The present work provides a feasibility analysis of a hybrid distributed generation system to meet the energy needs for residential communities in four locations in Mexico. Tuxtla Gutierrez (Oaxaca), Puerto Escondido (Oaxaca), Guaymas (Sonora) and Mexicali (Baja California Norte) were the four locations selected to assess the potential available energy resources in meeting cost-effectively and sustainably the electricity and thermal loads of small communities in Mexico. Electricity and thermal loads are obtained for the four locations by using calibrated building energy models for residential buildings in Mexico. Based on the feasibility analysis, it is found that while hybrid systems can reduce significantly CO 2 emissions, they are not cost-effective to implement in all locations due to the relatively cheap electricity costs from the only federal utility company in Mexico.

This paper analyzes the evolution of the engineer’s role through history, from its origin in the Industrial Revolution to the present day. After that, an analysis of the current energetic transition and climate change context in the world, especially from the perspective of Mexico, is made. This analysis shows the need for a professional specialized in the development and improvement of efficient equipment for the sustainable use of energy. Throughout this article, professional degrees related with sustainable development in Mexico are reviewed, and the lack of this kind of professional degree was observed. Finally, we present the development of the Sustainable Energy Engineering Curriculum in the State of Mexico University. We have established the competencies and abilities that this professional must have in order to develop sustainable solutions to the energy dilemmas in Mexico.

Synthesis gas (Syngas), a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, can be manufactured from natural gas, coal, petroleum, biomass, and even from organic wastes. It can substitute fossil diesel as an alternative gaseous fuel in compression ignition engines under dual fuel operation route. Experiments were conducted in a single cylinder, constant speed and direct injection diesel engine fuelled with syngas-diesel in dual fuel mode. The engine is designed to develop a power output of 5.2 kW at its rated speed of 1500 rpm under variable loads with inducted syngas fuel having H 2 to CO ratio of 1:1 by volume. Diesel fuel as a pilot was injected into the engine in the conventional manner. The diesel engine was run at varying loads of 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100%. The performance of dual fuel engine is assessed by parameters such as thermal efficiency, exhaust gas temperature, diesel replacement rate, gas flow rate, peak cylinder pressure, exhaust O 2 and emissions like NO x , CO and HC. Dual fuel operation showed a decrease in brake thermal efficiency from 16.1% to a maximum of 20.92% at 80% load. The maximum diesel substitution by syngas was found 58.77% at minimum exhaust O 2 availability condition of 80% engine load. The NO x level was reduced from 144 ppm to 103 ppm for syngas-diesel mode at the best efficiency point. Due to poor combustion efficiency of dual fuel operation, there were increases in CO and HC emissions throughout the range of engine test loads. The decrease in peak pressure causes the exhaust gas temperature to rise at all loads of dual fuel operation. The present investigation provides some useful indications of using syngas fuel in a diesel engine under dual fuel operation.

The environmental and economic impact of a municipal wastewater treatment plant can be reduced through a novel application of CHP technology. By operating a natural-gas fired prime mover to generate electricity and utilizing the rejected heat in the sludge drying process, energy cost savings and both site- and grid-wide emissions reductions can be realized. The design case is the Almeda Sims Wastewater Treatment Plant for the City of Houston. This plant treats the waste, and then dewaters the sludge that results from the process with a large natural-gas fired dryer. The plant handles about 40 tons of sludge per day. The proposed CHP plant would use a natural-gas fired turbine to generate base-load electricity for the facility, and utilize the heat from the turbine exhaust to reduce the natural-gas requirement at the burner tip of the dryers. Utilization of emission-reducing technology on the turbine exhaust and the reduction in natural-gas consumption at the dryer burner tip, as well as reduced electrical draw from the grid, results in a significant reduction in environmental pollutants. Modeling of the proposed system shows a potential for a CHP system efficiency of approximately 76%, compared to 30–35% efficiency of grid-wide power generation equipment. The result is an economically viable green energy solution for any municipality with significant wastewater processing needs.