The ability to measure, understand, manipulate, organize, engineer and control matter on the nanoscale has been opening up the wealth of possibilities that were otherwise non -existent at higher scales. At this scale, basic research principles and tools in biology, physics, chemistry, and engineering converge and have led to all-inclusive applications of nanotechnology. Despite the innovative applications and promising potentials of nanotechnology, there are concerns about its short and long-lasting impacts on humans, nature and the environment. In an attempt to address these concerns, a number of researches have been conducted. Evaluations of studies addressing the issues of nanotechnologies and their impacts are necessary to give insights for further studies that will advance the technology for the true benefit of mankind and nature. This study, thus, provides a detailed review of studies on nanotechnology applications and the positions of stakeholders on the impact of nanotechnology. Among other things, the outcome of this survey shows that there are numerous successful applications of nanotechnology. Public perceptions are pivotal in determining the extent of revolution and transformation that nanotechnology will have on the environment. Religious beliefs and moral concerns; trust in governmental regulatory agencies and the industry; the level of inclusion of the society in the product design, development, and commercialization process is critical to the extent of acceptance of nanotechnology inventions. Expression of objective views concerning the benefits, limitations & risks, and adequate education of the public, risk regulators & all stakeholders are crucial in determining the fate of nanotechnology.

Large-scale renewable energy plants such as solar photovoltaic (PV) farms are vital to the global transition to a green energy economy. They reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate climate change, and promote sustainable and resilient energy. However, large-scale solar PV farms need adequate planning and site selection for optimal performance. This study presents a geographic information system (GIS)-based multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework utilizing the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to identify optimal sites for utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) farms in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Nigeria. By integrating critical environmental, technical, economic, and social factors, the model evaluates land suitability for solar energy projects across the study area. The finding indicates that 68.77% of the land is unsuitable for development, with only 17.78% classified as highly suitable and 12.67% as moderately suitable. Marginally suitable and most appropriate areas are minimal, at 0.73% and 0.04%, respectively. This study provides a replicable approach for stakeholders and policymakers aiming to implement sustainable energy solutions, aligning with national renewable energy targets. Future research could integrate dynamic factors such as community engagement, land use changes, and evolving environmental policies to enhance decision-making models. This framework offers valuable insights into renewable energy planning and contributes to advancing Nigeria’s transition to sustainable energy systems.

The quest for sustainable energy has greatly increased across the globe. Erratic energy supply in many African countries restricts socioeconomic growth, particularly in developing countries. Besides, the depletion of fossil fuel and the environmental threats caused by the use of conventional energy supply is a challenge that requires immediate attention. Several critical sectors require constant energy, which is not readily available. One such sector is research and development. For example, the Space Environment Research Laboratory (SERL) operated by the Centre for Atmospheric Research (CAR) of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) Nigeria needs constant and reliable energy to meet up with the expectations of collaborators. To achieve this, the equipment is powered by a diesel generator, which is not environmentally friendly. Furthermore, the associated cost to constantly run a diesel generator is a major concern to administrators. Therefore, this article explores the application of hybrid energy to power the space research equipment at the Space Environment Research Laboratory (SERL), Abuja, Nigeria. The optimization results show that the proposed PV/BAT/DG (photovoltaic/battery/distributed generation) is the best energy generation alternative compared to the diesel generator, presently in use. It is essential that the sustainability of a hybrid system be considered in future research.

To securely address energy shortage and various environmental issues attributed to fossil fuel, the adoption of renewable energy is growing across the globe. However, wind and solar which form the bulk of the emerging renewable energy for micro-grid applications are intermittent and need energy storage device for backup. Due to its environmentally friendly nature, the use of hydrogen as storage mechanism is now being explored for micro-grid applications. However, due to the various technical criteria attributed to various fuel cell (FC) technologies used for hydrogen production, selecting the most suitable alternative remains a challenge. This study uses evaluation based on distance from average solution, a multicriteria decision making tool to rank FC technologies that can be used to produce of hydrogen energy storage in micro-grid applications. The analysis was based on 4 FC technologies and 6 technical criteria. The results of the study show that the most preferred FC technology for micro-grid application is the polymeric electrolyte membrane while the least preferred is molten carbonate FC. It is expected that future analysis would explore the inclusion of socio-economic criteria in the evaluation of the most preferred FC technology for micro-grid application.

This research study presents the design of a mobile Android application which provides efficient PV sizing recommendations for residential users. The paper aims to promote the adoption of solar energy to meet energy demands for residential use, by providing accurate information to prospective renewable energy users via the development of an android application for the sizing of PV-battery systems. The study adopted a Design Science Research (DSR) methodology which employs models, techniques, and algorithms to create artifacts expected to meet specified sets of functional requirements. DSR provided stepwise processes for development of the application, validation, testing and evaluation. The evaluation of the android application’s accuracy was presented in this paper, after extensive testing by experts and non-experts. Its performance showed that the feasibility of the application is suitable for potential users and professionals alike. The use of the developed mobile application could strengthen public-private partnerships that would promote widespread use of PV- battery system for residential applications.