Dear Colleagues,

It is well known that sustainable development assumes the multi perspective design and analysis of different interconnected and integrative systems of society. Moreover, assessment of their impact on the environment is carefully investigated. Ensuring an affordable, reliable and most of all, sustainable power supply for a greater percentage of the global population is a top priority for governments worldwide. The shift towards the exploitation of renewable energy sources is required to cope with the depletion of fossil sources and mainly, the reduction in pollutant emissions from fossil power plants as imposed by the mitigation of climate change. Although the benefits of high renewable energy penetration power systems are well known and obvious, expanding their use shows several disadvantages, among which the lack of synergy between their production and energy demand at some point hinders their faster development. Taking into account the economic implications of renewable energy variability, both in terms of integration into the power system and maintaining an adequate level of stability and reliability, studies in this area are currently of great interest. Recent studies have indicated that a storage capacity of 6% of the annual energy demand is enough to achieve a 100% renewable energy share. Regarding harmful emissions, it is highlighted that two-thirds of the total carbon dioxide emissions comes from the power sector, their reduction proving to be a complex issue in the context of an expected growth of the energy demand. Deploying decarbonization technologies is a solution, but fossil fuel reserves depletion and the costs associated with reducing emissions to a level consistent with environmental policy constraints make renewable energy a far more reachable alternative. Developing energy strategies in this framework implies that higher amounts of renewable energy will be integrated into complex power systems, together with energy storage devices to cope with related fluctuations. In this context, the present Special Issue focuses on the following topics:

1. Waste management: present and perspective solutions for energy recovery from renewable waste
2. Energy saving through improved energy technologies and storage systems integration
3. Sustainable integration of biomass in energy systems: exploitation of herbaceous biomass and agricultural residues in power plants, biofuels based on animal fat mixtures, etc.    
4. Decarbonization technologies and low carbon energy generation
5. Mathematical modeling and simulation of energy technologies and power systems

The Special issue will therefore contribute to enriching the background in the field of low carbon society sustainable development and eco-friendly energy technologies integration.

References:  

1. Ciupăgeanu D-A., Lăzăroiu G., Barelli L., Wind Energy Integration: Variability Analysis And Power System Impact Assessment, Energy, Issn: 0360-5442, Volume 185, 15 October 2019, Pages 1183-1196, DOI: 10.1016/J.Energy.2019.07.136. Wos:000484869400098
2. Lazaroiu G., Mihaescu L., Negreanu G., Pana C., Pisa I., Cernat A., Ciupageanu D-A., Experimental Investigations Of Innovative Biomass Energy Harnessing Solutions, Energies, Issn: 1996-1073, 2018, Volume 11 Issue:12, Doi: 3390/En11123469, Accession Number: Wos:000455358300230
3. Ibrahimi, N.; Gebremedhin, A.; Sahiti, A. Achieving a Flexible and Sustainable Energy System: The Case of Kosovo.Energies 2019, 12, 4753
4. Delponte, I.; Schenone, C. RES Implementation in Urban Areas: An Updated Overview. Sustainability2020, 12, 382.
5. Lazaroiu G., Pana C., Mihaescu L., Cernat A., Negurescu N., Mocanu R., Negreanu G., Solutions For Energy Recovery Of Animal Waste From Leather Industry, Energy Conversion And Management, Issn: 0196-8904, Eissn: 1879-2227, 2017, Volume 149, Pages: 1085-1095, Doi: 10.1016/J.Enconman.2017.06.042, Accession Number: Wos:000411537200088.
6. Lazaroiu G., Pop E., Negreanu G., Pisa I., Mihaescu L., Bondrea A., Berbec V., Biomass Combustion With Hydrogen Injection For Energy Applications, Energy, Issn: 0360-5442, Eissn: 1873-6785, 2017, Volume 127, Pages: 351-357, Doi: 10.1016/J.Energy.2017.03.133, Accession Number: Wos:000403991400031.
7. Pisa I., Lazaroiu G., Prisecaru T., Influence Of Hydrogen Enriched Gas Injection Upon Polluting Emissions From Pulverized Coal Combustion, International Journal Of Hydrogen Energy, Issn: 0360-3199, Eissn: 1879-3487, Volume: 39, Issue: 31, Pages 17702–17709, 2014, Doi: 10.1016/J.Ijhydene.2014.08.119, Accession Number: Wos:000343781100018.
8. Pisa I., Lazaroiu G., Influence Of Co-Combustion Of Coal-Biomass On The Corrosion, Fuel Processing Technology, Issn:0378-3820, Volume:104, Pages:356-364, DOI: 10.1016/J.Fuproc.2012.06.009, 2012, Accession Number: Wos: 000310411500046.
9. Faria, P.; Spínola, J.; Vale, Z. Distributed Energy Resources Scheduling and Aggregation in the Context of Demand Response Programs. Energies 2018, 11, 1987

Prof. Dr. Gheorghe LAZAROIU
Ms. Dana-Alexandra CIUPAGEANU
Guest Editors

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