Cited by 130Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI)Artificial Intelligence ApplicationsRenewable Energy and Sustainability

Potential of explainable artificial intelligence in advancing renewable energy: Challenges and prospects

Nguyen, Van Nhanh, Tarełko, Wiesław, Sharma, Prabhakar, El-Shafay, Ahmed Shabana, Chen, Wei-Hsin, Nguyen, Phuoc Quy Phong, Nguyen, Xuan Phuong, Hoang, Anh Tuan·2024·Energy & Fuels

Abstract

Modern machine learning (ML) techniques are making inroads in every aspect of renewable energy for optimization and model prediction. The effective utilization of ML techniques for the development and scaling up of renewable energy systems needs a high degree of accountability. However, most of the ML approaches currently in use are termed black box since their work is difficult to comprehend. Explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) is an attractive option to solve the issue of poor interoperability in black-box methods. This review investigates the relationship between renewable energy (RE) and XAI. It emphasizes the potential advantages of XAI in improving the performance and efficacy of RE systems. It is realized that although the integration of XAI with RE has enormous potential to alter how energy is produced and consumed, possible hazards and barriers remain to be overcome, particularly concerning transparency, accountability, and fairness. Thus, extensive research is required to address the societal and ethical implications of using XAI in RE and to create standardized data sets and evaluation metrics. In summary, this paper shows the potential, perspectives, opportunities, and challenges of XAI application to RE system management and operation aiming to target the efficient energy-use goals for a more sustainable and trustworthy future.

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Crossref · 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.3c04343

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190 of 190 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • The 'black box' nature of complex AI models hinders understanding of their decision-making, a critical barrier in high-stakes energy applications.

    “The 'black box' nature of complex AI models hinders understanding of their decisionmaking, a critical barrier in high-stakes energy applications [25,26].”
  • The focus has been shifting from initial implementation hurdles toward ensuring the Trustworthiness and transparency of deployed systems, as seen in the growing body of work on XAI.

    “The focus has been shifting from initial implementation hurdles toward ensuring the Trustworthiness and transparency of deployed systems, as seen in the growing body of work on XAI [25,26].”
  • Lack of transparency, fears of job displacement, data privacy concerns, perceptions of unfairness/bias, and concerns about AI's environmental/safety impacts can fuel opposition to AI in energy.

    “Lack of transparency (XAI, Ethics; Sections 3.1.4and 3.4.2),fears of job displacement (Section 3.4.1),data privacy concerns (Sections 3.1.3and 3.4.2) [22,65], perceptions of unfairness/bias [26], and concerns about AI's environmental/safety impacts (Section 3.2.4)can fuel opposition.”
  • Biased AI, trained on historical data reflecting societal inequities, could lead to discriminatory outcomes in resource allocation or pricing, eroding public trust.

    “Biased AI, trained on historical data reflecting societal inequities [26,63], could lead to discriminatory outcomes in resource allocation or pricing, eroding public trust (Section 3.4.3).”
  • Algorithmic impact assessments are increasingly called for in energy justice research.

    “a practice increasingly called for in energy justice research [26,64]”

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Authors
Nguyen, V. N., Tarełko, W., Sharma, P., El-Shafay, A. S., Chen, W.-H., Nguyen, P. Q. P., Nguyen, X. P., & Hoang, A. T.
Affiliations
  • HUTECH University (VN)
  • Gdańsk University of Technology (PL)
  • Delhi Skill and Entrepreneurship University (IN)
  • Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University (SA)
  • Tunghai University (TW)
  • Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport (VN)
  • PATET Research Group, Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Vietnam
  • Dong A University (VN)
Corresponding author
  • Sharma, Prabhakar
  • Chen, Wei-Hsin
  • Hoang, Anh Tuan
Venue
Energy & Fuels
Published
2024-01-19
Volume
38
Issue
3
Pages
1692-1712
ISSN
  • 0887-0624 (ISSN-L)
  • 1520-5029
OpenAlex
W4391035178
Cited by
130
References
190
Citations by year
2026: 44 · 2025: 52 · 2024: 34
FWCI
19.22
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Energy & Fuels (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI)
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Artificial Intelligence Applications
  • Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Renewable Energy and Sustainability
Keywords
explainable AI, renewable energy, black-box models, transparency, accountability, fairness, ethical implications, energy system management, energy use efficiency, model interpretability, evaluation metrics

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