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Research on power system resilience has increased due to frequent natural hazards. Many reviews have been performed on power system resilience, focusing on specific topics such as the application of energy storage systems and microgrids for resilience enhancement. To comprehensively analyze the work carried out on power system resilience, this paper presents a methodology to perform quantitative analyses that combines bibliometric and correlation analyses. For this reason, 851 research publications from popular databases, namely Scopus and Web of Science, spanning from 2001 to 2022, were obtained for analysis. In the quantitative analysis, bibliometric measures are evaluated and analyzed to identify the most productive elements (e.g., countries, papers, journals, and institutions), keyword co-occurrences, and track the thematic evolution of authors' keywords. Additionally, hazard metrics such as risk against natural hazards and word count of natural hazards are proposed to reflect the event-specific risk level of a country and its progress in event-specific resilience research. These metrics are later utilized to perform correlation analyses along with bibliometric measures. This correlation aims to identify lesser-explored natural hazards and countries with the potential for event-specific resilience studies. Overall, this study offers insights into power system resilience trends and emerging areas. It emphasizes less-attended, highly exposed natural hazards, helping prioritize research for future resilient models to address their unique challenges. • Bibliometric and Correlation Analyses were performed using 851 resources. • Identify top countries, institutions, journals, and cited papers. • Perform keyword co-occurrence, its evolution, and visualize trends using diagrams. • Correlation analysis between resilience publications and risk of natural hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• FuturES framework optimises electricity scenarios with high renewables penetration. • Reservoir and concentrating solar power modelled based on storage value. • Feasible scenarios created with 81–100% renewables by 2050. • Long-term energy storage helps to achieve low electricity costs. Although electricity supply is still dominated by fossil fuels, it is expected that renewable sources will have a much larger contribution in the future due to the need to mitigate climate change. Therefore, this paper presents a new framework for developing Future Electricity Scenarios (FuturES) with high penetration of renewables. A multi-period linear programming model has been created for power-system expansion planning. This has been coupled with an economic dispatch model, PowerGAMA, to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of the developed scenarios while matching supply and demand. Application of FuturES is demonstrated through the case of Chile which has ambitious plans to supply electricity using only renewable sources. Four cost-optimal scenarios have been developed for the year 2050 using FuturES: two Business as usual (BAU) and two Renewable electricity (RE) scenarios. The BAU scenarios are unconstrained in terms of the technology type and can include all 11 options considered. The RE scenarios aim to have only renewables in the mix, including storage. The results show that both BAU scenarios have a levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) lower than, or equal to, today's costs ($72.7–77.3 vs $77.6/MWh) and include 81–90% of renewables. The RE scenarios are slightly more expensive than today's costs ($81–87/MWh). The cumulative investment for the BAU scenarios is $123-$145 bn, compared to $147-$157 bn for the RE. The annual investment across the scenarios is estimated at $4.0 ± 0.4 bn. Both RE scenarios show sufficient flexibility in matching supply and demand, despite solar photovoltaics and wind power contributing around half of the total supply. Therefore, the FuturES framework is a powerful tool for aiding the design of cost-efficient power systems with high penetration of renewables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy storage (ES) is an important device to ensure operation stability and efficiency of a renewable energy based distributed energy generation (DEG) system. As such, many researchers have modelled the operation (scheduling) of energy storage in a DEG system, where it is mostly portrayed to operate on a daily cycle. In this paper, an analysis of the operation mode of energy storage is presented. Two modes of operation are defined, daily mode (DM) (ES operates in daily cycles) and weekly mode (WM) (ES operates in weekly cycles) which are modelled accordingly. This paper then attempts to analyse and compare between both modes in term of operation and cost. The analysis is performed through a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model programmed via the General Algebraic Modelling System (GAMS). In general, with high capital cost of ES, it is advisable to program the ES to operate in a DM. The reason to this conclusion is mainly due to three factors, intermittency of renewable resources, varying weather conditions, and discharge rate of ES(s). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction of renewable energy sources (RES) in insular areas is growing on different islands of various regions in the world and the large-scale deployment of renewables in island power systems is appealing to local attention of grid operators as a method to decrease fossil fuel consumption. Planning a grid based on renewable power plants (RPP) presents serious challenges to the normal operation of a power system, precisely on voltage and frequency stability. Despite of its inherent problems, there is a consensus that in near future the RES could supply most of local needs without depending exclusively on fossil fuels. In previous grid code compliance, wind turbines did not required services to support grid operation. Thus, in order to shift to large-scale integration of renewables, the insular grid code ought to incorporate a new set of requirements with the intention of regulating the inclusion of these services. Hence, this paper discusses grid code requirements for large-scale integration of renewables in an island context, as a new contribution to earlier studies. The current trends on grid code formulation, towards an improved integration of distributed renewable resources in island power systems, are addressed. The paper also discusses advanced grid code requirement concepts such as virtual wind inertia and synthetic inertia for improving regulation capability of wind farms and the application of energy storage systems (EES) for enhancing renewable generation integration. Finally, a comparative analysis of insular grid code compliance to these requirements is presented in the European context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rising threat of climate change, green hydrogen is increasingly seen as the high-capacity energy storage and transport medium of the future. This creates an opportunity for low- and middle-income countries to leverage their high renewable energy potential to produce, use, and export low-cost green hydrogen, creating environmental and economic development benefits. While identifying ideal locations for green hydrogen production is critical for countries when defining their green hydrogen strategies, there has been a paucity of adequate geospatial planning approaches suitable to low- and middle-income countries. It is essential for these countries to identify green hydrogen production sites which match demand to expected use cases such that their strategies are economically sustainable. This paper therefore develops a novel geospatial cost modelling method to optimize the location of green hydrogen production across different use cases, with a focus on suitability to low- and middle-income countries. This method is applied in Kenya to investigate the potential hydrogen supply chain for three use cases: ammonia-based fertilizer, freight transport, and export. We find hydrogen production costs of €3.7–9.9/kg H 2 are currently achievable across Kenya, depending on the production location chosen. The cheapest production locations are identified to the south and south-east of Lake Turkana. We show that ammonia produced in Kenya can be cost-competitive given the current energy crisis and that Kenya could export hydrogen to Rotterdam with costs of €7/kg H 2 , undercutting current market prices regardless of the carrier medium. With expected techno-economic improvements, hydrogen production costs across Kenya could drop to €1.8–3.0/kg H 2 by 2030. [Display omitted] • We develop a novel GIS method to identify least-cost green hydrogen production locations. • This is applied in Kenya for ammonia, freight transport, and export use cases. • Hydrogen production costs of €3.7–9.9/kg H 2 are currently achievable in Kenya. • The cheapest production locations are to the south/south-east of Lake Turkana. • Kenya could export hydrogen and undercut current market prices with any carrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Renewable energy techniques are now gaining more and more attention as the years pass by, not only because of the threat of climate change but also, e.g. due to serious pollution problems in some countries and because the renewable energy technologies have matured and can be depended upon an increasing degree. The energy from ocean waves bares tremendous potential as a source of renewable energy, and the related technologies have continually been improved during the last decades. In this paper, different types of wave energy converters are classified by their mechanical structure and how they absorb energy from ocean waves. The paper presents a review of strategies for electrical control of wave energy converters as well as energy storage techniques. Strategies of electrical control are used to achieve a higher energy absorption, and they are also of interest because of the large variety among different strategies. Furthermore, the control strategies strongly affect the complexity of both the mechanical and the electrical system, thus not only impacting energy absorption but also robustness, survivability, maintenance requirements and thus in the end the cost of electricity from ocean waves. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In recent years, significant attention has been given to renewable energy integration within the context of global climate change. In the meantime, the energy-water nexus literature has recognized that the electricity & water infrastructure that enables the production, distribution, and consumption of these two precious commodities is intertwined. While these two issues may seem unrelated, their resolution is potentially synergistic in that renewable energy technologies not only present low CO 2 emissions but also low water-intensities as well. Therefore, renewable energy integration has the potential to address both sustainability concerns. And yet, renewable energy integration studies have yet to methodologically consider an integrated energy-water infrastructure. Many of these works rely on a coupled unit commitment-economic dispatch simulation. Recently, a simultaneous co-optimization method has been contributed for the economic dispatch of networks that include water, power, and co-production facilities. This paper builds upon this foundation with the development of the corresponding unit commitment problem. It demonstrates the optimization on several case studies inspired by Singapore & the Middle East. It concludes that renewable energy simultaneously reduces CO 2 emissions and water withdrawals. Furthermore, it shows how water storage can help alleviate binding co-production constraints, flatten production profiles and reduce production cost levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

“Energiewende”, which roughly translates as the transformation of the German energy sector in accordance with the imperatives of climate change, may soon become a byword for the corresponding processes most other developed countries are at various stages of undergoing. Germany's notable progress in this area offers valuable insights that other states can draw on in implementing their own transitions. The German state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is making its own contribution to achieving the Energiewende's ambitious objectives: in addition to funding an array of ‘clean and green’ projects, the Virtual Institute Power to Gas and Heat was established as a consortium of seven scientific and technical organizations whose aim is to inscribe a future, renewable-based German energy system with adequate flexibility. Thus, it is tasked with conceiving of and evaluating suitable energy path options. This paper outlines one of the most promising of these pathways, which is predicated on the use of electrolytically-produced hydrogen as an energy storage medium, as well as the replacement of hydrocarbon-based fuel for most road vehicles. We describe and evaluate this path and place it in a systemic context, outlining a case study from which other countries and federated jurisdictions therein may draw inspiration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A method for spatiotemporal coordination of multienergy systems is proposed. • Virtual energy storage gain is calculated based on spectral analysis. • The hydropower regulation ability affects the virtual energy storage gain. • The optimal coordination range between multiple energy sources is obtained. Utilizing the spatial heterogeneity and climate periodicity of various available renewable energy sources can enhance the multienergy complementarity, which will further reduce the energy storage demand and contributes to the "virtual energy storage gain." In this paper, we propose a spatiotemporal coordination method based on spectral analysis for a wind-PV-hydropower system that targets the maximum virtual energy storage gain. The complementary effect of hydropower on wind and PV power can be seen as changes in the regulation ability resulting from the hydropower construction development as well as a decreased variance in the total system production output. This method is used to determine the optimal coordination distance of multiple energy sources that are matched over different periods representing typical climate variation. A case study in the Yalong River basin in China obtains the best range of hydropower bundling surrounding wind power and PV power stations under different hydropower construction planning scenarios, and it reveals that increased regulation capacity of hydropower will reduce the optimal coordination distance but can achieve more energy balance if both actual storage and virtual storage is accounted for. This approach can realize energy delivery with the optimal coordination distance to meet intensive and efficient development needs, which can provide guidance and support for the planning and construction of wind-PV-hydropower storage systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are polyesters accumulated as carbon and energy storage materials under limited growth conditions in the presence of excess carbon sources. They have been developed as biomaterials with unique properties for the past many years being considered as a potential substitute for conventional non-degradable plastics. Due to the increasing concern towards global climate change, depleting petroleum resource and problems with an utilization of a growing number of synthetic plastics, PHAs have gained much more attention from industry and research. These environmentally friendly microbial polymers have great potential in biomedical, agricultural, and industrial applications. However, their production on a large scale is still limited. This paper describes the backgrounds of PHAs and discussed the current state of knowledge on the polyhydroxyalkanoates. Ability of bacteria to convert different carbon sources to PHAs, the opportunities and challenges of their introduction to global market as valuable renewable products have been also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy systems, which include energy production, conversion, transportation, distribution and utilization, are key infrastructures in modern society. Interactions among energy systems are generally studied under the framework of energy trade. Although such studies have generated important insights, there are limitations. Many distant interactions (e.g. those due to the Fukushima nuclear crisis) are not in the form of trade, but affect energy sustainability. Even when distant interactions are related to energy trade, they are not systematically analyzed. Environmental impacts of trade are often not integrated with economic analysis of trade. In this paper, to identify and fill important knowledge gaps, we apply an integrated framework of telecoupling (socioeconomic and environmental interactions over distances). The framework of telecoupling, which is more comprehensive and cross-disciplinary than the energy trade framework, is a useful theoretical and methodological tool for analyzing distant interactions among coupled human and natural systems (including energy systems). Telecouplings widely exist in energy systems with various forms and link energy sustainability of different countries closely, so we proposed some methods for energy sustainability analysis under the framework of telecoupling. From the aspect of causes, a method is proposed to judge whether the telecoupling driven by economic factors is conducive to energy sustainability. From the aspect of effects, a method is proposed to assess whether an event is conducive to energy sustainability. The telecoupling framework presents opportunities for more profound and comprehensive understanding of energy sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New renewable energy needs flexibility, which can be provided by storage-hydropower. Climate change affects the potential of this technology in both a negative and a positive way, on one hand by altering runoff, and on the other hand by creating new investment opportunity. This paper provides an economic and financial analysis of a future project in a pumped-storage facility that may be initiated in the Swiss Alps following the glacier retreat. The area released may be considered for building a new reservoir. A complete and integrated model is developed based on the tools of analysis provided by econometrics, finance and operational research. The results show that under the present market conditions such an investment is not profitable. Unexpectedly, the sensitivity analysis shows that most of the time higher price volatility reduces annual revenue. Furthermore, the project׳s lifetime only has a marginal impact on the Net Present Value. The value of the concession, which is the right to use water, is also assessed on the basis of a real option analysis including a long-term horizon. Its present value is substantial even if the project is currently unprofitable. In the discussion, we go beyond the Swiss case study and highlight the implications for energy policy and market design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is expected to significantly reduce carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions for climate change mitigation purposes. Currently, the EU CCS Directive contains only geological storage as the storage option for CO 2 – excluding CO 2 mineralization as a storage option. Since all CCS technologies are currently in a relatively early stage of development, this exclusion seems unreasonable. Opportunities for the use of CO 2 mineralization and the main uncertainties that can potentially prevent the use of these opportunities are investigated in this paper. The analysis is done by means of framing methodology that enables the extraction of CCS experts' mental models concerning CO 2 mineralization from the interview data. Four of the six frames found hold a quite pessimistic future for CO 2 mineralization. In addition, these frames were clearly strengthened when viewed within the global context. The way experts discuss CCS largely frames it in terms of carbon capture and geological storage (CCGS) and pushes CO 2 mineralization to the margins. Thus CO 2 mineralization is becoming even less likely to be included in policy making. At the same time, the slow progress of CCGS together with low public trust for the safety and sustainability of geological storage could strengthen the optimism found in two expert frames. Eventually this could weaken the pessimistic views and thus lead towards a more optimistic future for CO 2 mineralization. However, this would require significant progress in CO 2 mineralization technologies and especially increased publicity for such progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The negative impact of human activities on the environment receives tremendous attention, especially on the increased global temperature. To combat climate change, clean and sustainable energy sources need to be rapidly developed. Solar energy technology is considered as one of the ideal candidates, which directly converts solar energy into electricity and heat without any greenhouse gas emissions. In both areas, high-performance cooling, heating and electricity generation is one of the vital needs. Modern nanotechnology can produce metallic or nonmetallic particles of nanometer dimensions which have unique mechanical, optical, electrical, magnetic, and thermal properties. Studies in this field indicate that exploiting nanofluid in solar systems, offers unique advantages over conventional fluids. In this paper, the applications of nanofluids on different types of solar collectors, photovoltaic systems and solar thermoelectrics are reviewed. Beside the wide range of energy conversion, the efforts done on the energy storage system (ESS) have been reviewed. In the field of economics, nanotech reduces manufacturing costs as a result of using a low temperature process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) module is a combination of a photovoltaic (PV) panel and a thermal collector for co-generation of heat and electricity. An integrated collector-storage solar water heater (ICSSWH) system, due to its simple and compact structure, offers a promising approach for the solar water heating in the varied climates. The combination of the ICSSWH system with a PV solar system has not been reported. In this paper, simulation of an enhanced ICSSWH system combined with the PV panel has been conducted. The proposed design acts passive. Therefore, it does not use any photovoltaic driven water pump to maintain a flow of water inside the collector. The effects of the solar cell packing factor, the tank water mass and the collector area on the performance of the present PVT system have been investigated. The simulation results showed that the high solar cell packing factor and the tank water mass are caused to the high total PVT system efficiency. Also, larger area of the collector is resulted to lower total PVT system efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current editorial summarized some of the scientific works presented in the Sustainable Energy and Environmental Protection (SEEP) conference-held at the University of the West of Scotland, UK, 2018. The selected work was directly related to the scope of the Renewable, Sustainable Energy Reviews (RSER) journal. During the conference activities, experts from all around the world in the subjects of: renewable energy, climate change, optimization, and economics presented and discussed the progress made in renewable energy sources, as well as the new strategies for protecting the environment from the hazards connected with fossil fuel utilization. The methods presented in the conference focused on several directions: the development of efficient energy conversion systems with low/no environmental impacts; the suggested policies to widespread renewable energies; the restriction in the emission of greenhouse gases, and the recent progresses in CO 2 capture. This editorial focused on the renewable energy developments and their positive effect on the climate change, and briefly summarized the accepted manuscripts in this issue. • Effects of renewable energy on climate change. • Background on the International Conference on Sustainable Energy and Environmental Protection SEEP. • Summary of selected papers of SEEP 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current editorial summarized some of the scientific works presented in the Sustainable Energy and Environmental Protection (SEEP) conference-held at the University of the West of Scotland, UK, 2018. The selected work was directly related to the scope of the Renewable, Sustainable Energy Reviews (RSER) journal. During the conference activities, experts from all around the world in the subjects of: renewable energy, climate change, optimization, and economics presented and discussed the progress made in renewable energy sources, as well as the new strategies for protecting the environment from the hazards connected with fossil fuel utilization. The methods presented in the conference focused on several directions: the development of efficient energy conversion systems with low/no environmental impacts; the suggested policies to widespread renewable energies; the restriction in the emission of greenhouse gases, and the recent progresses in CO 2 capture. This editorial focused on the renewable energy developments and their positive effect on the climate change, and briefly summarized the accepted manuscripts in this issue. • Effects of renewable energy on climate change. • Background on the International Conference on Sustainable Energy and Environmental Protection SEEP. • Summary of selected papers of SEEP 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microgrids with renewable power are becoming a widespread alternative for decarbonizing the electrical sector in light of climate change and global warming. However, such widespread penetration of renewables degrades some parameters of power quality along the low voltage utility grid. This research conducts an experiment with an advanced metering infrastructure of a power utility grid with hundreds of thousands of smart grid devices. The experiment identifies the location of the power quality disturbances. The results of the measurements have shown that the power quality parameters are mainly degraded along the downstream section of the low voltage power utility grid, despite the fulfillment of the regulatory quality requirements in the upstream high voltage substation. Thus, the novelty of the approach presented in the paper consists in the use of relatively low capacity energy storage units to locally mitigate the power quality disturbances, keeping them as close as possible to their source in the low voltage grid, instead of using large energy storage units connected to the medium voltage grid. Moreover, the research evaluated the parameters of power capacity, charge–discharge rate, weight, size, and the Levelized Cost Of Energy (LCOE) implemented with five types of energy storage technology. Lithium-Ion Capacitor (LIC) presents the lowest LCOE. However, service type and location parameters also play an essential role in selecting other different types of energy storage technology. This research shows that locating small energy storage units close to the source of power quality disturbance is cost-effective and offers excellent potential for widespread implementation in the low voltage distribution grid. [Display omitted] • High penetration of renewables causes power quality degradation. • The advanced metering system locates low voltage disturbances. • Control methods for mitigation of disturbances with energy storage are proposed. • Fluctuation of low voltage profile decreases with energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This editorial in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews (RSER) is a virtual special issue (VSI) dedicated to the three conferences on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES) held in 2018. These included the 13th SDEWES Conference (30 September to the 4 October in Palermo, Italy), the 3rd South East European SDEWES Conference (30 June to 4 July in Novi Sad, Serbia and the 1st Latin American SDEWES Conference (28–31 January in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). In line with the RSER's policy, this VSI published two types of articles, either high quality review papers or original research papers with a strong review component. The guest editors invited 55 extended articles presented at the 2018 SDEWES conferences. These articles went through rigorous peer review process, and a total of 17 articles were finally accepted and published in this VSI. This editorial overviews these articles and examines their contribution to the field. In addition this editorial also provides an overview of the SDEWES 2018 conference series in order to reflect the continuous research efforts of the SDEWES research community and knowledge body on topics such as sustainable mobility, energy storage systems, various sustainability assessments, renewable energy source (RES) potential and biorefineries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to develop the mathematical model of electricity based on renewable energy and large-scale utility (eRELU) networks to achieve a low-carbon economy. Huge petrochemical industries allocated in South Korea are considered to evaluate the proposed model by techno-economic and environmental assessment subject to Korean renewable energy policy. The suggested mathematical model consists of two parts: the deterministic model to optimize industrial-scale utility networks and the stochastic model to construct clean electricity networks using variable renewable energy coupled with energy storage systems to provide feasible quantities of renewable electricity required from the optimized utility network. The resulting model is complemented by carbon capture and storage (CCS) systems in doing so the inevitable amount of greenhouse gases from boilers in utility networks can be significantly captured. Diverse scenarios under the uncertain parameters such as facility investment/operating costs and capacity factors of renewable energy are applied to the developed model, and the results show that the best scenario-based eRELU-CCS network reduces 16% of the total costs and capture/mitigate 114 tCO 2 /d comparing to the base case. It is expected that the proposed model will play an essential role in advancing the country's energy transition. [Display omitted] • Mathematical model developed for renewable energy and large-scale utility network. • CCS technology is combined with the optimized utility network for low-carbon economy. • A case study of huge petrochemical industries in South Korea were applied. • Scenario-based techno-economic and environmental assessment was conducted. • 16% of total economic costs and 114 tCO 2 /d of GHG emissions were reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper analyzes the concept of a decentralized power system based on wind energy and a pumped hydro storage system in a tall building. The system reacts to the current paradigm of power outage in Latin American countries caused by infrastructure limitations and climate change, while it fosters the penetration of renewable energy sources (RES) for a more diversified and secure electricity supply. An explicit methodology describes the assessment of technical, operational and economic potentials in a specific urban setting in Caracas/Venezuela. The suitability, applicability and the impacts generated by such power system are furthermore discussed at economic, social and technical level. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Thermal mass combined with other passive strategies can play an important role in buildings energy efficiency, minimizing the need of space-conditioning mechanical systems. However, the use of lightweight materials with low thermal mass is becoming increasingly common. Phase Change Materials (PCMs) can add thermal energy storage benefits to lightweight constructions. There are many studies about the use of PCM in buildings, but there are still some difficulties for effective use and practical application of these materials. The study of applications used in real buildings could help us find solutions to these difficulties. This paper analyzed different PCM applications presented in highly efficient lightweight construction houses that have participated in the American Solar Decathlon, an international competition organized by U.S. Department of Energy. These houses have been tested and monitored in Washington DC, place with suitable climate conditions for short term thermal storage systems. The study started with a classification of the PCM applications and included an analysis of the systems, materials, switching temperatures, containments and design strategies used to improve the houses energy performance. Also, it included results of numerical simulations and experimentation that the participant team had done, complemented with information available in the literature about similar materials or applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The EU''s new energy and environment policy – agreed by government leaders in their Council meeting in March 2007 – established a political agenda to tackle three core energy objectives: sustainability, economic competitiveness and security of supply. A triad of specific policies addresses these challenges: first, the 20/20/20 targets of the EU; then, the Second Strategic Energy Review of the European Commission; and finally, plans to liberalise energy markets. The European Union''s ‘20/20/20′ targets for 2020: reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% comparing with 1990 level (to become a 30% reduction if other major global economies join), increase the share of renewables in the final energy consumption to 20% and to achieve 20% improvement in energy efficiency compared to the level in 2020 if existing trends were to continue. The aim of the paper is to analyse the feasibility of EU to implement 20/20/20 targets under the various international GHG trading regimes. GHG trading regimes were addressed by developing 10 energy scenarios until 2020 for EU by applying several energy modelling tools ranging from top down partial equilibrium to detailed technology based bottom up models. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The thermal energy storage (TES) system for building cooling applications is a promising technology that is continuously improving. The TES system can balance the energy demand between the peak (daytimes) and off-peak hours (nights). The cool-energy is usually stored in the form of ice, phase change materials, chilled water or eutectic solution during the nighttimes and used in the daytime. A well-designed TES system would effectively decrease the electricity demand with a reasonable cost. This paper summarizes the findings, investigations and analysis of the TES systems for the space cooling applications. In this regards, different types of storage technologies, as well as various operating strategies, are discussed and some of the outstanding case studies are presented. Since the TES system can provide any portion of the required cooling load, the designer must focus on the best practical and economical solution, which is mainly influenced by localized parameters. It is evident that to improve the available designing standard, a sustainable investigation on localized parameters such as the electricity demand trend, the peak and off-peak hours, the climate change profiles, the electricity tariff rate and the system setup costs are still required. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Highly Integrated Community Energy Systems (ICES) greatly but not solely dependent on combined heat and power (CHP) sources are a viable approach for dealing effectively with the new set of global threats which Mankind is facing, such as Climate Change, Global Warming and Extreme Poverty. ICES are capable of delivering sustainable electricity, heat and cold to small communities and of working as grid-connected or islanded microgrids, adding technical, economical, environmental and social benefits to populations. The impacts of introducing ICES in current distribution networks can be analyzed at different scales due to the wide range of influence exerted not only at the local but also at regional and global levels. For these reasons, there is increased need for appropriate modeling of ICES for the vital purposes of planning and analysis of these systems. An overview on the available bottom-up tools for the optimization planning and analysis of ICES is done in this paper. The survey shows that DER-CAM can be considered an appropriate tool for the purpose of ICES design modeling due to the robust and flexible three-level optimization algorithm, hourly time step and other scale considerations but particularly due to the several successful applications with modeling microgrid systems. Additionally there is research experience on expanding the objective function for environmental concerns and also with EV battery storage interactions. Finally, GAMS DER-CAM''s base language, is a widely known package for allowing changes to be made in model specifications simply and safely. In that sense, there is potential in exploring such tool for the design of ICES. Furthermore, it is found that MARKAL/TIMES, also a GAMS/CPLEX based tool, has scale flexibility which enables it for analyzing the long-term deployment of ICES in time. There is opportunity in this field for further work exploring the sustainability-sound modeling for optimal design of ICES and deployment scenario options evaluation, through long-term time horizons consideration. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The increasing pressure resulting from the need for CO2 mitigation is in conflict with the predominance of coal in China’s energy structure. A possible solution to this tension between climate change and fossil fuel consumption fact could be the introduction of the carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. However, high cost and other problems give rise to great uncertainty in R&D and popularization of carbon capture technology. This paper presents a real options model incorporating policy uncertainty described by carbon price scenarios (including stochasticity), allowing for possible technological change. This model is further used to determine the best strategy for investing in CCS technology in an uncertain environment in China and the effect of climate policy on the decision-making process of investment into carbon-saving technologies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Hydrogen energy technology can be one of the best key players related to the sector of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the hydrogen economy. Comparing to other technologies, hydrogen energy technology is more environmentally sound and friendly energy technology and has great potential as a future dominant energy carrier. Advanced nations including Korea have been focusing on the development of hydrogen energy technology R&D for the sustainable development and low carbon green society. In this paper, we applied the integrated fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (Fuzzy AHP) and the data envelopment analysis (DEA) for measuring the relative efficiency of the R&D performance in the national hydrogen energy technology development. On the first stage, the fuzzy AHP effectively reflects the vagueness of human thought. On the second stage, the DEA approach measures the relative efficiency of the national R&D performance in the sector of hydrogen energy technology development with economic viewpoints. The efficiency score can be the fundamental data for policymakers for the well focused R&D planning. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The European Directive on Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD) imposes the adoption of measures for improving the energy efficiency in buildings. These measures should take into account the local weather conditions as well as internal thermal environment and cost-effectiveness. In this respect, Italy is a very interesting benchmark. For Northern Italy, the climatic context is particularly difficult to deal with cold winters and hot summers. The legislations are changing very rapidly, but has not fully adapted to the local context. The considered methodology still involves winter heating while summer cooling is addressed in incomplete and inadequate ways. The energy issue is addressed only partially as final energy consumption, but with little attention to LCA. Moreover, the belief that the buildings with high energy savings are too expensive, and therefore not attractive from economic point of view. For these reasons, it is very important to develop case studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of sustainable energy in architecture, according to a holistic approach. This paper describes a detailed techno–economic analysis for Borgo Solare project, an extremely advanced and innovative residential settlement designed on sustainable architecture concepts. One of the most innovative aspects of the project is that it is not just an experimental operation but Borgo Solare is a real urban district, which will be built without public funds and should be inhabited by common people. Excellent energy performance, therefore, must be accompanied by affordable market prices. The energy and economical analysis is presented taking into account also the embodied energy of the building. The results on the performance of a sample building (case study) of this settlement are reported, according to different construction standards: prior to EPBD, present from the EPBD and more efficient developed specifically for the project. It has been shown that using the better design practices and technologies the higher initial embodied energy in a low energy building could quickly paid back during its life span. The economic analysis, in the same way, evidences that higher initial investment in case of energy efficient building could become economically convenient during the life span of the building. This kind of analysis is essential to determine the actual sustainability of a building. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The shift to widely distributed forms of energy generation and storage, requiring increased interconnectivity to geographically balance supply with distributed demand for electricity, creates a more complex electrical network – the 'Internet of Energy'. A growing array of threats now impact the resilience of the electrical network including digitalisation, cybersecurity, technological changes of the power system, and the potential for climate change to expose the system to more extreme weather events. Whether distributed and renewable electricity systems will be more resilient through multiple pathways and redundancy, or less resilient due to greater cybersecurity risks than a conventional centralised electricity system, is the key focus of this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]