Sustainable Energy Development Research Articles

A Study on the Exploration of the Development Process of Regenerative Applications of Energy Technologies in Industrial Warehouse Buildings: Bibliometric Research from 2004 to 2024

Due to the high energy consumption characteristics of industrial warehouse buildings, the demand for energy regeneration technology is increasingly urgent. In recent years, with the rapid development of building energy technology, warehouse building energy regeneration technology has made remarkable progress in energy conservation and sustainable development. A deep understanding of the previous research progress and trends can provide the scientific basis for guiding subsequent in-depth research. Through the bibliometric analysis of 145 journal articles collected from the Web of Science (WoS) database between 2004 and 2024, this research has studied the research trends and progress on the application of energy regeneration in industrial warehouse buildings. This study first revealed the overall development trend of energy regeneration technology in warehouse buildings through quantitative analysis, indicating that related research is growing rapidly. Core scholars in the field such as Lund H. and Mathiesen B.V., as well as major journals such as Energy and Sustainability, have been identified through the analysis of the literature. Five core research themes, including energy efficiency improvement and regeneration technology, renewable energy system design, life cycle sustainable technology, renewable energy utility assessment, and policy support and energy consumption simulation, were identified through cluster analysis. Through evolutionary analysis, this study demonstrates the development process of energy regeneration in warehouse buildings and the critical role played by advances in new energy technologies in the field of warehouse construction. On this basis, this study proposes current key research directions, including energy life cycle assessment, energy regeneration environment optimization, and energy system management. The research on the energy regeneration of warehouse buildings has gradually become an important cross-subject of architecture and energy technology, providing technical support for the transformation of low-carbon storage buildings. The analysis of the current research status, evolutionary logic, and research trends can provide scientific references for further in-depth research and technological applications in this field.

Evaluation of the sustainable development efficiency of environment and energy in China

With the increasing global demand for sustainable development, China, being one of the world’s most populous countries, is confronted with increasingly prominent challenges in sustainable development of environment and energy, specifically in terms of environmental protection and energy transformation. To promote sustainable development in China’s environment and energy sector, this paper constructs an evaluation indicator system for sustainable development of environment and energy by integrating the relevant sustainable development goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The DEA-SBM model is employed for static analysis of the sustainable development efficiency and dynamic analysis is conducted using the Malmquist index, aiming to reveal regional differences and trends in the efficiency of sustainable development from 2016 to 2022. The results indicate that there is a significant disparity in the sustainable development efficiency of environment and energy among the 31 provinces in China. China has seen a slight overall improvement in the sustainable development of environment and energy, with a promotion of environmentally friendly development patterns. Moreover, technological innovation proves to be a key element in achieving more efficient and environmentally friendly development. In addition, the decomposition of technical efficiency change also makes the management level and factor allocation be attached importance.

A regenerative architectural solution for decarbonizing the construction sector in Algeria: lightweight and low-carbon insulating mortar

The building sector is responsible for a significant portion of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, thereby exacerbating climate change. To meet the growing need to minimize carbon footprints and improve construction energy efficiency, the development of eco-friendly building materials is crucial. This research concentrates on the development and assessment of lightweight insulating low-carbon mortar. This material is regarded as a prospective solution for regenerative architecture in Algeria due to its advantageous properties. This research aims to explore the characteristics of this material within the context of regenerative architecture, assessing its potential to enhance thermal insulation and energy efficiency of buildings and reduce CO2 emissions. This approach aligns with the principles of the "Materials" petal of the Living Building Challenge (LBC) certification, promoting architecture that goes beyond sustainability to become regenerative. To this end, we proceeded to make samples, conduct testing and laboratory studies on several specimens of this material, and perform digital simulations using RETA software. This mortar, is composed of low-CO₂ cement and lightweight aggregates, providing notable advantages in thermal insulation, energy efficiency, and GHG emissions reduction. In this way, it is observed that the thermal performance of buildings is improved, with a potential reduction in thermal energy consumption of up to 20% and a decrease in GHG emissions of up to 40% compared to conventional mortars. These, allows us to conclude that this ecological mortar contributes in initiatives that promote energy efficiency and sustainable development, promoting a transition towards more environmentally respectful regenerative architecture in Algeria and globally.

Network science can improve the sustainable development of solar energy

Abstract The recent emergence of agrivoltaic and ecovoltaic approaches to ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) energy provides a much-needed alternative to the environmentally disruptive practices employed in utility-scale solar development. Research on such land-sharing approaches has grown rapidly, with an emphasis on characterizing how PV arrays impact ecosystem processes and agricultural productivity. Although these studies have done well to quantify a variety of dual-use solar practices by employing site-specific sampling designs, this approach has limited our ability to synthesize results across sites, regions, and globally. We call for a network science approach for improved cross-site synthesis of dual-use solar research. We contend that a common approach for data collection and synthesis will facilitate a more rigorous investigation of the agricultural and ecological impacts of PV development across space and over time. The products of this scientifically informed approach can be directly applied to improve sustainable land management.

Classification model for blast furnace status based on multi-source information

The blast furnace (BF) is the key equipment for smelting, which has a significant impact on the sustainable development of global environment and energy. Therefore, it will be helpful for the operators if accurate evaluation to the status of the BF is realized. The classification model based on multi-source information is proposed in this paper, where the kernel fisher (KF) algorithm is enhanced to simplify the complexity both in algorithm and data dimensionality. The proposed model can realize the classification of both the distribution of gas flow (GF) and the geometric information of the burden surface (BS), and this paper also proposes a dynamic process adaptive kernel fisher (DPAKF) algorithm to enhance the adaptive ability of the classifier, where the online algorithm updating mechanism is designed. The experimental results demonstrate that the classification accuracy was increased from 90% to 95%, and the time expense of DPAKF was 236 s, which is prior compared with the existing support vector machine (SVM), k-nearest neighbor (KNN) and genetic algorithm (GA) models. The results of the student's t-distribution show that the statistics between DPAKF and KF, SVM, KNN and GA were 1.25, 2.81, 2.84 and 2.96, respectively, which demonstrate that there are significant statistical differences between DPAKF and SVM, KNN, and GA. This research provides a potential solution to the classification problem of the BF.

Building electrical load forecasting with occupancy data based on wireless sensing

Building electrical load forecasting, as a necessary foundation for building energy management, is of great significance for building energy efficiency and sustainable urban development. However, the accuracy of forecasting can hardly be guaranteed due to the stochastic nature of occupant behavior. To overcome this challenge, this paper proposes a data fusion-based building electrical load forecasting method with occupancy data obtained by wireless sensing technology. Firstly, a wireless sensing scheme is developed, which utilizes pre-existing wireless devices within the building energy management system (BEMS), offering a cost-effective means of obtaining occupancy information without violating occupant privacy. Moreover, to estimate the pattern of occupant behavior in the entire building, an improved stacked sparse auto-encoder (ISSAE) model is developed, which involves unsupervised feature fusion from information sources of varying significance. Finally, to cope with the time-varying and strongly fluctuating building load, a multi-source data fusion forecasting model based on the ensemble deep random vector functional link (edRVFL) is proposed. This model integrates the contributions of the latest accuracy and diversity through the ranking-based dynamic integration strategy. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated in a commercial building. The experimental results demonstrate that, compared with the load forecasting scheme without occupancy information, the proposed method can improve the forecasting accuracy on RMSE and MAPE by 13.21% and 14.97%, respectively, while cost-effectiveness and privacy are ensured.

Application of Z-number based fuzzy MCDM in solar power plant location selection problem in Spatial planning

In order to achieve sustainable energy consumption and development goals, it is of great importance to find suitable locations for the construction of solar power plants. In this study, Geographic Information System (GIS) and Z-Number iteration of Fuzzy Logarithm Additive Weights Methodology (F-LMAW), a recently adopted Multi-Criteria Decision Making Analysis (MCDA) technique, are used to identify the best locations for solar power plant construction in Mersin province. Nineteen criteria were selected for the study and their relative weights and usefulness in ranking the solar power plant locations were estimated. The Weighted Linear Combination (WLC) technique was used to determine the suitability index for solar power plant siting in the study area. According to the analysis made by taking into account the expert opinions for the site selection of solar power plants, the solar radiation criterion was the most important criterion with a weight value of 0,0664, while the distance from the river criterion was the least important criterion with a weight value of 0,0265. A potential suitability map for the solar power plant was produced with the suitability index values. According to the suitability index values, the study area exhibited suitability degrees for solar power plant siting ranging from “suitable (0,0038 %)” to “moderately suitable (0,0034 %)” and “very slightly suitable (0,0033 %)”. Silifke and Mut regions are considered as good locations for solar power plants in Mersin province. The robustness of the proposed technique was determined by sensitivity analysis.

Journal of Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems - Volume XII

Journal of Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems - Volume XII

China's energy efficiency improvement considering renewable energy substitution: Applying a dynamic two-stage undesirable non-radial directional distance function

As the country with the largest CO2 emissions in the world, China is developing renewable energy as the main way to address climate change. By 2021, China's wind and solar power generation accounted for 40 % and 37 % of the global total, but there is an imbalance in the development of renewable energy within China. Different from existing research on energy efficiency evaluation that rarely considers renewable energy, this study constructs a dynamic two-stage undesirable non-radial directional distance function that divides traditional energy efficiency into electricity production efficiency (EPE) by considering renewable energy substitution effects and energy utilization efficiency (EUE) by considering changes in the energy consumption structure. Different from other empirical results, the western provinces, with advantages in renewable energy development, their EPE has significantly improved, and EUE has also improved with the optimization of energy consumption structure, thus their overall energy performance surpass that of the eastern and central regions. In addition, by comparing the room for improvement of variables, we find that most provinces can improve their energy performance by expanding the scale of renewable energy generation and increasing the proportion of electricity to total energy consumption. Therefore, we propose policy recommendations to promote the sustainable development of renewable energy.

Powering prosperity: Unveiling the impacts of renewable energy policies on economy, employment, and income distribution in Indonesia

This study analyzes the economic and distributional impacts of a Production Tax Credit (PTC) on Indonesia's renewable electricity sector using a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model. The simulation spans 2018 to 2030, utilizing the 2018 Social Accounting Matrix (SAM). Results indicate significant reductions in electricity prices by 2025 under two scenarios of total factor productivity (TFP) growth (20 % and 30 %), with continued price decreases through 2030. The study reveals that while urban households and highly educated labour benefit from reduced energy costs and income gains, rural and lower-skilled workers experience fewer advantages, highlighting potential inequalities. The findings underscore the importance of inclusive renewable energy policies to ensure equitable economic outcomes during the energy transition. This research contributes to existing literature by offering new insights into the role of PTC in promoting sustainable energy development in emerging economies like Indonesia, with critical implications for policy design.

A guanidinium-based ionic COF for selective and efficient capture of 99TcO4−: A synergistic effect of ion exchange and hydrogen bond

The efficient capture of 99Tc from radioactive wastewater is crucial for the sustainable development of nuclear energy and human safety. In this study, a guanidinium-based ionic covalent organic framework (DhBa-TGCl) was synthesized using 1,2,3-Triaminoguanidine hydrochloride (TGCl) and 3,3′-dihydroxy-[1,1-biphenyl]-4,4′-dicarboxaldehyde (DhBa) to capture 99TcO4−/ReO4− in aqueous solutions. Batch experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of solution pH, adsorbent concentration, contact time, initial concentration and competing anions. The experiments demonstrated that within the pH range of 3–10, the removal efficiency of ReO4−, an analogue of 99TcO4−, remained stable, with rapid adsorption kinetics (over 80 % of 99TcO4− removed within 30 s) and a high adsorption capacity (227.21 mg⋅g−1 for ReO4−). Furthermore, competition experiments in binary systems with excess coexisting anions (Cl−, NO3−, SO42−, and MoO42−) and the DFT calculation results revealed that DhBa-TGCl maintained good selectivity for ReO4− and 99TcO4−. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses indicated that the adsorption mechanism involved a synergistic effect of electrostatic attraction and hydrogen bonding. Additionally, DhBa-TGCl can withstand 200 kGy of γ-ray irradiation and demonstrates excellent reusability after five adsorption–desorption cycles. The excellent properties of DhBa-TGCl highlight its great potential for rapid and selective removal of 99TcO4− from radioactive waste liquids.

Prospects of Nuclear Energy for Clean and Sustainable Energy Development in Rwanda

Rwanda, just like many other developing countries, still faces challenges in the energy sector. The country is still not able to supply reliable and affordable electricity to meet the current and future energy needs, as a result of rapid economic growth, increasing population and urbanization. Rwanda currently has limited generation resources, particularly during the dry season, when several hydropower stations are experiencing water shortages. Sometimes, leased diesel generation is needed to meet peak demand, which comes at a hefty cost. Efforts are being made to determine the true number of existing resources in the country for energy generation. Diversifying sources of energy inevitably becomes a strategic option. Rwanda has decided to embark on an ambitious programme for nuclear development as one of the alternatives to tackle energy challenges. This paper briefly presents plans featuring in the nuclear science and technology programme with the ultimate goal to leverage nuclear applications for sustainable social-economic development. A review of the country’s energy sector status is presented with focus on prospects of the nuclear programme as the solution to the country’s high energy demand and applications in different socio-economic sectors. In efforts to join the rest of world in the “net zero” greenhouse gas emission by 2050, Rwanda embraces the perspective under which nuclear energy is foreseen as a source of energy that most supports the efforts.

Achieving Excess Hydrogen Output via Concurrent Electrochemical and Chemical Redox Reactions on P-Doped Co-Based Catalysts with Electron Manipulation and Kinetic Regulation.

Electrolytic hydrogen production is of great significance in energy conversion and sustainable development. Traditional electrolytic water splitting confronts high anode voltage with oxygen generation and the amount of hydrogen produced at cathode depends entirely on the quantity of electric charge input. Herein, excess hydrogen output can be achieved by constructing a spontaneous hydrazine oxidation reaction (HzOR) coupled hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) system. For the hydrazine oxidation-assisted electrolyzer in this work, both the external input electrons and the electrons produced by spontaneous chemical redox reaction can reduce water, producing more hydrogen than traditional electrolytic water splitting system. The ultrafast kinetics of bifunctional P-doped Co-based catalysts plays a key role in the spontaneous feature of HzOR/HER redox reaction and low working voltage of hydrazine oxidation-assisted electrolyzer (12 mV@100mA cm-2). Theoretical calculation results and ex situ/in situ spectra demonstrate that doped P could optimize electronic structure, regulate adsorption energy of intermediates, and thus endows catalysts with ultrafast kinetics. This work provides a new pathway for the development of spontaneous oxidation-assisted hydrogen production, to achieve excess hydrogen output via concurrent electrochemical and chemical redox reactions.

Harnessing artificial intelligence for energy strategies: Advancing global economic policies and hydrogen production in the transition to a low-carbon economy

The need for non-conventional energy forms is another factor that has been pointing to the need for Fortran's s-ports for new forms of energy and indeed transportable energy that carriers such as Hydrogen. This investigation employs artificial intelligence to promote international economic policies and hydrogen manufacturing, defining hydrogen export competitiveness globally from 1991 to 2024. An overall index constructed from twenty-one benchmarks in four areas: financial and economic viability, political and regulatory position, industrial experience, and resource availability and prospects were created and further tested with experts' interviews and questionnaires. AI specifically played a very important role in data analysis and the index in assigning the appropriate weights and providing the right evaluation. This paper reveals the countries that have a competitive hydrogen industry and gives policy suggestions for improving the generation and exportation productivity of Hydrogen. Through this integrated project development approach, it is intended to spark the hydrogen economy and renewable energy, including environmentally sustainable uses. As a result, by employing AI to develop the energy strategy, this research provides practical recommendations for creating a low-carbon economy, filling the existing gap in the issue of limited sustainable energy sources and contributing to the development of the global economy. The purpose is to provide specific guidance for the effective stimulation of the hydrogen market in the context of global changes in the renewable energy area and sustainable development.

Relationship between the molecular structure of polyimide and its dielectric properties: Optimizing performance for triboelectric nanogenerators

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are eco-friendly energy harvesters. Polyimide (PI) has been widely used as a triboelectric layer in TENGs, but the relationship between its structure and performance is not fully understood. Herein, PI films with varying molecular structures were prepared to investigate the effects of -O- and –CF3 groups on their physical properties and triboelectric performance. The results showed that PI films with -O- exhibited better thermal stability, while both -O- and –CF3 groups effectively modulated optical transparency and dielectric properties. At 450 nm, M6-PI and O6-PI exhibited the highest transmittance at 63.14 % and 55.06 %, respectively, with dielectric loss performance below 0.5 % at 105 Hz. PI films incorporating -O- and –CF3 demonstrated significant improvements in triboelectric performance. Theoretical calculations clarified these groups influence optical transparency, dielectric properties, and electrical output performance. Ultimately, the fabricated 6PI-TENG achieved the desired triboelectric performance with enhanced electrical output. The Voc and Qsc of 6PI reached approximately 80 V and 25 nC, respectively. This study offers essential theoretical insights for designing and advancing of TENGs, contributing to sustainable energy development.

Analysis of wind resources in Senegal using 100-meter wind data from ERA5 reanalysis

This study conducts a climatological analysis of wind resources in Senegal, utilizing wind data at 100 m from the ERA5 reanalysis. The results reveal spatio-temporal variations in wind speeds and directions, while also identifying favorable areas for the establishment of wind farms. Wind speeds range from 3 to 9 m/s, with increasing gradients in the north-south and west-east directions. Maximum speeds are observed in winter and spring, especially from December to May. A distinct daily pattern is observed, with the highest speeds at night and lower speeds during the day. On average, nighttime wind speeds are 21 % higher than daytime speeds. Most of the time, the wind blows from optimal directions, ranging from northwest to northeast. The study successfully identifies three particularly suitable zones for wind farm installation: the northwest coast between Saint-Louis and Dakar, the smaller coast between Dakar and Mbour, and the extreme north of the country bordering Mauritania between Saint-Louis and Matam. Furthermore, a long-term analysis highlights evolving wind trends. Trends and anomalies indicate a 7 % increase in winds at 100 m. In conclusion, this study provides a precise assessment of wind resources in Senegal, emphasizing that the most favorable zones are along the coast and in regions near the desert. This information is crucial for the sustainable development of wind energy in the region.

Assessing the provincial renewable energy generation efficiency in China considering the energy justice and sustainable development

The rapid increase in renewable energy (RE) installed capacity and the resulting issues of energy justice and RE generation efficiency (REGE) require urgent attention. Therefore, this study calculated the China’s RE justice indexes (REJIs) and the provincial RE justice contribution degree from 2012 to 2021 via the Gini coefficient and modified coupling cooperation degree model. Hydropower, wind, and solar power generation efficiencies (HPGE, WPGE, and SPGE) were evaluated using the super-efficiency slack-based measure model. The results show that the REJIs of wind and solar power demonstrated an increasing trend, whereas that of hydropower slowly declined in the following order: wind power > solar power > hydropower. The HPGE fluctuated without remarkable change. The WPGE and SPGE gradually increased, but the SPGE increased rapidly. Furthermore, the Global Malmquist-Luenberger productivity index results revealed that the HPGE and SPGE were driven by efficiency change (catch-up effect), whereas the WPGE was driven by technical change (innovation effect). The REGE exhibited considerable regional heterogeneity. It was the highest in Western China, followed by that in Central China, and the lowest in Eastern China. Our findings can guide policymakers in improving policies to enhance REGE and promote just and equitable energy transition development.

Structural Design and Optimization of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Ejector

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) produce electrical energy using hydrogen as an energy source, characterized by enhanced energy conversion efficiency and diminished emissions, contributing to the sustainable development of energy. The hydrogen ejector is essential for improving the hydrogen utilization efficiency in PEMFCs. In this study, the theoretical design and simulation optimization of a hydrogen ejector used for a hydrogen fuel cell are performed in order to improve the efficiency of the hydrogen ejector. According to Sokolov’s design method, the dimensions of the ejector nozzle and mixing chamber were calculated. A three-dimensional fluid simulation model of the ejector was established, and the accuracy of the model was verified by the experimental results. The influences of the nozzle outlet distance, the mixing chamber diameter, the length–diameter ratio of the mixing chamber, and the nozzle curvature on the ejector ratio were studied under multiple working conditions, and the optimal structural size of the ejector was obtained to satisfy the working conditions. It was found that the maximum ejector ratio of 1.21 could be achieved at a nozzle exit distance of 9 mm, a mixing chamber diameter of 7 mm, a mixing chamber length–diameter ratio of 9, and a nozzle curvature of 0.02. This work can provide some insights into the relationship between the structural parameters and performance of hydrogen ejectors.

Exploring the Interplay Between Energy Policies and Sustainable Development Goals Within Lithuania’s Energy Sector: A Critical Review

This paper presents a critical review of Lithuania’s climate change mitigation policies within the energy sector, focusing on their alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study highlights the significance of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and energy security in Lithuania’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to a sustainable energy system. The review analyzes the selected research literature that studies Lithuania’s efforts to adapt and fulfill EU energy directives and national goals, emphasizing the impacts of these policies on various sectors, including residential, transport, and industry. The methodology includes a comprehensive analysis of the existing literature and semi-structured interviews with stakeholders regarding their perceptions of the current state and future directions of Lithuania’s energy policies. Findings indicate substantial progress in renewable energy adoption and energy efficiency improvements, contributing to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). However, challenges such as high costs, underdeveloped financing mechanisms, and limited public awareness hinder further advancements. This paper suggests that future policies should focus on overcoming these barriers, enhancing public engagement, and integrating technological innovations to achieve more significant energy savings and GHG reductions. Recommendations for policy improvements and further research directions are also discussed.

G-C3N4-Based Heterojunction for Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance: A Review of Fabrications, Applications, and Perspectives

In recent years, photocatalysts have attracted wide attention in alleviating energy problems and environmental governance, among which, g-C3N4, as an ideal photocatalyst, has shown excellent application potential in achieving the sustainable development of energy. However, its photocatalytic performance needs to be further improved in some applications. Rational construction of heterostructures with two or more semiconductor materials can combine the advantages of multi-components to simultaneously improve the photo-induced charge separation, which is very conducive to improving the absorption of visible light and obtaining more efficient redox capacity. With the rapid development in photocatalysis of g-C3N4-based heterostructures, a systematic summary and prospection of performance improvement are urgent and meaningful. This review focuses on various kinds of effective methods of heterogeneous combination; as well, strategies for improving the photocatalytic performance are fully discussed. In addition, the applications in efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production, photocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction, and organic pollutant degradation are systematically demonstrated. Finally, the remaining issues and prospects of further development are proposed as a kind of guidance for g-C3N4-based heterostructures with high efficiency at photocatalysis.