Resources energy

The percentage of energy demand that could be satisfied by particular nonfossil energy resources can be estimated by examination of the potential amounts of energy and biofuels that can be produced from renewable carbon resources and comparison of these amounts with fossil fuel demands. 

A realistic assessment of biomass as an energy resource is made by calculating average surface areas needed to produce sufficient biomass at different aimual yields to meet certain percentages of fuel demand for a particular country (Table 2). These required areas are then compared with surface areas available. The conditions of biomass production and conversion used ia Table 2 are either within the range of 1993 technology and agricultural practice, or are beheved to be attainable ia the future. 

Several studies estimate the potential of available virgin and waste biomass as energy resources (Table 4) (10). In Table 4, the projected potential of the recoverable materials is about 25% of the theoretical maximum woody biomass is about 70% of the total recoverable potential. These estimates of biomass energy potential are based on existing, sustainable biomass production and do not iaclude new, dedicated biomass energy plantations that might be developed. 

Projections of market penetrations and contributions to primary consumption of energy from biomass are subject to much criticism and contain significant errors. However, even though these projections may be incorrect, they are necessary to assess the future role and impact of renewable energy resources, and to help in deciding whether a potential renewable energy resource should be developed. 

Another factor is the potential economic benefit that may be realized due to possible future environmental regulations from utilizing both waste and virgin biomass as energy resources. Carbon taxes imposed on the use of fossil fuels in the United States to help reduce undesirable automobile and power plant emissions to the atmosphere would provide additional economic incentives to stimulate development of new biomass energy systems. Certain tax credits and subsidies are already available for commercial use of specific types of biomass energy systems (93). 

S. La22ari, A Histoy of Federal Tax Poliy Conventional as Compared to Renewable and Nonconventional Energy Resources, 88-455E, The Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service, Washington, D.C., June 7, 1988. 

The discovery of chemical N2 fixation under ambient conditions is more compatible with a simple, complementary, low temperature and low pressure system, possibly operated electrochemically and driven by a renewable energy resource (qv), such as solar, wind, or water power, or other off-peak electrical power, located near or in irrigation streams. Such systems might produce and apply ammonia continuously, eg, directly in the rice paddy, or store it as an increasingly concentrated ammoniacal solution for later appHcation. In fact, the Birkeland-Eyde process of N2 oxidation in an electric arc has been... 

Bleeding of nuclear fuel was recognized as having a potentially important impact on the avadabihty of energy resources as soon as plutonium was... 

D. Gautier and co-workers. Estimates of Undiscovered Conventional Oil and Gas Resources in the United States—-A. Part of the Nation s Energy Endowment, USGS Research on Energy Resources (V. E. McKelvey Eomm), Washington, D.C., Eeb. 1995. 

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