FXSTD – Alternative Energy Center

By: s.sankar
the atmosphere and water from the earth are combined in the photosynthetic process to produce carbohydrates that form the building blocks of biomass. The solar energy that drives photosynthesis is stored in the chemical bonds of the structural components of biomass. If we burn biomass efficiently oxygen from the atmosphere combines with the carbon in plants to produce CO2 and water. The process is cyclic because the carbon dioxide is then available to produce new biomass. Typical biomass resources include ? The forest ? Waste from wood processing industry ? Agricultural waste ? Urban wood waste ? Wastewater & landfill ? Other natural resources (straw, peat, bagasse, etc.) Unlike any other energy resource, using biomass to produce energy is often a way to dispose of biomass waste materials that otherwise would create environmental risks. Today, there are ranges of biomass utilization technologies that produce useful energy from biomass. • Direct Combustion • Gasification • Anaerobic Digestion • Methanol & Ethanol Production There are a number of challenges that inhibit the development of biomass energy. In this regard, formulation of sustainable energy policy and strategies in addressing these challenges is indeed a pre-requisite for the development and promotion of biomass energy. Rapid rate at which fossil and residual fuels are releasing CO2 into the atmosphere has raised international concern and has spurred intensive efforts to develop alternative, renewable, sources of primary energy. Biomass as the solar energy stored in chemical form in plant and animal materials is among the most precious and most promising alternative fuels not only for power generation but also for other industrial and domestic applications on earth. It provides not only food but also energy, building materials, paper, fabrics, medicines and chemicals. Biomass has been used for energy purposes ever since man discovered fire. It is important to say, that biomass absorbs the same amount of CO2 in growing that it releases when burned as a fuel in any form. This means that biomass contribution to global warming is zero. In addition, biomass fuels contain negligible amount of sulphur, so their contribution to acid rain is minimal. Over millions of years, natural processes in the earth transformed organic matter into today's fossil fuels: oil, natural gas and coal. In contrast, biomass fuels come from organic matter in trees, agricultural crops and other living plant material. CO2 from the atmosphere and water from the earth are combined in the photosynthetic process to produce carbohydrates that form the building blocks of biomass. The solar energy that drives photosynthesis is stored in the chemical bonds of the structural components of biomass. If we burn biomass efficiently, oxygen from the atmosphere combines with the carbon in plants no produces CO2 and water. The process is cyclic because the carbon dioxide is then available to produce new biomass. Typical biomass resources include: • The forest residues from logging operations and other forest wooden waste • Waste from wood processing industry sawdust, cut-offs, bark, etc. • Agricultural waste palm oil residues, rice husks, sugarcane, coconut shells, coffee & cocoa husks, cotton & maize residues, etc. • Organic waste animal manure, food processing wastes. • Urban wood waste wooden pallets, packing material, etc. • Wastewater & landfill Municipal sewage, landfill gas, etc. • Other natural resources Straw, peat, bagasse Fossil fuels are not renewable. The oil, natural gas and coal we use today are gone forever. However, biomass fuels are renewable because the growth of new plants and trees replenishes the supply. Unlike any other energy resource, using biomass to produce energy is often a way to dispose of biomass waste materials that otherwise would create environmental risks. In this paper the following biomass utilization technologies that produce useful energy from biomass are compared: • Direct Combustion • Gasification • Anaerobic Digestion • Methanol & Ethanol Production For better illustration the following diagram (Figure 1) shows biomass energy consumption in selected Asian countries. Figure 1 Biomass consumption in selected Asian countries. There are a number of challenges that inhibit the development of biomass energy. In this regard, formulation of sustainable energy policy and strategies in addressing these challenges is indeed a pre-requisite for the development and promotion of biomass energy.