Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-10DOI: 10.1016/j.nexus.2026.100660
Sakiru Adebola Solarin , Fatima Romero-Rojo , Luis Alberiko Gil-Alana
Energy intensity of well-being measures the volume of energy consumption per unit of human well-being. Numerous features of the indicator have not been assessed in the extant literature including its persistence. This study focusses on the persistence of energy intensity of well-being using the data of 31 OECD countries for 1965–2022 period. Three indicators of well-being, including life expectancy, under-five survival rates and infant survival rates have been evaluated in the analysis. Using a fractional integration method, the results indicate that most of the series are highly persistent, with order of integration about 1. Mean reversion and thus transitory shocks are found in only few countries that are mostly Scandinavian countries. An implication of the results is that there is hysteresis in energy intensity of well-being in majority of the OECD countries. Hence, long-term measures interventions as against short-term blueprints are required to essentially further decrease energy intensity of well-being in the OECD countries. The results also suggest that it is not feasible to correctly project the future values of energy intensity of well-being by just counting on their historical values. There is the need to incorporate the importance of other potential factors in projecting future values of energy intensity of well-being.
{"title":"Persistence analysis of energy intensity of well-being in OECD countries","authors":"Sakiru Adebola Solarin , Fatima Romero-Rojo , Luis Alberiko Gil-Alana","doi":"10.1016/j.nexus.2026.100660","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nexus.2026.100660","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Energy intensity of well-being measures the volume of energy consumption per unit of human well-being. Numerous features of the indicator have not been assessed in the extant literature including its persistence. This study focusses on the persistence of energy intensity of well-being using the data of 31 OECD countries for 1965–2022 period. Three indicators of well-being, including life expectancy, under-five survival rates and infant survival rates have been evaluated in the analysis. Using a fractional integration method, the results indicate that most of the series are highly persistent, with order of integration about 1. Mean reversion and thus transitory shocks are found in only few countries that are mostly Scandinavian countries. An implication of the results is that there is hysteresis in energy intensity of well-being in majority of the OECD countries. Hence, long-term measures interventions as against short-term blueprints are required to essentially further decrease energy intensity of well-being in the OECD countries. The results also suggest that it is not feasible to correctly project the future values of energy intensity of well-being by just counting on their historical values. There is the need to incorporate the importance of other potential factors in projecting future values of energy intensity of well-being.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93548,"journal":{"name":"Energy nexus","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100660"},"PeriodicalIF":9.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147396224","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nanobubble technology is increasingly being explored in aquaculture for its potential to enhance water quality, control pathogens, and improve fish performance. This study investigated the effects of ozone nanobubbles (O3NB) on rearing-water microbial communities and early development of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in a pond-water-sourced flow-through hatchery system. A two-factorial experimental design combined four O3NB water treatments (Control; Low: 277 ± 104 mV; Moderate: 392 ± 134 mV; High: 610 ± 122 mV) with two rearing techniques (with or without regular removal of unfertilised eggs and dead individuals; R and NR). O3NB exposure altered microbial community composition in rearing water, with alpha-diversity indices (ACE, OTU, Shannon, Simpson) showing negative relationships with increasing O3NB intensity. Taxonomic profiling indicated a marked reduction in genus richness under higher O3NB exposure, with communities dominated by Moheibacter, Tepidimonas, and Sphingobacterium. Regular removal of dead organic matter increased hatching and survival compared with non-removal. O3NB effects were dose-dependent: the highest mean larval body length and high hatching success (∼80 %) occurred under Low O3NB treatment among surviving larvae, particularly under R-technique, while Moderate and High exposures reduced hatching (<40 %) and survival (<5 % in High-NR). Yolk-sac absorption occurred more rapidly under O3NB exposure, but was completed across all groups by 77 dpF. Overall, these findings indicate that low-level O3NB, when used to complement (rather than replace) standard hatchery practices such as the removal of dead organic matter, can support microbial control and early developmental performance of rainbow trout in hatchery systems with elevated organic load. In contrast, excessive exposure compromises embryo viability and larval survival. Further optimisation of O3NB dosing and application strategies is therefore required, recognising the effectiveness and safety under different system-specific conditions.
{"title":"Ozone nanobubble effects on early development of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and rearing-water microbial communities in a flow-through hatchery","authors":"Markéta Dvořáková Prokešová , Hung Quang Tran , Ilario Ferrocino , Vlastimil Stejskal , Maksim Kononov , Vu Thi Trang , Pham Thai Giang , Elayaraja Sivaramasamy","doi":"10.1016/j.nexus.2026.100656","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nexus.2026.100656","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Nanobubble technology is increasingly being explored in aquaculture for its potential to enhance water quality, control pathogens, and improve fish performance. This study investigated the effects of ozone nanobubbles (O<sub>3</sub>NB) on rearing-water microbial communities and early development of rainbow trout (<em>Oncorhynchus mykiss</em>) in a pond-water-sourced flow-through hatchery system. A two-factorial experimental design combined four O<sub>3</sub>NB water treatments (Control; Low: 277 ± 104 mV; Moderate: 392 ± 134 mV; High: 610 ± 122 mV) with two rearing techniques (with or without regular removal of unfertilised eggs and dead individuals; R and NR). O<sub>3</sub>NB exposure altered microbial community composition in rearing water, with alpha-diversity indices (ACE, OTU, Shannon, Simpson) showing negative relationships with increasing O<sub>3</sub>NB intensity. Taxonomic profiling indicated a marked reduction in genus richness under higher O<sub>3</sub>NB exposure, with communities dominated by <em>Moheibacter, Tepidimonas</em>, and <em>Sphingobacterium</em>. Regular removal of dead organic matter increased hatching and survival compared with non-removal. O<sub>3</sub>NB effects were dose-dependent: the highest mean larval body length and high hatching success (∼80 %) occurred under Low O<sub>3</sub>NB treatment among surviving larvae, particularly under R-technique, while Moderate and High exposures reduced hatching (<40 %) and survival (<5 % in High-NR). Yolk-sac absorption occurred more rapidly under O<sub>3</sub>NB exposure, but was completed across all groups by 77 dpF. Overall, these findings indicate that low-level O<sub>3</sub>NB, when used to complement (rather than replace) standard hatchery practices such as the removal of dead organic matter, can support microbial control and early developmental performance of rainbow trout in hatchery systems with elevated organic load. In contrast, excessive exposure compromises embryo viability and larval survival. Further optimisation of O<sub>3</sub>NB dosing and application strategies is therefore required, recognising the effectiveness and safety under different system-specific conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93548,"journal":{"name":"Energy nexus","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100656"},"PeriodicalIF":9.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147396229","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Copper tin sulfides are extensively investigated as an electroactive material for energy storage applications due to their higher theoretical pseudocapacitance. The combination of pseudocapacitance behavior of Cu2SnS3 and double layer capacitance behavior of rGO is expected to boost the electrochemical property of the electrode. Here, the rGO supported Cu2SnS3 nanocomposite was prepared by using the hydrothermal method. The pure and rGO loaded samples were found to have a tetragonal structure from the XRD analysis and the Raman spectra confirm the formation of rGO supported Cu2SnS3 from the D and G bands arising along with Cu2SnS3 vibrational modes. Moreover, the flower-shaped Cu2SnS3 was covered by rGO nanosheet and is illustrated in the SEM and HRTEM analysis. Also, the Cu2SnS3@rGO-2 electrode delivers a higher capacitance value of 630 F/g at 1 A/g, which is much higher than Cu2SnS3, Cu2SnS3@rGO-1, Cu2SnS3@rGO-3 and Cu2SnS3@rGO-5 electrodes. The cyclic efficiency of the Cu2SnS3@rGO-2 showed 98.38% which is higher than the Cu2SnS3 (92.59%), Cu2SnS3@rGO-1 (96.61%), Cu2SnS3@rGO-3 (98.5%) and Cu2SnS3@rGO-5 (97.17%) electrodes over 2000 cycles. Further, the fabrication of asymmetric supercapacitor device, the positive electrode is Cu2SnS3@rGO-2 electrode and the activated carbon (AC) as the negative electrode for asymmetric type supercapacitor devices using 1 M KOH electrolyte dipped filter paper is the separator. The Cu2SnS3@rGO-2//AC device showed the maximum capacity value of 71.33 mAh/g. Also, the energy and power densities were 47.55 Wh/kg and 1600 W/kg, respectively, at a current density of 1 A/g. In addition, the Cu2SnS3@rGO-2//AC device has higher capacitance retention of 73.26% for 10,000 cycles. The addition of rGO is used to improve electrical conductivity and elevate the volume charge of the Cu2SnS3 electrode.
由于铜锡硫化物具有较高的理论赝电容，因此作为一种电活性材料被广泛研究用于储能应用。Cu2SnS3的赝电容行为和氧化石墨烯的双层电容行为的结合有望提高电极的电化学性能。本文采用水热法制备了氧化石墨烯负载的Cu2SnS3纳米复合材料。XRD分析表明，纯Cu2SnS3和负载还原氧化石墨烯的样品均呈正方结构，拉曼光谱也证实了还原氧化石墨烯支持的Cu2SnS3在D和G波段的形成。此外，花状Cu2SnS3被还原氧化石墨烯纳米片覆盖，并在SEM和HRTEM分析中得到证实。此外，Cu2SnS3@rGO-2电极在1 a /g时的电容值高达630 F/g，远高于Cu2SnS3、Cu2SnS3@rGO-1、Cu2SnS3@rGO-3和Cu2SnS3@rGO-5电极。在2000次循环中，Cu2SnS3@rGO-2电极的循环效率为98.38%，高于Cu2SnS3（92.59%）、Cu2SnS3@rGO-1（96.61%）、Cu2SnS3@rGO-3（98.5%）和Cu2SnS3@rGO-5（97.17%）电极。进一步，以1 M KOH电解液蘸滤纸为分离器，以Cu2SnS3@rGO-2电极为正极，活性炭（AC）为负极制备非对称型超级电容器器件。Cu2SnS3@rGO-2//AC装置的最大容量值为71.33 mAh/g。在电流密度为1 a /g时，能量和功率密度分别为47.55 Wh/kg和1600 W/kg。此外，Cu2SnS3@rGO-2//AC器件在10,000次循环中具有73.26%的高电容保持率。加入还原氧化石墨烯可以提高Cu2SnS3电极的导电性和体积电荷。
{"title":"Enhanced energy storage performance of Cu₂SnS₃@rGO electrode in pouch-type asymmetric supercapacitors","authors":"Uma Shankar Veerasamy , Suganya Palani , Anandh Jesuraj S , Yoonseuk Choi , Kengkamon Wiratkasem , Nakorn Tippayawong , Yuttana Mona","doi":"10.1016/j.nexus.2026.100670","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nexus.2026.100670","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Copper tin sulfides are extensively investigated as an electroactive material for energy storage applications due to their higher theoretical pseudocapacitance. The combination of pseudocapacitance behavior of Cu<sub>2</sub>SnS<sub>3</sub> and double layer capacitance behavior of rGO is expected to boost the electrochemical property of the electrode. Here, the rGO supported Cu<sub>2</sub>SnS<sub>3</sub> nanocomposite was prepared by using the hydrothermal method. The pure and rGO loaded samples were found to have a tetragonal structure from the XRD analysis and the Raman spectra confirm the formation of rGO supported Cu<sub>2</sub>SnS<sub>3</sub> from the D and G bands arising along with Cu<sub>2</sub>SnS<sub>3</sub> vibrational modes. Moreover, the flower-shaped Cu<sub>2</sub>SnS<sub>3</sub> was covered by rGO nanosheet and is illustrated in the SEM and HRTEM analysis. Also, the Cu<sub>2</sub>SnS<sub>3</sub>@rGO-2 electrode delivers a higher capacitance value of 630 F/g at 1 A/g, which is much higher than Cu<sub>2</sub>SnS<sub>3</sub>, Cu<sub>2</sub>SnS<sub>3</sub>@rGO-1, Cu<sub>2</sub>SnS<sub>3</sub>@rGO-3 and Cu<sub>2</sub>SnS<sub>3</sub>@rGO-5 electrodes. The cyclic efficiency of the Cu<sub>2</sub>SnS<sub>3</sub>@rGO-2 showed 98.38% which is higher than the Cu<sub>2</sub>SnS<sub>3</sub> (92.59%), Cu<sub>2</sub>SnS<sub>3</sub>@rGO-1 (96.61%), Cu<sub>2</sub>SnS<sub>3</sub>@rGO-3 (98.5%) and Cu<sub>2</sub>SnS<sub>3</sub>@rGO-5 (97.17%) electrodes over 2000 cycles. Further, the fabrication of asymmetric supercapacitor device, the positive electrode is Cu<sub>2</sub>SnS<sub>3</sub>@rGO-2 electrode and the activated carbon (AC) as the negative electrode for asymmetric type supercapacitor devices using 1 M KOH electrolyte dipped filter paper is the separator. The Cu<sub>2</sub>SnS<sub>3</sub>@rGO-2//AC device showed the maximum capacity value of 71.33 mAh/g. Also, the energy and power densities were 47.55 Wh/kg and 1600 W/kg, respectively, at a current density of 1 A/g. In addition, the Cu<sub>2</sub>SnS<sub>3</sub>@rGO-2//AC device has higher capacitance retention of 73.26% for 10,000 cycles. The addition of rGO is used to improve electrical conductivity and elevate the volume charge of the Cu<sub>2</sub>SnS<sub>3</sub> electrode.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93548,"journal":{"name":"Energy nexus","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100670"},"PeriodicalIF":9.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188341","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-09DOI: 10.1016/j.nexus.2026.100676
Mohsen Zare , Sina Dehghanian , Mohammad Reza Rahmanian , Anna Pinnarelli , Pasquale Vizza , Alireza Soleimani
A primary principle of modern distribution networks is to maintain the voltage profile within permissible limits while minimizing power losses. However, challenges arising from the uncertainty of electric vehicles (EVs) and wind power plants necessitate proper distribution network reconfiguration to maintain stability. Therefore, operators require fast and reliable tools for managing network configuration. In this research, a data-driven framework based on a Hybrid Transformer-CNN (HT-CNN) model is presented for network reconfiguration. In this framework, wind speed is first predicted using a TCN-BiGRU model. Then, the main HT-CNN model uses this prediction, along with load data and EV charging/discharging profiles, to simultaneously estimate bus voltages, switch statuses, and network losses. The proposed model, trained with wind, load, and EV charging data on the IEEE 33-bus system, reduced the loss error to 1.46 kW and the voltage error to 0.00417 per-unit, while predicting switch statuses with 94.96% accuracy. These errors are significantly lower than the standard 5% margin in network planning, confirming the model’s high reliability for identifying optimal configurations with minimal losses. In this study, EV charging and discharging data were simulated in MATLAB. This data, along with predicted wind data, was used to solve a linearized network reconfiguration problem in GAMS. Subsequently, the GAMS output was used to train and test the neural network model in Python. Finally, the accuracy and results of the methods were analyzed and validated using DIgSILENT software.
{"title":"Optimizing energy management in reconfigurable distribution networks: Integrating Hybrid Transformer-CNN with wind turbines and electric vehicles","authors":"Mohsen Zare , Sina Dehghanian , Mohammad Reza Rahmanian , Anna Pinnarelli , Pasquale Vizza , Alireza Soleimani","doi":"10.1016/j.nexus.2026.100676","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nexus.2026.100676","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A primary principle of modern distribution networks is to maintain the voltage profile within permissible limits while minimizing power losses. However, challenges arising from the uncertainty of electric vehicles (EVs) and wind power plants necessitate proper distribution network reconfiguration to maintain stability. Therefore, operators require fast and reliable tools for managing network configuration. In this research, a data-driven framework based on a Hybrid Transformer-CNN (HT-CNN) model is presented for network reconfiguration. In this framework, wind speed is first predicted using a TCN-BiGRU model. Then, the main HT-CNN model uses this prediction, along with load data and EV charging/discharging profiles, to simultaneously estimate bus voltages, switch statuses, and network losses. The proposed model, trained with wind, load, and EV charging data on the IEEE 33-bus system, reduced the loss error to 1.46 kW and the voltage error to 0.00417 per-unit, while predicting switch statuses with 94.96% accuracy. These errors are significantly lower than the standard 5% margin in network planning, confirming the model’s high reliability for identifying optimal configurations with minimal losses. In this study, EV charging and discharging data were simulated in MATLAB. This data, along with predicted wind data, was used to solve a linearized network reconfiguration problem in GAMS. Subsequently, the GAMS output was used to train and test the neural network model in Python. Finally, the accuracy and results of the methods were analyzed and validated using DIgSILENT software.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93548,"journal":{"name":"Energy nexus","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100676"},"PeriodicalIF":9.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188340","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.nexus.2026.100636
Faizan A. Beerwala , Shruti V. Kolambkar , Vishal S. Patil , Adilmehadi Karikazi , Nayeem A. Khatib , Harish R. Darasaguppe , Subarna Roy
Olanzapine (OLZ), a widely prescribed atypical antipsychotic, is notably associated with the onset of cardiometabolic disorders (CMDs). Lagenaria siceraria, traditionally recognized for its cardioprotective effects and benefits for CMD(s). However, its potential in mitigating OLZ-induced CMD(s) has not been extensively explored. This study aims to assess the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of Lagenaria siceraria hydroalcoholic extract (LSE) in counteracting OLZ-induced CMD(s) through in vitro and computational approaches. The effects of LSE on OLZ-challenged H9c2(2-1) cardiomyocytes were evaluated by measuring lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), nitric oxide (NO), and glucose utilization. Additionally, the expression of essential key genes (such as IL6, BAX, BCL2, CASP3, CAMK2B) implicated in OLZ-induced CMD(s) was analysed using qRT-PCR. Computational analyses, including gene set enrichment, network pharmacology, and molecular docking via (AutoDock Vina, POAP pipeline), followed by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, MM-PBSA, and binding stability assessments via (GROMACS), were employed to predict compound-target interactions. The results demonstrated that LSE significantly attenuated OLZ-induced elevations in LDH, CK-MB, and NO levels while enhancing glucose utilization in cardiomyoblasts. LSE also modulated gene expression by downregulating IL6, BAX, CASP3, and CAMK2B, while upregulating BCL2. Network pharmacology identified 10 phytocompounds from LSE targeting 17 common proteins involved in OLZ-induced CMD(s), with beta-sitosterol- AKT and beta-sitosterol- CALM1 complexes exhibiting the strongest binding affinities. MD simulations confirmed the stability of these interactions over a 100 ns period. In conclusion, the findings suggest that LSE holds cardioprotective potential against OLZ-induced CMD(s). Further research, including studies with purified compounds and clinical trials, is necessary to evaluate LSE as an adjunctive therapeutic agent.
{"title":"Synergizing In Vitro and energy-based computational approaches to investigate the potential of Lagenaria siceraria against olanzapine-induced cardiometabolic disorders using H9c2 (2-1) cardiomyocytes","authors":"Faizan A. Beerwala , Shruti V. Kolambkar , Vishal S. Patil , Adilmehadi Karikazi , Nayeem A. Khatib , Harish R. Darasaguppe , Subarna Roy","doi":"10.1016/j.nexus.2026.100636","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nexus.2026.100636","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Olanzapine (OLZ), a widely prescribed atypical antipsychotic, is notably associated with the onset of cardiometabolic disorders (CMDs). <em>Lagenaria siceraria,</em> traditionally recognized for its cardioprotective effects and benefits for CMD(s). However, its potential in mitigating OLZ-induced CMD(s) has not been extensively explored. This study aims to assess the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of <em>Lagenaria siceraria</em> hydroalcoholic extract (LSE) in counteracting OLZ-induced CMD(s) through <em>in vitro</em> and computational approaches. The effects of LSE on OLZ-challenged H9c2(2-1) cardiomyocytes were evaluated by measuring lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), nitric oxide (NO), and glucose utilization. Additionally, the expression of essential key genes (such as IL6, BAX, BCL2, CASP3, CAMK2B) implicated in OLZ-induced CMD(s) was analysed using qRT-PCR. Computational analyses, including gene set enrichment, network pharmacology, and molecular docking <em>via</em> (AutoDock Vina, POAP pipeline), followed by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, MM-PBSA, and binding stability assessments <em>via</em> (GROMACS), were employed to predict compound-target interactions. The results demonstrated that LSE significantly attenuated OLZ-induced elevations in LDH, CK-MB, and NO levels while enhancing glucose utilization in cardiomyoblasts. LSE also modulated gene expression by downregulating IL6, BAX, CASP3, and CAMK2B, while upregulating BCL2. Network pharmacology identified 10 phytocompounds from LSE targeting 17 common proteins involved in OLZ-induced CMD(s), with beta-sitosterol- AKT and beta-sitosterol- CALM1 complexes exhibiting the strongest binding affinities. MD simulations confirmed the stability of these interactions over a 100 ns period. In conclusion, the findings suggest that LSE holds cardioprotective potential against OLZ-induced CMD(s). Further research, including studies with purified compounds and clinical trials, is necessary to evaluate LSE as an adjunctive therapeutic agent.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93548,"journal":{"name":"Energy nexus","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100636"},"PeriodicalIF":9.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-09DOI: 10.1016/j.nexus.2026.100674
Gabrijel Ondrasek , Ema Kostešić , Marina Bubalo Kovačić , Lidija Svečnjak , Sanja Stipičević , Gordana Mendaš , Iva Smoljo , Tatjana Orct , Ankica Sekovanić , Marija Trkmić , Krešimir Černošek , Ivana Jelovica Badovinac , Jelena Horvatinec Isaković
The rapid expansion of biomass-fueled power plants across many EU countries has led to an increase in biomass ash (BMA) over the past decade. However, its sustainable utilization and environmental management remain inadequately addressed. This study presents the first comprehensive, multi-analytical characterization of 16 BMAs collected from nine Croatian biomass power plants spanning seven regions, with the aim of evaluating their potential for circular agroecosystem applications. Morphological analyses revealed pronounced nano-microscale heterogeneity accompanied by strong chemical variability. All BMAs exhibited high alkalinity (pH > 12), primarily driven by abundant Ca-/K-/Na-/Mg-bearing oxides. Fly ash (FA) samples were enriched in soluble salts, showing higher electrical conductivity (EC), whereas bottom ash (BA) was dominated by refractory silicates and metal oxides. XRD and FTIR analyses confirmed the predominance of calcite, quartz, arcanite, and apatite-type minerals, indicating agronomic potential, but limited P/K bioavailability due to their incorporation into low-solubility phosphate/silicate matrices. The lower density and higher EC of the FA matrix correlated with the elevated S content and suggested the presence of reactive, salt-rich particulates formed through volatilization and condensation of S compounds during combustion. BAs generally contained lower metal(oid) content than FAs; however, several samples exceeded inter/national limits (Zn in one, Ni in two, and Cd in nine). Persistent organic pollutants (PCBs, OCPs, and PAHs) were below regulatory thresholds in all BMAs. Overall, Croatian BMAs demonstrated strong potential as liming and nutrient-recycling agents in acidic and nutrient-deficient agroecosystems, although site-specific application and leaching assessments remain essential to ensure environmental safety and sustainable reuse.
{"title":"Multi-analytical evaluation of combustion residues from Croatia’s biomass-fueled plants for circular agroecosystem applications","authors":"Gabrijel Ondrasek , Ema Kostešić , Marina Bubalo Kovačić , Lidija Svečnjak , Sanja Stipičević , Gordana Mendaš , Iva Smoljo , Tatjana Orct , Ankica Sekovanić , Marija Trkmić , Krešimir Černošek , Ivana Jelovica Badovinac , Jelena Horvatinec Isaković","doi":"10.1016/j.nexus.2026.100674","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nexus.2026.100674","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The rapid expansion of biomass-fueled power plants across many EU countries has led to an increase in biomass ash (BMA) over the past decade. However, its sustainable utilization and environmental management remain inadequately addressed. This study presents the first comprehensive, multi-analytical characterization of 16 BMAs collected from nine Croatian biomass power plants spanning seven regions, with the aim of evaluating their potential for circular agroecosystem applications. Morphological analyses revealed pronounced nano-microscale heterogeneity accompanied by strong chemical variability. All BMAs exhibited high alkalinity (pH > 12), primarily driven by abundant Ca-/K-/Na-/Mg-bearing oxides. Fly ash (FA) samples were enriched in soluble salts, showing higher electrical conductivity (EC), whereas bottom ash (BA) was dominated by refractory silicates and metal oxides. XRD and FTIR analyses confirmed the predominance of calcite, quartz, arcanite, and apatite-type minerals, indicating agronomic potential, but limited P/K bioavailability due to their incorporation into low-solubility phosphate/silicate matrices. The lower density and higher EC of the FA matrix correlated with the elevated S content and suggested the presence of reactive, salt-rich particulates formed through volatilization and condensation of S compounds during combustion. BAs generally contained lower metal(oid) content than FAs; however, several samples exceeded inter/national limits (Zn in one, Ni in two, and Cd in nine). Persistent organic pollutants (PCBs, OCPs, and PAHs) were below regulatory thresholds in all BMAs. Overall, Croatian BMAs demonstrated strong potential as liming and nutrient-recycling agents in acidic and nutrient-deficient agroecosystems, although site-specific application and leaching assessments remain essential to ensure environmental safety and sustainable reuse.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93548,"journal":{"name":"Energy nexus","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100674"},"PeriodicalIF":9.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146188343","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-12-07DOI: 10.1016/j.nexus.2025.100611
Ridvan Aydin , Abdul Ghani Olabi , Sameh Tawfiq AlShihabi , Lina Abu Lail
Ensuring an optimal electricity mix is essential for policymakers seeking to meet rising electricity demand, foster economic development and job creation, mitigate the impact of global warming, and promote renewable energy adoption. However, the economic and environmental impacts of energy resources have not been well addressed in developing existing optimal electricity mix models. This study introduces a multi-objective optimization model to establish an optimal sustainable electricity mix in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through 2050 while simultaneously minimizing the total cost and CO2 emissions released in electricity generation from different energy sources. The proposed model incorporates the retirement of old natural gas power plants, promoting a shift towards renewable energy. The non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) is adopted to obtain Pareto optimal solutions for the UAE’s electricity mix until 2050. The findings indicate that solar photovoltaic energy will dominate future capacity, followed by natural gas and nuclear energy, potentially reducing CO2 emissions to below 200 gCO2/kWh by 2050. This represents a substantial reduction from the UAE’s present gas-dominated system and brings it below the current levels of some major European economies, such as Germany (344 gCO2/kWh in 2024). The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is used to select the most sustainable electricity mix from the Pareto set. Unlike previous models, this study uniquely integrates power plant retirement schedules, ensuring peak demand reliability, and a combined NSGA-II–TOPSIS framework to offer a novel and policy-relevant approach to sustainable electricity mix planning.
{"title":"Sustainable electricity mix planning for the United Arab Emirates using a multi-objective optimization modeling","authors":"Ridvan Aydin , Abdul Ghani Olabi , Sameh Tawfiq AlShihabi , Lina Abu Lail","doi":"10.1016/j.nexus.2025.100611","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nexus.2025.100611","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ensuring an optimal electricity mix is essential for policymakers seeking to meet rising electricity demand, foster economic development and job creation, mitigate the impact of global warming, and promote renewable energy adoption. However, the economic and environmental impacts of energy resources have not been well addressed in developing existing optimal electricity mix models. This study introduces a multi-objective optimization model to establish an optimal sustainable electricity mix in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through 2050 while simultaneously minimizing the total cost and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions released in electricity generation from different energy sources. The proposed model incorporates the retirement of old natural gas power plants, promoting a shift towards renewable energy. The non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) is adopted to obtain Pareto optimal solutions for the UAE’s electricity mix until 2050. The findings indicate that solar photovoltaic energy will dominate future capacity, followed by natural gas and nuclear energy, potentially reducing CO<sub>2</sub> emissions to below 200 gCO<sub>2</sub>/kWh by 2050. This represents a substantial reduction from the UAE’s present gas-dominated system and brings it below the current levels of some major European economies, such as Germany (344 gCO<sub>2</sub>/kWh in 2024). The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is used to select the most sustainable electricity mix from the Pareto set. Unlike previous models, this study uniquely integrates power plant retirement schedules, ensuring peak demand reliability, and a combined NSGA-II–TOPSIS framework to offer a novel and policy-relevant approach to sustainable electricity mix planning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93548,"journal":{"name":"Energy nexus","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100611"},"PeriodicalIF":9.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145712479","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2025-12-09DOI: 10.1016/j.nexus.2025.100615
Athanasia Orfanou , Eleftheria Klontza , Stergios Vakalis , Irene Voukkali , Antonis A. Zorpas , Demetris F. Lekkas
Hospitality sector is a crucial industry for Greek and global economy which applies environmental pressure through services such as accommodation, food and waste management. This study proposes a methodology for the calculation of the carbon footprint during hotel operation by considering four main domains: energy consumption, propane gas consumption (used for meal preparation), hotel waste and food waste. A 5-star resort hotel in Northern Greece was used as a pilot study. Reports on energy consumption were provided through electricity meters installed in the hotel, while data on the quantities of waste and the existing management practices were collected through staff interviews and questionnaires. Emissions (CO₂eq) were calculated using RETScreen, the average-data method and emission factors. The results demonstrate that energy consumption is responsible for the 81 % of CO2eq emissions/ guest night, followed by emissions from food waste (11 %), waste (5 %), and propane gas used in the kitchen which contributes the least (3 %) in total emissions. Different scenarios were analysed to evaluate sustainable practices such as Renewable Energy Sources penetration, food waste composting and increasing recycling and their contribution to the reduction of total emissions. Scenario analysis showed that solar energy use could reduce total emissions by 36 %, while it is underlined that the application of sustainable waste management practices, which are often easier and less costly than energy efficiency improvements, could lead up to 15 % reduction of overall emissions, reducing them to 25.79 kgCO2eq/guest-night. The combination of all the proposed scenarios could lead to a total reduction of 47.45 % of hotel emissions.
{"title":"Introducing waste generation as a factor affecting carbon footprint in hotel operation and assessment of reduction practices","authors":"Athanasia Orfanou , Eleftheria Klontza , Stergios Vakalis , Irene Voukkali , Antonis A. Zorpas , Demetris F. Lekkas","doi":"10.1016/j.nexus.2025.100615","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nexus.2025.100615","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hospitality sector is a crucial industry for Greek and global economy which applies environmental pressure through services such as accommodation, food and waste management. This study proposes a methodology for the calculation of the carbon footprint during hotel operation by considering four main domains: energy consumption, propane gas consumption (used for meal preparation), hotel waste and food waste. A 5-star resort hotel in Northern Greece was used as a pilot study. Reports on energy consumption were provided through electricity meters installed in the hotel, while data on the quantities of waste and the existing management practices were collected through staff interviews and questionnaires. Emissions (CO₂eq) were calculated using RETScreen, the average-data method and emission factors. The results demonstrate that energy consumption is responsible for the 81 % of CO<sub>2</sub>eq emissions/ guest night, followed by emissions from food waste (11 %), waste (5 %), and propane gas used in the kitchen which contributes the least (3 %) in total emissions. Different scenarios were analysed to evaluate sustainable practices such as Renewable Energy Sources penetration, food waste composting and increasing recycling and their contribution to the reduction of total emissions. Scenario analysis showed that solar energy use could reduce total emissions by 36 %, while it is underlined that the application of sustainable waste management practices, which are often easier and less costly than energy efficiency improvements, could lead up to 15 % reduction of overall emissions, reducing them to 25.79 kgCO<sub>2</sub>eq/guest-night. The combination of all the proposed scenarios could lead to a total reduction of 47.45 % of hotel emissions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93548,"journal":{"name":"Energy nexus","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100615"},"PeriodicalIF":9.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145927134","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-09DOI: 10.1016/j.nexus.2026.100647
Farhat Mahmood , Muhammad Usman Sajid , Yusuf Bicer , Tareq Al-Ansari
Agricultural production in arid climates faces challenges due to harsh conditions, requiring cooling technologies to support crop growth. Mechanically active cooling systems, such as heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning, are effective but energy-intensive, leading to high costs. This study proposes using spectrum-selective fluids in greenhouse roofs to supplement the cooling system by blocking near-infrared radiation while allowing photosynthetic active radiation to pass. This approach decreases cooling demand but also reduces yield, presenting a trade-off in greenhouse performance. A stochastic techno-economic analysis was conducted using an integrated input-yield model with historical solar irradiance and temperature data. Scenarios were generated and reduced using k-means clustering. Monte Carlo simulations were used to evaluate the techno-economic performance of the ATO-WO₃ greenhouse system under uncertainty. Key indicators assessed included the expected net present value, minimum selling price, and discounted payback period. Although the ATO-WO₃ greenhouse exhibited a lower expected tomato yield, 5.87% and 11.55% less than that of the water-based and conventional greenhouse systems, respectively, it outperformed in terms of economic viability. The ATO-WO₃ system achieved an expected net present value of $1465.07 m-2, a minimum selling price of $2.25 kg-1, and a discounted payback period of 8.22 years. In addition, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to quantify the influence of key input variables on these techno-economic indicators.
{"title":"Scenario-based stochastic techno-economic assessment of energy-efficient spectrum selective greenhouses","authors":"Farhat Mahmood , Muhammad Usman Sajid , Yusuf Bicer , Tareq Al-Ansari","doi":"10.1016/j.nexus.2026.100647","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nexus.2026.100647","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Agricultural production in arid climates faces challenges due to harsh conditions, requiring cooling technologies to support crop growth. Mechanically active cooling systems, such as heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning, are effective but energy-intensive, leading to high costs. This study proposes using spectrum-selective fluids in greenhouse roofs to supplement the cooling system by blocking near-infrared radiation while allowing photosynthetic active radiation to pass. This approach decreases cooling demand but also reduces yield, presenting a trade-off in greenhouse performance. A stochastic techno-economic analysis was conducted using an integrated input-yield model with historical solar irradiance and temperature data. Scenarios were generated and reduced using k-means clustering. Monte Carlo simulations were used to evaluate the techno-economic performance of the ATO-WO₃ greenhouse system under uncertainty. Key indicators assessed included the expected net present value, minimum selling price, and discounted payback period. Although the ATO-WO₃ greenhouse exhibited a lower expected tomato yield, 5.87% and 11.55% less than that of the water-based and conventional greenhouse systems, respectively, it outperformed in terms of economic viability. The ATO-WO₃ system achieved an expected net present value of $1465.07 m<sup>-2</sup>, a minimum selling price of $2.25 kg<sup>-1</sup>, and a discounted payback period of 8.22 years. In addition, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to quantify the influence of key input variables on these techno-economic indicators.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93548,"journal":{"name":"Energy nexus","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100647"},"PeriodicalIF":9.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147396204","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-03-01Epub Date: 2026-02-10DOI: 10.1016/j.nexus.2026.100663
Jorge Sandoval-Manríquez , Diógenes Hernández Espinoza , Ricardo Rebolledo-Leiva , Loreto Muñoz , Joaquín Aburto-Hole , Chibuy He , José Alarcón , Patricio Ubilla , Sara Gonzalez-García , Felipe Varas-Concha
Co-pelletization of agro-industrial residues represents a promising route for decentralized and low-carbon bioenergy production. This study investigates the valorization of a cellulose and glycerin-rich granular residue (RI), generated by the food processing industry during sausage manufacturing and currently landfilled through co-pelletization with coarse olive pits (CA). This strategy addresses the insufficient heating value of the target residue RI for commercial application via mono-pelletization, aiming to convert it into a solid biofuel suitable for industrial biomass boilers while complying with the ISO 17225 specifications. A simplified, low-energy pre-treatment was applied, avoiding fine milling (particle size ≥ 1 mm) and enabling pelletization at high moisture (30–35 %). Four CA/RI blends (10–40 % RI w/w) were evaluated under ISO 17225 standards. The optimal blend (70%CA/30%RI) achieved a higher heating value of 17.6 MJ·kg-1, bulk density comparable to commercial wood pellets, and mechanical durability exceeding A2-grade thresholds. Combustion tests revealed lower NOx, SOx, and VOC emissions relative to Pinus radiata pellets, with slightly higher CO levels attributed to laboratory-scale combustion constraints. Olive pits were selected for their local availability and proven suitability as industrial boiler fuel. Life cycle assessment (LCA) indicated a 35 % lower carbon footprint compared to conventional Pinus radiata pellets. Techno-economic analysis estimated a production cost of 162.4 USD·t⁻¹ with profitability achievable at a 1,800 t·yr⁻¹ scale. These results confirm that simplified co-pelletization of CA and RI is technically feasible, economically viable, and environmentally advantageous, providing a circular bioeconomy pathway for valorizing underutilized food-industry residues.
{"title":"Co-pelletization of coarse olive pits and food-industry residues for sustainable bioenergy production: physicochemical, environmental, and techno-economic assessment","authors":"Jorge Sandoval-Manríquez , Diógenes Hernández Espinoza , Ricardo Rebolledo-Leiva , Loreto Muñoz , Joaquín Aburto-Hole , Chibuy He , José Alarcón , Patricio Ubilla , Sara Gonzalez-García , Felipe Varas-Concha","doi":"10.1016/j.nexus.2026.100663","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.nexus.2026.100663","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Co-pelletization of agro-industrial residues represents a promising route for decentralized and low-carbon bioenergy production. This study investigates the valorization of a cellulose and glycerin-rich granular residue (RI), generated by the food processing industry during sausage manufacturing and currently landfilled through co-pelletization with coarse olive pits (CA). This strategy addresses the insufficient heating value of the target residue RI for commercial application via mono-pelletization, aiming to convert it into a solid biofuel suitable for industrial biomass boilers while complying with the ISO 17225 specifications. A simplified, low-energy pre-treatment was applied, avoiding fine milling (particle size ≥ 1 mm) and enabling pelletization at high moisture (30–35 %). Four CA/RI blends (10–40 % RI w/w) were evaluated under ISO 17225 standards. The optimal blend (70%CA/30%RI) achieved a higher heating value of 17.6 MJ·kg<sup>-1</sup>, bulk density comparable to commercial wood pellets, and mechanical durability exceeding A2-grade thresholds. Combustion tests revealed lower NO<sub>x</sub>, SO<sub>x</sub>, and VOC emissions relative to <em>Pinus radiata</em> pellets, with slightly higher CO levels attributed to laboratory-scale combustion constraints. Olive pits were selected for their local availability and proven suitability as industrial boiler fuel. Life cycle assessment (LCA) indicated a 35 % lower carbon footprint compared to conventional <em>Pinus radiata</em> pellets. Techno-economic analysis estimated a production cost of 162.4 USD·t⁻¹ with profitability achievable at a 1,800 t·yr⁻¹ scale. These results confirm that simplified co-pelletization of CA and RI is technically feasible, economically viable, and environmentally advantageous, providing a circular bioeconomy pathway for valorizing underutilized food-industry residues.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":93548,"journal":{"name":"Energy nexus","volume":"21 ","pages":"Article 100663"},"PeriodicalIF":9.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147396689","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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