Sustainable Energy Research Articles

Sustainable synergy: exploring the nexus of green initiatives and digitalization in gulf countries – a comprehensive study on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) indicators

Purpose This research investigates the trajectory of Gulf region, focusing on the interplay between environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors and key elements – digital economy, green economy (GE), green finance, green energy and green innovation. This study aims to provide a nuanced understanding of how Gulf economies align their developmental pursuits with sustainability principles amidst the rapid evolution of digital technologies. Design/methodology/approach A data set of 95 listed companies from six Gulf Cooperation Council countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – from year 2016 to 2022 was compiled from reputable sources. Using fixed effect regression techniques, this study explores relationships, accounting for individual and time-specific variations. Findings This study indicates that key factors – digital economy, GE, green energy and green innovation – significantly influence ESG performance across Gulf nations underscoring the potential for strategic integration of these elements to enhance sustainable practices. However, the nonsignificant impact of green finance highlights a need for further exploration and refinement of financial mechanisms to effectively contribute to ESG goals in the Gulf region. Research limitations/implications The findings underscore the importance for Gulf policymakers to prioritize ongoing support and policy formulation fostering digitalization and green initiatives. Businesses in the region can enhance ESG performance by integrating sustainable practices, promoting long-term resilience and reputation. Investors and financial institutions can use these insights to guide investment decisions, prioritizing projects contributing to environmental sustainability and social responsibility. Originality/value Amidst the current sustainability imperative, this research holds unique value in its timely exploration of the Gulf region’s sustainable landscape, providing crucial insights into the interplay between ESG factors and digital and green initiatives.

Ice-Confined Synthesis of Stacked Polymer Nanospheres as Osmotic Power Generation Membranes.

Osmotic power extracts electricity from salinity gradients and provides a viable route toward clean energy. To improve the energy conversion efficiency, common strategies rely on fabricating precisely controlled nanopores to meet the requirements of high ionic conductivity and selectivity. We report ion transport through the free-volume networks in stacked polymer nanospheres for osmotic power harvesting. Such nanospheres, composed of coiled poly(acrylic acid) molecules, are synthesized at an ice-liquid interface where they self-assemble into continuous membranes with controlled thicknesses and morphologies. We achieve a rival power density of a few thousand watts per square meter, attributed to the fast and selective ion transport through the nanostructured membranes. The selectivity is further found to originate from the membranes' tunable charging states determined by the association/dissociation equilibrium of the residual groups and the presence of translocation ions. Our work suggests polymer membranes absent of straight-through pores as a new platform for efficient osmotic energy generation.

Plasmonic Nanoantennas and Their Utilization for Green Energy

The increasing energy consumption and the effort to reduce dependence on fossil fuels necessitate a transition to clean and renewable energy sources. Photocatalytic and plasmon-assisted water splitting utilize solar energy to produce hydrogen, which represent a promising alternative to conventional methods of energy storage and transmission. These production processes involve complex electrochemical reactions using suitable catalysts. Plasmonic nanostructures, supporting surface plasmon resonances, enhance the efficiency of these reactions. This article focuses on the principles of these technologies, the importance of plasmonic nanostructures, and the use of plasmonic nanoantennas for plasmon-assisted hydrogen and oxygen production.

Application of Robust Optimization Algorithms to Wind Power Systems

In the current context of global energy structure transformation and climate change response, the development and utilisation of wind power, as a kind of clean and renewable energy, has received extensive attention. However, the intermittency and uncertainty associated with wind power present challenges to its stability and reliability in power system scheduling. This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the application of robust optimization algorithms in wind power systems, focusing on how these algorithms can enhance the efficiency and stability of wind power within power systems. This paper discusses the specific methods of robust optimisation algorithms for solving problems in wind power systems from various perspectives. For example, by constructing a robust optimisation model that takes into account the uncertainty of wind power output, the scheduling flexibility and economy of the wind power system can be effectively improved. At the same time, the application of robust optimisation algorithms is analysed in terms of improving the anti-interference capability of wind power systems, optimising the combination of wind turbines, grid integration and wind farm planning, and improving the accuracy of wind power forecasts. The effectiveness of the algorithms in solving the problems encountered in the scheduling of wind power systems is analysed, and the challenges and opportunities for future development are discussed.

ZIF-8 metal-organic frameworks and their hybrid materials: emerging photocatalysts for energy and environmental applications.

In the face of escalating environmental challenges such as fossil fuel dependence and water pollution, innovative solutions are essential for sustainable development. In this regard, zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs), specifically ZIF-8, act as promising photocatalysts for environmental remediation and renewable energy applications. ZIF-8, a subclass of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), is renowned for its large specific surface area, high porosity, rapid electron transfer ability, abundant functionalities, ease of designing, controllable properties, and remarkable chemical and thermal stability. However, its application as a standalone photocatalyst is limited by issues such as particle aggregation, poor water stability, and insufficient visible light absorption. By integrating ZIF-8 with various photoactive materials to form composite catalysts, these drawbacks can be mitigated, leading to enhanced photocatalytic efficiency. The review discusses the synthesis, properties, and applications of ZIF-8-based photocatalysts in light-driven H2 evolution, H2O2 evolution, CO2 reduction, and dye and drug degradation. It also highlights the challenges and future research directions in developing cost-effective, scalable, and environmentally friendly ZIF-8 composites for industrial applications. The potential of ZIF-8 composites to contribute to sustainable global energy solutions and environmental cleanup is significant, yet further exploration is required to harness their capabilities thoroughly.

Grid-enhancing technologies for clean energy systems

Grid-enhancing technologies for clean energy systems

Recent advances in nanoporous organic polymers (NPOPs) for hydrogen storage applications.

Nanoporous organic polymers (NPOPs) have emerged as versatile materials with robust thermal stability, large surface area (up to 2500 m2 g-1), and customizable porosity, making them ideal candidates for advanced hydrogen (H2) storage applications. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of various NPOPs, including covalent organic frameworks (COFs), hypercrosslinked polymers (HCLPs), conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs), and porous aromatic frameworks (POAFs). Notably, these materials demonstrate superior H2 storage capacities, achieving up to 10 wt% at cryogenic temperatures, which is essential for applying H2 as a clean energy carrier. The review also highlights recent advancements, such as integrating metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) into NPOPs, further enhancing storage capacities by up to 30%. Their multifaceted properties underpin various applications, from fuel storage and gas separation to water treatment and optical devices. This review explores the significance and versatility of NPOPs in H2 storage due to their unique properties and enhanced storage capacities. Additionally, recent advancements in utilizing NPOPs for H2 storage are highlighted with a detailed discussion of emerging trends and the synthesis of innovative NPOPs. The review concludes with a discussion of the advantages, applications, challenges, research, and future directions for research in this area.

Spatiotemporal Spectroscopy of Fast Excited-State Diffusion in 2D Covalent Organic Framework Thin Films.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs), crystalline and porous conjugated structures, are of great interest for sustainable energy applications. Organic building blocks in COFs with suitable electronic properties can feature strong optical absorption, whereas the extended crystalline network can establish a band structure enabling long-range coherent transport. This peculiar combination of both molecular and solid-state materials properties makes COFs an interesting platform to study and ultimately utilize photoexcited charge carrier diffusion. Herein, we investigated the charge carrier diffusion in a two-dimensional COF thin film generated through condensation of the building blocks benzodithiophene-dialdehyde (BDT) and N,N,N',N'-tetra(4-aminophenyl)benzene-1,4-diamine (W). We visualized the spatiotemporal evolution of photogenerated excited states in the 2D WBDT COF thin film using remote-detected time-resolved PL measurements (RDTR PL). Combined with optical pump terahertz probe (OPTP) studies, we identified two diffusive species dominating the process at different time scales. Initially, short-lived free charge carriers diffuse almost temperature-independently before relaxing into bound states at a rate of 0.7 ps-1. Supported by theoretical simulations, these long-lived bound states were identified as excitons. We directly accessed the lateral exciton diffusion within the oriented and crystalline film, revealing remarkably high diffusion coefficients of up to 4 cm2 s-1 (200 K) and diffusion lengths of several hundreds of nanometers and across grain boundaries. Temperature-dependent exciton transport analysis showed contributions from both incoherent hopping and coherent band-like transport. In the transport model developed based on these findings, we discuss the complex impact of order and disorder on charge carrier diffusion within the WBDT COF thin film.

Time-dependent interaction coefficients to quantify the settlement of energy pile groups

The use of energy piles is facing an exponential growth due to the increasing need of exploiting sustainable energy sources. Their design implies the estimation of the displacement induced by the combined thermo-mechanical interaction between piles belonging to the same group. In this regard, the work at hand derives sets of interaction coefficients for piles subjected to thermal load in not stationary conditions, using finite difference numerical analyses. These involved pile pairs embedded in different soil types at multiple spacing, namely 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 times the pile diameter. A new dimensionless parameter is also introduced to describe the evolution with time of the interaction coefficients accounting for pile-to-pile spacing, soil thermal diffusivity, pile-soil stiffness ratio and time. The numerical results demonstrate a strict time-dependence of the interaction coefficients that is worthy to be considered in the design practice. To this aim a practice-oriented approach is proposed allowing to evaluate the interaction effects and thereby derive the settlement of each pile in a straightforward manner. This requires as only ingredient the settlement of the isolated energy pile at the considered time instant. The simplified approach is successfully validated against full 3D thermo-mechanical numerical analyses on pile groups including conventional and energy piles with different layouts.

Assessing Impacts of Offshore Wind Development: An Analysis of the Minimization of Economic Exposure of the Scallop Fishery Through the Regulatory Process

ABSTRACTOffshore wind energy has expanded as a source of clean energy in the United States since the first US offshore wind farm began operations off the coast of Rhode Island in 2016. The emergence of offshore wind has increased the need to manage ocean use across multiple stakeholder groups, a difficult and contentious process. We use 15 years of scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) fishery data to describe how offshore wind may expose one of the most valuable commercial fisheries in the United States to economic risks. Our analysis shows that the current configuration of approved offshore wind lease areas off the northeastern coast of the United States is expected to result in relatively small economic exposure for the scallop fishery. We also illustrate how the measured development process, which includes ample opportunity for stakeholder input, has mitigated exposure through minimization or avoidance by characterizing the change in impacted activity through two case studies. We find moderate to strong levels of exposure mitigation across our three scallop fleet métiers within the Central Atlantic (CA) region. In contrast, exposure mitigation was more variable in the New York Bight (NYB) region suggesting mitigation methods in the NYB are not as effective for the scallop fishery as the CA. The open development process that allowed for early stakeholder engagement has largely mitigated the potential for economic risk of offshore wind on the scallop industry by approving the siting of offshore wind development in less utilized or less productive scalloping areas.

Factors Affecting Growth and Success of Green and Sustainable Entrepreneurship: An Empirical Study of Indian Startups

Green entrepreneurship is about building businesses that balance environmental care with profit-making. In India, many start-ups are leading projects in areas like clean energy, waste management, and sustainable agriculture. These businesses are growing in response to rising environmental awareness and changing consumer preferences. Green entrepreneurs thus play an important role in reducing pollution, creating jobs, and promoting sustainable lifestyles. Their work encourages eco-friendly habits and reshapes supply chains to minimize environmental harm. As they drive both social and economic value, green start-ups contribute to building a more sustainable future for India. This study examines the factors that influence the growth and success of green entrepreneurship in India. The study will look at what is needed by these initiatives to thrive and succeed. This will help policymakers and other organizations to take the necessary steps. A sample of 223 people involved in Indian sturt-ups were surveyed to explore the factors that affects the growth and success of green and sustainable entrepreneurship and found that Consumer Demand, Competitive advantage, Collaboration and Networks and Corporate and Social Responsibility (CSR) are the factors that affects the growth and success of green and sustainable entrepreneurship

Renewable Energy Through Soil Segmented Bio-Batteries

The increasing global demand for energy and the environmental challenges posed by fossil fuels necessitate the exploration of alternative, renewable energy sources. Soil-based bio-batteries offer a sustainable solution by converting organic matter into electricity. This study introduces segmented bio-batteries, which integrate multiple microbial cells in series or parallel, improving power density and scalability. Manure from cattle, birds, and sheep is used as an organic substrate to enhance microbial activity, optimizing energy output. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of segmented bio-batteries in generating electricity, recycling agricultural waste, and reducing carbon footprints, making them viable for rural electrification and environmental sustainability. Keywords—Microbial fuel cells (MFCs), Segmented bio-batteries, Renewable energy, Power density enhancement, Agricultural applications, Soil-based energy systems, Sustainable energy, Waste-to-energy conversion, Eco-friendly power generation, Rural electrification

Optimization of a Sonotrode Extraction Method and New Insight of Phenolic Composition of Fucus vesiculosus

The optimization of bioactive compound extraction from Fucus vesiculosus using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) via sonotrode was investigated to maximize phenolic recovery and antioxidant activity while promoting a sustainable process. Optimal conditions (40% v/v ethanol in water, 38 min, 36% amplitude) were selected to maximize phenolic recovery while considering environmental and energy sustainability by optimizing extraction efficiency and minimizing solvent and energy usage. HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS analysis tentatively identified 25 phenolic compounds, including sulfated phenolic acids, phlorotannins, flavonoids, and halophenols, with some reported for the first time in F. vesiculosus, underscoring the complexity of this alga’s metabolome. The antioxidant activity of the optimized extract was evaluated through FRAP (143.7 µmol TE/g), DPPH (EC50 105.6 µg/mL), and TEAC (189.1 µmol Trolox/g) assays. The optimized process highlights F. vesiculosus as a valuable source of natural antioxidants, with potential applications in biotechnology, cosmetics, and food industries.

Thermal Conversion of Microalgae into Biochar: A Review on Processes, Properties, and Applications

AbstractGlobal energy consumption has drastically increased over the years due to population growth and industrialization. This has prompted an exploration for clean and renewable energy alternatives. Microalgae are widely recognized as a promising third‐generation energy source because they have the capability to generate biofuels, including biochar. The utilization of microalgal biomass has been gaining traction because of their advantages, such as fast growth, a high rate of production, and high carbon‐fixing efficiency. Thermochemical methods like hydrothermal carbonization, torrefaction, and pyrolysis can be employed to harness energy from microalgae. The different thermochemical methods employed for converting microalgal biomass into biochar have been discussed, as well as the factors affecting these methods. In addition, a dedicated section covered the components and properties of the generated biochar, including its thermal and surface properties. Furthermore, the economic analysis of the production of biochar from microalgae as well as the applications of microalgae‐derived biochar were presented and discussed, along with suggestions for further research.

3d-5d Orbital Hybridization in Nanoflower-Like High-Entropy Alloy for Highly Efficient Overall Water Splitting at High Current Density.

Exploring highlyefficient electrocatalysts for overall water splitting is a challenging butnecessary task for development of green and renewable energy. Herein, PtIrFeCoNi high-entropy alloy nanoflowers (HEA NFs) withstrong 3d-5d orbital hybridization were fabricated to achieve highly efficientoverall water splitting at high current density. The Pt26Ir7Fe13Co22Ni32 HEA NFs achieved a 57.52-fold higher than commercial IrO2 in turnoverfrequency (TOF) for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Besides, its TOF value forhydrogen evolution reaction (HER) was 2.11-fold higher than that of commercialPt/C. The cell voltages based on Pt26Ir7Fe13Co22Ni32 HEA NFs for overall water splitting were only 1.594 V and 1.861 V at currentdensities of 100 mA cm-2 and 500 mA cm-2, which weresignificantly lower than those of Pt/C.

Hydrogen production with grid-connected electrolysis: scenario-based analysis of the EU criteria for renewable fuels

Abstract Renewable hydrogen (H2) will play a pivotal role in the decarbonization of the energy and industrial sectors. However, during the transition to a clean energy system, the production of H2 with electrolysis runs the risk of increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions if the electricity system is still partly based on fossil fuels. The European Union has set ambitious targets for the production of H2 and defined strict rules in delegated acts to the renewable energy directive, when H2 produced with public grid electricity can be counted as renewable. This paper analyzes two grid criteria central to these rules, renewable energy share and CO2 emission intensity, in several future scenarios of the European energy system. By uniquely focusing on the impact of H2 production from the perspective of EU grid criteria, this study offers a novel assessment of how these regulations interact with the evolving energy landscape. Fulfillment of the renewable H2 grid criteria strongly depends on the future build-out of renewable energy resources, electricity demand, and amount of domestically produced H2. In a scenario with ambitious renewable build-out until 2030, represented by current drafts of national energy and climate plans, many countries will meet the stated criteria. However, adding a high amount of domestically produced H2 partly cancels out this effect. In a scenario with reduced renewable build-outs, comparable to historically achieved renewable resource additions, many fewer countries achieve the grid criteria. Finally, net CO2 emission reductions are analyzed by comparing power sector emission changes with the opportunity emissions that result from fossil fuels replacements with H2. The results indicate that using H2 in CO2 intensive use cases can lead to emission reductions, even if grid criteria are below the thresholds defined in the delegated acts. However, reduced renewable energy expansion poses the risk of not achieving any emission reductions at all with the produced H2.

Evaluation of Energy Potential in a Landfill Through the Integration of a Biogas–Solar Photovoltaic System

The integration of biogas and photovoltaic solar energy systems in sanitary landfills represents a promising strategy for sustainable energy generation and efficient urban waste management. This study evaluates the potential for biogas and photovoltaic energy production in two cells of the Municipal Landfill of Chihuahua, Mexico. Using the LandGEM and MMB models (Landfill Gas Emission Model and the Mexican Biogas Model), biogas generation was estimated by considering the composition of the landfill gas and the characteristics of the cover in each cell, revealing notable differences due to their operational periods and waste deposition. Photovoltaic simulations, conducted with the HelioScope software 2020, evaluated spatial configurations and solar radiation data. The generation potential for 2025 was simulated using predictive models, yielding results between 25.48 and 26.08 MW for the biogas–photovoltaic system, depending on the orientation of the panels and the optimization of the coverage. The novelty of this work lies in the combined evaluation of biogas and photovoltaic potential within a single landfill site, integrating advanced modeling tools to optimize system design. By demonstrating the feasibility and benefits of this hybrid system, the study contributes to clean energy solutions, environmental mitigation, and improved waste management strategies. Our findings emphasize the importance of site-specific management practices and predictive modeling to enhance renewable energy production and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, supporting sustainable urban development initiatives.

Recent Progress in Materials Design and Fabrication Techniques for Membrane Electrode Assembly in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) are widely regarded as promising clean energy technologies due to their high energy conversion efficiency, low environmental impact, and versatile application potential in transportation, stationary power, and portable devices. Central to the operation and performance of PEMFCs are advancements in materials and manufacturing processes that directly influence their efficiency, durability, and scalability. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent progress in these areas, emphasizing the critical role of membrane electrode assembly (MEA) technology and its constituent components, including catalyst layers, membranes, and gas diffusion layers (GDLs). The MEA, as the heart of PEMFCs, has seen significant innovations in its structure and manufacturing methodologies to ensure optimal performance and durability. At the material level, catalyst layer advancements, including the development of platinum-group metal catalysts and cost-effective non-precious alternatives, have focused on improving catalytic activity, durability, and mass transport. Similarly, the evolution of membranes, particularly advancements in perfluorosulfonic acid membranes and alternative hydrocarbon-based or composite materials, has addressed challenges related to proton conductivity, mechanical stability, and operation under harsh conditions such as low humidity or high temperature. Additionally, innovations in gas diffusion layers have optimized their porosity, hydrophobicity, and structural properties, ensuring efficient reactant and product transport within the cell. By examining these interrelated aspects of PEMFC development, this review aims to provide a holistic understanding of the state of the art in PEMFC materials and manufacturing technologies, offering insights for future research and the practical implementation of high-performance fuel cells.

Ferroelectric Polarization‐Induced Performance Enhancements in BiFeO3/BiVO4 Photoanodes for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

AbstractPhotoelectrochemical (PEC) processes will play a crucial role in future clean energy systems, however severe charge recombination and sluggish charge transfer kinetics have hindered their practical adoption. Exploiting ferroelectric polarization‐controlled charge dynamics promises an additional lever that can potentially enable the performance limits of traditional static photoelectrodes to be surpassed. Here one of the most notable ferroelectric polarization‐induced photocurrent enhancements is reported, using a heterostructure of the multiferroic bismuth ferrite (BFO) and the photoactive bismuth vanadate (BVO) in a neutral pH electrolyte. In contrast to previous works, enhancements for both poling directions are reported, of 136% for down‐poled BFO/BVO and 70% for up‐poled BFO/BVO at 1.23 VRHE in comparison to the unpoled sample, delivering a Faradaic efficiency of >95% for prolonged oxygen evolution reaction. Extensive PEC and surface analyses complemented by density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal the improvements are attributed to the modulation of gradients in the BFO band energies, as well as changes in band‐bending and offsets at the interfaces. Given the scalability of the employed sol–gel synthesis method and the use of environmentally benign materials and PEC conditions, these findings pave the way for multifunctional materials as new‐generation agile and dynamic catalysts and photoelectrode systems.

Renewable Energy Community Sizing Based on Stochastic Optimization and Unsupervised Clustering

Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) are emerging as significant in the global paradigm shift towards a smart and sustainable energy environment. By empowering energy consumers to actively participate in local energy generation, and sharing, using renewable energy sources, energy storage, and flexible loads, REC participants can reduce costs, and also contribute to low-carbon objectives, providing the flexibility needed to address modern smart grid challenges. This article presents a mixed integer linear programming model for optimal sizing of the solar PVs and battery energy storage systems (BESS) of REC participants who engage in P2P energy exchange. The model is formulated using a two-stage stochastic optimization to address load and PV uncertainty, and unsupervised clustering to structure the data for the stochastic optimization process. The model enables sizing solar PVs for different rooftop geometries and the objective function includes comprehensively defined electricity, operational, and scaled investment costs for solar PV and BESS, where economic fairness constraints are analyzed and implemented. The model is validated on real solar and atmospheric measured data from Zagreb, Croatia, and publicly available household consumption data from Northern Germany. The article also analyzes how tariff models, and electricity prices affect PV and BESS sizes, cost reductions, and P2P energy exchange for different REC participants with varying consumption and production profiles.