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Renewable Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 August 2023) | Viewed by 53547

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Interdisciplinary Research Center for Renewable Energy and Power Systems, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
Interests: artificial intelligence applications; power systems; smart grid; renewable energy grid integration; Industry 4.0 applications in the energy sector; smart energy systems; energy transition

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Guest Editor
Applied Research Center for Environment & Marine Studies, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
Interests: sustainable transportation; machine learning applications; greenhouse gas emissions management; energy policy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The global community has been observing the increasing trend of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the challenging consequences of climate change. The dynamics of GHG emissions need to be investigated from a wide range of perspectives to understand the underlying factors and determine appropriate climate change mitigation goals at different levels, including national, city, and corporate levels. For nearly three decades, the United Nations (UN) has been bringing together almost every country on the earth for global climate summits—called the Conference of the Parties (COP)—where the entity puts immense efforts to strengthen energy security and reduce GHG emissions by meeting growing energy demand. Their efforts accelerate the need for large-scale renewable energy resources (RER) integration into existing electricity grids. The intermittent nature of the dominant RER, i.e., solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, poses operational and technical challenges in their effective integration by hampering power system reliability and stability.

This Special Issue provides a unique platform to present state-of-the-art research findings and observations associated with RER technologies, bulk integration of RER into the grids, GHG emissions accounting, reporting, and climate change mitigation at different levels. In addition, it aims to facilitate and promote interdisciplinary researchers to provide multi-faced GHG emission management solutions with the incorporation of RER.

Dr. Md Shafiullah
Dr. Syed Masiur Rahman
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • renewable energy technologies
  • GHG emissions reduction
  • energy transition
  • net-zero building
  • distributed energy resources and their impact on power system network
  • artificial intelligence and IR4.0 applications in energy sector
  • energy-efficient technologies for sustainable development
  • bioenergy
  • circular carbon economy
  • industrial symbiosis

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Published Papers (13 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

15 pages, 322 KiB  
Article
Peer-to-Peer Power Energy Trading in Blockchain Using Efficient Machine Learning Model
by Mahfuzur Rahman, Solaiman Chowdhury, Mohammad Shorfuzzaman, Mohammad Kamal Hossain and Mohammad Hammoudeh
Sustainability 2023, 15(18), 13640; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151813640 - 12 Sep 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2656
Abstract
The advancement of mircogrids and the adoption of blockchain technology in the energy-trading sector can build a robust and sustainable energy infrastructure. The decentralization and transparency of blockchain technology have several advantages for data management, security, and trust. In particular, the uses of [...] Read more.
The advancement of mircogrids and the adoption of blockchain technology in the energy-trading sector can build a robust and sustainable energy infrastructure. The decentralization and transparency of blockchain technology have several advantages for data management, security, and trust. In particular, the uses of smart contracts can provide automated transaction in energy trading. Individual entities (household, industries, institutes, etc.) have shown increasing interest in producing power from potential renewable energy sources for their own usage and also in distributing this power to the energy market if possible. The key success in energy trading significantly depends on understanding one’s own energy demand and production capability. For example, the production from a solar panel is highly correlated with the weather condition, and an efficient machine learning model can characterize the relationship to estimate the production at any time. In this article, we propose an architecture for energy trading that uses smart contracts in conjunction with an efficient machine learning algorithm to determine participants’ appropriate energy productions and streamline the auction process. We conducted an analysis on various machine learning models to identify the best suited model to be used with the smart contract in energy trading. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction)
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15 pages, 2272 KiB  
Article
A Modeling Study Focused on Improving the Aerodynamic Performance of a Small Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine
by Sikandar Khan
Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 5506; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065506 - 21 Mar 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1751
Abstract
The excessive burning of the fossil fuels has excessively changed the global temperature in the last few decades. The global warming caused due to the burning of the fossil fuels has initiated a need of increasing the use of renewal energy sources. The [...] Read more.
The excessive burning of the fossil fuels has excessively changed the global temperature in the last few decades. The global warming caused due to the burning of the fossil fuels has initiated a need of increasing the use of renewal energy sources. The wind energy is one of the renewable energy sources that can mitigate the excessive global dependency on the fossil fuels. For locations with low-to-medium wind speeds (less than 7 m/s), the main problem is with the starting of the wind turbine. To start a stationary wind turbine, not only is it necessary to overcome the inertia and static friction of the turbine, but the angle of incidence of the wind relative to blade profile also needs to be favorable. Thus, at low wind speeds, the resulting low torque is not enough to start the turbine. It is, therefore, necessary to incorporate a good starting torque in the design requirements of turbines. In this paper, a modeling study is performed using the Pro/E, ADAMS and MATLAB software to improve the starting behavior of a horizontal axis wind turbine for the Cherat location in the northern areas of Pakistan. The yearly average wind speed in the northern areas of Pakistan is less than 5 m/s. The blade element momentum (BEM) theory is used to calculate the optimized wind turbine blade parameters (blade angles and chord lengths) that correspond to the maximum starting torque. Based on the optimized wind turbine blade parameters, Pro/E models were developed and imported to ADAMS software to calculate the torque. As compared to the initial wind turbine model, for the optimized wind turbine model, the starting torque increased from 22.5 N-m to 28 N-m and the coefficient of performance (COP) increased from 0.42 to 0.49 at a tip–speed ratio of 4. The starting torque of the wind turbine should exceed the resistive torques due to bearing friction, generator static, dynamic torque and the inertia of the rotor in order to start the wind turbine. The starting behavior of the horizontal axis wind turbine was successfully improved, and the optimized wind turbine model showed an increased starting torque for low-to-medium wind speed ranges. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction)
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36 pages, 16255 KiB  
Article
Comprehensive Analysis of PV and Wind Energy Integration into MMC-HVDC Transmission Network
by Md Ismail Hossain, Md Shafiullah, Fahad A. Al-Sulaiman and Mohammad A. Abido
Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 253; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010253 - 23 Dec 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2237
Abstract
Renewable energy will play a vital role in greenhouse gas emissions reduction. However, renewable energy is located far away from the load center. Modular multilevel converter-(MMC) based VSC-HVDC systems became competitive for remotely located renewable energy grid integration. Unlike the average model for [...] Read more.
Renewable energy will play a vital role in greenhouse gas emissions reduction. However, renewable energy is located far away from the load center. Modular multilevel converter-(MMC) based VSC-HVDC systems became competitive for remotely located renewable energy grid integration. Unlike the average model for MMC and renewable energy side converter, this paper presents a detailed model-based control and analysis of the MMC-HVDC system for solar and wind energy integration. Furthermore, it optimally tracks PV energy employing the modified incremental conductance method and wind energy using field-oriented control. Instead of decoupled control, a feedforward controller is utilized to establish a standalone AC voltage for renewable energy grid integration. This work considers a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG), permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG), and squirrel cage induction generator (SCIG) for wind energy integration. The results from MATLAB/SIMULINK platform agree with the controller hardware in the loop results from RTDS-dSPACE platform. The results confirmed the optimum solar and wind energy tracking during wind speed, irradiance, and temperature variations. However, it improved the fault ride-through capability during balanced and unbalanced low voltage disturbances at the point of common coupling (PCC) of AC grid. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction)
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21 pages, 5052 KiB  
Article
Energy Demand of the Road Transport Sector of Saudi Arabia—Application of a Causality-Based Machine Learning Model to Ensure Sustainable Environment
by Muhammad Muhitur Rahman, Syed Masiur Rahman, Md Shafiullah, Md Arif Hasan, Uneb Gazder, Abdullah Al Mamun, Umer Mansoor, Mohammad Tamim Kashifi, Omer Reshi, Md Arifuzzaman, Md Kamrul Islam and Fahad S. Al-Ismail
Sustainability 2022, 14(23), 16064; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142316064 - 1 Dec 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2979
Abstract
The road transportation sector in Saudi Arabia has been observing a surging growth of demand trends for the last couple of decades. The main objective of this article is to extract insightful information for the country’s policymakers through a comprehensive investigation of the [...] Read more.
The road transportation sector in Saudi Arabia has been observing a surging growth of demand trends for the last couple of decades. The main objective of this article is to extract insightful information for the country’s policymakers through a comprehensive investigation of the rising energy trends. In the first phase, it employs econometric analysis to provide the causal relationship between the energy demand of the road transportation sector and different socio-economic elements, including the gross domestic product (GDP), number of registered vehicles, total population, the population in the urban agglomeration, and fuel price. Then, it estimates future energy demand for the sector using two machine-learning models, i.e., artificial neural network (ANN) and support vector regression (SVR). The core features of the future demand model include: (i) removal of the linear trend, (ii) input data projection using a double exponential smoothing technique, and (iii) energy demand prediction using the machine learning models. The findings of the study show that the GDP and urban population have a significant causal relationship with energy demand in the road transportation sector in both the short and long run. The greenhouse gas emissions from the road transportation in Saudi Arabia are directly proportional to energy consumption because the demand is solely met by fossil fuels. Therefore, appropriate policy measures should be taken to reduce energy intensity without compromising the country’s development. In addition, the SVR model outperformed the ANN model in predicting the future energy demand of the sector based on the achieved performance indices. For instance, the correlation coefficients of the SVR and the ANN models were 0.8932 and 0.9925, respectively, for the test datasets. The results show that the SVR is better for predicting energy consumption than the ANN. It is expected that the findings of the study will assist the decision-makers of the country in achieving environmental sustainability goals by initiating appropriate policies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction)
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19 pages, 1025 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Climate Change Impacts on the Food System Security of Saudi Arabia
by Muhammad Muhitur Rahman, Runa Akter, Jaber Bin Abdul Bari, Md Arif Hasan, Mohammad Shahedur Rahman, Syed Abu Shoaib, Ziad Nayef Shatnawi, Ammar Fayez Alshayeb, Faisal Ibrahim Shalabi, Aminur Rahman, Mohammed Ahmed Alsanad and Syed Masiur Rahman
Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 14482; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114482 - 4 Nov 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5839
Abstract
Climate change poses a challenge to the security and long-term viability of the global food supply chain. Climate unpredictability and extreme weather events have significant impacts on Saudi Arabia’s vulnerable food system, which is already under stress. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia faces [...] Read more.
Climate change poses a challenge to the security and long-term viability of the global food supply chain. Climate unpredictability and extreme weather events have significant impacts on Saudi Arabia’s vulnerable food system, which is already under stress. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia faces distinct challenges in comparison to other dry locations across the world. Here, the per capita water demand is high, the population is growing, the water resources are extremely limited, and there is little information on the existing groundwater supplies. Consequently, it is anticipated that there will be formidable obstacles in the future. In order to make data-driven decisions, policymakers should be aware of causal links. The complex concerns pertaining to the Saudi Arabian food system were analyzed and rationally explained in the current study. A causality analysis examined different driving factors, including temperature, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, population, and gross domestic product (GDP) that cause vulnerabilities in the country’s food system. The results of the long-run causality test show that GDP has a positive causal relationship with the demand for food, which implies that the demand for food will increase in the long run with an increase in GDP. The result also shows that Saudi Arabia’s GDP and population growth are contributing to the increase in their total GHG emissions. Although the Kingdom has made some efforts to combat climate change, there are still plenty of opportunities for it to implement some of the greatest strategies to guarantee the nation’s food security. This study also highlights the development of appropriate policy approaches to diversify its import sources to ensure future food security. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction)
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19 pages, 970 KiB  
Article
A Critical, Temporal Analysis of Saudi Arabia’s Initiatives for Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction in the Energy Sector
by Muhammad Muhitur Rahman, Md Arif Hasan, Md Shafiullah, Mohammad Shahedur Rahman, Md Arifuzzaman, Md. Kamrul Islam, Mohammed Monirul Islam and Syed Masiur Rahman
Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 12651; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912651 - 5 Oct 2022
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3923
Abstract
The per capita greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of Saudi Arabia were more than three times the global average emissions in 2019. The energy sector is the most dominant GHG-emitting sector in the country; its energy consumption has increased over five times in the [...] Read more.
The per capita greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of Saudi Arabia were more than three times the global average emissions in 2019. The energy sector is the most dominant GHG-emitting sector in the country; its energy consumption has increased over five times in the last four decades, from over 2000 quadrillion joules in 1981 to around 11,000 quadrillion joules in 2019, while the share of renewable energy in 2019 was only 0.1%. To reduce GHG emissions, the Saudi Arabian government has undertaken initiatives for improving energy efficiency and increasing the production of renewable energies in the country. However, there are few investigative studies into the effectiveness of these initiatives in improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This study provides an overview of the various energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives undertaken in Saudi Arabia. Then, it evaluates the effectiveness of energy-related policies and initiatives using an indicator-based approach. In addition, this study performs temporal and econometrics analyses to understand the trends and the causal relationships among various drivers of energy sector emissions. Energy intensity and efficiency have improved moderately in recent years. This study will support policymakers in identifying significant policy gaps in reducing the emissions from the energy sector; furthermore, this study will provide a reference for tracking the progress of their policy initiatives. In addition, the methodology used in this study could be applied in other studies to evaluate various climate change policies and their progress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction)
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18 pages, 6525 KiB  
Article
Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Industrial Processes and Product Use Sector of Saudi Arabia—An Emerging Challenge
by Muhammad Muhitur Rahman, Mohammad Shahedur Rahman, Saidur R. Chowdhury, Alaeldeen Elhaj, Shaikh Abdur Razzak, Syed Abu Shoaib, Md Kamrul Islam, Mohammed Monirul Islam, Sayeed Rushd and Syed Masiur Rahman
Sustainability 2022, 14(12), 7388; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14127388 - 16 Jun 2022
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5946
Abstract
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been experiencing consistent growth in industrial processes and product use (IPPU). The IPPU’s emission has been following an increasing trend. This study investigated time-series and cross-sectional analyses of the IPPU sector. Petrochemical, iron and steel, and cement [...] Read more.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been experiencing consistent growth in industrial processes and product use (IPPU). The IPPU’s emission has been following an increasing trend. This study investigated time-series and cross-sectional analyses of the IPPU sector. Petrochemical, iron and steel, and cement production are the leading source categories in the Kingdom. In recent years, aluminum, zinc, and titanium dioxide production industries were established. During the last ten years, a significant growth was observed in steel, ethylene, direct reduce iron (DRI), and cement production. The growth of this sector depends on many factors, including domestic and international demand, socioeconomic conditions, and the availability of feedstock. The emissions from IPPU without considering energy use was 78 million tons of CO2 equivalent (CO2eq) in 2020, and the cement industry was the highest emitter (35.5%), followed by petrochemical (32.3%) and iron and steel industries (16.8%). A scenario-based projection analysis was performed to estimate the range of emissions for the years up to 2050. The results show that the total emissions could reach between 199 and 426 million tons of CO2eq in 2050. The Kingdom has started initiatives that mainly focus on climate change adaptation and economic divergence with mitigation co-benefits. In general, the focus of such initiatives is the energy sector. However, the timely accomplishment of the Saudi Vision 2030 and Saudi Green Initiative will affect mitigation scenarios significantly, including in the IPPU sector. The mitigation opportunities for this sector include (i) energy efficiency, (ii) emissions efficiency, (iii) material efficiency, (iv) the re-use of materials and recycling of products, (v) intensive and longer use of products, and (vi) demand management. The results of this study will support the Kingdom in developing an appropriate climate change mitigation roadmap. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction)
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19 pages, 1676 KiB  
Article
Numerical Study of Single-Layer and Stacked Minichannel-Based Heat Sinks Using Different Truncating Ratios for Cooling High Concentration Photovoltaic Systems
by Ahmed T. Okasha, Fahad Ghallab Al-Amri, Taher Maatallah, Nagmeldeen A. M. Hassanain, Abdullah Khalid Alghamdi and Richu Zachariah
Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5352; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095352 - 29 Apr 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2150
Abstract
The present research aims to discuss and analyze the performance of truncated single-layer and stacked mini-channel-based heat sinks employed for the cooling of a single-cell high concentrating photovoltaic systems. The truncating technique of the fins at the entrance and exit regions from the [...] Read more.
The present research aims to discuss and analyze the performance of truncated single-layer and stacked mini-channel-based heat sinks employed for the cooling of a single-cell high concentrating photovoltaic systems. The truncating technique of the fins at the entrance and exit regions from the internal fluid mini channels is opted to reduce the energy, raw material costs and time of the manufacturing process of the mini channels. This proposed solution is constrained by several metrics such as the thermal management and the overall performance of the high concentrating photovoltaic system. In the current research, the use of a truncating ratio of 31% has yielded minimum cell temperature and maximum electrical efficiencies for both single-layer and stacked mini-channel-based heat sinks, while a truncating ratio of 65% has enabled more uniform cell temperature distribution. Moreover, a truncating ratio of 65% has qualified the highest water outlet temperature and the lowest pressure drops relatively compared to the conventional mini-channel-based heat sink configurations. The highest water temperature has reached up to 52.7 C by the stacked mini-channel-based heat sink with a truncating ratio of 65% under a geometrical concentration ratio of 2000× and a mass flow rate of 0.001kgs−1. For both the single-layer and stacked mini-channel-based heat sinks, the use of a truncating ratio of 65% has driven the upper hands to achieve higher ratio of the thermal power to the pumping power (RTP). The maximum RTP values have been recorded by the single-layer mini-channel-based heat sink with a truncating ratio of 65% equal to 23.61 ×106 and 233.06 ×103 at a mass flow rate of 0.008kgs−1 and 0.001kgs−1, respectively, under 2000×. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction)
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22 pages, 3752 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Net Channel Based-Heat Sink Designs for Cooling of High Concentration Photovoltaic (HCPV) Systems in Dammam City
by Fahad Ghallab Al-Amri, Taher Maatallah, Richu Zachariah, Ahmed T. Okasha and Abdullah Khalid Alghamdi
Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 4142; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14074142 - 31 Mar 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2237
Abstract
In this study, enhanced net channel based heat sink designs for cooling HCPV systems at geometrical concentration ratios ranging from 500× to 3000× are presented. The effect of increasing the number of layers in the parallel flow net channel, as well as the [...] Read more.
In this study, enhanced net channel based heat sink designs for cooling HCPV systems at geometrical concentration ratios ranging from 500× to 3000× are presented. The effect of increasing the number of layers in the parallel flow net channel, as well as the fraction of the coolant mass flow rate in the counter flow net channel, on the overall performance of the HCPV systems, are investigated. The various configurations of each proposed net channel based-heat sink design are examined, and a comparative analysis between the different proposed designs is performed under the climate weather conditions of Dammam city, Saudi Arabia. On one hand, the double-layered counter flow net channel heat sink outperformed the other designs in terms of electrical efficiency and in keeping the solar cell operating well below the safe operating limits, achieving a reduction in maximum cell temperature relatively compared to the parallel flow net channel with five layers and conventional mini channel of 11.72% and 12.01%, respectively. On the other hand, for effective usability of the heat recovery rate by the cooling mechanism, the parallel flow net channel is the most appropriate design since it has recorded 27.55% higher outlet water temperature than the double-layered counter flow net channel. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction)
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Review

Jump to: Research

14 pages, 2849 KiB  
Review
Greenhouse Gas Emission Dynamics of Saudi Arabia: Potential of Hydrogen Fuel for Emission Footprint Reduction
by Adeola Akinpelu, Md Shafiul Alam, Md Shafiullah, Syed Masiur Rahman and Fahad Saleh Al-Ismail
Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 5639; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15075639 - 23 Mar 2023
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5459
Abstract
The growth of population, gross domestic product (GDP), and urbanization have led to an increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The leading GHG-emitting sectors are electricity generation, road transportation, cement, chemicals, refinery, iron, and steel. However, [...] Read more.
The growth of population, gross domestic product (GDP), and urbanization have led to an increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The leading GHG-emitting sectors are electricity generation, road transportation, cement, chemicals, refinery, iron, and steel. However, the KSA is working to lead the global energy sustainability campaign to reach net zero GHG emissions by 2060. In addition, the country is working to establish a framework for the circular carbon economy (CCE), in which hydrogen acts as a transversal facilitator. To cut down on greenhouse gas emissions, the Kingdom is also building several facilities, such as the NEOM green hydrogen project. The main objective of the article is to critically review the current GHG emission dynamics of the KSA, including major GHG emission driving forces and prominent emission sectors. Then, the role of hydrogen in GHG emission reduction will be explored. Finally, the researchers and decision makers will find the helpful discussions and recommendations in deciding on appropriate mitigation measures and technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction)
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19 pages, 1377 KiB  
Review
Impacts of Renewable Energy Generation on Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Saudi Arabia: A Comprehensive Review
by Fahad Saleh Al-Ismail, Md Shafiul Alam, Md Shafiullah, Md Ismail Hossain and Syed Masiur Rahman
Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 5069; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065069 - 13 Mar 2023
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 5497
Abstract
Over the last few years, the electric energy demand in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has increased many folds due to several factors including increased population, industrialization, economic activities, and urbanization. The main source of electric power generation in KSA is the [...] Read more.
Over the last few years, the electric energy demand in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has increased many folds due to several factors including increased population, industrialization, economic activities, and urbanization. The main source of electric power generation in KSA is the burning of petroleum products. Almost one third of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are contributed from the electric power generation sector, mainly, by burning diesel and natural gas. As a result, it makes it necessary to consider alternate forms of electricity generation in order to cut down emissions and to keep sustainable growth alive. The government has planned to diversify energy sources and suppliers. In recent years, energy generation from renewable sources including solar photovoltaic (PV), wind, concentrated solar power (CSP), biomass, geothermal, and tidal, has been given more importance. The ambitious Saudi Vision 2030 targets of 58.7 GW of power generation from renewable energy sources will cause a significant reduction in GHG emissions from the energy sector. This article systematically reviews the impact of renewable energy generation on GHG emissions. The detailed breakdown of GHG emission is discussed. Then, the status of renewable energy generation is investigated, focusing on the technical and economic potentials. The correlation of renewable energy generation and GHG emissions is then explained. The most distinguishing feature of this review is that it provides a comprehensive list of recommendations to reduce GHG emissions. The discussions and recommendations of this article will support decision makers, system planners, industry personnel, researchers, and academics to develop sustainable energy pathways for the Kingdom. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction)
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21 pages, 1040 KiB  
Review
Coupling Nexus and Circular Economy to Decouple Carbon Emissions from Economic Growth
by Mohammed Sakib Uddin, Khaled Mahmud, Bijoy Mitra, Al-Ekram Elahee Hridoy, Syed Masiur Rahman, Md Shafiullah, Md. Shafiul Alam, Md. Ismail Hossain and Mohammad Sujauddin
Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 1748; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15031748 - 17 Jan 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3625
Abstract
Experts have been searching for ways to mitigate the impacts of climate change on resources since the early 20th century. In response, the World Economic Forum introduced the concept of a “nexus”, which involves the simultaneous, systematic collaboration of multiple individuals or sectors, [...] Read more.
Experts have been searching for ways to mitigate the impacts of climate change on resources since the early 20th century. In response, the World Economic Forum introduced the concept of a “nexus”, which involves the simultaneous, systematic collaboration of multiple individuals or sectors, such as water, energy, and food, in order to create an integrated approach to reducing resource scarcity through a multi-disciplinary framework. In contrast, a circular economy (CE) involves restructuring material flows from a linear economic system and closing the loop on resource exploitation. Both the nexus and CE have been developed to address the overexploitation of resources, but they also contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and decouple carbon emissions from economic growth. This study explores the potential of combining the nexus and CE to pursue the SDGs on a global scale. Our findings reveal significant research gaps and policy implementation challenges in developing countries, as well as the potential consequences of adopting integrative scenarios. Finally, we propose a system dynamics model as a way to address the difficulties of coupling policies and to better understand the interdependencies between different parts of the economy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction)
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30 pages, 2705 KiB  
Review
Review of Recent Developments in Microgrid Energy Management Strategies
by Md Shafiullah, Akib Mostabe Refat, Md Ershadul Haque, Dewan Mabrur Hasan Chowdhury, Md Sanower Hossain, Abdullah G. Alharbi, Md Shafiul Alam, Amjad Ali and Shorab Hossain
Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 14794; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142214794 - 9 Nov 2022
Cited by 35 | Viewed by 7279
Abstract
The grid integration of microgrids and the selection of energy management systems (EMS) based on robustness and energy efficiency in terms of generation, storage, and distribution are becoming more challenging with rising electrical power demand. The problems regarding exploring renewable energy resources with [...] Read more.
The grid integration of microgrids and the selection of energy management systems (EMS) based on robustness and energy efficiency in terms of generation, storage, and distribution are becoming more challenging with rising electrical power demand. The problems regarding exploring renewable energy resources with efficient and durable energy storage systems demand side management and sustainable solutions to microgrid development to maintain the power system’s stability and security. This article mainly focuses on the overview of the recent developments of microgrid EMS within the control strategies and the implementation challenges of the microgrid. First, it provides energy management strategies for the major microgrid components, including load, generation, and energy storage systems. Then, it presents the different optimization approaches employed for microgrid energy management, such as classical, metaheuristic, and artificial intelligence. Moreover, this article sheds light on the major implementation challenges of microgrids. Overall, this article provides interactive guidelines for researchers to assist them in deciding on their future research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction)
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