A RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD
- FUELING THE FUTURE WITH BIOMASS
Malathi.N
I year MBA, School of Management
Sri Krishna College of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore.

ABSTRACT

Concerns about the availability and long-term supply of petroleum-derived fuels have caused the search for alternative sources of energy. After a century of unprecedented growth in science, technology, and the economy, we now face tremendous challenges to our ability to fuel the future: a fluctuating oil price, a changing climate, and continued dependence on unreliable energy sources. These problems are increasingly personal, and the demand for solutions becomes increasingly urgent. The ultimate solutions will only come from fundamental innovations in science and technology. Liquid fuels will for some applications be necessary for an indefinite period of time. Therefore, defining relevant feedstocks, producing fuels from these feedstocks and the properties of these fuels are critical issues. The utilization of biomass resources assumes importance due to the soaring crude price and depleting reserves of fossil fuels coupled with the rising environmental concern. Ethanol derived from renewable ligno-cellulosic biomass of non-edible variety has been identified globally as the future solution for meeting the energy demand. Apart from fuel and energy, biomass can also be the source of large number of derivatives.
Biomass can be used for fuels, power production, and products that would otherwise be made from fossil fuels. In such scenarios, biomass can provide an array of benefits. * Biofuels — Converting biomass into liquid fuels for transportation * Biopower — Burning biomass directly, or converting it into gaseous or liquid fuels that burn more efficiently, to generate electricity * Bioproducts — Converting biomass into chemicals for making plastics and other products that typically are made from petroleum
Unlike other renewable energy sources, biomass can be converted directly into liquid fuels, called "biofuels," to help meet transportation fuel needs. The two most common types of biofuels in use today are ethanol and biodiesel. Biofuels are by now a well-established component of the liquid fuels market and will continue to grow in importance for both economic and environmental reasons. The Electrofuels approach expands the boundaries of traditional biofuels and could offer dramatically higher conversion efficiencies while providing significant reductions in requirements for both arable land and water relative to photosynthetic approaches.
Key words: Biomass, Renewable energy, Biofuels

INTRODUCTION:
After a century of unprecedented growth in science, technology, and the economy, we now face tremendous challenges to our ability to fuel the future: a fluctuating oil price, a changing climate, and continued dependence on unreliable energy sources. These problems are increasing, and the demand for solutions becomes increasingly urgent. There are many changes that we must make to address these challenges, but the ultimate solutions will only come from fundamental innovations in science and technology.
The 20th century was the century of the petrochemical economy. Gasoline and diesel (made from petroleum) power almost all our vehicles. And unfortunately for the world, whenever gasoline, diesel, and other fossil fuels are burned, they release carbon dioxide that had been locked up underground for millions of years, increasing greenhouse gas levels. In the 21st century, use of biomass—plants and plant-based materials, produced by photosynthesis within biological rather than geologic time—will offset this petrochemical dependence. Biomass can’t fully replace the huge volumes of petroleum and other fossil fuels that we now provide fuels and chemicals comparable to those derived from petroleum.
The energy sources can be classified as renewable or nonrenewable energy

RENEWABLE:
1. Sun
2. Water
3. Wood
4. Wind
5. Biomass
6. Geothermal
7. Ocean tides
NON-RENEWABLE:
1. Coal
2. Natural gas
3. Petroleum
4. Nuclear fission

REVIEW OF LITERATURE:
The Electrofuels approach expands the boundaries of traditional biofuels and could offer dramatically higher conversion efficiencies and it is supported by the article, saying that the Electrofuels approach expands the boundaries of traditional Biofuels and could offer dramatically higher conversion efficiencies while providing significant reductions in requirements for both arable land and water relative to photosynthetic approaches. The projects funded under the Electrofuels program tap the enormous and largely unexplored diversity of the natural world, and may offer routes to advanced Biofuels that are significantly more efficient, scalable and feedstock-flexible than routes based on photosynthesis. (Robert J, Conrado, Chad A, Haynes, Brenda E, Haendler, Eric J, Toone, 2013).Biofuel policies on their own can have very large welfare effects, either positive or negative. Biofuel policies are clearly inferior to a portfolio of specific taxes and subsidies that directly target environmental, energy and agricultural policy goals. Biofuels can simultaneously improve the environment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (Harry de Gorter and David R. Just,2010)
While concerning the market status, it is said that the Ethanol Program in Brazil is firmly established today, and is replacing approximately 40% of the gasoline that would be otherwise be consumed in the country, at a competitive prices, using 2.9 million hectares of land. This has led to improvements in the air quality of the São Paulo metropolitan area, and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. (José Goldenberg,2008)
The usage of Biofuels can improve the economy of the world and it is stated that the development of Biofuels has potentially important roles to play in poverty reduction – through employment effects, wider growth multipliers and energy price effects. There are risks that some of this potential may be lost as economies of large scale operation kick in, especially with bioethanol, and as pressure is increased on land access in some settings. There are some important global level knowledge gaps – for example Biofuel and food staples prices and stocks need to be tracked, and this data fed into early warning systems for food security; mechanisms need to be identified by which climate change mitigation funds might be used to support ‘clean’ Biofuels production processing (Leo Peskett, Rachel Slater, Chris Stevens and Annie Dufey, 2007).

METHODOLOGY:
This report is derived from an extensive secondary literature survey of the bio-energy and Biofuels sectors in India and global views. The primary aim of the report is to set the context for understanding the current state and future evolution of the sector worldwide.
Data Collection:
Secondary Data: Articles from journals and magazines.
BIOMASS:
Biomass is the fourth largest contributor to the world energy economy, after coal, oil, and natural gas. Virtually every part of the globe has a biomass resource that can be tapped to create electricity. Unfortunately, most biomass is currently used very inefficiently.
Although the energy scenario in India today indicates a growing dependence on conventional forms of energy, about 32% of the total primary energy use is still using biomass, and more than 70% of the country’s population depends upon it for its energy needs, making it a key player in energy generation. The total installed capacity of biomass based power cumulative of grid connected and off grid in India, is estimated to be about 2600 MW.
MARKET ASSESSMENT:
India is rich in biomass, with the country ranking second in the world for biogas production. Projects involving biomass gasification in silk and other textile production and processing have been demonstrated on a commercial basis, involving local entrepreneurs and economic payback periods as short as one year. By 2006, India had achieved 70 MW of small-scale biomass gasification systems for rural (off-grid) power generation. As of March 2008, some 605.80 MW of power from biomass was achieved. 55 MW of biogasifiers have also been installed. The theoretical potential is 16,881 MW for the entire country. A capacity of approximately 302 MW has been commissioned through 54 projects, and 39 new projects are being commissioned, which will deliver an additional 270 MW. In this context, the market for bioenergy is vast (in billions of Euros).
The Biofuels produced from the renewable resources could help to minimize the fossil fuel burning and CO2 production. Biofuels produced from biomass such as plants or organic waste could help to reduce both the world’s dependence on oil and CO2 production. These Biofuels have the potential to cut CO2 emission because the plants they are made from use CO2 as they grow. Biofuels and bioproducts produced from plant biomass would mitigate global warming. This may due to the CO2 released in burning equals theCO2 tied up by the plant during photosynthesis and thus does not increase the net CO2 in the atmosphere. The Biorefinery system includes biomass production, biomass transformation/processing, and end use.
‘First generation’ Biofuels can offer some CO2 benefits and can help to improve domestic energy security. But concerns exist about the sourcing of feedstocks, including the impact it may have on biodiversity and land use and competition with food crops. A ‘first generation’ Biofuels (i.e. biodiesel (bio-esters), bio-ethanol, and biogas) is characterized either by its ability to be blended with petroleum-based fuels, combusted in existing internal combustion engines, and distributed through existing infrastructure, or by the use in existing alternative vehicle technology like FFVs (‘‘Flexible Fuel Vehicle’’) or natural gas vehicles.
‘Second-generation’ Biofuels produced from ‘plant biomass’ refers largely to lignocellulosic materials, as this makes up the majority of the cheap and abundant nonfood materials available from plants. Therefore it is anticipated that, these 2nd generation Biofuels could significantly reduce CO2 production, do not compete with food crops and some types can offer better engine performance. When commercialized, the cost of second generation Biofuels has the potential to be more comparable with standard petrol, diesel, and would be most cost effective route to renewable, low carbon energy for road transport.

Figure-1 (Source: http://nhenergy.blogspot.in/) BIOMASS DEMAND FOR BIOREFINING TO TRIPLE BY 2030:
Driven by aggressive Biofuel mandates, rapid growth will cause great strain on biomass by 2030, according to Lux Research. Using today’s technologies, an area the size of Russia would need to be cultivated to replace all of petroleum use for chemicals and fuels—feedstock innovation will be needed to keep growing biomass’s market share.
“Today, Biofuels and biochemicals need more than a billion metric tons of material annually to replace a mere 3 percent of total petroleum products,” said Kalib Kersh, Lux Research Analyst and one of the lead authors of the report titled, “Finding Feedstocks for the Bio-Based Fuels and Chemicals of Today and 2030.” “By 2030, this number will soar to 3.7 billion metric tons, and meeting the growing challenge will require feedstock innovations such as crop modification, new value chain configurations, and agronomic technology improvements like irrigation and biosensors,” he added.
Lux Research built a database of 1,715 established and planned bio-based chemical and fuel facilities that address supply-side issues, and evaluated new technologies that could make a significant difference. Among its findings: * Use of waste as a feedstock is rising. Municipal solid waste (MSW) and waste gases like carbon dioxide and flue gas have potential as a feedstock. * Novel logistics methods can lower cost. * Crop modifications to reduce input needs. Dozens of companies and universities are developing crop traits that cut down on agriculture’s material inputs. For example, BASF, Mendel Biotechnology and Evogene are developing crop strains that provide resistance to drought and pests, or can fix their own nitrogen.
The report, titled “Finding Feedstocks for the Bio-Based Fuels and Chemicals of Today and 2030,” is part of the Lux Research Bio-based Materials and Chemicals Intelligence and the Alternative Fuels Intelligence services.
We have used biomass energy, or "bioenergy"—the energy from plants and plant-derived materials—since people began burning wood to cook food and keep warm. Wood is still the largest biomass energy resource today, but other sources of biomass can also be used. These include food crops, grassy and woody plants, residues from agriculture or forestry, oil-rich algae, and the organic component of municipal and industrial wastes. Even the fumes from landfills (which are methane, the main component in natural gas) can be used as a biomass energy source.
BENEFITS OF USING BIOMASS:
Biomass can be used for fuels, power production, and products that would otherwise be made from fossil fuels. In such scenarios, biomass can provide an array of benefits. For example: * The use of biomass energy has the potential to greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Burning biomass releases about the same amount of carbon dioxide as burning fossil fuels. However, fossil fuels release carbon dioxide captured by photosynthesis millions of years ago—an essentially "new" greenhouse gas.
Biomass, on the other hand, releases carbon dioxide that is largely balanced by the carbon dioxide captured in its own growth (depending how much energy was used to grow, harvest, and process the fuel). However, recent studies have found that clearing forests to grow biomass results in a carbon penalty that takes decades to recoup, so it is best if biomass is grown on previously cleared land, such as under-utilized farm land. * The use of biomass can reduce dependence on foreign oil because Biofuels are the only renewable liquid transportation fuels available. * Biomass energy supports U.S. agricultural and forest-product industries. The main biomass feedstocks for power are paper mill residue, lumber mill scrap, and municipal waste. For biomass fuels, the most common feedstocks used today are corn grain (for ethanol) and soybeans (for biodiesel). In the near future—and with NREL-developed technology—agricultural residues such as corn stover (the stalks, leaves, and husks of the plant) and wheat straw will also be used. Long-term plans include growing and using dedicated energy crops, such as fast-growing trees and grasses, and algae. These feedstocks can grow sustainably on land that will not support intensive food crops.

BIOMASS AS RENEWABLE FEED STOCK FOR BIOREFINERIES:

Figure-1 (Source: http://biomassmagazine.com/)

EMERGING USE OF BIOMASS:
In INDIA so for 15 BGFP projects with aggregate capacity of 11,200 cum/day have been sanctioned in 8 States, namely Gujarat, Karnataka, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Bihar by the MNRE for Implementation and envisaged likely to be completed during the year.
Biomass Plants – US: Total Plants: 220, Total Capacity in Millions: 7,409.30 MW

Figure-2 (Source: http://www.nationalindianenergy.com/)

Figure -3 Source: http://www.forgreenheat.org/resources/vision2025.html

CONCLUSION:
The average temperature of our planet is rising, with majority of the temperature increase occurring in the last thirty years. During the three decades from 1980 to 2011, the number of violent storms, floods, droughts, heat waves, wildfires, as tabulated by the reinsurance company Munich Re, has increased more than three-fold. They also estimate that the financial losses follow a trend line that has gone from $40 billion to $170 billion dollars per year. The overwhelming scientific consensus is that human activity has had a significant and likely dominant role in climate change. There is also increasingly compelling evidence that the weather changes we have witnessed during this thirty year time period are due to climate change.
Many countries, but most notably China, realize that the development of clean energy technologies presents an incredible economic opportunity in an emerging world market. China now exceeds the U.S. in internal deployment of clean energy and in government investments to further develop the technologies.
Our ability to find and extract fossil fuels continues to improve, and economically recoverable reservoirs around the world are likely to keep pace with the rising demand for decades. The opportunity lies before us with energy efficiency and clean energy. The cost of renewable energy is rapidly becoming competitive with other sources of energy, and the role of biomass has played a significant role in accelerating the transition to affordable, accessible and sustainable energy.
REFERENCES:
* http://www.agmrc.org/renewable_energy/biofuelsbiorefining_general/economic-impacts-of-biofuel-development * http://www.odi.org.uk/sites/odi.org.uk/files/odi-assets/publications-opinion-files/100.pdf * http://www.biotechnologyforbiofuels.com/content/1/1/6 * http://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/2/4/414 * http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-1-4614-3348-4_38#page-1 * Natural Resource Perspectives, June; Biofuels, Agriculture and Poverty Reduction; * 3. Electrofuels: A New Paradigm for Renewable Fuels; Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts, January 1, 2013 * Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy (2010) volume 32, number 1, pp. 4-32.doi:10.1093/aepp/ppp010; The Social Costs and Benefits of Biofuels: The Intersection of Environmental, Energy and Agricultural Policy * Biotechnology for Biofuels; The Brazilian Biofuels industry; 1st May 2008 * http://biomassmagazine.com/ * LUX RESEARCH, February 06, 2013