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- Cutz, Luis, 1986, et al.
(författare)
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Assessment of biomass energy sources and technologies: The case of Central America
- 2016
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Ingår i: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. - : Elsevier BV. - 1879-0690 .- 1364-0321. ; 58, s. 1411-1431
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper reviews and assesses conditions for increased and efficient use of biomass in Central America (CA), providing an overview of conditions for biomass supply in each country. Then, a Fuzzy Multi-Actor Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) method is applied to identify a portfolio of biomass conversion technologies appropriate for CA, considering technical, economic, environmental and socio-political aspects. The work is motivated by the relatively large availability of biomass in CA at the same time as current conversion of biomass is carried out in inefficient processes. The assessment of technologies includes thermochemical processes (pyrolysis, combustion and gasification) for production of different energy carriers, including improved cooking stoves (ICSs). The most promising biomass feedstocks in the region are residue based; animal (manure), forest and agricultural origin. We show that around 250 PJ/year could be available for the energy sector, which is equivalent to 34% of primary energy supply for CA. It is concluded that in the short term promoting and implementing ICSs will give the largest improvement in the efficiency of biomass use, whereas on the long term small combustion plants seem to be the best choice for transforming CA's biomass into a clean and sustainable energy carriers, boosting economy and industrial development. Results show that the introduction of ICSs will result in an annual saving in the range of 4-8 Mt of fuelwood (59-113 PJ). Moreover, even when the investment cost of the cooking stoves is considered, ICSs yield economic savings to fuelwood consumers compared to traditional stoves. The total savings during the first year of implementation would be in the range of 19-152 US$/stove. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 2. |
- Karka, Paraskevi, 1982, et al.
(författare)
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Perspectives for Greening European Fossil-Fuel Infrastructures Through Use of Biomass: The Case of Liquid Biofuels Based on Lignocellulosic Resources
- 2021
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Energy Research. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2296-598X. ; 9
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Given the importance of climate change it is vital to find a transition away from fossil fuels. The transition will include electrification of several sectors, for example road transport, but considering the strong dependency on carbon-based fuels and associated infrastructures, it is reasonable to assume that biomass-based hydrocarbon will play a key role to smoothen the transition away from fossil fuels. This study provides an analysis of direct and indirect technological options for liquid biofuels based on lignocellulosic resources in the context of greening European fossil-fuel infrastructures. Direct options are those which result in integration of biogenic feedstock in a fossil-based process and then co-processing in a downstream conventional unit or substituting a conventional part of the production chain of a liquid fuel by a bio-based one. Indirect options are those which pave the way for ramping-up biomass supply chain in the form of infrastructure and market. Examples of direct options in the focus of this study are biomass gasification for production of intermediates and biomass pyrolysis substituting fossil feedstock. Examples of indirect options are co-firing biomass in coal-fired power plants and integrating biomass gasification plants with district heating (DH) networks. Such options are important for establishing biomass supply chains and markets. This study also assesses the potential of biomass use in other industrial sectors not directly related with fossil-based fuel or energy production, such as the pulp and paper industry and the iron and steel industry. In this context, opportunities and barriers for both direct and indirect greening options are discussed, focusing mainly on technological and logistic aspects. It is highlighted that fossil-fuel infrastructures can act as drivers for the development of advanced biofuels production as they can reduce the initial risks, in terms of cost and technological maturity, offering the opportunity to increase gradually the demand for biomass, and develop the logistic infrastructure. It is, however, important to make sure that such biofuel production processes are part of a long-term strategy, which needs incentives to overcome current barriers and eventually phase out fossil infrastructures.
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| 3. |
- Mata, Erika, et al.
(författare)
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Contributions of Building Retrofitting in Five Member States to EU Targets for Energy Savings
- 2018
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Ingår i: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. - : Elsevier BV. - 1879-0690 .- 1364-0321. ; 93, s. 759-774
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- To benchmark the contributions of building retrofits to the National Energy Efficiency Action Plans (NEEAPs) of the Member States (MS) of the European Union (EU) and to identify potential improvements to the general EU methodology, this paper presents homogenous mapping of the potential for energy savings and associated effects on CO2 emissions for the building stocks of five selected MS: France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The mapping is created using a verified building stock modeling methodology, and includes results related to technical and techno-economical improvements for ten energy conservation measures (ECMs) and six ECM packages. These results are compared to the corresponding estimates in the NEEAPs, as well as those in the literature. Although both our results and those in the literature show high variability for the cost-efficiency of the ECMs between the five national building stocks, the potential application of complete ECM packages generally appears to be more profitable than the application of individual ECMs. Certain challenges must be overcome before this potential can be realized. The energy savings for Year 2020 projected in the NEEAPs appear to be overly optimistic when one considers the efficiency trends, current regulatory framework, and techno-economical potential detailed in this study. Furthermore, the NEEAPs are not in full compliance with the requirements of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive. These requirements could be defined more specifically, so as to address the identified information gaps, thereby facilitating the implementation and monitoring of energy savings in existing buildings.
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| 4. |
- Seddighi, Sadegh, 1977, et al.
(författare)
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The interplay between energy technologies and human health: Implications for energy transition
- 2023
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Ingår i: Energy Reports. - 2352-4847. ; 9, s. 5592-5611
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper explores the relationship between human health and energy technologies, with a focus on how energy technology needs to adapt to new health challenges. The authors examine how a clean, affordable, and reliable energy infrastructure is critical for mitigating the impact of future pandemics. They also look at how increasing the proportion of solar and wind energy can create a near-zero emission energy system that is independent of fuel supply and its associated environmental problems. However, to ensure system resilience, significant investments in energy storage and smart control systems are necessary. For instance, the pandemic led to around 5% increase in US residential sector electricity consumption share in 2020 compared to 2019 due to stay-at-home orders, which could impact grid reliability and resiliency. This work also highlights the importance of designing energy-efficient and low-cost cooling and heating technologies for residential buildings to protect vulnerable populations from the health consequences of rising temperatures due to climate change. Additionally, the growing number of refugees worldwide and the need for efficient portable power sources in refugee camps are also addressed. The authors demonstrate how pandemics like COVID-19 can have far-reaching effects on energy technologies, from household energy use to large energy companies, and result in energy insecurity and decreased quality of life for many.
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