Mohammad Karimi Firozjaei , Hossein Abdeyazdan , Abdulsalam Esmailzadeh , Amir Sedighi
{"title":"Optimizing urban solar photovoltaic potential: A large group spatial decision-making approach for Tehran","authors":"Mohammad Karimi Firozjaei , Hossein Abdeyazdan , Abdulsalam Esmailzadeh , Amir Sedighi","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101689","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101689","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Solar energy is a prominent renewable resource that can substitute fossil fuels. Identifying suitable locations for urban photovoltaic systems (UPVS) is a crucial step towards utilizing renewable energy sources. This study employs a large group spatial decision-making support system based on geographic information systems (GIS-LGDM) to create a map highlighting high-potential areas for UPVS in Tehran, Iran. The analysis considers ten effective criteria: photovoltaic power output (PVOUT), sky view factor (SVF), building density, building height, population density, aerosol optical depth (AOD), and distance from infrastructure and facilities (parks, roads, commercial, industrial, and service centers, and airports). The LGDM method determines the necessary weights and addresses uncertainties among the criteria. The final potential map was generated using the weighted linear combination (WLC) method to identify the most suitable locations for UPVS installation. Additionally, the one-at-a-time (OAT) method assessed the sensitivity of the results to criteria weights. Results revealed that PVOUT and population density are the most influential criteria in the UPVS potential assessment for Tehran. According to the GIS-LGDM analysis, 37 % and 10 % of the areas have very high and high potential for UPVS installation, respectively. Sensitivity analysis also showed that changes in the AOD and building density criteria weights have the minimal and maximal effects on the area of high-potential locations, respectively. The findings of this study are applicable to various managerial and planning functions related to solar energy development in urban environments, aiming to promote the rapid adoption of renewable energy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 101689"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143552333","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}
Camila Callegari, Roberta Oliveira, Bruno S.L. Cunha, Talita Cruz, Ana Carolina Fiorini, Roberto Schaeffer, Alexandre Szklo
{"title":"Battery electric buses in emerging markets and developing economies: A pathway for a just energy transition","authors":"Camila Callegari, Roberta Oliveira, Bruno S.L. Cunha, Talita Cruz, Ana Carolina Fiorini, Roberto Schaeffer, Alexandre Szklo","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101678","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101678","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study highlights the transformative potential of Battery Electric Buses (BEBs) to enhance sustainable public transportation in major global cities. It introduces the ATHENA model, a simulation tool designed to assess the economic, environmental, and social implications of transitioning urban bus fleets to BEBs in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs). As a case study, ATHENA was applied to Curitiba, Brazil, a city renowned for its pioneering urban mobility planning initiatives. The results demonstrate that BEBs can achieve cost parity with diesel buses over a 15-year contract, although this transition poses a higher risk of increased consumer fares. Moreover, direct ownership of BEBs infrastructure is more financially advantageous than service contracts. This is because service contracts, while offering lower upfront costs, often lead to higher long-term operational expenses. To address these challenges and ensure equitable access to transportation, the study proposes policy strategies, including urban tolls and parking fees, to facilitate the transition without restricting mobility for low-income groups.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 101678"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143535110","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}
Hedda Most , Magda Moner-Girona , Paola Casati , Manuel Llorca , James Haselip , Elena Fumagalli
{"title":"Investigating the interplay between electricity access and food security: Insights from refugee settlements in Zambia, Malawi, and Uganda","authors":"Hedda Most , Magda Moner-Girona , Paola Casati , Manuel Llorca , James Haselip , Elena Fumagalli","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101658","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101658","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With increasing displacement trends, low energy access rates in refugee settlements, and the majority of forcibly displaced populations residing in countries experiencing acute food insecurity, the nexus between food security and energy access is increasingly relevant. While the pathways connecting energy access to the four dimensions of food security (availability, access, utilisation, and stability) are well established in the literature, only a few studies empirically provide evidence of the relationship between energy access and food security, particularly in the humanitarian context. Drawing from 926 household-level observations collected via in-person interviews in settlements in Uganda, Malawi, and Zambia, this study contributes new insights on the influence of electricity access on food security in protracted refugee situations. Within the sampled population, 65 % of households experience severe food insecurity while a substantial 76 % majority lacks access to a reliable electricity service. Through a logistic regression analysis, we detect a mitigating effect of electricity access on severe food insecurity, although weakly significant, while controlling for income, gender of the household head, household size, and settlement dummies. The odds of experiencing severe food insecurity are reduced by a factor of 0.7 for households with access to electricity compared to those without access. However, they increase for households located in the most economically disadvantaged settlement. The study highlights the importance of policies that support the right to work and empower female-headed households, as income-generating activities play a mitigating role; in turn, households headed by women are about 1.7 times more likely to experience severe food insecurity compared to those headed by men. More generally, in emphasising the role of reliable energy services in the consumption of safe and nutritious food, this work calls for an integrated humanitarian approach that addresses food security together with long-term, sustainable energy solutions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 101658"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143535109","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}
Elizabeth Levario , Jorge Saldivar , Irina Cobos-Mercado , Lilian Torres-Montijo , Luis H. Alvarez , Francisco J. Cervantes
{"title":"Sustainable farming by implementing the water-energy-food nexus between piggery production and wheat cultivation","authors":"Elizabeth Levario , Jorge Saldivar , Irina Cobos-Mercado , Lilian Torres-Montijo , Luis H. Alvarez , Francisco J. Cervantes","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101688","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101688","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Piggery farms constitute hotspots of contamination due to their highly polluted wastewater discharged. However, from a circular-economy perspective, these effluents are very attractive for recovering renewable energy (in the form of biogas) and nutrients, which can be channeled to agricultural activities. This work shows a full-scale case study interconnecting piggery farming with wheat cultivation to achieve a sustainable water-energy-nutrients nexus. An average of 600 m<sup>3</sup>/day of piggery wastewater was treated in an anaerobic lagoon and the produced biogas (ca. 2300 m<sup>3</sup>/day) was utilized for electricity generation, which potentially yields 1.71 GWh/year. The treated effluent was used for fertigation of a 50-ha field of wheat (<em>Triticum durum</em>), which promoted an enhanced yield (7.3 vs 6.9 Ton/ha as compared to a control parcel irrigated with water from a local well) by the extra nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) provided. Furthermore, nearly 50,000 m<sup>3</sup> of water could be saved by applying the treated effluent for fertigation, which is particularly relevant as the cultivation was performed in an arid region (Yaqui Valley, northwestern Mexico). Overall, this strategy illustrates the convenience of linking piggery farming with agriculture to accomplish sustainable management of organic-rich wastes through the production of biogas and the recycling of nutrients.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 101688"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143528729","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}
Joyce A. Eledi Kuusaana , Shaun Smith , Jochen Monstadt
{"title":"Infrastructure resilience and electricity policy in Ghana and Tanzania","authors":"Joyce A. Eledi Kuusaana , Shaun Smith , Jochen Monstadt","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101680","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101680","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Electricity provision in Sub-Saharan Africa is characterized by repeated disruptions, persistent unreliability, and accessibility challenges. Concerns about the reliability and security of electricity provision, coupled with the poor governance of electricity utilities in Sub-Saharan Africa, have led to calls for institutional and regulatory reforms. While electricity sector reforms, policy development, and investment strategies have received attention in governance and policy research, there has been a critical lack of engagement between resilience debates and energy policy in the sub-region. Moreover, most research is based on single, national-level case studies, with little comparison across African countries. In this article, based on policy analyses and expert interviews, we assess the extent to which dominant strategies in the electricity sectors in Ghana and Tanzania have built resilience and addressed existing threats and vulnerabilities. We argue that the dominant focus of energy policies and strategies in both countries has been on security and reliability of supply, which neglected a broader view of infrastructure resilience, created new vulnerabilities, and perpetuated preexisting ones while raising critical sustainability concerns. Therefore, resilience assessment should be integrated into energy policies and strategies to anticipate and mitigate unintended negative impacts. Additionally, strategies should be proactively planned and implemented to achieve better outcomes rather than reacting to crises and emergencies. Moreover, critical attention must be given to energy efficiency and renewable energy development as key drivers for building sustainable, just, and resilient electricity systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 101680"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143528774","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":"Enhancing sustainable development through implementation of climate goals in Pacific Island Nations: A call for unified action","authors":"Ravita D. Prasad , Atul Raturi","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101677","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101677","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pacific small island developing states (SIDS) face the extreme adverse effects of climate change despite being the least contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions. To be an example to the global community, Pacific SIDS have set targets for their individual country's nationally determined contributions (NDCs) which is their legal obligation under the Paris Agreement. In addition to NDCs, Pacific SIDS are also working towards the achievement of the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs). However, the progress of in achieving the SDGs is the slowest in the Asia-Pacific region. The objectives of this paper are to map how NDCs are aligned to SDGs in the pacific region, discuss the barriers faced by the region, and propose strategies to enhance the simultaneous achievement of sustainable development and climate goals. Barriers for the region in achieving the two goals include lack of coordination among various stakeholders, limited availability/accessibility of reliable data for planning, lack of human capacity and adequate financing to implement planned actions and lack of effective monitoring and evaluation of existing projects/programmes. This paper attempts to suggest strategies for addressing these barriers. Understanding the importance of linking Pacific NDCs with SDGs will strengthen efforts to achieve overall sustainable development and help mitigate climate change impacts. This study will inform institutions in the Pacific region to not view the two goals separately but to integrate them.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 101677"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143512432","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":"Modelling of rooftop photovoltaic systems for electrification of public schools in developing countries","authors":"Abhinandan Baruah , Shrijan Sharma , Gems Agarwal , Mousumi Basu","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101670","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101670","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The present work investigates the techno-economic-spatial-environmental feasibility of a Rooftop Photovoltaic System (RTPVS) for electrification of a grid outage-ridden, space-restricted public school in Sikkim, India and the techno-economic impact of electric cooking (e-cooking) against gas cooking to tackle rising Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) prices used in Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) scheme, for enhancing student enrolment in public schools. Remote-Areas Multi-energy-systems-load Profiles (RAMP) for load modelling; PVsyst for estimating maximum Photovoltaic panel capacity and optimum Performance Ratio (PR); and HOMER PRO for techno-economic investigation is used. 5 Dispatch Strategies (DSs) are implemented for three RTPVS configurations including two customized HOMER PRO-MATLAB DSs for the grid-connected configurations to understand the impact of employment of advanced and traditional grid-tied and hybrid converters during grid outages. Further, the impacts of transition to energy-efficient appliances, grid unreliability and various sensitivity parameters on the modelled system outcomes are also investigated to generate broader comprehension of the system performance. For unreliable grid, PV-grid-battery configuration with grid sales yields the best feasible result with a lower global warming potential (GWP) and a reduced Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) at 0.0548 $/kWh than both the presently implemented grid-diesel generator (DG)-LPG configuration at 0.306 $/kWh and prevalent grid-battery configuration at $0.212 $/kWh, while the standalone PV-battery configuration is also economically competitive at 0.269 $/kWh with the least GWP. The PV-grid-battery configuration also shows economic viability across entire India for various component costs, grid tariffs and climatic conditions. The optimum converter capacity is conflictingly impacted by grid sales and converter costs. The advanced hybrid converter despite their high costs will be economically more viable over traditional hybrid converters in PV-grid-battery configuration for locations with high frequency and duration of grid outages. The charging of batteries via grid is not recommended as it increases LCOE and system GWP. In locations with high grid tariffs and high percentage sellback rates, the PV-grid-battery configurations can be oversized to increase grid sales and system reliability without impacting the economic viability of the configuration. The degradation of Lead Acid Battery (LABs) increases LCOE and GWP. Policy implementation like carbon credits and subsidies on RTPVS and e-cooking appliances equivalent to LPG may further promote the RTPVS and e-cooking adoption in public schools.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 101670"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143509174","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":"Towards sustainable maritime transport: Focus on the early phase of technology development related to alternative fuels","authors":"Natalia Wagner","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101686","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101686","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Transition towards sustainable maritime transport and the move away from fossil fuels is one of the greatest challenges faced by this industry today. This paper aims to evaluate technological advances in alternative fuels and energy sources-related technologies in maritime transport. Data from patent databases was analysed to assess that research issue. A comparative analysis of ten types of alternative fuels/energy sources in maritime transport was conducted in the context of technology potential and technology S-curve. Identifying the current status of technological knowledge is necessary for planning and conducting an effective research policy. The results show that the patent-based maturity rate of alternative maritime fuels/energy sources varies between 26.4 % and 91.7 % of the saturation level of current invention curves fitted separately for each fuel type using a logistic curve model. Biofuels, wind, and LNG are characterised by the highest patent-based maturity rates. In accordance with the concept of successive S-curves in technology development, wind and biofuels-based technologies in particular can be expected to change their shape of the invention curve. Among zero-emission fuels, technologies based on methanol, ammonia, battery, and hydrogen require further urgent intensive research work. Achieving the right level of technology maturity for all alternative fuels is essential for business entities to decide freely about choosing the best ones for investments in the maritime industry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 101686"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143509173","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}
Yuyan He , Xiaoqing Tan , Zhenting Hong , Fengjun Wang , Longcheng Huang
{"title":"Pricing decision in the power battery supply chain under BaaS business model considering carbon quota trading and government subsidies","authors":"Yuyan He , Xiaoqing Tan , Zhenting Hong , Fengjun Wang , Longcheng Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101679","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101679","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study utilized the Battery as a Service (BaaS) framework to construct pricing decision models for battery manufacturers under carbon quota trading, government subsidies, and a hybrid policy. Optimal strategies for supply chain entities were determined through comparative analysis, assessing the impact of carbon trading prices, incentives for battery recycling, and gradient utilization efficiency on pricing and profitability. Results show that government subsidies to battery manufacturers under carbon quota trading increased vehicle body prices, hindering the reduction of new energy vehicle purchase costs for consumers. The introduction of carbon quota trading under government subsidies significantly enhanced the subsidy's profitability impact on the supply chain. The effects of carbon trading prices and subsidies on supply chain profits are uncertain, yet gradient utilization benefits overall supply chain profit.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 101679"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143480613","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":"Optimizing battery energy storage and solar photovoltaic systems for lower-to-middle-income schools amidst load-shedding","authors":"T. Michael-Ahile , J.A. Samuels , M.J. Booysen","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101675","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101675","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Energy reliability and cost efficiency are critical challenges for lower-to-middle-income schools in developing regions, where frequent power outages hinder academic activities and strain finances. This study presents a robust methodology to determine the optimal size of the photovoltaic (PV) system coupled with battery storage, under two distinct demand scenarios: “stable” and“intermittent”. The stable scenario assumes consistent year-round demand, while the intermittent scenario models 50% demand during load-shedding periods.</div><div>A proposed Unified Rule-Based (URB) scheduling approach was evaluated across different electricity pricing schemes. Optimal PV sizes managed with the URB strategy achieved up to 22% lifetime savings, reduced total energy demand by 47%, and peak-hour demand by 63%, while supporting 98% of the load-shedding requirements. This approach offers a scalable and practical solution for improving energy reliability, reducing costs, and enhancing environmental sustainability in low-income educational institutions. The findings underscore the effectiveness of the URB strategy and provide actionable insights for future policy implementations and the advancement of climate-neutrality targets.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"85 ","pages":"Article 101675"},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143474289","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}