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Abstract: This paper will summarise the European Strategy for Energy and Climate Change. In current international negotiations Europe has proposed a 20% reduction in GHG (greenhouse gases) in the developed countries by 2020 or 30% should there be an international agreement in the domain. However it is important to define measures to achieve the targets. One of the principal tools is to improve energy efficiency under the energy efficiency action plan, which will help to achieve a 20% energy saving by 2020. On the other hand, the amount of energy from renewable sources consumed in Europe will have to rise from its current level of 8.5%–20% by 2020. These are ambitious but achievable targets. Nonetheless, these can only be achieved through strong investment in areas of the knowledge triangle which strengthens research and innovation in the energy sector in Europe. The paper covers European Energy and Climate Change Policy, the European Strategic Energy Technology plan, the consequences of the Lisbon Treaty, European and national Road maps to a low carbon economy, the Energy Efficiency Plan for 2011 and finishes with a brief consideration of the EU’s energy infrastructure priorities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents the strategy of the European Union in the field of energy and climate change. At the heart of the package are three commitments to be met by 2020: to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20%, to ensure that 20% of final energy consumption is met with renewable sources, and to raise energy efficiency by 20%. This strategy is based on the scientific consensus drawn by the International Panel for Climate Change, and implements the EU political strategy to limit the anthropogenic temperature rise to no more than 2 °C. A Directive for the geological storage of CO2 is another integral part of the package. This should enable the development and subsequent deployment of zero emission power plants. From a research and technology perspective, the Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan) lists several energy technologies which will be required to reconcile economic growth and a vision of a decarbonised society. The EU climate and energy package and the SET-Plan are part of the solution both to the climate crisis and to the current economic and financial crisis. They represent a green “new deal” which will enhance the competitiveness of EU industry in an increasingly carbon-constrained world. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Brazil has launched the PROINFA program, a regulatory mechanism to incentivize renewable electricity generation. In the light of this new framework, the best economical option for cogeneration was analyzed using one of the biomass resources available in Brazil-Babassu. Thus not only the possible power production but also the potential of such a regulatory tool to enhance the electricity production based on this biomass source, was analyzed. The power production was based on a steam power cycle cogeneration technology within the Babassu palm oil extraction industry in Brazil (Orbignya ssp. (Palmae)). Was used as base for this study: the energetic matrix for the oil extraction plants (for the two main profiles: oil extraction and refining only, and greater vertical integration with the production of other associated products obtained from the Babassu palm oil), utilization of an extraction–condensation turbine, and steam production operating at three levels of temperature and pressure (2.06MPa/350°C, 4.56MPa/420°C and 6.2MPa/450°C). To analyze the economic performance, the framework drawn up by the PROINFA was taken. From the analysis, the best economical/technical option for the design of the cogeneration system was found to be in industrial units with extraction and treatment of crude Babassu oil—steam generation at 4.56MPa and 420°C and, for units with a more vertically integrated production scheme—steam generated at 6.2MPa and 450°C. As a result, it became clear that the given framework may help the development of new renewable energy sources, but it does not give the necessary threshold to start new projects, neither does it incentive the maximization of the power production for this specific biomass resource. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

While the energy supply of most islands depends mainly on expensive oil derivatives’ importation, the others are linked by usually a weak electricity grid connection to the mainland. Due to high energy costs the islands are proving to be excellent test beds for the introduction of new technologies, and some islands are trying to become so-called renewable islands, to satisfy their energy demand mainly or entirely from indigenous and renewable sources, thus increasing the security of supply, and employment opportunities, without necessarily increasing the costs. Islands that have energy sources, such as hydro or geothermal energy, can easily integrate them into the power system, but those with mainly intermittent renewable energy sources are confronted with the necessity of energy storage. The most promising technologies are reversible hydro where geography allows, and storing hydrogen where it does not. The stored hydrogen can later be used for electricity production, and also for transport. This paper describes the H2RES model for optimisation of integration of hydrogen usage with intermittent renewable energy sources on the example of an isolated island in the Madeira archipelago, Porto Santo. It shows that it is possible to significantly increase the penetration of renewable energy sources, albeit at a relatively high cost, with hydrogen storage technology. The H2RES model, which includes reversible hydro and batteries as storage technologies, can serve as a valuable tool for island energy planning. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The present effort addresses the application of sustainability criteria to the design of "heat sinks" used to cool advanced microelectronic components. The sustainability assessment is based on several criteria, including the use of natural resources, the environment, social welfare, and economic impact. The development of forced convection heat sinks, which are compatible with sustainable development, involves a subtle balance between the achieved thermal performance and the investment of material and energy in the fabrication and operation of the heat sink. It is shown that sustainability criteria can be used to select the environmentally optimal configuration among the most promising heat sink designs, including the lowest pumping power, the least mass of material, and the lowest total (fabrication and operation) energy for a specified application. Of the options considered for cooling a 100 W microprocessor with an aluminum heat sink operating at an excess temperature of 25 K, the heat sink design with the lowest total energy consumption was found to display the highest Sustainability Index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current applications in the energy sector are based largely on fossil fuels which release greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere. To face the issue of global warming, the energy sector has to transfer to and develop sustainable energy solutions that do not release carbon emissions. This is one of the primary motivators for the SDEWES conference as well as for this review, and previous ones, examining the most recent works based on sustainable and green energy production in such fields. The 17th Conference on the Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems (SDEWES) was held on 6–10 November 2022 in Paphos, Cyprus. The SDEWES conference aims at solving complex and ongoing concerns that approach a long-term perspective and supporting innovative solutions and continuous monitoring and evaluation. This review paper aims at collecting the main presented papers focused on the following hot topics: low-carbon technologies based on renewable and clean-energy systems, including mainly biomass, solar, and wind energy applications; energy storage systems; hydrogen-based systems; energy-saving strategies in buildings; and the adoption of smart management strategies using renewable energy systems. These topics are investigated in order to propose solutions to address the issues of climate change, water scarcity, and energy saving. From the analyzed works, we note that some key issues for sustainable development remain to be further addressed: such as novel and advanced energy storage systems, green hydrogen production, novel low-temperature district heating and cooling networks, novel solar technologies for the simultaneous production of power and high temperature heat, solar desalination for hydrogen production systems, and agrivoltaic systems for the production of power and food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This manuscript examines the potential of poplar short rotation coppice cultivation for bioenergy in the Alentejo region, Southern Portugal. The biomass is intended to fulfil, at least, 10% (energy basis) of the fuel needs of two Portuguese coal-fired power plants (Sines and Pego), using co-firing technology. The study considers the overall production chain from cradle to power plant gate, cultivated in scrubland areas with duration of 12 years, harvested every three years and with 6667 plants per ha, covering a land area of about 52,250 ha. Three different biomass annual yields are assumed. The results show that the biomass selling prices range from 76.9 to 120.5 Euro ton −1 , to match the production costs. The net energy of the overall project ranges from 34.7 to 75.4 PJ and the project cost from 619 to 823.9 MEuro. The main environmental impact of the project is the reduction of the CO 2 emissions due to the biomass co-firing, instead of burning coal alone. The power plants can reduce CO 2 emissions over the project lifetime between 8.2% and 16.5% of the current values. The financial analysis demonstrates that the project is not financially feasible without external grants, but a policy scenario of carbon allowances trading may be instrumental on turning it financially feasible, depending on allowances and coal market prices. Finally, with a reduction of 50% in the main costs, the project becomes financially feasible under a CO 2 emissions trading scenario for a biomass yield of 20 dry ton ha −1 per year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability has become a broad societal goal, aiming to ensure that human beings coexist safely and harmoniously with nature over a longer time. The influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy is coming to an end. The development and merits of sustainable energy supply, advanced technology, and economic features have received significant attention over the last few decades. However, significant gaps still exist with respect to how to design, construct, and implement hybrid and optimal energy systems with the lowest investment and cost. Since 2002, the Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems (SDEWES) conferences have become a significant meeting venue for researchers to introduce, discuss, share, and disseminate novel concepts and ideas. This paper presents an overview of published articles in the Special Issues (SIs) dedicated by the series SDEWES conferences, especially those published in Energies recommended by the 16th SDEWES Conference, which was held on 10–15 October 2021 in Dubrovnik, Croatia. This SI in Energies focused on four main topics, including the application of renewable bioenergy, component enhancement in renewable systems, sustainable development for buildings and economic analysis and evaluation for sustainability. The collected papers provide insight into the topics related to recent advances in improving sustainable efficiency, including studies on waste-to-wealth techniques, utilization of hybrid bioenergy systems, heat exchangers and other components for performance enhancement, energy supply and demand analysis, low-temperature DHC systems, techno-economic assessment, and environmental evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Abstract: With respect to energy supply, most of the islands depend on importation, mainly from oil and its related products, and others are dependant on weak electricity grid connexions with mainland. Scarce resources are used inefficiently, supplying end-use energy and other life-supporting commodities, like power, heat, cold, transport fuel, water, waste treatment and waste water treatment. It is possible to integrate various flows and decrease the energy intensity, although the task is situation dependant and involves a large number of different systems. RenewIslands methodology for the assessment of alternative scenarios for energy and resource planning is presented here, and applied to several islands. The methodology helps in choosing energy and resource flows integration, based on the island needs, its resources, and the applicable technologies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Hydrogen is an attractive energy media for reducing the emission of CO2 and pollutants in our fossil fuel society. Although studies worldwide have indicated the technical feasibility of the use of hydrogen as an energy carrier in the transport and energy sectors, there are several non-technical barriers which must be overcome or removed before hydrogen can be applied in energy systems. The project HySociety focuses on the 15 EU member states plus Norway and Iceland and addresses the non-technical barriers such as codes and standards for hydrogen infrastructure implementation, public safety concerns, social and economic impacts, changing trends in industrial structures and in the European economy. The project aims to provide an action plan for the successful introduction of a clean, safe and efficient hydrogen-based society in Europe. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Hydrogen as an energy vector can increase penetration of renewable and intermittent sources in the energy supply of the islands and it can serve as an energy vector that may allow reaching 100% renewable energy supply of island communities. This article presents summary of the results of several case studies: Island of Mljet—Croatia, Porto Santo—Madeira, Terceira—Azores, and Malta. The islands were analysed by RenewIslands methodology and it was decided to apply hydrogen as an energy vector. Different scenarios for each island were modelled by H2RES software and required installed powers of necessary technological options are described for chosen scenarios. Basically, there were two types of scenarios. Scenarios with 30% hourly penetration limit for electricity generated by intermittent sources, as a proxy to the current conversion technology being installed in island, and scenarios without this limit, as a proxy of available conversion technology that can also provide output control and ancillary services. When hydrogen as an energy vector was introduced in the scenarios with penetration limit, it was possible to increase penetration by 4–6% of total yearly electricity demand and it was possible to satisfy 100% of transport load by hydrogen from renewable energy sources. In scenarios without penetration limit it was possible to satisfy all electricity demand and hydrogen demand for transport from renewable sources. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Increase of the global energy demand and environmental problems relating to fossil energy utilization request the new energy sources to replace the traditional fossil fuels. With respect to energy production, most of the islands in European Union and in the other parts of the world, depend on importation, mainly from oil and its related products. The global development of renewable energy technologies can assure sustainable supply of power for islands. To overcome the limitation of the sources of renewable energy, hydrogen is utilized as a storage medium integrated with intermittent renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. This paper introduces the programme of “Renewislands—Renewable Energy Solutions for Islands”, the work tasks, details of the design of the activities to develop solutions integrating intermittent renewable energy supply (RES), fuel cell (FC) and hydrogen infrastructure to promote RES and innovative decentralized power systems penetration in islands; main results achieved in each work packages are presented; in addition, the development of intermittent renewable energy penetration in specific European Islands are reviewed briefly. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In the urban environment, residents’ health is damaged seriously due to fossil-fuel combustion, among the pollutants most are created from transport vehicles. Fuel cell buses fuelled by hydrogen appear to be a promise solution to environment, energy and public health problems that we face today. Studies worldwide point towards the technical feasibility of hydrogen as an energy carrier in the transport and stationary sectors, but several non-technical barriers need to be overcome or removed before hydrogen can be deployed in energy systems. This paper expounds a previous country-specific analysis by contrasting the challenges arising at EU level and those faced by transition economies, using China and Brazil as case-studies to identify the key barriers and potential impact on hydrogen fuel cell buses applications. The evaluation criteria used are described. Lessons on the critical conditions for a successful introduction of fuel cell buses and hydrogen into society and the establishment of a hydrogen infrastructure arise from the above analyses. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The effective and rational energy generation and supply is one of the main presumptions of sustainable development. Combined heat and power production, or co-generation, has clear environmental advantages by increasing energy efficiency and decreasing carbon emissions. However, higher investment cost and more complicated design and maintenance sometimes-present disadvantages from the economical viability point of view. As in the case of most of economies in transition in Central and Eastern Europe, Croatia has a strong but not very efficient co-generation sector, delivering 12% of the final energy consumption. District heating systems in the country''s capital Zagreb and in city of Osijek represent the large share of the overall co-generation capacity. Besides district heating, co-generation in industry sector is also relatively well developed. The paper presents an attempt to assess the sustainability of Croatian co-generation sector future development. The sustainability assessment requires multi-criteria assessment of specific scenarios to be taken into consideration. In this respect three scenarios of Croatian co-generation sector future development are taken into consideration and for each of them environmental, social and economic sustainability indicators are defined and calculated. The assessment of complex relationships between environmental, social and economic aspects of the system is based on the multi-criteria decision-making procedure. The sustainability assessment is based on the General Sustainability Index rating for different cases reflecting different criteria and their priority. The method of sustainability assessment is applied to the Croatian co-generation sector contributing to the evaluation of different strategies and definition of a foundation for policy related to the sustainable future cogeneration sector development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]