Futuristic Projects in Energy and Automation Sectors: A Brief Review of New Technologies Driving Sustainable Development

By Alok Kumar Verma, Amruta Pattnaik and Jayendra Kumar

Futuristic Projects in Energy and Automation Sectors is a review of analyses on energy transitions in power grids and the opportunities and challenges for building sustainable energy systems to improve human capabilities. 14 chapters examine renewable energy-based and automated systems, with a focus on projects that are designed with sustainability in mind. Topics covered in this review include 1) power systems, 2) renewable energy, 3) power electronics, 4) energy storage and conversion, 5) home automation, 6) control systems, 7) robotics, 8) artificial intelligence, and 9) technology to fight COVID-19.
This review will be of interest to scholars, and policymakers interested in futuristic and urban and rural energy planning, sustainable and renewable energy projects, sustainable development, and environment management.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers
• Release date: Apr 10, 2009
• ISBN: 9789815080537

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Biomass: A Sustainable Foundation for Bioenergy and Bioremediation - It’s Confronts and Scenarios in the COVID-19 Era: A Review

S.R. Pratap¹, ², ³, *, H.G. Rangaraju⁴, S.Z. Mohamed Shamshuddin², N. Nagaraju⁵, N.M. Mubarak⁶, T.E. Mohan Kumar², M.R. Manjunath Gowda², N. Lohith⁷, S. Srinidhi³, ⁸, M.R. Kiran Gowd⁹, S.B. Nagesh⁹

¹ SPUC, Tumkur (A Unit of Seshadripuram Educational Trust, Bangalore), Karnataka, India

² HMS Institute of Technology, Tumkur, Karnataka, India

³ Sri Mahalaxmi Kala Prathistana, Goravanahalli, Koratagere Taluk, Tumkur Dist., Karnataka, India

⁴ Govt. Sri Krishnarajendra Silver Jubilee Technological Institute, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

⁵ SIT, Tumkur, Karnataka, India

⁶ Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Science, Curtin University, Miri, Sarwak, Malaysia

⁷ SSIT, Tumkur, Karnataka, India

⁸ RIT, M S R Nagar, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

⁹ Channabasaveshwara Institute of Technology, Gubbi, Tumkur District, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Various nations have distinct visions/missions and energy implementation strategies. Energy sources are essential to a nation's economic development and a necessity for all inhabitants. Several nations face varying degrees of energy catastrophe as a result of insufficient natural resources today mixed with the COVID-19 outbreak. This emergency led to the shutdown of numerous industrialized divisions exacerbated unemployment, constrained energy access, and associated societal shocks. A fundamental reason for these conflicts is the widening chasm between energy delivery and orders, financial issues, logistics, and irrelevant strategic planning considerations. The use of bioresources as a novel source of waste biomass was identified as a crucial criterion for bridging the gap and creating a vast outlook for an environmentally friendly biorefinery and bioremediation process. This presents a potential obstacle, as it suggests a replacement for fossil fuels in the production of specialty compounds and energy carriers. As a carbon-neutral mode/s, this reduces market anxiety and negative environmental repercussions. This ecological bioremediation with the use of biomass (phytoremediation), less expensive sorbents (for bioaccumulation and biosorption), and

microorganisms (mainly agricultural byproducts) is more favorable than conventional ones.

Keywords: Bioenergy, Biomass, Biorefinery, Bioremediation, Biosorption, COVID-19, Phytoremediation.

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* Corresponding author S.R. Pratap: SPUC, Tumkur (A Unit of Seshadripuram Educational Trust, Bangalore), Karnataka, India; E-mail: [e-mail]

INTRODUCTION

Energy, according to author Pratap et al., is the aptitude and vigour to assume responsibility for one's actions. Energy is essential to human existence. It helps the growth of numerous industries, including agriculture, shipping, and communications [1]. There are various forms of energy, including gravitational, nuclear, thermal, chemical, electrical, acoustic, and radiant. There are renewable and nonrenewable categories of energy sources. Nonrenewable resources include fossil fuels including petroleum, coal, and natural gas. The transformation of renewable resources into solar energy, biomass, wind turbines, hydroelectricity, and geothermal energy [2]. The majority of nations' energy consumption rises over time due to socioeconomic and lifestyle changes, non-ecological urban planning and architecture, and population expansion [3-5]. Pratap et al. [6]. also demonstrated that customer actions invariably affect energy consumption. The city's way of life is energy-intensive, and its residents are appealing and costly [7]. Changing lifestyle norms have increased consumer demands; as a result, the rising demand for rapid energy has led to an increase in carbon emissions [8]. The efficiency of energy use is virtually reflected in the fuel(s) used, and the widespread cultivars are more resilient than conventionally normal. According to BP's testimony [9], Universal critical energy climbed by 3.5% in 2019, the largest increase since 2012. These occurrences occur in the context of sluggish Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth and rising energy prices. In the chorus, carbon emissions related to energy grew by 5%.

Numerous environmental, political, social, technological, and economic issues can impact the global production and consumption of energy. The COVID-19 outbreak disrupted the worldwide energy industry by creating a rapid spike in oil prices and insurance claims, a fall in international CO2 emissions, unemployment, and heightened energy supply panic. These issues induce the worldwide energy catastrophe. A fluctuation in energy indicates that it is not in equilibrium with its production, followed by a significant increase in energy charges and discharges, resulting in an ambiguous energy visualisation. To achieve the stated goals, the administration of universal energy reserves should be led by objective scrutiny. The global energy amount is a statistic used to monitor the growth of global energy expertise. International Energy Agency [10]. stated that until 2035, the primary target is to cut energy consumption by 3% annually. In comparison, the rate of global energy intensity growth is just 2% in 2018, and a 3% yearly rise is required until 2035. In 2019, the global energy increase was only 1.5%, indicating that between 2020 and 2035, the global energy strength must expand by 3% per year to meet the sustainable development. goals and objectives. To attain this purpose, it is necessary to establish and implement energy competency policies and innovations. The tactical supervision course for global energy outlines where and why the evolution of global energy must proceed. People must simultaneously decide how to depart and acquire the thing. Legislators must include a map that incorporates supervisory procedures at all levels, including global, provincial, national, state, city, district, and zone, in terms of liability. This enduring drawing illustrates a way for creating planned supervision for worldwide power, although existing attempts are primarily focused on planned administration for a single nation. Several states have diverse perspectives, obligations, and techniques for power management with their aid. To promote sustainability, governments must assess the sustainability component of their proposed administration. In terms of truthfulness, the insertion of sustainability into the global power administration's strategic administration is composed yet awkward. Attendance is essential for global-echelon strategic administration that integrates the vision, mission, and strategy of each nation so that the production and expenditure of all energy foundations can be sustainable and satisfy all social needs [11-16]. Biomass (BM) refers to animal/plant matter used to produce energy and food, as well as a natural resource for a wide range of substances in various engineering processes, with an added emphasis on ecological fortification. BM is a synthetic substance produced from C, H, and O. Global biomass production is predicted to reach 121 billion tonnes (C-equivalent/year) by the end of the 21st century, with approximately half of that coming from soil and the other half from water [17]. BM was the most significant energetic foundation that contributed significantly to the evolution of humans during the invention of combustion [18]. In contrast, the extensive use of BM has contributed to singular environmental disasters that have recurred throughout history due to deforestation, soil depletion, and catastrophic global warming.

After the medieval ages, human history developed to rely on a new source of energy. A few other energy resources and artifacts remain to be uncovered, even the fossil fuel in custody is superior. A few of them were ancient biomass workout pedestals [19].

The current global COVID-19 outbreak, which could result in an epidemic, is a source of concern for many. It is disastrous for a variety of livelihoods in low-, middle-, and high-revenue countries, irrespective of the background and socioeconomic class of the persons afflicted. Even though the majority of the world's population lives in prosperous regions, catastrophic disasters are considered a threat to the safety of the public. Existing slums of the populace are immediately accessible to anyone who lacks the intelligence to preserve physical isolation. These resolutions, which result in a rapid expansion of slums, disproportionately transfer disease to more susceptible populations. In addition, the majority were unaware of ways to reduce the likelihood of individual contamination. Although notified, the majority do not have access to running water or soap. A complete lockdown imposed by governments, such as in India and many other countries with large slum communities, imposes severe suffering on slum residents who rely on daily returns to keep their families alive. Exposure to internal smoke is a crucial but largely unrecognized issue that can mitigate major eruptions in slum communities. Almost all slum inhabitants are portrayed as being subjected to severe indoor air pollution as a result of the food they consume within their small homes. Nearly all women and their infants produce indoor pollutants through catering regularly. In contrast, during a complete lockdown, the entire family must remain indoors, including during cooking and when men smoke cigarettes. It is vital to understand the effects of COVID- 19-infected relatives smoking.

COVID-19 is primarily a product of air pollution, and there is likely a link between indoor catering and BM and COVID-19 [20]. The disadvantaged, including immigrants and refugee employees with fragile forms of residency, are the most vulnerable [21]. They typically use solid fuels to heat their poorly ventilated, chimney-less houses [22]. We, therefore, hypothesize that they may be very susceptible to COVID-19 illness. Due to a lack of voluntarily available evidence, policymakers may not prioritize correct accomplishments for these clusters. Nonetheless, an outbreak of COVID-19 in a location where the concept of physical distance is impossible could threaten public health.

The current chapter also reveals the most significant benefits and functions of BM for mutually ecological fortification, as well as a material for biorefinery, which promotes efforts to ensure a unified purpose, while frequently the impurity-laden BM is subsequently valorized with various conduct, united near biorefinery shackle.

BM-AS SUSTAINABLE NATURAL RESERVE

BM represents a singularly sustainable and optimal reserve because it is reusable, the basis of chemistry, and supports life. In areas where BM functions as a self-motivated and esteemed arbiter in removing various toxins from the environment, systematic studies and investigations are expanded. On the other hand, the current trend is to utilise the BM as an energy resource; concurrently, its obligation in environmental remediation is also reversed, albeit to a lesser extent, despite the plurality of the executive articles being unrestricted in Europe and globally. BM is a significant resource for the human race due to its extensive usage in several sectors and uses. Vineyards, cattle, agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, forests, the marine environment, and orchards are the leading producers of biomaterials as both waste and primary crops. Therefore, both BM and waste biomass (WBM) are desirable resources [23].

Forest and woody waste: fragments from massive amounts of BM inventions:

Tree plantations (inside or outside of forests).

Woody waste (from harvesting/farming).

Herbaceous and woody energy harvests have grown on marginal soil, herbaceous farming/woody/grassland waste from agricultural harvesting, and agricultural yields.

Organic waste consists of home (waste paper, biodegradable garbage, abandoned furniture, and woody fractions) or industrial (butchery waste, food waste) waste, landfill gas, or sewage sludge. This profanity encompasses all food and non-food items. Given its technical, hypothetical, monetary, and completion potentials, the BM foundation and type are essential factors in judging prospective practice.

GREEN REMEDIATION (GR)

Anthropogenic acts threaten our environment by endangering its vitality due to the uncontrolled release of a large number of toxins, with adverse effects on fauna/flora, the entire biosphere, and individual health [24]. Therefore, timely intervention is essential for reducing environmental pollution and ensuring the sensible, sustainable advancement of environmental protection. Bioremediation is a method of environmental cleanup that uses BM-like plants/microorganisms to remove toxins from various environmental compartments. Despite some limitations, bioremediation is differentiated by its reduced impact on natural ecology and natural flow [25]. The ecological benefits of increasing BM and utilities are numerous, the amount of fossil fuels is decreased, and so the amount of C-emissions is lessened as climate change lingers. BM can sequester CO2 in its metabolism and is an economical bioremediation representative with a vast potential for valorization following the elimination of pollutants (chiefly fuels).

BIOSORPTION (BS)

As a bioremediation system, BS relies on the ability of organic matter to bend and hub, reversibly and rapidly, pollutants from ecological constituents against practical clusters that are present on the exterior of BM. It is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly technique for treating air/soil/wastewater [26]. BS is a course with several facets, with cell physiology and physicochemical concerns being the most significant. A whole BS is expanded and effectively utilized in the action of various pollutants. The complete organic material may be useful for removing inorganic pollutants, medicines, colorants, metals, phenols, and additional live and immobile organisms of the following category, such as fungi, bacteria, algae, plants, agricultural waste, and industrial waste.

BM-VALORIZATION (BMV)

Exhausted BS, ensuing in the conclusion of BS methods encumbered with pollutants preserved in various mediums, tranquil a difficulty that wants elect tackled to augment the purposes of BS to engineering level, and still to alter this desecrate into precious supplementary matters. In prose, conversations on the spend BS include catalysts, fertilizers, and foodstuff additives. Even if the execution of depleted BS probably, the contaminants recuperation on the subject of heavy metals is a solitary noteworthy feature of the BR, except only an inadequate numeral of explored commentary, reflect on the fortune of spent sorbents (SS) to shun removal in the atmosphere. Consequently, it is suitable to discover systems (with sustainability) for the competent exercise of contaminants-charged sorbent (CCS) like value-added goods (VAG) to crack several administration crises, economic, toxicity, and allied to this stuff by exploring substitute stratagem for the competent exercise of SS will be extra valuable in the public interest.

The alternative to reasonable revitalization practice for the exhausted BS with pollutants reliance chiefly on the character of BM, and the sort of pollutants preserved, there were planned 3 options for the valorization of the SS, that is to say:

Exploit BS in numerous sequences after regeneration, reuse & desorption.

Employing BS (depleted) as soil manures with insufficient vital microelements, and

SS Co-incineration

PHYTOREMEDIATION (PR)

Living BM (microorganisms/plants/algae) engages in GR regularly. PR (also known as botanic/Agri-remediation) is a technique (sustainable) for cleaning up soil and water contaminated with organic pollutants, oil, and heavy metals. In this category, trees can biodegrade/eliminate these contaminants with the use of modest systems, such as phytoextraction/stimulation/stabilization/filtration [27]. Heavy metals are prevalent contaminants removed by PR from water and land. The key concern in PR is the use of fast-growing, abundant BM plants that accumulate moderate levels of metals (in roots) that move onto the plants' aerial portion. It is essential to mention several of these rapidly expanding BM plant types, particularly grasses and the cereals classes (oats, barley, maize), which are known to contain substantial heavy metal donations [28]. Numerous plants are regarded to be hyperaccumulators because they are capable of absorbing heavy metals approximately one thousand times more efficiently than average plants [29]. In addition, the primary rationale for removing toxins from environmentally sensitive areas is that PR also generates additional ecological benefits, including CO2 absorption, conservation of wildlife habitats, and soil erosion. Despite some disadvantages related to its constraints by several issues, such as pollutant specificity and lengthy management durations, the text emphasizes that public relations can be linked to a variety of socioeconomic benefits because it contributes to local occupation foundation, provincial manufacture diversification, and is regarded as an additional value creator.

BIOREFINERY (BR) CHEMISTRY: UPCOMING PROSPECT TO THE SUSTAINABLE FINANCIAL SYSTEM

Sustaining a growing global population is a requirement of the industrial plan in a world that is in the process of development, which places a premium on bio-competence. It is generally acknowledged that the current industrial system that produces the goods demanded by the people cannot be sustained. The earth's continued depletion of its reserves should be mitigated. In addition, the current production capacity is sub-zero percent, but more than eighty-nine percent of the material reserves utilized in the manufacturing process end up as waste, causing severe ecological devastation. Nevertheless, climatic changes necessitate a substantial reduction in present-day greenhouse gas emissions (GHD). Modern technologies successfully bridge the chasm between economic intensification and green sustainability and alternative energy basis [30]. As bio-renewable energy reserves are the focus of research and development (R&D) initiatives [31], the rate of increase in energy demand is proportional to that of technology. Topical facts illustrate that 18% of the populace from industrialized nations devours 80% of the world’s natural reserves and manages about 90% of the whole making, 75% of buying and selling plus 89% of engineering goods of the whole globe. These strains on the earth’s bio-capacity connected to the unparalleled alter in the atmosphere and inclinations in fuel (fossil) exhaustion create ideas to learn with appraising the means of the creation and procedure the natural reserves in a sustainable and well-organized means to guarantee green and eco-efficient growth [32]. In comparison to the rate of employment, planning for the sustainability of well-developed production societies may take a back seat to renewability. Consequently, the plan for manufacturing courses, repairs, and items must be expanded on a broader perspective with ecological competence, technological, economic, social, and recital as red processes to lessen the collision between individuals and the environment [33]. The bio-sustained feedstock/s was/were a vital component of the elegant financial system for the protection and organization of varied reserves in 2025 [34]. These were also crucial tactical traits to progress missions (sustainability). From this vantage point, biotechnology provides an increasingly sustainable alternative to various industrial sectors, particularly the chemical industry. Concurrently, some transitions from manufacturing and maintenance of fossil-based materials to biodegradable materials are essential. This could also be the basis for a novel synthesis of chemical, physical, technical, and bio-based fields. Therefore, biomethane continues to be viewed as one of the most promising C-neutral energy sources, capable of mitigating GHD, as the amount of CO2 emitted during burning can be equated to that absorbed by trees during photosynthesis [31]. While accepting standard engineering trash, BM also believed in environmental sustainability. Integrated manufactures of chemicals, food, fuels, energy, feed, and materials are made possible by the development of equipment for delivering unprocessed biogenic inputs, and the production of transitional and final substances [34]. Bioenergy (electricity, heat) and biofuels (bioethanol/diesel) are the last two topics under section 3. Biorefinery (BR) wealth refers to a position in which fossil fuels are replaced with bio-renewables. Incorporation under the BR procedure enumerated notable R&D successes worldwide.

The BR chemistry concept encompasses the management of all sustainability issues; for example, societal, environmental, and economic constituents require a valuable strategy centered on the green economic system, which is anticipated to play a pivotal role in supporting societal and economic development. These fundamental trends stimulate a great deal of interest in bio-based products [30]. As BR is capable of producing a variety of products, they propose the advantages of a value cap on BM feedstock [35].

BM OUTLOOKS

BR courses feedstock (bio-based) effort, equivalent to the petro-refineries, every place a diversity of dissimilar results, for instance, power, chemical, fuels. While BR utilizes a great diversity of raw stuff and alteration technology, an apparent substitute to fossil creations does not still stay alive nowadays. On the other hand, 4 courses of feedstocks are recognized [30, 31]:

I generation: requires edible BM (oily plants) to create bio-gas/alcohols/syngas/diesel

II generation: employs BM in the outline of non-food crops/sources to manufacture bio-oil/alcohols/ diesel (Fischer-Tropsch)/hydrogen

III generation: comprise algae to generate biodiesel

IV generation: employs bio-diesel/ gasoline.

ORGANIZATION OF BR IDEA

BR is chiefly classified into 6 sorts:

Entire crop BR (ECBR): utilizes raw stuff in various straw, flour, and grain, depending on wet/dry milling BM.

Cellulose BR (CBR): comprises lignin/hemicellulose/cellulose. Handing out these outcomes in bio-polymers, feeds, chemicals, and other biomaterials by incineration.

Green BR (GBR): employs all fresh green BM in nature and outline press-juice/cake (fiber-affluent)

Marginal BR (MBR): is based on marginal reaps (for instance, golden/red/brown/blue/green-algae or microalgae).

Catalysis BR (CBR): tenders BM in dissimilar chronological technical stairs, dropping the processing forms' strictness with an appropriate catalyst.

Thermo BR (TBR): demands BM refining into a big assortment of VAG by appropriate skill, for instance, gasification, pyrolysis, hydrothermal upgrading, and torrefaction.

BR-ON THE WAY TO ECO EFFICIENCIES

Currently, the greatest challenges are associated with the eco-friendly production of biofuels/bio-based compounds. Because the manufacture, of the goods, is moderately many and various, there is a trouble-free development for the inference of manufacture monetarism blossoming eternally opportune, to tender precious in turn about the virtual viability of diverse production replacements and routes. A bio-based financial system must not only be capable of penetrating the current financial obscurity, but also be able to generate a financial structure with the least environmental impact, greater Eco-efficiency, and no E-waste [36].

BM SOLE EFFICACY AND VITAL COVID-19: NOVEL EPIDEMIC ALARM

The current global outbreak of COVID-19 preceding a pandemic is cause for alarm [37]. Numerous populaces in high-middle-low-revenue nations have a difficult time making a living, with no gap between the background and socioeconomic status of tainted folks. In contrast, populace livelihoods in the vast majority of remote areas of the world are afflicted by great hardship in comparison to the longevity of the residents. People in slums can sustain their livelihoods despite their inability to maintain bodily seclusion. This could lead to a rapid increase in slum populations, infecting those who are most vulnerable.

In addition, the majority of them do not know how to reduce their risk of infection. Although notified, the majority have no access to any running water or soap. A complete shutdown, enforced by governments in India and other countries with large slum communities, imposes severe hardships on slum inhabitants, as they rely on daily income to support their family's existence. The emphasis on indoor smoking is a vital but often unrecognized factor that could mitigate a major eruptive event in slum areas. Almost single slum resident is responsible for a substantial amount of indoor air pollution by preparing food in their tiny dwellings. Almost all mothers and their infantile infants are consistent sources of interior cooking pollutants. In contrast, during a complete shutdown, the entire family must dwell indoors, and at some point in catering, a man smokes cigarettes indoors. It is essential to know the consequences of smoking in the cohort susceptible to COVID-19 infection. Smoking was found to be significantly linked to COVID-19 infection, which is amusing. Modern data from hospitalized COVID-19 patients in China revealed that smokers were 15 times more likely to die than nonsmokers. Given that COVID-19 is closely associated with smoking and air pollution, there is no association between indoor catering and COVID-19. Immigrants, refugees, and unfortunate employees who live in precarious circumstances are the most susceptible. They typically use solid fuels for heating and cooking in their poorly ventilated homes, which lack chimneys to vent the smoke outside. Therefore, we believe they are susceptible to the infectivity effects of COVID-19 [38]. Due to a lack of easily available data, the legislators may not give this cluster a high priority for unambiguous actions. Yet, an outbreak of COVID-19 in a region where the notion of physical isolation is on the verge of being infeasible could threaten the community's health infrastructure.

In our research outlook, there is a pandemic rush to examine the association between BM and COVID-19 exposure. In such a population, it is necessary to implement robust community health measures, such as syndrome analysis and rigorous testing. Individuals with COVID-19-related critical health conditions should not provide any obstructions to authorities concerned with medical waste. The mechanism to provide the destitute with

sophisticated cookstoves and eco-friendly fuels should be given top priority in the marathons.

CONCLUDING COMMENTS AND OUTLOOKS

Bio-source use in the outlines of waste-BM is an enormous opportunity for both environmental BR and bioremediation, as well as a daunting prospect because it offers the possibility of substituting fuels (fossil) for the production of power carters and chemicals (specialty) and reducing market anxiety and eco-shocks in a roughly carbon-neutral manner.

Industrial BRs were identified as one of the most advantageous routes toward a bio-based (sustainable) reduction. Fully industrialized BRs incorporate both bio and physicochemical pathways. The dependence on bio-feedstock, which can entail intensive farming and land exploitation, was a fault of BR as a replacement for conventional oil refineries.

In addition, BR may struggle to meet the food requirements of the land allotted to BM. Consequently, the future BR should support the utilization of non-edible BM and the progressive distribution of waste BM and land that, in most circumstances, cannot be used for agricultural purposes. This type of land is suitable for microalgae cultivation. Perhaps supplementary raw materials for BR were derived from food industry byproducts. By extending enzymatic systems with (engineered) microbes capable of separating valuable materials from trash, the distribution of this raw material can be carried out commercially and sustainably. Current oil-based refineries offer more money-spinning keys at the expense of eco-abundance and squalors; the development of these abilities should also consider the critical problem of prices.

CONSENT FOR PUBLICATION

Not applicable.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflict of interest, financial or otherwise.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Declared none.

REFERENCES