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Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES 2024)

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (4 February 2025) | Viewed by 11096

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Dr. Oz Sahin

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Guest Editor

1. School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4222, Australia
2. Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4066, Australia
Interests: systems dynamics modelling; operations research; natural resource management; decision support systems; water resources engineering; geospatial information systems
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Dr. Russell Richards

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Guest Editor

School of Business, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, ‎QLD 4067, Australia
Interests: coastal systems and ecosystem services; social-ecological modelling; system dynamics modelling; serious games and gamification; Bayesian modelling; decision support systems; app development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Since 2002, when the first Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES) was held in Dubrovnik, the SDEWES conference series has been providing a worldwide forum for scientists and those interested in sustainability to share the state of the art of this field and its future directions and priorities. SDEWES is dedicated to the advancement and dissemination of knowledge on methods, policies and technologies aiming to increase the sustainability of development by decoupling growth from the use of natural resources and by transitioning to a knowledge-based economy.

Considering all the economic, environmental and social pillars of sustainable development, one of the main issues of the coming decades will be to improve efficiencies by integrating various life-supporting systems, using excesses from one as a resource in another in the correct moment. Integrating electricity, heating, cooling, transport, water, buildings, waste, wastewater, industry, forestry and agriculture systems will be pivotal in terms of sustainable development. To make efficiency improvements happen, the political aspects of sustainable development must also be considered, thus implying the need for taking account of, among other things, sustainable development goals, resource and political security, long-term planning, the role of political leaders and voters, energy democracy and community and citizen participation in the energy transition.

SDEWES has maintained high publishing standards with more than 3000 research articles published in leading journals. MDPI‘s Sustainability journal has continued its cooperation with SDEWES, launching a Special Issue dedicated to the 2024 conferences. Taking this into consideration, this SI is intended to provide an opportunity for researchers in a wide range of areas to originate, discuss, share and disseminate new ideas. Sustainability also offers a perfect platform for interdisciplinary and multi-cultural evaluation of complex systems.

Dr. Oz Sahin
Dr. Russell Richards
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

sustainability comparisons and measurements
green economy and better governance
sustainable resilience of systems
environmental policy and management
energy policy
energy systems
renewable energy sources
waste and wastewater treatment
water–energy nexus
energy and water efficiency

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 2512 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Street Experiments Across EU Cities: An Exploratory Study on Leveraging Data for Urban Mobility Impact Evaluation

by Felipe Del-Busto, Ginna Castillo-Mendigaña, Anne Schön and Luis Ester

Sustainability 2025, 17(8), 3622; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17083622 - 17 Apr 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 518

Abstract

European cities are under pressure to be at the forefront of climate neutrality while providing inclusive, safe, and sustainable urban mobility. Street experiments are being adopted to accelerate this transition, yet assessing their impact remains challenging. This study addresses this gap by providing an evidence-based impact assessment of street experiments. The research builds on insights from 20 European cities, including 13 from the EU Cities Mission, regarding expected goals and current evaluation barriers. A preliminary quasi-experimental spatial and temporal approach is proposed and further enriched through the identification of the most relevant mobility domains and indicators addressed by cities. An exploration of data collection technologies is undertaken to meet the cities’ needs, culminating in the design of a portable and easy-to-install laboratory, the Labkit, for in situ and non-intrusive evaluation of public space interventions. The Labkit is tested and validated in an open area with a constant flow of pedestrians, cyclists, e-scooters, and vehicles. The results of this testing process, along with feedback from cities regarding the methodological approach and potential indicators, are analysed. The study concludes with a discussion of the opportunities and limitations of data-driven approaches for urban mobility impact assessment and the proposal of future research directions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES 2024))

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13 pages, 2078 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Concrete Production Technology with the Addition of Recycled Ceramic Aggregate

by Natalia Gasik-Kowalska and Artur Koper

Sustainability 2025, 17(7), 3028; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17073028 - 28 Mar 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 500

Abstract

Rational waste management is crucial for the effective implementation of the circular economy (CE) and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ceramic waste, which takes thousands of years to decompose in the natural environment, can be recycled into construction materials. This approach offers dual environmental benefits: reducing ceramic waste disposal and minimizing the exploitation of natural aggregate deposits. This study examines the recycling of sanitary ceramic waste, including items such as washbasins, toilet bowls, urinals, bidets, and bathtubs, into alternative aggregates for concrete mixtures. After grinding and separating the ceramic cullet into specific fractions, it becomes a viable substitute for natural aggregates. Concrete samples were tested with varying water-cement ratios (0.3 and 0.4) and recycled ceramic aggregate contents (15%, 30%, and 45%). These results were compared to those of samples made solely with natural aggregates. The samples underwent compressive strength tests to determine concrete class and were exposed to elevated temperatures (150 °C, 300 °C, 550 °C, and 750 °C). Additional analyses measured the secant modulus of elasticity and selected aggregate properties. The findings demonstrate that high-quality concrete can be produced while promoting circular economy principles by reducing waste and preserving natural resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES 2024))

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24 pages, 14175 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mapping Opportunities for Floating Urban Development Along Italian Waterfronts

by Livia Calcagni and Alessandra Battisti

Sustainability 2025, 17(5), 2137; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17052137 - 1 Mar 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1076

Abstract

In Italy, the number of people living in coastal areas reaches 70% of the total population. By the end of the century, the sea level rise estimated along Italian coasts is between 1.31 and 1.45 m on a non-conservative basis. Considering its high vulnerability to rising sea levels and flooding, Italy holds a strong potential for floating urban development due to its extensive coastline and inland hydrographic network. The main drivers of floating urban development include these increasing threats posed to waterfront communities and the shortage of land for urban expansion, food production, and energy harvesting. However, not all waterfront areas are suitable for accommodating urban development on water because of site-specific urban, social, cultural, infrastructural, climate, and hydrographic features. This paper presents the results of a geospatial analysis carried out using geographic information systems and a statistical analysis of instrumental measurements to map the most suitable regions for floating urban expansion along Italian waterfronts. The mapping identifies six potential zones of interest marked by the co-existence of environmental and socio-urban needs. This study reveals how coastal–riverine interface zones are generally more susceptible to the cumulative effects of climate change and, at the same time, are centers of intense economic, cultural, and social activity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES 2024))

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24 pages, 9095 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Interpretation and Comprehensive Evaluation of Regional Water–Land–Energy Coupling System Carrying Capacity

by Ligao Yin, Heng Li, Dong Liu, Liangliang Zhang, Chunqing Wang, Mo Li, Muhammad Abrar Faiz, Tianxiao Li and Song Cui

Sustainability 2025, 17(4), 1669; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17041669 - 17 Feb 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 682

Abstract

Previous studies on carrying capacity have primarily focused on measuring agricultural production conditions while neglecting the coupling effects among production conditions, production materials, and the external environment (the coupling effects of agricultural water, soil, energy, and the external environment). Therefore, this paper introduces the concept of the carrying capacity of a regional agricultural water–land–energy coupling system (WLECS); develops an evaluation framework comprising 27 indicators from the perspectives of stability, collaboration, and resilience and constructs an improved random forest model based on the red-billed blue magpie optimizer (RBMO). Finally, it is applied to the evaluation of WLECS carrying capacity in China’s main grain producing area (Heilongjiang Province). The results demonstrate that the constructed RBMO-RF model exhibits stability and reasonableness with high fitting accuracy. The collaboration weight accounts for the highest proportion (0.438), indicating that the collaboration within the subsystem has the greatest impact on the carrying capacity. In terms of time scale, the WLECS carrying capacity in Heilongjiang Province shows an upward trend, characterized by three stages: a “low-level fluctuation period”, a “growth period”, and a “rapid growth period”. In terms of spatial scale, the overall spatial pattern is low in the West and high in the East, and stable in the North and South. The key driving factors are the effective irrigation index, indirect water footprint, and agricultural water-land matching degree. The research results demonstrate the carrying capacity of the WLE coupling system holds significant implications for formulating regional agricultural resource optimization allocation plans and promoting agricultural sustainable development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES 2024))

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21 pages, 3682 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Building Sustainable Career Skills in Youth Through Adaptive Learning and Competency Self-Assessment Tools

by Andreja Abina, Darko Kovačič, Marika Prucnal, Vaia Kiratzouli and Aleksander Zidanšek

Sustainability 2025, 17(2), 412; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17020412 - 8 Jan 2025

Viewed by 1841

Abstract

The DECIDE project entitled “Career choices competencies for the post-pandemic future using multicriteria decision-making”, aimed to empower young individuals in their career decision-making by providing them with personalised learning sources and tools to monitor the development of essential career competencies. This paper presents the findings from evaluating two key components of the DECIDE project: an e-guide for developing career competencies and a web-based application that monitors individuals’ progress in competency development. These tools help young people identify the skills and knowledge they lack to meet the demands of employers for sustainable and innovative career paths. The e-guide was designed as a self-learning programme that guides users through interactive models focused on building the competencies required for sustainable and innovative career profiles. Pre-tests and post-tests were developed to assess the effectiveness of the e-guide and measure the participants’ competency levels before and after engaging with the learning content. The application utilises advanced algorithms and visualisation techniques to analyse pre-test and post-test data, identify competency gaps, and provide users with a clear understanding of their competency development progress and areas for further improvements. The results of the testing and user feedback indicate that the developed tools positively impacted the development of career competencies. The study reveals that the e-guide provided educational value and effectively supported self-directed learning. At the same time, the web-based application offered a valuable tool for self-assessment and identifying competency gaps in career decision-making. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES 2024))

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23 pages, 6222 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Portfolio of Building Solutions Supporting Positive Energy District Transition: Assessing the Impact of Green Building Certifications

by Tiziana Ferrante, Paola Clerici Maestosi, Teresa Villani and Federica Romagnoli

Sustainability 2025, 17(2), 400; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17020400 - 7 Jan 2025

Viewed by 1248

Abstract

Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) represent an innovative approach to thinking and designing cities sustainably, in compliance with the European Union energy strategy. This strategy integrates sectors such as urban planning, energy, and construction to synergistically address energy and environmental challenges. Studies on sustainability assessment systems applied in PEDs evidenced that they focus mostly on energy aspects, while few include a comprehensive life cycle assessment of equivalent CO₂ emissions, considering the building component and the impacts of the materials used. Additionally, most assessments are conducted on the urban and district scale, such as Neighborhood Sustainability Assessments (NSA), which begin to correlate PEDs with the dynamics of selecting sustainable materials for green-certified projects, analyzed throughout the entire life cycle, relying on the adoption of Green Building Rating Systems (GBRS) at the building scale. To explore the impact of environmentally friendly (i.e., ‘green’) GBRS certifications in the selection of building materials and products according to sustainability criteria, and to encourage their use in projects explicitly referring to PEDs, this study analyzes the technical solutions implemented in two significant residential building renovation projects in Italy from a PED perspective. It proposes a classification system based on the required targets of energy efficiency, energy production, and energy flexibility. The results include the definition of an expandable portfolio of technical solutions, an analytical comparison between the materials used in the energy renovation projects of the case studies examined, and the sustainability criteria provided by voluntary ’green’ certification tools (GBRS). The collected evidence offers an operational framework that confirms the positive impact of GBRS certifications and the related selection of materials on sustainable urban development, contributing to the scientific debate on PEDs. Furthermore, the use of voluntary ’green’ certifications at the building scale can be encouraged in the context of the transition towards PEDs, aiming to identify specific criteria and indicators for the selection of building materials to be integrated into future PED certifications. This aims to contribute to creating energy self-sufficient urban areas, focusing on sustainability, efficiency, and innovation, in line with global emission reduction and climate change mitigation goals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES 2024))

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15 pages, 5673 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physical–Mechanical and Microstructural Properties of Non-Autoclaved Aerated Concrete with Ash-and-Slag Additives

by Olga Rudenko, Nail Beisekenov, Marzhan Sadenova, Darya Galkina, Natalya Kulenova and Meiram Begentayev

Sustainability 2025, 17(1), 73; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17010073 - 26 Dec 2024

Viewed by 1236

Abstract

Non-autoclaved aerated concrete (NAAC) is gaining attention for its strength-to-weight ratio and sustainability benefits. Produced by incorporating a blowing agent into a binder, aggregate, and water mixture, NAAC offers a lightweight and porous construction material. Ash and slag waste (ASW), primarily composed of silicon, aluminum, iron, and calcium oxides, presents significant potential as a sustainable additive. However, industrial-scale processing of ASW still needs to be explored in Kazakhstan. This study evaluates the feasibility of utilizing ASW from the Ust-Kamenogorsk Thermal Power Plant to produce earthquake-resistant NAAC. Incorporating 31.5% ASW by weight optimizes compressive strength, achieving 2.35 MPa and significantly improving the mechanical properties. Chemical and microstructural analyses confirm ASW’s suitability as a construction material. The study also introduces innovative processing methods and explores convolutional neural network models for predicting material structure changes, providing insights into optimizing production processes. The findings address the research objectives by confirming the viability of ASW in NAAC production and demonstrating its potential for sustainable construction. The results offer a pathway for industrial-scale applications, contributing to waste utilization and resource conservation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES 2024))

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Review

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21 pages, 2110 KiB

Open AccessReview

Towards Resilient Peatlands: Integrating Ecosystem-Based Strategies, Policy Frameworks, and Management Approaches for Sustainable Transformation

by Nidhiben Patel, Baiba Ieviņa, Dita Kažmēre, Maksims Feofilovs, Agris Kamenders and Francesco Romagnoli

Sustainability 2025, 17(8), 3419; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17083419 - 11 Apr 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 861

Abstract

This paper examines the critical importance of peatlands in climate regulation, biodiversity conservation, and the provision of essential ecosystem services, emphasizing the urgent need for their preservation and restoration. Although peatlands cover just 3% of global land, they store 30% of the world’s terrestrial carbon, making them vital for mitigating climate change. However, activities such as agriculture, forestry, and peat extraction have caused significant degradation, compromising their ecological integrity and climate functions. This review makes a unique contribution by applying a systems thinking approach to synthesize the interconnected technical, environmental, and socioeconomic dimensions of peatland management, an often underrepresented perspective in existing literature. By offering a holistic and integrative analysis, it identifies key leverage points for effective and sustainable conservation and restoration strategies. This paper also explores the European Union’s policy response, including the EU Restoration Law and sustainability initiatives aimed at peatland recovery. It highlights the shift from peat use in energy production to its application in horticulture, reflecting growing demand for sustainable alternatives and eco-friendly restoration practices across Europe. Furthermore, this review addresses the environmental consequences of peat extraction, such as increased greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity lossand emphasizes the need for robust EU legislation aligned with climate neutrality and biodiversity enhancement goals. It concludes by advocating for comprehensive research and proactive, policy-driven measures to ensure the long-term protection and sustainable use of these vital ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES 2024))

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21 pages, 7669 KiB

Open AccessReview

Material Sustainability of Low-Energy Housing Electric Components: A Systematic Literature Review and Outlook

by Francisco A. Carrasco and Johanna F. May

Sustainability 2025, 17(3), 852; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17030852 - 22 Jan 2025

Viewed by 975

Abstract

As part of the energy transition, near-Zero-Energy-Buildings use electric systems that reduce emissions and consumption. Nevertheless, the increased use of such systems comes with the E-waste challenge. Circular Economy concepts try to make more efficient use of these materials, but sustainable evaluations mainly focus on energy and emissions. The developed automated text analysis tool quantifies the appearance of circularity concepts in open-access literature about different stages of production, use, and end-of-life for heat pumps, Lithium-Ion batteries, photovoltaic modules, and inverters. The energy focus is corroborated in different amounts depending on the component and stage, and when circularity concepts appear, they are centred on waste and recycling. Numerical variables to model environmental impact available in open-access literature are limited, generalised, or present in a wide range. Access to product environmental specifications should be encouraged to ensure that energy transition is sustainable in all its dimensions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES 2024))

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22 pages, 8896 KiB

Open AccessReview

Framing Concepts of Agriculture 5.0 via Bipartite Analysis

by Ivan Bergier, Jayme G. A. Barbedo, Édson L. Bolfe, Luciana A. S. Romani, Ricardo Y. Inamasu and Silvia M. F. S. Massruhá

Sustainability 2024, 16(24), 10851; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162410851 - 11 Dec 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1209

Abstract

Cultural diversity often complicates the understanding of sustainability, sometimes making its concepts seem vague. This issue is particularly evident in food systems, which rely on both renewable and nonrenewable resources and drive significant environmental changes. The widespread impacts of climate change, aggravated by the overuse of natural resources, have highlighted the urgency of balancing food production with environmental preservation. Society faces a pivotal challenge: ensuring that food systems produce ample, accessible, and nutritious food while also reducing their carbon footprint and protecting ecosystems. Agriculture 5.0, an innovative approach, combines digital advancements with sustainability principles. This study reviews current knowledge on digital agriculture, analyzing scientific data through an undirected bipartite network that links journals and author keywords from articles retrieved from Clarivate Web of Science. The main goal is to outline a framework that integrates various sustainability concepts, emphasizing both well-studied (economic) and underexplored (socioenvironmental) aspects of Agriculture 5.0. This framework categorizes sustainability concepts into material (tangible) and immaterial (intangible) values based on their supporting or influencing roles within the agriculture domain, as documented in the scientific literature. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES 2024))

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