Search Results (3,318)

Information infrastructure is essential for digital transformation and AI-enabled services, but its operation also involves high electricity consumption and carbon emissions. This study develops a tripartite evolutionary game model involving the government, information-infrastructure operators and the public, and integrates it with system dynamics to examine how regulatory mechanisms influence operators’ net-zero behaviours. The model focuses on operational-stage information infrastructure. Initial parameters are calibrated using the 2023 China Statistical Yearbook on Resources and Environment and expert consultation, with key variables measured by operational revenue, net-zero costs, regulatory costs, incentives, penalties, public scrutiny costs and environmental losses. The results show that operators’ net-zero behaviours may fluctuate under weak or static regulation. Government incentives, penalties and public scrutiny can promote net-zero operations, while dynamic reward–penalty mechanisms are more effective in stabilising behavioural evolution. This study extends evolutionary game theory and system dynamics to the net-zero governance of information infrastructure and provides an adaptive regulatory framework for coordinating government regulation, operator behaviour and public participation. Full article

The development of sustainable tourism requires the use of planning methods that combine environmental protection with inclusive access to nature-based destinations. This article presents a macro-level spatial decision-support framework for planning service infrastructure for specialized off-road electric wheelchairs in mountain destinations. The proposed framework combines predefined static vehicle-related constraints, Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis using QGIS and OpenStreetMap data, and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA). The spatial filtering stage evaluates terrain feasibility using an adopted maximum longitudinal slope threshold and minimum path-width requirement. The location–allocation stage combines Simple Additive Weighting (SAW) with a spatial-dispersion procedure to identify service hubs that are both suitable and regionally distributed. The method is not a dynamic engineering model of vehicle performance, but a GIS-MCDA planning tool for preliminary regional infrastructure siting under predefined operational constraints. Full article

Europe’s solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity is expanding rapidly, raising a key question: how much PV can each national electricity system actually absorb? Most existing assessments rely on annual or seasonal averages, which overlook the hour-by-hour match between PV generation and demand that ultimately limits feasible deployment. This study quantifies the demand-constrained PV potential of 38 European countries and how it varies across regions. Hourly PV generation is simulated in PVsyst and matched against national hourly demand from ENTSO-E. Feasible capacity is defined as the largest installation whose output never exceeds demand in any hour of the year. This system-level, time-resolved method yields operationally constrained estimates rather than purely physical potential. The 38 countries could feasibly deploy about 614 GWp of PV, generating around 678 TWh per year without exceeding hourly demand. Regional differences are pronounced: southern Europe benefits from superior solar resources, while northern and eastern regions face seasonal and infrastructural challenges. These findings underline the importance of grid modernization, energy storage, and cross-border integration. The estimates form a conservative baseline; they exclude drivers such as electric-vehicle (EV) deployment, demand-side flexibility, battery energy storage, latent demand growth, power export, and building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), whose inclusion would expand the feasible potential. This study offers a transparent comparative framework to guide policy, investment, and system planning for Europe’s carbon-neutral energy transition. Full article

Green hydrogen is increasingly discussed as an energy carrier that can link electricity, gas, heat, and transport sectors. However, many existing reviews address this topic from separate viewpoints, such as hydrogen production technologies, Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications, or system integration, with less attention to how policy and market conditions affect deployment. This review brings these related aspects together in one structured discussion. The paper first reviews the hydrogen supply chain, including production, storage, transport, and utilization. It then discusses an integrated multi-energy architecture in which hydrogen interacts with electricity, natural gas, heat, and cooling networks. Policy instruments in five major economies, including the European Union, the United States, China, Japan, and India, are compared. The review also summarizes the main barriers to large-scale deployment, including high production costs, limited infrastructure, technological challenges, regulatory uncertainty, and supply-chain constraints. In addition, the current market structure and selected large-scale hydrogen projects planned in the United States are reviewed. The paper also examines the role of artificial intelligence in green hydrogen systems. AI applications are grouped into four main stages of the hydrogen value chain: forecasting renewable energy generation, improving electrolyzer design and operation, optimizing storage and distribution, and supporting system-level techno-economic assessment. Recent Machine Learning (ML) studies are compared based on their methods and their contributions to operation and planning. Overall, this review highlights the role of AI in enabling green hydrogen integration within multi-energy systems. Full article

This study investigates the cross-border consequences of large-scale military attacks on Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure and their implications for European energy resilience. Unlike prior research focused primarily on national-level disruption, this paper conceptualizes wartime infrastructure destruction as a source of systemic spillover risk within interconnected electricity systems. We develop an analytical framework integrating three dimensions: shock probability, structural vulnerability, and recovery capacity. Using evidence from 2022–2026 and comparative assessment of selected European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) countries, we identify substantial asymmetries in exposure and resilience. Moldova appears highly vulnerable due to structural dependence and limited flexibility, whereas Poland demonstrates stronger resilience supported by diversification and institutional capacity. The findings show that shocks originating in Ukraine propagate through electricity trade flows, balancing constraints, and price volatility. The results highlight that large-scale attacks on the energy system threaten not only immediate regional security but also the long-term energy sustainability of the interconnected European network. The paper contributes to the literature by linking war-induced infrastructure damage with sustainable energy governance and by proposing resilience tools such as digital twins and blockchain coordination. The results are relevant for policymakers, transmission operators, and crisis management institutions across Europe. Full article

This study applied density functional theory (DFT) to investigate gas-sensitive devices based on Pt- and Pd-doped SnS₂ monolayers, exploring their adsorption and sensing performance on four characteristic gases generated under normal operating or fault conditions of transformer oil. The adsorption behaviors and underlying sensing mechanisms of four gases on pristine and modified SnS₂ were systematically elucidated. The results reveal that Pt/Pd incorporation triggers a transition from weak physisorption to robust chemisorption. Compared to intrinsic SnS₂, the decorated monolayers exhibit dramatically augmented adsorption energies and accelerated interfacial charge transfer for all target molecules. Crucially, noble metal modification fundamentally modulates the electronic structure of the SnS₂ lattice, endowing the material with exceptional recognition specificity for distinguishing different gas species. These theoretical insights establish Pt- and Pd-SnS₂ as highly promising candidates for advanced DGA sensors, providing a robust materials design strategy for the condition monitoring of critical electrical infrastructure. Full article

Urban mobility is undergoing a rapid transition driven by digitalization, electrification, and automation. However, current research remains largely fragmented across specific technological domains, obscuring the interactions required for city-scale deployment. To address this gap, we conducted a literature review (2018–2026) adhering to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Using Google Scholar as an aggregate search engine, we screened and synthesized 162 peer-reviewed studies across four foundational pillars: intelligent transportation systems, resilient infrastructure, electric mobility, and autonomous/connected vehicles. The methodological evaluation of the literature reveals a prevalent overreliance on simulation models compared to large-scale field trials. Through a narrative synthesis of the selected studies, we derive a comprehensive five-layer conceptual framework that integrates the infrastructure, mobility, energy, digital, and governance layers. The findings indicate that scaling smart mobility is frequently constrained by institutional fragmentation and infrastructure rigidity, which often act as bottlenecks equal to or greater than technological capability. The review concludes by outlining targeted research priorities to guide the integration of sustainable urban mobility. Full article

The electrification of urban freight is a central pathway for advancing China’s dual-carbon agenda, yet the spatial and temporal mismatch between charging supply and logistics demand remains a major bottleneck. Using Shanghai as a case study, this paper develops an integrated framework of hotspot identification, mechanism interpretation, and planning response for electric logistics vehicle (ELV) charging demand. Based on the operating records of more than 1200 pure electric logistics vehicles in Shanghai from 1 March to 30 November 2023, 85,367 valid charging events were extracted. ST-DBSCAN is used to detect charging demand hotspots, and a negative binomial model is employed to examine their determinants. The results show that charging demand is highly differentiated in space and time, following a pattern of daytime concentration in core logistics areas and nighttime dispersion toward peripheral parking and recharging spaces. Initial state of charge, daily mileage, logistics point of interest (POI) density, and road network density are all significantly associated with hotspot intensity, while the effects of time vary across daytime and nighttime charging contexts. The predominance of slow charging, together with a pronounced midday charging peak (12:00–17:00), points to a potential fast-charging pressure of fast-charging capacity in major logistics nodes. Based on these findings, the paper proposes targeted recommendations for hub-oriented fast-charging deployment, fleet–charging coordination, and data-driven governance. The study provides empirical evidence for improving the spatial planning and refined governance of urban freight energy infrastructure. Full article

This study investigates the charging behaviors, routines, and perceptions of Swedish electric vehicle (EV) users who lack access to home charging, a group that remains underrepresented in the EV adoption literature. Based on an online survey of 250 EV users—primarily located in Gothenburg—respondents were divided into two groups: those with and those without home charging availability. Nearly half of the sample (47.6%) reported not having access to charging at home. Comparative analyses, including linear regression models, were conducted to examine differences in sociodemographic characteristics, charging patterns, and perceptions of public charging. While the two groups were similar in terms of age, gender, vehicle type, charging frequency, and minimum state of charge preferences, significant differences emerged in perceived convenience, distance, and freedom to charge. Users without home charging availability reported lower access to workplace charging and evaluated public charging as less convenient and less accessible. Charging behavior in both groups was primarily goal-oriented and triggered by minimum state of charge rather than spontaneous opportunities. The findings highlight the structural disadvantages faced by users without home charging and underline the importance of adapting public charging infrastructure and policy strategies to support a broader and more equitable transition to electric mobility. Full article

The growing volatility and complexity of global food supply chains have intensified the need for integrated analytical frameworks capable of supporting anticipatory and data-driven decision-making. This article examines how logistics sector observatories can function as strategic intelligence infrastructures for identifying structural tensions and supporting resilience in cold-chain logistics systems. The article introduces the concept of logistics sector observatories as strategic intelligence infrastructures and examines its empirical relevance through a longitudinal analysis of the Spanish cold-chain logistics sector. Empirically, the research draws on a multi-source dataset constructed through the ALDEFE Observatory in collaboration with industry stakeholders over the core study period 2021–2025, encompassing storage capacity, consumption dynamics, energy costs, international logistics indices, and macroeconomic variables. Complementary energy benchmark data for 2019–2025 are used to contextualize electricity cost volatility. Methodologically, the study combines qualitative insights from stakeholder interviews with exploratory quantitative longitudinal analysis. The results suggest severe structural tensions driven by the interaction between rigid capacity constraints and energy cost volatility. The analysis identifies a pattern of persistently high storage occupancy despite substantial energy-price fluctuations. This finding is consistent with the structural inelasticity of cold-chain demand, which reduces operational slack and affects system resilience. Beyond operational resilience, the study highlights the potential contribution of sector observatories to the energy sustainability transition through future sector-level indicators related to energy intensity, refrigeration efficiency, and carbon performance. The study contributes a sector-level, data-driven perspective on visibility, coordination, and anticipatory governance in complex logistics environments. Full article

The article deals with non-destructive methodologies for assessing and preventing corrosion of polymer-coated underground pipelines, advanced corrosion-barrier coating systems based on extruded three-layer high-density polyethylene (3LPE), corrosion control strategies for buried oil, gas, and water transmission infrastructures, and mechanisms and engineering approaches for corrosion prevention and mitigation. The quality assurance of newly polymer-coated underground pipelines, following construction (installation and backfilling), is vital for evaluating the polymer coating quality state and the efficiency of passive anti-corrosion protection, aimed at reducing corrosion risks and prolonging the pipeline’s service life. The evaluation relies on the coating average specific electrical resistance and the presence of coating defects (number, total area, and distribution) of inspected pipeline sections. In this study, based on extensive real data obtained from testing of newly installed underground water and oil/gas pipeline networks (60 projects with a total pipeline length of 260 km) with various technical characteristics, Drainage Test and DCVG (Direct Current Voltage Gradient) complementary non-destructive indirect methods have been investigated to determine the quality level and identify the location and severity of defects in polyolefin (polyethylene) coatings. The novel concepts and criteria were defined: the quantitative criteria for average specific electrical resistance are established; in addition, a new parameter related to the specific coating defects ratio is introduced, which has been shown to correlate with the criteria for the average specific electrical resistance of the polymer coating and consumed electrical current; finally, following DCVG measurements of the 3LPE coating system, a novel degree of relative defect sizes (%IR) for repairs has been suggested. The innovative and comprehensive approach can support the efforts of regulatory quality assurance, design, maintenance, safety, and research communities to ensure the long-term integrity and sustainability of underground polymer-coated steel pipelines. Full article

The global transition to electric mobility is crucial for reducing transportation-related emissions, although there is a scarcity of empirical research on customer adoption psychology in transition economies in Central Asia. This study investigates the economic and structural drivers of electric vehicle purchase intention in the Republic of Uzbekistan. Data collected from prospective customers across large city hubs were analyzed using a dual hierarchical multiple linear regression model, supported by an empirical bootstrapping procedure with 2000 resamples, based on the rational choice theory and bounded rationality. The structural model shows that baseline socio-demographics explain insignificant initial variance ($R^2$ = 0.105); however, the integration of primary theoretical constructs yields a significant incremental variance change ($\Delta R^2$ = 0.096), explaining 20.1% of the total variance. Inferential tracking confirms that government incentives are the only statistically significant driver of the purchase intention (p = 0.009). Conversely, purchase cost (p = 0.251) and charging infrastructure (p = 0.475) lack direct significance. However, partial collinearity and infrastructure expectation effects systematically change these localized contact points. The study concludes that consumer intent in this emerging marketplace is primarily anchored to macro-level institutional policy signaling rather than immediate vehicle-specific characteristics or current physical network constraints. Full article

Against the backdrop of the global aviation industry’s commitment to achieving the “Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050” goal, the issue of superimposed peak loads on distribution networks—arising from the large-scale transition from fossil-fueled to electric Ground Service Equipment (GSE) at civil airports—has become increasingly prominent, emerging as a critical constraint on green airport development. Focusing on the high-value airside area, this paper presents the first systematic review of how Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology can transform electric Ground Service Equipment (e-GSE) from mere “charging loads” into “dispatchable energy storage resources.” The study proposes that, through bidirectional DC charging/discharging and intelligent aggregation technologies, e-GSE fleets operating on predictable schedules can be integrated as flexible regulation units within airport microgrids. To realize this pathway, the study comprehensively examines the core technological framework, encompassing wide-power-range bidirectional charging infrastructure, grid-forming power conversion topologies, standardized communication and grid interconnection interfaces, flight-schedule-based potential assessment and dispatch algorithms, and photovoltaic storage–charging hybrid system integration schemes. The review demonstrates that this technology can not only enhance grid resilience and promote renewable energy accommodation through peak shaving, valley filling, and ancillary services but also yields significant economic benefits. Finally, the study identifies the technical, standardization, and business model barriers hindering large-scale deployment, thereby providing a theoretical reference and a technology roadmap for the energy system planning and construction of future “zero-carbon smart airports”. Full article

Energy-intensive industries deploying hybrid renewable energy systems require performance monitoring frameworks that evolve with phased system implementation. This paper introduces the performance and sustainability framework, a simulation-grounded evolution of the sustainability balanced scorecard for longitudinal assessment of renewable energy infrastructure. The framework requires that key performance indicators derive from validated techno-economic simulations, that assessment is repeated at temporal checkpoints corresponding to physical system changes, and that each balanced scorecard perspective includes at least one environmental or circular-economy indicator. The framework is demonstrated in a cheese manufacturing facility in Crete, Greece, where a 38 kW cheese whey biomass generator, 72.2 kW photovoltaic system, and 10 kW wind turbine are deployed over five years. Annual HOMER Pro re-simulations are combined with weighted SWOT scoring to track technical, economic, environmental, and organisational performance. By Year 5, the system achieves an 88.7% electrical renewable fraction, 60.0% gross-operational CO₂-eq reduction, 0.1148 EUR/kWh levelised cost of energy, and 22.3% internal rate of return. The longitudinal trajectory also reveals declining delivered thermal renewable contribution and cheese whey utilisation, exposing operational trade-offs that single-point scorecard assessments would miss. Applicability of the PSF to community-scale governance under ISO 37101:2016 and to renewable energy communities under Directive (EU) 2018/2001 is examined exclusively as a conceptual scaling framework for future research. The present empirical demonstration is restricted to a single-facility case study, and no community-level stakeholder data are collected or analysed. Full article

This review paper presents a comprehensive synthesis of current scientific knowledge on the integration of low-emission technologies into airport operational models. Attention is also given to the role of artificial intelligence techniques in predicting environmental risks, optimizing energy system design, and enhancing operational safety. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the synergy between renewable energy sources (solar and wind energy) and emerging propulsion technologies in aviation (hydrogen and electrification) from the perspective of safety and operational stability. The methodology is based on a systematic review of 78 scientific studies identified in the Scopus and Web of Science databases. The analysis identifies critical technical and operational barriers, including electromagnetic interference caused by wind turbines, optical hazards associated with photovoltaic systems, and stability challenges in airport microgrids under peak loads resulting from the charging of electric aircraft. Particular attention is given to the safety of hydrogen infrastructure, where findings from the literature indicate the need to revise separation distances and highlight the potential reduction of airport stand capacity by 5% to 16%. The study synthesizes these findings into a strategic framework for “Smart Green Airports”, proposing solutions such as adaptive infrastructure design, the deployment of predictive models based on artificial intelligence, and the implementation of inherently safe energy storage systems. The paper concludes that achieving airport energy self-sufficiency while maintaining the integrity of flight operations is feasible only through the holistic integration of technical measures, simulation-based planning, and strict compliance with updated safety regulations. Full article