In recent years, the use of photovoltaic-based distributed electricity generation has played a key role in achieving climate and energy policy goals. The energy market is changing rapidly from centralized generation towards unbundling generation, transmission, distribution, and supply activities. As energy consumers also become producers, a new energy market player—the prosumer—is emerging. The role of the prosumer as a market player can be analyzed in terms of implemented technological solutions, economic assessment, environmental impact, and legal regulation requirements. The aim of this article is to investigate the importance and compatibility of energy prosumers with energy justice theory in the context of European Union (EU) law. The authors concluded first that an energy prosumer will help to meet energy justice goals only if government ensures support for generation facilities for low-income consumers, as only then can intrageneration equity be achieved. Second, seeking to ensure equality among places with different energy sources, the government should promote the development of generation facilities using different renewable energy sources. Third, the short-term electricity market, which may allow energy prosumers to participate, should be developed.

High purity hydrogen and solid-state byproducts are produced using a proposed plasma-activated aluminum and water reactions approach. These byproducts could be transformed into pure gamma Al₂O₃ powder material, while hydrogen can be used for electricity generation. Various chemical methods can be used for the synthesis of gamma alumina, but most could result in high levels of remaining impurities. Boehmite is a cost-effective starting material for the production of high-purity Al₂O₃. Herein, we present a novel method for the synthesis of boehmite and its transformation into high-specific-surface-area γ-alumina. Specifically, this method implicates the direct reaction between distilled water and plasma-treated aluminum powder. The results show the structural and morphological changes of the byproduct of the aluminum/water reaction to boehmite and γ-Al₂O₃ after a simple heating procedure (at 280 and 500 °C respectively). The high-purity hydrogen produced during the aluminum/water reaction can be used for the high-efficiency and environmentally friendly production of electrical energy.

This work aims to explain aluminum hydrolysis reaction kinetics based on a properly chosen theoretical model with machined aluminum waste chips as well as alkali solutions up to 1M as a promoter and to estimate the overall reaction profit. The purpose of this work is to assess the optimal alkali concentration in the production of small- and medium-scale green hydrogen. To obtain results with better accuracy, we worked with flat Al waste chips, because a flat surface is preferable to maximally increase the time for the created hydrogen bubbles to reach the critical gas pressure. Describing the reaction kinetics, a flat shape allows for the use of a planar one-dimensional shrinking core model instead of a much more complicated polydisperse spheric shrinking core model. We analyzed the surface chemical reaction and mass transfer rate steps to obtain the first-order rate constant for the surface reaction and the diffusion coefficient of the aqueous reactant in the byproduct layer, respectively. We noted that measurements of the diffusion coefficient in the byproduct layer performed and discussed in this paper are rare to find in publications at alkali concentrations below 1M. With our reactor, we achieved a H₂ yield of 1145 mL per 1 g of Al with 1M NaOH, which is 92% of the theoretical maximum. In the estimation of profit, the authors’ novelty is in paying great attention to the loss in alkali and finding a crucial dependence on its price. Nevertheless, in terms of consumed and originated materials for sale, the conversion of aluminum waste material into green hydrogen with properly chosen reaction parameters has positive profit even when consuming an alkali of a chemical grade.

Cotton textiles improved with metal oxide nanoparticles acquire additional features that may enhance their action against antimicrobial-resistant pathogens due to the unique properties and characteristics of the nanoparticles. The main objective of this work is to evaluate the antimicrobial features of two-sided-coated cotton textiles with ZnO nanoparticles. Nanoparticles were deposited using green chemistry technology with low-temperature oxygen plasma. ZnO particles formed stable structures on textile fibers. The optimal deposition parameters (150 W plasma power, 120 min immersion time) achieved the best effects against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and microscopic fungi. Two-sided-coated cotton with ZnO nanoparticles showed high antibacterial action on Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Modification with zinc oxide inhibited the growth of Candida albicans by more than half.