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Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series – Energy Resources: Past, Present...
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Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series – Energy Resources: Past, Present and Future Role in a Circular Economy

A special issue of Resources (ISSN 2079-9276).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2024) | Viewed by 9561

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Elena Rada

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Insubria University of Varese, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences – DiSTA, Via G.B. Vico, 46, 21100, Varese, Italy
Interests: resources; renewable energy; environmental sustainability; circular economy; waste management, air pollution, microplastics, sewage sludge management, human health.
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Ponisseril Somasundaran

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Co-Guest Editor
NSF I/UCR Center for Particulate and Surfactant Systems, Earth & Environmental Engineering, Columbia University, 500 W 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA
Interests: surface and colloid chemistry; surfactants; polymers and proteins; green reagents; corrosion, slurry/paste processing (microelectronics-CMP) dispersions; biosolar energy; environmental engineering; dispersion/flocculation/deposition; molecular interactions at surfaces using advanced spectroscopy; biosurfaces and biosensors, and nanotechnology incl nanotoxicity

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Circular Economy is a model where products must be managed to extend their life cycle and where their materials must be kept in the system for as long as possible. That means achieving waste reduction too. In recent years, the interest in it has grown worldwide. However, we can observe spatial and temporal differences. Focusing on the sector of waste management, in countries that had low incomes in the past, today, the system is close to being optimized. The future of currently low-income countries might be that of enhanced waste management. Efforts should be made worldwide to have a future where the circularity of materials is dominant. Sometimes the transition is not visible. This can be the case in some low-income contexts where the material recovery of waste is performed by waste pickers, which contributes, even if informally, to one of the steps characterizing a circular economy: waste collection. In the frame of a world more and more interested in the circularity of materials, this raises a question: what is the role of energy resources? Focusing on waste management, we can see that both renewable and non-renewable energy resources characterize this sector: biogas from biodegradable waste and energy from high-temperature processes applied to unsorted Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) are, respectively, a demonstration of that (MSW is an energy resource that is only partially renewable). Of course, energy resources have a wider role in the circular economy, because it is not only a matter of energy from residues: the role is also related to the need to use clean energy sources to have clean products that are part of a circular economy system. For that reason, this Special Issue is open to all kinds of contributions related to energy resources.

Dr. Elena Rada
Prof. Dr. Ponisseril Somasundaran
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • biomass to energy
  • climate change
  • circular economy
  • economic sustainability
  • environmental impact
  • environmental sustainability
  • geothermal energy
  • hydropower
  • innovation
  • hydrogen
  • environmental monitoring systems
  • management
  • photovoltaics
  • social impact
  • solar thermal
  • renewable energy
  • strategies
  • waste to energy
  • wind energy
  • educational issues

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2029 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Effects of Drying Method and Temperature on the Quality of Dried Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) Leaves: A Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Drying Solution
by Farah Naz Akbar, Shahid Mahmood, Ghulam Mueen-ud-din, Muhammad Yamin and Mian Anjum Murtaza
Resources 2024, 13(9), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13090121 - 30 Aug 2024
Viewed by 817
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of solar drying and oven drying methods on the quality parameters of dried basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) leaves. The dried basil leaves were dehydrated at three different levels of temperature (T1 [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of solar drying and oven drying methods on the quality parameters of dried basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) leaves. The dried basil leaves were dehydrated at three different levels of temperature (T1, T2, and T3 = 50 °C, 55 °C, and 60 °C) using a solar tunnel dryer and an electrical oven dryer. Drying time, energy consumption, dehydration ratio, rehydration ratio, pH, and reducing sugar were observed after drying the basil leaves. The results showed that solar drying at 55 °C required the least energy (0.431 kWh) and took the shortest amount of time (110 min) to complete, whereas oven drying consumed more energy. Additionally, oven drying maintained a low pH (4.30) and reducing sugar level (2.24), extending the shelf life of the dried basil leaves, compared to solar drying. Based on energy consumption, drying time, and mineral contents, the solar drying using a solar tunnel dryer was deemed more suitable than oven drying. The best temperature for drying was determined to be 55 °C, which provided a short drying time, the least energy consumption and a statistically non-significant loss of mineral contents and dehydration ratio. Moreover, solar drying demonstrated a significantly higher speed, with a 6.7-times higher drying rate compared to oven drying, with significantly less energy consumption. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series – Energy Resources: Past, Present and Future Role in a Circular Economy)
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33 pages, 3284 KiB  
Article
Development of Wind Energy in EU Countries as an Alternative Resource to Fossil Fuels in the Years 2016–2022
by Radosław Wolniak and Bożena Skotnicka-Zasadzień
Resources 2023, 12(8), 96; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources12080096 - 17 Aug 2023
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4348
Abstract
The aim of this article is to present solutions related to wind energy in EU countries as an alternative to fossil fuels. This article is based on secondary information and statistical data regarding the development of wind power engineering in EU countries for [...] Read more.
The aim of this article is to present solutions related to wind energy in EU countries as an alternative to fossil fuels. This article is based on secondary information and statistical data regarding the development of wind power engineering in EU countries for the years 2016–2022. The main purpose of this paper is to analyze of the relations between the development of wind energy in European Union countries and GPD (gross domestic product) per capita and selected factors. The following hypotheses were formulated: H1—There is a statistically significant correlation between GDP per capita and the use of wind energy in European Union countries. H2—There is a relationship between the length of the coastline and the use of wind energy in European Union countries. H3—There is a statistically significant correlation between the attitude to uncertainty of the inhabitants of a given country and the use of wind energy in said country. The presented research results support all these hypotheses. The results of the research regarding H2 are as follows: in the case of northern European countries (Ireland and Finland) and the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal), the development of wind power engineering in the study period was faster than could be inferred from the length of the coastline in these countries. Regarding hypothesis H1, it was concluded on the basis of the analysis that the involvement of countries in the development of wind power engineering is correlated with their wealth. The novelty of this paper emerges from its innovative approach to analyzing wind power engineering, its incorporation of cultural factors, its quantitative assessment of correlations, and its actionable policy recommendations. These elements collectively contribute to a comprehensive and impactful study that advances our understanding of wind energy adoption in the European Union. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series – Energy Resources: Past, Present and Future Role in a Circular Economy)
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23 pages, 2797 KiB  
Article
Carbon-Energy Impact Analysis of Heavy Residue Gasification Plant Integration into Oil Refinery
by Slavomír Podolský, Miroslav Variny and Tomáš Kurák
Resources 2023, 12(6), 66; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources12060066 - 27 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1692
Abstract
A gasification plant may partially replace an industrial thermal plant and hydrogen production plant by polygenerating valuable products (hydrogen, power, steam) from low-value materials. Carbon energy analysis is one way of conceptually evaluating such processes. In this paper, the integration of a heavy [...] Read more.
A gasification plant may partially replace an industrial thermal plant and hydrogen production plant by polygenerating valuable products (hydrogen, power, steam) from low-value materials. Carbon energy analysis is one way of conceptually evaluating such processes. In this paper, the integration of a heavy residue (HR) gasification plant into a mid-size oil refinery (5 million t per year crude processing rate) is conceptually assessed via the comparison of electricity, natural gas and heavy residue consumption, and CO2 emissions. The main purpose of the integration is to reduce the consumption of natural gas currently used for hydrogen production at the expense of increased HR consumption and to achieve a reduction in CO2 emissions. Two case studies with different modes of operation were compared to base case showing that annual reduction of 2280 GWh in natural gas consumption with constant heat and hydrogen production is possible, accompanied with a slight increase in electricity purchase by 28 GWh per year. HR processing in the refinery increases by over 2800 GWh per year. The refinery’s CO2 emissions increase by more than 20% (up to 350 kt per year) as a result, while, after incorporating external emissions into the balance, a decrease of more than 460 kt CO2 per year can be achieved. This confirms that the integration of gasification plants within industrial enterprises and clusters has a positive environmental and energy impact and supports the idea of converting low-value material to more valuable products in polygeneration plants. The economics of HR gasifier integration in varying operations under real refinery conditions remain to be explored. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series – Energy Resources: Past, Present and Future Role in a Circular Economy)
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Review

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24 pages, 506 KiB  
Review
Hydrogen in Energy Transition: The Problem of Economic Efficiency, Environmental Safety, and Technological Readiness of Transportation and Storage
by Svetlana Revinova, Inna Lazanyuk, Bella Gabrielyan, Tatevik Shahinyan and Yevgenya Hakobyan
Resources 2024, 13(7), 92; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13070092 - 1 Jul 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1846
Abstract
The circular economy and the clean-energy transition are inextricably linked and interdependent. One of the most important areas of the energy transition is the development of hydrogen energy. This study aims to review and systematize the data available in the literature on the [...] Read more.
The circular economy and the clean-energy transition are inextricably linked and interdependent. One of the most important areas of the energy transition is the development of hydrogen energy. This study aims to review and systematize the data available in the literature on the environmental and economic parameters of hydrogen storage and transportation technologies (both mature and at high technological readiness levels). The study concluded that salt caverns and pipeline transportation are the most promising methods of hydrogen storage and transportation today in terms of a combination of all parameters. These methods are the most competitive in terms of price, especially when transporting hydrogen over short distances. Thus, the average price of storage will be 0.35 USD/kg, and transportation at a distance of up to 100 km is 0.3 USD/kg. Hydrogen storage underground in a gaseous state and its transportation by pipelines have the least consequences for the environment: emissions and leaks are insignificant, and there is no environmental pollution. The study identifies these methods as particularly viable given their lower environmental impact and potential for seamless integration into existing energy systems, therefore supporting the transition to a more sustainable and circular economy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series – Energy Resources: Past, Present and Future Role in a Circular Economy)
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