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Agriculture Waste

Agricultural production leaves considerable amounts of agricultural waste. Some of it is recycled into agricultural production as fertilizer, while large amounts remain unused – and in many instances pose a disposal problem. Uncontrolled burning in the fields is not only a hazardous disposal solution – it is also wasting useful energy. With efficient collection systems, waste from agricultural production can be utilised as fuel for power and heat production.

In some agricultural industries, large amounts of biomass waste are already concentrated and readily available for utilisation. The palm oil industry, for instance, produces significant amounts of empty fruit bunches that can be incinerated. Liquid wastes may also be mechanised and can secure a basis for own power and process heat production while delivering excess power to the grid. In the sugar industry, significant amounts of bagasse – the waste after extraction of sugar – is an equally excellent fuel. Rice production may also be industrialised to such an extent that rice husks are available in amounts sufficient for incineration in a boiler, thereby securing a basis for power and heat production.

In the forest industry, large concentrations of biomass waste can be utilised for power and heat production, e.g. at sawmills. The forest industry also supplies raw materials for briquette production, where sawdust, charcoal dust, degradable waste paper and dust from agricultural production may constitute a final utilisation of waste materials from agriculture-related production. The following sectors of agricultural waste utilisation are presented in this section:

Waste from Forest Industry

In developing countries, biomass - and particularly wood - accounts for approximately 38% of the primary energy use among more than two billion consumers, many of whom have no access to modern energy services.

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Waste from Other Agricultural Industries

In some agricultural industries, large concentrations of biomass waste can be utilised for power and heat production, thereby providing access to modern energy services

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Waste from Palm Oil

The palm oil industry produces significant amounts of empty fruit bunches that can be incinerated, as well as liquid wastes that may be methanized and secure a basis for own power and process heat production while delivering excess power to the grid.

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Waste from Rice Industry

In some places rice production is industrialised to such an extent that rice husks are available in amounts sufficient for incineration in a boiler, thus, securing a basis for power and heat production.

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Waste from Sugar Industry

The sugar industry produces significant amounts of bagasse that can be incinerated and secure a basis for own power and process heat production while delivering excess power to the grid.

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