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 CO2 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. 

Renewable energy and climate change

https://uws.pure.elsevier.com/files/35301304/2022_02_27_Olabi_et_al_Supercapacitors_accepted.pdf

Supercapacitors as next generation energy storage devices: Properties and applications

The paper presents and discusses modern methods and technologies of CO2 capture (pre-combustion capture, post-combustion capture, and oxy-combustion capture) along with the principles of these methods and examples of existing and operating installations. The primary differences of the selected methods and technologies, with the possibility to apply them in new low-emission energy technologies, were presented. The following CO2 capture methods: pre-combustion, post-combustion based on chemical absorption, physical separation, membrane separation, chemical looping combustion, calcium looping process, and oxy-combustion are discussed in the paper. Large-scale carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) facilities operating and under development are summarized. In 2021, 27 commercial CCUS facilities are currently under operation with a capture capacity of up to 40 Mt of CO2 per year. If all projects are launched, the global CO2 capture potential can be more than ca. 130–150 Mt/year of captured CO2. The most popular and developed indicators for comparing and assessing CO2 emission, capture, avoiding, and cost connected with avoiding CO2 emissions are also presented and described in the paper.

/pdf/methods-and-techniques-for-co2-capture-review-of-potential-t7albivf.pdf

Methods and Techniques for CO2 Capture: Review of Potential Solutions and Applications in Modern Energy Technologies

Biogas is one of the promising renewable energy sources that successfully implemented at domestic and industrial scales. This work presents a preliminary evaluation of the role and contribution of biogas as a sustainable energy source towards achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs). This work summarizes the common feedstock and impurities in the biogas as well as the advantages and disadvantages of biogas compared with fossil fuels. Challenges and barriers associated with biogas production in developing and developed countries were elaborated and connected with SDGs. Finally, the relation between the circular economy, biogas, and related SDGs was presented. The biogas has been found to have direct impacts and contributions to 12 out of the 17 SDGs. The main contributions of the biogas come from its ability to increase renewable energy, reduce climate change, enhance the waste management process, and create jobs. A set of 58 indicators was provided as a guideline for the stakeholders within the biogas industry to extend the benefits of the biogas toward the achievement of the SDGs and minimize any possible trade-off. The results of this work will help the different players within the biogas industry to form policy to ensure that biogas contribution to the SDGs is maximized. 

Biogas role in achievement of the sustainable development goals: Evaluation, Challenges, and Guidelines

Geopolymer concrete as green building materials: Recent applications, sustainable development and circular economy potentials.

The rapid progress in the global population and technical advances have resulted in exponential growth in the use of fossil fuels. These are not only limited in resources but also have a severe environmental impact. The accumulation of greenhouse gases (GHGs), more specifically carbon emissions, in the environment has resulted in severe health issues and climate changes. The Paris Climate Agreement calls for restricting global warming to only 1.5 °C by 2050 relative to the pre-industrial era. This requires reducing global GHGs emissions as soon and as much as possible. Massive efforts are being put into minimizing GHG emissions, such as using renewable energy resources and/or using carbon capture technologies (CCT). In this study, different CCTs were introduced, focusing on the pre-combustion as a promising CCT approach. In this work, the role of CCT in realizing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was thoroughly analyzed and discussed. A total of 87 indicators were developed to measure and analyze the contribution of CCT to achieving the different SDGs. The focus given to the role of the pre-combustion CCT in achieving SDGs is being elaborated. The indicators and analysis covered the economic, environmental, and social pillars of sustainable development. It was found that CCT contributes well to all 17 SDGs, with core and substantial contributions to SDG-7 of "Affordable and clean energy", and ultimately SDG-13 of "Climate action". The developed indicators would work as a guideline for the different players to ensure that CCT is fully adhering the SDGs principles. The proposed indicators have nine main benefits, i.e., assist in the achievement of the SDGs, providing information for the decision-makers, enhance and benchmark sustainability performance, improve risk management, enhance data management and reporting practices, improve resource allocation and reduce the expenses, improve environmental performance, reduce social impact, and improve communications with stakeholder. Moreover, the different barriers facing the CCT were presented. 

Assessment of the pre-combustion carbon capture contribution into sustainable development goals SDGs using novel indicators

The rapid progress in the global population and technical advances have resulted in exponential growth in the use of fossil fuels. These are not only limited in resources but also have a severe environmental impact. The accumulation of greenhouse gases (GHGs), more specifically carbon emissions, in the environment has resulted in severe health issues and climate changes. The Paris Climate Agreement calls for restricting global warming to only 1.5 °C by 2050 relative to the pre-industrial era. This requires reducing global GHGs emissions as soon and as much as possible. Massive efforts are being put into minimizing GHG emissions, such as using renewable energy resources and/or using carbon capture technologies (CCT). In this study, different CCTs were introduced, focusing on the pre-combustion as a promising CCT approach. In this work, the role of CCT in realizing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was thoroughly analyzed and discussed. A total of 87 indicators were developed to measure and analyze the contribution of CCT to achieving the different SDGs. The focus given to the role of the pre-combustion CCT in achieving SDGs is being elaborated. The indicators and analysis covered the economic, environmental, and social pillars of sustainable development. It was found that CCT contributes well to all 17 SDGs, with core and substantial contributions to SDG-7 of "Affordable and clean energy", and ultimately SDG-13 of "Climate action". The developed indicators would work as a guideline for the different players to ensure that CCT is fully adhering the SDGs principles. The proposed indicators have nine main benefits, i.e., assist in the achievement of the SDGs, providing information for the decision-makers, enhance and benchmark sustainability performance, improve risk management, enhance data management and reporting practices, improve resource allocation and reduce the expenses, improve environmental performance, reduce social impact, and improve communications with stakeholder. Moreover, the different barriers facing the CCT were presented.

Bhowmick, Asmit

Papers

Assessment of the pre-combustion carbon capture contribution into sustainable development goals SDGs using novel indicators

Assessment of the pre-combustion carbon capture contribution into sustainable development goals SDGs using novel indicators

Large scale application of carbon capture to process industries – A review

Battery energy storage systems and SWOT (strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats) analysis of batteries in power transmission

Role of carbon-based nanomaterials in improving the performance of microbial fuel cells