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Sustainable and Renewable Thermal Energy Systems
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Sustainable and Renewable Thermal Energy Systems

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025 | Viewed by 5933

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ahmed Amine Hachicha

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
Interests: renewable energy; solar energy; solar thermal energy systems; combined PV thermal systems; dust effect on solar systems; numerical modeling
Dr. Essam Abo-Zahhad

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Research Group, Sustainable Energy and Power Systems Research Centre, Research Institute for Sciences and Engineering (RISE), University of Sharjah, Sharjah PO Box 27272, United Arab Emirates
2. Mechanical Power Engineering Department, Faculty of Energy Engineering, Aswan University, Aswan 81528, Egypt
Interests: heat transfer and electronics cooling; thermal sciences; microfluidic heat sinks; energy conversion; electronic packaging

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainable and renewable thermal energy systems have attracted the attention of energy professionals and researchers as efficient and sustainable solutions for heating, cooling and industrial process heating applications. These technologies are capable of delivering the required thermal energy at different temperature levels and can be adapted from small- to large-scale applications. However, low-efficiency thermal storage and the high cost of such devices are still challenging aspects that need more improvement and consideration. Furthermore, the application of optimization algorithms and artificial intelligence techniques in renewable thermal energy systems create the potential for improving the performance, prediction and system operation.

The current Special Issue seeks novel research on renewable thermal solutions, considered a state-of-the-art alternative for climate protection and reducing CO2 emissions. Contributions to this Special Issue are expected to address the most relevant challenges in renewable thermal systems in terms of performance, operation and cost. 

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. The main topics of interest for this Special Issue include but are not limited to:

  1. Renewable thermal solution for sustainable environment.
  2. Thermal energy storage systems.
  3. Recent progress in solar thermal technologies.
  4. Thermo-economic evaluation of renewable thermal technologies.
  5. Thermal energy integration and hybrid Approaches.
  6. Exergoeconomic analysis and optimization of thermal power plants.
  7. Artificial intelligence in renewable thermal technologies.
  8. Renewable energy systems for building heating and cooling.
  9. Phase change materials.
  10. Bio-inspired sustainable energy systems.
  11. Recent progress in biomass thermal technologies.
  12. Sustainable operation of geothermal power plants.
  13. Thermocline Alternatives.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Ahmed Amine Hachicha
Dr. Essam Abo-Zahhad
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
  • thermal energy storage
  • solar thermal
  • biomass
  • hybrid system
  • optimization
  • artificial intelligence
 

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

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

30 pages, 7038 KiB  
Article
Integrating Machine Learning and Genetic Algorithms to Optimize Building Energy and Thermal Efficiency Under Historical and Future Climate Scenarios
by Alireza Karimi, Mostafa Mohajerani, Niloufar Alinasab and Fateme Akhlaghinezhad
Sustainability 2024, 16(21), 9324; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16219324 - 27 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1557
Abstract
As the global energy demand rises and climate change creates more challenges, optimizing the performance of non-residential buildings becomes essential. Traditional simulation-based optimization methods often fall short due to computational inefficiency and their time-consuming nature, limiting their practical application. This study introduces a [...] Read more.
As the global energy demand rises and climate change creates more challenges, optimizing the performance of non-residential buildings becomes essential. Traditional simulation-based optimization methods often fall short due to computational inefficiency and their time-consuming nature, limiting their practical application. This study introduces a new optimization framework that integrates Bayesian optimization, XGBoost algorithms, and multi-objective genetic algorithms (GA) to enhance building performance metrics—total energy (TE), indoor overheating degree (IOD), and predicted percentage dissatisfied (PPD)—for historical (2020), mid-future (2050), and future (2080) scenarios. The framework employs IOD as a key performance indicator (KPI) to optimize building design and operation. While traditional indices such as the predicted mean vote (PMV) and the thermal sensation vote (TSV) are widely used, they often fail to capture individual comfort variations and the dynamic nature of thermal conditions. IOD addresses these gaps by providing a comprehensive and objective measure of thermal discomfort, quantifying both the frequency and severity of overheating events. Alongside IOD, the energy use intensity (EUI) index is used to assess energy consumption per unit area, providing critical insights into energy efficiency. The integration of IOD with EUI and PPD enhances the overall assessment of building performance, creating a more precise and holistic framework. This combination ensures that energy efficiency, thermal comfort, and occupant well-being are optimized in tandem. By addressing a significant gap in existing methodologies, the current approach combines advanced optimization techniques with modern simulation tools such as EnergyPlus, resulting in a more efficient and accurate model to optimize building performance. This framework reduces computational time and enhances practical application. Utilizing SHAP (SHapley Additive Explanations) analysis, this research identified key design factors that influence performance metrics. Specifically, the window-to-wall ratio (WWR) impacts TE by increasing energy consumption through higher heat gain and cooling demand. Outdoor temperature (Tout) has a complex effect on TE depending on seasonal conditions, while indoor temperature (Tin) has a minor impact on TE. For PPD, Tout is a major negative factor, indicating that improved natural ventilation can reduce thermal discomfort, whereas higher Tin and larger open areas exacerbate it. Regarding IOD, both WWR and Tin significantly affect internal heat gains, with larger windows and higher indoor temperatures contributing to increased heat and reduced thermal comfort. Tout also has a positive impact on IOD, with its effect varying over time. This study demonstrates that as climate conditions evolve, the effects of WWR and open areas on TE become more pronounced, highlighting the need for effective management of building envelopes and HVAC systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable and Renewable Thermal Energy Systems)
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13 pages, 3132 KiB  
Article
Estimating Sludge Deposition on the Heat Exchanger in the Digester of a Biogas Plant
by Tomasz Janusz Teleszewski and Leszek Hożejowski
Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 7981; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16187981 - 12 Sep 2024
Viewed by 680
Abstract
The presented research addresses a problem occurring in a biogas plant, which we know plays an important role in sustainable development. The sludge deposited on the walls of the digester’s heat exchanger impairs heat transfer to the substrate. It leads to a temperature [...] Read more.
The presented research addresses a problem occurring in a biogas plant, which we know plays an important role in sustainable development. The sludge deposited on the walls of the digester’s heat exchanger impairs heat transfer to the substrate. It leads to a temperature drop inside the biogas plant and threatens its correct operation. The thickness of the sludge layer cannot be directly measured when the plant is operating. Therefore, the aim of this work was to develop and then validate a method for estimating, based on the operating parameters of the exchanger, the thickness of the sludge layer and to give theoretical foundations for designing an automatic sludge monitoring system. Two mathematical models (and methods) were developed: one- and two-dimensional. The former model was solved analytically while the latter by the Trefftz method. The numerical results from these two approaches showed very good agreement with each other and with the actual measurement taken directly after removing the substrate from the fermentation chamber. According to the calculation results, the growth of the sludge layer was linear with time, and its rate was 0.0064 mm per day. Finally, a schematic diagram of an intended sludge monitoring system was proposed. It could optimize biogas plant operation and thus become a step towards more sustainable energy production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable and Renewable Thermal Energy Systems)
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16 pages, 613 KiB  
Article
Potential Power Output from Vehicle Suspension Energy Harvesting Given Bumpy and Random-Surfaced Roads
by Hengyu Guo, Weijun Zeng, Dario Egloff, Fei Meng and Oscar Dahlsten
Sustainability 2024, 16(16), 6964; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16166964 - 14 Aug 2024
Viewed by 995
Abstract
The energy efficiency of vehicles is a crucial challenge relating to sustainable energy preservation and regeneration methods. Regenerative breaking has proven feasible, and there is interest in whether harvesting energy from a vehicle’s suspension is similarly feasible. We here provide methods for estimating [...] Read more.
The energy efficiency of vehicles is a crucial challenge relating to sustainable energy preservation and regeneration methods. Regenerative breaking has proven feasible, and there is interest in whether harvesting energy from a vehicle’s suspension is similarly feasible. We here provide methods for estimating the amount of power that can be regenerated from the suspension for given vehicle and road parameters. We show that a reasonable road model is a generalised Gaussian process known as AR(1). Using this model, we can derive the key equation used in the ISO 8608 standard for measuring road roughness, such that the AR(1) parameters can be related to the measured road roughness data. We find that the road roughness coefficient of ISO 8608 and the diffusion coefficient of the AR(1) road are equal up to a factor. We provide an analytical expression for the maximum amount of power that can be generated for given road and car parameters, derived via Fourier analysis. We further model harvesting from large bumps using Simulink. These results help to estimate the potential power output given the measured road data. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable and Renewable Thermal Energy Systems)
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29 pages, 4830 KiB  
Article
The Integration of Renewable Energy into a Fossil Fuel Power Generation System in Oil-Producing Countries: A Case Study of an Integrated Solar Combined Cycle at the Sarir Power Plant
by Abdulrazzak Akroot, Mohamed Almaktar and Feras Alasali
Sustainability 2024, 16(11), 4820; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16114820 - 5 Jun 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1794
Abstract
Libya is facing a serious challenge in its sustainable development because of its complete dependence on traditional fuels in meeting its growing energy demand. On the other hand, more intensive energy utilization accommodating multiple energy resources, including renewables, has gained considerable attention. This [...] Read more.
Libya is facing a serious challenge in its sustainable development because of its complete dependence on traditional fuels in meeting its growing energy demand. On the other hand, more intensive energy utilization accommodating multiple energy resources, including renewables, has gained considerable attention. This article is motivated by the obvious need for research on this topic due to the shortage of applications concerning the prospects of the hybridization of energy systems for electric power generation in Libya. The 283 MW single-cycle gas turbine operating at the Sarir power plant located in the Libyan desert is considered a case study for a proposed Integrated Solar Combined Cycle (ISCC) system. By utilizing the common infrastructure of a gas-fired power plant and concentrating solar power (CSP) technology, a triple hybrid system is modeled using the EES programming tool. The triple hybrid system consists of (i) a closed Brayton cycle (BC), (ii) a Rankine cycle (RC), which uses heat derived from a parabolic collector field in addition to the waste heat of the BC, and (iii) an organic Rankine cycle (ORC), which is involved in recovering waste heat from the RC. A thermodynamic analysis of the developed triple combined power plant shows that the global power output ranges between 416 MW (in December) and a maximum of 452.9 MW, which was obtained in July. The highest overall system efficiency of 44.3% was achieved in December at a pressure ratio of 12 and 20% of steam fraction in the RC. The monthly capital investment cost for the ISCC facility varies between 52.59 USD/MWh and 58.19 USD/MWh. From an environmental perspective, the ISCC facility can achieve a carbon footprint of up to 319 kg/MWh on a monthly basis compared to 589 kg/MWh for the base BC plant, which represents a reduction of up to 46%. This study could stimulate decision makers to adopt ISCC power plants in Libya and in other developing oil-producing countries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable and Renewable Thermal Energy Systems)
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