Effects of Covid-19 outbreak on environment and renewable energy sector

COVID-19 impact on wind and solar energy sector and cost of energy prediction based on machine learning

This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on renewable energy sectors across seven countries through techno-economic analysis and machine learning (ML). In China, the renewable fraction decreased in grid-connected systems due to 14.6 % higher diesel fuel prices. They reduced grid electricity prices, with Cost of Energy (COE) reductions driven by a 2.8 % inflation decrease and a 3 % discount rate cut. The increase in renewable energy adoption in the USA during the pandemic was driven by decreased initial and operational costs of renewable components, a significant rise in diesel fuel prices, and government policy changes, despite a reduction in renewable energy sell-back prices and rising capital and annual costs due to expanded renewable capacity. Canada noted a shift to standalone systems with 50 % lower PV sell-back prices, 2 % lower WT prices, and a 48 % fuel cost rise, reducing COE except in grid/WT scenarios. Germany managed rising electricity and fuel costs, decreasing COE despite inflation. India expanded standalone HRESs driven by a sevenfold PV capacity increase, lowering COE. Japan saw stable COE with minimal variation. Iran faced economic challenges with a 104 % inflation increase, impacting COE despite a grid-connected COE decrease. Machine learning forecasts suggest that COVID-19 may cause an increase in COE in China and India due to pandemic effects.

Revealing the energy paradox: Assessing the asymmetric impact of pandemic uncertainty on consumption of renewable and nonrenewable energy

Uncertainties have grown around the world during the last few decades. Pandemic uncertainty has a substantial impact on economic activities, which may have a big influence on energy consumption. The goal of this investigation is to appraise the asymmetric influence of pandemic uncertainty on nonrenewable and renewable energy consumption in the top 10 energy consumer economies of the European Union (Germany, Poland, Spain, Netherlands, France, Italy, Belgium, Sweden, Czech Republic, and Finland). Previously, panel data approaches were utilized to obtain reliable outcomes on the pandemic-energy consumption nexus, regardless of the fact that various nations did not autonomously exhibit similar relationship. This investigation, on the other hand, implements a special technique "Quantile-on-Quantile" that supports us to appraise time-series interdependence in each economy by providing international yet nation-specific perceptions of the connection among the variables. Estimates show that pandemic uncertainty reduces both nonrenewable and renewable energy consumption in most selected nations at stated quantiles of the data distribution. Nonrenewable energy consumption is much more influenced by pandemic uncertainty than renewable energy consumption. Furthermore, the rank of asymmetries across our variables differentiates by the economy, emphasizing the need for decisionmakers to pay much attention to pandemics-related uncertainty and the energy sector.

Assessing the possibility of China reaching carbon emission peak by 2030 in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

At this stage, it is an important goal for China to solve environmental problems to limit the carbon emission peak by 2030 and then to lower its quality gradually thereafter. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 seriously impacted all aspects of China's social economy and brought many uncertainties to the realization of the carbon emission peak. Based on the fact, it has important theoretical and practical significance to take the problem of China's carbon emissions during the COVID-19 as the research object. Thus, this paper analyzes the current situation of China's CO2 emissions and finds out that in the context of ongoing COVID-19 response, stimulated by China's economic stimulus policies, CO2 emissions decrease firstly and then gradually rebound. On this basis, the paper constructs a dynamic model of China's CO2 emission system to simulate the change in China's CO2 emissions under different economic stimulus policies. The relevant simulation results demonstrate the following: (1) China cannot realize the CO2 emission goal by 2030 only by adopting traditional economic stimulus policies. (2) The green economic stimulus policy oriented to the development of clean energy will rebound China's CO2 emissions in the short term, but it can effectively reduce CO2 emissions in the long run. The most important factors affecting CO2 emission reduction are industrial energy consumption and industrial structure, while the energy power generation structure and the transportation structure have a relatively weak impact on the emission reduction effect. (3) The green economic stimulus policy combined with economic stimulus measures and a variety of low-carbon measures can enable China to peak CO2 emissions before 2030, with a peak value of 11.059 billion tons. In general, green economic stimulus policies can achieve a win-win situation for China's economic recovery and carbon emission peak.

Economic development, social media awareness, and technological innovation in biogas sector under climate change in the post-COVID-19 pandemic conditions

After COVID-19, financing for emerging nation reserves in renewable energy bases was deemed a crucial aspect of sustainable development. Investing in biogas energy plants can be highly beneficial for lowering the use of fossil fuels. Using a survey of shareholders, investors, biogas energy professionals, and active social media participants in Pakistan, this study evaluates the intentions of individual investors to invest in biogas energy plants. The primary purpose of this study is to increase investment intent for biogas energy projects following COVID-19. This study focuses on financing biogas energy plants in the post-COVID-19 era and evaluates the research's assumptions using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The study employed the technique of purposive sampling to acquire data for this investigation. The results indicate that attitudes, perceived biogas energy benefits, perceived investment attitudes, and supervisory structure evaluations inspire one's propensity to finance biogas vitality plant efforts. The study found a link between eco-friendly responsiveness, monetary benefits, and investors' actions. The aspiration of investors to mark such reserves was set up to be unpretentious by their risk aversion. Conferring to the facts, evaluating the monitoring structure is the critical factor. The previous studies on investment behavior and other forms of pro-environmental intent and action yielded contradictory results. In addition, the regulatory environment was evaluated to see how the theory of planned behavior (TPB) affects financiers' objectives to participate in biogas power plants. The consequences of the study indicate that feelings of pride and discernment of energy expansively affect people's desire to invest in biogas plants. Biogas energy efficacy has little effect on investors' decisions to invest in biogas energy plants. This study offers policymakers practical ideas on enhancing investments in biogas energy plants.

Post-COVID green supply chain management of used products: a study towards awareness for vaccination

In the era of digital media, there is rapid spread of information. During coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic situation, the government and other administrative bodies were highly dependent on media outlets, as direct contact was not feasible. Visual communication tools are used to spread awareness and encourage people towards vaccination. The circulation of wrong information may lead to confusion, which may cause denying the vaccine. There was a need to know the extent for contribution of visual communication tools for spreading correct information and motivating the society towards vaccination in post COVID times. In the present study, survey questionnaires were framed specific to which media (print or digital) was more effective to deliver the correct information to the targeted audience. The present study objectives to answer the questions through a survey of 312 people of different age groups, and the data was collected about their families. The obtained data was tested through hypothesis, and fact-checked was performed adopting analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results from the study highlighted that different age groups prefer different mediums of communication. The reach and adoption of digital media have tremendously increased, and it helped to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) by efficient green supply chain management (GSCM) of daily plastic and paper wastage during post-pandemic.

Oil and renewable energy returns during pandemic

We explore the global interactions between oil and renewable energy returns during the Covid-19 pandemic between July 2019 and June 2020. Moreover, we reflect on market stress and global economic activity. In order to deal with challenges generated by exogenous shocks coming from financial, economic or pandemic areas, a battery of advanced time-frequency domain methods is applied, ranging from wavelet transformation and wavelet coherency to wavelet cohesion. The main finding shows that pandemic disease is veritable glue for the oil energy-renewable energy nexus, validating their coupling effect. Additionally, the emerging connection between renewable and financial developments is evidenced during the pandemic crisis, although the connection between oil and financial developments is still stronger. Finally, both renewable energy and oil markets have comparably strong relationships with the general global economic activity. The policy implications should follow direct adjustments in the renewable energy area, and subsidiary to cover the behaviour of agents on the capital markets.

COVID-19 and the quantile connectedness between energy and metal markets

This study analyzes the relationship between clean and dirty energy sources and energy metals during the COVID-19 pandemic. We document a sharp increase in connectedness after the COVID-19 pandemic, that is asymmetric at the lower and upper quantiles, with stronger dependence among the variables at the upper quantiles. Among the energy metals, cobalt is the least connected to the energy markets. Finally, our empirical results show a switch in the net connectedness indexes of energy metals and clean energy after January 2021. Our results have implication for investors and policy makers for energy and metal under various market conditions.

Economic modelling of electricity generation: long short-term memory and Q-rung orthopair fuzzy sets

The main goal of this study is to evaluate the impact of population mobility on electricity generation in Russian cities in the conditions of the spread of COVID-19, and identify hotspots. Furthermore, the evaluation is also conducted using hybrid fuzzy decision-making modelling. In this context, q-ROF DEMATEL and TOPSIS methods are taken into consideration. Additionally, a comparative evaluation is also performed with the help of Intuitionistic and Pythagorean fuzzy sets. The results are quite similar that allows to conclude that the findings are reliable and coherent. The study proves the hypothesis that human behavior changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and electricity consumption is declining in major cities around the world. The biggest fall in energy generation was in Moscow and Yekaterinburg. In St. Petersburg and Nizhny Novgorod, the fall in energy generation is no so crucial because these cities have low building density. The study uses Long Short-Term Memory models with many different parameters. The Q-Rung Orthopair Fuzzy Sets model forecasts new COVID-19 using ten parameters. This study identifies factors influencing the spread of COVID-19 based on the theory of "broken windows" and outlines directions in limiting population mobility, which can form the basis of state policy. According to the analysis the air temperature is the variable that most affects this process.

Storm after the Gloomy days: Influences of COVID-19 pandemic on volatility of the energy market

Volatility is a common phenomenon in the energy market, but COVID-19 has cast a dark shadow over this characteristic. In light of this observation, individuals might have an incorrect impression of the impact of this shock on the energy markets. By applying a time-varying parameter vector autoregression (TVP-VAR) in combination with an extended joint connectedness approach to identify the sources of the energy market's volatility, we characterize the influences of COVID-19 health crisis and the volatility of the crude oil and precious metals (including gold and silver) market on the volatility of the energy market starting from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021. The total connectedness index, the net total, and pairwise directional connectedness measures obtained from the extended TVP-VAR allow us to monitor interlinkages from various variables in a designed network. The novel method has the benefit of distinguishing between a net recipient and a net transmitter. Our results demonstrate that the COVID-19 pandemic shocks first absorb the volatility from the energy and precious market to cause lagged but more severe consequences returning to these markets. Furthermore, there is a time-variant of system-wide interlinkages. Net total directional connectedness suggests that the oil and gold markets consistently appear to be a net transmitter of spillover shocks in the energy market. The COVID-19 pandemic shock first plays the role of shock receiver from other markets. However, this uncertainty shock acts as a shock transmitter, and its effects seem to be delayed but persistent for an extended period, thus making the energy and precious metal markets more volatile.

The negative impact of the COVID-19 on renewable energy growth in developing countries: Underestimated

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, the COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges for the economy and the energy sector, as well as uncertainty for the renewable energy industry. However, the impact on renewable energy during the pandemic has not been consistently determined. Instead of relying on data from year-to-year comparisons, this study redesigned the analytical framework for assessing the impact of a pandemic on renewable energy. First, this research designed an "initial prediction-parameter training-error correction-assignment combination" forecasting approach to simulate renewable energy consumption in a "no pandemic" scenario. Second, this study calculates the difference between the "pandemic" and "no pandemic" scenarios for renewable energy consumption. This difference represents the change in renewable energy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Various techniques such as nonlinear grey, artificial neural network and IOWGA operator were incorporated. The MAPEs were controlled to within 5% in 80% of the country samples. The conclusions indicated that renewable energy in China and India declined by 8.57 mtoe and 3.19 mtoe during COVID-19 period. In contrast, the rise in renewable energy in the US is overestimated by 8.01 mtoe. Overall, previous statistics based on year-to-year comparisons have led to optimistic estimates of renewable energy development during the pandemic. This study sheds light on the need for proactive policy measures in the future to counter the global low tide of renewable energy amid COVID-19.

A systematic approach for assessing water, energy and food security during the COVID-19 pandemic: case study of Mexico

Assessing the security of the water-energy-food nexus is a topic of great importance, which allows determining the situation of each resource to implement actions for sustainable management of these resources in today's society. For this reason, a systematic procedure is proposed to evaluate the synergies of the water-energy-food nexus in a large region that is divided into subregions that allow considering their interactions. The new procedure considers the availability, accessibility and regional interdependence of resources while annexing economic and social aspects. A composite index called the WEF Global Index is developed, which involves the WEF nexus index and has nine indicators that evaluate the availability, accessibility and regional interdependence of each resource in the water-energy-food nexus. This new index considers the Gross Domestic Product per capita and the involved population. As a case study, the 32 states of Mexico were considered to assess the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy and the security of the water-energy-food nexus at the state level. For this, the composite index was evaluated in the years 2019 and 2020. The results show that from 2019 to 2020, the value of the global index increased in 13 states, in 21 states the security index of the WEF nexus increased, and in 9 states the GDP per capita index increased. On the other hand, the results indicate that in 11 states there was no improvement in the nexus security index due to the increase in water demand, which considerably affected the water availability indicator.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10668-022-02671-2.

A comprehensive review on impacts of COVID-19 in food preservation and cold chain: An approach towards implementing green energy technologies

Technology plays a crucial role in fighting COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic impacts all facets of human life, including food preservation and supply chain. The changes in the food processing and preservation brings changes to the global food choice. In the age of the COVID-19 pandemic scare, the present article explores the framework for food security. It offers insights into food security with a focus on renewable energy to help rural farmers, besides, exploring the possibility of the diffusion of COVID-19 via food chain. This article indicates that the implementation of stand-alone and hybrid renewable energy systems is relatively fresh in food processing, preservation, and transportation chain. Green food preservation may be a revolutionary idea to address the challenges of the future to secure both producers and customers, besides, to improve the attractiveness of the ecological, economic, and creative sectors. This study reveals that the transformation can be achieved from a technological and economic point of view with the key steps to fulfill this goal in a cost-effective manner. The observation also shows a suitable methodology to identify the best energy, economic and environmental scenario towards fulfilling the energy needs in isolated areas.

Smarter and Greener Cities After COVID-19: An Integrated Decision-Making Framework to Prioritize Investment Alternatives

Locking down cities to curb the transmission of coronavirus brought the global economy to a grinding halt. Cities are like engines of growth; when they stop, so does the growth. Therefore, it becomes paramount to build cities that continue to function and do not collapse amidst any crisis. Since economic recovery is underway, this paper examines priority areas for investment to expedite recovery and build back stronger cities. These areas are evaluated based on their contribution to revitalizing public health, economic, social, energy, and environmental sectors. For the analysis, analytical network process (ANP) and fuzzy-VIKOR are applied. ANP obtains the relative importance of sectors and their respective critical factors after solving a complex relationship among them. The economic sector has the highest weight of 25.8% among the five sectors, while job creation has the highest weight of 10.3% among the fifteen factors. Fuzzy-VIKOR is used to evaluate different areas and it is found that renewable energy has a greater contribution to the sustainable recovery of major sectors and the long-term aim of building inclusive green and resilient cities. These insights shall contribute to the conversations already ongoing among city governments, urban planners, civil society organizations, and city dwellers seeking practical solutions to unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic.

The Effects of Pandemic Restrictions on Public Health-Improvements in Urban Air Quality

The present study aims to provide evidence on the effects of pandemic curtailment measures on public health, targeting the changes in breathable air quality, within urban areas. The analyzed period covers the full impact of lockdowns in Europe in 2020. We used everyday data for each analyzed pollutant, NO₂, SO_2, CO, PM_2.5 and PM₁₀, from urban monitoring stations that provided real-time concentrations (provided by Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, Environmental Protection Agency repository and European Environment Agency map services) and satellite data (provided by NASA Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2). In the present study, the urban air quality was computed using a composite index that was further analyzed in comparison with pandemic restrictions. Descriptive statistics, charts and maps were used to visualize the data that covered the analyzed countries. Our results show that air pollution was reduced by 12% after lockdowns in European urban areas, with a 0.76 correlation between air pollution and pandemic restrictions. All air pollutants registered significant drops.

Managing supply chains during COVID-19 outbreak: a case of Hong Kong toy manufacturing company

Purpose

This study aims to identify key supply chain challenges and opportunities of the case of Hong Kong toy manufacturing company during the COVID-19 outbreak and develop a comprehensive structural relationship to rank them.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, a toy model company in Hong Kong is considered to discuss about what challenges and opportunities have the biggest impacts on non-necessary goods companies and how to deal with different impacts on entire supply chain flow disruption during COVID-19. A semi-structured interview with five decision-makers from the company was made to give key challenges and opportunities scores. The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) technique is used to establish the model and rank them afterward to overcome the challenges.

Findings

From the data analysis and results, “salary of employee” and “inconvenient transportation” have emerged as top and bottom key challenges respectively. The sequence of organized challenges in the list needs to mitigate one by one in this order to improve the supply chain performance. The “client's orders’ frequency, customer management” and “supplier/partner relationship management” are identified as the top and bottom respectively to develop the opportunities.

Research limitations/implications

These key challenges and opportunities are identified as contributing attributes and provide the way to measure to improve production, profits and sustainable growth of the toy manufacturing company during a pandemic. Moreover, it helps to improve the distribution level and good planning with appropriate decision making to manage the supply chain performance considering humanitarian aspects during a pandemic outbreak.

Originality/value

The novelty of this study is to identify the key supply chain challenges and opportunities measured by the TOPSIS method to rank them and consider the case of a Hong Kong toy manufacturing company as a case-based approach to measuring its performance during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the environment, waste management, and energy sectors: a deeper look into the long-term impacts

The COVID-19 pandemic not only has caused a global health crisis but also has significant environmental consequences. Although many studies are confirming the short-term improvements in air quality in several countries across the world, the long-term negative consequences outweigh all the claimed positive impacts. As a result, this review highlights the positive and the long-term negative environmental effects of the COVID-19 pandemic by evaluating the scientific literature. Remarkable reduction in the levels of CO (3 - 65%), NO2 (17 - 83%), NOx (24 - 47%), PM2.5 (22 - 78%), PM10 (23 - 80%), and VOCs (25 - 57%) was observed during the lockdown across the world. However, according to this review, the pandemic put enormous strain on the present waste collection and treatment system, resulting in ineffective waste management practices, damaging the environment. The extensive usage of face masks increased the release of microplastics/nanoplastics (183 to 1247 particles piece-1) and organic pollutants in land and water bodies. Furthermore, the significant usages of anti-bacterial hand sanitizers, disinfectants, and pharmaceuticals have increased the accumulation of various toxic emerging contaminants (e.g., triclocarban, triclosan, bisphenol-A, hydroxychloroquine) in the treated sludge/biosolids and discharged wastewater effluent, posing great threats to the ecosystems. This review also suggests strategies to create long-term environmental advantages. Thermochemical conversions of solid wastes including medical wastes and for treated wastewater sludge/biosolids offer several advantages through recovering the resources and energy and stabilizing/destructing the toxins/contaminants and microplastics in the precursors.

Recent Advances on CO2 Mitigation Technologies: On the Role of Hydrogenation Route via Green H2

The increasing trend in global energy demand has led to an extensive use of fossil fuels and subsequently in a marked increase in atmospheric CO2 content, which is the main culprit for the greenhouse effect. In order to successfully reverse this trend, many schemes for CO2 mitigation have been proposed, taking into consideration that large-scale decarbonization is still infeasible. At the same time, the projected increase in the share of variable renewables in the future energy mix will necessitate large-scale curtailment of excess energy. Collectively, the above crucial problems can be addressed by the general scheme of CO2 hydrogenation. This refers to the conversion of both captured CO2 and green H2 produced by RES-powered water electrolysis for the production of added-value chemicals and fuels, which are a great alternative to CO2 sequestration and the use of green H2 as a standalone fuel. Indeed, direct utilization of both CO2 and H2 via CO2 hydrogenation offers, on the one hand, the advantage of CO2 valorization instead of its permanent storage, and the direct transformation of otherwise curtailed excess electricity to stable and reliable carriers such as methane and methanol on the other, thereby bypassing the inherent complexities associated with the transformation towards a H2-based economy. In light of the above, herein an overview of the two main CO2 abatement schemes, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU), is firstly presented, focusing on the route of CO2 hydrogenation by green electrolytic hydrogen. Next, the integration of large-scale RES-based H2 production with CO2 capture units on-site industrial point sources for the production of added-value chemicals and energy carriers is contextualized and highlighted. In this regard, a specific reference is made to the so-called Power-to-X schemes, exemplified by the production of synthetic natural gas via the Power-to-Gas route. Lastly, several outlooks towards the future of CO2 hydrogenation are presented.

Sustainable Development Goals in the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Narrative Review

The present narrative review aimed to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sustainable development goals (SDGS). This information would allow a better comprehension of the actual state of the SDGS and a more efficient programming in future interventions. To achieve the objective of the study, a consensual and critical review was carried out using both primary sources, such as scientific articles, and secondary sources, such as bibliographic indexes, web pages and databases. The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, close the gender gap, protect the planet, and improve the lives of people around the world. In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly adopted 17 goals as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which sets out a plan to achieve the goals in 15 years. However, the COVID-19 pandemic crisis has been a turning point in the achievement of these goals, due to all its consequences at the political, economic, and socio-cultural levels. This review can be used as a guide for future research and reviews in order to understand the status of each of the SDGs and what actions have been taken and proposed in the aftermath of the pandemic in recent years.

From adoration to damnation? Exploring role of media in shaping low-carbon economy in times of the COVID-19 pandemic

The leverage of the public narrative created and maintained by the media as a highly influential social actor is decisive, but also sensitive, in bringing about the energy transition and advancing towards a low-carbon economy. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has potential to slow down and deform the public acceptance of the above-mentioned processes as it is likely that the priorities of individual governments will be revisited and tailored to tackle the ongoing health crisis. We are replying to such a threat with this study that aims to reflect on the immense role of media in shaping a low-carbon economy in transitional economies. We are using Poland as an illustrative example to demonstrate how wide, colourful, and sometimes even confusing the low-carbon narrative might be. By means of employing the horizon scanning of the diverse types of media, we detected that media overwhelmingly affect and deform the ongoing discussions about the nuances of energy transition and benefits a low-carbon economy. We argue that political preferences of individual journalists (and publishing houses) in Poland tend to influence the style, depth, extent, and quality how the topic is covered and narrated.

Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Renewable Energy Firm’s Profitability and Capitalization

The COVID-19 pandemic has led many governments to impose restrictive measures that have contributed to a decline in the demand for goods and services, leading to an economic crisis. This study proves a novelty that implies a rise in the capitalization of renewable energy companies during the coronavirus pandemic. The study is based on the hypothesis that, at a time of economic crisis, the prospect of investing in clean energy has increased, through the need to protect the environment and ensure clean air. The analysis provided additional results that there is an inverse relationship between two economic indicators of firms, namely, the percentage change in profitability and capitalization of firms between 2020 and 2021. Analysis of data from companies included in TRBC Industry Name Renewable Fuels provided numerical results that show an average increase in firms’ capitalization of 86%. The study uses analysis techniques such as covariance and correlation. The results show an increase in capitalization of renewable energy companies by 150%, while there is a decrease in income by 2%. However, the capitalization of fossil fuel companies has increased, with an average growth rate of 35%. This situation in the fossil energy market is that company revenues fell by 32% while capitalization increased by 35%. It proves a bubble in the non-renewable energy market. This paper suggests that the period of coronavirus infection has seen a slowdown in economic growth in many countries around the world, but a switch to renewable energy will help improve the quality of life of the population and ensure economic growth.

A mini-review: positive impact of COVID-19 on Arial health and ecology

COVID-19 can cause global pandemics; however, no specific vaccine has been recommended for COVID-19. Nearly 216 countries are trying to stop the spread of the disease, recover from it, and improve its mobility. In a way that people have not experienced in recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic affected humans through the year 2020. To stop the spread of the disease, many governments declared a complete lockdown.The nationwide lockdown had some positive effects on the environment even though it led to a decline in global economic growth. Air pollution levels reduced dramatically as a result of this lockdown on pollution. Most of Europe's populated cities saw a reduction in NO2 concentration of 45-54%. COVID-19 and air, water, and ecology are connected via two pathways, one occurring before the spread of the disease and the other following after. As a result of industrial activity, transportation, and high human density, pollutants were high in many areas before the disease spread. There was a reduction in population movements as well as a decline in human activities which resulted in a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, an improvement of the ozone layer, as well as improvements in the Earth's weather and environment. As a result of a COVID-19 pandemic, human activities are negatively impacted, and the environment is positively affected. Our objective is to provide an assessment of the impact of human activities on the environment and ecology. During times of lockdown, there is a correlation between atmospheric changes and the behavior of natural creatures. Several significant findings are presented, including air pollution reduction, air quality improvement, ozone healing, and ecological sustainability. COVID-19 is beneficial for aerial health, aquatic health, and ecology in this paper.

How Banks Were Chosen and Rated in Hungary before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Banks can be chosen based on multiple factors, such as location, security, and e-banking functions. The characteristics of customers such as gender and age can also affect this decision. Since the digitalization of banking sped up due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the factors that affect this decision may change as well. To assess this, a questionnaire was completed by 156 respondents, and the results were evaluated using Pearson’s correlation test. According to the results, personal visits to the banks declined after the COVID-19 pandemic started. Furthermore, the number of e-bankers rose. When choosing banks, no gender-related relationships were found based on location, while older people chose different banks than their younger counterparts. The security of internet banking functions was not associated with bank choice, while the security of the mobile banking application was. Regarding the ratings of banks, males and females did not rate banks differently, and younger people tended to be more critical in their ratings. Security, accessible location, and good customer service can lead to more positive ratings as well. The findings can be used by banks in Hungary to improve their services in order to attract customers and increase their satisfaction.

Effects of COVID-19 Restriction Policies on Urban Heat Islands in Some European Cities: Berlin, London, Paris, Madrid, and Frankfurt

The present study investigates the effects of policies restricting human activities during the COVID-19 epidemic on the characteristics of Night Land Surface Temperature (NLST) and Night Urban Heat Islands (NUHI) in five major European cities. In fact, the focus of this study was to explore the role of anthropogenic factors in the formation and intensity of NUHI. The effect of such factors was uncontrollable before the COVID-19 outbreak on the global scale and in a real non-laboratory environment. In this study, two indices, the concentration of Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and Nighttime Lights (NL), were used as indicators of the number of anthropogenic activities. The data were collected before the COVID-19 outbreak and after its prevalence in 2019-2020. A Paired samples t-test and a Pearson correlation were used to examine the differences or significant relationships between the variables and indicators studied throughout the two periods. The results of the study confirmed a direct and significant relationship between NO2 and NL indices and the NUHI and NLST variables; however, using strict restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, the NO2 and NL indices decreased seriously, leading to significant changes in the characteristics of the NUHI and NLST in the five cities. This study has some implications for urban planners and politicians, e.g., the environmental impacts of changing the nature and level of anthropogenic activities can greatly affect the pattern and intensity of the Urban Heat Islands (UHIs) (as a serious environmental challenge).

Towards smart energy systems – A survey about the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on renewable energy research

The COVID-19 pandemic has a significant impact on renewable energy. This work investigates the effect of pandemic on the renewable energy research from four aspects: the regional cooperation model of renewable energy research, the research hotspots of renewable energy during the pandemic, the development trend of renewable energy research hotspots in the post-pandemic, policy recommendations for development in the post-epidemic era. Systematic literature review (SLR), latent semantic analysis (LSA), and machine learning–based analysis (principle component analysis) are used to analyze the relevant literature on the COVID-19 and renewable energy in the Scopus database. The results of geographic visualization analysis show the COVID-19 pandemic has not hindered but promoted bilateral cooperation in the field of renewable energy among the " the Belt and Road " partner countries, with China at the core. The results of visual analysis of research hotspots show the research in the field of renewable energy during pandemics is divided into two categories: “opportunities” and “crisis”, and further obtained five categories: sustainable development, environmental management, carbon emission, solar photovoltaic power, and wind power. The results of the keyword evolution map indicate the two main directions of renewable energy research in the post-pandemic: (1) Clean energy investment has become an important measure to revitalize the economy after the epidemic. (2) Energy efficiency research will effectively promote the sustainable development of renewable energy. Finally, we put forward policy suggestions on how to build a smart energy system in the post-epidemic era.

Recover the food-energy-water nexus from COVID-19 under Sustainable Development Goals acceleration actions

The interwoven relationship between food, energy, and water (FEW) is described as the FEW nexus. The COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted the FEW nexus and impeded the progress of FEW-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (SDG 2: Zero Hunger; 6: Clean Water and Sanitation; 7: Affordable and Clean Energy). We aim to find solutions to recover the FEW nexus from COVID-19. First, we discussed the challenges faced by FEW amid COVID-19. Second, we observed responses of the FEW nexus under COVID-19's interference. Finally, we proposed the solutions that guide the FEW nexus in recovery from the pandemic by mining 164 FEW-related SDG Acceleration Actions. The key solutions include 1) building or upgrading FEW facilities and infrastructure, 2) improving nature's contribution to the FEW nexus, 3) developing digital technologies, 4) innovating the source and production of FEW, and 5) promoting community production and transforming the lifestyle. Our work highlights the importance of feasible and accelerated actions that recover the FEW nexus in the post-pandemic era.

COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on the environment: A global perspective

Many researchers worldwide have focused on the health impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic without paying much emphasis to the environmental impacts associated with the pandemic. Evidence suggests that prior to the pandemic there was an alarming increase in environmental pollution due to rising industrialization, in particular in urban areas. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, satellite data over Asia and Europe showed a substantial decrease in air pollution, in particular nitrogen dioxide. However, the increase in industrial and household wastes may pose a significant challenge to environmental management. The improper management of these wastes poses an unforeseen "knock-on" effect on human health and the environment. It is imperative to establish an effective and safe procedure, for handling and disposing of the consequential wastes accumulating during the pandemic. The review aims to highlight both the beneficial and detrimental effects of COVID-19 pandemic on the natural environment and to discuss the possible strategies to improve the quality of the global environment during the period of the pandemic and beyond.

An impact study of COVID-19 on the electricity sector: A comprehensive literature review and Ibero-American survey

To stop the spread of COVID-19, governments have implemented confinement measures unprecedented in modern society. One of the main consequences has been the paralysis of commercial and industrial sectors worldwide, primary electricity consumers. This paper examines the impact of these measures on the electricity sector through a literature review accompanied by fieldwork on the impact of COVID-19 in Ibero-America and its energy regulatory response. First, we will review the causes of the reduction in electricity demand due to the confinement measures and their technical and financial consequences in the electricity sector. Second, we will examine the impact of COVID-19 on the wind and solar PV energy sectors, mainly affected by the paralysis of production and export of materials and components. Third, we will revise the regulatory measures implemented by the countries to avoid the interruption of electricity supply to households. This paper will end by reviewing economic recovery plans and their relationship to the energy transition. Although there are no fundamental differences between developed and developing countries in their regulatory reaction to this crisis in the energy sector, there are significant differences in economic recovery planning. While developed countries aim for a green economic recovery and the creation of green jobs, developing countries are allocating least resources to social protection and general economic stimulus programs, postponing climate objectives. In Latin America, this adds to the high levels of debt faced by utilities and the possible resurgence of social crises that were stopped by the COVID-19 outbreak, making a green recovery even more difficult.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Renewable Energy Sector and Mitigation Strategies

This review explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the renewable energy (RE) sector, especially in countries with the highest RE capacities, e.g., the USA, China, India, and the EU. It highlights stimulus packages put in place by governments worldwide and their sustainability to cushion the RE sector. Commissioning of RE projects has stalled due to lack of funding allocation and interruptions in the supply of equipment and components due to lockdown measures. Despite the need to fund COVID-19 vaccination programs and other related health services, the world must not neglect other sectors of the economy, creating more problems, such as worsening the climate change situation in the long run. This review aims to present the information needed to sustain future energy during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Dynamic Corporate Governance, Innovation, and Sustainability: Post-COVID Period

Recent complex changes of the organizational environment urge the boards of directors of energy corporations to step up quickly in crises (e.g., COVID-19) and foster innovation, to seize new strategic opportunities (e.g., environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investments). The purpose of the study is to provide in-depth analyses of ESG projects during the COVID-19 pandemic, through the lens of an emerging theoretical approach, dynamic corporate governance (CG). The research is built on the multi-case study method at large energy companies and energy startups. The research goal was to empirically analyze theoretical opportunities of dynamic board behavior in this research context. The major findings show that ESG projects faced serious challenges in the fast-changing organizational environment generated by COVID-19, which induced board intervention regarding innovation, networks, and organizational changes. This study is among the first to offer a novel theoretical viewpoint, by integrating CG and strategic management theories, besides the already dominant financial and reporting aspects. From a practical perspective, our conclusions might direct the attention of boards of directors toward innovation, networks, and organizational changes, in order to enable adaptation in turbulent times and increase sustainability in the social and environmental dimensions.

Do environmental pollutants carrier to COVID-19 pandemic? A cross-sectional analysis

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a highly transmitted disease that spreads all over the globe in a short period. Environmental pollutants are considered one of the carriers to spread the COVID-19 pandemic through health damages. Carbon emissions, PM2.5 emissions, nitrous oxide emissions, GHG, and other GHG emissions are mainly judged separately in the earlier studies in different economic settings. The study hypothesizes that environmental pollutants adversely affect healthcare outcomes, likely to infected people by contagious diseases, including coronavirus cases. The subject matter is vital to analyze the preventive healthcare theory by using different environmental pollutants on the COVID-19 factors: total infected cases, total death cases, and case fatality ratio, in a large cross-section of 119 countries. The study employed the generalized least square (GLS) method for robust inferences. The results show that GHG and CO2 emissions are critical factors likely to increase total coronavirus cases and death rates. On the other hand, nitrous oxide, carbon, and transport emissions increase the case fatality ratio through healthcare damages. The study concludes that stringent environmental policies and improving healthcare infrastructure can control coronavirus cases across countries.

Urban diversity and epidemic resilience: The case of the COVID-19

The spread of the coronavirus pandemic offers a unique opportunity to improve our understanding of the role of urban planning strategies in the resilience of urban communities confronting a pandemic. This study examines the relationship between urban diversity and epidemiological resilience by empirically assessing the relation between the level of neighborhood homogeneity and the probability of being infected by the coronavirus. We focus on the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in Israel, a relatively closed community that was disproportionately and severely affected by the pandemic. The findings indicate a monotonic but nonlinear relationship between the level of ultra-Orthodox prevalence in a neighborhood and a resident's probability of contracting COVID-19. As the fraction of ultra-Orthodox individuals in the neighborhood decreases, the fraction of infected population decreases significantly and more strongly that can be explained without recourse to urban diversity considerations. This relationship is found to be significant and strong, even when other variables are accounted for that had hitherto been perceived as central to coronavirus distribution, such as housing density, socioeconomic level of the neighborhood, and number of people per household. The findings are important and relevant to many societies around the globe in which a variety of populations have a separatist lifestyle.

COVID-19 Lockdown and the Impact on Mobility, Air Quality, and Utility Consumption: A Case Study from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

This study presents an analysis of the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on people’s mobility trends, air quality, and utility consumption in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Records of lockdown and subsequent easing measures, infection and vaccination rates, community mobility reports, remotely sensed and ground-based air quality data, and utility (electricity, water, and gas) consumption data were collected and analyzed in the study. The mobility trends reflected the stringency of the lockdown measures, increasing in the residential sector but decreasing in all other sectors. The data showed significant improvement in air quality corresponding to the lockdown measures in 2020 followed by gradual deterioration as the lockdown measures were eased. Electricity and water consumption increased in the residential sector during the lockdown; however, overall utility consumption did not show significant changes. The changes in mobility were correlated with the relevant air quality parameters, such as NO2, which in turn was highly correlated to O3. The study provides data and analysis to support future planning and response efforts in Sharjah. Furthermore, the methodology used in the study can be applied to assess the impacts of COVID-19 or similar events on people’s mobility, air quality and utility consumption at other geographical locations.

Renewable energy as a source of electricity for Murzuq health clinic during COVID-19

Abstract

A great number of populations of the world, primarily in developing countries, are living in rural areas and are commonly isolated from the grid connection. Unstable power supply and increasing energy prices have significant effects on developing countries, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic. Renewable energy sources can provide sustainable and efficient electricity supply. Murzuq is a rural community situated in the southern part of Libya and endowed with renewable energy resources. While there is high electricity consumption during the lockdown, health clinics also experienced higher energy consumption of longer operating hours and an increased number of electrical appliances. This study investigates the techno-economic assessment of three different hybrid energy systems for health clinics in Murzuq. HOMER (Hybrid optimization model for electric renewables) software tool was used to evaluate the feasibility of employing renewable energy, to provide sustainable energy supply to the clinic. The current unsteady energy supply comes from the national grid and the current energy supply is not sufficient for the clinic's operating hours and requires a sustainable and steady supply. Measured data collected from the health clinic and HOMER software were used to analyze and optimize the change in overall electricity demand for the health clinic before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed that the photovoltaic/battery hybrid energy system has a lower net present cost, compared to the Photovoltaic/Generator set/ battery hybrid energy system, but higher than the standalone generator set. However, the highest amount of carbon emission associated with the standalone generator set compared to the other two hybrid energy systems disqualifies it from being a suitable contender for the source of electricity for the health clinic. The photovoltaic/battery was deemed to be most economically beneficial in terms of emission reduction and energy price. The outcomes of this investigation will help stakeholders and designers to optimize hybrid energy systems that economically meet the health clinic energy demands, especially during this pandemic.

Graphical abstract

Impact of COVID-19 on greenhouse gases emissions: A critical review

The global outburst of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has posed severe challenges to human health, environment, energy and economy all over the world. The stringent measures to control the spread of COVID-19 results a significant slowdown in economic activities which in turn affected the environment by reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, specifically lower atmospheric CO2 levels. Considering that, the present study intends to highlight the substantial impact of COVID-19 pandemic on GHG emissions, by systematically reviewing the available scientific literatures. The study further outlined the variation in GHG emissions by comparing the data focused on pre-pandemic, during pandemic, and post-pandemic (predictions) scenarios. Further, the assessment on elevating CO2 levels, global economic, and energy impacts of COVID-19 has also been reviewed. Also, the possible recovery plan for the framework of sustainable environmental and energy development is presented. Finally, the review concludes with an insightful summary involving the challenges and future outlook towards sustainable development goals in a hope that the present study can help the researchers to assess the global environmental and energy related consequences.

Digitization in the Design and Construction Industry—Remote Work in the Context of Sustainability: A Study from Poland

The article presents the results of research on the digitization of services provided by the design industry in the context of the implementation of sustainable development goals, especially environmental sustainability. First, a literature review has been done. These research goals were established in the publication: investigating the impact of remote work on the implementation of sustainable development goals (in particular, environmental), examining the essence of better perception of remote work and digitization of the design process by employees of the design and construction industry, and examining barriers and factors favoring the digitization of the design and construction industry in Poland. Both a survey and interviews were carried out. To analyze data obtained from the interviews, the Colaizzi’s methodology was performed. The data obtained as a result of the survey were subjected to a statistical analysis using a cluster analysis (Ward’s method). Groups (clusters) of strong and weak barriers, supporting factors, and sustainability factors were defined. The COVID-19 pandemic has perpetuated the digitization trend in this industry. Employees and owners of project offices prefer remote work due to the flexibility of working time, time savings, work comfort, safety, and savings. Industry employees recognize the advantages and benefits of remote work in terms of environmental sustainability. The environmental impact in the form in the reduction of electricity consumption by large office buildings and reduction of the emission of harmful substances contained in car exhaust fumes are the most frequently mentioned environmental advantages. The biggest barriers are legal aspects, and sometimes difficult cooperation with a client. The research results presented in this publication, as well as the methodology adopted, are a contribution to the literature on the perception and comfort of remote work, the social effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and environmental sustainability.

Analysis and Evaluation of the Photovoltaic Market in Poland and the Baltic States

The household, industrial, and service sectors in Poland and the Baltic States have been facing ever-higher bills for their electricity consumption at a time when a number of them have been hit hard financially by the pandemic. Rising inflation, the border crisis—with its set of restrictions, or the spread of the fourth wave of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, is causing strong concerns in the social and economic sphere, with significant increases in electricity prices. Many countries are implementing measures to reduce the adverse effects of rising electricity prices in response to this complex situation. The main orientation is towards obtaining energy from renewable sources, such as the sun. The current situation in the energy market determines the price per 1 KW. Among the countries under study, the price of electricity has increased the most in Poland. On the other hand, the development of the photovoltaic segment in Poland is undergoing a strong, upward trend. The above inspired the authors to explore the energy market situation in Poland and the Baltic States in the current economic conditions, along with an analysis of its development potential in light of the coronavirus pandemic. The main research problem of this study is an attempt to answer the question of what should be changed in the development of the renewable energy market in Poland, with particular emphasis on photovoltaics, to accelerate the process of reducing CO2 emissions, leading to a reduction in dramatically rising electricity prices. Which solutions implemented in the Baltic countries can inspire strengthening Poland’s energy market development?

Assessment method for new sustainability indicators providing pandemic resilience for residential buildings

The method presented in this paper aims to support the sustainability assessment methods of residential buildings under pandemic conditions. The main purpose of the study is to review existing criteria of the well-known assessment tools and then to suggest a set of assessment measures for the emerging pandemic-resilient indicators. Current sustainability assessment methodologies mostly focus on the conventional sustainability pillars (Environmental, Social, Economic), whereas the proposed emerging sustainability assessment indicators include changes in sustainability requirements brought by the current pandemic. Firstly, a set of indicators with possible measures was identified; then, we reviewed several existing green building certification systems to identify their gaps and developed a foundation for each indicator. Finally, several round table discussions involving various stakeholders (e.g., engineers, designers, health care experts, academics) were conducted to consolidate the identified measures. The findings of the present study indicate that certain pandemic-resilient indicators are not fully addressed by existing assessment tools, pointing out the importance of the development of new measures to make them more suitable to use under pandemic conditions. Thus, the present study contributes to the building assessment methods by proposing a set of emerging assessment indicators with measures, which can be used by various professionals that would contribute to more sustainable buildings in upcoming pandemics.•A 5-point scale was used to assess the indicators, and various stakeholders in a previous study identified their weights.•The methodology introduces new pandemic-related indicators into the conventional sustainability concept.•The assessment measures are rapid and economically efficient to apply for any residential building.

The Impact of Renewable Energy Sources on the Economic Growth of Poland and Sweden Considering COVID-19 Times

A demonstration of the relationship between the share of renewables in gross marginal energy and selected countries’ economic growth is the basis of this research. The paper seeks to investigate mutual correlations between renewable energy sources and economic growth for two EU economies and how it influences their fluctuations (increase and decrease). The comparative analysis of results was carried out for less-income Polish and high-income Swedish economies. This research used a regression model to answer the research questions examining the presence of correlations between renewable energy sources in gross marginal energy consumption and economic growth. This study analyzes data starting from 1991 to 2022. The results indicated a positive correlation (statistical significance) between Gross Domestic Product and Gross National Income variables for Sweden (84.6% and 83.7%, respectively) and Poland (79.9% and 79.2%, respectively), which influence the use of renewable energy sources. The findings also reveal that the higher economic growth caused by the use of renewables is observed for the leading countries but at the same time the risk of a greater recession is much more likely than in other countries. These findings would help government officials and policymakers to better understand the role of renewable energy in the economic growth of these countries. This study has contributed to the literature on renewable energy sources and statistical reports under the EU energy sector framework.

The unfurl of the coronavirus and its thwack on humans and the environment: a review

The new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was first discovered in Wuhan (China) in December 2019 and belongs to the same family as that of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 1. On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization announced the outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Diagnosis of this disease is carried out by using special molecular tests. It is mandatory to identify the individual with COVID-19 symptoms, and isolation is necessary to prevent further transmission of this virus. This review highlights the formation, prodrome, transmission and survival mechanism of COVID-19 and shows that the pandemic circumstance fundamentally improves the air quality in various urban areas across the globe, decreases water contamination and commotion and diminishes the tension on the traveller objections, which may facilitate the reclamation of the natural framework. The worldwide effect of this new outbreak is still dubious.

MOF-Templated Sulfurization of Atomically Dispersed Manganese Catalysts Facilitating Electroreduction of CO2 to CO

To reach a carbon-neutral future, electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (eCO2RR) has proven to be a strong candidate for the next-generation energy system. Among potential materials, single-atom catalysts (SACs) serve as a model to study the mechanism behind the reduction of CO2 to CO, given their well-defined active metal centers and structural simplicity. Moreover, using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as supports to anchor and stabilize central metal atoms, the common concern, metal aggregation, for SACs can be addressed well. Furthermore, with their turnability and designability, MOF-derived SACs can also extend the scope of research on SACs for the eCO2RR. Herein, we synthesize sulfurized MOF-derived Mn SACs to study effects of the S dopant on the eCO2RR. Using complementary characterization techniques, the metal moiety of the sulfurized MOF-derived Mn SACs (MnSA/SNC) is identified as MnN3S1. Compared with its non-sulfur-modified counterpart (MnSA/NC), the MnSA/SNC provides uniformly superior activity to produce CO. Specifically, a nearly 30% enhancement of Faradaic efficiency (F.E.) in CO production is observed, and the highest F.E. of approximately 70% is identified at -0.45 V. Through operando spectroscopic characterization, the probing results reveal that the overall enhancement of CO production on the MnSA/SNC is possibly caused by the S atom in the local MnN3S1 moiety, as the sulfur atom may induce the formation of S-O bonding to stabilize the critical intermediate, *COOH, for CO2-to-CO. Our results provide novel design insights into the field of SACs for the eCO2RR.

COVID-19, a double-edged sword for the environment: a review on the impacts of COVID-19 on the environment

This review paper discusses the most relevant impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the environment. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) originated in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease has infected 70 million people and caused the death of 1.58 million people since the US Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization to develop a vaccine to prevent COVID-19 on December 11, 2020. COVID-19 is a global crisis that has impacted everything directly connected with human beings, including the environment. This review discusses the impacts of COVID-19 on the environment during the pandemic and post-COVID-19 era. During the first months of the COVID pandemic, global coal, oil, gas, and electricity demands declined by 8%, 5%, 2%, and 20%, respectively, relative to 2019. Stay-at-home orders in countries increased the concentrations of particles in indoor environments while decreasing the concentrations of PM2.5 and NOX in outdoor environments. Remotely working in response to the COVID-19 pandemic increased the carbon, water, and land footprints of Internet usage. Microplastics are released into our environment from the mishandling and mismanagement of personal protective equipment that endanger our water, soils, and sediments. Since the COVID-19 vaccine cannot be stored for a long time and spoils rapidly, more awareness of the massive waste of unused doses is needed. So COVID-19 is a double-edged sword for the environment.

Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on electric energy load and pricing in the Iberian electricity market

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has established itself has one of the biggest health crises facing humanity. Countries all around the world were forced to adopt unprecedented restrictive measures in order to halt the spread of the virus and safeguard public health. These measures have profoundly changed the way of life and severely affected practically all sectors of activity, with major demand and supply shocks, leading to one of the largest recessions in world history. An essential pillar to the proper functioning of modern societies is energy security, particularly electricity security, which guarantees a reliable and efficient supply of electricity. Energy distributors and utility companies remained operational during mandatory stay-at-home orders, to ensure an uninterrupted power supply. Given the relevant role of energy in society, this work will study the consequences of the economic shutdown on the Iberian electricity market, and discuss the timeline of events, the macroeconomic outlook, the financial status of the major electric utility companies (prior to being hit by the COVID-19 health pandemic), the changes in load profile, the generation mix and, finally, the electricity market spot prices.

Study on Performance of Rooftop Solar Power Generation Combined with Battery Storage at Office Building in Northeast Region, Vietnam

At present, renewable energy sources are considered to ensure energy security and combat climate change. Vietnam has a high potential for solar power development, especially in the central region and the southern region. However, the northeast region has the lowest solar radiation value, so it can cause difficulty for rooftop solar power investment. In this paper, the study results analyze the financial efficiency of the grid-tied rooftop solar power system with battery storage and compared it to the grid-tied rooftop solar power system without battery storage. The experimental data of a grid-tied solar power system with battery storage at an office building in the northeast region of Vietnam is collected to evaluate the system’s operation performance in real conditions. The study results present that the financial efficiency of rooftop grid-tied power project with and without storage is viable since the benefit-cost ratio (B–C) is larger than one, and internal rate of return (IRR) and net present value (NPV) are positive. However, the grid-tied rooftop solar power system with storage is not quite feasible in case of changing the electricity selling price and investment cost even though the grid-tied solar power system using the storage device can operate more flexibly. The payback period of the grid-tied solar power system with storage is 6.2 years longer and the total profit is nearly 1.9 times lower than the solar power system without battery storage due to the difference in the price of the inverters and the battery. In contrast, the grid-tied solar power system without battery storage shows better financial efficiency but strongly depends on the operation of the utility grid.

COVID-19 pandemics Stage II - Energy and environmental impacts of vaccination

The COVID-19 pandemic developed the severest public health event in recent history. The first stage for defence has already been documented. This paper moves forward to contribute to the second stage for offensive by assessing the energy and environmental impacts related to vaccination. The vaccination campaign is a multidisciplinary topic incorporating policies, population behaviour, planning, manufacturing, materials supporting, cold-chain logistics and waste treatment. The vaccination for pandemic control in the current phase is prioritised over other decisions, including energy and environmental issues. This study documents that vaccination should be implemented in maximum sustainable ways. The energy and related emissions of a single vaccination are not massive; however, the vast numbers related to the worldwide production, logistics, disinfection, implementation and waste treatment are reaching significant figures. The preliminary assessment indicates that the energy is at the scale of ~1.08 × 1010 kWh and related emissions of ~5.13 × 1012 gCO2eq when embedding for the envisaged 1.56 × 1010 vaccine doses. The cold supply chain is estimated to constitute 69.8% of energy consumption of the vaccination life cycle, with an interval of 26-99% depending on haul distance. A sustainable supply chain model that responds to an emergency arrangement, considering equality as well, should be emphasised to mitigate vaccination's environmental footprint. This effort plays a critical role in preparing for future pandemics, both environmentally and socially. Research in exploring sustainable single-use or reusable materials is also suggested to be a part of the plans. Diversified options could offer higher flexibility in mitigating environmental footprint even during the emergency and minimise the potential impact of material disruption or dependency.

COVID-19 and environment: a poignant reminder of sustainability in the new normal

The nexus of COVID-19 and environment is conspicuously deep-rooted. The roles of environmental factors in the origin, transmission and spread of COVID-19 and the mutual impact of the pandemic on the global environment have been the two perspectives to view this nexus. The present paper attempts to systematically review the existing literature to understand and explore the linkages of COVID-19 with environment and proposes conceptual frameworks to underline this nexus. Our study indicates a critical role of meteorological factors, ambient air pollutants and wastewater in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) transmission-spread dynamics. The study also focuses on the direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19 on the regional and global environment. Most of the indirect environmental effects of COVID-19 were attributed to global human confinement that resulted from the implementation of the pandemic containment measures. This worldwide anthropogenic 'pause' sent ripples to all environmental compartments and presented a unique test bed to identify anthropogenic impacts on the earth's natural systems. The review further addresses emerging sustainability challenges in the new normal and their potential solutions. The situation warrants critical attention to the environment-COVID-19 nexus and innovative sustainable practices to address the ramifications of short- and long-term environmental impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Graphical abstract

Sustainable Consumption in Consumer Behavior in the Time of COVID-19: Topic Modeling on Twitter Data Using LDA

By using text mining techniques, this study identifies the topics of sustainable consumption that are important during the COVID-19 pandemic. An Application Programming Interface (API) streaming method was used to extract the data from Twitter. A total of 14,591 tweets were collected using Twitter streaming API. However, after data cleaning, 13,635 tweets were considered for analysis. The objectives of the study are to identify (1) the topics users tweet about sustainable consumption and (2) to detect the emotion-based sentiments in the tweets. The study used Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) algorithm for topic modeling and the Louvain algorithm for semantic network clustering. NRC emotion lexicon was used for sentiment analysis. The LDA model discovers six topics: organic food consumption, food waste, vegan food, sustainable tourism, sustainable transport, and sustainable energy consumption. While the Louvain algorithm detects four clusters—lifestyle and climate change, responsible consumption, energy consumption, and renewable energy, sentiment analysis results show more positive emotions among the users than the negative ones. The study contributes to existing literature by providing a fresh perspective on various interconnected topics of sustainable consumption that bring global consumption to a sustainable level.

The impact of artificial intelligence and digital style on industry and energy post-COVID-19 pandemic

The SARS-CoV-2 virus caused crises in social, economic, and energy areas and medical life worldwide throughout 2020. This crisis had many direct and indirect effects on all areas of society. In the meantime, the digital and artificial intelligence industry can be used as a professional assistant to manage and control the outbreak of the virus. The present article's objective is to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on each of the various fields of medicine, industry, and energy. What sets this article apart is studying the impact of artificial intelligence and digital style on reducing the damage of this fatal virus. Energy and related industries are of the areas affected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The most exciting approach in this article is to encourage countries with economies based on non-renewable energy to develop solar and wind energies. Renewable energies can operate well in the event of another phenomenon such as COVID-19 and reduce the virus's destructive effects and lead to economic prosperity.

Implications of Social Isolation in Combating COVID-19 Outbreak in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Its Consequences on the Carbon Emissions Reduction

The aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic has two striking impacts on the economy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. First, the economic contraction of business and economic activities. Second, the effect of oil prices dropping as energy demand decreases in the international market. This study seeks to underpin the linkage between GDP growth, oil price, foreign direct investment (FDI), air transport, social globalization and carbon dioxide emission by applying time-series econometrics techniques of the following: fully modified ordinary least squares, dynamic ordinary least squares and canonical tests. The results of the Johansen cointegration test and empirical analysis trace a long-run equilibrium relationship between the highlighted variables. Our study shows that a 1% increase in FDI attraction increases economic growth by 0.004%; similarly, air transport and oil rent from KSA increased economic growth by 0.547% and 0.005%, respectively. These outcomes are indicative of the GDP growth ambition of the KSA economy in order to intensify FDI attraction and the air transportation sector. However, we also observe that increases in CO2 emission increase GDP growth. Thus, this suggests that the economic growth in KSA is not green, indicating the need for green economic growth pursuit targets.

Can COVID-19 and environmental research in developing countries support these countries to meet the environmental challenges induced by the pandemic?

Meeting the huge impact of COVID-19 on the environment requires better research on pandemic and pollution. What is the research capacity of the COVID-19 and environment in developing countries? Can this research capacity support developing countries to deal with the environmental challenges induced by the pandemic? This work is addressed to comprehensively assess the research capacity of the COVID-19 and environment in developing countries using bibliometric analysis techniques and content analysis approach to mining the Web of Science database. The results of data mining were unexpected: the global leader of the COVID-19 and environmental research was not these developed countries, but these developing countries so far, the end of 2020. Developing countries have published more papers on the pandemic and environment than developed countries, and developing countries also dominate pandemic and environmental research in terms of research institutions and authors. The results showed that (i) the impact of COVID-19 and the environment was bidirectional; (ii) energy consumption has posed great impact on environment; (iii) application of big data and artificial intelligence played an important role in improving environmental quality during the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, policy recommendations such as formulating relevant policies and environmental standards, strengthening international exchanges and cooperation, and adjusting and improving energy consumption structure that were put forward for developing countries to meet the environmental challenges induced by the pandemic were offered. Graphical abstract.

Role of additive manufacturing in medical application COVID-19 scenario: India case study

This paper reviews how the Additive Manufacturing (AM) industry played a key role in stopping the spread of the Coronavirus by providing customized parts on-demand quickly and locally, reducing waste and eliminating the need for an extensive manufacturer. The AM technology uses digital files for the production of crucial medical parts, which has been proven essential during the COVID-19 crisis. Going ahead, the 3D printable clinical model resources described here will probably be extended in various centralized model storehouses with new inventive open-source models. Government agencies, individuals, corporations and universities are working together to quickly development of various 3D-printed products especially when established supply chains are under distress, and supply cannot keep up with demand.