ABSTRACT Emissions trading systems (ETSs) have expanded over the past 20 years to cover over 23% of global GHG emissions. This growth reflects their demonstrated ability to reduce emissions by diverse sources at low cost with no adverse economic impacts. Their approach to allocating free allowances and to managing the supply of allowances has become more effective. Linking multiple ETSs has worked well. An ETS encourages sources to implement mitigation measures whose marginal cost is lower than the allowance price. This means that existing ETSs have achieved only limited reductions by sources in difficult‐to‐abate industries with high abatement costs. To stabilize the climate, all of these industries must be transformed to net zero emitters. This paper proposes a design for linked ETSs to achieve the needed transformation. Each ETSs should cover a substantial share of the global production and consumption of a single industry. The design promotes low emitting new entrants and retirement of high‐emitting facilities. It includes provisions to ensure a competitive allowance market and to assist developing countries. A trade agreement for the industry's products would complement the system. This article is categorized under: Climate and Environment > Net Zero Planning and Decarbonization Policy and Economics > Regional and International Strategies Policy and Economics > Governance and Regulation

ABSTRACT As modern buildings face increasing sustainability and performance demands, simulation‐based optimization and machine learning have become essential tools in the design process. This article highlights the limitations of traditional design methods and explores how multi‐objective optimization and surrogate modeling enable scalable, efficient, and data‐driven evaluation of building performance. The design paradigm has shifted from rule‐based approaches to intelligent, algorithm‐driven processes that balance energy, comfort, cost, and emissions. Simulation‐based optimization integrates dynamic simulation with advanced algorithms to explore complex design spaces and identify optimal trade‐offs. To this end, a case study of a low‐rise residential building in Patras, Greece, is presented using the Non‐dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II. The model evaluated 12 envelope‐related design variables and generated a well‐distributed Pareto front of 65 non‐dominated solutions, highlighting trade‐offs between heating energy demand and construction cost. The sensitivity patterns observed across the Pareto set showed that insulation thickness and glazing performance were the most influential drivers of heating demand. Machine learning–based surrogate modeling enhances optimization further by approximating computationally expensive simulations with fast, predictive models. Trained on sampled simulation data, these surrogates enable rapid optimization and sensitivity analysis. A second case study, referring to a school retrofit in Portugal, demonstrated that an Artificial Neural Network surrogate reduced computation time from approximately 75 days to just 3 days while maintaining high predictive accuracy. Sensitivity analysis indicated that window upgrades, HVAC efficiency, and solar thermal integration had the strongest influence on energy use and thermal discomfort. These quantitative and sensitivity‐based insights demonstrate how combining simulation‐based and machine learning methodologies supports high‐performance, cost‐effective, and environmentally responsible building design and retrofit. This article is categorized under: Sustainable Energy > Energy Efficiency Cities and Transportation > Buildings

ABSTRACTLocal Energy Markets (LEMs) have added global attention as a potential solution for transitioning to a decentralized and sustainable energy system. This article delves into the context of exploring the status, policy framework, and regulatory barriers related to grid stability, energy access, and environmental sustainability. Study extends to institutional and legal frameworks and issues surrounding stakeholder and consumer engagement. Execution of the Green Energy Open Access (GEOA) Rules in 2022 has been crucial in India, resulting in an incredible rise of 90.4% in annual installed capacity for both industrial and commercial customers within FY2023 and FY2024. Cumulative capacity has reached 18.7 gigawatts by the completion of FY2024. India has actively taken steps to diversify its energy balance, encourage renewable sources, and enhance energy efficiency by reducing the threshold for open access from 1 MW to 100 kW, enabling smaller companies to participate in energy trading. A coordinated strategy combining the federal and state governments, regulatory bodies, DISCOMs, and private parties is needed to overcome the obstacles. The Indian government has instigated various policies to ensure the sustainable development of the energy industry, demonstrating a commitment to reducing regulatory barriers to attracting investments and fostering sectoral growth. This study provides actionable advice for policymakers and regulators to address identified obstacles, expediting the transition toward a decentralized and sustainable energy future.This article is categorized under: Sustainable Energy > Other Renewables Energy and Power Systems > Electrification Policy and Economics > Regional and International Strategies

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ABSTRACTThe Just Energy Transition (JET) in South Africa is underway, and the country has plans to make the transition a reality. South Africa planned to decommission nine coal power plants by 2035 in an effort to transition its economy away from fossil fuels; however, the ongoing energy shortages and policy incoherence in the country threaten to delay these plans. Coal regions are vulnerable to job losses as the power plants are shut down. The energy transition is faced with a number of competing priorities, which include addressing socio‐economic challenges and economic development. This paper reviews Komati decommissioning, one of the first coal power plants to shut down in South Africa as part of the JET. The paper makes critical proposals for the effective implementation of the just energy transition at Komati power station as a learning curve for the next power plants facing earliest decommissioning. The paper underscores the need for integrated energy planning that looks beyond energy supply and demand, but one that seamlessly phasesout fossil fuels and phases in renewable energy and energy efficiency, and the phase‐in socioeconomic development that is responsive in time and geographic location. Based on an advanced review of South Africa's research and planning for a new energy economy, two urgent needs are identified, and these are (i) the need for systematic research for low‐cost programs in energy efficiency, and (ii) systematic research on the timing and location of the emerging opportunities.

ABSTRACTMost transmission system operators (TSOs) currently use seasonally steady‐state models considering limiting weather conditions that serve as reference to compute the transmission capacity of overhead power lines. The use of dynamic line rating (DLR) models can avoid the construction of new lines, market splitting, false congestions, and the degradation of lines in a cost‐effective way. DLR can also be used in the long run in grid extension and new power capacity planning. In the short run, it should be used to help operate power systems with congested lines. The operation of the power systems is planned to have the market trading into account; thus, it computes transactions hours ahead of real‐time operation, using power flow forecasts affected by large errors. In the near future, within a “smart grid” environment, in real‐time operation conditions, TSOs should be able to rapidly compute the capacity rating of overhead lines using DLR models and the most reliable weather information, forecasts, and line measurements, avoiding the current steady‐state approach that, in many circumstances, assumes ampacities above the thermal limits of the lines. This work presents a review of the line rating methodologies in several European countries and the United States. Furthermore, it presents the results of pilot projects and studies considering the application of DLR in overhead power lines, obtaining significant reductions in the congestion of internal networks and cross‐border transmission lines.

ABSTRACTThe deployment of distributed renewable energy (DRE) is a crucial strategy for enhancing energy security and mitigating the impact of climate change. However, its development faces significant challenges related to system integration, operational management, and benefit distribution. This paper presents a bibliometric analysis of DRE literature, offering insights into key research directions, emerging trends, and frontiers in this field from both quantitative and visual perspectives. In addition, traditional content analysis methods were used to examine the development paths of DRE in five representative countries, considering the heterogeneity of their respective contexts. The results revealed that research in the DRE field is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary and diversified. Frontier studies now focus on the democratization, marketization, integration, and intelligence of the DRE. This reflects a broader trend toward transforming DRE into an integrated system. Furthermore, differences in DRE promotion paths across countries are influenced not only by resource endowments, technological capabilities, and social contexts but also by policies and market mechanisms. Based on global development trends and empirical evidence, this study suggests that future research should focus on policy and market mechanism design, technological advancement and intelligent integration, the diversification of application scenarios, and social acceptance and public participation.

ABSTRACTHybrid power plants (HPPs) combining multiple generation and/or storage sources behind a single connection point are becoming popular due to their capability to provide additional value for both plant owners and power systems compared to individual technology renewable power plants. However, the research on HPPs is still in nascent stage. This article comprehensively overviews utility‐scale HPPs (power plants ranging from hundreds of MW to GW scale). It primarily addresses HPPs that combine renewable sources such as wind and solar (PV technology) with electrical energy storage (ESS), all connected behind a single grid connection and operated as a unified power plant by a single operator. This article covers various aspects such as HPPs' potential benefits, research challenges, and opportunities related to their design, operation, and development, from both societal and HPP owners' perspectives. It briefly discusses the advantages of HPPs compared to individual renewable technology‐based power plants highlighting the potential added values of HPPs for owners, system operators, and society, while ensuring compliance with grid code requirements at the point of common coupling. The main focus is on identifying and clustering the research challenges associated with design and operation of HPPs. Topics such as energy management systems, sizing and siting, electrical design and control, uncertainties and forecasting, grid emulation and advanced testing, and multi‐energy system integration are elaborated and reviewed. This article demonstrates that significant research is urgently needed to enhance renewable generation flexibility and improve grid services. Addressing these challenges will accelerate the development and deployment of HPPs.

ABSTRACTThe enormous potential of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) to provide environmentally sustainable practices and efficient energy storage has led to a rising interest in LIBs. Thermal runaway behaviors in LIBs, including high temperature, ejection, combustion, explosion, and the release of toxic gases, as well as thermal failure propagation in a battery pack, are both possible. Here, briefly mentioned about solid‐state electrolytes (SSE), which may use to make LIBs safer by reducing these risks. However, the SSE's ionic conductivity is subpar when compared to that of other liquid electrolytes, demanding modification. The authors have also focused on several SSE types in this review, including inorganic SSE, solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs), and composite solid electrolytes. Additionally, it was described how to enhance the ionic conductivity of SSEs at ambient temperature.