Biomass-derived oils are important sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based liquid fuels. However, biomass oil mixtures contain much higher concentrations of cyclic nitrogen compounds that contribute to NOx emissions and deactivate refining catalysts. This necessitates their removal by a hydrogen-intensive hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) process that consumes high energy. Therefore, efficient pre-HDN removal of nitrogen compounds is required to lower hydrogen and energy consumption when upgrading nitrogen-rich liquid fuels.

Pumped hydro and battery storage can enable Australia to meet its energy needs without increasing the use of gas to fuel electricity plants, according to a new paper published in Cell Reports Physical Science by researchers at The Australian National University (ANU). The research finds the National Electricity Market could become a low-cost, zero-emissions grid without depending on fossil gas.