Energy Supply Chain Research Articles

Pandemic, War, and Global Energy Transitions

The COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s war on Ukraine have impacted the global economy, including the energy sector. The pandemic caused drastic fluctuations in energy demand, oil price shocks, disruptions in energy supply chains, and hampered energy investments, while the war left the world with energy price hikes and energy security challenges. The long-term impacts of these crises on low-carbon energy transitions and mitigation of climate change are still uncertain but are slowly emerging. This paper analyzes the impacts throughout the energy system, including upstream fuel supply, renewable energy investments, demand for energy services, and implications for energy equity, by reviewing recent studies and consulting experts in the field. We find that both crises initially appeared as opportunities for low-carbon energy transitions: the pandemic by showing the extent of lifestyle and behavioral change in a short period and the role of science-based policy advice, and the war by highlighting the need for greater energy diversification and reliance on local, renewable energy sources. However, the early evidence suggests that policymaking worldwide is focused on short-term, seemingly quicker solutions, such as supporting the incumbent energy industry in the post-pandemic era to save the economy and looking for new fossil fuel supply routes for enhancing energy security following the war. As such, the fossil fuel industry may emerge even stronger after these energy crises creating new lock-ins. This implies that the public sentiment against dependency on fossil fuels may end as a lost opportunity to translate into actions toward climate-friendly energy transitions, without ambitious plans for phasing out such fuels altogether. We propose policy recommendations to overcome these challenges toward achieving resilient and sustainable energy systems, mostly driven by energy services.

Covid-19′s fear-uncertainty effect on renewable energy supply chain management and ecological sustainability performance; the moderate effect of big-data analytics

This research's scientific and theoretical significance is derived from the novel relationships studied. Our research studies the links between fear-uncertainty towards COVID-19 and the manufacturing firms' adaptation to the renewable-energy SCM procedures. In addition, we addressed the impact of renewable-energy SCM activities in achieving three-dimensional ecological sustainability performance in the Egyptian manufacturing sector during the pandemic. We investigated the BDA capabilities function during COVID-19 to improve the renewable-energy SCM practices in Egypt's manufacturing sector. This research used (PLS-SEM) on a sample of 506 manager-level employees. The results show that the fear-uncertainty towards COVID-19 positively affects renewable-energy SCM (T-statistics is 3.357), BDA moderates this relationship (T-statistics is 2.72), and renewable-energy SCM positively impacts environmental and social performance (T-statistics is 10.625, 21.081,). However, it has insignificant effect on economic performance (T-statistics is 0.732). Also, renewable-energy SCM has a significant mediation effect for the firm's environmental and social performance (T-statistics values equal to 3.063, 3.188). However, it has an insignificant mediation relationship regarding economic performance (T-statistics value is 0.688). Our research is limited as it focused on the manufacturing sector without considering other sectors. Also, based its sample on Egyptian developing market. Researchers could study renewable-energy SCM practices in more developed countries.

Brokering Gender Empowerment in Energy Access in the Global South

How do energy professionals in the Global South facilitate the brokerage of gender equity and empowerment in energy access? Energy sector professionals, including planners and members of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), are crucial development actors in off-grid contexts. They operate at the intersection between grassroots-level energy access in off-grid household and community buildings and overarching policy frameworks. However, despite their central role, the relationship between their professional practices and gender empowerment in energy access has received little attention. This paper investigates ‘energy brokers’ across Ghana, India, Nigeria and Pakistan based on interviews (<em>n</em> = 86). Subsequent thematic analysis explores these energy brokers’ overarching understandings of gender equity and empowerment, their agency, and brokering practices for energy access (including in relation to emerging energy technologies). Analysis shows ‘differentiated brokerage’ in that energy professionals from the NGOs and the delivery sectors are often better positioned to broker gender equity and women’s empowerment in energy access. However, linkages between equitable access and empowerment need to be better understood, especially at the ‘top’ and go beyond women’s economic productivity. Women’s participation across supply chains of emerging energy-access technology, in energy governance and as energy brokers needs strengthening. <em><strong>Practice relevance</strong></em> Energy professionals occupy an important ‘middle’ position and can help to create changes to overcome gender bias in access to energy. They facilitate the brokerage (understandings, agency and practices) of gender equity and empowerment in energy access in off-grid contexts, including household and community buildings. The evidence from this study shows the performance of energy professionals is critical in facilitating women’s empowerment in energy access. Key recommendations are: (1) energy professionals at the top need to recognise differentiated brokerage across the grassroots–policy spectrum to better identify and equip key actors; (2) energy brokers need to move beyond gender neutrality and economic participation acting on the breadth of women’s empowerment, including psychological dimensions; and (3) women’s participation across energy system transitions needs to be strengthened, with regard to energy supply chains, energy governance and as energy brokers.

A Comprehensive Performance Evaluation of Chinese Energy Supply Chain under “Double-Carbon” Goals Based on AHP and Three-Stage DEA

In 2020, China put forward the goals of “peak carbon dioxide emissions” and “carbon neutrality” (“double-carbon”) and it is urgent for the energy industry to achieve green transformation. Aiming at the rigid requirements of the carbon-peaking and carbon-neutrality goals (“double-carbon”), this study established a performance evaluation index system for an energy supply chain of a four-tier structure based on the “double-carbon” goals, calculating its weight by the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). On this basis, a three-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) evaluation model was established to evaluate the performance of the energy supply chain in 2010–2019. According to the three-stage DEA evaluation mode, the initial input–output efficiency value of the energy supply chain was calculated by the DEA-BCC (extended by Banker, Charnes and Cooper) model and DEA-CCR (proposed by Charnes, Cooper and Rhodes) model and the influence of environmental noise was eliminated by stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) regression; we then obtained the adjusted efficiency value for the energy supply chain. At the same time, taking 2015 as the dividing point, the advantages and disadvantages between the traditional energy supply chain and new energy supply chain were analyzed and summarized. Further analysis and suggestions are provided to consumers, enterprises and countries from four aspects: energy supply, energy production and processing, energy transmission and distribution and energy consumption.

Electricity Quality Emergency Investment with a Bargaining Contract in the Electricity Supply Chain under the COVID-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT This paper explores the decentralized, centralized and bargaining models of a supply chain involving an electricity generator and a retailer. We found that the investment cost coefficient negatively impacts the supply chain profits but positively affects price decisions. In contrast, the probability of meeting the COVID-19 emergency positively impacts the supply chain profit and negatively affects price decisions. We contribute by designing a bargaining contract for energy supply chain firms to improve profits on low investment, thereby improving their financial health and competitive advantage. The results imply that financial managers can bridge the revenue gap in COVI9 19 period.

Measuring the coordination decision of renewable energy as a natural resource contracts based on rights structure and corporate social responsibility from economic recovery

With the rapid development of the times, changes in the manufacturing environment, and the migration of consumers' green consumption awareness, the green product market has expanded, leading to economic recovery. Furthermore, the regulation of the internal status of supply chain subjects causes different rights structures to dominate the market and change on a regular basis. This paper considers manufacturers and service providers of renewable energy products as the research objects and considers the mechanism of product renewability and green finance level. Profit models of renewable energy supply chain members are constructed under various rights structures and CSR-bearing subjects, and optimal decisions under various decision models are analyzed. It is discovered that whether the manufacturer or the service provider engages in CSR, the superiority and inferiority ranking of the three different rights structures will differ depending on the degree to which they engage in CSR. And the conclusion is that when a subject dominates a market, its profit is also maximized. Positive contractual coordination actions by both retailers and manufacturers will drive renewable energy quality. Green finance and green economic growth are becoming increasingly popular. Through contractual coordination, both parties will achieve Pareto improvements.

How government policies promote bioenergy’s permeability in national-level energy supply chain: A case of China

As the most competitive energy for replacing fossil fuel, bioenergy accords with the requirement of clean supply and brings great economic and social benefits. This study develops a comprehensive framework to quantitatively evaluate the impact of policy on the bioenergy industry. The proposed framework comprises of two major parts, containing simulation models for the biomass resource allocation under different policies and the comprehensive evaluation system for bioenergy development potential under the specific policy. Five policies are considered, including encouraging biomass cogeneration (EBC), supporting biomass heating (SBH), developing technology for biofuel (DPT), establishing raw material collection system (RMC), and priority of using bio-natural gas (PUB). The results demonstrate that the order of policy impact is DPT > PUB > SBH > EBC > RMC. DPT has the largest promotion of biofuel, which is the preferred policy of the development of bioenergy. PUB can better promote the development of biomass power generation, while EBC and SBH have a greater impact on biomass heating. The impacts of policies on regional bioenergy development have been revealed and regional policy implications are given. This approach provides a tool for policymakers to quantify the impacts of policy.

A large-scale equilibrium model of energy emergency production: Embedding social choice rules into Nash Q-learning automatically achieving consensus of urgent recovery behaviors

A large-scale energy emergency production plan driven by extreme events in energy supply chain networks is the low-probability/high-consequence event that is difficult to prepare. One of the most prominent challenges is efficiently computing the equilibrium point characterized with more frequently involved in common resource conflicts due to different player behaviors in energy supply chain networks. In this paper, a novel large-scale equilibrium model of energy emergency production: embedding social choice rules into Nash Q-learning automatically achieving consensus of urgent recovery behaviors, is proposed to tackle this challenge. The main contributions of this work are that firstly set up a large-scale equilibrium model of energy emergency production to formulate energy emergency production plans by modifying the large-scale energy equilibrium model, and the computational limitations of Generalized Nash Equilibrium are overcame by combination of Nash Q-learning methods and individuals’ preferences reaching a collective decision which guarantees uniqueness of the large-scale Nash equilibrium to achieve both system-level efficiency and maximum fairness. Simulations results show that the generalized Nash bargaining solution can be implemented by the proposed large-scale equilibrium model of energy emergency production, in which outcome of the game is the emergency production stable equilibria alternative with no chance moves in a given consensus level, and compared with the existing techniques considering non-cooperative behaviors, it has a significantly lower minimisation of time for the energy restoration by twenty-nine percent, and reduces minimisation of cost for the energy restoration by seventeen percent and minimisation of carbon dioxide emissions by twenty-three percent with disaster recovery.

A Prospective Life Cycle Assessment of Electrochemical CO2 Reduction to Selective Formic Acid and Ethylene.

Converting CO2 into valuable C1 -C2 chemicals through electrochemical CO2 reduction (ECR) has potential to remedy the ever-increasing climate problems owing to the intensification of industrial activity. In this work, cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed to quantify the environmental impacts of formic acid (FA) and ethylene production through ECR benchmarked with the conventional processes. At the midpoint level, global warming potential (GWP) effects of FA and ethylene production through ECR recorded 5.6 and 1.6-times that of the conventional process, respectively. Although ECR currently has limited environmental benefits, the incorporation of hydropower has vast potential after evaluating four sustainable electricity sources, namely hydropower, wind, solar, and biomass. Notably, ECR to FA recorded a 24 % reduction in petrochemical usage. For ethylene production, human health damage, ecosystem damage, and petrochemical use were reduced by 67, 94, and 110 %, respectively. Sensitivity analysis indicated that a sustainable energy supply chain for ECR will accelerate the development of a circular economy.

Sepsis, pyruvate, and mitochondria energy supply chain shortage.

Balancing high energy-consuming danger resistance and low energy supply of disease tolerance is a universal survival principle that often fails during sepsis. Our research supports the concept that sepsis phosphorylates and deactivates mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase complex control over the tricarboxylic cycle and the electron transport chain. StimulatIng mitochondrial energetics in septic mice and human sepsis cell models can be achieved by inhibiting pyruvate dehydrogenase kinases with the pyruvate structural analog dichloroacetate. Stimulating the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex by dichloroacetate reverses a disruption in the tricarboxylic cycle that induces itaconate, a key mediator of the disease tolerance pathway. Dichloroacetate treatment increases mitochondrial respiration and ATP synthesis, decreases oxidant stress, overcomes metabolic paralysis, regenerates tissue, organ, and innate and adaptive immune cells, and doubles the survival rate in a murine model of sepsis.

Energy supply chain empowerment through tradable green and white certificates: A pathway to sustainable energy generation

In the last decades, due to the increasing environmental concerns such as energy-resource depletion and global warming, energy efficiency instruments and renewable energy production has been promoted more than ever. This paper investigates a comprehensive comparison between two energy markets, i.e., the tradable white certificate (TWC) market and the tradable green certificate (TGC) market. How to coordinate the two energy markets and what the coordination impacts become the main issues under a reward-penalty mechanism. This multi-agent problem is discussed in an electricity supply chain consisting of two populations of traditional energy suppliers who want to decide about using one of them under government intervention. In this regard, the behavior of the suppliers is analyzed under three different Scenarios, including traditional power generation, energy efficiency program (EEP), and renewable portfolio standards (RPSs). An evolutionary game is applied to formulate the problem. The results show that a mandatory fine policy is more useful than an energy-saving subsidy to motivate the traditional suppliers to move toward sustainable energy generation. This policy also helps governments to meet their sustainable-oriented goals, as we discussed in this work. The findings can be applied to extend sustainable-based energy projects in developing countries.

Multi-scale integration for enhanced resilience of sustainable energy supply chains: Perspectives and challenges

The projected increase in global energy consumption, along with recent upheavals such as extreme weather events due to climate change and geopolitical turmoil, motivates the development of sustainable energy supply chains that have the capability to withstand internal and external threats to the system. However, one major challenge is a lack of understanding on the contributing factors to energy supply chain resilience at various spatial and temporal scales. To this end, we argue for the use of a multi-scale approach in studying the resilience of energy supply chains to take advantage of physical and chemical synergies at various scales of operation as well as incorporate risk mitigation techniques drawn from general supply chain literature and practice. We present an initial effort towards a framework for energy supply chain resilience at four scales of operation: molecular, unit, process, and supply chain.

Industry 4.0 enabling sustainable supply chain development in the renewable energy sector: A multi-criteria intelligent approach

The aim of this paper is to provide a multi-criteria decision-making intelligent approach based on Industry 4.0 and Triple Bottom Line principles for sustainable supply chain development in the renewable energy sector. In particular, the solar photovoltaic energy supply chain is used as a case study, encompassing the entire energy production process, from supply to disposal. An exhaustive literature review is conducted to identify the main criteria affecting social, economic and environmental sustainability in the photovoltaic energy supply chain, and to explore the potential impact of Industry 4.0 on sustainability. Subsequently, three Fuzzy Inference Systems combining quantitative and qualitative data are built to calculate the supply chain's social, economic and environmental sustainability. Experts' opinions are used to identify the impact of Industry 4.0 technologies on the three pillars of sustainability for each supply chain stage. Finally, a novel sustainability index, Sustainability Index 4.0, is formulated to compute the overall sustainability of the photovoltaic energy supply chain in seven countries. The results show the applicability and usefulness of the proposed holistic model in helping policy makers, stakeholders and users to make informed decisions for the development of sustainable renewable energy supply chains, taking into account the impact of Industry 4.0 and digital technologies.

Managing Supply Chain Activities in the Field of Energy Production Focusing on Renewables

Nowadays, the research community focuses on sustainability studies that are at the severe phase in the transformation towards a sustainable world. In addition, reducing the human impact on the environment requires a shift from traditional energy to renewables, which have increased significantly during recent decades as sustainable energy sources. Hence, this study assesses renewable energy sources and their related production phases from a supply chain management perception, screening and reviewing the integration between the supply chain management within the area of energy production focusing on renewable energy resources. The study executes a systematic review of English literature published on international scientific databases, focusing on the previous decade 2010–2020, to congregate the recently updated knowledge related to such research area. Thus, this study provides an authentic review of the literature that points to the relationship between supply chain operations and the area of renewable energy manufacturing from another side. Several literature reviews have been available concentrating on particular areas of managing renewable energy supply chains; however, no review has highlighted the practices of supply chain processes in energy production, focusing on renewables. The searching process relies on the published works that focus on such an area to be analyzed and characterized based on different methodologies they propose; thus, prospective and future research interests are delineated.

Cloud-Based Energy Storage Systems: A shared pool of benefits in distributed electric power systems

Social, environmental, and economic motivations, along with disruptive technological advancements, have been leading to substantial changes in the landscape of the energy supply chain. The progress in sensor fusion, readiness of remote and interactive controllers and actuators, abundance of low-cost and highly available communication media, proliferation of distributed energy resources (DERs), and maturity of monitoring devices and control algorithms have fostered the concept of distributed electric power systems. Plug-and-play capability, along with ever-declining capital costs and the economic breakeven of small-scale photovoltaic (PV) panels and wind turbines, has enabled retail customers located at the low-voltage end of feeders to have access to abundant and variable energy resources in their territories.

New Solar MPPT Control Technique Based on Incremental Conductance and Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm Optimization

Solar energy is highly dependent on climatic conditions and swings sporadically, making photovoltaic integration into power systems difficult. In order to improve the design of power infrastructure and the successful deployment of decentralized and renewable energy sources, a new paradigm for the energy supply chain is established, leading to the creation of microgrids. Intelligence should be introduced at all levels of the grid, and it should act over a long period. This article introduces new research tools and methodologies to help utility engineers better understand the grid's potential impact from these new power sources. Therefore, this research proposes a novel PV solar system control method. The strategy is an innovative Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) technology for solar systems. Designing an effective controller capable of lowering Power Stress inside the PV System is critical in this respect. In this research, the Proportional Integral (PI) controller has been utilized in conjunction with a heuristic technique termed Genetic Algorithm (GA) in order to regulate and stabilize the MPP of the power supplied by the PV system. Then the GA technique has been utilized to identify the ideal settings, based on the four performance indices of Integrated Squared Error (ISE), Integrated Absolute Error (IAE), Integrated Time Absolute Error (ITAE), and Integrated Time Squared Error (ITSE) (Kp, Ki). The simulation results show that the PV system can successfully monitor the required MPP.

New Solar MPPT Control Technique Based on Incremental Conductance and Multi-Objective Ant Colony Optimization

Solar energy is extremely reliant on climatic conditions, and fluctuates irregularly, forcing the integration of Photovoltaics PV into power grids problematic. A new paradigm for the energy supply chain is developed, leading to the development of microgrids, in order to enhance the design of power infrastructure and the effective deployment of decentralized and renewable energy sources. Intelligence should be added at all levels of the grid, acting across a variety of periods. This article presents new research tools and methodology to assist utility engineers in studying the grid's potential effect from these new power sources. A revolutionary PV solar system control method is proposed in this research, and the approach is an innovative Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) technique for solar systems, which is based on adding a complicated function. This function tracks the Maximum Power Point (MPP) in PV systems by determining the duty cycle of the DC-DC converter in any environment and the load scenario. In this regard, designing an appropriate controller capable of reducing Power stress inside the PV System is essential. In this paper, the Proportional Integral (PI) controller has been used in conjunction with a metaheuristic approach called Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) in order to manage and stabilize the MPP of the power produced by the PV system. Then, utilizing the five multi-objective performances of Integrated Squared Error (ISE), Integrated Absolute Error (IAE), Integrated Time Absolute Error (ITAE), Integrated Time Squared Error (ITSE), and the Mean Squared Error (MSE), the ACO method has been used to determine the optimal parameters (Kp, Ki) (ITSE). The simulation results demonstrate a strong performance in monitoring the required MPP with the disrupted PV system.

Analysis of effects of the hydrogen supply chain on the Korean energy system

The scope of hydrogen energy is being extended in the Republic of Korea as a national innovative growth engine to overcome environmental problems, particularly climate change. The effects of this expansion on the energy system and national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are expected to vary greatly depending on the hydrogen energy supply chain scenario. Accordingly, in this study, the energy and environmental effects of hydrogen energy supply chain scenarios on the national energy system were analyzed quantitatively using the TIMES model, a representative bottom-up energy system analysis model. The scenarios were defined in terms of three perspectives: the development level of key technologies, contribution of future renewable energy to the power generation sector, and relative importance of each hydrogen production method portfolio. All scenarios were based on the policies being considered by the Korean government. The results of the scenario analyses show, among others, that green hydrogen, i.e., water electrolysis-oriented hydrogen production, consumes a fairly large amount of electricity. Therefore, from the perspective of the entire national energy system, the transition of the power sector to renewable energy, mainly solar and wind energies, and the advancement of water electrolysis are required to reduce the national GHG emissions.

Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling in the Circular Economy: A Review

Lithium-ion batteries have become a crucial part of the energy supply chain for transportation (in electric vehicles) and renewable energy storage systems. Recycling is considered one of the most effective ways for recovering the materials for spent LIB streams and circulating the material in the critical supply chain. However, few review articles have been published in the research domain of recycling and the circular economy, with most mainly focusing on either recycling methods or the challenges and opportunities in the circular economy for spent LIBs. This paper reviewed 93 articles (66 original research articles and 27 review articles) identified in the Web of Science core collection database. The study showed that publications in the area are increasing exponentially, with many focusing on recycling and recovery-related issues; policy and regulatory affairs received less attention than recycling. Most of the studies were experiments followed by evaluation and planning (as per the categorization made). Pre-treatment processes were widely discussed, which is a critical part of hydrometallurgy and direct physical recycling (DPR). DPR is a promising recycling technique that requires further attention. Some of the issues that require further consideration include a techno-economic assessment of the recycling process, safe reverse logistics, a global EV assessment revealing material recovery potential, and a lifecycle assessment of experiments processes (both in the hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical processes). Furthermore, the application of the circular business model and associated stakeholders’ engagement, clear and definitive policy guidelines, extended producer responsibility implications, and material tracking, and identification deserve further focus. This study presents several future research directions that would be useful for academics and policymakers taking necessary steps such as product design, integrated recycling techniques, intra-industry stakeholder cooperation, business model development, techno-economic analysis, and others towards achieving a circular economy in the LIB value chain.

Time-Of-Use pricing in an energy sustainable supply chain with government interventions: A game theory approach

In this study, the game theory approach has been used to perform Time-Of-Use (TOU) pricing for renewable and conventional energy supply chains with government intervention to achieve sustainable development goals. Also, a Demand Response Program (DRP) based on TOU pricing has been implemented to improve the profits of power producers and the energy consumption pattern of end customers. Decision variables included the price of conventional and renewable energy during low- and high-load periods, tax rate, and subsidies. These variables are determined in three scenarios with the goals of maximizing government revenue, maximizing social welfare, minimizing environmental impacts, and under two-game structures of cooperative and Nash between the producers. The equilibrium solutions of each game for the three scenarios were obtained by backward induction. The results showed that decisions related to energy prices and tariffs play a major role in achieving the goals of sustainable development, profits of supply chain members, and success in meeting consumer demand. For all three scenarios, the government revenue function and the social welfare functions earn higher values in the Nash game than in the cooperative game, but the environmental impacts and the producers' profit function earn respectively lower and higher values in the cooperative game.