**5. Future prospects**

Significantly, the role of biofuels and bioelectricity as an important sustianble fuel in today's fuel and electricity grid cannot be underestimated due to their presumed potential to revolutionize the bioenergy sector. Researchers in various research institutions around the world are engaging in unprecedented investigation on converting biomass into biofuels and other chemicals and products. For instance, reserachers of diverse field of specialization at the Biocentury research farm, Iowa State University are currently investigating new approaches for conversting agricultural residues and other advanced feedstocks into biofuels, while social scientists are preoccupied with the analysis of the economic blueprint of bioenergy on Iowa agriculture.

disbursement of capital expenditure compared to a dedicated biomass plant. In an effort to compare the different global biomass resource, a presentation of specific types of biomass that exist and identification of those best suited for combustion for power generation is imperative. Numerous practices have been suggested to ensure a sustainable practice. This biomass resource can be combined with any fossil-fuel in any of the following practice, such as:

Significance of Agricultural Residues in Sustainable Biofuel Development

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.78374

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Bioenergy is derived from biomass, which can be deployed as solid, liquid, and gaseous fuel for a wide range of uses including heating, electricity, and cooking. It can also provide substantial climate change mitigation benefits when developed appropriately, and therefore, can be instrumental in working toward the attainment of the Paris Agreement goals. Among the variously available resource, agricultural wastes are biomass considered in on-going research for biofuel and bioenergy production as well as synthesis of important chemicals for industrial applications. These resources are relatively abundant around the world and can serve a

Moreover, the quantity of residues originating from the food processing is usually huge, and their exploration for energy generation can provide a considerable volume of renewable energy. Nevertheless, current application of these residues includes utilization as livestock feed, promoting the production of highly valued meat and dairy products. These commodities are important sources of protein in the human diet, and cannot be left out without affecting the quality of food consumption. Hence, exploring residues for non-feed purposes such as biofuel and bioelectricity requires adaptations in the food system to compensate for protein losses. Therefore, based on the available reports in literature and the various policies for sustainable practices that is geared toward pollution mitigation. Hence, these residues are important feedstocks of immense potential for sustainable biofuel and bioenergy production.

The authors would like to express our gratitude to Dr. Olorunnisola Kola Saheed for his effort in taking time to read through the manuscript and providing his valuable technical inputs.

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest in the chapter whatsoever.

dual purpose of energy production and environmental protection.

• Cofiring solid biomass particles with coal;

• Landfill gas or biogas with natural gas.

• Mixing with synthesis gas; and

**6. Conclusion**

**Acknowledgements**

**Conflict of interest**

In developing the technological practices and policies, there is the need to use agricultural biomass resources responsibly to ensure that communities across the every location and agencies benefit both financially and environmentally while the nation abates its oil and coal use and global warming emissions. However, achieving this quest will require private investment and smart public policy.

The IEA World Energy Outlook [69] suggested that renewables could form an integral proportion of the global primary energy mix in the near future, up to a fifth of demand (**Figure 2**), while coal could provide a quarter by 2040. A great deal of this renewable energy could be from hydroelectricity, solar PV, and wind power while cofiring practices of biomass could augment these sources while not requiring the premature retirement of coal assets, many of which are still in the early days of operation in places Asia. Cofiring solid fuel with coal is a relatively low-cost, relatively safe method of adding biomass capacity without a major

**Figure 2.** A comparable projection of the primary energy demand in the world in 2040 (Source: [70]).

disbursement of capital expenditure compared to a dedicated biomass plant. In an effort to compare the different global biomass resource, a presentation of specific types of biomass that exist and identification of those best suited for combustion for power generation is imperative. Numerous practices have been suggested to ensure a sustainable practice. This biomass resource can be combined with any fossil-fuel in any of the following practice, such as:

