Pub Date : 2026-02-10DOI: 10.1016/j.esd.2026.101955
Ángel Ordóñez , Esteban Sánchez
Photovoltaic self-consumption (PVSC) has spread unevenly worldwide. In Ecuador, adoption remains lower than expected, and the influence of residential tariff design on PVSC profitability has received limited attention. This study examines how the increasing block pricing (IBP) tariff and net metering (NM) interact to determine the financial performance of residential PVSC in Ecuador. Full-year, high-resolution monitoring data from eight operational households were analysed. PV generation was scaled from 10% to 100% of annual demand and assessed under four scenarios: IBP with NM, IBP without NM, a fixed-price volumetric tariff with NM, and the same fixed tariff without NM. The results indicate that the IBP structure is the primary driver of profitability: under IBP with NM, the time to return on investment (TROI) is typically short for most households and can become exceptionally low for high-consumption ones. Removing NM reduces returns; however, under IBP, PVSC generally remains viable. In contrast, under a uniform volumetric tariff, NM becomes critical, as profitability deteriorates markedly in its absence. Overall, the findings help explain the uneven uptake of PVSC in Ecuador and highlight the central role of tariff design when deploying residential PVSC under regulated pricing frameworks.
{"title":"Photovoltaic self-consumption in developing countries: Assessing the impact of block tariffs and net metering in Ecuador","authors":"Ángel Ordóñez , Esteban Sánchez","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2026.101955","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2026.101955","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Photovoltaic self-consumption (PVSC) has spread unevenly worldwide. In Ecuador, adoption remains lower than expected, and the influence of residential tariff design on PVSC profitability has received limited attention. This study examines how the increasing block pricing (IBP) tariff and net metering (NM) interact to determine the financial performance of residential PVSC in Ecuador. Full-year, high-resolution monitoring data from eight operational households were analysed. PV generation was scaled from 10% to 100% of annual demand and assessed under four scenarios: IBP with NM, IBP without NM, a fixed-price volumetric tariff with NM, and the same fixed tariff without NM. The results indicate that the IBP structure is the primary driver of profitability: under IBP with NM, the time to return on investment (TROI) is typically short for most households and can become exceptionally low for high-consumption ones. Removing NM reduces returns; however, under IBP, PVSC generally remains viable. In contrast, under a uniform volumetric tariff, NM becomes critical, as profitability deteriorates markedly in its absence. Overall, the findings help explain the uneven uptake of PVSC in Ecuador and highlight the central role of tariff design when deploying residential PVSC under regulated pricing frameworks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 101955"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188851","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-09DOI: 10.1016/j.esd.2026.101953
M.M. Echarte , M.E. Sanz Smachetti , J. Maiorano , L. Iriarte , N. García , A.M. Costa , W. Glessi , A. Giudice
Rural development in Argentina demands comprehensive solutions that address social, environmental, and cultural factors, in addition to economic ones. Decades of unreliable energy supply, deficient infrastructure and services, declining rural labor demand, and environmental pollution from inadequately treated agricultural and agro-industrial waste have led to rural depopulation. This study examines how rural cooperative bioenergy initiatives might emerge and evolve during early-stage implementation under conditions of institutional volatility, using the Los Pinos Biogas Demonstration Unit (BDU) as a qualitative case study. Through a transdisciplinary, participatory process involving researchers, local government, private companies, and community members, a cooperative-managed biogas plant was designed and constructed to address the local energy and environmental challenges faced by a small rural town in the Humid Pampas. The experience is interpreted as a formative socio-technical process characterized by partial institutionalization, in which participatory governance and technological learning advanced despite persistent regulatory, financial, and market constraints. Integrating innovation ecosystem and business environment perspectives, the study shows how local collaboration, adaptive learning, and social embedding can coexist with structural barriers that limit consolidation and replicability. The paper provides analytical grounded insights into the conditions shaping community-based bioenergy initiatives and highlight the need for bioeconomy policies that better align institutional stability, local autonomy, and inclusive governance, particularly in developing-country contexts.
{"title":"Co-creating sustainable futures: A biogas case study in Argentina's humid pampas","authors":"M.M. Echarte , M.E. Sanz Smachetti , J. Maiorano , L. Iriarte , N. García , A.M. Costa , W. Glessi , A. Giudice","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2026.101953","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2026.101953","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rural development in Argentina demands comprehensive solutions that address social, environmental, and cultural factors, in addition to economic ones. Decades of unreliable energy supply, deficient infrastructure and services, declining rural labor demand, and environmental pollution from inadequately treated agricultural and agro-industrial waste have led to rural depopulation. This study examines how rural cooperative bioenergy initiatives might emerge and evolve during early-stage implementation under conditions of institutional volatility, using the Los Pinos Biogas Demonstration Unit (BDU) as a qualitative case study. Through a transdisciplinary, participatory process involving researchers, local government, private companies, and community members, a cooperative-managed biogas plant was designed and constructed to address the local energy and environmental challenges faced by a small rural town in the Humid Pampas. The experience is interpreted as a formative socio-technical process characterized by partial institutionalization, in which participatory governance and technological learning advanced despite persistent regulatory, financial, and market constraints. Integrating innovation ecosystem and business environment perspectives, the study shows how local collaboration, adaptive learning, and social embedding can coexist with structural barriers that limit consolidation and replicability. The paper provides analytical grounded insights into the conditions shaping community-based bioenergy initiatives and highlight the need for bioeconomy policies that better align institutional stability, local autonomy, and inclusive governance, particularly in developing-country contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 101953"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188663","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-09DOI: 10.1016/j.esd.2026.101945
Zequan Lin , Qiangyan Hao , Bin Zhao , Yong Hao , Gang Pei
There is a lack of complete life cycle assessment (LCA) for solar electric vehicles (SEVs), particularly gaps in the quantitative analysis of synergistic effects between vehicle-integrated photovoltaic (VIPV) systems and power battery configurations. To address these issues, this study conducted a cradle-to-grave LCA of SEVs relative to battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Three interlinked models including life cycle carbon emission (LCCE) reduction, life cycle cost (LCC) increase, and energy consumption change were constructed, and four typical Chinese cities with distinct solar resource grades were selected for analysis. Key findings include: (1) SEVs significantly reduce the number of grid charges; for example, BEVs in Lhasa require 442 charges over 10 years, while SEVs only need 83 charges (81.2% reduction). (2) Power battery capacity reduction (20%–30%) balances environmental and economic benefits, and at 20% reduction (Lhasa) or 30% reduction (Chengdu), SEVs' LCC increase shifts from positive to negative. (3) Under similar numbers of charges, compared with BEVs, SEVs can reduce their power battery capacity by 50%–60%. (4) The LCC critical line (0 boundary) shifts upward with solar resource quality: at 25% VIPV efficiency, Lhasa tolerates an initial module cost of 500–600 CNY/m2, while Chengdu only tolerates 200–300 CNY/m2. Notably, improving VIPV efficiency has a weaker impact on LCC reduction than lowering initial module costs.
{"title":"Performance optimization of solar electric vehicles from the perspective of the life cycle","authors":"Zequan Lin , Qiangyan Hao , Bin Zhao , Yong Hao , Gang Pei","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2026.101945","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2026.101945","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>There is a lack of complete life cycle assessment (LCA) for solar electric vehicles (SEVs), particularly gaps in the quantitative analysis of synergistic effects between vehicle-integrated photovoltaic (VIPV) systems and power battery configurations. To address these issues, this study conducted a cradle-to-grave LCA of SEVs relative to battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Three interlinked models including life cycle carbon emission (LCCE) reduction, life cycle cost (LCC) increase, and energy consumption change were constructed, and four typical Chinese cities with distinct solar resource grades were selected for analysis. Key findings include: (1) SEVs significantly reduce the number of grid charges; for example, BEVs in Lhasa require 442 charges over 10 years, while SEVs only need 83 charges (81.2% reduction). (2) Power battery capacity reduction (20%–30%) balances environmental and economic benefits, and at 20% reduction (Lhasa) or 30% reduction (Chengdu), SEVs' LCC increase shifts from positive to negative. (3) Under similar numbers of charges, compared with BEVs, SEVs can reduce their power battery capacity by 50%–60%. (4) The LCC critical line (0 boundary) shifts upward with solar resource quality: at 25% VIPV efficiency, Lhasa tolerates an initial module cost of 500–600 CNY/m<sup>2</sup>, while Chengdu only tolerates 200–300 CNY/m<sup>2</sup>. Notably, improving VIPV efficiency has a weaker impact on LCC reduction than lowering initial module costs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 101945"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188654","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-09DOI: 10.1016/j.esd.2026.101946
Yash Modi , M.J. Mungla , Suketu Jani
India aims to support the clean-energy transition and improve air-quality by focusing on electric mobility. Nevertheless, such an adoption is uneven across states due to variations in electricity generation mix, tariff design, policy support, and public-charging infrastructure availability. This study constructs a state-resolved techno-economic-environmental model to compare electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, four-wheelers and intra-city buses using representative vehicles and harmonized data on grid emission intensity, electricity prices, policy support and fleet usage. Total cost of ownership and lifecycle greenhouse-gas emissions are estimated using deterministic modelling combined with Monte Carlo uncertainty propagation and sensitivity analysis. Machine learning is used to determine the main drivers of adoption and forecast adoption trajectories across states. It is found that electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers deliver universal cost and emissions advantages, and four-wheelers and e-buses are cost-competitive in policy-supportive and tariff-efficient states, with lifecycle CO2 reductions of 35–90% relative to ICE. The three factors that influence the policy effectiveness the most are battery economics, tariff structures, and high-utilization fleet segments. In the absence of co-ordinated interventions, economic opportunity will be concentrated within a few states that lead first. The framework aids specific investment planning aligned with Sustainable Development Goals 7 (ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all) and 11 (making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable) and provides insights that can be transferred to emerging economies aiming to attain an equitable, low-carbon mobility transition.
{"title":"Unlocking India's $200 billion electric vehicle opportunity: State policies, grid decarbonization, and machine learning insights for sustainable development","authors":"Yash Modi , M.J. Mungla , Suketu Jani","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2026.101946","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2026.101946","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>India aims to support the clean-energy transition and improve air-quality by focusing on electric mobility. Nevertheless, such an adoption is uneven across states due to variations in electricity generation mix, tariff design, policy support, and public-charging infrastructure availability. This study constructs a state-resolved techno-economic-environmental model to compare electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, four-wheelers and intra-city buses using representative vehicles and harmonized data on grid emission intensity, electricity prices, policy support and fleet usage. Total cost of ownership and lifecycle greenhouse-gas emissions are estimated using deterministic modelling combined with Monte Carlo uncertainty propagation and sensitivity analysis. Machine learning is used to determine the main drivers of adoption and forecast adoption trajectories across states. It is found that electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers deliver universal cost and emissions advantages, and four-wheelers and e-buses are cost-competitive in policy-supportive and tariff-efficient states, with lifecycle CO<sub>2</sub> reductions of 35–90% relative to ICE. The three factors that influence the policy effectiveness the most are battery economics, tariff structures, and high-utilization fleet segments. In the absence of co-ordinated interventions, economic opportunity will be concentrated within a few states that lead first. The framework aids specific investment planning aligned with Sustainable Development Goals 7 (ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all) and 11 (making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable) and provides insights that can be transferred to emerging economies aiming to attain an equitable, low-carbon mobility transition.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 101946"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188655","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-09DOI: 10.1016/j.esd.2026.101959
Fabian Sittaro , Nils Engler , Dennis Krüger , Komi Agboka , Sebastian Semella , Friederike Naegeli de Torres
Biomass, primarily firewood and charcoal, dominates the energy landscape in Western Africa, driving deforestation, ecosystem degradation and adverse health outcomes. This study presents a comprehensive spatial assessment of the bioenergy potential of small-scale biogas digesters and pyrolysis cookstoves in Togo, addressing the urgent need for sustainable alternatives to traditional wood fuels. Using agricultural residues as feedstock for decentralised bioenergy systems could mitigate these impacts and help to achieve SDGs 7 (affordable and clean energy) and 13 (climate action). Using FAOSTAT and CROPGRIDS data, we mapped the spatial distribution and production volume of the most significant crop residues at high resolution. Residues were categorized by structure and composition in order to estimate biomethane yields and their compatibility with small-scale digesters or cookstoves. Deforestation priority regions were delineated using forest loss data derived from Landsat, enabling targeted analysis of bioenergy deployment in the most affected areas. Theoretical potential was calculated for small-scale digesters (5–15 m3) and household cookstoves based on local residue availability. Additional site-specific assessments were conducted for large-scale anaerobic digestion at over 50 poultry farms. Results reveal substantial and spatially variable bioenergy resources, particularly in regions experiencing severe deforestation. We estimate a theoretical potential of up to 720,000 small-scale biogas digesters (5 m3 capacity) and 480,000 cookstoves, demonstrating the technical feasibility of replacing traditional fuels with agricultural residues. This spatially explicit approach provides a framework for decision-making to scale up sustainable bioenergy solutions in Togo and similar contexts, thus mitigating deforestation, lower greenhouse gas emissions and improving rural livelihoods.
{"title":"Spatial assessment of bioenergy potentials for small biogas digesters and pyrolysis cookstoves: A case study in Togo","authors":"Fabian Sittaro , Nils Engler , Dennis Krüger , Komi Agboka , Sebastian Semella , Friederike Naegeli de Torres","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2026.101959","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2026.101959","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biomass, primarily firewood and charcoal, dominates the energy landscape in Western Africa, driving deforestation, ecosystem degradation and adverse health outcomes. This study presents a comprehensive spatial assessment of the bioenergy potential of small-scale biogas digesters and pyrolysis cookstoves in Togo, addressing the urgent need for sustainable alternatives to traditional wood fuels. Using agricultural residues as feedstock for decentralised bioenergy systems could mitigate these impacts and help to achieve SDGs 7 (affordable and clean energy) and 13 (climate action). Using FAOSTAT and CROPGRIDS data, we mapped the spatial distribution and production volume of the most significant crop residues at high resolution. Residues were categorized by structure and composition in order to estimate biomethane yields and their compatibility with small-scale digesters or cookstoves. Deforestation priority regions were delineated using forest loss data derived from Landsat, enabling targeted analysis of bioenergy deployment in the most affected areas. Theoretical potential was calculated for small-scale digesters (5–15 m<sup>3</sup>) and household cookstoves based on local residue availability. Additional site-specific assessments were conducted for large-scale anaerobic digestion at over 50 poultry farms. Results reveal substantial and spatially variable bioenergy resources, particularly in regions experiencing severe deforestation. We estimate a theoretical potential of up to 720,000 small-scale biogas digesters (5 m<sup>3</sup> capacity) and 480,000 cookstoves, demonstrating the technical feasibility of replacing traditional fuels with agricultural residues. This spatially explicit approach provides a framework for decision-making to scale up sustainable bioenergy solutions in Togo and similar contexts, thus mitigating deforestation, lower greenhouse gas emissions and improving rural livelihoods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 101959"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188662","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-06DOI: 10.1016/j.esd.2026.101942
Dan Oduor Oluoch , Gideon Nyamasyo , Nzioka John Muthama , James K. Gitau , James Moronge , Ruth Mendum , Moses Kirimi , Mary Njenga
Household air pollution from cooking remains a major public health and climate challenge in low-income urban areas. In Kibera informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya high population density living in poorly ventilated houses, surrounded with poor waste management and use of charcoal in inefficient stoves and kerosene expose people to harmful emissions. This study assessed household energy use, cooking time, and emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from cooking with charcoal, kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and electricity under real-world conditions, and explored implications for health and climate policy. Participatory cooking tests of breakfast and dinner were conducted in three households that used all four fuel types identified in a household survey. Real-time measurements of CO, CO2, and PM2.5 were taken before, during, and after cooking. Data were analysed using Welch's ANOVA with Games–Howell post hoc tests. Cooking with any fuel resulted into some household air pollution and charcoal and kerosene produced the highest concentrations of the studied gases and particles. LPG and electricity produced low concentrations and there was no significance difference between the two. The household ambient PM2.5 was 213 μg/m3 implying that people are living in houses with this pollutant being 14.2 times above the 24-h threshold of 15 μg/m3 by World Health Organization guidelines. Hence no fuel switch alone will address household air quality in the informal settlement.
Transitioning households to clean(er) cooking stackings such as with renewable ecooking, improved charcoal cookstoves and LPG scenario showed the highest reduction of emissions contributing toward Kenya's nationally determined contribution of 32% reduction green house gases emission. Clean(er) cooking stacking aimed at net zero should consider sustainable sourcing of the fuel. There is also need for integration of green spaces for air pollutions removal and reduction of emissions from activities such as burning of waste in open spaces, industrial processes and transport.
{"title":"Cooking fuels and household air pollution in resource-constrained urban environments: A field assessment","authors":"Dan Oduor Oluoch , Gideon Nyamasyo , Nzioka John Muthama , James K. Gitau , James Moronge , Ruth Mendum , Moses Kirimi , Mary Njenga","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2026.101942","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2026.101942","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Household air pollution from cooking remains a major public health and climate challenge in low-income urban areas. In Kibera informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya high population density living in poorly ventilated houses, surrounded with poor waste management and use of charcoal in inefficient stoves and kerosene expose people to harmful emissions. This study assessed household energy use, cooking time, and emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) and fine particulate matter (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) from cooking with charcoal, kerosene, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and electricity under real-world conditions, and explored implications for health and climate policy. Participatory cooking tests of breakfast and dinner were conducted in three households that used all four fuel types identified in a household survey. Real-time measurements of CO, CO<sub>2,</sub> and PM<sub>2.5</sub> were taken before, during, and after cooking. Data were analysed using Welch's ANOVA with Games–Howell post hoc tests. Cooking with any fuel resulted into some household air pollution and charcoal and kerosene produced the highest concentrations of the studied gases and particles. LPG and electricity produced low concentrations and there was no significance difference between the two. The household ambient PM<sub>2.5</sub> was 213 μg/m<sup>3</sup> implying that people are living in houses with this pollutant being 14.2 times above the 24-h threshold of 15 μg/m<sup>3</sup> by World Health Organization guidelines. Hence no fuel switch alone will address household air quality in the informal settlement.</div><div>Transitioning households to clean(er) cooking stackings such as with renewable ecooking, improved charcoal cookstoves and LPG scenario showed the highest reduction of emissions contributing toward Kenya's nationally determined contribution of 32% reduction green house gases emission. Clean(er) cooking stacking aimed at net zero should consider sustainable sourcing of the fuel. There is also need for integration of green spaces for air pollutions removal and reduction of emissions from activities such as burning of waste in open spaces, industrial processes and transport.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 101942"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188726","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Integrated biological hydrogen production systems are being critically evaluated as renewable alternatives to traditional fossil fuels, based on hydrogen production processes. The rising environmental issues and depletion of resources call for the use of renewable energy carriers, among which hydrogen is a suitable candidate because of its high energy density and carbon-neutral combustion. This review covers the mechanisms, operating conditions, and recent technological advances of integrated biohydrogen production strategies, such as dark fermentation photo fermentation (DFPF), dark fermentation microbial electrolysis cells (DFMEC), dark fermentation microbial fuel cells (DFMFC), biophotolysis photo fermentation systems, and DF anaerobic digestion (DF-AD) configurations. The sequential integration of biological pathways provides synergistic benefits in terms of hydrogen yield, waste valorization, and overall energy recovery; however, the authors point out that there are still some challenges, such as mismatched operating conditions between stages, microbial stability, reactor design complexity, and scale-up feasibility.
Advances in synthetic biology, nanomaterial-based electrodes, process intensification, and data-driven optimization offer possible solutions to these problems. In summary, this review serves as a vehicle for recent scientific and technological breakthroughs in integrated biohydrogen systems, covering economic aspects and analyzing sustainability implications, as well as envisaging the role of such systems in the framework of the emerging hydrogen economy and circular bioeconomy.
{"title":"Integrated biohydrogen production systems: Advances, synergies, and pathways to a circular hydrogen economy","authors":"Manidipa Roy , Soumyajit Chandra , Tripti Singh , Soumya Pandit , Srijoni Banerjee , Harjot Singh Gill , Mithul Rajeev , Amandeep Sharma , Basant Lal , Rajeev Singh","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2026.101941","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2026.101941","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Integrated biological hydrogen production systems are being critically evaluated as renewable alternatives to traditional fossil fuels, based on hydrogen production processes. The rising environmental issues and depletion of resources call for the use of renewable energy carriers, among which hydrogen is a suitable candidate because of its high energy density and carbon-neutral combustion. This review covers the mechanisms, operating conditions, and recent technological advances of integrated biohydrogen production strategies, such as dark fermentation photo fermentation (DFPF), dark fermentation microbial electrolysis cells (DFMEC), dark fermentation microbial fuel cells (DFMFC), biophotolysis photo fermentation systems, and DF anaerobic digestion (DF-AD) configurations. The sequential integration of biological pathways provides synergistic benefits in terms of hydrogen yield, waste valorization, and overall energy recovery; however, the authors point out that there are still some challenges, such as mismatched operating conditions between stages, microbial stability, reactor design complexity, and scale-up feasibility.</div><div>Advances in synthetic biology, nanomaterial-based electrodes, process intensification, and data-driven optimization offer possible solutions to these problems. In summary, this review serves as a vehicle for recent scientific and technological breakthroughs in integrated biohydrogen systems, covering economic aspects and analyzing sustainability implications, as well as envisaging the role of such systems in the framework of the emerging hydrogen economy and circular bioeconomy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 101941"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188743","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-06DOI: 10.1016/j.esd.2026.101943
Théo Chamarande, Benjamin Pillot
Cooking is one of the basic human needs that requires energy. Solid biomass is currently the main energy source for more than 2 billion people worldwide. In West Africa, biomass is used by 85% of the population. Modeling cooking scenarios helps understanding current energy mixes and potential paths to increase their sustainability. This study proposes a spatial model that optimizes the cost or carbon footprint of cooking a meal based on local resource availability (biomass, solar energy). We illustrate this method on three countries : Senegal, Niger and Côte d’Ivoire, but it can easily be applied to other regions or countries. The goal of this article is not to advocate for an optimal cooking energy mix, but rather to identify the main drivers of such a mix and to evaluate the effectiveness of potential public policies to enhance it. Our results highlight the strong potential for solar cooking in the Sahel, the low relevance of current electric cooking, and the major role played by traditional biomass. We also analyze how sensitive are the results of cooking optimization models to modeling assumptions, especially regarding biomass characterization.
{"title":"Spatial modeling of cooking energy mixes: The case of West Africa","authors":"Théo Chamarande, Benjamin Pillot","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2026.101943","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2026.101943","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cooking is one of the basic human needs that requires energy. Solid biomass is currently the main energy source for more than 2 billion people worldwide. In West Africa, biomass is used by 85% of the population. Modeling cooking scenarios helps understanding current energy mixes and potential paths to increase their sustainability. This study proposes a spatial model that optimizes the cost or carbon footprint of cooking a meal based on local resource availability (biomass, solar energy). We illustrate this method on three countries : Senegal, Niger and Côte d’Ivoire, but it can easily be applied to other regions or countries. The goal of this article is not to advocate for an optimal cooking energy mix, but rather to identify the main drivers of such a mix and to evaluate the effectiveness of potential public policies to enhance it. Our results highlight the strong potential for solar cooking in the Sahel, the low relevance of current electric cooking, and the major role played by traditional biomass. We also analyze how sensitive are the results of cooking optimization models to modeling assumptions, especially regarding biomass characterization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 101943"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188740","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.esd.2026.101938
Jun Li , Bin Yang , Mingke He
The key factors determining the total cost of ownership (TCO) of battery-electric vehicle (BEV) and battery-swapping electric vehicle (BSEV) are analysed. The effects of multiple incentive policies and carbon emission regulation on the cost competitiveness and carbon emission reduction of BEV and BSEV are explored in China. The comprehensive TCO model for BEV and BSEV is proposed focusing on vehicle category, city, incentive policy, and application. The TCO of BSEV’ M-SUV is approximately 20,000 yuan higher than that of internal combustion engine vehicle ICEV across five cities under the private car mode. The TCO of BSEV for all vehicle categories is the lowest, being approximately 100,000 yuan lower than that of BEV and around 250,000 yuan lower than that of ICEV under the ride-hailing mode. The incentive policies are essential to improve the cost competitiveness of BEV and BSEV under the private car mode. By contrast, TCO of BEV and BSEV is still 50,000 to 300,000 yuan lower than that of ICEV even without the implementation of incentive policies under the ride-hailing mode in 10 cities. Through sensitivity analysis, the rising unit carbon price, extended driving mileage and proportion of electricity generated from renewable energy sources have increasingly highlighted the advantage of BSEV in reducing carbon emission cost. The appropriate discount rates and optimized battery replacement period can effectively reduce the TCO of BEV and BSEV. Using the BEV with battery capacity of 75 kWh under the private car mode and the BSEV with battery capacity of 100 kWh under the ride-hailing mode are more conducive to TCO reduction. The methodology proposed in this paper can be used in other city and country studies, and generate useful information for supporting decision-making.
{"title":"Cost competitiveness and carbon reduction of battery-electric vehicle and battery-swapping electric vehicle with incentive policy in China","authors":"Jun Li , Bin Yang , Mingke He","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2026.101938","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2026.101938","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The key factors determining the total cost of ownership (TCO) of battery-electric vehicle (BEV) and battery-swapping electric vehicle (BSEV) are analysed. The effects of multiple incentive policies and carbon emission regulation on the cost competitiveness and carbon emission reduction of BEV and BSEV are explored in China. The comprehensive TCO model for BEV and BSEV is proposed focusing on vehicle category, city, incentive policy, and application. The TCO of BSEV’ M-SUV is approximately 20,000 yuan higher than that of internal combustion engine vehicle ICEV across five cities under the private car mode. The TCO of BSEV for all vehicle categories is the lowest, being approximately 100,000 yuan lower than that of BEV and around 250,000 yuan lower than that of ICEV under the ride-hailing mode. The incentive policies are essential to improve the cost competitiveness of BEV and BSEV under the private car mode. By contrast, TCO of BEV and BSEV is still 50,000 to 300,000 yuan lower than that of ICEV even without the implementation of incentive policies under the ride-hailing mode in 10 cities. Through sensitivity analysis, the rising unit carbon price, extended driving mileage and proportion of electricity generated from renewable energy sources have increasingly highlighted the advantage of BSEV in reducing carbon emission cost. The appropriate discount rates and optimized battery replacement period can effectively reduce the TCO of BEV and BSEV. Using the BEV with battery capacity of 75 kWh under the private car mode and the BSEV with battery capacity of 100 kWh under the ride-hailing mode are more conducive to TCO reduction. The methodology proposed in this paper can be used in other city and country studies, and generate useful information for supporting decision-making.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 101938"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188653","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-04DOI: 10.1016/j.esd.2026.101947
Zeynep Goze Gurkan , Pablo Duenas-Martinez , Ayse Selin Kocaman
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is a key clean cooking alternative to biomass, especially in developing countries where household air pollution remains a major concern. This study proposes a scalable decision-making framework for the design of LPG distribution networks, using Rwanda as a case study. We formulate a hierarchical location–allocation model as a Mixed-Integer Linear Program (MILP), leveraging a large-scale dataset with rooftop-level LPG demand for over 3.3 million households across Rwanda. To enable tractable, country-scale optimization, we adopt two complementary strategies: (i) a time-aggregated formulation assuming stable seasonal demand, and (ii) a spatial aggregation method based on agglomerative hierarchical clustering, which places retailers at distance-constrained geomedian points of rooftop clusters. We compare this clustering-based approach against a benchmark that uses village centroids for retailer siting, demonstrating cost savings and improved spatial fairness. Additionally, we assess the scalability of the system under projected demand growth and evaluate infrastructure–transportation trade-offs under fluctuating diesel prices. Our findings underscore the potential of data-driven planning tools in advancing equitable access to clean cooking solutions.
{"title":"Data-driven location–allocation for clean cooking LPG supply chains: A mixed-integer programming approach for Rwanda","authors":"Zeynep Goze Gurkan , Pablo Duenas-Martinez , Ayse Selin Kocaman","doi":"10.1016/j.esd.2026.101947","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.esd.2026.101947","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is a key clean cooking alternative to biomass, especially in developing countries where household air pollution remains a major concern. This study proposes a scalable decision-making framework for the design of LPG distribution networks, using Rwanda as a case study. We formulate a hierarchical location–allocation model as a Mixed-Integer Linear Program (MILP), leveraging a large-scale dataset with rooftop-level LPG demand for over 3.3 million households across Rwanda. To enable tractable, country-scale optimization, we adopt two complementary strategies: (i) a time-aggregated formulation assuming stable seasonal demand, and (ii) a spatial aggregation method based on agglomerative hierarchical clustering, which places retailers at distance-constrained geomedian points of rooftop clusters. We compare this clustering-based approach against a benchmark that uses village centroids for retailer siting, demonstrating cost savings and improved spatial fairness. Additionally, we assess the scalability of the system under projected demand growth and evaluate infrastructure–transportation trade-offs under fluctuating diesel prices. Our findings underscore the potential of data-driven planning tools in advancing equitable access to clean cooking solutions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49209,"journal":{"name":"Energy for Sustainable Development","volume":"92 ","pages":"Article 101947"},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188661","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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