{"title":"Governance challenges of renewable energy development in fossil fuel dependent countries with a focus on Iran","authors":"Ashraf Sadat Pasandideh , Ghazaleh Ezaan","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101759","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101759","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines the challenges and opportunities in developing renewable energy sources in Iran, a country with significant potential for solar and wind power. Using a grounded theory approach, we analyze the factors influencing the slow progress of renewable energy adoption despite favorable conditions and policy intentions. Through interviews with key stakeholders and document analysis, we identify critical causal, contextual, and intervening conditions affecting renewable energy development. Our findings reveal a complex interplay of economic, political, and social factors hindering the transition from fossil fuels to renewables. We propose a paradigm model that elucidates the relationships between these factors and offers strategies for overcoming barriers to renewable energy adoption. This research contributes to the growing field of transitional studies in socio-technical energy systems and provides valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners in Countries that are dependent on fossil fuel resources and seeking to accelerate their renewable energy transitions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"87 ","pages":"Article 101759"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144115003","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}
Salvador Pereira, Cristóvão Silva, Luis Miguel D.F. Ferreira
{"title":"Barriers to energy transition: Comparing developing with developed countries","authors":"Salvador Pereira, Cristóvão Silva, Luis Miguel D.F. Ferreira","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101753","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101753","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a key element of national action plans and often involves transitioning to cleaner energy sources. However, developing countries face distinct challenges in this transition due to factors such as poverty, energy security needs, infrastructure limitations, and the need for sustained economic growth.</div><div>This paper presents a comparative analysis of systemic and country-specific barriers to the energy transition in developed and developing countries, highlighting both shared and unique obstacles.</div><div>Using the PRISMA methodology, 55 studies from the Scopus and Web of Science databases were reviewed, identifying 37 barriers categorized into seven dimensions: Political and Regulatory, Governance and Institutional, Sociocultural, Technological, Economic and Financial, Market, and Geographical and Ecological.</div><div>Findings show that the “lack of specialized technical staff” within the Technological dimension is a barrier unique to developing countries. In contrast, barriers such as ambiguity and uncertainty in public policies and the inadequate legal and/or regulatory framework within the Political and Regulatory dimension, and the high investment cost barrier within the Economic and Financial dimension are the main barriers common to both developing and developed countries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"87 ","pages":"Article 101753"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144099159","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":"Experimental study on passive cooling of photovoltaic panel by harvesting atmospheric water using hygroscopic salt","authors":"Jegathishkumar R , Prabaahar A , Hari Govind S","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101756","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101756","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The electrical performance of solar photovoltaic panel can be enhanced by reducing its operating temperature at daytime. An experimental investigation is carried out in the local region where humidity is very high with relative humidity of about 90 %. A passive cooling system with CaCl<sub>2</sub> hygroscopic salt with additive is considered. The salt compound facilitates water supply for panel cooling by convection and evaporative cooling method. The performance of panel with desorption cooling method is compared against the panel without any cooling. Further, the study is extended to find the influence of additive and its weight percentage on power output of solar panels. The observation revealed that the panel temperature reduced about 3.1 % thus increased power output by 17.38 %. From the experimentation, it is concluded that reducing the temperature not results into increased power output always because some shortcomings in cooling method affects solar irradiation. The sedimentation of salt reduces solar irradiation and cleaning of panel surface becomes mandatory.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"87 ","pages":"Article 101756"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144088908","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":"Synergistic effects of anaerobic digestion for diverse feedstocks: A holistic study on feedstock properties, process efficiency, biogas yield, and economic viability","authors":"Samroot Samreen Wani, Malik Parveez","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101755","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101755","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This research evaluates the anaerobic digestion potential of three distinct waste streams – sewage sludge, fruit and vegetable waste, and aquatic weeds – in independent batch systems, analyzing the feedstock characteristics, process efficiency indicators, and biogas generation potential over 56 days. Among these, fruit and vegetable waste feedstock produced the best results in terms of water displacement (685 mL), reducing volatile solids (VS) by 32.33 %, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal by 52.51 %, followed by sewage sludge and aquatic weed. Normalized biogas yield generated from fruit and vegetable waste digester reached 0.5814 m<sup>3</sup> CH₄/kg VS, outperforming sewage sludge (0.4577 m<sup>3</sup> CH₄/kg VS) and aquatic weed digester (0.4531 m<sup>3</sup> CH₄/kg VS). Pearson's correlation analysis revealed a strong positive relationship between VS reduction and biogas yield in fruit and vegetable waste digester (<em>r</em> = 0.75). Digestate analysis confirmed suitability as a bio-fertilizer based on NPK content and heavy metal concentrations, meeting Fertilizer Control Order (1985) and CPCB standards. The economic analysis identified fruit and vegetable waste as the most viable feedstock, with the highest net profit (₹14,329.54) and the shortest discounted payback period (2.33 batches). This study's holistic approach of integrating experimental, statistical and economic assessment contributes to optimizing waste-to-energy strategies and circular economy initiatives by offering a structured framework for enhancing biogas production and anaerobic digestion process efficiency.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"87 ","pages":"Article 101755"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144099158","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}
Muhammad Kamran Lodhi , Yumin Tan , Agus Suprijanto , Shahid Naeem , Isiaka Lukman Alage
{"title":"Rooftop and floating PV potential for sustainable energy in Pakistan: A national-scale assessment","authors":"Muhammad Kamran Lodhi , Yumin Tan , Agus Suprijanto , Shahid Naeem , Isiaka Lukman Alage","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101748","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101748","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rooftop and Floating Photovoltaics (RPV and FPV) are critical renewable energy technologies for achieving net-zero societies. Understanding the exact photovoltaic potential and determining the percentage of rooftop space required to achieve solar sufficiency at a national scale are vital yet underexplored areas of research. This study evaluates the photovoltaic potential of building rooftops and inland water bodies in Pakistan, focusing on their contribution to national solar sufficiency. The research encompasses the estimation of annual rooftop solar energy potential, analysis of electricity consumption patterns, determination of the required rooftop area to achieve solar sufficiency, multicriteria decision analysis for floating PV systems, and an assessment of carbon mitigation benefits. While achieving complete self-sufficiency through rooftop PV alone may be challenging, this study provides critical data to assess its feasibility and contribution to Pakistan's energy mix. Utilizing machine learning regression and geospatial techniques, the study evaluated electricity consumption, total rooftop PV potential, the required rooftop area for solar sufficiency, and the associated carbon reduction potential at a 1 km<sup>2</sup> grid resolution. Additionally, the FPV potential was assessed at a 30-m pixel resolution. Among the evaluated models, Random Forest demonstrated the highest predictive accuracy, achieving an R-squared value of 0.92. The results reveal that Pakistan's annual electricity consumption is 132.6 TWh, while its maximum RPV and FPV potentials are 310.1 TWh and 59.23 TWh, respectively. These potentials could reduce emissions by 192.3 MtCO₂e and 36.7 MtCO₂e annually. This study further evaluates the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) for rooftop solar PV systems (1–100 kW) in Pakistan, demonstrating their economic viability. This study offers valuable insights for policymakers, investors, and researchers working to advance sustainable energy development in Pakistan.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"87 ","pages":"Article 101748"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144070622","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}
Muhammad Indra al Irsyad , Ika Inayah , Reninta Dewi Nugraheni , Andante Hadi Pandyaswargo , Nina Konitat Supriatna , Alloysius Joko Purwanto , Arfie Ikhsan Firmansyah , V. Tri Frebrina Harisetyawan , Yohanes Gunawan , I. Gusti Ngurah Agung Surya Pradipta Negara , Fitria Astuti Firman
{"title":"Research trends in the total cost of ownership for electric vehicles: A systematic literature review","authors":"Muhammad Indra al Irsyad , Ika Inayah , Reninta Dewi Nugraheni , Andante Hadi Pandyaswargo , Nina Konitat Supriatna , Alloysius Joko Purwanto , Arfie Ikhsan Firmansyah , V. Tri Frebrina Harisetyawan , Yohanes Gunawan , I. Gusti Ngurah Agung Surya Pradipta Negara , Fitria Astuti Firman","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101746","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101746","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Studies on the total cost of ownership (TCO) of electric vehicles (EVs) have become a crucial topic in academic research. As EVs have gained prominence globally, the volume of research on this subject has increased. However, previous review studies have not focused on examining trends in research that estimates the TCO for all types and technologies of EVs. Thus, our study aims to fill this gap by reviewing global trends and results of TCO studies on EVs. Our review employs the method of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) to systematically collect and analyse 185 articles from 2011 to 2024. The contributions of our review are fourfold. Firstly, we construct a thematic research map to understand which topics are densely connected, thereby highlighting the core themes and focal points of the research field. As a result, future research should focus on reducing the TCO to accelerate EV adoption. Secondly, we show that the most extensively analysed vehicle technologies are battery electric vehicles (BEVs), while passenger cars are the most studied vehicle type. Thirdly, we differentiate the objectives of the TCO studies, identifying motivation gaps among them. We found that the primary objectives of the reviewed studies are TCO comparisons, followed by battery size and powertrain designs, policy scenario analysis, and TCO model developments. Lastly, we provide the range of TCO estimates for different types and technologies of vehicles. The average TCO for BEVs is found to be higher than that for internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) across passenger cars, buses, trucks, and cargo vans. Electric motorcycles, however, buck this trend, with their average TCO being slightly lower than that of conventional motorcycles. Based on the review results, we propose several recommendations for policy implications and future studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"87 ","pages":"Article 101746"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144070621","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":"The assessment of onshore wind energy potential in China's overseas industrial parks","authors":"Jing Song , Zhiqing Wen","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101739","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101739","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Due to its climate benefits, wind energy plays an increasingly important role in reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emission, as well as mitigating climate change. China's 159 overseas industrial parks (COIPs) are situated in places with large amounts of wind energy potential, which demonstrates massive investment opportunities for project investors and financial institutions. This research evaluates the onshore wind technical potential in those COIPs using the direct calculation method based on the China's Overseas Industrial Park Dataset (COIPD) and the Global Wind Atlas. “Technical potential” in our paper refers to the amount of wind energy that could be harnessed using current technologies, accounting for land use constraints, after considering land use restrictions. Results indicate that COIPs possess 1.81 ∗ 10<sup>5</sup>–4.37 ∗ 10<sup>5</sup> GWh of potential wind energy, with the highest concentrations in Russia (50.7 % and 49.6 %), Mozambique (8.6 % and 8.4 %), and Cambodia (7.8 % and 7.6 %). Regionally, North Eurasia (50.7 % and 49.6 %) holds the greatest potential, followed by Southeast Asia (13.4 % and 13.4 %), South Africa (11.2 % and 11.2 %). Agro-industrial parks<span><span><sup>1</sup></span></span> contribute the most among all six categories of COIPs. Wind projects in these parks could attract ¥383 million in investment. These findings highlight the significant opportunity for COIP wind projects to support global climate goals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"87 ","pages":"Article 101739"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144070028","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":"Employment differentiation for women and men in the off-grid solar energy sector in Côte d'Ivoire","authors":"Wondia Mireille Yeo","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101750","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101750","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This article explores the emergence of the off-grid solar energy sector in Côte d'Ivoire and examines the involvement of women and men within the sector's workforce. Empirically, the study contributes to generating knowledge on the gendered dimension of the labour force within the Ivorian sector, employing qualitative research methods, including interviews with actors of the sector. Theoretically, the study addresses the limited attention given to employment within the energy sector, which represents a gap in the Feminist Political Ecology (FPE) literature. This study extends the application of FPE to the context of the off-grid solar energy sector workforce of a West African country, integrating insights from the energy and gender literature. It investigates ways in which women and men gain knowledge on solar energy, as well as the gender stereotypes and occupational patterns of the workforce. Participants revealed that women are under-represented in the sector, beginning from the educational level in both learning and teaching contexts, and highlighted that women and men are distinctly concentrated in particular positions in the workforce. These results are consistent with the literature, suggesting that gender stereotypes and misperceptions are among the key factors responsible for the way in which women and men participate in the off-grid solar energy sector. The paper concludes that alongside implementing initiatives aimed at enhancing women's participation, increased awareness among both women and men regarding gender biases and dynamics is essential, together with the adoption of gender-responsive actions and policies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"87 ","pages":"Article 101750"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144070029","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":"Integrating electric mobility and distributed solar in carbon-negative Panama: Readiness assessment and policy roadmap for sustainable energy transition","authors":"Carlos Boya-Lara","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101747","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101747","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Panama, despite its carbon-negative status, faces critical challenges in integrating electric mobility and distributed solar power into its energy system. These challenges stem from rigid market structures, outdated regulatory frameworks, and limited digital infrastructure, which together hinder the development of a flexible, decentralized energy model. This study assesses Panama's readiness for decentralized energy adoption using a structured five-step methodology that combines policy analysis, barrier identification, and comparative benchmarking with seven international case studies. These countries are grouped into gradual (Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Brazil) and advanced (Germany, Norway, Singapore) transition clusters. Applying evaluation criteria from IRENA and IEA, the study examines five key dimensions—regulatory framework, grid infrastructure, economic incentives, institutional coordination, and grid stability. The assessment positions Panama at Low to Medium readiness, constrained by minimal digitalization, limited demand-side flexibility, and regulatory misalignment with emerging decentralized technologies. To address these gaps, a phased policy roadmap is proposed, focusing on regulatory modernization, smart grid deployment, and stakeholder coordination. The roadmap also integrates key socioeconomic considerations—including employment generation, equitable access to prosumer models, and electricity affordability—as structural elements of a just transition. This strategy aims to facilitate the integration of electric vehicles and distributed solar generation while safeguarding grid stability and preserving Panama's carbon-negative balance. The findings offer a replicable framework for developing countries with similar market rigidities, demonstrating how phased, context-specific reforms can unlock the benefits of decentralized energy while supporting long-term sustainability, energy resilience, and inclusive development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"87 ","pages":"Article 101747"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143943285","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}
Miguel Guevara, Fabio Manzini, Aarón Sánchez-Juárez
{"title":"Technical and economic analysis for the implementation of photovoltaic systems in agricultural zones of Mexico City: A case study","authors":"Miguel Guevara, Fabio Manzini, Aarón Sánchez-Juárez","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101743","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101743","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Global population growth and industrial expansion intensify demands for water, energy, food, and arable land. At the same time, climate change and land degradation threaten agricultural productivity. By 2050, food production must increase by 60 %, yet projections show that yields may decline by 10 %, which will worsen resource scarcity. This study evaluates Agrivoltaic Systems (APVS) as a sustainable solution for agricultural challenges in Xochimilco, Mexico City. Rural farmers there face energy poverty, aquifer contamination, and reliance on fossil fuels for irrigation. We analyze three scenarios: 1) Business As Usual (BAU), which uses fossil fuel-dependent pumps; 2) APVS-powered electric pumping; and 3) APVS with integrated water treatment. We assess the economic and environmental impacts over the systems' lifespans. Results show that replacing fossil fuel pumps with APVS reduces operational costs by 60–70 %, yielding a net present value (NPV) of $8900 per system and mitigating 12.6 tCO<sub>2</sub><sub>e</sub> annually. While APVS-powered pumping offers clear economic and environmental advantages, integrating water treatment requires initial subsidies to offset high capital costs ($114 million USD for 3500 systems). However, treated water enhances crop quality and market value, aligning with sustainable practices by eliminating agrochemical use. The study demonstrates APVS's scalability, with potential deployment across 3500 chinampas (traditional farms), saving 11 million USD in fuel costs and reducing 44,100 tCO<sub>2</sub><sub>e</sub> annually. This framework supports energy access, climate resilience, and food security by coupling renewable energy with water treatment. The integrated assessment framework developed in this study, combining techno-economic analysis with sustainability metrics and sensitivity testing, provides a replicable model for evaluating renewable energy solutions in contaminated agricultural contexts worldwide, emphasizing policy support to enhance viability. This work underscores APVS as a pathway to decouple agricultural productivity from fossil fuels, fostering economic, health, and environmental co-benefits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"87 ","pages":"Article 101743"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143937559","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}