Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Research Articles

A Comparative Analysis of Electric Mobility Operations in the Island States: A Case Study of Malta and Cyprus

The Malta and Cyprus partnership strengthened through the H2020 NEEMO (Networking for Excellence in Electric Mobility Operations) TWINNING project activities, which also led to the development of longer-term collaboration strategies for the future of electric mobility operations. Through information sharing between the two island nations in the Mediterranean, the major goal was to improve sustainable transportation. The capacity-building activities helped to characterise the state of the two islands’ electric transportation industries. Workshops, seminars, educational initiatives, and exchange visits are all part of the methods used to increase capacity and promote collaboration. The research highlights the significance of sustainable energy sources and infrastructure development for the smooth transition to electric mobility and transportation. Energy systems, land transportation, and the optimisation of the entire energy system are all discussed, compared and analysed. The findings highlight the legal framework, the EIRIE platform, and the differences between Malta and Cyprus in the e-mobility sector. The integration of renewable energy in both nations and the charging infrastructure, tariffs, and rates are also examined.
 

Energy consumption optimization method of wireless sensor information collection network for new energy scheduling

New energy integration is thought to be one of the most potential solutions to support the power system with a sustainable energy infrastructure. However, new energy is an uncertain power generation resource, and the electricity generated by it has the characteristics of randomness, intermittency and reverse peak regulation. Its large-scale integration into the power grid makes the operation and reliability scheduling of the power system more challenging. It was important to build a wireless sensing and monitoring network to monitor the power and change trend of the new energy field (station) in real time. The energy consumption of wireless sensing monitoring network is an important factor to improve the reliability of new energy scheduling. Based on the energy consumption of the wireless sensing monitoring network built by the new energy scheduling, the compression sensing technology was integrated and the network routing protocol (I-LEACH protocol) was optimized. The sampling data was transmitted by the cluster head node at the compression rate of 0.6, the improved OMP (Orthogonal Matching Pursuit) algorithm was reconstructed to achieve reliable data transmission, and the network energy consumption was further reduced. Compared with the I-LEACH routing protocol network, the experiments show that the network residual energy of the proposed method increased by 22% and the life cycle increased by about 30%. This method is helpful to improve the reliability of new energy power dispatching system and it can provide reference for realizing the reliability scheduling of new energy power system.

Electricity Blackout and Its Ripple Effects: Examining Liquidity and Information Asymmetry in U.S. Financial Markets

The massive blackout that occurred in August 2003 left over 50 million people in the northeastern and midwestern parts of the United States without electricity and caused billions of dollars in economic losses. This event highlighted the importance of sustainable and resilient energy infrastructure. Our study examines the impact of this blackout on the sustainability of financial markets by analyzing the liquidity and information asymmetry of U.S. stocks listed on major exchanges. Our results show that the blackout had a negative impact on the financial market’s liquidity, as evidenced by a significant widening of bid–ask spreads and a decrease in the market quality index. We also find an increase in information asymmetry during the blackout period, as measured by higher realized spreads. Furthermore, our study reveals that the blackout had a border impact on global financial markets and the negative effect on liquidity persisted even after two weeks.

Toward the Formation of the Solid Electrolyte Interphase on Alkaline Metal Anodes: Ab Initio Simulations**

AbstractThe transition from lithium‐based energy storage to post lithium systems plays a crucial part in achieving an environmentally sustainable energy infrastructure. Prime candidates for the replacement of lithium are sodium and potassium batteries. Despite being critical to battery performance, the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation process for Na and K batteries remains insufficiently understood, especially compared to the well‐established lithium systems. Using ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations based on density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we study the first steps of SEI formation upon the decomposition of typical solvent molecules on lithium, sodium and potassium metal anodes. We find that two dominant products form during the early SEI formation of cyclical carbonates on alkali metal anodes, carbon monoxide and alkali‐carbonate. The carbonate‐producing reaction is thermodynamically favorable for all tested metals, however, Na and K exhibit a much stronger selectivity than Li towards carbonate formation. Furthermore, we propose a previously unknown reaction mechanism for the CO polymerization on metallic lithium.

TiO2-based photocatalytic hydrogen production: How to transfer it to an applicable approach?

Global industrial development and increased energy demand are key contributors to the rise in CO2 emissions and global climate change. It is therefore necessary to build a sustainable energy infrastructure that would be based on hydrogen from renewable energy sources. Herein, we first introduce the different methods for H2 generation, including photocatalysis with TiO2 as one of the most widely used photocatalysts. The various processes occurring on irradiated TiO2 and their contribution to photocatalytic H2 efficiency are discussed. The next part deals with the best techniques for material engineering, including self-doping, loading with co-catalysts, doping with metals and non-metals, and heterojunction structures. The last part displays the effects of external conditions that positively influence photocatalytic H2 production, especially thermo- and mechanically-assisted photocatalysis. As part of this special issue, this mini-review summarizes most of the investigations carried out in this field by the groups led by Prof. Bahnemann.

Defects in Carbon-Based Materials for Electrocatalysis: Synthesis, Recognition, and Advances.

ConspectusOwing to climate change and over-reliance on fossil fuels, the study and development of sustainable energy is of essential importance in the next few decades. In recent years, rapid advances have been witnessed in various power to gas electrocatalysis technologies including oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) for realizing the target of blue planet with carbon neutrality. Nevertheless, practical applications with superior performance and affordable cost are largely limited by the electrode materials because the reactions are regularly driven by precious metals such as platinum (Pt) or iridium (Ir) based catalysts. Therefore, it is of significance to develop novel electrocatalysts with high electroactivity and limited cost for boosting the commercialization of green hydrogen technology.Since nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes were first reported for enhanced ORR performance in 2009, the exploitation of carbon-based metal-free catalysts (CMFCs) as potential replacements for the precious metal electrocatalysts has become an attractive research field. To date, great progress has been made in developing new dopant strategies for CMFCs; however, the details of the catalytic mechanism and identification of active sites remain unclear, owing to the complexity in controlling the dopants and their homogeneity in carbon-based materials. To tackle this issue, our group has presented a series of works on defects catalyzing electrochemical reactions and proposed a defect catalysis mechanism since 2015. This theory is now widely accepted by the research community and has become a very important area in electrocatalysis worldwide.In this Account, we first present the defect theory for the reasonable design of defective carbon-based materials (DCMs) and subsequently summarize our previous works on the state-of-the-art defect engineering strategies to design DCMs possessing high activity, with the particular emphasis on the conjunction between defect structures and electrochemical performances. We also categorize recent defect modulation approaches on active sites in DCMs as well as showcase the advanced characterization techniques to confirm the types and densities of defects in DCMs. Finally, several perspectives on the challenges and future research opportunities of this exciting field are proposed. Remarkably, rapid advances of DCMs possessing both high electrochemical activities and low cost as a new generation of electrode materials may greatly facilitate the deployment of sustainable energy infrastructures.

Cuba's Energy Future: Options Based on Renewables and Non-Carbon-Based Sources

My intention is to research and write on article on Cuba's energy future. Specifically, I plan to consider the options for a sustainable energy future using renewable energy sources and not carbon-dependent sources. This analysis will require both an examination of the island's historical energy challenges as well as consideration of the options for developing a sustainable energy infrastructure with international governmental (e.g. UN, World Bank etc.) and regional governmental (e.g. EU) support- an analysis that will also require consideration of the island nation's socialist political system and its willingness to engage internationally. The topic is one, clearly, with implications for climate change and environmental protection, as well as one that raises questions of environmental justice (since energy availability has not, even since the Revolution, been equally enjoyed by all.)

Peer-to-Peer Energy Trading through Swarm Intelligent Stackelberg Game

The development of smart grids has paved the way for sustainable energy infrastructure to transition towards decentralized energy trading. As intelligent agents, energy sources engage in energy trading based on their energy surplus or deficit. Buyers and sellers (participants) should achieve maximum payoffs in which buyers cut costs and sellers improve their utilities, and the security of sensitive information of smart agents must be guaranteed. This paper provides a blockchain-based energy trading network where intelligent agents can exchange energy in a secure manner, without the intervention of third parties. We model energy trading as a Stackelberg game, ensuring that the platform maximizes social welfare while participants increase their payoffs. Using the inherited characteristics of blockchain technology, a novel decentralized swarm intelligence technique is applied to solve the game while ensuring the privacy of the smart agents’ sensitive information. The numerical analysis demonstrates that the suggested method outperforms the present methods (Constant Utility Optimization, average method...) for optimizing the objectives of each agent by maximizing the sellers’ utilities and reducing the buyers’ costs. In addition, the experimental results demonstrate that it significantly reduces carbon footprint (15%) by enhancing energy exchange between intelligent agents.

Marine Energy: Comparison of Tidal and Wave Energy

Marine energy is one of the forms of renewable energy that is one of the most widely available sources of energy; the oceans cover around 71% of the earth's surface, which means that there can be huge potential in energy. The majority of the technologies that are used to harvest marine energy are still in their developmental stages. Marine energy includes tidal energy, wave energy, osmotic energy, ocean thermal energy, and ocean current energy. Researchers all across the world, as well as people developing industries, are paying attention to the potentially lucrative field of marine energy. Since more than half of the US population lives within 50 miles of the coast, marine energy resources are spread out and in a good place to power cities. These resources are prospective contributors to a reliable, steady sustainable energy infrastructure because they are also quite predictable. This article provides an overview of the current state of the art in marine energy and explores tidal and wave energy in detail including the benefits and limitations of both.

SUSTAINABILITY IN ENERGY MAINTENANCE: A GLOBAL REVIEW OF POLICIES AND TECHNOLOGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT

The imperative of sustainability in energy maintenance has gained prominence as societies strive to address environmental concerns and ensure the longevity of energy infrastructure. This paper conducts a comprehensive global review of policies and technologies aimed at achieving sustainable energy infrastructure management. By examining the intersection of environmental impact, economic benefits, and social considerations, the paper highlights the critical role of sustainable energy maintenance in addressing the world’s energy needs. The study delves into international agreements, national energy policies, regulatory frameworks, and standards that drive sustainable practices. Furthermore, the paper explores technological innovations encompassing renewable energy integration, energy storage, predictive maintenance, and sustainable construction techniques. Challenges such as economic barriers, technological limitations, and policy implementation are discussed alongside successful case studies. In conclusion, the paper emphasizes the significance of a sustainable energy future and the necessity of collaborative efforts to achieve it.

Frequency control of nuclear-renewable hybrid energy systems using optimal PID and FOPID controllers

This paper investigates the applications of Proportional-Integrator-Derivative (PID) and Fractional Order PID (FOPID) controllers in Nuclear-Renewable Hybrid Energy Systems (N-R HESs). The N-R HES is a recent technology in the area of decarbonized energy systems. N-R HESs are expected to contribute immensely to providing carbon-free and sustainable energy infrastructure in the upcoming days. It is also anticipated that system resiliency will be the primary concern when nuclear reactors are incorporated with intermittent renewable energy resources. Therefore, in this research, the authors intend to evaluate the compatibility of two classical controllers, PID and FOPID, to ensure the stability of N-R HESs. The N-R HES of this paper consists of different energy sources, such as solar, wind, nuclear, fuel cell systems, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), and Flywheel Energy Storage Systems (FESS). To encounter system performance requirements, the PID and FOPID controller parameters are adjusted using a metaheuristic algorithm, namely Artificial-Bee-Colony (ABC) optimization algorithm. Metaheuristic optimization algorithms always do not guarantee global maxima/minima. Hence, another metaheuristic optimization algorithm, Teaching-Learning-based Optimization (TLBO), is used to validate the results. The results clearly show that the optimal PID and FOPID controllers can handle the system frequency and maintain the stability of the studied N-R HES.

An application of dimensional reduction approach for evaluating energy generation alternatives for energy sustainability

The success of sustainability is mainly linked to the energy sector, which is governed by the mix of different fuel resources. This work aims to calculate the sustainability performance scores (SPSs) of the energy alternatives that constitute Pakistan’s current electric energy mix and future energy plans. For this purpose, a decision framework consisting of eighteen indicators is considered for evaluating the performance of energy alternatives. The SPSs of energy alternatives are calculated using the dimensional reduction feature of the principal component analysis technique. The resultant prioritization of energy alternatives favors solar resource the most for planning a roadmap for sustainable net-zero energy infrastructure development. Based on the outcomes, recommendations are put forward to improve the current energy situation so that the country could catch the pathway towards achieving energy sustainability.

Multi-facet assessment and ranking of alternatives for conceptualizing sustainable hybrid energy infrastructure in Pakistan based on evidential reasoning driven probabilistic tool

Developing a sustainable community is mainly contingent upon energy infrastructure driven by energy alternatives. It has been attempted to accomplish energy sustainability by just ranking energy alternatives. In the current work, an integrated decision support tool (IDST) and multi-level hierarchical structure (MLHS) are developed to instigate new notions for energy alternatives. The developed IDST is unique in dealing with two-dimensional assessment information and can also concurrently analyze hybrid information. The MLHS comprises eighteen attributes grouped into five sustainability aspects (operational, economic, technological, environmental, and social) to assess energy alternatives, including gas, coal, nuclear, solar, hydro, wind, and biomass. Firstly, the importance of attributes is calculated using the optimal weighting approach. Then, the ranking of alternatives is determined and validated. Lastly, the multi-facet performance of alternatives is assessed in terms of distributed performance and indexing using the probabilistic evidential reasoning algorithm, and the acceptability of alternatives is classified. The results revealed hydro is the most favorable energy alternative for achieving sustainability, followed by solar and wind, with a ‘very good’ index overall. The developed framework is useful for designing sustainable hybrid energy infrastructures and for intergovernmental organizations to draft long- and short-term policies for achieving the energy sustainability targets of SDG-7.

How colleges should lead on climate.

How colleges should lead on climate.

The charge transport double-channel structure facilitating Fe5Ni4S8/Ni3S2 nanoarray for efficient and stable overall water splitting

Overall water splitting technology is critical for the future of a clean and sustainable hydrogen energy infrastructure. Ni3S2 (NS) is considered a good performing oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalyst, but exhibits unsatisfactory hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity. In this study, Fe5Ni4S8 (FNS) material was incorporated into an NS nanoarray, generating a low-cost, efficient, and stable bifunctional FNS/NS heterostructure for electrolyzed water catalysts. The hydrophilicity of pretreated FNS was quite high, whereas the stepped rod-shaped NS structure had a large number of radial active sites. Additionally, the high-conductivity of FNS and nickel foam (NF) provided a double-channel structure for rapid internal charge transfer. The interconnecting a network of FNS, rod-shaped NS nanoarray, and NF substrate enabled one to accomplish a synergistic effect of enhanced kinetics and activity of OER, HER, and overall water splitting. To achieve a current density of 10 mA cm−2 in 1.0 M KOH solution, only overpotentials of 248 and 94 mV were required. Moreover, the voltage of the constructed FNS/NS||FNS/NS double-electrode battery system was only 1.64 V@10 mA cm−2, but the battery could have run for at least 120 h at an industrial current density of 500 mA cm−2. Therefore, this study offers a rational design of heterostructures as bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting.

Simulation Analysis of a Double Auction-Based Local Energy Market in Socio-Economic Context

Local energy markets (LEMs) use online platforms and smart grid technologies to incentivize and coordinate a local supply of spatially-distributed renewable energy resources, which may not be directly controllable by power system operators. Socio-economic values are increasingly noted as prominent motivations for expected LEM users, but socio-economic aspects of user decision-making or market outcomes are not considered in current LEM mechanism design analyses. Here, agent-based simulation is used to analyze expected socio-economic outcomes from LEM operation under a double-sided auction with uniform pricing. The environment is modeled as a virtual LEM platform, operating independently from the underlying power grid. Socio-economic market inputs are produced by income-preference heterogeneous agents, and market outcomes are evaluated by two key socio-economic metrics: energy affordability, and market access. When LEM prices are not restricted to a common range considered by all agents (e.g., between external retail market prices), access disparities may arise; LEM price restriction addresses consumer disparities, but energy affordability gaps are expected to remain. The magnitude of affordability gaps is notably reduced, and bill assistance programs may eliminate remaining gaps, but a mechanism that efficiently realizes socio-economic standards for energy affordability may also reduce expected LEM operation costs. Remaining research gaps are noted, and LEM support for equitable and sustainable energy infrastructure is emphasized.

Designing sustainable and resilient water and energy infrastructure for a campus in Rwanda

This paper sets out the approach, solutions and lessons learned in designing sustainable and resilient water and energy infrastructure for the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture. It showcases the role that decentralised infrastructure and nature-based solutions can play in addressing the demand for infrastructure and food security. It argues there is a need to design for both current and future uncertainty, and to work with and protect the environment. Finally, it discusses the role of knowledge sharing between international and local partners to build and benefit from capability across the project team and ensure appropriate solutions for the context are adopted.

Pave the way for sustainable smart homes: A reliable hybrid AC/DC electricity infrastructure

The development of emerging smart grid technologies has led to more and more penetration of renewable energy resources and electric energy storage in the residential sectors. Besides, owing to the significant evolution of power electronic devices, there is a rapid growth in penetration of DC loads and generations, such as PV and electric vehicles (EVs), into the buildings and homes as a building block of the future smart cities. This is despite the fact that the electricity infrastructure of the conventional buildings is designed based on AC electricity and as a result, there would be a lot of losses due to the frequent power conversion from AC to DC and vice versa. Besides, according to a significant amount of energy consumption in the residential sector, buildings have a prominent role to confront environmental problems and obtain sustainability. In such circumstances, and considering the energy outlook, rethinking the electrification structure of the built environment is necessary. This work is an effort in this regard and looks for a sustainable energy infrastructure for the cyber–physical homes of the future. Three disparate electrification architectures are analyzed. The proposed framework, which is formulated as a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) problem, not only considers costs associated with investment and operation but also evaluates the reliability of each structure by considering the different ratios of DC loads. Moreover, the optimal size of renewable energy resources and the effect of EV demand response, and different prices of PV and battery are precisely investigated. The efficacy of the proposed approach is evaluated via numerical simulation.

Geospatial Approaches to Model Renewable Energy Requirements of the New Capital City of Indonesia

Predicting how a planned city will develop and expand after its construction, and which resources, such as energy, the city will need over time is only possible if one can rely on similar examples and reliable models. Given the existing spatial plans for the design of the new capital city of Indonesia, there is a need to develop and compare city development scenarios–in spatial expansion, population size, resource, energy and food requirements. A combination of various geospatial data approaches can address this knowledge and assessment gap. This article investigates spatial expansion, forest encroachment and sustainable energy infrastructure requirements using open access geodata and models. The hypothesis is that the constitution of the new capital city of Indonesia can rely on existing energy infrastructures but may also need to rely on additional resources. The research approach was to collect and integrate different types of geospatial data related to land use, terrain characteristics and population growth assumptions and connect these to both urban growth models and predictions and energy. This relied on land use change methodologies and urban growth models to simulate and predict spatial effects, with ca particular focus on the expansion of energy requirements. The choice to focus on energy requirements additionally required a comparison of different kinds of energy sources, such as solar and wind energy. The conclusion is that all design and expansion scenarios indicate a possible spatial conflict between locating sustainable energy production facilities with maintaining ecologically sensitive areas. A possible solution is to make use of existing mining infrastructures to enhance sustainable energy production and to make use of dual land and water solar energy systems.

The application of blockchain technology in smart sustainable energy business model

Blockchain technology is considered to be a disruptive technology that has real potential for change after steam engines, electricity, and the Internet. However, in terms of power generation, the current level of hydropower development in my country is only 39%. Compared with developed countries, there is still a big gap and a high development space. This article proposes a research on the application of blockchain technology in smart sustainable energy business models, studies the conversion path of sustainable energy systems, introduces integrated energy service blockchain technology, and builds a sustainable energy transition model. The selection of practical dimensions requires both Quantitative indicators also require cultural and behavioral qualitative indicators; finally, through the analysis of social development trends and government policies, the external variable landscape signals are parameterized. Sustainable energy rather than fossil energy is the energy of the future. Weak landscape signals have significantly weakened the development of the sustainable energy niche: the proportion of coal consumption has declined slowly. Although it has transformed from a system to a niche, it has always been higher than that of other energy types. Only with long-term landscape pressure, positive changes to sustainable energy technologies and infrastructure, and continuous changes in consumer preferences, can sustainable energy ultimately dominate.