Introduction:
Self-sufficiency in energy is the assurance to excel in any
country’s economy. Pakistan
is facing an acute and unprecedented energy crisis for the last few years.
For years, the matter of balancing the power shutdown has been a great problem
for the country. The energy resources used by Pakistan for the generation of
power are not enough to meet the present energy requirements. Moreover, the
power shortage has put a lot of burden on the economy of the country. However,
a trend towards renewable energy resources has to be made to meet the demand for
energy. Renewable energy resources can be generated again and again. These
include geothermal, hydropower, biomass, biofuel, solar energy, tidal power,
wind energy, etc. They offer sustainable solutions for the energy crisis.
Biomass, a major renewable energy resource, can be used to generate a considerable
amount of energy to meet the present demand for energy. Any organic material
that can be burned and used as a fuel is called Biomass. Biomass is a versatile
energy resource that can be used to produce heat, power, and electricity for the
country. Furthermore, the heat generated by biomass can be used to run turbines
which in turn generate electricity for the country.
Biomass is
considered a clean, renewable and reliable source of energy but in Pakistan, this
source of energy has not been used in the past for the generation of power. Due
to urbanization in recent times, the quantity of waste has been increased.
Biomass is a sustainable
solution for the production of energy. Having the fifth-largest livestock, Pakistan
coupled with an agricultural base is blessed with tremendous potential for
producing biomass. Besides animal dung, agricultural residue like cotton
stakes, sugarcane waste, grass, weeds, fruits/vegetable wastes, marine, and
freshwater algae produce millions of kilograms of biomass on a daily basis which
can give millions of cubic meters of biogas.
150 million
cubic meters of biogas a day can be produced from almost 3.65 million tons of
fruits and vegetables that gather in the market every year. Poultry organic waste
can also be used to produce millions of cubic meters of biogas. Wheat straw,
rice husk, and straw can also be used as a source of fuel.
Biomass Energy Potential
in Pakistan:
Pakistan is facing a severe energy
crisis these days which is resulting in adverse social and economic problems.
The electricity and power shortages have directly impacted the common man. The
high cost of energy is the main reason behind the power crisis. The potential
for power generation from Biomass is very promising in Pakistan.
Agricultural Residues:
Pakistan is an agricultural country. It has a
good growth of wheat and rice during their sessions. Their husk can be used in the Biomass process to generate electricity. Agricultural residue like cotton
stakes, sugarcane waste, grass, cane trash, bagasse, weeds, fruits/vegetable
wastes, and cotton sticks are major crop residues in Pakistan. Millions of kilograms of
biomass can be produced by them on a daily basis which can give millions of cubic
meters of biogas. According to World
Bank statics, more than 60% of the population of Pakistan
is involved in the agriculture field and 26,280,000 hectares
of the land is used for the purpose of agriculture in Pakistan.
Therefore, we can get a lot of agricultural residues from agricultural fields.
There are many resources of biomass in Pakistan
but the following resources are abundant in Pakistan:
- Agricultural
Resources
- Sugar
Cane Trash
- Rice
Husk and Straw
- Cotton
Sticks
- Animal
Dung
1.
Agricultural Resources Types:
·
Sugar cane:
Firstly, Sugar cane is one of the sources of biomass.
During 2010-2011, the area for cultivating sugarcane was 10,029,000 hectares
which is 4% of the total area for cropping. The trash of sugar cane can be
used to produce electricity. Sugar cane
is cultivated in most areas of Pakistan. In 2011-12 its production
in Pakistan
was nearly 63.920,00 metric tons. The trash obtained from the sugar cane be
used for electricity production. During the year
2010-11, around 63,920,000 metric tons of sugarcane generated trash of about 5,752,800 metric
tons. This trash is so useful that 9475 GWh of electricity can be generated per year [1] by using these residues
or trashes.
·
Rice Husk:
Secondly, Rice is also a useful crop for Pakistan. It is
cultivated at a large scale in Pakistan. Rice Husk and Rice Straw can
be obtained from the crop of rice that can be used to generate biogas and
electricity to fulfill the deficiency of energy. Rice Husk is so much in Pakistan that
we can generate approximately 100 kilowatts of electricity.
It is a useful way to produce electricity (power). It also has been proved a useful source of electricity in the developed and industrialized countries of Europe and North America.
How much it can be useful?
You can estimate it by looking some following Statics [2]:
- ton of rice paddy can produces 290 Kg Rice Straw and 290 Kg Rice Straws can be
used to generate 100 KWH power
- ton of Rice paddy produces 220 kg Rice Husk and 1 ton
Rice Husk can be used to generate 410-570 KWHs power (electricity)
·
Cotton Cop:
Third source of the Biomass in the agricultural field is
Cotton cop. Cotton has great importance in Economy of the Pakistan.
Cotton is used by our textile industries to make clothes. Likewise, the residue
of cotton called cotton crop can be used to produce biogas that can be used to
produce power. In 2012 its production in Pakistan was approximately
1,474,673 metric tons that can be utilized to generate 3071 GWHs. In these
days, cotton residue is being used by some of our textile mills to fulfill the
need of electricity. It has to be flourished at national level to cover the
crises of the energy in Pakistan.
Pakistan is an enriched agricultural country
and the remains of agricultural products are very important in power
generation. Recently at a meeting between our Punjab Agriculture Minister Dr Farrukh
Javed and delegate of an Indian Company named Universal Biomass Energy, our
minister said that 10.94 million tons of biomass is available from the residue of
crops that can be used to produce 1,277 megawatts of electricity [3]
2- Animal Dung or Waste:
Pakistan is the world fourth largest producer
of milk. In Pakistan
different kinds of animals like cows, buffalos, goats etc are bread in the
villages by a lot of people. They are bread to get milk and to make money but
besides this, the animal waste or dung is used by them as a fuel in their
household. But they are unaware about the use of animal waste in the field of
biomass to produce electricity. Animal waste is also a source of biomass to
produce electricity. Pakistan
is rich in cattle and dairy population.
The cattle and dairy population in Pakistan is near about 67,294,000[4]. The animal waste is
approximately 368,434,650 metric tons. This waste can be converted into biogas
by anaerobic digestion that can be used to run plants that produce electricity.
By using this waste, our country has capacity to produce 23,654 GWHs
electricity. There is also a benefit of producing electricity from Animal
Waste. If animal waste is used to produce electricity then our environment also
will remain neat and clean.
Pakistan, China biomass project:
Guangzhuo Institute of energy
conservation (GIEC) of Chinese Academy of Sciences and University of
Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) will work together on biomass project to deal with
energy crisis in Pakistan. At a meeting held at UAF, a Chinese delegation, led
by Chuang Zhi Wu, President of GIEC met the Vice Chancellor of UAF Professor
Dr. Iqrar Ahmad.
REFERENCES
Comments
Post a Comment