This paper focuses on the adaptation of residential home appliances to recent advances in power electronics technology and to a DC supply of power. This is motivated by the DC nature of most home appliances, and also the DC output of many renewable technologies. With the advances in power electronics technologies, the monthly power consumption of a residence can be greatly reduced, and as a result, system costs associated with the acquisition of a renewable system can be reduced by increasing the efficiency of each individual appliance through the use of a DC supply. Furthermore, completely operating a residence from renewable sources increases the reduction of CO ₂ emissions from the residential sectors.

Microgrids offer tremendous opportunities in isolated areas or developing countries that are unable to establish a traditional power infrastructure. However, microgrids face vast challenges in places where the dominant model is based on a centralized, hierarchical infrastructure with policies and institutions developed to support such infrastructure. Renewable energy researchers at the University of Puerto Rico?Mayaguez (UPRM) have traveled a long road advocating distributed energy resources (DERs) and community microgrids.

Many of the problems the World faces are managed from a mostly technical or economical perspective, even though problems also have social and environmental dimensions and could be better managed with a more integrative, global perspective. A common trait of these global issues is their interdisciplinary nature, which makes them complex problems difficult to address from one particular discipline. Energy is an example of a global, interdisciplinary problem which is usually approached from a narrow technical or economical perspective. This paper will approach the energy dilemma from the broader perspective of sustainability, striving to achieve a balance among the economic, environmental and social dimensions of energy. Such a balance can benefit the energy policy process by providing a framework that account for many of the interests involved in developing future energy directions and policies.

The World's dependence on fossil fuels and the need to move to more beneficial energy alternatives pose daunting challenges to humanity. Historically, economic and political rationality has driven the exploration, development and management of natural resources in the search for stable energy supplies. The insistence on continuing the unsustainable consumption patterns of developed countries has jeopardized human rights, political stability, environmental quality and sustainable improvement for vulnerable communities. This single-minded pursuit of economic rationality pushes to the side a more beneficial, holistic sustainability framework that integrates environmental, ethical and social value with economic and practical considerations. This paper will focus on responding to the challenge of energy sustainability by advancing a new energy ethics founded on the bedrock of solid environmental, social and ethical principles. It will also expand this baseline by presenting a new vision of ethical and practical excellence in energy, a vision that will translate readily into new and implementable energy policies.

Electric vehicles (EVs) represent an important socio-economic development opportunity for islands and remote locations because they can lead to reduced fuel imports, electricity storage, grid services, and environmental and health benefits. This paper presents an overview of opportunities, challenges, and examples of EVs in islands and remote power systems, and is meant to provide background to researchers, utilities, energy offices, and other stakeholders interested in the impacts of electrification of transportation. The impact of uncontrolled EV charging on the electric grid operation is discussed, as well as several mitigation strategies. Of particular importance in many islands and remote systems is taking advantage of local resources by combining renewable energy and EV charging. Policy and economic issues are presented, with emphasis on the need for an overarching energy policy to guide the strategies for EVs growth. The key conclusion of this paper is that an orderly transition to EVs, one that maximizes benefits while addressing the challenges, requires careful analysis and comprehensive planning.