Green Energy Utilization Research Articles

Photo-charging sodium-ion battery by gallium arsenide solar cell generating an overall efficiency exceeding 30 %

Photo-charging energy storage system integrating photovoltaic harvest and energy storage functions creates a sustainable power source. The system not only alleviates the inherent limitations of intermittent, fluctuating, and unstable sunlight irradiation, but also facilitates the effective and sustainable utilization of green energy. However, the photo-charging efficiency of the system is relatively low nowadays. Herein, we report a photo-chargeable sodium-ion battery (PC-SIB) that leverages a self-designed multi-functional modulator to directly charge sodium-ion battery using GaAs solar cells. By harmonizing function portfolio management, PC-SIB achieves a photo-charging efficiency milestone of 30.24 %, along with excellent charge-discharge stability. Even in −20 °C, PC-SIB still maintains outstanding performance. The great leap in efficiency will strongly promote the high-efficient development of solar charging and storage integrated devices.

Striding towards a greener future: Unlocking the potential of natural resources and employment dynamics in green energy transition in sub‐Saharan Africa

AbstractThe adoption and utilization of renewable energy offer potential benefits such as enhanced energy efficiency, cost savings, and ecological advantages. However, a key research question addressed in this analysis is whether natural resource rent and employment dynamics influence renewable energy consumption in Africa. Previous research has predominantly focused on the aggregate employment rate, overlooking the nuances of labor diversity across sectors and employment types. Hence, this study evaluates the importance of natural resource rent and employment in driving the transition to green energy in sub‐Saharan Africa from 1991 to 2022. It employs the innovative method of moments quantile regression (MMQR) model for this purpose. The findings reveal a positive connection between natural resource rent and the adoption of green energy. When considering employment types, the study observes that self‐employment and wages/salaried workers undermine clean energy utilization. Moreover, the study highlights that employment across key economic sectors also plays a role. While employment in the agriculture and service sectors fosters green energy utilization, employment in the industrial sector impedes renewable energy consumption. To advance the development of green energy in Africa, this study underscores a range of policy options.

Risk-averse coordinated operation of hydrogen-integrated energy hubs with seasonal energy storage

Addressing seasonal fluctuations and supply–demand mismatches in renewable energy is vital for sustainable multi-energy hubs. Moreover, current research has limitations in achieving economic efficiency, flexibility, security, and sustainability simultaneously. Therefore, this study leverages hydrogen storage’s long-term flexibility, proposing an integrated operational strategy to manage these fluctuations and optimize green energy utilization. This novel tertiary hub hydrogen-based integrated energy system integrates producers, prosumers, and consumers, optimizing ecological and economic sustainability via demand response programs and carbon capture, utilization, and storage systems. Utilizing risk-averse stochastic optimization for day-ahead and real-time operations, it evaluates dispatch decisions’ impact on risk costs and coupling efficiency. This study’s mixed-integer linear programming model, solved using CPLEX in GAMS, ensures a globally optimal solution. Key findings include an 86.15% cost-saving return through multi-energy storage and hub coordination, along with a 5.27% decrease in operating expenses and an 8.13% drop in emissions. In addition, adjusting the risk level parameter by 10% leads to a 14.76% variance in risk cost, bolstering client confidence in the model’s efficacy and sustainability.

A new single-source, single-phase, 9-L 4-B switched capacitor-based multilevel inverter

ABSTRACT All types of non-conventional energy sources (NCES) produce low voltage, but offer it to be converted into usable and essential form. Switched capacitor multilevel inverter (SC-MLIs) has played a vital role in extracting power from NCES to fulfill the requirements of today’s need. Researchers have shown a great interest in extracting this power which comes from solar PV, wind, fuel cells and other miniature sources which is often not significant at all. This research offers a topology that is very simple and easy to implement. The authors also demonstrate a novel SC-MLI with a single ground and four voltage boosting capabilities. This paper analyzes and reviews the suggested inverter can create nine levels along with four times the voltage from a single dc source. Three self-balanced switched capacitors in association with a pair of five switches and single diode are used to offer quadruple boosting. A level-shifted pulse width modulation technique helps to generate the output voltage. The execution of the SC-MLI and the capacitor architecture for the suggested topology are fully investigated. The availability of common neutral is advantageous in reducing leakage current, especially in green energy utilization. In the context of voltage gain, the number of components employed, and the presence of common neutral, the designed inverter is contrasted to several other previously revealed inverters.

Topology optimization design for voltage enhancement in variable structure double-layer flexible thermoelectric devices

Flexible thermoelectric devices possess the capability to generate electricity by harnessing temperature differences, rendering them highly promising for applications in wearable devices and powering the Internet of Things. This paper introduces a topology optimization design approach for double-layer thin-film flexible thermoelectric devices with the aim of enhancing the device's output voltage and improving the efficiency of green energy utilization. The design process took into consideration the coupled effects of mechanical, electrical, and thermal aspects. It not only optimized the force transmission paths of the variable structure device but also accounted for heat dissipation and circuit topology configuration. The study employed a field function model to concurrently optimize the structure of both the substrate and thermoelectric materials in an integrated design, with the primary objective being the maximization of output voltage. The efficacy of this methodology was confirmed through a series of numerical simulations and experiments conducted under various load and operational conditions. The optimized flexible thermoelectric devices exhibited an output voltage increase of more than threefold when compared to flat devices.

Advancements and Policy Implications of Green Hydrogen Production from Renewable Sources

With the increasingly severe climate change situation and the trend of green energy transformation, the development and utilization of hydrogen energy has attracted extensive attention from government, industry, and academia in the past few decades. Renewable energy electrolysis stands out as one of the most promising hydrogen production routes, enabling the storage of intermittent renewable energy power generation and supplying green fuel to various sectors. This article reviews the evolution and development of green hydrogen policies in the United States, the European Union, Japan, and China, and then summarizes the key technological progress of renewable energy electrolysis while introducing the progress of hydrogen production from wind and photovoltaic power generation. Furthermore, the environmental, social, and economic benefits of different hydrogen production routes are analyzed and compared. Finally, it provides a prospective analysis of the potential impact of renewable energy electrolysis on the global energy landscape and outlines key areas for future research and development.

Research on the Coupling Mechanism between Digital Economy Development and Household Energy Transition in China

In order to explore the relationship between the digital economy and China's household green energy structure and utilization efficiency, an empirical test is conducted based on the data of 31 Chinese provinces from 2015 to 2022 using a two-way panel fixed-effects model as well as a coupling model. The results show that the digital economy has a significant positive effect on household green energy structure and utilization efficiency; secondly, this paper focuses on the bi-directional relationship between the two, and finds that the overall coupling situation is good, and the digitalization level and household green energy utilization efficiency in the regions under the "inverted triangle" pattern are highly coupled. The study finds that the overall coupling is good, and the digitalization level and household green energy utilization efficiency in the "inverted triangle" pattern are highly coupled. This study provides a reference for accelerating the national energy transition, boosting China's digital economy in the reverse direction, and providing green and digital kinetic energy for realizing the overall high-quality development of the economy.

Maximizing photovoltaic performance of all-inorganic perovskite CsSnI3-xBrx solar cells through bandgap grading and material design

In the modern era of technology, worldwide paradigms have been shifted toward the utilization of green energy. Sun energy is the most astonishing eco-friendly resource of energy and can be harnessed with the help of photovoltaic cells. Hybrid (Organic-Inorganic) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are emerged with incredible photovoltaic (PV) performance. Nevertheless, a significant challenge lies in their lower stability under diverse environmental conditions. To deal with this challenge, all inorganic cesium-based PSC has been studied and analyzed, results improved stability in comparison to hybrid PSC. However, the noxious nature of lead is deleterious to the environment. So, this work primarily aimed, to study lead-free all inorganic tin-based perovskite compound CsSnI3-xBrx, as the main light absorber layer. Further, to elevate the PV performance of PSC, bandgap grading is performed on CsSnI3-xBrx by varying bromide concentration x from 0 to 3. Bandgap grading encourages the absorption of a wide range of the light spectrum, by modulating bandgap (Eg) / affinity(χ) through the distance of the CsSnI3-xBrx layer. Additionally, it enhances light-generated charge carrier separation and collection by end electrodes. In this work, two different strategies have been adopted, linear and parabolic. During linear grading, the impact of variation in x (0 to 3) has been analyzed over the thickness 50–––500 nm in 10 linear steps for CsSnI3-xBrx. The highest PCE fetched from linearly graded layered FTO / CeO2 / CsSnI3-xBrx / CFTS / Gold PSC is 21.68 %. Similarly, in the parabolic graded absorber layer, the influence of change in the bowing factor (0 to 1), has been analyzed relative to different values of x (0 to 3). With improvement in PV performance, the maximum PCE delivered by parabolic-graded PSC is 23.61 %. Additionally, this work extends to check the compatibility of distinct electron transport layers (ETLs) and hole transport layers (HTLs). Upon analysis, it has been found that the best PV performance was obtained while selecting SnO2 / PEDOT as ETL / HTL respectively.

Determinants of Green Energy Use: Household Level Comparative Analysis of Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

In recent times, the utilization of renewable energy sources has gained significant traction and garnered widespread attention across diverse social segments. The prominent driver behind this surge in popularity is its cost-effectiveness and long-term durability. Notably, even individuals with limited financial means are increasingly drawn toward various forms of renewable energy. This research endeavor aims to draw comparisons between users and non-users of green energy and their corresponding household behaviors. Upon conducting a rigorous data analysis, the study will present a comprehensive and well-founded conclusion, along with offering pertinent recommendations. This study is slated to take place in the rural regions of Southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The study employed random sampling to select a sample from the population and focused on examining the relationship between the utilization of green energy, its characteristics, conventional green energy use, and the quality of solar energy. The primary objective of the study was to explore the choices made by individual households concerning green energy consumption and the factors that influence this choice. The analysis was carried out using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression. This research gap presents a significant opportunity for advancing the promotion and adoption of renewable energy sources.

The impact of outward foreign direct investment on carbon productivity: internal mechanisms and China’s experience

ABSTRACT In the context of the expanding scale of China’s outward foreign direct investment (OFDI), it is crucial to study the economic and environmental benefits of OFDI in the home country. Given the lack of in-depth research on this topic in the previous literature, this paper attempts to fill this gap. Based on the panel data of 30 Chinese provinces from 2006 to 2020, this paper conducts an in-depth study on the relationship between OFDI and carbon productivity and its influence mechanism from the home country’s perspective. The results show that there is a significant positive correlation between OFDI and domestic carbon productivity, indicating that OFDI can reduce CO2 emissions while driving economic growth. OFDI has an indirect impact on carbon productivity in the home country through the paths of industrial structure upgrading, green technology innovation and energy utilization efficiency. The financial development scale has a single threshold effect on OFDI’s influence on domestic carbon productivity. Additionally, foreign direct investment (FDI) positively regulates the relationship between OFDI and domestic carbon productivity. Based on the above results, relevant policy suggestions are put forward to provide useful reference for China to achieve low-carbon development.

Ru Regulated Electronic Structure of PdxCuy Nanosheets for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reaction in Wide pH Range.

The development of highly effective catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in a wide pH range is crucial for the sustainable utilization of green energy utilization, while the slow kinetic reaction rate severely hinders the progress of HER. Herein, the reaction kinetic issue is solved by adjusting the electronic structure of the Ru/PdxCuy catalysts. The champion catalyst displays a remarkable performance for HER with the ultralow overpotential (27, 28, and 97mV) in 1.0m KOH, 0.5m H2SO4, and 1.0m PBS at 10mA cm-2 and high the mass activity (3036 A g-1), respectively, superior to those of commercial Pt/C benchmarks and most of reported electrocatalysts, mainly due to its low reaction activation energy. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that Ru doping contributes an electron-deficient 3d band, which promotes water adsorption. Additionally, this also leads to an upward shift of the d-band center of Pd and a downward shift of the d-band center of Cu, further optimizing the adsorption/dissociation of H2O and H*. Results from this work may provide an insight into the design and synthesis of high-performance pH-universal HER electrocatalysts.

Optimizing Electric Vehicle Integration with Vehicle-to-Grid Technology: The Influence of Price Difference and Battery Costs on Adoption, Profits, and Green Energy Utilization

Over the past decade, the widespread adoption of global green energy has emerged as a predominant trend. However, renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, face significant wastage due to challenges in energy storage. Electric vehicles (EVs) are considered an effective solution to address the energy storage dilemma. “Vehicle-to-grid” (V2G) technology, allowing vehicles to feed electricity into the grid, enhances the efficiency of renewable energy utilization. This paper proposes an electric vehicle game model that comprehensively considers user choices, corporate profits, and green energy utilization. The model, based on difference in prices, electricity rates, and fuel prices, establishes user utility models to determine optimal driving distances and driving decisions. It separately formulates the maximum profit functions for selling conventional electric cars and V2G electric cars, deriving optimal pricing for enterprises and user adoption rates. The research findings indicate that when price difference can offset V2G battery costs, increasing price difference and reducing battery costs effectively enhance electric vehicle adoption rates, increase corporate profits, and improve green energy utilization. Moreover, compared to conventional electric vehicles, V2G electric vehicles demonstrate a comparative advantage, with the implementation of V2G expanding corporate profits and green energy utilization. Validation using Chinese data reveals that when price difference can offset V2G battery costs, drivers are more inclined to choose V2G electric vehicles. Both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and V2G electric vehicles exhibit adoption rates that can increase by over 35%. This study provides theoretical and model support for the future development of V2G and policy formulation, underscoring the comparative advantages of V2G in enhancing green energy utilization efficiency. Additionally, this study offers valuable insights as a reference for business models in the V2G electric vehicle industry.

Sulfur-doped carbon nitride functionalized PVDF membrane with S⋯H[sbnd]N bridge induced fast carrier transfer for bifunctional H2O2 and H2 production

The utilization of green and pollution-free solar energy for photocatalytic reduction of oxygen (O2) to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a highly desirable technology. In this work, sulfur (S)-doped graphitic carbon nitride (SCN) nanosheets were prepared by co-condensation of carbon nitride with thioacetamide as a sulfur source. The substitution of sp2 hybridized N atoms by S atoms created S⋯HN bridges through weak hydrogen bonds, promoting fast carrier separation and transfer. Moreover, the S-doping could effectively reduce the band gap by approximately 0.6 eV, and thereby expand photo-responsive region of SCN-based photocatalysts up to 700 nm. To gain the practicability and retrievability of prepared photocatalysts, we developed SCN-based nanomaterials functionalized polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes for H2O2 production and H2 evolution. The optimized photocatalytic efficiency of SCN-3 reached 1491 μmol L–1 h−1 of H2O2 generation and 16.3 mmol g–1 h−1 of H2 evolution under monochromatic LED light irradiation, nearly 2–5 times higher than the state-of-art metal-free photocatalysts. These findings offer new insights into the doping regulated nanocatalysts functionalized membranes to achieve high performance in practical applications.

Recent Advances of Green Electricity Generation: Potential in Solar Interfacial Evaporation System.

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) has played a pivotal role in optimizing water-energy utilization, reducing conventional power costs, and mitigating environmental impacts. The increasing emphasis on the synergistic cogeneration of water and green electricity through SDIE is particularly noteworthy. However, there is a gap of existing reviews that have focused on the mechanistic understanding of green power from water-electricity cogeneration (WEC) systems, the structure-activity relationship between efficiency of green energy utilization in WEC and material design in SDIE. Particularly, it lacks a comprehensive discussion to address the challenges faced in these areas along with potential solutions. Therefore, this review aims to comprehensively assess the progress and future perspective of green electricity from WEC systems by investigating the potential expansion of SDIE. First, it provides a comprehensive overview about material rational design, thermal management, and water transportation tunnels in SDIE. Then, it summarizes diverse energy sources utilized in the SDIE process, including steaming generation, photovoltaics, salinity gradient effect, temperature gradient effect, and piezoelectric effect. Subsequently, it explores factors that affect generated green electricity efficiency in WEC. Finally, this review proposes challenges and possible solution in the development of WEC.

Transition metal oxide clusters: advanced electrocatalysts for a sustainable energy future.

The comprehensive utilization of sustainable green energy is essential to face the global energy and environmental crisis. The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), and electrocatalytic urea synthesis (EUS) are the pivotal electrocatalytic processes, necessitating the development of low-cost electrocatalysts with high efficiency. Small-sized transition metal oxide (TMO) clusters have attracted a lot of attention because of their exceptional qualities, such as exhibiting a dense array of low-coordinated metal active sites (e.g. abundant metal cation defects and oxygen vacancy), amorphous structures with high surface energy, high atom utilization efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Furthermore, the synergistic actions between metal clusters and TM-Nx single atom active sites remarkably boost up the electrocatalytic performances, corroborated by density functional theory (DFT). More efforts in this comprehensive feature article are expected to achieve insights into the fundamental understanding of electrocatalytic reaction mechanisms in our lab and serve as a guide for creating cutting-edge electrocatalysts of transition metal oxide clusters.

A novel multi-objective optimization model of solar-driven methanol steam reforming system combining response surface methodology and three-dimensional numerical simulation

Solar-driven methanol steam reforming (MSR) to produce hydrogen is a pivotal thermochemical process for enhancing green energy utilization with low-carbon emissions. While this process has been explored in the thermochemical reforming literature, with valuable studies on fuel to hydrogen, this study marks the first comprehensive examination and multi-objective optimization of the MSR process within a solar-driven catalyst-filled reactor. The study begins by modeling and validating the MSR’s reaction kinetic. Subsequently, the effects of the reactor surface energy flux density and key operating characteristics, such as steam-to-methanol ratio (SMR) and space velocity, on the gas composition and conversion efficiency as well as H2 yield are comprehensively analyzed. In order to effectively optimize the operating parameters, the interactions between the various factors were elucidated and an optimization procedure was established to scrutinize the impact of these factors on hydrogen production. The model accuracy is assessed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), which also identifies optimal operating parameters under varying conditions. Predictions from the Response surface methodology (RSM) indicate optimal conditions with a SMR of 1.13, a gas hourly space velocity of 45.24, and an inlet temperature of 507.4 K. Numerical calculations confirm the practicality of these conditions, yielding an actual methanol conversion of 0.9998, deviating only by 0.17 % from the predicted value. This work underscores the feasibility and efficacy of studying MSR performance based on response surface method. The analysis of factor significance and interactions provides valuable guidance for practical operations.

Interfacial Assembly of 2D Graphene-Derived Ion Channels for Water-Based Green Energy Conversion.

The utilization of sustained and green energy is believed to alleviate increasing menace of global environmental concerns and energy dilemma. Interfacial assembly of 2D graphene-derived ion channels (2D-GDICs) with tunable ion/fluid transport behavior enables efficient harvesting of renewable green energy from ubiquitous water, especially for osmotic energy harvesting. In this review, various interfacial assembly strategies for fabricating diverse 2D-GDICs are summarized and their ion transport properties are discussed. This review analyzes how particular structure and charge density/distribution of 2D-GDIC can be modulated to minimize internal resistance of ion/fluid transport and enhance energy conversion efficiency, and highlights stimuli-responsive functions and stability of 2D-GDIC and further examines the possibility of integrating 2D-GDIC with other energy conversion systems. Notably, the presented preparation and applications of 2D-GDIC also inspire and guide other 2D materials to fabricate sophisticated ion channels for targeted applications. Finally, potential challenges in this field is analyzed and a prospect to future developments toward high-performance or large-scale real-word applications is offered.

Exploration of the Path of High-Quality Development of Green Building Industry under the Dual-carbon Background

Under the background of the goal of "carbon peak, carbon neutral", green development has become a hot issue in focus, in which the new low-emission infrastructure field, mainly green building, has been vigorously invested in, which is an opportunity for the development of the green building industry, and it is urgent to solve the problem of the high-quality development path of the green building industry, and analyze the factors affecting the development of the green building industry based on the development goals and concepts. construction industry development obstacles, as well as the construction of evaluation indicators for the development of the green construction industry is an urgent problem to be solved. Based on the background of double-carbon target, this topic will select some representative green building enterprises in Anhui Province as the research object; take the development of green building enterprises in Anhui Province and the data obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics on the whole life cycle of green building, energy saving and energy utilization, and the growth rate of green building area as the main research data; refer to the research theories of domestic and foreign research scholars from the development of the green building industry, the industrial foundation, building products, social benefits, and the development of the green building industry as the main research data. The development evaluation index system of green building industry is constructed in accordance with the current development situation in five aspects: industrial foundation, construction products, social benefits, internationalization, and sustainable development; the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method is used to select the indicators from the constructed development evaluation index system, and the entropy weight method is used to determine the weight of each evaluation factor, so as to study the factors that affect the high-quality development of green building industry. At the same time, the selected indicators are quantified and the future development prospects of the industry are predicted using the Arima prediction model. It aims to provide certain reference and reference for the optimization and improvement of the development policy of green building industry in Anhui Province, and to make up for the problem that the influence factors and the degree of influence are not clear in the process of the development and construction of green building industry.

Covalent Organic Frameworks in Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries.

The development and utilization of green renewable energy are imperative with the aggravation of environmental pollution and energy crisis. In recent years, the exploration of electrochemical energy storage systems has gradually become a research hotspot in energy. Among them, aqueous zinc ion batteries (ZIBs) have progressively developed into highly competitive and efficient energy storage devices owing to their inherent safety, natural abundance, and higher theoretical capacity. However, the practical application of ZIBs suffers from the limitation of challenges such as the absence of proper cathode materials and the unavoidable zinc dendrites and side reactions of Zn anode. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are an attractive class of electrode materials due to their inherent advantages, like structural designability, high stability, and ordered-open channels, bestowing them with great potential to overcome the problems of ZIBs. In this review, we concentrate on the discussion of designed strategies of COFs applied to ZIBs. Furthermore, the methods of using COFs to solve the challenging problems of cathode development, anode modification, and electrolyte optimization for ZIBs are summarized. Finally, the existing difficulties, solution measures, and prospects of COFs for ZIBs applications are discussed. Our commentary hopes to serve as a valuable reference for developing COFs-based ZIBs.

Green Energy and Technological Innovation Towards A Low-Carbon Economy in Bangladesh

This study aims to investigate the influences of green energy, technological innovation, economic growth, urbanization, and labor force, on the low-carbon economy in Bangladesh. Bangladesh was chosen for this study as the country in the sixth most vulnerable nation, and the results of climate change on the country's ecology and economy have been devastating. By using yearly data extending from 1990 to 2020, this research employed the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) technique to explore the connections between explained and explanatory factors across both the short and long term. The ARDL bounds test decisions pointed to a long-term connection between the variables. The empirical results revealed that a 1% increase in economic growth, urbanization, and labor force would lead to 1.09%, 1.14%, and 0.19% increase in carbon economy in the long run while 1.67%, 1.50%, and 0.29% increase in the short run, respectively. However, the findings indicated that a 1% boost in green energy utilization and technology innovation would result in a 0.21% and 0.18% decline in the carbon economy in the long run whereas 0.15% and 0.10% drop in the short run, respectively. The outcomes of the investigation demonstrated that economic growth, urbanization, and labor force all impact adversely accomplish the low-carbon economy, making green energy utilization and technological innovation the best crucial approaches to maintain environmental sustainability. The study's findings specify a policy structure for developing a thorough tactic to stimulate environmental sustainability in Bangladesh, with a focus on ecological innovation, green energy utilization, and controlled urbanization. This article put forward policy implications aimed at a low-carbon economy, promoting green energy use, financing technological advancement, sustainable urbanization, and educating the labor force, to achieve environmental sustainability and emission reduction in Bangladesh.