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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]

Water scarcity poses significant challenges in arid regions like the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) due to constant population growth, considering the effects of climate change and water management aspects. The desalination technologies face problems like high energy consumption, high investment costs, and significant environmental impacts by brine discharge. This paper researches the relationships among water scarcity, energy-intensive desalination, and the development of renewable energy in MENA, with a particular focus on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. It examines innovations in solar-powered desalination, considering both solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal technologies, in combination with traditional thermal desalination methods such as multi-effect distillation (MED) and multi-stage flash (MSF). The environmental impacts associated with desalination by brine discharge are also discussed, analyzing innovative technological solutions and avoidance strategies. Utilizing bibliometrics, this report provides a comprehensive analysis of scientific literature for the assessment of the research landscape in order to recognize trends in desalination technologies in the MENA region, providing valuable insights into emerging technologies and research priorities. Despite challenges such as high initial investment costs, technical complexities, and limited funding for research and development, the convergence of water scarcity and renewable energy presents significant opportunities for integrated desalination systems in GCC countries. Summarizing, this paper emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary approaches and international collaboration by addressing the complex challenges of water scarcity and energy sustainability in the MENA region. By leveraging renewable energy sources and advancing desalination technologies, the region can achieve water security while mitigating environmental impacts and promoting economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of sustainability, the integration of renewable energy into industrial processes not only minimizes dependence on fossil fuels but also contributes to the efficient management of industrial waste. By transforming organic waste, including agri-food and urban waste, into biogas, green energy can be generated, thus reducing the impact on the environment and closing the loop of material used in the economic circuit. Thus, a sustainable system can be promoted, where resources are continuously reused and exploited. Statistical methods and a decision tree with the Classification and Regression Trees (CRT) algorithm were employed to analyze data. The paper focuses on the importance of industrial waste and biogas for the generation, transformation, and consumption of energy in the EU (European Union)-27 countries. To provide a thorough analysis, we have divided these countries based on real gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, grouping them above/below the annual average for the period 2012–2021/2022. Descriptive statistics revealed observable differences between the two groups, but the paper aimed to provide evidence regarding the existence of these differences as statistically significant. Using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, the non-normal distribution of the data was confirmed, requiring non-parametric inferential methods. The Mann–Whitney U test revealed statistically significant differences between the two groups for all the studied variables. This comprehensive approach highlights the distinct energy-related characteristics influenced by economic development in the EU-27. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing integration of renewable energy sources into grid-connected microgrids has created new challenges in power generation forecasting and energy management. This paper explores the use of advanced machine learning algorithms, specifically Support Vector Regression (SVR), to enhance the efficiency and reliability of these systems. The proposed SVR algorithm leverages comprehensive historical energy production data, detailed weather patterns, and dynamic grid conditions to accurately forecast power generation. Our model demonstrated significantly lower error metrics compared to traditional linear regression models, achieving a Mean Squared Error of 2.002 for solar PV and 3.059 for wind power forecasting. The Mean Absolute Error was reduced to 0.547 for solar PV and 0.825 for wind scenarios, and the Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) was 1.415 for solar PV and 1.749 for wind power, showcasing the model's superior accuracy. Enhanced predictive accuracy directly contributes to optimized resource allocation, enabling more precise control of energy generation schedules and reducing the reliance on external power sources. The application of our SVR model resulted in an 8.4% reduction in overall operating costs, highlighting its effectiveness in improving energy management efficiency. Furthermore, the system's ability to predict fluctuations in energy output allowed for adaptive real-time energy management, reducing grid stress and enhancing system stability. This approach led to a 10% improvement in the balance between supply and demand, a 15% reduction in peak load demand, and a 12% increase in the utilization of renewable energy sources. Our approach enhances grid stability by better balancing supply and demand, mitigating the variability and intermittency of renewable energy sources. These advancements promote a more sustainable integration of renewable energy into the microgrid, contributing to a cleaner, more resilient, and efficient energy infrastructure. The findings of this research provide valuable insights into the development of intelligent energy systems capable of adapting to changing conditions, paving the way for future innovations in energy management. Additionally, this work underscores the potential of machine learning to revolutionize energy management practices by providing more accurate, reliable, and cost-effective solutions for integrating renewable energy into existing grid infrastructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, renewable energy has received extensive attention due to its advantages of sustainability, economy, and environmental protection. However, with the rapid development of renewable energy, the problem of curtailment is becoming increasingly serious. Studying the calculation method and establishing a quantitative evaluation system of renewable energy accommodation capacity are important means to solve this problem. This paper comprehensively considers the factors affecting the accommodation of renewable energy, establishes a accommodation calculation model with the maximum accommodation of renewable energy as the optimization target based on the time series production simulation method, and uses the hybrid particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to solve it. The model is verified with historical data such as load, photovoltaic (PV), and wind power in a certain region throughout the year. The experimental results verify the rationality of the renewable-energy accommodation-capacity model proposed in this paper and the correctness of the theoretical analysis. The calculation results have important reference and guiding significance for the operation and control of power-grid planning and dispatching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Scenario planning is a useful approach that helps policymakers to better understand the complexity and uncertainties that lie in the future and to choose the right policy mix to support the development of renewable and affordable energy sources. In this regard, this paper aims to present renewable energy (RE) development scenarios in Iran in the horizon of 2030. Design/methodology/approach: Following the intuitive logic school and the Global Business Network model, the authors identified seven driving forces, according to the expert's judgment, by brainstorming techniques which influence REs development in the horizon of 2030. By prioritizing driving forces based on their importance and uncertainty, "sustainable and green economy" and "emerging technology development" are the most instrumental uncertainties and the authors formed a two-axis scenario matrix with each representing an axis. Findings: The results suggest four main scenarios of "Transition to Sustainability with Green Gold," "Towards Sustainability with Green Gold," "Productivity with Black Gold" and "Desperation with Black Gold." They include a wide range of possible situations of energy basket in the future ranging from dominance of fossil fuels to dominance of REs. The "Productivity with Black Gold" and the "Towards Sustainability with Green Gold" are the most probable scenarios of RE development by 2030 in Iran. Originality/value: This paper indicates that the dominance of oil and gas resources would impede or at least slow down the development of renewable and affordable energy sources. Although the economic and environmental potentials and the inevitability of REs are well-understood, path dependence created by fossil fuels in Iran's energy regime, either partially or fully, hinders the widespread development of REs which is the case in other resource-based countries as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of the design process focused on the development of the energy subsystem (ES) of a wave energy converter (WEC). The ES is an important electrical part that significantly affects the energy reliability and energy efficiency of the entire WEC device. The designed ES was intended for compact WECs powering IoT network devices working in the distributed grid. The developed ES is an electronic circuit consisting of three cooperating subsystems used for energy conversion, energy storage, and energy management. The energy conversion subsystem was implemented as a set of single-phase bridge rectifiers. The energy storage subsystem was a battery-less implementation based on the capacitors. The energy management subsystem was implemented as a supervisory circuit and boost converter assembly. The designed ES was verified using the physical experiment method. The model experiment reflected the operation of the designed ES with a piezoelectric PZT-based WEC. The experimental results showed a 41.5% surplus of the energy supplied by ES over the energy demanded by the considered load at a duty cycle of ca. 6 min—37.2 mJ over 26.3 mJ, respectively. The obtained results have been evaluated and discussed. The results confirmed the designed ES as a convenient solution, which makes a significant contribution to the compact WECs that can be applied among others to a distributed grid of autonomous IoT network devices powered by free and renewable energy of sea waves. Finally, it will also enable sustainable development of mobile and wireless communication in those maritime areas where other forms of renewable energy may not be available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to systemize global scholarly publications on corporate social responsibility and renewable energy to detect their influence on green brand development within the SDGs. The initial data are retrieved from the Scopus database. To operate with the most relevant publications, several limitations were applied. The research sample consists of the 2000 most cited articles in the subject areas of (1) Social Sciences, (2) Business, Management, and Accounting, and (3) Economics, Econometrics, and Finance. This study is carried out in the following logical sequence. The first stage involves searching, collecting, and preprocessing articles representing the investigated topic. Then, several bibliometric techniques were employed to analyze and map the findings. The third stage integrated the obtained results and discussed future research directions. This paper offers some theoretical implications by analyzing and visualizing the investigated scientific output, particularly publication dynamics, the main trends in the investigated research field, the most productive scholars and their collaborations, and the contributions of the journals, affiliations, and countries analyzed. In addition, this study makes some practical contributions and could be used by scholars as detailed instructions for conducting bibliometric analyses in different contexts. Furthermore, researchers could exploit and expand their current study directions using the findings of this paper. However, the findings of this study are limited since they consider only articles from the Scopus database. Therefore, it is appropriate that further studies involve a broader data range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past, hydrogen was mostly produced from fossil fuels, causing a certain degree of energy and environmental problems. With the development of low-carbon energy systems, renewable energy hydrogen production technology has developed rapidly and become one of the focuses of research in recent years. However, the existing work is still limited by small-scale hydrogen production systems, and there is a lack of comprehensive research on the whole production-storage-transportation-utilization hydrogen system (PSTUH2S), especially on the modeling of different hydrogen transportation modes and various hydrogen loads in different fields. To make up for these deficiencies, the specific physical and mathematical models of the PSTUH2S are firstly described in this paper, with a full account of large-scale water-electrolytic hydrogen production from renewable power curtailment and grid power, various hydrogen storage and transportation modes, and multi-field hydrogen consumption paths. Furthermore, to achieve the maximum economic, energy, and environmental benefits from the PSTUH2S, a multi-objective nonlinear optimization model is also presented herein and then solved by the hybrid method combining the nonlinear processing method, the CPLEX solver and the piecewise time series production simulation method. Lastly, case studies are conducted against the background of a region in northwest China, where hydrogen consumption capacity in various years is accurately assessed and the potential advantages of the PSTUH2S are demonstrated. As the simulation results show, the power curtailment of renewable energy generation can be reduced by 3.61/11.87/14.72 billion kW·h in 2025/2030/2035, respectively, thus contributing to a 4.98%~10.09% increase in the renewable energy consumption rate and millions of tons of carbon emission reduction in these years. In terms of the total equivalent economic benefits, the proposed method is able to bring about a cost saving of USD 190.44 million, USD 634.66 million, and USD 865.87 million for 2025, 2030, and 2035, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green hydrogen is crucial for society's access to peaceful, secure, and stable energy sources to flourish sustainably and get universal government support. To protect the environment and provide energy security, it is essential to use hydrogen as a sustainable fuel and energy source to cover the energy baseload. This paper investigates the developments of renewable energy (RE) and the potential for green hydrogen in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. There is a considerable chance to use RE because of the MENA region's excellent solar radiation. On the other hand, many countries in the MENA region are classified as one of the poorest in water resources and are known to have water-energy challenges. This paper focuses on the water needed to produce hydrogen in countries with water scarcity. A strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis was performed for green hydrogen generation in the MENA, where recommendations for countries with a water-energy nexus can be made. Additionally, this paper offers suggestions for creating a sustainable hydrogen economy, such as cutting back on the domestic use of fossil fuels, subsidizing the renewable production industry, and supporting hydrogen manufacturing. • Green hydrogen production is highly affected by water scarcity. • SWOT analysis was performed on green hydrogen generation in the MENA. • Recommendations were provided on a country-by-country basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Africa possesses extremely rich renewable energy resources, including solar energy and wind energy, in spite of this, South Africa traditionally relies on coal as its primary energy source. Recently, South Africa confronted with severe electricity shortage. With pressure of power shortage and the transition to low- carbon energy, South Africa has been actively promoting the development of renewable energy, aiming to diversify its energy structure. China, as the world's leading country in the development and utilization of renewable energy, has long been committed to helping South Africa achieve renewable energy development. This article reviews the cooperation progress between China and South Africa in renewable energy, and provides an in-depth analysis of the challenges currently faced by both sides. To address such challenges, it is suggested to strengthen the design of top-level cooperation mechanisms, create diverse collaboration platforms, prioritize the exchange and collaboration of scientific talents. This paper aims to provide a typical reference for deepening renewable energy cooperation between China and South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From a spatial perspective, this paper constructs a spatial Durbin model based on the adjacent weight matrix to analyze the impact of environmental regulation on the development of renewable energy in 30 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government) in China from 2007 to 2020. The results show that (1) both environmental regulation and renewable energy development have positive spatial autocorrelation and form relatively similar spatial agglomeration areas, specifically showing the characteristics of "high-high" agglomeration in resource-rich areas and "low-low" agglomeration in resource-scarce areas. (2) Environmental regulation significantly promotes the development of local renewable energy and has a significant spatial spillover effect on the development of renewable energy in neighboring provinces. (3) The moderating effect results show that renewable energy installed capacity and electricity demand play an inverse moderating role between environmental regulation and renewable energy development. (4) From the perspective of different regions, the impact of environmental regulation on the development of renewable energy is heterogeneous. Based on the research conclusions, this paper finally provides corresponding policy suggestions from three aspects: regional cooperation, technical support, and differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green finance is profoundly affecting the energy transition, and at the global level, renewable energy has entered a leapfrog development phase. Unlike the research object that existing studies focus on, this paper selects 53 countries and regions that have launched green finance businesses as research sample, and empirically assesses the effect of green finance on the development of renewable energy based on cross-country panel data spanning 2000 to 2021. The results show that renewable energy development is positively impacted by green finance, and the marginal impact of green finance is gradually growing as renewable energy development level improves; the contribution of green finance to renewable energy development holds only in developed countries, emerging economies, countries with high green financial development levels, and countries with strong environmental regulations, but not in relatively backward developing countries, countries with low green financial development levels, and countries with weak environmental regulations; sectors of renewable energy that rely more heavily on external financing are more likely to be promoted by green finance; green finance supports renewable energy development mainly through promoting investment in renewable energy fixed assets and innovation in technology of the sector. This study provides an empirical and theoretical basis for green finance to promote renewable energy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the supply chains of traditional fossil fuels. According to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) from 2020, oil-refining activity fell by more than the IEA had anticipated. It was also assumed that the demand in 2021 would likely be 2.6 million bpd below the 2019 levels. However, renewable markets have shown strong resilience during the crisis. It was determined that renewables are on track to meet 80% of the growth in electricity demand over the next 10 years and that sustainable energy will act as the primary source of electricity production instead of coal. On the other hand, the report also emphasized that measures for reducing environmental pollution and CO2 emissions are still insufficient and that significant current investments should be further expanded. The Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES) conference series is dedicated to the advancement and dissemination of knowledge on methods, policies and technologies for improving the sustainability of development by decoupling growth from the use of natural resources. The 15th SDEWES conference was held online from 1–5 September 2020; more than 300 reports with 7 special sections were organized on the virtual conference platform. This paper presents the major achievements of the recommended papers in the Special Issue of Energies. Additionally, related studies connected to the above papers published in the SDEWES series are also introduced, including the four main research fields of energy saving and emission reduction, renewable energy applications, the development of district heating systems, and the economic assessment of sustainable energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By collecting and sorting the energy demand data of developing and developed countries, this paper makes a comprehensive analysis of their energy demand, including the change of energy demand and the change trend of energy load in various sectors. The survey scope of the article includes the overall change trend of energy supply, natural gas, oil, electricity, coal, renewable energy (such as wind energy, solar energy, geothermal energy, tidal energy, etc.), and the data change of global carbon dioxide emission. Besides, this paper selects a variety of energy sources for comprehensive analysis to analyze the existing change trend in chronological order. The analysis methods include data statistics of primary energy production and consumption, energy intensity analysis of gross domestic product (GDP), production, and demand balance of oil, natural gas, and coal, and study the trade balance between different types of energy in different countries and regions. The regions examined in this review include the organization for economic cooperation and development (OECD); the group of seven (G7); Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICs); the European Union; Europe; North America; the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS); Asia; Latin America; the Pacific Ocean; the Middle East and Africa. By studying these data, we can make a better summary of the current energy use, so as to conveniently grasp the context of energy development and have a general understanding of the current energy structure. Therefore, individuals and policymakers in the fields of energy trade can think more deeply about the future situation and draw conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development has positioned itself as a fundamental element of a transversal nature, being linked to the energy transition. In this sense, it must be included as a mainstream objective of all actions and strategies developed at the social, academic, business, and political levels. However, to the best of our knowledge, no bibliometric work has been carried out to date to analyze the main contributions to the literature focused on the concepts of renewable energy and sustainable development. The main aim of this paper is to establish the key trends and academic contributions made in the field of renewable energies and sustainable development. For this purpose, a bibliometric and co-citation analysis has been carried out using the Bibliometrix® tool, an open-source R package. The results show that this is a field of study that has significantly increased its importance in recent years, which is illustrated using different indicators. We conclude that research trends seem to be directed towards managing the transition to a new, more sustainable energy model composed of renewable energy production systems, in addition to the adoption of new technologies to increase the efficiency of products and power transmission systems. In this respect, the transition towards a new, more sustainable energy model seems to be a fundamental step to guarantee the sustainability of human action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the European Union, the advancement of renewable energy is a priority primarily due to climate change mitigation measures, but also because it can be easily identified and exploited while assuring the sustainable development across EU. Under the Green Deal ambitions UE aims to gradually reduce greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide, to limit climate change and to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. Renewable energy plays a key role in this regard. In 2022, Romania had a significant share of energy from renewable sources. Also, forecasts indicate that Romania has onshore wind capacity that could generate twice as much electricity as current consumption. The following paper aims to carry out an analysis of Romania's progress in the field of renewables. The research is based on the challenges and opportunities for the development of renewable energy while also highlighting, the particularities of Romania in terms of the adoption of renewable energy practices and emphasizing the strengths and weaknesses that Romania has in this domain. Our main finding shows that while in Romania has been significant progress in terms of renewable energy, there is still untapped capacity in the field requiring for more actions from the Romanian authorities and business environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen has emerged as a promising climate-neutral energy carrier able to facilitate the processes of the European Union (EU) energy transition. Green hydrogen production through the electrolysis process has gained increasing interest recently for application in various sectors of the economy. As a result of the increasing renewable energy developments in the EU, hydrogen is seen as one of the most promising solutions for energy storage challenges; therefore, the leading countries in the energy sector are heavily investing in research of the technical obstacles for hydrogen applications and assessment of the current hydrogen market, which in turn leads to the acceleration of the upscaling of hydrogen production. The main objective of this article was to provide a comprehensive overview of various green hydrogen production, transportation and industrial application technologies and challenges in Europe, with a separate analysis of the situation in Lithuania. Various water electrolysis technologies and their production costs are investigated, along with recent developments in storage and transportation solutions. In addition, the performances and limitations of electrochemical processes are presented and analysed, research trends in the field are discussed and possible solutions for performance and cost improvements are overviewed. This paper proposes a discussion of perspectives in terms of future applications and research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jordan has significant renewable energy potential due to its remarkable geographical location and climate conditions. This potential elevates engaging several innovative renewable alternatives in energy development, which may efficiently minimize the excessive import of traditional energy sources. The objective of this research is to study the potential of utilizing clean and affordable solar energy along roadways such as Jordan's Desert Highway -15 to be in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDG's) by installing selected solar panels that possess adequate friction and the ability to allow solar radiation to reach the solar cells, in addition to allowing the load to be bypassed around the cells. The shoulder of the highway, with a length of 315 km and a width of 3.0 meters, has been exploited in order to supply the neighboring areas with energy for those roads, particularly those paved roads, which are poorly lit at night. Furthermore, this study provides direction and guidance concerning the structural performance of non-traditional pavement materials, which are a form of subgrade or pavement reinforcement. The performance of a prototype board on a variety of structural bases has also been evaluated. Overall, this paper found that it is possible to design a solar road panel to withstand traffic loading and that the concrete structural base allows for a significant improvement of the analyzed prototype design, especially in countries with limited energy sources and dependent on imports such as Jordan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the proportion of renewable energy generation systems increases, traditional power generation facilities begin to face challenges, such as reduced output power and having the power turned off. The challenges are causing changes in the structure of the power system. Renewable energy sources, mainly wind and solar energy cannot provide stable inertia and frequency regulation capability. Ultimately, the power system's emergency response capability to face an N-1 is reduced, which leads to a reduction in system stability. Therefore, the application technology of the battery energy storage system is used to support the impact of changes in the new power system structure. This paper designed control technologies based on the WECC second-generation generic model, namely, dynamic regulation, steady regulation, and virtual inertia regulation. The models and control strategies are verified on Taiwan's 2025 power system target conditions, which consider the expected capacities for battery energy storage systems, and renewable energy sources with different load and N-1 fault levels. According to the simulation results, the capabilities of the RoCoF limitation, frequency nadir, frequency recovery, and system oscillation regulation are evaluated in the proposed strategies. Finally, the analysis results can help power operators make informed decisions when selecting and deploying battery energy storage systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to determine the potential for improving regional cooperation and clean energy generation in the South China Sea (SCS) through Offshore Wind Energy (OWE). The literature review depicts the broad relationship between renewable energy and regional cooperation. The study identifies three variables-great game of geopolitics, geo-economics, and NEO politics- to arrive at a concept of wind-blindness. It refers to the attempt (of the countries involved) to downplay the existing wind resources and avert attention from them to safeguard the region's strategic military importance, existing trade routes, and rich availability of marine resources. Addressing these concerns could strengthen cooperation between the claimant states for technology, knowledge, and practice sharing, to ensure a sustainable South China Sea region. China's investments in OWE in the South China Sea have the potential to meet the Sustainable Development Goals" target of cleaner, accessible, and affordable energy. Finally, the paper suggests that renewable energy development in the region can reduce the maritime transport of fossil fuels, reducing the carbon footprint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of renewable energy has become an important means for the world to cope with climate change, ensure energy security, and protect the ecological environment. Using the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2013 to 2021, this study used the mediating effect model and the spatial Durbin model (SDM) to explore the mechanism and spatial effects of renewable energy development on China's regional carbon emission reduction. The results show that: (1) Renewable energy development can help to reduce carbon emission intensity. (2) The results of mechanism analysis show that renewable energy development reduces carbon intensity by improving energy structure, promoting industrial structure optimization, and industrial structure upgrading. (3) The development of renewable energy can not only reduce the local carbon intensity but also have a positive spillover effect on the carbon intensity of neighboring regions. (4) Further analysis shows that the long-term effect of renewable energy development on carbon emissions is greater than the short-term effect. At the same time, the heterogeneity analysis shows that compared with the Yellow River basin, the development of renewable energy has a significant carbon emission reduction effect in the Yangtze River Economic Belt region. Energy-rich areas fall into the "resource curse", which makes the carbon emission reduction effect of renewable energy development not significant. This paper has certain reference significance for promoting reasonable decomposition between regions and formulating renewable energy development policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of renewable energy is considered as an important step toward sustainable development. In sub‐Saharan African (SSA) countries, institutional quality can play an essential role in encouraging investment and implementation of policies favoring renewable energy. This paper examines the role of institutional quality in the effect of renewable energy on economic growth across 25 SSA countries from 2002 to 2018. The results from the dynamic panel threshold model reveal a significant threshold effect of institutional quality on the contribution of renewable energy to economic growth. While renewable energy consumption positively contributes to economic growth, its impact is notably amplified when the institutional quality index, set at 0.304, is above the threshold. Our findings remain robust when altering institutional quality indicators. In terms of economic implications, improving overall institutional quality by promoting good political, economic, and institutional governance could significantly increase the contribution of renewable energies to economic growth in SSA countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with improving the feed-in tariff policy for green energy advancement in Ukraine's households based on assessing the economic efficiency of investment project implementation under the current state support mechanisms. This study was conducted for solar and wind power plants with different installed capacities. The Levelized Cost of Electricity and the payback period for such power plants were calculated considering the ongoing feed-in tariffs and discount rates determined by various equity and debt capital ratios. The results showed that the state support provides attractive payback periods for solar and wind power plants with an installed capacity of ≥30 kW. In comparison, 5 kW solar power plants and wind power plants with a capacity of up to 10 kW are not paid off during the power plants' lifecycle. It confirmed that the ongoing energy policy in Ukraine's residential sector is still designed to obtain profits by the owners of generating facilities by selling the excess electricity. In the meantime, its main goal—providing households energy independence—has been levelled. To resolve the issues caused by such a state support model, a methodical approach to improve the feed-in tariff calculation is proposed. In addition, recommendations for reconsidering other policy measures to ensure effective renewable energy development in the residential sector have been made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Africa has committed to reducing its greenhouse emissions by sixty-five percent by 2030 in their National Integrated Energy Plan (NEIP). The lack of investment and development for renewable energy sources put the country on an uncertain trajectory in fulfilling its 2030 energy commitments. At the same time, the country has been labeled as a region with one of the highest solar energy potentials. Provinces such as Mpumalanga and Northern Cape are on opposite ends of the matter, with Northern Cape is one of the leading provinces for renewal energy, while the Mpumalanga province remains the host to eighty-five per cent of the country's coal plants. Solar energy is an abundant renewable energy source and can be assessed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques. In this paper, the geostatistical technique, Kriging, is employed to predict, estimate, and compare the regional distribution, potential, and variability of annual optimum solar energy (irradiance) between the Mpumalanga Province and Northern Cape Province. Spot-based radiation data are available for solar energy analyses from the GIS Web-based tool Photovoltaic Geographical Information Systems (PVGIS). Kriging was used to estimate the spatial variability of solar energy at an average error of 1.98505% for the Northern Cape Province and 2.32625% for the Mpumalanga Province. It was identified that the Northern Cape receives the highest annual optimum irradiation and has a low overall spatial variation in irradiation over its provincial area. Mpumalanga receives lesser amounts of irradiation but has high overall spatial variation over its provincial area. Most of Northern Cape's central to northwestern regions have the highest annual optimum irradiation ranging from 2583 kWh/m2 to 2638 kWh/m2, while Mpumalanga's highest regions of annual irradiation occur primarily on its western and northwestern parts and ranges in highs of 2345 kWh/m2 to 2583 kWh/m2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) into energy systems requires a meticulous assessment of various factors, spanning renewable energy potential, legal frameworks, technical considerations, community engagement, and consumer preferences. This article synthesizes a multifaceted discussion on the subject, focusing on the need for comprehensive analyses before deciding to implement SMRs. Drawing insights from geographic information systems (GIS) and lessons from renewable energy development in Poland, this paper underscores the significance of aligning energy strategies with local needs, emphasizing stakeholder participation. This study examines the factors influencing location attractiveness for various energy technologies, including small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), wind, solar, and hydroelectric power plants, within Poland. Employing 17 indicators sourced from Statistics Poland and URE, coupled with the application of the k-means algorithm, we outline four distinct clusters that delineate the zones of location attractiveness for SMRs and other renewable energy sources. While large and medium-sized cities exhibit optimal location attractiveness, coastal counties in northern Poland emerge as more suitable for renewable energy sources than for SMRs. The study outlines four distinct energy development strategies based on typologies of regions, each tailored to maximize the utility of available resources and minimize environmental impact. The strategies encompass renewable energy utilization, energy efficiency enhancement, energy diversification, and adaptation through innovation. Emphasizing the interplay between renewable energy potential, energy demand, and local conditions, the research suggests the strategic deployment of SMRs as part of an energy mix in areas where renewable energy resources are limited. By leveraging SMRs' continuous energy production, these reactors can complement intermittent renewables, bolstering energy security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy is a key driver of all modern economies. Sustainable development is playing an increasingly important role both at regional and local levels. It is a compromise between social and economic needs and the preservation of nature. In the policy of the European Union, the idea of sustainable development and environmental protection is of decisive importance for the implemented programs and economic activities. Contemporary challenges require the transformation of the energy market towards greater use of renewable sources. According to Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and European Council on promoting energy from renewable sources, Poland has committed itself to achieving a 23% share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption by 2030. This goal considers total energy consumption in terms of power, engineering, heating, refrigeration, and transport. The aim of this paper was, firstly, an analysis of the share of renewable energy in the European Union over an 18-year period (2004–2021), with particular emphasis on the position of Poland. The second objective was the analysis of renewable energy at the local level in Poland, i.e., at the local government unit (LAU) level. Changes in the share of renewable energy in Poland compared to other European countries were also examined. The study utilized functional analysis of principal components and cluster analysis based on the data from the Central Statistical Office and EUROSTAT. The study found that while Poland does not differ significantly from other countries in using renewable energy, it does fall below the European average. Principal component analysis suggests that Poland responds adequately to European changes in the share of renewable energy in total energy consumption. This dynamic is stable (over 95% explained by the first component) and applies to most countries surveyed. In addition, the authors sought to answer questions relating to the current status of renewable energy sources in Poland, the barriers and challenges facing the introduction of renewable energy in the country, a comparative analysis of Poland's progress in renewable energy with other global counterparts, and an exploration of the future prospects and potential for the development of renewable energy in Poland. The study found that the potential for renewable energy is greatest in the northern areas of Poland, with photovoltaics and wind power plants providing the greatest capacity. Poland's renewable energy potential is very high and will be determined by technological development, political, economic, and social issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of rational use of energy resources, increasing the level of energy efficiency and energy security is a necessary condition for the harmonious economic and social development of Ukraine. Renewable energy is a global trend and one of the most promising energy industries in the world. "Green" energy is able to provide the energy needs of all mankind and therefore requires significant attention. Its environmental friendliness and cost-effectiveness speak for themselves, as a result, today all developed countries are taking a cue from the popularization and development of renewable energy, and Ukraine is no exception. Ukraine has significant potential in the field of renewable energy, as evidenced by the main indicators of capacity, production and consumption. It is worth noting the investment attractiveness of this industry. In the paper has been investigated the role of renewable energy sources in the energy balance of Ukraine.The process of carrying out was accompanied by the use of the following general scientific and special research methods, in particular: analysis, synthesis, comparison during the study of the world experience in the development of renewable energy and the determination of promising directions of development. development of renewable energy sources in Ukraine; comparative and retrospective analysis and abstraction to determine the main trends and features of the development of the renewable energy sector of Ukraine, as well as to assess the investment opportunities of entrepreneurship; mathematical modeling to justify the energy and economic efficiency of bioenergy development in Ukraine; economic and statistical - to assess the state of renewable energy in Ukraine; tabular and graphic - for visual display of statistical material and schematic display of theoretical and practical provisions of the study. The segmentation of renewable energy and the analysis of capacities made it possible to determine the main prospects and directions of investment in the industry, based on the example of world experience, and the role of investments for the development of this industry was determined. The paper was carried out an assessment of the development potential of bioenergy in Ukraine based on agricultural crop waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the independent effect is widely examined, the joint effect of financial development and renewable energy on energy consumption has largely been ignored in the current literature. Eleven members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) must balance the simultaneous requirements of supporting financial development, increasing renewable energy usage, and minimizing the adverse effects of energy consumption on the environment. Unlike previous studies, the paper examines the joint and independent effects of financial development and renewable energy on energy consumption for the CPTPP countries during the 1971–2019 period using the second-generation estimator analysis. Our variables are carefully selected based on solid hypotheses and empirical studies. Our results confirm an inverted U-shaped relationship between energy consumption and economic growth. We claim that financial development affects energy consumption depending on the level of renewable energy consumption. The bidirectional causality effect between financial development, energy consumption, and economic growth is also confirmed. Robustness checks have been conducted using sub-samples based on the per capita income threshold of $39,054. Policy implications have emerged based on these findings. An increase in renewable energy consumption can help these nations achieve the dual objectives: (i) to support financial development and to enhance economic growth and (ii) to reduce an adverse effect of financial development and economic growth on the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to inexpensive, safe, consistent, and clean energy is a critical necessity for all to achieve the SDGs. India's renewable energy (RE) currently accounts for more than a third of the 482 GW of installed capacity and more than 40 percent of power production (including large-scale hydropower). Reforms such as the establishment of a single national power grid have improved access to electricity for people, and the ambitious development of renewable energy, which is the world's third-largest energy generator and third-largest electricity user, has helped in achieving these aims. As a result, the expansion of national targets signifies and reflects the country's optimism and goal for the forthcoming generation. Standardization of the guidelines and development of the stable grid and transmission networks will only enable the country to achieve the ambitious target of 500 GW of green and clean energy by 2030. This paper highlights the important development in the power sector regarding the energy security of India. As well as specifically examining the initiative of NSMs for achieving the 2030 targets, the key challenges, and the way forward to increase the cumulative installed capacity, comprehensive studies of various policies and government initiatives are also discussed. Furthermore, the key challenges usually faced by the developers in the industry, along with the steep decline and rise in the tariffs of solar projects and the previous trends in capacity installation, are also pointed out. This research work also highlights the potential key challenges to achieving the targets, and will thus provide a focus for power developers, policy makers, researchers, and industry practitioners and help with their planning. In the current scenario, the supply of food and the clean energy nexus are required to meet the demands of people's livelihoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the strong advancement of the global carbon reduction strategy and the rapid development of renewable energy, compressed air energy storage (CAES) technology has received more and more attention for its key role in large-scale renewable energy access. This paper summarizes the coupling systems of CAES and wind, solar, and biomass energies from the perspective of system topology, and points out the advantages and limitations of each system. It is shown that the coupling of wind energy and CAES is mainly combined in series and in parallel, and sometimes part of the wind power can be converted into thermal energy when coupled to CAES. The coupling between solar heat and CAES is an important form of coupling between solar energy and CAES. Solar-heat-coupled CAES mainly uses solar energy to heat expander inlet air. The coupling forms of solar energy and CAES are based on various CAES forms, various heat heating sequences, reheating, bottom cycle, and other factors. The combination of biomass and CAES is generally based on biomass gasification power generation technology. In the future, a wind–solar–CAES multiple coupling system is expected to become a promising large-scale form for the utilization of renewable energy, and this integrated system has great potential as a system configuration, but has some technical challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy performance contracts are a very promising area for attracting private investment in the renewable energy sector. The concept of energy performance contracting is a well-established mechanism aimed at increasing the energy efficiency of a facility and reducing annual maintenance costs. This paper presents a hierarchical model of a decentralized energy system with renewable energy sources and a battery energy storage system under an energy service agreement. This model reflects the interaction between the client and the performance company. The model includes the main parameters characterizing the energy service contract, such as net present value, contract duration and levelized cost of energy. As an example, a real decentralized power system is considered, which currently only uses diesel generation. In the case of building a photovoltaic system, the optimal equipment composition consists of a 100 kW solar station and storage batteries with a capacity of 240 kW·h. The optimal contract term is 5 years, and diesel fuel savings are 69%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite sustained interest in spatial planning approaches for steering renewable energy development, the effect of these practices remains poorly understood. This paper addresses this knowledge deficit through comparative analysis of the effects of spatial planning approaches on wind energy deployment in Italy and the UK. Our approach elucidates the different roles that spatial planning approaches can perform using a "modes of governing" framework that, innovatively, recognizes the unavoidable compromises involved in their construction. Several distinctive findings emerge. First, governments deploy spatial planning approaches with different governance purposes, thus explaining why the effects on RE outcomes can be ambiguous. Second, many of the challenges that beset spatial planning approaches arise not from technical-methodological issues but from difficult-to-resolve governance challenges of cross-scalar coordination. Third, we show that the efficacy of spatial planning approaches in shaping RE deployment is contextual in nature, reflecting how far their inherent compromises are accepted by key actors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large part of the electricity generation is from imported fossil fuels, which makes Turkey heavily dependent on fossil fuels. For this reason, Turkey aims to increase the ratio of renewable energy resources in the total installed power. Among renewable resources, Turkey's wind energy potential is very high. Although the onshore wind power installed capacity has increased significantly in the last ten years in Turkey, offshore wind energy deployment has not gained satisfactory attention even though the country is surrounded by seas on three of its sides. Therefore, the installation of Turkey's first offshore wind farm, which will be established by the Turkish government was accelerated by opening a tender in 2018. Three potential candidate regions were identified, two located in the Aegean Sea and one in the Black Sea. This paper performs a comprehensive techno-economic analysis of offshore wind farm projects in identified three regions. It was calculated that the total offshore wind power capacity at the specified sites is 3,329.4 MW. In addition, offshore regions were compared in the scope of the methods used in the economic analysis. In this context, the best results an obtained in the Saros OWF region. This study aims to contribute scientifically to the region's offshore wind energy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy sources (RES) are currently the main alternative to fossil fuels and are also seen as an important contributor to slowing down the dangerous climate change on our planet. Energy supplied from renewable sources can reduce the consumption of primary raw materials and reduce emissions of harmful substances that enter the atmosphere in the process of producing electricity and heat, having a negative impact on the environment. This paper provides a multivariate comparative analysis of EU countries in terms of the use of renewable energy. The empirical research used seven variables defining the complex phenomenon under study, collected for 27 EU countries between 2011 and 2020. The research method used was the dynamic version of the non-model method, with a normalisation method based on zero unitarisation. The results of the study confirm that there was a positive change in the use of renewable energy in most EU countries between 2011 and 2020. High levels of renewable energy use were displayed by the Scandinavian countries, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark. In contrast, the least renewable energy use was seen in Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has generated intense concerns from public authorities and international institutions with regard to shaping the behavior of companies, consumers, investors, and other stakeholders so as to manage this challenge as efficiently as possible. In order to address the climate emergency in the post-pandemic era, recovery plans need to trigger decarbonization, and a green transition, including specific investments and providing a more adaptive structure of the sources of energy in different regions, able to meet the need for a systemic shift towards a more sustainable economy that works for both people and the planet. The main measurable effect of energy production and consumption is by far represented by carbon emissions. In the present paper, we aim to identify the statistical significance of several factors influencing the carbon dioxide emission per capita in the European countries—level of economic development, level of globalization, trade openness, and the intensity of energy transition measured by the share of renewable energy in total energy consumption. The results show an increased interest of the experts in energy consumption model shift through green energy increased share, with relatively high differences among the 42 European countries analyzed. The analysis was conducted for the period 1990–2018 and policy differences depending on variables (GDP/capita, globalization index, trade openness, and renewable energy share in total energy consumption) were identified. The results showed that the carbon dioxide emission per capita evaluation designed model is representative of the European countries. The fact that the targets set by European non-EU member states for reducing CO2 emissions are lower than for the EU is influencing the dynamics of the energy transition, with implications for the size and destination of funds to finance the development of renewable energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development of the global economy can be achieved with the help of renewable energy (RE). The paper investigates the determinants of RE development in order to boost its adoption. The determinants of RE deployment were analyzed using random-effects GLS regression for the panel data from 27 EU member states in 2011–2020.The results confirm that economic development and high employment in advanced technology manufacturing are drivers of the RE sector, whereas unemployment growth affects RE deployment negatively. Our results show that active political participation and economic freedom promote RE; however, the level of corruption and democracy does not have a statistically significant impact on it. Favorable geographical location was proved to be a determinant of RE development. The hypothesis that plenty of natural resources discourage countries to develop RE was disproved. The major policy implications for RE promotion include the importance of economy deregulation, open market development and educational transformations. Following the results, prospects for further research were outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper tracks the progress of renewable energy deployment at Antarctic facilities, introducing an interactive database and map specifically created for this purpose. Goals, challenges and lessons learnt from these operations are also reported. The data and assessments presented are based on a literature review of government reports, academic articles, online resources, news outlets and interviews conducted with personnel of Antarctic stations. As of 2021, 29 facilities have incorporated renewables in their energy systems, but only one permanent and four summer stations use renewables to meet more than 50% of their energy needs. Four main goals behind the development of renewable energy systems have been identified: fuel cost savings; reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions footprint in alignment with national decarbonization targets; electricity supply for scientific equipment during the winter months; and the development and/or testing of new technologies. The extreme weather conditions and complex logistics of Antarctica put both solar and wind systems under huge stress, which generates operational, technological and budgetary challenges that are also explored in this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current legal and policy system of renewable energy in China has set up a framework of policy instruments, which provides an important foundation for dealing with climate change and promoting the healthy development of the renewable energy industry with the goal of "carbon neutrality" and "emission peak". However, the current policy instruments cannot meet the needs for rapid development of the renewable energy industry. This paper investigates, analyzes, and concludes the status of renewable energy development along with related policy instruments in different renewable energy sources by literature and points out the problems of current policy instruments, and puts forward corresponding countermeasures. Moreover, from the perspective of energy consumption market transformation, the authors carried out an analysis of China's challenges of policy instruments, pointing out that China's renewable energy policy instruments have the potential to take one step further in the areas of the regulatory system, legal system and legal security system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, one of the key postulates in the European Union's policy has become the development of renewable energy sources. In order to achieve the desired synergy effect, the idea of combining two selected sources of energy appeared. This article presents a technical and economic analysis of a hybrid connection of a ground source heat pump with a photovoltaic installation. Taking into account the heat demand of the building, a ground heat pump with a catalog nominal heating power of 25 kW was selected. This article presents the problem of the economic profitability of using a hybrid combination of a heat pump and photovoltaic panels in domestic hot water and central heating systems. The justification for the use of such heat sources in these installations is due to global trends and the gradual departure from conventional energy sources such as oil or gas boilers. This paper presents the economic and ecological results of using the pump heat connected together with photovoltaic panels. In the economic analysis, with the assumed installation costs related to the use of the considered heat pump and PV, two parameters commonly used in the investment analysis (static and dynamic) were used, namely, the simple payback period and the net present value of the investment. For the adopted assumptions, the usable area of the facility and the number of years of use were indicated, at which the investment in question is competitive with other alternative investment interest methods and will start to bring tangible benefits. The performed analysis also has measurable environmental benefits in the form of a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions at the level of 2893 kg/year into the atmosphere. The presented solution will help future investors understand the investment profitability mechanism for their households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been an upsurge of studies on sustainable development. The majority of research focuses on developed countries and issues that are incompatible with developing nations. This study addresses a gap in the literature by reviewing the research on developed and developing economies, as well as their social and environmental boundaries, under the renewable energy and sustainable development (RESD) nexus. It also explores how RESD may be applied in extreme situations such as population increase, energy supply disruptions, and transportation shortfalls. The fundamental contribution of this paper is to provide detailed debate from the perspective of economic growth hypotheses and their relationship with energy usage and renewable energy solutions for sustainable growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper bridges the gap in the literature by employing the novel quantile-on-quantile (QQ) approach, the quantile regression approach, and the nonparametric Granger causality test in quantiles to assess the effect of international trade on consumption-based carbon emissions (CCO2e) in Uruguay. Our study incorporates other drivers of CCO2 emissions, such as financial development and renewable energy, into the model. We find that, in the majority of the quantiles, exports, financial development, and renewable energy exert a negative impact on CCO2e, and the influence of imports on CCO2e is positive in all quantiles. Moreover, the quantile regression approach is used as a robustness test for the quantile-on-quantile approach. The causal interaction from the regressors to CCO2e is evaluated using the nonparametric Granger causality test in quantiles. The outcome of the nonparametric Granger causality test in quantiles suggests that imports, exports, renewable energy, and financial development can predict CCO2e at different quantiles. Based on these outcomes, we recommend that the financial sector must strengthen its focus on giving funding to enterprises that embrace environmentally friendly technologies and incentivize them to employ other energy-efficient technologies for manufacturing reasons, thereby preventing environmental deterioration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of sustainable energy sources has become a major challenge for society. Green hydrogen, produced through the electrolysis of water using renewable energy sources, offers a potential solution to reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. The paper examines the integration of green hydrogen into various sectors, such as transportation, industry, power generation, and heating, highlighting its potential to decarbonize traditionally carbon-intensive areas. Furthermore, it analyses the strategies and policies employed by the European Union, Australia, Japan, the United States, and Canada to drive the development and adoption of green hydrogen technologies. The challenges and barriers that need to be addressed to fully realize the potential of green hydrogen, such as technological limitations, infrastructure development, costs and economic feasibility, regulatory and policy frameworks, and public perception and acceptance, have been investigated. Recommendations for overcoming these challenges and accelerating the adoption of green hydrogen technologies are provided, and the importance of research and development in this sector is emphasized. • Green hydrogen offers a sustainable solution to reduce fossil fuel dependency, decarbonizing key sectors. • Analyzed policies from the EU, Australia, Japan, the US, and Canada to foster green hydrogen technologies. • Discussing challenges: green hydrogen potential, tech limits, infrastructure, costs, regs, and public views. • Emphasized the importance of R&D and offers accelerating the adoption of green hydrogen technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Indian renewable energy sector has grown at a compounded annual growth rate of 15.51% in the last five years, where wind growth is about 8%. The Indian government has been adopting changes to create a safe, cheap, and sustainable energy system to fuel vigorous economic growth. The government has made significant efforts in ensuring universal access to energy, giving power to its residents. It is implementing a large-scale deployment of renewable energy, particularly solar and wind. This paper examines the country's wind sector in-depth, including the government policy, financial incentives, and accomplishments. The study goes on to discuss the prospects and problems of the wind sector, as well as solutions to overcome them to reach the estimated target of 140–150 GW by 2030. Wind power growth in the country has weakened in the last few years which may hamper the country's ambitious renewable energy targets. Wind industry is facing several hindrances ranging from discontinuation of incentives, land acquisition, DISCOM's poor health, change in bidding scheme, old wind sites, etc. Certain steps, such as repowering outdated wind farms, giving generation-based incentives, tax concessions, reassessing the country's wind potential, and constructing competitive renewable energy zones could aid in reviving the wind energy sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of commitments made under the UNFCCC Paris Agreement and Glasgow Climate Pact, trillions of dollars are needed to fund climate mitigation and adaptation in developing countries. However, few studies have investigated the effectiveness of climate finance or how it impacts barriers to renewable energy development in recipient countries. This article contributes to the literature by investigating climate finance effectiveness through comparative case study analysis of its impacts on geothermal development in Indonesia and the Philippines. The article finds that three mechanisms of climate finance—utility modifier, social learning and capacity building—work interdependently in impacting the financial, regulatory, and technical barriers to geothermal development in Indonesia and the Philippines but are individually insufficient to scale the industry; political will and energy shocks play a significant intervening role. This paper raises policy implications for climate finance effectiveness and renewable energy technology deployment in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to introduce and discuss the recent research, development and application of wave energy marine buoys. The topic becomes increasingly appealing after the observation that wave energy technologies have been evolving in the recent decades, yet have not reached convergence. The power supply is usually the bottleneck for marine distributed systems such as buoys. Wave energy technologies are especially useful in this sense, as they can capture and convert the promising "native" renewable energy in the ocean (i.e., wave energy) into electricity. The paper enumerates the recent developments in wave energy capture (e.g., oscillating bodies) and power take-off (e.g., nanogenerators). The study also introduces the typical marine buoys and discusses the applicability of wave energy technologies on them. It is concluded that the wave energy technologies could be implemented as a critical addition to the comprehensive power solution of marine distributed systems. Wave energy buoys are likely to differentiate into "wave energy converter buoys" and "wave-energy-powered buoys", which is indicated by the ratio of the generated power to the load power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The motivation of this paper is to investigate the resistance of countries' energy research and development (RD&D) expenditures to random shocks. The analysis includes the five countries (France, Germany, Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom) that are the biggest investors in RD&D in fossil fuels, renewables, energy efficiency, and nuclear energy. Thus, economies will be able to take precautions against global shocks in producing sustainable energy policies. To achieve this aim, this paper uses the artificial neural network approach, which uses a distributed computing model that can store and generalize data after a learning period. Empirical results widely depend on countries and distinct energy technology policy fields. The key findings provide evidence that RD&D expenditures, except for renewables, do not tend to mean revert. The economies of Japan, Germany, and the United States should make more renewable investments to reduce the resistance of renewable energy sources to shocks and thus produce policies for both environmental sustainability and energy security. The economies of France and the United Kingdom can ensure energy security by continuing their sustainable energy policies. • Applied SDG policies focused on energy technology RD&D are presented. • The stochastic characteristics of energy technology investments are examined. • Carbon-reducing policies are recommended for the top five economies. • Energy technologies are perused through artificial intelligence approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With global climate change posing a major threat to human society, a growing number of countries have taken "carbon-neutral" as a national strategy and proposed a vision of carbon-free future. As an important supplement to traditional fossil energy, renewable energy is the main force to reduce the use of high-carbon energy and carbon dioxide emissions, which will become the trend of social development in the future. Finding the optimal renewable energy source is of particular significance for achieving the net zero emissions. However, the existing evaluation methods of renewable energy sources have obvious shortcomings. In terms of weight calculation methods, such as the randomness of the subjective method is strong and the index weights do not reflect the small changes of the evaluation matrix, which affect the reliability and accuracy of the evaluation result. The existing ranking methods can only achieve the complete ranking of the different objects, but cannot classify the renewable energy technical alternatives into different grades. Given this background, this paper proposes a novel evaluation method for renewable energy plans based on improved sparrow search algorithm and projection pursuit model. Firstly, this paper improves the traditional sparrow search algorithm from three aspects: population initialization, population update and population variation. Then, the projection pursuit model is constructed, and the improved sparrow search algorithm is applied to optimize the projection target to find the optimal projection direction, so as to determine the weight values of each evaluation index. Finally, the weighted rank-sum ratio method is used to select the best renewable energy technical plan, which can not only realize the complete ranking of different plans, but also classify the technical plans into different levels. Based on the actual renewable energy development data from a province in China, experiments were carried out to investigate the effectiveness of the proposed method. Experimental results show that the proposed method performs better than some existing evaluation methods of renewable energy technical plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A successful and just energy transition is subject to policies that adhere to a multi-dimensional approach to renewable energy development. To achieve success in renewable energy development, well-thought-out and efficient policies must be implemented. This paper aims to address a major shortcoming in renewable energy development in terms of understanding and recognising the policy space that promotes or hampers renewable energy growth. The paper examines the relevant literature to identify major themes and factors in renewable energy development. A thematic analysis was conducted using a hybrid inductive and deductive approach and resulted in the identification of 5 major themes namely Institutional, Environmental, Financial, Socio-cultural, Technical and 144 factors. The identified themes and factors will assist to make a policy action decisive, just, and sustainable. Recommendations including comprehensive incentivisation, regulatory support for renewable energy technologies in developing nations, environment impact assessment programs, promotion of financial transparency and opting for a just transition to benefit local and vulnerable communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-technical loss of electricity (comprising theft, fraud, non-payment and billing irregularities) is a significant issue, particularly in developing countries, and represents a large financial burden on utility companies, governments and society as a whole. This paper takes a wholistic and global view of the challenge and provides a broad perspective of the interrelated issues. Media reports and public perception of non-technical losses tend to focus on residential consumers, particularly those with limited financial resources, whereas review of more robust literature indicates that the largest proportion of non-technical losses is often due to industry, state-owned enterprises and relatively well-off residential consumers. Measures to reduce non-technical losses focusing on average residential consumers, such as pre-paid metering, therefore have limited effect on overall losses. Strengthening of legal and regulatory frameworks, particularly with regard to those larger users, and installing high security tamper-resistant metering systems for commercial consumers may have more effect. The reasons for non-technical losses, especially theft, are complex, but the customer–utility relationship is a key determinant. Improvement of this relationship through local participation in development of renewable energy schemes, such as rooftop solar photovoltaics, could bring benefit if challenges such as financing, design of the distribution system, utility company codes and standards and competence in post installation maintenance can be overcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]