>> Biomass Energy

Biomass includes

Solid biomass (organic, non¬fossil material )
Biogas (principally CH4 and CO2 produced by anaerobic digestion of biomass)
Liquid biofuels (bio¬based liquid fuel from biomass mainly used in transportation applications)
Municipal waste (wastes produced by the residential, commercial and public services sectors and incinerated in specific installations to produce heat and power)
Biomass has always been an important energy source in India.
About 32% of the total primary energy use in the country is still derived from biomass and more than 70% of the country’s population depends upon it for its energy needs.

Biomass Gasifier

Biomass gasifiers (see Figure) convert the solid biomass (basically wood waste, agricultural residues etc.) into a combustible gas mixture normally called as producer gas. The conversion efficiency of the gasification process is in the range of 60%–70%. The producer gas consists of mainly carbon-monoxide, hydrogen, nitrogen gas and methane, and has a lower calorific value (1000–1200 kcal/Nm3).

Bio Fuels

Biomass directly converted into liquid fuels & biofuels
The two types of biofuels are ethanol and biodiesel.
Ethanol is made by fermenting any biomass high in carbohydrates
Used as a fuel additive Flexible-fuel vehicles, which run on mixtures of gasoline and up to 85% ethanol. Biodiesel made by combining alcohol with vegetable oil, or recycled cooking greases.
used as an additive to reduce vehicle emissions or in its pure form as a renewable alternative fuel for diesel engines.

Biopower

Use of biomass to generate electricity
Six major types of biopower systems: direct-fired, cofiring, gasification, anaerobic digestion, pyrolysis, and small - modular.
Most commonly used is direct-fired systems. They burn bioenergy feedstocks directly in boiler to produce steam. This steam drives the turbo-generator.
Cofiring involves using bio energy feedstock as a supplementary fuel source in high efficiency boilers.
Reduces SO2 emission.

Biomass Cogeneration

Cogeneration improves viability and profitability of sugar industries.
Indian sugar mills turning to bagasse, to generate electricity. This is done to clean up the environment, reduce power costs and earn additional revenue.
About 3500 MW of power can be generated from bagasse in the existing 430 sugar mills in the country.
Around 270 MW of power has already been commissioned and is under construction.

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