Optimization of Sustainable Hybrid Solar Power Cycles: Bibliographic Mapping

ABSTRACT The escalating global demand for energy, coupled with pressing environmental anxieties, necessitates the strategic integration of renewable resources with advanced thermodynamic cycles. This paper analyzes the proposed sustainable hybrid power systems combining heliostat‐based solar thermal plants, molten salt thermal storage, and supercritical CO 2 Brayton cycles, augmented by green methanol synthesis. This study undertakes a multi‐faceted evaluation of the proposed systems, assessing their viability based on energy, exergy, environmental, and economic metrics. This assessment is facilitated by sophisticated, AI‐driven multi‐objective optimization algorithms. Concurrently, a bibliometric mapping of the research domain was performed using VOSviewer to visualize the scholarly landscape. The results reveal promising configurations with improved thermal performance, enhanced energy storage strategies, and significant emission reductions, offering a viable path toward sustainable industrial‐scale energy solutions. The optimized configurations achieved a thermal efficiency of more than 45%, exergy efficiency of more than 40%, and CO 2 ₂ emission reduction of more than 80% compared to conventional fossil‐based systems. These results validate the proposed models technical viability and environmental advantage, offering a promising pathway toward scalable, sustainable energy systems.