Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
8.3
3.9
Journals
Energies
Special Issues
Recent Advances in Biomass Energy Utilization and Conversion
energies-logo
Submit to Energies Review for Energies Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Recent Advances in Biomass Energy Utilization and Conversion

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2026) | Viewed by 3654

Editor

Dr. Aristide Giuliano

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
ENEA–Italian Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Department of Energetic Technologies, Trisaia Research Centre, I-75026 Rotondella, Italy
Interests: process optimization; process simulation; mathematical modeling; environmental assessment; biomass valorization; air quality
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Only through the valorization of renewable carbon sources will it be possible to achieve a high-impact transition from a fossil-based system to a renewable-based one. In particular, biomass is the only renewable source containing carbon atoms capable of replacing fuels, chemicals, and materials. In recent years, scientific research has focused less on biomass valorization for energy production (thermal or electrical). This shift occurred due to the lower economic appeal of biomass as an energy source compared to other renewable sources (e.g., solar, wind, geothermal, etc.). Conversely, attention has shifted towards biomass valorization for the production of high-added-value compounds and drop-in fuels, often through the integration of bioresources and green hydrogen from variable renewable energy sources. Thermochemical, biochemical/biological, and chemical catalyzed conversion processes have to be deepened in terms of integration opportunities, carbon conversion increasing, and from both economic and environmental performance points of view. This Special Issue brings together leading publications that highlight this scientific transition process.

Dr. Aristide Giuliano
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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-anonymized 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

  • biomass
  • waste
  • upgrading
  • variable renewable sources
  • bioenergy
  • biohydrogen
  • biofuels
  • sustainable aviation fuels
  • process integration

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

29 pages, 5626 KB  
Article
High-Efficiency Synthetic Natural Gas and Decarbonised Power Production from Biogenic Waste: Simulation, Energy Analysis and Thermal Optimisation of the Integrated System
by Juan D. Palacios, Alessandro A. Papa, Armando Vitale, Emanuele Di Bisceglie, Andrea Di Carlo and Enrico Bocci
Energies 2026, 19(8), 1887; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19081887 - 13 Apr 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 807
Abstract
This study presents a fully integrated process for the flexible conversion of biogenic waste into synthetic natural gas (bio-SNG) and electricity centred on a 100 kWth dual concentric bubbling fluidised bed steam gasifier. The raw syngas is processed in a high-temperature gas cleaning [...] Read more.
This study presents a fully integrated process for the flexible conversion of biogenic waste into synthetic natural gas (bio-SNG) and electricity centred on a 100 kWth dual concentric bubbling fluidised bed steam gasifier. The raw syngas is processed in a high-temperature gas cleaning section, and the resulting clean, H2-rich syngas is directed to three alternative downstream configurations: (i) conventional methanation, (ii) enhanced methanation with external H2 supplied by a reversible solid oxide cell (rSOC), and (iii) electricity generation via the same rSOC operating in fuel cell mode. The overall process is modelled in Aspen Plus, in which the gasification section is constrained by experimentally derived syngas data, while downstream units are described through thermodynamic and kinetics-based models. Methanation is simulated using a plug-flow reactor model based on validated kinetic expressions, while the rSOC operating in electrolysis and fuel cell mode is modelled using performance parameters of commercial stacks. A plant-wide heat integration strategy based on composite curve analysis is implemented to maximise internal heat recovery and minimise external utilities. The enhanced methanation configuration enables the production of bio-SNG with high methane content (up to 93.3 vol.% dry, N2-free), with a yield 0.72 kg/kgBiomass and a fuel efficiency of 70.1%. In electricity production mode, the system reaches an electrical efficiency of 43.1% with complete elimination of auxiliary fuel through thermal integration. These results demonstrate the capability of a single integrated plant to flexibly switch between fuel synthesis and power generation, enhancing adaptability to fluctuating electricity and methane market conditions while maintaining high efficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Biomass Energy Utilization and Conversion)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 1261 KB  
Article
Experimental Study on Microwave-Assisted Co-Pyrolysis of Plastic Waste and Biomass
by Letizia Marchetti, Mariangela Guastaferro, Leonardo Tognotti and Cristiano Nicolella
Energies 2026, 19(5), 1322; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19051322 - 5 Mar 2026
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1030
Abstract
Non-recyclable plastic waste (PSW) and residual lignocellulosic biomass (WP) represent abundant yet underused resources whose conversion can generate renewable fuels with synergistic benefits. While conventional pyrolysis remains limited by slow heat transfer and poor adaptability to heterogeneous feeds, microwave-assisted pyrolysis (MAP) offers faster [...] Read more.
Non-recyclable plastic waste (PSW) and residual lignocellulosic biomass (WP) represent abundant yet underused resources whose conversion can generate renewable fuels with synergistic benefits. While conventional pyrolysis remains limited by slow heat transfer and poor adaptability to heterogeneous feeds, microwave-assisted pyrolysis (MAP) offers faster volumetric heating and improved syngas quality, though it is still largely confined to the laboratory scale due to limited understanding of feedstock interactions and process behaviour. In this context, the present work provides a laboratory-scale experimental investigation of the MAP co-pyrolysis of PSW/WP blends, focusing on gas yield and syngas quality, and complements the experimental analysis with a preliminary scale-up assessment for a continuous microwave reactor. The results reveal clear synergistic effects, with gas yields exceeding those predicted by linear mixing. A 70/30 wt% PSW/WP blend produced a hydrogen-rich syngas with H2 concentrations of approximately 42 vol% and an H2/CO ratio of 2–3. Compared to conventional pyrolysis under analogous conditions, MAP increased hydrogen content by around 35% and reduced CO2 concentrations by up to 40%, resulting in a cleaner and more energy-dense gas. Overall, the findings highlight the strong potential of MAP for the valorization of mixed plastic–biomass wastes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Biomass Energy Utilization and Conversion)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

32 pages, 3303 KB  
Article
Techno-Economic and Carbon Footprint Assessment of Hydroprocessing Sustainable Oil Feedstocks into Green Diesel and Bio-Jet Fuel
by Aristide Giuliano, Ada Robinson Medici and Diego Barletta
Energies 2026, 19(5), 1265; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19051265 - 3 Mar 2026
Viewed by 1017
Abstract
In this study, a techno-economic and carbon footprint (GHG, CO2-equivalent) analysis was conducted on two alternative biofuels, green diesel and bio-jet fuel, produced from renewable lipids. The focus of the work is the comparison of various lipid feedstocks, including waste cooking [...] Read more.
In this study, a techno-economic and carbon footprint (GHG, CO2-equivalent) analysis was conducted on two alternative biofuels, green diesel and bio-jet fuel, produced from renewable lipids. The focus of the work is the comparison of various lipid feedstocks, including waste cooking oil, and four types of vegetable oils: cardoon, soybean, palm, and sunflower. Process optimization and design were performed to minimize production costs by using the process simulation software Aspen Plus®. Green diesel and bio-jet fuel were obtained via hydrodeoxygenation and hydroisomerization/hydrocracking, respectively. Sensitivity analyses confirmed consistent results across the tested vegetable oils. Hydrodeoxygenation achieved triglyceride molar conversions exceeding 97%, with overall mass yields into the diesel fraction surpassing 79%. Conversely, hydroisomerization/hydrocracking of green diesel resulted in over 90% conversion of n-paraffins and more than 50% overall mass yield. The economic analysis showed that the primary cost factor influencing the payback selling price of the biofuels is the price of the lipid feedstocks. Biofuels are economically viable only when lipid prices are below 1000 €/ton and hydrogen prices are below 3000 €/ton. An important aspect is also represented by the combined-cycle energy recovery system, which strongly affects the overall capital cost and increases internal power generation efficiency. The carbon footprint calculated over a cradle-to-grave boundary showed shows net GHG reductions versus the fossil reference fuels for all scenarios. Net avoided emissions range from 1.74 to 3.63 kgCO2-eq/kg green diesel and from 0.80 to 3.70 kgCO2-eq/kg bio-jet fuel across the investigated feedstocks, approximately 40–84% and 20–95% of the respective savings relative to the fossil reference fuels under the stated background and logistics assumptions. Results are expressed per kg of produced fuel as a functional unit, using literature-derived upstream emission factors for oil supply and background inputs (hydrogen, Italian grid electricity and transport). For the bio-jet configuration, co-product burdens were partitioned by mass; the Discussion section highlights the sensitivity of the GD vs. BJF comparison to co-product handling and allocation choices. In this context, the choice of feedstock is essential in establishing the resulting GHG intensity of the two biofuels. From both economic and climate change perspectives, waste cooking oil emerges as the most promising option, particularly given its classification as waste-derived feedstock in the system boundary, unlike the virgin oil sources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Biomass Energy Utilization and Conversion)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop