Biofuels : Biomass

1. Biofuels: Biomass - Use of biofuels in electricity generation, in transport, and in other energy consumption modes Ecological impacts of biofuels and mitigation measures

2. What is biomass? Biomass consists of organic matter which typically comes from recently living organisms. The majority of biomass resources are composed of plant material or derived from plant material. These sources are regenerated constantly by plant growth. Therefore, biomass is a sustainable energy source. Examples??? http://renewables.morris.umn.edu/biomass/faq/

3. Conversion of Biomass into Useable Fuel: • Solid Fuel Combustion • Gasification • Pyrolysis • Hydrolysis / Fermentation / Digestion

4. What is Solid Fuel Combustion? Direct combustion of solid matter where the biomass is fed into a furnace where it is burned. The heat is used to boil water and the energy in the steam is used to turn turbines and generators.

5. Conversion of Biomass into Useable Fuel:

6. What is Gasification? - It is the partial burning of biomass (at high temperatures and limited oxygen) to create specific gases, generally referred to as "Producer Gas" (or "Synthesis Gas"), which is similar to natural gas. http://renewables.morris.umn.edu/biomass/faq/

7. Biomass gasification for electricity generation http://stlenergy.org/?attachment_id=461

8. Biomass gasification for electricity generation http://gasifiers.bioenergylists.org/beloniocfrh

9. Typical product composition from a gasifier : http://www3.ul.ie/~childsp/CinA/Issue58/TOC14_FutureA.htm

10. What is Pyrolysis? Pyrolysis is the heating of an organic material (such as biomass) in the absence of oxygen. Because no oxygen is present the material does not combust but the chemical compounds (i.e. cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) that make up that material thermally decompose into combustible gases and charcoal. Most of these combustible gases can be condensed into a combustible liquid, called pyrolysis oil (bio-oil), though there are some permanent gases (CO2, CO, H2, light hydrocarbons). http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/docs.htm?docid=19898

11. What is Fast Pyrolysis? Fast pyrolysis is the rapid thermal decomposition of carbonaceous organic matter in the absence of oxygen.  This process occurs at low pressure, moderate temperatures and in a very short amount of time.  Fast pyrolysis produces three products: biochar, pyrolysis oil and non-condensable gases.

12. Fast Pyrolysis http://www.avellobioenergy.com/en/technology/fast_pyrolysis/

13. Fast Pyrolysis Yields are dependent on many factors including process conditions (reactor temperature, pressure, residence time) and feedstock composition. Optimal biomass processing conditions include: - reaction temperatures near 500°C - high heating rates - rapid cooling of the pyrolysis vapors after biochar has been sufficiently removed.

14. Pyrolysis Oil Pyrolysis Oil (or Bio-oil) is a dense complex mixture of organic compounds. It has a fuel value that is generally 50 – 70% that of petroleum bases fuels and can be used as boiler fuel or upgraded to renewable transportation fuels. It density is > 1 kg/L, much greater than that of biomass feedstocks, making it more cost effective to transport than biomass. http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/docs.htm?docid=19898

15. Bio-char Bio-char produced can be used on the farm as an excellent soil amender that can sequester carbon. Bio-char is highly absorbent and therefore increases the soil’s ability to retain water, nutrients and agricultural chemicals, preventing water contamination and soil erosion. http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/docs.htm?docid=19898

16. http://eng.marmore.com.tr/marmore-pyrolysis-system

17. Phenol oil It is a potential product of pyrolysis. It is used to make wood adhesives, molded plastics and foam insulation. Wood adhesives are used to glue together plywood and other composite wood products. http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/docs.htm?docid=19898

18. What is Hydrolysis/fermentation? Biomass can be converted directly into liquid fuels— biofuels— for our transportation needs (cars, trucks, buses, airplanes, and trains). The two most common types of bio-fuels are ethanol and bio-diesel. Ethanol is an alcohol, created by hydrolysis and fermentation of biomass high in carbohydrates. Bio-diesel is made by combining alcohol with vegetable oil, animal fat or other recycled cooking greases (no fermentation is involved here). Details on bioethanol and biodiesel are provided separately.

19. What is Digestion? Decomposition of organic matter by anaerobic bacteria in an oxygen-starved environment can produce methane. Anaerobic digesters compost (or “digest”) organic waste in a machine that limits access to oxygen, encouraging the generation of methaneand carbon dioxide by microbesin the waste. This digester gas is then burned as fuel to make electricity. http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/docs.htm?docid=19898

20. Economic Sustainability of Biomass Production The development of bio-energy markets can have many positive economic benefits including: - creating markets for biomass wastes, - improving the economic viability of thinning and harvesting operations - promoting new crops to farmers, especially on marginal or unused agricultural - creating employment in biomass production, harvesting, transport and conversion to useful energy - providing a saleable energy product.

21. Biomass cycle How biomass reduces global warming?

22. Life Cycle Analysis This analysis examines power generation from the following processes: Two fossil fuel based technologies: - coal-fired power production - natural gas combined-cycle (NGCC) Two biomass technologies: - biomass-fired integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) system using a biomass energy crop, - direct-fired biomass power plant using biomass residue

26. List of Sustainability Indicators: - Conservation of biological diversity - Maintenance of productive capacity of forest ecosystems - Maintenance of forest ecosystem health and vitality - Conservation and maintenance of soil and water resources - Maintenance of forest contribution to global carbon cycles - Maintenance and enhancement of long-term multiple socio-economic benefits to meet the needs of societies - Legal, institutional and economic framework for conservation and sustainable management

27. Environmental constraints Different biomass resources have different sustainability considerations: • Waste products • By-products • Forestry products • Dedicated cropping No sustainability constraints Multi sustainability constraints

28. What are the environmental impacts of bio-energy? • Range of impacts both positive and negative that arise from use of bio-energy • Focus on: • Wood based fuels: • short rotation coppice (SRC) • short rotation forestry (SRF) • forest residues and low grade timber Not covering….. Perennial grass crops; Conventional annual crops; Waste

29. What is short rotation coppice (SRC)? • Densely planted, high yielding varieties of either willow or poplar • Harvested on average every 2-5 years • Expected lifespan of 15-25 years (corresponding to around 6 harvests) • Shoots usually harvested during the winter as chips, short billets or as whole stems • Yields from SRC at first harvest range from 7-12 tonnes dry weight/ha/yr

30. What are the environmental impacts of SRC?

31. Management recommendations for SRC Do:Benefits: use mixed species biodiversity, landscape incorporate headlands, rides & open spaces biodiversity, landscape locate to minimise transport reduce CO2 coppice cyclically biodiversity, landscape limit use of fertiliser, herbicides & pesticides biodiversity, water quality Don’t: Impacts: establish large monoculture blocks biodiversity, landscape replace land of high value for biodiversity biodiversity plant in low rainfall areas or on waterlogged soils biodiversity block recreational access well-being plant on sites of archaeological interest heritage

32. What is short rotation forestry (SRF)? • Cultivation of fast-growing trees that reach their economically optimum size between 8-20 years old • When felled - replaced by new planting or regenerate from stumps as coppice • Varieties may include native species such as alder, ash, birch, poplar, sycamore (cultivars), and non-native species

33. What are the environmental impacts of SRF?

34. Management recommendations for SRF Do:Benefits: incorporate 10-20% of open space biodiversity, landscape leave some areas to mature to old age biodiversity maximise diversity of woodland structure biodiversity, landscape harvest cyclically biodiversity, landscape use UK Woodland Assurance Standard biodiversity, water quality Don’t:Impacts: plant in sensitive open landscapes biodiversity, landscape use non-native species biodiversity use exceptionally heavy equipment soil structure, water harvest forests on high carbon soils release CO2 plant on sites of archaeological interest heritage

35. What are forest residues and low grade timber (LGT)? • Forest residues - harvesting residues (i.e. lop and top or brash) and small round wood (i.e. small stems of no commercial value) • Low grade timber - poor quality final crop and wood from unmanaged coppice • Demand for wood fuel for bio energy has the potential to create an economic rationale for the re-introduction of traditional sustainable woodland management

36. What are the environmental impact of forest residues and LGT?

37. What are the environmental impact of forest residues and LGT?

38. THE BIOMASS ENERGY SECTOR IN SRI LANKA • In developing countries, biomass fuel supplies approximately 35% of total primary energy, most of which is used traditionally for domestic cooking and space heating. • Traditional biomass accounts for nearly 52% of the primary energy supplied in Sri Lanka. • Nearly 76% of our population still depend on fuel wood and other forms of biomass for their household cooking

39. The Biomass Availability in Sri Lanka

40. Land Availability for Dendro Plantations

41. Projects undertaken in Sri Lanka