Search Results (195)

This study evaluates the socio-economic impact of rural electrification through photovoltaic (PV) systems in Morocco. As part of the country’s broader energy transition strategy, decentralized renewable energy solutions like PV kits have been deployed to improve energy access in isolated rural areas. Using quasi-experimental econometric techniques, specifically propensity score matching (PSM) and estimation of the Average Treatment Effect on the Treated (ATT), the study measures changes in household income, expenditures, and economic activities resulting from PV electrification. The results indicate significant positive effects on household income, electricity spending, and productivity in agriculture and livestock. These findings highlight the critical role of decentralized renewable energy in advancing rural development and poverty reduction. Policy recommendations include expanding PV access with complementary support measures such as microfinance and technical training. Full article

As a key enabling technology for energy transition, the smart grid is propelling the global power system to evolve toward greater efficiency, reliability, and sustainability. Based on the three-dimensional analysis framework of “technology–policy–application”, this study systematically sorts out the technical architecture, regional development mode, and typical application scenarios of the smart grid, revealing the multi-dimensional challenges that it faces. By using the methods of literature review, cross-national case comparison, and technology–policy collaborative analysis, the differentiated paths of China, the United States, and Europe in the development of smart grids are compared, aiming to promote the integration and development of smart grid technologies. From a technical perspective, this paper proposes a collaborative framework comprising the perception layer, network layer, and decision-making layer. Additionally, it analyzes the integration pathways of critical technologies, including sensors, communication protocols, and artificial intelligence. At the policy level, by comparing the differentiated characteristics in policy orientation and market mechanisms among China, the United States, and Europe, the complementarity between government-led and market-driven approaches is pointed out. At the application level, this study validates the practical value of smart grids in optimizing energy management, enhancing power supply reliability, and promoting renewable energy consumption through case analyses in urban smart energy systems, rural electrification, and industrial sectors. Further research indicates that insufficient technical standardization, data security risks, and the lack of policy coordination are the core bottlenecks restricting the large-scale development of smart grids. This paper proposes that a new type of intelligent and resilient power system needs to be constructed through technological innovation, policy coordination, and international cooperation, providing theoretical references and practical paths for energy transition. Full article

In the past decade, agricultural biogas plants have become one of the key tools driving the energy transition in rural areas. Nevertheless, their development in Poland still lags behind that in Western European countries, suggesting the existence of barriers that go beyond technological or regulatory issues. This study aims to examine how Polish farmers perceive the risks and expected benefits associated with investing in biogas plants and which of these perceptions influence their willingness to invest. The research was conducted in the second quarter of 2025 among farmers planning to build micro biogas plants as well as owners of existing biogas facilities. Geographic Information System (GIS) tools were also used in selecting respondents and identifying potential investment sites, helping to pinpoint areas with favorable spatial and environmental conditions. The findings show that both current and prospective biogas plant operators view complex legal requirements, social risk, and financial uncertainty as the main obstacles. However, both groups are primarily motivated by the desire for on-farm energy self-sufficiency and the environmental benefits of improved agricultural waste management. Owners of operational installations—particularly small and medium-sized ones—tend to rate all categories of risk significantly lower than prospective investors, suggesting that practical experience and knowledge-sharing can effectively alleviate perceived risks related to renewable energy investments. Full article

To address energy shortages and achieve carbon peaking/neutrality, this study develops a distributed renewable-based integrated energy system (IES) for rural active zero-energy buildings (ZEBs). Energy consumption patterns of typical rural houses are analyzed, guiding the design of a resource-tailored IES that balances economy and sustainability. Key equipment capacities are optimized to achieve net-zero/zero energy consumption targets. For typical daily cooling/heating/power loads, equipment output is scheduled using a dual-objective optimization model minimizing operating costs and CO₂ emissions. Results demonstrate that: (1) Net-zero-energy IES outperforms separated production (SP) and full electrification systems (FES) in economic-environmental benefits; (2) Zero-energy IES significantly reduces rural building carbon emissions. The proposed system offers substantial practical value for China’s rural energy transition. Full article

Recently, solar energy technologies are a cornerstone of the global effort to transition towards cleaner and more sustainable energy systems. However, in many rural areas of developing countries, unreliable electricity severely impacts healthcare delivery, resulting in reduced medical efficiency and increased risks to patient safety. This review explores the transformative potential of solar energy as a sustainable solution for powering healthcare facilities, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and improving health outcomes. Consequently, energy harvesting is a vital renewable energy source that captures abundant solar and thermal energy, which can sustain medical centers by ensuring the continuous operation of life-saving equipment, lighting, vaccine refrigeration, sanitation, and waste management. Beyond healthcare, it reduces greenhouse gas emissions, lowers operational costs, and enhances community resilience. To address this issue, the paper reviews critical solar energy technologies, energy storage systems, challenges of energy access, and successful solar energy implementations in rural healthcare systems, providing strategic recommendations to overcome adoption challenges. To fulfill the aims of this study, a focused literature review was conducted, covering publications from 2005 to 2025 in the Scopus, ScienceDirect, MDPI, and Google Scholar databases. With targeted investments, policy support, and community engagement, solar energy can significantly improve healthcare access in underserved regions and contribute to sustainable development. Full article

Rural areas around the world are increasingly dealing with energy and environmental challenges. These challenges are particularly acute in developing countries, where persistent reliance on traditional energy sources—such as wood fuel—intersects with concerns about forest conservation and energy sustainability. While wood fuel use is often portrayed as unsustainable, it is important to acknowledge that much of it remains ecologically viable and socially embedded. This study explores the role of rural entrepreneurs in shaping low-carbon transitions at the intersection of household energy practices and environmental stewardship. Fieldwork was carried out in four rural Zambian communities in 2016 and complemented by 2024 follow-up reports. It examines the connections between household energy choices, greenhouse gas emissions, and forest resource dynamics. Findings reveal that over 60% of rural households rely on charcoal for cooking, with associated emissions estimated between 80 and 150 kg CO₂ per household per month. Although this is significantly lower than the average per capita carbon footprint in industrialized countries, such emissions are primarily biogenic in nature. While rural communities contribute minimally to global climate change, their practices have significant local environmental consequences. This study draws attention to the structural constraints as well as emerging opportunities within Zambia’s rural energy economy. It positions rural entrepreneurs not merely as policy recipients but as active agents of innovation, environmental monitoring, and participatory resource governance. A model is proposed to support sustainable rural energy transitions by aligning forest management with context-sensitive emissions strategies. Full article

In the context of China’s “dual carbon” goals and rural revitalization strategy, scientifically assessing the carbon footprint of rural tourism is essential for promoting the sustainable development of the tourism sector. This study presents the first case analysis of the rural tourism carbon footprint in Guangdong Province, using Village B as a representative example. A tourism carbon footprint model for village B was developed using the life cycle assessment (LCA) method. Based on empirical survey data, the tourism carbon footprint of Village B in 2024 was estimated at 7731.23 t, with a per capita carbon footprint of 38.656 kg/p/a. Among the contributing sectors, transportation accounted for the largest share (85.18%), followed by catering (6.93%) and accommodation (5.10%). As an ecotourism-oriented rural destination, Village B exhibited a relatively low carbon footprint from recreational activities. To facilitate the low-carbon transition of rural tourism in the study area and accelerate progress toward the “dual carbon” targets, it is recommended to optimize public transport infrastructure, promote green mobility, enhance the energy efficiency of rural dining and accommodation, and raise awareness of low-carbon tourism. Full article

The generation of fine coal particles during mining and processing presents significant environmental and logistical challenges, particularly in coal-dependent, developing countries like South Africa (SA). This review critically evaluates the technical viability of fine coal briquetting as a sustainable waste-to-energy solution within a SA context, while drawing from global best practices and comparative benchmarks. It examines abundant feedstocks that can be used for valorization strategies, including fine coal and agricultural biomass residues. Furthermore, binder types, manufacturing parameters, and quality optimization strategies that influence briquette performance are assessed. The co-densification of fine coal with biomass offers a means to enhance combustion efficiency, reduce dust emissions, and convert low-value waste into a high-calorific, manageable fuel. Attention is also given to briquette testing standards (i.e., South African Bureau of Standards, ASTM International, and International Organization of Standardization) and end-use applications across domestic, industrial, and off-grid settings. Moreover, the review explores socio-economic implications, including rural job creation, energy poverty alleviation, and the potential role of briquetting in SA’s ‘Just Energy Transition’ (JET). This paper uniquely integrates technical analysis with policy relevance, rural energy needs, and practical challenges specific to South Africa, while offering a structured framework for bio-coal briquetting adoption in developing countries. While technical and economic barriers remain, such as binder costs and feedstock variability, the integration of briquetting into circular economy frameworks represents a promising path toward cleaner, decentralized energy and coal waste valorization. Full article

The Mediterranean region is increasingly confronted with intersecting environmental, agricultural, and socio-economic challenges, including biowaste accumulation, soil degradation, and high dependency on imported fossil fuels. Biomethane, a renewable substitute for natural gas, offers a strategic solution that aligns with the region’s need for sustainable energy transition and circular resource management. This review examines the current state of biomethane production in the Mediterranean area, with a focus on anaerobic digestion (AD) technologies, feedstock availability, policy drivers, and integration into the circular bioeconomy (CBE) framework. Emphasis is placed on the valorisation of regionally abundant feedstocks such as olive pomace, citrus peel, grape marc, cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) residues, livestock manure, and the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW). The multifunctionality of AD—producing renewable energy and nutrient-rich digestate—is highlighted for its dual role in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and restoring soil health, especially in areas threatened by desertification such as Sicily (Italy), Spain, Malta, and Greece. The review also explores emerging innovations in biogas upgrading, nutrient recovery, and digital monitoring, along with the role of Renewable Energy Directive III (RED III) and national biomethane strategies in scaling up deployment. Case studies and decentralised implementation models underscore the socio-technical feasibility of biomethane systems across rural and insular territories. Despite significant potential, barriers such as feedstock variability, infrastructural gaps, and policy fragmentation remain. The paper concludes with a roadmap for research and policy to advance biomethane as a pillar of Mediterranean climate resilience, energy autonomy and sustainable agriculture within a circular bioeconomy paradigm. Full article

Promoting clean energy transition in rural areas is a key path to achieving global sustainable development, protecting public health, and promoting ecological livability. Based on data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), this paper employs a multi-dimensional fixed effects model to evaluate the impact of income inequality on rural households’ clean energy transition (CET) and examines its underlying mechanisms. Research findings indicate that income inequality significantly suppresses rural households’ CET, primarily by reducing basic energy consumption and hindering the upgrading of basic energy consumption structures. Government governance quality exerts a significant negative moderating effect on the relationship between income inequality and rural households’ CET. Further analysis shows that the inhibitory effect of income inequality on CET is more significant in the regions with a low economic development level and low coal resource endowment, and in the western and northeastern regions of China. Therefore, while continuously promoting rural income growth, the government should prioritize equitable distribution, strengthen institutional capacity-building, improve the social service and security system, and facilitate rural households’ CET. Full article

The integration of renewable energy with circular economy strategies offers effective pathways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while enhancing local energy independence. This study analyses three real-world projects implemented in Spain that exemplify this synergy. LIFE Smart Agromobility converts pig manure into biomethane to power farm vehicles, using anaerobic digestion and microalgae-based upgrading systems. Smart Met Value refines biogas from a wastewater treatment plant in Guadalajara to produce high-purity biomethane for the municipal fleet, demonstrating the viability of energy recovery from sewage sludge. The UNDERGY project addresses green hydrogen storage by repurposing a depleted natural gas reservoir, showing geochemical and geomechanical feasibility for seasonal underground hydrogen storage. Each project utilises regionally available resources to produce clean fuels—biomethane or hydrogen—while mitigating methane and CO₂ emissions. Results show significant energy recovery potential: biomethane production can replace a substantial portion of fossil fuel use in rural and urban settings, while hydrogen storage provides a scalable solution for surplus renewable energy. These applied cases demonstrate not only the technical feasibility but also the socio-economic benefits of integrating waste valorisation and energy transition technologies. Together, they represent replicable models for sustainable development and energy resilience across Europe and beyond. Full article

This study explores how carbon pricing and electricity market liberalization jointly contribute to China’s sustainable energy transition. Using a dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE) model (CEEEA2.0), we simulate three policy scenarios—business as usual, emissions trading scheme (ETS) with regulated electricity prices, and ETS with market-based pricing—under a unified emissions cap. The results demonstrate that electricity market liberalization enhances carbon pricing efficiency by eliminating price distortions, leading to a 0.06% increase in GDP and a 12% reduction in emission abatement costs. However, liberalization also raises electricity and consumer prices, disproportionately affecting rural and low-income households. These findings underscore the need to balance economic efficiency and social equity in sustainability-oriented energy reforms. Our analysis emphasizes the importance of designing inclusive and just transition policies to ensure that carbon mitigation efforts support long-term environmental, economic, and social sustainability goals. Full article

As Europe is the world’s leading producer of biogas, this article examines how agricultural anaerobic digestion (AD) is organized and governed, and explores the social challenges involved in structuring the sector around a possible “European model”. Following a social science perspective, it presents a systematic review of 64 French- and English-language articles drawn from 16 academic databases. The findings highlight five key dynamics. First, there is a shift from farmer-led to increasingly industrial models of AD. Second, diverse and hybrid business models are emerging, involving new forms of multi-scale coordination. Third, the sector remains structurally dependent on public subsidies and on regulatory frameworks. Fourth, the economic viability of AD for farmers remains uncertain, driving a transition from cogeneration to biomethane injection. Fifth, tensions develop between rural place-based imaginaries and the realities of globalized energy networks. These patterns underscore the complexity of biogas sector-building in Europe and the competing narratives shaping its evolution. We argue that agricultural AD cannot be reduced to a unified trajectory, but reflects ongoing negotiations over energy models, territorial development and socio-technical legitimacy. This paper concludes by discussing the implications of these dynamics for the sustainability and fairness of future biogas trajectories across Europe. Full article

Ensuring the security of agricultural systems is essential for achieving national food security and sustainable development. Given that agricultural systems are inherently complex and composed of coupled subsystems—such as water, land, and energy—a comprehensive and multidimensional assessment of system security is necessary. This study focuses on Northeast China, a major food-producing region, and introduces the concept of agricultural system coupling security, defined as the integrated performance of an agricultural system in terms of resource adequacy, internal coordination, and adaptive resilience under external stress. To operationalize this concept, a coupling security evaluation framework is constructed based on three key dimensions: reliability (Rel), coordination (Cor), and resilience (Res). An Agricultural System Coupling Security Index (AS-CSI) is developed using the entropy weight method, the Criteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation (CRITIC) method, and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method, while obstacle factor diagnosis is employed to identify key constraints. Furthermore, bivariate and trivariate Copula models are used to estimate joint risk probabilities. The results show that from 2001 to 2022, the AS-CSI in Northeast China increased from 0.38 to 0.62, indicating a transition from insecurity to relative security. Among the provinces, Jilin exhibited the highest CSI due to balanced performance across all Rel-Cor-Res dimensions, while Liaoning experienced lower Rel, hindering its overall security level. Five indicators, including area under soil erosion control, reservoir storage capacity per capita, pesticide application amount, rural electricity consumption per capita, and proportion of agricultural water use, were identified as critical threats to regional agricultural system security. Copula-based risk analysis revealed that the probability of Rel–Cor reaching the relatively secure threshold (0.8) was the highest at 0.7643, and the probabilities for Rel–Res and Cor–Res to reach the same threshold were lower, at 0.7164 and 0.7318, respectively. The probability of Rel–Cor-Res reaching the relatively secure threshold (0.8) exceeds 0.54, with Jilin exhibiting the highest probability at 0.5538. This study provides valuable insights for transitioning from static assessments to dynamic risk identification and offers a scientific basis for enhancing regional sustainability and economic resilience in agricultural systems. Full article

This study examines the establishment of a Hub for Circular Economy and Industrial Symbiosis (HUB-CEIS) centred on a forest biomass waste plant in Fundão, Portugal, presenting an innovative model for rural industrial symbiosis, circular economy governance, and sustainable waste management. Designed as a strategic node within a reverse supply chain, the hub facilitates the conversion of solid waste into renewable energy and high-value co-products, including green hydrogen, tailored for industrial and agricultural applications, with an estimated 120 ktCO₂/year reduction and 60 direct jobs. Aligned with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement, this initiative addresses global challenges such as decarbonization, resource efficiency, and the energy transition. Employing a mixed research methodology, this study integrates a comprehensive literature review, in-depth stakeholder interviews, and comparative case study analysis to formulate a governance framework fostering regional partnerships between industry, government, and local communities. The findings highlight Fundão’s potential to become a benchmark for rural industrial symbiosis, offering a replicable model for circularity in non-urban contexts, with a projected investment of USD 60 M. Special emphasis is placed on the green hydrogen value chain, positioning it as a key enabler for regional sustainability. This research underscores the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration in achieving scalable and efficient waste recovery processes. By delivering practical insights and a robust governance structure, the study contributes to the circular economy literature, providing actionable strategies for implementing rural reverse supply chains. Beyond validating waste valorization and renewable energy production, the proposed hub establishes a blueprint for sustainable rural industrial development, promoting long-term industrial symbiosis integration. Full article