Advances in Fuels and Energy Conversion

Dear Colleagues,

Fulfilling the ever-increasing energy demands of society and doing so with environmental and climate protections has initiated the process of decarbonization—the removal of net carbon dioxide emissions from the energy supply chain. A vast number of research activities are being undertaken to provide a rich portfolio of solutions required by modern energy systems. These include the displacement of fossil derived carbon, the reduction of carbon emitted through capture, and the complete removal of carbon. In combustion-based technologies, one of the quickest routes to improving the carbon budget is replacing and reducing fossil carbon. Here, bio-, synthetic- and electrically-generated fuels have their role to play, not only as fuels but also as energy storage solutions. The increasing number of different fuels and fuel blends requires that combustion devices (burners, engines, furnaces etc) be fuel flexible. Fuel flexibility can also be accompanied by novel combustion regimes such as moderate or intense low oxygen dilution (MILD) or other low temperature combustion (LTC) strategies.

Some existing combustion systems that utilize hydrocarbon fuels are expected to be equipped with carbon capture and storage (CCS) installations, realized with different technologies characterized by various levels of maturity. These capture systems work with the combustion system and fuel, hence the research into successful CCS is not solely limited to the capture device itself but the whole system.

Green hydrogen is identified as a possible energy source of the future. With an ever-increasing amount of renewable electricity being produced, there is a growing potential for increasing production of green hydrogen. The hydrogen can be used in a variety of systems and processes, including combustion systems, industrial reduction processes (steel production), and electricity generation in fuel cells. Many of the issues with hydrogen are associated with transport and storage problems, and ammonia is identified as a promising hydrogen vector that can help to solve some of them. Ammonia may also be used directly as a fuel in combustion systems and fuel cells; however, it is difficult to burn and does pose some issues. It is particularly promising in the marine sector, where it is viewed as a future non-carbon fuel to propel long-distance vessels.

While there is much discussion concerning the demise of the combustion engine, and it is true that electrification of light duty vehicles is likely to replace the internal combustion engines in the majority of cases, in some sectors, engines and hybrid systems are very likely to continue to be used for many years. These engines and hybrid systems will have to fulfil very strict emissions regulations. Sectors that are likely to continue to use combustion engines include the stationary power and power back industry where gas turbines and internal combustion engines running on flexible fuels will be popular. Aviation is another sector that will find electrisation unrealistic for many years and is actively looking for sustainable, high quality, and reliable net zero carbon fuels. 

Other carbon intense sectors, such as waste utilization plants and other relevant processes, provide researchers with challenging tasks. The complete big picture of the new decarbonized system will be forged by political decisions that should primarily consider environmental and climate aspects, but also make sensible compromises to ensure that economic and energy security targets are met.

All these trends that we observe are reflected in various studies we would like to present in the current Special Issue of Energies to highlight some selected aspects of advances in energy and fuels.

Dr. Michał T. Lewandowski
Prof. Dr. David R. Emberson
Guest Editors

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• Biofuels
• E-fuels
• Synthetic fuels
• Chemical storage
• Combustion regimes (MILD, LTC)
• Novel combustion concepts
• Hydrogen, ammonia
• Fuel cells
• Waste utilization
• Gazification