Francesco Di Maria

Sustainability represents a complex issue in which scientific knowledge inevitably coexists with the subjective perception of humans in its turn influenced by civilization, cultural but also unconscious aspects. These results emerge with evidence from a critical analysis of the main definitions of sustainability delivered by credited entities (e.g. , UN, US‐EPA) in which, on one side some general and not only ecological principles were stated, on the other side lack's objective (i.e. , hard science) definition. In any case a common question appears as central in all these definitions, that is life preservation and, specifically, human life. Without life the world resulted in just being constituted by a plethora of inanimate materials, elements and substances purely subjected to physical laws. But differently from the natural tendency of inanimate systems to reaching a minimum energy status, an equilibrium, status from which no more reactions and transformation are possible, that is, maximum entropy, living organism act in opposite direction. According to Nobel Prize for Physics, Schrodinger, living organism dissipate free energy by rejecting in the surrounding environment high entropy flows (e.g. , low temperature heat). In doing this they gather negative entropy accumulating exergy. Such peculiar property of life was used for analyzing the role that entropy‐based indicators can play in an objective assessment, free from subjectivism, of sustainability from a natural, ecological, perspective.

This study develops an integrated, hourly-resolved, multi-vector energy system model to assess pathways for aligning Italy's transport sector with the European Union (EU) 2030 and Fit for 55 decarbonisation targets. The model simultaneously represents electricity generation, grid constraints, storage dynamics, hydrogen production, and heterogeneous vehicle charging behaviours. Three scenarios are analysed: Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV)-dominant, Hydrogen-dominant, and Hybrid. Results indicate that the BEV-dominant pathway requires approximately 52 TWh of electricity for vehicle charging, leading to a national peak load of 72 GW and total system costs of €144 billion, while achieving 21.5 Mt CO2 emissions. The Hydrogen-dominant scenario shifts demand toward electrolysis, consuming 45 TWh for hydrogen production (≈1.35 Mt H2 yr−1), reducing emissions to 19.7 Mt CO2 but increasing system costs to€168 billion. The Hybrid scenario balances 38 TWh of direct electricity use with 22 TWh for hydrogen generation, achieving the lowest emissions (17.8 Mt CO2) and moderate costs (€156 billion). Renewable curtailment decreases from 8.3 % (BEV) to 4.5% (Hybrid), highlighting improved flexibility and resource utilization. Overall, the Hybrid configuration demonstrates the most cost-effective and environmentally coherent pathway, integrating both electricity and hydrogen infrastructures. The findings provide quantitative insights for policymakers and system planners seeking to align Italian mobility decarbonisation strategies with EU climate goals while maintaining energy security and affordability.

This systematic review evaluates the application and performance of battery energy storage systems (BESSs) in large‐scale power and distribution systems, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines to ensure methodological transparency and reproducibility. Data were extracted from Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed for English‐language primary research published between 2016 and 10 March 2025, focusing on BESS technical performance, grid integration, imbalance mitigation, and battery‐material efficiency. After screening 1334 records, 41 studies met the inclusion criteria. Reported BESS capacities range from 0.045 to 493 MWh, with most operational systems between 1 and 20 MWh and power ratings from 0.035 to 12 MW. System voltages extend from low‐voltage applications (<1 kV) to 22 kV in utility‐scale deployments. Round‐trip efficiencies are typically 90%–97.5%, while a small subset of studies report lower values (65%–70%), highlighting technology‐ and context‐dependent variability. State‐of‐charge (SOC) windows are commonly constrained to 10%–90% to limit degradation and extend lifetime. Economic assessments indicate that BESS can be cost‐effective for peak shaving, frequency response, and grid support when appropriately sized and operated. This review goes beyond previous works by providing a quantitative benchmarking of power, energy, voltage, efficiency, and cost indicators across real projects and detailed case studies, and by situating BESS within a broader landscape of complementary storage technologies such as pumped hydro, flywheels, and thermal storage. The findings underscore the strategic role of BESS in decarbonization pathways and point to future research needs in hybrid storage architectures, advanced materials, and intelligent energy management systems.

The worldwide energy demand continues to rise, while reliance on fossil fuels remains unsustainable due to global warming, declining reserves and rising oil prices. This has intensified the search for renewable alternatives. Among these, microscopic algae have emerged as a promising feedstock for third‐generation biofuels. Owing to their rapid biomass productivity, high lipid content and ability to generate diverse bioproducts, microalgae offer distinct advantages over terrestrial plants. Lipids derived from algae can be converted into biodiesel, while their biomass yields valuable co‐products such as carbohydrates, proteins and polyunsaturated fatty acids (FAs). These attributes position algae as critical contributors to the advancement of sustainable biofuels and bio‐based compounds. Recent advances in clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) technology, particularly the CRISPR/Cas9 system, have opened new avenues for precise, stable and targeted genome modifications in algae. Optimising CRISPR/Cas9 tools presents opportunities to enhance lipid production, improve metabolic pathways and expand the industrial scalability of algal biofuels. However, the application of CRISPR/Cas9 to economically relevant algal species also presents unique technical and biological challenges, including species‐specific transformation barriers, off‐target effects and regulatory hurdles. This review synthesises the current state of CRISPR/Cas9 applications in algal biofuel research, highlighting both opportunities and limitations. In doing so, this study underlines the transformative potential of genome engineering technologies for sustainable energy production while critically evaluating the obstacles that must be addressed to realise industrial‐scale implementation. By framing these challenges alongside emerging solutions, the article contributes a focused perspective on how CRISPR/Cas9 can accelerate the development of algae‐based biofuels, thereby charting a path towards a greener energy future.

The rapid growth of electric vehicle (EV) fleets in Italy is intensifying pressure on the national grid and raising concerns about infrastructure readiness, economic feasibility, and regulatory fragmentation. Energy storage systems (ESS) are central to addressing these challenges, yet their role in fleet electrification remains underexplored in the Italian context. This study investigates the technological, economic, and policy dimensions of energy storage innovations that can support Italy's transition toward sustainable fleet electrification in alignment with EU climate goals. A mixed‐methods approach was employed, combining policy and regulatory analysis, 18 expert interviews with fleet operators, energy providers, and policymakers, and a Python‐based simulation of EV fleet charging to evaluate technical performance, economic viability, and future deployment scenarios validated by a Delphi panel of 10 experts. The findings reveal that high upfront costs, limited charging infrastructure, and regional policy disparities are the primary barriers to ESS adoption. Simulation results indicate that lithium‐ion batteries can reliably meet daily fleet energy demand but are constrained by degradation and grid strain under concentrated charging schedules. Scenario analysis shows that under optimistic conditions, including rapid technology development and expanded infrastructure, fleet‐related emissions could be reduced by up to 40% by 2030. Overall, the study underscores that energy storage is a cornerstone of Italy's EV fleet transition and highlights the need for coordinated policy alignment, investment in advanced storage technologies, and expansion of vehicle‐to‐grid (V2G) services to unlock economic and environmental benefits while positioning Italy as a leader in sustainable mobility.