Abstract
Agricultural biomass presents a promising feedstock, which may contribute to a transition to low carbon fuels. A significant amount of research has identified a number of challenges when combusting agricultural feedstock, related primarily to energy value, ash, emissions, corrosion and combustion characteristics. The mitigation of such challenges can be addressed more cost effectively when dealing with large or utility scale combustion. The costs associated with harvesting, conversion, transportation and ultimately, market development all create additional roadblocks for the creation of an agricultural biomass industry. Nova Scotia, an Eastern Canadian province, has significant land resources, however it is prone to wet spring and as yet does not have a supply chain established for such an industry. The main components of supply, processing and conversion and demand simply do not yet exist. This research addresses one aspect of this supply chain by attempting to develop a fuel suitable for a) existing markets (local residential wood and wood pellet stoves and b) a scale that will support industry engagement. The outcomes of this research have determined that such a venture is possible and presents empirical preprocessing conditions to achieve a competitive agricultural fuel.
Highlights
The drive to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions and increase renewable energy has created an opportunity for alternative sources of biomass fuel or bioenergy, for residual applications [1,2]
Nova Scotia, an Eastern Canadian province, has significant land resources, it is prone to wet spring and as yet does not have a supply chain established for such an industry
The research presented in this paper has proven the most efficient method for batch leaching of inorganic material, K and Cl, in switchgrass and wheat straw to be at 50 ̊C for 24 hours
Summary
The drive to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions and increase renewable energy has created an opportunity for alternative sources of biomass fuel or bioenergy, for residual applications [1,2]. One common example is the wood pellet, compacted biomass, which results in a homogeneous fuel with better handling and transportation characteristics than wood logs. Most pellets are made from by-products, such as sawdust and ground wood chips, inherent in many primary wood processing operations which help reduce the costs associated with waste disposal. The global pellet industry had an estimated 6 million tons production capacity in 2006, 50% of which originated from Sweden and North America with an additional 1.2 million tons from Canada [3]. This industry has seen steady growth in recent years reaching 28 million tons [4] by 2010
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