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[Display omitted] • The potential of pine wastes for carbon-rich biochar production is explored. • Advancements in biochar production technologies are emphasized. • Biochar properties are highly influenced by temperature, heating rate, and inert conditions. • Selection of upgradation technique depends on specific biochar application. • Solar pyrolysis demonstrates great potential as a low-cost biochar production technology. Pine wastes, including pine needles, cones, and wood, are abundantly produced as an agroforestry by-product globally and have shown tremendous potential for biochar production. Various thermochemical conversion technologies have exhibited promising results in converting pine wastes to biochar, displaying impressive performance. Hence, this review paper aims to investigate the possibilities and recent technological advancements for synthesizing biochar from pine waste. Furthermore, it explores techniques for enhancing the properties of biochar and its integrated applications in various fields, such as soil and water remediation, carbon sequestration, battery capacitor synthesis, and bio-coal production. Finally, the paper sheds light on the limitations of current strategies, emphasizing the need for further research and study to address the challenges in pine waste-based biochar synthesis. By promoting sustainable and effective utilization of pine wastes, this review contributes to environmental conservation and resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current editorial summarized some of the scientific works presented in the Sustainable Energy and Environmental Protection (SEEP) conference-held at the University of the West of Scotland, UK, 2018. The selected work was directly related to the scope of the Renewable, Sustainable Energy Reviews (RSER) journal. During the conference activities, experts from all around the world in the subjects of: renewable energy, climate change, optimization, and economics presented and discussed the progress made in renewable energy sources, as well as the new strategies for protecting the environment from the hazards connected with fossil fuel utilization. The methods presented in the conference focused on several directions: the development of efficient energy conversion systems with low/no environmental impacts; the suggested policies to widespread renewable energies; the restriction in the emission of greenhouse gases, and the recent progresses in CO 2 capture. This editorial focused on the renewable energy developments and their positive effect on the climate change, and briefly summarized the accepted manuscripts in this issue. • Effects of renewable energy on climate change. • Background on the International Conference on Sustainable Energy and Environmental Protection SEEP. • Summary of selected papers of SEEP 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) is regarded as a very promising technology to reduce CO 2 emission in China, which could improve the contradiction between economic development and environment protection. In order to study the CO 2 storage potential for deploying CCUS projects in China, considering China's special geological features and current national conditions, a new evaluation method of CO 2 storage capacity was proposed using the mass balance approach combined with various CO 2 storage mechanisms in different formations, and the CO 2 storage capacity was calculated in saline aquifer for CO 2 -EWR, oil reservoir for CO 2 -EOR and coal bed for CO 2 -ECBM respectively. The result shows that China has great CO 2 storage potential, which is estimated to be over 1841 Gt. The different features and application prospect of CO 2 -EWR, CO 2 -EOR and CO 2 -ECBM in China were analyzed, which give guidance on critical technologies breakthrough and costs reduction along the CCUS chain. With the joint effort and support by policy and finance, CCUS will make great contribution to the development of low carbon economy for China and the world. Highlights • A new evaluation method of CO 2 storage potential was established. • The CO 2 storage capacity was evaluated in China. • The prospect of CCUS was investigated in China. • CO 2 -EOR should be given priority development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]