Energy, Sustainability and Society最新文献

{"title":"Assessment of wind energy potential along the Egyptian Mediterranean Coast","authors":"Kareem Tonbol,&nbsp;Mohamed Elbessa,&nbsp;Omneya Ibrahim,&nbsp;Tarek M. El-Geziry","doi":"10.1186/s13705-024-00491-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13705-024-00491-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Currently, there is no wind park operating along the Egyptian Mediterranean Coast. Therefore, this study aims to find suitable locations for such projects. Wind data from five coastal meteorological stations were used. These are Marsa Matruh (MM), Ras El-Tin (RE), Abu Qir (AQ), Port Said (PS), and Arish (Ar), in that order from west to east. The wind regime dataset, comprising velocity and direction measurements at a 10-m elevation, was collected from January 2007 to December 2022 (16 years), with a complete record of all data points. The Weibull distribution function, along with its different parameters, was used to characterize wind energy along the Egyptian Mediterranean Coast. The coefficient of determination (<i>R</i>²), root mean squared error (RMSE), and relative root mean squared error (RRMSE) for the Weibull parameters, along with the relative percentage errors (RPE) for the wind power density were calculated to assess the concordance between outcomes derived from observed data and those predicted by the Weibull function.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Results revealed that the dominant wind direction along the Egyptian Mediterranean Coast was the NNW to N wind, except at Ar where the dominant wind was S. The wind velocity range of 4–6 m/s dominated RE, AQ, and PS. At MM and Ar, this was reduced to 2–4 m/s. The analysis of wind power density outlined significant insights into the potential for wind energy generation in the region. The overall analysis showed that AQ and PS were potentially the most suitable locations for wind energy projects. However, the high variability at the AQ site required robust system designs to manage the fluctuating wind conditions. PS might be more suitable for projects prioritizing stability and consistency over maximum energy output. Although Arish, characterized by its lower wind power density, may be less conducive for large-scale wind energy projects, it could still be viable for smaller installations or when integrated with other renewable energy sources.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The different statistical indices reflected good model fitting, displaying the reliability of the Weibull distribution as a tool for preliminary wind resource assessment along the Egyptian Mediterranean Coast and facilitating accurate predictions of wind power availability.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":539,"journal":{"name":"Energy, Sustainability and Society","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://energsustainsoc.biomedcentral.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s13705-024-00491-y","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142714308","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Promoting real-time electricity tariffs for more demand response from German households: a review of four policy options","authors":"Sönke Häseler,&nbsp;Alexander J. Wulf","doi":"10.1186/s13705-024-00490-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13705-024-00490-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Demand response is an important option for accommodating growing shares of renewable electricity, and therefore, crucial for the success of the energy transition in Germany and elsewhere. In conjunction with smart meters, real-time (or ‘dynamic’) electricity tariffs can facilitate the flexibilization of power consumption and reduce energy bills. Whilst such tariffs are already quite common in several EU member states, Germany lags behind in this respect. The country makes for an interesting case study because of the sheer volume of additional flexibility that its energy transition necessitates.</p><h3>Main text</h3><p>This paper discusses how German policymakers can make real-time tariffs more attractive for households and thus entice them to better adapt their consumption to current market conditions. Following an analysis of the current impediments to the adoption of such tariffs, we discuss four policy options: (1) a more ambitious legal definition of real-time tariffs that can promote market transparency and leverage potential savings for consumers, (2) a shift in energy taxation that encourages the uptake of renewable power and increases price spreads, (3) a new model of dynamic network charges which combines grid-serving and market-serving incentives, and (4) a subsidy for users of real-time tariffs that helps internalise the benefits they provide to all electricity consumers. Given the similar regulatory framework, our suggestions should generally also apply to other countries in Europe and beyond.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Overall, we argue that there is considerable scope for policymakers to better exploit market forces to ensure security of electricity supply at lower social cost. Our call for stricter regulation in order to allow the markets to better guide consumer behaviour may seem like a paradox—but it is one well worth embracing.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":539,"journal":{"name":"Energy, Sustainability and Society","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://energsustainsoc.biomedcentral.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s13705-024-00490-z","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142598870","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"An agile life cycle assessment for the deployment of photovoltaic energy systems in the built environment","authors":"Tomás Gómez-Navarro,&nbsp;Christian Stascheit,&nbsp;Dácil Díaz-Bello,&nbsp;Carlos Vargas-Salgado","doi":"10.1186/s13705-024-00488-7","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13705-024-00488-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>In the context of urban energy transition, photovoltaic (PV) systems play an important role in electricity generation. However, PV technology has some environmental drawbacks that also need to be acknowledged and managed. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is widely used to assess the environmental impacts of systems, but LCA is very complex to perform. Therefore, this research work presents a proof of concept for a parameterized LCA tool for grid-tied photovoltaic systems in urban areas that allows non-experts in LCA to obtain LCA results reliably and quickly.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The resulting methodology is an integration of three preexisting tools: PVGIS, Brightway and Ecoinvent, plus a Breakeven point analysis. The first step of the approach consists of identifying the main parameters of photovoltaic systems: geographical, technological, and temporal. Once the non-expert practitioner sets the influential parameters, the tool assesses the greenhouse gas emissions over the life cycle of the PV panels per unit of supplied electricity, allocates the emissions per component, and calculates the point at which the avoided emissions compensate for those produced by the power system. The algorithm strives to find the optimal PV system configuration to reduce the environmental impact, providing decision-making support for promoters and policymakers in the context of the urban energy transition. Two case studies are presented to illustrate the proposed method’s applicability and benefits.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The production of PV panels was confirmed as the main source of emissions in this kind of installation. The reasons are analyzed, allowing for improved design. Furthermore, the estimated break-even point where savings of conventional electricity offset emissions shows the influence of the parameters on the system’s environmental performance.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":539,"journal":{"name":"Energy, Sustainability and Society","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://energsustainsoc.biomedcentral.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s13705-024-00488-7","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142600558","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Integration of disamenity costs and equality considerations regarding onshore wind power expansion and distribution into energy system optimization models","authors":"C. Lohr,&nbsp;F. Peterssen,&nbsp;M. Schlemminger,&nbsp;A. Bensmann,&nbsp;R. Niepelt,&nbsp;R. Brendel,&nbsp;R. Hanke-Rauschenbach","doi":"10.1186/s13705-024-00489-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13705-024-00489-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Social acceptance of energy infrastructure projects affects public support for the energy transition and is essential for the transition’s sustainability and success. Despite extensive research focusing on the social acceptance of renewable energy, and on the acceptance of onshore wind power in particular, energy system models have largely prioritized techno-economic aspects. This focus has created a gap between model results and decision-makers’ needs. In this study, we offer recommendations for integrating disamenity costs and equality considerations—two critical social aspects related to onshore wind power—into energy system optimization. To achieve this, we use a spatially distributed model from a climate-neutral Germany and explore various implementations and trade-offs of these two social aspects.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>We identified effective linear formulations for both disamenity costs and equality considerations as model extensions, notably outperforming quadratic alternatives, which exhibit longer solution times (+ 50–115%). Our findings reveal that the endogenous consideration of disamenity costs in the optimization approach can significantly reduce the human population’s exposure to wind turbines, decreasing the average disamenity per turbine by 53%. Drawing on notions of welfare economics, we employ two different approaches for integrating equality into the optimization process, permitting the modulation of the degree of equality within spatial distributions in energy system models. The trade-offs of the two social aspects compared to the cost-optimal reference are moderate, resulting in a 2–3% increase in system costs.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Disamenity costs emerge as a predominant factor in the distribution of onshore wind power in energy system optimization models. However, existing plans for onshore wind power distribution in Germany underscore equality as the driving factor. The inclusion of social aspects in energy system models facilitates the identification of socially superior wind turbine locations. Neglecting disamenity costs and equality considerations leads to an overestimation of the practical solution space for decision-makers and, consequently, the resulting energy system designs.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":539,"journal":{"name":"Energy, Sustainability and Society","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://energsustainsoc.biomedcentral.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s13705-024-00489-6","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142595355","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"(text {CO}_2)-based methane: an overlooked solution for the energy transition","authors":"Ivonne Servin-Balderas,&nbsp;Koen Wetser,&nbsp;Annemiek ter Heijne,&nbsp;Cees Buisman,&nbsp;Bert Hamelers","doi":"10.1186/s13705-024-00485-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13705-024-00485-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Fossil fuels can be replaced with electricity and hydrogen. However, the implementation and use of these low-carbon energy carriers require a sociotechnical transition. This transition might not be completed in time.</p><h3>Main text</h3><p><span>(text {CO}_2)</span>-based methane is a substitute for natural gas that is less carbon-intensive. This methane is synthesized by capturing <span>(text {CO}_2)</span> from air and by performing water electrolysis to produce hydrogen. <span>(text {CO}_2)</span>-based methane is compatible with our current fossil-based society. An analysis of the substitution of natural gas with different energy carriers will be performed, and the results will be compared. The effects of <span>(text {CO}_2)</span>-based methane, hydrogen, and electricity will be evaluated for energy storage, high-temperature level heat production, and residential heating. The multi-level perspective will be applied to assess these energy carriers in the context of our society.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p><span>(text {CO}_2)</span>-based methane is the least energy efficient energy carrier among those analyzed. Nevertheless, this type of methane supports the acceleration of the energy transition.</p><h3>Highlights</h3><ul>\u0000 <li>\u0000 <p>CO₂-based methane is a valuable, renewable, and carbon-neutral energy carrier that supports a timely energy transition.</p>\u0000 </li>\u0000 <li>\u0000 <p>The implementation of hydrogen and electricity requires more modifications to our current sociotechnical society than the implementation of CO₂-based methane.</p>\u0000 </li>\u0000 <li>\u0000 <p>The urgency of reducing CO₂ emissions is not being considered adequately in the current societal discussion, and a multi-level perspective analysis should provide valuable results that account for the temporal aspect.</p>\u0000 </li>\u0000 </ul></div>","PeriodicalId":539,"journal":{"name":"Energy, Sustainability and Society","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://energsustainsoc.biomedcentral.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s13705-024-00485-w","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142397579","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Beyond short-term impact of COVID-19 on transport decarbonization: a scenario analysis of passenger and freight transport by mode in China, 2020–2030","authors":"Linna Li,&nbsp;Becky P. Y. Loo","doi":"10.1186/s13705-024-00487-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13705-024-00487-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The processes of transport decarbonisation are complicated. In this paper, we adopt the Activity-Modal Share-Energy Intensity-Carbon Intensity of Fuel (ASIF) approach and propose a conceptual framework on the direct and indirect impact of COVID-19 on transport CO₂ emissions. In the Chinese context, changes of carbon emissions associated with passenger and freight transport (including urban, rural, and inter-city transport) across different transport modes are estimated. Scenario analysis is then used to estimate the impact of COVID-19 on total transport carbon emissions up to 2030. Four scenarios, from minimal to significant behavioural changes and global recession associated with COVID-19, are generated.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Under the pandemic, the transport system in China was estimated to have produced 28% less CO₂ emissions (1044.2 Mt) in 2020, when compared to 2019. Compared with the business-as-usual scenario, the estimated total transport carbon emissions in 2030 would drop by 6%, 15%, and 21% and 23% under the minimal-impact, low-impact, moderate-impact, and severe-impact scenarios, respectively.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The results suggest that the processes triggered by COVID-19 alone will not be sufficient to meet the ambitious transport decarbonisation targets. To meet China’s pledge under the United Nations Framework on Climate Change, the medium-term effects of COVID-19 must be combined with strong transport decarbonisation measures of modal shift and new energy applications. With these additional measures, it may be possible to advance the transport carbon peak before 2030. Lessons are relevant to other developing countries.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":539,"journal":{"name":"Energy, Sustainability and Society","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://energsustainsoc.biomedcentral.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s13705-024-00487-8","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142324406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Security policies and sustainable development in the Western Balkan region beyond 2022: current status, challenges, and prospects","authors":"Milovan Trbojević,&nbsp;Dejan Jovanović,&nbsp;Diona Đurđević","doi":"10.1186/s13705-024-00486-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13705-024-00486-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The post-pandemic period, military conflicts, and geopolitical instability have all contributed to concerns regarding the world's sustainable and stable development, and small national economies are particularly vulnerable to these challenges. The five countries of the Western Balkan region (Republic of Serbia, Republic of North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Albania) have established their national interests and formulated security policies in line with their strategic commitment to the green transition and integration into the European Union. The region has been grappling with a multitude of challenges for several decades, and further instability may be expected beyond 2022. This paper aims to analyze the impact of sustainable development politicization on the security policies of Western Balkan countries and identify critical challenges to the region’s sustainable development.</p><h3>Main text</h3><p>The main research findings suggest that the security strategy of the Western Balkan countries was distinct from their economic and energy development until the beginning of the twenty-first century. Sustainable development is a strategic commitment of the Western Balkan countries, but it necessitates intricate changes, particularly in energy and economy. However, the Western Balkan countries have been confronted with new challenges due to the intricate geopolitical developments that emerged after 2022. The following are particularly noteworthy: frequently conflicting regional initiatives, the usage of energy resources and essential minerals, and significant impacts on how individuals form their opinion on these matters. The factors mentioned above are distinct security threats that require the Western Balkan countries to pursue solutions.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>A politicized approach to sustainable development is a novel phenomenon that has to be incorporated into current security policy. Specifically, the present approach, which prioritizes the state's security, often conflicts with the emerging concept of individual security (which focuses on the stability of the economy and the environment). This situation adds a layer of complexity to the position of the Western Balkan countries. They have a limited capacity to impact geopolitical developments, and in order to make progress, maintain stability, and foster social peace, they must make concessions and cooperate with influential economies that frequently have conflicting geopolitical interests.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":539,"journal":{"name":"Energy, Sustainability and Society","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://energsustainsoc.biomedcentral.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s13705-024-00486-9","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142246697","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"The impact of climate change and environmental regulation on energy poverty: evidence from China","authors":"Zhang Tao,&nbsp;Yadi Chen,&nbsp;Zixuan Wang,&nbsp;Chengtao Deng","doi":"10.1186/s13705-024-00484-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13705-024-00484-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Environmental pollution and energy poverty have always been serious challenges for the global energy system.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>Based on the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2005 to 2020, this paper uses FE and sys-GMM models to explore the impact of environmental regulations and climate change on energy poverty. The results show that climate change increases energy poverty, with rising energy for cooling in hot summers, and unchanged income in the short term. Moreover, environmental regulation plays a moderating role between climate change and energy poverty. Specifically, economical environmental regulation has a negative moderating effect, while legal and supervised environmental regulations have positive moderating effects. Finally, the national basic energy poverty line used is lower than that in the eastern region, higher than that in the western region, and close to that in the central region, which reflects the heterogeneity of energy poverty in different regions of China.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The findings in this paper clarify the nexus between climate change, environmental regulation, and energy poverty, addressing in this way a gap in existing research, which has great significance for environmental and energy policy makers.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":539,"journal":{"name":"Energy, Sustainability and Society","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://energsustainsoc.biomedcentral.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s13705-024-00484-x","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142174084","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Proposal for zero energy housing designs in Jordan","authors":"Mohammad S. Albdour,&nbsp;Fadi Alhomaidat,&nbsp;Mahmoud Alrsai,&nbsp;Husam Alsanat,&nbsp;Sleiman M. M. Al-Zaidyeen","doi":"10.1186/s13705-024-00481-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13705-024-00481-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Achieving zero-energy targets in residential buildings is challenging due to improper energy design and the selection of energy-related systems. Moreover, the absence of benchmarks for zero-energy residential buildings, along with the scarcity of studies tailored to diverse climates and building characteristics, highlights the urgent need for further research. This study aimed to address these gaps by designing zero-energy buildings to suit diverse climate zones in Jordan, acting as benchmarks to enhance energy efficiency and promote renewable energy use in the residential sector.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Energy simulation tools were employed to design and verify zero-energy systems. The energy use intensity (EUI) results from the IDA ICE tool were compared with the reported targets and OpenStudio tool outcomes, ensuring that deviations among the proposed designs within the same climate zone consistently remained within acceptable limits, averaging 2, 1, and 1 kWh/m² year in 1B (very hot dry), 2B (hot dry), and 3B (warm dry), respectively. Additionally, an economic evaluation was conducted by comparing the cost estimates of a Jordanian code-compliant house and the most acceptable proposed zero-energy design.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The proposed designs exhibited average EUI values of 64.4, 64, and 60 kWh/m² in diverse climate zones. Outperforming typical Jordanian houses by 56%, 55%, and 60% in 1B, 2B, and 3B, respectively, these designs surpassed national and international benchmarks by at least 35%. Notably, the proposed zero-energy designs achieved substantial cost savings of 1938 USD, equivalent to 11 USD per square meter, throughout the construction phase.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Considering Jordan’s ambitious energy strategy for 2030 and the significant energy consumption in the residential sector, the proposed zero-energy building designs play a crucial role in advancing the national transition towards zero-energy buildings. This study provides valuable insights by presenting precise designs, benchmarks, and a comprehensive guide tailored to Jordan’s distinctive building and climate characteristics with potential applications beyond its immediate context.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":539,"journal":{"name":"Energy, Sustainability and Society","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://energsustainsoc.biomedcentral.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s13705-024-00481-0","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142123076","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"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":"Virtual power plants: an in-depth analysis of their advancements and importance as crucial players in modern power systems","authors":"Sobhy Abdelkader,&nbsp;Jeremiah Amissah,&nbsp;Omar Abdel-Rahim","doi":"10.1186/s13705-024-00483-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13705-024-00483-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Virtual power plants (VPPs) represent a pivotal evolution in power system management, offering dynamic solutions to the challenges of renewable energy integration, grid stability, and demand-side management. Originally conceived as a concept to aggregate small-scale distributed energy resources, VPPs have evolved into sophisticated enablers of diverse energy assets, including solar panels, wind turbines, battery storage systems, and demand response units. This review article explores the evolution of VPPs and their pivotal roles as major stakeholders within contemporary power systems. The review opens with a definition of VPPs that clarifies both their fundamental traits and technological foundations. A historical examination of their development highlights major turning points and milestones that illustrate their transforming journey.</p><h3>Main text</h3><p>The methodology used for this article entailed a thorough examination to identify relevant studies, articles, and scholarly works related to virtual power plants. Academic databases were used to gather relevant literature. The literature was organized into categories helping to structure and present information in a logical flow based on the outline created for the review article<b>.</b> The discussions in the article show that the various functions that VPPs perform in power systems are of major interest. VPPs promote the seamless integration of renewable energy sources and provide optimum grid management by aggregating distributed energy resources, which improves sustainability. One of the important components of this evaluation involves taking market and policy considerations. Examining worldwide market patterns and forecasts reveals that VPP usage is rising, and that regulatory frameworks and incentives have a bigger impact on how well they integrate.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Overcoming obstacles is a necessary step towards realizing full VPP potential. For VPPs to be widely adopted, it is still essential to address technological and operational challenges as they arise. Diverse stakeholders must work together to overcome market obstacles and promote the expansion of the VPP market. This analysis highlights the potential for VPPs to propel the evolution of contemporary power systems toward a more sustainable and effective future by highlighting areas for future research and development.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":539,"journal":{"name":"Energy, Sustainability and Society","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://energsustainsoc.biomedcentral.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s13705-024-00483-y","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142084555","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}