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Energy is essential for human
development. Without adequate basic energy supply people
cannot cook food, light their homes or keep essential
medication chilled. Alongside the introduction of efficient
and clean thermal use of traditional biomass for cooking,
the provision of electricity from renewable energy sources
can provide basic energy services for lighting and
communication and promote local economic growth. Renewable
energy from photovoltaics, wind turbines and small hydro
plants is highly suitable for off-grid electricity supply
and has been successfully introduced in countless cases in
developing countries. However, although the application of
biomass as a sustainable electricity source seems promising,
it is still seldom perceived as an option for providing
electricity to the rural poor. To generate electricity,
biomass can be combusted, gasified, biologically digested or
fermented, or converted into liquid fuels propelling a
generator. Several research institutions and international
agencies rate biomass as one of the cheapest available
renewable energy sources for power generation. Furthermore,
the conversion of biomass into electricity is a low-carbon
process as the resulting CO2
can be captured by plant regrowth. In contrast with solar PV
or wind power, biomass power technology can generate
electricity on demand at any time, as long as a sufficient
supply of biomass stocks is assured. Many agricultural and
forest product residues can provide feedstock for energy
conversion without increasing land requirements. Local
farmers can generate additional income by providing biomass
fuels to small local power plants.
Keywords: Electricity, Biomass, Energy |
