scholarly journals Current trends and future perspective of renewable energy research in Africa; A Bibliometric analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandylove Afrane ◽  
Jeffrey Dankwa Ampah ◽  
Emmanuel Mensah Aboagye
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Bibliometric Analysis ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
The Body ◽  
Future Perspective ◽  
Energy Research ◽  
Knowledge Domain ◽  
Current Trends ◽  
Global Mapping ◽  
University Of Cape Town

Abstract Several countries across the African continent have been challenged with energy crisis for decades. A growing number of studies have identified renewable energies as a sustainable way for Africa to address its persisting energy situation, as the continent has in abundance some of the popular renewable energy sources. However, little has been reported in the body of literature about this growing research area's global mapping and knowledge domain. By bridging this gap in research, it becomes easy to identify which authors, countries, organizations/institutions are likely to produce research that paves the way for the easy penetration of renewable energy into the existing African energy mix. Moreover, potential investors in the continent’s renewable energy can easily identify the most popular and advantageous renewable energy to invest in. Thus, the current study seeks to achieve these aims by conducting a bibliometric analysis on 1037 publications extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection using the VOSviewer software. The results from the study revealed a growing interest in Africa’s renewable energy, with a 200% increase within the last five years. The most productive journal, institution, and country in this subject have been Energy Policy, University of Cape Town, and South Africa, respectively. Research hotspots under different study themes also revealed that ‘solar energy,’ ‘CO2 emissions,’ and ‘rural electrification’ are hot issues that have gained maximum attention over the years. Results from the current study provide a paradigm for the development of Africa’s renewable energy sector.

scholarly journals Energy research and social sciences: thinking outside the box

2021 ◽  
Vol 250 ◽  
pp. 07001
Author(s):  
Wadim Strielkowski
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Social Scientist ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Energy Research ◽  
Social Sciences And Humanities ◽  
The Third ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Face

This paper aims at explaining the universality and broadness of the research in energy studies. Specifically, it wants to show that the energy research is not a solely engineering or natural sciences field and how it can be done in social sciences. The paper draws some relevant examples including energy research in literature and poetry, history, religion, art, as well in other social sciences and humanities. In general, it becomes apparent that energy research can boast vast depths and angles that are worth exploring for any social scientist. Given the key importance of energy research in the third decade of the 21st century and the worldwide focus on the renewable energy sources, electrification of transport and heating in the face of the threatening global warming and climate change, it seems relevant to focus on researching the perspectives and paradigms for the traditional and renewable energy sources in the 21st century using the toolbox of the social sciences.

scholarly journals The Morphology and Differentiation of the Content of International Debate on Renewable Energy. A Bibliometric Analysis of Web of Science, Scopus, and Twitter

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (21) ◽  
pp. 7094
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Sanak-Kosmowska ◽  
Jan W. Wiktor
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Bibliometric Analysis ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Main Trend ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Scientific Papers

This paper aims to identify a bibliometric profile, presenting the results of research and debates in social media on renewable energy sources (RES). It analyses current scientific publications (2019–2021) and tweets posted in July 2021 by international Twitter users. The subject of the study is an analysis of key words in articles, the results of research, and the content of tweets (hashtags #renewables) related to renewable energy (RE) as well as an assessment of the morphology of content and the degree of its differentiation in the analysed data resources. The conducted analysis facilitates an assessment of similarities of key words in scientific papers and the content of debates in social media—on Twitter, a global platform. In its methodological dimension, the work is based on a bibliometric analysis (articles in both bases) and the analysis of Twitter data. This methodological approach allows for identifying the main trend, profile, and bibliometric characteristics of scientific papers representing two streams of information: articles in bases and the content (hashtags) of authentic and unguided international debates on Twitter. The focus on this platform results from a great popularity of social media as a platform for social debate, expressing comments and opinions and providing an opportunity to gain understanding of social, cultural, and environmental issues related to renewable energy sources from the perspective of social media participants. The objective of the paper and the proposed methodological approach relates to a knowledge gap in the area of renewable energy, and, more specifically, climate change and sustainable development.

Optimal Capacity Sizing for a Completely Green Village With Programmable Appliances

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliette Ugirumurera ◽  
Zygmunt J. Haas
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Remote Areas ◽  
Optimal Capacity ◽  
Current Trends ◽  
Capacity Sizing ◽  
Investment Cost

Current trends show that renewable energy production costs continue to decrease with time, so that renewable energy sources (RES) are becoming more suitable as electricity sources. In addition to their environmental benefits, RES are especially appropriate for remote areas, where the expansion of existing power grid is impractical and fuel transportation for thermal generators is too expensive. In this regard, our work studies the optimal capacity sizing for a completely green village (CGV), which is an isolated residential microgrid (MG) whose power is entirely generated by RES. In particular, we consider a neighborhood composed of smart homes that contain programmable appliances, whose operations can be interrupted or automatically scheduled in time. Though there are many works in literature that investigate MG optimal capacity sizing, to our knowledge, our work is the first that utilizes the scheduling of programmable appliance to minimize MG investment costs. To establish the effectiveness of our method, we compare an optimal MG capacity sizing algorithm that utilizes appliances’ programmability (Opt-P) with an algorithm that places appliances into operation as soon as they are ready without shifting in time or preempting their operation (NoSch-P). Our simulation results show that Opt-P reduces the investment cost by at least 42% compared to NoSch-P, when the ratio between the energy storage investment cost per kWh and the RES’ investment cost per kW is greater or equal to 10.

scholarly journals The Green Deal Policy for Renewable Energy: A Bibliometric Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 147-168
Author(s):  
Yevheniia Ziabina ◽  
Tetyana Pimonenko
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Energy Efficiency ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Energy Saving ◽  
Bibliometric Analysis ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Climate Neutrality ◽  
The Eu

The industry attention to the environment has been reducing lately, leading to irreversible climate change, reaching the limit of mining, and critical indicators of СО2 emissions. That is why the EU has launched a new Green Policy which includes strategic directions for energy efficiency and which is expected to restore biodiversity and slow down the pace of climate change. Thus, on December 11, 2019, there was held the presentation of the “European Green Course”, the main targets of which are to increase the level of energy saving by creating closed cycles in the economy; to minimize greenhouse gas emissions by 2050; to form biodiversity and climate neutrality. Accordingly, countries that accept the terms of the green deal policy need to review all aspects of their economy, from energy production to food consumption, from industry to transport and construction. The purpose of the article is to analyse publications in order to identify public’s awareness of radical changes in economic and ecological spheres. The article provides a bibliometric analysis of research in the field of green deal policy, energy conservation and energy efficiency through the introduction of renewable energy sources. The authors selected 337 papers which were published in 1999-2019. Scopus provided the database for analysis. By means of VOSviewer the results of bibliometric analyses were visualized in a definitions map. It allowed identifying six clusters that combine 131 terms. As a result of the research, the connection between the terms – renewable energy sources and energy saving – was revealed with the help of the constructed bibliographic map.

Renewable Energy Sources

IEE Review ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 152
Author(s):  
Kenneth Spring
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Energy Sources

Power Projects and Covid-19: A Practical Analysis of the Relevance of Force Majeure Clauses under the Standardised Power Purchase and Implementation Agreements of Uganda

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 189-193
Author(s):  
Aisha Naiga ◽  
Loyola Rwabose Karobwa
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
The State ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Policy Goals ◽  
Force Majeure ◽  
Practical Analysis ◽  
Energy Justice

Over 90% of Uganda's power is generated from renewable sources. Standardised Implementation Agreements and Power Purchase Agreements create a long-term relationship between Generating Companies and the state-owned off-taker guaranteed by Government. The COVID-19 pandemic and measures to curb the spread of the virus have triggered the scrutiny and application of force majeure (FM) clauses in these agreements. This article reviews the FM clauses and considers their relevance. The authors submit that FM clauses are a useful commercial tool for achieving energy justice by ensuring the continuity of the project, despite the dire effects of the pandemic. Proposals are made for practical considerations for a post-COVID-19 future which provides the continued pursuit of policy goals of promoting renewable energy sources and increasing access to clean energy, thus accelerating just energy transitions.

Renewable Energy on Tribal Lands: A Feasibility Study for a Biomass-to-Energy Plant on the Cocopah Reservation in Arizona

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Lauren K. D’Souza ◽  
William L. Ascher ◽  
Tanja Srebotnjak
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
The United States ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Policy Support ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Energy Plant ◽  
Energy Projects ◽  
Alternative Investment

Native American reservations are among the most economically disadvantaged regions in the United States; lacking access to economic and educational opportunities that are exacerbated by “energy insecurity” due to insufficient connectivity to the electric grid and power outages. Local renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and biomass offer energy alternatives but their implementation encounters barriers such as lack of financing, infrastructure, and expertise, as well as divergent attitudes among tribal leaders. Biomass, in particular, could be a source of stable base-load power that is abundant and scalable in many rural communities. This case study examines the feasibility of a biomass energy plant on the Cocopah reservation in southwestern Arizona. It considers feedstock availability, cost and energy content, technology options, nameplate capacity, discount and interest rates, construction, operation and maintenance (O&M) costs, and alternative investment options. This study finds that at current electricity prices and based on typical costs for fuel, O&M over 30 years, none of the tested scenarios is presently cost-effective on a net present value (NPV) basis when compared with an alternative investment yielding annual returns of 3% or higher. The technology most likely to be economically viable and suitable for remote, rural contexts—a combustion stoker—resulted in a levelized costs of energy (LCOE) ranging from US$0.056 to 0.147/kWh. The most favorable scenario is a combustion stoker with an estimated NPV of US$4,791,243. The NPV of the corresponding alternative investment is US$7,123,380. However, if the tribes were able to secure a zero-interest loan to finance the plant’s installation cost, the project would be on par with the alternative investment. Even if this were the case, the scenario still relies on some of the most optimistic assumptions for the biomass-to-power plant and excludes abatement costs for air emissions. The study thus concludes that at present small-scale, biomass-to-energy projects require a mix of favorable market and local conditions as well as appropriate policy support to make biomass energy projects a cost-competitive source of stable, alternative energy for remote rural tribal communities that can provide greater tribal sovereignty and economic opportunities.

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