Challenges of Fresh Water Resources Scarcity in Libya and Alternative Solutions by Renewable and Sustainable Energies

Hydrogen farm concept: A Perspective for Turkey

The world’s attention is currently focused on the energy transition to sustainable energy. The drive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to limit global warming, energy security, and the generalization of access to energy have contributed to the adoption of the Moroccan Energy Strategy, with a strong focus on renewable energy (RE). Morocco is notoriously poor in conventional primary fossil energy resources, with energy dependence on the order of 90%. In addition, the energy crisis that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical conflicts, compounded with steady increase in demand, has heavily affected the security and stability of the country’s energy situation. The transition to RE by strongly engaging in the implementation of several solar, wind, and hydro energy projects has made the country the leader in RE in Africa. These projects benefit from the country’s excellent solar and wind energy potential. As a consequence, by 2030, the share of RE in the installed capacity is expected to reach 52%. An overview of the current situation of RE (particularly solar energy) in Morocco is provided, including the potentials, obstacles, challenges, and future perspectives. Thanks to its high solar potential, it is predictable that Morocco’s effort will be focused on this field: the Erasmus plus INNOMED project is a virtuous example of international cooperation, aiming at promoting solar energy through capacity building and the creation of solar energy networks, in synergy with EU Partners.

Energy-related concerns about traditional resources include the depletion of fossil fuel, a dramatic increase in oil prices, the global warming effect caused by pollutant emissions from conventional energy resources, and the increase in the energy demand. These concerns have resulted in the recent remarkable growth of renewable energy industries [1-3]. Furthermore, renewable energy has become a significantly important research area for many researchers as well as for governments of many countries as they attempt to ensure the safety, long-term capability, and sustainability of the use of global alternative energy resources [2]. Renewable energy resources include solar, geothermal, wind, biomass, ocean, and hydroelectric energy. [4] In particular, both solar (i.e. photovoltaics) and wind energy are considered to be leading technologies with respect to electrical power generation. The study of photovoltaics (PV) has been carried out since the 1980s’ and is currently the most significant renewable energy resources available. According to the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21), there has been a strong growth in the use of PV of 55 % and the worldwide solar PV electric capacity is expected to increase from 1,000 MW in 2000 to 140,000 MW by 2030 [5]. Moreover, it is forecast by the European Renewable Energy Council that this renewable electric energy could become sufficient to cover the base load and half of the global electricity energy demand by 2040 [6]. Generally in the PV industry, crystalline silicon has generally occupied about 95 % of the market share of materials, while only 5 % of all solar cells use amorphous silicon [7]. However, in order to improve the cost efficiency of solar cells by using less material, the thin-film PV module with amorphous silicon has become an active research and development (R&D) area [8]. In particular, solar cells that use amorphous silicon have the advantage of being able to generate a higher energy output under high temperatures than crystalline silicon solar cells, which are less affected by the temperature increase with respect to performance of electricity output than are the crystalline silicon solar cells. Moreover, installed at the rooftop and on the exterior wall of the building, a thin-film solar cell can be conveniently used as a facade that generates power for the entire building. This system is known as a building integrated photovoltaic system (BIPV). The thin-film solar cell can also provide the advantage of heat insulation and shading when incorporated into a harmonious building design. Therefore, the thin-film solar cell is expected to be a very bright prospect as a new engine for economical growth in the near future. Currently in Korea, many researchers are conducting

Asymmetric effects of financial and technological development on green energies: Evidence from solar, wind and renewable electricity with an emphasis on crisis conditions

The severity of the energy crisis in Pakistan is increasing rapidly since 2005–2006 with the increase in the energy demand for industrial, commercial, and residential sectors. The increase in domestic energy demand to 40% of the total energy consumption is due to 3.1% population growth, urbanization, and provision of conventional energy resources to widespread rural areas. More than 20% of the total production of natural gas is utilized for domestic water and space heating. In order to meet the day by day increasing domestic energy needs of the country, the industrial and commercial sectors have to face severe consequences like industrial closure for three days in the name of load management that generated unemployment and increased the poverty level in the country. Similarly, due to a shortage of irrigation water from rivers, most of the farmers are left with no option but to pump ground water, and over a million tube wells utilize already scarce conventional energy resources. Moreover, the lack of post harvest treatment of the fruits and vegetables, which needs thermal energy, is also resulting in wasting 40% of the yield and this is again due to a lack of conventional energy supplies in the agricultural farms. Likewise, the textile industry, which is considered the largest industrial sector in the country, uses plenty of hot water at 60 °C to 70 °C using conventional energy for bleaching, dyeing, and printing of cloth. If merely the above mentioned three sectors are shifted to solar thermal energy, then a huge amount of conventional energy resources can be saved and better utilized for other sectors, resulting in significantly reducing the energy shortage in the country. On the other side, the Government of Pakistan is trying to enhance the production of hydrocarbon and exploit indigenous coal resources for power generation but the conventional energy resources are very limited as compared to its demand; therefore all the sincere efforts are not meeting the giant energy needs. The Government of Pakistan has also introduced a Renewable Energy policy in 2006 to enhance Renewable Energy share in the energy mix but it failed to deliver because of several reasons mainly due to focusing only on electricity generation by PV systems and ignoring solar thermal energy, which is an economical viable source much needed for local textile industry, post harvest treatment of fruits and vegetables, and for domestic space and water heating. Solar energy, especially solar thermal energy, which is abundant in the country, is essentially a main viable option for Pakistan to significantly reduce the burden from conventional energy. Optimum use of solar thermal technology can notably reduce by 30% the burden from natural gas but also enhance the export of fruits and vegetables and improve the production of textile and agricultural sectors resulting in a poverty reduction in Pakistan. In order to achieve this milestone, the Government of Pakistan needs to shift its policy of depending on conventional energy resources to solar thermal technologies for water heating which can be used in textile, agriculture, and domestic applications.

Research Highlights This paper aims to assess the current progress of RE in this country and identify the impact of business sustainability idea towards RE policy development. The extensive review presented in this work offers a useful reference for policy makers, corporate managers and researchers who have vested interest in business sustainability and renewable energy related studies. ___________________________________________________________________________ Research Objectives The objectives of this study is to explore the evolving concept of business sustainability towards environmental concern and to identify the impact of business sustainability idea towards Malaysia’s policy development on RE deployment. Methodology This is conceptual paper where the authors tend to make the analysis by exploring particular theories on business sustainability, renewable energy (RE), and the engagement of RE activities on Malaysia policy development. Results All energy sources have some impact and benefit on our environment. For instance, renewable energy (RE) is energy resource that naturally replenished over time and always can be generated such as solar, wind and hydro energy. However, if the rate of use exceeds the rate of renewal, gradually it will become unsustainable. Thus, to have a sustainable energy which defined as energy production that can last for the foreseeable future is crucial and become main focus of recent national policies, strategies and development plan as of many countries. Malaysia energy consumption still heavily depended on the non- renewable energies (RE) such as fossil fuel and natural gases. Unfortunately, the use of the non-RE is unsustainable and can contribute adversely towards the environment and economic performance of a country. Renewable energy is brought to play as it is believed sustainable and has the potential to thrive in infinitely competitive market of contemporary business nowadays. Therefore, in 2009, the government of Malaysia has announced a National Renewable Energy Policy and Action Plan (NREPAP) as part of their commitment to accelerate the growth of RE as an alternatives energy sources for the coming years. Moving onwards, a strong policy is needed to tackle the challenges in meeting the demand, energy security and also the affordability of energy pricing. Thus, in energy security dimension, perhaps the government should put attention on renewable energy by engaging more on the alternative mechanism to deploy RE capacity through program such as Large-Scale Solar PV, Net Metering as at current practices and also other new initiative like green certificates. The exploration on new RE resource such as wind, geothermal, ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) also could assist in build up a new opportunity to enlarge the share of renewable energy mix percentage and ensure the future energy security (UNDP, 2007) Findings The energy industry is changing fast and in multiple directions. It is also regularly known as the catalyst for development in a country. Realizing the importance of energy as a vital dimension in economic and social development, the government of Malaysia has been continuously reviewing its energy policy and practices to ensure long-term sustainability, reliability and security of energy supply (Mohamed & Lee, 2006). The private sector even the communities should also be more corporate in social responsibilities and make compromises for instance by participating in green programs and accepting longer payback periods in RE projects. Nevertheless, continuous efforts and strong support from the societies are vital to ensure RE development can reach its maximum potential. This effort is also supported by (Dincer, 2000) and (Wutenhagen, Wolsink, & Buer, 2007) where they are stressed that increases the public awareness and acceptance on RE, it is as the initial step to make the sustainable energy program successful. This is done through the media, professional organizations, public and government channels. In conclusion, since there is still insufficient insight to critically reasoning the RE development in aspect of business and sustainability, the paper insists to contributes more to the research on energy policies enhancement in Malaysia particularly. This could be a challenge on governing agenda that involves a series of tradeoffs, market players, organizations and companies (Oliveira, 2018) and these efforts are important to ensure the future success of the RE development in Malaysia. Acknowledgement The authors would like to acknowledge Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN) for the fund granted through the Internal Grant (UNIIG2019), Project code: J510050852. References Dincer, I. (2000). Renewable energy and sustainable development: a crucial review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 4(2), 157–175. Mohamed, A. R., & Lee, K. T. (2006). Energy for sustainable development in Malaysia: Energy policy and alternative energy. Energy Policy, 34(15), 2388–2397. Oliveira, R. L. De. (2018). Powering the future : Malaysia ’ s energy policy challenges. Kuala Lumpur: IDEAS Policy Research Berhad. UNDP, United Nations Development Programme. (2007). Energy and Poverty in Malaysia: Challenges and the Way Forward. UNDP. Wutenhagen, R., Wolsink, M., & Buer, M. J. (2007). Social acceptance of renewable energy innovation: An introduction to the concept. Energy Policy, 35, 2683–2691.

Stress mitigation of conventional water resources in water-scarce areas through the use of renewable energy powered desalination plants: An application to the Canary Islands

Sea water desalination is a developing technology producing potable water with many applications worldwide particularly in arid areas. It is an energy intensive process and its integration with renewable energies can produce low-carbon fresh water. Among several water desalination technologies reverse osmosis is the dominant method, based on semi-permeable membranes, producing high quality clean water. The island of Crete, Greece has moderate water resources while their demand is increasing for several reasons. Unfortunatelly, its supply is adversely affected by climate crisis. One method to increase the supply of potable water in Crete is the desalination of seawater using reverse osmosis. The water desalination plants can be powered by solar and wind energy which are abundant in the island. The integration of seawater desalination with renewable energies results in the production of fresh water with low carbon impacts. A SWOT analysis of using solar and wind electricity to power the water desalination plants in Crete has been implemented. It is indicated that there are several strengths and many opportunities for developing seawater desalination plants powered by green electricity in the island. It is concluded that the use of solar-PV and wind electricity for powering seawater desalination plants in Crete reduces the carbon footpritnt of the produced drinkable water minimizing the impacts to climate change.

Conventional energy resources are not climate sustainable. Currently, engineers and scientists are looking for sustainable energy solutions influenced by climate change. A wide variety of sustainable natural energy resources are available, but they require technical solutions for their implementation. The general trend in energy research is based on renewable resources, amongst which solar energy stands out, being the most mature and widely accepted. In this paper, the current state of the sustainable energy system has been analysed. The main purpose is to provide additional context to assess future scenarios. The study of past contributions allows sustainability planning and increasing the welfare of future society. The aim is to highlight global trends in research on sustainable solar energy from 1995 to 2020 through a bibliometric analysis of 4260 publications. According to their linkages, the analysed articles are distributed in nine clusters: Sustainability assessment, Sustainable energy solutions, Environmental payback time analysis, Sustainability of solar energy in different scenarios, Environmental sustainability, Solar energy applications, Sustainable energy optimisation, Energy transition and Energy and sustainable scenarios. The most repeated keywords are Sustainability, Renewable energy, and Solar energy. Energy research and the exploration of new renewable solar resources are still necessary to meet sustainable energy’s future challenges.

State of the art on renewable and sustainable energy

Climate change is a global challenge today that has been highly considered due to the wide impacts on different sectors of a society. That is why the use of renewable energy for countries and communities should be considered. In addition, the limitation of fossil fuels and the problems incurred by greenhouse gas emissions have made it increasingly important to make renewable energy more attractive. Sustainable energy means continuous supply of energy for today's needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainable energy technologies include renewable energy sources such as hydroelectric power, solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, synthetic photo center and wave energy, as well as technologies designed to improve energy efficiency. Thus, this article discusses the development and performance of renewable supply chain energy in Iran. A strategic model is proposed and investigated to cover various aspects of sustainable renewable energy within a supply chain configuration integrated with machine learning method for quantification purpose. The novelty is on integrating machine learning and strategic plan to handle sustainability indicators within a renewable energy supply chain. The study also provides managerial insights to governments, researchers and stakeholders for the initiation of renewable energy use and suggestions for overcoming the barriers to its developments.

Towards Renewable energy targets for the Middle East and North African region: A decarbonization assessment of energy-water nexus

Sustainable energy sources like solar, wind, hydropower, biomass, geothermal, tidal, and wave energy can take the place of fossil fuels. They replenish organically and aid in the fight against climate change. Solar energy harvests the sun's energy using photovoltaic panels or concentrated solar power plants. Wind energy converts the kinetic energy of the wind into electricity by using turbines. Hydropower uses water that is either flowing or falling to generate electricity. You may generate energy from organic material using biomass. Geothermal energy harnesses the heat of the Earth to produce heat or electricity. Utilising the strength of tides and ocean waves to produce electricity is known as tidal and wave energy. These tools aid in the development of a cleaner, greener future by lowering emissions and enhancing air quality. Our energy mix needs to be more diverse in order to lessen our dependency on fossil fuels, and renewable energy sources are essential for this. Solar power is widely available and can be used in rooftop installations or massive solar farms. Building wind farms in windy areas has significantly increased the use of wind energy. An established technology called hydropower uses water sources to make electricity, whereas biomass uses organic waste to produce both heat and power. Geothermal energy uses the Earth's interior heat as a source of power, making it dependable and continuous. With the ability to harness the energy of the ocean to produce electricity, tidal and wave energy offer tremendous promise. Adopting renewable energy sources contributes to the development of a resilient and sustainable energy system for a cleaner and better future. Hydropower is a well-known technique that uses water to generate electricity, whereas biomass uses organic waste to generate both heat and power. Geothermal energy is dependable and continuous because it harnesses the heat from deep inside the Earth. Tidal and wave energy hold great potential since they can use ocean energy to generate electricity. Utilising renewable energy sources helps build a robust and sustainable energy system for a better and cleaner future.Due to our reliance on diminishing fossil fuel reserves, we are susceptible to price swings and geopolitical unrest. By varying our energy mix and lowering our dependency on foreign fuels, research into renewable energy sources fosters greater energy independence and thereby supports energy security. Environmental Protection: The exploitation and burning of fossil fuels have negative consequences on ecosystems, causing pollution of the air and water, the destruction of habitats, and the extinction of species. We can reduce environmental damage and safeguard natural resources by investigating and implementing renewable energy sources. The renewable energy industry has the ability to stimulate economic growth and employment creation. Research in this area paves the way for the creation of cutting-edge technology, lowers costs, and boosts productivity, making renewable energy more competitive with fossil fuels and economically viable. Energy Access in Developing Regions: Many areas, particularly in developing nations, do not have consistent access to energy. Researching renewable energy sources, especially decentralised ones like solar energy, can produce clean and economical energy solutions, enhancing socioeconomic development and quality of life.Technological Advancements: Ongoing research into renewable energy has made it possible to make strides in energy storage, solar panel efficiency, and wind turbine design. These developments improve the overall efficiency and dependability of renewable energy systems, increasing their viability and efficiency. Research offers insightful analysis into the policy and regulatory frameworks required to facilitate the integration of renewable energy into current power systems. It aids in identifying obstacles, evaluating the results of the deployment of renewable energy, and creating efficient policies to encourage the use of renewable energy. Conduct resource assessments to determine a region's potential for renewable energy. Decide on the appropriate renewable energy technology based on the needs of the location and the available resources. Utilise the technical, environmental, and economic factors to analyse the viability. Consider the system's size, capacity, and necessary infrastructure when designing it. It is necessary to buy and install the necessary infrastructure and machinery for the renewable energy system. Integrate the system into the existing electrical grid to ensure that it is compatible and compliant. Establish operational, maintenance, and performance-enhancing routines. Follow up on problems with and inefficiencies in the system. Continue your research and development efforts to advance technologies. Work with research organisations and stakeholders to advance the production of renewable energy.

SummaryFloating photovoltaic (FPV) plants present several benefits in comparison with ground-mounted photovoltaics (PVs) and could have major positive environmental and technical impacts globally. FPVs do not occupy habitable and productive areas and can be deployed in degraded environments and reduce land-use conflicts. Saving water through mitigating evaporation and improving water security in arid regions combined with the flexibility for deployment on different water bodies including drinking water reservoirs are other advantages of FPVs. They also have higher efficiency than ground-mounted PV solar and are compatible with the existing hydropower infrastructures, which supports diversifying the energy supply and its resilience. Despite the notable growth of FPVs on an international scale, lack of supporting policies and development roadmaps by the governments could hinder FPVs’ sustainable growth. Long-term reliability of the floating structures is also one of the existing concerns that if not answered could limit the expansion of this emerging technology.

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