This chapter is designed to highlight the importance of small hydropower plants (SHP) in different categories, discuss hydro turbines already available, policies and laws, and mark hurdles and barriers with which small hydropower are due to coping. Hydro turbines are categorized, listed with organizations, companies and institutions instrumental in the process of development of SHPs. The latest evaluations in the field of SHPs are briefed, latest technologies and ideas of SHPs are highlighted. A summary of the design parameters required for small hydro turbine performance is discussed, latest software with numerical techniques, governing equations used for modelling and simulation of the hydro turbine as well as hydropower projects are also suggested to deal with hydropower problems.

Many academics have lately examined solar assisted geothermal heat pump systems as it was revealed that they boosted the ratio of renewable energies. This chapter intends to provide a complete review of solar assisted geothermal heat pump systems research in order to assist attributive comparison of recent studies. Three types of solar assisted geothermal heat pump systems, as well as current technological breakthroughs, are introduced: geothermal heat pump integrated photovoltaic panels, geothermal heat pump integrated thermal collectors, and geothermal heat pump integrated photovoltaic thermal collectors. Aside from the discussion of fundamental system structure, numerous analytical methodologies from the perspectives of energy, economy, and environment are offered. Finally, because there is a general lack of study on how to enhance solar assisted geothermal heat pump systems to match for improved efficiency, future directions for research and advances in this sector are addressed.

The energy transition toward low-carbon sources necessarily involves the integration of large-scale electricity generation from renewable resources. Due to land area restrictions, several countries will face limitations to their solar photovoltaic energy generation potential. In this way, wind energy will gain more relevance. As large-scale wind generation projects involve high complexity and capital cost, the economic analysis of these investments becomes fundamental. This study provides state-of-the-art in the literature on the economic feasibility of wind energy generation through a systematic literature review. In particular, this chapter evidences the growing interest in evaluating the technical-economic viability of wind power generation systems and highlights that, in recent years, research involving investment in offshore wind energy has gained prominence. Within the analyzed articles, there was a concentration of interest in China, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Spain, the United States, Iran, and Brazil, opening up a wide range of study opportunities to assess the economic viability of wind power generation in other locations. Furthermore, international collaborative research is still not widespread and should be encouraged. The mathematical modeling of financial responses and the quality and reliability of the network and its optimization in multiobjective models emerges as a possible point to be further explored in the literature that involves the economic analysis of the generation of wind energy. Finally, some relevant economic parameters such as net present value, (NPV),internal rate of return, weighted average capital cost, and capital asset pricing model do not appear among the most relevant terms in the analyzed sample, which may indicate a gap in the literature to be explored.

Space cooling is one of the highest energy-consuming areas in the world. A vapor absorption cooling system (VACS) runs on heat energy. This heat energy can be gained from solar energy, geothermal, waste heat from any power plant, natural oils, fuels, etc. Also, it operates with natural working pairs that seem to be economical and eco-friendly space-cooling technology. As the requirement of space cooling is directly proportional to solar heat, if space cooling can be operated by solar heat then it will be the best supply and demand matching. However, this system has several research challenges such as lower performance, bulkier size, and cost in comparison to the vapor compression cooling system. The objective of the present research is to identify the various factors influencing the performance of solar-operated vapor absorption cooling systems. Also, the present book chapter is a review of existing literature based on the thermodynamic performance of VACS under water-based pairs. Moreover, the systems have been categorized and inferred on the following vital factors: (1) cascading effects, (2) salt mixtures, (3) parameter selection, and (4) generator temperature as the critical parameters in solar collector selection. These factors give complete prior insight for further research in enhancing the performance of VACS. Optimal outcomes from each configuration of VACS are described. The effect of generator temperature has also been discussed, along with their corresponding coefficient of performance and exergy coefficient of performance levels. These data can be used to choose acceptable operating parameters and design conditions for an established solar collector or to choose a suitable solar collector for different configurations of VACS.

A growing body of literature is focused on analyzing the eventual contribution of financial development to renewable energy consumption. These studies have commonly used one or few proxies of financial development such as broad money (% of GDP) or domestic credit provided by the financial sector (% of GDP). Nevertheless, given the complex, multidimensional nature of financial development, these proxies may only serve as a rough estimate and do not fully capture all aspects of financial development. In addition, these studies have found different results, indicating possible misleading conclusions in analyzing this kind of relationship. Particular attention should thus be given to the choice of the measurement method of financial development. Accordingly, this chapter aims first to give a global overview of the methodological framework to investigate the contribution of financial development to renewable energy consumption by presenting the different possible measurement methods of financial development. Second, an alternative procedure is suggested, based on the use of the Financial Development Index proposed by the International Monetary Fund, which aggregates a large number of financial indicators. In addition, a second-generation panel econometrics estimation technique is suggested, which takes into consideration the eventual cross-sectional dependence between panels. This recommended procedure is supposed to lead to more accurate results. Empirical validation for the case of lower-middle-income countries reveals that there is no evidence of causal relationships in both directions.

Photovoltaic (PV) module reliability is of prime importance for the mass deployment of PV modules worldwide. There are multiple modes of degradation in PV modules, herein, optical losses leading to electrical losses are commonly observed. Defects such as encapsulant discoloration, delamination, and glass abrasions could give rise to such losses. The module quantum efficiency system forms an important tool for detection and in-depth analysis of such defects. However, this important tool is primarily utilized for cell characterization. This book chapter presents the concept and application of module quantum efficiency for detailed PV module reliability analysis and validates its effectiveness and value to the current PV module qualification standards.

This chapter presents the main challenges for the sustainable development of hydropower plants and proposes a set of procedures and methodologies based on the Brazilian experience to solve these issues. These solutions are divided into five major themes: construction and operation strategies, environmental conservation initiatives, institutional articulation, communication, and social interaction, and sustainability management. The issues presented and discussed in this chapter are relevant for the adoption of the concept of sustainable hydropower as a contribution to a robust energy transition, to reduce the carbon intensity of electric power generation and contribute to achieving greenhouse gas emissions targets. The proposed actions for sustainable Hydropower can promote the improvement of environmental services and the protection of biodiversity, thus aligning with ecosystem-based adaptation strategies.

Solar energy, if properly exploited, could offer an undeniable potential to fulfill the world energy demand and alleviate energy security concerns and environmental issues. This chapter introduces the solar thermal systems. It starts by presenting different solar thermal collectors technologies as well as the main applications such as power generation, heating, cooling, drying, and desalination. The advantages, limitations, and latest advancements associated with each technology are also discussed. Then, it provides an exhaustive analysis of the energy and economic indicators for assessing the solar systems' performance. Through this chapter, it was concluded that solar thermal systems could contribute strongly to sustainable energy production and utilization. Nonetheless, their widespread use is still limited by low performance, high capital cost, and intermittence shortcomings. In this context, the challenges for promoting these systems are discussed, and a series of recommendations are outlined to provide the readers with a clear idea about the future research trend in this field.

Carbon neutrality and net zero emissions are the focal points of the discussion within public and private institutions. In this context, renewables are bound to become the fuel for the next generation of energy, mobility, and urban technologies. Since the start of the energy transition, a few key technologies have risen as promising, sustainable, and scalable alternatives. The use of photocatalysis for hydrogen production is among the technological tools better equipped for the large scale. Its core feature and strength is its simplicity. Photocatalysis uses water as its only substrate, mimicking the process of natural photosynthesis. But unlike its natural counterpart, photosynthesis, this artificial process requires a versatile catalyst and an energy input to initiate the charge transfer and fuel the two half-reactions that will split water into oxygen and hydrogen. To date, no bare material has been described to undergo the efficient chain of activation steps. For that reason, different carbon nitrides and titanium oxides have been selected and presented in this book chapter to showcase the potential of this fast-moving field to enhance hydrogen photoproduction while surpassing semiconductor limitations. Further research is needed to achieve the desired technological transfer and scale-up in terms of synthetic protocols and reactor design. Leveraging artificial intelligence for the rational design of single-atom catalysts may be the key to overcoming the current limitations.

This chapter reported an overview of renewable energy (RE) development in Taiwan over the two past decades and its relevant sustainable development policies. First, the background about the Taiwan's energy environment indicators and RE power was presented. The updated statistics of energy/electricity supply, energy/electricity consumption, RE power, and greenhouse gas emissions in Taiwan were obtained from the national reports and/or official websites. Subsequently, the sustainability policies for promoting RE power in Taiwan and “Taiwan's Pathway to Net-Zero Emissions in 2050” were addressed to be in response to the international trends and national situations. Under the authorization of the Renewable Energy Development Act since 2009, the regulatory incentives for promoting RE power in Taiwan were summarized to echo its significant progress. In this regard, the feed-in tariffs scheme played a determining role in the development of RE power generation. For instance, the electricity generation by solar photovoltaic (PV) power indicated a soaring growth, increasing from 9.1 GWh in 2009 to 7920.3GWh in 2021. Correspondingly, the total installed capacity of solar PV power showed an amazing increase from 10.0 MW in 2009 to 7700.0 MW in 2021. Based on the results of trend analysis, the promotion objectives for more than 27GW of RE power by 2025 may be prospective.