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Renewable Energy and Environment Protection: Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Liquid Fuels from Carbon Dioxide, and Biofuels

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 1474

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Daniel A. Lowy

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Keleti Károly Faculty for Business and Management, Óbuda University, 1084 Budapest, Hungary
Interests: electrochemical energy harvesting and storage; biofuels
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jesus R. Melendez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Technical Education for Development, Catholic University of Santiago of Guayaquil, Guayaquil 090615, Ecuador
Interests: biofuels; electroreduction of carbon dioxide; business strategies; corporate social responsibility

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on recent advances and cutting-edge developments in renewable energy research and environmental protection, with a particular emphasis on the challenges and opportunities associated with decreasing energy consumption in industrial production. The importance of efficient energy management and optimization systems to minimize waste products and reduce the overall carbon footprint will be addressed. In this context, direct air capture (DAC) and the storage of carbon dioxide to then convert it into liquid fuels emerge as key solutions. This process presents a dual benefit: it helps to mitigate the impact of greenhouse gas emissions and provides a pathway for securing the sustainable production of liquid fuels, which are essential for sectors that are difficult to electrify. In addition, this issue addresses innovative methods for the production of green hydrogen and biofuels, which are increasingly important in the transition to cleaner energies. Biofuels, derived from organic materials, offer a renewable alternative to fossil fuels and are crucial in reducing the carbon intensity of transportation and other sectors. A novel aspect explored in this issue is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the energy sector to optimize the production, storage, and utilization of alternative energy sources. AI-driven technologies enable more efficient energy management, the predictive maintenance of energy systems, and the real-time optimization of energy usage, thereby maximizing the benefits of renewable energy sources while minimizing waste and inefficiencies.

By linking technological innovations with strategic industrial and governmental actions, the issue provides a comprehensive view of how emerging technologies like DAC, green hydrogen, and AI; therefore, it can contribute to the global transition toward cleaner and more sustainable energy systems.

The overall focus of this issue is to document the recent progress achieved in renewable energy research and in environment protection.

Focus: The primary focus of this Special Issue is to document the recent progress achieved in renewable energy research and environmental protection. It seeks to highlight how emerging technologies, particularly in the fields of energy management, carbon capture, and renewable fuel production, are driving advancements toward a more sustainable future.

Scope: The issue covers a wide range of topics, including energy optimization in industrial processes, the development of innovative technologies, such as DAC, green hydrogen production, and the integration of AI in energy systems. It also explores the implications of these technologies for reducing carbon footprints and promoting environmental sustainability.

Purpose: The purpose of this Special Issue is to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest technological and strategic developments in the field of renewable energy. By linking these advancements with global efforts in environmental protection, the issue aims to foster a deeper understanding of the critical role that these technologies play in the global transition toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy landscape.

How does the Special Issue supplement the existing literature in the field? We will address the increasing role played by AI in the energy sector and in supporting and advancing sustainability and environmental protection. The development of large-scale redox flow batteries and the generation of biomass energy are priorities in the field. Also, the issue will discuss how the energy industry can interact directly with the global government, company leaders, and decision-makers who are responsible for strategically important resolutions.

Prof. Dr. Daniel A. Lowy
Dr. Jesus R. Melendez
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. Sustainability 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 2400 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

  • challenge of energy transition
  • renewable energy production
  • energy storage
  • biofuels
  • green hydrogen
  • biomass energy
  • direct carbon capture and reduction of carbon dioxide
  • AI in the optimization of alternative energy production
  • storage and usage

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 1661 KiB  
Article
The Public Acceptance of Power-to-X Technologies—Results from Environmental–Psychological Research Using a Representative German Sample
by Jan Hildebrand, Timo Kortsch and Irina Rau
Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6574; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146574 - 18 Jul 2025
Viewed by 190
Abstract
Power-to-X (ptx) technologies are considered a promising solution for enabling the storage and sectoral integration of renewable energy, playing a vital role in the sustainable transition of industrialized energy systems. This study investigates the public acceptance of ptx technologies in Germany using a [...] Read more.
Power-to-X (ptx) technologies are considered a promising solution for enabling the storage and sectoral integration of renewable energy, playing a vital role in the sustainable transition of industrialized energy systems. This study investigates the public acceptance of ptx technologies in Germany using a quantitative, environmental–psychological framework. Key influencing factors such as social and personal norms, environmental awareness, and openness to innovation are analyzed. A particular focus is placed on generational differences, comparing the perceptions of youth (16–25 years) and adults (>25 years) through a representative online survey. The results reveal a general lack of knowledge about ptx technologies yet a positive assessment of their decarbonization potential. Ecological impact—particularly the ability to reduce CO2 emissions—emerges as the strongest predictor of acceptance. This is closely tied to conditions such as the use of renewable electricity and sustainable sourcing of carbon and water. Notably, acceptance among youth is also influenced by environmental awareness, prior knowledge, and perceived behavioral control. The results show that, in general, there is still a need for improved science communication to address the existing uncertainties in the population. At the same time, age-specific approaches are required, as perceptions and acceptance factors differ significantly between younger and older age groups. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Environment Protection: Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Liquid Fuels from Carbon Dioxide, and Biofuels)
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18 pages, 6234 KiB  
Article
Autonomous System for Air Quality Monitoring on the Campus of the University of Ruse: Implementation and Statistical Analysis
by Maciej Kozłowski, Asen Asenov, Velizara Pencheva, Sylwia Agata Bęczkowska, Andrzej Czerepicki and Zuzanna Zysk
Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6260; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146260 - 8 Jul 2025
Viewed by 293
Abstract
Air pollution poses a growing threat to public health and the environment, highlighting the need for continuous and precise urban air quality monitoring. The aim of this study was to implement and evaluate an autonomous air quality monitoring platform developed by the University [...] Read more.
Air pollution poses a growing threat to public health and the environment, highlighting the need for continuous and precise urban air quality monitoring. The aim of this study was to implement and evaluate an autonomous air quality monitoring platform developed by the University of Ruse, “Angel Kanchev”, under Bulgaria’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (project BG-RRP-2.013-0001), co-financed by the European Union through the NextGenerationEU initiative. The system, based on Libelium’s mobile sensor technology, was installed at a height of two meters on the university campus near Rodina Boulevard and operated continuously from 1 March 2024 to 30 March 2025. Every 15 min, it recorded concentrations of CO, CO2, NO2, SO2, PM1, PM2.5, and PM10, along with meteorological parameters (temperature, humidity, and pressure), transmitting the data via GSM to a cloud-based database. Analyses included a distributional assessment, Spearman rank correlations, Kruskal–Wallis tests with Dunn–Sidak post hoc comparisons, and k-means clustering to identify temporal and meteorological patterns in pollutant levels. The results indicate the high operational stability of the system and reveal characteristic pollution profiles associated with time of day, weather conditions, and seasonal variation. The findings confirm the value of combining calibrated IoT systems with advanced statistical methods to support data-driven air quality management and the development of predictive environmental models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Environment Protection: Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Liquid Fuels from Carbon Dioxide, and Biofuels)
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19 pages, 2374 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Opportunities to Reduce CO2 and NOX Emissions Through the Improvement of Internal Inter-Operational Transport
by Szymon Pawlak, Tomasz Małysa, Angieszka Fornalczyk, Angieszka Sobianowska-Turek and Marzena Kuczyńska-Chałada
Sustainability 2025, 17(13), 5974; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17135974 - 29 Jun 2025
Viewed by 355
Abstract
The reduction of environmental pollutant emissions—including greenhouse gases, particulate matter, and other harmful substances—represents one of the foremost challenges in climate policy, economics, and industrial management today. Excessive emissions of CO2, NOX, and suspended particulates exert significant impacts on [...] Read more.
The reduction of environmental pollutant emissions—including greenhouse gases, particulate matter, and other harmful substances—represents one of the foremost challenges in climate policy, economics, and industrial management today. Excessive emissions of CO2, NOX, and suspended particulates exert significant impacts on climate change as well as human health and welfare. Consequently, numerous studies and regulatory and technological initiatives are underway to mitigate these emissions. One critical area is intra-plant transport within manufacturing facilities, which, despite its localized scope, can substantially contribute to a company’s total emissions. This paper aims to assess the potential of computer simulation using FlexSim software as a decision-support tool for planning inter-operational transport, with a particular focus on environmental aspects. The study analyzes real operational data from a selected production plant (case study), concentrating on the optimization of the number of transport units, their routing, and the layout of workstations. It is hypothesized that reducing the number of trips, shortening transport routes, and efficiently utilizing transport resources can lead to lower emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX). The findings provide a basis for a broader adoption of digital tools in sustainable production planning, emphasizing the integration of environmental criteria into decision-making processes. Furthermore, the results offer a foundation for future analyses that consider the development of green transport technologies—such as electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles—in the context of their implementation in the internal logistics of manufacturing enterprises. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Environment Protection: Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Liquid Fuels from Carbon Dioxide, and Biofuels)
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