• Energy Research
• 11. Sustainability close

Most of the Indian rural area is electrified now, but the gap between supply and demand is much greater and increasing due to rapid industrial growth and increase in rural as well as urban living standards. That cause the extra burden on power grid. In order to reduce the burden on the national grid, India is moving fast towards distributed generation, and various studies show that renewable-based micro-grid is a preeminent alternative for decentralized energy generation. Most of the Indian population live in rural areas with access to wide varieties of alternative energy sources (wind, solar, hydro, biomass, etc.). Therefore, to reduce the dependency on heavily loaded power grid, a hybrid renewable energy system is required by utilizing the locally available sources, which incorporates more than one source of energy by combining the benefits and strength of one source to complement each other. This paper proposed a PV-Biomass-Grid-based optimal micro-grid system, based on locally available resources in Kashmir region of Jammu and Kashmir, India. In the proposed micro-grid, load is served on the basis of priorities to employ minimum burden on the grid and increase the use of renewable resources. The overall goal of the study is to minimize the cost of energy and maximize the energy output from hybrid renewable energy system. Extra electricity generated beyond the load demand would be supplied to grid. In this way, system energy cost is reduced with improvement in electrical system and reducing the environmental impact.

This article offers a trend of inventions and implementations of photocatalysis process, desalination technologies and solar disinfection techniques adapted particularly for treatment of industrial and domestic wastewater. Photocatalysis treatment of wastewater using solar energy is a promising renewable solution to reduce stresses on global water crisis. Rendering to the United Nation Environment Programme, 1/3 of world population live in water-stressed countries, while by 2025 about 2/3 of world population will face water scarcity. Major pollutants exhibited from numerous sources are critically discussed with focus on potential environmental impacts & hazards. Treatment of wastewater by photocatalysis technique, solar thermal electrochemical process, solar desalination of brackish water and solar advanced oxidation process have been presented and systematically analysed with challenges. Both heterogenous and homogenous photocatalysis techniques employed for wastewater treatment are critically reviewed. For treating domestic wastewater, solar desalination technologies adopted for purifying brackish water into potable water is presented along with key challenges and remedies. Advanced oxidation process using solar energy for degradation of organic pollutant is an important technique to be reviewed due to their effectiveness in wastewater treatment process. Present article focused on three key issues i.e. major pollutants, wastewater treatment techniques and environmental benefits of using solar power for removal of pollutants. The review also provides close ideas on further research needs and major concerns. Drawbacks associated with conventional wastewater treatment options and direct solar energy-based wastewater treatment with energy storage systems to make it convenient during day and night both listed. Although, energy storage systems increase the overall cost of the wastewater treatment plant it also increases the overall efficiency of the system on environmental cost. Cost-efficient wastewater treatment methods using solar power would significantly ensure effective water source utilization, thereby contributing towards sustainable development goals.

Abstract Indian energy scenario has been suffering from persistent problems of reliable supply of energy and environmental deterioration. Among various available renewable energy sources, India has abundance of bioenergy options that used since long time to meet the cooking and heating requirements. Bioenergy economy is totally dependent on market of supply and demands, interdependent to each other. However, traditional bioenergy applications were found as inefficient practice with harmful environment impacts. Modern bioenergy technologies have potential to fulfill the demand and supply gap of the country. Furthermore, they have high energy efficiency with low carbon emissions. Bioenergy technologies such as biogas, biodiesel, bio-ethanol and biomass gasification having potential for cooking, transport and power generation. Various bioenergy policies and programs have been introduced to accelerate the bioenergy in India in past years. However, country is unable to use adequate available potential of bioenergy options due to policy gaps. Implementation of bioenergy policy is allied with various challenges like technical, institutional, financial, environmental and social aspects. Indian government introduces the new bioenergy policy to accelerate the bioenergy based generation in India. Thus, this article attempts to explore and critically analyze the present bioenergy policies and possible options of recent Indian experiences for successful adoption of bioenergy. A survey based findings is also analyzed through logistic regression and linear regression to explain the pattern of awareness and willingness to pay for bioenergy technology with reference to biogas and improved cookstoves. We found that socio-economic variables are important parameters for the success of bioenergy policies in rural India.

Abstract In order to produce process heat for drying of agricultural, textile, marine products, heating of buildings and re-generating dehumidify agent, solar energy is one of the promising heat sources for meeting energy demand without putting adverse impact of environment. Hence it plays a key role for sustainable development. Solar energy is intermittent in nature and time dependent energy source. Owing to this nature, PCMs based thermal energy storage system can achieve the more popularity for solar energy based heating systems. The recent researches focused on the phase change materials (PCMs), as latent heat storage is more efficient than sensible heat storage. In this paper an attempt has been made to present holistic view of available solar air heater for different applications and their performance.

Fossil fuels are sharing a large portion of energy demand. Conventional energy sources emit a huge amount of greenhouse gas into the atmosphere, which creates energy and environmental challenges for the ecosystem. To fulfill the world energy demand and to support environmental as well as economic development in a sustainable way, with the utilization of technological advancement of renewable energy resources, algae are presently believed as most adaptable feedstock materials for bioenergy production. Algae has a high fixation rate of atmospheric carbon dioxide which supports to fast growth rate with high productivity per unit area in the form of renewable algal biomass. The present article aims to elaborate on the three generations of biofuels, sustainable microalgae biomass production, cultivation systems, and a wide range of growth parameters. The microalgae harvesting methods and their challenges are also discussed, with a special focus on lipid extraction methods and future r recommendations. The upstream and downstream processes of microalgae could help to harness the microalgae energy in an eco-friendly manner and will help in achieving overall sustainable development.

Abstract Nowadays, energy is key consideration in discussions of sustainable development. So, sustainable development requires a sustainable supply of clean and affordable renewable energy sources that do not cause negative societal impacts. Energy sources such as solar radiation, the winds, waves and tides are generally considered renewable and, therefore, sustainable over the relatively long term. Wastes and biomass fuels are usually viewed as sustainable energy sources. Wastes are convertible to useful energy forms like hydrogen (biohydrogen), biogas, bioalcohol, etc., through waste-to-energy technologies. In this article, possible future energy utilization patterns and related environmental impacts, potential solutions to current environmental problems and renewable energy technologies and their relation to sustainable development are discussed with great emphasis on waste-to-energy routes (WTERs).

Abstract The energy crisis and environmental degradation are currently two vital issues for global sustainable development. Rapid industrialization and population explosion in India has led to the migration of people from villages to cities, which generate thousands tons of municipal solid waste daily, which is one of the important contributors for environmental degradation at national level. Improper management of municipal solid waste (MSW) causes hazards to inhabitants. The management of MSW requires proper infrastructure, maintenance and upgrade for all activities. The MSWM (municipal solid waste management) system comprises with generation, storage, collection, transfer and transport, processing and disposal of solid wastes. In the present study, an attempt has been made to provide a comprehensive review of MSW management to evaluate the current status of waste to energy facilities for sustainable management, which will be helpful in tackling this huge quantity of waste and the problem of energy crisis. A critical review of known MSW management practices/processes in Indian scenario, which will give an idea to investors about the market potential, the maturity of the practicing technologies, and the environmental and economical aspects was also evaluated with its advantages and disadvantages.

Increasing concern towards climate change and water conservation has attracted wide attention of researchers to explore the biological carbon fixation and wastewater treatment by using microalgae. Algal biomass can be harvested in an integrated system provided with carbon dioxide from power plants and wastewater released from industrial and domestic sector. In this way simultaneous potential of microalgae can be utilized for simultaneous fixation of CO2 and wastewater treatment. This article present a critical review focusing on challenges in algal biomass production technologies and how to achieve algal biofuel production in an integrated system of CO2 fixation and wastewater treatment by suitable microalgal species. In view of these objectives, this article provides a comprehensive narration about the following: (a) perspectives of carbon uptake by algal biomass; (b) industrial emissions as a CO2 supplement for algal cultivation; (c) water foot print for algal cultivation; and (d) genomics for improvement of algal biofuel production. This review found that technical feasibility, economic viability, and resource sustainability are the key steps for algal biofuel production that can be achieved through flue gas and wastewater nexus in algal cultivation. It also provides salient features of algae-nutrient-wastewater-flue gas dynamics to measure the influences of flue gas and wastewater on algal biomass productivity.

Abstract This paper explicitly deals with the role of thermal energy storage (TES) with respect to energy performance measures in buildings. Buildings constitute about 50% of the total energy consumption worldwide. Thus buildings are directly found to be one of the major perpetrators of the rapid depletion of fossil fuels and greenhouse emissions. This review paper consolidates the list of PCM's for energy efficient buildings along with the thermal properties. A broad spectrum on the role of thermal energy storage techniques i.e. advancements, applications and futuristic solutions with their specific nature and role is summarized in this article. A critical focus has been given to PCM composites, control strategies and PCM based Photo-voltaic Thermal (PV/T) systems which have emerged out as a promising and feasible future solution to be used in building material. The techno-economic aspects of thermal storage systems have been introduced to justify its potential role in mitigating emission challenges. The low off peak energy tariffs and payback periods are certainly found to be economical with thermal energy storage. PCMs are considered to be a potential material to act as thermal batteries for different building applications however, special care has to be considered for an initial investment.