**4. Conclusion**

From the above discussions we observe a rapid development of technologies for the conversion of biomass into heat energy and fuels. Countries should take advantage of these rapidly developing technologies. However, as more conversion technologies are developed, the biomass resource base may be the next constraint. Thus, methods to diversify the biomass resource base have to be made in conjunction with the use of emerging technologies for conversion. The sources of biomass have to be broadened from the traditional crop residues, livestock manure and fuel wood to culturing energy crops such as aquatic biomass (e.g. algae) while recovering the energy from municipal solid wastes and sewage.

Attempt has to be made to make use of more efficient equipment and technologies for energy utilization. In anaerobic digestion for example, many countries are still utilizing age old first generation anaerobic reactors while high rate biogas reactors are already gaining

they do represent an important energy option for the future because the heavy premium

The steam produced from heat of combustion of biomass may power a steam turbine to produce electricity. However, because of the high ash contents of most biomass resources, direct combustion of these biomass resources is not practical and efficient due to slagging and fouling problems. Because of these problems, some biomass with high ash are often

*Co-firing* refers to mixing biomass and fossil fuels in conventional power plants. Significant reductions in sulfur dioxide (SO2 – an air pollutant released when coal is burned) emissions are achieved using co-firing systems in power plants that use coal as input fuel. Small-scale studies at Texas A&M University show that co-firing of manure with coal may also reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx- contribute to air pollution) emissions from coal (Carlin, 2009). Manure contains ammonia (NH3). Upon co-firing manure and coal, NH3 is released from

Biomass co-firing has the potential to cut emissions from coal powered plants without significantly increasing the cost of infrasructure investments (Neville, 2011). Research shows that when implemented at relatively low biomass-to-coal ratios, energy consuption, solid waste generation and emissions are all reduced. However, mixing biomass and coal

Direct co-firing is the simplest of the three and the most common option especially if the biomass have very similar characteristics with coal. In this process, more than one type of fuel is injected into the furnace at the same time. Indirect co-firing involves converting the biomass

It was reported that the carbon life cycle and energy balance when co-firing 15% biomass with coal is carbon neutral or better (Eisenstat, et al., 2009). In this research, carbon

From the above discussions we observe a rapid development of technologies for the conversion of biomass into heat energy and fuels. Countries should take advantage of these rapidly developing technologies. However, as more conversion technologies are developed, the biomass resource base may be the next constraint. Thus, methods to diversify the biomass resource base have to be made in conjunction with the use of emerging technologies for conversion. The sources of biomass have to be broadened from the traditional crop residues, livestock manure and fuel wood to culturing energy crops such as aquatic biomass (e.g. algae)

Attempt has to be made to make use of more efficient equipment and technologies for energy utilization. In anaerobic digestion for example, many countries are still utilizing age old first generation anaerobic reactors while high rate biogas reactors are already gaining

into gaseous form before firing. The last type has a separate boiler for the co-fired fuel.

mixed with low ash biomass such as coal, also termed co-firing.

manure and combines with NOx to produce harmless N and water.

(especially manure) does create some challenges that must be address.

while recovering the energy from municipal solid wastes and sewage.

There are three types of co-firing systems adopted around the world as follows:

that liquid fuels carry.

**3.2.4 Biomass co-firing** 

a. Direct co-firing b. Indirect co-firing , and c. Separate biomass co-firing.

**4. Conclusion** 

emissions are reduced by 18%.

popularity. In the implementation of new and emerging technologies, lessons learned from past experiences must be taken into consideration. Many of these technologies require highly qualified and skilful manpower, more advanced monitoring techniques and equipment and materials that many developing countries may not have. The government of each country should have an active role to support the developing of such technologies including massive information campaign and training and improvement of local expertise in the use of advanced materials and process equipment for biomass conversion into energy and fuels.

Finally, to reverse the trend in the depletion of agriculture and forestry resources, massive reforestation program must be made together with developing technologies for harvesting, pre-processing and storage of biomass. This should be implemented together with infrastructure development for efficient transport of biomass to where it is needed or develop technologies that will be brought to where biomass resources are abundant.

### **5. References**


**11** 

*Malaysia* 

**Air Gasification of Malaysia Agricultural Waste** 

**in a Fluidized Bed Gasifier: Hydrogen** 

*1Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering,* 

*The Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor,* 

Wan Azlina Wan Ab Karim Ghani1,2, Reza A. Moghadam1 and

 *2Green Engineering and Sustainable Technology Lab, Institute of Advanced* 

Recently, biomass gasification technology to produce hydrogen-rich fuel gas is highly interesting possibilities for biomass utilization as sustainable energy (McKendry, 2002). Hydrogen production from biomass gasification has many advantages as secondary renewable energy source as it is the universe's most abundant element, clean fuel has the potential to serve as renewable gaseous and liquid fuel for transportation vehicles. As a fuel, hydrogen is considered to be very clean as it releases no carbon or sulfur emissions upon combustion. The energy contained in hydrogen on a mass basis (120 MJ/kg) is much higher than coal (35 MJ/kg), gasoline (47 MJ/kg) and natural gas (49.9 MJ/kg). Additionally, the most important advantage for all the living beings is that when it is burned, hydrogen produces non toxic exhaust emissions. Clearly, the emissions from hydrogen combustion contain no carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2) and unburned hydrocarbons (Veziroglu et al., 2005). Using biomass as an energy source can reduce the greenhouse gas emission that causes global warming which is a negative effect of using fossil fuels as an

In Malaysia, more than 2 million tonnes of agricultural wastes are produced annually and potentially an attractive feedstock for producing energy as the usage contributes little or no net carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Major agricultural products are oil palms, sawlogs, paddy and tropical fruits. The palm oil sector is the biggest producer and hence the major contributor to the agricutural residues generation in Malaysia. The oil-palm solid wastes (including shell, fibre and Empty Fruit Bunch (EFB)) are abandoned materials produced during palm oil milling process. For every ton of oil-palm fruit bunch being fed to the palmoil refining process, about 0.07 tons of palm shell, 0.146 tons of palm fiber and 0.2 tons of EFB are produced as the solid wastes. Bagasse which is the matted cellulose fibre residue from sugar cane that has been processed in a sugar mill were produced about 3×105T per year in 1999. Despite the decreasing acreage, coconut still plays an important role in the

**1. Introduction** 

energy source.

*Technology(ITMA), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor,* 

**Production Performance** 

Mohamad Amran Mohd Salleh1,2

