Biomass utilisation in energy process

Abstract

Vegetal residues constitute the most abundant biomass of our

planet. Some 1011 metric tons are produced annually in the

biosphere with an energy content of 2.425 × 1018 kJ. The

methods for utilizing biomass residues have always been of

great interest, but this interest has recently grown in Europe and

the USA, due to the potential value of forest residues as a

source of useful energy. The high cost of fossil fuels and

technological progress have made possible the appearance of

energy development of biomass systems that allow us to obtain

energy directly or indirectly by means of combustion, pyrolysis

or gasification processes. These development systems are

becoming more and more efficient, reliable and clean. Due to

this fact, biomass is currently being taken into account as a total

or partial alternative to fossil fuels. The target of this work is to

quantify and to map the biomass power potential of residual

biomass coming from most representative forest species in

Bizkaia (Spain), using like tool a Geographic Information

Systems (GIS). The quantity of forestal biomass residue

(Tons/year) is determined after considering two factors: the

quantity of forestal residue (Tons/ha-year) of the main forestall

species, and the surface (ha) occupied by such species