scholarly journals Hope or hype: A critical assessment of Jatropha curcas for domestic biofuel production in Senegal

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
David Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Jatropha Curcas ◽  
Energy Supply ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Biofuel Production ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Plant Feedstock ◽  
Electrical Generation

<p>This thesis was designed to critically test the suitability of Jatropha curcas as a plant feedstock for liquid biofuel production in Senegal. Many countries around the globe have attempted to incorporate bioenergy into their broader energy supply mix, and liquid biofuels are a key component of a low-carbon economy to replace fossil fuels for transport and electrical generation. The Senegalese government instituted a national biofuel plan between 2007 and 2012 to achieve energy independence through biofuels with an annual production target of more than a billion liters of oil. The plan was intended to reduce problems with energy scarcity and price fluctuations, contribute to local economic growth, and expand agricultural production to degraded or otherwise fallow land. The project was largely unsuccessful, and to date there has been no significant oil production from Jatropha curcas for the national energy supply.  This research study was developed to understand the key barriers to the success of this program and mitigate the mistakes of future project developers and policymakers. Preliminary literature reviews and examples from similar endeavors in other countries suggested three main barriers that would be primary determinants of success or failure: the agronomic suitability, and therefore production and yield capacity, of Jatropha curcas to the Senegalese climate; the socio-economic challenges of integrating a broad national plan with smallholder farmers and assuring that the economics are fair for both growers and buyers; and the policy framework developed by government agencies, development organizations, and commercial interests to support an emergent biofuel industry. A mixed-method research design including document reviews, interviews and surveys, and case studies was employed to answer the key questions of why and how the Senegalese biofuel program has failed to achieve its intended goals.  Results from this study indicate that Jatropha curcas is unsuitable as a plant feedstock for liquid biofuels in Senegal at this time, due to significant shortcomings in all three key categories examined. The plant is vastly underproductive and requires considerable investment in scientific improvement of yield, pest tolerance and seed oil content; the economic gain is neither adequate to justify smallholder farmers to adopt it as an alternative to existing crops nor for project developers to generate income from fuel on the open market; and supporting policy has not been consistent or favorable enough to carry this emergent industry from nascence to maturity. There are, however, encouraging signs of resilience in two particular case studies that provide insight into how future programs could be structured, most notably in the Sine-Saloum Delta region. Further research should be devoted to specific economic schemes and innovative financing options for community focused biofuel programs.</p>

scholarly journals Hope or hype: A critical assessment of Jatropha curcas for domestic biofuel production in Senegal

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
David Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Jatropha Curcas ◽  
Energy Supply ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Biofuel Production ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Plant Feedstock ◽  
Electrical Generation

<p>This thesis was designed to critically test the suitability of Jatropha curcas as a plant feedstock for liquid biofuel production in Senegal. Many countries around the globe have attempted to incorporate bioenergy into their broader energy supply mix, and liquid biofuels are a key component of a low-carbon economy to replace fossil fuels for transport and electrical generation. The Senegalese government instituted a national biofuel plan between 2007 and 2012 to achieve energy independence through biofuels with an annual production target of more than a billion liters of oil. The plan was intended to reduce problems with energy scarcity and price fluctuations, contribute to local economic growth, and expand agricultural production to degraded or otherwise fallow land. The project was largely unsuccessful, and to date there has been no significant oil production from Jatropha curcas for the national energy supply.  This research study was developed to understand the key barriers to the success of this program and mitigate the mistakes of future project developers and policymakers. Preliminary literature reviews and examples from similar endeavors in other countries suggested three main barriers that would be primary determinants of success or failure: the agronomic suitability, and therefore production and yield capacity, of Jatropha curcas to the Senegalese climate; the socio-economic challenges of integrating a broad national plan with smallholder farmers and assuring that the economics are fair for both growers and buyers; and the policy framework developed by government agencies, development organizations, and commercial interests to support an emergent biofuel industry. A mixed-method research design including document reviews, interviews and surveys, and case studies was employed to answer the key questions of why and how the Senegalese biofuel program has failed to achieve its intended goals.  Results from this study indicate that Jatropha curcas is unsuitable as a plant feedstock for liquid biofuels in Senegal at this time, due to significant shortcomings in all three key categories examined. The plant is vastly underproductive and requires considerable investment in scientific improvement of yield, pest tolerance and seed oil content; the economic gain is neither adequate to justify smallholder farmers to adopt it as an alternative to existing crops nor for project developers to generate income from fuel on the open market; and supporting policy has not been consistent or favorable enough to carry this emergent industry from nascence to maturity. There are, however, encouraging signs of resilience in two particular case studies that provide insight into how future programs could be structured, most notably in the Sine-Saloum Delta region. Further research should be devoted to specific economic schemes and innovative financing options for community focused biofuel programs.</p>

scholarly journals Critical Issues and Opportunities for Producing Biomethane in Italy

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 2431
Author(s):  
Roberto Murano ◽  
Natascia Maisano ◽  
Roberta Selvaggi ◽  
Gioacchino Pappalardo ◽  
Biagio Pecorino
Keyword(s):  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Regulatory Framework ◽  
Biofuel Production ◽  
Political Incentives ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
Biogas Plants ◽  
High Level ◽  
By Products ◽  
Lack Of Knowledge

Nowadays, most Italian biogas produces electricity even though recent political incentives are promoting biomethane from biogas by “upgrading” it. The aim of this paper is to focus on the regulatory framework for producing biomethane from new or already-existent anaerobic digestion plants. The complexity and lack of knowledge of the regulations on biofuel production and of anaerobic digested biomethane from waste and by-products create difficulties of both interpretation and application. Consequently, the aim of this paper is to analyze the regulations for producing biomethane, underline the critical issues and opportunities, and evaluate whether an electrical plant built in the last 10 years in Italy can really be converted to a biomethane plant, thereby lengthening its lifespan. Three case studies were considered to look more closely into applying Italian biomethane incentives and to simulate the types of incentivization in agriculture with examples based on certain fuel types typical of a standard biomethane plant of 500 standard cubic meter per hour. All the considered cases put in evidence that biomethane is a further opportunity for development with a high level of efficiency for all biogas producers, especially for many biogas plants whose incentivization period is about to finish.

Thermochemical characterization of Nigerian Jatropha curcas fruit and seed residues for biofuel production

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
pp. 330-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. E. Odetoye ◽  
T. J. Afolabi ◽  
M. S. Abu Bakar ◽  
J. O. Titiloye
Keyword(s):  
Jatropha Curcas ◽  
Biofuel Production

Decarbonisation - Act Now: An Accessible Pathway for All Upstream Operators to Reduce Direct Emissions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam Jones ◽  
Adam Joyce ◽  
Nikhil Balasubramanian
Keyword(s):  
Energy Supply ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Abatement Cost ◽  
Cost Curve ◽  
Technological Advancement ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Novel Technologies

Abstract Objectives/Scope There are many different views on the Energy Transition. What is agreed is that to achieve current climate change targets, the journey to deep decarbonisation must start now. Scope 3 emissions are clearly the major contributor to total emissions and must be actively reduced. However, if Oil and Gas extraction is to be continued, then operators must understand, measure, and reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions. This paper examines the constituent parts of typical Scope 1 emissions for O&G assets and discusses a credible pathway and initial steps towards decarbonisation of operations. Methods, Procedures, Process Emissions from typical assets are investigated: data is examined to determine the overall and individual contributions of Scope 1 emissions. A three tiered approach to emissions savings is presented: – Reduce overall energy usage – Seek to Remove environmental losses – Replace energy supply with low carbon alternatives A simple method, used to assess carbon emissions, based on an abatement of carbon from a cost per CO2 tonne averted basis is described. This method, Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (MACC), is based solely on cost efficiency. Other criteria such as safety, weight, footprint and reliability are not considered. Credible pathway for reduction of Scope 1 emissions is presented. Taking appropriate actions as described in the pathway, contributors are eliminated in a strategic order, allowing operators to contribute to deep decarbonisation. Results, Observations, Conclusions A typical offshore installation was modelled with a number of carbon abatement measures implemented. Results are presented as cost effective or non-cost-effective CO2 measures together with the residual CO2 emissions. Based on the data presented, many of the replace measures have a higher cost per tonne of CO2 abated than reduce and remove measure. These findings indicate that additional technological advancement may be needed to make alternative power solutions commercially viable. It also indicates that several CO2 abatement measures are cost effective today. The pathway proposes actions to implement carbon savings for offshore operators, it differentiates actions which can be taken today and those which require further technological advancement before they become commercially viable. The intent of this pathway is to demonstrate that the energy transition is not solely the preserve of the largest operators and every company can take positive steps towards supporting decarbonisation. Novel/Additive Information The world needs security of energy supply. Hydrocarbons are still integral; however, oil and gas operators must contribute to carbon reduction for society to meet the energy transition challenges. As government and societal appetite for decarbonisation heightens, demands are growing for traditional hydrocarbon assets to reduce their carbon footprint if they are to remain part of the energy mix. Society and therefore regulators will demand that more is done to address emissions during this transitional phase, consequently necessitating that direct emissions are reduced as much as possible. The pathway is accessible to all today, we need not wait for novel technologies to act.

Biofuel Production and Its Implications in a Transitive Low Carbon Development Country

2018 ◽  
pp. 71-88
Author(s):  
Constant Labintan ◽  
Harald Winkler ◽  
Abiodun Elijah Obayelu
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Sugar Beet ◽  
Grain Sorghum ◽  
Payback Period ◽  
Organic Content ◽  
Biofuel Production ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Emission Level ◽  
Food And Beverage ◽  
A Priority

This chapter explains the implication of South Africa's transport fuel 2% blending. Using dry grain sorghum as feedstock with guaranteed food security has lower emission of 24.93kg/ha with emerging farmers who constituted 30% of the suppliers with a 3-year payback period. Using irrigated sorghum with food security as a priority has a relatively lower emission level of 11.47kg/ha from emerging farmers with a 9-year payback period. Using sugar beet has lower emission level of 0.12kg/ha with emerging farmers and a 3-year payback period. Soil organic content has significant influence on emissions from land use practices. Commercial sugar beet ethanol production caused high emission (4.84kg/ha) but has a short payback period of only 2 years which enhanced household food consumption by 12.5% and 31.50% under food security not a priority and food security as a priority, respectively. In all, grain sorghum food and beverage gross domestic product (GDP) increased, respectively, by 8%, 0.19%, and 0.23% under food security as not a priority, and increased by 20.83%, 0.44%, and 0.61% in opposite scenario, respectively.

Prospects for Energy Supply of the Arctic Zone Objects of Russia Using Frost-Resistant Solar Modules

2021 ◽  
pp. 149-169
Author(s):  
Vladimir Panchenko
Keyword(s):  
Service Life ◽  
Energy Supply ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
General Characteristic ◽  
Scientific Work ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Zone ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Electrical Generation ◽  
Extended Service

The scientific work is devoted to the prospect of using frost-resistant solar modules with extended service life of various designs for energy supply of infrastructure facilities of the Arctic zone of Russia. The general characteristic of the region under consideration is given, and its energy specifics, directions of energy development based on renewable energy sources are considered. In the work, frost-resistant planar photovoltaic modules and solar roofing panels with an extended service life for power supply of objects are proposed. For simultaneous heat and electrical generation, frost-resistant planar photovoltaic thermal roofing panels and concentrator solar installation with high-voltage matrix solar modules with a voltage of 1000 V and an electrical efficiency of up to 28% are proposed. The considered solar modules have an extended rated power period due to the use of the technology of sealing solar cells with a two-component polysiloxane compound and are able to work effectively at large negative ambient temperatures and large ranges of its fluctuations.

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