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This paper looks at the changing impact of renewable energy and green innovation on the carbon footprint of eight MENA nations between 2000 and 2020. We investigate this by using the panel Q-ARDL model for the first time, and we find that, with various impacts across different quantiles, a rise in green innovation and renewable energy greatly boosts environmental sustainability in the short run. In the long run, this effect becomes increasingly more noticeable. According to our analysis, the chosen MENA countries quickly embraced energy storage, solar hydrogen, and other technology pathways to diversify their energy mix, which was a turning point in the fight against climate change. Although these factors have been separately examined in different studies, our research merges them into a single non-parametric model. This research is significant as it provides empirical evidence on the efficiency of green innovation and renewable energy policies, and it will guide policymakers and energy stakeholders in developing strategies to achieve sustainable development goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global fossil fuel reserves are declining due to differential uses, especially for power generation. Everybody can help to do their bit for the environment by using solar energy. Geographically, Bangladesh is a potential zone for harnessing solar energy. In March 2021, the renewable generation capacity in Bangladesh amounted to 722.592 MW, including 67.6% from solar, 31.84% from hydro, and 0.55% from other energy sources, including wind, biogas, and biomass, where 488.662 MW of power originated from over 6 million installed solar power systems. Concurrently, over 42% of rural people still suffer from a lack of electricity, where solar energy can play a vital role. This paper highlights the present status of various forms of solar energy progress in Bangladesh, such as solar parks, solar rooftops, solar irrigation, solar charging stations, solar home systems, solar-powered telecoms, solar street lights, and solar drinking water, which can be viable alternative sources of energy. This review will help decision-makers and investors realize Bangladesh's up-to-date solar energy scenario and plan better for the development of a sustainable society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pollution caused by gas flaring is hazardous to the health of flora, fauna, and humans settled around the flaring site. Gas flaring also incurs economic loss as natural gas, an energy source, is wasted in flares. Furthermore, the unreliable electrical infrastructure is a roadblock for oil and gas companies attempting to achieve their production targets. This paper presents a framework to design hybrid energy systems (HES) which utilize the gas flare waste along with the locally available renewable energy sources to generate electricity. A novel dispatch strategy to suit the requirements of the oil and gas fields has been used for real-time simulations and optimization of the HES. As a test case, six different hybrid energy configurations, modelled for two gas flaring sites, Lakwa and Geleky in Assam—India, were analyzed and compared on the basis of economic and environmental factors. The best suitable configuration comprised 2000 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) panel sets, one 200 kW gas microturbine, two 30 kW gas microturbines, and grid connection. The proposed system economically outperformed the existing power system in the area by 35.52% in terms of the net present cost. Moreover, it could save 850 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, and it has a renewable fraction of 93.7% in the total energy generation. Owing to these merits, the presented technique would be a promising option for generation of electricity from flare gas waste and to mitigate pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of consumption modernization can be expressed by adopting the principles of sustainable development within the sphere of consumption. It should be emphasized that the implementation of a sustainable consumption model becomes especially important when considering the fact that not only various types of enterprises but also consumers participate in the excessive consumption of natural resources. The processes of sustainable consumption that are related to its humanization and the formation of a responsible society are a response to the overconsumption of goods and services, which is not determined by actual human needs and does not consider social and ecological costs. The aim of the paper is to present a process of consumption modernization in Poland in the context of the functioning of the renewable energy market. Special attention is paid to behaviours that are consistent with the sustainable consumption model, as well as with the motives for using renewable energy sources by Polish consumers and the perception of barriers to increasing the use of renewable energy sources in Poland. This paper is based on literature studies, as well as on the results of an empirical study of quantitative character that was performed in 2021 on a nationwide representative sample of 1020 people. The contribution of the article is represented by showing the motivation of Polish consumers to use renewable energy sources and by indicating barriers to the development of the use of renewable energy sources by consumers in Poland. The analysis of the research results shows that the aspect of saving money plays a significant role among the motives for using renewable energy sources. At the same time, high investment costs in devices that enable the use of renewable energy sources are the main factor that is limiting the increase in the use of renewable energy sources in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to identify a bibliometric profile, presenting the results of research and debates in social media on renewable energy sources (RES). It analyses current scientific publications (2019–2021) and tweets posted in July 2021 by international Twitter users. The subject of the study is an analysis of key words in articles, the results of research, and the content of tweets (hashtags #renewables) related to renewable energy (RE) as well as an assessment of the morphology of content and the degree of its differentiation in the analysed data resources. The conducted analysis facilitates an assessment of similarities of key words in scientific papers and the content of debates in social media—on Twitter, a global platform. In its methodological dimension, the work is based on a bibliometric analysis (articles in both bases) and the analysis of Twitter data. This methodological approach allows for identifying the main trend, profile, and bibliometric characteristics of scientific papers representing two streams of information: articles in bases and the content (hashtags) of authentic and unguided international debates on Twitter. The focus on this platform results from a great popularity of social media as a platform for social debate, expressing comments and opinions and providing an opportunity to gain understanding of social, cultural, and environmental issues related to renewable energy sources from the perspective of social media participants. The objective of the paper and the proposed methodological approach relates to a knowledge gap in the area of renewable energy, and, more specifically, climate change and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overcoming of the issues on energy crisis and inequality have become the priorities as far developing as developed countries are concerned. Moreover, energy inequality has increased due to the shortage of natural gas and rising energy prices in retaliation to the economic recovery affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to verify the linkage between the growth of renewable energy consumption and the country's economic advancement. In this context, this paper determines the main driving forces of renewable energy consumption in European countries during 2000–2018. The annual data for panel regression analysis are retrieved from the OECD. Stat and World Bank Open Data. This empirical analysis employed a set of estimation procedures such as the panel unit root test (Levin, Lin & Chu; Im, Pesaran, Shin W-Stat; ADF-Fisher Chi-square; and PP-Fisher Chi-square methods), the Pearson correlation, fixed- and random-effects models, generalized method of moments (GMM), Hausman and the robustness tests. The results from the Hausman test ratified that the fixed-effects regression model is more suitable for involved panel balanced data. The results of fixed-effects regression and GMM identified the statistically significant and positive relationship between the share of renewable energy consumption of total final energy consumption, GDP per capita, and CO2 emissions per capita for the overall sample. In turn, the total labor force, the gross capital formation, and production-based CO2 intensity are inversely related to renewable energy consumption. The identified effects could provide some insights for policymakers to improve the renewable energy sector towards gaining sustainable economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study contributes to a better understanding of where to place different energy modelling tools and support better decision-making related to the sustainable development of energy systems. It is argued that through the connection of the energy field and the field of sustainable development, the current energy paradigm—encompassing economic, environmental and social aspects—has emerged. This paper provides an analysis of different categories of existing energy system models and their ability to provide answers to questions arising from the current energy paradigm formulated within this study. The current energy paradigm and the relevant questions were defined by conducting conceptual framework analysis. The overarching question of the current paradigm asks how different energy pathways impact on the (sustainable) development of the energy system and overall (sustainable) development globally and nationally. A review of energy system models was conducted to analyse what questions of the current energy paradigm are addressed by which models. The results show that most models address aspects of the current energy paradigm but often in a simplified way. To answer some of the questions of the current energy paradigm in more depth and to get novel insights on sustainable energy system development, it might be necessary use complementary methods in addition to traditional energy modelling methodological approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of urbanization, people's living standards have improved. Simultaneously, the growing aggravation of resource shortages and environmental pollution have also gradually attracted widespread attention. Low-carbon energy planning can effectively reduce dependence on fossil resources and carbon emissions to the atmosphere, as well as improve the utilization of resources. Therefore, the formulation and evaluation of low-carbon energy planning have become the focus of attention for related colleges and institutions. This paper puts forward a hybrid multi-criteria decision making(MCDM) method combining decision making trial and evaluation laboratory(DEMATEL), analytical network process(ANP), and VIKOR to obtain the weight of each criterion and evaluate each alternative about low-carbon energy planning for building. A hierarchy structure of criteria involving cost, safety, reliability, and environment protection is built. Afterwards, a case of four alternatives is applied for testifying this methodology. Lastly, a comparison with prior methodologies serves as proof of the raised ranking. The presentation has proved that this methodology offers a more precise and effective foundation for decisions about low-carbon energy planning evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The challenge of worldwide energy decarbonization is crucial to ensure sustainable development. The achievement of decarbonization encompasses not only a considerable exploitation of renewable energy sources, but also a paradigm shift in final energy uses towards their massive electrification. Electrification based on Global Energy Interconnections (GEI) is one of the possible pathways towards decarbonization in energy systems. In this paper, we critically discuss the idea of decarbonization through global interconnections in an ‘electricity based’ world, contrasting it against the typically desirable attributes for energy in terms of security, efficiency, sustainability, and affordability. We provide a comparative analysis of global interconnection with other internationally proposed visions of future energy scenarios. The analysis shows that the GEI option could be particularly beneficial from an environmental point of view; however, it requests deep and relevant modifications in the energy markets and regulations, in which a common framework based on the cooperation among different countries is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]