Sustainable Energy Strategy Research Articles

An expert survey to assess the current status and future challenges of energy system analysis

Decision support systems like computer-aided energy system analysis (ESA) are considered one of the main pillars for developing sustainable and reliable energy strategies. Although today's diverse tools can already support decision-makers in a variety of research questions, further developments are still necessary. Intending to identify opportunities and challenges in the field, we classify modelling topics into modelling capabilities (32), methodologies (15), implementation issues (15) and management issues (7) from an extensive literature review. Based on a quantitative expert survey of energy system modellers (N = 61) mainly working with simulation and optimisation models, the Status of Development and the Complexity of Realisation of those modelling topics are assessed. While the rated items are considered to be more complex than actually represented, no significant outliers are determinable, showing that there is no consensus about particular aspects of ESA that are lacking development. Nevertheless, a classification of the items in terms of a specially defined modelling strategy matrix identifies capabilities like land-use planning patterns, equity and distributional effects and endogenous technological learning as “low hanging fruits” for enhancement, as well as a large number of complex topics that are already well implemented. The remaining “tough nuts” regarding modelling capabilities include non-energy sector and social behaviour interaction effects. In general, the optimisation and simulation models differ in their respective strengths, justifying the existence of both. While methods were generally rated as quite well developed, combinatorial optimisation approaches, as well as machine learning, are identified as important research methods to be developed further for ESA.

Sustainable long-term energy planning for a district in Suzhou City, China

A city district in Suzhou aims to develop a progressive, long-term sustainable energy strategy. This study examines possible energy planning pathways for the district through the development of a long-term optimization model and a range of energy scenarios until 2050. The scenarios explore different CO2 emission reduction strategies and technology mixes/parameters. Results suggest which low-carbon energy conversion technologies and efficiency measures should be adopted by the district alongside supportive local policies and targets. Photovoltaic (PV) and waste energy converters are two renewable energy technologies which are taken up at maximum possible rates in the evaluated scenarios to reduce long-term CO2 emissions. Once local renewable resources are exhausted, natural gas-based combined-cycle plants (CCP) and combined heat and power plants (CHP) are required to further reduce emissions, alongside efficiency measures in the built environment. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies also demonstrate the potential to drastically reduce emissions; however, local feasibility studies are needed to support their implementation. Study results prescribe renewable energy share and CO2 emission reduction targets until 2050 for the district. Appropriate local policy and planning targets should also be accompanied by supplementary support studies, including local feasibility, renewable energy resource, and demand-side management studies.

Perspectives for the development of energy strategies - Challenges towards a hydrogen economy in Cyprus

The present perspective aims to record the main actions that Cyprus, as a case study, needs to carry out in order to draw up a comprehensive long–term sustainable energy strategy for its transition from carbon economy to hydrogen economy. A brief description of the European sustainable energy strategy up to 2050 is provided. A transition to hydrogen economy by 2050, focusing on the importance of electricity interconnections including Cyprus’ crucial role with respect to the transition of Southeastern Mediterranean countries to hydrogen economy and how they could become energy exporters to Europe is discussed. Last but not least, this perspective presents the framework for drafting a long–term energy strategy for Cyprus and provides a set of targets for Cyprus’ energy transition to hydrogen economy by the year 2050

CO2 Hydrogenation on NixMg1−xAl2O4: A Comparative Study of MgAl2O4 and NiAl2O4

Due to the increasing attention focused on global warming, many studies on reducing CO2 emissions and developing sustainable energy strategies have recently been performed. One of the approaches is CO2 methanation, transforming CO2 into methane. Such transformation (CO2 + 4H2 → CH4 + 2H2O) provides advantages of carbon liquification, storage, etc. In this study, we investigated CO2 methanation on nickel–magnesium–alumina catalysts both experimentally and computationally. We synthesized the catalysts using a precipitation method, and performed X-ray diffraction, temperature-programmed reduction, and N2 adsorption–desorption tests to characterize their physical and chemical properties. NiAl2O4 and MgAl2O4 phases were clearly observed in the catalysts. In addition, we conducted CO2 hydrogenation experiments by varying with temperatures to understand the reaction. Our results showed that CO2 conversion increases with Ni concentration and that MgAl2O4 exhibits high selectivity for CO. Density functional theory calculations explained the origin of this selectivity. Simulations predicted that adsorbed CO on MgAl2O4(100) weakly binds to the surface and prefers to desorb from the surface than undergoing further hydrogenation. Electronic structure analysis showed that the absence of a d orbital in MgAl2O4(100) is responsible for the weak binding of CO to MgAl2O4. We believe that this finding regarding the origin of the CO selectivity of MgAl2O4 provides fundamental insight for the design methanation catalysts.

Solar Photovoltaic Architecture and Agronomic Management in Agrivoltaic System: A Review

Agrivoltaic systems (AVS) offer a symbiotic strategy for co-location sustainable renewable energy and agricultural production. This is particularly important in densely populated developing and developed countries, where renewable energy development is becoming more important; however, profitable farmland must be preserved. As emphasized in the Food-Energy-Water (FEW) nexus, AVS advancements should not only focus on energy management, but also agronomic management (crop and water management). Thus, we critically review the important factors that influence the decision of energy management (solar PV architecture) and agronomic management in AV systems. The outcomes show that solar PV architecture and agronomic management advancements are reliant on (1) solar radiation qualities in term of light intensity and photosynthetically activate radiation (PAR), (2) AVS categories such as energy-centric, agricultural-centric, and agricultural-energy-centric, and (3) shareholder perspective (especially farmers). Next, several adjustments for crop selection and management are needed due to light limitation, microclimate condition beneath the solar structure, and solar structure constraints. More importantly, a systematic irrigation system is required to prevent damage to the solar panel structure. To summarize, AVS advancements should be carefully planned to ensure the goals of reducing reliance on non-renewable sources, mitigating global warming effects, and meeting the FEW initiatives.

Determinants of Decarbonization—How to Realize Sustainable and Low Carbon Cities?

The objective of this paper is to identify the determinants of decarbonization processes in Poland by urban and rural areas. It also presents directions for knowledge diffusion on decarbonization to develop a sustainable energy strategy for Poland, particularly for local governments and cities. Despite extensive research on the determinants of decarbonization and sustainable energy development, there is a lack of specific solutions in this area. The authors of this paper investigated which determinants, according to the respondents, would lead to better decarbonization solutions in cities and villages in terms of sustainability. The studied sample was purposefully selected and an online questionnaire was used with the use of the “snowball” method. The authors conducted surveys that allowed the concerned parties themselves (respondents) to indicate which factors they believe best influence decarbonization. Such measures are helpful in terms of the understanding public acceptance of decarbonization in terms of the energy transition. This is of particular importance in terms of green governance globally and in Europe. The results of the authors’ research indicate that despite the reduction in the share of coal in residential and domestic heating, coal remains the main source of electricity generation and that the potential for low-carbon policy to have an impact on solving urban challenges is underestimated. From the findings, it can be concluded that more in-depth research is needed on public acceptance of decarbonization in its broadest sense and its implications.

COVID-19 and the Global Shift Progress to Clean Energy

AbstractThe ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has presented us with an unprecedented global emergency that severely threatens the lives of millions of people around the world. In response to this existential crisis, state governments have taken drastic containment measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The consequential lockdowns have disrupted production and economic activity and had profound impacts on major industries. The heightened financial risk has significantly slowed down new investments while stoking fears of a looming economic recession. Indeed, the pandemic-induced strong reduction in global demand has resulted in sharp falls in energy prices leading to a temporary market distortion that may impede progress in the deployment of new renewable energy projects. Besides, some countries could be at risk of falling short of their 2020 national binding targets given the lack of effective policies required to facilitate new renewable energy investments. Considering the present impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global energy market, there are opportunities to highlight the important role of renewables while making the case for clean energy investments, especially in the electricity sector. This review aims to provide important insights by analyzing the significant impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global energy market. On the other hand, sustainable energy strategies are also discussed in detail. Finally, lessons learned amidst the costly battle against this invisible enemy could help policymakers and government leaders in identifying the appropriate renewable energy paths for their countries in a post-pandemic future.

Impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on the global energy system and the shift progress to renewable energy: Opportunities, challenges, and policy implications

Being declared a global emergency, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken many lives, threatened livelihoods and businesses around the world. The energy industry, in particular, has experienced tremendous pressure resulting from the pandemic. In response to such a challenge, the development of sustainable resources and renewable energy infrastructure has demonstrated its potential as a promising and effective strategy. To sufficiently address the effect of COVID-19 on renewable energy development strategies, short-term policy priorities should be identified, while mid-term and long-term action plans should be formulated in achieving the well-defined renewable energy targets and progress towards a more sustainable energy future. In this review, opportunities, challenges, and significant impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on current and future sustainable energy strategies were analyzed in detail; while drawing from experiences in identifying reasonable behaviors, orientating appropriate actions, and policy implications on the sustainable energy trajectory were also mentioned. Indeed, the question is that whether the COVID-19 pandemic will kill us or provide us with a precious lesson on future sustainable energy development.

Determinants of Decarbonisation in the Transformation of the Energy Sector: The Case of Poland

This paper aims to identify the determinants of the decarbonisation processes in Poland within the scope of energy transformation. The purpose of the study is to identify how the public perceives decarbonisation determinants in order to develop a sustainable energy strategy for Poland. The transition of the energy market to low-carbon technology is a policy challenge. Governments must implement policies that are environmentally friendly, cost-effective, but, most of all, socially acceptable. Social acceptance risk plays a significant role in Poland, influencing the decarbonisation process. In Poland’s case, the coal share is decreasing, but it is still the most important fuel for electricity production. This process of decarbonisation is a fundamental influence on the transformation of the energy sector in Poland. The social perception of solutions that can be applied was examined. The Polish natural environment is poisoned. Poles suffer from diseases related to the burning of coal for energy production. Societal awareness, how people perceive the government’s actions, and what they expect in this regard is crucial.

The environmental consequences of blockchain technology: A Bayesian quantile cointegration analysis for Bitcoin

AbstractIn recent years, there is a widespread belief among researchers and academicians that Bitcoin usage is imposing an additional burden on the environment inducing climate change. Although several studies have focussed on issues related to the energy consumption of the basic cryptocurrencies, an open question remains regarding the environmental depiction of Bitcoin. By resorting to Bayesian analysis and quantile cointegrated vector autoregression (CQVAR), this study seeks to disentangle the driving forces that shape the carbon footprint of Bitcoin. The sample used in the empirical analysis consists of a daily panel dataset covering 50 countries over the period 2016–2018. The empirical findings corroborate a causal effect between the use of Bitcoin and its underlying carbon dioxide emissions generated by the increasing energy load. The CQVAR is associated with positive marginal posterior means for most of the covariates of the model across all the estimated quantiles. In contrast, there is a negative and statistically significant relationship between Bitcoin miner's revenue and carbon emissions, uncovering a multimodal distribution pattern of the marginal posterior densities which is stronger at higher than in lower quantiles. This finding suggests that the lower (higher) miner's Bitcoin revenues, the more abrupt (gradual) the effect on environmental degradation. Therefore, a sustainable energy strategy focussing on the penetration of renewable energy sources along with the use of energy‐efficient mining hardware will alleviate the carbon footprint of Bitcoin.

Sustainable energy strategies for micro, small, and medium enterprises in India: a review

Enhancing energy efficiency and conservation will play a significant aspect in the accomplishment of energy requirements in developing economies. To be competitive and sustainable, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have to utilise energy input sources optimally and effectively to enhance overall productivity. Sustainable energy strategies (SES) focus on the economical use of energy sources and examine the parameters that influence energy utilisation in enterprises. This review aims to fill energy gaps and update the literature review in industries through SES, highlight the current research concerning the future scope of sustainability in MSMEs. In this review paper, we explored the sustainable energy strategies (SES), it included the initiation of various practices and policies that decline energy demand through energy efficiency measures, the role of technological capabilities, examine the factors influencing and barriers to energy efficiency that are believed to enhance productivity and sustainability in MSMEs. The motivation for the review paper focused on considering the better strategies that are needed to improved forecasting techniques and assist in the development of sustainability in MSMEs.

ROLE OF FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT IN THE FIELD OF RENEWABLE ENERGY IN EGYPT

Egypt is aiming at increasing the share of renewable energy from the total energy production in 2035 sustainable energy strategy of the country. Renewable energy production is planned to cover 20 % of the total energy production by 2022 and to reach 42 % by 2035. At the same time, Egypt is seeking to attract more foreign direct investments in order to help the country’s economy. The present work aims at studying the role of foreign direct investment in the field of renewable energy in Egypt during the period from 2009 to 2019. The present study adopted the inductive approach, and the methodology included four steps: 1) determination of the required data, 2) Identification of the entities responsible for providing the required data, which is the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), the New and Renewable Energy Development and Use Authority (NREA), and the Holding Company For Egypt Electricity and also the Hydro Power Plant Executive Authority )HPPEA), 3) Officially addressing these authorities to obtain the required data, 4) Data processing and interpretation. Main findings of the study include: 1) Results showed that the industrial sector had the largest share of foreign direct investment during the study time frame followed by finance sector, services sector, structural sector, agricultural sector, telecommunications and information technology sector while tourism sector came at the last position, 2) Egyptian contribution to the field of traditional energy such as power stations and petroleum services exceeds the contribution of foreigners by 84% of the total investment in this field, 3) The contribution of foreigners in the field of renewable energy in government projects exceeds the contribution of Egyptians by 77%, while in private sector projects, the contribution of foreigners exceeds that of Egyptians by 88% of the total investments in these projects, 4) There are 40 foreign countries investing in Egypt in the field of renewable energy, and the Netherlands alone accounts for 52% of the total foreign direct investment in the field of renewable energy in Egypt. The present study recommends the necessity of linking foreign direct investment plans with sustainable development plans. A more in-depth study of Egypt's potentialities in the field of renewable energy and relying upon it to attract more foreign direct investment is highly recommended. Databases connected the subject of concern at the relevant authorities should be connected and well-built and allowed for researchers which in return will help the country in better understand the needs and improvements that may be considered in future plans.

Can public agencies facilitate efficient sustainable energy strategies? A climate partnership model

ABSTRACT Can public agencies efficient facilitate sustainable energy strategies that can be used to increase the efficiency of global climate policy? We focus on the specific case of climate partnership between Denmark, a global leader within wind power, and China, the world’s largest CO2 emitter. Based on theory and empirical data, we argue that the strategy of climate partnership can help both partners obtain a more sustainable energy policy with a larger positive effect on climate change as well as increase the income of both state and businesses through an increased level of green exports. The climate partnership model between Denmark and China, as facilitated by the Danish Energy Agency, creates such a win-win situation supported by the main stakeholders. This low-cost policy suggests that public agencies worldwide such as the European External Action Service (EEAS) should expand the number of such efficient climate partnerships.

A Superhydrophobic Droplet-Based Magnetoelectric Hybrid System to Generate Electricity and Collect Water Simultaneously.

Traditional electromagnetic generators used in hydraulic power generation are heavy, bulky, and immovable, and are thus unsuitable for low water supply. A portable miniature electromagnetic system that can harvest energy from rainwater is critical for developing a sustainable energy strategy. In this study, a superhydrophobic droplet-based magnetoelectric hybrid system is fabricated, that can generate electricity from tiny water droplets. The magnetoelectric system (MS) comprises three parts: a superhydrophobic surface containing a conductive coil, liquid droplets, and a superhydrophobic magnetic powders/Ecoflex base. The mechanical impact of a falling water droplet onto the assembled system is transformed into electricity. Maxwell numerical simulation is used to analyze the related mechanism; the magnetoelectric performance is further improved by modifying the process parameters such as droplet falling velocity and magnetic powder contents. Furthermore, a model is developed, comprising the MS and a cactus-like superhydrophobic patterned plate that can generate electricity and collect water from fog, simultaneously. The described magnetoelectric strategy is believed to enhance and extend functions in energy harvesting and provide a generalized method to exploit new systems toward sustainable energy development.

Empirical Study of Urban Development Evaluation Indicators Based on the Urban Metabolism Concept

Sustainable development is the concept of coordinating people and the environment and achieves contemporary development without compromising the interests of the next generation. It can also be thought of as not exceeding the biosphere’s carrying capacity. Urban metabolism emphasizes resource recycling and use to achieve balance between resource input and product output in urban areas. However, the scale of cities has expanded rapidly in recent years along with resource and energy demands. Waste and pollution also cause major threats to the environment and ecology. Given increasingly serious environmental problems, the original linear metabolism must be converted into a cyclical one to ensure urban sustainability. From the policy implementation report of Taipei City, this study used the fuzzy Delphi method to develop evaluation factors and integrated this with the analytic network process decision-making tool to determine the priority weights of each policy and evaluate development strategies for urban development based on the metabolism concept. The study results reveal that natural environmental sustainability and sustainable energy strategies were prioritized plans for evaluating urban development with the metabolism concept, and the results can be used as a reference for future urban development strategies.

Improving high-pressure water scrubbing through process integration and solvent selection for biogas upgrading

Biogas plays a vital role in many renewable and sustainable energy strategies, where CO2 removal is required to produce biomethane (i.e., biogas upgrading). New ideas and technologies have been proposed to improve the process efficiency of biogas upgrading with liquid absorbents, and ionic liquids have been identified as promising candidates. Meanwhile, there is an urgent need to effectively utilize low-quality waste heat in industry. In this study, two strategies (i.e., waste heat integration and desorption unit modification) were proposed and compared with the original high-pressure water scrubbing; in addition, the effects of the temperatures of the heat source and solvents on the energy usage and cost were further investigated. The results showed that the total cost of the process integrated with waste heat recovery decreased by 6.2% compared with the original high-pressure water scrubbing, and the higher temperature of the waste heat source corresponded to a lower cost. The comparison of different solvents further confirmed that ionic liquid-based solvents were promising, with a potential cost reduction of 24.7%; the properties of the solvent, such as the CO2 absorption capacity, selectivity, and viscosity had significant influences on the total cost, and a new and single index “comparative absorption factor” was proposed to reflect the overall impact of these properties on the cost.

Engineering thermophysics and sustainable energy development

Fossil energy supports the development of human society but is facing depletion because of industrialization. In order to solve the formidable problem in compatibility and coordination between energy utilization and the environment and accelerate the development of sustainable energy, it is pressing to realize the transition from fossil to sustainable energy as soon as possible to solve common challenges in human development. Energy technology revolution will bring new opportunities and challenges in the development of the engineering thermophysics discipline. According to urgent needs for energy, power and environmental issues and new progress in discipline development, the Chinese Society of Engineering Thermophysics is aiming for constructing a sustainable energy system and carrying out strategic research on the development of an energy paradigm and frontier growth point of the engineering thermophysics discipline in China. The new integrated development paradigm of energy, resources, and environment provides a promising support for the realization of a sustainable energy strategy. Key objectives of the new development paradigm is to open up new channels of sustainable energy, carry out an energy diversification strategy, and try to solve the formidable problems in compatibility and coordination between energy utilization and the environment, including clean utilization of traditional fossil energy sources, development of green energy, and integration of energy resources into the environment. Important research directions for future development in the engineering thermophysics discipline include: thermophysical properties of an environment friendly working medium; modern analysis methods for new energy sources; combustion under extreme conditions; theories and methods for efficient, clean, and low carbon conversion of fuels; efficient conversion and utilization of solar energy; regional, intelligent, and diversified utilization of wind energy; new methods and mechanisms for efficient and low-cost utilization of biomass; comprehensive cascade utilization of chemical and physical energy sources of fuels; distributed energy system with multiple energy source complementation and its optimization integration theory; energy consumption minimization principle on CO2 capture based on comprehensive cascade utilization of energy; and novel high-efficiency energy storage method based on entropy principle.

Cardiac energy harvesting and sensing based on piezoelectric and triboelectric designs

Cardiac implantable devices are effective both as methods of controlling irregular heartbeats in people with heart rhythm disorders and as interventional therapy for cardiac diseases. However, early failures and battery limitations of cardiac medical devices lead to periodic battery replacement surgeries for patients that are both risky and costly. Self-sustainable energy generation could significantly extend the lifetime and effectiveness of cardiac implantable devices and other implantable biomedical devices (IMDs). The human heart is a compelling in vivo energy source and is a natural battery to power IMDs. In this review, we discuss current trends of developing self-powered cardiac medical devices harvesting the energy from the heart. Based on key challenges and limitations, we propose design principles for cardiac energy harvesters and sensors. We further discuss advanced energy materials, structural and fabrication considerations, biosafety and biocompatibility, and comfortability and flexibility. Moreover, recent advances in cardiac energy harvesting and sensing devices in both in vivo and in vitro studies are reviewed and discussed. Such sustainable energy strategies based on piezoelectric and triboelectric designs provide a promising means to reduce the reliance on batteries for powering cardiac medical devices and other IMDs.

The eco-city and its core environmental dimension of sustainability: green energy technologies\xa0and their integration with data-driven smart solutions

Ecological urbanism is seen today as one of the keys towards unlocking the quest for a low-carbon or fossil fuel–free society. Global and local policies promote and advocate the eco–city as the most environmentally sound model of sustainable urbanism. It is argued that the eco–city strategies and solutions are expected to deliver positive outcomes in terms of minimal demand on energy resources and thus minimal environmental impacts. Moreover, it has recently been suggested that the eco-city needs to embrace and leverage what advanced ICT has to offer, particularly with regard to sustainable energy systems, so as to improve and advance its contribution to the goals of environmental sustainability. This paper examines how the eco–city especially its core environmental dimension is practiced and justified in urban planning and development with respect to sustainable energy systems and their integration with data-driven smart technologies at the district level. To illuminate this urban phenomenon accordingly, a descriptive case study is adopted as a qualitative research methodology where the empirical basis is formed by urban planning and development documents combined with secondary data and scientific literature. To provide a theoretical foundation and produce a rationale for this study, this paper first provides a state–of–the–art review of the field of ecological urbanism in terms of its foundations, models, strategies, research issues, as well as data–driven smart technological trends. This study shows that the Eco-city District of Stockholm Royal Seaport uses green energy and data-driven smart technologies as the key strategies and solutions for achieving the environmental objectives of sustainable development in terms of lowering energy consumption and mitigating pollution. This entails conserving and decreasing the demand for energy through renewable resources (i.e., sun, wind, and water), bio–fuelled Combined Heat Power system, large-scale smart grid system, energy management, sustainable waste management, and passive solar houses. This research enhances the scholarly community’s current understanding of the emerging phenomenon of the smart eco-city with respect to the synergic potential of the integration of its sustainable energy strategies with data-driven technology solutions for advancing environmental sustainability.

Sustainable and Renewable Energy Strategies in Residential Buildings in Akure, Nigeria

Given the rising demand in building services and high level of energy consumption in buildings, sustainable issues have remained top agenda in developmental discuss. This study examines the level of adoption, barriers and willingness to adopt renewable energy and sustainable building strategies in Nigeria. The mean score ranking technique was employed to rate the relative weight of level of adoption of sustainable strategies considered. Natural lightning, shading devices, locally sourced materials, energy efficient lighting LED and photovoltaic solar panel were the most adopted strategies by professionals. Adoption of renewable and sustainable building strategies was constrained by lack of training, lack of expertise and financial scheme. Willingness to adoption the renewable energy and sustainable building strategies, were most pronounced with respect to renewable energy practices. However, the paper suggests that transition to the use of energy efficient and sustainable building materials as evident in top ranked efficient strategies. Finding contributes to empirical benchmarking for sustainable environment while policy options towards adoption were proffered.