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This study presents a techno-economic analysis of a mini-grid solar photovoltaic system for five typical rural communities in Chad while promoting renewable energy systems adaptation and rural electrification. The assessment techniques include the establishment of the socio-economic state of the rural communities through a field survey. The costs of system development, electricity tariff and sizing of energy production are realised via the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) technique. Sensitivity analysis was carried out to identify the parameters that affect the evolution of the LCOE during the life cycle of the project. The results have shown that the annual energy production at all sites varies between 233 MWh/year and 3585 MWh/year. The highest amount of energy production is estimated at Guelendeng at a rate of 3218 MWh/year and a capacity of 2041 kW, while the lowest is predicted at Mombou at a rate of 211 MWh/year and a capacity of 134 kW. The standard LCOE for the system during the 25-year lifespan in the five villages is estimated at 0.30 €/kWh except at Mailo which was 0.31 €/kWh. This cost per kilowatt-hour is more attractive and competitive compared with the current rate charged by the national electricity company.

Purpose: Energy access is one of the challenges confronting Nigeria and many Sub-Saharan African countries. The energy poverty experienced in the country is even more pervasive in the rural communities where only about 36% of the population had access to electricity. With the current improvement in technological advancement in GIS and remote sensing, identifying small hydropower sites have become relatively easier, faster, and cost effective. Small hydropower is a clean renewable and reliable energy alternative that meets the economic and environmental energy policy objectives. This study therefore seeks to explore the viability of the SHP potentials for rural electrification.Design/ methodology/ approach: The quantitative research approach was employed. The study analysed the small hydropower potentials in Ogun watershed using geospatial techniques (Hydrology, Neighbourhood analysis, Watershed analysis) and descriptive statistics to describe the population and energy dynamics of the study area. Findings: The study identified a total of 137 potential hydropower sites with a minimum energy potential of 502 kw and maximum of 5.80 mw. Ogun watershed has 202200kW of potential energy is expected to support the electricity need of 59,471 rural households across ten local government areas in Ogun watershed.Research implications/ limitations: The study concludes that with the abundant water resources available in the country, small hydropower plants are viable option for reducing the energy deficit of the country and can also help in the attainment of sustainable development goals 7 (universal energy access for all).Practical implications/ limitations: The study further posited that the development of small hydropower in Ogun Watershed will reduce the level of energy poverty experienced in the rural communities and stimulates the growth and development of the communities across social, environmental, and economic dimension.Originality: This study was able to estimate the viability of the energy potential identified along Ogun Watershed for rural electrification of communities within 2km radius of the potential site. Keywords: Electricity, Small hydropower potential, GIS, and Rural Electrification Received: 07 June 2022 Accepted: 13 July 2022 Published: 10 August 2022

Abstract Off‐grid renewable energy systems are a solution for power generation in areas where access to the grid is not possible or cost‐effective; in particular, low population rural areas located far away from grid lines or in rugged terrains. Furthermore, over‐reliance on fossil fuels for supplying global energy demand has led to the depletion of nonrenewable resources and environmental issues. This paper presents a feasibility assessment of an off‐grid hybrid renewable energy system for a remote rural area in Kohgiluye and Boyer‐Ahmad Province in Iran. Regarding the available energy resources in the region, a photovoltaic (PV)‐biomass energy system is considered. HOMER Pro software is utilized to find the optimized sizing of the PV‐biomass system to fulfill this load demand. The objective function in this optimization is the system's total net present cost. Due to the rapid fluctuation of economic factors in the country, several rates of inflation and discount rate are considered to investigate their influence on the costs of the system. The optimization result for the current inflation rate of 40% and the discount rate of 18% in the country proposes a hybrid energy system consisting of a 3 kW biogas‐fueled generator, 4.74 kW PV, 10 kWh battery, and 2.07 kW converter to meet the 2.64 kW peak load and 14.53 kWh/day consumption of the community. The total net present cost and cost of energy are $93,057 and 0.0933 $/kWh, respectively. Finally, the environmental assessment of the proposed hybrid system shows an annual CO2 emission of 2.95 kg, which means 99.9% CO2 emissions mitigation compared to a conventional coal‐based electrical plant.

Hybrid power systems (HPS) based on photovoltaic (PV), diesel generators (DG), and energy storage systems (ESS) are widely used solutions for the energy supply of off-grid or isolated areas. The main hybridizing challenges are reliability, investment and operating costs, and carbon emissions problems. Since HPS are usually sized to provide energy continuously, it is essential to use the solar energy potential close to full capacity, especially on cloudy days. One of the prominent solutions to overcome these challenges is integrating solar tracking systems (STS). This article focuses on the optimal sizing of HPS based on PV-DG-ESS utilizing STS by analyzing technical, economic, and environmental aspects. Optimization is performed with the MILP solved via Gurobi, considering the net present cost (NPC) and loss of power supply probability (LPSP) objectives. The results indicate that horizontal and dual solar trackers can provide up to 50% better energy harvest performance and reduce NPC by up to 7%. It is also found that there is no significant difference in cost reduction between both systems. Moreover, STS is feasible if the cost is less than 375 USD and 250 USD for Sudan and South Sudan, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the constraints associated with grid expansion costs, limited access to reliable electricity, and priorities in addressing the climate agenda and Sustainable Development Goals in low-income countries, microgrids and off-grid solar projects represent a viable solution for rural electrification. This type of solution has the advantage of being less expensive than conventional technologies, is rapidly scalable, affordable, environmentally sustainable, and can play a critical role in empowering rural communities. In this context, this study proposed a spatial framework for off-grid solar energy planning based on a Geographical Information System and Boolean logic, Fuzzy logic, and Analytic Hierarchy Process Multicriteria Decision-Making methods. The results of the applied methodology show that the selection of optimal locations for off-grid solar photovoltaic microgrid projects in Mozambique is significantly influenced by the following order of criteria: climatology, orography, technical and location, social, and institutional criteria. Geographically, about 49% or 344,664.36 km2 of the total study area is initially suitable for an off-grid solar photovoltaic microgrid project; 4% is low suitable, 14% is moderately suitable, 18% is suitable, and 13% is highly suitable. However, 51% of the ranked areas fall into the not feasible and restricted areas, mainly in conservation areas, protected areas, and areas at high risk of flooding and cyclones, covering a total of 387,005.5 km2 within the study area. In general, the approach helps to reduce uncertainty and increase flexibility to identify appropriate sites and strengthen indicators of sustainable development impacts of decentralized rural electrification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vehicle electrification and digitalization are even more and more increasingly pushed by several aims, such as the improvement in sustainability, wellness, safety, and reliability. The need for onboard power electronics is a common factor for the different types of electric vehicles. Similarly, the increasing presence of onboard Internet of Things items as well as systems implementing artificial intelligence asks for additional power electronics that ensure supplying them according to their rating plate. Additionally, power converters have to perform this task also for traditional loads (infotainment; climate control, and so on) and new ones (USB and wireless chargers; Light detection and ranging, LiDAR applications, and so on). The transaction towards full electrification and digitalization requires highly efficient and compact power electronics converters. In this perspective, the Gallium nitride (GaN) high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) are the best enabler device technology. This paper analyses the current and prospective improvement in sustainability and cost achievable with GaN in the automotive sector. Then, the advantages of the system in package GaN devices in power converter supporting this transaction, such as 48 V–12 V converters, onboard charges, and cell phone wireless chargers are experimentally investigated. The results have highlighted that, already in 2023, the use of Si devices in these applications does not enable further a lower overall converter cost with respect to GaN-based solutions. The reduction of passive costs enabled by using higher frequency thanks to the GaN features compensates for its higher cost. On the other hand, GaN HEMT enables high efficiency in all the aforesaid automotive applications as also experimentally proved in this paper, making it the best solution in terms of sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research is to examine the techno-economic viability of both off-grid and on-grid hybrid renewable energy systems for Jordan's Al-Karak governorate. Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER) Pro software was used in this article to evaluate the carry feasibility to maximize the renewable energy (RE) integration in hybrid energy systems based on different configurations, grid-connected and stand-alone systems of the wind turbine, biogas plant, photovoltaic (PV) panels, flywheel, and batteries while minimizing the net present cost, the Levelized cost of energy and CO2 emissions mitigation. The results showed that the PV/Wind system, connected to the grid with batteries for storage is the optimal configuration for sustainable Al-Karak governorate electrification whilst achieving environmental benefits and guaranteeing reliable and continuous energy access with the lowest net present cost and the Levelized cost, 298,359 USD$ and 0.024 USD$/kWh respectively, and high RE share, 71.8% of electricity is generated from wind and 28.2% is purchased from the grid and emits 220 tons of CO2 per year, 53% less than a grid alone system. Such a system would provide advantages in terms of energy independence and improved environmental quality. • A hybrid renewable energy system for Jordan's Al Karak governorate was optimized. • Six different scenarios of renewable energy systems were examined. • The impact of the optimal configuration on GHG emission was analyzed. • PV/Wind/batteries system, connected to grid was the optimal configuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research presents the findings of an evaluation of off-grid photovoltaic (PV) systems and their sustainability models in Colombia within the "Evaluation of Isolated Photovoltaic Systems and Their Sustainability Models" project supported by the Global Environment Fund (GEF). It involves the analysis of primary and secondary information on the photovoltaic energy projects for rural electrification in this country. Part of the information was obtained through interviews with different stakeholders who work in solar electrification in non-interconnected zones (NIZ), covering rural and island contexts. It was complemented by a comparative analysis of international projects implemented in Latin America. The results are shown as lessons learned, with a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) study representing the current situation of rural electrification with PV technology as perceived and describing the opportunities for the improvement of rural electrification strategies based on the successful experiences in the region. This research offers a comprehensive overview of how Colombian electrification could be led to address the last mile gap, integrating a solid sustainable perspective for the long-term view and ensuring community involvement towards a just energy transition. Therefore, this study proposes a series of guidelines to support those public policies that foster access to energy in the rural non-interconnected zones of Colombia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adopting hybrid power systems to provide access to clean, reliable, and inexpensive energy is necessary for countries like India to accomplish their goals of sustainable development. This work proposes an optimization approach for sizing a grid‐connected hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) that includes photovoltaic, biomass, biogas, and a battery. In this research, a recently developed Aquila optimization algorithm is utilized to evaluate the optimal size of HRES for a cluster of villages near Sarai Jairam, Agra district, Uttar Pradesh, India using the MATLAB software package. The goal of this optimization approach is to reduce the net present cost for HRES while satisfying the operational constraints, including the reliability of the power supply and maximum utilization of the photovoltaic, biomass, and biogas complementary properties. Initially, three HRES configurations in the off‐grid mode were optimized using the suggested Aquila optimization technique. To confirm the findings, the optimization results for the same models of off‐grid HRES were obtained using the harmony search (HS) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithms. The same algorithms were also used to optimize the grid‐connected SPV/biomass/biogas with the battery model of HRES. Finally, the outcomes from the off‐grid models presented above were compared to the grid‐linked model. The grid‐connected configuration which is obtained by the Aquila optimization approach provides an optimal solution with the least net present cos t (NPC) and minimum cost of energy (COE) when compared with HS and PSO. The optimal grid‐connected HRES includes 235 kW of PV, a 10 kW biogas generator, a 64 kW biomass generator, and a 50.40 kWh battery bank. The overall net present cost and the COE are found to be $547 670 and $0.0768/kWh, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An affordable and reliable grid connected hybrid energy system is selected to supply electrical loads in the rural area. • Size of SPV and battery bank are optimized along with grid power sell or purchase. • The available biogas is used to supply the cooking demand. • Batteries such as lead acid, nickel iron and lithium ion are compared during the simulation for their selection as a component of the hybrid energy system. In the developing countries, rural and remote sites are rarely connected with the national grid due to the lack of transmission and distribution infrastructure. The development of hybrid renewable energy model is an alternate solution to provide electricity accessibility in such areas. In the present research work, a grid-connected hybrid system model has been developed based on the available renewable resources. The proposed model consists of local renewable sources i.e., solar and biomass along with batteries for storage purposes. Major objectives of the study are to optimize the sizing of PV panels and batteries with power sales or purchases from the grid. The net present cost of the system has been minimized which is subjected to power reliability, SOC of batteries, upper and lower bound of SPV and batteries. Discrete Harmony Search (DHS) Algorithm has been adopted to optimize the system. Among the various considered scenarios, optimal configuration includes 30 kW biomass, 83.50 kWp solar PV, 78.70 kW converter and 38.40 kWh battery bank. Further, the optimization result yields the minimum cost of energy and net present cost as 4.66 INR/kWh and 13.07 million INR respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carrot washing and grading is performed after harvesting and before transporting to the market has been done with traditional methods by farmers in Ethiopia with too tedious, much time, and labor-consuming which leads to health problems, Fertile soil erosion, discouraging for carrot production and river water pollution. The main objective of this study was to design, develop, and perform the evaluation of carrot washing and grading machine after harvesting before transporting to market that was not used for cooking purposes to alleviate the above-stated problems. During design, a power source, initial speed, and discharge capacity of the pump were considered as 50 W, 6.28 m s-1 and 0.036 L s-1 respectively based on literature reviews. Performance of this machine evaluation was carried out with Nantey variety at two levels of feeding loads 10kg and 15 kg at different drum speeds; 1.47 m s - 1, 2.20 m s-1, and 2.93 m s-1. The data was collected in both qualitative and quantitative methods. The overall mean results obtained for performance indicators in terms of time required to complete washing and grading activities, washing efficiency, grading efficiency, percentage of damage root, and throughout put capacity were recorded as 2.22 minutes, 98.70%, 92.23%, 1.21%, and 242.17 kg h-1, respectively. The results indicated that the time required of 2 to 10.88minutes, washing efficiencies of 84.87% to 98.70% or the range of the variable of drum speed between 1.47 to 2.93 m s-1 and for the range of the variable of feeding load 10-15 kg. As the speed climbed from 1.47 to 2.93 m s-1 and the feeding load rose from 10 to 15 kg, the grading efficiency increased from 72.89% to 92.23%. Each one of these machines cost $313.18. The grading unit should be adjusted to a vibration mechanism by separating it from the washing unit in a layer of the machine frame because the carrot roots have low sphericity (30%), which led to some amounts of carrot roots being erroneously graded. Additionally, it is suggested that the pedal-turning mechanism be modified to serve the dual function of generating power that may be stored during operation and used at night in order to enhance rural electrification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethiopia has a wide range of environmentally-friendly, renewable energy resources that can assist the country to overcome its rural electricity problems. The Hybrid Optimization Model for Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER) software package was used to evaluate the viability of solar, hydro and wind hybrid power generation for a remote community in Ethiopia's Geba catchment. The hydrologic, climatic and demographic data were used to analyze the community's electrical supply and demand. Using survey data from chosen residences, the community's hourly and daily electricity demands were calculated. Two or more schemes were investigated besides the standalone scheme to assess the hybrid system's capacity. Wind, micro-hydro and solar can generate an average annual power of 96.8, 272.4 and 161.8 kW, respectively. A mix of energy sources can meet the community's electricity demand. During peak demand periods, however, the hybrid system's mean hourly variability in power production showed inadequacy, which could be remedied by power stored in the battery and generator output. The economic analysis showed that the hybrid system proposed here is less expensive, indicating that hybrid energy generation might be employed to electrify Ethiopia's remote settlements. We advise decision-makers and power authorities to use hybrid systems for rural electrification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In developing countries, institutions that have to operate continuously during daylight hours consume relatively large amounts of electrical energy for lighting and air conditioning, leading to high bills. Untimely power cuts lead to a fluctuation in the voltage delivered by the conventional network, which induces the malfunctioning of electrical equipment and the discontinuity of judicial work. The use of photovoltaic solar energy makes it possible, on the one hand, to ensure continuity of service in the event of damage, and on the other hand to stem greenhouse gas emissions through the sustainable nature of this energy. Solar installations also make it possible to maintain the permanent power supply in the event of instability of the electrical network and to correct the voltage variations undergone by the energy equipment. Thus, this (case) study is based on the energy balances evaluated on the buildings of the jurisdiction of the city of Kandi (Benin) to propose effective solutions of electrification according to six (6) technical scenarii. Each component of the back up system has been sized considering technical requirements and an economic and environmental study has been carried out. The results indicate that the integrated scenario 6 of a "back-up" system with a solar fraction of up to 37% (49.5 kWc) seems to be the most suitable conf iguration for the current needs of the Kandi jurisdiction due to the shortest time to return on investment (5.1 years) and the maximum annual savings generated (33,674 USD). The environmental impact study has made it possible to determine the CO2 emissions avoided as well as the contribution of Carbon credits that this jurisdiction would reap has been evaluated at 115.8 tCO2 equivalent, or 10.6 hectares of forest carbon preserved over the life of the project. This configuration is therefore strongly recommended for a sustainable energy mix in the jurisdictions of Benin as well as for administrative or similar sites where electricity consumption is maximum during the day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In line with the UK goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, the combination of photovoltaic electricity and the electrification of heating systems is considered an effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while 88% of schools in the UK are gas-heated. This paper analyses the electricity consumption at a 15 and 30 min resolution of different scenarios for the retrofitting of a primary school in London, UK, with an electrified heating system and the electricity production of different PV installations. High temporal resolution allows consideration of economic balances, in light of rising costs of energy in the UK in 2022, and the possibilities PV can have on decarbonizing heating systems in UK primary schools. Practical application - The high temporal resolution allows to provide a project economic balance with close to reality figures. It also allows schools to rely on energy produced on site with less price fluctuation and to have the educational benefit of the PV installation. The high temporal resolution also provides data on what types of activities are the most energy consuming and can inform behaviour/time schedules changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conserving the lives of newborns has been a long-standing issue around the world, where 2.4 million babies die in the first month of the life. The literature indicates that the important challenges of social development goals around the globe include affordable and easy access to electricity, promotion of sustainable economic development, and provision of better social services and creation of job opportunities which help in reducing infant mortality rate. This calls for the need to probe into this matter minutely and brings up the ways for reducing the infant mortality rate. The present study is an attempt to analyze the impact of rural and urban electrification and biomass energy consumption on infant mortality rate for the period 1990–2020 using the Panel Quantile Regression (PQR) approach. The results of the study show that in both developed and developing countries, biomass energy consumption has positive impact on infant mortality rate, while rural and urban electrification has proposed the inverted U-shaped relationship with infant mortality in different quantile groups. It is also concluded that few developing countries are failed to achieve the maturity of the inverted U-shaped curve while all developed countries have achieved at the maturity stage. This study recommended that for reducing the infant mortality rate, the world should discourage the use of biomass energy and promote the affordable and easy access to electricity on priority basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microgrid concept has evolved from the humble origins of simple remote electrification applications in rural environments to complex architectures. Microgrids are key enablers to the integration of higher penetrations of renewables in the energy sector (including electricity, heating, cooling, transport and industry). In addition to the local energy sources, energy storage systems and loads, the modern microgrid encompasses sophisticated energy and power management systems, peer-to-peer energy markets and digital technologies to support this energy transition. The microgrid concept has recently been applied to all energy sectors, in order to develop solutions that address pressing issues related to climate change and the decarbonization of these important sectors. This paper initially reviews novel applications in which the microgrid concept is being applied, from a detailed analysis of recent literature. This consists of a comprehensive analysis of the state of the art in shipboard microgrids, port microgrids, aircraft microgrids, airport microgrids and space microgrids. Future research directions are then presented, based on the authors' perspectives on pushing the boundaries of microgrids further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to provide an energy and critical analysis of the new "ecological scenario" that sees the world shift the transport sector from the classic fossil-fueled traction towards a purely electric traction. Is it a transition to a cleaner and more environmentally friendly world? This is the central question we need to answer. In this context of forced electrification of passenger vehicles, the authors estimated the electricity surplus needed in Italy to face this transition with a projection up to 2050, considering the electricity demand of purely electric vehicles and for the production of green hydrogen for the fuel supply of fuel cell vehicles. Throughout this investigation, the authors discovered that, in 2050, the surplus of electricity to be produced compared to the current production in Italy (year 2021) is equal to +27.6% (1). This value increases if two limit scenarios are considered: it becomes +40.0% within a limit scenario in which the entire private car fleet is made up of pure electric traction vehicles only (2). It becomes +100.6% in the hypothesis that the entire fleet of passenger cars is made up of fuel cell vehicles powered exclusively by green hydrogen (3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability of sustainable, efficient electricity access is critical for rural communities as it can facilitate economic development and improve the quality of life for residents. Isolated microgrids can provide a solution for rural electrification, as they can generate electricity from local renewable energy sources and can operate independently from the central grid. Residential load scheduling is also an important aspect of energy management in isolated microgrids. However, effective management of the microgrid's energy resources and load scheduling is essential for ensuring the reliability and cost-effectiveness of the system. To cope with the stochastic nature of RERs, the idea of an optimal energy management system (EMS) with a local energy transactive market (LETM) in an isolated multi-microgrid system is proposed in this work. Nature-inspired algorithms such as JAYA (Sanskrit word meaning victory) and teaching–learning based optimization algorithm (TLBO) can get stuck in local optima, thus reducing the effectiveness of EMS. For this purpose, a modified hybrid version of the JAYA and TLBO algorithm, namely, the modified JAYA learning-based optimization (MJLBO), is proposed in this work. The prosumers can sell their surplus power or buy power to meet their load demand from LETM enabling a higher load serving as compared to a single isolated microgrid with multi-objectives, resulting in a reduced electricity bill, increased revenue, peak-average ratio, and user discomfort. The proposed system is evaluated against three other algorithms TLBO, JAYA, and JAYA learning-based optimization (JLBO). The result of this work shows that MJLBO outperforms other algorithms in achieving the best numerical value for all objectives. The simulation results validate that MJLBO achieves a peak-to-average ratio (PAR) reduction of 65.38% while there is a PAR reduction of 51.4%, 52.53%, and 51.2% for TLBO, JLBO, and JAYA as compared to the unscheduled load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of the United Nations' (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7), SDG target 7.1 recognizes universal electrification and the provision of clean cooking fuel as two fundamental challenges for global society. Faltering progress toward SDG target 7.1 calls for innovative technologies to stimulate advancements. Hydrogen has been proposed as a versatile energy carrier to be applied in both pillars of SDG target 7.1: electrification and clean cooking. This paper conducts a semi-systematic literature review to provide the status quo of research on the application of hydrogen in the rationale of SDG 7.1, covering the technical integration pathways, as well as the key economic, environmental, and social aspects of its use. We identify decisive factors for the future development of hydrogen use in the rationale of SDG target 7.1 and, by complementing our analysis with insights from the related literature, propose future avenues of research. The literature on electrification proposes that hydrogen can serve as a backup power supply in rural off-grid communities. While common electrification efforts aim to supply appliances that use lower amounts of electricity, a hydrogen-based power supply can satisfy appliances with higher power demands including electric cook stoves, while simultaneously supporting clean cooking efforts. Alternatively, with the exclusive aim of stimulating clean cooking, hydrogen is proposed to be used as a clean cooking fuel via direct combustion in distribution and utilization infrastructures analogous to Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG). While expected economic and technical developments are seen as likely to render hydrogen technologies economically competitive with conventional fossil fuels in the future, the potential of renewably produced hydrogen usage to reduce climate-change impacts and point-of-use emissions is already evident today. Social benefits are likely when meeting essential safety standards, as a hydrogen-based power supply offers service on a high tier that might overachieve SDG 7.1 ambitions, while hydrogen cooking via combustion fits into the existing social habits of LPG users. However, the literature lacks clear evidence on the social impact of hydrogen usage. Impact assessments of demonstration projects are required to fill this research gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adaptation of nonpowered dams (NPDs) to dams with hydroelectric generation units requires only minor interventions compared with the construction of a completely new dam and power plant. Thus, it is both more economical and has a minimal environmental impact, especially during construction. The aim of this study was to determine the environmental, technical, and economic feasibility of hydroelectric retrofitting projects in the Büyük Menderes basin in Turkey. For this purpose, the economic feasibility and retrofitting potential of 11 NPDs in the basin were investigated using Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) software. The results from the energy simulation revealed that the annual average hydropower generation potential and installed capacity for the selected 11 NPDs are 38.7 GWh/year and 4.4 MW, respectively. The total estimated capital investment cost of the 11 retrofit projects was found to be $7.9 million with a total NPV of $25.6 million. In addition, in this study, the leveled electricity cost for each retrofitting project was established and compared with the LCOE values of other renewable energy sources. The findings show that retrofitting NPDs may represent an as yet untapped opportunity to support the global energy transition by providing a cheaper and more environmentally friendly option to pioneer rural electrification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study explores the techno-economic feasibility and viability of a Photovoltaic-Diesel Hybrid system for rural electrification in sub-Sahara Africa with a case study of Chilubi island, a remote district without access to electricity in the Northern Province of Zambia. Using HOMER (Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Electric Renewables) Pro software, the best and most feasible technical solutions through different hybrid system configurations, combinations and the district's rate of access to electricity were considered based on the least Levelized Cost of Energy (LCoE) and life cycle costs of the project. The results show that operating diesel generators as stand-alone is not economically sustainable and has a high LCoE. Influencing factors include variability in diesel pump prices, high fuel transportation costs, high cost of operation and maintenance, among other factors of concern. 100% photovoltaic (PV) with a battery system gave the lowest LCoE. However, the initial capital cost of solar energy projects in Zambia is relatively high compared to the equivalent diesel-based plants, as shown herein. It explains why diesel power plants are favoured for off-grid settlements. On the hand, the low operational cost and LCoE of PV power plants favour rural districts as they offset the high initial capital costs. Additionally, the continued downward trend in the cost of PV installations per kWp has opened discussions among policymakers and energy planners in Zambia to favour rural electrification with renewable energy-based power generation. This study contributes to this discussion. • Grid extension is costly for rural electrification in Southern Africa. • Offgrid PV-Diesel generation microgrids are options for cheaper electricity. • Techno-economic analysis herein favours high penetration of PV and storage. • $ 1 increase in fuel increases LCoE by $ 0.283 and vice versa. • PV-hybrids are expensive and may require government interventions to implement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shipping industry is going through a period of technology transition that aims to increase the use of carbon-neutral fuels. There is a significant trend of vessels being ordered with alternative fuel propulsion. Shipping's future fuel market will be more diverse, reliant on multiple energy sources. One of very promising means to meet the decarbonisation requirements is to operate ships with sustainable electrical energy by integrating local renewables, shore connection systems and battery energy storage systems (BESS). With the increasing number of battery/hybrid propulsion vessels in operation and on order, this kind of vessel propulsion is becoming more common, especially in the segment of short range vessels. This paper presents review of recent studies of electrification or hybridisation, different aspects of using the marine BESS and classes of hybrid propulsion vessels. It also reviews several types of energy storage and battery management systems used for ships' hybrid propulsion. The article describes different marine applications of BESS systems in relation to peak shaving, load levelling, spinning reserve and load response. The study also presents the very latest developments of hybrid/electric propulsion systems offered by leading maritime market manufacturers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind energy is a key option in global dialogues about climate change mitigation. Here, we combined observations from surface wind stations, reanalysis datasets, and state‐of‐the‐art regional climate models from the Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX Africa) to study the current and future wind energy potential in Zambia. We found that winds are dominated by southeasterlies and are rarely strong with an average speed of 2.8 m·s−1. When we converted the observed surface wind speed to a turbine hub height of 100 m, we found a ~38% increase in mean wind speed for the period 1981–2000. Further, both simulated and observed wind speed data show statistically significant increments across much of the country. The only areas that divert from this upward trend of wind speeds are the low land terrains of the Eastern Province bordering Malawi. Examining projections of wind power density (WPD), we found that although wind speed is increasing, it is still generally too weak to support large‐scale wind power generation. We found a meagre projected annual average WPD of 46.6 W·m−2. The highest WPDs of ~80 W·m−2 are projected in the northern and central parts of the country while the lowest are to be expected along the Luangwa valley in agreement with wind speed simulations. On average, Zambia is expected to experience minor WPD increments of 0.004 W·m−2 per year from 2031 to 2050. We conclude that small‐scale wind turbines that accommodate cut‐in wind speeds of 3.8 m·s−1 are the most suitable for power generation in Zambia. Further, given the limitations of small wind turbines, they are best suited for rural and suburban areas of the country where obstructions are few, thus making them ideal for complementing the government of the Republic of Zambia's rural electrification efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synergetic control technique (SCT) has the solution for understanding the symmetry inherent in the non-linear properties of wind turbines (WTs); therefore, they achieve excellent performance and enhance the operation of the WT. Small-scale WTs are efficient and cost-effective; they are usually installed close to where the generated electricity is used. This technology is gaining popularity worldwide for off-grid electricity generation, such as in rural homes, farms, small factories, and commercial properties. To enhance the efficiency of the WT, it is vital to operate the WT at its maximum power. This work proposes an efficient and fast maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique based on the SCT to eradicate the drawbacks of the conventional methods and enhance the operation of the WT at the MPP regardless of wind speed and load changes. The SCT has advantages, such as robustness, simplified design, fast response, no requirement for knowledge of WT characteristics, no need for wind sensors or intricate power electronics, and straightforward implementation. Furthermore, it improves speed convergence with minimal steady-state oscillations at the MPP. The investigated configuration involves a wind-driven permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG), uncontrolled rectifier, boost converter, and variable load. The two converters are used to integrate the PMSG with the load. Three scenarios (step changes in wind speed, stochastic changes in wind speed, and variable electrical load) are studied to assess the SCT. The results prove a high performance of the suggested MPPT control method for a fast convergence speed, boosted WT efficacy, low oscillation levels, and applicability under a variety of environmental situations. This work used the MATLAB/Simulink program and was then implemented on a dSPACE 1104 control board to assess the efficacy of the SCT. Furthermore, experimental validation on a 1 kW Darrieus-type WT driving a PMSG was performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid fall of photovoltaic generation and battery storage costs can pave the way for future distributed power systems. However, transitioning from centralized to distributed systems has economic implications for different power sector stakeholders: incumbent energy firms, new distributed generation investors, and consumers. Consumers can significantly increase demand by adopting electric transport, a crucial component of decarbonization. In turn, investors and firms will need to provide the capital and operating capability to supply more power, even for self-consumption. In this paper, we develop a methodology to assess the future average price of electricity for two fundamentally different systems: one based on utility-scale projects and another based on distributed generation. We also evaluate how prices affect the financial benefits of energy sector investors and transport users that result from transport electrification. We apply the methodology to Costa Rica's transport electrification objectives, a middle-income country with vast renewable generation capacity with pledges to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. We find that the future unit costs of solar and wind generation with energy storage infrastructure affect electricity prices more than other uncertainties. In turn, prices have a high correlation with transport benefits. We also find that low discount rates produce high benefits and low electricity prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New financing in clean energy technologies plays a progressively important role in increasing energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This research investigates the salient social dimensions of clean electricity access with the view to identify the most suitable SSA countries for funding and implementing decentralised renewable energy systems and sheds light on the opportunities for improving social conditions through clean electrification. Our multi-dimensional analysis of social considerations culminates in the Social Clean Energy Access (Social CEA) Index. The composite indicator structure was empirically tested and improved in terms of accuracy and robustness for 35 SSA countries. The Social CEA index captures the status of social factors on health, education, economic development, gender equality, and quality of life related to electricity access. The Social CEA Index strength is assessed by exploring the synergies between electricity access and social development and its progress over time is evaluated through a dimension's breakdown approach in Ghana. • The Social CEA Index allows an effective identification of priorities for action in clean electrification programs; • The innovation of the Index is due to its tailored design focusing on the social dimensions of electricity access; • The country level Social CEA Index depicts an unequal situation in terms of social aspects between African countries; • The focus on the Ghana case shows that electricity is a central dimension to reduce poverty and support economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

He et al. [[8]] proposed a renewable energy scenario generation method based on a conditional generation countermeasure network and combination weighting method (CWM-CGAN), in which the combination of AHP and the entropy weight method was used to analyse the meteorological factors, the weather classification was defined as the condition label in the conditional generation countermeasure network, and the energy scenario was generated by the conditional generation confrontation network. The Special Issue entitled "The Process and Modelling of Renewable Energy Sources" focuses on the technological, economic, and methodological aspects of renewable energy applications and systems, and on advances in complex energy and circular systems. 10.3390/pr8111381 8 He G., Liu K., Wang S., Lei Y., Li J. CWM-CGAN Method for Renewable Energy Scenario Generation Based on Weather Label Multi-Factor Definition. The worldwide use of renewable energy sources has been growing significantly year by year, accompanied by continuous technological development. [Extracted from the article]

Road transport is one of the most energy-consuming and greenhouse gas (GHG) emitting sectors. Progressive decarbonisation of electricity generation could support the ambitious target of road vehicle climate neutrality in two different ways: direct electrification with onboard electrochemical storage or a change of energy vector with e-fuels. The most promising, state-of-the-art electrochemical storages for road transport have been analysed considering current and future technologies (the most promising ones) whose use is assumed to occur within the next 10–15 years. Different e-fuels (e-hydrogen, e-methanol, e-diesel, e-ammonia, E-DME, and e-methane) and their production pathways have been reviewed and compared in terms of energy density, synthesis efficiency, and technology readiness level. A final energetic comparison between electrochemical storages and e-fuels has been carried out considering different powertrain architectures, highlighting the huge difference in efficiency for these competing solutions. E-fuels require 3–5 times more input energy and cause 3–5 times higher equivalent vehicle CO2 emissions if the electricity is not entirely decarbonised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pakistan is an energy deficient country with depleting energy reserves and increasing energy demand. Due to excessive population growth, the domestic and commercial energy sectors are experiencing rising demand. To meet the requisite demand, renewables are favored rather than conventional counterparts. In this study, we model hybrid power systems using solar, wind and biomass resources for electrifying remote areas. The four locations are chosen for the study around a developing country, Pakistan, where each site is designed according to an isolated microgrid with maximum indigenous resources potential as per the requisite demands. A survey is conducted for the load demand and biomass availability. Optimization is conducted across objectives of minimum levelized cost of the generated energy, least the net present cost and lesser payback period. The optimal results were achieved in-terms of required objectives across southern sites as compared to northern counterparts. The cost of generated energy is comparable to grid electricity and ensures 24 h power supply without cut off and load shedding to the un-electrified rural area. The hybrid power system has a low carbon footprint across emissions due to the use of renewable resources. All the estimated load of rural communities is met with the available resources and mid-career impact has also been conducted across 10 years of the project life to fulfill the increasing load demand of the communities after installation. The results are validated via comparative analysis and show the effectiveness of the proposed study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The pulp and paper industry (PPI) has several opportunities to contribute to meeting prevailing climate targets. It can cut its own CO2 emissions, which currently account for 2% of global industrial fossil CO2 emissions, and it has an opportunity to produce renewable energy, fuels, and materials for other sectors. The purpose of this study is to improve understanding of the decarbonization prospects of the PPI. The study provides insights on the magnitude of needed annual renewal rates for several possible net-zero target years of industrial fossil CO2 emissions in the PPI and discusses decarbonization opportunities, namely, energy and material efficiency improvement, fuel switching, electrification, renewable energy production, carbon capture, and new products. The effects of climate policies on the decarbonization opportunities are critically evaluated to provide an overview of the current and future business environment of the European PPI. The focus is on Europe, but other regions are analyzed briefly to widen the view. The analysis shows that there are no major technical barriers to the fossil-free operation of the PPI, but the sector renovates slowly, and many new opportunities are not implemented on a large scale due to immature technology, poor economic feasibility, or unclear political environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the controller implementation and analysis of Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG) for powering isolated loads in rural electrification. A simple speed sensorless algorithm-assisted controller for isolated power supply of DFIG has been proposed using a digital controller and voltage source converter at the rotor terminals of the generator. The controller can automatically correct the voltage and frequency of the rotor side inverter pulse to obtain a desired voltage and frequency at stator side despite the variations in the wind speed and load. A hardware prototype of the system has been built and tested on a prototype machine, which is driven by an emulated wind turbine under sub-synchronous and super-synchronous speed operations. The detailed results of both simulated and hardware waveforms are provided in the paper to demonstrate the working of the proposed topology and embedded control scheme. Further, the performance characteristics of DFIG are modeled and verified experimentally. A good agreement exists between theoretical and experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Affordable and clean energy for any rural community is crucial for the sustainable development of the community and the nation at large. The utilization of diesel-based power generation is one of the barriers to the sustainable development of these communities. Such generations require fuel that has a volatile market price and emits massive greenhouse gas emissions. This paper presents the design, modeling, and simulation of a hybrid power system for a rural area in the Sultanate of Oman that aims to reduce daily consumption of diesel fuel and greenhouse gas emissions. Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER) is utilized to model multiple energy mix hybrid systems and to propose the best optimal energy mix system for a selected community. In addition, Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP) software is employed to assess hybrid system operational performances, such as bus voltage profiles and active and reactive power losses. This study revealed that the PV–wind–diesel system is the optimal energy mix hybrid microgrid for the Al-Dhafrat rural area in Oman, with a net present cost of USD 14.09 million. Compared to the currently operating diesel-based system, the deployment of this microgrid can reduce the levelized cost of energy, diesel fuel consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions per year by 54.56%, 70.44%, and 70.40%, respectively. This study confirms that the Sultanate of Oman has a substantial opportunity to install a hybrid microgrid system for rural diesel-based communities to achieve sustainable development in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a techno-economic investigation of a small-scale solar water pumping system combined with power generation is conducted numerically. Irrigation and power production for a typical small-size citrus farm located in southern Iran is simulated. The system consists of monocrystalline photovoltaic panels (CS3K-305MS, 305 W), absorbent glass material batteries (8A31DT-DEKA, 104 Wh), inverters (SMA Sunny Boy 2.0, 2000 W), and a pumping storage system. The key concepts of water shortage probability (WSP) and loss of power supply probability (LPSP) are used in conjunction with users' tolerances and sizing of the system. A genuine MATLAB code was developed and validated before the simulations. A specific electricity consumption pattern for a rural home and a variable irrigation water profile were considered. The main objective of the study is to size a system that provides both electricity for domestic use of a home as well as the energy required for running the irrigation pumps with respect to investment cost, LCOE, WSP, and LPSP. The main findings of the research are that LPSP and WSP threshold tolerances can have a preponderant effect on the cost and sizing of the system. Interestingly, results reveal that there is a minimum variation of the capital expenditure (CAPEX) versus the number of PV panels. For the optimal configuration, the study indicates that shifting from an LPSP of 0% to 3% (or about ten days of potential yearly shortage) makes the LCOE drop by about 55%, while the WSP decreases by about 36%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes a university extension course in Latin America that seeks to problematize access to electricity through education in science and technology. A case study methodology is used to analyze the relationship between philosophy and education in science and technology in Latin America. The reflections of Paulo Freire and Andrew Feenberg on liberating education and the democratization of technology are highlighted. The course addressed topics related to Popular Agrarian Reform and the alliance between social movements and universities. The document provides a wide range of bibliographic references on critical theory of technology, popular education, and social inclusion in Latin America. [Extracted from the article]

Renewable energy could mitigate remote area energy crises through rural electrification. Karnali province, one of the seven federal provinces of Nepal, is such a remote location and is most deprived in terms of electricity access. Around 67% of the population of the Karnali province is not connected to the national grid electricity supply. High altitude, mountainous topography makes it difficult to provide grid access to the region. This study summarizes the current electricity access status in Nepal and Karnali province specifically. The paper discusses the energy, economic and environmental (3E) analysis of different renewable energy resources like solar and wind energy for the grid-isolated region in Mugu and Jumla district of Karnali province. The study investigates the feasibility of a 200-kW solar power plant installation in Gamghadi, the capital of Mugu district and a 100-kW wind power plant installation in Tila village, Jumla district. The study suggests whether a similar installation of the distributed energy plant is a solution to mitigate the energy crisis problem in the high Himalayas regions, like Karnali province of Nepal. Based on the high-level resource assessment, the study estimates an investment cost ranging from 7 to 9 million USD would be necessary for the installation of such distributed solar PV and wind turbines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Motivation: Progress in Indonesia towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 involves contestation between the global goals and the country's political ambition. The electrification rates ambition has triggered a policy trilemma. There are targets for meeting national energy demand; there are equally important targets for improving energy access and minimizing negative impacts on the environment. Purpose: This article illustrates idea contestation within Indonesia's rural electricity policy subsystem by: (1) analysing the position of the global sustainability storyline in pre‐ and post‐SDG and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) periods; and (2) exploring the dynamic of coalition structure within both periods. Methods and approach: The data is derived from statements of political actors in the national news articles and is analysed using Discourse Network Analysis. To investigate the influence of global agendas, we perform a timeframe analysis in pre‐ and post‐SDG and NDC periods. Findings Our analysis presented empirical evidence of the energy trilemma. The contestation between energy access, energy security, and climate change mitigation is observed in the ideas that emerged within the existing storylines. We find that sustainability has not been a primary topic of debate within the policy subsystem in pre‐ and post‐SDG and NDC periods. The findings also reveal how the global deployment of sustainability has triggered the emergence of discursive intermediaries within the policy subsystem. They are essential to framing global environmental issues to fit into internal debates. Policy implications: First, the narration of implementing renewable energy has to emphasize its benefits over the energy poverty problem while injecting some messages related to environmental profit. Second, the issue of decentralization has always been the most frequent and mutually connected topic, both in terms of source utilization and governance. Therefore, it needs more attention from policy‐makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural villages can be electrified using renewable power sources for the area to grow effectively. Microgrids powered by renewable energy is more environmentally friendly and practical choices for electrifying rural areas. This study attempts to ascertain the technological and financial viability of an autonomous hybrid energy source for a remote Indian area in order to provide a reliable power supply. The region's load requirements can be met with the help of a solar energy system, biogas, wind energy, diesel generators, and batteries. Differential evaluation (DE) is used to optimize the proposed microgrid for grid-independent operation. The system's ultimate objective is to reduce energy costs and recommend workable component configurations. Particle swarm optimization (PSO) and the genetic algorithm (GA) are used to compare the DE findings. The finding suggested the optimal energy cost of 0.22 $/kWh, a net current cost of $5,18,656, and a capital cost of $8,50,774. DE's total net present cost is 4.3% less than PSO and 5.2% less than GA. However, it has been determined that the recommended approach is more practical and affordable for electrifying rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to evaluate the hybrid renewable configurations in diverse applications, this inquiry tries to propose a novel decision-making procedure. The open-source WEC dynamics simulator, exergetic assessment, and Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewables Pro software are integrated. In this innovative method, the exergy of the component is calculated using MATLAB software. Technical analysis for the goal of rural electrification is examined in this work. Thus, several integrated energy systems are technically researched. This study deals with the exergy, environmental, and exergoenvironmental analyses of the hybrid renewable energy system, to assess its performance and environmental impact when operating on Siri Island. In the photovoltaic solar panels, wind turbines, wave energy converters, diesel generators, and batteries set up, the total exergy efficiency and exergy destruction rate were 18.4% and 7.24 x 106 kWh/year, respectively. Additionally, it was discovered that the wave energy converter was responsible for 5% of the total energy wasted. Photovoltaic solar panels, wind turbines, and wave energy converters all have mean annual exergy efficiencies calculated to be 11.7%, 13.1%, and 20.8%, respectively. Environmental and exergoenvironmental analyses illustrate that the off-grid scenario decreases CO2 emission by 95% compared to the on-grid scenario and utilizing diesel generators increases the exergy stability factor of the energy system. The suggested decision-making procedure can be a potent and reliable instrument for analyzing any hybrid renewable arrangement from a technological standpoint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United Nations' seventh Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) calls for clean and affordable energy to boost social mobility, especially in disadvantaged rural communities. Regional off-grid budget-allocation planning for rural electrification is traditionally performed following a minimum energy-cost paradigm. However, such a planning paradigm has had little impact on communities' development. This study proposes a human-centered approach as an alternative planning paradigm. In this regard, we outline a bi-objective optimization model that evaluates the potential contributions of different budget-allocation strategies on energy costs and rural communities' human development. The model is applied to the Colombian Pacific Coast, an impoverished region with several communities with various unmet human needs including education, nutrition, and health. Our results indicate that when budget-allocation decisions are made by the national government following the energy cost-minimization paradigm only a few communities benefit, leaving many with poor energy access for potential future human development. However, if the maximization of the Human Development Index (HDI) is employed as a planning paradigm the most disadvantaged subregions improve their energy service for a marginal cost, increasing their chances for potential improvements in human development. The results also suggest that the current off-grid electrification budget provided by the national government is not enough to improve the region's chances of advancing its HDI level from low (HDI < 0.55) to medium (HDI ≥ 0.55), but doubling the budget would do so. Thus, this study contributes to the energy-sustainability literature by proposing a new planning paradigm for regional off-grid electrification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the conceptualization, design, development, and real-field validation of a photovoltaic (PV)-based single-phase microinverter (SP $\mu \text{I}$) to address three major challenges of rural standalone PV-based electrical systems: 1) to perform efficiently over a wide range of input voltage variations/irradiance; 2) maintains system efficiency within a satisfactory limit even under lightly loaded conditions; and 3) robust and stable operation under harsh/outdoor operating environments has been done. The developed novel dual-stage SP $\mu \text{I}$ adapts the benefits of the interleaved dc–dc boost converter for 180° phase-shifted harmonic cancellation and integration of voltage doubler circuit benefits in lessened transformer’s turn ratio with decreased flux leakage, thus resulting in improved energy conversion efficiency at a reduced magnetic size and Si-GaN. Furthermore, adapted high- and low-frequency switching at the first and second legs of the full-bridge converter, respectively, ensures minimized switching losses even at lightly loaded conditions. Based on a per watt comparison to a 500-W inverter, the proposed SP $\mu \text{I}$ achieves 6.16% and 8.5% higher efficiency at 100% and 10% loading, respectively, at a reduced cost of 9.33% and an increased return on investment (ROI) of 12.23%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]