A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering

Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1997

An attempt has been made to estimate the potential of greenhouse gas emission mitigation by different existing and mature biomass technology options. A general methodology to be used for this purpose has also been developed. It provides for the estimation of the potential amount of residues that can be made available for energy purposes and the potential of fossil fuel replacement by the utilization of these residues in the selected options of biomass exploitation. The consequent potential for CO2, CH4 and N2O emission mitigation in terms of CO2 equivalent, as well as specific costs of such abatement were then estimated. Different biomass residues, namely rice husk, rice straw, palm oil residues, bagasse, cane trash, coconut residues and wood residues were studied to determine the net carbon emission that can be avoided by extracting their energy. The methodology has been fully demonstrated in the case of rice husk by estimating the mitigation potential considering the use of the amounts wasted at present as well as the amounts that can potentially be saved by improving the efficiency of current energy practices. However in case of palm oil residues, bagasse and wood wastes, GHG emission mitigation potential is estimated by comparing the typical present situation with an assumed improved situation in which almost the entire amounts of the waste generated annually is regarded available for use in available efficient energy systems. In the case of cane trash and coconut residues, due to lack of reliable information, only thermal application is considered in this study.