**Abstract**

The search for energy alternatives from renewable and clean sources has been gaining prominence at the international level, due to the increased demand for energy and the future depletion of fossil fuels, coupled with the concern with environmental issues. The generation of electricity distributed from the use of biomass can contribute to the conservation of the environment, the diversification of the energy matrix, the national economic development, the generation of jobs in the agro-industry and in the distribution of clean energy, as a sustainable alternative. This chapter aims to present information related to the use of different residual biomass as an energy alternative for Brazil, with a focus on electricity generation, based on a bibliographic survey, where it is highlighted as the best sources of biomass for electricity generation in the country, observing the profitability and viability for logistics and national economy.

**Keywords:** biomass residues, power generation, energy efficiency, environment, sustainable

#### **1. Introduction**

The constant growth of the world population and the economy and social development are the main drivers of the increase global energy demand that is currently supported by fossil fuels. The global energy market depends heavily on fossil fuel energy sources such as coal, oil, and natural gas. Currently, oil is the main source of energy, although its reserves are considered finite, since it takes millions of years for these fuels to be formed on earth, they are soon subject to depletion as they are consumed. In addition to the production processes in the oil fields, they are recognized as polluting and harmful to the environment and the climate. Many efforts have been made to find alternative ways of obtaining energy through cleaner and more sustainable processes. The only natural and renewable resource based on carbon that is vast enough to be used as a replacement for fossil fuels it is biomass [1–5].

Biomass is all organic matter, of vegetable or animal origin, used in the production of energy. It is obtained through the decomposition of a variety of renewable resources, such as plants, wood, food scraps, excrement, garbage, and agricultural waste. The advantages of biomass energy over other energy sources may explain the growing interest in its consumption. First, biomass energy can be used for many different purposes, such as cooking, heating, electricity generation, and

transportation. Among the types of renewable energy, biomass conversion process can generate solid, liquid or gaseous fuels, the biomass energy being the only one that can be converted into liquid fuel. Second, biomass energy is renewable energy, abundant, and easily produced source. The use of biomass energy will help countries to reduce their dependence on fossil energy resources and ensure national energy security. Third, biomass energy production contributes to creating more job opportunities, thereby increasing income and reducing poverty among the rural labor force. Finally, and most importantly, biomass energy is a "carbon neutral" source. Compared with fossil energy, biomass energy is less polluting and environmentally safer. Using biomass energy can help to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and tackle climate change [6–9].

In Brazil, different forms of agro-industrial production work are in parallel with agricultural production. Most processing is directly conditioned to the generation of products and, consequently, the generation large amounts of waste. The production of waste from agro-industrial works is originally derived from the processing of sugar and alcohol industries, biodiesel, cassava, citrus, beers, pulp, and paper, participate expressively in the production of waste. Inadequate disposal of residual biomass can cause soil contamination, compromise the quality of water resources, and cause environmental disturbance among species. Several other factors are related to the disposal of biomass, including many associated with public health problems. Brazil has vast reserves of residual biomass energy from agricultural activities, such as sugarcane bagasse, cassava, and soybeans, which has been gaining interest as a source of energy resources, due to the energetic potential. It is possible to verify that these species together have in Brazil an energy potential of 2615,360 GWh/year [10–15].

#### **2. Biomass agricultural origin**

Biomass is one of the most environmentally friendly fuels, since bagasse offers the advantage of being a cheap, abundant, and low-polluting fuel [16]. Biomass has been considered a promising and "environmentally friendly" energy source about energy production. One reason for this renewed interest is due to the way they spread, their sustainable character, and their potential to reduce global emissions of greenhouse gases [17]. World biomass amount is estimated at 1.8 Tt on a dry basis, with a potential thermal yield close to 138 EJ [18–20].

Biomass has been widely recognized as a source of renewable energy with increasing potential to replace conventional fossil fuels in the energy market. Furthermore, using biomass for energy production, another part of a problem is solved, which is waste disposal.

#### **2.1 Bagasse sugar cane**

As Brazil is the largest producer of sugarcane, accounting for 36% of global production [21–23], great importance to mention this biomass. In addition, the cultivation of sugarcane has the potential to increase environmental benefits, increasing carbon sequestration, optimizing the agricultural production chain, and thus moderating local environmental impacts [21].

When compared to other agricultural residues, the bagasse has a high yield in terms of the solar energy reservoir and the capture of chemical energy. The sugarcane combustion/gasification produces the same amount of CO2 that it consumes during its growth; therefore it has a carbon neutral [24].

**83**

*Agroenergy from Residual Biomass: Energy Perspective DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.93644*

the temperature sensitivity of the reaction rate.

**2.2 Cassava**

activities.

**2.3 Corn stalk**

and heat value [28].

significantly [34–37].

**3. Process of energy conversion of biomass**

900°C during CO2 gasification, and they found that the sugar cane coal gasification occurred in a one stage and that the maximum mass loss rate and its corresponding temperature are directly proportional to the high pyrolysis temperature and the gasification heating rate. In thermal analysis, the activation energy mainly affects

The cassava starch produces a significant quantity of residues, which must be rationally used for minimizing the environmental impact of the agricultural

Cassava is widely grown in the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, and South America. Brazil occupies a prominent position in world cassava production, alongside only Nigeria and Thailand [25]. Serious attempts have been carried out by the industrial and agro-industrial sectors aiming at the use of this waste profitably [26], but still further opportunities are yet to be developed mainly due to the variety of biomasses and bi-products obtained during the processing steps. The cassava bagasse can be considered as the remaining fraction of the processing of cassava for starch production and consists of 75% of starch, on average, on a dry basis [25].

The behavior of corn stalk pyrolysis was studied by Sun et al. [27]. Their research showed that hydrogen-rich gas could be generated by decomposing of the pyrolysis gas at a higher temperature. They concluded that the residual charcoal produced—consisting of fixed carbon and ash—is a good fuel with higher activity

Corn stands out among agricultural species with the potential to provide biomass for energy production, as it has a large planted area of approximately 177 million acres worldwide [29] and grain production of almost 900 million hectares. Tons [30] resulting in approximately the same amount of residual biomass [31]. This biomass has a high calorific value, ranging from 15.6 to 18.3 MJ Kg−1, like the values of species cultivated exclusively for energy production, such as Eucalyptus sp. [32–33]. Due to the different energy content and amounts of biomass produced by different parts of the corn plant, its potential for energy generation varies

High moisture content biomass, such as the herbaceous plant sugarcane, lends itself to a "wet/aqueous" conversion process, involving biologically mediated reactions, such as fermentation, while a "dry" biomass such as cassava and corn stalks, is more economically suited to gasification, pyrolustion. Aqueous processing is used when the moisture content of the material is such that the energy required for drying would be inordinately large compared to the energy content of the product formed. It is the inherent properties of the biomass source that determines both the choice of conversion process and any subsequent processing difficulties that may arise. Equally, the choice of biomass source is influenced by the form in which the energy is required, and it is the interplay between these two aspects that enables

flexibility to be introduced into the use of biomass as an energy source.

The World Energy Council defines bioenergy to include traditional biomass (example forestry and agricultural residues), modern biomass and biofuels [38].

Edreis et al. [16] studied the effect of the gasification heating rate and the thermal kinetic behavior of sugarcane bagasse coals prepared at 500, 800, and 900°C during CO2 gasification, and they found that the sugar cane coal gasification occurred in a one stage and that the maximum mass loss rate and its corresponding temperature are directly proportional to the high pyrolysis temperature and the gasification heating rate. In thermal analysis, the activation energy mainly affects the temperature sensitivity of the reaction rate.

### **2.2 Cassava**

*Biotechnological Applications of Biomass*

and tackle climate change [6–9].

**2. Biomass agricultural origin**

solved, which is waste disposal.

**2.1 Bagasse sugar cane**

with a potential thermal yield close to 138 EJ [18–20].

thus moderating local environmental impacts [21].

during its growth; therefore it has a carbon neutral [24].

transportation. Among the types of renewable energy, biomass conversion process can generate solid, liquid or gaseous fuels, the biomass energy being the only one that can be converted into liquid fuel. Second, biomass energy is renewable energy, abundant, and easily produced source. The use of biomass energy will help countries to reduce their dependence on fossil energy resources and ensure national energy security. Third, biomass energy production contributes to creating more job opportunities, thereby increasing income and reducing poverty among the rural labor force. Finally, and most importantly, biomass energy is a "carbon neutral" source. Compared with fossil energy, biomass energy is less polluting and environmentally safer. Using biomass energy can help to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions

In Brazil, different forms of agro-industrial production work are in parallel with agricultural production. Most processing is directly conditioned to the generation of products and, consequently, the generation large amounts of waste. The production of waste from agro-industrial works is originally derived from the processing of sugar and alcohol industries, biodiesel, cassava, citrus, beers, pulp, and paper, participate expressively in the production of waste. Inadequate disposal of residual biomass can cause soil contamination, compromise the quality of water resources, and cause environmental disturbance among species. Several other factors are related to the disposal of biomass, including many associated with public health problems. Brazil has vast reserves of residual biomass energy from agricultural activities, such as sugarcane bagasse, cassava, and soybeans, which has been gaining interest as a source of energy resources, due to the energetic potential. It is possible to verify that these species together have in Brazil an energy potential of 2615,360 GWh/year [10–15].

Biomass is one of the most environmentally friendly fuels, since bagasse offers the advantage of being a cheap, abundant, and low-polluting fuel [16]. Biomass has been considered a promising and "environmentally friendly" energy source about energy production. One reason for this renewed interest is due to the way they spread, their sustainable character, and their potential to reduce global emissions of greenhouse gases [17]. World biomass amount is estimated at 1.8 Tt on a dry basis,

Biomass has been widely recognized as a source of renewable energy with increasing potential to replace conventional fossil fuels in the energy market. Furthermore, using biomass for energy production, another part of a problem is

As Brazil is the largest producer of sugarcane, accounting for 36% of global production [21–23], great importance to mention this biomass. In addition, the cultivation of sugarcane has the potential to increase environmental benefits, increasing carbon sequestration, optimizing the agricultural production chain, and

When compared to other agricultural residues, the bagasse has a high yield in terms of the solar energy reservoir and the capture of chemical energy. The sugarcane combustion/gasification produces the same amount of CO2 that it consumes

Edreis et al. [16] studied the effect of the gasification heating rate and the thermal kinetic behavior of sugarcane bagasse coals prepared at 500, 800, and

**82**

The cassava starch produces a significant quantity of residues, which must be rationally used for minimizing the environmental impact of the agricultural activities.

Cassava is widely grown in the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, and South America. Brazil occupies a prominent position in world cassava production, alongside only Nigeria and Thailand [25]. Serious attempts have been carried out by the industrial and agro-industrial sectors aiming at the use of this waste profitably [26], but still further opportunities are yet to be developed mainly due to the variety of biomasses and bi-products obtained during the processing steps. The cassava bagasse can be considered as the remaining fraction of the processing of cassava for starch production and consists of 75% of starch, on average, on a dry basis [25].
