Power Demand Compensation With Implementation of Biomass Energy Utilization

CO2 from the atmosphere and water from theyears, natural processes in the earth transformed
earth are combined in the photosynthetic processorganic matter into today's fossil fuels: oil, natural
to produce carbohydrates that form the buildinggas and coal. In contrast, biomass fuels come
blocks of biomass. The solar energy that drivesfrom organic matter in trees, agricultural crops
photosynthesis is stored in the chemical bonds ofand other living plant material. CO2 from the
the structural components of biomass. If we burnatmosphere and water from the earth are
biomass efficiently oxygen from the atmospherecombined in the photosynthetic process to
combines with the carbon in plants to produceproduce carbohydrates that form the building
CO2 and water. The process is cyclic because theblocks of biomass. The solar energy that drives
carbon dioxide is then available to produce newphotosynthesis is stored in the chemical bonds of
biomass. Typical biomass resources include ? Thethe structural components of biomass. If we burn
forest ? Waste from wood processing industry ?biomass efficiently, oxygen from the atmosphere
Agricultural waste ? Urban wood waste ?combines with the carbon in plants no produces
Wastewater & landfill ? Other natural resourcesCO2 and water. The process is cyclic because the
(straw, peat, bagasse, etc.) Unlike any othercarbon dioxide is then available to produce new
energy resource, using biomass to producebiomass. Typical biomass resources include: •
energy is often a way to dispose of biomassThe forest residues from logging operations and
waste materials that otherwise would createother forest wooden waste • Waste from
environmental risks. Today, there are ranges ofwood processing industry sawdust, cut-offs, bark,
biomass utilization technologies that produce usefuletc. • Agricultural waste palm oil residues, rice
energy from biomass. • Direct Combustionhusks, sugarcane, coconut shells, coffee & cocoa
• Gasification • Anaerobic Digestion •husks, cotton & maize residues, etc. • Organic
Methanol & Ethanol Production There are awaste animal manure, food processing wastes.
number of challenges that inhibit the development• Urban wood waste wooden pallets, packing
of biomass energy. In this regard, formulation ofmaterial, etc. • Wastewater & landfill Municipal
sustainable energy policy and strategies insewage, landfill gas, etc. • Other natural
addressing these challenges is indeed aresources Straw, peat, bagasse Fossil fuels are
pre-requisite for the development and promotionnot renewable. The oil, natural gas and coal we
of biomass energy. Rapid rate at which fossil anduse today are gone forever. However, biomass
residual fuels are releasing CO2 into thefuels are renewable because the growth of new
atmosphere has raised international concern andplants and trees replenishes the supply. Unlike any
has spurred intensive efforts to developother energy resource, using biomass to produce
alternative, renewable, sources of primary energy.energy is often a way to dispose of biomass
Biomass as the solar energy stored in chemicalwaste materials that otherwise would create
form in plant and animal materials is among theenvironmental risks. In this paper the following
most precious and most promising alternativebiomass utilization technologies that produce useful
fuels not only for power generation but also forenergy from biomass are compared: • Direct
other industrial and domestic applications on earth.Combustion • Gasification • Anaerobic
It provides not only food but also energy, buildingDigestion • Methanol & Ethanol Production For
materials, paper, fabrics, medicines and chemicals.better illustration the following diagram (Figure 1)
Biomass has been used for energy purposes evershows biomass energy consumption in selected
since man discovered fire. It is important to say,Asian countries. Figure 1 Biomass consumption in
that biomass absorbs the same amount of CO2selected Asian countries. There are a number of
in growing that it releases when burned as a fuelchallenges that inhibit the development of biomass
in any form. This means that biomass contributionenergy. In this regard, formulation of sustainable
to global warming is zero. In addition, biomassenergy policy and strategies in addressing these
fuels contain negligible amount of sulphur, so theirchallenges is indeed a pre-requisite for the
contribution to acid rain is minimal. Over millions ofdevelopment and promotion of biomass energy.