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The surge in economic growth and increased agricultural output can augment societal well-being whilst proliferating environmental stressors. So, the study tests the validity of the "agriculture-induced Environmental Kuznets Curve hypothesis" (AEKC) by assessing the varied environmental proxies that have yet to be accounted for earlier in the case of BRICS economies. Furthermore, most studies have utilised "first-generation econometric approaches" as the "cross-sectional dependency" has not been deemed in estimation. On account of this, the research employed "second-generation CIPS and CADF unit root test", "Westerlund cointegration test", "fully modified ordinary least square" (FMOLS) and "dynamic ordinary least square" (DOLS) to test the validity of AEKC in "BRICS countries" for 30 years. A positive association between agriculture and "ecological footprint" has been found which evidences the presence of an "inverted U-shaped AEKC" in BRICS nations. Another finding shows that the favourable impact of agriculture towards climate change can be moderated by illustrating the interaction effect of "human capital" and "renewable energy" with "agriculture". Lastly, the investigation brings forth the policy repercussions and acumens for the BRICS governments and policymakers in halting climate change by using renewable energy in agriculture and building human capital., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The contributions of the tourism sector and its development to economic growth are widely recognized across the economies. However, development in this sector also has its impacts on environmental quality and sustainability. In addition, elevated economic policy uncertainty also has repercussions on the environment. The objective of this study is to examine the impact of international tourism on environmental sustainability while considering EPU, renewable energy consumption (REC), and service sector output (SSO) in the model estimated based on panel data from 17 economies. Having the heteroskedasticity and autocorrelation issues in the panel data, the author used multiple econometric methods (pooled OLS with Drisk/Kraay standard errors (DKSEs), GLS, PCSE, and quantile regressions) to examine the relationship between international tourism and environmental sustainability. DKSEs address the common issue of heteroskedasticity and GLS also accounts for both heteroskedasticity and autocorrelation. PCSE method corrects these errors. Finally, quantile regression estimates the relationships between variables at different points of the distribution. The results show that international tourism and EPU adversely impact environmental quality and sustainability by increasing GHG emissions. The findings show that increased GHG emissions from international tourism and EPU harm environmental sustainability. Furthermore, SSO and REC significantly reduce GHG emissions and enhance sustainability. Nevertheless, the tourism sector should adopt sustainable practices like using eco-friendly lodging, conserving energy and water, and utilizing renewable energy (RE) to reduce negative environmental impacts. Conserving biodiversity and regional cultures while minimizing waste and resource use is also essential. Tourists should embrace eco-friendly practices such as choosing green hotels, conserving energy and water, and supporting environmental causes while adhering to regulations to reduce emissions. The study recommends establishing uniform trade laws that support green technology and RE to reduce EPU. The findings stress the need for international collaboration to promote eco-friendly tourist practices and minimize the sector's environmental impact., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Utilizing renewable energy (RE) and embracing the digital economy (DIG) can significantly contribute to achieving economic, energy, and climate goals by promoting carbon reduction. In this regard, public debt (DEB) is particularly important since it provides the funds required to achieve these goals by investing in renewable energy and digital economy projects. This study examines the impact of public debt on the link between renewable energy and carbon emissions (CE), as well as the association between the digital economy and carbon emissions in emerging economies from 2003 to 2022. The study employed cross-sectional augmented autoregressive distributed lag (CS-ARDL) estimation to check the relationship between the variables. The findings of our study suggest that the integration of renewable energy sources and the growth of the digital economy have a positive impact on reducing carbon emissions. On the other hand, public debt has a positive effect on carbon emissions. In addition, the findings support the notion that interaction terms (RE × DEB) and (DIG × DEB) have a diminishing effect on carbon emissions. It can be concluded that the reduction of carbon emissions is contingent upon the utilization of public debt to promote the growth of renewable energy and the digital economy. Based on our study, it is recommended that emerging economies' needs focus on boosting renewable energy usage and digital economy initiatives. Additionally, it is necessary for these economies to maintain a sustainable level of debt., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

This paper is the first comprehensive research to examine the effect of circular economy on environment employing two environmental degradation indicators (CO 2 emissions, ecological footprint) and one environmental quality indicator (load capacity factor) for 57 Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries during 2000-2019. The effect of other variables such as renewable energy, industrialization, and globalization was also controlled. The study applied the cross-sectional autoregressive distributed lag method (CS-ARDL), the augmented mean group (AMG), and common correlated effects mean group (CCEMG) methods as a robustness checks. The empirical findings reveal that circular economy and renewable energy have pro-environmental effects by decreasing carbon emissions and ecological footprint and increasing the load capacity factor in BRI countries. However, industrialization and globalization have detrimental effects on the environment. The result of causality shows a bidirectional causality between renewable energy, circular economy, industrialization, and three environmental indicators, but the relationship of globalization with CO 2 emissions and the load capacity factor is unidirectional and with the ecological footprint is bidirectional. All the results are confirmed by the robustness tests. The study suggests policy implications for the BRI government., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Fossil fuels-coal, oil and gas-supply most of the world's energy and also form the basis of many products essential for everyday life. Their use is the largest contributor to the carbon dioxide emissions that drive global climate change, prompting joint efforts to find renewable alternatives that might enable a carbon-neutral society by as early as 2050. There are clear paths for renewable electricity to replace fossil-fuel-based energy, but the transport fuels and chemicals produced in oil refineries will still be needed. We can attempt to close the carbon cycle associated with their use by electrifying refinery processes and by changing the raw materials that go into a refinery from fossils fuels to carbon dioxide for making hydrocarbon fuels and to agricultural and municipal waste for making chemicals and polymers. We argue that, with sufficient long-term commitment and support, the science and technology for such a completely fossil-free refinery, delivering the products required after 2050 (less fuels, more chemicals), could be developed. This future refinery will require substantially larger areas and greater mineral resources than is the case at present and critically depends on the capacity to generate large amounts of renewable energy for hydrogen production and carbon dioxide capture., (© 2024. Springer Nature Limited.)

This paper examines sustainable development, which employs an integrated approach to tackle environmental, social, and economic challenges. It provides a theoretical underpinning by examining sustainable development's inception, fundamental tenets, and conceptual structures. This study highlights the interdependence of social equity, economic prosperity, and environmental conservation, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach. Quantitative methodology is utilized in this study, and the dependent variable is sustainable development. Financial risk, green growth, technological innovation, renewable energy, financial inclusion, and soft infrastructure are all independent variables. The analysis is predicated on secondary data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and World Development Indicators databases spanning 2004 to 2019. An entropy-weighted method used for the green growth index is a metric that enhances the precision of variable indicators. Cointegration, correlation, VIF, cross-sectional dependency, and stationarity tests are among the diagnostic tests that inform the selection of methods for the panel data set. It is determined that fully modified ordinary least squares is the suitable technique. The findings suggest statistically significant positive correlations among greenhouse gases, financial inclusion, and soft infrastructure. Conversely, significant negative correlations exist between financial risk, green growth, renewable energy, and technological innovation. An estimated 55% long-run variance is present. The study's key finding is that financial risk has an adverse effect on sustainable development, while an impactful relationship where increased green growth is linked to decreased GHG emissions. This association is notably significant. Results show that renewable energy has a negative coefficient and significant negative impact on greenhouse gases, showing an active relation to enhancing sustainable development. In contrast, financial inclusion has a significant positive effect on sustainable development. The implications imply that providing incentives to institutions engaged in alternative energy, precisely renewable sources, could positively impact the environment. Government policies and funding regulations oriented toward sustainable development are indispensable for environmental sustainability. Government policies and incentives are pivotal in advancing an environmentally conscious and sustainable future. This study's contribution lies in elucidating the positive correlation between government interventions and promoting renewable energy adoption, thereby paving the way for a greener tomorrow., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Under the background of cap-and-trade mechanisms, this article constructs a game model of the electricity supply chain, which is dominated by electricity generators and followed by electricity sellers, taking into account the situation of electricity generators investing in renewable energy and energy storage under the grandfathering mechanism (GM) and benchmarking mechanism (BM). By comparing the equilibrium solutions in different cases, the research finds that (1) compared with the grandfathering mechanism, the benchmarking mechanism has more investment in renewable energy and higher energy storage quality; (2) in the consumer market, compared with GM, the electricity price and the electricity demand are higher under BM; (3) an increase in the renewable energy preference coefficient or carbon price will lead to an increase in the electricity wholesale price, renewable energy investment, energy storage quality, electricity price, and electricity demand. Further, an increase in the energy storage cost coefficient or renewable energy investment cost coefficient will result in lower electricity wholesale price, renewable energy investment, energy storage quality, electricity price, and electricity demand; and (4) the profit of the generator under GM is higher than that under BM when the total carbon quota is larger, while the profit of the generator under BM is higher than that under GM when the unit carbon quota is larger., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Renewable energy consumption is a crucial solution to addressing pressing environmental issues, particularly climate change and air pollution. Investigating the factors that drive its adoption is highly significant, as it provides policymakers and stakeholders with valuable insights to accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources. Through this approach, we can minimise the negative consequences of our reliance on fossil fuels, thereby protecting the integrity of the environment. Therefore, the primary goal of this study is to thoroughly investigate the main factors that influence renewable energy consumption and environmental change in six specifically chosen ASEAN countries. The stationarity of the 1990-2019 data was tested using panel data techniques such as Levin, Lin, and Chu (LLC), Im Pesaran (IPS), and the Shin W-stat test. According to the stationarity tests, after the first order, all variables exhibit stationarity. Additionally, Pedroni's co-integration test result confirmed that there was a long-term relationship among the variables. Different methods, such as dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS), fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS), and pooled ordinary least squares (POLS), are used for cointegration estimating. The results suggest that there is a positive co-integration between renewable energy use and GDP in six ASEAN countries, indicating a long-term relationship. The positive relationship between GDP and renewable energy use suggests that economic growth is the primary driving force behind ASEAN's renewable energy adoption. However, factors like carbon emissions, population density, and foreign direct investment (FDI) negatively impact the demand for renewable energy. The limited availability of renewable energy in certain ASEAN countries may discourage foreign direct investment (FDI) due to the inverse relationship between FDI and renewable energy use. The studies also revealed that carbon emissions, which contribute to environmental pollution, do not motivate industries to invest in renewable energy. This finding would challenge the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis. According to the EKC, there is a significant transition towards renewable energy as a response to environmental degradation. However, it is worth noting that several ASEAN countries have experienced economic growth while also experiencing higher levels of carbon emissions. Given that economic expansion might not be environmentally beneficial, this research has implications for ASEAN energy policies. The ASEAN region faces a challenge in investing in renewable energy due to the excessive dependence on fossil fuels. Therefore, an in-depth evaluation of the main factor behind ASEAN's environmental concerns, which promotes the adoption of renewable energy, can greatly influence policy decisions, particularly in attaining net zero emissions. Policymakers can utilise this comprehensive analysis to establish informed objectives for policies related to renewable energy and develop strategic plans, i.e. reforming fuel subsidies. The goal is to encourage the development of environmentally friendly and sustainable energy plans for the future in the ASEAN region., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The paper and pulp industry stands out to be one of the industries that are growing at a fast pace. Besides their characteristics such as high water consumption of 695.7 million m3 per year and subsequent high energy consumption, there are plenty of environmental impacts arising from this industry. Approximately 300 different types of harmful organic pollutants such as phenols, dioxins, and other organic substances are the significant effluents of the paper and pulp industry. As per the regulations set by the world health organization (WHO), the permissible limit of such pollutants is less than 1 ppm. Since the complete degradation of these pollutants is difficult to achieve using conventional techniques, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are widely being used as promising alternatives. On the other hand, depleting non-renewable energy resources are forcing industries to look for energy-efficient technologies. Photocatalysis is one such AOPs, which has the potential to solve the energy-wastewater nexus and is the primary focus of this review in terms of waste treatment from the paper and pulp industry. The photocatalytic materials induce photoreactions by receiving photon energy from light. However, harnessing light energy to the fullest is a challenge owing to the limited share of UV spectrum in sunlight. Different composite photocatalysts at different loadings, pollutant concentrations, and contact time along with their respective efficiencies are reported. The enhancement in thermodynamic driving force due to shift in Fermi energy levels with a suitable example is explained. The dependence of photocatalysis on various factors such as organic species, temperature, and light intensity makes it tough to predict the precise kinetic model in real-life experiments. The hydrogen production from the degradation of organic pollutants was discussed vividly and by optimization of the processes, an estimated amount of 0.45% of the total world's energy could be produced from the paper and pulp industry alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to fast industrial expansion and the increasing population in Vietnam, this country is confronting a mounting lack of energy. While this country has considerable renewable energy (RE) potentials, including wind, solar, biomass, and hydropower sources, it has yet to exploit them entirely because of a lack of proper planning. This research aimed to find and assess solutions for encouraging RE growth in Vietnam. RE development solutions were formulated through SWOT analysis and evaluated in terms of their social, economic, and environmental dimensions. The SWARA approach weighed the strategy evaluation criteria. The most influential sub-criteria were initial investment cost, reduction of adverse environmental impacts, and natural capacity of the region, with weights of 0.155, 0.127, and 0.114, respectively. Strategy evaluation was performed using the Gray ARAS, and the results were validated with the Gray COPRAS, the Gray TOPSIS-G, and the Gray MABAC. In the strategy ranking, the top strategy is to reduce the cost of renewable power generation. This can be achieved by using advanced technologies and promoting cooperation between domestic and foreign industries and companies. Increasing domestic and foreign investment in RE infrastructure by providing financial facilities for investors, developing domestic and international cooperation, and creating a competitive environment between different companies to reduce electricity production costs were the most suitable strategies., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Recently, countries have been making intensive efforts to alleviate the burden on the environment and to make environmental conditions sustainable. In this context, our study aims to investigate the long-term impact of renewable energy consumption (REC) and human capital (HC) by considering the load capacity factor (LCF). We also investigate the long-term impact of economic growth (Y) and non-renewable energy consumption (NREC) on the LCF. In this context, we analyze annual data for the U.S. for the period 1965-2018 using the newly developed augmented ARDL (AARDL) approach. The long-term empirical results show the following. i) Increases in Y negatively affect LCF and deteriorate environmental quality. ii) Increases in NREC negatively affect LCF and accelerate the deterioration of environmental quality. iii) REC has no significant impact on environmental quality. iv) Increases in HC support the improvement of environmental quality. The empirical results show that contrary to expectations, renewable energy consumption does not have a significant impact on environmental quality in the U.S., whereas human capital is an important factor in improving environmental quality. In this context, US policymakers should pave the way for more investment in eco-friendly renewable energy investments and human capital to establish sustainable environmental quality. Policymakers should also take steps to reduce the use of fossil fuels., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The renewable energy product trade is critically important to global economic prospects and its rapid development, making it a key issue in international economics of much interest to scholars. Previous studies have paid attention to bilateral trade, yet we still know little about the patterns of renewable energy product trade and its evolution from the whole industry perspective. Based on bilateral trade data, complex network, as well as ERGM and TERGM, we build global renewable energy trade networks (GRETNs) during 2000-2018 and explore the patterns and determinants. The results show that (1) the GRETNs expand during 2000-2018, characterized by a small-world, reciprocity, degree disassortative, and export volume heterogeneity. (2) The GRETNs form four communities, and the community patterns greatly fluctuate over time. (3) Economies in North America, Europe, and Asia play dominant roles, while the USA, Germany, and China are the cores of the GRETNs. (4) Endogenous structure of reciprocity, structural embeddedness, and out-degree popularity are essential parts of the evolving patterns of GRETNs. Most trade relationships are developed between economies located within the same continent, participating in APEC or WTO, or having similar areas. There is heterophily in GDP and per capita income, and Matthew effects in GDP, urbanization, and industrialization rate. Countries that share a common geographic border, language, religion, or currency, being former colonies of the same colonialists, and having signed regional trade agreements are more likely to trade in renewable energy products., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

This study explored the association between renewable energy uptake and digitalization in the sector by reviewing relevant literature (published 2010–2022), with the aim of identifying the existing utilization of digital technologies within the sector, challenges to adoption, and future prospects. Different search engines (SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) were used to locate relevant papers and documents. The results revealed the high significance of digital technologies in supporting the renewable energy sector, with high costs and security risks representing the key challenges. Most papers reviewed had a positive outlook, but recommended further research and development for effective energy transition and resilient infrastructure. The current drivers of the integration of digital technologies to support the diffusion of renewable energy sources appear to extend beyond energy demand and involve many aspects of sustainability and sustainable development. Compared with previous reviews, this work has unique scope and novelty since it considers the bigger picture of the coupling between digitalization and the renewable energy sector, with a greater focus on critical areas in these two interconnected bodies that need to be addressed. The relatively small sample of relevant papers (69 from 836 hits) located in the literature review confirms the need for more research covering the subject in greater depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One common renewable energy source for substituting fossil sources is photovoltaic (PV) systems. However, installing PV systems in agricultural areas can lead to competition with other land uses. These projects, therefore, often encounter problems with social acceptance in affected communities. Especially from the perspective of nature conservation targets, conflicts can arise. These potential differences are still under-researched but represent important knowledge for the societally broadly accepted design of such facilities and their contribution to energy transformation. In this paper, we investigate the perspectives of nature conservationists on PV in the region of Brandenburg, Germany. We comparatively analyse attitudes towards ground-mounted photovoltaics (GM-PV) and agrophotovoltaics (APV). APV combines energy supply and agricultural production on the same land and could thus be a possible solution for mitigating land-use conflicts. Results: We investigated the degree of local acceptability and positive and negative influencing factors through a qualitative text analysis of ten interviews with local representatives and position papers by Nature Conservation Associations. Our findings show a growing consensus around basic assumptions of the need for renewable energies, the prioritised support for PV systems on rooftops over the installation on agricultural land (GM-PV and APV), and the necessity for PV systems to be compatible with nature conservation objectives. Regarding specific site decisions on agricultural land, we find diverging attitudes when comparing the content of position papers and the responses of interviewees. The interviewees advocate taking into account local interests and specific regional conditions, the effects of PV systems on the local environment, and the need for distributional justice. Large-scale plants are locally less accepted than smaller ones and there is a more open attitude towards the expansion of APV than of GM-PV on agricultural land. However, a range of concerns regarding consequences for landscape and biodiversity persists, and further research and clarification is required to address these issues. Conclusions: We conclude that basic ecological standards and the demands of local stakeholders and interest groups should be taken into account when planning, implementing and reviewing PV projects in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on panel data for 30 provinces in China from 2000 to 2020, this paper uses entropy method to construct the integrated development indicators of energy Internet, and explores the impact of the development of the energy Internet on reducing carbon emissions in China and its internal transmission mechanism. The research results show that the development of energy Internet can significantly reduce regional carbon dioxide emissions, and increasing the use of renewable energy is an important mechanism for the comprehensive development of energy Internet to curb carbon emissions. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the emission reduction effect brought by the development of energy Internet is more remarkable in the regions with lower carbon emissions and western China. Furthermore, this paper finds that in the setting of the development of energy Internet, the development of renewable energy can promote natural gas consumption and advance energy conversion efficiency. The government's emphasis on regional technology development has an external strengthening effect on carbon emission reduction. The research in this paper expands and diversifies carbon reduction pathways and provides reference for more developing countries to utilize the development of energy internet to achieve carbon reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floating wind is becoming an essential part of renewable energy, and so highlighting perspectives of developing floating wind platforms is very important. In this paper, we focus on floating wind concepts and projects around the world, which will show the reader what is going on with the projects globally, and will also provide insight into the concepts and their corresponding related aspects. The main aim of this work is to classify floating wind concepts in terms of their number and manufacturing material, and to classify the floating wind projects in terms of their power capacity, their number, character (if they are installed or planned) and the corresponding continents and countries where they are based. We will classify the corresponding additional available data that corresponds to some of these projects, with reference to their costs, wind speeds, water depths, and distances to shore. In addition, the floating wind global situation and its corresponding aspects of relevance will be also covered in detail throughout the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comprehensive bibliometric review and visualization of smart and sustainable energy consumption, delving into the challenges and opportunities of developing renewable and non-renewable energy sources. The study examines research trends and emerging themes about integrating smart solutions and sustainable energy resource consumption. The analytical methods used involve thoroughly analyzing empirical data, case studies, and review papers to map the research landscape. The results highlight dominant research topics, influential authors, and publication timelines in this field. The review identifies the key challenges in harnessing renewable and non-renewable energy sources, including the need for reliable energy sources, energy storage systems, and smart grid technologies. The paper concludes with insights into the most effective practices for promoting smart and energy-efficient methods while emphasizing the complexity of sustainable energy solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a bibliometric analysis of scientific research on renewable energy in Africa, a rapidly growing field driven by the need for sustainable and accessible energy solutions. It highlights Africa's role as a hub for renewable energy innovation, with local researchers collaborating with global institutions to address the continent's unique energy challenges. This synergy is enhancing energy access in African communities and contributing to the global advancement of renewable technologies. The study meticulously examines 3,109 scientific publications from the Scopus database, spanning from 1979 to 2022. It analyzes the evolution, geographical distribution, and impact of these publications, with a focus on international collaborations and scientific output. Findings indicate that South Africa leads in productivity with 962 publications and hosts the top affiliating institutions in this domain. The study also reveals an exponential increase in renewable energy research, particularly from South Africa, the United States, and the United Kingdom, emphasizing the need for more collaborative efforts and knowledge exchange globally. This analysis provides critical insights into the current landscape of renewable energy research and pinpoints areas ripe for further exploration and development in this vital sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accounting and finance are intricately intertwined with the global quest for environmental sustainability by applying accounting and finance tools for carbon reduction initiatives. Clean energy financial investment is one of the many alternative tools through which accounting contributes to carbon reduction. Accordingly, this paper analysed the impact of separate and integrated clean energy investment alternatives on carbon reduction. Data on clean energy financial investment and carbon emission per capita were collected from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and Our World in Data archives, respectively. Data was analysed by using multiple pooled OLS to evaluate the impact of individual clean energy financial investments on carbon reduction and the impact of integrating the various clean energy financial investment alternatives on carbon reduction separately. Findings show that individual clean energy financial investments may not separately offer desired carbon reduction, hence, albeit some negative coefficients, individual clean investments showed no significant impact on carbon reduction. However, furthering the test by pooling all the clean energy financial investment alternatives shows a significant negative effect of clean energy financial investment on carbon reduction at a P-value of 0.05. This shows that an integration of different alternatives of clean energy financial investment may offer an enhanced reduction of carbon emission, which outweighs the effect of relying on a single clean energy investment alternative. The findings offer significant insight for policy makers' future strategies towards a combination of multiple clean energy financial investments. Furthermore, the findings from this paper are a further testament that accounting and finance are connected with the global quest for environmental sustainability through the application of accounting and financial investment tools in conducting clean energy financial investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To overcome the issues of the existing properties and the non-configurable supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) architecture, this paper proposes an IoT-centered open-source SCADA system for monitoring photovoltaic (PV) systems. The system consists of three voltage sensors and three current sensors for data accumulation from the PV panel, the battery, and the load. As a part of the system design, a relay is used that controls the load remotely. An ESP32-E microcontroller transmits the collected data to a Banana Pi M4 Berry (BPI-M4 Berry) through the Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol over a privately established communication channel using Wi-Fi. The ESP32-E is configured as the MQTT publisher and the BPI-M4 Berry serves as the MQTT broker. Locally installed on the BPI-M4 Berry, the Node-RED platform creates highly customizable dashboards as human–machine interfaces (HMIs) to achieve real-time monitoring of the PV system. The proposed system was successfully tested to collect the PV system voltage/current/power data and to control the load in a supervisory way under a laboratory setup. The complete SCADA architecture details and test results for the PV system data during the total eclipse on 8 April 2024 and another day are presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the aggregation of renewable energy in the power system, the uncertainty caused by the renewable energy affects the planning and operation of power systems. Meanwhile, the existing planning models fail to consider renewable energy uncertainty methods, specifically concerning renewable energy confidence and future possible scenarios; thus, a confidence-based scenario cluster method is presented. A novel generator, network, load, and energy storage (GNLS) co-planning model is proposed in the paper. First, a confidence-based scenario cluster is built, which can reflect uncertainties by clustering and analyzing wind, solar, and load. Second, the proposed model focuses on load and energy storage co-planning, and in addition, relevant flexible indices are used to assess the model. Finally, the GNLS co-planning model is built as a bi-level stochastic model on continuous time scales. The model is solved using the Benders decomposition algorithm. The method in this paper is validated using an IEEE RTS 24-bus and a real test system in China to demonstrate the reduction in renewable energy curtailment and optimization of economic factors in power system planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

Marine co-location, i.e., multiple fixed ocean activities operating in the same place and at the same time, can maximize the space- and resource-use efficiency in crowded seascapes. While interest grows, commercial use is nascent and the collective benefits or limitations of co-locating aquatic food and clean energy remains scattered throughout the literature. In this study, we synthesize multinational findings of co-location scientific publications (N = 102) to better understand the patterns and knowledge gaps at the co-located ocean food-energy nexus. We track and compare food (aquaculture) and energy (tidal, offshore wind, and wave) co-located ocean activities, noting the focus (e.g., ecological), motivation (e.g., impact/risk), and assessment type (e.g., modeling), as well as nine key metrics of interest (depth, distance from shore, aquaculture yield, etc.), mainly for aquaculture co-location. We found the number of annual co-location publications increased over time and space but are largely concentrated in the North Sea (n = 39). We also found about half of publications include aquaculture, one-third of publications report at least one metric - reporting aquaculture yield was particularly rare (n = 1) - and few studies focused on impact/risk (n = 7). However, conducting a targeted post-hoc evaluation of North Sea gray literature (N = 61), due to this region's importance in the field, showed more coverage of impacts/risk (e.g., liability) and similar attention to aquaculture. Of the scientific papers that did report metrics, the ranges of depth and distance exceeded those reported for standalone sectors, indicating co-location could be facilitating a "push" of ocean activities into farther offshore and/or deeper exposed waters. Ultimately, while aquaculture is commonly cited in the co-location literature, the shortage of metrics, like aquaculture yield, and possible impact/risk evaluations - though gray literature can provide critical insights - emphasizes the need for knowledge sharing and modeling to address and explore the uncertainty, especially for co-located aquaculture production. This study provides a needed snapshot of marine colocation, particularly in emerging regions, highlighting gaps in understanding aquaculture-energy potential in the oceans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) with renewable energy technologies is revolutionizing modern power systems by enhancing efficiency, reliability, and sustainability. This paper examines the role of the IoT in optimizing the integration and management of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, into the electrical grid. The IoT enables real-time monitoring, data analysis, and automation, facilitating advanced load management, demand response, and energy storage solutions. Key advancements in IoT technologies, including smart grids and energy management systems, are discussed, highlighting their impact on improving grid stability and promoting the use of renewable energy. The paper also finds some challenges such as data security, privacy, and the need for standardized communication protocols. Furthermore, it finds how the IoT optimizes electric vehicle performance through advanced battery management, real-time energy consumption monitoring, and improved interaction with the electrical grid. Future research directions emphasize the potential of the IoT to further enhance renewable energy integration through artificial intelligence and machine learning, driving the transition towards a more sustainable and resilient energy future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the potential for integrating renewable energy sources to meet the growing electricity and hydrogen demand in the Tunisian Sahel region, focusing particularly on solar and wind energies. The feasibility of installing a hybrid solar-wind energy system capable of producing both electricity and hydrogen is evaluated. With the help of the available solar and wind resources combined, the system not only generates electric power, but also produces hydrogen gas through electrolyzation, hence offering a multipurpose solution in terms of storage and supply. This flexibility is crucial due to the variability of renewable resources, which change daily and seasonally. The paper outlines the optimization process for designing the hybrid system deploying HOMER Pro software, according to local climatic conditions and demand profiles. The economic analysis reveals that the system can produce an average of 101.8 kg of hydrogen daily with a total photovoltaic capacity of 3,000 kWp, resulting in a project net cost estimation of approximately 5,494,912 euros. This analysis provides valuable insights for stakeholders considering similar projects, including the costs associated with photovoltaic systems, electrolyzers, and hydrogen storage solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper surveys the energy literature and systematically reviews the path to an inclusive and sustainable energy transition by exploring factors that drive the current energy transitions, countries with advanced energy transition programs, and the roles of energy literacy and justice in energy transition. Utilizing an exhaustive literature search from 2001 to 2023 via the Scopus database, the study identifies strong policy frameworks, technological advancements, economic incentives, and international collaborations as pivotal factors in successful energy transitions. Case studies from the Nordic countries, Germany, and Poland highlight diverse approaches and significant progress, revealing valuable lessons for global application. Although energy literacy emerges as crucial for public acceptance and participation, fostering informed decision-making and supportive behaviors toward renewable energy initiatives, energy justice ensures equitable access to the benefits of energy transitions, addressing socio-economic impacts on marginalized communities. The study identifies a scarcity of research that articulates and integrates energy literacy and justice concurrently within the purview of energy transition. The paper recommends the adoption, integration, and institutionalization of frameworks that concurrently propagate energy literacy and guide fair and equitable energy transitions. The frameworks should encourage active community involvement, promote community ownership of renewable energy projects, ensure transparency and inclusivity, implement measures for equitable economic benefits, protect livelihoods, address historical distrust, and leverage social media to promote energy literacy and justice. Finally, the continuous monitoring and evaluation of energy transition initiatives are crucial to ensure that they meet evolving societal needs and environmental goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decarbonization of the electricity grid is one of the actions that can help reduce fossil fuel emissions, and thus their impact on global warming in the future. This decarbonization will be achieved mainly through the integration and widespread diffusion of renewable power sources. This is also going to be supported by the shift from the paradigm of production–transmission–distribution, where electricity production oversees large-size power plants, to renewable-based distributed/diffused production, where electricity is generated very close or even by the same (group of) user(s) (or prosumers in the latter case). The number of mid-/small-size installations based on renewable energy technologies will therefore increase substantially, and the related renewable generation will be dominant against that from large-size power plants. Unfortunately, this will very likely reduce the reliability of the grid, unless appropriate countermeasures are taken/implemented, hopefully at the same time that the paradigm shift is being achieved. To this aim, it is important to identify the anomalies and main fault causes that might possibly affect some of the central renewable (wind, PV, hydrogen) and ancillary technologies that will be used to establish future renewable-based power systems. Accordingly, this paper presents a literature survey, also extending the focus to related datasets that can be used for deeper investigation. It is highlighted that the gaps mainly refer to a lack of a common taxonomy that prevents the establishment of structured knowledge in the scope of renewable-based power systems, a lack of contributions to anomalies/faults specific to wind turbines, and a lack of datasets related to electrolyzers, fuel cells, DC/x conversion, and monitoring and communication systems. Further, in the case of monitoring and communication systems, the scientific literature is both very dated, therefore not considering possible new aspects that would be currently worthy of investigation, and not oriented toward the particular domain addressed, thus considering peculiar aspects that are left out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]