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Feature Papers in Energy Sustainability

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 March 2022) | Viewed by 57510

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Alessandro Franco

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Energy, Systems, Territory and Constructions Engineering (DESTEC), University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Interests: applied thermodynamics; heat transfer; renewable energy; solar energy; geothermal energy; energy efficiency; energy systems optimization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Tomonobu Senjyu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
Interests: high-efficiency energy conversion system; renewable energy in small islands; optimization of power system operation and control
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The problems of energy and sustainability are often considered together in the important topic of “energy sustainability”. This does not always lead to clear solutions. The concept of sustainability is usually directly connected with the use of renewable energies. This is because the concept of sustainability is often connected with the idea of reducing the environmental impacts of energy systems and the energy transition from a world based on fossil fuels to a renewable-energy-based world. This is surely important, but the question generally appears to be much more complex.

In general, we think that the concept of energy sustainability leads to a re-framing of the energy problem towards a balanced mix of different solutions, including technological improvement, the use of sources consistent with their thermodynamic properties, the selection of opportune energy carriers and suitable approaches to define efficiency measures with rebound control, and environmental impacts and careful management of the energy–water–environment nexus.

In general, the concept of energy sustainability is deeply linked to a complex framework in which eco-efficiency and savings policies are combined with specific technological systems and solutions aimed at sustainability but also good practices, technical improvements, and careful energy management. The use of Information and Communication Technologies in connection with energy use could be an important element to support this transition.

The objective of this Special Issue is to frame, with a series of different contributions coming from different disciplinary areas, a series of ideas to promote the concept of energy sustainability in the various sectors of use (industrial, civil/residential, and transport), with respect to the various energy uses (electricity, thermal energy, and mobility). These include specific systems but also practices and methodological approaches aimed at improving energy sustainability, careful management of the energy sources and of the energy–water–food–environment nexus, and growth and sustainable behavior in the different specific fields of application.

Prof. Dr. Alessandro Franco
Prof. Dr. Tomonobu Senjyu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainable energy use
  • energy accounting and management
  • renewable energy
  • energy quality
  • energy and well-being
  • energy and environment
  • eco-efficiency measures
  • energy and ICT
  • energy and water

Published Papers (22 papers)

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21 pages, 2908 KiB  
Article
Comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment Analysis of an Italian Composting Facility concerning Environmental Footprint Minimization and Renewable Energy Integration
by Giovanni Biancini, Barbara Marchetti, Luca Cioccolanti and Matteo Moglie
Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 14961; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142214961 - 11 Nov 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1832
Abstract
The present paper aims to investigate the environmental impacts of a real municipal solid waste management facility operating in Italy including two power units, i.e., a combined heat and power system and an internal combustion engine, fed by the biogas produced from anaerobic [...] Read more.
The present paper aims to investigate the environmental impacts of a real municipal solid waste management facility operating in Italy including two power units, i.e., a combined heat and power system and an internal combustion engine, fed by the biogas produced from anaerobic digestion and waste disposal in sanitary landfill. The Life Cycle Assessment study is carried out in Simapro 9.1.1.7 and, in addition to the base case scenario, the implementation of additional renewable energy and circular economy solutions is evaluated. More precisely a PV plant on the roof of the anaerobic digesters section and the use of plastic and paper residues in a gasification process for additional heat and power production are considered. The main outcomes of the simulations demonstrate the following: (i) the benefits in terms of energy and fuel savings provided by the two power units; (ii) the environmental impact reduction due to the compost obtained from the anaerobic digestion of the organic waste as potential fertilizer; (iii) a potential power capacity of 2 MW through the gasification of the plastic and paper residues. With reference to the latter, despite bringing an increase of the carbon emissions (+48%) compared to the base case, it could contribute to reach higher environmental standards for MSW composting facilities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Energy Sustainability)
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19 pages, 745 KiB  
Article
Statistical Analysis of Design Variables in a Chiller Plant and Their Influence on Energy Consumption and Life Cycle Cost
by Yamile Díaz Torres, Paride Gullo, Hernán Hernández Herrera, Migdalia Torres del Toro, Mario A. Álvarez Guerra, Jorge Iván Silva Ortega and Arne Speerforck
Sustainability 2022, 14(16), 10175; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su141610175 - 16 Aug 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1492
Abstract
An appropriate design of a chiller plant is crucial to guarantee highly performing solutions. However, several design variables, such as type of systems, total cooling capacity, and hydraulic arrangement, need to be considered. On the one hand, at present, different technical criteria for [...] Read more.
An appropriate design of a chiller plant is crucial to guarantee highly performing solutions. However, several design variables, such as type of systems, total cooling capacity, and hydraulic arrangement, need to be considered. On the one hand, at present, different technical criteria for selecting the most suitable design variables are available. Studies that corroborate the influence of the design variables over the operational variables are missing. In order to fill this knowledge gap, this work proposes a statistical analysis of design variables in chiller plants operating in medium- and large-scale applications and evaluates their influence on energy consumption and life cycle cost (LCC) under the same thermal demand conditions. A case study involving 138 chiller plant combinations featuring different arrangements and a Cuban hotel was selected. The results suggested that the total chiller design and cooling capacity distribution among chillers have a significant influence on the energy consumption of the chiller plant with a Spearman’s Rho and Kendall Tau (τ) correlation index value of −0.625 and 0.559, respectively. However, with LCC, only the cooling capacity distribution among the chillers had a certain influence with a Kendall Tau correlation index value of 0.289. As for the considered total cooling capacity, the applied statistical test showed that this design variable does not have any influence on performing the chiller plant. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Energy Sustainability)
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28 pages, 4623 KiB  
Article
Design of Decentralized Hybrid Microgrid Integrating Multiple Renewable Energy Sources with Power Quality Improvement
by Jayachandran Jayaram, Malathi Srinivasan, Natarajan Prabaharan and Tomonobu Senjyu
Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 7777; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14137777 - 25 Jun 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1699
Abstract
Due to the energy crisis and exhaustion in the amount of fossil fuels left, there is an urge to increase the penetration of renewables in the grid. This paper deals with the design and control of a hybrid microgrid (HMG) in the presence [...] Read more.
Due to the energy crisis and exhaustion in the amount of fossil fuels left, there is an urge to increase the penetration of renewables in the grid. This paper deals with the design and control of a hybrid microgrid (HMG) in the presence of variable renewable energy sources. The DC sub-grid consists of a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) wind turbine, solar PV array with a perturb-and-observe (P&O) MPPT algorithm, boost converter, and battery energy storage system (BESS) with DC loads. The AC sub-grid consists of a PMSG wind turbine and a fuel cell with an inverter circuit synchronized to the grid to meet its load demand. A bidirectional interlinking converter (IC) connects the AC sub-grid and DC sub-grid, which facilitates power exchange between them. The decentralized control of converters allows all the renewables to operate in coordination independently without communication between them. The proposed control algorithm of the IC enables it to act as an active power filter in addition to the power exchange operation. The active power filtering feature of the IC helps to retain the power quality of the microgrid as per IEEE 519 standards by providing reactive power support and reducing the harmonic levels to less than 5%. The HMG with the proposed algorithm can operate in both grid-connected and islanded modes. While operating in grid-connected mode, power exchange between DC and AC sub-grids takes place and all the load demands are met. If it is in islanded mode, a diesel generator supports the AC sub-grid to meet the critical load demands and the BESS supports the DC microgrid. The proposed model is designed and simulated using MATLAB-SIMULINK and its results are analyzed. The efficacy of the proposed control is highlighted by comparing it with the existing controls and testing the HMG for load variations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Energy Sustainability)
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18 pages, 2466 KiB  
Article
Impacts of Various Connectivity Processes in Central Asia on Sustainable Development of Kyrgyzstan
by Nadejda Komendantova, Elena Rovenskaya, Nikita Strelkovskii and Fernando Santiago Rodriguez
Sustainability 2022, 14(12), 6998; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14126998 - 08 Jun 2022
Viewed by 1857
Abstract
Kyrgyzstan is facing a strategically important period in its history. The government’s ambition of reindustrializing is affecting its engagement with various international organizations and donors. As these plans will lead to societal transition and affect such areas as social development, national economy, and [...] Read more.
Kyrgyzstan is facing a strategically important period in its history. The government’s ambition of reindustrializing is affecting its engagement with various international organizations and donors. As these plans will lead to societal transition and affect such areas as social development, national economy, and environment, a careful consideration of their impacts is required, especially given the country’s need to achieve sustainable development. At the same time, the geographical position of Kyrgyzstan puts it at the cross-roads of three distinct regional economic connectivity processes: the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the China-led Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and various connectivity initiatives and projects taking place under the umbrella of the European Union (EU). A major issue is the extent to which Kyrgyzstan can leverage these processes to boost its economic revitalization plans and decarbonize its economy in line with international climate change mitigation and energy security policies, while ensuring a reliable energy supply. As a result, novel governance mechanisms need to be established that address the possible impacts of these economic connectivity processes; this is especially important given the frequently diverging perceptions and opinions of the various Kyrgyz and foreign stakeholders involved in industrial policymaking. Perceptual heterogeneity influences the development of solutions based on compromise and participatory governance that are crucial to implementing different industrial policy options; it also impacts the nature of the economic relationship between Kyrgyzstan and other countries in the Central Asian region. The aim of this paper is to understand the implications of perceptual heterogeneity for the various connectivity processes in Kyrgyzstan, their benefits, and their impacts. The methodology of this paper includes a variety of methods such as surveys and interviews with key stakeholders, scenario development, and participatory workshops in various regions of the country. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Energy Sustainability)
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26 pages, 6357 KiB  
Article
Harnessing Offshore Wind Energy along the Mexican Coastline in the Gulf of Mexico—An Exploratory Study including Sustainability Criteria
by Geovanni Hernández Galvez, Daniel Chuck Liévano, Omar Sarracino Martínez, Orlando Lastres Danguillecourt, José Rafael Dorrego Portela, Antonio Trujillo Narcía, Ricardo Saldaña Flores, Liliana Pampillón González, Alberto-Jesus Perea-Moreno and Quetzalcoatl Hernandez-Escobedo
Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5877; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14105877 - 12 May 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2438
Abstract
Mexico has more than 40 years of researching, investing, and obtaining electric power through wind energy. Within the country, there are highly windy areas, such as the Isthmus of Tehuantepec or the state of Tamaulipas, and there are about 2500 MW installed and [...] Read more.
Mexico has more than 40 years of researching, investing, and obtaining electric power through wind energy. Within the country, there are highly windy areas, such as the Isthmus of Tehuantepec or the state of Tamaulipas, and there are about 2500 MW installed and 70,000 MW tested, all onshore. There are still no offshore wind farms in Mexico, despite having two main coasts, the East and the West, with the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean, respectively. Although the Mexican coastal states of the Gulf of Mexico are Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche, and Yucatán, this work focuses on the study and feasibility of offshore wind energy use on the coasts of the states of Tabasco, Campeche, and Yucatán. This is because of the availability of data in that region; however, sustainability criteria that can be used in other regions are also presented. MERRA-2 and ERA5 data were used employing WAsP and Windographer software. It was found that the capacity factor in the area of Tabasco, Campeche, and Yucatán is 32%, 37%, and 46%. It can be noted that, in the WF100% scenario, each of the wind farms could contribute more than 35% of the region’s electricity consumption; those of Campeche and Yucatán stand out with contributions of more than 70%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Energy Sustainability)
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23 pages, 8814 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Wave Energy Behavior and Its Underlying Reasons in the Gulf of Mexico Based on Computer Animation and Energy Events Concept
by Francisco Haces-Fernandez, Hua Li and David Ramirez
Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4687; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14084687 - 14 Apr 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1254
Abstract
The complexity and variability of ocean waves make wave energy harvesting very challenging. Previous research has indicated that wave energy was mainly generated and transferred by wind, but the detailed correlation between wind and wave energy has not been discovered. Wave energy in [...] Read more.
The complexity and variability of ocean waves make wave energy harvesting very challenging. Previous research has indicated that wave energy was mainly generated and transferred by wind, but the detailed correlation between wind and wave energy has not been discovered. Wave energy in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) has high variability with distinct seasonal behavior. However, the underlying reasons for this unique behavior have not been discussed and discovered yet. In this paper, a computer animation-based dynamic visualization method was created to conduct exploratory and explanatory analyses of 36 years of meteorological data in the GoM from the WaveWatch III system to identify preliminary patterns and underlying reasons for the unique behavior of wave energy in the GoM. These preliminary patterns and underlying reasons were further analyzed using Energy Events and Breaks concepts. During both high and low levels wave energy periods, the detailed correlation between wave energy and the wind was analyzed and determined. High level wave power in the GoM was mainly generated by the local inland wind from northern weather patterns, while low level wave power was mainly generated by swells from the Caribbean and the Atlantic oceans, which entered the GoM through the two narrow pathways, the Straits of Yucatan and the Florida Straits. The results from this paper will also be able to help the design, placement, and operation of future wave energy converters to improve their efficiency in harvesting wave energy in the GoM. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Energy Sustainability)
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14 pages, 3871 KiB  
Article
Feasibility Analysis of Promoting Wind and Solar Energy in Texas Farms
by Mariee Cruz Mendoza, Erick Martinez-Gomez and Hua Li
Sustainability 2022, 14(4), 2222; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14042222 - 15 Feb 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2622
Abstract
Since the 1970s, agricultural lands have served as useful locations for the installation of renewable energy generators, such as wind turbines, photovoltaic modules, biodigesters, and others. Likewise, agriculture is one of the five industries with the highest annual energy consumption in the US. [...] Read more.
Since the 1970s, agricultural lands have served as useful locations for the installation of renewable energy generators, such as wind turbines, photovoltaic modules, biodigesters, and others. Likewise, agriculture is one of the five industries with the highest annual energy consumption in the US. Energy is a vital component in farms’ daily activities, which is involved in the harvesting of crops and the growth of livestock. Due to the current rapidly growing energy consumption trends, renewable energy sources have become a potential solution for energy generation. This paper focuses on the feasibility analysis of promoting the utilization of solar and wind energy generation to provide power for the operational activities involved in diverse agricultural processes through the performance of a geospatial analysis and an in-depth numerical analysis to study the patterns in the estimation of energy potential across the 254 counties located in the state of Texas. Furthermore, different patterns surrounding the thousand farms are analyzed, such as the distance to the largest cities and the location of heavily populated areas with higher energy potential. The results show that farms in several regions in Texas have significant potential to utilize wind and solar energy for their farm operations, and to supply electricity to the nearby population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Energy Sustainability)
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21 pages, 26135 KiB  
Article
Trends in Renewable Electricity Generation in the G20 Countries: An Analysis of the 1990–2020 Period
by Carla Cristiane Sokulski, Murillo Vetroni Barros, Rodrigo Salvador, Evandro Eduardo Broday and Antonio Carlos de Francisco
Sustainability 2022, 14(4), 2084; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14042084 - 11 Feb 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2716
Abstract
The use of electricity from non-renewable sources increases environmental impacts. Therefore, several countries have committed to increase the use of renewable sources. Considering the importance of the Group of Twenty (G20), this article aims to identify trends in renewable electricity supply in these [...] Read more.
The use of electricity from non-renewable sources increases environmental impacts. Therefore, several countries have committed to increase the use of renewable sources. Considering the importance of the Group of Twenty (G20), this article aims to identify trends in renewable electricity supply in these countries. The data collected are from the International Energy Agency (IEA) between 1990 and 2020. The methods measured the production of each type of electricity in the G20 matrices and identified the influence of the population, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and CO2 emissions in renewable electricity production using multiple linear regression. In terms of results, Brazil and Canada have the most renewable electricity matrices and higher per capita renewable production than non-renewable. Saudi Arabia presented the smallest renewable matrix throughout the analyzed period. All 20 countries have varied electrical production, with different amounts of solar, wind, hydro, biomass, geothermal, and tidal energy. Countries with the highest GDP are not necessarily the largest producers of renewable electricity. Hydroelectric energy, the biggest highlight in renewable production, is making room for other sources such as wind and solar, which grew the most in terms of participation in the electrical matrices. The waste, geothermal, and tidal energy participation have shown a timid but constant growth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Energy Sustainability)
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13 pages, 3979 KiB  
Article
Wave Power Density Hotspot Distribution and Correlation Pattern Exploration in the Gulf of Mexico
by Chengcheng Gu and Hua Li
Sustainability 2022, 14(3), 1158; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14031158 - 20 Jan 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2154
Abstract
Wave energy has been studied and explored because of its enormous potential to supply electricity for human activities. However, the uncertainty of its spatial and temporal variations increases the difficulty of harvesting wave energy commercially. There are no large-scale wave converters in commercial [...] Read more.
Wave energy has been studied and explored because of its enormous potential to supply electricity for human activities. However, the uncertainty of its spatial and temporal variations increases the difficulty of harvesting wave energy commercially. There are no large-scale wave converters in commercial operation yet. A thorough understanding of wave energy dynamic behaviors will definitely contribute to the acceleration of wave energy harvesting. In this paper, about 40 years of meteorological data from the Gulf of Mexico were obtained, visualized, and analyzed to reveal the wave power density hotspot distribution pattern, and its correlation with ocean surface water temperatures and salinities. The collected geospatial data were first visualized in MATLAB. The visualized data were analyzed using the deep learning method to identify the wave power density hotspots in the Gulf of Mexico. By adjusting the temporal and spatial resolutions of the different datasets, the correlations between the number of hotspots and their strength levels and the surface temperatures and salinities are revealed. The R value of the correlation between the wave power density hotspots and the salinity changes from −0.371 to −0.885 in a negative direction, and from 0.219 to 0.771 in a positive direction. For the sea surface temperatures, the R values range from −0.474 to 0.393. Certain areas within the Gulf of Mexico show relatively strong correlations, which may be useful for predicting the wave energy behavior and change patterns. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Energy Sustainability)
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29 pages, 9499 KiB  
Article
Applying Solar Energy in the Combination of Solar Dryer with Olive Harvesting Machine to Reduce Energy Losses
by Fatemeh Zare, Gholamhassan Najafi, Pedram Ghiasi, Ebrahim Fayyazi, Talal Yusaf and Mohamed Mazlan
Sustainability 2022, 14(3), 1091; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14031091 - 18 Jan 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1486
Abstract
In recent years, leveraging the amount of energy loss occurring in different fields of human activity has captured the attention of researchers. Harvesting and drying processes can be integrated in order to reduce energy losses. The present research work seeks to pinpoint the [...] Read more.
In recent years, leveraging the amount of energy loss occurring in different fields of human activity has captured the attention of researchers. Harvesting and drying processes can be integrated in order to reduce energy losses. The present research work seeks to pinpoint the association between the harvesting and drying processes as well as to make optimal use of both processes so as to decrease the level of energy loss and apply the renewable energies to the food supply chain. The olive harvesting machine was designed and evaluated, and the olives harvested in the solar dryer were placed in the solar dryer as the input materials. To obtain the evaluation of the experimental tests’ purpose, Mari cultivar was used. Following this trend was the evaluation of the olive harvesting machine and its comparison with the manual harvesting method. Having separated the olives from the tree through use of the harvesting machine designed and made, a solar dryer was used to accommodate the olives in order to make the final examination concerning any damage to olives. Findings of the study indicated up to 92% separation of the olive fruits by the olive harvester. It was also found that there is a 29.47 harvest efficiency for the olive harvester. In addition, evaluation of the solar dryer emphasized that an increase in the temperature and velocity of the inlet air results in a rapid decrease in the olive moisture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Energy Sustainability)
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14 pages, 594 KiB  
Article
Overallocation and Correction of Carbon Emissions in the Evaluation of Carbon Footprint
by Alex Gurvich and Germán G. Creamer
Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 13613; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132413613 - 09 Dec 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2755
Abstract
This paper points to several carbon footprint data distortions that overallocate carbon footprints to individual companies, and to several carbon data intricacies that lead to improved data integrity. Data distortion due to the same company being listed in multiple geographical jurisdictions or through [...] Read more.
This paper points to several carbon footprint data distortions that overallocate carbon footprints to individual companies, and to several carbon data intricacies that lead to improved data integrity. Data distortion due to the same company being listed in multiple geographical jurisdictions or through different share classes overstates Emissions Scope 1 by 4.6%, Emissions Scope 2 by 5.5%, Emissions Scope 3 by 10.6% and Reserves by 6.0%. Data distortion due to index construction by having different market capitalization in representative indices overallocates Emissions Scope 1 by 33.9%, Emissions Scope 2 by 27.6%, Emissions Scope 3 by 21.3% and Reserves by 57.2%. A significant amount of carbon data is not precise but is estimated by third-party providers through proprietary techniques. The estimated data for Scope 1 Emissions is 46.4% for the companies in the index. In addition, carbon data is stale, resulting in 94.5% of data being two years old or more. Usage of carbon data in a present format may incorrectly remove some companies from portfolios (negative screen, complete removal) or incorrectly reduce some companies’ weight in a portfolio (partial screen, fractional removal). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Energy Sustainability)
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19 pages, 3760 KiB  
Article
Solar E-Cooking with Low-Power Solar Home Systems for Sub-Saharan Africa
by Fernando Antonanzas-Torres, Ruben Urraca, Camilo Andres Cortes Guerrero and Julio Blanco-Fernandez
Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 12241; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132112241 - 05 Nov 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2331
Abstract
The e-cooking feasibility was evaluated for two of the main staple foods across rural Sub-Saharan Africa (rice and maize porridge) considering basic solar home systems (SHS) of 100–150 W and using inexpensive market available low-power DC cooking devices (rice cooker and slow cooker). [...] Read more.
The e-cooking feasibility was evaluated for two of the main staple foods across rural Sub-Saharan Africa (rice and maize porridge) considering basic solar home systems (SHS) of 100–150 W and using inexpensive market available low-power DC cooking devices (rice cooker and slow cooker). The coverage of e-cooking necessities was spatially evaluated for the African continent considering households of two, five, and eight people. While households of two people were able to be covered >95% of the days, the increase in e-cooking necessities implied that only larger PV generators (150 W) located in high irradiation sites (>2400 kWh/m2/year) were able to fulfill e-cooking, even in scenarios of households of five and eight people. Furthermore, the economic cost and the greenhouse gases emission factor (GHG) of e-cooking via small SHS were evaluated and benchmarked against traditional technologies with wood and charcoal considering three-stone and improved stoves and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cookers. The GHG for e-cooking was 0.027–0.052 kgCO2eq./kg·meal, which was strikingly lower than the other technologies (0.502–2.42 kgCO2eq./kg·meal). The e-cooking cost was in the range of EUR 0.022–0.078 person/day, which was clearly lower than LPG and within the range of the cost of cooking with wood and charcoal (EUR 0.02–0.48 person/day). The results provided a novel insight regarding market available technologies with a potential of changing cooking conditions in this region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Energy Sustainability)
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24 pages, 2902 KiB  
Article
Scheduling of Generation Stations, OLTC Substation Transformers and VAR Sources for Sustainable Power System Operation Using SNS Optimizer
by Ragab El-Sehiemy, Abdallah Elsayed, Abdullah Shaheen, Ehab Elattar and Ahmed Ginidi
Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 11947; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132111947 - 28 Oct 2021
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 1620
Abstract
Typically, the main control on alternating current (AC) power systems is performed by the scheduling of rotary machines of synchronous generators and static machines of on-load tap changer (OLTC) transformers and volt-ampere reactive (VAR) sources. Large machines of synchronous generators can be managed [...] Read more.
Typically, the main control on alternating current (AC) power systems is performed by the scheduling of rotary machines of synchronous generators and static machines of on-load tap changer (OLTC) transformers and volt-ampere reactive (VAR) sources. Large machines of synchronous generators can be managed by utilizing terminal voltage control when synchronized in parallel to the power system. These machines are typically terminal voltage regulated. In addition, substation on-load tap changer (OLTC) transformers improve system voltage management by controlling variable turn ratios that are adjusted in different levels known as taps along either the primary or secondary winding. Moreover, volt-ampere reactive (VAR) sources of static VAR compensators (SVCs), which are automated impedance devices connected to the AC power network, are designed for voltage regulation and system stabilization. In this paper, scheduling of these machines is coordinated for optimal power system operation (OPSO) using a recent algorithm of social network search optimizer (SNSO). The OPSO is performed by achieving many optimization targets of cost of fuel, power losses, and polluting emissions. The SNS is a recent optimizer that is inspired from users in social networks throughout the different moods of users such as imitation, conversation, disputation, and innovation mood. The SNSO is developed for handling the OPSO problem and applied on an IEEE standardized 57-bus power system and real Egyptian power system of the West Delta area. The developed SNSO is used in various assessments and quantitative analyses with various contemporary techniques. The simulated findings prove the developed SNSO’s solution accuracy and resilience when compared to other relevant techniques in the literature. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Energy Sustainability)
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17 pages, 1041 KiB  
Article
Volatility and Risk in the Energy Market: A Trade Network Approach
by Germán G. Creamer and Tal Ben-Zvi
Sustainability 2021, 13(18), 10199; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su131810199 - 13 Sep 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2023
Abstract
This paper evaluates the effect of energy trade networks on the price volatility of coal, oil, natural gas, and electricity. This research conducts a longitudinal analysis using a time series of static coal trade networks to generate a dynamic trade network. It uses [...] Read more.
This paper evaluates the effect of energy trade networks on the price volatility of coal, oil, natural gas, and electricity. This research conducts a longitudinal analysis using a time series of static coal trade networks to generate a dynamic trade network. It uses the component causality index as a leading indicator of the price volatility of the energy market. This research finds out that the component causality index, based on degree centrality, anticipates or moves together with coal volatility and, to a lesser degree, with natural gas and electricity volatility for the period 1998–2014. The proposed index could be integrated into a risk management system for investors and regulators. The broad impact of this research lies in the understanding of mechanisms of the instability and risk of the energy sector as a result of a complex interaction of the network of producers and traders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Energy Sustainability)
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24 pages, 2177 KiB  
Article
A Framework for Integration of Smart and Sustainable Energy Systems in Urban Planning Processes of Low-Income Developing Countries: Afghanistan Case
by Najib Rahman Sabory, Tomonobu Senjyu, Mir Sayed Shah Danish, Mikaeel Ahmadi, Hameedullah Zaheb and Mustafa Halim
Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8428; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13158428 - 28 Jul 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2922
Abstract
Population growth and city expansion in developing countries require traditional urban planning practices to be transformed in order to tackle climate change and follow Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agendas. Almost every expert in the urban sector believes that future cities should be sustainable, [...] Read more.
Population growth and city expansion in developing countries require traditional urban planning practices to be transformed in order to tackle climate change and follow Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agendas. Almost every expert in the urban sector believes that future cities should be sustainable, smart, and environmentally friendly, where energy is one of the most critical factors to achieve these goals. They also agree that smart and sustainable energy provision for cities requires a comprehensive and responsive legal and policy framework to be in place at the national level. However, this research’s findings reveal a lack of such frameworks for this group of countries. Considering the challenges and unique nature of Low-Income-Developing (LID) countries, there should be a framework based on the realities in these countries. In this research, key challenges of urban and energy sectors of LID countries, specifically Afghanistan, are identified, and a framework for the integration of sustainable and smart energy in the urban planning processes for LID countries is proposed. To make it easily replicable and adaptable for LID countries, the proposed framework is studied and analyzed around Afghanistan’s urban and energy sectors. This is one of the few frameworks of its kind for LID economies to the best of the authors’ knowledge. This framework lays a solid foundation for sustainable and smart energy integration in the urban planning process of developing countries. This study highlights that sustainable and smart energy systems could ensure climate change mitigation and economic growth enhancement but require close cross-sectoral coordination and policy maker’s commitments and involvement. This research will help many existing and emerging cities in the LID countries’ worldwide use and benefit from the proposed framework in their urban planning processes. It also enables policymakers, urban planners and designers, municipalities leadership, and other stakeholders of the urban, energy, and environment sectors to work together and make smart and rational decisions for the future of their cities and lead them towards smart and sustainable cities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Energy Sustainability)
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22 pages, 8501 KiB  
Article
Implementation of Different MPPT Techniques in Solar PV Tree under Partial Shading Conditions
by Pitchai Pandiyan, Subramani Saravanan, Natarajan Prabaharan, Ramji Tiwari, Thangam Chinnadurai, Neelakandan Ramesh Babu and Eklas Hossain
Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7208; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13137208 - 28 Jun 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2608
Abstract
This paper presents the design and analytical modeling of the proposed solar photovoltaic standalone system under varying environmental conditions. The proposed system consists of a unique structure of a solar PV-tree, maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique, and DC–DC converter. The output voltage [...] Read more.
This paper presents the design and analytical modeling of the proposed solar photovoltaic standalone system under varying environmental conditions. The proposed system consists of a unique structure of a solar PV-tree, maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique, and DC–DC converter. The output voltage acquired from the solar PV tree is low. A DC–DC boost converter is utilized to step-up the required amount of voltage level. In this paper, the appropriate duty cycle is obtained for extracting the optimum power from the solar PV tree by using various MPPT mechanisms such as perturb and observe (P&O), incremental conductance (INC), and a radial basis function network (RBFN)-based neural network (NN). The proposed solar photovoltaic tree-based energy harvesting system is designed and validated by using MATLAB/SIMULINK software and real-time application. The simulation results of the above-mentioned three techniques are compared with each other in order to show the effectiveness of the proposed system with RBFN. The RBFN-MPPT provides a significant improvement in tracking efficiency of 6.0% and 5.72% as compared with the P&O method and the INC method at 1000 W/m2 irradiance condition. From the simulation and real-time results, it is concluded that the RBFN-based NN provides better tracking efficiency and less oscillation as compared with the other two algorithms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Energy Sustainability)
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18 pages, 4353 KiB  
Article
Optimization of the Biomethane Production Process by Anaerobic Digestion of Wheat Straw Using Chemical Pretreatments Coupled with Ultrasonic Disintegration
by Yasmine Ryma Ouahabi, Kenza Bensadok and Abdeldjalil Ouahabi
Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7202; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13137202 - 27 Jun 2021
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3390
Abstract
Biomass is an attractive energy source that can be used for production of heat, power, and transport fuels and when produced and used on a sustainable basis, can make a large contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a suitable [...] Read more.
Biomass is an attractive energy source that can be used for production of heat, power, and transport fuels and when produced and used on a sustainable basis, can make a large contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a suitable technology for reducing organic matter and generating bioenergy in the form of biogas. This study investigated the factors allowing the optimization of the process of biogas production from the digestion of wheat straw (WS). The statistical analysis of the experiments carried out showed that ultrasonic processing plays a fundamental role with the sonication density and solids concentration leading to improved characteristics of WS, reducing particle size, and increasing concentration of soluble chemical oxygen demand. The higher the sonicating power used, the more the waste particles are disrupted. The optimality obtained under mesophilic conditions for WS pretreated with 4% w/w (weight by weight) H2O2 at temperature 36 °C under 10 min of ultrasonication at 24 kHz with a power of 200 W improves the methane yield by 64%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Energy Sustainability)
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22 pages, 11144 KiB  
Article
CFD Investigation of Vehicle’s Ventilation Systems and Analysis of ACH in Typical Airplanes, Cars, and Buses
by Behrouz Pirouz, Domenico Mazzeo, Stefania Anna Palermo, Seyed Navid Naghib, Michele Turco and Patrizia Piro
Sustainability 2021, 13(12), 6799; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13126799 - 16 Jun 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4428
Abstract
The simulation of the ventilation and the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems of vehicles could be used in the energy demand management of vehicles besides improving the air quality inside their cabins. Moreover, traveling by public transport during a pandemic is [...] Read more.
The simulation of the ventilation and the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems of vehicles could be used in the energy demand management of vehicles besides improving the air quality inside their cabins. Moreover, traveling by public transport during a pandemic is a concerning factor, and analysis of the vehicle’s cabin environments could demonstrate how to decrease the risk and create a safer journey for passengers. Therefore, this article presents airflow analysis, air changes per hour (ACH), and respiration aerosols’ trajectory inside three vehicles, including a typical car, bus, and airplane. In this regard, three vehicles’ cabin environment boundary conditions and the HVAC systems of the selected vehicles were determined, and three-dimensional numerical simulations were performed using computational fluid dynamic (CFD) modeling. The analysis of the airflow patterns and aerosol trajectories in the selected vehicles demonstrate the critical impact of inflow, outflow, and passenger’s locations in the cabins. The CFD model results exhibited that the lowest risk could be in the airplane and the highest in the bus because of the location of airflows and outflows. The discrete CFD model analysis determined the ACH for a typical car of about 4.3, a typical bus of about 7.5, and in a typical airplane of about 8.5, which were all less than the standard protocol of infection prevention, 12 ACH. According to the results, opening windows in the cars could decrease the aerosol loads and improve the low ACH by the HVAC systems. However, for the buses, a new design for the outflow location or an increase in the number of outflows appeared necessary. In the case of airplanes, the airflow paths were suitable, and by increasing the airflow speed, the required ACH might be achieved. Finally, in the closed (recirculating) systems, the role of filters in decreasing the risk appeared critical. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Energy Sustainability)
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22 pages, 19682 KiB  
Article
Multi-Attribute Decision-Making Approach for a Cost-Effective and Sustainable Energy System Considering Weight Assignment Analysis
by Keifa Vamba Konneh, Hasan Masrur, Mohammad Lutfi Othman, Hiroshi Takahashi, Narayanan Krishna and Tomonobu Senjyu
Sustainability 2021, 13(10), 5615; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13105615 - 18 May 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2198
Abstract
The need for inexpensive and sustainable electricity has become an exciting adventure due to the recent rise in the local population and the number of visitors visiting the Banana Islands. Banana Islands is a grid-isolated environment with abundant renewable energy, establishing a hybrid [...] Read more.
The need for inexpensive and sustainable electricity has become an exciting adventure due to the recent rise in the local population and the number of visitors visiting the Banana Islands. Banana Islands is a grid-isolated environment with abundant renewable energy, establishing a hybrid renewable energy-based power system may be a viable solution to the high cost of diesel fuel. This paper describes a dual-flow optimization method for electrifying the Banana Islands, a remote island in Sierra Leone. The study weighs the pros and cons of maintaining the current diesel-based power setup versus introducing a hybrid renewable energy system that takes backup component analysis into account. Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER) software is used in the first optimization to optimally design the various system configurations based on techno-economic and environmental characteristics. A Multi-Attribute Decision-Making (MADM) Model that takes into account in the second optimization, the Combinative Distance-based Assessment System (CODAS) algorithm, and various methods of assigning weights to the attributes is used to rank the best configuration. The results show that the hybrid renewable energy system is a better option for electrifying the Banana Islands than the current stand-alone system. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method of weight assignment was found to be superior to the Entropy method. Biogas generator-assisted hybrid configurations outperformed diesel generator-assisted hybrid configurations. With an optimum design of 101 kW PV, 1 wind turbine, 50 kW biogas, 86 batteries, and a 37.8 kW converter, the PV-wind-biogas-battery system is rated as the best configuration. It has a net present cost (NPC) of $487,247, a cost of energy (COE) of $0.211/kWh, and CO2 emission of 17.5 kg/year. Sensitivity analyses reveal that changes in the rate of inflation and the cost of storage have a significant effect on the overall cost of the configuration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Energy Sustainability)
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Review

Jump to: Research

30 pages, 2674 KiB  
Review
Carbon Capture Systems for Building-Level Heating Systems—A Socio-Economic and Environmental Evaluation
by Don Rukmal Liyanage, Kasun Hewage, Hirushie Karunathilake, Gyan Chhipi-Shrestha and Rehan Sadiq
Sustainability 2021, 13(19), 10681; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su131910681 - 26 Sep 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2597
Abstract
The energy consumption of buildings contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Energy use for space and water heating in buildings causes a major portion of these emissions. Natural gas (NG) is one of the dominant fuels used for building heating, emitting [...] Read more.
The energy consumption of buildings contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Energy use for space and water heating in buildings causes a major portion of these emissions. Natural gas (NG) is one of the dominant fuels used for building heating, emitting GHG emissions directly to the atmosphere. Many studies have been conducted on improving energy efficiency and using cleaner energy sources in buildings. However, implementing carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) on NG building heating systems is overlooked in the literature. CCUS technologies have proved their potential to reduce GHG emissions in fossil fuel power plants. However, their applicability for building-level applications has not been adequately established. A critical literature review was conducted to understand the feasibility and viability of adapting CCUS technologies to co-function in building heating systems. This study investigated the technical requirements, environmental and socio-economic impacts, and the drivers and barriers towards implementing building-level CCUS technologies. The findings indicated that implementing building-level CCUS technologies has significant overall benefits despite the marginal increase in energy consumption, operational costs, and capital costs. The information presented in this paper is valuable to academics, building owners and managers, innovators, investors, and policy makers involved in the clean energy sector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Energy Sustainability)
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29 pages, 2190 KiB  
Review
A Comprehensive Review on Biofuels from Oil Palm Empty Bunch (EFB): Current Status, Potential, Barriers and Way Forward
by Rozzeta Dolah, Rohit Karnik and Halimaton Hamdan
Sustainability 2021, 13(18), 10210; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su131810210 - 13 Sep 2021
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 5619
Abstract
Biomass is an important renewable energy resource which primarily contributes to heating and cooling end use sectors. It is also a promising alternative source of biofuels to replace the depleting supply of fossil fuels. Surprisingly, few writers have been able to draw on [...] Read more.
Biomass is an important renewable energy resource which primarily contributes to heating and cooling end use sectors. It is also a promising alternative source of biofuels to replace the depleting supply of fossil fuels. Surprisingly, few writers have been able to draw on the feedstock significance for oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) as the biomass resource for biofuels compared to the other types of biomass waste. Therefore, this paper presents a comprehensive review of EFB as a biomass resource presented in four major parts. First, the introduction covers the demand for bio-oil and describes the different kinds of feedstock, the relevance and potential of EFB biomass. Second, the characteristics of biomass are explained before it is upgraded as biofuel, drawing similarities and contrasts between EFB and other sources of biomass. Pyrolysis processes and reactors used for EFB conversion are described, and the factors affecting the bio-oil yield and quality are discussed. Major reactor parameters are summarized and reactor optimization is discussed. Third, comparison on the properties of the bio-oil vs. petroleum in transportation, power generation, and heating are compared followed by prioritizing the bio-oil properties from the most to least critical, revealing the most promising methods for upgrading. Fourth, the environmental impact, including CO2 emission, of the use of EFB as a promising renewable energy resource and a cleaner alternative fuel is recommended. This paper has comprehensively reviewed the conversion of oil palm empty fruit bunches into biofuels, including the similarities and differences between biomasses, the best reactors, its comparison with fossil fuels, and bio-oil upgrading methods. The upgrading mapping matrix is created to present the best upgrading strategies for the optimum quality of biofuels. This paper serves as a one-stop center for EFB conversion into biofuels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Energy Sustainability)
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31 pages, 37224 KiB  
Review
Applications Characteristics of Different Biodiesel Blends in Modern Vehicles Engines: A Review
by Dong Lin Loo, Yew Heng Teoh, Heoy Geok How, Jun Sheng Teh, Liviu Catalin Andrei, Slađana Starčević and Farooq Sher
Sustainability 2021, 13(17), 9677; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13179677 - 28 Aug 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3039
Abstract
Two main aspects of the transportation industry are pollution to the environment and depletion of fossil fuels. In the transportation industry, the pollution to the environment can be reduced with the use of cleaner fuel, such as gas-to-liquid fuel, to reduce the exhaust [...] Read more.
Two main aspects of the transportation industry are pollution to the environment and depletion of fossil fuels. In the transportation industry, the pollution to the environment can be reduced with the use of cleaner fuel, such as gas-to-liquid fuel, to reduce the exhaust emissions from engines. However, the depletion of fossil fuels is still significant. Biodiesel is a non-toxic, renewable, and biodegradable fuel that is considered an alternative resource to conventional diesel fuel. Even though biodiesel shows advantages as a renewable source, there are still minor drawbacks while operating in diesel engines. Modern vehicle engines are designed to be powered by conventional diesel fuel or gasoline fuel. In this review, the performance, emissions, combustion, and endurance characteristics of different types of diesel engines with various conditions are assessed with biodiesel and blended fuel as well as the effect of biodiesel on the diesel engines. The results show that biodiesel and blended fuel had fewer emissions of CO, HC, and PM but higher NOx emissions than the diesel-fuelled engine. In the endurance test, biodiesel and blended fuel showed less wear and carbon deposits. A high concentration of wear debris was found inside the lubricating oil while the engine operated with biodiesel and blends. The performance, emissions, and combustion characteristics of biodiesel and its blends showed that it can be used in a diesel engine. However, further research on long-term endurance tests is required to obtain a better understanding of endurance characteristics about engine wear of the diesel engine using biodiesel and its blends. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Energy Sustainability)
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