Sustainable Energy

The differential effects of two forms of feedback on energy consumption behaviour were examined in two units of a metallurgical company. In one unit, employees received information about energy conservation, had to set goals and received feedback on their own conservation behaviour. The same procedure was followed with employees in a second unit, but they also received information about the performance of the first unit. In accordance with predictions from social identity theory and social comparison theory, the results clearly showed that employees in the comparative feedback condition saved more energy than employees who only received information about their own performance, even half a year after the intervention. A remarkable finding was that behavioural change took place with hardly any changes in attitudes or intentions. The discussion focuses on these findings and on their implications for organizational behaviour change in general.

In this paper, an energy system comprising three energy sources, namely PV, wind and fuel cells, is proposed. Each of the three energy sources is controlled so as to deliver energy at optimum efficiency. Fuzzy logic control is employed to achieve maximum power tracking ...

The imminent decline of the world's oil production, its high market prices and environmental impacts have made the production of biofuels to reach unprecedent volumes over the last 10 years. This is why there have been intense debates among international organizations and political leaders in order to discuss the impacts of the biofuel use intensification.Besides assessing the causes of the rise in the demand and production of biofuels, this paper also shows the state of the art of their world's current production. It is also discussed different vegetable raw materials sources and technological paths to produce biofuels, as well as issues regarding production cost and the relation of their economic feasibility with oil international prices. The environmental impacts of programs that encourage biofuel production, farmland land requirements and the impacts on food production are also discussed, considering the life cycle analysis (LCA) as a tool.It is concluded that the rise...

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Due to its considerable impact on climate, bus air conditioning systems are being pushed to take a new and sustainable path. Electric buses relying on transcritical CO2 air conditioning units are perceived to be eco-friendly and future-proof solutions to achieving such a target. However, in order to have highly efficient air conditioning systems, the CO2 charge needs to be optimized. In this paper the energy and exergy-based analyses were performed to investigate the effect of normalized refrigerant charge on the system performance by using a test rig of a transcritical CO2 air conditioning unit for an 8 m electric bus. Results showed that the normalized refrigerant charge range of 0.248~0.336 was recommended in order to ensure the maximum coefficient of performance (COP). In addition, in sufficient charge conditions, the optimal COP, cooling capacity and exergy efficiency were 1.716, 18.97 kW and 29.79%, respectively, under the standard refrigeration condition of 35 °C/27 °C. As the ambient temperature rose from 35 °C to 40 °C, the COP, cooling capacity and exergy efficiency decreased by 16.03%, 10.90% and 12.22%, respectively. Furthermore, the exergy efficiency was found not to be sensitive to slightly insufficient charge, whereas overcharge was observed to be even beneficial to exergy efficiency under the condition of ensuring the maximum COP. In addition, insufficient refrigerant charging seriously affected the irreversible losses in the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers, whereas slight overcharge had little effect on the component exergy efficiency. Finally, the need to improve the CO2 compressor efficiency to enhance the system performance was revealed.

One of the biggest challenges facing some developing countries, with regards to industrialization, is the adverse effects of non-compliance to existing policies. One of such is non-adherence to the provision of future energy infrastructure as projected. Adequate supply of energy infrastructural services is essential for economic development. There have been a series of changes in the energy industry in the past decades, with still more changes expected. These changes impact on the energy infrastructure we use. Input to production is seen as one of the most direct role of energy. This chapter highlights the various effects of poorly implemented energy policies and their corresponding impact on sustainable industrial growth with specific focus on the Nigerian case. It explores how non-compliance to the forecasted energy infrastructure provisions – as contained in the 10-year plan covering 1946–1956 of the then Nigerian Government Electricity Undertaking (NGEU) – led to de-industrialization in Nigeria in the 1970s and beyond. It concludes by highlighting some key elements that could be adopted to re-industrialize Africa.

Since the maturing of the wind farm industry, attention has been focused on the use of wind turbines for electricity production in remote areas. Generally, remote villages are driven by diesel generators. However, introduction/dissemination of wind energy conversion systems (WECS) into the existing diesel systems results in the reduction of the diesel fuel consumption and eventually allows atmospheric pollution to subside. A short-term energy storage integrated with wind-diesel system may compensate for fluctuations in the power output of the wind turbine and raise the fuel saving potential. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's (K.S.A) area is large, with large number of villages/settlements scattered all over the Kingdom. In the present study, hourly mean wind-speed data recorded at an airport, K.S.A., has been analyzed to investigate the technical and economic feasibility/viability of utilizing off-grid hybrid (wind-diesel-battery) power systems to meet the load requirements of a typical remote/isolated village with annual electrical energy demand of 13,244 MWh. The airport is located in the vicinity of the candidate settlement. The hybrid systems simulated comprise of various combinations (wind farms) of 600 kW commercial WECS supplemented with diesel generators and a short-term battery storage. The amount of battery storage capacity has been varied from 0 to 60 load minutes (equivalent to 0-60 min of average load). National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL's) HOMER software has been used to perform the technical and economic analysis of hybrid wind-diesel-battery power systems. The investigation indicates that for a hybrid system consisting of 3.6 MW (six 600 kW wind machines, 50 m hub-height) wind farm capacity together with 4.5 MW diesel system (three 1.5 MW diesel units) and a battery storage of 30 load minutes (equivalent to 30 min of average load), the wind penetration is 24%. The cost of generating energy from the above hybrid configuration has been found to be 0.078 US$/kWh (assuming a diesel fuel price of 0.1 $/liter). The simulation results highlight that the number of operational hours of diesel generators in wind-diesel system decreases with increase in wind farm capacity. The study also illustrates that for a given hybrid wind-diesel system, the decrease in diesel run time is further enhanced by inclusion of battery storage capacity. An attempt has been made to address the effect of wind penetration, effect of hub-height on energy production, cost of wind-diesel-battery systems, cost of energy production, excess electricity, un-met load, percentage fuel savings and decrease in carbon emissions, etc (for different scenarios such as wind-diesel without storage, wind-diesel with storage, as compared to diesel-only situation).

Most of the studies conducted on solar energy assessment and solar system siting focus on flat terrains that are usually difficult and expensive to acquire in urban areas. This paper investigates the possibility of using inclined terrains for siting photovoltaic (PV) power plants surrounding urban area. Both analytical analysis and simulations are carried out in order to analyse and validate the effectiveness and benefits of the use of inclined land for PV siting. Geographical information system and numerical weather prediction were used to implement the suggested original approach and to select suitable inclined terrains for the PV system installation and to calculate the total generation potential for energy production. Muscat, the capital of Oman, was selected as a reference for the implementation of this approach.

Waste heat is developed as a by-product in power generation, commercial procedures and electric machines, among others. Huge of spend warmed are designed by industry. Thermoelectric developer is one of the alternate sources for the growth of power. Thermoelectric developer is a device which transforms heat straight into electrical power, using a phenomenon called the "Seebeck effect". In this paper we will recommended a thermoelectric developer which will use invest warmed exhausted by the places for development of electric power. The suggested program will be depending on thermoelectric content known as bismuth telluride (Bi2Teз). This developer having no energy price because spend warmed is the opinions for this developer. In our suggested system we used voltmeters, ammeter and warmed wide range receptors to find the regards between the opinions warmed and the designed outcome power.

Energy is a vital input for social and economic development. As a result of the generalization of agricultural, industrial and domestic activities the demand for energy has increased remarkably, especially in emergent countries. This has meant rapid grower in the level of greenhouse gas emissions and the increase in fuel prices, which are the main driving forces behind efforts to utilize renewable energy sources more effectively, i.e. energy which comes from natural resources and is also naturally replenished. Despite the obvious advantages of renewable energy, it presents important drawbacks, such as the discontinuity of generation, as most renewable energy resources depend on the climate, which is why their use requires complex design, planning and control optimization methods. Fortunately, the continuous advances in computer hardware and software are allowing researchers to deal with these optimization problems using computational resources, as can be seen in the large number of optimization methods that have been applied to the renewable and sustainable energy field. This paper presents a review of the current state of the art in computational optimization methods applied to renewable and sustainable energy, offering a clear vision of the lastest research advances in this field.

Existing and emerging financing mechanisms for SCP businesses
RECP in investment decisions of financial institutions
Challenges, barriers and limitations
Economic benefits of investment in SCP: Case-Studies
IBIS: Igniting Business Investments in Sustainable Lifestyles –solution for SCP

Fuel cell technology is expected to play an important role in meeting the growing demand for distributed power generation. In an ongoing effort to meet increasing energy demand and to preserve the global environment, the development of energy systems with readily available fuels, high efficiency and minimal environmental impact is urgently required. A fuel cell system is expected to meet such demands because it is a chemical power generation device, which converts the chemical energy of a renewable clean fuel (e.g. Hydrogen) directly into electrical energy. Still a maturing technology, fuel cell technology has already indicated its advantages, such as its high-energy conversion efficiency, modular design and very low environmental intrusion, over conventional power generation equipment. Among all kinds of fuel cells, proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells have many superior advantages. These advantages have sparked development efforts in various quarters of industry to open up new field of applications for PEM fuel cells. Three key issues limiting the widespread commercialization of the PEM fuel cells technology which are better performance, lower cost, and long cell life. The strategy of the Fuel Cell Research Center at the International Energy and Environment Foundation (IEEF) is to develop the PEM fuel cells to improve their lifetime with a much higher power density and lower cost. An overview of innovations in this field is presented using the published results of the center over the last decade. These innovative improvements will show a new scenario for the future fuel cell market of the next years.

India’s energy challenges are accentuated by the presence of
large section of the population, especially in rural areas, lacking access to modern energy carriers. Lack of access to modern energy carrier-based services has implications for economic, social and environmental wellbeing of humanity. The implications are typically in the form of income poverty, primitive lifestyles, loss of dignity, physical hardship, health hazards, lack of employment and polluted environment. In 2007, for example in India, out of a population of about 1,125 million, 400 million were without access to electricity and 801 million were depending on solid fuels for cooking. This status indicates that the polices initiated, and the programmes
implemented by the government of India as well as various state governments since the past several years have proved to be ineffective. Keeping these in mind, in this paper, an attempt has been made to provide deeper insights into the relationships between energy access status, policies and programmes and sustainable development by adopting a
review methodology. In essence, the paper tries to analyse the linkage—current energy access status is an outcome of policy failure, and it has given rise to negative implications for sustainable development—through a synthesis of research papers and policy documents.

Biomass resources are widely acknowledged as a potential substitute for fossil resources for sustainable development. Many kinds of biomass are potentially available on a large scale and are cost competitive to fossil whether on a mass or energy basis, and in terms of the ...

(1) Background: The article provides a methodologically coherent analysis of technological development in the context of the fourth industrial revolution or Industry 4.0 and its impact on changes in sustainable development policy. (2) Methods: Using a Comparative Automated Content Analysis (ACA) approach, the article compares recent scientific work on sustainable development and the fourth industrial revolution with the discourse in the news media on sustainable development and industry 4.0. (3) Results: The scientific literature focuses more on changes in business models, production processes, and technologies that enable sustainable development. Newspaper and magazine articles write more about sustainable or green investments, sustainable standards, and sustainable reporting. The focus is on topics that are directly relevant to current sustainable business development and the promotion of research and development of clean and smart technologies and processes. (4) Conclusions: The ACA allows a more systematic comparison of different data sources. The article provides a starting point for sustainable development professionals to gain useful insights into a specific context with the help of the ACA.

A simulation model is developed by commercial simulators in order to predict the performance of a fluidised bed reformer. As many physical and chemical phenomena take place in the reformer, two submodels (hydrodynamic and reaction sub-models) are needed. The hydrodynamic sub-model is based on the dynamic two-phase model and the reaction sub-model is derived from the literature. In the overall model, the bed is divided into several sections. In each section, the flow of the gas is considered as plug flow through the bubble phase and perfectly mixed through the emulsion phase. Experimental data from the literature were used to validate the model. Close agreement was found between the model of both ASPEN Plus (ASPEN PLUS 2004 ©) and HYSYS (ASPEN HYSYS 2004 ©) and the experimental data using various sectioning of the reactor ranged from one to four. The experimental conversion lies between one and four sections as expected. The model proposed in this work can be used as a framework in developing the complicated models for non-ideal reactors inside of the process simulators.

While partial energy transitions have been observed in the past, the complete transition of a fossil-based energy system to a sustainable energy one is historically unprecedented on a large scale. Switching from an economy based on energy stocks to one based on energy flows requires a social paradigm shift. This paper defines Sustainable Energy Transition (SET) and introduces a set of five propositions that prescribe its sustainability. The propositions are comprehensive, spanning environmental constraints, resource availability, equity, and the transition dynamics from an energy and economic accounting perspective aimed at addressing all three pillars of sustainability. In order to rigorously define the constraints of SET a theoretical energy economy framework is introduced along with the concept of the renewable energy investment ratio. The paper concludes with a practical application of the SET propositions on the global energy system and identifies an order of magnitude underinvestment in the renewable energy investment ratio in comparison to the estimated level needed for a controlled transition that satisfies all propositions. The option of drastically increasing this ratio in the future may not be available as it would reduce societally available energy, imposing unacceptably high energy prices that would induce either fossil resource extraction beyond the safely recoverable resources or energy poverty.

Desalination plays critical role in filling the gap between fresh water demand and availability in water scarce Sultanate of Oman since 1976. Installed desalination capacity in the country has almost increased by 60 times that in 1976 with increasing fresh water demand. Even though desalination share in meeting the fresh water demand is increasing, 80-85% of fresh water demand today is still satisfied with ground water. This is leading to increased soil salinity in recent years affecting the crop production. All the planned and installed desalination plants in the country use conventional fuels for their operation. None of the plant is based on any form of renewable energy source. Consumption of fossil fuels for the operation of plants is increasing at an average rate of 3-5% affecting the net export for the country. Sultanate of Oman is considered to be one of the most suitable destinations for solar energy applications and can play a vital and sustainable role in meeting the gap b...

[if interested in thesis, let me know and I'll provide you with a PDF. It's not yet online because of pending chapter publication]

This dissertation is aimed at answering the question: how can philosophy of technology guide the emerging energy transition? The question is pertinent because in response to climate change, resource scarcity, local environmental issues, and concerns of national security, many initiatives are emerging aimed at changing in one way or another the system that powers our society. However, these initiatives often make slow progress, have conflicting visions of the required direction, and tend to focus on technological developments, rather than techno-social change. A philosophical perspective in general can point at possibly problematic implicit assumptions, aid discussions by introducing concepts and distinctions, and broaden the debate by embedding the issue in a broader context. In the case of energy transition, it can point out how the current energy system inhibits the rise of the 'ethical consumer', why and how to move beyond the dominance of scarcity in discussions on energy transition, and how we may learn to appreciate energy consumption not just in terms of quantity, but also and especially in terms of quality and experience. Or so it is argued in this dissertation.
In the introduction, it is pointed out that exosomatic (outside of the body) energy use started with the use of fire and the cooking of food, and enabled humanity to enroll a much larger range of energy sources to achieve their goals than was otherwise possible. The 'energy system' must therefore not be understood as limited to the oil-, gas-, and electricity-industry, but as involving the entire network of technologies and organizations that enables energy use, from power plants and grids to kitchen appliances and from oil fields to highways and the tendency to commute to work. This broad range of relevant elements, shifting between the levels of artifacts, technical systems, and societal arrangements, causes me to borrow from a range of approaches in philosophy and history of technology, as well as energy research and transition studies. The result is a first exploration of promising routes into what may in the future become the field of philosophy of energy.
Chapter 2 introduces the reader to twentieth century philosophical perspectives on energy by Lewis Mumford, Georges Bataille, and Martin Heidegger. They suggest that energy is not the unproblematic concept that is often assumed in discussions on energy transition. Energy can be interpreted in a number of ways, and these interpretations allow us to see different issues when used to describe energy transition. An empirically informed philosophical perspective can offer clarity regarding particular problems in energy transition. As an example, the chapter discusses the problem of intermittency in the electric network. Via the work of Heidegger it is proposed that energy is currently conceptualized both as flux and as potentiality, and that there is a tension between the two. Energy is 'flux' when it is flowing, doing work, being used, effecting change. It is 'potentiality' when it is stored, waiting to be used, available. The problem of intermittency occurs because wind and solar power emerge as flux, unlike fossil fuels which emerge as potentiality. It is argued that Mumford's theory of four stages in energy use opens up a solution space for intermittency beyond the currently popular and technically complex attempts at energy storage.
Whereas the example in chapter 2 focuses on production, chapter 3 raises questions in the context of energy consumption. Specifically, it explores the phenomenology of electricity consumption in relation to the ability of the consumer to develop an ethical position on the matter. Via the concept of the 'experiential gap', the invisibility of a large part of the electric system comes to the fore. This is salient in the light of Foucault's work on self practices, in which it is argued that ethical behavior can only be built from the relation with a morally relevant environment. The complex and opaque electrical network thus makes 'ethical consumption' particularly difficult. Simpler and more transparent energy systems could enable ethical engagement, but at the cost of decreased usability: ethical behavior demands that the problem 'gets in the way', but when using technology the user needs the medium to dissolve in the practice.
After the focus on the two poles of energy practices, chapter 4 revolves around debates on energy transition. It suggests that two dominant positions in these debates can be distinguished: the 'boundless consumerism' approach which argues that growth will remain possible via efficiency improvements and novel energy technologies, and the 'eco-frugality' approach which argues that instead, consumption should decrease radically by making energy conservation a central aspect of our lives. This chapter problematizes both routes via their implicit understanding of the good life, and proposes a third route. Not only is society interested in a sustainable energy system, but it should also (and perhaps primarily) cater to society's needs and enable people to flourish as human beings. Neither side in the current debate seems to have this worked out very well. Boundless consumerism has already proven to be ineffective: over the last half century, growing energy consumption has not led to greater subjective well-being in the western world. Eco-frugality meanwhile focuses our attention on everything we cannot do: a protestant ethic without the appeal of a good afterlife. Through the introduction of a third position, 'qualitative abundance' (centered on the question how energy contributes to well-being), discussions on energy transition are expanded to include concerns of prosperity and simplicity, next to the traditional concern of scarcity. This expansion of the debate opens up a space in which it becomes possible to discuss ways to reduce energy consumption by improving well-being.
In chapter 5, this idea of low-energy good living is developed further: why does increased energy consumption fail to improve well-being, and what kind of energy practice would increase quality of life? The chapter explores and combines the work of Ivan Illich and Albert Borgmann, both of whom have been critical of the effectiveness of industrial society to provide for human needs, but from very different starting points. Illich looks at society in general and provides a compelling narrative how a narrow focus on efficiency becomes counterproductive. For example, beyond a certain threshold faster transportation ends up leading to more rather than less time spent on transport. If many of our practices have reached such a threshold, increasing energy consumption is detrimental to society's goals. Borgmann starts with the individual, and argues that embodied engagement with our environment is crucial for our well-being. Borgmann's analysis is here extended with the insight that such embodied engagement is always low-energy: we experience the world through our body, and not through our 'extended body' of machinery. This leads to the position that energy consuming technology can only be used to support the good life, and not be central to it. With Illich' cautionary remarks in mind, this support can only have a limited intensity.
The discussion and conclusion takes stock of the insights gained. Answers to the research questions are summarized, and it is argued that this philosophical exploration on energy transition provides new perspectives to look at energy in society, provides concepts that enable a better understanding of particular issues in energy transition, clarifies misconceptions about energy consumption, and provides a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between energy consumption and the good life. Combined, these insights enable a much broader discussion and 'solution space' for energy practices to develop. It enables energy research programs to take into consideration consumption practices when making design choices around energy production, and offers individuals reflecting on energy practices a much broader vocabulary for reflection.
These points are placed in the broader context of both energy transition and the related research fields of philosophy of technology, research in energy technology, and transition studies. Finally, some limitations are discussed, leading to suggestions for further research.

Indoor swimming pools are recognised as having a high level of energy consumption and present a great potential for energy saving. The energy is spent in several ways such as evaporation heat loss from the pool, high rates of ventilation required to guarantee the indoor air quality, and ambient temperatures with expressive values (typically 28 − 30 • C) required to maintain conditions of comfort. This paper presents an approach to optimising control of heat ventilation and air conditioning systems that could be implemented in a building energy management system. It is easily adapted to any kind of pool and results in significant energy consumption reduction. The development and validation of the control model were carried out with a building thermal simulation software. The use of this control model in the case study building could reduce the energy efficiency index by 7.14 points (7.4% of total) which adds up to an energy cost saving of 15,609Ł (7.5% of total).

This study reviews gas engine-driven heat pump (GEHP) systems for residential and industrial applications in terms of energetic and exergetic aspects for the first time to the best of the authors’ knowledge. These systems are novel heat pump systems (one of today's promising new technologies). Although the first investigations had been performed at late 1970s, the first merchandized GEHP was produced and introduced in the market in 1985. Gradually, it has become widespread all over the world for various purposes. Main application of GEHPs are for space and water heating/cooling purposes. However, they can be integrated to industrial applications, especially to drying processes.In this study, historical development of GEHP systems was briefly given first. Next, the operation of these systems was described, while studies conducted on them were reviewed and presented in tabulated forms. GEHPs were then modeled for performance evaluation purposes by using energy and exergy analysis methods. Finally, an illustrative example was given, while the results obtained were discussed. In addition, a new project on integration of GEHP systems to food drying processes in Turkey initiated by the authors was introduced. It is expected that this comprehensive study will be very beneficial to everyone involved or interested in the energetic and exergetic design, simulation, analysis and performance of assessment of GEHP systems.

Floating photovoltaic (FPV) technology is gaining prominence as a means to alleviate land use conflicts while obtaining large solar PV deployments and simultaneously reducing evaporated water loss. In this study, an open source after-market distributed manufacturing method is proposed to be applied to large flexible PV modules to make flexible FPV systems. Specifically this study considers surface floating of flexible thin film solar PV using three types of closed-cell foams: i) neoprene, ii) mincell and iii) polyethylene. The fabricated FPV underwent indoor and outdoor tests for flotation, wave resistance, temperature and resistance to algae accumulation. The average operational temperature was reduced by 10-20 o C for the FPV compared to land-based mounting indicating substantial increases in electricity output compared to ground-based deployment of any type of PV (2-4% for amorphous silicon used here and 5-10% for crystalline Si based PV). In addition, foam-based FPV racking were also found to reduce costs of racking to $0.37-0.61/W, which is significantly lower than raft-based FPV as well as conventional land-based racking. The results of this preliminary study indicate that foam-backed FPV is exceptionally promising and should be further investigated with different foams, larger systems and more diverse deployments for longer periods to increase PV deployments.

This paper mainly deals with the development trends of solar dryers used for grapes drying. Several typical installations, including traditional methods, are presented. Technical and economical results indicate that solar drying of grapes is feasible. However, the farmerÕs acceptance of solar drying was still very limited. This may be due to the small capacity of the dryers and too long pay back period or to sociocultural factors. Further research and development work should be continued in order to over rule these factors. As research and development work has made signi®cant progress, it seems that a review of all developed solar drying units is appropriate. Ó : S 0 1 9 6 -8 9 0 4 ( 0 1 ) 0 0 0 0 6 -1 Grapes are one of the most popular and palatable fruits in the world. The preservation of grapes by drying is a major industry in many parts of the world, where grapes (Vitis vinifera) are grown. Drying the grape, either by open sun drying, shade drying or mechanical drying, produces raisins. The production of raisins is an important export business in many countries, e.g. in Greece, the average annual export value was $140 Â 10 6 [1].

The paper is focused on the dynamic simulation of a Photovoltaic/Thermal collector (PVT) integrated in a high-temperature Solar Heating and Cooling (SHC) system. The system is based on the following main components: concentrating parabolic PVT (photovoltaic thermal) collectors, a double-stage LiBr-H2O absorption chiller, storage tanks, auxiliary heaters, balance of plant devices. The PVT is made-up by a parabolic dish concentrator and a triple-junction receiver. The polygeneration system provides electricity, space heating and cooling and domestic hot water for a given building, whose simulation is also included in the model. In particular, PVT produces electric energy, which is in part consumed by the building loads (lights and equipments), in part by the system parasitic loads, whereas the eventual excess is sold to the public grid. Simultaneously, the PVT provides the heat required to drive the absorption chiller. The system was simulated by means of a zero-dimensional transient model, that allows the evaluation of temperature profiles and also heat/electrical energy flows for whatever period of the year. It is also possible to evaluate the overall energetic and economic performance on whatever time basis (day, week, month, year, etc.). The economic results show that the system under investigation can be profitable, if a proper funding policy is available. The paper also includes an extensive parametric analysis aiming at evaluating the set of design and operating parameters (solar field area, tank volumes, set point temperatures, etc.) that maximize the energetic and/or economic performance of the system.

Thermochemical processing of biomass produces a solid product containing char (mostly carbon) and ash. This char can be combusted for heat and power, gasified, activated for adsorption applications, or applied to soils as a soil amendment and carbon sequestration agent. The most advantageous use of a given char depends on its physical and chemical characteristics, although the relationship of char properties to these applications is not well understood. Chars from fast pyrolysis and gasification of switchgrass and corn stover were characterized by proximate analysis, CHNS elemental analysis, Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) surface area, particle density, higher heating value (HHV), scanning electron microscopy, X-ray fluorescence ash content analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy using a photo-acoustic detector (FTIR-PAS), and quantitative 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) using direct polarization and magic angle spinning. Chars from the same feedstocks produced under slow pyrolysis conditions, and a commercial hardwood charcoal, were also characterized. Switchgrass and corn stover chars were found to have high ash content (32–55 wt %), much of which was silica. BET surface areas were low (7–50 m2/g) and HHVs ranged from 13 to 21 kJ/kg. The aromaticities from NMR, ranging between 81 and 94%, appeared to increase with reaction time. A pronounced decrease in aromatic CH functionality between slow pyrolysis and gasification chars was observed in NMR and FTIR-PAS spectra. NMR estimates of fused aromatic ring cluster size showed fast and slow pyrolysis chars to be similar (∼7–8 rings per cluster), while higher-temperature gasification char was much more condensed (∼17 rings per cluster). © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 2009

Renewable energy is the inevitable choice for sustainable economic growth, for the harmonious coexistence of human and environment as well as for the sustainable development. Government support is the key and initial power for developing renewable energy. In this article, an overall review has been conducted on renewable energy development policy (including laws and regulations, economic encouragement, technical research and development, industrialized support and government model projects, etc.) in China. On this basis, a systematic analysis has been conducted on the disadvantages of renewable energy development policy. On the point of long-term effective system for renewable energy development, a series of policy advice has been offered, such as strengthening the policy coordination, enhancing regional policy innovation, echoing with clean development mechanism, implementing process management, constructing market investment and financing system. It is expected that the above advices could be helpful to ever-improvement of renewable energy development policy. #

The control and operation of electronic systems
relies and depends on the availability of  the  power supply.
Rechargeable batteries have been more pervasively used as
the energy storage and power source for various electrical and electronic systems and devices, such as communication
systems, electronic devices, renewable power systems, electric vehicles, etc. However, the rechargeable batteries are
subjected to the availability of the external power source when it is drained out. Because of the concern of battery life,
environmental pollution and a possible energy crisis, the
renewable solar energy has received an increasing attention
in recent years. A fuzzy logic control based grid tied
uninterruptible power supply integrating renewable solar
energy can be used for electrical and electronic systems to
produce power generation. This paper presents the design and implementation of fuzzy logic control based grid tied
uninterruptible power supply integrating the renewable  solar power energy system. The uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system is characterized by the rechargeable battery that is connected  with  the Photovoltaic Panel through the DC/DC converter,  the  utility AC through the AC/DC  converter  and the load is connected through the DC/AC converter. The whole operation is controlled by the fuzzy logic algorithm. A complete hardware prototype system model of the fuzzy logic control based  on the  grid tied uninterruptible power supply integrating with the  renewable solar energy is designed and implemented. The operation and effectiveness of the proposed system is  then  demonstrated by  the  actual and  real-time implementation of  the  fuzzy logic control grid tied operation 
uninterruptible power supply integrating renewable  solar
energy connected to the rechargeable battery bank and a PIC
microcontroller platform for fuzzy logic control and operation.

The Restorative Urban Design (RUD) calls for a new urban design and planning approach targeting environmentally responsible re/development of urbanized areas through ecologically responsive impact mitigations. If implemented in a systematic manner, such re/developments can help move urban areas toward the successful restoration of the natural environment of which they are an inseparable part.

The RUD model advocates more rigorous assessment and mitigation of urban impacts by carefully evaluating the environmental performance of urban re/developments within five primary dimensions: Atmosphere (emissions, pollutants, ozone depletion); Hydrosphere (stormwater, domestic water, wastewater); Lithosphere (land use, land cover, food and wastes); Ecology (habitat resilience, biodiversity, population and resources); and Energy (renewability, reduction and efficiency, transportation). The model relies on a scenario-comparison process in order to evaluate and optimize the performance of urban re/development projections through four critical scenarios, which are respectively: 1) Natural Baseline (NBASE); 2) Historic Progression (HPROG); 3) Trajectory Forecast (TFORE); and 4) Restorative Projection (RPROJ).

The RUD Case Study illustrates how the principles and strategies of Restorative Urban Design can be applied specifically to a typical (densely developed) urban area, namely River North District in Chicago Metropolitan Area. The case study focuses exclusively on mitigation of a single critical human impact on the natural environment: Anthropogenic CO2 Emissions. The case study focuses on the design assumptions by which the restorative urban re/development scenarios might exceed beyond the full mitigation of emissions into the global remediation by 2040. The restorative projections illustrate that only a certain portion of emissions can be effectively mitigated onsite (5 to 55%), and that the remainder of projected emissions (45 to 95%) need to be mitigated offsite in order to achieve the necessary sequestration and storage.

The restorative research suggests that the mitigation of major human impacts on the natural environment – not only CO2 emissions but also other major impacts – are likely to require significant urban transformations. Moving beyond the strategies of preservation and/or conservation, the restorative approach asserts that comprehensive environmental restoration is achievable if urban impacts are adequately estimated and then entirely mitigated onsite as well as offsite through a systematic process of urban re/development.

This paper presents a methodology for energy professionals to identify potential electricity saving opportunities in buildings from the analysis of half-hourly electricity consumption data. The technique recommended in UK government good practice guidance for use with monthly gas data has been applied to half-hourly electricity data from 37 secondary schools. The technique monitors consumption over time, identifying any changes in patterns and quantifying their effects. It has the advantage of being both high resolution and quick to employ. The analysis produces results that allow energy professionals to rapidly detect changes in electricity consumption. r

This is a presentation I made about Tesla's international business strategies on the 30th May 2017 at Pusan National University. It is based on the case study paper titled "TESLA International Business Strategies," which I wrote as a term paper for the International Business course lectured by Professor Eon-Seong Lee. The full TESLA case study (which contains details not included in this presentation) can be accessed through the following link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322750674_TESLA_International_Business_Strategies?channel=doi&linkId=5a6d7695aca2722c947e156f&showFulltext=true.