Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews最新文献

{"title":"Biosurfactants production from plant-based saponin: Extraction and innovative applications & sustainable aspect for future commercialization","authors":"Rushita Parmar ,&nbsp;Vaishali Varsani ,&nbsp;Dhruvisha Mehta ,&nbsp;Dushyant Dudhagara ,&nbsp;Sandip Gamit ,&nbsp;Nirali Nandaniya ,&nbsp;Devangi Chaun ,&nbsp;Apexa Vala ,&nbsp;Ashish Patel ,&nbsp;Suhas Vyas","doi":"10.1016/j.rser.2025.115838","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rser.2025.115838","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biosurfactants derived from plant-based saponins have garnered significant attention due to their biodegradability, non-toxicity, and multifunctionality. A thorough analysis indicates that natural saponins from plants could be an effective and eco-conscious option instead of artificial surfactants. The extensive employment of synthetic surfactants in multiple industries plays a major role in environmental decline, a problem that could be solved by switching to natural surfactants for a sustainable solution. Saponins, essential bioactive compounds obtained from various plants, are renowned for their soaplike properties. A prime example of sustainable innovation is plant-based saponins from <em>Quillaja saponaria</em> and <em>Sapindus mukorossi</em>, which offer adaptable solutions for a variety of industries while advancing both economic and environmental perspectives. This review primarily focuses on the Traditional and novel saponin-based plant sources utilized for modern extraction, quantification, and purification techniques, various properties of saponin, innovative applications, techno-economic advantages, life cycle assessment, and toxicity of green surfactants. However, a few of them are modern extraction techniques for high production yields, accuracy, efficiency, and practical applicability, as well as reduced costs for saponin-based products from an eco-friendly approach. The detailed summary underscores the extensive utilization of green surfactants in various fields such as biotechnology, environmental remediation, food production, pharmaceuticals, petroleum, cosmetics, and agriculture. These emulsifiers are highly suggested for biotechnological objectives because of their minimal harm and capacity to decompose naturally. Hence, forthcoming exploration endeavors should concentrate on recognizing different naturally occurring surfactants generated by plants. It is extremely unlikely that the demand for green surfactants in the market will overshadow that of synthetic surfactants soon, showcasing an increasing preference for eco-friendly surfactants in the years to come.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":418,"journal":{"name":"Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 115838"},"PeriodicalIF":16.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144115998","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Market zones and electrification – A case study on the impact of market zone configuration on power-to-heat","authors":"P.A. Østergaard ,&nbsp;A.N. Andersen ,&nbsp;F.D. Nielsen","doi":"10.1016/j.rser.2025.115865","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rser.2025.115865","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With the expansion of variable renewable electricity sources (VRES), electrification of heating, transportation and industry, and increased electricity integration of energy systems across country borders, electricity market structures and market behaviour impact not only investment and operation decisions in individual country systems but also across borders. This article explores this based on the case of Germany which has a single market-zone electricity market despite bottlenecks between north and south, resulting in the purchase of curtailment north of the country in Denmark during periods of high VRES-based production. This provides an income for Danish wind turbine operators, but it also means that prices are artificially high in Denmark during these hours resulting in lost opportunities for Power2x and Power2Heat operation. It ultimately impacts the feasibility of some of the main elements of the Danish energy transition which is based on the electrification of various sectors. For the consumer, it also raises concern regarding why wind turbines curtail during hours of high prices. This article addresses these issues in the German and Danish context and explores effects on the energy system. A market reconfiguration with more market zones in Germany would lower electricity prices in Denmark thus improving the feasibility of both electricity-intensive processes and electrification efforts while also benefitting Danish electricity consumers in general. It will, however, not necessarily benefit renewable energy-based producers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":418,"journal":{"name":"Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 115865"},"PeriodicalIF":16.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144106663","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Review on phase change materials and thermoelectric generators for ocean thermal gradient applications","authors":"Prashant Saini ,&nbsp;Julian D. Osorio","doi":"10.1016/j.rser.2025.115851","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rser.2025.115851","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ocean thermal energy has the potential to address the challenge of balancing long-term operation and high-frequency monitoring due to the limited energy storage capacity of batteries for unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). Several emerging technologies to power UUV, profiling floats, and other ocean applications, including the thermoelectric generators (TEGs), phase change materials (PCMs), and memory shape alloys have been proposed. However, most of these technologies are still in an early stage of development and have not been deployed on a commercial scale. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive review on TEGs and PCMs to harness ocean thermal gradients. This review is focused on TEGs' and PCMs' characteristics, properties, and progress to address technical limitations to advance towards the deployment in ocean power applications, such as ocean thermal energy-powered UUVs at a commercial scale. First, the paper provides a thorough review of the different PCMs, TEGs, focusing on enhancing their thermophysical properties. Then, based on their technical attributes and the ocean thermal gradient potential in the United States, a selection of PCMs and TEGs is proposed for different locations and seasons. The ocean thermal gradient offers a stable annual storage potential of approximately 1.09 × 10¹⁹ MJ, with about 7.63 × 10¹⁷ MJ being harnessable with an efficiency of 7 %. Despite PCM-based UUVs is one the most promising alternatives for ocean thermal gradient applications, the low heat transfer rates, low energy conversion efficiency (between 0.14 % and 0.6 %), and low energy storage density (around 0.26 Wh/kg) are the main challenges for effective commercial scale applications. This study identifies key PCMs suitable for ocean thermal applications, including organic, inorganic, and eutectic PCMs, with melting enthalpies ranging from 100 to 250 kJ/kg. It also evaluates various TEGs for different oceanic locations and seasonal variations. Recent advancements in integrating PCMs with TEGs, through enhanced materials and innovative designs, have significantly improved energy conversion performance, increasing thermal conductivity by up to 15 times using metal foams and 10 times using nanomaterials. The integration of PCMs and TEGs offers a feasible alternative to power future UUVs, profiling floats, and other ocean power technologies, including aquaculture farming and water desalination.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":418,"journal":{"name":"Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 115851"},"PeriodicalIF":16.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144106680","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Low-carbon technologies’ impact on highway emissions: Cement and steel sectors","authors":"Yuanyuan Liu ,&nbsp;Haijie Li ,&nbsp;Yuanqing Wang ,&nbsp;Nieyangzi Liu ,&nbsp;Jiajian Li","doi":"10.1016/j.rser.2025.115866","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rser.2025.115866","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The implied carbon emissions in highway construction attract increasing concerns due to its large consumption of carbon intensive materials, dominated by cement and steel. There is an urgent need for highway construction companies to reduce the climate risk from the supply chain. This study first proposed a novel method to assess the impact of low-carbon cement and steel technologies on highway construction emissions, in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and the Life Cycle Assessment method. The impact of 314 combinations formed by twenty types of cement technologies and sixteen types of steel technologies on carbon emissions from six subprojects of a real highway in China was identified. The findings show that the strong combination of cement and steel technologies can help reduce 32.4 % of total emissions from the highway project, but the main sources of highway construction carbon emissions have not been changed. On one hand, this underscores the potential of responsible consumption and production to support climate action; on the other hand, it indicates that further innovations in carbon reduction technologies related to subprojects themselves are still needed to achieve deep decarbonization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":418,"journal":{"name":"Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 115866"},"PeriodicalIF":16.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144106662","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Systematic review of carbon quantum dots (CQD): Definition, synthesis, applications and perspectives","authors":"Stephania Rosales ,&nbsp;Oscar E. Medina ,&nbsp;Nathaly Garzon ,&nbsp;Karol Zapata ,&nbsp;Esteban A. Taborda ,&nbsp;Juan C. Ordóñez ,&nbsp;Farid B. Cortés ,&nbsp;Camilo A. Franco","doi":"10.1016/j.rser.2025.115854","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rser.2025.115854","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The optoelectronic properties and the high biocompatibility of carbon quantum dots have made them one of the most novel and studied nanomaterials in recent years. Several application areas have used them as an efficient, economical, and environmentally sustainable tool. This review article is divided into five sections. The first unit presents the classification, description, and distinction of different types of quantum materials, emphasizing significant structural differences. The second section delves into carbon quantum dots, detailing the synthesis routes and presenting the mechanisms and variables considered in each case. The third section explains the chemical structure, stability, and related optical behaviors in detail. The fourth section highlights the most prominent applications of CQDs, such as the development of sensors, the photocatalysis of pollutants, imaging, nanomedicine, the oil and gas industry, cancer treatment, plant growth promoter and antibacterial applications. In the Fifth section, challenges and perspectives are discussed. To conduct a systematic analysis of the information, a large volume of data from the literature related to each section is processed, and a meta-analysis is developed for a more exhaustive processing of the information.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":418,"journal":{"name":"Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 115854"},"PeriodicalIF":16.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144089372","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unlocking low-carbon hydrogen transportation through a cost-effective hybrid CO2/heat looping strategy","authors":"Ali Cherif ,&nbsp;Ha-Jun Yoon ,&nbsp;Joo-Sung Lee ,&nbsp;Tesfalem Aregawi Atsbha ,&nbsp;Mohamadamin Zarei ,&nbsp;Sangwon Suh ,&nbsp;John W. Sheffield ,&nbsp;Chul-Jin Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.rser.2025.115848","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rser.2025.115848","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Despite its crucial role in renewable energy networks, hydrogen transportation incurs elevated costs and high carbon intensity (CI). To enable affordable low-carbon hydrogen, this study examined integrating a closed CO₂ and heat cycle via a dual solid carriers looping strategy to mitigate direct and indirect carbon emissions. A techno-environmental-economic analysis of the hydrogen transportation infrastructure was conducted on a large-scale overseas supply chain. This analysis involved base cases (i.e., LH₂, LNH₃, MeOH, formic acid, and dimethyl ether) and various combinations of hydrogen and CO₂/heat dual carriers (i.e., CaO, ZnO, Li₂O, and MgO). The results showed a considerable decrease in cost and carbon emissions through the integration of the CO₂/heat closed cycle system. Particularly, the MeOH-ZnO route showed substantial improvement, achieving a CI reduction to 15.54 kgCO₂-eq/kgH₂ (i.e., 46 % lower than that of the MeOH route), with a cost of 6.0 USD/kgH₂. In the projected 2050 scenario, employing the CO₂/heat looping system further reduced CI to as low as 0.7 kgCO₂-eq/kgH₂ and a cost of up to 4.6 USD/kgH₂, despite the use of costly renewable heat and direct air carbon capture. Integrating the CO₂/heat looping system thus facilitates affordable, greener hydrogen transport, crucial for a sustainable energy economy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":418,"journal":{"name":"Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 115848"},"PeriodicalIF":16.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144106661","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Role of carbon-based materials to promote the hydrolysis performance of magnesium-based materials","authors":"Kashif Naseem ,&nbsp;Faryal Khalid ,&nbsp;Qin Fei ,&nbsp;Guoquan Suo ,&nbsp;Ali Abbas Khan ,&nbsp;Tabinda Jabeen ,&nbsp;Shumalia Karamat ,&nbsp;Basit Ali Shah","doi":"10.1016/j.rser.2025.115864","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rser.2025.115864","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The escalating energy challenges and their adverse environmental repercussions have stimulated researchers to explore renewable and sustainable energy sources instead of conventional fossil fuels. Hydrolysis or water splitting has been recognized as efficient comparative to fossil fuels because of the high energy density carrier and environmentally friendly nature. Many hydrolytic materials have been explored but still facing challenges such as sluggish hydrogen kinetics, formation of surface passivation layers and low yield. Hydrolysis of metals has been thoroughly investigated for the production of hydrogen due to its versatile properties, like safe storage and effective supply of hydrogen in a sustainable manner. A variety of methods have been proposed to improve the efficiency, including alloying, changing aqueous solutions, structure of material, and composite formation, however, there is a pressing need to create affordable and environment-friendly materials which is lacking. The current review provides a comprehensive evaluation of recent research contributions of carbonaceous materials for hydrogen generation, particularly their potential as a catalyst for Mg-based materials hydrolysis. Carbon-based materials have abundance, cost-effectiveness, chemical stability, attractive band structure, and easy preparation methods making them an ideal catalytic candidate for metal hydrolysis. Graphene, graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes, carbide and carbon-based composite are employed as catalysts for Mg-based materials hydrolysis. The goal of this study is to inspire readers to research the environmentally friendly production of hydrogen using carbon-based materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":418,"journal":{"name":"Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 115864"},"PeriodicalIF":16.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144084406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Stochastic techno-economic assessment of a grid-connected rooftop photovoltaic in Iran","authors":"Mahdi Najafi ,&nbsp;M.D. Mobarez ,&nbsp;B. Vahidi ,&nbsp;S.H. Hosseinian ,&nbsp;G.B. Gharehpetian","doi":"10.1016/j.rser.2025.115808","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rser.2025.115808","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines the technical and economic performance of a grid-connected rooftop photovoltaic system with a nominal capacity of 8456 kW. The analysis is based on a case study of an industrial plant in Iran, considering both the feed-in tariff and time-of-use scheme. A three-stage approach is employed, utilizing a combination of MATLAB software, PVsyst, and HOMER Grid. To account for load and renewable energy sources uncertainties, scenario-based and backward methods are employed to generate a manageable set of relevant scenarios. Given the project’s 25-year lifespan, a sensitivity analysis is conducted to assess the impact of varying annual grid electricity tariff increases. In the first step, using MATLAB, scenarios are created to account for uncertainty. In the second stage, based on the data from the previous stage, the design and technical analysis of the PV system evaluated using PVsyst software. Finally, in the third stage, the economic analysis of the proposed system is performed in HOMER grid software, using the outputs from the previous two stages. The simulated PV system achieved an average performance ratio of 80.4%. Additionally, the system has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by 188,611.595 tons over its lifetime. Furthermore, the economic analysis, incorporating a comprehensive sensitivity analysis of key factors such as grid tariff increases, PV degradation, and inflation rates, indicates that the proposed system’s net present cost becomes lower than that of relying solely on grid electricity if the annual grid tariff increase exceeds 10%.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":418,"journal":{"name":"Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 115808"},"PeriodicalIF":16.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144084466","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Data center waste heat for district heating networks: A review","authors":"Xiaolei Yuan ,&nbsp;Jiayi Liu ,&nbsp;Sijia Sun ,&nbsp;Xiaojie Lin ,&nbsp;Xiaojun Fan ,&nbsp;Weixin Zhao ,&nbsp;Risto Kosonen","doi":"10.1016/j.rser.2025.115863","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rser.2025.115863","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper investigates the integration of data center waste heat into district heating networks, evaluating its potential from technical, energy, economic, and environmental perspectives. It offers a comprehensive review of global efforts to recover waste heat from data centers, focusing on existing research, practical applications, and the effectiveness of current technologies. Key challenges are identified, including complex technical issues, economic constraints, policy limitations, and gaps in infrastructure. The study proposes solutions to address these challenges, aiming to improve the efficiency and feasibility of waste heat recovery systems. Additionally, the paper examines future trends in advancing data center waste heat recovery, with an emphasis on sustainable development and technological innovations such as smart energy systems and thermal energy storage solutions. The goal is to provide a detailed overview of the current landscape and offer actionable recommendations for enhancing the integration of waste heat into district heating networks. By doing so, the paper aims to promote greener energy solutions, reduce carbon emissions, and contribute to a more sustainable energy future worldwide.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":418,"journal":{"name":"Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 115863"},"PeriodicalIF":16.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144084405","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bandgap engineering of ZnO nanomaterials for enhanced electrochemical and photocatalytic efficiency","authors":"Mohammad Rizwan Ahmad ,&nbsp;Anees A. Ansari ,&nbsp;Marshal Dhayal ,&nbsp;Ruichan Lv","doi":"10.1016/j.rser.2025.115767","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.rser.2025.115767","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Zinc oxide (ZnO)-based hybrid nanocomposites are promising materials for electrochemical device development due to their tunable energy bandgap (<em>E</em>_g = 2.8–3.3 eV), high thermochemical stability, and enhanced electronic, mechanical, and piezoelectric properties. However, the wide <em>E</em>_g of ZnO restricts radiation absorption to the UV range, reducing efficiency in optoelectronic and photocatalytic applications. Bandgap tuning through metal and non-metal doping, structural defect incorporation, and heterojunction construction with lower bandgap materials improves visible light absorption and charge transfer efficiency. These modifications delay photoinduced electron-hole recombination, enhancing electrochemical properties and reducing charge transfer resistance. Bandgap tuning or bending mechanisms play a key role in ZnO heterojunction, while quantum confinement effects further influence bandgap shifts at the nanoscale. This review comprehensively covers various ZnO synthesis methods, including sol-gel, hydrothermal, vapor transport, and green synthesis techniques, and their impact on bandgap tuning and material properties. An overview is presented on the implications of ZnO bandgap engineering in electrochemical applications, including photocatalysis, gas sensing, dye-sensitized solar cells, and electrochemical energy-storing devices. The development of flexible, robust, and efficient ZnO-based electrochemical systems is important for summit the difficulties of next-generation smart and portable electronic devices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":418,"journal":{"name":"Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews","volume":"219 ","pages":"Article 115767"},"PeriodicalIF":16.3,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144084407","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}