GEC 253 (ENERGY AND SOCIETY)

It is a term that refers to fuel derived

from vegetative and animal matter,
that is not embedded in geological
formations. It is a renewable energy
resource which can always be
provided by means of growing trees.
 Bioenergy is currently the largest global
contributor of renewable energy mix.
 The contribution of all renewable energy

resources to global energy is currently 18 %.

 Bioenergy takes the lion share of 14% out of

the 18% (78 % in renewable energy mix),

followed by hydropower at 3%.
 All other renewables which include Solar,

Tidal, Geothermal and Wind share the

remaining 1%.
 Solar energy from the sun is converted
to chemical potential energy(biomass)
through the process called
photosynthesis, i.e.,

CO2 + H2O +Light = O2 + Carbohydrates

The carbohydrates is the biomass
(vegetative matter)
.
During grazing, animals get the stored
energy (carbohydrates) from plants and
transform it into other forms (animal matter)
 through respiration.
Bioenergy fuels are produced from various
forms of Biomass.
Biomass supply is from:
 Natural Forests: Brazil (Amazon forests),
Australia and Russia have largest forests.
Forests represents 90 % of biomass resource.
 Agricultural Waste: Straw from harvested
grain or crops, domestic vegetative waste
 Energy Planting:
 Energy planting is where selected species of
plants are grown and harvested on regular
basis for provision of energy. Often the
plantation are made near a power plant. This
type of Biomass is also referred to as Morden
Biomass.
 Biomass can be used without any processing
as is common with woody biomass. But
biomass can be processed into various
biofuels in the form of Solids, Liquids, or
gases. These controlled processes are classed
according to the nature of the process.
(1). Biological processes: This includes
production of Bioethanol (liquid biofuel) and
Biogas (gaseous biofuel).
 Bioethanol is produced from fermentation of
carbohydrate in the presence of a catalyst
(e.g. yeast) to produce ethanol.
C6 H 12O6  2CH 3CH 2OH  2CO2
carbohydrates Ethanol Carbon dioxide

 The formation is done in the absence of

oxygen (anaerobic process). Common plants
used as feedstock for the process are: sugar
cane, sweet corn etc
BIOGAS:This is a biofuel produced from
fermentation of organic matter (manure
and biodegradable waste). It is mainly
composed of carbon dioxide and
methane. It is used to power vehicles
and provide electricity. Depending on
where the gas is produced, it can be
called landfill gas, swamp gas and
digestion gas..
 The simplified equation for the
anaerobic reaction is:

C6H12O6 = 3 CO2 + 3CH4 (methane)

N.B the process is also fermentation of biomass

just like for production of bioethanol but here
no catalyst is used.
 The digester is normally placed below the
ground and two pipelines leads to its bottom.
 One for feeding animal waste called slurry
 The other for spent slurry called sludge

 Sludge is also usable as it still retains all the

nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium and is
 An excellent source of fertilisers.
(2) Chemical Processes:

 Biodiesel Production; biodiesel is

produced by transesterification
(chemical process) of plant oil (plant
seeds) and animal fats. The biodiesel
can be used to replace the diesel obtain
from crude oil.
(3) Thermal Processes:

Biomass is often converted to other forms of

biofuel through thermal processes. These
include;
(a)Production of Synthesis Gas (SYNGAS).
Catalytic thermal cracking of Biomass
Produces Syngas. Syngas is a
combustible gasesous mixture of
Hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
(b) Pyrolysis (production of charcoal):In its
simplest form, pyrolysis represents heating the
biomass to drive off the volatile matter and
leaving behind the
charcoal. This process has doubled the energy
density of the original material because charcoal,
which is half the weight of
the original biomass, contains the same amount
of energy, making the fuel more transportable.
The charcoal also burns at
a much higher temperature than the original
biomass, making it more useful for
manufacturing processes.
 Biomass does not increase carbon dioxide
level in the atmosphere as it absorbs the
same amount of carbon in growing as it
releases when consumed as a fuel.

 It can cheaply replace fossil fuels. The same

power plants that are now burning fossil fuels
can be used to burn biomass to generate
electricity
 Biomass is easily available and can be grown

with relative ease in all parts of the world.

 Growing plants for biomass fuel may help to reduce
greenhouse gases, since plants use carbon dioxide and
produce oxygen as they
grow. Carbon dioxide is considered an important
greenhouse gas.
 Decrease soil fertility, When plant and animal
wastes are used as fuel, they cannot be added to
the soil as fertilizer. Soil without fertilizer is
depleted of nutrients and produce fewer crops.
 Not easy to store biomass in raw form as like
 e.g. coal.

 Over-collecting wood can destroy forests. Soils

bared of trees erode easily and do not hold
rainfall. Increased runoff can cause flooding
downstream