The importance of energy storage is increasing to enhance the efficiency of energy grids and integrate renewable energy sources. This is particularly relevant for micro-communities that rely on decentralized energy sources and grids for part of their energy supply. Examples of such communities include internally settled electricity communities (ECs) and eco-industrial parks (EIPs). EIPs are industrial sites that operate according to the principles of industrial symbiosis (IS), prioritizing resource management and environmental stewardship by optimizing material and energy exchange networks. Industrial parks structured along the principles of industrial symbiosis often depend on renewable energy sources. Energy storage stabilizes renewable energy production and ensures the flexibility of energy supply. Energy storage enables ECs and EIPs to operate more energy-efficiently, facilitates the asynchronous mitigation of demand and capacity, reduces peak-period consumption and can also serve as a backup power source during emergencies. The aim of this article is to present an overview of the role and significance of energy storage in energy-communities and EIPs, underscore the potential for self-consumption of locally generated renewable energy, optimize the utilization of exchange connections, and provide an analysis of international research and industrial practices in this field. The literature review in this paper shows that energy storage and battery management play a key role in the optimal operation of ECs and in maximizing self-consumption, i.e. minimizing the load on the grid, and therefore minimizing the grid-wide sustainability effects.

There are many different solution available to meet a given energy demand. These solutions may differ significantly not only in their technical and economic characteristics but also in their effects on the environment. The purpose of this article is to present principles, considerations, and methods for a complex assessment of the production, conversion, transportation, storage, and end-use of various types of energy. The authors present seven distinct approaches, principles, and methodologies that are commonly employed to comprehend the consequences of various energy utilization solutions. The characteristics of each model and the range of information provided by each solution are presented through concrete examples. The applicability of different methods and approaches is also analysed comparatively. These methods have not yet been translated so far into a coherent, integrated model by either engineering practice or academia, although an accurate understanding of the impacts on the sustainability and energy trilemma necessitates applying as complex analytical solutions as possible. The objective of this article is to collate, evaluate, and harmonise a range of widely used energy usage evaluation models. The aim is to propose a coherent, integrated approach to facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of the environmental, technical, and financial implications of different energy utilisation approaches.

The Paris Agreement of 2015 aims to keep the global average temperature increase below 2 °C above preindustrial levels and to limit warming to 1.5 °C if possible. The European Union has set ambitious targets (-55 % by 2030 and Net-Zero by 2050) to support the European Green Deal (EGD). To reach the goals by the deadlines, extensive pre- and post-source measures are necessary. This article focuses on post-source measures and seeks to identify, quantify, and evaluate the selection criteria of the applicability of carbon capture techniques. The specific energy demand (theoretical minimum work required to separate CO2 from a gaseous mixture) of a capture process can be derived from the first and second laws of thermodynamics. There are, however, other factors that can significantly influence the decision-making process for carbon capture from a given polluting source. The first criterion group is related to the 2nd law efficiency, i.e., the proportionality between theoretical minimum work and real energy demand that can be achieved in practice, while the second group covers the specific separation cost as a primary economic parameter. The research gives comprehensive insights into the different carbon capture methodologies and analyses their dependency on CO2 concentration, the presence of impurities, and operational conditions such as temperature and pressure. Based on the analysis outcomes, selection criteria are proposed to help match mature technologies (TRL 7–9) to specific gas compositions and industrial applications, primarily for process gases from power plants, chemical industries, and cement production, supporting more efficient and context-dependent implementation and the green transition.