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In recent years, paper‐based functional materials have received extensive attention in the field of energy storage due to their advantages of rich and adjustable porous network structure and good flexibility. As an important energy storage device, paper‐based supercapacitors have important application prospects in many fields and have also received extensive attention from researchers in recent years. At present, researchers have modified and regulated paper‐based materials by different means such as structural design and material composition to enhance their electrochemical storage capacity. The development of paper‐based supercapacitors provides an important direction for the development of green and sustainable energy. Therefore, it is of great significance to summarize the relevant work of paper‐based supercapacitors for their rapid development and application. In this review, the recent research progress of paper‐based supercapacitors based on cellulose was summarized in terms of various cellulose‐based composites, preparation skills, and electrochemical performance. Finally, some opinions on the problems in the development of this field and the future development trend were proposed. It is hoped that this review can provide valuable references and ideas for the rapid development of paper‐based energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient and sustainable energy storage remains a critical challenge in the advancement of energy technologies. This study presents the fabrication and electrochemical evaluation of a self-supporting electrode material composed of MnO2 nanorods grown directly on a carbon paper and carbon nanotube (CNT) substrate using a hydrothermal method. The resulting CNT/MnO2 electrodes exhibit a unique structural architecture with a high surface area and a three-dimensional hierarchical arrangement, contributing to a substantial electrochemical surface area. Electrochemical testing reveals remarkable performance characteristics, including a specific capacitance of up to 316.5 F/g, which is 11 times greater than that of conventional CP/MnO2 electrodes. Moreover, the CNT/MnO2 electrodes demonstrate outstanding retention capacity, exhibiting a remarkable 165% increase over 10,000 cycles. Symmetric supercapacitor devices utilizing CNT/MnO2 electrodes maintain a large voltage window of 3 V and a specific capacitance as high as 200 F/g. These results underscore the potential of free-standing CNT/MnO2 electrodes to advance the development of high-performance supercapacitors, which can be crucial for efficient and sustainable energy storage solutions in various industrial and manufacturing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In accordance with environmental sustainability and in order to optimize the recycling process of prints from indirect electrophotography with liquid toner the results of investigating the effects of changes in printing conditions on the characteristics of recycled fibres is presented. Changing of printing machine conditions, respecting of voltage variations, comprises of the reverse rollers and intermediate cylinder. Based on the results it can be concluded that the change in the voltage of the reverse rollers more affect the recycling efficiency with respect to the voltage change of the intermediate cylinder. Brightness gain is higher when the print for recycling is made on uncoated paper compared to coated, and dependent on the voltage changes. Effective residual ink concentration decreases far more on handsheets obtained from recycled samples on uncoated paper in relation to both sides coated paper. Increasing the positive voltage of intermediate cylinder and increasing the negative charge of reverse rollers increases the 3 D gamut CIE L*a*b* color cubic units. Guidelines for the size of the voltage in order to obtain optimal print reproduction are provided. The further research will include the development in area of clean technologies, advanced materials, closed loop systems; therefore the significant terms in the area of environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advancement in plastic and plastic based products in last two decades has imposed a serious threat to the environment. This has led to an increase in the demand for sustainable and biobased products. Paper and paper products are good alternatives to their plastic counterparts. A key element of paper industry is the raw material (wood, bamboo and nonwood agricultural residues such as bagasse, straws etc.) from which pulp is produced. The pulp is then utilized for production of paper. There are many pulping processes to prepare pulp of various qualities. For fine grade pulp, chemical pulping is used. The chemical pulp is produced by soda, kraft and sulphite pulping processes. However, for newsprint grade pulp, stone ground wood (SW), thermomechanical (TMP), chemi-thermomechanical (CTMP), chemi-mechanical (CMP) or refiner mechanical (RMP) corresponding pulping processes are employed. The method of pulp preparation (pulping process) consumes large amount of energy and chemicals. A new pulping process with electron irradiation using biowaste (bagasse) as a raw material is discussed in this work. Bagasse pulping process is found to reduce about 50% of energy consumption during pulping process. The process is referred to as 'ECTMP' (Energy Efficient Chemi-Thermo Mechanical Pulping). The paper produced from aforesaid method also reflected no loss of strength properties with respect of TMP reference pulps. Henceforth, preliminary calculation based on experimental results shows that the proposed bagasse ECTMP process explored the scope of energy savings of the order of 50%. • Energy efficient thermochemical process for biowaste conversion into paper was explored. • The effects of high energy electron irradiation pre-treatment were investigated. • Chemical pretreatment improved the strength properties of paper. • Specific energy consumption of bagasse pulping was significantly reduced. • The approach of pre-irradiation can be implemented for other raw materials also. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pulp-paper industry is one of the main industrial sectors that produce massive amounts of residual sludge, constituting an enormous environmental burden for the industries. Traditional sludge management practices, such as landfilling and incineration, are restricted due to mounting environmental pressures, complex regulatory frameworks, land availability, high costs, and public opinion. Valorization of pulp-paper industry sludge (PPS) to produce high-value products is a promising substitute for traditional sludge management practices, promoting their reuse and recycling. Valorization of PPIS for biorefinery beneficiation includes biomethane, biohydrogen, bioethanol, biobutanol, and biodiesel production for renewable energy generation. Additionally, the various thermo-chemical technologies can be utilized to synthesize bio-oil, hydrochar, biochar, adsorbent, and activated carbon, signifying potential for value-added generation. Moreover, PPIS can be recycled as a byproduct by incorporating it into nanocomposites, cardboard, and construction materials development. This paper aims to deliver a comprehensive overview of PPIS management approaches and thermo-chemical technologies utilized for the development of platform chemicals in industry. Substitute uses of PPIS, such as making building materials, developing supercapacitors, and making cardboard, are also discussed. In addition, this article deeply discusses recent developments in biotechnologies for valorizing PPIS to yield an array of valuable products, such as biofuels, lactic acids, cellulose, nanocellulose, and so on. This review serves as a roadmap for future research endeavors in the effective handling of PPIS. [Display omitted] • Valorization of pulp-paper industry sludge is a sustainable option for getting waste to wealth. • Pre-treatment of pulp-paper industry sludge helps in yielding platform chemicals in the biorefinery scenario. • Pulp-paper industry sludge is a sustainable feedstock for renewable energy production. • Biochars derived from pulp-paper industry sludge exhibited excellent adsorption performance for metals removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the second paper in an anticipated three-part study of the sunspot areal dataset. Examined are the annual variations of the northern (N) and southern (S) hemispheric sunspot area (SSA), number of active region entries (NARE), and the mean area per entry (MAE) for the interval 1875-2017, spanning solar cycles (SCs) SC12-SC24. For the overall interval of 1875-2019, SSA(N) has been larger than SSA(S) for 77 of the 145 years. Likewise, for SC12-SC24, SSA(N) has been greater than SSA(S) during the ascending phase of the solar cycle (i.e., 35 of 52 years), whether the SC is an even-or odd-numbered SC, while SSA(S) has been greater than SSA(N) during the descending phase of the solar cycle (51 of 93 years). Minimum SSA(N) and SSA(S) have occurred in the same year in only 7 of 13 SCs, including SC14, SC16 and SC19-SC23. Maximum SSA(N) and SSA(S) have occurred in the same year only once (in SC15). Maximum SSA(S) usually occurs after maximum SSA(N), true for 9 of 13 SCs. Maximum SSA(S) preceded maximum SSA(N) in SC16, SC18, and SC19. Multiple peaks in SSA(N) or SSA(S), typically 2-3 years apart, have often been seen (e.g., SC12-SC16 and SC18-SC22). SC12 had the smallest maximum SSA(N) (452.0 millionths of a solar hemisphere), while SC19 had the largest maximum SSA(N) (2,277.2 millionths of a solar hemisphere). SC14 had the smallest SSA(S) (600.3 millionths of a solar hemisphere), while SC18 had the largest SSA(S) (1,642.9 millionths of a solar hemisphere). The average time from minimum to maximum SSA(N) is 3.8 years (range 2-5 years), while it is 4.8 years for SSA(S) (range 3-6 years). The average time from maximum SSA(N) to the following minimum SSA(N) is 6.9 years (range 5-9 years), while it is 6.2 years for SSA(S) (range 5-8 years). The largest N-S asymmetry coefficients for SSA occurs between -3 and +1 years about sunspot minimum. The largest N-S asymmetry coefficient in SSA occurred in 2019 (SC24). The largest area sunspot occurred in 1947 (SC18) in the southern hemisphere and measured 6,132 millionths of a solar hemisphere, nearly twice the size of the average maxima of the largest area spots in the other 12 SCs. SSA and NARE are highly correlated with each other and with SSN. Minimum MAE(N) and MAE(S) may have occurred, respectively, in 2018 and 2019, highly suggestive that SSN(m) for SC25 either occurred in 2019 or will occur in 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An energy audit is a primary step toward improving energy efficiency at the facility level and ensuring a clean production. The pulp and paper sector is one of the most energy-intensive industries in Morocco. This article aimed at identifying energy conservation opportunities at a Small and Medium-sized paper industry. The audit results together with their financial viability are presented regarding the analysis of energy consumption and electrical quality issues. The paper introduces an action plan for a more efficient energy use of some specific applications such as furnaces and compressed-air installations as well. The recommended energy efficiency measures have the potential of saving about 347.85 MWh of electrical energy and 101.78 MWh of thermal energy corresponding to reductions of 11.48% and 2.22%, respectively. The total investments related to the application of the action plan is approximately 290.53 kMAD and the global payback period does not exceed one year. It was also shown that a total quantity of 283.39 t of CO 2 emissions can be saved annually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The global municipal solid waste (MSW) generation rate is 2.01 billion metric tonnes annually with an average of 0.74 kg waste/person/day. Approximately 92 % of the MSW originates from organics composition (e.g., food waste; plastic; paper; garden waste/woods, and textile), where 33 % of overall MSW is improperly managed in an efficient and environmentally safe manner. One of the promising methods to solve MSW management issues is to convert MSW into refuse-derived fuel (RDF) that can be used for the clinker burning process in cement kiln to replace the usage of fossil-based solid fuel. Thus, the potential of local MSW composition in energy recovery; suitability of RDF production technology; as well as international-industry requirement on RDF in co-processing and environmental concerns are discussed. Due to heterogeneous composition and sizes in nature, high moisture, and substantial amount of chloride content in MSW, it needs to undergo pre-treatment processes to enhance the RDF's physio-chemical properties that comply with RDF ASTM/EN standards, where expected high heating value (HHV) is > 20 MJ/kg, ash (<10 %), Chloride (Cl) (<0.80 – 1.00 %), Sulphate (S) (<1.50 %), Nitrate (N) (<1.00 %). As the development of upgraded MSW to RDF is still new in the commercial phase, there is minimal information and data on the techno-economic analysis, as well as recent industrial-scale of thermos-chemical conversion technologies for RDF preparation. Hence, the present work provides a clear picture on overview of municipal solid waste (MSW) generation, MSW composition, MSW pretreatment, and application as co-processing in cement industry are discussed. Besides, recent thermochemical upgrading process (torrefaction, dry carbonization, and hydrothermal carbonization) of MSW from R&D to commercial scale was further highlighted. In summary, this review serves as basic criterion and strategies to explore the new path of upgrading the waste into RDF for the purpose of sustainable energy recovery that adopting in circular carbon economy framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a compilation of research papers that explore the topics of Smart Cities and Positive Energy Districts (PEDs). The papers cover a range of subjects including energy efficiency, renewable energy communities, smart urban management, and financial schemes for sustainable neighborhoods. The findings emphasize the importance of energy renovation, potential energy and financial savings, and the need for collaborative approaches and policy direction to achieve sustainable urban development. The papers also provide insights into innovative solutions and technological advancements that can contribute to the realization of carbon-neutral and sustainable cities. This document serves as a valuable resource for library patrons conducting research on energy efficiency and sustainable building practices. [Extracted from the article]

Power grids in the 21st century face unprecedented challenges, including the urgent need to combat pollution, mitigate climate change, manage dwindling fossil fuel reserves, integrate renewable energy sources, and meet greater energy demand due to higher living standards. These challenges create heightened uncertainty, driven by the intermittent nature of renewables and surges in energy consumption, necessitating adaptable demand response (DR) strategies. This study addresses this urgent situation based on a statistical analysis of recent scientific research papers. It evaluates the current trends and DR practices in buildings, recognizing their pivotal role in achieving energy supply–demand equilibrium. The study analysis provides insight into building types, sample sizes, DR modeling approaches, and management strategies. The paper reveals specific research gaps, particularly the need for more detailed investigations encompassing building types and leveraging larger datasets. It underscores the potential benefits of adopting a multifaceted approach by combining multiple DR management strategies to optimize demand-side management. The findings presented in this paper can provide information to and guide future studies, policymaking, and decision-making processes to assess the practical potential of demand response in buildings and ultimately contribute to more resilient and sustainable energy systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green energy has become one of the most recurrent topics of the last decade, with a clear ascending trend in terms of popularity and strategic relevance. Although the term has been a fundamental element in the energy, environmental science, or engineering domains, we can now observe frequent linkages with the highly dynamic and versatile economic context. With this in mind, in the current paper, we aim to present the related literature approaches that integrated green energy in economics, while also identifying the evolutionary differences of perspectives and frameworks. Therefore, the methodology will start by showcasing the clear evolution of the concept, with statistical overviews that confirm its increasing frequency. Afterward, we will limit the review to the papers that integrated green energy in the title, in an endeavor to illustrate the main connections and synergies found within the economic and business area. A selection of 50 papers will be made, 25 being published in the 2010-2019 period and 25 starting in 2020. Consequently, a classification framework will be constructed to allocate each paper based on the general subject and the main methodology used. After profiling the periods and extracting valuable comparisons, the papers will be curated through the computation of different text-mining techniques, resulting in insightful statistics on the most common words, complementary concepts, and general sentiment. The study's main conclusion will be the observed prevalence of a new economic framework, based on economic growth and sustainability: green growth. Therefore, in terms of contribution, by using data mining and sentiment analysis, we have extracted valuable information from a large volume of text, methodically proving that green energy is frequently linked with economic development, and evolving conceptually throughout the last decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The University of Alcalá in Madrid will organize the "III International Congress on Green Public Procurement and Climate Change" on October 4th and 5th, 2023. The congress aims to receive oral communications on topics related to green public procurement and climate change, as well as tangential aspects such as sustainable food, legislation on climate change, public procurement and depopulation, sustainable infrastructure and energy efficiency, and sustainable or low-emission mobility. The Scientific Committee will review the communications and select the best ones for possible publication in the journal Actualidad Jurídica Ambiental. The deadline for submitting abstracts is May 15th, 2023. [Extracted from the article]

The current study analyzed the high heating values (HHVs) of various waste biomass materials intending to the effective management and more sustainable consumption of waste as clean energy source. Various biomass waste samples including date leaves, date branches, coconut leaves, grass, cooked macaroni, salad, fruit and vegetable peels, vegetable scraps, cooked food waste, paper waste, tea waste, and cardboard were characterized for proximate analysis. The results revealed that all the waste biomass were rich in organic matter (OM). The total OM for all waste biomass ranged from 79.39% to 98.17%. Likewise, the results showed that all the waste biomass resulted in lower ash content and high fixed carbon content associated with high fuel quality. Based on proximate analysis, various empirical equations (HHV=28.296-0.2887(A)-656.2/VM, HHV=18.297-0.4128(A)+35.8/FC and HHV=22.3418-0.1136(FC)-0.3983(A)) have been tested to predict HHVs. It was observed that the heterogeneous nature of various biomass waste considerably affects the HHVs and hence has different fuel characteristics. Similarly, the HHVs of waste biomass were also determined experimentally using the bomb calorimeter, and it was observed that among all the selected waste biomass, the highest HHVs (21.19 MJ kg−1) resulted in cooked food waste followed by cooked macaroni (20.25 MJ kg−1). The comparison revealed that experimental HHVs for the selected waste biomass were slightly deviated from the predicted HHVs. Based on HHVs, various thermochemical and biochemical technologies were critically overviewed to assess the suitability of waste biomass to energy products. It has been emphasized that valorizing waste-to-energy technologies provides the dual benefits of sustainable management and production of cleaner energy to reduce fossil fuels dependency. However, the key bottleneck in commercializing waste-to-energy systems requires proper waste collection, sorting, and continuous feedstock supply. Moreover, related stakeholders should be involved in designing and executing the decision-making process to facilitate the global recognition of waste biorefinery concept. [Display omitted] • The high heating values (HHVs) of biomass waste were assessed with the aim for the sustainable consumption of waste as a source of clean energy. • All the biomass waste were rich in organic matter and fixed carbon content that ranged from 79.39% to 98.17% and 50.64%–54.26% respectively. • The maximum HHVs (21.19 MJkg−1) were recorded for cooked food waste. • The heterogeneous nature of various biomass waste considerably affects the HHVs and hence serve as suitable feedstock for various energy conversion technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Multifunctional and superhydrophobic cellulose composite paper (CCP) is fabricated. • CCP shows a high EMI shielding effectiveness and electrical conductivity. • The superhydrophobic surface is used as the hydraulic triboelectric nanogenerator. • Surface temperature of CCP can reach 140 °C with a applied voltage of 6 V. Cellulose-based materials have attracted tremendous interest recently due to their fascinating merits of renewability, biodegradability, and low cost, holding great promise in electromagnetic protection, clean energy harvesting, and thermal management. However, the simple and effective integration of multiple functions into single cellulose material remains a challenge. Herein, we report the fabrication of a multifunctional and superhydrophobic cellulose composite paper (CCP) via coated MXene modified by in-situ polymerized polypyrrole and PDMS/candle soot on the opposite surface of the paper. CCP exhibits high-performance electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (~40 dB) while maintaining high electrical conductivity (1467 S/m). Moreover, the superhydrophobic surface of CCP can be used as the hydraulic triboelectric nanogenerator (H-TENG) to harvest water energy due to the liquid–solid contact triboelectrification and electrostatic induction. The hydraulic triboelectric energy can be captured and released when water droplets drop from a height of 2 cm and roll at a tilt angle of 20°, the output current can reach a peak of 0.8 nA. Furthermore, the surface saturation temperature of CCP can reach 140 °C with a low applied voltage of 6 V enabled by the Joule effect. Thus, CCP holds great potentials in applications of integrated smart electronics, clean energy harvesting, and thermal management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the challenges in forecasting electrical energy in the current era of renewable energy integration. It reviews advanced adaptive forecasting methodologies while also analyzing the evolution of research in this field through bibliometric analysis. The review highlights the key contributions and limitations of current models with an emphasis on the challenges of traditional methods. The analysis reveals that Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, optimization techniques, and deep learning have the potential to model the dynamic nature of energy consumption, but they also have higher computational demands and data requirements. This review aims to offer a balanced view of current advancements and challenges in forecasting methods, guiding researchers, policymakers, and industry experts. It advocates for collaborative innovation in adaptive methodologies to enhance forecasting accuracy and support the development of resilient, sustainable energy systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The countries of China, the United States, India, Russia, Japan, and Germany emit 60% of the world’s carbon gases that cause climate change and the breakdown of biodiversity. At the same time, these countries, and the corporations they created seek to make sizable economic profits from “Green Energy” as a replacement for dependence on the carbon-based economy. State government and corporate policies promote the mining of metals such as gold, tantalum, and lithium—key elements necessary for supporting the development for electrical replacements to petroleum-based machines like cars. The problem explored in this article is that while effecting “green energy” is a positive step toward reversing the adverse effects of the carbon-based economy, catastrophic damage is done to the environment and indigenous peoples. The consequent mining and other resource exploitation of the “greening” directly destroy and pollutes the environment while violently forcing the removal of indigenous peoples from their territories or now killing thousands of people. Democratizing mining and other resource exploitation inside indigenous peoples’ ancestral territories is essential and must become the new standard—a standard based on obtaining the consent of the affect indigenous peoples. The author presents a green-energy plan for mediating relations between indigenous nations, corporations, and states. Mining and exploiting “green energy” resources is a dominant yet destructive economic activity in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)—the second largest state in the African Continent. The DRC illustrates the problem as the largest source of “green-energy” tantalum—a “refractory metal” mined with lithium essential to producing capacitors, computer chips and semiconductors used in electric technology. Tantalum and lithium are mined primarily from the territories of indigenous nations with disastrous consequences. INSET: Our Land Our Nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate short-term load forecasting (STLF) plays an essential role in sustainable energy development. Specifically, energy companies can efficiently plan and manage their generation capacity, lessening resource wastage and promoting the overall efficiency of power resource utilization. However, existing models cannot accurately capture the nonlinear features of electricity data, leading to a decline in the forecasting performance. To relieve this issue, this paper designs an innovative load forecasting method, named Prophet–CEEMDAN–ARBiLSTM, which consists of Prophet, Complete Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition with Adaptive Noise (CEEMDAN), and the residual Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM) network. Specifically, this paper firstly employs the Prophet method to learn cyclic and trend features from input data, aiming to discern the influence of these features on the short-term electricity load. Then, the paper adopts CEEMDAN to decompose the residual series and yield components with distinct modalities. In the end, this paper designs the advanced residual BiLSTM (ARBiLSTM) block as the input of the above extracted features to obtain the forecasting results. By conducting multiple experiments on the New England public dataset, it demonstrates that the Prophet–CEEMDAN–ARBiLSTM method can achieve better performance compared with the existing Prophet-based ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Research Topic on "Enabling Technologies and Business Models for Energy Communities" presents a comprehensive exploration of critical facets in the realm of sustainable energy transitions. The Research Topic encompasses diverse topics, ranging from smart energy frameworks for urban communities and off-grid renewable energy deployment in Mexico to the impact of institutional support on the coalbed methane industry. It further investigates complex grid investment decisions, solar-based irrigation adoption in water-scarce regions, and risk management in power supply projects. Additionally, the Research Topic delves into financial aspects, exploring the pricing of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project Asset-backed Securities (ABS) products, the impact of managerial competence on corporate carbon performance, and equity-based predictions for the energy industry. The influence of innovation on fossil fuel abandonment in low and middle-income countries and the significance of climate risk for green innovation in heavy-polluting industries are also examined. A regional perspective is provided on the technological convergence of hydrogen energy, and the interplay between renewable energy, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and CO2 emissions in highly-globalized countries is scrutinized. Lastly, the effects of green credit policy on the risk of stocks prices crash are investigated. Together, these contributions offer a holistic understanding of the challenges and opportunities in enabling technologies and business models for energy communities, contributing valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders striving for a sustainable energy future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research addresses the issue of the heritage preventive conservation in the perspective of energy sustainability, for contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and towards the EU Green Deal. The study analyses and compares four cases associated with different microclimate thresholds as suggested by the standard EN 16893:2018 (Cases 1–3) and as derived from the outputs of three degradation models for preserving paper, wood, and canvas paintings (Case 4). Weather-based indices (degree and gram days) were calculated to estimate trends in the potential energy demand of collection facilities in three European cities belonging to different Köppen-Geiger climate zones (Cfb, Csa, and Dfb), under recent past (1981–2010) and near/far future climate scenarios (2021–2050 and 2071–2100) from two Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5). The findings suggest that adapting facilities' management strategies to focus on collections preservation can facilitate the achievement of 5 out of 17 SDGs, offering a viable alternative to costly energy retrofits and encouraging the development of shared solutions for similar facilities in the same climate zone. The results can contribute to inform the revision of EN 16893 and to face major challenges such as the preservation of paper collections in southern latitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a key project of China's western development, the West-East Natural Gas Transmission Project (WENGT) has effectively alleviated China's uneven energy distribution and supply-demand issues. It has promoted the optimization of China's energy structure and sustainable development in the new era, helping to achieve the goal of "double carbon". Based on pollution data from Chinese industrial enterprises from 2000 to 2012, this paper analyzes the impact of the West-East Natural Gas Pipeline Project on the air pollution emissions of industrial enterprises using a difference-in-difference model and explores the moderating role of local government environmental regulations. The findings indicate that the project significantly reduced air pollutant emissions from industrial enterprises in cities along the route, with a more pronounced reduction effect in areas with higher environmental regulation intensity. Additionally, the emission reduction effect varied among different types of enterprises and regions, with private enterprises showing the smallest reduction impact and the eastern coastal region exhibiting the most significant effect. This paper delves into the relationship between sustainable cross-regional energy development and air pollution emissions from industrial enterprises, providing a theoretical basis for energy conservation and emission reduction policies in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The green port multi-energy microgrid, featuring renewable energy generation, hydrogen energy, and energy storage systems, is an important gateway to achieve the net-zero emission goal. But there are many forms of energy in green port multi-energy microgrid systems, the power fluctuates frequently, and the port loads with large fluctuations and fast changes. These factors can easily lead to the problem of the state of charge exceeding the limit of the energy storage system. To distribute the fluctuating power in the green port multi-energy microgrid system reasonably and maintain the state of charge (SOC) of the hybrid energy storage system in an moderate range, an energy management strategy (EMS) based on dual-stage fuzzy control with a low pass-filter algorithm is proposed in this paper. First, the mathematical model of a green port multi-energy microgrid system is established. Then, fuzzy rules are designed, and the dual-stage fuzzy controller is used to change the time constant of the low-pass filter (LPF) and modify the initial power distribution by an LPF algorithm. Finally, simulation models are built in Matlab 2016a/Simulink. The simulation results demonstrate that, compared with other algorithms under the control of the EMS proposed in this paper, the high-frequency component in the flywheel power is smaller, and the SOC of the supercapacitor is maintained in a reasonable range of 34–78%, which extends the lifespan of the flywheel and supercapacitor. Additionally, it has a faster automatic adjustment ability for the state of charge of the energy storage system, which is conducive to better maintaining the stable operation of green port multi-energy microgrid systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric vehicles can reduce the dependence on limited resources such as oil, which is conducive to the development of clean energy. An accurate battery state of health (SOH) is beneficial for the safety of electric vehicles. A multi-feature and Convolutional Neural Network–Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory–Multi-head Attention (CNN-BiLSTM-MHA)-based lithium-ion battery SOH estimation method is proposed in this paper. First, the voltage, energy, and temperature data of the battery in the constant current charging phase are measured. Then, based on the voltage and energy data, the incremental energy analysis (IEA) is performed to calculate the incremental energy (IE) curve. The IE curve features including IE, peak value, average value, and standard deviation are extracted and combined with the thermal features of the battery to form a complete multi-feature sequence. A CNN-BiLSTM-MHA model is set up to map the features to the battery SOH. Experiments were conducted using batteries with different charging currents, and the results showed that even if the nonlinearity of battery SOH degradation is significant, this method can still achieve a fast and accurate estimation of the battery SOH. The Mean Absolute Error (MAE) is 0.1982%, 0.1873%, 0.1652%, and 0.1968%, and the Root-Mean-Square Error (RMSE) is 0.2921%, 0.2997%, 0.2130%, and 0.2625%, respectively. The average Coefficient of Determination (R2) is above 96%. Compared to the BiLSTM model, the training time is reduced by an average of about 36%. [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]

Sustainable energy projects can help societies reduce climate change's negative impacts. In the present paper, published studies regarding European community energy schemes (CESs) were analysed to investigate CESs' barriers and drivers towards including community members and, more specifically, vulnerable groups. This review followed the PRISMA guidelines to ensure transparency. Exclusion and inclusion criteria were defined to select the proper articles and books that were aligned with the scope of this review. A total of 143 publications from 2019 to February 2024 were considered and selected. Content analysis was used to outline the various definitions of energy poverty, vulnerable groups, and CESs as well as the different strategies and approaches followed by European countries to tackle energy poverty and increase public engagement in CESs. This research suggests that environmental citizenship is a concept that can bring individuals and society together to promote changes in energy-related behaviours. The outcome reveals factors that enhance community energy acceptance and social cohesion such as providing energy education or education for sustainability to community members, financial support, increased prosocial culture, and the participation of vulnerable groups in CESs. This can be achieved through various interventions to help community members, including vulnerable groups, understand sustainable energy behaviour and thus reduce energy poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a scientometric and bibliometric literature review of the research on transitions to autonomous and electric vehicles. We discuss the main characteristics, evolution, and various transitional issues, identifying potential trends for future research. The Scopus and WoS search for relevant research articles generated a corpus of 4693 articles, which we analyzed using VOSviewer visualization software. This result shows that the transition research is interdisciplinary, with 54 scientific areas identified. Analysis requires an understanding of the broader aspects of the automotive industry, trends related to sustainability, environment protection, road safety, public policies, market factors and other business, and legal and management issues. This study highlights the need for more research to address the challenges of this global transition in the automotive industry. Topics for future research are constant improvements in AI algorithms used in AVs, innovations in green energy sources, and storage solutions for EVs. This is leading to new innovative business models and platforms. Further to that, the conclusion is that the impact of the transition to a shared economy, the emergency of mobility as a service, and public acceptance of the technology have to be comprehensively considered. The vehicle of the future is seen as a smart electric car, running on green energy, and utilizing various levels of automation up to full autonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes an innovative method to provide a micro-electric tractor which has been developed as part of an initiative that aims to provide socially inclusive and affordable green energy solutions to smallholders in sub-Saharan Africa. It utilizes a 15.0-kW solar array and battery system to power micro-electric tractors for an agricultural practice called deep bed farming in Malawi. Deep bed farming increases smallholder crop yield by about two and half times, which increases revenue by up to 12 times. The extra revenue can then be used to perpetually purchase domestic energy from the solar array, creating a self-sustaining model for decentralized energy access. However, the requirement for land preparation is onerous, and mechanization is needed to help overcome barriers to entry. This paper describes the technical requirements of a solar base station and micro-tractor for use with the deep bed farming technique. The paper covers the 5.9 kWp modular solar design and a 10.0-kWh rated micro-tractor. Testing was undertaken at an isolated grid in Loughborough as a precursor for large-scale testing in Malawi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harvesting renewable mechanical energy is envisioned as a promising and sustainable way for power generation. Many recent mechanical energy harvesters are able to produce instantaneous (pulsed) electricity with a high peak voltage of over 100 V. However, directly storing such irregular high‐voltage pulse electricity remains a great challenge. The use of extra power management components can boost storage efficiency but increase system complexity. Here utilizing the conducting polymer PEDOT:PSS, high‐rate metal‐free micro‐supercapacitor (MSC) arrays are successfully fabricated for direct high‐efficiency storage of high‐voltage pulse electricity. Within an area of 2.4 × 3.4 cm2 on various paper substrates, large‐scale MSC arrays (comprising up to 100 cells) can be printed to deliver a working voltage window of 160 V at an ultrahigh scan rate up to 30 V s−1. The ultrahigh rate capability enables the MSC arrays to quickly capture and efficiently store the high‐voltage (≈150 V) pulse electricity produced by a droplet‐based electricity generator at a high efficiency of 62%, significantly higher than that (<2%) of the batteries or capacitors demonstrated in the literature. Moreover, the compact and metal‐free features make these MSC arrays excellent candidates for sustainable high‐performance energy storage in self‐charging power systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In advancing the transition of the energy sector toward heightened sustainability and environmental friendliness, biopolymers have emerged as key elements in the construction of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) due to their renewable sources and excellent biodegradability. The development of these TENG devices is of significant importance to the next generation of renewable and sustainable energy technologies based on carbon-neutral materials. This paper introduces the working principles, material sources, and wide-ranging applications of biopolymer-based triboelectric nanogenerators (BP-TENGs). It focuses on the various categories of biopolymers, ranging from natural sources to microbial and chemical synthesis, showcasing their significant potential in enhancing TENG performance and expanding their application scope, while emphasizing their notable advantages in biocompatibility and environmental sustainability. To gain deeper insights into future trends, we discuss the practical applications of BP-TENG in different fields, categorizing them into energy harvesting, healthcare, and environmental monitoring. Finally, the paper reveals the shortcomings, challenges, and possible solutions of BP-TENG, aiming to promote the advancement and application of biopolymer-based TENG technology. We hope this review will inspire the further development of BP-TENG towards more efficient energy conversion and broader applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the process of biomass pyrolysis and the importance of kinetic modeling in understanding and optimizing this process. Pyrolysis is a thermal conversion method that can produce solid and liquid biofuels, as well as raw materials for bio-based products. The distribution and quality of the products depend on the properties of the biomass and the thermal conditions used. However, there are challenges in accurately determining the kinetics of pyrolysis reactions due to factors such as the variability of biomass composition and the presence of catalysts. The article also provides an overview of nine research papers published in a special issue of the journal Processes, which cover topics such as the devolatilization behavior of different biomass feedstocks, the effects of torrefaction pretreatment, and the influence of catalysts on conversion dynamics. [Extracted from the article]

The excessive use of energy from fossil fuels, which corresponds to population, industrialisation, and unsustainable economic growth, is the cause of carbon dioxide production and climate change. The Water–Energy–Food (WEF) nexus is an applicable conceptual framework that helps manage the balance between human development and natural resource constraints, and it becomes a valuable tool to address the challenges of resource depletion and clean energy. This article aims to analyse the relationship between the WEF nexus and clean energy through a statistical analysis and a systematic review of knowledge on energy sustainability. The methodology involves the selection of bibliographic information databases such as Scopus and Web of Science (WoS), a statistical analysis, specifically the Scientometrics applied to the information obtained, and the identification of 179 scientific publications related to the study variables through a screening process called Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The interaction of green energy and sustainability with the WEF nexus has been approached mainly by developed countries such as China (10%), the United States (9.49%), India (7.26%), and Brazil (5.02%). The review of 55 scientific papers identified strategies that balance economic growth and environmental impact, applying clean energy systems (e.g., solar and wind), and the importance of adaptation to the subsystems of the WEF nexus. This study also highlights adaptability to climate change in rural and urban communities. Therefore, it is consistent with the four pillars of sustainable development (Economic: 7 papers, Environmental: 22, Social: 18, and Cultural: 8). This study highlights the following: (a) the importance of the use of renewable energy either in mixed systems and consumption, energy storage, and seeking energy efficiency in systems adapted to diverse environments and (b) the relevance of community participation in the decision-making process for the use of clean energy, such as a strategy for climate change adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a lightweight, ultrathin and flexible paper-based gel electrolyte is developed for liquid-free Al-air batteries, which employs a natural cellulose paper to store an alkaline gel. The as-fabricated electrolyte can be applied in either mechanical-rechargeable or single-use Al-air batteries, providing an open-circuit voltage (OCV) of 1.5 V and a peak power density around 3.5 mW cm−2. In addition, the battery discharge specific capacity is as high as 900 mA h g−1 even with low-purity Al. Moreover, a flexible Al-air battery can be obtained, which exhibits a stable performance under different bending angles. By optimizing the electrolyte properties including polymer concentration, gel loading and solution casting time, the battery power output can be further improved to 6.4 mW cm−2. Finally, two stacking strategies are investigated for developing Al-air battery packs, including both vertical stacking and planar stacking. Benefited from the complete ionic isolation among the single cells, both stacking strategies are demonstrated viable, with a normal OCV of 5.6 V for a 4-cell stack and a stacking efficiency as high as 87.5%. Such kind of liquid-free Al-air batteries are especially suitable for powering portable electronic devices with small rated power. • A paper-based gel electrolyte is developed for liquid-free Al-air battery. • The battery can provide an OCV of 1.5 V and a peak power density of 6.4 mW cm−2 • A high specific capacity of 900 mA h g−1 can be achieved even with low-purity Al. • A flexible Al-air battery is also successfully developed. • A convenient and efficient stacking of Al-air battery pack is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the unpredictability of the majority of green energy sources (GESs), particularly in microgrids (μGs), frequency deviations are unavoidable. These factors include solar irradiance, wind disturbances, and parametric uncertainty, all of which have a substantial impact on the system's frequency. An adaptive load frequency control (LFC) method for power systems is suggested in this paper to mitigate the aforementioned issues. For engineering challenges, soft computing methods like the bat algorithm (BA), where it proves its effectiveness in different applications, consistently produce positive outcomes, so it is used to address the LFC issue. For online gain tuning, an integral controller using an artificial BA is utilized, and this control method is supported by a modification known as the balloon effect (BE) identifier. Stability and robustness of analysis of the suggested BA+BE scheme is investigated. The system with the proposed adaptive frequency controller is evaluated in the case of step/random load demand. In addition, high penetrations of photovoltaic (PV) sources are considered. The standard integral controller and Jaya+BE, two more optimization techniques, have been compared with the suggested BA+BE strategy. According to the results of the MATLAB simulation, the suggested technique (BA+BE) has a significant advantage over other techniques in terms of maintaining frequency stability in the presence of step/random disturbances and PV source. The suggested method successfully keeps the frequency steady over I and Jaya+BE by 61.5% and 31.25%, respectively. In order to validate the MATLAB simulation results, real-time simulation tests are given utilizing a PC and a QUARC pid_e data acquisition card. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

However, curtailment compensation costs eventually surpass upgrade costs, making network upgrades a practical option once the HC level reaches 118%, 106%, and 97% for rural, suburban, and urban regions, respectively. Keywords: distribution networks; renewable energy sources EN distribution networks renewable energy sources 3763 3764 2 09/05/23 20230901 NES 230901 Decarbonization policy leads to an increasing trend of integration of renewable energy sources (RESs) in distribution grids. [Extracted from the article]

This document is a special issue of the journal Energies titled "The Future of Nuclear Power for Clean Energy Systems." It contains four scientific papers on various topics related to nuclear energy. The first paper discusses the application of an independent temporary spent fuel storage pool cooling system for the decommissioning of pressurized water reactor Kori units 3 and 4. The second paper focuses on the modeling of a hybrid multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MMRTG) for space missions. The third paper investigates event-triggered communication in cooperative, adaptive model predictive control of a nuclear power plant's turbo-generator set. The fourth paper predicts the impact of full-system decontamination of Kori unit 1 on the radioactive waste classification of steam generator tubes. These papers contribute to the understanding and development of nuclear energy for clean energy systems. [Extracted from the article]

[Display omitted] • GDL with excellent bulk hydrophobicity and strength based on interspersed PP network. • Novel bulk- and self- hydrophobicity GDL require no fluoride posttreatment. • Excellent water management under high current density in PEMFC operation. • Cost-effective production of high-performance GDL through paper making. In the quest for sustainable energy, proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are emerging as a key technology due to their high efficiency and low pollutant emissions. However, the performance and longevity of PEMFCs rely heavily on effective water management within the gas diffusion layer (GDL). Traditional GDLs, comprised of carbon fiber paper treated with perfluorinated hydrophobic agents, suffered from environmental, economic, and performance limitations and exhibited unsatisfactory water regulation due to the surface hydrophobicity. To overcome these challenges, we have developed a fluorine-free bulk hydrophobic GDL with an interpenetrating network composed of graphene, cellulose fiber, and modified polypropylene fiber with impressive mechanical strength (22 MPa) and enhanced hydrophobicity without the use of harmful fluorinated agents through the scalable papermaking. The resulting GDL offers significantly improved PEMFC performance by enhancing water management, achieving a current density of 1.25 A cm−2 at 0.6 V and a maximum power density of 0.746 W cm−2. Furthermore, it exhibits superior water management capabilities compared to commercial GDL under high current density and demonstrates a more straightforward, less energy-intensive production process. Our findings suggest a scalable, cost-effective pathway for advanced GDL manufacturing, promoting a shift towards more sustainable and high-performing PEMFCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global energy landscape is undergoing a significant shift toward green energy solutions, with Germany leading the way in the transition to renewable energy through its Energiewende initiative. This topic is of great importance as it offers valuable insights for other countries in the European Union and worldwide seeking sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives for their energy sectors. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of Germany's green energy transition, focusing on the technological advancements, strategic management, and country economics that drive this transformation. Utilising a bibliometric study research method, the paper analyses data from scientific publications in the Scopus database and employs VOSviewer and Bibliometrix software to develops bibliometric maps of keyword co-occurrences. The analysis reveals the main changes in Germany's green energy transition, uncovering the meaning and important structures of keywords, suggesting new directions for research, and pointing out strategies based on the technological transition toward renewable energy sources and green job creation. By integrating sustainable development and technological changes, this study contributes to the understanding of green energy transition strategies and their impact on adjacent domains, offering valuable insights for business and society. Furthermore, the assessment of Germany's green energy transition serves as a valuable example for governments and policymakers in other countries, helping them to learn from Germany's experience and implement similar strategies in their energy sectors. The full paper will discuss the limitations of the paper and potential directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The profitable commercialization and swift growth in electrified transportation requires load management controllers. Effective load management controllers can reduce the peak load on the power grid, balance the load demand and improve the stability of the power grid. Several techniques are available to optimize the load, including battery swapping, vehicle-to-grid (V2G), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-home (V2H) approaches. This paper addresses effects of rising adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and the potential for an increased load on the distribution system, which requires load optimization to ensure sustainable development. This paper offers a comprehensive review of all possible energy management controllers used in EVs for load optimization and power split controllers for splitting power between the battery and super-capacitor in hybrid energy storage systems (HESS) to increase battery life span. These controllers are classified into three categories, fuzzy logic controller, voltage-based controller and soft computing-based controller, with their constraints, advantages and disadvantages and finally sum up with their current challenges and future recommendation. The paper also reveals the wireless charging with their pros and cons. The findings have implications for the design and implementation of controllers for EVs to ensure their sustainable development and reduce fossil fuel usage. This study will be highly helpful to the researchers, industrialist and investors as a ready literature of energy management controllers for EVs, with information of their recommendations and challenges. [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]

Accurate and trustworthy forecasting of coal prices can offer theoretical support for the rational planning of coal industry output, which is of great importance in ensuring a stable and sustainable energy supply and in achieving carbon neutrality targets. This paper proposes a novel decomposition integration model, called VCNQM, to perform point and interval forecasting of coal price by a combination of variational modal decomposition (VMD), chameleon swarm algorithm (CSA), N-BEATS, and quantile regression. Initially, the variational modal decomposition is enhanced by the chameleon swarm algorithm for decomposing the coal price sequence. Then, N-BEATS is used to forecast each subsequence of coal prices, integrating all results to obtain a point forecast of coal prices. Next, interval forecasting of coal prices is achieved through quantile regression. Finally, to demonstrate the superiority of the VCNQM model's prediction, we make a cross-comparison about predictive performance between the VCNQM model and other benchmark models. According to the experimental findings, we demonstrate the following: after the decomposition by CSA-VMD, the coal price subseries' fluctuation is significantly weakened; using quantile regression provides a reliable interval prediction, which is superior to point prediction; the predicted interval coverage probability (PICP) is higher than the confidence level of 90%; the share power industry index and coal industry index have the greatest impact on coal prices in China; compared to these benchmark models, the VCNQM model's prediction errors are all reduced. Therefore, we conclude that when forecasting coal prices, the VCNQM model has an accurate and reliable prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geothermal energy is a unique energy source in the energy policy mix that would help the clean energy transition and energy independence, supporting the energy needs in heating and electricity. Although there have been studies on the opportunities and challenges of renewable energy, this paper is the first paper that concentrates on geothermal energy for three distinct countries, Italy, Belgium, and Iceland, for the first time. Using semi-structured interviews that will cover the stakeholders representing the quadruple helix (academia, citizens, policymakers, and industry), this paper aims to find the unique and common opportunities and barriers the geothermal sector has. Shared challenges include financial barriers, regulatory complexities, environmental issues, and the need for improvement in the social acceptability of geothermal energy. Despite these challenges, geothermal energy, a promising energy source for clean transition, could create opportunities like improved household welfare through combined uses in district heating and electricity and have the potential to generate employment opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]