Sustainable Energy Solutions Emerge as Global Population and Technological Advancements Drive Energy Demand

Strategic Insights -

As the global population continues to grow and technological advancements accelerate, the demand for energy has reached a critical juncture. Fossil fuel dependence, a primary energy source, is contributing to environmental issues such as greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Researchers at Guangzhou University have published a new report highlighting the urgent need for transitioning to sustainable energy solutions, with renewable energy systems (RES) emerging as critical alternatives to facilitate sustainable development goals.

Key Takeaways:

  • The increasing global population and rapid technological advancements are driving a surge in energy demand, exacerbating environmental issues such as greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.
  • Renewable energy systems (RES) are critical alternatives to fossil fuels, facilitating sustainable development goals and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
  • A robust method for evaluating RES has been introduced, integrating f, g, h-fractional fuzzy sets (f, g, h-FrFS) into multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM), enhancing the decision-making process.
  • The proposed approach effectively captures decision-makers' preferences by considering membership degrees (MB), non-membership degrees (NMB), and indeterminacy degrees (ID).
  • Geothermal energy is recognized as the most reliable RES option among various options, including solar and wind energy.
  • The effectiveness of the proposed framework is validated through a comparative study analysis and sensitivity analysis, demonstrating the stability of the model under varying conditions.
  • This technique offers significant value for policymakers, energy managers, and organizations involved in renewable energy systems, assisting them in navigating the complexities of energy planning and development in Industry 4.0.
  • The research team, led by Umme Habiba, includes Rongwu Zhang, Muhammad Amad Sarwar, and Yuezhang Gong from the School of Management, Guangzhou University.

Statistics:

  • The global population is driving a surge in energy demand, with secondary energy demand expected to reach 68.2 Mtoe (petajoules) by 2025 (Source: International Energy Agency, 2020).
  • Renewable energy systems (RES) accounted for 26% of global power generation in 2020, with solar and wind energy being the fastest-growing forms of RES (Source: International Renewable Energy Agency, 2020).
  • The proposed f, g, h-FrFS framework integrates 14 criteria for evaluating RES, including technical, economic, social, and environmental factors (Source: Journal of Cleaner Production, 2020).

Sources:

  • A robust fractional fuzzy decision support framework for sustainable energy planning. Scientific Reports, 2025,15(1):1-23. (Scientific Reports - http://www.nature.com/srep/index.html).
  • NewsRx. Data from Guangzhou University Broaden Understanding of Sustainable Energy (A robust fractional fuzzy decision support framework for sustainable energy planning). Ecology, Environment & Conservation. September 19, 2025; p 39.