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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 December 2022) | Viewed by 44433
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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Yuriy Bilan

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Faculty of Management, Rzeszow University of Technology, Aleja Powstancow Warszawy 12, PL-35959 Rzeszow, Poland
Interests: economics; energy and society; energy consumtion; environmental science
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Today, the sustainable supply of energy resources is seen, worldwide, as the key determinant of both economic and social development. “Sustainability”, in this particular context, combines two important notions – “stability” [of energy supply] and its friendliness to the natural environment. Societies across the globe are attempting to find, develop, and implement energy solutions that are eco-friendly, economically feasible, and socially tolerable. This has been a challenging task for both policy-makers and researchers. Innovations and R&D are an integral part of this process, which is covering a wide array of research directions: sustainability of logistics and supply; development of new, more efficient technical solutions; adjustment of the already functioning energy systems to the changing political, economic and environmental context; public awareness changes and overall social context as applied to sustainable energy.

In this specific research context, the Special Issue “Sustainable Energy and Society” is collecting texts that cover the following topics: government regulation of changes in energy systems; social and socio-cultural changes due to changes in the national energy systems; growing prosumer attitudes to energy supply and energy use; description of implemented local “green” initiatives; SME interests and participation in the alternative energy development; energy equality and energy justice across the globe and in the context of developing nations especially.

Prof. Dr. Yuriy Bilan
Guest Editor

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Keywords

Public discourse in sustainable energy policy
Changes in the national energy systems
Social and socio-economic changes caused by the energy transition
Socio-cultural shift from consumer to prosumer in the energy sector
Local “green” sustainable initiatives
SME interests and participation in alternative energy development
The cultures of energy consumption: national, regional and local levels
Food wastes management, sustainable approach
Justice in energy distribution, energy poverty
Forecasting energy demand trends

Published Papers (16 papers)

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Research

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Open AccessArticle

Peoples’ Perception towards Nuclear Energy

Meesha Iqbal

Rae Moss

and

Irene van Woerden

Energies 2022, 15(12), 4397; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15124397 - 16 Jun 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2491

Abstract

Perception towards nuclear energy is a vital factor determining the success or failure of nuclear projects. An online survey obtained attitudes toward nuclear energy, opinions on whether benefits of nuclear energy outweigh the risks, and views of using nuclear energy as an energy source. A total of 4318 participants from across the U.S. completed the survey. Logistic regression was used to predict perceptions of nuclear energy by participant demographics and geographical location. Participants living closest to Idaho National Laboratory (INL) were more likely to have positive attitudes towards nuclear energy (aOR: 7.18, p < 0.001), believe the benefits were greater than the risks (aOR: 4.90, p < 0.001), and have positive attitudes toward using nuclear energy as an electricity source (aOR: 5.70, p < 0.001), compared to people living farther from INL. Males and non-Hispanic white participants were more likely to have positive perceptions of nuclear energy. Developing and implementing awareness raising campaigns for people living further away from nuclear power plants, targeting females and Hispanic whites, may be key to improving the overall perceptions of nuclear energy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy & Society)

Open AccessArticle

Drivers and Challenges of Peer-to-Peer Energy Trading Development in Thailand

Siripha Junlakarn

Phimsupha Kokchang

and

Kulyos Audomvongseree

Energies 2022, 15(3), 1229; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15031229 - 08 Feb 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3323

Abstract

Recent developments in disruptive technologies along with the cost reduction of photovoltaics have been transforming business models in the electricity sector worldwide. The rise of prosumers has led to a more decentralized and open local green energy market through the emergence of peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading, where consumers and prosumers can buy or sell electricity through an online trading platform. P2P energy trading has the potential to make green energy more accessible at the local level, provide a customer choice that aligns with community values, and promote the use of renewable energy (RE) for local consumption. Although P2P energy trading has already been adopted in some countries, its implementation remains challenging in other countries, including Thailand. In this work, we investigated the drivers and challenges of implementing P2P energy trading in Thailand based on the perspectives of P2P energy trading pilot project developers participating in the regulatory sandbox program. A strategic framework was used to identify the respondents’ standpoints on the political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental (PESTLE) factors that can influence the implementation of P2P energy trading. This can help businesses, policymakers, and regulators better understand drivers and barriers of P2P energy trading, which is a potential local energy market. This paper also provides policy recommendations for regulatory changes for the future development of P2P energy trading, including opening a third-party access (TPA) regime, enabling a liberalized market in the electricity market, and integrating the role and responsibilities of the prosumer for P2P energy trading into existing law. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy & Society)

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Open AccessArticle

Unveiling the Nexus between Access to Electricity, Firm Size and SME’s Performance in Bangladesh: New Evidence Using PSM

Mohammad Abir Shahid Chowdhury

and

Energies 2021, 14(20), 6493; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14206493 - 11 Oct 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1195

Abstract

Uninterrupted availability of energy and power resources is essential for the productivity and smooth functioning of an enterprise. However, constrained by financial resources, smaller firms in developing economies face a plethora of challenges concerning the access to electricity. However, less attention has been paid in the extant literature to explore this phenomenon. The present study investigates the impact of access to electricity on labor productivity in Bangladesh in the presence of electricity constraints, electricity obstacles, and SME firm size. It employs the OLS regression and propensity score matching (PSM) technique for treatment effect to deal with the selection bias and endogeneity issue using the World Bank Enterprise Survey’s cross-sectional firm-level data for 3196 sample firms over the period of 2007–2013. The results provide evidence in support of SMEs’ labor productivity in response to electricity access. Lack of electricity access was partially found to affect SMEs’ labor productivity significantly negatively. Further, the results show a positive impact of firm size on firm performance. However, results from this model appear that constrained SMEs’ access to electricity has a negative relationship with firm performance. The article then suggests several policy implications on changing government regulations regarding the efficient use of renewable energy resources to enhance electricity generation for optimized SME performance and sustainable economic development in Bangladesh. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy & Society)

Open AccessArticle

Social Energy as the Driving Force behind Crowdfunding—Analysis and Classification of Selected Attributes

Agnieszka Szewczyk

and

Zbigniew Stempnakowski

Energies 2021, 14(19), 6062; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14196062 - 23 Sep 2021

Viewed by 850

Abstract

Crowdfunding has been part of sharing economy for a few decades. Research into crowdfunding usually concerns its relation to sustainable development and corporate social responsibility, influencing investment decisions, psychological, organizational and financial aspects or the success evaluation of individual campaigns or platforms. Recent research includes empirical case studies, e.g., evaluation of the crowdfunding for minor coarse cereal products through evolutionary game analysis, or the impact of crowdfunding on the willingness to visit local festivals. There is, however, no comprehensive cross-sectional approach to crowdfunding attributes that considers data from various categories. The authors aimed to analyze selected attributes of crowdfunding, namely project categories, the number of backers, campaign duration and profitability, and to classify these attributes. A novelty is the use of the term “social energy” in a different sense than previously found in the scientific literature. An original algorithm for analyzing and classifying selected crowdfunding attributes and measuring the relationship between them was also used. The value of the article is also the practical application of its results. The findings have a practical outcome: they can be used by project creators, potential backers, investors and owners of crowdfunding platforms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy & Society)

Open AccessArticle

The Transposition of Energy Communities into Swedish Regulations: Overview and Critique of Emerging Regulations

Jenny Palm

Energies 2021, 14(16), 4982; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14164982 - 13 Aug 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 1513

Abstract

One organizational innovation introduced by the clean energy for all Europeans package (CEP) is that of the energy community (EC), including the renewable energy community (REC) and citizen energy community (CEC). The translation of related directives into national legislation is underway in Sweden, and the Swedish Energy Market Inspectorate (Ei) has proposed a new law on ECs, which has been sent for consultation. This article analyzes the Ei proposal and the responses from the 27 referral bodies commenting on the new EC regulations. Positive aspects of the proposal were that it would be a law on ECs and that it would be easy to start and run an EC. Critics were concerned that the law was too vague, the relationship between existing cooperatives and the new ECs was not clear, both CEC and REC are used instead of only using one term, there is a lack of suggestions on supportive measures for ECs, ECs will have less favorable conditions than other micro-producers of electricity, there is a lack of barrier analysis and visions of a future of ECs, and finally, that the situation for marginalized households was not dealt with in the proposal. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy & Society)

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Open AccessArticle

Impacts of Electricity Outages in Urban Households in Developing Countries: A Case of Accra, Ghana

Paul Nduhuura

Matthias Garschagen

and

Abdellatif Zerga

Energies 2021, 14(12), 3676; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14123676 - 20 Jun 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3161

Abstract

Many developing countries in Africa face a “double tragedy” when it comes to electrification. Electricity access rates are low, while those who have access to electricity face frequent outages. There are ongoing efforts aimed at increasing access to electricity on the continent. However, the need to improve the reliability of electricity supply receives limited attention. Unreliable electricity impacts users by limiting electricity utilization and the benefits that should accrue from having an electricity connection. Using data from 496 household survey questionnaires, this study examines the impacts of electricity outages in urban households in Accra, Ghana. The study applies correlation and regression analyses to identify which household characteristics are associated with or predict households reporting outage impacts. Outages were found to impact household safety/security, access to food, and access to social services and were found to cause appliance damage as well. Factors that are significantly correlated with reporting certain outage impacts include respondent’s annual income and employment status, frequency of electricity outages, and household size. Significant predictors of reporting outage impacts are socioeconomic disadvantage, high exposure to outages, and living in a large family setting. The study’s findings underscore the need for interventions to eliminate, or at least minimize, electricity supply interruptions in developing countries if sustainable social and economic development is to be achieved. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy & Society)

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Open AccessArticle

Intelligent Street Lighting in a Smart City Concepts—A Direction to Energy Saving in Cities: An Overview and Case Study

Konrad Henryk Bachanek

and

Energies 2021, 14(11), 3018; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14113018 - 23 May 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4168

Abstract

The aim of the article is to present and analyze the implementation of intelligent lighting within the concept of smart energies and smart cities. Motivation and research hypothesis: Electricity consumption in the world is based largely on non-renewable energy. Until these full changes, it is necessary to look for opportunities to save and use it efficiently. Today’s cities are increasingly implementing the smart concept, of which smart energy is one area. One of the smart city elements implemented by cities is smart energy. Within this framework, a supported concept is the replacement of traditional lighting with LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes), which contributes to energy and cost savings and reduces the pollution of the sky with artificial light, while increasing the efficiency of urban lighting. Positive effects of modern solutions include reduced lighting expenses and increased safety of residents. Methods and results of the research: The authors chose the case study method for their research. The authors present forecasts for the development, not only from the point of view of the number of lamps but also the cost efficiency pointing out the importance of this element in the context of building smart cities. These are specific benchmarks for cities that have not yet implemented this concept. Conclusions and interdisciplinary implications: solutions are desirable directions for the development of the smart city concept, bringing benefits and reducing external costs. Considerations show a quantitative development forecast and an indication of the possibility of achieving trade-offs and cost reductions. It translates into meeting the requirements of sustainable development providing tangible benefits. The analysis of the case studies is intended to show the effects that can be achieved and the wide range of applications (indicating that modern lamps are not just lighting, but a platform for urban services). The analyses presented are intended to serve as benchmarks showing the possibilities of reducing costs and increasing the quality of life of residents in modern cities. The indicated examples and analyses are of economic importance, they show managers, but also inhabitants, in which direction they should lead the smart city concept, which will allow saving costs, but also to increase the quality of life of inhabitants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy & Society)

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Open AccessArticle

Mineral Policy within the Framework of Limited Critical Resources and a Green Energy Transition

and

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2688; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092688 - 07 May 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1903

Abstract

The green energy transition is associated with the use of a wide range of metals and minerals that are exhaustible. Most of these minerals are limited in access due to small resource fields, their concentration in several locations and a broader scale of industry usage which is not limited exclusively to energy and environmental sectors. This article classifies 17 minerals that are critical in the green energy transition concerning the 10 main technologies. The following classification signs of metal resources were used: (1) the absolute amount of metals used in the current period for energy; (2) projected annual demand in 2050 from energy technologies as a percentage of the current rate; (3) the number of technologies where there is a need for an individual metal; (4) cumulative emissions of CO₂, which are associated with metal production; (5) period of reserves availability; (6) the number of countries that produced more than 1% of global production; (7) countries with the maximum annual metal productivity. The ranking of metals according to these characteristics was carried out using two scenarios, and the index of the availability of each mineral was determined. The lowest availability index values (up to 0.15) were calculated for cobalt, graphite and lithium, which are key battery minerals for energy storage. Low indices (up to 0.20) were also obtained for iron, nickel and chromium. The calculation of the availability index for each mineral was enhanced with linear trend modelling and the fuzzy logic technique. There are two scenarios of demand–supply commodity systems with a pre-developed forecast up to 2050: basic independent parameter probability and balanced fuzzy sum. Both scenarios showed comparable results, but the second one highlighted supply chain importance. Generally, the lowest availability index values (up to 0.15) were calculated for cobalt, graphite and lithium, which are key battery minerals for energy storage. Low indices (up to 0.20) were also obtained for iron, nickel and chromium. The fuzzy logic model helped to reveal two scenarios up to 2050. The two scenarios presented in the current research expose a high level of uncertainty of the projected 2050 forecast. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy & Society)

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Open AccessArticle

Determinants of Decarbonization—How to Realize Sustainable and Low Carbon Cities?

Wojciech Drożdż

Grzegorz Kinelski

Marzena Czarnecka

Magdalena Wójcik-Jurkiewicz

Anna Maroušková

and

Grzegorz Zych

Energies 2021, 14(9), 2640; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14092640 - 05 May 2021

Cited by 49 | Viewed by 3080

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to identify the determinants of decarbonization processes in Poland by urban and rural areas. It also presents directions for knowledge diffusion on decarbonization to develop a sustainable energy strategy for Poland, particularly for local governments and cities. Despite extensive research on the determinants of decarbonization and sustainable energy development, there is a lack of specific solutions in this area. The authors of this paper investigated which determinants, according to the respondents, would lead to better decarbonization solutions in cities and villages in terms of sustainability. The studied sample was purposefully selected and an online questionnaire was used with the use of the “snowball” method. The authors conducted surveys that allowed the concerned parties themselves (respondents) to indicate which factors they believe best influence decarbonization. Such measures are helpful in terms of the understanding public acceptance of decarbonization in terms of the energy transition. This is of particular importance in terms of green governance globally and in Europe. The results of the authors’ research indicate that despite the reduction in the share of coal in residential and domestic heating, coal remains the main source of electricity generation and that the potential for low-carbon policy to have an impact on solving urban challenges is underestimated. From the findings, it can be concluded that more in-depth research is needed on public acceptance of decarbonization in its broadest sense and its implications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy & Society)

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Open AccessArticle

Europeanization Processes of the EU Energy Policy in Visegrad Countries in the Years 2005–2018

and

Energies 2021, 14(7), 1802; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14071802 - 24 Mar 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2113

Abstract

Energy issues are sensitive for the four Visegrad countries as European Union (EU) member states; thus, this area’s convergence might be problematic for these countries. There is a clear research gap concerning the processes of Europeanization of the energy policy in the Visegrad countries. This article aims to identify and evaluate the progress of four Visegrad countries (V4) in implementing the EU energy goals in the context of the Europeanization. The article uses three main methods: Hellwig’s method, Kendall’s rank concordance coefficient, and k-means clustering. These calculations will allow one to study the Europeanization processes, which means checking the gamma convergence. For calculations, we use the available statistical data from Eurostat for the years 2005–2018. Poland and other Central European countries, including Czechia, and Hungary, largely depend on coal for their energy needs. The empirical results have shown that there have been no significant changes in the classification of EU countries in terms of their fulfillment of the EU climate and energy targets in the analyzed period. This is the case in all EU member states, including the Visegrad Group countries, but except for Poland. This means that the level of Europeanization of the energy policy and its effectiveness is similar in all member states except for Poland, which is becoming a kind of the exception. Throughout the investigating period, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia were close to meeting the set targets and could be rated high compared to the EU countries. Poland, especially since 2015, has been noticeably and increasingly distanced from the other V4 countries. It can be perceived as a gradual drift away from Europeanization of the EU climate and energy policy in Poland. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy & Society)

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Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Energy Consumption on the Three Pillars of Sustainable Development

and

Energies 2021, 14(5), 1372; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14051372 - 03 Mar 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3081

Abstract

The paper analyzes the impact of energy consumption on the three pillars of sustainable development in 74 countries. The main methodological challenge in this research is the choice of a single integral indicator for assessing the social component of sustainable development. Disability-adjusted life year (DALY), ecological footprint, and GDP (Gross domestic product) are used to characterize the social, ecological, and economical pillars. The concept of physics, namely the concept of density (specific gravity), is used. It characterizes the ratio of the mass of a substance to its volume, i.e., reflects the saturation of a certain volume with this substance. Thus, to assess the relationship between energy consumption and the three foundations of sustainable development, it is proposed to determine the energy density of the indicators DALY, the ecological footprint, and GDP. The reaction to changes in energy consumption is described by the elasticity of energy density functions, calculated for each of the abovementioned indicators. The state of the social pillar is mostly dependent on energy consumption. As for the changes in the ecological pillar, a 1% reduction in energy consumption per capita gives only a 0.6% ecological footprint reduction, which indicates a low efficiency of reducing energy consumption policy and its danger for the social pillar. The innovative aspect of the research is to apply a cross-disciplinary approach and a calculative technique to identify the impact that each of the pillars of sustainable development imposes on energy policy design. The policy of renewable energy expansion is preferable for all sustainable development pillars. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy & Society)

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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

GHG Emissions Mitigation in the European Union Based on Labor Market Changes

and

Energies 2021, 14(2), 465; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14020465 - 16 Jan 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 1722

Abstract

The effects of the labor market on environmental issues are an actual problem at the global level, and recommendations are required to achieve equilibrium between labor productivity and environmental protection. Considering the ecological limits of work and the necessity of reducing the working time to mitigate GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions, this paper aims to assess the impact of the labor market on GHG emissions in the EU-28 countries. Using panel data models for 2007–2019, a positive effect of working time for employed persons on GHG emissions was detected. Labor productivity has a positive impact on emissions for most of the developed countries in the EU (old member states), while the effect is negative in the case of most of the new member states, which suggests that more efforts should be made by old member states to correlate labor productivity with a sustainable level of GHG emissions. As a novelty for research in the field, we assessed also the effect of targeted labor utilization on GHG emissions in order to describe the context of a sustainable economy that is an objective for each country in the EU. These results suggest that progress in GHG emissions mitigation might be achieved by reducing the working time for employed persons, which will also improve well-being. These recommendations could be useful also for other developed countries outside the EU that encounter the same difficulties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy & Society)

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Open AccessArticle

Multi-Time Scale Spillover Effect of International Oil Price Fluctuation on China’s Stock Markets

Jingran Zhu

Qinghua Song

and

Dalia Streimikiene

Energies 2020, 13(18), 4641; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13184641 - 07 Sep 2020

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1487

Abstract

With the continuous increase of China’s foreign-trade dependence on crude oil and the accelerating integration of the international crude oil market and the Chinese finance market, the spillover effect of international oil price fluctuation on China’s stock markets increasingly attracts the attention of the public. In order to explore the impact of international oil price fluctuation on China’s stock markets and the time-varying spillover differences of industry sectors, this study proposes three research hypotheses and constructs a multi-time scale analysis framework based on wavelet analysis and a time-varying t-Copula model. In this paper, we use the Shanghai Composite Index as the representative of a general trend of the stock market, and we use the stock index of the China Securities Industry as the counterpart of industrial sectors. Based on the data from 5 January 2005 to 31 May 2020, this paper measures and analyzes the spillover effect of international oil price fluctuation on China’s stock markets, under different volatility periods. The results show that, firstly, the spillover effect of international oil price fluctuation on the Chinese stock markets is different. In the short and medium volatility period, the changes in international oil price are ahead of the changes in the Chinese stock markets, while the latter is ahead of the former under long-term fluctuations. Secondly, the spillover effect of international oil price fluctuation on China’s industry stock indexes is persistent. As the time scale increases, the tail dependency will increase. Finally, the impact of risk events aggravates the volatility of the stock markets in the short-term, while the mid- to long-term impact mainly affects the volatility trend. Investment risk control can make overall arrangement on the basis of the characteristics of oil price impact under different fluctuation stages. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy & Society)

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Review

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Open AccessReview

Research on the Concept of Hydrogen Supply Chains and Power Grids Powered by Renewable Energy Sources: A Scoping Review with the Use of Text Mining

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Energies 2022, 15(3), 866; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15030866 - 25 Jan 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2345

Abstract

The key direction of political actions in the field of sustainable development of the energy sector and economy is the process of energy transformation (decarbonization) and increasing the share of renewable energy sources (RES) in the supply of primary energy. Regardless of the indisputable advantages, RES are referred to as unstable energy sources. A possible solution might be the development of the concept of hydrogen supply chains, especially the so-called green hydrogen obtained in the process of electrolysis from electricity produced from RES. The aim of the research undertaken in the article is to identify the scope of research carried out in the area of hydrogen supply chains and to link this research with the issues of the operation of electricity distribution networks powered by RES. As a result of the scoping review, and the application of the text-mining method using the IRaMuTeQ tool, which includes the analysis of the content of 12 review articles presenting the current research achievements in this field over the last three years (2016–2020), it was established that the issues related to hydrogen supply chains, including green hydrogen, are still not significantly associated with the problem of the operation of power grids. The results of the conducted research allow formulating recommendations for further research areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy & Society)

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Open AccessReview

Promoting the Solar Industry in Ghana through Effective Public-Private Partnership (PPP): Some Lessons from South Africa and Morocco

Samuel Amo Awuku

Amar Bennadji

Firdaus Muhammad-Sukki

and

Nazmi Sellami

Energies 2022, 15(1), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15010017 - 21 Dec 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2292

Abstract

Over the past decades, solar energy has gained much attention in Ghana, especially after the 2012–2016 power crisis. The government through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) has attempted to increase the shares of solar generation to augment its efforts in reducing the energy deficit of the country, especially in remote and off-grid communities. However, the extent to which PPP has been utilized as a viable tool for solar sector development in Ghana is questionable. This study discusses the current state of PPPs in Ghana’s solar industry and compares how it has been efficiently used as a tool to promote the solar industry in South Africa and Morocco. Fundamental theories such as Altruism, Game, Principal-agent, and Pareto Optimality (PO) were used as analytical tools to examine how PPPs are handled in the selected cases. The study ascertains that the Game and PO are applicable theories that have guided SA and Morocco’s solar infrastructural development. This study discovered that PPP has been efficiently used in SA and Morocco to push its solar industry to be among the best in the world and Ghana can perfectly emulate it. The study further reveals that the Principal-agent analogy and altruistic intent of the Ghanaian government tend to discourage Private sector participation in the solar industry. It further suggests the Pareto Optimality, Game approach, and a win-win transparent attitude towards PPPs. This study recommends a well-developed PPP structure and law for Ghana. It encourages transparency and discourages partisan preferentialism to increase PPPs in Ghana’s solar industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy & Society)

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Open AccessReview

Solar Energy in the United States: Development, Challenges and Future Prospects

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Energies 2021, 14(23), 8142; https://doi.org/10.3390/en14238142 - 04 Dec 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 7147

Abstract

The ambitious target of net-zero emission by 2050 has been aggressively driving the renewable energy sector in many countries. Leading the race of renewable energy sources is solar energy, the fastest growing energy source at present. The solar industry has witnessed more growth in the last decade than it has in the past 40 years, owing to its technological advancements, plummeting costs, and lucrative incentives. The United States is one of the largest producers of solar power in the world and has been a pioneer in solar adoption, with major projects across different technologies, mainly photovoltaic, concentrated solar power, and solar heating and cooling, but is expanding towards floating PV, solar combined with storage, and hybrid power plants. Although the United States has tremendous potential for exploiting solar resources, there is a scarcity of research that details the U.S. solar energy scenario. This paper provides a comprehensive review of solar energy in the U.S., highlighting the drivers of the solar industry in terms of technology, financial incentives, and strategies to overcome challenges. It also discusses the prospects of the future solar market based on extensive background research and the latest statistics. In addition, the paper categorizes the U.S. states into five tiers based on their solar prospects calculated using analytical hierarchy process and regression analysis. The price of solar technologies in the U.S. is also predicted up to 2031 using Wright’s law, which projected a 77% reduction in the next decade. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Energy & Society)

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