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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]

Smart energy transition includes a widespread deployment of clean energy technologies and intelligent energy management with information and communication technologies (ICTs). In this paper, the smart energy transition is studied from the viewpoint of the technology convergence of renewable energy sources (RESs) and ICTs. Two important, fast-growing and weather-dependent renewable energy generation technologies: wind power and solar PV (photovoltaic) are studied. This paper provides technology convergence analyses of RES and ICT inventions based on international patent data. Digitalisation is changing the whole of society, and according to the results, this transition can also be seen in the studied renewable energy generation technologies. The digitalisation of RES production covers technologies that control, manage and optimise electricity production in different intelligent ways. Differences between wind power and solar PV technologies are found: in the case of wind power, the development from virtually no ICT solutions to partial technology convergence with the ICT sector is straightforward. However, in the case of solar PV, the development of basic technologies has been even faster than the development of the solar PV ICT solutions, which may indicate the immature nature of solar PV technologies during the studied years. The digitalisation of the renewable energy sector poses challenges for RES companies in following and predicting ICT development and opportunities for innovations and collaborations with ICT companies. This conclusion can also be expanded to society and policy levels because focusing on only a narrow field when planning innovation policy instruments can negatively impact the country's competitiveness. • Digitalisation and ICT solutions are impacting on wind power and solar PV technologies. • The prominent RES technologies with ICT solutions control, manage and optimise electricity production. • Wind power patent data shows a straightforward technology convergence trend with ICT. • Basic inventions in solar PV have increased more rapidly than solar PV ICT solutions. • Digitalisation in wind power and solar PV has been driven by the US, Germany, Denmark and Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy (RE) trade disputes have been rising in response to certain green industrial policies, i.e., policy mechanisms used to develop domestic RE industries and accrue associated local economic benefits. Since 2011, countries have been increasingly filing trade litigations to counter the use of green industrial policies by their trading partners so that they can expand RE industry competitiveness and the associated manufacturing jobs within their own countries. However, in the absence of systematic studies on the impacts of RE trade duties, evidence regarding their success in achieving these economic goals remains limited. In this paper, the effectiveness of RE trade duties in supporting employment, especially in manufacturing, is assessed. First, the literature on the motivations behind RE trade duties is reviewed, and then the case of trade duties imposed by the US on the imports of solar and wind energy components from China between 2011 and 2019 is examined. Although several factors may drive employment, no evidence is found for the increase in jobs in solar and wind manufacturing in the years after the trade duties were imposed. Meanwhile, downstream jobs in installation, operation and maintenance continued to grow, corresponding to increases in annual installation of solar and wind capacity in the US. These were driven by policy incentives and the declining costs of solar and wind technologies. Overall, this case study highlights the broader implication that trade duties alone are unlikely to promote local manufacturing industries, and countries would benefit from other well-designed policies. • Renewable energy (RE) related trade disputes rising but studies examining effectiveness of trade duties limited. • Literature on the goals behind trade duties on RE components reviewed. • A framework developed to assess the relationship between RE trade duties and manufacturing employment. • Framework applied to examine the case of trade duties by the US on the imports of solar and wind energy components from China. • Trade duties not effective to develop local RE industries; other well-designed policies needed to increase local RE manufacturing jobs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current editorial summarized some of the scientific works presented in the Sustainable Energy and Environmental Protection (SEEP) conference-held at the University of the West of Scotland, UK, 2018. The selected work was directly related to the scope of the Renewable, Sustainable Energy Reviews (RSER) journal. During the conference activities, experts from all around the world in the subjects of: renewable energy, climate change, optimization, and economics presented and discussed the progress made in renewable energy sources, as well as the new strategies for protecting the environment from the hazards connected with fossil fuel utilization. The methods presented in the conference focused on several directions: the development of efficient energy conversion systems with low/no environmental impacts; the suggested policies to widespread renewable energies; the restriction in the emission of greenhouse gases, and the recent progresses in CO 2 capture. This editorial focused on the renewable energy developments and their positive effect on the climate change, and briefly summarized the accepted manuscripts in this issue. • Effects of renewable energy on climate change. • Background on the International Conference on Sustainable Energy and Environmental Protection SEEP. • Summary of selected papers of SEEP 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current editorial summarized some of the scientific works presented in the Sustainable Energy and Environmental Protection (SEEP) conference-held at the University of the West of Scotland, UK, 2018. The selected work was directly related to the scope of the Renewable, Sustainable Energy Reviews (RSER) journal. During the conference activities, experts from all around the world in the subjects of: renewable energy, climate change, optimization, and economics presented and discussed the progress made in renewable energy sources, as well as the new strategies for protecting the environment from the hazards connected with fossil fuel utilization. The methods presented in the conference focused on several directions: the development of efficient energy conversion systems with low/no environmental impacts; the suggested policies to widespread renewable energies; the restriction in the emission of greenhouse gases, and the recent progresses in CO 2 capture. This editorial focused on the renewable energy developments and their positive effect on the climate change, and briefly summarized the accepted manuscripts in this issue. • Effects of renewable energy on climate change. • Background on the International Conference on Sustainable Energy and Environmental Protection SEEP. • Summary of selected papers of SEEP 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past years, a new technology has emerged in the solar photovoltaics market: building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). Even though this technology has a lot of potential, the diffusion of BIPV has remained rather limited, globally and also in the Netherlands. In this paper, the Technological Innovation System (TIS) approach is used to analyze the historical development of the Dutch BIPV innovation system and to provide a comprehensive overview of the systemic problems that hamper further diffusion of BIPV in the Netherlands. Several systemic problems are identified, including 1) lack of policy support for the industrialization and commercialization of BIPV, 2) the absence of large firms from the construction industry resulting in the lacking industrial capacities of the BIPV innovation system, and 3) the limited value chain coordination and collaboration to help improve the compatibility and complementarity of BIPV with traditional building components and (electrical) installations. To overcome these systemic problems and enable the Dutch BIPV innovation system to move from the present niche market phase to the commercial growth phase, multiple recommendations are provided to both policymakers and value chain actors. • We use the TIS approach to analyze the Dutch BIPV innovation system. • Both the historical development and current state are considered. • Systemic problems are identified that hamper diffusion of BIPV in the Netherlands. • Policy support should promote the build-up of industrial capacities. • Value chain coordination and collaboration can improve the diffusion of BIPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental and socioeconomic challenges facing many hydrocarbon-rich nations could help them evolve from hydrocarbon-based (black) into renewables-based (green) economies. In this paper, we present a case study for application of this Black Into Green (BIG) method for Iran. We show that with international cooperation Iran could indefinitely meet its energy and freshwater needs by leveraging large-scale renewable energy harvesting systems integrated with seawater pumped storage hydropower, reverse osmosis desalination, and enhanced distribution systems. This BIG transition could be facilitated by allocating a significant portion of Iran's potential hydrocarbon-based income to acquire, develop, and deploy renewable energy technology that utilizes Iran's immense solar and wind energy potential. Our analysis shows that developing just 1% of identified sites would provide over 30 TWh of annual renewable electricity generation and storage, and 221 million m 3 /day of renewably-powered desalination capacity to meet the freshwater needs of over 85% of its population. In addition to providing renewable energy design and manufacturing technology, the international community could also work with Iran to help evolve its nuclear power program toward small modular reactors for baseload power generation. Such an arrangement would contribute to regional and global security, and greatly reduce the Middle East's carbon emissions of which Iran is the largest emitter. Results from this holistic approach could then serve as a model for the world economy to work with other resource-rich nations to reduce their environmental impact while modernizing their economies and helping them achieve the socioeconomic goals outlined in the UN's Brundtland report. • Presents strategy for a sustainable economy to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. • Case study for Iran with oil (black) exchanged for renewables (green). • Wind and solar energy with coastal pumped storage hydro and reverse osmosis. • 1% of viable sites could supply Iran with 10% of power and 45% of freshwater needs. • Distributed economic and environmental benefits meet UN sustainable development goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Installed capacities of wind and solar power have grown rapidly over recent years, and the pool of literature on very short-term (minutes- to hours-ahead) wind and solar forecasting has grown in line with this. This paper reviews established and emerging approaches to provide an up-to-date view of the field. Knowledge transfer between wind and solar forecasting has benefited the field and is discussed, and new opportunities are identified, particularly regarding use of remote sensing technology. Forecasting methodologies and study design are compared and recommendations for high quality, reproducible results are presented. In particular, the choice of suitable benchmarks and use of sufficiently long datasets is highlighted. A case study of three distinct approaches to probabilistic wind power forecasting is presented using an open dataset. The case study provides an example of exemplary forecast evaluation, and open source code allows for its reproduction and use in future work. • Research in minutes- to hours-ahead wind and solar power forecasting is reviewed. • Knowledge transfer between wind and solar continues to benefit both fields. • An open-source case study of three distinct methods is presented. • Best practice in forecast evaluation is set out in the case study. • Common areas for improvement in research quality are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along with the increasing rate of using renewable energies, following the finite amount of fossil fuel resources, and the associated pollution of these non-renewable energies, photovoltaic systems have recently achieved widespread acceptance to harness solar energy in the last decades. Since photovoltaic systems have a limited lifespan and cannot be used after a while, it seems imperative to pay attention to recycling and sustainability in the supply chain network design of these systems. In this respect, this paper first reviews the photovoltaic systems literature systematically. Thereinafter, a multi-objective, mixed-integer non-linear optimization model is deployed to design a photovoltaic supply chain network addressing the system's associated costs, environmental impacts, and social values. The concerned model also considers a reverse flow in addition to the typical forward flow in the proposed supply chain for special environmental and social issues. Likewise, to optimize the presented multi-objective model, the augmented ε-constraint method is employed, being capable of warranting the Pareto optimal solutions. Eventually, the model's efficiency is illustrated by discussing a real-world case in Iran, through which prominent managerial results are acquired. • The photovoltaic systems literature is systematically reviewed. • A multi-objective, mixed-integer non-linear programming model is proposed to design a sustainable photovoltaic supply chain network. • The concerned model is able to consider a reverse flow in addition to the typical forward flow in the proposed supply chain. • To solve the proposed multi-objective model, the augmented ε-constraint method is deployed. • The efficiency of the model is illustrated by discussing a real-world case in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports experimental work related to passively cooled free-standing silicon photovoltaic panels (PV) in different cooling configurations with a considered utilization of phase change materials (PCM). The PV panels (20Wp) were examined in typical Mediterranean climate conditions during several months of field monitoring. The focus of the research was to reconsider the usually conventional applied passive cooling approach for PVs in cases when the PV panel is cooled with phase-change materials (PV-PCM cooling systems). The conventional approach usually assumes one solid container filled with a PCM that is fixed into the backside surface of the PV panel to regulate the operating temperature of the PV panel. In the herein considered novel approach, instead of one PCM filled container, several smaller containers filled with PCM materials were used and experimentally tested to determine the performance benefit. The gained experimental results of the two different PV-PCM cooling configurations were compared with a referent PV panel. Based on the experimental results, it was found that the performance of the PV system (overall power yield), for the assumed measurement period, was improved for about 2.5% in the case of the concept with a full PCM container when compared to the referent PV panel. The proposed novel PV-PCM passive cooling approach, with several independent PCM containers, reached a performance improvement of 10.7%, which is considerably higher with respect to the usually applied concept with a full PCM container. The quantity of utilized PCM materials and aluminum, in several container configurations, was 47% (PCM) and 36% (aluminum) less, when compared with the passive cooling configuration with solid a PCM container. The revealed results indicated the potential of the novel proposed PV-PCM passive cooling approach regarding performance improvements and resource utilization, which would affect both economic and environmental aspects. • Two passive cooling configurations experimentally examined for photovoltaics. • Passive techniques considered the use of a phase change material (PCM). • Novel PV-PCM cooling approach tested. • Highest performance improvement of 10.7% ensured by the novel approach. • Reduction of main resource use by 47% (PCM) and 36% (aluminum). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]