Energy from Palm Oil Biomass

See on Scoop.it – Energy Blog

A palm oil plantation yields huge amount of biomass wastes in the form of empty fruit bunches (EFB), palm oil mill effluent (POME) and palm kernel shell (PKS). In a typical palm oil mill, empty fruit bunches are available in abundance as fibrous…

Salman Zafar‘s insight:

There is a large potential of transforming EFB into renewable energy resource that could meet the existing energy demand of palm oil mills or other industries. Pre-treatment steps such as shredding/chipping and dewatering (screw pressing or drying) are necessary in order to improve the fuel property of EFB. Pre-processing of EFB will greatly improve its handling properties and reduce the transportation cost to the end user i.e. power plant.

See on www.bioenergyconsult.com

Renewable Energy Prospects in GCC

See on Scoop.it – Renewables

The clamor for renewable energy has increased significantly in the GCC in recent years due to concerns regarding global warming and depletion of fossil fuels. Regional countries whose environments are extremely intensive in terms of the carbon emissions and energy usage, like the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, have taken concrete steps and developed strategies to produce clean energy on large-scale to lower carbon footprint and foster sustainable development.

Salman Zafar‘s insight:

Large-scale investments and new sustainable development projects are expected to transform GCC  into the ultimate destination for clean energy technologies which will not only lower carbon footprint of the region but also reduce the cost of solar, wind and other renewable energy systems. 

See on www.cleantechloops.com

Slumdog Entrepreneur

Reblogged from Explore, Discover, Blog:

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As I stand on the bridge over the thundering railway, a maze of corrugated shacks, blue tarpaulin and dark alleyways lies beneath me, stretching out as far as the eye can see. A multicoloured sign fabricated from various pieces of scrap corrugated metal reads 'Welcome'. Welcome to Dharavi.

Mumbai is a true megalopolis; one of the most populous cities in the world, with over 20 million people.

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Despite the dirty conditions, hardship and the dire smell of most of Dharavi the one thing that remained constant were the smiling faces of the children and the coy but kind looks from the women. Even the men at work in disgusting and dangerous conditions looked happier than the average English McDonald’s employee.

Salinity gradient power rising as a realistic renewable energy source

Reblogged from Energy, Technology, & Policy:

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Estuaries are the locations where river water mixes with seawater. They are found along coastlines throughout the world, but what most people don’t realize is the significant potential to produce clean energy from these mixing water streams. The salinity gradient between the two streams of water contains a large amount of osmotic power, which can be thought of as the available energy (or chemical potential) from the differences in salt concentration between the fresh water and seawater.

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This method utilizes a membrane, permeable to water, to draw fresh water into the concentrated salt water, thus increasing the pressure in the salt water chamber. The resulting pressure can then be used to drive a turbine to produce electricity.

Waste Management in Saudi Arabia

See on Scoop.it – Fostering Sustainable Development

Solid waste management is a big challenge for the government and local authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The country generates more than 15 million tons of municipal waste each year with …

Salman Zafar‘s insight:

Strong legislations, financial support, public awareness, modern technologies and stakeholders’ participation should be the key in transforming Saudi Arabia into a ‘green’ nation. A strong political commitment and unflinching public support is mandatory for implementing a sustainable waste management strategy in the country.

See on www.ecomena.org

EcoMENA – Raising Environmental Awareness in MENA

See on Scoop.it – Fostering Sustainable Development

EcoMENA provides encouragement to people in tackling major environmental challenges by empowering them with knowledge and by providing them a solid platform to share their views with the outside world.

Salman Zafar‘s insight:

EcoMENA is now counted among the best and most popular sustainability initiatives with wide following across the Middle East.

See on agora.medspring.eu

Power To The People: Why Renewable Energy Still Matters

Reblogged from Mark Raving Mad:

To anyone who really knows the numbers, it’s fairly clear that Renewable Energy sources will not be the dominant player in the post-fossil fuel energy market.  That spot belongs to Nuclear Power.

There. I’ve said it.

This is a rather controversial statement for a number of reasons, but no matter how you look at it, when you take fossil fuels off the table, you are pretty much left with nuclear power, and renewable sources, and in terms of profitability, renewables just can’t compete.

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Electricity storage has the potential to change the dynamic of the industry by giving small renewable energy providers the ability to bank energy when the sun is shining or the wind is blowing, such that they can then reliably offer a consistent amount of energy to the grid.

E-waste – when it turns into a healthy business

Reblogged from bvd2013:

E-waste is a growing issue globally. The volumes of e-waste are enormous. The rapid growth and large volumes are a direct consequence of our intensified use and increasingly rapid replacement rates of electronic devices, such as mobile phones. As mentioned in the Business Week article The Complex Business of Recycling E-Waste, the US alone disposed last year (2012) 47 million computers, 27 million televisions, and 141 million mobile devices (

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E-waste contains a number of toxic substances and cannot be treated as ordinary household waste. As a consequence e-waste is costly to get rid of. The high gate fees attract also less serious operators making a high profit when promising proper recycling but resulting in e-waste dumping and illegal trade.

Solar Wealth in Oil-Rich Saudi Arabia

See on Scoop.it – Renewables

There is a growing Interest in utilization of solar energy in Saudi Arabia as the country is blessed with abundant solar flux throughout the year. Saudi Arabia has one of the highest solar irradiation in the world, estimated at approximately 2,200 thermal kWh of solar radiation per square meter. The country is strategically located near the Sun Belt, not to mention wide availability of empty stretches of desert that may accommodate solar power generating infrastructure.

Salman Zafar‘s insight:

The kingdom is planning to add an additional 41 GW of solar power by 2032, with 16 GW to be generated by photovoltaics and 25 GW by solar thermal power plants. One of the major achievements was the establishment of 3.5MW PV project at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center. 

See on www.ecomena.org

A Primer on Landfill Gas Recovery

See on Scoop.it – Fostering Sustainable Development

Landfill gas (or LFG) is generated during the natural process of bacterial decomposition of organic material contained in municipal solid waste landfills or garbage dumps. The waste is co…

Salman Zafar‘s insight:

The number of landfill gas projects, which convert the methane gas that is emitted from decomposing garbage into power, has seen significant increase around the world. Landfill gas recovery projects collect and treat the methane gas, so it can be used for electricity or upgraded to pipeline-grade quality to power homes, buildings, and vehicles.

See on www.ecomena.org

Water Scarcity in Egypt

See on Scoop.it – Water Board

Egypt has been suffering from severe water scarcity in recent years. Uneven water distribution, misuse of water resources and inefficient irrigation techniques are some of the major factors playing…

Salman Zafar‘s insight:

Water issue in Egypt is rapidly assuming alarming proportion. By the year 2020, Egypt will be consuming 20 percent more water than it has. With its loosening grip on the Nile, water scarcity could endanger the country’s stability and regional dominance.

See on www.ecomena.org

Solar-Powered Desalination in Middle East

See on Scoop.it – Water Board

Conventional large-scale desalination is cost-prohibitive and energy-intensive, and not viable for poor countries in the MENA region due to increasing costs of fossil fuels. In addition, the enviro…

Salman Zafar‘s insight:

Seawater desalination powered by concentrated solar power offers an attractive opportunity for Middle East countries to ensure affordable, sustainable and secure freshwater supply. The growing water deficit in the region is fuelling regional conflicts, political instability and environmental degradation. 

See on www.ecomena.org

Why should we believe in renewable energy?

Reblogged from ReConstructRomania:

 

  A very intense debate about the future of renewable energy in Romania has started at the beginning of this year, with numerous voices claiming that it only brings cost not value to our country.

  Before we decide if renewable energy is good or bad let's first see WHY the EU ( European Union) and IEA (International Energy Association) care so much about this type of energy?

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Renewable energy is at a starting point, it has problems and is expensive but when we ask WHY do we believe in renewable energy and the facts lead us to answers like: ”Because it brings economic value, because it provides better jobs, because it makes us independent and because it makes the world a better place where we can actually live and not melt” maybe this are things that are worth paying extra for.

Biomass Conversion Technologies

See on Scoop.it – Energy Blog

Bioenergy generation can be tailored to rural or urban environments, and utilized in domestic, commercial or industrial applications. A wide range of technologies are available for realizing the po…

Salman Zafar‘s insight:

Anaerobic digestion is a series of chemical reactions during which organic material is decomposed through the metabolic pathways of naturally occurring microorganisms in an oxygen depleted environment. In addition, wastes can also yield liquid fuels, such as cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel, which can be used to replace petroleum-based fuels.

See on www.cleantechloops.com

Destruction of the Dead Sea

See on Scoop.it – Water Board

The Dead Sea is the lowest point on the planet and one of the most unique environments in the world. It lies on the borders of Jordan, the West Bank and Israel. Known for its high-density waters an…

Salman Zafar‘s insight:

The Dead Sea has a geological importance in the region, and has many important aspects that make it significant.

Regenerating the Jordan River, less water desalination, and improving water management practices will help regenerate the Dead Sea and help maintain this unique and important environment.

See on www.ecomena.org

Recycling of Used Lead-Acid Batteries

See on Scoop.it – Waste Waste Everywhere

Lead-acid storage batteries are widely used on a mass-scale in all parts of the world.  They act as power sources in a wide-range of equipment and appliances used by households, commerce and i…

Salman Zafar‘s insight:

Lead is highly toxic metal and once the battery becomes inoperative, it is necessary to ensure its proper collection and eco-friendly recycling. A single lead-acid battery disposed of incorrectly into a municipal solid waste collection system, and not removed prior to entering a resource recovery facility for mixed MSW, could contaminate 25 tonnes of MSW and prevent the recovery of the organic resources within this waste because of high lead level.

See on www.ecomena.org

Making of Biomass Pellets

See on Scoop.it – Energy Blog

Biomass pellets are a type of biomass fuel, generally made from wastes from wood products manufacture, agricultural wastes, forestry residues etc. Pellets are manufactured in several types and grad…

Salman Zafar‘s insight:

In addition to savings in transportation and storage, granulated biomass facilitates easy and cost effective handling. Dense cubes pellets have the flow ability characteristics similar to those of cereal grains. Bulk handling equipment for granular material is well developed and available commercially

See on www.cleantechloops.com

Water Woes in West Asia

See on Scoop.it – Water Board

Water availability in the Arab region is a critical issue as the region has 5 percent of the world’s population having access to merely 1 percent of the world’s total water resources…

Salman Zafar‘s insight:

Water availability has become a serious issue in West Asia due to population explosion, climate change, droughts, desertification and scarce rainfall. The success of water-related strategies depends on political, financial and human commitments. A UNEP report estimates that water resources area in West Asia is likely to drop to 20 percent over the next fifty years due to multiple factors, such as climate change.

See on www.ecomena.org

The issue of bottled water

Reblogged from HaltonRecycles:

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I have always struggled with the issue of bottled water; my views of the issue change regularly.  I don't have a definitive solution or answer to the issue, just a lot of ideas. There's been a lot of research done recently on the water drinking habits of Canadians.

First, I think it is important to separate the issue into two parts -- the…

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The best solution is to avoid purchasing bottled water. Bring a reusable, refillable thermos or water bottle to school, work and play. Remember to clean your reusable water bottle regularly.

I've seen the future and it looks like Masdar

Reblogged from energy-media-society:

My apologies to my readers that EnergyMediaSociety has been slow this last month. I've been swamped, among other things, with a trip to Abu Dhabi as the guest of Masdar for the inauguration of the Shams 1 CSP plant – which was amazing.

I must admit that I was a bit skeptical about Shams 1. I hear a lot of plans for big projects in the Middle East and North Africa, and many of them take an inordinately long time to actually get built.

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Trends in Energy Management

See on Scoop.it – Energy Blog

Managing and reducing energy consumption not only saves money but also helps in mitigating climate change and enhancing corporate reputation. The primary objective of energy management is to achiev…

Salman Zafar‘s insight:

Many businesses are now setting dynamic strategic direction to achieve immediate reduction in energy consumption. The trend towards energy efficiency will only continue to grow to sustain this demand. With increasing environmental awareness, there is significant room for growth and leadership for the adoption of energy optimization  introduction of specialized energy-saving systems and implementation of sustainable energy technologies.

See on www.cleantechloops.com

Water Stress in the Mediterranean

See on Scoop.it – Water Board

For many years now, the Mediterranean has been facing problems leading to a situation of serious environmental degradation. An increase in the temperature and salinity levels has been recorded duri…

Salman Zafar‘s insight:

Proper water management is necessary, especially because water is a limited resource in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Before this is possible, it is necessary to create a greater awareness amongst society. Industries must become more respectful of the environment, national policies must be adopted to promote such industries and sustainable, equitable water management must be set up.

See on www.ecomena.org

Cementatious Solidification of Healthcare Wastes

See on Scoop.it – Waste Waste Everywhere

The most common cause for alarm pertaining to healthcare waste disposal is the exposure of workers to infectious wastes and contraction of diseases from these wastes. With the increased risk of exp…

See on www.ecomena.org

New Delhi’s Tryst with Rubbish

See on Scoop.it – Waste Waste Everywhere

Have you seen the several storeys high landfill in Delhi at its border with Uttar Pradesh – Gazipur, a prime land! It’s a mountain of garbage now. How does the garbage reach the landfill and what w…

Salman Zafar‘s insight:

The general waste from our homes reaches the dumpsters and then is taken to the landfills where it is segregated. A staff of almost 46,000 people in total is allotted for this. Rag pickers separate the different articles in the garbage and make piles. The wet waste is sent to compost plants and the rest dumped at the landfills.

See on www.cleantechloops.com

Renewable Energy Perspectives for GCC

See on Scoop.it – Renewables

The importance of renewable energy sources in the energy portfolio of any country is well known, especially in the context of energy security and impacts on climate change. The growing quest for re…

Salman Zafar‘s insight:

The promotion of renewable energy is becoming an integral part in the policy statements of governments in GCC countries. Particular attention is being paid to the development and deployment of solar energy for various applications. Masdar is a shining example of a government’s commitment towards addressing sustainability issues through education, R&D, investment, and commercialization of RE technologies.

See on www.ecomena.org

Renewable Energy Potential in India

See on Scoop.it – Renewables

Renewable energy is growing rapidly in India. The Indian Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) estimates that there is a potential of around 90,000 MW for power generation from different rene…

See on www.cleantechloops.com

Wastes as Energy Resource

See on Scoop.it – Fostering Sustainable Development

The tremendous increase in the quantum and diversity of waste materials generated by human activities has focused the spotlight on waste disposal methods. Waste generation rates are affected by sta…

Salman Zafar‘s insight:

The implementation of advanced waste conversion technologies as a method for safe disposal of solid and liquid biomass wastes, and as an attractive option to generate heat, power and fuels, can greatly reduce environmental impacts of a wide array of wastes. 

See on www.ecomena.org

Landfills and Solid Waste Management

Reblogged from g caffè:

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...Towards Eco-Friendly Tomorrow

Have you seen the several storeys high landfill in Delhi at its border with Uttar Pradesh - Gazipur, a prime land! It's a mountain of garbage now.

How does the garbage reach the landfill and what will happen when this place is all filled up? Does our food waste also contribute to our garbage mountains?

May be we all know very less about what happens to the garbage we throw away on the streets and some in black plastic bags.

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Composting with Worms

See on Scoop.it – Fostering Sustainable Development

Vermicomposting is a type of composting in which certain species of earthworms are used to enhance the process of organic waste conversion and produce a better end-product. It is a mesophilic process utilizing microorganisms and earthworms.

Salman Zafar‘s insight:

Vermicompost is earthworm excrement, called castings, which can improve biological, chemical, and physical properties of the soil. The chemical secretions in the earthworm’s digestive tract help break down soil and organic matter, so the castings contain more nutrients that are immediately available to plants.

See on www.bioenergyconsult.com

Energy Management in the Middle East

See on Scoop.it – Energy Blog

Managing and reducing energy consumption not only saves money but also helps in mitigating climate change and enhancing corporate reputation. The primary objective of energy management is to a…

Salman Zafar‘s insight:

Energy consumption in the Middle East is rising exponentially due to rapid industrialization and high population growth rate. Infact, the level of primary energy consumption in MENA region is one of the highest worldwide.  However, the efficiency of energy production and consumption patterns in the region requires improvement.

See on www.ecomena.org