Biomass as an energy source for the midwestern U.S.

1992 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 137-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R. Keeney ◽  
T. H. DeLuca
Keyword(s):  
Energy Source ◽  
Energy Balance ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Energy Resources ◽  
Net Energy ◽  
Seed Crops

AbstractRecognition of the environmental costs of fossil fuels coupled with concern over their depletion within the next few decades has broadened the search for alternative energy resources, including biomass energy. Ethanol produced from corn (Zea mays L.) grain currently is the primary form of biomass energy produced in the Midwest, but its net energy balance commonly is negative when corn grain is produced under conventional practices. Reducing fossil fuel inputs, particularly for nitrogen fertilizer, will improve the energy balance, but more substantial improvements involve increased efficiency of ethanol production. An alternate source involves fermentation of crops such as sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.]Moench).Other potential biomass energy resources for the Midwest include oils extracted from seed crops, methane from waste digestion, and combustion, gasification or fermentation of woody and herbaceous crops and crop residues. These resources may serve as an energy supplement or a useful energy source for individual farms, households or rural communities. Biomass energy systems in Midwest agriculture must be evaluated regarding their long term environmental impacts and their sustainability. Externalities that must be considered include surface and ground water pollution, soil erosion, and economic and social benefits to the rural community.

scholarly journals An assessment of crop residues as potential renewable energy source for cement industry in Malawi

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth J. Gondwe ◽  
Sosten S. Chiotha ◽  
Theresa Mkandawire ◽  
Xianli Zhu ◽  
Jyoti Painuly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Source ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Total Energy ◽  
Emission Reduction ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Crop Residue ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
National Level ◽  
Cement Industry ◽  
Biomass Energy

Crop residues have been undervalued as a source of renewable energy to displace coal in the national energy mix for greenhouse emission reduction in Malawi. Switching to crop residues as an alternative energy source for energy-intensive industries such as cement manufacturing is hampered by uncertainties in crop residue availability, cost and quality. In this study, future demand for energy and availability of crop residues was assessed, based on data at the sub-national level. Detailed energy potentials from crop residues were computed for eight agricultural divisions. The results showed that the projected total energy demands in 2020, 2025 and 2030 were approximately 177 810 TJ, 184 210 TJ and 194 096 TJ respectively. The highest supply potentials were found to be in the central and southern regions of Malawi, coinciding with the locations of the two clinker plants. Crop residues could meet 45–57% of the national total energy demand. The demand from the cement industry is only 0.8% of the estimated biomass energy potential. At an annual production of 600 000 t of clinker and 20% biomass co-firing with coal, 18 562 t of coal consumption would be avoided and 46 128 t of carbon dioxide emission reduction achieved per year. For sustainability, holistic planning and implementation would be necessary to ensure the needs of various users of crop residues are met. Furthermore, there would be a need to address social, economic and environmental barriers of the crop residue-based biomass energy supply chain. Future research should focus on local residue-to-product ratios and their calorific values.

scholarly journals Biomass - alternative renewable energy source and its conversion for hydrogen rich gas production

2019 ◽  
Vol 122 ◽  
pp. 01001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena David ◽  
Janez Kopac ◽  
Adrian Armeanu ◽  
Violeta Niculescu ◽  
Claudia Sandru ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Source ◽  
Renewable Energy Source ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Gas Production ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Production Technologies

This paper presnts biomass as a renewable energy source and defines the resources as well as the ways through biomass energy is converted into fuels, the technologies used for extracting the energy from biomass as well as the advantages and disadvantages that appear by using of biomass as a energy source. In addition,it is known hydrogen is an important alternative energy vector and a bridge to a sustainable way fot the energy future. Hydrogen is an energy carrier and can be obtained by different production technologies from a large variety of primary energy sources. At present, many researches are focused on getting energy from biomass, a sustainable and non-polluting way to replace fossil fuels, because the biomass can be considered as the best option with high potential, which meets energy requirements and could insure fuel supply in the future. Biomass and residual biomass can be used to produce hydrogen rich gas sustainably. Biomass pyrolysis and gasification offers an efficiency and economical route for the renewable hydrogen production and this is also discussed in the paper.

scholarly journals Production of Bio-ethanol from Solid Waste Paper Using Biological Activation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeynu Shamil Awol ◽  
Rezika Tofike Abate
Keyword(s):  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Dilute Acid ◽  
Dilute Acid Hydrolysis ◽  
Economic Point ◽  
Solid Ratio ◽  
Alternative Energy Sources ◽  
Waste Office Paper

Abstract Biomass energy is renewable energy source that comes from the material of plants and animals. Forms of biomass energy are bio-ethanol, bio methanol, and biodiesel. Bio-ethanol is one of the most important alternative energy sources that substitute the fossil fuels. The focus of this research is to produce bio-ethanol from waste office paper. Five laboratory experiments were conducted to produce bio-ethanol from wastepaper. The wastepaper was dried in oven and cut in to pieces. Then it passed through dilute acid hydrolysis, fermentation and distillation process respectively. High amount of ethanol was observed at 20 ml/g (liquid to solid ratio) and at the time of 2hr. Cost and economic analysis for ethanol production from wastepaper was performed. Results from the analysis indicated a paper to ethanol plant was feasible from the economic point of view with rate of return (RR) 38.61% and the payback period of 2.2 years.

scholarly journals Green Economy and Renewable Energy Focusing on the Biomass Energy Source

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Ebrahim Hussien ◽  
Chamhuri Siwar ◽  
Rashidah Zainal Alam ◽  
Abdul Hamid Jafar ◽  
Norasikin Ahmad Ludin
Keyword(s):  
Energy Source ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Energy Resource ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Energy Resources ◽  
Green Economy ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
Energy And Environment

<p>Since conventional energy resources are major source of CO<sub>2</sub> emission, over reliance on fossil fuels has raised questions on environmental sustainability. On way to address these multi-faceted issues of conventional energy sources, the sustainability of energy and environment is through the green economy approach. As such, this paper aims to discuss the concept of green economy in relation with renewable energy. The interdependence of green economy and environmental quality as well as the compatibility of green economy approach with the notion of sustainable development are demonstrated in the paper. Green economy approach fulfils the methodological gaps that exist in the growth models. It is believed that the best economic tool to attain sustainable development goals is by integrating social, economic and environmental elements. Furthermore, energy is believed to be a significant player in determining the greenness of the economy and sustainability as it has economic and environmental value. In addition, this study illustrates the significance of biomass energy resource and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions from fossil fuel combustion. The illustration framework justifies that biomass is the determinant renewable energy source to be a proxy for renewable energy resources. Similarly, it justifies that CO<sub>2</sub> emission of energy sector is considerably significant to represent the CO<sub>2</sub> emissions of the atmosphere.</p>

scholarly journals TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE DURING THE ENERGY TRANSITION

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 805-836 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerard van der Meijden ◽  
Sjak Smulders
Keyword(s):  
Energy Source ◽  
Technological Change ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Peak Oil ◽  
Nonrenewable Resource ◽  
Alternative Energy Source ◽  
Alternative Energy Sources ◽  
Speed Up

The energy transition from fossil fuels to alternative energy sources has important consequences for technological change and resource extraction. We examine these consequences by incorporating a nonrenewable resource and an alternative energy source in a market economy model of endogenous growth through expanding varieties. During the energy transition, technological progress is nonmonotonic over time: It declines initially, starts increasing when the economy approaches the regime shift, and jumps down once the resource stock is exhausted. A moment of peak-oil does no longer necessarily occur, and simultaneous use of the resource and the alternative energy source will take place if the return to innovation becomes too low. Subsidies to research and development (R&D) and to renewables production speed up the energy transition, whereas a tax on fossil fuels postpones the switch to renewable energy.

Methane Component of the Modern WWTP Biogas as an Alternative Energy Source

2016 ◽  
Vol 871 ◽  
pp. 208-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Artem Kholodiakov ◽  
Andrey Bondal ◽  
Marina Zubkova ◽  
Alexander Chusov ◽  
Alexander Stroganov
Keyword(s):  
Energy Source ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Main Product ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Energy Resources ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge ◽  
Alternative Energy Source ◽  
Anaerobic Reactors ◽  
Secondary Energy Resources

This paper presents an analysis of the company for the production of soft drinks wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and indicators on biogas as a byproduct. Shown new technology of anaerobic reactors and cleaning properties of the main product - the anaerobic sludge, from which biogas released. Offered to re-evaluate the potential of using methane component of biogas. The proposed approach for the use of biogas would allow such enterprises to carry out a comprehensive approach to solving the problems of energy efficiency and the use of the significant potential of secondary energy resources.

scholarly journals Deposition Formation Effect of Biodiesel in a Diesel Engine Fuel Injector

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1057-1060
Keyword(s):  
Diesel Engine ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Energy Resource ◽  
Petroleum Products ◽  
Energy Resources ◽  
Engine Fuel ◽  
Fuel Injector

To establish a long-term sustainability of biodiesel to fulfill the quest for renewable fuel resources for the countries has low or no fossil fuels reserves. The energy resource meets to its limited capacity, alternative new energy resources must be explored such as the introduction of biodiesel as an alternative energy resources of petroleum products. The present research work is a 90-hour long-term endurance test performed with B30 sample (biodiesel 30% + 70% diesel) fueled with modified investigation performance, sound pressure level and engine durability. Special attention has been given to certain phenomena affecting the life of the engine, the formation of deposits and its performance. Experimental results of this research work demonstrated that the modified diesel engine could be efficiently performed with the B30 fuel sample.

scholarly journals BIOFUELS AS PROMISING FUELS

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladan Mićić ◽  
Pero Dugić ◽  
Zoran Petrović ◽  
Milorad Tomić
Keyword(s):  
Energy Source ◽  
Renewable Resources ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Energy Content ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Technical Issues

The use of fossil fuels results in global warming and pollution. In comparison with fossil fuels biofuels represent an eco-friendly, biodegradable, sustainable, cost-competitive and promising alternative energy source. They contain high energy content and do not contribute to greenhouse effect. Therefore, using cheap or renewable resources as the feedstock for biofuels production has a great potential in terms of a major contribution to future energy supply. The production and use of biofuels is already well established and a further promotion of these fuels such as lipid biofuels (bioethanol, pure plant oils and biodiesel) and gas biofuels (biomethane, biohydrogen) mainly depends on non-technical issues, such as policies and cost–effectiveness. Biofuels will definitely stay for the foreseeable future and still can continue to provide the earth and the human population with a relatively clean source of energy with several benefits such as economic benefits of providing employment and health benefits of reduced carbon emissions, leading to cleaner air. With increasing sophistication of technology and intense research and development done, one can safely infer that biofuel will become more appealing and applicable for use on a globally commercial level. As such, biofuel is acknowledged as the Earth’s future energy source. Until a newer and cleaner energy source is discovered, scientists will definitely persist in researching and enhancing biofuels to make them more cost-effective, while still being environmentally friendly.

scholarly journals Technical and Economic Study of Powering Poultry Farm in Egypt Using PV-Biomass on-grid Energy Generation System: Case Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 67-77
Author(s):  
T. A. Boghdady ◽  
Ali J. Alamer ◽  
Mina M. Yousef ◽  
Ahmed M. Elshafee ◽  
M. A. Mostafa Hassan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Source ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Hybrid System ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Poultry Farm ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
Cost Of Energy ◽  
Production Form

The main goal of this work is to find economical alternative energy supply solution for poultry industry in Egypt. By studying the economic feasibility of using hybrid renewable energy resources as main source of power for existing poultry farm in Egypt to reduce existing operational cost of energy and add resilience and reliability dimensions for the operation of poultry farm in rural locations. In addition to reducing the environmental impact of using poultry litter in its fundamental form. This hybrid system connected to grid is used in the company to avoid instability problem in which the company suffered when they applied biomass energy source as main power source to their farm in Lebanon. The grid will be used as energy storage during the excess energy production form the hybrid system and to add some resilience and reliability dimensions to the hybrid system to prevent instability to the farm ‘s grid due to the high penetration of renewable energy. The economic feasibility is evaluated of this configuration using HOMER versus different configurations and sizes for these systems including the existing situation of depending only on grid as main source of energy. The results showed that the best configuration is 400 kW biomass generator, and 500 kW PV plant will satisfy the average demanded load of 9660 kWh daily with using the grid as backup energy source. The cost of energy for this configuration will be 0.0894 $/kWh which is lower than continuing existing situation depending on the grid as main source of power in which its Cost of Energy (COE) will reach during the lifetime of the project to 0.184 $/kWh due to the increase in COE in Egypt by 8%.

scholarly journals Hydrogen: Technologies, Policies and Challenges

2012 ◽  
Vol 260-261 ◽  
pp. 28-33
Author(s):  
Jun Zhang ◽  
Lu Cheng Ji ◽  
Bo Jin
Keyword(s):  
Energy Source ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Hydrogen Energy ◽  
Scale Production ◽  
Hydrogen Economy ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Large Scale Production ◽  
Social And Economic Development

Hydrogen energy has been considered as a clean alternative energy source substituting fossil fuels. Many countries consider it as the ultimate solution to the energy and environmental problems, even draw up the blueprint of “hydrogen economy” and heavily invest for research and development. However, after decades of research, the hydrogen energy technologies are still being prospective and explored, and haven’t been put into large scale production by now. This article begins with expatiation on the essence of hydrogen energy, makes analysis of various big challenges for hydrogen energy technologies, and reaches the conclusion that we should hold the rational and cautious attitude towards hydrogen energy source because the transition to hydrogen economy of unclear prospect must pay a very high cost, which is unbearable for the social and economic development status of developing countries.

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