scholarly journals Biomass Feedstocks for Liquid Biofuels Production in Hawaii & Tropical Islands: A Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-132
Author(s):  
Muhammad Usman ◽  
Shuo Cheng ◽  
Jeffrey Scott Cross
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Biomass Conversion ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
Tropical Islands ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
Biomass Feedstocks ◽  
Energy Demands ◽  
Conversion Technologies

Many tropical islands, including Aruba, Seychelles, Mauritius, and Pacific Island countries, are entirely dependent on importing fossil fuels to meet their energy demands. Due to global warming, improving energy use efficiency and developing regionally available renewable energy resources are necessary to reduce carbon emissions. This review analyzed and identified biomass feedstocks to produce liquid biofuels targeting tropical islands, particularly focusing on Hawaii as a case study. Transportation and energy generation sectors consume 25.5% and 11.6%, respectively, of Hawaii's imported fossil fuels. Various nonedible feedstocks with information on their availability, production, and average yields of oils, fiber, sugars, and lipid content for liquid biofuels production are identified to add value to the total energy mix. The available biomass conversion technologies and production costs are summarized. In addition, a section on potentially using sewage sludge to produce biodiesel is also included. Based on a comparative analysis of kamani, croton, pongamia, jatropha, energycane, Leucaena hybrid, gliricidia, and eucalyptus feedstock resources, this study proposes that Hawaii and other similar tropical regions can potentially benefit from growing and producing economical liquid biofuels locally, especially for the transportation and electricity generation sectors

scholarly journals Biomass Feedstocks for Liquid Biofuels Production in Hawaii & Tropical Islands: A Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-132
Author(s):  
Muhammad Usman ◽  
Shuo Cheng ◽  
Jeffrey Scott Cross
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Biomass Conversion ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
Tropical Islands ◽  
Tropical Regions ◽  
Biomass Feedstocks ◽  
Energy Demands ◽  
Conversion Technologies

Many tropical islands, including Aruba, Seychelles, Mauritius, and Pacific Island countries, are entirely dependent on importing fossil fuels to meet their energy demands. Due to global warming, improving energy use efficiency and developing regionally available renewable energy resources are necessary to reduce carbon emissions. This review analyzed and identified biomass feedstocks to produce liquid biofuels targeting tropical islands, particularly focusing on Hawaii as a case study. Transportation and energy generation sectors consume 25.5% and 11.6%, respectively, of Hawaii's imported fossil fuels. Various nonedible feedstocks with information on their availability, production, and average yields of oils, fiber, sugars, and lipid content for liquid biofuels production are identified to add value to the total energy mix. The available biomass conversion technologies and production costs are summarized. In addition, a section on potentially using sewage sludge to produce biodiesel is also included. Based on a comparative analysis of kamani, croton, pongamia, jatropha, energycane, Leucaena hybrid, gliricidia, and eucalyptus feedstock resources, this study proposes that Hawaii and other similar tropical regions can potentially benefit from growing and producing economical liquid biofuels locally, especially for the transportation and electricity generation sectors

Hydrogen Production From Waste and Renewable Resources

2021 ◽  
pp. 22-46
Author(s):  
Amit Kumar Chaurasia ◽  
Prasenjit Mondal
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Production ◽  
Steam Reforming ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Biomass Conversion ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Research Attention ◽  
Toxic Emissions ◽  
Solar Conversion

Increasing population and rapid urbanization lead to degradation of the natural environment while waste generation and energy crisis are major challenges in the most developing country. Hydrogen is considered one of the most promising energy carriers and capable to replace fossil fuels and meet the world's energy demand and concomitantly reduce toxic emissions. Currently, the world produces around 50 million tonnes/year from the process (i.e., electrolysis of water, steam reforming of hydrocarbons, and auto-thermal processes), but these processes are not sustainable and economical due to energy requirements and waste/pollutants generation. These challenges required growing interest in renewable energy resources such as hydrogen as an energy carrier. Hydrogen production from renewable sources attracted recent research attention because of its potential for sustainability and diversity. Hydrogen can be produced by various thermal, chemical, and biological technologies that include steam reforming, electrolysis, biomass conversion, solar conversion, and biological conversion.

The Viability of Nanotechnology-based InGaN Solar Photovoltaic Devices for Sustainable Energy Generation

2013 ◽  
Vol 1558 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua M. Pearce ◽  
Chenlong Zhang ◽  
Joseph Rozario ◽  
Jephias Gwamuri
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Anthropogenic Impacts ◽  
Spectral Response ◽  
Solar Photovoltaic ◽  
Bandgap Engineering ◽  
Energy Demands ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Future Work

ABSTRACTThe unrestrained combustion of fossil fuels has resulted in vast pollution at the local scale throughout the world, while contributing to global warming at a rate that seriously threatens the stability of many of the world's ecosystems. Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology is a clean, sustainable and renewable energy conversion technology that can help meet the energy demands of the world’s growing population. Although PV technology is mature with commercial modules obtaining over 20% conversion efficiency there remains considerable opportunities to improve performance. The nearly global access to the solar resource coupled to nanotechnology innovation-driven decreases in the costs of PV, provides a path for a renewable energy source to significantly reduce the adverse anthropogenic impacts of energy use by replacing fossil fuels. This study explores several approaches to improving indium gallium nitride-based PV efficiency with nanotechnology: optical enhancement, microstructural optimization for electronic material quality and increasing the spectral response via bandgap engineering. The results showing multibandgap engineering with InGaN and impediments to widespread deployment and commercialization are discussed including technical viability, intellectual property laws and licensing, material resource scarcities, and economics. Future work is outlined and conclusions are drawn to overcome these limitations and improve PV device performance using methods that can scale to the necessary terawatt level.

scholarly journals Renewable Green hydrogen energy impact on sustainability performance

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Asem Alzoubi
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
First Century ◽  
Hydrogen Energy ◽  
Energy Infrastructure ◽  
Energy Impact ◽  
Energy Demands ◽  
The Many

In today's world, the major source of energy is fossil fuels, which are nonrenewable and cannot be used once exhausted. At the start of the twenty-first century, main challenges with current energy infrastructure throughout the world were a finite supply of fossil fuels, ever-increasing energy use, and the growing environmental impact of greenhouse gas emissions. Fossil fuel energy is economical due to existing infrastructure, but it has significant downsides and has a severe impact on the environment. As a result, renewable energy sources are being investigated as potential contenders to supply the bulk of energy demands. Hydrogen is the least harmful to the environment of these fuels. Hydrogen is a clean, long-lasting fuel with the potential that is the source of future global energy. It may potentially be used to replace current fossil-fuel-based energy infrastructure. This is seen as a solution to the above-mentioned challenges, such as global warming and environmental degradation. It is impossible to overestimate the relevance of environmental and economic factors in the development of hydrogen infrastructure. This article discusses the many aspects of hydrogen, including as manufacturing, storage, and applications, with a focus on the environment and the economy.

scholarly journals Analysis of operational issues in hydrothermal liquefaction and supercritical water gasification processes: a review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niloufar Ghavami ◽  
Karhan Özdenkçi ◽  
Gabriel Salierno ◽  
Margareta Björklund-Sänkiaho ◽  
Cataldo De Blasio
Keyword(s):  
Supercritical Water ◽  
Biomass Conversion ◽  
Hydrothermal Liquefaction ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Process Conditions ◽  
Operation Conditions ◽  
High Production ◽  
Supercritical Water Gasification ◽  
Operational Issues ◽  
Conversion Technologies

AbstractBiomass is often referred to as a carbon–neutral energy source, and it has a role in reducing fossil fuel depletion. In addition, biomass can be converted efficiently into various forms of biofuels. The biomass conversion processes involve several thermochemical, biochemical, and hydrothermal methods for biomass treatment integration. The most common conversion routes to produce biofuels include pyrolysis and gasification processes. On the other hand, supercritical water gasification (SCWG) and hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) are best suitable for converting biomass and waste with high moisture content. Despite promising efficiencies, SCWG and HTL processes introduce operational issues as obstacles to the industrialization of these technologies. The issues include process safety aspects due to operation conditions, plugging due to solid deposition, corrosion, pumpability of feedstock, catalyst sintering and deactivation, and high production costs. The methods to address these issues include various reactor configurations to avoid plugging and optimizing process conditions to minimize other issues. However, there are only a few studies investigating the operational issues as the main scope, and reviews are seldomly available in this regard. Therefore, further research is required to address operational problems. This study reviews the main operational problems in SCWG and HTL. The objective of this study is to enhance the industrialization of these processes by investigating the operational issues and the potential solutions, i.e., contributing to the elimination of the obstacles. A comprehensive study on the operational issues provides a holistic overview of the biomass conversion technologies and biorefinery concepts to promote the industrialization of SCWG and HTL.

scholarly journals Examining the Issue of Centralization and Decentralization in the Development of Soft and Hard Energy Path in the Developing World

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Salar Khan
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Developing World ◽  
Energy Development ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
Energy Productivity ◽  
Energy Demands ◽  
Political Dimensions ◽  
Development Paths ◽  
Alternative Solutions

A reliable and affordable energy supply is a fundamental prerequisite for reducing poverty, promoting investment, and boosting economic growth in the developing world. Among the different challenges that developing countries face, chronic energy crises are harrowing. The crises result from the unsatisfactory state of the central grid, a misguided energy mix, and ill-informed policies, among other things. The possibility of solving energy crises through a variety of alternative solutions is worth exploring. This review discusses two paths of energy development side by side: a traditional “hard” path of energy development (i.e., central grid extension powered by fossil fuels and nuclear energy expansion) and a relatively recent “soft” path of energy development, which is based on energy conservation and the deployment of renewable energy resources. This paper focuses on one central axis of the discussion: centralization vs. decentralization. This discussion, in turn, has technological, economic/business, and political dimensions. Finally, the paper discusses the significance of the debate from meeting the developing world’s energy demands. The paper intends not to prefer one or another path of energy development, nor it gives recommendations on diffusing or adopting those development paths. Instead, it explores the literature’s central arguments that might help frame the questions for further research. While this debate could be used to ask interesting questions that might help solve the energy crisis in the developing world, the discussion informs countries to advance policies specific to their circumstances under the umbrella of a sound and thoughtful energy productivity policy framework.

Needed Research with Respect to Energy Use in Agricultural Production

1977 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Havlicek ◽  
Oral Capps
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Oil Price ◽  
Energy Resources ◽  
Energy Prices ◽  
Agricultural Industry ◽  
Energy Demands ◽  
Price Increases

The agricultural industry, like other industries, has become increasingly dependent upon energy resources such as electricity, fossil fuels, chemicals and fertilizers, largely due to relatively low energy prices. In the middle 1970s, however, energy prices rose sharply as a result of continuously rightward shifting energy demands and leftward shifting energy supplies due to dwindling domestic reserves and oil price increases by OPEC nations. Although the rapidly rising energy prices may have been viewed initially as a temporary phenomenon, most now agree that we are in an era of high energy prices. Carter and Youde [2] have discussed some impacts of the changing energy situation on U.S. agriculture.

scholarly journals Public Participation as a Tool for Preserving the Environment

2019 ◽  
Vol 101 ◽  
pp. 04004
Author(s):  
Hen Friman ◽  
Yafa Sitbon ◽  
Ifaa Banner ◽  
Yulia Einav
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Environmental Education ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
Energy Field ◽  
World Energy ◽  
Oil And Natural Gas ◽  
Institute Of Technology

Environmental Education is the key for creating a clean energy future for not only the nation, but the world. World Energy Consumption relies heavily on coal, oil, and natural gas. Fossil fuels are non-renewable, that is, they rely on finite resources that will eventually dwindle, becoming too expensive or too environmentally damaging to retrieve. In contrast, renewable energy resources, such as wind and solar energy, are constantly replenished and will never run out. Due to the rising need for professionals and academics with a background and understanding in the Energy field, Holon Institute of Technology (HIT) developed an integral system of environmental education and training and a new program at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering. The Renewable Energy program gives the students technical and practical aspects of energy use (technology and methodology of the study) and energy efficiency. The program also deals with minimizing the environmental impacts of energy use, as well as with energy economy and environmental policy. This article presents a new challenge. Teach environmental issues with language difficulties. Israeli Hebrew speaker students, teach environmental education in Arab school with Arabic speaker pupils’.

scholarly journals Biochar as a Multifunctional Component of the Environment—A Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bogdan Saletnik ◽  
Grzegorz Zaguła ◽  
Marcin Bajcar ◽  
Maria Tarapatskyy ◽  
Gabriel Bobula ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Biomass Conversion ◽  
Calorific Value ◽  
Legal Aspects ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
Specific Chemical ◽  
Gaseous Fuels

The growing demand for electricity, caused by dynamic economic growth, leads to a decrease in the available non-renewable energy resources constituting the foundation of global power generation. A search for alternative sources of energy that can support conventional energy technologies utilizing fossil fuels is not only of key significance for the power industry but is also important from the point of view of environmental conservation and sustainable development. Plant biomass, with its specific chemical structure and high calorific value, is a promising renewable source of energy which can be utilized in numerous conversion processes, enabling the production of solid, liquid, and gaseous fuels. Methods of thermal biomass conversion include pyrolysis, i.e., a process allowing one to obtain a multifunctional product known as biochar. The article presents a review of information related to the broad uses of carbonization products. It also discusses the legal aspects and quality standards applicable to these materials. The paper draws attention to the lack of uniform legal and quality conditions, which would allow for a much better use of biochar. The review also aims to highlight the high potential for a use of biochar in different environments. The presented text attempts to emphasize the importance of biochar as an alternative to classic products used for energy, environmental and agricultural purposes.

scholarly journals Technological Alternatives or Use of Wood Fuel in Combined Heat and Power Production

2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jekaterina Rusanova ◽  
Darja Markova ◽  
Gatis Bazbauers ◽  
Kārlis Valters
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Biomass Conversion ◽  
District Heating ◽  
Power Production ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Wood Fuel ◽  
Conversion Technologies

Abstract Latvia aims for 40% share of renewable energy in the total final energy use. Latvia has large resources of biomass and developed district heating systems. Therefore, use of biomass for heat and power production is an economically attractive path for increase of the share of renewable energy. The optimum technological solution for use of biomass and required fuel resources have to be identified for energy planning and policy purposes. The aim of this study was to compare several wood fuel based energy conversion technologies from the technical and economical point of view. Three biomass conversion technologies for combined heat and electricity production (CHP) were analyzed: • CHP with steam turbine technology; • gasification CHP using gas engine; • bio-methane combined cycle CHP. Electricity prices for each alternative are presented. The results show the level of support needed for the analyzed renewable energy technologies and time period needed to reach price parity with the natural gas - fired combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) CHPss. The results also show that bio-methane technology is most competitive when compared with CCGT among the considered technologies regarding fuel consumption and electricity production, but it is necessary to reduce investment costs to reach the electricity price parity with the natural gas CCGT.

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