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Waste from Other Agricultural Industries

Biomass accounts for approximately 15% of global primary energy use and 38% of the primary energy use in developing countries. More than 80% of biomass energy is used by more than two billion consumers, many of whom have no access to modern energy services. However, in some agricultural industries, large concentrations of biomass waste can be utilised for power and heat production, thereby providing access to modern energy services.

Description of technology

Agricultural Residues

Biomass primarily refers to agricultural residues, which are converted into electricity and steam through direct combustion – usually of solids. Such generation involves the construction of a boiler, a steam turbine and a generator and auxiliary facilities such as a water de-mineralisation plant, a cooling tower, air pollution control devices and a storage yard. In some cases the cooling tower may be replaced by a heat exchanger, allowing the utilisation of waste heat when there is a demand for low-temperature process heating (e.g. for drying) or cooling in the area where the power plant is located. Very often such power production replaces captive diesel power generation at the plant, thus, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Many crops leave considerable amounts of waste, e.g. maize, sorghum, millet, wheat, nut and cotton production. In Rajasthan, India, waste from mustard production is the basis for several CDM projects. Some crops leave just as much waste as they do usable crops and with little alternative uses; the resources for the assessment of biomass residue are often lagging behind. Biomass energy projects can be built in a wide range of sizes and for a wide range of applications. Projects can be as large as 100 MW power stations generating both electricity and heat but are typically 15-30 MW in size, either dedicated to a single crop residue or a combination of several sources. Biomass energy projects are also technically feasible in much smaller sizes, but are rarely commercially viable below 8-10 MW, depending on availability and pricing of biomass residues.

Sub-types

  • Agricultural Residues: Mustard Crop
  • Agricultural Residues: Other Kinds

Methodologies

  • Agricultural Residues: Mustard Crop
    • Small Scale
      • AMS-I.D.
      • AMS-I.C.
  • Agricultural Residues: Other Kinds
    • Large Scale
      • ACM0002
      • ACM0003
      • ACM0006
      • ACM0018
      • AM0036
    • Small Scale
      • AMS-I.D.
      • AMS-I.C.
      • AMS-III.E.
      • AMS-III.Z.