Sustainable Energy Use Research Articles

Application of Photovoltaic Systems in Field Observation and Research Stations: Research on the Relationship between Power Generation Scale and Electricity Consumption to Improve Photovoltaic Application in Field Observation Stations

Most field scientific observation and research stations are located at the end of power grids which are usually not extended to such areas. Consequently, the power supply of equipment in field observation stations cannot be guaranteed. Meanwhile, regions with poor ecosystem stability are relatively sensitive to environmental changes and thus prone to degradation and succession due to external interference. In this paper, the photovoltaic (PV) power generation system of a grassland ecohydrological field scientific observation and research station was taken as the research object. Two kinds of distributed PV power generation systems were simulated and analyzed by use of PVsyst software. The total power of laboratory equipment, PV power generation efficiency, and system cost of the field observation station were calculated and analyzed. The design scheme and scale of PV power generation systems suitable for field observation stations were determined. Finally, a PV power generation test system was set up, and PV power generation data were sorted out. The feasibility of the design scheme of PV power generation systems was verified by analyzing the relationship between the simulated and actual power generation of systems and that between the daily energy use proportions of field observation stations. Besides, the environmental benefits of PV systems were analyzed, and their amount of energy saving and emission reduction was calculated. This study can solve the issue of the low power supply guarantee rate of field observation stations, provide a design basis and beneficial reference for the construction of environment-friendly field laboratory stations, and realize green energy saving and the sustainable use of energy while protecting the ecosystem from being destroyed.

Study on the application of photovoltaic power generation systems in field observatories under the zero carbon goal

Emissions of greenhouse gases such as CO2 are rapidly increasing, causing the greenhouse effect, leading to global warming and serious impacts on the ecosystem, while photovoltaic power generation can reduce the large amount of pollutants and carbon emissions produced in the traditional power generation process. The article takes the photovoltaic power generation system of the national field observatory as the research object, and uses PVsyst software to design the system of two distributed photovoltaic power generation systems. After calculating and analysing the total power of the experimental equipment, the efficiency of photovoltaic power generation and the system cost of the field observatory, the scheme and scale of the photovoltaic power generation system are determined, and the construction of the photovoltaic power generation test system is completed. Finally, through the comparison and analysis of the one-year PV power generation data with the simulated data, the feasibility of the system design method is verified, which can meet the requirements of the field experimental station and create a zero-carbon field observatory to achieve green energy conservation and sustainable energy use, which is in line with the strategic development plan of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality promoted by the state and provides a design basis and useful reference for the construction of zero-carbon field experimental stations.

Driver alertness monitoring system in the context of safety increasing and sustainable energy use

Road transport is an important factor in carbon dioxide emissions. These emissions can be reduced by improving propulsion sources and traffic flow (avoiding traffic jams due to accidents). This article presents a system for monitoring and warning the driver to prevent a possible accident involving material damage, injury, or loss of life. The system performs video monitoring of the driver in order to determine his state (tired or attentive). By reducing traffic incidents and traffic jams, the energy consumed will not be wasted; thus, more sustainable transport energy use can be achieved.

A Case Study for Solving Social Problems Using Appropriate Technology: Focusing on Busan Metropolitan City

This study sought to identify social problems in Busan and find solutions through Busan-type appropriate technology. To this end, in-depth interviews with expert FGI (5 times), in-depth interviews with socially disadvantaged and marginalized groups (elderly, disabled, youth), and in-depth interviews with caregivers/expert groups were conducted. A demand survey was conducted to solve social problems in Busan using appropriate technology. In addition, a demand survey was conducted among the elderly, the disabled, and young people, and found various problems in housing, medical care, and information transmission. We have derived an appropriate technology to solve this problem. First, improving housing, strengthening and disseminating access to medical technology, information transmission. It should help ease interpretation (elder problem). Second, appropriate technology should be used to improve citizens' awareness, guarantee the right to movement, and facilitate emergency medical requests (disability issues). Third, appropriate technology should be applied to make use of vacant houses and use sustainable energy to make housing stable and enjoyable work (youth problem).

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Energy-Efficient Design Strategies in Achieving Net Zero Energy Building through Reduced Energy Consumption

Abstract: Net zero energy buildings (NZEBs) have emerged as a sustainable and energy-efficient solution to the challenges of climate change and rising energy costs. These buildings are designed to generate as much energy as they consume, resulting in zero net energy consumption. The paper explores the evolution of NZEBs and the latest emerging technologies that are enabling their development, including smart building automation systems, energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems, vacuum insulation panels, Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) systems, and advanced sensors. The effectiveness of these strategies is analyzed using Autodesk insights and Revit software. The paper also discusses the comparison of Energy Use Intensity (EUI) before and after implementing energy-efficient and renewable energy techniques, which is crucial in determining their effectiveness. The proposed building achieved a significant 57.3% reduction in energy consumption after implementing various NZEB design strategies, resulting in a mean EUI value of 99.8 kWh/sq. m/year. The analysis was conducted using Autodesk Insights and Revit software, utilizing the Building Information Modeling (BIM) approach for building design. This paper concludeswitha discussion on the future of NZEBs and how they are an important step towards achieving sustainable and efficient energy use in the building sector,resultingincostsavings andreducedcarbon emissions

A systemic framework of energy efficiency in schools: experiences from six European countries

Schools are complex physical and social institutions within national education systems. They account for significant energy consumption and like other buildings can demonstrate inefficient patterns of energy use. Poor energy performance of educational facilities is an intricate issue driven by complex causality of interconnected and dynamic factors. Addressing this issue requires a systemic approach, which is heretofore lacking. The aim of this research is to present and describe a systemic framework to facilitate energy reduction in schools across different European contexts. This transdisciplinary approach to sustainable energy use has been piloted in 13 post-primary schools located in six countries in northwest Europe. The research implements a series of planned activities and interventions, which help to unveil a systemic approach to improving energy efficiency in schools. The findings demonstrate how this approach, together with its ensuing methodologies and strategies, can contribute to reducing carbon emissions and improve knowledge and awareness around sustainable energy.

Determinants of household energy choice for domestic chores: Evidence from the Semien Mountains National Park and Adjacent Districts, Northwest Ethiopia

Energy is a cornerstone and strategic tool to meet basic human needs and address many global development challenges. However, ensuring energy supply while limiting energy's contribution to environmental change is a major challenge confronting the energy sector in many developing countries. The challenge is more severe in Sub-Saharan Africa, where about 900 million people still rely on biomass fuels for cooking. Cooking with biomass might not be a problem by itself. Instead, it is the inability to use biomass energy resources sustainably. Improving the opportunities for modern and sustainable energy use is, thus, an essential prerequisite to enhancing the livelihoods of the poor. This study examines the determinants of household energy choice in the Semien Mountains National Park and adjacent districts in Northwest Ethiopia. A survey of 420 randomly selected households was administered using a semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and a multivariate probit model were employed to analyze the data. Results showed that households' energy utilization pattern is skewed towards biomass fuels, particularly fuelwood (87%), while only a few households use charcoal (32%) and electricity (17%) for domestic chores. The study also shows that the majority (87%) of households collect all of their energy sources themselves, while 13% purchase from the market. In addition, the results show that about 77% of households perceived that fuelwood availability had decreased over time owing to deforestation. Estimates of the multivariate probit model showed that a mix of factors, including age, gender, household size, education, income, access to electricity, off-farm activities, access to market, distance to forest, and housing type, determine household cooking energy choice and the extent of dependency on it. Thus, the findings proved that local communities prefer fuel stacking rather than ascending the energy ladder. Based on the results, the study recommended that the local community be encouraged to use biomass fuels in a more environmentally friendly way and use sustainable and affordable modern energy sources.

Impact of the Russia–Ukraine armed conflict on water resources and water infrastructure

The armed conflict between Ukraine and Russia that began in late February 2022 has far-reaching environmental consequences, especially regarding water resources and management. Here we analysed the multifaceted impacts of the military actions on freshwater resources and water infrastructure during the first three months of the conflict. We identified the nature of the impacts, the kind of pressures imposed on the water sector and the negative consequences for the availability and quality of freshwater resources for the civilian population. Our results showed that many water infrastructures such as dams at reservoirs, water supply and treatment systems and subsurface mines have been impacted or are at risk from military actions. Continuation of the conflict will have multiple negative sustainability implications not only in Ukraine but also on a global scale, hampering achievement of clean water and sanitation, conservation and sustainable use of water resources, and energy and food security.

The Use of the Hierarchical Method to Group the Countries of the European Union According to their Energy and Climate Policies Adopted on the Basis of Directives of the European Parliament

Abstract Subject and purpose of work The European Union’s energy policy focuses mainly on three areas: reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the energy sector by increasing the use of RES, reducing emissions of harmful pollutants, and increasing the efficiency of the electricity used. Sustainable energy use, on the other hand, is clearly associated with an increased use of renewable energy sources, which ensures energy security, as well as diversification of energy supplies that sustain and improve the quality of the environment. The purpose of the paper is to present the diversity of the countries of the European Union in terms of the actions they take in the field of energy and climate policy resulting from the European Union directives. Materials and methods Based on the goals of energy policy presented in the EU directives a number of indicators were selected in order to describe the actions taken by EU member states. After a substantive and statistical verification, 6 variables were left. The use of the Ward’s method made it possible to create groups of countries that are similar in terms of their energy and climate policies. Conclusions The most favorable situation in terms of the effects of the climate and energy policy can be observed in the current leaders, that is in Sweden and Finland as well as in Estonia. Central European countries, mainly Poland, have high-emission economies, accompanied by low investment in modern environmentally friendly technologies. This is manifested, among others, in high concentrations of particulate matter, which contributes to poor air quality, categories in which Poland has some of the worst results in the entire EU.

Asymmetric relationship between climate policy uncertainty and energy metals: Evidence from cross-quantilogram

Climate policy uncertainty is a widely used measure of climate risk based on policy fronts. On the other hand, energy metals offer avenues for the use of clean, green, and sustainable energy to combat the environmental hazards and reduce carbon footprint. Following this, the current study aims to investigate the relationship between climate policy uncertainty and energy metals through a novel technique of cross-quantilogram. The study finds a pronounced relationship between climate policy uncertainty and energy metals in terms of reducing carbon emissions. We also report diversification benefits of energy metals given the larger lags. We deduced useful insights for practitioners, investors, and scholars.

A framework for maintaining sustainable energy use in Bitcoin mining through switching efficient mining hardware

Blockchain technology revolutionized the financial system with the emergence of cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin as the most used cryptocurrency has been particularly questioned in the literature for its sustainability. Very few studies explore the future of sustainability from the perspective of both miners' and technology makers' continual profitability. Our study evaluates the hardware used for Bitcoin mining from a sustainability analysis perspective; therefore, changes in the difficulty level in the block algorithm and mining hardware's thermal power usage are considered to determine the profitability and the exergetic efficiency of the mining process. The consistent decay in exergetic efficiency curves of several GPU and ASIC-based technology hardware suggest that the hardware can be utilized up to the levels where the efficiency values hit zero. Simultaneously, the diminishing profit levels over the course of changing Bitcoin prices make the mining hardware unsustainable signaling an end to its life cycle and switching the hardware with more efficient ones. Our findings shed light on the future of the sustainability of Bitcoin mining in terms of securing the profitability of the business by determining the exergetic efficiency of the hardware with a completely new perspective in the literature.

Fabrication life prediction model for HDPE/Cr2O3 composites toward roof passive cooling

Passive cooling materials have been widely investigated to reduce building energy consumption. However, references about life prediction of the materials are insufficient. In this work, a novel life prediction model based on the passive cooling composites was established. The inorganic pigment chromium oxide (Cr2O3) was introduced into the high density polyethylene (HDPE) matrix to prepare HDPE/Cr2O3 composites with high long wave infrared (LWIR) emissivity and near infrared (NIR) reflectivity. The composites showed excellent cooling performance and color stability. The addition of ultraviolet absorber (UVA) and hindered amine light stabilizer (HALS) further improved the UV resistance of HDPE/Cr2O3 composites. HALS performs better and meets the needs of long-life outdoor use. Furthermore, a new failure point selection method is proposed and a model is established to predict the actual service life of HDPE/Cr2O3 composites, which provides theoretical guidance for the outdoor long-life use of the polymer composites. Based on the model, the fabricated HDPE/Cr2O3/HALS system can be used for more than 15 years. The long-term cooling composites can be used for building roof and wall to effectively reduce the indoor temperature and realize the sustainable use of energy. Besides, if used in military engineering, it has excellent cooling function and military camouflage effect. In addition, the composites can also be widely used in outdoor decoration, artificial lawn, floating materials and other fields.

Citizen Participation and Knowledge Support in Urban Public Energy Transition—A Quadruple Helix Perspective

Climate change, energy transition needs and the current energy crisis have prompted cities to implement far-reaching changes in public energy supply. The present paper seeks to map out the conditions for sustainable energy provision and use, with a particular view to the role of citizens in a quadruple helix context. Citizen participation is often seen as a sine qua non for a successful local or district energy policy in an urban area but needs due scientific and digital support based on evidence-based knowledge (using proper user-oriented techniques such as Q-analysis). The paper sets out to explore the citizen engagement and knowledge base for drastic energy transitions in the city based on the newly developed “diabolo” model, in which in particular digital tools (e.g., dashboards, digital twins) are proposed as useful tools for the interface between citizens and municipal policy. The approach adopted in this paper is empirically illustrated for local energy policy in the city of Rotterdam.

Experimental investigation on thermal properties and fire performance of lauric acid/diphenyl phosphate/expanded perlite as a flame retardant phase change material for latent heat storage applications

The form-stable composite energy storage developed in this study was produced by integrating a novel flame retardant phase change material formed of 90 wt% lauric acid (LA) as a phase change material and 10 wt% resorcinol bis(diphenyl phosphate) (RDP) as a flame retardant into a supporting material of expanded perlite (EP) without leakage. A differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) test is employed to characterize the mass ratio of LA_RDP, and a filter paper is used to assess the leakage test of LA_RDP/EP. Results from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) show that the flame retardant phase change material of LA_RDP has been successfully embedded into EP’s porous structure. Moreover, chemical compatibility of composites is analyzed by fourier transform-infrared spectrometer (FT-IR). According to the DSC test, the flame retardant phase change material developed of LA_RDP/EP has an appropriate phase transition temperature of ∼ 40–45 °C and fusion latent heat range of ∼ 86.02–88.29 J/g for thermal control in buildings. After 50 thermal cycles, the thermal cycling test depicted that the composite PCM possess outstanding thermal reliability. By incorporating 5 wt% expanded graphite (EG), the thermal conductivity of the LA_RDP/EP composite is enhanced by about 41.6%. In accordance with the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) test, the produced flame retardant and EP reduces the mass loss of LA. Cone calorimetry is also utilized to examine the flame retardant phase change material composite’s flammability characteristics. LA_RDP/EP demonstrates valued thermal properties while lowering the flammability of LA. The findings demonstrated that the formed LA_RDP/EP composite might be assessed as a suitable material in thermal applications for effective and sustainable energy use.

Globalization and Economic Stability: An Insight from the Rocket and Feather Hypothesis in Pakistan

The purpose of this study was to analyze the irregular pattern of changing inflation as a result of the pass-through of the exchange rate and fluctuations in oil prices in the current globalization scenario. We used annual data sets for crude oil prices, real effective exchange rates, and inflation in Pakistan from 1972 to 2021 for the analysis. The control variables used in the current study were imports (IMP), gross domestic product per capita (GDP), exports (EXP), globalization (GLOB), and interest rates (CRATE). Our findings from a non-linear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) analysis showed that inflation had an asymmetric rocket and feather pattern regardless of how globalization was defined or measured. On the other hand, GDP, EXP, and GLOB negatively impacted inflation, and CRATE and IMP had positive effects on inflation. Our study suggested that alternative policies, such as fixing the exchange rate, might decrease uncertainty and stabilize the Pakistani economy in the future. Moreover, increasing the use of sustainable energy would reduce the dependence of the economy on oil prices, which would lower its impact on the economy.

Energy-Consumption Pattern-Detecting Technique for Household Appliances for Smart Home Platform

Rising electricity prices and the greater penetration of electricity consumption in end-uses have prompted efforts to set up data-driven methodologies to optimise energy consumption and foster user engagement in demand-side management strategies. The performance of energy-management systems is greatly affected by the consumer behaviors and the adopted energy-management methodology. Consequently, it is necessary to develop appliance-level, detailed energy-consumption information models to inform citizens to improve behaviors toward energy use. The goal of the Home Energy Management System (HEMS) is to foster an ecosystem that is energy-optimized and can manage Internet of things (IoT) equipment over its network. HEMS allows consumers to reduce energy costs by adapting their consumption to variable pricing over the day. With the use of descriptive data-mining techniques, we have developed a numerical model that gives consumers access to information on their domestic appliances with regard to the number and duration of operations, cycles disaggregation for appliances that have cyclic operation (e.g., washing machine, dishwasher), and energy consumption throughout various time periods basing on 15-min monitoring data. The model has been calibrated and validated on two datasets collected by ENEA by real-time monitoring of Italian dwellings and has been tested over several appliances showing effective analysis of the energy-consumption patterns. Therefore, it has been integrated in the DHOMUS IoT platform, developed by ENEA to monitor and analyse the energy consumption in dwellings in order to increase citizens’ engagement and awareness of their energy consumption. The results indicate that the developed model is sufficiently accurate, and that it is possible to promote a more virtuous and sustainable use of energy by end users, as well as to reduce the energy demand as required by the current European Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1854.

Equitable, ethical, and environmental approaches to building control interfaces

Long-term change lies in cultural, rather than technological, solutions. Building designs must shift in ways that are equitable, ethical, and environmentally conscious, down to small details, such as the building interface. The many building control interfaces we use each day—from light switches and thermostats to window treatments and furniture—affect access to comfort, health, and energy savings. A thermostat that is difficult to use or even illegible for someone with differing visual acuity hinders an occupant’s ability to enjoy and effectively live within an interior space. As part of an interior’s ecology, building control interfaces influence fundamental ways we interact with our immediate environment, and compound interior behaviors to affect local and global ecologies. The design of building control interfaces rarely engages human-centered approaches, let alone considering how the interfaces relate to equitable access or sustainable use of energy. There is not a clear unified design theory to guide the design and integration of building control interfaces. This essay provides an interdisciplinary framework for ethical building control interface design informed by philosophies of justice, environmental ethics, wicked problem theory, and principles of equity, Universal Design, and human rights.

Recent Advances in DC-DC Converters for Electric Vehicles

The emergence of electric vehicles (EVs) has become a better alternative to withstand enormous damage to the environment and human life due to the widespread use of conventional cars. As a vital element in EVs, this paper analysed and compared the key features of different DC-DC topologies from different areas, then, explored strategies to improve DC-DC converter performance. The purpose of all these studies and designs is to help researchers in the automotive industry to choose the right DC-DC converter topology for their needs to achieve the required power density. By continuously improving the design and evaluation of DC-DC converters, it can improve the performance and efficiency of electric vehicles, and further promote the use of sustainable energy. This will help reduce reliance on traditional fuels, lower carbon emissions, improve air quality and move the entire transportation industry towards a greener, more sustainable future.

Towards a Sustainable Campus: Design and Evaluation of a Photovoltaic System for a Secondary School

The present work was developed to inform, experiment, raise awareness and disseminate information about renewable energy sources, specifically solar energy through the design of a photovoltaic system for a secondary-level educational institution in a district with development potential, which in a short time has been developed in all areas, but the lack of environmental awareness of its inhabitants forced us to take such an initiative since an academic identity must have an optimal environment for the well-being of its students and teachers, the incorporation of a photovoltaic system will not only contribute to this purpose but will also promote environmental awareness and responsibility by promoting the use of renewable and sustainable energy. The work demonstrates that it is possible to use solar energy as a source of pure, clean, and healthy energy for the use of different activities in a secondary education institution, such as entertainment, study, sports, technology, and science. The present work uses as its main support the Psis 7.2 photovoltaic installations simulation programme; this programme uses rheological and topographic data for better accuracy in data analysis. The results of this project could serve as a basis for other projects in this field since we believe that our contributions will be used for the greater good.

Use of Infrared Imaging Techniques to Investigate Thermal Losses of Flat Plate Solar Collectors

The paper presents ways to use advanced infrared imaging techniques to study and analyze the thermal losses of a flat plate solar collector. The techniques allowed us to precisely locate and measure areas where unwanted thermal losses occurred on the surface of the collectors studied. The study showed that these losses have a key impact on the energy efficiency of these devices. It was found that using the proposed methodology allows not only the detection of defects in existing structures but also the optimization of the design process of new technical solutions. The temperature of the working medium has a significant effect on heat losses on all analyzed surfaces. However, the influence of the medium flow varies depending on the specific surface. The conclusions of the research suggest that infrared imaging is a valuable tool in developing solar thermal systems, contributing to the reliability and efficiency of these systems. The technique is an important step toward sustainable and economical use of solar energy. Increasing the efficiency of the equipment used to carry out the photothermal conversion process will allow more efficient use of available renewable energy sources. It will have a positive impact on environmental protection.