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Summary: This article proposes a methodology based on artificial intelligence to enhance methane production from waste paper. The proposed methodology combines fuzzy logic‐based modelling and modern optimization. Firstly, a robust Adaptive Network‐based Fuzzy Inference System model of methane production process through fuzzy logic modelling is created using experimental datasets. Second, a particle swarm optimizer was used to obtain the optimal process conditions. During the optimization procedure, the beating time and feedstock/inoculum ratio are employed as decision variables in order to maximize methane production. The obtained resulted from the proposed methodology are compared with those obtained by response surface methodology. The results of the comparison confirmed the superiority of the proposed methodology. The fuzzy model shows a better fitting to the experimental data compared to ANOVA. The fuzzy model showed a higher coefficient of determination and a lower value of root mean squared errors compared to ANOVA. Moreover, the proposed strategy, that is, modelling and optimization, is an effective method for increasing the biomethane yield at extended range conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Torrefaction and densification are crucial steps in upgrading biomass as feedstock for energy generation and metallurgical applications. This paper attempts to discuss essential basics on biomass torrefaction and densification, which can propel developing nation to take full advantage of them. The most promising clean energy sources that have found applications in various areas are biomass materials, that is, both the lignocellulosic and non‐lignocellulosic. However, high moisture contents, low energy density, hydrophilic nature, poor storage and handling properties are the major drawbacks limiting its usefulness. Therefore, torrefaction as one of the major thermal pre‐treatment processes to upgrade biomass in terms of improved energy density, hydrophobic, moisture content and grindability has been discussed. The influence of temperature, residence time, particle sizes and gas flow rates on the properties of torrefied biomass has also been discussed. The advantages and disadvantages of various torrefaction technologies have also been highlighted. The possible areas of application of torrefied biomass especially densification into pellets and briquettes alongside the equipment required for it have been reviewed in this paper. The torrefied biomass can be deployed in the metallurgical industries as reducing agent in the development of sponge iron from iron ores of various grade including lean ones. The information gathered in this paper from peer‐reviewed articles will reduce the burden of seeking to understand the preliminaries of torrefaction process and its importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY Changing conditions in biomass and energy markets require the pulp and paper industry to improve energy efficiency and find new opportunities in biorefinery implementation. Considering the expected changes in the pulp mill environment and the variety of potential technology pathways, flexibility should be a strong advantage for pulp mills. In this context, flexibility is defined as the ability of the pulp mill to respond to changing conditions. The aim of this article is to show the potential value of flexibility in the planning of pulp mill energy and biorefinery projects and to demonstrate how this value can be incorporated into models for optimal strategic planning of such investments. The paper discusses the requirements on the optimization models in order to adequately capture the value of flexibility. It is suggested that key elements of the optimization model are multiple points in time where investment decisions can be made as well as multiple scenarios representing possible energy price changes over time. The use of a systematic optimization methodology that incorporates these model features is illustrated by a case study, which includes opportunities for district heating cooperation as well as for lignin extraction and valorization. A quantitative valuation of flexibility is provided for this case study. The study also demonstrates how optimal investment decisions for a pulp mill today are influenced by expected future changes in the markets for energy and bioproducts. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Coal is the most abundant energy source, and around 40% of the world's electricity is produced by coal combustion. The emission generated through it put a constraint on power production by coal combustion. There is a need to reduce the emissions generated through it to utilize the enormous energy of coal for power production. Detailed understanding of various aspects of coal combustion is required to reduce the emissions from coal‐fired furnaces. The aim of present paper is to review various aspects of pulverized coal combustion such as oxy‐fuel combustion, co‐combustion of coal and biomass, emissions from pulverized coal furnaces, ash formation and deposition, and carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies to outline the progress made in these aspects. Both experimental and numerical aspects are included in this review. This review also discusses the thermodynamic aspects of the combustion process. Furthermore, the effect of various submodels such as devolatilization models, char combustion models, radiation models, and turbulent models on the process of pulverized coal combustion has been investigated in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a study on alternative pathways to a fossil-fuel free regional energy system in the Mälardalen region of Sweden with a population of 3 million inhabitants. We describe and address how the region can be made independent of fossil fuels by integration of resource management, technology advances, and behaviour change in energy use. First we investigate the consumption pattern of the inhabitants. Then we study what resources are available, and how these can be used to fulfil the different demands. If we just use the resources in a pattern of business as usual today without changing the behaviour, the balance between demands and resources is difficult to reach. By combining a slightly different behaviour and a change of crops we can fulfil the needs and it might even be possible to have a surplus of resources. Some advanced technological solutions have also been proposed. For example, dedicated biomass energy plants such as Salix, straw, hemp and some cereals can be used for ethanol production and the residues can be gasified to produce dimethylether (DME), which is good as a replacement for diesel fuel. Still the fuel demand for transport is high, and the vehicle weight could be further reduced. For example, by going back to the car size we had only 10 years ago the weight would be 25–30% less, and fuel consumption would be at least 15% lower. With diesel engines instead of Otto engines the fuel consumption could be reduced by 35%, and with hybrid technology additional 20% fuel reduction could be gained. Improved public transportation will also give a positive effect especially for those commuting between the larger cities and between the cities and the suburbs. The results of our calculations show that it would be possible to accomplish a fossil-free energy system in the Mälardalen region. The results of this study are important since it shows that an energy balance without fossil fuels could be possible for an area with a population in the order of 3 million people, which would also be valuable in studies of other areas in the world. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The development of non–noble metal–based catalysts for the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) upgrading of biomass pyrolysis oils is crucial for realizing the cost‐effective biofuel production. In this paper, we report on the enhanced HDO activity of the rhenium‐promoted nickel catalysts (Ni‐Re) for the HDO of a pyrolysis oil model compound, guaiacol. The catalyst screening studies revealed that the Ni‐Re displayed a considerably higher HDO activity than other monometallic (Ni, Re, Cu, Co) and bimetallic catalysts (Cu‐Re, Co‐Re), highlighting its unique catalytic property. In order to optimize the catalytic activity and reveal the structure–activity relationship of the Ni‐Re catalysts, the effects of the Ni/Re ratio and type of support (SiO2, TiO2, and ZrO2) on the catalyst structure and HDO activity were investigated in detail. The results showed that the addition of rhenium to nickel altered both geometric and electronic structures of nickel significantly. The Ni‐Re/SiO2 catalyst with a Ni/Re ratio of 0.315 achieved ~95% yield of the desired deoxygenation product, cyclohexane, at 523 K and 30 bar‐H2 after 5 hours. Novelty Statement: The upgrading of biomass pyrolysis oils to hydrocarbon fuels oftentimes requires the use of noble metal catalysts and harsh reaction conditions (e.g., high H2 pressure), all of which greatly increase the process cost. In this work, a highly active and nonprecious metal–based catalyst, bimetallic Ni‐Re/SiO2, is developed for the cost‐effective upgrading of biomass‐derived phenols to deoxygenated hydrocarbon fuels at low temperature and low pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Carbon‐based oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysts, especially N‐doped carbon and Fe/N co‐doped carbon (Fe‐N‐C) catalysts are the most promising substitution for Pt‐based catalysts. However, most preparations of carbon‐based ORR catalysts consume large amounts of fossil organic nitrogen compounds and high‐cost carbon supports. Herein, this paper reports a green strategy employing nontoxic CaCl2 as an activating agent, FeCl3 as a metal source, and urea as a nitrogen source to synthesize iron and nitrogen co‐doped porous carbon from lotus root. The as‐synthesized lotus root‐derived carbon (L1221‐90) is featured by high specific surface area (899.90 m2 g−1), abundant pores, highly disperse FeNx, and doped‐N. The optimal L1221‐900 respectively exhibits a high selectivity 4e− ORR route with high half‐wave potential of 0.960 and 0.660 V in alkaline and acid medium, which is proximate to commercial Pt/C. It is found that graphitic‐N and FeNx are the possible active sites, while abundant pores, especially the mesoporous, facilitate the O2 diffusion. Theoretical calculations reveal that the FeNx with different coordination numbers displays different ORR activities in acid medium. The L1221‐900 presumably contains some slightly active FeNx species, which leads to the relatively lower ORR activity in the acid medium. This research develops a green approach to prepare Fe‐N‐C catalyst for ORR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The main objective of this paper is to determine the optimal sizing of a biomass and fuel cell micro‐grid. The biomass generator will be utilized as the main source of power generation for the study area, while the fuel cell generator will be used as a backup generator to be used if the biomass generator fails to meet the energy requirements of the study area. In this research, excess energy will be used to produce hydrogen which is to be used by the fuel cells to generate energy instead of using batteries. To achieve the goal of this paper, a multi‐objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) technique has been proposed to solve the sizing problem for the introduced micro‐grid via an economical perspective which is the cost of energy (COE). The MOPSO algorithm tries to mitigate the COE to the lower values by keeping the loss of power supply probability (LPSP) as minimal as possible. Likewise, statistical analysis has been concluded to study the accuracy of the outcomes of the introduced technique. Three indicators have been offered, which are the process capability indices, the normal probability, and the control chart. The final contribution of the consequences of the two presented objective functions clears that the algorithm process is under statistical control, stable, and very precise. The optimum system from the economic perspective consists of two biomass gensets, 31 fuel cells, 65 electrolyzers, and 186 H2 tanks with an NPC of $ 2 314 842, COE of 0.335 $/kWh at an LPSP of 1.929%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Growth in global energy demand, with major fossil fuel consumption, has induced detrimental environmental and social impacts. Therefore, in recent years, technologies focused on renewable energy utilization, including biomass energy, have evolved to meet the energy requirements. Bioenergy‐based power generation systems are among the best‐unutilized configurations to diminish reliance on fossil fuels. However, it is difficult to select a biomass‐based configuration for economical, sustainable, and reliable power generation. Understanding different possible configurations of biomass‐based energy systems, design parameters, system research gaps, and integration challenges in biomass‐based energy systems are important for further development and propagation. This paper presents a critical review of biomass‐based different hybrid configurations with solar, wind, fuel cell, micro‐hydro, geothermal, and diesel generator, and various designing parameters, challenges, and gaps with future scope. To restrict the scope of the review, only the gasification and anaerobic digestion related biomass electricity generation systems are considered. The analysis indicates that the biomass‐based hybrid energy systems can provide an eco‐friendly and cost‐effective solution, especially for off‐grid rural electrification. The solar radiation, load demand, fuel price, capacity shortage, interest rate, wind speed, biomass quantity, and electricity rate are among the most critical designing parameters in biomass‐based energy systems. The study provides valuable information to designers, researchers, and policy makers on the latest design constraints and relevant policies relating to biomass‐based hybrid energy systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In the perspective of a cleaner and better world, the research of eco‐responsible energy systems is an obligation. Biofuels are from the most interesting ways to reduce air pollution without major changes in nowadays vehicles technology. The paper deals with the transformation of lignocellulosic biomass derivative furfural acetone furfural into Jet and Diesel biofuel. The reaction was carried out upon a one pot process including ring opening, hydrogenation and deoxygenation. It was catalyzed by ruthenium supported on silica‐alumina catalysts which were prepared and fully characterized using X‐ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption/desorption, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis. Bare silica‐alumina oxides were only able to partially or totally hydrogenate aliphatic bonds almost without oxygen removing. Whereas supported ruthenium catalysts with different loadings did lead to the production of liquid hydrocarbons with a Turnover Frequency of 0.84 hour−1 and selectivity up to 80%. A general reaction pathway was proposed including all the reaction products identified by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The paper deals with the integration between a kinematic Stirling engine and a fluidized bed combustor for micro‐scale cogeneration of renewable energy. A pilot‐scale facility integrating a 40 kWt combustor and a γ‐type Stirling engine (0.5 kWe) was set up and tested to demonstrate the feasibility of this solution. The Stirling engine was installed at a lateral wall of the combustor in direct contact with the fluidized bed region. An experimental campaign was executed to assess the performance of the innovative integrated system. The experimental results can be summarized in: (a) very high combustion efficiency with biomass feeding, (b) elevated heat transfer rate to the engine, (c) a relatively small share (about 2 kWt) transferred to the engine from the thermal power generated by the combustor (around 13 kWt), (d) conversion to electric power close to the upper limit of the engine, (e) limited impact of the Stirling engine on the fluidized bed behavior, for example, temperature. From the analysis of measured variables, the dynamics is dominated by the fast response of the Stirling engine, which rapidly reacts to the slow changes of the fluidized bed combustor regime: the dynamic response of the tested facility as a thermal system was slow, the time constant being of the order of 10 minutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This paper presents alternatives to Kalina cycles typically used in place of the organic Rankine cycle in biomass power plants. Overviews of both Rankine and Kalina cycles are given alongside the possibilities of using biomass as a viable energy source and recommended guidelines from the engineering practice for selection and management of these cycles. Benefits of Kalina novel bottoming cycle (and the alternative cycles presented herewith) over the Rankine cycle are the higher thermodynamic cycle efficiency and lower capital expenditures combined with the possibility of using low‐grade heat sources, such as biomass or waste heat from exhaust gases. Analysis of ammonia‐water binary system under various operating conditions has been performed for all the proposed cycles based on the published references and it has been shown that the proposed alternative models prove to be simpler and to have similar or even greater thermodynamic efficiency compared with the Kalina novel bottoming cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Enhancement of efficiency in rice processing mills can help rural farmers to reduce the cost of rice production. Parboiling‐the hydrothermal treatment of paddy rice, accounts for a significant portion of total rice processing costs and its quality. A rice husk powered gasifier‐based parboiling system is an attractive option for rural rice processing mills but has not been widely adopted due to various constraints. Hence, there is a need for technical and economical analysis on gasifier‐based rice parboiling system to generate information on efficiency improvement and the cost‐effective ways in rice processing industries. This paper presents a techno‐economic evaluation of rice husk powered gasifier‐based rice processing systems working in either Producer Gas in Hot Gas Mode (PG‐HGM) or Producer Gas in Cold Gas Mode (PG‐CGM). MATLAB software has been used for mathematical analysis. The research reveals that the biomass gasifier operated rice parboiling system working in both modes can have the overall system efficiency as 49% to 57% with a lowest payback time of 4‐2 years. Positive Net Present Cost is observed for the capacities above 1.5 tons/batch in PG‐HGM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen, the inevitable fuel of the future, can be generated from biomass through promising thermochemical methods. Modern-day thermochemical methods of hydrogen generation include fast pyrolysis followed by steam reforming of bio-oil, supercritical water gasification and steam gasification. Apart from the aforementioned methods, a novice technique of employing combined slow pyrolysis and steam gasification can be also engaged to produce hydrogen of improved yield and quality. This review paper discusses in detail about the existing hydrogen generation through thermochemical methods. It elaborates the merits and demerits of each method and gives insight about the combined slow pyrolysis and steam gasification process for hydrogen generation. The paper also elaborates about the various parameters affecting integrated slow pyrolysis and steam gasification process. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Use of microalgal biomass for renewable energy production has gained considerable attention in the world due to increasing global energy demand and negative environmental impacts of nonrenewable fossil fuels. Anaerobic digestion is one of the renewable technologies that microalgal biomass is converted into biogas by anaerobic archea. One of the main drawbacks of using microalgal biomass for biogas production is that certain types of microalgae has rigid cell wall characteristics, which limits accessibility of anaerobic archea to microalgal intracellular organic matter during hydrolysis phase. This limitation lowers efficiency of biogas production from microalgal biomass. However, introducing pretreatment methods prior to anaerobic digestion provides disruption of rigid microalgal cell wall and improve biogas yields from microalgal biomass. The objective of this paper was to review current knowledge related to pretreatment methods applied prior to anaerobic digestion of microalgal biomass. Efficiency and applicability of pretreatment methods mainly depend on type of microalgae, cell wall characteristics, and cost and energy requirements during pretreatment process. In this review, various type of pretreatment methods applied to microalgal biomass was discussed in detail with background knowledge and literature studies in their potential on maximization of biogas yields and their cost effectiveness, which is important for large‐scale applications. In the view of current knowledge, it was concluded that each pretreatment method has a relative contribution to improvement in biogas production depending on the type of microalgae. However, energy and cost requirements are the main limitations for pretreatment. So, further studies should focus on reduction of cost and energy demand by introducing combined methods, novel chemicals, and on‐site or immobilized enzymes in pretreatment to increase feasibility of pretreatment prior to anaerobic digestion in industrial scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY Biomass has been considered as promising energy source that should be able to suffice the increasing energy demand in the future. Therefore, new biomass utilization technologies and concepts are highly desirable. This paper contributes to the understanding of liquid phase pyrolysis oil upgrading that differs from the intensively investigated fast pyrolysis oil. Two new approaches, which were never reported in literature before, where investigated in this paper. At first, the liquid phase pyrolysis oil was dehydrated to lower transportation costs and increase energy density and efficiency of further upgrading steps. At second, a catalyst screening for hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of dehydrated liquid phase pyrolysis oil was conducted in a batch reactor. Neither the dehydration nor the HDO of dehydrated liquid phase pyrolysis oil were reported in literature by now. The activity of the HDO catalysts Ru/C, Pt/C, and Pd/C as well as a Ni-based catalyst was compared. HDO was investigated at 250 °C and 100 bar and at 300 °C and 150 bar. HDO of dehydrated liquid phase pyrolysis oil was observed with all catalysts. The Pt/C catalyst was found to be most promising with respect to the oil yield (56 wt.%), the deoxygenation ratio (65%), and hydrogen content (8.6 wt.%). Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Bio‐oil produced via fast pyrolysis of biomass usually has various undesired properties that can negatively affect its use. Therefore, raw bio‐oil needs first to undergo an upgrading stage before it is further used. This paper deals with the study of bio‐oil upgrading by means of catalytic cracking with a Y‐zeolite/ZSM‐5 catalyst, as well as the optimization of the process operating conditions. Several case studies are selected by using the simplex lattice design of experiments, and these are simulated under a range of conditions to study the effect of the key process parameters on the bio‐oil conversion. The simulation results show that the catalyst‐to‐oil ratio is the most influential parameter. An analysis of the obtained data indicates that a Y‐zeolite/ZSM‐5 catalyst blend with 15.6 to 19.0%wt of Y‐zeolite, a catalyst‐to‐oil ratio in the range of 4.9 to 6.1, a riser height of 24.6 to 30.0 m (residence time ~ 6 s), and a reactor temperature of 350 to 385°C are the preferred conditions that maximize the product conversion, which take values up to 78.5% in the simulations. A comparison against previous experimental results confirms that the value of the ratio between catalyst and bio‐oil is a critical design parameter and highlights that the optimum values of the Y‐zeolite content and the reactor temperature calculated from the simulation data are in good agreement with those obtained experimentally. The simulation analysis conducted in this study is a suitable tool to investigate the catalytic cracking process for bio‐oil upgrading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY The olive oil industry generates several solid wastes. Among these residues are olive tree leaves, prunings, and dried olive pomace (orujillo) from the extraction process. These renewable energy sources can be used for heat and power production. The aim of this paper consists of modelling and simulation of a small-scale combined heat and power (CHP) plant (fuelled with olive industry wastes) incorporating a downdraft gasifier, gas cleaning and cooling subsystem, and a microturbine as the power generation unit. The gasifier was modelled with thermodynamic equilibrium calculations (fixed bed type, stratified and with an open top). This gasifier operates at atmospheric pressure with a reaction temperature about 800°C. Simulation results (biomass consumption, gasification efficiency, rated gas flow, calorific value, gas composition, etc.) are compared with a real gasification technology. The product gas obtained has a low heating value (4.8-5.0 MJ Nm−3) and the CHP system provides 30 kWe and 60 kWth. High system overall CHP efficiencies around 50% are achievable with such a system. The proposed system has been modelled using Cycle-Tempo software®. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Stirling engine (SEG) using woody biomass is a power generation system that can reduce greenhouse gas discharge. However, improvement of generation efficiency and development of a product are required strongly. In this paper, the energy flow is investigated in experimenting in Test SEG. These results are installed into the energy demand pattern of a cold region houses with much heat demand, and the amount of fuel consumption, power generation efficiency, and a greenhouse gas amount of emission are investigated. Operations of the proposed system are SEG base-load operation and SEG power-load-following operation. Moreover, when there is less exhaust heat of the SEG than a heat demand amount, electric heat pump is operated. From analysis results, the energy cost, the greenhouse gas emission characteristic, the auxiliary heat source, and the operation plan of a heat storage tank due to the conventional method and the proposed system are described. It is thought that greenhouse gas and the energy cost of the SEG cogeneration made to follow power load are advantageous compared with the SEG base-load operation. However, it turned out that improvement in the speed of the load response characteristic of the SEG is required as a future subject. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: With ever increasing waste production worldwide, the development of newly emerging technologies is rising and advancing proportionately. Entailed instalment of sophisticated energy‐producing plants is constantly expanding to meet the socio‐economic demands of communities and industries. Innumerable superior technologies have been introduced to minimise waste pollution while reducing emissions of greenhouse gases hence, combatting the impact of global warming. This review shows energy conversion technologies including gasification, pyrolysis, incineration, landfill, and bioelectrochemical technologies mainly microbial fuel cell (MFC), microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) and microbial electrosynthesis (MES). Traditionally, incineration and landfill are the main mean of waste conversion but not favourable because of their side effects, economic viability, secondary pollution and difficulty in mechanical compression. Recently, biological processes including anaerobic digestion have gained huge interest but possess some inherent drawbacks and cannot provide a comprehensive solution for future waste management. Among energy converting technologies, bio‐electrochemical MFC system is highly preferred as an elementary, clean, safe, economically viable and environmentally beneficial technology. MFC a renewable energy technology possesses multidimensional applications of producing electric power and treat wastewater. In addition, the MFCs can be modified into MEC to generate hydrogen energy from various organic matters. Prospective modification recommendations for scale‐up application of this technology are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY Energy consumption has risen in Malaysia because of developing strategies and increasing rate of population. Depletion of fossil fuel resources, fluctuation in the crude oil prices, and emersion of new environmental problems due to greenhouse gasses effects of fossil fuel combustion have convinced governments to invest in development of power generation based on renewable and sustainable energy (RSE) resources. Recently, power generation from RSE resources has been taken into account in the energy mix of every country to supply the annual electricity demand. In this paper, the scenario of the energy mix of Malaysia and the role of RSE resources in power generation are studied. Major RSE sources, namely biomass and biogas, hydro-electricity, solar energy, and wind energy, are discussed, focusing more toward the electrical energy demand for electrification. It is found that power generation based on biomass and biogas utilization, solar power generation, and hydropower has enough spaces for more development in Malaysia. Moreover, minihydropower and wind power generation could be effective for rural regions of Malaysia. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY This paper deals with the energy production and economics of a large-scale biomass-based combined heat and power (CHP) plant. An activity-based costing model was developed for estimating the production costs of the heat and power of the bio-CHP. A 100 MW plant (58 MW heat, 29 MW electricity) was used as reference. The production process was divided into four stages: fuel handling, fluidized bed boiler, turbine plant, and flue gas cleaning. The boiler accounted for close to 50% of the production costs. The interest rates and the utilization rate of the CHP had a significant effect on the profitability. We found that below 4000-4500 h per year utilization, the electricity production turned unprofitable. However, the heat production remained profitable with high interest rate (10%) and a low utilization rate (4000 h). The profitability also depended on the type of biomass used. We found that, e.g. with moderate interest rates and high utilization rate of the plant, the bio-CHP plant could afford wood and Reed canary grass as fuel sources. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY Bagasse is selected as the biomass source that is studied because of its annual significant rate production in Iran and potential for energy generation. Bagasse has been as an energy source for the production of energy required to run the sugar factory. The energy needed by factories was supplied by burning bagasse directly inside furnaces, which had an exceptionally low output. To this end, today, a secondary use for this waste product is in combined heat and power plants where its use as a fuel source provides both heat and power. In addition, low efficiency of traditional methods was caused to increase the use of modern methods such as anaerobic digestion, gasification and pyrolysis for the production of bio-fuels. In this paper, the energy conversion technologies are compared and ranked for the first time in Iran. Therefore, the most fundamental innovation of this research is the choice of the best energy conversion technology for the fuel production with a higher efficiency. To assess the feasibility application and economic benefit of biogas CHP plant, a design for a typical biogas unit is programmed. The results show the acceptable payback period; therefore, economically and technically, biogas CHP plant appears to be an attractive proposition in Iran. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY This paper compares some important parameters obtained in the hydrogen production between the photosynthetic microorganisms Spirulina maxima 2342 and Scenedesmus obliquus 39. It is also reported the employment of hydrogen produced in this study (m3 s−1) in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) for electricity production. A comparison is also made between the electric current generated and the final dry biomass (mA mg−1) under specific experimental conditions. In this study, the electric current generated in the PEMFC for a period of 200 min under the light intensity of 150 µE m−2 s−1 and agitation was monitored. With the average current generated by the fuel cell the hydrogen produced by each microorganism is determined. The chromatography method was used to confirm the presence of hydrogen produced by each microorganism which was fed to the PEMFC. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we show the effects of expanding the system when evaluating well-to-wheel (WTW) CO2 emissions for biomass-based transportation, to include the systems surrounding the biomass conversion system. Four different cases are considered: DME via black liquor gasification (BLG), methanol via gasification of solid biomass, lignocellulosic ethanol and electricity from a biomass integrated gasification combined cycle (BIGCC) used in a battery-powered electric vehicle (BPEV). All four cases are considered with as well as without carbon capture and storage (CCS). System expansion is used consistently for all flows. The results are compared with results from a conventional WTW study that only uses system expansion for certain co-product flows. It is shown that when expanding the system, biomass-based transportation does not necessarily contribute to decreased CO2 emissions and the results from this study in general indicate considerably lower CO2 mitigation potential than do the results from the conventional study used for comparison. It is shown that of particular importance are assumptions regarding future biomass use, as by expanding the system, future competition for biomass feedstock can be taken into account by assuming an alternative biomass usage. Assumptions regarding other surrounding systems, such as the transportation and the electricity systems are also shown to be of significance. Of the four studied cases without CCS, BIGCC with the electricity used in a BPEV is the only case that consistently shows a potential for CO2 reduction when alternative use of biomass is considered. Inclusion of CCS is not a guarantee for achieving CO2 reduction, and in general the system effects are equivalent or larger than the effects of CCS. DME from BLG generally shows the highest CO2 emission reduction potential for the biofuel cases. However, neither of these options for biomass-based transportation can alone meet the needs of the transport sector. Therefore, a broader palette of solutions, including different production routes, different fuels and possibly also CCS, will be needed. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Providing electricity to a group of remote domestic or industrial customers can be achieved by a grid connection, or by an off-grid (island) generator. While the former can become costly and will likely be prone to disruption, the latter is normally based on fossil fuels, which makes fuel sourcing and transport critical. To overcome these obstacles, a novel micro-scale biomass generation plant was developed. This plant uses locally available renewable biomass feedstock to generate decentralized power at the point of demand and without the necessity of a grid connection. In this paper, load simulations on the basis of a process simulation model of the plant are performed to achieve a continuous match of supply and demand. It is analysed which load characteristics and fluctuations have to be expected when generating for a remote group of domestic customers, and it is evaluated how the plant needs to be operated to always provide sufficient power. Additionally, the fuel storage system of the plant system is investigated: The plant does not employ electrical storage, but instead matches demand and supply by means of internal usage of heat and power and through fuel storage. Relative and absolute storage levels as well as the storage charge/discharge cycles are analysed, and it will be shown that the plant can easily accommodate severe load fluctuations. Finally, the plant load factors are evaluated, and the findings show that this design is an interesting alternative to common island generators or to a conventional grid connection for remote customers. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remotely located and sparsely populated areas often do not have access to an efficient grid connection for electricity supply. However, plenty of biomass is normally available in such areas. Instead of employing island solutions such as diesel generators or large battery stacks with severe impacts on both the environment and economics of rural electrification, a micro-scale biomass plant using locally available feedstock to produce electricity and/or heat is an efficient way of not only providing those areas with competitive and reliable electricity, but also a step towards energy self-sufficiency for a large share of areas worldwide. Both wet and dry feedstock are usually available in remote areas, therefore a novel plant design combining thermochemical and biochemical treatment has been developed. The system consists of a small-scale downdraft gasifier and an anaerobic digester unit, both coupled to a gas storage system and a microturbine as the generation unit. This combined feedstock design is suitable to provide electricity down to a level of around 50 kWe, which suits a remote village or a large farm. This paper covers the modelling of the plant design in chemical engineering simulation software. Additionally, feasibility studies and results obtained from operation simulations are described and show that such a system is a feasible and an economic solution for remote power supply. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing countries as well as international development assistance have for a long time aspired to combat energy poverty in rural areas of developing countries. However, until now a major part of national and international public and private attempts to provide affordable and stable energy supply have failed due to various economic, political, social and institutional obstacles. This situation is reflected in case of India where in comparison with other South Asian states the status of rural electrification and of energy supply are in a dismal state despite the promotion of renewable energy and rural electrification as early as from the 1960s. Embedded in the global context of the international climate change regime, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol has now emerged as a new option to facilitate investment in climate change mitigating projects. In this respect, promoting the deployment of renewable energy through this project-based mechanism opens new avenues for rural electrification. The main objective of this paper is, hence, to examine the context conditions and factors determining the effective application of renewable energy options for rural electrification in a developing country context, namely India. Understanding contextual requirements for renewable energy investment has proved imminently important in order to appreciate the potentials provided by new market-based mechanisms such as the CDM for rural poverty alleviation. Comparative political science case study research methods are applied to the analysis of CDM biomass projects in the context of the four Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh. This allows for the conclusion that socio-political and historic framework conditions matter for the implementation of new renewable energy options. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, much research has been focused on liquid oil from biomass pyrolysis, which is considered as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels. This paper studies the effect of heating rate on both the yields and the chemical composition of the oil product obtained from pyrolysis of esparto which is the most important biomass in Morocco. The pyrolysis experiments of esparto was performed in a fixed bed reactor under argon atmosphere with different heating rate: 50, 150 and 250°C min-1. The maximum conversion of esparto in oil of pyrolysis was obtained with fast pyrolysis 68.5% at 550°C. The FT-IR and 1H NMR analysis showed that the oil of pyrolysis formed principally by aliphatic compound. The analysis elemental showed that the H/C ratio increase and O/C decrease as the heating rate increase. The PCV improved slightly from 33.5 to 34.8 MJ kg-1. The oil obtained with higher heating rate has chemical properties similar to diesel that can be used with an economic and environmental advantage. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]