Resource assessment, biomass

Figure 2. Biomass technology and resource assessment chart...

Bringezu, S. (2009) Biomass use for climate change mitigation and sustainable resource management. Presentation at the IRC Workshop Biomass resource assessment Presentation Eberswalde, 8-9 December 2009. 

Pimentel, D., and Krummel, J. (1987). Biomass energy and soil erosion Assessment of resource costs, Biomass 14,15-38. 

MrlbrandL A., Overend, R. P. Survey of Biomass Resource Assessments and Assessment Capabilities. APEC Energy Working Group, APEC Economies, 2008. 

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. 

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. 

Starch and cellulose are potentially important renewable resources for chemical production. Glucose (a component of starch) is relatively easy to obtain from plant material and is used to synthesize existing chemicals. While this is so, the production of such renewable materials, a full fife-cycle assessment of the requirements for their production suggest that much fossil-soiuced energy and material would stiU be employed in the growing, harvesting and processing of biomass. 

Love, Peter, Overend, Ralph, "Tree Power An Assessment of the Energy Potential of Forest Biomass in Canada, Report ER 78-1, Renewable Energy Resources Branch, Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, Ottawa, Canada, 1978. 

The experiments described here are principally diagnostic in nature where cellular biomass was significantly enhanced in bottles after resource (iron or light) amendment, relative to control (or other) treatments, we infer that algal growth rates in the control (or other) treatments were limited by a deficiency in that resource. The statistical significance of differences between mean values of parameters measured in different treatments were assessed using a two-tailed r-test for comparisons between two treatments, or a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for comparisons between three or more treatments, at a confidence level of 95% (P = 0.05). 

Jaycor (1990). Regional Assessment of Nonforestry-Related Biomass Resources, Summary Volume," Report No. 684-0035a/90. Southeastern Regional Biomass Energy Program, Muscle Shoals, AL, March 19. 

The R D effort in renewable energy includes an extensive effort in the area of biomass fuels. After initial assessments of the potential of MSW, agricultural residues and crops and forestry (JL) it has been recognised that while all three renewable resources will contribute to the near term substitution of liquid fuels in non critical applications, only forests and the recently dead form of biomass - Peat - can contribute liquid fuels on a scale close to that demanded which is to say at the Exajoule level. The Canadian forest covers almost one third of the land mass, while agriculture utilises less than 7 per cent. At least... 

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources recently completed an assessment of the availability, cost, and reliability of wood fuels on the Delmarva Peninsula (14). The study concluded that cull trees and timber harvest residue could provide over 1.9 million tons of wood fuel annually at a cost to users of 12.50 per green ton. Other studies in Minnesota, New York. Oregon, and Washington are involved in similar utilization and biomass assessments to determine the availability of wood fuels for energy. 

It is not possible, at present, to provide either a detailed resource base assessment (e.g., potentially available water, land, or nutrient resources), or a detailed cost analysis of aquatic plant production. Thus, this review presents general concepts of aquatic biomass farming exemplified by three systems — microalgae farming for lipid fuel and chemicals production, cattail cultivation for conversion to alcohol fuels, and growing water hyacinths for methane gas generation. Wastewater aquaculture applications are not covered in this review nor are the actual conversion processes by which aquatic biomass would be converted to fuels. 

SIMONS RESOURCE CONSULTANTS. B.H. Level ton, "A Comparative Assessment of Forest Biomass Conversion to Energy Forms Phase I-Proven and Near-Proven Technology Voi. I-IX - Phase II - Further development, ENFOR PROJECT C-258, Canada, 1983. 

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