Algae have several industrial applications that can lower the cost of biofuel co-23 production. Among these co-production applications, environmental and wastewater 24 bioremediation are increasingly important. Heavy metal pollution and its implications 25 for public health and the environment have led to increased interest in developing 26 environmental biotechnology approaches. We review the potential for algal biosorption 27 and/or neutralization of the toxic effects of heavy metal ions, primarily focusing on their 28 cellular structure, pretreatment, modification, as well as potential application of genetic 29 engineering in biosorption performance. We evaluate pretreatment, immobilization, and 30 factors affecting biosorption capacity, such as initial metal ion concentration, biomass 31 concentration, initial pH, time, temperature, and interference of multi metal ions and 32 introduce molecular tools to develop engineered algal strains with higher biosorption 33 capacity and selectivity. We conclude that consideration of these parameters can lead to 34 the development of low-cost micro and macroalgae cultivation with high bioremediation 35 potential. 36 37

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Biogas technology has the potential to provide benefits to three priority areas in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): energy supply, sanitation, and food security. Despite this, uptake of biogas systems has been slow and sporadic in the region. This review paper investigates what has prevented widespread dissemination of the technology in SSA by looking at the key barriers in the region, as well as identifying the main opportunities and the lessons that can be learned from successful biogas dissemination experiences in Rwanda, Tanzania, China, India, and Nepal. Installation costs, limited awareness and training for biogas users and insufficient follow-up services were recognised as being among the key barriers. SSA has favourable conditions for biogas technology, namely a suitable tropical climate in most parts of the region, a dominance of agricultural activities, and interest in alternatives to expensive conventional energy services. The region's favourable conditions therefore provide opportunities for increasing uptake of the technology. Experiences in other regions highlighted the importance of the government in supporting the biogas sector through suitable policies and incentives. Collaboration between research institutions, governmental departments, and biogas users, both current and future, was also recognised as being vital to improve the technology's dissemination and appropriate, long-term use.

McHenry, M.P. (2013) Technical AbstractThe fundamental role of policymakers when considering Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), or 'smart meters' for energy and water infrastructure is to investigate a broad range of complex interrelated issues. These include alternative technical and non-technical options and deployment needs, the cost and benefits of the infrastructure (risks and mitigation measures), and the impact of a number of stakeholders: consumers, distributors, retailers, competitive market operators, competing technology companies, etc. The scale and number of potential variables in the AMI space is an almost unprecedented challenge to policymakers, with the anticipation of new ancillary products and services, associated market contestability, related regulatory and policy amendments, and the adequacy of consumer protection, education, and safety considerations requiring utmost due-diligence. Embarking on AMI investment entails significant technical, implementation, and strategic risk for governments and administering bodies, and an active effort is required to ensure AMI governance and planning maximises the potential benefits, and minimise uncertainties, costs, and risks to stakeholders. This work seeks to clarify AMI fundamentals and discusses the technical and related governance considerations from a dispassionate perspective, yet acknowledges many stakeholders tend to dichotomise debate, and obfuscate both advantages and benefits, and the converse.

Microalgae have the potential to recycle and bioremediate CO 2 and also produce chemical energy in the form of biomass. The potential production of renewable energy and high value products (i.e. carotenoid, antioxidants and polyunsaturated fatty acids) make large scale microalgal cultivation an attractive application. To achieve high productivity all microalgae cultures require CO 2 addition. Various microalgae species have shown different capabilities to bioremediate CO 2 . This review article reports biomass concentrations, biomass productivities, and CO 2 fixation rates of several microalgae and cyanobacteria species under different input CO 2 concentrations. The effect of important factors such as photo-bioreactor, temperature, light intensity on CO 2 removal have also been discussed.

This paper aims to provide a broad review and assessment of the feedstocks and applicable biogas technologies that are feasible in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Biodigesters and feedstocks available in SSA were identified according to scale and application -household, community, institutional, and commercial. Aside from livestock manure, suitable feedstocks for household, community, and institutional biodigesters include crop residues, night soil/domestic sewage, and the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW). Significant untapped feedstocks exist from SSA agro-processing and food production industries. Biodigesters available in SSA for household, community, and institutional installations include variations of fixed dome, plug flow, and floating cover digesters.Commercial digester designs applicable to the region include continuously stirred tank reactors and fixed film digesters. The key factors that need to be considered in selecting suitable biodigester designs for specific applications include: feedstock availability, water supply, energy demand, local materials and labour, and the level of commitment to operate and maintain the biodigester effectively.

19Increasing biofuel production on agricultural lands in tropical island nations will likely result 20 in increased deforestation [1], and also inflate food prices, especially in net food importing

This is a preprint of an article published in Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining Borines, M.G., McHenry, M.P. and de Leon, R.L. (2011)Integrated