Practices and Perspectives in Sustainable Bioenergy


Book Description

This book presents a systems approach to bioenergy and provides a means to capture the complexity of bioenergy issues, including both direct and indirect impacts across the energy economy. The book addresses critical topics such as systems thinking; sustainability, biomass; feedstocks of importance and relevance (that are not competing with the food market); anaerobic digestion and biogas; biopower and bioheat; and policies, economy, and rights to access to clean energy. This is a contributed volume with each chapter written by relevant experts in the respective fields of research and teaching. Each chapter includes a review with highlights of the key points, critical-thinking questions, and a glossary.This book can be used as a primary or secondary textbook in courses related to bioenergy and bioproducts and sustainable biofuels. It is suitable for advanced undergraduate and graduate students. Researchers, professionals, and policy makers will also be able to use this book for current reference materials.




Bioenergy Research: Advances and Applications


Book Description

Bioenergy Research: Advances and Applications brings biology and engineering together to address the challenges of future energy needs. The book consolidates the most recent research on current technologies, concepts, and commercial developments in various types of widely used biofuels and integrated biorefineries, across the disciplines of biochemistry, biotechnology, phytology, and microbiology. All the chapters in the book are derived from international scientific experts in their respective research areas. They provide you with clear and concise information on both standard and more recent bioenergy production methods, including hydrolysis and microbial fermentation. Chapters are also designed to facilitate early stage researchers, and enables you to easily grasp the concepts, methodologies and application of bioenergy technologies. Each chapter in the book describes the merits and drawbacks of each technology as well as its usefulness. The book provides information on recent approaches to graduates, post-graduates, researchers and practitioners studying and working in field of the bioenergy. It is an invaluable information resource on biomass-based biofuels for fundamental and applied research, catering to researchers in the areas of bio-hydrogen, bioethanol, bio-methane and biorefineries, and the use of microbial processes in the conversion of biomass into biofuels. - Reviews all existing and promising technologies for production of advanced biofuels in addition to bioenergy policies and research funding - Cutting-edge research concepts for biofuels production using biological and biochemical routes, including microbial fuel cells - Includes production methods and conversion processes for all types of biofuels, including bioethanol and biohydrogen, and outlines the pros and cons of each







Socio-Economic Impacts of Bioenergy Production


Book Description

Around the world, many countries are increasing efforts to promote biomass production for industrial uses including biofuels and bio-products such as chemicals and bio-plastic. Against a backdrop of lively public debate on sustainability, bioenergy wields both positive and negative impacts upon a variety of environmental and socio-economic issues. These include property rights, labor conditions, social welfare, economic wealth, poverty reduction and more. This book discusses the issues and impacts of bioenergy, taking into account the local and regional framework under which bioenergy is produced, touching upon educational level, cultural aspects, the history and economies of the producing countries and an array of policies including environmental and social targets. The book surveys and analyzes global bioenergy production from a number of perspectives. The authors illustrate the complexity of interrelated topics in the bioenergy value chain, ranging from agriculture to conversion processes, as well as from social implications to environmental effects. It goes on to offer insight on future challenges associated with the expected boom of a global bio-based economy, which contributes to the paradigm shift from a fossil-based to a biomass and renewable energy-based economy. The expert contributors include researchers, investors, policy makers, representatives from NGOs and other stakeholders, from Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America. Their contributions build upon the results of the Global-Bio-Pact project on “Global Assessment of Biomass and Bio-product Impacts on Socio-economics and Sustainability,” which was supported by the European Commission in its 7th Framework Program for Research and Technological Development, conducted from February 2010 to January 2013. The book benefits policy makers, scientists and NGO staffers working in the fields of agriculture, forestry, biotechnology and energy.




Greenhouse Gas Balances of Bioenergy Systems


Book Description

Greenhouse Gases Balance of Bioenergy Systems covers every stage of a bioenergy system, from establishment to energy delivery, presenting a comprehensive, multidisciplinary overview of all the relevant issues and environmental risks. It also provides an understanding of how these can be practically managed to deliver sustainable greenhouse gas reductions. Its expert chapter authors present readers to the methods used to determine the greenhouse gas balance of bioenergy systems, the data required and the significance of the results obtained. It also provides in-depth discussion of key issues and uncertainties, such as soil, agriculture, forestry, fuel conversion and emissions formation. Finally, international case studies examine typical GHG reduction levels for different systems and highlight best practices for bioenergy GHG mitigation. For bringing together into one volume information from several different fields that was up until now scattered throughout many different sources, this book is ideal for researchers, graduate students and professionals coming into the bioenergy field, no matter their previous background. It will be particularly useful for bioenergy researchers seeking to calculate greenhouse gas balances for systems they are studying. I will also be an important resource for policy makers and energy analysts. - Uses a multidisciplinary approach to synthesize the diverse information that is required to competently execute GHG balances for bioenergy systems - Presents an in-depth understanding of the science underpinning key issues and uncertainty in GHG assessments of bioenergy systems - Includes case studies that examine ways to maximize the GHG reductions delivered by different bioenergy systems




Advances in Bioenergy


Book Description

The increasing deployment of bioenergy frequently raises issues regarding the use of land and raw materials, infrastructure and logistics. In light of these sometimes conflicting interests Advances in Bioenergy provides an objective and wide-ranging overview of the technology, economics and policy of bioenergy. Offering an authoritative multidisciplinary summary of the opportunities and challenges associated with bioenergy utilization, with international researchers give up-to-date and detailed information on key issues for biomass production and conversion to energy. Key features: *Discusses different bioenergy uses such as transportation fuels, electricity and heat production. *Assesses emerging fields such as bio-based chemicals and bio-refineries. *Debates conditions for the mobilization of sustainable bioenergy supply chains and outlines governance systems to support this mobilization. * Dedicated chapters to sustainability governance and emerging tools such as certification systems and standards supporting growth of a sustainable bioenergy industry. *Considers the political, environmental, social and cultural context related to the demand for energy resources, the impact of this demand on the world around us, and the choices and behaviours of consumers. This book will be a vital reference to engineers, researchers and students that need an accessible overview of the bioenergy area. It will also be of high value for politicians, policymakers and industry leaders that need to stay up to date with the state-of-the-art science and technology in this area.




Microbial Biotechnology for Bioenergy


Book Description

Microbial Biotechnology for Bioenergy presents the new and emerging biotechnological and microbiological approaches in bioenergy and their economic, social, and environmental implications. Using the latest global data and statistics, it analyses how bioenergy technology improves quality of life by reducing air and water pollution and mitigates energy dependence by creating renewable resources in local communities. The book is formed of three sections; Section 1 addresses the "Sources, Challenges, and Environmental Views of Bioenergy and includes an overview of bioenergy, global statistics and projections for future bioenergy development, the role of biotechnology and bioprocesses in bioenergy, feedstock sources, challenges, decarbonisation, and emerging innovations and technologies. Section 2 "Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow: Innovations of Bioenergy examines the vast topics of biotechnology and microbiology for bioenergy, reviewing both the present day state-of-the-art and future potential. Readers will find dedicated chapters on bioconversion of biomass energy and biological residues, the role of microbes, the potential of organic waste to provide bioenergy, the biotechnology of biofuels such as bioethanol, biodiesel, and biohydrogen, the sustainability of cellulosic ethanol energy and artificial photosynthesis, Power-to-X and integrating energy storage innovations, and the sustainability of microbial fuel cells. Finally, Section 3 explores the policies and environmental aspects of bioenergy, providing a global perspective on the current and future impact of bioenergy, including global projections based on present day global statistics. Microbial Biotechnology for Bioenergy is a valuable reference for biotechnologists, environmental engineers, and microbiologists interested in bioenergy, and includes explanations of the fundamentals and key concepts to ensure it is accessible to students as well as researchers and professionals. - Critically reviews past, present, and future bioenergy technologies, including global statistics, policies, and emerging approaches - Highlights opportunities to improve quality of life and mitigate energy dependence, reducing air/water pollution and creating renewable resources in local communities - Explores environmental benefits of incorporating microbial remediation into bioenergy production




Sustainable Power Generation


Book Description

Sustainable Power Generation: Current Status, Future Challenges, and Perspectives addresses emerging problems faced by the transition to sustainable electricity generation and combines perspectives of engineering and economics to provide a well-rounded overview. This book features an in-depth discussion of the main aspects of sustainable energy and the infrastructure of existing technologies. It goes on to evaluate natural resources that are sustainable and convenient forms of energy, and finishes with an investigation of the environmental effects of energy systems and power generating systems of the future. Other sections tackle fundamental topics such as thermal power, nuclear energy, bioenergy, hydropower, challenges and risks to sustainable options, and emerging technologies that support global power trends. Sustainable Power Generation explores the future of sustainable electricity generation, highlighting topics such as energy justice, emerging competences, and major transitions that need to be navigated. This is an ideal reference for researchers, engineers, and other technical specialists working in the energy sector, as well as environmental specialists and policy makers.




Towards a Sustainable Bioeconomy: Principles, Challenges and Perspectives


Book Description

This book gathers contributions from scientists and industry representatives on achieving a sustainable bioeconomy. It also covers the social sciences, economics, business, education and the environmental sciences. There is an urgent need to optimise and maximise the use of biological resources, so that primary production and processing systems can generate more food, fibre and other bio-based products with less environmental impacts and lower greenhouse gas emissions. In other words, we need a “sustainable bioeconomy” – a term that encompasses the sustainable production of renewable resources from land, fisheries and aquaculture environments and their conversion into food, feed, fibre bio-based products and bio-energy, as well as related public goods. Despite the relevance of achieving a sustainable bioeconomy, there are very few publications in this field. Addressing that gap, this book illustrates how biological resources and ecosystems could be used in a more sustainable, efficient and integrated manner – in other words, how the principles of sustainable bioeconomy can be implemented in practice. Given its interdisciplinary nature, the field of sustainable bioeconomy offers a unique opportunity to address complex and interconnected challenges, while also promoting economic growth. It helps countries and societies to make a transition and to use resources more efficiently, and shows how to rely less on biological resources to satisfy industry demands and consumer needs. The papers are innovative, cross-cutting and include many practice-based lessons learned, some of which are reproducible elsewhere. In closing, the book, prepared by the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme (IUSDRP) and the World Sustainable Development Research and Transfer Centre (WSD-RTC), reiterates the need to promote a sustainable bioeconomy today.




Cellulases in the Biofuel Industry


Book Description

Cellulases in the Biofuel Industry discusses how the properties of cellulases affects the quality of the biofuels produced. Heralded as the solution to humanity's energy problem and the savior of the world's climate, extensive research is being carried out on biofuels but there are still gaps in our understanding. This book presents cost-effective and current scenarios for cellulase production in the biofuel industry, including the most recent advancements for obtaining cellulases with higher activity on pre-treated biomass substrates by screening and sequencing new organisms, engineering cellulases with improved properties, and by identifying proteins that can stimulate cellulases. The mechanism and efficiency of the cellulase enzyme system on cellulose is discussed with the specific classification of each cellulase enzyme, as well as explanations of the limitation of cellulases in terms of their production processes, efficiency and practical applications to biofuels. Various approaches to improve the production and efficiency of the cellulase enzyme system are evaluated, along with the current limitations that are hampering cost-effective production of cellulase and guidance on how these limitations might be resolved. - Includes different approaches to improve the production and efficiency of the cellulase enzyme system - Discusses the current limitations hampering the cost-effective production of cellulases - Provides case studies that include essential information for those looking to adapt cellulases technology