The Biomass Assessment Handbook: Bioenergy for a Sustainable Environment

by Rosillo-Calle, Frank

• ISBN13: 9781844075263
• ISBN10: 1844075265
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-04-30
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Responding to the need for reliable and detailed information on biomass consumption and supply and overcoming the lack of standardized measurement and accounting procedures, this handbook provides the skills to understand the biomass resource base and the tools to assess the resource and the pros and cons of exploitation. Topics covered include assessment methods for woody and herbaceous biomass, biomass supply and consumption, and remote sensing techniques. International case studies, ranging from techniques for measuring tree volume to transporting biomass, help to illustrate step-by-step methods and are based on fieldwork experience. A set of technical appendices offer a glossary of terms, energy units, and other valuable reference data. The Biomass Assessment Handbook will be invaluable reading for energy consultants, agronomists, foresters, project developers, natural and social scientists, environmental policy analysts, and students interested in bioenergy and environmental studies.

Table of Contents

List of Figures, Tables and Boxes	p. viii
Editors' Note	p. xi
Dedication	p. xii
Acknowledgements	p. xiii
Preface	p. xiv
List of Acronyms and Abbreviations	p. xvi
Introduction	p. xviii
Overview of Biomass Energy	p. 1
Introduction	p. 1
Historical role of bioenergy	p. 1
The current role of bioenergy	p. 2
Biomass potential	p. 4
Continuing difficulties with data/classification of bioenergy	p. 10
Traditional versus modern applications of bioenergy	p. 11
Barriers	p. 16
Technology options	p. 17
The future for bioenergy	p. 21
References and further reading	p. 23
Appendices	p. 25
General Introduction to the Basis of Biomass Assessment Methodology	p. 27
Introduction	p. 27
Problems in measuring biomass	p. 28
The ten commandments of biomass assessment	p. 29
General considerations when making a biomass assessment	p. 30
Deciding about surveys	p. 40
Biomass classification	p. 43
Land use assessment	p. 44
The importance of the agro-climatic zone	p. 44
Woody and non-woody biomass	p. 45
Assessment of accessibility	p. 47
Estimating biomass flows	p. 49
Stock and yield	p. 51
Energy value of biomass	p. 53
Future trends	p. 55
References and further reading	p. 56
Appendices	p. 57
Assessment Methods for Woody Biomass Supply	p. 69
Introduction	p. 69
Requirements prior to an assessment of biomass supply	p. 69
Biomass assessment methods for woody biomass	p. 74
The main techniques/methods for measuring woody biomass	p. 79
Methodology for assessing energy potential from forestry/crop plantations	p. 90
Agro-industrial plantations	p. 93
Processed woody biomass	p. 94
References and further reading	p. 98
Appendices	p. 100
Non-woody Biomass and Secondary Fuels	p. 110
Introduction	p. 110
Agricultural and agro-forestry residues as fuel	p. 111
Processed residues	p. 114
Animal wastes	p. 116
Tertiary wastes	p. 118
Herbaceous crops	p. 119
Secondary fuels (liquid and gaseous)	p. 120
Densified biomass: pellets and briquettes	p. 125
Animal draught power	p. 126
Future options	p. 128
References and further reading	p. 129
Appendices	p. 130
Assessment of Biomass Consumption	p. 144
Introduction	p. 144
Designing a biomass energy consumption survey	p. 145
Implementing the survey	p. 152
Analysing domestic consumption	p. 155
Analysing village consumption patterns	p. 159
Changing fuel consumption patterns	p. 163
Projecting supply and demand	p. 170
Current and projected energy production and waste in Tuvalu	p. 172
Conclusions	p. 175
References and further reading	p. 176
Remote Sensing Techniques for Biomass Production and Carbon Sequestration Projects	p. 178
Introduction	p. 178
Remote sensing and biomass production	p. 179
Remote sensing techniques	p. 181
Feasibility of remote sensing techniques for CDM and bioenergy projects	p. 194
Future directions	p. 196
References and further reading	p. 197
Case Studies	p. 200
Introduction	p. 200
International biotrade: Potential implications for the development of biomass for energy	p. 201
Building a modern biomass market: The case of Austria	p. 207
Biogas as a renewable technology option for small islands	p. 210
Biodiesel from coconut and Jatropha	p. 218
The role of biomass in carbon storage and climate change	p. 225
Appendices
Glossary of Terms	p. 233
Most Commonly Used Biomass Symbols	p. 246
Energy Units: Basic Definitions	p. 248
Some Conversion Figures of Wood, Fuelwood and Charcoal	p. 251
Measuring Heating Values and Moisture Contents of Biomass	p. 253
Measuring Sugar and Ethanol Yields	p. 258
Carbon Content of Fossil Fuels and Bioenergy Feedstocks	p. 262
Index	p. 263
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