Energy Yield from Biomass: A Case Study of a Village in Uttar Pradesh

Abstract

Due to enormous rising demand of fossil fuel and environmental threat, there is a need to expedite the harnessing of renewable sources of energy for sustainable development. The renewable energy resources are vast sources for alternative energy production without endangering our environment and causing threat of climate change. Out of the several resources, the biomass resource is discussed in this paper. Biomass is one of the most potential sources of renewable energy which opens up enormous potential for sustainable economic growth. While bio-energy has always played a critical role in the world’s energy mix, its role in the future will be a lot more prominent than now. Any credible energy scenario for the coming decades depends on the massive expansion of both energy efficiency as well as a broad mix of renewable energies, including bio-energy. Bio-energy poses large opportunities, but can also have very serious risks and side-effects if managed poorly. Biomass used as a sustainable fuel that stands out from other fuels because of major socio-economic benefits that can be achieved. It is also widely available and used in villages as well as cities easily. Here, the use of waste matter generated from day-to-day life from village can be handled and managed properly through energy conversion process. A survey of Aldampur village in the Lucknow District has been undertaken by the authors to analyze the energy content of biomass resources of the village – agricultural waste, cattle waste, domestic waste and human wastes. There are several ways of utilization of biomass resources, namely direct combustion, thermo-chemical conversion and bio-chemical conversion. The paper discusses all the three routes of biomass resources in meeting the energy needs of the village. The route of biomass gasification for production of electricity in the village has also been explored. An attempt has been made to find ways to gain energy from biomass to improve the rural electrification condition in the village. The proper energy planning of rural waste utilisation can resolve the problem of waste generation and handling by use of various biomass technologies. An energy planning can be established and can be run a chain of rural energy services with various devices and technology within CDM (Clean Development Mechanism). Given the range of issues bio-energy touches, standards are to be formulated in a multi-stakeholder process in very near future to ensure the sustainable development in the villages, particularly in Uttar Pradesh. Keywords: Biomass, Electricity Production, CDM (Clean Development Mechanism), Sustainable Development.