Biomass energy source in developing countries

Abstract

Biomass is an important source of energy in developing countries. In some developing countries, energy from biomass such as wood and agricultural residues represents about 70% of total energy consumption per year. Main applications are in the domestic sector and small-scale industries, but also increasingly in modern systems for combined heat and power generation. Managed properly, biomass energy can be sustainable, environmentally and economically sound. Moreover, biomass energy creates substantial local employment. However, constraints to optimal use as an energy source are still to be resolved. Main issues are legal and institutional barriers, as well as lack of information and technology transfer. Furthermore, common misconceptions about biomass energy have to be redressed. It should be emphasized that the larger part of woody biomass fuels come from non-forest land; fuelwood use is not the root cause of deforestation; biomass energy is more than a traditional commodity; and biomass energy will not phase out in the foreseeable future. On the other hand, biomass is the major source of energy in rural Turkey. Biomass is used to meet a variety of energy needs, including generating electricity, heating homes, fueling vehicles and providing process heat for industrial facilities. Biomass potential includes wood and animal and plant wastes. The total biomass energy potential of Turkey is about 32 Mtoe. The amount of usable biomass potential of Turkey is about 17 Mtoe.