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Sustainable Biomass Energy Production and Utilization
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Sustainable Biomass Energy Production and Utilization

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A4: Bio-Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2024) | Viewed by 4390

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Francesco Romagnoli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Energy Systems and Environment, Riga Technical University, Azenes iela 12/1, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia
Interests: sustainable development; sustainability assessment; life cycle impact assessment; life cycle thinking; renewable energy technologies; energy and environmental balance of the renewable energy production systems; energy; biofuels and renewable energies from biomass; environmental impact assessment; climate change; biomass waste management; environmental analysis; urban resilience
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Transitioning towards sustainable energy systems, particularly through biomass energy production and utilization, is crucial for achieving a low-carbon future. This Special Issue focuses on innovative research and developments in sustainable biomass energy, addressing both production and utilization aspects.

Specifically, this Special Issue highlights the importance of biomass as a renewable energy source in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting environmental sustainability, proposing effective solutions, and correctly addressing key open questions on green energy transition. Contributions are sought that explore technological advancements, sustainability assessments, policy frameworks, and market mechanisms that can facilitate the widespread adoption of biomass energy.

A focus will be placed on bioeconomy, circular economy, and biorefinery, highlighting the importance of reusing and recycling biomass resources, facilitating the transformation of biomass into a wide range of products, including sustainable biomass energy. These interconnected concepts underscore the commitment to sustainability, resource efficiency, and transitioning to green energy. Emphasizing on interdisciplinary approaches, this Special Issue aims to cover the entire biomass energy supply chain, from resource cultivation and processing to energy conversion technologies and end-use applications.

It also considers the socio-economic impacts and policy implications of biomass energy deployment, aiming to provide comprehensive insights into its potential to contribute to global decarbonization efforts.

Therefore, we highly encourage submissions on research topics of significant interest including the following:

  • Technological advancements in biomass conversion processes for improved energy efficiency and sustainability.
  • Sustainable bioeconomy and circular economy towards strengthening industrial symbiosis and biorefinery concepts.
  • The role of biomass in achieving carbon neutrality.
  • Economic and policy frameworks that promote the growth of the biomass energy sector.
  • Life cycle assessments of biomass energy systems to evaluate environmental impacts and potential room for improvements.
  • The potential of biomass energy in rural development and energy security.
  • Innovations in feedstock management, including agricultural residues and energy crops.
  • The integration of biomass energy production into existing energy systems for enhanced resilience and sustainability.
  • Socio-economic analysis towards economic development, job creation, and social equity implementing Social LCA.

Prof. Dr. Francesco Romagnoli
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biomass energy
  • renewable energy
  • sustainable production
  • energy utilization
  • greenhouse gas reduction
  • environmental sustainability
  • technological advancements
  • policy frameworks
  • biomass in biorefinery
  • biorefinery and bioenergy
  • bioeconomy
  • biomass industrial symbiosis

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 3493 KiB  
Article
Valorization of White Lupin Straw Through Mild Dilute Acid Hydrothermal Treatment: A Sustainable Route for Monosaccharide and 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural Production
by Hanna Pińkowska, Małgorzata Krzywonos, Paweł Wolak and Adrianna Złocińska
Energies 2024, 17(22), 5668; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17225668 - 13 Nov 2024
Viewed by 301
Abstract
This study investigates the potential use of white lupine straw (WLS), an underutilized agricultural by-product, as a raw material to produce valuable biochemicals such as monosaccharides and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) through hydrothermal pretreatment. The aim was to optimize mild reaction conditions to maximize the [...] Read more.
This study investigates the potential use of white lupine straw (WLS), an underutilized agricultural by-product, as a raw material to produce valuable biochemicals such as monosaccharides and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) through hydrothermal pretreatment. The aim was to optimize mild reaction conditions to maximize the recovery of these products while minimizing degradation. The hydrothermal treatment of WLS in subcritical water with trace amounts of sulfuric acid was performed, followed by a two-step approach to evaluate the yields of hemicellulose and 5-HMF. The highest monosaccharide yield (163 g/kg) was achieved at temperatures between 174 and 181 °C and a holding time of 7–14 min, while the 5-HMF production was 139.9 g/kg at 199–203 °C and after 0.5–4.5 min. These results suggest that optimal 5-HMF production also increases the remaining solid residue. This study highlights the feasibility of WLS as a sustainable, low-cost biomass resource. It highlights the balance between temperature and time to maximize valuable product yields. The results contribute to advancing biorefinery processes by demonstrating that WLS can be effectively converted into bioethanol precursors and industrial chemicals, supporting circular bioeconomy principles and providing an environmentally friendly alternative to burning crop residues. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biomass Energy Production and Utilization)
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18 pages, 3600 KiB  
Article
Examining the Potential of Biogas: A Pathway from Post-Fermented Waste into Energy in a Wastewater Treatment Plant
by Krzysztof Michalski, Magdalena Kośka-Wolny, Krzysztof Chmielowski, Dawid Bedla, Agnieszka Petryk, Paweł Guzdek, Katarzyna Anna Dąbek, Michał Gąsiorek, Klaudiusz Grübel and Wiktor Halecki
Energies 2024, 17(22), 5618; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17225618 - 10 Nov 2024
Viewed by 781
Abstract
Biogas has improved due to technological advancements, environmental awareness, policy support, and research innovation, making it a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly renewable energy source. The Generalized Linear Model (GLM) was employed to examine the relationship between purchased and generated energy from 2007 [...] Read more.
Biogas has improved due to technological advancements, environmental awareness, policy support, and research innovation, making it a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly renewable energy source. The Generalized Linear Model (GLM) was employed to examine the relationship between purchased and generated energy from 2007 to 2023. Metrics such as deviance, log likelihood, and dispersion phi were examined to assess model fit. The Mann–Kendall test was utilized to detect trends in energy datasets. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) reduction was significant, exceeding 97% from 2014 to 2023. However, treated sewage displayed limited susceptibility to biological degradation, with COD to BOD5 ratios increasing from 2.28 to 6.59 for raw sewage and from 2.33 to 7.05 for treated sewage by 2023. Additionally, the efficiency of sewage purification processes was calculated, and multivariate regression analysis was conducted on gas composition data. Principal Coordinate Ordination (PCO) and k-means clustering were used for dimensionality reduction and biogas component clustering, respectively. This research showed that biogas from the waste water treatment process can be used, particularly in methane production. Technological advancements have made biogas production more efficient, enhancing energy generation within a circular economy framework. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biomass Energy Production and Utilization)
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26 pages, 3429 KiB  
Article
Valorization of Spent Mushroom Compost Through a Cascading Use Aproach
by Carolina Restrepo Londoño, Alexander Giraldo Gil, Andrés Moreno and Pedro Nel Alvarado
Energies 2024, 17(21), 5458; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17215458 - 31 Oct 2024
Viewed by 443
Abstract
Spent mushroom compost (SMC) is a waste byproduct generated by the mushroom industry, with the current disposal methods involving landfills or incineration, causing environmental problems. This study introduces a cascading valorization based on circular economy. A water-washing pretreatment is suggested to reduce the [...] Read more.
Spent mushroom compost (SMC) is a waste byproduct generated by the mushroom industry, with the current disposal methods involving landfills or incineration, causing environmental problems. This study introduces a cascading valorization based on circular economy. A water-washing pretreatment is suggested to reduce the ash content and improve the calorific value. Furthermore, an oxidative torrefaction is proposed to enhance the physicochemical properties and evaluate the residence time, temperature, and initial weight effects. The investigation revealed that the calorific value increased by 49.46% in the best water washing scenario and the SMC contains laccase. During SMC torrefaction, mass and energy yields exceeded 80%, and the calorific value was improved. Finally, torrefaction in situ CO2 capture was achieved by forming CaCO3, with a mass fraction increase of up to 7.4%. The study describes the cascading innovation use of this residue on a TRL4 higher than previously reported studies, thereby contributing to gaining an understanding of sustainable industrial mushroom production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biomass Energy Production and Utilization)
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15 pages, 2165 KiB  
Article
Optimizing Biomass Supply Chains to Power Plants under Ecological and Social Restrictions: Case Study from Poland
by Jan Banaś, Katarzyna Utnik-Banaś and Stanisław Zięba
Energies 2024, 17(13), 3136; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17133136 - 26 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1142
Abstract
The growing demand for social and regulatory forest ecosystem services can significantly modify the availability and cost of biomass for energy purposes. This article presents a model for optimizing biomass supply chains using a linear programming framework integrated with a geographic information system [...] Read more.
The growing demand for social and regulatory forest ecosystem services can significantly modify the availability and cost of biomass for energy purposes. This article presents a model for optimizing biomass supply chains using a linear programming framework integrated with a geographic information system (GIS). Based on a given type of biomass resource, its calorific value, price, distance from the power plant, and transportation costs, the model identifies the optimal source of biomass, allowing it to cover the demand for the required total energy value with the lowest possible costs. The case study includes the Połaniec power plant in southeastern Poland and potential sources of forest biomass and agricultural straw within 100 km of the plant. The impact of constraints on the availability and cost of biomass was analyzed in the following scenarios: (1) all forest and agriculture biomass is available, (2) forest area in Natura 2000 network is excluded, and (3) firewood and forests with dominated ecological and social function are excluded. Unit costs of biomass varied depending on biomass availability and energy demands. The lowest unit costs of biomass (3.19 EUR/MJ) were for energy demand at the level of 1 TJ yearly for all kinds of biomass and the highest (4.91 EUR/MJ) for ecological and social constraints and energy demand 4 TJ. As energy demand increased, unit costs increased, and the ability to meet this demand with just one type of biomass decreased. The energy biomass sector can utilize the model to benefit both biomass producers and their final buyers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biomass Energy Production and Utilization)
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14 pages, 3606 KiB  
Article
Lignocellulosic Residues from Fruit Trees: Availability, Characterization, and Energetic Potential Valorization
by Gianluca Cavalaglio, Giacomo Fabbrizi, Filippo Cardelli, Leonardo Lorenzi, Mariarosaria Angrisano and Andrea Nicolini
Energies 2024, 17(11), 2611; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17112611 - 28 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 784
Abstract
Reducing the carbon footprint of energy production is one of the most pressing challenges facing humanity today. Lignocellulosic biomass residues from fruit production industries show promise as a viable energy source. This paper presents a study of the Italian context concerning the utilization [...] Read more.
Reducing the carbon footprint of energy production is one of the most pressing challenges facing humanity today. Lignocellulosic biomass residues from fruit production industries show promise as a viable energy source. This paper presents a study of the Italian context concerning the utilization of orchard lignocellulosic residues for energy production as electricity or bioethanol. The potential of various orchard residues was assessed through chemical and physical analyses, and an equivalent electrical energy of about 6441.62 GWh or an amount of 0.48 Mt/y of bioethanol was obtained based on the average annual dry residue mass availability of about 3.04 Mt/y. These data represent 9.30% of the national electrical energy production from renewable sources, as well as 6.21% of the Italian demand for gasoline in 2022. Electricity generation from these residues has shown its potential as a reliable and sustainable baseload power source, as well as a source of renewable transportation fuel. The studied process could be a valuable reference to expand these concepts on a global scale to achieve a greener and more sustainable energy future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biomass Energy Production and Utilization)
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Review

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25 pages, 823 KiB  
Review
Recovery of Biogas and Other Valuable Bioproducts from Livestock Blood Waste: A Review
by Katarzyna Bułkowska and Magdalena Zielińska
Energies 2024, 17(23), 5873; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17235873 - 22 Nov 2024
Abstract
The anaerobic digestion (AD) of livestock blood represents a sustainable solution for the management of waste generated by the meat processing industry while simultaneously generating renewable energy. The improper treatment of livestock blood, which is rich in organic matter and nutrients, can result [...] Read more.
The anaerobic digestion (AD) of livestock blood represents a sustainable solution for the management of waste generated by the meat processing industry while simultaneously generating renewable energy. The improper treatment of livestock blood, which is rich in organic matter and nutrients, can result in environmental risks such as water pollution, soil degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions. This review examines a range of AD strategies, with a particular focus on technological advances in reactor design, pretreatment, and co-digestion, with the aim of optimizing process efficiency. While the high protein content of blood has the potential to enhance biogas production, challenges such as ammonia inhibition and process instability must be addressed. Innovations such as bio-carriers, thermal pretreatment, and co-digestion with carbon-rich substrates have demonstrated efficacy in addressing these challenges, resulting in stable operation and enhanced methane yields. The advancement of AD technologies is intended to mitigate the environmental impact of livestock blood waste and facilitate the development of a circular bioeconomy. Furthermore, the possibility of utilizing slaughterhouse blood for the recovery of valuable products, including proteins, heme iron, and bioactive peptides, was evaluated with a view to their potential applications in the pharmaceutical and food industries. Furthermore, the potential of utilizing protein-rich blood as a substrate for mixed culture fermentation in volatile fatty acid (VFA) biorefineries was explored, illustrating its viability in biotechnological applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Biomass Energy Production and Utilization)
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