibit a significantly higher TCO compared to battery electric trucks (BETs). Specifically, for a 16 ton truck with a 500 km range, the TCO for the FCT is 0.034 USD/tkm, representing a 122% increase over its BET counterpart. In the case of a 49 ton truck designed for a 1000 km range, the TCO for the FCT is 0.024 USD/tkm, marking a 36% premium compared to the BET model. The technological roadmap suggests a narrowing cost disparity between FCTs and BETs by 2035. For the aforementioned 16 ton truck model, the projected TCO for the FCT is expected to be 0.016 USD/tkm, which is 58% above the BET, and for the 49 ton variant, it is anticipated at 0.012 USD per ton-kilometer, narrowing the difference to just 4.5% relative to BET. Further analysis within this study on the influences of renewable energy pricing and operational range on FCT and BET costs highlights a pivotal finding: for the 49 ton truck, achieving TCO parity between FCTs and BETs is feasible when renewable energy electricity prices fall to 0.022 USD/kWh or when the operational range extends to 1890 km. This underscores the critical role of energy costs and efficiency in bridging the cost gap between FCTs and BETs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on the Germany public's energy choices. Along with much of Europe, Germany was hit by Russia reducing and then cutting its gas supplies. Although alternative sources have been found, this exposes the vulnerability of Germany's energy market to outside control. An online survey of 600 German consumers was conducted in August 2022. The results suggest that 70% of participants were concerned about the shortage of oil and natural gas supply after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and 60% were concerned about the shortage of electricity supply. The invasion led many participants to support maximizing the use of existing power plants, including nuclear and coal-fired power plants, as an alternative to dependency on Russian supplies. There was an increase in people supporting the expanded use of renewable energy as a solution to the crisis. States with nuclear power plants were seen as needing to reduce and decarbonize their natural gas and coal-fired power generation while advancing their energy mix. The results suggest that the Energiewende approach and objectives have broad public support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy sources have become one of the important roles for sustainable energy development. One of the promising mechanisms to deploy renewable energy is through a Virtual Power Plant (VPP), which can integrate various distributed renewable energy resources into a single controllable and deployable entity. This paper examines the opportunity for VPP adoption in Indonesia, which investigates the minimum implementation criteria, provides a gap analysis for VPP implementation, and proposes recommendations for VPP implementation in Indonesia. The implementation criteria are obtained from the literature review, including the lessons learned from other countries, and categorized into four aspects: regulatory, technical, economic, and social. The gap analysis is performed by evaluating the current state of Indonesia's utility network in correlation with the VPP minimum implementation criteria and then provides a scoring matrix for each criterion. Lastly, the recommendations are arranged to narrow these gaps, organized into ten key focus points, and divided into four phases, initiation, preparation, piloting, and deployment, across a ten-year timeframe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the International Maritime Organization, the shipping industry contributes to 3.3% of global CO2 emissions. Reducing carbon emissions by 50% for all ships by 2050 is the main concern of all stakeholders. In the last 20 years, the share of renewable energy sources in electricity production in the European Union has doubled, from around 15% to almost 35%. The main driver of this development has been the increase in the share of wind energy and solar photovoltaic energy. The authors of this paper aim to analyze the favorable influencing factors and the inhibiting factors affecting the energy transition process applied to nautical tourism, from polluting energy to renewable solar energy. The research approach consists of using the framework provided by the energy transition process from the perspective of the socio-technical and economic approach, by applying a qualitative research method with a deductive approach. The tool used to achieve the objective is a semi-structured interview, which brings up concrete issues that operators in this field are currently facing. The research unitarily, holistically, and specifically approaches the problem of energy transition from polluting sources to renewable ones offered by solar energy, in the case of nautical tourism with direct implications on the specific industry in The Netherlands. The research results are structured in four areas: technological, governance, economic, and user preferences. This research has the potential to provide support for finding optimal solutions to encourage users to accelerate the energy transition process by adopting sustainable solutions for nautical tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floating solar renewable energy is of enormous potential in Indonesia. This paper presents a comprehensive study of the design of Floating Photovoltaic (FPV) systems with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) for three islands in Indonesia. These islands represent three typical scenarios in Indonesia (a) using a national grid powered by fossil fuel generators, (b) using a local grid powered by diesel generators, and (c) no grid at all. In-person surveys were conducted at these islands to collect data, and then FPV and BESS were designed to meet the demands of each island. Subsequently, the systems' energy simulations were conducted using the System Advisor Model, demonstrating daily energy demand and supply in hour variation. Based on the results, a series of sustainability analyses were created from the aspects of economics, society, and the environment. The economic analysis demonstrated cost savings by using FPV to replace contemporary energy methods. The social analysis provides valuable insights into the local community, forming a demographic profile and obtaining perceptions and opinions regarding the new energy approach. The environmental analysis quantifies the potential CO2 emissions. Overall, the work provides valuable insights into the roadmap for implementing floating solar technologies in Indonesia which can also inform global ocean-based solar energy developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, sustainability initiatives and the prominence of renewables have emerged as pivotal priorities in addressing environmental, ecological, and socioeconomic challenges. Within this context, green certificates—representing proof of electricity generation from renewable sources—have gained substantial recognition, enabling organizations to demonstrate their commitment to clean energy. This study employs a bibliometric analysis to chart the evolution and current state of green certificates research. Drawing from the Scopus database, we sourced bibliographic data, resulting in a refined dataset of 940 documents spanning from 2000 to 2022. Through performance analysis, we systematically evaluated the landscape of green certificates research, assessing publication trends, identifying influential works, spotlighting prolific authors, highlighting leading academic institutions, mapping regional research hotspots, and pinpointing the top publishing journals in the domain. Employing science mapping techniques—such as co-authorship networks, keyword co-occurrence analysis, and bibliographic coupling—we delineated the collaborative patterns and the conceptual and intellectual structure of the field. This was further augmented by content analysis, revealing four salient research themes, emphasizing the consistent and central focus on support mechanisms and policies for renewable energy sources, sustainable renewable technologies and market dynamics, technological innovations and green certificate trading, and renewable energy sources investment strategies. Building on these findings, the paper concludes by outlining practical implications and prospective research avenues. These encompass a detailed understanding of renewable energy support mechanisms, the pivotal role of electricity disclosure in enhancing transparency, and the transformative potential of emergent technologies, such as artificial intelligence and blockchain, in the green certificate trading landscape. The research also emphasizes the fundamental role of guarantees of origin in advancing sustainability goals, the dynamic discourse on green hydrogen certification standards, and the intricate dynamics of trading mechanisms in shaping investment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the importance that organizations and governments have placed on environmental pollution and the policies that force organizations to comply with environmental standards, the use of renewable energy sources to meet energy requirements becomes important. The problem of the economic dispatch consists of satisfying the energy demand of the clients, establishing the most convenient source of supply at each moment, considering the established objective (minimize the operating cost of the microgrid) and satisfying the established restrictions. This paper addresses the problem of economic dispatch in a microgrid with a mathematical programming approach. The proposal to meet the energy demand considers: (a) interconnection to the main grid, (b) conventional diesel generators, (c) a photovoltaic system, (d) a hydroelectric turbine, (e) a wind system, (f) a battery-based storage system, (g) capacity to exchange energy with the main grid, (h) incentive for reducing electricity demand (EDR) by customers when an environmental contingency occurs and (i) regeneration of pollutants emitted by conventional generators. The proposal is implemented in the Lingo 17 software. The results show that by including a BESS and the EDR program, it is possible to save between 18% and 75% of the costs of the objective function and stop emitting a little more than 195 kg of pollutants into the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pelton turbine has been widely regarded as the most efficient hydro turbine for high-head applications. However, the Pelton turbine buckets, especially the area commonly referred to as the 'splitter', are highly susceptible to erosion, drastically reducing efficiency over prolonged periods of time. This paper demonstrates a novel turbine idea that has been validated through both computational and experimental methods. This turbine addresses the issues associated with the erosion of the splitter through a redesign of the Pelton turbine to remove the need for a splitter and therefore potentially reducing downtime due to maintenance. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation results show that the turbine is capable of efficiencies greater than 82% with room for further improvement. The practical experimental results also show efficiencies within 6% of an optimized Pelton turbine. The results from this study indicate that through further optimization this turbine design could provide a means to produce power outputs similar to conventional Pelton turbines, with the added benefit of lower maintenance costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a body of research that focuses on the examination of long-run relations between energy–environment–economic growth, and there is also a new type of recent research that focuses on the effects of monetary and fiscal economic policies on the environment. There is a research gap that exists due to omitting the effects of technology and energy policies, and this paper addresses this gap, in addition to merging both fields mentioned above, by including the asymmetric effects of fiscal and monetary policies. To explore the relations between fossil fuel and renewable energies, environmental pollution, and economic growth, in addition to including the roles of energy, technology, monetary, and fiscal policies, this paper employs novel NBARDL and NBARDL Granger Causality methods for yearly data assessments in the USA. The empirical findings of the paper point to the asymmetric impacts of monetary and fiscal policies in the short- and long-run. Interestingly, both contractionary and expansionary fiscal policies lead to higher CO2 emissions. Contractionary monetary policies exert a downward pressure on CO2 emissions, and if expansionary, the monetary policy causes environmental degradation. As an important policy, the energy policy emerges as a potent tool for reducing carbon emissions through not only renewable energy, but as a greater impact through energy efficiency and technology. Therefore, this paper highlights the importance of technology policies exhibiting varying relationships with environmental pollution, featuring unidirectional or bidirectional causality patterns. Renewable energy, energy efficiency combined with adequate technology, and energy policies are determined to have pivotal roles in CO2 emissions outcomes. Such policies should focus on cleaner energy sources accompanied by energy efficiency technologies in the USA to curtail environmental impacts; technology policies are vital in fostering innovations and encouraging cleaner technologies. The policy recommendations include an effective combination of monetary, fiscal, technology, and energy policies, backed by a strong commitment to achieving energy efficiency and renewable energy to mitigate environmental pollution and to contribute to sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decarbonization of the global economy is one of society's urgent objectives nowadays. Thus, the large-scale adoption of renewable energy sources, like solar and wind energy, seems to be the best pathway to achieving sustainable development. Thus, the microgrid concept has emerged as a solution to address concerns related to the intermittent nature and lack of inertia for such sources. Several studies involving microgrids have been published in the last few years. However, in most of them, power quality (PQ) disturbances and strategies to manage such disturbances are not considered, especially in the islanded operation mode. Hence, in this paper, a detailed assessment of the PQ of an islanded AC microgrid is conducted, considering the coexistence of a nonlinear load, voltage-controlled converters, and a current-controlled converter (CCC). The analyses consider two scenarios, depending on the operation mode of the CCC: (1) the CCC operating as a conventional grid-feeding converter and (2) considering a cost-effective upgrading of the conventional CCC to operate as a multifunctional converter. An experimental test bed is built to validate both scenarios. The presented results provide strong evidence that the AFF significantly improves the microgrid PQ and its suitability for dealing with PQ disturbances in real-world applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rational planning and the use of renewable energy are effective means to reduce urban carbon emissions. In view of the few urban renewable energy planning cases and unclear methods, the paper takes the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City renewable energy planning project as a case to provide a renewable energy planning method under the guidance of carbon constraints. Based on scenario analysis, the energy demand of urban buildings, industry and transportation is analyzed and predicted. On the basis of meeting the needs of terminal energy use, with the goal of reducing carbon emissions, the renewable energy planning scheme from 2021 to 2050 under the low-carbon scenario has been formulated, including the promotion of energy-efficient buildings, the utilization of renewable energy in buildings, the electrification of terminal energy use, and the application of large-scale municipal renewable energy. It is planned that, by 2050, the overall renewable energy utilization rate of the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City will reach 76.76%. It will use renewable energy to heat about 60 million square meters, generate about 766 million kWh of electricity, save about 0.723 million tons of standard coal and reduce 1.287 million tons of carbon dioxide every year, which will have a good effect of energy conservation and emission reduction. In this paper, the renewable energy planning method under the guidance of carbon constraint is established, which can achieve the purposes of saving resources, protecting the environment and driving sustainable development. The Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City is an international co-creation city, which will receive extensive attention and provide theoretical guidance and demonstration cases for urban renewable energy planning in the context of carbon peak and carbon neutrality in the new era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide energy demand is constantly increasing. This fact, in combination with the ever growing need to reduce the energy production footprint on the environment, has led to the adoption of cleaner and more sustainable forms of energy production. Renewable Energy Sources (RES) are constantly developing in an effort to increase their conversion efficiency and improve their life cycle. However, not all types of RES are accepted by the general public. Wind Turbines (WTs) are considered by many researchers as the least acceptable type of RES. This is mostly because of how their installation alters the surrounding landscape, produces noise and puts birds in danger when they happen to fly over the installation area. This paper aims to apply a methodology which, by using Rational Basis Function Neural Networks (RBFNN), is capable of investigating the criteria used for the installation locations of WTs in a transparent way. The results from the Neural Network (NN) will be combined with protected areas and the Land Fragmentation Index (LFI), in order to determine possible new installation locations with increased social acceptance and, at the same time, increased energy production. A case study of the proposed methodology has been implemented for the entire Greek territory, which is considered one of the most suitable areas for the installation of wind farms due to its particular geomorphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lot of research has been carried out to improve the sustainability of seawater desalination. Despite progress, relatively few studies have analyzed the sustainability of seawater desalination processes integrated on two fronts, i.e., (i) process integration and (ii) energy integration. In addition, life cycle assessment studies on multi-stage flash (MSF) desalination often neglect the impact of the disposed brine by assuming that dilution of the discharged brine impacts on ecological systems less. The present study contributes to these omissions by exploring the environmental sustainability of seawater desalination systems using life cycle impact assessment (LCIA). More specifically, the LCIA of Seawater Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) integrated with (i) an Electro-Dialysis (EDBMED) process and (ii) solar photovoltaics (PV) is investigated. Life cycle analysis was used to identify pertinent indicators of the LCIA and their implications in SWRO. The comparative analysis reveals that the advantage of SWRO as compared to other technologies such as MSF is energy efficiency, at estimated levels of 75.0%. The study concludes that despite the technological challenges associated with sustainable desalination and sustainable brine management, integrating renewable energy into seawater desalination can contribute to the sustainability improvements of seawater desalination systems. The findings of this paper provide an initial assessment of the ecological footprints of seawater desalination systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst the evolving paradigms of the contemporary energy landscape, marked by the imperative of sustainability and efficiency, the integration of energy storage has emerged as a transformative strategy that seeks to recalibrate the dynamics of electricity distribution and consumption. However, there remains a pressing need to determine the most economically viable approach for deploying energy storage solutions in residential low-voltage (LV) feeders, especially in rural areas. In this context, this paper presents the results of an economic evaluation of energy storage solutions for a residential LV feeder in a rural town in Australia. Specifically, the study compares the financial viability of a front-of-the-meter (FTM) battery installed on the feeder with that of a fleet of behind-the-meter (BTM) batteries. The FTM battery, with a size of 100 kW/200 kWh, is assumed to be operated by the retailer but owned by the community, with any profits assigned to the community. In this scenario, we studied a battery operating under standard network tariffs and three different trial tariffs that distribution network service providers currently offer in Australia. On the other hand, the fleet of BTM batteries (3 kW, 3.3 kWh) are individually owned by households with solar installations, and their cumulative capacity matches that of the FTM battery. The comparison is based on key economic parameters, including network charges, retail margins, frequency control ancillary service (FCAS) revenues, wholesale energy costs, technology costs associated with community batteries, and net profit or loss for the community, as well as considerations of utility grid arbitrage and solar photovoltaic (PV) self-consumption. The study also assumes different grant levels to assess the impact of subsidies on the economic feasibility for both battery configurations. The findings indicate that, while both require some form of subsidy for profitability, the BTM batteries outperform the FTM battery in terms of economic viability and so would require lower grant support. The FTM battery case finds a need for grants ranging from 75% to 95% to break even, while the BTM fleet requires approximately 50% in grants to achieve a similar outcome. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of grant support in making energy storage solutions economically feasible. In particular, it highlights how the less mature segment of FTM batteries will need higher support initially if it is to compete with BTM. The outcomes of this study inform decision-making processes for implementing energy storage solutions in similar communities, fostering sustainable and cost-effective energy systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the global imperative of tackling environmental challenges, particularly in the context of the carbon-intensive oil and gas (O&G) industry, which is one of the heaviest carbon-emitting industries. Competitive advantages in this industry often stem from external connections rather than internal capabilities. How companies assess their business partners, including electric vendors, from an environmental standpoint, using a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches, was explored using a systematic literature review approach. This literature review delves into the realm of green supply chain management, covering topics, such as carbon cap and trade, carbon offsets, renewable energy, regulations, finance, and vendor selection. Key findings from this review highlighted the limited number and lack of depth of studies regarding the presence and impact of electrical vendors, who play a crucial role in the oil and gas sector. Furthermore, our review identified a general lack of research on green supply chain management metrics, particularly in the context of the oil and gas industry and the roles and technical contributions of electric vendors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The power system of the El Hierro island comprises a wind farm, a pumped storage hydropower plant and a diesel power plant. Its operational history shows that the renewable energy participation in the energy mix is approximately 50%. In order to increase this participation, the installation of residential photovoltaic generation and battery storage has been considered. In this paper, the operation of the whole system is analyzed by simulation. Simulations consider historical data of electric supply and demand in addition to meteorological data to obtain the wind and solar power production. The simulation tool has been tuned to successfully reproduce past system performance. From the simulations, the effect of adding new renewable generation and storage has been assessed. Also, the effect of a different operation strategy has been analyzed. From the results of these simulations, adding batteries has a negligible effect in increasing renewable energy participation. By contrast, adding solar power provides an increase in renewable energy participation. However, eliminating the requirement of 50% of synchronous generation has the largest effect on increasing renewable energy participation in the energy mix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, efforts are made to balance energy demands and supplies while reducing CO 2 emissions. Germany, in its transition to renewable energies, faces challenges in regulating its energy supply. This study investigates the impact of various technologies, including energy storage solutions, peak shaving, and virtual buffers in a smart energy grid on a large scale. Real-time energy supply and demand data are collected from the Port of Hamburg and HafenCity in Germany to analyze the characteristics of different technologies such as load shifting of reefer containers and private electric vehicles' energy, as well as pumped hydro storage. Through simulations, we assess the usability of renewable energies in a smart grid with versatile energy demands and determine the effects of peak shaving, storage solutions, and virtual buffers on uncertain energy supply. Our case study reveals that integrating smart grid technologies can reduce the overproduction of renewable energies needed to prevent blackouts from 95% to 65% at the HafenCity and the Port of Hamburg. Notably, large, reliable, and predictable energy consumers like the Port of Hamburg play a vital role in managing the uncontrollable nature of renewables, resulting in up to 31% cost savings for new infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores mechanisms to enhance the efficient utilization of renewable energy sources (RES), with a particular emphasis on photovoltaic installations. One such strategy involves implementing a customized electricity rate system for individual consumers. This paper discusses the potential economic and environmental benefits of transitioning from a flat-rate tariff to a time-of-day tariff. This modification can lead to increased energy consumption during off-peak hours, aligning with occasional periods of photovoltaic installations' overproduction, which might require their temporary shutdowns. The energy that could be produced by RES is supplied by conventional power plants (mostly coal-fueled). Not only does this have negative effects on the environment, but it also increases energy costs. In order to make an informed decision regarding the change of tariff, the consumer must be aware of its potential benefits and drawbacks. The article introduces an IoT-based, cost-effective system with cloud data storage for monitoring residential electricity consumption, offering various features, including an assessment of the financial viability of switching tariffs. This system has been operational for more than six months in real installation, encouraging homeowners to transition from a flat rate tariff to time-of-day tariff and optimize their use of electrical appliances. The article presents the potential benefits of this action, encompassing both financial aspects for users of the installation and environmental protection issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates trends in research at the intersection of economic growth and renewable energy, recognizing the pressing need for sustainable long-term development. Through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 6794 research papers sourced from the Web of Science database spanning the period from 1990 to June 2023, this research provides valuable insights into the evolving research landscape. It sheds light on seminal works, noteworthy authors, and emerging themes within this interdisciplinary field. The findings of this study underscore the critical importance of harnessing renewable energy sources in the pursuit of enduring economic growth. Beyond the well-documented environmental benefits, renewable energy plays a pivotal role in catalyzing a green economic transformation. This transformation not only mitigates adverse ecological impacts, but also fosters job creation, local community development, and enhanced energy security. Moreover, our analysis uncovers a compelling positive correlation between the adoption of renewable energy and key economic indicators, including Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, industrial productivity, and technological innovation. This correlation is particularly pronounced in regions endowed with abundant renewable resources, reaffirming the potential for renewable energy to stimulate investment, propel economic expansion, and promote equitable development. This study serves as a roadmap toward a more sustainable and resilient future by advocating for the integration of renewable energy, the advancement of sustainable economic growth, and the formulation of effective strategies. The insights gleaned from this research are instrumental in guiding policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders toward the realization of a greener and more prosperous world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to reliable and sustainable energy in remote areas remains a pressing global challenge, significantly affecting economic development and the quality of life. This study focuses on the implementation of fully off-grid wind–biogas hybrid power systems to address this issue, with a focus on remote healthcare camp facilities. This paper investigates the performance of a hybrid renewable energy system within the context of one of Jordan's northern remote areas, the Zaatari Syrian Refugee Camp, assessing its efficiency and environmental impact by taking the Zaatari hospital as the case study. Simulations were conducted to evaluate system components, including wind turbines, biogas generators, and diesel generators. A comprehensive evaluation was conducted, encompassing both the operational efficiency of the system and its impact on the environment. This study also considered various scenarios (SC#), including grid availability and autonomy levels, to optimize system configurations. The techno-economic assessment employed the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) as a key performance indicator, and sensitivity analyses explored the impact of diesel costs and wind power fluctuations on the system. Additionally, environmental assessment was conducted to evaluate the environmental effects of hybrid systems, with a specific focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This investigation involved an examination of emissions in three different scenarios. The results indicate that the lowest LCOE that could be achieved was 0.0734 USD/kWh in SC#1 with 72.42% autonomy, whereas achieving 100% autonomy increased the LCOE to 0.1756 USD/kWh. Additionally, the results reveal that in scenarios SC#2 and SC#3, which have a higher proportion of diesel generator usage, there were elevated levels of NOx and CO2 emissions. Conversely, in SC#1, which lacks diesel generators, emissions were notably lower. The proposed hybrid system demonstrates its potential to provide a reliable energy supply to healthcare facilities in remote regions, emphasizing both economic feasibility and environmental benefits. These findings contribute to informed decision making for sustainable energy solutions in similar contexts, promoting healthcare accessibility and environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to investigate the impact analysis of wind energy on electricity prices in an integrated renewable energy market, using regression models. This is especially important as wind energy is hard to predict and its integration into electricity markets is still in an early stage. Price forecasting has been performed with consideration of wind energy generation to optimize energy portfolio investment and create an efficient energy-trading landscape. It provides an insight into future market trends which allow traders to price their products competitively and manage their risks within the volatile market. Through the analysis of an available dataset from the Austrian electricity market, it was found that the Decision Tree (DT) regression model performed better than the Linear Regression (LR), Random Forest (RF), and Least Absolute Shrinkage Selector Operator (LASSO) models. The accuracy of the model was evaluated using the Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE). The MAE values considering wind energy generation and without wind energy generation for the Decision Tree model were found to be lowest (2.08 and 2.20, respectively) among all proposed models for the available dataset. The increasing deployment of wind energy in the European grid has led to a drop in prices and helped in achieving energy security and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy sources—which are available in abundance all around us and are provided by the sun, wind, water, waste, and heat from the Earth—are replenished by nature and emit little to no greenhouse gases or pollutants into the air. This paper builds upon a preceding study that examined beliefs, perceptions, and attitudes regarding renewable energy technologies. In this study, we examine the implications renewable energy sources may have on science, technology policies, and education. This study embraced a sequential mixed-methods methodology to accomplish its objectives. The primary goal of this study was to ascertain the impact of global warming, education, and renewable energy on healthcare expenditure. In order to determine the impact of renewable energy on health care expenditure, the present research study coupled renewable energy with gross domestic product (GDP). Based on the long-term outcomes derived from our Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS) and Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) estimators, GDP, renewable energy, and education were found to be adversely correlated with healthcare expenditure. To collect data, we conducted interview sessions, which were subsequently complemented by a survey that was completed by 400 respondents (specifically chosen research participants). We then conducted thematic analyses. The findings of this study underscore a compelling inverse relationship linking GDP, renewable energy integration, and education with healthcare spending. Regions displaying lower healthcare outlays are seemingly less strained ecologically due to their judicious utilization of renewable energy sources. Furthermore, based on our findings, a noteworthy correlation between healthcare expenditure and global warming was observed, underscoring the potential escalation of financial burdens with intensifying climate shifts. In light of our findings, advocating for the amplification of renewable energy deployment emerges as a prudent strategy to fortify public health while mitigating healthcare expenses. Augmenting investments in education acts as a pivotal lever to steer sustainable growth. It is noteworthy that the survey participants' level of familiarity with renewable energy technology was not found to be connected to their educational backgrounds, revealing a disparity in knowledge. The prevailing unfamiliarity with sustainability principles among the respondents underscores the need for widespread awareness initiatives. This study acts as a holistic exploration of the ramifications of renewable energy on healthcare expenditure; this is intertwined with the complex tapestry of global warming and education. The implications of renewable energy reverberate across policy and practice, accentuating the urgency of sustainable energy adoption for the betterment of public health and economic resilience. Future studies should focus on conducting more nuanced assessments of socio-economic aspects and generate strategies for bridging knowledge gaps among diverse stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multilevel inverter (MLI) has been developed as a powerful power conversion scheme for several processes, including renewable energy, transmission systems, and electric drives. It has become popular across medium- to high-power operations due to its many advantages, including minimum harmonic content, low switching losses, and reduced electromagnetic interference (EMI). In this paper, the capacitor voltage balancing technique-based pulse width modulation (PWM) has been proposed. The proposed PWM strategy offers several advantages, such as high-quality output waveforms with reduced harmonic distortion, improved efficiency, and better control over the output voltage. The Xilinx ISE 10.1 software was used for synthesizing, and the VHDL code was written for the proposed method. MATLAB software was used to simulate and hardware was used to verify the proposed system. The SPARTAN 3E FPGA was used for the generation of the PWM. This paper developed a 2 kW single-phase 15-level inverter that created an AC wave from the DC input voltage, with a total harmonic distortion (THD) of 8.02%, which was less than the THD achieved from other conventional MLI. The results indicate that MLI topologies with low total harmonic currents, fewer switches, and higher output voltage levels are better stabilized during load disturbance circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides an overview of academic contributions to blockchain technology over the past three years. A large number of practical implementations are proving the versatility of blockchain across industries. Some of these areas are easy to deduce, but for some, the benefits of using blockchain technology may not be obvious. Real applications of blockchain can be found in sectors such as cyber security and the financial sector, but also in various categories of the public sector, healthcare, and industry. This paper focuses on the use of blockchain technology in the energy industry. The paper aims to present the current trends of blockchain in the energy sector and provide a summary of blockchain technology discussed in academia. The research questions are formulated to correspond to the basic goals of the energy sector today. The core of the paper forms a systematic review based on the PRISMA guidelines. The output of this systematic review brings an up-to-day insight into the issue and introduces potential areas for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart grids are the ultimate goal of power system development. With access to a high proportion of renewable energy, energy storage systems, with their energy transfer capacity, have become a key part of the smart grid construction process. This paper first summarizes the challenges brought by the high proportion of new energy generation to smart grids and reviews the classification of existing energy storage technologies in the smart grid environment and the practical application functions of energy storage in smart grids. Secondly, optimization planning and the benefit evaluation methods of energy storage technologies in the three different main application scenarios, including the grid side, user side, and new energy side, are analyzed. The advantages and shortcomings of the current research are also pointed out. Furthermore, the paper sheds light on the pressing issues that demand further consideration in energy storage planning. Finally, the aspects that warrant attention in the future application and promotion processes are elucidated in detail, culminating in a comprehensive understanding of the energy storage technologies in smart grids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind energy is one of the fastest growing energies due to its feasible cost and environment friendly nature, where there is no emission of waste or greenhouse gases emission. Wind energy systems should be connected to the electric utility to avoid the effects of the intermittent nature of these sources. One of the main problems of the utility integration of wind turbines is the unbalanced voltage of the utility grid. Many efforts have been made to remedy the effects of the unbalanced grid voltage connected with the electric utility. This research points out the need for more accurate and robust controllers, such as those mentioned in this paper. A novel combination strategy is presented in this paper to overcome the inherent imbalance in the electric utility voltages when used in combination with a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG). This novel technique is designed to adapt the positive sequence of the dq-axis of the output current from the PMSG to extract the maximum power available from a wind turbine. Meanwhile, the negative sequence component is used to improve the quality of the output current from a wind turbine. A current controller is introduced in the grid side converter to compensate for the effects of the 2nd and 6th components of the output currents. Using these controllers reduces all dominant components in the output currents from wind turbines and permits a robust tracker for the maximum power available. A detailed simulation and experimental studies are introduced in this paper to show the controller operation under different operating conditions. The simulation and experimental results from the novel proposed strategy show its superiority in fully remedying the effect of unbalanced grid voltages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent trends prove that energy production is shifting from traditional fossil fuel combustion technologies to renewable energy-based technologies. To estimate the economic efficiency of renewable energy technology implementation, the data for the EU-27 member states during the 2012–2021 period were collected; additionally, technological efficiency was analyzed based on a critical literature review. Breusch and Pagan Lagrangian multiplier tests were employed to select the most suitable econometric model. The results suggest that an increase in the share of renewable energy sources by one percentage point (1) decreased CO2 emissions by 0.137 metric tons per capita (technological efficiency) and (2) decreased greenhouse gases by 13 g per EUR, in terms of GDP (economic efficiency). Regarding the Kyoto Protocol implementation, it was found for EU-27 that an increase in the share of renewable energy sources by one percentage point was related to a decrease of one percentage point in the greenhouse gases index. GDP per capita appeared to be an insignificant driver for reductions in per capita CO2 emissions, while it proved to be important for economic efficiency models. Thus, increasing GDP per capita by 1000 USD reduces greenhouse gases by 7.1 g per EUR of GDP in EU-27. This paper also confirmed that a unit of electricity (1 kWh) generated by traditional energy plants is seven to nineteen times more environmentally costly than renewable energy generation. This paper thus concludes that digital transformations and additive manufacturing brought about the significant dematerialization of industrial production and the promotion of renewable energy on industrial and household levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On university campuses, retrofitting studies have historically concentrated on individual buildings (or building components) instead of the entire campus. In the present paper, we examine how an incorporated strategic planning strategy might be used to investigate the socio-technical construction of a campus retrofit operation throughout multiple scale/sectors. The campus of the University of Oradea (CUO), Romania, with its beginnings in the 1910s was investigated using its new master plan. The developed strategies for a "green" and "healthy" campus depict a CUO redesign involving complex solutions for the green renovation of old buildings. In addition, the improvement effects of the modernization interventions already carried out were analyzed and quantified. Sixteen buildings (30% of the built area) were consolidated/rehabilitated/modernized, and/or equipped in the last decade, seven educational spaces being included in the circuit of the buildings fund (totaling 5491.59 sq m). For the renovated spaces, energy consumption was reduced by 20–88% and CO2 emissions by 41.82–86%, depending on the specifics of each space. The reconfiguration, rehabilitation, and energy efficiency of the entire heating system of CUO (which uses geothermal water as a specific characteristic) significantly improved (20% decrease in energy and 21% decrease in geothermal water consumption). Our findings offer new directions and design solutions for the ecological modernization of other outdated university campuses, highlighting new perspectives in the green university campuses' management, as a way to implement sustainability in the higher education environment. Data presented give professionals in the field (architects, designers, engineers, planners, and decision makers) a clear picture of the benefits due to ecological renovation, also offering the necessary tools to implement new solutions for reducing the impact of urban areas on the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power systems face challenges with regard to handling the high penetration of renewable energies, including energy intermittency and fluctuations, which are not present in conventional electricity systems. Various flexibility models have been developed to address these fluctuations, including demand-side flexibility, which offers a practical solution with which to overcome these challenges in all demand sectors, including the commercial sector. This paper proposes a new structure for the participation of the commercial sector in the electricity market to integrate and coordinate the consumption of the commercial sector. Unlike previous studies that had commercial consumers participate in the electricity market individually and sometimes fail to meet the requirements for flexibility programs, this study adopts a commercial aggregator to enhance the responsiveness of commercial systems. The proposed structure includes a mathematical model for commercial systems, e.g., shopping centers, with responsive ventilation systems to achieve demand flexibility. The study also uses the information-gap decision theory to address time-based commercial demand response planning from 24 h ahead to near real time. Moreover, a multi-layered structure is proposed to integrate the flexibility of shopping centers from the demand side to the supply side through a newly invented commercial demand response aggregator. The proposed approach was implemented in the New York electricity market, and the results show that it provides demand flexibility for up to 18% of the nominal level of electricity consumption compared to the traditional system. The paper aims to present a responsive structure for commercial systems, addressing the challenges of integrating renewable energies with the electricity system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy transition has a prominent role in 21st-century urban agendas. Worldwide, cities pursue the local implementation of international, national and regional agendas aiming at a sustainable energy transition. Landscape integration, multifunctionality and community participation are three of the key concepts here. These concepts are interpreted differently across the different spatial levels. The object of this paper is to analyse the application of the three sustainability concepts at the regional, local and site levels for the city of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The results show that the degree of implementation of the concepts depends on what factors are considered important at each spatial level. At the regional and local levels, landscape integration with regards to social factors such as finances and co-ownership drive successful implementation, thanks to the organisation of effective participatory processes. At the site level, landscape integration and multifunctionality with regards to spatial factors such as the ecological, recreational and historical landscape factors drive successful implementation through effective landscape design activities. However, the sustainability of the energy transition implementation process is affected by a lack of social-ecological systems thinking. Participation processes—if present—focus either on social or spatial factors but fail to interconnect them. The regional and local levels that currently demonstrate major abstraction and separation of social and spatial factors would benefit from effective exchange with the site level. At that scale, design activities are the arena to combine and reconcile social and spatial factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an intelligent energy management system based on multiple renewable energy sources. The intelligent energy management system is defined as a flexible energy management system built by integrating multiple renewable energy sources and facilities for energy storage. The general objective of this paper is to propose a solution to increase the use of energy potential from renewable sources by embedding small-sized energy sources to behave as a higher-power energy source. The proposed system includes solar, wind, and hydro as renewable sources. As the system is not connected to the primary distribution grid, two alternatives for energy storage are also included: batteries and a water basin used for hydro energy. The system includes a diesel generator as a reserve. The system can be adjusted depending on the consumers it serves and the location where it is implemented (i.e., the potential of electricity, wind, and hydro). The main contribution of this paper is the use of an energy storage concept in the form of a "natural" battery system composed of a water storage basin into which water is pumped when we have a surplus of energy from renewable generators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In line with the fourth industrial revolution, most countries have imposed a variety of regulations or policies for the goals of energy conservation, sustainable development, and industrial transition. Renewable energy production and its production process, which is widely discussed, especially in the context of sustainable energy, has become more important with Industry 4.0. This paper tested the relation among economic growth, renewable electricity generations (% of GDP), Industry 4.0, industrial structure, trade openness, financial development, and research and development expenditure for G20 countries in 2000–2021 by employing a panel quantile regression approach and various panel cointegration tests in addition to investigation of panel Granger causality among the analyzed variables. The variables of industrial structure, trade openness, and financial development were selected as control variables. Since this study is the first study on this topic, it will contribute to the development of the literature by providing resources for future studies about I4.0, renewable energy production, and economic growth. Furthermore, this study will not only contribute to the literature by revealing the theoretical and empirical relationship between these variables but will also shed light on the policies that G20 countries will produce in this regard. According to results, all variables examined have significant causal effects: unidirectional causality from economic growth to Industry 4.0, to research and development, and to renewable energy output and, also, from research and development to renewable energy output. Bidirectional causality and feedback effects between renewable energy and Industry 4.0 are determined. Further, unidirectional causality from industrial structure, from openness to trade, and from financial development to renewable energy output are determined. Results indicate renewable-enhancing effects of Industry 4.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advancing the sustainable energy transition is a major need in nations that are constantly evolving and developing in terms of their energy economy. India has been chosen for the purpose of analysis due to the heterogenous nature of its polity, topographies, infrastructural capabilities and diverse framework. In accordance with the sustainable development goals proposed by the UN, a metamorphosis is observed within the renewable energy sector of the nation. Blockchain technology that facilitates a transparent transition is incorporated on various upcoming platforms. This is backed up by peer-to-peer trading of energy providing a prosumer with an autonomous environment. The goal of this paper is to highlight the struggles and challenges faced by the energy sector as it takes up unconventional and non-traditional approaches within the country. It also aims to discover potential ways that would help a nation like India facilitate such a transition by studying its ongoing trends. The need is eminent for a practical study that is specific to a developing nation like India in terms of P2P energy trading enabled by blockchain technology to promote the use of open-sourced electricity and achieve a decentralized system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of wind power into the electricity grid faces a significant challenge due to the unpredictable nature of wind speed fluctuations. Therefore, ensuring precise short-term predictions of power output from wind turbines is vital for effectively incorporating wind energy into the grid and proficiently managing power systems. In this paper, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN)-based approach for the short-term power forecasting of wind turbines based on a swarm intelligence algorithm is proposed. Also, a simulation study of the wind power real system at different wind speeds is presented by using MATLAB/Simulink. The swarm intelligence algorithm is employed to optimize the forecasting model parameters. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated using real data from a wind farm in Turkey. Three distinct methodologies are utilized to process the data efficiently: ANN, ANN with Firefly Algorithm (ANN-FA), and ANN with Particle Swarm Optimization (ANN-PSO). The results demonstrate that the swarm intelligence algorithm outperforms traditional forecasting methods, such as statistical approaches and machine learning techniques, in terms of accuracy and reliability. Furthermore, the computational efficiency of the algorithm is examined, and it is shown that the swarm intelligence-based approach offers a practical solution for real-time forecasting applications. The algorithm's scalability and adaptability make it suitable for large-scale wind farms with multiple turbines, as it can handle the inherent variability and uncertainties associated with wind power generation. The proposed method offers an accurate and reliable forecasting tool that can assist power system operators and energy market participants in making informed decisions for the efficient utilization of wind energy resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]