Proceedings of the International Conference on Energy Transition and Exhibition 2024

Hydrogen storage technology is essential to the energy landscape, providing a clean and adequate substitute for current non-renewable fossil fuels. However, conventional storage methods, such as liquid hydrogen and high-pressure tanks, require substantial energy and pose significant challenges in handling due to safety issues. This article reviews recent innovative materials revolutionising hydrogen storage, focusing more on their potential to improve safety and efficiency. The article concisely discusses the fundamentals of hydrogen storage, including the performance and safety that guide the material development. Different materials in hydrogen storage technologies, including metal hydrides like magnesium hydrides, porous materials like metal–organic frameworks, carbon materials, and zeolites, are elucidated. Each material is studied in terms of its synthesis, characterisation, and performance. Challenges and limitations were discussed, and recommendations for upcoming research were provided. The prospects of using innovative hydrogen storage materials as an efficient energy source for the future have been adequately elucidated.

Floating photovoltaics is a prevailing technology in the energy sector, owing to its advantages over traditional solar photovoltaic systems. The rise and the rapid expansion of technology require persistent development activities to make it more affordable for widespread global adoption. In this regard, studies carrying out multidimensional floating photovoltaics investigations and their outcomes are frequently reported in the literature. However, the creation of the floating structure is not explored; rather, only the used elements are reported. This becomes a hurdle in creating the floating structure for photovoltaic systems and therefore, this work aims to provide a comprehensive step-by-step formation of the floating structure for solar photovoltaics on water. The outcome shows the development of a simple floating photovoltaic structure that is welding-free, portable, modular, assembly-friendly, demountable, affordable, cost-efficient, and durable in harsh weather. This detailed guide on the floating structure formation de-escalates the difficulties in deploying photovoltaic panels on the waterbody.

The Government of Republic of Indonesia has big plans to improve the climate, and the electric vehicle market is starting to develop to help carry out these plans. One of the contributors to climate-damaging emissions is transportation, so the development of electric vehicles is quite important. As lithium-ion batteries power electric vehicles, a significant number will soon reach the end of their lifespan. This will be a significant waste if proper recycling handling and planning are not carried out. The need to reduce environmental pollution and foster sustainability in the electric vehicle (EV) market has become a critical objection. Reusing electric vehicle batteries stands out as an effective recycling approach. However, there has not been much research into the design of EVs battery recycling networks at the company level, thus hampering the sustainable development of EVs. Although the recent growth of EVs in Indonesia has not been feasible for developing recycling facilities, the large amount of waste of batteries in the future must be anticipated to avoid huge negative may happen in the future. Using hypothetic data and real data from the case in Central Java Province, Indonesia, we make a numerical trial to make the decisions. The model developed can be used to make decisions in the future according to the real demand and supply in the future.

As electric bikes gain widespread popularity across Indonesia, efficient and interoperable battery-swapping stations are increasingly necessary. This study uses machine learning, specifically an LSTM neural network, to predict the interoperability of these stations by analyzing demographic and geographic data, such as population density, urbanization rates, and electric motorcycle distribution. The automated process also considers proximity to major transport hubs, age, and income distribution. The LSTM model achieved 92% accuracy, significantly surpassing conventional models, which typically reach around 80%. Cities, with their younger, tech-savvy populations and higher adoption rates of electric motorcycles, present better opportunities for system integration. These findings offer crucial insights into how battery-swapping stations can be optimally deployed and operated. By addressing challenges such as interoperability, this research aids stakeholders in building a reliable, efficient, and user-friendly battery-swapping network. Additionally, it contributes to strategic policy-making for electric vehicle infrastructure, promoting sustainable transportation and supporting future urban planning efforts in Indonesia.

Eco-canvas is the latest tool of the Business Model Canvas developed by Osterwalder and Pigneur, which considers the circular economy includes environmental, social and innovation technology. The Eco-canvas concerns generating unused waste products as an end-life from one product to become resources for other goods in the principle of circular economy business concept. This paper focused on the fundamental features of vehicle electrification related business which shows the model of circular economy green business using eco-canvas business model. It evaluates the electric motorcycle conversion workshop, and the startup battery industry businesses on how they process the waste. In addition to mapping their current business models through Ecocanvas, this research incorporates Internal Factor Analysis Summary (IFAS) and External Factor Analysis Summary (EFAS) analysis to assess each company's strategic position, highlighting their internal strengths and weaknesses as well as external opportunities and threats. As a practical contribution, this research develops and provides information about the existing business models of green business vehicle electrification in Indonesia. Stakeholders may use this information as references to improve the green business become a circular economy business model through innovation and technology. Further research may explore the practicality of the Eco-canvas methodology and IFAS/EFAS through other sectors of activities and contexts which benefit creating more green business opportunities through innovation and technology. Eco-canvas is a tool that can be used by researchers, private businesses and public sector, so that it can provide a better understanding to develop sustainable businesses.

Malaysia is standing at the forefront in Southeast Asia due to its strategic geographical location and huge natural resources in the renewable energy (RE) sector. Malaysia sets an ambitious target to achieve 20% RE capacity by 2025 which shows the country’s commitment to RE, and BITs play a significant role in securing foreign direct investment (FDI) in this sector. To attract more FDI in the RE sector, Malaysia implemented various initiatives and also enacted policies or regulations to establish a more favourable business environment for foreign investors. Since 1960, Malaysia has signed seventy BITs in which sixty-nine of them were signed before enacting the Renewable Energy Act 2011. The initial findings of this study show that all seventy BITs do not have any specific provision related to RE, therefore, in case of any disputes between Malaysia and foreign investors, it would be very challenging for the Malaysian government to prevail over them. By conducting critical analysis of all Malaysian BITs, this study attempts to fill this vacuum through qualitative research, and would provide specific provision on RE to be included in future or renewable BITs.

Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFCs) offer substantial promise for portable power applications due to their high energy density and operational simplicity. Despite their potential, optimizing DMFC performance remains a significant challenge, particularly concerning mass transport at the anode. CO₂ bubble formation at the anode poses a major impediment to efficient mass transport and overall cell performance. Bubbles can block active catalytic sites, hinder methanol access, and increase the ohmic resistance of the cell. State-of-the-art computational and experimental techniques have been developed to study CO₂ bubble dynamics. Advanced imaging techniques, such as high-resolution microscopy and synchrotron X-ray tomography, have provided detailed visualizations of bubble behavior within the anode structure. Meanwhile, mechanistic modelling and multi-scale simulations have offered deeper insights into the interactions between bubble dynamics and mass transport processes. This paper also highlights innovative strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of CO₂ bubbles, including the optimization of flow field designs, development of novel catalyst supports, and the use of surface treatments to enhance bubble detachment and transport. Looking towards the future, we propose the development of a mist feed anode system as a promising direction to further improve methanol delivery and reduce CO₂ bubble formation. The mist feed system aims to create a more uniform distribution of methanol at the anode, enhancing its availability while minimizing local oversaturation and subsequent bubble formation.

The water hyacinth, a water-dwelling plant known for its invasive nature, has garnered attention and notoriety due to the adverse economic and ecological effects it causes. The petiole of the water hyacinth plant has demonstrated potential as a reinforcing filler in the field of composite material. However, limited studies have explored the dispersion of the WH particle. In this study, both qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted, examining surface morphologies and conducting tensile and microhardness tests It was discovered that only particle size <212 µm achieved homogenous dispersion within the polymer matrix. Additionally, it was found that particle size has no significant influence on the microhardness performance. These findings would contribute to the development of an effective WH-reinforced polymer composite.

Disrupting environmental challenges leads to sustainable development endeavor not only in renewable energy but also in resource materials such as polymer nanocomposite materials which are finding increased applications in various engineering fields. However, manufacturing of nanocomposites involved energy intensive curing process which hampers towards sustainability. Hence, to address such issue understanding of thermal influence on the curing process is crucial. Therefore, the aim of this research is to identify the effective curing temperature and its influence that address the interfacial bonding characteristics through mechanical characteristics i.e. surface hardness. Five different samples were prepared to analyse the thermal effect of curing process via varying five different curing temperature. The surface hardness and morphological properties of glass fiber reinforced epoxy nanocomposites were analysed through microhardness and micrography analysis. It is revealed that mechanical characteristics of the nanocomposite significantly depends on the curing temperature of the specimen and beyond an effective curing temperature, would lead to degradation in mechanical performance with severe damages to the glass fiber and the resin. It is expected such findings would pave the way towards sustainable composite manufacturing technology.

The expansion of agricultural land use in Borneo, particularly in the Sarawak state of Malaysia, has brought several sustainability challenges, such as deforestation, peatland conversion and monoculture diversity. A quarter of the Sarawak state land consisting of primary forest was converted into agricultural land. Therefore, the study was aimed to evaluate the land use suitability for agricultural activities at the Kabuloh region in Miri, the Northern area of Sarawak, Malaysia. Kabuloh region was chosen as the study site because the region is an active agricultural land and approximately 40% of the total area are covered by oil palm plantation, which shall be planned for a long term sustainable agricultural development. The suitability assessment was conducted using Geographic Information System (GIS), and multiple criteria decision-making methods (MCDM) by assessing and interpreting data, such as soil type, slope gradient, agricultural land use capability, and distance to infrastructures. The criteria weightage was identified by applying the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) method. The analysis result showed that five percentage of the land area is highly suitable, forty-two percentage is moderately suitable, thirty-three percentage is marginally suitable, nineteen percentage is currently not suitable, and one percentage is permanently not suitable for agriculture. The significant shortcomings of the unsuitable land are steep slope and unfavourable soil type. The result proved that sago, paddy, and coconut could be alternative crops besides the existing active development in oil palm plantation in the Kabuloh region.

Hybrid natural fibre-reinforced polymer composite (NFRPC) materials can effectively address the demand for lightweight structural applications, offering improved strength-to-weight ratios, cost-effectiveness, and sustainable alternatives to traditional materials. The research experiment involved stages using different natural fibre materials: empty fruit bunch (EFB) fibres, palm kernel shells (PKS) microfibers, and carbon nanotubes (CNT) nanoparticles. The composition with the highest mechanical properties was then fabricated again with various ultrasonication parameters as the hand layup could not accommodate the agglomerated particles. The sample that possessed the highest tensile strength comprised of 4% EFB fibres and 96% epoxy resin—43.43 MPa. Initially, it was hypothesised that the incorporation of hybrid microfibers would further improve the strength parameters. However, the hybrid microfibre composite did not meet expectations and degraded the strength of the composite. Meanwhile, the addition of CNT was found to be successful in improving both the tensile strength and microhardness of the hybrid microfiber. The highest sample combination in terms of microhardness had a composition of 0.5% CNT nano-filler, 4% PKS micro-filler, and 4% EFB fibres, ultrasonicated at an amplitude of 20 (16.33 HV). Overall, the tensile strength is comparable to that of conventional polymer materials such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

Malaysia is committed to reducing carbon footprints and advancing renewable energy sources by transforming its energy policies through various initiatives, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. The objective of the study is to review Malaysia’s current regulations and policies. Based on the challenges faced, we provide recommendations for future improvement, hoping to contribute to developing a sustainable energy and for a green Malaysia.

This paper aims to develop and demonstrate a simple lab-scale vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) technique to fabricate a hybrid natural fibre-reinforced composite with reinforcement from fibres and particulate forms. A study was conducted to investigate the effect of different filler sizes on the mechanical properties of the natural hybrid reinforced composite and showcase the effectiveness of the hybrid composite fabrication using the VARTM technique. The primary phase of the composites was epoxy resin, with reinforcement of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fibres and oil palm kernel shell (OPS) particulates embedded into the resin as the secondary phase of the composites. The results indicate that incorporating smaller-sized Oil Palm Shell (OPS) particulates (≤75 µm) enhances the compressive properties of the hybrid composite. In contrast, larger particulates (150–300 µm) did not pass through intra-fibre spacing due to permeability issues, resulting in weaker bonding and reduced compressive strength.

Microwave heating has been used for small samples of oil palm fruit drying and sterilization at laboratory scale. To develop a pilot-scale microwave dryer/sterilizer for oil palm fruits, a computational model assisted in designing such a system. This work modelled microwave-assisted heating of a typical oil palm fresh fruit bunch (OPFFB) size. The drying kinetics of a single oil palm fruit was first modelled, and validated with experimental data. Preliminary simulation shows that a microwave heating of 180 W cannot heat up the inner part of an OPFFB sufficiently. Prolonged microwave heating will cause overheating which could degrade the palm oil quality. A more thorough heating could be achieved by subjecting OPFFBs to a higher microwave power level intermittently.

Watermelon, known for its ability to provide both refreshing and hydrating qualities, is gaining recognition for its potential use in cleaner and sustainable technologies. Watermelon has been studied for the This concise review examines the utilization of discarded watermelon rinds as adsorbents, offering an environmentally acceptable waste management solution with versatile applications in areas such as biofuel production, catalysis, energy storage, supercapacitors and batteries. This study examines the production, characteristics, and various uses of watermelon rinds in the energy sector as of 2024, emphasizing the significance of watermelon rind biomass as a viable and renewable energy resource. The review suggests areas for further areas for advances in energy applications, using watermelon rinds.

Developing countries often witness a steady increase in maximum demand within their power systems. To maintain the reliability of the power supply, utility operators must regularly plan and upgrade both existing power stations and transmission networks to ensure reliable electricity delivery to consumers. Substantial investments are necessary from the utility companies that will ultimately be passed on to consumers through increased electricity tariffs. Thus, the objective of this research work is to develop a methodology to model the distribution of Energy Storage Systems (ESS) across an electrical network such that network-based modelling of ESS can be carried out to assess the financial and environmental benefits of maximum demand reductions by ESS. Such benefits are due to the reduced power generation costs and deferments of network upgrades and new peaking power plants. Several case studies are carried out by using the methodology based on the IEEE 24-bus transmission network with distributed ESS to perform maximum demand reductions. Results show that the optimum capacity of ESS is found to be 3700 MWh which brings the highest net financial saving of USD 402.54 million (RM 1900 million). In addition, 2679.1 ktons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission is avoided with the reduction in maximum demands.

The excess emission of carbon dioxide (CO₂) to the atmosphere has raised significant concerns about climate change. Consequently, industries with high CO₂ emissions are under pressure to reduce their carbon footprint and explore solutions to minimise net CO₂ output. One promising approach is carbon capture and storage (CCS), which involves storing liquefied CO₂ underground. Assessing subsurface porosity is crucial for determining the feasibility of CCS projects as it helps to evaluate carbon storage capacity. In this study, we utilised three recently developed boosting algorithms—histogram-based boosting regression (HGBR), light gradient boosting machine regression (LGBR), and categorical boosting regression (CBR) to estimate subsurface porosity using well log data. We employed 5 well log data types: caliper log (CAL), gamma-ray log (GR), neutron porosity log (NPHI), photoelectric factor log (PE), and deep laterolog (LLD), as input features, while lab-corrected porosity served as the target variable. Model optimisation was conducted using grid search optimisation technique. Our results indicated that HGBR outperformed the other models, achieving an impressive coefficient of determination (R²) value of 0.9756. However, both LGBR and CBR also yielded high-performing models, with R² values of 0.9598 and 0.9700, respectively. Among the input features, GR had the most significant influence, while PE had the least influence on the output. In conclusion, our findings suggest that all three boosting algorithms—HGBR, LGBR, and CBR—show promise for predicting porosity in sandstone layers using well logs, making them valuable tools for CCS assessment programs.

Abandoned wood wastes from industries pose significant environmental challenges recently. Utilization of these industrial wood wastes (IWWs) in the production of nanocellulose, particularly cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) can offer a promising solution to overcome this issue. CNFs can be derived from various plant materials, including IWWs, which are eco-friendly, making them an ideal candidate for sustainable material development, especially for energy storage applications. This study investigates the production of CNF membranes from IWW, focusing on their unique physical and tensile properties. CNF membranes with varying thicknesses (25, 30, 35, and 40 µm) were prepared using a solution casting method. Morphology, tensile properties, porosity, and electrolyte uptake ability of the membranes were determined. Notably, the CNF membrane with a thickness of 25 µm (CNF25) demonstrated promising tensile properties, including a tensile strength of 11.86 MPa, 4.59% of elongation at break and a tensile modulus of 410.13 MPa. The prepared CNF25 membrane exhibited high porosity and electrolyte uptake of 52.14% and 219.52%, respectively. These findings are comparable to the commercially available cellulose membrane separator, CS30 (NKK-TF4030 with a thickness of 30 µm), highlighting the potential of CNF membranes derived from IWW as versatile and sustainable separators for energy storage devices.

Negative emissions technologies (NETs) play an important role in mitigating climate change as these technologies reduces the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere. Among various NETs, enhanced weathering is regarded as an optimistic method for carbon sequestration. Enhanced weathering is a process of spreading crushed mineral rocks on soil to react with atmospheric CO₂ which then accelerates carbon fixation. If implemented commercially via carbon management network (CMN), this technology offers the possibility of carbon sequestration from the atmospheric emissions at the range of several gigatons per year (Gt/y CO₂). Crushed mineral rock size is a significant factor influencing the efficiency of carbon sequestration in enhanced weathering. However, there is limited mathematical optimization research that considers crushed mineral rock sizes for optimal enhanced weathering network. In this work, a linear programming (LP) model that take in consideration of different crushed mineral rock sizes is developed to determine the optimal enhanced weathering based-CMN. A case study on enhanced weathering based-CMN is solved to demonstrate the applicability of this technique.

The current study identifies the key stakeholders who are of value to the transition of solar energy storage (SES) using a stakeholder analysis framework. The various stakeholders involved are identified and prioritised, enabling them to be grouped according to their significance, focusing on the adoption of SES and the level of interest or engagement in the residential solar and SES market based on a case study of Australia. The designated key stakeholders and their groups include market participants such as manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, and installers; participants from Australia’s electricity network, utilities, and electricity retailers; state and federal government agencies and organisations; and the eventual consumers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted among 20 participants to identify the key stakeholders and their involvement in the transition. The study highlights the need for the stakeholders to share common goals and share collective responsibility for an effective transition towards SES. The study provides valuable insights into the complex landscape of SES adoption in Australia. The study indicates that despite the evident benefits, the adoption of solar and storage systems remains a challenging process, necessitating active participation from stakeholders across different sectors, such as industry, policymakers, local communities, and consumers. It underscores the interconnectedness of various stakeholder groups and the importance of their collaboration in achieving a sustainable energy future. This study aligns with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 7, 9, 12, and 13.