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This study introduces an optimized hybrid deep learning approach that leverages meteorological data to improve short-term wind energy forecasting in desert regions. Over a year, various machine learning and deep learning models have been tested across different wind speed categories, with multiple performance metrics used for evaluation. Hyperparameter optimization for the LSTM and Conv-Dual Attention Long Short-Term Memory (Conv-DA-LSTM) architectures was performed. A comparison of the techniques indicates that the deep learning methods consistently outperform the classical techniques, with Conv-DA-LSTM yielding the best overall performance with a clear margin. This method obtained the lowest error rates (RMSE: 71.866) and the highest level of accuracy (R2: 0.93). The optimization clearly works for higher wind speeds, achieving a remarkable improvement of 22.9%. When we look at the monthly performance, all the months presented at least some level of consistent enhancement (RRMSE reductions from 1.6 to 10.2%). These findings highlight the potential of advanced deep learning techniques in enhancing wind energy forecasting accuracy, particularly in challenging desert environments. The hybrid method developed in this study presents a promising direction for improving renewable energy management. This allows for more efficient resource allocation and improves wind resource predictability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy transitions break geographic monopolies on fossil fuel resources and are expected to redistribute economic benefits to new actors, from local communities to developing countries. At the same time, basing energy systems around renewables increases the importance of intangible assets such as data and artificial intelligence (AI). As different IPE approaches have shown, such intangibles can be monopolized by lead firms and especially Big Tech, which increasingly provide crucial digital infrastructures. This paper therefore asks what role Big Tech firms may play in energy systems, and whether their access to intangibles enables them to expand to the energy sector. The case study of Amazon illustrates that data-driven intellectual monopolies are well-positioned to expand into energy, benefitting from their position as providers of data infrastructures, and capacities in data harvesting and analysis. Amazon is both developing and marketing its own innovations, and investing in energy systems businesses. As intangibles gain importance in energy systems, possible implications for the IPE of energy include power and economic value flowing towards Big Tech, rather than countries or communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation Purpose Methods and approach Findings Policy implications The need to diversify their economies is an enduring challenge for fossil fuel‐dependent countries, one which will become ever more important as the world seeks to decarbonize. But the conditions under which major oil‐producing countries (petrostates) seek to diversify their exports—and those under which their attempts succeed—are poorly understood.This article tests competing explanations for the successes and failures of petrostates' export diversification.We employ a comparative case study approach using qualitative evidence from two comparatively successful diversification cases—Egypt and Malaysia—and one less successful case—Kazakhstan—selected using a Theil index of export concentration.The evidence indicates that Egypt and Malaysia's more successful outcomes stemmed more from necessity and policy design than from differences in domestic institutions and interests. All three countries were motivated to diversify by price volatility and declining revenues at various points from the 1980s to the 2000s and beyond, but reserve depletion was a greater threat in Egypt and Malaysia. As such, they adopted a more balanced approached to diversification, one that combined liberalization with state intervention.These cases suggest that petrostates may be willing and able to diversify as the global shift toward renewables raises the prospect of unburnable oil reserves. Petrostates can diversify efficiently by using a basket of policies that includes a mix of economic liberalization and government intervention to create investment and incentives in non‐oil tradeable sectors and nurture infant industries. Opposition to reforms in petrostates can be addressed by selectively compensating vested interests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investors are increasingly resorting to investor–state dispute settlement (ISDS) clauses in investment treaties between states, claiming compensation for the financial impact of state regulatory action to address pressing natural resources, energy and other environmental problems. This trend is controversial, triggering calls for reform of the ISDS system. But reform will not happen overnight. In the meantime, ISDS claims need to be managed. This article analyses how best to resolve investor–state disputes in natural resources, energy and other environmental cases. This article builds on an article published in a previous issue of this journal, ‘Investor–state dispute settlement in natural resources, energy and environmental cases’, which examined the nature, history and types of investor–state disputes in environmental cases; the controversies ISDS claims have attracted; and the calls for reform of the ISDS system. This issue examines the available dispute resolution processes and how they can be organised and conducted to best resolve these disputes. It does so by characterising the fuss of ISDS claims, building on the earlier article, and then analysing the possible forums and forms of resolving the fuss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen is an abundant element and a flexible energy carrier, offering substantial potential as an environmentally friendly energy source to tackle global energy issues. When used as a fuel, hydrogen generates only water vapor upon combustion or in fuel cells, presenting a means to reduce carbon emissions in various sectors, including transportation, industry, and power generation. Nevertheless, conventional hydrogen production methods often depend on fossil fuels, leading to carbon emissions unless integrated with carbon capture and storage solutions. Conversely, green hydrogen is generated through electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources like solar and wind energy. This production method guarantees zero carbon emissions throughout the hydrogen's lifecycle, positioning it as a critical component of global sustainable energy transitions. In Africa, where there are extensive renewable energy resources such as solar and wind power, green hydrogen is emerging as a viable solution to sustainably address the increasing energy demands. This research explores the influence of policy frameworks, technological innovations, and market forces in promoting green hydrogen adoption across Africa. Despite growing investments and favorable policies, challenges such as high production costs and inadequate infrastructure significantly hinder widespread adoption. To overcome these challenges and speed up the shift towards a sustainable hydrogen economy in Africa, strategic investments and collaborative efforts are essential. By harnessing its renewable energy potential and establishing strong policy frameworks, Africa can not only fulfill its energy requirements but also support global initiatives to mitigate climate change and achieve sustainable development objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the integration of emerging engineering technologies into STEM education with a focus on the green energy transition. Using a mixed-methods approach, including an international student survey conducted via Google Forms, the research identifies key factors influencing the demand for an innovative Master's program in Green Energy. Quantitative analysis through JASP software reveals a significant positive correlation between student interest in renewable energy related MSc courses and the perception of improved job opportunities in the green energy sector. Furthermore, the survey results indicate that students prioritize the inclusion of Mechanical, Electrical, and IT skills in the curriculum. Qualitative feedback highlights the critical need for practical skills in new research areas such as nanotechnology, quantum chemistry, Carbon capture, and Solar/Wind-based energy sources to meet the evolving demands of the green energy industry. These findings suggest that academic programs must be restructured to align more closely with the skills required for sustainable energy systems, thereby bridging the gap between academic preparation and market readiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anticipated surge in hydrogen energy adoption underscores the pivotal role of social acceptance in determining the viability of hydrogen technologies (HTs). This review provides a comprehensive overview of acceptance research on HT, evaluating measurement tools and utilized models, identifying influencing factors, and analyzing academic discourse on HT diffusion. Drawing from 39 studies, it highlights key acceptance factors: trust, environmental attitudes, subjective knowledge, and perceived risks. Discourse analysis uncovers perceived barriers like trust deficits, infrastructural challenges, and financial constraints, while strategic considerations such as timing and transparency are identified as drivers. The findings emphasize an individual-centred perspective, heterogeneous operationalizations, and a lack of longitudinal studies. The authors propose increased downstream research, focusing on societal reactions to implemented technologies and considering both psychological and contextual factors. Adoption of multi-level and institutional perspectives is essential. • Environmental attitude is the most studied factor influencing H2 technology acceptance. • Education campaigns and support schemes are frequently cited to drive H2 adoption. • Focus on upstream research neglects acceptance dynamics. • 70% of studies reference established models; many detach theory from studied factors. • Adoption of multi-level perspectives and an increase in longitudinal studies needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy issue in both developed and developing countries remains vital. However, in developing countries, energy pressure is much greater. Despite this, few studies have examined credit, entrepreneurship, and energy transition in developing countries. We addressed this research gap by using the data collected from six regions in Burkina Faso. Employing the multivariate probit and the endogenous switching probit model, three scenarios are explored. We find that entrepreneurship promotes energy transition while access to credit is not useful to the energy transition. However, the joint effect of access to credit and entrepreneurship is 4 times higher for solar PV use and 3 times for biogas adoption. Access to credit promotes the energy transition when credit is devolved to the entrepreneur supporting the trinity rather than the trilemma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What determines whether technological innovations are adopted or abandoned? We leverage comparative data from three competing alternative fuel technologies to explore the conditions under which social movement organizations and industries support or challenge the adoption of emerging technologies. Empirically, we examine the diffusion of three technologies – electric, ethanol, and compressed natural gas – in the United States between 1994 and 2015. The comparison of results from quantitative analyzes of each case shows that environmental organizations can have different effects on the adoption of technologies that challenge fossil fuel dominance and that the effects change over time. The results also indicate that an incumbent industry that has an opportunity for diversification can positively influence the adoption of the technology, and that partial abandonment results when a technology is not supported by either environmental organizations or an incumbent industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the greatest challenges of sustainable energy management is to meet the growing demand for energy while minimizing environmental impacts and promoting economic and social development. The central element in this progress is to balance the energy trilemma - energy security, energy equity, and environmental sustainability - and to support the ongoing energy transition. Achieving these objectives, however, presents numerous challenges for societies and policymakers, in which sustainable innovation plays a pivotal role. This study aims to examine the complex dynamics of sustainable energy management. The research explores the interconnections between the energy trilemma and the energy transition, the metrics of progress, and the role of innovations in sustainable energy management. The mapped relationships and dimensions provide a novel context for the topic, underscoring its importance for our future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction to this special issue, Contesting Transitions: New Directions in the Anthropology of Energy, Climate Justice, and Resource Imaginaries, takes stock of the current state of debate within anthropology and allied fields over the contradictions, slippages, and inequalities at the centre of the global energy transition. Across a wide range of critical case studies, the contributions underscore the importance of attending to what is being elided by dominant discourses and forms of production, such as alternatives to socio-material understandings of energy and resistance to the inevitability of extractivism as the basis for new ways of living. Even more, the collection takes up and problematizes the concept of 'transition' itself on historical, ethnographic, and epistemological grounds. After describing the themes that emerge from the special issue, and explaining how these themes point toward new configurations of research, theory-building, and critical intervention, the introduction concludes with a broader argument about the indispensable place of a critical anthropology in debates over energy and Anthropocenic harm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Afterword to "Contesting Transitions" special issue, eds. Mark Goodale and Zeynep Oguz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within days of taking office in January 2021, President Biden signed an executive order establishing the Justice40 initiative, which directed federal agencies to ensure that at least 40% of the benefits of federal investments flow to historically marginalized communities. This article traces how Justice40, as interpreted and enacted by government bureaucrats, academics, industry researchers, and activists, intervenes in the governance of the energy transition it seeks to put into motion. Drawing from ongoing critical participation in energy research and development arenas and taking inspiration from Kim Fortun's notion of the "informating of environmentalism," this article argues that Justice40 can be understood as an attempt to informate justice, rendering it into problems that can be understood, manipulated, and audited through information systems. Scrambling to manage their accountabilities to the executive branch, Congress, and the American taxpayers footing the bill for massive infrastructure investments, Department of Energy programs are rolling out intricate systems of quantification, whose objectives of commensurability obscure local conceptions and prioritizations of justice. While Justice40 articulates lofty goals of energy transition enhancing the wellbeing of people who have otherwise been harmed by or excluded from the country's existing energy infrastructure, its everyday practice has the ironic effect of undermining both epistemic and procedural justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the practices associated with technical solutions to energy transitions. In particular, it considers the role of 'problem solving' as a partial view on the world with extraordinary influence. As the core epistemological practice of engineers, problem solving starts with selective framings of problems in which social or political conditions are taken as given. Engineering, as a form of applied science, therefore offers ethical choices that may be eclipsed by technical framings. This article highlights the reflexive practices of engineers engaged in modelling practices for energy transitions, who are addressing socio-technical problems in formally constrained ways that both enable and limit the thinkability of different future horizons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article uses the ethnography of the prelives of lithium industrialization in Bolivia to contribute to wider debates – in anthropology and beyond – about the essentially contested nature of the green energy transition. Based on research conducted between 2019 and 2023, the article examines the topographies of production and sociopolitical mobilization that are entangled with Bolivia's state-controlled lithium project but which resist the various pressures to reorient social and productive worlds around arguably the most important 'critical' mineral for climate policy-making. The article develops a theoretical framework for understanding these localized counter-futurities, one in which the image of scale-making takes on both vertical and horizontal dimensions. An anthropology of energy, climate justice, and resource imaginaries that is critically attuned to these inter-scalar frictions is one that must also be able to project itself through the kaleidoscope of competing energy narratives as a form of both demystification and ethnographic truth-telling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global energy transition is an uneven process, fundamentally related to the level of economic development of countries and their access to energy resources (renewable and non-renewable) to a large extent. The global climate is interconnected, and all nations impact it through their products and services. The six countries discussed—China, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Russia, and India—account for 44.8% of global primary energy consumption and 49% of global CO2 emissions. Each of them has its own strategy for achieving carbon neutrality, based on different decarbonization scenarios, which, according to the authors, depend on geopolitical factors, national economy characteristics, and the established pragmatic goals and objectives. However, the "green agenda" itself may not always be among the top priorities when formulating energy strategies. The study objective is to analyze the feasibility of the stated goals in these countries using a combined logistic curve-based forecasting tool for predicting solar and wind production as well as investment volumes. It aims to justify the relation between solar and wind energy production and investment policies using a calculated technological coefficient. Results show similar, but time-shifted fluctuating investment dynamics in solar and wind energy trends in Japan, Germany and China, with Germany and Japan outperforming investment forecasts when considering the technology efficiency coefficient. Furthermore, the findings highlight the overwhelming appreciation of the unevenness of the green transition process, which will consequently make it impossible to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement until 2050. Taking these factors into consideration, exploratory decarbonization scenarios for these six major world economies alongside two dimensions, namely, the pace of green transition versus green technology and versus resources, are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electricity is fundamental to modern societies and will become even more so as its use expands through different technologies and population growth. Power generation is currently the largest source of carbon-dioxide (CO2) emissions globally, but it is also the sector that is leading the transition to net zero emissions through the rapid rise of renewables. The impacts of COVID-19 on the electricity sector led to a reduction in the demand for electricity, while at the same time, the current global energy crisis has placed the security and affordability of electricity at the top of the political agenda in many countries. In this way, the decrease in the demand for electricity, as well as its gradual recovery, makes it necessary to carry out energy planning that considers the adverse effects caused by global events with a high socioeconomic impact. In this article, the Low Emission Analysis Platform (LEAP) 2020 software has been used to determine the distribution of energy sources to 2050 for Mexico. The variables that lead to the possible profiles for 2050 are social, economic, and technological. The results correspond to a possible future based on official data from the National Electric System (SEN) of Mexico. The forecast for 2050 indicates that the electricity sector will have almost double the current installed capacity; however, emissions do not correspond to twice as much: they are practically 50% higher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study attempts to investigate how Germany's energy transition has affected environmental quality by considering natural resources, economic growth, financial development, and financial globalization for the period from 1980 to 2021. It is also aimed to discover that the interactions alter with different levels of load capacity factor and explanatory variables using novel quantile-based approaches. Thanks to the unique approaches utilized, the environmental efficacy of the energy transition process can be determined for different quantiles and time periods. The results reveal that although financial globalization and financial development enhance environmental quality, economic growth and increasing natural resource rents harms environment. In addition, the increase in energy transition in all quantiles also has a positive effect on the load capacity. This impact is weak in quantiles with high and low environmental quality, but it becomes more pronounced in middle quantiles of load capacity. Our study offers various policy recommendations to increase the short- and long-term low-level environmental effectiveness of the energy transition process in Germany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Driven by the urgent need to address climate change, Indonesia, as the world's largest palm oil producer, faces the challenge of ensuring the sustainability of this industry. This study addresses a critical gap in knowledge by examining the technological advancements in methane capture for bioenergy from palm oil mill effluent (POME), exploring business development applications, and assessing the potential role of methane capture in advancing Indonesia's Enhanced Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets. Employing both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, the study reveals three key findings. Firstly, a systematic literature review highlights a dearth of research on the social and economic aspects of utilizing biomethane gas, particularly in modeling contexts. Secondly, through case studies, the utilization of methane gas as an energy source is shown to significantly reduce electricity expenditures, diminish reliance on fossil fuels, mitigate carbon emissions, and expand access to clean energy for both companies and households. Thirdly, the scenario of converting POME waste into energy can help to reach the target on carbon emissions, but it depends on the level of waste utilization and capacity factor. By repurposing palm oil industry waste for clean energy production instead of expanding land use, which poses risks to biodiversity, Indonesia can mitigate the challenges of the energy transition and foster a more sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We examine the role of circular economy and inclusive green growth in promoting energy transition and carbon neutrality in Europe. • We used three-pronged empirical strategy framed in advanced dynamic econometrics. • The results reveal that lagged of CO 2 emissions is a positive predictor of CO 2 emissions. • We show that embracing circular economy and inclusive green growth will be highly beneficial towards the attainment of carbon neutrality. • We recommend policy measures that considers both current and past emissions to promote environmental quality. This paper examines the role of the circular economy and inclusive green growth in promoting energy transition and carbon neutrality for several European countries during 2009–2021, using an advanced econometric strategy. To achieve this objective, we employed a three-pronged empirical strategy. The first strategy involved standard panel specifications, such as pooled ordinary least squares, Fixed Effects, Roger panel regression, white panel regression, and Driscoll–Kraay standard errors. The second strategy explored the long- and short-term dynamics of the relationships using the dynamic specifications of the Generalised Method of Moments, comprising the augmented Arellano–Bond, Ahn–Schmidt, Arellano–Bond, and Arellano–Bover/Blundell–Bond estimators. It further controls for endoegeneity using the Two stages Lease Square (2SLS and Lewbel 2SLS). The third strategy employed the Machado and Silva quantiles via moments to re-evaluate the heterogeneity drivers of carbon neutrality. Furthermore, an alternative and complementary strategy based on the statistical procedures of Hausman–Taylor and Feasible Generalized Least Squares was employed to verify robustness. The findings suggest that prior carbon emissions positively predict future emissions. Also, our results reveal that the adoption of a circular economy, including green growth and renewable energy, can significantly contribute to reducing carbon emissions. In contrast, domestic economic drivers, and eco-innovation increase carbon emissions. We propose that policymakers mandate producers to oversee the entirety of their product life cycles as a means to mitigate carbon emissions. Furthermore, endorsing training programs and educational initiatives aimed at cultivating the requisite skills for the energy transition and the adoption of circular economy practices is imperative for ensuring the realization of a successful low-carbon economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grand sustainability challenges span multiple sectors and fields of policymaking. Novel technologies that respond to these challenges may trigger the emergence of new policy subsystems at the intersection of established sectors. We develop a framework that addresses the complexities of 'multi-system settings.' Empirically, we explore belief and coalition formation in the nascent policy subsystem around hydrogen technologies in Germany, which emerges at the intersection of electricity, transport, heating, and industry and is characterised by a broad range of actors from different sectoral backgrounds. We find two coalitions: a rather unusual coalition of actors from industry, NGOs, and research institutes as well as an expectable coalition of gas and heat sector actors. Actors disagree over production, application, and import standards for hydrogen. However, there is widespread support for hydrogen and for a strong role of the state across almost all actors. We explain our findings by combining insights from the advocacy coalition framework and politics of transitions: Belief and coalition formation in a nascent subsystem are influenced by sectoral backgrounds of actors, technology characteristics, as well as trust and former contacts. Our study contributes to a better understanding of early stages of coalition formation in a multi-system setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study employed multiple regression analysis to examine China and the top countries in energy transformation and established policy intensity to assess policy stringency. It has been investigated how environmental policies affect the dynamic evolution of the nation's energy system and technological innovation. It has been demonstrated that environmental policies have a favorable effect on technological advancement in the energy transformation industry. The national knowledge stock, national R&D spending, and other factors limit this impact, and the significance level is varied and lagging. Technology innovation in the field of energy transformation is impacted by the environmental regulations of industrialized nations. Technology innovation in energy transformation is encouraged by China's environmental regulations' institutional quality. The study also showed the boundary conditions and peak nodes of China's carbon emissions. Three different forecasting models are utilized to estimate the impact of China's economic development speed on energy transformation and to evaluate potential scenarios through the examination of macro time series data. Based on the constant dollar price in 2000, China's energy intensity fell to $1 for 0.18 kg of standard oil to $1 for 0.32 kg of standard oil in 2050. To fully unleash the potential of China's energy transformation, the report contends that China's environmental policy structure has to be optimized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global climate issue is becoming increasingly serious, and studying the energy transition (ET) has proven to be an effective solution to this problem. The essence of climate mitigation is to address the issue of ensuring the public health (pH) of human beings. Still, the definitions of ET in existing literature are inconsistent, and Many researches overlook the definitions of ET in official documents and discuss the relationship between ET and pH. Therefore, this research utilizes panel data from 107 countries over the period 2000–2020 to construct an energy transition indicator based on the definition from the World Economic Forum (WEF). It also examines the link between ET and pH using a two-way fixed effects regression. In the current turbulent international environment, this paper also investigates this link in the context of composite risk control (CRC), financial risk control (FRC), economic risk control (ERC), and political risk control (PRC). The results show that ET can significantly improve pH, a conclusion that remains significant after being subjected to a range of robustness tests. The study exploring the mechanism impact on the relationship between ET and pH shows that CRC, FRC, ERC, and PRC all strengthen the effect of ET on pH, and the mechanism effect varies considerably between high-income and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs); ET is more significantly affected by the mechanism in LMICs than in high-income countries. Furthermore, this paper illustrates that ET does not differ by gender in improving pH among infants, while there are gender differences in adults by using the instrumental variable regression and GMM regression to mitigate the endogenous and heteroscedasticity issue for heterogeneity test. The study in this paper can not only inspire policy researchers on which aspects to promote ET, but also provide a direction for improving pH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient energy management is crucial given 2024's 4.1% worldwide electricity demand increase. This urgency emphasizes the necessity for various, sustainable energy sources in distribution grids. Short-term load prediction approaches using probabilistic power generation and energy storage are crucial for energy usage prediction. Urban energy planners use simulation, probability optimization and modelling to create sustainable energy systems. This study offers a novel hybrid model for smart grids: short-term energy load prediction using transfer learning (TL) and optimized lightGBM (OLGBM). Our two-phase solution tackles Short-term Load Forecasting complexities. First, aberrant supplements and quick deviation selection eliminate missing values and identify key features during data pre-processing. Second, TL-OLGBM learns dynamic time scales and complex data patterns with Bayesian optimization of hyperparameters to improve forecasting accuracy. Additionally, our architecture easily combines the newest Smart and Green Technology, enabling energy system innovation. Comparative performance research shows that our technique outperforms similar models in mean absolute percentage error, accuracy and root mean square error. This hybrid model is a reliable short-term energy load forecast solution that fits the dynamic terrain of smart and green technology integration in modern energy systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Political spending—funds that elite actors use to buy and sell political power—is the lifeblood of Nigerian politics. It fuels backroom deals, forges political coalitions, and is the means to incite or end violence. To date, political spending in Nigeria has largely been financed by its immense oil revenues flowing through the government. It is natural to assume that political budgets should rise and fall with oil's boom-and-bust cycles, but the reality is not so straightforward. Based on an analysis of the 2020 oil crash in Nigeria, this paper examines how traumatic decarbonization—the sudden, unplanned loss of oil revenues—did not lead to a reduction in political budgets but did force a change in how they were funded and channeled. Despite the loss in oil revenues, patronage and the "contractocracy," government contracts used to funnel rents to the elite, were protected and expanded massively in 2021 with funding from domestic and international loans. The 2020 oil crash demonstrated the resilience and rising cost of transactional politics in Nigeria, even when it came at the expense of the Nigerian people. Through this analysis, the paper further examines systemically corrupt political systems and how political actors adapt to changes in available political finance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A global energy transition from carbon-based fuels to renewable energy will have major political and economic ramifications around the world, especially for fragile fossil fuel-producing states, but these impacts are not yet well understood let alone prepared for. In many fragile fossil fuel-producing countries, an energy transition is not simply a transformation of the energy sector, but also a fundamental challenge to the political economy of the state and the way politics is practiced. This challenge is likely to be destabilizing, politically fraught, and perhaps even violent, yet the "new climate economy" literature does not fully consider the implications of what the loss of these revenues will mean, and the solutions offered do not speak to the realities of how these states operate. This article examines the different risks and opportunities of an energy transition for these states and outlines a research agenda to better understand and prepare for these outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental summits in Rio de Janeiro, Kyoto, Johannesburg, Bali, Copenhagen, and Paris significantly contributed to raising awareness among nations about the need to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this context, the energy transition from carbon-based energy sources to renewable energy sources is one of the main goals for both states and companies in the short and medium term. Therefore, the objective of this article is to propose a methodological route for the implementation of energy transition in Colombian SMEs. To achieve this objective, it was necessary to analyze the climate change and energy transition programs included in Colombia's development plans. The results show that SMEs do not have significant participation in energy transition processes, mainly due to the economic and market barriers they face. However, the fiscal incentives and subsidies established by the government since 2018 increase opportunities for their participation in the present and the coming years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve global sustainability goals and meet the urgent demands of carbon neutrality, China is continuously transforming its energy structure. In this process, electric vehicles (EVs) are playing an increasingly important role in energy transition and have become one of the primary user groups in the electricity market. Traditional load prediction algorithms have difficulty in constructing mathematical models for predicting the charging load of electric vehicles, which is characterized by high randomness, high volatility, and high spatial heterogeneity. Moreover, the predicted results often exhibit a certain degree of lag. Therefore, this study approaches the analysis from two perspectives: the overall industrial park and individual charging stations. By analyzing specific load data, the overall framework for the training dataset was established. Additionally, based on the evaluation system proposed in this study and utilizing both Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) algorithms, a framework for machine learning-based load prediction methods was constructed to forecast electric vehicle charging loads in industrial parks. Through a case analysis, it was found that the proposed solution for the short-term prediction of the charging load in industrial park electric vehicles can achieve accurate and stable forecasting results. Specifically, in terms of data prediction for normal working days and statutory holidays, the Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) algorithm demonstrated high accuracy, with R2 coefficients of 0.9283 and 0.9154, respectively, indicating the good interpretability of the model. In terms of weekend holiday data prediction, the Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) algorithm achieved an R2 coefficient of as high as 0.9586, significantly surpassing the LSTM algorithm's value of 0.9415, demonstrating superior performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The notion of job losses during energy transition phases and their influences on fossil fuel economies have been debated in various aspects. Meanwhile, unemployment and poverty have been critical economic challenges for many developing countries, even the resource-rich countries in the Middle East. Concurrently, no country so far is poverty-free and has not entirely fulfilled Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Nos. 1 and 8, as many resource-rich countries account for the significant global poverty and unemployment, such as Nigeria, Iraq, Yemen, and Venezuela. Purpose: The issue of green transition has created new fears for the job market in the fossil fuel economies, where the lives of many people could be mainly affected. This study investigates the macroeconomic challenges of green transition and the macroeconomic consequences that fossil fuel economies will deal with. Methodology: This study follows content analysis and a desk-search review of job loss during the green transition in the context of fossil fuel economies. In addition, the descriptive analysis is just a clear understanding of the fundamental review of the topic that will lead to another cross-country analysis study based on in-depth knowledge and analysing data. Findings: The European Green Deal (EGD) will have profound economic, social, and political implications for fossil fuel-dependent economies for various reasons. First, fossil fuel economies are less diversified; the economy depends on a single commodity; the systems must be developed and people must prepare for a quick economic transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electricity load prediction plays a vital role in energy management. The necessity of combining scattered power generation channels of sustainable energy and other substitute resources into distribution grid networks is increasing because of the 4.1 percent rise in world electricity since 2021. The utilization of probability power generators and energy storage is maximized by short-term load prediction methods, which make it possible to anticipate potential energy usage. To facilitate the growth of energy systems in quite a sustainable way, urban energy planners utilize a range of methods and technological advances, including simulation, probability optimization, comprehensive improvement, and modelling techniques for predicting power requirements. Predicting energy consumption at granular time scales (e.g., hourly or sub-hourly intervals) is common practice for short-term energy load prediction. For similar time-series forecasting challenges, the authors have decided to use transfer learning (TL) with light gradient-boosting machine (LightGBM).1 This model can benefit from models trained on larger data sets through TL, which might boost prediction accuracy. Energy prediction and effective resource utilization largely support the accurate transition of energy systems. In this paper, the authors propose a hybrid model for short-term energy load prediction. Based on TL to optimize LightGBM (OLGBM) for smart grids, The proposed model first applies data pre-processing using an abnormal supplement strategy with an immediate deviation selection technique. This phase eliminates the missing values and extracts the required features.The second phase uses a TL-OLGBM with hyperparameters. The TL method helps to learn the dynamic time scale and complex data patterns, and the hyperparameters are tuned via the Bayesian optimization technique, which addresses the challenge of short-term load forecasting (STLF) and increases forecasting accuracy. Finally, an optimized LightGBM model is applied, combining the time and energy features to predict effective energy forecasting. The proposed model gained a 2.834589 mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) value and a 0.9706495 GINI index after execution on the prescribed data set. We compare the performance of the proposed model with other comparable models, and the simulation outcomes show that the model can generate the best results for MAPE, accuracy, and root-mean-square deviation (RMSE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power transmission and transformation are important parts of power distribution, which is increasingly necessary in modern society; this is particularly important due to the green transition. Consequently, increasing the efficiency of power transformers is a priority to improve the economic and environmental aspects of electrical transformation. Lightweight graphene coatings on transformer wire rods represent a valid solution improving thermoelectrical performances. In this work, a graphene coating was applied by electrophoretic deposition to copper wire rods through a sustainable deposition bath, studying the impact of the deposition current density. The morphology of the coated wire rods, the adhesion of the coating to the substrate, and their thermoelectric properties were evaluated. This work demonstrates the application of EPD to coat copper wire rods with graphene, resulting in a 5.58% reduction in electrical resistivity and an 88% enhancement in thermal performance. In addition, relationships between coating performances and deposition parameters were highlighted. An analysis of variation (ANOVA) confirmed the main role of the current density on the examined outputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Faced with the triple planetary crises of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, states are increasingly taking regulatory action, especially in the natural resources and energy sectors, to address these pressing environmental problems. This regulatory action can impact financially on investments in the host state. In response, investors are resorting to investor–state dispute settlement (ISDS) clauses in investment treaties between states, claiming compensation for the financial impact of the regulatory action. This increase of ISDS claims is controversial. Amongst other criticisms, the bringing of ISDS claims, or even the threat of ISDS claims, has a chilling effect on states taking needed regulatory action to address pressing environmental problems. There have been calls for reform of the ISDS system, including its application to environmental regulation. This article maps the nature, history and evolution of ISDS claims in natural resources, energy and other environmental cases and the controversies these ISDS claims have attracted. The article canvasses the calls for reform of the ISDS system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: An online deliberative engagement process was undertaken with members of the general public to understand what they value or would like to change about the energy system, within the broader context of decarbonizing Australia's energy networks, identifying a role for future fuels (hydrogen and biogas). Citizens developed a set of principles that could guide Australia's path toward a low-carbon energy future, reflecting on expectations they place upon energy transition. Next, citizens' principles were shared with policy-makers in government and policy-influencers from the energy industry using an online interactive workshop. Methods: This study analyses policy-makers and -influencers response to citizens' guiding principles using the 'diamond of participatory decision-making' framework for analysis. Convergence and divergence in diverse, complex and rich views across cohorts and implications thereupon energy policy were identified. Results: Although considerable alignment between multi-stakeholders' views was noted, key areas of divergence, or what is called the "groan zone" were easily identified in relation to social and environmental justice issues. This groan zone highlights the struggles that energy policy-makers face -the need to listen and respond to citizens' voices, vs. the need for practical and workable policies that also support overarching government or industry objectives. Discussion: Policy making when the views of different stakeholders align is relatively straightforward. However, this is not the case where the expectations diverge. More creative measures will be needed to address divergent views and expectations whilst maintaining procedural fairness, in this case, using democratic deliberative engagement processes. While the use of deliberative processes is gaining momentum worldwide, particularly concerning climate change and energy transition policies, this paper also highlights the benefits of conducting a robust post facto analysis of the content of the processes. Areas of alignment, where policy can be made and implemented relatively easily without contention are identified. Other areas (such as making electrification mandatory) might be more complex or have unwanted negative social and environmental justice effects. Overall, this paper bridges an analytical gap between "expectation studies" and participatory research. By borrowing terminology from a participatory research framework we sharpen the concepts in "expectation studies" from a consensus, inclusion and diversity standpoint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A typical wind system captures wind energy and converts it into electricity, which is then converted to DC for battery storage using an AC/DC converter; an inverter then supplies AC electricity at the grid frequency. However, this solution involves losses in electronic components and incurs costs and environmental impacts associated with battery storage. To address these issues, a different wind system layout configuration is considered, where the energy storage duties are assumed by a hydro storage system employing a reversible hydraulic pump (referred to as a Pump as Turbine). This solution utilises an elevated reservoir connected to the Pump as Turbine to compensate for fluctuations in wind and load; this approach offers lower costs, a longer lifespan, reduced maintenance, and a smaller waste management cost. This study focuses on a comprehensive sensitivity analysis of the new wind system power layout, considering multiple objectives. Specifically, the analysis targets the net change in the mass of water (potential energy) stored in the pumped hydro system, the captured wind energy, and the torque provided in hydraulic turbine mode. On the other hand, the design variables are represented by the Pump as Turbine-specific speed, the hydraulic system gearbox ratio, and the pump head. To assess how solutions are affected by random changes in wind speed and external load, the sensitivity analysis considers the multi-objective optimisation problem showing for both the wind speed and the external load a stochastic contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-fuels represent a crucial technology for transitioning to fossil-free energy systems, driven by the need to eliminate dependence on fossil fuels, which are major environmental pollutants. This study investigates the production of carbon-neutral synthetic fuels, focusing on e-hydrogen (e-H2) generated from water electrolysis using renewable electricity and carbon dioxide (CO2) captured from industrial sites or the air (CCUS, DAC). E-H2 can be converted into various e-fuels (e-methane, e-methanol, e-DME/OME, e-diesel/kerosene/gasoline) or combined with nitrogen to produce e-ammonia. These e-fuels serve as efficient energy carriers that can be stored, transported, and utilized across different energy sectors, including transportation and industry. The first objective is to establish a clear framework encompassing the required feedstocks and production technologies, such as water electrolysis, carbon capture, and nitrogen production techniques, followed by an analysis of e-fuel synthesis technologies. The second objective is to evaluate these technologies' technological maturity and sustainability, comparing energy conversion efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions with their electric counterparts. The sustainability of e-fuels hinges on using renewable electricity. Challenges and future prospects of an energy system based on e-fuels are discussed, aiming to inform the debate on e-fuels' role in reducing fossil fuel dependency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper navigates the critical role of hydrogen in catalyzing a sustainable energy transformation. This review delves into hydrogen production methodologies, spotlighting green and blue hydrogen as pivotal for future energy systems because of their potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Through a comprehensive literature review and a bibliometric analysis, this study underscores the importance of technological advancements, policy support, and market incentives in promoting hydrogen as a key energy vector. It also explores the necessity of expanding renewable energy sources and international cooperation to secure a sustainable, low-carbon future. The analysis highlights the importance of scalable and cost-effective hydrogen production methods, such as solar-thermochemical and photo-electrochemical processes, and addresses the challenges posed by resource availability and geopolitical factors in establishing a hydrogen economy. This paper serves as a guide for policy and innovation toward achieving global sustainability goals, illustrating the essential role of hydrogen in the energy transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To limit global warming to 1.5 °C, it is imperative to accelerate the global energy transition. This transition is crucial for solving the climate issue and building a more sustainable future. Therefore, within the loaded capacity curve (LCC) theory framework, this study investigates the effects of digital adaptation, energy transition, export diversification, and income inequality on the load capacity factor (LCF). This study also attempts to investigate the integration effects of digital adaptation and energy transition, and digital adaptation and export diversification, on LCF. Furthermore, we explored how income inequality influences the LCF in economies. For this study, 112 countries were selected based on the data availability. Panel data from 2010 to 2021 were analyzed using the STATA software 13 application utilizing a two-step system generalized method of moments (GMM) approach. First, interestingly, our finding shows that digital adaptation and income significantly affect the LCF. An increase in income increases the LCF among the middle-income group of countries. Therefore, LCC is confirmed in this research. Surprisingly, energy transition, export diversification, and foreign direct investment negatively impact the LCF in the base model. Second, the impact of integrating digital adaptation and energy transition has a positive effect on LCF. Third, a negative correlation was observed between the interaction of export diversification and digital adaptation with the LCF. Fourth, a positive correlation was observed between the interaction of renewable energy and digital adaptation with the LCF. Finally, this study explores the impact of the energy transition, export diversification, and income inequality on the LCF with reference to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The result shows a negative effect between export diversification and LCF among OPECs at a 10% significance level. To improve the quality of our planet, policymakers must understand the forces causing climate change. By adopting a comprehensive perspective, the study aims to understand how these interrelated factors collaboratively influence the LCF thoroughly. Additionally, this research seeks to provide valuable insights related to energy transition, digital adaptation, and export diversification to policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders regarding possible avenues for cultivating a more joyful and sustainable global community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work provides the policy and economic analysis of the renewable heating and cooling sector in Greece. The novelty of this study is that it unveils the different policy instruments and incentive structures in promoting renewable heating and cooling adoption, and it analyses the social, cultural and technical barriers to the adoption of renewable heating and cooling systems in Greece. To this end, a PESTEL (Political, Economic, Social, Technical, Environmental and Legal) analysis is performed, with a view to demonstrating the factors that affect Greece's progress against the National Energy and Climate Plans (NECP), the decarbonisation of the heating and cooling sector and finally, the alignment with the long-term energy strategy. Overall, the results of this analysis show that the heating and cooling sector is still greatly dependent on the use of fossil fuels. However, there are more opportunities than barriers for the deployment of the renewable heating and cooling sector in Greece; opportunities arise from the ambitious political goals that are harmonized with those of the EU, targeting climate-neutrality by 2050. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The Aotearoa New Zealand electricity sector is undergoing a transition to more distributed electricity generation, largely driven by the private sector. Local actors, however, are increasingly interested in playing a role in the energy transition, and addressing their resilience, with community renewable energy (CRE). These projects often have a wide range of impacts, dependent on the community’s motivations, as well as the design and operation of the project. However, there is a lack of tools that can accurately quantify the impacts derived from CRE projects, and guide communities to build a portfolio of projects. This study used system dynamics modelling to analyse the impacts of CRE projects over a 40-year time span. The Energise Ōtaki community group in Aotearoa New Zealand was used as a case study given their already established CRE project and goals to expand their project portfolio. The system dynamics model showed if the community reinvested 80% of the profits from the first project into a second project would provide the greatest long-term benefit for the community in terms of the impact areas important to them. System dynamics modelling proved a useful tool in evaluating the wide range of impacts, and how they interact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates the weighting and hierarchization of renewable energy sources in specific geographical regions of Colombia using the TOPSIS and Diffuse TOPSIS metaheuristic models. 5 regions were analyzed, two of them with different scenarios: Caribbean 1 and 2, Pacific 1 and 2, Andean, Amazonian and Orinoquia. The results reveal significant differences in the evaluation of technologies between the two models. In the Caribbean 1, Diffuse TOPSIS gave a higher score to Solar Photovoltaics, while TOPSIS favored Hydropower. In the Caribbean 2, Solar Photovoltaic obtained similar scores in both models, but Wind was rated better by TOPSIS. In the Pacific Region 1, Biomass and large-scale Hydropower led according to both models. In the Pacific 2, Solar Photovoltaic was better evaluated by TOPSIS, while Wind was preferred by Diffuse TOPSIS. In the Andean Region, large-scale hydroelectric and Solar photovoltaic plants obtained high scores in both models. In the Amazon, Biomass led in both models, although with differences in scores. In Orinoquia, Solar Photovoltaic was rated higher by both models. The relevance of this research lies in its ability to address not only Colombia's immediate energy demands, but also in its ability to establish a solid and replicable methodological framework. The application of metaheuristic methods such as TOPSIS and TOPSIS with fuzzy logic is presented as a promising strategy to overcome the limitations of conventional approaches, considering the complexity and uncertainty inherent in the evaluation of renewable energy sources. By achieving a more precise weighting and hierarchization, this study will significantly contribute to strategic decision-making in the implementation of sustainable energy solutions in Colombia, serving as a valuable model for other countries with similar challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recognizing that no central authority can combat climate change, scholars have pointed to the potential of polycentric governance in tackling climate change. Yet, empirical evidence for such a claim is scarce, particularly in the Global South. This study analyzes the characteristics, promises, and pitfalls of polycentric governance to promote climate mitigation efforts in three Indian states. Our contribution is twofold: (1) conceptually, we propose a framework to investigate the promises and pitfalls of polycentric climate governance in a federalist system with a particular focus on aspects of scaling and institutionalization, and (2) empirically, we compare solar power development across three Indian states with favorable conditions for solar power but varying performance. Based on a qualitative analysis of interviews and documents, we show how state governments with different party backgrounds have been vital in implementing policy changes and overcoming political barriers. Still, very few bottom-up initiatives exist and were successfully institutionalized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When carbon dioxide is sequestrated in a saline aquifer, the dissolution of carbon dioxide plume results in density difference between the brine with dissolved carbon dioxide and the ambient brine. This causes fingering flow and transport, or convective mixing, that is the dominant mechanism for the carbon dioxide solubility trapping. This work presents the first theoretical relationship for the carbon dioxide convective mixing flux from the plume that is critical for evaluating the long-term safety of carbon dioxide storage in a saline aquifer. This new development is based on the optimality: the density-difference driven fingering flow and transport are self-organized in such a way that the downward mass transport rate of dissolved carbon dioxide is maximized. The optimality has a root in nonequilibrium thermodynamics and been successfully applied to modeling the gravitational fingering flow for soil water in the vadose zone. Our theoretical relationship is shown to be able to accurately predict the experimental results of the convective mixing flux in threedimensional porous media that were reported by the two different research groups. The average relative error between the theoretical flux values and experimental observations is about 10% or less, while uncertainties exist in the test observations. The flux for Sleipner carbon dioxide injection site (22 kg/m²/yr), estimated using our new relationship, is also consistent with the previous estimates in the literature, in a range between 0 and 30 kg/m²/yr with the most likely value of 15 kg/m²/yr, that were obtained using a complex model to analyze the field data. These comparisons support the usefulness and validity of our relationship that does not need the knowledge of individual fingers associated with the convective mixing and is easy to use in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction between energy and society is characterized by a complex and multi‐ dimensional dynamic. The uneven development of energy production and consumption, vulnera‐ bility, and transformation processes, along with factors such as globalization, urbanization, inter‐ national development, and social justice, all shape the changes in the energy system regarding re‐ source, economic, infrastructural, and geopolitical landscapes. The study of energy geographies focuses on issues such as energy accessibility, energy security, and low-carbon transitions. It aims to reveal the critical impact of energy on social sustainable development and to explore the profound logic of the interaction between energy and society. Energy and Society: A Critical Perspective is a comprehensive work in the field of energy geography, encompassing three inter‐ related sections: energy, spaces, and flows; securities, vulnerabilities, and justice; and transitions, governance, and futures. This book emphasizes the social embeddedness of energy systems through a critical perspective, placing energy issues in a broad social and historical context. It explores how energy systems and social structures shape each other and includes numerous case studies, making it an important reference for academic research in energy geography and related policy studies. In the future, China's energy geography research can be strengthened in the following four areas: the multi-scalar nature of energy decision-making, the social and spatial diversity of consumption practices, the cross-border nature of China's energy economy, and the diversification of actors in the transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This comprehensive study explores the influence of aerosols and clouds on solar radiation in the urban environments of nine of Greece's largest cities over the decade from 2014 to 2023. Utilizing a combination of Earth Observation data, radiative transfer models, and geographic information systems, the research undertook digital surface modeling and photovoltaic simulations. The study meticulously calculated the optimal rooftop areas for photovoltaic installation in these cities, contributing significantly to their energy adequacy and achieving a balance between daily electricity production and demand. Moreover, the research provides an in-depth analysis of energy and economic losses, while also highlighting the environmental benefits. These include a reduction in pollutant emissions and a decrease in the carbon footprint, aligning with the global shift towards local energy security and the transformation of urban areas into green, smart cities. The innovative methodology of this study, which leverages open access data, sets a strong foundation for future research in this field. It opens up possibilities for similar studies and has the potential to contribute to the creation of an updated, comprehensive solar potential map for continental Greece. This could be instrumental in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, thereby promoting sustainable urban development and environmental preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greenflation or inflation for green energy transition in Europe becomes a structural problem of new scarcity and poverty, under Austrian Economics analysis. The current European public agenda on the Green Deal and its fiscal and monetary policies are closer to coercive central planning, against the markets, economic calculus, and Mises' theorem. In this paper, attention is paid to the green financial bubble and the European greenflation paradox: in order to achieve greater future social welfare, due to a looming climate risk, present wellbeing and wealth is being reduced, causing a real and ongoing risk of social impoverishment (to promote the SGD 13 on climate action, it is violated by SGD 1–3 on poverty and hunger and 7–12 on affordable energy, economic growth, sustainable communities, and production). According to the European Union data, the relations are explained between green transition and public policies (emissions, tax, debt, credit boom, etc.), GDP variations (real–nominal), and the increase of inflation and poverty. As many emissions are reduced, there is a decrease of GDP (once deflated) and GDP per capita, evidencing social deflation, which in turn means more widespread poverty and a reduction of the middle-class. Also, there is a risk of a green-bubble, as in the Great Recession of 2008 (but this time supported by the European Union) and possible stagflation (close to the 1970s). To analyze this problem generated by mainstream economics (econometric and normative interventionism), this research offers theoretical and methodological frameworks of mainline economics (positive explanations based on principles and empirical illustrations for complex social phenomena), especially the Austrian Economics and the New-Institutional Schools (Law and Economics, Public Choice, and Comparative Constitutional Economics). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has become a major agenda item in international relations and in national energy policy-making circles around the world. This review studies the surprising evolution of the energy policy, and more particularly the energy transition, currently happening in the Arabian Gulf region, which features some of the world's largest exporters of oil and gas. Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and other neighboring energy exporters plan to export blue and green hydrogen across Asia as well as towards Europe in the years and decades to come. Although poorly known and understood abroad, this recent strategy does not threaten the current exports of oil and gas (still needed for a few decades) but prepares the evolution of their national energy industries toward the future decarbonized energy demand of their main customers in East and South Asia, and beyond. The world's largest exporter of Liquefied Natural Gas, Qatar, has established industrial policies and projects to upscale CCUS, which can enable blue hydrogen production, as well as natural carbon sinks domestically via afforestation projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As acceleration toward the transition to a carbon-neutral energy production becomes an urgent imperative, universities are called to play a multifaceted role: to produce knowledge and cutting-edge research for the pursuit of energy transition; to transform infrastructures to promote circular economy practices and a more sustainable use of their building stock; and to promote energy citizenship through formal and informal education. The authors aim to move from these considerations to critically present some actions and programs in education, research, and campus operations in which the University of Bologna is engaged. The first part presents an overview of the role of universities in this transition, with a focus on the UI GreenMetric international standard for assessing the different dimensions of sustainability. In the core section, an empirical focus is provided on Bologna and its Cesena campus through three directions: the University's multicampus sustainable strategy (campus operations), the relevant research–action projects on energy justice and the energy transition (research), and the EN-ACTION project to foster energy citizenship and behavioral change in students and citizens (education). This study concludes that the comprehensive approach of the University of Bologna in integrating sustainability into its operations, education, and research while fostering student engagement in energy citizenship, provides a replicable model for other institutions. It highlights the need for consistent and ongoing support to ensure the long-term impact and effectiveness of sustainability initiatives. The integration of social components and engagement with civil society is crucial for fostering a collective behavioral shift toward low-carbon systems, which can be further supported by interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A transition to clean fuels and technology for cooking is increasingly recognised as a cornerstone of sustainable development. However, sufficient, appropriate, affordable finance to support the transition is lacking. Grounded in primary data collection via expert interviews, this study's research objective was to critically assess development finance institutions' (DFIs) delivery of climate and development finance to address cooking poverty. Interview findings underscore DFIs' important role in the transition, including to create the ecosystem conditions conducive to sustained investment. However, as a group they are not demonstrating the risk appetite and financial solutions that clean cooking markets need. Nor are they operating with the agility and flexibility required for rapid scale-up. Consequently, DFIs are not optimally fulfilling their mandates to create additionality and mobilise private capital in these markets. Interviewees call for DFIs to reconsider their approach, and we rely on these findings to posit a theory of change for clean cooking finance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As energy systems transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources, energy infrastructure will become a predominant land use, especially in rural areas. This poses a challenge for municipalities who need to adapt land use planning frameworks to more renewable energy. Using plan quality evaluation, this paper assesses how 57 rural official plans in Manitoba (Canada) are attempting to integrate energy planning. Consideration of energy within plans is poor, especially for implementation mechanisms and fact base. While rural communities are the forefront of the energy transition, existing land use planning frameworks are maladapted to enable it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]