Assessment of energy potential of date palm residues in Khairpur district, Pakistan

Abstract

This paper provides assessment of the energy potential of date palm residues, including leaflets, rachis, fruit prunings, and trunks, in Khairpur district, Sindh, Pakistan. The ‘yield formula method’ has been used to estimate the residue generation and energy potential. The potential of biomass date palm residues generated in Khairpur district is estimated to be 155,000 tonnes per annum, with 51% and 44% share of rachis and leaflets, respectively. The total potential of date palm residues from leaflets, rachis, fruit prunings, and trunks available for energy production is found to be 87,000 tonnes per annum, which is about 56% of the total generated residues. The experimentally measured heating values of the date palm residues range from 12.1 to 14.4 MJ/kg, and their cumulative energy potential is found to be about 1.16 PJ, with a 68% and 26% share for date palm rachis and leaflets, respectively. The regression model outlines a linear relationship between annual date production and corresponding total residue generation, which increase on average by 8.77% and 6.97%, respectively. However, the residues available for energy production annually increase by 3.68% and will reach approximately 55% in the next 15 years. It could potentially influence the energy production and utilization in the region.