Things You Should Know About Algaculture

High oil prices, competing demands between foods and other biofuel sources, and the world food crisis, have ignited interest in algaculture (farming of algae) for making vegetable oil, biodiesel, bioethanol, biogasoline, biomethanol, biobutanol and other biofuels, using land that is not suitable for agriculture. Algae holds enormous potential to provide a non-food, high-yield, non-arable land use source […]

Role of Biogas in Rural Development

Anaerobic digestion has proven to be a beneficial technology in various spheres for rural development. Biogas produced is a green replacement of unprocessed fuels (like fuel wood, dung cakes, crop residues). It is a cost effective replacement for dung cakes and conventional domestic fuels like LPG or kerosene. Biogas technology has the potential to meet […]

Everything You Should Know About Biomass Storage Methods

Sufficient biomass storage is necessary to accommodate seasonality of production and ensure regular supply to the biomass utilization plant. The type of storage will depend on the properties of the biomass, especially moisture content. For high moisture biomass intended to be used wet, such as in fermentation and anaerobic digestion systems, wet storage systems can […]

Could Biomass Be The Answer To South Africa’s Energy Problem

biomass-sustainability

South Africa is experiencing a mammoth energy crisis with its debt-laden national power utility, Eskom, being unable to meet the electricity needs of the nation. After extensive periods of load shedding in 2018 and again earlier this year, it is becoming increasingly important to find an alternative source of energy. According to Marko Nokkala, senior sales manager […]

Issues Confronting Biomass Energy Ventures

Biomass_Cogeneration

Biomass resources can be transformed into clean energy and/or fuels by thermal and biochemical technologies. Besides recovery of substantial energy, these technologies can lead to a substantial reduction in the overall waste quantities requiring final disposal. However, biomass energy projects worldwide are often hampered by a variety of techno-commercial issues. The issues enumerated below are not […]

From Waste to Watchtower: Powering Remote Radar Systems with Bioenergy

remote radar system

Imagine keeping an eye on vast landscapes, ensuring safety, and gathering vital data—all in some of the most remote, unforgiving places on Earth. Now imagine doing it sustainably. That’s the magic of bioenergy, a clean, renewable power source that’s stepping up to fuel radar systems even in the harshest conditions. And when these systems are […]

Boosting Bioenergy Production with Engineered Fabric Structures

fabric buildings

When it comes to bioenergy production, efficiency and sustainability are key players in the game. Whether it’s biomass processing or biofuel storage, the right infrastructure can make or break the process. Traditional buildings often fall short, with hefty costs and limited adaptability. Enter Alaska Structures, whose engineered fabric buildings offer a game-changing solution for bioenergy […]

The Energy Value of Agricultural Wastes

agricultural-wastes

Large quantities of agricultural wastes, resulting from crop cultivation activities, are a promising source of energy supply for production, processing and domestic activities in the rural areas. The available agricultural residues are either being used inefficiently or burnt in the open to clear the fields for subsequent crop cultivation. On an average 1.5 tons of […]

An Introduction to Biomass Energy

Biomass is the material derived from plants that use sunlight to grow which include plant and animal material such as wood from forests, material left over from agricultural and forestry processes, and organic industrial, human and animal wastes. Biomass energy (or bioenergy) is a type of renewable energy generated from biological (such as, anaerobic digestion) […]

Ethanol Production from Lignocellulosic Biomass

Bioethanol_Pump

Cellulosic ethanol technology is one of the most commonly discussed second-generation biofuel technologies worldwide. Cellulosic biofuels are derived from the cellulose in plants, some of which are being developed specifically as “energy” crops rather than for food production. These include perennial grasses and trees, such as switchgrass and Miscanthus. Crop residues, in the form of […]

A Glance at Woody Biomass Resources

wood wastes

Woody biomass resources range from corn kernels to corn stalks, from soybean and canola oils to animal fats, from prairie grasses to hardwoods, and even include algae. Woody biomass may be used for energy production at different scales, including large-scale power generation, CHP, or small-scale thermal heating projects. Some of the major sources of woody biomass […]

The Role of IT in the Bioenergy Sector

IT in the bioenergy sector

The bioenergy sector is growing rapidly, and it’s widely seen as a key solution to the global challenge of climate change. It has great potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also providing energy security through renewable sources. However, a lack of IT can be an obstacle to further developments in this sector. That’s because […]

Biomass Energy in Indonesia

Empty_fruit_bunches

It is estimated that Indonesia produces 146.7 million tons of biomass per year, equivalent to about 470 GJ/y. Sources of biomass energy in Indonesia are scattered all over the country, but the biggest biomass energy potential in concentrated scale can be found in the Island of Kalimantan, Sumatera, Irian Jaya and Sulawesi. Studies estimate the […]

Asbestos Related Illnesses in the Bioenergy Industry

Asbestos Related Illnesses in the Bioenergy Industry

When we think of asbestos, we usually picture old, condemned buildings filled with harmful asbestos-based insulation, but this isn’t always the case. Since 1989, the use of asbestos has been banned in construction work in the UK and many buildings which contain this harmful substance, are being replaced or made safe. While this is of […]

The Concept of Biorefinery

biorefinery-process

A biorefinery is a facility that integrates biomass conversion processes and equipment to produce fuels, power, and value-added chemicals from biomass. Biorefinery is analogous to today’s petroleum refinery, which produces multiple fuels and products from petroleum. By producing several products, a biorefinery takes advantage of the various components in biomass and their intermediates, therefore maximizing […]

Biobutanol as a Biofuel

The major techno-commercial limitations of existing biofuels has catalyzed the development of advanced biofuels such as cellulosic ethanol, biobutanol and mixed alcohols. Biobutanol is generating good deal of interest as a potential green alternative to petroleum fuels. It is increasingly being considered as a superior automobile fuel in comparison to bioethanol as its energy content […]

Agricultural Biomass in Malaysia

Malaysia is located in a region where biomass productivity is high which means that the country can capitalize on this renewable energy resource to supplements limited petroleum and coal reserves. Malaysia, as a major player in the palm oil and sago starch industries, produces a substantial amount of agricultural biomass waste which present a great […]

Biomass Resources in Malaysia

Malaysia is gifted with conventional energy resources such as oil and gas as well as renewables like hydro, biomass and solar energy. As far as biomass resources in Malaysia are concerned, Malaysia has tremendous agricultural biomass and wood waste resources available for immediate exploitation. This energy potential of biomass resource is yet to be exploited properly […]

Biomass from Wood Processing Industries

Saw-dust

Wood processing industries primarily include sawmilling, plywood, wood panel, furniture, building component, flooring, particle board, moulding, jointing and craft industries. Biomass from wood processing industries is generally concentrated at the processing factories, e.g. plywood mills and sawmills. The amount of waste generated from wood processing industries varies from one type industry to another depending on […]

Biomass Cogeneration Systems

Biomass fuels are typically used most efficiently and beneficially when generating both power and heat through biomass cogeneration systems (also known as combined heat and power or CHP system). Biomass conversion technologies transform a variety of wastes into heat, electricity and biofuels by employing a host of strategies. Conversion routes are generally thermochemical or biochemical, […]

Biomass Energy Potential in Pakistan

pakistan_biomass

Being an agricultural economy, biomass energy potential in Pakistan is highly promising. Pakistan is experiencing a severe energy crisis these days which is resulting in adverse long term economic and social problems. The electricity and gas shortages have directly impacted the common man, industry and commercial activities. The high cost of energy mix is the […]

Biomass Energy Scenario in Southeast Asia

biomass_resources

There is immense potential of biomass energy in Southeast Asia due to plentiful supply of diverse forms of biomass wastes including agricultural residues, agro-industrial wastes, woody biomass, animal wastes, municipal solid waste, etc. Southeast Asia is a big producer of wood and agricultural products which, when processed in industries, produces large amounts of biomass residues. […]

The Role of Biomass Energy in Net-Zero Buildings

The concept of biomass energy is still in its infancy in most parts of the world, but nevertheless, it does have an important role to play in terms of sustainability in general and net-zero buildings in particular. Once processed, biomass is a renewable source of energy that has amazing potential. But there is a lot […]

Bioenergy in Southeast Asia: Perspectives

Southeast_asia

Southeast Asia, with its abundant bioenergy resources, holds a strategic position in the global biomass energy atlas. There is immense biomass energy potential in Southeast Asian countries due to plentiful supply of diverse forms of biomass wastes, such as agricultural residues, woody biomass, animal wastes, municipal solid waste, etc. The rapid economic growth and industrialization […]

Trends in Utilization of Palm Kernel Shells

palm-kernel-shell-uses

The palm kernel shells used to be initially dumped in the open thereby impacting the environment negatively without any economic benefit. However, over time, palm oil mills in Southeast Asia and elsewhere realized their brilliant properties as a fuel and that they can easily replace coal as an industrial fuel for generating heat and steam. […]

Biodiesel Program in India – An Analysis

impact of biofuels on air quality

The Government of India approved the National Policy on Biofuels in December 2009. The biofuel policy encouraged the use of renewable energy resources as alternate fuels to supplement transport fuels (petrol and diesel for vehicles) and proposed a target of 20 percent biofuel blending (both biodiesel and bioethanol) by 2017. The government launched the National […]

Biomass Pyrolysis Process

Pyrolysis

Biomass pyrolysis is the thermal decomposition of biomass occurring in the absence of oxygen. It is the fundamental chemical reaction that is the precursor of both the combustion and gasification processes and occurs naturally in the first two seconds. The products of biomass pyrolysis include biochar, bio-oil and gases including methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and […]

Biomass Wastes from Palm Oil Mills

palm-biomass

The Palm Oil industry generates large quantity of wastes whose disposal is a challenging task. In the Palm Oil mill, fresh fruit bunches are sterilized after which the oil fruits can be removed from the branches. The empty fruit bunches (are left as residues, and the fruits are pressed in oil mills. The Palm Oil […]

Energy Potential of Empty Fruit Bunches

EFB

A palm oil plantation yields huge amount of biomass wastes in the form of empty fruit bunches (EFB), palm oil mill effluent (POME) and palm kernel shell (PKS). In a typical palm oil mill, empty fruit bunches are available in abundance as fibrous material of purely biological origin. Energy potential of empty fruit bunches is attractive […]

Major Considerations in Biopower Projects

In recent years, biopower (or biomass power) projects are getting increasing traction worldwide, however there are major issues to be tackled before setting up a biopower project. There are three important steps involved in the conversion of biomass wastes into useful energy. In the first step, the biomass must be prepared for the energy conversion […]

Analysis of Agro Biomass Projects

Crop_Residues

The current use of agro biomass for energy generation is low and more efficient use would release significant amounts of agro biomass resources for other energy use. Usually, efficiency improvements are neglected because of the non-existence of grid connections with agro-industries. Electricity generated from biomass is more costly to produce than fossil fuel and hydroelectric […]

Bioenergy Developments in Malaysia

Malaysia is blessed with abundant renewable sources of energy, especially biomass and solar. Under the Eighth Malaysian Plan, renewable energy was added in the energy mix to unveil a Five-Fuel Strategy to achieve 5 percent contribution by 2005. Among the various sources of renewable energy, bioenergy seems to be the most promising option for Malaysia. […]

Sugarcane Trash as Biomass Resource

cane-trash

Sugarcane trash (or cane trash) is an excellent biomass resource in sugar-producing countries worldwide. The amount of cane trash produced depends on the plant variety, age of the crop at harvest and soil and weather conditions. Typically it represents about 15% of the total above ground biomass at harvest which is equivalent to about 10-15 […]

Collection Systems for Agricultural Biomass

biomass collection

Biomass collection involves gathering, packaging, and transporting biomass to a nearby site for temporary storage. The amount of biomass resource that can be collected at a given time depends on a variety of factors. In case of agricultural residues, these considerations include the type and sequence of collection operations, the efficiency of collection equipment, tillage […]

Properties and Uses of POME

POME

Palm Oil processing gives rise to highly polluting wastewater, known as Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME), which is often discarded in disposal ponds, resulting in the leaching of contaminants that pollute the groundwater and soil, and in the release of methane gas into the atmosphere. POME is an oily wastewater generated by palm oil processing […]

Biofuels from Syngas

Gasification_Process

An attractive approach to converting biomass into liquid or gaseous fuels is direct gasification, followed by conversion of the syngas to final fuel. Ethanol can be produced this way, but other fuels can be produced more easily and potentially at lower cost, though none of the approaches is currently inexpensive. The choice of which process […]

Global Trends in the Biomass Sector

biomass-power-trends

There has been a flurry of activity in the biomass energy sector in recent year, with many new projects and initiatives being given the green light across the globe. This movement has been on both a regional and local level; thanks to the increased efficiency of biomass energy generators and a slight lowering in implementation […]

Palm Kernel Shells: An Attractive Biomass Fuel for Europe

palm-kernel-shells

Europe is targeting an ambitious renewable energy program aimed at 20% renewable energy in the energy mix by 2020 with biomass energy being key renewable energy resource across the continent. However, the lack of locally-available biomass resources has hampered the progress of biomass energy industry in Europe as compared with solar and wind energy industries. […]

Torrified PKS: An Attractive Biomass Commodity in West Africa

palm-kernel-shells

Even though palm kernel shell has many similarities with wood pellets, it is not easy to reduce its size which makes it difficult for its optimum cofiring with coal in power plants and industries. Few years ago, Indonesia had exported PKS to Poland for cofiring purposes but because PKS was difficult to make powder (low […]

Energy Potential of Bagasse

Sugarcane is one of the most promising agricultural sources of biomass energy in the world. Sugarcane produces mainly two types of biomass – sugarcane trash and bagasse. Sugarcane trash is the field residue remaining after harvesting the sugarcane stalk while bagasse is the fibrous residue left over after milling of the sugarcane, with 45-50% moisture […]

Torrefaction of Biomass: Things You Should Know

torrefaction of biomass

To improve the quality of biomass, especially for cofiring purposes, biomass waste can be processed with torrefaction (also known as mild pyrolysis). With the torrefaction process, it becomes easier to make powder (high grindability) so that the desired particle size for cofiring of biomass is easier to obtain. Another advantage of the torrefaction process is […]

Managing Occupational Risks in the Renewable Energy Sector

drone at a wind-farm

According to recent estimates, the renewable energy sector employs 12 million people worldwide. Keeping workers safe is vital in any industry but as the use of clean energies rapidly expands around the globe, more workers are putting themselves at risk climbing wind turbines, maintaining remote solar panels and dealing with flammable biofuels. By identifying and managing the risks involved, […]

How Eco-friendly Batteries Can Benefit From Biomass Energy?

Biomass-Resources

Organisations and more importantly, battery manufacturers are recognising the need to overcome the problem of global warming. The objective is to develop ways of producing carbon-neutral sources of energy. One of the areas currently being explored is the use of biomass resources to create sustainable, eco-friendly batteries which are suitable for use across a wide […]

6 Simple Ways to Control and Minimize Fuel Costs for Your Fleet

fuel management for fleets

A study revealed that in 2022, the overall carrier operation expenses rose to $2.251 per mile. This underscores the persistent challenge for fleet owners and managers with effective expense control. As they strive for operational efficiency, seeking practical ways to lower expenses becomes paramount. One way to achieve this is by minimizing fuel costs. This […]

Is Bioenergy the Future of Sustainability?

bioenergy and sustainability

Bioenergy has emerged as a viable competitor in the race for a sustainable energy future. It provides an environmentally friendly alternative to standard fossil fuels, a significant step forward. Bioenergy, derived from organic resources such as plants, agricultural wastes, and organic waste, can potentially decrease greenhouse gas emissions and minimize the effects of climate change. The issue, […]

Biomass Exchange – Key to Success in Biomass Projects

biomass-exchange

Biomass exchange is emerging as a key factor in the progress of biomass energy sector. It is well-known that the supply chain management in any biomass project is a big management conundrum. The complexity deepens owing to the large number of stages which encompass the entire biomass value chain. It starts right from biomass resource […]

Transforming Waste: Eco-friendly Rubbish Management

waste-management-plan

Waste is an inevitable byproduct of human activity. Your day-to-day actions generate substantial rubbish, much of which can negatively impact the planet if not managed responsibly. Implementing effective eco-friendly waste disposal solutions centered on recycling and composting, however, provides opportunities to transform management practices in sustainable ways that cleanse the environment. Importance of Waste Management […]

Why Fossil Fuels are Preferred Over Biomass by Industries?

biomass collection

Biomass can play a key role in economic development and emerge as a significant alternative to fossil fuels. In this article, we will discuss why fossil fuels are preferred over biomass fuel by the industrial sector.   Pyrolysis and the Promise of Biochar The end application of biomass mostly depends on the feedstock type and […]

Clean Cookstoves: An Urgent Necessity

Globally, three billion people in the developing nations are solely dependent on burning firewood, crop residues, animal manure etc for preparing their daily meals on open fires, mud or clay stoves or simply on three rocks strategically placed to balance a cooking vessel.  The temperature of these fires are lower and produce inefficient burning that […]

Robust Techniques for Sustainable Agricultural Waste Management

Biomass from Agriculture

Agricultural waste, encompassing both organic and inorganic materials leftover from farming activities, poses a significant challenge and opportunity in equal measure. The residues from crop production and livestock farming, including crop stalks, animal manure, packaging, and agricultural chemicals, present a dual nature. When managed effectively, these materials hold immense potential due to their biodegradability and […]

Biomass Energy Potential in Philippines

rice-biomass-philippines

The Philippines has abundant supplies of biomass energy resources in the form of agricultural crop residues, forest residues, animal wastes, agro-industrial wastes, municipal solid wastes and aquatic biomass. The most common agricultural wastes are rice hull, bagasse, cane trash, coconut shell/husk and coconut coir. The use of crop residues as biofuels is increasing in the Philippines as […]

Biorefinery Prospects in India

Biomass-India

India has a tremendous biomass potential which could easily be relied upon to fulfil most of our energy needs. An estimated 50 MMT (million metric tonnes) of liquid fuels are consumed annually in India, but with the actual biomass potential and its full utilization, India is capable of generating almost double that amount per annum. […]

Bioenergy and Filtered Water: Unseen Connection

relationhip between water filtration and bioenergy

The intersection of bioenergy and water filtration holds exciting potential. Advanced filtration methods can generate clean water while capturing valuable biofuel feedstocks like algae. Bioenergy crops, in turn, can be fertilized from recycled nutrients in wastewater. By linking these systems, there is opportunity for greater efficiency, renewable energy production, and water purification – a sustainable […]

Biomass Conveyors: An Overview

Waste_Conveyor

A well designed biomass conveyor system should take into account the variability of the material and provide the consistent and reliable flow that is crucial to power generation. Depending upon the type of boiler and conversion system, the fuel is either transported directly to the powerhouse via a belt conveyor, or first processed in a […]

Exploring the Synergy between Bioenergy and Solar Power Systems

Complementary Nature of Bioenergy and Solar Power

Two front-runners have emerged in the quest for sustainable and renewable energy sources: bioenergy and solar power. While each has its unique strengths, the true potential lies in their synergy. This combination could revolutionize how we think about renewable energy, offering solutions that are both environmentally friendly and economically viable. The Complementary Nature of Bioenergy […]

Understanding The Impact: The Importance Of Effective Hydrogen Sulfide Removal In Bioenergy Processes

Hydrogen Sulfide In Bioenergy Processes

Bioenergy plays a vital role in the renewable energy sector, converting organic materials such as agricultural waste into sustainable energy. This approach not only provides a renewable source of energy but also contributes to effective waste management. However, it confronts a notable challenge: the production of hydrogen sulfide (H2S). If not properly addressed, this byproduct […]

Harnessing Bioenergy from Everyday Rubbish

bioenergy from municipal waste

Converting everyday rubbish into usable energy once seemed like science fiction, but bioenergy has made it reality. This sustainable solution transforms waste into valuable fuel sources while also benefiting the environment. Bioenergy provides a profitable way to upcycle discarded items into clean power instead of letting them pile up in landfills. What was once treated […]

Prospects of Algae Biofuels in Middle East

algae-middle-east

Algae biofuels have the potential to become a renewable, cost-effective alternative for fossil fuels with reduced impact on the environment. Algae hold tremendous potential to provide a non-food, high-yield, non-arable land use source of renewable fuels like biodiesel, bioethanol, hydrogen etc. Microalgae are considered as a potential oleo-feedstock, as they produce lipids through photosynthesis, i.e. […]

Bioenergy Resources in MENA Countries

biomass_resources

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region offers almost 45 percent of the world’s total energy potential from all renewable sources that can generate more than three times the world’s total power demand. Apart from solar and wind, MENA also has abundant bioenergy energy resources which have remained unexplored to a great extent. Around […]

Charcoal Briquette Production in the Middle East: Perspectives

There is a huge demand for charcoal briquettes in the Middle East, especially in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and UAE. However the production of charcoal in the Middle East is in nascent stages despite the availability of biomass resources, especially date palm biomass. The key reason for increasing demand of charcoal briquettes is the large consumption […]

Overview of Biomass Pyrolysis Process

Biomass pyrolysis is the thermal decomposition of biomass occurring in the absence of oxygen. It is the fundamental chemical reaction that is the precursor of both the combustion and gasification processes and occurs naturally in the first two seconds. The products of biomass pyrolysis include biochar, bio-oil and gases including methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and […]

The Role of Bioenergy in Waste Minimization

role of bioenergy in waste management

There is a pressing need more than ever for sustainable, renewable energy sources. In comes the concept of bioenergy – harnessing power from organic matter with multiple benefits including waste reduction. Below, you can explore this further. Defining Bioenergy You’re already familiar with sources like solar, wind or hydroelectric power – these are common renewable […]

Gifts that Give Back: The Rise of Eco-Friendly Presents

Benefits of giving eco-friendly gifts

In a world where environmental concerns are becoming increasingly pressing, the importance of sustainable living and conscious consumerism cannot be overstated. As the holiday season approaches, many search for the perfect gifts to show our love and appreciation for our friends and family. However, traditional gift-giving often comes at a cost to the planet, with […]

Agricultural Wastes in the Philippines

The Philippines is mainly an agricultural country with a land area of 30 million hectares, 47 percent of which is agricultural. The total area devoted to agricultural crops is 13 million hectares distributed among food grains, food crops and non-food crops. Among the crops grown, rice, coconut and sugarcane are major contributors to biomass energy […]

Types of Biogas Storage Systems

Selection of an appropriate biogas storage system makes a significant contribution to the efficiency and safety of a biogas plant. There are two basic reasons for storing biogas: storage for later on-site usage and storage before and/or after transportation to off-site distribution points or systems. A biogas storage system also compensates fluctuations in the production […]

Cogeneration of Bagasse

bagasse cogeneration

Cogeneration of bagasse is one of the most attractive and successful biomass energy projects that have already been demonstrated in many sugarcane producing countries such as Mauritius, Reunion Island, India and Brazil. Combined heat and power from sugarcane in the form of power generation offers renewable energy options that promote sustainable development, take advantage of […]

Overview of Biomass Energy Technologies

A wide range of bioenergy technologies are available for realizing the energy potential of biomass wastes, ranging from very simple systems for disposing of dry waste to more complex technologies capable of dealing with large amounts of industrial waste. Conversion routes for biomass wastes are generally thermo-chemical or bio-chemical, but may also include chemical and […]

9 Different Ways to Fundraise for a Biomass Energy Project

how to raise funds for biomass projects

Raising funds for a biomass energy project can be challenging. You can achieve your sustainable energy goals with creativity and determination. Starting your biomass project is a perfect way to take good care of the environment for future generations to enjoy. Ways To Fundraise For A Biomass Energy Project 1. Start A Crowdfunding Campaign Kickstart […]

Harnessing Bioenergy: The Role of Advanced Biotechnologies

Advanced Biotechnologies in Bioenergy

Bioenergy, derived from organic matter, has always been a critical component of the global energy mix. With the dire impacts of climate change becoming more evident, there’s an increasing urgency to utilize renewable energy sources. Enter advanced biotechnologies: the beacon of hope for a sustainable energy future. A Glimpse into Bioenergy Bioenergy is energy obtained […]

Redecorating Your Home in 2022: 5 Tips for Budding Interior Designers

home redecoration in 2022

Changing the décor in our homes is a favorite pastime for many, both reading this and beyond. No matter whether you are the owner of your property or are a tenant who is renting, changing the interior design of the place you are living can make a difference in how comfortable you feel in a […]

Solutions for Water Damaged Homes

energy solutions for water damaged homes

Water damage in homes can be devastating, destroying properties and costing homeowners thousands in repairs. It’s a common problem, with data from the Insurance Information Institute showing that around 1.7% of insured American homes file an insurance claim for water or freeze damage each year. (1) This article explores bioenergy solutions that can help reduce […]

Biomass Sector in India – Problems and Challenges

biomass resource

Biomass power plants in India are based mostly on agricultural wastes. Gasifier-based power plants are providing a great solution for off-grid decentralized power and are lighting homes in several Indian states. While for providing grid-based power 8-15 MW thermal biomass power plants are suitable for Indian conditions, they stand nowhere when compared to power plants […]

Rice Straw As Bioenergy Resource

Rice_straw

The cultivation of rice results in two types of biomass residues – straw and husk – having attractive potential in terms of energy. Rice husk, the main by-product from rice milling, accounts for roughly 22% of paddy weight, while rice straw to paddy ratio ranges from 1.0 to 4.3. Although the technology for rice husk utilization […]

Rationale for Biomass Supply Chain

wood wastes

Biomass resources have been in use for a variety of purposes since ages. The multiple uses of biomass includes usage as a livestock or for meeting domestic and industrial thermal requirements or for the generation of power to fulfill any electrical or mechanical needs. One of the major issues, however, associated with the use of […]

PKS From Africa Can Fuel Biomass Power Plants in Japan

PKS-biomass

Japan’s biomass fuel requirement is estimated to be tens of millions of tons each year on account of its projected biomass energy capacity of 6,000MW by the year 2030. To achieve this capacity, more than 20 million tons of biomass fuel will be needed every year which will be mainly met by wood pellets and […]

Agricultural Wastes in the Middle East

date-palm-waste

Agriculture plays an important role in the economies of most of the countries in the Middle East. The contribution of the agricultural sector to the overall economy varies significantly among countries in the region, ranging, for example, from about 3.2 percent in Saudi Arabia to 13.4 percent in Egypt. Large scale agricultural irrigation is expanding, […]

Date Palm Wastes as a Biomass Resource

date-wastes

Date palm is one of the principal agricultural products in the arid and semi-arid region of the world, especially Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. There are more than 120 million date palm trees worldwide yielding several million tons of dates per year, apart from secondary products including palm midribs, leaves, stems, fronds and […]

What You Should Know Before Investing in Bioenergy Stocks

hazards of biofuel production

In recent years, there has been a gradual shift that has seen people paying extra attention to biomass energy and more environmentally friendly options, which has filtered down to their lifestyle choices as well. However, this is not to say that it is a relatively new concept, as bioenergy is said to be one of […]

Biogas Sector in India: Perspectives

bioenergy and rural development

Biogas is an often overlooked and neglected aspect of renewable energy in India. While solar, wind and hydropower dominate the discussion in the country, they are not the only options available. Biogas is a lesser known but highly important option to foster sustainable development in agriculture-based economies, such as India. What is Biogas Briefly speaking, […]

An Introduction to Biomass Harvesting

future of bioenergy

Biomass harvesting and collection is an important step involving gathering and removal of the biomass from field which is dependent on the state of biomass, i.e. grass, woody, or crop residue. The moisture content and the end use of biomass also affect the way biomass is collected. For crop residues, the operations should be organized […]

Thermal Conversion of Biomass

biomass-gasification

A wide range of thermal technologies exists to harness the energy stored in biomass. These biomass thermal technologies can be classified according to the principal energy carrier produced in the conversion process. Carriers are in the form of heat, gas, liquid and/or solid products, depending on the extent to which oxygen is admitted to the […]

The Energy Potential of Palm Kernel Shells

palm-kernel-shells

The Palm Oil industry in Southeast Asia and Africa generates large quantity of biomass wastes whose disposal is a challenging task. Palm kernel shells (or PKS) are the shell fractions left after the nut has been removed after crushing in the Palm Oil mill. Kernel shells are a fibrous material and can be easily handled in […]

Sugarcane Trash – A Renewable Fuel of Today and Future

cane-trash

In Indian sugar mills, the frequent cycles of ups and downs in the core business of selling sugar has led to the concentration towards the trend of ancillary businesses, like cogeneration power plant and ethanol production, becoming the profit centres. These units, which were introduced as a means to manage sugar mills’ own byproduct, like […]

Overview of Biomass Handling Equipment

Waste_Conveyor

The physical handling of biomass fuels during collection or at a processing plant can be challenging task, particularly for solid biomass. Biomass fuels tend to vary with density, moisture content and particle size and can also be corrosive. Therefore biomass fuel handling equipment is often a difficult part of a plant to adequately design, maintain […]

Biomass Pelletization Process

biomass pellets

Biomass pellets are a popular type of biomass fuel, generally made from wood wastes, agricultural biomass, commercial grasses and forestry residues. In addition to savings in transportation and storage, pelletization of biomass facilitates easy and cost effective handling. Dense cubes pellets have the flowability characteristics similar to those of cereal grains. The regular geometry and […]

Everything You Should Know About An Algae Biorefinery

algae biofuels

High oil prices, competing demands between foods and other biofuel sources, and the world food crisis, have ignited interest in algaculture (farming of algae) for making vegetable oil, biodiesel, bioethanol, biogasoline, biomethanol, biobutanol and other biofuels. Algae can be efficiently grown on land that is not suitable for agriculture and hold huge potential to provide a non-food, high-yield source of biodiesel, ethanol and hydrogen fuels. […]

The Logistics of a Biomass Power Plant

biomass_logistics

Biomass logistics involves all the unit operations necessary to move biomass wastes from the land to the biomass energy plant. The biomass can be transported directly from farm or from stacks next to the farm to the processing plant. Biomass may be minimally processed before being shipped to the plant, as in case of biomass […]

Things You Should Know About the Different Uses of Biochar

uses of char

Biochar is a carbon-rich, fine-grained residue which can be produced either by ancient techniques (such as covering burning biomass with soil and allowing it to smoulder) or state-of-the-art modern biomass pyrolysis processes. Combustion and decomposition of woody biomass and agricultural residues results in the emission of a large amount of carbon dioxide. Biochar can store […]

Biochemical Conversion of Biomass

Biochemical conversion of biomass involves use of bacteria, microorganisms and enzymes to breakdown biomass into gaseous or liquid fuels, such as biogas or bioethanol. The most popular biochemical technologies are anaerobic digestion (or biomethanation) and fermentation. Anaerobic digestion is a series of chemical reactions during which organic material such as human waste is decomposed through […]

Salient Features of Sugar Industry in Mauritius

Sugarcane_Biomass

Sugar industry has always occupied a prominent position in the Mauritian economy since the introduction of sugarcane around three centuries ago. Mauritius has been a world pioneer in establishing sales of bagasse-based energy to the public grid, and is currently viewed as a model for other sugarcane producing countries, especially the developing ones.   Sugar […]

Biomass Gasification Process

biomass-gasification

Biomass gasification involves burning of biomass in a limited supply of air to give a combustible gas consisting of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, methane, water, nitrogen, along with contaminants like small char particles, ash and tars. The gas is cleaned to make it suitable for use in boilers, engines and turbines to produce heat […]

The Rise of Bioenergy in China: Trends, Challenges and Future Prospects

bioenergy trends in China

China has recently emerged as one of the economic powerhouses of the world. Not only does this status continue to redefine what was considered to represent a somewhat “backwards” society, but plenty of employment opportunities await. This has also given rise to several interesting trends. From the growing number of Chinese classes online which cater […]

How is Biomass Transported

biomass_transportation

Transporting biomass fuel to a power plant is an important aspect of any biomass energy project. Because a number of low moisture fuels can be readily collected and transported to a centralized biomass plant location or aggregated to enhance project size, this opportunity should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. It will be a good […]

Everything You Should Know About Agricultural Residues

biomass energy in china

The term agricultural residue is used to describe all the organic materials which are produced as by-products from harvesting and processing of agricultural crops. These residues can be further categorized into primary residues and secondary residues. Agricultural residues, which are generated in the field at the time of harvest, are defined as primary or field […]

Towards Sustainable Biomass Energy

biomass-collection

Biomass is one of the oldest and simplest ways of getting heat and energy, and it’s starting to make a comeback due to its status as renewable resource. Some, however, aren’t so sure that using more of it would be good for our environment. So, how sustainable is biomass energy really? What is Biomass? Biomass […]

Major Issues in Biomass Energy Projects

Biomass Supply Chain

Bioenergy projects are plagued by several problems. This article makes an attempt at collating some of the most prominent issues associated with biomass technologies and provides plausible solutions in order to seek further promotion of biomass energy technologies. The solutions provided below are based on author’s understanding and experience in this field. Here are the […]

Bioenergy and Its Endless Possibilities

future of bioenergy

Bioenergy is a renewable energy source derived from biological materials, such as plants, animals, and their byproducts. It has been used for thousands of years, dating back to the use of wood for heating and cooking. Today, bioenergy has evolved into a diverse and rapidly growing industry, with applications ranging from electricity generation to transportation […]

How Can Bioenergy Change The World?

why bioenergy is the future

In recent years, the world has been grappling with the effects of climate change, dwindling natural resources, and increasing energy demands. As a result, there has been a growing interest in finding sustainable and renewable energy sources to meet these challenges. One such source is bioenergy, which has the potential to revolutionize the way we […]

Zero Emissions, Zero Guilt: Why Electric Cars are the Future of Eco-Friendly Transportation

Electric cars are the future of eco-friendly transportation

The future of transportation is electric, and for good reason. Electric cars offer numerous benefits, including lower emissions, reduced fuel costs, and increased efficiency. In this article, we’ll explore why electric cars are the future of eco-friendly transportation, with a focus on the BMW I4, and how car leasing can help you make the switch. […]

Bagasse-Based Cogeneration in Pakistan: Challenges and Opportunities

bagasse-cogen

Considering the fact that Pakistan is among the world’s top-10 sugarcane producers, the potential of generating electricity from bagasse is huge.  Almost all the sugar mills in Pakistan have in-house plants for cogeneration but they are inefficient in the consumption of bagasse. If instead, high pressure boilers are installed then the production capacity can be […]