With the increase of the production of power/energy from renewables it becomes much important to look at methods and techniques to store this energy. In principle, the renewable energy can be ...transformed into another form of storable energy and to be transformed back when needed.
The main Energy storage techniques can be classified as: 1) Magnetic systems: Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage, 2) Electrochemical systems: Batteries, fuel cells, Super-capacitors, 3) Hydro Systems: Water pumps, 4) Pneumatic systems: Air compressors, 5) Mechanical systems: Flywheels, 6) Thermal systems: Molten Salt, Water or oil heaters.
When we are talking about energy storage systems, we should consider the criteria of selection for method and technique of storing this energy. Researchers and scientists have classified different criteria in selecting the energy storage techniques, the main points to be considered are: 1) the available energy resources, 2) energy requirement and application, 3) energy storage efficiency, 4) energy storage cost, 5) energy storage infrastructure, 6) other factors.
This editorial describes articles presented at the 8th International Conference on Sustainable Energy and Environmental Protection SEEP2015. Main topics include renewable energy and energy storage systems and various articles related to the conference scope.
The automotive industry remains one of the most significant contributors to total global emissions worldwide. This growing challenge is primarily attributed to the high dependency on fossil fuel as ...its primary source of energy. This review highlights the current state of the application of fuel cells in the automotive industry, as well as the technological advances made in comparison to the early years of the automotive sector. Future prospects of these technologies are also thoroughly reviewed. Factors impeding the advancement of these technologies while also impeding their commercialization are presented, with possible solutions to this problem also suggested. In summary, this investigation seeks to explore pragamatic approach that can be adopted to reduce the overall cost of fuel cells and their possible integration in the automotive industry.
Progress in carbon capture technologies Wilberforce, Tabbi; Olabi, A.G.; Sayed, Enas Taha ...
The Science of the total environment,
03/2021, Volume:
761
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Human factors are one of the key contributors to carbon dioxide emissions into the environment. Since the industrial revolution, the atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have increased appreciably. This ...has been attributed to the utilization of fossil fuels for energy generation coupled with the clearing of forests and extensive manufacturing of some industrial products such as cement. The increase in atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide has been widely linked to climate change and the Earth's temperature.
A drastic approach is therefore needed in terms of policy formulation to address this global challenge. Carbon capture and storage are reliable tools that can be introduced to the industrial sector to address this issue. Therefore, this review presents a thorough investigation of the various technologies that can be harnessed to capture carbon dioxide. The cost associated with the capture, transport, and storage of the carbon dioxide is discussed. Socio-economic aspects of carbon capture and storage technologies are also presented in this review. Factors influencing public awareness of the technology and perceptions associated with carbon capture and storage should be a point for consideration in future research activities relating to this novel technology. This, in effect, this will ensure effective expert knowledge communication to the general public and foster social acceptance of this technology.
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•Overview of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is presented.•2 types of carbon capture and storage technologies are evaluated.•Cost estimation of carbon capture and storage technologies are discussed.•Prospects of CCS in CO2 capture are presented.
In the last two decades a great progress has been made in the field of renewable and sustainable energy, but more work need to be made to increase the renewable energy share worldwide. It can be ...pointed out that only in the last 10 years, the energy demands have been doubled, while the current energy resources would not meet the market request. This situation put more pressure on scientists and communities to work harder to increase the use of the renewable energy with the highest efficiency from each resource.
In this special issue on renewable and sustainable energy concerns with latest developments related to sustainable and renewable energy. In this editorial introduction, the editor is highlighting the different articles presented and discussed in this issue. This issue will introduce the main development in: PV and Solar Energy, Wind Energy, Hydrogen and Fuel Cell, Energy Efficiency, ECO Design and Energy and Environment Planning and Management. The contents of this issue will be discussed in details in the following sections.
This paper is an Editorial for the special issue (SI) of Energy Reviews (RSER) dedicated to the 10th International Conference on Sustainable Energy and Environmental Protection SEEP, held in ...Bled-Slovenia. During the conference more than 300 papers were presented, around 25% of these papers were accepted for this special issue.
Papers discussed different topics related to renewable energy, energy storage systems and some environmental issues related to transportation. During this conference Prof Olabi presented a keynote talk on the relation between circular economy and renewable energy, case studies about implementing this concept in Scotland were included in his presentation.
This editorial will give a short description on the relation between circular economy and renewable energy, then it will be followed by addressing the accepted papers in this special issue.
The objective of this work is to provide a comprehensive study on algal biomass as feedstock for biogas production. Algae-derived biofuels are seen as one of the most promising solutions to mitigate ...climate change and as alternative to fast depleting of fossil fuels and oil reserves. Microalgae and macroalgae underwent an intense academic and industrial research, thanks to their capability to overcome the drawbacks related to the first and second generations of biomass resources. Major advantages of algae are: no competition with food crops for arable land, high growth rates, low fractions of lignin which reduces the need for energy-intensive pretreatment and compatibility with biorefinery approach implementation. However, some disadvantages such as the presence of high water content, seasonal chemical composition and the occurrence of inhibitory phenomena during anaerobic digestion, make algal biofuels not yet economically feasible although they are more environment friendly than fossil fuels.
The annual increases in global energy consumption, along with its environmental issues and concerns, are playing significant roles in the massive sustainable and renewable global transmission of ...energy. Solar energy systems have been grabbing most attention among all the other renewable energy systems throughout the last decade. However, even renewable energies can have some adverse environmental repercussions; therefore, further attention and proper precautional procedures should be given. This paper discusses in detail the environmental impacts of several commercial and emerging solar energy systems at both small- and utility-scales. The study expands to some of the related advances, as well as some of the essential elements in their systems. The approach follows all the stages, starting with the designs, then throughout their manufacturing, materials, construction or installation phases, and over operation lifetime and decommissioning. Specific solutions for most systems such as waste minimization and recycling are discussed, alongside with some technically and ecologically favorable recommendations for mitigating the impacts.
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•Environmental impacts of solar PV and solar thermal are summarized.•Thin film photovoltaics (TFPVs) can be recycled using large metal smelters.•Toxic cadmium can be controlled through temperature and concentration.•Factors impeding the commercialization of Solar PVs and thermal systems are presented.
The annual growth of global energy demand and the associated environmental impacts (EIs) has an important role in the large sustainable and green global energy transition. Renewable energy systems ...have been attracting substantial economic, environmental, and technical attention throughout the last decade, while some have been in the market for almost a century. However, even renewable energy may negatively affect the environment, which is widely considered much less harsh than fossil energy resources. This, in return, requires more consideration and appropriate precautions to be taken. This work discusses the environmental impacts (EIs) of small and medium-sized wind, hydro, biomass, and geothermal power systems. The approach goes through all stages from planning and conception to construction and installation and throughout service life and decommissioning. For various circumstances and technically and ecologically viable guidelines for their effect on natural resources and wildlife, clear and comprehensive solutions have been given.
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•Various renewable energy systems are evaluated.•Environmental impact of renewable systems is analysed.•Prospects of renewable technology are discussed.•Limitation of renewable systems is presented.
Freshwater supplies are in shortage relative to the high demand for different human activities, making desalination of saline water a must. Desalination to extract water from saline water has been ...well established as a reliable non-conventional water supply. However, desalination as any human-based process has resulted in many impacts on the environment. Brine loaded with chemicals being discharged back to the environment, along with greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions being released to the atmosphere, are the most significant impacts, which has been extensively studied, with some efforts given to its mitigation and control.
The current work discusses the mitigation and control strategies (M&CS) to the different environmental impacts (EIs) of desalination processes. The article compiles the M&CS in one work, instead of the distributed and separate treatment of the EIs of each desalination step and its respective M&CS as currently present in literature. The article tracks the water flow in an intake-to-outfall approach exploring how to minimize the impacts at each step and as a whole process. This starts from intake, pretreatment processes, desalination technology, and finally, brine discharge. The EIs associated with each desalination process element is thoroughly discussed with proposed M&CS. The work shows clearly that many EIs can be eliminated or minimized by incorporating specific design criteria and process improvements. The feedwater source has shown to have a great effect on EIs. Similarly, desalination technology has shown a considerable effect on the EIs related to brine characteristics and energy consumption. Hybrid and emerging desalination systems have shown reduced EIs relative to conventional thermal and membrane desalination technologies, while the utilization of renewable and waste energy sources has shown a significant reduction in EIs related to energy consumption.
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•Desalination provides reliable water for communities with limited fresh water.•Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is crucial part of desalination project.•Mitigation and control of the environmental impacts (EIs) are thoroughly discussed.•High-efficient emerging desalination process results in substantial reduction in the EIs.•Waste heat and renewable energies significantly reduce the EIs.
A hybrid renewable energy systems (HRESs) comprises of photovoltaic (PV), and self-charging fuel cells (SCFC) is designed for securing electrical energy required to operate brackish water pumping ...(BWP) and reverse osmosis desalination (RO) plant of 150 m3 d-1 for irrigation purposes in remote areas. An optimal configuration of the proposed design is determined based on minimum cost of energy (COE) and the minimum total net present cost (NPC). Moreover, a comparison with a stand-alone diesel generation (DG) or grid extension is carried out against the optimal configuration of PV/SCFC HRES. The modeling, simulation, and techno-economic evaluation of the different proposed systems, including the PV/SCFC system are done using HOMER software. Results show that PV array (66 kW), FC (9 kW), converter (25 KW) –Electrolyzer (15 kW), Hydrogen cylinder (70 kg) are the viable economic option with a total NPC of $115,649 and $0.062 unit cost of electricity. The COE for the stand-alone DG system is 0.206 $/kWh, which is 69.90% higher than that of the PV/SCFC system. The PV/SCFC system is cheaper than grid extension. This study opens the way for using a fuel cell as an effective method for solving the energy intermittence/storage problems of renewable energy sources.
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•Standalone hybrid photovoltaic and self-charging fuel cell (PV/SCFC) is proposed for RO.•Optimal PV/SCFC is better than diesel generation (DG).•COE and NPC are the lowest in PV/FC system compared to those in DG system.•PV/SCFC BWP/RO system is economical viable than grid extension up to 8.21 km.•DG is economical viable than grid extension up to 41.5 km.