Energy Production Technologies Research Articles

Illuminating the path to decarbonization: Nuclear energy consumption, clean energy production, and sustainable fuel production for long-term development

The global concern over carbon emissions has necessitated a deep understanding of energy use and air pollution. The fossil fuel- and nuclear-dependent Russian economy is an exciting exception. It examined how nuclear energy consumption (NEC), electricity generation, R&D investment, clean energy production technology, e-commerce penetration, capital creation, and carbon pollution affect the Russian economy. Short- and long-term interactions between these variables are assessed using the ARDL-Bound testing model for 1995Q1–2020Q4. The results show that NEC negatively correlates with CO2 emissions. The study also supports the inverted U-shaped Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis, showing a positive and significant relationship between clean power production technology and CO2 emissions and a negative and significant relationship between square clean alternative energy innovation and CO2 emissions. Scientific and technical expenditures, fossil fuel coal liquefaction, and investment all negatively and statistically significantly affect CO2 emissions. However, the analysis implies that e-commerce increases CO2 emissions. These findings highlight the need for significant R&D investment to create precise and realistic ways to decrease carbon emissions and protect the environment in accordance with COP 26 targets. These findings have significant implications for the Russian economy, showing that improving energy sources and investing more in R&D may reduce carbon emissions.

Heterogeneous solid residue from macadamia nut processing as viable feedstock for high-temperature gasification

This study delves into the intriguing prospect of concurrently utilizing macadamia husk and nutshell for biomass gasification, aiming to generate sustainable energy. By scrutinizing their physicochemical properties such as thermal behaviors, char conversion kinetics, and syngas properties we unveiled an intriguing revelation. The fusion of these residues creates an apt feedstock for biomass batch-gasification in industrial settings. This resultant blend inherits distinctive traits from its constituent parts, profoundly influencing gasification reactivity and fostering heightened char conversion efficiency and stability. Spanning 2165 s, this process exhibited commendable control. Furthermore, the residue amalgamation consistently yields an average syngas flow rate of 0.00136 [mol (g minute)−1], predominantly composed of CO at 0.00097 [mol (g minute)−1], constituting over 71 % of the syngas. These findings underscore the potential of merging these residues to optimize the conversion process and bolster resource availability, thus propelling advancements in waste-free energy production and sustainable energy technologies.

Nanoparticles for Active and Sustainable Fuel Cell Cathodes

Depletion of fossil fuels and environmental pollution raised interest in new technologies for sustainable energy production, conversion, and storage, among which fuel cell technology is greatly studied, in both academia and industry. Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) are reputed energy devices, due to their high conversion efficiency and low environmental pollution.1 Nowadays, Pt-based catalysts exhibit the best electrocatalytic activity towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), but enhancing their catalytic efficiency and reducing costs are essential for commercializing fuel cell technology.2 Our interest relies with the development of Pt-based nanoalloys2,4 via solution organometallic chemistry approach.3 This approach allows control over the composition, structure, and morphology of metal nanoparticles, and could lead to increased catalytic activity and long-term stability by revealing more active sites of the catalyst. Additionally, the ability to alloy with a range of metals for producing bimetallic compounds is one of the key advantages of this approach.In this communication, the synthesis of Pt-based nanoparticles and their characterization by state-of-the-art techniques such as ICP, EA, IR, TEM and HR-TEM will be described. The influence of the Pt complexes used as precursors and of the reaction conditions on the morphology of the Pt nanoparticles will be shown. The obtained nanostructures offer interesting starting materials to incorporate other metals, such as transition or rare earth metals, in order to have nanoalloys and study their performance in ORR in comparison to pure Pt catalysts.

Critical Aspects of Energetic Transition Technologies and the Roles of Materials Chemistry and Engineering

The perspectives of technological advances needed for short term energetic transition are briefly reviewed and discussed critically. In particular, the technologies for the greenhouse gas emission-free production of electrical energy, its storage and transport, the production, transport, storage and use of hydrogen, and the use of biomass derived technologies are shortly and critically reviewed. Critical aspects are emphasized. The role of chemistry, and in particular materials chemistry and engineering, in short-term developments are underlined.

PROBLEMS OF GROWTH OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES IN CHINA

The article is devoted to the analysis of the problems of alternative energy in China. Ensuring economic growth is achieved by stable and sufficient supplies of energy to the needs of industry. Geopolitical tensions give rise to the development of national energy resources and, above all, renewable energy sources, development of which has a number of issues. A detailed examination of the 14th Five-Year (2021–2025) Energy Plan revealed challenges to China’s energy goals. Firstly, the main issue of alternative generation is the high level of «losses», i.e. the need to balance energy production with its consumption. The unevenness of energy production throughout the day, the lack of high-power batteries, as well as high-voltage lines for energy transmission, heighten this problem. Secondly, the struggle for land gives rise to competition with agriculture, construction and industrial sectors. Thirdly, alternative energy generation faces the problem of its insufficient efficiency (characterized by the ratio of energy production/ installed capacity, as well as energy density), which leads to reduction in subsidies and the replacement of renewable energy sources with more efficient, but currently less developed reserves of unconventional gas in China. The problem of subsidies is partly solved by the introduction of «green» financing as well as financing from special funds (AIIB, Silk Road Fund, NDB), that allows the implementation of distributed generation projects by attracting investor funds, as well as supporting promising energy production technologies. Most of the shortcomings relate to renewable energy sources, so China is actively developing other areas – nuclear generation, hydrogen production, and optimizing energy flows between inner regions.

Advancements in sustainable proton-conducting electrochemical cells: Direct recycling of sintered nickel oxide-doped barium zirconate half cells

The ongoing evolution in energy production and conversion technologies has brought solid oxide electrochemical cells (SOCs) to the forefront, recognized for their high efficiency and environmental benefits. However, establishing sustainable and scalable manufacturing processes for SOCs presents formidable challenges, including sourcing large-scale raw materials and implementing effective recycling methods for spent cells and manufacturing scraps. In response, we demonstrate closed-loop direct recycling of proton-conducting solid oxide electrochemical half cells, incorporating active comminution and cell regeneration using the recycled materials. This innovative approach achieves over 92 % material recovery and an impressive 100 % recovery in full cell performance, addressing a significant gap in current sustainable manufacturing practices while setting a new standard for the industry. This technology not only addresses a significant gap in current sustainable manufacturing practices but also sets a precedent for future advancements in the sustainable SOC field, potentially influencing broader practices in the recycling of multi-functional ceramics.

Gold Production and the Global Energy Transition—A Perspective

Gold is neither a critical mineral nor a metal that is central to the global energy transition in terms of demand from new energy production technologies. Yet, gold is unique among mined commodities for its role in financial markets and for its global production footprint including in numerous developing economies. Since the production of gold incurs CO2 emissions and other environmental risks including water pollution and land degradation, gold producers seek to adopt clean production solutions through electrification and renewable energy adoption. Further, gold’s unique role as a store of value creates new potential green business models in gold, such as the digitalisation of in-ground gold inventories, which can further reduce negative environmental externalities from gold mining. A net-zero emissions, future global gold industry, is possible. Major gold producers are targeting net-zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050, coupled with a lower overall environmental footprint to meet heightened societal expectations for cleaner production. An analysis of emissions data from Australian gold mines shows systematic differences between mining operations. Further clean energy investment in gold production is required to reduce emission levels towards the target of net zero.

Recycling and 3D-Printing Biodegradable Membranes for Gas Separation-toward a Membrane Circular Economy.

Polymer membranes employed in gas separation play a pivotal role in advancing environmental sustainability, energy production, and gas purification technologies. Despite their significance, the current design and manufacturing of these membranes lack cradle-to-cradle approaches, contributing to plastic waste pollution. This study explores emerging solutions, including the use of biodegradable biopolymers such as polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and membrane recycling, with a focus on the specific impact of mechanical recycling on the performance of biodegradable gas separation membranes. This research represents the first systematic exploration of recycling biodegradable membranes for gas separation. Demonstrating that PHB membranes can be recycled and remanufactured without solvents using hot-melt extrusion and 3D printing, the research highlights PHB's promising performance in developing more sustainable CO2 separations, despite an increase in gas permeability with successive recycling steps due to reduced polymer molecular weight. The study emphasizes the excellent thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability of PHB membranes, albeit with a marginal reduction in gas selectivity upon recycling. However, limitations in PHB's molecular weight affecting extrudability and processability restrict the recycling to three cycles. Anticipating that this study will serve as a foundational exploration, we foresee more sophisticated recycling studies for gas separation membranes, paving the way for a circular economy in future membrane technologies.

A statistical study for the impact of REMS and nuclear energy on carbon dioxide emissions reductions in G20 countries

Renewable and nuclear energy are seen as clean and eco-friendly substitutes for energy derived from fossil fuels. Which of the two is better, though, is still up for debate. In order to meet their combined global energy objectives and perhaps become carbon neutral or even carbon negative in the near future, a shift to additional renewable energy sources and nuclear energy will be necessary. One such method of improving energy usage through the implementation of a renewable energy management system (REMS) that will help attain a continuous and reliable source of energy, allowing for the proactive and effective management of renewable assets and dependable supply. This article investigates attitudes and opinions about nuclear and renewable energy production technologies by analyzing the dependence of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions on non-renewable energy sources, renewable energy sources, and nuclear energy in the group of twenty (G20) countries, over the period from 2000 to 2021. This study employs advanced panel data econometric techniques in the presence of outliers in the G20 dataset, utilizing a robust random coefficient regression (RRCR) model via the M-estimation approach to study the impacts of non-renewable, renewable, and nuclear energy use with respect to CO2 emission mitigation in G20 countries. The overall conclusions of the econometric analysis confirm renewable and nuclear energy's importance in reducing CO2 emissions. We can conclude that the robust M-estimate approach is the best estimation technique for the G20 dataset, as compared to the classical estimation methods in the presence of outliers. The results show that for every percentage point of energy consumption that falls into the category of non-renewable energy, CO2 emissions will increase by 2.5737% for all G20 countries. Also, A 1% rise in renewable energy consumption reduces CO2 emissions by 1.0566% for all G20 countries. Similarly, a 1% increase in nuclear energy consumption will reduce CO2 emissions by 5.5703% for all G20 countries. Therefore, we can conclude that energy derived from renewable sources and nuclear energy greatly cuts CO2 emissions in all G20 countries. Total energy consumption, on the other hand, increases CO2 emissions in the long run. According to these findings, it is pivotal for the G20 countries to increase nuclear energy use and employ REMS to reduce the majority of G20 country's reliance on fossil fuels in order to minimize CO2 emissions. These findings are vital for understanding the relationship between these variables and the implementation of new or revised policies and initiatives supporting carbon neutrality at the G20 countries and national levels.

Bio-carbon microtubules in microbial fuel cells for superior performance of 3D free-standing anode derived from Rhus Typhina

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have emerged as a promising technology for sustainable energy production. However, the power density of MFCs is limited by the anode performance. In this study, Rhus typhina was used as a raw material for the synthesis of 3D freestanding electrodes by freeze-drying and one-step carbonization. Based on the unique micron-scale tubular structure, Rhus typhina carbon (RtC) increases the active bacterial colonization surface area several times and improves the extracellular electron transfer (EET) by augmenting the interaction between the bacteria and the anode. In addition, 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicates that the obtained RtC-900 anode promotes enrichment of the major exoelectrogens (Geobacter), and the relative abundance reaches 70.3%. The maximum power density of the dual-chamber MFC with the 3D free-standing anode is 6.01 W m−2, and the stable power output over 300 days is superior to that of conventional MFC in performance.

Developing biomass energy from agricultural by-products in the context of trade development

With global trade development, emerging economies can absorb biomass energy production techniques and technologies from developed countries. However, several constraints still need to be improved in producing biomass energy in emerging economies. Therefore, this research aims to understand the critical motivating factors of biomass energy production that contribute to a circular economy via agricultural by-products in Vietnam's emerging economy. This study employs a qualitative analysis using information from the in-depth interviews of farmer households, agricultural by-product traders, and bioenergy producers in Vietnam. This study revealed the motivating factors as the main determinants in producing biomass energy: (1) digitalization, (2) technical and logistics, (3) social capital, (4) prices, and (5) government supports. This study also confirms that Vietnam has diverse biomass waste sources and a high potential for biomass energy production. To motivate biomass energy development, the government should support credit and loans for stakeholders in producing biomass energy. Moreover, the government should encourage and support energy producers to implement digital transformation to expand production scale and improve business operations. Insights from this study can help farmers, traders, and bioenergy producers by adapting their strategies within their local contexts.

Assessing the Key Factors Influencing Renewable Energy Generation in Mozambique: A Structural Equation Modelling Analysis

Structural equation modelling analysis was performed to identify various variables that influence the growth of Renewable Energy Production (REG) in Mozambique. The study revealed that the government's policies regarding renewable energy generation in Mozambique are of moderate quality. However, by implementing skillfully crafted policies and plans, there is a possibility for additional progress and growth. The progress of renewable energy initiatives in Mozambique is significantly influenced by the investment climate for such projects. Although the government has established a favourable environment for investors, it primarily caters to foreign investors rather than local and private investors. Environmental considerations significantly influence the growth of renewable energy generation (REG) in Mozambique. This study highlighted the need to consider environmental issues throughout the planning and execution of REG projects. The lack of technical and managerial proficiency in a particular area can be resolved by importing foreign specialists, either on a temporary or permanent basis. Concurrent with the global goal of shifting to clean energy-producing technologies, this study attempts to identify and assess the variables that influence the growth and development of renewable energy businesses in Mozambique. Setting priorities for energy efficiency can uncover several economic prospects, fostering the growth of a market for innovative solutions and facilitating the construction of specialized firms in this field. Consequently, this will entice investment from both domestic business owners and investors from other countries.

Energy Bus-Based Matrix Modeling and Optimal Scheduling for Integrated Energy Systems

Integrated energy systems (IESs) can easily accommodate renewable energy resources (RESs) and improve the utilization efficiency of fossil energy by integrating various energy production, conversion, and storage technologies. However, the coupled multi-energy flows and the uncertainty of RESs bring challenges regarding optimal scheduling. Therefore, this study proposes an energy bus-based matrix-modeling method and a coordinated scheduling strategy for the IES. The matrix-modeling method can be used to formulate the steady- and transient-state balances of the multi-energy flows, and the transient model can clearly express the multi-time-scale characteristics of the different energy flows. The model parameters are fitted with data from experiments and the literature. To address the inherent randomness of the RESs and loads, a coordinated scheduling strategy is designed that contains two components: day-ahead optimization and rolling optimization. Day-ahead optimization uses the system steady-state model and multiple scenarios from the RES and load forecast data to minimize the operation cost while rolling optimization is based on the system’s transient-state model and aims to achieve the optimal real-time scheduling of the energy flows. Finally, a case study is conducted to verify the advantages and effectiveness of the proposed model and optimization method. The results show that stochastic optimization reduces the total daily cost by 1.48% compared to deterministic optimization when considering the prediction errors associated with the RESs and loads, highlighting the stronger adaptability of stochastic optimization to prediction errors. Moreover, rolling optimization based on the system’s transient-state model can reduce the errors between day-ahead scheduling and rolling correction.

A Numerical Study of the Performance of Point Absorber Wave Energy Converters

Free-floating and submerged wave energy converters (SWECs) are regarded as promising technologies for renewable energy production. These converters rely on a heave-motion buoy to capture the kinetic energy of ocean waves and convert it into electrical energy through power conversion systems. To better understand the impact of various factors on power generation and efficiency, the effects of different buoy shapes (rectangular, circular cylinder, and trapezoidal fin), submergence depths (0, 0.1, and 0.2 m), wave heights (0.04, 0.06, and 0.1 m), and spring stiffness (50 and 100 N/m) were investigated. A 2D numerical wave tank with a buoy was simulated, and the results were validated against experimental data. Information on vorticity, vertical displacement, power absorption, and efficiency are provided. The findings indicate that the buoy shape and wave height significantly affect power absorption and efficiency. Additionally, this study reveals that increasing submergence leads to higher power absorption and lower conversion efficiency.

Innovations in Electric Current-Assisted Sintering for SOFC: A Review of Advances in Flash Sintering and Ultrafast High-Temperature Sintering

This review discusses the groundbreaking advancements in electric current-assisted sintering techniques, specifically Flash Sintering (FS) and Ultrafast High-Temperature Sintering (UHS), for their application in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs). These innovative sintering methods have demonstrated remarkable potential in enhancing the efficiency and quality of SOFC manufacturing by significantly lowering sintering temperatures and durations, thereby mitigating energy consumption and cost. By providing a detailed overview of the mechanisms, process parameters, and material characteristics associated with FS and UHS, this paper sheds light on their pivotal role in the fabrication of SOFC components such as electrolytes, electrodes, multilayered materials, and interconnect coatings. The advantages, challenges, and prospective opportunities of these sintering technologies in propelling SOFC advancements are thoroughly assessed, underlining their transformative impact on the future of clean and efficient energy production technologies.

Analysis Of the Current Situation and Prospective Study of Hydrogen Preparation and Storage

The research, development, and practical application of renewable energies are becoming a major trend with environmental problems such as increasingly serious global warming and the depletion of oil resources. Hydrogen is an ideal alternative energy source due to its cleanness and high combustion ratio. It is recognized as the most likely replacement for the existing coal and oil systems as the future energy base of the global economy. But as things stand, the hydrogen reserve technology and hydrogen storage technology at the current stage all have certain advantages and disadvantages. Based on this background, the study summarizes the current state of the art of hydrogen energy production technologies such as direct hydrogen production from fossil fuel, hydrogen production from electrolysis of water, hydrogen production from biomass, as well as four types of hydrogen storage methods, namely, high-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage, low-temperature liquid hydrogen storage, solid hydrogen storage, and organic liquid hydrogen storage, and analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of each technology. Among them, hydrogen production from electrolyzed water and bio-hydrogen production are the technologies with higher potential but still need to improve economic competitiveness. The high-pressure gaseous hydrogen storage technology can also be brought to market on a wide scale after cost reduction.

Numerical Simulation of Improving the Efficienty of Photovoltaic Thermal Panels

Abstract The need to optimize the operation of photovoltaic modules inevitably arises with the development of green energy production technology. In order to achieve a good technological yield, durability and efficiency in production, continuous studies and innovations are required. This study focuses on simulating the operation of water-cooled and uncooled PV modules in order to understand the temperature-dependent PV operation. This cooling module consists, in the first phase, of a copper coil through which water circulates, and in the second phase, of a coolant distributor/collector system. The module is attached to the lower surface of the photovoltaic panel, respectively to the teller foil layer. For this simulation we used the Ansys software package (Discovery, Fluent and Space Claim).

Potential of solar and wind-based green hydrogen production frameworks in African countries

Africa possesses a profusion of renewable energy resources that can address the continent's need for electricity to foster economic development and achieve international objectives for carbon dioxide mitigation. Green hydrogen stands out as promising among the plethora of available energy production, transportation, and storage technologies. The current study offers a general outlook on green hydrogen production utilizing solar and wind energies powering the water electrolyzers. This analysis estimates the electricity production and its production cost, hydrogen production and production cost, carbon dioxide mitigation, and estimation of the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) by 2030 in each African country. The results reveal that hydrogen production from solar energy outweighs that from wind. The minimum and maximum power consumption are 64.26–65.46 kWh/kgH2 for the PV/H2 system and 53.62–64.8 kWh/kgH2 for the WT/H2 system. Moreover, the LCOH ranges from 4.6 to 7.31 $/kg for the PV/H2 system and 5.6 to more than 20 $/kg for the WT/H2 system. Namibia and Egypt have significant LCOH of the PV/H2 system with 4.6 and 4.64 $/kg, while Cape Verde and Djibouti have remarkable LCOH of 5.6 and 6.37 $/kg of the WT/H2 system. The percentage reduction in LCOH is 25.23% for the WT/H2 system and 37% for the PV/H2 system due to adopting the 2030 cost scenario. Moreover, adsorption-based atmospheric water is considered a suitable solution for water supply in arid regions. Finally, the CO2 mitigation ranges from 109.8 to 177.7 kg/m2 for the PV/H2 and 0.1–50.4 kg/m2 for the WT/H2.

Feasibility analysis of replacing lithium-ion battery with sodium ion battery

Since the beginning of the 21st century, the global energy crisis has become a pressing issue, prompting researchers to explore more efficient ways of utilizing energy production and storage technologies in our daily lives. In recent years, there have been major improvements in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) technology, considerably improving living conditions globally. LIBs are currently commonly employed in electric cars. However, the efficient distribution of renewable energy and smart grids raises concerns, along with the long-term availability of lithium resources. The scarcity and rising costs of lithium metal in recent years have been attributed to substantial price fluctuations. Thus, LIBs have made it difficult to meet the increasing demands of both small and medium to large energy storage applications. Due to the readily available properties of sodium metal, it has similar chemical properties to LIBs. To alleviate these challenges, sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) can be used as the finest candidates for power supply. In recent years, different materials such as metal oxides and phosphates have been introduced as positive electrode materials for SIBs. The use of selected carbonaceous materials, transition metal oxides, intermetallic compounds, and organic compounds as negative electrode materials for SIBs has also contributed to recent developments. SIB is a promising next-generation replacement, but there are still some challenges in the market acceptance of SIBs. In this research, we summarize and compare the market application status of SIB and lithium iron phosphate (LFP), and propose the future development trajectory of SIB and LFP according to their respective characteristics. This will provide a unique insight into practical application problems and market realities.

Optimization of PEMFC pressure control using fractional PI/D controller with non-integer order: design and experimental evaluation

The fuel-based proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell is a promising technology for clean energy production owing to the several advantages including high efficiency (around 80% theoretical), quiet in operation, and almost zero emission as compared to conventional internal combustion engine. Only hydrogen and oxygen are supplied at the anode and cathode, respectively to generate power and water is produced as by product. However, it suffers to achieve its maximum theoretical efficiency due to lack of flow/pressure management of hydrogen and oxygen in the PEMFC stack which also causes flooding within the cell and reduce the performance of the catalyst and reduces the efficiency. The higher efficiency can be achieved with the proper control of the hydrogen and oxygen inlet flow rate and pressure at the PEMFC. Since it’s crucial to maintaining a consistent supply of exponential pressure, the main focus of this work is pressure regulation at the PEMFC cathode side. A fractional PI/D controller is designed to operate the PEMFC system more realistically. There are three primary objectives of this research work. In the first step, monitoring the PEMFC operating pressure to find out the suitable fractional PI-D controller for a given resilience level, which has the lowest Integration Absolute Error (IAE) to disturbances. The robustness level and/or threshold peak is considered as a tuning parameter for the evaluation. Second, compare the best IAE performance of the fractional PI-D controller with that of simple SIMC rules, where a certain level of resilience is achieved by varying the SIMC tuning variable. Through this comparison, the effectiveness of the recommended controller in achieving the optimal plant performance is evaluated. Thirdly, design a non-integer order PEMFC plant with a fractional controller using MATLAB software and compare the results with existing models. This comparison provides insight into the practical performance of the proposed controller. The results shows that the developed fractional PI/D controller is able to control the pressure very efficiently at the PEMFC cathode side. The findings further emphasise on the important to consider the resilience and robustness levels at the time of developing control systems for PEMFCs. The efficacy of the suggested unique technique is further confirmed by contrasting the suggested controller with the developed models.