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Adaptive capability and socioecological traps: a bioenergy case in communities of Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2024-03-14 María del Rosario Reyes-Santiago, Ana Elizabeth Maruri Montes de Oca, Victor Olalde Portugal, Maribel Hernández-Rosales
Energy poverty, which is the deprivation of a series of energy services that satisfy human needs, affects over 2 billion individuals who rely on the combustion of biomass and other solid fuels to fulfill their energy needs. While certain communities address their energy shortfall by harnessing local natural resources, these alternatives fail to provide access to more advantageous and sustainable conditions
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Stakeholders’ perceptions of hydrogen and reflections on energy transition governance Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2024-03-01 Cristina Parente, Francisca Teixeira, Jorge Cerdeira
There is a race to innovate, develop or create hydrogen production technologies to accelerate energy transition and create a hydrogen economy. Acceptance has been used in social science literature as a lens through which to anticipate possible challenges surrounding hydrogen technologies. However, very few studies problematize perceptions and focus on the production of hydrogen. Hence, this study aims
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Production of low emission briquettes from carbonized faecal sludge as an alternative source of cooking energy Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2024-02-21 Paulo Martin Sanka, Olivier Germain, Leyla Khalifa, Hans Komakech, Hezron Magambo
In Tanzania, firewood, charcoal, and agricultural waste play a crucial role in daily life as sources of cooking energy, especially in rural areas. Using these energy sources contributes to deforestation and the emission of harmful substances, leading to health problems. This study highlights the potential of faecal sludge briquettes as an innovative, environmentally friendly, and sustainable alternative
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Ecological, financial, social and societal motives for cooperative energy prosumerism: measuring preference heterogeneity in a Belgian energy cooperative Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2024-02-12 Fijnanda van Klingeren, Tine De Moor
Energy cooperatives in Europe have become more prominent due to the growing interest in and development of renewable energy sources. Cooperatives are often seen as an instrument in the transition to a low-carbon future. The cooperative prosumer is gaining importance, taking on the role of both consumer and producer by setting up and joining electricity cooperatives as investors, shareholders and clients
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Effect of fuel injection pressure on the performances of a CI engine using water-emulsified diesel (WED) as a fuel Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2024-01-23 Pijush Kanti Mondal, Bijan Kumar Mandal
The choice of energy sources is essential for sustainable development to combat different environmental issues caused by the consumption of fossil fuels. Though diesel engines are considered more efficient and reliable than other internal combustion engines, they emit different harmful pollutants which are detrimental to human health and the environment. Researchers are trying to find suitable alternative
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Performance comparison of three prototype biomass stoves with traditional and Mirt stoves for baking Injera Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2024-01-23 Asfafaw Haileselassie Tesfay, Kibreab Tsegay, Mulu Bayray Kahsay, Mesele Hayelom Hailu, Muyiwa Samuel Adaramola
Injera is food consumed daily by Ethiopians like bread and rice in other parts of the world. Biomass stoves are used to bake Injera in most rural households. The unsustainable use of fuelwood causes deforestation. Improved cook stoves such as Mirt (name in local language) were introduced to replace traditional stoves and save fuel wood. This study presents a performance comparison of three newly developed
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Renewable energy as a connecting spot between China and Central and Eastern European countries: status, directions and perspectives Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2024-01-18 Nevena Šekarić Stojanović, Katarina Zakić
Considering energy- and climate-related policies adopted, the European Union and the People’s Republic of China are expected to be on the same trajectory of reducing pollution, aiming for carbon neutrality in 2050 and 2060, respectively. However, although they share a common goal of more sustainable development, their targets and means often collide. The main objective of the study is to identify the
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One step closer: Laypeople’s perception of production steps for manufacturing CO2-based jet fuel Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2024-01-18 Linda Engelmann, Katrin Arning, Martina Ziefle
The need for greenhouse gas abatement measures grows as climate change threatens life on earth. Negative emission technologies, such as carbon capture and utilization (CCU), can reduce emissions from the transport sector, particularly aviation. However, the lack of support and low public acceptance can impact the successful introduction of new technologies. This study analyzes the factors that influence
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Solar-assisted poultry production in small-scale farms: a case study in the Bekaa semi-arid region, Lebanon Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2024-01-12 Sara T. Sleem, Darine A. Salam, Nesreen Ghaddar, Kamel Abou Ghali, Ghassan Chehab, Nuhad Daghir, Youssef Doughan, Nicolas Haddad
In Lebanon, poultry production is one of the major components of the agricultural sector; however, it suffers from increasing energy costs necessary to cover poultry heating requirements. This affects the profits of brooding farms, namely, small-scale farms in rural areas. Few studies have addressed the use of renewable energy in the poultry industry in Lebanon, with most having focused on modelling
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How Germany is phasing out lignite: insights from the Coal Commission and local communities Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2024-01-11 Jörg Radtke, Martin David
This article asks the following question: how well are coal regions, affected by phase-out plans, represented in mediating commissions, to what extent do local communities participate in the decision-making process and how are the political negotiations perceived by the communities? We look at the case of the German lignite phase-out from a procedural justice perspective. Informed by literature on
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Photovoltaics in agricultural landscapes: “Industrial land use” or a “real compromise” between renewable energy and biodiversity? Perspectives of German nature conservation associations Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2024-01-11 Janna Marie Hilker, Maria Busse, Klaus Müller, Jana Zscheischler
One common renewable energy source for substituting fossil sources is photovoltaic (PV) systems. However, installing PV systems in agricultural areas can lead to competition with other land uses. These projects, therefore, often encounter problems with social acceptance in affected communities. Especially from the perspective of nature conservation targets, conflicts can arise. These potential differences
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The role of City Climate Networks in Promoting Citizen Participation in Municipalities: A Critical Multi-Case Analysis Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2024-01-11 Mateo Zapata Arango, Thomas Hoppe, Anatol Itten, Kornelis Blok
At the COP21, cities were recognised as key actors in combatting climate change. In supporting cities, climate city networks such as transnational climate networks (TCNs) and national climate networks (NCNs) have emerged to enable cities in building capacities and formulating climate policy whilst also encouraging citizen engagement and participation in public decision-making. This paper addresses
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Municipal heat provision experiences and expectations in Germany Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2024-01-08 Thomas Krikser, Melf-Hinrich Ehlers, Adriano Profeta
Compared to other sectors, the building sector is seriously lagging in efforts to mitigate climate change. In particular, heat provision needs to move to low-carbon options at greater speed. Municipalities are essential players in the transition to low-carbon heating. However, little is known about their experiences in developing heat provision infrastructure and their expectations of low-carbon options
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“Waste to energy” as a driver towards a sustainable and circular energy future for the Balkan countries Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2024-01-02 Draženko Bjelić, Dragana Nešković Markić, Dunja Prokić, Borislav N. Malinović, Andrea Andrejević Panić
The main goal of the paper is to review the existing state and propose a model solution for the introduction of the waste-to-energy concept in the Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as these Balkan countries are a source of high pollution due to the inefficient use of fossil fuels and the operation of coal-fired power plants. Besides, these countries have very low level of waste management
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Challenges of the green transition for the recovery of the Western Balkans Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2024-01-02 Jelena Ignjatović, Sanja Filipović, Mirjana Radovanović
The aim of this paper is to reconsider the necessity for the green transition and the key preconditions for the implementation of a circular economy in Western Balkan countries. With the objective of the research in mind, the method of analysis and synthesis was applied to determine (1) regulatory and institutional prerequisites for the green transition; (2) the need for the Western Balkan countries
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Potential markets and policies for sustainable liquid biofuel production with emphasis to Eastern Africa countries: a review Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2024-01-02 Fekadu K. Miftah, Doris Mutta
The production of liquid biofuel in Eastern Africa countries has the potential to play an important role on the global biofuel markets in the coming years, because transportation fuel demand is expected to grow. Despite the presence of suitable environmental conditions for bioenergy crop cultivation in Eastern Africa, liquid biofuel production has been restricted by different factors, including market
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Impact of energy affordability on the decision-making of rural households in ecologically fragile areas of Northwest China regarding clean energy use Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-12-21 Lingyan Li, Huihui Song, Mimi Duan, Yongchao Zhu, Xi Luo
Highly carbonized energy use in ecologically fragile areas of Northwest China seriously endangers the health of residents and the ecological environment. However, poor energy affordability remains a major obstacle to the promotion of clean energy use in rural households in this region. Based on survey data of 1118 households in ecologically fragile areas of Northwest China, this study constructed a
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Social acceptance of geothermal technology on a global view: a systematic review Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-12-20 Robin Renoth, Elmar Buchner, Martin Schmieder, Maximilian Keim, Manfred Plechaty, Michael Drews
The role of geothermal technology in the context of global efforts toward carbon-free and clean energy production is becoming increasingly important. Social acceptance is a decisive factor in the successful implementation of geothermal projects. This systematic review summarizes the major aspects and evaluates the crucial outcomes of recent research on community acceptance as a dimension of social
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International relations challenges and sustainable development in developing countries after 2022: conceptualization of the risk assessment model Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-12-16 Miroslav Stevanović, Predrag Pavlićević, Nikola Vujinović, Mirjana Radovanović
UN defined Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development promotes international relations as a platform of cooperation between all stakeholders to achieve peace, stability, and prosperity but faces significant challenges in the post-2022 period. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine crisis, the prospects for sustainable development as a component of international relations
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Analyzing development finance flows in the Western Balkans’ energy sector: a 2008–2020 perspective Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-12-15 Amar Causevic, Biljana Macura, Nabil Haque, Sasa Solujic, Adnan Ploskić
Development finance is vital for low- and middle-income countries to enhance their sustainability agendas, as it provides essential funding necessary to close domestic financing gaps, including in the energy sector. Coal is still a vital power source for the energy sectors in the Western Balkans (i.e., Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia). The energy sector is a
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Sustainability performance of rural municipalities in Germany Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-12-12 Mahdi Karami, Reinhard Madlener
Sustainable rural development entails efforts to enhance the well-being of rural communities while safeguarding natural resources for future generations. The thorough examination of sustainable rural development is still scarce but nevertheless crucial, as it enables to reveal the various challenges and remaining potentials in rural areas, to identify key stakeholders and their respective roles in
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The public’s intention to vote for continued use of woody biomass for energy in Denmark: a cognitive hierarchy perspective Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-12-07 Paula Ugarte Lucas, Thomas Bøker Lund, Christian Gamborg
To be socially robust, renewable energy policies aiming at achieving a low-carbon society require public support. Woody biomass is an important renewable energy source. It accounts for a large share of the renewable energy consumption in several EU countries. However, its sustainability credentials are contested. Little is known as yet about how the public perceives woody biomass. This paper aims to
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Transformative power production futures: citizen jury deliberations in Saskatchewan, Canada Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-12-05 Margot Hurlbert, Tanushree Das, Charisse Vitto
Transforming power production systems to achieve net zero emissions and address climate change will require deep structural changes, partially dependent on community perceptions of the necessary energy transition. The article presents results from 2-day citizen juries held in four communities of Saskatchewan, Canada: Estevan, Swift Current, Regina, and Saskatoon in 2021/22 whose purpose was to determine
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A study on a political system for the advance in green hydrogen technology: a South Korea case study Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-12-01 Minyoung Yun, Wooseok Jang, Jongyeon Lim, Bitnari Yun
Hydrogen energy, a type of renewable energy if produced without fossil fuel, has a critical issue in that most of it is still produced from carbon footprint heavy industries such as the fossil fuel industry. It is imperative to produce hydrogen from renewable sources on a global level so that the carbon footprint can be curbed. South Korea, along with other global economies such as the US, the EU,
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Evaluation of the preference for and viability of clean cookstove adoption in rural Tanzania Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Annelise Gill-Wiehl, Sara Sievers, Robert Katikiro, Daniel M. Kammen
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 calls for “universal access to affordable, reliable, modern energy services” for the 2.6 billion individuals lacking access to clean cooking fuels and stoves. Low- and middle-income countries are designing policies towards clean fuels, but often prioritize World Health Organization defined ‘clean’ fuels and stoves to urban areas. As clean solutions are explored
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National electrical energy supply: foundations of a future system Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-11-20 Manfred Benthaus, Lachlan Gosper
Approximately 90% of the global human population have access to a supply of electrical energy. Existing national electrical energy supply systems possess good technical availability but with significant system-inherent risks. The latter show their effects in the systems’ operational behaviour, their impact on the national economy and on the global climate. National electrical energy supply systems
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Are strategy developers well equipped when designing sustainable supply chains for a circular bio-economy? Supporting innovations’ market uptake in a PESTEL + I environment Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-11-02 Linda Blümel, Konrad Siegfried, Fabian Riedel, Daniela Thrän
Innovations and new supply chain concepts are crucial for establishing a sustainable and circular bio-economy that reduces carbon emissions and lowers negative environmental impacts. PESTEL-based concept development provides information about positive, negative and neutral external factors of the macro-environment and their influence on supply chains. The primary data were collected at a stakeholder
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Correction : How municipalities support energy cooperatives: survey results from Germany and Switzerland Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-10-31 Thomas Meister, Benjamin Schmid, Irmi Seidl, Britta Klagge
Correction : Energy, Sustainability and Society (2020) 10:18 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-020-00248-3 Following publication of the original article [1], the authors identified an error since the Funding section was missing the Grant ID. The Funding section currently reads: Funding The research presented in this article was funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation within the framework of the
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A study on how efficient measures for secondary district heating system performance can be encouraged by motivational tariffs Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-10-23 Kristina Lygnerud, Theo Nyberg, Anna Nilsson, Antoine Fabre, Pascal Stabat, Chloé Duchayne, Valentin Gavan
District Heating (DH) is a technology that provides heating and domestic hot water to buildings and is an important technology for supporting the European energy transition. As such the heating systems increasingly resort to renewable heat sources and waste heat, it is even more important that they operate in the most efficient way possible. DH companies have access to the primary network of which
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Plating the hot potato: how to make intermediate bioenergy carriers an accelerator to a climate-neutral Europe Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-10-19 Konrad Siegfried, Linda Blümel, Fabian Riedel, David Moosmann, Karl-Friedrich Cyffka, Mark Richters, Patrick Reumerman, John Vos, Magnus Matisons, Daniela Thrän
With sustainable bioenergy in the European energy mix, intermediate bioenergy carriers (IBC) become of growing importance, as they can ensure a more efficient utilisation of biomass feedstocks from agricultural and forest residues. A high potential for market uptake is foreseen for fast pyrolysis bio-oil (FPBO), one of several IBCs. While facing the chicken and egg problem in market entry, the aim
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Characterization of briquettes developed from banana peels, pineapple peels and water hyacinth Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-10-18 Tadeo Mibulo, Denis Nsubuga, Isa Kabenge, Kerstin D. Wydra
Uganda’s energy relies heavily on biomass sources. This dependence on biomass for household and commercial purposes, driven largely by population increase, poses pressure on natural resources, such as forests. This study investigates the usage of some of the country’s largely produced agricultural wastes for the production of biofuels. Pineapple peels (PP), banana peels (BP) and water hyacinth (WH_Eichhornia
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What’s in my fuel tank? Insights into beliefs and preferences for e-fuels and biofuels Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-09-26 Anika Linzenich, Dominik Bongartz, Katrin Arning, Martina Ziefle
Alternative fuels made from biomass or CO2 and water using renewable energy can reduce CO2 and pollutant emissions compared to fossil-based mobility and thus support a transition to a more sustainable transport. The adoption of alternative fuels in transport will ultimately depend on public acceptance and drivers’ willingness to use them. Little is known if and under which circumstances people would
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Sustainable transition of the Republic of Serbia: measuring capacity for circularity in agriculture and rural areas Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-09-15 Igor Vukelić, Srđan Milošević, Diona Đurđević, Gordana Racić, Vilmoš Tot
The Republic of Serbia (RS) is strategically oriented towards sustainable development, but the implementation thereof faces different limitations and problems. RS emits substantial pollution caused by fossil fuels, and pollution from agricultural sector characterized by inefficient use of energy and intensive use of fertilizers. Bearing in mind the significant agricultural capacities and the orientation
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Scaling up community wind energy: the relevance of autonomy and community Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-09-11 Rikard Hjorth Warlenius, Sonja Nettelbladt
Renewable energy, especially wind power, is expanding rapidly in Sweden and elsewhere and has left the “niche” to become part of the mainstream energy socio-technical “regime”. However, the social innovation of community-owned wind energy is not expanding alongside. Despite its potential for an inclusive energy transition and for alleviating conflicts, community energy remains a niche phenomenon. In
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Sustainable development economy and the development of green economy in the European Union Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-08-22 Mert Mentes
This study aims to explain the policies implemented by the European Union in transitioning to a green economy. It examines the period from the adoption of sustainable development within the Union to the present, focusing on the EU's strategies for sustainable development and the green economy. The study reveals that the European Union has long recognized environmental problems and the impacts of climate
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Energy security of the European Union and corruption in Central Asia as the main challenges for the European sustainable energy future Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-08-19 Bojana Vasić, Ivan Pekić, Goran Šimić
The main goal of the paper is to define, analyze and assess the basic security, development and institutional challenges faced by the Central Asian countries after 2022. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, and with the outbreak of the Ukrainian crisis, Europe faced problems in ensuring energy security, which were further complicated by its decision to stop importing natural gas from the Russian Federation
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Over a century of small hydropower projects in Indonesia: a historical review Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-08-17 Naufal Rospriandana, Paul J. Burke, Amalia Suryani, M. Husni Mubarok, Miranda A. Pangestu
Hydropower is a mature energy technology and one that could play a more important role in providing clean and reliable energy. In small-scale contexts, hydropower is useful for providing electricity access, balancing intermittent resources, and as a potential source of energy storage. This paper provides a comprehensive exploration of the development of the small hydropower (SHP) sector in Indonesia
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A transition to battery electric vehicles without V2G: an outcome explained by a strong electricity regime and a weak automobility regime? Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-08-15 Jørgen Aarhaug
A sustainability transition in mobility is dependent on a transition away from a fossil fuel-based automobility regime. Smart charging, in the form of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) has been presented as one—or even the—key technology in facilitating a sustainability transition in the automobility regime. With the large global increase in battery electric vehicles (BEVs) combined with a rapid increase in the
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Causes and effects of the German energy transition in the context of environmental, societal, political, technological, and economic developments Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-08-14 Kai Kappner, Peter Letmathe, Philipp Weidinger
As lignite mining protests and #FridaysForFuture demonstrations gained momentum in Germany and further protests have been developing over time, this paper investigates the various causes and effects of the country’s energy transition. Society and politics alongside economic, environmental, and technological developments have led to a profound and continuous transformation of the energy system, a transformation
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Competing for space? A multi-criteria scenario framework intended to model the energy–biodiversity–land nexus for regional renewable energy planning based on a German case study Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-08-10 Jessica Weber, Tim Steinkamp, Marc Reichenbach
The need to balance renewable energy supply with biodiversity conservation has become increasingly urgent in light of current climate, energy, and biodiversity crises. However, the development of wind and solar energy often presents trade-offs such as competing for land use and potentially impacting species and habitats. To address these concerns, ‘priority zones’ for bird and bat species have been
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Linking sustainability and the Fourth Industrial Revolution: a monitoring framework accounting for technological development Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-08-07 Florian Siekmann, Holger Schlör, Sandra Venghaus
In this article, the concept of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and related implications for the measurement of sustainable development are analyzed. Technological innovations can play an important role in countering errant developments of the past and can support the transformation process towards a green economy in pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals. On the other hand, they pose challenges
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Response to the comment “Are claims of cheap muon production correct?” by K. Hansen and J. Engelen, Energy Sustain. Soc., 2023 Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-07-25 L. Holmlid
It is shown that muons are generated from decay of the mesons created by baryon annihilation reactions in ultra-dense hydrogen H(0), based on numerous previous publications and one patent. The cost of the muons in energy is 500 times lower than from production in particle accelerators; therefore, they are considered to be cheap. We argue that ordinary scientific publications are more suitable for proving
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Are claims of cheap muon production correct? Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-07-24 Klavs Hansen, Jos Engelen
Muon catalyzed fusion is a process, whereby isotopes of hydrogen undergo nuclear fusion thanks to a muon replacing an electron bringing the nuclei within fusion distance. The muon is then ejected and can facilitate a next fusion process. ‘Break even’ has not been achieved yet in spite of the optimization of isotope mixtures and initial muon energy. A main limiting factor is the muon lifetime and the
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Urban electricity governance and the (re)production of heterogeneous electricity constellations in Dar es Salaam Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-06-23 Mathias Koepke, Jochen Monstadt, Francesca Pilo’
Electricity infrastructures in sub-Saharan African cities are characterized by heterogeneous socio-technical constellations, including alternative grid access channels and off-grid systems. These constellations secure access beyond conventional grids but also produce adverse social, environmental, and economic outcomes affecting sustainable energy transition efforts. In fact, interventions aiming to
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Social acceptance of green hydrogen in Germany: building trust through responsible innovation Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-06-21 Johann Jakob Häußermann, Moritz J. Maier, Thea C. Kirsch, Simone Kaiser, Martina Schraudner
Social acceptance presents a major challenge for Germany’s transition to green energy. As a power-to-x technology, green hydrogen is set to become a key component of a future sustainable energy system. With a view to averting conflicts like those surrounding wind energy, we have investigated social acceptance of green hydrogen at an early stage in its implementation, before wider rollout. Our study
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Energy cooperatives and just transition in Southeastern Europe Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-06-19 D. Končalović, J. Nikolić, A. Džokić, P. Momčilović, D. Živković
The energy markets of Southeastern Europe largely depend on fossil fuels. Energy prices are lower in this region than in the rest of Europe, while the energy transition is relatively delayed. This paper aims at summarizing the obstacles to the civic energy transition in Southeastern Europe and the future prospects for its success. In Southeastern Europe, there are great concerns about the uncertainty
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Two steps forward, one step back? Party competition, cooperative federalism, and transport policy reforms in Germany Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-06-12 Antonios Souris, Christian Stecker, Arne Jungjohann
Transport policy has regained political relevance in Germany. The successful realization of the Verkehrswende,—the extensive transition toward sustainable transport and mobility—is central to reaching climate neutrality. In 2020, the Federal Government proposed the reform of two key ordinances that have regulated road traffic so far. The amendment was aimed at implementing several provisions at the
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Enhanced energy savings in enzymatic refining of hardwood and softwood pulp Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-06-08 Martin Nagl, Oskar Haske-Cornelius, Wolfgang Bauer, Gibson S. Nyanhongo, Georg M. Guebitz
Pulp refining is an energy consuming, but integral part of paper production with the aim to increase tensile strength and smoothness of paper sheets. Commercial enzyme formulations are used to lower the energy requirements by pre-treatment of pulp before refining. However, a high number of different commercial enzyme products are available on the market containing enzymes of varying origin and composition
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Modelling renewable energy communities: assessing the impact of different configurations, technologies and types of participants Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-06-02 Francisco Belmar, Patrícia Baptista, Diana Neves
Energy communities (ECs) have emerged as a solution to support governments mitigating climate change and comply with decarbonization goals, while introducing end-users on the energy value chain. In this paradigm, citizens have an active role in reducing electricity demand from the utility grid, by generating, sharing and/or trading locally generated renewable energy, such as solar energy. However,
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Aging into tricksters: a qualitative study of women’s positioning and leadership in solar energy communities in Japan Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-05-30 Daniela Lazoroska
Since the 1960s, women’s social and political engagement in Japan has been closely tied to the roles of mothers and housewives. On the other hand, the country is undergoing considerable demographic changes and has come to be considered an aging society, where an increasing number of women are opting out of marriage and child-rearing. Drawing from qualitative research with women in managerial positions
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The struggle of energy communities to enhance energy justice: insights from 113 German cases Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-05-25 Florian Hanke, Rachel Guyet
Energy communities provide access to energy services, such as affordable clean energy and energy-efficiency measures. Some of these services are of particular benefit for vulnerable households struggling with high energy prices and low incomes. European energy policy stipulates an enabling framework to support energy communities offering such services to all households, explicitly soliciting the inclusion
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Influencing residential electricity consumption with tailored messages: long-term usage patterns and effects on user experience Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-05-25 Johann Schrammel, Lisa M. Diamond, Peter Fröhlich, Gerard Mor, Jordi Cipriano
To transition our energy system toward sustainable production and consumption, it is important to successfully engage consumers to become active participants in this process. One form this can take is manual demand response, where end users respond to fluctuations in energy production and help balance the grid through adjustment of their consumption. This paper presents a trial of such a system that
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From ambition to implementation: institutionalisation as a key challenge for a sustainable mobility transition in Germany Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-05-25 Max Reichenbach, Torsten Fleischer
Transport and mobility contribute a significant share of greenhouse gas emissions, and fossil fuel consumption must be reduced for mobility to meet sustainable development goals. Strengthening public transport is a key element of the required mobility transition, including technological innovation. To address the related institutionalisation processes, we analyse the interplay between technological
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Macroeconomic impacts of energy communities and individual prosumers: an assessment of transformation pathways Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-05-23 Stefan Vögele, Lisa Hanna Broska, Andrew Ross, Dirk Rübbelke
Active citizen participation, especially as collective prosumers in energy communities or as individual prosumers, is vital for a sustainable energy transition. As such, it is explicitly supported by European Union policy. It is the aim of policy-makers that a large proportion of the residential energy demand will be met in this way. At present, there is limited analysis on the macroeconomic impacts
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The potential contribution of biogas to the security of gas supply in Germany Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-05-22 Daniela Thrän, Karen Deprie, Martin Dotzauer, Peter Kornatz, Michael Nelles, Kai Sven Radtke, Harry Schindler
Germany is highly dependent on natural gas, the availability of which has become uncertain due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Biogas provision in Germany is realized by more than 9500 mainly farm-side biogas plants that have the potential to increase the security of gas supply. To assess the potential contribution of biogas to a secure gas supply in Germany, we combine a literature-based analysis
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Exploring energy citizenship in the urban heating system with the ‘Walking with Energy’ methodology Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-05-15 Jenny Palm, Aimee Ambrose
Energy citizenship has emerged as a concept which attempts to capture the new role envisaged for urban citizens as engaged and active in the energy transition. However, exactly how to successfully engage energy citizens requires more research and this article aims to contribute to this knowledge gap. The article presents a new methodology, ‘Walking with Energy’, which seeks to (re)connect citizens
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Levelized profits for residential PV-battery systems and the role of regulatory and fiscal aspects in Germany Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-05-10 Wilhelm Kuckshinrichs, Christopher Stephen Ball, Gianmarco Aniello
The levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), expressing the price per unit that a technology must receive over its lifetime to break even, is a useful indicator, but insufficient for a comprehensive investment appraisal of PV-battery (PV-BES) projects. For household PV-BES systems, aimed at prosumers in the German context, our paper seeks to look at the revenue side in addition to the costs side of the
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Correction : Low carbon futures: assessing the status of decarbonisation efforts at universities within a 2050 perspective Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-05-08 Walter Leal Filho, Diogo Guedes Vidal, Maria Alzira Pimenta Dinis, Wim Lambrechts, Claudio R. P. Vasconcelos, Petra Molthan‑Hill, Ismaila Rimi Abubakar, Rachel M. Dunk, Amanda Lange Salvia, Ayyoob Sharifi
Correction : Energy Sustain Soc (2023) 13: 5 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13705-023-00384-6 Following publication of the original article [1], the authors identified an error since Ayyoob Sharifi was missing from the author group. The missing author name is: Ayyoob Sharifi12 (E-mail: Sharifi@hiroshima-u.ac.jp) The authors’ affiliation is: 12Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Network
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Does agrivoltaism reconcile energy and agriculture? Lessons from a French case study Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-04-28 Romain Carrausse, Xavier Arnauld de Sartre
Agrivoltaism is presented as an innovative production system that may combine agricultural activity and energy production on the same parcel of land. The deployment of this innovation has already begun in France as part of the energy transition initiatives, and many actors consider that its deployment only depends on social acceptance issues. However, given that agrivoltaism cuts across the agricultural
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Challenges connected with the energy choice and transition in bakeries of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire Energy Sustain. Soc. (IF 4.9) Pub Date : 2023-03-21 Salimata Berte, Djané Dit Fatogoma Adou
The great dependence on fuelwood due to demographic factors, logging, agricultural expansion and the repercussions of political instability, is presented for Côte d'Ivoire, as a contributor to forest degradation and deforestation. Faced with this situation, the country has been trying for many years, through the promotion of alternative energy sources to firewood, to put in place a policy to protect