New and renewable sources of energy have been considered as an alternative to conventional source... more New and renewable sources of energy have been considered as an alternative to conventional sources for thirty years and during the last ten years their potential contribution to global pollution abatement has been widely acknowledged. Nevertheless, their participation in the world primary energy matrix is still quite modest (less than 2%). Today, several barriers inhibit the enhanced utilization of new and renewable energy sources, such as economic and financial, institutional and legislative, environmental as well as socio-political barriers. In order to overcome this large variety of barriers, it is necessary to create a portfolio of policies to foster the use of new and renewable energy sources. This article presents several categories of policies providing examples of adopted and planned policy tools and actions to promote alternative sources of energy.
Englund et al (2015 Environ. Res. Lett. 10 044002) have recently analyzed biodiesel production fr... more Englund et al (2015 Environ. Res. Lett. 10 044002) have recently analyzed biodiesel production from oil palm plantations as one possible way to mitigate climate change while providing cost effective results. They show that data for detailed quantification of biological carbon sequestration is available allowing a high confidence evaluation of positive impacts when oil palm plantation for food and biodiesel production is carried out in degraded, cultivated soil, and also with some varieties of natural vegetation in the Amazon. Nevertheless, economic risk associated with the future price of fossil fuels and uncertainties related with carbon subsidy are barriers. Here we discuss the assumptions under which such controversial proposal is based and suggest further analysis for Brazilian decision makers.
A survey is made of the state of the art of the production of ethanol from sugar cane and other c... more A survey is made of the state of the art of the production of ethanol from sugar cane and other crops and the problems and constraints involved on its use as an automotive fuel. The improved efficiency of modified internal combustion engines running on pure alcohol is discussed as well as pollution problems. It is shown that these problems are not aggravated by the use of ethanol. The energy balances for the production of ethanol from sugar cane, cassava, sweet sorghum and wood-taking into account agricultural and industrial energy expenses-are compared in Brazil and in the United States. Costs of ethanol from different crops are evaluated and the conclusion reached that in present Brazilian conditions it is US$12.69/GJ when produced from sugar cane. Gasoline cost in Brazil is US$12.19/GJ ex-refinery. Considering that ethanol when used as an octane booster has an efficiency 25% higher than gasoline, the final conclusion is that ethanol has reached the breakeven point as compared wit...
ENERGIA é um ingrediente essencial para a vida na sociedade moderna. A ampliação da infra-estrutu... more ENERGIA é um ingrediente essencial para a vida na sociedade moderna. A ampliação da infra-estrututa energética do Brasil, tanto na sua produção como no consumo exigirá grandes investimentos. Daí a necessidade da presença do Governo no planejamento das atividades energéticas, que são geralmente implementados pela iniciativa privada. Esta presença é essencial para: 1. atender a demanda da sociedade por mais e melhores serviços de energia; 2. estimular a participação de fontes energéticas sustentáveis e duradouras; 3. priorizar o uso eficiente da energia para liberar capital aos setores mais produtivos da economia e preservar o meio ambiente; 4. utilizar o investimento em energia como fonte de geração de empregos e de estímulo à indústria nacional; 5. incorporar à matriz energética insumos importados quando isso resultar em vantagens comerciais e sociais ao país, inclusive através da abertura de exportação de produtos e serviços e, 6. produzir energia de diversas fontes, reduzindo o ri...
New and renewable sources of energy have been considered as an alternative to conventional source... more New and renewable sources of energy have been considered as an alternative to conventional sources for thirty years and during the last ten years their potential contribution to global pollution abatement has been widely acknowledged. Nevertheless, their participation in the world primary energy matrix is still quite modest (less than 2%). Today, several barriers inhibit the enhanced utilization of new and renewable energy sources, such as economic and financial, institutional and legislative, environmental as well as socio-political barriers. In order to overcome this large variety of barriers, it is necessary to create a portfolio of policies to foster the use of new and renewable energy sources. This article presents several categories of policies providing examples of adopted and planned policy tools and actions to promote alternative sources of energy.
Englund et al (2015 Environ. Res. Lett. 10 044002) have recently analyzed biodiesel production fr... more Englund et al (2015 Environ. Res. Lett. 10 044002) have recently analyzed biodiesel production from oil palm plantations as one possible way to mitigate climate change while providing cost effective results. They show that data for detailed quantification of biological carbon sequestration is available allowing a high confidence evaluation of positive impacts when oil palm plantation for food and biodiesel production is carried out in degraded, cultivated soil, and also with some varieties of natural vegetation in the Amazon. Nevertheless, economic risk associated with the future price of fossil fuels and uncertainties related with carbon subsidy are barriers. Here we discuss the assumptions under which such controversial proposal is based and suggest further analysis for Brazilian decision makers.
A survey is made of the state of the art of the production of ethanol from sugar cane and other c... more A survey is made of the state of the art of the production of ethanol from sugar cane and other crops and the problems and constraints involved on its use as an automotive fuel. The improved efficiency of modified internal combustion engines running on pure alcohol is discussed as well as pollution problems. It is shown that these problems are not aggravated by the use of ethanol. The energy balances for the production of ethanol from sugar cane, cassava, sweet sorghum and wood-taking into account agricultural and industrial energy expenses-are compared in Brazil and in the United States. Costs of ethanol from different crops are evaluated and the conclusion reached that in present Brazilian conditions it is US$12.69/GJ when produced from sugar cane. Gasoline cost in Brazil is US$12.19/GJ ex-refinery. Considering that ethanol when used as an octane booster has an efficiency 25% higher than gasoline, the final conclusion is that ethanol has reached the breakeven point as compared wit...
ENERGIA é um ingrediente essencial para a vida na sociedade moderna. A ampliação da infra-estrutu... more ENERGIA é um ingrediente essencial para a vida na sociedade moderna. A ampliação da infra-estrututa energética do Brasil, tanto na sua produção como no consumo exigirá grandes investimentos. Daí a necessidade da presença do Governo no planejamento das atividades energéticas, que são geralmente implementados pela iniciativa privada. Esta presença é essencial para: 1. atender a demanda da sociedade por mais e melhores serviços de energia; 2. estimular a participação de fontes energéticas sustentáveis e duradouras; 3. priorizar o uso eficiente da energia para liberar capital aos setores mais produtivos da economia e preservar o meio ambiente; 4. utilizar o investimento em energia como fonte de geração de empregos e de estímulo à indústria nacional; 5. incorporar à matriz energética insumos importados quando isso resultar em vantagens comerciais e sociais ao país, inclusive através da abertura de exportação de produtos e serviços e, 6. produzir energia de diversas fontes, reduzindo o ri...
Executive Summary
Bioenergy has a significant greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation potential, provided... more Executive Summary Bioenergy has a significant greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation potential, provided that the resources are developed sustainably and that efficient bioenergy systems are used. Certain current systems and key future options including perennial cropping systems, use of biomass residues and wastes and advanced conversion systems are able to deliver 80 to 90% emission reductions compared to the fossil energy baseline. However, land use conversion and forest management that lead to a loss of carbon stocks (direct) in addition to indirect land use change (d+iLUC) effects can lessen, and in some cases more than neutralize, the net positive GHG mitigation impacts. Impacts of climate change through temperature increases, rainfall pattern changes and increased frequency of extreme events will influence and interact with biomass resource potential. This interaction is still poorly understood, but it is likely to exhibit strong regional differences. Climate change impacts on biomass feedstock production exist but if global temperature rise is limited to less than 2°C compared with the pre-industrial record, it may pose few constraints. Combining adaptation measures with biomass resource production can offer more sustainable opportunities for bioenergy and perennial cropping systems. Biomass is a primary source of food, fodder and fibre and as a renewable energy (RE) source provided about 10.2% (50.3 EJ) of global total primary energy supply (TPES) in 2008. Traditional use of wood, straws, charcoal, dung and other manures for cooking, space heating and lighting by generally poorer populations in developing countries accounts for about 30.7 EJ, and another 20 to 40% occurs in unaccounted informal sectors including charcoal production and distribution.
Evaluation and Utilization of Bioethanol Fuels. I. Evaluation of Bioethanol Fuels, Transport Engines, and Bioethanol Sensors , 2024
Significant changes in the road transportation sector are being forecasted for the following deca... more Significant changes in the road transportation sector are being forecasted for the following decade due to global environmental concerns, with the leading strategy being vehicles with total or partial electrification. In this text, we discuss sugarcane ethanol relevance as part of this context and call attention to the fact that its potential has been frequently underestimated. Hybrid vehicles fed with neat ethanol or high ethanol blends can lead to greater GHG emission reduction compared with conventional and battery ones. Furthermore, due to the efficiency improvements in hybrid vehicles, and the use of the full potential of sugarcane coproducts, the land area required for their feedstock production is significantly reduced when compared with conventional cars using straight ethanol. The traditional first generation sugarcane ethanol production route already provides lower GHG emissions compared with fossil fuels, and technical improvements in bioelectricity generation and use of carbon capture and storage (CCS), both already commercially used, can enlarge this gap, making it a serious competitor with electric vehicles.
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Papers by Jose Moreira
Bioenergy has a significant greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation potential, provided that the resources are developed sustainably and that efficient bioenergy systems are used. Certain current systems and key future options including perennial cropping systems, use of biomass residues and wastes and advanced conversion systems are able to deliver 80 to 90% emission reductions compared to the fossil energy baseline. However, land use conversion and forest management that lead to a loss of carbon stocks (direct) in addition to indirect land use change (d+iLUC) effects can lessen, and in some cases more than neutralize, the net positive GHG mitigation impacts. Impacts of climate change through temperature increases, rainfall pattern changes and increased frequency of extreme events will influence and interact with biomass resource potential. This interaction is still poorly understood, but it is likely to exhibit strong regional differences. Climate change impacts on biomass feedstock production exist but if global temperature rise is limited to less than 2°C compared with the pre-industrial record, it may pose few constraints. Combining adaptation measures with biomass resource production can offer more sustainable opportunities for bioenergy and perennial cropping systems.
Biomass is a primary source of food, fodder and fibre and as a renewable energy (RE) source provided about 10.2% (50.3 EJ) of global total primary energy supply (TPES) in 2008. Traditional use of wood, straws, charcoal, dung and other manures for cooking, space heating and lighting by generally poorer populations in developing countries accounts for about 30.7 EJ, and another 20 to 40% occurs in unaccounted informal sectors including charcoal production and distribution.