Biomass to Biofuels: Unlocking the Potential

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Wednesday, March 19, 2008

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Biomass to Biofuels: Unlocking the Potential

GLOBE - The energy potential of biomass is the subject of the latest report from Energy Business Reports. Biomass is a renewable energy resource derived from various human and natural activities, including by-products from the timber industry, agricultural crops, raw material from the forest, major parts of household waste and wood.

Like wind, solar and other forms of renewable energy, biomass produces fewer emissions than its fossil fuel counterparts. After fossil fuels, biomass is the most widely used fuel in the world.

Scientists are exploring the advantages of biomass energy as an alternative energy source as it is renewable and free from net CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions, and is abundantly available on earth in the form of agricultural residue, city garbage, cattle dung, firewood, etc. Bioenergy, in the form of biogas, which is derived from biomass, is expected to become one of the key energy resources for global sustainable development. This new research report from Energy Business Reports looks at the potential of using biofuels to combat the energy crisis.

A principal advantage of biomass is its low greenhouse gas emission characteristic. Biomass does not spew carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as it absorbs an equal amount of carbon in growing as it releases when consumed as a fuel. Biomass contains less sulfur than coal, and consequently produces less SO2. It can be used to generate electricity utilizing the same equipment that is used to combust fossil fuels, and its use cuts down on the need for landfills, has a positive impact on watershed quality, retards the risk of wildfires by thinning forests, and generates jobs in the local economy.

Feedstocks used to produce biofuels include corn (the predominant feedstock in the U.S.), sugarcane (common in Brazil) or sugar beets (common in Europe), various grains, rapeseed or oil seed, soybeans, as well as other bio-sources found throughout the world. Despite the wide range of possible sources, biomass feedstocks are remarkably uniform in many of their fuel properties, compared with coal or petroleum.

Biomass can be converted into a range of fuels and used in numerous applications. Two types of ethanol are produced in the United States: fermentation ethanol and synthetic ethanol. In addition, biodiesel, bio-oil, and biofuel from synthetic gas are produced commercially.

The Biomass to Biofuels report examines the role of government in the biofuel industry, as well as the growth drivers and obstacles to be overcome in the market. It describes the various conversion technologies - including drying, torrefaction, pyrolysis, gasification, combustion and various types of hydrolysis - and presents a comprehensive overview of the economics of the biofuels industry. The report also describes major biofuel programs underway and lists key players in the industry.

TheBioenergySite News Desk