• Energy Research
• Global Challenges close

AbstractRainwater harvesting decentralizes the water supply in full analogy to what building‐integrated photovoltaics and solar thermal do for electricity and heat. In this new decentralized generation scenario, the built environment is used to collect both sunlight photons and water molecules with significant economic and environmental benefits. Referring to recent progress and to real‐life findings from around the world, this work provides an answer to several relevant questions of direct interest to policy makers and early adopters of broadened distributed generation. The conclusions offer guidelines for developing a successful distributed generation strategy at the regional level by unifying solar energy and water management policies.

AbstractThe Internet of Things approach to manage clean electricity produced from sun, wind, and water is, alongside the hydrogen fuel cell and the Li‐ion battery, the key enabling technology for the transition to 100% renewable energy. Practical examples from distant countries are used to show how today's digital control technology is actually used to ease the generation and utilization of clean, reliable, and cheap solar energy on an annual basis. The conclusions are of relevance also to the redesign of energy education programs in response to dramatic changes in energy technologies.

AbstractThe replacement of fossil fuels to produce electricity and heat to propel vehicles with solar energy, along with other new energy technologies, will bring significant economic, environmental, and social benefits to all Mediterranean countries. The transition to new energy, however, calls for a proactive and creative role of policy makers.