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Emergy analysis (EmA) is the quantitative sustainability method that analyses materials, energy resources, goods, or services under a common unit of solar emergy (seJ). Meanwhile, life cycle assessment (LCA) is one of the popular tools to evaluate environmental impacts. Both methods have been widely used in various applications, hence, the idea of co‐jointing these two methods has been increasing to optimize the assessment's inclusivity. However, the existing integrated LCA–EmA methods are applied segmentally with minimal data integration, which has limited the potential of co‐benefits in sustainability accounting. This research proposes a more comprehensive integration between LCA and EmA, known as life cycle emergy analysis (LCEmA). The process data is fully integrated, and the detailed methodological approach is presented to demonstrate the assessment process. Diaper manufacturing is selected as a case study to validate the functionality of the proposed LCEmA approach. The inclusion of foreground and background data offered in LCEmA approach considers backend processes such as electricity generation for manufacturing activities. This has shifted the sustainability hotspot from raw material extraction to the manufacturing process. This research demonstrates that the LCEmA approach can perform comprehensive analysis as a promising alternative to the existing integrated LCA–EmA methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquified natural gas (LNG) is a clean primary energy source that is growing in popularity due to the distance between natural gas (NG)-producing countries and importing countries. The large amount of cold energy stored in LNG presents an opportunity for sustainable technologies to recover and utilize this energy. This can enhance the energy efficiency of LNG regasification terminals and the economic viability of the LNG supply chain. The energy stored in LNG in the form of low temperatures is referred to as cold energy. When LNG is regasified, or converted back into its gaseous form, this cold energy is released. This process involves heating the LNG, which causes it to vaporize and release its stored energy. The current state-of-the-art techniques for LNG cold energy utilization, including power generation, air separation, traditional desalination, and cryogenics carbon dioxide (CO2) capture are discussed in this review. While most of the current LNG cold energy utilization systems are presented, potential future applications are also discussed. The commercialization of sustainable technologies, such as improvement strategies for LNG cold energy utilization, is becoming increasingly important in the energy industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clean electricity is generated by the anaerobic digestion of biomass waste. The environmental impacts of various biomass waste feedstocks vary, while co-digestion has been reported to improve anaerobic digestion performance. A consequential life-cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA) are carried out for cow manure waste management for a cow farm. Three scenarios are considered in this study: (S1) mono-digestion of cow manure, (S2) co-digestion of cow manure and maize silage, and (S3) co-digestion of cow manure with cow feed waste, sewage sludge, and returned dairy products. The LCA aims to quantify the environmental impact of each MWh of electricity generated, assuming the plant is located in Malaysia, using OpenLCA software. The TEA economic parameters are quantified and compared between the three scenarios. Net present value (NPV), Internal Return Rate (IRR), and Return of Investment (ROI) are examined. Among the three scenarios, S2 with maize cultivation has a higher environmental impact due to its higher energy requirements. With the integration of closed digestate storage and renewable energy-powered electricity, S3 has the best environmental performance in global warming, eutrophication and acidification. S3 is found to be most economically viable, with MYR 1.28 million NPV, 14% IRR, and 15% ROI, and a Payback Period of 6.56 years with an OPEX of MYR 3491.82/MWh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Virtual Special Issue contains extensions of some of the papers presented at the 22nd Conference of Process Integration, Modelling and Optimisation for Energy Saving and Pollution Reduction (PRES′19) in Crete, Greece on the 20 to 23 October 2019 related to the scope of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. The works are not limited to review articles; most of them have significant contributions to knowledge development in the field of sustainable energy. The energy recovery and intensification section discusses nano-enhanced phase change materials and fluids, heat exchanger network synthesis and heat pump integration in industrial processes. Bio-based renewable energy covers biomass from algae, seaweed, municipal solid waste and food waste, which are converted into valuable products by anaerobic digestion, co-cracking, incineration and fermentation. The articles in the energy system management section focus on batteries, energy efficiency rating, low carbon transitions and wave energy integration technology screening. Lastly, the data-driven energy management section includes a few reviews on the implementation of Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things and Industry 4.0 for the chemical industry from system to equipment levels. These developments have the same ultimate goal to bridge the gaps for achieving the average global temperatures rise target set by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar energy is currently an underutilized renewable energy source that could fulfill low-temperature industrial heat demands with significant potential in high solar irradiance counties such as Malaysia. This study proposes a new systematic method for optimization of solar heat integration for different process options to minimize the levelized cost of heat by combining different methods from the literature. A case study from the literature is presented to demonstrate the proposed method combined with meteorological data in Malaysia. The method estimates capital cost and levelized cost of solar heating considering important physical constraints (e.g., available space) and recovery of waste heat. The method determines and optimizes important physical dimensions, including collector area, storage size, and control design. As the result of the case study, the solar thermal integration with Clean-In-Place streams (hot water) gives the lowest levelized cost of heat with RM 0.63/kWh (0.13 EUR/kWh) due to its lowest process temperature requirement. The sensitivity analysis indicates that collector price and collector efficiency are the critical parameters of solar thermal integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe environmental issues such as excessive energy and water resources consumption and massive carbon emissions are becoming progressively prominent. Energy, water and carbon emissions are also intrinsically linked and have become the critical indicators for sustainable development. Nexus analysis between the three resources has been increasingly emphasised, mainly using mathematical programming approaches. Applications of insight-based approach for nexus study, however, have been directed very few attentions. This paper presents a new framework for the optimal design of integrated energy-water systems based on Pinch Analysis considering the energy-water-carbon emissions nexus. The framework consists of a series of Pinch Analysis methods, specifically Power Cascade Table (PCT), Water Cascade Table (WCT) and Energy Planning Pinch Diagram (EPPD), to obtain the minimum targets for each resource. The established targets provide valuable insights to assess the whole integrated system following any design modifications on certain resource networks. The framework was tested on a small-scale industrial plant case study, where adjustments on the system design were performed to achieve 20% CO 2 gas discharge reduction target. The final integrated design gave minimal impacts of up to 12% changes on the energy system, while the water system deviates by less than 1% from the initial design. The outputs from the framework can assist designers in the planning of their integrated energy-water systems while meeting the environmental requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Heavy fossil fuels consumption has raised concerns over the energy security and climate change while hydrogen is regarded as the fuel of future to decarbonize global energy use. Hydrogen is commonly used as feedstocks in chemical industries and has a wide range of energy applications such as vehicle fuel, boiler fuel, and energy storage. However, the development of hydrogen energy in Malaysia is sluggish despite the predefined targets in hydrogen roadmap. This paper aims to study the future directions of hydrogen economy in Malaysia considering a variety of hydrogen applications. The potential approaches for hydrogen production, storage, distribution and application in Malaysia have been reviewed and the challenges of hydrogen economy are discussed. A conceptual framework for the accomplishment of hydrogen economy has been proposed where renewable hydrogen could penetrate Malaysia market in three phases. In the first phase, the market should aim to utilize the hydrogen as feedstock for chemical industries. Once the hydrogen production side is matured in the second phase, hydrogen should be used as fuel in internal combustion engines or burners. In the final phase hydrogen should be used as fuel for automobiles (using fuel cell), fuel-cell combined heat and power (CHP) and as energy storage. Highlights • Biomass and solar pathways for hydrogen production could be feasible in Malaysia. • Hydrogen can be used as transportation fuel, heating fuel and energy storage. • Hydrogen economy in Malaysia faces technical, economic and social challenges. • Renewable hydrogen could be commercialized in 3 phases via the proposed framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]