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Title: Biomass for energy: Supply prospects

Abstract

Biomass for energy can be obtained from residues of ongoing agricultural and forest-product industries, from harvesting forests, and from dedicated plantations. The harvesting of forests for biomass is likely to be limited by environmental concerns. Over the next couple of decades new bioenergy industries will be launched primarily using residues as feedstocks. Subsequently, the industrial base will shift to plantations, the largest potential source of biomass. The most promising sites for plantations are deforested and otherwise degraded lands in developing countries and excess croplands in the industrialized countries. Revenues from the sale of biomass crops grown on plantations established on degraded lands can help finance the restoration of these lands. Establishing plantations on excess croplands can be a new livelihood to farmers who might otherwise abandon their land because of foodcrop overproduction. In either case, biomass plantations can, with careful planning, substantially improve these lands ecologically relative to their present uses. But a substantial and sustained research and development effort is needed to ensure the realization and sustainability of high yields under a wide range of growing conditions. Moreover, the establishment and maintenance of biomass plantations must be carried out in the framework of sustainable economic development in ways thatmore » are acceptable and beneficial to the local people. Ultimately, land and water resource constraints will limit the contributions that biomass can make as an energy source in advanced societies. But biomass energy can nevertheless make major contributions to sustainable development before these limits are reached, if biomass is grown productively and sustainably and is efficiently converted to modern energy carriers that are used in energy-efficient end-use technologies. 88 refs., 5 figs., 13 tabs.« less

Authors:
; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. King`s Coll., London (United Kingdom)
  2. Princeton Univ., NJ (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
142302
Resource Type:
Book
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 1993; Related Information: Is Part Of Renewable energy: Sources for fuels and electricity; Johansson, T.B.; Kelly, H.; Reddy, A.K.N.; Williams, R.H. [eds.]; PB: 1177 p.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
09 BIOMASS FUELS; 29 ENERGY PLANNING AND POLICY; BIOMASS; RESOURCE POTENTIAL; AGRICULTURAL WASTES; FOREST LITTER; PRODUCTIVITY; CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES; INFORMATION NEEDS; ENERGY SOURCE DEVELOPMENT; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; CHEMICAL PROPERTIES; PHOTOSYNTHESIS; WATER REQUIREMENTS; NUTRIENTS; CARBON DIOXIDE; MANURES; PERFORMANCE; ECONOMICS

Citation Formats

Hall, D O, Rosillo-Calle, F, Woods, J, and Williams, R H. Biomass for energy: Supply prospects. United States: N. p., 1993. Web.
Hall, D O, Rosillo-Calle, F, Woods, J, & Williams, R H. Biomass for energy: Supply prospects. United States.
Hall, D O, Rosillo-Calle, F, Woods, J, and Williams, R H. 1993. "Biomass for energy: Supply prospects". United States.
@article{osti_142302,
title = {Biomass for energy: Supply prospects},
author = {Hall, D O and Rosillo-Calle, F and Woods, J and Williams, R H},
abstractNote = {Biomass for energy can be obtained from residues of ongoing agricultural and forest-product industries, from harvesting forests, and from dedicated plantations. The harvesting of forests for biomass is likely to be limited by environmental concerns. Over the next couple of decades new bioenergy industries will be launched primarily using residues as feedstocks. Subsequently, the industrial base will shift to plantations, the largest potential source of biomass. The most promising sites for plantations are deforested and otherwise degraded lands in developing countries and excess croplands in the industrialized countries. Revenues from the sale of biomass crops grown on plantations established on degraded lands can help finance the restoration of these lands. Establishing plantations on excess croplands can be a new livelihood to farmers who might otherwise abandon their land because of foodcrop overproduction. In either case, biomass plantations can, with careful planning, substantially improve these lands ecologically relative to their present uses. But a substantial and sustained research and development effort is needed to ensure the realization and sustainability of high yields under a wide range of growing conditions. Moreover, the establishment and maintenance of biomass plantations must be carried out in the framework of sustainable economic development in ways that are acceptable and beneficial to the local people. Ultimately, land and water resource constraints will limit the contributions that biomass can make as an energy source in advanced societies. But biomass energy can nevertheless make major contributions to sustainable development before these limits are reached, if biomass is grown productively and sustainably and is efficiently converted to modern energy carriers that are used in energy-efficient end-use technologies. 88 refs., 5 figs., 13 tabs.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/142302}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1993},
month = {Fri Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1993}
}

Book:
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