Everything You Need to Know About Jatropha

Jatropha is a genus of nearly 175 species of shrubs, low-growing plants, and trees.  However, discussions of Jatropha as a biodiesel feedstock are actually means a particular species of the plant, Jatropha curcas. The plant is indigenous to parts of Central America, however it has spread to other tropical and subtropical regions in Africa and Asia. What is Jatropha? Jatropha curcas is a perennial shrub that, on average, grows approximately three to five meters in height. It has smooth grey bark with large and pale green leaves. The plant produces flowers and fruits are produced in winter or throughout the … Continue reading

عمل محطة الغاز الحيوي الحديثة

محطات الغاز الحيوي هي نظام طاقة لامركزي يؤدي إلى الاكتفاء الذاتي في متطلبات الحرارة والطاقة، وفي ذا ت الوقت يحافظ على النظام البيئي من التلوث، حيث تعمل محطة الغاز الحيوي على استقرار النفايات العضوية من خلال عملية بيولوجية طبيعية في غياب الهواء وتحويل النفايات إلى غاز حيوي وأسمدة حيوية. تعتبر هذه المرافق مناسبة تمامًا للمواد العضوية الرطبة وتستخدم بشكل شائع لمعالجة النفايات القابلة للتحلل مثل نفايات الورق وقصاصات العشب وبقايا الطعام والصرف الصحي وفضلات الحيوانات. تشتمل مكونات محطة الغاز الحيوي الحديثة على جمع السماد، والهاضم اللاهوائي (عملية التخمير)، ومحطة معالجة النفايات السائلة، وتخزين الغاز، ومعدات توليد الكهرباء والحرارة. عمل محطة … Continue reading

موارد الطاقة الحيوية في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال أفريقيا

اقتضى الارتفاع الملحوظ الذي شهدته أسعار النفط في الماضي القريب، والاضطرابات التي نجمت عنه في سوق الطاقة، من العديد من بلدان منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال أفريقيا لاسيما غير المنتجة للنفط منها، البحث عن مصادر جديدة للطاقة لأسباب اقتصادية وبيئية معاً. ومن جهة أخرى، باتت الطاقة المتجددة تحظى باهتمام عالمي متزايد، نظراً لدورها في الحد من التغيرات المناخية، ودفع عجلة التنمية المستدامة في البلدان النامية، وتعزيز أمن وتوفير الطاقة. وتضم قائمة البلدان المنتجة للمخلفات العضوية في الشرق الأوسط وأفريقيا، كلاً من السودان، ومصر، والجزائر، واليمن، والعراق، وسوريا، والأردن، حيث اعتادت المناطق الريفية في هذه المنطقة استخدام الطاقة الحيوية بشكل واسع في … Continue reading

Renewable Energy in Algeria

Algeria plays a key role in world energy markets as a leading producer and exporter of natural gas and liquefied natural gas. Algeria’s energy mix in 2010 was almost exclusively based on fossil fuels, especially natural gas (93%). However, Algeria has enormous renewable energy potential, mainly solar, which the government is trying to harness by launching an ambitious Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program. “Everywhere there is someone or something trying to make a difference. In this case, Algeria is playing an important role in producing and exporting natural gas and liquefied natural gas. But, sometimes it’s just about understanding … Continue reading

A Primer on Biodiesel

Biodiesel is a clean burning alternative fuel produced from domestic, renewable resources. This biofuel is a mixture of fatty acid alkyl esters made from vegetable oils, animal fats or recycled greases. Where available, biodiesel can be used in compression-ignition (diesel) engines in its pure form with little or no modifications. Biodiesel is simple to use, biodegradable, nontoxic, and essentially free of sulphur and aromatics. It is usually used as a petroleum diesel additive to reduce levels of particulates, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and toxics from diesel-powered vehicles. When used as an additive, the resulting diesel fuel may be called B5, B10 … Continue reading

وقود الديزل الحيوي

هي الوقت البديلة النظيفة المنجة محليا والتى تعد من الموارد المتجددة  وهذه الوقود عبارة عن خليط من  استرات ألكيل الدهنية حمض مصنوعة من الزيوت النباتية،و  الدهون الحيوانية أو الشحوم المعاد تدويرهاحيثما كان ذلك متاحا، وقود الديزل الحيوي يمكن استخدامها في ضغط الاشتعال (الديزل) محركات في شكله النقي مع تعديلات ضئيلة أو معدومة. وقود الديزل الحيوي هو سهلة الاستخدام، والقابلة للتحلل غير سام، وخالية أساسا من الكبريت والعطريات. عادة ما يتم استخدامه كمادة مضافة الديزل النفطية للحد من مستويات الجسيمات وأول أكسيد الكربون والهيدروكربونات والمواد السامة من السيارات العاملة على المازوت. عندما تستخدم كمادة مضافة، وقود الديزل الناتجة يمكن أن يسمى ب5، ب10 … Continue reading

Biomass Resources in Jordan

With high population growth rate, increase in industrial and commercial activities, high cost of imported energy fuels and higher GHGs emissions, supply of cheap and clean energy resources has become a challenge for the Jordanian Government. Consequently, the need for implementing renewable energy projects, especially solar, wind, biomass and energy-from-waste, has emerged as a national priority in recent years. Jordan has substantial biomass resources in the form of municipal solid wastes, sewage, industrial wastes and animal manure. Municipal solid wastes represent the best source of biomass in Jordan. Solid waste generation in the country is approximately 2 million tons per … Continue reading

Agricultural Biomass in MENA

Agriculture plays an important role in the economies of most of the countries in the Middle East and North Africa region.  Despite the fact that MENA is the most water-scarce and dry region in the world, many countries in the region, especially those around the Mediterranean Sea, are highly dependent on agriculture. The contribution of the agricultural sector to the overall economy varies significantly among countries in the region, ranging, for example, from about 3.2 percent in Saudi Arabia to 13.4 percent in Egypt.  Large scale irrigation coupled with mechanization has enabled extensive production of high-value cash crops, including fruits, … Continue reading

Animal Waste Management in Africa: Perspectives

Livestock and poultry production are among the main economic activities in rural as well as urban areas of African countries. The livestock sector, in particular sheep, goats and camels, plays an important role in the national economy of African countries. In addition, the region has witnessed very rapid growth in the poultry sector. The livestock industry and poultry industry, however, are contributing heavily to greenhouse gas emissions and waste crisis in Africa due to the absence of a sustainable animal waste management system. Most of the manure is collected in lagoons or left to decompose in the open which presents … Continue reading

Saudi Arabia Biorefinery from Algae (SABA) Project

The King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology (KACST) is funding an innovative project called Saudi Arabia Biorefinery from Algae (SABA Project) to screen for lipid hyper-producers species in Saudi Arabia coastal waters. These species will be the basis for next-generation algal biofuel production. The goal of this project is to increase research and training in microalgae-based biofuel production as well algal biomass with an additional goal of using a biorefinery approach that could strongly enhance Saudi Arabia economy, society and environment within the next 10 years. The primary mission of the SABA project is to develop the Algae Based … Continue reading

What are Biofuels

Biofuel refers to liquid or gaseous fuels that are predominantly produced from biomass. A variety of fuels can be produced from biomass resources including liquid fuels, such as ethanol, methanol, biodiesel, Fischer-Tropsch diesel, and gaseous fuels, such as hydrogen and methane. Resource Base for Biofuels Production The biomass resource base for biofuels production is composed of a wide variety of forestry and agricultural resources, industrial processing residues, municipal solid wastes and urban wood residues. The agricultural resources include grains used for biofuels production, animal manures and residues, and crop residues derived primarily from corn and small grains (e.g., wheat straw). … Continue reading

Biomass Energy in Middle East

The major biomass producing countries in the Middle East are Egypt, Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Jordan. Traditionally, biomass energy has been widely used in rural areas for domestic energy purposes in the Middle East region, especially in Egypt, Yemen and Jordan. Since most of the region is arid or semi-arid, the biomass energy potential is mainly contributed by municipal solid wastes, agricultural residues and industrial wastes. According to conservative estimates, the potential of biomass energy in the MENA region is about 400TWh per year. Municipal solid wastes represent the best source of biomass in Middle East countries. Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, … Continue reading