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The world’s demand for electricity will double by 2050. Despite its high potential as an eco-friendly technology for generating electricity, solar energy only covers a small percentage of the global demand. One of the challenges is associated with the sustainable use of land resources. Floating PV (FPV) plants on water bodies such as a dam, reservoir, canal, etc. are being increasingly developed worldwide as an alternative choice. In this background, the purpose of this research is to provide an outline of the hybrid floating solar system, which can be used to generate renewable energy. The hybrid technologies discussed include: FPV + hydro systems, FPV + pumped hydro, FPV + wave energy converter, FPV + solar tree, FPV + tracking, FPV + conventional power, FPV + hydrogen. The review also summarizes the key benefits and constraints of floating solar PV (FPV) in hybrid operation. Among the various hybrid FPV technologies, with solar input and hydro energy were among the most promising methods that could be potentially used for efficient power generation. The valuable concepts presented in this work provide a better understanding and may ignite sustainable hybrid floating installations for socio-economic growth with less environmental impact.

The construction sector presently consumes about 40% of global energy and generates 36% of CO2 emissions, making facade retrofits a priority for decarbonising buildings. This review clarifies how ventilated facades (VFs), wall assemblies that interpose a ventilated air cavity between outer cladding and the insulated structure, address that challenge. First, the paper categorises VFs by structural configuration, ventilation strategy and functional control into four principal families: double-skin, rainscreen, hybrid/adaptive and active–passive systems, with further extensions such as BIPV, PCM and green-wall integrations that couple energy generation or storage with envelope performance. Heat-transfer analysis shows that the cavity interrupts conductive paths, promotes buoyancy- or wind-driven convection, and curtails radiative exchange. Key design parameters, including cavity depth, vent-area ratio, airflow velocity and surface emissivity, govern this balance, while hybrid ventilation offers the most excellent peak-load mitigation with modest energy input. A synthesis of simulation and field studies indicates that properly detailed VFs reduce envelope cooling loads by 20–55% across diverse climates and cut winter heating demand by 10–20% when vents are seasonally managed or coupled with heat-recovery devices. These thermal benefits translate into steadier interior surface temperatures, lower radiant asymmetry and fewer drafts, thereby expanding the hours occupants remain within comfort bands without mechanical conditioning. Climate-responsive guidance emerges in tropical and arid regions, favouring highly ventilated, low-absorptance cladding; temperate and continental zones gain from adaptive vents, movable insulation or PCM layers; multi-skin adaptive facades promise balanced year-round savings by re-configuring in real time. Overall, the review demonstrates that VFs constitute a versatile, passive-plus platform for low-carbon buildings, simultaneously enhancing energy efficiency, durability and indoor comfort. Future advances in smart controls, bio-based materials and integrated energy-recovery systems are poised to unlock further performance gains and accelerate the sector’s transition to net-zero. Emerging multifunctional materials such as phase-change composites, nanostructured coatings, and perovskite-integrated systems also show promise in enhancing facade adaptability and energy responsiveness.

Reducing thermal losses through building envelopes remains a key strategy in the pursuit of low-carbon, energy-efficient buildings. This study presents an innovative and sustainable retrofitting approach involving thermal insulation plaster modified with finely ground hazelnut shells, an abundant agricultural by-product in Türkiye. The modified plaster is applied symmetrically on both sides of standard masonry briquettes in varying proportions (2%, 4%, and 6%), and its thermal performance is experimentally assessed via the laboratory-scale coheating test method. The results reveal a substantial reduction in U-values compared to the uninsulated briquette (5.5 W/m2K): the 2% shell-modified plaster achieves a U-value of 2.40 W/m2K (56.4% improvement), the 4% variant achieves 2.14 W/m2K (61.1%), and the 6% formulation performs best at 2.04 W/m2K (62.9%). In terms of effective thermal conductivity, the modified plasters exhibit values in the range of 0.0408–0.04856 W/mK. Additionally, the 6% composition exhibits enhanced thermal inertia, delaying internal heat loss and offering extended indoor comfort. All samples demonstrate exceptional measurement repeatability, with day-to-day U-value variation below 2%. These findings surpass thermal performance benchmarks reported in previous studies using bamboo or plaster thickness alterations, and position hazelnut shell-modified plaster as a high-potential solution for sustainable building retrofits. The outcomes offer practical implications for low-cost housing, rural construction, and building refurbishment programmes, while also informing policymakers and material standardisation bodies about scalable bio-based alternatives that align with circular economy and decarbonisation goals.

In Portugal, cheese holds a prominent position as a major dairy product, with traditional varieties enjoying widespread acclaim. A number of these cheeses have earned Protected Designations of Origin status, showcasing their unique qualities and regional significance. Notable examples include “Serra da Estrela”, “Serpa”, and “Terrincho”. The production of cheese relies heavily on heating and cooling processes, which account for a substantial portion of the total energy consumed. This research endeavour undertakes a detailed description and analysis of traditional cheesemaking practices within Portugal’s interior central region, with a particular emphasis on the economic and energetic efficiency of refrigeration systems. For this purpose, thirty-one traditional cheese production facilities were examined and classified into two distinct groups: Traditional Industrial Producers and Traditional Handmade Producers. The analysis was conducted through two separate case studies. The findings reveal that a significant 58% of the energy consumed by these facilities is attributed to electrically powered cooling systems, encompassing components such as fans, compressed air systems, and illumination. Within the production processes, fuel combustion, primarily naphtha or propane, serves the purpose of water heating and steam generation. Based on energy consumption reports, the Specific Energy Consumption of electricity was determined to be 0.283 kWh/lRM for TIP and 0.169 kWh/lRM for THP. Furthermore, several linear regression models were developed to explore the relationships between parameters such as cold room volume, compressor power, and raw material quantity. The study also identified key factors contributing to reduced energy efficiency within the facilities. These factors include inadequate insulation of buildings and cold rooms, outdated and poorly maintained refrigeration equipment situated in suboptimal locations, and cold rooms and compressors that are oversized and not optimised for efficient operation.

Molecular solar thermal (MOST) energy systems can be utilized for the absorption, storage, and release of energy from the ultraviolet (UV) band of the solar spectrum. In this study, we designed a molecular solar thermal energy storage and release device based on the photoisomerization reaction of azobenzene. The device was integrated with a parabolic trough solar system, broadening the absorption range of the solar spectrum. By utilizing a coated secondary reflector, the system achieved efficient reflection of ultraviolet (UV) light in the 290–490 nm range, while solid-state azobenzene enabled the conversion of photon energy into chemical energy for storage and release. Experimental results under winter outdoor conditions demonstrated that: the secondary reflector significantly enhanced UV light concentration; the molecular solar thermal energy device exhibited remarkable thermal efficiency. Under an average solar irradiance of 302.23 W·m−2, the device demonstrated excellent thermal performance, with the azobenzene reaching a peak temperature of 42.07 °C. The maximum heat release capacity was measured at 10.89 kJ·kg−1·m−1, while achieving a remarkable heat release power of 29.31 W·kg−1·m−1.

The construction sector, including in developed countries, plays a notable part in the overall energy consumption worldwide, being responsible for 40% of it. In addition to this, heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems constitute the largest share in this sector, accounting for 40% of energy usage in construction and 16% globally. To address this, stringent rules and performance measures are essential to reduce energy consumption. This study focuses on mathematical optimisation modelling to enhance the performance of indirect-contact evaporative cooling systems (ICESs), a topic with a significant gap in the literature. This modelling is highly comprehensive, covering various aspects: (1) analysing the impact of the water-spraying unit (WSU) size, working air (WA) velocity and hydraulic diameter (Dh) on the evaporated water vapour (EWV) amount; (2) evaluating temperature and humidity distribution for a range of temperatures without considering humidity at the outlet of the WSU, (3) presenting theoretical calculations of outdoor temperature (Tout) and humidity with a constant WSU size and air mass flow rate (MFR), (4) examining the combined effect of the WA MFR and relative humidity (ϕ) on Tout and (5) investigating how Tout influences the indoor environment’s humidity. The study incorporates an extensive optimisation analysis. The findings indicate that the model could contribute to the development of future low-carbon houses, considering factors such as the impact of Tout on indoor ϕ, the importance of low air velocity for achieving a low air temperature, the positive effects of Dh on outdoor air and the necessity of a WSU with a size of at least 8 m for adiabatic saturation.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) hold potential for low-cost, high-efficiency solar energy, but their sensitivity to moisture limits practical application. Current fabrication requires controlled environments, limiting mass production. Researchers aim to develop stable PSCs with longer lifetimes under ambient conditions. In this research work, we investigated the stability of perovskite films and solar cells fabricated and annealed in natural air using four different anti-solvents: toluene, ethyl acetate, diethyl ether, and chlorobenzene. Films (about 300 nm thick) were deposited via single-step spin-coating and subjected to ambient air-atmosphere for up to 30 days. We monitored changes in crystallinity, electrical properties, and optics over time. Results showed a gradual degradation in the films’ crystallinity, morphology, and electro-optical properties. Notably, films made with ethyl acetate exhibited superior stability compared to other solvents. These findings contribute to advancing stable and high-performance PSCs manufactured under normal ambient conditions. In addition, we also discuss the possible machine learning (ML) approach to our future work direction to optimize the materials structures, and synthesis process parameters for future high-efficient perovskite solar cells fabrication.

Different direct solar harvesting systems for daylighting are being explored to achieve high uniform illumination deep within buildings at minimal cost. A promising solution to make these systems cost-effective is the use of plastic optical fibers (POFs). However, heat-related issues with low-cost POFs need to be addressed for the widespread adoption of efficient daylighting technologies. Previous studies have explored solutions for this overheating problem, but their effectiveness remains uncertain. This study proposes a low-cost fiber optic daylighting system integrated with a newly patented mechanical component designed to secure the fiber optic bundle at the focal point, providing three levels of heat filtration while ensuring uniform illumination. Our methodology involves selecting a small area, installing the setup, and measuring both heat and light readings, followed by validation through software simulations. The operational principle of this technology is explained, and experimental tests using lux meters and infrared thermometers were conducted to investigate the system’s characteristics. The three-level heat filtration device reduces temperature by approximately 35 °C at the surface of the optical fiber, and the average illumination of the room is around 400 lux. These results were further verified using RELUX simulation software. The findings demonstrate the promising potential of this new device in solar heat filtration and achieving uniform illumination. Recommendations for mitigating overheating damage and exploring heat filtering possibilities in new parabolic solar daylighting systems for further research are also provided.

With energy resources being fossil fuel-based, increasing energy production has already reached levels that threaten human health. In this situation, the use of alternative energy sources is seen as the only solution. Solar energy is seen as the most promising source among these alternative energies in terms of its potential. Hence, therefore, this study focuses entirely on one of the solar energy sources. This research aims to assess the impact of the design and underground additional heat source (AHS) on the system performance based on the Manzanares pilot plant (MPP), the first on-site practice of solar chimney power plants. Divergent chimney-SCPP with sloping collector (DISCPP) is analysed in the present work. For DISCPP, the influence of the underground AHS in the range of 50–250 °C on the system outputs is examined. The study demonstrates a remarkable enhancement in power output (PO), with the plant generating 51,545 kW under the reference case conditions. The findings signify that when utilising the DISCPP system, the output soars to 247,672 kW under identical climatic conditions. During sunless hours, a PO of 61,956 kW is achieved with the DISCPP at an underground AHS temperature of 50 °C. Moreover, when the source temperature reaches 250 °C during sunless hours, the DISCPP system continues to deliver a significant output of 450 kW. These outcomes underscore the exceptional performance and reliability of the DISCPP system, even under varying conditions.

The current work focuses on utilization of ANN (artificial neural network) for the prediction of performance and tailpipe emissions of Garcinia gummigutta methyl ester (GGME) enriched with H 2 and TiO 2 nano additives. For experimentation, H 2 gas was introduced to the mixes containing TiO 2 nanoparticles. Diesel, B10 blend (10% GGME biofuel + 90% Diesel), B20 (20% GGME biofuel + 80% Diesel), Diesel-TiO 2 (Mineral Diesel with 100 ppm TiO 2 nano additives), B10-H 2 -TiO 2 (B10 blend with 100 ppm nano additives + 5 L/min of H 2 ) and B20-H 2 -TiO 2 (B20 blend with 100 ppm nanoparticles + 5 L/min of H 2 ) were considered for experimentation. A constant mass flow rate of 10 L/min was used for the hydrogen flow throughout the test procedures. Test results were carefully analyzed to determine the performance and emission measures. Different speeds between 1800 and 2800 rpm were used for each test. When combined with pure Diesel and mixtures of biodiesel, these nanoparticles and hydrogen enhanced the performance data. For instance, the brake-specific fuel consumption was reduced but the power, torque, and thermal efficiency were increased. Although there was a modest rise in NO emissions, the primary goal of lowering CO, CO 2 , and other UHC emissions was met. The ANN models confirm and agreed the Diesel engine experimental work possesses minimal root mean square error (RMSE) and correlation coefficient values were estimated. This ideal model predicts and optimizes the engine output at a higher accuracy level, which gives better results compared with other empirical and theoretical models.