Presentations

The Bioenergy session included the below presentations.

You can download a PDF of the combined bioenergy presentations.

This session was also recorded and can be found embedded below or on our youtube channel.

Projects

Sugarcane to bioenergy supply chain optimisation in South Africa

Student: Rémi Bucquet
Supervisor(s): Dr Miao Guo (Department ofChemical Engineering), Dr Koen Van Dam (Department of Chemical Engineering), Professor Nilay Shah (Department of Chemical Engineering)
Poster: #21 Download PDF COMING SOON

Sugarcane residues use for bioenergy can positively impact the economy, society and environment in South Africa, especially if processed in biorefineries. Building on last year's first draft for optimisation of the South African sugarcane-to-bioenergy supply chain, this project aims to improve the complexity and accuracy of the supply chain through several components.

The energy in BECCS: Is it really possible to achieve the 2ºC target as agreed in COP21?

Student: Alberto Cárceles
Supervisor(s): Professor Bill Rutherford (Department of Life Sciences), Dr Raphael Slade (Centre for Environmental Policy), Andrea Fantuzzi
Poster: #22 Download PDF COMING SOON

The global warming target of 2^oC rise by 2100 may only be achieved through negative emissions according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Combining bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) has the potential to generate power while removing CO₂ from the atmosphere on a significant scale. However, it remains unclear if energy will be produced or consumed in the process given the variety of pathways by which BECCS can be achieved. This research focuses on comparing different routes from a life-cycle analysis perspective in order to determine the exact energy balance and quantify other environmental impacts of BECCS.

Introduction of a gasifier cooking stove in Malawi: the use of agricultural waste to avoid deforestation

Student: Alan Goron
Supervisor(s): Dr Jeremy Woods (Centre for Environmental Policy) and Andrew Emmott
Poster: #23 Download PDF COMING SOON

Being one of the poorest countries in the world and with one of the highest rates of deforestation in Africa, Malawi must change its energy supply from traditional firewood burning to avoid climate change consequences. With an agricultural-based economy, sustainable bioenergy supply seems to be the solution for this problem. This thesis focuses on the smallholder macadamia plantations in the country as an example of a supply chain with useful energy by-products--the shell, the oil and other crop wastes--that can be used as fuel in agricultural devices. The carbon stored within this intercropped agroforestry system is also estimated for farmers in order to receive money from a carbon credit framework.

How sustainable land use and bioenergy could help Indonesia in climate change mitigation?

Student: Merdiani Aghnia Mokobombang
Supervisor(s): Dr Jeremy Woods  (Centre for Environmental Policy) and Alexandre Strapasson
Poster: #24 Download PDF COMING SOON

In its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) at COP21, Indonesia committed to achieving a 26% GHG emissions reduction against the BAU scenario by 2020 and a further reduction of 29% by 2030. One way to achieve this target is by increasing renewable energy share, and the bioenergy sector is expected to be a large contributor. However, there is a potential conflict between increasing bioenergy crops plantation area and reducing LULUCF emissions. This research assesses Indonesia’s bioenergy policy in relation to its LULUCF sector emissions using dynamic modelling to create a trajectory for GHG emissions reduction.

Evaluation of nipa-derived bioethanol production in Thailand

Student: Jidapa Ratanayanon
Supervisor(s):  Dr Miao Guo (Department of Chemical Engineering) an Professor Nilay Shah (Department of Chemical Engineering)
Poster: #25 Download PDF COMING SOON

Bioenergy use is predicted to increase rapidly in the next few years, especially in Southeast Asia. Since most countries in this area are agricultural-based, bioenergy seems to be the solution to the climate change, energy security and scarcity of food, water, and land problems. This research aims to evaluate the environmental impacts of nipa-derived bioethanol production in Thailand. The results will provide useful information from an environmental perspective to decision makers such as the government, shareholders, plantation owners, etc.

A techno–economic analysis of palm oil waste as bioenergy for rural electrification of Indonesia (case study: Belitung Island)

Student: Muhammad Rizki
Supervisor(s):  Dr. Judith Cherni (Centre for Environmental Policy) and Dr. Rocio Diaz-Chavez (Centre for Environmental Policy)
Poster: #26 Download PDF COMING SOON

Palm oil plantation has been highly criticised for its contribution to deforestation and smog in recent years. As the world's biggest palm oil producer, Indonesia continues to have much work to do in energy development. Particular attention must be paid to increasing electricity reliability and the electrification ratio in rural areas. This project aims to tackle both issues in the most economical way by studing the potential of energy from palm oil waste. Optimisation methods will be undertaken to obtain the suitable waste type, technology, capacity and location to meet the local rural demand of power.

Aviation biofuels

Student: Adriana Soliz Miranda
Supervisor(s): Dr Raphael Slade (Centre for Environmental Policy)
Poster: #27 Download PDF COMING SOON

Combined Heat and Power installations and biomass as a renewable source are both expected to play a significant role in meeting the UK emissions reduction goals. There are several biomass CHP plants operational in the UK; most of these rely on direct combustion as a technology but very few on biomass gasification. The aim of the thesis project is to determine which factors affect the feasibility of the two technologies and make them mutually competitive. Two industrial sites and their electricity and heat demand were provided by the energy service company Ameresco. A model was developed to determine the technical performance and the economic convenience of each CHP installation.

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