The document discusses bioenergy and various sources of biomass. Biomass is organic material from photosynthesis, including plant matter and animal mass. Bioenergy is renewable as the CO2 from combustion is replenished by plant growth. Sources of biomass include agricultural residues, forestry residues, livestock residues, and energy crops. Biomass can be used to produce biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel, or generate electricity through combustion or conversion technologies like gasification and anaerobic digestion.
Biomass Energy Sustainable Solution for Greenhouse Gas Emis.docxhartrobert670
Biomass Energy: Sustainable
Solution
for Greenhouse Gas
Emission
A.K.M. Sadrul Islama* and M. Ahiduzzamanb
abMechanical & Chemical Engineering Department,
Islamic University of Technology, Board Bazar, Gazipur-1704, Bangladesh
*Corresponding Author: Email- [email protected]
Abstract. Biomass is part of the carbon cycle. Carbon dioxide is produced after combustion of biomass. Over a
relatively short timescale, carbon dioxide is renewed from atmosphere during next generation of new growth of
green vegetation. Contribution of renewable energy including hydropower, solar, biomass and biofuel in total
primary energy consumption in world is about 19%. Traditional biomass alone contributes about 13% of total
primary energy consumption in the world. The number of traditional biomass energy users expected to rise from 2.5
billion in 2004 to 2.6 billion in 2015 and to 2.7 billion in 2030 for cooking in developing countries. Residential
biomass demand in developing countries is projected to rise from 771 Mtoe in 2004 to 818 Mtoe in 2030. The main
sources of biomass are wood residues, bagasse, rice husk, agro-residues, animal manure, municipal and industrial
waste etc. Dedicated energy crops such as short-rotation coppice, grasses, sugar crops, starch crops and oil crops are
gaining importance and market share as source of biomass energy. Global trade in biomass feedstocks and processed
bioenergy carriers are growing rapidly. There are some drawbacks of biomass energy utilization compared to fossil
fuels viz: heterogeneous and uneven composition, lower calorific value and quality deterioration due to uncontrolled
biodegradation. Loose biomass also is not viable for transportation. Pelletization, briquetting, liquefaction and
gasification of biomass energy are some options to solve these problems. Wood fuel production is very much steady
and little bit increase in trend, however, the forest land is decreasing, means the deforestation is progressive. There is
a big challenge for sustainability of biomass resource and environment. Biomass energy can be used to reduce
greenhouse emissions. Woody biomass such as briquette and pellet from un-organized biomass waste and residues
could be used for alternative to wood fuel, as a result, forest will be saved and sustainable carbon sink will be
developed. Clean energy production from biomass (such as ethanol, biodiesel, producer gas, bio-methane) could be
viable option to reduce fossil fuel consumption. Electricity generation from biomass is increasing throughout the
world. Co-firing of biomass with coal and biomass combustion in power plant and CHP would be a viable option for
clean energy development. Biomass can produce less emission in the range of 14% to 90% compared to emission
from fossil for electricity generation. Therefore, biomass could play a vital role for generation of clean energy by
reducing fossil energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The main barriers to expansio ...
Biomass Energy Sustainable Solution for Greenhouse Gas Emis.docxhartrobert670
Biomass Energy: Sustainable
Solution
for Greenhouse Gas
Emission
A.K.M. Sadrul Islama* and M. Ahiduzzamanb
abMechanical & Chemical Engineering Department,
Islamic University of Technology, Board Bazar, Gazipur-1704, Bangladesh
*Corresponding Author: Email- [email protected]
Abstract. Biomass is part of the carbon cycle. Carbon dioxide is produced after combustion of biomass. Over a
relatively short timescale, carbon dioxide is renewed from atmosphere during next generation of new growth of
green vegetation. Contribution of renewable energy including hydropower, solar, biomass and biofuel in total
primary energy consumption in world is about 19%. Traditional biomass alone contributes about 13% of total
primary energy consumption in the world. The number of traditional biomass energy users expected to rise from 2.5
billion in 2004 to 2.6 billion in 2015 and to 2.7 billion in 2030 for cooking in developing countries. Residential
biomass demand in developing countries is projected to rise from 771 Mtoe in 2004 to 818 Mtoe in 2030. The main
sources of biomass are wood residues, bagasse, rice husk, agro-residues, animal manure, municipal and industrial
waste etc. Dedicated energy crops such as short-rotation coppice, grasses, sugar crops, starch crops and oil crops are
gaining importance and market share as source of biomass energy. Global trade in biomass feedstocks and processed
bioenergy carriers are growing rapidly. There are some drawbacks of biomass energy utilization compared to fossil
fuels viz: heterogeneous and uneven composition, lower calorific value and quality deterioration due to uncontrolled
biodegradation. Loose biomass also is not viable for transportation. Pelletization, briquetting, liquefaction and
gasification of biomass energy are some options to solve these problems. Wood fuel production is very much steady
and little bit increase in trend, however, the forest land is decreasing, means the deforestation is progressive. There is
a big challenge for sustainability of biomass resource and environment. Biomass energy can be used to reduce
greenhouse emissions. Woody biomass such as briquette and pellet from un-organized biomass waste and residues
could be used for alternative to wood fuel, as a result, forest will be saved and sustainable carbon sink will be
developed. Clean energy production from biomass (such as ethanol, biodiesel, producer gas, bio-methane) could be
viable option to reduce fossil fuel consumption. Electricity generation from biomass is increasing throughout the
world. Co-firing of biomass with coal and biomass combustion in power plant and CHP would be a viable option for
clean energy development. Biomass can produce less emission in the range of 14% to 90% compared to emission
from fossil for electricity generation. Therefore, biomass could play a vital role for generation of clean energy by
reducing fossil energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The main barriers to expansio ...
Richard's entangled aventures in wonderlandRichard Gill
Since the loophole-free Bell experiments of 2020 and the Nobel prizes in physics of 2022, critics of Bell's work have retreated to the fortress of super-determinism. Now, super-determinism is a derogatory word - it just means "determinism". Palmer, Hance and Hossenfelder argue that quantum mechanics and determinism are not incompatible, using a sophisticated mathematical construction based on a subtle thinning of allowed states and measurements in quantum mechanics, such that what is left appears to make Bell's argument fail, without altering the empirical predictions of quantum mechanics. I think however that it is a smoke screen, and the slogan "lost in math" comes to my mind. I will discuss some other recent disproofs of Bell's theorem using the language of causality based on causal graphs. Causal thinking is also central to law and justice. I will mention surprising connections to my work on serial killer nurse cases, in particular the Dutch case of Lucia de Berk and the current UK case of Lucy Letby.
Richard's entangled aventures in wonderlandRichard Gill
Since the loophole-free Bell experiments of 2020 and the Nobel prizes in physics of 2022, critics of Bell's work have retreated to the fortress of super-determinism. Now, super-determinism is a derogatory word - it just means "determinism". Palmer, Hance and Hossenfelder argue that quantum mechanics and determinism are not incompatible, using a sophisticated mathematical construction based on a subtle thinning of allowed states and measurements in quantum mechanics, such that what is left appears to make Bell's argument fail, without altering the empirical predictions of quantum mechanics. I think however that it is a smoke screen, and the slogan "lost in math" comes to my mind. I will discuss some other recent disproofs of Bell's theorem using the language of causality based on causal graphs. Causal thinking is also central to law and justice. I will mention surprising connections to my work on serial killer nurse cases, in particular the Dutch case of Lucia de Berk and the current UK case of Lucy Letby.
Comparing Evolved Extractive Text Summary Scores of Bidirectional Encoder Rep...University of Maribor
Slides from:
11th International Conference on Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering (IcETRAN), Niš, 3-6 June 2024
Track: Artificial Intelligence
https://www.etran.rs/2024/en/home-english/
A brief information about the SCOP protein database used in bioinformatics.
The Structural Classification of Proteins (SCOP) database is a comprehensive and authoritative resource for the structural and evolutionary relationships of proteins. It provides a detailed and curated classification of protein structures, grouping them into families, superfamilies, and folds based on their structural and sequence similarities.
Slide 1: Title Slide
Extrachromosomal Inheritance
Slide 2: Introduction to Extrachromosomal Inheritance
Definition: Extrachromosomal inheritance refers to the transmission of genetic material that is not found within the nucleus.
Key Components: Involves genes located in mitochondria, chloroplasts, and plasmids.
Slide 3: Mitochondrial Inheritance
Mitochondria: Organelles responsible for energy production.
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA): Circular DNA molecule found in mitochondria.
Inheritance Pattern: Maternally inherited, meaning it is passed from mothers to all their offspring.
Diseases: Examples include Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) and mitochondrial myopathy.
Slide 4: Chloroplast Inheritance
Chloroplasts: Organelles responsible for photosynthesis in plants.
Chloroplast DNA (cpDNA): Circular DNA molecule found in chloroplasts.
Inheritance Pattern: Often maternally inherited in most plants, but can vary in some species.
Examples: Variegation in plants, where leaf color patterns are determined by chloroplast DNA.
Slide 5: Plasmid Inheritance
Plasmids: Small, circular DNA molecules found in bacteria and some eukaryotes.
Features: Can carry antibiotic resistance genes and can be transferred between cells through processes like conjugation.
Significance: Important in biotechnology for gene cloning and genetic engineering.
Slide 6: Mechanisms of Extrachromosomal Inheritance
Non-Mendelian Patterns: Do not follow Mendel’s laws of inheritance.
Cytoplasmic Segregation: During cell division, organelles like mitochondria and chloroplasts are randomly distributed to daughter cells.
Heteroplasmy: Presence of more than one type of organellar genome within a cell, leading to variation in expression.
Slide 7: Examples of Extrachromosomal Inheritance
Four O’clock Plant (Mirabilis jalapa): Shows variegated leaves due to different cpDNA in leaf cells.
Petite Mutants in Yeast: Result from mutations in mitochondrial DNA affecting respiration.
Slide 8: Importance of Extrachromosomal Inheritance
Evolution: Provides insight into the evolution of eukaryotic cells.
Medicine: Understanding mitochondrial inheritance helps in diagnosing and treating mitochondrial diseases.
Agriculture: Chloroplast inheritance can be used in plant breeding and genetic modification.
Slide 9: Recent Research and Advances
Gene Editing: Techniques like CRISPR-Cas9 are being used to edit mitochondrial and chloroplast DNA.
Therapies: Development of mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT) for preventing mitochondrial diseases.
Slide 10: Conclusion
Summary: Extrachromosomal inheritance involves the transmission of genetic material outside the nucleus and plays a crucial role in genetics, medicine, and biotechnology.
Future Directions: Continued research and technological advancements hold promise for new treatments and applications.
Slide 11: Questions and Discussion
Invite Audience: Open the floor for any questions or further discussion on the topic.
Professional air quality monitoring systems provide immediate, on-site data for analysis, compliance, and decision-making.
Monitor common gases, weather parameters, particulates.
Earliest Galaxies in the JADES Origins Field: Luminosity Function and Cosmic ...Sérgio Sacani
We characterize the earliest galaxy population in the JADES Origins Field (JOF), the deepest
imaging field observed with JWST. We make use of the ancillary Hubble optical images (5 filters
spanning 0.4−0.9µm) and novel JWST images with 14 filters spanning 0.8−5µm, including 7 mediumband filters, and reaching total exposure times of up to 46 hours per filter. We combine all our data
at > 2.3µm to construct an ultradeep image, reaching as deep as ≈ 31.4 AB mag in the stack and
30.3-31.0 AB mag (5σ, r = 0.1” circular aperture) in individual filters. We measure photometric
redshifts and use robust selection criteria to identify a sample of eight galaxy candidates at redshifts
z = 11.5 − 15. These objects show compact half-light radii of R1/2 ∼ 50 − 200pc, stellar masses of
M⋆ ∼ 107−108M⊙, and star-formation rates of SFR ∼ 0.1−1 M⊙ yr−1
. Our search finds no candidates
at 15 < z < 20, placing upper limits at these redshifts. We develop a forward modeling approach to
infer the properties of the evolving luminosity function without binning in redshift or luminosity that
marginalizes over the photometric redshift uncertainty of our candidate galaxies and incorporates the
impact of non-detections. We find a z = 12 luminosity function in good agreement with prior results,
and that the luminosity function normalization and UV luminosity density decline by a factor of ∼ 2.5
from z = 12 to z = 14. We discuss the possible implications of our results in the context of theoretical
models for evolution of the dark matter halo mass function.
Richard's aventures in two entangled wonderlandsRichard Gill
Since the loophole-free Bell experiments of 2020 and the Nobel prizes in physics of 2022, critics of Bell's work have retreated to the fortress of super-determinism. Now, super-determinism is a derogatory word - it just means "determinism". Palmer, Hance and Hossenfelder argue that quantum mechanics and determinism are not incompatible, using a sophisticated mathematical construction based on a subtle thinning of allowed states and measurements in quantum mechanics, such that what is left appears to make Bell's argument fail, without altering the empirical predictions of quantum mechanics. I think however that it is a smoke screen, and the slogan "lost in math" comes to my mind. I will discuss some other recent disproofs of Bell's theorem using the language of causality based on causal graphs. Causal thinking is also central to law and justice. I will mention surprising connections to my work on serial killer nurse cases, in particular the Dutch case of Lucia de Berk and the current UK case of Lucy Letby.
Observation of Io’s Resurfacing via Plume Deposition Using Ground-based Adapt...Sérgio Sacani
Since volcanic activity was first discovered on Io from Voyager images in 1979, changes
on Io’s surface have been monitored from both spacecraft and ground-based telescopes.
Here, we present the highest spatial resolution images of Io ever obtained from a groundbased telescope. These images, acquired by the SHARK-VIS instrument on the Large
Binocular Telescope, show evidence of a major resurfacing event on Io’s trailing hemisphere. When compared to the most recent spacecraft images, the SHARK-VIS images
show that a plume deposit from a powerful eruption at Pillan Patera has covered part
of the long-lived Pele plume deposit. Although this type of resurfacing event may be common on Io, few have been detected due to the rarity of spacecraft visits and the previously low spatial resolution available from Earth-based telescopes. The SHARK-VIS instrument ushers in a new era of high resolution imaging of Io’s surface using adaptive
optics at visible wavelengths.
What is greenhouse gasses and how many gasses are there to affect the Earth.moosaasad1975
What are greenhouse gasses how they affect the earth and its environment what is the future of the environment and earth how the weather and the climate effects.
1. Sustainable Energy Science and Engineering Center
Bioenergy is energy derived from biomass.
Biomass is all organic material being either:
The direct product of photosynthesis (for example plant matter such as
leaves, stems, etc.)
The indirect product of photosynthesis (for example animal mass
resulting from the consumption of plant material).
The photosynthesis process uses solar energy to combine carbon dioxide
from the atmosphere with water (and various nutrients) from the soil to
produce plant matter (biomass).
The carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted on combustion of biomass is taken up
by new plant growth, resulting in zero net emissions of CO2. However, it
should be remembered that there are some net C02 emissions associated
with bioenergy when looked at on a life-cycle basis – emissions from
fossil fuels used in the cultivation, harvesting and transport of the
biomass. These are generally small compared to the CO2 avoided by
displacing fossil fuels with energy from biomass. Consequently,
bioenergy is a renewable energy resource with the added benefit of
being CO2 neutral.
Bioenergy
2. Sustainable Energy Science and Engineering Center
Biomass Energy
Biomass resources are potentially the world's largest and most
sustainable energy source
The annual bio-energy potential is about 2900 EJ, though only
270 EJ could be considered available on a sustainable basis and
at competitive prices.
The expected increase of biomass energy, particularly in its
modern forms, could have a significant impact not only in the
energy sector, but also in the drive to modernize agriculture, and
on rural development.
The share of biomass in the total final energy demand is between
7% and 27%.
Source: http://www.worldenergy.org/wec-geis/
3. Sustainable Energy Science and Engineering Center
Biomass (other than wood)
Agricultural and wood/forestry residues and herbaceous crops grown specifically for
energy but excludes forest plantations grown specifically for energy.
Dedicated energy plantations: 3 million ha of eucalyptus plantations used for charcoal
making (Brazil); Plantation program for 13.5 million ha of fuel wood by 2010 in
China; 16000 ha of willow plantations used for the generation of heat and power
in Sweden; and 50000 ha of agricultural land has been converted to woody
plantations, possibly rising to as much as 4 million ha (10 million acres) by 2020
in USA.
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is potentially a major source of energy. This source of
biomass will not be considered here due to the following reasons:
the nature of MSW, which comprises many different organic and non-organic
materials
difficulties and high costs associated with sorting such material, which make it
an unlikely candidate for renewable energy except for disposal purposes
re-used MSW is mostly for recycling, e.g. paper
MSW disposal would be done in landfills or incineration plants.
Bio energy challenge: to device systems to overcome low combustion efficiency and
health hazards.
4. Sustainable Energy Science and Engineering Center
Biomass Sources
Agricultural residues: Amount of crop residues amounted to about 3.5 to 4 billion tones annually, with
an energy content representing 65 EJ, or 1.5 billion tones oil equivalent. Hall et al (1993) estimated that
just using the world's major crops (e.g. wheat, rice, maize, barley, and sugar cane), a 25% residue
recovery rate could generate 38 EJ and offset between 350 and 460 million tones of carbon per year. For
example, that over 2 billion tones of agricultural residues were burned annually world-wide, producing
1.1 to 1.7 billion tones/yr of CO2. The most promising residues from the sugar cane, pulp and paper, and
sawmill industrial sectors. Estimates are that about 1200 TWh/yr of electricity can be produced from this
source.
Forestry residues: Forestry residues obtained from sound forest management can enhance and
increase the future productivity of forests. Recoverable residues from forests have been estimated to
have an energy potential of about 35 EJ/yr. A considerable advantage of these residues is that a large
part is generated by the pulp and paper and sawmill industries and thus could be readily available.
Livestock residues: The use of manure may be more acceptable when there are other environmental
benefits, e.g. the production of biogas and fertilizer, given large surpluses of manure which can, if
applied in large quantities to the soil, represent a danger for agriculture and the environment, as is the
case in Denmark; environmental and health hazards, which are much higher than for other biofuels.
Energy forestry/crops. Dedicated energy crops in land specifically devoted and intercropping with
non-energy crops. This is a new concept for the farmer, which will have to be fully accepted if large-scale
energy crops are to form an integral part of farming practices. Factors to be considered are: land
availability, possible fuel versus food conflict, potential climatic factors, higher investment cost of
degraded land, land rights, etc. The most likely scenario would be the use of about 100-300 million ha,
mostly in developed nations, where excess food production exists.
5. Sustainable Energy Science and Engineering Center
Biomass-fired electric power plants/CHP (Combined Heat and Power)
Liquid fuels e.g. bio-ethanol and bio-diesel
Biogas production technology
Bio-energy production and use:
Improved integrated biomass gasifier/gas turbine (IBGT) systems for power
generation and gas turbine/steam turbine combined cycle (GTCC)
Circulating fluidized bed (CFB) and integrated gasification combined cycles
(IGCC) cogeneration,
Bio-ethanol and bio-diesel production
Production of methanol and hydrogen from biomass
Bioenergy Applications
7. Sustainable Energy Science and Engineering Center
Biomass type:
Municipal solid waste/Landfills quantity of raw material available 167 million tones
electricity generating capacity 2,862 MW
electricity generation 71,405 TJ
direct use from combustion 217,722 TJ
total energy production 289,127 TJ
Forestry/wood-processing electricity generating capacity 6,726 MW
electricity generation 124,712 TJ
direct use from combustion 2,306,026 TJ
total energy production 2,430,738 TJ
Agricultural residues - corn quantity of raw material available 13.5 million tones
ethanol fuel production capacity 152,376 TJ/year
yield of ethanol 8.8 GJ/tone
ethanol fuel production 118,010 TJ
USA Bioenergy Sources
8. Sustainable Energy Science and Engineering Center
Agricultural residues - soy bean oil and waste food oils
biodiesel production capacity 6,708 TJ/year
yield of biodiesel 40 GJ/tone
biodiesel production 671 TJ
Wood pellets
quantity of raw material available 0.582 million tones
direct use from combustion 8,872 TJ
Other biomass
electricity generating capacity 10,602 MW
electricity generation 11,328 TJ
direct use from combustion 102,084 TJ
total energy production 113,412 TJ
USA Bioenergy Sources
Biomass type:
Source: www.worldenergy.org
9. Sustainable Energy Science and Engineering Center
USA Biomass Consumption
Source: www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables
10. Sustainable Energy Science and Engineering Center
Biomass Fuel Heat Content
Source: www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables
12. Sustainable Energy Science and Engineering Center
Direct-fired Systems: The biomass fuel is burned in a boiler to produce high-
pressure steam. The steam is used to produce electricity in steam turbine generators.
Biomass boilers are typically 20 - 50 MW range. The energy in biomass is converted
to electricity with a efficiency of about 35% - a typical value of a modern coal-fired
power plant.
Biomass gasifiers: Operate by heating biomass in an environment where the solid
biomass breaks down to form a flammable low calorific gas. The biogas is then
cleaned and filtered to remove problem chemical compounds. The gas is used in more
efficient power generation systems called combined-cycles, which combine gas
turbines and steam turbines to produce electricity. The efficiency of these systems
can reach 60%. Gasification systems may also be coupled with fuel cell systems using
a reformer to produce hydrogen and then convert hydrogen gas to electricity (and
heat) using an electro-chemical process.
Pyrolysis: Biomass pyrolysis refers to a process where biomass is exposed to high
temperatures in the absence of air, causing the biomass to decompose. The end
product of pyrolysis is a mixture of solids (char), liquids (oxygenated oils), and gases
(methane, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide).
Biopower
13. Sustainable Energy Science and Engineering Center
Anaerobic digestion: Anaerobic digestion is a process by which organic matter is
decomposed by bacteria in the absence of oxygen to produce methane and other
byproducts. The primary energy product is a low to medium calorific gas, normally consisting
of 50 to 60 percent methane.
Modular systems (micro-power) : Employ some of the same technologies mentioned above,
but on a smaller scale that is more applicable to villages, farms, and small industry.
Biopower
The process of methanogesis
15. Sustainable Energy Science and Engineering Center
Biofuels
Ethanol: It is made by converting the carbohydrate portion of biomass into sugar,
which is then converted into ethanol in a fermentation process similar to brewing
beer. Ethanol is the most widely used biofuel today with current capacity of 1.8
billion gallons per year based on starch crops such as corn. Ethanol produced from
cellulose* biomass is currently the subject of extensive research, development and
demonstration efforts.
Biodiesel: It is produced through a process in which organically derived oils are
combined with alcohol (ethanol or methanol) in the presence of a catalyst to form
ethyl or methyl ester. The biomass- derived ethyl or methyl esters can be blended
with conventional diesel fuel or used as a neat fuel (100% biodiesel). Biodiesel can
be made from soybean or Canola oils or waste vegetable oils.
Syngas: Biomass can be gasified to produce a synthesis gas composed primarily of
hydrogen and carbon monoxide, also called syngas or biosyngas. Hydrogen can be
recovered from this syngas, or it can be catalytically converted to methanol. It can
also be converted using Fischer-Tropsch catalyst into a liquid stream with
properties similar to diesel fuel, called Fischer-Tropsch diesel.
*Cellulose(C6H10O5) is a long-chain polysaccharide carbohydrate of beta glucose. It forms the
primary structural component of plants and is not digestible by humans.
16. Sustainable Energy Science and Engineering Center
Ethanol provides an octane boost, both for conventional and
reformulated gasoline.In the absence of ethanol, gasoline
suppliers use alkylates and other petroleum-based compounds
to increase the octane of gasoline. Ethanol is particularly
desirable as an octane enhancer since it can substitute for
benzene and other aromatic hydrocarbons, such as toluene,
xylene, and other 'benzene-ring'-based compounds in gasoline.
This substitution reduces emissions of benzene and butadiene,
both of which are carcinogenic.
Example: Mixture with 92 octane premium
10% ethanol will boos to 94.3 - 94.7 octane
Ethanol - Octane Boost
17. Sustainable Energy Science and Engineering Center
Renewable Fuels
Ethanol
E85 - 85% ethanol and 15%
Gasoline
E diesel - blending ethanol with
diesel fuel, used primarily in heavy-
duty urban vehicles
Source: Renewable fuels association
24. Sustainable Energy Science and Engineering Center
Starch and Sugar based feedstock: Corn and Barley and food
processing waste streams such as potato and brewery waste
Cellulosic feedstock: Agricultural crop residues, forestry wood
wastes, mill residues, urban wood waste, paper manufacturing
wastes, waste paper and energy crops.
Cellulosic biomass ethanol provides about four units of energy for every unit of
fossil fuel energy used to produce it – a significantly higher ratio than for other
renewable fuels, such as corn ethanol. The large positive net energy balance for
cellulosic biomass ethanol compared to corn ethanol is due to the fact that
relatively little fossil energy is used in the creation of cellulosic biomass and in the
biomass to ethanol conversion process. However, unlike starch based crops, such
as corn, this biomass waste is often burned (ethanol production solves this
problem), and does not have market value other than as feedstock for energy
production. In addition, biomass resources such as wood waste, and certain
dedicated biomass ethanol crops (such as switch grass) are not nearly as energy
intensive to produce as starch crops.
Ethanol Production
28. Sustainable Energy Science and Engineering Center
Renewable Liquid Fuels
Biomass is the only source of renewable liquid fuels. Engines utilizing
biofuels produce fewer emissions. From an economic standpoint, the
local production and use of biofuels creates jobs, creates cash flow back
into rural communities. Greatest potential for widespread production and
use will occur from using feedstocks not in the food chain. feedstocks
such as trees, grasses, and other plant materials high in cellulosic
content.
Direct substitution of fossil fuels, which seems to be the most
advantageous and appropriate strategy, with its greater environmental,
energy, and ecological benefits.
