Efficiency analysis for the production of modern energy carriers from renewable resources and wastes

K.J. Ptasinski

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionAcademicpeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Two global problems related to the use of fossil fuels are fast depletion and environmental damage. Biomass has a great potential as a clean renewable feedstock for producing modern energy carriers such as biodiesel, methanol, and hydrogen. However, the use of biomass is accompanied by possible ecological drawbacks such as limitations of land or water and competition with food production. For biomass-based systems, a key challenge is thus to develop efficient conversion technologies. This paper presents the efficiency analysis based on the Second Law of Thermodynamics for production of energy carriers from biomass. It is shown that the exergetic efficiency of renewable energy carriers is lower than that for fossil fuels. The highest efficiency is achieved for hydrogen production from high quality feedstock that is comparable with fossil fuels.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationEcosytems and Sustainable Development VI : Proceedings of the sixth International Conference on Ecosystems and Sustainable Development (ECOSUD 2007) 5-7 september 2007, Coimbra, Portugal
EditorsE. Tiezzi, J.C. Marques, C.A. Brebbia, S.E. Jorgensen
Place of PublicationSouthampton
PublisherWIT Press
Pages239-249
ISBN (Print)978-184564-088-0
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2007
Event6th International Conference on Ecosystems and Sustainable Development (ECOSUD 2007), September 5-7, 2007, Coimbra, Portugal - Coimbra, Portugal
Duration: 5 Sept 20077 Sept 2007

Publication series

NameWIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment
Volume106
ISSN (Print)1743-3541

Conference

Conference6th International Conference on Ecosystems and Sustainable Development (ECOSUD 2007), September 5-7, 2007, Coimbra, Portugal
Abbreviated titleECOSUD 2007
Country/TerritoryPortugal
CityCoimbra
Period5/09/077/09/07

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