New Developments and Prospects in Clean and Renewable Energies

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Science and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 March 2023) | Viewed by 14224

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE), University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
Interests: clean and renewable energy; energy sources and production; energy conversion and storage; energy management and optimization; hybrid energy systems; sustainable development
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Guest Editor
Department of Physics, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada
Interests: transport phenomena in tissue scale; drug delivery simulations; nanomedicine; image-based cancer modeling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The world is facing ongoing and emerging energy challenges such as energy poverty for about 25% of the world’s population, limited fossil fuel resources, and the global environmental crisis. To overcome or at least diminish these challenges, it is essential to explore and implement effective, cost-competitive, and practical solutions or alternatives. The worldwide energy demand is dramatically increasing for a variety of reasons, the two most important being population growth and increasing living standards requiring greater energy inputs. Clean, renewable, and eco-friendly energy sources (e.g., solar, wind, geothermal, biofuel, hydro) can not only help us to meet global energy needs, but also reduce the negative consequences of climate change, mitigate the threat of global warming, and achieve sustainable development.

The current Special Issue aims to fill knowledge gaps and help develop technologies related to clean, sustainable, and renewable energy systems (both stand-alone and hybrid). Original research, review articles, case studies, and technical notes are welcome. Research areas may consist of, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Solar energy issues, photovoltaic technology conversion, and solar thermal applications;
  • Wind energy technology, wind turbines, and wind-catchers;
  • Hydro-power technology production and conversion;
  • Geothermal energy (shallow, deep, or combinations) technology and applications;
  • Hydrogen production technology and fuel cells;
  • Bio-energy (e.g., biomass, biogas) technology and conversion;
  • Wave, tide, and ocean thermal energies;
  • Energy and exergy analyses of energy systems;
  • Renewable energies and sustainable development;
  • Hybrid, integrated renewable energy systems;
  • Energy storage technologies;
  • Life cycle analysis (LCA) of renewable energy systems;
  • Environmental risk assessment (ERA) of renewable energy systems;
  • Application of renewable energy sources in buildings;
  • Social, economic, and policy aspects of renewable energy;
  • Climate change mitigation and sustainability;
  • Computational fluid dynamics analysis of renewable energy systems;
  • Optimization of clean energy systems.

Substantive and valuable articles addressing this Special Issue’s objectives will be selected and published following peer review. We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Alireza Dehghani-Sanij
Dr. Farshad Moradi Kashkooli
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 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

  • clean and renewable energy
  • energy sources and production
  • energy conversion and storage
  • energy efficiency improvement
  • energy conservation and recovery
  • energy management and optimization
  • hybrid and integrated energy systems
  • energy and exergy analyses
  • energy equity, security, and access
  • energy and buildings
  • climate change and global warming
  • sustainable development

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

3 pages, 185 KiB  
Editorial
Special Issue: New Developments and Prospects in Clean and Renewable Energies
by Alireza Dehghani-Sanij and Farshad Moradi Kashkooli
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(17), 9632; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13179632 - 25 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 676
Abstract
The world is facing ongoing and emerging energy challenges such as energy poverty for ~25% of the world’s population, limited fossil fuel resources, and the global environmental crisis [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Developments and Prospects in Clean and Renewable Energies)

Research

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19 pages, 4772 KiB  
Article
Experimental and Modeling Investigation for Slugging Pressure under Zero Net Liquid Flow in Underwater Compressed Gas Energy Storage Systems
by Chengyu Liang, Wei Xiong, Meiling Wang, David S. K. Ting, Rupp Carriveau and Zhiwen Wang
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(2), 1216; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13021216 - 16 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1714
Abstract
As an emerging flexible-scale energy storage technology, underwater compressed gas energy storage (UW-CGES) is regarded as a promising energy storage option for offshore platforms, offshore renewable energy farms, islands, coastal cities, etc. Liquid accumulation often occurs in underwater gas transmission pipelines, which is [...] Read more.
As an emerging flexible-scale energy storage technology, underwater compressed gas energy storage (UW-CGES) is regarded as a promising energy storage option for offshore platforms, offshore renewable energy farms, islands, coastal cities, etc. Liquid accumulation often occurs in underwater gas transmission pipelines, which is a challenge to overcome. In this study, an experimental investigation is carried out on the pressure distribution characteristics of liquid accumulation flow in hilly terrain under the condition of Zero Net Liquid Flow. A slug flow pressure model with different inclination angles at four times is established and verified, and its error range is within ±20%. Analysis revealed that reduction and growth in pressure difference are related to the outflow of slug in an inclined pipe. A high-speed camera is used to capture the movement of liquid accumulation under Zero Net Liquid Flow (ZNLF) and record the associated dynamic parameters. By imaging the motion of liquid accumulation and detecting the pressure changes in the pipeline at various times, the pressure fluctuation in the pipeline at the slug flow cause is studied. Outcomes from this work can be leveraged to help further the development of underwater compressed gas energy storage technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Developments and Prospects in Clean and Renewable Energies)
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30 pages, 15233 KiB  
Article
Practical Experience in the Application of Energy Roofs, Ground Heat Storages, and Active Thermal Protection on Experimental Buildings
by Daniel Kalús, Daniela Koudelková, Veronika Mučková, Martin Sokol, Mária Kurčová and Peter Janík
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(18), 9313; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12189313 - 16 Sep 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1693
Abstract
Research Area: Building components with integrated energy-active elements (BCEAE) are generally referred to as combined building-energy systems (CBES). Aim: Research on the application of energy (solar) roofs (ESR), ground heat storage (GHS), active thermal protection (ATP), and their cooperation in different modes of [...] Read more.
Research Area: Building components with integrated energy-active elements (BCEAE) are generally referred to as combined building-energy systems (CBES). Aim: Research on the application of energy (solar) roofs (ESR), ground heat storage (GHS), active thermal protection (ATP), and their cooperation in different modes of operation of energy systems with an emphasis on the use of renewable energy sources (RES) and waste heat. Methodology: The analysis and synthesis of the state of the art in the field, the inductive and analogical form of the creation of an innovative method of operation of combined building-energy systems, the development of an innovative solution of the envelope panel with integrated energy-active elements, the synthesis of the knowledge obtained from the scientific analysis and the transformation of the data into the design and implementation of the prototype of the prefabricated house IDA I and the experimental house EB2020. Results: The theoretical analysis of building structures with active thermal protection results in the determination of their energy potential and functionality, e.g., thermal barrier, heating/cooling, heat storage, etc. New technical solutions for envelopes with controlled heat transfer were proposed based on the implementation of experimental buildings. Conclusions: The novelty of our research lies in the design of different variants of the way of operation of energy systems using RES and in upgrading building envelope panels with integrated energy-active elements. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Developments and Prospects in Clean and Renewable Energies)
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28 pages, 8686 KiB  
Article
Evaluation and Comparison of Spatial Clustering for Solar Irradiance Time Series
by Luis Garcia-Gutierrez, Cyril Voyant, Gilles Notton and Javier Almorox
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(17), 8529; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12178529 - 26 Aug 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1685
Abstract
This work exposes an innovative clustering method of solar radiation stations, using static and dynamic parameters, based on multi-criteria analysis for future objectives to make the forecasting of the solar resource easier. The innovation relies on a characterization of solar irradiation from both [...] Read more.
This work exposes an innovative clustering method of solar radiation stations, using static and dynamic parameters, based on multi-criteria analysis for future objectives to make the forecasting of the solar resource easier. The innovation relies on a characterization of solar irradiation from both a quantitative point of view and a qualitative one (variability of the intermittent sources). Each of the 76 Spanish stations studied is firstly characterized by static parameters of solar radiation distributions (mean, standard deviation, skewness, and kurtosis) and then by dynamic ones (Hurst exponent and forecastability coefficient, which is a new concept to characterize the “difficulty” to predict the solar radiation intermittence) that are rarely used, or even never used previously, in such a study. A redundancy analysis shows that, among all the explanatory variables used, three are essential and sufficient to characterize the solar irradiation behavior of each site; thus, in accordance with the principle of parsimony, only the mean and the two dynamic parameters are used. Four clustering methods were applied to identify geographical areas with similar solar irradiation characteristics at a half-an-hour time step: hierarchical, k-means, k-medoids, and spectral cluster. The achieved clusters are compared with each other and with an updated Köppen–Geiger climate classification. The relationship between clusters is analyzed according to the Rand and Jaccard Indexes. For both cases (five and three classes), the hierarchical clustering algorithm is the closest to the Köppen classification. An evaluation of the clustering algorithms’ performance shows no interest in implementing k-means and spectral clustering simultaneously since the results are similar by more than 90% for three and five classes. The recommendations for operating a solar radiation clustering are to use k-means or hierarchical clustering based on mean, Hurst exponent, and forecastability parameters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Developments and Prospects in Clean and Renewable Energies)
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Review

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16 pages, 939 KiB  
Review
Review: Renewable Energy in an Increasingly Uncertain Future
by Patrick Moriarty and Damon Honnery
Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(1), 388; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13010388 - 28 Dec 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3365
Abstract
A number of technical solutions have been proposed for tackling global climate change. However, global climate change is not the only serious global environmental challenge we face demanding an urgent response, even though atmospheric CO2 ppm have risen from 354 in 1990 [...] Read more.
A number of technical solutions have been proposed for tackling global climate change. However, global climate change is not the only serious global environmental challenge we face demanding an urgent response, even though atmospheric CO2 ppm have risen from 354 in 1990 to 416 in 2020. The rise of multiple global environmental challenges makes the search for solutions more difficult, because all technological solutions give rise to some unwanted environmental effects. Further, not only must these various problems be solved in the same short time frame, but they will need to be tackled in a time of rising international tensions, and steady global population increase. This review looks particularly at how all these environmental problems impact the future prospects for renewable energy (RE), given that RE growth must not exacerbate the other equally urgent problems, and must make a major difference in a decade or so. The key finding is that, while the world must shift to RE in the longer run, in the short term what is more important is to improve Earth’s ecological sustainability by the most effective means possible. It is shown that reducing both the global transport task and agricultural production (while still providing an adequate diet for all) can be far more effective than converting the energy used in these sectors to RE. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Developments and Prospects in Clean and Renewable Energies)
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20 pages, 3242 KiB  
Review
Underwater Compressed Gas Energy Storage (UWCGES): Current Status, Challenges, and Future Perspectives
by Hu Wang, Zhiwen Wang, Chengyu Liang, Rupp Carriveau, David S.-K. Ting, Peng Li, Haoyang Cen and Wei Xiong
Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(18), 9361; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12189361 - 18 Sep 2022
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3866
Abstract
Underwater compressed air energy storage was developed from its terrestrial counterpart. It has also evolved to underwater compressed natural gas and hydrogen energy storage in recent years. UWCGES is a promising energy storage technology for the marine environment and subsequently of recent significant [...] Read more.
Underwater compressed air energy storage was developed from its terrestrial counterpart. It has also evolved to underwater compressed natural gas and hydrogen energy storage in recent years. UWCGES is a promising energy storage technology for the marine environment and subsequently of recent significant interest attention. However, it is still immature. In this study, the latest progress in both academic and industrial fields is summarized. Additionally, challenges facing this emerging technology are analyzed. The pros and cons of UWCGES are provided and are differentiated from the terrestrial variant. Technical, economic, environmental, and policy challenges are examined. In particular, the critical issues for developing artificial large and ultra-large underwater gas storage accumulators and effective underwater gas transportation are comprehensively analyzed. Finally, the demand for marine energy storage technology is briefly summarized, and the potential application scenarios and application modes of underwater compressed gas energy storage technology are prospected. This study aims to highlight the current state of the UWCGES sector and provide some guidance and reference for theoretical research and industrial development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Developments and Prospects in Clean and Renewable Energies)
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