Chasing sustainable energy goals: A close look with bibliometric and content analysis of SDG-7

Purpose: To systematically present the publication trends related to sustainable energy, which is an interdisciplinary concept. Design/methodology/approach: This study performed bibliometric analysis to investigate sustainable energy research between 1980 and 2022 using a sample of 1498 research papers from the Web of Science (WoS) databases, with only published articles on sustainable energy. Findings: A bibliometric analysis reveals trends in sustainable energy research publications, showing sustainable energy as an emerging topic and trends in sustainability and energy research. However, it seems that sustainable energy is still a niche area of study. Within the scope of the study, 2857 publications were included in the analysis. Of the publications included in the analysis, 1498 are articles and 1089 are other publication types. As a result of the analysis, the number of articles on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement has significantly increased since 2015. In 2022, the highest number was reached. It is seen that this finding is related to energy supply security and the reflections of geopolitical risks on it. The keyword “sustainable energy” stands out as the most frequently used keyword. Research limitations/implications: This research analysis is based on data from the Web of Science database only; there will be some shortcomings in the findings. Originality/Value: This research contributes to the field by exploring current developments in the field of sustainable energy, highlighting current gaps in the literature, and recommending future research in this field. The fact that the keywords “sustainable energy”, “renewable energy”, “sustainability”, and “sustainable development” are frequently included in the literature shows that interdisciplinary academic studies in these fields are of great importance.

Interior architecture has the potential to create social benefits by designing spaces that affect people's quality of life. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) offer a framework to comprehend the profession's social and environmental responsibilities, and develop strategic approaches. This study aims to assess how the social impact of interior design aligns with the SDGs, offering an opportunity to explore the relation between discipline and sustainability in a comprehensive manner, considering both environmental and social dimensions. The profession's relations and contribution to the goals was evaluated through a review of current literature. To this end, the year 2015, when the Sustainable Development Goals were adopted, was chosen as the starting point and a bibliometric analysis of studies in the Web of Science database between 2015 and 2023 was carried out. In addition to the analysis function of the WOS database, the bibliometric analysis program Vosviewer was used for data analysis. The results of the analysis show that interior design has a strong relationship with goals such as Climate Action (SDG 13), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), Good Health and Well-Being (SDG 3), and Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7). However, the relationships between Quality Education (SDG 4), Gender Equality (SDG 5) and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10) are not yet at a sufficient level. The findings indicate that interior architecture has the potential to fulfill its social responsibility by supporting the Sustainable Development Goals. Furthermore, in order to foster a more inclusive relationship with the SDGs, Interior Architecture needs to evolve. It is expected that this will enable to create new perspectives and methodologies, both in professional practice and in the academic literature.

Renewable energy and climate finance are among the areas increasingly discussed and researched in the context of sustainable development, energy transition, and climate change mitigation. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis covering 100 scientific articles in English indexed in SCI, SCI-Expanded, and ESCI and scanned in the Web of Science database between 2010 and 2024. According to the analysis, the journal "Energy Policy" has the most publications in its field and has created a central platform for scientific discussions on sustainable energy policy and financing. This underlines the journal's reach and effectiveness. The intensive contributions of Swiss researchers on these topics reflect the country's international activity and academic interest in renewable energy and climate finance. In addition, the most frequently occurring keywords in the analysis are "renewable energy," "policy," and "finance," indicating that the studies focus on these topics. These terms show that most research focuses on developing renewable energy sources, integrating these processes with policy, and improving financial mechanisms. These analyses have identified potential gaps shaping the future research agenda and highlighted new research opportunities.

Revamping doctoral training for a decarbonised future

Over the past decade, energy demand has witnessed a drastic increase, mainly due to huge development in the industry sector and growing populations. This has led to the global utilization of renewable energy resources and technologies to meet this high demand, as fossil fuels are bound to end and are causing harm to the environment. Solar PV (photovoltaic) systems are a renewable energy technology that allows the utilization of solar energy directly from the sun to meet electricity demands. Solar PV has the potential to create a reliable, clean and stable energy systems for the future. This paper discusses the different types and generations of solar PV technologies available, as well as several important applications of solar PV systems, which are “Large-Scale Solar PV”, “Residential Solar PV”, “Green Hydrogen”, “Water Desalination” and “Transportation”. This paper also provides research on the number of solar papers and their applications that relate to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the years between 2011 and 2021. A total of 126,513 papers were analyzed. The results show that 72% of these papers are within SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy. This shows that there is a lack of research in solar energy regarding the SDGs, especially SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 5: Gender Equality, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 10: Reduced Inequality and SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. More research is needed in these fields to create a sustainable world with solar PV technologies.

The global shift toward renewable and green energy highlights the critical role of green energy materials in achieving sustainability goals. This paper focuses on how these materials contribute to the three pillars of sustainability: environmental, economic, and social, in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Green energy materials, including photovoltaic materials, thermoelectric materials, electrochemical storage materials, and other materials appear to play a vital role in meeting these pillars. It is found that using these materials, green and renewable energy is projected to contribute up to 55% of global electricity use by 2030. Green energy materials have achieved the three pillars of sustainability. Environmentally, they help to mitigate climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and protect ecosystems. Economically, these materials foster innovation, create jobs and opportunities, and stimulate economic growth within the green energy sector. Socially, they improve the living standards by providing access to clean energy, reducing health risks, while supporting the development of sustainable cities and communities. By aligning with sustainable development goals, such as clean water, climate action, economic growth, and affordable energy, green energy materials are necessary for achieving a sustainable future. Despite these advances, widespread adoption remains hindered by economic, policy, and technological barriers. Therefore, there is a need for integrative policies, improved lifecycle analysis, and inclusive access to green energy technologies to ensure equitable transition and global sustainability.

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.

Rwanda’s Off-Grid Solar Performance Targets

The Role of Good Governance in Driving and Promoting Sustainable Development in the Provision of Off-Grid Electricity Solutions in Nigeria

Major US electric utility climate pledges have the potential to collectively reduce power sector emissions by one-third

Obesity and being overweight are significant risk factors for diseases and disabilities, making it crucial to address malnutrition in all its forms to ensure health and well-being for all, as well as to achieve sustainable development. This study conducted a bibliometric analysis of research on obesity in relation to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) using data from the Web of Science database from 2015 to 2024 and the VOSviewer software. The findings revealed that while research on obesity and SDGs has grown slowly, SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) is predominant in the literature. This study highlighted the fragmentation of research due to the complex, multifactorial nature of obesity, emphasizing the need for a more holistic approach. Furthermore, international collaborations were found to be vital for advancing research and formulating effective public policies. This analysis also identified gaps in the research related to several SDGs, including education (SDG 4), affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), and partnerships (SDG 17), suggesting the need for a broader, more holistic approach. Additionally, emerging research related to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) underscores the importance of urban environments in tackling obesity. In conclusion, future research should adopt an interdisciplinary approach to address these gaps and contribute to advancing the 2030 Agenda.

This study presents a detailed literature review on financing for renewable and sustainable energy through bibliometric analysis and scientific mapping, utilizing the Scopus database from 2000 to 2023. Using network analysis techniques, it identifies eight main clusters, each focusing on different aspects of financing renewable energy and their geographic and technical contexts. The study highlights the most frequently cited articles, notable authors, key institutions, affiliations, and journals in sustainable energy finance. A random effects model meta-analysis was also conducted to assess the overall effect size of each research stream. Findings indicate that the literature on renewable energy finance has expanded since 2000 and exhibits considerable diversity. The study pinpoints five major themes suitable for discussion and exploration of new research questions: (i) the role of Fintech in renewable energy finance, (ii) the regulatory framework governing renewable energy finance, (iii) the economic feasibility of renewable energy in emerging markets, (iv) the influence of private and public finance on renewable energy development, and (v) the relationship between renewable energy finance and sustainable development goals. The insights from this study aim to inspire and equip readers as they embark on their inquiries into the connections between energy investment, policy, finance, and behavioral sciences. Following identifying research gaps, this paper outlines potential future research directions. It serves as a thorough resource on current trends in sustainable energy investments and recommends viable research topics, thus benefiting researchers, professionals, and policymakers alike.

The paper aims to examine the trends and evolution of ecotourism research in the last 20 years, highlighting co-citations, collaborations, and emerging research themes. A total of 1387 ecotourism-related research from the Web of Science (WoS) database from 1991 to 2021 were analyzed in some bibliometric analyses using CiteSpace V software. The WoS database was scanned using the terms “ecotourism” and “eco-tourism.” While scanning, the “Hospitality, Leisure, Sport, and Tourism” field was selected for filtering, and articles published by September 12, 2021, were accessed. The most frequently studied cluster of topics related to ecotourism includes the creation of local benefits, ecotourism intentions, and community empowerment. The three most frequently used keywords related to ecotourism are “ecotourism,” “tourism,” and “conservation.” The outcome of this research constitutes a unique contribution to the area of ecotourism. The study provides an in-depth bibliometric analysis of publications and identification of important research trends. It also identifies possible avenues for future research in the knowledge domain of ecotourism.

To conduct a bibliometric analysis, several researchers retrieve publications from Scopus or/and Web of Science (WOS) databases. When these scholars consider both Scopus and WOS databases, they mostly make two bibliometric analysis: one from Scopus database and the other from WOS database. A few researchers merge the two databases to conduct a single analysis, but they do not specify how they did it. This paper aims to advance the bibliometric analysis by addressing two points. First, this research claims that making a bibliometric analysis that takes information from Scopus or/and separately from WOS cannot give a broader view of knowledge and tendencies in a field. To prove this claim, we retrieve papers from Scopus and WOS databases to make a bibliometric analysis of sales force literature that covers from 1912 to 2019. Results show that there are many disparities between WOS and merged database, and between this latter and WOS database regarding bibliometric analyses, especially among primary productive authors, the most influential papers, and keyword occurrences. Second, this research proposes a four-step procedure that merges these two databases to allow more reliable bibliometric analyses. This procedure was explicitly shown by using the bibliometric analysis of sales force literature during 1912–2019.

We are faced with chronic water and energy vulnerabilities. Some argue that we will face two crises in the 21st century: a water crisis and an energy crisis (Brown 1998, 2003, Flavin 1999, Feffer 2008). Water will become increasingly scarce as water tables drop due to over-consumption and water quality will continue to deteriorate as a result of excessive contamination. Further, the present energy regime’s dependence on non-renewable sources has added considerable stress to the environment, including the prospect of climate change (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2007). We are amidst a situation where we could be easily blamed for compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. This paper first briefly describes a need for understanding the integrated considerations of water and energy in resource planning, especially during droughts. After introducing a conceptual framework of the water-energy integration, this paper reviews the results of a national survey of energy and water departments to see how these synergic benefits are explored at the state level. Lessons learned from our case studies serve as useful guidelines for state water-energy planning and program development. Finally, as an example case of the water-energy nexus, the concept of desalination is introduced with its implication on energy demand.