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Low or even zero carbon dioxide emissions will be an essential requirement for energy supplies in the near future. Besides transport and electricity generation, industry is another large carbon emitter. Hydrogen produced by renewable energy provides a flexible way of utilizing that energy. Hydrogen, as an energy carrier, could be stored in a large capacity compared to electricity. In Sweden, hydrogen will be used to replace coal for steel production. This paper discusses how the need for electricity to produce hydrogen will affect the electricity supply and power flow in the Swedish power grid, and whether it will result in increased emissions in other regions. Data of the Swedish system will be used to study the feasibility of implementing the hydrogen system from the power system viewpoint, and discuss the electricity price and emission issues caused by the hydrogen production in different scenarios. This paper concludes that the Swedish power grid is feasible for accommodating the additional electricity capacity requirement of producing green hydrogen for the steel industry. The obtained results could be references for decision makers, investors, and power system operators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modern world is moving towards a zero-emission economy; therefore, various actions are being taken to reduce the share of fossil fuels in energy production. The article examines the potential for the continued expansion of photovoltaic farms, with a special emphasis on farms utilising east–west panel orientation. The east–west orientation is an innovative solution with many advantages over the traditional north–south arrangement. The paper also makes a detailed assessment of the photovoltaic farm environment by applying two analyses based on the following factors: Political, Economic, Social, and Technological (PEST) and Demographic, Economic, Environmental, Political, Legal, Informational, Social, and Technological (DEEPLIST) factors. This is followed by an insightful, comprehensive review of the most important factors that contribute to the efficiency of photovoltaic installations, namely site conditions, existing infrastructure, and ability to connect to the electricity grid. The paper also devotes space to an analysis of daily energy price changes that affect the economic efficiency of the installation and discusses the potential for energy storage in the context of photovoltaic farms. The development of photovoltaics also requires investing in energy storage. All discussed issues fall within the scope of photovoltaic farm development and optimal use of energy resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper takes a cursory look at the problem of inadequate power supply in the rural healthcare centres of a developing country, specifically Nigeria, and proffers strategies to address this issue through the design of hybrid renewable energy systems combined with the existing unreliable grid in order to meet the healthcare load demand, thus ensuring higher reliability of available energy sources. The simulations, analysis and results presented in this paper are based on meteorological data and the load profiles of six selected locations in Nigeria, using which hybrid grid-connected systems integrating diesel, solar and wind energy sources are designed with configurations to give optimum output. The optimised design configurations in the considered case study, Ejioku, Okuru-Ama, Damare-Polo, Agbalaenyi, Kadassaka and Doso, produce very low energy costs of of 0.0791 $/kWh, 0.115 $/kWh, 0.0874 $/kWh, 0.0754 $/kWh, 0.0667 $/kWh and 0.0588 $/kWh, respectively, leveraging solar and wind energy sources which make higher percentage contributions at all sites. The load-following-dispatch strategy is adopted at all sites, ensuring that at every point in time, there is sufficient power to meet the needs of the healthcare centres. Further works on this topic could consider other strategies to optimise general energy usage on the demand side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geothermal energy exploration, development, and research have been ongoing in Canada for several decades. The country's cold climate and the push to develop renewable energy sources have driven interest in geothermal energy. Despite this drive, regulatory complexities and competition with other relatively inexpensive energy sources with existing infrastructure have hindered development. As such, interest has grown and waned with changes in the energy economy over several decades, leaving many projects at a standstill. As of January 2023, there are currently no operational geothermal power projects in Canada. Many hot spring pool and spa complexes remain active, and Canada is a leading country in the installation of ground source heat pumps (GSHPs; also called geo-exchange systems). However, in the last decade, the interest in deep geothermal systems has renewed, with many new projects starting up across several provinces and territories. Moreover, projects that had shown limited progress for many years—such as Mount Meager in British Columbia—have begun to renew their development efforts. Research is also expanding within prominent research groups and universities. The areas of focus include both building upon previous studies (such as thermal gradients and the heat flow in sedimentary basins) and researching new methods and resources (such as GSHPs, closed-loop systems, integrated geothermal operations, and hybrid systems, including heat storage). The development is supported by federal, provincial, and territorial governments through grants and the development of regulatory frameworks. Although challenges still remain for Canada to develop its geothermal energy resources, several power, thermal, and co-production projects, ongoing research, funding, and regulatory acts are all moving forward to support geothermal development. This paper aims to study Canada's geothermal energy update in 2023 regarding the aspects mentioned above. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the penetration of renewable energy sources into a power system increases, the significance of precise short-term forecasts for wind power generation becomes paramount. However, the erratic and non-periodic nature of wind poses challenges in accurately predicting the output. This paper presents a comprehensive investigation into forecasting wind power generation for the following day, using three machine learning models: long short-term memory (LSTM), convolutional neural network-bidirectional LSTM (CNN-biLSTM), and light gradient boosting machine (LGBM). In addition, this paper proposes a method to improve the prediction performance of LGBM by separating data according to the distribution of features, and training and testing each separated dataset with a distinct model. This study includes a comparative analysis of the performance of the proposed models in predicting wind turbine output, offering valuable insights into their respective efficiencies. The results of this investigation were analyzed for two geographically distinct wind farms (Korea and the UK). The findings of this study are expected to facilitate the selection of efficient prediction models within the forecast accuracy auxiliary service market and assist grid operators in ensuring reliable power supply for the grid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lingering COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine have wreaked havoc on the global oil supply chain. The current disruption of the oil supply chain and the rapidly growing energy demand created unprecedented oil shortages and raised the oil price beyond the affordable level. As worldwide oil price hikes continue, there is an urgent need for developing alternative energy sources, such as smart rural energy. Despite its enormous potential as a viable alternative to traditional fossil fuel-based energy sources, smart rural energy has never been fully utilized in society. The limited use of smart rural energy may be related to its lack of commercialization, which could have created more eco-friendly and cost-efficient alternative energy sources. This paper assesses the eco-friendliness and cost-efficiency of smart rural energy sources such as solar, wind, biomass, and hydropower for the first time. This paper is also one of the first studies that intends to develop viable strategic plans for commercializing smart rural energy using strategy maps, which subsequently helps increase public awareness of renewable energy by creating visual communication tools that convey the benefits of smart rural energy commercialization to multiple stakeholders, including government entities, business communities, and energy consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shift from large-scale centralised energy systems to smaller scale decentralised systems based on Distributed Energy Resources (DER) is likely to cause a sector-wide replacement of current electricity management practices and business models—creating a new energy paradigm. If handled well, such a transition will not be inherently disruptive; however, it can cause major disruption if long-held views and assumptions are not rapidly reconsidered and renewed, and new supporting structures are not swiftly put in place—hence, if disruption is experienced it will be due to a lack of strategic responses rather than the nature of the technology. This paper clarifies the nature of DERs and outlines key issues and opportunities associated with a range of associated service configurations and business models. The paper outlines key factors affecting the viability of such approaches and identifies leverage points for accelerating uptake. The paper concludes by considering how shifting landscape factors and related opportunities in the coming decades will shape the transition to a decentralised energy system. This paper contains findings from research performed at the Renewable, Affordable, Clean Energy Cooperative Research Centre (RACE CRC) in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the climate crisis worsens, power grids are gradually transforming into a more sustainable state through renewable energy sources (RESs), energy storage systems (ESSs), and smart loads. Virtual power plants (VPP) are an emerging concept that can flexibly integrate distributed energy resources (DERs), managing manage the power output of each DER unit, as well as the power consumption of loads, to balance electricity supply and demand in real time. VPPs can participate in energy markets, enable self-scheduling of RESs, facilitate energy trading and sharing, and provide demand-side frequency control ancillary services (D-FCAS) to enhance the stability of the system frequency. As a result, studies considering VPPs have become the focus of recent energy research, with the purpose of reducing the uncertainty resulting from RESs distributed in the power grid and improving technology related to energy management system (EMS). However, comprehensive reviews of VPPs considering their formation, control techniques, and D-FCAS are still lacking in the literature. Therefore, this paper aims to provide a thorough overview of state-of-the-art VPP technologies for building sustainable power grids in the future. The review mainly considers the development of VPPs, the information transmission and control methods among DERs and loads in VPPs, as well as the relevant technologies for providing D-FCAS from VPPs. This review paper describes the significant economic, social, and environmental benefits of VPPs, as well as the technological advancements, challenges, and possible future research directions in VPP research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of renewable energy sources is becoming increasingly widespread around the world due to various factors, the most relevant of which is the high environmental friendliness of these types of energy resources. However, the large-scale involvement of green energy leads to the creation of distributed energy networks that combine several different generation methods, each of which has its own specific features, and as a result, the data collection and processing necessary to optimize the operation of such energy systems become more relevant. Development of new technologies for the more optimal use of RES is one of the main tasks of modern research in the field of energy, where an important place is assigned to the use of technologies based on artificial intelligence, allowing researchers to significantly increase the efficiency of the use of all types of RES within energy systems. This paper proposes to consider the methodology of application of modern approaches to the assessment of the amount of energy obtained from renewable energy sources based on artificial intelligence technologies, approaches used for data processing and for optimization of the control processes for operating energy systems with the integration of renewable energy sources. The relevance of the work lies in the formation of a general approach applied to the evaluation of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy based on the use of artificial intelligence technologies. As a verification of the approach considered by the authors, a number of models for predicting the amount of solar power generation using photovoltaic panels have been implemented, for which modern machine-learning methods have been used. As a result of testing for quality and accuracy, the best results were obtained using a hybrid forecasting model, which combines the joint use of a random forest model applied at the stage of the normalization of the input data, exponential smoothing model, and LSTM model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy use of residues from agriculture, forestry, and solid waste can foster the transition towards a more renewable energy supply. This paper analyzes the energy potential of the above-mentioned sources for energy applications in Kosovo. The analysis is based on statistical data from different studies and reports, analyzing and calculating them to determine the theoretical and energy biomass potential. Kosovo can increase its self-sufficiency by taking advantage of its rich but under-utilized potential of biomass energy sources. This is a novelty study in this area, considering Kosovo lignite-dominated heat energy and electricity consumption and the available special literature. According to our estimates, the theoretical potential is 6.13 million tons/year, while the biomass energy potential should be around 4.57 million tons/year, including approximately 74.6% of biomass, which can be used for energy needs (heating and electricity). Based on the data and calculations, the available and usable potential shows biomass as an energy source with high potential in Kosovo; its share is very low, but it is reasonable to grow for both environmental and economic reasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of distributed generation (DG) into distribution networks introduces uncertainties that can substantially affect network reliability. It is crucial to implement appropriate measures to maintain reliability parameters within acceptable limits and ensure a stable power supply for consumers. This paper aims to optimize the location, size, and number of DG units to minimize active power losses and improve distribution System (DS) reliability while considering system operational constraints. To achieve this objective, multiple tests are conducted, and the particle swarm optimization (PSO) technique is implemented. The simulation studies are performed using the ETAP software 19.0.1 version, while the PSO algorithm is implemented in MATLAB R2018a. ETAP enables a comprehensive evaluation of the DG system's performance, providing valuable insights into its effectiveness in reducing power losses and enhancing system reliability. The PSO algorithm in MATLAB ensures accurate optimization, facilitating the identification of the optimal DG unit location and size. This study uses a modified IEEE-13 bus unbalanced radial DS as the test system, assessing the effects of photovoltaic (PV) and wind DG units under various scenarios and penetration levels. The results demonstrate that the optimal DG unit location and size of either a single PV or wind DG unit significantly reduce power losses, improve DS reliability, and enable effective load sharing with the substation. Moreover, this study analyzes the impact of DG unit uncertainty on system performance. The findings underscore the potential of optimized DG integration to enhance DS efficiency and reliability in the presence of renewable energy sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emission reduction of global greenhouse gases is one of the key steps towards sustainable development. Demand response utilizes the resources of the demand side as an alternative of power supply which is very important for the power network balance, and the virtual power plant (VPP) could overcome barriers to participate in the electricity market. In this paper, the optimal scheduling of a VPP with a flexibility margin considering demand response and uncertainties is proposed. Compared with a conventional power plant, the cost models of VPPs considering the impact of uncertainty and the operation constraints considering demand response and flexibility margin characteristics are constructed. The orderly charging and discharging strategy for electric vehicles considering user demands and interests is introduced in the demand response. The research results show that the method can reduce the charging cost for users participating in reverse power supply using a VPP. The optimizing strategy could prevent overload, complete load transfer, and realize peak shifting and valley filling, solving the problems of the new peak caused by disorderly power utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy crisis is affecting a number of countries, but particularly those that are heavily dependent on the traditional energy generation formula (e.g., Poland), as well as those neighbouring the territory of the ongoing war in Ukraine, i.e., Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. With this in mind, the authors of this study decided to explore the issue of water energy as a source of green (cheap and environmentally safe) energy in these countries. The main objective of the paper is to review the available literature, which is needed to identify the role hydropower plays in energy security and energy transition in these energy markets. This paper is based on a review and critical appraisal of the available literature and studies together with an inference. The structure of the paper consists of an introduction, the main part of the review and conclusions. The geopolitical location and socio-economic conditions of the adopted set of countries, form the basis of the review of the existing literature on the theme explored and the substantive inference. The main findings of this review indicate that the literature is most strongly focused on the overall assessment of the energy transition of the adopted countries for review, where the hydropower thread is most often taken up as one source of renewable energy supply. Hydropower, due to its relatively low share in the energy systems of the adopted set of countries, is, according to the authors, insufficiently explored. The most significant gap relates to the aspect of the potential for hydropower development in these areas, considering both the construction of new hydropower plants and opportunities signalled in the literature for the modernisation or restoration of existing ones. In this respect, the need for analyses (studies and simulations) of hydropower development, considering the economic benefits associated with their development juxtaposed with the safety dimension of this course of action for the environment (analysis and assessment of environmental costs) is indicated, which is the main recommendation of the review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing penetration of wind energy in electric power systems leads to a great demand for flexible resources to regulate power fluctuations. This paper focuses on investigating the impacts of the operational flexibility of hydropower generation systems on reducing wind curtailment and load shedding in a hybrid hydro–wind power system. Considering timescale variabilities of wind power, the upward and downward regulation capabilities of hydro flexibility under sub-hour and hour dispatch scales are estimated. Based on developed flexible indicators, the ultimate access ratio of wind power penetration into the power system is obtained by using the estimated probability of insufficient regulation reserves. All these analyses are carried out under the wet and dry periods to better understand their differences with the hydro flexibility. The method and obtained results provide important guidance for the stable and high-efficiency operation of hybrid power systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability performance of smart grid power systems is critical and requires special attention. Additionally, the combination of Battery Energy Storage (BES) systems, Solar Photovoltaic (SPV), and wind systems in the intelligent grid model provides utilities with excellent efficiency and dependability. However, a coordination grid with PV and other resources frequently results in severe issues, such as outages or power disruptions. A power outage in the grid might result in a power loss in the delivery system. As a result, the distributed grid model's dependable performance is intended for integrated wind energy, SPV arrays, and BE systems. This paper proposes a renewable intelligent grid model to sustain solar power generation. The model incorporates a boost converter to optimize the performance of solar panels by converting the DC power generated by the panels into AC power for use in the grid. The boost converter is optimized using a novel Horse Herd Optimization Algorithm (HOA) method. In this case, the HOA method is used to optimize the control parameters of the boost converter, such as the duty cycle and the inductor and capacitor values. According to the final results, the proposed method has reduced the Total Harmonic Deformation (THD) and power loss. Additionally, the proposed method outperformed existing strategies related to the Expected Energy Not Supplied (EENS), Loss of Load Probability (LOLP), and Loss of Load Expected (LOLE), indicating the sustainability of power generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microgrid technology has recently gained global attention over increasing demands for the inclusion of renewable energy resources in power grids, requiring constant research and development in aspects such as control, protection, reliability, and management. With an ever-increasing scope for maximizing renewable energy output, there is also a need to reduce the curtailment of power on both the generation and demand sides by increasing forecasting accuracies and using resources more effectively. This paper proposes a dual-stage dispatch employing a novel "split-horizon" strategy, in a bid to enhance energy management in a standalone microgrid. The split-horizon is essentially the considered time horizon split into equal operational periods of the dual-stage dispatch. The proposed strategy utilizes a custom-designed novel variant of the inertia-weight-based particle swarm optimization (PSO), termed customized PSO, to perform the optimal schedule and dispatch operation by benefitting from the simplicity of PSO and customization as per the considered objectives. A modified IEEE 34-node test system is derived into a standalone microgrid with added distributed energy resources to test the proposed strategy, while another standalone microgrid, a modified IEEE 69-node test feeder, is also considered for scalability. Furthermore, the validation of the strategy is performed appropriately with a case study while also validating the proposed optimization algorithm. It is observed that the proposed energy management strategy provides approximatelya 7% reduction in costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of renewable energy actively takes part in decarbonizing the fossil-fuel-based energy system. It reduces carbon emissions, carbon footprint, and greenhouse gas emissions and increases clean energy. The usage of renewable resources reduces and solves several problems, such as increasing temperature, carbon footprint, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy waste. Every sector contributes to increasing the above-mentioned factors in the environment. One of the main reasons for this biodegradation and climate change is energy resources. Using renewable energy instead of fossil fuel can solve the problem. This paper aims to find open research problems about the application of renewable energy and to initiate new innovative ideas regarding renewable energy. A detailed state of the art includes trends for renewable energy resources, their theoretical evolution, and practical implementations. Methodologies used for decision analysis in renewable energy are discussed in detail. The time frame for this analysis of renewable energy is 2010 to >2022. An extensive literature review finds a huge research scope in applying renewable energy in other research, such as logistics, smart production management, and advanced inventory management. Then, major changes in the profit/cost of that system due to renewable energy can be analyzed. This research proposes some innovative new ideas related cost formulas for renewable energy for the corresponding open problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generation of realistic scenarios is an important prerequisite for analyzing the reliability of renewable-rich power systems. This paper satisfies this need by presenting an end-to-end model-free approach for creating representative power system scenarios on a seasonal basis. A conditional recurrent generative adversarial network serves as the main engine for scenario generation. Compared to prior scenario generation models that treated the variables independently or focused on short-term forecasting, the proposed implicit generative model effectively captures the cross-correlations that exist between the variables considering long-term planning. The validity of the scenarios generated using the proposed approach is demonstrated through extensive statistical evaluation and investigation of end-application results. It is shown that analysis of abnormal scenarios, which is more critical for power system resource planning, benefits the most from cross-correlated scenario generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Affordable and clean energy for any rural community is crucial for the sustainable development of the community and the nation at large. The utilization of diesel-based power generation is one of the barriers to the sustainable development of these communities. Such generations require fuel that has a volatile market price and emits massive greenhouse gas emissions. This paper presents the design, modeling, and simulation of a hybrid power system for a rural area in the Sultanate of Oman that aims to reduce daily consumption of diesel fuel and greenhouse gas emissions. Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER) is utilized to model multiple energy mix hybrid systems and to propose the best optimal energy mix system for a selected community. In addition, Electrical Transient Analyzer Program (ETAP) software is employed to assess hybrid system operational performances, such as bus voltage profiles and active and reactive power losses. This study revealed that the PV–wind–diesel system is the optimal energy mix hybrid microgrid for the Al-Dhafrat rural area in Oman, with a net present cost of USD 14.09 million. Compared to the currently operating diesel-based system, the deployment of this microgrid can reduce the levelized cost of energy, diesel fuel consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions per year by 54.56%, 70.44%, and 70.40%, respectively. This study confirms that the Sultanate of Oman has a substantial opportunity to install a hybrid microgrid system for rural diesel-based communities to achieve sustainable development in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heterogeneous network (HetNet) is a specified cellular platform to tackle the rapidly growing anticipated data traffic. From a communications perspective, data loads can be mapped to energy loads that are generally placed on the operator networks. Meanwhile, renewable energy-aided networks offer to curtailed fossil fuel consumption, so to reduce the environmental pollution. This paper proposes a renewable energy based power supply architecture for the off-grid HetNet using a novel energy sharing model. Solar photovoltaics (PV) along with sufficient energy storage devices are used for each macro, micro, pico, or femto base station (BS). Additionally, a biomass generator (BG) is used for macro and micro BSs. The collocated macro and micro BSs are connected through end-to-end resistive lines. A novel-weighted proportional-fair resource-scheduling algorithm with sleep mechanisms is proposed for non-real time (NRT) applications by trading-off the power consumption and communication delays. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm with an extended discontinuous reception (eDRX) and power saving mode (PSM) for narrowband internet of things (IoT) applications extends the battery lifetime for IoT devices. HOMER optimization software is used to perform optimal system architecture, economic, and carbon footprint analyses while the Monte-Carlo simulation tool is used for evaluating the throughput and energy efficiency performances. The proposed algorithms are validated through the practical data of the rural areas of Bangladesh from which it is evident that the proposed power supply architecture is energy-efficient, cost-effective, reliable, and eco-friendly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green hydrogen is becoming an increasingly important energy supply source worldwide. The great potential for the use of hydrogen as a sustainable energy source makes it an attractive energy carrier. In this paper, we discuss the potential of producing green hydrogen in Jordan. Aqaba, located in the south of Jordan, was selected to study the potential for producing green hydrogen, due to its proximity to a water source (i.e., the Red Sea). Two models were created for two electrolyzer types using MATLAB. The investigated electrolyzers were alkaline water (ALK) and polymeric electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyzers. The first model was used to compare the required capacity of the PV solar system using ALK and PEM from 2022 to 2025, depending on the learning curves for the development of these technologies. In addition, this model was used to predict the total investment costs for the investigated electrolyzers. Then, a techno-economic model was constructed to predict the feasibility of using this technology, by comparing the use of a PV system and grid electricity as sources for the production of hydrogen. The net present value (NPV) and levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) were used as indicators for both models. The environmental effect, according to the reduction of CO2 emissions, was also taken into account. The annual production of hydrogen was 70.956 million kg. The rate of hydrogen production was 19.3 kg/s and 1783 kg/s for ALK and PEM electrolyzers, respectively. The LCOH was 4.42 USD/kg and 3.13 USD/kg when applying electricity from the grid and generated by the PV system, respectively. The payback period to cover the capital cost of the PV system was 11 years of the project life, with a NPV of USD 441.95 million. Moreover, CO2 emissions can be reduced by 3042 tons/year by using the PV as a generation source, instead of fossil fuels to generate electricity. The annual savings, with respect to the reduction of CO2 emissions, was USD 120,135. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) are emerging as an effective concept and model to empower the active participation of citizens in the energy transition, not only as energy consumers but also as promoters of environmentally friendly energy generation solutions, particularly through the use of photovoltaic panels. This paper aims to contribute to the management and optimization of individual and community Distributed Energy Resources (DER). The solution follows a price and source-based REC management program, in which consumers' day-ahead flexible loads (Flex Offers) are shifted according to electricity generation availability, prices, and personal preferences, to balance the grid and incentivize user participation. The heuristic approach used in the proposed algorithms allows for the optimization of energy resources in a distributed edge-and-fog approach with a low computational overhead. The simulations performed using real-world energy consumption and flexibility data of a REC with 50 dwellings show an average cost reduction, taking into consideration all the seasons of the year, of 6.5%, with a peak of 12.2% reduction in the summer, and an average increase of 32.6% in individual self-consumption. In addition, the case study demonstrates promising results regarding grid load balancing and the introduction of intra-community energy trading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy sources (RES) are currently the main alternative to fossil fuels and are also seen as an important contributor to slowing down the dangerous climate change on our planet. Energy supplied from renewable sources can reduce the consumption of primary raw materials and reduce emissions of harmful substances that enter the atmosphere in the process of producing electricity and heat, having a negative impact on the environment. This paper provides a multivariate comparative analysis of EU countries in terms of the use of renewable energy. The empirical research used seven variables defining the complex phenomenon under study, collected for 27 EU countries between 2011 and 2020. The research method used was the dynamic version of the non-model method, with a normalisation method based on zero unitarisation. The results of the study confirm that there was a positive change in the use of renewable energy in most EU countries between 2011 and 2020. High levels of renewable energy use were displayed by the Scandinavian countries, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark. In contrast, the least renewable energy use was seen in Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for improved energy security in Nigeria cannot be over-emphasized. Currently, energy security is rather poor, while access to energy is fundamental to socio-economic development and poverty alleviation. Renewable energy could potentially contribute to resolving this because renewable sources such as solar radiation are more available and sustainable, and can be set up in small generation units, meaning that it is suitable for community management and ownership. In theory, a community energy approach could well apply. In this paper, the main research question is: In what ways can community energy initiatives contribute to increasing the use of renewable energy sources and improving energy security in Nigeria according to selected stakeholders and households? A mixed methods research approach was used to answer this question, with stakeholder interviews and survey data from 124 residents in two case studies of selected housing estates in Lagos. The results show that 58% of the households and most of the stakeholders express support for community renewable energy as a viable approach for increasing energy access and greening energy supply. The present study shows that there is a need to raise awareness and support projects for effective and supportive renewable energy policy to encourage local renewable energy community formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LVDC buildings use a low-voltage direct current (LVDC) distribution system for energy transmission and integrate photovoltaic (PV), battery energy storage (BES) and the utility grid as building energy resources. This technology can reduce energy loss in conversion to a certain extent and increase renewable energy compared with traditional AC distribution systems. Under the national goal of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, LVDC buildings have been proven to be a new approach to energy conservation and emission reductions, and have been applied in engineering in China. However, the construction methods and integrated technologies of those projects are not clear, and technical barriers and policy constraints for the engineering application of LVDC buildings are not systematically discussed yet. This paper presents the latest study of LVDC building engineering applications the advantages and drawbacks of LVDC development in China. First, relevant policies and standards which support the development of LVDC building industries are summarized. More than 60 practical LVDC projects are investigated, and the application characteristics and the technology status of building types, and their capacity and design methods, etc., are analyzed. The attitudes of stakeholders toward LVDC buildings are surveyed to determine the policy direction according to the demands of this technology, with reference to building practitioners who intend to engage in LVDC projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been an upsurge of studies on sustainable development. The majority of research focuses on developed countries and issues that are incompatible with developing nations. This study addresses a gap in the literature by reviewing the research on developed and developing economies, as well as their social and environmental boundaries, under the renewable energy and sustainable development (RESD) nexus. It also explores how RESD may be applied in extreme situations such as population increase, energy supply disruptions, and transportation shortfalls. The fundamental contribution of this paper is to provide detailed debate from the perspective of economic growth hypotheses and their relationship with energy usage and renewable energy solutions for sustainable growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the integration of large-scale renewable energy into the power grids, cross-regional power trade can play a major role in promoting renewable energy consumption, as it can effectively achieve the optimal allocation of interconnected power grid resources and ensure the safe and economic operation of the power grid. An optimization model on a mid/long-term scale is established, considering the relationship between the renewable energy absorption interval and the regulation of resources in the system. The model is based on the load block curve and the renewable energy power model, considering the maintenance constraints of conventional units, the operation constraints of conventional units and renewable energy units, cross-regional power trade constraints and system operation constraints. By analyzing the results of the adapted IEEE RELIABILITY TEST SYSTEM (IEEE-RTS), the validity of the model and method proposed in this paper is proven. The results show that the coordinated optimization of conventional energy and renewable energy in the system can be achieved, and the complementarity of power supply and load can be promoted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) can be used during idle times to convert hydrogen into electricity in a decentralised manner, thus ensuring a completely renewable energy supply. In addition to the electric power, waste heat is generated in the fuel cell stack that can also be used. This paper investigates how the energy demand of a compiled German neighbourhood can be met by FCEVs and identifies potential technical problems. For this purpose, energy scenarios are modelled in the Open Energy System Modelling Framework (oemof). An optimisation simulation finds the most energetically favourable solution for the 10-day period under consideration. Up to 49% of the heat demand for heating and hot water can be covered directly by the waste heat of the FCEVs. As the number of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) to be charged increases, so does this share. 5 of the 252 residents must permanently provide an FCEV to supply the neighbourhood. The amount of hydrogen required was identified as a problem. If the vehicles cannot be supplied with hydrogen in a stationary way, 15 times more vehicles are needed than required in terms of performance due to the energy demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid growth of electric vehicles in India necessitates more power to energize such vehicles. Furthermore, the transport industry emits greenhouse gases, particularly SO2, CO2. The national grid has to supply an enormous amount of power on a daily basis due to the surplus power required to charge these electric vehicles. This paper presents the various hybrid energy system configurations to meet the power requirements of the electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) situated in the northwest region of Delhi, India. The three configurations are: (a) solar photovoltaic/diesel generator/battery-based EVCS, (b) solar photovoltaic/battery-based EVCS, and (c) grid-and-solar photovoltaic-based EVCS. The meta-heuristic techniques are implemented to analyze the technological, financial, and environmental feasibility of the three possible configurations. The optimization algorithm intends to reduce the total net present cost and levelized cost of energy while keeping the value of lack of power supply probability within limits. To confirm the solution quality obtained using modified salp swarm algorithm (MSSA), the popularly used HOMER software, salp swarm algorithm (SSA), and the gray wolf optimization are applied to the same problem, and their outcomes are equated to those attained by the MSSA. MSSA exhibits superior accuracy and robustness based on simulation outcomes. The MSSA performs much better in terms of computation time followed by the SSA and gray wolf optimization. MSSA results in reduced levelized cost of energy values in all three configurations, i.e., USD 0.482/kWh, USD 0.684/kWh, and USD 0.119/kWh in configurations 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Our findings will be useful for researchers in determining the best method for the sizing of energy system components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microgrids, or distributed systems of local energy generation, transmission, and demand, are now technologically and operationally capable of providing power to communities, especially in rural and peri-urban regions of developing nations. The reliability of the system, the cost of power generation, and the operating environmental impact are the major issues when designing and evaluating the performance of an off-grid hybrid renewable energy microgrid (HREM). This paper presents an integrated method for optimal sizing and operation of an HREM for rural agricultural communities in the Southern Philippines composed of run-of-the-river hydropower, photovoltaics (PV), diesel generator, and a battery energy storage system (BESS) using multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) and a proposed multi-case power management strategy. The three conflicting objective functions that were simultaneously minimized were: loss of power supply probability (LPSP), levelized cost of energy (LCOE), and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, subject to several constraints. The optimization generated 200 non-dominated or Pareto optimal alternative solutions, 4 of which were selected as solutions of interest. Based on the results, the optimal sizes of the main components for the reliable operation of the system are 100 panels with a rating of 0.25 kW for PV, 100 kWh for BESS, and 13 kW for the diesel generator, with corresponding LCOE, LPSP, and GHG emission values of 0.1795 USD/kWh, 0.05%, and 7874 kg, respectively, for 1 year. The effectiveness of the proposed HREM design was also analyzed, and the study yielded plenty of useful findings that could aid the electrification of the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we conduct a feasibility study of the wind energy potential in Gaza, which suffers from a severe shortage of energy supplies. Our calculated energy harvested from the wind is based on data for a typical meteorological year, which are fed into a small wind turbine of 5 kW power rating installable on the roof of residential buildings. The expected annual energy output at a height of 10 m amounts to 2695 kWh, but it can be increased by 35-125% at higher altitudes between 20 m and 70 m. The results also depict the great potential of wind energy to complement other renewable resources such as solar energy: the harvested energy of a wind system constitutes to up to 84% of the annual output of an equivalent power rating photovoltaic system and even outperforms the solar energy in the winter months. We also show that one wind turbine and one comparable photovoltaic system together could provide enough energy for 3.7 households. Hence, a combination of wind and solar energy could stabilize the decentralized energy production in Gaza. This is very important in a region where people seek to reach energy self-sufficient buildings due to the severe electricity shortage in the local grid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contributes to the climate policy discussion by focusing on the challenges and opportunities of reaching net zero emissions by 2050 in Italy. To support Italian energy planning, we developed energy roadmaps towards national climate neutrality, consistent with the Paris Agreement objectives and the IPCC goal of limiting the increase in global surface temperature to 1.5 °C. Starting from the Italian framework, these scenarios identify the correlations among the main pillars for the change of the energy paradigm towards net emissions by 2050. The energy scenarios were developed using TIMES-RSE, a partial equilibrium and technology-rich optimization model of the entire Italian energy system. Subsequently, an in-depth analysis was developed with the sMTISIM, a long-term simulator of power system and electricity markets. The results show that, to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, the Italian energy system will have to experience profound transformations on multiple and strongly related dimensions. A predominantly renewable-based energy mix (at least 80–90% by 2050) is essential to decarbonize most of the final energy consumption. However, the strong increase of non-programmable renewable sources requires particular attention to new flexibility resources needed for the power system, such as Power-to-X. The green fuels produced from renewables via Power-to-X will be a vital energy source for those sectors where electrification faces technical and economic barriers. The paper's findings also confirm that the European "energy efficiency first" principle represents the very first step on the road to climate neutrality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, several tools and models have been developed and used for the design and analysis of future national energy systems. Many of these models focus on the integration of various renewable energy resources and the transformation of existing fossil-based energy systems into future sustainable energy systems. The models are diverse and often end up with different results and recommendations. This paper analyses this diversity of models and their implicit or explicit theoretical backgrounds. In particular, two archetypes are defined and compared. On the one hand, the prescriptive investment optimisation or optimal solutions approach. On the other hand the analytical simulation or alternatives assessment approach. Awareness of the dissimilar theoretical assumption behind the models clarifies differences between the models, explains dissimilarities in results, and provides a theoretical and methodological foundation for understanding and interpreting results from the two archetypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on early work and concept development for Optimal Mine Site Energy Supply, where the specific energy supply requirements and constraints for mineral production operations are considered against methodologies that have been applied for other sectors and in other energy policy regimes. The primary motivation for this research is to help ensure that Canadian mineral producers will achieve reduced production costs through improvements in the efficiency with which they consume energy resources. Heat has not yet been considered for the mining sector in an integrated manner, which makes polygeneration of great interest. The methodology that optimizes configuration of polygeneration systems for mine sites has not been reported before. The variety of mining circumstances, temporal variations in energy prices, institutional inertia, and conservatism in design for mines are some of the reasons for this. This paper reviews some aspects of precedent energy management practice in mineral operations, which highlights energy challenges characteristic of the sector and sets out the initial formulation of optimal mine site energy supply. The review indicates the additional benefits of energy supply systems for mine sites that concurrently meet all utilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The northern part of the globe is dominated by industrialisation and is well-developed. For many years, the southern part of the world (South Asia, Africa etc.) has been a target of research concentrating on access to energy (mainly electricity) in rural regions. However, the Central Asian region has not been a focus of energy research compared to South East Asia and Africa. Despite plentiful domestically available energy resources, the energy supply in Central Asia is very unevenly distributed between urban and rural areas. Almost half of the total population of Central Asia lives in rural areas and there is a lack of access to modern energy services to meet primary needs. To analyse the energy situation (i.e., electricity, heating, hot water consumption, cooking, etc.) in rural Central Asia, this paper reviews residential energy consumption trends in rural Central Asian regions as compared to urban areas. Furthermore, the paper illustrates the potential of renewable energies in Central Asia. To perform the study, a qualitative comparative analysis was conducted based on a literature review, data, and statistical information. In summary, the presented article discusses the rural energy situation analytically and provides in-depth insights of Central Asian energy infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental issues in energy policy, especially global warming, have received more attention lately than ever before. Excessive dependence on fossil fuels, deforestation, and land degradation are the three main factors that lead to increased carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions. Consequently, the global average temperature has doubled compared to anticipation. Various international protocols and agendas have been established, pledged to restore the global average temperature to the 1990 level. As a result, energy policies worldwide have also undergone various transformations to align with these protocols since then. As a developing nation, Malaysian's electricity demand has continuously grown in the past two decades. To date, the electricity sector is still dominated by fossil fuels. Government incentives have been the most influential factor in the nation's energy mix trend. Several energy policies implemented throughout the past 22 years have seen the shift from natural gas to coal power in power plants, and in more recent years, renewable energy resources. Numerous studies in the past have independently outlined the status of various energy source in Malaysia. However, they all fell short in providing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Malaysian energy sector. Notably, the question that remains to be answered is how GHG emissions have changed in response to the amendment in the energy mix; hence, the effectiveness of policy change in this aspect remains unknown. This paper analysed the past and present trend of Malaysia electricity generation mix and the resultant GHG emissions. In particular, this paper focused on investigating the variation of combined specific GHG emissions in the Malaysian electricity sector, in response to the policy change within the past 22 years. This provides the insight for Malaysian policymakers to evaluate the effectiveness of past policies in GHG emissions and the measures to be taken in future. The finding of this paper shows the attention on the nation's GHG emissions has evolved over the years, following the diversification in energy mix driven by the policy change. It was also found that, on average, it took a decade for a significant reduction in specific GHG emission to be visible since the government's energy policy implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flow characteristics in coastal regions are strongly influenced by the topography of the seabed and understanding the fluid dynamics is necessary before installation of tidal stream turbines (TST). In this paper, the bathymetry of a potential TST deployment site is used in the development of the a CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) model. The steady state k-ϵ and transient Large Eddy Simulation (LES) turbulence methods are employed and compared. The simulations are conducted with a fixed representation of the ocean surface, i.e., a rigid lid representation. In the vicinity of Horse Rock a study of the pressure difference shows that the small change in height of the water column is negligible, providing confidence in the simulation results. The stream surface method employed to visualise the results has important inherent characteristics that can enhance the visual perception of complex flow structures. The results of all cases are compared with the flow data transect gathered by an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP). It has been understood that the k-ϵ method can predict the flow pattern relatively well near the main features of the domain and the LES model has the ability to simulate some important flow patterns caused by the bathymetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrated transmission-and-distribution (T&D) modeling is a new and developing method for simulating power systems. Interest in integrated T&D modeling is driven by the changes taking place in power systems worldwide that are resulting in more decentralized power systems with increasingly high levels of distributed energy resources. Additionally, the increasing role of the hitherto passive energy consumer in the management and operation of power systems requires more capable and detailed integrated T&D modeling to understand the interactions between T&D systems. Although integrated T&D modeling has not yet found widespread commercial application, its potential for changing the decades-old power system modeling approaches has led to several research efforts in the last few years that tried to (i) develop algorithms and software for steady-state and dynamic modeling of power systems and (ii) demonstrate the advantages of this modeling approach compared with traditional, separated T&D system modeling. In this paper, we provide a review of integrated T&D modeling research efforts and the methods employed for steady-state and dynamic modeling of power systems. We also discuss our current research in integrated T&D modeling and the potential directions for future research. This paper should be useful for power systems researchers and industry members because it will provide them with a critical summary of current research efforts and the potential topics where research efforts are needed to further advance and demonstrate the utility of integrated T&D modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To meet the world's growing energy needs, photovoltaic (PV) and electric vehicle (EV) systems are gaining popularity. However, intermittent PV power supply, changing consumer load needs, and EV storage limits exacerbate network instability. A model predictive intelligent energy management system (MP-iEMS) integrated home area power network (HAPN) is being proposed to solve these challenges. It includes forecasts of PV generation and consumers' load demand for various seasons of the year, as well as the constraints on EV storage and utility grid capacity. This paper presents a multi-timescale, cost-effective scheduling and control strategy of energy distribution in a HAPN. The scheduling stage of the MP-iEMS applies a receding horizon rule-based mixed-integer expert system.To show the precise MP-iEMS capabilities, the suggested technique employs a case study of real-life annual data sets of home energy needs, EV driving patterns, and EV battery (dis)charging patterns. Annual comparison of unique assessment indices (i.e., penetration levels and utilization factors) of various energy sources is illustrated in the results. The MP-iEMS ensures users' comfort and low energy costs (i.e., relative 13 % cost reduction). However, a battery life-cycle degradation model calculates an annual decline in the storage capacity loss of up to 0.013 % . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the interconnection and active management of Distributed Generation (DG) and Energy Storage Systems (ESSs), the traditional electrical distribution network has become an Active Distribution Network (ADN), posing challenges to the operation optimization of the network. The power supply and storage capacity indexes of a Local Autonomy Control Region (LACR), which consists of DGs, ESSs and the network, are proposed in this paper to quantify the power regulating range of a LACR. DG/ESS and the network are considered as a whole in the model of the indexes, considering both network constraints and power constraints of the DG/ESS. The index quantifies the maximum LACR power supplied to or received from ADN lines. Similarly, power supply and storage capacity indexes of the ADN line are also proposed to quantify the maximum power exchanged between ADN lines. Then a practical algorithm to calculate the indexes is presented, and an operation optimization model is proposed based on the indexes to maximum the economic benefit of DG/ESS. In the optimization model, the power supply reliability of the ADN line is also considered. Finally, the indexes of power supply and storage capacity and the optimization are demonstrated in a case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microgrids have emerged as a solution to address new challenges in power systems with the integration of distributed energy resources (DER). Inverter-based microgrids (IBMG) need to implement proper control systems to avoid stability and reliability issues. Thus, several researchers have introduced multi-objective control strategies for distributed generation on IBMG. This paper presents a review of the different approaches that have been proposed by several authors of multi-objective control. This work describes the main features of the inverter as a key component of microgrids. Details related to accomplishing efficient generation from a control systems' view have been observed. This study addresses the potential of multi-objective control to overcome conflicting objectives with balanced results. Finally, this paper shows future trends in control objectives and discussion of the different multi-objective approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In competitive electricity markets, the growth of electricity generated by renewable sources will reduce the market price of electricity assuming marginal cost pricing. However, small renewable distributed generation (RDG) alone cannot modify the formation of electricity prices. By aggregating small RDG units into a Virtual Power Plants (as a single unit market) they are capable of dealing at the wholesale electricity market analogous to large-scale producer following in changes in wholesale prices. This paper investigates the socioeconomic impacts of different type of RDG technologies on Spanish economic sectors and households. To this end, we applied an input-output price model to detail the activities more sensitive to changes in electricity price due to RDG technologies deployment and the associated modifications in income and total output associated with the households' consumption variation. Detailed Spanish electricity generation disaggregation of the latest available Spanish Input-Output table, which refers to 2015, was considered. It was found that the integration of RDG units in the electricity market project a better situation for the economy and Spanish households. This paper's scope and information can be used to benefit decision-making with respect to electricity pricing policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent movements for the decarbonization of the electricity sector have become a priority for many countries around the world and will inevitably lead to the sharp decline of fossil-fuel-based energy. Energy from fossil fuels is to be replaced by renewable energy sources (RES), although the transition will neither be cheap nor smooth. One sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels and which will take a considerable share in the increasing supply of renewable energy resources is biofuels. There are various types of biofuels used in practice; however, biodiesels represent one of the most popular and widespread ones. This paper focuses as a case study on the byproducts of Jatropha curcas, a crop and a plant that is already used for biofuel production and which is subsequently employed in electricity generation in Jatropha curcas producing regions. This paper identifies the limitations and prospects of Jatropha curcas utilization. Also, Jatropha curcas is compared to other materials suitable for biomass generation. An economic analysis for a 2 MW biofuel powerplant was conducted incorporating various market-related risks. The study shows that at current prices, net profitability can be achieved using Jatropha curcas byproducts for producing electricity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapidly evolving mobile technologies, the number of cellular base stations (BSs) has significantly increased to meet the explosive demand for mobile services and applications. In turn, this has significantly increased the capital and operational expenses, due to the increased electricity prices and energy consumption. To generate electricity, power plants mainly rely on fossil fuels, which are non-renewable energy resources. As a result, CO 2 emissions also increase, which adversely affect health and environment. For wireless access technologies and cellular networks, BSs are the largest power consumer, and the network energy consumption is mainly dominated by the network infrastructure, which makes the telecommunications sector liable for energy consumption as well as CO 2 emissions around the globe. Alternatively, solar energy is considered as an eco-friendly and economically attractive solution, due to its cost-effectiveness and sustainability. In this paper, the potentials of photovoltaic (PV) solar power to energize cellular BSs in Kuwait are studied, with the focus on the design, implementation, and analysis of off-grid solar PV systems. Specifically, system components, such as the number of PV panels, batteries, and converters needed for the design are determined and evaluated via HOMER software, with the focus on minimizing the net present cost (NPC). A comparison between various PV, diesel generator (DG), and battery bank (BB) system configurations is also performed. Moreover, a comparison of system deployment area will be presented for different PV panels that have different output power and panel sizes, in addition to utilizing a solar tracking system. It is revealed that utilizing a hybrid system configuration (i.e., PV-DG-BB) decreases fuel consumption per year by almost 95% in comparison to the conventional DG-only based electric systems. Not only that, but utilizing a pure off-grid solar PV system (i.e., PV-BB) can significantly reduce the total NPC while completely eliminating CO 2 emissions; however, at the expense of more land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading is gaining attention as a technology to effectively handle already existing distributed energy resources (DER). In order to manage a large number of DER, it is necessary to increase the number of P2P energy trading participants. For that, designing incentives for participants to engage in P2P energy trading is important. This paper describes a user-centric cooperative mechanism that enhances user participation in P2P energy trading. The key components of this incentive for participants to engage in P2P energy trading are described and evaluated in this study. The goal of the proposal is to make it possible to conduct economic transactions while reflecting the preferences of the traders in the ordering process, making it possible to conduct transactions with minimal effort. As a case study, the Higashi-Fuji demonstration experiment conducted in Japan verified the proposed mechanism. In this experiment, 19 households and 9 plugin hybrid vehicles (PHV) were evaluated. As a result, the study confirmed that prosumers were able to sell their surplus electricity, and consumers were able to preferentially purchase renewable energy when it was available. In addition, those trades were made economically. All trades were made automatically, and this efficiency allowed the users to continue using the P2P energy trading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High energy consumption, rising environmental concerns and depleting fossil fuels demand an increase in clean energy production. The enhanced resiliency, efficiency and reliability offered by microgrids with distributed energy resources (DERs) have shown to be a promising alternative to the conventional grid system. Large-sized commercial customers like institutional complexes have put significant efforts to promote sustainability by establishing renewable energy systems at university campuses. This paper proposes the integration of a photovoltaic (PV) system, energy storage system (ESS) and electric vehicles (EV) at a University campus. An optimal energy management system (EMS) is proposed to optimally dispatch the energy from available energy resources. The problem is mapped in a Linear optimization problem and simulations are carried out in MATLAB. Simulation results showed that the proposed EMS ensures the continuous power supply and decreases the energy consumption cost by nearly 45%. The impact of EV as a storage tool is also observed. EVs acting as a source of energy reduced the energy cost by 45.58% and as a load by 19.33%. The impact on the cost for continuous power supply in case of a power outage is also analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and finite energy supply issues have received substantial public attention in recent times. It has been argued that a sustainable energy supply associated with the promotion of clean energy is an important engine of growth, which calls for sound protection to reinforce investments in the renewable energy market. This paper examined the effect of intellectual property rights (IPRs) on renewable energy production using the dynamic panel generalised method of moments (GMM) technique on data from 59 sample countries. The empirical results provided strong evidence that IPRs significantly drive renewable energy production. Greater protection rights motivate renewable energy firms to increase energy production from renewable resources. Our findings further revealed that stronger protection propagates the deployment of renewable energy technologies that ultimately promote renewable energy production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In light of the global effort to limit the temperature rise, many cities have undertaken initiatives to become climate-neutral, making decentralized urban energy production more relevant. This paper addresses the potential of urban wind energy production with small wind turbines, using Berlin as an example. A complete framework from data selection to economic feasibility is constructed to enable the empirical assessment of wind energy for individual buildings and Berlin as a whole. Based on a detailed dataset of all buildings and hourly wind speed on a 1 km2 grid, the results show that multiple turbines on suitable buildings can significantly contribute to households' energy consumption but fall short of covering the full demand. For individual households, our economic evaluation strongly recommends the self-consumption of the produced electricity. The findings suggest that while the use of small wind turbines should be continuously encouraged, exploring other renewable resources or combination of wind and photovoltaic energy in the urban environment remains important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing number of prosumers and the accompanying greater use of decentralised energy resources (DERs) bring new opportunities and challenges for the traditional electricity systems and the electricity markets. Microgrids, virtual power plants (VPPs), peer-to-peer (P2P) trading and federated power plants (FPPs) propose different schemes for prosumer coordination and have the potential of becoming the new paradigm of electricity market and power system operation. This paper proposes a P2P trading scheme for energy communities that negotiates power flows between participating prosumers with insufficient renewable power supply and prosumers with surplus supply in such a way that the community welfare is maximized while avoiding critical grid conditions. For this purpose, the proposed scheme is based on an Optimal Power Flow (OPF) problem with a Multi-Bilateral Economic Dispatch (MBED) formulation as an objective function. The solution is realized in a fully decentralized manner on the basis of the Relaxed Consensus + Innovations (RCI) algorithm. Network security is ensured by a tariff-based system organized by a network agent that makes use of product differentiation capabilities of the RCI algorithm. It is found that the proposed mechanism accurately finds and prevents hazardous network operations, such as over-voltage in grid buses, while successfully providing economic value to prosumers' renewable generation within the scope of a P2P, free market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth in renewable energy integration over the past few years, primarily fueled by the drop in capital cost, has revealed the requirement for more sustainable methods of integration. This paper presents a collocated hybrid plant consisting of solar photovoltaic (PV) and Ternary pumped-storage hydro (TPSH) and designs controls that integrate the PV plant such that the behavior and the controllability of the hybrid plant are similar to those of a conventional plant within operational constraints. The PV array control and hybrid plant control implement a neural–network-based framework to coordinate the response, de-loading, and curtailment of multiple arrays with the response of the TPSH. With the help of the designed controls, a symbiotic relationship is developed between the two energy resources, where the PV compensates for the TPSH nonlinearities and provides required speed of response, while the TPSH firms the PV system and allows the PV to be integrated using its existing infrastructure. Simulations demonstrate that the designed controls enable the PV system to track references, while the TPSH's firming and shifting transforms the PV system into a base load plant for most of the day and extends its hours of operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]