Abstract
In many developing countries, biomass use as a means of generating energy is still relevant with the developed countries also gradually increasing this source of energy in their energy-mix. Furthermore, increased research and developmental efforts concerning bioenergy are more in these developed countries compared to many of the developing ones. This might have contributed to the present level of biomass conversion technologies, most of which are observed to be outdated, in developing countries such as those in sub-Sahara Africa. Improving on the available old bioenergy conversion technologies may not only be adequate for sustainable utilisation of renewable natural resources; there may be the need for adoption/adaptation of other recent research outputs geared toward optimal resource utilisation in this regard. Contributing to and application of improvements in biomass conversion technologies, such as gasification techniques, might assist in achieving this aim. This article was therefore conceived at highlighting information concerning biomass gasification in such a way as to sensitise the different stakeholders in research and developmental issues in developing countries where there are still challenges facing this sector. The language and presentation of the article was aimed at specifics avoiding too many technical details for the benefit of experts and non-experts alike.
Highlights
History has it that the series of mankind’s developmental stages, cultures, and technologies were strongly linked with energy and associated systems [1,2,3]
The application of biomass in generating energy has not been outmoded in those parts of the world that are still considered to be less advanced or developing
This application is being intensified in the advanced/developed countries, and this usage in both climes has been observed to be increasing both in quantity and intensity
Summary
History has it that the series of mankind’s developmental stages, cultures, and technologies were strongly linked with energy and associated systems [1,2,3]. Sustainable sourcing of bioenergy may be hampered by poor/inefficient conversion of biomass to biofuel and bioenergy, most especially in the developing countries These countries are still faced with challenges concerning the level and rate of technological advancement [1, 3] perhaps owing to the observed inadequate research capacities [21]. Gasification technology, whose advantage has been known for nearly two hundred years [22], is noted to be an attractive route for the production of fuel gases from biomass, as any biomass material can undergo gasification, in comparison to ethanol production or biogas where only selected biomass materials can produce the fuel [23] This write-up is necessary because most of the equipment designed to burn oil or gas is not generally capable of directly burning solid lignocellulosic materials. Documenting the advances in biomass gasification is expected to assist in stimulating necessary improvements in the different methods of biomass conversion to energy and its utilisation most especially in most developing countries where there are still challenges concerning level and rate of technological advancement
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