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Bio-Energy and Its Sustainable Utilization

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A4: Bio-Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 March 2025) | Viewed by 2079

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
Interests: environmental analytical chemistry; coal; emission; flue gases purification; mercury removal; microplastics; wastewater treatment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The use of energy from renewable sources is still a developing issue, although this process has been ongoing for many years. The desire to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on one hand, and the search for alternatives to fossil fuels on the other hand, means that using biomass as an energy source is entering the field as an additional source of energy. Generally, the use of biomass as an energy source not only results in a reduction in CO2 emissions per capita but also increases GDP per capita. Hence, among other things, there has been an increase in the of agricultural resources for the production of biofuels or bio-components for motor fuels.

Another significant trend in the use of agricultural resources is their application to energy production. While in the previously mentioned area liquid bio-components are produced from agricultural resources, here solid biofuels play an important role, mainly consisting of residues from the agricultural and forestry industries, which serve as key components of solid energy fuels or are standalone fuels themselves. The issues related to these types of energy resources are broad, requiring not only qualitative assessment but also an assessment of their impact on the natural environment.

With such a significant increase in demand, the question arises: Will the increased use of agricultural and forestry resources negatively impact the natural environment and the functioning of ecosystems? A certain form of relief for the environment is the utilization of municipal waste for the production of electricity and heat. Despite arousing many emotions, this is a developing branch of energy production, allowing for the generation of substantial amounts of electricity and heat based on a resource that does not compete with food, does not deplete natural resources, and simultaneously provides benefits in the form of municipal waste disposal.

This Special Issue aims to present and disseminate the most recent advances related to the sustainable utilization of bio-resources including biomass, waste plastics, municipal waste, sewage sludge, etc.

Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to, all aspects of bio-energy, biomass treatment, the production of biofuels using different conversion technologies, and the generation of heat and power from biofuels, as well as the following:

  • Torrefaction;
  • Pyrolysis;
  • Gasification and reforming: bio-syngas generation;
  • Bio-oil production;
  • Biomethane production;
  • Biohydrogen production;
  • Biomass combustion and gasification;
  • Biofuels from different nonfood energy crops;
  • Current trends and new biofuels precursors;
  • Minimization of pollutant emissions;
  • Bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS).

Dr. Marta Marczak-Grzesik
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • torrefaction
  • pyrolysis
  • bio-oil production
  • biohydrogen production
  • bio-energy
  • pollutant emissions

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 4458 KiB  
Article
Maximum Fluidized Bed Boiler Temperature Determination for Coal–Biomass Combustion Condition Through Ash Area Reduction Technique
by Fernando H. B. Santos, João V. R. Moreira, Gabriel C. P. Soares, Alan N. Carneiro, Danielle R. S. Guerra, Manoel F. M. Nogueira and Luís A. C. Tarelho
Energies 2025, 18(7), 1662; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18071662 - 26 Mar 2025
Viewed by 248
Abstract
The residue of the so-called fibrous seed from the açai fruit represents 70% of the mass of the fruit and has potential for useful energy generation. Evaluating and treating the residue as a renewable fuel offers both economic and environmental benefits, whereas today, [...] Read more.
The residue of the so-called fibrous seed from the açai fruit represents 70% of the mass of the fruit and has potential for useful energy generation. Evaluating and treating the residue as a renewable fuel offers both economic and environmental benefits, whereas today, it is disposed of as organic waste. The co-firing of the fibrous seed and coal in fluidized bed boilers is an attractive option due to the high efficiency of the combustion process and the low bed temperature. However, one of the issues for this application is the low seed ash sintering temperature, which promotes the agglomeration of the bed material. This work aims to present a new procedure for evaluating the sintering temperature of açai seed and coal ash, making it simpler and consistent with traditional techniques. The proposed procedure for determining the starting ash sintering temperature is based on two simple and dynamic methodologies: simultaneous thermal analysis (STA) and sintering by an area reduction in ash samples. The data obtained allow us to determine that the coal ash begins to sinter at around 1000 °C, while the açai seed ash starts at around 700–850 °C, exhibiting a significant area reduction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Energy and Its Sustainable Utilization)
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16 pages, 9032 KiB  
Article
Analysis of the Energy and Emission Performance of an Automatic Biomass Boiler in the Context of Efficient Heat Management
by Adam Nocoń, Artur Jachimowski, Wacław Koniuch, Grzegorz Pełka, Wojciech Luboń, Paweł Kubarek, Marta Jach-Nocoń and Dominika Dawiec
Energies 2024, 17(23), 5885; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17235885 - 23 Nov 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1317
Abstract
This paper presents the results of an examination of an automatic biomass boiler identifying its strengths and weaknesses and computing its seasonal energy and emission parameters. The boiler was found to meet the energy and emission requirements for distribution in Poland. The boiler [...] Read more.
This paper presents the results of an examination of an automatic biomass boiler identifying its strengths and weaknesses and computing its seasonal energy and emission parameters. The boiler was found to meet the energy and emission requirements for distribution in Poland. The boiler is characterised by good heating efficiency and low dust and carbon monoxide emissions. The aim of this paper is to provide and analyse these parameters, and by doing so classify it in the context of its competitors. The average heating output is 26.86 kW and the thermal efficiency is 87.97%. Carbon monoxide emissions are very low (22.71 mg/m3). However, nitrogen oxide emissions (187.6 mg/m3) can be a problem. Filters made out of metalworking waste, i.e., machining shavings, significantly improve the boiler performance, contributing to an increased heat output and efficiency and reduced dust emissions. Compared with other solutions available in the market, the boiler compares favourably in terms of dust and carbon monoxide emissions and is also characterised by similar efficiency, especially with the filters in place. Regarding the context of thermal energy management, the appliance under investigation demonstrates not only favourable energy and emission parameters, but also the potential for the efficient use of thermal energy, which can bring additional economic and environmental benefits. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bio-Energy and Its Sustainable Utilization)
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