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Studies in Renewable Energy Production and Distribution
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Studies in Renewable Energy Production and Distribution

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2026) | Viewed by 6892

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ahmed Chiheb Ammari

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, Sultan Qaboos University, Al Seeb Al Khoudh SQU SEPS, Muscat 123, Oman
Interests: electrical engineering; embedded systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ahmed S. A. Awad

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Canmet Energy, Natural Resources Canada, Varennes QC J3X 1P7, Canada
Interests: electrical power engineering; energy storage in smart grids; integration of renewable energy resources; electricity market equilibrium; operation and control of distribution systems

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The transition towards decarbonized energy systems is fundamentally reshaping the energy sector, emphasizing the pivotal role of renewable energy-based production systems. This shift away from centralized, fossil-fuel-dependent grids is paving the way toward a carbon-free and sustainable future. Within this evolving landscape, the emergence of prosumers—consumers who also produce energy—illustrates a transformative shift towards more localized and decentralized energy distribution networks. Prosumers not only meet their own energy needs but also have the potential to contribute excess energy back into the grid, thereby supporting the development of resilient and flexible energy infrastructure.

The successful integration of these renewable energy systems into existing power grids, however, presents complex challenges. It necessitates the development of robust methodologies, innovative models, and strategic policies tailored to guide local distribution companies (LDCs) in crafting effective energy action plans. A critical aspect of this integration is understanding how the autonomous decisions made by prosumers impact traditional power distribution systems. Moreover, it is essential to thoroughly assess the socioeconomic and environmental implications of deploying renewable energy technologies. Such assessments are vital for ensuring the long-term viability and sustainability of these systems, thereby supporting inclusive economic growth, environmental sustainability, and advancements in global energy security.

For this Special Issue, we invite the submission of original research articles, reviews, and case studies that explore innovative approaches, technological advancements, and strategic insights into renewable energy production and distribution. Emphasizing the transition towards decarbonized and sustainable energy systems, this volume seeks to address the multifaceted challenges and opportunities presented by the integration of renewable sources into existing and future power grids. Topics of interest for this Special Issue include (but are not limited to) the following:

Suggested Topics:

  1. Advanced Renewable Energy Technologies
    • Cutting-edge technologies for renewable energy production including photovoltaic systems, wind turbines, concentrated solar power, and bioenergy solutions.
    • Emerging technologies and innovations in hydroelectric and geothermal energy extraction.
  1. Smart Grids and Grid Optimization
    • Strategies for grid optimization, smart grid technologies, and demand-side management to enhance power distribution networks' stability and resilience.
    • Integration of renewable energy into smart grids using artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics to optimize grid management.
  1. Energy Storage and System Flexibility
    • Advanced battery technologies and energy storage solutions to support variable renewable energy.
    • Developing methods to improve flexibility and resilience in distribution systems with high renewable energy penetration levels.
    • Utilizing hydrogen and other alternative storage technologies to enhance grid stability.
  1. Policy, Economic Impacts, and Social Equity
    • Analysis of effective policy measures like feed-in tariffs, renewable portfolio standards, and carbon pricing mechanisms.
    • Assessing employment opportunities, economic growth potential, and social equity dimensions in the renewable energy sector, highlighting its role in fostering inclusive and sustainable development.
    • International policies and cooperation for global renewable energy development.
  1. Environmental and Sustainability Assessments
    • Life cycle assessments and environmental impacts of renewable energy technologies.
    • Sustainability practices in renewable energy projects and their broader implications for biodiversity and ecosystems.
  1. Prosumers and Decentralized Systems
    • The role of prosumers in renewable energy markets and their impact on traditional power systems.
    • Strategies for fostering decentralized energy networks that support local, consumer-driven energy production.
  1. Emerging Trends and Future Perspectives
    • The role of blockchain and other digital innovations in renewable energy systems.
    • Future trends and predictions for renewable energy technologies and market growth.
  1. Distribution Systems
    • Developing methods for improving the flexibility and resilience of modern distribution systems with high penetration levels of renewable energy.
    • Utilizing data-driven and artificial intelligence methods to enhance flexibility and resilience in modern distribution systems.
    • Innovations in the physical distribution networks including microgrids, virtual power plants, and the role of blockchain in distribution.
    • Challenges and solutions in scaling up renewable energy distribution in urban and rural settings.
    • Impacts of distributed generation on traditional distribution network operators and energy markets.
  1. Regulatory and Infrastructure Challenges
    • Examination of the regulatory frameworks and infrastructure needed to support the expanded deployment of renewable energy distribution.
    • Strategies for overcoming logistical and regulatory barriers to renewable energy adoption at various scales.
  1. Case Studies and Regional Reports
    • Successful global case studies on renewable energy projects.
    • Regional challenges, solutions, and comparative studies on renewable energy adoption in diverse environments.

Dr. Ahmed Chiheb Ammari
Dr. Ahmed S. A. Awad
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Energies 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 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

  • advanced renewable energy technologies
  • smart grids and grid optimization
  • energy storage and system flexibility

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1182 KB  
Article
Impact of Ambient Temperature on the Performance of Liquid Air Energy Storage Installation
by Aleksandra Dzido and Piotr Krawczyk
Energies 2026, 19(1), 171; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19010171 - 28 Dec 2025
Viewed by 549
Abstract
The increasing share of renewable energy sources (RES) in modern power systems necessitates the development of efficient, large-scale energy storage technologies capable of mitigating generation variability. Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES), particularly in its adiabatic form, has emerged as a promising candidate by [...] Read more.
The increasing share of renewable energy sources (RES) in modern power systems necessitates the development of efficient, large-scale energy storage technologies capable of mitigating generation variability. Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES), particularly in its adiabatic form, has emerged as a promising candidate by leveraging thermal energy storage and high-pressure air liquefaction and regasification processes. Although LAES has been widely studied, the impact of ambient temperature on its performance remains insufficiently explored. This study addresses that gap by examining the thermodynamic response of an adiabatic LAES system under varying ambient air temperatures, ranging from 0 °C to 35 °C. A detailed mathematical model was developed and implemented in Aspen Hysys to simulate the system, incorporating dual refrigeration loops (methanol and propane), thermal oil intercooling, and multi-stage compression/expansion. Simulations were conducted for a reference charging power of 42.4 MW at 15 °C. The influence of external temperature was evaluated on key parameters including mass flow rate, unit energy consumption during liquefaction, energy recovery during expansion, and round-trip efficiency. Results indicate that ambient temperature has a marginal effect on overall LAES performance. Round-trip efficiency varied by only ±0.1% across the temperature spectrum, remaining around 58.3%. Mass flow rates and power output varied slightly, with changes in discharging power attributed to temperature-driven improvements in expansion process efficiency. These findings suggest that LAES installations can operate reliably across diverse climate zones with negligible performance loss, reinforcing their suitability for global deployment in grid-scale energy storage applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Studies in Renewable Energy Production and Distribution)
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22 pages, 1353 KB  
Article
Who Gets a Piece of the [Solar] PIE? An Exploratory Analysis of Participation, Inclusivity, and Equity in Halifax, Nova Scotia’s Solar Energy Transition
by Myah Shantz and Chad Walker
Energies 2026, 19(1), 168; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19010168 - 28 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 700
Abstract
Solar energy continues to grow rapidly worldwide. Yet in the context of a ‘just transition’, recent research has found stark disparities in adoption across communities and sociodemographic groups. In Canada, where all levels of government have shown support for solar adoption, there is [...] Read more.
Solar energy continues to grow rapidly worldwide. Yet in the context of a ‘just transition’, recent research has found stark disparities in adoption across communities and sociodemographic groups. In Canada, where all levels of government have shown support for solar adoption, there is a clear lack of equity-centered research. For example, we can find no research that assesses the kinds of people that have invested in or developed solar PV. To begin to address this gap, we present the results from a pilot study set in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), Nova Scotia—a municipality that has developed a novel financing support program called Solar City. This exploratory work focuses on analyzing the levels of participation, equity, and barriers experienced among homeowners who have adopted residential rooftop solar—via both Solar City and other non-local programs. After utilizing aerial imagery to locate a sample of solar installations in the HRM (n = 1315), we shared surveys that asked residents for their sociodemographic information as well as the barriers faced in the adoption of solar. We then compared the sociodemographic information to municipal-level characteristics provided by Statistics Canada. We center our analyses around variables such as age, education, gender, and income. Our paper closes with a discussion and conclusion which we hope will inform future research and practice around equitable pathways towards a just solar energy transition—in Halifax and beyond. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Studies in Renewable Energy Production and Distribution)
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16 pages, 1424 KB  
Article
A Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) Analysis of a Reverse Electrodialysis (RED) Plant in Tuxpan, Mexico
by Monserrat Ortiz, Graciela Rivera and Edgar Mendoza
Energies 2025, 18(20), 5540; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18205540 - 21 Oct 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1383
Abstract
The transition towards low-carbon energy systems requires the adoption of emerging renewable technologies that can diversify energy matrices and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The present study evaluates the technical and economic feasibility of implementing a Reverse Electrodialysis (RED) plant for Salinity Gradient Energy [...] Read more.
The transition towards low-carbon energy systems requires the adoption of emerging renewable technologies that can diversify energy matrices and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The present study evaluates the technical and economic feasibility of implementing a Reverse Electrodialysis (RED) plant for Salinity Gradient Energy (SGE) generation on the coast of Tuxpan, Veracruz, Mexico. This area has significant freshwater and seawater resources but high fossil-fuel dependence. A conceptual design was developed considering local hydrological and salinity conditions, membrane performance, and pre-treatment requirements. The analysis applied Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) and Net Present Value (NPV) methodologies to six water source combinations. Results indicate that the most favorable scenario, combining effluents from the municipal wastewater treatment plant and the Tuxpan river mouth, achieved the highest potential energy yield. However, high capital (USD 1.54 million) and operational costs resulted in negative NPVs, limiting short-term economic viability. Environmental assessment suggests RED could improve water quality and reduce pollutant discharge, though potential construction and operational impacts require mitigation. Despite current cost barriers, RED integration in coastal regions with similar characteristics offers a promising pathway for clean energy generation and environmental restoration, particularly if coupled with cost-reduction strategies and policy incentives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Studies in Renewable Energy Production and Distribution)
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30 pages, 3781 KB  
Article
Adaptive Multi-Objective Firefly Optimization for Energy-Efficient and QoS-Aware Scheduling in Distributed Green Data Centers
by Ahmed Chiheb Ammari, Wael Labidi and Rami Al-Hmouz
Energies 2025, 18(11), 2940; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18112940 - 3 Jun 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1589
Abstract
Green data centers (GDCs) are increasingly deployed worldwide to power digital infrastructure sustainably. These centers integrate renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, to reduce dependence on grid electricity and lower operational costs. When distributed geographically, GDCs face considerable challenges due to [...] Read more.
Green data centers (GDCs) are increasingly deployed worldwide to power digital infrastructure sustainably. These centers integrate renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, to reduce dependence on grid electricity and lower operational costs. When distributed geographically, GDCs face considerable challenges due to spatial variations in renewable energy availability, electricity pricing, and bandwidth costs. This paper addresses the joint optimization of operational cost and service quality for delay-sensitive applications scheduled across distributed green data centers (GDDCs). We formulate a multi-objective optimization problem that minimizes total operational costs while reducing the Average Task Loss Probability (ATLP), a key Quality of Service (QoS) metric. To solve this, we propose an Adaptive Firefly-Based Bi-Objective Optimization (AFBO) algorithm that introduces multiple adaptive mechanisms to improve convergence and diversity. The minimum Manhattan distance method is adopted to select a representative knee solution from each algorithm’s Pareto front, determining optimal task service rates and ISP task splits into each time slot. AFBO is evaluated using real-world trace-driven simulations and compared against benchmark multi-objective algorithms, including multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO), simulated annealing-based bi-objective differential evolution (SBDE), and the baseline Multi-Objective Firefly Algorithm (MOFA). The results show that AFBO achieves up to 64-fold reductions in operational cost and produces an extremely low ATLP value (1.875×10−7) that is nearly two orders of magnitude lower than SBDE and MOFA and several orders better than MOPSO. These findings confirm AFBO’s superior capability to balance energy cost savings and Quality of Service (QoS), outperforming existing methods in both solution quality and convergence speed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Studies in Renewable Energy Production and Distribution)
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Review

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23 pages, 4147 KB  
Review
Overview of the Application of Artificial Intelligence in China’s Park-Level Integrated Energy System: Current Status, Challenges, and Future Paths
by Shuangzeng Tian, Qifen Li, Fanyue Qian, Liting Zhang and Yongwen Yang
Energies 2025, 18(20), 5442; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18205442 - 15 Oct 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1761
Abstract
The global low-carbon energy transition relies on the orderly integration of a high proportion renewable energy. As an important carrier of demand-side energy systems, parks are responsible for local balancing and the accommodation of distributed renewable energy. However, the energy systems of parks [...] Read more.
The global low-carbon energy transition relies on the orderly integration of a high proportion renewable energy. As an important carrier of demand-side energy systems, parks are responsible for local balancing and the accommodation of distributed renewable energy. However, the energy systems of parks exhibit the integrated characteristics of heterogeneous energy sources, including electricity, heat, and gas. It also encompasses the entire source–network–load–storage process, which renders it huge and complex. For this reason, as a systematic review article, this paper aims to summarize the overall application of artificial intelligence technology in China’s park-level comprehensive energy system. First, the current status of technology applications in the corresponding scenarios is analyzed based on three dimensions: prediction, scheduling, and security. Subsequently, key challenges in applying AI technologies to these scenarios are identified, including multi-temporal and spatial synergy issues in source–load forecasting, multi-agent equilibrium problems in dispatch optimization, and cross-modal matching challenges in security operation and maintenance (O&M). Thereafter, the feasible directions to solve these bottlenecks will be discussed comprehensively in light of the latest research advancements. Finally, we propose a phased roadmap for technological development and to identify the key gaps in this research field, such as the lack of publicly available benchmark datasets, data exchange standards, and cross-campus validation frameworks. This article aims to provide a systematic theoretical reference and development framework for the in-depth empowerment of AI technology in the integrated energy system of industrial parks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Studies in Renewable Energy Production and Distribution)
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