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Topic Review
Gaseous and Liquid Fuel Cook-Stove
Clean and efficient cook-stoves and fuels are essential to address energy demand and ensure safe cooking for billions of people across the globe. Currently, nearly 2651 million people in developing countries (Africa—910 million, Asia—1674 million, Central and South America—57 million, and Middle East—10 million) are without clean cooking facilities.
  • 1.7K
  • 03 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Supercritical Carbon Dioxide(s-CO2) Power Cycle
Supercritical CO2 power cycles have been deeply investigated in recent years. However, their potential in waste heat recovery is still largely unexplored. This paper presents a critical review of engineering background, technical challenges, and current advances of the s-CO2 cycle for waste heat recovery. Firstly, common barriers for the further promotion of waste heat recovery technology are discussed. Afterwards, the technical advantages of the s-CO2 cycle in solving the abovementioned problems are outlined by comparing several state-of-the-art thermodynamic cycles. On this basis, current research results in this field are reviewed for three main applications, namely the fuel cell, internal combustion engine, and gas turbine. For low temperature applications, the transcritical CO2 cycles can compete with other existing technologies, while supercritical CO2 cycles are more attractive for medium- and high temperature sources to replace steam Rankine cycles. Moreover, simple and regenerative configurations are more suitable for transcritical cycles, whereas various complex configurations have advantages for medium- and high temperature heat sources to form cogeneration system. Finally, from the viewpoints of in-depth research and engineering applications, several future development directions are put forward. This review hopes to promote the development of s-CO2 cycles for waste heat recovery.
  • 1.7K
  • 25 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Pyrolysis Technology
Pyrolysis technology is a thermo-chemical route for converting biomass to many useful products (biochar, bio-oil, and combustible pyrolysis gases). The composition and relative product yield depend on the pyrolysis technology adopted. 
  • 1.7K
  • 24 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Blockchain Technology
The blockchain is a new technology targeted at storing and managing sensitive data, where pieces ('blocks') of information are entered in a dedicated system by independent users and linked by cryptographic keys (forming the 'chain'). The particularities of a blockchain system are enhanced data security through encryption, anonymization, and immutability; decentralization through peer-to-peer operation, and transparency through open access. The main applications of blockchain are cryptocurrency mining, smart trading and contracts, secure information transfer.
  • 1.6K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Optimal Configuration of Solar Panel
In solar photovoltaic (PV) energy generation system, the term “photovoltaic” refers to a semiconductor-based device used to convert solar energy (sunlight) into electrical DC energy. To generate electricity, the solar PV generation system has become a mainstream option, especially for the communities who live in rural areas. Its market has vastly expanded in a short period, where according to Parikh, 70% of solar PV module manufacturing is accounted for by China.
  • 1.6K
  • 24 May 2021
Topic Review
Emerging Thermo-Mechanical Energy Storage Technologies
Thermo-mechanical energy storage can be a cost-effective solution to provide flexibility and balance highly renewable energy systems. Thermo-Mechanical Energy Storage (TMES) can be directly compared with pumped hydro storage because they have similar discharge characteristics and capacity (order of 100 s of MW).
  • 1.6K
  • 13 Sep 2022
Topic Review Peer Reviewed
Opportunities for Catalytic Reactions and Materials in Buildings
Residential and commercial buildings are responsible for over 30% of global final energy consumption and accounts for ~40% of annual direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions. Energy efficient and sustainable technologies are necessary to not only lower the energy footprint but also lower the environmental burden. Many proven and emerging technologies are being pursued to meet the ever-increasing energy demand. Catalytic science has a significant new role to play in helping address sustainable energy challenges, particularly in buildings, compared to transportation and industrial sectors. Thermally driven heat pumps, dehumidification, cogeneration, thermal energy storage, carbon capture and utilization, emissions suppression, waste-to-energy conversion, and corrosion prevention technologies can tap into the advantages of catalytic science in realizing the full potential of such approaches, quickly, efficiently, and reliably. Catalysts can help increase energy conversion efficiency in building related technologies but must utilize low cost, easily available and easy-to-manufacture materials for large scale deployment. This entry presents a comprehensive overview of the impact of each building technology area on energy demand and environmental burden, state-of-the-art of catalytic solutions, research, and development opportunities for catalysis in building technologies, while identifying requirements, opportunities, and challenges.
  • 1.6K
  • 18 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Gearbox Technologies for Tidal Energy Harvesting
Gearboxes are widely used in automobile, aerospace, energy, and process industries and are considered indispensable. Tidal flows always have very low speeds that rarely exceed 5 m/s. Lower tidal speeds result in lower turbine rotation speeds. Therefore, if conventional generators are used to produce electricity, gearboxes are necessary to achieve higher rotor speeds. 
  • 1.6K
  • 26 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Energy Return on Investment
Energy Return on Energy Invested (EROEI) (also Energy Return on Investment (EROI)) is a dimensionless ratio that compares the output over the life of an energy generating system—such as a power plant—to the energy inputs to the system. EROEI thus has the potential to filter out unsuitable projects, and to rank surviving projects according to their energy return. EROEI is therefore an important adjunct to conventional monetary project assessments.
  • 1.6K
  • 14 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Compound Parabolic Concentrator-Based Hybrid Solar Photovoltaic/Thermal Collectors
The compound parabolic concentrating (CPC) collectors belong to a class of concentrators called non-imaging concentrators. These concentrators allow the design of optical systems that can attain maximum geometric concentrations permitted by laws of physical conservation for a given angular field. As opposed to imaging or focusing concentrators, the concentrators based on non-imaging optics are capable of achieving moderate levels of concentration without tracking the sun.
  • 1.6K
  • 23 May 2022
Topic Review
TiO2 as Water Splitting Photocatalyst
Hydrogen produced from water using photocatalysts driven by sunlight is a sustainable way to overcome the intermittency issues of solar power and provide a green alternative to fossil fuels. TiO2 has been used as a photocatalyst since the 1970s due to its low cost, earth abundance, and stability. There has been a wide range of research activities in order to enhance the use of TiO2 as a photocatalyst using dopants, modifying the surface, or depositing noble metals. However, the issues such as wide bandgap, high electron-hole recombination time, and a large overpotential for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) persist as a challenge. Here, we review state-of-the-art experimental and theoretical research on TiO2 based photocatalysts and identify challenges that have to be focused on to drive the field further. We conclude with a discussion of four challenges for TiO2 photocatalysts—non-standardized presentation of results, bandgap in the ultraviolet (UV) region, lack of collaboration between experimental and theoretical work, and lack of large/small scale production facilities. We also highlight the importance of combining computational modeling with experimental work to make further advances in this exciting field.
  • 1.6K
  • 24 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Ammonia: a Renewable Energy Carrier
Ammonia is among the most commonly shipped bulk-produced chemicals, marketed for more than a decade in mass all over the globe. Originally used in the chemical industries and as an intermediate for the production of fertilisers, ammonia has also been explored recently as a hydrogen storage media and a substitute fuel for hydrocarbon. Unlike the conventional ammonia production process that used natural gas as a feedstock and is responsible for carbon emission, ammonia is a means of renewable energy storage formulated from hydrogen generated by an electrically driven electrolyser and nitrogen separate from the atmospheric air.
  • 1.6K
  • 30 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Contractual Systems in Oil/Gas Sector
Production activities in the oil and gas industry are capital intensive and associated with high technology, with these assets not always being available to oil-producing countries or national companies. Any form of interaction between the parties involved in natural resource extraction requires clear regulation regarding contractual relationships. This study attempts to analyze Indonesia’s production sharing contract system in order to assess its applicability to other conditions. The article covers the key aspects of contract theory, provides a classification of contractual systems in the oil and gas sector, and discusses the most common types of contractual agreements. It also considers the key principles of production sharing contracts (PSCs), analyzes the development of PSC practices in Indonesia over the past sixty years, and highlights PSC advantages and disadvantages.
  • 1.5K
  • 10 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Liquid Hydrogen in the Transportation Sector
The European Green Deal aims to transform the EU into a modern, resource-efficient, and competitive economy. The REPowerEU plan launched in May 2022 as part of the Green Deal reveals the willingness of several countries to become energy independent and tackle the climate crisis. Therefore, the decarbonization of different sectors such as maritime shipping is crucial and may be achieved through sustainable energy. Hydrogen is potentially clean and renewable and might be chosen as fuel to power ships and boats. Hydrogen technologies (e.g., fuel cells for propulsion) have already been implemented on board different types of vehicles mainly during demonstration projects.
  • 1.5K
  • 08 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Technology Transfer Challenges in the Renewable Energy Sector
The use of fossil fuels to generate energy is often associated with serious negative effects on the environment. The greenhouse gas emissions resulting from burning these fuels destroy the ozone layer and lead to global warming. As a strategic approach to the solution of this problem, calls for research and development, as well as the implementation of technologies associated with renewable energy sources within the European Union (EU), have intensified in recent years.
  • 1.5K
  • 07 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Grid-integrated renewable energy resources fundamentals
This entry is aimed at a succinct review of practical impacts of grid integration of renewable energy systems on effectiveness of power networks. The renewable energy resources focused on include solar energy, wind energy, biomass energy and geothermal energy, as well as renewable hydrogen/fuel cells, which, although not classified purely as renewable resources, are a famous energy carrier vital for future energy sustainability. Although several world energy outlooks have suggested that the renewable resources available worldwide are sufficient to satisfy global energy needs in multiples of thousands, the different challenges often associated with practical exploitation have made this assertion an illusion to date. Thus, more research efforts are required to synthesize the nature of these challenges as well as viable solution strategies, hence, the need for this review study. Overviews and general state-of-the-art information are provided in this entry, for the aforementioned renewable energy resources.
  • 1.5K
  • 10 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring
Non-intrusive load monitoring (NILM) is a process of estimating operational states and power consumption of individual appliances, which if implemented in real-time, can provide actionable feedback in terms of energy usage and personalized recommendations to consumers. Intelligent disaggregation algorithms such as deep neural networks can fulfill this objective if they possess high estimation accuracy and lowest generalization error. In order to achieve these two goals, this paper presents a disaggregation algorithm based on a deep recurrent neural network using multi-feature input space and post-processing. First, the mutual information method was used to select electrical parameters that had the most influence on the power consumption of each target appliance. Second, selected steady-state parameters based multi-feature input space (MFS) was used to train the 4-layered bidirectional long short-term memory (LSTM) model for each target appliance. Finally, a post-processing technique was used at the disaggregation stage to eliminate irrelevant predicted sequences, enhancing the classification and estimation accuracy of the algorithm. A comprehensive evaluation was conducted on 1-Hz sampled UKDALE and ECO datasets in a noised scenario with seen and unseen test cases. Performance evaluation showed that the MFS-LSTM algorithm is computationally efficient, scalable, and possesses better estimation accuracy in a noised scenario, and generalized to unseen loads as compared to benchmark algorithms. Presented results proved that the proposed algorithm fulfills practical application requirements and can be deployed in real-time.
  • 1.5K
  • 28 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Cost-Effective Zinc–Iron Redox Flow Batteries
Zinc–iron redox flow batteries (ZIRFBs) possess intrinsic safety and stability and have low electrolyte cost. ZBRFB refers to an redox flow batterie (RFB) in which zinc is used as the electrochemically active substance in the electrolyte solutions. The zinc electrode has a reversible anode potential. Zinc ions are stable in both alkaline and acidic environments, even in a neutral electrolyte, and the electrochemical reaction rate is relatively fast. 
  • 1.5K
  • 08 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Evaluation of Digital Applications
Digitalization is a transformation process which has already affected many parts of industry and society and is expected to yet increase its transformative speed and impact. In the energy sector, many digital applications have already been implemented. However, a more drastic change is expected during the next decades. Good understanding of which digital applications are possible and what are the associated benefits as well as risks from the different perspectives of the impacted stakeholders is of high importance. On the one hand, it is the basis for a broad societal and political discussion about general targets and guidelines of digitalization. On the other hand, it is an important piece of information for companies in order to develop and sustainably implement digital applications. This entry suggests a methodology to holistically analyze digital applications in the energy sector. The intended purpose of the suggested methodology is to provide a complexity-reduced fact base as input for societal and political discussions and for the development of new digital products, services, or business models. While the methodology is outlined in this entry, in a follow-up article the application of the methodology will be presented and the use of the approach reflected.
  • 1.5K
  • 05 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Bioethanol Production of Distillery Stillage
Distillery stillage has a high energy potential (13.6 MJ/kg TS, 10.4 MJ/kg COD), which indicates that it can be processed via anaerobic digestion and is a suitable substrate for conversion into energy.
  • 1.5K
  • 16 Nov 2021
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