Renewable Energy Supply Research Articles

Sodium Vanadates for Metal-Ion Batteries: Recent Advances and Perspectives.

Rechargeable metal-ion batteries (MIBs) play a pivotal role in advancing the stable supply of renewable energy by efficiently storing and discharging electrical energy. In recent years, to propel the continuous advancement of MIB technology, numerous studies have concentrated on exploring and innovating electrode materials, aiming to engineer commercial batteries with high energy density, superior power density, and extended cycle life. Notably, sodium vanadates have garnered significant attention in the realm of MIBs owing to their distinctive crystal structures, abundant resource reservoirs, and exceptional electrochemical properties. This paper provides a prompt and comprehensive review of the research landscape for various sodium vanadates (such as NaxV2O5, Na1+ xV3O8, Na2V6O16·xH2O, etc.) in the domain of MIBs over the past five years. It delves into the structural characteristics, electrochemical performances, and energy storage mechanisms of these materials, while also proposing some effective strategies to augment their electrochemical capabilities. Building upon these insights and prevailing research outcomes, this review envisions the future developmental pathways of sodium vanadates for MIBs and aims to reveal the vast potential of sodium vanadates in the emerging energy storage field and provide researchers with clear insights and perspectives for developing optimal sodium vanadate electrodes.

Full Road Transport Sector Transition Towards 100% Autonomous Renewable Energy Supply in Isolated Systems: Tenerife Island Test Case

Full Road Transport Sector Transition Towards 100% Autonomous Renewable Energy Supply in Isolated Systems: Tenerife Island Test Case

Considering Carbon–Hydrogen Coupled Integrated Energy Systems: A Pathway to Sustainable Energy Transition in China Under Uncertainty

The low-carbon construction of integrated energy systems is a crucial path to achieving dual carbon goals, with the power-generation side having the greatest potential for emissions reduction and the most direct means of reduction, which is a current research focus. However, existing studies lack the precise modeling of carbon capture devices and the cascaded utilization of hydrogen energy. Therefore, this paper establishes a carbon capture power plant model based on a comprehensive, flexible operational mode and a coupled model of a two-stage P2G (Power-to-Gas) device, exploring the “energy time-shift” characteristics of the coupled system. IGDT (Information Gap Decision Theory) is used to discuss the impact of uncertainties on the power generation side system. The results show that by promoting the consumption of clean energy and utilizing the high energy efficiency of hydrogen while reducing reliance on fossil fuels, the proposed system not only meets current energy demands but also achieves a more efficient emission reduction, laying a solid foundation for a sustainable future. By considering the impact of uncertainties, the system ensures resilience and adaptability under fluctuating renewable energy supply conditions, making a significant contribution to the field of sustainable energy transition.

Optimizing Sustainability Offshore Hybrid Tidal-Wind Energy Storage Systems for an Off-Grid Coastal City in South Africa

South Africa’s extensive marine energy resources present a unique opportunity for advancing sustainable energy solutions. This study focuses on developing a sustainable hybrid power generation system that combines offshore wind and tidal current energy to provide a stable, renewable energy supply for off-grid coastal communities. By addressing the challenges of intermittency and unpredictability in renewable energy sources, the proposed system integrates wind and tidal energy with energy storage and diesel backup to ensure reliability while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and minimizing the environmental footprint. The system is optimized for sustainability, with a configuration of one wind turbine, five tidal turbines, and a diesel generator demonstrated to be the most effective in increasing the renewable energy fraction and lowering the net present cost. Simulations conducted using HOMER Pro version 3.20 software underscore the potential of this hybrid system to support South Africa’s transition to a more sustainable energy future, aligning with national and global sustainability goals. The results emphasize the environmental benefits of combining these renewable energy sources, offering a blueprint for achieving energy security and sustainable development in coastal regions.

Green recovery in BRICS economies: The role of mineral resources, energy productivity, and green innovation in sustainable development

Mineral resources are important for economic development, significantly impacting industrial growth and presenting complex challenges such as resource scarcity and environmental sustainability. In this context, the present study explores the linkage between natural resources rents, energy productivity, eco-innovation, and carbon emissions considering BRICS economies. Using data from 1990 to 2021, the result of the present study shows that natural resources rent, and economic growth contribute to environmental pollution, indicating that revenues from natural resources in BRICS economies are used for economic expansion, thus leading to carbon emissions. In contrast, green innovation and energy productivity significantly reduce carbon emissions and improve environmental quality. Similarly, renewable energy supply also contributes to the improvement of environmental quality. Our research highlights the critical need for policies that not only restore natural resources and enhance green innovation to boost energy productivity but also address the negative impact of these innovations on carbon emissions while acknowledging that natural resource rents can exacerbate these emissions.

Productivity costs of the green energy transition in Africa

AbstractTransitioning to renewable energy generates tangible benefits in terms of the environment and emissions of greenhouse gases. However, the economic productivity costs of switching to clean energy cannot be overlooked, in addition to the large resource requirements, potential disruption in energy systems, risks of job losses, and emergence of new inequalities. Therefore, it is crucial to identify and quantify synergies and trade‐offs. This paper investigates the productivity cost of abandoning the use of fossil fuels in African countries, using econometric techniques applied to panel data, including the fully modified ordinary least square. The paper finds that, while renewable energy supply is beneficial to increase total factor productivity, in general, a shift toward a higher share of renewables in the power mix is not without productivity cost on the economy. The analysis accounts for other sources of productivity, such as human capital and the diffusion of embodied technology imported from abroad into local markets. The data also reveal that the energy transition could have heterogeneous effects depending on the regions' and countries' characteristics and stages of transition.

Performance assessment of new reliability index of energy in water distribution networks equipped with PATs based on component simultaneous failure scenarios

For a water distribution network (WDN) equipped with pump as turbines (PATs), when a pipe failure scenario occurs, the network performance in renewable energy supply is very important by issues in pressure supply, leakage control, and quality of water. Due to the importance for both water and energy approaches in WDNs equipped with PAT, a reliability of networks performance under pipe failure is evaluated by a novel reliability index with the nature of energy called ERI for the two cases studies as 25-node network (case 1) and the network connected to reservoir No. 23 in Tehran (case 2) in this study. To increase the accuracy and to make the more realistic results for examining higher-order simultaneous failure scenarios given from one to three pipes, the multidimensional performance is considered by energy, water equity, water adequacy and their combinations in ERI. The ERI provided a correlation of the energy assessment for studied networks as 0.99 for case 1 and 0.98 for case 2. The results of the energy performance analysis in case 1 introduced that pipes number 2 and 36 are the most critical pipes, similarly by performance for Case 2, pipes number 2, 4, 31, and 55 are the most critical pipes for repair and maintenance. The loss energy due to worst failure scenario showed that the simultaneous failure of pipes 2-12-21 in case 1 and pipes 2-4 in case 2 can be provided a completely loss energy produced by PATs.

Design and analysis of zero-energy and carbon buildings with renewable energy supply and recycled materials

Given the notable consumption of fossil fuels, buildings prioritize their energy utilization. This paper’s aim is to explore the primary strategies in attaining zero-energy and zero-carbon buildings. The investigation employs two specialized software programs: Design Builder, which analyzes energy usage, and PV Syst, which evaluates renewable energy requirements. The study is conducted in Fort Myers, USA, and Dubai, UAE, leveraging diverse regional and climate discrepancies, and real-world data on zero-energy and carbon constructions for comparison and validation. Within the Design Builder software, the research examines four strategies, with the first serving as the realistic baseline. By implementing the second strategy, utilizing internal shading devices such as Shade Roll, a reduction of 376 kWh in Fort Myers and 591 kWh in Dubai is achieved. The third strategy encompasses the deployment of blind-type internal shading systems, resulting in reductions of 212 kWh in Fort Myers and 348 kWh in Dubai. The fourth strategy involves integrating renewable energy via photovoltaic panels, injecting 323.5 kWh in Fort Myers and 2237 kWh in Dubai into the power grid for lighting purposes. Furthermore, 3200.5 kWh and 4722 kWh of energy are respectively injected into the grid for heating in Fort Myers and Dubai. Cooling, however, necessitates additional energy from the grid, amounting to 2243.94 kWh in Fort Myers and 9211.64 kWh in Dubai. In the pursuit of zero-carbon goals, the implementation of suitable low-carbon recycled materials, in place of primary building materials, reduces carbon dioxide emissions from 79 tons to 7.315 tons in Fort Myers and 7.038 tons in Dubai. By employing appropriate materials, the zero-carbon objective is attained.

Contextual drivers of energy demand and supply from renewable sources

This study investigates the socio-economic and environmental drivers shaping renewable energy demand and supply within a meso-level setting (Italian regions, 2004–2020). Employing a panel vector error correction mechanism (PVECM) and an integrative biplot analysis, the research outcomes reveal a market equilibrium between demand and supply in the short and long run. Human capital accumulation is identified as pivotal in driving the renewable energy transition. Significant regional heterogeneities indicate challenges in achieving convergence towards sustainability and socio-economic development and well-being. Key empirical implications include enhancing education and vocational training to strengthen human capital and implementing tailored regional strategies for sustainable infrastructure development. These findings support policymakers in formulating targeted policies for a resilient, balanced energy future and addressing regional disparities in renewable energy adoption.

Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Logistics in Food Manufacturing Industries overcome Barriers and Challenges

This paper explores innovative solutions for sustainable logistics in the food manufacturing industry, focusing on how these strategies address key challenges. It examines how advancements in technology, logistics strategies, and eco-friendly practices contribute to sustainability while maintaining efficiency and profitability. The study analyzes data from companies that have adopted modern logistics solutions, such as AI-driven optimization, renewable energy, and circular supply chain models, supplemented by expert interviews to gain practical insights. The findings reveal that these solutions help reduce carbon emissions, minimize food waste, and optimize resource use. Companies that have implemented these strategies have successfully overcome common barriers such as high costs, infrastructure complexity, and regulatory challenges. While the research focuses on large-scale manufacturers, smaller companies remain under explored, suggesting the need for future studies on scalability and policy frameworks to support wider adoption. This paper offers a unique contribution by combining current innovations in sustainable logistics with practical industry challenges, providing actionable insights for food manufacturers and laying the foundation for further research into overcoming financial and technological barriers.

Joint Short-term Power Forecasting of Hydro-Wind-Photovoltaic Considering Spatiotemporal Delay of Weather Processes

Regional integrated energy systems (RIES) represented by hydro, wind, and solar energy are crucial avenues for future clean energy development, fully leveraging their complementarity can facilitate the orderly supply of renewable energy, significantly enhance the level of new energy consumption, and make outstanding contributions to achieving carbon neutrality goals. However, run-of-river hydropower (RHP), wind power (WP), and photovoltaic (PV) are affected by the chaotic characteristics of the weather system, with significant random fluctuations, and their output characteristics have significant heterogeneity, which brings a big challenge for the complementary coordinated scheduling. The high-accuracy power prediction of RHP, WP, and PV in the region is one of the key means for solving the above problems. To meet this challenge, by analyzing the spatio-temporal correlation properties between weather processes and station output, a novel joint prediction framework for short-term power forecasting (STPF) of regional hydro-wind-PV clusters is proposed. Firstly, to solve the problem of significant heterogeneity of water, wind, and solar, a Differentiated Spatio-Temporal Mixture Network (DSTMN) is proposed, which differentially encodes the weather and power information at multiple locations, enabling the extraction of common features while preserving their specificities, which addresses the difficulty of representing the inherent correlation patterns between wide-area meteorological information and heterogeneous energy sources. Secondly, to further explore the spatio-temporal correlation between meteorological information and power information, to improve the forecasting performance of the model, a spatio-temporal-lagged correlation (STLC) that can quantify their spatio-temporal delays is proposed. By analyzing the correlation characteristics between regional grid numerical weather prediction (NWP) information and station output at different spatial and temporal scales, the optimal spatial location and delay time of NWP inputs under the current scenario are determined for each station. Based on this, the best NWP scene probabilistic transfer model is established based on the Rank Bayesian Ensemble (RBE) method. By fitting the conditional probability distribution of the current best NWP spatiotemporal location and the 2nd day’s best NWP spatiotemporal location, providing a reliable input for the STPF model. Finally, a case study with 164 hydro-wind-solar stations in China demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed method. Specifically, we achieved an accuracy improvement of 0.46% — 11.03% on the 2nd day of forecasting compared to benchmark methods.

Ammonia Sprays for Combustion: A Review

Ammonia is a globally transported chemical used for a variety of applications, most notably, the production of fertiliser. Over the past decade, attention has been afforded to the use of ammonia as an energy carrier, coupling global supply of renewable energy to demand regions. Ammonia’s advantages as an energy carrier include its ease of liquefaction and established international transportation routes; overcoming its low reactivity, excessive production of nitrogen oxides and its toxicity remain as challenges. For energy applications, fuel delivery is a critical aspect of effective combustion in boilers, burners and engines. Due to its adaptable phase change characteristics, ammonia fuel may be injected as a liquid or vapour, each with respective advantages or disadvantages. The focus of this review concerns the characterisation of liquid ammonia fuel injection for combustion, including recent research findings from experimental and simulation studies. Liquid ammonia injection can result in the highly dynamic so-called ‘flashing’ or ‘flash boiling’ phenomena. Research findings have been drawn from other related applications such as accidental hazardous releases. Bespoke optical experimental rigs together with diagnostic techniques and two-phase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations have enabled studies of the flashing jets under various initial or final conditions, with recent work also examining ammonia spray combustion. The review concludes with an insight into future trends and requirements for liquid ammonia combustion. Reciprocating engines for marine propulsion are cited as potential early adopters of ammonia energy.

Distributed robust [formula omitted]asso-[formula omitted] based on [formula omitted]ash optimization for smart grid: Guaranteed robustness and stability

The integration of variable renewable energy supplies into smart grid energy management poses several obstacles to system operation. An efficient solution for resource management is essential to ensuring reliable operation. This research presents distributed robust Lasso-model predictive control (D − RLMPC) as a way to handle energy problems in a multi-layer and multi-time frame optimization method. The D − RLMPC is a hierarchical system that integrates a centralized supervisory management (SM) layer for long-term optimization with a distributed coordination management (CM) layer for short-term adaptation to high power fluctuations. The higher layer, known as the SM, is responsible for providing the grid operator with specific operating plans and offering guidance to the bottom layer, known as the CM. The CM is responsible for coordinating the interaction between the centralized optimization goals and the physical power system layer. Furthermore, a distributed extended Kalman filter (DEKF) is used to ascertain the inter-dependencies among subsystems. Next, an iterative approach based on Nash optimization is proposed to get the globally optimum solution of the whole system in a partly distributed manner. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control approach, which combines the advantages of centralized and distributed control to provide a comprehensive solution for the grid operating issue. To verify and assess the effectiveness of the suggested approach, the acquired outcomes are compared to those of the centralized robust, distributed robust, and distributedMPC approaches. The simulation findings confirm the practicality of using the suggested system to manage future smart grid assets.

Probabilistic Power and Energy Balance Risk Scheduling Method Based on Distributed Robust Optimization

The volatility and uncertainty associated with the high proportion of wind and PV output in the new power system significantly impact the power and energy balance, making it challenging to accurately assess the risks related to renewable energy abandonment and supply guarantee. Therefore, a probabilistic power and energy balance risk analysis method based on distributed robust optimization is proposed. Firstly, the affine factor and the flexible ramp reserve capacity of thermal power are combined to establish a probabilistic index, which serves to characterize the risk associated with the power and energy balance. Drawing upon the principles of the conditional value at risk theory, the risk indexes of the load shedding power and curtailment power under a certain confidence probability are proposed. Secondly, the probability distribution fuzzy sets of uncertain variables are constructed using the distributionally robust method to measure the Wasserstein distance between different probability distributions. Finally, aiming at minimizing the operation cost of thermal power, the risk cost of power abandonment, and the risk cost of load shedding, a distributed robust optimal scheduling model based on a flexible ramp reserve of thermal power is established.

Production and optimization of biofuels from locally isolated algal biomass: Strategies for circular economy integration

In the present study, we investigated the potential of locally isolated algal strains as alternative energy sources for sustainable biofuel production. The focus of this study was to identify algal strains that are capable of accumulating oils rich in essential fatty acids. Algal samples were collected from different areas and 14 isolates were obtained. Among the various pretreatment methods tested, hydrothermal pretreatment using sulfuric acid at 95 °C yielded the best results, with sample IIB-14 containing more than 2% reducing sugars. These sugars were then used for fermentation with the S. cerevisiae strain, resulting in an ethanol concentration of 3.52% ± 0.2%. This holistic approach contributes to the development of low-cost and environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional energy sources. While algal biofuels offer a promising substitute for fossil fuels, further advancements are needed before they can be widely adopted in the fuel market. Among these, isolates IIB-8 and IIB-9 showed the highest oil yields of 22.84% and 24.69% (w/w), respectively. The specific environmental settings for optimal growth of these strains were determined, and the physicochemical parameters of the oils, including iodine value, viscosity, density, acid value, saponification value, unsaponifiable mass, and peroxide value, were analyzed. The transesterification of oils into fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) revealed the presence of significant amounts of fatty acids, including EPA, DHA, and linoleic acid. Moreover, the study also explored the potential of algal biomass for bioethanol production, addressing the sustainability concerns of renewable energy supplies. Hydrothermal pretreatment using sulfuric acid at 95 °C yielded the highest concentration of reducing sugars (>2%) in IIB-14. Sugar extracted from algal biomass was used for fermentation. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain used for the fermentation process yielded an ethanol concentration of 3.52% ± 0.2%. This holistic approach contributes to the development of low-cost and environment-friendly alternatives to renewable energy sources. Algal biofuels may offer a practical substitute for fossil fuels, but there is still a long way to go before they can enter the fuel market and are widely used.

A scenario-customizable and visual-rendering simulator for on-vehicle vibration energy harvesting

The rising demand for renewable energy supply in standalone computing devices has led to the emergence of vibration energy harvesting (VEH) to overcome technical and environmental challenges. For instance, VEH is desirable in IoT scenarios where maintaining a battery supply is non-sustainable or impractical due to many devices or remote circumstances. VEH can be environmentally friendly given that it reduces the reliance on traditional battery production and usage, thus reducing the carbon footprint and chemical waste in disposable batteries. However, a significant hurdle in VEH adoption is the lack of effective simulation tools for generating various application scenarios to describe, validate, or predict the efficacy of the VEH-based devices. It is necessary for designing and implementing a VEH simulator for a variety of realistic application scenarios. Being the first of its kind, this study presents a scenario-customizable and visual-rendering VEH simulation system based on the Unity3D Engine. The proposed simulator features a modular design that consists of several key functional components including vibration scenarios’ creation and manipulation, VEH model specification, Unity-Python Co-computing mechanism, and 3D visualization. This paper also presents two AI-based case studies leveraging the functionality and data provided by the simulator to demonstrate its potential for data-driven research and applications.

The potential of green ammonia in the de-fossilization of the steel, glass and cement industries.

The development of new technologies for the synthesis of green ammonia using exclusively hydrogen from water and nitrogen from air in processes driven exclusively by renewable energy is poised to decarbonize the production of this important molecule for the production of green fertilizers as well as offering a carbon-free vector for the long-term storage of renewable energy. In this article, we explore and quantify the CO2 emission reduction potential of green ammonia, evaluating how it can facilitate the decarbonization of other hard-to-abate industrial processes such as steel, glass and cement industries. Green ammonia can be used as a direct replacement of fossil fuels used as energy sources in the different processes. In addition, green ammonia can facilitate the electrification of the processes (so-called Power-to-X) by storing renewable energy in the long term to balance a decarbonized grid against intermittent renewable energy supplies. This article is part of the discussion meeting issue 'Green carbon for the chemical industry of the future'.

Green ammonia imports could supplement long-duration energy storage in the UK

Abstract There is growing recognition of the need for long-duration energy storage to cope with low frequency (i.e. seasonal to multi-annual) variability in renewable energy supplies. Recent analysis for the UK has estimated that 60–100 TWh of hydrogen storage could be required to provide zero-carbon backup for renewable energy supplies in 2050. However, the analysis did not consider the potential role of green energy imports as a supplement to domestic energy storage. Using a global spatially-explicit model of green hydrogen/ammonia production and shipping we estimate the lowest import costs for green ammonia to the UK, and compare them with the levelized costs of energy storage across scenarios of varying domestic renewable energy production. The results indicate that imported green ammonia could offer a cost-comparable alternative to domestic hydrogen production, storage and power generation, whilst increasing energy system resilience through supply diversification, at a similar or cheaper delivered energy cost compared to a hydrogen-only storage system. In countries lacking the geological potential for low-cost hydrogen storage, green ammonia imports could have an even more significant role.

A Bibliometric Review to Understanding the Supply Chain of Renewable Energy

This bibliometric analysis investigates the evolving research landscape in renewable energy supply chains. The study uses VOSviewer software to examine influential articles, authors, countries, journals, and keywords from 2015 to 2023. Notably, 2019 marked a significant shift with a surge in publications and citations, suggesting a transition toward more impactful and higher-quality research. In subsequent years, they have witnessed fluctuations in citation counts, potentially reflecting changes in research focus and publication quality. Geographically, the United States and China stand out as leading contributors, with the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Iran also making substantial contributions. The analysis of journals and publishers reveals variations in research impact and influence, with Elsevier emerging as a significant publisher. The keyword analysis underscores the prevalence of "Supply chains," "renewable energy resources," and "biomass" as central themes. This study offers valuable insights into the research trends and dynamics in the renewable energy supply chain field.

Energy Storage Integration for Renewable Energy Supply in Malaysia: A Review

Malaysia intends to increase the share of renewable energy (RE) in its installed power capacity from the current 23%, or 8.5 GW, to 40%, or 18.0 GW, by 2035. Renewable energy sources, specifically solar and biogas, are unpredictable and subject to sudden changes due to weather conditions and feedstock availability. Furthermore, their integration with the current conventional plants is complicated. In relation to this, deploying energy storage has become the main agenda under the Renewable Energy Roadmap to achieve 40% installed capacity by 2035. When selecting the most adequate energy storage system, the technological, environmental and economic aspects need to be considered. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to review the current state of energy storage and the renewable energy situation in Malaysia. The significance of this paper is that it encourages RE consumption in Malaysia in parallel with the government’s target due to the deployment of energy storage in the energy supply system. It can serve as a guideline for policymakers in their penetration of the renewable energy sector.