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Rapid growth in population and economic development in Iran and its neighboring countries has resulted in a dramatic increase in electricity demand over the past few years. A substantial amount of electricity must be produced to meet this growing demand in this region. By installing conventional fossil power plants, using renewable energy, and interconnecting with neighboring countries, this growing demand can be accomplished. The main aim of this research is to identify prospects and challenges in the electrical sector around Iran. To this end, this paper evaluates the existing and future state of the electrical sector in Iran and its neighboring countries. Despite the fact that there is still a long way to go in terms of renewable energy in this region, there are some promising targets for the future that will allow fossil fuels to be replaced effectively. Notwithstanding this, we should point out that a number of cross-border interconnection projects are being pursued by Iran and its neighbors in order to integrate their networks and supply this growing demand. Finally, this study presents an overview of the future prospects and challenges of electricity capacity expansion, cross-border interconnections, and electricity transmission corridors in this region. The review results provide comprehensive background knowledge to all the researchers in order to investigate further into the field. This paper assists energy policy makers regarding the development of sustainable energy planning. • •In addition to providing a general overview of the geographical location, population growth, and economic indicators of Iran and its neighboring countries, this paper presents the current state of the Iranian electricity sector and its neighboring countries in light of the trends in electricity production, energy mix, price, and exports and imports. • •This paper explores the existing and future states of electricity capacity expansion in the region, specifically focusing on renewable energy sources. • •The existing and future states of cross-border electricity interconnections are examined to present a comprehensive overview of the cross-border interconnections in this region. • •This region's potential electricity transmission corridors are proposed to create the opportunity to transmit electricity across countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the banner of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7), governments, industry, and civil society organisations have supported many energy access projects since 2015. Notably, funding and investments allotted to renewable energy are regarded not only to provide 'energy for all' but also support the delivery of other SDGs related to climate change, food security, health, and poverty reduction, among others. With less than 10 years left to meet the SDG 7 targets, it is timely to take stock and examine how the provision of access to energy is driving development initiatives, impacting local communities, and influencing governance processes. This paper offers a critical review and analysis of the impact of access to energy projects based on empirical work from eight country case studies across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It interrogates how these projects contribute towards achieving SDG 7 and other sustainable development goals, highlights challenges, and then draws lessons for research, policy, and development practice. To advance SDGs, it recommends action in four areas: addressing rural-urban disparities, ensuring that energy is linked to sustainable outcomes, balancing top-down and bottom-up agendas, and appraising implications of techno-economic factors. [Display omitted] • Energy access has been constrained by multiple factors outside of policy decisions. • Governance decisions have overlooked local actors who are key to project sustainability. • Improved efficiency is more vital to energy security and access than increased generation. • Alignment between policies, governance processes, and institutional commitments is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy scarcity and environmental pollution from biogenic residues and wastes are major challenges in the 21st century, which can be converted to useful renewable energy and reduce environmental threats. In Bangladesh, a tremendous amount of biogenic residues is generated which remains largely underutilized. Mono-digestion, which is a common practice in Bangladesh for biogenic residue processing, resulted in low biogas yield. However, Bangladesh has a vast source of biogenic residues which can be utilized through anaerobic co-digestion to increase biogas production. In this paper, a desk study and comprehensive review has been conducted in finding potentiality of biogenic residues in biogas production from available biogenic residues in Bangladesh. Research studies on co-digestion of biogenic residues were reviewed critically, and their practices and benefits on energy production and impact on the environment were stipulated in this study. The study shows that co-digestion of biogenic residues in appropriate ratio increases the biogas production, improves digested quality and reduces GHG emissions. [Display omitted] • Biogas production potential from agricultural and livestock sectors were analyzed. • State of art co-digestion options of animal dung as main feedstock was reviewed. • Co-digestion of crop residues and animal dung lessened environmental burden. • Digestate can be used as bio fertilizer or converted into other forms of fuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional petrol vehicles emit a substantial quantity of greenhouse gases, leading to increasingly serious global warming problems. The expansion and development of renewable power generation technologies is conducive in promoting the use of electric vehicles, which are more environmentally friendly. This paper proposes a multi-objective power expansion model considering renewable energy policy objectives. The model regards the problem as a multi-period optimisation task, taking the newly installed capacity and the power generation capacity of each power generation technology as decision variables, and simulating the uncertain factors in the planning process using Geometric Brownian Motion and Monte Carlo approaches. The optimisation objective of the model is to minimise expected costs, reduce risk and environmental impacts, and incorporate changing policy objectives into the constraints to meet policy makers' expectations for renewable energy development. Then, a decentralised target search-based multi-objective evolutionary algorithm is proposed to solve the model. Its effectiveness is verified by a numerical example using real data from the Chinese power system. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm exhibits improved performance compared with benchmark algorithms and provides high quality and diverse Pareto-optimal solutions to decision makers. Finally, the optimal plans for power expansion and generation mix under different preferences and policy objectives are discussed and corresponding recommendations are made. [Display omitted] • Planning for the expansion of power generation under uncertainties is determined. • Strategies for the expansion of power generation towards renewable energy are optimised. • A novel multi-objective evolutionary algorithm with a constraint handling method is developed. • The impact of multiple renewable energy policies on power generation expansion planning is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For twenty years, social scientists have used place concepts to understand energy infrastructure siting. Much of this research stemmed from attempts to provide theoretical explanations that avoid pejorative NIMBY (Not in My Back Yard) assumptions about community objections. Despite a burgeoning literature, a comprehensive review of place-related energy infrastructure research is lacking. This paper addresses this gap for the first time by collating and systematically reviewing a corpus of 190 articles published between January 1999 and March 2022, using search terms combining 'energy' and five place concepts (place attachment, sense of place, place identity, identity of a place, place-technology fit). Content analysis revealed the application of place concepts most frequently to wind energy, as well as nuclear power, fossil-fuel extraction and energy distribution; a high number of journal outlets (n = 76); a prevalence of single case study and survey methods; geographical concentration in developed countries, and a high prevalence of female authors. Bibliometric analysis of key words indicated a hub and spoke structure centered on the term place attachment, with low levels of coherence. 8 research clusters were identified comprising disparate technologies, geographical contexts, concepts and methods. Two of the search terms (identity of a place, place-technology fit) had low prevalence. Analysis revealed the application of place concepts to be highly varied, with 15 place concepts identified that are often not the primary focus of research, and sometimes used superficially. To improve coherence, cumulative learning and rigour in future studies, a lexicon of place definitions and specific recommendations are provided. • A corpus of 190 articles draws on place concepts to research energy infrastructure. • This literature spans diverse technology sectors, countries and numerous journals. • Studies on renewable energy, in particular wind energy, are most prevalent. • Eight clusters with weak coherence are identified, indicating a fragmented literature. • Recommendations to improve coherence, cumulative learning and rigour are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proliferation of solar power plants has begun to have an impact on utility grid operation, stability, and security. As a result, several governments have developed additional regulations for solar photovoltaic grid integration in order to solve power system stability and security concerns. With the development of modern and innovative inverter topologies, efficiency, size, weight, and reliability have all increased dramatically. This paper provides a thorough examination of all most aspects concerning photovoltaic power plant grid connection, from grid codes to inverter topologies and control. The reader is guided through a survey of recent research in order to create high-performance grid-connected equipments. Efficiency, cost, size, power quality, control robustness and accuracy, and grid coding requirements are among the features highlighted. Nine international regulations are examined and compared in depth, exposing the lack of a worldwide harmonization and a consistent communication protocol. The latest and most innovative inverter topologies that help to enhance power quality are compared. Modern control approaches are evaluated in terms of robustness, flexibility, accuracy, and disturbance rejection on both the DC and grid sides. The purpose of this review paper is to provide the reader with a comprehensive overview of alternatives and performance, highlighting lacks and deficiencies of recent technologies and critically discussing and proposing new solutions paving the way for future investigations and developments. • The proliferation of solar plants have an impact on grid operation and stability. • Nine international regulations are examined and compared in depth. • PV power system architecture, topologies, and control are examined. • Cutting-edge solutions that handle all facets of PV system design are examined. • The reader obtain a comprehensive grasp of most relevant challenges and concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaysia is one of the leading producers and exporters of oil palm, and the industry contributes significantly to the growth of the national economy. Nonetheless, the consequential oil palm biomass (OPB) with a potential yield of ∼97 million tonnes annually presents both challenges and opportunities, demanding innovative waste management solutions. This paper explores the feasibility of converting OPB into valuable commodities by employing concentrated solar-driven pyrolysis. A detailed overview of the biomass produced from oil palm plantations and mills is provided, along with a discussion of the industry stakeholders and associated biomass management challenges. The pyrolysis of OPB is explored, emphasizing benefits, potential barriers, and techniques. The focus then shifts to Malaysia's solar potential, which ranges from 1470 to 1900 kWh/m2 annually. The potentials of solar pyrolysis are explored, encompassing discussions on solar concentrator types, reactors, and the distribution of solar and OPB resources throughout Malaysia. The paper then recommends Tawau in Sabah, as an ideal location for OPB solar pyrolysis, due to its solar availability (up to 1873 kWh/m2), potential OPB resources from 19 mills and 241 plantations, and supportive infrastructure. The paper proposes solar-driven pyrolysis as a sustainable solution for Malaysia's OPB management, offers insights for policy initiatives and technological innovations in optimizing OPB and solar energy utilization. • Analyzes oil palm biomass potential for solar pyrolysis in Malaysia. • Explores solar resources in Malaysia for solar-driven pyrolysis. • Examines solar concentrators and reactors for pyrolysis. • Identifies potential city, as the optimal location for solar pyrolysis. • Discusses commercialization challenges of solar-driven pyrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops a framework for a financial, economic, and stakeholder analysis of a residential rooftop solar net-metering program. The empirical focus of the paper is the net-metering program in Ontario, Canada, but the methodology is applicable to evaluating other public programs. The results highlight that without the Federal Government's subsidy for the initial investment cost, net-metered solar systems are not financially viable for representative households. Moreover, the stakeholder analysis reveals that for each additional net-metered system installed in Ontario, non-net-metered households experience financial losses of six times the benefits to the net-metered households. The net losses to the Federal Government of Canada and the Canadian economy are five and nine times the benefit to the net-metered households, respectively. The only stakeholder who benefits marginally is the Government of Ontario. In terms of environmental benefits, our estimate of the cost of greenhouse gas abatement by residential net-metered solar is 325 CAD per ton of CO 2 , which is significantly higher than the current (65 CAD in 2023) and future (170 CAD by 2030) national carbon price set by the Government of Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One crucial requirement for power systems is the necessity to enhance flexibility, enabling the seamless integration of a substantial amount of renewable energy generation. While flexibility holds significance in current power systems, the escalating penetration of renewable energy resources emphasizes an ongoing and growing need for flexibility in the future, given the intermittent nature of these energy sources. To address the crucial aspects of decarbonization for sustainable development and recognizing decentralization as a strategy for grid development, this research concentrates on flexibility in the context of microgrids. Diverging from many existing review papers that explore flexibility in the broader power system context, this study pioneers an investigation from the local energy system's perspective, introducing a novel classification of flexibility resources. The exploration begins with elucidating various concepts and definitions of flexibility. Subsequently, flexibility resources available to microgrids are systematically categorized based on the operation modes. A comprehensive review of conducted research follows, highlighting diverse categories and emphasizing primary flexibility resources. Special attention is given to recent concepts such as power-to-gas/hydrogen conversion, using electrolyzers as flexible loads for (green) hydrogen production, and various storage devices, as they offer flexibility during both off-grid and grid-connected operation modes in microgrids. Furthermore, a comparative analysis is undertaken, detailing the objective function(s) and flexibility resources employed in different research studies. To quantify flexibility, the latest metrics are categorized and explained. The study concludes by presenting suggestions for future research directions and summarizing key findings. [Display omitted] • Reviewing the concept of flexibility from the point of view of microgrids. • Novel classification for flexibility resources based on microgrids operating modes. • Special attention to recent technologies such as power-to-gas/hydrogen. • A comparative analysis, detailing the objective function(s) and flexibility resources. • Categorization and explanation of the latest flexibility metrics and their application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As countries worldwide seek to reach net zero emissions within the coming decades, data center sustainability measures are becoming increasingly important as these facilities consume substantial amounts of electricity to support globally expanding digital infrastructure. Yet, local renewable energy production and waste heat utilization are still rarely used in data centers, even though recent high electricity prices have considerably increased the economic value of self-generation and energy efficiency investments. The benefits and cost-effectiveness of data center sustainability measures have also not yet been thoroughly researched in cold-climate regions, where the data center industry is currently growing rapidly. Thus, this paper assesses how solar photovoltaics (PV) and waste heat utilization can effectively be integrated into different cold climate data centers, with a case study analyzing data centers in Finland and northern Japan. The modelled results indicate that solar PV systems can cost-effectively be used to provide renewable electricity to data centers in both Finland and northern Japan, with electricity prices having the largest influence on economic performance. The use of larger external PV systems is shown to be cost-effective at the higher electricity prices seen in 2022, whereas smaller rooftop PV systems and grid electricity provide more economic benefits at 2019 price levels. Selling surplus PV electricity to the grid and using waste heat for district heating is also shown to be effective in data centers located in Finland, whereas battery storage and snow melting are better suited to utilize surplus PV electricity and data center waste heat in northern Japan. [Display omitted] • Solar photovoltaic systems can cost-effectively reduce data center emissions in cold climate countries. • Data center waste heat can provide value in district heating and snow melting applications. • The cost-effectiveness of data center sustainability measures is largely influenced by electricity prices. • The option to sell surplus electricity to the grid incentives larger solar photovoltaic investments in data centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HVDC systems are playing an increasingly significant role in energy transmission due to their technical and economic superiority over HVAC systems for long distance transmission. HVDC is preferable beyond 300–800 km for overhead point-to-point transmission projects and for the cable based interconnection or the grid integration of remote offshore wind farms beyond 50–100 km. Several HVDC review papers exist in literature but often focus on specific geographic locations or system components. In contrast, this paper presents a detailed, up-to-date, analysis and assessment of HVDC transmission systems on a global scale, targeting expert and general audience alike. The paper covers the following aspects: technical and economic comparison of HVAC and HVDC systems; investigation of international HVDC market size, conditions, geographic sparsity of the technology adoption, as well as the main suppliers landscape; and high-level comparisons and analysis of HVDC system components such as Voltage Source Converters (VSCs) and Line Commutated Converters (LCCs), etc. The presented analysis are supported by practical case studies from existing projects in an effort to reveal the complex technical and economic considerations, factors and rationale involved in the evaluation and selection of transmission system technology for a given project. The contemporary operational challenges such as the ownership of Multi-Terminal DC (MTDC) networks are also discussed. Subsequently, the required development factors, both technically and regulatory, for proper MTDC networks operation are highlighted, including a future outlook of different HVDC system components. Collectively, the role of HVDC transmission in achieving national renewable energy targets in light of the Paris agreement commitments is highlighted with relevant examples of potential HVDC corridors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtual power plants possess the capability to effectively manage the inherent conflict between dispersed electricity generation and user demand, hence optimising market advantages. Nevertheless, the presence of severe weather conditions, geopolitical factors, the phenomenon of global warming, and several other global concerns greatly enhance the level of uncertainty related to the establishment of sustainable energy sources and the corresponding demand from users. Consequently, these factors expose the limitations of virtual power plants in effectively controlling power supply. The active involvement of community members has the potential to invigorate the process of development. This study presents a novel model, referred to as the CE-based cVPP (CE-cVPP) model, that combines the principles of circular economy (CE) and community-based virtual power plant (cVPP). The objective of this model is to enhance the effectiveness of sustainable development efforts. This research redefines the concept of a CE-cVPP, elucidates its defining features, scopes, and classification, and constructs a technological framework, together with an explanatory community case structure. The CE-cVPP energy life cycle framework is constructed based on the principles of the circular economy paradigm. This study investigates the enduring and sustainable benefits of the CE-cVPP across four dimensions: energy, environment, economics, and society. In conclusion, this paper provides a comprehensive examination of the energy, digital, and circular economy perspectives, encompassing critical analysis, problems, prospective analysis, and future directions. • Circular economy and community-based Virtual Power Plant (CE-cVPP) is a paradigm for the future energy sector. • CE-cVPP is a novel sustainable pattern that combines circular economy and community virtual power plants. • CE-cVPP features renewable energy, electricity, gas, cold, heat, and biodegradable waste. • CE-cVPP promotes economic, social, and ecological sustainability. • CE-cVPPs enhance the power and energy system's adaptability, versatility, and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community renewable energy is increasing globally, but many northern and remote Indigenous communities remain energy insecure. Community appropriate sustainable energy solutions requires more than building renewable energy projects – it requires local socio-technical capacity to design, implement, and maintain renewable energy projects. Yet, notwithstanding advances in renewable energy technology there is limited understanding of the socio-technical capacity of northern and remote Indigenous communities to engage in energy transitions. Based on a review of energy transitions scholarship and northern contexts and informed by a workshop engaging northern and Indigenous community members from Canada and Alaska, this paper presents foundational pillars for assessing the socio-technical capacity needs of communities to pursue and sustain local energy transitions. These pillars are inter-dependent and emphasize the importance of local energy champions and inter-local energy networks to enable innovation and capacity building; community values that articulate immediate and longer-term goals for energy transition, including the social and economic opportunities to be realized by a more sustainable energy system; community knowledge of local energy resources, technologies, and opportunities, and embedded skills to support transitions; and the skills innovation to pursue and manage new energy systems, coupled with youth engagement as future community energy leaders. The proposed framework is intended to support the early stages of community energy transition planning. • Energy transition in remote communities involves more than building new projects. • Socio-technical capacity is critical to renewable energy security in remote off-grid areas. • Seven pillars are proposed to guide local capacity assessment for community energy. • Renewable energy in remote communities means self-sufficiency and self-determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving high sustainability levels in the energy sector is at the heart of the United Nations and European Union goals. One of the main paths to achieve this is to adopt sustainable practices in energy supply chains (SCs). In this study, a systematic literature review has been carried out to analyze the triple-bottom-line of sustainability in the SCs of energy production. The main results show that the literature on the topic is scarce and unbalanced. For instance, the analysis of different energy sources is biased towards biomass. Moreover, key SC management aspects like inter-organizational coordination and certain stakeholder involvement i.e., customers, universities and/or research centers, are underrepresented in the analyzed literature. The study's main contribution is to identify and critically review the current key topics and gaps in the literature on sustainability in energy SCs. Based on the findings, a two-level research agenda is proposed that outlines six critical avenues that bring research, private actors, and decision-makers altogether to enhance the sustainability of energy SCs. The suggestions for future research included in the agenda are based on the gaps presented in the results of the literature review, as well as on the research directions highlighted in the analyzed literature. This study offers guidance to managers regarding best practices and fields of improvement, as well as to scholars by suggesting paths to fill gaps in the current body of literature and elaborate more sustainable energy SCs. [Display omitted] • The first holistic systematic literature review on SSCM in energy production. • Identifying and categorizing ninety-seven papers on the topic. • Outlining a set of key topics and gaps and proposing a future research agenda. • Helping decision-makers to assess and benchmark sustainability in the energy SC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The African continent is endowed with massive energy resources such as hydropower, solar, wind, natural gas, wave energy, and many more, yet it is the continent with the least energy supply in the world thereby resulting in a lack of sufficient energy to meet its growing energy demand. Though the continent holds 100 GW of wind capabilities, the current installed capacity as at 2018 was 5.7 GW with countries in northern Africa as well as South Africa capturing over 90% of the wind energy share on the continent. Therefore, this paper reviews the wind energy industry in Africa by identifying the current installed and potential capacity of wind energy on the continent. The challenges faced by the wind energy industry such as policy, competition, technical and economic are also reviewed. Transitions, technological innovation systems, and strategic niche management theoretical sustainability transition framework as well as proposed pathways to overcome these prevailing challenges hindering the full exploration of the wind energy sector in Africa are also highlighted in order to uplift the continent's socio-economic status. Basically, this can be achieved through the adoption of strong 'political-will' by African national governments to drive wind energy development. There is also the need for institutional frameworks to ensure the practical adoption of new wind energy technologies. Furthermore, the major benefits Africa stands to gain from investment in wind energy are enumerated by comparing with the benefits realized by other countries' economies as a result of investing in the wind energy industry. For instance, cheap electricity, job creation, industrial growth, and eco-friendly energy source. • Reviewing wind energy industry in Africa and existing challenges. • The challenges faced by African's wind energy industry can be categorized under policy, competition, technical and economic. • Framework for transiting Africa's wind energy industry from small-scale production to large-scale commercial industry.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the demand for renewable energy continues to rise, the significance of electrocatalysis research for hydrogen production has also increased. To explore the developmental trends in this field, a scientometric-assisted review was conducted using clustering analysis of keywords from 43,564 papers published between 2013 and 2022. The results of the study demonstrate a globally diverse research landscape, with contributions from Asia, Europe, North America, and the Middle East. China emerges as the most prolific contributor, with consistent growth in research productivity over the past decade. The USA, South Korea, India, and Germany were among the top five leading countries in electrocatalysis research. Singapore, USA, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Germany lead research impact, measured by total citations per total paper. China has the highest collaboration in electrocatalysis research, with collaborations with the USA, Australia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Japan, the UK, Germany, Canada, Korea, and India. Importantly, the study reveals six clusters of electrocatalysis research, with different author keywords, each covering a range of topics and materials. The implications of each of the six clusters in electrocatalysis are examined critically. This study offers valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and funding organizations in making critical decisions by identifying the main themes and trends in hydrogen evolution through electrocatalysis research. • To explore the developmental trends in this field, a scientometric-assisted review was conducted on renewable energy • The results of the study demonstrate a globally diverse research landscape. • This study offers valuable insights in hydrogen evolution through electrocatalysis research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper is an Editorial for the special issue (SI) of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews (RSER) devoted to the 12th Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES), held from the 4th to 8th October 2017 in Dubrovnik, Croatia. The key focus of RSER is to publish critical thinking across the wide field of renewable and sustainable energy. The journal publishes either pure review papers or research papers with a precise review element. Overall, the guest editors invited 36 papers presented on 12th SDEWES conference, of which 17 were accepted after rigorous peer review process. The SDEWES conferences present a continuous effort in gathering high level scientists and research papers across the field of sustainability and by now the amount of accumulated knowledge, through conference papers and special journal issues, is significant. Each SDEWES journal editorial presents a wider overview of special issue journal papers in order to maintain the continuation of knowledge generation on the main sustainability topics. The main topics covered in this RSER editorial include renewable energies with special focus on integration, markets and roadmaps, energy efficiency in buildings, industrial process and transport, bio based economy focused on bio based chemicals and biofuels, energy storage focused on batteries, thermal and geological storages and various sustainability assessments in several sectors and technologies. All were considered in light of the Circular Economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The future of energy is complex, with fluctuating renewable resources in increasingly distributed systems. It is suggested that blockchain technology is a timely innovation with potential to facilitate this future. Peer-to-peer (P2P) microgrids can support renewable energy as well as economically empower consumers and prosumers. However, the rapid development of blockchain and prospects for P2P energy networks is coupled with several grey areas in the institutional landscape. The purpose of this paper is to holistically explore potential challenges of blockchain-based P2P microgrids , and propose practical implications for institutional development as well as academia. An analytical framework for P2P microgrids is developed based on literature review as well as expert interviews. The framework incorporates 1) Technological, 2) Economic, 3) Social, 4) Environmental and 5) Institutional dimensions. Directions for future work in practical and academic contexts are identified. It is suggested that bridging the gap from technological to institutional readiness would require the incorporation of all dimensions as well as their inter-relatedness. Gradual institutional change leveraging community-building and regulatory sandbox approaches are proposed as potential pathways in incorporating this multi-dimensionality, reducing cross-sectoral silos, and facilitating interoperability between current and future systems. By offering insight through holistic conceptualization, this paper aims to contribute to expanding research in building the pillars of a more substantiated institutional arch for blockchain in the energy sector. Highlights • Blockchain has significant potential in energy sector development. • Holistic review of factors of blockchain-based P2P microgrids. • Multi-dimensional analytical framework proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Geothermal energy piles (GEPs) are an environmentally friendly energy source which utilise the low-grade heat energy present in the shallow earth surface to provide heating and/or cooling to the supported structures e.g. buildings. The heat is extracted from or injected into the ground through the circulation of heat carrier fluid that flows in energy loops attached to the reinforcement cage of the pile foundation elements. Utilising the GEP system to achieve building thermal comfort need has proven to be environmentally sustainable, economically viable, and with great social benefits. This paper presents an extensive review of literature on the principles behind the different design considerations, current available design standards, and government legislation for installing the GEP system. Furthermore, the behaviour of the energy pile under working loads was found to be influenced by the magnitude of the heat energy extraction and injection rate. In addition, case studies from several countries around the world including Austria, Switzerland, Australia, UK, Spain, Hong Kong, USA, Japan, China and South Korea which highlights the practicality of the system installation, its associated benefits, limitations and overall energy performance were presented and discussed. Moreover, factors such as thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, specific heat capacity, groundwater flow, soil moisture content, number and configuration of energy loops, pile length and diameter have positive implication on the energy performance of the system. This paper found that the GEP system, if appropriately designed and carefully installed, provides a viable alternative in terms of an energy source with a positive energy footprint on the environment. Highlights • Geothermal energy piles (GEPs) offer a sustainable solution to achieving building thermal demand. • Factors like number of loops, pile length, soil thermal and hydraulic properties greatly influences the system performance. • Optimum GEP performance can be achieved via careful design and installation process. • The GEP structural integrity is governed by the magnitude of the applied thermal load. • The GEP mechanical behaviour depends on the type of restraint at the pile head & toe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Due to the massive entrance of new renewable energies such as wind or solar, hydraulic turbines have to work far from its designed point and withstanding multiple transients, such as starts and stops, that shorten the useful life of the machine and cause fatigue damages. The present paper reviews the complex problem of fatigue in Francis turbines particularly focused on the experimental data available for static and dynamic stresses. For this purpose, many researches, which include different Francis turbines covering a wide range of design head and power, have been considered. The experimental stresses characteristics measured with strain gauges installed on the turbine runner and obtained from previous works have been analyzed for the different operating conditions and transient states occurring in the normal life of actual Francis units. The actual computational capabilities and techniques typically used to estimate such stresses have been discussed in detail. Potential future techniques to simplify complex strain measurements on the turbine runner, computational and statistical methods to estimate turbine stresses are reviewed in this paper. Finally, the relative damage of the different operating conditions and useful life estimation of the turbine, based on past strain measurements of the runner, are addressed. Highlights • This paper reviews the complexity of fatigue life estimation of Francis turbines in all the involved steps. • Data and conclusions of different manufacturers and researchers are summarized and compared. • The main characteristics of stresses have been identified and the capabilities of numerical techniques discussed. • Potential future experimental and numerical techniques to simplify actual experimental measurements are shown. • Existing data of relative damages has been compared. Probabilistic fatigue models in hydro turbines have been addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract African countries are in a unique position to reap the socio-economic and environmental benefits of renewable resources as a means for meeting increasing energy demand in a sustainable way. A critical obstacle for the deployment of renewable energy technologies in Africa is the difficulty of attracting sufficient and affordable finance. This paper compares the impact of financial conditions on the cost of electricity generation across six renewable and three fossil-based technologies in 46 African countries. The results show large cost variations and highlight the extent to which renewables are disadvantaged by current financial practices. The energy-economy-environment model TIAM-ECN is used to show how lowering financing costs results in a much higher deployment of renewables. For example, solar PV could account for 10–15% of total electricity generation by 2050, even without explicit climate policy, thanks to financial de-risking programmes. The results demonstrate that changes in financing schemes could outweigh the impact of technology learning. This paper also demonstrates that, once ambitious climate policies are in place, reducing financing costs for renewables could be an efficient way to lower greenhouse gas emissions. Financial de-risking is thus a key ingredient for unlocking the renewable energy potential in Africa. Highlights • We show how renewables are disadvantaged by today's financial practices in Africa. • We show how lower financing costs result in a higher deployment of renewables. • PV can account for 10–15% of electricity generation by 2050 without climate policy. • Changes in financing schemes could outweigh the impact of technology learning. • Financial de-risking is key for unlocking the renewable energy potential in Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Green and renewable bio-diesel prepared from oils catalytic hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) will have a great impact on clean energy structure and industrial application. The core issue of catalytic oils HDO research is still the development of catalysts with high performance, and it has become the research focus of researchers in recent years. The bio-diesel after deoxygenationis similar to petroleum fuel in composition, which has better fuelproperties because of its higher cetane number, higher energy density, and very low sulfur content. Therefore, the prepared bio-diesel can be employed directly in fuel industry. In order to ensure that the catalyst has superior deoxidization performances, it should have good "H-H" dissociation ability, "C-O" and "C=O" adsorption and activation abilities. To obtain the expected products, feasible production processes, and suitable catalyst systems are needed. In this paper, the status and reaction system of oil HDO conversion in recent years are reviewed, and the catalytic performances of the corresponding catalyst in the oil HDO reaction is described in detail. In addition, this review also involed the effects of support, promoters, interaction between active components and support on the HDO activity and selectivity, and detailed information about the reaction mechanism. The HDO performances of the corresponding catalyst can be effectively improved by optimizing the active components and controlling the properties of the support. The catalyst used into the HDO reaction is mainly concentrated on the supported catalyst. In addition, the choice of the support is based on the prepared catalyst with the best physical and chemical properties. What's more, ensuring the prepared catalyst has simple deoxidation route, suitable acid strength, high "C-O" hydrogenolysis activity and low carbon deposition performances. The selection of the metal active component mainly depends on the model compound, owing to the deoxidization pathway of the model compound is mainly determined by the active center. The reaction pathway mainly contains hydrolysis, HDO, cracking, hydrogenation, decarbonylation, and decarboxylation reaction. In addition, several outlooks on the development of catalyst with high performance, the future research, and the development direction of bio-diesel produced by oils HDO reaction are also addressed in this paper. Highlights • Green and renewable bio-diesel can be prepared from oils catalytic hydrodeoxygenation (HDO). • Noble metal catalysts and non noble metal catalysts each have advantages in oil hydrodeoxygenation. • The development of new catalyst is beneficial to hydrodeoxygenation of oils to produce bio-diesel. • Deep excavation of hydrodeoxygenation mechanism is conducive to prepare catalysts with superior performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Renewable energy targets announced in 2014 present an opportunity to reform Indonesia's electricity sector which is dominated by fossil fuels. In this paper we discuss Indonesia's current renewable energy policies and future outlook for achieving the targets. This paper serves as a literature review of Indonesia's changing energy policy landscape, as part of a broader research investigating renewable energy targets and the role of the private sector. Despite Indonesia's wealth of renewable energy resources, numerous studies have identified multiple constraints to the development of renewable energy, including geographical, institutional and investment factors. Influential groups are calling for the Indonesian Government to put in place a clear policy framework that facilitates private sector investment. Therefore, interventions to facilitate investment in energy infrastructure in Indonesia must address the monopolised power market system that oversees a changing, complex malaise of electricity pricing regulations which make investment risky and uncertain. This study will enrich the existing literature on renewable energy policy which emphasises the importance of engaging the private sector. It is based on a rigorous qualitative assessment of Indonesia's changing policy that affects the progress of the renewable energy targets. The lessons from Indonesia's experience may provide insights for policymakers notably in developing countries.Keywords: energy in Indonesia, private sector investment, renewable energy Highlights • Indonesia's renewable energy targets show awareness of the need for renewable energy to solve the energy trilemma challenge. • The targets represent forward thinking policy that moves from the abstract to measurable targets. • Private sector participation is imperative to address today's under investmentin Indonesia's electricity infrastructure. • Indonesia needs to reinforce its commitment to renewable energy to resolve constraints impeding private sector investment. • Indonesia needs to embark on electricity sector reform that encompasses decarbonisation as part of its strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Energy systems are quickly evolving through the development of new technologies and the emergence of new operational and market design paradigms. In particular, the global push for sustainability is driving the transition towards a pronounced redesign. In fact, renewable energy integration is occurring at a massive scale, and several other exciting developments are finding their place in modern energy systems, such as distributed energy resources, demand response, energy storage technologies, and local energy markets. In this dynamic context, the process of energy policy design and implementation has found new challenges, and in supporting this key process, expansion planning models and tools can play an essential role. For example, these models can be employed to estimate the impact of a multitude of policy instruments. Thus, there is a wide interest in these tools and a variety of such models, as evidenced by a rich literature and a fast-paced evolution of this research area. Motivated by this, this work presents a comprehensive and up-to-date review on expansion planning models and tools with emphasis on their application to energy policy analysis. In particular, this paper reviews the most significant policy instruments, with an emphasis in renewable energy integration, the optimization models that have been developed for expansion planning, and existing decision-support tools for energy policy analysis. Finally, this paper also discusses the trends in the literature and the most pressing current challenges in the development and use of expansion planning models for energy policy analysis. Highlights • Provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview on expansion planning models. • Reviews the most significant policy instruments with an emphasis in renewable energy integration. • Describes the salient features of using expansion models on energy policy analysis. • Discusses the future trends and challenges of smart grid technologies on expansion models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper presents a thorough review of 75 modelling tools currently used for analysing energy and electricity systems. Increased activity within model development in recent years has led to several new models and modelling capabilities, partly motivated by the need to better represent the integration of variable renewables. The purpose of this paper is to give an updated overview of currently available modelling tools, their capabilities and to serve as an aid for modellers in their process of identifying and choosing an appropriate model. A broad spectrum of modelling tools, ranging from small-scale power system analysis tools to global long-term energy models, has been assessed. Key information regarding the general logic, spatiotemporal resolution as well as the technological and economic features of the models is presented in three comprehensive tables. This information has been validated and updated by model developers or affiliated contact persons, and is state-of-the-art as of the submission date. With the available suite of modelling tools, most challenges of today's electricity system can be assessed. For a future with an increasing share of variable renewables and increasing electrification of the energy system, there are some challenges such as how to represent short-term variability in long-term studies, incorporate the effect of climate change and ensure openness and transparency in modelling studies. Highlights • We review 75 modelling tools currently used for analysing energy and electricity systems. • Updated and validated key information about the models is presented. • The paper can aid new modellers to choose an appropriate model for their purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In recent years, providing green and reliable energy supply to islands has appeared in the strategic plans of many countries. This paper introduces three representative island microgrids that have been built and are operating in the East China Sea. Key technologies of the island microgrids are discussed, including the analysis of island resources and load, selection of energy storage, control strategies, and energy management systems. Through analyzing their operation data for one year, this paper demonstrates the impacts of the three microgrids from the perspectives of technology, economics, and sustainability. Summarizing the experiences and insights gained from their construction and operation, this paper provides references for the future development of island microgrid projects. Highlights • Three representative island microgrids in the East China Sea are demonstrated. • Key technologies such as control technology and energy management for island microgrids are studied. • Renewable energy penetration is discussed for the design and operation of island microgrids. • The operation data for a year of the three island microgrids are analyzed from various aspects. • Experiences and insights gained from the construction and operation are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The small island developing states of the Pacific suffer from both the high cost of fossil fuel imports and from numerous climate-related disasters. These vulnerabilities will worsen unless there is a substantial global shift away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy (RE) sources, coupled with significant improvements in energy efficiency. Apart from traditional biomass-fuelled cooking, the most substantial uses of RE in the Pacific in 2016 were hydropower in some of the hillier island countries and the thousands of household photovoltaic (PV) systems in the remoter parts of island countries. This paper considers also the prospects for grid PV, geothermal, and biofuels – all of which have good technical potential in at least some islands. Barriers to wider use of RE in the region are mostly institutional and financial, but also include opportunity costs, environmental factors, and the limited skills base in small island states. The paper examines the mixed progress since the 1990s towards overcoming these barriers. The Fiji Electricity Authority has a reasonably realistic plan to have 81% of its supply from RE by 2020, drawing on hydropower (~ 50% in 2015), biomass (including bagasse), and some solar and wind. Tonga has its Renewable Energy Roadmap with clear milestones. Several other Pacific Island countries have ambitious RE targets but some are rather vague about how they are to be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The liberalization of electricity markets and the development of renewable energy sources has led to new challenges for decision makers. These challenges are accompanied by an increasing uncertainty about future electricity price movements. The increasing amount of papers, which aim to model and predict electricity prices for a short period of time provided new opportunities for market participants. However, the electricity price literature seem to be very scarce on the issue of medium- to long-term price forecasting, which is mandatory for investment and political decisions. Our paper closes this gap by introducing a new approach to simulate electricity prices with hourly resolution for several months up to three years. Considering the uncertainty of future events we are able to provide probabilistic forecasts which are able to detect probabilities for price spikes even in the long-run. As market we decided to use the EPEX day-ahead electricity market for Germany and Austria. Our model extends the X-Model which mainly utilizes the sale and purchase curve for electricity day-ahead auctions. By applying our procedure we are able to give probabilities for the due to the EEG practical relevant event of six consecutive hours of negative prices. We find that using the supply and demand curve based model in the long-run yields realistic patterns for the time series of electricity prices and leads to promising results considering common error measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to analyze the economic and environmental aspects of installing PV facilities for residential electricity users. This paper explores, in a conservative approach, the installation of a PV capacity to compensate the consumption with the production for each moment, never feeding electricity into the utility network and without storage. The approach proposed is illustrated by applying different power PV capacities in alternative locations (Marseille, Madrid and Seville), using the hourly demand provided for the smart meters. Combining the load curve of each user, the irradiation and PV production of each location, the cost of equipments, the hourly emission in the whole market, the variable price of electricity for residential users and the energy needs to build a PV facility. The model calculates, for each individual the optimal PV power to install and the emissions avoided. The results show that, with the current cost of the PV facilities and variable prices of electricity, the PV are, from an economic and environmental point of view, profitable in all the locations analyzed. This initiative will be more profitable for private investors and, additionally, for the environment in the next three years. A massive installation of these facilities in Spain and France will contribute to achieving their Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) of the Paris agreement (COP-21), fulfilling, in Spain, the current legal restrictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical energy becomes necessary for human being. Generation of electrical energy mostly depends on fossils fuel, they are limited in nature and also responsible for environmental pollution. Renewable energy resources provides a better alternative for future,In comparison to conventional energy resources economical aspect is a major issue of renewable energy sources with the feasibility and efficiency. These limitations are tried to overcome by deployment hybrid renewable energy resources. There are certain criteria to analyze and implement the sized, optimized and cost efficient system. This paper focus on hybrid energy systems based on solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind resources. This paper shed lights on various parameters of economic feasibility, sizing strategies with logical advancements to enhance their utilization, future prospects, and their arrangement. Strategies to develop an effective storage system is also presented here.A brief review on developments in optimization techniques, reliability index and cost analyzing techniques for hybrid renewable energy systems are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the barriers that inhibit the deployment of renewable energy technologies to achieve long-term reductions in carbon emissions from the use of fossil fuels is paramount to Barbados. Although there are targets towards renewable energy (solar, wind, biomass, geothermal) uptake, the share of these technologies in the energy mix does not exist in Barbados due to the total dependence on fossil fuels. In this paper, a review of potential challenges and the main problems for deployment of alternative energy sources is presented. Through interviews, questionnaires with a focus group of key personnel's, the paper documents the lack of renewable energy sources (with emphasis on solar energy) as one of the main alternatives to meet the carbon emission targets set by the country. The barriers and challenges facing the implementation of solar energy deployment have been clarified. From the results, it is evident that significant policy barriers still exist at the country level, which has reduced the effectiveness of a concerted national effort to deploy renewables. The current policy landscape which benefits from fossil fuel imports, the lack of technical know-how and the lack of research and development in the renewable energy space are amongst the key barriers identified. The paper also outlines the key policy's frameworks, regulatory environment and the lack of incentives, which encompasses the renewable energy sector, and presents a critical analysis of the barriers faced by the industry. A mitigation framework is proposed to bridge the gap of solar energy (renewable energy) deployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass gasification receives attention as a promising method to utilize biomass, a fuel which is carbon neutral. The producer gas/syngas which is an energy carrier obtained through this method finds use in engines, fuel cells, Fischer-Tropsch reactors, methanol synthesis and as an input for chemical industries, after the required quality levels for the above applications are achieved. To use the producer gas/syngas for power generation on a commercial scale, the required gas quality has to be established. Producer gas obtained from biomass gasification has several contaminants like particulate matter, tar and gaseous species like H 2 S, NH 3 . The contaminants present in the producer gas, depending upon their nature and the amount, pose issues to power generation systems. Tar, which is a mixture of varying molecular weight hydrocarbon molecules, generated from the thermo-chemical conversion processes of organic materials, could condense at low temperatures, and lead to clogging or blockage in end-use application devices, filters, and fuel lines. So, it is essential to reduce or transform the tar present in the producer gas to utilize the biomass gasification systems for power generation. This paper attempts to provide a critical assessment of tar generated during biomass gasification, covering the sundry aspects of formation, evaluation, issues and mitigation strategies. The paper gives an introduction to biomass gasification systems, followed by a detailed description of tar, including the definition and the chemistry of formation and destruction. An explanation of the various aspects of tar sampling, characterization and analysis, is presented next. The suitability of different tar analysis approaches is compared from an end-use device perspective. Then the multifarious issues posed by the presence of tar in the syngas on the end-use devices is discussed. The last part of the paper describes several tar mitigation strategies used by researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global depletion of fossil fuels, growing awareness on the effects of carbon emissions and greenhouse gases and, the need for renewable energy, has increased the attention towards biocoke research and active engagement with various research groups and industrial players. Biocoke production and utilisation is crucial as it contributes to the efficient management of agricultural residue and municipal solid waste. The technologies involved in the biocoke production and the viability of Malaysia's agricultural waste as a feedstock was described in this paper. In addition, the paper provided background information about the biocoke characteristics and the feedstocks that dictate quality. Comparisons of commercial coal coke and biocoke production technologies that may be applicable to Malaysia were also addressed. Moreover, the paper demonstrated the challenges towards Malaysia's biocoke commercialisation despite its viability from biomass feedstocks characteristics, availability, and evidence of calorific value estimations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on feature selection problems that arise in renewable energy applications. Feature selection is an important problem in machine learning, both in classification and regression problems. In renewable energy systems, feature selection appears related to prediction systems in the most important sources such as wind, solar and marine resources. The objective of the paper is twofold: first, a review of the most important prediction systems for renewable energy applications involving feature selection is carried out. Analysis and discussion of different feature selection problems in prediction systems are considered. We show that wrapper FSP approaches are those mostly used due to their higher performance. They include a diversity of algorithms, prevailing fast-training approaches. The lack of an uniform framework for FSP and the diversity of tackled problems impede a systematic assessment of the performance and properties of the applied methods. Thus, the simultaneously use of several global search mechanisms should be the preferred option. In a second part of the paper, we explore this possibility, by introducing a novel approach for feature selection based on a novel meta-heuristic, the Coral Reefs Optimization algorithm with Substrate Layer. This approach is able to combine different search mechanisms into a single algorithm, providing a global search procedure of high quality. We use an Extreme Learning Machine for prediction within this novel approach. The performance of the system is evaluated in a problem of wind speed prediction from numerical models input, using real data from a wind farm in Spain, where comparison with alternative regression algorithms is carried out. Improvements up to 20% in hourly and daily wind speed prediction are obtained with the proposed system versus the algorithms without the feature selection process considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy situation of the African island states which include Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles are overwhelmingly dependent on fossil fuels with paradoxically high potential of renewable energy which are sparsely developed. This paper lay emphasis on the present electricity situation in these countries and highlights the potential of renewable energy resources on their territories. Among Africa islands, demographic and economic features are dissimilar and their power sector is complex by unique challenges. It is seen that there is a critical lack of electricity in Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar, which are 21% and 13% respectively, due to political instability and high spending on diesel. Moreover, the electricity consumption per capita is alarming in Guinea-Bissau, Comoros and Madagascar where it is below the average consumption for low income countries. Sustainable energy supply can be achieved by renewable energy sources, however, not all renewable resources are technically and economically feasible for development in these countries, for example wind in Comoros and hydro in Mauritius have little potential – which this paper elaborated further. Based on these analysis, a roadmap was developed, on to how to address some of the energy issues in these countries and accelerate the uptake of renewable energy. Through energy governance reform, political decision makers can drive change within their government, especially when a reform entails opening market opportunities and stimulating private participation and exerting pressure on existing government agencies to work efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observing present scarcity of fossil fuel and emissions of greenhouse gases, electricity generated from Renewable Energy (RE) sources turns out to be the best alternative for generating the power. In RE system, the inverter is normally used to condition the DC power into AC to meet the requirements of load and transmission system. The inverter offers myriad benefits; however, the presence of harmonics (particularly low-order) in the output voltage affects the efficiency and performance of inverter, causes switching losses and decreases the lifetime of the system. In last three decades, significant research has been done to develop the efficient control technique for eliminating the unwanted harmonics. The preliminary review of existing control techniques revealed that the selective harmonic elimination pulse-width modulation (SHEPWM) is more proficient to eliminate the low-order harmonics. However, non-linear transcendental equations used in this technique pose a challenge to solve particularly for calculus-based methods. With the advent of powerful and low-cost computers, bio-inspired intelligent algorithms (BIAs) seem to be a better approach for solving these complex equations. This review paper presents the detailed principle operation of nine well-known BIAs and discusses their application in inverters for harmonic elimination (HE). Moreover, different objective functions are also discussed in this paper which is used by the researchers for HE. Additionally, the performance of five renowned BIAs, namely, Imperialist Competitive Algorithm, Particle Swarm Optimization, Differential Evolution, Bee Algorithm and Genetic Algorithm is critically evaluated. Their performance is analyzed in terms of accuracy, computational complexity, convergence speed, and a number of control parameters. The conclusion has been made on the basis of information extracted from the literature and evaluation results with future recommendations. This single paper covers all the essential information regarding HE in inverters, which will help researchers to design the efficient RE conversion system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade, there have been several initiatives for the deployment of cross-Mediterranean HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) links to enable the transmission of electrical power from renewable energy sources between North Africa and Europe. These initiatives were mainly driven by the potential economic, environmental and technical benefits of these HVDC interconnections. In previous studies on these projects, some technical aspects of critical importance have not been addressed or studied in sufficient detail. One of these key aspects relates to the impact and possible benefit of these HVDC links on the dynamic performance of the European system which is the major focus of this paper. Several issues relating to the dynamic performance of the system are addressed here. Based on the experience gained from existing AC/DC projects around the world, this paper shows that the HVDC links between North Africa and Europe can greatly improve the dynamic performance of the European system especially in the southern regions. In addition, some challenges on the operation and control of these HVDC links are highlighted and solutions to overcome these challenges are proposed. This review paper, therefore, serves as a preliminary study for further detailed investigation of specific impacts or benefits of these interconnections on the overall performance of the European system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the environmental and energy crisis, many countries around the world are electrifying transportation, which will significantly change the way the current power grid operates. It is expected that the deployment of future smart grids will allow two-way energy and information flows through plug-and-play operation of small distributed mobile power generators like electric vehicles (EVs) to benefit the prosumers and at the same time make the grid more efficient and robust. However, the issues associated with the energy and information transfer, battery technologies, battery charging schemes, their standards and management need to be addressed in order to achieve the full benefits of EV integration in the future smart grids and internet of energy (IoE) with local renewable generation. As the current grid with existing infrastructure cannot ensure maximum benefits from EVs, this paper reviews the EV technologies, their connectivity, impacts on grid and standards required for the efficient and economic operation of EVs with distributed energy resources in the IoE. The evolution, comparison, and storage potential of EV technologies are thoroughly discussed. This paper also extensively reviews the connectivity issues, for example current EV charging schemes, software tools required to design smart charging, associated challenges, and possible solutions. The architecture of distributed energy management schemes with EVs and the IoE is discussed in detail. Finally, the standards related to EV integration, energy transfers, and safety aspects are provided. Based on the comprehensive review, future directions are put forward which will be useful for researchers and engineers working with EVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the editorial for the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews joint special issue devoted to the research work discussed and presented at the 11th Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES), held from the 4th September to the 9th September 2016 in Lisbon, Portugal and the 2nd South East European (SEE) SDEWES Conference held from June 15th to June 18th, 2016 in Piran, Slovenia. This special issue is in line with the journal's aim of publishing research from across the ever-broadening field of renewable and sustainable energy with a strong review element. Previous SDEWES conference special issues have gathered a significant knowledge base in the field of sustainable development that reflects the continuous research efforts of the SDEWES research community. Therefore, this editorial provides not only an overview of the papers published in this particular special issue, but also a wider overview of the current trends in the domain of sustainable and renewable energy. This year's special issue focuses particularly on the benefits of the bio-based economy, energy security issues, fossil fuel thermal plant alternatives and environmental constraints, district heating and cooling together with cross sector energy efficiency and energy conservation issues. Sustainable transport systems, the issue of fuel poverty in urban neighbourhoods and renewable energy to support development of peripheral rural areas, optimising passive building design for hot climates and solar-powered heating and cooling are further topics featured in this special issue. In the process of selecting papers for this special issue, the guest editors invited in total 23 extended manuscripts for consideration for publication. After a rigorous review process by expert reviewers overseen by the guest editors a total of 16 articles were accepted for publication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable Energy and Sustainable Supply Chain Management have been extensively studied over the last decade. However, techniques based on the modelling and simulations have not been applied extensively in the supply chain of renewable energy. The main purpose of this study is to identify the latest System Dynamics contributions and trends related to the supply chain of renewable energy. An overview of works published in several journals and related to the application of the System Dynamics approach in Renewable Energy Supply Chain (RESC) is provided. Only 10 papers focusing on the application of system dynamics in RESC were found and these were classified into three groups of analysis. Although the literature is scarce, this work shows the importance of system modelling considering: (i) improving the understanding of supply chain in renewable energy and (ii) developing modelling and simulation approaches in renewable energy systems. This paper represents a source for elaborating a System Dynamics framework applied on RESC and provides a comprehensive bibliography of papers published in the last decade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present day, the environmental issues and the insufficiency of energy supply are of major concerns around the world. In view of this, numerous utilities have interchanged their production sources and path ways to green and renewable energy. The hydropower (HP) is the world's largest and the most efficient sustainable way to produce electricity or power. Nowadays, HP is employed for converting 90% of the energy of moving water into electricity/power. This can be comparable to the fossil fuels (FFs) based power plants, which are maximum only 60% efficient. The high expenditure and adverse environmental concerns that associated with the use of large HP plants have helped to focus the attention on small or Pico-scale HP plants, which reduce these affects considerably. Pico hydropower (PHP) offers an efficient, reliable and cost effective of alternative power sources. In addition, the demand for PHP in the market shows that PHP is the best and low-priced choice for rural or remote area electrification in developing nations. Nevertheless, the PHP technology is still considered as a brand-new in Malaysia. In this paper, the basic theories or concept of PHP were described for better understanding and recognition on this type of electricity or power production system. Furthermore, present status and projected future of PHP in Malaysia, inclusive of current installed capacity and potential of PHP energy resources are discussed. Besides that, the paper presents the barriers that hinder the proliferation of PHP in the Malaysia, the great challenges and outlooks for future developments of the PHP in Malaysia. By and large, the objective is to provide essential strategic implications for Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantifying incident solar radiation on a surface is a complex task that requires the knowledge of geometric, geographical, astronomical, physical and meteorological characteristics of the location. The aim of this paper is to analyze the attenuation processes of the solar radiation and to review the scientific works in this field, specifically the analytical models for solar irradiance calculation, as well as to establish an alternative method to compute the magnitude of the overall atmospheric transmittance. Analytical models have been developed since 1940 and they have been improving in precision and complexity. Up until now, the Bird & Hulstrom model is the most complete and accurate of them all. The main disadvantage of this model is that a great number of equations and parameters such as temperature, sunshine hours, humidity, etc. are required. In this paper, a very fast and accurate new method is developed to quantify solar irradiances at any site. The analysis shows that the parameters required are only the type of climate, altitude and state of the atmosphere. This method also allows to quantify the influence of the turbidity degree in both direct and diffuse irradiances. That information is essential to select which solar technologies are suitable in each place. As an application, the new method has been implemented and characterized in Mexico. Solar energy is an abundant resource in Mexico, and there are some studies about the solar energy potential in that country, but the influence of physical and meteorological factors on the solar radiation have not been related. In this study, the meteorological information of 74 weather stations located in different climates of the country were used to determine the parameters required. The results have been validated with experimental data available for different locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for biofuels is rising with the growing population and decreasing reserves of petroleum. Indeed the rising population and increasing level of greenhouse gases not only contribute for global warming, but also imparts serious effects on humans and the environment. There is a constant urge to find other alternatives to the petroleum-based products. Of the three generations of biofuel feed stocks i.e. food crops, non-food crops and microalgae-derived biofuels; it is discussed that microalgae can be the best source of feed stock in terms of food security and for reducing the harmful impact on the environment. This paper serves as base to discuss the benefits of using microalgae as a source of biomass for biofuels and the methods that can be used to enhance the microalgal biology in order to improve their production. It reviews how the use of optimized nutrient concentration and culture conditions increase the yield, cell density and lipid productivity. It further reviews the role of bacteria in enhancing/inhibiting the microbial biomass and lipid productivity in microalgal-bacterial biological associations. The final part of the paper lays emphasis on the importance of improving microalgal biology by the use of genetic engineering and metabolic engineering in order to obtain desired results. Overall stress is placed upon unfolding and unraveling the gaps present in producing microalgal biomass, such as inefficient and reduced production, poor penetration of light in dense cultures, low oil content and higher harvesting costs. Overcoming of these major bottlenecks by ecologically engineering species specific valuable microalgal-bacterial mini consortium might lead to specific and noteworthy breakthrough in the production of clean, green, renewable, sustainable and high yielding microalgal biofuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2012 the Hungarian Government has decided to revise the country's National Renewable Action Plan, mostly due to the experienced changes of the economic environment and the continuously decreasing cost of renewable energy technologies. Present paper introduces the methodology and the most important results of this revision process, carried out by the Centre for Energy Research of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. First the results of Hungarian initiatives, aiming the increase of the share of renewable, were examined, then by analysis of technological and economic trends of recent years, new scenarios were set to reach the targets set by adopting the 2009/28/EC directive. [1] A multiple-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) of all potential renewable technologies and their respective fuels served as a basis for the most competitive scenarios. The authors focused on five aspects: economy, environment, climate, job creation and innovation. Due to coverage constraints, present paper dominantly focuses on the review of the economical aspect, but in addition to those mentioned, further aspects may also be considered in the optimisation process. The results of the revision highlight that by 2020 Hungary will still mostly be using bioenergy in its renewable portfolio, which also allows the country to exploit its significant potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy demands, environmental impacts of energy conversion, and the depletion of fossil fuels are constant topics of discussion in the energy industry. Renewable energy technologies have been proposed for many years to address these concerns. However, the transformation from traditional methods of power generation, usually based on fossil fuels, to power generation based on renewable resources presents many challenges associated with emerging, or less established, technologies. This paper examines the role of renewable energy in the U.S. and its potential to meet current and future energy needs in a way that is technically and economically sound. Renewable energy technologies, ranging from well-developed and established to new and emerging technologies, are presented in terms of their technical potential, current state of the technology, potential for further growth, and economic potential. While renewable energy sources are abundant across the U.S., issues of dispatchability, variability, scalability, energy storage, geographic limitations, and investment costs are critical in determining future progress. The analysis in this paper can be used to guide the integration of renewable energy systems toward becoming a larger share of energy production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy demand across the globe has increased in many folds due to technological advancement, rapid growth in industries and increase in household energy demand. This led the engineers and planners to think and find the means to harvest the alternative energy sources other than the fossil fuel. Solar, wind, biomass, mini hydro are some of the resources used worldwide to generate energy as per the availability of resources. This paper presents a comparative performances of various stand alone solar photovoltaic(PV), grid connected PV and hybrid renewable energy system (HRES) studied across the globe. The standalone PV system is used to supply electricity to a small habitats/hamlets or to a single household. Hybrid energy system consists of two or more energy sources for generation of power for rural electrification in off grid locations and in grid connected PV systems, excess electricity produced is injected to the grid thereby generating additional income. The research works carried out by various researchers around the globe on renewable energy sources particularly for rural electrification is discussed in this paper. Besides this the utilisation of renewable electricity for Plug-in-Electric Vehicles (PEV) studied across the globe were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional technologies of carbon capture and storage (CCS) are being focused on capturing CO 2 in large-scale demonstrations, which has been proved to result in the high cost and energy penalty. Meanwhile, typical innovative measures, commonly defined as the second generation CCS technologies, elude conventional ones by integrating with solar energy and thus contributing to a more energy-efficient conversion of CO 2 . However, few reviews pay attention to thermodynamic processes and parameters of these novel technologies, and there is a lack of systematic evaluation and comparison among them. This paper firstly presents a guided tour on the state-of-art of typical and innovative CCS technologies integrated with solar energy. An overview on thermodynamic processes, including chemical reactions, operating conditions and efficiency indexes of five typical technologies is presented so that the current development level can be clarified. Since the high energy requirement and related operating cost are the main barriers to the application of existing CCS technologies, the minimum work and second-law efficiency are applied as the main indicators in the second part of this paper which relates to performance evaluation. In addition, the performance windows for innovative technologies are illustrated for the comparison of technological maturity. The results show that energy requirement of innovative CCS technologies from the flue gas is avg. 100–200 kJ/mol CO 2 and the second-law efficiency of them is only 5–12%. Therefore, the maturity and popularity of these novel technologies are still relatively low. But the well-integrated systems and diversified output of these technologies can benefit existing energy infrastructures in a long period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global biodiesel production grew by 23% per annum between 2005 and 2015, leading to a seven-fold expansion of the sector in a single decade. Rapid development in the biodiesel sector corresponded to high crude oil prices, but since mid-2014, oil prices have fallen dramatically. This paper assesses the economic and policy factors that underpinned the expansion of biodiesel, and examines the near-term prospects for biodiesel growth under conditions of low fossil fuel prices. We show that the dramatic increase in biodiesel output would not have occurred without strong policy directives, subsidies, and trade policies designed to support agricultural interests, rural economic development, energy security, and climate targets. Given the important role of policy—and the political context within each country that shapes policy objectives, instruments, and priorities—case studies of major biodiesel producing countries are presented as a key element of our analysis. Although the narrative of biodiesel policies in most countries conveys win-win outcomes across multiple objectives, the case studies show that support of particular constituents, such as farm lobbies or energy interests, often dominates policy action and generates large social costs. Looking out to 2020, the paper highlights risks to the biodiesel industry associated with ongoing regulatory and market uncertainties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Society's dependence on fossil fuels to meet energy demands has resulted in an enormous release of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into the atmosphere, thereby perpetuating global climate change. The consequences of climate change have prompted progressive governments such as British Columbia to establish legislative GHG emission reductions targets, which have lead to energy conscience municipalities within the province voluntarily committing to helping achieve such targets. Best practices examined from European municipalities share a common theme of renewable energy adoption and municipally-owned utilities. An emerging renewable energy technology are tidal current turbines (TCTs), which function to extract kinetic energy from the lateral movement of the tides in areas with considerable tidal velocities. This paper examines the history, physics, operational parameters, and plausible environmental impacts of TCTs in order to make a case for their sustainable implementation. The feasibility of the municipalities of North Pender Island, South Pender Island, and Saturna of the Southern Gulf Islands Region (SGIR), British Columbia, to help meet established GHG emissions reduction targets through the implementation of TCTs is analyzed, demonstrating that the deployment of 10 TCTs can produce 38,266,602 kWh/yr of electricity, mitigating 1138 t of CO2e, achieving 9.9% of the cumulative municipal GHG emissions mitigation targets. The paper then examines a case study in the Shetland Islands and Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters, Scotland, suggesting that jurisdictional regulatory powers over TCT installation and operation be devolved from the British Columbia government to the municipal governments of North Pender Island, South Pender Island, and Saturna, so that such communities can reap the benefits associated with a municipally-owned utility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global anthropogenic activities resulting in the emission of harmful greenhouse gases (GHGs) to the atmosphere have increased the challenges faced from climate change. The greater awareness of the need to mitigate climate variability has brought about intense focus on the adverse impacts of fossil-fuel based energy on the environment. Being the single largest source of carbon emissions, energy supply has attracted much attention and more so that, climate change impacts extend beyond national boundaries. Since energy use is sine qua non to economic development, scientists have reiterated the necessity of developing and utilising renewable energy. Although, past and present CO 2 emissions have and are majorly caused by industrialized countries, it is envisaged that future GHGs emissions would be mostly from developing countries as they industrialize. Renewable energy sources that include biomass, hydroelectric, wind, solar and hydrothermal systems, are carbon-neutral, releasing relatively no emissions. This paper discusses the initiatives associated with the provision of renewable energy to the energy mix in Nigeria as an indication of the country’s commitment to adopt a sustainable development strategy in shaping the economy. It reviews the literature and employs a discourse analysis to examine the limited use of renewable energy sources in Nigeria and the factors prevailing against their development. The paper concludes by identifying social and political obstacles as most significant roadblocks towards rapid implementation of a green economy through the deployment of renewable energy for sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]