This comprehensive reference is a state-of-the-art survey of biomass as an energy carrier for the provision of heat, electricity, and transportation fuel, considering technical, economic, environmental, and social aspects. On a global scale, biomass contributes roughly 12 to 16 % of the energy needed to cover the overall primary energy consumption. Thus far, it is humanity’s most important source of renewable energy, used on practically all continents and growing in importance even in industrialized nations. With detailed coverage of the production of solid, gaseous and liquid fuels, as well as a final energy provision, this volume serves as an introduction for readers just entering the field, but also offers new insights, up-to-date information, as well as latest findings for advanced researchers, industry experts, and decision makers.

For the power industry, biomass is just a modern name for the ancient material of plant origin that was converted into energy in the simple technology of burning. This book discusses biomass as a raw material for the production of liquid or gaseous biofuels and valuable chemicals. Such biomass processing should be beneficial from both economic and environmental points of view. Classic technologies of biogas production are still being improved, but they always generate waste that differs in terms of chemical parameters, depending on the feedstock digested. These parameters dictate the manner of their final managing. Various biotechnologies allow the use of the biomass of hydrobionts, such as cyanobacteria as a raw substance for obtaining different products, e.g. hyaluronic acid, biopolymers, fertilizers, or even drugs. Animal fats or algae can be used to produce biodiesel which in turn is used in environmentally friendly urban transport. Even municipal solid waste can be a source of useful biomass. The authors show how its volume and composition can be predicted, by which form of processing it can be converted into valuable products, as well as in which ways its negative environmental impact can be limited.

Biomass for Renewable Energy, Fuels, and Chemicals serves as a comprehensive introduction to the subject for the student and educator, and is useful for researchers who are interested in the technical details of biomass energy production. The coverage and discussion are multidisciplinary, reflecting the many scientific and engineering disciplines involved. The book will appeal to a broad range of energy professionals and specialists, farmers and foresters who are searching for methods of selecting, growing, and converting energy crops, entrepreneurs who are commercializing biomass energy projects, and those involved in designing solid and liquid waste disposal-energy recovery systems. Presents a graduated treatment from basic principles to the details of specific technologies Includes a critical analysis of many biomass energy research and commercialization activities Proposes several new technical approaches to improve efficiencies, net energy production, and economics Reviews failed projects, as well as successes, and methods for overcoming barriers to commercialization Written by a leader in the field with 40 years of educational, research, and commercialization experience

Countless pages have been written on alternative energy sources since the fall of 1973 when our dependence on fossil petroleum resources became a grim reality. One such alternative is the use of biomass for producing energy and liquid and gaseous fuels. The term "biomass" generally refers to renewable organic matter generated by plants through photosynthesis. Thus trees, agri cultural crops, and aquatic plants are prime sources of biomass. Furthermore, as these sources of biomass are harvested and processed into commercial prod ucts, residues and wastes are generated. These, together with municipal solid wastes, not only add to the total organic raw material base that can be utilized for energy purposes but they also need to be removed for environmental reasons. Biomass has been used since antiquity for energy and material needs. In is still one of the most sought-after energy sources in most of the fact, firewood world. Furthermore, wood was still a dominant energy source in the U. S. only a hundred years ago (equal with coal). Currently, biomass contributes about 15 2 quadrillion Btu (l quad = 10 Btu) of energy to our total energy consump tion of about 78 quad. Two quad may not seem large when compared to the contribution made by petroleum (38 quad) or natural gas (20 quad), but bio mass is nearly comparable to nuclear energy (2. 7 quad).

Global energy use is approximately 140 000 TWh per year. Interestingly, biomass production amounts to approximately 270 000 TWh per year, or roughly twice as much, whereas the official figure of biomass use for energy applications is 10-13% of the global energy use. This shows that biomass is not a marginal energy resource but more than capable of

The book presents an in-depth review of biomass-derived materials for energy storage technologies. Biomass is the most renewable and abundant carbon resource and has great potential for sustainable energy production. Topics covered include: Bone Char as a Support Material to Build a Microbial Biocapacitor; Biomass Derived Composites; Lignin- and Bamboo Derived Materials, Cellulose-Derived Electrodes; Water Splitting, Fuel cells, and Supercapacitor Technologies. 465 References. Keywords: Bamboo Stick, Biochar, Bioelectrodes, Biofilm, Biomass, Bone Char, Carbon Nanofiber, Cellulose-Derived Electrodes, Fuel Cells, Green Energy, Microbial Biocapacitor, Biomass Derived Composites, High-Frequency Supercapacitors, Lignin Materials, Bamboo Materials, Lithium-Ion Batteries, Lithium-Sulfur Batteries, Natural Precursors, Porous Carbon, Supercapacitor Technology, Water Splitting.

This book is written for scientists and practitioners interested in deepening their knowledge of the sustainable production of bioenergy from wood in tropical and sub-tropical countries. Utilising the value chain concept, this book outlines the necessary aspects for managing sustainable bioenergy production. A wide range of topics is covered including biomass localization, modelling and upscaling, production management in woodlands and plantations, and transport and logistics. Biomass quality and conversion pathways are examined in order to match the conversion technology with the available biomass. A section is dedicated to issues surrounding sustainability. The issues, covered in a life-cycle assessment of the bioenergy system, include socio-economic challenges, local effects on water, biodiversity, nutrient-sustainability and global impacts. Through this holistic approach and supporting examples from tropical and sub-tropical countries, the reader is guided in designing and implementing a value chain as the main management instrument for sustainable wood.

A comprehensive depository of all information relating to the scientific and technological aspects of Shale Gas and Alternative Energy Conveniently arranged by energy type including Shale Gas, Wind, Geothermal, Solar, and Hydropower Perfect first-stop reference for any scientist, engineer, or student looking for practical and applied energy information Emphasizes practical applications of existing technologies, from design and maintenance, to operating and troubleshooting of energy systems and equipment Features concise yet complete entries, making it easy for users to find the required information quickly, without the need to search through long articles

Sustainable sources of energy and a supply of good quality water are two major challenges facing modern societies across the globe. Biomass from cultivated plants may be used to generate energy, but at the cost of contaminated surface waters from pesticide and fertiliser use. This two-volume set examines the potential use of biomass as both a source of sustainable energy and a resource to tackle contaminated soils and wastewaters. Consideration is given to non-food crops, bacteria ,and fungi as sources of biomass and the book enables the reader to identify the best local bioresources according to the desired application. With contributions from across the globe, this is an essential guide to meeting the demand for energy and pollution remediation by exploiting local and renewable resources. The example scenarios given may inspire policy makers and local officers, while chemical engineers and environmental scientists in both academia and industry will benefit from the comprehensive review of current thinking and application.

The consumption of petroleum has surged during the 20th century, at least partially because of the rise of the automobile industry. Today, fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas provide more than three quarters of the world's energy. Unfortunately, the growing demand for fossil fuel resources comes at a time of diminishing reserves of these nonrenewable resources. The worldwide reserves of oil are sufficient to supply energy and chemicals for only about another 40 years, causing widening concerns about rising oil prices. The use of biomass to produce energy is only one form of renewable energy that can be utilized to reduce the impact of energy production and use on the global environment. Biomass can be converted into three main products such as energy, biofuels and fine chemicals using a number of different processes. Today, it is a great challenge for researchers to find new environmentally benign methodology for biomass conversion, which are industrially profitable as well. This book focuses on the conversion of biomass to biofuels, bioenergy and fine chemicals with the interface of biotechnology, microbiology, chemistry and materials science. An international scientific authorship summarizes the state-of-the-art of the current research and gives an outlook on future developments.