This book discusses the generation of green energy, providing fundamental scientific information on the availability of sustainable biological resources. It addresses inter- and multidisciplinary topics, including policies and strategies for sustainable energy; the environment and advanced renewable energy technology; electricity generation through solid waste management; and direct electricity generation using microbial fuel cells. It examines the application of the principles and quantitative relationships that define the process – as an effective technique to teach applied aspects of biomass energy technology conversion. In addition, it describes the latest commercialisation of microbial fuel cell technologies, bio-diesel production from microalgae, fermentation technology based on biobutanol from bacteria, and direct ethanol production from microalgae with attractive illustrations and models developed by corporate sectors.

Growing concerns about the impacts of climate change and dependence on fossil fuels have intensified interest in bioenergy from sugar cane and other crops, highlighting important links between energy, environment and development goals. Sub-Saharan Africa is characterized by severe poverty; the possibility to exploit a renewable energy resource offers valuable avenues for sustainable development and could support a more dynamic and competitive economy. This book describes how the bioenergy expansion will improve rural livelihoods, reduce costly energy imports, reduce GHG emissions, and offer new development paths. Drawing on international experience, it is shown that harnessing this potential will require significant increases in investment, technology transfer, and international cooperation. Because of its high efficiency, the authors argue that sugar cane should be viewed as a global resource for sustainable development and should command much greater focus and concerted policy action. Through an analysis of the agronomy, land suitability and industrial processing of sugar cane and its co-products, along with an assessment of the energy, economic and environmental implications, this volume demonstrates that sugar cane offers a competitive and environmentally beneficial resource for Africa's economic development and energy security. With forty-four authors representing thirty organisations in sixteen countries, the book offers a truly international and interdisciplinary perspective by combining technical and economic principles with social, political and environmental assessment and policy analysis.

The work builds on the results of the COMPETE Bioenergy Competence Platform for Africa, which was supported by the European Commission and coordinated by WIP Renewable Energies, Germany. The five sections cover biomass production and use, biomass technologies and markets in Africa, biomass policies, sustainability, and financial and socio-economic issues. This valuable work is, in effect, a single-source treatment of a key energy sector in a part of the world which still has a lot of unrealised potential for development.

In recent years, there has been a rapid expansion of the growing of crops for use in bioenergy production rather than for food. This has been particularly the case for sugarcane in Latin America and Africa. This book examines the further potential in the context of the food versus fuel debate, and as a strategy for sustainable development. Detailed case studies of two countries, Colombia and Mozambique, are presented. These address the key issues such as the balance between food security and energy security, rural and land development policies, and feasibility and production models for expanding bioenergy. The authors then assess these issues in the context of broader sustainable development strategies, including implications for economics, employment generation, and the environment. The book will be of great interest to researchers and professionals in energy and agricultural development.

Sustainable Bioenergy: Advances and Impacts presents a careful overview of advances and promising innovation in the development of various bioenergy technologies. It covers the production of bio-jet fuel, algal biofuels, recent developments in bioprocesses, nanotechnology applications for energy conversion, the role of different catalysts in the production of biofuels, and the impacts of those fuels on society. The book brings together global experts to form a big picture of cutting-edge research in sustainable bioenergy and biofuels. It is an ideal resource for researchers, students, energy analysts and policymakers who will benefit from the book's overview of impacts and innovative needs. - Explores the most recent advances in biofuels and related energy systems, including innovations in catalysts and biocatalysts - Provides an overview of the impacts of bioenergy and its sustainability aspects - Discusses real-life cases of implementation of bioenergy systems on an industrial scale

The growing of crops for bioenergy has been subject to much recent criticism, as taking away land which could be used for food production or biodiversity conservation. This book challenges some commonly-held ideas about biofuels, bioenergy and energy cropping, particularly that energy crops pose an inherent threat to ecosystems, which must be mitigated. The book recognises that certain energy crops (e.g. oil palm for biodiesel) have generated sustainability concerns, but also asks the question "is there a better way?" of using energy crops to strategically enhance ecosystem functions. It draws on numerous case studies, including where energy crops have had negative outcomes as well as well as cases where energy crops have produced benefits for ecosystem health, such as soil and water protection from the cropping of willow and poplar in Europe and the use of mallee eucalypts to fight salinity in Western Australia. While exploring this central argument, the volume also provides a systematic overview of the socio-economic sustainability issues surrounding bioenergy.

The depletion of petroleum-derived fuel and environmental concerns have prompted many millennials to consider biofuels as alternative fuel sources. But completely replacing petroleum-derived fuels with biofuels is currently impossible in terms of production capacity and engine compatibility. Nevertheless, the marginal replacement of diesel with biofuel could delay the depletion of petroleum resources and abate the radical climate change caused by automotive pollutants. Energy security and climate change are the two major driving forces for worldwide biofuel development, and also have the potential to stimulate the agro-industry. The development of biofuels as alternative and renewable sources of energy has become critical in national efforts towards maximum self-reliance, the cornerstone of our energy security strategy. At the same time, the production of biofuels from various types of biomass such as plants, microbes, algae and fungi is now an ecologically viable and sustainable option. This book describes the biotechnological advances in biofuel production from various sources, while also providing essential information on the genetic improvement of biofuel sources at both the conventional and genomic level. These innovations and the corresponding methodologies are explained in detail.

At head of title: German Advisory Council on Global Change.

Handbook of Emerging Materials for Sustainable Energy provides a comprehensive accounting on the fundamentals, current developments, challenges and future prospects of emerging materials for the development of sustainable energy. Each chapter addresses a distinct and important area within the energy field and includes comprehensive data to support the materials being presented. Sections cover Batteries, Capacitors and Supercapacitors, Fuel cells, Thermoelectrics, Novel illumination sources and techniques, Photovoltaics & Solar cells, Alternative energy sources, hydrogen as an energy source, including hydrogen production and fuel generation, the use of Biofuels and Carbon dioxide. The book concludes with three chapters related to advanced materials under development for energy conservation and environmental protection, including theories, methodologies and simulations established for advanced materials. - Covers a broad scope of advanced materials that have been developed for energy and environmental sustainability - Provides detailed and updated information about the structural and functional features of various emerging materials and their multifaceted applications - Includes supplementary data alongside each chapter