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Abstract This paper characterized the wood pellet and torrefied wood pellet fuel as compared to coal for 100 MW co-firing power generation plant. There were five experiments to characterise the chemical and physical properties of coal, wood pellet and torrefied wood pellet namely moisture analysis, Thermo gravimetric Analyser (TGA), Bomb Calorimeter, Organic Elemental Analyser and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The moisture analysis result from moisture analyser and TGA shows that the moisture content of torrefied wood pellet is lower than wood pellet at 6.760% and 3.629%. Moreover, the volatile matter, hydrogen and nitrogen content of torrefied wood pellet is lower than wood pellet at 65.20%, 5.993% and 0.4078% correspondingly. The calorific value, fixed carbon content, ash and sulphur also increase in torrefied wood pellet at 20.68 MJ/kg, 28.85%, 2.321% and 0.1656% respectively. In general, torrefaction improve the fuel properties of wood pellet similar to coal. The 100 MW direct co-firing power plant provides less capital investment, operation and maintenance cost for low rate co-firing ratio. However, there is economic challenges for high rate co-firing substation of torrefied wood pellets.

AbstractThe future European energy supply system will have a high share of renewable energy sources (RES) to meet the greenhouse gas emission policy of the European Commission. Such a system is characterized by the need for a strongly interconnected energy transport grid as well as a high demand of energy storage capacities to compensate the time fluctuating characteristic of most RE generation technologies. With the RE generators at the location of high harvest potential, the appropriate dimension of storage and transmission system between different regions, a cost efficient system can be achieved. To find the preferred target system, the optimization tool GENESYS (Genetic Optimization of a European Energy System) was developed. The example calculations under the assumption of 100% self-supply, show a need of about 2,500 GW RES in total, a storage capacity of about 240,000 GWh, corresponding to 6% of the annual energy demand, and a HVDC transmission grid of 375,000 GWkm. The combined cost for generation, storage and transmission excluding distribution, was estimated to be 6.87 ct/kWh.

The European Geosciences Union (EGU) brings together geoscientists from all over the world covering all disciplines of the Earth, planetary and space sciences. This geoscientific interdisciplinarity is needed to tackle the challenges of the future. One major challenge for humankind is to provide adequate and reliable supplies of affordable energy and other resources in efficient and environmentally sustainable ways. This Energy Procedia issue provides an overview of the contributions of the Division on Energy, Resources & the Environment (ERE) at the EGU General Assembly 2017.

AbstractWorld-wide coal reserves can supply the global demand for primary energy for several centuries. However, low thickness and structural complexity may constrain the economic exploitation of many coal deposits. Taking into account these circumstances, underground coal gasification (UCG) can offer an economical and sustainable approach for coal exploitation and subsequent feedstock generation from the syngas. The UCG process produces a high-calorific synthesis gas mainly consisting of methane, hydrogen and carbon dioxide, which can be used for electricity generation or feedstock production at the surface. Considering the latter, the Urea process can be applied to establish the nitrogen based fertilizer carbamide (CH4N2O). The required feedstock for carbamide production in the Urea process can be supplied by UCG syngas. The aim of the present study was the development of an integrated carbon utilisation concept based on the coupled UCG-Urea process. A significant amount of carbon dioxide from the UCG synthesis gas is required for carbamide production in the Urea process, while the excessive carbon dioxide can be re-injected into the cavities resulting in the coal seams and surrounding strata after the gasification process. Thus, a new approach for utilisation of carbon dioxide resulting from coal combustion was developed to provide a coupled technology also comprising geological storage of excessive carbon dioxide. A theoretical feasibility study considering UCG-Urea process economics and potentials of UCG and carbon dioxide storage in the gasified strata was conducted for a selected study area in northern Bangladesh revealing the high competitiveness of the combined technology on the international feedstock markets.

Abstract Recently, the amount of Yogyakarta province municipal solid waste (MSW) came into Piyungan landfill site stood at around 470 ton/day consisting of 77% organic and 23% inorganic fractions. Annually, there was an increase as many as 8% per annum for the amount of MSW. Reduction of the MSW can be "forced" in integrated waste management site (in Indonesia is called TPST) which was built in the municipal level. In each TPST, there are two main activities which are Recycling and Composting. Both scenarios assume that 23% of inorganic waste can be recycled so that the subsequent need is to manage organic waste. Based on these considerations, calculations performed with: 1). Scenario 1: The TPST has been operated but there is no waste reduction at the source; 2). Scenario 2: TPST is operated and followed by solid waste reduction at the source. If the second scenario is applied, the amount of waste that goes to landfill Piyungan can be reduced up to 200 ton/day. Actually, scenario 1 is the realistic one because of Indonesian’s culture. Unfortunately, as scenario 1 was highly dependent on the TPST, the number of TPST which must be built increase steadily that it can reach 60 units in 2030 which is impossible to find space in Yogyakarta province. If the second scenario is applied, the amount of waste that goes to Piyungan landfill site can be reduced gradually from 25% (1-3 years), 35% (4-7 years), and 50% (8-15 years) through composting activity. The challenge possessed by scenario 2 is how to force people reduce their own organic waste by composting activity.

Abstract A fundamental challenge of the German energy transition is the energy supply of industrial and chemical parks based on renewable energy. Presently, the energy demand of a chemical park with one third electricity and two thirds heat as a rough estimate is commonly supplied by a heat-controlled fossil fired combined heat and power (CHP) plant. If applicable, the surplus electricity generated by such plants is sold and fed into the grid. Since the reliable energy supply of all users and facilities is priority, energy storage can be incorporated, if fluctuating renewable energy sources shall be used. This paper presents energy supply concepts without adjustments to the industrial park infrastructure or the processes themselves and proposes utilization of high temperature thermal energy storage (TES) technologies such as molten-salt, as well as power-to-heat (PtH) technology in the central CHP supply infrastructure. The objective of this study is to identify the major possibilities for integrating TES in a future energy supply system for an industrial park in Germany. It shall be shown how the flexibility of an utility supplier can be increased, so that further revenue can be generated from participating in the energy market. For this task different concepts will be proposed and applicable TES technologies will be identified. The benefits for the utility supplier and how carbon dioxide reduction and integration of renewable energies can be achieved will be highlighted. Finally, an overview of concepts with additional TES and PtH components for the energy supply of industrial or chemical parks in Germany is presented qualitatively. This overview includes the following criteria: flexibility, carbon dioxide reduction and the increased use of CHP. Overall a better understanding of potential flexibility measures for the utility supply infrastructure in the chemical industry is generated.

AbstractThe hydrothermal treatment (HT) has demonstrated the ability to improve fuel characteristics of biomass. On the other hand, the liquid by-product, which potentially contains solubilized nutrient, is being poorly utilized. This paper presents an investigation on HT of empty fruit bunch (EFB) on both solid and liquid product characteristics. In this work, the effects of HT on EFB were investigated at the HT temperatures of 100, 150, 180 and 220°C with the holding time of 30minutes. The results showed that HT can increase the carbon content, remove up to 55% of ash content from EFB, lowering the potassium and chlorine contents down to 0.84% and 0.18%, respectively. Moreover, maximum of 37% of nitrogen, 65% of potassium and less than 10% of phosphorus in EFB were dissolved into the liquid product which positively correlated with the HT temperature. These results demonstrate the possibility of employing HT for producing solid fuel as well as nutrient recovery from EFB.

Abstract To improve food security a conceptual integration beyond the scope of production in the agricultural sector due to examination of critical supply chain system compartments and levels of services (“integrated food production and supply systems”) is proposed. For creating systematic results, a platform integrating various perspectives of experts has been established following the principle of triple helix stakeholdership (business practice, public management/policy and also science). During a series of workshops, the main actors, success factors, challenges and communication strategies have been identified for shaping sustainable food supply chains under use of systems thinking and the application of Participatory Systems mapping (PSM). In this line, the paper presents how “system maps” based on the method of PSM are used to gain insights into sustainable logistics services facilitating sustainable consumption patterns, enabling participatory considerations and the productive exchange of knowledge.