Strategies to save energy in the context of the energy crisis: a review

Abstract

New technologies, systems, societal organization and policies for energy saving are urgently needed in the context of accelerated climate change, the Ukraine conflict and the past coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. For instance, concerns about market and policy responses that could lead to new lock-ins, such as investing in liquefied natural gas infrastructure and using all available fossil fuels to compensate for Russian gas supply cuts, may hinder decarbonization efforts. Here we review energy-saving solutions with a focus on the actual energy crisis, green alternatives to fossil fuel heating, energy saving in buildings and transportation, artificial intelligence for sustainable energy, and implications for the environment and society. Green alternatives include biomass boilers and stoves, hybrid heat pumps, geothermal heating, solar thermal systems, solar photovoltaics systems into electric boilers, compressed natural gas and hydrogen. We also detail case studies in Germany which is planning a 100% renewable energy switch by 2050 and developing the storage of compressed air in China, with emphasis on technical and economic aspects. The global energy consumption in 2020 was 30.01% for the industry, 26.18% for transport, and 22.08% for residential sectors. 10-40% of energy consumption can be reduced using renewable energy sources, passive design strategies, smart grid analytics, energy-efficient building systems, and intelligent energy monitoring. Electric vehicles offer the highest cost-per-kilometer reduction of 75% and the lowest energy loss of 33%, yet battery-related issues, cost, and weight are challenging. 5-30% of energy can be saved using automated and networked vehicles. Artificial intelligence shows a huge potential in energy saving by improving weather forecasting and machine maintenance and enabling connectivity across homes, workplaces, and transportation. For instance, 18.97-42.60% of energy consumption can be reduced in buildings through deep neural networking. In the electricity sector, artificial intelligence can automate power generation, distribution, and transmission operations, balance the grid without human intervention, enable lightning-speed trading and arbitrage decisions at scale, and eliminate the need for manual adjustments by end-users.

Keywords: Artificial intelligence; Electric vehicles; Energy crisis; Energy saving; Green energy alternative; Renewable energy.

Fig. 1

Strategy for energy saving. The review discusses current and new policies that address energy sufficiency and conservation, including progressive home appliances, buildings, and vehicle standards. First, the energy crisis and the potential of renewable energy as providing energy sources are examined. Second, we discuss how to save energy from buildings and vehicles, as well as the uses of electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles in energy saving. Lastly, we identify the role of artificial intelligence in maximizing energy efficiency and achieving significant savings across multiple sectors

Fig. 2

Worldwide energy supply from 1990 to 2020. In 2020, the global energy supply was 584,523,552 EJ, of which 29.47% was derived from oil, 26.80% from coal, 23.68% from natural gas, 9.84% from biofuel, and 5.21% from renewables (a). Additionally, energy consumption accounted for 400,819,444 EJ in 2020 (b), with 30.01% used by industry, 26.18% by transport, 22.08% by residential, 7.92% by commercial and public services, 2.15% by agriculture, and 1.77% for other uses. Source: (IEA 2022c). EJ: exajoules

Fig. 3

Strategies to replace oil and natural gas heating. These include biomass boilers and furnaces, hybrid heat pumps, geothermal heating, solar photovoltaic systems converted into electric boilers, solar heating, and compressed natural gas and methane. By adopting these green alternative energy solutions, it is possible to significantly reduce energy consumption and costs while achieving efficient heating. Furthermore, these solutions increase the efficiency of energy combustion, resulting in enhanced heat production and reduced greenhouse gas emissions

Fig. 4

Energy saving potential of different types of vehicles The greatest potential for energy savings and minimal energy loss was demonstrated by electric vehicles, whereas gasoline-powered vehicles demonstrated the opposite. Therefore, electric vehicles can potentially reduce the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of the automotive industry. However, battery-related issues such as limited driving range, extended charging time, high battery costs, and heavyweights must be resolved for optimal performance

Fig. 5

Role of artificial intelligence in energy saving. The potential for artificial intelligence to optimize energy efficiency, machine maintenance, and learning processes is vast. In addition, artificial intelligence can improve connectivity between applications to reduce energy consumption in homes, workplaces, and transportation systems. In order to maximize the use of renewable energy sources, artificial intelligence can also help with weather forecasting and other relevant parameters. By utilizing deep neural networking, artificial intelligence can function as a small village and effectively keep the world informed of the most recent information

Fig. 6

Potential applications of artificial intelligence in the electric sector. In the electricity industry, artificial intelligence offers numerous possibilities. It has the potential to automatically optimize power generation, distribution, and transmission operations, balance the grid without human intervention, make quick trading and arbitrage decisions, and eliminate the need for manual temperature adjustments or supplier searches. These technologies can enhance the ability of electric utilities to predict supply and demand, save energy, balance the grid in real-time, reduce downtime, maximize yield, and improve the end-user experience

Fig. 7

Role of individuals in energy saving. This plan outlines individuals' actions to save energy, reduce carbon footprint, and improve the environment. It highlights the importance of energy efficiency measures such as using energy-efficient light bulbs and appliances, upgrading insulation and windows, and supporting energy-efficient policies and programs. In addition, the plan promotes sustainable transportation options such as walking, bicycling, carpooling, and the use of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. Additionally, the plan recommends water conservation, reducing food waste, planting trees and vegetation to provide shade, promoting energy conservation, and reducing reliance on Russian natural gas