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AbstractNowadays, researchers are focusing on the methods of using recycled industrial/agricultural wastes as raw materials, which are not only economically but also environmentally useful. In the recent years, many scholars have conducted research on the rational use of rice husks (RHs) and found that RHs are rich in inorganic/organic components and used in combination with the certain building materials to produce new green composite building materials. This paper studies the method of using RH processed products and the sodium silicate solution (liquid glass) made from RH ash to produce cheap wood substitute composite materials, which can be improved the insulation performance of the wall greatly. Obtained results are determined by comparing with the properties of standard polymer composite materials such as particleboards, chipboards, and medium‐density fiberboards (MDF). The significance of the work is pointing out by solving the problem of recycling large‐tonnage agricultural waste and reproduce products with the consumer's value.

Over the last few decades, environmental deterioration has accelerated significantly. Environmental degradation has been a subject of research across the world because of its impact on billions of people. However, there has been no international agreement on lowering the utilization of energy and CO2 emissions (CO2), while demand for fossil fuels grows in emerging economies. On the other hand, the recent COP26 summit brought all parties together to accelerate action toward reaching the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Although previous research shows that international trade promotes positive socioeconomic outcomes, other experts argue that it contributes to natural resource shortages and ecological deterioration. Thus, the current research considers the effect of international trade, renewable energy use and technological innovation on consumption-based carbon emissions (CCO2), coupled with the role of financial development and economic growth in the BRICS economies between 1990 and 2018. Moreover, this research utilizes the common correlated effects mean group (CCEMG), augmented mean group (AMG) and Dumitrescu and Hurlin (2012) causality methods to assess these interrelationships. The study findings reveal that renewable energy use, exports and technological innovation mitigate CCO2, whereas economic growth and imports trigger CCO2 in the BRICS economies. The panel causality outcomes also reveal that all the variables except financial development can predict CCO2 emissions. Based on the study findings, we recommend the adoption of policies, regulations and the development of legislative frameworks that promote technological innovation and the shift toward sustainable energy.

In Europe, thanks to public subsidy, the production of electricity from anaerobic digestion (AD) of agricultural feedstock has considerably grown and several AD plants were built. When AD plants are concentrated in specific areas (e.g., Northern Italy), increases of feedstock' prices and transport distances can be observed. In this context, as regards low-energy density feedstock, the present research was designed to estimate the influence of the related long-distance transport on the environmental performances of the biogas-to-electricity process. For this purpose the following transport systems were considered: farm trailers and trucks. For small distances (<5 km), the whole plant silage shows the lowest impact; however, when distances increase, silages with higher energy density (even though characterised by lower methane production per hectare) become more environmentally sustainable. The transport by trucks achieves better environmental performances especially for distances greater than 25 km.

AbstractRecently, new solutions have arisen to promote bioenergy expansion, some of which meet the requirements of reliability, sustainability, and governance. In Brazil, the Sao Paulo state (SPS) is characterized by strong agro‐industrial and livestock activities, which generates increasing residues in the last years with the potential to produce bioenergy and offer environmental and economic benefits. The Brazilian National Biofuel Policy (Renovabio) has been enhanced to seek sustainable development, encouraging new agribusiness research. Studies have shown that the sugarcane sector, a conventional ethanol and bioelectricity producer, has the greatest potential to produce biogas/biomethane, which can be maximized with the introduction of co‐substrates regionally generated from corn, soy, orange, coffee, poultry, and swine. This overview, based on the main SPS agro‐industrial and livestock residues, shows innovative alternatives for integrating anaerobic co‐digestion (co‐AD) processes through a regional strategy, by providing long‐term revenues and greenhouse gas mitigation, which would also spread the discussion for National and International prospects. This study discusses logistical, political, and financial aspects, revealing a promising business model supported by public policies. However, its feasibility requires a real economic assessment with the inclusion of decarbonization credits, and political subsidies for biomethane as a biofuel under the Renovabio, which will facilitate its insertion into the agro‐industry in the coming years.This article is categorized under:Policy and Economics > Energy TransitionsSustainable Energy > BioenergyClimate and Environment > Circular EconomyPolicy and Economics > Regional and International Strategies

The article presents results from analyzing the state of the art achieved in the coal gasification technologies developed around the world and the demand for them. It is shown that such technologies have presently arrived at a crossroad in their development. Their future will be determined by the development prospects of coal energy as a whole. Coal still continues to play the most important role in the world energy. In recent years, external factors have become extremely negative for the development of coal energy. Among other fuels, coal produces the largest specific emissions of CO2 during its combustion, in view of which it may become the first victim of the unfolding energy decarbonization policy. Under such conditions, there is a need to diversify the coal utilization fields, primarily through manufacturing a wide range of chemical products with a high added value. This generates the need to develop the appropriate technologies, and, first of all, gasification technologies, the use of which opens the possibility of making almost the entire range of products from coal that are obtained from petroleum and natural gas. It has been determined that gasification technologies have already reached a high level of technical maturity, and a large number of gasifier designs have been proposed. It has been determined that the majority of operating coal gasification plants are presently used for manufacturing various chemical products, first of all, natural gas substitute (which is then forwarded to gas networks) and also methanol and ammonia. It is pointed out that only a few integrated gasification combined cycle plants have been implemented and planned for construction, which means that the private sector shows little interest in this technology. At the same time, such plants have quite a high potential for being used in low-carbon energy, of course, provided that the problem of disposing the captured CO2 is solved. It is shown that a large number of gasifier equipment manufacturers are available around the world. However, gasifiers are produced in single units or in a small series, which unavoidably leads to the high cost of this equipment. For the further innovative development of the gasification technology, combined efforts should be taken by the private sector and the state.

Abstract Low renewable energy source (RES) accommodation and energy utilization efficiency impose great challenge to reliable energy supplies for rural residents. This paper proposes an optimal coordinated multi-energy conversion and management framework with a biogas-dominated hybrid renewable microgrid for multi-carrier energy supplies in off-grid remote areas. In this framework, multi-energy multi-timeframe couplings among biomass and other renewables are modeled based on biogas digesting thermodynamics for the coordinated interaction among electricity, biogas and thermal energy carriers, and a sustainable energy hub is formulated for mapping various renewables into diversified energy loads. The proposed energy hub can facilitate mitigating the fluctuating outputs of RES by harvesting hydro-wind-solar energies into the form of biogas, and an evaluation model is proposed based on hydrodynamic networking mechanisms to calculate the state of energy (SOE) in the biogas storage. Furthermore, a hierarchical multi-energy management strategy is presented to dynamically optimize the production, conversion, storage and consumption of multi-carrier energy flows for system energy-efficiency enhancement. Case studies on a stand-alone microgrid demonstration validate that the biogas yield can be improved by 31.75% with digesting thermodynamic effects, and the battery degradation cost can be reduced by at least 22.63% considering the SOE of biogas storage with hydrodynamic effects.

Abstract This paper discusses some energy scenarios for photovoltaic applications in Brazil engendered by using SWERA database in order to demonstrate its potential for feasibility analysis and application in the energy planning for electricity generation. It discusses two major different markets: hybrid PV–Diesel installations in mini-grids of the off-grid Brazilian electricity system in the Amazon region, and grid-connected PV in urban areas of the interconnected Brazilian electricity system. The potential for using PV is huge, and can be estimated in tens to hundreds of MWp in the Amazon region alone, even if only a fraction of the existing Diesel-fired plants with a total installed capacity of over 620 MVA would fit to run in an optimum Diesel/PV mix. Most of the major cities in Brazil present greater electricity demand in summertime with the demand peak happening in the daytime period. This energy profile match the actual solar resource assessment provided by SWERA Data Archive, enabling grid-connected PV systems to provide an important contribution to the utility's capacity.

The evaluation of ecosystem services is a method of estimating the value of the natural capital of a defined territory. This article examined the approaches to an evaluation of ecosystem services as a method of an ecological-economic evaluation of the efficiency of hydropower projects.

Abstract Ghana has been facing cyclical erratic power supply in recent years due to increasing population, urbanization and industrialization. The country’s electricity generation is hugely dependent on fossil fuels which makes the cost of electricity generation susceptible to cost of fuel on the international market and other economic factors such as exchange rate, despite the country’s huge renewable energy potentials. This research used the SWOT analytical approach to assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the country’s renewable energy sector. Results from the analysis shows that, geographical location, political stability and availability of Renewable Energy Act (Act 832) are the main strengths. However, issues such as complex and bureaucratic procedures in securing licenses and the high initial cost of renewable energy projects are some of the key weaknesses in the sector. The study also identified the existence of a regional integration network in the sub-region and increasing electricity demand as the major opportunities. Insufficient research and development were identified as the greatest threat to the sustainable development of the sector followed by unequal playing field and changing climatic conditions. The research therefore proposed some recommendations to the government to help in the development of the country’s renewable energy sector.