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Aims: This paper reviews extensively the thermochemical processing of biomass to fuels and high-value chemicals, with more emphasis on the process performance, conditions, and weaknesses. The important chemical compositions of biomass feedstock, their conversion technologies and most importantly, the role of catalysis in their conversion to fuels, fuel additives, based chemicals, and added-value chemicals are also discussed. Background: Fossil fuels have fueled the world economy for decades. However, given their unlimited nature, fluctuating prices and the escalating environmental concerns, there is the urgent need to develop and valorize cheaper, cleaner and sustainable alternative energy sources to curb these challenges. Biomass represents a valid alternative to fossil fuels, especially for fuel and chemical production as it represents the only natural organic renewable resource with vast abundance. A vast array of conversion technologies is used to process biomass from one form to another, to release energy, high-value products or chemical intermediates. Objective: To extensively review the thermochemical processing of biomass to fuels and high-value chemicals, and to discuss important chemical compositions of biomass feedstock, their conversion technologies and most importantly, the role of catalysis in their conversion to fuels, fuel additives, based chemicals, and added-value chemicals. Method: Extensive review and analysis of prominent scientific papers in bioenergy Result: Biomass has a huge potential for climate change mitigations and almost all fossil-derived fuels and chemicals are obtainable from biomass using appropriate processing techniques Conclusion: There is a huge prospect for fuel and chemical production from biomass, as it is a very rich source of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels and high-value chemicals or high-density energy and chemical precursors. Other: Biomass processing to fuels and chemicals has promising future prospects for sustainable large-scale biomass processing, especially in the modern biorefinery.

Greenhouse cultivation is an essential activity for the development of the agricultural sector, and most of the energy consumption is in the agricultural industry. The increase in fossil fuels cost and their negative effects on the environment, limit the use of heating/cooling and irrigation applications. Renewable energy is an alternative solution for water pumping and irrigation of isolated and arid regions. This article analyzes the heating/cooling and irrigation requirements of a pilot greenhouse and provides two solutions by combining thermal energy storage with phase change material as well as photovoltaic systems for cooling and irrigation. Results have shown that monthly heating and cooling demands were at 2.25 kW and 2 kW, respectively. Monthly water consumption varies between 3.5 m3 and 38 m3 for the three sample products such as tomato, muskmelon, and watermelon. The technologies proposed can fully satisfy these heating/cooling and water requirements. Furthermore, an economic analysis for this technology has been carried out in contrast to a diesel system. The results obtained indicate that the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of a photovoltaic system is acceptable when compared with the diesel system, where LCOEPV = 0.068$/kWh and LCOEDiesel = 0.230$/kWh. Taking into account that the water price for a PV system amounts to 1.48$ whereas the cost for a diesel system is at 2.68$, the former can be declared more economically feasible. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 38:e13029, 2019

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