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Sustainable Biofuels for Carbon Neutrality

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 6151

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Jo-Han Ng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Carbon Neutrality Research Group, University of Southampton Malaysia, Iskandar Puteri 79100, Johor, Malaysia
Interests: biodiesel; transesterification; combustion; sustainability; energy–water–food (EWF) nexus; biofuels

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The world is currently witnessing an unprecedented increase in carbon emissions from the burning of fossil fuels due to human activities such as transportation, energy generation and industrialisation. As such, scientists worldwide are researching topics that will lead to achieving net-zero carbon dioxide emissions, or “carbon neutrality”. Sustainable biofuels are vital in this regard. However, for the sustainability of biofuels production and usage, various factors such as feedstock type, production methods, land-use change and supply chains are issues. The mass adoption of biofuels may also lead to unintended environmental consequences and stress on natural resources. Therefore, it is necessary to bring together various aligned studies on sustainable biofuels and their potential roles in achieving carbon neutrality.

This Special Issue aims to showcase the state-of-the-art advancement in sustainable biofuels by considering theoretical, application, reactor design, production methods, modelling, political and legislative, techno-economic and holistic sustainability aspects.

Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to:

  • Biofuels for transportation and electricity and heat generation;
  • Novel technologies for biofuel production;
  • Sustainable liquid biofuels such as biodiesel, bioethanol and biojet fuel;
  • Combustion of biofuels;
  • Numerical modelling involving biofuels;
  • Techno-economic analysis of biofuel production;
  • Life cycle assessments (LCA) of biofuels;
  • Energy–water–food nexus of biofuels;
  • Public policies and regulatory frameworks for promoting carbon neutrality.

Prof. Dr. Jo-Han Ng
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biofuels
  • biodiesel
  • transesterification
  • bioethanol
  • biojet fuels
  • renewable jet fuel
  • syngas
  • combustion
  • sustainability
  • energy–water–food nexus
  • net zero carbon fuel
  • carbon neutrality

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 3495 KiB  
Article
Optimizing Anaerobic Co-Digestion Formula of Agro-Industrial Wastes in Semi-Continuous Regime
by Ana I. Parralejo, Jerónimo González, Luis Royano and Juan F. González
Energies 2025, 18(7), 1689; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18071689 - 28 Mar 2025
Viewed by 271
Abstract
The actual environmental and energy crises are two of the main problems existing in the world. Among the different technologies that can be implemented is anaerobic digestion, which employs waste and renewable biomass materials. To reach the optimum ratio of different raw materials [...] Read more.
The actual environmental and energy crises are two of the main problems existing in the world. Among the different technologies that can be implemented is anaerobic digestion, which employs waste and renewable biomass materials. To reach the optimum ratio of different raw materials or substrates in the feed of digesters, laboratory tests are necessary. This work aims to study the increase in the Organic Load Rate (OLR) (1 g VS L−1d−1, 2 g VS L−1d−1, 3 g VS L−1d−1 and 4 g VS L−1d−1, VS: Volatile Solid) and the raw materials number (sorghum (S), pig manure (P), triticale (T), corn stover (C) and microalgae biomass (M)) in the feedstock of the anaerobic digestion process. Mean values of methane yields for the evaluated set were lower in SMP and SMPTC assays (149.80 LCH4 kg VS−1 and 157.15 LCH4 kg VS−1, respectively) than SP, SM and SMPT assays (195.09 LCH4 kg VS−1, 197.69 LCH4 kg VS−1 and 195.76 LCH4 kg VS−1, respectively). Along the experiments, several parameters were evaluated, along with their interactions with OLR and number of raw materials. Two kinetic models were employed to fit the COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) removal results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biofuels for Carbon Neutrality)
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17 pages, 1916 KiB  
Article
Applying the International Maritime Organisation Life Cycle Assessment Guidelines to Pyrolysis Oil-Derived Blends: A Sustainable Option for Marine Fuels
by Matteo Prussi
Energies 2024, 17(21), 5464; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17215464 - 31 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 953
Abstract
Reducing maritime greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is challenging. As efforts to address climate change are gaining momentum, reducing the environmental impact becomes crucial for maritime short-to-medium-term sustainability. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has adopted Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) guidelines for estimating GHG emissions [...] Read more.
Reducing maritime greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is challenging. As efforts to address climate change are gaining momentum, reducing the environmental impact becomes crucial for maritime short-to-medium-term sustainability. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has adopted Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) guidelines for estimating GHG emissions associated with alternative fuels. This paper proposes an examination of the latest IMO-adopted LCA guidelines, comparing them with existing methodologies used for the transport sector. By scrutinising these guidelines, the paper aims to provide a better understanding of the evolving landscape for GHG emission estimation within the maritime sector. The paper presents a case study that applies the newly established LCA guidelines to a promising alternative fuel pathway, i.e., waste-wood-derived pyrolysis oil. Pyrolysis oil offers an attractive option, leveraging waste materials to generate a sustainable energy source. The environmental impact of pyrolysis oils is quantified according to the IMO LCA guidelines, offering insights into its viability as a cleaner alternative as marine fuel. The results show the large potential for GHG savings offered by this pathway: upgraded pyrolysis oil can deliver significant GHG savings, and this contribution is linearly dependent of its energy share when blended with standard Heavy Fuel Oil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biofuels for Carbon Neutrality)
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11 pages, 2691 KiB  
Article
Promising Abilities of Fungal Lipases of Aspergilli Strains in the Production of Biodiesel from Plant Oil Wastes
by Norah A. Al-Anazi, Amira H. Alabdalall, Maryam H. Alsoufi, Azza Al-Ghamdi and Fatimah A. Aldakheel
Energies 2024, 17(2), 381; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17020381 - 12 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1283
Abstract
Currently, there exists a significant need for alternate sources of petroleum fuel due to escalating environmental challenges and diminishing global oil reserves. Biodiesel, an environmentally friendly and sustainable fuel, is one of the most adaptable alternatives to petroleum fuel. This study’s goals were [...] Read more.
Currently, there exists a significant need for alternate sources of petroleum fuel due to escalating environmental challenges and diminishing global oil reserves. Biodiesel, an environmentally friendly and sustainable fuel, is one of the most adaptable alternatives to petroleum fuel. This study’s goals were to get biodiesel from three oils (olive, palm, and jojoba) and see how well lipases work as biocatalysts for the esterification process. The production of biodiesel was obtained from two fungal strains, Aspergillus niger MH079049.1 and A. niger MH078571.1, and four distinct fatty acids and four organic solvents were used. The study determined the optimal reaction conditions to be a reaction time of 24 h, an enzyme concentration of 3 mL, and an oil-to-methanol ratio of 3:1. This study showed that lipase works well in making biodiesel, with an impressive esterification yield of 99%, and the highest level of productivity was attained when olive oil and jojoba oils were subjected to an incubation time of 18 h and 22 h, respectively, in the presence of palm oil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biofuels for Carbon Neutrality)
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Review

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37 pages, 9929 KiB  
Review
Enhancing Biodiesel Production: A Review of Microchannel Reactor Technologies
by Koguleshun Subramaniam, Kang Yao Wong, Kok Hoe Wong, Cheng Tung Chong and Jo-Han Ng
Energies 2024, 17(7), 1652; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17071652 - 29 Mar 2024
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2929
Abstract
The depletion of fossil fuels, along with the environmental damages brought by their usage, calls for the development of a clean, sustainable and renewable source of energy. Biofuel, predominantly liquid biofuel such as biodiesel, is a promising alternative to fossil fuels, due to [...] Read more.
The depletion of fossil fuels, along with the environmental damages brought by their usage, calls for the development of a clean, sustainable and renewable source of energy. Biofuel, predominantly liquid biofuel such as biodiesel, is a promising alternative to fossil fuels, due to its compatible direct usage within the context of compression ignition engines. However, the industrial production of biodiesel is far from being energy and time efficient, which contributes to its high production cost. These inefficiencies are attributed to poor heat and mass transfer of the transesterification reaction. The utilisation of microchannel reactors is found to be excellent in escalating heat and mass transfer of the reactants, benefitting from their high surface area-to-volume ratio. The microchannel also intensifies the mixing of reactants via the reactor design, micromixers and the slug flow patterns within the reactor, thus enhancing the contact between reactants. Simulation studies have aided in the identification of mixing regimes within the microchannel reactors, induced by various reactor designs. In addition, microwave irradiation heating is found to enhance biodiesel production by localised superheating delivered directly to the reactants at a molecular level. This enables the reaction to begin much earlier, resulting in rapid biodiesel production. It is postulated that the synergy between microchannel reactors and microwave heating would catapult a pathway towards rapid and energy-efficient biodiesel production by enhancing heat and mass transfer between reactants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biofuels for Carbon Neutrality)
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