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Renewable energy has emerged as a promising solution to address the challenges of climate change, energy security, and socio-economic development. South Africa, with its abundant renewable energy resources, has made significant strides in the utilization of renewable energy over the past decade. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the progress of renewable energy advancement in South Africa, examining the policies, initiatives, and achievements in various renewable energy sectors. This study explores the country's transition from a heavily coal-dependent energy system to a diversified and sustainable energy mix. It analyses the growth of renewable energy technologies, such as wind power and solar photovoltaic (PV), highlighting the key milestones, challenges, and opportunities. Furthermore, this paper discusses the role of government support, regulatory frameworks, and private sector investments in driving renewable energy deployment in South Africa. Finally, it identifies the prospects and potential areas for further advancement in the renewable energy sector. This review aims to contribute to the understanding of South Africa's renewable energy journey and provides valuable insights for policy-makers, researchers, and stakeholders involved in the sustainable energy transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concentrating solar power plants use sensible thermal energy storage, a mature technology based on molten salts, due to the high storage efficiency (up to 99%). Both parabolic trough collectors and the central receiver system for concentrating solar power technologies use molten salts tanks, either in direct storage systems or in indirect ones. But even though this is a mature technology, it still shows challenges in its implementation and operation. This paper underscores the critical importance of stringent design criteria for molten salt tanks in thermal storage technology. Focusing on the potential ramifications of design failures, the study explores various dimensions where an inadequate design can lead to severe consequences, even jeopardizing the viability of the entire technology. Key areas discussed include structural integrity, corrosion, thermal shock, thermal expansions, and others. By elucidating the multifaceted risks associated with design shortcomings, this paper aims to emphasize the necessity of thorough reviews and adherence to robust design principles for ensuring the success, safety, and sustainability of thermal storage technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing urbanization and growth of cities worldwide have led to a significant increase in energy demand. As a transition to a low carbon environment occurs, the role of renewable and sustainable energy systems in urban areas is benefiting industry and the environment alike. From this perspective, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have a lot to offer to the energy industry, particularly the integration of renewable and sustainable energy systems for environmental protection in cities. This study presents a comprehensive view that integrates technological, economic, political, and social challenges confronted with the effective implementation of renewable and sustainable energy in urban cities and proposes a solution agenda to overcome these hurdles with the aid of the SDGs. The weights for the challenges of adopting renewable and sustainable energy systems were determined using the Fuzzy Best-Worst Method. The SDGs were then ranked using the fuzzy TOPSIS technique to overcome predetermined challenges. The originality of this study lies in finding solutions to the determined challenges by adopting SDGs, emphasizing the need for integrated solutions that address energy-related concerns, and highlighting the role and importance of SDGs in environmental protection. The study highlights the importance of SDGs in promoting renewable energy integration in urban areas, with SDG 11 being the most crucial to mitigate harmful environmental occurrences related to energy-related issues in urban areas, followed by SDG 7 and SDG 13. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy security refers to a country's capacity to provide the energy resources essential to its wellbeing, including a reliable supply at an affordable costs. Economic growth and development cannot occur without access to reliable energy sources. Energy availability is a proxy for a country's standard of living and a key factor in its economic development and technical progress. Solar power is the most reliable and cost-effective option when it comes to meeting the world's energy needs. Solar-powered cooling systems are one example of how solar energy may be used in the real world. Solar-powered air conditioners have become more popular in recent years. The problems caused by our reliance on fossil fuels may be surmounted with the help of solar cooling systems that use solar collectors. Solar cooling systems may utilize low-grade solar energy, making them popular in the construction industry. Solar cooling systems powered by photovoltaic–thermal (PVT) collectors have been the subject of much research to improve the thermodynamic and economic performance of solar cooling systems. This research focuses on exploring the potential of solar-generated heat for use in cooling systems. This study will also examine the current challenges involved with using solar energy in cooling applications, as well as the possible benefits that may help pave the way for more research and greater employment of heat gain from the solar system in various cooling applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, European countries, while implementing the goals of sustainable development, are trying to be energy secure by reducing energy consumption and switching to renewable energy sources; the issue of green bonds is essential in the financing of these projects. This study aims to investigate the current situation and trends in green finance, identifies its problems and challenges, as well as determines the importance of green bonds in sustainability in general and renewable energy supply in particular. The authors conducted a bibliometric analysis of green finance and renewable energy, followed by an extensive literature review identifying the benefits and challenges of green bond investments, continued with an empirical study that included hypothesis testing and the creation and analysis of the EU countries clusters, which have not been sufficiently studied to date. A study examining trends in green finance, identifying its benefits and challenges, found that green bond investments have a positive impact on carbon reduction and renewable energy supply in the EU OECD countries, and cluster analysis of the European OECD countries indicated a positive relationship between economic performance and overall ESG risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the demand for batteries continues to surge in various industries, effective recycling of used batteries has become crucial to mitigate environmental hazards and promote a sustainable future. This review article provides an overview of current technologies available for battery recycling, highlighting their strengths and limitations. Additionally, it explores the current challenges faced by the industry and discusses potential future advancements. Through an in-depth analysis of the state-of-the-art recycling methods, this review aims to shed light on the progress made in battery recycling and the path ahead for sustainable and efficient battery waste management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar chimney power plants (SCPPs) are encouraging sustainable energy sources due to their low cost, abundance, low maintenance, and eco-friendliness. However, despite significant efforts to optimize SCPP design, their efficiency and power generation capabilities remain limited. Researchers have explored modifications in plant geometry and hybridization to improve efficiency. Despite extensive work in this area, commercialization of SCPPs has not yet been achieved. Most of the research is numerical and may differ from real-world practical use. The number of experimental studies is also relatively small. To facilitate commercialization, further investigation with practical and feasible dimensions is required. This comprehensive review paper aims to provide an in-depth analysis of experimental approaches and advancements in the field of SCPPs. The paper begins with an introduction, highlighting the background, significance, and objectives of the review. It provides an overview of the plants, discussing their principles and operation as innovative renewable energy systems. The historical development and evolution of solar chimneys are explored, shedding light on their progression over time. Case studies of operational hybrid SCPPs are examined to showcase real-world applications and performance. The paper also addresses environmental impacts and sustainability considerations associated with SCPPs. Furthermore, recommendations for future research and development in this field are provided to guide researchers and industry professionals. This study focuses on the possibility of commercialization of both standalone and hybrid SCPPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quest for sustainable and environmentally friendly fuel feedstocks has led to the exploration of green solvents for the extraction of bio-oil from various biomass sources. This review paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the challenges and future research outlooks for different categories of green extraction solvents, including bio-based solvents, water-based solvents, supercritical fluids, and deep eutectic solvents (DES). The background of each solvent category is discussed, highlighting their potential advantages and limitations. Challenges such as biomass feedstock sourcing, cost fluctuations, solvent properties variability, limited compatibility, solute solubility, high costs, and potential toxicity are identified and examined in detail. To overcome these challenges, future research should focus on alternative and abundant feedstock sources, the development of improved solubility and separation techniques, optimization of process parameters, cost-effective equipment design, standardization of DES compositions, and comprehensive toxicological studies. By addressing these challenges and advancing research in these areas, the potential of green extraction solvents can be further enhanced, promoting their widespread adoption and contributing to more sustainable and environmentally friendly industrial processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of the article is to present a comprehensive and critical review of the challenges and risks associated with the use of green ammonia as an alternative fuel in land transport. The review is motivated by the clear trend toward phasing out fossil fuel vehicles and replacing them with emission-free alternatives. Topics covered include safety aspects such as safety of powering of vehicles, the production of green ammonia, the use of ammonia in the context of various fuel solutions (combustion engines and fuel cell engines), and the discussion of ammonia-powered vehicles in the context of air pollution. The paper offers new insights into identifying the challenges and obstacles that may arise in the case of the massive use of green ammonia as a fuel for land transport. In addition, the review presents the latest information on the technological readiness of the necessary infrastructure for the production, transport, storage, and utilization of green ammonia in internal combustion or electric engines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of power electronics technology and its successful application, many demonstration projects of medium/low-voltage DC (M-LVDC) distribution systems have been constructed. The DC transformer (DCT) is the key equipment in the M-LVDC distribution system for interconnecting the MVDC and LVDC buses. In this paper, the characteristics of DCTs are summarized. The existing topologies of DCTs are analyzed, and the relevant control strategies are researched, including steady-state control, transient control, and cascaded control. The engineering application examples of DCTs are introduced by interpreting the medium and low-voltage DC distribution system demonstration project in Wujiang City, Suzhou. Finally, the challenges faced by the DCT are given, and the future development trend is predicted. This perspective provides a constructive basis for DCTs and an important reference for M-LVDC distribution systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allotropes of carbon are responsible for discovering the three significant carbon-based compounds, fullerene, carbon nanotubes, and graphene. Over the last few decades, groundbreaking graphene with the finest two-dimensional atomic structure has emerged as the driving force behind new research and development because of its remarkable mechanical, electrical, thermal, and optical functionalities with high surface area. Synthesis of graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) has resulted in numerous applications that previously had not been possible, incorporating sensing and adsorbent properties. Our study covers the most prevalent synthetic methods for making these graphene derivatives and how these methods impact the material's main features. In particular, it emphasizes the application to water purification, CO2 capture, biomedical, potential energy storage, and conversion applications. Finally, we look at the future of sustainable utilization, its applications, and the challenges which must be solved for efficient application of graphene at large scales. Graphene-based derivative implementations, obstacles, and prospects for further research and development are also examined in this review paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the conceptual features of energy security management under a radically changed context, increasing crisis phenomena, and threats of various natures. The authors substantiate the claim that energy security is a complex category, which expresses the ability of the fuel and energy complex of the region to supply the required amount and range of energy resources to the domestic market at stable and reasonable prices; to promptly mitigate unexpected fluctuations in demand for fuel and energy resources; and to ensure uninterrupted energy supply and energy carrier parameters in real time. Based on an analysis of scientific publications and practical energy security models, the authors developed theoretical provisions, methodological principles, and management tools for energy security that meet modern requirements. In particular, the authors developed the terminological apparatus and identified the types and forms of modern energy threats and risks. The authors analyzed the impact of structural shifts in the electric power industry on the cost of electricity. The authors proposed a set of measures to neutralize negative scenarios in the field of energy security, which had appeared because of geopolitical factors, structural changes in the economy, and high volatility in energy prices. In addition, the authors considered the impact of the transition to low-carbon energy production on energy security, and developed the organizational and technical concept of the energy transition, which aimed to provide energy systems and individual energy facilities with properties of self-protection from emerging threats. The results of the study are of practical interest in the development of regional energy policy, plans, and specific actions that aim to ensure energy security in a turbulent global environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Future of Energy is focused on the consolidation of new energy technologies. Among them, Fuel Cells (FCs) are on the Energy Agenda due to their potential to reduce the demand for fossil fuel and greenhouse gas emissions, their higher efficiency (as fuel cells do not use combustion, their efficiency is not linked to their maximum operating temperature) and simplicity and absence of moving parts. Additionally, low-power FCs have been identified as the target technology to replace conventional batteries in portable applications, which can have recreational, professional, and military purposes. More recently, low-power FCs have also been identified as an alternative to conventional batteries for medical devices and have been used in the medical field both in implantable devices and as micro-power sources. The most used power supply for implantable medical devices (IMD) is lithium batteries. However, despite its higher lifetime, this is far from enough to meet the patient's needs since these batteries are replaced through surgeries. Based on the close synergetic connection between humans and microorganisms, microbial fuel cells (MFCs) were targeted as the replacement technology for batteries in IMD since they can convert the chemical energy from molecules presented in a living organism into electrical energy. Therefore, MFCs offer the following advantages over lithium batteries: they do not need to be replaced, avoiding subjecting IMD users to different surgeries and decreasing medical costs; they do not need external recharging as they operate as long as the fuel is supplied, by the body fluids; they are a more environmentally friendly technology, decreasing the carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emissions resulting from the utilization of fossil fuels and the dependency on fossil fuels and common batteries. However, they are complex systems involving electrochemical reactions, mass and charge transfer, and microorganisms, which affect their power outputs. Additionally, to achieve the desired levels of energy density needed for real applications, an MFC system must overcome some challenges, such as high costs and low power outputs and lifetime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intermittent renewable energy is becoming increasingly popular, as storing stationary and mobile energy remains a critical focus of attention. Although electricity cannot be stored on any scale, it can be converted to other kinds of energies that can be stored and then reconverted to electricity on demand. Such energy storage systems can be based on batteries, supercapacitors, flywheels, thermal modules, compressed air, and hydro storage. This survey article explores several aspects of energy storage. First, we define the primary difficulties and goals associated with energy storage. Second, we discuss several strategies employed for energy storage and the criteria used to identify the most appropriate technology. In addition, we address the current issues and limitations of energy storage approaches. Third, we shed light on the battery technologies, which are most frequently used in a wide range of applications for energy storage. The usage and types of batteries are described alongside their market shares and social and environmental aspects. Moreover, the recent advances in battery state estimation and cell-balancing mechanisms are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the recent two decades of recorded literature, energy poverty is increasingly understood as a multi-dimensional issue caused by the low-carbon energy transition. In this study, a literature review was performed, the outcome of which confirmed the contentious nature of energy poverty at the regional and international levels of analysis. Furthermore, the collected literature enabled the identification of those domains under which energy poverty is prevailing. The impacts of the current COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukrainian war on energy prices and energy poverty were also considered key issues of interest in recently published studies (published within the last five years). While all the collected studies in the literature review covered a wide geographical context worldwide, a comprehensive analysis of nurturing energy poverty sources and their consequences was primarily and foremost understood in the household sector, which was the research focus of this study, accordingly. Moreover, future research guidelines that should be drawn regarding energy poverty alleviation were also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geothermal is a renewable energy source, but this is not as often seen as other renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, hydro, etc. Several applications could be implemented through geothermal energy, and heating & cooling systems are one of them. Because of the limits of technology, it is hard to improve cooling systems as an application. To address long-term sustainable space heating and cooling, it is imperative to develop geothermal technology. It is known as the oldest, most flexible, most adaptable, and most prevalent approach toward using renewable energy. Therefore, this review has reviewed the global development and challenges of geothermal energy for cooling systems. There are large reserves of geothermal energy available around the world, and numerous scholars have emphasized its importance, but due to a lack of knowledge, no operational work has been done in using these systems for cooling up to this point. This review paper examines globally available geothermal energy sources and technologies for environmentally friendly and sustainable cooling supplies. Finally, the benefits and challenges of geothermal systems for cooling are outlined to promote local, regional, and global investment in utilizing these resources for cooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even if flat glass is 100% recyclable, only 1% is currently handled in circular or closed-loop supply chains (CLSCs) in Sweden. This has an unnecessary environmental impact, indicating not only the potential for more energy-efficient solutions but also the challenges that need to be understood. The purpose of this article is to increase the knowledge of challenges in applying different types of more or less energy-efficient CLSCs for flat glass. Through a literature review, an overview of CLSC types, together with challenges in different areas, is provided. The CLSC types and challenges are corroborated in a flat glass context, including focus groups and expert interviews. Four CLSC types—two CLSCs based on remanufacturing, one on reconditioning, and one on reuse—are identified. A framework provides implications for both literature and practice. It contains 19 challenges—such as lack of large-scale actors, lack of material knowledge, lack of knowledge of customers' behavior, lack of promotion of flat glass CLSCs at many levels in society—in terms of both legislation and cost—and lack of business models—structured in four areas—material characteristics and quality, inefficient logistics systems, demand and supply, and means of control and costs. The least-applied CLSC includes almost every challenge and has a large upscaling potential, indicating the necessity of mitigating challenges. The framework identifies challenges not included in earlier flat glass literature. CLSC types are related to different challenge set-ups and different energy efficiency potentials, leading to expanded CLSC knowledge. One additional implication is that practitioners can identify potential CLSC types and understand their challenges from the perspective of several stakeholders. The participatory research methodology fills a methodological research gap within CLSC literature and provides important insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PV (photovoltaic) capacity is steadily increasing every year, and the rate of increase is also increasing. A desert area with a large equipment installation area and abundant solar radiation is a good candidate. PV power plants installed in the desert have advantages in themselves, but when combined with desert aquacultures, additional benefits can be obtained while compensating for the shortcomings of the aquaculture industry. The importance of the aquaculture industry is increasing, with aquaculture products approaching half of the total supply of marine products due to sea environmental pollution and reduced resources. Moreover, in deserts, where marine products are difficult to obtain, aquaculture is a good way to save marine products. However, one of the many problems that complicate the introduction of aquaculture in the desert is that it is difficult to supply and demand electricity because the site is not near a viable electric grid. However, combination with PV can solve this problem. This paper investigates the solar power and aquaculture industry in the desert and explains the limitations and challenges of the solar power and aquaculture industry in the desert. Based on this, we hope to increase interest in the solar power and aquaculture industry in the desert and help with future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) have been explored for various applications, including the removal of industrial pollutants, wastewater treatment chemical synthesis, and biosensing. On the other hand, MEC technology is still in its early stages and faces significant obstacles regarding practical large-scale implementations. MECs are used for energy generation and hydrogen peroxide, methane, hydrogen/biohydrogen production, and pollutant removal. This review aimed to investigate the aforementioned uses in order to better understand the different applications of MECs in the following scenarios: MECs for energy generation and recycling, such as hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen peroxide; contaminant removal, particularly complex organic and inorganic contaminants; and resource recovery. MEC technology was examined in terms of new concepts, configuration optimization, electron transfer pathways in biocathodes, and coupling with other technologies for value-added applications, such as MEC anaerobic digestion, combined MEC–MFC, and others. The goal of the review was to help researchers and engineers understand the most recent developments in MEC technologies and applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent developments in disruptive technologies along with the cost reduction of photovoltaics have been transforming business models in the electricity sector worldwide. The rise of prosumers has led to a more decentralized and open local green energy market through the emergence of peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading, where consumers and prosumers can buy or sell electricity through an online trading platform. P2P energy trading has the potential to make green energy more accessible at the local level, provide a customer choice that aligns with community values, and promote the use of renewable energy (RE) for local consumption. Although P2P energy trading has already been adopted in some countries, its implementation remains challenging in other countries, including Thailand. In this work, we investigated the drivers and challenges of implementing P2P energy trading in Thailand based on the perspectives of P2P energy trading pilot project developers participating in the regulatory sandbox program. A strategic framework was used to identify the respondents' standpoints on the political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental (PESTLE) factors that can influence the implementation of P2P energy trading. This can help businesses, policymakers, and regulators better understand drivers and barriers of P2P energy trading, which is a potential local energy market. This paper also provides policy recommendations for regulatory changes for the future development of P2P energy trading, including opening a third-party access (TPA) regime, enabling a liberalized market in the electricity market, and integrating the role and responsibilities of the prosumer for P2P energy trading into existing law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper exposes the many flaws in the article "Through the Eye of a Needle: An Eco-heterodox Perspective on the Renewable Energy Transition, authored by Siebert and Rees and recently published in Energies as a Review. Our intention in submitting this critique is to expose and rectify the original article's non-scientific approach to the review process that includes selective (and hence biased) screening of the literature focusing on the challenges related to renewable energies, without discussing any of the well-documented solutions. In so doing, we also provide a rigorous refutation of several statements made by a Seibert–Rees paper, which often appear to be unsubstantiated personal opinions and not based on a balanced review of the available literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Road vehicles are responsible for air pollution in Hong Kong, and electric vehicles (EVs) are a promising alternative to internal combustion engine vehicles as the city is transitioning to clean energy. In this work, EV adoption in Hong Kong is investigated and analyzed, including the global EV markets, present EV status in Hong Kong, local challenges facing EV development, suggestions for EV promotion in Hong Kong, emerging technologies, and decommissioning of batteries and EVs. The challenges of EVs include insufficient charging infrastructures, inadequate management of public charging facilities, difficulties in EV repair and maintenance, "dead mileage" during charging, unacceptable long charging times, and limited commercial EV models. Strategies such as providing incentives and bonuses for commercial EVs, offering high-power quick-charging facilities, actively developing commercial EVs, installing more charging infrastructures for private EVs, building connections among stakeholders, encouraging the participation of the private sector to promote fee-based services, and supporting the development of innovative technologies should be implemented to promote EVs in Hong Kong. Emerging technologies for EVs such as wireless charging, smart power distribution, vehicle-to-grid and vehicle-to-home systems, connected vehicles, and self-driving are discussed. Eco-friendly decommissioning of EV batteries can be realized by recycling and second-life applications. This paper serves as a reference and guide for the sustainable and smart evolution of the transportation sector in Hong Kong and other global large cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research investigating the potential of producing biofuels from algae has been enjoying a recent revival due to heightened oil prices, uncertain fossil fuel sources and legislative targets aimed at reducing our contribution to climate change. If the concept is to become a reality however, many obstacles need to be overcome. Recent studies have suggested that open ponds provide the most sustainable means of cultivation infrastructure due to their low energy inputs compared to more energy intensive photobioreactors. Most studies have focused on strains of algae which are capable of yielding high oil concentrations combined with high productivity. Yet it is very difficult to cultivate such strains in open ponds as a result of microbial competition and limited radiation-use efficiency. To improve viability, the use of wastewater has been considered by many researchers as a potential source of nutrients with the added benefit of tertiary water treatment however productivity rates are affected and optimal conditions can be difficult to maintain year round. This paper investigates the process streams which are likely to provide the most viable methods of energy recovery from cultivating and processing algal biomass. The key findings are the importance of a flexible approach which depends upon location of the cultivation ponds and the industry targeted. Additionally this study recommends moving towards technologies producing higher energy recoveries such as pyrolysis or anaerobic digestion as opposed to other studies which focused upon biodiesel production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is a synthetic review of contemporary wind energy issues. It was created on the basis of a survey of literature from the last two years, with mainly review articles. This work is intended to be a source of information for a wide group of scientists and students from various fields. The aim is to interest them in a wide range of topics related to wind energy and wind turbines. This may allow for the selection of an area and the undertaking of research in this interesting and future-oriented field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ambitious target of net-zero emission by 2050 has been aggressively driving the renewable energy sector in many countries. Leading the race of renewable energy sources is solar energy, the fastest growing energy source at present. The solar industry has witnessed more growth in the last decade than it has in the past 40 years, owing to its technological advancements, plummeting costs, and lucrative incentives. The United States is one of the largest producers of solar power in the world and has been a pioneer in solar adoption, with major projects across different technologies, mainly photovoltaic, concentrated solar power, and solar heating and cooling, but is expanding towards floating PV, solar combined with storage, and hybrid power plants. Although the United States has tremendous potential for exploiting solar resources, there is a scarcity of research that details the U.S. solar energy scenario. This paper provides a comprehensive review of solar energy in the U.S., highlighting the drivers of the solar industry in terms of technology, financial incentives, and strategies to overcome challenges. It also discusses the prospects of the future solar market based on extensive background research and the latest statistics. In addition, the paper categorizes the U.S. states into five tiers based on their solar prospects calculated using analytical hierarchy process and regression analysis. The price of solar technologies in the U.S. is also predicted up to 2031 using Wright's law, which projected a 77% reduction in the next decade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal–air batteries are a promising technology that could be used in several applications, from portable devices to large-scale energy storage applications. This work is a comprehensive review of the recent progress made in metal-air batteries MABs. It covers the theoretical considerations and mechanisms of MABs, electrochemical performance, and the progress made in the development of different structures of MABs. The operational concepts and recent developments in MABs are thoroughly discussed, with a particular focus on innovative materials design and cell structures. The classical research on traditional MABs was chosen and contrasted with metal–air flow systems, demonstrating the merits associated with the latter in terms of achieving higher energy density and efficiency, along with stability. Furthermore, the recent applications of MABs were discussed. Finally, a broad overview of challenges/opportunities and potential directions for commercializing this technology is carefully discussed. The primary focus of this investigation is to present a concise summary and to establish future directions in the development of MABs from traditional static to advanced flow technologies. A systematic analysis of this subject from a material and chemistry standpoint is presented as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy transition currently taking place in the mining regions of the European Union poses many challenges that need to be addressed with a view to 2030 and 2050, of which the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is the key one. Initial results of the research project entitled "Models of a transition to a climate-neutral, circular economy for mining regions under transformation process", which is developed in parallel with the transition of mining town Brzeszcze, are presented. The challenges, in the context of energy transition, for both the EU and local governments were identified on the basis of EU policies and the experience of the project team from the cooperation with the commune of Brzeszcze. A "research by design" method was used to develop model solutions. In the context of local challenges, there was a discussion of the Green Deal objectives and "greenery" as a tool for transformation and achieving well-being. It was concluded that a comparison of the tangible (mining and social infrastructure) and intangible (privileges) well-being provided by a "carbon-based" economy with the new "well-being" weights in favour of the new. This is reflected in the concerns of mine workers and the citizens as well. Therefore, proposing appropriate revitalization of a post-mining site will be one of the challenges. With regard to the revitalization, a discussion was held on the role of mining heritage which can trigger either a "growth machine" or a "decline machine" depending on the decisions taken, compatible or not with a circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing trend in electrical vehicle (EV) deployment has transformed independent power network and transportation network studies into highly congested interdependent network performance evaluations assessing their impact on power and transportation systems. Electrified transportation is highly capable of intensifying the interdependent correlations across charging service, transportation, and power networks. However, the evaluation of the complex coupled relationship across charging services, transportation, and power networks poses several challenges, including an impact on charging scheduling, traffic congestion, charging loads on the power grid, and high costs. Therefore, this article presents comparative survey analytics of large-scale EV integration's impact on charging service network scheduling, transportation networks, and power networks. Moreover, price mechanism strategies to determine the charging fares, minimize investment profits, diminish traffic congestion, and reduce power distribution constraints under the influence of various factors were carried out. Additionally, the survey analysis stipulates the interdependent network performance index, ascertaining travel distance, route selection, long-term and short-term planning, and different infrastructure strategies. Finally, the limitations of the proposed study, potential research trends, and critical technologies are demonstrated for future inquiries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing proliferation of distributed energy resources (DERs) on the smart grid has made distributed solar and wind two key contributors to the expanding attack surface of the network; however, there is a lack of proper understanding and enforcement of DER communications security requirements. With vendors employing proprietary methods to mitigate hosts of attacks, the literature currently lacks a clear organization of the protocol-level vulnerabilities, attacks, and solutions mapped to each layer of the logical model such as the OSI stack. To bridge this gap and pave the way for future research by the authors in determining key DER security requirements, this paper conducts a comprehensive review of the key vulnerabilities, attacks, and potential solutions for solar and wind DERs at the protocol level. In doing so, this paper serves as a starting point for utilities, vendors, aggregators, and other industry stakeholders to develop a clear understanding of the DER security challenges and solutions, which are key precursors to comprehending security requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integration of high volume (high penetration) of photovoltaic (PV) generation with power grids consequently leads to some technical challenges that are mainly due to the intermittent nature of solar energy, the volume of data involved in the smart grid architecture, and the impact power electronic-based smart inverters. These challenges include reverse power flow, voltage fluctuations, power quality issues, dynamic stability, big data challenges and others. This paper investigates the existing challenges with the current level of PV penetration and looks into the challenges with high PV penetration in future scenarios such as smart cities, transactive energy, proliferation of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), possible eclipse events, big data issues and environmental impacts. Within the context of these future scenarios, this paper reviewed the existing solutions and provides insights to new and future solutions that could be explored to ultimately address these issues and improve the smart grid’s security, reliability and resiliency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wave energy is substantial as a resource, and its potential to significantly contribute to the existing energy mix has been identified. However, the commercial utilization of wave energy is still very low. This paper reviewed the background of wave energy harvesting technology, its evolution, and the present status of the industry. By covering the theoretical formulations, wave resource characterization methods, hydrodynamics of wave interaction with the wave energy converter, and the power take-off and electrical systems, different challenges were identified and discussed. Solutions were suggested while discussing the challenges in order to increase awareness and investment in wave energy industry as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of access to electricity of more than 1.1 billion people around the world remains a major developmental challenge and Goal 7 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as well as Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) have set a target of universal electrification by 2030. Various studies have identified mini-grid-based electrification as a possible solution. There is a growing body of literature available now that has explored the feasibility, practical application and policy interventions required to support mini-grids. Through a review of available literature, this paper explores whether mini-grids can be a solution for the base of the pyramid (BoP) market and the challenges faced in deploying mini-grids in such markets. Interventions to support the mini-grid deployment are also discussed. The paper finds that the mini-grids are targeting the BoP market but the business is not attractive in profitability terms and requires financial support. Lack of regulatory clarity and non-coordinated policies affect the financial viability of projects, which requires careful support. Mini-grid electrification has hardly been embedded in rural development agenda and hence they have not contributed significantly to livelihood generation. Careful realignment of policies, regulatory frameworks and support systems can better support mini-grid deployment in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]