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Accelerating Renewable Energy Transition Post Major World Events

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A: Sustainable Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 27455

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Aberdeen Business School, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland AB10 7QE, UK
Interests: 100% renewable energy transition; environmental planning and management; corporate and community ownership models; the social acceptance of energy transitions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
Department of Planning, Aalborg University, A. C. Meyers Vænge 15, 2450 Copenhagen, Denmark
Interests: 100% renewable energy systems; smart energy systems; energy efficiency; energy storage; energy planning; energy system analyses; feasibility studies; public regulation; radical technological changes in society.

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Guest Editor
School of Energy Systems, LUT University, 53851 Lappeenranta, Finland
Interests: 100% renewable energy systems; energy scenarios; solar economy; renewable energy technologies; energy storage; renewable energy business cases.
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

The world economy is currently facing the most extreme economic shock since the Second World War. Against this dire macroeconomic situation, the aim of the current Special Issue is to examine how to build back better and to accelerate renewable energy transition in order to withstand the next big shocks coming our way: climate and ecological breakdown.

The global lockdown has meant severe changes in our life and particularly our transport patterns but has only given us a small reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions. Millions of people have also lost their jobs.

With a focus on green growth, the circular economy, energy efficiency and clean renewable energy post major word events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, this Special Issue seeks to stimulate critical debate on business leadership and government policy innovations in renewables and fossil fuels energy transition.

As a response to the climate crisis, government and business leadership, technological innovation, innovations in the market, and financial instruments are needed to spur green economic recovery in the transition to 100% renewable energy and net zero greenhouse gas emitting societies.

These are the core themes in the emerging debate on how to build back better and accelerate the renewable energy transition toward a fully sustainable energy system.

When addressing these themes, the editors of this Special Issue particularly welcome theoretically derived, international comparative papers from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Prof. Dr. Peter Strachan
Prof. Dr. Brian Vad Mathiesen
Prof. Dr. Christian Breyer
Guest Editors

Ms. Jennie Hu
Assistant Editor
E-Mail: [email protected]

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Climate Emergency and Ecological Breakdown 
  • COVID-19 Pandemic 
  • Energy Transition 
  • Renewable Energies 
  • 100% Renewable Energy Roadmaps 
  • Circular Economy 
  • Smart Energy Systems 
  • Energy Savings and Energy Efficiency 
  • Electrification of Transport and Industry 
  • District Heating and District Cooling 
  • Hydrogen 
  • Power-to-X 
  • Sector Coupling 
  • Clean Energy Leadership 
  • Green New Deal 
  • Green Job Creation 
  • Market and Financial Instruments 
  • Innovation Studies 
  • Socio-Technical Innovation Systems 
  • Sustainable Development Goals 
  • Multi-Level Perspective 
  • Inter-Generation Fairness 
  • International Comparative, Interdisciplinary Research

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 1105 KiB  
Article
Validating the “Seven Functions” Model of Technological Innovations Systems Theory with Industry Stakeholders—A Review from UK Offshore Renewables
by John Aldersey-Williams, Peter A. Strachan and Ian D. Broadbent
Energies 2020, 13(24), 6673; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13246673 - 17 Dec 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5675
Abstract
Technological Innovation Systems theory, and its “functions” framework, have demonstrated their value as tools for exploring socio-technological transitions. Although the “seven functions” model has demonstrated its academic value across a vast literature, there have been few attempts to explore the model through the [...] Read more.
Technological Innovation Systems theory, and its “functions” framework, have demonstrated their value as tools for exploring socio-technological transitions. Although the “seven functions” model has demonstrated its academic value across a vast literature, there have been few attempts to explore the model through the lens of industry stakeholder opinion. We believe that involving a relevant stakeholder group offers the potential for validating this approach, and even potentially enriching it. This research aims to address that shortfall. In 32 interviews with senior participants in the UK offshore wind, tidal stream and wave sectors and associated supply chain, policy makers, support organisations and other stakeholders, the validity of the seven well-established “Hekkert” functions was tested. The research found that the interviewees confirmed that all seven functions were necessary in characterising the emergence of the focal technologies, and analysis of the interviews allowed the definition and scope of each function to be enriched. The research also found that an additional function—defined as “Demonstrating Value”—was helpful in providing a more complete description of technology emergence. This function is defined and appropriate metrics for it are discussed. The authors suggest that this proposed enrichment of the “functions” model may provide a greater understanding of socio-technological transitions in the face of volatile external contextual factors, whose importance the current COVID pandemic has made all too obvious. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Accelerating Renewable Energy Transition Post Major World Events)
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35 pages, 2886 KiB  
Article
A Policy Effect Analysis of China’s Energy Storage Development Based on a Multi-Agent Evolutionary Game Model
by Ting Zhang, Shuaishuai Cao, Lingying Pan and Chenyu Zhou
Energies 2020, 13(23), 6293; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13236293 - 29 Nov 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3560
Abstract
Energy storage technology plays a significant role in the pursuit of the high-quality development of the electricity market. Many regions in China have issued policies and regulations of different intensities for promoting the popularization of the energy storage industry. Based on a variety [...] Read more.
Energy storage technology plays a significant role in the pursuit of the high-quality development of the electricity market. Many regions in China have issued policies and regulations of different intensities for promoting the popularization of the energy storage industry. Based on a variety of initial conditions of different regions, this paper explores the evolutionary process of electricity market players considering energy storage technology. The trilateral evolutionary game model is adopted to analyze the strategies of the power plant, the power grid, and the government. After assigning the model according to an actual situation, each equilibrium point corresponds to a real electricity market situation. The results indicate the following: (1) In the process of stabilizing, the role of “Advanced Imitators” leading the strategy of building energy storage changes between the power plant and the power grid. (2) In Eastern, Middle, and Southern China, the power plants and power grids on a greater-than-medium scale will choose to build energy storage without governmental regulations, due to the abundant net profit. (3) In the northeast of China, power plants with a medium-or-lower scale will choose not to build energy storage because of the relatively low on-grid price, and small power grids can make enough profits by operating energy storage facilities. (4) In Northern China, the large power plants and the medium power grids will choose to build energy storage due to the high electricity sale price and the resulting high profit. (5) In Western China, the small power plants and power grids cannot afford to build energy storage due to the low electricity price. The results lead to valuable policy suggestions for the local governments of China in promoting energy storage in the future. To meet the goal of energy storage popularization, regional electricity market plans need relevant policies based on its existing conditions, offering suitable external conditions for adding energy storage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Accelerating Renewable Energy Transition Post Major World Events)
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18 pages, 1465 KiB  
Article
Development of a Tool for Optimizing Solar and Battery Storage for Container Farming in a Remote Arctic Microgrid
by Daniel J. Sambor, Michelle Wilber, Erin Whitney and Mark Z. Jacobson
Energies 2020, 13(19), 5143; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13195143 - 2 Oct 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4657
Abstract
High transportation costs make energy and food expensive in remote communities worldwide, especially in high-latitude Arctic climates. Past attempts to grow food indoors in these remote areas have proven uneconomical due to the need for expensive imported diesel for heating and electricity. This [...] Read more.
High transportation costs make energy and food expensive in remote communities worldwide, especially in high-latitude Arctic climates. Past attempts to grow food indoors in these remote areas have proven uneconomical due to the need for expensive imported diesel for heating and electricity. This study aims to determine whether solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity can be used affordably to power container farms integrated with a remote Arctic community microgrid. A mixed-integer linear optimization model (FEWMORE: Food–Energy–Water Microgrid Optimization with Renewable Energy) has been developed to minimize the capital and maintenance costs of installing solar photovoltaics (PV) plus electricity storage and the operational costs of purchasing electricity from the community microgrid to power a container farm. FEWMORE expands upon previous models by simulating demand-side management of container farm loads. Its results are compared with those of another model (HOMER) for a test case. FEWMORE determined that 17 kW of solar PV was optimal to power the farm loads, resulting in a total annual cost decline of ~14% compared with a container farm currently operating in the Yukon. Managing specific loads appropriately can reduce total costs by ~18%. Thus, even in an Arctic climate, where the solar PV system supplies only ~7% of total load during the winter and ~25% of the load during the entire year, investing in solar PV reduces costs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Accelerating Renewable Energy Transition Post Major World Events)
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40 pages, 377 KiB  
Article
Transitioning All Energy in 74 Metropolitan Areas, Including 30 Megacities, to 100% Clean and Renewable Wind, Water, and Sunlight (WWS)
by Mark Z. Jacobson, Anna-Katharina von Krauland, Zachary F.M. Burton, Stephen J. Coughlin, Caitlin Jaeggli, Daniel Nelli, Alexander J. H. Nelson, Yanbo Shu, Miles Smith, Chor Tan, Connery D. Wood and Kelyn D. Wood
Energies 2020, 13(18), 4934; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13184934 - 20 Sep 2020
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 6448
Abstract
To date, roadmaps and policies for transitioning from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy have been developed for nations, provinces, states, cities, and towns in order to address air pollution, global warming, and energy insecurity. However, neither roadmaps nor policies have been developed [...] Read more.
To date, roadmaps and policies for transitioning from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy have been developed for nations, provinces, states, cities, and towns in order to address air pollution, global warming, and energy insecurity. However, neither roadmaps nor policies have been developed for large metropolitan areas (aggregations of towns and cities), including megacities (metropolitan areas with populations above 10 million). This study bridges that gap by developing roadmaps to transition 74 metropolitan areas worldwide, including 30 megacities, to 100% wind, water, and sunlight (WWS) energy and storage for all energy sectors by no later than 2050, with at least 80% by 2030. Among all metropolitan areas examined, the full transition may reduce 2050 annual energy costs by 61.1% (from $2.2 to $0.86 trillion/yr in 2013 USD) and social costs (energy plus air pollution plus climate costs) by 89.6% (from $8.3 to $0.86 trillion/yr). The large energy cost reduction is due to the 57.1% lower end-used energy requirements and the 9% lower cost per unit energy with WWS. The air pollution cost reduction of ~$2.6 (1.5–4.6) trillion/yr is due mostly to the saving of 408,000 (322,000–506,000) lives/yr with WWS. Global climate cost savings due to WWS are ~$3.5 (2.0–7.5) trillion/yr (2013 USD). The transition may also create ~1.4 million more long-term, full-time jobs than lost. Thus, moving to 100% clean, renewable energy and storage for all purposes in metropolitan areas can result in significant economic, health, climate, and job benefits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Accelerating Renewable Energy Transition Post Major World Events)
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21 pages, 5028 KiB  
Article
Exploring Wind and Solar PV Generation Complementarity to Meet Electricity Demand
by António Couto and Ana Estanqueiro
Energies 2020, 13(16), 4132; https://doi.org/10.3390/en13164132 - 10 Aug 2020
Cited by 33 | Viewed by 5350
Abstract
Understanding the spatiotemporal complementarity of wind and solar power generation and their combined capability to meet the demand of electricity is a crucial step towards increasing their share in power systems without neglecting neither the security of supply nor the overall cost efficiency [...] Read more.
Understanding the spatiotemporal complementarity of wind and solar power generation and their combined capability to meet the demand of electricity is a crucial step towards increasing their share in power systems without neglecting neither the security of supply nor the overall cost efficiency of the power system operation. This work proposes a methodology to exploit the complementarity of the wind and solar primary resources and electricity demand in planning the expansion of electric power systems. Scenarios that exploit the strategic combined deployment of wind and solar power against scenarios based only on the development of an individual renewable power source are compared and analysed. For each scenario of the power system development, the characterization of the additional power capacity, typical daily profile, extreme values, and energy deficit are assessed. The method is applied to a Portuguese case study and results show that coupled scenarios based on the strategic combined development of wind and solar generation provide a more sustainable way to increase the share of variable renewables into the power system (up to 68% for an annual energy exceedance of 10% for the renewable generation) when compared to scenarios based on an individual renewable power source. Combined development also enables to reduce the overall variability and extreme values of a power system net load. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Accelerating Renewable Energy Transition Post Major World Events)
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