Energy Availability Research Articles

Triad of female athletes

The female sports triad is a spectrum of dysfunctions related to energy availability, menstrual function, and bone mineral density. Energy availability is considered the trigger for the triad. Scientists have proven that women who do sports consume approximately 30% less energy and carbohydrates in relation to their body weight. Sufficient energy availability ensures the presence of a menstrual cycle, directly affects the stimulation of the production of female sex hormones (estrogen in particular). Thus, it prevents resorption of bone tissue. When energy availability is too low, a physiological mechanism reduces the amount of energy used for cell maintenance, thermoregulation, growth, and reproductive function. This compensation tends to restore energy balance and promotes survival, but impairs health. Low body weight in women of reproductive age, particularly in adolescence and the first reproductive age, is a biological marker of somatic and reproductive dysfunction. Osteoporosis in young female athletes is manifested by fractures unusual for young women or by frequent and multiple bone fractures during an athletic career. In this review article, an analytical review of literary and informational sources regarding the history of research on the problem of the triad of female athletes is carried out. The specifics of the negative impact of the athlete triad on the female body, the components of the athlete triad (amenorrhea, eating disorders, and osteoporosis) are examined in detail. The article focuses on its main cause - energy imbalance. The impact of the triad of female athletes on the psyche and behavior is considered. The question of its consequences for health both in the short-term and in the long-term perspective is considered. The prevention of RED-S syndrome was also investigated. The purpose of the study: Systematization of current knowledge about the triad of female athletes (relative energy deficiency syndrome (RED-S)). Research methods. Theoretical analysis of literary sources, systematization, generalization of scientific-methodical and special literature.

Global status and prospects for hybrid hydrogen-natural gas systems for power plants in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract With the lowest power access rate in the world (51.4%), Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing a severe energy crisis. Many of the region’s countries report access rates of less than 20%. Even though Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest global greenhouse gas emissions, the region still suffers from climate change, especially extreme droughts. Efforts to tackle these issues by implementing a macro-grid system that integrates natural gas and renewable energy resources have not been successful in reducing the adverse environmental effects and energy poverty. This study highlights research on the technological approaches used in hybrid hydrogen/natural gas in heavy-duty dual-fuel power plants, their benefits and drawbacks, and their economic viability. The goal of this is to suggest an improved and more reliable hub energy system for Sub-Saharan Africa. While all countries in Sub-Saharan Africa utilize natural gas plants, only 17% are involved in hydrogen production, and none have implemented hybrid methods for electrical energy generation. Studies using experimental and numerical analyses have shown that adding hydrogen to natural gas plants increases overall efficiency and lowers CO2 emissions. Furthermore, this research introduces an energy hub approach that incorporates carbon capture and power-to-X technologies, potentially improving efficiency by 42%. These strategies not only support environmental sustainability but also provide economic advantages by decreasing operational and financial losses in power plants. The results reveal a new pathway for the region’s transition to sustainable energy: identifying key locations for the technological and economic viability of hybrid hydrogen/natural gas power plants in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Latency Analysis of Drone-Assisted C-V2X Communications for Basic Safety and Co-Operative Perception Messages

Drone-assisted radio communication is revolutionizing future wireless networks, including sixth-generation (6G) and beyond, by providing unobstructed, line-of-sight links from air to terrestrial vehicles, enabling robust cellular cehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) communication networks. However, addressing communication latency is imperative, especially when considering autonomous vehicles. In this study, we analyze different types of delay and the factors impacting them in drone-assisted C-V2X networks. We specifically investigate C-V2X Mode 4, where multiple vehicles utilize available transmission windows to communicate the frequently collected sensor data with an embedded drone server. Through a discrete-time Markov model, we assess the medium access control (MAC) layer performance, analyzing the trade-off between data rates and communication latency. Furthermore, we compare the delay between cooperative perception messages (CPMs) and periodically transmitted basic safety messages (BSMs). Our simulation results emphasize the significance of optimizing BSM and CPM transmission intervals to achieve lower average delay as well as utilization of drones’ battery power to serve the maximum number of vehicles in a transmission time interval (TTI). The results also reveal that the average delay heavily depends on the packet arrival rate while the processing delay varies with the drone occupancy and state-transition rates for both BSM and CPM packets. Furthermore, an optimal policy approximates a threshold-based policy in which the threshold depends on the drone utilization and energy availability.

Sustainable Energy Solutions in Sub-Saharan Africa: Integrating Indigenous Knowledge and Climate Resilience for Lower Carbon Emissions

Promoting sustainable energy solutions in sub-Saharan countries is crucial for addressing energy poverty, reducing carbon emissions, and fostering long-term environmental and economic sustainability. This study explored using indigenous knowledge and emerging technologies to reduce carbon footprints and GHG emissions in Africa's climate hotspots in sub-Saharan countries. The study revealed that operating institutions utilize various applications to ensure that energy management resources can mitigate the effects of carbon emissions. The study revealed that the most efficient use of natural resources for energy production requires collaboration among governments, private sectors, NGOs, and local communities. By adopting a holistic and inclusive approach, one can work toward a more sustainable and low-carbon energy future. This paper focuses on carbon footprint analysis and proposes solutions to address environmental issues in implementing sustainable energy solutions in sub-Saharan countries. A multifaceted approach involving effective strategies is needed to lower the carbon footprint. The contribution of this study is to improve energy consumption in communities in Africa by integrating climate resilience considerations into sustainable energy projects to ensure long-term viability. This will involve planning for changing climate conditions, such as extreme weather events, and designing infrastructure that can withstand and adapt to these challenges. It has been concluded that carbon footprint analysis is useful for determining the impacts of carbon particles in the world’s atmosphere. The role of energy management operations seeks to improve the assessment and analysis of carbon footprints by allowing atmospheric measurements of carbon.

Prejudices May Be Wrong: Exploring Spatial Patterns of Vulnerability to Energy Poverty in Italian Metropolitan Areas

Prejudices May Be Wrong: Exploring Spatial Patterns of Vulnerability to Energy Poverty in Italian Metropolitan Areas

Ascophyllum nodosum Extract Improves Olive Performance Under Water Deficit Through the Modulation of Molecular and Physiological Processes.

The olive tree is well adapted to the Mediterranean climate, but how orchards based on intensive practices will respond to increasing drought is unknown. This study aimed to determine if the application of a commercial biostimulant improves olive tolerance to drought. Potted plants (cultivars Arbequina and Galega) were pre-treated with an extract of Ascophyllum nodosum (four applications, 200 mL of 0.50 g/L extract per plant), and were then well irrigated (100% field capacity) or exposed to water deficit (50% field capacity) for 69 days. Plant height, photosynthesis, water status, pigments, lipophilic compounds, and the expression of stress protective genes (OeDHN1-protective proteins' dehydrin; OePIP1.1-aquaporin; and OeHSP18.3-heat shock proteins) were analyzed. Water deficit negatively affected olive physiology, but the biostimulant mitigated these damages through the modulation of molecular and physiological processes according to the cultivar and irrigation. A. nodosum benefits were more expressive under water deficit, particularly in Galega, promoting height (increase of 15%) and photosynthesis (increase of 34%), modulating the stomatal aperture through the regulation of OePIP1.1 expression, and keeping OeDHN1 and OeHSP18.3 upregulated to strengthen stress protection. In both cultivars, biostimulant promoted carbohydrate accumulation and intrinsic water-use efficiency (iWUE). Under good irrigation, biostimulant increased energy availability and iWUE in Galega. These data highlight the potential of this biostimulant to improve olive performance, providing higher tolerance to overcome climate change scenarios. The use of this biostimulant can improve the establishment of younger olive trees in the field, strengthen the plant's capacity to withstand field stresses, and lead to higher growth and crop productivity.

Energy Availability and Body Composition in Professional Athletes: Two Sides of the Same Coin

Background/Objectives: Energy availability (EA) is essential for maintaining physiological functions, significantly influencing athletes’ health and performance. Nutritional behaviors, however, vary across sports. This study aims to assess EA levels in athletes from different disciplines, focusing on the relationship between EA and body composition in endurance athletes compared to rugby players. Methods: This study involved 18 endurance athletes (15 men, 3 women) and 36 rugby players (all men). Data were gathered through interviews, questionnaires, and bioimpedance analysis. Energy intake (EI) was measured with a 24 h dietary recall, and exercise energy expenditure (EEE) was calculated using the IPAQ questionnaire. EA was calculated as EA = (EI − EEE)/fat-free mass (FFM), with results categorized into clinical, subclinical, and optimal ranges. Results: The endurance group had a lower average FFM (57.81 kg) compared to the rugby players (67.61 kg). EA was also significantly lower in endurance athletes (11.72 kcal/kg FFM) than in rugby players (35.44 kcal/kg FFM). Endurance athletes showed more restrictive nutritional behavior with lower EI and higher EEE, but both groups maintained body composition within normal ranges. Conclusions: Endurance athletes exhibit greater nutritional restrictions compared to rugby players, though their body composition remains healthy. Further research is required to investigate the long-term effects of low EA on performance, injury risk, and potential impairment when EA falls below the optimal threshold of 45 kcal/kg FFM/day.

Pobreza Energética en Chorrera Mirador: Implementación y Monitoreo de un Sistema Híbrido Solar-Eólico

This work studies energy poverty in the community of Chorrera Mirador, located in Chimborazo, Ecuador. Energy poverty, defined as the inability to cover basic energy needs such as heating, cooking, and refrigeration, affects rural areas of Latin America. In Ecuador, this problem is exacerbated in rural areas, where more than half of the population suffers from it. The article proposes a methodology to measure energy poverty using the multidimensional energy poverty index (MEPI), which evaluates multiple conditions associated with this problem in households. The results reveal moderate energy poverty in the community, which justifies the implementation of a hybrid solar and wind renewable energy system (SHER) to mitigate it. The SHER was sized based on the daily energy demand and the solar and wind resources available in the area. A data collection system is included to monitor the voltage stability and power production of the system. The results demonstrate the functionality of the system and its ability to satisfy the energy demand of the community. The study concludes that the implementation of the SHER, together with the use of low-consumption lighting elements, contributes to mitigating energy poverty in the Chorrera Mirador community, improving the quality of life of its inhabitants. In addition, the data collection system allows for long-term analysis, which makes it easier to identify possible improvements and strategies to optimize its operation

Watt’s fair in Mumbai: intermediaries’ impact on energy justice in informal settlements

Abstract India’s ongoing energy transitions are a systemic response to addressing critical challenges associated with climate change. Importantly, it leverages decarbonization as a strategic pivot to simultaneously mitigate and adapt to climate risks. The decarbonization agenda is largely skewed towards mitigation, struggling with adaptation alignments. Energy justice is a core dimension of adaptation intervention and it is important to explore how energy justice is or can be conceptualized and delivered as the decarbonization agenda is underway. Existing research suggests that, in the cities of the Global South, active involvement of intermediaries becomes a pivotal anchor and pathway to access infrastructure services, especially in low-income and informal settlements. Importantly, advocacy efforts by intermediaries also tackle existing injustices that restrict these settlements from accessing essential infrastructure services. Intermediaries become especially important in cities like Mumbai, where 41% of the people live in informal settlements (slums). Using Mumbai as a case study, this paper explores two questions in the context of intermediaries, energy access, and energy justice. First, how do intermediaries engage with infrastructure and governance structures to enable access to electricity in informal settlements? Second, does this ‘intermediation’ deliver just outcomes? Empirical fieldwork reveals that intermediaries serve as a quasi-political counterbalance by engaging in ‘politics from the bottom’ to articulate justice concerns, mobilize stakeholders, and produce knowledge that feeds back into the intermediation process. We argue that this is important if we need to ensure that energy transitions do not create systemic inequities and that the benefits of the ongoing transition are widespread and just.

Transient transition from stable to dissipative assemblies in response to the spatiotemporal availability of a chemical fuel

The transition from inactive to active matter implies a transition from thermodynamically stable to energy‐dissipating structures. Here, we show how the spatiotemporal availability of a chemical fuel causes a thermodynamically stable self‐assembled structure to transiently pass to an energy‐dissipating state. The system relies on the local injection of a weak affinity phosphodiester substrate into an agarose hydrogel containing surfactant‐based structures templated by ATP. Injection of substrate leads to the inclusion of additional surfactant molecules in the assemblies leading to the formation of catalytic hotspots for substrate conversion. After the local disappearance of the substrate as a result of chemical conversion and diffusion the assemblies spontaneously return to the stable state, which can be reactivated upon the injection of a new batch of fuel. The study illustrates how a dissipating self‐assembled system can cope with the intermittent availability of chemical energy without compromising long‐term structural stability.

Transient transition from stable to dissipative assemblies in response to the spatiotemporal availability of a chemical fuel.

The transition from inactive to active matter implies a transition from thermodynamically stable to energy-dissipating structures. Here, we show how the spatiotemporal availability of a chemical fuel causes a thermodynamically stable self-assembled structure to transiently pass to an energy-dissipating state. The system relies on the local injection of a weak affinity phosphodiester substrate into an agarose hydrogel containing surfactant-based structures templated by ATP. Injection of substrate leads to the inclusion of additional surfactant molecules in the assemblies leading to the formation of catalytic hotspots for substrate conversion. After the local disappearance of the substrate as a result of chemical conversion and diffusion the assemblies spontaneously return to the stable state, which can be reactivated upon the injection of a new batch of fuel. The study illustrates how a dissipating self-assembled system can cope with the intermittent availability of chemical energy without compromising long-term structural stability.

Cooking Energy, Health, and Happiness of Women in Nigeria

This study utilizes novel data to investigate the impact of cooking energy sources and indoor air pollution on the happiness, life satisfaction, physical, and mental health of women in Nigeria. The existing body of literature relies on ambient air pollution data, which can be limiting in resource-constrained settings. To address this gap, we employ a direct approach, measuring Carbon Monoxide (CO) levels in participants’ blood using the Rad-57 CO-oximeter. Our analysis reveals strong positive correlations between the utilization of clean cooking energy and women’s reported happiness and life satisfaction. Additionally, the study finds that clean cooking energy usage is associated with a significant reduction in mental health problems among women. These findings highlight a substantial disparity in well-being based on access to clean cooking energy sources. Furthermore, exposure to carbon monoxide, as measured in this study, demonstrates a detrimental effect on women’s health and overall well-being. Consequently, policymakers and stakeholders should prioritize initiatives that promote household energy access and facilitate the transition to clean cooking practices, especially in rural areas where the use of polluting fuels and exposure to indoor air pollution remain prevalent concerns. JEL Classification: D12, I31, I100, Q420.

Dominant factors for solar energy choice by Manufacturing Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs’) in Tanzania

Energy demand by manufacturing industries has increased significantly whereby fossil fuels consumption is dominant. Increased concern over resource depletion, and environmental impacts, suggests future dependence on renewable energies. Tanzania is blessed with abundant solar energy and its exploitation may contribute to increased energy access. Despite the paybacks of renewable energy, studies on the exploration of the dominant factors for energy choice by manufacturing MSME’s are scarce. This study explored the dominant factors for solar energy choice by manufacturing MSME’s. Questionnaires were used to collect data (n = 236) from employees in manufacturing MSMEs’ whereby descriptive and multinomial probit (MNP) model were employed to establish the dominant factors. The findings of MNP revealed that not expensive energy, and other factors (e.g., availability of solar appliances) have significant influence on solar PV use, while the adoption of hydro-electricity was significantly influenced by not expensive and advised to use energy. Easy access, and not expensive have significant influence on fossil fuels. The Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) results revealed that all factors (i.e., environmental, social, and economic) have significant influence on workers perception of sustainable manufacturing. These findings provide critical information for policy making instruments in Tanzania for informed decisions in the formulation of policies in the utilization of renewable energy technologies.

Energy-Mix Diversification and Renewable Energy Development in Nigeria and South Africa

The increasing global demand for energy access and security is a critical issue that has significant implications for sustainable development, economic growth, and environmental sustainability worldwide. Perhaps more specifically, this development has continued to be a major source of concerns for the energy sector development in both Nigeria and South Africa. Renewable energy plays a crucial role in addressing the problem of greenhouse gas emissions by offering clean and sustainable alternatives to fossil fuel-based electricity generation. The adoption of renewable energy alternatives in both countries to provide clean and reliable power supply to their citizens is a major step at attempting to alleviate the effects of greenhouse emissions. In the quest for sustainable energy systems and reduced reliance on fossil fuels, countries around the world are increasingly turning towards energy mix diversification and the development of renewable alternatives. This paper focuses on the efforts of Nigeria and South Africa in diversifying their energy mixes and promoting the development of renewable energy sources to meet their growing energy needs while addressing environmental concerns and fostering sustainable development. Finally, it presents recommendations on the steps that can further drive the integration of renewable energy technologies into the present energy mix of both countries.

A concise review towards a novel target specific multi-source unsupervised transfer learning technique for GDP estimation using CO2 emission data

Though economic growths of most of the nations have seen exponential rise due to industrialization, it has also caused proportional increase in their carbon emissions. This paper exploits this proportionate relationship of carbon emission with GDP to predict the per-capita GDP of those nations whose GDP values are missing in the world bank database. The reason behind the same was, those countries were either war-torn or politically isolated/unstable. To achieve the objective of predicting the missing GDP values of those countries from their carbon emissions, this paper exploits the non-linear relationship among the carbon emissions from solid fuels, liquid fuels, and gaseous fuels. It is so because even the differential utilization of these fuels impact economy differently. Use of traditional solid fuel for cooking points toward energy poverty, and access to clean cooking gas indicates higher living standard. However, the available data from the war-torn or isolated countries are very little, and hence insufficient for building a robust predictive machine learning model. So, this paper employs multi-source unsupervised transfer learning to precisely estimate the missing per-capita GDP of those nations. It suitably enlarges the training domains for the prediction models to be more robust. We empirically evaluate the proposed methodology for different regression techniques to estimate the missing GDP values of eleven different nations belonging to diverse strata of economies viz. developed economies, developing, and/or least developing economies. Proposed methodology profoundly improves the prediction preciseness of these regression techniques in estimating the missing per-capita GDP of the considered nations.

Effect of Energy Poverty Alleviation on High-Quality Economic Development: An Empirical Study Based on China

High-quality development (HQD) has been listed as the first and foremost task in building a modern socialist country in all respects and also an overarching issue of China’s economic and social development in the new era. To achieve economic HQD, a key approach lies in integrating energy development with poverty alleviation and fully leveraging the foundational role of energy infrastructure and supply services in reducing poverty. Using the provincial panel data from 2007 to 2017, this paper analyzes the impact of energy poverty alleviation on economic HQD from multiple dimensions in an empirical way and draws the following conclusions: first, energy poverty alleviation drives the economic growth of China’s eastern region and western region, but it cannot effectively promote the synchronous economic growth of the central region, thereby resulting in a greater imbalance in regional development; second, energy poverty alleviation has an effect on reducing the urban–rural income inequality, and such an effect is more significant in the western region; and finally, energy poverty alleviation has a significant effect on promoting economic HQD, and the effect is more significant in the central region and the western region. Furthermore, the transmission mechanism of energy poverty alleviation driving HQD is tested. It is found that energy poverty alleviation can drive HQD by promoting urbanization and technological progress.

Determinants of the Relationship between Wholesale and Retail Energy Prices in the Czech Republic

Rising energy prices have become a focus of interest for politicians at the international, European, and national levels. Energy prices are the main determinant of profitability or even the existence of the industrial sector. So, it is accepted that energy policy aims to ensure a secure, sustainable, competitive, and affordable energy supply for households and businesses. However, the recent geopolitical situation has significantly affected the energy policy of the European Union, raising concerns about energy security and an energy crisis. This crisis has had social, economic, and political consequences, including energy poverty. In this context, it is essential to understand the determinants of the relationship between wholesale and retail energy prices. This paper presents a model proposal to be used by the Czech Energy Regulatory Authority. The model of average retail prices depends on the type of contract - spot or forward, with the three-year forward contract having the largest weight on the retail price. Therefore, our study shows that long-term contracts significantly impact retail energy prices, highlighting the importance of regulatory monitoring of market strategies. Methodologically, the model is based on a multivariate regression analysis solved with the least absolute deviations and data for the period 2012 to 2023. The findings of the study contribute to a better understanding of the complexity of the dynamics of energy prices and support policymakers while attempting to ensure energy affordability and sustainability.

Cost Apportionment Method for Transmission and Distribution Projects Based on Multiple Apportionment Factors

In today’s society, sustainability has become a key theme, and utilizing renewable energy is part of sustainability. Under the high proportion of renewable energy access, the conventional grid is gradually shifting to an active and distributed structure, which makes the existing cost apportionment method of transmission and distribution projects unable to match the actual situation. Reasonable apportionment of the costs of different voltage levels is the basis for the evaluation of transmission and distribution projects and is important for the formulation of transmission and distribution tariffs, which in turn have a significant impact on the development of renewable energy. To this end, this paper takes China’s power system as the research object and firstly analyzes the impact of the activization of the grid on the cost apportionment of transmission and distribution projects and then the inadequacy of the existing cost apportionment, which only considers a single factor and part of the cost which should be apportioned downward is still borne by this voltage level, and then combines the activation and the inherent characteristics of the power grid to extract the multiple factors to be considered for cost apportionment, and at the same time takes into account the reverse direction of the power trend, and divides the cost apportionment into two scenarios. The cost sharing model of transmission and distribution projects based on multiple apportionment factors is established. Finally, the feasibility and applicability of the model are verified by the examples of linear and reticulated grids, and the cost sharing results obtained by this method and the traditional method are compared. Using this method for the cost sharing of transmission and distribution projects, lower voltage levels will share more costs, and higher voltage levels will share fewer costs. The results show that the inclusion of the factors affecting cost sharing in the case of an active grid is more in line with the development trend of the new power system; the cost apportionment method based on multiple sharing factors makes the results fairer; and the inclusion of the power trend conduction relationship in the sharing process reflects the essential attributes of the grid. This is conducive to improving the operational efficiency of the power grid and promoting the long-term sustainability of the power system.

US federal resource allocations are inconsistent with concentrations of energy poverty.

Recent data from the US Energy Information Administration reveals that nearly one in three households in the United States report experiencing energy poverty, and this number is only expected to rise. Federal assistance programs exist, but allocations across states have been nearly static since 1984, while the distribution of energy poverty is dynamic in location and time. We implement a LASSO-based machine learning approach using sociodemographic and geographical information to estimate energy burden in each US census tract for 2015 and 2020. We then compare the allocation to states from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to an optimized allocation. We allocate funds to the most burdened households, providing them with enough assistance to reduce their energy expenditures so that their household energy burden is equal to a new maximum allowable energy burden. This markedly shifts funds from the northern cold-weather states to the southern warm-weather states.

Exploring Portuguese Consumers’ Behavior Regarding Sustainable Wine: An Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior

Although consumption is the cornerstone of economic growth, it is unquestionably one of the main reasons for the current degradation of the planet. Hence, it is necessary to understand consumers’ different perceptions and behaviors regarding sustainable goods, as the solution will inevitably involve changing behaviors and promoting more sustainable consumption. In light of the challenges posed by sustainability within the wine sector, namely issues related to climate change, chemical exposure, and the availability of water and energy, and considering the industry’s substantial environmental and social impacts, it is important to understand the factors influencing wine consumer behavior. This research explores sustainable wine consumption in Portugal. Based on a sample of 197 valid responses, collected in an online survey that took place from March 20 to April 30 of 2024, and applying the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) framework, the current study found that consumers’ intention to consume sustainable wine is influenced by their attitudes, subjective norms, and sustainability awareness. Regarding the individuals’ consumption of sustainable wine, this behavior is influenced by the intention to consume this wine, and by consumers’ perceived behavioral control. The results also concluded that individuals’ intention to consume sustainable wine is significantly different across marital status, professional occupation, level of education, and age. With these valuable insights, this study aimed to increase the available information on sustainable wine consumption, allowing different stakeholders, namely political decision makers, to develop and implement more efficient measures to promote sustainable wine consumption.