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The main purpose of electrical transmission and distribution networks is to carry electrical energy from the places where it is produced to the places of consumption, where the energy is used. Electrical energy is produced in power plants by generating units, which convert a form of primary energy into electrical energy. Primary energy comes from a number of sources, such as fossil fuels, nuclear energy, hydropower, wind, and solar. The carbon neutrality targets set by the European Union and several countries around the world have driven a transformation characterized by the gradual replacement of synchronous thermal generation based on fossil fuels with Renewable Energy Sources (RES), such as wind and solar. The energy transition, while necessary to achieve the established targets, introduces significant challenges to the stability of Electrical Power Systems (EPS) and electrical grids, since RES do not yet contribute to stability at levels comparable to the generating units of large thermal power plants, whether in terms of inertia, which has seen a notable reduction in recent years, or in voltage control or short-circuit power. This article presents and discusses solutions to mitigate the effect of this reduction in inertia in power plants using synchronous compensators and synthetic inertia emulation using battery storage. Full article

Spurred by the rapid expansion of renewable and clean energy technologies, secondary batteries have become indispensable to modern energy systems. At the same time, growing demand for safer and more environmentally friendly energy-storage solutions has accelerated interest in zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs), which offer attractive advantages over lithium-ion batteries, including high theoretical capacity, intrinsic safety, and natural abundance. This review summarizes recent progress in aqueous ZIBs, with particular focus on highly reversible Zn anode, electrolyte optimization, and the development of advanced cathode materials. In addition, emerging methods designed to address the key limitations of aqueous ZIB systems are discussed. Finally, this review provides perspectives on future research directions and design principles that may guide the development of next-generation aqueous ZIBs. Full article

Maritime transport is under increasing pressure to cut greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions to meet global decarbonization goals and tighter environmental standards. Ship electric propulsion systems offer a promising solution for short-range maritime operations, particularly for small vessels and coastal activities. Full-electric vessels can significantly reduce operational emissions; however, a key challenge is the extensive charging time for onboard energy storage, which can affect operational continuity and logistical efficiency. This study examines mission planning and energy management for a hybrid multi-source electric mail boat operating in the Aeolian archipelago. It evaluates the viability and performance of a daily inter-island route powered by a high-temperature methanol fuel cell, batteries, and photovoltaic panels. A routing and simulation framework was developed to model the boat’s itinerary among seven islands, accounting for realistic navigation speeds, scheduled stops, solar energy availability, and battery state-of-charge constraints. The study analyzes distance, travel time, energy consumption, solar power generation, and fuel–electric usage with high temporal resolution, enabling detailed analysis of power flows during sailing and docking. Several operational strategies were assessed, including periods of increased speed supported by battery assistance and fuel–electric cell output, combined with coordinated energy management to keep battery levels above a lower acceptable threshold while completing the route in a single day. The methodology provides a practical tool for planning low-emission island networks and supports the integration of innovative energy systems into small electric workboats operating in specific maritime regions. Full article

Grid-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESSs) are becoming essential components of modern power grids undergoing rapid decarbonisation. This review examines how nine jurisdictions—Great Britain, Germany, Spain, Italy, France, California (USA), Australia, Singapore, and China—are enabling the growth of BESSs, focusing on market access and revenue streams, investment risks and mitigation strategies, support mechanisms, and regulatory conditions. A central finding is that batteries typically become investable only when they can stack revenue from multiple sources, including energy arbitrage, ancillary services, and capacity markets. Regulation proves as important as technology: frameworks that fail to recognise storage as a distinct asset class expose projects to double charging, unclear licensing, and limited market access. Grid connection delays, declining revenues in saturating ancillary service markets, and safety compliance represent significant practical barriers. International experience indicates that BESSs scale fastest when decarbonisation policy is credible and market rules enable diversified, financeable revenue streams. Full article

This study develops a lifecycle economic comparison framework for shared energy storage, in which multiple users share a common storage asset through capacity leasing. A multi-service revenue structure, including capacity leasing, spot-market arbitrage, auxiliary frequency regulation, peak shaving, and capacity compensation, is established for comparative evaluation. Case studies are conducted for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and vanadium redox flow (VRF) batteries across six representative Chinese electricity markets and six standardized revenue-combination scenarios. The results show that, among the scenarios that more closely reflect current operating practices, P3 (capacity compensation + spot market + auxiliary frequency regulation) delivers the highest net present value (NPV). P6 combines all five revenue streams without explicitly modeling service-coupling dispatch constraints, and is therefore treated as a theoretical benchmark rather than an immediately deployable operating mode. Under this benchmark assumption, its calculated NPV is 21.1% and 41.7% higher than that of P3 for the two battery types, respectively. The study also shows that power-related services are more sensitive to rated power, while spot-market and peak-shaving revenues are more dependent on rated capacity. Full article

The demand for high-performance energy storage systems with enhanced energy and power density is growing alongside the renewable energy, mobile devices, and electric vehicle sectors. MXenes, a class of two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides, have emerged as promising electrode materials for next-generation energy storage systems owing to their high electrical conductivity, hydrophilicity, and tunable surface chemistry. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent progress in MXene-based energy storage systems, focusing on MXene synthesis routes, their performance in energy storage applications, associated challenges, and future research directions. It discusses the advantages and disadvantages of various MXene synthesis routes and MXene-based composites, defect engineering, and MXene oxidation, which are crucial for energy storage applications, including rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors. The review also explores the challenges and prospects of scaling up MXenes and their composites for energy storage applications and the existing obstacles to integrating these materials into energy storage systems, with the aim of developing next-generation energy storage systems. Full article

All-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLBs) are widely regarded as a promising next-generation energy-storage technology because they offer the potential to simultaneously improve the safety and energy density of conventional lithium battery systems. Among various solid electrolytes, Li-argyrodite sulfide electrolytes (Li₆PS₅X, X = Cl, Br, I) have attracted considerable attention owing to their high room-temperature ionic conductivity, good mechanical deformability, and favorable cost-effectiveness. However, for the practical deployment of Li-argyrodite sulfide electrolytes in ASSLBs, several critical challenges still need to be addressed, including limited synthesis strategies, insufficient air stability, and poor interfacial compatibility with both cathodes and anodes. This review summarizes recent advances in Li-argyrodite sulfide electrolytes from fundamental understanding to practical applications. The crystal structure characteristics and Li⁺ conduction mechanisms are first discussed to elucidate the origins of fast ion transport, followed by an overview of major synthesis strategies. Strategies for improving ionic conductivity, air stability, and electrode interfacial compatibility through compositional engineering and interfacial regulation are also highlighted. Finally, the prospects of Li-argyrodite sulfide electrolytes for practical all-solid-state batteries are discussed, together with the remaining challenges and future research directions. Full article

Bagasse, owing to its low cost and high carbon yield, is a promising precursor for hard-carbon anodes in sodium-ion batteries (SIB). Regulating the microcrystalline state and pore architecture during pyrolysis is key to boosting Na⁺ storage behavior. Here, the pyrolysis kinetics is controlled via stepwise carbonization to construct a defect-ordered island structure within the cellulose-derived carbon skeleton. Retaining sp³-hybridized carbon at low temperatures creates the Na⁺ channel, while acid cleaning selectively dissolves residual metal oxides, removing the electrochemical inert phase and promoting improved ion diffusion. This process also enriches active sites and interlayer spacing in the hard carbon, boosting capacity in the plateau region. In addition, the ash-catalyzed formation of local sp² graphite microcrystals provides electron transport nodes, optimizing Na⁺ diffusion and electronic conductivity. Accordingly, the assembled SIB achieves a high reversible capacity of 378 mAh g⁻¹ at 0.1C and an initial coulombic efficiency of 97%, with the plateau capacity accounting for 59.1% of the total reversible capacity. This work presents a universal thermochemical approach for engineering high-performance carbon anodes with high closed porosity from low-cost biomass precursors, advancing the development of sustainable and efficient SIBs. Full article

The growing use of electrochemical batteries in renewable energy systems has intensified the need for storage architectures that can sustain power delivery while limiting transient electrical stress and voltage instability challenges. This study addresses the research gap in experimentally establishing a physically interpretable framework that links battery-centered hybrid storage behavior at the DC bus to AC-side inverter performance under load and source disturbances. A laboratory-scale renewable microgrid integrating photovoltaic and wind generation, programmable load variation, inverter-based AC delivery, and hybrid battery–supercapacitor storage is experimentally implemented and evaluated against a battery-only baseline, supported by a unified analytical framework that quantifies how transient buffering improvements propagate through the power conversion chain. The results show that the hybrid configuration reduces DC-bus voltage droop from about 1.1 V to 0.6 V under heavy-load transitions, and from approximately 0.85 V to 0.44 V during source-side variability (e.g., photovoltaic and wind turbine variations). The hybrid system also improves AC-side behavior, yielding unified stabilization indices of 103.03% for the root-mean-square voltage and 79.51% for the peak-to-peak voltage. These findings demonstrate that the experimentally implemented lab-scale renewable microgrid with hybrid battery–supercapacitor storage provides an effective pathway for improving battery-supported microgrid stability, waveform quality, and transient resilience. Full article

With the increasing integration of transportation and energy systems, highway energy replenishment facilities are gradually evolving into hybrid refueling stations that integrate photovoltaic generation, energy storage, battery charging, and hydrogen refueling. However, due to differences in resource conditions across stations, independently operated hybrid refueling stations find it difficult to simultaneously improve overall economic performance and renewable energy utilization. To address this issue, this paper investigates the coordinated operation and distributed optimization of highway hybrid refueling stations. First, an inter-station hydrogen–carbon–green certificate trading framework is established, and a trading model for a cluster of hybrid refueling stations is then developed on this basis. Then, the inter-station trading problem is decomposed into two subproblems: symmetric trading volume determination and asymmetric Nash bargaining-based price determination. These two subproblems are solved in a distributed manner using the alternating direction method of multipliers. In addition, a hydrogen transportation model is developed to translate trading decisions into feasible transportation arrangements under highway network and hydrogen tube trailer scheduling constraints. Finally, the case study demonstrates that the proposed model enables multi-resource sharing among hybrid refueling stations, reduces the overall system cost by 21.30%, and achieves a fairer distribution of benefits among stations. Full article

Remote communities in Canada face high electricity costs, energy insecurity, and significant greenhouse gas emissions due to heavy dependence on diesel generation. This study proposes and evaluates an AC-coupled hybrid distribution microgrid for remote off-grid communities, using Black Tickle, Newfoundland and Labrador as a representative case study. The system integrates two 200 kW wind turbines, a 200 kW diesel backup generator, a 16 MWh lithium-ion battery storage system, and a bidirectional converter, modeled and optimized in HOMER Pro 3.18.3 using local meteorological data, community load profiles, and a cycle-charging dispatch strategy. The optimized configuration achieves 86.7% wind penetration and 100% supply reliability with zero unmet load, yielding a total net present cost of USD 13.6 million and a levelized cost of energy of 0.999 USD/kWh over a 25-year horizon. Battery storage accounts for 73.5% of annualized costs, representing the primary economic challenge for wider deployment. Sensitivity analyses show that diesel price fluctuations exert approximately 4.1 times greater influence on system economics than equivalent carbon pricing changes, while the optimal configuration remains robust across all tested policy scenarios. These findings demonstrate that AC-coupled wind–diesel–battery microgrids offer a viable pathway for reducing fossil fuel dependence and supporting clean energy transition in remote, harsh-climate communities. Full article

Industrial decarbonisation requires the large-scale integration of renewable energy into energy-intensive processes traditionally characterised by limited flexibility, high heat demands, and strong dependence on fossil fuels. In this context, energy storage, encompassing thermal and electrical storage as well as hydrogen as an energy carrier, emerges as a key enabling solution to reconcile variable renewable supply with industrial process demands. This paper proposes a dynamic techno-economic framework linking sectoral energy profiles to storage sizing and economic performance in industrial renewable integration. Storage technologies are assessed with hydrogen emerging as a long-duration buffer and a solution for decarbonising high-temperature heat. A representative industrial plant with 5 GWh/year energy demand and an 80%/20% thermal-to-electric load split is analysed under increasing solar-to-load ratios (20–60%), with storage technologies evaluated both individually and in hybrid configurations. Results demonstrate that hybrid battery–hydrogen configurations systematically outperform single-technology solutions. Yearly energy cost reductions reach 16.6–33.8% at 20% renewable penetration, 30.0–49.6% at 40%, and 43.4–62.8% at 60%, with advantages over the best standalone option increasing on average from 13.5% to 28.0% as renewable availability rises. Overall, the study identifies scale-dependent feasibility thresholds and highlights small and medium-sized industrial plants as the most actionable deployment context under current technological and market conditions. Full article

This study presents a techno-economic analysis of deploying distributed energy resources (DERs), specifically photovoltaic (PV), battery energy storage systems (BESSs) and electric vehicles (EVs), in apartment buildings configured as Virtual Power Plants (VPPs). Utilizing cooperative game theory, the research models strategic collaboration between apartment residents (demand side) and utility operators (plant side) to maximize energy efficiency and economic returns. The VPP structure is analyzed over a 15-year life cycle, incorporating net present value (NPV), payback period (PBP), and government subsidy impacts. A cooperative game framework is applied using the Shapley value to ensure fair profit allocation based on each party’s contribution. Results indicate improved self-sufficiency, peak load reduction, and mutual financial benefits. Scenario analyses show that government subsidies to the plant side significantly increase the likelihood of successful cooperation, while declining DER costs enhance the VPP’s economic viability. The findings demonstrate that apartments configured as VPPs achieve strong economic viability (39% ROI, 10.5-year payback) and operational performance (70% self-sufficiency, 40% peak reduction) when grid arbitrage is enabled and moderate government subsidies (35% PV, 45% BESS) are provided. This research provides a replicable model for urban energy planning and policy development, promoting sustainable energy transitions through shared DER infrastructure and cooperative stakeholder engagement. Full article

Despite the many advantages of renewable energy sources, the stochastic nature of their generation creates a mismatch between electricity production and demand timing. Without appropriate storage solutions, surplus energy remains unused. Although battery energy storage systems are increasingly applied to improve the flexibility and reliability of power systems, there is still a research gap in forecasting the optimal power and storage capacity of solar power plant–battery energy storage system energy complexes operating in parallel with the grid under short-term forecasting conditions, particularly when economic aspects such as partial leasing of storage capacity are considered. Therefore, the development of energy complexes based on solar power plants with the integration of battery energy storage systems, as well as the development of corresponding computational models, becomes critical for ensuring the stability, flexibility, reliability, and efficiency of power systems. Battery energy storage systems are widely used due to their availability, high response speed, significant energy density, and sufficient power capacity; however, their cost remains relatively high. This paper proposes a methodology and a calculation model for determining the optimal forecasted capacity and the rational storage requirements of an energy complex consisting of a solar power plant and a battery energy storage system operating in parallel with the grid at constant power under short-term forecasting conditions (day-ahead or longer). The proposed approach makes it possible to minimise the costs of energy companies associated with the short-term lease of part of a battery energy storage system when they do not own one, or, if such a system is available, to lease out its unused capacity and obtain corresponding profits. The validation of the computational model uses a dataset of hourly daily power outputs of solar power plants in the Integrated Power System of Ukraine for 2018. Statistical analysis of the obtained results shows that the probability of occurrence of maximum deviations for the optimal capacity of the energy complex (5.4%), as well as for the power and capacity of the battery energy storage system (13% and 18%, respectively), does not exceed 0.05 during the year. The results confirm that the proposed methodology provides a reliable basis for determining optimal parameters of solar power plant–battery energy storage system energy complexes and enables economically efficient use of storage capacity through short-term leasing mechanisms. Although the proposed methodology is applied using solar power plant generation data for the national power system as a whole, it can also be used for individual solar power plants located in different regions and countries with different climatic conditions. Certainly, the calculated coefficients differ, but the methodology itself and the sequence of its application remain the same. Full article

This paper proposes a low weight hybrid battery–supercapacitor energy storage system interfaced with bidirectional DC/DC converters with high power/current capability for aircraft applications. The supercapacitor converter having high power uses two pairs of interleaved coupled inductors to reduce the overall current ripple whilst increasing the converter’s power density. Due to the sensitive performance to saturation of the coupled inductors, a phase current balancing strategy is proposed to counter the effect current imbalance in the channels that would cause saturation degrading overall performance. A power management strategy (PMS) is implemented along with a low pass filter to separate the supercapacitor high frequency power component reference from the battery low frequency power component; therefore, separating the energy and power requirement for the energy storage system contributing to minimizing its weight whilst ensuring the current/power stresses are correctly handled. The validity of the system design is validated by a series of transient tests is conducted both in a simulation model as well as experimentally. Full article