biomass energy

Bio-mass energy

In early 1990 nearly half Brazil  automotive fuel  were supplied by ethanol  with one third of cars designed to run pure ethanol  and remaining running on gasoline blended  with 20 percent ethanol.

Because of most ethanol produced from crops such as sugar cane and corn ,which are expensive to grow, it cost above three times to as much as gasoline. New technologies are being developed to allow ethanol production from low cost wood. Some researchers predicted that the ethanol produced from in expensive bio-mass sources will cost competetive with petrol.

Initially most methanol will probably be produced from inexpensive sources natural gas or coal. However  methanol produced from fossil fuel will contribute to build up carbon dioxide whereas methane produced from sustainable  bio-mass would not. The use of bio-mass fuel expanded significantly as new technologies reduce production cost.

Bio-mass is renewable. If the amount bio-mass used for fuel does not exceed bio-mass growth. It can provide a sustainable resource that can meet a significant share of global energy needs.

Bio-mass is a cleaner fuel.  When bio-mass is burned in efficient stoves and gas turbine or used liquid fuel, it produces less pollutants than fossil fuel. If used on sustainable basis, the carbon dioxide  released  when bio-mass is burned equally the amount of carbon -dioxide taken up by photo synthesis ,no net addition to atmospheric green  house gases. The pulp and paper industry meets most of its energy need by burning their woods and by products.  Sugar cane pulp ( bagasse) and  rice husk are example of crop residues that are burned at processing facilities to produce electricity ,heat and steam.

Bio-mass resources include concentrated wastes (municipal solids, sewage, wood products, industry waste meant at large log ) dispersed waste residue (crop residue ,logging residues dispersed manufacture ) and harvested bio-mass , bio-mass plantations. Most dry  forms of bio-mass  can be burned  directly to produce heat steam and electricity.

On the other hand, biological conversion technologies utilize natural anaerobic decay process to produce high quality fuel directly from bio-mass methane bacteria fermentation and ethanol from yeast fermentation.

Thermo chemical conversion technologies utilize high temperature and pressure in the absence of oxygen  to produce crude oils and synthesis’ gas from bio-mass. Synthesis  gas  can be converted or up graded to high quality fuel   methane or methanol.

Bio-mass derived directly or indirectly from plant photo synthesis’ a versatile fuel  source capable of providing high quality gases liquid and solid fuel as well as  electricity.

In the tropical Caribbean where sugar is major export  crop but producers faced depressed world market, more efficient  use of plant residues coupled with a switch to already tested fast growing cane verities that produce more bio-mass could significantly use for energy supplies. The amount of electricity available in Barbados, Cuba the Dominican Republic , Guatemala, Guyana would increase supplies. Thailand another sugar producer produces 300 M.W. electricity.

Researchers estimate that globally some 50,000 M.W. of turbines co-generation with sugar production level ,while South America alone potential for generating 18,000, M.W.These projections are based improved gas turbine co-generation units.

In rice growing developing countries, rice husk are most crop residue. Every five tons of rice milled husk one tonne  of husk with energy content as one ton of wood.

Using  grassfires this by product can be used to power to mill, run irrigation pumps, electricity  in rural area or provide electricity to the grid.

Hush fired steam power plants are operating in India ,Malaysia ,the Philippines, Thailand and United states. A 10.5  mega watt plant in Punjab will operate year around and burn 20   M.T. of husk for hour.

As India second largest rice grower, India produces 30 million tons husk annually   to enough to justify investment in 500 MW. OF  husk fired generating capacity.

It is surprising but leading renewable energy source  in U.S..is bio-mass energy. Currently wood accounts 84 per cent bio -mass energy  production. This is mostly in paper and forest products industry which use the technology to meet more than half  of energy needs.

Moreover bio-mass  energy is relatively less expensive when compared to conventional coal fired generating plants.

Bio-mass-burning generates carbon dioxide  and perhaps the most polluting of renewable energy. But new technologies  are being developed  to reduce harmful emission.

There are also several disadvantages of bi-mass fuel

Since about  half of the world bio-mass production is used agriculture crops, wood products contribution of bio-mass fuel energy mix will be limited

While use of waste bi-mass to generate energy is sensible, the cultivation of fuel crops or fuel wood plantation is controversial In many where land and food short supply planting crops or fuel may be in appropriate..

Removal of bio-mass may deplete soils. When  bio-mass is removed  for fuel top soil may be depleted, soil fertility declines.

In India where agriculture and forest wood are immense. The use of bio-mass as  source of energy has high potential. Bio-mass produced as a result of solar energy conversion though  photosynthesis can be and  renewable .Bio-mass can be either utilized directly as fuel or can be converted into liquid or gaseous fuels which can be used as a feed stock..

In India Godavari bio-refineries close to commissioning of  facility that will  available conversion of B-heavy molasses from sugar cane into ethanol keeping in a mind possible future when prices ethanol will rise sufficiently to this viable.

Direct ethanol production from B- heavy molasses is almost like converting sugar cane into ethanol. Ethanol is produced in the country from molasses, which is a by product  in sugar manufacturing. At present  government of India  interim   price ethanol in India is only RS 27 per liter for mandatory blending with petrol. Government  will fix the final price of ethanol for mandatory blending with petrol after expert group gives its recommendation. Oil marketing companies floated tenders for one billion litres of  ethanol for blending with ethanol.

From  Cotton  which is having 96 per cent cellulose , an engineering student Mr. Pravin Kumar Hyderabad developed process to manufacturing bio -fuel. According design  from pravinkumar   from 1.4 kg cotton he can produce 1.75 litres bio-fuel. According to him present price  quality cotton available approximately RS 36 per kg. second variety cotton available at RS 15 TO 25 per kg. By using his invention farmers will get  cotton at support price in addition to bio-fuel available at cheaper prices.  Mr.Pravin Kumar  planning to start daily 5ooo liters bio -fuel capacity plant for  manufacturing bio -fuel . This news is from  Enadu telugu daily paper dated 21st November