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Abstract One of the strategies to improve environmentally friendly energy harvesting can be realized by using biomass as a primary energy source for generating electricity and H2. In addition, high energy efficiency can be achieved by minimizing exergy loss through process integration and exergy recovery. As an implementation, this study proposes a cogeneration system for black liquor (BL) to co-produce electricity and H2. The system primarily comprises BL drying, circulating fluidized bed gasification, syngas chemical looping (SCL), and power generation. The Aspen Plus V8.8 software package is used for modeling and performing calculations of the proposed integrated system. Furthermore, thermodynamic analysis of gasification is performed by employing Gibbs energy minimization. The effects of target solid content on the required total work and compressor outlet pressure during drying and gasification with different steam-to-fuel ratios are evaluated. Moreover, the SCL process adopts three reactors, namely, the reducer, oxidizer, and combustor. Compared to conventional processes, the integrated drying-gasification-SCL processes are significantly cleaner and more energy efficient. The proposed integrated system can achieve a net energy efficiency of about 70% with almost 100% carbon capture.

Abstract Producing electricity from a renewable source is a major challenge in Morocco nowadays and high concentrated photovoltaic (HCPV) is becoming an attractive solution to ensure clean energy generation due to its high efficiency. The aim of this paper is to estimate the « Energetic, economic, and environmental » performances of large scale HCPV power plants in the major Moroccan climatic zones and to compare their feasibility to PV plants. The mathematical model for estimating the energetic, economic, and environmental performances of large scale HCPV plants is shown, sensitivity and comparison analysis are exhibited. Another goal of the paper is the optimization of the performances of the algorithm through the study of the effect of different parameters. Our major finding is that the large scale HCPV plants are more competitive than PV plants in Errachidia climatic zone where the (capacity factor, LCOE) take the values (26.07%,8.57c$/kWh). Moreover, the capacity factor of large scale HCPV power plants is the most sensitive to the temperature coefficient while the (LCOEnominal, LCOEreal, NPV) are the most sensitive to the analysis period. The quantity of CO2 mitigated reaches a maximal value in the Errachidia zone with 2.59 × 105 tons of carbon per year avoided, and the cost of carbon gained there is estimated to be 10.4 M$. Innovative GIS maps of energetic, economic, and environmental performances of large scale HCPV power plants for all Morocco are given.

Petro diplomacy has played its role in last few decades and that makes energy security a major concern worldwide. Rapid climate change and environmental protection is another vital issue to be addressed in recent energy policies. So an alternative carbon neutral transport fuel is a must in new sustainable energy mix. Biodiesel has immense potentiality to be a part of a sustainable energy mix. In this energy scenario, Brazil's success is a role model in utilizing its agro-industry for reducing poverty, greenhouse gas emission and petro-dependency simultaneously. Brazil commercialized bioethanol in mass scale by introducing flexible fuel vehicles in market. This dedicated engine idea moralizes a new concept of dedicated biodiesel engine vehicles for Malaysia and Indonesia. Southeast Asian countries, i.e. Malaysia and Indonesia is the largest producer as well as exporter of palm oil. Growing at highest yield rate among other biodiesel feedstock, palm based biodiesel is a top exported product for this region. This paper will quantify the prospects of a dedicated biodiesel engine vehicle for Malaysia and Indonesia that will initiate palm based biodiesel in fuel supply chain by leapfrogging the barriers of biodiesel utilization by boosting local automobile industry simultaneously. This article will also review on energy scenario of Malaysia and Indonesia and their renewable energy policies and challenges for coming decades.

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of temperature and reaction time on the primary pyrolysis of cellulose and xylan. Fast pyrolysis of cellulose and xylan was carried out with a micropyrolyser connected to a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer/flame ionisation detector (GC–MS/FID) to separate and identify volatile components, both qualitatively and quantitatively. This set-up meant a minimum amount of secondary reactions, low impact of the heating period and at the same time provided rapid and accurate analyses. The two biomass components investigated were: cellulose and hemicellulose (represented by xylan). They were pyrolysed during 0.5, 1, 2 and 5 s (s) and within a temperature range of 400–600 °C. The results showed that levoglucosan (1, 6-anhydro β-D-glucopyranose) is the main chemical compound released during cellulose pyrolysis. It increased with increasing temperature and time. The main volatile compounds produced from pyrolysis of xylan are: 1-hydroxy-2-butanone, 4-hydroxy-5, 6-dihydro-(2 H)-pyran-2-one, 1-hydroxy-2-propanone (acetol), acetaldehyde and hydroxyacetaldehyde (HAA). HAA was the most abundant chemical compound released during xylan pyrolysis, increasing with higher temperatures and time. Acetol and acetaldehyde also showed similar behaviour. The chemical compounds released from cellulose and xylan fast pyrolysis are primary products and assumed to be produced directly from both cellulose and xylan molecules and not from secondary degradation. In this study, possible reaction routes during biomass primary pyrolysis are also suggested based on the product distribution from the thermal decomposition of cellulose and xylan.