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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2023) | Viewed by 19409

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Shahrin bin Md. Ayob

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM Skudai, Johor 81310, Malaysia
Interests: photovoltaic system; multilevel inverter circuit; electric vehicle system; control applications in power electronics

Dr. M Saad Bin Arif

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Electrical Engineering, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, UP, India
Interests: power electronic converters; multilevel DC-AC converters; PVT systems; maximum power point trackers for solar PV system

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The advancement of technology for solar energy as a renewable energy supply has soared tremendously. Rigorous research in this area has been seen lately, especially in developing countries. Hence, this Special Issue intends to capture all recent prominent research that focuses on the use of solar energy as a renewable energy source. The topic will cover any research that supports the advancement of solar energy, i.e., materials, circuit topologies, and control strategies applied for circuit and system levels and related energy management. The topic of interest includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Solar cell material technology;
Theoretical modeling of DC and AC PV systems;
Power electronics circuit for solar energy harvesting;
Simulation and experimental performance;
PV energy storage systems;
Solar thermal power plants;
PV thermoelectric technology;
Grid-connected solar power plants;
Solar pond;
Agri-voltaic;
Underwater solar and its applications;
Environmental impacts of solar;
Solar microgrids;
Solar for smart home;
Solar roofs and EV charging stations;
Solar for hydrogen production;
Solar for fuel production.

Prof. Dr. Shahrin bin Md. Ayob
Dr. M Saad Bin Arif
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

solar energy
harvesting
power conditioner
micro-grid
solar thermal
thermoelectric
smart home
energy storage
optimization
photovoltaic

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 4218 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimal Design and Sizing of Hybrid Photovoltaic/Fuel Cell Electrical Power System

by Rania M. Ghoniem, Ali Alahmer, Hegazy Rezk and Samer As’ad

Sustainability 2023, 15(15), 12026; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151512026 - 05 Aug 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1957

Abstract

Renewable energy solutions play a crucial role in addressing the growing energy demands while mitigating environmental concerns. This study examines the techno-economic viability and sensitivity of utilizing solar photovoltaic/polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells (FCs) to meet specific power demands in NEOM, Saudi Arabia. The novelty of this study lies in its innovative approach to analyzing and optimizing PV/PEMFC systems, aiming to highlight their economic feasibility and promote sustainable development in the region. The analysis focuses on determining the optimal size of the PV/PEMFC system based on two critical criteria: minimum cost of energy (COE) and minimum net present cost (NPC). The study considers PEMFCs with power ratings of 30 kW, 40 kW, and 50 kW, along with four PV panel options: Jinko Solar, Powerwave, Tindo Karra, and Trina Solar. The outcomes show that the 30 kW PEMFC and the 201 kW Trina Solar TSM-430NEG9R.28 are the most favorable choices for the case study. Under these optimal conditions, the study reveals the lowest values for NPC at USD 703,194 and COE at USD 0.498 per kilowatt-hour. The levelized cost of hydrogen falls within the range of USD 15.9 to 23.4 per kilogram. Furthermore, replacing the 30 kW Trina solar panel with a 50 kW Tindo PV module results in a cost reduction of 32%. The findings emphasize the criticality of choosing optimal system configurations to attain favorable economic outcomes, thereby facilitating the adoption and utilization of renewable energy sources in the region. In conclusion, this study stands out for its pioneering and thorough analysis and optimization of PV/PEMFC systems, providing valuable insights for sustainable energy planning in NEOM, Saudi Arabia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar as Renewable Energy Resources in Developing Countries)

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21 pages, 6249 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transforming Saudi Arabia’s Energy Landscape towards a Sustainable Future: Progress of Solar Photovoltaic Energy Deployment

by Amjad Ali

Sustainability 2023, 15(10), 8420; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15108420 - 22 May 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5715

Abstract

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s electricity sector has undergone several distinct phases, and the country’s commitment to renewable energy development has resulted in a modern phase that includes the deployment of renewable energy power plants since 2010. Due to Saudi Arabia’s diverse topographical position, the exploration of renewable energy technologies is of interest, particularly solar energy, and its progress in renewable energy development could serve as a model for other countries seeking to transition to clean energy. This article explores the progress of solar photovoltaic (PV) energy deployment in Saudi Arabia, with a focus on the policies and regulations that have facilitated its growth. The article provides an overview of the energy landscape in Saudi Arabia and investigates the progress of solar PV deployment in Saudi Arabia, analyzing growth trends, capacity additions, and the role of policies and regulations in supporting the sector. The focus on renewable energy development in Saudi Arabia, particularly solar PV technology, could have far-reaching implications globally as the world seeks to transition to cleaner sources of energy. This research article highlights the importance of a comprehensive renewable energy policy for transforming the country’s energy landscape towards a sustainable future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar as Renewable Energy Resources in Developing Countries)

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38 pages, 21312 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Criteria Energy Management with Preference Induced Load Scheduling Using Grey Wolf Optimizer

by Sara Ayub, Shahrin Md Ayob, Chee Wei Tan, Saad M. Arif, Muhammad Taimoor, Lubna Aziz, Abba Lawan Bukar, Qasem Al-Tashi and Razman Ayop

Sustainability 2023, 15(2), 957; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15020957 - 04 Jan 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1903

Abstract

Minimizing energy costs while maintaining consumer satisfaction is a very challenging task in a smart home. The contradictory nature of these two objective functions (cost of energy and satisfaction level) requires a multi-objective problem formulation that can offer several trade-off solutions to the consumer. Previous works have individually considered the cost and satisfaction, but there is a lack of research that considers both these objectives simultaneously. Our work proposes an optimum home appliance scheduling method to obtain an optimum satisfaction level with a minimum cost of energy. To achieve this goal, first, an energy management system (EMS) is developed using a rule-based algorithm to reduce the cost of energy by efficient utilization of renewable energy resources and an energy storage system. The second part involves the development of an optimization algorithm for optimal appliance scheduling based on consumer satisfaction level, involving their time and device-based preferences. For that purpose, a multi-objective grey wolf accretive satisfaction algorithm (MGWASA) is developed, with the aim to provide trade-off solutions for optimal load patterns based on cost per unit satisfaction index (Cs_index) and percentage satisfaction (%S). The MGWASA is evaluated for a grid-connected smart home model with EMS. To ensure the accuracy of the numerical simulations, actual climatological data and consumer preferences are considered. The Cs_index is derived for six different cases by simulating (a) optimal load, (b) ideal load, and (c) base (random) load, with and without EMS. The results of MGWASA are benchmarked against other state-of-the-art optimization algorithms, namely, binary non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-2 (NSGAII), multi-objective binary particle swarm optimization algorithm (MOBPSO), Multi-objective artificial bee colony (MOABC), and multi-objective evolutionary algorithm (MOEA). With the proposed appliance scheduling technique, a % reduction in annual energy cost is achieved. MGWASA yields Cs_index at 0.049$ with %S of 97%, in comparison to NSGAII, MOBPSO, MOABC, and MOEA, which yield %S of 95%, 90%, 92%, and 94% at 0.052$, 0.048$, 0.0485$, and 0.050$, respectively. Moreover, various related aspects, including energy balance, PV utilization, energy cost, net present cost, and cash payback period, are also analyzed. Lastly, sensitivity analysis is carried out to demonstrate the impact of any future uncertainties on the system inputs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar as Renewable Energy Resources in Developing Countries)

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21 pages, 9044 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Efficient Wireless Sensor Network Based on the ESP-MESH Protocol for Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality Monitoring

by Anwar Ulla Khan, Mohammad Ehtisham Khan, Mashhood Hasan, Waleed Zakri, Waleed Alhazmi and Tarikul Islam

Sustainability 2022, 14(24), 16630; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416630 - 12 Dec 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4201

Abstract

The main aim of this work is to establish a sensor MESH network using an ESP-MESH networking protocol with the ESP32 MCU (a Wi-Fi-enabled microcontroller) for indoor and outdoor air quality monitoring in real time. Each sensor node is deployed at a different location on the college campus and includes sensor arrays (CO₂, CO, and air quality) interfaced with the ESP32. The ESP-MESH networking protocol is a low-cost, easy-to-implement, medium-range, and low-power option. ESP32 microcontrollers are inexpensive and are used to establish the ESP-MESH network that allows numerous sensor nodes spread over a large physical area to be interconnected under the same wireless network to monitor air quality parameters accurately. The data of different air quality parameters (temperature, humidity, PM2.5, gas concentrations, etc.) is taken (every 2 min) from the indoor and outdoor nodes and continuously monitored for 72 min. A custom time-division multiple-access (TDMA) scheduling scheme for energy efficiency is applied to construct an appropriate transmission schedule that reduces the end-to-end transmission time from the sensor nodes to the router. The performance of the MESH network is estimated in terms of the package loss rate (PLR), package fault rate (PFR), and rate of packet delivery (RPD). The value of the RPD is more than 97%, and the value of the PMR and PER for each active node is less than 1.8%, which is under the limit. The results show that the ESP-MESH network protocol offers a considerably good quality of service, mainly for medium-area networks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar as Renewable Energy Resources in Developing Countries)

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Review

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26 pages, 2581 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Survey on IoT-Enabled Smart Grids: Technologies, Architectures, Applications, and Challenges

by Sheeraz Kirmani, Abdul Mazid, Irfan Ahmad Khan and Manaullah Abid

Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 717; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010717 - 31 Dec 2022

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 4869

Abstract

The state of the power system has changed over the last decades. Recently, the power system has faced several challenges and issues. On the one side, demands for electrical energy are increasing day-by-day, with power losses, grid failure, and lack of smart technology; on the other side, security threats are also increasing. The current power grid cannot deal with these issues. The Internet of things (IoT) has grown quickly in a very short time because of its main features. By using IoT in the power grid, we can enhance the conventional grid’s efficiency, capacity, reliability, sustainability, scalability, and stability. Using the IoT in smart grids resolves the numerous problems faced by current smart grids. According to the latest research on IoT-enabled smart grid (SG) systems, security issues have been identified as one of the key problems. This paper reviews the different security aspects and applications while integrating the IoT with smart grids and discusses various frameworks. Apart from this, we also focus on various IoT and non-IoT technologies used in the smart grid network, such as sensing, communication, and computing technologies, as well as their standards. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar as Renewable Energy Resources in Developing Countries)

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