Generation of Bio-energy from waste for power production and sustainable heat Generation

This study material discusses the process of generating bio-energy from waste for power production and sustainable heat generation. It includes an introduction, project scope, literature review, research gap, and conclusion. The research gap identified is the lack of mention of combining bio-energy with other renewable sources while producing energy. The study material is relevant for environmental engineering students.

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Generation of Bio-energy from waste for power production and sustainable heat Generation
STUDENT NAME
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................3
PROJECT SCOPE.....................................................................................................................4
LITERATURE REVIEW...........................................................................................................4
RESEARCH GAP......................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION..........................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES...........................................................................................................................8

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ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
Research Topic: Generation of Bio-energy from waste for power production and
sustainable heat Generation
INTRODUCTION
Bio energy or biomass is a renewable energy resource that can be in generated from
any industrial, agricultural or biogenic waste. From many years, biomass is being used due to
which developing its application has been considered as an important undertaking. Many
methods have been developed to convert waste into heat and electricity for household
purpose and commercial use (Uslu, 2014). Bio-energy production process involves various
steps from production of feed stocks to end conversion. Entire process has to face various
challenges like usage of land, handling of chemicals physically, transportation and reduction
of associated costs. Many thermo-chemical treatment technologies have been increasing in
order to increase the bio-energy density and reduce risks related to transportation and final
conversion (Den, 2016). This research paper will analyse an engineering research topic
relating generation of bio-energy from waste and justify the research gap by identifying it.

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PROJECT SCOPE
In Australia, bio-energy from waste is still under development but has considerable
potential. Waste technologies after introduction of Act Waste Management Strategy 2011-
2025 has became focal point for all environmental engineering and IT development firms for
generating and investigating new technologies to convert wastes into energy(CEFC, 2015).
Many investors have also poured in as scope of high returns is also visible. This cost
competitive energy resource will also benefit environment by reducing wastes from
surroundings along with gaining sustainable heat energy and electricity.
LITERATURE REVIEW
In order to review the above topic, various research papers and article have been
investigated to get detailed information about the conversion process. The findings from
different papers demonstrate an overview challenge for the industry, society and policy
(Chung, 2013). Addressing sustainability in production of bio energy has developed issues
that require consideration as rise of oil and gas prices due to geological factors and growing
population has impacted the nation severely. Although bio-energy has great potential,
greenhouse gas emissions are also an important area that requires to be focussed upon
(WORLD ENERGY COUNCIL, 2016).
While observing the conversion process, it was found that in Australia, main reason behind
introducing bio energy process was to reduce green house gas emissions and increase the
usage of bio fuels and bio electricity in future (Rural Industries, 2013). Advanced
technologies dealing in conversion of non food portion of biomass had extensively reduced
green house emissions while securing present oil and gases and other non renewable energy.
Depending on the feed stock supply, the energy from those wastes provides availability of

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base load electricity and counterbalancing alternative generation from other renewable energy
resources (Mira, 2016). Applications replacing alternative waste disposal systems reduce
environmental impacts and disposal costs by making limited use of landfills. Displacing
fossil fuel generation by plants reduces air pollution from harmful gases like nitrogen oxides
and sulphur dioxide etc. Theories and applications of sustainable assessment reviews the
issues while expanding industrial framework and developing potential options to implement
most suitable process (OGL, 2013).
According to a recent survey made it was found that nearly fifty million tons of urban waste
is collected every year in Australia in which nearly half is recycled and twenty million tons of
it fills up the landfills. One million ton is only diverted for energy or waste treatment which
shows the potential for generating biomass in urban stream (OGL, 2013). Different waste
policies legislates waste hierarchy designs that promotes recycling and resource recovery
over energy from disposed materials. Although bio-energy and waste technology are
considered as the most cost effective way for generating energy and reducing carbon
emissions, it had not been deployed effectively throughout the world which suggests potential
of investing in renewable energy development industries (Science Daily, 2010).
Sustainable assessments have approaches depending upon methodologies, culture, language
and situation. Two basic approaches that are utilised for sustainable approach are input based
that assumes certain input for desired outcome and outcome based that monitors and
compare system variables and trends that promotes sustaining objects and targets. When the
situations seem risky, both the approaches do not ensure production of sustainable outcomes
whereas if both systems are aligned to each other, systems become more predictable and well
established. In all situations, system is required to be embedded in effective way allowing

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scope for improvement of the assessment in future and utilising available resources to its
fullest (Reed, 2016).
Although there are many advantages related to bio-energy but there are few disadvantages
also which has been identified in the literature. Air quality after release of greenhouse gases
by incineration along with unsustainable impact on water and soil resources are few of the
disadvantages discussed (Bauen, n.d.). Agricultural reduction in landfill surrounding area
along with extinction of improvement in degraded land is also a drawback of bio energy
production process. Smaller plants fails to supply adequate amount of energy and
transportation and other additional costs for fulfilling demands makes overall energy system
more costly and complicated. Demand of water in higher volume for technology is another
issue that cannot be overlooked (Den, 2016).
RESEARCH GAP
In above literature review made, research gap identified is that presently the methods
used for heat and electricity production like solar system, district cooling system or heat
pumps have not been mentioned in present methods of bio-energy conversion (Graduate
School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, n.d.). Currently, we cannot understand why
combining bio-energy with other renewable sources while producing energy is done.
Utilising solar energy and other heat pumps have always been able to provide with the
renewable energy without having any hazardous implications. Thus this literature review
questions present system that why both these methods have not been applied in bio-energy
system for making the process more efficient and fast (Williams, n.d.).

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CONCLUSION
The amount of bio-energy conversions and its establishment to identify major
sustainability problem depends on the process of using natural resources in different
countries. Developing different strategies of eco industrial processes for installing bio-energy
and biomass with the help of technologies are still required to be developed (Thrän, 2017).
Therefore it can be said that sustainability of bio energy depends largely on the goals
identified and what actions or ability to utilise science and technology is undertaken. Bio-
energy is one of the most important innovations in engineering and science field in which
environmental organisation is highly depended (Den, 2016). However its drawbacks on
human and environment lead to a question whether bio-energy system is sustainable or other
sectors requires more analysis. Regardless, biomass provides a spotlight for improvising and
understanding more about sustainability before increasing desire for enhanced outcome.

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REFERENCES
Bauen, A., n.d. Bioenergy – a Sustainable and Reliable Energy Source MAIN REPORT.
[Online] Available at: http://indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/Bioenergy_a
%20sustainable_and_reliable_energy_source.pdf [Accessed 07 April 2018].
CEFC, 2015. The Australian bioenergy and energy from waste market. [Online] Available at:
https://www.cefc.com.au/media/107567/the-australian-bioenergy-and-energy-from-waste-
market-cefc-market-report.pdf [Accessed 07 April 2018].
Chung, J.N., 2013. Grand challenges in bioenergy and biofuel research: engineering and
technology development, environmental impact, and sustainability. [Online] Available at:
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2013.00004/full [Accessed 07 April 2018].
Den, J., 2016. Bioenergy for Electricity Generation. [Online] Available at:
https://cns.utexas.edu/images/CNS/Jen_Den-Bioenergy.pdf [Accessed 07 April 2018].
Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, n.d. Department of Biological and
Environmental Engineering. [Online] Available at:
http://www.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp/english/departments/D-BEE.html [Accessed 07 April 2018].
Mira, X.J.a.D., 2016. BIOGAS UTILISATION FOR SUSTAINABLE POWER GENERATION.
[Online] Available at: https://hpc4e.eu/news/biogas-utilisation-sustainable-power-generation
[Accessed 07 April 2018].
OGL, 2013. Generating energy from waste, including anaerobic digestion. [Online]
Available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/generating-energy-from-waste-including-
anaerobic-digestion [Accessed 07 April 2018].

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Reed, V.S., 2016. Bioenergy: Renewable, Sustainable, Attainable. [Online] Available at:
https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/bioenergy-renewable-sustainable-attainable [Accessed
07 April 2018].
Rural Industries, 2013. Bioenergy industry in Australia. [Online] Available at:
http://biomassproducer.com.au/about/about-the-industry/#.WsiTDtRubcs [Accessed 07 April
2018].
Science Daily, 2010. Engineers find significant environmental impacts with algae-based
biofuel. [Online] Available at:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100121135856.htm [Accessed 07 April
2018].
Thrän, P.D.-I.D., 2017. Department of Bioenergy. [Online] Available at:
http://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=34237 [Accessed 07 April 2018].
Uslu, A., 2014. Bioenergy power and heat generation. [Online] Available at:
https://setis.ec.europa.eu/energy-research/sites/default/files/library/ERKC_
%20TRS_Bioenergy.pdf [Accessed 07 April 2018].
Williams, C., n.d. Winconsin Grasslands Bioenergy Network. [Online] Available at:
http://www.wgbn.wisc.edu/producers/bioenergy-101 [Accessed 07 April 2018].
WORLD ENERGY COUNCIL, 2016. World Energy Resources Bioenergy-2016. [Online]
Available at:
https://www.worldenergy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/WEResources_Bioenergy_2016.p
df [Accessed 07 April 2018].