{"title":"Tailored information on alternative fuels: Segmenting future consumers' preferences for information and communication related to alternative fuels","authors":"Julia Offermann, Linda Engelmann, Martina Ziefle","doi":"10.1016/j.jfueco.2025.100146","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfueco.2025.100146","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Increasing emissions in the mobility sector pose a significant challenge for modern society, contributing extensively to climate change. One promising approach to mitigating these emissions is the development of CO₂-based alternative fuels, which can reduce dependence on fossil fuels, such as gasoline and diesel, by capturing and reusing CO₂ emissions. While the technical feasibility of these fuels has been widely studied, limited research exists on consumer preferences regarding how information about alternative fuels is communicated. Understanding communication preferences is essential and critical for designing effective communication strategies that foster public acceptance and adoption, as they shape how individuals process information, form attitudes, and ultimately decide whether to adopt sustainable technologies. To address this gap, an online survey study (<em>N</em> = 215) was conducted to explore laypeople’s perceptions of alternative fuels, focusing on their information needs and communication preferences. The results revealed two distinct consumer clusters with differing expectations for content, channels, and trusted sources of information and communication. One group preferred detailed, science-based information from institutions, while the other favored accessible, practice-oriented content from industry or media. These findings emphasize the need for tailored communication strategies that reflect varying trust dynamics and information preferences. They offer practical guidance for policymakers and industry actors aiming to increase public engagement and acceptance of CO₂-based alternative fuels.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100556,"journal":{"name":"Fuel Communications","volume":"24 ","pages":"Article 100146"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144510847","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mohammad Hossein Gholizadeh, Hossein Yousefi, Ahmad Hajinezhad, Mahmood Abdoos
{"title":"Optimization of the economic-technical model for hydrogen production with an approach to utilizing solar power plants and waste-to-energy conversion","authors":"Mohammad Hossein Gholizadeh, Hossein Yousefi, Ahmad Hajinezhad, Mahmood Abdoos","doi":"10.1016/j.jfueco.2025.100144","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfueco.2025.100144","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The present research work is related to the optimization of a hybrid renewable energy system, combining Waste-to-Energy (WTE) and Photovoltaic (PV) technologies for hydrogen production by means of water electrolysis in both on-grid and off-grid operation modes. A WTE plant of 3 MW rated capacity is combined with a PV array of capacity varying from 0.5 to 3 MW. The Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Genetic Algorithm (GA), Simulated Annealing (SA), Gradient Descent, and Newton's Method algorithms were used to minimize Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) while ensuring energy reliability. In the on-grid scenario, the minimum LCOH of around -399.215 $/kg was achieved by PSO, GA, and SA, which indicates cost-effectiveness with the help of grid exportation and importation. Whereas, in the off-grid case, LCOH values are higher: the minimum value of LCOH by PSO, GA, and SA was 34.81 $/kg, while the highest was obtained from Gradient Descent with 42.85 $/kg. The main problems that the configuration faced in an off-grid setting were related to not being able to satisfy energy demand and increased curtailment rates. These findings evidence the economic advantages of on-grid systems and underline the necessity for additional measures in off-grid setups, such as energy storage, to reach higher performance and reliability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100556,"journal":{"name":"Fuel Communications","volume":"24 ","pages":"Article 100144"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144490074","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Linda Engelmann, Wiktoria Wilkowska, Martina Ziefle
{"title":"Fresh air or a hard road? Exploring predictors of public acceptance of Carbon Capture and Utilization infrastructure","authors":"Linda Engelmann, Wiktoria Wilkowska, Martina Ziefle","doi":"10.1016/j.jfueco.2025.100145","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfueco.2025.100145","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The urgency of mitigating global warming and the growing threat of natural disasters demand swift and decisive action. Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) technologies have emerged as a solution to this challenge, capturing and converting carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub><sub>)</sub> into products, rather than allowing it to be released into the atmosphere. We explore public perception and acceptance of CCU-based products, with a focus on jet fuel as a case study. Using conjoint analysis within an online survey (<em>N</em> = 1204), we evaluated how contextual factors—transport options, energy sources, and production settings—affect consumer preferences. Participants rated both the acceptability of CO<sub>2</sub>-based jet fuel and the infrastructure required for its local and general production. The results suggest that preferences for the production conditions of CCU plants were driven more by energy supply and transport than by the type of plant manufacturing the final product in both local and general contexts. The acceptance of CCU plants and the production of CO<sub>2</sub>-based jet fuel in both contexts were the strongest predictors of overall acceptance. However, the final CCU product itself, regardless of context, was the least influential factor in shaping public perception. This study provides insights into public perceptions of the production of CO<sub>2</sub>-based jet fuel and identifies key factors influencing local and general acceptance. Our findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the societal dimensions of CCU adoption and complement efforts in technology development and regulatory frameworks necessary for technology integration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100556,"journal":{"name":"Fuel Communications","volume":"24 ","pages":"Article 100145"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144534962","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Eshet Lakew Tesfaye , Prince Kumar , Pannaga Pavan Jutur , Anteneh Tesfaye Tefera , Tamene Milkessa Jiru , Naseem A. Gaur
{"title":"The role of amylase in bioethanol production: advances in amylase-producing strains using CRISPR/Cas9 Technology","authors":"Eshet Lakew Tesfaye , Prince Kumar , Pannaga Pavan Jutur , Anteneh Tesfaye Tefera , Tamene Milkessa Jiru , Naseem A. Gaur","doi":"10.1016/j.jfueco.2025.100142","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfueco.2025.100142","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lignocellulosic biomass derived from food waste, microalgae, and agroresidues is key in the circular bioeconomy, promoting eco-friendly bioethanol production while addressing waste management challenges. This paper aimed to comprehensively review the role of amylases secreted from different strains in bioethanol production. The sources and optimizing factors critical for effective starch breakdown are discussed. Amylase, derived from various organisms, constitutes an essential enzyme and facilitates starch hydrolysis into fermentable sugars like glucose, a key step in bioethanol production. However, its activity depends on factors such as pH, temperature, incubation time, and the substrates used, necessitating optimization for efficient starch degradation. Moreover, the review also explores strategies to engineer amylase-producing strains with enhanced amylase production capabilities using an advanced clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR/Cas9)-based gene editing technology. Further research is crucial to identify novel amylase-producing strains from different environments, including from extremophiles, characterize their enzymes, and leverage tools like CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing in microorganisms, and leverage these advancements to ensure sustainable bioethanol production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100556,"journal":{"name":"Fuel Communications","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100142"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144203488","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kaushal Dave, Sarah Link, Francesca De Domenico, Ferry Schrijer, Fulvio Scarano, Arvind Gangoli Rao
{"title":"Kerosene-H2 blending effects on flame properties in a multi-fuel combustor","authors":"Kaushal Dave, Sarah Link, Francesca De Domenico, Ferry Schrijer, Fulvio Scarano, Arvind Gangoli Rao","doi":"10.1016/j.jfueco.2025.100139","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfueco.2025.100139","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, the macroscopic properties of kerosene-H<sub>2</sub> blended flames are investigated in a multi-phase, multi-fuel combustor, focusing on the effects of increasing H<sub>2</sub> blending fractions. The non-reacting flow field of the swirl-stabilized combustor is characterized using PIV, and macro-structures in the flow and spray-swirl interactions are analyzed. Kerosene atomizers are tested to estimate variations in spray quality across different fuel blends. The changes in the optical properties of the flames are recorded using broadband chemiluminescence imaging while the changes in the acoustic emissions are recorded using a microphone. Results show that H<sub>2</sub> addition significantly alters the flame topology, transitioning from a lobed flame for pure kerosene to a single contiguous swirling flame for blended or pure H<sub>2</sub> cases. The flame luminosity decreases, with the emission color shifting from bright yellow (pure kerosene case) to dull yellow (multi-fuel cases) to a red-blue hue (pure H<sub>2</sub> case). These changes are attributed to variations in fuel distribution, heat release patterns, combustion mode, flame speed, and soot formation tendencies. The acoustic analysis reveals that a strong tonal behavior is observed under pure fuel conditions (prominent peaks at higher harmonics of 150 Hz) while broadband characteristics are exhibited under blended fuel conditions. The overall acoustic emissions in multi-fuel cases are reduced by ∼80 % compared to pure H<sub>2</sub> and ∼55 % compared to pure kerosene. This study highlights the effects of high levels of H<sub>2</sub> blending on flame dynamics and acoustic behavior in a multi-phase, multi-fuel combustor, offering valuable insights for the development of fuel-agnostic combustion systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100556,"journal":{"name":"Fuel Communications","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100139"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143562657","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Najeeb Anjum Soomro , Ubedullah Ansari , Bilal Shams , Muhammad Khan Memon , Darya Khan Bhutto , Zhang Rui , Yi Pan
{"title":"Experimental assessment of the stability and impact of water-based fracturing fluid with and without Triethanolamine (TEA)","authors":"Najeeb Anjum Soomro , Ubedullah Ansari , Bilal Shams , Muhammad Khan Memon , Darya Khan Bhutto , Zhang Rui , Yi Pan","doi":"10.1016/j.jfueco.2025.100137","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfueco.2025.100137","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>This study develops a novel water-based fracturing fluid to address challenges of high water consumption, poor thermal stability, and inadequate proppant transport in conventional hydraulic fracturing fluids. Current fluids face limitations due to thermal degradation and environmental impact. To optimize performance, experimental analyses were conducted using water as the base fluid, with added gas condensate and various additives. Key assessments included viscosity measurements, stability tests across temperature ranges, and proppant fall rate evaluations.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The optimized formulation features a linear fluid with 45 cp viscosity and a crosslinked fluid enhanced to 135 cp through boric acid and a cross-linker. The addition of triethanolamine (TEA) further stabilized the fluid, reducing viscosity loss at higher temperatures. Comparative tests showed a 134 % viscosity increase in the crosslinked fluid, boosting proppant transport, while TEA addition decreased the proppant fall rate by 6.8 %.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Results confirm that the new fluid meets API standards, offering improved thermal stability and proppant transport efficiency, addressing key environmental concerns. This formulation represents a promising alternative for more effective and sustainable hydraulic fracturing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100556,"journal":{"name":"Fuel Communications","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100137"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143610028","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Life cycle environmental assessment of Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) as an alternative to fossil fuels in cement production: A sustainable approach for mitigating carbon emissions","authors":"Helia Salaripoor, Hossein Yousefi, Mahmood Abdoos","doi":"10.1016/j.jfueco.2025.100135","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfueco.2025.100135","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluates the environmental impacts of using Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) as an alternative fuel in the cement industry during natural gas shortages in Tehran, Iran. Given the increasing municipal solid waste production and the cement industry's significant carbon emissions, this research takes an innovative approach to assess RDF's potential to mitigate these issues through a life cycle approach. The analysis employs OpenLCA software to compare the environmental effects of RDF against traditional fossil fuels fuel oil and coal during colder months when natural gas is scarce. The study examines two RDF compositions, including organic waste and one excluding it, to determine their impacts on sustainability and fuel efficiency. Key findings indicate that RDF, mainly when produced with organic waste, offers substantial reductions in global warming potential (GWP) and other environmental impacts compared to conventional fuels. Specifically, the results demonstrate that RDF can significantly lower CO₂ emissions associated with cement production, positioning it as a viable option for enhancing energy sustainability within the industry. This research underscores the importance of integrating waste management strategies with energy recovery solutions, providing valuable insights for policymakers aiming to address both waste disposal and energy needs sustainably.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100556,"journal":{"name":"Fuel Communications","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 100135"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143488759","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"On the Dependencies of the Average Specific Heat Capacity of Flue Gas","authors":"Dr. Dieter Förtsch","doi":"10.1016/j.jfueco.2025.100136","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfueco.2025.100136","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The heat capacity of the flue gas is a basic property of a combustion process since it establishes the link between the energy balance and the combustion temperature. The dependencies of the average specific heat capacity on composition and temperature are thus of significance in interpreting differences in the achievable combustion temperature of different fuels. In this contribution, these dependencies are discussed and evaluated to provide simple correlations for use in practice. The correlations are applicable over the wide temperature range of 25…1600°C, while deviations at higher temperature are mainly due to dissociation of polyatomic gases. The provided correlations are also applicable if an oxygen carrier other than air is used, so that they are useful for a wide range of practical applications. This study also shows that the specific heat capacities of flue gases from different fuels are very similar, which is another reason – besides their similar \"heat of oxidation\" – why the adiabatic flame temperatures of different fuels are within a narrow range.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100556,"journal":{"name":"Fuel Communications","volume":"23 ","pages":"Article 100136"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-02-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143705493","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stephen Kelly Kissi , Wilson Ofori Sarkodie , Mohammed Takase , Emmanuel Amankwah
{"title":"Biofuel in Ghana: Potentials and strategies for policy implementation","authors":"Stephen Kelly Kissi , Wilson Ofori Sarkodie , Mohammed Takase , Emmanuel Amankwah","doi":"10.1016/j.jfueco.2025.100134","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfueco.2025.100134","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Africa has a pressing need for biofuel policies due to several interconnected challenges encompassing vulnerability to price fluctuations, rural development, waste and land use management, and the need for value-added agricultural goods. State biofuel policies contribute to the ongoing global discourse on climate change, green and circular economy, and sustainability. Unfortunately, the resource curse seems to have befallen the Ghanaian economy as the nation still imports petroleum products after discovering enormous oil reserves. This article reviews Ghana's current biomass potential drawing lessons from failed projects and initiatives of top biofuel nations to effectively implement Ghana's latest biofuel policy. A significant portion of land in Ghana remains unused, yet utilizing less than 3 % of this land would be sufficient to meet the B10/E10 biofuel target using cassava as the feedstock. A closer examination of successful biofuel initiatives in Brazil and the United States highlights common factors contributing to their achievements. These include ambitious blending mandates, substantial investments in infrastructure, technology, and research, active stakeholder participation, and the provision of fiscal incentives. While Ghana's Renewable Energy Master Plan incorporates some of these components, its current targets lack sufficient ambition. Addressing these gaps in practice could place Ghana on a trajectory toward becoming one of the world's leading biofuel producers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100556,"journal":{"name":"Fuel Communications","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 100134"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143134530","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Chemical agents for enhanced oil recovery: A comparison of a switchable hydrophilic solvent and deep eutectic solvent","authors":"A. Abdurrahman , S.M. Shuwa , F.N. Dabai , O.D. Orodu , F.T. Ogunkunle , A.I. Igbafe , B.Y. Jibril","doi":"10.1016/j.jfueco.2025.100133","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jfueco.2025.100133","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Switchable hydrophilic solvents (SHS) and deep eutectic solvents (DES) are trending chemical agents used in enhanced oil recovery. In this study, the oil recovery performance of DES, synthesized from tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) and polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400) in a 1:2 molar ratio, and the switchable solvent N,N-dimethylcyclohexylamine (DMCHA) was evaluated through a displacement test. Additionally, the interactions between the rock, solvents, and crude oil were investigated through interfacial tension (IFT) measurements using an Altension tensiometer. The trend in the experimental IFT results was compared to the interactions between DMCHA and oil, DMCHA and rock, DES and oil, and DES and rock using quantum mechanics calculations performed with the Spartan v20 molecular modeling tool. The findings revealed that the IFT between the solvents and oil decreased to 5.32 mN/m with DES and 2.64 mN/m with DMCHA. Furthermore, core flooding experiments showed an incremental recovery of 12.0 % of the original oil in place (OOIP) with DES and 10.0 % OOIP with DMCHA for standard Berea sandstone core samples. Similarly, flooding experiments using Niger-Delta sandstone samples achieved an additional 25.8 % OOIP with DES compared to 12.0 % OOIP with DMCHA. In conclusion, both DES and DMCHA demonstrated their potential for crude oil recovery. However, DES proved to be more promising for tertiary enhanced oil recovery applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100556,"journal":{"name":"Fuel Communications","volume":"22 ","pages":"Article 100133"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143134532","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}