Energy for Sustainable Development最新文献

{"title":"Peer-to-peer energy and rural electrification: Evidence from solar microgrids in Bangladesh","authors":"Christian Zürpel ,&nbsp;Sebastian Groh","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101881","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101881","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Around 800 million people globally do not have access to electricity — most of those affected reside in rural areas in the Global South. The challenge of rural electrification is particularly pronounced in Africa, though pockets of South Asia are similarly afflicted. In these areas, national grid extension is often prohibitively expensive owing to geography. To allow for the reaping of documented benefits bestowed by access to electricity, and to retain the prospect of reaching Sustainable Development Goal 7 by 2030 (access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all), affordably implementable alternatives to national grid extensions require exploring. To date, policymakers around the world have, however, paid comparably little attention to off-grid solutions suited to local conditions, such as microgrids powered by sustainable sources of energy, despite the potential cost- and time-savings in rural electrification.</div><div>Analyzing a unique, newly constructed data set covering two years of peer-to-peer trading data from 104 solar-powered microgrids across Bangladesh yields important lessons on aspects to consider in designing and efficiently leveraging such microgrids in electrifying rural areas. Linear regression analysis results illustrate, for both linear probability and ordinary least squares models, (i) the importance of sufficient solar power generation capacity in a microgrid, with backup power supply by so-called micro-utilities constituting an important tool to enhance microgrid performance; (ii) the composition and geographic setup of microgrids are crucial, with ideally no households in a given location opting out of connecting to the microgrid and a sufficient dispersion of production capacity to meet demand close by, minimizing transmission losses; (iii) electrically run appliances are a precondition for the intensive-margin utility of a microgrid, allowing for peer-to-peer energy sellers to capitalize on their investments in solar panels and batteries.</div><div>These findings and their interpretation underscore the crucial role ascribed to complementary services by the literature. Such services range from support in financing microgrid infrastructure and appliance purchases to skills training aimed at buttressing productive-use uptake of newly-gained electricity access. Policy support in establishing microgrids furthermore proves to be a worthwhile long-term endeavor. Even the arrival of national grid connections at numerous of the solar microgrids investigated did not diminish their utility owing to the need for backup power and these microgrids’ continued capacity to provide clean energy reliably.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 101881"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145529193","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":"Stakeholder analysis of perceptions of hydrogen cooperation with Japan in India","authors":"Takuma Otaki,&nbsp;Rajib Shaw","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101884","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101884","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>India and Japan are advancing hydrogen technologies, with Japan leading in areas salient to India (ammonia combustion, hydrogen-based iron reduction, heavy-duty vehicles, and water electrolyzers), making bilateral collaboration particularly valuable and raising the prospect of an India–Japan hydrogen value chain, including exports. Japan is also preparing to import hydrogen through grant-based schemes initiated in October 2024. This study maps and compares stakeholders in both countries using official documents, then conducts semi-structured interviews (11 of 12 targeted decision-makers across companies, research organizations, universities, and a conglomerate) to examine three themes: collaboration with Japan, export feasibility, and diffusion of hydrogen technologies in India. Stakeholders held moderate expectations for Japanese technology licensing (lower than for the United States) and highlighted slow decision-making by Japanese firms; they emphasized local manufacturing in India and the need for Japanese capital to leverage India's strong human talent amid infrastructure and funding constraints. Intellectual property protection was viewed as adequate, suggesting cooperation within the current framework. Medium- to long-term exports to Japan were considered feasible, underpinned by renewable deployment outpacing domestic demand and stable policy support; ammonia was favored as the carrier, whereas liquid hydrogen drew cost and handling concerns. Diffusion in India is expected to take at least a decade, with early uptake in refining, fertilizer, syngas, and iron, and government agencies pivotal via incentives, diffusion support, and public awareness. Key challenges—ecosystem development, cost competitiveness, safety, and demand creation—point to priorities in human capital, regulation, and finance, where Japanese experience could catalyze collaboration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 101884"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145624495","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":"Survey bias and the poor: How survey responses overstate electricity spending","authors":"Joel Mugyenyi,&nbsp;Vijay Modi","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101876","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101876","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurately estimating household electricity expenditures is essential for assessing energy poverty and informing subsidy and affordability policies. This study combines household survey data with administrative utility billing records for households in Rwanda to examine the extent and nature of misreporting in self-reported electricity spending, using a sample size of 650 households. We find systematic over-reporting among poorer households, primarily due to mismatches between survey recall periods and the irregular, prepaid nature of electricity purchases. To correct for this bias, we adjust reported expenditures using empirical distributions of monthly purchase frequency derived from utility data. Additionally, for unmatched households, we develop predictive models based on household characteristics, though these perform less reliably in data-sparse settings. Extending the analysis to Uganda, we apply both the frequency-based correction and predictive models. Across countries, adjusted estimates suggest electricity burdens for most households lie between 0.5% and 2.5% of total household expenditure across all wealth groups. These findings underscore the limitations of relying solely on household surveys to measure electricity spending in prepaid systems. They highlight the value of integrating administrative utility data with statistical correction methods to produce more accurate and policy-relevant assessments of electricity affordability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 101876"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145493019","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":"Biomass densification pathways for India: An overview on technologies, characterization, testing, challenges and economics","authors":"Deepti ,&nbsp;Deepanshu Awasthi ,&nbsp;Kunwar Pal ,&nbsp;Tapas Kumar Patra ,&nbsp;Nikhil Gakkhar ,&nbsp;Amrit Pal Toor","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101878","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101878","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the pursuit of sustainable energy solutions amid escalating climate concerns and fossil fuel depletion, biomass has emerged as a viable alternative. Derived from organic sources like agricultural residues and forest biomass, it offers locally sourced energy potential. However, its low bulk density poses significant handling and logistical challenges, necessitating densification a process that compresses biomass into denser forms to enhance energy efficiency and manageability. This study explores the historical evolution, principles, technologies and testing methodologies of biomass densification, critically analyzing its benefits and current challenges. As of January 2025, India has an installed capacity of 472,468.01 MW of which 296,745.79 MW is active with 175,700.23 MW from renewable sources, including 11,594.02 MW from biomass energy and 46,647.33 MW under maintenance. With approximately 285 Mt. of surplus biomass available out of a total 755 Mt., biomass offers significant untapped energy potential. Notably, India's peak energy demand stands at 199,048 MW, with a shortfall of 1077 MW, underscoring the urgent need for alternative energy pathways. This work serves as a comprehensive reference for academia, industry, R&amp;D, policy-makers and stakeholders, advocating for widespread adoption of biomass densification to support India's energy security and its net zero emission goals by 2070.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 101878"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145493018","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":"Predictive model for sustainable exploitation of geothermal resources in Africa: The case of Olkaria geothermal field","authors":"C. Zuffi ,&nbsp;D. Fiaschi ,&nbsp;X.S. Musonye ,&nbsp;H.S. Mukhongo ,&nbsp;M. Nafula ,&nbsp;I.P. Da Silva","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101886","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101886","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Geothermal energy is a crucial renewable resource for a sustainable future, especially in African nations cut by the Rift Valley, which holds vast untapped potential. However, high upfront costs and development risks remain key challenges. This study introduces a simplified model calibrated with real data from Kenya's Olkaria geothermal field. The model enables rapid preliminary assessments of both technical and economic performance, requiring minimal input data. Additionally, it incorporates a Life Cycle Assessment to evaluate environmental impacts, an aspect rarely explored in African geothermal studies. The research analyses various technological configurations, including Single Flash, Double Flash, and Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) systems, aiming to improve efficiency without additional drilling. Findings show that integrating an ORC with existing flash systems can boost energy output by up to 20.1 %, with only a modest rise in the Levelized Cost of Electricity. Compared to the current Olkaria IV setup, hybrid systems demonstrated lower carbon emissions and reduced material resource use per energy output. Results confirm that ORC integration offers the most sustainable pathway for developing high-temperature geothermal resources in the East African Rift. This approach balances energy efficiency, economic feasibility, and environmental impact, providing valuable guidance for future power plant development in regulatory-constrained settings. This work is fully consistent with the objectives of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 7 and 13.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 101886"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145529267","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":"Techno-economic assessment of battery systems in the PV self-consumption without surpluses in the residential tariff of the Dominican Republic","authors":"Edwin Garabitos-Lara ,&nbsp;Alexander Vallejo-Díaz ,&nbsp;Carlos Napoleón Pereyra-Mariñez ,&nbsp;Idalberto Herrera-Moya","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101898","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101898","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study develops a techno-economic model to evaluate the feasibility of battery energy storage systems (BESS) integrated into photovoltaic (PV) self-consumption schemes without surplus injection under the Dominican Republic's residential tariff. Hourly consumption data from three real households were analyzed, defining three representative demand levels—low, medium, and high. System sizing was optimized by maximizing net present value (NPV) while assessing internal rate of return (IRR), self-consumption ratio (SCR), self-sufficiency ratio (SSR), levelized cost of energy (LCOE), and a proposed parity index (PI). Results indicate that PV self-consumption is profitable only for high-demand users (≥ 701 kWh month⁻¹), achieving grid parity (PI ≈ 1.0; IRR ≈ 10 %). Battery integration raises SCR from 73.4 to 98.3 % and SSR from 34 to 45 %, however reduces profitability because of higher capital investment. Profitability is highly sensitive to the hourly demand profile: redistributing identical daily consumption improved NPV by up to 16 %. Removing the residential subsidy slightly enhances profitability for low- and medium-demand users, while high-demand users lose competitiveness. A 30 % reduction in battery cost increases NPV by 18 % for high-demand profiles but remains insufficient for others. These results confirm that PV + BESS are technically and economically viable for high-demand consumers, strengthening energy autonomy and resilience in countries with similar tariffs and solar resources.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 101898"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145624493","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":"CMIP6 climate change and wind environment impacts on cold-region residential energy and thermal comfort: A case study of Harbin","authors":"Jingyi Mu ,&nbsp;Yimeng Feng ,&nbsp;Dazhi Yang ,&nbsp;Guoming Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101885","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101885","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The energy consumption of urban residential buildings and occupant thermal comfort are significantly affected by climate change driven by excessive carbon emissions. However, these impacts remain understudied in cold urban areas. This study examined residential buildings in Harbin, China, to evaluate the effects of future climate change and urban wind environment on energy consumption and thermal comfort. Meteorological data for Harbin were simulated for 2030, 2040, 2050, and 2060 under SSP126, SSP245, and SSP585 carbon emission scenarios. The urban wind environment was analyzed using Phoenics, and EnergyPlus simulated the impact on building energy consumption and thermal comfort. Results showed an increase of 3.96 °C in annual average air temperature under SSP585 by 2060 compared to the typical meteorological year, with SSP245 and SSP126 showing increases of 2.27 °C and 1.57 °C. Cooling energy demand was projected to rise by 142.5 % and 134.0 % for multi-story and high-rise buildings under SSP585, while heating demand dropped by 20.3 % and 15.8 %. Thermal comfort exhibited pronounced changes, as the urban wind environment improving winter comfort but exacerbating summer discomfort, leading to a 1.33 % increase in cooling demand and a 1.68 % reduction in heating demand. This study emphasized the need for Harbin to adopt a greener development path beyond SSP126 while addressing health risks from winter temperature drops and the environmental impacts of increased cooling demand. The shading effect of urban vegetation can effectively mitigate the increased cooling energy consumption caused by the wind environment during summer. These results provided a foundation for policy development in cold urban areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 101885"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145624494","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":"Evaluating the viability of biogas as a sustainable transport fuel in Nigeria: Policy gaps, analytical insights, and strategic roadmap","authors":"Micaiah Zhitsu Silas ,&nbsp;Abhay Kumar Verma","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101888","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101888","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The transport industry in Nigeria is still mainly dependent on fossil fuels making the industry very costly to operate, energy insecure, and increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Its contribution to the transport sector is insignificant despite having an estimated 19billion m 3 of annual biogas potential in the form of agricultural and other organic residues. This paper analyses the feasibility of upgraded biogas (biomethane) as a renewable transport fuel in rural Nigeria based on secondary data, a comparative analysis, and the modelling of the cost and emission. Based on the 3m³/day of biogas that was upgraded to 1.8m³/day of biomethane, a payback period of 9.8 years of operation, an internal rate of return of 6 9, and a reduction of CO₂ emission by 85–90 % over diesel was simulated. The results show that although biomethane is currently uneconomical to produce, it is a technically and environmental viable alternative mode of transportation in the rural areas. Policy alignment, fiscal incentives, and modular upgrading infrastructure are the recommendations of the study that can speed up the process of changing Nigeria to a low-carbon, energy-secure transport system.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 101888"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145624496","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":"Transforming energy access in developing economies: An innovative framework for demand response integration","authors":"Timothy King Avordeh ,&nbsp;Samuel Gyamfi ,&nbsp;Forson Peprah ,&nbsp;Christopher Quaidoo","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101833","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101833","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study advances the discourse on Demand Response adaptation in developing economies by introducing a novel <em>Socio-Technical Adaptive Framework for Demand Response</em> (<em>STAF-DR</em>), which integrates mobile-based platforms, decentralized energy systems, and policy reforms with a unique emphasis on behavioral economics and institutional capacity building. Unlike prior reviews, we systematically analyze causal mechanisms behind DR success or failure across 15 case studies (2010–2025) using a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative meta-analysis of peak load reductions (5–15 %) with qualitative institutional diagnostics. Our framework identifies three original levers for scalability: (1) <em>contextualized technology bundling</em> (e.g., hybrid SMS/solar-microgrid DR in Kenya achieving 18 % higher participation than standalone solutions), (2) <em>policy sequencing</em> tailored to regulatory maturity (e.g., Ghana's phased TOU rollout reducing implementation costs by 30 %), and (3) <em>community trust metrics</em> that predict DR adoption (R² = 0.72 in rural India). The study provides new empirical evidence on DR's role in mitigating renewable intermittency, demonstrating that mobile-DR can reduce solar curtailment by 12 % in South Africa, compared to 5 % for smart meters. We provide actionable insights for policymakers through a risk-weighted decision matrix, addressing gaps in longitudinal impact assessment and rural DR scalability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"89 ","pages":"Article 101833"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145120271","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":"Environmental implications of using different kilns for charcoal production: A case study of Mexican sector","authors":"Juan García-Quezada ,&nbsp;Leonardo Vásquez-Ibarra ,&nbsp;Ricardo Musule-Lagunes ,&nbsp;Artemio Carrillo-Parra ,&nbsp;Araceli Guadalupe Romero-Izquierdo","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101865","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2025.101865","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper analyzes the environmental performance of charcoal production of five kiln technologies: industrial metal kiln, Brazilian beehive kiln, modified Brazilian beehive kiln, Argentinean half-orange kiln, and modified Argentinean half-orange kiln. For this purpose, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology was used focusing on the analysis of global warming, human toxicity, both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic, marine and terrestrial ecotoxicity, and ozone formation. The pyrolysis stage is the main source of environmental impacts, in all categories assessed. Industrial metal kilns demonstrated the lowest environmental impact due to their ability to capture emissions during pyrolysis. However, their high initial cost limits their widespread use. On the other hand, masonry kilns, especially the Argentinean half-orange models and their modified version, offer good performance in terms of both environmental impact and economic viability. This highlights the need to optimize the charcoal value chain, particularly in the utilization of by-products, e.g., tar, to further reduce environmental impacts and improve the economic sustainability of more efficient kiln technologies. The adoption of more efficient and environmentally sustainable technologies is essential to mitigate the negative impacts of charcoal production on the environment and human health. The recommendations focus on the need for investment in advanced technologies and improvements in by-product management to ensure cleaner and more efficient production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"89 ","pages":"Article 101865"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145322029","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}