Using biomass as an energy source with low CO2 emissions

The regulation of vehicular CO2 emissions determines the permissible emissions of vehicles in units of g CO2/km. However, these values only partially provide adequate information because they characterize only the vehicle but not the emission of the associated energy supply technology system. The energy needed for the motion of vehicles is generated in several ways by the energy industry, depending on how the vehicles are driven. These methods of energy generation consist of different series of energy source conversions, where the last technological step is the vehicle itself, and the result is the motion. In addition, sustainability characterization of vehicles cannot be determined by the vehicle’s CO2 emissions alone because it is a more complex notion. The new approach investigates the entire energy technology system associated with the generation of motion, which of course includes the vehicle. The total CO2 emissions and the resulting energy efficiency have been determined. For this, it was necessary to systematize (collect) the energy supply technology lines of the vehicles. The emission results are not given in g CO2/km but in g CO2/J, which is defined in the paper. This new method is complementary to the European Union regulative one, but it allows more complex evaluations of sustainability. The calculations were performed based on Hungarian data. Finally, using the resulting energy efficiency values, the emission results were evaluated by constructing a sustainability matrix similar to the risk matrix. If only the vehicle is investigated, low CO2 emissions can be achieved with vehicles using internal combustion engines. However, taking into consideration present technologies, in terms of sustainability, the spread of electric-only vehicles using renewable energies can result in improvement in the future. This proposal was supported by the combined analysis of the energy-specific CO2 emissions and the energy efficiency of vehicles with different power-driven systems.

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Supercritical water oxidation of coal in power plants with low CO2 emissions

Energy ◽

10.1016/j.energy.2008.09.021 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 34 (12) ◽

pp. 2144-2150 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Franco Donatini ◽

Gianluca Gigliucci ◽

Juri Riccardi ◽

Massimo Schiavetti ◽

Roberto Gabbrielli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Co2 Emissions ◽

Supercritical Water ◽

Water Oxidation ◽

Power Plants ◽

Supercritical Water Oxidation ◽

Low Co2

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Carbon Emissions Constrained Energy Planning for Aluminum Products

Energies ◽

10.3390/en13112753 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. 2753

Author(s):

Rok Gomilšek ◽

Lidija Čuček ◽

Marko Homšak ◽

Raymond R. Tan ◽

Zdravko Kravanja

Keyword(s):

Energy Source ◽

Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Co2 Emissions ◽

Carbon Emissions ◽

Electricity Consumption ◽

Primary Aluminum ◽

Energy Planning ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Gas Emissions

The production of primary aluminum is an energy-intensive industry which produces large amounts of direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions, especially from electricity consumption. Carbon Emissions Constrained Energy Planning proved to be an efficient tool for reducing energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. This study focuses on energy planning constrained by CO2 emissions and determines the required amount of CO2 emissions from electricity sources in order to meet specified CO2 emission benchmark. The study is demonstrated on and applied to specific aluminum products, aluminum slugs and aluminum evaporator panels. Three different approaches of energy planning are considered: (i) an insight-based, graphical targeting approach, (ii) an algebraic targeting approach of cascade analysis, and (iii) an optimization-based approach, using a transportation model. The results of the three approaches show that approximately 2.15 MWh of fossil energy source should be replaced with a zero-carbon or 2.22 MWh with a low-carbon energy source to satisfy the benchmark of CO2 emissions to produce 1 t of aluminum slug; however, this substitution results in higher costs. This study is the first of its kind demonstrated on and applied to specific aluminum products, and represents a step forward in the development of more sustainable practices in this field.

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06/01034 The role of policy instruments for promoting combined heat and power production with low CO2 emissions in district heating systems

Fuel and Energy Abstracts ◽

10.1016/s0140-6701(06)81036-2 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 47 (2) ◽

pp. 149

Keyword(s):

Co2 Emissions ◽

Policy Instruments ◽

District Heating ◽

Power Production ◽

Combined Heat And Power ◽

Heating Systems ◽

Low Co2 ◽

District Heating Systems

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Optimization of a methane autothermal reforming-based hydrogen production system with low CO2 emissions

IFAC Proceedings Volumes ◽

10.3182/20120710-4-sg-2026.00023 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 45 (15) ◽

pp. 661-666 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Wei Wu ◽

Chutima Tungpanututh

Keyword(s):

Hydrogen Production ◽

Co2 Emissions ◽

Production System ◽

Autothermal Reforming ◽

Low Co2

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Impact of Climate Change on the Optimization of Mixture Design of Low-CO2 Concrete Containing Fly Ash and Slag

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11123394 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 3394 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Xiao-Yong Wang

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Genetic Algorithm ◽

Fly Ash ◽

Co2 Emissions ◽

Concrete Strength ◽

Mixture Design ◽

Control Factor ◽

Climate Change Scenarios ◽

Low Co2 ◽

Carbonation Resistance

Fly ash and slag have been widely used to produce low-CO2 concrete. However, previous studies have not paid enough attention to the lower carbonation resistance of fly-ash-and-slag-blended concrete and the aggravations of carbonation due to climate change. This study proposes a technique for the design of fly-ash-and-slag-blended concrete considering carbonation durability coupled with various climate change scenarios. First, CO2 emissions are evaluated from concrete mixtures. Concrete strength and carbonation depth are evaluated using efficiency factors of fly ash and slag. A genetic algorithm (GA) is used to find the optimal mixture with the lowest CO2 emissions considering the requirements of strength, carbonation durability, and workability. Second, we clarify the effect of cost on the mixture design of low-CO2 concrete. A genetic algorithm is also used to find the optimal mixture with the lowest cost. We found that the optimal mixture with the lowest cost is different from that with the lowest CO2 emissions. Third, by adding the additional constraint of cost, Pareto optimal mixtures are determined, which consider both lower CO2 emissions and lower material cost. The analysis results show that carbonation durability is the control factor of mixture design of fly ash-slag blended concrete. To mitigate the challenge of climate change, the binder content of blended concrete should be increased.

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