Green Technology and Sustainable Development of Renewable Energy

Carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, which cause global warming, have become a major worldwide concern with ten global ‘mega’ challenges that are currently impacting the planet in particular climate change, water, energy, and material resource scarcity. Increase in urbanization rate will continue to increase its need for natural resources, building materials, power and electricity, water, etc. that leads to bio-capacity deficit with a sharp increase in generation of ecological footprints. Power-generating plants running on fossil fuels have been identified as the main source of greenhouse gases (GHG). Approximately, 80% of the world primary energy consumption is still dependent on fossil fuels; thus, the substitution by renewable energy sources, in conjunction with other clean energy sources, appears to be the best and necessary alternative. There are many other sources of renewable energy such as solar, wind, and geothermal, but biomass have been receiving a lot of attention lately. Biomass has gained increased attention in the past decade because it does not only provide an effective option for the provision of energy services from a technical point of view, but also based on resources that can be utilized on a sustainable basis all around the globe. Another benefit of biomass utilization is that this resource can be converted to C3-C4 hydrocarbons and/or synthetic gas (H2 and CO).