Search Results (119)

Power systems are undergoing a transformative transition as consumers seek greater participation in managing electricity systems. This shift has given rise to the concept of “prosumers,” individuals who both consume and produce electricity, primarily through renewable energy sources. While renewables offer undeniable environmental benefits, they also introduce significant energy management challenges. One major concern is the variability in energy consumption patterns within households, which can lead to inefficiencies. Also, improper energy management can result in economic losses due to unbalanced energy control or inefficient systems. Home Energy Management Systems (HEMSs) have emerged as a promising solution to address these challenges. A well-designed HEMS enables users to achieve greater efficiency in managing their energy consumption, optimizing asset usage while ensuring cost savings and system reliability. This paper presents a comprehensive systematic review of optimization techniques applied to HEMS development between 2019 and 2024, focusing on key technical and computational factors influencing their advancement. The review categorizes optimization techniques into two main groups: conventional methods, emerging techniques, and machine learning methods. By analyzing recent developments, this study provides an integrated perspective on the evolving role of HEMSs in modern power systems, highlighting trends that enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of energy management in smart grids. Unifying taxonomy of HEMSs (2019–2024) and integrating mathematical, heuristic/metaheuristic, and ML/DRL approaches across horizons, controllability, and uncertainty, we assess algorithmic complexity versus tractability, benchmark comparative evidence (cost, PAR, runtime), and highlight deployment gaps (privacy, cybersecurity, AMI/HAN, and explainability), offering a novel synthesis for AI-enabled HEMS. Full article

As sensitive parts of the water treatment process, reverse osmosis (RO) membranes are the most important for desalination and wastewater treatment. But the performance of RO membranes deteriorates over time due to fouling, necessitating frequent replacements. One of the environmental challenges is the disposal of End-of-Life (EoL) RO membranes, which are made of non-biodegradable polymers. The reuse of EoL membranes as a sustainable approach for waste saving and resource efficiency has recently attracted considerable attention. The present work provides a comprehensive overview of the strategies for reusing EoL RO membranes as sustainable alternatives to conventional disposal methods. Furthermore, the fundamental principles of RO technology, the primary types and impacts of membrane fouling, and advanced cleaning and regeneration techniques are discussed. The conversion of EoL membranes into nanofiltration (NF), ultrafiltration (UF), and forward osmosis (FO) membranes is also covered in this review, as well as their uses in brackish water desalination, dye/salt separation, groundwater treatment, and household wastewater reuse. Environmental and economic benefits, as well as technical, social, and regulatory challenges, are also discussed. Finally, the review highlights innovative approaches and future directions for incorporating EoL membrane reuse into circular economy models, outlining its potential to improve sustainability and reduce operational costs in water treatment systems. Full article

Based on a sample of 412 apple farmer households across Gansu, Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Shandong provinces in China, this study estimates production efficiency and its determinants for apple growers. The stochastic frontier analysis model estimates technical efficiency while the Tobit model identifies influencing factors. Results show that the average production efficiency of smallholder apple farmers is relatively low at 0.45, indicating significant room for improvement. Production efficiency exhibits an inverted “U” relationship with farm scale, and excessive pesticide inputs have a significant negative impact on efficiency. Computer use to search for information among farmers was found to significantly improve apple production efficiency, indicating the potential benefits of ICT adoption. However, membership in cooperatives had no significant effect on efficiency. Overall, these findings suggest approaches to enhance the productivity of China’s apple growers through improved resource allocation, optimized farm scale, and the promotion of information technology. Full article

As the process of agricultural modernization accelerates, exploring the impact of agricultural mechanization services on production technology efficiency has become a key issue for enhancing agricultural productivity and promoting sustainable agricultural development. The study focuses on cotton growers in the Tarim River Basin and systematically explores the impact and driving mechanisms of agricultural mechanization services (AMSs) on cotton production’s technical efficiency within the framework of the social–ecological system (SES). By employing a combination of stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) and propensity score matching (PSM), the research indicates that the adoption of AMSs significantly enhances the production technical efficiency of cotton farmers. Among the sample that adopted this service, as much as 53.04% of the farmers have their production efficiency within the range of [0.8, 0.9], demonstrating a high production capability. In contrast, the production efficiency values of the farmers who did not adopt such services are more dispersed, with inefficient samples accounting for 11.48%. Furthermore, while the technical efficiency levels across different regions are similar, there are significant efficiency differences within regions. A further analysis indicates that the age of the household head, their education level, the number of agricultural laborers in the family, the proportion of income from planting, and irrigation convenience have a positive impact on farmers’ adoption of AMSs, while the degree of land fragmentation has a negative impact. Therefore, AMSs are not only a core pathway to enhance cotton production’s technical efficiency but also an important support for promoting agricultural modernization in arid areas and strengthening farmers’ risk-resistance capabilities. Future policies should focus on optimizing service delivery, enhancing technical adaptability, and promoting regional collaboration to drive the high-quality development of the cotton industry and support sustainable rural revitalization. Full article

An analysis of the possibilities of using alternative energy to solve the problem of electricity shortages in developing countries shows that solar energy can potentially play an essential role in the fuel and energy complex. The geographical location, on the one hand, and the global development of solar energy technologies, on the other, create an opportunity for a fairly complete and rapid solution to problems of insufficient energy supply. An autonomous solar installation is expensive; 50% of the cost is solar modules, 45% of the cost consists of other elements (battery, inverter, charge controller), and 5% is for other materials. This work proposes the most efficient PV system, based on the technical characteristics of the SB and AB. It has a direct connection between the SB and AB and provides almost full use of the solar panel’s installed power with a variable orientation to the Sun. The development of a small solar photovoltaic (PV) installation, operating both in parallel with the grid and in autonomous mode, can improve the power supply of household consumers more efficiently and faster than the development of a large energy system. It is suggested that two minimized criteria be used to create a model for forecasting FOU. This model can be used with a genetic algorithm to make a prediction that fits a specific case, such as a time series representation based on discrete fuzzy sets of the second type. The goal is to make decisions that are more valid and useful by creating a forecast model and algorithms for analyzing small PV indicators whose current values are shown by short time series and automating the processes needed for forecasting and analysis. Full article

Nigeria is among the countries highly vulnerable to climate change impact. Thus, there has been growing emphasis on the pursuit of decarbonization and net-zero (net-zero transition) strategies. The aim of this work is to review major concepts in research publications associated with climate change mitigation in Nigeria. The literature search was conducted on the Scopus database using relevant keyword operators. Mixed methods were adopted to conduct bibliometric, text mining and content analysis. Bibliometric software (VOSviewer) was used. The research objectives were to identify how net-zero transition research has evolved in Nigeria; their important research themes and trends in Nigeria, and potential directions for future research on achieving them in Nigeria. The results show that the number of publications in the field has been increasing, with 87% of the articles included in the dataset published between 2016 and 2024. Through data clustering, eight clusters of articles were identified, namely (i) the renewable energy, economic growth and emission reduction nexus (ii) energy transition in the Nigerian power system, (iii) policy drivers (socio-technical and economic) for a cleaner energy system, (iv) energy transition governance, (v) hybrid renewable energy systems, (vi) low-carbon transition, (vii) energy efficiency and low-carbon growth and others. By checking through the keywords used by authors, it appears that the most popular keywords are carbon neutrality, hydrogen, biomass, circular economy, and electric vehicles. These keywords further highlight areas of research interests. Some of the potential future directions identified include the need for effective research communication and strong cooperation between academia and relevant CC policy-making bodies to translate scientific research into evidence-based policies and actionable frameworks; tiered subsidies or tax rebates to low-income households to promote CC mitigating technologies and align CC objectives with social equity; and others. Although this work focuses solely on Nigeria, the country shares similar characteristics with many sub-Saharan African countries, and some others in the global South. Accordingly, the findings will be relevant to those areas, with some unique adaptations. Full article

Energy conservation has become a critical issue, especially in the context of global environmental challenges and rising energy costs. This article emphasizes the growing importance of sustainability by integrating technical evaluations of heat recovery ventilation (HRV) systems and energy demand reduction with an economic analysis of new detached buildings in Poland. We studied the economic efficiency of the application of HRV in the context of different insulation thicknesses and quantities of air exchanged. Through over 2500 building energy performance simulations, the study explores the economic and environmental interplay between investments in HRV and insulation technologies. The findings demonstrated that households can achieve significant energy savings, around 2600 kWh annually, by installing an HRV system. These savings are contingent upon various factors, including air exchange rates, insulation thickness, and the thermal properties of windows. The economic analysis revealed that economic benefits due to optimal insulation are in the range of EUR 1000–8600 and from EUR 500 up to 5900 regarding investment in HRV, depending on the energy price and intensity of ventilation. Full article

Smart home technologies (SHT) offer numerous benefits to consumers. This study explored the relationship between the perceived benefits of and the likelihood of subsequently purchasing SHT among Taiwanese consumers. The study conducted a survey in May 2024 and collected data from 424 respondents of various ages, educational backgrounds, and income levels. Data on the perceived benefits of SHT, the perceived challenges of adopting these technologies, current methods for managing household tasks and energy consumption, and the likelihood of purchasing SHT were collected. The perceived benefits of SHT include enhanced comfort, security, and energy efficiency. Comfort and energy efficiency but not enhanced security were significant predictors of adoption. Proficiency in online research but not general technical proficiency also significantly predicted adoption. Consumers dissatisfied with current home energy management methods were more likely to adopt SHT. Positive perceptions of benefits and dissatisfaction with current methods drive the adoption of SHT. As there is increasing environmental awareness in Taiwan, this study verifies that environmentally conscious consumers affect their buying decisions positively. This study highlights how SHT can improve quality of life while promoting sustainable development. The study offers valuable insights into consumer buying behaviors and contributes to the SHT industry with actionable suggestions for improving product design, incorporating more green technology into their products, enhancing user interfaces, strengthening security protocols, and upgrading interoperability between different smart home devices that may facilitate users to embrace SHT. Full article

Private sector investment interventions serve as essential mechanisms for creating efficient, cost-effective financial solutions and technological support for emerging farmers in developing economies, yet their successful implementation is influenced by various contextual and socioeconomic factors. Using a quantitative research approach, this study examined the factors influencing participation in private sector investment interventions among 121 emerging commercial farmers in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, utilizing a Poisson regression model to analyze four key intervention areas: credit access, market access, technical support, and spot supply. The first-hurdle model revealed that age and training skills negatively influenced market access while the training period showed positive influence, and similarly, the second-hurdle equation demonstrated that employment status and training period positively influenced participation intensity levels, though age maintained its negative impact. The findings of the first-hurdle model reveal that age and training skills negatively influenced market participation. The study concludes that employment status and training period positively impacted technical support adoption, with household size and training period emerging as significant determinants of intervention success. The private sector needs to develop strategic partnership models that encourage emerging farmers to participate intensively in interventions that are designed to improve their production and productivity. There is a need for targeted capacity-building programmes and enhanced extension services to improve emerging commercial farmers’ participation in private-sector initiatives. Full article

Battery storage systems are becoming very popular around the world. However, they are mainly used in industry for high-performance applications. Domestic use is still sporadic due to size and cost issues. This work overviews basic conceptual designs for a cost-effective battery storage system. The main specificity of the proposed systems is the use of commonly available recycled batteries from household appliances such as laptops and backup power supplies. The circuit topology considered is a 3S (three cells in series) configuration. This is because such wiring arrangements are those that are most often found in the home appliances described here. The technical solutions of the device itself focus on the ratio of the efficiency of the whole system to the production cost. Given the above, attention was paid to the simulation analysis of the operating modes, which directly influenced the components’ price. Changing the switching control scheme of the power transistors makes it possible to reduce the requirements for the driving components used with minimal impact on the power conversion efficiency (Δη 1–4%). According to the established findings, a prototype was made on which the simulation findings were verified; then, we further focused on the experimental measurement of the efficiency of the MPPT converter and conducted an analysis of a methodology in which we measure the deviation from the actual point of maximum power. The simple possibility of parallelizing the individual storage devices will again help improve the system’s overall efficiency. This makes the system suitable for use in small spaces such as houses, garages, cellars, etc. Full article

The paper presents a review of CNTs synthesis methods and their application as a functional filler to obtain polymer composites for various technical purposes for strain gauges, electrical heating, anti-static coatings, electrically conductive compounds, etc. Various synthesis methods allow CNTs with different morphology and structural properties to be created, which expands the possibilities of the application of such nanoscale structures. Polymers can provide such effects as ‘shape memory’ and self-repair of mechanical defects. Different combinations of polymers and dispersed fillers influence the change in electrical and thermal conductivity, as well as the positive temperature coefficient of resistance, which makes it possible to achieve the effect of temperature self-regulation during electrical heating. CNTs make it possible to form PTCR (positive temperature coefficient of resistance) in elastomers at lower concentrations, which makes it possible to preserve mechanical strength and use more efficient modes of heat generation. For strain gauges, CNTs improve sensitivity to mechanical effects and extend the measurement range. The use of thermoplastic elastomers provides the temperature of PTCR operation for electric heating at the level of 200 °C (voltage 240 V), which allows such heaters to operate at a power supply from a household electrical network. CNTs-based strain gauges can provide structural condition monitoring of composite materials. Full article

In the field of mechanical engineering, understanding mechanisms is essential for designing and developing devices and systems. Mechanisms, composed of interconnected elements, transform the energy applied to the input link into motion or force in the output link. Mechanisms are found in a wide variety of machines, from industrial machines to household machines. In this paper, a mechanism synthesis method is developed that can model four-bar linkages and build their cognate mechanisms to be able to select the mechanism that best suits the required work. Studying four-bar mechanisms offers a strong foundation for grasping more complex mechanical systems. The concepts and principles learned from four-bar mechanisms are widely applicable to advanced mechanical systems, making them a crucial starting point in mechanical engineering education and research. The mechanism synthesis method proposed in this article is organized into three main sections. The first section provides a comprehensive overview of the theoretical and mathematical foundations required for modeling mechanisms, laying the groundwork for understanding the subsequent calculations. The second section delves into the process of obtaining and analyzing the initial mechanism and constructing cognate mechanisms, detailing the procedures and algorithms used for modeling and calculating the coupling curve. Finally, the third section discusses the practical implementation of the method, including the graphical representation of mechanisms and a comparative analysis of the solutions obtained, assessing dimensional differences, design and manufacturing efficiency, and their suitability for various practical applications. The proposed four-bar mechanism synthesis method serves as a valuable tool for mechanism design, offering versatile and adaptable solutions that can optimize both technical performance and economic viability across a wide range of engineering applications. Full article

This study addresses methodical and empirical dimensions of energy poverty based on the case study of the Masovian Voivodeship (also referred to as Mazovia) of Poland, focusing on socioeconomic, technical, and infrastructural factors affecting the thermal comfort of households, while taking into account the local contexts. Using both objective and subjective indicators, this study analyses selected conditions and perceptions of household groups defined as “energy poor”. The representative study group surveyed during the research process includes 2000 residents of the Masovian Voivodeship of Poland. The study was conducted utilising the computer-assisted web interview (CAWI) and computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) methods. Analysis results show significant regional differences: the prevalence of energy poverty varies significantly depending on energy costs, housing conditions, and heating sources. Results indicate that older buildings and single-family houses, especially those still using coal or wood heating, are characterised by the greatest vulnerability to energy poverty, often related to insufficient insulation and outdated heating infrastructure. Conclusions highlight the urgent need to implement targeted policy interventions, advocating for thermal efficiency programmes and support for low-income households to alleviate the wider socioeconomic and health consequences of energy poverty in the region. Full article

The increasing demand for renewable energy sources indicates that an increasing number of single-family homeowners are choosing photovoltaic installations. These systems facilitate self-sufficient electricity production, increasing the energy independence of households. Although the prevalence and advancements in this field are growing, users frequently experience technical problems and failures that can affect the efficiency of the installation and the satisfaction with their use. The aim of this paper is to analyze the problems encountered by users of photovoltaic installations in single-family buildings. The study relies on user feedback, enabling the identification of the most frequently occurring issues from their viewpoint and the assessment of the reliability of the systems. While the analysis does not allow for a direct technical diagnosis of faults, the results obtained from the surveys provide valuable information on the frequency of problems and the elements of the system that require special attention. On this basis, conclusions can be drawn that can support further work on improving the reliability of the installation. The presented analysis includes not only specific failures, but also the overall satisfaction of users. Full article

To address global warming challenges, industry, transportation, residential, and other sectors must adapt to reduce the greenhouse effect. One promising solution is the use of renewable energy and energy-saving mechanisms. This paper analyzes several renewable energy sources and storage systems, taking into consideration the possibility of integrating them with smart homes. The integration process requires the development of smart home energy management systems coupled with renewable energy and energy storage elements. Furthermore, a real-life solar energy power plant composed of programmable components was designed and mounted on the roof of a single-family residential building. Based on a long-term analysis of its operation, the main advantages and disadvantages of the proposed implementation solution are highlighted, exemplifying the concepts presented in the paper. Being composed of programmable components, which allow the implementation of custom algorithms and monitoring applications to optimize its operation, the system will be used as a prototyping platform in future research. The evaluation of the developed system over a period of one year showed that, even when using a basic implementation such as the one in this paper, significant savings regarding a household’s energy consumption can be achieved (36% of the energy bought from the supplier, meaning EUR 545 from a total of EUR 1497). Finally, based on the analysis of the developed prototype system, the main technical challenges that must be addressed in the future to efficiently manage renewable energy storage and use in today’s smart homes were identified. Full article