Abstract After a century of relative stability in the electricity industry, extensive deployment of distributed energy resources and recent advances in computation and communication technologies have changed the nature of how we consume, trade, and apply energy. The power system is facing a transition from its traditional hierarchical structure to a more decentralized model by introducing new energy distribution models such as peer-to-peer (P2P) sharing for connected communities. The proven effectiveness of P2P sharing in benefiting both prosumers and the grid has been demonstrated in many studies and pilot projects. However, there is still no extensive implementation of such sharing models in today’s electricity markets. This paper aims to shed some light on this gap through a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the P2P energy system and an insightful discussion of the challenges that need to be addressed in order to establish P2P sharing as a viable energy management option in today’s electricity market. To this end, in this article, we provide some background on different aspects of P2P sharing. Then, we discuss advances in P2P sharing through a systematic domain-based classification. We also review different pilot projects on P2P sharing across the globe. Finally, we identify and discuss a number of challenges that need to be addressed for scaling up P2P sharing in electricity markets followed by concluding remarks at the end of the paper.
Abstract With the implementation of a series of policies related to the energy conservation and environmental protection (ECEP) industry, green finance has become a crucial approach to provide credits for the ECEP industry. Using data on Chinese-listed ECEP firms from 2010 to 2019, this work quantitatively identifies the financing efficiency of these firms and its determinants. The main results show that banks are still dominant in the Chinese financial market for providing credits, and firms listed on the second board show higher financing efficiency. The financing efficiency of firms located in the central and western regions improves significantly, especially after 2016, reflecting the interaction effect of green finance policies and economic policies supporting underdeveloped regions. Both country-level factors (e.g., formal institutions and financial supervision) and firm-level factors (e.g., firm size and debt ratio) have an impact on financing efficiency. These findings have important implications for policymakers who are carefully contemplating green finance policies to support ECEP firms through an effective financial market mechanism, which eventually helps to realize the transition of the energy sector.
We uncover the marginal impacts of energy prices on carbon price variations across carbon-energy price distributions in Phase III of the European Union Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS). Applying a novel Quantile-on-Quantile (QQ) regression and the causality-in-quantiles approach, our empirical results demonstrate asymmetric and negative impacts of energy prices on carbon prices. The impacts are stronger at lower carbon quantiles and relatively smaller at higher quantiles (in absolute terms). Concerning different energy sources, the impacts of both oil and coal prices show a quasi-monotonic increase along with a rise in carbon quantiles; the absolute values of their impacts are much greater than that of the gas price impacts, depicting a relatively flat pattern. The results are consistent with our theoretical explanations which identify the two effect-transmission channels from energy to carbon prices, viz. the aggregated carbon demand effect and the fuel-switching effect. Thanks to the differences in energy sources and variability over their price distributions, the observed differential in carbon price-response is an indication of non-unique carbon market dynamics, the efficient management of which would require differentiated policy interventions. Robustness checks further confirm the accuracy of our conclusions.
Patricia Reñones, Jose Campos-Martin, Silvia Morales-delaRosa
This work investigates the vapor-phase decarbonylation of furfural to furan, a key platform intermediate, using Pd/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts under conditions approaching industrial operation. Reaction parameters, including space velocity, temperature, and pressure, were systematically optimized. Although lower pressures favor catalytic activity, a compromise pressure of 10 bar was selected to facilitate downstream separation. The optimal reaction temperature was identified as 325 °C, providing high activity and near-complete selectivity toward furan. Catalyst stability was enhanced through modification of the alumina support with K, Ca, and La cations. The unmodified, Ca-, and La-modified catalysts exhibited rapid deactivation within the first 24 h on stream, whereas the K-modified catalyst showed significantly improved stability with no clear deactivation over this period. At longer times on stream, gradual deactivation was observed, mainly attributed to coke deposition. The superior performance of the K-modified catalyst is associated with reduced acidity and slight modification of palladium electronic density and dispersion. Regeneration of severely deactivated catalysts proved challenging, resulting in poor catalytic recovery. Therefore, regeneration was performed while conversion remained above 90% and selectivity above 95% to maintain process operability. Long-term catalyst lifetime was demonstrated through multiple reaction–regeneration cycles, achieving at least 200 h on stream without significant loss of activity or selectivity for the optimal formulation.
Fuel, Energy industries. Energy policy. Fuel trade
Abstract Renewable energy targets announced in 2014 present an opportunity to reform Indonesia's electricity sector which is dominated by fossil fuels. In this paper we discuss Indonesia's current renewable energy policies and future outlook for achieving the targets. This paper serves as a literature review of Indonesia's changing energy policy landscape, as part of a broader research investigating renewable energy targets and the role of the private sector. Despite Indonesia's wealth of renewable energy resources, numerous studies have identified multiple constraints to the development of renewable energy, including geographical, institutional and investment factors. Influential groups are calling for the Indonesian Government to put in place a clear policy framework that facilitates private sector investment. Therefore, interventions to facilitate investment in energy infrastructure in Indonesia must address the monopolised power market system that oversees a changing, complex malaise of electricity pricing regulations which make investment risky and uncertain. This study will enrich the existing literature on renewable energy policy which emphasises the importance of engaging the private sector. It is based on a rigorous qualitative assessment of Indonesia's changing policy that affects the progress of the renewable energy targets. The lessons from Indonesia's experience may provide insights for policymakers notably in developing countries.Keywords: energy in Indonesia, private sector investment, renewable energy
The world’s progress towards net-zero ambitions will bring down fossil fuel utilization and imports over time. However, crises such as COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine conflict have raised questions about the reliability of non-renewables and what actions could be taken by policymakers to immediately mitigate reliance on fossil fuels for vulnerable importers. The responses to the recent crises could reorient energy geopolitics by the decentralization of the global energy system and speeding up renewables deployment. These superb targets require a concerted and sustained energy policy effort across multiple industries, alongside strong international communication on energy security. Clear dialogue between governments, the green power generation industries, and consumers is also a crucial element for successful renewable energy implementation. The world’s energy crisis has unveiled that the transition to renewable energy has been too slow, and serious efforts are required to speed up the transition away from fossil fuels toward renewables.
Rubén Rodríguez Álvarez, Denisa-Andreea Constantinescu, Miguel Pe'on-Quir'os
et al.
The rapid growth of data centers is increasing energy demand and widening the carbon gap in the ICT sector, as fossil fuels still dominate global energy production. Addressing this challenge requires collaboration across research, policy, and industry to rethink how computing infrastructures are designed and scaled sustainably. This work addresses central trade-offs in procurement decisions that affect carbon emissions, economic costs, and scaling of compute resources. We present these factors in a holistic decision-making framework for Carbon and Economy Optimization in Data Centers (CEO-DC). CEO-DC introduces new carbon and price metrics that enable DC managers, platform designers, and policymakers to make informed decisions. Applying CEO-DC to current trends in AI and HPC reveals that, in 72% of the cases, platform improvements lag behind demand growth. Moreover, prioritizing energy efficiency over latency can reduce the economic appeal of sustainable designs. Our analysis shows that in many countries with electricity with medium to high carbon intensity, replacing platforms older than four years could reduce their projected emissions by at least 75%. However, current carbon incentives worldwide remain insufficient to steer data center procurement strategies toward sustainable goals. In summary, our findings underscore the need for a shift in hardware design and faster grid decarbonization to ensure sustainability and technological viability.
Growing demand, an increasingly variable power supply, and blackouts during a 2021 winter storm prompted the Texas legislature to incentivize the construction of dispatchable energy resources in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) region. However, the absence of a comprehensive assessment of how different investment options affect both resource adequacy and emissions had left a gap in predicting the outcomes of the legislation. Here, two power system models were used to evaluate how potential investments in dispatchable generation, battery storage, transmission, or energy efficiency would affect resource adequacy and emissions in ERCOT. The Regional Energy Deployment System (ReEDS) model was used to project system capacity expansion under each scenario. Its outputs for the year 2030 were provided to the Python for Power System Analysis for the United States (PyPSA-USA) model to estimate hourly resource adequacy under historical weather conditions.Model results indicate that adding dispatchable capacity and long-duration batteries would lead to more rapid closure of coal plants in ERCOT while slowing the growth of wind and solar only slightly, thus reducing greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions and averting up to 100 premature deaths annually. Building transmission lines across regions would primarily accelerate the deployment of wind farms. Adding dispatchable capacity and improving energy efficiency would enhance resource adequacy during both winter and summer extreme weather events, while batteries are particularly effective during heat waves.
Sara Herreras Martínez, Justus Mesman, Daniel Møller Sneum
et al.
Abstract Background While energy communities working on electricity provision have been extensively studied, thermal energy communities (TECs) focusing on bringing district heating (DH) systems to decarbonise heat systems in buildings have been relatively under-researched. This study addresses this gap by presenting the first comprehensive examination of key factors influencing the emergence and development of TEC projects in Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands. The study uses an established analytical framework from previous research encompassing seven dimensions: market structure, hard- and soft institutions, financing, physical infrastructure, capacity, and interactions with other stakeholders. Data are gathered through a literature review and interviews. Results TECs have emerged at different times in each country, shaped by contextual circumstances and diverse forms of institutional support. Elements that have supported the development of TECs are regulatory frameworks promoting DH growth, heat decarbonisation policies, economic incentives to use waste heat in plants, targeted financing mechanisms, and assistance to enhance the capacity of TECs. External factors such as high oil prices, seismic events, and recent rising energy prices have also spurred project initiation. TECs also rely on additional factors for success, including organisational and entrepreneurial abilities to engage with stakeholders, gain social acceptance, and secure commitment from community members. Involvement from local government, intermediary organisations, and private companies is crucial for TEC implementation. Among the studied countries, Danish TECs stand out as the most developed, benefiting from a stable policy environment, decades of experience with DH and TEC, and positive societal perceptions. Conversely, Dutch and German TECs face challenges because of the early stage of their heat transition, dealing with financial obstacles, underdeveloped policies, unfamiliarity with DH technology and with TECs, as well as the need for expensive infrastructure changes. Shared challenges across regions include capacity limitations in small projects and implementing cost-effective, local, and sustainable heat sources. Conclusions In light of the study's findings, policymakers must consider establishing stable, integral and flexible policies supporting heat decarbonisation and TECs, addressing TECs' reliance on limited capacities, involving TECs in local heat municipal plans, and facilitating high DH connection rates where DH is the most cost-effective solution from a socio-economic perspective.
Renewable energy sources, Energy industries. Energy policy. Fuel trade
We investigate linkages between three different markets: renewable energy (represented by a range of renewable energy ETFs); traditional energy (represented by crude oil ETF); and common stocks (represented by the S&P 500 Index ETF). We use daily data from 2008 to 2021. The econometric framework adopted is the VARMA-DCC-GARCH-in-mean model. We find that this framework is ideal because it allows us to identify the impact of uncertainty in one market on returns in another market, and also volatility spillovers, that is, the phenomenon of high uncertainty in one market spreading to other markets. Our key findings are as follows. Stock-market uncertainty influences traditional energy (negatively) and renewable energy (positively) at the mean level. Stock market volatility has a positive spillover effect on both conventional and renewable energies in the short-run, but these spillover effects are negative in the long-run. Our estimates of the time-paths of dynamic conditional correlations provide evidence that the renewable market is more heavily “financialized” than the traditional energy market, and moreover that the strong financialization of renewables is robust to financial crises.
As the demand for alternative and renewable energy solutions increases, particularly in developing nations facing unreliable power supply, optimizing biomass gasification processes for power generation has become a critical challenge. Syngas, composed primarily of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H₂), and carbon dioxide (CO₂), plays a pivotal role in driving gas turbine power generation. However, the impact of varying feedstock types, thermodynamic conditions, and syngas quality on power output is still not well understood. This study addresses this knowledge gap by investigating the effects of feedstock composition (C1 to C4 alkanes), temperature, and pressure on syngas production and gas turbine efficiency. Using process simulations with DWSim and optimization techniques such as response surface methodology (RSM), we identify optimal syngas compositions for maximizing gas turbine duty (GTD). The results demonstrate that a balanced syngas mixture (CO = 4 kmol/h, H₂ = 4 kmol/h, CO₂ = 4 kmol/h) yields a GTD of 48.2 kW, significantly enhancing power generation efficiency. Our findings underscore the critical role of CO₂ in stabilizing combustion, improving thermal efficiency, and ensuring stable turbine operation, while CO and H₂ contribute directly to the energy conversion process. This research provides valuable insights for optimizing bioenergy systems, offering predictive models that can guide the development of more efficient and sustainable biomass-based power generation technologies.
Energy industries. Energy policy. Fuel trade, Renewable energy sources
In recent years, significant advancements have been made in thermochromic (TC) window technologies, particularly in vanadium dioxide (VO2)-based TC glazing. Innovations such as integrating pigments with polyurethane (PU) composite coatings have enabled colour modulation and improved colorimetric properties. However, their effects on building energy performance and indoor luminance environment are both critical for occupant comfort, health, and broader energy efficiency goals have been underexplored. This study evaluates conventional and coloured TC windows (blue, red, and grey), fabricated with one to three VO2 layers, focusing both on building energy consumption and daylight performance. TC windows were assessed under three window-to-wall ratios of 30%, 60%, and 90% across three climatic conditions: Changsha, Ankara, and New York. Five key criteria were evaluated: energy savings, daylight availability, glare control, daylight uniformity, and colour quality. A multi-objective analysis revealed that the conventional 2-layer TC (TC2), 3-layer TC (TC3), red 3-layer TC (Red-TC3), and grey 2-layer TC (Grey-TC2) consistently outperformed other variants. These windows achieved up to 14% higher annual energy savings and 5–15% greater daylight availability (UDI300-2000lux) compared to standard double-glazed (DG) windows. The results highlight the strong potential of coloured TC windows as climate-adaptive solutions for reducing building operational energy demand and enhancing indoor environmental quality, contributing to future energy transition and sustainable building practices.
Zhipeng Ma, Bo Nørregaard Jørgensen, Zheng Grace Ma
Improving energy efficiency in industrial foundry processes is a critical challenge, as these operations are highly energy-intensive and marked by complex interdependencies among process variables. Correlation-based analyses often fail to distinguish true causal drivers from spurious associations, limiting their usefulness for decision-making. This paper applies a time-series causal inference framework to identify the operational factors that directly affect energy efficiency in induction furnace melting. Using production data from a Danish foundry, the study integrates time-series clustering to segment melting cycles into distinct operational modes with the PCMCI+ algorithm, a state-of-the-art causal discovery method, to uncover cause-effect relationships within each mode. Across clusters, robust causal relations among energy consumption, furnace temperature, and material weight define the core drivers of efficiency, while voltage consistently influences cooling water temperature with a delayed response. Cluster-specific differences further distinguish operational regimes: efficient clusters are characterized by stable causal structures, whereas inefficient ones exhibit reinforcing feedback loops and atypical dependencies. The contributions of this study are twofold. First, it introduces an integrated clustering-causal inference pipeline as a methodological innovation for analyzing energy-intensive processes. Second, it provides actionable insights that enable foundry operators to optimize performance, reduce energy consumption, and lower emissions.
Ukraine's climate policy sets long-term national climate goals and instruments to stimulate the country's decarbonization with the aim of achieving climate neutrality. The article examines the national legislation in this area, which is not internally consistent. Among the most energy-intensive industries, ammonia production occupies a prominent place.In the pre-war period, there were six large ammonia-producing enterprises operating in Ukraine. Currently, two are working, the others are not producing products for various reasons. All enterprises use steam methane reforming technology. The raw material is natural gas. Technologies for the production of "blue" (that is, the use of carbon capture and storage technologies for standard technologies) and "green"(the use of electrolysis due to renewable energy sources) ammonia are beginning to be widely used in the world. The article provides technical and economic indicators of available ammonia production technologies. The aim of the work is to create models for forecasting the development of the ammonia industry in Ukraine, taking into account the carbon adjustment mechanism for imports into the EU and Ukraine's potential accession to the EU, and in accordance with the European Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading System.A two-stage modeling of the development of the ammonia industry in Ukraine is proposed. At the first stage, an optimization model for the preliminary assessment of the necessary investments is proposed, provided that the specified volume of production and the specified specific emissions of carbon dioxide are achieved. At the same time, in addition to technological and economic factors, social factors are also taken into account. At the second stage, a mathematical model for calculating the levelized cost of ammonia production is proposed. The dependence of the cost of allowances for carbon dioxide emissions in the emissions trading system in the European Union was studied. Researches show that the production of "green" ammonia can be competitive only if there is a sharp increase in the price of organic fuels and emission permits in the European Emissions Trading System, as well as a decrease in the price of electricity from renewable energy sources. Keywords:ammonia production, specific emissions of CO2 per ton of ammonia, "blue" ammonia, "green" ammonia, carbon capture and storage technologies.
Today, facing difficult environmental and sustainability questions, the palm oil industry is an important force in global trade and development. As a transformative solution to these problems, this review assesses the implementation of circular economy (CE) strategies. CE principles promote the transformation of waste into value through recycling, upcycling and other low-carbon innovation applications. This review estimates the capability of palm-based biomass, including palm oil mill effluent (POME) and refinery wastes. It evaluates how different technologies such as gasification are used to change these fuel sources into energy fuels and value-added products for industry. It also involves incorporating Industry 4.0 to boost efficiency and waste value creation into the operation. Although the potential of CE in creating an eco-friendly, profitable palm oil industry is apparent, nevertheless it must overcome all kinds and levels of barriers – from economic to technological to social. This review points out for collaborative efforts, technological advancement, and supportive policies to navigate these challenges, advocating for a unified shift towards sustainability and efficiency in the palm oil sector.
Olubunmi Adeolu Adenekan, Chinedu Ezeigweneme, Excel Great Chukwurah
Driving innovation in energy and telecommunications involves leveraging next-generation energy storage and 5G technology to enhance connectivity and energy solutions. This review explores the intersection of these two domains, highlighting the importance of advancements in energy storage and 5G technology for a sustainable and connected future. Energy storage is crucial for balancing the supply and demand of electricity in modern power systems. Traditional energy storage methods, such as batteries and pumped hydro, have limitations in terms of scalability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Next-generation energy storage technologies, including advanced batteries, hydrogen storage, and thermal storage, offer promising solutions to overcome these limitations. These technologies enable efficient energy storage at scale, facilitating the integration of renewable energy sources like solar and wind into the grid. By storing excess energy generated during periods of low demand, next-generation energy storage systems ensure a reliable and stable power supply, reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. In parallel, the evolution of telecommunications technology, particularly the advent of 5G networks, is revolutionizing connectivity and communication. 5G technology offers significantly higher data transfer speeds, lower latency, and increased network capacity compared to its predecessors. These capabilities are essential for supporting emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), autonomous vehicles, and smart grids. With 5G-enabled IoT devices, utilities can monitor energy consumption in real-time, optimize grid operations, and detect and respond to faults more efficiently. Moreover, 5G connectivity enhances the efficiency and reliability of energy storage systems by enabling seamless communication between distributed energy resources and grid operators. The convergence of next-generation energy storage and 5G technology presents numerous opportunities for driving innovation in both energy and telecommunications sectors. One of the key areas of innovation is the development of smart energy storage systems equipped with 5G connectivity. These systems can autonomously adjust their operation based on grid conditions, weather forecasts, and energy demand patterns, optimizing energy storage and distribution in real-time. Furthermore, advanced energy management algorithms leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms can optimize energy usage and storage, further improving the efficiency and reliability of the grid. Another area of innovation lies in the integration of renewable energy resources with 5G-enabled microgrids. Microgrids are localized energy systems that can operate independently or in conjunction with the main grid. By combining renewable energy sources with energy storage and 5G-enabled communication, microgrids can provide reliable, clean, and resilient power to remote or urban areas. These microgrids can also facilitate peer-to-peer energy trading, allowing consumers to buy and sell excess energy within their communities, fostering energy independence and sustainability. Furthermore, advancements in battery technology, such as solid-state batteries and flow batteries, are enhancing the performance and reliability of energy storage systems. Solid-state batteries offer higher energy density, faster charging rates, and improved safety compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries. Flow batteries, on the other hand, provide scalability and long-duration storage capabilities, making them suitable for grid-scale applications. Integrating these advanced battery technologies with 5G-enabled monitoring and control systems enhances the overall resilience and flexibility of the energy infrastructure. In addition to technological advancements, driving innovation in energy and telecommunications requires collaboration among various stakeholders, including policymakers, regulators, industry players, and research institutions. Policies and regulations should incentivize the deployment of next-generation energy storage and 5G infrastructure, promote interoperability standards, and ensure data privacy and security. Public-private partnerships can facilitate the investment and deployment of innovative solutions, while research and development initiatives can spur further technological advancements. Driving innovation in energy and telecommunications through next-generation energy storage and 5G technology is essential for building a sustainable, connected, and resilient future. By leveraging advanced energy storage systems, smart grids, and 5G-enabled communication networks, we can optimize energy usage, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance the reliability and efficiency of our energy infrastructure. Collaboration and investment across various sectors are key to unlocking the full potential of these transformative technologies and achieving a brighter, more sustainable future for generations to come. Keywords: Innovation, Energy, Telecommunications, Next-Generation, 5G technology, Enhanced connectivity.
Abstract This study analyses the determinants of rural household energy choices for cooking and lighting in southern Ethiopia by using data from a cross-sectional study of 660 sample households and direct observational studies. Chi-square tests and Multivariate Probit (MVP) model were used to analyse the data. The findings showed that most of the rural households depend on fuelwood (90.70%) while only 3.14% use clean fuels as primary sources of energy for cooking. In contrast, 50% use kerosene, 29% electricity, 19% solar, and 1.98% biogas as primary lighting energy sources. The Chi-square tests revealed that a statistically significant relationship exists between household cooking fuel choices and distance to wood source, household size, income level, and location. Empirical results of the MVP model showed that rural household energy choices for lighting are significantly influenced by income level, family size, access to road, location, education level, cost of technology, and distance to market. Wealthier and more educated households residing near road access were more likely to use cleaner lighting fuels while poorer households residing in areas with limited road access use kerosene and dry-cell batteries. However, higher-income level and grid-connection have not led households to completely forgo the use of traditional cooking and lighting fuels. While income remains a principal factor, the study finds that various non-income factors also play a major role in determining household energy choices and transition. And hence, policymakers and energy planners in Ethiopia and sub-Saharan Africa at large need to consider these diverse factors when designing energy policies and interventions to rural areas.
Abstract The carbon market plays a critical role in promoting the transition toward renewable energy sources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the electricity generation and transmission. Extant research has overlooked the dynamic bilateral causality that exists between electricity and carbon markets. Moreover, these studies have frequently treated the macroeconomic effect as exogenous. To bridge this research gap, this paper presents a holistic modeling framework that comprehensively captures the intertwined nature of electricity and carbon markets and their concomitant interactions with the overarching economy. The suggested modeling framework is an integration of three principal modules, namely, a carbon market, an electricity market, and economic system. This synergistic blend provides an exhaustive understanding of the entire market operation cycle. It offers detailed clearance rules, and most importantly, it adopts a macroeconomic systematic modeling approach for evaluating the impact emanating from the interconnected electricity and carbon markets. To illustrate the practicality and effectiveness of the proposed approach, a case study anchored on empirical data sourced from the electricity and carbon markets in China is conducted. The empirical findings underscore the fact that incorporating a green certificate market into the modeling framework can precipitate a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the results indicate that expanding the scale of the green certificate market from 1.9% in 2021 to 33% by 2023 will increase the generation of green electricity by 10%.
Energy industries. Energy policy. Fuel trade, Production of electric energy or power. Powerplants. Central stations