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Mounting climate concerns are making energy transition inevitable. Providing a reliable, cost-effective energy supply that meets the needs of all, as set up by Sustainable Development Goal 7, and promotes climate neutrality, as set up by the European Green Deal, is a complex task that requires complex and combined interventions in various sectors and policy areas. This paper aims to conduct a systematic analysis of the scholarly work focusing on energy transition towards renewables and to contribute to the existing knowledge by offering a holistic perspective on the dynamic landscape of energy transformation and the transition to renewables. To this end, advanced bibliometric techniques, combined with a systematic in-depth review of the existing literature and desk research, are used to uncover the intellectual landscape and identify influential works and emerging themes within this critical intersection of the economic, governance, political, social, and climate dimensions of energy transition. This analysis not only highlights prevailing trends and influential works but also sets the stage for future research and discussions critical to shaping the transition to renewable energy and policy actions in a rapidly evolving world. The results are useful guidance in the formulation of policy actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Net metering (NM) is among the potent regulatory tools used globally for supporting distributed generation and renewable energy sources. This paper examines the trajectory of NM in a developing country such as Pakistan, analyzing the impact of regulatory changes, confidence-building strategies, hindering factors, and technical/financial issues. The three-stage methodology involves three components, namely techno-economic analysis, stakeholder engagement surveys, and impact analysis of financing mechanisms. This study emphasizes the importance of clear regulatory and financial frameworks, grid upgrades, and public–private partnerships for technology distribution in the context of a developing country with weak grid utilities and an import–export energy ratio. It also explores the role of financial incentives, such as tax breaks and subsidies, to encourage investment in NM systems from the perspective of lucrative rates, impact on paybacks, and return on investments, and proposes concrete solutions to enhance financial inclusion for ambitious renewable energy goals. Until April 2023, over 56,000 NM/distributed generation facilities were commissioned, with an installed capacity of 950 MW. By May 2024, the number of NM consumers reached ~100,000, with a 1950 MW capacity, nearly doubling. However, the import and export ratio of IESCO changed most, with 61% exports and 39% imports, directly impacting the revenue stream. A total of 60% of banks have adopted actions linked with green banking criteria, aiming to limit their environmental impact. The change in tariff will result in reduced ROI for NM consumers to 20%, and increase the payback period from less than 4 years to 13 years. Government subsidies, tax breaks, and green financing frameworks are proposed to encourage investment, but have been abruptly halted, and were previously at a 6% interest rate. This research aims to provide insights into effective market evaluation methodologies for NM programs and offer policy recommendations to strengthen legislative and institutional frameworks governing NM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on the Germany public's energy choices. Along with much of Europe, Germany was hit by Russia reducing and then cutting its gas supplies. Although alternative sources have been found, this exposes the vulnerability of Germany's energy market to outside control. An online survey of 600 German consumers was conducted in August 2022. The results suggest that 70% of participants were concerned about the shortage of oil and natural gas supply after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and 60% were concerned about the shortage of electricity supply. The invasion led many participants to support maximizing the use of existing power plants, including nuclear and coal-fired power plants, as an alternative to dependency on Russian supplies. There was an increase in people supporting the expanded use of renewable energy as a solution to the crisis. States with nuclear power plants were seen as needing to reduce and decarbonize their natural gas and coal-fired power generation while advancing their energy mix. The results suggest that the Energiewende approach and objectives have broad public support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes the impact of global geopolitical changes on new/renewable energy (NRE) policies and their roles in enhancing national energy security, elevating international stature, and influencing the global energy market. Using game theory, it reveals how NRE policies promote technological innovation, diversify energy supply, and strengthen international collaboration, thus advancing the global energy system towards a low-carbon transition and improving international energy governance. NRE policies significantly enhance national energy security by reducing dependency on single energy sources, facilitate the global shift to low-carbon energy, and intensify international cooperation. The effectiveness of these policies in driving energy transformation is notable, and they are expected to remain crucial for global energy security and sustainable transition. Recommendations include strengthening the stability and security of energy supply chains through enhanced oversight, increasing investment in R&D and innovation to reduce costs, fostering international cooperation for better policy coordination, and implementing diversified energy policies to encourage the adoption of NRE. These measures will address challenges from global geopolitical dynamics and drive the global energy system towards sustainability and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The forthcoming implementation of national policies towards hydrogen blending into the natural gas grid will affect the technical and economic parameters that must be taken into account in the design of building heating systems. This study evaluates the implications of using hydrogen-enriched natural gas (H2NG) blends in condensing boilers and Gas Adsorption Heat Pumps (GAHPs) in a residential building in Rome, Italy. The analysis considers several parameters, including non-renewable primary energy consumption, CO2 emissions, Levelized Cost of Heat (LCOH), and Carbon Abatement Cost (CAC). The results show that a 30% hydrogen blend achieves a primary energy consumption reduction of 12.05% and 11.19% in boilers and GAHPs, respectively. The presence of hydrogen in the mixture exerts a more pronounced influence on the reduction in fossil primary energy and CO2 emissions in condensing boilers, as it enhances combustion efficiency. The GAHP system turns out to be more cost-effective due to its higher efficiency. At current hydrogen costs, the LCOH of both technologies increases as the volume fraction of hydrogen increases. The forthcoming cost reduction in hydrogen will reduce the LCOH and the decarbonization cost for both technologies. At low hydrogen prices, the CAC for boilers is lower than for GAHPs; therefore, replacing boilers with other gas technologies rather than electric heat pumps increases the risk of creating stranded assets. In conclusion, blending hydrogen into the gas grid can be a useful policy to reduce emissions from the overall natural gas consumption during the process of end-use electrification, while stimulating the development of a hydrogen economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carbon emissions of the power industry account for over 50% of China's total carbon emissions, so achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality in the power sector is crucial. This study aims to simulate the impacts of three energy policies—carbon constraints, the development of a high proportion of renewable energy, and carbon trading—on China's energy transition, economic development, and the power sector's energy mix. Through the construction of a dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE) model for China and its integration with the SWITCH-China electricity model, the impact of diverse energy policies on China's energy transition, economic progress, and the power mix within the electricity industry has been simulated. The integration of the SWITCH-China model can address the limitations of the CGE model in providing a detailed understanding of the specific intricacies of the electricity sector. The results indicate that increasing the stringency of carbon restrictions compels a reduction in fossil energy use, controlling the output of coal-fired power units, and thereby reducing carbon emissions. The development of a high proportion of renewable energy enhances the cleanliness of the power sector's generation structure, further promoting the national energy transition. Implementing a carbon trading policy, where the entire industry shares the burden of carbon reduction costs, can effectively mitigate the economic losses of the power sector. Finally, the policies to further enhance the implementation of carbon trading policies, strengthen effective governmental regulation, and escalate the deployment of renewable energy sources are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the integration of renewable energy expands, effective energy system management becomes increasingly crucial. Distributed renewable generation microgrids offer green energy and resilience. Combining them with energy storage and a suitable energy management system (EMS) is essential due to the variability in renewable energy generation. Reinforcement learning (RL)-based EMSs have shown promising results in handling these complexities. However, concerns about policy robustness arise with the growing number of grid intermittent disruptions or disconnections from the main utility. This study investigates the resilience of RL-based EMSs to unforeseen grid disconnections when trained in grid-connected scenarios. Specifically, we evaluate the resilience of policies derived from advantage actor–critic (A2C) and proximal policy optimization (PPO) networks trained in both grid-connected and uncertain grid-connectivity scenarios. Stochastic models, incorporating solar energy and load uncertainties and utilizing real-world data, are employed in the simulation. Our findings indicate that grid-trained PPO and A2C excel in cost coverage, with PPO performing better. However, in isolated or uncertain connectivity scenarios, the demand coverage performance hierarchy shifts. The disruption-trained A2C model achieves the best demand coverage when islanded, whereas the grid-connected A2C network performs best in an uncertain grid connectivity scenario. This study enhances the understanding of the resilience of RL-based solutions using varied training methods and provides an analysis of the EMS policies generated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After decades of development, China has become the world's largest producer, exporter and installer of solar panels, wind turbines and electric vehicles, as well as the world's biggest investor in renewable energy. Communicating renewable energy issues to the public plays an important role in enhancing the wider understanding of renewables and gaining public support for the government's energy policy. Based on a detailed analysis of media coverage in China's general media, i.e., Guangming Daily and Economic Daily, and energy sector industrial media, i.e., the China Energy News, from 2017 to 2023, this study explores how renewable energies are communicated to the Chinese public before and after the government's announcement of its dual carbon goals. It finds that (1) renewable energy is often discussed in the wider category of new energy in the Chinese media; (2) solar, wind and hydropower energy are most prominent; (3) economic frames dominated the coverage of the renewables, followed by political and environmental frames; (4) benefits of renewable energy are far more often represented than risks by the media, particularly in their economic and political dimensions; (5) the general media tends to show more support than the media of the energy industry does, in that it reports more returns from renewable energy; (6) since the proposal of the dual carbon goals, more political discourse has been integrated into the discourse of energy and environmental policies in the energy industrial media than in the general media. The study concludes by discussing the implications of the findings for energy policy and public understanding of renewable energy in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The penetration of renewable energies in island electricity systems (IESs) poses a series of challenges, which include, among others, grid stability, the response to demand, and the security of the supply. Based on the current characteristics of electricity demand on the islands of the Canary Archipelago (Spain) and their electricity production systems, this study presents a series of alternative scenarios to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase the penetration of renewable energies. The goal is to optimize combustion-based (nonrenewable) energy production and combine it with renewable-based production that meets the requirements of dynamic response, safety, scaling, and integration with nonrenewable systems in terms of efficiency and power. As verified in the research background, the combination of power producing equipment that is generally employed on the islands is not the best combination to reduce pollution. The aim of this work is to find other possible combinations with better results. A methodology is developed and followed to obtain the lowest GHG production and to determine the measures to be applied based on: (a) changing the fuel type by switching to natural gas in the equipment that allows it; (b) using optimal combinations of the least polluting energy production equipment; (c) integrating, to the extent that it is possible, the Chira-Soria pumped hydroelectric energy storage plant into the Gran Canaria electricity system. A series of alternative scenarios are generated with different operating conditions which show the possibility of increasing the renewable installed capacity in the Canary Islands by up to 36.78% (70% in Gran Canaria), with a 65.13% reduction in GHG emissions and a 71.45% reduction in fuel consumption. The results of this study contribute, through the different measures determined through our research, to the mitigation of GHG emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy transformation in Poland, including the need to accelerate the shift away from hard coal and lignite in the power system, has been taking place in the face of the energy crisis. Ambitious climate and economic goals force the development of renewable energy sources, but they require legislative changes for the benefit of socially vulnerable consumers. This is important from the point of view of counteracting energy poverty. Energy transformation is not only a change in the fuel used, but most of all, the path and basis of low-carbon development that changes many socio-economic systems. The aim of this study is to link the development and environmental challenges in the studied subject matter with social challenges. The analyses show that it is necessary to strengthen the use of local energy potential and resources, and to activate local communities. The construction of nuclear power plants is also crucial. The results of the presented theoretical and empirical studies can be the basis for a revision of the energy policy in Poland in the area of the social dimension of the energy sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Justice and sustainability are the foundation of fair and equitable biofuel development. Policies and practices are consequently necessary to support a just transition towards a low-carbon economy. Therefore, this study aimed to understand multi-actor perspectives on policies and practices relevant to the just transition in biofuel development. Applying a socio-legal approach based on the JUST framework, this study focused on the Indonesian biofuel industry, which is primarily driven by crude palm oil (CPO) production. This study also added comparative perspectives from Thailand's biofuel industry. The primary data were gathered from in-depth interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs), while the secondary data were from research, policy, and other government archives. Based on the results, oil palm plantations in Indonesia and Thailand are crucial for macroeconomic development. However, smallholder farmers in Indonesia, especially independent ones that do not join farmer groups, remain marginalised by the current regulations. In fact, many benefits from biofuel practices and policies accumulate disproportionately towards large corporations, while marginalised groups bear the costs. The Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification that should induce market accessibility and competitiveness has not fully reached most rural farmers. Furthermore, various overlapping regulations and perplexing data differences exist from multiple ministries and administrative levels. Thus, palm oil stakeholders in Indonesia demand a dedicated institution for integrated regulation and monitoring of the industry, similar to the National Palm Oil Policy Committee in Thailand. The myriad of legal, political, socio-economic, and justice issues thus necessitates all hands on deck to ensure a just transition for all stakeholders of the Indonesian biofuel industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]