Introduction - Biomass Gasification, Pyrolysis and Torrefaction - page 5

a primary source of energy varies widely depending on the geographical and
socioeconomic conditions. For example, it constitutes 90% of the primary
energy source in Nepal but only 0.1% in the Middle Eastern countries.
Cooking, although highly inefficient, is one of the most extensive uses of
biomass in lesser-developed countries. Figure 1.1 shows a cooking stove still
employed by millions in the rural areas using twigs or logs as fuel. A more
efficient modern commercial use of biomass is in the production of steam
for processing heat and generating electricity like the facility shown in
Figure 1.2 .
Heat and electricity are two forms of primary energy derived from bio-
mass. The use of biomass for efficient energy production is presently on the
rise in developed countries because of its carbon-neutral feature, while its
use for cooking is declining because of a shortage of biomass in lesser-
developed countries. Substitution of fossil fuel with biomass in existing
plants is made simpler with the developments of the torrefaction process
(Chapter 10).
1.1.1.3 Transport Industries
Diesel and gasoline from crude petro-oil are widely used in modern transporta-
tion industries. Biomass can help substitute such petro-derived transport fuels
with carbon-neutral alternatives. Ethanol, produced generally from sugarcane
and corn, is used in gasoline (spark-ignition) engines, while biodiesel, produced
FIGURE 1.1 A cooking stove using fire logs.