Explore the vast range of titles available.

Bangladesh is one of the world's poorest countries. Nearly 80 percent of the nation's 140 million people reside in rural areas; of these, 20 percent live in extreme poverty. Geographically, many low-lying areas are vulnerable to severe flooding, while other regions are prone to drought, erosion, and soil salinity. Such an unfavorable agricultural landscape, combined with mismanagement of natural resources and increasing population pressure, is pushing many of the rural poor to the brink. Because Bangladesh is such a poor country, it also is one of the world's lowest energy producers. Total annual energy supply is only about 150 liters of oil equivalent per capita (International Energy Agency, or IEA 2003); in rural areas, conditions are even worse. Compared to other developing countries, Bangladesh uses little modern energy. Despite its successful rural electrification program, close to two-thirds of households remain without electricity and, with the exception of kerosene, commercial fuels are beyond reach for many. Moreover, biomass fuels are becoming increasingly scarce. Collected mainly from the local environment as recently as two decades ago, bio-fuels are fast becoming a marketed commodity as access to local biomass continues to shrink. This study, the first to concentrate on Bangladesh's energy systems and their effects on the lives of rural people, drew on these background studies, as well as other World Bank-financed research on indoor air pollution (IAP) and rural infrastructure, to present a rural energy strategy for the country. Much of this study's analytical underpinning was based on several background studies. This study also reanalyzed data from earlier research to better understand the benefits of modern energy use for rural households, farm activities, and small businesses.

Sustainable development, a key global priority, is increasingly shaped by factors such as the sharing economy, environmental patents, and energy efficiency, which have significant social, economic, and environmental implications. With rising public concern about the environment, volatile energy prices, and growing market pressure, more businesses are seeking ways to optimize energy usage. The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of green technologies, the sharing economy, and energy efficiency on environmental sustainability in the G7 countries. By utilizing quarterly data from 2014Q1 to 2020Q4, this study measures ecological sustainability using the load capacity factor. The research employs the Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) approach to assess the relationships between variables, while the Cross-Sectionally Augmented IPS (CIPS) test is used to examine unit roots in the data. The objective of this study is to evaluate how these factors contribute to environmental sustainability and to provide policy recommendations for enhancing sustainability practices across the G7 countries. The scientific novelty of this work lies in its application of MMQR to understand the varying effects of energy efficiency, the sharing economy, and green technologies on sustainability and its incorporation of short-term quarterly data, offering fresh insights into the dynamics of these relationships. The findings reveal that an increasing number of sharing economy users and population growth positively impact environmental sustainability. Moreover, policies promoting efficient resource utilization and the sharing economy can significantly enhance sustainability. However, urbanization and industrialization pose challenges, necessitating more stringent industrial regulations and careful urban planning. The results indicate that while energy efficiency and the sharing economy hold theoretical potential for sustainability, their practical impacts can vary. To ensure long-term sustainability, the adoption of environmental patents and green technologies is critical, with initial investments yielding substantial returns as these technologies become more widely adopted. This study proposes policy recommendations including greater international collaboration, comprehensive energy policies, advanced urban planning, expanded support for green innovation, and stricter industrial regulations. The research also underscores the role of the United States in leading global sustainable development initiatives. Finally, this study suggests that future research should consider longer timeframes, advanced analytical methods, and a broader range of variables to further understand the complexities of sustainable development.

SDG 7, “affordable and clean energy,” is a major challenge for developing countries such as Colombia, where there has been a push to increase coverage with very high costs. This phenomenon has diminished the rational use of energy and energy efficiency, and there is a lack of energy policies for Non-Interconnected Zones (NIZ). This study analyzes the implementation of energy efficiency programs for NIZ communities and proposes investments focused on replacing old/inefficient appliances. It also proposes training the population to improve consumption habits and decrease the demand for electricity and reduce the amount of subsidies the government grants to the NIZ. The model was implemented using the system dynamics methodology with a 20-year time horizon, and the analysis includes load censuses, the amount of subsidies, operating costs, fuel consumption, and CO2 emissions. Simulations show that considerable reductions in the demand for electrical energy can be achieved with a temporary increase in subsidies to implement energy efficiency programs, generating a decrease in the use of diesel fuel and less CO2 emissions. The measures also lead to improving network conditions and reducing operating costs in communities. This model can become a tool for government entities to evaluate new subsidies aimed at reducing operating costs in these areas.

The increasing awareness of the need for sustainable solutions to secure future energy supplies has spurred the search for innovative approaches. Energo-Efekt Sp. z o.o. has prepared a project for the green transformation of the energy system at a producer of spirits through the rectification of raw alcohol. An installation was conceptualised to develop the system to convert energy from biomass fuels into electricity and heat. The innovation of the installation is the use of an expander—a Heliex system which is the twin-screw turbine generator converting energy in the form of wet steam into electrical power integrated with pressure-reducing valve. This system captures all or part of the available steam flow and reduces the steam pressure, not only delivering steam at the same, lower pressure but also generating rotary energy that can be used to produce electricity with the power output range of 160 to 600 kWe. Currently, the company utilises natural gas as a fuel source and acquires electricity from the external grid. Implementing the system could reduce the carbon footprint associated with the production of vodka at the plant by 97%, to 102 t CO2 annually. This reduction would account for approximately 21% of the total carbon footprint of the entire alcohol production process. The system could also be applied to other low-power systems that produce < 250 kW, making it a viable option for use in distributed energy networks, and can be used as a model solution for other distillery plants. The transformation project dedicated to Polmos Żyrardów involves a comprehensive change in both the energy source and its management. The fossil fuels used until now are being replaced with a renewable energy source in the form of biomass. The steam and electricity cogeneration system meets the rectification process’s energy demand and can supply the central heating node. Heat recovery exchangers recuperate heat from the boiler room exhaust gases and the rectification cooling process. Potentially, all of these changes lead to the company’s energy self-sufficiency and reduce its overall environmental impact with almost zero CO2 emissions.

A series of theoretical and experimental studies was carried out with the aim of a direct comparison of the thermal and microwave destruction of peat during pyrolysis. Different heating mechanisms in these processes were investigated in the framework of simulations conducted using a commercial 3D software package, CST Studio Suite, to define their specific features. Based on these simulations, identical reactors were constructed exploiting an electric element and a microwave complex as a heat source, and an experimental technique was developed that allows these processes to be correctly compared under similar conditions. Using these reactors based on different heat sources, comparative experiments on peat pyrolysis were performed, and the results of the theoretical analysis were confirmed. As a result, the advantages of microwave exposure were demonstrated to achieve a more uniform and deep fragmentation of peat, increase the reaction rate and reduce the processing time, with high energy efficiency accompanying this method. As part of the experiments, the yield of pyrolysis products was analyzed. During the microwave destruction of peat, a high gas output (up to 27%) was obtained, which allows for a further increase in the efficiency of this processing method when burning these gases. The conducted elemental analysis showed an increase in the percentage of carbon from about 50% to 78% after microwave processing, which can become a raw material for obtaining effective environmentally friendly sorbents. The prospects for creating industrial microwave complexes for processing organic materials are discussed.

The article presents an overview of the current situation of awareness of the Latvian citizens in the field of state-of-the-art energy-saving technologies. The authors present a wide range of data obtained as a result of a survey on the attitude of residents to new technologies and readiness to follow the development trends of a smart city. The article contains the analysis and recommendations for improving the efficiency of introducing new energy-saving and energy-efficient technologies into each household in order to create the most favourable conditions for the implementation of long-term plans for the development of smart cities in Latvia.

This study investigates the effect of energy use on labor productivity in the Ethiopian manufacturing industry. It uses panel data for the manufacturing industry groups to estimate the coefficients using the dynamic panel estimator. The study’s results confirm that energy use increases manufacturing labor productivity. The coefficients for the control variables are in keeping with theoretical predictions. Capital positively augments productivity in the industries. Based on our results, technology induces manufacturing’s labor productivity. Likewise, more labor employment induces labor productivity due to the dominance of labor-intensive manufacturing industries in Ethiopia. Alternative model specifications provide evidence of a robust link between energy and labor productivity in the Ethiopian manufacturing industry. Our results imply that there needs to be more focus on the efficient use of energy, labor, capital, and technology to increase the manufacturing industry’s labor productivity and to overcome the premature deindustrialization patterns being seen in Ethiopia.

Open innovations (OI) are playing an increasingly important role in the innovative development (RI) of SMEs. This has led to a need to analyze the impact of OI on innovative development serving the implementation of the assumptions of sustainable development, the positive effect of which is to reduce the negative impact on the environment thanks to a more rational use of both natural and produced resources (e.g., energy). This development is described in this article as “sustainable innovative development”. Research was conducted on a sample of 800 SMEs in Poland using the quantitative method (questionnaire). The aim of this study was to identify the impact of OI on sustainable innovation development. This goal was achieved through the verification of three research hypotheses. It turns out that SMEs obtain significant benefits by exploring the environment, i.e., by showing a high level of willingness to cooperate with various entities in the environment for sustainable innovative development. Moreover, the results show that SMEs cooperating with the environment are more developed in terms of sustainable innovative development than those that base their development on their own internal resources (no cooperation). Hence, it follows that OIs have a positive impact on sustainable innovative development.

Purpose of Review Energy to source, condition, transport, treat, and deliver water for human use is significant. Stress from mobile populations, irrigation, and climate change means a need to increase energy efficiency in our water systems. This will save billions of dollars in costs for utilities, farmers, and municipalities, reduce pollution, and increase water security. Recent Findings Seawater desalination is now very efficient. More will be gained from improvements to pre- and post-treatment, capital/infrastructure and operations and maintenance (O&M) costs, labor costs, co-location opportunities, and environmental costs. Automation, cost-benefit analysis, and optimization of water deliveries can be developed. Development and implementation of renewable energy and advanced technologies can be used to source, purify, and deliver what were highly impaired source waters for multiple uses. Summary The work seeks to improve efficiency and interactions in our energy, water, and industrial systems, increase availability and delivery of water for agriculture, and productively leverage connections between our natural and engineered water systems.

This report provides some practical guidance on how utilities can define their own smart grid vision, identify priorities, and structure investment plans. While most of these strategic aspects apply to any area of the electricity grid, the document focuses on the segment of distribution. The guidance includes key building blocks that are needed to modernize the distribution grid and provides examples of grid modernization projects. Potential benefits that can be achieved (in monetary terms) for a given investment range are also discussed. The concept of the smart grid is relevant to any grid regardless of its stage of development. What varies are the magnitude and type of the incremental steps toward modernization that will be required to achieve a specific smart grid vision. Importantly, a utility that is at a relatively low level of grid modernization may leap frog one or more levels of modernization to achieve some of the benefits offered by the highest levels of grid modernization. Smart grids impact electric distribution systems significantly and sometimes more than any other part of the electric power grid. In developing countries, modernizing the distribution grid promises to benefit the operation of electric distribution utilities in many and various ways. These benefits include improved operational efficiency (reduced losses, lower energy consumption, amongst others), reduced peak demand, improved service reliability, and ability to accommodate distributed generating resources without adversely impacting overall power quality. Benefits of distribution grid modernization also include improved asset utilization (allowing operators to 'squeeze' more capacity out of existing assets) and workforce productivity improvement. These benefits can provide more than enough monetary gain for electric utility stakeholders in developing countries to offset the cost of grid modernization. Finally the report describes some funding and regulatory issues that may need to be taken into account when developing smart grid plans.