2. Biomass is biological material derived from living, or recently living organisms.
It most often refers to plants or plant-derived materials which are specifically called
lignocelluloses biomass.
As an energy source, biomass
can either be used directly via combustion to produce heat, or indirectly after converting
it to various forms of bio-fuel. Conversion of biomass to bio-fuel can be achieved
by different methods which are broadly classified into:
thermal, chemical, and biochemical methods.
Wood remains the largest biomass energy source today;
examples include forest residues (such as dead trees, branches and tree stumps),
yard clippings, wood chips and even municipal solid waste. In the second sense,
biomass includes plant or animal matter
that can be converted into fibers or other industrial chemicals, including bio-fuels . Industrial
biomass can be grown from numerous types of plants, including miscanthus, switch grass ,
hemp, corn, poplar, willow, sorghum, sugarcane, bamboo,
and a variety of tree species, ranging from eucalyptus to oil palm (palm oil).
3.
4. The term "biomass" refers to raw
organic material used to generate a
number of energy resources, including
heat, liquid or gaseous fuels, and
electricity. Chemical energy stored in
biomass can be converted to heat
through combustion (burning).
Biomass can be converted to
liquid or gaseous fuels or can be
used to generate electricity in
the same way that coal is used.
The electricity generated can be
sent to energy consumers via
electric transmission systems.
These applications can be at a
small scale (e.g., to cook or make
hot water in individual buildings)
or at a large scale (e.g., to
generate ethanol , bio-diesel ,
bio-gas , or electricity for
5.
6. The Inception Workshop of the UNIDO/GEF Project “Promoting Sustainable
Energy Production and Use from Biomass in Pakistan” was held at Serena
Hotel, Islamabad. Senator Pervez Rasheed, Federal Information Minister
graced the event as Chief Guest.
The event was a launch pad for UNIDO’s Biomass Energy Project, titled as
“Promoting Sustainable Energy Production & Use from Biomass in
Pakistan” The 1.82 million dollar project with additional 5.30 million USD as
co-finance will be implemented in Kamoke, Jhelum, and Thatta for
demonstration projects of 4.3 MW from biomass gasification technology
and is funded by Global Environmental Facility. The Project is implemented
in partnership with Centre for Energy Systems –NUST, PPAF, SMEDA,
private sector and Provincial Energy Departments. Aim of the project is to
promote market based adoption of modern biomass Gasification
technologies in Pakistan.
7. Biomass energy has rapidly become a vital part of the
global renewable energy mix and account for an evergrowing share of electric capacity added worldwide. As per
a recent UNEP report, total renewable power capacity
worldwide exceeded 1,470 GW in 2012, up 8.5% from
2011. Renewable energy supplies around one-fifth of the
final energy consumption worldwide, counting traditional
biomass, large hydropower, and “new” renewable (small
hydro, modern biomass, wind, solar, geothermal, and biofuels).
