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Highlights • Analysis of electricity demand in neighbourhoods, districts and municipalities. • Data-driven classification of electricity demand profiles of nearly 15000 urban areas. • Three statistically different urban area types found: residential, business and mixed. • Urban area types differ in terms of demand profiles and energy user composition. • Often-used residential-type demand represents only a minority of analysed areas. Abstract Cities and communities worldwide are seeking to become more sustainable by transitioning to renewable energy resources, and by introducing electric transportation and heating. The impact and suitability of such technologies for a given area heavily depend on local conditions, such as characteristics of local demand. In particular, the shape of a local demand profile is an important determinant for how much renewable energy can be used directly, and how charging of electric vehicles and use of electric heating affect a local grid. Unfortunately, a systematic understanding of local demand characteristics on different urban scales (neighbourhoods, districts and municipalities) is currently lacking in literature. Most energy transition studies simplify local demand to household demand only. This paper addresses this knowledge gap by providing a novel data-driven classification and analysis of demand profiles and energy user compositions in nearly 15000 neighbourhoods, districts and municipalities, based on data from the Netherlands. The results show that on all urban scales, three types of areas can be distinguished. In this paper, these area types are termed "residential", "business" and "mixed", based on the most prevalent energy users in each. Statistic analysis of the results shows that area types are pairwise significantly different, both in terms of their profiles and in terms of their energy user composition. Moreover, residential-type demand profiles are found only in a small number of areas. These results emphasise the importance of using local detailed spatio-temporal demand profiles to support the transition of urban areas to sustainable energy generation, transportation and heating. To facilitate the implementation of the obtained insights in other models, a spreadsheet modelling tool is provided in an addendum to this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • This paper broadens current conceptualizations of energy justice for smart grids. • The study explores values in the public debates on smart grids in two countries. • Value conflicts show the importance of distributive and procedural justice. • It is debated if the systems lead to more equity or reinforce injustices. • Energy justice needs to be broadened to include data privacy and security issues. Abstract Smart grid systems are considered as key enablers in the transition to more sustainable energy systems. However, debates reflect concerns that they affect social and moral values such as privacy and justice. The energy justice framework has been proposed as a lens to evaluate social and moral aspects of changes in energy systems. This paper seeks to investigate this proposition for smart grid systems by exploring the public debates in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Findings show that smart grids have the potential to effectively address justice issues, for example by facilitating small-scale electricity generation and transparent and reliable billing. It is a matter of debate, however, whether current smart grid designs contribute to cost and energy savings, advance a more equitable and democratic energy system, or reinforce distributive and procedural injustices. The increased use of information and communication technology raises value conflicts on privacy and cyber security, which are related to energy justice. This research contributes by conceptualizing energy justice in the context of smart grids for the first time. The energy justice framework is broadened by including values and value conflicts that pertain directly to the increased use of information and communication technology. For policy makers and designers of smart grids, the paper provides guidance for considering interconnected social and moral values in the design of policies and smart grid technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Upcycling of surplus hydrogen streams. • Integration of recovered hydrogen into a hydrogen supply chain. • Techno-economic feasibility of hydrogen upcycling using optimization-modelling. • Surplus hydrogen has a pivotal role in initiating the shift to a hydrogen economy. Abstract To further advance a world powered by hydrogen, it is essential to take advantage of the environmental benefits of using surplus industrial hydrogen to energy conversion. In this paper, the integration of this renewable source in a hydrogen supply chain has been analysed with the following considerations, (1) the techno-economic modeling is applied over the 2020–2050 period, at a regional scale comprising the north of Spain, covering the main sources of surplus hydrogen in the region, (2) the supply chain feeds fuel cell devices powering stationary and mobile applications and, thereby stablishing the quality standards for the upcycled hydrogen and, (3) a mixed-integer programming model (MILP) is formulated to predict the optimal integration of surplus hydrogen. The advantages of this research are twofold, (i) on the one hand, it provides the methodology for the optimal use of surplus hydrogen gases promoting the shift to a Circular Economy and, (ii) on the other hand, it contributes to the penetration of renewable energies in the form of low cost fuel cell devices to power stationary and mobile applications. The results show that the combination of all the infrastructure elements into the mathematical formulation yields optimal solutions with a plan for the gradual infrastructure investments over time required for the transition towards a sustainable future energy mix that includes hydrogen. Thus, this work contributes to improving the environmental and economic sustainability of hydrogen supply chains of upcycling industrial surplus hydrogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A data-driven optimization algorithm is developed for reliable PtX design. • Constraint of grid utilization prevents overuse of grid for sustainable production. • The trade-off between variations and means of performance indicators is revealed. • Results offer insights into design decision-making under renewable uncertainty. Designing a reliable power-to-X (PtX) process that uses renewable energy and grid electricity as backup power is challenging due to the uncertain nature of renewables and potential limits on grid usage. To address this challenge, this paper proposes a data-driven, reliability-based optimization approach for designing a grid-assisted PtX process and understanding how the uncertainty of time-series renewable profile affects its design and optimal sizing. This approach uses generative adversarial networks (GANs) to capture the complex patterns of renewables in temporal and spatial dimensions, rather than simply treating uncertainty as a probabilistic range as in conventional methods. The optimization considers both the mean and variance of production cost as objectives, while also taking into account the level of grid energy penetration as a probabilistic constraint through the reliability analysis. A power allocation and performance evaluation model is developed and used in conjunction with the optimization to assess uncertainty propagation through the PtX process and evaluate the impact of renewable uncertainty on process performance. A case study involving the production of methanol on Jeju Island in South Korea demonstrates how the mean and variance of production cost and other performance indicators can be balanced in the reliable design of PtX processes under renewable energy uncertainty, providing insights for decision-making in such situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofuel is a clean and renewable energy source and is considered a promising alternative to traditional fossil fuels. The economic viability is crucial in promoting large-scale adoption and long-term sustainability of biofuel. Most of the current literature on biofuel economics assumes the individual biofuel manufacturing processes are independent of each other. Consequently, the interrelationships between parameters within and across processes regarding manufacturing cost and biofuel yield are not well investigated. In this paper, a system-level cost model for cellulosic biofuel manufacturing is established across multiple production processes to investigate the relationships between the individual process characteristics and the system performance to reduce the overall cost under the constraint of biofuel yield. Two numerical case studies are conducted to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed model. Compared with the baseline case, the cost-effective case shows that 12.8% of the total cost is reduced without ethanol yield loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating multiple utility outputs to obtain better efficient system has been a good option. After cogeneration and trigeneration, polygeneration emerges as a possible sustainable solution with optimum resource utilization, better efficiency and environment friendliness. Several possible polygeneration has been conceptualized, performance assessed theoretically as available in literature. Both inputs and outputs vary in these reported works. A few prototype development and experimental result analysis are also reported. Several optimization tools based on objective function are used to develop efficient polygeneration. Assessment criteria of polygeneration are also multi dimensional and may be defined on a case to case basis with definite objective. In this paper a comprehensive review of available literature is done to assess the status of polygeneration as a possible sustainable energy solution. Possible future research in this field is also logically predicted at the end of this review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Networked microgrids (NMGs) are beneficial and economical for both microgrids’ owners and consumers as this structure could potentially play a significant role in energy efficiency, power system reliability and sustainability. Renewable energy sources (RESs) and sharp fluctuations in load consumption impose new challenges in solving operational problems in smart distribution grids. As a result, deterministic methods are not able to provide a precise analysis of microgrids operation and planning. Therefore, stochastic algorithms are used as powerful tools in ensuring reliable solutions especially in operation problems. In this paper, daily optimal scheduling problem of NMGs considering intermittent behavior in generation and load is investigated in a proposed energy management system (EMS). Two demand response programs (DRPs) based on time of use (TOU) and real time pricing (RTP) are integrated into the optimal scheduling model and the developed model is solved using a metaheuristic algorithm under uncertainties of RESs and loads. The numerical simulations show the effectiveness of the proposed model through comparison with solution from stochastic optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition to more sustainable heating systems requires socio-technical approaches to strategic planning. Scenario development plays a key role in strategic planning, as the process supports the development of future visions and actions required for their realisation. However, new approaches to scenario development are required to address the limitations of conventional scenario development methods, such as the cognitive barriers of ‘groupthink’, reluctance to consider ‘outside-the-box’ options, handling of complexity, and ad hoc scenario selection and general non-transparency of scenario development processes. This paper describes the development and implementation of a novel method for scenario development and selection in the context of participatory strategic planning for sustainable heating in cities. The method is based on the morphological approach and a number of scenario criteria including transparency , reliability , coverage , completeness , relevance / density , creativity , interpretability , consistency , differentiation and plausibility . It integrates creativity workshops and interdisciplinary stakeholder participation to enhance the ownership and legitimacy of the scenarios. The approach entails the generation of a complete space of scenarios for heating systems and reduction of this space using cross-consistency analysis and project-specific requirements. Iterative development and implementation of the method is illustrated using two participatory backcasting projects focused on strategic planning for providing a comfortable indoor climate for Bila Tserkva, Ukraine, and Niš, Serbia by the year 2030. The results demonstrate that the method helps overcome the limitations of conventional approaches to scenario development and supports rigorous and transparent selection of a scenario set for participatory analysis. The method fostered the elicitation of consensus-based scenarios for more sustainable heating systems in both cities with regard to the quality of indoor comfort, environmental impact, resource efficiency and energy security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) are omnipresent in energy policy analysis. Even though IAMs can successfully handle uncertainty pertinent to energy planning problems, they render multiple variables as outputs of the modelling. Therefore, policy makers are faced with multiple energy development scenarios and goals. Specifically, technical, environmental, and economic aspects are represented by multiple criteria, which, in turn, are related to conflicting objectives. Preferences of decision makers need to be taken into account in order to facilitate effective energy planning. Multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) tools are relevant in aggregating diverse information and thus comparing alternative energy planning options. The paper aims at ranking European Union (EU) energy development scenarios based on several IAMs with respect to multiple criteria. By doing so, we account for uncertainty surrounding policy priorities outside the IAM. In order to follow a sustainable approach, the ranking of policy options is based on EU energy policy priorities: energy efficiency improvements, increased use of renewables, reduction in and low mitigations costs of GHG emission. The ranking of scenarios is based on the estimates rendered by the two advanced IAMs relying on different approaches, namely TIAM and WITCH. The data are fed into the three MCDM techniques: the method of weighted aggregated sum/product assessment (WASPAS), the Additive Ratio Assessment (ARAS) method, and technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS). As MCDM techniques allow assigning different importance to objectives, a sensitivity analysis is carried out to check the impact of perturbations in weights upon the final ranking. The rankings provided for the scenarios by different MCDM techniques diverge, first of all, due to the underlying assumptions of IAMs. Results of the analysis provide valuable insights in integrated application of both IAMs and MCDM models for developing energy policy scenarios and decision making in energy sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geothermal energy is a widely available renewable energy source. In Croatia geological data have been indicating promising potential, especially in the North-Eastern part of the country with a geothermal gradient higher than 49 °C/km and terrestrial heat flux of 76 mW/m 2 . Nonetheless, despite this potential, this resource is not highly exploited to date. Efficient use of geothermal energy can contribute on reducing Croatia’s energy dependence. In this paper, a methodology of a possible integration of geothermal energy within residential, commercial and industrial systems was attempted. Pinch analysis was used to find the best ways to fulfil the energy system requirements in an efficient, clean and cost-effective way. The used approach gives a good overall picture of energy targets for process, site and utility levels. The recommendation for cost-effective integration of geothermal energy into regional energy network is considered by use of Pinch Analysis. Additional attention was paid to geothermal energy utilisation in low enthalpy sedimentary environments. The obtained results can be used for integration of geothermal energy in different cases and “countries”. It gives general recommendation for geothermal sources placement as well as for energy planning and regional sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Real options approach under uncertainty for WtE investment project is evaluated. • WtE technologies are economically better options than the landfill. • More optimal decision to invest immediately in incineration and gasification. • Increasing the tipping fee makes pyrolysis profitable option than the landfill. Waste-to-energy technologies start to gain the attention of developing countries as a sustainable energy source in response to the worsening municipal solid waste management problem. This paper proposes an investment model to analyze the economic feasibility of waste-to-energy projects in developing countries using the Philippines as a case study. Applying the real options approach under uncertainty, we compare the option values, the value of waiting, and the optimal timing of switching technologies from landfill to waste-to-energy. Considering the energy production and investment costs, the optimization results find that incineration, with an optimal electricity price of USD 3cents/KWH, is the best technology option followed by gasification and pyrolysis at USD 7cents/KWH and USD 12cents/KWH, respectively. At the current price of electricity of USD 11cents/KWH, it is more optimal to postpone investment in pyrolysis, otherwise, the tipping should be increased from USD 15/ton to USD 18.5/ton to make pyrolysis a more viable option than continue using the landfill. On the other hand, it is a more optimal decision to invest immediately in either incineration or gasification as delaying investment incurs opportunity losses from generating electricity from these technologies. Furthermore, the paper suggests that the government must support waste-to-energy program as it will significantly contribute in solving the problems on the environment particularly air quality and waste management as well as on energy security and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We investigate the link between investment in renewable energy technologies on environmental quality. • Our methodological approach utilises an interactive-fixed effects model to deal with endogeneity issues. • Our findings show that R&D investment in renewables has a significant positive effect on environmental quality. In this paper, we investigate the impact of public investment in R&D in renewable energy technologies on environmental quality using a spectrum of environmental emissions. We employ new and innovative panel data methods to address the existing econometric issues in estimating the effect of R&D on greenhouse gas emissions. Then, using data from advanced and emerging economies that span the period from 1980 to 2020, we find that R&D investment in renewable technologies has a significant positive effect on environmental quality by reducing a range of pollutants, including carbon dioxide, methane, and other pollutants. The results are robust to a series of sensitivity tests. The findings have important policy implications for climate change and various recent environmental initiatives, including the transition to net-zero emissions and sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural woody residues are available in massive quantities and provide a considerable potential for energy production. However, to encourage environmentally sustainable bioenergy strategies, it is necessary to assess the environmental performance of each specific bioenergy chain. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is recognized to be one of the best methodologies to evaluate the environmental burdens of bioenergy chains. The application of LCA to bioenergy from agricultural residues requires practitioners to make choices on how to interpret agricultural residues (i.e. by-products or co-products) and on how to allocate emissions among the different products generated along the bioenergy chain. These are among the most debated issues in the LCA community, given their potentially large influence on final LCA outcomes. A uniform consensus on these issues is still lacking, and no single method is equally suitable for all solutions. The aim of this paper is to assess how different ways of agricultural residue interpretation and different allocation methods (both of upstream and downstream emissions), affect the environmental performance of bioenergy production fed by agricultural residues. In order to address the issue, we perform a full attributional LCA of the electricity production in a combustion combined heat and power plant (CHP) fed with woody residues from apple orchards (AWRs), as a case study. Bioelectricity production from CHP fed with agricultural residues is a good example of a multifunctional process, since multiple products (e.g. grain, fruit, straw, wood, etc.) and energy (e.g. heat and power) are co-produced along the whole chain. We solve the bioenergy system into two different ways, depending on the interpretation of AWRs as by-products or co-products, and we apply different allocation methods, partitioning the impacts according to different features of the co-products (mass, energy, exergy and economic value). The study focuses on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and cumulative energy demand, but other impact categories are investigated as well. The environmental impacts from two conventional fossil fuel systems are used to benchmark the environmental performance of the agricultural bio-energy chain. Our results show how different allocations, and especially allocation choices on upstream processes, can turn a benefit (i.e. a positive saving) to a disadvantage (i.e. an increased impact) and vice versa. Indeed, when AWRs are interpreted as a by-product or when upstream emissions are allocated on an economic base, the bioenergy chain guarantees significant GHG saving (up to 97%), primary energy demand reduction (up to 97%) and lower environmental impacts compared to the Italian non-renewable electricity grid mix. But, in the case of mass allocation of upstream emissions, the savings of GHG emissions and energy requirements drop to only 53% and 56%, respectively, and the figures of the bioenergy systems are similar or even worse than the fossil reference system for the majority of the other impact categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many developing countries large parts of the population are negatively affected by the lack of access to clean and affordable energy. Providing sustainable energy services to these people has been acknowledged as a key component to reduce poverty. One form of development assistance to address the needs of the energy-poor at the local level are small-scale renewable energy projects. Like all development interventions, these energy projects are not intended to produce short-term outputs, but to create long-term impacts. Thus, it has become increasingly important to evaluate and accurately assess their sustainability. But despite the widely recognized need to identify successes factors and explain failure only few studies exist that address the sustainability of small-scale of energy development efforts post implementation. Against this background the paper presents the results of a post-evaluation of 23 projects supported via the Sustainable Energy Project Support (SEPS) scheme of the WISIONS initiative run by the Wuppertal Institute. The analysis provides insights on the influence that socio-economic, environmental, geographic and gender factors can have on the sustainability of small-scale renewable energy projects in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides guidelines and principles for power utilities to reach specific energy and decarbonisation targets. Method of power generation portfolio optimization, as function of sustainability and decarbonisation, along with appropriate criteria, has been proposed. Application of this optimization method has been demonstrated on a real power system – power utility JP Elektroprivreda BiH d.d. – Sarajevo (EPBiH), a typical example of South East European power system. The software tool WASP IV has been employed in the analysis, in order to define the dynamics and an optimized expansion of generation portfolio of the power system under consideration for the next period. The mid-term generation portfolio development plan for the EPBiH power system until year 2030 has been made during this research, taking into account the shutdown dynamics of existing power units and commissioning new ones, in order to provide safe supply of electric and heat energy for local consumers. Three basic scenario of renewable energy sources (RES) expansion have been analysed to reach specific RES and decarbonisation targets set for 2030, including RES share increase from the current level of 18% up to 35% (LOW RES), 45% (MID RES) and 55% (HIGH RES). Effects to the sustainability are considered through environmental, economic and social indicators. Multicriteria sustainability assessment gave an advantage to the HIGH RES, under assumption of equal weighting factors of economic and environment groups of indicators. Also, single criteria analysis has been made to support sustainability assessment. Results show that, considering the EPBiH generation portfolio planned under HIGH RES, 49% CO 2 emissions cut in 2030 compared to 1990 is possible along with further increase of overall energy efficiency of the system. The proposed model can be used in conventional power systems for generation portfolio development as function of specific RES and decarbonisation targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A social impact assessment framework for energy technologies is proposed. • The impacts of wind energy plants on both global and local well-being are assessed. • Results are presented in a social sustainability dashboard covering 23 indicators. • Offshore wind shows higher impacts than onshore ones in most global categories. • Onshore wind case offers better local working conditions than offshore operations. A transition to renewable energy sources is needed in the EU countries to achieve their goal of a low-carbon economy. This transition may come with potentially negative impacts on the well-being of the population, both globally and locally. Such social impacts are not yet systematically assessed for renewable energy technologies. In this paper, a social impact assessment framework for renewable energy technologies is developed and applied for a wind energy case study. The assessed social categories comprise impacts on human health, human rights infractions, working conditions, local job creation, quality of residential life, landscape quality. In order to cover this broad field of social impacts, four distinct social impact assessment methods were combined in a common social impact assessment framework. The application of the framework was demonstrated by means of the wind energy case study. The results are presented in the form of a social sustainability dashboard comprising 23 social impact indicators covering both global and local well-being impacts. The analysis showed that the life cycle material demand of offshore wind projects has larger impacts on global well-being than the onshore alternatives. For the local dimension, the offshore case was found to be less intrusive for the local population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An integration model for biomass to methanol supply chain is built. • Using an agent-based simulation–optimization is recommended in analyzing and reporting results. • Two different technological pathways of producing methanol from biomass are benchmarked. • Major decision making is included in the agent-based simulation–optimization model. • Methanol from biogas is more favorable than gasification technology. Methanol is a key product in the chemical industry, not only for producing other higher economic value chemicals, but also serves as a source of renewable energy that can substantially reduce carbon emissions. However, limited data are available on methanol total supply chain costs that consists of production, biomass cost, investment cost and the efficiency of the conversion processes. This paper recommends using an agent-based simulation–optimization in analyzing and reporting results by system elements (techno-economic assessment) or unit processes (life cycle assessment) as well as by the overall product system, of methanol supply chain. Major decision making are included in the agent-based simulation–optimization model to evaluate methanol synthesis pathways. This evaluation includes biomass and methanol ordering policy, capital budgeting during the lifetime of the methanol supply chain, carbon emissions per metric ton of methanol with specific focus on contribution to Indonesia Gross Domestic Product. The principal results obtained from the agent-based simulation show a better conversion technology pathway that leads to lower carbon emissions, higher internal rate of return, shorter payback period, and less price sensitivity of the methanol supply chain. The article proposes methanol from biogas as the chosen conversion technology pathway by considering its capability of sequestering carbon dioxide from bio-digester and lower capital investment, as well as its economic attractiveness to methanol production investors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Bioethanol produced from lignocellulosic feedstock show enormous potential as an economically and environmentally sustainable renewable energy source. Switchgrass (panicum virgatum) is considered as one of the best second generation feedstock for bioethanol production. In order to commercialize the production of switchgrass-based bioethanol, it is essential to design an efficient switchgrass-based bioethanol supply chain (SBSC) and effectively manage the logistics operation. This paper proposes an integrated mathematical model to determine the optimal comprehensive supply chain/logistics decisions to minimize the total SBSC cost by considering existing constraints. A case study based on North Dakota state (ND) in the United States illustrates the application of the proposed model. The results demonstrate that by using only 61% of the available marginal land for production of switchgrass feedstock, 100% of the annual gasoline energy equivalent requirement of ND can be economically and sustainably met from the produced bioethanol. Sensitivity analysis is conducted to provide insights for efficiently managing the entire SBSC and minimizing the total cost. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Carbon dioxide recharge and limnic eruption processes in deep lakes are reviewed. • Novel system associating pumped-hydro storage and deep lakes degassing is analysed. • The proposed system gives way to sustainable and useful gas removal from deep lakes. • Technical arrangements for pumped-hydro storage at natural deep lakes is provided. • The levelised cost of storage for the proposed system is analysed. Nowadays, pumped-hydro storage is the most established large-scale energy storage technology, but its implementation is seriously constrained by the availability of favourable sites. The geographical symbiosis between mountainous areas and deep lakes offers good prospects for the detection of such sites. In these areas, the generally meromictic structure of such lakes causes carbon dioxide saturation in the deep waters and, in order to mitigate the risk of lethal limnic eruptions as the world has already experienced, the gas-lift technique is being applied although it has a serious environmental drawback. This paper proposes an innovative and sustainable symbiotic match between pumped-hydro energy storage with the ideal deep lake degassing solution, providing removal of toxic gases from deep layers without polluting the surface waters of the lake. Considering the two Cameroonian "killer lakes" Nyos and Monoun taken as cases studies, the feasibility of the proposed system is analysed as well as conditions for participation in the local power market. As a result, the threat posed by these two hazardous water bodies is transformed into an opportunity to store about 756 MWh of electrical energy. In terms of installed capacity, this can achieve as much as 80 MW available for harnessing variable renewable energy and contributing to peak power supply. Finally, thanks to the number and distribution of deep lakes around the world, the proposed system shows capability to significantly contribute to the global energy storage potential in a context marked by an ever increasing need for flexibility in power systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Energy management system that uses P2X demand response to improve system operation. • Two operational objectives for minimizing system cost or maximizing green hydrogen. • A detailed model of ammonia plant participating in the P2X demand response. • Cost-benefit analysis regarding economic viability of the ammonia plant. Hydrogen production is the key in utilizing an excess renewable energy. Many studies and projects looked at the energy management systems (EMSs) that allow to couple hydrogen production with renewable generation. In the majority of these studies, however, hydrogen demand is either produced for powering fuel cells or sold to the external hydrogen market. Hydrogen demand from actual industrial plants is rarely considered. In this paper, we propose an EMS based on the industrial cluster of GreenLab Skive (GLS) that can minimize the system's operational cost or maximize its green hydrogen production. EMS utilizes a conventional and P2X demand response (DR) flexibility from electrolysis plant, hydrogen storage tank, electric battery, and hydrogen-consuming plants to design the optimal schedule with maximized benefits. A potential addition to the existing components at GLS - an ammonia plant is modelled to identify its P2X potential and assess the economic viability of its construction. The results show a potential reduction of 51.5–61.6% for the total operational cost of the system and an increase of the share of green hydrogen by 10.4–37.6% due to EMS operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poland has rich geothermal water resources. Geothermal energy should be treated as one of the main renewable sources of energy. In particular, the space-heating sector has good prospects for its wide application. This will result in a considerable reduction in the use of traditional fuels and in the emissions generated in many regions. Among the main factors influencing the low official estimate of the potential for the use of geothermal energy are the low, competitive prices of fossil fuels, insufficient law regulations and lack of finance. This paper presents the main aspects of geothermal energy use in Poland. Basic information is given referring to the plants in operation, under construction and further plans. Particular prospects for the development of geothermal energy in Poland include the use of abandoned wells for the exploitation of geothermal water; cascaded, integrated and distributed systems; heat extraction not only from large depths but also from shallow water and rock formations. Such solutions will result in the lowering of investment costs, increasing their effectiveness, extending the market and making geothermal energy competitive both with traditional energy sources and other renewables. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]