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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 (20 April 2025) | Viewed by 12210

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Michail Tsangas

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Guest Editor

Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Engineering Sustainability, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Open University of Cyprus, Giannou Kranidioti 89, Latsia, Nicosia 2231, Cyprus
Interests: energy planning and management; energy strategic planning; environmental impact assessment; sustainability evaluation; sustainability and ESG (environmental, social and governance) monitoring, reporting and evaluation; sustainability and environmental performance evaluation methods
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Antonis A. Zorpas

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Guest Editor

Laboratory of Chemical Engineering and Engineering Sustainability, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Open University of Cyprus (OUC), Giannou Kranidioti 89, Latsia, Nicosia 2231, Cyprus
Interests: general chemistry; water and soil pollution; processing and supply of liquid waste; treatment and disposal of solid waste; composting of biosolids management; advanced treatment of liquid and solid waste; restoration technologies; hazardous waste management and treatment; clean technology design systems; design of waste and wastewater treatment plants; utilization of biomass; strategic development; circular economy; energy recovery; smart cities; urban metabolism; waste to energy; energy efficiency; life cycle analysis (LCA); material flow analysis (MFA); environmental impact assessment; health and safety
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Energy is necessary for the development of society and the economy. Every state, organization or community has to ensure the needed resources at the right place and in time in order to be able to satisfy the requirements. However, there are several social, economic and environmental issues connected to the availability, production and supply of sustainable energy. The impact of energy cost on the economy, the social opposition to infrastructure construction, energy affordability, and global warming and its environmental impacts are timeless issues, while in special circumstances, such as in cases of conflicts, wars or other crises, special complications occur. Moreover, energy is a key element of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the related policies. Therefore, in order to ensure that energy will be available when it is needed while having fewer negative impacts, and to achieve the targets for sustainable development, energy strategic planning, policies and legislation that take into consideration all these issues are necessary.

This Special Issue aims to elaborate, present and communicate the most recent advances, new perspectives and future trends of energy planning within the framework of sustainable development and energy sustainability.

Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to:

Novel methods and tools for sustainable energy planning and energy strategic planning;
Novel methods, tools and indicators for evaluation of energy sustainability;
Energy planning in the framework of the SDGs: requirements, monitoring and measurements;
Energy planning and energy strategic planning in crisis circumstances;
Novel approaches and tools for energy planning impact assessments including carbon footprint calculations and mitigations methods;
Methods and tools to forecast energy needs and planning to satisfy them;
Emerging issues around energy availability and sustainability;
Energy strategies, energy policies, energy planning and energy sustainability in connection with a circular economy;
Evaluation of energy planning strategies, policies and legislation;
Energy strategies and policies in connection with a new green deal;
Projections for use of energy sources and an energy mix.

Dr. Michail Tsangas
Dr. Antonis A. Zorpas
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

energy planning
energy strategy
energy policies
sustainable energy
energy strategic planning
energy planning methods
energy planning evaluation methods
SDGs
energy crises
energy impact assessment

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Related Special Issue

Energy Planning from the Perspective of Sustainability: 2nd Edition in Energies

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Research

21 pages, 2276 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Empirical Study on Cost–Benefit Evaluation of New Energy Storage in Typical Grid-Side Business Models: A Case Study of Hebei Province

by Guang Tian, Penghui Liu, Yang Yang, Bin Che, Yuanying Chi and Junqi Wang

Energies 2025, 18(8), 2082; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18082082 - 17 Apr 2025

Viewed by 240

Abstract

Energy storage technology is a critical component in supporting the construction of new power systems and promoting the low-carbon transformation of the energy system. Currently, new energy storage in China is in a pivotal transition phase from research and demonstration to the initial stage of commercialization. However, it still faces numerous challenges, including incomplete business models, inadequate institutional policies, and unclear cost and revenue recovery mechanisms, particularly on the generation and grid sides. Therefore, this paper focuses on grid-side new energy storage technologies, selecting typical operational scenarios to analyze and compare their business models. Based on the lifecycle assessment method and techno-economic theories, the costs and benefits of various new energy storage technologies are compared and analyzed. This study aims to provide rational suggestions and incentive policies to enhance the technological maturity and economic feasibility of grid-side energy storage, improve cost recovery mechanisms, and promote the sustainable development of power grids. The results indicate that grid-side energy storage business models are becoming increasingly diversified, with typical models including shared leasing, spot market arbitrage, capacity price compensation, unilateral dispatch, and bilateral trading. From the perspectives of economic efficiency and technological maturity, lithium-ion batteries exhibit significant advantages in enhancing renewable energy consumption due to their low initial investment, high returns, and fast response. Compressed air and vanadium redox flow batteries excel in long-duration storage and cycle life. While molten salt and hydrogen storage face higher financial risks, they show prominent potential in cross-seasonal storage and low-carbon transformation. The sensitivity analysis indicates that the peak–valley electricity price differential and the unit investment cost of installed capacity are the key variables influencing the economic viability of grid-side energy storage. The charge–discharge efficiency and storage lifespan affect long-term returns, while technological advancements and market optimization are expected to further enhance the economic performance of energy storage systems, promoting their commercial application in electricity markets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Planning from the Perspective of Sustainability)

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21 pages, 4198 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Decomposition of Intensity and Sustainable Use Countermeasures for the Energy Resources of the Northwestern Five Provinces of China Using the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) Method and Three Convergence Models

by Zhenxu Zhang, Junsong Jia, Chenglin Zhong, Chengfang Lu and Min Ju

Energies 2025, 18(6), 1330; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18061330 - 8 Mar 2025

Viewed by 797

Abstract

Energy resources are a material basis for regional sustainable development and ecological security. However, this issue has not been adequately studied in Northwest China. Here, we consider the five northwestern provinces of China and break down the change in energy use intensity. Results show that the total energy intensity in the five northwestern provinces decreased from 2.389 tons/10⁴ Chinese yuan (CNY) in 2000 to 0.92 tons/10⁴ CNY in 2021. The main influencing factors for the decline in energy intensity are the industrial energy intensity followed by the industrial structure and the energy structure. There are eight industrial sub-sectors that contributed to the decrease in industrial energy intensity. Conversely, there are seven sub-sectors that increased industrial energy intensity. In addition, there are six sub-sectors with an energy intensity of more than 1 ton/10⁴ CNY. The convergence parameters demonstrate that the energy intensities of the five northwestern provinces did not converge to the same steady-state level, and their gap did not narrow in the short term. While the region’s overall energy intensity has shown a consistent downward trajectory, sectors heavily reliant on traditional fossil fuels—such as coal chemical processing, petroleum refining, and coking—have experienced a paradoxical upward trend in energy consumption. To address this, governments must implement targeted sector-specific measures, including upgrading technical capabilities through advanced coal gasification technologies, optimizing heat integration systems in petroleum refining processes, and streamlining intermediate production stages to minimize energy waste. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Planning from the Perspective of Sustainability)

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23 pages, 3237 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Low-Carbon Development Strategies for Power Generation Expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa: Insights from an Optimisation-Based Analysis for Kenya

by Xavier S. Musonye, Brynhildur Davíðsdóttir, Ragnar Kristjánsson, Eyjólfur I. Ásgeirsson and Hlynur Stefánsson

Energies 2025, 18(5), 1049; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18051049 - 21 Feb 2025

Viewed by 509

Abstract

Energy production and consumption are major contributors to global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Sub-Saharan African countries face the challenge of harnessing diverse energy sources to meet rising demand affordably while curbing emissions. This study uses the optimisation-based Kenya-TIMES model to explore low-carbon strategies for Kenya’s power generation from 2020 to 2050. A business-as-usual (BAU) scenario is compared with four low-carbon scenarios: carbon tax, renewable portfolio standard, renewable energy subsidies, and a hybrid of subsidies and carbon tax. The analysis reveals that geothermal, wind, and hydropower dominate the energy mix until 2035 across all scenarios. After 2035, coal capacity in the BAU scenario is replaced by solar, gas, and biomass in low-carbon scenarios. While all low-carbon strategies, except the renewable energy subsidy scenario, meet Kenya’s nationally determined contribution (NDC) emission reduction targets by 2050, the hybrid scenario emerges as the most effective and cost-efficient pathway. Although achieving significant emissions reductions, the carbon tax and renewable portfolio standard scenarios result in higher system costs. The results indicate that an integrated optimisation-based approach can identify optimal energy development pathways that leverage local resources to accommodate growth and enhance energy access while minimising costs and emissions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Planning from the Perspective of Sustainability)

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23 pages, 6955 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Two-Stage Optimization Scheduling of Integrated Energy Systems Considering Demand Side Response

by Shuang Zeng, Heng Zhang, Fang Wang, Baoqun Zhang, Qiwen Ke and Chang Liu

Energies 2024, 17(20), 5060; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17205060 - 11 Oct 2024

Viewed by 1275

Abstract

This study proposes a two-level optimization scheduling method for multi-region integrated energy systems (IESs) that considers dynamic time intervals within the day, addressing the diverse energy characteristics of electricity, heat, and cooling. The day-ahead scheduling aims to minimize daily operating costs by optimally regulating controllable elements. For intra-day scheduling, a predictive control-based dynamic rolling optimization model is utilized, with the upper-level model handling slower thermal energy fluctuations and the lower-level model managing faster electrical energy fluctuations. Building on the day-ahead plan, different time intervals are used for fast and slow layers. The slow layer establishes a decision index for command cycle intervals, dynamically adjusting based on ultra-short-term forecasts and incremental balance corrections. Case studies demonstrate that this method effectively leverages energy network characteristics, optimizes scheduling intervals, reduces adjustment costs, and enhances system performance, achieving coordinated operation of the IES network and multi-energy equipment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Planning from the Perspective of Sustainability)

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20 pages, 1564 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Fuzzy PROMETHEE Method for Evaluating Strategies towards a Cross-Country Renewable Energy Cooperation: The Cases of Egypt and Morocco

by Aikaterini Papapostolou, Charikleia Karakosta, Filippos-Dimitrios Mexis, Ioanna Andreoulaki and John Psarras

Energies 2024, 17(19), 4904; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17194904 - 30 Sep 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1270

Abstract

Recognising the urgency of addressing climate change and the imperative to mitigate its effects, the European Union (EU) has embarked on a transformative journey to reshape its energy landscape, with a pronounced emphasis on harnessing renewable energy sources (RESs) and augmenting their contribution to electricity generation. To propel Europe towards sustainable development through its energy transition, EU member states are encouraged to foster collaborative efforts on a European scale, inviting neighbouring countries to participate in joint ventures aimed at leveraging RESs for electricity generation. Consequently, it becomes imperative to evaluate the potential depth of cooperation among these nations, assessing how such partnerships can align with Europe’s overarching objectives while fostering mutually beneficial conditions. This paper seeks to undertake a thorough analysis and evaluation of the potential impacts of such cooperation, both in advancing RES objectives and in promoting broader cooperation goals concerning the countries involved. The appropriate methodological framework has been developed, utilising and implementing the fuzzy PROMETHEE multicriteria decision analysis method, to address the problem’s multidimensional character, intending to implement an appropriate action plan and promote production from RESs. The methodology has been applied to assess alternative strategies in two case study countries, Morocco and Egypt, while important outcomes have emerged towards the successful implementation of cooperation mechanisms promoting RES. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Planning from the Perspective of Sustainability)

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27 pages, 4029 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Evaluating the Barriers to Blockchain Adoption in the Energy Sector: A Multicriteria Approach Using the Analytical Hierarchy Process for Group Decision Making

by Ioanna Andreoulaki, Aikaterini Papapostolou and Vangelis Marinakis

Energies 2024, 17(6), 1278; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17061278 - 7 Mar 2024

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2764

Abstract

The blockchain has been proposed for use in various applications in the energy field. Although the blockchain has technical strengths, several obstacles affect the application of the technology in energy services. The scope of this study is to highlight and prioritise the most important barriers to such applications. The first step in this direction is specifying the potential areas of the implementation of blockchain technology in the energy sector. Two useful tools for market analysis were used: Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal and Environmental, PESTLE Analysis, and Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats, SWOT Analysis, which examine external and internal factors, respectively. Thus, a list of the most important elements hindering the incorporation of the blockchain in the energy sector was extracted. The detected barriers were classified and ranked by energy and IT experts using the multicriteria method, “Analytical Hierarchy Process for Group Decision Making”. The results reveal that legal barriers relating to the complexities of deficiencies of regulations are the most significant, while technological barriers, especially those related to security issues, are also important. Sociopolitical barriers related mainly to lack of trust in blockchain, as well as economic concerns such as high upfront costs, are less influential but should still be considered. The conclusions of the conducted research have the potential to guide market actors in their endeavours to modernise energy systems through the use of the blockchain, assisting them in designing the most appropriate market strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Planning from the Perspective of Sustainability)

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21 pages, 388 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Revolutionizing Environmental Sustainability: The Role of Renewable Energy Consumption and Environmental Technologies in OECD Countries

by Xi Liu, Yugang He and Renhong Wu

Energies 2024, 17(2), 455; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17020455 - 17 Jan 2024

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2581

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between economic factors and environmental sustainability in OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries from 1990 to 2022, with a particular focus on the impact of renewable energy consumption and environmental technologies on CO₂ emissions. The research utilizes empirical data to establish a clear negative correlation between the adoption of renewable energy sources and the level of CO₂ emissions, highlighting the effectiveness of renewable energy in reducing the environmental impact of economic activities. This finding supports the theoretical perspective that transitioning to cleaner energy sources is vital for achieving environmental sustainability and aligns with the objectives of the OECD’s environmental sustainability program. Further analysis reveals a significant negative impact of environmental technologies on CO₂ emissions, underscoring the importance of technological innovation in environmental conservation efforts. The study also explores the dual influence of GDP growth, urbanization, industrialization, and trade on CO₂ emissions, revealing both positive and negative effects across different stages of economic development. Initially, these factors contribute to increased emissions, but as economies mature and integrate more efficient and cleaner technologies, their impact on emissions becomes negative. These findings demonstrate the complex interplay between economic development and environmental sustainability and emphasize the need for policies that encourage renewable energy adoption, support environmental technological innovations, and guide economies towards sustainable practices. The study provides valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders, advocating for an integrated approach to ensure long-term environmental sustainability in OECD countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Planning from the Perspective of Sustainability)

21 pages, 2612 KiB

Open AccessArticle

PrOuD: Probabilistic Outlier Detection Solution for Time-Series Analysis of Real-World Photovoltaic Inverters

by Yujiang He, Zhixin Huang, Stephan Vogt and Bernhard Sick

Energies 2024, 17(1), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17010064 - 21 Dec 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1641

Abstract

Anomaly detection methods applied to time series are mostly viewed as black boxes that solely provide a deterministic answer for the detected target. Without a convincing explanation, domain experts can hardly trust the detection results and must conduct further time-series diagnoses in real-world applications. To overcome this challenge, we mathematically analyzed the sources of anomalies and novelties in multivariate time series as well as their relationships from the perspective of Gaussian-distributed non-stationary noise. Furthermore, we proposed mathematical methods to generate artificial time series and synthetic anomalies, with the goal of solving the problem of it being difficult to train and evaluate models for real-world applications due to the lack of sufficient data. In addition, we designed Probabilistic Outlier Detection (PrOuD), which is a general solution to provide interpretable detection results to assist domain experts with time-series analysis. PrOuD can convert the predictive uncertainty of a time-series value from a trained model into the estimated uncertainty of the detected outlier through Monte Carlo estimation. The experimental results obtained on both artificial time series and real-world photovoltaic inverter data demonstrated that the proposed solution can detect emerging anomalies accurately and quickly. The implemented PrOuD demo case shows its potential to make the detection results of existing detection methods more convincing so that domain experts can more efficiently complete their tasks, such as time-series diagnosis and anomalous pattern clustering. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Planning from the Perspective of Sustainability)

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