Solar Energy and Sustainable Development Journal

Towards Green Economy:

Yasser Nassar — 2025-04-27

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

Yassine Nefzi — 2025-06-14

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.

An Efficient Quantum-Enhanced Ensemble Fault Detection for Solar Energy Integration using an Iterative Game-Theoretic Approach with Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference and Energy Storage

Shreyas Hole — 2025-03-14

The rising energy requirements across the globe coupled with the need for sustainable development makes it imperative to harness renewable sources such as solar energy. That being said, changes in the weather and instability in the systems can enhance the reliability and efficiency of solar power systems which in the case of the current systems poses quite a challenge. The current solar power systems cannot adapt to such changes therefore causing energy wastages as well as problems with the grid. The new model presented here, the Ensemble Fault Detection Model for Solar Deployments (EFDMSD), uses technology to resolve a number of issues. This model has been built to harvest solar energy with greater speed and accuracy by means of Quantum Machine Learning (QML). A system’s changes can be addressed appropriately in real-time, thanks to the model’s Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference Control’s (ANFIS) control system. In other words, Game Theory is applied to explain energy shortage scenarios better and manage supply for peak periods. Energy Storage Systems are also present within the mix which allows for excess solar energy to be accumulated making the supply of energy more secure. These techniques, as a result of using artificial intelligence, are able to enhance energy production, stabilize grids, and optimize performance for many hardware configurations. With the implementation of the EFDMSD model, the availability and reliability of energy through the use of simpler solar systems is enhanced. Hence, there would be changes in the economic impacts while reducing the grid impact thus leading the country towards clean energy.

Navigating Renewable Energy Transition Challenges for a Sustainable Energy Future in Ghana

Mark Nyasapoh — 2025-03-06

The transition to a sustainable energy future in Ghana faces critical challenges, particularly in integrating renewable energy sources like solar and wind into the national grid. This study examined Ghana’s progress in renewable energy adoption using the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Model for Energy Supply Strategies and Their General Environmental Impacts (MESSAGE) tool. It evaluates the feasibility of achieving the 10% renewable energy target set in national energy policies by 2030 and beyond, highlighting key challenges and their impact on the country’s energy transition efforts. The findings revealed a significant shortfall, with renewable energy penetration reaching only 4.77%, far below the targeted 10%. The actual installed capacity of renewable energy sources ranges from 150.87 MW to 377.18 MW, falling considerably short of the projected 219.75 MW to 645.71 MW from 2020 to 2050, respectively. Expanding Ghana’s renewable energy sector remains challenging, with fossil-based thermal generation continuing to dominate, raising concerns about emissions and sustainability. Overcoming barriers to renewable energy penetration requires targeted policies, investment in energy storage, smart grids, and financial incentives. Additionally, integrating renewables with low-carbon baseload options like Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) could accelerate Ghana’s energy transition. Achieving a sustainable energy future will depend on strong governmental commitment, private sector involvement, and technological innovation to bridge the gap between energy targets and actual capacity while significantly creating jobs.