Traditional Energy Sources Research Articles

Enhancing on-grid renewable energy systems: Optimal configuration and diverse design strategies

This study explores the optimization of hybrid renewable energy systems in smart grids, incorporating configurations involving multiple sources such as solar photovoltaic, wind, and combined PV/wind systems with advanced battery storage strategies. The goal is to develop optimal sizing and energy management solutions that not only reduce the grid use factor but also enhance the sustainability and reliability of energy systems through innovative energy-saving methods and carbon-neutral approaches. Utilizing a novel methodology that integrates particle swarm optimization, long short-term memory, and genetic algorithms, this research identifies the most effective mix of renewable energy capacities alongside versatile energy storage solutions, to align energy production with consumption efficiently. The study demonstrates significant environmental benefits, crucial for sustainable management aimed at achieving carbon neutrality, including reducing CO2 emissions by 122.29 tons per year and maintaining a notably low levelized cost of energy at $0.0417/kWh. The model proves accurate in forecasting renewable energy generation, emphasizing its potential as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to traditional energy sources. These findings underscore the critical importance of integrating optimal hybrid renewable systems that incorporate strategic energy storage, innovative optimization for energy savings, and robust measures towards achieving carbon neutrality, thus enhancing both energy sustainability and economic feasibility.

Long-term energy demand modeling and optimal evaluation of solutions to renewable energy deployment barriers in Benin: A LEAP-MCDM approach

Approximately 60 % of Beninese lack access to electricity, relying heavily on traditional energy sources, electricity imports, and low renewable energy integration. This study aims to forecast the energy demand for Benin while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and propose alternative solutions to clean energy deployment barriers. The Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) is used to explore the future energy demand for Benin and associated GHG emissions. Four scenarios have been developed, namely Business as Usual (BAU), High Economic Development (HED), Electrification and Urbanization Growth (EUG), and High Efficient Energy Application (HEEA). In addition, the Fuzzy AHP and TOPSIS techniques have been employed to rank and prioritize alternative solutions to Renewable Energy (RE) deployment barriers in the country. A total of eighteen sub-barriers were identified and classified into five main categories under the four pillars of sustainability (technical, social, economic, and environmental), and nine strategies were identified and proposed to overcome the barriers. The results show that under the BAU scenario, the total energy demand is expected to reach 445 PJ in 2050 from the current demand of around 164 PJ. A total GHG emission of 21 MtCO2e is estimated under the BAU scenario in 2050. However, the HEEA scenario indicates that energy demand would considerably decrease resulting in low GHG emissions from the energy sector. The findings from the Fuzzy AHP ranking show that technical barriers, political and regulatory barriers, and financial and economic barriers, are the top three barriers hindering RE deployment in Benin. Moreover, adequate policy and regulatory framework emerges as the most weighted solution to eliminating barriers to RE deployment in the country. These results encourage the application of effective policy to support sustainable energy transition. The study's approach is applicable to other developing countries outside Benin, offering insights into RE barriers and potential alternative solutions.

Water Splitting and Beyond

Hydrogen (H2) is a clean and environmentally friendly fuel, showcasing significant potential as a viable substitute for traditional fossil energy sources. Electrolysis, particularly the electrolytic splitting of water, emerges as one of the most environmentally benign methods for producing H2.1 Recent advancements have witnessed the emergence of cost-effective and durable catalysts, predominantly leveraging transition metals, demonstrating remarkable efficiency for water splitting Our ongoing research endeavors aim to push the boundaries further by exploring unconventional (non-oxide) catalysts based on non-noble metals. The objective is to identify catalysts that exhibit superior overall catalytic efficiency by a comprehensive investigation into the structural transformations, active sites, surface, and bulk structures under dynamic conditions. Additionally, we are delving into the influence of precatalysts on the properties of the final catalyst, striving for a holistic understanding to optimize the catalytic process. Water splitting is hindered by the anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER), a process entailing four-electron transfer and numerous high-energy reaction intermediates.2 Partly, electrochemical organic oxidation reactions (OOR) can effectively supersede the sluggish OER (hybrid-water electrolysis), and accelerate the overall hydrogen production rate.3 This also significantly enhances the techno-economic viability of water-splitting as selective high-valued organic oxidation products are formed at the anode, as opposed to the less valuable oxygen.4 This talk will shed light on the recent developments of selected catalysts for electrocatalytic OER and OOR and will discuss the dynamic state of the catalysts via comprehensive in-situ and ex-situ techniques.5 The ultimate goal is to pave the way toward a concept-guided design system that extends beyond conventional water electrolysis.

Potential and challenges of Peer-To-Peer (P2P) electrical energy trading: investigation and case study

This paper explores the potential and challenges associated with Peer-to-Peer (P2P) electrical energy trading, focusing on both theoretical investigation and practical application through a comprehensive case study. By examining the interactions between prosumers (those who both produce and consume energy) and consumers, we employ utility functions to model these interactions. Optimization is achieved using a non-cooperative game theory approach coupled with real-time pricing mechanisms to reflect market dynamics accurately. Our analysis ensures feasibility and reliability by considering crucial factors such as energy balance and grid capacity constraints, which are essential for maintaining system stability. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method. These results highlight the significant potential of P2P trading to enhance overall energy efficiency, promote decentralized energy management, and reduce reliance on traditional energy sources. Furthermore, this study provides detailed insights into maximizing total utility by determining optimal prices and energy trades, ultimately showcasing the transformative impact of P2P trading on real-time energy market operations.

"An Integrated Model for Adopting Renewable Energy in IRAQ: A Standard Study for the Period (1992-2023)"

Data related to the study variables were collected for the period from 1992 to 2023, with the sample size reaching 31 observations for each variable. This research aims to review and analyze descriptive data for these multiple variables, which are related to different areas of renewable energy use and electricity consumption in Iraq. This research addresses important variables, including renewable energy, government policies related to it, and the level of public awareness of the subject. In addition, other variables such as electricity consumption, country's population, volume of imports and exports, economic growth, technological innovation, and foreign direct investment flows are analysed. The importance of this research is to understand the trends and factors influencing the field of renewable energy in Iraq, which can contribute to developing effective policies to promote the use of renewable energy and achieve environmental and economic sustainability in the country. Considering the negative impact, the variables EC (electricity consumption), NPG (population) and GP (economic growth) seem to have a negative impact on renewable energy production in the long run. Increased electrical consumption and population and economic growth can lead to increased demand for traditional sources of energy, reducing environmental sustainability and exposing the country to negative consequences in the future. On the other hand, the positive effect of the variables EG (economic growth), FDIF (foreign direct investment inflows), I (imports), PA (exports) and TI (technological innovation) on renewable energy production is shown. Increased investment in renewable energy infrastructure and adoption of clean technology can contribute to achieving environmental sustainability and boosting the economy. Using EViews 12 software, these variables will be analyzed according to available data with the aim of understanding trends, challenges and opportunities related to renewable energy in Iraq.

Solar photovoltaic buildings: The combination of sustainable energy and green buildings

Solar photovoltaic (SPV) buildings are at the cutting edge of renewable energy technology, offering a promising solution to meet our growing energy needs while minimizing environmental impact. This comprehensive review explores the multifaceted realm of solar PV buildings, examining their design, construction, energy performance compared to traditional structures, environmental consequences, and future possibilities. SPV buildings hold significant potential in promoting sustainability and achieving energy self-sufficiency. These structures not only generate clean energy but also contribute surplus electricity to the grid, enhancing community resilience and reducing dependence on traditional energy sources. Design and construction innovation involves implementing advanced architectural designs, utilizing smart building management systems, and incorporating renewable materials. These practices not only improve energy efficiency but also enhance the overall aesthetic appeal of structures. Performance evaluations consistently show that SPV buildings outperform traditional structures in terms of energy efficiency, carbon footprint reduction, and long-term cost-effectiveness. This translates to reduced energy consumption and environmental burdens. Environment issues such as energy-intensive panel production and waste disposal necessitate ongoing research to mitigate any negative environmental impact, thus necessitating technological developments to minimize these ramifications. SPV buildings represent the future of energy-efficient construction, leading the way to a cleaner and more eco-friendly world. Through tireless research and innovation, these structures may soon become mainstream solutions, providing environmental preservation as well as energy independence benefits for society at large.

Catalyst Development for Biogas Dry Reforming: A Review of Recent Progress

Amidst the rapid expansion of the global economy, the demand for energy has escalated. The depletion of traditional energy sources coupled with environmental pollution concerns has catalyzed a shift towards the development and utilization of clean, renewable energy. Biogas, as a renewable energy source, provides diverse applications and holds the potential to alleviate energy shortages. Recently, biogas dry reforming technology has garnered substantial attention as a significant pathway for renewable energy utilization, particularly in the development and optimization of catalysts. Contemporary research predominantly focuses on enhancing the activity and stability of catalysts, with particular emphasis on their resistance to coking and sintering. This review delineates the classification of biogas dry reforming catalysts, their catalytic activity, and issues related to carbon deposition, contrasting biogas dry reforming with traditional dry reforming in catalyst design. It synthesizes numerous studies from recent years aimed at mitigating carbon deposition during the biogas dry reforming process and boosting catalytic activity via active components, carriers, and promoters in both precious and non-precious metal catalysts. Furthermore, it discusses the current challenges of biogas dry reforming technology and outlines prospective future development trends. This discussion provides an in-depth understanding of biogas dry reforming technology and catalyst design, offering insights and recommendations for future research and industrial applications.

Grid-Connected Single-Stage DC–AC Converter for Solar PV Applications

Photovoltaic (PV) has become an important alternative because of the increased demand for electricity and the limited supply of traditional energy sources. Harmonic distortion (HD) on the grid-connected PV can lead to several undesirable outcomes, including overheating of connected equipment, frequent grid interruptions, reduced accuracy of electrical meters, and an increase in the required current. This manuscript proposes the novel use of the Sunflower Optimization (SFO) Algorithm in grid-connected single-stage DC–AC converter with minimizing Total HD (THD) and enhancing the efficiency of the system as its primary objective. The SFO algorithm is used to maximize the system's features and control the switched inductor boost converter. The proposed technique is then simulated using MATLAB and its performance is contrasted with other existing technologies Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), Garra-Rufa Fish Optimization-Student Psychology Optimization Algorithm (GRFO-SPOA), and Fuzzy Logic Control (FLC). The proposed method attains an efficiency of 97% with a low THD of 3.1%. The findings suggest that the proposed method outperforms the existing approaches.

Review of the experience in utilising waste heat from the metro

The exhaustibility of traditional fossil energy sources is leading to the increasing use of unconventional energy sources. One of the most promising areas of alternative energy is the use of low-potential ground energy to heat buildings and structures for various purposes using a heat pump. The subway generates a significant amount of heat, especially when trains are braking, stopping on platforms and picking up speed when they start moving from the station. Thus, to combat the rise in temperature in tunnels and stations, a complex ventilation system is designed, including shafts, fans, and under-platform exhaust. In modern Ukrainian subways, the ventilation system is designed to cope with the rising temperatures in tunnels and stations. This traditional approach results in high energy consumption for running fans and ignores the possibility of using the extracted heat above ground in buildings. Techniques such as lining underground railway tunnels with heat exchanger segments, installing a heat exchanger in a subway ventilation shaft, installing geothermal heat pumps next to a subway tunnel, installing energy piles, energy baffle walls, energy platforms, and introducing absorption pipes into tunnel segments can provide an alternative solution to cool tunnels and the surrounding ground, and transfer the resulting heat to neighbouring buildings for heating. This would also have the benefit of reducing energy consumption for tunnel ventilation. This article discusses the possibility of using waste heat from underground railway systems as a source of low-potential energy to provide heat to, for example, adjacent buildings. Various technologies for utilising waste heat from underground railway tunnels that have already been implemented or whose models are technically and economically feasible are presented.

A Financial Analysis and Valuation of BYD

In the contemporary era, the depletion of traditional energy sources has become an increasingly pressing concern. In response, the development of new energy technologies has emerged as a pivotal strategy to alleviate energy shortages while aligning with ambitious carbon neutrality objectives. Understanding and properly assessing the financial landscape and risks faced by new energy enterprises are paramount for effective management and sustainable growth. This paper delves into this imperative by focusing on BYD, a prominent player in the new energy sector. Employing a comprehensive approach, this study begins with a SWOT qualitative analysis, dissecting BYD's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This analysis illuminates the nuanced landscape within which BYD operates, shedding light on both its potential and the challenges it must navigate. Subsequently, the study employs the Price/Earnings (P/E) model to assess BYD's valuation, providing quantitative insights into its financial standing and market positioning. Key findings from this research reveal a promising trajectory for BYD. Over the past two years, the company has demonstrated rapid growth in operating income, coupled with an enhanced debt repayment capacity, indicative of its robust developmental potential. However, the evaluation using the P/E model suggests that BYD's true value may be underestimated, hinting at further upside potential and market opportunities. This holistic examination underscores the importance of integrating qualitative and quantitative methodologies to comprehensively evaluate new energy enterprises, offering valuable insights for strategic decision-making and sustainable growth in the evolving energy landscape.

Socioeconomic challenges and opportunities in renewable energy transition

The global transition to renewable energy is a multifaceted endeavor that entails profound socioeconomic transformations. This study aimed to explore the socioeconomic challenges and opportunities inherent in this transition. By leveraging a comprehensive review of existing literature and case studies, this research provides insights into the economic, social, technological, and policy dimensions of renewable energy adoption. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative analysis of policy frameworks with quantitative assessment of economic impacts. Key findings indicate that while renewable energy technologies, such as solar and wind, are increasingly cost-competitive, high initial capital costs and long payback periods remain significant barriers. Social and cultural resistance also poses challenges, particularly in communities with strong ties to traditional energy sources. Policy inconsistencies and regulatory uncertainties further complicate the adoption of renewable energy technologies. Conversely, the study highlights numerous opportunities. Renewable energy deployment can drive substantial job creation, stimulate local economies, and enhance energy security by diversifying energy sources. Technological advancements in energy storage and smart grids are crucial for integrating renewable energy into existing systems, thereby ensuring reliability and stability. Effective policy frameworks, such as feed-in tariffs and carbon pricing, are essential for fostering investment and innovation in the renewable energy sector. The study concludes that a holistic approach, integrating economic incentives, social engagement, and robust policy frameworks, is vital for overcoming challenges and maximizing the benefits of renewable energy. Recommendations for future research include exploring innovative financial instruments, advancing energy storage technologies, and enhancing public engagement to increase social acceptance of renewable energy projects. Keywords: Renewable Energy, Socioeconomic Challenges, Energy Policy, Technological Innovation, Energy Transition, Sustainable Development.

Zero liquid discharge management: optimizing sustainable reverse osmosis desalination practices

This study introduces a Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) scheme for Reverse Osmosis (RO) desalination, integrating ultra-filtration pretreatment and Electrodialysis (ED) for brine concentration. The scheme divides brine reject into fractions, directing them to an electrolyser and evaporator powered by renewable energy sources. Notable findings include the treatment plant's capability to produce 792 cubic meters of fresh water daily, while decreasing salt concentration from 4,660 ppm to 30 ppm, showcasing efficient desalination. Additionally, recycling fractions of RO unit waste to various components enhances resource efficiency. The study highlights the daily production of 2,269.27 kg of hydrogen, coupled with minimal electricity consumption of 74,885.91 kWh, thereby improving overall energy efficiency. Furthermore, the utilization of solar energy significantly reduces reliance on fossil fuels, thereby promoting sustainability and mitigating the environmental impacts associated with traditional energy sources. Solar energy is a clean, renewable resource that helps decrease greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants, contributing to cleaner air and a healthier planet. This shift towards renewable energy is crucial in addressing climate change and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come. In the context of desalination, emphasizing environmental preservation and water security is paramount. Desalination processes, while providing essential fresh water in arid regions, often produce brine as a byproduct. The brine, with a high salt concentration of 13,648 ppm, poses a disposal challenge that can negatively impact marine ecosystems if not managed properly. This is where Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) systems come into play. With a ZLD index of 2.7%, these systems ensure that all wastewater is treated and reused, leaving no liquid waste behind. ZLD technology captures and recycles every drop of water, converting waste into reusable resources, thus minimizing environmental harm. The model showcased a significant decrease in brackish water extraction from 1,200 cubic meters per day to 871.52 cubic meters per day, marking a notable 27% reduction. These results highlight the promising effectiveness of the proposed ZLD scheme in enhancing the efficiency of brackish water treatment, demonstrating its potential to significantly reduce the demand for fresh water resources while achieving sustainable desalination practices. This article will present a detailed yet a simple description of reverse osmosis and ZLD, how do they correlate and how these two technologies represent the future of water treatment.

Oil exporters and the challenges ahead: the role of NOCs in energy transitions

Abstract While constructing pathways to achieving energy transitions is challenging to all global community members, this challenge is even greater for oil-exporting countries. Oil-exporting countries and their national oil companies (NOCs) are key players in the energy transitions. These actors’ existing capacities (financial, technical, human) must be leveraged to accelerate decarbonization processes that are scaled and globally deployed. Energy transition roadmaps must embrace all relevant actors, including oil companies, as stakeholders that can significantly contribute to the acceleration of energy transitions across the globe. This situation must be reflected in outlooks and assessments of energy transitions. This article studies the regulatory conditions and interventions that have made the evolution of several NOCs possible as relevant actors in the 21st-century landscape, considering their activities in traditional energy sources, decarbonization solutions, and new energy sources. These NOCs vary with some having greater flexibility in shaping policies while others needing to comply with regulatory standards. All NOCs in this study, ADNOC, ARAMCO, and the NNPCL were entrusted with a degree of autonomy in addressing climate change, yet the larger margin of discretion ADNOC and ARAMCO corporations enjoyed has allowed them to excel in shaping and implementing these policies. The focus of this paper is on the role of soft law in this change, particularly ESG standards, as leading energy transition governance tools, which introduce accountability and environmental principles that guide the activity of these corporate actors beyond bear minimum requirements in laws and regulations.

An Isolated High Gain Push Pull Type DC to DC Converter for Fuel Cell Power Generation Systems

Due to their high efficiency and low environmental impact, fuel cell power generation systems have emerged as promising alternatives to traditional energy sources. However, the integration of fuel cells into practical applications necessitates the development of efficient power conversion systems. dc-dc converters play a crucial role in optimizing the power flow between the fuel cell stack and the load. In this paper, a push-pull type high gain dc-dc converter is proposed which consists of a push-pull inverter, a rectifier circuit, and C-filter. The push pull inverter produces high frequency square wave output while the full bridge rectifier and C-filter convert this square wave output into desired dc voltage. The converter boosts the 12V dc input supply to 326 V, representing a gain factor of more than 27. The isolated coupling inductor used in push pull inverter produces high gain and provides electrical isolation. Besides, the proposed topology eliminates the use of bulky grid-connected power transformers that decreases the system size and cost. To evaluate the performance of the proposed topology, a number of simulations under varying loads were carried out in the MATLAB Simulink framework. Further-more, a scaled-down prototype of 160W at 12/326 V was developed to confirm the simulation results. The findings indicate that the suggested converter can be a viable option for the hydrogen fuel cell-based power conversion system. GUB JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, Vol 10(1), 2023 P 37-52

An Application of Closest Pair of Points Algorithm to Detect the Outliers on the Fixed Solar System

Renewable energy resources are regarded as clean energy sources and effective utilization of these resources reduces ecological effects, produces little secondary waste and they are feasible in light of present and future economic and social societal demands. Solar energy is a radiant light and heat from the sun that may be harvested through a variety of methods, including solar power for producing electricity, solar thermal energy, and solar architecture. Solar technologies generate electricity from the sun, which is considered to be a clean energy source. Solar energy technologies offer a tremendous chance for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and lowering global warming by replacing traditional energy sources. However, the technologies are not exempted from the operational challenges such as the ever-fluctuating ambient conditions. The intention of this study is to present the experimental outcomes of an application of the closest pair of points algorithm to detect outliers on the fixed solar system. The closest pair of points algorithm is used to find outliers in the system based on the measured voltage from the photovoltaic (PV) panel. The algorithm examines the PV panel’s immediate voltage and compares it to earlier voltage samples to assess whether there is a significant voltage variation that might turn into outliers. The algorithm proved to be extremely precise and efficient in detecting outliers on the fixed solar system. However, the efficiency of the algorithm should yet be verified for larger PV arrays to determine whether it will withstand the test.

Dynamic Consensus-Based ADMM Strategy for Economic Dispatch with Demand Response in Power Grids

This paper introduces a dynamic consensus-based economic dispatch (ED) algorithm utilizing the Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers (ADMM) to optimize real-time pricing and generation/demand decisions within a decentralized energy management framework. The increasing complexity of modern energy markets, driven by the proliferation of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) and variable demands from hybrid electric vehicles, necessitates a departure from traditional centralized dispatch methods. This research proposes a novel ADMM-based solution tailored for non-responsive and responsive demand units that integrates demand response mechanisms to adaptively manage real-time fluctuations while enhancing security and privacy through distributed data management. The testing of the algorithm on the IEEE 39 bus system under various load conditions over 24 h demonstrated the algorithm’s effectiveness in handling traditional and renewable energy sources, particularly highlighting the economic benefits of shifting controllable loads to periods of low-cost renewable availability. The findings underscore the algorithm’s potential to reduce energy costs, enhance energy efficiency, and offer a scalable solution across diverse grid systems, contributing significantly to advancing global energy policy and sustainable management practices.

Elephant Grass (Pennisetum purpureum): A Bioenergy Resource Overview

Elephant grass (EG), or Pennisetum purpureum, is gaining attention as a robust renewable biomass source for energy production amidst growing global energy demands and the push for alternatives to fossil fuels. This review paper explores the status of EG as a sustainable bioenergy resource, integrating various studies to present a comprehensive analysis of its potential in renewable energy markets. Methods employed include assessing the efficiency and yield of biomass conversion methods such as pretreatment for bioethanol production, biomethane yields, direct combustion, and pyrolysis. The analysis also encompasses a technoeconomic evaluation of the economic viability and scalability of using EG for energy production, along with an examination of its environmental impacts, focusing on its water and carbon footprint. Results demonstrate that EG has considerable potential for sustainable energy practices due to its high biomass production and ecological benefits such as carbon sequestration. Despite challenges in cost competitiveness with traditional energy sources, specific applications like small-scale combined heat and power (CHP) systems and charcoal production show economic promise. Conclusively, EG presents a viable option for biomass energy, potentially playing a pivotal role in the biomass sector as the energy landscape shifts towards more sustainable solutions; although, technological and economic barriers need further addressing.

Nanotechnology approaches for Enhancement in Biohydrogen Production

The rapid surge of renewable energy sources has been influenced by the high rate of energy consumption and the low sustainability of traditional energy sources. Being an excellent energy source, hydrogen does not leave any negative carbon footprint as it only produces water during the combustion process. It is carbon neutral which can be produced from a variety of waste feed stocks or biomass, making it the most efficient and environmentally friendly form of energy amid all biofuels. To meet the future hydrogen demand, biological processes like bacterial fermentation, are considered to be environmentally favourable option. Since biomass is abundant, cheap, and biodegradable it is considered profitable for biohydrogen production. Though photo-biological and dark fermentation methods are regarded as successful in generating biohydrogen, their lower yields pose significant challenges for its commercial production. Studies are being conducted to improve efficiency, and here is where nanomaterials come into play by influencing biological processes at the cellular level. They can act as catalysts speeding up the reactions that create hydrogen and making the process more sustainable. Owing to their distinct properties such as stability, crystalline nature, high ratio of surface to volume, adsorption ability, and increased electroconductivity significantly enhance hydrogen generation. In this paper, the applications of nanomaterials such as metals, metal alloys, metal oxides, nanocomposites, and inorganic nanoparticles to improve biohydrogen production have been studied.

EMPOWERING A MOSQUE COMMUNITY IN MELAKA WITH SOLAR LIGHTING TECHNOLOGIES APPLICATION: A COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH

This research presents a community-based approach to address energy security and energy-saving initiatives through the installation of solar lighting systems for a mosque community in Melaka. The aim is to foster community development while promoting sustainable energy practices, thereby fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility towards sustainable practices. It employs action-based research on-site, which involves participatory projects and empirical observation. The significance of this research lies in its dual focus on community empowerment and environmental sustainability by engaging stakeholders and local people to ensure energy self-sufficiency and sustainability of the project through green resources. A mosque in Merlimau, Melaka, has been selected as a case study and involves a mixed-method approach that leads towards collaborative efforts between researchers, community leaders, and local residents in the decision-making process. Ultimately, this research has ensured engagement among the locals, which aligns with the daily energy priorities of the mosque. By harnessing the power of 25 solar lighting systems (ranging from 10 watts to 200 watts), this mosque has managed to reduce its reliance on traditional energy sources, thus contributing to energy security and saving 10% from the monthly electricity bills. It has served as a tangible demonstration of the benefits of solar energy, inspiring broader adoption within other mosque communities in Malaysia. In the near future, the dissemination of solar lighting technologies is anticipated to contribute towards more sustainable mosques and increase the community development through resilient approaches.

The Impact of Economic Growth on the Ecological Environment and Renewable Energy Production: Evidence from Azerbaijan and Hungary

This article reflects on the necessity of employing renewable energy sources in the modern era to mitigate the negative environmental impact caused by traditional energy sources and address environmental pollution. Through research conducted in Azerbaijan and Hungary, it analyses the influence of economic growth on the ecological environment and renewable energy production. Due to limitations in the general dataset, the study considers the period of 1997–2022 for CO2 emissions causing environmental pollution, 2007–2022 for renewable energy production in Azerbaijan, and 2000–2021 for the same in Hungary. Information regarding wind and solar energy in Azerbaijan has been available since 2013. Temporal sequences have been utilised in the research, employing Augmented Dickey–Fuller and Phillips–Perron (PP) unit root tests to examine the stationarity of the time series. An Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model has been constructed, and the credibility of the model has been verified using Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS), Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS), and Canonical Cointegrating Regression (CCR) models. The findings reveal that in Azerbaijan, the long-term impact of economic growth on hydro-energy has been negative, while dependence on biomass and waste has been insignificant but positive. The influence on wind and solar energy production has also been negative and insignificant, akin to hydro-energy production. However, energy supply from renewable sources has been positively affected by the aggregate indicator of economic growth, albeit insignificantly. The impact of economic growth on carbon dioxide has been significant in two magnitudes, whereas in other cases, it has been insignificant but positive. In Hungary, economic growth has positively affected renewable energy production. However, the impact on carbon dioxide has been negative, meaning that this indicator has decreased as economic growth has increased. The study concludes that the impact of economic growth on indicators of both countries has been more effective in Hungary, which can be attributed to economic development.