Biomass and Bioenergy

Biofuels are fuels that can be processed from numerous types of biomass. First generation biofuels are processed from the sugars and vegetable oils formed in arable crops, which can be smoothly extracted applying conventional technology. In comparison, advanced biofuels are made from lignocellulosic biomass or woody crops, agricultural residues or waste, which makes it tougher to extract the requisite fuel. Advanced biofuel technologies have been devised because first generation biofuels manufacture has major limitations. First generation biofuel processes are convenient but restrained in most cases: there is a limit above which they cannot yield enough biofuel without forbidding food supplies and biodiversity. Many first generation biofuels rely on subsidies and are not cost competitive with prevailing fossil fuels such as oil, and some of them yield only limited greenhouse gas emissions savings. When considering emissions from production and transport, life-cycle assessment from first generation biofuels usually approach those of traditional fossil fuels. Advanced biofuels can aid resolving these complications and can impart a greater proportion of global fuel supply affordably, sustainably and with larger environmental interests.

Biodiesel is a renewable, clean-burning diesel replacement that is reducing U.S. dependence on foreign petroleum, creating jobs and improving the environment. Made from a diverse mix of feedstocks including recycled cooking oil, soybean oil, and animal fats, it is the first and only EPA-designated Advanced Biofuel in commercial-scale production across the country and the first to reach 1 billion gallons of annual production. Meeting strict technical fuel quality and engine performance specifications, it can be used in existing diesel engines without modification and is covered by all major engine manufacturers’ warranties, most often in blends of up to 5 percent or 20 percent biodiesel. It is produced at plants in nearly every state in the country.

Renewable Energy is normally defined as any energy resource’s that can be naturally renew or regenerated over a short time and which is directly derived from the sun (solar energy),indirectly from sun such as wind energy, hydropower energy, bioenergy ,or from  other mechanisms of natural  resources (geothermal energy, tidal energy). Renewable energy only includes energy derived from organic and natural resources it doesn’t include inorganic resources. REN21 is an energy policy network that brings government and non-governmental organisation together and other organisations to learn from one another and build successes in advance renewable energy. Renewable energy which is replaced by a natural process as the rate of process is faster than the rate which is consumed. Renewable energy is energy that is generated from natural processes that are continuously replenished. This includes sunlight, geothermal heat, wind energy, tides, water, and various forms of biomass. This energy cannot be exhausted and is constantly renewed. Biomass, is a renewable organic matter, and can include biological material derived from living, or recently living organisms, such as wood, waste, and alcohol fuels.

Bioenergy is conversion of biomass resources such as agricultural and forest residues, organic municipal waste and energy crops to useful energy carriers including heat, electricity and transport fuels. Biomass is increasingly being used for modern applications such as dendro-power, co-generation and Combined Heat and Power generation (CHP). Depending on the resource availability and technical, economic and environmental impact, these can be attractive alternatives to fossil fuel based applications. Bioenergy, a renewable energy resource particularly suitable for electricity, heating & cooling in transport, will be at the core of this sectorial shift in renewable energy production and use and is expected to become the dominant form of RES before 2020.

Renewable energy and energy efficiency are generally said to be the "twin pillars" of property energy policy. Each resource should be developed so as to stabilize and scale back dioxide emissions. There are numerous energy policies on a worldwide scale in reference to energy exploration, production and consumption, starting from commodities firms to automobile makers to wind and star producers and business associations. Recent focus of energy economic science includes the subsequent issues: climate change and climate policy, property, energy markets and economic process, economic science of energy infrastructure, energy and environmental law and policies and warming together with exploring varied challenges related to fast the diffusion of renewable energy technologies in developing countries. Most of the agricultural facilities within the developed world are mechanized as a result of rural electrification. Rural electrification has created important productivity gains; however it additionally uses plenty of energy. For this and alternative reasons (such as transport costs) during a low-carbon society, rural areas would want obtainable provides of renewably created electricity.

Biogas typically refers to a mixture of different gases produced by the breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Biogas can be produced from raw materials such as agricultural waste, manure, municipal waste, plant material, sewage, green waste or food waste. It is a renewable energy source and in many cases exerts a very small carbon footprint. Biogas can be produced by anaerobic digestion with anaerobic bacteria, which digest material inside a closed system, or fermentation of biodegradable materials. Biogas is primarily methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) and may have small amounts of hydrogen sulphide (H2S), moisture and siloxanes .Biogas is produced as landfill gas (LFG), which is produced by the breakdown of biodegradable waste inside a landfill due to chemical reactions and microbes, or as digested gas, produced inside an anaerobic digester. By converting cow manure into methane biogas via anaerobic digestion, the millions of cattle in the United States would be able to produce 100 billion kilowatt hours of electricity, enough to power millions of homes across the United States. In fact, one cow can produce enough manure in one day to generate 3 kilowatt hours of electricity; the dangers of biogas are mostly similar to those of natural gas, but with an additional risk from the toxicity of its hydrogen sulfide fraction. Biogas can be explosive when mixed one part biogas to 8-20 parts air.

Biomass resources include a wide variety of materials diverse in both physical and chemical properties. Depending on the application, these variations may be critical for the final performance of the system. In particular, some advanced applications require fairly narrow specifications for moisture, ash content, ash composition. Both the physical and chemical characteristics vary significantly within and between the different biomass raw materials.However, biomass feedstocks are more uniform for some of their properties compared with competing feedstocks such as coal or petroleum. For example, coals show gross heating value ranges from 20 to 30 GJ/tonne. However, nearly all kinds of biomass feedstocks destined for combustion fall in the range 15-19 GJ/tonne for their LHV. The values for most woody materials are 18-19 GJ/tonne, while for most agricultural residues, the heating values are in the region of 15-17 GJ/tonne.

Track 5.1: Biomass feedstock, residues and by-products

Track 5.2: Biomass crops and energy grasses

Track 5.3: Municipal and industrial wastes

Track 5.4: Integrated biomass production for energy purposes

Track 5.5: Algae production systems

Track 5.6: Environmental benefits of biomass

Waste-to-energy (WtE) is the process of generating energy in the form of electricity and/or heat from the primary treatment of waste, or the processing of waste into a fuel source. WtE is a form of energy recovery. Most WtE processes generate electricity and/or heat directly through combustion, or produce a combustible fuel commodity, such as methane, methanol, ethanol or synthetic fuels. The term WtE is commonly used in specific reference to incineration which burns completely combusted waste at ultra-high temperatures allowing for energy recovery. Modern incineration facilities use pollution control equipment to prevent the release of emissions into the environment.  Currently incineration is the only WtE technology that is economically viable and operationally feasible at commercial scale.

Biomass plant material and animal waste IS used to create transportation fuels and generate electricity. Biomass energy is derived from plant-based material and solar energy has been converted into organic matter. Biomass can be used in a variety of energy-conversion process to yield power, heat, steam, and fuel. Biomass is used by food processing industries, animal feed industry, and wood products industry, which includes construction and fiber products (paper and derivatives), along with chemical products made from these industries that have diverse applications including detergents, biofertilizers, and erosion control products. The biggest opportunity for the global bioenergy technology is the increasing demand for electricity across the world.

Production of energy crops could potentially compete for land with food cropping as demand for biomass increases. Biomass customers may be locked in long-term supply contracts with a single supplier making it difficult to get competitive pricing in the future. Alternative impacts are similar to those covered in the District Heating and Combined Heat and Power pages. The non-destructive pilot market is estimated to be valued at USD 12.98 Billion in 2015 and is projected to outstretch USD 18.88 Billion by 2020, at a CAGR of 7.78% from 2014 to 2020.

Track 9.1: Thermal Conversion of Biomass

Track 9.2: Biological Conversion

Track9.3: Combustion and Co-firing

Track 9.4: Gasification and Pyrolysis

Track 9.5: Chemical conversion from oil-bearing crops

Track 9.6: Chemical Conversion of Biomass

Track 9.7: Biochemical Conversion of Biomass

Track 9.8: Electrochemical Conversion of Biomass

Track 9.9: Latest Conversion Technologies in Biomass

Track 9.10: Biomass for Electricity Generation

Track 9.11: Heat and Power Generation

Track 9.12: Power Plants

Solar energy has being derived from natural sources that doesn’t harm the behavioural and environmental factors. The energy which is taken from the sun is converted into solar energy (thermal or electrical) for further use. Fuel production is also done from solar energy with the help of high temperature. In energy storage, energy is capture which is produced at one time and is store for future use. Economics of solar energy depends upon usages and it is always varies from country to country. Solar panels are greater way to lock solar electricity rates. Solar also increases the value of place where it is plentily available. Wind energy produces from wind to generate electricity. It mechanical preforms the energy to produce large amount of energy for large use. It can be a good replacement to fossil fuel, renewable, widely distributed and produces no greenhouse gases and small space for installing. Wind farms consists of many wind turbines individually which are connected to the electric power network. Offshore wind is stronger than on land and has less impact on appearance of the landscape. About the production and capacity it depends upon the usage in every country. The effects on the atmosphere are less difficult than those of other sources.

With pellets and densified biomass being produced and sold in quantities ranging from a 40 pound bag to entire shiploads, this industry is serving a broad market with very diverse needs. The track will offer attendees an opportunity to focus exclusively on this hot segment of the biomass to energy industry.

Bio economy is understanding mechanisms and methodologies at the genetic and molecular levels and applying this to creating or improving industrial processes. The Bio economy comprises those parts of the economy that use renewable biological resources from land and sea – such as crops, forests, fish, animals and micro-organisms – to produce food, materials and energy. It is an essential alternative to the dangers and limitations of our current fossil-based economy and can be considered as the next wave in our economic development. Bio economy, bio-based economy, biotechnology refers to all economic activity derived from scientific and research activity focused on biotechnology.