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Energy Storage, Conversion and Sustainable Management
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Energy Storage, Conversion and Sustainable Management

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 18 July 2025 | Viewed by 3252

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Alessio Tafone

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Technical University of Munich, CREATE Campus, Singapore
Interests: techno-economic and environmental analysis of processes, devices, technologies, and systems for storage; production valorization of thermal energy (heat/cold) with a focus on low-carbon heating; recovery of wasted thermal energy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Davide Pivetta

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Industrial and Information Engineering, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
Interests: analysis, synthesis and optimisation of energy systems proposed for the decarbonisation of industry and mobility; considering technologies for the exploitation of renewable energy sources; the production, storage and use of hydrogen, and the generation and storage of heat, cold and electricity
Prof. Dr. Stefano Mazzoni

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Rome, Rome, Italy
Interests: decarbonization and roadmaps towards net zero solutions; environmental techno feasiblity assessment; CCGT large-scale power plants with CCS and CCU; CSP and geothermal plants; unit commitment and optimal dispatch problem; AI and ML condition monitoring

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The shift towards a global energy system aligned with the 2050 Paris Agreement necessitates a swift adoption of clean energy resources across all sectors; a transition that not only demands the rapid incorporation of renewable energy resources but also aims at the expansion of clean energy technologies as a key enabling factor facilitating low-CO2 energy systems and enabling the achievement of carbon neutrality in the coming decades.

This Special Issue specifically delves into the most recent research, case studies, and exemplary practices concerning the utilization of clean energy technologies across many diverse applications. It encompasses a range of methods, procedures, technologies, and energy conversion systems involved in the efficient and low-emission recovery, utilization, conversion, and storage of energy for heating, cooling, and power generation. The key themes of this Special Issue include, though are not restricted to, the following topics:

  • Hydrogen-based systems covering production, storage, transportation, dehydrogenation, and utilization;
  • Long duration thermo-mechanical energy storage solutions (Carnot batteries);
  • Highly efficient and cost-effective thermal energy storage technologies, including sensible heat, phase change materials, and thermo-chemical processes;
  • Carbon capture, storage, and utilization (CCSU) solutions;
  • Decarbonization of the cold supply chain (the cold economy);
  • Cogeneration and polygeneration plants with sustainable reduced CO2 impact;
  • Novel development and optimization of control strategies for district cooling and/or heating applications;
  • Energy planning, design, and operational optimization of decarbonized microgrids and decentralized polygeneration systems;
  • Renewable energy technologies and hybrid renewable energy systems;
  • Advanced cycles for waste heat and waste cold recovery for heating, cooling, and power (e.g., organic Rankine cycles);
  • High/medium/low-temperature heat pump technologies for heating, cooling, and decarbonization;
  • Reconversion of traditional power plants for grid energy storage;
  • Geothermal applications for direct conversion and for district heating and cooling configurations;
  • Desalination solutions for advanced energy systems;
  • Power-to-fuel technologies for the decarbonization of the heavy transport, shipping, and aviation sectors;
  • Sustainable development: evaluation of the social, economic, and environmental impacts of energy technologies;
  • Environmental life cycle assessment of sustainable energy systems.

Dr. Alessio Tafone
Dr. Davide Pivetta
Prof. Dr. Stefano Mazzoni
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

  • energy conversion
  • decarbonization
  • energy transition
  • cleaner technologies
  • energy efficiency
  • hydrogen
  • carbon capture
  • storage and utilization
  • electrical and thermal energy storage
  • energy planning
  • waste heat recovery
  • sustainable development
  • sustainable energy systems

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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

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28 pages, 14104 KiB  
Article
Life Cycle Assessment and Exergoenvironmental Analysis of a Double-Effect Vapor Absorption Chiller Using Green Hydrogen, Natural Gas, and Biomethane
by João Luiz de Medeiros Neto, Ronelly José De Souza, Carlos Antônio Cabral dos Santos, Jeane Batista de Carvalho and Daniel Nicolau Lima Alves
Sustainability 2025, 17(1), 63; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17010063 - 26 Dec 2024
Viewed by 730
Abstract
This study conducts a life cycle assessment and exergoenvironmental evaluation of a double-effect vapor absorption chiller (DEAC) with a cooling capacity of 352 kW, employing three different energy sources: natural gas, biomethane, and green hydrogen. The main objectives of this paper are as [...] Read more.
This study conducts a life cycle assessment and exergoenvironmental evaluation of a double-effect vapor absorption chiller (DEAC) with a cooling capacity of 352 kW, employing three different energy sources: natural gas, biomethane, and green hydrogen. The main objectives of this paper are as follows: (i) provide an exergoenvironmental model for DEAC technologies, (ii) evaluation of a case-study where a DEAC is used to cover the cooling demand of a specific university building in the Northeast of Brazil, and (iii) evaluate the scenario where the DEAC is fed by green hydrogen (GH2) and compare it with conventional energy resources (natural gas and biomethane). In order to develop the exergoenvironmental model, two methodologies are essential: a thermodynamic analysis and a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The thermodynamic analysis was carried out using the Engineering Equation Solver (EES: 10.998) software. The LCA has been developed through the open-source software openLCA version 1.10.3, with the Ecoinvent 3.7.1 life cycle inventory database, whereas the chosen life cycle inventory assessment (LCIA) method was the ReCiPe Endpoint LCA method (Humanitarian, medium weighting–H, A). The main results indicate that green hydrogen provides a 99.84% reduction in environmental impacts compared to natural gas during the operational phase, while biomethane reduces these impacts by 54.21% relative to natural gas. In the context of life cycle assessment (LCA), green hydrogen decreases fossil resource depletion by 18% and climate change-related emissions by 33.16% compared to natural gas. This study contributes to enhancing the understanding of the environmental and exergoenvironmental impacts of a double-effect vapor absorption chiller by varying the fuel usage during the operational phase. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Storage, Conversion and Sustainable Management)
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26 pages, 2685 KiB  
Article
Energy and Exergy Analysis of Transcritical CO2 Cycles for Heat Pump Applications
by Marco Gambini, Michele Manno and Michela Vellini
Sustainability 2024, 16(17), 7511; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177511 - 30 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1310
Abstract
Heat pumps are recognized as a key tool in the energy transition toward a carbon-neutral society, enabling the electrification of the heating sector at least for low- and medium-temperature heat demands. In recent years, natural refrigerants have been reconsidered due to their low [...] Read more.
Heat pumps are recognized as a key tool in the energy transition toward a carbon-neutral society, enabling the electrification of the heating sector at least for low- and medium-temperature heat demands. In recent years, natural refrigerants have been reconsidered due to their low environmental impact: among them, CO2 is a safe option without an impact on the ozone layer and low global warming potential compared to synthetic fluids. However, as a consequence of its thermophysical properties, its thermodynamic cycle is transcritical and is particularly suitable for specific end-user temperature profiles. This paper analyzes in a systematic and thorough way the most significant modifications to the reference cycle that have been proposed in the literature to improve the performance, finding how the optimal configurations change with a change in the rated operating conditions (inlet temperature and temperature glide of the heat demand, and ambient temperature). Exergy analysis explains why there is an optimal gas cooler pressure and why its trend with the average temperature is split into two distinct regions, clearly recognizable in all cycle layouts. The maximum coefficient of performance (COP) of the reference cycle varies in the 1.52–3.74 range, with a second-law efficiency of 6.4–36.1%, for an optimal gas cooler pressure of up to 15.45 MPa, depending on the ambient temperature and end-user temperature profile. The most effective modification is the cycle with an ejector and internal heat exchanger, which raises the COP to 1.84–4.40 (second-law efficiency 8.7–45.56%). The presented results provide an extensive guide to understanding the behavior of a transcritical CO2 cycle and predict its performance in heat pump applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Storage, Conversion and Sustainable Management)
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Review

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40 pages, 6828 KiB  
Review
Topological Advances in Isolated DC–DC Converters: High-Efficiency Design for Renewable Energy Integration
by Sergio Coelho, Vitor Monteiro and Joao L. Afonso
Sustainability 2025, 17(6), 2336; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17062336 - 7 Mar 2025
Viewed by 515
Abstract
The increasing penetration of renewable energy sources (RESs) into medium-voltage (MV) and low-voltage (LV) power systems presents significant challenges in ensuring power grid stability and energy sustainability. Advanced power conversion technologies are essential to mitigate voltage and frequency fluctuations while meeting stringent power [...] Read more.
The increasing penetration of renewable energy sources (RESs) into medium-voltage (MV) and low-voltage (LV) power systems presents significant challenges in ensuring power grid stability and energy sustainability. Advanced power conversion technologies are essential to mitigate voltage and frequency fluctuations while meeting stringent power quality standards. RES-based generation systems typically employ multistage power electronics to achieve: (i) maximum power point tracking; (ii) galvanic isolation and voltage transformation; (iii) high-quality power injection into the power grid. In this context, this paper provides a comprehensive review of up-to-date isolated DC–DC converter topologies tailored for the integration of RES. As a contribution to support this topic, recent advancements in solid-state transformers (SSTs) are explored, with particular emphasis on the adoption of wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductors technologies, such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN). These devices have revolutionized modern power systems by enabling operation at a higher switching frequency, enhanced efficiency, and increased power density. By consolidating state-of-the-art advancements and identifying technical challenges, this review offers insights into the suitability of power converter topologies in light of future trends, serving as a valuable resource for optimizing grid-connected RES-based sustainable power systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Energy Storage, Conversion and Sustainable Management)
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