Agricultural Residues and Manures into Bioenergy

Abstract

The mandate for energy has upsurged with the increase in population worldwide. Exploiting fossil fuels for energy has directed the exhaustion of fossil fuel assets. Thus, substitute sources of energy are required. Biomass is a renewable source and an alternative feedstock for providing eco-friendly and sustainable energy. Biofuels obtained from different biomass are grouped into three distinct groups: first-generation biofuels (obtained from wheat, sugarcane, barley, potato, soybean, corn, coconut, and sunflower), second-generation biofuels (produced from lignocellulosic materials like cassava, switchgrass, Jatropha, straw, and wood), third-generation biofuels (obtained from algae). The biofuel produced with the help of first-generation energy crops poses threat to biodiversity and food supply. But the use of lignocellulose as a biofuel does not contend with that of food production as it is nondigestible for humans. The principle advantage of algal biomass is higher oil production and it can convert all of the feedstock energy into various kinds of biofuels. Apart from this, it is useful for amputation of CO2 from the industrial chimney (algae bio-fixation), food products, animal feed, and energy cogeneration after extraction of oil and treatment of wastewater. Thus, it is one of the world’s most valuable, renewable, and sustainable source of the fuel which also helps in controlling environmental pollution. Thus, bioenergy crops and biofuels are considered as sustainable sources of energy production as waste products such as forest waste and agricultural residues, manures, industrial waste, and municipal solid waste are used for producing biofuels and bioenergy.