{"title":"Navigating the AI-powered transformation of renewable energy supply chains: A strategic roadmap to digitainability","authors":"Iman Ghasemian Sahebi , Abolfazl Edalatipour , Mooud Dabaghiroodsari , Seyyed Mohammad Hossein Hasheminasab , Behzad Masoomi , Seyedeh Elham Kamali","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101663","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101663","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The global transition toward renewable energy necessitates supply chains that are not only sustainable but also digitally transformed - a concept we term digitainability. In this regard, Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology has emerged as a promising tool for advancing the digitainability of the renewable energy supply chain. This study investigates the transformative role of AI in advancing the digitainability of renewable energy supply chains. Through an extensive, content-focused literature review, the researchers identified 11 distinct AI functions critical to RESC digitainability. To better understand how these functions interact and complement each other, the study applied the Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) method, drawing on insights from supply chain experts. By employing ISM, we uncover the interdependencies among these functions and develop a strategic roadmap for their sequential implementation. Unlike prior studies, which often adopt linear approaches, this research provides a systemic and holistic framework for integrating AI capabilities to enhance supply chain sustainability. The roadmap equips managers and stakeholders with actionable insights to prioritize investments, foster collaboration, and navigate the complexities of AI adoption in RESC. By bridging theoretical exploration with practical application, this study contributes to the global effort to achieve a sustainable and digital energy future.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 101663"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143349022","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hillary Chanda , Eugene Mohareb , Michael Peters , Chris Harty
{"title":"Environmental and social impacts of self-financed solar PV adoption in rural Zambia: Insights from mopane worms, mushrooms, fishing, bushmeat and ethnomedicine","authors":"Hillary Chanda , Eugene Mohareb , Michael Peters , Chris Harty","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101665","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101665","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study, which is the first to study the relationship between Solar PV adoption in rural areas, and non-timber forest products (NTFPs), examines the environmental and social impacts of self-financed solar photovoltaic (PV) adoption in rural Zambia, with a focus on Mopane worms, mushrooms, fishing, bushmeat, and ethnomedicine - key NTFPs that rural households harvest for consumption and income generation. Qualitative research methods, including interviews and focus group discussions, were conducted across three geographically distinct and off-grid rural areas: Mkushi Rural (Central Province), Kapiri Rural (Central Province), and Chongwe Rural (Lusaka Province). These locations were selected for their relative isolation and lack of access to the national power grid.</div><div>Using the novel Rural Development Stakeholder Hybrid Adoption Model (RUDSHAM), this research explores the relationship between solar PV adoption and NTFP-based income. It highlights how NTFPs enable households to self-finance solar PV systems, reducing reliance on unsustainable biomass fuels while enhancing energy access. The paper also assesses the sustainability and scalability of NTFP-derived income.</div><div>Findings reveal a dual impact: while NTFPs are critical for financing solar PV adoption, their commercialization presents ecological risks, including overharvesting, habitat degradation, and biodiversity loss. Solar PV adoption contributes socio-economic benefits, such as reduced energy costs and improved household well-being, but exacerbates community tensions due to competition over limited NTFP resources.</div><div>To address these challenges, the study advocates for integrated strategies that combine renewable energy adoption with sustainable resource management. By emphasizing community-led governance and sustainable harvesting practices, it proposes a framework that aligns rural energy transitions with environmental conservation. The findings provide actionable insights for policymakers and development practitioners, contributing to the broader discourse on addressing energy poverty and ecological sustainability across Sub-Saharan Africa and similar rural contexts globally.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 101665"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143349021","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ari Rahman , I Wayan Koko Suryawan , Sapta Suhardono , Van Viet Nguyen , Chun-Hung Lee
{"title":"Determinants of electric vehicle adoption in urban and peri-urban areas","authors":"Ari Rahman , I Wayan Koko Suryawan , Sapta Suhardono , Van Viet Nguyen , Chun-Hung Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101664","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101664","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study delves into the factors influencing the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in urban and peri-urban areas, focusing on the roles of availability, accessibility, affordability, and acceptability. Utilizing probit and logit models, the research evaluates how demographic characteristics such as age, income, and residence, along with beliefs about economic and environmental benefits, affect individuals' willingness to adopt EVs. The findings reveal that while urban residents are slightly more inclined towards EV adoption due to better infrastructure, significant gaps in EV infrastructure and high costs remain barriers in peri-urban regions. Additionally, the study highlights the importance of personal beliefs and trust in EV technology as critical factors that enhance the likelihood of adoption. The results underscore the need for comprehensive policy frameworks that address both infrastructural and psychological barriers, aiming to enhance the feasibility, overcome challenges, and ensure the sustainability of EV adoption initiatives. This research offers valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders looking to promote EV adoption and contribute to sustainable urban development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 101664"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143348477","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Understanding interconnection rule non-compliance: Lessons from South Africa's surge in unauthorised distributed energy resources","authors":"Josh A. Dippenaar, Bernard Bekker","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101661","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101661","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) such as rooftop solar and battery storage into electricity grids poses a regulatory challenge for utilities globally. While interconnection rules are designed to ensure the technical integrity and financial sustainability of power systems, stringent policies and punitive pricing signals have inadvertently led to the proliferation of unauthorised DERs in many parts of the world. Unauthorised DERs pose a range of technical, financial and safety risks to the power system, yet the drivers of non-compliance remains undocumented in the literature. This paper explores the drivers of non-compliance in South Africa, where by 2024 >50 % of behind-the-meter solar capacity is illegally connected to the grid. By quantifying the misalignment of private and public DER value streams, this study identifies key barriers to compliance, including high interconnection costs, lengthy approval processes, and misaligned pricing signals. A comparative case study between three South African municipalities illustrates how different utility governance approaches impact the business case for DER investment. A simple but important finding is that utility approaches can significantly impact a customer's decision to follow the formal interconnection process. A revenue impact modelling exercise revealed the detrimental impacts of unauthorised DERs on utility revenue. These results suggest that, in jurisdictions facing unauthorised DERs, early financial incentives are essential to minimise non-compliant installations and the associated utility revenue erosion. As DER penetration expands into new global regions, these findings are expected to assist utilities and regulators in developing appropriate regulatory frameworks that facilitate the sustainable integration of DERs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 101661"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143237090","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Basilio Z.S. Tamele , Yibeltal T. Wassie , Alberto J. Tsamba , Erik O. Ahlgren
{"title":"Electricity consumption and its determinants in rural Mozambique – At the edge of the electricity grid","authors":"Basilio Z.S. Tamele , Yibeltal T. Wassie , Alberto J. Tsamba , Erik O. Ahlgren","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101662","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101662","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The lack of reliable data on electricity consumption is one of the main obstacles to selecting the right supply technologies and allocating resources to achieve universal electricity access in sub-Saharan Africa. Using data collected from on-site surveys, this study aims to estimate electricity consumption in rural Mozambique at the edge of the electricity grid and examine the factors that influence it. The consumption is estimated for households, community institutions, and productive users in four different localities. Three of the localities are off-grid and rely largely on Solar Home Systems, while one is a small town and has access to grid electricity. To analyze the determinants of electricity consumption, multiple linear regression models are used. The results show that households account for >62 % of the total electricity consumption. The average household consumption in the grid-electrified town (2.54 kWh/day) is significantly higher than in the off-grid localities (0.04 to 0.24 kWh/day). Furthermore, the load profiles of households in the grid-electrified town and off-grid localities differ significantly. However, productive users consume the most electricity per user in all localities. The regression analysis shows a positive and strong relationship between consumption and appliance ownership, with refrigerators and televisions having the most significant influence in the grid-powered locality, and cellphones and LED lamps having the biggest effect in the off-grid areas. The study demonstrates the substantial spatial and sectoral differences in electricity consumption in rural Mozambique. It also reveals how access to grid electricity, productive use, and appliance ownership shape electricity consumption in rural Mozambique. Understanding these dynamics is thus crucial for accurate demand forecasting and optimal rural electrification planning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 101662"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143237089","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"What impedes solar energy deployment? New evidence from power developers in the Arab Gulf states","authors":"Li-Chen Sim , Karen E. Young","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2024.101597","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2024.101597","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The hydrocarbon-rich Gulf states are located in the heart of the global sunbelt which endows them with some of the highest solar resources in the world. Peak load hours in these countries also align well with daily and seasonal solar radiation levels. Nevertheless, actual deployment of renewable power, including solar, is among the lowest in the world. This article analyzes why solar power has seen some success in a few states, while in others there has been little momentum. To address the question, the authors undertake a qualitative, case-based inquiry into solar power development through data collected from interviews with solar power developers based in the Gulf. Our findings are two-fold. First, the quality of a regulatory regime (planning and enforcement) plays a significant role in explaining variations in solar deployment across the Gulf. Second, the most impactful pathways through which regulatory regimes affect solar power deployment include governance, competition among differently-sized developers, procurement, labor, and evenness within the same national jurisdiction. In so doing, the article offers policy-relevant implications for scaling up solar power sector in the Gulf and contributes to the wider literature on business-state relations in the region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"84 ","pages":"Article 101597"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143174889","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Monica Lambon-Quayefio , Bruno Merven , Alison Hughes , Faaiqa Hartley , Robert Darko Osei
{"title":"Estimating the distributive impacts of climate mitigation policies in the power sector in Ghana","authors":"Monica Lambon-Quayefio , Bruno Merven , Alison Hughes , Faaiqa Hartley , Robert Darko Osei","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2024.101589","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2024.101589","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"84 ","pages":"Article 101589"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143174871","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Analysis of real performance and seasonal prediction of a 23 MWp grid-connected photovoltaic plant in Senegal: Case of Diass","authors":"Fatim Amadou Ndiaye , Mohamed Cherif Aidara , Diatta Sene , Oumar Drame , Mamadou Lamine Ndiaye","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101660","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101660","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Grid-connected solar photovoltaic power plants have been developed in Senegal, significantly contributing to the country's energy mix, both to improve energy coverage and combat global warming. However, the performance of these existing plants has not yet been subject to in-depth analysis aimed at optimizing PV production and promoting the deployment of new photovoltaic installations in the country. This study seeks to evaluate the performance of the 23 MWp Diass power plant over a one-year period, in accordance with the IEC 61724 standard. The performance parameters examined indicate annual average reference, PV array, and final yields of 5.83 h/d, 4.17 h/d, and 3.95 h/d, respectively. The performance ratio varies between 64.65 % and 75.82 %, while the capacity utilization factor ranges from 13.80 % to 20.49 %. The results demonstrate better performance during the dry season, along with accurate energy production predictions using the PVWatts and PVUSA models during the rainy season.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 101660"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143102047","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Who uses solar water heaters? Evidence from the Palestinian Territories","authors":"Vanessa Kajjouni, Walid Marrouch","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2024.101645","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2024.101645","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In many developing countries, households' adoption of renewable energy systems constitutes an off-grid solution and an autonomous response to energy constraints. Within this context, it is important for policymakers to consider household-related characteristics when promoting the adoption of residential solar energy systems. In this paper, we focus on the water heating aspect of energy poverty and tackle the case of Palestinian households who are impacted by this issue. Specifically, using 2020 survey data from 3122 households and Probit regression analysis, we examine the determinants of domestic solar water heater (SWH) adoption. Our main findings on socioeconomic characteristics are that families with more females are more likely to adopt SWHs, whereas families with more children of all genders are less likely to do so. The installation of SWHs is also positively correlated with the households' main income and their heads' educational attainment and age. We also control for dwelling characteristics and find that households in urban areas and those living in a house, owning the dwelling, and having a bathroom are more likely to adopt SWHs. These findings help policymakers design and implement more tailored measures in regions characterized by both energy poverty and high potential for solar energy, such as the Palestinian Territories.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 101645"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143102046","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Luis Filipe Brasil da Cunha , Rayner Maurício e Silva Machado , Jose Ary da Silva Junior , Alessandra de Souza Farias , Márcio Santos Barata , Bruno Ramos Zemero
{"title":"Modeling the impact of urban climate transformations in low income housing located in critical climate: A case study","authors":"Luis Filipe Brasil da Cunha , Rayner Maurício e Silva Machado , Jose Ary da Silva Junior , Alessandra de Souza Farias , Márcio Santos Barata , Bruno Ramos Zemero","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101653","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101653","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Global warming and urban densification impact the thermal performance of buildings, yet these effects are often overlooked in professional and academic settings. This study conducted a case study through simulation with modified climate files to quantify the extreme effects resulting from the combination of hot-humid climate, urban densification, and global warming on a model of social housing in Belém, Brazil. Current scenarios were established, and thermal performance simulations were conducted. This involved adapting weather files to two distinct urban patterns: high and low densification. These files were adjusted to capture variations in essential parameters, reflecting the unique climatic conditions of each urban environment. Subsequently, the thermal performance of social housing units was simulated using these files, enabling a comprehensive analysis of thermal dynamics. This facilitated identifying key parameters in urban climate zones, considering potential increases in urban densification and global warming. The results reveal a significant impact of the combined effect of urban densification and global warming on both outdoor and indoor social housing, reducing habitability and requiring air conditioning almost year-round in near and distant future climates. The conclusions aim to contribute to diagnosing and understanding the climate crisis and urban climate's role in the resilience of vulnerable populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 101653"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143102049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}