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ABSTRACT
As the world searches for solution to future possible global energy problems resulting from total
exhaustion of conventional energy resources and global warming due to huge carbon emission,
there is need for Nigeria to harness her renewable energy potentials. Biomass energy is the
energy derived from plant and animal materials. Biomass is the source of useful energy
resources such as: biogas, bio-ethanol, bio-diesel, bio-oil, producer gas, biomass briquettes,
bio-fertilizers etc, used for thermal and agricultural applications. It is renewable, inexhaustible,
environmentally friendly and readily available. Economic and industrial activities of mankind
generate huge wastes accruing from unused plant and animal remains which not only constitute
environmental hazards but have also created health problems in the areas where they are
deposited. Tremendous energy can be derived from these wastes which when integrated into
national energy mix will in no small measure enhance the economic, social and industrial
wellbeing of the human populace. Plant and animal biomass are capable of generating 204.43
and 933.9MWh of electricity per annum respectively if appropriate technology for their
conversion to energy is used. The technological requirement for biomass transformation is
simple and can be acquired with little formal education. In this paper the potential and
usefulness of the abundant and neglected biomass materials in Nigeria are reviewed and
presented.
1.0 Introduction
Energy availability and utilization has been nation can be traced to the amount of energy
the bedrock of economic and social available to her inhabitants. The energy
development of mankind since his origin. comes in different forms and sources which
The level of civilization and economy of any can be broadly classified into Renewable
gasification agent employed. In Air Three primary products are obtained from
gasification, biomass is burned in limited pyrolysis of biomass. They are char,
supply of air to yield a low energy gas permanent gases, and vapors; that at ambient
containing mainly hydrogen, carbon temperature condense to a dark brown
monoxide, methane and non combustible viscous liquid. While pyrolysis of biomass
carbon dioxide, water vapour, tar and ash. has been practiced in some form for
This gas can be used to run power engines thousands of years, it wasnt until recently
or turbines. The heat value is about 4500- that the relationship between heat transfer
5500KJ/Nm3 or 4-5 MJ/Nm3 (Lin et al, rates into the biomass and product
2002, Foscolo et al, 2007). In controlled distribution yields were well understood
oxygen supply to gasification process, (Ringer et al, 2006).
oxygen gasification yields medium energy
2.3 Biofuel production.
gas that can be used for industrial processes.
Biofuel consists of two major types of fuels-
The gas can also be used to produce
Bioethanol and Biodiesel. There are two
methanol, gasoline, methane or hydrogen.
different procedures of producing biofuel
Similarly, under certain conditions of high
from biomass - one each for each of the
pressure and temperature biomass can be
biofuels. There are two key reactions that
converted to gaseous fuels using hydrogen
are involved in the production of
as agent in a hydrogen gasification. The
Bioethanol, one is hydrolysis and the other
main reactions are given below:
is fermentation. Producing Bioethanol
General reaction:
involves mixing sugar, water and yeast
Another method of producing bioethanol is shown that while biodiesel performs just as
from cellulosic biomass materials by use of well as petroleum diesel, it is a far more
Source: ECN, (2005) and Garba, (2004) as The table 2 below gives the annual
obtained from Federal Ministry of population of some common livestock in
Agriculture (FMA). millions. A population growth rate of 3.2%
per annum, from FMA, has been used to
From livestock alone, the country is capable
make estimates from 1996 to 2011
of generating enormous wastes which are
usually used as manure in crop production.
The waste production per animal per day anything. It only constitutes nuisance as
differs in different places with the feeding sewage, pit latrine and open air litter in
and management system used. An average some places. These are not only sources of
human being produces about 0.5kg /day of pathogen but also environmental pollutants.
fresh waste as dung. By Nigerias Biomass potential of Nigeria includes plant
population of 140 million (official gazette, materials from cultivated crops. The table 3
2006) an estimated average of 70.0 million below shows crop production by types of
kg/day of human waste can be generated in major cultivated species. These figures
Nigeria. This is not usually used for however did not include quantities of stalks,
Crop type 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 *Ave
Maize('000) 6931 5667 5254 5127 5476 4107 4620 4934 5150 5150 5242
Millet ('000) 5563 5881 5902 5956 5960 6105 5530 6100 6100 6100 5920
Sorghum('000) 6997 7084 7297 7516 7520 7711 7081 7704 8100 8100 7511
Rice ('000) 2920 3122 3268 3275 3277 3298 2752 3192 4952 4952 3501
Cassava ('000) 31404 31418 32050 32695 32697 32010 32586 34476 33379 33379 32609
Yam ('000) 22818 23201 23972 24768 25873 26201 26374 26849 27000 27000 25406
Peanut ('000) 1579 2278 2531 2534 2894 2901 2683 2699 2700 2700 2550
Soyabeans('000) 287 322 361 403 410 429 436 437 484 484 405
Melon ('000) 287 317 330 330 338 345 348 347 347 347 264
Mangoes ('000) 631 656 689 731 729 730 730 730 730 730 709
Coconut ('000) 149 151 152 152 158 160 161 161 161 161 157
Rubber ('000) 125 130 120 120 107 107 108 112 142 142 121
Cotton lint ('000) 95 116 130 135 145 147 148 150 140 140 135
Cotton seed 153 183 208 212 236 247 248 250 250 250 224
('000)
Cashew nut('000) 95 110 125 152 176 184 185 186 186 186 159
According to Kofoworola, (2007), Lagos Nigerias forestry generates wastes that add
state alone generates approximately 4milion to the biomass available in the country.
tones of MSW per day. This gives about Woody biomass such as Gmelina, rubber,
1.1kg/cap/day. Extrapolating with Nigerias cashew, mango citrus etc add to the quantity
population, about 0.154 million tones of of biomass produced. In a report, (Hitofumi,
MSW per day can be produced. These are 2007 and Chijioke, 1980) about 21.0 tons/ha
usually deposited as refuse heaps at markets of Gmelina arborea is produced per year.
and street corners. The tropical climate of Nigeria favours the
growth and production of energy crops such
(Okoroigwe, et al 2008, Okoroigwe, 2007b, In as much as few designs have been made
Eboatu et al 2006, Oparaku, 2006) and for AD and biomass briquetting in some
leaves the soil structure intact but the later places within Nigeria, a lot more are still to
has been shown to have adverse effects on be done to integrate these and other biomass
soil (Godson et al, 2002; Ana and Sridhar, technologies such as gasification/pyrolysis,
Technical Publications Series no.188, pp Energy Master Plan. Shukrah Printers Ltd.
humid tropics. FAO Forestry Paper, Vol 21. Nigeria, The University of the South Pacific,
23. Nippon Koei Co.Ltd. Interim report: 29. Poushali Ganguly, (2007): biofuel
Cambodia. Phnom Penh, Cambodia: Japan 30. Putatunda Rita (2007) How to Make
International Cooperation Agency (JICA); Biodiesel - Making Biodiesel at Home.
2005. p 476 www.buzzle.com/authors.asp?author
(1988): Energy Resources and Reserves in 31. Ringer M, Putsche V and Scahill J
Nigeria. Solar and Wind Technology 5(3) (2006): Large-Scale Pyrolysis Oil
335 338, as in Sambo (1992). Production: A Technology Assessment and
Sciences Research. 2(6): 549 553. composition of Wheat. India Water, Air,
Journal of Solar Energy. (in press) Publishers, 2-B, Nath Market, Nai Sarak
Delhi-110006.