International Journal of Energy Technology and Policy (4 papers in press)

Special Issue on: OA Multiscale Energy Systems for Renewable Energy Storage

• Open Access

  A novel residential electricity load prediction algorithm based on hybrid seasonal decomposition and deep learning models ( Free Full-text Access )

  by Shan Gao, Xinran Zhang, Lihong Gao, Yancong Zhou 
  Abstract: Residential electricity load prediction is of great significance for power system planning. With the increasing complexity and uncertainty of the power grid, traditional prediction models still have insufficient accuracy and neglect seasonal changes. In this paper, a data-driven multi-scale hybrid prediction model for residential electricity load is proposed, which integrates a convolutional neural network (CNN), long short-term memory (LSTM), and attention mechanism. The seasonal decomposition was applied to extract seasonal patterns of the electricity consumption data. The hybrid model integrates the parallel processing capability of CNN and the long time-series modeling capability of LSTM to capture the spatial-temporal characteristics of electricity load accurately. The attention mechanism is employed to calculate the critical weight to enhance the prediction accuracy dynamically. Finally, detailed comparison experiments show that the proposed hybrid model outperformed state-of-the-art algorithms. The MAPE of the hourly and daily prediction results of the proposed model are 2.36% and 0.76%, respectively.
  Keywords: electricity consumption prediction; deep learning; convolutional neural network; CNN; long short-term memory; LSTM; attention mechanism.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJETP.2025.10071692
   
  

Regular Issues

• Sustainable fuels for thermal power generation for sustainable energy supply in a low-density population cluster  
  by Izuchukwu Francis Okafor, Nwachukwu Paul Nwachukwu, Ifeanyi Wilfred Okonkwo, Ikenna David Okeke 
  Abstract: Fossil fuels for thermal power generation have been the dominant fuels for energy generation, which are unsustainable and harmful to the environment. This study examined thermal power generation with biomass briquette fuel and solar thermal energy for sustainable power supply in a low-density population cluster. The power supply situation in Nigeria was highlighted. Regenerative Rankine thermal plant with biomass fuel and concentrated solar thermal power (CSTP) plant was examined for improvement in thermal efficiency. Engineering equation solver was used in solving the mathematical formulations generated in this study. It was found that the thermal efficiency of the plant increased with temperature. Potentially, the plant can operate at peak thermal efficiency if the operating parameters are optimized, and can switch to either biomass fuel to handle solar intermittency issues or to solar thermal to conserve biomass fuel, indicating the novelty of hybrid fuel sources for sustainable thermal power generation.
  Keywords: solar thermal power; regenerative Rankine; power plant; thermal efficiency; power generation.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJETP.2025.10069114
   
  
• Supply chain governance for sustainable solar energy system: impact of artificial intelligence  
  by Monica Bhatia, Pradyumn Chaturvedi, Vikas Khare 
  Abstract: This paper delves into various facets of supply chain management for solar energy systems, with a particular focus on the profound impact of AI. Paper explore the current state of solar energy supply chain management, emphasizing the need for improved efficiency, environmental sustainability, and reliability. The creation of a semantic network for supply chain management of solar energy systems highlight the significance of structured knowledge representation, fostering intelligent decision- making and real-time responsiveness to dynamic operational challenges. Paper examine into the push-pull view of the solar energy supply chain, where AI plays a pivotal role in orchestrating demand-driven and efficient operations. Additionally, this paper includes a comprehensive SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of supply chain management in the solar energy sector. The SWOT analysis identifies critical areas for improvement and underscores the transformative potential of AI.
  Keywords: logistic management; inventory management; SWOT analysis; supplier selection; artificial intelligence.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJETP.2025.10070456
   
  
• Empowering communities: a case study of sustainable solutions to address load shedding in South Africa  
  by Chané De Bruyn  
  Abstract: South Africans have been plagued by varying stages of load shedding, with 2023 seeing a record-breaking 332 days of load shedding. This prolonged crisis has had severe repercussions, impacting local economic development, water services, food security, education and healthcare. As it affects businesses across all sectors, productivity, employment, and overall growth, addressing this issue is crucial for sustainable development and maintaining a thriving local economy. Using a case study approach, this paper assesses South Africa’s first 'smart town’, that through collaboration and innovative measures have been able to manage their own electricity demand, ensuring the continuation of business and economic activity. This study examines the significance of empowering local communities, discusses important tactics for encouraging community involvement, and provides a compelling case study of sustainable development projects led by empowered communities.
  Keywords: community empowerment; loadshedding; community led development; sustainable development; community; South Africa.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJETP.2025.10071921