Sustainable Energy Systems Research Articles

Innovative Strategies for Thermal Energy Optimization and Renewable Energy Integration in Net-Zero-Energy Buildings: A Comprehensive Review

The thermal performance and energy efficiency of buildings are critical factors in achieving sustainable energy systems as energy needs for heating and cooling are expected to represent more than 50% of global final energy consumption. This study analyzes conventional renewable energy systems for heating and cooling in buildings, focusing on strategies for developing net-zero-energy buildings. This review covers the integration of renewable energy, the use of intelligent energy management systems, and the optimization of thermal processes. It also compares various systems based on their advantages and limitations and analyzes emerging trends in the thermal management of buildings in different climate zones. The synthesis of recent literature highlights practical recommendations for achieving high thermal performance in buildings, including the importance of selecting appropriate energy systems based on local climatic conditions, optimizing system efficiency, and taking advantage of new materials and advanced technologies. This review aims to contribute to promoting sustainable construction practices with the integration of renewable energy sources and improving the energy efficiency of buildings.

Comparative Approaches to Energy Transition: Policy Guideline for Enhancing Thailand’s Path to a Low-Carbon Economy

Thailand’s transition to a low-carbon economy faces significant challenges, including a dependency on fossil fuels, fluctuating energy costs, and limited policy clarity. This study conducts a comparative analysis of energy transition policies in Germany, Japan, Australia, Malaysia, and Singapore to derive actionable lessons that can be adapted to Thailand’s socio-economic and energy contexts. Using the Integrated National Energy Planning (INEP) framework and Network Governance Theory, the research identifies key strategies, such as setting clear and achievable renewable energy targets, establishing robust legal frameworks, fostering multi-stakeholder engagement, and encouraging decentralized governance. The findings highlight the importance of long-term vision, inclusive governance, and targeted investments in renewable technologies to accelerate energy transitions. This paper presents policy guidelines to enhance Thailand’s energy security and contribute to its climate goals by promoting public awareness and strengthening institutional capacities. By adapting these strategies, Thailand can align with global energy trends, reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, and advance toward a resilient and sustainable energy system, aligned with global energy trends while addressing its unique socio-economic context.

Empirical insights into India's energy demand: unveiling elasticity dynamics for strategic policy initiatives.

Policymakers and stakeholders can use insights from price elasticity and income elasticities of energy demand to devise targeted interventions that promote energy efficiency, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and drive the transition to more sustainable and resilient energy systems. This study seeks to examine how changes in income elasticity and price elasticity affect energy consumption over time using the ARDL model and a time-varying parameter technique, state-space Kalman filter. The study's findings reveal that energy prices have a negative and significant impact on energy consumption, whereas GDP per capita and population growth have apositive and significant impact on energy consumption in both the short and long run. The findings underline the importance of economic growth and increasing population in driving growing energy demand in India, which is consistent with the country's energy-intensive development aspirations. The time-varying analysis shows that the price elasticity of energy consumption follows a U-shaped pattern across time. However, from the onset of the new millennium decade, the elasticity of energy consumption with regard to its price has continually decreased, reaching - 0.54 by 2020. Furthermore, the findings imply that the income elasticity of India's energy demand has stabilized around unity, indicating that the country is currently near the middle of the energy intensity-GDP inverted-U trajectory. Given these evolving elasticities, policymakers should take a flexible and forward-thinking strategy to achieve optimal energy consumption levels.

Technical characteristics and development trend of third generation solar cells

The future of global sustainable energy systems is anticipated to heavily rely on photovoltaic solar energy (PV). This paper provides an analysis of third-generation solar cells, exploring their underlying working mechanisms, evaluating their performance metrics, and discussing both their advantages and disadvantages. Third-generation solar cells, which include perovskites, dye-sensitized cells, and organic photovoltaics, offer promising advancements over traditional silicon-based cells, such as higher efficiencies and potential for lower production costs. However, challenges like material stability, scalability, and long-term reliability hinder their widespread adoption. In offering a comprehensive examination of these advanced solar technologies, the paper aims to contribute to the understanding and progress of renewable energy solutions. It underscores the importance of continued research and innovation in overcoming the existing limitations of third-generation solar cells. The transition towards a future that relies more heavily on sustainable energy sources hinges on the ability to develop and implement efficient, reliable, and cost-effective solar technologies. The paper identifies these bottleneck issues and suggests pathways for overcoming them.

Optimization and energy management strategies, challenges, advances, and prospects in electric vehicles and their charging infrastructures: A comprehensive review

Electric vehicles (EVs) are at the forefront of global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to sustainable energy systems. This review comprehensively examines the optimization and energy management strategies for EVs and their charging infrastructure, focusing on technological advancements, persistent challenges, and future prospects. By the end of 2023, the number of electric cars on the road globally reached 40 million, with 14 million new registrations recorded in 2023 alone—95% of which were in China, Europe, and the United States. Governments across the globe have introduced incentives and policies to promote EV adoption, and by 2030, EVs are expected to comprise a significant portion of light-duty vehicles in major regions. Despite these encouraging developments, challenges such as range anxiety, the relatively low energy density of 200–300 Wh/kg in Li-ion batteries (compared to 13,000 Wh/kg for petroleum), and insufficient public charging infrastructure remain key barriers to widespread EV adoption. This review also explores the critical role of smart grid technologies, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) systems, and renewable energy integration in supporting the growing EV market. V2G technologies are projected to enhance grid stability by 20–30% and reduce operational costs by 10–15% through load balancing and real-time energy price forecasting. By thoroughly analyzing optimization techniques such as load balancing, dynamic scheduling, and real-time energy management, this paper offers a roadmap for researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to accelerate the integration of EVs into global energy systems and enhance sustainability in urban transportation networks.

The Role of Hydrogen in Achieving Sustainable Energy Systems: Challenges and Opportunities

Hydrogen has emerged as a crucial element in the pursuit of sustainable energy solutions due to its versatility and its ability to combust without emitting greenhouse gases. This research examines hydrogen's multifaceted role as an energy carrier, emphasizing its methods of production, storage, and utilization. Recent technological advancements, such as enhanced electrolysis efficiency and innovative storage materials, are explored to tackle existing challenges such as high production costs and energy inefficiencies. Case studies in transportation, industrial applications, and power generation illustrate hydrogen's potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions, supporting global decarbonization endeavors. Strategic investments and supportive policies are identified as an essential to fully capitalize on hydrogen's capabilities, emphasizing the necessity for ongoing innovation and cross-sector collaboration to achieve a sustainable, decarbonized energy future. With the increasing attention of the whole society to climate change, hydrogen energy will play an increasingly important role in creating a green and low-carbon world.

Study on two‐stage optimal scheduling of DC distribution networks considering flexible load response

AbstractDue to the aim of developing sustainable energy systems, promoting the large‐scale accommodation of distributed renewable energy sources (DRESs) and flexible loads in DC distribution networks (DCDNs) is significant. The uncertainty of DRESs and the insufficient use of flexible loads pose a considerable challenge to the economical and safe operation of DCDNs. To address the challenge, this paper puts forward a two‐stage optimal scheduling model for the DCDNs considering flexible load response. The proposed model realises joint economic optimisation and reactive power optimisation, which is solved by the hybrid NSGAII‐MOPSO algorithm and the CPLEX. The performance of the proposed model in the modified Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 33‐node system with the DCDNs is validated under different scenarios. The hybrid NSGAII‐MOPSO performs better in obtaining the Pareto front than the NSGA‐II and MOPSO individually. Compared to the traditional scheduling model, the proposed model can realise the power coordination of the flexible loads and energy storage systems to reduce the negative impact of uncertainty of DRESs while decreasing operating costs and carbon emissions by 3.94% and 36.4%. In addition, the proposed model can alleviate the network losses and ensure the node voltage for the DCDNs. Hence, the efficiency of the proposed model has been confirmed.

Green Electrolytes for Aqueous Ion Batteries: Towards High‐Energy and Low‐Temperature Applications

AbstractAqueous battery systems are increasingly recognized for their potential as environmentally friendly next‐generation energy storage solutions. However, their commercialization faces challenges due to the need for electrolytes that can operate stably at high voltages and in low‐temperatures. Traditional approaches to address these issues often involve materials that compromise the green nature. This review highlights the importance of developing environmentally friendly materials to improve the performance of aqueous electrolytes under high voltage in different types of aqueous electrolytes such as water‐in‐salt, molecular crowding electrolytes, eutectic electrolytes and cosolvents. In addition, we review advances in different types of aqueous electrolytes focused on using sustainable materials to achieve stable electrolytes at low‐temperature by suppressing water crystallization and lowering the freezing point. By integrating these innovations, we envision a future where aqueous batteries offer both high performance and eco‐friendliness, contributing significantly to the development of sustainable energy systems.

The Role of the Internet of Things in Enhancing Sustainable Urban Energy Systems: A Review of Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT The Internet of Things (IoT) has emerged as an indispensable technology enabling the efficient management of energy consumption and deployment of renewable energy solutions within urban energy systems. While urban energy systems can be made sustainable in both smart cities (SC) and traditional cities, the former provide a more advantageous environment for achieving sustainability thanks to advanced technology integration, data-driven decision-making, integration of renewable energy, as well as policy and infrastructure support. Across the globe, cities are evolving into SCs through the implementation of sustainable urban energy systems and adaptation to the latest IoT technologies. For them, advanced cutting-edge technologies such as digital twins, artificial intelligence (AI), Big Data, and IoT are all positioned to underpin the civic platform for new forms of a city that is simultaneously sustainable and prosperous. The COVID-19 pandemic brought about significant challenges, emphasizing the need for resilient and sustainable urban environments and demonstrating that IoT became a must for the modern cities in energy generation, transmission, and the efficient use of energy sources by cities. This bibliometric review focuses on the new role of IoT in the development of post-COVID sustainable urban energy systems. It demonstrates how IoT can help to efficiently manage energy consumption and to deploy novel renewable energy solutions in the cities using the experience from the two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The article explores the role of IoT in the post-COVID urban energy development highlighting how the technology can contribute to sustainable urbanization. It employs the extended literature review including both 151 publications retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) database selected based on the relevant keywords and the analytical tools based on Google Trends as well as the enhanced network dynamics VOSviewer v.1.6.15 software (the latter being frequently used for identifying the dominant trends in intersectoral bibliometric research). The findings stemming from this research can contribute to the clustering of the discussion of the strategies required for boosting SCs’ development and growth. Therefore, the results and outcomes can provide many useful insights for academics and stakeholders alike on the role of the IoT in the development of sustainable urban energy in post-pandemic cities.

Optimal scheduling of distributed generation in smart microgrids: A comprehensive model and efficient algorithm

Abstract This study proposes an optimal scheduling model for distributed generation (DG) within smart microgrids, incorporating various distributed energy resources (DERs) such as photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, biomass generators, and energy storage systems. To address the complexities of the scheduling problem, we design a hybrid optimization algorithm combining Genetic Algorithms (GA) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). This hybrid algorithm leverages the global search capabilities of GA and the local search efficiency of PSO to achieve robust and efficient convergence to near-optimal solutions. A comprehensive case study based on a real-world smart microgrid system demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed model and algorithm. The results indicate significant reductions in total operational costs, enhanced renewable energy utilization, reduced grid dependency, and improved system reliability. This research highlights the potential for broader implementation of the model, contributing to the advancement of smart grid technologies and the transition towards sustainable energy systems.

A comprehensive analysis of wind power integrated with solar and hydrogen storage systems: Case study of Java's Southern coast

Wind and solar energy are vital to the global transition toward sustainable energy systems, driven by the need to reduce fossil fuel dependence, mitigate climate change, and enhance energy security. This study aims to optimize system performance by integrating hydrogen technology and addressing capacity shortages and excess energy. First, a comprehensive analysis of wind characteristics in a strategically important area to meet unaccomplished Indonesia's 2023 wind energy targets, focusing on Java's southern coast using wind speed data from the System Advisor Model (SAM), was conducted. Four scenarios are then evaluated: wind turbine (WT)-battery energy storage system (BESS), WT-photovoltaic (PV)-BESS, WT-fuel cell (FC)-electrolyzer (EL)-hydrogen tank (H2T), and WT-PV–FC–EL-H2T. Key metrics analyzed include excess energy, Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE), Net Present Cost (NPC), capacity shortage (CS), and electrolyzer full-load hours (EFH). Results show that average wind speeds reach 4.2 m/s in Pandeglang, with the WT–FC–EL-H2T system being the most reliable, exhibiting a 5% capacity shortage and 68.5% excess electricity. The WT-PV–FC–EL scenario is the most cost-effective, with a COE of $0.508/kWh and an NPC of $2.6 million. These findings provide valuable insights for improving sustainable energy infrastructure in the region.

Green hydrogen as a sustainable operations strategy: a socio-economic perspective

Hydrogen is an energy carrier that can support the development of sustainable and flexible energy systems. However, decarbonization can occur when green sources are used for energy production and appropriate water use is manifested. This work aims to propose a socio-economic analysis of hydrogen production from an integrated wind and electrolysis plant in southern Italy. The estimated production amounts to about 1.8 million kg and the LCOH is calculated to be 3.60 €/kg in the base scenario. Analyses of the alternative scenarios allow us to observe that with a high probability the value ranges between 3.20-4.00 €/kg and that the capacity factor is the factor that most affects the economic results. Social analysis, conducted through an online survey, shows a strong knowledge gap as only 27.5% claim to know the difference between green and grey hydrogen. There is a slight propensity to install systems near their homes, but this tends to increase due to increased knowledge on the topic. Respondents state sustainable behaviours, and this study suggests that these aspects should also be transformed into the energy choices that are implemented every day. The study suggests information to policy-makers, businesses and citizens as it outlines that green hydrogen is an operations strategy that moves toward sustainable development.

Collaborative water-electricity operation optimization of a photovoltaic/pumped storage-based aquaculture energy system considering water evaporation effects

The increasing global population, economic development, and urbanization trends have led to a heightened demand for seafood, presenting a significant challenge to the growth trajectory of the food industry. As the most rapidly expanding segment within the food industry, aquaculture presents a sustainable solution to mitigate the overexploitation of marine resources and address the growing demand for food. Aquaculture's sufficient aquatic expanses offer considerable potential for PV deployment, thereby relieving the demand for limited land resources. However, existing research rarely addresses the collaborative operation of water and electricity in aquaculture systems. The effects of water evaporation from PV panel-covered water surfaces on the collaborative water-electricity operation are generally neglected. Hence, this work proposes a collaborative water-electricity operation of a photovoltaic (PV)-pumped storage-based aquaculture energy system considering the water evaporation effects. This optimization method accounts for the reduced water evaporation due to PV panel shading. Water surface PV and pumped storage are integrated into the system to fulfill electricity needs, with pumped storage serving as a dual-purpose device for water and electricity supply. Environmentally sustainable water-electricity generation and aquaculture energy system requirements are established. Water surface PV electricity generation is modeled based on climate and engineering conditions, while aquaculture pond electricity requirement includes oxygenation, feeding, and water replenishment. Finally, a collaborative water-electricity operation model is introduced to optimize operation strategies for various devices. A case study on a fish-light complementation project demonstrates that this optimization method can reduce reliance on the utility grid and overall system operational costs.

Energy Policy Uncertainty, Financial Development and Public-Private Investment in BRIC Nations

The transition to sustainable energy systems requires substantial investment, yet the impact of policy uncertainty on investment decisions remains poorly understood, particularly in emerging economies. While previous studies have examined various determinants of energy investment, the interplay between energy policy uncertainty (EPU) and financial sector development (FSD) in shaping public-private energy investments has received limited attention. This study investigates how EPU influences public-private energy investments in BRIC nations and examines FSD's moderating role. Using an ARDL model on data from 1998-2022, we find that EPU significantly deters investment, while FSD exhibits a positive influence. Notably, FSD moderates the negative impact of EPU, suggesting that robust financial sectors can buffer against policy uncertainty's adverse effects. These findings provide crucial insights for policymakers in emerging economies, highlighting the importance of stable policy frameworks and developed financial markets in facilitating energy transition investments.

Renewable Energy in Nepal: Current State and Future Outlook

Nepal’s energy mix is predominantly based on traditional and inefficient biomass and fossil fuels. As a result, there is a notable prevalence of energy scarcity in the country. Within the literature, there exists a lack of a comprehensive review of the potential of renewable energy in the country while the relatively less contribution of renewable energy resources, making the country more vulnerable to adopt a more carbon-intensive energy policy. Consequently, in this study, we conduct a thorough review of existing literature to provide a comprehensive assessment of the current status of renewable energy and the energy mix in Nepal. We also discussed the potential for the country to transition to a sustainable energy system. This review analysis exclusively focused on scholarly articles and research reports that specifically addressed the topic of renewable energy in Nepal. Despite the rapid decline in the cost of solar photovoltaics, Nepal’s renewable energy share currently stands at only 3.2%. This paper argues that Nepal needs proactive and favorable strategies and policies to effectively implement clean energy, based on the given premises and the country’s aspirations for sustainable energy. This involves a substantial amount of solar power production combined with battery storage, supplemented by storage methods such as off-river pumping hydropower technology. The study emphasizes the significance of renewable energy in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This review also emphasizes the obstacles in the advancement of Nepal’s renewable energy industry and offers suitable policy suggestions to address these obstacles, hence facilitating a sustainable shift in energy.

Design analysis of a sustainable techno-economic hybrid renewable energy system: Application of solar and wind in Sigulu Island, Uganda

Sustainable energy is central to achieving the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in electrifying underserved communities. This study examines Sigulu Island, which lacks grid electricity and relies on costly, polluting diesel generators. On-site assessments revealed a daily load demand of 1,455.705 kWh. This study designed and analyzed a Sustainable Techno-economic Hybrid Renewable Energy System (STHRES) combining solar photovoltaics and wind turbines, with battery backup, to meet the island's energy needs. The research adopted both qualitative and quantitative methods, gathering atmospheric weather conditions specific to Sigulu Island. Solar panels and wind turbines were identified as the most viable options, with the system incorporating 677 units of 1 kW solar panels and 27 units of 1 kW wind turbines, generating 839.97 kW and 640.08 kW daily, respectively. Additionally, 527 Li-ion batteries were used to store approximately 1480.05 kW of surplus energy demand to manage fluctuations capable of sustaining the island for 8 hours during a total blackout. The initial installation costs are estimated at $90,393.04 for solar PV, $27,729.82 for wind turbines, $159,169.81 for batteries, and $92,407.00 for the inverter. The STHRES is projected to save $56,917.93 annually, covering 15.4 % of the installation costs compared to diesel operations. Moreover, this system will reduce Uganda's carbon footprint by 436,035.6 kgCO₂ annually, equivalent to a 0.01 % reduction in national emissions. The proposed system decreases the Net Present Cost (NPC) from $426,617.60 to $369,699.67 and the Cost of Energy (COE) from $32.12/kWh to $ 27.79/kWh. With a 9 % Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and a 3 % Return on Investment (ROI), STHRES has a payback period of 8.2 years, demonstrating its financial and environmental benefits for Sigulu Island.

Research on Luminescent Solar Concentrators (LSCs)

Research on Luminescent Solar Concentrators (LSCs) is crucial for enhancing the energy density of sunlight and lowering the costs associated with silicon solar cells. This paper thoroughly evaluates and compares the performance of three different LSC materials: Rhodamine B (RBB), Rhodamine 6G (R6G), and Coumarin 6 (C6). The study focuses on several key metrics, including Stokes shift, external quantum efficiency, concentration factor, and conversion factor. By analyzing these parameters, the paper aims to elucidate how each material's properties influence overall performance, providing valuable insights into optimizing LSC design for improved energy harvesting. In order to pave the way for more widespread adoption of LSCs in solar applications, enhancing their role in sustainable energy systems.

Biomass Energy: A Crucial Component in the Renewable Energy Mix

Abstract: This paper examines biomass energy’s essential role in the renewable energy sector as a sustainable and flexible solution to rising global energy demands. It reviews various biomass types, conversion technologies, and their environmental, economic, and social impacts while addressing the challenges limiting biomass adoption compared to other renewables. Prospects for biomass energy are also discussed, focusing on technological advances, policy trends, and its role in supporting global energy transitions. The analysis highlights biomass's potential as a critical contributor to a sustainable energy system, emphasizing that, with appropriate support, it could become a cornerstone of renewable energy strategies to reduce carbon emissions.

Use of Sustainable Energy Systems in Educational Institutions

Educational institutions like other public and private organizations should try to eliminate their carbon footprint for the achievement of the ambitious 2050 target of net-zero carbon emissions. Several mature, reliable and cost-effective sustainable energy technologies can be used in these institutions replacing the use of fossil fuels and reducing their carbon emissions. Solar energy, wind energy and biomass can be used for heat and electricity generation replacing the use of oil, gas and grid electricity. Additionally, various low-carbon emission technologies including heat pumps, co-generation systems, fuel cells, district heating systems and power storage technologies can be also used in them. The combined use of these technologies in schools, colleges and universities can replace the current use of conventional energy sources reducing or completely eliminating their carbon emissions. The abovementioned benign energy technologies are already used commercially in several sectors proving their reliability and cost-effectiveness. It has been indicated that a plethora of green energy technologies can be used in educational institutions eliminating their carbon footprint achieving the desired global 2050 target of net-zero carbon emissions. Our results could be useful to policy makers and to the authorities of schools, colleges and universities who are willing to promote their environmental sustainability, achieving economic benefits and offering valuable educational opportunities to students.

Application of Internet of Things (IoT) in Energy Infrastructure: Lessons for the Future of Operations and Maintenance

The application of the Internet of Things (IoT) in energy infrastructure is revolutionizing operations and maintenance practices, driving efficiencies, and enhancing sustainability across the sector. This paper explores the transformative impact of IoT technologies on energy infrastructure, focusing on how they facilitate real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and data-driven decision-making. By leveraging IoT devices and systems, energy operators can optimize performance, reduce operational costs, and minimize downtime, ultimately contributing to more resilient and sustainable energy systems. The discussion highlights key IoT applications within energy infrastructure, including smart grids, renewable energy systems, and conventional power plants. Smart sensors and devices enable continuous data collection, providing insights into equipment performance, energy consumption, and environmental conditions. Predictive analytics, powered by IoT data, allows operators to anticipate equipment failures and conduct maintenance proactively, thereby extending asset life and improving reliability. Additionally, the abstract addresses the challenges associated with IoT integration in energy infrastructure, such as cybersecurity risks, data management issues, and the need for interoperability among diverse systems. It emphasizes the importance of establishing robust security protocols to protect sensitive data and ensure the integrity of IoT networks. Furthermore, the role of regulatory frameworks and industry standards in promoting the safe and effective deployment of IoT technologies is discussed. The paper also examines case studies of successful IoT implementations in energy infrastructure, showcasing the lessons learned from these initiatives. These examples illustrate the potential for IoT to enhance operational efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support the transition to cleaner energy sources. In conclusion, the abstract underscores that the adoption of IoT technologies in energy infrastructure is not just a trend but a necessity for the future of operations and maintenance. As the energy sector continues to evolve, embracing IoT will be crucial for achieving sustainability goals and meeting the growing demands for reliable energy supply.