AN OVERVIEW OF RENEWABLE ENERGY RESEARCH: INSIGHTS FROM THE FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY, NONG LAM UNIVERSITY, HOCHIMINH CITY

In the context of the growing demand for renewable energy development, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Technology, Nong Lam University, HoChiMinh City, has carried out numerous studies to effectively utilize biomass and solar energy, aiming to address challenges in agricultural processing, reduce costs, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. First, studies on rice husk furnaces have evolved continuously from manual designs to automated systems. The conical grate furnace (1993) achieved an efficiency of 60–80%, while the improved automatic furnace, equipped with a screw feeder and ash removal system, maintained a stable temperature (±0.5°C) and reached over 80% efficiency. Large-capacity furnaces (40–250 kg/h) have been applied in several provinces and even in Tanzania. Second, research on biomass pyrolysis and gasification has focused on agricultural by-products such as rice husks, sawdust, and wood scraps. Experiments with counter-current gasifiers showed optimal performance at ER = 0.3, with gas composition (CO, H₂, CH₄) exceeding 32%. A rice husk gasification system combined with a diesel engine could replace up to 81.6% of diesel fuel. Continuous pyrolysis technology achieved biochar yields of 28.8–32.3% at 500°C, while recovered syngas could substitute up to 77% of LPG. Biochar has been proven to improve soil fertility and crop yields in agronomic trials. Third, solar energy has been applied to agricultural and aquacultural drying systems. The airflow-reversing solar-assisted dryer (SRA) reduced fuel consumption by 40–78%, lowered costs by 15–20%, and improved product quality. These systems have been successfully applied to various agricultural products (rice, cassava, grapes, artichokes) and aquatic products (pangasius, croaker), ensuring sensory quality, nutritional value, and food safety. Overall, the Faculty’s research has demonstrated scientific, economic, and social effectiveness while opening opportunities for expanding renewable energy applications in agriculture and industry in Vietnam and the region.