Local acceptance of wind energy: Factors of success identified in French and German case studies

The objective of this paper is to identify and analyse factors that are important for winning acceptance of wind-energy parks on the local level. The developers of wind-energy parks need to know how to manage “social acceptance” at the different stages of planning, realisation and operation. Five case studies in France and Germany focused on factors of success in developing a wind-energy project on a given site and illuminated how policy frameworks influence local acceptance. Our hypothesis is that these factors fall into two categories: institutional conditions, such as economic incentives and regulations; and site-specific conditions (territorial factors), such as the local economy, the local geography, local actors, and the actual on-site planning process (project management).     

Enhancing local distinctiveness fosters public acceptance of tidal energy: A UK case study

Tidal energy has the technical potential to form part of a low carbon electricity sector, however, its ‘social potential’ is less clear, as few empirical studies of public beliefs and responses have been conducted to date. This research addressed this gap by investigating a tidal energy convertor in Northern Ireland, said to be the first grid-connected device of its kind in the world. Data was collected from 313 residents of two nearby villages using mixed methods, guided by a conceptual framework that avoided ‘NIMBY’ assumptions and instead drew on place theory. Findings indicated strong support for the project, arising from beliefs that the project enhanced local distinctiveness by ‘putting the area on the map worldwide’; appeared visually familiar and helped tackle climate change. These positive beliefs outweighed concerns about outcome and process aspects, which were preponderant in one of the two villages. The project was interpreted to have few positive local economic outcomes, to potentially threaten local livelihoods and local ecology. Moreover, residents expressed cynicism about consultation procedures, and reported low levels of behavioural engagement. Implications of the findings for the literature on public acceptance of renewable energy, and for the emerging marine energy sector specifically, are discussed.     

Local acceptance of renewable energy—A case study from southeast Germany

The European 20–20–20 goals, as well as national targets for the next decade, require a substantial increase in installed renewable capacity in Germany. While public support for such measures is high on an abstract level, the situation in the local context is often very different. Here, the impact of renewable energy might cause resistance. Empirical research shows that a community ownership model can have a positive effect on local acceptance. Our study explores whether such an effect can also be demonstrated in a community co-ownership model. The question is relevant since larger projects exceed the financial possibilities of most communities, leaving them with only co-ownership as an option. The research design is based on a comparative case study, utilizing a questionnaire-based survey. The results of the survey clearly show that a significant difference in local acceptance exists between the two cases. The residents of Zschadraß, where a community co-ownership model exists, are consistently more positive towards local renewable energy and also towards renewable energy in general. The results provide evidence that the co-ownership model is a means to reconcile local acceptance with an increased use of renewable energy in Germany.     

A study of a greenhouse concept on conventional biogas systems for enhancing biogas yield in winter months

A new concept is introduced of using a greenhouse for enhancing the biogas yield from a conventional biogas system in the winter months. If a conventional biogas system is glazed, the trapped solar energy can be used to raise the temperature of the slurry which normally goes low enough to reduce the gas yield appreciably. Numerical calculations have been performed corresponding to the meteorological data on a typical winter day, i.e. 19 January 1981, at New Delhi (India). A comparative study of the performances of conventional and solar-assisted biogas plants using the concept of a greenhouse indicates that the ambient temperature of the slurry can be raised from 18°C to about 37°C, the optimal temperature for anaerobic fermentation.     

改善全烧式沼气发动机的起动性

沼气中含有大量的二氧化碳，其燃烧速度较慢，且空然比范围窄，热值不高，这些因素导致全烧式沼气发动机的起动性能差在本文的研究中，通过采取提高沼气燃烧速度，确定最佳起动空燃比等措施，较好地改善了全烧式沼气友动机的起动性。     

Planning globally,protesting locally: Patterns in community perceptions towards the installation of wind farms

The evidence is compelling that extended use and production of energy are globally responsible for the serious deterioration of physical environment and climate change. The further penetration of renewable energy sources (RES) emerges as a crucial factor contributing to the mitigation of global warming. Within this framework wind energy is expected to have a leading role for Greece's compliance with the EU environmental targets of 2020. However, the installation of wind parks in specific regions with high wind potential is seriously constrained by the reaction of local communities. Using a survey the present research dissects public acceptance for existing and proposed wind farms in the region of Southern Evia, Greece. Results indicate an overall support for wind energy and confirm the growing inconvenience with NIMBYism, especially in areas with existing wind parks in operation, as a theoretical framework explaining resistance to planned wind energy investments. By contrasting self-reported ex ante- and ex post-perceptions of impacts and benefits we highlight the role of experience in community acceptance of wind energy installations. Our statistical models prescribe the profile of those most probably in favour of existing installations, new installations in other parts of Evia or new installations elsewhere in Greece. Finally, we introduce the ‘Not-In-My-Front-Yard’ (NIMFY) syndrome suggesting that the impact of visibility on public acceptance is far from being a simple concept as it is linked to both a physical landscape context and socio-economic parameters.     

A critical review on global trends in biogas scenario with its up-gradation techniques for fuel cell and future perspectives

Renewable biogas production technology is an excellent method for eradication of greenhouse gas emission and thereby reducing global warming. This review discusses extensively on global biomass potential, energy need and method of satisfying the energy demand through sustainable techniques. One of the best alternative technological developments for the conversion of waste into useful energy is anaerobic digestion to produce biogas. It is recognized as one among leading green energy to manage the environmental and meet the current energy tasks to tackle globally. Generally, biogas can be utilized for cooking, heat and electricity generation. In order to extend the scope of application, traces of carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide has to be removed by several upgrading technologies to produce high purity methane (90%). This study discusses on biogas up-gradation using physical and chemical absorption, membrane separation, cryogenic separation, hybrid technology etc. Among the various up-gradation techniques, hybrid technology yields methane purity of 97%. In addition, this work reviews about benefits and problems in anaerobic integrated Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) with latest real-world achievement in SOFC. Several SOFC systems with dynamic model development were reviewed based on efficiency of power generation. SOFC generates 45% more electricity than generator with heat engine. This review extends the scope for further research in biogas upgradation and global warming mitigation potential with carbon credits.     

An evaluation of the policy and techno-economic factors affecting the potential for biogas upgrading for transport fuel use in the UK

Gaseous biofuels including biomethane, which has been shown to be more environmentally beneficial than liquid biofuels, should contribute to meeting the challenging UK targets set for the supplying of biofuels to the road transport fuel market. Under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations the financial incentives for the supply of biofuels have been volatile, e.g. 2008/2009 saw Renewable Transport Fuel Certificate values fall to zero. Any shortfall from the maximum value has significant implications for all biofuels. It is demonstrated that biomethane can be produced at a cost which is competitive with liquid biofuels and fossil fuels within the UK. Technologies such as water scrubbing, pressure swing adsorption and physical and chemical absorption are available to upgrade biogas generated by anaerobic digestion of organic wastes to transport fuel quality, and technologies such as membrane separation and cryogenic distillation are being modified for such an application. The manufacture and sale of biomethane as a transport fuel is also financially competitive with Combined Heat and Power. One limiting factor may be the additional cost of purchasing and maintaining biomethane fuelled vehicles. Support in this area could lead to the rapid expansion of biomethane transport fuel infrastructure and bring significant long term environmental and economic advantages.     

Biogas upgrade to syn-gas (H2-CO) via dry and oxidative reforming

Fuel reforming processes are primarily used to generate hydrogen for fuel cells and in automotive internal combustion engines to improve combustion characteristics and emissions. In this study, biogas is used as the fuel source for the reforming process as it has desirable properties of being both renewable and clean. Two reforming processes (dry reforming and combined dry/oxidative reforming) are studied. Both processes are affected by the gas stream temperature and reactor space velocity with the second process being affected by O₂/CH₄ ratio as well. Our results imply that oxidative reforming is the dominant process at low exhaust temperatures. This provides heat for the dry reforming of biogas and the overall reforming is exothermic. Increase in O₂/CH₄ ratio at low temperature promotes hydrogen production. At high exhaust temperatures (>600 °C), dry reforming of biogas is dominant and the overall reaction is net endothermic.     

Solar assisted biogas plants IV: Optimum area for blackening and double glazing over a fixed-dome biogas plant

The paper presents the economic analysis of a fixed-dome biogas plant of rated capacity 8 m³, above which a part of the ground is blackened and doubly glazed in the cold climate of Srinagar. Blackening and glazing of the ground cannot alone maintain the slurry temperature at 35°C, which is the optimum temperature in the mesophilic range for the anaerobic digestion of cattle dung, and so a part of the biogas must be burnt. The electrical simulation experiments have been performed to determine the loss or gain of heat from the underground biodigestor to the ambient atmosphere through the ground if a part of the ground above is blackened and double glazed. Economic analysis of the system shows that the optimum area to be blackened and glazed would have a radius 1.5 times that of the biodigestor.     

Overcoming the “club dilemma” of village-scale bioenergy projects—The case of India

Small scale, decentralised electricity generation at village level, based on locally available biomass, is a promising solution for providing electricity access in remote rural areas, as it can supply villages with an independent, reliable, high quality and environmentally friendly energy source. However, despite such systems′ technological feasibility, they are often discontinued. Research so far has not studied the reasons for discontinuation. This article analyses a case of biomass based gasification in India, by studying the type of goods the village system provides, and the distribution of benefits within the system. In this case, the infrastructural and social system provide electricity as a “club good”. Given fluctuating numbers of service users, the club faced the decision to either expand the system to new members, or to reduce the services provided. The focus on the village community hampered the extension of “the club”. A reduction in the quality and quantity of services however decreased the comfort provided by the system. The system faced what here is called a “club dilemma”. To avoid the “club dilemma” and for a sustained energy provision, policy needs to find means to secure feedstock, i.e. by the means of subsidies or collaboration with agricultural departments.     

Soft-templated NiO–CeO2 mixed oxides for biogas upgrading by direct CO2 methanation

The catalytic performance in the direct CO₂ methanation of a model biogas is investigated on NiO–CeO₂ nanostructured mixed oxides synthesized by the soft-template procedure with different Ni/Ce molar ratios. The samples are thoroughly characterized by means of ICP-AES, XRD, TEM and HR-TEM, N₂ physisorption at −196 °C, and H₂-TPR. They result to be constituted of CeO₂ rounded nanocrystals and of polycrystalline needle-like NiO particles. After a H₂-treatment at 400 °C for 1 h, the surface basic properties and the metal surface area are also assessed using CO₂ adsorption microcalorimetry and H₂-pulse chemisorption measurements, respectively. At increasing Ni content the Ni⁰ surface area increases, while the opposite occurs for the number of basic sites. Using a CO₂/CH₄/H₂ feed, at 11,000 cm³ h⁻¹ g_cat⁻¹, CO₂ conversions in the 83–89 mol% range and methane selectivities >99.5 mol% are reached at 275 °C and atmospheric pressure, highlighting the very good performances of the investigated catalysts.     

Status and potential of biogas energy from animal wastes in Turkey

Biogas is a potentially important energy source that can be used for the production of heat, electricity and fuel. It can be produced at wastewater treatment plants, landfills, food and other industrial operations throughout the world. There is largely untapped potential in agricultural operations where animal waste is often land applied or otherwise disposal of without conversion to energy. According to the last agricultural census (2009) in Turkey; there are a total of 3,076,650 agricultural enterprises and approximately 70% of these enterprises are running livestock farming. 10,811,165 of total animal is cattle, 26,877,793 of total animal is small ruminant and 234,082,206 is poultry. The amount of wet waste of these animals is about 120,887,280 t. These wastes could be a major problem for enterprises and cannot be utilized properly. The best way to utilize waste is to produce biogas. In this study, biogas amount which will be obtained from animal waste was calculated for all provinces by using the number of livestock animals and also considering various criteria such as the rate of dry matter and availability. Animal origin waste map of Turkey was also produced with these calculated values. The biogas energy potential of Turkey was found to be 2,177,553,000 m³ (2.18 Gm³) by using the animal numbers in the last agricultural census (2009). The total biogas potential is originated from 68% cattle, 5% small ruminant and 27% poultry. Biogas energy equivalence of Turkey is approximately 49 PJ (1170.4 ktoe). When the prepared waste map is examined; provinces that have more than 1 GJ of biogas energy potential are found to be; Bolu, Bal?kesir, ?zmir, Sakarya, Konya, Manisa, Erzurum, Afyon, Kars and Ankara respectively.     

Z6190Z_LD_K沼气发电机组的研制

本文介绍了由C6190ZL柴油机改制为单一燃料(沼气)发动机,并配置成发电机组的研制开发过程,论述了其结构特点、主要性能以及使用情况等。     

A review of the biogas industry in China

This article presents an overview of the development and future perspectives of the Chinese biogas industry. The development of the industry has the potential to improve the rural environment and produce significant amounts of sustainable energy for China. Barriers to the development are the relatively weak environmental policies, imperfect financial policies and lack of long-term follow-up services. The rapid economic development of China has also seen a development in the scales of biogas plants constructed. Although the technology has been improved, this review has identified problems in the construction and operation of Chinese biogas plants, particularly in the efficiency of household systems. All levels of China's government acknowledge this and recent biogas projects have more focus on quality and less on the quantity. The intention is to gradually introduce stricter environmental policies, to provide better service systems, improve the financial policies that support the construction and follow-up service of biogas projects, promote the use of standardized engineering equipment and materials and standards for plant construction and production. This will promote the development of biogas projects at various scales further, and reduce the dependency on fossil fuels and emissions of greenhouse gases.     

Electricity sector in Mexico: Current status. Contribution of renewable energy sources

The challenge facing the world electricity sector is the cost incurred in maintaining the system and seeing to the environmental effects it causes. In Mexico the grid is supplied by thermal plants fed by oil products. Its great potential of renewable energies clearly shown in studies by national and international scholars has led the government to become more committed to take advantage of these energies. The goal is to reduce dependence on fossil fuels to generate electricity and to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases. In this article we analyse the current state of renewable energies, the conditions needed to foster them and the legislative changes already introduced to promote their greater part in the national electricity grid.