Biomass for Bioenergy Production

Introduction

Developing renewable energy sources have become favorable given policies that are geared towards enhancing the currently dependent global energy system on limited and unsustainable fossil fuel resources. That notwithstanding, current trends also calls for reducing related environmental emissions of fossil fuels. Therefore, taking advantage of biomass energy, which is the transformation of biomass into practical forms of energy such as heat, electricity and liquid fuels,appears to be a more feasible alternative for the future production of energy, including a wide range of other potentially environmental friendly processes. Some of the difficulties facing the increased usage of biomass waste utilization for energy production however include: access to information on the possibilities, affordability of the technology and the operation and maintenance of plants. This article gives an overview on biomass and bioenergy sources, environmental and social effects, global demand and bioenergy opportunities, and barriers and issues.

Bioenergy

Bioenergy is entrenched in multifaceted ways in global biomass systems for food, fodder and fibre production and for forest crops as well as in wastes and residue management. Bioenergy plays a critical role in the livelihoods of billions of people in developing countries. Sources of bioenergy vary from both plant and animal sources. In principle, biomass serves as the primary source of bioenergyii. In developing countries and marginalized populations, traditional biomass is utilized for cooking purposes, heating and lighting. Charcoal for instance is becoming increasingly a secondary energy carrier in rural areas with the probability of generating productive chains. The incremental magnitude of traditional biomass use and the global primary energy supply from traditional biomass to the world’s industrial wood production is shown in Figure 1a. Nonetheless, the frequency and unsustainable use of this traditional biomass sources (wood, charcoal, residue from agriculture processes, and animal dung) through combustion generate serious negative impacts on health and living conditions .

Figure 1b shows the types of biomass used for bioenergy. Intensification of bioenergy production implies refining land and water use management and this requires a more global productive increase in feedstock for food, fodder, fibre, forest products and energy; important improvements in technology adaptation; and an advanced understanding of related social, energy and environmental connections linked to bioenergy production and usage. Modern bioenergy uses high efficiency and convenient solids, liquids and gases as secondary energy movers to generate heat, electricity, combined heat and power (CHP), and also fuels for transport in various sectors. Gases resulting from biomass are primarily methane which is obtained through anaerobic digestion of agricultural residues and municipal solid waste treatment and used for generation of electricity, heat or both.

Figure 1:

(a) Shares of global primary biomass sources for energy

(b) Fuel wood used in developing countries parallels world industrial roundwood production levels.

Source: IPCC 2011, Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation

Figure 1(b) shows the magnitude of traditional biomass use and the global primary energy supply from traditional biomass to the world’s industrial wood production. Source: IPCC 2011, Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation

Further Information

• Bioenergy Portal on energypedia