Sustainable Development and Environment of Biomass from Agriculture Residues

There is strong scientific evidence that the average temperature of the earth’s surface is rising. This was a result of the increased concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2), and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere as released by burning fossil fuels [1,2]. This global warming will eventually lead to substantial changes in the world’s climate, which will, in turn, have a major impact on human life and the environment. Energy use can be achieved by minimising the energy demand, by rational energy use, by recovering heat and the use of more green energies. This will lead to fossil fuels emission reduction. This study was a step towards achieving this goal. The adoption of green or sustainable approaches to the way in which society is run is seen as an important strategy in finding a solution to the energy problem. The key factors to reducing and controlling CO2, which is the major contributor to global warming, are the use of alternative approaches to energy generation and the exploration of how these alternatives are used today and may be used in the future as green energy sources. Even with modest assumptions about the availability of land, comprehensive fuel-wood farming programmes offer significant energy, economic and environmental benefits. These benefits would be dispersed in rural areas where they are greatly needed and can serve as linkages for further rural economic development. The nations as a whole would benefit from savings in foreign exchange, improved energy security, and socio-economic improvements. With a nine-fold increase in forest – plantation cover, the nation’s resource base would be greatly improved. The non-technical issues, which have recently gained attention, include:

1) Environmental and ecological factors, e.g., carbon sequestration, reforestation and revegetation.

2) Renewables as a CO₂ neutral replacement for fossil fuels.

3) Greater recognition of the importance of renewable energy, particularly modern biomass energy carriers, at the policy and planning levels.

4) Greater recognition of the difficulties of gathering good and reliable biomass energy data, and efforts to improve it.

5) Studies on the detrimental health efforts of biomass energy particularly from traditional energy users.

There is a need for some further development to suit local conditions, to minimise spares holdings, to maximise interchangeability both of engine parts and of the engine application. Emphasis should be placed on full local manufacture [3].

Energy is an essential factor in development since it stimulates, and supports economic growth and development. Fossil fuels, especially oil and natural gas, are finite in extent, and should be regarded as depleting assets, and efforts are oriented to search for new sources of energy. The clamour all over the world for the need to conserve energy and the environment has intensified as traditional energy resources continue to dwindle whilst the environment becomes increasingly degraded. Alternatively energy sources can potentially help fulfill the acute energy demand and sustain economic growth in many regions of the world. Bioenergy is beginning to gain importance in the global fight to prevent climate change. The scope for exploiting organic waste as a source of energy is not limited to direct incineration or burning refuse-derived fuels. Biogas, biofuels and woody biomass are other forms of energy sources that can be derived from organic waste materials. These biomass energy sources have significant potential in the fight against climate change [4].

Conservation of energy and rationing in some form will however have to be practised by most countries, to reduce oil imports and redress balance of payments positions. Meanwhile development and application of nuclear power and some of the traditional solar, wind, biomass and water energy alternatives must be set in hand to supplement what remains of the fossil fuels. The encouragement of greater energy use is an essential component of development. In the short-term it requires mechanisms to enable the rapid increase in energy/capita, and in the long-term we should be working towards a way of life, which makes use of energy efficiency and without the impairment of the environment or of causing safety problems. Such a programme should as far as possible be based on renewable energy resources [5].

The objective of this project is to highlight problems related to biomass applications and suggest methods to overcome these problems. This will be achieved through a comprehensive literature review of biomass, their application and the related problems.

The aim of any modern biomass energy systems must be:

• To maximise yields with minimum inputs.

• Utilisation and selection of adequate plant materials and processes.

• Optimum use of land, water, and fertiliser.

• Create an adequate infrastructure and strong R and D base.

Different techniques and methods employed to maintain and provide specific environments in bioenergy will also be assessed. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the suggested methods, a literature review is compiled and presented. Determine the suitability of biomass technology for heating, cooling and other applications. Verify and document the savings in energy use and demand that biomass may be expected to achieve.

Objectives

The current literature is reviewed regarding the ecological, social, cultural and economic impacts of biomass technology. This study gives an overview of present and future use of biomass as an industrial feedstock for production of fuels, chemicals and other materials.

Bioenergy Development

Bioenergy is energy from the sun stored in materials of biological origin. This includes plant matter and animal waste, known as biomass. Plants store solar energy through photosynthesis in cellulose and lignin, whereas animals store energy as fats. When burned, these sugars break down and release energy exothermically, releasing carbon dioxide (CO2), heat and steam. The by-products of this reaction can be captured and manipulated to create power, commonly called bioenergy. Biomass is considered renewable because the carbon (C) is taken out of the atmosphere and replenished more quickly than the millions of years required for fossil fuels to form. The use of biofuels to replace fossil fuels contributes to a reduction in the overall release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and hence helps to tackle global warming [6].

The biomass energy resources are particularly suited for the provision of rural power supplies and a major advantage is that equipment such as flat plate solar driers, wind machines, etc., can be constructed using local resources and without the high capital cost of more conventional equipment. Further advantage results from the feasibility of local maintenance and the general encouragement such local manufacture gives to the build up of small-scale rural based industry. Table 1 lists the energy sources available. Currently the ‘non-commercial’ fuels wood, crop residues and animal dung are used in large amounts in the rural areas of developing countries, principally for heating and cooking; the method of use is highly inefficient. Table 2 presented some renewable applications. Table 3 lists the most important of energy needs. Table 4 listed methods of energy conversion.

Table 1:Sources of energy [7].

Table 2:Renewable applications [8].

Table 3:Energy needs in rural areas [8].

Table 4:Methods of energy conversion [10].

Considerations when selecting power plant include the following:

• Power level- whether continuous or discontinuous.

• Cost- initial cost, total running cost including fuel, maintenance and capital amortised over life.

• Complexity of operation.

• Maintenance and availability of spares.

• Life and suitability for local manufacture.

The internal combustion engine is a major contributor to rising CO2 emissions worldwide and some pretty dramatic new thinking is needed if our planet is to counter the effects. With its use increasing in developing world economies, there is something to be said for the argument that the vehicles we use to help keep our inner-city environments free from waste, litter and grime should be at the forefront of developments in low-emissions technology. Materials handled by waste management companies are becoming increasingly valuable. Those responsible for the security of facilities that treat waste or manage scrap will testify to the precautions needed to fight an ongoing battle against unauthorised access by criminals and crucially, to prevent the damage they can cause through theft, vandalism or even arson. Of particular concern is the escalating level of metal theft, driven by various factors including the demand for metal in rapidly developing economies such as India and China [9].

There is a need for greater attention to be devoted to this field in the development of new designs, the dissemination of information and the encouragement of its use. International and government bodies and independent organisations all have a role to play in biomass energy technologies. Environment has no precise limits because it is in fact a part of everything. Indeed, environment is, as anyone probably already knows, not only flowers blossoming or birds singing in the spring, or a lake surrounded by beautiful mountains. It is also human settlements, the places where people live, work, rest, the quality of the food we eat, the noise or silence of the street they live in. Environment is not only the fact that our cars consume a good deal of energy and pollute the air, but also, that we often need them to go to work and for holidays. Obviously man uses energy just as plants, bacteria, mushrooms, bees, fish and rats do (Figure 1).

1. https://www.graphenea.com/pages/grapheneHYPERLINK "https://www.graphenea.com/pages/graphene-properties"propertiHYPERLINK "https://www.graphenea.com/pages/graphene-properties"es#.W9g1uxEzZdgHYPERLINK "https://www.graphenea.com/pages/graphene-properties"
2. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/nn800251fHYPERLINK "http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/nn800251fHYPERLINK%20%22http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/nn800251f%22"
3. https://www.graphene.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/HYPERLINK "https://www.graphene.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/HYPERLINK%20%22https://www.graphene.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/%22"
4. https://www.grapheneHYPERLINK "https://www.graphene-info.com/graphene-paints"-HYPERLINK "https://www.graphene-info.com/graphene-paints"com/grapheneHYPERLINK "https://www.graphene-info.com/graphene-paints"-HYPERLINK "https://www.graphene-info.com/graphene-paints"paintsHYPERLINK https://www.graphene-info.com/graphene-paints
5. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jp906325q