*5.1.5. Challenges with agricultural residues are*


#### *5.1.6. Agriculture waste*

Apart from agricultural residue from the farms, in Urban and semi-urban areas certain other residues and waste water also constitute a potential source of energy. The agro-processing industries such as fruit processing and vegetable, urban vegetable market places (Figure 8 and 9), road sweepings and road side are areas, which generates significant biomass waste. The management of these wastes are in hands of poor farmers, un-organized sector, rural and semi-urban households. Hence, large amount of these wastes are left to rot in open space resulting into air pollution. Good management of these wastes can contribute to ener‐ gy generation in the country.

**Figure 8.** Surplus Tomato Left as Waste

**Figure 10.** Forest harvesting waste at Sao Hill

forest residue potential m3

modern energy conversion.

tion in the land fill.

generate heat and power.

*5.1.8. City and Municipal solid waste (CMW)*

sion and bio-chemical conversion routes.

There about 80,000 hectares of state owned plantation forest that are mostly linked to state owned wood based panel industry and the pulp and paper industry. It is estimated that there are 25,000 hectares of private owned plantations. In addition, more than 75,000 hec‐ tares belongs to villagers, local government, NGOs and civil societies. Hence, the estimate

Millions of tons of household waste are collected each year with the vast majority, disposed affirm open fields. Table 9 gives quantity of solid waste collected in Tanzania by region. Bio‐ mass resource in solid waste comprises paper and plastic. City and Municipal solid waste (CMW) can be converted into energy by direct combustion, or by natural anaerobic diges‐

On other land fill sites the gas produced by natural anaerobic digestion, which is approxi‐ mately 50% methane and 50% carbon dioxide can be collected form the stored material, scrubbed and cleaned before feeding into internal combustion engines or gas turbines to

The above compiled data clearly shows that large scope exist in the country for the exploita‐ tion of bio-crops for their conversion to bio-fuel, e.g. bio-diesel, ethanol, by thermo conver‐

Apart from energy crops, a huge potential exist for energy generation from the various in‐ dustrial wasters available in the country by bio-chemical routes. Similar, other biomass wastes such as forest residue, crop residue, animal manure and city and municipal waste (Figure 16) also bear a large potential for modern energy generation using bio-chemical as well as thermo-chemical routes. Hence biomass conversion to modern energy such as elec‐

tricity and fuels may be rewarding for a future developed Tanzania.

per year is about 205,400 tonnes. The residue can be used for

Biomass Conversion to Energy in Tanzania: A Critique

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/ 52956

255

**Figure 9.** Heaps of Food waste in Urban Tanzania

#### *5.1.7. Forestry residues*

Forest residues and wood waste represent a large potential resource for energy generation. They include forest thinning, primary mill residues, (Sao hill forest). Forest residues are left in the forest by harvesting operations (Figure 10) the residue could be collected after timber harvest and used for energy purposes.

The primary advantage of using forest residue for power generation is that an existing collec‐ tion infrastructure is already set up to harvest wood. Companies that harvest wood already own equipment and transport options that could be extended to collecting forest residue.

Manufacturing operations that produce mill residues usually include sawmills (Urban saw‐ mill), pulp and paper mills (Mufindi paper mills) and other millwork companies involved in producing pulp and other related material.

Primary mill residues are usually in the form of bark, chips, saw dust, slabs etc. These pri‐ mary mill residues are relatively homogenous and concentrated at one source. Nearly 98 percent of all primary residues in the country are currently used as fuel.

**Figure 10.** Forest harvesting waste at Sao Hill

**Figure 8.** Surplus Tomato Left as Waste

254 New Developments in Renewable Energy

**Figure 9.** Heaps of Food waste in Urban Tanzania

harvest and used for energy purposes.

producing pulp and other related material.

Forest residues and wood waste represent a large potential resource for energy generation. They include forest thinning, primary mill residues, (Sao hill forest). Forest residues are left in the forest by harvesting operations (Figure 10) the residue could be collected after timber

The primary advantage of using forest residue for power generation is that an existing collec‐ tion infrastructure is already set up to harvest wood. Companies that harvest wood already own equipment and transport options that could be extended to collecting forest residue.

Manufacturing operations that produce mill residues usually include sawmills (Urban saw‐ mill), pulp and paper mills (Mufindi paper mills) and other millwork companies involved in

Primary mill residues are usually in the form of bark, chips, saw dust, slabs etc. These pri‐ mary mill residues are relatively homogenous and concentrated at one source. Nearly 98

percent of all primary residues in the country are currently used as fuel.

*5.1.7. Forestry residues*

There about 80,000 hectares of state owned plantation forest that are mostly linked to state owned wood based panel industry and the pulp and paper industry. It is estimated that there are 25,000 hectares of private owned plantations. In addition, more than 75,000 hec‐ tares belongs to villagers, local government, NGOs and civil societies. Hence, the estimate forest residue potential m3 per year is about 205,400 tonnes. The residue can be used for modern energy conversion.

#### *5.1.8. City and Municipal solid waste (CMW)*

Millions of tons of household waste are collected each year with the vast majority, disposed affirm open fields. Table 9 gives quantity of solid waste collected in Tanzania by region. Bio‐ mass resource in solid waste comprises paper and plastic. City and Municipal solid waste (CMW) can be converted into energy by direct combustion, or by natural anaerobic diges‐ tion in the land fill.

On other land fill sites the gas produced by natural anaerobic digestion, which is approxi‐ mately 50% methane and 50% carbon dioxide can be collected form the stored material, scrubbed and cleaned before feeding into internal combustion engines or gas turbines to generate heat and power.

The above compiled data clearly shows that large scope exist in the country for the exploita‐ tion of bio-crops for their conversion to bio-fuel, e.g. bio-diesel, ethanol, by thermo conver‐ sion and bio-chemical conversion routes.

Apart from energy crops, a huge potential exist for energy generation from the various in‐ dustrial wasters available in the country by bio-chemical routes. Similar, other biomass wastes such as forest residue, crop residue, animal manure and city and municipal waste (Figure 16) also bear a large potential for modern energy generation using bio-chemical as well as thermo-chemical routes. Hence biomass conversion to modern energy such as elec‐ tricity and fuels may be rewarding for a future developed Tanzania.
