This paper examines the potential for energy savings in Nigerian higher institutions with particular reference to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Electricity consumption and cost profiles for a period of 10 years indicate a steady rise attributable to marginal improvement in staff living standards, increasing students’ enrolment, infrastructural development, preponderant use of inefficient electrical appliances and increasing business activities within the community. Investigations show that about 51% of the total electricity consumption occurs in staff housing units, 16% in students’ hostels and the balance in academic and public buildings on the campus. An internal energy policy, awareness creation and establishment of an energy management unit in the University system are some of the measures that can guarantee good savings. This paper estimates electricity savings potentials of 10-20% in Nigerian higher institutions through well articulated and vigorously pursued energy efficiency programmes in the system.

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Overall developments in internal combustion engines suggest that the ORC system recovers exhaust heat for further use, increases system performance, and decreases adverse environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas emissions, and particulate matter. This paper presents an overview of crucial advancements in the field of ORC application in commercial vehicles for WHR and continuing developments towards clean fuels and emission regulatory standards. The is review centred on the potential of ORC technology, its applications in highway truck engines heat recovery, and most notably, the bottlenecks associated with incorporating ORC technology into commercial vehicles exhaust energy recovery. Furthermore, a range of distinct engine operating patterns is reported in respect of average speeds of trucks to assess the appropriate operating points for the chosen application.

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Palm kernel shell is an important by-product of oil palm production. It is often neglected and handled as waste in the product mix of palm oil production. One kilogram of PKS was pyrolized in a bench scale pyrolysis screw reactor at temperature range of 450°C to 500°C in 10mins. The process yielded 61 wt%, 24.5 wt% and 14 wt% bio-oil, bio-char and non condensable flammable gas respectively. Palm Kernel shell is relatively abundant in the tropical West Africa and Asia. Until recently PKS is commonly combusted for cooking purposes which contributes to total GHG emission. The products were characterized by determining their physical and chemical properties using standard methods. The thermochemical conversion shows that there is 29% and 26% increase in the higher heating values and lower heating values (on dry basis) respectively, of the bio-oil obtained when compared with the energy values of the original PKS. Similarly, the HHV of the bio-char is 62% higher than that of the original PKS. In addition the results of the GC-MS analysis of the bio-oil show that it contains useful chemicals that can be harnessed for industrial applications. The ash content of the bio-oil and the original PKS sample are 0.37% and 8.68% respectively, on as received, while the results of the elemental analyses show that there is < 0.08% and < 0.05% sulphur content of the PKS and its bio-oil respectively. This makes the products an environmentally suitable fuels for transportation and power generation. The results of this work show that the products compare well with those of other woody samples used for commercial pyrolysis process. PKS bio-char possesses the potential to be used as industrial absorbent in water treatment and process technology. Hence, PKS can be harnessed as potential future source of bio-energy and Activated carbon, and as such should be given adequate attention as a major product of oil palm processing for sustainable economic development of emerging economies.