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Abstract: As global energy demand rises, natural gas (NG) plays a pivotal role in energy supply. Natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuel and it has high energy conversion efficiencies for power generation. Natural gas has been extensively investigated for use in spark-ignition (SI) and compression-ignition (CI) engines. This paper consists of two sections: the first section gives an overview of natural gas fuel in the world and highlights the share of natural gas in Iran energy market and then expounds the role of natural gas vehicles (NGVs) in the context of Iran environmental pollution and its sustainable development. It is concluded that natural gas is the promising alternative fuel for vehicles in Iran. In the second part, the paper reviews the research works on natural gas fueled engines by Iranian researchers, and reports the most achievements obtained by them in the field of the natural gas fueled engines which involve natural gas-fueled SI engines, dual fuel (natural gas/diesel) engines, and Homogenous Charge Combustion Ignition (HCCI) engines. It is found that Iranian researchers started investigations on NGVs along with world researchers and developed research in line with their needs and priorities. Recently they further focused on this topic and their contribution to this field is significant especially regarding dual fuel engines. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Iran, as a developing country, will be confronted with a significant increase in electricity demand in future years. Being a petroleum producing country has resulted in extreme subsidies for energy production from fossilized resources such as oil and gas. This issue is one of the most important factors regarding underdevelopment of renewable energies in Iran. Expansive use of fossil resources in providing the necessary energy has resulted in Iran being among the 20 countries that have a share in the 75% spread of greenhouse gases. This issue has resulted in greater attention on behalf of the energy sectors policy makers regarding renewable energies, especially wind. Awareness regarding the current condition of each system is the first step for optimum policy making. On this basis, analyzing Iran''s wind conditions and assessing its technological capabilities is considered a pre-requisite for the wind sectors policy making. This paper aims at studying Iran''s wind energy status in the form of available capacities, power production, wind power plant characteristics, principal agents and existing protective laws. Also, the main focus of this paper is on evaluating Iran''s potential and effective technological capabilities for producing the main parts of wind turbines in different sizes. In order to fulfill this task, sector-level technological capabilities are defined. Then by analyzing active organizations in this field, Iran''s capability level will be determined and by comparing it with the ideal conditions, Iran''s technological gaps will be identified. The reasons for the creation of such shortcomings will also be introduced from different aspects in the form of the Atlas model. Finally, Iran''s potential capabilities in resolving technological shortcomings will be identified. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Biodiesel can be considered as the optimum alternative fuel for diesel fuel in Iran. Biodiesel is an environmentally friendly fuel and has the potential to provide comparable engine performance results. The biodiesel production potential from oil seeds such as canola, soybean, cotton, seasem, olive, sunflower, safflower, almond, corn, coconut, walnut and hazelnut in Iran is investigated in this paper. In Iran, oil seeds are not commonly used for energy application. This is because; more than 90% of the edible oil for human consumption is being imported. To contribute to the fuel supply, renewable energies such as oil seeds to be an attractive resource for biodiesel production, this paper aims to cover several perspectives on the size of the biodiesel oil seeds resource in Iran. Oil seeds are harvested every year in Iran. Around 1 million ha of land from 20 states are estimated to be potential land for growing of oil seeds. There are approximately 3.67MT (million ton) of oil seeds crops in Iran that can potentially produce 721ML (million liter) of biodiesel every year. Canola, cotton and soybean are the most favorable biodiesel production source. Based on the results, it can be concluded that production of biodiesel from the seed oils can ideally replace about 2% of total diesel fuel consumption in Iran. By managing this, an B2 (2% biodiesel and 98% diesel) can be an optimum alternative fuel for compressed ignition engine since there is no major engine modification required to use biodiesel. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper reviews the present energy status in Islamic Republic of Iran with an emphasis on utilization of environmentally friendly energy resources. The paper reveals the huge energy losses due to technological gaps and absence of relevant art of know-how in conventional energy industries. It also includes some critical issues effecting the efficient operation of Renewable Energy Converting Systems (RECS) having specific site and climate dependency. The environmentally friendly scaled energy balance presented in this paper is self explaining for energy policy makers to achieve a suitable scenario based on various positions of scale pointer which may alter depending on implementation level of advanced technologies and relevant art of know-how. The paper, besides being informative in achieving optimal energy prospects in Iran, also provides useful quid lines to energy planners not only at home but also in other Asian/Middle Eastern countries having similar alternative energy scenarios. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper analyses the wind speed of some major cities in province of Yazd which is located in central part of Iran. Also, the feasibility study of implementing wind turbines to take advantage of wind power is reviewed and then the subject of wind speed and wind potential at different stations is considered. This paper utilized wind speed data over a period of almost 13 years between 1992 and 2005 from 11 stations, to assess the wind power potential at these sites. In this paper, the hourly measured wind speed data at 10m, 20m and 40m height for Yazd province have been statically analyzed to determine the potential of wind power generation. Extrapolation of the 10m data, using the Power Law, has been used to determine the wind data at heights of 20m and 40m. The results showed that most of the stations have annual average wind speed of less than 4.5m/s which is considered as unacceptable for installation of the wind turbines. City of Herat has higher wind energy potential with annual wind speed average of 5.05m/s and 6.86m/s, respectively, at height of 10m and 40m above ground level (AGL). This site is a good candidate for remote area wind energy applications. But some more information is required, because the collected data for Herat is only for 2004. Cities of Aghda with 3.96m/s, Gariz with 3.95m/s, and Maybod with 3.83m/s annual wind speed average at height of 10m above ground level are also able to harness wind by installing small wind turbines. The Tabas and Bafgh sites wind speed data indicated that the two sites have lower annual wind speed averages between 1.56m/s and 2.22m/s at 10m height. The monthly and annual wind speeds at different heights have been studied to ensure optimum selection of wind turbine installation for different stations in Yazd. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper analyses the renewable energy issues and electricity production in Middle East compared with Iran. Nevertheless, the use of renewable energy has started to be an interesting issue for people and also governments in Middle East, especially in Iran where all different types of renewable energy sources (RES) are available and also possible to implement for gaining required energy. There are many different kinds of renewable energy sources like geothermal, bio fuel, tidal and so on, but wind and solar energies are more available and accessible than other types in Middle Eastern countries. Nowadays, the rapidly increasing demand for electrical energy and the high restriction on pollution levels have led to an increasing interest in large-scale utilization of renewable energies across many countries in Middle East. This paper analyzes the electricity production in Middle East and also reviews different aspects of renewable energy issues in Iran. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Sustainable development that conceptually can be divided into the following parts: environmental, social and economic, is a pattern of resource use, which aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come in future. This paper is a comparative study on the socio-environmental sustainability in traditional courtyard houses in Iran and China, as two of the ancient civilizations in the world. The aim is to investigate the potential of traditional courtyard houses in responding to environmental challenges alongside social norms over a long period of time. To achieve this purpose, social and environmental dimensions of the sustainability as well as the main elements of traditional courtyard houses in Iran and China are identified. Then, the way these elements have contributed to the social and environmental sustainability of heritage settlements are described, analyzed, and compared through library and field survey studies. Results of this research show that Iranian and Chinese traditional courtyard houses were designed based on a careful attention to climatic requirements in their socio-cultural context, in order to provide both physical and mental comforts for residents. As conclusion, some socio-environmental design principles are extracted, as lessons learned from the past, which can be considered in designing of contemporary sustainable residential buildings in Iran and China. These design patterns, can be generalized to all cases with similar climatic conditions, in order to save more energy as well as enhancing social values in mentioned areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the challenges of environmental issues, sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels, increasing energy demand, decreasing the profitability of fossil fuels extracted from readily available reservoirs, shale formations and tight sands, and unsteady and unpredictable energy prices have forced oil-producing countries to turn their attention to renewable energies. Most of these countries are located on the world's solar belt and have an excellent solar availability with an average of 300–320 days of bright sunshine throughout a year. There is, as a result, growing attention to solar energy and especially to the photovoltaics (PVs). Therefore, a tremendous progress is witnessed in technology as well as economy through the blooming of new markets in the past few decades. The considerable progress in the application of PVs in oil-producing countries is closely dependent upon the development of suitable policies and strategies due to the existence of high electricity subsidies and low tariffs of the governments. In this context, this paper aims to pursue the current progress in PVs in major oil-producing countries located around the Persian Gulf and to discuss the recent advances in the prospective policy of Iran, as a case study. The obtained results show that a minimum of 20% increase in annual electricity rate would guarantee benefit from investments in the PVs power plants under the current economic situation of Iran. Subsequently, this study investigates the optimal approaches for the development of the application of PVs in oil-producing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population growth and technological advancement mean that human activities now consume increasingly higher levels of energy. This causes major problems such as depletion of fossil fuel resources and environmental pollution. Energy managers and planners are therefore trying to develop options to meet these increasing demands for energy while maintaining low environmental impact. Application of advanced energy saving techniques and renewable energy resources and technologies present a good solution to these problems. Bio-energy is a widely available resource so it presents an attractive type of renewable energy. Biomass is abundant and easily accessible, making it a low cost resource with great flexibility in terms of potential application. This paper reports on biogas production from livestock manure and considers evaluations made for the different provinces in Iran. Data for calculations were sourced from available databases relating to Iranian cattle farms. This study reports on calculations made using statistical data on number of cows, amount of manure produced and volume of created biogas per kilogram of animal waste. The total amount of biogas production from livestock waste was calculated for each province using theoretical and experimental methods. Outcomes showed that production of biogas from livestock waste could potentially supply a proportion of the country׳s natural gas demand. The outcomes were tabulated and a GIS database was generated. Volumes of produced biogas from livestock manure were compared with those of natural gas consumption and outcomes were plotted on a classified map showing data for natural gas consumption and biogas energy. Outcomes revealed that the provinces of Sistan-Baluchestan and Ilam had the highest priority in production of biogas from livestock waste with annual gas consumption levels of 33.3% and 9% respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Biomass is the only renewable energy source which can deliver electricity, provide heating, cooling and fuel in form of solid, liquid and gas. Biomass supplies more than 11.5% of the world's primary energy and about 79.7% of the world's energy consumption. In 2012, about 194.8millionton of renewable energy was consumed in the world and about 0.1millionton was consumed in Iran. Biogas is produced by anaerobic fermentation. Global biogas capacity will reach 22,000MW by 2025. European biogas electricity production in 2006 was 17,272GWh per year, of which 7338GWh was by Germany alone. Biogas now represents 1.2% of the annual production of electricity and nearly 10% of renewable energy, with an installed power close to 1500MW. Global biogas installed capacity is expected to achieve moderate growth over the next 12 years, reaching 22.040MW by 2025 and making a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2%, a recently published analysis by Global Information Inc (GII) showed. The world biogas market has grown considerably between 2001 and 2011, with installed capacity expanding to 8.377MW in 2011 from 2.388MW in 2001. This equals a CAGR of 13.4%. The potential of biomass sources in Iran is estimated to be 132millionton (oil equivalent) in the form of agricultural and forest wastes, livestock wastes, municipal wastes, sewage and industrial wastes. Taking into account the usual amount of biogas yield from agricultural wastes, animal wastes, municipal wastes and industrial and municipal wastewater and with good safety factor, biogas in Iran will generate about 16146.35millionm3 which is approximately 323petajoule (1015) of energy. This paper investigates the potential of biogas production from biomass sources in Iran and presents the energy carriers, examples of biogas production, applications and quantitative potential of different sources in Iran. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Contribution to satisfying the final energy demand, the necessities arises from waste minimization, and rural area's developments are the main incentives for biofuel usage in the Iranian energy supply system. This paper develops a model for the supply chain of bioethanol and bioETBE from the farms to the end users which integrates the temporal and spatial scales. It considers the techno-economical evaluations of first and second generation biofuels. The results provide practical insights for decision makers to introduce the biofuel into the Iranian energy systems. Here, the optimal designs of transition pathways of biofuel supply chain are available which successfully assesses the benefits and barriers to the decision maker. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Environmental and socioeconomic challenges facing many hydrocarbon-rich nations could help them evolve from hydrocarbon-based (black) into renewables-based (green) economies. In this paper, we present a case study for application of this Black Into Green (BIG) method for Iran. We show that with international cooperation Iran could indefinitely meet its energy and freshwater needs by leveraging large-scale renewable energy harvesting systems integrated with seawater pumped storage hydropower, reverse osmosis desalination, and enhanced distribution systems. This BIG transition could be facilitated by allocating a significant portion of Iran's potential hydrocarbon-based income to acquire, develop, and deploy renewable energy technology that utilizes Iran's immense solar and wind energy potential. Our analysis shows that developing just 1% of identified sites would provide over 30 TWh of annual renewable electricity generation and storage, and 221 million m 3 /day of renewably-powered desalination capacity to meet the freshwater needs of over 85% of its population. In addition to providing renewable energy design and manufacturing technology, the international community could also work with Iran to help evolve its nuclear power program toward small modular reactors for baseload power generation. Such an arrangement would contribute to regional and global security, and greatly reduce the Middle East's carbon emissions of which Iran is the largest emitter. Results from this holistic approach could then serve as a model for the world economy to work with other resource-rich nations to reduce their environmental impact while modernizing their economies and helping them achieve the socioeconomic goals outlined in the UN's Brundtland report. • Presents strategy for a sustainable economy to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. • Case study for Iran with oil (black) exchanged for renewables (green). • Wind and solar energy with coastal pumped storage hydro and reverse osmosis. • 1% of viable sites could supply Iran with 10% of power and 45% of freshwater needs. • Distributed economic and environmental benefits meet UN sustainable development goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Since the beginning of the last century, energy affairs have always been taken into global consideration due to their effects on economies, policies, security and the environment. Fossil fuels have been the first recourse for global energy supply needs (80% of total energy consumption); nonetheless, owing to the production of greenhouse gases, they are gradually being replaced with renewable energy resources. In addition, renewable energy resources are perpetual, unlike fossil fuels, which may be exhausted in less than one century. From 2005 to 2010 (coinciding with Iran's fourth development program), renewable energy resources enjoyed a double-digit global growth rate as a result of environmentally friendly perception and a reduction in equipment price. Some policies and strategies were globally adopted to support renewable energy resources (Feed-In-Tariff, subsidies, etc.). Iran began utilizing renewable resources from the early 1990s and set targets and policies for renewable energy resource utilization in the fourth development program. However, Iran's trend has not aligned with global trends, and it appears that its enormous fossil fuel reserves overshadow the growth of renewable energy resources in the country. In this paper, the status, achievements and policies of Iran during the fourth development program will be discussed and compared with global trends. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Climate change, global warming, and the recent worldwide economic crisis have emphasized the need for low carbon emissions while also ensuring economic feasibility. In this paper, the status and wind power potential of the city of Shahrbabak in Kerman province in Iran was investigated. The technical and economical feasibility of wind turbine installation is presented. The potential of wind power generation was statistically analyzed. The mean wind speed data of three-hour interval long term period from 1997 to 2005 was adopted and analyzed in order to determine the potential of wind power generation. The numerical values of the dimensionless Weibull shape parameter (k) and Weibull scale parameter (c) were determined. Annual values of “k” ranged from 1.725 to 1.930 with a mean value of 1.504, while annual values of “c” were in the range of 4.848–6.095 with a mean value of 5.314 (m/s). With the average wind power density of 100W/m2, it is found that the city is not an appropriate place for construction of large-scale wind power plants, but is suitable for employment of off-grid electrical and mechanical wind driven systems. An economic evaluation was done in order to show feasibility of installing small wind turbines. It was concluded that it costs 18 cents for 1kWh which is 5 cents more than the market price. Each turbine of 10kW can supply power for icebox, washer, water pump, TV, lighting, electrical fan, charger, and air conditioning units for small houses. In order to utilize wind energy in the region, it is recommended to install small size wind turbines for electricity supply of public and public buildings and private houses. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The objective of this paper is to briefly review the state-of-the-art in the harnessing of marine energy and study the positions and features of the boundary and domestic seas and lakes of Iran from energy point of view and the possibility of using these energy resources. Generally, the energy potentials in the seas and oceans are classified in five groups: wave energy, tidal energy, ocean thermal energy, ocean current energy, and salinity gradient energy. Due to the variety of Iran''s bodies of water, other than ocean current energy, it is possible to use the rest of these energy resources. Each body of water of Iran is suitable for a specific kind of marine energy. There are great sources of tidal energy in the Persian Gulf coasts. For thermal energy, the ideal sites are located in the Caspian Sea coasts, and wave energy can economically be extracted in the Gulf of Oman coasts as well as in remote islands which are off-grid. Finally, Urmia Lake is the best location for salinity gradient energy. This study shows that more investment is required in this area for research and small scale pilot plants in order to exploit such renewable resources. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Renewable energies have potential for supplying of relatively clean and mostly local energy. Wind energy generation is expected to increase in the near future and has experienced dramatic growth over the past decade in many countries. Offshore winds are generally stronger and more constant than onshore winds in many areas. The economic feasibility for utilization of offshore wind energy depends on the favorable wind conditions in the area. The present paper analyses offshore wind speed in global scale and also studies feasibility of introducing this technology for harnessing wind in Persian Gulf, Caspian Sea, Urmia Lake and Gulf of Oman. Wind speed data were collected from different sources. The ocean surface winds at a 10m height from satellite passes as processed by NOAA/NESDIS, from near real-time data collected by NASA/JPL''s Sea Winds Scatterometer aboard the QuikSCAT. Development of renewable energy is one of priority research goals in Iran. There are many installed wind turbines in suitable regions like Manjil and Binalood, but there has not been any offshore wind installation yet in Iran. It is suggested that policy makers to invest and pay more attentions toward harnessing renewable energy sources like offshore wind in Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman in southern parts of Iran. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]