Biomass Report, Manufacturers Directory, and Capacity Database

May 13, 2009 - PRLog -- Biomass is a renewable energy resource derived from the carbonaceous waste of various human and natural activities. It is derived from numerous sources, including the by-products from the timber industry, agricultural crops, raw material from the forest, major parts of household waste and wood.

Scientists are trying to explore 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. Bio-energy, in the form of biogas, which is derived from biomass, is expected to become one of the key energy resources for global sustainable development. A new research report from Energy Business Reports looks at the potential of using biofuels to combat the energy crisis.

The global biomass resource is very large. On an annual basis, terrestrial plant growth (also called net primary production or NPP) at the global scale is approximately 55 Pg C, or nearly 10 times C release from fossil fuel combustion. The fact that NPP is much greater than fossil fuel combustion suggests a great potential for biomass as an energy resource. 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.

A biofuel is difficult to define. Most of the fossil fuels we use are biological in nature. Perhaps we have to say that a biofuel is one that does not add to the stock of total carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. These are plant forms that, typically, remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and give up the same amount when burnt. Naturally, all the other fossil fuels have done the same, but we are talking about a time scale of one or two years for the biofuels, whereas the fossil fuels can only be considered on a time scale measured in millions of years.

Biofuels are basically renewable fuels that are predominantly produced from domestically produced biomass feed stocks or as a by product from the industrial processing of agricultural or food products, or from the recovery and reprocessing of products such as cooking and vegetable oil. Biofuel contains no petroleum, but it can be blended at any level with petroleum fuel to create a biofuel blend. It can be used in conventional healing equipment or diesel engine with no major modification. Biofuel is simple to use, biodegradable, non-toxic and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics. Ethanol and biodiesel are the most widely recognized biofuel sources for transport sector.
It is becoming increasingly clear that reliance on oil as the principal source of fuel is unsustainable over the long-term. A shift towards any alternative fuel is going to require a governmental commitment to emerging technologies. In addition, integrating alternative fuels into the mass market will have broad impacts on existing policies. This is why biofuel has caught the eye of scientists and governments alike.
The short term supply of biofuel is coming mainly from corn and soybeans, but the long-term goal is liquid fuel from cellulose. It would be a boon for farmers, who could add crops like switchgrass, hemp and kenaff on fallow ground.

The report on the Biomass to Biofuels Market Potential is a complete guide to help assess the feasibility of domestic and international production of biofuels. It examines the role of government in the biofuel industry, as well as the growth drivers and obstacles to be overcome. It details various conversion technologies and presents a comprehensive overview of the economics of the biofuels industry. The report also describes major biofuel programs underway and lists key players. A bonus included in the report is a separate Directory of Manufacturers in the industry including contact information – ideal for investors and information seekers.

About the Publisher: This report is published by Energy Business Reports (www.EnergyBusinessReports.com), an energy industry think tank and leading source for energy industry information and research products.  View report details:  http://www.energybusinessreports.com/shop/item.asp?itemid...

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Energy Business Reports publishes cutting-edge business research and analysis reports in the global energy industry including power, oil and gas, and renewables markets.