Solar Energy and Sustainable Development Journal

Analysis of a Novel Coupled Inductor-Extended Double Stage Active Boost (CIX²AB) Converter Topology for Maximizing Output Efficiency in PV Power Systems

2025-08-26T18:11:41+00:00

Solar energy is a critical aspect of Renewable Energy Systems (RES), driven by increasing cost-of-electricity and growing demand from utility customers for clean, pollution-free, sustainable energy. Distributed Photovoltaic (PV) generation systems generally produce low voltage, thus introducing a high step-up converter to interface efficiently with the load is crucial. Therefore, this paper provides a novel Coupled Inductor Extended Double Stage Active Boost (CIX²AB) Converter for enhancing voltage efficiency in PV system. Also, the Proportional Integral (PI) controller is utilized to regulate the converter and supports stabilization of output voltage. The numerical model of the CIX²AB converter circuit integrated with PV is implemented using MATLAB/Simulink software. The experimental verification demonstrates that the developed CIX²AB converter significantly contributes in achieving higher efficiency of 96.2% with enhanced voltage gain and reduced stress.

Towards Green Economy:

2025-04-27T16:41:44+00:00

Libya is primarily concerned with the green economy as it relies on a single source of national income and a single source of energy. It loses its national income source as industrial countries abandon fossil fuels and replace them with environmentally friendly alternative energy sources. Therefore, Libya must begin the battle for green economy transformation, and policymakers need to develop strategies for a rapid and safe transition to sustainable green development. This research outlines the basic framework for green economy transition strategies by reviewing other countries' experiences and theoretical studies. It proposes a temporal and financial transformation plan that includes three paths to achieve the green economy transition. The first path involves reducing emissions by using natural gas instead of oil fuel and introducing carbon capture systems in polluting systems. The second path suggests increasing the contribution of zero-emission technologies in the energy mix, such as solar energy, wind energy, and hydrogen. The third path involves enhancing negative emission environmental systems like reforestation and algae cultivation, localizing renewable and environmentally friendly energy industries, and facilitating investment in zero and negative emission projects. This path also aims to achieve sustainable development by utilizing oil in petrochemical industries, which will generate more revenue and jobs than burning it for energy production. To implement this strategic plan, $8.3 billion needs to be allocated for installing carbon capture systems on all electric power plants, plus approximately $7 million in annual payments for maintenance and operation. Additionally, around $39.5 billion is required to establish concentrated solar power plants and use them as a sustainable clean fuel instead of fossil fuels, with annual payments for operation and maintenance estimated at approximately $735 million. Furthermore, about $2.1 million is needed for investment in negative emission environmental systems such as forests, and around $2.5 million in annual payments for managing approximately 20,400 hectares of forests, which will achieve net-zero carbon for the current electric power industry.

Techno-Economic and Environmental Study of Grid-Connected Solar Geothermal Battery System in Tunisian Universities

2025-06-28T10:56:30+00:00

This study aims to evaluate a hybrid energy system combining solar photovoltaic panels, ground-source heat pumps (GSHPs), and battery storage, within a unified university-based model applied to three distinct Tunisian climate zones: Beja, Gabes, and Borma. The methodology relied on a dynamic integration of OpenStudio and TRNSYS to accurately simulate annual thermal and electrical loads. A total of 35 design configurations per city were investigated, varying in borehole number and spacing, while system components were standardized to 1,137 photovoltaic panels rated at 450 W and 120 LiFePO₄ batteries with a storage capacity of 13.44 kWh. Results revealed that the imbalance between cooling and heating demands leads to gradual thermal accumulation in the ground, reducing system efficiency over time.To assess mitigation strategies, a composite objective function incorporating four indicators was employed: thermal accumulation, ground field volume, instantaneous operating cost rate, and grid dependency. The optimization process identified configurations capable of limiting ground temperature rise and supporting stable operation. Sensitivity analysis showed that increasing the weight of economic and spatial indicators reshuffles the ranking of certain configurations, highlighting the importance of prioritization based on design goals. The selected configurations demonstrated the ability to cover more than 70% of annual demand, with levelized cost of energy (LCOE) ranging from 0.023 to 0.114 USD/kWh and payback periods between 23 and 44 years, depending on whether the system operates under Tunisia’s restrictive grid policies or more supportive international frameworks. Annual loads ranged from 965 to 1,135 MWh, with peak cooling reaching 660 kW and heating between 324 and 416 kW. Simulations also revealed seasonal variations in battery performance, with average daily charge levels exceeding 50–55% in July and dropping to 17–20% in January, depending on location. The study emphasizes the need to align technical configurations with regulatory reforms to ensure economic viability and accelerate the transition to sustainable energy systems in academic institutions.

Advancements and Future Challenges in Core Components of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles:

2025-09-04T17:33:11+00:00

Electric and hybrid vehicles (EVs/HEVs) are increasingly recognized as promising solutions to address rising oil costs, environmental concerns, and the global pursuit of sustainable mobility. Alongside, there is still a need for a clear and comprehensive review of the technological advancements and ongoing challenges across the core components that influence their performance, efficiency and sustainability. This review aims to fill this gap by synthesizing recent developments and future challenges in EVs/HEVs systems, with a focus on energy storage technologies, power conversion, traction motors, and charging systems. The paper adopts a structured and comparative approach, beginning with the classification of electrification levels, covering hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery, fuel cell, and extended-range EVs. Following this, the paper discusses energy storage systems, including batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, and hybrid configurations, highlighting their roles in improving energy density, efficiency, and reliability. Key power electronic converters are analyzed in depth, including DC/DC and DC/AC converters. The review also examines advances in electric traction motors, including induction, switched reluctance, permanent magnet synchronous, and permanent magnet assisted synchronous reluctance motors, each with distinct performance attributes. Finally, advancements in EVs charging systems are discussed, with a focus on both conductive and inductive charging methods. This work highlights recent technological progress, identifies ongoing challenges, and provides insights to support future developments in EVs/HEVs systems.