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Selected Papers from the SDEWES 2023 Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems

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A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A: Sustainable Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2024) | Viewed by 7551

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Francesco Calise

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Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, Italy
Interests: fuel cells; advanced optimization techniques; solar thermal systems; concentrating photovoltaic/thermal photovoltaic systems; energy saving in buildings; solar heating and cooling; organic Rankine cycles; geothermal energy; dynamic simulations of energy systems; renewable polygeneration systems
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Prof. Dr. Poul Alberg Østergaard

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Department of Planning, Aalborg University, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
Interests: energy systems; energy scenarios; renewable energy system integration; energy and development; environmental impacts from energy development
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Prof. Dr. Qiuwang Wang

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Key Laboratory of Thermo-Fluid Science and Engineering (Ministry of Education), Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Interests: heat transfer enhancement and its applications to engineering problems; high-temperature heat transfer and fluid flow; transport phenomena in porous media; numerical simulation, prediction, and optimization
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Prof. Dr. Maria da Graça Carvalho

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Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Lisbon, 1649-004 Lisboa, Portugal
Interests: energy; sustainable development; climate change; energy policy; science-based policy making
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Dr. Maria Vicidomini

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Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, 80125 Naples, Italy
Interests: solar thermal systems; concentrating photovoltaic/thermal photovoltaic systems; energy saving in buildings; solar heating and cooling; solar desalination; geothermal energy; dynamic simulations of energy systems; renewable polygeneration systems
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Prof. Dr. Wenxiao Chu

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Key Laboratory of Thermo-Fluid Science and Engineering (Ministry of Education), Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Interests: energy system; enhanced heat transfer; thermal management; heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC); supercritical fluid
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

One of the main issues of the coming decades is how to improve efficiencies by integrating various life-supporting systems, using waste from one as a resource in others, and in the exact moment when it is beneficial to all, integrating electricity, heating, cooling, transport, water, buildings, waste, wastewater, industry, forestry and agriculture systems. With sustainability also being a remarkable field for interdisciplinary and multi-cultural evaluation of complex system, the SDEWES Conferences have become a significant venue for researchers in those areas to meet, discuss, share, and disseminate new ideas.

Energy has been and is the key factor in human development; however, it is also one of the main—if not the main—human environmental fingerprints. Even with significant attention devoted to the importance and merits of sustainable energy supply over the last decades, there are still significant gaps to be filled with respect to how to design and implement technically optimal energy systems at the lowest costs.

This Special Issue aims to provide an important contribution by presenting the state of the art in sustainable energy supply solutions ranging from the technical analyses of energy components on both the supply and demand sides to energy scenarios and pathways. This Special Issue particularly welcomes SDEWES papers that address the energy system without traditional sector boundaries between electricity, heating, cooling, transportation and industrial demands and consider the integration and synergies between these sectors.

The 18th Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems – SDEWES Conference, will be held in Dubrovnik (Croatia). This SDEWES Conference is dedicated to the improvement and dissemination of knowledge on methods, policies and technologies for increasing the sustainability of development by de-coupling the growth from natural resources and replacing them with a knowledge-based economy, taking into account its economic, environmental and social pillars.

Prof. Dr. Francesco Calise
Prof. Dr. Poul Alberg Østergaard
Prof. Dr. Qiuwang Wang
Prof. Dr. Maria da Graça Carvalho
Dr. Maria Vicidomini
Prof. Dr. Wenxiao Chu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

sustainability comparisons and measurements
smart energy systems
energy policy
water–energy nexus
energy system analysis
renewable energy resources
primary energy resources
renewable electricity generation systems
thermal power plants
district heating and/or cooling
advanced sustainable energy conversion systems
renewable heat systems
biofuels and biorefineries
alternative fuels
hybrid and electric vehicles
water treatment for drinking water
modelling for pollution avoidance and energy efficiency
cogeneration, trigeneration, polygeneration
energy storage
electricity transmission and distribution
gas security of supply
energy efficiency in industry and mining
energy efficient appliances
energy efficiency in buildings
energy markets

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 2537 KiB

Open AccessArticle

SDEWES 2023: Barriers and Possibilities for the Development of Short-Rotation Coppice as an Agroforestry System for Adaptation to Climate Change in Central European Conditions

by Jan Weger, Kamila Vávrová, Lukáš Janota and Jaroslav Knápek

Energies 2024, 17(8), 1779; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17081779 - 09 Apr 2024

Viewed by 297

Abstract

This article compares different production, economic, and selected environmental aspects of agroforestry systems in a standard (alley cropping) and a newly proposed design with fast-growing trees grown in short-rotation coppice. Our models of agroforestry systems (AFSs) are as follows: (i) alley cropping AFS with cherry and walnut trees in single rows (tree strips) with 28 m-wide arable fields between them (crop strips), and (ii) coppiced tree belt AFS with poplars and willows and 25 m-wide arable fields between them (crop strips). To evaluate the production characteristics of trees, we used yield curves from experimental plantations in conditions of the Czech Republic from previous research projects. Cost data were collected from long-term experimental plantations and combined with current operation and energy prices. The article presents an economic methodology for assessing the competitiveness of biomass production in AFSs under the current identified market conditions. Our results show that AFSs with short-rotation coppice can have similar economic and production results as annual crops if grown on suitable sites and with appropriate quality of agronomy. In comparison, alley cropping AFSs with fruit trees would not be economically viable for farmers without a significant subsidy for establishment and maintenance in the first years after establishment. Concerning the latest economic and political developments, the product from SRC (energy woodchips) can be evaluated as strategic, increasing the producer’s independence from purchased energy fuels. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the SDEWES 2023 Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems)

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24 pages, 8866 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Experimental Characterization and Numerical Simulation of a Low-Scale Personal Cooling System with Integrated PCM

by Francesco Miccoli, Augusto Cavargna, Luigi Mongibello, Marcello Iasiello and Nicola Bianco

Energies 2024, 17(5), 1118; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17051118 - 26 Feb 2024

Viewed by 484

Abstract

Phase Change Materials (PCMs), among the existing thermal storage technologies, are characterized by higher storage densities than conventional storage systems, and absorb and release thermal energy at nearly constant temperatures. In recent years, the potential advantages that can be obtained by the integration of these materials into refrigeration machines have attracted the attention of specialized literature. Indeed, PCMs can allow a more efficient operation through an appropriate increase in thermal inertia, for applications relative to air conditioning in both internal residential environments and inside vehicles for the transport of people, and also in the case of machines used in the field of food refrigeration. Furthermore, in recent years, innovative solutions with integrated PCM have also been analyzed, aiming at enhancing the usability and transportability of refrigeration systems, as well as increasing the energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact. In this context, the present work focuses on the experimental characterization and numerical simulation of a cooling system with integrated PCM. In particular, the cooling system, designed for a personal cooling application, is experimentally analyzed by varying the configuration of the PCM-based condenser, while the numerical simulations have been realized to validate a simulation tool that could be used for the design and optimization of the PCM condenser configuration. The results allow us to identify the main characteristics of the analyzed personal cooling system, namely, the cooling capacity and operating autonomy, and to point out the utility and the limits of the developed simulation tool. Among the various configurations analyzed, the best one in terms of refrigeration power and autonomy is the one characterized by the highest heat transfer surface of the heat exchanger, with the refrigerant compressor at 50% power. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the SDEWES 2023 Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems)

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19 pages, 5592 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of Dual Intake Port Technology in ORC-Based Power Unit Driven by Solar-Assisted Reservoir

by Fabio Fatigati and Roberto Cipollone

Energies 2024, 17(5), 1021; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17051021 - 22 Feb 2024

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Abstract

The ORC-based micro-cogeneration systems exploiting a solar source to generate electricity and domestic hot water (DHW) simultaneously are a promising solution to reduce CO₂ emissions in the residential sector. In recent years, a huge amount of attention was focused on the development of a technological solution allowing improved performance of solar ORC-based systems frequently working under off-design conditions due to the intermittence of the solar source availability and to the variability in domestic hot water demand. The optimization efforts are focused on the improvement of component technology and plant architecture. The expander is retained as the key component of such micro-cogeneration units. Generally, volumetric machines are adopted thanks to their better capability to deal with severe off-design conditions. Among the volumetric expanders, scroll machines are one of the best candidates thanks to their reliability and to their flexibility in managing two-phase working fluid. Their good efficiency adds further interest to place them among the best candidate machines to be considered. Nevertheless, similarly to other volumetric expanders, an additional research effort is needed toward efficiency improvement. The fixed built-in volume ratio, in fact, could produce an unsteady under- or over-expansion during vane filling and emptying, mainly when the operating conditions depart from the designed ones. To overcome this phenomenon, a dual intake port (DIP) technology was also introduced for the scroll expander. Such technology allows widening the angular extension of the intake phase, thus adapting the ratio between the intake and exhaust volume (so called built-in volume ratio) to the operating condition. Moreover, DIP technology allows increasing the permeability of the machine, ensuring a resulting higher mass flow rate for a given pressure difference at the expander side. On the other hand, for a given mass flow rate, the expander intake pressure diminishes with a positive benefit on scroll efficiency. DIP benefits were already proven experimentally and theoretically in previous works by the authors for Sliding Rotary Vane Expanders (SVRE). In the present paper, the impact of the DIP technology was assessed in a solar-assisted ORC-based micro-cogeneration system operating with scroll expanders and being characterized by reduced power (hundreds of W). It was found that the DIP Scroll allows elaboration of a 32% higher mass flow rate for a given pressure difference between intake and expander sides for the application at hand. This leads to an average power increase of 10% and to an improvement of up to 5% of the expander mechanical efficiency. Such results are particularly interesting for micro-cogeneration ORC-based units that are solar-assisted. Indeed, the high variability of hot source and DHW demand makes the operation of the DIP expander at a wide range of operating conditions. The experimental activity conducted confirms the suitability of the DIP expander to exploit as much as possible the thermal power available from a hot source even when at variable temperatures during operation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the SDEWES 2023 Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems)

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20 pages, 5820 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Parametric Modelling Approach for Energy Retrofitting Heritage Buildings: The Case of Amsterdam City Centre

by Maéva Dang, Andy van den Dobbelsteen and Paul Voskuilen

Energies 2024, 17(5), 994; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17050994 - 20 Feb 2024

Viewed by 756

Abstract

The city of Amsterdam has ambitious goals to achieve a 95% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050 and to phase out natural gas by 2040. Disconnecting the building stock from natural gas requires well-ventilated and well-insulated buildings and a switch to renewable energy sources, making optimal use of heat pumps and sustainable heating solutions available locally. Most buildings in the historical city centre are protected and often insufficiently insulated, leading to increased energy use and a poor thermal environment. Standard retrofitting interventions may be restricted, requiring new approaches to balancing the need for energy efficiency and the preservation of heritage significance. With the case of the Amsterdam City Centre, the goal of this research is to present a parametric modelling approach for energy retrofitting heritage buildings and to identify minimum requirements for preparing the residential stock to lower temperature heat (LTH). Using parametric design and bottom-up energy modelling, the research estimates that a 69.1% of natural gas reduction could be achieved when upgrading the buildings to lower temperature (LT). Results of this paper also demonstrate how the applied approach can be used to guide decisions on the improvement in energy performance of the historic built environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the SDEWES 2023 Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems)

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17 pages, 4196 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integration of Floating Photovoltaic Panels with an Italian Hydroelectric Power Plant

by Paolo Venturini, Gabriele Guglielmo Gagliardi, Giuliano Agati, Luca Cedola, Michele Vincenzo Migliarese Caputi and Domenico Borello

Energies 2024, 17(4), 851; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17040851 - 11 Feb 2024

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Abstract

The potential of applying a floating PV (FPV) system in an Italian context (namely, Cecita dam and Mucone hydroelectric power plants) is studied. The additional PV energy production, as well as the effect of non-evaporated water on the productivity of the hydropower plant, is analyzed by varying the basin surface coverage. The simulations highlight that the amount of additional hydroelectricity is quite small if compared to the non-FPV system, reaching about 3.56% for 25% basin surface coverage. However, the annual PV energy production is noticeable even at low coverage values. The expected gain in electricity production in the case of 25% basin surface coverage with the FPV plant rises to 391% of that of the actual hydropower plant. This gain becomes even larger if a vertical axis tracking system is installed and the increase is about 436%. The economic analysis confirms that the production costs (USD/kWh) of FPV systems are comparable to those of land-based PV (LBPV) plants, becoming smaller in the case that a tracking system is installed. In particular, the best solution is the one with 15% coverage of the lake. In this case, the levelized cost of electricity for the LBPVs is 0.030 USD/kWh and for the FVPs, with and without tracking, it is equal to 0.032 and 0.029 USD/kWh, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the SDEWES 2023 Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems)

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22 pages, 2070 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimizing Lithium-Ion Battery Modeling: A Comparative Analysis of PSO and GWO Algorithms

by Mónica Camas-Náfate, Alberto Coronado-Mendoza, Carlos Vargas-Salgado, Jesús Águila-León and David Alfonso-Solar

Energies 2024, 17(4), 822; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17040822 - 08 Feb 2024

Viewed by 605

Abstract

In recent years, the modeling and simulation of lithium-ion batteries have garnered attention due to the rising demand for reliable energy storage. Accurate charge cycle predictions are fundamental for optimizing battery performance and lifespan. This study compares particle swarm optimization (PSO) and grey wolf optimization (GWO) algorithms in modeling a commercial lithium-ion battery, emphasizing the voltage behavior and the current delivered to the battery. Bio-inspired optimization tunes parameters to reduce the root mean square error (RMSE) between simulated and experimental outputs. The model, implemented in MATLAB/Simulink, integrates electrochemical parameters and estimates battery behavior under varied conditions. The assessment of terminal voltage revealed notable enhancements in the model through both the PSO and GWO algorithms compared to the non-optimized model. The GWO-optimized model demonstrated superior performance, with a reduced RMSE of 0.1700 (25 °C; 3.6 C, 455 s) and 0.1705 (25 °C; 3.6 C, 10,654 s) compared to the PSO-optimized model, achieving a 42% average RMSE reduction. Battery current was identified as a key factor influencing the model analysis, with optimized models, particularly the GWO model, exhibiting enhanced predictive capabilities and slightly lower RMSE values than the PSO model. This offers practical implications for battery integration into energy systems. Analyzing the execution time with different population values for PSO and GWO provides insights into computational complexity. PSO exhibited greater-than-linear dynamics, suggesting a polynomial complexity of O(n^k), while GWO implied a potential polynomial complexity within the range of O(n^k) or O(2ⁿ) based on execution times from populations of 10 to 1000. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the SDEWES 2023 Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems)

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21 pages, 7801 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Syngas Composition on Engine Thermal Balance in a Biomass Powered CHP Unit: A 3D CFD Study

by Michela Costa and Daniele Piazzullo

Energies 2024, 17(3), 738; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17030738 - 04 Feb 2024

Viewed by 610

Abstract

Syngas from biomass gasification represents an interesting alternative to traditional fuels in spark-ignition (SI) internal combustion engines (ICEs). The presence of inert species in the syngas (H₂O, CO₂, N₂) reduces the amount of primary energy that can be exploited through combustion, but it can also have an insulating effect on the cylinder walls, increasing the average combustion temperature and reducing heat losses. A predictive numerical approach is here proposed to derive hints related to the possible optimization of the syngas-engine coupling and to balance at the best the opposite effects taking place during the energy conversion process. A three-dimensional (3D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is developed, based on a detailed kinetic mechanism of combustion, to reproduce the combustion cycle of a cogenerative engine fueled by syngas deriving from the gasification of different feedstocks. Numerical results are validated with respect to experimental measurements made under real operation. Main findings reveal how heat transfer mainly occurs through the chamber and piston walls up to 50° after top dead center (ATDC), with the presence of inert gases (mostly N₂) which decrease the syngas lower calorific value but have a beneficial insulating effect along the liner walls. However, the overall conversion efficiency of the biomass-to-ICE chain is mostly favored by high-quality syngas from biomasses with low-ashes content. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the SDEWES 2023 Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems)

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19 pages, 7283 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of the Degree of Hybridization and Energy Management Strategy on the Performance of a Fuel Cell/Battery Vehicle in Real-World Driving Cycles

by Giuliano Agati, Domenico Borello, Michele Vincenzo Migliarese Caputi, Luca Cedola, Gabriele Guglielmo Gagliardi, Adriano Pozzessere and Paolo Venturini

Energies 2024, 17(3), 729; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17030729 - 03 Feb 2024

Viewed by 739

Abstract

The study utilizes open-access data to generate power demand curves for a hybrid automotive system, testing twelve configurations with three different energy management strategies and four values for the degree of hybridization (DOH), the latter representing the share of the total power of the vehicle powertrain supplied by the battery. The first control logic (Battery Main—BTM) uses mainly batteries to satisfy the power demand and fuel cells as backup, while in the other two controllers, fuel cells operate continuously (Fuel Cell Main—FCM) or within a fixed range (Fuel Cell Fixed—FCF) using batteries as backup. The results are assessed in terms of H₂ consumption, overall system efficiency, and fuel cell predicted lifespan. The battery is heavily stressed in the BTM and FCF logics, while the FCM logic uses the battery only occasionally to cover load peaks. This is reflected in the battery’s State of Charge (SOC), indicating different battery stress levels between the BTM and FCF modes. The FCF logic has higher stress levels due to load demand, reducing battery lifetime. In the BTM and FCM modes, the fuel cell operates with variable power, while in the FCF mode, the fuel cell operates in a range between 90 and 105% of its rated power to ensure its lifetime. In the BTM and FCM modes, hydrogen consumption decreases at almost the same rate as the DOH increases, due to a decrease in battery capacity and a smaller amount of hydrogen being used to recharge it. In contrast, the FCF control logic results in a larger fuel consumption when the DOH decreases. In terms of FC durability, the FCF control logic performs better, with a predicted lifetime ranging from 1815 h for DOH = 0.5 to 2428 h for DOH = 0.1. The FCM logic has the worst performance, with a predicted lifetime of 800 to 808 h, being almost insensitive to the DOH variation. Simulations were performed on two different driving cycles, and similar trends were observed. Simulations taking into account fuel cell (FC) performance degradation showed an increase in hydrogen consumption of approximately 38% after 12 years. Overall, this study highlights the importance of optimizing control systems to improve the performance of fuel cell hybrid vehicles, also taking into account the component of performance degradation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the SDEWES 2023 Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems)

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14 pages, 2111 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ozonation and Changes in Biodegradable Organic Substances in Drinking Water Treatment: The Future of Green Technology

by Agata Rosińska and Klaudia Rakocz

Energies 2024, 17(2), 530; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17020530 - 22 Jan 2024

Viewed by 523

Abstract

Studies were carried out to assess changes in biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC) and assimilable organic carbon (AOC) in groundwater and surface waters after two processes: ozonation and ozonation/UV. The tested water was in contact with O₃ firstly for 4 and secondly for 15 min. Three doses of disinfectant were used: 1.6 mg/L, 5.0 mg/L, and 10.0 mg/L. The UV radiation time was 10 and 30 min. The greatest change in AOC and BDOC for groundwater was observed at an O₃ dose of 10.0 mg/L and a contact time of 15 min, by 400 and 197%, respectively. On the other hand, for surface water, it was shown that after the ozonation/UV process, the AOC and BDOC content decreased after both 10 and 30 min of radiation in comparison to the water after ozonation. The AOC content decreased by 33% and 22%, respectively, and the BDOC content by 27% and 31%, respectively. The results obtained in this study provide new information on the effect of different ozonation conditions and the combined method on the level of biodegradable organic fraction of water. It is recommended that BDOC and AOC should be monitored in Poland as routine indicators during the preparation of drinking water. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the SDEWES 2023 Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems)

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20 pages, 1531 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Energy Efficiency in Petroleum Supply Chain Optimization: Push Segment Coordination

by Yury Redutskiy and Marina Balycheva

Energies 2024, 17(2), 388; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17020388 - 12 Jan 2024

Viewed by 574

Abstract

Today, the world is transitioning from traditional energy to clean, renewable sources. The petroleum sector is to play a role in this transition by supporting material and energy needs related to developing new energy systems. It is, therefore, vital that in upcoming years, the petroleum sector runs in a smart and efficient way, which can be achieved by coordination and the meaningful integration of decision-making issues in petroleum supply chains (PSCs). The existing literature on PSC optimization reveals a research gap; specifically, there is an insufficient level of technological detail considered while planning capacities of new infrastructures and its impact on the efficiency of further operations, specifically in the push segment of the PSC. This paper proposes a mixed-integer nonlinear programming model for planning capacities and coordinating activities within the mentioned PSC segment. The infrastructure capacity planning model covers technological details such as hydraulics and pump systems’ operational efficiency. The results reveal that the proposed model and its technological decision-making criterion of minimizing energy consumption drive infrastructural choices and operational modes to achieve machinery performance close to the best efficiency point. Also, the computational results demonstrate how traditional (minimum-cost) approaches lead to inefficient energy use while producing and transporting hydrocarbons. The proposed framework aims to facilitate the preliminary design stage of projects undertaken by engineering contractors in the energy sector. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the SDEWES 2023 Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems)

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Review

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19 pages, 925 KiB

Open AccessReview

Building Resilient Cities: A Comprehensive Review of Climate Change Adaptation Indicators for Urban Design

by Carlota García Díaz, David Zambrana-Vasquez and Carmen Bartolomé

Energies 2024, 17(8), 1959; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17081959 - 20 Apr 2024

Viewed by 541

Abstract

Urban areas generate more than 70% of the world’s climate change emissions, mainly CO₂, produced by the combustion of fossil fuels. Climate change is increasing cities’ exposure to climate hazards, such as heat waves or floods. Therefore, there is a need to improve risk management with the inclusion of climate resilience in urban policy design. Despite improved urban climate monitoring, there are still relatively few scientific publications on climate change adaptation in urban areas. Adaptation to climate change is not achieved through specific action, but rather through the adoption and continuous implementation of adaptation actions such as housing rehabilitation, green space management and protection measures for vulnerable groups. This variety of actions makes it difficult not only to identify different indicators, but also to use common benchmarks. Considering the role of municipalities in adapting to climate change, it is crucial to identify adaptation indicators that serve as a basis for decision making, as well as evaluation methods that allow the effectiveness of planned and implemented measures in municipalities. It can be used to determine which measures increase the level of adaptation or lead to poor adaptation. Therefore, monitoring indicators makes it possible to evaluate the effectiveness of the measures, in addition to formulating new ones. This paper includes a literature review of existing index designed to address climate hazards and mitigate their impacts in urban areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from the SDEWES 2023 Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water, and Environment Systems)

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