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

Without pure water, it is impossible to survive for any living beings. The ratio of freshwater on our planet is very poor and the demand is increasing with time for the growing population. Furtherm...

Preparation of activated carbon from biomass and its’ applications in water and gas purification, a review

Energy storage and conversion is a very important link between the steps of energy production and energy consumption. Traditional fossil fuels are a natural and unsustainable energy storage medium with limited reserves and notorious pollution problems, therefore demanding a better choice to store and utilize the green and renewable energies in the future. Energy and environmental problems require a clean and efficient way of using the fuels. Fuel cell functions to efficiently convert oxidant and chemical energy accumulated in the fuel directly into DC electric, with the by-products of heat and water. Fuel cells, which are known as effective electrochemical converters, and electricity generation technology has gained attention due to the need for clean energy, the limitation of fossil fuel resources and the capability of a fuel cell to generate electricity without involving any moving mechanical part. The fuel cell technologies that received high interest for commercialization are polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), and direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). The optimum efficiency for the fuel cell is not bound by the principle of Carnot cycle compared to other traditional power machines that are generally based on thermal cycles such as gas turbines, steam turbines and internal combustion engines. However, the fuel cell applications have been restrained by the high cost needed to commercialize them. Researchers currently focus on the discovery of different materials and manufacturing methods to enhance fuel cell performance and simplify components of fuel cells. Fuel cell systems’ designs are utilized to reduce the costs of the membrane and improve cell efficiency, durability and reliability, allowing them to compete with the traditional combustion engine. In this review, we primarily analyze recent developments in fuel cells technologies and up-to-date modeling for PEMFCs, SOFCs and DMFCs.

https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0375/10/5/99/pdf

New Perspectives on Fuel Cell Technology: A Brief Review

https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/244016/1/1693682400.pdf

Assessing the energy dynamics of Pakistan: Prospects of biomass energy

This paper critically reviews the current status of utilization of municipal solid waste and biomass blends for energy and resources recovery together with identifying the opportunities for future development in technological equipment and physicochemical waste compositions involved in such complex processes. Among numerous thermochemical conversion techniques, gasification of municipal solid waste with different biomass blends has unveiled as an auspicious technology to develop a sustainable waste management system that would substantially reduce pollution and maximize energy and materials recovery. Municipal solid wastes and biomass have different properties and elemental compositions and are abundantly available. These materials have the potential to produce various types of value-added products in terms of energy and chemicals through the gasification process. Recently, hybrid systems have been introduced with simple gasification technologies in terms of fuel oxidation system, plasma torch, or some biochemical conversion systems to enhance the process efficiency, energy, economics, quality, the yield of syngas, and to alter the composition of gaseous products. Consequently, gasification of biomass and waste would be the most suitable option to reduce toxic elements and harmful gases for the surroundings. For instant, ecological influence is not the real issue for limitation of biomass and waste gasification development, while a feasible economic return could appeal to investors and initiate its commercialization. Energy and resource recovery is assessed as an integrated approach to overcoming limitations. Also, techno-economic and environmental impact, life cycle assessment, and their implications are discussed in detail. Key bottlenecks that need urgent attention to facilitate global recognition of hybrid technology are highlighted.

Gasification of municipal solid waste blends with biomass for energy production and resources recovery: Current status, hybrid technologies and innovative prospects

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) is in focus to integrate with biomass gasification technologies to have a single and highly efficient system; combining the benefits of renewable energy sources and hydrogen energy systems. Combined heat and power (CHP) for houses is highly efficient (>90%). Micro CHP for space heating in Europe and Japan is already been popular using natural gas as fuel. Biomass derived syngas μ-CHP is more interesting. A brief overview of the systems, the present status and the future prospect of the technology has been discussed in this review to offer the guideline of its way for implementation. Since SOFC exposes to syngas derived from biomass gasification, SOFC material needs to be developed, particularly anode part, for the better sulfur tolerance and inhibit carbon deposition. The different anode materials have been discussed to have a guideline for future development. By the development of SOFC material, the entire energy integration system seems to offer greater energy efficiency for sustainable and renewable energy route.

A review on biomass derived syngas for SOFC based combined heat and power application

Being a developing economy, Pakistan is facing a severe energy crisis that limits its economic development. Pakistan relies heavily on energy resources like natural gas, oil, hydropower, nuclear, coal and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) which contribute to primary energy supplies as 48.3%, 32.1%, 11.3%, 7.6%, and 0.6% respectively. Because of the rapidly growing population and economy, Pakistan’s energy needs are huge; to accomplish these energy necessities, Pakistan is continually spending $7-9 billion on the import of fossil fuels. To resolve the serious issues of energy availability, Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) of Pakistan is currently exploring the development of renewable energy technologies in Pakistan that will be beneficial for the developing economy such as Pakistan to minimize the growing energy crisis. Out of all the renewable energy resources, biomass is considered the best and easily accessible source of energy with its unique environment-friendly nature, constant, wider availability and ease of integration into existing infrastructure. Despite the presence of an abundance of biomass energy resource, there is still a need for excellent work on the use of these sources to produce energy. This literature review explores the availability of biomass resource in Pakistan and its potential for addressing rapidly growing energy demand in the country that can assist in the stabilization of a country’s energy demand for challenged economic development. Furthermore, while producing energy a vast range of added value products can also be produced from biomass for use in domestic market and for export thus truly contributing to sustainable economic development of Pakistan.

/pdf/unlocking-the-potential-of-biomass-energy-in-pakistan-4uccmy31yl.pdf

Unlocking the Potential of Biomass Energy in Pakistan

The paper and pulp industry is the sixth largest consumer of energy in the U.K. Furthermore, the industry produces a significant amount of fibrous sludge and reject waste material, containing high ...

A Review of the Valorization of Paper Industry Wastes by Thermochemical Conversion

Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), one of the invasive stored pest, is resistant to the most of synthetic insecticides used against this it. Moreover, synthetic insecticides are a major threat to human health, the environment, and the ecosystem. The development of some smart tools is needed to minimize the use of hazardous chemicals. As an alternative, nano-insecticides are on the horizon. Emulsions are expressed as sustain release of insecticidal components to achieve maximum efficacy and low residual toxicity. In this study, some essential oils (Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf, Ocimum basilicum L., Curcuma longa L., and Trachyspermum ammi L.), diatomaceous earth (DE), and their nano-emulsions are evaluated against T. castaneum. Essential oils and DE were tested at four (60 ppm, 30 ppm, 15 ppm, 7.5 ppm) different concentrations with and without emulsions, and data was recorded after 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h of exposure respectively. The mortality observed in essential oils of C. citratus, O. basilicum, and C. longa without emulsion after 72 h of treatment at the highest concentration was 98%, 95%, and 85%, respectively. While, at the highest concentration the lowest mortalities were observed with DE and T. ammi i.e. 65%. Insecticidal activity of emulsion essential oils increased to 100%, 98%, 90%, and 68.3% for C. longa, C. citratus, O. basilicum, and T. ammi, respectively. The results support that these admixed emulsions could be used as an alternative to synthetic insecticides in conventional formulations. 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2022.05.011

Muhammad Saghir

Papers

A review on biomass derived syngas for SOFC based combined heat and power application

Unlocking the Potential of Biomass Energy in Pakistan

A Review of the Valorization of Paper Industry Wastes by Thermochemical Conversion

Toxicology of diatomaceous earth, phyto oils and their admixed emulsions against adults of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst)

Thermochemical characterization of invasive Axonopus compressus grass as a renewable energy source