5^th World Bioenergy Congress and Expo June 29-30, 2017 Madrid, Spain

Biography:

Markus Brautsch is Full Professor for Thermodynamics, Energy Technology and Renewable Energies at the Technical University of Applied Sciences Amberg-Weiden since 1998. He is the founder of the Institute of Energy Technology and the Bavarian Center of Excellence for Combined Heat and Power Generation. In 2014 he was appointed to a Guest Professor at the Jiangsu University of Science and Technology in China. He is guest lecturer at the Renewable Energy Center in Mithradam (India) and the University of Santa Caterina (Brazil).

Abstract:

As a part of the research project “Comparison of CO₂ mitigation costs of biomass CHP systems” a MAN common rail Diesel CHP system with 240 kW electrical and 230 kW thermal power was investigated in liquid fuel operation. Based on these initial measurements a dual fuel operation system with liquid and gaseous biogenous fuels was developed.

First, step the electrical efficiency, the thermal efficiency, the power coefficient and the emissions with different liquid biogenous fuels (rapeseed oil, soybean oil, biodiesel and palm oil) were investigated from part load to full load at compression rates of 19:1 and 16:1. The CHP system was driven under 100 % liquid fuel operation.

Second, biomethane was mixed with the combustion air to reduce the amount of liquid fuels to a minimum as  “pilot fuel”.  Beginning with 0 % (liquid fuel operation) the gas ratio was increased to its individual maximum. Investigations of the combustion behaviour by a cylinder pressure indicator system on each single cylinder attested a crucial influence of the point of the pilot fuel injection and the amount of pilot fuel. Hence, the biomethane ratio could be raised to its highest degree adapted to each different liquid biofuel.

As a result, different combinations of biomethane and biogenous liquid fuels were optimized in a highly efficient common rail Diesel CHP system. Compared to Gas-Otto CHP units, the dual fuel technology shows better electrical and thermal efficiencies as well as CO₂ advantages.

Recent Publications:

1. Lechner R., O´Connell N., Brautsch M.: Identifikation von Einsatzmöglichkeiten und der Zündstrahltechnologie zur Verbesserung der Anlageneffizienz und Wirtschaftlichkeit von BHKW-Anlagen mit experimentieller Überprüfung der Vorteile an einer Pilotanlage unter realen Bedingungen im Praxisbetrieb. Forschungsinitiative ZukunftBau, F 2943.Stuttgart: Fraunhofer-IRB-Verl. 2015
2. Grünig G.: Zündstrahlmotoren – Effiziente Verbrennung von Biogas und Schwachgasen in Blockheizkraftwerken; 1. Auflage München; Süddeutscher Verlag onpact GmbH; 2010; ISBN 978-3-86236-008-6
3. Bhaskor J. Bora, Ujjwal K. Saha: Optimisation of injection timing and compression ratio of raw biogas powered dual fuel diesel engine; Applied Thermal Engineering 92 (2016), 111-121
4. Bhaskor J. Bora, Ujjwal K. Saha: Experimental evaluation of a rice bran biodiesel – biogas run dual fuel diesel engine at varying compression ratios; Renewable Energy 87 (2016), 782-790
5. Debabrata Barik, S. Murugan: Experimental investigation on the behavior of a DI diesel engine fueled with raw biogas-diesel dual fuel at different injection timing; Journal of the Energy Institute 89 (2016), 373-388

Biography:

Raphael Lechner studied Environmental Engineering, Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency at the Universities of Amberg and Kassel. He is head of R&D at the Institute of Energy Technology at the Technical University of Applied Sciences Amberg-Weiden and since 2014 director of the Bavarian Center of Excellence for Combined Heat and Power Generation.

Abstract:

As a part of a joint research project of the Centre of Excellence for combined Heat and Power and Fraunhofer UMSICHT, the hydraulic injection characteristics of various biofuels for diesel engine operation were investigated.

The measurements were carried out using a standard configuration common-rail injection system with a high pressure pump feeding into a common rail and a solenoid injector. The system was mounted on an injection system test bench, which was developed at the Technical University of Applied Sciences Amberg-Weiden (c.f. figure). The test bench features an IAV injection analyzer, which allows direct shot-to-shot measurement of injection rate and injection quantity for multiple injections per cycle, e.g. pre, main and post injection (c.f. [1],[2]).

The different biofuels investigated were pure rape seed oil, biodiesel, and crude bio-oil obtained from biogas digestate via Thermo-Catalytic Reforming (TCR®), a process developed at Fraunhofer UMSICHT (c.f. [3],[4],[5],[6]). Calibration fluid according to ISO 4113 was used as reference fuel.

The measurements were carried out at different rail pressures and injection durations in order to obtain the injector map for the different fuels. Additionally, measurements with different pre and post injection timings were performed to determine the closest possible timing of multiple injections according to the main injection.

The resulting injector maps clearly show the pressure dependency of injection quantities. Fuels with higher viscosity generally show considerable deviations from the reference fuel at lower injection pressures, whereas the differences diminish at higher injection pressures. Analysis of multiple injections shows that there is a minimum required lag time between the injection pulses to avoid converging of the individual injections. This lag time is generally higher when using fuels with higher viscosity.

Both phenomena indicate the need for recalibrating injector mappings and timings for engine operation when utilizing biofuels with fluid characteristics deviating from the reference fuel.

Recent Publications:

1. Brautsch, M.; Lechner, R.: Common-Rail-Einspritzsysteme für Pflanzenöl-BHKW, University of Applied Sciences Amberg-Weiden Research Report 2008/2009, December 2008.
2. Muntean, A.B. et.al.: Impact of different in-cylinder pressures on hydraulical performances of the diesel fuel injection systems, 15^th International Conference on Experimental Mechanics, Porto 22-27 July 2012.
3. Neumann, J. et.al.: Upgraded biofuel from residue biomass by Thermo-Catalytic Reforming and hydrodeoxygenation. Biomass and Bioenergy 89 (2016), p. 91-97.
4. Neumann, J. et.al.: Production and characterization of a new quality pyrolysis oil, char and syngas from digestate – Introducing the thermo-catalytic reforming process. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis 113 (2015), p. 137-142.
5. Neumann, J. et.al.: The conversion of anaerobic digestion waste into biofuels via a novel Thermo-Catalytic Reforming process. Waste Management 47 (2016), p. 141-148.
6. Conti, R. et.al.: Thermocatalytic Reforming of Biomass Waste Streams. Energy Technology 5 (2017), p. 104-110

Biography:

Alberto Carmona Bosch, 45, graduated at the University of Seville (Spain) and University of Paderborn (Germany) with a Bachelor in Economics and Business Administration and an Executive MBA from Institute San Telmo (partner school of IESE). Started working in Abengoa in 1999. Professional background in financial and commercial activities and promoting and financing renewable energy projects in Europe as well as acquisitions. He has been active in the international development of Bioethanol since 2005 with activities in The Netherlands, Brazil and U.S. He has lead global trading operations the last 12 years and has held several conferences in relation with Commodity markets, Ethanol markets and Risk Management.

Abstract:

Ethanol markets are mainly a function of local supply and demand and individual blending mandates. However there are non-mandatory markets that demand ethanol without the need of government intervention and purely for the octane value of Ethanol. Global trade flows appear not only because of supply and demand of the Big Three (US, Brazil and Europe) but also for many other different demands around the world. Crude prices and sugar prices play also a very important role in the price of ethanol and therefore in the market dynamics.

Even with the major opponents lobbying, whether 1G, 1.5G or 2G Ethanol continues its steady path forward as is the unique and quickest solution for reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions and improve air quality immediately. 

Review of existing regulatory matters and proposals being discussed in the main Ethanol markets.

Biography:

Prabhakar is basically a post-graduate in agriculture. He pursued doctorate in biomass conversion technologies in Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India. He worked in Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad, India as Professor. He has supervised thesis work of a number of research scholars in bioenergy and has a number of research papers to his credit. He contributed to the research in biomass conversion technologies mainly in pyrolysis of agricultural wastes and forest biomass. He designed a portable kiln for manufacturing charcoal at village level. He has experience in gasification of charcoal and smokeless stoves as well. In addition, he has experience in biofuels and solar power in irrigation systems.

Abstract:

The pyrolysis of coconut shell in experimental conditions at different temperatures for varying time periods, to determine the suitable range for obtaining maximum percentage yield of charcoal was studied. Pyrolysis under field conditions has been done to compare the percentage yield efficiency of charcoal with experimental results. The efficiency of pyrolysis in experimental conditions at a temperature of 300 degree Celsius and 180 seconds’ time duration is 70%, while in field conditions the efficiency recorded is 27%. Coconut shell with a yield potential of 2 tonnes per hectare per year in India can fulfil the cooking and heating requirements of two families, with five members each, in rural areas.

Biography:

David Bolonio is in the third year of his PhD. He studied Mining Engineer and the Master in Environmental Research, Modeling and Risk Assessment at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. He has done research stays at the Faculty of Chemistry of the University of Graz and at the Joint Bioenergy Institute (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory). He has attended seven conferences presenting his research works and has published four papers in high impact journals.  

Abstract:

The transport sector is a major energy consumer with the 27 % of the total energy used worldwide. This energy is almost completely provided by petroleum, a non-renewable resource that is concentrated in politically unstable countries and that causes global warming due to the greenhouse gas effect. Due to this situation, and the increase in the demand and the oil price, it is necessary to search for alternatives which may be used as transport fuels. One of the most viable alternatives are fatty esters, as they have similar properties to fossil fuels and they can be used as substitutes of conventional fuels without making big modifications to engines. This work aims to study the properties of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) from Tunisian oils in order to assess their potential use as biofuel sources. The oils chosen for this study have been scarcely researched by other authors and are very interesting for a possible exploitation as fuels. Some of them are non-edible sources and all of them can be grown in arid places with no need of supplementary water: Ibicella lutea, Peganum harmala, Smyrnium olusatrum, Onopordum nervosum and Solanum elaeagnifolium. Their properties (cloud point, pour point cold filter plugging point, oxidation stability, cetane number, density, kinematic viscosity and heating value) have been predicted using equations that correlate the above properties with their ester profiles, measured with gas chromatography (GC-FID) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and crystallization onset temperature (COT), measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The work concludes with the comparison of the properties of the biodiesel obtained from these oils and the analysis of their possible use as biofuel sources.

Recent Publications:

1. Neifar, M., Chouchane, H., Maktouf, S., Gara, J., Jaouani, A., & Cherif, A. (2016). Improved sugar yield for bioethanol production by modelling enzymatic hydrolysis of Peganum Harmala biomass through response surface methodology.
2. Evergetis, E., & Haroutounian, S. A. (2014). Exploitation of apiaceae family plants as valuable renewable source of essential oils containing crops for the production of fine chemicals. Industrial Crops and Products, 54, 70-77.
3. Arfaoui, M. O., Renaud, J., Ghazghazi, H., Boukhchina, S., & Mayer, P. (2014). Variation in oil content, fatty acid and phytosterols profile of Onopordum acanthium L. during seed development. Natural product research, 28(24), 2293-2300.
4. Kolisis, F. N., Sotiroudis, T. G., & Sotiroudis, V. T. (2010). The potential of biodiesel production from fatty acid methyl esters of some European/Mediterranean and cosmopolitan halophyte seed oils. Journal of ASTM International, 7(3), 1-9.
5. Bolonio, D., Llamas, A., Rodríguez-Fernández, J., Al-Lal, A. M., Canoira, L., Lapuerta, M., & Gómez, L. (2015). Estimation of cold flow performance and oxidation stability of fatty acid ethyl esters from lipids obtained from Escherichia coli. Energy & Fuels, 29(4), 2493-2502.
6. Lapuerta, M., Rodríguez-Fernández, J., & Armas, O. (2010). Correlation for the estimation of the density of fatty acid esters fuels and its implications. A proposed biodiesel cetane index. Chemistry and physics of lipids, 163(7), 720-727.

Biography:

Althuri Avanthi, has graduated M.Tech under the guidance of Prof. Rintu Banerjee, IIT Kharagpur. Since 2012 she is pursuing PhD under same Professor at IIT Kharagpur. She is availing DBT scholarship since 2012 and had received GATE 2010-12 fellowship. Her current doctoral dissertation topic deals with biomass and biofuels with special emphasis on bioethanol production from holocellulosic stream of mixed lignocellulosic biomass.

Abstract:

Lignocellulosic ethanol is the energy of the future that has the potential to replace petro-fuels when driven by a simple and competent biomass processing technology^[1,2]. In the midst of alarming environmental consequences of industrialization and excessive fossil fuel combustion, it is obligatory to seek for a greener and benign approach for 2G ethanol production^[3]. The present study is one such attempt that deals with enzymatic processing of carbon neutral lignocellulosics. For this a blend of nonedible lignocellulosics namely, Ricinus communis, Saccharum officinarum tops and Saccharum spontaneum was taken as a substrate, since collection of a single type of biomass to feed a refinery is time consuming, laborious and cost intensive. Whereas mixed feedstocks are readily available, sustainable and moreover are tailor made to fit in the best biochemical composition^[4]. Biomass blend considered showed high carbon% and energy density^[5].

The present study involved simultaneous biomass pretreatment and hydrolysis using a cocktail of enzymes consisting of ligninolytic laccase from Pleurotus djamor and a complete holocellulolytic system from Trichoderma reseei RUT C30 consisting of endo-glucanase, exo-glucanase, β-glucosidase and xylanase for hydrolysis. This enzyme based simultaneous pretreatment-saccharification (SPS) of biomass was found to yield higher reducing sugars (633 mg/g) than sequential pretreatment-saccharification (SePS, 600 mg/g), chemical pretreatment-saccharification (CPS, 367 mg/g) and chemical pretreatment-enzymatic saccharification (CPES, 526 mg/g). Ethanol concentration from co-fermentation of sugars was observed to be 7.1% (v/v). Further improved ethanol concentration up to 7.65% (v/v) was observed when biomass was subjected to SPS for 2h and followed by co-fermentation in same vessel. Statistical model was used to evaluate and validate the performance of this partially consolidated bioprocessing (PCBP). Biomass to ethanol conversion was 26.5% (g/g) with 60.35 g/L ethanol. The adopted process has meagre allied waste streams and thus aids in safeguarding the environment for future generations. 

Biography:

Sanjeev Kumar, PhD student is working under the esteemed guidance of Prof. Rintu Banerjee at Advanced Technology Development Center, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India. He is working on second generation biobutanol production using Clostridium beijerinckii. 

Abstract:

Global raise in the living standards of the society throughout the world has created a huge demand for transportation fuel. Conventionally energy demand used to be met through the use of fossil fuels but due to environmental concerns, sustainable sources of fuels are being researched upon nowadays. In this venture, biofuels have gained immense popularity since they are carbon neutral and has the potential to fulfill the demand¹. Nowadays pretreatment and saccharification of lignocellulosics is performed sequentially in order to obtain fermentable sugar for biofuels production^2,3. In the present study, pretreatment and saccharification was investigated concomitantly to obtain reducing sugars from bamboo using laccase and cellulases extracted from solid state fermentation of Pleurotus sp. and Trichoderma reesei respectively. One of the main advantages of this process is the overall time reduction since pretreatment and saccharification is conducted simultaneously. Laccase assists in increasing cell wall permeability by degrading the lignin and thus facilitated the diffusion of enzymes into the cell wall to cause hydrolysis of holocellulose for the production of fermentable sugars. Process parameters governing the system viz., temperature, incubation time, pH, cellulase: laccase ratio in the enzyme cocktail and solid loading were optimized using response surface methodology thus producing a maximum reducing sugar content of 75.45 g/L. HPLC analysis revealed that broth has mixtures of glucose (36.89%), pentoses (24.29%) and cellobiose (38.81%). The potential of these sugars was analyzed using Clostridium beijerinckii by converting the sugar rich broth into butanol⁴. Clostridia have the capability to utilize C6, C5 and disaccharide sugars

Recent Publications:

1. Procentese, A., Raganati, F., Olivieri, G., Russo, M.E., Marzocchella, A., 2017. Pre-treatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of lettuce residues as feedstock for bio-butanol production. Biomass Bioener. 96, 172–179.
2. Ma, K., Ruan, Z., 2015. Production of a lignocellulolytic enzyme system for simultaneous bio-delignification and saccharification of corn stover employing co-culture of fungi. Bioresour. Technol. 175, 586–593.
3. Dhiman, S.S., Haw, J., Kalyani, D., Kalia, V.C., Kang, Y.C., Lee, J., 2015. Simultaneous pretreatment and saccharification: green technology for enhanced sugar yields from biomass using a fungal consortium. Bioresour. Technol. 179, 50–57.
4. Kumar, S., Gujjala, L.K.S., Banerjee, R., 2017. Simultaneous pretreatment and saccharification of bamboo for biobutanol production. Ind. Crops Prod. (Accepted)
5. Al-Shorgani, N.K.N., Isa, M.H.M., Yusoff, W.M.W., Kalil, M.S., Hamid, A.A., 2016. Isolation of a Clostridium acetobutylicum strain and characterization of its fermentation performance on agricultural wastes. Renew. Energy, 86, 459–465.

Biography:

Richard Sayre is a Senior Research Scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and the New Mexico Consortium (NMC). Dr. Sayre’s research interests include; enhancing photosynthetic efficiency, algal and plant biotechnology, and nutritional biofortification of crop plants. Dr. Sayre has directed several large research consortia including: 1) Phase I of the BioCassava Plus Program funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. 2) Center for Advanced Biofuel Systems, a Dept. of Energy (DOE) Energy Frontier Research Center focusing on generating advanced biofuels from algae and plants. 3) Scientific Director of the National Alliance for Advanced Biofuels, and Bioproducts, the largest DOE-sponsored algal biofuels consortium funded to date; and 4) Director of the PACE (Producing Algae for Energy and Coproducts) targeted algal biomass and bioproducts program.

Abstract:

One of the more environmentally sustainable ways to produce high energy density (oils) liquid transportation fuels is photosynthetic reduction of carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and hydrocarbons and their subsequent conversion into fuels. Photosynthetic carbon capture from the atmosphere combined with bioenergy production (combustion) and subsequent carbon capture and sequestration (BECCS) has also been proposed by the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report as the most effective and economical way to remediate atmospheric greenhouse gasses. To maximize carbon capture efficiency and energy-return-on-investment, we must develop cropping systems that have the greatest aerial biomass yields with the lowest inputs. All photosynthetic organisms, however, convert only a fraction (< 5%) of the solar energy they capture into harvestable chemical energy (reduced carbon or biomass). To increase aerial carbon capture rates and biomass productivity it will be necessary to increase photosynthetic efficiency in plants and algae. We will discuss metabolic engineering strategies to improve photosynthetic efficiency and biomass productivity in algal and plant systems, often borrowing metabolic strategies from one photosynthetic system to transfer into another. These strategies include optimization of photosynthetic light-harvesting antenna size and the introduction of algal inorganic carbon concentrating systems into plants to increase carbon fixation efficiency and biomass yields. To date, these strategies have resulted into up to two-fold increases in biomass productivity in algae and crop yields in outdoor field trials.

References:

1. Olivares J,  et al. (2016) Review of the algal biology program within the National Alliance for Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts. Algal Res. DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2016.06.002.
2. Kumar A, Perrine Z, Stroff C, Postier BL, Coury DA, Sayre RT and Allnutt FCT (2016) Molecular Tools for Bioengineering Eukaryotic Microalgae. Curr. Biotechnol. 5:93-108.
3. Negi S, Barry AN, Friedland N, Sudasinghe N, Subramanian S, Pieris S, Holguin FO, Dungan B, Schaub T and Sayre RT (2015) Impact of nitrogen limitation on biomass, photosynthesis, and lipid accumulation in Chlorella sorokiniana.  J. Appl. Phycol. DOI 10.1007/s10811-015-0652-z.
4. Subramanian S, Barry A, Pieris S and Sayre RT (2013) Comparative energetics and kinetics of autotrophic lipid and starch metabolism in chlorophytic microalgae: Implications for biomass and biofuel production. Biotechnol. Biofuels 6: 150-162.
5. Perrine Z, Negi S and Sayre, RT (2012) Optimization of photosynthetic light energy utilization by microalgae. Algal Res. 1:134-142.
6. Blankenship RE et al., (2011) What is the solar energy conversion efficiency of natural photosynthesis compared to photovoltaic cells? Science 332:805-809.

Biography:

Ralph-Uwe Dietrich leads the research area Alternative Fuels at the Institute of Engineering Thermodynamics at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in Stuttgart. He is responsible for the research group on techno economic and ecologic evaluation of alternative fuels for aviation and global transport.  He received his PhD  in Engineering at the Technical University Clausthal in 2013 as a Scientific coworker at the Clausthaler Umwelttechnik Institute (CUTEC-Institut GmbH). Before that, he got 15 years of project manager experience at different enterprises (SME and Fortune 500) of the process and automation industry.

Abstract:

Greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector shall be reduced to reach globally agreed COP21 goals. One option is to replace fossil based fuels with bio-based alternatives. The technical potential of biofuels made from energy crops (1^st generation), biomass and waste wood (2^nd generation) typically suffer from the limited technical potential of biomass resources in central Europe. Biofuel output can significantly be increased in the Power&Biomass-to-Liquid (PBtL) concept utilizing renewable electricity in modified BtL plants. The case study presents detailed results on promising process configurations of Fischer-Tropsch PBtL concepts based on different gasifiers and electrolyzers in terms of fuel production potentials, fuel costs and CO2 footprint. 

Results from the study indicate that the biomass specific fuel output can be quadrupled when utilizing green electricity for hydrogen generation in the PBtL process. The increased fuel output results in lower fuel production costs due to the effects of the economy of scale. Fuel production costs below 1.3 €/l were estimated for a large PBtL plant (225 kt/year) assuming an electricity price of 31.4 €/MWh (average EEX-Phelix index of the year 2015). The exergy analysis reveals that the electrolysis and the gasification processes are characterized by the most significant thermodynamic optimization potentials. The PBtL concept is characterized by a lower CO2 footprint, as high carbon conversion rates close to 100 % can be achieved by using oxy-fuel technology and recycling the entire CO2 within the system. Hence, largest CO2 emissions arise from harvesting and transportation of the biomass feedstock.

Recent Publications:

1. Albrecht, F, König, D, Baucks, N, Dietrich, R.-U. (2017) A standardized methodology for the techno-economic evaluation of alternative fuels – A case study.  Fuel – The Science and Technology of Fuel and Energy, 194:511-526.        
2. Albrecht, F, Zhang, J, Dietrich, R.-U. (2016) Process design and economic assessment of converting CO2 to liquid fuels.    ACI's 7th Carbon Dioxide Utilisation Summit 2016, 19.-20. Okt. 2016, Lyon, France.       
3. Albrecht, F, Dietrich, R.-U., König, D, Seitz, A, Thess, A (2016) Techno-Economic Assessment of the Production of Synthetic Jet Fuel from Carbon Sources and Renewable Hydrogen.    GREENER AVIATION 2016, 11.-13. Oct. 2016, Brussels, Belgium   
4. Albrecht, F, König, D, Dietrich, R.-U. (2016) The potential of using power-to-liquid plants for power storage purposes.   In: 2016 13th International Conference on the European Energy Market (EEM), S03_10163. IEEE Xplore Digital Library
5. König, D, Freiberg, M Dietrich, R.-U. Wörner, A (2015) Techno-economic study of the storage of fluctuating renewable energy in liquid hydrocarbons.  Fuel – The Science and Technology of Fuel and Energy, 159:289-297

Biography:

Souman Rudra is currently working at the University of Agder, Norway as an associate professor since 2013. He conducts research and teaching within renewable energy technology - related to biomass conversion process and thermal energy systems and analysis of energy conversion systems in general.  He has his expertise in design, modeling, and simulation of the different energy system specially bio-energy system. Several articles have been published in this area.  Energy and exergy analysis, LCA analysis have also done for several of his design energy systems. Based on those analyses, he has proposed a quad-generation model for producing power, heat, cooling and SNG (synthesized natural gas).     

Abstract:

Gasification is a complex process and determining gasification characteristics experimentally is a time-consuming process. Using CFD models to predict and examine about gasification characteristics, in the various scenario can be time saving and safe. This paper primarily discusses the results of a CFD model, which simulates gasification characteristics of Birchwood. During the work, a variation of producer gas yield, syngas composition and cold gas efficiency of the syngas were investigated with a variable biomass particle size.  A 3D CFD model of a fixed bed downdraft gasifier has been developed. Euler –Euler approach has been used to model the gas phase reactions while Lagrangian approach has been used to model the solid- gas reactions. For the simulations, biomass (Birchwood) particles with two different diameter sizes were used. They were 11.5mm and 9.18 mm. In this work, gasification parameters were examined within the equivalence ratio (ER) range from 0.2 to 0.5.  The simulated results were validated using the actual fixed bed downdraft gasifier available at UIA, Norway. CO, CO₂, CH₄ and H₂ mass fractions of the syngas were measured along with the calculated values of syngas yield and cold gas efficiency (CGE). With the 9.18mm diameter birchwood particle, CGE has shown an average maximum value of 59.4 % at the ER value of 0.5, which is a 4% improvement over the 11.5mm diameter biomass particle. In addition, Syngas yield has also shown an average maximum value of 2.8 Nm³/h with the 9.18 mm wood particle, which is an improvement of 0.1 Nm³/h over the 11.5 mm biomass particle.

Recent Publications:

1. Prabir Basu. (2010). Biomass Gasification and pyrolysis Practical Design and Theory. ELSEVIER. (ISBN- 0080961622).
2. Pratik N. Sheth, Babu BV. (2009) Experimental studies on producer gas generation from wood waste in a downdraft biomass gasifier. Bioresource Technology 100:3127–3133.
3. Keran D. Patel, Shah NK, Patel RN. (2013) CFD Analysis of Spatial Distribution of Various Parameters in Downdraft Gasifier.  Procedia Engineering 51: 764-769.
4. Gerun  L, Paraschiv  M, Vijeu  R, Bellettre  J, Tazerout  M, Gøbel  B, Henriksen U. (2008) Numerical investigation of the partial oxidation in a two-stage downdraft gasifier”, Fuel 87:1383
5. Sarker S, Nielsen HK (2015) Preliminary fixed-bed downdraft gasification of birch woodchips. International journal of environmental science 12: 2119
6. Souman Rudra, Lasse Rosendahl, Morten B. Blarke. (2015) Process analysis of a biomass-based quad-generation plant for combined power, heat, cooling, and synthetic natural gas production. Energy Conversion and Management 106: 1276–1285

Biography:

Xiaolei Zhang is a Lecturer at the Queen’s University Belfast (QUB), UK since January 2015. She received a PhD in May 2013 from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Sweden on the topic of quantum mechanics investigation of bioenergy systems and she has worked as a researcher at University of Alberta, Canada on process modelling of bioenergy system for 14 months. Rich international research achievements of Dr Zhang are reflected by the authored 20 peer-reviewed publications in leading international journals in the area of Energy, with over 200 citations and an H-index of 9 on Scopus; together with the delivery of 22 invited talks, lectures, and other conference contributions.

Abstract:

The bio-fuels and bio-chemicals derived from lignocellulosic biomass are popularly referred to as second-generation bio-fuels or bio-chemicals. As a valuable chemical material, levoglucosan is one important primary product during cellulose pyrolysis either as an intermediate or as a product. The fundamental investigation on the mechanism and kinetic modelling of the production of levoglucosan from lignocellulosic biomass has been carried out. Three available mechanisms for levoglucosan formation have been studied theoretically by performing density functional theory based calculations. Specifically, the molecular behaviour of levoglucosan has elucidated by revealing 14 reaction pathways, 26 elemental reaction steps, and the involved around 60 compounds act as intermediates, transition states, or products. By comparing with the activation energy obtained from the experimental results, it was concluded that levoglucosan chain-end mechanism fits better with the experimental data for the formation of levoglucosan. The variational transition state rate constants for every elementary reaction and every pathway were calculated. The first-order Arrhenius expressions for these elementary reactions and pathways were suggested. Furthermore, this research provides techno-economic assessment of the available routes for the production of levoglucosan and its derived products, and the paper will be concluded by identifying key challenges and future trends for second-generation bio-chemicals. It also confirms that Quantum Mechanics based simulation can reveal fundamental phenomena, which are difficult to be explored from traditional experimental techniques, and can be used to guide the experimental design and industrial application.

Recent Publications:

1. Zhang, X. (2016), Essential scientific mapping of the value chain of thermochemical converted second-generation bio-fuels. Green Chemistry. 18, 5086-5117
2. Zhang, X., Kumar, A., Oestreich, D., Arnold, U., and Sauer, J. (2016). An optimization process design for woody biomass gasification with further upgrading into oxymethylene ethers. Biomass and Bioenergy. 90, 7–14.
3. Zhang, X., Yang, W. and Blasiak, W. (2013). Kinetics Study on Thermal Dissociation of Levoglucosan during Cellulose Pyrolysis. Fuel, 109, 476–483.
4. Zhang, X., Yang, W. and Blasiak, W. (2013). Levoglucosan Formation Mechanisms during Cellulose Pyrolysis. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 104, 19–27.
5. Zhang, X., Yang, W. and Blasiak, W. (2012). Kinetics of levoglucosan and formaldehyde formation during cellulose pyrolysis process. Fuel, 96(0), 383–391.

Biography:

Khalid Fares is Professor Teacher Researcher at Cadi Ayyad University (Department of Biology), Marrakech, Morocco. He is the Head of Biochemistry and Biotechnology of Plants Unit, President of the “Federation of African Societies of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology” and Former President of the “Moroccan Society of  Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Pr FARES is member of Moroccan Society of Biosafety as well as many professional bodies. He is also Reviewer for European Journal of Agronomy, Carbohydrate Research, Annals of Applied Biology, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry and Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica. His research in the field of Food Science and Biochemistry as well as the valorization of waste was published in several journals and communicated in many international congresses. Pr FARES was the organizer of many international meeting and congresses.

Abstract:

18 000 tons of solid household wastes are produced daily in Morocco   and joined generally the dump sites which reach the optimal capacity and needs therefore to be closed through rehabilitation programme. Morocco has recently undertaken a vast controlled landfill construction program and rehabilitation of old dumps. This rehabilitation is based mainly on the land filling of all wastes and construction of green spaces without any recycling or valorization of the organic part of these wastes which may constitutes a big proportion. The present work aims to determine the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of organic substrates in the old landfill in order to use it as an organic amendment. Three samples of 100 kg each were taken from the landfill of Sidi Bennour, sieved later and the organic substrates fraction (OSF) was an analyzed chemically and microbiologically. The OSF represents 65 % in weight. This OSF was stable and hygienic especially when sugar beet lime sludge (SBLS) is added: the pH value was reduced to 8.4, the C/N ratio to 12 and no microorganism pathogen was detected. The concentrations of heavy metals were lower than the limit values ​​recommended. The germination test using aqueous extracts of the OSF showed no phytotoxicity for all plant tested. Tests on radish crop showed the lack of any toxicity and gave a good production yield. The addition of sugar beet lime sludge to the OSF and the reuse of this substrate as organic amendment could be considered as sustainable solution for the rehabilitation of the old landfill. 

Biography:

Santosh kumar Sankh is working as senior scientist at Reliance Industries, Mumbai. He is having experience in Biofuels, biomass deconstruction research.

Abstract:

Efficient pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass to sugars is currently needed for viable biofuel production technology. This study investigates the efficiency of alkaline pretreatment for the saccharification of woddy biomass, castor stalk. Alkaline pretreatment by using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is capable of maintaining the highest cellulose recovery and enzymatic hydrolysis. The optimized conditions of NaOH pretreatment includes biomass load 8 % (w/v), NaOH concentration 1% (w/v), pretreatment temperature 121°C and pretreatment time 15 min. The enzymatic hydrolysis using 50 FPU of enzyme at a biomass load of 5 % (w/v) gave a hydrolysis of 46.78 % in 24 h.

Biography:

Sonia Shilpi is a PhD student of University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. She has been working on ‘Wastewater driven biomass production for energy generation’ as of her Ph.D. Program. She has completed a set of exciting experiments including “Methane production through anaerobic digestion of various energy crops irrigated with wastewaters”. She has contributed to several publications and conference presentations from her research work.

Abstract:

It is essential to develop sustainable energy supply systems that aim to consolidate the energy demand from renewable sources and also mitigate the emission of greenhouse gases.  Biogas production is a key technology for the sustainable use of biomass as renewable energy source. High energy yields per hectare can be achieved through biogas production by using a wide range of energy crops. Maize, sunflower and Sudan grass are the most commonly used energy crops. The field experiment covered five different types of energy crops grown using two types of wastewaters viz. Abattoir (AWW) and municipal wastewater (MWW) at two different irrigation rates (400mm and 800mm) and tap water (TW). Dry biomass yield (DBY) was assessed from a field plot experiment at St. Kilda, South Australia.  Total solids (TS) and volatile solids (VS) were determined on fresh biomass samples. DBY data obtained from the field trial (all five crops) increased with increasing wastewater irrigation. The plots irrigated with AWW 400 and 800 mm showed significantly higher yield than the MWW (400 and 800 mm) and TW (800mm) irrigated plots. The amount of biogas production was monitored every day and expressed as norm litre per kg of volatile solids (Nl kg-1 VS). Anaerobic digester was used to determine a reference methane yield for finely ground substrates under optimal conditions. Inoculum was obtained from a bolivar plant, Salisbury city council. Substrate/inoculum ratio based on volatile solid (VS) basis was used in all batch experiments, performed in 500 ml bottles (working volume 400 ml) in triplicate, incubated on a shaking water bath (70 rounds minute-1 (rpm)) at 37±1°C, and continued until methane production became negligible (<5 ml CH4 d-1). The methane yield per hectare was calculated by multiplication of the biomass yield and the specific methane yield. To be able to run biogas plants economically the methane yield from energy crops needs to be known. The present data show that the methane yield of energy crops depends on their nutrient composition. Maize (A800) exhibited the highest value in terms of potential methane yield (798.23 Nml CH4 g−1 VS).

Biography:

Bobbo Nfor Tansi is a PhD student at the Brandenburg Technical University Cottbus Germany. He is currently researching on “Analyzing the calorific and sustainability potential of Cameroonian palm oil residues for co firing in power plants. As a PhD student he has been assisting as a student lecturer at his university, offering courses in energy security and sustainability. Mr. Tansi has since May 2016, been teaching courses in wind energy at the faculty of engineering and technology of the university of Buea Cameroon as a visiting lecturer, He studied Geology and environmental sciences and Environmental Engineering at the University of Buea Cameroon and the Brandenburg Technical university Cottbus Germany respectively. Passionate about energy, his move towards renewable energy and energy generation has been a natural fit. In his free time he loves computer programming, swimming, bicycle riding, playing table, soccer, acting and board games such as chess and scrabble.

Abstract:

As of October 2014, 258.9 million hectares of agricultural land was being used for oilseed production. 5.5%, approximately 14.2 million hectares constituted land used for palm oil cultivation. With an estimated annual global production of 58.72 million tons in 2016, Palm oil has become the most important vegetable oil globally, greatly exceeding soybean, rapeseed and sunflower. It is the most efficient oilseed crop in the world, capable of producing up to ten times more oil than other leading oilseed crops per hectare. Annually, a hectare of mature palms could produce between 18 to 30 metric tons of fresh fruit bunches (FFB), 70-75% of which ends up as by-products or waste. Main by-products from the palm oil industry that could be used for their energetic values include the Palm Kernel shells, Empty fruit bunches, Palm oil Fiber, Oil palm trunks, Oil palm fronds and the Palm oil Mill Effluent (POME). On average a hectare of palm oil produces 15.8 tons of Palm kernel shells, empty fruit bunches, Palm oil Fibers and Oil palm fronds annually. Whereas at the end of it’s economic life span a hectare of palm oil is capable of producing an estimated 82.32 tons of dry biomass including Oil palm trunks.  Residues from the palm oil plantation have a net calorific value in the range of 15MJ/kg to 22MJ/kg, comparable to brown coal (Lignite) and bituminous coal with net heating values in the ranges of 10-19MJ/kg and 15-24MJ/kg respectively. Greenhouse gas emission estimates from the production of 1kg of palm oil ranges from 0.02 to 8.32kg CO₂ equivalent, with land use change and fertilizer input being the most contributors to its emission potential. The open incineration of most of these residues as a waste management process not only leads to an increase in the emissions from the sector, but also the energy from these residues is lost. Unfortunately, bioenergy still constitutes as low as 10% (50EJ) of the total primary energy supply as of 2017. With the main challenges facing the development of bioenergy being low oil prices, food security and policy uncertainty, second-generation biomass is undoubtedly the silver bullet solution to accelerate bioenergy access to the total energy mix in the near future.

Recent Publications:

1. Bobbo Nfor Tansi (2012) An Assessment of Cameroons Wind and Solar Energy Potential: A Guide for a Sustainable Economic Development.  Diplomica Verlag. 120p

Biography:

Jana Zabranska is a member of the academic staff of the Department of Water Technology and Environmental Engineering in the Faculty of Technology of Environment Protection, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague. She is engaged in the field of anaerobic digestion, degradability and methane yield from different substrates. Currently she is involved in the research of biogas production from agroindustrial wastes and biological removal of hydrogensulfide from biogas. She is a supervisor of Master and Doctor Degree students and has lectures on subjects "Anaerobic technology in environmental protection" and "Technology of biogas and biohydrogen production". She is authored and co-authored 273 scientific papers, 3 technological patents, 6 textbooks and 2 monographs. Prof. Zábranská is a member of International Water Association, Specialist group of Anaerobic Digestion, Sludge Management, a member of Czech Biogas Association, Czech Water Association, member of the Committee of the Czech Biotechnology Society.

Abstract:

Biogas produced from organic wastes contains energetically usable methane and unavoidable content of carbon dioxide. The exploitation of whole biogas energy is locally limited and utilization of natural gas transport system requires CO₂ removal or conversion to methane. Chemical methods of upgrading biogas to biomethane have disadvantage in demand of high pressure and temperature. Biological conversion of CO₂ and hydrogen to methane is well known reaction and is carried out by hydrogenotrophic methanogenic bacteria. Reducing equivalents to biotransformation of carbon dioxide from biogas or other resources to biomethane can be supplied by external hydrogen. The rapidly developing renewable energy carriers include electricity from wind and solar energy. Discontinuous electricity production combined with fluctuating utilization cause serious storage problems that can be solved by power-to-gas strategy representing production of storable hydrogen via electrolysis of water. Possibility of subsequent repowering of energy of hydrogen to the easily utilizable and transportable form is biological conversion with CO₂ to biomethane. The aim of our project is to find the optimal conditions of the technology of biological reduction of CO₂ with H₂ in terms of process parameters and device type. Biomethanization of CO₂ can be applied directly to anaerobic digesters being fed with organic substrates, or in external bioreactors. Experiments started with hybrid anaerobic reactors (upflow sludge bed reactor with packed bed in the upper part) fed with distillery slops as organic substrate and gaseous hydrogen was introduced to the bottom of reactor. The major bottleneck in the process is gas-liquid mass transfer of H₂ and the method of effective input of hydrogen into the system have to be optimized. The possibilities of an implementation of the technology to biogas plants will be suggested based on results of the project.

Recent Publications:

1. Angelidaki I., G. Luo, and P. Kougias (2015). "Simultaneous hydrogen utilization and biogas upgrading by anaerobic microorganisms." Proceedings of 14th World Congress of Anaerobic Digestion, Viña del Mar, Chile, 15-18.11.2015, 2. biogas upgrading
2. Díaz I., N. A., C. Pérez and F. Fdz-Polanco (2015). "Application of membrane modules to improve mass transfer for the chemoautotrophic biogas upgrading." Proceedings of 14th World Congress of Anaerobic Digestion, Viña del Mar, Chile, 15-18.11.2015.
3. Gahleitner, G. (2013). "Hydrogen from renewable electricity: An international review of power-to-gas pilot plants for stationary applications." International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 38(5): 2039-2061.
4. Luo, G. and I. Angelidaki (2013). "Co-digestion of manure and whey for in situ biogas upgrading by the addition of H2: Process performance and microbial insights." Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 97(3): 1373-1381.
5. Ryckebosch, E., M. Drouillon and H. Vervaeren (2011). "Techniques for transformation of biogas to biomethane." Biomass and Bioenergy 35(5): 1633-1645.

Biography:

William Stafford is a life scientist with R&D experience spanning twenty years. His research encompasses diverse fields of biochemistry, biotechnology, microbial ecology, systems biology, holistic resource management, industrial ecology, renewable energy and permaculture. As a senior researcher at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), an overarching research question is: How can our natural resources be used sustainably for the benefit of all? Current research involves assessing various technology options, value-chains and alternate development scenarios to guide project and policy developments for the transition to a Green Economy and a more sustainable development path. Bioenergy is currently a research focus area that addresses a multiple development objectives; such as economic feasibility, social acceptance, environmental impacts and the allocation of biomass resources for the production of food, fuel, timber, chemicals and fibres in the growing Bio-economy.

Abstract:

The City of Johannesburg has explored the opportunity of using biogas to fuel its buses in the drive to be low-carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive. This study explored the feasibility of using biogas to fuel buses in the city of Johannesburg, South Africa. Biogas is a renewable fuel that can be used for electrical power, heating/cooling, and as a transport fuel. However, the use of biogas for transportation delivers more financial value-adding compared to using biogas for electricity- US$18/GJ for transport fuel and US$9/GJ for electricity. In addition, the use of biogas to fuel city buses has additional local benefits; such as reducing air pollution from vehicle tail-pipe emissions, reducing traffic congestion, and enhancing the social inclusivity of transportation. The cultivation of land and use of energy crops as feedstock for biogas production will require at least seven hectares per bus; which will place additional demands on the city’s scarce land resources and create potential conflicts with food production. Biodegradable wastes are alternative feedstock for biogas production that avoids these impacts and can be supplied at a cost that is currently competitive with the price of other transport fuels, such as diesel and petrol. However, the feasibility depends on the combined economies of scale for biogas production, upgrading and distribution; such that large-scale biogas production (>2000Nm³/h) is required to compete with petrol and diesel market prices. Using size-location modelling, we identified the optimal locations for two large biogas facilities that use the organic fraction of municipal solid waste as feedstock to produce upgraded biogas that can fuel up to six-hundred city buses. The benefits of this project include diverting organic waste from landfill, reducing carbon emissions, improving local air quality, increasing transportation efficiency, delivering new opportunities for transit orientated development and facilitating the transition to a Green economy.

Recent Publications:

1. Amigun, B., Musango, J.K., and Stafford, W. (2011). Biofuels and sustainability in Africa. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Vol. 15, Issue 2, Pages 1360-1372 doi:10.1016/j.rser.2010.10.015
2. Stafford, W. Mapako, M. and Brent, A. (2011) Bioenergy Systems Sustainability Assessment and Management. Renewable Energy Law and Policy Review 3/2011: pp. 205-222
3. von Maltitz, G.; Stafford, W (2011) Assessing opportunities and constraints for biofuel development in sub-Saharan Africa. CIFOR. Working Paper 58. Bogor, Indonesia. http://www.cifor.org/publications/pdf_files/WPapers/WP58CIFOR.pdf
4. De Lange, W.; Stafford, W.; Forsyth, G.; and Le Maitre, D. (2011). Incorporating stakeholder preferences in the selection of technologies for using invasive alien plants as a bio-energy feedstock: Applying the analytical hierarchy process.  Journal of Environmental Management Volume 99, 30 May 2012, Pages 76–83
5. Stafford W., Cohen B., Pather-Elias, S., Von Blottnitz H., van Hille R., Harrison S., Burton S. (2013) Technologies for recovery of energy from wastewaters: Applicability and potential in South Africa. Journal of Energy in Southern Africa, 24 (1), pg 15-27.
6. The economics of landscape restoration: Benefits of controlling bush encroachment and invasive plant species in South Africa and Namibia (2017). Ecosystem Services.  In press http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2016.11.021

Biography:

Dana Pokorna is Assistant Prof. at the Department of Water Technology and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Technology of Environment Protection, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague. Main areas of her interest are anaerobic biodegradation of organic substrates, determination of anaerobic biomass activity, analytical determination of byproducts and end products of anaerobic degradation, biogas cleaning (H₂S removal), upgrading biogas to biomethan and transformation of CO₂ to biomethan. She is the member of International Water Association (IWA) and European Federation of Biotechnology (EFB), the member of Czech Biogas Association and Czech Water Association and the member of the Czech Biotechnology Society Committee.

Abstract:

Biogas utilization is complicated when it contains hydrogensulfide coming from reduction of sulfur compounds during anaerobic digestion. There are many methods for desulfurization of biogas, but biological one based on activity of sulfur bacteria are advantageous from  ecological and economical points of view. Our research was focused on the removal of hydrogensulfide from biogas by water scrubbing and on the treatment of washing liquid in a separate bioreactor with sulfur bacteria. The bioreactor was packed with a plastic carrier for immobilization of bacteria and operated in upflow mode so that sulfates were the final forms of sulfur. These bacteria can use oxygen or nitrates as electron acceptors during oxidation of sulfides and both oxidizing agents were studied. Process efficiency depends mainly on sulfide loading rate, dosed amount of oxygen, molar ratio S/N when nitrates were used, pH and temperature. In the case of nitrates addition bacteria of genus Paracoccus, Thiobacillus denitrificans and Thiobacillus thioparus were detected in biomass by FISH analysis. According to literature, the bacteria of genus Paracoccus have optimum for growth at high pH 6.5 – 10.5 and this fact was confirmed by our study, where bioreactor operation was stable and effective at pH over 10. Molar ratio S/N, which influences end products of autotrophic denitrification, has been set on value 0.55. The dependence of the process efficiency on temperature was studied for three temperatures: 20 °C, 25 °C and 30 °C and the highest loading rate of sulfides (350.9 mg·L^-1·d^-1) and N-NO^-₃ (258.6 mg·L^-1·d^-1) with sufficient efficiency was reached at temperature 30 °C. Our research has demonstrated the suitability of biological desulphurization of biogas in the external packed bed reactor with immobilized sulfur bacteria with oxygen and nitrate as oxidizing agents. Especially, desulfurization with nitrates can be advantageously included as autotrophic denitrification in the wastewater treatment line.

Recent Publications:

1. Angelidaki I., G. Luo, and P. Kougias (2015). "Simultaneous hydrogen utilization and biogas upgrading by anaerobic microorganisms." Proceedings of 14th World Congress of Anaerobic Digestion, Viña del Mar, Chile, 15-18.11.2015, 2. biogas upgrading
2. Díaz I., N. A., C. Pérez and F. Fdz-Polanco (2015). "Application of membrane modules to improve mass transfer for the chemoautotrophic biogas upgrading." Proceedings of 14th World Congress of Anaerobic Digestion, Viña del Mar, Chile, 15-18.11.2015.
3. Gahleitner, G. (2013). "Hydrogen from renewable electricity: An international review of power-to-gas pilot plants for stationary applications." International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 38(5): 2039-2061.
4. Luo, G. and I. Angelidaki (2013). "Co-digestion of manure and whey for in situ biogas upgrading by the addition of H2: Process performance and microbial insights." Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 97(3): 1373-1381.
5. Ryckebosch, E., M. Drouillon and H. Vervaeren (2011). "Techniques for transformation of biogas to biomethane." Biomass and Bioenergy 35(5): 1633-1645.

Biography:

Rikke Lybæk has expertise in renewable energy planning and resource management in the transition from the use of fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. She specializes within the field of biomass utilization for the production of renewable energy, and work with concepts like bio-economy, industrial ecology and eco- efficiency. She has worked with e.g. biogas and thermal gasification technologies in many countries in Asia over the last 15 years, like Thailand, Malaysia, India and Japan, as well as within the EU. Her research focus is to establish decentralized energy systems in local communities based on indigenous biomass resources, and to apply a bottom up - a participatory approach - to the deployment of renewable energy technologies locally. 

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: This paper seeks to investigate the opportunities for implementing a Centralized biogas plant in Thailand, as a supplement to the existing Farm biogas plant concepts. This will be researched by identifying a subsector within the agriculture, where such type of plants would be valuable to deploy. Case studies of a local community; Tambon Ban Kor, in North East Thailand thus reviles that dairy cattle farmers, who deliver milk to a dairy company, could benefit extensively from such facility. The study indicates that current challenges regarding GHG emissions, manure handling practices, like spill of nitrogen, low milk yield and inappropriate cattle diets etc., can be improved on the cattle farms, by better housekeeping, as well as supply of manure to the local dairy. Here, fossil fuels use could be substituted by renewable energy from biogas, and the energy used at various temperature levels by cascading. The paper further reviles that large amount of appropriate and available feedstock for the suggested biogas plants are assessable within the community, and currently pose an environmental problem, or re-used inefficiently. The Centralized biogas plant will thus provide a development ‘hub’ for bio-economic solutions to evolve, and constitute to a platform for new income and product outputs opportunities, as renewable energy production as well as various environmental benefits within rural Thailand. 

Recent Publications:

1. Municipalities as facilitators, regulators and energy consumers: enhancing the dissemination of biogas technology in Denmark.       Lybæk, Rikke; Kjær, Tyge. International Journal of Sustainable Energy Planning and Management, Vol. 8, Nr. 2246-2929, 12.2015, p. 17.

2. Regional Supply of Energy from Small Scale Biogas Plants : Discovering alternative heat markets in Denmark.  Lybæk, Rikke; Kjær, Tyge. GMSARN International Journal, Vol. 9, Nr. 1, 01.03.2015, p. 1-10.

3. Biogas Application Options within Milk Dairy Cooperatives in Thailand: Case Study Tambon Ban Kor, Khon Kaen.  Lybæk, Rikke; Sommart, Kritapon . GMSARN International Journal, Vol. 10, Nr. 1, 10, 01.03.2016, p. 1-10.

4. Development, Operation, and Future Prospects for Implementing Biogas Plants.  Lybæk, Rikke. Use, Operation and Maintenance of Renewable Energy Systems: Experiences and Future Approaches. red.  /M.A. Sanz-Bobi (ed.). Vol. 111 Switzerland: Springer Publishing Company, 2014. p. 111-144 (Green Energy and Technology).

5. Methods for Prevention of Environmental Impacts. Christensen, Thomas Budde; Lybæk, Rikke; Kjær, Tyge. Situated Design Methods. red. /Jesper Simonsen; Connie Svabo; Sara Malou Strandvad; Kristine Samson; Morten Hertzum; Ole Erik Hansen. MIT Press, 2014. p. 339-356 (Design thinking, design theory).

Biography:

Shiho Ishikawa received a Masters degree in Agriculture from the Rakuno Gakuen University, Hokkaido, Japan in 2004 and a Ph.D. degree in Agriculture from the Hokkaido University in 2015. Following this, after working as an engineer at a private consulting company, she currently works for Hokkaido University, as an assistant professor and the Institute for laboratory where she is involved in several research projects related to smart grids. Currently she performs research on energy characteristics by using biogas generators for renewable energy resources and control algorithms for demand-side management on farm.

Abstract:

In Japan, since the enforcement of the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme for renewable energy (RE) power sources in 2012, the number of solar photovoltaic power sources and other RE power sources connected to power grids has been rapidly increasing. Biogas plants (BGPs) with anaerobic digestion are receiving high attention as facilities for both livestock manure treatment and electric power generation. In addition, the promotion of renewable energy sources by FIT led to BGPs becoming valued for their reduced environmental impact and stability because their energy output is largely unaffected by natural conditions and fluctuates little on a daily basis. The objective of this study is to evaluate an individual BGP which has been in operation since 2000 from the point of view of energy production and economics. In this study, the power balance for a BGP was verified using actual measurement to assess the potential for electricity supply from the plant. The FIT scheme in Japan requires a fermenter and subsequent power generation facilities to be certified based on the idea that a fermenter, a gas holder, and a power generator are part and parcel of a BGP. In this study, the electricity required by fermenters was handled as in-house power and was taken from that generated at the BGP. We used two evaluation methods. First, to estimate how global warming gas varies by BGP systems, we use life cycle assessment. The second evaluation method, was made by comparing fossil energy input for constructing, running, and maintaining a BGP with energy outputs in the form of electric power, heat, and digested manure. The energy pay-back time based on the centralized BGP was calculated from the energy inputs and outputs.

Recent Publications:

1. Ishikawa, S., Hoshiba, S., Hinata, T., Hishinuma, T., Morita, S. (2006): Evaluation of a biogas plant from life cycle assessment (LCA), International congress series, Vol.1293：230-233.
2. Matsuda, J., and Ishikawa, S. (2010): Biogas Plant in Hokkaido, Substantially Sci. Vol. 4. IR3S-UNU Book Series, UN Univ. Tokyo, Japan: 174-183.
3. Ishikawa, S., Iwabuchi, K., Takano, J., Matsuda, J. (2014): Peak Electricity Demand Leveling in Livestock Barn with Biogas Power Generation Facility for Stable Energy Supply, The Journal of the Society of Agricultural Structures, Vol. 45, No. 2: 54-61.
4. Ishikawa, S., Iwabuchi, K., Takano, J. (2016): Peak demand leveling to stabilized and reduce the power demand of dairy barn, Engineering in Agriculture, Environment and Food, Vol. 9, Issue 1: 56-63.
5. Ishikawa, S., Iwabuchi, K., Komiya, M., Hara, R., Takano, J.  (2016):  Electricity Supply Characteristics of a Biogas Power Generation System Adjacent to a Livestock Barn, Engineering in Agriculture, Environment and Food, Vol. 9, Issue 2: 165-170.

Biography:

Endro Gunawan has expertise in agricultural economic and public policy. He is evaluating the model of agricultural bio industry where the farming system has zero waste and environmental friendly. He is pursuing his PhD at Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) Thailand major on agribusiness management. He conducts research on agricultural supply chain and the assessment of warehouse receipt system for agrcultural commodities in Indonesia.

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: The growth of average energy consumption in Indonesia is 7% higher than the global energy consumption (5.6%). The growing of population number also effect in incraesing on energy demand. Indonesia need to find new alternative energy to change the oil and gas as a non-renewable resources. Oil palm is the main plantation commodity in Indonesia which is the raw material of CPO production. One of CPO processing by-product is palm oil processing waste known as Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME). The utilization of POME into biogas as an environmental friendly alternative fuel needs to be further improved in line with the times and support sustainable development. The purpose of this study is to determine the potential and the utilization of palm oil processing waste (POME) as a biogas raw material in Rokan Hulu District, Riau Province-Indonesia. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: The research was conducted in 2015 in Rokan Hulu District, Riau Province. Primary data were collected through direct interviews using structured questionnaires to oil palm farmers and users of oil palm biogas. The data analysed by quantitatively and qualitatively analysis. Furthermore, for the development of biogas presented an economic comparison analysis between Biogas Power Plant with Diesel Power Plant. Data analysis results are presented in the form of analytical tables which then discussed descriptively. Findings: Riau province has the potential POME waste in 2015 amounted to 29.01 million tons. The potential of this waste is generated from oil palm plantation area of ​​about 2.40 million hectares with production potential of fresh bunches (TBS) amounted to 47.98 million tons/year. Total palm oil processing unit (PKS) in Riau as many as 223 units with an average production capacity of 9.670 tons/hour, so that in a year it takes about 58.02 million tonnes of TBS. Biogas Power Plant (PLT Biogas) in Riau has an installed capacity of 1 MW is equivalent to 30 tonnes of TBS per hour. From such capacity is currently only used about 75%, with total customers as much as 1,540 families covering three villages. The economic advantages from PLT Biogas compared with diesel power are: a) cost electricity customers biogas electricity is much cheaper than diesel (Rp. 45.000 vs Rp. 120.000 per month), b) price per KWh of electricity is cheaper (Rp. 1.900 vs Rp. 4.000 per KWh), c) operating time up to 24 hours, d) quality more stable electric current. 

Biography:

Endro Gunawan has expertise in agricultural economic and public policy. He is evaluating the model of agricultural bio industry where the farming system has zero waste and environmental friendly. He is pursuing his PhD at Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) Thailand major on agribusiness management. He conducts research on agricultural supply chain and the assessment of warehouse receipt system for agrcultural commodities in Indonesia.

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: The growth of average energy consumption in Indonesia is 7% higher than the global energy consumption (5.6%). The growing of population number also effect in incraesing on energy demand. Indonesia need to find new alternative energy to change the oil and gas as a non-renewable resources. Oil palm is the main plantation commodity in Indonesia which is the raw material of CPO production. One of CPO processing by-product is palm oil processing waste known as Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME). The utilization of POME into biogas as an environmental friendly alternative fuel needs to be further improved in line with the times and support sustainable development. The purpose of this study is to determine the potential and the utilization of palm oil processing waste (POME) as a biogas raw material in Rokan Hulu District, Riau Province-Indonesia.

Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: The research was conducted in 2015 in Rokan Hulu District, Riau Province. Primary data were collected through direct interviews using structured questionnaires to oil palm farmers and users of oil palm biogas. The data analysed by quantitatively and qualitatively analysis. Furthermore, for the development of biogas presented an economic comparison analysis between Biogas Power Plant with Diesel Power Plant. Data analysis results are presented in the form of analytical tables which then discussed descriptively.

Findings: Riau province has the potential POME waste in 2015 amounted to 29.01 million tons. The potential of this waste is generated from oil palm plantation area of ​​about 2.40 million hectares with production potential of fresh bunches (TBS) amounted to 47.98 million tons/year. Total palm oil processing unit (PKS) in Riau as many as 223 units with an average production capacity of 9.670 tons/hour, so that in a year it takes about 58.02 million tonnes of TBS. Biogas Power Plant (PLT Biogas) in Riau has an installed capacity of 1 MW is equivalent to 30 tonnes of TBS per hour. From such capacity is currently only used about 75%, with total customers as much as 1,540 families covering three villages. The economic advantages from PLT Biogas compared with diesel power are: a) cost electricity customers biogas electricity is much cheaper than diesel (Rp. 45.000 vs Rp. 120.000 per month), b) price per KWh of electricity is cheaper (Rp. 1.900 vs Rp. 4.000 per KWh), c) operating time up to 24 hours, d) quality more stable electric current. 

Biography:

Diana Andrade, was born in Barranquilla Colombia, were she graduate in 2002 as civil engineer. She moved to Germany in 2003 after collecting some experiences as a researcher in the topic aerobic degradation for waste water treatment. She obtained her Master of Science degree in Ecology Engineering and Environmental Planning from Technical University of Munich in 2007 with a focus on renewable energy. Since then she works as senior researcher for the Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Animal Husbandry in the Bavarian State Research Centre for Agriculture in the research group biogas technology and waste management. Her research concentrated in the optimization of the anaerobic degradation process of lignocellulose materials for the biogas production and the effect of nutrients supplementation on the biogas process.

Abstract:

The improved utilization of the energy potential of agricultural biomass is of tremendous importance. But anaerobic microbiological processes can only, very slowly and incompletely, break up the lignocellulose matrix of a typical agricultural biomass. There is, therefore, an urgent need for economically viable technologies for the pretreatment of biomass which improves subsequent microbiological utilization. A mechanical comminution of the biomass reduces it to smaller particle sizes. It should lead to an exposure of the surface of the solid substrates and facilitate their accessibility for anaerobic microorganisms. The main focus of the experiment is the determination of the possible influence of selected mechanical comminution of typical agricultural substrates on the biogas process. To represent the market offer, five different mechanical crushing technologies were compared. The comparison is made by applying the comminution technologies to a selection of agricultural substrates for biogas production: maize silage, grass silage, cow dung and Hungarian energy grass silage. The comminuted substrates and different comminution technologies were investigated in batch tests. Here, two substrates (maize silage and cow dung) were selected in combination with two technologies (hammer mill and cross flow chopper) to show the highest biogas production increase in order to investigate the effect further under semicontinuous flow conditions. With the statistical evaluation in the batch experiment, it was found that the substrate selection is the variable which has the greatest influence on the measured methane yield, regardless of the technology or the treatment. In addition, the relevance of the treatment could be demonstrated if the rate of substrate degradation was also considered. Under semicontinuous flow conditions, an increase in biogas productivity (maize silage up to 17% and cow dung up to 22%) could be measured by the mechanical substrate preparation. Furthermore, a positive effect on the degradation kinetics of the substrates was demonstrated.

Recent Publications:

1. Andrade D., Weber A. (2013) Biogas from grassland biomass: recommendations for the optimization of the degradation process. Journal of Agricultural Engineering. Landtechnik 68 (5).
2. Andrade D., Ebertseder F., Munk B., Gronauer A., Heuwinkel H. (2012) Quantification of the effect of two mineral biogas additives on the anaerobic fermentation of energy crops. Fourth International Symposium on Energy from Biomass and Waste in Venedig, Italien
3. Gómez M., Ruiz B., Pascual A., Koch K., Andrade D. (2012) Influence of a mechanical substrate pre-treatment on the anaerobic digestion process. CIGR-Ageng2012 International Conference of Agricultural Engineering in Valencia, Spanien
4. Andrade D., Ebertseder F., Munk B., Gronauer A., Heuwinkel H. (2012) The effect of two mineral additives on the anaerobic fermentation of two mixtures of energy crops.  CIGR-Ageng 2012 International Conference of Agricultural Engineering in Valencia, Spanien
5. Andrade D., Koch K., Metzner T., Heuwinkel H., Gronauer A. (2012) Biogas from grassland biomass - Process optimization through substrate mixtures. 21st anniversary of the biogas association biogas e.V. BIOGAS Anniversary and trade fair 2012 in Bremen, Germany.

Biography:

Simon Tappen has graduated as Bachelor and Master of Science in Biobased Products and Bioenergy at the University of Hohenheim. Moreover, he worked for thinkstep AG, a software and consulting company providing services concerning sustainability. Since 2014 he has been doing project work regarding emissions, energy efficiency and load management of biogas- driven cogeneration units, within the Technology Assessment Group at the Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture (Group leader: Dr. Mathias Effenberger).

Abstract:

Compared to volatile renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, biogas plants have a specific advantage: The production and utilization of biogas can be decoupled to a certain degree in order to generate electricity (and heat) during times when it is needed most. In a field study, ten different modern cogeneration units (CGUs) operated on biogas were measured on site under full and part load conditions. Results on the electrical efficiency and emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and total hydro carbons (THC) with the exhaust gas are presented. Observations on engine characteristics and the effect of part load operation will be discussed. For instance, part load resulted in declining electrical efficiency and increasing methane slip, both raising the environmental impact of electricity generation from biogas. In this context, potential positive and negative environmental effects provoked by emission regulations will be evaluated. Furthermore, project work on the load management of a biogas plant in dependence of the electricity demand of the institution’s research facilities will be presented.

Biography:

David Balussou graduated as an energy and process engineer from the Ecole des Mines d’Albi in France. He is currently a PhD candidate at the Chair of Energy Economics of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). His work at KIT focuses on the analysis of current and future electricity production from biogas in Germany with the help of simulation and optimization models taking into account various subsidy schemes. His studies resulted in different publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings. 

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: With the development of renewable energy sources in Germany the use of biogas for electricity and heat production has rapidly expanded in the past fifteen years. This expansion has been encouraged by several Federal governmental incentives and in particular by the electricity feed-in-tariffs introduced in the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG). Especially agricultural plants valorizing energy crops now constitute almost 80% of total biogas installations. However, volatile energy crops and electricity prices, combined with continuously evolving framework conditions, are a source of uncertainty for German plant operators. In this context, investment decision making for biogas plant projects is a difficult task that requires the development of decision support tools. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: To this end, a linear optimization model has been developed to analyze mid-term developments up to the year 2030 for German biogas plant capacity. An economically optimal development plan for three main installation types is foreseen at the Federal State level and under various scenarios. Findings: The results highlight the influence of regional biomass potentials, revenues and electricity production costs as well as plant flexibilization and decommissioning. Future capacity expansion should mainly concern small manure plants and biowaste installations rather than agricultural plants which should undergo only modest development. Conclusion & Significance: Based on the model results recommendations for plant operators and policy-makers are formulated. Maintaining current subsidy levels for biowaste and small manure installations appears necessary in order to ensure a sustainable development of German biogas plants. Strategic planning, flexible plant operation and the increased valorization of agricultural residues represent key challenges. The developed model is further transferrable to other countries employing feed-in-tariffs (e.g. France, Italy and United Kingdom). This would contribute to the elaboration of a common European biogas strategy strengthened by the exchange of best technical, regulatory and economic practices. 

Biography:

Patricia J Harvey is a Senior Expert in bioenergy value chains and the water-food-energy nexus, with particular focus on the use of algal and non-food plant systems for the capture of CO₂, use of non-potable water and production of green chemicals and biofuels. She is the Coordinator of “The CO₂ microalgae biorefinery: D-Factory”, a 10 million Euro FP7-Funded Project; “Macrobiocrude”, (EPSRC-funded); Non-food bio oil supply chains (EU-ACP-funded) aimed at capacity building measures in South Africa, Namibia and Ghana to create sustainable, non-food supply chains; Ecotec21 (EU-Interreg) which installed novel, biofuel-fired CHP technology at the University of Greenwich using bio oils and glycerol; Tuning algae for biofuel profitably (NERC, Innovate UK).

Abstract:

Statement of the problem: Global energy consumption will grow by up to 50% by 2035; 60% more food will be needed and global water use for irrigation could increase by 10% by 2050. Glycerol, a new biofuel and by-product of biodiesel manufacture, is planned to be combusted using new engine technology (410kW electrical; 450kW thermal) to provide heat and power at the University of Greenwich UK, provided sufficient reliable supplies of glycerol can be sourced at the right specification. Biofuels, however, can necessitate substantial water inputs depending on feedstock production: by 2030, the global blue biofuel water footprint might have grown to 5.5% of the totally available blue water for humans, causing extra pressure on fresh water resources. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: The blue water footprint of the net energy provided by microalgal biofuels has been concluded to be significantly smaller compared with fuels from other energy crops. Extremophile, halotolerant microalgae such as Dunaliella produce glycerol without the requirement to process lipids to release the glycerol. The potential for commercial glycerol production from Dunaliella is examined in the D-Factory, a €10m, 14-partner, FP7-funded project (2013-2017).

Findings: Dunaliella can be cultivated at large-scale in hypersaline water using solar energy and with minimal fresh water and flue-gas CO2.  These algae can be processed for glycerol and a range of high-value products for disease mitigation, and biomass can be used in new food products and in feedstuffs. A demonstration is underway to show the potential for commercialization of algae such as Dunaliella.  From this work, the scope to produce commodities such as glycerol from algae is discussed in the context of the water-food-energy nexus and circular economy.

Conclusion & Significance: Awareness of the water-food-energy nexus offers opportunities to utilize algae sustainably for the production of biobased products. 

Recent Publications:

1. FAO (2014) The Water-Energy-Food Nexus: A new approach in support of food security and sustainable agriculture. Issue Paper. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
2. Gerbens-Leenes, P.W.; van Lienden, A.R.; Hoekstra, A.Y.; van der Meer, T.H. (2012) Biofuel scenarios in a water perspective: The global blue and green water footprint of road transport in 2030. Glob. Environ. Change-Human Policy Dimens. 22: 764-775
3. Gerbens-Leenes, P.W.; Xu, L.; de Vries, G.J.; Hoekstra, A.Y. (2014). The blue water footprint and land use of biofuels from algae. Water Resour. Res. 50: 8549-8563.
4. Avron, M., Ben Amotz, A. (1980) US Patent no. 4199895 Production of glycerol, carotenes and algae meal.
5. Harvey, P.J., Psycha, M., Kokossis, A., Abubakar A.L., Trivedi, V., Swamy, R., Cowan, A.K., Schroeder, D., Highfield, A., Reinhardt, G., Gartner, S., McNeil, J., Day, P., Brocken, M., Varrie, J., Ben-Amotz, A. (2012) Glycerol production by halophytic microalgae: strategy for producing industrial quantities in saline water. 20th EU Biomass Conf.&Exhib., 18-22 June 2012, Milan Italy pp 85-90.
6. Harvey et al (2014) The CO2 Microalgae Biorefinery: High Value Products from Low Value Wastes Using Halophylic Microalgae in the D-Factory. Part 1: Tackling Cell Harvesting DOI: 10.5071/22ndEUBCE2014-1CV.4.69  Proc. 22nd EU BC&E Pp 360 – 363
7. Psycha M., Pyrgakisa K., Harvey PJ et al (2014) Design Analysis of Integrated Microalgae Biorefineries. Computer Aided Chemical Engineering 34, 591–596

Biography:

David Babson is a Technology Manager in the Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) at the U.S. Department of Energy. He oversees several projects for BETO’s Conversion Program, and works to understand how to leverage new technologies to advance the bioeconomy and to address global energy and climate challenges. Based in Washington, DC, David has extensive research and policy experience. Before joining BETO he advocated for sustainable transportation solutions as a Senior Fuels Engineer at the Union of Concerned Scientists, and served as an AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, where he reviewed key initiatives like the Renewable Fuel Standard. Before starting his fellowship he completed post-docs at the University of Minnesota’s Biotechnology Institute and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. David received a PhD in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering from Rutgers University and a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. 

Abstract:

Advances in biotechnology and the emerging bio-economy are providing a unique opportunity to revolutionize the production of renewable bio-based fuels and products, which will allow the future bio-economy to play a direct role in achieving greater carbon mitigation and sustainability goals – if the clean version of it can be realized.  However, a combination of factors including low oil, commodity, and carbon prices are altering the path of the bio-economy’s emergence and are hindering efforts to achieve more ambitious climate goals. These factors are therefore forcing a rethinking of the strategy for transitioning from cheaper first generation to more expensive next generation biofuels and bioproducts. This presentation will outline the social and economic environment in which the advanced bio-economy is emerging and will discuss and contextualize the challenges being faced in advancing clean and sustainable biotechnologies. The directed research efforts being supported and promoted by the U.S. Department of Energy and its Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) will be discussed, and BETO’s strategies to support the evolution and emergence of the bio-economy on a sustainable path will be discussed.  However, precisely how the bio-economy emerges is key, since the sustainability of bio-based fuels and products is critically dependent on specific agriculture and industrial practices. As an example of this, the sustainability and performance metrics BETO uses and is developing to assess advanced bio-manufacturing, bio-processing, and biofuel production will be presented. Further, the linkages between biotechnology development, next generation bio-product performance, and the emergence of a sustainable bio-economy will be examined and will focus on the bio-economy’s prospects for managing carbon as a function of bio-based fuel and product performance. Finally, BETO’s efforts to more efficiently leverage biotechnologies to valorize second generation biomass resources, organic wastes and waste gases to produce renewable products and low carbon fuels will be outlined.      

Biography:

Luís Cortez BSc in Agricultural Engineering from State University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Brazil (1980), MSc in Agricultural Engineering from Université Laval , Québec, Canada(1984) and PhD in Agricultural Engineering from Texas Tech University, USA (1989). Coordinator of the Energy Planning Center - NIPE-UNICAMP (1997-2002 and 2012-2013) and Adjunct Coordinator of Special Programs of FAPESP. Presently is a Professor at FEAGRI-UNICAMP and Vice-Rector of International Relations at UNICAMP. Has experience Bioenergy, mainly in sugarcane ethanol. Presently, works in verifying the potential ethanol production in selected countries of Latin America and Africa.

Abstract:

Nearly half of the renewable energy used worldwide is still in the form of unsustainable traditional biomass, bringing great problems to the users and to local environment. Among the main identified problems are: time consumed in its gathering, transport and final use; associated problems derived from inefficient cooking operation; and environmental problems regarding deforestation and impoverishment of soil. The paper discuss the advantages of using modern biomass, both in agriculture, conversion and final use, in an attempt to improve quality of life of users, the environment and also the socio-economic scenario, particularly in the developing countries. The paper also comments the apparent paradox of suggesting modern bioenergy in less developed countries where food security is a big concern. The thesis here is that sustainable bioenergy production may bring more efficiency to agriculture which will also result in more benefits to food security, as observed in countries like Brazil in the last 40 years of its main bioenergy program. Therefore, contrarily to what many researchers believe, modern bioenergy presents the essential features to meet needs of developing countries improving both food and fuel securities. 

Recent Publications:

1. Dubois, O. “What FAO Thinks and Does about Biofuels and Food Security” PP presentation at the Workshop on Biofuels and Food Security Meeting - IFPRI, Washington DC, 19 November 2014
2. FAO, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Climdata Rainfall Database. Rome: United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, Sustainable Development Department, Agro meteorology Group, 1997. In: BNDES & CGEE; Bioetanol de cana-de-açúcar – energia para o desenvolvimento sustentável. 1ª Edição, Rio de Janeiro, November 2008
3. GBEP “Bioenergy Facts and Figures” 2007
4. Goldemberg, J. Coelho, S.; Renewable energy—traditional biomass vs. modern biomass, Energy Policy 32 (2004) 711–714
5. Karekezi, S.; Lata, K.; Coelho, S.T. “Traditional Biomass Energy: Improving its Use and Moving to Modern Energy Use” Secretariat of the International Conference for Renewable Energies, Bonn 2004, 56p.
6. Rosillo-Calle, F. and F. Johnson (Editor) Food vs Fuel. Zed Books. 232p., 2010.

Biography:

Konstanze Stein is Project Manager at KEA Climate Protection and Energy Agency Baden-Württemberg. She has been working for KEA since 2004, first at section grant programs and since 2005 at energy service development section. Konstanze has steered a lot of energy service projects in Baden-Württemberg and has advised municipalities regarding energy efficiency. Currently she works in the European BIOVILL project that focus on transfer of experience gained in countries where bioenergy villages already exists (Germany and Austria) to countries with less examples in this sector. The evaluation of existing bioenergy villages and the compilation of the different components of these business models are crucial elements of the project. 

Abstract:

Bioenergy villages have been implemented in Germany and Austria very successfully. This experience can be used for the initiation and preparation of more bioenergy villages in other European countries. The main challenge of the development of bioenergy villages is the social component. Structures have to be established that allow a broad citizen participation process and the integration of all relevant stake­holders and decision makers. When Energy conservation measures (ECMs) bundles are modelled, the results have to be revised with regard to the synergetic effects between ECMs and energy supply measures. High energy savings from measures in the buildings de­crease the energy demand and reduce the viability of e.g. a district heating system. Different types of biomass sources and renewable energies can be applied in different pathways in bioenergy villages. The assessment of the technical solutions typically follows technical, economic and environmental metrics. Three main operating models are applied that vary in accordance with the regional circumstances: The citizen model, the ESCO model and a combination of both models. The selection of the legal entity for the citizens model depends on criteria such as the structure of organisation, the liability and other risk factors, the minimum capital and the decision making process. The shared ownership model can also be applied, than public or private building owners finance a share of the measures, e.g. the ECM in their buildings. Regarding the economic assessment of the project, a life cycle analysis is recommended that covers full costs over the life-cycle and discounts these costs according to the year when they occur. Since bioenergy villages comprise extensive bundles of technical measures, the financing of these investments is a crucial point of the concepts. Besides the planning of the biomass supply and the technical and economic calculation, also the financing concept, the potential operating and the ownership models, the legal structure and the risk assessment should already be elaborated within the preparatory.

Recent Publications:

1. Energy Agency Northrine-Westphalia. (2014). Financing and Business Modells (Finanzierungs- und Geschäftsmodelle).
2. Energy Efficiency Financial Institutions Group . (2015). Energy Efficiency – the first fuel for the EU Economy: How to drive new finance for energy efficiency investments. Brussels.
3. FNR. (2010). Pathways to bioenergy village (Wege zum Bioenergiedorf). Gülzow.
4. FNR. (2014-1). Bioneergy villages - Guideline for a practical implementation (Bioenergiedörfer - Leitfaden für eine praxisnahe Umsetzung). Gülzow.
5. FNR. (2014-2). Guideline Bioenergy - Basics and planning of bioenergy projects (Leitfaden Bioenergie - Grundlagen und Planung von Bioenergieprojekten). Gülzow.
6. Schallmo, D. R. (2013a). Developing and implementing business models successfully (Geschäftsmodelle erfolgreich entwickeln und implementieren). Wiesbaden: Springer Gabler Verlag.

Break: Coffee Break @ Foyer 15:40-16:00

Biography:

Elena is an independent environmentalist with expertise in data analysis. She has collaborated in research activities aiming to characterize how food security and other ecosystem services interact and how they are affected by climate change. As a member of the Computing department at the University of Surrey, she worked on the application of Bayesian Belief Networks for estimating the GHG emissions produced by the UK Agriculture sector at the Farm level (BaNGAS). In the Telecommunications and Electronics sector, she carried out research on the application of Artificial Intelligence techniques for improving the process followed to build the software embedded in electronic products. In Academia she lectured mainly in Data Processing, and carried out research in Knowledge based systems. She holds undergraduate qualifications in Computer Science Engineering, and post-graduate qualifications in Information Technology, Environmental & Energy Studies, and Artificial Intelligence.

Abstract:

Statement of the Problem: In the recent past, sustainable supply chain management practices have been developed, trying to integrate environmental concerns into organizations by reducing unintended negative consequences on the environment triggered by production and consumption processes. In parallel to this, circular economy pushes the frontiers of environmental sustainability by emphasizing the idea of transforming products in such a way that there are workable relationships between ecological systems and economic growth. The exchange of information across the supply chain is essential, to guarantee the success of both. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the Renewable energy industry in Spain and determine the extent to which its underlying information framework enables a sustainable production of energy. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: using the Open Data indicators designed, it is possible to assess its maturity with regards to openness and information availability, key requirements of a successful circular economy to identify the sustainable flow across the energy supply chain. Findings: although there has been progress, most of them are independent and local efforts. Conclusion & Significance: awareness of information gaps is a necessary step in the process of alleviating the problems identified. Recommendations are made about ways in which the problems could be overcome.

Recent Publications:

1. APORTA (2017). Open Data portal in Spain.
2. Genovese, Andrea, et al. "Sustainable supply chain management and the transition towards a circular economy: Evidence and some applications." Omega 66 (2017): 344-357.
3. Ghisellini, P., Cialani, C., & Ulgiati, S. (2016). A review on circular economy: the expected transition to a balanced interplay of environmental and economic systems. Journal of Cleaner Production, 114, 11-32.
4. Instituto para la Diversificación y Ahorro de la Energía, IDAE. (2017)
5. Molina-Moreno, Valentín, Juan Carlos Leyva-Díaz, and Jorge Sánchez-Molina. "Pellet as a Technological Nutrient within the Circular Economy Model: Comparative Analysis of Combustion Efficiency and CO and NOx Emissions for Pellets from Olive and Almond Trees." Energies 9.10 (2016): 777.
6. Scarlat, Nicolae, et al. "The role of biomass and bioenergy in a future bioeconomy: policies and facts." Environmental Development 15 (2015): 3-34.
7. Open Data in Europe (2017).
8. Winans, K., A. Kendall, and H. Deng. "The history and current applications of the circular economy concept." Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 68 (2017): 825-833.

Biography:

Souman Rudra is currently working at the University of Agder, Norway as an associate professor since 2013. He conducts research and teaching within renewable energy technology - related to biomass conversion process and thermal energy systems and analysis of energy conversion systems in general.  He has his expertise in design, modeling, and simulation of the different energy system specially bio-energy system. Several articles have been published in this area.  Energy and exergy analysis, LCA analysis have also done for several of his design energy systems. Based on those analyses, he has proposed a quad-generation model for producing power, heat, cooling and SNG (synthesized natural gas).     

Abstract:

Hydrothermal liquefaction is a promising process for future biofuel production. Complex reactions occurring during the process are not fully discovered, thus accurate simulations are not yet attainable. Several batch experiments have been seen but only a few continuous flow systems. Three different microalgae biomass were analyzed using TGA (Thermogravity analysis), Proximate analysis and Ultimate analysis. Properties from these algae analyses were used in the Aspen Plus simulation model. The Aspen Plus simulation tool was used to model the HTL of three species of algae.

The energy consumption of the main components was considered, and a process optimization was done by implementing a heat exchanger. Without a heat exchanger, a large amount of waste heat was not utilized in the system and it showed poor efficiency for the whole process. Still, there was potential for heat integration and optimization of the system. Water recycling, district heating or other options could be considered.

The efficiency of the system was improved when products in all the streams are utilized. S. platensis and P. tricornutum algae obtained 83 % energy efficiency for the HTL process. Annual production of biocude was 180,000 liters from S. platensis, 211,000 from C. vulgaris and 124,000 from P tricornutum. The outcome of the simulation is mainly determined by the composition of components in the product stream. 

Recent Publications:

1. Souman Rudra, Lasse Rosendahl, Morten B. Blarke. (2015) Process analysis of a biomass-based quad-generation plant for combined power, heat, cooling, and synthetic natural gas production. Energy Conversion and Management 106: 1276–1285
2. Taimur Akter, Souman Rudra (2015). Conceptual model in aspen plus for recovery of biocrude from hydrothermal algal biomass liquefaction
3. J Hoffmann, S Rudra, SS Toor, JB Holm-Nielsen, LA Rosendahl (2013). Conceptual design of an integrated hydrothermal liquefaction and biogas plant for sustainable bioenergy production
4. S. Jones, Y. Zhu, D. Anderson, R. T. Hallen, D. C. Elliott, A. Schmidt, et al., (2014). Process design and economics for the conversion of algal biomass to hydrocarbons: whole algae hydrothermal liquefaction and upgrading.

Biography:

Lucía Doyle is a Chemical Engineer and MSc in Energy and Fuels. With broad experience in renewable energy (solar, biomass and biofuels), waste valorization technologies and environmental engineering, she has worked both for large industrial projects and publicly funded R&D, participating and coordinating international research consortiums. Passionate about technological innovation, she is engaged in the development of sustainable products and renewable energy generation. She is currently Team Leader of the Renewable Energy and Resource Efficiency group at ttz Bremerhaven, provides independent consultancy services and cooperates as expert with the European Commission.

Abstract:

The demand for energy and raw materials is growing rapidly worldwide and how to satisfy it in a sustainable and economical way is one of the biggest challenges to face in the coming years. From energy and fuels to fertilization, our current technological growth and society still demand carbon-based raw materials. Biorefineries have been called to play a major role in the circular economy delivering these products by cascading and refining approaches, optimising the full chain resource efficiency. They are expected to contribute to an increased competitiveness and wealth of the countries by responding to the need for supplying a wide range of bio-based products and energy in an economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable manner (de Jong and Jungmeier 2015).

At the same time, urban waste is one of the greatest environmental impacts of our current way of life. Legislation such as the Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC), and of course sustainability requires a maximal re-use and recycling of the generated waste. Focusing on the organic fraction (OFMSW, sewage sludge) the inhomogeneity and impurity content of organic urban waste are major barriers for its real valorization. With anaerobic digestion (AD), composting and mechanical biological treatment (MBT) being the main technological options today, full valorization has not been achieved. Hindrances include pollutants causing microbial growth inhibition, physical problems like floating, and a significant fraction of the waste being lignocellulosic and hence not suitable for the case of AD, and pollutants content and low market value for the case of composting. MBT face the same issues. This results in the Landfill Directive (1999/31/EC) still being complied with to a limited extent.

However, these organic waste streams can be used as feedstock for a biorefinery based on HTC technology, producing hydrochar and carbonaceous liquids, high value products that can be used as fuel, activated carbons for water treatment, soil remediation, carbon sequestration schemes and other applications.

Results from EU project NEWAPP demonstrated that solid fuels can be produced in sufficient quality as to be used as a solid fuel. Combustion has been proved technically viable. To facilitate market penetration, input has been provided to include HTC solid biofuel’s properties in international standard ISO 172-8. 

Recent Publications:

1. Industrial Scale Hydrothermal Carbonization: new applications for wet biomass waste.  De Mena Pardo, B; Doyle, L; Renz, M and Salimbeni, A (Editors) (2016) ISBN 978-3-00-052950-4
2. Reuse of HTC process water. Doyle, L (2016). ISBN 978-3-00-052950-4
3. Standards for HTC products. Doyle, L., Hitzl, M., Salimbeni, A. (2016). ISBN 978-3-00-052950-4
4. Application of the NaWaTech safety and O&M planning approach at the College of Engineering Pune Hostel Campus, India” Sandra Nicolics, Ajith Edathoot, Eva Staribacher, Fabio Masi, Girish R. Pophali, Dayanand Panse, Pawan K. Labhasetwar, Lucia Doyle, Guenter Langergraber. IWA Water and Development Congress, Oct 2015, Jordan
5. NEWAPP: New technological applications for wet biomass stream products. Doyle, L., Hänel, M., Hiltz, M., Renz, M., Salimbeni, A. 22nd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition. 23-26 June 2014, Hamburg, Germany.

Biography:

Hanieh is a Ph.D. candidate with particular interests in process engineering, waste management, and simulation. She holds a master’s and B.A. degree in chemical engineering from her home country, Iran. She is an active volunteer in academic societies when not busy. She currently lives with her husband, Sadegh, in St. john’s, Canada.

Abstract:

Biochar, a product of pyrolysis of biomass, represents an attractive alternative and, depending on the biomass source, sustainable adsorbent material for treating gaseous effluents. In this study, biochar sourced from three different woody biomasses (i.e. softwood shavings, softwood bark, and hardwood sawdust) were produced via fast pyrolysis at different pyrolysis temperature (400-500 ºC) in a 2-4 kg/h auger reactor. The produced biochars were characterized for elemental composition, surface area, morphology, proximate analysis, and thermal properties. The CO₂ adsorption capacity of produced biochars was determined in a fixed-bed adsorption unit. Response surface methodology (RSM) coupled with a central composite design (CCD) was used to investigate the impact of significant process factors on the adsorption capacity of biochar. Three variables were investigated including temperature (20-80 °C), the inlet flow rate (60-200 mL/min.g), and volume fraction of CO₂ (20-100% (v/v)). The optimum CO₂ capture capacity of biochar was obtained at an adsorption temperature of 20 ºC, CO₂ volume fraction of 100%, and inlet flow rate of 60 ml/min. The ANOVA analysis illustrated that the quadratic model fitted the experimental data well. In addition, the effect of different biochars obtained from fast pyrolysis of softwood shavings and hardwood sawdust pyrolyzed at different pyrolysis temperatures were investigated at optimum conditions. Softwood shavings pyrolyzed at 500 ºC showed the highest CO₂ uptake as it has the highest surface area (95.58m²/g).

Recent Publications:

1. Ding, Y. D., Song, G., Liao, Q., Zhu, X., & Chen, R. (2016). Bench scale study of CO 2 adsorption performance of MgO in the presence of water vapor. Energy, 112, 101-110.
2. Plaza, M. G., González, A. S., Pevida, C., & Rubiera, F. (2014). Influence of water vapor on CO2 adsorption using a biomass-based carbon. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 53(40), 15488-15499.
3. Plaza, M. G., González, A. S., Pis, J. J., Rubiera, F., & Pevida, C. (2014). Production of microporous biochars by single-step oxidation: Effect of activation conditions on CO 2 capture. Applied Energy, 114, 551-562.
4. Xu, X., Cao, X., Zhao, L., & Sun, T. (2014). Comparison of sewage sludge-and pig manure-derived biochars for hydrogen sulfide removal. Chemosphere, 111, 296-303.
5. González, A. S., Plaza, M. G., Rubiera, F., & Pevida, C. (2013). Sustainable biomass-based carbon adsorbents for post-combustio CO 2 capture. Chemical engineering journal, 230, 456-465.

Biography:

A. K Tiwari a researcher in the field of combined cycle power plant and exergy analysis. Dr. Tiwari a passionate researcher in developing the new projects to save the energy which is wasting from a system and able to utilize in production of combined power and refrigeration/air-conditioning with cogeneration. Energy conservation not only increases the efficiency of the plant but also save environment in many ways. Furthermore his research has spread wings in the direction of Biofuels for existing conventional fuels like Diesel oil. To achieve the target he is conducting the experiments in his Institute (NIET, India) lab on biodiesel experimental setup. He has published various papers in international/national journals and conferences. Presently he is working as professor and head in chemical engineering department of Noida Institute of Engineering & Technology (NIET) Greater Noida, India. He has built a team of young researcher to apply recent research findings to Bioenergy, Biomass and Biofuels.

Abstract:

Biodiesel (fatty acids alkyl esters) is a promising alternative fuel to replace petroleum-based diesel that is obtained from renewable sources such as vegetable oil, animal fat and waste cooking oil. Vegetable oils are more suitable source for biodiesel production compared to animal fats and waste cooking since they are renewable in nature.The raw material for biodiesel production in this research work is Jatropha plant. The seeds of Jatropha plants are collected & oil is extracted from it. Catalytic cracking of Jatropha oil can be a feasible method for production of biodiesel. Energy is a basic requirement for every sector of economic development in a country. As a result, energy demands have been steadily increasing along with the growth of human population and industrialization. Common sources of energy are petroleum, natural gas and coal from fossil fuels. This growing consumption of energy has rapidly depleted non-renewable sources of energy. Rising price of fossil-based fuels and potential shortage in the future have led to a major concern about the energy security in every country. Many types of methods have been developed to convert vegetable oil such as jatropha oil into biodiesel. The four main categories are the direct use of vegetable oil, micro-emulsion, thermal cracking and transesterification. Direct use of vegetable oil is not applicable to most of diesel engines as the high viscosity would damage the engine by causing coking and trumpet formation. Biodiesel obtained from micro-emulsion and thermal cracking methods would likely lead to incomplete combustion due to a low cetane number and energy content. Transesterification is the most common method for biodiesel production due to its simplicity, thus this method has been widely used to convert vegetable oil into biodiesel. Generally, vegetable oil or jatropha oil is consisted of a series of saturated and unsaturated monocarboxylic acids with trihydric alcohol glycerides. Transesterification reaction without using any catalyst requires a high temperature above the critical temperature of alcohol and this is called as supercritical method. In this method, alcohol e.g.methanol is turned into a supercritical fluid state by applying extreme pressure and temperature. The common reaction temperature is more than 250 ºC, as the critical temperature of methanol is 240 ºC. In this extreme environment, liquid methanol will reach critical point where both gas and liquid become indistinguishable fluids, in which it would exhibit properties of both liquid and gas.

Recent Publications:

1. A.K Tiwari, M.M Hasan and Mohd. Islam (2013) Effect of ambient temperature on the performance of a combined cycle power plant. Trans CSME Canada 4(37): 1177-1188.

2. A.K Tiwari, M.M Hasan and Mohd. Islam (2013) Exergy analysis of combined cycle power plant- NTPC Dadri India. International Journal of Thermodynamics, Turkey 16(1): 36-42

3. A.K Tiwari, M.M Hasan and Mohd. Islam (2012) Review Paper: Effect of operating parameters on the performance of combined cycle power plant. Journal of Applied Mechanical Engineering, USA, Open Access Scientific Report, OMICS, USA 1(7): 1-6

4. A.K Tiwari, Mohd. Islam and M.M Hasan and M.N Khan (2010) Thermodynamic simulation of performance of combined cycle with variation of cycle peak temperature & specific heat ratio of working fluid. International Journal of Engineering Studies 2(4): 415-424

5. A.K Tiwari, Mohd. Islam and M.N. Khan (2010) Thermodynamic analysis of combined cycle power plant. International Journal of Engineering Science and Technology 2(4): 480-491

Biography:

P.Pachauri is working as Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Director (Projects and Planning) at Noida Institute of Engineering and Technology, Greater Noida. He has a rich teaching experience of 17 years. He has also been mentor for many innovative projects and motivator for startups. Many students are bringing up their startups under their guidance.  Prof Pachauri’s active participation in teaching endowed him with a profound sense for authoring 05 bestselling books on Mechanical Engineering and 15 research papers in national and international journals.  He is constructively active in strategic planning for a promising and prosperous future of NIET, Greater Noida. Prof. Pachauri has great experience of organizing 12 International/National conferences/ National Seminars. His sincere hard work has been acknowledged by Government of India by sanctioning him two research grants. Prof. Pachauri is life member of Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE), life member of Powder Metallurgy Association of India (PMAI) and faculty mentor for Society for Automotive Engineers India (SAE). He has built a team of young researcher to apply recent research findings to Entrepreneurship, Green Manufacturing, Bioenergy, Biomass and Biofuels.

Abstract:

The National Mission for a ‘Green India” aims to achieve an afforestation of 6 million hectares of degraded forest lands and to expand forest over from 23% to 33% of India’s territory by 2022. But, it is observed that there is no motivation for harnessing and nurturing the existing biomass resources and the required upgradation for biomass technologies. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a strategy to overcome the entrepreneurial challenges in Bioenergy sector. The proposed strategy is inspired by the concept of lean manufacturing and lean startup methodology. The Bioenergy sector is failing to achieve the desired goals because somewhere we are successfully executing a bad plan. It is the plan which needs to be calibrated again and again to avoid wastage of precious time and efforts. We can reduce the time between pivots by accepting the fact that entrepreneurship is management through validated learning. But, it needs lot of care to decide when to pivot. It is proposed that we should conduct usability tests to assess how the people involved in National Mission. The formation of Cross-functional teams and their improvement in their performance is suggested through Cohort Analysis and Predictive Monitoring. In the last the proposed strategy suggests how we can go faster for achievement of National Mission for a “Green India”.

Recent Publications:

1. P.Pachauri and Md Yunus Khan, (2017) “Performance and emission characteristics of Kirloskar Diesel Engine operating on blend of Sesame and Diesel oil” International Conference on Cutting Edge Technological Challenges in Mechanical Engineering (CETCME-2017), 18^th & 19^th February 2017.
2. P.Pachauri and Shahzad Ahmad, (2017) “Green Manufacturing in Iron and Steel Industry to win the threat of Global climate change” International Conference on Cutting Edge Technological Challenges in Mechanical Engineering (CETCME-2017), 18^th & 19^th February 2017.
3. P.Pachauri and Md. Hamiuddin, (2016)  “Optimization of debinding process parameters in MIM for high density of sintered parts”, International Journal of Advanced Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Vol 2, Issue 1, pp. 12-22.
4. P.Pachauri and Md. Hamiuddin, “Optimization of sintering process parameters in MIM for high impact toughness of sintered parts”, International Journal of Advanced Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Vol 2, Issue 1, pp. 23-33.
5. P.Pachauri and Md. Hamiuddin, (2015)  “Optimization of Injection Moulding process parameters in MIM for impact toughness of sintered parts”, International Journal of Advanced Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Vol 1 (1) pp 1-11.
6. P. Pachauri and Md Hamiuddin, (2015) “Production parameters affecting the impact toughness of MIM parts”, Powder Injection Moulding International Vol 9 No 2 pp 28-29.