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Renewable Energy and Sustainable Energy Systems

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2025 | Viewed by 12235

Special Issue Editors

School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China
Interests: hybrid energy sotrege system; fuel cell; hybrid electric vehicle

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Guest Editor
School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun 130025, China
Interests: fuel cell UAV; triboelectric nanogenerators

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Energy is the foundation of economic and social development and an important material guarantee for the survival and development of human society. Throughout the history of the development of human society, every major progress in human civilization has been accompanied by the improvement in and replacement of energy. At present, global climate warming and energy supply security have become major strategic issues of common concern to all countries in the world. The idea of sustainable development has gradually become the consensus of the international community. Energy conservation, energy utilization improvement, and development of renewable energy and sustainable energy are becoming the main theme of world energy development. Forecasts have shown that by the middle of this century, with the further growth in energy demand and the gradual depletion of fossil energy resources, renewable energy and sustainable energy will occupy an increasingly important position in the world's energy production and consumption, becoming the most important material basis for human survival and development. Therefore, renewable energy and sustainable energy systems have become highly valued by more and more countries and become the focus of the international energy field.

This Special Issue aims to communicate the most interesting and relevant critical thinking in renewable and sustainable energy systems, promote and disseminate knowledge on the various topics and technologies of renewable and sustainable energy systems and components, and share problems, solutions and novel ideas and technologies to support sustainable development and the transition to a low carbon future. This Special Issue will publish papers on scientific research, technology development, engineering policy, and management studies related to the general field of renewable and sustainable energy systems. 

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Source—fossil fuels, geothermal, hydrogen, hydropower, nuclear, marine and ocean, solar and wind.
  • Energy—energy efficiency, energy conversion, energy management, energy sustainability, energy policy, and economics.
  • Applications—buildings, industry, transport, and urban community.
  • Utilization—batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, and energy storage technology.
  • System—system reliability, systems operation.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Tianyu Li
Dr. Yongming Yao
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

  • renewable energy
  • sustainable energy
  • energy storage
  • energy system

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 1860 KiB  
Article
A Cooperative Game Approach for Optimal Design of Shared Energy Storage System
by Qin Wang, Jincan Zeng, Beibei Cheng, Minwei Liu, Guori Huang, Xi Liu, Gengsheng He, Shangheng Yao, Peng Wang and Longxi Li
Sustainability 2024, 16(17), 7255; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177255 - 23 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1130
Abstract
The energy sector’s long-term sustainability increasingly relies on widespread renewable energy generation. Shared energy storage embodies sharing economy principles within the storage industry. This approach allows storage facilities to monetize unused capacity by offering it to users, generating additional revenue for providers, and [...] Read more.
The energy sector’s long-term sustainability increasingly relies on widespread renewable energy generation. Shared energy storage embodies sharing economy principles within the storage industry. This approach allows storage facilities to monetize unused capacity by offering it to users, generating additional revenue for providers, and supporting renewable energy prosumers’ growth. However, high investment costs and long payback periods often hinder the development of battery storage. To address this challenge, we propose a shared storage investment framework. In this framework, a storage investor virtualizes physical storage equipment, enabling prosumers to access storage services as though they owned the batteries themselves. We adopt a cooperative game approach to incorporate storage sharing into the design phase of energy systems. To ensure a fair distribution of cooperative benefits, we introduce a benefit allocation mechanism based on contributions to energy storage sharing. Utilizing realistic data from three buildings, our simulations demonstrate that the shared storage mechanism creates a win–win situation for all participants. It also enhances the self-sufficiency and self-consumption of renewable energy. This paper provides valuable insights for shared storage investors regarding optimal design and benefit allocation among multiple stakeholders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Sustainable Energy Systems)
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27 pages, 1343 KiB  
Article
Master–Slave Game Optimal Scheduling for Multi-Agent Integrated Energy System Based on Uncertainty and Demand Response
by Boyu Zhu and Dazhi Wang
Sustainability 2024, 16(8), 3182; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083182 - 10 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1333
Abstract
With the transformation of the energy market from the traditional vertical integrated structure to the interactive competitive structure, the traditional centralized optimization method makes it difficult to reveal the interactive behavior of multi-agent integrated energy systems (MAIES). In this paper, a master–slave game [...] Read more.
With the transformation of the energy market from the traditional vertical integrated structure to the interactive competitive structure, the traditional centralized optimization method makes it difficult to reveal the interactive behavior of multi-agent integrated energy systems (MAIES). In this paper, a master–slave game optimal scheduling strategy of MAIES is proposed based on the integrated demand response. Firstly, a master–slave game framework of MAIES is established with an energy management agent as leader, an energy operation agent, an energy storage agent, and a user aggregation agent as followers. Secondly, in view of the wind and solar uncertainty, the Monte Carlo method is used to generate random scenarios, and the k-means clustering method and pre-generation elimination technology are used for scenario reduction. Then, according to different flexible characteristics of loads, a multi-load and multi-type integrated demand response model including electric, thermal, and cold energy is built to fully utilize the regulation role of flexible resources. On this basis, the transaction decision-making models of each agent are constructed, and the existence and uniqueness of the Stackelberg equilibrium solution are proved. Finally, the case simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed optimal scheduling strategy of MAIES. Compared to the scenario without considering the wind and solar uncertainty and the integrated demand response, the rate of renewable energy curtailment was reduced by 6.03% and the carbon emissions of the system were reduced by 1335.22 kg in the scenario considering the proposed method in this paper. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Sustainable Energy Systems)
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24 pages, 6918 KiB  
Article
Research of the Impact of Hydrogen Metallurgy Technology on the Reduction of the Chinese Steel Industry’s Carbon Dioxide Emissions
by Fang Wan, Jizu Li, Yunfei Han and Xilong Yao
Sustainability 2024, 16(5), 1814; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16051814 - 22 Feb 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2919
Abstract
The steel industry, which relies heavily on primary energy, is one of the industries with the highest CO2 emissions in China. It is urgent for the industry to identify ways to embark on the path to “green steel”. Hydrogen metallurgy technology uses [...] Read more.
The steel industry, which relies heavily on primary energy, is one of the industries with the highest CO2 emissions in China. It is urgent for the industry to identify ways to embark on the path to “green steel”. Hydrogen metallurgy technology uses hydrogen as a reducing agent, and its use is an important way to reduce CO2 emissions from long-term steelmaking and ensure the green and sustainable development of the steel industry. Previous research has demonstrated the feasibility and emission reduction effects of hydrogen metallurgy technology; however, further research is needed to dynamically analyze the overall impact of the large-scale development of hydrogen metallurgy technology on future CO2 emissions from the steel industry. This article selects the integrated MARKAL-EFOM system (TIMES) model as its analysis model, constructs a China steel industry hydrogen metallurgy model (TIMES-CSHM), and analyzes the resulting impact of hydrogen metallurgy technology on CO2 emissions. The results indicate that in the business-as-usual scenario (BAU scenario), applying hydrogen metallurgy technology in the period from 2020 to 2050 is expected to reduce emissions by 203 million tons, and make an average 39.85% contribution to reducing the steel industry’s CO2 emissions. In the carbon emission reduction scenario, applying hydrogen metallurgy technology in the period from 2020 to 2050 is expected to reduce emissions by 353 million tons, contributing an average of 41.32% to steel industry CO2 reduction. This study provides an assessment of how hydrogen metallurgy can reduce CO2 emissions in the steel industry, and also provides a reference for the development of hydrogen metallurgy technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Sustainable Energy Systems)
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21 pages, 7383 KiB  
Article
Optimal Scheduling Considering Carbon Capture and Demand Response under Uncertain Output Scenarios for Wind Energy
by Hongbin Sun, Hongyu Zou, Jingya Wen, Wende Ke and Lei Kou
Sustainability 2024, 16(3), 970; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16030970 - 23 Jan 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1586
Abstract
In light of the uncertainties associated with renewable energy sources like wind and photovoltaics, this study aims to progressively increase their proportion in the energy mix. This is achieved by integrating carbon capture devices into traditional thermal power plants and enhancing demand-side management [...] Read more.
In light of the uncertainties associated with renewable energy sources like wind and photovoltaics, this study aims to progressively increase their proportion in the energy mix. This is achieved by integrating carbon capture devices into traditional thermal power plants and enhancing demand-side management measures, thereby advancing low-carbon objectives in the energy and electricity sectors. Initially, the research proposes utilizing the K-means clustering algorithm to consolidate and forecast the fluctuating outputs of renewable energies such as wind and photovoltaics. Further, it entails a comprehensive analysis of low-carbon resources on both the supply and demand sides of the electricity system. This includes installing carbon storage and power-to-gas facilities in carbon capture plants to create a versatile operating model that can be synchronized with wind power systems. Additionally, the limitations of carbon capture plants are addressed by mobilizing demand-side response resources and enhancing the system’s low-carbon performance through the coordinated optimization of supply and demand resources. Ultimately, this study develops an integrated energy system model for low-carbon optimal operation, aimed at minimizing equipment investment, carbon emission costs, and operational and maintenance expenses. This model focuses on optimizing the load and supply distribution plans of the electrical system and addressing issues of load shedding and the curtailment of wind and solar power. Validation through three typical scenarios demonstrates that the proposed scheduling method effectively utilizes adjustable resources in the power system to achieve the goal of low-carbon economic dispatch. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Sustainable Energy Systems)
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16 pages, 1029 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Social Inclusion and Financial Development on CO2 Emissions: Panel Analysis from Developing Countries
by Nawaz Ahmad, Ghulam Ghouse, Muhammad Ishaq Bhatti and Aribah Aslam
Sustainability 2023, 15(20), 14752; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152014752 - 11 Oct 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1223
Abstract
The intricate interplay between the environment and the economy entails numerous multifaceted factors that require thorough investigation. Civic activism, intergroup cohesion, and gender equality are among the pertinent factors that hold the potential to significantly impact CO2 emissions in developing economies. However, [...] Read more.
The intricate interplay between the environment and the economy entails numerous multifaceted factors that require thorough investigation. Civic activism, intergroup cohesion, and gender equality are among the pertinent factors that hold the potential to significantly impact CO2 emissions in developing economies. However, these variables have not been explored to the extent that their importance warrants, leaving much to be studied and understood about their complex relationships with carbon emissions. Currently, developing nations find themselves more vulnerable and exposed to a plethora of environmental issues. In response to this pressing matter, the focus of this study is to expound upon the impact of various factors on the environment. To achieve this aim, this study utilizes annual data from 46 developing countries, spanning the extensive period from 1990 to 2014. Using the generalized method of moments and empirical Bayes methods, this study’s results emphasize the significant impact that civic activism, gender equality, intergroup cohesion, and financial development can have on increasing CO2 emissions. However, civic activism reduces CO2 emissions. These findings highlight the crucial importance of adopting a comprehensive approach that accounts for both economic and social cohesion indicators when tackling environmental challenges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Sustainable Energy Systems)
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16 pages, 4937 KiB  
Article
Optimal Energy Consumption Path Planning for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Based on Improved Particle Swarm Optimization
by Yiwei Na, Yulong Li, Danqiang Chen, Yongming Yao, Tianyu Li, Huiying Liu and Kuankuan Wang
Sustainability 2023, 15(16), 12101; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612101 - 8 Aug 2023
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2788
Abstract
In order to enhance the energy efficiency of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) during flight operations in mountainous terrain, this research paper proposes an improved particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm-based optimal energy path planning method, which effectively reduces the non-essential energy consumption of UAV [...] Read more.
In order to enhance the energy efficiency of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) during flight operations in mountainous terrain, this research paper proposes an improved particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm-based optimal energy path planning method, which effectively reduces the non-essential energy consumption of UAV during the flight operations through a reasonable path planning method. First, this research designs a 3D path planning method based on the PSO optimization algorithm with the goal of achieving optimal energy consumption during UAV flight operations. Then, to overcome the limitations of the classical PSO algorithm, such as poor global search capability and susceptibility to local optimality, a parameter adaptive method based on deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) is introduced. This parameter adaptive method dynamically adjusts the main parameters of the PSO algorithm by monitoring the state of the particle swarm solution set. Finally, the improved PSO algorithm based on parameter adaptive improvement is applied to path planning in mountainous terrain environments, and an optimal energy-consuming path-planning algorithm for UAVs based on the improved PSO algorithm is proposed. Simulation results show that the path-planning algorithm proposed in this research effectively reduces non-essential energy consumption during UAV flight operations, especially in more complex terrain scenarios. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Sustainable Energy Systems)
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