Hasil untuk "Energy industries. Energy policy. Fuel trade"

N. Scarlat, J. Dallemand, F. Fahl

Abstract This paper presents an overview of the development and perspectives of biogas in and its use for electricity, heat and in transport in the European Union (EU) and its Member States. Biogas production has increased in the EU, encouraged by the renewable energy policies, in addition to economic, environmental and climate benefits, to reach 18 billion m3 methane (654 PJ) in 2015, representing half of the global biogas production. The EU is the world leader in biogas electricity production, with more than 10 GW installed and a number of 17,400 biogas plants, in comparison to the global biogas capacity of 15 GW in 2015. In the EU, biogas delivered 127 TJ of heat and 61 TWh of electricity in 2015; about 50% of total biogas consumption in Europe was destined to heat generation. Europe is the world's leading producer of biomethane for the use as a vehicle fuel or for injection into the natural gas grid, with 459 plants in 2015 producing 1.2 billion m3 and 340 plants feeding into the gas grid, with a capacity of 1.5 million m3. About 697 biomethane filling stations ensured the use 160 million m3 of biomethane as a transport fuel in 2015.

Abdalla M. Abdalla, S. Hossain, Ozzan B. Nisfindy et al.

Abstract The energy demand worldwide has increased significantly with the increase in population. This is because energy is needed in almost every activity. For example, in industry, working, cleaning, transportation and commuting from one place to another. The majority of energy being used is obtained from fossil fuels, which are not renewable resources and require a longer time to recharge or return to its original capacity. Energy from fossil fuels is cheaper but it faces some challenges compared to renewable energy resources. Thus, one of the most potential candidates to fulfill the energy requirements are renewable resources and the most environmentally friendly fuel is hydrogen (H2). Hydrogen exists mostly in plant materials and is not readily available in nature. It is necessary to produce hydrogen from available feedstock (water), which covers 70% of the earth. Moreover, hydrogen under standard pressure and temperature has an important merit; it can be obtained from renewable resources. Although, currently it is produced from fossil fuels. Hydrogen as a fuel is nonmetallic, non-toxic and can generate higher energy than gasoline on a mass basis. However, to employ hydrogen as a fuel, extensive research is essential to investigate and design on-board applications. Also, the cost of producing hydrogen (renewable) is expensive compared to gasoline (fossil). Thus, the production of H2 from renewable resources and from fossil fuels requires tremendous effort. One of these efforts is to generate H2 from biofuels as it is considered a promising technique that can help manage hydrogen from food waste. In addition, hydrogen storage materials are still lacking in both volumetric and gravimetric density. In this review, the key challenges that hydrogen industry are confronting are introduced and highlighted to facilitate the use of hydrogen as an alternative energy.

T. Truong

Energy is an important commodity in many economic activities. Its usage affects the environment via CO2 emissions and the Greenhouse Effect. Modeling the energy-economy-environment-trade linkages is an important objective in applied economic policy analysis. Previously, however, the modeling of these linkages in GTAP has been incomplete. This is because energy substitution, a key factor in this chain of linkages, is absent from the standard model specification. This technical paper remedies this deficiency by incorporating energy substitution into the standard GTAP model. It begins by first reviewing some of the existing approaches to this problem in contemporary CGE models. It then suggests an approach for GTAP which incorporates some of these desirable features of energy substitution. The approach is implemented as an extended version of the GTAP model called GTAP-E, which includes the standard GTAP model as a special case. In addition, GTAP-E incorporates carbon emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels and this revised version of GTAP-E provides for a mechanism to trade these emissions internationally. The resulting behavior of agents in the model is analyzed using general equilibrium demand elasticities which summarize the combined effect of the new model specification. Implications for policy analysis are demonstrated via a simple simulation experiment in which global carbon emissions are reduced via a carbon tax. Results show that incorporating energy substitution into GTAP is essential for conducting analysis of this problem. The policy relevance of GTAP-E in the context of the existing debate about climate change is illustrated by some simulations of the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. It is hoped that the proposed model will be used by individuals in the GTAP network who may not be themselves energy modelers, but who require a better representation of the energy-economy linkages than is currently offered in the standard GTAP model.

Tim Signer, Nora Baumgartner, Manuel Ruppert et al.

The increasing demand for electricity due to the diffusion of electric vehicles (EV) poses challenges to the electricity system. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology is recognized as a promising approach for reducing grid stress and aligning charging demand with volatile renewable energy sources (RES), thereby fully exploiting the decarbonization potential of EVs. However, significant challenges continue to impede the successful market uptake of V2G technology, with fiscal policies for charging and discharging EVs being a notable barrier. In Germany and other European Union countries, the V2G tax scheme levies substantial taxes, fees, and surcharges on electricity purchases, while only the wholesale price is obtained for electricity sales. Hence, a significant price spread is necessary for profitable trading. Using the agent-based electricity market model PowerACE, we simulate four scenarios, demonstrating the tax regime ’ s impact on the electricity markets and V2G revenues. Furthermore, we mirror the electricity market prices with users ’ willingness to pay for a V2G charging tariff. Our research underscores the pivotal role of taxes, fees, and surcharges as essential tools for policymakers to encourage V2G market adoption while maintaining its economic viability. Current legislation falls short of EV owners ’ financial expectations for V2G participation. A more favorable tax regime, however, could boost V2G trading, yielding profits in line with owner expectations and leading to lower wholesale market prices as well as reducing the necessity for stationary battery storage investments. With the increasing prevalence of EVs, the shift in V2G ’ s role from a price-taker to a price-maker poses long-term profitability risks. Based on the simulation results, we recommend implementing favorable tax regimes, which could mitigate these challenges, facilitating effective V2G integration.

Kang Wang, Ning Du

Abstract With the rapid development of the cold chain logistics industry, its high energy consumption and low operational efficiency have become increasingly prominent, seriously restricting the sustainable development of the industry. This study focuses on this and proposes a real-time monitoring system for cold chain logistics based on the Internet of Things. It combines the long short-term memory network (LSTM) and the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to build an energy consumption management strategy. Through the distributed system architecture design, a variety of data transmission protocols are used to ensure real-time and stable data collection and transmission, and to achieve accurate monitoring of key environmental factors in the transportation and storage of cold chain logistics. The experiment was carried out in a simulated cold chain logistics scenario. The data set covers multiple types of sensor data and is compared with multiple baseline models. The results show that compared with the traditional cold chain logistics system, this system significantly improves energy efficiency, reduces energy consumption by about 20%, increases temperature and humidity control accuracy to 94% respectively, improves transportation efficiency, and shortens transportation time by 8.33%. At the same time, the combination of LSTM and PSO algorithms optimizes energy consumption prediction and equipment scheduling, and the equipment group collaborative optimization strategy enhances system stability. This study confirms that the real-time monitoring and energy consumption management strategy based on the Internet of Things can effectively improve the economic and environmental benefits of the cold chain logistics system.

Sefer Aygün, Yeter Demir Uslu, Hasan Dinçer et al.

Abstract The purpose of this study is to determine the most important barriers for the improvements of the renewable energy projects in the hospitals. Within this context, a novel artificial intelligence-based fuzzy decision-making model is created. In the first stage, selected barriers are weighted by using artificial intelligence-based Spherical fuzzy CRITIC methodology. In the next process, emerging seven countries are ranked via Spherical fuzzy MAIRCA. An important novelty of the study is the integration of the CRITIC and MAIRCA methodologies with artificial intelligence. Owing to this situation, the weights of experts can be identified based on their qualification. This situation contributes to a more accurate analysis. The findings demonstrate that the most important factor in clean energy projects is operating costs. Similarly, technology and operational infrastructure factor also has an important impact on this situation. On the other side, the ranking results show that the most successful countries in clean energy projects in hospitals are Russia and China. India and Mexico are the last ranks in this regard. To increase the efficiency of projects, systems and equipment need to be analyzed regularly. In this context, the use of current technologies for renewable energy applications allows efficiency to be increased.

T. Khan, Md Mehedi Hasan Emon

This systematic review aims to provide a methodical analysis of the Blue Economy in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly from the perspective of Bangladesh, focusing on its growth trajectory, key stakeholders, policy frameworks, technological advancements, trade and investment trends, as well as challenges and opportunities for international business expansion.   The methods employed a comprehensive search of electronic databases, and inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to identify relevant studies for analysis. The results revealed that from 2000 to 2020, the Blue Economy sectors of the country, such as fisheries, aquaculture, maritime transportation, and tourism, saw notable development. International development agencies, corporations, academic institutions, governments, and civil society organizations are some of the major players in Blue Economy projects. The policy frameworks that facilitate the development of the Blue Economy include integrated ocean management, blue growth initiatives, maritime security and governance, and resilience and adaptation to climate change. Innovation and expansion in the Blue Economy sectors have been fueled by technological breakthroughs, such as autonomous underwater vehicles, renewable energy projects, remote sensing technologies, and marine biotechnology. Rising demand for sustainable goods and services, technical advancement, and regional collaboration have all contributed to an increase in trade and investment in Blue Economy industries internationally. The study concludes that there is significant potential for the Blue Economy in the Indo-Pacific region to drive economic growth, promote social progress, and ensure environmental sustainability. However, challenges such as regulatory complexity, access to finance, inadequate infrastructure, and environmental degradation need to be addressed to fully realize this potential. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated efforts from governments, businesses, academia, civil society organizations, and international development agencies, along with a focus on sustainable and inclusive development practices.

Joy Uchechukwu, Joy Uchechukwu Mba

The global shipping industry, a cornerstone of international trade, faces increasing pressure to align its operations with sustainability goals and technological advancements. This study examines the integration of green technologies and autonomous systems in maritime operations as a dual strategy to enhance environmental sustainability and operational efficiency. Addressing key challenges such as regulatory compliance, economic competitiveness, and technological feasibility, the research underscores the importance of innovation in navigating the industry's complex landscape. Green technologies, including alternative fuels like LNG and hydrogen, energy-efficient vessel designs, and emissions reduction systems, are highlighted as critical tools for meeting international standards such as IMO 2020 and the Paris Agreement. These innovations not only mitigate the sector’s environmental footprint but also align maritime operations with global decarbonization targets. Simultaneously, the integration of autonomous systems—leveraging artificial intelligence and advanced analytics—optimizes navigation, port operations, and supply chain logistics, improving safety and reducing costs. Despite these advancements, challenges persist, including high implementation costs, technical uncertainties, and the need for global regulatory harmonization. The study explores case studies of leading maritime sectors that have successfully implemented sustainable practices, offering valuable insights into overcoming these barriers. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of international cooperation and policy frameworks in accelerating the adoption of green and autonomous technologies. By examining emerging trends and future opportunities, this research provides a comprehensive perspective on how the maritime industry can balance sustainability with efficiency, ensuring its resilience in a rapidly evolving global economy.

Hui Kong, Yueqiao Sun, Hongsheng Wang et al.

Ammonia, a reliable low-carbon alternative fuel with energy storage capabilities, has garnered increasing attention for its application of co-firing in coal-fired power plants as a strategy to mitigate direct carbon emissions. However, various types of ammonia production technologies result in diverse economic feasibility and emission intensities. Simultaneously, each stage, spanning from upstream processes such as raw material extraction to downstream applications, contributes to carbon emissions, which cannot be ignored. It is crucial to select the appropriate assessment method to determine the transformation pathways for co-firing systems. To this end, this review presents a comprehensive life cycle assessment of ammonia co-firing systems from a whole industrial chain perspective, encompassing the entire gamut of processes from fuel production and transportation to co-firing. Studies of the industrial chain perspective and of life cycle assessment methodology that are uniquely tailored for co-firing systems are presented. A nuanced exploration of distinct technologies across the spectrum of system processes ensues, including the advantages, limitations, and trends in advancement, based on carbon emissions and economic criteria. Considering the diverse fuel production, especially ammonia, typologies and intricate processes have undergone comprehensive review. The combustion characteristics, emissions, and economic factors associated with the co-firing process are systematically summarized, drawing upon aspects such as dynamics, experiments, simulations, and demonstration projects. This study illuminates the progression and technology selection of co-firing systems across multiple stages of the whole industry chain, thereby furnishing insights relevant to the low-carbon transformation of ammonia co-firing with coal in power plants.

Chengsheng ZHOU

[Introduction] This paper mainly discusses the principles, methods and measures of lightning protection design of offshore floating photovoltaic power station to meet the safe operation of offshore floating photovoltaic power station in harsh climate conditions. [Method] Through the in-depth analysis of the marine environment, offshore floating photovoltaic power station structure and lightning characteristics, this study proposed a series of effective lightning protection measures. First, the use of metal structure could improve the lightning resistance capacity of the floating photovoltaic power station. Secondly, the installation of lightning rods could absorb and release lightning energy, reduce the impact of lightning on the power station. In addition, the establishment of the ground grid could effectively disperse the ground potential and reduce the risk of lightning strike. The use of insulating materials helped to reduce the direct invasion of lightning on the power station equipment. At the same time, the installation of monitoring equipment could be real-time monitoring of lightning activities, timely response measures. Regular inspection and maintenance was an important part to ensure the stable operation of the lightning protection system. [Result] The principle and implementation method of each lightning protection measure are elaborated, and some technical problems in lightning protection design are proposed. For example, how to ensure the good grounding of the lightning rod, how to choose the appropriate insulation material, etc. These achievements provide an effective reference for the improvement of the lightning protection capacity of the offshore floating photovoltaic power stations. [Conclusion] The results of this study will help to improve the lightning protection capacity of the offshore floating photovoltaic power stations and ensure the safe operation of the power stations. Based on full consideration of the marine environment, the structure of the offshore floating photovoltaic power station and the lightning characteristics, the appropriate lightning protection measures can effectively reduce the risk of lightning strike and ensure the stable operation of the power station. This is of great significance for promoting the development of renewable energy and protecting the environment. Further study can provide more reference and guidance for lightning protection design to cope with the more complex and harsh climate conditions in the future.

Junming Zhu, Zhangming Ge, Jiali Wang et al.

ABSTRACT Emissions trading systems (ETS) have been a widely-adopted policy instrument for global climate mitigation and a key choice in China’s pledge for peaking emissions and carbon neutrality. Broader adoption and linkage of ETS programmes require a better understanding of whether, to what extent, and how existing regional programmes address carbon emissions at an aggregate level. Combining a synthetic control method and event studies, we adopt a comprehensive evaluation framework to investigate regional mitigation effects, pathways, and ancillary impacts in three Chinese regions with four independent pilot ETS programmes. The findings show economy-wide responses to pilot announcement even in non-ETS sectors, but enduring mitigation only within ETS sectors. Mitigation was achieved via improvement in energy efficiency and fuel switch, without impairing industrial activities. There were local air-pollution reduction co-benefits but no leakage or spillover. Bounded extrapolation from the pilots suggests 18%–20% reductions can be achieved in non-pilot regions by a national market, which could learn from pilots’ experiences to broaden sector coverage and ensure policy consistency and transparency. Regional ETS were able to stabilize emissions with little cost, providing rationale for rapidly developing economies to adopt such systems. Key policy insights Despite being unlinked, regional ETS pilots delivered substantial climate mitigation and local air pollution reduction in China. Policy effects were initially driven by economy-wide mitigation due to policy expectations, followed by ETS-sector mitigation due to carbon pricing. Industries reduced CO2 emissions from energy efficiency improvements and fuel switch. Mitigation was accompanied by little emission leakage or impairment to the economy. Extrapolating mitigation rates in a national market suggests 18%–20% reduction of CO2.

Eduardo Pérez-Bódalo, Rafael d’Amore-Domenech, T. Leo

: Anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO (cid:909) ) emissions have raised the global average temperature in 1.0 °C with respect to pre-industrial levels and this increase is likely to reach 1.5 °C before 2050, according to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2021). To limit the temperature rise, most envisioned policies regarding CO (cid:909) emissions rely on carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS), being essential to keep its concentration in the atmosphere below 450 ppm by 2100. IPCC forecasts 12 Gt/y of CO (cid:909) removal in 2050 but the current capacity is 40 Mt/y. CCUS play a vital role in decarbonization, and it may be impossible to get emissions to net-zero fast enough without them. For the marine industry, CCUS facilitate both CO (cid:909) capture and transport. Ships fitted with this technology can capture carbon from burning fossil fuels. Among the newbuilding ships in 2021, 88% of them were fuelled with fossil fuels and according to ABS, in 2050 still 40% of them will be in this situation. Therefore, CO (cid:909) capture onboard is necessary. Ships can also transport captured CO (cid:909) to facilities for its use and/or storage. This article investigates the value of ships as CO (cid:909) carriers, focusing on the transport conditions of CO (cid:909) . An energy and techno-economic analysis is performed, considering several combinations of pressure and temperature. From an exclusive transport perspective, results show that lower pressures of CO (cid:909) are likely to be more economic. From the pre-processing point of view, results suggest that higher pressures of CO (cid:909) will imply energy savings and potentially cost savings. From the whole logistic chain perspective, the trade-off pressure is still unknown. More research is advised.

Mladen Josijević, Dušan Gordić, Vladimir Vukašinović et al.

U radu je razmatrana implementacija toplotne pumpe tipa vazduh-voda za zagrevanje domaćinstva kao zamena za električni kotao. Predložena je metodologija za utvrđivanje potrošnje energije za zagrevanje objekta na osnovu prikupljenih podataka sa računa za električnu energiju i simulacija softverom za proračun gubitaka toplote na osnovu građevinske fizike objekta. Razvijena metodologija je analizirana na studiji slučaja. Rezultati su pokazali da je u slučaju analiziranog objekta moguće ostvariti uštedu u potrošnji električne energije od oko 60%. U finansijskom smislu, uzimajući u obzir tarifni sistem naplate moguće je očekivati smanjenje računa za električnu energiju i do 3 puta. Prost period povraćaja investicije je za analizirani slučaj oko 4 godine.

Dezong ZHOU, Mingjun BI, Haidong ZHANG et al.

[Introduction] Under the wave-current combinations during the service period of offshore wind turbine, local scour inevitably occurs around pile foundation, which threatens the overall stability and safety of offshore wind turbine. [Method] In this paper, the normal physical model test at a scale of 1∶30 was carried out for the wind power foundation with a diameter of 8.0 m to study the scour depth, sand cover, solidified soil protection range, and protection effect. [Result] The results show that due to the good hydrodynamic conditions considered in this test, the maximum scour depth is 0.133 cm. In this case, the 1 cm-thick sand cover with a splicing size of 1.0 m×1.0 m can meet the stability requirements. When solidified soil is adopted for protection, the protection range shall not be less than 5 times the pile diameter, and block stones shall be laid at the edge of solidified soil to avoid scouring at the lower part of solidified soil. [Conclusion] The test results can provide reference for scouring test and engineering design of similar projects.

Fergus Green, R. Denniss

Proponents of climate change mitigation face difficult choices about which types of policy instrument(s) to pursue. The literature on the comparative evaluation of climate policy instruments has focused overwhelmingly on economic analyses of instruments aimed at restricting demand for greenhouse gas emissions (especially carbon taxes and cap-and-trade schemes) and, to some extent, on instruments that support the supply of or demand for substitutes for emissions-intensive goods, such as renewable energy. Evaluation of instruments aimed at restricting the upstream supply of commodities or products whose downstream consumption causes greenhouse gas emissions—such as fossil fuels—has largely been neglected in this literature. Moreover, analyses that compare policy instruments using both economic and political (e.g. political “feasibility” and “feedback”) criteria are rare. This article aims to help bridge both of these gaps. Specifically, the article demonstrates that restrictive supply-side policy instruments (targeting fossil fuels) have numerous characteristic economic and political advantages over otherwise similar restrictive demand-side instruments (targeting greenhouse gases). Economic advantages include low administrative and transaction costs, higher abatement certainty (due to the relative ease of monitoring, reporting and verification), comprehensive within-sector coverage, some advantageous price/efficiency effects, the mitigation of infrastructure “lock-in” risks, and mitigation of the “green paradox”. Political advantages include the superior potential to mobilise public support for supply-side policies, the conduciveness of supply-side policies to international policy cooperation, and the potential to bring different segments of the fossil fuel industry into a coalition supportive of such policies. In light of these attributes, restrictive supply-side policies squarely belong in the climate policy “toolkit”.

K. Eyvindson, Anna Repo, M. Mönkkönen

Forests play a crucial role in the transition towards a bioeconomy by providing biomass to substitute for fossil-based materials and energy. However, a policy-policy conflict exists between the desire to increase the utilization of bio based renewable resources and the desire to protect and conserve biodiversity. Increasing forest harvest levels to meet the needs of the bioeconomy may conflict with biodiversity protection and ecosystem services provided by forests. Through an optimization framework, we examined trade-offs between increasing the extraction of timber resources, and the impacts on biodiversity and non-wood ecosystem services, and investigated possibilities to reconcile trade-off with changes in forest management in 17 landscapes in boreal forests. A diverse range of alternative forest management regimes were used. The alternatives varied from set aside to continuous cover forestry and a range of management options to reflect potential applications of the current management recommendations. These included adjustments to the number of thinning, the timing of final felling and the method of regeneration. Increasing forest harvest level to the maximum economically sustainable harvest had a negative effect on the habitat suitability index, bilberry yield, deadwood diversity and carbon storage. It resulted in a loss in variation among landscapes in their conservation capacity and the ability to provide ecosystem services. Multi-objective optimization results showed that combining different forest management regimes alleviated the negative effects of increasing harvest levels to biodiversity and non-wood ecosystem services. The results indicate that careful landscape level forest management planning is crucial to minimize the ecological costs of increasing harvest levels.

SooCheol Lee, Yanmin He, Sunhee Suk et al.

ABSTRACT This study uses the E3ME macro-econometric model to simulate what Japan’s macroeconomy would look like and how Japan's energy composition would change if the country were to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The results indicate that renewable energy will account for about 90% of the power supply configuration in 2050, assuming nuclear power plants are phased out by 2040. It is also predicted that GDP will increase by 4.0%–4.5% compared with the baseline scenario and that employment will improve by 1.5%–2.0%, resulting in simultaneous achievement of carbon neutrality and economic growth. The main reasons for these projected outcomes are that increased investment in renewable generation capacity in the power sector would be accompanied by increased investment in decarbonization technologies across individual economic sectors, increased private consumption resulting from increased employment and energy efficiency savings, and an improvement in the trade balance due to a substantial reduction in fossil fuel imports. In addition, the costs of energy due to policies to reduce or eliminate carbon would rise by 45%–55% point at most above the baseline scenario even in 2050; however, this would be of little burden on the economy, considering the substantial reduction in fossil fuel energy demand. Overall, it is estimated that energy bills would be 45% lower for consumers and 11% lower for industry in 2050 compared with the baseline. Key policy insights The study shows that achieving climate neutrality does not require difficult trade-offs with economic growth. Instead, it can provide economic opportunities that arise from switching to renewables and decarbonization technologies. The rapid reduction in global renewable costs for wind and solar technologies means that the net zero transition does not have to rely on relatively more expensive nuclear power. The true costs of nuclear could be a lot higher when the costs of safety regulations are properly accounted for. Instead, investment in electricity storage should be prioritized. A well balanced decarbonization policy mix for each sector is required. Policy makers should not rely on carbon pricing instruments alone. Supporting policies such as R&D spending, renewable subsidies, regulations and energy demand reduction should also be considered.

F. Rubio, C. Llopis-Albert, F. Valero

Abstract Digital technologies are transforming the industrial landscape and disrupting traditional business models. New business opportunities related to Industry 4.0 are emerging, so companies must adapt to the new environment. This work puts forward a multi-objective optimization algorithm to improve productivity and reduce the costs and energy consumption of autonomous industrial processes with the aim of achieving sustainable growth. The processes analyzed encompass an assembly line production with robotic cells and the subsequent material handling systems (MHS) using autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) for indoor transport. An efficient algorithm has been implemented to integrate and minimize industrial robot arm working times, AGVs travel times and their trajectory, and the energy consumed in industrial processes while maximizing global business profits when manufacturing different products in an indoor industrial environment. Furthermore, this is carried out by considering the kinematics and dynamics of autonomous industrial processes and sustainable strategies to ensure compliance with government policies on environmental issues. These objectives are in line with the European Union (EU) guidelines on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, renewable energy share, and improvements in energy efficiency for climate change mitigation and adaptation policies. Based on the difference in energy consumption between optimized and unoptimized industrial processes, the economic benefits can be quantified in terms of GHG emission quotas, volume of fuel consumed, and the indirect benefits with respect to improving corporate brand image. The methodology presented here has been successfully applied to several real case studies covering different manufacturing processes, robotic operations, and products. The results show that higher profits and sustainable growth are achieved when this methodology is used. It helps design Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS) and leads to shorter working times and higher energy efficiency and annual profits. In addition, Pareto frontiers show the trade-off between profits and product manufacturing times for different case studies.

Waseem Yousaf, Snober Fazal

Environmental sustainability (ES) has gained global attention due to uncertain environmental and economic conditions, and this phenomenon needs researchers’ intention. Therefore, the current article examines the impact of sustainable energy, such as renewable energy (RE) output and RE consumption, technology adoption, green finance (GF), and economic growth (EG) on environmental sustainability in China. The article has gathered the data from World Development Indicators (WDI) and the central bank from 1990 to 2020. The study employed autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) to check the connection among the constructs. The findings exposed that the RE output and RE consumption, technology adoption, GF, and EG have positive ES in China. These findings guide the regulators in developing regulations related to improving ES using sustainable energy, GF, and technology adoption.

Hania Aboub, Rabiaa Mechouma, Boubekeur Azoui

The novel use of a three-phase switched capacitor SC nine-level inverter in a PV system is described in this article. It has a low input voltage, fewer components, and is grid-connected. The primary benefit of the suggested inverter is high voltage gain, which is attained by switching capacitors in series and parallel to raise the output voltage with the proper switching management. It is simpler to design a fuzzy logic controller to increase the infusion of solar energy into the electrical network. The MATLAB/Simulink environment's findings demonstrate that the suggested fuzzy logic controller performs well under a range of illumination levels. In comparison to the traditional PI controller, the total harmonic distortion (THD) obtained is less than the limit of 0.67 %. Good spectrum analysis and strong performance with fewer components are made possible by the nine-level SC inverter.