A review of sustainability challenges of biomass for energy: focus in the Philippines
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Abstract
Biomass as one source of renewable energy, as a whole, is challenging us to address the 3 interrelated indicators of sustainability: ecology, economy and society. On ecology-instead of just serving as pollutants as in animal manure, biogas production arrests odor, considerably reduce the pollution loading (BOD, COD) in the environment .Instead of just simply burning them, crop residues (bagasse, rice husks) are now used to produce power. However, the biomass taken out as fuel for the power plants corresponds to nutrient out. To maintain soil fertility, nutrient taken out should be replenished by external source of fertilizer or Nutrient in= Nutrient out. Rice straws and sugarcane trsh are best left in the field. Bagasse fired boiler for COGEN doubles the previously-one major product sugarcane industry. This rekindles the hope of one’s sunset but now transformed into sunrise sugar industry. Same is true for rice husks-fired power plant. But feedstock ownership is now questioned. Feedstock production for COGEN starts in the field where the crops are grown. Farmers deserve share to the “gift” of the new technology. This generation and the next deserves “happy” living and enjoying available, dependable, affordable and renewable energy. There are many options. Biomass to energy is one of them. Technologies for 2nd generation biofuel are developing fast up to commercial level as systems for cellulosic ethanol are now optimized. The sleeping resource- the sea- will also give rise to algal-biodiesel, But the sustainability challenges of biomass for energy in the Philippines (technical, economic, social and political concerns) must be addressed.
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