SDG 7 Annual Report: Affordable and Clean Energy (2024)

Introduction

The University of El Oued has demonstrated a robust, institution-wide commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) in 2024, translating high-level policy into active infrastructure projects, cutting-edge research, and broad community outreach. The cornerstone of this commitment is the formal institutional pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, a strategic policy that governs all energy-related initiatives across the university body.

1. Strategic Focus: Energy Efficiency and Infrastructure

The university has an established, long-term plan to significantly reduce overall energy consumption and improve efficiency across its campus. This plan is actively managed through two key processes:

Energy Efficiency Plan and Goal Setting

The high-level Rector’s Statement on Commitment to Net-Zero Carbon Emissions by 2040 serves as the institutional energy efficiency plan. This plan mandates action across three strategic areas: optimising energy use, integrating renewable sources, and enhancing efficiency through building upgrades.

Identifying and Addressing Energy Wastage

To execute this plan, the university addresses its highest areas of energy wastage—the aging residential buildings. The evidence confirms an active, monitored process of rehabilitation: an administrative report details the On-Site Visit to Monitor Rehabilitation Works of University Residences in 2024. This action is the direct result of an underlying review process that identified these facilities as priority areas for comprehensive energy upgrades, which include improved insulation and the integration of modern, efficient systems.

2. Research and Innovation in Clean Energy

The University of El Oued makes a significant contribution to global and regional clean energy solutions through specialized, high-impact research, particularly in the critical areas of solar energy and water desalination. This work is led by distinguished faculty, including Professor Mohammed El Hadi Attia.

The research portfolio for 2024 demonstrates practical innovations aimed at enhancing the efficiency of clean water production and energy storage:

Innovation in Solar Distillation Productivity

Research focused on “Enhancing conical solar stills with aluminum ball energy storage: Optimal distance for improved performance” provided crucial data for improving solar energy use. The investigation found that integrating aluminum spheres as a cost-efficient energy storage medium resulted in optimal distillation productivity of $8400 \text{ g/m}^2$, representing a significant 46.08% enhancement over traditional methods. This work offers a highly relevant and economical solution for clean water provision in arid zones.

Enhancing Solar Desalination Efficiency

Further research, titled “Effect of charcoal balls on distillation productivity in hemispherical solar stills,” developed an innovative, low-cost method to enhance solar still performance. The study demonstrated that integrating charcoal balls significantly augmented heat transfer and solar absorption. This research directly contributes to improving the efficiency of solar desalination systems, a key aspect of clean energy utilisation for sustainable development.

3. Community Engagement and Advocacy

The university utilises its research capacity and official status to actively engage the public and industry, promoting the transition to clean energy.

Direct Services to Local Industry

The university provides essential technical services to the local economy through its dedicated Research Unit for the Development of Renewable Energy in Arid Zones. Evidence confirms the active resource planning of this body: a Meeting of the Council of the Research Unit for Renewable Energy Development (January 17, 2024) finalised the 2024 operating budget and mandated the extension of research laboratory working hours. This action ensures the Unit has the financial and operational capacity to continuously provide research, analysis, and consultations (direct services) to local industry on energy efficiency and renewable energy options.

Promotion and Advocacy

The strategic planning and funding confirmed in the Unit’s meeting also underpin the university’s continuous promotion and advocacy for renewable energy beyond the campus. By maximising research output through extended lab hours, the university actively generates the knowledge and technical justification required to advocate for and advise on the adoption of clean energy solutions within the regional public and private sectors.

Programmes for Community Learning

The university formally supports a robust set of educational programs for the public: official documents confirm that the university regularly organises training sessions and seminars that educate the public on the benefits of energy efficiency and renewable energy. These efforts, combined with outreach programs and educational materials, demonstrate a structured approach to raising community awareness and promoting the adoption of sustainable practices in daily life.

4. Start-up Support for Clean Energy

The university uses its entrepreneurial ecosystem to foster the commercialisation of low-carbon technology. The University Business Incubator actively tracks and supports start-ups in key low-carbon sectors.

Evidence confirms that the incubator’s portfolio has a specialised focus on the Renewable Energies sector. Furthermore, the university facilitates high-level technical assistance, such as the Slovakian Research Delegation Visit (March 14, 2024), which provided expert consultation and promised collaboration on a high-tech prototype for Cold Plasma production, demonstrating institutional commitment to supporting the development of advanced low-carbon technologies.