With reference to India.

While energy is essential for development, standard fossil fuels are often in short supply in countries where it is needed most. However, alternative fuel resources abound in the form of agricultural and municipal waste or "biomass." This report reviews the state of the art of biomass combustion and gassification systems, their advantages and disadvantages. It also encourages investment in use of these technologies to enable developing countries to better exploit their biomass resources and help close the gap between their energy needs and their energy supply.

The increasing importance of biomass as a renewable energy source has lead to an acute need for reliable and detailed information on its assessment, consumption and supply. Responding to this need, and overcoming the lack of standardized measurement and accounting procedures, this handbook provides the reader with the skills to understand the biomass resource base, the tools to assess the resource, and explores the pros and cons of exploitation. Topics covered include assessment methods for woody and herbaceous biomass, biomass supply and consumption, remote sensing techniques as well as vital policy issues. International case studies, ranging from techniques for measuring tree volume to transporting biomass, help to illustrate step-by-step methods and are based on field work experience. Technical appendices offer a glossary of terms, energy units and other valuable resource data.

Kerr and Dickie propose the development of a new ecological theory, one that can lead to a more effective remedy for the drastic effects of heavy fishing on natural communities of organisms in both marine and freshwater environments. By plotting the densities of the biomass of all organisms in a given community by body-size classes, the authors provide empirical evidence of what they term "the biomass body-size spectrum" in the world's oceans. After examining this evidence, they propose an underlying theory of predator-prey energy transfer: larger species eat smaller species, providing energy exchange across all species within an ecosystem. Providing the first comprehensive synthesis of the energy flow within the biomass spectrum, this book demonstrates not only a new understanding of the self-organizing properties of ecological production systems but also the potential of the biomass spectrum methodology for offering practical remedies when these natural systems are exploited by humans.

Biomass to Energy Conversion Technologies: The Road to Commercialization examines biomass production, biomass types, properties and characterization, and energy conversion technologies with an emphasis on the production of a gaseous fuel to supplement the gas derived from the landfilling of organic wastes (landfill gas) and used in gas engines to produce electricity. The book discusses the integration of both fermentation and anaerobic digestion in a biorefinery concept that allows the production of ethanol—along with biogas—to be used to produce heat and electricity, thus improving overall energy balance. Included case studies based on worldwide projects discuss both risks and challenges. The main studies on the combination of both bioethanol and biogas production processes are reviewed and the strength and weakness of the integrated treatment for industrial application are highlighted. The book also considers gasification technologies and their potential for biomass gasification and lists the advantages and disadvantages of using of biomass as a source of energy, the path of commercialization of the various processes, energy related environmental issues. - Highlights commercialization and technological risks - Discusses challenges, limitations and future prospects of third- and fourth generation biofuels - Includes integration of both fermentation and anaerobic digestion in a biorefinery concept - Discusses energy related environment issues (Greenhouse effect, acid rain, air pollution)

This book adopts a linear optimization method and introduces a dynamic optimization simulation model for analyzing synthetic environmental policies as endogenous variables in order to improve the environment and provide more biomass energy. The model considers both the total ecological system and the socio-economic situational changes. The purpose of the research is to establish effective utilization methods for biomass resources as well as to coordinate resource reutilization, environmental conservation and economic development, and ultimately to achieve sustainable development of society. By selecting for examination a typical suburb of a major city in China (Miyun County near Beijing), the book improves the simulation model and focuses on the evaluation of water pollutant minimization based on the ecological value of Miyun Reservoir. In the simulation, the author takes into account the specific and unique characteristics of China’s economy and social state in terms of sustained economic growth rate, financial subordination relations and regional environmental policies, all of which differ from the model for Japan. Beyond these innovations, the book introduces two advanced technologies from Japan and China to the study area through simulation with integrated policies, and presents a regional analysis and allocation strategy for these technologies, which have demonstrated impressive operability in practice, in light of the current conditions and limited funds in China.

A listing or reference of the various tax incentives & subsidies from each state, & the federal government. A starting point for researchers & project developers who are investigating the potential benefits available for biomass energy projects. Assembled from research of various federal & state statutes, tax forms, regulations, rulings, & industry publications. Also includes planning techniques, example computations, & discussion of rulings & regulations. Lists names, addresses & phone numbers of state biomass contacts. Exhaustive!