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Cutting-Edge Technologies for Renewable Energy Production and Storage
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Cutting-Edge Technologies for Renewable Energy Production and Storage

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 August 2019) | Viewed by 34534

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Matteo Prussi

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Guest Editor
Department of Agrifood Production and Environmental Sciences, European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC)Directorate C - Energy, Transport and ClimateEnergy Efficiency and Renewables - Unit C.2JRC-ISPRAVia E. Fermi 2749, TP 023 I- 27027 Ispra (VA), ItalyUniversity of Florence, Florence, Italy
Interests: energy conversion technologies; system analysis (climate change); net energy efficiency of bioenergy systems; life cycle assessment; bioenergy and biofuels; assessment of sustainability; socio-economic impacts of energy systems; transport policies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are very pleased to introduce this Special Issue of the journal Applied Sciences on “Cutting-Edge Technologies for Renewable Energy Production and Storage”.

The world is trying to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions by fostering renewable energy production. The technologies for electricity production from wind and sun are well-established and are now trying to address issues of grid connection and storage due to their fluctuating nature. Energy storage is a key topic for the further deployment of renewable energy production, and, therefore, a large research effort is being made to find innovative solutions. Besides battery and other types of electrical storage, electrofuels and bio-electricity may offer suitable alternatives in some specific scenarios. E-fuels are currently being studied for their potential to supply sectors which are strongly dependent on liquid fuels, such as aviation. At the present stage of their development, technical and costs issues are burdens for their application to large-scale infrastructures. In spite of these present challenges, the further development of cutting-edge technologies is one of the pillars for directing the world on the path of a low-carbon future.

This Special Issue is looking for contributions on the following topics: cutting-edge energy conversion technologies and energy storage, technologies integration, e-fuels, pilot and large-scale applications.

MDPI and the editors of Applied Sciences are delighted to have the privilege of publishing this Special Issue. We wish to thank all the authors that will consider contributing to this Special Issue

Dr. Matteo Prussi
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. Applied Sciences 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 2400 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

  • Energy conversion
  • Energy storage
  • Technologies integration
  • E-fuel
  • Renewable energies
  • Pilot plants

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 168 KiB  
Editorial
Special Issue on Cutting-Edge Technologies for Renewable Energy Production and Storage
by Matteo Prussi
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(3), 837; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10030837 - 24 Jan 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1906
Abstract
Anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are dramatically influencing the environment, and research is strongly committed in proposing alternatives, mainly based on renewable energy sources [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cutting-Edge Technologies for Renewable Energy Production and Storage)

Research

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29 pages, 6889 KiB  
Article
Is Deployment of Charging Station the Barrier to Electric Vehicle Fleet Development in EU Urban Areas? An Analytical Assessment Model for Large-Scale Municipality-Level EV Charging Infrastructures
by Giacomo Talluri, Francesco Grasso and David Chiaramonti
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(21), 4704; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9214704 - 4 Nov 2019
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4441
Abstract
This work investigates minimum charging infrastructure size and cost for two typical EU urban areas and given passenger car electric vehicle (EV) fleets. Published forecasts sources were analyzed and compared with actual EU renewal fleet rate, deriving realistic EV growth figures. An analytical [...] Read more.
This work investigates minimum charging infrastructure size and cost for two typical EU urban areas and given passenger car electric vehicle (EV) fleets. Published forecasts sources were analyzed and compared with actual EU renewal fleet rate, deriving realistic EV growth figures. An analytical model, accounting for battery electric vehicle-plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (BEV-PHEV) fleets and publicly accessible and private residential charging stations (CS) were developed, with a novel data sorting method and EV fleet forecasts. Through a discrete-time Markov chain, the average daily distribution of charging events and related energy demand were estimated. The model was applied to simulated Florence and Bruxelles scenarios between 2020 and 2030, with a 1-year timestep resolution and a multiple scenario approach. EV fleet at 2030 ranged from 2.3% to 17.8% of total fleet for Florence, 4.6% to 16.5% for Bruxelles. Up to 2053 CS could be deployed in Florence and 5537 CS in Bruxelles, at estimated costs of ~8.3 and 21.4 M€ respectively. Maximum energy demand of 130 and 400 MWh was calculated for Florence and Bruxelles (10.3 MW and 31.7 MW respectively). The analysis shows some policy implications, especially as regards the distribution of fast vs. slow/medium CS, and the associated costs. The critical barrier for CS development in the two urban areas is thus likely to become the time needed to install CS in the urban context, rather than the related additional electric power and costs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cutting-Edge Technologies for Renewable Energy Production and Storage)
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15 pages, 1692 KiB  
Article
PTG-HEFA Hybrid Refinery as Example of a SynBioPTx Concept—Results of a Feasibility Analysis
by Franziska Müller-Langer, Katja Oehmichen, Sebastian Dietrich, Konstantin M. Zech, Matthias Reichmuth and Werner Weindorf
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(19), 4047; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9194047 - 27 Sep 2019
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 6117
Abstract
Limited alternative fuels for a CO2-neutral aviation sector have already been ASTM certified; synthetic paraffinic kerosene from hydrotreated esters and fatty acids (HEFA-SPK) is one of these—a sustainable aviation fuel. With the hypothesis to improve the greenhouse gas (GHG) balance of [...] Read more.
Limited alternative fuels for a CO2-neutral aviation sector have already been ASTM certified; synthetic paraffinic kerosene from hydrotreated esters and fatty acids (HEFA-SPK) is one of these—a sustainable aviation fuel. With the hypothesis to improve the greenhouse gas (GHG) balance of a HEFA plant by realizing the required hydrogen supply via electrolysis—power to gas (PTG)—an exemplary SynBioPTx approach is investigated in a comprehensive feasibility study, which is, regarding this comparatively new approach, a novelty in its extent. About 10 scenarios are analysed by technical, environmental, and economic aspects. Within the alternative scenarios on feedstocks, electricity supply, necessary hydrogen supply, and different main products are analysed. For different plant designs of the hybrid refinery, mass and energy balances are elaborated, along with the results of the technical assessment. As a result of this environmental assessment, the attainment of at least 50% GHG mitigation might be possible. GHG highly depends on the renewability grade of the hydrogen provision as well as on the used feedstock. One important conclusion of this economic assessment is that total fuel production costs of 1295 to 1800 EUR t−1 are much higher than current market prices for jet fuel. The scenario in which hydrogen is produced by steam reforming of internally produced naphtha proves to be the best combination of highly reduced GHG emissions and low HEFA-SPK production costs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cutting-Edge Technologies for Renewable Energy Production and Storage)
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10 pages, 6838 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Internal Gas Leaks in an MCFC System Package for an LNG-Fueled Ship
by Gilltae Roh, Youngseung Na, Jun-Young Park and Hansung Kim
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(11), 2330; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9112330 - 6 Jun 2019
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3469
Abstract
The airflow inside the housing of a 300-kW molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) system is designed to ensure safety in case of a gas leak by applying computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques. In particular, gas accumulating zones are identified to prevent damage to [...] Read more.
The airflow inside the housing of a 300-kW molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) system is designed to ensure safety in case of a gas leak by applying computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques. In particular, gas accumulating zones are identified to prevent damage to vulnerable components from high temperature and pressure. Furthermore, the location of the alarm unit with the gas-leak detector is recommended for construction of safe MCFC ships. In order to achieve this, a flow-tracking and contour field (for gas, temperature, and pressure) including a fuel-cell stack module, balance-of-plant, and various pipes is developed. With the simulated flow field, temperature flow is interpreted for the heating conditions of each component or pipe in order to find out where the temperature is concentrated inside the fuel cell system, as well as the increase in temperature at the exit. In addition, the gas leakage from the valves is investigated by using a flow simulation to analyze the gas and pressure distribution inside the fuel cell system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cutting-Edge Technologies for Renewable Energy Production and Storage)
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20 pages, 1994 KiB  
Article
Improved Probability Prediction Method Research for Photovoltaic Power Output
by Ze Cheng, Qi Liu and Wen Zhang
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(10), 2043; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9102043 - 17 May 2019
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3353
Abstract
Due to solar radiation and other meteorological factors, photovoltaic (PV) output is intermittent and random. Accurate and reliable photovoltaic power prediction can improve the stability and safety of grid operation. Compared to solar power point prediction, probabilistic prediction methods can provide more information [...] Read more.
Due to solar radiation and other meteorological factors, photovoltaic (PV) output is intermittent and random. Accurate and reliable photovoltaic power prediction can improve the stability and safety of grid operation. Compared to solar power point prediction, probabilistic prediction methods can provide more information about potential uncertainty. Therefore, this paper first proposes two kinds of photovoltaic output probability prediction models, which are improved sparse Gaussian process regression model (IMSPGP), and improved least squares support vector machine error prediction model (IMLSSVM). In order to make full use of the advantages of the different models, this paper proposes a combined forecasting method with divided-interval and variable weights, which divides one day into four intervals. The models are combined by the optimal combination method in each interval. The simulation results show that IMSPGP and IMLSSVM have better prediction accuracy than the original models, and the combination model obtained by the combination method proposed in this paper further improves the prediction performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cutting-Edge Technologies for Renewable Energy Production and Storage)
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20 pages, 5653 KiB  
Article
Analysis of a Supercapacitor/Battery Hybrid Power System for a Bulk Carrier
by Kyunghwa Kim, Juwan An, Kido Park, Gilltae Roh and Kangwoo Chun
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(8), 1547; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9081547 - 14 Apr 2019
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 4589
Abstract
Concerns about harmful exhaust emissions from ships have been an issue. Specifically, the emissions at ports are the most serious. This paper introduces a hybrid power system that combines conventional diesel generators with two different energy storage systems (ESSs) (lithium-ion batteries (LIB) and [...] Read more.
Concerns about harmful exhaust emissions from ships have been an issue. Specifically, the emissions at ports are the most serious. This paper introduces a hybrid power system that combines conventional diesel generators with two different energy storage systems (ESSs) (lithium-ion batteries (LIB) and supercapacitors (SC)) focused on port operations of ships. To verify the proposed system, a bulk carrier with four deck cranes is selected as a target ship, and each size (capacity) of LIB and SC is determined based on assumed power demands. The determined sizes are proven to be sufficient for a target ship through simulation results. Lastly, the proposed system is compared to a conventional one in terms of the environmental and economic aspects. The results show that the proposed system can reduce emissions (CO2, SOX, and NOx) substantially and has a short payback period, particularly for ships that have a long cargo handling time or visit many ports with a short-term sailing time. Therefore, the proposed system could be an eco-friendly and economical solution for bulk carriers for emission problems at ports. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cutting-Edge Technologies for Renewable Energy Production and Storage)
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Review

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13 pages, 939 KiB  
Review
What is still Limiting the Deployment of Cellulosic Ethanol? Analysis of the Current Status of the Sector
by Monica Padella, Adrian O’Connell and Matteo Prussi
Appl. Sci. 2019, 9(21), 4523; https://doi.org/10.3390/app9214523 - 24 Oct 2019
Cited by 96 | Viewed by 7783
Abstract
Ethanol production from cellulosic material is considered one of the most promising options for future biofuel production contributing to both the energy diversification and decarbonization of the transport sector, especially where electricity is not a viable option (e.g., aviation). Compared to conventional (or [...] Read more.
Ethanol production from cellulosic material is considered one of the most promising options for future biofuel production contributing to both the energy diversification and decarbonization of the transport sector, especially where electricity is not a viable option (e.g., aviation). Compared to conventional (or first generation) ethanol production from food and feed crops (mainly sugar and starch based crops), cellulosic (or second generation) ethanol provides better performance in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions savings and low risk of direct and indirect land-use change. However, despite the policy support (in terms of targets) and significant R&D funding in the last decade (both in EU and outside the EU), cellulosic ethanol production appears to be still limited. The paper provides a comprehensive overview of the status of cellulosic ethanol production in EU and outside EU, reviewing available literature and highlighting technical and non-technical barriers that still limit its production at commercial scale. The review shows that the cellulosic ethanol sector appears to be still stagnating, characterized by technical difficulties as well as high production costs. Competitiveness issues, against standard starch based ethanol, are evident considering many commercial scale cellulosic ethanol plants appear to be currently in idle or on-hold states. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cutting-Edge Technologies for Renewable Energy Production and Storage)
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